vol104issue02 by The Recorder

OPINION What Ever Happened to the Republican Party? - Page 4

I Want Your Junk

SPORTS Pick Your Poison: NFL Picks - Page 9

- Page 14

ENTERTAINMENT Whole Wheat Bread Show Review - Page 13

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Volume 104 No. 2

Report Finds Flaws in Virginia Tech Response Plan

Melissa Traynor

News Editor Conrad Akier / The Recorder Quarterback Colin Temple of Merrimack gets taken down by Central defensive end John Moulton. The sack went for a loss of eight yards.

Peter Collin

Sports Editor The Merrimack Warriors were feeling the heat in more ways than one on Saturday. While the sun drove the temperature up on the field, the Blue Devils racked up the points on the scoreboard and defeated the Warriors 45-7 in an afternoon football match-up at Arute Field. Central used a crushing defense and two big offensive plays to take control of the game and improve their record to 1-1. The Blue Devils also extended their home winning streak to nine games and improved to 14-1 in home games

since 2004. The Blue Devils struck early and fast against Merrimack. With less than eight minutes to go in the first quarter, Central quarterback Ryan Holmes connected with a wide open Nick Colagiovanni, who ran untouched for a 71yard touchdown. Less than five minutes later, the Blue Devils struck again with another big play. Freshman wide receiver Josue Paul came through the backfield on an end around and used his speed to exploit the Warrior defense for a 70-yard touchdown run. Central was consistently in the Warriors

backfield, forcing five turnovers and recording seven sacks for the game. The Warriors could only manage 38 total yards including -35 yards rushing on 22 attempts, while the Blue Devils seemed to move the ball at will, totaling 527 yards of offense. The Blue Devils were far from perfect, though, as they fumbled the ball five times during the game, losing three of them. Coach Jeff McInerney stated that he knows his team needs to handle the ball better, especially with Southern Connecticut State University coming to CCSU next Saturday.

See Merrimack Sacked page 8

Blue Devils Nail Holy Cross Peter Collin

Sports Editor

Conrad Akier / The Recorder Milou Saxton (left) and Tori Vaughan (right) protect the net for Central.

The SERAPH Research Team, a group which provides services in school, law enforcement, government and corporate problem solving, has released an assessment of the events that took place at Virginia Tech on April 16, which resulted in the deaths of 32 people. The SERAPH Team pinpointed seven areas where the Emergency Response Plan of Virginia Tech was deficient and the administration was negligent. Highest ranked on the list was that the plan had no provisions for a shooter scenario. The report stated that since the events at Columbine in 1999, police departments throughout the United States have been training for an “active shooter” situation and response. CCSU police chief Jason Powell said that the campus had made preparations for a response to an active shooter. “In addition to that, we also have a threat assessment team,” Powell said.

The Blue Devil’s volleyball team continued their stellar early-season play, sweeping aside Holy Cross 3-1 at home on Wednesday night in Detrick Gymnasium. Paced by freshman Lauren Snyder’s team-high 19 kills and senior Katie Karkow’s game-high .394 hitting average, Central was able to overcome a Holy Cross team that played them tough early on. The two teams split the first two games with Central dropping the second game with a sloppy 30-28 performance. The Blue Devils made numerous errors while hitting a meager .222 from the field. “Instead of Holy Cross earning the points and putting the ball down, we wound up making a mistake with the ball,” said Coach Linda Sagnelli. “A lot of hitting errors in that game, a lot of indecisions in that game as to what to do with the ball—that cost us points.” The Blue Devils recovered from their careless play and pounded Holy Cross in the final two games, winning with lopsided totals of 30-16 and 3018.

See Holy Cross page 8

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/

See Virginia Tech page 2

President Encourages “Greener” Campus Matt Kiernan

Staff Writer The President’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability will be working with students and faculty to create an environmentally friendly and much cleaner campus. It plans to facilitate recycling efforts, use renewable energy and utilize new landscaping to improve the environment. By the end of the fall semester, students can expect to find the campus to be a much “greener” place to live. The President, as well as faculty and students, have formed the Advisory Committee in the hopes that people will be well educated in ways of keeping the campus clean. “By doing this, we will improve in three areas: economic health, environmental health, and social relations,” said Professor Abigail Adams of the anthropology department and co-chair of the committee. Until now, there hasn’t been a steady plan in making the campus a positive force in the fight against environmental destruction. The committee plans to install recycling bins for mixed paper, card-

board, cans and bottles at the ends of halls as well as in classrooms. Energy waste is also something the committee is looking towards reducing by making changes on campus such as reinstalling new lamps, decreasing the amount of lights that are left on and creating energy instead of buying it. President Miller stated at the Opening Meeting of the Academic Year, “I would note that as a result of the work of this committee, we have already committed $330,000 for energy conservation relighting programs and another $79,000 for expanding our recycling program.” “Though the Student Center has been involved in recycling since 1988, we want continue to be an example to the rest of the campus by being as close to 100 percent as possible,” said Director of Student Center Operations Wayne ‘Otis’ Mamed in an email distributed to employees and student leaders associated with the Student Center. He also announced in the message that colored paper, newspapers, magazines and phone books are all considered recyclable and the Student Center will soon house re-

See “Greener” Campus page 3

News Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Recorder

Student Center 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 T 860.832.3744 F 860.832.3747 ccsurecorder@gmail.com http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/ Editor-in-Chief Mark Rowan Managing Editor Christopher Boulay Art Director/Designer Jamie Paakkonen Associate Layout Editor Conrad Akier Copy Editor Samantha Sullivan Lifestyles Editor Stephanie Bergeron Sports Editor Peter Collin Entertainment Editor Edward Gaug Opinion Editor Justin Kloczko News Editor Melissa Traynor Web Editor John Vignali Staff Gabrielle Byko Jessica Carraro Karyn Danforth Chris DeMorro Jennifer L. Gonzalez Jessica Hart Steve Hart Jeff Hayden Brian Johnston Matthew Jurkiewicz Matt Kiernan Susan Kondracki Cassandra Montanez Brian Morache Adam Morgan David Pember

The Recorder is a student-produced publication of Central Connecticut State University and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of CCSU’s administrators, faculty, or students. The Recorder articles, photographs, and graphics are property of the Recorder and may not be reproduced or published without the written permission from the Editor-in-Chief. The purpose of the Recorder is to approach and define issues of importance to the students of Central Connecticut State University.

Study: Heart Disease Associated With Diet Sodas Jenny Paul

The Daily Free Press (U-WIRE) -- Calorie-free diet soda may seem like a healthy option compared to sugar-laden, high-calories beverages, but a Boston University professor and researchers in Framingham, Mass., have reported both diet and regular soft drinks may increase risk of heart disease and diabetes. School of Medicine professor Ramachandran Vasan, the senior author of the Framingham Heart Study, said drinking at least one soda a day increases an adult’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 45 percent, compared to people who drink less than one a day. Metabolic syndrome includes risk factors that double the chance of heart disease. The five components of metabolic syndrome are a waist circumference of at least 35 inches for women or at least 40 inches for men, high blood pressure, low levels of healthy cholesterol, high-fasting glucose levels -- a method to test for diabetes after someone has not eaten for many hours -- and elevated triglycerides, the chemical form of fat in the body. “If you have three or more of these components, you’re said to have the metabolic syndrome,” Vasan said. “Having the metabolic syndrome, it approximately doubles your risk of having heart disease or stroke in the future. It is also a precursor to diabetes.” The study received national attention throughout the summer by many major media outlets. Vasan called the study “a very interesting observation,” but said more studies must be done to replicate his findings about diet soda. “Stay tuned for more research,” he said. Researchers used 6,100 “person observations” of participants, with an average age of 55 years old, during the Framingham Heart Study, which was published in the July 31 issue of Circulation. When the study began, the participants did not have three or more components of metabolic syndrome, Vasan said. The researchers were “somewhat surprised” that drinking diet soda increased adults’ risk for metabolic syndrome even though other reports have already linked diet soda consumption to heart-disease risk, Vasan said. The increased risk could be attributed to the soda or the lifestyle and diet of the drinker, he said. People who drink more soft drinks tend to consume more calories, more saturated and

trans fats, less dietary fiber and dairy products and usually have a more sedentary lifestyle, he said. Although the researchers tried to adjust for lifestyle factors, “one cannot really exclude the possibility that it could be about the dietary lifestyle of soda drinkers,” Vasan said. The soda itself may also increase the risk for metabolic syndrome, he said. Because soda is liquid, it is not as filling as solid foods. “Even though it’s a low-calorie drink ... you aren’t as satiated and end up eating more at the next meal,” he said. Another theory is that soda -- diet and regular -- is sweet, and the sweetness could encourage people to eat more sweets in general. “It could be conditioning a response causing you to eat more sweet items,” he said. Vasan said the caramel coloring in colatype sodas may also be to blame. Based on reactions in animals in experimental studies, the caramel coating may be a source of substances found that promote insulin resistance -- a precursor to diabetes -- he said. Medical studies graduate student Alex Paiva said he drinks diet soda instead of regular soda to try to maintain his weight. “I choose the more diet option because it’s not going to affect me as much,” he said. Because he is not a “constant soda drinker,” Paiva said the findings of the study probably will not have an effect on his consumption of the beverage. “I know I’m not going to be at the level where I put myself at risk,” he said. College of Engineering freshman Patrick Henson said he drinks regular soda once or twice a week. He said the study’s findings do not faze him because there are so many other habits in American culture that pose health risks.

Virginia Tech

Continued from page 1 It was found through a survey of university and college safety directors that “few have had this training. Two reasons were given for this, the first was the cost, administrators did not want to pay for the training and second administrators barred campus security / police administrators from seeking out the training because they did not want a ‘militaristic campus atmosphere.’” A more general report produced by the Virginia Tech Review Panel states that on a typical weekday morning, 14 officers are on duty, including the police chief. The next paragraph of chapter two reports that “The campus police could not handle a major event by themselves with these numbers, and so they have entered into a mutual aid agreement with the Blacksburg Police Department (BPD) for immediate response and assistance.” “They frequently train together,” the Panel reported, “and had trained for an active shooter situation in a campus building before the accident.” While the campus police had prepared for such an event, the Emergency Response Plan was operating under a version that was two years old and “[did] not deal with prevention of events, such as establishing a threat assessment team.” SERAPH’s evaluation also found that Virginia Tech did not place the police high enough in the “emergency decision-making hierarchy.” On April 16, police had no choice but to wait for the deliberations of the Policy Group, which deals with procedures to support emergency operations. The VT Campus Police were not part of the Policy Group at the time. A press release by the SERAPH Team stated that “the report indicates that university administrators who had no training in security or police operations micromanaged the security operations of the campus through policies that control the actions of the campus police force.” “I think [Virginia Tech] had problems with a quick response,” said Kelley Fournier, a second year student at CCSU. “People probably had an inkling of what was going on and they didn’t spread the news fast enough. They sent out e-mails, but the chances that everyone got one are slim.” She added that should such a situation occur at CCSU, she’d like to see an alert system in place that branched out to all locations on campus.

“Greener” Campus Continued from page 1

ceptacles for these types of paper. Flattened cardboard will also continue to be recycled. “[In regards to bottles and cans] there will be containers placed in the central part of most main offices where these items can be placed for sustainability pickup,” Mamed offered. Mamed also said that Facilities Management is in the process of dropping off “sustainability” buckets for each and every office in the Student Center. Changes in the dining services will also be made in order to lessen the huge amount of food wasted each semester by improving its quality. The committee will be observing how people use the food at Memorial Hall, as well as reducing the weight of the food, therefore, reducing waste. There has already been an increase in the amount of plants and trees grown on the campus. More trees will be planted in the future to improve the student and faculty health. Students are encouraged to improve the environment by recycling, turning of lights when not in use, and purchasing products which are environmentally friendly. The committee is meeting temporarily for this semester and will dissolve after it ends. The President and University hope to create a permanent committee to improve the campus.

Editorial/Opinion

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Editorial The decision by WABC-7 of New York to be the first news organization in the country to scale down coverage of 9/11 was a brave effort, but giving into public pressure and retracting their decision was a sign of weakness and audience pandering. We applauded WABC for pursuing a different route from other media arms in the country and allowing audiences to tune into a station that was not covering the ceremonies ad nauseam. The attempt to cut the victim readings of 9/11 is a response to the saturation of coverage on 9/11. WABC, despite being ridiculed for being negligent and insensitive, may very well have attempted to try a different method of healing by giving American audiences refuge from the over-extensive coverage. The majority of the public and press condemned the station’s move as being motivated by ratings to allow soccer moms and grandmothers damned to the rest of their lives in wheel chairs to sit undisrupted in front of their TVs, enjoying their daily dose of Rachel Ray and The View. But the coverage was still going to be shown, in its entirety, on their digital channels.

