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10/16, 8pm, SAC Lounge Staller Catwalks October 1-31
Editorial Board
Executive Editor
editorials
TASER THIS
Bryan Hasho
Managing Editor
Rebecca Kleinhaut
Associate Editor
Alex Nagler
FUCK BUSH.
Business Manager -The Rocky Mountain Collegian
Adina Silverbush
Production Manager
Jesse Schoepfer
News Editors
James Laudano
Features Editor
Jonathan Singer
Arts Editor
Madeline Scheckter
Photo Editor
John ‘Caboose’ O’Dell
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Sam Goldman
Editor of Self-Loathing Asian Material
Cindy Liu
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Joe Rios
IT Manager
Quote of the Week
Joe Rios
Distribution Manager
David K. Ginn
“They were [going to] get like a hundred cats neutered
Staff and, ya know. There was a separate line [on the applica-
Travis Aria Leeza Menon tion] that said like emergency medical care, like if one
comes in and needs an eye amputated or something like
Kotei Aoki James Messina
Nicole L. Barry Thomas Mets
Shaun Bennett Jamie Mignone
ment...
Gigitty giggity goo, Oh Yea.
terworld? It would be so bad, and mit was the government panel discus-
Kevin Costner would kill people and sion. The members of the panel spoke
save a little girl. I don’t trust him about the role of government and We all have our part to do in this;
enough to save that little girl. it’s something everyone can do. what they are doing to help with the we all have the responsibility to make
The summit consisted of many Aside from the vendors, there were problem of global warming. The sure that we keep out carbon footprint
things; notably, vendors presented a few cars set up outside; all of them members of the panel were Steve small and to do our best to help the
their products and had workshops to used biodiesel fuel, from school buses Levy, Suffolk County Executive, an environment, because it’s the only one
show families and individuals how to non-emergency vehicles, like street Stony Brook University graduate; we have till we colonize the moon or
they work. Most products were cen- cleaners, and garbage trucks. They Tom Suozzi, Nassau County Execu- Mars, so, at least until then, we all
tered on the idea of solar energy even spoke of a “grease car,” a car that tive; and Angela Lucott), Deputy of have to pitch in. Recycle plastics and
(solar panels, solar heating systems), runs on used kitchen grease. There the Committee for Environmental papers to save our trees and the things
but there were other forms of alterna- were solar-powered racecars and Planning in New York City. The mod- plastics come from. For more infor-
tive energy featured as well, like wind commercial vans that ran on natural erator of the panel was Craig Allen, of mation on global warming and Al
and water energy. This summit was gas; there were also electric and hy- Fox News, also a Stony Brook Univer- Gore, go to www.ClimateCrisis.net,
geared towards families, and therefore drogen cars on display. They even a sity graduate. They all spoke about and for more info on the Long Island
a lot of the things they had there were movie screening of Al Gore’s An In- what they are doing in their respective Global Warming Summit for Families,
less scientifically oriented, and ori- convenient Truth. areas to prevent more global warm- go to www.LIGlobalWarming.org.
ented more towards how everyone The Center of Science Teaching ing. Tom Suozzi actually signed a law
News-In-Brief
Compiled by: James Laudano, Axel Pergman, Marta Gyvel & Sze Chun Chan
NYPIRG Launches Cyber Street students are as likely as anyone to be on their part in the orchestra. The homeostasis. Robinson disproves this
Smart Campaign conned, NYPIRG hopes to garner pianist, bassist, drummer and trum- misconception by presenting new ev-
Cyber Street Smart, a campaign grassroots support on campuses such peters wore light blue, trombonists idence that suggests short-term habi-
launched on Oct. 2 by the New York as Stony Brook in order to get the wore dark blue and saxophonists tat changes have a significant effect
Public Interest Research Group, will word out on the streets. wore green. on fish.
educate the public of “the ever- The show was really awesome be- He found that Pumpkinseed Sun-
changing traps” of con artists and Wynton Marsalis at Staller Center cause it was freaking Wynton fish adopt different skull shapes de-
thieves on the Internet, according to The Jazz at Lincoln Center Or- Marsalis. The Staller Center hasn’t pending on the usage of their jaws.
NYPIRG. chestra with Wynton Marsalis, con- had a performer this big since For example, a sunfish in a sandy
“We’re helping people apply the sidered by many to be the best jazz Whoopie Goldberg rocked the roof habitat will have a more pointed skull
same street smarts that they use trumpeter of his generation, per- off the joint last semester. versus a flatter skull—that is a result
everyday to their lives online,” said formed in front of a sold out Staller of the fish’s extensive usage of its jaws
Tracy Shelton, NYPIRG Consumer Center on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Fish Porn to crush snails. Robinson’s conclu-
Attorney about the Cyber Street The 15 member orchestra in- Professor Beren W. Robinson held sion was that physical features of fish
Smart campaign. Last year alone, al- cluded a drummer, pianist, bassist, a lecture in the Life Sciences Build- are not all evolutionally hard-wired,
most $600 million were lost in online four trumpeters, three trombonists ing on September 26. It was on the but more environmentally-induced
scams. Campaigning on city subways and five saxophonists, four of which flexibility of fish to adaptively evolve than is commonly believed. Dr.
and buses, the movement hopes to also played other horns, such as the in new environments. A common be- Beren W. Robinson is an associate
directly decrease the amount of clarinet or flute. lief about the theory of evolution is professor at the Department of Inte-
money lost. Everyone on stage wore gray suits that change of habitat produces no grative Biology at the University of
Keying on the fact that college with different color ties, depending short-term change in the species’ Guelph at Ontario, Canada.
