Buzz Magazine: Dec. 16, 2004 by Buzz Magazine

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WE WANT FUN AND WE WANT TO GET WASTED!

It’s Coming... Champaign-Urbana’s Biggest New Year’s Bash!

NEW YEAR’S 2005 Joe’s Brewery 15th Annual Celebration

706 S. 5th St, Campustown * 384-1790

25 Double Bacardi’s $ 50 Lite/MGD Bottles $ 00 Jager Bombs

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Complimentary Champagne Toast at Midnight * Free Party Favors

PARTY FAVORS PARTY FOOD MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE TOAST

New Years Eve PARTY

Single Malt Scotch • Wine • Irish Whiskeys •

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under the cover

INTRO

Slowpoke • Jen Sorenson Editor’s note This Modern World • Tom Tomorrow News Sh!ts and giggles News of the weird • Chuck Shephard First things first • Michael Coulter

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C OV E R

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Addiction

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ONLY WHO CAN PREVENT FORREST FIRES?

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APARTMENTS

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Dealing with addiction • Matt Pais Life in Hell • Matt Groening q + a with Theresa Turner

LISTEN, HEAR Albums you need to hear: The Top 10 albums of 2004 Around town thoughts on 2004 Sound Ground #56 • Todd J. Hunter Mendoza Life Line • Seth Fein

MAIN EVENT Jonesin’ Crosswords • Matt Gaffney Free Will Astrology Bob ‘n Dave • David King

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT Graphics visualize prose • Toccara Castleman Th(ink) • Keith Knight Artist’s corner with Emily Elarde Wine and Food A to Z • Amanda Kolling

THE SILVER SCREEN

BLADE: TRINITY DEVON SHARMA • STAFF WRITER

There is an inherent problem with sequels: 420

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they are, more often than not, worse than the

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420 first. Of course, there are exceptions—

Spiderman 2 and Terminator 2 are good examples—but in most two-part stories or trilogies, no subsequent release ever matches the original. Only die-hard Matrix or Star Wars fans will tell you that the two most recent installments in either series were better than the originals. But they’ll only tell you this if they’re not busy wasting their money on yet another “collector’s edition” box set with bonus hours of special features that are absolutely not interesting, in the least. To be fair, there are those very rare occasions when the third installment in a series improves upon the second, and may even be comparable in quality to the original. Indiana Jones And the Last Crusade and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King are two such examples; Blade:Trinity is not. That’s not to say that this third installment in the Blade saga is an unentertaining continuation. Blade the vampire hunter, played by Wesley Snipes, is about as dark a superhero as they come. Not only is he a half-vampire who is forced to take a special serum to resist the temptation to drink human blood, he also proudly proclaims at one point in Blade: Trinity that he’s killed 1,182 people (but they were all vampires or “familiars”—humans who side with the vampires).The vampires in the Blade series are a sort of mixture between high-tech Goths and kinky aristocrats, what with their studded black leather outfits. Everything in Blade: Trinity promotes this image and fashion, which are very similar to those seen in The Matrix, only with more makeup and less restraint. The action is more extravagant and spectacular than ever, with SWAT team members getting uppercut into the ceiling and vam-

THE AVIATOR Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Beckinsale LEO! Just the mention of the heartthrob’s name should sends hordes of girls running to the theaters, shoving people out of their way. And this film actually looks good! Howard Hughes was an amazing man, commandeering businesses, airplanes and women. This film tells his tale. And Jude Law apparently makes an appearance, if you need more reason to go. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend

Movies you need to see: 10 best of 2004 • Matt Pais Shades of Gray • Shadie Elnashai Closer review • Matt Pais Ocean’s Twelve review • Paul Prikazsky Movie time listings

CLASSIFIEDS

SPANGLISH Adam Sandler & Tea Leoni Punch Drunk Love may have been Sandler’s first attempt at acting in a serious role, but that movie failed. Spanglish looks to put Sandler back in a serious role, this time mixed in with a little bit of humor and some romance. After his wife loses her job and freaks out, the family hires a housekeeper who speaks no English, and Sandler is charged with the task of keeping the family together. Throw in an alcoholic mother-in-law, and you’ve got an incredible looking film. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend

Blade:Trinity review • Devon Sharma

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classifieds (217) 337-8337

Fresh flicks

WINE + DINE

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I CAN’T TELL YOU MY SECRET. IT’S CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

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pires turning to ash from one of Blade’s many silver-encrusted stabbing devices. There is a chase on foot about halfway through the movie that features jumping out of one building’s window, over the speeding traffic below, and into the window of another building across the street—all in one leap. It is, indeed, very entertaining stuff.The problem is that Blade:Trinity is not nearly as entertaining as the original. One benefit an original chapter has that a sequel does not is the idea of introduction. The original has the opportunity to first introduce the viewer to the main character of the story, to the world that the story exists in, to the setting and tone. Just like how “you never forget your first time,” this initial introduction to a story is always the most fun, the most memorable, and the most sensational— provided you don’t accidentally spill your popcorn halfway through the flick. Blade:Trinity tries to address this by entering two new vampire-hunters to the scene to serve as Blade’s backup. Jessica Biel plays female vampire hunter Abigail Whistler, who looks hot when kicking people in the face but adds little else. Her partner, Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds, best known for his role as Van Wilder) provides the majority of the movie’s comedic moments, delivering a seemingly endless supply of quirky, witty, and, above all, profane one-liners.Writer/director David Goyer also throws Dracula, the father of all vampires, into the mix as Blade’s new nemesis.Whereas Blade introduced the audience to the idea of a secret vampire society existing unnoticed by humans, Blade: Trinity all but ignores the twisted workings of this hierarchal underworld. Whereas Blade explored Blade’s internal struggle of being half-human, half-vampire, Blade:Trinity glosses over it as if only mentioning it in review. Blade:Trinity does nothing to further explore or provide new light on the characters, world, setting or tone of the original Blade. Instead, this newest installment deals only in excess: more explosions, more special effects, more violence, and more f-bombs. Unfortunately, all this leaves the audience with a less interesting and less entertaining film.

opening this weekend FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX Dennis Quaid & Giovanni Ribisi This remake of a 1965 Jimmy Stewart film features Quaid and Ribisi as two survivors of a plane crash in a Mongolian desert. Ribisi comes up with plans to build a new plane out of the wreckage of the old one, and the crew has to pull together against incredible odds to make it out alive. Expect plenty of adventure, and probably a sandstorm or two as well. (Andrew Vecelas) Opening this weekend LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Jim Carrey & Meryl Streep Something for the kids to see this weekend too—as long as they aren’t creeped out by the spooky atmosphere. When three children suddenly become orphaned, they have to take up living with their evil uncle, Count Olaf (Carrey, under a lot of makeup). Based on the popular series of books by Daniel Handler. And guess what? Jude Law shows up in this one too. (Andrew Vecelas) Opening this weekend

22 • b u z z w e e k l y APARTMENTS

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HEALEY COURT APARTMENTS 307- 309 Healey Court. Fall 2005. Behind Gully’s. 2 bedrooms. Ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

Our most desirable location on U of I golf course. 1200 sq. ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, fireplace, study, dishwasher, W/D, A/C, carport plus parking, balcony/patio. 359-3687.

2 BR, 1030 E. Kerr. Unfurnished, on bus route, pool, fitness center. $500/mo. negotiable. Available January 384-8157.

Studio apartment on Hessel Park near campus, groceries, and business. $320 includes water, parking, and garbage. 384-0612.

Female roommate wanted for Spring ‘05. $500/ month negotiable, utilities included. Workout room, laundry, great view. ASAP. 217-766-2137.

SUBLETS

Free First Month’s Rent (For woman). 1 Bedroom in 4 Bedroom Apt. Jan- July. University Commons. (217)417-6707.

OLD TOWN CHAMPAIGN 510 S. Elm Available Fall 2005. 2 BR close to campus, hardwood floors, dishwasher, W/D, central air/heat, off street parking, 24 hr. maintenance. $525/mo. 352-3182 or 841-1996. www.ugroup96.com 503, 505, 508 E. White 2 Bedroom $700 3 Bedroom $750 & up Lots of Parking www.ugroup96.com 352-3182 493-0429

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Unfurnished 3 bedroom. Near Hessel Park, Champaign. All appliances, central air, garage and basement. On busline. No pets or smoking. Credit check. $825/mo. Negotiable. 4031020. 511 W. University,C. 1 Bedroom now available $390mo. Near campus and downtown Champaign. 352-8540 www.faronproperties.com

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Available for 2nd semester - UF 1 bedroom at 106 E. John. $475 heat & water paid. Call 351-1803 Available Immediately 408 E. Healey Luxury 1 BR apartment furnished with washer/dryer, dishwasher, jacuzzi tub, microwave, balcony, skylights, high-speed internet. $690/mo. OBO. 217-344-5773 Parking Available

Available for 2nd semester - UF 1 bedroom loft at 803 W. Springfield $460 parking included. Call 3511803 Available for 2nd semester- furnished efficiencies at 602 and 512 E. Clark $295.00 - $355.00. Several remodeled units at 602. Call 351-1803 Available for 2nd semester - furnished 1 bedroom apts. at 58 E. Healey. $375-$390 heat paid. Call 351-1803

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Female roommate wanted. Sublease available Jan 2005 to August 2005. 201 E. Armory. Includes parking, on-site laundry, cable/internet access. $300/mo. Jenny 563505-1546.

Melrose Apartments 4 BR Private Bath, fully furnished, all utilities, parking, cable/HBO, ethernet included. $430/mo negotiable. January-August. One month FREE. 217-721-3245

Other Rentals 500 HOUSES

510

107 W. Pennsylvania - $1450 Renovated 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath. Garage, A/C, W/D, hardwood floors, new appliances. Includes satellite, phone, DSL. Pets ok. On bus line. 714-3150 Cozy Cottage - near Lincoln Square. Campus. Hardwood floors, 5 room, 2 BR. 359-3687

One bedroom, 1.5 bath, patio, fireplace, parking, pool, on busline. Lease through 8/1/05 with option to renew. Newly renovated flash security building. Available Feb 1st or sooner. Call 721-3111.

’Can’t wait for next week’s

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SUBLET SPRING/SUMMER 1 bedroom in newer 3 bedroom apartment. 1806 Cottage Grove, Urbana. Completely furnished. Own bathroom. Bus route. $295/mo., includes parking. 815-441-3785.

$0 DEPOSIT NOW LEASING FOR JANUARY & AUGUST! • Individual Leases w/Roommate Matching Service • Free cable w/HBO, parking, trash & Ethernet • 24 Hour Amenities • On 13 Silver Busline • 1, 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom Apartments

LIMITED NUMBER OF FALL '05 SEMESTER LEASES AVAILABLE

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510

2 BR, basement, appliances, W/D hookup. Close to UI, bus, school. No pets. $750. 351-4029. 4 BR, fully furn, W/D, dishwasher, basement, off-street parking. 801 W. Ohio, Urbana. 05-06 Academic Year. 217-356-8523 or pttrav@hotmail.com 2 bedroom and 7 bedroom house on campus for Fall 2004. 367-6626. Eight to Nine Bedroom Fall, Campus, $2850 367-6626

JTS PROPERTIES

Spring Semester Lease 1-4 BR available $425 utilities included. Contact Anthony 217-384-2967. One bedroom in two bedroom. Available Spring 2005. 105 E. Chalmers. Furnished, huge room. 630-2223344.

HOUSES

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We’ve Got The Houses

wanna sublet that apartment, find your band a decent drummer, or lose that 1984 dodge caravan?

You Want

Now leasing for 2005 101 E Stoughton, C. 3 Bdr $1000 25 E. John, C. 4 Bdr $1750 27 E. John, C. 3 Bdr $900 29 E. John, C. 5 Bdr $2000 31 E. John, C. 5 Bdr $2200 903 W. Main, U. 5 Bdr $1600 910 W. Stoughton, U. 6 Bdr $2100 504 S. Broadway, U. 6 Bdr $1600 Many more! Call today to make an appointment. JTS Properties 328-4284

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Want community? Homemade vegetarian meals? Affordable private rooms? www.couch.coop

ROOMMATE WANTED 550 1 bedroom, near campus $300 per month 367-6626 Non-smoking male to share 4 bedroom house near busline. Private furnished bedroom, shared bath and kitchen, W/D, off-street parking, gas & electric included. Dep. & ref. required. $300/mo. 503 S. Westlawn, C. 417-6969.

buzz classifieds (217) 337.8337

Henry Kissinger and Geraldo Rivera

Take a Virtual Tour! www.universitycommons.com Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Saturday 10am-4pm

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EDITOR’S NOTE PAUL WAGNER • FILM EDITOR

doubt any of you know who I am, and you’re probably a bit surprised at the lack of Marissa’s face here. Sadly, she is leaving Buzz for bigger and (supposedly) better things, like a kick-ass journalism job in Chi-town. She’s leaving quite the large shoes to fill, too. Marissa took Buzz from the boring magazine that I started writing for two years ago and turned it into the edgy, sharp media powerhouse that it is today. OK, maybe it’s not a media powerhouse, but it’s damn close. I’m charged with the daunting task of following in her wake. But I’m looking forward to the challenge. Marissa was an excellent editor, and became a good friend. She will be missed by all of us here, and I know I’m not the only one who sends her my thanks for being such an amazing person. Anyhow, time to lament about finals. ‘Cause they suck, and it’s finals week. The real problem is Thanksgiving break. I mean, we get a week off to relax, right? Wrong.Teachers think it’s a great idea to swamp us with huge projects, giant papers and the promise of hell before finals start. Not sure about you, but I’ve written about 17 and a half papers since I’ve been back, and I still have more to do. It must really suck to be an engineer: finals in all your classes, math problems that take six hours to solve ... I’ll take writing papers any day. Oh, and it gets dark at about 3 in the afternoon now. During the short three hours of daylight, it’s overcast, cold and windy as hell—and no one likes walking to an 8 a.m. final when it’s 10 degrees outside with the wind ripping your face off. But I digress. Thanksgiving break ends with three weeks of apathetic attempts at schoolwork while we wait for winter break to start.Then we actually get a month to sleep in and forget about school. Back to Buzz stuff, I guess, since this is supposed to be an intro to my term as editor in chief. My first issue runs Jan. 6, when most people will be back at home, recovering from some New Year’s Eve shenanigans. But I’ll be here getting used to things, hoping that my miniscule size 13 feet will fit into Marissa’s monstrous size 7 shoes. Screw logic, that’s gonna be tough.

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~ Paul Wagner

BUZZ STAFF v o l u m e

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Cover Design • Jordan Herron Editor in chief • Marissa Monson Art Directors • Meaghan Dee, Carol Mudra Copy Chief • Erin Green Music • Elisabeth Lim Arts • Katie Richardson Film • Paul Wagner Community • Susie An Calendar • Margo O’Hara Photography Editor • Christine Litas Calendar Coordinators • Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography • Roderick Gedey, Sarah Krohn Copy Editors • Jen Hubert, Nellie Waddell Designers • Glenn Cochon, Adam Obendorf, Jordan Herron, Sue Janna Truscott Staff Writers • Matt Pais, Susie An, Shadie Elnashai, Devon Sharma, Lindsey Donnell, Joe Martin, Kyle Gorman Contributing Writers • Michael Coulter, Amanda Kolling, Todd J. Hunter, Seth Fein, Logan Moore, Adam “DJ Bozak” Boskey Production Manager • Theon Smith Sales Manager • Jon Maly Marketing/Distribution • Rory Darnay, Louis Reeves III Publisher • Mary Cory

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JUDE LAW IS SO HOT. HE MUST BE AN ASS ...

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-Newsies

Server operators sued in bid to stymie online file-sharing ALEX VEIGA • AP WRITER

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood movie studios on Tuesday sued scores of operators of computer servers that help relay digital movie files across online filesharing networks. The copyright infringement suits expand on a new U.S. film industry initiative whose first targets were individual file-swappers. The defendants this time run servers that use BitTorrent, now the program of choice for online sharers of large files. “Today’s actions are aimed at individuals who deliberately set up and operate computer servers and Web sites that, by design, allow people to infringe copyrighted motion pictures,” said John Malcolm, head of the Motion Picture Association of

America’s antipiracy unit. Malcolm, speaking at a Washington news conference, declined to name defendants. He said the suits, filed in the United States and Britain, targeted more than 100 server operators. “These people are parasites, leeching off the creativity of others,” Malcolm added. “Their illegal conduct is brazen and blatant.” The suits target computer servers that index movies for BitTorrent users, but Malcolm said the MPAA is eyeing similar action against other servers as well. Sites like BitTorrent steadily gained in popularity after the recording industry began cracking down last year on users of Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster and other established file-sharing software. The suits follow the same logic

employed when the recording industry successfully sued the original Napster filesharing network. The creators of that software used a central computer server to keep and update an index of what music files were being made available by computer users on the network. Fred von Lohmann, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco, suggested Tuesday’s lawsuits would backfire. “By bringing these suits, the MPAA runs the risk of pushing the tens of millions of file sharers to more decentralized technologies that will be harder to police,” von Lohmann said. Another potential wrinkle is that many of the computer servers are offshore, outside the scope of U.S. copyright law.