Letters to the Editor Ironic: More than Just an Alanis Morissette Song

Unless the Editorial piece in the Sept. 5th issue of The Recorder was another poorly executed attempt at satire, I can only shake my head and laugh at the utter incompetence of its “journalists”, not to mention editors. My first giggle came in this gem of a sentence about The New Britain Herald: “For a decadent and miserable newspaper which has committed numerous fallacies and juvenile spelling mistakes [...] while struggling to keep a float...” Unless the editor of The Herald has an inflatable raft that is in danger of being stolen, the correct word is “afloat”. The fact that this error came in a sentence that had the audacity to attack another paper for their own supposed typos is just too deliciously ironic for words. But wait, more fun was to follow. - “[B]enchmarks have been made significantly.” How about “Significant benchmarks have been met”? - “Internally, The Recorder has made many strives to continue the quality of its content.” (Another ironic giggler.) Try “strides.” - “It is important for the campus community to know, as well as exterior forces that are out the keep The Recorder synonymous with a bad name.” If it’s so important, then why did you leave us with only a sentence fragment? I could go on. The fact is that the entire letter - indeed, the entire paper - is riddled with poor grammar and clumsy style. Nor is this an isolated occurrence. However, the supposed purpose of the editorial - to demonstrate the steps made to improve the journalistic quality of the student paper - took these all-too-common errors and transformed them from annoying to outright laughable. Were I an employee of The Herald, no doubt I would be slightly less amused, being accused of “fallacies and juvenile spelling” by a newspaper that can’t even punctuate correctly (see the missing period in the penultimate paragraph of the article). Perhaps next time the staff at The Recorder will make sure their own glass house is in order before lobbing stones in the direction of other, far more professional institutions. Ashley M. Sheridan Thank you for the honest feedback. However, it seems you do not understand the beautiful freedoms of a college newspaper. Unlike a typical newspaper, we have the creative leeway to comment on local papers that aren’t exactly up to snuff. Therefore, we believe it is our civic duty to bring these problems to light. While we may not be perfect ourselves, many would be hard-pressed to ignore the improvements of the newspaper since last February.

When the backlash ensued and WABC was able to survey their audience, they realized that their ratings would be just as good if they continued with full coverage of the ceremonies. It should be policy of WABC to retain their original and unfettered stance and not to dictate their positions because of pressure from the public. If media panders to their audience, then they have no functional purpose in society but to enforce feelings people already have. The citizenry is up in arms about the downsizing coverage on 9/11, but no one is standing up against the constant airtime Osama bin Laden’s new video is getting across the whole world. Media outlets in the Western hemisphere specifically are taking the footage and re-channeling it as accidental propaganda to drum up the false connection to the current war effort and into the general fear associated with 9/11. People should not take the scaled down coverage of 9/11 as a slap in the face to the victim’s families. We understand 9/11 is a sensitive subject, and in no way feel that is shouldn’t be observed, but the onslaught of coverage and commentary is get-

Journalism Major Needed While reading the first edition of this semester’s Recorder, I was impressed the steps The Recorder is taking to promote journalistic integrity. However, I was surprised to learn that CCSU does not offer a journalism major. I stopped and thought about it and it made perfect sense... of course this school doesn’t offer a journalism major. If it did, John Petroski’s article would never have been printed. Other majors (like psychology) have courses where they discuss ethical standards, professional behavior and integrity. Such concepts teach the student what they can and cannot do. So should anyone be too surprised that controversial articles appear on The Recorder? If a journalism major did in fact exist in CCSU, it would be a great service to the people working for The Recorder. They would know what it means to be a true journalist. They would know how to be professional, how to write a story and what to write about. Most importantly, they would fully understand the limits and the extents to which the 1st Amendment (and their ensuing profession) allows. In my last school (Western CT State University), they offered a journalism major and the school paper wrote on topics without pushing any buttons or going overboard with an issue. Since such a thing does not exist in this school, we’re stuck with bone-headed ideas such as the Petroski article that are never fully thought out. CCSU, PLEASE create a journalism major to keep stupid s&*% like this from happening again. Daniel Quintero While I appreciate your passionate avocation for a journalism major, it should be noted that bringing a journalism major to Central is not be the be-all and end-all for solving the controversy problem in the newspaper. Anyone who has read multiple college newspapers or has spent time with other college newspaper editors or advisors will tell you that controversy, for the most part, cannot be avoided. This is true for universities with a journalism major and without one. You just can’t please everyone no matter how much you try. Western Connecticut State University does not actually have a journalism major either, and it too has had issues with bad taste in the past. The University of Virginia recently published a cartoon that was called “racially insensitive.” It should also be mentioned, that just a year ago that same comic artist was brought onto the The O’Reilly Factor for a different controversial comic. The University of Connecticut has a journalism major and while The Daily Campus is a quality paper, it too upsets students from time to time. A journalism major is needed at Central, as it will improve the quality of the newspaper. However, it would be foolish to think that a major would end all disagreements between newspaper staff and its readers.

ting in the way of people who want to grieve in private instead of loudly on television. American media has a notorious reputation for beating a news story to the ground, and WABC was noble for a short period of time allowing a vent in the circus. Everyone will be covering 9/11, putting us back through every excruciating moment as if the painful imprint in our memories won’t last. The larger issue at hand is maintaining the freedom to exercise journalistic decisions. The major trend in this awkward sixth year of commemoration is the transition from shock to healing in the press. Locally, The Hartford Courant, as well as the surrounding towns of Southington and Cheshire, is trying to signal the message – it is time to begin the real healing process and not just dwell on the horrific events of that day. We will have many years of mourning to come. There will be a seventh, eighth and ninth year, and eventually the harder decades. Let us not exhaust ourselves yet, for the posterity of this country.

The Long, Hard, Fall From Grace: Whatever Happened to the Republican Party? Brian Morache

Staff Writer It is always easy to point to one fallen politician and say, “Oh what a shame, a bad apple.” However, one can not deny the litany of “bad apples” that have befallen the Republican Party since 2000. What is ironic is that not only did President “Elect” Bush declare in 2000 that his administration would be the “most ethical in the history of the United States,” but that for years the GOP has maintained a platform of “family values” and moral superiority over other political organizations. Since 2000, the Bush administration has run roughshod over the Constitution, be it in torturing prisoners, withholding information or simply lying to Congress and the American people. Scandals, and the ensuing cover-ups, have been an almost weekly occurrence with the White House. Now it seems that the rats are leaving the sinking ship, as Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales and Tony Snow have all resigned their positions. Let us also not forget that Lewis I. “Scooter” Libby is supposed to be in jail for lying to protect his boss, Dick Cheney. Congress is not immune to what has been termed “an atmosphere of corruption” by opponents. Randy “Duke” Cunningham resigned from Congress after admitting he took bribes from lobbyists. Conservative Sen. David Vitter, a staunch proponent of “family values,” found himself under scrutiny after he was found to have been involved with a Washington D.C. madam. Still, he may have merely been checking-in with a lobbyist representing the interests of the prostitution industry. Congressman Mark Foley of Florida solicited sex from congressional pages, i.e. teenage boys. Most recently, Sen. Larry Craig was caught soliciting sex in a men’s bathroom - this behavior from a senator who has voted in favor of every anti-gay legislation put forth on the senate floor. His defense after pleading guilty to lewd conduct: “I have a wide stance.” Okay… sure, we believe that. Such scandal would not be so terrible if it weren’t for the fact that since they involve members of the Republican Party, the term “hypocrite” also applies. These same Republican politicians harshly criticized then-President Bill Clinton for his behavior and, in fact, led the charge for his impeachment. Democrats have no specific moral platform and have taken criticism for this from the Christian Right. Clinton’s supporters maintain that his moral lapses were between the Clintons, and certainly no one would want their marital dirty laundry lain out for all to see, but since the GOP is sup-

posed to be the party of values and ethics, they are held to a higher standard. Beyond their personal activities, the public voting record and platform makes their hypocrisy even more blatant. In part because of their platform and speeches, they are the politicians who “should know better” and are elected by their supporters because of their moral positions. Some would argue that it is unfair to put Republicans on such a high moral pedestal - after all, they are just people. This would be so if it were not for the fact that the GOP itself climbs up to that pedestal all on their own, with no help from anyone else. So when scandal hits and politicians find themselves toppled from the moral high ground, it should come as no surprise that the fall is long and painful. It is no wonder Republican supporters feel betrayed by their elected leaders. Perhaps from all of these scandals, we the people will be encouraged to reexamine what constitutes moral behavior. Are “family values” merely a choice of who gets the biggest tax break? Is being pro-life merely protecting the unborn child, leaving the living to fend for themselves? If we are to say we are pro-life, then how can we be for the death penalty? How can we say we support “family values” when we deny children healthcare and fight against programs that support families, the poor and single parents? Should we ask ourselves, “Who is the bigger hypocrite – the hypocrite who leads or the hypocrite who follows him?” Isn’t it time for morality to stand for more than amendments to stop flag burning, more than forcing kids to pray a certain way in schools and for more than telling people who they can and can’t marry? When you get on that moral pedestal, it should be no surprise when, after lying and cheating your way to the top, the fall is long, hard and very, very painful. Tell Nixon to “Look out below!”

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I Like Presidential Candidate Ron Paul and You Should Too Justin Kloczko

Opinion Editor I realize that I usually don’t advocate many-a kind word within these trenchant margins, but I think there are some decent candidates in a presidential race that shamelessly continues to flaunt this “cool kids on the bus” attitude in our faces. Worthy praise for the Democrats goes to Dennis Kucinich; although he’s a midget-vegan who usually gets weird looks whenever speaking during the debates, he attacks firmly in plain English and constantly makes Obama and Hillary look like hypocrites. Still, he is seen as too much of a radical to mainstream voters because of his immediate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization upon his helm as President of the United States. He is also condemned for having a face for radio, which automatically excludes him from Puritan qualifications. Republican candidate, or more specifically, Libertarian candidate Ron Paul is the only politician with an active conscience in the ’08 race. Although barely making a mark in the polls with two percent of voters’ support, he is the most popular candidate in cyber space. He is a doctor and can be seen as valuing humanity because he has delivered thousands of babies in his life, so we know he is not out to kill the human race. One thing about Libertarians is that they are very accountable and vote consistently on the issues. But Ron Paul is a unique enigma buried under a sea of cookie-cutter candidates because he attracts people from his opposite party. Although being regarded as the Republican Party misfit, he reaches across party lines. I know the word “Republican” might scare the vast majority of this liberally-occupied campus, but liberals should vote for Ron Paul, as well as Republicans who are sick of the diseased neo-conservative movement and are looking for a noble way out. There is another reason you should consider Ron Paul. He scares the shit out of diedin-the-wool Republicans and Democrats alike. If Paul becomes President there will be a lot of change, and Washington is terrified of that possibility. All the candidates who make it a point to say they will change some things won’t actually if elected. Paul is the only candidate within the party that has not authorized a vote for the Iraq war, and has been consistent on not intervening in the Middle East for years now. Paul realizes that all the politicians who had come before him and are trying to get a piece of the pie now never had a clue on how to rationalize the situation in Mesopotamia. He is a concrete thinker and understands that they want to kill Americans because we messed with them first and continue to occupy a region in which we grossly misunderstood the big picture. As a Libertarian in his ideological stance,

Paul only will use the government as a means to protect life first, using it as a neutral mediator in the aspects of private life. Paul is able to recognize when American troops are being purged out to war because of self-inflicted paranoia. He understands that we were never in danger from Iraq. During his debate among eight other hardcore mainstream Republicans, Paul held his own and laid smack-downs on punks like Rudy Giuliani. The blatant rhetoric of Giuliani when he talks about terrorism is disturbing. The candidates constantly gang up on Paul and misconstrue his beliefs about the Middle East. Paul realizes that they have major beef with us because we are the ones who screwed them over first. When the question on 9/11 came up, Giuliani saw it as his hard-on calling and immediately had to chime in. He kept drinking the Bush hater-ade and accused Paul of being ludicrous in his rationalization and sympathy towards the Iraqi people. Giuliani tried to slam Paul by saying Paul believes America perpetrated the attacks on 9/11; Paul shot back, saying we invited these attacks because of history, but he got cut off before he was able to finish. Being like Paul takes balls, especially when only a minute portion of the country knows who the hell you are. Corporate media makes it difficult for other candidates to make a pledge before they get cut off, while giving tea time to people who get in front of a microphone and talk about life like it is some urgent sporting game we must win. What is upsetting with these presidential debates is that you come in with your poll numbers and that usually equates into how much air time you will get. On the last Republican, ABC sponsored debate, Giuliani and Romney were able to fire-off a combined 4,497 words while candidates with one percent and two percent in the polls got only 1,652 words out, according to

