Buzz Magazine: April 8, 2004

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Coping with vision loss

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Festival Pass for all 12 screenings valued at $75 Ebertfest t-shirt, mug & tote bag What makes this even cooler? The winning review will be published in buzz.

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Spring Storm at Krannert (Page 8)

MUSIC

Green St. Records releases CD (Page 10)

CALENDAR

School’s in with Prince at Assembly Hall (Page 12)

FILM

to find the list of this year’s films.

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Walking Tall stands small (Page 20)

Arts | Entertainment | Community

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IS YOUR SHIRT MADE OF FELT? | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

buzz

odds & end

buzz APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | I MEAN IT

BOTTOM OF THE 9TH

editor’snote

insidebuzz

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story

4 Coping with vision loss

W

e are quite lucky in ChampaignUrbana, as far as entertainment is concerned. There are a few large projects that are coming up that should be spotlighted for their uniqueness and wonderful addition to the community.

In the Arts section on page 7, a story about Champaign Public Library’s “One city, one book” program is featured. The library has gotten together interesting events to discuss censorship in a community setting. The program was designed after the community voted to make the book Fahrenheit 451 the subject of the program.

The topic of censorship has been brought up a lot lately, and this project will aid in educating the individuals about our rights to information. There will be a panel discussion on censorship, a veiwing of the film, Farenheit 451, among other events aimed at creating awareness and getting people reading.

The Boneyard Arts Festival is being held April 16th and 17th to spotlight local visual and performing artists in many venues

Mollie McMullen had her house painted bright yellow two years ago.

It is one of the few things she can still see. Having a visually conspicuous home is one of the ways...

Arts 7 Fahrenheit 451: One city, one book In 1998, all of Seattle was encouraged to read one book. The book was The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks. The program that introduced

Music 11 Muse review: Absolution For all their posturing and selfindulgence, Muse’s output has been for the most part consistently...

Calendar 14 Rock against rape at Cowboy Monkey Set aside your Thursday night to support something worthwhile and catch soem quality music at...

It’s Time: Baseball Season Begins

throughout Champaign, Urbana, Campustown, Savoy and Mahomet. This program will showcase the artistic talent that exists in our town. The festival will run in art galleries, local stores and music venues as well as non-traditional spaces both indoors and outdoors. We get the chance to see a large number of the talented artists in Champaign-Urbana in one weekend.

To round out the month will be the Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival. The event takes place at the historic Virginia Theatre.

The festival shows movies across all genres that are not typically recognized. Roger Ebert, film critic extraordinaire and University of Illinois alumn picks the films and talks about each film after the viewings.

These are really exciting programs. If you haven’t gotten out to see what the community has to offer, this month is probably the best month to do it. Champaign-Urbana is rich in culture and these events coupled with many others that occur everyday showcase the array of talent and depth our community entails.

President Bush once again cited as worst owner in history...

BY ADAM AND SETH FEIN | 2ON2OUT

F

-M.M.

Film

18 Hellboy not so hellish

trying to use that Still (cheap) residential

Poor Ron Pearlman. After a 30year acting career, he’s still best remebered for playing to only...

PHOTO | STEVE KLINE

BUZZ STAFF Volume 2, Number 11 COVER DESIGN | Chris Depa

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

Got an opinion?

E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.

We reserve the right to edit submissions.

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 337-8317 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820.

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

Copyright Illini Media Company 2004

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irst things first. We are former ballplayers, the two of us. And we mean that in the most serious way. During our youth, we mowed the yard in the shape of Wrigley and in the off-season, trips to the Bubble in Memorial Stadium were common as we braved the cold to condition ourselves during the long winter.

Through high school, we were good solid players and we played the game as it should be played: with respect.

That being said, neither of us went on to play ball in college or beyond.

We chose to play music instead. In retrospect, it was a good decision; a more fulfilling one anyway. Neither of us top out over 5’7 and what’s more, the short list of famous Jewish sports heroes seemed to be an indicator of our chances. We are proud of our years as players, but knew deep down that we were meant to contribute to the game in different ways.

We find Champaign-Urbana to be a great place to be from as baseball fans.

Allegiances are strong, but for different reasons than actually living in Wrigleyville, Bridgeport or the St. Louis area. We are stuck in the middle and we hold our love for our teams based solely on the fact that there is a terrific amount of diversity within the fanbase of C-U. We are Cubs fans. This column will be rooted in bias to no fault of our own. It comes with the territory. While we plan on being fair to all teams in the league, there will be an emphasis on the three locals, with an even stronger commitment to the Cubs. Some of you might think that’s unfair.

Well, you’re right. But like our coaches and parents always told us, neither is life.

Nor is the game of baseball.

We enter this year coming off of a tremendous off-season where the hot-stove cooked up some of the biggest trades and free agent acquisitions in years. Most every team has tried to supplement themselves by adhering to the philosophy that states: It’s time to win, now. And those that can’t win now are at home studying Moneyball.

For the White Sox, this year is about beginning anew. Firecracker and former slick infielder Ozzie Guillen has stepped in at the helm and the team chemistry (read: Frank Thomas’ ego) seems to be much more cohesive. It’s an important thing to consider when you look at the results from last season where the pale hose clearly underachieved.

But the question right now for the South Siders is whether or not they can persevere 2004 in the weak AL Central after losing Bartolo Colon, Tom Gordon, and mid season additions Robby Alomar and Carl Everett.

Can they top the Royals and Twins, expecting

another highlight reel season from Esteban Loaiza, who posted a 20 win season for the first time since “Black” Jack McDowell did in 1993? Pitching could be a problem for the Good Guys in Black and it remains to be seen.

The Cardinals enter the 2004 campaign with arguably the finest defensive team in the land, sporting 4 gold glove winners from last year.

Offensively, they are incredibly strong as well, led by perhaps the best hitter in the game, Albert Pujols. But here too, pitching is the concern.

There are large question marks behind the prowess of Matt Morris (he himself only won 11 games and fought injury in 2003). Are Woody Williams and Chris Carpenter healthy enough to be truly effective? Can Jason Marquis harness all of his potential talent, even though he wore out his welcome in Atlanta’s pitching coach heaven? In terms of unity and mentality, many experts think that this might be Tony LaRussa’s last year with team. Will the players bind together to win one for the skipper, or will his potentially impending departure affect the team morale to the point of defeat? No one is counting the Redbirds out this year. They could be the dark horse looking to top out the NL Central.

The Cubs are coming off their best year since 1984. For the first time in, well, forever, they have been picked to win the World Series by many critics and that is not something that feels too comfortable in the face of last years sad finish. Not since 1971-72 have the boys in blue posted back to back winning seasons.

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that they have the finest starting rotation in the game – but with Mark Prior out for 4-6 weeks with Achilles Tendonitis, can Kerry Wood and our (re)newly beloved Greg Maddux carry the weight while he heals? Can Sosa shake off last year’s quirks and continue to repeat his heroics in the face of his peer competition? Will offseason acquisition Derrick Lee accomplish what he did with the Marlins last season? Is Corey Patterson healthy enough to step up and become the 5-tool player that we want him to be?

There are too many questions to be posed and too many answers to consider for this first column. But you can be sure that we are going into this season with a keg of Old Style and couple of dogs and an excitement that is akin to Christmas morning. Get ready – this is going to be a hell of a ride. buzz Adam and Seth Fein grew up playing ball in Urbana. Adam is JV coach at Judah High School while Seth has been known to make controversial calls as an umpire around the area. Both have been caught in the act of pretending to pitch oranges at Schnucks. Seth and Adam’s column will appear weekly during baseball season.

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STOP LOOKING AT ME | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "We are attracted to people who express the qualities we deny or repress in ourselves," says creativity expert Shakti Gawain. Using this idea as your hypothesis, Taurus, take an inventory of the people you're most drawn to. Ask yourself whether they have talents and dreams that you secretly wish could come fully alive in you.

If you find this to be the case, consider the possibility that it's time to transform your secret wishes into definite plans.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Seeing as how you're at the peak of your popularity and in the harvest phase of your yearly cycle, why not suggest to your friends that they organize a celebration in your honor? A parade could launch the festivities, with you riding in a red Cadillac convertible followed by floats depicting the turning points in your life.

When you arrive at the banquet hall, you'll be carried on a litter to a throne. You'll eat a gourmet dinner featuring your favorite food while a series of allies comes to the microphone to describe what they like most about you. To conclude the party, a band will play a set of songs written especially for you.These are merely suggestions, Gemini.You may have different ideas about how you'd like to be glorified.Just make sure you communicate them clearly to the proper people.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I'm a direct descendant of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), the Mongol leader who controlled an empire stretching from Hungary to Korea. The funny thing is, you might be one of his progeny, too.

Geneticists have determined that there are millions of us worldwide, owing to our forefather's prolific sowing of wild oats over an extensive area. Of course it's natural if we have mixed feelings about him: He and his troops did all the nasty things a conquering army usually does. But he was also a good manager who codified laws, advanced religious freedom, and promoted ethnic diversity. Even if Khan isn't officially your ancestor, Cancerian, you're now primed to imitate his more enlightened side. As you expand your territory and authority, fantasize about the ways your new clout will allow you to give greater gifts.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I never take drugs. If I were a Leo,

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Indian activist Gandhi lead many peaceful rebellions against oppressive governments, first in South Africa and later in British-controlled India. At first he called his strategy "passive resistance," but later disavowed that term because it had negative implications. He ultimately chose the Sanskrit word satyagraha, meaning "love force" or "truth force." "Truth ('satya') implies love," he said, "and firmness ('agraha') is a synonym for force.

'Satyagraha' is thus the force which is born of truth and love." According to my reading of the astrological omens, Virgo, satyagraha should be your word of power in the coming weeks. Your uprising against the forces of darkness has got to do more than say "no." A fierce, primal YES should be at the heart of your crusade.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): By 2005, you'll be enrolled in a new School of Life, beginning a fresh course of study that will delight the innocent, open-hearted kid in you. But much of 2004 will be like taking a long final exam based on material you've studied forever. On some days the test questions may bore you into a stupor, while on other days they may electrify you into a state of red alert. Here's a clue that could help you keep those extreme states to a minimum in the coming months, as well as ensure that you'll ace the exam: Leave your normal routine and get away from it all as often as is practical. While you wander in the great unknown, you're likely to attract the exact experiences you'll need to solve the toughest riddles.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Let's do a check-in, Scorpio.

What progress have you been making in your work on this year's biggest opportunity? As I suggested last December, 2004 will be an excellent time to build the kind of network you've always wanted. New alliances will be yours for the asking. Existing collaborators will be extra receptive to deepening your connections. You'll tend to get lucky whenever you try to interest people in helping you express your talents for the good of all. If you've been lagging behind in cashing in on this trend, step up your efforts immediately.

You now have the power to make up for lost time.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): April is Feedback Month.

In the coming weeks, everyone from your best friend to the

wardrobe 10 Excited about 15 Ill-advised place?

16 View from the Latin Quarter 17 Masked man’s cry 18 It may be supplied by a draft 19 Part of a Spanish explorer’s name 20 Attaching, in a way 22 Very slow-moving 23 Its seat is San Rafael 24 North Carolina’s ___ River State Park 25 Problem while getting clean 26 Drove obliquely 28 ___ ester 30 Empty 32 Deal in 33 One who might count you out 36 Cousins of a 33Across 38 Foundation producer

39 It’s tricky to return 41 Saint of housewives, in

France 43 ___ fever (was sick) 44 “___ lied!”

47 Be in a cast 48 Protector of Io 50 Runs across 52 Halfhearted 54 On something 55 Legal scholar Guinier and others 56 Sought acceptance from 58 Square things 59 Participate in military combat 60 Bad spelling?

61 Doesn’t do anything crazy DOWN 1 Bungled 2 Fixed 3 Bizarre cases 4 Not as cold 5 Teach on TV?

6 Service sign-

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APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | IT IS NOW!!

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

however, I might travel to Britain this week and smoke some pot. (Possession of the stuff in small amounts is no longer illegal there.) If that's impossible for you, find other ways to gently blow your mind. Go on a three-day meditation retreat, make love for six consecutive hours, and read the poetry of Mary Oliver while swinging on a swing. Or make atonement to a person you once wronged, assume that everything you think you know is only half-right, and give away money to someone in need. Or all of the above.

janitor at work may barrage you with hints of what they think about you. A few of the reports will be fairly accurate representations of you, while others may resemble the reflections you get from funhouse mirrors. If you just relax your ego muscles and watch the mad rush of images as you would a comic movie, however, the overall experience will be rejuvenating.

Oprah did it, so why can’t Howard?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): "Free will is there for the taking, like wild blueberries," writes poet Ellen Doré Watson, "-a trifle more sour than we remember." In other words, Capricorn, your mouth might pucker and your eyes may squint when you first sample the ripe crop of free will that you'll come upon this week. But once you've experienced the sensation for a while, it'll start tasting sweeter. By this time next week, you'll be amazed at how delicious it is.

BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In my astrological opinion, you now have a sacred duty to cause good trouble. Please carry out at least two kinds of benevolent mischief from the following list. 1. Break taboos that serve no useful purpose. 2.

Circumvent rules that are rotten or harmful. 3. Expose the manipulators who are trying to get everyone to buy into their delusions. 4. Trick people into rebelling against influences that are bad for them. 5. If you see friends or loved ones who are running on autopilot, give them lessons on how to wake up.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean actress Mercedes Ruehl won the Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1991 movie, "The Fisher King." Taking the stage at the awards ceremony, she exclaimed, "I shall never waitress again, and you are my witnesses!" She was almost 43 years old at the time. I foresee a comparable breakthrough for you in the coming months, Pisces. It may not be quite as dramatic as Ruehl's, but it will definitely free you forever from a task that has stifled or demeaned your spirit.

And you can lay the groundwork for this victory now.

HOMEWORK: What's ☎ Rob Brezsny's Free Will ✍ the weird thing you do or Astrology beautyandtruth

think that's too strange to reveal to your friends and loved ones? (Your secret's safe with me.) Testify at 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 ACROSS

buzz

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If forced to decide between having a bigger penis and living in a world where there was no war, 90 percent of men would pick universal peace. So says a poll conducted by Glamour magazine and MensHealth.com. I predict that fate will soon ask you, Aries, to choose between two possibilities that also seem to represent a showdown between self-aggrandizement and altruism. If you play your wild cards, right, however, you may not have to pick one at the expense of the other. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you can have both.

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off 15 7 Plus fours go-with 17 8 Cause 20 19 9 Bouncing off the walls 23 22 10 Noted Phila. facility 26 27 25 11 Menial 30 12 Rat 13 Intimate chat 33 34 35 14 Wrap giant 39 40 38 21 Nestor 41 42 43 23 Rumble 27 It began in 1968, 48 49 47 for tennis 52 53 29 Dark side 56 55 30 Bit of headway 59 58 31 They have big bells 61 60 33 West Bank Puzzle by Byron Walden city 34 Clear out 42 Parts of ship bows 35 Gold holder 44 New Mexico’s ___ National Labs 37 Packaging suppliers’ industry 45 Freight unit 40 Ballyhoo 46 Needs no more work

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hen I was in 2nd grade, our class put on a play called T h e To o t h A c h e Mystery, a riveting courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a cavity. I played the part of Judge Wisdom. It was a tricky role but I was prepared, channeling Spencer Tracy in Judgment at Nuremburg with a bit of Bill Murray circa Meatballs thrown in for good measure. It was a beautiful, nuanced performance but no one really got to see much of it.

The kid who was playing one of the toothbrushes, Billy, had two lines, one at the beginning, one at the end. Well, Billy switched his lines and two minutes into the play said his ending line. The next kid to speak was so overly trained that he said his line at the end of the show and that was pretty much the end of it; a 30-minute play rendered down to a 3minute production. Billy, one kid, managed to ruin the good time for all of us.

Janet Jackson is beginning to remind me of Billy from 2nd grade. One boob pops out and all of a sudden, every form of entertainment in America is under scrutiny. It’s insane. One two-second shot of a breast and we’re rethinking every little blip we broadcast.

NYPD Blue was forced to edit a sex scene from a show. Okay, I’ll be the first guy to say I don’t care much about seeing Sipowitz’s ass ever again, but geez Louise, it’s not as if they were going to show the actual penetration or even a boob; probably just some well camouflaged bumping and grinding. Yeah, they push the envelope here and there, but it’s a smart show dealing with some touchy issues while it entertains. It’s well-written and it’s for adults.

So, it’s easy to stand up for NYPD Blue, but what about some of the other shows under fire? For example, Howard Stern. OK, I like him. I’m an idiot sometimes and I find it sort of funny. I’ll be the first to admit it’s not high art, or art at all for that matter, but it does entertain in some manner. The FCC hates him, of course, and fines him with almost the same frequency as I get intoxicated. It’s not really fair.

Who could blame him, then, for tattling to the FCC about the kind of show Oprah Winfrey puts out. Stern encouraged listeners to write the commission complaints about a Winfrey show that discussed the sexual practices of teens. Stern had a show about the same topic and was fined $27,500 for his effort.

Oprah has been reprimanded in no way so far.

If I was Howard, I’d be bitching, too.

On Oprah’s show, she and her guests

talked about the crazy things kids do to each other in the name of lust, even such a thing as “tossing the salad.” Sadly, I didn’t see the show so I can’t comment on any mention of other terms such as “The Cleveland Steamer,” “The Dirty Sanchez,”or the “Donkey Punch” but “tossing the salad” alone should be enough to get her in as much trouble as Howard got into. Wanna bet she walks away unharmed while Howard continues to get fined?

One thing that’s even more shocking is that the decency police are even going after things outside of the realm of broadcasting.

The Sutler, a Nashville, Tennessee pub, has had 19th century Victorian pictures of nude women on their menus for years, but now they may be seen as too racy for state law.

Call me old school, but I prefer to keep my liquor and my pornography separate. Still, it’s a bar and my guess is that the nudity on display is likely less offensive than most of the other things that go on there.

It’s Nashville, after all. George Jones rode his lawn mower to town to get drunk there.

They use washboards and jugs as musical instruments. My guess is a few nude photos in a bar isn’t going to tip the scale much one way or the other.

The pub, fearing they would be shut down, has taken markers to every nipple in the place, blacking out anything that might be considered obscene. They even took down the one photo they have of a woman’s exposed genitalia. People, people, that’s gotta hurt tourism. I know many folks who would drive for miles to have a beer and stare at a picture of exposed genitalia in the same building. Where are these hillbillies going to summer now?

All of this because of one exposed boob during halftime. It’s not right. I can solve this problem right now. No fines, no legislation, no hoopla. It’s simple. If you don’t want to watch something on TV, then don’t.

If a radio program offends you, then find another station.

If you can’t stomach centerfolds and a cocktail then go to T.G.I. Friday’s. If you don’t want your kids exposed to any of the above, then take a little time and talk to them and do your job as a parent. I’m getting tired of the government doing it for you.

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.

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News of the weird Least competent criminals A pickup truck driver was arrested by an Indiana state trooper because its cargo was blocking sight of the license plate in the back window. On closer inspection, the cargo was revealed to be 900 pounds of marijuana (Indianapolis, March). And in Lafayette, Ind., Joshua K. Kochell, 27, was charged with robbing two gas stations. His probation officer was able to track his whereabouts precisely that evening because Kochell was still wearing an electronic monitor from a 2001 sentence for theft (March).

Also, in the last month ...

A 37-year-old man, angry that a car splashed mud on him, was charged with slashing the tires on 548 cars (Bournemouth, England). And a jury assessed a girls’ high school basketball coach $1.5 million for aggressively hounding a player to lose 10 pounds, which ultimately traumatized her into an eating disorder (West WindsorPlainsboro, N.J.). And the bad-boy artist who once put goldfish into blenders at a gallery, almost defying visitors to turn them on (and one did), used 780 gallons of red paint to cover a 1,000-square-yard iceberg off the coast of Greenland.

More things to worry about – More third-world visitors arrived at Western airports illegally carrying in their luggage indigenous meats destined for family festivals. A 48-year-old woman from Gambia was arrested at Gatwick airport in England with 13 pounds of goat and snail meat and 172 pounds of catfish (March), and at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, a whole smoked monkey was confiscated from a woman arriving from Cameroon for a wedding reception. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official said these airport seizures are “only the tip of the iceberg” of the illegal importing of traditional meats.

– (1) The Trufresh company (Suffield, Conn.) said in March that its method of freezing lobsters for restaurants has resulted in a few lobsters, frozen stiff for hours at a time, reviving on their own. (The company ships all frozen lobsters with claws banded, just in case.) (2) A photo technician at a CVS drugstore in Advance, N.C., notified police in March when someone dropped off film showing two male employees of a local Wendy’s, in bathing suits, frolicking in the restaurant’s potsand-pans dishwashing sink.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Chuck Shepard Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

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community

APRIL 8-14, 2004

the

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ollie McMullen had her house painted bright yellow two years ago. It is one of the few things she can still see. Having a visually conspicuous home is one of the ways McMullen is coping with the glaucoma that has gradually eroded her eyesight for the past 11 years.

McMullen smiles when she talks about her unusual house. Her high cheekbones deepen as her heart-shaped face breaks into a laugh. “Everybody said no, don’t paint it that color!�

McMullen said. “I went ahead and did it anyway.�

Yet the topic of her vision loss can also make her quite serious. Her mood swings. She sets her jaw. She purses her lips. Her tone becomes solemn. “I pray a lot,� she said. “It’s how you look on life. You’re going to be here till you leave. You have to settle down and just do what you can.�

McMullen did not wish to disclose her exact age, but she is a senior citizen living in Urbana, and she is slowly going blind.

Every seven minutes, someone in America becomes blind or visually impaired, according to the National Foundation for the Blind.

Seniors who are 65 or older make up 12.8 percent of the population, but they account for 30 percent of visually impaired people, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2001. The leading causes of blindness for seniors are macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.

★★★★

BY JASON CANTONE | STAFF WRITER

A

Seniors who lose their vision must cope with the loss. It involves an intense and often lengthy grieving process that is difficult to surmount.

McMullen is in the middle of dealing with the emotional side of losing her vision, said Judy Mullen, the coordinator of Visual Impairment North of 55 at the Center of Independent Living (PACE).

Mullen has been instrumental in helping McMullen and dozens of other seniors in Champaign-Urbana cope with blindness.

Mullen is also severely visually impaired.

Having someone help who has also gone through vision loss helps put seniors at ease, Mullen said.

McMullen has to learn how to contin- Mollie McMullen of Urbana suffers from vision loss as a result of glaucoma. ue coping, Mullen noted. She has to disThe less severe the vision loss, the more peocover who she is now, what her role is. Since cop- drive their loved ones away. “Some people will ing all at once is difficult, McMullen takes baby drag mom or dad in here to learn some skills, and ple try to rely on their sight, Mullen said. They the whole time they will shut down,� Mullen are still clinging to visual methods. Recently, steps toward larger goals.

Learning to cope with blindness is a long said. “They don’t want to be here. They don’t she visited a woman’s house and tried to show process. Many newly visually impaired seniors want to hear what you have to say. It becomes her how to mark her washing machine with tactile bumps so she could turn it on and off go through the Elisabeth Kubler Ross grieving very obvious in about 15 minutes.�

McMullen was depressed for about a year-and- by herself. Mullen could show a severely visustages: denial, searching, disorganization and reorganization. “You’re in a tailspin for anywhere a-half after she started losing her vision, but her ally impaired person how to do it in two or from two to five years,� Mullen said. “If you go faith and patience helped her through the tailspin. three minutes. For this senior, it took at least twenty minutes. People through the stages of coping well, you’ll actually “For me it takes lots of have to be ready to bounce back out again and say to yourself, ‘I am prayer. I was Christian switch out of the before, but it has who I am now. I just can’t see anymore.’ � visual realm before But most seniors do not recover quickly, she grown over the years. they jump into the said. Some simply act helpless for a while. Others Patience is a virtue,� tactile realm.

McMullen said, laugh“She was using the ing softly. “Eventually flashlight,� Mullen said. it will give you peace.� “She was crawling on Meanwhile, many top of the washing seniors simply get stuck – Judy Mullen machine to see the in the denial stage, pink dot that was on it.� said Verle Wessel, 60, McMullen has done well with jumping into who works at the Bureau of Blind Services in Champaign. Wessel has been totally blind since that tactile realm, Mullen said. Her vision he was a child. He used to work as a rehabilitation loss is so severe she almost has to. McMullen teacher, helping people in their homes learn to used to be a professional seamstress. She made wedding dresses, men’s suits, curtains function as they coped with vision loss. “Some people will never get past the denial and draperies. Now her vision loss is stage,� he said. “They are always looking for arti- extreme. Now seemingly small triumphs like cles on new vitamins and drugs and cures. They learning to bake are major victories.

Sometimes family members are overprotective are always looking for research articles. It’s sort of and block services for seniors that experience hoping for a miracle.�

On the other hand, Wessel said, reactions are vision loss. Once a woman’s husband told Wessel also very individualized. Individual assistance his help was simply not needed. “He told me he loved his wife, that they had from someone like Judy Mullen at PACE is a good idea. Some seniors need help with activities of been married for 50 years, and that it was his duty daily living, others with communication skills. to take care of her,� Wessel recalled. “Sometimes you have to let that kind of thing run its course.�

And some seniors learn faster than others.

McMullen picks up the day's mail just before raindrops sprinkle the ground outside her brightly painted home.

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“She goes for some serious goals. That’s why she has to sit and pray and reflect and say ‘oh my god what am I doing,’ and then, ‘let’s do it’.�

film

APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | “I CAN GET YOU A TOE....� GO RENT THE BIG LEBOWSKI!!

OSAMA

Local seniors learn to cope with vision loss

next

BY KELLY RETAN | STAFF WRITER

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moviereview

PHOTOS | KATE DOUGHERTY

Taking

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n ongoing feeling of dread and fear permeates through each scene of the Golden Globewinning Osama. From the desperate looks of women locked into cages like animals to the shrieks of “The Taliban is coming!� that send women and children alike running for their lives down the dusty streets of Afghanistan, this film brings an otherwise clueless world into lives of quiet desperation.

Far from focusing on the notorious leader bin Laden, this Osama focuses on the life of a 12year-old girl, played brilliantly by newcomer

dvdreview

THE BIG LEBOWSKI ★★★★

BY THOMAS ABBATACOLA | STAFF WRITER

J

oel and Ethan Coen have made some bizarre films in their career and The Big Lebowski (1998) is no exception. The cast, camera tricks and long musical sequences share similarities with their other films, but The Big Lebowski takes them to new levels. The Coen brothers made a movie that gets better and more hilarious upon each viewing.

Taking place during the Persian Gulf War, The Big Lebowski follows a pothead pacifist and his Vietnam veteran bowling buddy as they fight against porn star nihilists to retrieve a rug while trying to steal money from a millionaire whose wife has been kidnapped. Sound confusing? It really doesn’t matter. The outrageous plot is secondary.

The kidnapping and bowling are overshad-

Marina Golbahari. In interviews, director Siddiq Barmak said he spent months searching Afghanistan to find the perfect lead and his time and effort were deeply rewarded in Golbahari’s nuanced performance. Yet this film is not about her as much as it is about what happens to her and how her life flips upside down in order to prevent her family from starving.