8 Vol. XXIX, Issue 2 | Wedsnesday, October 10, 2007
features
Inside the Features section-
Mikaeil Haniquet: What a Guy A Tribute to Susan Blake Morgan Freeman
Page 9 Page 11 Page 13
Campus Personalities
cutting his next customer’s hair. He be- hair] the cord is busted. But it still blood in their genealogy are still seg-
By James Laduano gins and gestures for me to continue.] works perfectly fine, it still functions, mented in our school by something
so I use it and value it. But I could have like a fraternity or whatever. And it’s
JL: You’ve had an interesting life. just treated it like garbage, slamming really a closing of the mind, you un-
Welcome, readers, to what is the What was your childhood like? it around, and then it really wouldn’t derstand? There is so much you take
first of, hopefully, many segments of MH: Wow! [he laughs] It was a bit work and we would throw it out. But away from your life experience by seg-
Campus Personalities. My goal for this dysfunctional. I grew up in a suburban the whole time we’re just getting en- menting yourself. If people get in-
column is to bring to you the straight ghetto, so it was a rough. It was in ergy and self-esteem saying, “yeah, I’m volved with each other, get involved
dope from some of Stony Brook’s most Central Islip, and when I was a kid, better than this piece of trash.” See, with different people, everything is
recognizable and important individu- that area was really just…slums. At the that’s the same concept as what is improved. And if these words influ-
als. This column is not intended to be time there was a lot of gangs, so grow- going on with women today. We’re ence just one person, or just five peo-
a sounding board for students or pro- ing up there we were all around drugs looking at them finding things that are ple to change their lives, then it’s great.
fessors. Rather, my subjects will focus and violence a lot. But we would try to wrong, like their fingers aren’t the It’s worth it.
entirely on the workers, artists, and find fun in other things like playing right size, or their eyes aren’t even, but
other individuals—individuals sepa- manhunt—we didn’t have video games we’re really just feeling making our-
rate from the student body, mind you —so it was mostly outdoors stuff. We selves feel better about our own bigger
—who shape everyday Stony Brook life also played “house,” “doctor,” stuff like problems. And being a Muslim has
into what it is. It is with great pleasure that [he laughs again]. Any wooded helped me focus on bigger, realer
that I introduce my first interviewee, area here in Suffolk, like Connetquot, problems than just small appearances
Mikaeil Haniquet, barber at Beauty In which is a bit of a walk, but was in the like that.
Brains, to you. basic proximity. We would trek over
there, swim in a river, stuff like that. JL: You are certainly one of the most
I walk into Beauty In Brains, the Also, back then graffiti was very hot, outgoing, friendly individuals on cam-
campus barbershop located in the so we would do that a lot. Graffiti, pus. Are you just naturally like this or
Union building’s basement, to interview break dancing, rap, that sort of stuff, did your upbringing or environment
Mikaeil Haniquet. He is finishing cut- too. shape you in that way?
ting a customer’s hair when I enter and MH: It’s really a combination of
takes a break from his work to come those things. When you grow up poor,
over to greet me and shake my hand. you don’t have the opportunity to truly
His grip is incredibly strong and fits his be egotistical or arrogant. I mean, you
broad, bulky frame. He has a long beard can come off like that a little bit, but
and is rarely seen not wearing a long everyone would look at you and be like
robe-like outfit and topi (head covering “who is this dude?” I am naturally an
worn by some Muslims). I’ve known outgoing person, but growing up I was Photo Credit: James Laudano
Our protagonist flashes us a smile.