Oh-bitch-uaries: Ex-Herald Press Reporter Scott Whipple Justin Kloczko

Opinion Editor The New Britain Herald died a little more last Tuesday when it published the obit article from their only decorated reporter, Scott Whipple. The climax of his journalistic career came reliving his college days while he covered the infamous rape article last February. He missed out on a nomination for some lifetime achievement award, but due to his timely departure from The Herald, the judges may reconsider. Whipple will be moving onto greener pastures at the Hartford Business Journal. “Scott was actually a good guy and probably the best reporter they had over there,” commented New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart. “He actually had ethics and not a lot of them do over there anymore, including the bosses.” His good riddance article, “‘Poetic Journey’ Showcases American Landscape,” was the equivalent of a tree falling in the woods with no one around to hear it. But in all seriousness,

the roving veteran reporter was bigger than that pathetic newspaper, which is only used to insulate shit inside a dog’s cage. Other than that, people only read the paper when they are taking a dump on an uneventful Sunday morning, after which they wipe their asses with it because conserving a fine roll of toilet paper is much more important. Whipple’s farewell from The Herald has been nine years in the making and is a precursor to the mass exodus on the horizon. In his “Goodbye” business column for The Herald, Whipple shouts out some of his connects: “Jack Miller, Peter Kilduff, Mark McLaughlin, and Nick Pettinico of Central Connecticut State Uni-versity.” This next line is the real kicker though: “That Renaissance man, Dick Judd and his lovely wife, Nancy.” A reporter with a soft spot for plagiarism, I guess. Here at The Recorder, we wish Mr. Whipple better times at the Hartford Business Journal and hope that he never looks back at this foul city and its bleak recorder of events. Good luck, sire.

usaelectionolls.com. It is unfair that news outlets never give Paul his fair time to explain. The other candidates know what he means, but they jump on him like a schoolyard gang-up because he is always cut short and left wide open. Paul also practices traditional and progressive values. He is out to preserve a key facet in American life that has been etched out of history, to solely protect “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Paul is a fierce defender of the most sacred document in our history: The Constitution. He is a true constitutionalist; he obeys it, and if it is properly obeyed we are all freer. He recognizes that it should still be the heartbeat of this country. Not granting too much power to the President is one aspect he will uphold. He is a defender of civil liberties and voted against Bush’s Patriot Act, which infringed upon civil liberties. Paul is pro-life, but would not intervene with a state’s right to allow women the right to choose. He is a true Federalist, allowing freedom of the states from the central government. A Ron Paul as President would abolish the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, the IRS, FEMA, The United Nations, National Trade Organization, NAFTA and the WTO. The trade organizations specifically are nothing more than criminal organizations that are shipping the life blood of this country in terms of jobs and enslaving foreign territories. Paul is a free-trader and firm believer in capitalism and he understands that America must open up a stronger and healthier dialogue across the globe. Most importantly, Paul does not forget the proximity of history. Most of the candidates on both sides fail to lose their tunnel vision when dealing with the Middle East. Their memories only serve them back to the ’80s, but Paul sees the big picture. Paul uses the term “blowback” in understanding the crisis, which is when somebody else’s choices come back and hurt you, citing the ousting of Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh as the starting point. In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower began meddling in their affairs by exiling Mossadegh and opening the doors for the Shah of Iran to take over. According to Paul, this bitter resentment was directly linked to the Iranian hostage crisis in ’79 and opened the gates to our present entanglement, but he in no way justifies the killings of 3,000 Americans, nor does he say we purported it. That is why Giuliani doesn’t understand, along with a majority of candidates and voters. Americans have short memories. Giuliani cannot look at his life before the events of 9/11; he suffers from a debilitating case of political amnesia. For many people the only relevance in their lives is what is immediate, but if we all took time and recognized what came before us, we would understand our present situation a little better. Ron Paul is able to do that.

Playground News for This Foul Week of Our Lord Justin Kloczko

Opinion Editor Business mogul-turned temporary grass roots, anti-war candidate Ned Lamont has agreed to make appearances through out the course of the 2007-2008 academic year. He is going to serve as an advisor to Central’s political science department, according to Professor Jerold Duquette this summer. Word of mouth has it that he will have his own office, taking over the departed desk of Professor Treibwasser. The good sport that he is, Lamont was on campus earlier this year giving lectures. Just as summer comes to a close, one last heat wave came over the country in forms of long overdue adieus from Karl “Known to make staffers cry upon arrival” Rove and Alberto “I don’t know what the hell is going on” Gonzales. President Bush’s administration is finally shaping up like the way it was supposed to look in the first place: crony-free. I never thought someone could top George Michael in a bathroom stall until Sen. Larry Craig waltzed right next to an undercover cop and started playing footsy trying to solicit sex. It got downright weird when he proclaimed, in his best gay voice, “I’m not gay,” sounding more like, “I’m gay, but I’m a Republican, sorry.” Looks like we’ll get to see O.J. Simpson’s blockbuster “confession” book on shelves after all; If I Did It, now aptly re-titled and re-packaged as If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer. I guess the only way it can come out now is if the family of Ron Goldman gets compensated through profits and the reader promises not to take it as the truth. After HarperCollins, a subsidiary of News Corp., was pressured to refrain from releasing the “confession” earlier this year, Beaufort Books picked it up and will officially release it on Sept. 13 with Barnes & Noble signingon to carry it. It’s sure to be a rollicking good read. This just in: According to progress reports on the Iraq war, it is still a complete pulsating shit-hole, and probably will be until we’ve all gone to hell 30 times over. If you want to be pissed off in ways you didn’t think were possible, check out Matt Taibbi’s latest piece on the money swindling within the war at alter.net. And finally, did you hear? According to my friend Tom, scientists discovered the oldest living thing on planet earth, then killed it to determine its age...“Good night and good luck.”

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CROTCH SHOTS, NIPPLE SLIPS, CELLULITE LEGS! The Recorder is not looking for the above, but is looking for dedicated photographers to cover local and campus events. Contact us at ccsurecorder@gmail.com and make us forget that Britney picture.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Talking Points: Money for the Mouth Students Need to Jeff Hayden

Staff Writer One more actor turned activist to throw on the pile of bobble-head, pull-string eco-nuts. Brad Pitt, long known as a man for the environment, has forged once again into the breach and aimed himself at the remains of the idiotic cesspool that is New Orleans. He’s touting green housing, energy efficient duplexes for the underprivileged poverty stricken refugees of the “9th Ward,” and New Orleans. This, curiously enough, on the same day that Israeli scientists working on a means of increasing power harvest from solar panels announce a breakthrough. The news was not only of a breakthrough, but the planned construction of the largest solar power station in the world, that being contracted by the Israeli government. Israeli scientists working in a two-and-a-half-year joint research project between Solel and the National Center for Solar Energy, co-funded by the National Infrastructure Ministry and the U.S.-based Belfer Foundation, discovered a process of making photo cells 1000 times more receptive. This meaning of course that for every one photo cell, generally an eight inch by eight inch square, where only once cell before produced only one or two watts, the new technology would allow 1000 watts to be harvested. The power plant to be built in the middle of Israel’s Negev desert, which bears striking resemblance to the United States’ southwestern plain, would produce 500 megawatts of power a year; currently the most energy producing photovoltaic (solar) plant is located in Australia, with an annual output of 154 megawatts. So, why the first paragraph and then the second? Unrelated, of

course, except for that word “green.” The whole thing was a bit funny, Pitt, talking about energy conservation, got more air time than the people who were actually doing it. Sure, Pitt threw a few hundred thousand towards the cause of reducing energy consumption, maybe he even wrote a check for a million or so, I’m not really sure. One thing I do know is that I’m tired of hearing bleeding-heart billionaires bemoan the downfall of the ecosystem, the hard life of the uneducated and imprisoned wannabe gang-bangers in inner city slums and how Corporations (their only source of wealth) are the force behind the destruction of this ‘Great land.’ Don’t get me started on their rants about illegals. Brad Pitt, as we all know, was shacked up with Jennifer Aniston, can’t say I blame him. But, here’s where the rubber meets the road. Pitt’s house is in escrow for a cool 22.5 million, it’s your standard 10,000 squarefoot mansion, with the standard star accommodations of a professional screening room, a tennis court, pool, spa and the like. See where I’m going? That’s right, the Preacher Man. With an annual salary topping $25 million, and a net worth somewhere on the order of $114,400,000 and growing, don’t you think he could do a bit more than organize a contest to eco-friendly urban renewal projects? I mean, the whole thing about caring for the downtrodden, the ‘substance dependent’ and the third-world orphans is great, really great, but seriously. Until he, and all his other yuppie millionaires take their $12,500 an hour paychecks to the bank and put it to good use, I’m not listening. How much do you think would get accomplished in this country if all those dollars met with the ideas they pur-

ported, and had sex? A lot. What if Brad Pitt, 50 Cent, David Letterman, Madonna, Tom Cruise (that loveable nut-job) and Ben Afflek pooled their salaries for one year… put their money where their big fat, over-stuffed, goose-downed Botox injected mouths were? Ha. Then they wouldn’t have anyone to blame, no causes to fight for, because they could actually fix the problems they spend so much time bitching and moaning about. Let me add up the number according to Forbes.com, Pitt 25 million a year, 50 Cent 41 million a year, Letterman 40 million a year, Madonna 50 million a year, Cruise 67 million a year…all totaled, about 223 million a year. I think 223 million into a research center that tests photovoltaic cells would do a world of good. Hell, they could all join in and start their own, non-evil power company! They could be the solution! Two hundred and twenty-three million would probably get a few acres in the Mojave on which they could build a giant solar power station, and hell, if they got George Lucas in on it, with his $4,004,000,000 net worth, he could buy enough panels to power electric lights in Seattle, brightening the days of countless runaways, prostitutes and heroin addicts. Instead of bitching only about how massive multi-national conglomerate corporations rape pillage and plunder hard working, honest people such as ourselves, why don’t we all agree to even out the complaints. Let’s save some of that socialist bitching for people who have the means to do something, but choose to live a life in the public eye, doing nothing at all. Think about it.

Challenge Class Facts Paul Bowers

The Daily Gamecock (U-WIRE) -- In conversations with fellow students, I sometimes detect a hint of something that upsets me, something that makes me concerned for our intellectual future. It is the sound of sponge-learning, that dangerous line of thought which establishes professors as unquestionable gurus, textbooks as holy scriptures and the great thinkers of our time as infallible prophets. It goes on in science classrooms, where students accept theories as facts. I see it in English classes, where authors’ opinions and techniques are seldom questioned. It takes place in the humanities, where students adopt trendy philosophies with reckless abandon. A true student is not someone who soaks up what the established authorities have to say. A student is someone who takes nothing at face value, who wrestles with the facts of the matter until he has obtained something much more valuable than knowledge: understanding. I do not mean to disparage the academic merits of our university and its staff; to the contrary, I hold my professors in the highest regard. The trouble comes when students are dumbly taking notes, regurgitating their superiors’ opinions and refusing to analyze information independently.

College is a time for learning, but it is also a time for us to define ourselves as adults. The methods we use to attain academic success will be the ones we use to advance ourselves in our lives. Now is the time for each of us to decide: Will I seek personal understanding on my own terms? Or will I continue to be an intellectual doormat? The second option is by far the easier, and it has propelled countless people to decent jobs and incomes. However, more is at stake here than success. It is possible for anyone to wind up rich, respected-and wretched. Anyone trapped and indoctrinated in a suffocating corporate bureaucracy can attest to that. Thinking for oneself means more than “fighting the system.” In fact, it is far removed from glamorized notions of standing up for one’s beliefs. It is a difficult route to take, and often an unpopular one as well. It means doing the extra research, working at all hours of the night to develop a defensible position. It sometimes means earning the scorn and contempt of classmates and colleagues. And what is the reward? Freedom. The freedom of ideas must be ferociously sought and tenaciously defended. As Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Question your professors. Question yourself. For that matter, question Einstein.

