In My Own Words . . . April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , 7 commentsBy Erin Thompson, Broadside Correspondent
Hi, my name is Erin Thompson. I am a senior at the Mason LIFE Program. I would like to share my residential dorm life experiences.
Mason LIFE Program has a residential program as a component that continues to build upon the foundation fostered in the independent living and community access classes as taught in the academic program.
While one-third of the Mason LIFE students commute to the university, at least two-thirds are residential students who live on campus.
But I am actually enjoying myself in the dorms. The reason I decided to live on campus is because I always wanted to be independent and hopefully to move out of my parents’ house.
My parents always taught me how to be independent, like taking my own responsibility, doing my chores (including homework) and making sure that I take my medication ever morning. Also, making sure that I get to bed on time.
In the Mason LIFE Program, we have a 102-dorm class that involves friendship, roommates and residential assistance. We usually meet every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
This class will help us learn more and be very independent in our dorm room. We have a common area where there is a TV and a table to study and do our homework. But the things that we can’t get out of are cleaning, laundry and studying time for homework.
But right on the hall we have a calendar to see what’s going on. The RAs take their time by planning events for the Mason LIFE Program.
I will give you an example: on Monday night, we usually have Monday Night Football for the boys but the girls like to watch different shows besides sports.
Hi, my name is Erin Thompson. I am a senior at the Mason LIFE Program. I will be discussing the major issues about pollution.
I have seen a lot of people putting trash on the grass, even though people shouldn’t be throwing things on the floor. I wish people could do a better job making sure they throw their trash out. The worst part is that people don’t take the responsibility and care for our animals.
Where can animals find a home, and how are they going to find food? There are about 200,000 animals out there finding food to eat. Most
of the animals live underwater like dolphins, fish, walruses and other animals.
Pollution is contamination by a chemical or other agent that renders part of the environment unfit for intended or desired use. It deserves emphasis that the environment also refers to the place where you live. And natural processes have released toxic chemicals into the environment throughout the history of the earth.
Currently, the pollution generated by human activities presents the most serious problem. Did you know pollution can take many forms in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the ground where we grow our food?
Of the pollutants that taint urban air, fine suspended particulate matter sulphur dioxide (S02), and ozone pose the most widespread and acute risks. However, airborne lead pollution is a critical concern in many cities. Recent studies on the effects of chronic exposure to air pollution have singled out particulate matter as the pollutant most responsible for the life-shortening effect of unhealthy air, although other pollutants may also play an important role. These pollutants cause respiratory and other health disorders.
Besides increasing blood pressure and stress levels, noise pollution can also have deleterious effects on hearing. There are two categories of hearing loss resulting from noise exposure. The first, acoustic trauma, is hearing loss resulting from a single exposure to a very loud sound such as an explosion. The second, noise-induced hearing loss, is hearing loss arising from repeated exposure to moderate noise.
The latter is the more common form of hearing loss due to noise pollution.
Water pollution infects the water and renders it unfit for drinking and other purposes; it is also a major cause of most of the waterborne diseases.
Reducing pollution from fossil fuels is critical to preventing further damage to the environment Fossil fuels are not renewable and may soon be gone. These fuels, which include coal, crude oil and natural gas, took millions of years to make and cannot be relied upon as a major energy source. Fossil fuels cause more than 90 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming. If steps are not taken, mankind may be in a bad situation.
Fossil fuels cause acid rain. Smog, air pollution and other problems need more government regulation and steps taken by individuals can help a global switch to alternative energy sources that are renewable and friendly to the environment.
But what can we do to help reduce pollution? Reducing pollution can be done by everyone. Buy a vehicle that is a hybrid or one that uses biofuels or other alternative energy sources. Carpool or ride a bike when possible to cut down on the amount you drive. Plant trees and plants whenever possible and keep plants in your home as well. These are natural pollution reducers and, in exchange, they provide oxygen recycle whenever possible.
Using alternative energy sources, conserving energy when possible and taking other steps to reduce pollution will help make the earth a better place for everyone, including future generations.
In Bed with Billy: Oral sex and communication: What closed mouths are missing April 26, 2010
Posted by Sonya Hudson in : Style , add a commentBy Billy Curtis, Sex Columnist
Throughout the decades, it has been given many names: giving head, eating out, going down, carpet munching and, of course, the blow job — just to name a few.
Whatever you may call it, oral sex is one of the most pleasurable experiences out there; why do you think it’s considered such a great preamble to intercourse? Foreplay and oral sex can be the best way to get your blood pumping in all the right places for longer nights of bliss, and an even better way to get off while not worrying about pregnancy.
Personally, oral sex, whether as foreplay or just the act itself, is definitely an enlightening activity, and certainly an act I enjoy thoroughly — with the right person.
But not everyone is good at giving head, and like any other skill attained in this world, to become proficient in this art form one simply needs guidance and practice.
Like most first sexual experiences, oral sex can be a little intimidating, but the best way to solve this problem is with communication or even getting a critique of your performance. The only way to get this information is by asking your partner, as oral sex should really only be practiced with someone you trust — as has been my philosophy in life and dating.
Talking about performance after sex can be a great way to improve your “giving” abilities. Some advice if you are doing the talking: be courteous to your partner and respect his or her feelings. Even if they were bad, try and give them words of encouragement and constructive criticism while steering them in the right direction for you.
When you are communicating with your partner about any kind of sex, make sure to tell him or her what you like specifically — after all, none of us are mind readers and everyone has his or her own preference when it comes to how he or she will orgasm.