Take a Break from Studying, Get a

Hollywood movie studios contend that the unauthorized trading of films online has the potential to threaten their industry, particularly as faster Internet access in homes makes the large movie files easier to download. By comparison, music files are far smaller and swapped at greater volume. Last month, the studios began suing computer users for swapping digitized films online for copyright infringement. The industry has also been a party to lawsuits against Kazaa, Morpheus and Grokster. The industry has failed to persuade federal courts to shut down the services, and is awaiting a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. buzz

a Nd G i g g L E s

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An informed and opinionated look at this week’s events

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COMPILED BY LOGAN MOORE

The Washington Post is reporting that a former CIA operative is asser ting in a lawsuit that the agency discredited him with false allegations and then fired him after he openly questioned the validity of its WMD reports and he refused to falsify his findings regarding the state of Iraq’s WMDs prior to the war. Reports that his higher-ups taped “Kick me, I’m stupid” signs to his back at work were unconfirmed at press time.

Gift Certificates Available

344-9003/410 E. Green St.

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APARTMENTS

10- 30% off all framed artwork & sculpture

FRAMER’S MARKET custom picture framing & gallery 807 W. Springfield, Champaign

351-7020 Open Tues - Fri: 9:30 - 5:30

Sat: 10 - 4pm

According to the Washington Post, the recently passed intelligence bill contains a few little-noticed provisions that expand the power of the Patriot Act, including provisions to loosen standards for FBI surveillance and allow the Justice Department to more easily detain suspects without bail. Like a sweaty sow of oppression, the erosion of civil liberties piggybacks it’s way into Congress once again. According to a doctor’s prognosis Victor Yuschenko, Ukrainian opposition leader, was poisoned with a potentially lethal amount of Dioxin by an apparent “third party.” The poisoning apparently accounts for his chronic health problems and facial disfigurement that have occurred since September. Somewhere a former KGB agent is getting a serious wedgie from Vladimir Putin for this.

Bernard Kerik, former NYPD commissioner and Homeland Security chief nominee, officially claimed he was withdrawing his name after he realized his nanny was an undocumented worker and he refused to pay income taxes. Over the weekend, though, a number of stories in major publications linked Kerik to stock scandals, corruption in his former department, and a questionable record during his tour of duty training the Iraqi police force. This never would have happened if they nominated Dennis Franz. The Department of Homeland Security is currently experimenting with a wide-ranging computer database, allowing investigators to match financial transactions against a list of 250,000 people and firms with suspected ties to terrorism, drug trafficking and other financial crimes. Y’know, one of these days the government’s going to nickname one of these computers “H.A.L.” and people are really going to get freaked out. On Monday, former leader of Chile General Augusto Pinochet was indicted and placed under house arrest for the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one during his military regime from 1973-1990. The current U.S. administration can only hope to prop up a dictator in Iraq who takes this friggin’ long to get busted. s o u n d s

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

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• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion. • All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time. • All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student. • Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment. • All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, 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 opportunity basis.

Transportation 300 AUTOMOBILES www.lookatusedcars.com

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Furnished/Unfurnished 1 bedroom lofts $497 2 bedrooms $545 3 bedrooms $650 4 bedrooms $1000 Campus, parking. Fall 04, 367-6626 Available Jan 05 1 bedroom $385, 2 bedroom $590, Campus. 367-6626 BEST VALUE 1 BR. loft from $480. 1 Br. $370 2 BR. $470 3 BR. $750 4 BR $755 Campus. 367-6626. Available Now. 2 bedroom on campus. $550 per month. 367-6626.

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1005 S. SECOND, C Efficiencies. Fall 2005. Secured building. Private parking. Laundry on site, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

106 North Gregory in Urbana

Large, furnished 1 bedrooms available in secure building on Engineering Campus for Spring and Fall ‘05. University Properties, 344-8510.

GREAT VALUE

306- 308- 309 White August 2005. 1 & 3 Bedroom furnished apts. Balconies, patios, laundry, dishwashers, off-street parking, ethernet available. 352-3182, 8411996, 309 S. First. The University Group www.ugroup96.com 106 E. DANIEL, C. 1 Bedroom $350 2 Bedroom $735 Phone 352-3182 Office at 309 S. First The University Group www.wgroup96.com

APARTMENTS

359-5330 359-5330

Hours: M-F 9-5 Sat 9-1 • www.westgateapts.net

Shlens Apartments August 2005

RATES: Billed rate: 35¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 28¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

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1006 S. 3RD, C. Aug 2005. 1 bedrooms. Location, location. Covered parking & laundry, furnished & patios, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

111 E. CHALMERS, C. August 2005. 1 bedroom. Furniture, skylights, off-street parking, laundry. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

506 E. Stoughton, C For August 2005. Extra large efficiency apartments. Security building entry, complete furniture, laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Champaign. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

509 E. White, C. Aug. 2005. Large 1 bedrooms. Security entry, balconies, patios, furnished. Laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

604 E. White, C. Security Entrance For Fall 2005, Large 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom loft (HUGE), furnished, balconies, patios, laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

COURTYARD ON RANDOLPH 713 S. Randolph,C. Spacious 3BR avail Jan. 1. $695/mo incl. cable, water, parking & trash. Property has laundry fac. & seasonal pool. Conveniently located near campus & DT Champaign

105 E. John Available Fall 2005. 1 bedroom furnished, great location. Includes parking. www.ugroup96.com 352-3182 1107 S. 4TH AND GREGORY, C. For August 2005. 3 and 4 bedroom apartments and 2 baths. Best location. Completely furnished. Laundry, parking garage, elevator. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com 605 S. Fifth, C. Fall 2005 5th and Green location Outdoor activity area. 1 bedrooms available. Garage off-street parking. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Champaign. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com JOHN STREET APARTMENTS 58 E. John August 2005. Two and three bedrooms, fully furnished. Dishwashers, center courtyard, on-site laundry, central air, ethernet available. Call Chad at 344-9157 352-3182 University Group www.ugroup96.com

111 E. Healey, Champaign Now leasing for Fall 2005. Extra Large 1 BD and Efficiencies. Starting at $375/mo. Off-street parking, security building, & 5 floor plans to choose from. JTS Properties 3284284.

307 & 310 E. White 307 & 309 Clark

Fall 2005. Large studio, double closet, well furnished. Available January. www.ugroup96.com 352-3182

207- 211 JOHN Fall 2005 Prime Campus Location 2, 3, & 4 Bedrooms Phone 352-3182 THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

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AVAILABLE FOR FALL 2005 56/58 E. Healey, C F 1BR. $390-$425 Corner of Healey and First. Rent includes heat, sewer and hauling. Parking $35.00 per month. Security locked building. On site laundry. 106 E. John, C UF 1BR. $540-$575 Rent includes heat, water, sewer and hauling. Large units with hardwood floors. Parking $35-$50 per month. On site laundry. 202 E. White, C Large 2, 3, and 4 BR furnished apts. On bus line at corner of 2nd and White. Many with fireplaces, balconies, and/or patios. Gated courtyard and on-site laundry. Rents are $600-$850. 512 E. Clark, C F EFF. $345-$365 Rent includes water. Large efficiency units with double closets at corner of Clark and Sixth. Parking $40.00 per month. 602 E. Clark, C. F EFF. $315-$325 Rent includes water. Each unit has patio/balcony area. One heritageBolck from Beckman. Parking $40.00 per month. 711 W. Main, U F EFF. $425-$440 Rent includes parking and hauling. Large efficiency units at corner of Main and Busey with gas fireplace, dishwasher and microwave. Each unit has patio/ balcony. On site laundry.

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PAUL PRIKAZSKY â&#x20AC;˘ STAFF WRITER

W e love beautiful people, shallow as it may sound. The media streams beauty through tabloids, reality shows and magazines to us at an unflinching velocity. In the case of Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Twelve, it is proven once again. Simply stated, the characters redefine cool with each scene.While the film lacks the intricate plot of the original, the camaraderie between the stars and exuberant atmosphere makes for slick entertainment. The whole gang is back: the eponymous Danny Ocean (George Clooney) returns as the fearless leader; the uber-suave Rusty (Brad Pitt), nervous novice Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon) and the rest of the lovable crew are there with him. This time the gang must stay ahead of ruthless casino mogul Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who has a personal vendetta against the crew because of a certain heist they pulled during the first film. He demands payment from Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11 thieves, plus interest. So, naturally, the gang goes to work again, this time barnstorming Europe because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re too hot to work in the States.

location titles and a cornucopia of camera movements. The film is based on a script by George Nolfi, originally intended for action maestro John Woo. When Soderbergh heard about the project, he reworked the story with Nolfi to chronicle the ongoing escapades of the Ocean crew. But whereas the improbable plotting of the heist added to the charm of the original, the writing for the sequel verges OCEANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TWELVE â&#x20AC;˘ BRAD PITT & CATHERINE ZETA-JONES on ridiculous. As usual, they experience more than their Though Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Twelve relies entirely on fair share of problems. Aside from the incessant eye candy and star power, it seems to work. bickering of the Malloy brothers (Casey Affleck When a sequel engages in the losing battle of and Scott Caan), a stealthy cat burglar calling one-upmanship with its predecessor, the outhimself the Night Fox (Vincent Cassel) has come is usually a disaster. Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eleven was so popped up as competition for the crew. There effective because of its tightly wound plot and is also the matter of a gorgeous Europol agent, the subtle comedy between the million-dollar Isabel Lahiri (Catherine Zeta-Jones), acting as cast. Many of the sequelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scenes move at a the crewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sword of Damocles and doggedly lethargic pace or seem extraneous to the plot. pursuing the slick thieves. Now they find The somewhat exotic locales are undermined themselves stuck between a rock and more than by the grittier look and feel to the film. The a few hard places. film would have been more enjoyable if the Director/cinematographer Steven Sod- plot was scrapped and instead we got to see erbergh eschews the cookie-cutter filming the stars hang out. If that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your particular techniques, reverting to his independent cup of tea, I guess you can go see Van Wilder roots. He utilizes a variety of film stocks, vivid fight hordes of vampires.

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FILM REVIEWS CONTINUED ON PAGE

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LEAD STORY â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freegansâ&#x20AC;? are non-homeless Dumpster divers with a political or at least philosophical commitment not to waste perfectly usable discarded goods, including food, according to reports in Newsday (September) and the Houston Press (November). Most are driven by a belief that too many Americans have a fetishized view of newness, pointing out that restaurants discard much unspoiled food simply because they need to sell even fresher food. (Freegans donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat table scraps.) Still, many restaurants elaborately protect their garbage from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dumpsteringâ&#x20AC;? foragers, with locks and razor wire or by coating it with bleach. (Not usually counted as freegans are less-philosophical people who obsessively explore trash piles to carry away anything potentially useful.)

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Jason Rodd, clocked at 90 mph on Interstate 91 near St. Johnsbury, Vt., in November, tried to evade police by the clever ploy of pulling off the highway, dousing his headlights, and turning in to a farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s field for cover. However, unable to see very well without lights, he promptly drove into a manure pit, immobilizing his car, and was tracked down a few minutes later.

CHESS GLANDMASTER Controversial former chess champion Bobby Fischer, who fled to Japan to avoid U.S. visa-violation charges, and who is smarting from a recent Time magazine description of him as something less than a babe magnet, defended his virility to a Mainichi Daily News reporter in October by pointing out that he wears â&#x20AC;&#x153;size 14 wide shoes. Just keep that in mind when (they) say Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a dreamboat.â&#x20AC;? After recounting an episode at a hot spring nude bath in Japan in which two fellow customers seemed in awe of his â&#x20AC;&#x153;size,â&#x20AC;? Fischer then accused Americans of having persuaded Japanese authorities to lock him up in a facility close to a nuclear plant so that the U.S. government can â&#x20AC;&#x153;make me impotent.â&#x20AC;?

READERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CHOICE In Kent, Wash., in November, a 24-yearold man, whose reasons will probably never be known, tried to heat his lava lamp on a stove; he was killed when the lamp exploded and propelled a piece of glass into his heart. And on Thanksgiving day in Worcester, Mass., Frank Palacios, 24, apparently got tired of being criticized for picking at the turkey with his fingers and stabbed his cousin and his uncle, sending both to the hospital. COPYRIGHT 2004 Chuck Shepherd Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

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Christmas shopping is a bastard Give me liquor instead MICHAEL COULTER â&#x20AC;˘ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hristmas shopping is a bastard. I could do some research to find out where this gift-giving concept came from, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a bastard, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll simply speculate. Somewhere, sometime, there had to be a marketing meeting where the idea of giving gifts for Christmas originated. As Bob Newhart would say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I imagine it went something like this ...â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone, thanks for coming to the meeting. As you know, sales of greeting cards and gifts no one really wants are at an all-time low. I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve pitched something like this to you all before, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll try again. I know, I know, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been on this Jesus kick for a few months now, and I agree, my idea to incorporate some sort of bunny into the celebration of his death and resurrection was, at best, ill-timed, but I think this is something different.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come up with a guy, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call him Santa Claus, and he gives gifts to children. Of course, the parents are really the ones who give the gifts, but I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a huge sucker market when it comes to fooling the little ones. See, the beauty of this is, we eventually hope to completely take Jesus out of the holiday. I mean, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, the market for gold, frankincense and myrrh is for crap right now, and it really only looks like gold will rebound.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we play our cards right, we can get the end of the year money everyone has with this Santa thing. Sure, sure, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll still call it Christmas and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll still be Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; day, but by the time weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done, more kids will stay up late for Santa than would ever stay up for Jesus. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get to work.â&#x20AC;? Yeah, I know, I sound like a crabass, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really. Christmas is overcommercialized and all that, but what are you gonna do? If the whole family makes presents for each other, the only thing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re guaranteed is that the whole family will have a shitty christmas, so letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all suck it up and just spend some money. In fact, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here to help with some gift ideas. These ideas probably arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for everybody, but if you know someone like myself whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sort of an alcoholic rat-bastard and you need to buy them something, this list could be invaluable. DVDs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happier than a monkey in a turd factory when I get a DVD. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no rewinding, all sorts of extras, and the picture and sound quality are usually fantastic. While pornography is usually preferred when receiving a DVD, other genres are also acceptable.

Arrested Development (Season 1) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Yeah, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty much the TV show on DVD, but there are a few extras and deleted scenes. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great about it, though, is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty much the TV show on DVD.This is the best show since Seinfeld, and maybe one of the funniest ever. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s around $30 and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 22 episodes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a true pleasure and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be remembered as the giver 22 times instead of just one. Down By Law â&#x20AC;&#x201D; This is a great movie by Jim Jarmusch. It stars Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Bengini before he became a huge Michael Coulter embarrassing pain in the ass. If is a videographyou get the Criterion er, comedian Collection, the extras are and can be greatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a few phone calls, heard on WPGU some music, some videos, 107.1 Thursdays extra scenes. Plus, black and at 5 with Ricker white seems really cool if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; it. snowing outside. CDs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The bastard cousin of the DVD, a CD is, of course, just music. I suppose downloading is great and all, though Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never done it, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really missing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great about the album. Sometimes the storyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not in just one song, but the collection of songs. The Nirvana box set â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Man, this is really cool. It sort of tells the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evolution with their songs and it comes off almost as great as the band was. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a greatest hits package, and most of the singles are in a different form than you might remember, but it reminds me of why I liked them in the first place. The Essential George Jones box set â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I love George. In fact, my dad and I used to get all tanked up on Christmas Eve and listen to â&#x20AC;&#x153;He Stopped Loving Her Today.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sad-ass country stuff, but no one can sing it quite like George. Still, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a shame more people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t at least try to. Liquor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Yeah, I know, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy and all that, but geez Louise, people seem to like it ... and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be remembered. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t count the number of times Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve thought, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m drinking the Scotch my friend Jamie sent me for Christmas.â&#x20AC;? Actually, I can count the number of times. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four years since he moved, four bottles of hooch, so four times. I mean, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually good Scotch and I usually drink it in one sitting, sad as that may be. So, if you know someone like me, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong with any of those gifts. If, however, you know me, I already have most of the items listed, so it might be best to stick to liquor. Actually, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even need a gift. After all, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got peace on earth, a fine leader, and ... OK, go ahead and get me liquor.

thur

chuck shepherd

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the confinement of monogamy; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no attempt to develop their personal lives in a way that clarifies their behavior. Instead, each character is an unexplained cultural red flag, as if their malevolence alone is enough to indicate the revolution of sexual immorality. The problem isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one here to root for. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing particularly unique or provocative about the way these characters deceive each other, and the movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message is no more complex than the concept that they are cheating at all. Closer is about people who have hardly any perspective on their miserable lives, and their oblivion renders them not as real, flawed people but as mindless, horny drones blind to the consequences of their actions. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing about a society that creates such hateful, lying weasels.Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing about lifestyles or experiences that might subliminally perpetuate a sadomasochistic dating scheme in which people are only happy when they hurt the ones they love and find redemption in the need for forgiveness.All there is in the movie are four uninteresting people who, the more Nichols struggles to get Closer, the more youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather look the other way.