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Sports

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Huskies Hammer Blue Devils Peter Collin

Sports Editor Sophomore Rachel Caneen scored the Blue Devils lone goal as the CCSU women’s soccer team fell to the UConn Huskies 2-1 on Sunday in Storrs. The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 1-3 to begin the season. The Blue Devils could do little to stem a persistent Huskie assault that out shot Central 22-6. The Huskies began their attack early in the first half when sophomore Annie Yi found an opening in the Central defense just outside the box and fired at the far post only to see Blue Devil goalkeeper Caitly Casey make a diving save. Yi would capitalize later in the half on an unexpected shot. At the 41-minute mark senior Alexandra Zedros passed the ball up to Yi who sent a high-arching shot in toward the CCSU goal from 33 yards out. The ball stayed high and floated into the top right corner to put the Huskies up 1-0 going into the half. “They got a great goal to finish the half. I thought we had done enough work to go into it level at halftime but it was a fantastic shot,” explained Coach Mick D’Arcy. CCSU regrouped for the second half scoring the equalizer at the

56-minute mark. Caneen started to break toward the corner of the box where freshman Erica Celini found her. Caneen worked the ball by one defender and beat UConn goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe to the far post. Celini’s assist was the first of her career. “They were pretty tight on me the whole game,” said Caneen. “Erica played me a perfect ball and we capitalized.” The Blue Devils played the Huskies even for the next 20 minutes but UConn persisted, keeping constant pressure on Casey who handled 10 saves during the game, several of them coming on tough shots in the box. In the 75th minute, defender Lauren Ebert worked the ball up to forward Erin Clark. Clark turned to the inside and ripped a shot from just inside the box to beat Casey toward the near post. “It’s a tough place to come up and get a result,” said Coach D’Arcy. “The girls proved they can battle and at 1-1, I thought it was anybody’s game.” The Blue Devils will be back in action again at UConn next weekend. On Friday they will take on Fairfield at 5 p.m. and on Sunday they will be up against Brown at 1 p.m., with both games being played in Storrs.

Top: Central’s Clio Tregear (left) and Leah Blayney (right) battle UConn freshman Kacey Richards for control of the ball. Bottom Left: UConn junior Elizabeth Eng (left) tows Central freshman Beth Lloyd behind her. Bottom Right: Annie Yi of UConn wins the ball from senior Blue Devil Megan McClements. Photos by Conrad Akier / The Recorder

Michigan Needs a Makeover Christopher Boulay

Managing Editor Let’s get right to the point. Fire Lloyd Carr. This is what Michigan Wolverine fans all over the country have been telling Athletic Director Bill Martin to do for the past several years. The cries could not have been louder last weekend after Michigan lost to FCS (formerly 1-AA) opponent Appalachian State at home. This past weekend, Michigan continued their embarrassingly bad excuse for top-level college football when they were blown out again, at home, to Oregon 39-7. Oregon went 7-6 last year and was blown out of the Las Vegas Bowl by BYU.

But wait, it gets better (or worse if you are a Michigan fan). Michigan is only 1-5 in their past six games against arch-rival Ohio State. Even more embarrassing, Michigan is 15 in their last six bowl games. The last time they won was 2002 against Florida in the Citrus Bowl. One usually asks how this could happen; I pose the same question. How can the winningest team in college football history be an absolute joke this season and choke artists for the past six years? In all honesty, maybe it is not just Coach Carr’s fault. Maybe it is A.D. Martin’s fault as well. Martin took over as A.D. in 2000, and look at the history of Michigan sports since then. Michigan has only won

two national titles since the turn of the century: softball in 2005 and field hockey in 2001. Not exactly sports that Michigan pumps much money into, either. It is widely known that football is king at Michigan. Basketball and ice hockey are also important, but none have been able to produce an NCAA Championship since 1998, when the ice hockey team won. Michigan’s basketball team has been a shell of its former self lately, winning an NIT Championship as recently as 2004, but let’s face it. That is just recognition that things aren’t working out. Michigan’s football program was predicted by many to be a legit title contender this season, especially after starting the first four games at

home against fairly manageable opponents: Appalachian State, Oregon, Notre Dame and Penn State. It now looks like Michigan’s gift could turn out to be a 0-4 record. With the hopes and dreams of winning a title that Wolverines’ fans were so excited about at the season’s beginning, it now is a rapid race to save face and try to get to a bowl game. It won’t be satisfactory for the fans, but it’s all they have at the moment if things don’t change immediately. At the rate this team is free falling, I wouldn’t fault CCSU for scheduling a game in “The Big House” in the coming seasons. Too bad for CCSU, they scheduled Western Michigan instead of their pushover neighbors less than 100 miles east of Kalamazoo.

This season is already a horrible failure. Looking toward basketball season in early September is a sobering thought. Carr and Martin need to go, but it will be up to the administration in Ann Arbor, Michigan to listen to the Wolverine alumni, students and fans. Get yourselves on the right track. Make the moves necessary to take your school from being the prestigious institution with a joke of an athletic program that you seem to be, to the actual prestigious institution with one of the richest athletic histories in the United States that you are.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Merrimack Sacked Continued from page 1

Blue Devils Record Seven Sacks, Hold Warriors to 38 Yards Aside from ball control, Central also had trouble on special teams. Merrimack’s only consistent threat was that of their kick returning tag team of juniors Chris Laham and Andrew Jackson. Laham and Jackson combined for 255 return yards

and the only Merrimack score of the day. Laham and Jackson baffled Central’s special teams on kick-off returns by advancing up the field and then crossing in front of each other and handing the ball off. The play was effective for the Warriors the first two times they used it, as Laham

would hand the ball to Jackson, who tallied 65 yards in two returns. The third time was the charm for Merrimack. After Blue Devil sophomore Aubrey Norris ran 27 yards for a touchdown to put Central up 24-0, the Warriors struck back. Central kicked off to Laham who crossed in front of Jackson, only this time he kept the ball. The Blue Devils fell for the fake and Laham went 97 yards for the score. Central controlled the second half, not giving the Warriors any chance to rally. The Blue Devils possessed the ball for 20 of the 30 minutes in the second half and only let Merrimack move the ball for just over two minutes in the fourth quarter. The Central defense was led by freshman defensive-back Alondre Rush, who recorded an interception and scored a touchdown after recovering a punt which he blocked. Freshman Jeff Marino and senior Chris Stimmel also contributed interceptions for the Blue Devil’s cause. Sophomore defensive end Ray Saunders led CCSU with two sacks. The Blue Devils next game will be at home against Southern Connecticut at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Left: Blue Devil wide receiver Nick Colagiovanni attempts to fend off Merrimack’s Andrew Jackson. Colagiovanni finished with a touchdown and career-high catches and receiving yards with five and 135 respectively. Right: CCSU defensive back Alondre Rush blocks a punt in the second quarter of play. Rush returned the blocked punt for a touchdown. Photos by Conrad Akier / The Recorder

Blue Devils Nail Holy Cross Continued from page 1

Central took control of the match in game one with 30-23 behind six kill efforts from both Snyder and Karkow. Holy Cross recovered, though, winning a seesaw battle in the second game thanks to senior Christine Strawson, who registered eight of her match-high 22 kills during the game. Holy Cross carried that momentum into the third game, quickly jumping to a 6-2 lead, until the Blue Devils turned it on, starting a 21-4 run. Central began their run with eight consecutive points off of freshman Kaitlin Petrella’s serve and finished it with nine off of Lauren Snyder’s serve. Holy Cross made a 6-

3 run late in the third, but by then the game was out of reach. Holy Cross could do little to slow Central down in the final game. Freshman Amanda Bayer started the game with an ace and the Blue Devils never looked back, using an 11-1 run halfway through the game that put Holy Cross out of reach. “We adjusted the block to take away the line from their outside hitters,” said Coach Sagnelli. “Once we adjusted that, then we controlled the match much better.” Amanda Bayer set the tone for the Blue Devils, tallying 55 assists and four aces, while Freshman Venny Van led the team with 15 digs. Senior

Milou Saxton and junior Amanda Olmstead both notched double-digit kills of 11 and 10, respectively, and, along with Snyder and Karkow, gave Central four players with that accomplishment. The Blue Devils also swept the Navy Trident Classic in Maryland on Friday and Saturday. The team beat out Marist, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Navy, making them 8-2 on the season. Central will face Quinnipiac, Seton Hall and Fordham this coming Friday and Saturday in the Bronx for the Rose Hill Classic.

Conrad Akier / The Recorder Senior Blue Devil Milou Saxton returns a volley over Holy Cross’ Meagan Merinder. Saxton totaled 11 kills in the match.

The NBA For MS: Part I Andrew Perna

RealGM.com The following piece first appeared at RealGM.com on April 27, 2007. Part two of the article was recently published and will run in next week’s newspaper. In mid-March, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society promoted National MS Awareness Week. It rang in the spring season, which is full of fundraising opportunities such as the annual MS Walks held throughout the country. As an active member of the MS community, something caught my eye last month when I was scanning the homepage of the Indiana Pacers. One of Indiana’s cheerleaders (known as Pacemates), Michelle Bowyer, was featured in a video highlighting her work for the National MS Society. As someone who cares deeply about MS Advocacy, I decided that I’d use the small amount of leverage I’ve established in the NBA world to see what I could do to truly make a difference for the millions of people that are affected by the disease. I got into contact with the Pacers, and before long was exchanging emails and phone calls with Michelle, who’s father suffers from the neurological disease. We began to come up with a few ideas that would allow us to make something special happen in the NBA.

At first, our ultimate goal was to have the entire league recognize MS Advocacy Week next season, with each of the 30 teams hosting ‘MS Nights’ in the month of March. After speaking with some of the league representatives in the NBA Cares office, I realized that this might be too optimistic of a goal (charity nights such as the one we were suggesting are booked on a team-by-team basis). So we have narrowed our goal to a single NBA team. All we want to do is get one of the league’s 30 teams to host an ‘MS Night’ next season, and we’ll consider ourselves a success. A few years back, the Chicago Bulls did something like what we are proposing, so we are going to try to use their event as a model. The disease itself doesn’t get the attention or publicity it needs to help make advances towards improving millions of American’s lives. A very small number of NBA players are active in the fight against MS, although it could be that few make it public. Knicks’ center Channing Frye hosts bowling nights at Madison Square Garden as MS benefits, and explained to me how much it means to him before a game earlier this season. Another prominent NBA player, Grant Hill, deals with MS on a daily basis. His wife Tamia suffers from the disease. She is one of the few spokespeople for the MS Society, but she’s doing all she can to raise awareness using both her name and financial flexibility. The

disease itself remains a mystery to most people who are unaware of it, and even to some who know its basics. Hill commented, “It’s something that you go from not knowing much about to having someone very close to you having it, my wife.” Unfortunately, I know what that difficult transition can be like for a couple, or any person for that matter. Back in August of 2004, my girlfriend Christine, now of nearly four years, was diagnosed with the disease. It started with the loss of vision in one eye, pounding headaches and vertigo, and ended in a diagnosis that we thought would forever haunt us. Much like the Hills, we thought the worst. “It’s not a death sentence, which I thought it was. But it’s something you just have to continually manage,” said Hill. So, using the inspiration of Michelle, Channing, the Hills and ultimately Christine, I came up with the idea to launch a campaign of sorts. My goal, along with the help of Michelle and anyone else who’s willing, is to attend an ‘MS Night’ at any one of the NBA’s 30 arenas in 2008. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on my progress, and I hope that you’ll consider joining my cause. Please visit www.nationalmssociety.org, if you’d like to consider donating or participating in MS Walks. When I asked Grant if he ever tried to get his teammates or friends in the league on board to help with the cause, he responded, “I haven’t

– but that’s a good idea. I think I will.” I think I’ll adapt that as my motto of sorts. This is a great idea, it only needs some help. I’m going to give it my all; we’ll have to see what comes of it. If you’re interested in trying to help make this happen, or you know of any way that I can take a few steps forward, please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated… Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Pick Your Poison

NFL Predictions for Week 2 Week one of the NFL season went off without a hitch. Not too many curveballs this week, besides the fact that the Houston Texans realized they were actually playing in the NFL and Brett Favre spent another week in denial. We all hope by mid-season Favre realizes he is actually a great-great grandfather. Of course it isn’t too late for you to join in on the fun. With some predictions falling quite short, jumping in at week two isn’t a bad idea. Send in your picks to ccsurecorder@gmail.com before the start of the games. The leader board will be updated every issue and the leader at the end of the semester goes off to Christmas break with all the bragging rights and a sports DVD package that includes Kingpin, Bull Durham and Hoosiers.

Mark Rowan

Peter Collin

Edward Gaug

Christopher Boulay

Editor-in-Chief

Sports Editor

Entertainment Editor

Managing Editor

Carolina

Houston at Carolina Atlanta at Jacksonville

Jacksonville

Indianapolis at Tennessee

Indianapolis

St. Louis

San Francisco

St. Louis

Green Bay

New York Giants

Green Bay

New York Giants

San Francisco at St. Louis Green Bay at New York Giants Buffalo at Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Cincinnati at Cleveland

Cincinnati

New Orleans

Minnesota at Detroit

Detroit

Dallas at Miami

Dallas

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

Seattle at Arizona

Arizona

Seattle

Baltimore

Kansas City at Chicago

Chicago

Oakland at Denver

Denver

San Diego

New England

San Diego

New York Jets at Baltimore

San Diego at New England Washington at Philadelphia Pick of the Week Why

The number of people who were delusional enough to think the Kansas City Chiefs are a decent football team.