Mikaeil for about a year now, and he’s a bit shy. Growing up in a poor area, to
always very friendly and accommodat- tell you the truth, really changed my
ing when we meet. Mikaeil is also con- outlook on how to deal with people.
stantly discussing political and social Instead of walking around thinking, “I JL: Now, I’ve had the pleasure of
issues, and is never shy about discussing don’t have to talk to anyone”, I actually having many conversations with you
any topic. I sit down and get ready to do have to talk to you because we need and you always have something in-
begin the interview just as he finishes to cooperate, and I’ll be around you all formative and interesting to say. Is there
the haircut and begins preparing for his day. So little by little, I started to no- any message you want to get out there
next customer… tice I shouldn’t be closed when dealing to our readers?
with people. MH: [he pauses cutting his cus-
JL: So, tell me what your role here tomer’s hair to think] I’d say…learn
at Stony Brook is? JL: You take up a number of social, yourself. Learn your culture, your her-
MH: Basically I run the functions Photo Credit: James Laudano political and cultural causes. Are there itage, your bloodline. Learn something
of this shop. I cut hair. To be honest Mikaeil hard at work. any current issues that are peaking your outside yourself, learn other languages
with you, after working here for some interest now? because there are plenty of different
time now, I’m thinking about enrolling MH: Yes. First, I’m disappointed nationalities here on campus. I’ve met
in some classes, too. JL: You converted to Islam. How has with how students don’t see the many people from countries I didn’t even
your life been changed by your spiritu- choices they have here. What I mean know existed, who have flags that don’t
JL: What kind of classes would you ality and religion? is, students are getting drunk and get- even look like flags…the flags are
consider enrolling in? MH: It made me respect myself, ting all these sexual diseases, and its like…triangles or whatever. Don’t be
MH: It’s really undecided. It would first of all. It taught me to love people, almost like…they feel that college scared to open up, you know? There
be of a certain type of subjects though. as people. It completely changed my should be like that. Parties and bad de- are people on this campus who have
Maybe psychology, psychiatrics, or entire concept of what women are. cisions. I’m also very discontented had some tough upbringings like me,
some kind of physical therapy. Also, Where I grew up, I was all around right now with how the student body but if you did, don’t be afraid to talk
maybe some history and anthropology. pimps and prostitutes but now, be- here is so…segmented. Everyone is so about it. Don’t be judgmental, don’t
Stuff like that, that what I’m interested coming a righteous person and meet- corralled into his or her own group, judge from appearances. Life is about
in. ing these other strong righteous and that’s it, and it’s sad. We got a di- people, and different people at that, so
women, I really respect them. And that verse campus, very diverse. And there embrace it. Don’t look at things like
JL: How long have you been here at didn’t just happen when I became isn’t much interracial groups or hang- you’re not up to par, because there’s al-
Beauty In Brains? Muslim, it happened when I made a outs. Racism is still a problem. So I try ways a lot going on with you.
MH: I started here in…Fall 2004. I serious attempt to really understand to completely erase that when I can,
wasn’t here the year after that though, people for what they are. That’s when I but it’s hard, you know? I mean, even JL: Okay, last question, where
so I’ve been here for three of the past realized that this ain’t right, you know? mixed individuals, like Hispanics—I should our readers go if they need a
four years. Lets look at it like an analogy. These hate that name though, so lets say haircut?
clippers are broken [he shows me the Spanish speaking individuals—who MH: [he laughs] Right here, bro.
[I give Mikaeil a chance to start clippers he’s using to cut his customer’s have African and Indian and White Beauty In Brains.
10 Features Vol. XXIX, Issue 2 | Wedsnesday, October 10, 2007
Food For Thought
そういう風に働かせないので私が言うことを転写できない。石を食べている私が十字であるので、音箱を持つNick Eaton
。いいえ、とても問題にこれを置いていない。
S
eptember 25th was the Mid-Autumn tumn Festival, the lanterns. of maybe around three hundred to four
Festival, characterized by the infa- China Blue The informal hundred students enjoyed eating, talking,
mous mooncake. Many of us know hosted their event with and watching different people perform on
very little about the story behind the festi- event in the stands and stage. The hilarious skit performed at the
val or the reason why we eat mooncake and SAC. The speakers was end in Mandarin was filled with Chinese
fresh fruit. The legend behind the moon- event brought an overwhelm- humor as wordplay and hyperbole were
cake festival is that back in Ancient China, together China ing success combined with perfect harmony.
there were ten suns scorching the Earth and Blue with sev- d r a w i n g The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by
one day a warrior climbed to the tallest eral other stu- around five to gathering together with friends and family,
mountain and shot down nine of the suns. d e n t six hundred and celebrating the success of the past year.
As a reward, the Jade Emperor gave him organizations, s t u d e n t s From the open booth festive feel of China
the pill of immortality, which he hid in his including the through the Blue’s Mid-Autumn Festival to the dinner
bedroom. One day his wife opened the box Taiwanese Stu- course of the mood of the Taiwanese Student Associa-
with the pill and swallowed it, and slowly dent Union and the Culinary Club. The night. tion’s festival, the traditions are kept alive
she ascended towards the moon. The center event featured the stars of China Blue’s On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, by students coming together, talking with
of the mooncakes traditionally has a yellow radio broadcasts who spoke in both Can- another event was held in the same ball- friends, eating, and having fun. For those
center in honor of the moon and this story. tonese and Mandarin during the three hour room, this time hosted by the Taiwanese of you who’ve never tried a mooncake,
Stony Brook University has one of the event, while different stands held different Student Association and the Chinese Liter- then you should definitely come to at least
largest Asian and Asian American popula- events and served different snacks and ature Club. Familiar faces from the Culi- one of these events; its something you
tions of any college in New York, and treats, including mooncake. The most pop- nary Club and China Blue could be won’t regret. If you did miss out, then
many students keep the tradition alive ular of these events was a lantern riddle discerned from the crowd. This time, how- you’ll just have to wait till next year to try
every September with several festivals stand, written in both Chinese and English. ever, instead of an open fair, there were a some and to experience the excitement of
hosted by various clubs and organizations. Participants have to find the answer to the few dozen round tables surrounding the this holiday.