CHRISTMAS W. KRANKS (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. 1:05 1:30 3:10 4:30 5:20 7:00 7:30 9:30 9:40 11:50 Sat. 11:00 1:05 1:30 3:10 4:30 5:20 7:00 7:30 9:30 9:40 11:50 Sun. & Mon. 1:05 1:30 3:10 4:30 5:20 7:00 7:30 9:30 9:40 Tue. - Thu. 1:05 1:30 3:10 4:30 5:20 7:00 7:30 9:30 9:40 NATIONAL TREASURE (PG) Fri. & Sun. - Thu. 1:45 4:25 7:10 9:45 Sat. 11:00 1:45 4:25 7:10 9:45 THE INCREDIBLES (PG) Fri. 1:30 4:30 7:00 9:30 12:00 Sat. 11:00 1:30 4:30 7:00 9:30 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:30 4:30 7:00 9:30 POLAR EXPRESS (G) Fri. 1:20 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:15 7:30 9:30 9:50 12:00 Sat. 11:00 11:30 1:20 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:15 7:30 9:30 9:50 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:20 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:15 7:30 9:30 9:50 SPONGEBOB (PG) Fri. Tue. 1:00 3:00 5:00 WHAT THE BLEEP! (NR) Fri. 1:45 4:30 7:10 9:30 11:50 Sat. 11:20 1:45 4:30 7:10 9:30 11:50 Sun. - Tue. 1:45 4:30 7:10 9:30 MEET THE FOCKERS (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (2 SCREENS) Wed. & Thu. 1:20 2:00 4:00 4:40 7:00 7:30 9:30 10:00

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ters in Closer because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re beautiful. Hate them because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re whiny, melodramatic narcissists acting amorally in a film thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only explanation of this behavior is that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re human beings. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no context for the deception, betrayal and infidelity that wraps Dan (Jude Law), Alice (Natalie Portman), Larry (Clive Owen) and Anna (Julia Roberts) in an odd sort of love rectangle. Rather, we get to know them only through the lens of their heartless insincerity and utter impatience with one another until they appear not as real people but as representatives for their gender, as if all men are conniving cavemen and all women are needy manipulators. The movie is meant to be a misanthropic nightmare of 21st century sexuality, but it plays more like an over-the-top bad dream for oldfashioned moralists who think todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society has gone down the sex-driven tubes. Working from his own play, Patrick Marberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s script skips over the evolution of the relationships between Dan and Alice, Larry and Anna. They meet, and suddenly theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been dating for months. Closer seems to desire a deeper meaning about the unseen torments that exist beneath the pretty people we only see on the surface, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awfully hard to swallow this superficial story of beautiful people who just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but stray from their loved ones. A major character weeps in nearly every scene to such an overwhelming emotional

LEMONY SNICKET (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:40 9:30 10:00 12:00 Sat. 11:10 11:40 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:40 9:30 10:00 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:40 9:30 10:00 NEVERLAND (PG) Fri. 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 10:00 12:10 Sat. 11:00 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 10:00 12:10 Sun. - Thu. 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 10:00 FLIGHT OF PHOENIX (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:30 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:30 â&#x2014;&#x2020; SPANGLISH (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. Sat. Wed. & Thu. 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:45 12:20 Sun. - Tue. 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:45 OCEAN'S TWELVE (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (3 SCREENS) Fri. 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 9:40 10:00 11:00 Sat. 11:00 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 9:40 10:00 11:00 Sun. - Tue. 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 9:40 10:00 Wed. & Thu. 1:30 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:30 8:00 10:00 â&#x2014;&#x2020; CLOSER (R) Fri. 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 10:00 12:15 Sat. 11:00 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 10:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 10:00 BLADE: TRINITY (R) (2 SCREENS) Fri. 1:10 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:45 9:40 11:00 Sat. 11:15 1:10 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:45 9:40 11:00 Sun. & Mon. 1:10 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:45 9:40 Tue. 1:10 2:00 4:30 5:00 7:10 7:45 9:40 Wed. & Thu. 1:10 4:30 7:10 9:40

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MATT PAIS â&#x20AC;˘ LEAD REVIEWER

effect that, in a slightly sick way, their tears actually start to become funny. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never convincing that these people actually cry out of sorrow, as opposed to a compulsory demonstration of loneliness. The movie wants them to be victims of their own malice, but the irony and the failure of Closer is that these people never legitimately care for each other in the first place. Director Mike Nichols might be onto something if he stuck to the dark comedy of the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most amusCLOSER â&#x20AC;˘ ingly uncomfortable scene, in which Dan and Larry unknowingly have cyber-sex with each other. But for the most part, Closer takes itself very, very seriously, from the moody soundtrack to the overwritten dialogue, which sometimes feels stolen from Days of Our Lives. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you let me love you?â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one will ever love you as much as I doâ&#x20AC;? are particularly laughable.) It wants to be an intellectual warning sign for modern-day relationships, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more indicative of cinematic self-satisfaction, seen through a movie that uses exaggerated histrionics and cruel behavior as compensation for the lack of any real commentary on contemporary dating.This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an insight into the challenges of being unfaithful; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a glorified, dramatized tale of the temptation to be uncommitted when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just that damn good-looking. Closer is trying to say that if you really believe that there are always more fish in the sea, you will never stop dangling the hook out there. Every character is a tease, all their dialogue is a game, and the performances are uniformly overstated.The actors appear locked in an acting class from hell, in which someone has to cry every five minutes and the cheesiest lines have to be delivered with the utmost intensity. Closer isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about real people struggling with

MIRAMAX

CLOSER

WORSE? HOW COULD THINGS GET ANY WORSE? TAKE A LOOK AROUND HERE, ELLEN. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE AT THE THRESHOLD OF HELL.

WARNER BROTHERS

20 â&#x20AC;˘ b u z z w e e k l y

9pm - 10pm An hour of jam band on WPGU Hosts: Brian Heisler and Adam Lied

“ I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down.

“All you need is a few bucks and a couple of friends and you might get lucky one night.”

I think that the problem may have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.

- Nick Goodman

All right? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.” -Spinal Tap

MOVIES YOU NEED TO SEE

shaDEs of GrAy

The 10 Best of 2004 bittersweet ode to getting older and rediscovering forgotten destiny. Wonderfully romantic.

MATT PAIS • LEAD REVIEWER

1. I

HUCKABEES

A dizzying blend of screwball comedy, psychoanalysis and philosophy, I Heart Huckabees is giddily funny, deceptively intelligent and doesn’t look or sound like anything you’ve seen before. Like so few movies these days, it demands an open mind and a fully functioning brain; don’t see it if you’re not willing to contemplate its ideas. I Heart Huckabees isn’t for everyone, but it should be.

2. DIG! MATT PAIS • STAFF WRITER

wo years ago, University of Illinois student Nick Goodman had never heard of Texas Hold ‘Em. Now he plays the game, a form of poker in which each player receives two cards and uses three of five community cards to make the best five-card hand, one or two times a week in person and about a half-dozen times a week on Internet sites such as PartyPoker.com. “I’ve always kind of played but never as much as these recent years,” Goodman says. “I want to play all the time.” Goodman isn’t the only one to catch the Texas Hold ‘Em fever that has turned millions of Americans into regular gamblers and average Joes such as Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker into sports celebrities. Since 2003, when the Travel Channel began airing the World Poker Tour—a broadcast that featured an innovative low-angle camera allowing viewers to see all of the players’ cards before they were revealed to the table—a swarm of media coverage and increased Internet availability has moved poker into the mainstream. That year, Moneymaker, an amateur and frequent Internet poker player competing in his first professional tournament, won the $2.5 million top prize at the World Series of Poker. “Everyone saw that an Internet player can win $2.5 million,” Goodman says. “It’s not like any other sport where you have to do it all your life. All you need is a few bucks and a couple friends and you might get lucky one night.” The rise in poker’s popularity has caused the University’s Alcohol and Other Drug Office, which also deals with gambling addiction, to more diligently screen

for problem gambling by students. All students who come in to the office with a problem are screened for signs of problem gambling, with recommendations ranging from simply further investigation to the suggestion of in-patient treatment, says Amy Carmen-Peck, who also works in the University Counseling Center. More students recently have shown signs of problem gambling, and now about one out of 10 students who come to the office warrant further investigation, says Kurt Hegeman, a private clinical psychologist who also works in the Alcohol and Other Drug Office. A 1997 study by the Harvard Medical School Division on Addiction that found the rate of “disordered” gambling among college students to be 4.7 percent, nearly three times that of adults (1.6 percent). This is because coping mechanisms are developed during adolescence, and college students can easily use outlets such as gambling or alcohol and drug use as a crutch, says Dr. Sheila Blume, a member of the American

Psychiatric Association’s Council on Addiction Psychiatry. “If the person finds that this thing—the action of gambling, the effect of alcohol on the brain—is a problem solver for them,” she says, “then they don’t develop other ways to deal with it.” Betting anywhere outside of a state-regulated casino or racetrack is illegal in Illinois, including gambling on the Internet. Most online

In a year filled with high-profile documentaries, the best is one of the smallest. Full of passion, ambition and angst, Dig! is a brutally honest look at why two rock bands, The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, never made it big. By cleverly presenting a number of truths about the music industry and the personas of musicians, Dig! simply digs deeper than anything in any other documentary this year.

3. BAADASSSSS!

It might sound confusing: Mario Van Peebles made a movie about his father, Melvin Van Peebles, starring Mario as Melvin and a child actor as Mario. But what results is a gripping story of one filmmaker’s quest to break the boundaries of African-American cinema via the making of a film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, that refused to appease The Man.Though the elder Van Peebles’ work was far from flawless, his son’s film is as explosively insightful about the film industry as it is about the people who dared to change it.

4. BEFORE SUNSET

PHOTOS • CHRISTINE LITAS

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After the young lovers of 1995’s Before Sunrise went their separate ways, it didn’t seem like there was anything left of their story to tell. But in imagining another meeting between idealistic Jesse and straightforward seductress Celine, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and director Richard Linklater create a s o u n d s

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MOVIE NEWS BY SHADIE ELNASHAI

5. KILL BILL VOL. 2

In case you haven’t noticed, Quentin Tarantino likes violence. A lot. But in Kill Bill Vol. 2, he proves all that slicing and dicing is a means to an end, giving lovelorn purpose to all the bloodshed featured in Kill Bill. Celebrating a handful of genres while melding them into a new form all its own, Tarantino concludes his four-hour epic with wisdom and sensitivity.

6. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, and the delightfully perplexing Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind makes you thankful for every brain cell. Written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze, the film constructs a fascinating portrait of fate through the inevitability of finding that special person. In his most emotionally rewarding script to date, Kaufman fashions a complex deconstruction of pain and love you won’t soon forget.

7. SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING

A gorgeous Buddhist poem of stunning serenity and elegance, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring has the power to free your mind, body and soul, regardless of your religion. Combining four phases of a monk’s life as the foundation for

curiosity, suffering and knowledge, Korean writer/director Kim KiDuk creates a beautiful, timeless film about truth, wisdom and inner peace. Tranquility has never been so transfixing.

8. THE INCREDIBLES

Pixar strikes gold again with The Incredibles, the studio’s best since 1998’s A Bug’s Life. Relying less on cutesy characterizations and more on the relationships between real people, it’s a hugely entertaining and surprisingly meaningful adventure through the super lives of a super family.

9. SUPER SIZE ME

With super-size guts and an even bigger appetite, documentarian Morgan Spurlock fights overconsumption with his mouth wide open in the funny, unsettling Super Size Me. The film takes a huge, hilarious bite out of America’s fixation with junk food. In Super Size Me, Spurlock doesn’t just attack the industry; he literally eats it for breakfast.

10. BROKEN WINGS

Here’s hoping the cliched title is just a bad translation, because there’s nothing hackneyed about the somber, tragic and heartfelt Broken Wings. A simple story about the way a family member’s death can redirect the lives of the family in unexpected ways, this sad, touching Israeli film is intelligent and honest about both grief and the healing process. buzz

HONORABLE MENTIONS: 11. Shaun of the Dead, 12. Sideways, 13. The Machinist, 14. Team America: World Police, 15. Garden State, 16. Spiderman 2, 17. Open Water, 18. The Motorcycle Diaries, 19. We Don’t Live Here Anymore, 20. I’m Not Scared, 21. Fahrenheit 9/11, 22. Ray, 23. The Saddest Music in the World, 24. The Five Obstructions, 25. Osama.

Jude Law and Naomi Watts star in one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year, I Heart Huckabees. s c e n e

Hunchback of Notre Dame II voice Jennifer Love Hewitt apparently struggled to master an English accent for her role in The Truth About Love. “It was tough,” said the pop star. “I stuck out like a sore thumb.” Considering her previous inability to convincingly play a human being, it isn’t a surprise that a British lady is out of her range. Regardless, Hewitt, whose 1995 album Let’s Go Bang is a huge seller in Japan, solved her dilemma by underplaying the accent: “I wanted my accent to be barely noticeable. I wanted it to be really light.” Calvin Broadus has it pretty sweet: His latest single tops the Billboard charts and he’s just sold a pretty uninventive movie pitch for $1 million. Broadus, who goes by the more imaginative moniker Snoop Dogg, will star in Coach Snoop, an inspirational autobiographical tale of his experiences coaching his son’s football team. “This film is about how I learned to be a good father through coaching, about lessons learned on and off the field,” said the cool-as-a-dead-polar-bear Dogg. By Jove, this may be the most eagerly anticipated movie ever made. Gift-buying and vacations can take their toll on the less-than-affluent student’s funds. If this applies to you, consider undertaking some freelance photography work. Every publication wants pictures of Julia Roberts’ newly born twins—with or without the Mystic Pizza actress’ consent—and is willing to shell out at least $250,000. Roberts recently gave birth to Hazel Patricia Moder and Phinneas Walter Moder; pictures may confirm rumors that they each sport a full set of their mother’s pearly whites. The future stalkerazzo targets enter a long line of celebrity’s kids with unusual names: Scout and Rumor (Demi Moore), Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow), Audio Science (Shannon Sossamon) and Pilot Inspektor (Jason Lee).

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buzz weekly •

HIP HOP HAS BLOWN MY MIND.

The story of barbecue is the story of America:

Settlers arrive on a great unspoiled continent, discover wondrous riches,

set them on FIRE

and

eat them.