Under Taliban law, women have no right to education and cannot even leave home without a male escort. The penalty? Death. So when the girl’s father and brother are both killed in armed conflicts, the girl must cut her hair and become a boy in order to earn enough wages to support her family.

Each time women are herded like cattle, or in one instance when a woman is stoned for “spreading profanity,� one must remember this is not an Orwellian tale of what the world could become one day in a different society. This is the way women live in Afghanistan. And as soon as the audience adjusts to this fact, it becomes even more terrifying.

owed by “The Dude� and the odd characters he encounters. Jeff Bridges plays The Dude, an unemployed and lazy deadbeat. His “take it easy� philosophy gets him caught up in the elaborate series of events. The Dude does not make things happen: things happen to him. He remains inactive and confused as the story unfolds. He sits back, drinks White Russians, and does not try to solve the mystery. As an anti-detective, The Dude is a hero for lazy Americans and undoubtedly one of the best characters ever written.

It is hard to believe that the supporting characters could steal the show from someone as funny as The Dude. Walter (John Goodman), Donny (Steve Buscemi), Maude (Julianne Moore) and Jesus (John Turturro) do just that.

The Coen brothers often write characters for actors and they obviously did that here. Walter constantly reminds everyone of Vietnam while The Dude tries to calm him down and Donny tries to speak. Their chemistry is great and the dialogue never gets old.

The Big Lebowski is not for everyone. Those offended by drug use, constant swearing and rug urination on rugs will not be entertained.

This is a buddy movie. Perhaps that is why this movie inspired several drinking games. It has to be watched more than once to truly

THE BIG LEBOWSKI | JEFF BRIDGES appreciate. We are lucky to see The Big Lebowski return to a big screen.

For those who cannot make it to the theater, The Big Lebowski DVD is good enough. The Making of The Big Lebowski is a 30-minute extra that features interviews with the Coen brothers and the cast. There are not many extras, but the film alone is what makes the DVD. It can be viewed in standard or widescreen formats.

Whether you know what the movie is about or not, The Big Lebowski is entertaining. Help The Dude solve the case or just laugh at the ridiculous characters. After all, The Dude did not care what was going on around him. All The Dude ever wanted was his rug back.

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STARTS NEXT FRIDAY: TOUCHING THE VOID

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When Osama (the name the girl takes when she becomes a boy) begins working for a shopkeeper, she is drafted into the Taliban. This draft consists of Taliban members dragging boys from their working lives through the streets so they can learn to pray, wear turbans and wash themselves appropriately. In this forced boot camp, Osama continually makes stupid mistakes that will make you want to slap her. She continues to talk in a high voice, she climbs a tree and then cries when she thinks she’ll fall and she walks into where everyone is bathing when she should have just stayed where she was.

Osama is not for the squeamish, but it is a film that needs to be seen. To think that women can be treated this badly boggles the mind. But that’s the American mind; one that would most likely commit suicide if forced into a life of subordination where death is the only escape. But throughout each scene, one question remains: In a society ready to kill a journalist for videotaping Taliban activities, how was a film as true to life as this even made?

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WHOLE TEN YARDS (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30 11:45 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30

JERSEY GIRL (PG–13) Fri. Thu. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:40

SCOOBY-DOO 2 (PG) Fri. & Sat. 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:40 9:50 11:50 ELLA ENCHANTED (PG) Fri. & Sun. - Thu. 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:40 Sat. 12:50 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:40 9:50 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:50 3:10 5:20 STARSKY & HUTCH (PG–13) 7:30 9:40 Fri. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 7:40 THE ALAMO (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:15 2:00 4:00 5:00 THE LADYKILLERS (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:40 10:00 7:00 8:00 9:50 11:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:15 2:00 4:00 5:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:00 8:00 9:50 7:40 10:00 GIRL NEXT DOOR (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30 PASSION OF CHRIST (R) Fri. Thu. 1:15 4:15 7:00 9:45 11:45 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 4:50 PRINCE & ME (PG) Fri. & Sat. 7:10 9:30 12:20 2:50 5:20 7:40 10:00 JOHNSON FAMILY (PG–13) 12:15 Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:40 5:10 7:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:50 5:20 9:50 12:00 7:40 10:00 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:40 5:10 7:30 9:50 WALKING TALL (PG–13) Fri. & DAWN OF THE DEAD (R) Fri. Sat. 12:40 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30 11:30 & Sat. 5:20 10:00 12:10 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 2:40 4:50 Sun. - Thu. 5:20 10:00 7:10 9:30 ◆ HELLBOY (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 Re-Run Film Series: $3.00 Admission 7:00 8:00 9:45 11:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 CLERKS (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:00 7:00 8:00 9:45 HIDALGO (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 7:10 10:00 HOME ON THE RANGE (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:00 1:30 3:00 3:30 5:00 5:20 7:00 9:00 11:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:00 1:30 3:00 3:30 5:00 5:20 7:00 9:00

ETERNAL SUNSHINE (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 3:00 5:20 7:40 10:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:20 7:40 10:00

Showtimes for 4/9 thru 4/15

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4/7/04

4:50 PM

Page 1

film

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING ... ’NOUGH SAID | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

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Losing the ability to drive and not being able to read seem to cause the biggest problems when people lose their sight, said Wessel, mostly because both are linked to dependency on others.

Seniors must find people to drive them everywhere. They also get frustrated when they cannot read everyday things.

McMullen has had her own issues with dependency. She calls it the problem with giving and receiving.

“That’s the thing that’s hard for me,” she said.

“I always try to help everybody else. I don’t want to be a burden on people. Everybody that does things for me I try to find some way to help them do something, to contribute to their lives so it won’t be one-sided.”

Many seniors with low vision simply do not want to be labeled as blind. Carle Low Vision Center in Urbana sells a button that reads, “I have low vision,” but Bettye Seastrand, 79, of St. Joseph, will never wear one. Macular degeneration caused her to lose a great deal of her vision 10 years ago, but she prides herself on being able to function independently. She boasts that she can still do almost everything she did before she went blind. She still puts together puzzles, just puzzles with bigger pieces. She still does the crossword, she just asks her husband to read the questions.

She does not carry a cane despite her family urging her to do so.

“I’d just as soon people didn’t know,” Seastrand said. “Unless you really observe me you just don’t know.”

Seastrand has a halogen lighted hand-held magnifying glass for reading the prices while shopping. She owns a closed-circuit television for reading menus, labels, cans and boxes. Her spices are in alphabetical order. Her house is stocked with talking books, watches, clocks, scales and magazines. When she and her husband go

WALKING TALL ★

BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

D

wayne Johnson is a badass. If you aren’t sure who that is, you might recognize him as The Rock, a wrestler who abandoned his given name for the moniker of an inanimate object. In Walking Tall, The Rock proves how much he resembles his inanimate likeness, by being both very tough and having absolutely nothing else going for him.

The Rock’s third major motion picture is a remake of a 1973 film of the same identity. Joe Don Baker starred in the original as a man who violently walks tall in his hometown to clean up crime and drugs that have overrun his community.

The film centers on Chris Vaughn, a smalltown kid who left home to serve his country as a special operations soldier. Upon finishing his tour, he returns to his small town expecting to settle down into a tranquil life. Unfortunately, he becomes distraught when he realizes his town has lost its businesses and is being strongarmed by a bunch of goons and their casino.

Vaughn’s first night back serves to show the audience what an insane loon The Rock’s character is and how detached from reality he—and the movie in general—will be. He shows up at the casino and goes ape when he finds the craps table using loaded dice. Wielding a chunk of lumber, he breaks up tables, slot machines and the bad guys too, most of them suspected dirty cops.

Apparently serving his country confused the Rock as to the laws in the United States. First, he can’t understand why he’s arrested, and then dimly decides to represent himself. The next part of the film really misses the bus, as for some absurd reason the jury agrees with Vaughn and acquits him.

The preposterous script drifts even further off the path of reality when next, Vaughn runs and is elected Sheriff despite his legal issues. He proceeds to get rid of the rest of the cops, hire his old buddy (Johnny Knoxville) as deputy and instigate marshal law keyed on pure vigilante behavior.

The Rock and Johnny Knoxville demand star status and give the film some novelty. Neither is a horrible actor and both can be fun to watch. It is just unfortunate they happened to get caught up in one of the worst films ever written. Ashley Scott also provides some eye candy as The Rock’s attempt at a love interest—a good-hearted stripper. In the end, Walking Tall is the type of film that will intrigue some viewers, enrage some others and be on sale for $7.99 in three months.

The glorious big screen acting careers of Hulk Hogan and The Rock

W

restling megastar The Rock is back with Walking Tall in theaters this week, continuing his transition to becoming Hollywood’s latest action star. Though he still has most of his career ahead of him, The Rock has already fared better than his predecessor in the arena of wrestling-to-movie star crossovers: the legendary Hulk Hogan.

Here’s a look back at the past films of The Rock and Hogan, a picture of two careers that moved in wildly opposite directions.

The Scorpion King (2002) After his overly-hyped role in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, which amounted to a glorified five-minute cameo, The Rock received a starring role in this prequel and spin-off to the Mummy series the following year ... and the biggest paycheck ever for a first-time leading actor.

The script is mostly scrapped together from the pieces of other big, dumb Hollywood epics. The Rock plays Mathayus, a trained assassin hired to defeat the evil Memnon (Steven Brand) in the times before the pyramids. In the process, he picks up a few allies, including Michael Clarke Duncan as tribal leader Balthazar, and Kelly Hu as a sorceress who once was an ally of Memnon but changes her mind once she becomes attracted to Mathayus.

All these cliches build up to a mostly forgettable action yarn, but the movie made some solid money at the box office (thanks no doubt to The Rock’s legions of fans). Though it failed to leave much of an impression otherwise, it at least confirmed that The Rock was a capable action star.

The Rundown (2003) With a hit film under his belt, The Rock went on to star in last year’s The Rundown. Although the reviews were far more positive than they were for The Scorpion King, the box office receipts were quite a bit less.

The Rock is allowed to dis-

play a little more acting muscle this time as Beck, a so-called retrieval expert for a mobster who doesn’t necessarily like what he does and has dreams of opening his own restaurant. Sent into the Amazon to retrieve his boss’s son (played

by Seann William Scott with his usual comic aptitude), Beck gets tangled up in a plot concerning a lost Mayan relic and a greedy baron of the local mining town (Christopher Walken).

The direction by Peter Berg, who helmed the cult favorite Very Bad Things, alternates between comedy and action with ease. Much was also made of a cameo by Arnold Scwarzenegger that acts like a passing of the action star torch.

Appropriate, since Schwarzenegger hasn’t starred in an action film as good as The Rundown in the last decade.

No Holds Barred (1989) Speaking of actors who haven’t starred in a good movie in years, consider the case of Hulk Hogan. At the peak of his popularity in the late ‘80s, Hogan found himself with a budding film career. His first starring role was in No Holds Barred, a sloppy mess of an action film that occasionally rises to mediocrity. It is also the best film he has ever starred in.

Hogan plays Rip Thomas, an ultra-popular pro wrestler who refuses to work for a rival network run by the dastardly Brell (Kurt Fuller). Brell creates his own show, the brilliantly titled “Battle of the Tough Guys” in order to compete with Rip’s popularity. Rip’s brother ends up getting beaten to near death by the monster Zeus, played by Tiny Lister. Like any good action film hero, Rip is forced to take revenge on Zeus and Brell in the wrestling ring.

Now, even the most ignorant of grade school children knows pro wrestling is not “real.” But the makers of No Holds Barred expect viewers to throw that knowledge out the window in treating wrestling like a real fight to the death. Whatever.

Hogan plays a popular pro wrestler here, not too much of a stretch, but it nearly exhausts his limited acting skills. An utter waste of time, but it only goes downhill from here.

Also, Lister would go on to wrestle in the WWF a few times as his Zeus character in 1989, in a cross-promotion episode moronic even by wrestling standards.

trades. His spaceship gets damaged and has to land on Earth, so Shep takes up with the Wilcox family in suburbia. The normally talented Christopher Lloyd and Shelley Duvall lower themselves to the material. The audience should expect atrocious things from the Hulkster, and he delivers here as usual.

Seven-year-olds might find this fun, but anyone who has to watch it with them will be bored beyond description. Hogan’s movie career started gasping at this point, and his next film would obliterate it for good.

Mr. Nanny (1993) Just picture the movie execs in Hollywood coming up with this idea: Take Hulk Hogan, make him embarrass himself repeatedly in a ripoff of such family-friendly classics as Mrs. Doubtfire and Home Alone, and watch the money flow in by the truckful. Thankfully, the movie bombed and Hollywood got the point—Hogan never got to star in another major movie again.

Hogan does his best as ex-pro wrestler turned babysitter Sean Armstrong, which is to say he fumbles through his scenes the best he can manage. The children hate him, naturally, and put Armstrong through various devices of torture and embarrass him in various ways. Armstrong’s old foes from the wrestling world (because wrestling is real) come to get some revenge.

Hogan’s movie career sank so horribly with this disaster that his next few movies either spent five minutes in theaters or went straight to video.

Q & A

JoeDeLuce

Santa with Muscles (1996) Three Ninjas: High Noon at Magic Mountain (1998) Two more films flushed down the toilet that is Hulk Hogan’s movie career. Few people in their right minds ever paid money to see these wretched creations. They are next-to-impossible to find today, so a general warning to avoid them at all costs may be a moot point. buzz

programs a year, and has 65 parks and about 13 facilities available to all of the people in the community. The park district recently completed a community needs survey, with the goal of meeting various community needs and interests.

What is your position there?

I am the director of recreation, and I tell people that I do everything but plant flowers here (we have been known for always having great flowers). I work with the Virginia Theatre, the indoor tennis facility and the community and cultural centers. I am responsible for every recreational program, the day camps, special events and so much more.

Suburban Commando (1991) Hogan’s next film tries to be more upbeat than No Holds Barred, but is still bad enough to be depressing. Since plenty of people complained that No Holds Barred was too violent and serious for his adolescent fanbase, Hogan shifted gears into family-based comedy. Children still should not be allowed to see it, nor should anyone else for that matter.

Shep Ramsey (Hogan) is a sort of intergalactic superhero jack-of-all-

to department stores, she insists on shopping on her own and memorizes the trail back to their meeting place.

“I find a way to do things,” she said. “It takes determination.”

Carle Low Vision Center is the perfect place for seniors like Seastrand. Dr. Jewel Lewis, 38, takes people with vision loss beyond the realm of the optometrist and into one with magnifiers, telescopes and talking key chains. She and her staff try to find out what people’s visual goals are, whether they are reading, writing, watching television or putting together puzzles. Whatever the person’s goals are, Lewis considers it her job to find optical devices that will make it happen, she said.

The average age of customers visiting Carle Low Vision Center is 75 years old. Lewis witnesses a wide range of reactions to blindness.

She meets seniors who will announce, “I’m just old and I’m going to die” when they walk through the door, and then two years later they will purchase talking books and magnifiers. She meets seniors who want to let their family do everything for them. The coping process is individual to each newly visually impaired senior, she said.

McMullen will never simply finish coping with her blindness. As the glaucoma slowly creeps away at the remainder of her vision, she tentatively learns all she can to cope with it.

“She doesn’t do stuff immediately,” Mullen said. “She has to think on it.”

McMullen works on batches of goals with Mullen every year. One year it was the computer.

One year it was the reading machine. She gives herself big goals but accomplishes them through what Mullen calls baby steps.

“This is not like ‘Can you help me peel a carrot?’”

Mullen laughed. “She goes for some serious goals.

5

McMullen places her Bible on a reading machine inside her living room.

That’s why she has to sit and pray and reflect and say, ‘Oh my god, what am I doing?’ and then, ‘Let’s do it.’ ” Many seniors do not have even McMullen’s tentative attitude toward learning new devices and tricks for functioning with blindness. Many refuse to learn anything at all. Wessel said that such attitudes often are apparent before blindness occurs.

“We talk about before and after,” Wessel said.

“What was life like before? What were the circumstances before you were diagnosed? Before and after is kind of important. If you lived in a certain family setting beforehand, and all of the

sudden a major thing upsets the apple cart, how do the pieces fall?”

Getting people to start talking about these issues is important. Wessel, Mullen and Lewis all mentioned that ophthalmologists tend to neglect to tell seniors about the array of rehabilitation services available in the community.

“Many seniors are so frustrated,” Mullen remarked. “Their family doctor says, ‘I don’t know what to do for you.’ ” They are sent to ophthalmologists, who are surgeons. The ophthalmologists figure out if they can save people’s eyes.

If they cannot, they tell seniors there is nothing they can do for them, Mullen said. continued on Page 6

PHOTO | RODERICK GEDEY

WALKING TALL | DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON

MGM PICTURES

Acting beyond the ring

BY ANDREW VECELAS | STAFF WRITER

community

APRIL 8-14, 2004

PHOTO | KATE DOUGHERTY

040804buzz0520

The Champaign Park District strives to improve the quality of life for all residents through education, recreational, culture and leisure opportunities. It offers about 1,200 recreational

Does the department have any upcoming events?

In April, we have our Easter Eggstrav-aganza, Saturday, April 10 at 9 a.m. in West Side Park for children 1 to 8 years old. Also on Saturday at 12 p.m., there is another egg hunt for children 12 years old and younger at Douglass Park. Then, for the adults, there is the Night Lite Egg Pursuit XI from Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS in Hessel Park, starting at 7:30 p.m. At the Virginia Theatre, April 14, Jim Brickman will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. April 21 through 25, we will work with the university’s

College of Communications to put on Roger Ebert’s Ebertfest. Finally, May 26 in Centennial Park, we will have Touch-a-truck, where there are all kinds of trucks, including ice cream trucks, Pepsi trucks, fire trucks and more.

Preschoolers up (to) 5 years old are able to touch and climb all over these trucks and in the past, we have (seen) about 800 children.

People should visit our Web site at www.champaignparkdistrict.com to find out more info about any of these events.

director they had ever had. I (have) worked in Ohio, West Virginia, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Atlanta.

Why do you think this department is so important in Champaign?

I think there are lots of reasons. The most important is the opportunity for people to have fun, a good time and enjoy themselves.

People can learn about and take a class, such as pottery or yoga and attend special events to listen to music. These days, people need the opportunity to just go out and have fun.

How can someone find out more information about the park district?

People can visit our Web site at www.champaignparkdistrict.com, call the office at (217) 398-2550, visit the community center, or any of the offices throughout city.

Our brochure can be downloaded online from our Web site for more information.

How did you become involved in the park district?

I have (worked) in parks and recreation for 24 years. I received my bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation from Kent State University in Ohio. When I went back to Toronto, Ohio, which is a small city of about 5,000, I was the first parks and recreation

How can the community get involved in the park district besides through recreational programs and special events?

People can contact the volunteer manager Kristi Bolton at (217) 398-2550. She is in charge of our volunteers to work at Prairie Farm, the Virginia Theatre and elsewhere.

What do you think is the most interesting part about working in Champaign-Urbana?

One (of) the most interesting things is the diversity of people. You get to work with University students, residents and people from outside of area. It’s fun to work with all of those different people, from different backgrounds. It can be a challenge, but a great opportunity.

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APRIL 8-14, 2004

Vision Loss “The family is crushed because they have already been to the best of the best and nothing can be done,” Mullen said. “What the ophthalmologist often does not mention is while there are no surgeries or medicines or treatments to fix your eyes, there are tons of rehabilitation education available in the community.”

“They should say, ‘Go find yourself a rehab teacher,’ ” Mullen said.

Virginia Mosler, 54, a rehabilitation teacher working at the Bureau of Blind Services, agreed that people are often visually impaired for a long time before finding out about services in the community. She knew one woman who went nine years before finding out about rehabilitation services. Mosler tried stocking doctors’ offices around the state with brochures and business cards about rehabilitation services, but it is still unusual for ophthalmologists to refer visually impaired people to Mullen, Carle Low Vision Clinic or the Bureau of Blind Services.

This lack of education also often means seniors miss out on orientation and mobility specialists. These highly trained specialists teach compass directions and how to feel what is around you, Mullen said. They also teach mobility, getting out there and navigating.

PHOTO | KATE DOUGHERTY

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a lot of money, friends and churches have helped her obtain all the gadgets she needs.

The money has also come for McMullen to learn independent travel, Mullen said.

PACE received a grant that pays for one visually impaired senior to be paired with an orientation and mobility specialist to learn more independence. Mullen chose to allow McMullen to take advantage of the grant.

McMullen’s first challenge will be to learn to visit the park next door to her house—by herself. She will learn spatially where every swing set, picnic table and sandlot resides.

She will get to “see” the new park pavilion that was constructed last year. Eventually, while it may take months or years to learn, she will be able to leave the sanctuary of her home alone for a private walk in the park.

The orientation and mobility specialist will also teach her to visit one place in town using the public bus system. McMullen chose to learn to take the bus to PACE to visit Mullen.

None of these decisions have been easy for McMullen to make.

“This [independent travel] is probably the biggest, baddest, scariest one I’ve come up with yet for her to deal with. Every single adding of a new facet into her world has come with much prayer and reflection.

She says she needs to pray on things and decide whether it’s the right move, because everything is scary. Each time, she’ll pop back in after a month or two and say, ‘OK, I’m ready.’” buzz

“They just don’t get served,” Mullen said.

“I’ve had referrals made for years.”

Specialists are not the only service visually impaired seniors have difficulty obtaining. Many seniors cannot afford the expensive gad-gets available to help them function as blind people. Everything from closed circuit televisions to video magnifiers to talking clocks is available, but Medicare does not cover any of them.

McMullen, shown here in her living room, has relied on her faith to help her cope with the emotional difficulty of her vision loss.

“It’s apparently considered a luxury Seniors might miss out on them for other item by Uncle Sam,” Mullen said. “It’s not reasons, too. Ginni Rothrock, 63, used to covered at all. For blind people, I’m afraid, work as Mullen’s assistant at PACE, and last the gadgets are a tad expensive.”

Closed-circuit televisions are an example year she decided to go back to school and become an orientation and mobility special- of a big-ticket item, and they cost anywhere ist. She did this because she was angry. As between $2,000 and $3,500.

“Part of the problem with the technology she worked with more and more visually impaired seniors, she noticed the unspoken for visually impaired is it’s a small market,” hierarchy the state of Illinois uses to meet the Wessel said. “It’s not like you’re selling needs of visually impaired people. Children something to 200 million people. But it is an and students have first priority. Working issue for all of us.”

McMullen is thankful the money has adults have second priority. Visually impaired seniors rank last. Most seniors are always come for her for such expenditures.

Although she and her husband do not have not tied vocationally so there is no funding.

Coming soon from the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company

this week Th Apr 8 Interval: The Musicians of the Mark Morris Dance Group noon, free Wine Tasting 5pm, free Laurien Laufman, cello and Timothy Ehlen, piano 7:30pm, $2-$5 Mark Morris Dance Group 7:30pm, $22-$34 Talkback: after the show, free Sponsors: Nancy and Edward Tepper Jerald Wray and Dirk Mol

Spring Storm 7:30pm, $6-$13

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Hellboy ★★ Dan Allender-West Champaign, IL

Sa Apr 10 Spring Storm Dessert and Conversation 2pm, $5.50 Spring Storm 3pm, $6-$13

We Apr 14 The Enescu Enssemble 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

“It wasn’t bad ... It was sort of one of those movies that was OK.”

★★★ Elizabeth Wickes Champaign, IL

“A little more background would have helped.”

★★★ Will Anderson Champaign, IL

“Selma Blair and Ron Perlman helped the movie out a lot.”

Movie News

Alec Baldwin might turn his disgustingly messy divorce with Oscar-winning Kim Basinger into a book about how dads can get through divorces successfully. This should be more successful than a book about how to achieve a winning movie career, with Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat and The Adventures of Pluto Nash included in his recent film credits.

Th Apr 15 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm, $2-$5

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.

HOME ON THE RANGE ★★★

BY SYD SLOBODNIK | STAFF WRITER

Looks like breast-baring singer Janet Jackson has gotten more spiritual ... well, sort of. Jackson had censors fuming this week after she responded, “Oh, Jesus” to the millionth inquiry about her Super Bowl overexposure. Although some might take this Late Show with David Letterman sigh of disgust as her desire to be profane, I’d like to think Mel Gibson got to her and the passion in Jackson’s life is no longer solely about titillation.

Spring Storm 7:30pm, $6-$13

film

APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | ANIMATED COWS AND CUBA GOODING JR. MUST BE GOOD

Compiled by Jason Cantone

Fr Apr 9

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Ella Enchanted starlet Anne Hathaway has just been cast as the female lead in Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain. She will join Heath Ledger and indie movie favorite Jake Gyllenhaal, who play sheep herders in 1963. Rumors have it that the men might fight over Hathaway’s character but then spend the cold, lonely nights with each other instead. Sounds scandalous.

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n times of corporate management troubles with chairman Michael Eisner, the recent breakup with the successful Pixar animation studio and its less-than-blockbuster success of recent animated feature releases, Disney seems to have nicely returned to the simpler style of their classic, older animated features with their latest release Home on the Range.

Co-directors/writers Will Finn (previously of Road to El Dorado) and John Sanford create a delightful children’s film that’s a pleasant mixture of the classic Western and musical melodrama. The film centers on a group of farm animals trying to save their family farm called a Patch of Heaven.

Home on the Range may seem a little too anachronistic to modern audiences—singing cowboys and all—but it does contain several key ingredients for successful animated children’s entertainment. Its simple, inoffensive story concerns a plan by three of the Patch of Heaven cows to save their farm from bank foreclosure and auction. They plot a scheme to collect reward money of $750 by hunting down the region’s most notorious cattle rustler: the evil Alameda Slim.

Almost all the major animal characters are voiced with very expressive and lively characterizations by actors of easily recognizable and entertaining vocal abilities. Playing the bovine heroines Maggie, Mrs. Calloway and Grace— Roseanne (formerly Barr), Dame Judi Dench and Jennifer Tilly—make for a delightful girlish trio, combining an ideal mixture of snottiness, sophistication and bubble-brained silliness.

Cuba Gooding Jr. adds a lot of vocal spunk as an underappreciated farm horse named Buck who has dreams of being a hero.

Little bits of Roseanne’s ripe-style humor will not offend most children or even the most timid PG filmgoer. In the film’s beginning moments, Maggie, the prize-winning newcomer bovine to the Patch of Heaven farm, wonders why her reception by the other farm animals is so lukewarm. “What’s this?” she comments, “The frozen food section?” Later, she calls the overexuberant horse Buck, a wild “stallion of the Cim-moron.”

Three of the film’s villains are skillfully voiced, too. Randy Quaid’s Alameda Slim even sings a yodeling style Western tune.

Charles Dennis is playfully gruff, as a Clint Eastwood-type bounty hunter and Steve Buscemi is classic sarcastic Buscemi, as a slimy cohort of Slim’s.

The film’s rather sparsely played music is provided by composer Alan Menken and features country-western style tunes sung by Bonnie Raitt, k.d. Lang and Tim McGraw,

which are all pleasantly effective, but a far cry from the memorable tunes of Menken’s work on The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast.