a Movie Review
story we are also shown real life footage
from the actual disaster, which is quite dis-
Movies at the Wang
by Luis Salazar food and to never waste a grain of rice. I turbing. Jocelyn recovers with time and Center
even understood what it meant to manually through the help of GK her town is rebuilt.
I
can still remember my first time walk- flush. But most important, I understood my The second story is a little more up-
ing out of the doors of the Ninoy roots, what my family had come from; that Mondy October 15, 7:00PM Theater
beat and is a comedy. It is about a boy
Aquino airport into the blistering heat there was more to my being in America named Elvis who is adopted by a family in- The remarkable story of a thirty-
of the Philippines . It was 1998, my first than my own self benefit. People were re- volved with GK. The story captures the year search for Megumi Yokota, a 13
time back after leaving in 1987, a year after lying on me to give back. family’s willingness to treat Elvis as one of year old Japanese girl who was kid-
I was born. I had no idea what to expect, After watching the movie Paraiso (“ their own and their contribution to the re- napped by North Korean spies in
up until then I pictured it to be something Paradise ”) this past weekend all of these building of homes. 1977 while coming home from
you see in one of those Hawaii postcards, The last story is based on the events of school.. More intimately, the film
after all, they did look similar to us. Nope, follows tht extraordinary journey of
not even close. It only took me a short " N o mo re s l um s , no 9/11. Ruby Abad, overcome with the heart-
wrenching loss of his wife in the WTC is Megumi's parents, as their search
amount of time as we were driving through for a missing daughter thrusts them
metro Manila to realize that this was noth- m ore vi o l enc e, no inspired to do something in her memory.
He works together with Gawad Kalinga to into the center of a volatile interna-
ing compared to the middle class suburbs
of Long Island . This was poverty; straight mo re po ver ty" . rebuild a once drug-infested neighborhood
using the compensation he received for the
tional conflict. "Though the film
seeks to draw attention to a tragedy
up poverty. After coming to grips with
what I had seen, I figured we would only
- Ga wa d Ka l i nga death of his wife. largely ignored by Western media, it
proves to be much more than a po-
The movie does a good job of em-
be passing through some of these places. It phasizing the idea of giving back. It shows litical or investigative expose.
turned out that most of my family lived in things shot back into my mind. The movie the real life struggles of people whose lives
places like these and we stayed at most of is basically a collection of 3 inspiring, true are severely damaged by natural disasters
these places during my trip. stories based on people touched by the and poverty, yet are rejuvenated through Monday October 29, 7:00PM Theater
It was definitely a wake up call. I Gawad Kalinga movement. Gawad Kalinga the efforts of non-profit organizations like New Year Baby chronicles one
would always get scolded by my parents (GK), officially known as the Gawad GK. Through small contributions of dona- daughter’s search to recover her fam-
for one reason or another and be lectured Kalinga Community Development Foun- tions and volunteer work, thousands of ily’s past that takes her back to her
about why I should be grateful for what I dation is a Philippine-based organization people are affected in a positive way. It birthplace in Cambodia and ends with
have or be told some story about what my geared towards anti-poverty and taking makes you think about landing that dream a more profound respect and under-
parents had gone through. I never took it care of Filipino survivors of natural disas- job after college that pays thousands of dol- standing of her parents, especially her
seriously. I always pictured the Philippines ters. Their motto is "No more slums, no lars a year. Maybe there’s more to it than father. Director Socheata Poeuv will be
they referred to as some magical land far more violence, no more poverty" and the getting that apartment or car you’ve always on hand to delve into the questions
away that I would never have to deal with movie definitely expressed their intentions. wanted. Maybe there’s more to it than self surrounding her journey. "This fine first
ever again. But after going there for the The first story was about the struggle of Jo- benefit. feature is a disarming personal docu-
first time, I looked at my parents in a dif- celyn Llorente. Her and her husband were To find out more information about the mentary that turns into a very moving
ferent light. I finally understood what it victims of the mudslides of St. Bernard, S. movie, visit consideration of historical genocide
meant to do hard chores and labor. I finally Leyte. Unfortunately, one of her chil- http://ancopusa.org/wowgk/paraiso_the- and individual heroism"—Variety.
understood what it meant to be grateful for dren was killed in the tragedy. Through this movie.htm
www.aa2sbu.org/aaezine excerpts in SB Press Vol 4 No 13 April 2007 Weekly meetings Wednesdays 4:30PM at our office in Student Union 071.