—Vince Staten

food

wine

arbecue is a serious business. Barbecue fans are a passionate and rabid bunch, often arguing the finer points of dry rub vs. wet baste, indirect vs. direct heat, charcoal vs. gas vs. wood, and so on. They read things like The National Barbecue News and buy grills the size of small tractor-trailers. They wear aprons with “natural born griller” emblazoned on them. It’s treacherous territory, but armed with wet-naps and steely determination (and stomach), I offered myself up as a barbecue guinea pig, studiously munching on ribs, rib tips, chicken and more. I even recruited a fellow carnivore for a second opinion, but more on that later. First, we have to discuss regional differences in barbecuing styles. Midwestern barbecue is epitomized by Kansas City pork ribs, rib tips and beef brisket slathered in a thick, tangy-sweet tomato-based sauce.This is the kind of sauce you usually see in grocery stores. In North and South Carolina, pig is king. It’s smoked over wood until the meat can be pulled apart with a fork.This shredded pork is placed on a bun and then dressed with a thin sauce, which tends to be vinegary (although some areas sweeten the sauce with honey or molasses or spike it with hot sauce). I had a hand-chopped pork barbecue sandwich this past summer at High Cotton BBQ in Kitty Hawk, N.C.The meat, smoked over hickory coals, was juicy and tender and perfect with the tangy-spicy sauce and sweet tea. Memphis is home of the dry rub—usually a closely guarded secret recipe of spices blended to perfection and rubbed on smoked ribs. Texans like it dry, too. They slow-cook their dry-rubbed meats (beef brisket is the cut of choice) over wood and serve them sliced on plain white bread with a thin hot sauce. Not to be forgotten is Owensboro, Ky., where barbecued mutton is the specialty.The people of Owensboro take the French Creole saying “Barbe à queue,” meaning “whiskers to tail,” to heart, and also specialize in burgoo, a stew of lamb, mutton, chicken, beef, pork and wild game. Here in Champaign–Urbana, we benefit from our proximity to some of these barbecue capitals. We have Hickory River Smokehouse (previously Longhorn Smokehouse), which specializes in Texasstyle barbecue; Jackson’s Ribs-’n-Tips, which, as the name might suggest, features

Q is for B.B.Q.

Kansas City-style pit-cooked beef ribs and tips; and Lil’ Porgy’s, which uses hickory to slow-cook its pork ribs, chicken and more. My fellow carnivore and I compared the ribs at Jackson’s Ribs-’n-Tips and Lil’ Porgy’s and found it hard to declare a winner. First, there is the problem of comparing pork ribs (Lil’ Porgy’s) with beef ribs (Jackson’s). Second, there’s the difference in sauces. The sauce at Jackson’s was thick and sweet/tangy.The sauce at Lil’ Porgy’s was thinner, and the vinegar was prominent. Regardless of which spot you choose, you won’t go hungry.The half slab of ribs with a side of fries at Jackson’s couldn’t be finished in one sitting, and two could probably share one order. I made the mistake of ordering my own lunch (a single order of rib tips with fries) and we both took home doggie bags. At Lil’ Porgy’s, however, we managed to finish both our meals with no leftovers. I had the half chicken there, which was nice and juicy, with just the right amount of smoke, but I have to admit, I preferred the french fries at Jackson’s. By the way, menus at both restaurants feature more than just ribs; in fact, Jackson’s also specializes in soul food, and had catfish, spaghetti and collard greens the day we visited. My personal barbecue favorite is beef brisket, which is a truly Texan specialty. I like the beef brisket sandwiches at Hickory River, which are dry-rubbed and slowcooked in their on-site hickory smokehouse.The fall-apart tender brisket is served sliced against the grain on a bun and topped with sauce. Of course, I didn’t forget the vegetarians among us. True, your barbecue choices are limited, to say the least, but Strawberry Fields has you covered with barbecued tofu steaks. It’s not exactly beef brisket, but it’s not half bad. Barbecue is honest, filling stuff, and nothing could be nicer than to sit down to some ribs or pit-cooked chicken. If the weather is stopping you from firing up that grill or smoker, then head out to one of our local barbecue places and enjoy the smoke year round. Contact Amanda Kolling with your questions, comments and food tips at amandakolling@readbuzz.com.

AMANDA KOLLING • CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

FEATURED BARBECUE RESTAURANTS Jackson’s Ribs-’n-Tips 116 N. First St., Champaign Lil’ Porgy’s Bar-B-Que 1917 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 101 W. University Ave., Urbana Hickory River Smokehouse 1706 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana

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casinos are located offshore, however, making it difficult for U.S. officials to enforce the law. Offshore casinos are open to anyone 18 and over, and U.S.-based sites require players to be 21 and over, though, Blume says,“The Internet casinos just take your word for how old you are.” The first online casino was launched in 1995, and by 2000 there were more than 1,800 Internet gambling sites, according to the American Gaming Association. About $100 million is wagered nightly in online poker, according to Pokerpulse.com. This is the second year of the online College Poker Championships, a free tournament open only to college students—who must submit a college transcript as part of the entry process—that will award $84,500 in scholarship awards. About 10,000 students played in last year’s tournament, and 50,000 are expected to enter this year. Many students succumb to Internet gambling because of the ease of payment, says Hegeman. “Putting out that credit card number and not even seeing a transfer of money—or even a transfer of chips—it’s very easy to get lost in that,” he says. Legal concerns have largely kept poker games out of the public eye on the University of Illinois campus. Goodman says large, organized tournaments are rare and he elects not to name the location or organizer of a recent tournament that included approximately 50 players competing for a top

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prize of approximately $700.A memsuch activity is usually a misber of the Illini Card Playing demeanor. He estimates that Club says the group has two or three students per recently received an increase year come to him charged in requests for poker games with using a fake ID to but has hesitated to organize a enter a casino. game for legal reasons. No one Still, there is little legal If the person finds that has been arrested because action related to gam(gambling) is a problem most games are played in pribling on campus, Betz solver for them, then they vate residences, says Sergeant says. About 10 years ago Scott Friedlein of the a student robbed a bank don’t develop other ways Champaign Police. to cover gambling to deal with it. Yet the discreet nature of debts, though Betz the game—particularly on the says, “I think it was a Dr. Sheila Blume • psychiatrist Internet—provides opportuscream for help more than nities for students to develop it was a robbery.” gambling problems without This summer, Hegeman any intervention, says Blume. helped create a gambling “You can gamble for hours at protocol to help college coacha casino on your computer and nobody knows what you’re es deal with their players’ gambling habits. Funded by the doing,” she says.“They think you’re doing homework.” Illinois Higher Education Center, the protocol is expected Blume says people develop an addiction to the thrill of to be distributed to Illinois colleges by early 2005 and may gambling rather than what is actually at stake. “The drug be distributed nationally as well. isn’t money, it’s the action,” she says. “That’s why you can Gambling is available everywhere, though, and inhibiting do it on the Internet where you never see a card, a chip it is a difficult and potentially hypocritical task. Religion or a bill.” and government both endorse gambling, Looney says, Thomas Betz, an attorney at the University of Illinois’ through bingo and the lottery, respectively. Student Legal Service for 19 years, has witnessed gambling “What we’re doing is building a nation of gamblers, very addiction first-hand. A friend of his—also a lawyer— slowly, very subtly,” he says.“Give me one hour and I’ll show recently had his life torn apart by Internet gambling. you where I can make a bet on a college campus.” buzz “He neglected his clients, his work, his relationships, his life,” Betz says. “Now he’s starting his life all over again.” His friend now works as a clerk in a local hotel. Anyone running an illegal game of chance can potential- For help, students can call the University Counseling Center, ly be charged with a felony, Betz says, while participation in 333-3701, or the Alcohol and Other Drug Office, 333-7557.

8 • buzz weekly

PRAISE TO YOU AS YOU DRINK MY BEER.

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Emily Elarde PHOTO • CHRISTINE LITAS

Operation Santa Claus WPGU and the Crisis Nursery of Champaign County present the 11th annual

2004 Thanks to WPGU listeners and friends

for helping us exceed our $5000 goal!

PHOTO • SARAH KROHN

We collected $6200 to give 36 of the area’s neediest children a bright and happy holiday! BY KATIE RICHARDSON • ARTS EDITOR

transferred to the St. Louis, Mo. administration office where I held several different positions, such as medical fellowship secretary and Corps Cadet counselor. On Dec. 26, 2003, my husband and I were told we would be transferred to Champaign, Ill., as the pastors and administrators of the local Salvation Army church.

Thank you especially to Champaign Cops for Kids, Frank G. from Urbana, Todd H. from Champaign, Nick R. from Champaign, Chris S. from Potomac, Matt Y. from Farmer City and Meijer for their very generous donations.

Emily Elarde is currently a senior at the University of Illinois, double majoring in psychology and theater studies, with a focus on playwriting. Next year she plans to move out to the Big Apple to pursue graduate education in drama therapy. This semester she smoked too many cigarettes and nearly lost her mind while writing a full-length adaptation of Macbeth called The Scottish Play, which will be produced next semester, on April 15 and 16 at the Armory Free Theatre. Emily enjoys sushi, cheap boxed wine, porch philosophy and pez. She dislikes muddy sneakers, reality television and our president.

Have a happy holiday from the Champaign Crisis Nursery and WPGU!

Who does the Salvation Army benefit?

The Salvation Army tries to meet human needs in each community as needed. Of course, we can’t do all programs in every community, but we try to assess each community’s needs.We work at meeting such needs through direct involvement, programs or referrals. How long have you been involved in the Salvation Army and at what position?

The Salvation Army is a church, and I have attended it all my life. After going through the training program, my husband and I became commissioned officers in the Salvation Army and ordained as ministers. Since then, I have held many positions. I have been a pastor and administrator of the corps (church) in Niles, Mich. as well as in the Chicago area. I also was stationed at the Divisional Headquarters Administration offices in Chicago. There, I held the position of divisional Corps Cadet counselor, and I worked with teens in the Metropolitan Chicago and Northern Illinois area. Following that position, I was stationed in the Divisional Headquarters Administration offices in Kansas City, Mo.There I held several positions, including League of Mercy secretary. That position allowed me to work with our churches in conjunction with visitation to nursing homes, veteran’s hospitals, etc. I was also the Corps Cadet counselor in Kansas City for one year, and I held the position of volunteer coordinator for one year. I was then

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artist’s corner

q+a

Major Theresa Turner has been a member of The Salvation Army all her life.Their mission statement, based on the Bible, is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting human needs without discrimination. Working out of the Champaign location, Turner enjoys the opportunity to serve others.

buzz weekly

BREAD LANDS BUTTER SIDE UP, CAUSES RIFT IN SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM.

What is your favorite part of your job?

100-word excerpt from my play: The Scottish Play

There are many aspects we, as pastors and administrators, do every day. My favorite opportunity to serve is working with a group called Corps Cadets. I held the position as divisional Corps Cadet counselor/leader in two different divisions and that was very enjoyable, challenging and rewarding. However, being able to work with a smaller number of teens, challenge them to see the potential they have in Christ and watch their faith grow along with their leadership abilities is exciting and very rewarding.

ACTOR #7 Pardon, sir, my interruption, I do but beg a moment of your time. UNDERSTUDY Of course, my friend, no interruption. Please Come forward. Now, how can I help you, sir? ACTOR #7 I’ve noticed, friend, a subtle change in you. I cannot help remember what you said When we first met tonight.You mentioned some Strange presence here, a force within these walls.

What is your favorite story to tell about the Salvation Army?

We haven’t been here in Champaign long enough for a story about this location, but I can share a story about my first appointment and my first Christmas as a Salvation Army officer. My husband and I were in Niles, Mich., and we were wrapping up Christmas efforts. We hadn’t yet reached our goal, and we were about $15,000 short. On New Year’s Eve, we were opening some mail when I opened a little plain white envelope. Inside, there was a check for $15,000. We made our goal. It was a miracle for us. We received exactly what we needed to be able to serve the Niles, Mich., community the rest of the year. It was a wonderful reminder that God is in control, and He knew all along. He would provide for us—then, now and in the future.

UNDERSTUDY I did indeed, and right I was. ACTOR #7 Well then, sir, if you were right, and we are Truly visited by some dark force tonight, Perhaps then we should not proceed. Perhaps These foul and unexplained occurrences Upon our stage are meant as warnings to us. After all, we would not want to meddle With the rightful ghosts of our fair theatre.

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What inspires you?

Brilliant art. Every time I see or read a really captivating play, watch a brilliant film, read a great book, go to an amazing concert or experience any other breath-taking, lifealtering, groundbreaking art ... that’s what drives me to create. What artist would you have dinner with and why?

Although I know this is lame, I’m going to have to say William Shakespeare. Working on an adaptation of Macbeth all semester, I definitely have a few things I’d like to discuss with him. And Charlie Kaufman, too ... he’d probably be a more entertaining date than Shakespeare. But I wouldn’t want to have dinner ... I think I’d rather go bowling with them. List a six-word phrase or six words that describe you.

... and starlight over the open road. What tunes do you jam to when you’re ‘creating’?

Lately my playwriting inspiration music has mainly consisted of soundtracks ... Garden State and The Royal Tenenbaums have been crucial. I also dig the classics: The Doors, Hendrix, Marley ... and the even more classics: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc.

ALBUMS you have

Are you really sure that a floor can't also be a ceiling? - M. C. Escher

TOCCARA CASTLEMAN • STAFF WRITER

. . . . . . . . . . . . IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AND TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE. . . . IN CREATING A NEW VOCABULARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘WHAT IS LITERATURE?’. . . . ‘WHAT IS ART?’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNFIELD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUT WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE SOMETHING NEW. . . . . . . . . . . .

t is not necessary to travel across the world, tread through sullied waters or hike to the tops of mountains to be exposed to literature and the arts.You can learn about national culture and prose here in the Midwest by reading Ninth Letter. Ninth Letter is the new literary magazine published at the University of Illinois. Ninth Letter was the creative idea of Christopher Maier, a member in the first class of the University’s creative writing program. “I wanted to created a project—a force that would grab people’s attention, that would cause them to stop in their tracks and ask, ‘What’s going on over there in Champaign-Urbana?’” said Maier. The magazine contains graphic design and literature that work together to form a diverse publication. “It’s an opportunity to make a difference and to stress the importance in creating a new vocabulary. ‘What is literature?’ ‘What is art?’We’re in the middle of the cornfield—but we still have the opportunity to communicate something new,” said Jennifer Gunji, assistant professor of graphic design and art director of Ninth Letter. Ninth Letter got its title from Professor Michael Madonick. Madonick is also the poetry editor of the magazine. “The ninth letter in the alphabet is I. So the title became Ninth Letter as a way to honor the University without coming out and saying that it was just a product of the U of I.‘I’ also refers to the first person. ‘I’ as the observer,” explained Jodee Rubin, editor of Ninth Letter. Staff members began working on the first issue of Ninth Letter in the fall of 2003. It became a collaborative effort between the English and graphic design departments. The magazine’s first issue appeared in March 2004. “We go through an intense process. First the English department selects stories through submission. Then they present it to us,” said Gunji.“We read every single story and then we try to find visual metaphors as a more subtle way to elucidate what’s being written.We don’t want to be predictable.” Each page of Ninth Letter is comprised of visual

The Top 10 albums of 2004

GRAPHICS VISUALIZE PROSE

imagery to complement the poetry and prose. “Without design it’d just be words on a page and people would be turned off by a white page. Design is just as important as the literary aspect. Just like without the literature we wouldn’t be inspired to have such great design,” said Mark Hauge, student in graphic design. Hauge has assisted with the work on the Web site for the second issue of Ninth Letter. As a means to stray from predictability, the main mission of Ninth Letter is to break boundaries, said Rubin.Though it is published at the University, Ninth Letter is sold at bookstores across the country. Writers who are both published and unpublished are allowed to submit their material. “We actively look for a range of subject matter and narrative structure. We don’t want this magazine to be pigeonholed. We strive to find and promote new writers. In each issue we want to have at least one or two writers who’ve never been published,” said Rubin. Writers not featured in the magazine are able to have their work shown on Ninth Letter’s Web site. Unlike other magazines, the Ninth Letter Web site does not function as an outlet to attract subscribers. The site is an interactive experience that contains different stories, poems and designs from those in the print version. “We wanted the Web site to act as its own entity, not just an advertising vehicle for the magazine,” said Rubin. Notable authors such as Richard Powers, an English professor at the University, have been featured on the Web site. Powers has written for other literary magazines such as The New Yorker, Harper’s and Esquire. While Powers will continue to support Ninth Letter, he explained that he and other professors at the University will shy away from publishing their material in the magazine to give upcoming writers the opportunity to display their work. Students in the graphic design department have had creative input on both the print version and online component of the magazine. “It’s been a great opportunity to work in a realistic environment, working with extraordinarily talent-

usic and politics are inextricably interwoven. With four years of George W. behind us and four more to go, we can afford to be passive no longer. We must distance ourselves from the 1990s slacker era of passivity that left us only tapping our feet and bopping our heads. Newly discovered confidence translated into danceable post-punk and the disco bassline, in addition to freak-folk, neo-chanting, NYC noise, and subversive hip hop. New sounds have brought back the (inter)active relationship between artists and fans and got us back on the dance floor. 2004 marks a year of action, and we haven’t tired of dancing yet. Below is a collaborative list of the Buzz music staff’s Top 10 albums of the year.