The film’s simple but colorful, mostly twodimensional animation will remind viewers more of the ‘50s and ‘60s style animation of Disney classics 101 Dalmatians and Mary Poppins than recent Disney and Pixar blockbusters Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King or Finding Nemo. Adults and avid filmgoers, for whom this film is not really intended, will nevertheless appreciate the many film reference to other classics, including a visual showdown homage to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and a villain’s dying words which echo the classic gangster Little Caesar’s farewell lament.

HOME ON THE RANGE | COWS Disney’s Home on the Range is a simple blend of childlike storytelling fun that most kids under 12 should very much enjoy.

JULY 13 7:30PM

PEORIA CIVIC CENTER ON SALE THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 10 AT NOON! Tickets at Civic Center Box Office, All Outlets including Select Schnucks & Bergner’s CHARGE-BY-PHONE: 217-351-2626 or

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CUBS WIN THEIR FIRST GAME OVER THE REDS 7 - 4!!!! | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

moviereview

HELLBOY ★★

Besides Prince, name the other 5 members of The Revolution who appear in the cast of Purple Rain.

First 5 people to email the correct answer to promo@readbuzz.com will win 2 free tickets, a large popcorn and 2 medium drinks for a midnight showing of Purple Rain this Friday or Saturday!

Email answers no later than Friday, April 9 by 5:00pm!

Or call 217337-8317

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

P

oor Ron Perlman. After a 30-year acting career, he’s still best remembered for playing the only mildly made-up title character in the late ‘80s TV series Beauty and the Beast, and he sure wasn’t the Beauty.

Now the world will know him as the monstrous, ghastly Hellboy, a hulking demon brought to Earth in 1944 after Nazis open a portal to the netherworld (Don’t ask).

When he’s discovered and captured by American troops, Hellboy is just a baby, a puppy-sized tyke who seems to have Gollum, E.T. and Satan all in his immediate family. Fastforward to present day New York, where Hellboy has grown into a muscular meathead who, naturally, works with the U.S. Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense to fight all the evil forces in the city. And we’re not just talking the hosts of TRL here. Hellboy’s enemies include an ageless, knife-wielding Nazi with no eyelids and an army of horrible, lurching creatures with slithering tentacles for dreadlocks.

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SLEEP IS OVERRATED

THE PRINCE AND ME ★★

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

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hen it comes to the Cinderella story, Hollywood loves to portray every little girl as a mindless debutante who would love nothing more than to run away with Prince Charming. The Prince and Me wants to dispute the notion that all girls want to ride away on a white horse into happily ever after, under the pretenses of labeling itself as the same Cinderella story that it so openly tries to challenge.

Coming from her role as an educated housewife in Mona Lisa Smile, Julia Stiles returns to the screen as a character who would never compromise her intellectual independence for any man, even a prince. Paige Morgan (Stiles) attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she manages to make college life appear relatively normal, which, let’s face it, most college films never do. Paige works at a laid-back pub on campus that actually looks like a crappy, real-life college job, while still portraying the stresses of studying and applying to medical school. The film never dives into the unrealistic party scene where students never par-

While Perlman and Hellboy aren’t exactly easy on the eyes, Hellboy looks great. It’s a credit to emerging sci-fi specialist Guillermo del Toro (Blade II), showing again that he can, at the very least, put some stylistic sizzle into a boneheaded story. The monsters are spine-tinglingly lifelike, and del Toro stages the action, supplemented by glorious supernatural set designs, with furious dedication. He’s a self-proclaimed fan of the comic book on which the film is based, and it shows. The film has a devoted passion that only a true admirer of the source material could bring.

Yet, the writer/director’s familiarity with the story also makes Hellboy damn near incomprehensible. The convoluted plot combines Nazi world-domination desires, paranormal monstrosities and bland romantic pining into a muddled mix that is neither engrossing nor particularly entertaining.

The sometimes laughable angle of Hellboy’s relatable insecurities—he grinds his horns down to nubs so that his head ends up looking like a giant Lego piece—finds him yearning after Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), a former coworker who literally bursts into flames whenever she is upset (Who doesn’t love that in a woman?). There’s even a tepid love triangle when Hellboy’s new partner, John Myers (Rupert Evans), develops a crush on Liz and Hellboy spies on the two of them like a brokenhearted schoolboy.

This is meant to show Hellboy as a perpetual loner and flawed superhero, but the only thing

ticipate in an actual college lifestyle outside of drunken socializing.

However, this reality takes a dramatic turn for the implausible when Eddie, otherwise known to Denmark’s citizens as Prince Edward (Luke Mably), comes to Wisconsin in search of the Girls Gone Wild! atmosphere that he saw on television. Eddie acts as an unruly college student who struggles to make it through his organic chemistry class—that is, of course, until the professor makes Paige his lab partner.

The two begin their newfound partnership at odds due to their clashing study habits.

After all, why should a prince study? He’s just there to soak up the female scenery. Eventually this convoluted and ridiculous plot brings Paige and Eddie together through necessity and charm. Paige feels bad that Eddie, who at this point still claims to be a foreign exchange student, does not have plans for Thanksgiving.

She invites him back to her parent’s house on a dairy farm where romance naturally ensues once Paige lets her ever-present guard down.

After some time, the tabloids pick up on Eddie’s whereabouts and catch the couple in an impromptu photo op in the school library, leaving Paige confused and angry about Eddie’s true identity.

Julia Stiles, through her other roles and passion for Shakespearian plays, has made good decisions in the past. The Prince and Me even realizes Stiles’ talent by openly mocking itself through its attempt to make Edward out as a modern day Hamlet who feels just as confused about his life’s role as king.

While the plot encourages female empower-

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Fahrenheit 451: One city, one book HELLBOY | RON PERLMAN flawed is his vocabulary. It’s as if American forces bred him for the sole purpose of embodying every action movie cliche: drinking beer, smoking jumbo cigars after battles and ending each scene with a new absurd catch phrase.

Even if you can keep a straight face watching the always bland Blair and even more vanilla Evans try to produce some sparks, it’s not quite as easy when Hellboy looks deep into the eyes of a charred monster and mutters, in his best attempt at a Sylvester Stallone growl, “I’m fireproof. You’re not.”

The problem is, comic book movies aren’t supposed to be viewed with a straight face.

Their central purpose, aside from appeasing obsessive fans, is to be fun, but Hellboy is as stone-cold as the hero’s giant, wall-pounding right hand. It’s a joy to look at rather than watch, and that’s a devilish trick to play on escapist audiences just looking to send their troubles to hell.

THE PRINCE AND ME | JULIA STILES & LUKE MABLY ment and independence, it often finds itself looking like a movie of the week on the Family Channel, portraying unrealistic situations happening to everyday people with the intention of making the audience feel all warm and tingly.

But that’s why these movies stay on television.

On one level, The Prince and Me comments on the possibilities of an Ophelia challenging her Hamlet’s lifestyle to one that’s full of her own opportunities. Unfortunately, the film, like an overstuffed pastry, often tastes too sweet in the center when it needs to rely more on substance.

SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

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arts

APRIL 18-14, 2004 | GO CUBBIES! ... 7-4, FINAL SCORE

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

6:30 p.m. He will detail some of the book’s rary light. “We thought about the ideas in was made available to him. Key issues that will major themes. the book and all the ways that people express likely be discussed in the upcoming months In this futuristic novel, books are burned themselves. (We asked ourselves), ‘How concern what information should be, and is, and information is purposely and aggressively do people create? What are the ways in readily available to the public. “Bradbury’s n 1998, all of Seattle was encouraged to kept from the public. When the book was orig- which they create? What are some of the book depicted a crude, ugly and theatrical read one book. The book was The Sweet inally written, the American public had a not- ways that intellectual freedom is chal- way of getting rid of books. Now we just Hereafter by Russell Banks. The program that too-distant memory of Nazi Germany in the lenged?’ These issues are in the paper every drown out publications. The trouble is findintroduced people to the book was called backs of their minds, as well as the knowledge day. We thought about artists and novelists ing the book in the first place. There are over “One Book, One City.” The librarian who of Stalin’s totalitarian regime conducting the whose work had been challenged. These are 130 new titles printed every day. Reviews started and guided the program now has her same book-burnings halfway across the world. things that people care about, (along with) are commissioned and positioned. There are “The central image of the book was in the whether or not they can express that. (As far lots of terrific books that you’ll never (hear own book, Book Lust, as well as her own action figure. Her name is Nancy Pearl, and she is news; art and books were being burned. Some as censorship goes), I don’t think human about or) find,” Michelson said.

Bill Thomson, national field director for the executive director of the Washington people feared at the time that with the advent experience can be erased. I think it can be of TV, this would sublimated, but these things find a way to be the Christian Coalition, will participate in the Center for the Book at the spell the end of the expressed,” Barickman said. panel discussion on censorship May 18 at 7 Seattle Public Library. printed word, the The first program, which took place April 4, p.m. “I think that (this program) is a great Pearl’s goal as a librariend of a long era featured Bill Gaines, University of Illinois pro- idea. I really like to hear about a community an has always been to that began with the fessor of journalism, discussing his investiga- sponsoring another form of education,” expand the world of the Gutenbergs,”Mich- tion into the identity of the anonymous Thomson said. reader by exposing him or elson said.

While he agrees that artists should be free Watergate source “Deep Throat.” He was excither to new books. Pearl Three months ed to speak about the process because he had from strict censorship, he feels as though said that one of the purNancy Pearl worth of programs not yet had the chance to address it in public, some artistic works cross the line, and the poses of a public library revolving around and the community has expressed a deep inter- artists do not consider the feelings or opinshould be to encourage ions of the audience that are, or will be, viewbook groups to form within the community. the book’s major theme have been set for est in learning about the investigation.

Most of the materials that Gaines used for ing them. “Some (pieces of work) have no She feels that this helps promote a sense of this spring and summer.

“There are 15 chances for people to his research came from the Champaign Public other purpose than to shock the public. There continuity and unity among the public.

“Programs like this build a fence of common- come to book groups to discuss the book. Library, including 16,000 pages of microfilm are times when we must be sensitive to other ality. We try to choose books whose themes cut They can share what they’ve learned, how and several autobiographies of prominent people,” Thomson said. Thomson cited artist across racial and socioeconomic divisions,” the book has impacted them and hear how it Watergate officials. “The library provided the Chris Offili’s “Madonna” as one of these has impacted others,” said Kristina Daily, necessary information and we were able to examples. The art piece featured the Virgin Pearl said.

The Sweet Hereafter is about a bus accident adult services manager at the Champaign use the raw documents we found there to Mary made of feces and angered many New Yorkers in 1999. piece together (the facts),” Gaines said. that occurs in a small town, killing many chil- Public Library.

Other programs include musical performGaines made a significant discovery partly dren from the area. The story is told from four Continued on Page 9 points of view, one of them from a young ances, art shows, a call-in interview with because of the wide variety of information that woman who survived the accident but is for- Nancy Pearl courtesy ever paralyzed because of it. Just one week of WILL, and a panel before Banks was set to speak in Seattle about discussion on censorthe book, a man shot a bus driver while the bus ship. “We didn’t plan was driving over a bridge, causing the bus to any programs until we knew what book nearly plummet off the edge of it.

“The accident shocked the community. (The the public had choSweet Hereafter) was a good choice because s e n , ” s a i d J u d y everyone loses someone they love. It brought Barickman, library people together to explore the ways that peo- a s s o c i a t e i n t h e ple handle grief. Our tragedy had a particular a d u l t s e r v i c e s resonance, but because we had read the book department.

The programs we could make connections (to those themes),” prompt people to Pearl said.

The Champaign Public Library is now try- think further about ing to foster those same connections. In April, the ideas that are preit began its own “One Book, One City” pro- sented in the book.

“When we were gram. With the onset of spring, all of Champaign-Urbana is being encouraged to brainstorming about read the Ray Bradbury novel Fahrenheit 451. programs, we tried The book was part of a voting slate, which to think of things included A Painted House, Cold Mountain, Peace that would tie in Like A River and Ella Minnow Pea. Voters nicely to the major mailed in votes via voting clippings that ran in themes of the book, which were privacy the News-Gazette.

The 1953 novel depicts what Bruce a n d c e n s o r s h i p , ” Michelson, University of Illinois professor of Daily said.

The programs also American literature, concludes is an intense form of censorship. Michelson will conduct an bring these ideas into academic discussion of the book on April 27 at a more contempoThe Champaign Fire Dept. donated articles of clothing for the Champaign Public Library's Fahrenheit 451 display.

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We try to choose books whose themes cut across racial and socioeconomic divisions.

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PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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“WHO WANTS A MUSTACHE RIDE?” | APRIL 18-14, 2004

playreview

Spring Storm ★★★

Tennessee Williams

BY ELIZABETH ZEMAN | STAFF WRITER

T

he Krannert Center for the Performing Arts ushers in April with a rare theatrical treat: the early, recently recovered Tennessee Williams play Spring Storm. Krannert’s commendable production proves that this overlooked play is indeed stageable.

Although Williams wrote the play as a student in 1938, disapproval from fellow students, his professor, theater companies and Hollywood delayed its world premier for six decades until November 1999. What Williams considered his “sex play” is a play about human desires and social expectations and what happens when these simply don’t mesh.

Set in late 1930s Mississippi, Spring Storm tells the story of four young lovers and their stormy interactions over a few April days.

When the play opens, the defiant and selfish 22-year-old Heavenly Critchfield (Cristina Panfilio) is stuck between Dick Miles (Drew Holmes), the restless, blue-collar man she loves, and Arthur Shannon (Kevin Miller), the wealthy but awkward man her mother insists she marry. At the same time, librarian Hertha Neilson (Morgan Malone) falls desperately for Arthur, who amplifies both her desire and her despair in a sad, drunken half-seduction.

Throughout the play, as much of the older generation clings to its Southern traditions, Williams emphasizes that older values do not necessarily translate to a newer generation. Heavenly’s mother and self-proclaimed family martyr, Esmeralda (Christina Dideriksen), is obsessed with preserving her family’s “good blood” to such an extent that she tells Heavenly that marrying Dick would kill her father and urges her to apologize for her sexual sins to a portrait of her dead great-grandfather. Even though her own family is suffering financially, Esmeralda continues to divide people into her “own kind” and “trash” like Dick.

Heavenly rebels against her mother, tradition and society. She seems at times protofeminist, crying out against women’s limited options, exploring her sexuality, drinking whiskey with her father and sitting in decidedly un-ladylike positions. Women act silly, she tells Arthur, because society makes them. At the same time, she retains some of her mother’s values and is terrified of the possibility she might never marry.

Williams’ characters are stereotypical— lonely librarians, Southern socialites, the old maid Lila (Leslie Ann Handelman) and the town gossip (Alison Fyhrie)—but these types work to critique the social conventions and rigidly drawn social classes that created

them. Krannert’s production, under the direction of Tom Mitchell, emphasizes the humanity of these characters, which is appropriate in a play so concerned about what is and isn’t human. To be sexual, to love, to desire and to feel is to be human, Williams argues.

Dramaturg Tyler Smith suggests in Krannert’s program that the character of Arthur Shannon “resonates with a degree of sexual ambivalence, an autobiographical glimpse into the mind of a young playwright who had not yet come to terms with his own homosexuality.”

Alternately lusty, tongue-tied and romantic, Miller plays this ambivalence well, and he poses a wonderful contrast to the hypermasculinized and rough-edged Dick, whose somewhat half-hearted marriage proposal comes as a scribbled note stuck in a drugstore bottle.

The play has a huge cast of 21 characters, which seems overwhelming and unnecessary at times. Several of the minor characters provide added humor or tension, but some of them fit awkwardly into the action and some have a slight problem maintaining their accents. Constant intrusions of these minor characters make the first scene feel a bit slow and clumsy, but the play quickly picks up its pace after that.

Overall, Krannert’s Spring Storm is a joy to watch. Although the play often borders on melodramatic, Krannert keeps it from being too sentimental or silly. The cast finds and plays up its humor well. Panfilio and Dideriksen are delightful as Heavenly and Esmeralda, and a particularly fantastic scene is their fight following Heavenly’s not-soangelic confession. Handelman and Malone also offer strong performances as Lila and Hertha, and everything comes together on a wonderful set.

What makes this play enjoyable is its ability to be simultaneously funny and tragic, entertaining and political, light-hearted and almost heavy-handed. It offers curious insight into the mind of a young Tennessee Williams, and it’s a fun way to spend a rainy April evening.

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Larry Kanfer Gallery – Diploma framing, featuring your choice of U of I campus photographs.

Highlighting spring images, framed and unframed, from award-winning photographer, Larry Kanfer.

Choose from images in a range of sizes, from U of I, Prairiescapes, Cityscapes, Coast to Coast, and European collections. 2503 S Neil, C. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000. www.kanfer.com.

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

"Sleeping In..." – Paintings by Samantha Singer, B.F.A. Senior Show. On display Apr 9-30 at Benders Mattress Facroty and Futon Sleep Shoppe.

Opening reception Apr 9, 5-7pm. 1206 N Cunningham, U. 328-1700.

ON STAGE Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Fridays, “Vampire: The Masquerade.” 7pm. For location: www2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html.

1776 – Parkland Theatre's musical opens Wed and runs thru May 1. Info: 351-2528.

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine, 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. MonThu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am-4:30pm. 355-8338.

"Burn This" – Directed by Emily Elarde. This gripping tale of love and loss is a coming-of-age story between two unlikely lovers. Armory Free Theatre, rm 160. Apr 16, 8pm & 12am; Apr 17, 7pm.

Prairie Boatworks Gallery – Assortment of handcrafted gifts. 35+ artists to choose from. 407 E Main St., Mahomet. Tu, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, & Sun 12-4pm. 586-6776. Info: Mary @ 356-8228, Tangoradesigns@aol.com.

FILM But I’m a Cheerleader – Krannert Art Museum, rm 62. Thur, 5:30pm.

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

Ziemer Gallery – Paintings & limited edition prints

by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, wood turning and glass works by other artists. 210 W Washington, Monticello. Tu 10am-8pm, Wed-F 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-9786. www.ziemergallery.com.

ART EXHIBITS “Persephone and Flora” – A celebration of spring classical paintings by Jenny Chi & Floral Art by Rick Orr on display at Verde Gallery through May 1. 17 E Taylor St, C. Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

contemporary clothing jewelry, accessories, & shoes

calendar

APRIL 8-14, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Laser’s Edge – Oil paintings and framed etchings by Sandra Ahten along with work from Lee Boyer. 218 W. Main Street, U. M-F 9am-5pm. 328-3343.

“Social Studies: Eight Artists Address Brown v. Board of Education” – This exhibition features 8 contemporary artists to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this desegregation case. Artists include Dawoud Bey, Sanford Biggers, Brett Cook-Dizney, Virgil Marti, Gary Simmons, Carrie Mae Weems, Pamela Vander Zwan, and Jennifer Zackin. All artists have a history of making art that deals with gender, class, race, and politics. Krannert Art Museum, thru May 23. 500 E Peabody, U. Tu, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 3331860. Sugg. donation: $3.

“Cognitio Inluminaire” – Aroma Café presents Jim Hultquist photographs. On display at Aroma thru Apr 30. 118 N Neil, C. Open everyday, 7am-12am. Info: Amanda Bickle. 356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com.

9th Biennial Ceramics Invitational – The Parkland invitational features the work of nine ceramic artists. This year's exhibit focuses on functional ceramics, specifically decorative clay surface. Friday is the last day to see the exhibit.

Parkland Art Gallery. 115 E Univ, C. M-F, 10am3pm, M-Th, 6-8pm, Sat, 12-2pm. 351-2485.

Spring Storm can be seen at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Thursday through Saturday, April 1-3, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 4 at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30pm (interpreter available); Thursday through Friday, April 8-9, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 10 at 3 p.m.

PLAY REVIEW GUIDE

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“Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists” – Krannert Museum has made an exhibit bringing together the work of seven contemporary artists who share a connection to both “East” & “West” worlds. 500 E Peabody, U. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Sugg donation: $3

107 n. walnut downtown champaign 217.359.2185

Sandra Ahten exhibit at Milos Restaurant – Ahten’s paintings and prints featured at the restaurant. Ahten is offering 40 percent off the work.

M - Th 10:30 - 5:30 Fri - Sat 10:30 - 5:00 Sun 11:00 - 4:00

Parkland Student Fine Art Juried Exhibition – This exhibition shows Parkland fine art students’ work, April 15 - May 8. Info: 351-2485.

“Zapatista” – Part of the Human Rights Film Series.

Illinois Disciples Foundation. Thur, 7pm. Free.

EVENTS & LECTURES Social Justice and Social Science: A Symposium in Honor of Joe R. Feagin and His Vision of Multiracial Democracy – This two-day symposium of nationally recognized scholars will honor the contributions of the distinguished scholar Professor Joe R. Feagin. Levis Faculty Center. Tue, 8:30am-5pm & Wed, 8:30am-12pm. Free. For information, contact event organizer, Professor Bernice McNair Barnett at bmbarnet@uiuc.edu or (217) 333-7658.

Words on Fire: C-U Reading Discussion – Fahrenheit 451 as part of the C-U Reading program. Champaign Public Library. Tue, 2pm. Info: 403-2070 or www.champaign.org.

Teens Fired Up! Fahrenheit 451 Discussion – Grad students lead this teen talk. Wed, 7pm. Verde Gallery. 403-2070.

Champaign County Audubon Society early morning bird walks – Busey Woods every Sunday morning at 7:30am. Meet at Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot. 344-6803.

Operation Helping Hand is April 17-24 and it’s your chance to gather your friends, have fun and give back to your community.

INDEX

Employment Services Students for Environmental Concerns' Merchandise Earth Day Benefit Festival – Local bands feat.: Green Mountain Grass, Eclectic Theory, Transportation Apartments Nadafinga. Courtyard Cafe. April 15, 6pm.

Other Housing/Rent Real Estate for Sale WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Things To Do Announcements Family Support Group of NAMI – National Alliance of the Mentally Ill support meeting. Personals Centerpoint, 1801 Fox Dr, C. Mon, 7-9pm.

Info: Dee Hawn, 359-3625.

Mystery Discussion Group – The group will discuss Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein.

Borders Bookstore, C. Mon, 6pm.

MEETINGS Debtors Anonymous – Confidential support and helpful tools for dealing with recurring debt and compulsive spending. Baha’i Center. Tuesdays, 7pm & Fridays, 6pm.

Information: 344-5860 or 239-0363.

Champaign County Young Republicans – Join CCYR for professional development and networking, fun events, and access to politicians and decision-makers. Happy hours on 2nd Thur of each month. This month at Krannert Center's weekly wine tasting event.

Thur, 5:30-7pm. Information: 377-3318.

We need a hand.

Cuddling animals, planting flowers and clowning around with kids are a few examples of group volunteer opportunities in Champaign County.

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.

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Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Apartments

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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 CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished 800 W. Church, C. Now avail. Economical 2 BR. $450/mo. 352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unfurnished Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign.

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

DailyIllini, buzz, & dailyillini.com CLASSIFIEDS 337-8337

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Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike ‘n Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 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

CHICAGOSHOWS APRIL 4/8 Geoff Farina @ Schubas 4/8 Trapt, Smile Empty Soul @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/8 Sugarcult @ Metro, all-ages 4/8 N.E.R.D., Black Eyed Peas @ Riviera, 18+ 4/9 Weird War @ Empty Bottle 4/9 Switchfoot @ Vic 4/9 Ruben Studdard @ Auditorium Theatre 4/9 Squarepusher @ Metro 4/9 Midnight Creeps @ Lyons Den

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | APRIL 8-14, 2004

4/9 Roomful of Blues @ Buddy Guy's Legends 4/9 I:Cube @ Smart Bar 4/9 Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Dr. Michael White @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/9 Local H @ Metro, all-ages 4/9 & 16 Herbie Hancock @ Symphony Center 4/9-10 B.B. King @ Star Plaza 4/10 DJ Shadow @ Park West, 18+ 4/10 Wanda Jackson @ FitzGerald's 4/10 Bret Michaels @ Joe's 4/10 Tom Russell, Jim Lauderdale @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/11 Fantomas, Melt-Banana @ Metro 4/12 Story of the Year @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/13 Sleepy Jackson @ Schubas 4/13 Stellastarr @ Double Door 4/13 Rufio @ Metro, all-ages 4/14 Sarah Harmer @ Martyrs' 4/15-16 Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom @ Open End Gallery (4/15), Logan Square Auditorium (4/16) 4/15-16 Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Kweller @ Vic 4/15-16 Willy Porter @ FitzGerald's (15), Martyrs' (16) 4/16 A Perfect Circle, Mars Volta @ UIC Pavilion 4/16 Thrills @ Metro 4/16 Orchestra Baobab @ HotHouse, two shows 4/16 Eddie From Ohio, Luther Wright & the Wrong @ FitzGerald's 4/16 Baaba Maal @ Old Town School of Folk Music, two shows 4/16 Mason Jennings @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 4/16 Peter Mulvey @ Schubas 4/17 Asylum Street Spankers @ Schubas 4/17 Mustard Plug @ Metro, all-ages 4/17 Ellis Paul @ Schubas, two shows 4/17 Pinback, Enon @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 4/17-18 Rebirth Brass Band @ Martyrs' 4/18 Rasputina @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/18 Renee Fleming @ Symphony Center 4/20 Air @ Riviera 4/20 Iced Earth @ Metro, all-ages 4/20 Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/20 Sebadoh @ Abbey Pub 4/21 Delirious, David Crowder Band @ Vic, all-ages 4/21 Joss Stone @ House of Blues 4/22 Leon Russell @ Bottom Lounge 4/23 Crystal Method @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/23 Morbid Angel @ Oasis 160, all-ages 4/23 Savath & Savalas w/ Prefuse 73 @ Abbey Pub 4/23 Yellowcard, Something Corporate @ Riviera

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Broken Oak Gallery – 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. Thu-Sat 10am-4pm. 7624907.

4/23 The Strokes @ Aragon, sold out 4/24 Robert Walter’s 20th Congress @ Abbey Pub 4/24 Bad Plus @ Martyrs’ 4/24 Fruit @ Schubas 4/24 Indigo Girls @ Auditorium Theatre 4/24 Of Montreal @ Subterranean 4/25 Janis Ian @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/27 Damien Rice @ Riviera, all-ages 4/28 Deerhoof @ Empty Bottle 4/30 Einsturzende Neubauten @ Metro, 18+ 4/30 Graham Parker @ Martyrs'

Creation Art Studios – Jeannine Bestoso’s paintings, collage and drawings explore states of being, experiences, revelations, and levels of consciousness. Also on continuous display are works in progress by gallery students, ages 8 to 84. M-F 35:30pm, Sat 1-4pm and sched. times. Info: Jeannine, 344-6955. www.creationartstudios.com.

ART NOTICES Art Classes by Sandra Ahten – To register, email spiritofsandra@hotmail.com (preferred) or call 367-6345.

“Collage for the Soul” – Students will learn collage techniques while exploring a particular subject. No art-making experience necessary. April 13, 20, 27.

Tue, 7-9pm. $70.

“Art with Intention” – Directed to each student, this class is based on each student's choice of learning.

Materials provided. Thur 2-hr drop-in time, 3-9pm. $95 for 5 (2-hour) sessions in 6 weeks.