The Stony Brook Press Comics 15
SUP?
BY DAVID K. GINN
16 Comics Vol. XXIX, Issue 2 | Wedsnesday, October 10, 2007
The Stony Brook Press Comics 17
18 Features Vol. XXIX, Issue 2 | Wedsnesday, October 10, 2007
Food For Thought
I saw this crazy metal band a while ago. Their name was Hooker Dragger. Their old bassist quit the band because he thought the name was
too demeaning to women. He wanted to call it VietNAMBLA.
1 Flood
They Might Be Giants 2 Make It Big
Wham! 3 Rooster
Charlie Parr 4 Take Me Back to the Country
Alex Walsh
Seeing as some notable new albums someone, but probably assumed made us Most Serene Republic. Notably, TMSR is
have been released on Arts & Crafts seem to weird to say it out loud. A few Hooray, some more anti-war music the first A&C release by a band that does-
records in the past few weeks, plus the other songs on the album (“F--ked Up from our peaceful neighbors to the North, n’t have a member in BSS, and they’re not
Canadian dollar reaching parity with the Kid”, “Gang Bang Suicide”) probably or perhaps it’s just a pro-love album. In a even from Toronto like almost everyone
US dollar recently, I thought this would make you think Drew is feeling a little em- recent interview on The Verge, Torquil else on the label. Population is the band’s
be a good time to write “a very special” bittered, but he swears he’s not, and they’re Campbell refers to watching George W. sophomore effort but their first release
edition. So here’s a trifecta of recent indie both pretty cool. “Safety Bricks” and “F-- Bush on the news and seeing a man who recorded for the label.
rock albums from the Great White North. ked Up Kid”, with the instrumental was ready to burst into tears. Okay, I’m
melody driven by hard-strumming not so sure that I see that happening but I
Kevin Drew – Spirit If…(Arts & acoustic guitar and little else, show a much think I understand what he means. Un-
Crafts, 09/18/2007) more folky style than you’d be likely to fortunately, that outlandish worldview My biggest complaint
find on anything that the supergroup has doesn’t translate into In Our Bedroom, about the album is
Some schools of thought would con- released, and it’s interesting to see all of the which is enjoyable, but is just too full of
tend that the artist is Broken Social Scene facets of BSS separated, as well as what the kind of lyrics I’ve heard too much be- nothing particularly
Presents Kevin Drew, as the lead singer of they’re like when they come together. fore. As the band’s fourth full-length
everyone’s favorite Canadian indie super- “Lucky Ones” is ragged and beautifully album and the anticipated follow-up to
musical, but rather has
group heads into solo territory, kind of. romantic, perhaps one of the prettiest 2005’s breakthrough Set Yourself on Fire, to do with the attitude
Spirit If… is an effort of Drew’s creation rock songs in recent years, “don't you ex- this should satisfy those looking for the
but features appearances by many of his pect to make a phone call tonight/treat me gorgeous indie pop that Stars became of it.
BSS comrades. The band isn’t breaking up like a motherfucker who was right” is just noted for in the past couple of years, but
and as Drew told XM’s The Verge recently, the kind of absurdity that you know Drew perhaps at the expense of giving us un- “Humble Peasants” builds up into a
he just didn’t want BSS to become one of smirked about when he wrote it, and it common insight. variety of instruments clashing together
those bands where the singer becomes the turns into a genuine You Forgot It In Peo- “Take Me to the Riot” is a rather until they form a unique harmony, which
center of attention. It may be a little too ple-type song by the end. drum-heavy song that declares that sets the pace of the album pretty well.
late to suggest that, seeing Drew’s girl- Torquil and Amy Millan are still strug- “Compliance”, one of the most vocal songs
friend and fellow BSS member has gling with that same yearning to have on the album and also one of the most
grabbed that crown with her iPod com- emotions that made Set Yourself On Fire’s sparkly, wall-of-sound-ish songs, starts off
mercial but it’s always good to see the If Broken Social Scene title track, and noting the more conven- with the same creepy strings that bring in
twenty-ish members of BSS spawning
their own projects from Metric to Stars to
is your thing, you’ll tional indie-pop instrumentation, that is
reminiscent of The Smith’s old “There Is
the first track that seem to evoke crawling
insects in a movie like Arachnophobia but
The Weakerthans and having a hand in probably like Kevin A Light That Never Goes Out,” too. Many bursts into unadulterated orchestral rock.
pretty much half of all of the Canadian of the tracks are less (no pun intended) in- “Agenbite of Inwit” is a nice two-minute
indie pop/rock this decade. For Drew, it’s Drew, or rather, how flammatory feeling than Set Yourself On piece that sounds like it was written by the
probably comforting to know that he had Fire and more like the cursive romanti- ghost of Gerswhin.