Animal Collective • Sung Tongs (Fat Cat) LOGAN MOORE • STAFF WRITER

ed people. It’s a big time commitment, (and) lack of sleep, but in the end it’s really rewarding,” said Amy Hanlon, student in graphic design and assistant designer of Ninth Letter. In future issues the graphic design department will take submissions from students who would like to be on staff. Ideally, Gunji hopes to offer students at least two semesters of experience working with the magazine. “Students have the chance to get their hands dirty in the daily operation of what’s quickly become a major lit-and-arts magazine,” said Maier. The staff stresses that they will continue to reinvent their image to keep readers engaged and to also remain unique among the group of other literary magazines. “Only the identity will be the same.We don’t want to put a stylistic stamp on what we do,” said Gunji. In addition to the identity remaining the same, Ninth Letter will always include the “Where We’re At” section. This section will highlight people, places and issues in the Midwest. “The section is to show people that the Midwest is not barren. There are interesting things going on here,” said Rubin. It is difficult to pinpoint Ninth Letter with a oneword definition because of its unique mixture of graphic arts and prose. “Because we question the boundaries of genres. Because we’re in search of these critical points where various modes of artistic expression intersect—and what happens at those intersections is unpredictable, indefinable, and, in one word, at least indescribable,” said Maier. “Maybe we don’t have a word yet to describe what’s happening at Ninth Letter ... I think I’m in love.” buz z

Animal Collective are the latest in a long line of American iconoclasts, redrawing the lines and rewriting the rules of rock according to their own singular whimsy.Avey Tare and Panda Bear shed their electronic cocoon and emerged as urban shamans, wielding tribal paeans and acoustic hymns to soothe the demons and extraterrestrials who obviously inspired their art-damaged, genre-less miasma. In the process, they prove that music this much on the outer edges need not lack humor, heart or soul.

Joanna Newsom • The Milk-Eyed Mender (Drag City) SHADIE ELNASHAI • STAFF WRITER

Joanna Newsom’s alluring debut proves to be one of the year’s most unexpected enjoyments. Most salient is the endearing idiosyncrasy of her unique vocals. Lyrically, she weaves a poetic mosaic full of textured eloquence. Her contrast of fairytale ramblings and wise musings is analogous to her deceptively infantile prosody. She proves herself to be a remarkably proficient harpist; sweeping arpeggios and rhythmic staccato offer a rich neo-folk alternative.

Arcade Fire • Funeral (Merge) IMRAN SIDDIQUEE • STAFF WRITER

The staff at Ninth Letter is currently working on the third issue, which will be available in May 2005. The magazine is sold at local locations such as the Illini Union Bookstore, Cafe Paradiso, Verde Gallery, Borders and Pages For All Ages.

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Funeral is among the most expressive, intelligent and moving pieces of music released this year. From the ecstasy of the final 30 seconds of “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” to the heart wrenching bridge on “Neighborhood s o u n d s

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#2 (Power Out),” the album is colored with moments of pop perfection. Funeral effortlessly moves from cathartic release following a funeral to musings on the slow death of the human soul in modern times: “Our bodies get bigger/But our hearts get torn up/We’re just a million little gods causing rain storms/Turning every good thing to rust.” This isn’t just great music; it is art at its finest.

Fiery Furnaces • Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade) JOE MARTIN • STAFF WRITER

The Fiery Furnaces’ shambling 2003 debut, Gallowsbird’s Bark, may have been the kind of record that any garage band would love to call their own, but Blueberry Boat is something else entirely: it’s the kind of record The Who probably wish they had made. Boasting surefooted whimsy and enough kitchen-sink flourishes (fruit pirates, Inuit digressions) to bury lesser bands, Blueberry Boat effortlessly pushes Matt and Eleanor Friedberger through pop history’s looking glass, marrying classic rock bombast and postmodern thrills in the process. Other bands crafted more coherent records this year, but, for pure ADHD gusto, none even came close to the Furnaces’ epic fire.

Liars • They Were Wrong So We Drowned (Mute) LORENZO BAEZA • STAFF WRITER

On the Liars’ debut, They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument On Top, singer Angus Andrew howls in his frenzied monotone,“I have my finger on the pulse of America.” On their latest full length, that statement couldn’t be closer to the truth. Heavily influenced by the Rhode Island/New York noise-rock scene

and loaded with imagery spawning America’s history of systems of control and fear, from the Salem witch trials to presentday conflicts over oil, They Were Wrong So We Drowned is a sonic mud of murky gray tones, organic tribal drums riding alongside fractured melodies and an alienating perspective of today’s times. Perhaps the music should come with riot gear and daily rations.

A.C. Newman • The Slow Wonder (Matador)

enigmatic artists of 2004. Releasing two albums and curating a stunning little comp on Bastet Records, he established himself as one of the most visible practitioners of the recent trend of odd “folk” music. Regardless of all the pigeonholing, one need only look to Rejoicing in the Hands as a telling document of one man’s humorous, peculiar and moving journey through nature, the psyche and the sublime.

The Walkmen • Bows + Arrows (Record Collection)

KYLE GORMAN • STAFF WRITER

One of the greatest musical risks is the three-minute powerpop song. Because of the danger such a bare format presents, many have chosen to mask their intentions—even Pete Townshend needed a blonde-haired, superhero-costumed stud to blast out his testaments to youth in verse. A.C. Newman, whose day job is creating hooky, cavity-inducing pop with the New Pornographers, chooses a different approach: taut drums, informed keys and tightly-wound, skronky guitar conceal Newman’s intent. The Slow Wonder reveals with time the stunning genius of Newman’s songwriting.

MICHAEL MALINSKY • STAFF WRITER

In an age of disposable, interchangeable playlists within the reach of twitchy and rattled fingers, the age of the album faces an uncertain future. Postmodernist nonsense may challenge the concept of what Bows + Arrows does to a nostalgic ear, but in practice The Walkmen force their listener to accept the unquestionable presence of a sincere attempt by a thinking, feeling band to record an album. The Walkmen have done what few other New York bands have accomplished in creating a sophomore record that is as valiant as their first.

7 10 Black Dice • Creature Comforts (DFA Records)

Kanye West • College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella)

LORENZO BAEZA • STAFF WRITER

IMRAN SIDDIQUEE • STAFF WRITER

You are probably a fan of Kanye West.You liked “Through the Wire” and loved “Slow Jams.”You bump the “The New Workout Plan” at the gym and dance to “Jesus Walks” in the car with your parents. Kanye’s biggest asset, besides his vocal cadence and mastery of modern production, may be his likeability. As cocky as he comes off sometimes, his sincerity,“Act like you ain’t took a bath with your cousins/Fit three in the bed while six of y’all/I’m talkin’ ‘bout three by the head and three by the leg,” is what people relate to and it’s what makes him a vital artist.

Devendra Banhart • Rejoicing in the Hands (Young God) LOGAN MOORE • STAFF WRITER

For such an obviously eccentric and unassuming artist, Devendra Banhart proved himself one of the most

Black Dice present a challenging opposition to the current slew of bands trying to retain that “garage sound.” With a sole guitarist and no present “drummer,” Black Dice produce a menagerie of dense and devastating sounds from an onslaught of analog processors and effect pedals. On Creature Comforts, the now trio follow the ambient slow-down of last year’s Beaches & Canyons, but replace the chaotic drumming with electronic ping-pong table aesthetics, while the guitarist enlists the spirit of Hawaiian and dub music, processed and alienated, creating a terrestrial landscape not of our own.Yes, ladies and gentleman, this is the future of rock. buzz h o n o r a b l e 1. 3. 3. 4. 5.

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Sufjan Stevens • Seven Swans Múm • Summer Make Good The Blackouts • Living in Blue Björk • Medúlla Cee-Lo • Cee-Lo Green is a Soul Machine

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AROUND TOWN THOUGHTS ON 2004

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Buzz asked musicians and music-related folk what they thought was the best of the year, and here’s how they answered ...

DJ BOZAK CHAMPAIGN DJ EXTRAORDINAIRE 1. Madvillian • Madvillliany (Stones Throw) 2. Kerrier District • Kerrier District (Rephlex) 3. Björk • Medúlla (Elektra) 4. Jill Scott • Beautifully Human:Words & Sounds 2 (Sony) 5. Diplo • Florida (Big Dada Records) 6. TV on the Radio • Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes (Touch & Go Records) 7. Ghostface • Pretty Toney Album (Def Jam) 8. De La Soul • The Grind Date (Sanctuary Records) 9. Got the Bug • Bugz in the Attic Remixes (V2. Int’l) 10. Kanye West • College Dropout (RocA-Fella)

JACOB DITTMER FORMER BUZZ MUSIC EDITOR/

MAN AROUND TOWN

1. Aracade Fire • Funeral (Merge) 2. Devendra Banhart • Rejoicing in the Hands (Young God) 3. Fiery Furnaces • Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade) 4. Wilco • A Ghost is Born (Nonesuch) 5. The Walkmen • Bows + Arrows (Record Collection) 6. The Blackouts • Living in Blue (Lucid) 7. Castanets • Cathedral (Asthmatic Kitty) 8. Xiu Xiu • Fabulous Muscles (5 Rue Christine) 9. Cee-Lo • Cee-Lo Green is a Soul Machine (Arista) 10. Sufjan Stevens • Seven Swans (Asthmatic Kitty)

1. Dungen • Ta Det Lugnt (Subliminal Sounds) 2. Jose Gonzalez • Stay In The Shade (Imperial) 3. Frank Lenz • Slaughter Conquest (Velvet Blue Music) 4. Richard Swift • Collection Vol. 1 (Leftwing)

WARD GOLLINGS BOOKING AGENT 1. Braid @ Highdive 2. The Clash • Another Combat Rock 3. Heiruspecs @ Cowboy Monkey 4. The Arcade Fire @ Highdive 5. WPGU 107.1 6. Blackouts/Headlights/Beauty Shop/Situation @ Highdive 7. Temple of Low Men (as Rage Against the Machine) @ The Great Cover Up 14 8. Bloodthirsty Lovers • The Delicate Seam 9. The Lift • Road to Hana 10. Brian Jonestown Massacre @ Nargile 11. Lorenzo Goetz • Jesus Elephant

ANGIE HEATON SINGER/SONGWRITER 1. Rilo Kiley • More Adventurous (Brute/Beaute) 2. Tegan & Sarah • So Jealous (Sanctuary) 3. Fiery Furnaces • Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade) 4. Gina Villalobos • Rock N’ Roll Pony (Kick Music) 5. Trembling Blue Stars • Seven Autumn Flowers (Bar/None) 6. Nora O’Connor • Til The Dawn (Bloodshot) 7. Modest Mouse • Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic) 8. Garrison Starr • Airstreams & Satellites (Vanguard) 9. Neko Case • Tigers Have Spoken (Anti) 10. Thirdimension • Permanent (A Hidden Agenda Record)

TODD HUNTER HOST OF WEFT SESSIONS 1. Washington Social Club, Lying in States, Little Black Spiders @

Nargile on Sunday, March 14, 2004 2. Jiggsaw, Kissinger @ Cowboy Monkey on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 3. Temple of Low Men, Green Mountain Grass, Two Rivers, Lucky Mulholland, Kevin Carrier Jazz Combo, Ryan Groff, No Secret Band, Larry Gates @ Iron Post on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004 4. Triple Whip, Malachi Constant, Mad Science Fair @ Nargile on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 5. Shipwreck, L.P. @ Nargile on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 6. Valina, Little Black Spiders @ Mike ‘n Molly’s on Thursday, June 17, 2004 7. Triple Whip @ undisclosed location on Friday, Aug. 6, 2004 8. Mike Ingram, Adam Wolfe, Larry Gates @ Cowboy Monkey on Friday, March 19, 2004 9. The Idle Hours, Triple Whip, Nonagon @ Boneyard Pottery on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004 10. Lorenzo Goetz @ Cowboy Monkey on Thursday, June 24, 2004

TROY MICHAEL OWNER OF INNOCENT WORDS MAGAZINE & RECORDS

1. Pearl Jam • Benaroya Hall: October 22nd 2003 and/or Rearview Mirror (Greatest Hits 1991 – 2003) 2. Mark Lanegan • Bubblegum (Beggar’s Banquet) 3. Jack Irons • Attention Dimension (Breeching Whale Records) 4. Tegan & Sara • So Jealous (Vapor/Sanctuary Records) 5. Lorenzo Goetz • Jesus Elephant (Innocent Words Records) 6. Andrea Maxand • Where the Words Go (Ghost Weed Press) 7. Juliana Hatfield • In Exile Deo (Zoe Records) 8. Ani DiFranco • Educated Guess (Righteous Babe Records) 9. Sinombre • Curves of Sirens (Firecode Core Records) 10. Aerosmith • Honkin on Bobo (Sony Records) buzz

BILLY KIRST FRONTMAN OF THE APOLLO PROJECT 1. Bob Marley 2. The Beatles 3. Django Reinhardt 4. The Miles Davis Quintet 5. Phish 6. Led Zepplin 7. Bad Religion 8. Paul Simon 9. Miami Sound 10. Mississippi John Hurt

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(March 21-April 19)

TAU RU S

(April 20-May 20)

Have you heard of the book, Toxic Sludge Is Good for You!: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry? How about George Orwell's science fiction novel, 1984, in which the government trumpets the slogan, "War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength"? If I could, I'd give you these books as holiday gifts, Taurus. I'd also present you with an altar made of fine wood. With these foundation materials, I'd ask you to begin building a Truth Shrine in your home. This source of power might help you stay alert for and immune to the elevated levels of BS you'll be called on to fend off in 2005. Maybe it would also inspire you to be in service to us all as you earn the title of "Radical Truth-Teller."

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

As I meditated about what would be the perfect holiday gift for you, I kept coming back to the fantasy of a thousand doughnuts. Nothing pleased me more than the mental image of your living room floor covered with boxes of Bavarian cream, chocolate frosted, jelly-filled, glazed, and apple crumb doughnuts. Here's the astrological explanation for my intuition: I think fate plans to blow your mind with sweet extravagance in 2005. Receiving a thousand doughnuts would be a metaphorical rehearsal.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

Over the centuries, numerous ships carrying treasure have suffered mishaps and sunk to the bottom of the world's oceans. Most have remained there undisturbed, their gold and jewels seemingly lost forever. In the last decade, though, teams of treasure hunters have developed high-tech recovery equipment that allows them to locate and extract the sunken riches. I believe that there will be a comparable development in your life in the coming months, Cancerian. You'll find ways to access valuables from the past--stuff you had always assumed was

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TOP 10 SELLERS OF 2004 1. Velvet Crush • Stereo Blues (Action Musik) 2. Comsat Angels • It’s History (Nano)

irretrievable. Your first project will become apparent soon. Here are a few symbolic holiday gifts you might consider buying yourself: sonar, a diving suit, a treasure chest.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Many spiritual teachers say you're most likely to succeed at meditation if you sit quietly in a sanctuary. They believe you need to retreat from the world in order to develop compassionate objectivity about life. The eighteenth-century Zen Buddhist teacher Hakuin Ekaku had a different view. "Meditation in the midst of activity is a billion times superior to meditation in stillness" was his motto. I agree with him. But one of the reasons it's superior is because it's so much harder. Have you ever tried to see God in your boss while he or she is yelling at you about some trivial mistake? Are you able to remain open-hearted to a loved one when he or she isn't being open-hearted to you? Believe it or not, Leo, you could go a long way towards mastering these skills in 2005. It'll be prime time to learn how to meditate in the midst of the daily chaos.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Virgo rapper Xzibit was asked by an interviewer what he was hoping to get for Christmas. "All I want is a Hummer H2, a bigass plasma TV, and a AR15 assault rifle with a 30-round clip." Though your own holiday wish list may not include any of Xzibit's items, I do encourage you to fantasize extravagantly about what gifts might pump up your power in 2005. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you should even let yourself entertain some rather macho trains of thought as you imagine the enhancements you'd like to bring with you into the new year. How about sessions with a hard-driving life coach, lessons in ashtanga yoga, or a definite plan to undertake a brave outdoor adventure?