Creation Art Studios – Ongoing after-school art classes for children. Morning, evening, and weekend studio sessions for adults. Join anytime.

CPDU’s offered. Info: Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

1102 E Washington St, Urbana.

Art Retreat – First Sundays Art of Creation, Passion, and Restoration Retreats at Creation Art Studios with artist Jeannine Bestoso. Sun, 9am-3pm. Preregistration required. Lunch provided. Info: Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

ART GALLERIES

Country in the City – Antiques, Architectural, Gardening, Home Accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St, U. Thu-Sat 10am5pm 367-2367.

Framer's Market – Frame Designers since 1981.

Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave, C. Tue-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 351-7020.

Furniture Lounge – Featuring local artist Patrick Harness thru Apr 30, as well as vintage prints, lithographs & one-of-a-kind mid-century paintings. 9 E University, C. M-Tu 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 11-5:30pm, Sun 11-3pm. 352-5150.

Glass FX – New and Antique Stained Glass Windows, Lamps, and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of Stained Glass? Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Stained Glass Classes offered. 202 S First St, C. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. 359-0048. www.glassfx.com.

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

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

Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and more. 403 Water St, C. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610.

Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists.

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

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$25 Gift Certificate given away every Friday.

Stop by each week to register.

Charity fashion show tonight at 7pm! at the Canopy Club!

arts

APRIL 18-14, 2004 | “WE’RE NOT GOING TO MOSCOW. IT’S CZECHOSLOVAKIA. IT’S LIKE GOING INTO WISCONSIN.”

Fahrenheit Continued from Page 7 Musician Rocky Maffit will make an appearance April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library.

Maffit and another musician, Chad Dunn, will perform on a variety of percussive instruments from around the world. “The idea (for the Fahrenheit 451 program) is a good one on a number of different levels. It helps generate an interest in reading in general. It helps stimulate conversation about ideas concerning things like censorship. And some people like to do things like this at the same time (as other people), and that’s a positive thing,” Maffit said.

Maffit is against censorship in any form.

However, he feels that although it is a musician’s choice to create what he wants, explicit

lyrics can limit one’s audience. “I’m not for everything being available to everyone all the time. Censorship is a tough one, though. In America, we are free and that means we are free to say things that you might not want said,” Maffit said.

How the ideas presented in the book unfold and expand over the next couple of months cannot be predicted. However, the success of the Seattle program—they have continued to promote a book for the city to read each year— along with the hundreds of cities that have eagerly adopted similar programs, suggests that whatever ideas are discussed will generate communion among the public.

Pearl’s Book Lust contains suggestions for books to read, along with a bibliography of the books. The Champaign Public Library currently has copies of Fahrenheit 451, along with program listings. buzz

Midnight Movie SERIE S SERIE S

Journalism Professor Bill Gaines.

ARTIST’S CORNER

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

D

eborah Fell, who teaches at Urbana High School, has lived in Champaign-Urbana for 25 years. She began making art quilts 14 years ago after a loved one died in a car accident.

Within a year, she was studying art at the national level. She has pieces in exhibits all over the country and as far away as Pakistan. She plans to participate in Artists Against AIDS and Boneyard Arts Festival. She is currently exhibiting work at Schnucks.

What is an art quilt?

An art quilt technically has three layers. A top, a backing, and an inside layer (made of thin cotton) that is called a batting. These three layers are connected together. The top layer is approached as if it were a canvas, and it offers an individual expression of an idea. An art quilt also has stitching, with threads that give it a more 3-D quality. More dimension is created

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Introducing...

PHOTO | JOHN PAUL GOGUEN

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4/7/04

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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brought to you by

Boardman’s Art Theatre & buzz Boardman’s Art Theatre and buzz will be hosting special midnight screenings several times a month.

This weekend come check out Albert Magnoli’s 1984 film starring Prince:

with other materials such as hemp cord or wire. Art quilts often break many of the traditional rules of quilting. The art quilt is a distant cousin to the traditional quilt and never steps completely away from traditional quilts.

What do you like about currently showing work at Schnucks?

I like the fact that the venue is open to the public and gives anyone in the community access to art. Schnucks has 2,500 people every week. That kind of volume is an honor. It has also given me a chance to connect with and show my work to everyday people just doing everyday things. And I firmly believe that art should be for everyone.

What have you as an artist gotten from this community?

I’ve been made richer as an artist from my interaction with all the other artists in this community. Once a month, the ChampaignUrbana Craft League meets at Strawberry Fields for breakfast. When I get to attend, I find that it is a great way to talk with and connect with people who are doing the same things as me. 40 North/88 West is also doing great things to solidify the art scene in the community. Downtown Champaign has come alive. It has a heartbeat now, largely because of the art and evening venues available. It’s great to be a part of it. It’s the little things that add up to making this town a great home. The community and the University contribute to the strong art scene in this community. Both are incredibly strong.

Where can you find the best conversation in town?

1. At my studio, when wonderful, kind people come over to talk and share thoughts about art.

2. Jupiter’s, which is a great place to meet friends and enjoy fantastic pizza.

3. Verde, which has the best wine and a wonderful cheese and fruit plate. Verde, I think, has given a sense of graciousness to the city of Champaign.

Look for the Purple Rain trivia question in this issue to win!

April 9th & 10th at

(Left) Quilt artist Deborah Fell. (Top) Tuesday’s Child. (Bottom) Bathing with the Flamingos.

Boardman’s Art Theatre 126 W. Church St., Champaign 1-800-BEST-PLACE or 355-0068 tickets are $6

4/7/04

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music

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER 4 LIFE | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

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TuesdayApril13

New bands are blooming in C-U S

pringtime. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising and the semester is winding down. As with any spring, it’s time to do some spring cleaning; out with the old and in with the new. And if you are anything like me and you’re sick of the Hall and Oates greatest hits CD, then maybe it’s time for you to do some musical spring cleaning. What better place to find that fresh new music for the spring then right here in Champaign-Urbana? Now that you’re probably wondering where to get this fresh new music, enter Green St. Records.

What started with two roommates, Jason Drucker and Josh Morton, kicking ideas back and forth has quickly evolved into the Big Ten’s only student-run record company.

“I noticed a couple of the schools had organizations that took student music and distributed it to the university community. I thought, ‘Why can’t we do that here?’ “ Morton said.

Once the idea to form a student-run record label was turned into an official registered student organization, Drucker and Morton and fellow co-founder Aaron Rosenthal began to assemble a staff of approximately 12 fellow students to begin the long process of making a compilation album. With nothing but an idea and a dream, the three senior managers and their staff of students, ranging in majors from music to speech to engineering, began with the goal of creating an organization that not only released a solid compilation album every year, but also gave students a real insight into every facet of the recording process.

The first step in this process was to gather demos from various student bands and then to decide which bands would get on the album. If you learned anything from John Cusack in High Fidelity, then you know “a good compilation tape, like breaking up, takes ages longer than it might seem.” It was with this difficult task that the staff went to work and began listening to all of the demos on every medium from CDs to tapes to videos. After listening to each demo multiple times, the staff gathered and evaluated bands on musicianship, creativity and audience appeal. The final cut included student bands from every conceivable genre of popular music.

“We included everything from rock to hip-hop to styles of music Eric Resor of Eclectic Theory bangs away on the drums at Nargile.

whole new type of music.”

Through Green St. Records, many bands have been given a chance to bring their music to the student body.

“Hopefully it will be a good steppingstone to greater things,” said Dan “Pete” Peterson, lead singer of Eclectic Theory. “Many people would not have heard of us if it wasn’t for Green Street Records.”

With the promotion of the album, Green St. has helped many bands gain exposure to audiences all over campus. “Bands don’t play shows because they don’t have connections,” Drucker said. “We try to make that connection.”

The debut of Emergence has been a great experience for both the bands and the staff. “It’s been an amazing learning experience,” Morton said. “Working with bands in a professional environment and developing promotional campaigns like this is something you just can’t get in a classroom.”

The promotion for Emergence begins at noon on Friday, April 9 on the Quad with live music and continues the next day with the record release party. The best part for students is that Green St. Records is funded by SORF and not allowed to charge for services, so the album will be offered free of charge at the record release party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 10 at the

Courtyard Cafe.

The future of Green St. Records appears to very bright. With the foundation now set for future compilations, an attitude of making music for the students by the students, and an ever-growing staff, Green St. Records has set themselves up to release great compilations for many years to come. What started as an idea in a dorm room has grown into the Big Ten’s only student-run record label and a great outlet for local music.

“We were looking for a way to raise awareness about all of the great student music on this campus,” Drucker said. “The music was there.

Someone just needed to put it on a CD.” buzz

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K•B TOY OUTLET • GAP OUTLET • TOMMY HILFIGER COMPANY STORES • CARTER’S • VAN HEUSEN ROCKPORT OUTLET STORE • LENOX FACTORY OUTLET • OSHKOSH • WILSONS LEATHER OUTLET REEBOK OUTLET STORE • CASUAL CORNER • ZALE’S THE DIAMOND STORE OUTLET • AND MORE!

DJ DJ Sophisto – house, funk – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Brom – rock – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free NOX: DJ ZoZo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – goth, industrial – Highdive, 10pm, $2

DANCING

track down great outlet bargains

Latin Dance Night – salsa, cha-cha, merengue, bachata – McKinley Foundation, 9:30-11:30pm, $1

COMEDY Spicy Clamato – improv – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, free

Buy Direct from the Manufacturer at over

WednesdayApril14

45 BRAND NAME OUTLETS

LIVE MUSIC

MOMS’ weekend

Irish Traditional Music Session hosted by Lisa Boucher – Bentley's Pub, 8pm, free Hard Poor Korn – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Kilborn Alley – Tommy G's, 9pm, free Men's Glee Club Benefit Show: Finite Element, Vishnu Blue, Somewhere South, Seven Man, Awesome Team – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5

The CD release party for Emergence will take place at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union Saturday, April 10 at 7

Lead guitarist Andy Smith of The Ending plays at Nargile.

TangerOutlets

Open Bluegrass Jam Session – Verde Gallery, 7pm, free Relenter, i:scintilla, Adam's Castle, Brother Embassy – Nargile, 9:30pm, free Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Open Jam / Open Mic hosed by Openingbands.com and Tom Grassman – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Adam Wolf, Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free

DJ

Just for Mom, April 16-18 receive a

Chef Ra – reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free Circuit Pulse: DJ Sorcery Kid – hi-NRG Eurodance – Red Herring, 9pm, $2 Fabulous!!!: A Fashion-Forward Night of Dancing – Nargile, 10pm, $3 Dream Sequence – house – Caffe Paradiso, 10pm, free D-Lo & Spinnerty -– hip-hop – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free

5

$ FREE TANGER

KARAOKE The Cheezy Trio – live rock ‘n’ roll Karaoke band – Highdive, 10pm, $3

Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356-5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351-9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 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

.00

Gift Certificate

Receive a FREE Tanger Gift Certificate when you shop April 16-18, 2004. Simply return this voucher to the Management Office or Vitamin World for your free $5.00 Tanger Gift Certificate. Limit one free gift certificate per person. Offer good only April 16-18, 2004. Code# 682604

C-UVENUES

PHOTOS | ALI SAJJADI

BY VIMAL SONI | STAFF WRITER

that can’t even be easily categorized. There’s something for everyone,” Rosenthal said.

After deciding which bands would make it onto the CD, the label needed funds. Through benefit concerts, Student Organization Resource Fee funding and Paypal donations through their Web site www.greenstrecords.com, they were able to gather the necessary funds to buy time at a recording studio. The staff decided on Pogo Studio in Champaign. However, with limited funds and time, the recording process had to be extremely organized and executed quickly.

With most of the recording done over 28 hours in a single weekend, there was little room for error, with each band getting only three to four hours to record their song.

“We accomplished in three to four hours what would usually take 20 hours,” Morton said.

Most of the bands were guided in the studio by producer Mark Rubel, who has engineered on such albums as Hum’s Downwad is Heavenward. and is used to producing every music genre that appears on the album. After the process—which included everything from production to cover art and involved tireless efforts from the staff, the bands and the producers—Green St. Records is primed to release their debut album, Emergence.

The bands on the debut album include Animate Objects, Sincerely Calvin, Triple Whip, At Knifepoint, Chopcorn Chopperson and Baron Von Sqratch, Bullet Called Life, Fredology, Eclectic Theory, Kate Hathaway, Drop the One, The Ending and Synesthesia.

The bands range from hip-hop to hard rock and everything in between, which makes the album a real reflection of C-U music.

“We wanted to create a musical representation of the student body,” said Drucker. “People who get the CD for one band can be opened to a

Formerly Factory Stores at Tuscola

LIVE MUSIC

Student-run Green St. Records releases Emergence, features local talent

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APRIL 8-14, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Gift certificate is valid in Tuscola, IL only and must be used for purchases of $5.00 or greater. Gift Certificate is not redeemable for cash. Limit one ad redemption for a $5.00 gift certificate per customer, per day.

BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER EVERYDAY. ANYDAY.

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at: www.tangeroutlet.com

15

14

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calendar

ThursdayApril8 LIVE MUSIC U of I #3 Jazz Combo – The Iron Post, 1-9pm, TBA Acoustic Music Series: Kate Hathaway – Aroma Cafe, 8pm, free Men Against Sexual Violence Benefit: Darrin Drda, Animate Objects, The Violents, Equinox, Brother Embassy, The Railers – Cowboy Monkey, 9pm, $5 Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Jeff Helgesens Jazz Mayhem – Zorba's, 9:30pm, free Solips, Emotional Rec Club, Monster Honkey – Brass Rail, 10pm, $3 7th Heaven – Canopy Club, 10pm, TBA One Night Stand – funk/rock – The Iron Post, 10pm Hippus Campus (jazz ensemble) & Claire Happel (harp) – Beckman Institute Atrium, 12:20-12:50pm

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | APRIL 8-14, 2004

AROUND TOWN IlliniDigs Fashion Show – Canopy Club, 7-10pm, TBA

COMEDY Comedians: Tiny Glover, Michael Ester and Marc Theobald; opener: Chris Ryan – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, stu $4, public $6

FridayApril9 LIVE MUSIC

DJ J-Phlip – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Stifler – Tommy G's, 9pm, free DJ Odyssey – Joe's Brewery, 10pm, TBA DJ Delayney – hip-hop, house – Nargile, 10pm, $5

Happy Hour: Panache – Boltini, 5pm, free Roger Clair – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, $2 Angie Heaton & Grass Roots Revival – bluegrass – The Iron Post, 5pm & 6pm, respectively, free Happy Hour: Jack Marck – classic rock – Tommy G's, 5-7pm, free Pocket Big Band – Highdive, 5:30pm, free Ryan Groff, Brent Byrd, Tracks, Kate Hathaway Band – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover Ekoostik Hookah – Canopy Club, 10pm, $8 Lorenzo Goetz, Stickfigure, The Pitch – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5 Mad Cats – party/rock – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover The Virtues – Hubers, 8pm, TBA

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

DJ

SPOKEN WORD New at Nargile: The Northstar Lounge hosted by CZAR Absolute of Animate Objects, this week feat. Dynamic Vibrations – hip-hop/spoken word poetry set/open mic – Nargile, 10:30pm, $5

DJ

Interval: Mark Morris Dance Group musicians – Krannert Center lobby, 12pm, free Laurien Laufman (cello) & Timothy Ehlen (piano) – Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $2-$5 Chamber Music Recital: Katherine Camer (violin), Maureen Murchie (viola), Jennifer Wright (cello), Kris Becker (piano) – Smith Music Hall, 7:30pm

DJ Bozak – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Orby – Joe's Brewery, 10pm, TBA Organic Grooves DJ's – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ ImpacT – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, 10pm, $5

KARAOKE

KARAOKE

"G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am The Cheezy Trio – live Karaoke band – Daddio’s in Bloomington, TBA

DANCING Hip-Hop Explosion – Courtyard Cafe, 7pm, free “G” Force Karaoke and DJ – Urbana American Legion, 8pm-1am

buzz

SaturdayApril10

SundayApril11

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC

Green St. Records Album Release Show: Animate Objects, At Knifepoint, Triple Whip, Synesthesia, The Ending, Eclectic Theory, Drop the One – Courtyard Cafe, 7pm, $5 Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Jeffrey Lewis – Highdive, 7:30pm, $10 Prince – Assembly Hall, 8pm, $49.50-$65 No Secret Band – Hubers, 8pm, TBA Sarah Pirkle – bluegrass Americana – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Natural History, Legs For Days, Pacific UV, American Draft – Nargile, 9:30pm, $5 Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover Hair Bangers Ball, X-Krush – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Blues Deacons – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 The Dednecks – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Grass Roots Revival – Pages For All Ages, 7-9pm, free No Secret – Hubers, 8pm, TBA

Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30pm, free Green Mountain Grass – Canopy Club, 10pm, free

DJ

Lil’ Big Bass – drum ‘n bass – Barfly, 9pm, free Spundays: DJ Delayney – hip-hop, soul – Boltini, 10pm, free Blends By Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Downtempo Lounge Night w/ DJ Fritz – Nargile, 10pm, free

MondayApril12 LIVE MUSIC Open Mic – Za's, 7pm, free Jazz Jam hosted by ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 7:30pm Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited – Highdive, 9pm, $15 Leftover Salmon, 56 Hope Road – Canopy Club, 10pm, $15 Open Mic Night hosted by Brandon T. Washington – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2 Campos – downtempo, deep house – Barfly, 9pm, free Case of the Mondays – house – Nargile, 10pm, free

KARAOKE

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

DANCING Singles Celebrating Life dance – Urbana Civic Center, 8pm-12am, $7

DJ

Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free

COMEDY DeBono – improv comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 910pm, free

KARAOKE "G" Force Karaoke – Kam's, 10pm-2am

music

APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | MY NAME’S MARK MCGRATH AND I’M, LIKE, SUPER COOL

DJ

DJ Resonate – hip-hop – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Naughtyboy – Joe's Brewery, 10pm, TBA DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, $5 The Return of “Twice as Nice” – A Four Hour Tag Set w/ DJ Mertz and J-Phlip – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 “Soulful Saturdays” w/ DJ Phokiss, Chill Will, DJ World – Watusi Lounge, free before 11pm "G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am

buzz

CDReviews

040804buzz1114

SUFJAN STEVENS Seven Swans

wedding, “I was the best man in a size too small / You were my best friend going at it all.”

Because of the personal nature of many of these songs, Stevens’ Christianity comes through. Songs like “Abraham”and “The Transfiguration”seem to be founded in Christian theology, but others are more cryptic and metaphorical, leaving them open to interpretation.

Some may scoff at the notion of religion-laced lyrics, but let’s face it, religion and quality art have been linked for centuries. Either way, Stevens is a brilliant composer who is able to craft soft, peaceful melodies that would complement anyone’s feelings of memory and nostalgia.

Many of the songs on Seven Swans don’t achieve the musical grandeur of Michigan, but do offer more of the personal, quieter and self-reflective Stevens found on Michigan’s stronger tracks.

★★★

MUSE Absolution

BY JACOB DITTMER

Warner Brothers

Sounds Familyre

fact effortlessly resorts to faultless Rachmaninoff-style interludes, such as the unexpected gorgeousness of “Butterflies & Hurricanes.” It is tragic that so little time is dedicated to this aspect of his repertoire.

“Time Is Running Out,” the first single released from this album, is perhaps the track most indicative of the band. Employing every trick in the book, they construct as good a radio single as you are likely to hear anywhere. A song like this glorifies the rock star and inspires those embarrassing displays of air guitar and impromptu karaoke. Unfortunately, everything on the album is sufficiently similar as to only inspire monotony; the album is great to listen to, but there are only a handful of truly memorable moments. Muse is another band that is most suited to a live setting, hence their following in Europe that allows them to headline major festivals and play sellout concerts in vast arenas. Their American following, on the other hand, has yet to reach such heights. Their Chicago stop will be at the Metro on April 23, where they are sure to put on an amazing show despite touring in support of arguably their weakest album.

CHARTS

★★★ Last year’s Michigan by Sufjan Stevens stands as one of the most creative and interesting releases of late.

The idea of creating a concept album entirely about a state is intriguing enough, but now Stevens thinks he’ll make an album for all 50 states in the Union.“Good luck” is all one can offer to such a grand goal, but as long as each is as well-written and thoughtful as Michigan, I’ll await each with anticipation.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Michigan comes from Stevens’ history, for he was born and raised in the Wolverine State.This closeness and familiarity provided a wealth of songs that was far more than a single CD. Seven Swans are the remaining tracks of these Michigan sessions and is not the second installment of the 50 states albums.

Stevens is an amazingly talented songwriter and musician. On Michigan, he played approximately 25 instruments. The liner notes of Seven Swans credits the album’s other musicians followed by a simple statement:“All other instruments played by Sufjan Stevens.” But Stevens’ main instrument of choice is the banjo, and if there is one thing the world needs more of, it’s banjo (and maybe cowbell).

These songs don’t share the same direct relationship to Michigan landmarks as his previous album did, but they do continue to explore the realms of indie folk and orchestral pop. Certain songs are simple and direct with little more than Stevens’ whispered vocals and guitar, while other tracks incorporate glockenspiel, an array of stringed instruments, a piano and even the saw.

Although some have a grander sound than others, the songs as a whole don’t travel beyond the deeply personalized lyrical content that Stevens pens so well.

At times, listening to Stevens’ music is like looking at a photo album. A feeling of warmth and nostalgia rushes over listeners. They finish the album feeling they know Stevens better. On “Size too Small,” Stevens recounts his feelings as the best man at his friend’s

BY SHADIE ELNASHAI

For all their posturing and self-indulgence, Muse’s output has been for the most part consistently commendable. It is to their credit that in the six years since their first EP, they have developed an instantly recognizable sound that is unique to them and no longer merely an extension of the Radiohead-esque label they were afforded upon their initial emergence. Absolution is the epitome of everything they have developed over the past few years, every element that sets them apart musically manifested in its most extreme form yet.

Like Origin Of Symmetry before it, this is a rock album, both in the traditional sense and in the Muse sense. It is invigorating and exciting, laden with distorted guitars and ostentatious drums and bass. The trademark arpeggios are employed in predictable abundance, as are the catchy riffs that allow Muse to market themselves to a mainstream demographic as well as a fringe one. The final product is deliberately over-stylized but technically perfect, often sounding like a contemporary rock opera.

But it is Muse’s unprecedented level of self-importance that is most noteworthy. Every single track is imbued with the kind of assuredness that accompanies a genuine belief that they are writing an anthem that will be definitive of an entire generation of listeners. The lyrics stage a melodramatic anguish that would be laughable without the confidence inherent in their sincerity.

Fortunately, they pull it off, apparently learning from the occasional unrestrained excesses of Origin Of Symmetry.

In doing so, Matt Bellamy’s powerful falsetto sounds like a more volatile take on Thom Yorke, but this is not his greatest asset. Though Muse is primarily a guitar band— and Bellamy can at times be a visionary guitarist—it is when he sits down at the piano that the genius really shows. Unlike practically any budding pianist in rock who might manipulate standard chords into melodies, he in

PARASOL RECORDS TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic) 2. Tortoise - It’s All Around You (Thrill Jockey) 3. Iron And Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop) 4. Sigur Ros - Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di Do (Geffen) 5. The Comsat Angels - It’s History (Nano) 6. Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard (Hidden Agenda) 7. Elf Power - Walking with the Beggar Boys (Orange Twin) 8. Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a Butterfly (4AD) 9. TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch And Go) 10. Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (Domino)

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

The Hurly-Burly

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unlistenable Whoops. Next week, the Top Five will return with top five songs to kill the mood.

Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture Local music news! American Minor signed to Jive Records March 18 and played their first show as a signed band at Austin’s South By Southwest Festival on March 19. The Blackouts will have a song off their first release, Everyday Is A Sunday Evening, featured in an episode of the WB’s One Tree Hill. Check the Web site for air date and time. Their new album will be released April 12. Congratulations to all.

Dance-rockers !!! have announced the official release date, tracklist and title of their forthcoming LP. Louden Up Now will be released June 8 via Touch and Go and a day earlier via Warp International.

Spazz-core rockers The Blood Brothers are currently in the studio at work on their follow-up to 2001’s Burn, Piano Island, Burn. The as-yet-untitled album is due this fall from ARTISTDirect and will be produced by John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Blonde Redhead).

According to the band’s official What the hell? site, MTV stalwarts Sugar Moment of the week Web Ray will participate in a new Spike TV reality show. The band’s upcoming club and college tour will be filmed as eight participants work for the band and a chance to work at a record company for a year. As Donald Trump attempts to copyright the phrase “You’re fired,” it might be a bit harder for Mark McGrath to copyright, “Hey man, one of the roadies just threw up on DJ Homicide’s new shoes and you totally have to clean it up, like, right now.”

11

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12calendar

calendar

Voted C-U’s Best Mexican Restaurant

buzzpicks

>> The spirit of

H

ead to Highdive Monday and spend the night dancing to Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, veteran leaders of

Dine In & Carry Out 217-351-6879 1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign

Zimbabwe lights up the stage

Chimurenga music. This music brings listeners an electrified sound Hours: Mon-Thur Fri Sat Sun

heavy on guitars and traditional melodies from Zimbabwe’s Shona cul-

11am-10pm 11am-10:30pm 11:30-10:30pm 11:30am-10pm

ture. Thomas Mapfumo grew up in this culture in Zimbabwe and started experimenting with different musical sounds when he was a child. He finally hit the international scene in the 1980s, and has nearly 20 recordings to his name today. Mapfumo combines his love for music with his political beliefs. He defined the style of Chimurenga music and uses it to spread relevant social and political messages to listeners. Now living in

Schedule for APRIL 2004

Oregon, Mapfumo and his band construct detailed riffs with multiple layers of texture, blending warm,

We are proud to be your connection to local High School athletics in Champaign County.

melodic sounds with protest lyrics to create dance-

Catch our new webcasts of specific programs.

Listen and win tickets to the Cubs.

Check out all the action of www.1460sports.com.

Have a question? Give us a call at 217-355-ESPN

able songs you won’t soon forget. Catch Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited Monday night at Highdive. The show starts at 9 p.m. with a $15 cover.

E-mail us at fanmail@1460sports.com

Local bands join forces to rock against rape <<

CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER

S

et aside your Thursday night to support something worth-

[ our way ]

while, and catch some quality music at the same time. The

University club Men Against Sexual Violence is throwing a benefit concert at Cowboy Monkey you won’t want to miss. From

$400

punk rock group The Violents’ raw energy to Equinox’s experimental rock sound that adds violins and flutes to the mix, there

Cash Bonus

is something for everyone at this benefit show. Darrin Drda’s experimental melodies will soothe you while local hip-hop artists Animate Objects will get you goin’ again. Rounding out the night will be Brother Embassy and The Railers. So head to

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What’s Your Music Scene?

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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS 18 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID IN FLORIDA AND WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends 6/30/04.

For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.fordvehicles.com/collegegrad. Sponsor: Ford Motor Company, One American Rd., Dearborn, MI 48126.

May be combined with most other national incentives available at the time of purchase or lease on the model you select.

See your local Ford or Lincoln Mercury Dealer for details.

Visit our Web site for Official Program Rules.