The number of people who chose the Cleveland Browns to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Congratulations Jason Beaumier.

Philadelphia

Arizona def. Seattle

San Diego def. New England

Chicago def. Kansas City

St. Louis def. San Francisco

The Cardinals star receivers didn’t exactly light it up in week one, but it was the Arizona defense who held Frank Gore to 55 yards and a measly 3.1 yards per carry. Look for Arizona to do the same in week two against the older, slower Shaun Alexander and who knows, maybe Boldin and Fitzgerald will connect with their emerging quarterback Matt Leinart more than seven times.

If this match-up was in November instead of September I might be singing a different tune, but the Chargers are a better team and should have won last year. Norv Turner may not be worthy enough to wash Belichick’s hoody, but he doesn’t have to outthink him he just has to keep giving the ball to LT. Something Marty couldn’t figure out last year.

The Bears versus the Chiefs is the classic, hard-nosed defense against the constantly-running offense. This time around, Brian Urlacher and the Bears will shut down Larry Johnson and keep the Chiefs running game to under 100 yards, which will give them no chance of winning. A good defense will always beat a good offense.

The Rams, coming off of a terrible loss to Carolina, should be able to rebound against the 49ers in what could be a preview for the battle for the NFC West. Rams’ running back Steven Jackson only ran for 58 yards in week one, but should prove to be the factor that gives the Rams the edge in this match-up. The only thing that could stop the Rams in their tracks is a huge game by San Fran RB Frank Gore.

This Week’s NFL Prediction Leader Board Total Points

Current Week (of 16)

Rank

Name

Kevin Petruzielo

Mark Rowan

Peter Collin

Jon Lundi

The number of people who said they would think twice about Tampa Bay winning in week one if it was the Devil Rays playing instead of the Buccaneers.

Jerry Lombardo

Kyle Robbin

Alyssa Smollen

Kyle Dorau

Mike McDonald

Charlie Sorensen

Ed Gaug

Nick Viccione

Mike Luchene

Andy Arnesen

Marc Chouinard

Rob Messer

Brian Nocera

Steve Hart

Christopher Boulay

Jason Beaumier

Matthew Jurkiewicz

Chase Proctor

Joel Weisel

Eric Sanford

The amount of people who had faith in either the New York Jets or the Green Bay Packers to win this week. Maybe the Jets should bring back Testaverde.

8,357

The number of Oakland children who cried when they realized Josh Treadwell McCown was starting at quarterback against the Detroit Lions.

Entertainment

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Aesop Rock

While hip-hop is definitely not my None Shall Pass forte when it comes to music, I can easily see why Aesop Rock’s style is unique and his underground popularity is unmatched. It is clear why Ian Bavitz, a.k.a. Aesop Rock, might not be the first name to come to mind when people talk about newly released albums. Kanye West and 50 Cent have all the attention right now, due to their wager, and Aesop continues to do what he does best: release albums with ridiculous rhymes and solid beats that have only gotten attention from the underground hiphop crowd. None Shall Pass is the first release from this Long Island MC in four years, but he hasn’t lost a step - if anything, he progressed. Lyrics are spit faster and cleaner than his previous offerings, and melodies and beats are hard and on the darker side; no party-style hits here, sorry. Production of None Shall Pass was almost solely in the hands of label-mate Blockhead, except for the few tracks where Rock took over the controls. The album’s stand-out track, “39 Thieves,” is produced by and features hip-hop star El-P. This song has some of the album’s most coherent, intelligent lyrics and somewhat outshines Rock’s earlier work. While most people who have already heard of Aesop Rock will completely dig this album, people who haven’t should drop what they think they know about hip-hop and just listen to his beats - it will change your perspective. - Edward Gaug / Entertainment Editor The release of Rilo Kiley’s newest album, Under the Blacklight, brings some disappointment and some excitement. Past albums, such as The Execution of All Things (2002) and More Adventurous (2004), set a high precedent for the band to live up to, and although it wasn’t what I was expecting, they have been known to be daring in their composing. Three years have been plenty of time for Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, RK’s front woman and man, to invent a variety of melodic concoctions. “Give A Little Love,” the last track on the album, is the type of song you would expect to hear on KC 101.1 with the likes of Christina Aguilera and JoJo, while songs “15” and “Smoke Detector” sound very “country,” of which I am not a fan and have skipped over while listening every time. “Breakin’ Up”, the album’s fourth song, makes me want to wear bellbottom pants, three-inch platform boots and blow my hair out like Farrah Fawcett – burn baby, burn – but it’s a great song. There are three songs that I personally have fallen in love with, each for a different reason. The CD’s title track, “Under the Blacklight,” starts off with the most amazing keyboard riff, the kind you would expect to hear on the soundtrack to a psychological thriller. When Lewis begins to sing, though, it’s not the song you would guess to hear. The song “Dreamworld” is a song very similar to any song by Fleetwood Mac or Platinum Weird, and thus, amazing; and while I adore Jenny Lewis’s vocals, this song is performed by Sennett, who could sing to me anytime. The track is entrancing, setting a scene of emotional turmoil; if you listen to the lyrics, you’ll see the song is about the guise of a world where people live their dreams while in reality, everything just kind of sucks – war and greed included. The final song I truly enjoyed was “Dejalo,” which also provided that disco-esque theme, but with Spanish undertones – a great beach-side party tune. Rilo Kiley’s Under the Blacklight is in stores everywhere. I suggest you pickup a copy if you’re a fan; overall, it’s worth the $13.

Rilo Kiley Under the Blacklight

- Samantha Sullivan / Copy Editor

Jose Gonzalez In Our Nature

I’ve waited for someone like Jose Gonzalez to come out for a while and record an album with only a classical nylon string guitar. It was a bold and brave statement from the ArgentineanSwede who used to dip into punk and hardcore before he went minimalist and traded it all in for a classical guitar. 2005’s Veneer came out of nowhere and was a pleasant surprise. He managed to take the metropolitan dance hit “Heartbeats” by The Knife and put it on its head as a haunting but beautiful rendition. Jose Gonzalez’s austere songs return on In Our Nature, an album that lightly builds on his acoustic solo debut. He has enlisted help from percussionist Erik Bodin and backing vocals from Yukimi Nagamo to give the set of songs a skeleton. It also seems that he has found Darwin. As a student of biochemistry at the University of Gothenburg, Richard Dawkins and his book, The God Delusion, influenced him. These general themes run throughout the album. At first listen, you would think you were listening to his debut album. The two possess very similar characteristics—the guitar picking and hollowing vocals—but this time they are enhanced gently with percussion. “How Low” has Gonzalez uttering political sentiments with “Invasion after invasion / This means war.” The only up-tempo song on the album, “Down the Line,” is a strummer with pitter-patter percussion. It seems that hearing Jose Gonzalez was such a breath of fresh air the first time that this time around it is a bit of a rehash; he basically sticks with the same formula from Veneer. The songs are good, but fail to have an identity. I was also expecting some more aggressive arpeggio finger picking like he foreshadowed on the previous album, but he doesn’t showcase his talents as a guitarist on this one. - Justin Kloczko / Opinion Editor

Iron and Wine

It is a beautiful thing The Shepherd’s Dog to watch something grow. Like an anxious child discovering that walking is much better than crawling, or an old man accepting death as the next step when life is not enough. Our souls are in constant progression. With each adaptation or change, we strive for something better. In terms of music, there are few joys in life like hearing that transformation on record. Sam Bean’s Iron and Wine moniker is a great example of an artist that began in the nook of his bedroom, with a tape recorder and acoustic guitar, singing in a whisper only for himself, as if he wanted no one to hear it. He never meant for his recordings to leave the niche of his house, but he got a record deal, and thank God he did. His debut, The Creek Drank the Cradle, was the musical equivalent of a delicate newborn - naked and alone in its arrangements. Its follow up, Our Endless Numbered Days, captured the essence of a passing afternoon; he was the man who made normal, everyday musings like staring out of a window seem important - and urgent. Lightly decorated with drum kit augmentation, the freak-folk bard recorded one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. On The Shepherd’s Dog, Iron and Wine evolves onto a new musical plane, slipping into a world of loose hymnals, tribal folk-rock and downright eerie folk. Iron and Wine’s conversion into electric isn’t quite as loud as Dylan’s. There aren’t really any electric guitars here, but a concoction of sitars, accordions, bass, ragtime pianos and kit drums. But there isn’t one

song on the album that leaves Sam Bean alone No, he has. He even released a remix of the with just his guitar. Each track is surprising. The oft remixed “Let’s Make Love and Listen to standout, “Boy with a Coin,” is a festive banter Death From Above.” resembling an early Lindsey Buckingham. It is, He’s criticized by far, one of the year’s best albums. for being cocky. I don’t - Justin Kloczko / Opinion Editor understand how bloggers can love Kanye After listenWest (the cockiest of Hard-Fi ing to British rockthe cocky) and The Once Upon a ers Hard-Fi’s new Hives (close runners album, Once Upon up), but not enjoy a litTime in the West a Time in the West, tle pizzazz from Calvin Harris. Does Mr. Harmy general interest in British music that isn’t ris actually believe he invented disco? I doubt Radiohead has seriously gone downhill. The last two times I have reviewed a band from the UK, it. The lead single from the album, “Acceptthey have failed to impress me, mostly due to able in the 80s” is ridiculous fun dance music. the lack of real emotion It was a hit in the UK, peaking at number 10 or heart in their music. Writing an indie on the charts. I Created Disco was released in album lately has become June in the UK and it peaked at number eight somewhat cookie-cutter, on the charts. So why such ire towards Calvin Harand that is amazingly ris? I’m not really sure. From all I can tell, upsetting because indie he makes good dance music. It’s not exactly bands have a wide range of where they can go with an album. Hard-Fi has Daft Punk or anything, but it’s a fun combinadecided to travel the route of a non-threatening, tion of electronica, house and 80s new wave radio-friendly band that will bring in tons of nostalgia. There’s no lyrical depth, but what money and radio play, but fails to present any- dance music does have lyrical depth? - Adam morgan / Staff Writer thing interesting for people who don’t listen to the radio. Listening to this album is the equivalent Throwback Review of the Week: of going on a date and ending the night with I have an awkward hug and nervous goodbye. Really, Atari Teenage Riot listened what’s the point? to a lot of Their sound is boring and the songs start 60 Second Wipe Out odd muto blend together after about three tracks, which (1999) sic in the made completing the album an actual chore past few months, but I never thought I would and doing laundry seem like a better idea. I’m hear electronica, punk and hardcore mashed sure this album will appeal to tons of people out together. This was before I actually sat down there, but I am not one of them. and listened to a band Don’t bother with this - your 12 bucks are I have always heard better spent on seeing Superbad for the sixth of, but never listened time. to: German band Atari - Edward Gaug / Entertainment Editor Teenage Riot. While their sound Urban Dictionary Yung Joc might be something defines hustlenomunimaginable, they do Hustlenomics ics as “hustling by whatever it is they do very well. With screechany means,” a line you can hear a few times ing vocals and shouts mixed together with throughout Yung Joc’s second album. Last computer-generated drum beats, ATR grabs summer, Joc hit it big with the single “It’s Goin’ your attention at the first song and drags you Down.” This summer forcefully through the rest of the album. many would be lucky to There are definitely some parts of 60 Sechave even heard his lat- ond Wipe Out that make you want to grab a est single “Coffee Shop light stick and some unknown, colorful pills, featuring Gorilla Zoe.” but they are evenly cancelled out by a large Joc’s sophomore amount of hardcore thrashiness and traditionalbum is full of big al punk-ideal lyrics. Atari Teenage Riot’s lyrnames such as Snoop, ics show they were not big fans of the Nazis in The Game, Jim Jones, Bun B and even Trick Germany in the late 90s. Tracks such as “DigiDaddy. The Neptunes, Cool & Dre and Jazze tal Hardcore” and “Too Dead For Me” show Pha all produce a song on Hustlenomics which off these mixtures perfectly. is full of bass-driven southern beats. Those While they might sound like a Girl Talk beats are probably going to be the main reason mash up of Daft Punk, Orgy and Minor Threat, the album sells as many copies as it does. Atari Teenage Riot have managed to keep fans Joc continues to spit lyrics about selling from every genre interested and impressed drugs and getting money as the title of the al- them with unbeatable sound and energy. bum would indicate, just like last year’s New - Edward Gaug / Entertainment Editor Joc City, which debuted and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. The album does have two R&B songs; “Livin’ the Life” and “Momma” where Joc shows a softer side but still doesn’t fail to mention money. I felt a huge difference about the album when I listened to it in my car rather than through some headphones. In a car with a system, the beats overpower the repetitive ramblings of hustling as the bass can easily set off a car alarm or two in the parking garage. To sum it up, Hustlenomics is another average southern album from Atlanta, with catchy beats and tales of selling drugs. - Steve Hart / Staff Writer

Calvin Harris

The debut album of 23-year-old I Created Disco Scottish native Calvin Harris has received negative and downright spiteful reviews from his fellow country men, but why? Calvin Harris claims he just wants to make indie kids dance. Has he not heard of Mylo, Girl Talk, CSS or LCD Soundsystem?