creative control to go in whatever direc- they present [him]. cized style that first attracted many ears to My biggest complaint about the album
tion he wants, seeing as he co-founded their 2003 release, Heart. The whole is nothing particularly musical, but rather
Arts & Crafts in 2002. BSS co-founder theme of two lovers torn apart by their en- has to do with the attitude of it. The Most
Brendan Channing will be putting out his “Back Out On The…” happens to vironmental conflict is just beyond hack- Serene Republic’s first album was not pre-
own Broken Social Scene Presents album sound more like Dinosaur Jr. than BSS, neyed at times to the point of boredom on tentious, but still very self-serious; they
next year. which is appropriate because it does in songs like “Barricade”. The interplaying were the kind of band you’d expect to say
So upon first listen we have a defini- fact feature the work of one of my favorite dialogue that Stars utilizes between Mil- four words (“how’s everybody doin’
tive answer to the anticipated question of guitarists, J Mascis. The low-budget music lan and Campbell do help invite the lis- tonight,”) during a show. When you write
many BSS fans when they saw this poten- video for the song features Drew and Di- tener, especially on “Midnight Coward”. a cheesy smooth jazz piece that reeks of
tially evasive title: does Spirit If… sound nosaur Jr. rocking out in an empty house It just seems like for every moment that The Weather Channel and call it “A Mix
as good as You Forgot It In People, or will with friends, and rocks equally pretty makes the listener think, there’s equal time of Sun and Cloud,” you just come across as
hecklers at Drew’s shows this fall be crying hard. (Apparently as the responsible busi- during which I’m rolling my eyes. fucking around more than The Poly-
out for him to play “the old stuff ”? Is this nessman, Drew skirted printing vulgar The album closes with the title track, phonic Spree. The same goes for “Battle
canonical to BSS’ discography? Well, language on the CD case, with “Too Beau- a soft and slow tune that expresses the Hymn Of The Republic” and the awk-
Kevin Drew’s voice is notable and the tiful To Fuck”, “Fucked Up Kid”, and “Back image that the name evokes: waking up ward way in which it turns into a march,
flowing indie-pop and moments of hard- Out On The Cocks” all being song titles alive and safe at home after the hellish ex- presumably after the song for which it was
edged rock are there, too, but Spirit If… is that are diplomatically censored in differ- perience of living through war. “All the liv- titled. Fifty-five seconds into “Sherry And
a great album, whether you call it solo or ent ways.) ing are dead, the dead are all living, the Her Butterfly Net”, Adian Jewett opens up
not. I know it’s a great album on the first war is over, and we are beginning” is sort with “play this song for its first minute
“Farewell to the Pressure Kids” is a time through, but the more and more I’ve of a hyperbolic image of the sunshine and—.” What the fuck? Only Elton John
spacey, melodic introduction, with un- listened to it in the past few weeks, the coming through your window after you refers to his song in his songs; TMSR just
derlying, mostly unintelligible-lyrics, re- more I ask myself if maybe this individual made it through a shitty week. broke the fourth wall.
calling the argument that many BSS fans in the BSS equation is greater than the Maybe I was just in an irritable mood
have had as to whether or not this style sum. If Broken Social Scene is your thing, The Most Serene Republic – Population when I listened to the album, but that sort
constitutes post-rock. Following that, the you’ll probably like Kevin Drew, or rather, (Arts & Crafts, 10/02/2007) of crap almost ruined it. If you’re not fa-
paradoxically enjoyable “Tbtf ” and its how they present Kevin Drew. miliar with TMSR, check out Underwater
rhythmless hook repeating “you’re too And now we’ve run the A&C gamut Cinematographer first and then if you feel
beautiful to fuck” tells the quasi-romantic Stars - In Our Bedroom after the War from indie rock to lighter pop fare to the that you don’t care about self-derision in
dilemma that plenty of us have felt about (Arts & Crafts, 10/02/2007) baroque pop haunting concoctions of The your Baroque pop, move onto Population.
The Stony Brook Press Arts & Entertainment 25
opinion
Abandonment of the USG for a Discourse
on Excellent Music
warrants the complete dismissal and musical skill of Muse, the reader must, key difference here is that, unlike most
By Robert Donato Venosa suspension of logic for the duration of however, take heart in the fact that he or amateur bands’ initial efforts, there
this article. she has now been informed of the bril- aren’t any songs I would skip, if I had the
For those uninitiated in the art of lis- liance of Muse and can now go to the time to listen to the album in its entirety.