Cowboy Monkey Thursday at 9 p.m. to back Men Against Sexual Violence. Cover is $5.

Prince pops into town

>>

W

here would the music world be without “Little Red Corvette,” “Let’s Go Crazy” or “Purple Rain”? Rock ‘n’ roll, pop, funk—he brings it all together to create catchy, hook-driven

songs that know no boundaries of genre or style. From sexy to melancholy, trashy to classy, Prince has been crafting unforgettable lyrics and hooks since the late 1970s. No opening act Saturday night. Just you, the Artist and decades worth of classic Prince hits that will have you screaming your praises through every encore. He heads to Assembly Hall Saturday night. The show starts at 8 p.m. Don’t miss it.

13

040804buzz1213

4/7/04

4:45 PM

Page 1

12calendar

calendar

Voted C-U’s Best Mexican Restaurant

buzzpicks

>> The spirit of

H

ead to Highdive Monday and spend the night dancing to Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, veteran leaders of

Dine In & Carry Out 217-351-6879 1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign

Zimbabwe lights up the stage

Chimurenga music. This music brings listeners an electrified sound Hours: Mon-Thur Fri Sat Sun

heavy on guitars and traditional melodies from Zimbabwe’s Shona cul-

11am-10pm 11am-10:30pm 11:30-10:30pm 11:30am-10pm

ture. Thomas Mapfumo grew up in this culture in Zimbabwe and started experimenting with different musical sounds when he was a child. He finally hit the international scene in the 1980s, and has nearly 20 recordings to his name today. Mapfumo combines his love for music with his political beliefs. He defined the style of Chimurenga music and uses it to spread relevant social and political messages to listeners. Now living in

Schedule for APRIL 2004

Oregon, Mapfumo and his band construct detailed riffs with multiple layers of texture, blending warm,

We are proud to be your connection to local High School athletics in Champaign County.

melodic sounds with protest lyrics to create dance-

Catch our new webcasts of specific programs.

Listen and win tickets to the Cubs.

Check out all the action of www.1460sports.com.

Have a question? Give us a call at 217-355-ESPN

able songs you won’t soon forget. Catch Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited Monday night at Highdive. The show starts at 9 p.m. with a $15 cover.

E-mail us at fanmail@1460sports.com

Local bands join forces to rock against rape <<

CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER

S

et aside your Thursday night to support something worth-

[ our way ]

while, and catch some quality music at the same time. The

University club Men Against Sexual Violence is throwing a benefit concert at Cowboy Monkey you won’t want to miss. From

$400

punk rock group The Violents’ raw energy to Equinox’s experimental rock sound that adds violins and flutes to the mix, there

Cash Bonus

is something for everyone at this benefit show. Darrin Drda’s experimental melodies will soothe you while local hip-hop artists Animate Objects will get you goin’ again. Rounding out the night will be Brother Embassy and The Railers. So head to

Available to grads of accredited colleges, junior colleges, community colleges, nursing or trade schools OR current grad school students.

www.fordvehicles.com/collegegrad

What’s Your Music Scene?

The game where you can win cool prizes – Instantly.

Check it out. Visit our College Grad Web site.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS 18 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID IN FLORIDA AND WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends 6/30/04.

For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.fordvehicles.com/collegegrad. Sponsor: Ford Motor Company, One American Rd., Dearborn, MI 48126.

May be combined with most other national incentives available at the time of purchase or lease on the model you select.

See your local Ford or Lincoln Mercury Dealer for details.

Visit our Web site for Official Program Rules.

Cowboy Monkey Thursday at 9 p.m. to back Men Against Sexual Violence. Cover is $5.

Prince pops into town

>>

W

here would the music world be without “Little Red Corvette,” “Let’s Go Crazy” or “Purple Rain”? Rock ‘n’ roll, pop, funk—he brings it all together to create catchy, hook-driven

songs that know no boundaries of genre or style. From sexy to melancholy, trashy to classy, Prince has been crafting unforgettable lyrics and hooks since the late 1970s. No opening act Saturday night. Just you, the Artist and decades worth of classic Prince hits that will have you screaming your praises through every encore. He heads to Assembly Hall Saturday night. The show starts at 8 p.m. Don’t miss it.

13

14

4/7/04

5:35 PM

Page 1

calendar

ThursdayApril8 LIVE MUSIC U of I #3 Jazz Combo – The Iron Post, 1-9pm, TBA Acoustic Music Series: Kate Hathaway – Aroma Cafe, 8pm, free Men Against Sexual Violence Benefit: Darrin Drda, Animate Objects, The Violents, Equinox, Brother Embassy, The Railers – Cowboy Monkey, 9pm, $5 Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Jeff Helgesens Jazz Mayhem – Zorba's, 9:30pm, free Solips, Emotional Rec Club, Monster Honkey – Brass Rail, 10pm, $3 7th Heaven – Canopy Club, 10pm, TBA One Night Stand – funk/rock – The Iron Post, 10pm Hippus Campus (jazz ensemble) & Claire Happel (harp) – Beckman Institute Atrium, 12:20-12:50pm

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | APRIL 8-14, 2004

AROUND TOWN IlliniDigs Fashion Show – Canopy Club, 7-10pm, TBA

COMEDY Comedians: Tiny Glover, Michael Ester and Marc Theobald; opener: Chris Ryan – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, stu $4, public $6

FridayApril9 LIVE MUSIC

DJ J-Phlip – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Stifler – Tommy G's, 9pm, free DJ Odyssey – Joe's Brewery, 10pm, TBA DJ Delayney – hip-hop, house – Nargile, 10pm, $5

Happy Hour: Panache – Boltini, 5pm, free Roger Clair – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, $2 Angie Heaton & Grass Roots Revival – bluegrass – The Iron Post, 5pm & 6pm, respectively, free Happy Hour: Jack Marck – classic rock – Tommy G's, 5-7pm, free Pocket Big Band – Highdive, 5:30pm, free Ryan Groff, Brent Byrd, Tracks, Kate Hathaway Band – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover Ekoostik Hookah – Canopy Club, 10pm, $8 Lorenzo Goetz, Stickfigure, The Pitch – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5 Mad Cats – party/rock – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover The Virtues – Hubers, 8pm, TBA

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

DJ

SPOKEN WORD New at Nargile: The Northstar Lounge hosted by CZAR Absolute of Animate Objects, this week feat. Dynamic Vibrations – hip-hop/spoken word poetry set/open mic – Nargile, 10:30pm, $5

DJ

Interval: Mark Morris Dance Group musicians – Krannert Center lobby, 12pm, free Laurien Laufman (cello) & Timothy Ehlen (piano) – Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $2-$5 Chamber Music Recital: Katherine Camer (violin), Maureen Murchie (viola), Jennifer Wright (cello), Kris Becker (piano) – Smith Music Hall, 7:30pm

DJ Bozak – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Orby – Joe's Brewery, 10pm, TBA Organic Grooves DJ's – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ ImpacT – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, 10pm, $5

KARAOKE

KARAOKE

"G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am The Cheezy Trio – live Karaoke band – Daddio’s in Bloomington, TBA

DANCING Hip-Hop Explosion – Courtyard Cafe, 7pm, free “G” Force Karaoke and DJ – Urbana American Legion, 8pm-1am

buzz

SaturdayApril10

SundayApril11

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC

Green St. Records Album Release Show: Animate Objects, At Knifepoint, Triple Whip, Synesthesia, The Ending, Eclectic Theory, Drop the One – Courtyard Cafe, 7pm, $5 Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Jeffrey Lewis – Highdive, 7:30pm, $10 Prince – Assembly Hall, 8pm, $49.50-$65 No Secret Band – Hubers, 8pm, TBA Sarah Pirkle – bluegrass Americana – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Natural History, Legs For Days, Pacific UV, American Draft – Nargile, 9:30pm, $5 Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover Hair Bangers Ball, X-Krush – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Blues Deacons – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 The Dednecks – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Grass Roots Revival – Pages For All Ages, 7-9pm, free No Secret – Hubers, 8pm, TBA

Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30pm, free Green Mountain Grass – Canopy Club, 10pm, free

DJ

Lil’ Big Bass – drum ‘n bass – Barfly, 9pm, free Spundays: DJ Delayney – hip-hop, soul – Boltini, 10pm, free Blends By Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Downtempo Lounge Night w/ DJ Fritz – Nargile, 10pm, free

MondayApril12 LIVE MUSIC Open Mic – Za's, 7pm, free Jazz Jam hosted by ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 7:30pm Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited – Highdive, 9pm, $15 Leftover Salmon, 56 Hope Road – Canopy Club, 10pm, $15 Open Mic Night hosted by Brandon T. Washington – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2 Campos – downtempo, deep house – Barfly, 9pm, free Case of the Mondays – house – Nargile, 10pm, free

KARAOKE

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

DANCING Singles Celebrating Life dance – Urbana Civic Center, 8pm-12am, $7

DJ

Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free

COMEDY DeBono – improv comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 910pm, free

KARAOKE "G" Force Karaoke – Kam's, 10pm-2am

music

APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | MY NAME’S MARK MCGRATH AND I’M, LIKE, SUPER COOL

DJ

DJ Resonate – hip-hop – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Naughtyboy – Joe's Brewery, 10pm, TBA DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, $5 The Return of “Twice as Nice” – A Four Hour Tag Set w/ DJ Mertz and J-Phlip – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 “Soulful Saturdays” w/ DJ Phokiss, Chill Will, DJ World – Watusi Lounge, free before 11pm "G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am

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CDReviews

040804buzz1114

SUFJAN STEVENS Seven Swans

wedding, “I was the best man in a size too small / You were my best friend going at it all.”

Because of the personal nature of many of these songs, Stevens’ Christianity comes through. Songs like “Abraham”and “The Transfiguration”seem to be founded in Christian theology, but others are more cryptic and metaphorical, leaving them open to interpretation.

Some may scoff at the notion of religion-laced lyrics, but let’s face it, religion and quality art have been linked for centuries. Either way, Stevens is a brilliant composer who is able to craft soft, peaceful melodies that would complement anyone’s feelings of memory and nostalgia.

Many of the songs on Seven Swans don’t achieve the musical grandeur of Michigan, but do offer more of the personal, quieter and self-reflective Stevens found on Michigan’s stronger tracks.

★★★

MUSE Absolution

BY JACOB DITTMER

Warner Brothers

Sounds Familyre

fact effortlessly resorts to faultless Rachmaninoff-style interludes, such as the unexpected gorgeousness of “Butterflies & Hurricanes.” It is tragic that so little time is dedicated to this aspect of his repertoire.

“Time Is Running Out,” the first single released from this album, is perhaps the track most indicative of the band. Employing every trick in the book, they construct as good a radio single as you are likely to hear anywhere. A song like this glorifies the rock star and inspires those embarrassing displays of air guitar and impromptu karaoke. Unfortunately, everything on the album is sufficiently similar as to only inspire monotony; the album is great to listen to, but there are only a handful of truly memorable moments. Muse is another band that is most suited to a live setting, hence their following in Europe that allows them to headline major festivals and play sellout concerts in vast arenas. Their American following, on the other hand, has yet to reach such heights. Their Chicago stop will be at the Metro on April 23, where they are sure to put on an amazing show despite touring in support of arguably their weakest album.

CHARTS

★★★ Last year’s Michigan by Sufjan Stevens stands as one of the most creative and interesting releases of late.

The idea of creating a concept album entirely about a state is intriguing enough, but now Stevens thinks he’ll make an album for all 50 states in the Union.“Good luck” is all one can offer to such a grand goal, but as long as each is as well-written and thoughtful as Michigan, I’ll await each with anticipation.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Michigan comes from Stevens’ history, for he was born and raised in the Wolverine State.This closeness and familiarity provided a wealth of songs that was far more than a single CD. Seven Swans are the remaining tracks of these Michigan sessions and is not the second installment of the 50 states albums.

Stevens is an amazingly talented songwriter and musician. On Michigan, he played approximately 25 instruments. The liner notes of Seven Swans credits the album’s other musicians followed by a simple statement:“All other instruments played by Sufjan Stevens.” But Stevens’ main instrument of choice is the banjo, and if there is one thing the world needs more of, it’s banjo (and maybe cowbell).

These songs don’t share the same direct relationship to Michigan landmarks as his previous album did, but they do continue to explore the realms of indie folk and orchestral pop. Certain songs are simple and direct with little more than Stevens’ whispered vocals and guitar, while other tracks incorporate glockenspiel, an array of stringed instruments, a piano and even the saw.

Although some have a grander sound than others, the songs as a whole don’t travel beyond the deeply personalized lyrical content that Stevens pens so well.

At times, listening to Stevens’ music is like looking at a photo album. A feeling of warmth and nostalgia rushes over listeners. They finish the album feeling they know Stevens better. On “Size too Small,” Stevens recounts his feelings as the best man at his friend’s

BY SHADIE ELNASHAI

For all their posturing and self-indulgence, Muse’s output has been for the most part consistently commendable. It is to their credit that in the six years since their first EP, they have developed an instantly recognizable sound that is unique to them and no longer merely an extension of the Radiohead-esque label they were afforded upon their initial emergence. Absolution is the epitome of everything they have developed over the past few years, every element that sets them apart musically manifested in its most extreme form yet.

Like Origin Of Symmetry before it, this is a rock album, both in the traditional sense and in the Muse sense. It is invigorating and exciting, laden with distorted guitars and ostentatious drums and bass. The trademark arpeggios are employed in predictable abundance, as are the catchy riffs that allow Muse to market themselves to a mainstream demographic as well as a fringe one. The final product is deliberately over-stylized but technically perfect, often sounding like a contemporary rock opera.

But it is Muse’s unprecedented level of self-importance that is most noteworthy. Every single track is imbued with the kind of assuredness that accompanies a genuine belief that they are writing an anthem that will be definitive of an entire generation of listeners. The lyrics stage a melodramatic anguish that would be laughable without the confidence inherent in their sincerity.

Fortunately, they pull it off, apparently learning from the occasional unrestrained excesses of Origin Of Symmetry.

In doing so, Matt Bellamy’s powerful falsetto sounds like a more volatile take on Thom Yorke, but this is not his greatest asset. Though Muse is primarily a guitar band— and Bellamy can at times be a visionary guitarist—it is when he sits down at the piano that the genius really shows. Unlike practically any budding pianist in rock who might manipulate standard chords into melodies, he in

PARASOL RECORDS TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic) 2. Tortoise - It’s All Around You (Thrill Jockey) 3. Iron And Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop) 4. Sigur Ros - Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di Do (Geffen) 5. The Comsat Angels - It’s History (Nano) 6. Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard (Hidden Agenda) 7. Elf Power - Walking with the Beggar Boys (Orange Twin) 8. Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a Butterfly (4AD) 9. TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch And Go) 10. Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (Domino)

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

The Hurly-Burly

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unlistenable Whoops. Next week, the Top Five will return with top five songs to kill the mood.

Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture Local music news! American Minor signed to Jive Records March 18 and played their first show as a signed band at Austin’s South By Southwest Festival on March 19. The Blackouts will have a song off their first release, Everyday Is A Sunday Evening, featured in an episode of the WB’s One Tree Hill. Check the Web site for air date and time. Their new album will be released April 12. Congratulations to all.

Dance-rockers !!! have announced the official release date, tracklist and title of their forthcoming LP. Louden Up Now will be released June 8 via Touch and Go and a day earlier via Warp International.

Spazz-core rockers The Blood Brothers are currently in the studio at work on their follow-up to 2001’s Burn, Piano Island, Burn. The as-yet-untitled album is due this fall from ARTISTDirect and will be produced by John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Blonde Redhead).

According to the band’s official What the hell? site, MTV stalwarts Sugar Moment of the week Web Ray will participate in a new Spike TV reality show. The band’s upcoming club and college tour will be filmed as eight participants work for the band and a chance to work at a record company for a year. As Donald Trump attempts to copyright the phrase “You’re fired,” it might be a bit harder for Mark McGrath to copyright, “Hey man, one of the roadies just threw up on DJ Homicide’s new shoes and you totally have to clean it up, like, right now.”

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ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER 4 LIFE | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

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TuesdayApril13

New bands are blooming in C-U S

pringtime. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising and the semester is winding down. As with any spring, it’s time to do some spring cleaning; out with the old and in with the new. And if you are anything like me and you’re sick of the Hall and Oates greatest hits CD, then maybe it’s time for you to do some musical spring cleaning. What better place to find that fresh new music for the spring then right here in Champaign-Urbana? Now that you’re probably wondering where to get this fresh new music, enter Green St. Records.

What started with two roommates, Jason Drucker and Josh Morton, kicking ideas back and forth has quickly evolved into the Big Ten’s only student-run record company.

“I noticed a couple of the schools had organizations that took student music and distributed it to the university community. I thought, ‘Why can’t we do that here?’ “ Morton said.

Once the idea to form a student-run record label was turned into an official registered student organization, Drucker and Morton and fellow co-founder Aaron Rosenthal began to assemble a staff of approximately 12 fellow students to begin the long process of making a compilation album. With nothing but an idea and a dream, the three senior managers and their staff of students, ranging in majors from music to speech to engineering, began with the goal of creating an organization that not only released a solid compilation album every year, but also gave students a real insight into every facet of the recording process.

The first step in this process was to gather demos from various student bands and then to decide which bands would get on the album. If you learned anything from John Cusack in High Fidelity, then you know “a good compilation tape, like breaking up, takes ages longer than it might seem.” It was with this difficult task that the staff went to work and began listening to all of the demos on every medium from CDs to tapes to videos. After listening to each demo multiple times, the staff gathered and evaluated bands on musicianship, creativity and audience appeal. The final cut included student bands from every conceivable genre of popular music.

“We included everything from rock to hip-hop to styles of music Eric Resor of Eclectic Theory bangs away on the drums at Nargile.

whole new type of music.”

Through Green St. Records, many bands have been given a chance to bring their music to the student body.

“Hopefully it will be a good steppingstone to greater things,” said Dan “Pete” Peterson, lead singer of Eclectic Theory. “Many people would not have heard of us if it wasn’t for Green Street Records.”

With the promotion of the album, Green St. has helped many bands gain exposure to audiences all over campus. “Bands don’t play shows because they don’t have connections,” Drucker said. “We try to make that connection.”

The debut of Emergence has been a great experience for both the bands and the staff. “It’s been an amazing learning experience,” Morton said. “Working with bands in a professional environment and developing promotional campaigns like this is something you just can’t get in a classroom.”

The promotion for Emergence begins at noon on Friday, April 9 on the Quad with live music and continues the next day with the record release party. The best part for students is that Green St. Records is funded by SORF and not allowed to charge for services, so the album will be offered free of charge at the record release party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 10 at the

Courtyard Cafe.

The future of Green St. Records appears to very bright. With the foundation now set for future compilations, an attitude of making music for the students by the students, and an ever-growing staff, Green St. Records has set themselves up to release great compilations for many years to come. What started as an idea in a dorm room has grown into the Big Ten’s only student-run record label and a great outlet for local music.

“We were looking for a way to raise awareness about all of the great student music on this campus,” Drucker said. “The music was there.

Someone just needed to put it on a CD.” buzz

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DJ DJ Sophisto – house, funk – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Brom – rock – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free NOX: DJ ZoZo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – goth, industrial – Highdive, 10pm, $2

DANCING

track down great outlet bargains

Latin Dance Night – salsa, cha-cha, merengue, bachata – McKinley Foundation, 9:30-11:30pm, $1

COMEDY Spicy Clamato – improv – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, free

Buy Direct from the Manufacturer at over

WednesdayApril14

45 BRAND NAME OUTLETS

LIVE MUSIC

MOMS’ weekend

Irish Traditional Music Session hosted by Lisa Boucher – Bentley's Pub, 8pm, free Hard Poor Korn – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Kilborn Alley – Tommy G's, 9pm, free Men's Glee Club Benefit Show: Finite Element, Vishnu Blue, Somewhere South, Seven Man, Awesome Team – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5

The CD release party for Emergence will take place at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union Saturday, April 10 at 7

Lead guitarist Andy Smith of The Ending plays at Nargile.

TangerOutlets

Open Bluegrass Jam Session – Verde Gallery, 7pm, free Relenter, i:scintilla, Adam's Castle, Brother Embassy – Nargile, 9:30pm, free Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Open Jam / Open Mic hosed by Openingbands.com and Tom Grassman – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Adam Wolf, Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free

DJ

Just for Mom, April 16-18 receive a

Chef Ra – reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free Circuit Pulse: DJ Sorcery Kid – hi-NRG Eurodance – Red Herring, 9pm, $2 Fabulous!!!: A Fashion-Forward Night of Dancing – Nargile, 10pm, $3 Dream Sequence – house – Caffe Paradiso, 10pm, free D-Lo & Spinnerty -– hip-hop – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free

5

$ FREE TANGER

KARAOKE The Cheezy Trio – live rock ‘n’ roll Karaoke band – Highdive, 10pm, $3

Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356-5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351-9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 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

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Gift Certificate

Receive a FREE Tanger Gift Certificate when you shop April 16-18, 2004. Simply return this voucher to the Management Office or Vitamin World for your free $5.00 Tanger Gift Certificate. Limit one free gift certificate per person. Offer good only April 16-18, 2004. Code# 682604

C-UVENUES

PHOTOS | ALI SAJJADI

BY VIMAL SONI | STAFF WRITER

that can’t even be easily categorized. There’s something for everyone,” Rosenthal said.

After deciding which bands would make it onto the CD, the label needed funds. Through benefit concerts, Student Organization Resource Fee funding and Paypal donations through their Web site www.greenstrecords.com, they were able to gather the necessary funds to buy time at a recording studio. The staff decided on Pogo Studio in Champaign. However, with limited funds and time, the recording process had to be extremely organized and executed quickly.

With most of the recording done over 28 hours in a single weekend, there was little room for error, with each band getting only three to four hours to record their song.

“We accomplished in three to four hours what would usually take 20 hours,” Morton said.

Most of the bands were guided in the studio by producer Mark Rubel, who has engineered on such albums as Hum’s Downwad is Heavenward. and is used to producing every music genre that appears on the album. After the process—which included everything from production to cover art and involved tireless efforts from the staff, the bands and the producers—Green St. Records is primed to release their debut album, Emergence.

The bands on the debut album include Animate Objects, Sincerely Calvin, Triple Whip, At Knifepoint, Chopcorn Chopperson and Baron Von Sqratch, Bullet Called Life, Fredology, Eclectic Theory, Kate Hathaway, Drop the One, The Ending and Synesthesia.

The bands range from hip-hop to hard rock and everything in between, which makes the album a real reflection of C-U music.

“We wanted to create a musical representation of the student body,” said Drucker. “People who get the CD for one band can be opened to a

Formerly Factory Stores at Tuscola

LIVE MUSIC

Student-run Green St. Records releases Emergence, features local talent

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APRIL 8-14, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

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Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike ‘n Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 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

CHICAGOSHOWS APRIL 4/8 Geoff Farina @ Schubas 4/8 Trapt, Smile Empty Soul @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/8 Sugarcult @ Metro, all-ages 4/8 N.E.R.D., Black Eyed Peas @ Riviera, 18+ 4/9 Weird War @ Empty Bottle 4/9 Switchfoot @ Vic 4/9 Ruben Studdard @ Auditorium Theatre 4/9 Squarepusher @ Metro 4/9 Midnight Creeps @ Lyons Den

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | APRIL 8-14, 2004

4/9 Roomful of Blues @ Buddy Guy's Legends 4/9 I:Cube @ Smart Bar 4/9 Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Dr. Michael White @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/9 Local H @ Metro, all-ages 4/9 & 16 Herbie Hancock @ Symphony Center 4/9-10 B.B. King @ Star Plaza 4/10 DJ Shadow @ Park West, 18+ 4/10 Wanda Jackson @ FitzGerald's 4/10 Bret Michaels @ Joe's 4/10 Tom Russell, Jim Lauderdale @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/11 Fantomas, Melt-Banana @ Metro 4/12 Story of the Year @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/13 Sleepy Jackson @ Schubas 4/13 Stellastarr @ Double Door 4/13 Rufio @ Metro, all-ages 4/14 Sarah Harmer @ Martyrs' 4/15-16 Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom @ Open End Gallery (4/15), Logan Square Auditorium (4/16) 4/15-16 Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Kweller @ Vic 4/15-16 Willy Porter @ FitzGerald's (15), Martyrs' (16) 4/16 A Perfect Circle, Mars Volta @ UIC Pavilion 4/16 Thrills @ Metro 4/16 Orchestra Baobab @ HotHouse, two shows 4/16 Eddie From Ohio, Luther Wright & the Wrong @ FitzGerald's 4/16 Baaba Maal @ Old Town School of Folk Music, two shows 4/16 Mason Jennings @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 4/16 Peter Mulvey @ Schubas 4/17 Asylum Street Spankers @ Schubas 4/17 Mustard Plug @ Metro, all-ages 4/17 Ellis Paul @ Schubas, two shows 4/17 Pinback, Enon @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 4/17-18 Rebirth Brass Band @ Martyrs' 4/18 Rasputina @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/18 Renee Fleming @ Symphony Center 4/20 Air @ Riviera 4/20 Iced Earth @ Metro, all-ages 4/20 Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/20 Sebadoh @ Abbey Pub 4/21 Delirious, David Crowder Band @ Vic, all-ages 4/21 Joss Stone @ House of Blues 4/22 Leon Russell @ Bottom Lounge 4/23 Crystal Method @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/23 Morbid Angel @ Oasis 160, all-ages 4/23 Savath & Savalas w/ Prefuse 73 @ Abbey Pub 4/23 Yellowcard, Something Corporate @ Riviera

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Broken Oak Gallery – 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. Thu-Sat 10am-4pm. 7624907.

4/23 The Strokes @ Aragon, sold out 4/24 Robert Walter’s 20th Congress @ Abbey Pub 4/24 Bad Plus @ Martyrs’ 4/24 Fruit @ Schubas 4/24 Indigo Girls @ Auditorium Theatre 4/24 Of Montreal @ Subterranean 4/25 Janis Ian @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/27 Damien Rice @ Riviera, all-ages 4/28 Deerhoof @ Empty Bottle 4/30 Einsturzende Neubauten @ Metro, 18+ 4/30 Graham Parker @ Martyrs'

Creation Art Studios – Jeannine Bestoso’s paintings, collage and drawings explore states of being, experiences, revelations, and levels of consciousness. Also on continuous display are works in progress by gallery students, ages 8 to 84. M-F 35:30pm, Sat 1-4pm and sched. times. Info: Jeannine, 344-6955. www.creationartstudios.com.

ART NOTICES Art Classes by Sandra Ahten – To register, email spiritofsandra@hotmail.com (preferred) or call 367-6345.

“Collage for the Soul” – Students will learn collage techniques while exploring a particular subject. No art-making experience necessary. April 13, 20, 27.

Tue, 7-9pm. $70.

“Art with Intention” – Directed to each student, this class is based on each student's choice of learning.

Materials provided. Thur 2-hr drop-in time, 3-9pm. $95 for 5 (2-hour) sessions in 6 weeks.

Creation Art Studios – Ongoing after-school art classes for children. Morning, evening, and weekend studio sessions for adults. Join anytime.