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

In 2005, you should go to great lengths to put yourself in positions where you will be pleasantly surprised, profoundly taught, and rigorously inspired. The coming months will be an excellent time to seek out experiences that will change your mind about many things. You're finally ready to shed a slew of old attitudes and beliefs that worked well for you once upon a time, but which are now mostly dead weight. Here are some symbolic holiday gifts you might consider buying yourself: a blank slate, a bottle of baptismal water, an outfit of all white clothes.

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Ghosts (Mute) 4. Kevin Tihista’s Red Terror • Wake Up

Captain (Parasol) 5. Will Owsley • The Hard Way

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The excellence of every art is its intensity, capable of making all disagreeables evaporate from their being in close relationship with beauty and truth. John Keats

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This year the Boston Red Sox won baseball's World Series for the first time in 86 years. The team thereby dispelled "The Curse of the Bambino," which had plagued the franchise since it traded away Hall of Famer Babe "Bambino" Ruth in 1918. Of the 25 players on the Red Sox roster in 2004, five were Scorpios and five were Geminis. The Scorpios included four premier talents who were instrumental in breaking the curse: Johnny Damon, David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, and Pedro Martinez. I believe this vignette foreshadows your fate in 2005, Scorpio. You too will banish a jinx that has burdened you for far too long. And Geminis (like Boston's star Manny Ramirez) may be valuable allies. Here's a symbolic holiday gift you might consider buying yourself: a Boston Red Sox good luck charm.

S AG I T TA R I U S

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

In 2005, I hope you seek out more demanding and rewarding alliances. I'd love you to align yourself with a network that spreads your highest values with maximum intensity. My heart will also sing with joy if you use better tools to express your generous urges and try more daring strategies to promote justice. To encourage these developments, consider getting yourself these holiday gifts: a device that enhances your ability to communicate, a pep talk from the most practical idealist you know, and a talisman that symbolizes a promise you make to your future self.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

"I have climbed to the top of a greasy pole." So proclaimed nineteenth-century politician Benjamin Disraeli when he had at last ascended to the job of prime minister of Great Britain. Please picture that greasy pole in your mind's eye, Capricorn. I would love to give it you as a holiday gift. It would be an apt symbol for the work you have ahead of you in 2005. P.S.: I expect to see you at the top by next October.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Last January, NASA landed two vehicles on Mars. For months their solar panels provided them with just enough energy to explore the alien terrain. One of the rovers recently experienced an inexplicable power boost, however. It happened overnight, and NASA's team isn't sure why. "We surmise that for some reason dust is being removed from the solar panel," said spokesman Jim Ericson, "and that's increasing the efficiency of the sunlight being converted to electricity." I regard this as an apt metaphor for what lies in your future Aquarius. In 2005, you too will enjoy mysterious rejuvenations as you reconnoiter exotic territory.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

In my imagination, I'm now handing you a battle flag similar to those carried by the armies of medieval Europe. It's a windsock in the shape of a red, winged dragon with black eagle claws and a long yellow tail. Inside it is a device that unleashes a loud, raucous whistle whenever the wind blows through it. In presenting you with this symbolic gift, I'm exhorting you to pump up your martial forces in 2005. I'm encouraging you to be wildhearted and strong-willed as you fight the good fight. Homework: What gift could you give a loved one in order to change his or her life for the better? Testify at www.freewillastrology.com.

3. M83 • Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost

1. WPGU 107.1 No Rules Radio. I love listening to this station so much that I am scared to listen sometimes, because I’m afraid I’ll wear it out. To me this sounds like radio airwaves set free. I hear old music that I loved in high school, and I hear new music

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ROSE MARSHACK BASSIST OF POSTER CHILDREN

what ’s your sign?

a s t r o l o g y

In 1874, a fire broke out in an underground coalfield in western China. It burned nonstop until 2004, when firefighters finally squelched it. In the intervening 130 years, 200 million tons of fuel went to waste, spewing out copious amounts of polluting gases. I nominate the denouement of this long-running drama to serve as your personal metaphor for early 2005. In January and February, you will finally douse a smoldering inner fire that has been a poor use of your ambition. This will set the stage for a fresh start. No later than your birthday, you will ignite a new blaze that's both more efficient and more worthy of you.

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THE LOVE IS LEAKING OUT OF MY MURMUR

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that I’ve never heard before, and it all sounds fantastic to me.

Boneyard Pottery 403 Water St./Champaign 11am-5pm Tues-Sat Cinema Gallery 120 W. Main/Urbana 10am-4pm Tues-Sat 4-8pm Dec 10-11, 17-18, 21-23 Framer’s Market Custom Picture Framing & Gallery 807 W. Springfield/Champaign 9:30am-5:30pm Tues-Fri 10am-4pm Sat The Great Frame Up 2141 S. Neil/Champaign 9:30am-6pm Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat International Galleries Lincoln Square 300 S. Broadway/Urbana 10am-8pm Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Sat; 11am-6pm Sun 9am-9pm Dec 20-23 9am-4pm Dec 24 Larry Kanfer Gallery 2503 S. Neil St./Champaign 10am-5:30pm Mon-Sat 11am-3pm Sun

(Lakeview Entertainment)

Verde Gallery 17 E. Taylor St./Champaign 12-10pm Tues-Sat

6. Unbunny • Snow Tires (A Hidden Agenda Record) 7. The Like Young • So Serious PHOTO COURTESY OF POSTER CHILDREN

ROY EWING PARASOL RECORDS EMPLOYEE

5. Styrofoam • Nothing’s Lost (Morr Music) 6. Fennesz • Venice (Touch) 7. Ron Sexsmith • Retriever (Nettwerk) 8. Paik • Satin Black (Strange Attractors Audio House) 9. Panda Bear • Young Prayer (Paw Tracks) 10. Minus Story • The Captain Is Dead, Let the Drum Corpse Dance (Jagjaguwar)

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(Parasol) 8. Arcade Fire • Funeral (Merge) 9. Camera Obscura • Underachievers

Please Try Hard (Merge) 10. Blonde Redhead • Misery Is a

Butterfly (4AD)

Support the galleries of Champaign-Urbana. s o u n d s

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Of Books and Tales:

Creation Art Studios [Open sessions to experiment with materials, techniques of drawing, painting, collage, assemblage art, ceramics and wheel throwing]

1 Engrossed 2 "___ Gold" (1997 Peter Fonda film) 3 Person that "I'm Not," nor were any characters, in a 1996 movie 4 Farmer's sci. 5 HannaBarbera character Wally ___ 6 Commit a major party foul at the end of the evening 7 Got a little older 8 Give the sense 9 Pass on your genes 10 Gets high 11 Unable to sit still 13 Commit a minor party foul, depending on how much it is 15 Commit a party foul that won't lead to another invite 17 She plays Carmela 21 Golfer Aoki nicknamed "Tower" 23 Unfold

music

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[A celebration of the centennial of the controversial artist’s birth] Krannert Art Museum Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm Suggested Donation: $3

The Apollo Project Friday Dec. 17 [live improv, trip hop/house] Nargile 8pm, $5 As an end to a stress-filled week, make your way to Nargile on Friday night for a show featuring The Apollo Project and DJ Impact. Playing a multitude of shows in Champaign, The Apollo Project continue with momentum after playing at the Norml Benefit at Cowboy Monkey last week. The show will also give local listeners a chance to watch the newest member of the group, bassist Patrick Lundholm, in action.

For $5, this night will make up for all the hard work put into those impossible finals.

TODD J. HUNTER • STAFF WRITER

plethora of side projects: Cortisol, Enemies, Headlights I, Headlights II, Orphan and Orphans. No one from the final lineup left town, however. The Red Hot Valentines relocated to Bloomington-Normal, but returned each month throughout 2003 for a concert, often all-ages and for free. In 2004, news about them has been slow to circulate, so here is an update. This year,The Red Hot Valentines eschewed bubblegum in favor of classic rock, always the personal preference of vocalists Jeff Johnson and Toby Kirk. A new look with long hair and cowboy boots foreshadowed new material: four borderline-blues numbers, of which two, “The Regulator” and “Rock on the River,” were performed here in August and September. The trend toward classic rock will continue, and “there are plans to demo the new stuff.” In the meantime, bassist David Gerkin began a monthly newsletter, Uninformed Opinions, available at coffee shops around ChampaignUrbana since midsummer. For mer keyboardist Tyson Markley has yet another project, with drummer Eric Humbert, and also Dave Moe of Super 88. So Gigantic describe themselves as follows: “It’s 1968, and an American knock-off British Invasion band gets lost in Nashville on LSD and makes a record.” Their first show was with The Red Hot Valentines, Nov. 20 at Paulie’s in Bloomington.An 11-song debut, Born to Raise H e l l , comes out alongside Country Flies by The Bugs at a double release party with Tina Sparkle, Jan. 8 at The Red Barn in Peoria. Dave Moe recorded both albums at Chocolate Lady Land.

Photographs by Swagatam Mukhopadhyay [photographs from Eastern Himalayan Mountains in North Bengal and Nepal] Cafe Kopi Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm

SALVADOR DALI

this week in music

two on two out

“Pipe Perceptions and Daily Dreams” [Paintings by Michael Cochran and David M. Smith, and Glass/mixed media by Justin Berry, Karren Rea Cast, Ian Duncan, Jennifer Halvorson, Melanie Kang, Damon Mcnaught and Kimberly Skukas] Springer Center Mon-Fri, 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm "A Touch of Glass" [work by Caroline Bottom Anderson, Elizabeth Coleman, Alex Fekete, Megan Gillette, Carmen Lozar, Matt Urban and Jon Wolfe] Cinema Gallery through Dec 24 Tue-Sat 10am-4pm, or by appointment: 367-3711 “Bill Traylor, William Edmondson, and the Modernist Impulse” [The lives and work of Bill Traylor and William Edmondson, both figures in American and African-American art history, share fascinating parallels despite a 20-year age gap and the fact that they never met] Krannert Art Museum through Jan 2 Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm Suggested Donation: $3 “Before Recognition: Experiments in Art and Science at the Threshold of Perception” [Explores the connections between art and science, and features artist Pamela Davis Kivelson] Krannert Art Museum through Jan 2 Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm Suggested Donation: $3

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hows this year are screeching to a halt, but several venues still have some.Tonight at 8 p.m.,Aroma hosts folk singers Kara Kulpa and Jo Pollock. Two bookstores have live music this weekend. Countrymeets-Caribbean songwriter Ray Miner performs with guitarist Jack Marck at Borders, Saturday at 8 p.m. Both Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., award-winning international harpist Beatriz Martin-Ruiz plays at Pages for All Ages in Savoy. Monday at 10 p.m., Shipwreck is the guest for WEFT Sessions. There is no charge to attend any of these. For every local act who put out a highly anticipated album this year, another delayed theirs until next year. Here is a roster of what not to give up on. Elsinore will issue their six-song debut Jan. 14 at Friends & Co. in Charleston, then return to Champaign Jan. 20 for a free show at Aroma. Darrin Drda’s Theory of Everything and Relenter both have leaked promotional singles for their respective albums due in early 2005. Under Surveillance by Terminus Victor now has a due date of March 2005, which frees experimentalist side project Little Black Spiders to make a demo of their own. Kate Hathaway hopes to release and tour for her album in March, a follow-up to the One Two Three EP. JigGsaw finally finished recording and say, “now it’s up to the producers to make it sound awesome and tasty.”Temple of Low M e n h ave a c o m p l e t e album, Swing, but must decide the details of the release. And fresh from a Dec. 11 gig at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, Menthol still have “City Nights,” “Crowd Control,” “The Face of My Own Regard” and “Paranoia” ready to go on an EP. In 2002 and 2003, there were two Champaign-Urbana bands with original material who guaranteed good concert turnout: Absinthe Blind and The Red Hot Valentines. Absinthe Blind last appeared Sept. 13, 2003, and then split into a

SETH FEIN • CONTRIBUTING WRITER

op 10 lists annoy the shit out of me. I mean, they are fun reads, good fodder to talk about with your friends and great for debate. But seriously, the music industry kind of sucks. One of my better friends said something this year that really hit home. He told me,“The problem with music these days isn’t the lack of good bands out there—it’s the lack of great ones.” And I agreed wholeheartedly. There weren’t 10 great albums that I heard this year. Sure, there were plenty of good ones and there were definitely more than seven great ones. I just didn’t hear them. So for me, I decided to highlight the best of what I heard into a nice and small Top 7 list. In addition, I was able to see each of these bands live this year, and all of them, except for one, did their studio work justice and then some. The music writers of this issue have their own Top 10, and my guess is that Elisabeth Lim and her cohorts are completely off, so here is another perspective from yours truly. Next week:Top 7 best live shows! Enjoy! 7. New Sense - S/T (Brilliante) — This is more of an L/EP in that it’s seven songs total. But the depth of each of them are good enough to fill an entire long player. William Seidel and Ryan Weber have played in numerous bands, most notably The Promise Ring and Decibully, but none of their other projects does it for me the way New Sense does. Each track fulfills this pasty whiteboy’s desire to dance, and dance I have to this record—multiple times. The second tune, “Outside Chance” gets my vote for the Song of the Year. It belongs at the end of a John Hughes movie—just the way I like ‘em. 6. The Beauty Shop - Crisis Helpline (Shoeshine UK) — John Hoeffleur is just one of those characters. He’s local and I have known him since he was a freshman in college, singing songs bashing Starcourse at Starcourse sponsored events. His lyrics about sorority sluts still invade my head (“You got the bitches and the hos/drinkin’ pitchers at C.O.’s”). But The Beauty Shop is his gem. He and Ariane Peralta have created another terrific album of heartfelt lyrics and introspective riffs. While they have no permanent drummer yet, Brett Sanderson has done plenty good for them on their two trips across the pond to UK this year. No U.S. release date yet, but give it time.This album is undeniable. 5. Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Sings Greatest Palace Music (Drag City) — In the same vein as The Beauty Shop but with a lot more instrumentation and experience.Will Oldham has officially allowed me to enjoy alternative country for the first time in my life. I had heard some Palace Music before and thought it was okay. Now, I own many vinyls by him, in both Palace form and Bonni “Prince” Billy. “You Will Miss Me When I Burn” gets my vote for Most Heartbreaking Song of the Year despite the fact it was written many years ago. 4. Tears For Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (New Door/Universal) — For the first time in 15 years, the original duo that was Tears For Fears (Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith) reconvened to create an album that can only be described as timeless. Not interested in conforming to today’s popular trends, (no dance-punk or electronic pop here) the songs on this album are tried and true. Their experience shows on each song and for this TFF fan, it was just nice to know that some things have a way of working themselves out. 3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral (Merge) — Not much I can say will do this album justice. It was their live show at The Highdive that iced for me. Another Canadian collective? Sure. But this one puts Broken Social Scene to shame. The song “Wake Up” gets my vote for Most Dramatic Song of the Year. 2. Skeletons - I’m on Top of the World (Shinkoyo) — Skeletons took my vote for best album last year with Life and the Afterbirth, and on any other year, this mini-album would have taken top honors again. Their live show still needs work, and I can’t blame Matt Mehlan and crew at all. Putting these tracks in live form isn’t just like rehearsing in a regular band.These songs carry so much texture that they could easily be misconstrued as an oil painting. Same deal as last year—buy it at www.shinkoyo.com. If you don’t like it, I’ll buy it from you and never speak with you again. 1. The Blackouts - Living in Blue (Lucid) — I’m sorry, did you say you were a resident of Champaign-Urbana? You say you haven’t heard The Blackouts? You say you like Dubya. Ahh ... makes sense. If you don’t own this record by Feb. 1—you are an idiot. Plain and simple. Perhaps the best record to ever come out of C-U—and this year’s best album, hands down. Case closed.

