A cantar de nuevo
Where is the point of contact? In what universe does Panama share a border with Jamaica? Where can you find the confluence of currents and the crossroads of journeys, where the conga and timbales flirt with the verse of Frost and Longfellow? Does there exist a doorway that can teleport us from Ireland to Cuba?
Coheed & Cambrias Musical Madness
Its official: geek is the new chic. If the over-abundance of Napoleon Dynamite paraphernalia isnt enough to convince you of this, then certainly the widening popularity of bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Coheed & Cambria will change your mind. With both bands riding high on a sudden wave of geek-culture popularity, and the sudden fame that appeared in both bands worlds, both groups have chosen the perfect time to capitalize on their recent newfound success. Yet, it is Coheed that manages to become even more innovative and ingenious on their recent release, Good Apollo Im Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness.
Rankings: Recognizing the best students
This past spring, Newsweek released its 2005 rankings of American public high schools. My alma mater, Gateway Senior HS, did not crack Newsweek.coms list of the top 1,042 public schools. While criticizing ones own school district may be tempting, I question the ranking system rather than my schools academics.
The case against Harriet Miers
I, like many of my more legally interested brethren of all ideological spectrums, waited with eager anticipation for George W. Bushs selection of a nominee to be Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court vice Sandra Day OConner, resigned. We all-with eager anticipation debated whether he would nominate a J. Michael Luttig (a protge of Justice Scalia) or a more moderate nominee, such as Circuit Judge Karen Williams or Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. The question was never whether his nominee would follow in the paths of most recent nominees in being one of the most brilliant scholars in the field of Constitutional law or whether they would be tainted by cronyism-then came Harriet Miers.
Campus wide intellectual oppression regarding newspaper
According to the Brandeis Admissions website, Brandeis is a school of freethinking intellectuals. However, this statement is inconsistent with the events that took place last Wednesday. Midday, Mark Brier was kicked off campus and threatened with arrest for doing nothing more than handing out Revolution News, the newspaper of the Revolutionary Communist Party.
Jumbo sized loss
There they were, face to face, mano a mano, Judges versus Jumbos, the battle of two division three schools with unusual mascot choices (and names, what the heck is a Jumbo?). It was at Red Auerbach Arena that the womens volleyball team fought hard, but it was not enough, as the Judges lost their fifth game in a row 3-0 (30-24, 30-28, 30-24).
Atmosphere expands under pressure
Forget everything youve learned about the atmosphere in science class: in the world of music, the planet gravitates around Atmosphere, not the other way around. This may be the one rule to live by in todays continually growing music scene, as the Minneapolis rap duo of rapper Slug (aka Sean Daley) and producer Ant play sellout shows in support of their latest release, You Cant Imagine How Much Fun Were Having.
Indeed, it may very well be hard to imagine the amount of fun that Atmosphere is having in the two years since the release of their breakout Sevens Travels. With a headlining stint at Warped Tours 10 year anniversary, a critically acclaimed album (Travels) on various top ten lists, the re-release of their hard-to-find masterpiece Se7en, another headlining stint, and a recent collaboration with fellow MC and compatriot Murs under the moniker Felt, Atmosphere decide to take on and release another album. All this, and being held as the emperors of the emo-rap movement, comprised of underground rappers, most of whom are members of the Rhymesayers label, who focus on more personal issues than that of the self-indulgence and massive consumption of more mainstream artists, can add up to a huge weight cast on the shoulders of two rap lovers from Minneapolis.
Hazing, Deis-style
The Hoot welcomes a new columnist to its ranks…
Getting In Her Shoes
I remember that when I saw the preview for In Her Shoes, I immediately assumed that it was the type of cookie-cutter movie that Id seen before, which contrasts the older, responsible sister, with the beautiful younger screw-up. And, in terms of plot, thats basically what this movie does.