The USG meeting having been can- tening to consummate creativity in the store and buy some Muse albums. Yes, The title track, “Showbiz,” is a virile,
celled, I trekked back in the February form of music, Muse is the English band I did say “buy,” for those of you about to angst-ridden tirade against the music
cold, ruminating on what I ought to from Devon comprising of three unbe- log onto a certain direct-connection industry’s efforts to force musicians to
write about in place of what would have lievably talented individuals and headed music-sharing program which shall re- essentially sell their souls and compro-
transpired had this school functioned as by front man Matthew Bellamy, who is main unnamed for certain reasons mise their musical inclinations to con-
effectively as a German engineer from lead vocalist and guitarist. The musical which shall themselves remain unenu- form to more “mainstream” sentiments.
the Nazi era, as God had intended (with talent and workmanship radiating forth merated; this band is simply so excellent But it somehow manages to be angst-
regards to efficiency, not the National from each of these three men is of such that you will be inspired, upon your first ridden without being emo, that scourge
Socialist ideology enforced at that junc- a prodigious and incomparable magni- listening, to drive recklessly (although it of modern music. Other stand-out
ture). With that cogitation buffeting tude and intensity that most five-mem- ought to be noted that I do not condone tracks are “Sunburn,” “Muscle Mu-
about my head, an epiphanous article ber ensembles (or even more reckless driving, in accordance with seum,” “Unintended,” “Escape,” “Over-
idea precipitated, raising itself from the heavily-populated bands) are put to ab- some federal statute that I can’t prove due,” and “Hate This & I’ll Love You.”
murky depths of my labyrinthine mem- solute shame, making the latter, upon exists at the moment but which I’m sure While I am wary of having Muse re-
ory and into the elucidated and exalted hearing the aural emanations from does, in fact, exist) to the nearest F.Y.E. ferred to as “Radiohead-esque,” I do rec-
portion of my frontal lobe. Muse, have a sudden onset of severe de- or local mom-and-pop music shop in ognize that this is their album in which
Instead of taking task to boring you pression. In fact, the problem is of such order to purchase every single Muse they most resemble their more famous
with the seeming inanities of the pro- severity that somewhere in the order of album in every conceivable medium – English musical compatriots. I mean,
ceedings of the USG, I shall endeavor to three dozen lesser bands either have had CD, vinyl, tape cassette, and 8-track what English rock outfit from the 1990s
bestow upon you the wonderment of to seek intensive psychiatric counseling, (you might have to buy a Flux Capacitor didn’t have at least a little Radiohead in
Muse. The more astute among you will be prescribed potent anti-psychotic and ride with Marty McFly at 88 mph in them? Muse’s subsequent fare, however,
protest, “But one would be hard pressed pharmaceuticals, or both; seven unfor- order to go back in time and buy an 8- has no trace of Radiohead whatsoever
to find a logical justification for linking tunate chaps have been laid to rest pre- track). I shall need to delineate and de- and is completely original, or as close to
a cancelled USG meeting, the coldness maturely, their souls sent in repose at scribe in vivid detail the sheer it as possible.
of that unfortunate night, and Muse.” the Great Gig in the Sky, due to suicide awesomeness of all Muse albums for Normally, most bands succumb to
To those I would reply that there is, in- stemming ultimately from simply not you all, in order that you may be com- the “sophomore slump,” a trend most
deed, no logical justification of any sort; being able to handle the fact that the pelled irresistibly to listen to them, if my dreaded by nascent groups trying to set
the utterly subliminal nature of the un- substandard, contrived tripe they pro- rhetorical skills alone thus far have themselves as something surpassing
bridled joy one derives from listening to duced and called “music” will never be failed to convince you. simple one-album wonders. Muse, how-
Muse is comparable to nothing else put able to stand up against the relative lu- Their first album, Showbiz, is, like ever, with their god-like imbuements of
out recently by the music scene which minosity of what Muse puts out. many bands’ first attempts, a rather musical virtuosity and genius, sur-
purports to be rock. Following logic, all Bearing in mind the sobering fact, hodgepodge collection, I shall admit. mounted this obstacle with naught but a
rational, sentient beings are led to the that the bands to which the reader has, About half the album has stand-out strong, manly will to overcome. Origin
paradoxical yet inescapable conclusion up to this point, been listening cannot songs, while the other half is anywhere of Symmetry, the product of the musical
that the sheer awesomeness of Muse even approach the level of intensity and from average to good. However, the trio’s collective brilliance, is certainly no
candidate for a sophomore slump. In-
deed, many fans consider this the pin-
nacle of their career, although there is
much dispute here amongst the fan
base. There are really no poorly-done
songs; in fact, there aren’t any mediocre
songs, either. Every song excels in some
way, although some do more than oth-
ers. “New Born,” “Plug in Baby,” “Citi-
zen Erased,” “Micro Cuts,” and “Feeling
Good” are, for me, the standout tracks,
although I rarely skip the other ones.
“Feeling Good,” of course, is a cover (the
sole one on the album), and is the best
version of it I have heard. It certainly
beats the living daylights out of Michael
Whiskers may be banging his tennis in-
Buble’s painfully boring, unenthused,
structor despite the twenty-plus age gap, soulless version.