CPDU’s offered. Info: Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

1102 E Washington St, Urbana.

Art Retreat – First Sundays Art of Creation, Passion, and Restoration Retreats at Creation Art Studios with artist Jeannine Bestoso. Sun, 9am-3pm. Preregistration required. Lunch provided. Info: Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

ART GALLERIES

Country in the City – Antiques, Architectural, Gardening, Home Accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St, U. Thu-Sat 10am5pm 367-2367.

Framer's Market – Frame Designers since 1981.

Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave, C. Tue-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 351-7020.

Furniture Lounge – Featuring local artist Patrick Harness thru Apr 30, as well as vintage prints, lithographs & one-of-a-kind mid-century paintings. 9 E University, C. M-Tu 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 11-5:30pm, Sun 11-3pm. 352-5150.

Glass FX – New and Antique Stained Glass Windows, Lamps, and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of Stained Glass? Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Stained Glass Classes offered. 202 S First St, C. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. 359-0048. www.glassfx.com.

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

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

Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and more. 403 Water St, C. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610.

Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists.

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R A M A L L A H

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X F I L E S

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M R K O T T D E F E R O N R T H T A K E W N I S O N E X E S

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

U S M I N T

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$25 Gift Certificate given away every Friday.

Stop by each week to register.

Charity fashion show tonight at 7pm! at the Canopy Club!

arts

APRIL 18-14, 2004 | “WE’RE NOT GOING TO MOSCOW. IT’S CZECHOSLOVAKIA. IT’S LIKE GOING INTO WISCONSIN.”

Fahrenheit Continued from Page 7 Musician Rocky Maffit will make an appearance April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library.

Maffit and another musician, Chad Dunn, will perform on a variety of percussive instruments from around the world. “The idea (for the Fahrenheit 451 program) is a good one on a number of different levels. It helps generate an interest in reading in general. It helps stimulate conversation about ideas concerning things like censorship. And some people like to do things like this at the same time (as other people), and that’s a positive thing,” Maffit said.

Maffit is against censorship in any form.

However, he feels that although it is a musician’s choice to create what he wants, explicit

lyrics can limit one’s audience. “I’m not for everything being available to everyone all the time. Censorship is a tough one, though. In America, we are free and that means we are free to say things that you might not want said,” Maffit said.

How the ideas presented in the book unfold and expand over the next couple of months cannot be predicted. However, the success of the Seattle program—they have continued to promote a book for the city to read each year— along with the hundreds of cities that have eagerly adopted similar programs, suggests that whatever ideas are discussed will generate communion among the public.

Pearl’s Book Lust contains suggestions for books to read, along with a bibliography of the books. The Champaign Public Library currently has copies of Fahrenheit 451, along with program listings. buzz

Midnight Movie SERIE S SERIE S

Journalism Professor Bill Gaines.

ARTIST’S CORNER

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

D

eborah Fell, who teaches at Urbana High School, has lived in Champaign-Urbana for 25 years. She began making art quilts 14 years ago after a loved one died in a car accident.

Within a year, she was studying art at the national level. She has pieces in exhibits all over the country and as far away as Pakistan. She plans to participate in Artists Against AIDS and Boneyard Arts Festival. She is currently exhibiting work at Schnucks.

What is an art quilt?

An art quilt technically has three layers. A top, a backing, and an inside layer (made of thin cotton) that is called a batting. These three layers are connected together. The top layer is approached as if it were a canvas, and it offers an individual expression of an idea. An art quilt also has stitching, with threads that give it a more 3-D quality. More dimension is created

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Introducing...

PHOTO | JOHN PAUL GOGUEN

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4/7/04

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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brought to you by

Boardman’s Art Theatre & buzz Boardman’s Art Theatre and buzz will be hosting special midnight screenings several times a month.

This weekend come check out Albert Magnoli’s 1984 film starring Prince:

with other materials such as hemp cord or wire. Art quilts often break many of the traditional rules of quilting. The art quilt is a distant cousin to the traditional quilt and never steps completely away from traditional quilts.

What do you like about currently showing work at Schnucks?

I like the fact that the venue is open to the public and gives anyone in the community access to art. Schnucks has 2,500 people every week. That kind of volume is an honor. It has also given me a chance to connect with and show my work to everyday people just doing everyday things. And I firmly believe that art should be for everyone.

What have you as an artist gotten from this community?

I’ve been made richer as an artist from my interaction with all the other artists in this community. Once a month, the ChampaignUrbana Craft League meets at Strawberry Fields for breakfast. When I get to attend, I find that it is a great way to talk with and connect with people who are doing the same things as me. 40 North/88 West is also doing great things to solidify the art scene in the community. Downtown Champaign has come alive. It has a heartbeat now, largely because of the art and evening venues available. It’s great to be a part of it. It’s the little things that add up to making this town a great home. The community and the University contribute to the strong art scene in this community. Both are incredibly strong.

Where can you find the best conversation in town?

1. At my studio, when wonderful, kind people come over to talk and share thoughts about art.

2. Jupiter’s, which is a great place to meet friends and enjoy fantastic pizza.

3. Verde, which has the best wine and a wonderful cheese and fruit plate. Verde, I think, has given a sense of graciousness to the city of Champaign.

Look for the Purple Rain trivia question in this issue to win!

April 9th & 10th at

(Left) Quilt artist Deborah Fell. (Top) Tuesday’s Child. (Bottom) Bathing with the Flamingos.

Boardman’s Art Theatre 126 W. Church St., Champaign 1-800-BEST-PLACE or 355-0068 tickets are $6

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arts

“WHO WANTS A MUSTACHE RIDE?” | APRIL 18-14, 2004

playreview

Spring Storm ★★★

Tennessee Williams

BY ELIZABETH ZEMAN | STAFF WRITER

T

he Krannert Center for the Performing Arts ushers in April with a rare theatrical treat: the early, recently recovered Tennessee Williams play Spring Storm. Krannert’s commendable production proves that this overlooked play is indeed stageable.

Although Williams wrote the play as a student in 1938, disapproval from fellow students, his professor, theater companies and Hollywood delayed its world premier for six decades until November 1999. What Williams considered his “sex play” is a play about human desires and social expectations and what happens when these simply don’t mesh.

Set in late 1930s Mississippi, Spring Storm tells the story of four young lovers and their stormy interactions over a few April days.

When the play opens, the defiant and selfish 22-year-old Heavenly Critchfield (Cristina Panfilio) is stuck between Dick Miles (Drew Holmes), the restless, blue-collar man she loves, and Arthur Shannon (Kevin Miller), the wealthy but awkward man her mother insists she marry. At the same time, librarian Hertha Neilson (Morgan Malone) falls desperately for Arthur, who amplifies both her desire and her despair in a sad, drunken half-seduction.

Throughout the play, as much of the older generation clings to its Southern traditions, Williams emphasizes that older values do not necessarily translate to a newer generation. Heavenly’s mother and self-proclaimed family martyr, Esmeralda (Christina Dideriksen), is obsessed with preserving her family’s “good blood” to such an extent that she tells Heavenly that marrying Dick would kill her father and urges her to apologize for her sexual sins to a portrait of her dead great-grandfather. Even though her own family is suffering financially, Esmeralda continues to divide people into her “own kind” and “trash” like Dick.

Heavenly rebels against her mother, tradition and society. She seems at times protofeminist, crying out against women’s limited options, exploring her sexuality, drinking whiskey with her father and sitting in decidedly un-ladylike positions. Women act silly, she tells Arthur, because society makes them. At the same time, she retains some of her mother’s values and is terrified of the possibility she might never marry.

Williams’ characters are stereotypical— lonely librarians, Southern socialites, the old maid Lila (Leslie Ann Handelman) and the town gossip (Alison Fyhrie)—but these types work to critique the social conventions and rigidly drawn social classes that created

them. Krannert’s production, under the direction of Tom Mitchell, emphasizes the humanity of these characters, which is appropriate in a play so concerned about what is and isn’t human. To be sexual, to love, to desire and to feel is to be human, Williams argues.

Dramaturg Tyler Smith suggests in Krannert’s program that the character of Arthur Shannon “resonates with a degree of sexual ambivalence, an autobiographical glimpse into the mind of a young playwright who had not yet come to terms with his own homosexuality.”

Alternately lusty, tongue-tied and romantic, Miller plays this ambivalence well, and he poses a wonderful contrast to the hypermasculinized and rough-edged Dick, whose somewhat half-hearted marriage proposal comes as a scribbled note stuck in a drugstore bottle.

The play has a huge cast of 21 characters, which seems overwhelming and unnecessary at times. Several of the minor characters provide added humor or tension, but some of them fit awkwardly into the action and some have a slight problem maintaining their accents. Constant intrusions of these minor characters make the first scene feel a bit slow and clumsy, but the play quickly picks up its pace after that.

Overall, Krannert’s Spring Storm is a joy to watch. Although the play often borders on melodramatic, Krannert keeps it from being too sentimental or silly. The cast finds and plays up its humor well. Panfilio and Dideriksen are delightful as Heavenly and Esmeralda, and a particularly fantastic scene is their fight following Heavenly’s not-soangelic confession. Handelman and Malone also offer strong performances as Lila and Hertha, and everything comes together on a wonderful set.

What makes this play enjoyable is its ability to be simultaneously funny and tragic, entertaining and political, light-hearted and almost heavy-handed. It offers curious insight into the mind of a young Tennessee Williams, and it’s a fun way to spend a rainy April evening.

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12 Main St. Downtown Champaign 217-359-2231

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www.austinssportswear.com

Larry Kanfer Gallery – Diploma framing, featuring your choice of U of I campus photographs.

Highlighting spring images, framed and unframed, from award-winning photographer, Larry Kanfer.

Choose from images in a range of sizes, from U of I, Prairiescapes, Cityscapes, Coast to Coast, and European collections. 2503 S Neil, C. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000. www.kanfer.com.

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

"Sleeping In..." – Paintings by Samantha Singer, B.F.A. Senior Show. On display Apr 9-30 at Benders Mattress Facroty and Futon Sleep Shoppe.

Opening reception Apr 9, 5-7pm. 1206 N Cunningham, U. 328-1700.

ON STAGE Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Fridays, “Vampire: The Masquerade.” 7pm. For location: www2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html.

1776 – Parkland Theatre's musical opens Wed and runs thru May 1. Info: 351-2528.

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine, 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. MonThu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am-4:30pm. 355-8338.

"Burn This" – Directed by Emily Elarde. This gripping tale of love and loss is a coming-of-age story between two unlikely lovers. Armory Free Theatre, rm 160. Apr 16, 8pm & 12am; Apr 17, 7pm.

Prairie Boatworks Gallery – Assortment of handcrafted gifts. 35+ artists to choose from. 407 E Main St., Mahomet. Tu, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, & Sun 12-4pm. 586-6776. Info: Mary @ 356-8228, Tangoradesigns@aol.com.

FILM But I’m a Cheerleader – Krannert Art Museum, rm 62. Thur, 5:30pm.

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

Ziemer Gallery – Paintings & limited edition prints

by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, wood turning and glass works by other artists. 210 W Washington, Monticello. Tu 10am-8pm, Wed-F 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-9786. www.ziemergallery.com.

ART EXHIBITS “Persephone and Flora” – A celebration of spring classical paintings by Jenny Chi & Floral Art by Rick Orr on display at Verde Gallery through May 1. 17 E Taylor St, C. Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

contemporary clothing jewelry, accessories, & shoes

calendar

APRIL 8-14, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Laser’s Edge – Oil paintings and framed etchings by Sandra Ahten along with work from Lee Boyer. 218 W. Main Street, U. M-F 9am-5pm. 328-3343.

“Social Studies: Eight Artists Address Brown v. Board of Education” – This exhibition features 8 contemporary artists to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this desegregation case. Artists include Dawoud Bey, Sanford Biggers, Brett Cook-Dizney, Virgil Marti, Gary Simmons, Carrie Mae Weems, Pamela Vander Zwan, and Jennifer Zackin. All artists have a history of making art that deals with gender, class, race, and politics. Krannert Art Museum, thru May 23. 500 E Peabody, U. Tu, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 3331860. Sugg. donation: $3.

“Cognitio Inluminaire” – Aroma Café presents Jim Hultquist photographs. On display at Aroma thru Apr 30. 118 N Neil, C. Open everyday, 7am-12am. Info: Amanda Bickle. 356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com.

9th Biennial Ceramics Invitational – The Parkland invitational features the work of nine ceramic artists. This year's exhibit focuses on functional ceramics, specifically decorative clay surface. Friday is the last day to see the exhibit.

Parkland Art Gallery. 115 E Univ, C. M-F, 10am3pm, M-Th, 6-8pm, Sat, 12-2pm. 351-2485.

Spring Storm can be seen at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Thursday through Saturday, April 1-3, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 4 at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30pm (interpreter available); Thursday through Friday, April 8-9, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 10 at 3 p.m.

PLAY REVIEW GUIDE

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“Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists” – Krannert Museum has made an exhibit bringing together the work of seven contemporary artists who share a connection to both “East” & “West” worlds. 500 E Peabody, U. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Sugg donation: $3

107 n. walnut downtown champaign 217.359.2185

Sandra Ahten exhibit at Milos Restaurant – Ahten’s paintings and prints featured at the restaurant. Ahten is offering 40 percent off the work.

M - Th 10:30 - 5:30 Fri - Sat 10:30 - 5:00 Sun 11:00 - 4:00

Parkland Student Fine Art Juried Exhibition – This exhibition shows Parkland fine art students’ work, April 15 - May 8. Info: 351-2485.

“Zapatista” – Part of the Human Rights Film Series.

Illinois Disciples Foundation. Thur, 7pm. Free.

EVENTS & LECTURES Social Justice and Social Science: A Symposium in Honor of Joe R. Feagin and His Vision of Multiracial Democracy – This two-day symposium of nationally recognized scholars will honor the contributions of the distinguished scholar Professor Joe R. Feagin. Levis Faculty Center. Tue, 8:30am-5pm & Wed, 8:30am-12pm. Free. For information, contact event organizer, Professor Bernice McNair Barnett at bmbarnet@uiuc.edu or (217) 333-7658.

Words on Fire: C-U Reading Discussion – Fahrenheit 451 as part of the C-U Reading program. Champaign Public Library. Tue, 2pm. Info: 403-2070 or www.champaign.org.

Teens Fired Up! Fahrenheit 451 Discussion – Grad students lead this teen talk. Wed, 7pm. Verde Gallery. 403-2070.

Champaign County Audubon Society early morning bird walks – Busey Woods every Sunday morning at 7:30am. Meet at Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot. 344-6803.

Operation Helping Hand is April 17-24 and it’s your chance to gather your friends, have fun and give back to your community.

INDEX

Employment Services Students for Environmental Concerns' Merchandise Earth Day Benefit Festival – Local bands feat.: Green Mountain Grass, Eclectic Theory, Transportation Apartments Nadafinga. Courtyard Cafe. April 15, 6pm.

Other Housing/Rent Real Estate for Sale WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Things To Do Announcements Family Support Group of NAMI – National Alliance of the Mentally Ill support meeting. Personals Centerpoint, 1801 Fox Dr, C. Mon, 7-9pm.

Info: Dee Hawn, 359-3625.

Mystery Discussion Group – The group will discuss Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein.

Borders Bookstore, C. Mon, 6pm.

MEETINGS Debtors Anonymous – Confidential support and helpful tools for dealing with recurring debt and compulsive spending. Baha’i Center. Tuesdays, 7pm & Fridays, 6pm.

Information: 344-5860 or 239-0363.

Champaign County Young Republicans – Join CCYR for professional development and networking, fun events, and access to politicians and decision-makers. Happy hours on 2nd Thur of each month. This month at Krannert Center's weekly wine tasting event.

Thur, 5:30-7pm. Information: 377-3318.

We need a hand.

Cuddling animals, planting flowers and clowning around with kids are a few examples of group volunteer opportunities in Champaign County.

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.

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To find out how you can help please call Kathy at the Office of Volunteer Programs 244-7675 or Teri at United Way 352-5151.

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Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Apartments

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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 CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished 800 W. Church, C. Now avail. Economical 2 BR. $450/mo. 352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unfurnished Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign.

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

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film

CUBS WIN THEIR FIRST GAME OVER THE REDS 7 - 4!!!! | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

moviereview

HELLBOY ★★

Besides Prince, name the other 5 members of The Revolution who appear in the cast of Purple Rain.

First 5 people to email the correct answer to promo@readbuzz.com will win 2 free tickets, a large popcorn and 2 medium drinks for a midnight showing of Purple Rain this Friday or Saturday!

Email answers no later than Friday, April 9 by 5:00pm!

Or call 217337-8317

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

P

oor Ron Perlman. After a 30-year acting career, he’s still best remembered for playing the only mildly made-up title character in the late ‘80s TV series Beauty and the Beast, and he sure wasn’t the Beauty.

Now the world will know him as the monstrous, ghastly Hellboy, a hulking demon brought to Earth in 1944 after Nazis open a portal to the netherworld (Don’t ask).

When he’s discovered and captured by American troops, Hellboy is just a baby, a puppy-sized tyke who seems to have Gollum, E.T. and Satan all in his immediate family. Fastforward to present day New York, where Hellboy has grown into a muscular meathead who, naturally, works with the U.S. Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense to fight all the evil forces in the city. And we’re not just talking the hosts of TRL here. Hellboy’s enemies include an ageless, knife-wielding Nazi with no eyelids and an army of horrible, lurching creatures with slithering tentacles for dreadlocks.

moviereview

SLEEP IS OVERRATED

THE PRINCE AND ME ★★

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

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hen it comes to the Cinderella story, Hollywood loves to portray every little girl as a mindless debutante who would love nothing more than to run away with Prince Charming. The Prince and Me wants to dispute the notion that all girls want to ride away on a white horse into happily ever after, under the pretenses of labeling itself as the same Cinderella story that it so openly tries to challenge.

Coming from her role as an educated housewife in Mona Lisa Smile, Julia Stiles returns to the screen as a character who would never compromise her intellectual independence for any man, even a prince. Paige Morgan (Stiles) attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she manages to make college life appear relatively normal, which, let’s face it, most college films never do. Paige works at a laid-back pub on campus that actually looks like a crappy, real-life college job, while still portraying the stresses of studying and applying to medical school. The film never dives into the unrealistic party scene where students never par-

While Perlman and Hellboy aren’t exactly easy on the eyes, Hellboy looks great. It’s a credit to emerging sci-fi specialist Guillermo del Toro (Blade II), showing again that he can, at the very least, put some stylistic sizzle into a boneheaded story. The monsters are spine-tinglingly lifelike, and del Toro stages the action, supplemented by glorious supernatural set designs, with furious dedication. He’s a self-proclaimed fan of the comic book on which the film is based, and it shows. The film has a devoted passion that only a true admirer of the source material could bring.

Yet, the writer/director’s familiarity with the story also makes Hellboy damn near incomprehensible. The convoluted plot combines Nazi world-domination desires, paranormal monstrosities and bland romantic pining into a muddled mix that is neither engrossing nor particularly entertaining.

The sometimes laughable angle of Hellboy’s relatable insecurities—he grinds his horns down to nubs so that his head ends up looking like a giant Lego piece—finds him yearning after Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), a former coworker who literally bursts into flames whenever she is upset (Who doesn’t love that in a woman?). There’s even a tepid love triangle when Hellboy’s new partner, John Myers (Rupert Evans), develops a crush on Liz and Hellboy spies on the two of them like a brokenhearted schoolboy.

This is meant to show Hellboy as a perpetual loner and flawed superhero, but the only thing

ticipate in an actual college lifestyle outside of drunken socializing.

However, this reality takes a dramatic turn for the implausible when Eddie, otherwise known to Denmark’s citizens as Prince Edward (Luke Mably), comes to Wisconsin in search of the Girls Gone Wild! atmosphere that he saw on television. Eddie acts as an unruly college student who struggles to make it through his organic chemistry class—that is, of course, until the professor makes Paige his lab partner.

The two begin their newfound partnership at odds due to their clashing study habits.

After all, why should a prince study? He’s just there to soak up the female scenery. Eventually this convoluted and ridiculous plot brings Paige and Eddie together through necessity and charm. Paige feels bad that Eddie, who at this point still claims to be a foreign exchange student, does not have plans for Thanksgiving.

She invites him back to her parent’s house on a dairy farm where romance naturally ensues once Paige lets her ever-present guard down.

After some time, the tabloids pick up on Eddie’s whereabouts and catch the couple in an impromptu photo op in the school library, leaving Paige confused and angry about Eddie’s true identity.

Julia Stiles, through her other roles and passion for Shakespearian plays, has made good decisions in the past. The Prince and Me even realizes Stiles’ talent by openly mocking itself through its attempt to make Edward out as a modern day Hamlet who feels just as confused about his life’s role as king.

While the plot encourages female empower-

buzz

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Fahrenheit 451: One city, one book HELLBOY | RON PERLMAN flawed is his vocabulary. It’s as if American forces bred him for the sole purpose of embodying every action movie cliche: drinking beer, smoking jumbo cigars after battles and ending each scene with a new absurd catch phrase.

Even if you can keep a straight face watching the always bland Blair and even more vanilla Evans try to produce some sparks, it’s not quite as easy when Hellboy looks deep into the eyes of a charred monster and mutters, in his best attempt at a Sylvester Stallone growl, “I’m fireproof. You’re not.”

The problem is, comic book movies aren’t supposed to be viewed with a straight face.

Their central purpose, aside from appeasing obsessive fans, is to be fun, but Hellboy is as stone-cold as the hero’s giant, wall-pounding right hand. It’s a joy to look at rather than watch, and that’s a devilish trick to play on escapist audiences just looking to send their troubles to hell.

THE PRINCE AND ME | JULIA STILES & LUKE MABLY ment and independence, it often finds itself looking like a movie of the week on the Family Channel, portraying unrealistic situations happening to everyday people with the intention of making the audience feel all warm and tingly.

But that’s why these movies stay on television.

On one level, The Prince and Me comments on the possibilities of an Ophelia challenging her Hamlet’s lifestyle to one that’s full of her own opportunities. Unfortunately, the film, like an overstuffed pastry, often tastes too sweet in the center when it needs to rely more on substance.

SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

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arts

APRIL 18-14, 2004 | GO CUBBIES! ... 7-4, FINAL SCORE

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

6:30 p.m. He will detail some of the book’s rary light. “We thought about the ideas in was made available to him. Key issues that will major themes. the book and all the ways that people express likely be discussed in the upcoming months In this futuristic novel, books are burned themselves. (We asked ourselves), ‘How concern what information should be, and is, and information is purposely and aggressively do people create? What are the ways in readily available to the public. “Bradbury’s n 1998, all of Seattle was encouraged to kept from the public. When the book was orig- which they create? What are some of the book depicted a crude, ugly and theatrical read one book. The book was The Sweet inally written, the American public had a not- ways that intellectual freedom is chal- way of getting rid of books. Now we just Hereafter by Russell Banks. The program that too-distant memory of Nazi Germany in the lenged?’ These issues are in the paper every drown out publications. The trouble is findintroduced people to the book was called backs of their minds, as well as the knowledge day. We thought about artists and novelists ing the book in the first place. There are over “One Book, One City.” The librarian who of Stalin’s totalitarian regime conducting the whose work had been challenged. These are 130 new titles printed every day. Reviews started and guided the program now has her same book-burnings halfway across the world. things that people care about, (along with) are commissioned and positioned. There are “The central image of the book was in the whether or not they can express that. (As far lots of terrific books that you’ll never (hear own book, Book Lust, as well as her own action figure. Her name is Nancy Pearl, and she is news; art and books were being burned. Some as censorship goes), I don’t think human about or) find,” Michelson said.

Bill Thomson, national field director for the executive director of the Washington people feared at the time that with the advent experience can be erased. I think it can be of TV, this would sublimated, but these things find a way to be the Christian Coalition, will participate in the Center for the Book at the spell the end of the expressed,” Barickman said. panel discussion on censorship May 18 at 7 Seattle Public Library. printed word, the The first program, which took place April 4, p.m. “I think that (this program) is a great Pearl’s goal as a librariend of a long era featured Bill Gaines, University of Illinois pro- idea. I really like to hear about a community an has always been to that began with the fessor of journalism, discussing his investiga- sponsoring another form of education,” expand the world of the Gutenbergs,”Mich- tion into the identity of the anonymous Thomson said. reader by exposing him or elson said.

While he agrees that artists should be free Watergate source “Deep Throat.” He was excither to new books. Pearl Three months ed to speak about the process because he had from strict censorship, he feels as though said that one of the purNancy Pearl worth of programs not yet had the chance to address it in public, some artistic works cross the line, and the poses of a public library revolving around and the community has expressed a deep inter- artists do not consider the feelings or opinshould be to encourage ions of the audience that are, or will be, viewbook groups to form within the community. the book’s major theme have been set for est in learning about the investigation.

Most of the materials that Gaines used for ing them. “Some (pieces of work) have no She feels that this helps promote a sense of this spring and summer.

“There are 15 chances for people to his research came from the Champaign Public other purpose than to shock the public. There continuity and unity among the public.

“Programs like this build a fence of common- come to book groups to discuss the book. Library, including 16,000 pages of microfilm are times when we must be sensitive to other ality. We try to choose books whose themes cut They can share what they’ve learned, how and several autobiographies of prominent people,” Thomson said. Thomson cited artist across racial and socioeconomic divisions,” the book has impacted them and hear how it Watergate officials. “The library provided the Chris Offili’s “Madonna” as one of these has impacted others,” said Kristina Daily, necessary information and we were able to examples. The art piece featured the Virgin Pearl said.

The Sweet Hereafter is about a bus accident adult services manager at the Champaign use the raw documents we found there to Mary made of feces and angered many New Yorkers in 1999. piece together (the facts),” Gaines said. that occurs in a small town, killing many chil- Public Library.

Other programs include musical performGaines made a significant discovery partly dren from the area. The story is told from four Continued on Page 9 points of view, one of them from a young ances, art shows, a call-in interview with because of the wide variety of information that woman who survived the accident but is for- Nancy Pearl courtesy ever paralyzed because of it. Just one week of WILL, and a panel before Banks was set to speak in Seattle about discussion on censorthe book, a man shot a bus driver while the bus ship. “We didn’t plan was driving over a bridge, causing the bus to any programs until we knew what book nearly plummet off the edge of it.

“The accident shocked the community. (The the public had choSweet Hereafter) was a good choice because s e n , ” s a i d J u d y everyone loses someone they love. It brought Barickman, library people together to explore the ways that peo- a s s o c i a t e i n t h e ple handle grief. Our tragedy had a particular a d u l t s e r v i c e s resonance, but because we had read the book department.

The programs we could make connections (to those themes),” prompt people to Pearl said.

The Champaign Public Library is now try- think further about ing to foster those same connections. In April, the ideas that are preit began its own “One Book, One City” pro- sented in the book.

“When we were gram. With the onset of spring, all of Champaign-Urbana is being encouraged to brainstorming about read the Ray Bradbury novel Fahrenheit 451. programs, we tried The book was part of a voting slate, which to think of things included A Painted House, Cold Mountain, Peace that would tie in Like A River and Ella Minnow Pea. Voters nicely to the major mailed in votes via voting clippings that ran in themes of the book, which were privacy the News-Gazette.