#56

1 Czech play where the word "robot" came from 4 Muslim rulers 9 Merit badge awarders: abbr. 12 "This sucks," poshly 14 Measure for earlobe piercings 15 Monopoly token 16 Cashew relative that sounds a little spicy 18 Straight from the bottle 19 Not so hot 20 Scrooge-like types 22 Oscar-winning role of the 1980s 24 Full of foam 25 Googol ending 26 Present at birth 29 Clever strategy 31 Statute read from an ice cream truck in "Fahrenheit 9/11" 36 ___ Virgin Islands (former airline)

27 One of Zeus's sons 28 It may pop out of a box 29 Scorecard stat 30 Spike that tried to sue Spike TV 32 Nadine Strossner's org. 33 Phrase used before a date 34 Word yelled to halt a street hockey game 35 Uno plus due 40 Not virtual 44 Port's opposite, on a boat: abbr. 45 VW model 46 "___ and the Night Visitors" 47 "Sooner or Later" U.K. pop trio 49 Geneva's river 50 Be penitent 52 Succotash bean 53 Pathologist's suffix 55 Death Row Records cofounder Knight 58 It's psychedelic

buzz weekly •

HELLO, I’M KYLE, SAYS KYLE.

sound ground #56

1-5:30 Mon–Thu, Sat 1-4pm

“Indelible Impressions” [Paintings by Charu Khan and ceramics by Rimas VisGrida] Verde Gallery through Jan 15 Tue-Sat 10am-10pm

Down

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ART NOTICES

ART EXHIBITS – ON VIEW NOW

37 Needs a rubdown 38 Basil was one 39 Like some income tax results or fuel systems 41 "You Are ___" 42 Do sound work 43 "Don't forget to ___ condom!" 45 Overfed 1983 movie character 48 Hank's narrow body part, on "King of the Hill" 51 Ornament 54 Metal pins 56 Un-feisty 57 Line from Metallica's "Until It Sleeps" 59 "...gold in them ___ hills!" 60 Appearances 61 Drink in space 62 Over 7 on the pH scale: abbr. 63 Do a half-___ job 64 "Catch my drift?"

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mendoza life line

Salavador Dali: the World of Imagination

Across

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Todd J. Hunter hosts “WEFT Sessions” and “Champaign Local 901,” two hours of local music every Monday night at 10 p.m. on 90.1 FM. Send news to soundground@excite.com.

Correction: Last week in the Hurly-Burly we referred to Illini Media Company employee Liz Mozzocco as “station manager” for WPGU. Her actual title is “program director.” Buzz regrets the error.

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Seth Fein is a local promoter and drummer. He can be reached at sethfein@readbuzz.com.

The Arcade Fire Rebellion (Lies)

Interpol Evil

Modest Mouse Bury Me With It

Bright Eyes Take it Easy (Love Nothing)

Death Cab for Cutie Title and Registration

Top 5 Most Requested Songs Last Week

DJ DJ Belayney Barfly 10pm, free Industry Night: DJ Paul Anthony Nargile 10pm, free DJ Bozak [hip hop and other soulful beats] Boltini 10:30pm, free

There are no mistakes, there are many opportunities for creativity. - anonymous

thursday December 16

Live Music Central Jazz Band The Iron Post 7-9pm, TBA Jo Pollock, Kara Kulpa Aroma 8pm, free Kayla Brown Boltini 8-10pm, free Caleb Rose Bowl Tavern 9pm, free Jim Bean Tommy G's 9pm, free Backyard Tire Fire Paulie's 10pm, $3 Eclectic Theory White Horse Inn 10pm, free

DJ DJ J-Phlip [house] Barfly 10pm, free DJ Bris, DJ Roc On, DJ Delayney [salsa, reggae, hip hop] Nargile 10pm, $5 DJ Bozak [hip hop and other soulful beats] Boltini 10:30pm, free Karaoke Live Band Karaoke with The Cheezy Trio Cowboy Monkey 10pm, $4 "G" Force Karaoke Pia's of Rantoul 9pm-1am, free Dancing UIUC Swing Society McKinley Foundation 9:30pm-midnight, free

friday December 17

Live Music The Prairie Dogs [bluegrass/folk] Cowboy Monkey 5pm, $2 Jeff Helgesen Quintet The Iron Post 5-7pm, TBA Billy Galt Tommy G's 5-7pm, free Secretary, Burned by Her, The Vice Dolls, Firebomb Herat Wake The Dead Cafe 6pm, $5 The Radio Scene, Sherlock, The Junior Varsity TJ's 6:30pm, $6 Dank 454, Krisis Theory The Canopy Club 9pm, $5 Painkillers

Puzzle 800.659.0627

The Iron Post 9pm, TBA Country Connection Rose Bowl Tavern 9pm, $1 The Delta Kings [rock & blues] The Phoenix 9pm, TBA Trouble Is Tommy G's 10pm, $5 The Apollo Project [live improv, trip hop/house] Nargile 8pm, $5 DJ DJ Mighty Dog Jackson's Ribs-n-Tips 9pm, free DJ Bozak [hip hop, downtempo] Barfly 10pm, free DJ Lil Big Bass Boltini 10pm, free DJ Raphael [house, hip hop, rock]

pg.14

kishauwau.com

Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free DJ Tim Williams [hip hop, house, top 40 dance] The Highdive 10pm, $5

saturday December 18

Live Music Beatriz Martin-Ruiz [harp performance] Pages For All Ages 2-4pm, free Soibomb, Main St., TBA Wake The Dead Cafe 6pm, $5 Ray Miner Borders 8-10pm, free All Will Fall, Alchymist, Skeptik The Canopy Club 9pm, $5 Candy Foster and Shades of Blue The Iron Post 9pm, TBA Country Connection Rose Bowl Tavern 9pm, $1 Renegade Tommy G's 10pm, $3 DJ DJ Mighty Dog Jackson's Ribs-n-Tips 9pm, free DJ Resonate [hip hop] Barfly 10pm, free DJ Limbs [hip hop, soul, dance]

Step back to a QUIETER TIME

10pm, free

Boltini 10pm, free Kosmo's Birthday: DJ Bozak [hip hop/dance] Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free DJ Tim Williams [hip hop/house/top 40 dance] The Highdive 10pm, $5

DJ DJ Wesjile Barfly 10pm, free DJ Bozak [‘80s rewind] Boltini 10:30pm, free Meetings Sunday Zen Meditation Prairie Zen Center 9am-noon, free

Dancing Nightclub Dancing with host Linda Oldham [swing/hustle/salsa] Cowboy Monkey 6pm, free

monday

Karaoke "G" Force Karaoke Sappy's on Devenshire 9pm-midnight, free

December 20

Live Music Dave & Steve White Horse Inn 9:30pm, free Quadremedy [rock] Tommy G's 10pm, free

Events “Real Sky” [open house at rural observatory hosted by the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society] TBA, free

tuesday December 21

Live Music Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Kate Hathaway The Canopy Club 9pm, free if over 21, $2 if under Jake Hertzog Trio The Iron Post 9pm, TBA Crystal River Rowl Bowl Tavern 9pm, free Adam Wolfe's Acoustic Night with Jess Greenlee Tommy G's 10pm, free

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202 W. Anthony, Champaign 359-1789

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Premo Records Presents Freestyle Battle & Open Mic Night [live hip hop & dancing] Tonic 10pm, $4 DJ Chef Ra [roots, rock, reggae] Barfly 10pm, free Hump Night featuring UC Hip Hop and DJ Delayney The Canopy Club 10pm, free DJ Limbs [hip hop, soul, dance] Boltini 10:30pm, free Dancing Salsa Dancing [salsa/mambo/bachata] Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free

December 22

Live Music Hard Pour Korn Rose Bowl Tavern 9pm, free Blues Night: Kilborn Alley Tommy G's 10pm, free

new years eve w/ DJ SKIP

$1 you call it buy your tickets in advance 356-9800

Karaoke Outlaw Karaoke White Horse Inn 9:30pm, free Liquid Courage Karaoke Geovanti's 10pm-2am, free

New Years Blowout

fÑtÇ|á{ [tÜÑ|áà

December 19

Live Music Beatriz Martin-Ruiz [harp performance] Pages For All Ages 2-4pm, free Kilborn Alley Jackson's Ribs-n-Tips 8pm, free Crystal River Rose Bowl Tavern 8:30pm, free Sunday Mass: Angerwound, Encaged, Hot Iron Skillet Tommy G's

get your tickets now & hang with the staff of wpgu bringing in 2005

Harpist Beatriz Martin-Ruiz Pages For All Ages, Saturday, Dec. 18 & Sunday, Dec. 19, 2-4pm, free

Looking to relax while you do some Christmas shopping? Both Saturday and Sunday this weekend Spanish harpist Beatriz Martin-Ruiz will be performing at Pages For All Ages, a local independent bookstore at 1201 Savoy Plaza in Savoy. MartinRuiz began playing the harp when she was 12 years old and living in Bilbao, Spain. At the age of 17 she moved to Madrid to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 1994 she attended the School of Music at the University of Illinois where she earned a Bachelors of Music and later taught for two years. She now lives in Champaign where she continues to perform at special events and to teach private harp lessons. —Cassie Conner

& om y den

Karaoke "G" Force Karaoke Neil St. Pub 8pm-midnight, free Liquid Courage Karaoke Geo's Chill and Grill 9pm, free

wednesday

Take the hassle out of your holiday dinners!

Holiday Gifts made easy!

DJ DJ Sophisto [house] Barfly 10pm, free 2ON2OUT [indie rock] Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free NOX: DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats [goth and industrial] The Highdive 10pm, $2 DJ Lil Big Bass Boltini 10:30pm, free

at 4pm

C.O. DANIEL’S 12.31.04

$1 JAGERBOMBS Buy your tickets now!

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DJ DJ Belayney Barfly 10pm, free Industry Night: DJ Paul Anthony Nargile 10pm, free DJ Bozak [hip hop and other soulful beats] Boltini 10:30pm, free

There are no mistakes, there are many opportunities for creativity. - anonymous

thursday December 16

friday December 17

Puzzle 800.659.0627

pg.14

kishauwau.com

Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free DJ Tim Williams [hip hop, house, top 40 dance] The Highdive 10pm, $5

saturday December 18

Step back to a QUIETER TIME

10pm, free

Boltini 10pm, free Kosmo's Birthday: DJ Bozak [hip hop/dance] Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free DJ Tim Williams [hip hop/house/top 40 dance] The Highdive 10pm, $5

DJ DJ Wesjile Barfly 10pm, free DJ Bozak [‘80s rewind] Boltini 10:30pm, free Meetings Sunday Zen Meditation Prairie Zen Center 9am-noon, free

Dancing Nightclub Dancing with host Linda Oldham [swing/hustle/salsa] Cowboy Monkey 6pm, free

monday

Karaoke "G" Force Karaoke Sappy's on Devenshire 9pm-midnight, free

December 20

Live Music Dave & Steve White Horse Inn 9:30pm, free Quadremedy [rock] Tommy G's 10pm, free

Events “Real Sky” [open house at rural observatory hosted by the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society] TBA, free

tuesday December 21

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202 W. Anthony, Champaign 359-1789

ble a

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December 22

Live Music Hard Pour Korn Rose Bowl Tavern 9pm, free Blues Night: Kilborn Alley Tommy G's 10pm, free

new years eve w/ DJ SKIP

$1 you call it buy your tickets in advance 356-9800

Karaoke Outlaw Karaoke White Horse Inn 9:30pm, free Liquid Courage Karaoke Geovanti's 10pm-2am, free

New Years Blowout

fÑtÇ|á{ [tÜÑ|áà

December 19

get your tickets now & hang with the staff of wpgu bringing in 2005

Harpist Beatriz Martin-Ruiz Pages For All Ages, Saturday, Dec. 18 & Sunday, Dec. 19, 2-4pm, free

& om y den

Karaoke "G" Force Karaoke Neil St. Pub 8pm-midnight, free Liquid Courage Karaoke Geo's Chill and Grill 9pm, free

wednesday

Take the hassle out of your holiday dinners!

Holiday Gifts made easy!

DJ DJ Sophisto [house] Barfly 10pm, free 2ON2OUT [indie rock] Cowboy Monkey 10pm, free NOX: DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats [goth and industrial] The Highdive 10pm, $2 DJ Lil Big Bass Boltini 10:30pm, free

at 4pm

C.O. DANIEL’S 12.31.04

$1 JAGERBOMBS Buy your tickets now!

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jonesin crossword puzzle

crossword

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E-MAIL CALENDAR@READBUZZ.COM TO LIST EVENTS.

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Of Books and Tales:

Creation Art Studios [Open sessions to experiment with materials, techniques of drawing, painting, collage, assemblage art, ceramics and wheel throwing]

music

COURTESY OF WWW.CONSCIENCIA.COM

[A celebration of the centennial of the controversial artist’s birth] Krannert Art Museum Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm Suggested Donation: $3

For $5, this night will make up for all the hard work put into those impossible finals.

TODD J. HUNTER • STAFF WRITER

Photographs by Swagatam Mukhopadhyay [photographs from Eastern Himalayan Mountains in North Bengal and Nepal] Cafe Kopi Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm

SALVADOR DALI

this week in music

two on two out

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SETH FEIN • CONTRIBUTING WRITER

#56

buzz weekly •

HELLO, I’M KYLE, SAYS KYLE.

sound ground #56

1-5:30 Mon–Thu, Sat 1-4pm

“Indelible Impressions” [Paintings by Charu Khan and ceramics by Rimas VisGrida] Verde Gallery through Jan 15 Tue-Sat 10am-10pm

Down

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ART NOTICES

ART EXHIBITS – ON VIEW NOW

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mendoza life line

Salavador Dali: the World of Imagination

Across

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Todd J. Hunter hosts “WEFT Sessions” and “Champaign Local 901,” two hours of local music every Monday night at 10 p.m. on 90.1 FM. Send news to soundground@excite.com.

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Seth Fein is a local promoter and drummer. He can be reached at sethfein@readbuzz.com.

The Arcade Fire Rebellion (Lies)

Interpol Evil

Modest Mouse Bury Me With It

Bright Eyes Take it Easy (Love Nothing)

Death Cab for Cutie Title and Registration

Top 5 Most Requested Songs Last Week

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ELISABETH SAYS THANKS AND SEE YA AROUND.

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AROUND TOWN THOUGHTS ON 2004

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Buzz asked musicians and music-related folk what they thought was the best of the year, and here’s how they answered ...

JACOB DITTMER FORMER BUZZ MUSIC EDITOR/

MAN AROUND TOWN

TODD HUNTER HOST OF WEFT SESSIONS 1. Washington Social Club, Lying in States, Little Black Spiders @

TROY MICHAEL OWNER OF INNOCENT WORDS MAGAZINE & RECORDS

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c h a r t s

(March 21-April 19)

TAU RU S

(April 20-May 20)

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

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TOP 10 SELLERS OF 2004 1. Velvet Crush • Stereo Blues (Action Musik) 2. Comsat Angels • It’s History (Nano)

irretrievable. Your first project will become apparent soon. Here are a few symbolic holiday gifts you might consider buying yourself: sonar, a diving suit, a treasure chest.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

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Ghosts (Mute) 4. Kevin Tihista’s Red Terror • Wake Up

Captain (Parasol) 5. Will Owsley • The Hard Way

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The excellence of every art is its intensity, capable of making all disagreeables evaporate from their being in close relationship with beauty and truth. John Keats

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

S AG I T TA R I U S

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

3. M83 • Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost

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PARASOL RECORDS

ROSE MARSHACK BASSIST OF POSTER CHILDREN

what ’s your sign?

a s t r o l o g y

b o b

buzz weekly

THE LOVE IS LEAKING OUT OF MY MURMUR

ARIES

that I’ve never heard before, and it all sounds fantastic to me.

(Lakeview Entertainment)

Verde Gallery 17 E. Taylor St./Champaign 12-10pm Tues-Sat

6. Unbunny • Snow Tires (A Hidden Agenda Record) 7. The Like Young • So Serious PHOTO COURTESY OF POSTER CHILDREN

ROY EWING PARASOL RECORDS EMPLOYEE

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(Parasol) 8. Arcade Fire • Funeral (Merge) 9. Camera Obscura • Underachievers

Please Try Hard (Merge) 10. Blonde Redhead • Misery Is a

Butterfly (4AD)

Support the galleries of Champaign-Urbana. s o u n d s

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ALBUMS you have

Are you really sure that a floor can't also be a ceiling? - M. C. Escher

TOCCARA CASTLEMAN • STAFF WRITER

The Top 10 albums of 2004

GRAPHICS VISUALIZE PROSE

Animal Collective • Sung Tongs (Fat Cat) LOGAN MOORE • STAFF WRITER

Joanna Newsom • The Milk-Eyed Mender (Drag City) SHADIE ELNASHAI • STAFF WRITER

Arcade Fire • Funeral (Merge) IMRAN SIDDIQUEE • STAFF WRITER

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Fiery Furnaces • Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade) JOE MARTIN • STAFF WRITER

Liars • They Were Wrong So We Drowned (Mute) LORENZO BAEZA • STAFF WRITER

A.C. Newman • The Slow Wonder (Matador)

The Walkmen • Bows + Arrows (Record Collection)

KYLE GORMAN • STAFF WRITER

MICHAEL MALINSKY • STAFF WRITER

7 10 Black Dice • Creature Comforts (DFA Records)

Kanye West • College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella)

LORENZO BAEZA • STAFF WRITER

IMRAN SIDDIQUEE • STAFF WRITER

Devendra Banhart • Rejoicing in the Hands (Young God) LOGAN MOORE • STAFF WRITER

For such an obviously eccentric and unassuming artist, Devendra Banhart proved himself one of the most

m e n t i o n

Sufjan Stevens • Seven Swans Múm • Summer Make Good The Blackouts • Living in Blue Björk • Medúlla Cee-Lo • Cee-Lo Green is a Soul Machine

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PRAISE TO YOU AS YOU DRINK MY BEER.