Gone
We shared a moment, once. Im sure of it. Once upon a time, as the stories say. But if there ever was such a moment its long since vanished into the wind. Its spiraled away into the heavens to be watched by angels, because here we are, you and me, standing in the kitchen staring at each other, and all I see in your eyes is revulsion. Contempt. Scorn. You look as though you want me to die and disappear into the floor. I cant see any of the light that once drew me into your heart and into your head. It seems like that happened a lifetime in the past, or maybe it was only three minutes ago. I cant remember now, because Im blinded by your hate. Its gutting me. It makes me want to scream. But I wont scream. I cant let that happen, because if it does I wont be able to stop. Torrents of words will stream out, confessions, lies, truth, prose, tales from yesterday, anything to make you put away the steel thats pouring out of you. Anything to make you stop stepping towards the door. I cant believe that its come to this. Im stuck in a struggle for our future. I can hear the sound of the T.V. that we left on in the living room, and feel the thump of the neighbors stereo through the wall.
From the depths of Vicodin I call to you
This past Monday I did something only someone drastically concerned about his dental future to the point of dementia would do. On Monday I hired some guy who spent fifteen or so years in school give or take a few decades just so he could tack a bunch of extra letters on to his name (M.D., D.D.S., S.A.D.I.S.T.) to drug me unconscious with some chemical that probably has a street value five times that of top-grade government-grown Afghani heroin, slice into my gums and hack my jaw to the point that I STILL cant feel anything from the right half of my bottom lip all the way down to my chin.
Pilates: They say it gets easier
This semester, in an effort to get in shape, I enrolled in Pilates. I guess I was expecting some sort of Tae-bo type workout for my abs. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised with what I found.
De Montesquieu move over, these are real political gurus!
Amazingly, last Sundays Talib Kweli concert was not the stupidest planned concert ever. It was actually fun. But still, Student Events did little to discourage stupidity on all fronts.
First off, why would anyone in their right minds schedule a concert on a Sunday night in the middle of prime mid-term season? Granted, it might have been hard to find an alternative time but my Sunday nights are normally filled with a romantic comedy, hip-widening chocolates, and trying on the latest line of Clinique make-up.
The economics of genocide and ineffectiveness of STAND
The national STAND (Student Taking Action Now: Darfur) organization believes that increasing consciousness about the crisis in Darfur both in the United States and abroad will lead to an end of the ethnic cleansing. While this is a noble organization, its mission statement is plagued with idealism and naivety, particularly regarding the ethics of the United States government. Ignoring the history of genocide and Americas role in the violence, STAND is destined to be another ineffectual pro-peace group unless it makes certain amendments to its plan of action.
Give Miller the axe, reporters a shield
The nation has been abuzz about the testimony of New York Times reporter Judy Miller. She recently answered questions before a grand jury empanelled to investigate the leak of Valerie Plames name to the public. The leak is thought to have been made in retaliation for her husbands public criticism of President Bushs statements on WMD in the lead up for the invasion of Iraq. Ms. Miller agreed to testify after striking a deal with special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald after spending 85 days in prison, and after it became clear she might be facing a year and a half more.
This Week’s Photos
This Week's photos. The Hoot comic and Fool for Love.
Union recognizes rabbinical training club
The Rabbis in Training club (RabbIT) was recently recognized by the Student Union. Samantha Saltzman 06 began the club in order to unite those interested in rabbinical careers and to serve as a place for those students to learn more about different aspects of being a rabbi and to have discussions. Saltzman decided to begin […]
Sharona Muir participates in meet the author series
Author Sharona Muirs new memoir, The Book of Telling: Tracing the Secrets of My Fathers Lives, is a story of the search to find out who Muirs father was. Muir spoke on Wednesday in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium about the book at the Meet the Author series sponsored by the Office of Communications. At least 20 people attended the event.
University treasurer resigns
The man who has been a vital member in the Brandeis financial team of Maureen Murphy, James Hurley, and Peter French has resigned. Brandeis Universitys Treasurer, Jeffrey Solomon, left on Friday, Oct, 14 after working here for eight years.
Professor diagnosed with pertussis
This Wednesday the Brandeis Health Center, in accordance with Massachusetts law, sent email notification to the University community of a confirmed case of pertusis, commonly known as whooping cough, on campus. Elaine Hiller, lecturer of Biology at Brandeis, developed the symptoms of pertussis earlier this semester and, in an email interview, told The Hoot that [b]ased on when I got sick, the state lab estimated that I was contagious until October 5th.
