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Features

FEATURES

Nonsense lesson plans key to American dream

In a continuing scheme to make money by doing as little work as possible, I've found inspiration to do something decidedly different. The realization came in class one day as I was reviewing various aspects of theories in fields ranging from film to music to politics. During my college career (one likely to be roughly the duration of an average doctor's time in school), I've been taught and taught and taught with little insight into the origins of many of the things I've learned. Now, many members of the faculty know how to teach.

FEATURES

Modern metal band close-knit as it is hard-core

Elysia A. Smith
April 16, 2003

The smell of fatigue and the remnants of an after-party linger in the air Sunday as each band member of Know Lyfe enters the small coffee shop. Side by side, Lansing resident Waylon Fox and telecommunications junior Jerred Pruneau wait on a worn '70s patterned couch for the arrival of their, now late, lead singer and telecommunication junior Alfonso Civile and drummer Nick Killips. Fox, the band's pierced-lip- and tattooed-bassist, grins and silently laughs as if something has triggered a lost memory. "Last night was pretty insane," he states, turning to Pruneau who is now laughing loudly. A celebration with Ohio-native band members of Tsybil after a hard-driving show at Grand Rapid's own Liquid Room left a pile of empty bottles, blurred memories and 4:30 a.m.

FEATURES

Talent wasted in 'Anger'

Oh mediocrity, why do you plague talent so? Look what you've done. You've taken Adam Sandler - whose early films "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore" struck chords of pure, insane laughter - and taken over his career. It started with "The Waterboy," and last year we all hoped it would be over after "Mr. Deeds," but no.

FEATURES

Duo's debut contains nothing new

Beth Clute
April 15, 2003

Here's an idea: Musically inclined siblings forming an act to produce 20-something poppy beats with rhyming lyrics and infectious whining. OK, so it isn't an original idea, but throw an actress into the mix and the duo known as Boomkat is formed, creating an upbeat mix of hip-hop, electronic sounds and Gap commercials. Kellin and Taryn Manning make up the group and were raised by musically influential parents.

FEATURES

Ruling could affect seating at theaters

Kurt Ludke
April 15, 2003

Going to a movie theater is supposed to be a fun experience enjoyed with friends, but for Melinda Haus, that isn't always possible. Haus was injured in a car accident in 1996 and has had to use a wheelchair to get around ever since.

FEATURES

Summer productions looking for local actors

With spring ending and summer beginning, several acting and performance groups are announcing summer productions and auditions. The Sunsets with Shakespeare acting troupe is holding auditions, and has announced its shows for the Summer 2003 season. Auditions will be held from 7-11 p.m.

FEATURES

New releases

Winner from the first season of "American Idol," Kelly Clarkson's debut album "Thankful" is out in time to be forgotten while people watch the second season.

FEATURES

'Things' has echoes of band's New York influences

New York quartet Longwave's new album "The Strangest Things" takes its audience on a tour of astral sky-scrapping epic guitar sounds. With warm atmospheric drums, dissonantly murky basslines and spacey floodlight guitars, Longwave has a sound that's graduated from the U2 college of epic rock balledry.

FEATURES

Production's music saving grace of 'Oklahoma!'

Shaun Byron
April 14, 2003

The MSU Department of Theatre's performance of "Oklahoma!" had potential. It's too bad a few glaring problems couldn't have been addressed sooner in the musical. Overall it was lively, delivering a charmingly good time, and problems in the production were either beyond anyone's control or were just silly mistakes. The story of "Oklahoma!" is set in the state of the same name in the early 20th century, while it still was a U.S.