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Rental Essentials: Logan’s Run Brian Morache

Staff Writer

Bioshock: One of the Most Important Games Ever Made David Pember

Staff Writer Since the release of the Xbox 360 nearly two years ago, there has been an endless supply of cookie-cutter military shooters. The release of Bioshock, a truly innovative first person shooter, is a dream come true for Xbox gamers. Bioshock is likely the most immersive experience ever to hit the medium. The depth of the story and gameplay outdoes any shooter or role-playing game of this and all other console generations. The game also manages a rare sense of uniqueness by having the entire story take place in a giant underwater city called Rapture in the years 1959 and 1960. To start with the lowest of the game’s points would be the gameplay. At its core, it may seem very like the standard, mindless FPS gunplay. It’s when you get to experiment with the plasmid attacks—the genetic attacks, or power-ups—that the game truly shines. Plasmids come in many varieties; you can find everything from telekinesis to controlling bees. All of the plasmids can be used together to create some rather interesting and creative attacks, but that is only a fraction of the combat depth. The game introduces some of the most memorable and possibly most controversial enemies ever to be featured in a video game: The “Big Daddies” and “Little Sisters.” The Big Daddies are large hulking monsters in 50’s style diving suits. They lumber around the game’s many environments and are relatively harmless, unless provoked. If you attack one it will follow you forever and very likely kill you a few times. When provoked, they are both insanely fast and powerful. Thankfully, if you die, you are immediately re-spawned at the nearest Vita-Chamber, which is just a fancy checkpoint. When, or if, you manage to take down one of the Big Daddies, you are left with a rather difficult moral situation - how to deal with the Little Sister it was protecting. The Little Sisters have the appearance of an eight-year-old girl with glowing orange eyes, and they carry within them

Generations after civilization has destroyed itself, those who remain live an idyllic life in a great domed city. With all their needs met by a master computer which controls the city, the people are free to pursue any pleasure they desire. There is but one restriction, which to the viewer of this film is painfully obvious: you can do and be anything - except be 31. The need to maintain a stable population is logically clear to everyone except the inhabitants of the city who have been provided for so completely; they even have a religion that aids in this population control. Upon the last day of the 30th year, people go to “Carousel” to be what they believe is renewed, while in reality they are going to die. The only real way out is to buck the system and become a “runner,” risking death at the hands of the enforcers of the city, the Sandmen. Filmed in 1976, Logan’s Run presents a world that is totally foreign to our own, yet is also inevitably linked to the real world. Michael York plays Logan 5, a Sandman who is charged with finding “Sanctuary,” the place that all those who choose to run seek. Along the way he befriends Jessica, played by British actress Jenny Agunter, and is pursued by his best friend, Francis 6, played marvelously by the late Richard Jordan. In one of the most memorable scenes in the film, Logan and Jessica encounter “the old man,” played by Peter Ustinov. Having never before seen an old person, Jessica touches his wrinkles and asks him, “Do they hurt?” Not only is the world outside the city so completely foreign to them, Logan and Jessica soon discover that the computer has no control over them, thus freeing any who abandon the city from the false religion that limits one’s life to 30. With stunning special effects, including the domed city rendered in miniature, Logan’s Run is considered a sci-fi masterpiece that has been nominated for two Oscars as well as several other awards. The film’s con-

cept was most recently revisited in The Island, filmed in 2005, which has proven its relevance in today’s society. Naturally, Hollywood is planning a remake of Logan’s Run in 2010, this time with the age limit being 21. I guess it’s true that the young are taking over the world! For any who enjoy great science fiction or who appreciate good film making, Logan’s Run is essential viewing. It also stands as a stark reminder that those who forget the disasters of their past will undoubtedly repeat it.

3:10 To Yuma Revives the Western ADAM, the chemical needed in order to purchase plasmids. If you choose to rescue the girls, you get only half the amount of ADAM but will receive useful rewards from their “mother.” On the other hand, if you kill the Little Sisters, you get the full amount of ADAM from each and twice as many powers as you proceed through the game. Also, the moral road you take will determine which ending you will see. The visual and audio qualities of the game are unparalleled. The designers meticulously crafted every inch of the game to recreate the beautiful style of 1959, and beyond that they have created the most believable water effects ever seen in a video game. Lastly would be the story, the highest point of the game. Over the 35hour campaign, the main story is told through a small amount of cut scenes and radio transmissions. As you progress, you find over 100 different audio diaries. These diaries weave together 15 years worth of history involving numerous people. By the end of the game you might believe that Rapture is, or at least was, a living, breathing city with real people and real problems. The story is very much a political satire about censorship, freedom and many of the liberties we take for granted. It raises a lot of good questions, not only about the game’s own government, but about real world governments as well. My honest, unbiased opinion is that Bioshock is one of the most important games ever made, highly recommended to anyone with a powerful gaming PC or Xbox 360.

Matt Kiernan

Staff Writer 3:10 To Yuma charges like a cavalry armed with smoking guns and drama, bringing a comeback to the classic Westerns that people of all ages wish would move beyond being made of spaghetti. The film is about a farmer named Dan Evans (Christian Bale) who will soon lose his ranch, when he unexpectedly gets the opportunity to bring an outlaw and murderer, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), to justice. The meaning of the title 3:10 to Yuma is part of what attracts a viewer to the movie and, therefore, worth finding out for themselves, although it’s possible to figure out the meaning without even watching it. The story of Yuma brings depth to the otherwise unoriginal path that most westerns have been known to follow. In this movie, the audience won’t see a main character that is daring or well-respected, but quite the opposite. There’s plenty of action to attract any movie-goer who wishes to see guns blazing and cowboys on horseback traveling the West. A good portion of the film is filled with people being shot, and there is plenty of blood. Christian Bale plays his character perfectly. With a dead-on western accent and acting so convincing, you’ll believe that Evans is not a strong man and that he has the inability to gain respect from friends and even his family.

Russell Crowe also does a great job of playing Ben Wade, a charismatic gunslinger and killer. No matter how much you know about his past murders, Crowe plays the love-him or hate-him personality and makes it hard not to think he’s a good person as the movie goes on. Ben Foster (Alpha Dog, X-Men: The Last Stand) plays the bad-guy sidekick, Charlie Prince, in a way that sets him apart from sidekicks that an audience might expect. His determination to rescue his boss (Crowe) let’s you see how little he cares for human life. The cinematography of Yuma is also fantastic. It captures the desert feel of the Wild West that comes to mind when people think of the word “western.” The towns, houses and outside desert-feel seem to have actually been captured from the late 1800s, the time in which the story is based. The ending, as in all action/western movies, is jampacked with carnage that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Viewers will be surprised to see that the characters develop all the way up until the very end, making them extremely relatable. As a remake of the 1957 western classic of the same title, the newest production brings justice to its predecessor. The film is a superb recreation that just might revive the western movie genre.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 = recommended

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12

9/16 - 9/18

MUSIC

Cinestudio / 7:30 p.m.

Paprika

Greg Wood

Let’s face it - Japan is still light years ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to making imaginative and cutting edge comic books, video games and animated movies that appeal to grownups. Take Satoshi Kon’s new R-rated anime, with a plot that Alfred Hitchcock could love: a mousy-psychiatrist-by-day treats her patients by entering their dreams as a sexy and powerful avatar named Paprika. When the dream-entering machine is stolen, Paprika looks for clues by entering the absurd, funny and sometimes terrifying nightmares of the people in her clinic.

ART 9/14

FILM

9/14 – 9/20

Summercamp!

Real Art Ways Summer is back in September! Inspired by a This American Life piece on NPR, this looselimbed documentary about kids at Swift Nature Camp in Wisconsin is as tasty as S’mores. The kids are a mixed bunch of characters who try to keep pace with the bubbly camp counselors but always look kind of bewildered.

War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death Real Art Ways The Media Education Foundation in Northampton, Mass. has had continual success exposing the nation’s viewers to important subjects on social and political issues. Now, it has made a beautiful primer on war. Co-directors Jeremy Earp and Loretta Alper worked with writer Norman Solomon to adapt his book by the same name. The result is a sampling of astute opinions by Solomon and others mixed with unique clips and sound bites from an avalanche of irresponsible U.S. Presidents and politicians. The film will open with a Q&A session with Director Loretta Alper on Friday.

9/14 - 9/15

Antonio Gaudí Real Art Ways

Opening Reception for “Mark Strathy: Dreams of Colonialism”

Downtown Gallery in the New Britain Visitors’ Center / 4 p.m. / Free Professional artist and CCSU professor Mark Strathy with be presenting his newest grouping of work. This new series will be concentrating on colonialism.

9/12 - 9/23

50,000 Beds

Real Art Ways Chris Doyle has commissioned 45 different artists to make short videos, each set in a different hotel, motel or inn across Connecticut. The exhibition focuses on the hotel room as a site filled with narrative potential. Familiar yet foreign, a hotel room combines experiences of both intimacy and anonymity.

Now until 10/4

Picasso to Pop: Aspects of Modern Art

Wadsworth Atheneum / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. In part due to size, light sensitivity and appropriate gallery space, the Wadsworth Atheneum has many paintings and drawings that are seldom seen. Among them are works by Picasso, Fernand Léger and Georges Rouault; outstanding watercolors by Paul Klee, Erich Heckel, and Otto Dix; and major examples by the Neo-Romantics. The Atheneum is famous for its holdings of the Surrealists, many of whom fled Europe during World War II for the United States, where they exerted a profound influence on a generation of young American artists, including Joseph Cornell, the inventive master of collage. Now until 10/21

More than two decades ago, Japanese director Hiroshi Teshigahara took time out from beautifully lensed, dense films like Woman In the Dunes and The Face of Another to record the works of Catalan architectural visionary Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926). Departing from his usual black and white cinematography, Teshigahara goes to color to emphasize the importance of the unorthodox textures and palettes of Gaudí.

9/24

‘Balloon Freak’ John Cassidy

Toads Place / 8 p.m. / $20 / all ages Blonde Redhead is comprised of Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amadeo Pace. They’re that rarest of things: a band whose voice has grown stronger, clearer and more distinctive with every record that they have made. Their reward for this has been an audience whose numbers have quietly grown over the course of their career, almost entirely by word of mouth. Opening: School of Seven Bells

9/12

Alumni Hall / 8 p.m. John Cassidy is an eccentric comedian whose bizarre antics have earned him widespread acclaim as one of the most original and unique performers today. He has made numerous television appearances appearing on such shows as Live with Regis and Kelly, NBC’s Today Show and Martha Stewart Living.

9/15

Webster Underground / 6 p.m. / $10 Over a dozen years of musical endeavors (West Beverly and Punchline to name a couple) have featured Greg Wood on bass, guitar, drums and vocals. Through it all, one thing never changed. Every incarnation of creative energy thrived on the idea that anything is possible, and the power to create oneself and one’s life into whatever he or she desires is not only possible, but quite possibly the most honorable pursuit. Greg is now returning his creative focus to the solo project which bears his name. His album Vibrating Glass was released in June this year for digital download. Opening: Light’s Resolve

COMEDY

“For the Love of the Game, Race and Sport in America”

Wadsworth Atheneum / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m “For the Love of the Game” juxtaposes The Amistad Center’s collection with the work of more than twenty artists who have addressed sport as medium and metaphor. The joy of athletic endeavors and their mass appeal as spectacles is acknowledged along with the turbulent and emotional elements of race, class and identity. Stop for some brief gallery talk with exhibition curator Franklin Sirmans on September 21 at 12 p.m.

9/15

Lisa Lampanelli

Stamford Center For The Arts 7 p.m. / $32.75 Lisa Lampanelli is Comedy’s Lovable Queen of Mean. Able to get away with saying anything, according to NY Friars Club Dean Freddie Roman, Lampanelli conquered the club scenes in both New York City and Los Angeles in a few short years. A cross between Don Rickles, Archie Bunker and a vial of estrogen, she even won accolades from The King of All Media, Howard Stern.