Hullabaloo is a double album, with
but at at least he’s taking tennis lessons. one live album compilation and one stu-
dio recording of B-sides. It is an excel-
Do something with your life. lent addition to any mature Muse fan’s
collection, although it will take a while
Join The Stony Brook Press. for newcomers to become accustomed
Groundhog Day
Dear Journal, followed through with a poorly exe- ports regarding nuclear proliferation in than one “news” article must be true? In
cuted war upon two enemies: the ter- Iraq only to find after a long and point- July of 2006, 50 percent of Americans
Déjà vu. Was it less war that we were wrong all along. still believed that Iraq had WMD’s.
not only five years Why haven’t we learned? We’re col- I give up. In the run up to the Iraq
ago that we falsely lectively the goldfish that swims about war, I blamed the media for public ig-
accused someone his small bowl, witnessing something norance. In the wake of such an obvious
of harboring ter- new at every turn for the rest of his life. disaster and in the face of such a blatant
Nick rorists, proliferat- This is like Groundhog Day except that repeat of mind-control tactics, I’ve con-
Eaton ing nuclear arms unlike Bill Murray, we never learn from cluded that the war with Iran will be the
and assisting in the our mistakes and our “day” spans half a fault of the ignorant masses. If people
September 11th attacks? Didn’t we al- decade. This is worse than Groundhog are too stupid to shut off Fox (Faux)
ready repeat fallacious remarks con- Day. Why can we not separate the char- News and CNN and start reading valid
stantly on all the major news networks, acteristics of individuals? Why do we and more balanced sources it’s their
perpetuating a lie in order to facilitate a assume that every assumption made by own fault. I’m frustrated. Goodnight
war that would enrich the private de- There!s a snake in my boot. our less-than-reliable administration, journal.
fense companies and military contrac- such as Middle Eastern leaders being
tors who’ve created a financial rorists who we don’t understand and the generally bad people, is true? Is it the Love,
foundation for the entire Republican Iraqi insurgents that our presence cre- tabloid mentality that has zombified our Nick
Party? Hadn’t we already dismissed in- ated? It seems to me that only half a nation’s weakest minds? This idea that
ternational opposition to our plans and decade ago we ignored the I.A.E.A’s re- whatever has been repeated in more
The Stony Brook Press Opinion 29
It’s always easier to say you have understood.
Lost In Translation
I didn’t get as funny that her reproductive organ was People are laughing, but laughter Nobody wants to understand each
much flak as ex- a Rachel. It felt like I was talking to a aside, there is a strong and disturbing other. Nobody wants to listen to each
pected for that last Pokemon. reluctance to understand one another. other. We’re all playing pretend where
article, which is Or this: International students are brought here everything everyone does is backwards
understandable (after school, at the dinner table) every semester to learn about Ameri-
since most Asians How was your day, honey? can culture and learn the English lan-
here can’t even I don’t know. It was okay. I aced my guage and assimilate themselves into
Cindy
Liu
read English. Per-
haps the next time
Perhaps the next time
I want to be offen- I want to be offen-
sive, I should stand in the middle of the
SAC Plaza during campus lifetime and sive, I should stand in
urinate on a picture of Astro Boy.
Which brings me to my next point:
the middle of the SAC
people do not understand each other. Plaza... and urinate
This can be applied in so many re-
spects, like this: on a picture of Astro
(seventh grade Art class, upon en-
trance of new student From Korea) Boy.
What’s your name?
Rachel.
Where are you from? and we say things we don’t mean and
Rachel. keep in the things we want to say.
…How old are you? On top of that, people will never
Rachel. admit to ignorance, and so we create
Hahaha, do you have a penis or a preconceptions. It’s always easier to
vagina? say you have understood. We sacri-
Hahaha. Rachel. fice our intended meaning for a pale
reflection, or possibly even a be-
trayal of it. That’s like going to a
trading post and turning in your car
calc test. this place. But—and this is sad news— body wants pineapple Fanta, nobody,
That’s nice. more often than not, they go searching because it tastes like diarrhea, and even
here can’t even I also learned that there are more cells
in your brain than particles in the uni-
for the vaguely familiar faces, the if you don’t think so, it still sucks that
slightest reminders of home, the re- you just traded in your car for it.
read...
verse. motest traces of coherence, and they Everyone settles for less, and that is a
Interesting….clear your plate, honey. gather these fragments of a life and problem that is particular to us as col-
Did you even hear what I just said? compress them and try to recreate a lege students.
Mhm. makeshift home here. There is no real solution to this
I ate a tub of lard and shit and a baby No, it’s not just the international problem. But, here it is, it’s out there,
I couldn’t believe it. Her name was today. students. It’s everyone—it’s you, it’s and maybe if people listened to people,
Rachel, she came from Rachel, she was Oh, that’s great. me, it’s that guy over there with the I wouldn’t feel the urge to defecate on
Rachel years old, and she found it LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! mustache, it’s your Math professor. Astro Boy anymore.
30 Sports Vol. XXIX, Issue 2 | Wedsnesday, October 10, 2007
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