The 1953 novel depicts what Bruce a n d c e n s o r s h i p , ” Michelson, University of Illinois professor of Daily said.

The programs also American literature, concludes is an intense form of censorship. Michelson will conduct an bring these ideas into academic discussion of the book on April 27 at a more contempoThe Champaign Fire Dept. donated articles of clothing for the Champaign Public Library's Fahrenheit 451 display.

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[

We try to choose books whose themes cut across racial and socioeconomic divisions.

[

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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Vision Loss “The family is crushed because they have already been to the best of the best and nothing can be done,” Mullen said. “What the ophthalmologist often does not mention is while there are no surgeries or medicines or treatments to fix your eyes, there are tons of rehabilitation education available in the community.”

“They should say, ‘Go find yourself a rehab teacher,’ ” Mullen said.

Virginia Mosler, 54, a rehabilitation teacher working at the Bureau of Blind Services, agreed that people are often visually impaired for a long time before finding out about services in the community. She knew one woman who went nine years before finding out about rehabilitation services. Mosler tried stocking doctors’ offices around the state with brochures and business cards about rehabilitation services, but it is still unusual for ophthalmologists to refer visually impaired people to Mullen, Carle Low Vision Clinic or the Bureau of Blind Services.

This lack of education also often means seniors miss out on orientation and mobility specialists. These highly trained specialists teach compass directions and how to feel what is around you, Mullen said. They also teach mobility, getting out there and navigating.

PHOTO | KATE DOUGHERTY

continued from Page 5

a lot of money, friends and churches have helped her obtain all the gadgets she needs.

The money has also come for McMullen to learn independent travel, Mullen said.

PACE received a grant that pays for one visually impaired senior to be paired with an orientation and mobility specialist to learn more independence. Mullen chose to allow McMullen to take advantage of the grant.

McMullen’s first challenge will be to learn to visit the park next door to her house—by herself. She will learn spatially where every swing set, picnic table and sandlot resides.

She will get to “see” the new park pavilion that was constructed last year. Eventually, while it may take months or years to learn, she will be able to leave the sanctuary of her home alone for a private walk in the park.

The orientation and mobility specialist will also teach her to visit one place in town using the public bus system. McMullen chose to learn to take the bus to PACE to visit Mullen.

None of these decisions have been easy for McMullen to make.

“This [independent travel] is probably the biggest, baddest, scariest one I’ve come up with yet for her to deal with. Every single adding of a new facet into her world has come with much prayer and reflection.

She says she needs to pray on things and decide whether it’s the right move, because everything is scary. Each time, she’ll pop back in after a month or two and say, ‘OK, I’m ready.’” buzz

“They just don’t get served,” Mullen said.

“I’ve had referrals made for years.”

Specialists are not the only service visually impaired seniors have difficulty obtaining. Many seniors cannot afford the expensive gad-gets available to help them function as blind people. Everything from closed circuit televisions to video magnifiers to talking clocks is available, but Medicare does not cover any of them.

McMullen, shown here in her living room, has relied on her faith to help her cope with the emotional difficulty of her vision loss.

“It’s apparently considered a luxury Seniors might miss out on them for other item by Uncle Sam,” Mullen said. “It’s not reasons, too. Ginni Rothrock, 63, used to covered at all. For blind people, I’m afraid, work as Mullen’s assistant at PACE, and last the gadgets are a tad expensive.”

Closed-circuit televisions are an example year she decided to go back to school and become an orientation and mobility special- of a big-ticket item, and they cost anywhere ist. She did this because she was angry. As between $2,000 and $3,500.

“Part of the problem with the technology she worked with more and more visually impaired seniors, she noticed the unspoken for visually impaired is it’s a small market,” hierarchy the state of Illinois uses to meet the Wessel said. “It’s not like you’re selling needs of visually impaired people. Children something to 200 million people. But it is an and students have first priority. Working issue for all of us.”

McMullen is thankful the money has adults have second priority. Visually impaired seniors rank last. Most seniors are always come for her for such expenditures.

Although she and her husband do not have not tied vocationally so there is no funding.

Coming soon from the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company

this week Th Apr 8 Interval: The Musicians of the Mark Morris Dance Group noon, free Wine Tasting 5pm, free Laurien Laufman, cello and Timothy Ehlen, piano 7:30pm, $2-$5 Mark Morris Dance Group 7:30pm, $22-$34 Talkback: after the show, free Sponsors: Nancy and Edward Tepper Jerald Wray and Dirk Mol

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We Apr 14 The Enescu Enssemble 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

“It wasn’t bad ... It was sort of one of those movies that was OK.”

★★★ Elizabeth Wickes Champaign, IL

“A little more background would have helped.”

★★★ Will Anderson Champaign, IL

“Selma Blair and Ron Perlman helped the movie out a lot.”

Movie News

Alec Baldwin might turn his disgustingly messy divorce with Oscar-winning Kim Basinger into a book about how dads can get through divorces successfully. This should be more successful than a book about how to achieve a winning movie career, with Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat and The Adventures of Pluto Nash included in his recent film credits.

Th Apr 15 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm, $2-$5

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HOME ON THE RANGE ★★★

BY SYD SLOBODNIK | STAFF WRITER

Looks like breast-baring singer Janet Jackson has gotten more spiritual ... well, sort of. Jackson had censors fuming this week after she responded, “Oh, Jesus” to the millionth inquiry about her Super Bowl overexposure. Although some might take this Late Show with David Letterman sigh of disgust as her desire to be profane, I’d like to think Mel Gibson got to her and the passion in Jackson’s life is no longer solely about titillation.

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APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | ANIMATED COWS AND CUBA GOODING JR. MUST BE GOOD

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Ella Enchanted starlet Anne Hathaway has just been cast as the female lead in Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain. She will join Heath Ledger and indie movie favorite Jake Gyllenhaal, who play sheep herders in 1963. Rumors have it that the men might fight over Hathaway’s character but then spend the cold, lonely nights with each other instead. Sounds scandalous.

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n times of corporate management troubles with chairman Michael Eisner, the recent breakup with the successful Pixar animation studio and its less-than-blockbuster success of recent animated feature releases, Disney seems to have nicely returned to the simpler style of their classic, older animated features with their latest release Home on the Range.

Co-directors/writers Will Finn (previously of Road to El Dorado) and John Sanford create a delightful children’s film that’s a pleasant mixture of the classic Western and musical melodrama. The film centers on a group of farm animals trying to save their family farm called a Patch of Heaven.

Home on the Range may seem a little too anachronistic to modern audiences—singing cowboys and all—but it does contain several key ingredients for successful animated children’s entertainment. Its simple, inoffensive story concerns a plan by three of the Patch of Heaven cows to save their farm from bank foreclosure and auction. They plot a scheme to collect reward money of $750 by hunting down the region’s most notorious cattle rustler: the evil Alameda Slim.

Almost all the major animal characters are voiced with very expressive and lively characterizations by actors of easily recognizable and entertaining vocal abilities. Playing the bovine heroines Maggie, Mrs. Calloway and Grace— Roseanne (formerly Barr), Dame Judi Dench and Jennifer Tilly—make for a delightful girlish trio, combining an ideal mixture of snottiness, sophistication and bubble-brained silliness.

Cuba Gooding Jr. adds a lot of vocal spunk as an underappreciated farm horse named Buck who has dreams of being a hero.

Little bits of Roseanne’s ripe-style humor will not offend most children or even the most timid PG filmgoer. In the film’s beginning moments, Maggie, the prize-winning newcomer bovine to the Patch of Heaven farm, wonders why her reception by the other farm animals is so lukewarm. “What’s this?” she comments, “The frozen food section?” Later, she calls the overexuberant horse Buck, a wild “stallion of the Cim-moron.”

Three of the film’s villains are skillfully voiced, too. Randy Quaid’s Alameda Slim even sings a yodeling style Western tune.

Charles Dennis is playfully gruff, as a Clint Eastwood-type bounty hunter and Steve Buscemi is classic sarcastic Buscemi, as a slimy cohort of Slim’s.

The film’s rather sparsely played music is provided by composer Alan Menken and features country-western style tunes sung by Bonnie Raitt, k.d. Lang and Tim McGraw,

which are all pleasantly effective, but a far cry from the memorable tunes of Menken’s work on The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast.

The film’s simple but colorful, mostly twodimensional animation will remind viewers more of the ‘50s and ‘60s style animation of Disney classics 101 Dalmatians and Mary Poppins than recent Disney and Pixar blockbusters Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King or Finding Nemo. Adults and avid filmgoers, for whom this film is not really intended, will nevertheless appreciate the many film reference to other classics, including a visual showdown homage to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and a villain’s dying words which echo the classic gangster Little Caesar’s farewell lament.

HOME ON THE RANGE | COWS Disney’s Home on the Range is a simple blend of childlike storytelling fun that most kids under 12 should very much enjoy.

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PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING ... ’NOUGH SAID | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

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Losing the ability to drive and not being able to read seem to cause the biggest problems when people lose their sight, said Wessel, mostly because both are linked to dependency on others.

Seniors must find people to drive them everywhere. They also get frustrated when they cannot read everyday things.

McMullen has had her own issues with dependency. She calls it the problem with giving and receiving.

“That’s the thing that’s hard for me,” she said.

“I always try to help everybody else. I don’t want to be a burden on people. Everybody that does things for me I try to find some way to help them do something, to contribute to their lives so it won’t be one-sided.”

Many seniors with low vision simply do not want to be labeled as blind. Carle Low Vision Center in Urbana sells a button that reads, “I have low vision,” but Bettye Seastrand, 79, of St. Joseph, will never wear one. Macular degeneration caused her to lose a great deal of her vision 10 years ago, but she prides herself on being able to function independently. She boasts that she can still do almost everything she did before she went blind. She still puts together puzzles, just puzzles with bigger pieces. She still does the crossword, she just asks her husband to read the questions.

She does not carry a cane despite her family urging her to do so.

“I’d just as soon people didn’t know,” Seastrand said. “Unless you really observe me you just don’t know.”

Seastrand has a halogen lighted hand-held magnifying glass for reading the prices while shopping. She owns a closed-circuit television for reading menus, labels, cans and boxes. Her spices are in alphabetical order. Her house is stocked with talking books, watches, clocks, scales and magazines. When she and her husband go

WALKING TALL ★

BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

D

wayne Johnson is a badass. If you aren’t sure who that is, you might recognize him as The Rock, a wrestler who abandoned his given name for the moniker of an inanimate object. In Walking Tall, The Rock proves how much he resembles his inanimate likeness, by being both very tough and having absolutely nothing else going for him.

The Rock’s third major motion picture is a remake of a 1973 film of the same identity. Joe Don Baker starred in the original as a man who violently walks tall in his hometown to clean up crime and drugs that have overrun his community.

The film centers on Chris Vaughn, a smalltown kid who left home to serve his country as a special operations soldier. Upon finishing his tour, he returns to his small town expecting to settle down into a tranquil life. Unfortunately, he becomes distraught when he realizes his town has lost its businesses and is being strongarmed by a bunch of goons and their casino.

Vaughn’s first night back serves to show the audience what an insane loon The Rock’s character is and how detached from reality he—and the movie in general—will be. He shows up at the casino and goes ape when he finds the craps table using loaded dice. Wielding a chunk of lumber, he breaks up tables, slot machines and the bad guys too, most of them suspected dirty cops.

Apparently serving his country confused the Rock as to the laws in the United States. First, he can’t understand why he’s arrested, and then dimly decides to represent himself. The next part of the film really misses the bus, as for some absurd reason the jury agrees with Vaughn and acquits him.

The preposterous script drifts even further off the path of reality when next, Vaughn runs and is elected Sheriff despite his legal issues. He proceeds to get rid of the rest of the cops, hire his old buddy (Johnny Knoxville) as deputy and instigate marshal law keyed on pure vigilante behavior.

The Rock and Johnny Knoxville demand star status and give the film some novelty. Neither is a horrible actor and both can be fun to watch. It is just unfortunate they happened to get caught up in one of the worst films ever written. Ashley Scott also provides some eye candy as The Rock’s attempt at a love interest—a good-hearted stripper. In the end, Walking Tall is the type of film that will intrigue some viewers, enrage some others and be on sale for $7.99 in three months.

The glorious big screen acting careers of Hulk Hogan and The Rock

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restling megastar The Rock is back with Walking Tall in theaters this week, continuing his transition to becoming Hollywood’s latest action star. Though he still has most of his career ahead of him, The Rock has already fared better than his predecessor in the arena of wrestling-to-movie star crossovers: the legendary Hulk Hogan.

Here’s a look back at the past films of The Rock and Hogan, a picture of two careers that moved in wildly opposite directions.

The Scorpion King (2002) After his overly-hyped role in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, which amounted to a glorified five-minute cameo, The Rock received a starring role in this prequel and spin-off to the Mummy series the following year ... and the biggest paycheck ever for a first-time leading actor.

The script is mostly scrapped together from the pieces of other big, dumb Hollywood epics. The Rock plays Mathayus, a trained assassin hired to defeat the evil Memnon (Steven Brand) in the times before the pyramids. In the process, he picks up a few allies, including Michael Clarke Duncan as tribal leader Balthazar, and Kelly Hu as a sorceress who once was an ally of Memnon but changes her mind once she becomes attracted to Mathayus.

All these cliches build up to a mostly forgettable action yarn, but the movie made some solid money at the box office (thanks no doubt to The Rock’s legions of fans). Though it failed to leave much of an impression otherwise, it at least confirmed that The Rock was a capable action star.

The Rundown (2003) With a hit film under his belt, The Rock went on to star in last year’s The Rundown. Although the reviews were far more positive than they were for The Scorpion King, the box office receipts were quite a bit less.

The Rock is allowed to dis-

play a little more acting muscle this time as Beck, a so-called retrieval expert for a mobster who doesn’t necessarily like what he does and has dreams of opening his own restaurant. Sent into the Amazon to retrieve his boss’s son (played

by Seann William Scott with his usual comic aptitude), Beck gets tangled up in a plot concerning a lost Mayan relic and a greedy baron of the local mining town (Christopher Walken).

The direction by Peter Berg, who helmed the cult favorite Very Bad Things, alternates between comedy and action with ease. Much was also made of a cameo by Arnold Scwarzenegger that acts like a passing of the action star torch.

Appropriate, since Schwarzenegger hasn’t starred in an action film as good as The Rundown in the last decade.

No Holds Barred (1989) Speaking of actors who haven’t starred in a good movie in years, consider the case of Hulk Hogan. At the peak of his popularity in the late ‘80s, Hogan found himself with a budding film career. His first starring role was in No Holds Barred, a sloppy mess of an action film that occasionally rises to mediocrity. It is also the best film he has ever starred in.

Hogan plays Rip Thomas, an ultra-popular pro wrestler who refuses to work for a rival network run by the dastardly Brell (Kurt Fuller). Brell creates his own show, the brilliantly titled “Battle of the Tough Guys” in order to compete with Rip’s popularity. Rip’s brother ends up getting beaten to near death by the monster Zeus, played by Tiny Lister. Like any good action film hero, Rip is forced to take revenge on Zeus and Brell in the wrestling ring.

Now, even the most ignorant of grade school children knows pro wrestling is not “real.” But the makers of No Holds Barred expect viewers to throw that knowledge out the window in treating wrestling like a real fight to the death. Whatever.

Hogan plays a popular pro wrestler here, not too much of a stretch, but it nearly exhausts his limited acting skills. An utter waste of time, but it only goes downhill from here.

Also, Lister would go on to wrestle in the WWF a few times as his Zeus character in 1989, in a cross-promotion episode moronic even by wrestling standards.

trades. His spaceship gets damaged and has to land on Earth, so Shep takes up with the Wilcox family in suburbia. The normally talented Christopher Lloyd and Shelley Duvall lower themselves to the material. The audience should expect atrocious things from the Hulkster, and he delivers here as usual.

Seven-year-olds might find this fun, but anyone who has to watch it with them will be bored beyond description. Hogan’s movie career started gasping at this point, and his next film would obliterate it for good.

Mr. Nanny (1993) Just picture the movie execs in Hollywood coming up with this idea: Take Hulk Hogan, make him embarrass himself repeatedly in a ripoff of such family-friendly classics as Mrs. Doubtfire and Home Alone, and watch the money flow in by the truckful. Thankfully, the movie bombed and Hollywood got the point—Hogan never got to star in another major movie again.

Hogan does his best as ex-pro wrestler turned babysitter Sean Armstrong, which is to say he fumbles through his scenes the best he can manage. The children hate him, naturally, and put Armstrong through various devices of torture and embarrass him in various ways. Armstrong’s old foes from the wrestling world (because wrestling is real) come to get some revenge.

Hogan’s movie career sank so horribly with this disaster that his next few movies either spent five minutes in theaters or went straight to video.

Q & A

JoeDeLuce

Santa with Muscles (1996) Three Ninjas: High Noon at Magic Mountain (1998) Two more films flushed down the toilet that is Hulk Hogan’s movie career. Few people in their right minds ever paid money to see these wretched creations. They are next-to-impossible to find today, so a general warning to avoid them at all costs may be a moot point. buzz

programs a year, and has 65 parks and about 13 facilities available to all of the people in the community. The park district recently completed a community needs survey, with the goal of meeting various community needs and interests.

What is your position there?

I am the director of recreation, and I tell people that I do everything but plant flowers here (we have been known for always having great flowers). I work with the Virginia Theatre, the indoor tennis facility and the community and cultural centers. I am responsible for every recreational program, the day camps, special events and so much more.

Suburban Commando (1991) Hogan’s next film tries to be more upbeat than No Holds Barred, but is still bad enough to be depressing. Since plenty of people complained that No Holds Barred was too violent and serious for his adolescent fanbase, Hogan shifted gears into family-based comedy. Children still should not be allowed to see it, nor should anyone else for that matter.

Shep Ramsey (Hogan) is a sort of intergalactic superhero jack-of-all-

to department stores, she insists on shopping on her own and memorizes the trail back to their meeting place.

“I find a way to do things,” she said. “It takes determination.”

Carle Low Vision Center is the perfect place for seniors like Seastrand. Dr. Jewel Lewis, 38, takes people with vision loss beyond the realm of the optometrist and into one with magnifiers, telescopes and talking key chains. She and her staff try to find out what people’s visual goals are, whether they are reading, writing, watching television or putting together puzzles. Whatever the person’s goals are, Lewis considers it her job to find optical devices that will make it happen, she said.

The average age of customers visiting Carle Low Vision Center is 75 years old. Lewis witnesses a wide range of reactions to blindness.

She meets seniors who will announce, “I’m just old and I’m going to die” when they walk through the door, and then two years later they will purchase talking books and magnifiers. She meets seniors who want to let their family do everything for them. The coping process is individual to each newly visually impaired senior, she said.

McMullen will never simply finish coping with her blindness. As the glaucoma slowly creeps away at the remainder of her vision, she tentatively learns all she can to cope with it.

“She doesn’t do stuff immediately,” Mullen said. “She has to think on it.”

McMullen works on batches of goals with Mullen every year. One year it was the computer.

One year it was the reading machine. She gives herself big goals but accomplishes them through what Mullen calls baby steps.

“This is not like ‘Can you help me peel a carrot?’”

Mullen laughed. “She goes for some serious goals.

5

McMullen places her Bible on a reading machine inside her living room.

That’s why she has to sit and pray and reflect and say, ‘Oh my god, what am I doing?’ and then, ‘Let’s do it.’ ” Many seniors do not have even McMullen’s tentative attitude toward learning new devices and tricks for functioning with blindness. Many refuse to learn anything at all. Wessel said that such attitudes often are apparent before blindness occurs.

“We talk about before and after,” Wessel said.

“What was life like before? What were the circumstances before you were diagnosed? Before and after is kind of important. If you lived in a certain family setting beforehand, and all of the

sudden a major thing upsets the apple cart, how do the pieces fall?”

Getting people to start talking about these issues is important. Wessel, Mullen and Lewis all mentioned that ophthalmologists tend to neglect to tell seniors about the array of rehabilitation services available in the community.

“Many seniors are so frustrated,” Mullen remarked. “Their family doctor says, ‘I don’t know what to do for you.’ ” They are sent to ophthalmologists, who are surgeons. The ophthalmologists figure out if they can save people’s eyes.

If they cannot, they tell seniors there is nothing they can do for them, Mullen said. continued on Page 6

PHOTO | RODERICK GEDEY

WALKING TALL | DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON

MGM PICTURES

Acting beyond the ring

BY ANDREW VECELAS | STAFF WRITER

community

APRIL 8-14, 2004

PHOTO | KATE DOUGHERTY

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The Champaign Park District strives to improve the quality of life for all residents through education, recreational, culture and leisure opportunities. It offers about 1,200 recreational

Does the department have any upcoming events?

In April, we have our Easter Eggstrav-aganza, Saturday, April 10 at 9 a.m. in West Side Park for children 1 to 8 years old. Also on Saturday at 12 p.m., there is another egg hunt for children 12 years old and younger at Douglass Park. Then, for the adults, there is the Night Lite Egg Pursuit XI from Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS in Hessel Park, starting at 7:30 p.m. At the Virginia Theatre, April 14, Jim Brickman will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. April 21 through 25, we will work with the university’s

College of Communications to put on Roger Ebert’s Ebertfest. Finally, May 26 in Centennial Park, we will have Touch-a-truck, where there are all kinds of trucks, including ice cream trucks, Pepsi trucks, fire trucks and more.

Preschoolers up (to) 5 years old are able to touch and climb all over these trucks and in the past, we have (seen) about 800 children.

People should visit our Web site at www.champaignparkdistrict.com to find out more info about any of these events.

director they had ever had. I (have) worked in Ohio, West Virginia, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Atlanta.

Why do you think this department is so important in Champaign?

I think there are lots of reasons. The most important is the opportunity for people to have fun, a good time and enjoy themselves.

People can learn about and take a class, such as pottery or yoga and attend special events to listen to music. These days, people need the opportunity to just go out and have fun.

How can someone find out more information about the park district?

People can visit our Web site at www.champaignparkdistrict.com, call the office at (217) 398-2550, visit the community center, or any of the offices throughout city.

Our brochure can be downloaded online from our Web site for more information.

How did you become involved in the park district?

I have (worked) in parks and recreation for 24 years. I received my bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation from Kent State University in Ohio. When I went back to Toronto, Ohio, which is a small city of about 5,000, I was the first parks and recreation

How can the community get involved in the park district besides through recreational programs and special events?

People can contact the volunteer manager Kristi Bolton at (217) 398-2550. She is in charge of our volunteers to work at Prairie Farm, the Virginia Theatre and elsewhere.

What do you think is the most interesting part about working in Champaign-Urbana?

One (of) the most interesting things is the diversity of people. You get to work with University students, residents and people from outside of area. It’s fun to work with all of those different people, from different backgrounds. It can be a challenge, but a great opportunity.

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M

ollie McMullen had her house painted bright yellow two years ago. It is one of the few things she can still see. Having a visually conspicuous home is one of the ways McMullen is coping with the glaucoma that has gradually eroded her eyesight for the past 11 years.

McMullen smiles when she talks about her unusual house. Her high cheekbones deepen as her heart-shaped face breaks into a laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody said no, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t paint it that color!â&#x20AC;?

McMullen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went ahead and did it anyway.â&#x20AC;?

Yet the topic of her vision loss can also make her quite serious. Her mood swings. She sets her jaw. She purses her lips. Her tone becomes solemn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pray a lot,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how you look on life. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be here till you leave. You have to settle down and just do what you can.â&#x20AC;?

McMullen did not wish to disclose her exact age, but she is a senior citizen living in Urbana, and she is slowly going blind.

Every seven minutes, someone in America becomes blind or visually impaired, according to the National Foundation for the Blind.

Seniors who are 65 or older make up 12.8 percent of the population, but they account for 30 percent of visually impaired people, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2001. The leading causes of blindness for seniors are macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.

â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;

BY JASON CANTONE | STAFF WRITER

A

Seniors who lose their vision must cope with the loss. It involves an intense and often lengthy grieving process that is difficult to surmount.

McMullen is in the middle of dealing with the emotional side of losing her vision, said Judy Mullen, the coordinator of Visual Impairment North of 55 at the Center of Independent Living (PACE).

Mullen has been instrumental in helping McMullen and dozens of other seniors in Champaign-Urbana cope with blindness.

Mullen is also severely visually impaired.

Having someone help who has also gone through vision loss helps put seniors at ease, Mullen said.

McMullen has to learn how to contin- Mollie McMullen of Urbana suffers from vision loss as a result of glaucoma. ue coping, Mullen noted. She has to disThe less severe the vision loss, the more peocover who she is now, what her role is. Since cop- drive their loved ones away. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people will ing all at once is difficult, McMullen takes baby drag mom or dad in here to learn some skills, and ple try to rely on their sight, Mullen said. They the whole time they will shut down,â&#x20AC;? Mullen are still clinging to visual methods. Recently, steps toward larger goals.

Learning to cope with blindness is a long said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be here. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t she visited a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house and tried to show process. Many newly visually impaired seniors want to hear what you have to say. It becomes her how to mark her washing machine with tactile bumps so she could turn it on and off go through the Elisabeth Kubler Ross grieving very obvious in about 15 minutes.â&#x20AC;?

McMullen was depressed for about a year-and- by herself. Mullen could show a severely visustages: denial, searching, disorganization and reorganization. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a tailspin for anywhere a-half after she started losing her vision, but her ally impaired person how to do it in two or from two to five years,â&#x20AC;? Mullen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you go faith and patience helped her through the tailspin. three minutes. For this senior, it took at least twenty minutes. People through the stages of coping well, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll actually â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me it takes lots of have to be ready to bounce back out again and say to yourself, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I am prayer. I was Christian switch out of the before, but it has who I am now. I just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see anymore.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;? visual realm before But most seniors do not recover quickly, she grown over the years. they jump into the said. Some simply act helpless for a while. Others Patience is a virtue,â&#x20AC;? tactile realm.

McMullen said, laughâ&#x20AC;&#x153;She was using the ing softly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eventually flashlight,â&#x20AC;? Mullen said. it will give you peace.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was crawling on Meanwhile, many top of the washing seniors simply get stuck â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Judy Mullen machine to see the in the denial stage, pink dot that was on it.â&#x20AC;? said Verle Wessel, 60, McMullen has done well with jumping into who works at the Bureau of Blind Services in Champaign. Wessel has been totally blind since that tactile realm, Mullen said. Her vision he was a child. He used to work as a rehabilitation loss is so severe she almost has to. McMullen teacher, helping people in their homes learn to used to be a professional seamstress. She made wedding dresses, menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suits, curtains function as they coped with vision loss. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people will never get past the denial and draperies. Now her vision loss is stage,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are always looking for arti- extreme. Now seemingly small triumphs like cles on new vitamins and drugs and cures. They learning to bake are major victories.

Sometimes family members are overprotective are always looking for research articles. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sort of and block services for seniors that experience hoping for a miracle.â&#x20AC;?