FEATURES

E.L.U.M. unites hip hop, rock genres

Normally, it's pretty hard to find hip-hop fans and jam-band fans hanging out together in large numbers. But that wasn't the case during Friday evening's unity concert at the rock on Farm Lane. Several hundred local students and residents gathered on both sides of the Red Cedar River for Project East Lansing Unified Music. Sponsored by the Angel Wing Foundation and JTD Enterprises Inc., the event brought together local jam and rock bands Killer Miller and Jebus, area hip-hop artists 3rd Deggree, Alias and DJ Owen and masters of ceremonies Legacee, Pistone, Detritus and Big Perm. Admission was free, with proceeds from drink sales going to help terminally ill children through Angel Wings, a relatively new group based out of Adrian. It acquired the stage used for the concert, donated for the evening by Stage Express, and sold soda pop - donated by Pepsi - to raise money for their cause. Killer Miller manager Aaron Dare, who helped organize the operation, said his motivation for doing the show at the rock is because there is a lack of venues in the area. "We couldn't find any venues for 18 and up so we just wanted to do it ourselves," the communication junior said. "We wanted to bring local rock and hip-hop together for some good exposure.

FEATURES

Film adaptations bring Thompson to life

It's probably fairly difficult to make a film about a man who is to many a living legend, especially one who would likely pull a gun on you were you to approach his home to ask a question. Such is Hunter S.

FEATURES

Written by 'U' alumnus, novel takes place at fictional Mich. university

Allison Lucy
April 11, 2003

Struggling emotionally to deal with her memories of sexual abuse, Eileen Greenwood spends her first year at a fictional Michigan university attempting to come to terms with her abusive past. Eileen, the main character in "Goldfish Dreams," a novel by MSU alumnus Jim Hines, gained its title from a cat named Goldfish who lives illegally in Eileen's dorm room. "He's loosely based on a puppy we had on our floor when I was a student at MSU," Hines said. "The name was so we could talk about him without getting caught, such as 'can you watch the goldfish this weekend?'" The story itself is based on Hines' experiences working as a sexual assault counselor at The Listening Ear Crisis Intervention Center, 313 W.

FEATURES

Pounding heart

To many Native Americans, drums represent the heartbeat of their culture. This weekend, they become the pulse of Breslin Center as thousands gather for the North American Indian Student Organization's 20th annual Pow-wow of Love.

FEATURES

Diesel, Tate set film 'Apart' from rest

For the first time since "Saving Private Ryan," Vin Diesel is actually in a fairly good movie. The hugely popular actor has made a lot of money acting in an arsenal of crappy movies such as "Pitch Black" and "The Fast and the Furious." Now comes the unfortunately titled "A Man Apart," an undeniably entertaining action drama with a balance between emotion and explosions nary present these days. The plot is very familiar territory, taken most notably from the revenge epic "Death Wish" and its four horrid sequels.

FEATURES

New Releases

Pioneers of the "keep away," "stay away," "go away," "get away" genre, Godsmack is set to release its latest Alice in Chains imitation, "Faceless." The album will surely be a success in fans' eyes with songs titles such as "Releasing the Demons," and "I Fucking Hate You."Everyone's favorite jigga man, Jay-Z, is laying down fresh beats with "Blueprint 2.1," a continuation from 2001's "The Blueprint," which brought Jay-Z success with Izzo (H.O.V.A.).Ginuwine is riding his pony on in with his new record "The Senior." With song titles such as "In Those Jeans," and the proactively clever "Sex" it looks like this album will not be a departure from Ginuwine's sexily smooth R&B sound.The Black Keys released its major label debut, "thickfreakness," on Fat Possum (a subsidiary of Epitaph records). The two-man-band has a mean, thick-skinned, blues-rock sound it's been unleashing on sensitive unsuspecting Sleater-Kinney fans while touring as openers.Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis and perhaps better known as Michael Jackson's ex-wife, is releasing her debut, "To Whom it May Concern." The album will feature collaboration with Zwan's Billy Corgan.On the punk front, Rise Against is releasing its new album, "Revolutions Per Minute." The group has been featured on the indie/hard-core/punk Atticus compilation.Continued coverage on the punk front shows Flashlight Brown is releasing "My Degeneration." Formerly known simply as Flashlight, this group has hooked up with Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls) for production.New albums are also being released today by Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams, MC Honky, The X-Ecutioners, Yo La Tengo and Boomkat.Joseph Montes