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19 MUSIC 9/19

Mandy Moore and Paula Cole

Webster Theater / 7 p.m. / $25 / all ages Mandy Moore’s 2007 release Wild Hope has been giving critics, well, wild hope, garnering comparisons to Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan. The reception of Wild Hope, as well as her acting career, may give fans exactly what they needed to purge out of the thoughts of her earlier work. 9/20

Rob Paine

Real Art Ways / 6 p.m. Effortlessly mixing reggae, dub, house and downtempo electronica, Philadelphia native Rob Paine’s sound is deeply spiritual and undeniably progressive. Rob’s reggae and dub work carries on a Jamaican sonic tradition whose influence carries over into his soulful house productions, definitely not the typical electronic thumping of techno or trance. As a producer and remixer, Rob Paine has worked alongside such artists such as King Britt, Josh Wink, Jazzy Jeff, ?uestlove and The Roots, Jill Scott, Lady Alma and many others. 9/22

Atmosphere

Toad’s Place / 5 p.m. / $20 / all ages After a year off the road, Atmosphere will perform 27 shows in support of Sad Clown Bad Fall Number 10 (limited tour series EP) with fellow Rhymesayers label mates Grayskul and Mac Lethal, and special guest Luckyiam of Living Legends. Bringing over four hours of music with four independent hip-hop artists, “Everybody Loves A Clown” tour is sure to be fun for the whole family! Look for the new Atmosphere album next spring. Opening: Mac Lethal and Grayskul

9/22

I Am Festival

New London Waterfront Park 12 p.m. / Free After an insanely successful 2006 event, I Am Festival 2007 comes to you live on September 22 at the Historic Waterfront Park here in beautiful New London, Connecticut. This year’s installment of I Am Fest proves to be bigger and better than last year’s amazing event. More music, more food and an indie craft show that’ll have you wishing you had more in your wallet to spend. The festival features MC Chris, Scarecrow Collection, Can Kickers, Taxpayer and more.

Blonde Redhead

FILM

9/19 - 9/22

Once

Cinestudio / 2:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Fans of Irish, folk and alternative music were the first to hear the buzz on a new film out of Dublin, which went on to win the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance and become independent cinema’s hottest release. Writer/director John Carney was once the bass player for Irish indie band The Frames, and his lead actor, Glen Hansard, front man for the band, wrote and performed all of his own songs in the film. Hansard plays a street musician in Dublin, who keeps running into a young Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova) who scrapes by in the city by selling flowers. She also is a pianist (without a piano), and as they come together to make music, friendship turns to the possibility of romance.

THEATRE 9/13 - 9/15

Suicide King and One Eyed Jacks

Maloney Hall / 7 p.m Suicide King and One Eyed Jacks is a collaborative piece that is authored, directed and performed by six CCSU theatre majors. Within you will find humor, violence, sorrow, magic, addiction, experimentation, triumphs, failures and quite a bit more. Admission is free, and you may not find a better way to spend your evenings this weekend.

Now until 10/14

Driving Miss Daisy Theater Works / $35-$45 TheaterWorks celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic that was adapted into the beloved Academy Award-winning film. After she crashes her car, Daisy Werthan’s son gets her a new Oldsmobile...and a driver. Resolutely opposed to the idea, the strong-willed Daisy refuses to warm up to the affable Hoke, her new chauffeur. Over the course of 25 years, a surprising kinship develops between the Jewish schoolteacher and the African-American man hired to drive Miss Daisy. Did we miss something? Know of an event we should list here? Contact us at ccsurecorder@ gmail.com.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Whole Wheat Bread Play A Don’t Miss Show for Seven

Mark Rowan

Editor-In-Chief Edward Gaug

Entertainment Editor Certain moments in one’s life can be instantly recalled after hearing the opening verse or beat of a song. While the tracks below may not do that for you now, we suggest that you check out these songs and make them a part of your fall semester. Who knows, maybe you’ll find something you like. Long live the mixtape.

Aaron Abraham, guitarist/vocalist of Whole Wheat Bread, performs a unique brand of punk in Hartford. Edward Gaug / The Recorder Edward Gaug which made for a comical 20 minutes. Entertainment Editor The last of the local This past Tuesday I drove up to bands was sixsideddie, Hartford’s Webster Underground an- as in Six Sided Die, for ticipating a decent crowd and I hav- those of you who can’t ing to wait to get in because I was read without proper running unusually late. When I final- spacing. These dudes ly arrived, I found that there was no played for what seemed crowd and the headlining band was like an hour, but were chilling on the sidewalk, skateboard- probably no more than ing and messing with the locals. I fig- 35 minutes. They filled ured, alright maybe they changed the the time with Metallicatime of the show and I didn’t know. I like rock that got their was wrong and then finally accepted friends excited, but not the fact this was going to be a terribly me. I decided to skip out on this funfest and go long night. The first band of this night would chat with Whole Wheat be your typical high school pop-punk Bread’s lead singer C. Jeband, Post Script. I give them credit sus about how their tour for selling the most tickets and hav- and his Chinese dinner ing the most fans out of any of the were going. He was nice Bassist/vocalist C. Jesus takes the mic. night’s bands. I then take that credit enough to entertain me away because the crowd was com- with conversation while lights are flashing / There’s no time prised of their upper middle-class his band mates were in the bar hav- for question asking / Hide the weed parents trying to be “punk rock” and ing a couple drinks and playing pool. under the napkin / Try hard not to failing miserably by taking pictures By the time I wandered back to the laugh / Cause I fucked up big time on of their kids with their BlackBerrys. floor, sixsideddie was wrapping up this one,” from their song “Broke,” This was one of the LAMEST things their stirring rendition of “Hits From clearly about getting pulled over for I’ve ever seen. I almost had to feel the Bong” by Cypress Hill. Whole possession and weapons (This was bad for them because their parents Wheat Bread was finally getting on written by their previous vocalist were probably embarrassing the shit stage. Nick Largen, who is now in jail for Whole Wheat Bread was the robbery). out of them more than anything… I‘ll only reason I decided to go see the move on. After a speedy set, Whole I didn’t think the night could show. They play stellar punk music Wheat Bread threw in a cover of get much worse than that, but I was and have a lot of fun doing it. Some Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls sorely mistaken. The next “act” was people might see them as somewhat on Parade” and an original hip-hop Kryptic, a one-man rapper backed “gimmicky” due to the fact they are song that was backed by guitars and by a pre-recorded CD. To give a little three black guys playing pop-punk, drums, but sounded more like a DJ credit, he had ridiculous stage pres- but they know what they’re doing and spinning. The whole time, the guys ence and energy, but I couldn’t get they do it better than 90 percent of the played with a smile on their face even into his music. Beyond that, the less bands out there today. Mixing togeth- though there were seven people in the er traditional punk instrumentals and crowd watching. said about him the better. Following Kryptic was Bristol vocals with the occasional hip-hop If you missed their show this based two-piece hip-hop group Fury. verse, C. Jesus and crew really throw time, which you obviously did, make They were pretty much the same down and rip through their songs every attempt to see them this Octothing Kryptic was: rap backed by a with as much energy as I’ve seen in ber with Big D and the Kids Table. CD. I would give both groups much such a small venue. We, as fans, owe it to the bands that Lyrics are genuine and not made play every night to small crowds more credit if they could pull a DJ together and have him tag along. They to make the audience pity them, with when they deserve much more. were still full of energy…and beer, lines like “They’re pulling up, their

“D.A.N.C.E.” by Justice “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn and John “The Mule (Ratatat Remix)” by Z-Ro, Devin the Dude and Juvenile “The Heinrich Maneuver” by Interpol “Bonafied Lovin’ (Tough Guys)” by Chromeo “Back in Your Head” by Tegan and Sara “Listen” by Talib Kweli “Easy Love” by MSTRKRFT “Unrest in the House of Light” by The Protomen “I’m a Flirt (Remix)” by R. Kelly feat. T.I. and T-Pain “Sealion” by Feist “Lip Gloss” by Lil’ Mama “Brainy” by The National “You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse feat. Ghostface Killah “Titties” by The Trucks “Homecoming” by Kanye West feat. Chris Martin

Lifestyles

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I Want Your Junk Stephanie Bergeron

Lifestyles Editor

Stephanie Bergeron / The Recorder

There comes a time in every college student’s life where he or she can no longer afford to go shopping. Window shopping becomes a lost art to those who actually have selfcontrol, and wish lists on eBay and Amazon become your birthday and Christmas lists to mom and dad. Living in a dorm or apartment, decorating becomes a luxury. You find yourself stealing glasses and coasters from the restaurant you work at, and you steal beer advertisements from the local liquor stores to fill the empty space on your wall. You even “borrow” your parents’ toaster saying you’ll bring it back, when everyone back home knows that they’ll

never see that bad boy again. Maybe the guilt of taking everything you can get from everyone is starting to affect you. You’re thinking, “Maybe I’ll take a trip to IKEA; I hear they have some good, cheap stuff.” But, why bother spending the time and money, when there is a simple solution? When you find yourself needing a few things, and you don’t care if it used to belong to the cat lady down the street, take a look in the back of the newspaper. Your prayers will be answered with two simple words: tag sale. It sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. There is a fine art to tag saling, and unless you’ve had the privilege of growing up under a tag saler’s wing, you can’t go it alone, not

without some help. First things first, write down every tag sale advertised in the newspaper according to town and location. Once you have those written, plan out your route - town maps are very helpful. The best and quickest way to get around is by tag saling in sections - that is, going to all the tag sales in a certain area, and then moving on to the next. This leaves no room for a missed tag sale. Be sure to also look out for signs while you are driving, tag saling in teams makes this part a lot easier. Some tag sales are not announced in the newspaper, but will have signs with arrows guiding you to its location. Leave your purses, fanny packs, backpacks inside the car; carry all your money in your pockets, it makes bargaining more successful. By only carrying small bills like ones and fives, you can use lines like “this is all I have” to get what you want at a lower price. People who hold tag sales in their yards want to get rid of their junk, if they are giving you a hard time about a price, it probably means that they don’t actually want to sell anything. Tag salers refer to these kinds of people as “pack-rats.” By having a tag sale with high prices, “pack-rats” achieve a false sense of accomplishment. They want to believe they are taking a step forward by getting rid of things they don’t need; yet, at the same time, they put high prices on everything so people don’t buy things. In the end, they get to keep their stuff because no one wants to buy a Beanie Baby for six dollars in the year 2007. On the other end of the tag sale totem pole, there are also the “getit-out-of-my-face sales.” These are the best kind. You can pretty much get whatever you want, for whatever price you want to pay for it, within

reason of course. Usually you’ll find men running these sales, as they normally have less attachment to things than women do. Always make an offer. Don’t be fooled into thinking that prices cannot be changed; they can be and should be. Remember, you are doing them a favor by buying their crap. This brings me to my next point. There are tag sales, and then there are “drive-by sales,” as people in the tag-saling business say. “Drive-by sales” are essentially tag sales, but have no more than three things for sale. Usually they consist of a blue tarp thrown on the ground, covered with stuffed animals that have a sign that reads “free,” one chair and a table with half-empty perfume bottles. Watch out for these types, as you will want to drive-by them laughing, hence where their name came from. Start early, as in, leave no later than 7:45 a.m. Most tag sales start at nine, but they will already be set up by eight. This gives you a head start for the good stuff. If you are looking for furniture, or a coffee table, this is when you will find the good, affordable pieces. These pieces will always be sold within the first hour or so, guaranteed. Just as you should start early, you should end early too. By noon, tag sales begin to wrap up. If you map out your routes well, and if you do not get lost, you should be able to do 15-17 tag sales in around five hours. So, on Saturday and Sunday mornings when you don’t have money to spend, but you need some things and want to go shopping, look in your newspaper. Have some laughs at the one-eyed teddy bear selling for five dollars, you’ll be amazed at what you can find. And remember, 20 dollars goes a long way when you shop at tag sales.