On the other hand, Wessel said, reactions are vision loss. Once a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband told Wessel also very individualized. Individual assistance his help was simply not needed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He told me he loved his wife, that they had from someone like Judy Mullen at PACE is a good idea. Some seniors need help with activities of been married for 50 years, and that it was his duty daily living, others with communication skills. to take care of her,â&#x20AC;? Wessel recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes you have to let that kind of thing run its course.â&#x20AC;?

And some seniors learn faster than others.

McMullen picks up the day's mail just before raindrops sprinkle the ground outside her brightly painted home.

[

[

â&#x20AC;&#x153;She goes for some serious goals. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why she has to sit and pray and reflect and say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;oh my god what am I doing,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and then, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.â&#x20AC;?

film

APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | â&#x20AC;&#x153;I CAN GET YOU A TOE....â&#x20AC;? GO RENT THE BIG LEBOWSKI!!

OSAMA

Local seniors learn to cope with vision loss

next

BY KELLY RETAN | STAFF WRITER

buzz

moviereview

PHOTOS | KATE DOUGHERTY

Taking

buzz

n ongoing feeling of dread and fear permeates through each scene of the Golden Globewinning Osama. From the desperate looks of women locked into cages like animals to the shrieks of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Taliban is coming!â&#x20AC;? that send women and children alike running for their lives down the dusty streets of Afghanistan, this film brings an otherwise clueless world into lives of quiet desperation.

Far from focusing on the notorious leader bin Laden, this Osama focuses on the life of a 12year-old girl, played brilliantly by newcomer

dvdreview

THE BIG LEBOWSKI â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;

BY THOMAS ABBATACOLA | STAFF WRITER

J

oel and Ethan Coen have made some bizarre films in their career and The Big Lebowski (1998) is no exception. The cast, camera tricks and long musical sequences share similarities with their other films, but The Big Lebowski takes them to new levels. The Coen brothers made a movie that gets better and more hilarious upon each viewing.

Taking place during the Persian Gulf War, The Big Lebowski follows a pothead pacifist and his Vietnam veteran bowling buddy as they fight against porn star nihilists to retrieve a rug while trying to steal money from a millionaire whose wife has been kidnapped. Sound confusing? It really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter. The outrageous plot is secondary.

The kidnapping and bowling are overshad-

Marina Golbahari. In interviews, director Siddiq Barmak said he spent months searching Afghanistan to find the perfect lead and his time and effort were deeply rewarded in Golbahariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuanced performance. Yet this film is not about her as much as it is about what happens to her and how her life flips upside down in order to prevent her family from starving.

Under Taliban law, women have no right to education and cannot even leave home without a male escort. The penalty? Death. So when the girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father and brother are both killed in armed conflicts, the girl must cut her hair and become a boy in order to earn enough wages to support her family.

Each time women are herded like cattle, or in one instance when a woman is stoned for â&#x20AC;&#x153;spreading profanity,â&#x20AC;? one must remember this is not an Orwellian tale of what the world could become one day in a different society. This is the way women live in Afghanistan. And as soon as the audience adjusts to this fact, it becomes even more terrifying.

owed by â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Dudeâ&#x20AC;? and the odd characters he encounters. Jeff Bridges plays The Dude, an unemployed and lazy deadbeat. His â&#x20AC;&#x153;take it easyâ&#x20AC;? philosophy gets him caught up in the elaborate series of events. The Dude does not make things happen: things happen to him. He remains inactive and confused as the story unfolds. He sits back, drinks White Russians, and does not try to solve the mystery. As an anti-detective, The Dude is a hero for lazy Americans and undoubtedly one of the best characters ever written.

It is hard to believe that the supporting characters could steal the show from someone as funny as The Dude. Walter (John Goodman), Donny (Steve Buscemi), Maude (Julianne Moore) and Jesus (John Turturro) do just that.

The Coen brothers often write characters for actors and they obviously did that here. Walter constantly reminds everyone of Vietnam while The Dude tries to calm him down and Donny tries to speak. Their chemistry is great and the dialogue never gets old.

The Big Lebowski is not for everyone. Those offended by drug use, constant swearing and rug urination on rugs will not be entertained.

This is a buddy movie. Perhaps that is why this movie inspired several drinking games. It has to be watched more than once to truly

THE BIG LEBOWSKI | JEFF BRIDGES appreciate. We are lucky to see The Big Lebowski return to a big screen.

For those who cannot make it to the theater, The Big Lebowski DVD is good enough. The Making of The Big Lebowski is a 30-minute extra that features interviews with the Coen brothers and the cast. There are not many extras, but the film alone is what makes the DVD. It can be viewed in standard or widescreen formats.

Whether you know what the movie is about or not, The Big Lebowski is entertaining. Help The Dude solve the case or just laugh at the ridiculous characters. After all, The Dude did not care what was going on around him. All The Dude ever wanted was his rug back.

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When Osama (the name the girl takes when she becomes a boy) begins working for a shopkeeper, she is drafted into the Taliban. This draft consists of Taliban members dragging boys from their working lives through the streets so they can learn to pray, wear turbans and wash themselves appropriately. In this forced boot camp, Osama continually makes stupid mistakes that will make you want to slap her. She continues to talk in a high voice, she climbs a tree and then cries when she thinks sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll fall and she walks into where everyone is bathing when she should have just stayed where she was.

Osama is not for the squeamish, but it is a film that needs to be seen. To think that women can be treated this badly boggles the mind. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the American mind; one that would most likely commit suicide if forced into a life of subordination where death is the only escape. But throughout each scene, one question remains: In a society ready to kill a journalist for videotaping Taliban activities, how was a film as true to life as this even made?

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WHOLE TEN YARDS (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30 11:45 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30

JERSEY GIRL (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. Thu. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:40

SCOOBY-DOO 2 (PG) Fri. & Sat. 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:40 9:50 11:50 ELLA ENCHANTED (PG) Fri. & Sun. - Thu. 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:40 Sat. 12:50 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:40 9:50 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:50 3:10 5:20 STARSKY & HUTCH (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) 7:30 9:40 Fri. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 7:40 THE ALAMO (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:15 2:00 4:00 5:00 THE LADYKILLERS (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:40 10:00 7:00 8:00 9:50 11:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:15 2:00 4:00 5:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:00 8:00 9:50 7:40 10:00 GIRL NEXT DOOR (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30 PASSION OF CHRIST (R) Fri. Thu. 1:15 4:15 7:00 9:45 11:45 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 4:50 PRINCE & ME (PG) Fri. & Sat. 7:10 9:30 12:20 2:50 5:20 7:40 10:00 JOHNSON FAMILY (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) 12:15 Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:40 5:10 7:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:50 5:20 9:50 12:00 7:40 10:00 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:40 5:10 7:30 9:50 WALKING TALL (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & DAWN OF THE DEAD (R) Fri. Sat. 12:40 2:40 4:50 7:10 9:30 11:30 & Sat. 5:20 10:00 12:10 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 2:40 4:50 Sun. - Thu. 5:20 10:00 7:10 9:30 â&#x2014;&#x2020; HELLBOY (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 Re-Run Film Series: $3.00 Admission 7:00 8:00 9:45 11:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 CLERKS (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:00 7:00 8:00 9:45 HIDALGO (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. - Thu. 7:10 10:00 HOME ON THE RANGE (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:00 1:30 3:00 3:30 5:00 5:20 7:00 9:00 11:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:00 1:30 3:00 3:30 5:00 5:20 7:00 9:00

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Showtimes for 4/9 thru 4/15

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STOP LOOKING AT ME | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "We are attracted to people who express the qualities we deny or repress in ourselves," says creativity expert Shakti Gawain. Using this idea as your hypothesis, Taurus, take an inventory of the people you're most drawn to. Ask yourself whether they have talents and dreams that you secretly wish could come fully alive in you.

If you find this to be the case, consider the possibility that it's time to transform your secret wishes into definite plans.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Seeing as how you're at the peak of your popularity and in the harvest phase of your yearly cycle, why not suggest to your friends that they organize a celebration in your honor? A parade could launch the festivities, with you riding in a red Cadillac convertible followed by floats depicting the turning points in your life.

When you arrive at the banquet hall, you'll be carried on a litter to a throne. You'll eat a gourmet dinner featuring your favorite food while a series of allies comes to the microphone to describe what they like most about you. To conclude the party, a band will play a set of songs written especially for you.These are merely suggestions, Gemini.You may have different ideas about how you'd like to be glorified.Just make sure you communicate them clearly to the proper people.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I'm a direct descendant of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), the Mongol leader who controlled an empire stretching from Hungary to Korea. The funny thing is, you might be one of his progeny, too.

Geneticists have determined that there are millions of us worldwide, owing to our forefather's prolific sowing of wild oats over an extensive area. Of course it's natural if we have mixed feelings about him: He and his troops did all the nasty things a conquering army usually does. But he was also a good manager who codified laws, advanced religious freedom, and promoted ethnic diversity. Even if Khan isn't officially your ancestor, Cancerian, you're now primed to imitate his more enlightened side. As you expand your territory and authority, fantasize about the ways your new clout will allow you to give greater gifts.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I never take drugs. If I were a Leo,

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Indian activist Gandhi lead many peaceful rebellions against oppressive governments, first in South Africa and later in British-controlled India. At first he called his strategy "passive resistance," but later disavowed that term because it had negative implications. He ultimately chose the Sanskrit word satyagraha, meaning "love force" or "truth force." "Truth ('satya') implies love," he said, "and firmness ('agraha') is a synonym for force.

'Satyagraha' is thus the force which is born of truth and love." According to my reading of the astrological omens, Virgo, satyagraha should be your word of power in the coming weeks. Your uprising against the forces of darkness has got to do more than say "no." A fierce, primal YES should be at the heart of your crusade.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): By 2005, you'll be enrolled in a new School of Life, beginning a fresh course of study that will delight the innocent, open-hearted kid in you. But much of 2004 will be like taking a long final exam based on material you've studied forever. On some days the test questions may bore you into a stupor, while on other days they may electrify you into a state of red alert. Here's a clue that could help you keep those extreme states to a minimum in the coming months, as well as ensure that you'll ace the exam: Leave your normal routine and get away from it all as often as is practical. While you wander in the great unknown, you're likely to attract the exact experiences you'll need to solve the toughest riddles.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Let's do a check-in, Scorpio.

What progress have you been making in your work on this year's biggest opportunity? As I suggested last December, 2004 will be an excellent time to build the kind of network you've always wanted. New alliances will be yours for the asking. Existing collaborators will be extra receptive to deepening your connections. You'll tend to get lucky whenever you try to interest people in helping you express your talents for the good of all. If you've been lagging behind in cashing in on this trend, step up your efforts immediately.

You now have the power to make up for lost time.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): April is Feedback Month.

In the coming weeks, everyone from your best friend to the

wardrobe 10 Excited about 15 Ill-advised place?

16 View from the Latin Quarter 17 Masked man’s cry 18 It may be supplied by a draft 19 Part of a Spanish explorer’s name 20 Attaching, in a way 22 Very slow-moving 23 Its seat is San Rafael 24 North Carolina’s ___ River State Park 25 Problem while getting clean 26 Drove obliquely 28 ___ ester 30 Empty 32 Deal in 33 One who might count you out 36 Cousins of a 33Across 38 Foundation producer

39 It’s tricky to return 41 Saint of housewives, in

France 43 ___ fever (was sick) 44 “___ lied!”

47 Be in a cast 48 Protector of Io 50 Runs across 52 Halfhearted 54 On something 55 Legal scholar Guinier and others 56 Sought acceptance from 58 Square things 59 Participate in military combat 60 Bad spelling?

61 Doesn’t do anything crazy DOWN 1 Bungled 2 Fixed 3 Bizarre cases 4 Not as cold 5 Teach on TV?

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APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | IT IS NOW!!

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

however, I might travel to Britain this week and smoke some pot. (Possession of the stuff in small amounts is no longer illegal there.) If that's impossible for you, find other ways to gently blow your mind. Go on a three-day meditation retreat, make love for six consecutive hours, and read the poetry of Mary Oliver while swinging on a swing. Or make atonement to a person you once wronged, assume that everything you think you know is only half-right, and give away money to someone in need. Or all of the above.

janitor at work may barrage you with hints of what they think about you. A few of the reports will be fairly accurate representations of you, while others may resemble the reflections you get from funhouse mirrors. If you just relax your ego muscles and watch the mad rush of images as you would a comic movie, however, the overall experience will be rejuvenating.

Oprah did it, so why can’t Howard?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): "Free will is there for the taking, like wild blueberries," writes poet Ellen Doré Watson, "-a trifle more sour than we remember." In other words, Capricorn, your mouth might pucker and your eyes may squint when you first sample the ripe crop of free will that you'll come upon this week. But once you've experienced the sensation for a while, it'll start tasting sweeter. By this time next week, you'll be amazed at how delicious it is.

BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In my astrological opinion, you now have a sacred duty to cause good trouble. Please carry out at least two kinds of benevolent mischief from the following list. 1. Break taboos that serve no useful purpose. 2.

Circumvent rules that are rotten or harmful. 3. Expose the manipulators who are trying to get everyone to buy into their delusions. 4. Trick people into rebelling against influences that are bad for them. 5. If you see friends or loved ones who are running on autopilot, give them lessons on how to wake up.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean actress Mercedes Ruehl won the Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1991 movie, "The Fisher King." Taking the stage at the awards ceremony, she exclaimed, "I shall never waitress again, and you are my witnesses!" She was almost 43 years old at the time. I foresee a comparable breakthrough for you in the coming months, Pisces. It may not be quite as dramatic as Ruehl's, but it will definitely free you forever from a task that has stifled or demeaned your spirit.

And you can lay the groundwork for this victory now.

HOMEWORK: What's ☎ Rob Brezsny's Free Will ✍ the weird thing you do or Astrology beautyandtruth

think that's too strange to reveal to your friends and loved ones? (Your secret's safe with me.) Testify at 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 ACROSS

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If forced to decide between having a bigger penis and living in a world where there was no war, 90 percent of men would pick universal peace. So says a poll conducted by Glamour magazine and MensHealth.com. I predict that fate will soon ask you, Aries, to choose between two possibilities that also seem to represent a showdown between self-aggrandizement and altruism. If you play your wild cards, right, however, you may not have to pick one at the expense of the other. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you can have both.

1 Like a versatile

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off 15 7 Plus fours go-with 17 8 Cause 20 19 9 Bouncing off the walls 23 22 10 Noted Phila. facility 26 27 25 11 Menial 30 12 Rat 13 Intimate chat 33 34 35 14 Wrap giant 39 40 38 21 Nestor 41 42 43 23 Rumble 27 It began in 1968, 48 49 47 for tennis 52 53 29 Dark side 56 55 30 Bit of headway 59 58 31 They have big bells 61 60 33 West Bank Puzzle by Byron Walden city 34 Clear out 42 Parts of ship bows 35 Gold holder 44 New Mexico’s ___ National Labs 37 Packaging suppliers’ industry 45 Freight unit 40 Ballyhoo 46 Needs no more work

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W

hen I was in 2nd grade, our class put on a play called T h e To o t h A c h e Mystery, a riveting courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a cavity. I played the part of Judge Wisdom. It was a tricky role but I was prepared, channeling Spencer Tracy in Judgment at Nuremburg with a bit of Bill Murray circa Meatballs thrown in for good measure. It was a beautiful, nuanced performance but no one really got to see much of it.

The kid who was playing one of the toothbrushes, Billy, had two lines, one at the beginning, one at the end. Well, Billy switched his lines and two minutes into the play said his ending line. The next kid to speak was so overly trained that he said his line at the end of the show and that was pretty much the end of it; a 30-minute play rendered down to a 3minute production. Billy, one kid, managed to ruin the good time for all of us.

Janet Jackson is beginning to remind me of Billy from 2nd grade. One boob pops out and all of a sudden, every form of entertainment in America is under scrutiny. It’s insane. One two-second shot of a breast and we’re rethinking every little blip we broadcast.

NYPD Blue was forced to edit a sex scene from a show. Okay, I’ll be the first guy to say I don’t care much about seeing Sipowitz’s ass ever again, but geez Louise, it’s not as if they were going to show the actual penetration or even a boob; probably just some well camouflaged bumping and grinding. Yeah, they push the envelope here and there, but it’s a smart show dealing with some touchy issues while it entertains. It’s well-written and it’s for adults.

So, it’s easy to stand up for NYPD Blue, but what about some of the other shows under fire? For example, Howard Stern. OK, I like him. I’m an idiot sometimes and I find it sort of funny. I’ll be the first to admit it’s not high art, or art at all for that matter, but it does entertain in some manner. The FCC hates him, of course, and fines him with almost the same frequency as I get intoxicated. It’s not really fair.

Who could blame him, then, for tattling to the FCC about the kind of show Oprah Winfrey puts out. Stern encouraged listeners to write the commission complaints about a Winfrey show that discussed the sexual practices of teens. Stern had a show about the same topic and was fined $27,500 for his effort.

Oprah has been reprimanded in no way so far.

If I was Howard, I’d be bitching, too.

On Oprah’s show, she and her guests

talked about the crazy things kids do to each other in the name of lust, even such a thing as “tossing the salad.” Sadly, I didn’t see the show so I can’t comment on any mention of other terms such as “The Cleveland Steamer,” “The Dirty Sanchez,”or the “Donkey Punch” but “tossing the salad” alone should be enough to get her in as much trouble as Howard got into. Wanna bet she walks away unharmed while Howard continues to get fined?

One thing that’s even more shocking is that the decency police are even going after things outside of the realm of broadcasting.

The Sutler, a Nashville, Tennessee pub, has had 19th century Victorian pictures of nude women on their menus for years, but now they may be seen as too racy for state law.

Call me old school, but I prefer to keep my liquor and my pornography separate. Still, it’s a bar and my guess is that the nudity on display is likely less offensive than most of the other things that go on there.

It’s Nashville, after all. George Jones rode his lawn mower to town to get drunk there.

They use washboards and jugs as musical instruments. My guess is a few nude photos in a bar isn’t going to tip the scale much one way or the other.

The pub, fearing they would be shut down, has taken markers to every nipple in the place, blacking out anything that might be considered obscene. They even took down the one photo they have of a woman’s exposed genitalia. People, people, that’s gotta hurt tourism. I know many folks who would drive for miles to have a beer and stare at a picture of exposed genitalia in the same building. Where are these hillbillies going to summer now?

All of this because of one exposed boob during halftime. It’s not right. I can solve this problem right now. No fines, no legislation, no hoopla. It’s simple. If you don’t want to watch something on TV, then don’t.

If a radio program offends you, then find another station.

If you can’t stomach centerfolds and a cocktail then go to T.G.I. Friday’s. If you don’t want your kids exposed to any of the above, then take a little time and talk to them and do your job as a parent. I’m getting tired of the government doing it for you.

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.

3

News of the weird Least competent criminals A pickup truck driver was arrested by an Indiana state trooper because its cargo was blocking sight of the license plate in the back window. On closer inspection, the cargo was revealed to be 900 pounds of marijuana (Indianapolis, March). And in Lafayette, Ind., Joshua K. Kochell, 27, was charged with robbing two gas stations. His probation officer was able to track his whereabouts precisely that evening because Kochell was still wearing an electronic monitor from a 2001 sentence for theft (March).

Also, in the last month ...

A 37-year-old man, angry that a car splashed mud on him, was charged with slashing the tires on 548 cars (Bournemouth, England). And a jury assessed a girls’ high school basketball coach $1.5 million for aggressively hounding a player to lose 10 pounds, which ultimately traumatized her into an eating disorder (West WindsorPlainsboro, N.J.). And the bad-boy artist who once put goldfish into blenders at a gallery, almost defying visitors to turn them on (and one did), used 780 gallons of red paint to cover a 1,000-square-yard iceberg off the coast of Greenland.

More things to worry about – More third-world visitors arrived at Western airports illegally carrying in their luggage indigenous meats destined for family festivals. A 48-year-old woman from Gambia was arrested at Gatwick airport in England with 13 pounds of goat and snail meat and 172 pounds of catfish (March), and at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, a whole smoked monkey was confiscated from a woman arriving from Cameroon for a wedding reception. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official said these airport seizures are “only the tip of the iceberg” of the illegal importing of traditional meats.

– (1) The Trufresh company (Suffield, Conn.) said in March that its method of freezing lobsters for restaurants has resulted in a few lobsters, frozen stiff for hours at a time, reviving on their own. (The company ships all frozen lobsters with claws banded, just in case.) (2) A photo technician at a CVS drugstore in Advance, N.C., notified police in March when someone dropped off film showing two male employees of a local Wendy’s, in bathing suits, frolicking in the restaurant’s potsand-pans dishwashing sink.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Chuck Shepard Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

040804buzz0223

4/7/04

5:37 PM

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intro

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IS YOUR SHIRT MADE OF FELT? | APRIL 8 - 14, 2004

buzz

odds & end

buzz APRIL 8 - 14, 2004 | I MEAN IT

BOTTOM OF THE 9TH

editor’snote

insidebuzz

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story

4 Coping with vision loss

W

e are quite lucky in ChampaignUrbana, as far as entertainment is concerned. There are a few large projects that are coming up that should be spotlighted for their uniqueness and wonderful addition to the community.

In the Arts section on page 7, a story about Champaign Public Library’s “One city, one book” program is featured. The library has gotten together interesting events to discuss censorship in a community setting. The program was designed after the community voted to make the book Fahrenheit 451 the subject of the program.

The topic of censorship has been brought up a lot lately, and this project will aid in educating the individuals about our rights to information. There will be a panel discussion on censorship, a veiwing of the film, Farenheit 451, among other events aimed at creating awareness and getting people reading.

The Boneyard Arts Festival is being held April 16th and 17th to spotlight local visual and performing artists in many venues

Mollie McMullen had her house painted bright yellow two years ago.

It is one of the few things she can still see. Having a visually conspicuous home is one of the ways...

Arts 7 Fahrenheit 451: One city, one book In 1998, all of Seattle was encouraged to read one book. The book was The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks. The program that introduced

Music 11 Muse review: Absolution For all their posturing and selfindulgence, Muse’s output has been for the most part consistently...

Calendar 14 Rock against rape at Cowboy Monkey Set aside your Thursday night to support something worthwhile and catch soem quality music at...

It’s Time: Baseball Season Begins

throughout Champaign, Urbana, Campustown, Savoy and Mahomet. This program will showcase the artistic talent that exists in our town. The festival will run in art galleries, local stores and music venues as well as non-traditional spaces both indoors and outdoors. We get the chance to see a large number of the talented artists in Champaign-Urbana in one weekend.

To round out the month will be the Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival. The event takes place at the historic Virginia Theatre.

The festival shows movies across all genres that are not typically recognized. Roger Ebert, film critic extraordinaire and University of Illinois alumn picks the films and talks about each film after the viewings.

These are really exciting programs. If you haven’t gotten out to see what the community has to offer, this month is probably the best month to do it. Champaign-Urbana is rich in culture and these events coupled with many others that occur everyday showcase the array of talent and depth our community entails.

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BY ADAM AND SETH FEIN | 2ON2OUT

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

Got an opinion?

E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.

We reserve the right to edit submissions.

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 337-8317 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820.

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

Copyright Illini Media Company 2004

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irst things first. We are former ballplayers, the two of us. And we mean that in the most serious way. During our youth, we mowed the yard in the shape of Wrigley and in the off-season, trips to the Bubble in Memorial Stadium were common as we braved the cold to condition ourselves during the long winter.

Through high school, we were good solid players and we played the game as it should be played: with respect.

That being said, neither of us went on to play ball in college or beyond.

We chose to play music instead. In retrospect, it was a good decision; a more fulfilling one anyway. Neither of us top out over 5’7 and what’s more, the short list of famous Jewish sports heroes seemed to be an indicator of our chances. We are proud of our years as players, but knew deep down that we were meant to contribute to the game in different ways.

We find Champaign-Urbana to be a great place to be from as baseball fans.

Allegiances are strong, but for different reasons than actually living in Wrigleyville, Bridgeport or the St. Louis area. We are stuck in the middle and we hold our love for our teams based solely on the fact that there is a terrific amount of diversity within the fanbase of C-U. We are Cubs fans. This column will be rooted in bias to no fault of our own. It comes with the territory. While we plan on being fair to all teams in the league, there will be an emphasis on the three locals, with an even stronger commitment to the Cubs. Some of you might think that’s unfair.

Well, you’re right. But like our coaches and parents always told us, neither is life.

Nor is the game of baseball.

We enter this year coming off of a tremendous off-season where the hot-stove cooked up some of the biggest trades and free agent acquisitions in years. Most every team has tried to supplement themselves by adhering to the philosophy that states: It’s time to win, now. And those that can’t win now are at home studying Moneyball.

For the White Sox, this year is about beginning anew. Firecracker and former slick infielder Ozzie Guillen has stepped in at the helm and the team chemistry (read: Frank Thomas’ ego) seems to be much more cohesive. It’s an important thing to consider when you look at the results from last season where the pale hose clearly underachieved.

But the question right now for the South Siders is whether or not they can persevere 2004 in the weak AL Central after losing Bartolo Colon, Tom Gordon, and mid season additions Robby Alomar and Carl Everett.

Can they top the Royals and Twins, expecting

another highlight reel season from Esteban Loaiza, who posted a 20 win season for the first time since “Black” Jack McDowell did in 1993? Pitching could be a problem for the Good Guys in Black and it remains to be seen.

The Cardinals enter the 2004 campaign with arguably the finest defensive team in the land, sporting 4 gold glove winners from last year.

Offensively, they are incredibly strong as well, led by perhaps the best hitter in the game, Albert Pujols. But here too, pitching is the concern.

There are large question marks behind the prowess of Matt Morris (he himself only won 11 games and fought injury in 2003). Are Woody Williams and Chris Carpenter healthy enough to be truly effective? Can Jason Marquis harness all of his potential talent, even though he wore out his welcome in Atlanta’s pitching coach heaven? In terms of unity and mentality, many experts think that this might be Tony LaRussa’s last year with team. Will the players bind together to win one for the skipper, or will his potentially impending departure affect the team morale to the point of defeat? No one is counting the Redbirds out this year. They could be the dark horse looking to top out the NL Central.

The Cubs are coming off their best year since 1984. For the first time in, well, forever, they have been picked to win the World Series by many critics and that is not something that feels too comfortable in the face of last years sad finish. Not since 1971-72 have the boys in blue posted back to back winning seasons.

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that they have the finest starting rotation in the game – but with Mark Prior out for 4-6 weeks with Achilles Tendonitis, can Kerry Wood and our (re)newly beloved Greg Maddux carry the weight while he heals? Can Sosa shake off last year’s quirks and continue to repeat his heroics in the face of his peer competition? Will offseason acquisition Derrick Lee accomplish what he did with the Marlins last season? Is Corey Patterson healthy enough to step up and become the 5-tool player that we want him to be?

There are too many questions to be posed and too many answers to consider for this first column. But you can be sure that we are going into this season with a keg of Old Style and couple of dogs and an excitement that is akin to Christmas morning. Get ready – this is going to be a hell of a ride. buzz Adam and Seth Fein grew up playing ball in Urbana. Adam is JV coach at Judah High School while Seth has been known to make controversial calls as an umpire around the area. Both have been caught in the act of pretending to pitch oranges at Schnucks. Seth and Adam’s column will appear weekly during baseball season.

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5:38 PM

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