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Emily Elarde PHOTO • CHRISTINE LITAS

Operation Santa Claus WPGU and the Crisis Nursery of Champaign County present the 11th annual

2004 Thanks to WPGU listeners and friends

for helping us exceed our $5000 goal!

PHOTO • SARAH KROHN

We collected $6200 to give 36 of the area’s neediest children a bright and happy holiday! BY KATIE RICHARDSON • ARTS EDITOR

Have a happy holiday from the Champaign Crisis Nursery and WPGU!

Who does the Salvation Army benefit?

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artist’s corner

q+a

buzz weekly

BREAD LANDS BUTTER SIDE UP, CAUSES RIFT IN SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM.

What is your favorite part of your job?

100-word excerpt from my play: The Scottish Play

What is your favorite story to tell about the Salvation Army?

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Quality Used Books Bought• Sold• Traded All Subjects

All Fiction

50% Off

Now Through January 31st

217.344.4037 priceles@advancenet.net

108A W. Main St. Downtown Urbana, IL

What inspires you?

... and starlight over the open road. What tunes do you jam to when you’re ‘creating’?

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buzz weekly •

HIP HOP HAS BLOWN MY MIND.

The story of barbecue is the story of America:

Settlers arrive on a great unspoiled continent, discover wondrous riches,

set them on FIRE

and

eat them.

—Vince Staten

food

wine

Q is for B.B.Q.

AMANDA KOLLING • CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

The Corkscrew Wine Emporium and

Vosges Haut Chocolat from Chicago…

The ultimate wine and chocolate pairing!

Vosges chocolate bars and truffles make great stocking stuffers. 203 North Vine Street, Urbana

(217) 337-7704

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“ I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down.

“All you need is a few bucks and a couple of friends and you might get lucky one night.”

I think that the problem may have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.

- Nick Goodman

All right? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.” -Spinal Tap

MOVIES YOU NEED TO SEE

shaDEs of GrAy

The 10 Best of 2004 bittersweet ode to getting older and rediscovering forgotten destiny. Wonderfully romantic.

MATT PAIS • LEAD REVIEWER

1. I

HUCKABEES

2. DIG! MATT PAIS • STAFF WRITER

3. BAADASSSSS!

4. BEFORE SUNSET

PHOTOS • CHRISTINE LITAS

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MOVIE NEWS BY SHADIE ELNASHAI

5. KILL BILL VOL. 2

6. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

7. SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING

curiosity, suffering and knowledge, Korean writer/director Kim KiDuk creates a beautiful, timeless film about truth, wisdom and inner peace. Tranquility has never been so transfixing.

8. THE INCREDIBLES

9. SUPER SIZE ME

10. BROKEN WINGS

Jude Law and Naomi Watts star in one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year, I Heart Huckabees. s c e n e

PAUL PRIKAZSKY â&#x20AC;˘ STAFF WRITER

KINSEY (R) Wed. & Thu. 1:00 4:10 7:20 9:50

Showtimes for 12/17 thru 12/23

3!6/9 2OUTE "URWASH !VE

& ) , +IDS ALL SHOWS 3ENIORS ,ATE 3HOWS &RI 3AT 3TUDENTS $!),9 -ATINEES TIL PM .O PASSES !,, $)')4!, 34%2%/

5NLIMITED &REE $RINK 2EFILLS ` #ORN 2EFILLS

34! $ )5 - 3%!4). ' 3(/74)-%3 3(/73 !.$ 4)-%3 35"*%#4 4/ #(!.'%

,%-/.9 3.)#+%4 3 ! 3%2)%3 /& 5.&/245.!4% %6%.43 0' 02)4.3 3#2%%.3

Many of the sequelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scenes move at a lethargic pace or seem extraneous to the plot.

FILM REVIEWS CONTINUED ON PAGE

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coulter

buzz weekly â&#x20AC;˘

this week on

Christmas shopping is a bastard Give me liquor instead MICHAEL COULTER â&#x20AC;˘ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

thur

chuck shepherd

WWW SAVOY COM

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... THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AN ASS Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D LIKE TO TAP!

nEwS oF thE wEiRd

WWW SAVOY COM

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An hour of independent and underground music. Host: Liz Mozzocco sponsored by The Highdive

fri

The actors appear locked in an acting class from hell.

â&#x20AC;˘

Across The Pond 9pm -10pm Music from the UK. Host: Chris Faron Beats and Rhymes 10pm - 12am Underground and independent hip hop.

Radioactivity

sat

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sun

OCEANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TWELVE

NATALIE PORTMAN & JUDE LAW

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9pm- Sunday 1am Four hours of electronic music to get the party started Hosts: Brendan Clark, Matt Freer and Darin Epsilon Inner Limits 9pm - 10pm Local and sometimes live.

sponsored by CV Lloydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & Mike & Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Radio Zero 10pm - 11pm Music talk and crit. Hosts: Rick Valentin and Rose Marshack of Poster Children sponsored by Parasol Records & Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rentertainment

Delusion and Dischord

mon

â&#x20AC;˘

9pm - 10pm This show puts a spotlight on hardcore -- Prepare to scream along. Host: Dan Maloney sponsored by Altered Egos

tues

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hate the charac-

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Shrink Wrap 9pm - 10pm WPGU features new music, just as soon as we get the shrink wrap off. Host: Chris Faron

Jambana Radio

wed

MATT PAIS â&#x20AC;˘ LEAD REVIEWER

MIRAMAX

CLOSER

WORSE? HOW COULD THINGS GET ANY WORSE? TAKE A LOOK AROUND HERE, ELLEN. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE AT THE THRESHOLD OF HELL.

WARNER BROTHERS

20 â&#x20AC;˘ b u z z w e e k l y

9pm - 10pm An hour of jam band on WPGU Hosts: Brian Heisler and Adam Lied

4 • buzz

weekly

JUDE LAW IS SO HOT. HE MUST BE AN ASS ...

j u s t

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-Newsies

Server operators sued in bid to stymie online file-sharing ALEX VEIGA • AP WRITER

Take a Break from Studying, Get a

a Nd G i g g L E s

S H !t S

[

An informed and opinionated look at this week’s events

]

COMPILED BY LOGAN MOORE

Gift Certificates Available

344-9003/410 E. Green St.

Holiday Art Sale

•

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APARTMENTS

10- 30% off all framed artwork & sculpture

FRAMER’S MARKET custom picture framing & gallery 807 W. Springfield, Champaign

351-7020 Open Tues - Fri: 9:30 - 5:30

Sat: 10 - 4pm

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

000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Transportation 300 AUTOMOBILES www.lookatusedcars.com

Apartments

410

WESTGATE

420

1005 S. SECOND, C Efficiencies. Fall 2005. Secured building. Private parking. Laundry on site, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

106 North Gregory in Urbana

Large, furnished 1 bedrooms available in secure building on Engineering Campus for Spring and Fall ‘05. University Properties, 344-8510.

GREAT VALUE

APARTMENTS

359-5330 359-5330

Hours: M-F 9-5 Sat 9-1 • www.westgateapts.net

Shlens Apartments August 2005

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420

APARTMENTS

420

APARTMENTS

Furnished

111 E. CHALMERS, C. August 2005. 1 bedroom. Furniture, skylights, off-street parking, laundry. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

307 & 310 E. White 307 & 309 Clark

Fall 2005. Large studio, double closet, well furnished. Available January. www.ugroup96.com 352-3182

207- 211 JOHN Fall 2005 Prime Campus Location 2, 3, & 4 Bedrooms Phone 352-3182 THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

505 W. Healey. Newly remodeled 1 BR, close to campus, wood floors, new bathroom. Includes water, sewer and garbage. Off-street parking. Pets OK. $425/mo. Will 217-7219685.

705 S. 1st St. Apts.

First & Green Luxury 2, 3 & 4 BRM apts, Balconies, Central A/C, 2 Baths CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

367-2009

Locust III Apts 906-908 S. Locust St. Spacious efficiencies and 1,3 & 4 bedroom apts. Some units paid heat/water 1 SPRING LEASE AVAILABLE

367-2009

Ask Tenant Union about us 390-2377

Cable TV, Dishwasher, Laundry, Covered Parking Available, Computer Desk, Ice Maker Self Cleaning Oven & Internet Available

808 W. Nevada, U Newly remodeled, UF, 3 BR with sunroom in house. New Kitchen, refinished hardwood floors, laundry room. $1500 including heat, water, and parking.

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Furnished

904 W. Stoughton 2 BDRMS $780

Phone 344-2901 cshlens@aol.com 10AM - 9PM Monday - Sunday

Action Ads • 20 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $14 • 10 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $7 • add a photo to an action ad, $10

420

Furnished

• Clean 1 & 2 Bedrooms • Superior • Dependable, 24hr. management NOW LEASING maintenance • Short-term Leases FOR FALL • Free Parking • 24 Hour Courtesy • On Busline Gate House

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

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DEADLINE:

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310

APARTMENTS

buzz weekly •

I CAN’T TELL YOU TO BUY THE PURPLE FEDORA BUT YOU KNOW YA WANT TO.

Sometimes all it takes is a VOICE, one voice that becomes a hundred, then a thousand, unless it’s silenced.

y o u r e v e r y d a y n e w s but hell, we’re weekly

Now through December 24th

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

n e w s n o t

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HERITAGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. 1206 S. RANDOLPH SUITE B, CHAMPAIGN • 351-1803

22 • b u z z w e e k l y APARTMENTS

420

APARTMENTS

430

SUBLETS

440

Furnished

Unfurnished

HEALEY COURT APARTMENTS 307- 309 Healey Court. Fall 2005. Behind Gully’s. 2 bedrooms. Ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

Our most desirable location on U of I golf course. 1200 sq. ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, fireplace, study, dishwasher, W/D, A/C, carport plus parking, balcony/patio. 359-3687.

2 BR, 1030 E. Kerr. Unfurnished, on bus route, pool, fitness center. $500/mo. negotiable. Available January 384-8157.

Studio apartment on Hessel Park near campus, groceries, and business. $320 includes water, parking, and garbage. 384-0612.

Female roommate wanted for Spring ‘05. $500/ month negotiable, utilities included. Workout room, laundry, great view. ASAP. 217-766-2137.

SUBLETS

Free First Month’s Rent (For woman). 1 Bedroom in 4 Bedroom Apt. Jan- July. University Commons. (217)417-6707.

APARTMENTS

430

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I JUST POKED MYSELF IN THE EYE. ON ACCIDENT. I’M DUMB.

440

SUBLETS

440

Female roommate wanted. Sublease available Jan 2005 to August 2005. 201 E. Armory. Includes parking, on-site laundry, cable/internet access. $300/mo. Jenny 563505-1546.

Melrose Apartments 4 BR Private Bath, fully furnished, all utilities, parking, cable/HBO, ethernet included. $430/mo negotiable. January-August. One month FREE. 217-721-3245

Other Rentals 500 HOUSES

510

One bedroom, 1.5 bath, patio, fireplace, parking, pool, on busline. Lease through 8/1/05 with option to renew. Newly renovated flash security building. Available Feb 1st or sooner. Call 721-3111.

’Can’t wait for next week’s

BIG

holiday buzz

SUBLET SPRING/SUMMER 1 bedroom in newer 3 bedroom apartment. 1806 Cottage Grove, Urbana. Completely furnished. Own bathroom. Bus route. $295/mo., includes parking. 815-441-3785.

LIMITED NUMBER OF FALL '05 SEMESTER LEASES AVAILABLE

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510

JTS PROPERTIES

Spring Semester Lease 1-4 BR available $425 utilities included. Contact Anthony 217-384-2967. One bedroom in two bedroom. Available Spring 2005. 105 E. Chalmers. Furnished, huge room. 630-2223344.

HOUSES

•

We’ve Got The Houses

wanna sublet that apartment, find your band a decent drummer, or lose that 1984 dodge caravan?

You Want

ROOM & BOARD

540

Want community? Homemade vegetarian meals? Affordable private rooms? www.couch.coop

buzz classifieds (217) 337.8337

Henry Kissinger and Geraldo Rivera

Take a Virtual Tour! www.universitycommons.com Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Saturday 10am-4pm

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EDITOR’S NOTE PAUL WAGNER • FILM EDITOR

337-1800

buzz weekly •

GAME ON!

~ Paul Wagner

BUZZ STAFF v o l u m e

n o . 3 3

TALK TO BUZZ e-mail:

ft i G e ce h t Giveof Dan

buzz@readbuzz.com write:

57 E. Green St. Champaign, IL 61820

SIMPLY THE BEST

call:

“Voted CU’s Best Mexican Restaurant”

217-351-6879 1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign

Now Enroll uary for Janses! Clas Gift Certificates Available! credit cards accepted 6 weeks for $58 Ballroom • Salsa • Tango

Regent Ballroom

359-5333

Hours: Mon-Thur 11AM-10PM Fri 11AM-10:30PM Sat 11:30AM-10:30PM Sun 11:30AM-10PM

Gift Certificates Available!!!

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under the cover

INTRO

Slowpoke • Jen Sorenson Editor’s note This Modern World • Tom Tomorrow News Sh!ts and giggles News of the weird • Chuck Shephard First things first • Michael Coulter

AROUND TOWN

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C OV E R

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Addiction

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ONLY WHO CAN PREVENT FORREST FIRES?

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APARTMENTS

420

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APARTMENTS Furnished

Dealing with addiction • Matt Pais Life in Hell • Matt Groening q + a with Theresa Turner

LISTEN, HEAR Albums you need to hear: The Top 10 albums of 2004 Around town thoughts on 2004 Sound Ground #56 • Todd J. Hunter Mendoza Life Line • Seth Fein

MAIN EVENT Jonesin’ Crosswords • Matt Gaffney Free Will Astrology Bob ‘n Dave • David King

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT Graphics visualize prose • Toccara Castleman Th(ink) • Keith Knight Artist’s corner with Emily Elarde Wine and Food A to Z • Amanda Kolling

THE SILVER SCREEN

BLADE: TRINITY DEVON SHARMA • STAFF WRITER

There is an inherent problem with sequels: 420

APARTMENTS Furnished

420

they are, more often than not, worse than the

APARTMENTS Furnished

420 first. Of course, there are exceptions—

Movies you need to see: 10 best of 2004 • Matt Pais Shades of Gray • Shadie Elnashai Closer review • Matt Pais Ocean’s Twelve review • Paul Prikazsky Movie time listings

CLASSIFIEDS

Blade:Trinity review • Devon Sharma

s o u n d s

classifieds (217) 337-8337

Fresh flicks

WINE + DINE

buzz weekly •

I CAN’T TELL YOU MY SECRET. IT’S CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

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WE WANT FUN AND WE WANT TO GET WASTED!

It’s Coming... Champaign-Urbana’s Biggest New Year’s Bash!

NEW YEAR’S 2005 Joe’s Brewery 15th Annual Celebration

706 S. 5th St, Campustown * 384-1790

25 Double Bacardi’s $ 50 Lite/MGD Bottles $ 00 Jager Bombs

NO COVER BEFORE 9PM

Complimentary Champagne Toast at Midnight * Free Party Favors

PARTY FAVORS PARTY FOOD MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE TOAST

New Years Eve PARTY

Single Malt Scotch • Wine • Irish Whiskeys •

• 75 Beers •

Open Daily 4PM - 2AM DESIGNATED DRIVER PROGRAM FREE RIDES HOME FROM ILLINI TAXI

Friday Dec. 31st

Doors Open 7pm

00 Bottles

Over 600 Danced in 2004

105 N. Market St. Downtown Champaign 355-1236 s o u n d s

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Bacardi Drinks

Neil

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6 12 | 16 | 04 . 12 | 22 | 04 champaign . urbana