A Family Comes Free With the Ice Cream Stephanie Bergeron

Lifestyles Editor As it nears 7 p.m., the sun starts to go down and I’m itching for some coffee to get me through the next few hours before Thirsty Thursday begins. I look to my mom, who is searching for the same caffeine fix as me; after all, a new Lifetime movie begins in an hour. I suggest Starbucks - it’s quick and convenient, located right down the road. She has another idea. Onward our voyage went, traveling towards West Hartford Center like two junkies, shaking in anticipation. We neared the main strip, where our fixation was awaiting our arrival. 59er’s was the name; ice cream, gourmet coffee and treats was their game. I’d never heard of the place, and with my mother, you never know what you are going to get. We got closer to the door, and as my head whizzed around, trying to see where she was taking me, I heard, “This is it. Right there with the ice cream cone outside the door.” Suddenly, I panicked. “Come on ma,” I thought to myself, “you said it was a cool place.” But, mothers know best, so, I went with it. I passed the life-size, inflatable ice cream cone and entered the establishment, hoping she hadn’t done me wrong. It’s a pretty typical-looking ice cream place at first glance, with slate flooring and air that always gets colder towards the freezers. The desserts look delicious, and I relished in the thought of sinking my teeth into an éclair. We were greeted immediately by two women who worked behind the counter, one of

whom works only one day a week because she lives in New Haven, so I overheard her telling another customer. Then I thought, there has to be something special about this place if this woman drives 45 minutes out of her way to work here. And there is. 59er’s is owned by a father and son duo, Jim and Jason Kovolski. The name, 59er’s, came from a two-year project that they had previously worked on together. They rebuilt a 1959 Chevrolet, and its colors - turquoise and white - are now the interior colors of the ice cream parlor. I felt a connection with the place now, my dream car being a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, turquoise with white wall tires. Maybe, just maybe, my mom realized this, and knew it would suck me in like a tractor beam. We both went with the cappuccino, our favorite. With the desserts, though, we went our separate ways, she with the raspberry twist, and me with the éclair I had been drooling over since I walked in. Both were delicious Mozzicato Pastries, and the cappuccinos were exactly right for the occasion. They were the perfect temperature, with just the right amount of foam to help you wash down the sweetness of the desserts. And the price was right; it was very affordable for a place located in West Hartford Center. Perhaps it is not the dessert that brings people in, but the ice cream. They feature freshmade UConn Huskies Dairy Bar Ice Cream, straight from Storrs, Conn. Kristen, the daughter of Jim Kovolski, is actually the woman who travels from New Haven to give “mom and dad a night off.” She said that most nights it is much busier, especially when Trinity [college stu-

Stephanie Bergeron / The Recorder dents] come down. They actually carry Black Raspberry ice cream just for them, as Trinity has made it their “unofficial ice cream.” Kristen and her longtime friend, Sarah, a woman who just got married this summer and considers herself part of the Kovolski family, work together to make you feel at home by joking around with you. They have friendly service with big smiles that say, “Hey, you are part of our family now, too.” As our visit neared its end, I stood up to

take a closer look at the nostalgic walls; vintage car advertisements are framed alongside vintage soda signs. As we walk towards the door, an entire family files in: grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, kids and a newborn baby in a carriage. The door closes behind us, but the sound of laughter follows us through the glass. I walk by the store front window, and all I see inside are smiles. While 59er’s is the place to go for great ice cream, it provides so much more than that. It brings you back to better days where ice cream wasn’t just ice cream; where perfect strangers were treated like friends they’ve known all their lives, and people didn’t look so miserable and distant from each other. Growing up and going to college, we sometimes forget how amazing it is just to go out for ice cream like we used to do when we were young - 59er’s reminds you of that. It reminds you of the importance of family, and how when you need a night off, they’ll be there to cover for you. It also reminded me of how important it is to take a chance on something that, at first, didn’t look like the place I was looking for. After being around my mother for 21 years, I should know by now that she always knows best, just like any mother. So go take a chance. Get some ice cream and become part of the Kovolski family. Try the Black Raspberry and see if you are mistaken for a Trinity student. Take your mom and dad out for a treat; chances are they will recognize the car advertisement’s on the wall from when they were your age. 59er’s will welcome you with warm smiles and laughs that will keep you coming back for more.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

My Day as a Parrothead Karyn Danforth

Staff Writer As steel drums fill the charter bus headed to Gillette Stadium, a woman in her mid-forties with flowered leis and parrot earrings offer me a vivid array of jell-o shots. I grab one, pop it in my mouth and stop to think, what have I gotten myself into? What I was embarking on was the typical schedule for a Jimmy Buffett concert. Jimmy Buffett fanatics are called “Parrotheads.” The term Parrothead relates to Jimmy Buffett as Deadhead does to The Grateful Dead. For Parrotheads, Buffett’s music and a “laid back” attitude is a lifestyle. His “no shirt, no shoes, no problem” manta is displayed in his songs about boats, beaches and bar drinks. Buffett has made his mark so prominent within the past few decades that when you think of Key West or a margarita, you automatically associate it with good ol’ Jimmy and the Coral Reefer Band. Buffett has created his own genre, combining country, folk and pop music with coastal and tropical lyrical themes, creating a sound some call “gulf and western.” Among singing and songwriting, he has written three number one best-selling books, opened his own chain of restaurants aptly named Margaritaville, is involved in charity efforts (most notably for creating the Save The Manatee foundation) and is branching out into film production. Younger generations, however, do not understand the legacy of James William Buffett. Most mock and criticize him, and the majority know the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and nothing more. I, on the other hand, have grown up knowing this man my entire life. Back when I was just a little girl in Ohio, my family would go on camping trips whenever there was free time. Lake Superior, Lake Erie - you name a Great Lake; we’d been there. My dad would always bring his boom box lakeside while my brother and I played in the water, and I vividly remember my dad playing the album, Off to See the Lizard. In fact, what am I saying? I’ve heard every single album and know every song there is to know by Buffett. Perhaps I am a Parrothead by default, but I don’t know of a bigger fanatic than my mother. My mother is a member of the Connecticut chapter of the Parrothead Club. There are chapters in cities spanning all over the coun-

try. Abiding by their motto, “Party with a Purpose,” they hold fundraiser events for different causes. The most popular event held is the Meeting of The Minds in Key West, Florida, which attracts 3,500 Parrotheads annually and includes live music, a “Toys for Tots” drive, blood drives, raffles and other events raising money for charities. The chapters also organize group trips to - you guessed it - Jimmy’s concerts. In the past three decades, Buffett has made more money from his tours rather than his albums. A typical Jimmy Buffett concert will sell out in minutes, and this is all thanks to these devoted fans. My bus trip was stuck in traffic as the Gillette Stadium came in sight. The bus turned right into a used car dealership, where Parrotheads from all over New England had been allowed to divide and conquer. My mother’s friends in the Connecticut chapter started to set up tents, and eventually busted out the food and drinks and started gulping them down like camels in the heat. My mother and I walked around to other chapters, where there were colorful blow up toys, men and women adorning coconut bras and grass skirts, trivia and drinking contests, an ice luge and much, much more. I ate a cherry that had been soaking in grain alcohol for quite some time and winced. I participated in a sort of Wheel of Fortune, except I got “Take a JellO Shot from Someone’s Boobs.” Luckily they let me just take the jell-o shot. After five or six hours of tailgating, it was time for the “Bama Breeze ‘07” tour to commence. We walked across the street to the stadium; slowly shuffled our way in; and spent $7.50 on a Coors Light. Never before this year had Buffett played in the home of the Patriots, and he had no problem filling a football stadium. There was one opening act, but for most fans that just meant bathroom breaks and more pre-gaming. Luckily, our seats were not in the nosebleed section, but we were unfortunately settled in between some heavy marijuana smokers who were probably around the same age as my brother and I. I sipped on the lukewarm Coors Light I had been nursing for over an hour, and finally, for the first time in my life, I watched Jimmy Buffett take the stage. From our section, Buffett was comparable to an ant, but luckily to each side of the stage

Karyn Danforth / The Recorder there were two giant screens. My mother explained to me that nowadays, Buffett’s set list is quite predictable. Upon further research, I’ve discovered the “The Big 8.” The Big 8 are the eight songs that Buffett plays at every show. After their success, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Why Don’t We Get Drunk (And Screw)” were added on, changing it to “The Big 10.” I participated in most of the “Big 10” songs, whether it was screaming “salt!” during “Margaritaville;” singing “You better lava me now or lava me not” in “Volcano;” yelling the ingredients to a perfect lunch in “Cheeseburger in Paradise;” or just feeling generally happy during “Changes In Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” when Buffett played videos on the giant screens of local Parrotheads tailgating. The best song, however, was “Fins.” Preluded by the Jaws theme song to tease and get the crowd pumped up, fans raised their hands in the air in the manner of a dorsal fin, waving them left to right during the lyrics “Fins to the left, Fins to the right, and you’re the only bait in town.” Almost 20 songs and two encores later, it was time to shuffle out of the arena. By shuffle, I mean inch our way out; we were like salmon swimming upstream. (Word of advice to smokers: Do not smoke when you’re packed together like sardines - I almost got a cigarette in my eye.) When we finally made it back to the bus, we had a few more beers; sleepily boarded the bus; I chugged some Coconut Rum; and ev-

eryone went to sleep. (Sidenote: My crowned achievement was that I had started drinking at 9 a.m. and finished with that rum at midnight.) After finally arriving home at 4:30 a.m., I realized that no matter how much I cherished his music growing up, I am simply not cut out to be a true Parrothead.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Stephanie Bergeron / The Recorder Stephanie Bergeron

Lifestyles Editor Sitting here amidst the brightly colored walls of red, green, purple, blue, yellow and orange, the smell of freshly toasted bagels and clean sheets overwhelm my nostrils. What two better scents could collide at once than those? The cool wind is blowing through the stretchedopen double doors, and I am relaxed. The Spin Cycle Café Laundromat, located at 190 Fenn Road, is the new place to wash your dirty knickers. It’s not the shady place you’re used to walking to down the dark alleyway near your apartment, and it’s surely not the so-called “Laundromat” that never works at school. It is overwhelming when you first walk through its doors. There are a lot of things to look at, but everything appears perfectly placed and well thought-out. There’s an area where a brown, leather couch resides in front of a flatscreen television, which is hung on the wall; a coffee bar and lunch area; three tables to sit and eat your food, as well as outside seating; and the most important part – the Dexter washing machines. Doing laundry is always the pits. At the Spin Cycle Café, you can actually have a good time. The Spin Cycle Café Laundromat is full

of personality. It’s brightly lit, and its cathedral ceilings provide a great feeling of open space. The paintings on the walls give you the sense of being in your own home, and that is what makes this place so appealing. The owners, Laury Rosario and Jesus Ortiz, cousins, say it is “the next best thing to doing laundry at home.” They couldn’t be more correct. The idea is brilliant and it only gets better the more you discover what they have to offer. Ortiz thought of it after hanging out at a similar place in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where you could do your laundry and drink beer. He, after returning to Connecticut in 2003, told Rosario how such a place would have great potential here, and thus came the birth of the Spin Cycle. They hold an array of activities from improv comedy and movie nights to morning bingo, and Wednesdays are free soap day. They even have Ms. Pac Man, which will be a sure hit for college students. It’s the first place in Connecticut of its kind, and hopefully it won’t be the last. The business plans are flawless, as they’ve even thought of WiFi access and the soon-to-be-arriving Blue Chip card, which will attract many CCSU students, only minutes down the road. The owners are constantly busy, between

maintaining the laundry stations and serving the customers who sit in the café area. If you order a sandwich, they make it fresh right in front of you; they even go as far as cutting the meat on-the-spot with a meat slicer. They offer such treats as tuna melts, paninis and bagels, along with their delicious coffees and juices, among other things. It’s reasonably priced as far as everything goes: $1.00 for 24 minutes of drying and $2.10 for a bagel, which makes it suitable for any budget. Although business is slower than they would like, they only opened this July and word will catch on quick, especially with school being back in session. On certain nights the scene is more crowded, due to the popularity of the comedy shows. The couch area turns into a stage at night with professional lighting shining down from above it that is well hidden during the day. The faces in the audience are both young and old, and for some, it is there first time here. Ortiz says he wants to “cater to all age groups.” It was Jean Concilio’s first visit August 31. She had heard about the improv comedy show featuring “Too Many Monkeys” through some friends and thought it would be fun. Joyce Boncal, the woman sitting next to Concilio, had heard about it on the television and through the newspaper, so she decided to stop in and do her

laundry while driving by one day. Boncal believes that the owners will make “more money on the eatery than the laundry.” The “Too Many Monkeys” show lasts for about an hour, and it is B.Y.O.B. Although both Rosario and Ortiz are seeking a license to sell beer and wine, neither wants it to become a barlike atmosphere. Some people go just to relax, enjoy a few laughs and munch on food; others go to be entertained while there socks are drying. There are 25 washers and 24 dryers open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, the last load having to be one hour prior to closing. Although laundry is being done while the performers are on stage, neither is intrusive to the other. A wall that separates the business in half divides the café from the machines, yet the two areas remain united by a large, open window cut into the side of the wall. The Spin Cycle Café Laundromat is a fun place with a mixed crowd that makes doing laundry seem not so much like a chore, but a fun time. It provides you with not only comfort and entertainment, but a unique and different option when choosing where to wash your next load.