If you are the recipient of the advice from your partner, here are some words of wisdom: take the information given to you as a recommendation, not as an insult. In the end, when you listen and consider the direction your partner is giving you, odds are that both partners involved will learn something, and you’ll be helping your relationship in the long run, too.
It has always boggled me that, even in the bedroom, it’s difficult for any of us to communicate what we want and need. In order for any relationship to work, there has to be a mutual understanding and openness.
If there were any sexual equivalent to a mutual understanding of you and your partner in the bedroom, it would have to be the notorious 69 position. For those of you who don’t know what this is, it’s when you and your partner perform oral sex on each other at the same time.
While this position is just as outdated as the decade its name references, it shows a sharing quality — I mean, who doesn’t love giving pleasure to his or her partner while receiving it?
If you’ll be letting just about anyone into your little secret garden, remember that you run the risk of contracting anything from chlamydia to HIV, so be smart when giving or receiving oral sex.
Also, communication is needed in the bedroom just as much as in any relationship. If you’re not communicating your wants and needs . . . well then, you’re just getting your privates slobbered on.
Going Nuts for Testival: Annual festival educates and entertains students April 26, 2010
Posted by Sonya Hudson in : Style , add a commentBy Evan Benton, Staff Writer
Testival, arguably George Mason University’s best and most popular celebration of testicles, returns Thursday for another bout of ball-grabbing and free T-shirts.
Sponsored by the Office of Alcohol, Drug and Health Education, University Life and Phi Sigma Kappa, Testival has been going strong for the past several years and manages to support a very important cause while keeping it all tongue-in-cheek with their catchy slogan, “Check your nuts.”
The festival for testicles will feature such nutty games as Guess that Nut, Balls to the Wall, Testicle Toss, Whack-a-Ball and Balls Bingo.
Exams will be demonstrated but not administered by the Student Nurses’ Association, and those who need practice can use the effective but disgusting Ball Bags, which are replicated testicles in bags of gel complete with those pesky little cancerous polyps and cysts males have to watch out for.
So on Thursday, students walking to and from the Johnson Center might see countless numbers of their peers spending the afternoon squeezing little gel sacks — that is, if they’re not trying desperately to get the limited edition Testival shirts that seem to sell as soon as they open the boxes.
Testival 2008’s shirt featured an assortment of peanuts, while 2009’s displayed a festive squirrel hoarding as many nuts as he could. One can only hold their breath and imagine this year’s.
On top of this, the appropriately named Spunk Buggy will be providing nut-filled cookie goodness to all passing by.
But don’t think Testival is merely irreverent fun only for the guys. All of Mason’s females can learn valuable information on how to check for cancerous growths on their boyfriend’s or husband’s nuts, helping out the opposite sex as well as learning a few things about cojones along the way.
Testival runs for one day only April 29th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the JC North Plaza.
Come one, come all and have a ball.
Denzel returns to Broadway in Fences April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Jason Ulrich, Broadside Correspondent
In Denzel Washington’s riveting return to stage acting, both he and fellow thespians Viola Davis and Mykelti Williamson appear in the Broadway revival of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences.
The play, written by famed playwright August Wilson, will officially open up today, April 26, and will run for 13 weeks at Cort Theatre in New York City.
Part of Wilson’s famous “Pittsburgh Cycle,” a group of dramas concerned with the African American experience during the 20th century, Fences is one of his most popular pieces. Taking place in the Pittsburgh of 1957, Troy Maxson (Washington) is a family man who works as a garbage collector with aspirations to be the first black truck driver.
The character, originally played by James Earl Jones, constructs a fence around his home throughout the play, reminiscing his heyday as a ballplayer for the Negro Leagues.
Washington, whose last Broadway venture was 2005’s Julius Caeser, takes this tough role and runs with it, playing off both Maxson’s ferocious anger and indignation as well as displaying a surprising inflection of physical humor.
Troy Maxson is unlike any character Washington has played in his long career. Through concentrating on the man’s obsession with responsibility, the audience is able to see not only how black and white Maxson looks at everything, but moreover how gray his actions end up being. As Tony Award-winning Director Kenny Leon said, “Denzel is amazing! He’s such a beast on stage.”
Some other notable performers in the production are Mykelti Williamson (Forrest Gump, Three Kings), playing Troy’s mentally incapacitated brother Gabriel, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, a veteran actor of Wilson’s plays who takes on the role of Bono, Troy’s best friend, fellow garbage man and drinking buddy.
Tony Award-winner Viola Davis (State of Play, Traffic) gives a performance for the books as Troy’s faithful wife of 18 years. The performance was reminiscent of her breakthrough role in Doubt, in which she starred opposite Meryl Streep and was nominated for an Oscar.
Other jewels of the revival are the original jazzy score by Grammy-winner Branford Marsalis and, above all, the gorgeous set design by Tony Award-winner Santo Loquasto.
“It’s a joy working with such dedicated and generous actors,” says Henderson, though the same could be said for the audience viewing the production.
Radiohead’s debut not so sweet April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Ramy Zabarah, Staff Writer
To everyone who’s sung the song “Creep” on Rock Band and called themselves a Radiohead fan, I ask you this: Where did it all begin?
For over 18 years, the English alternative rock band has been writing, recording and performing music, gaining worldwide recognition for their unique style and experimental sound.
But where did it all begin? The band’s debut album, Pablo Honey, was released in February 1993, after they signed a six album record deal with the British record label EMI.
Despite what some may think, Radiohead didn’t always have the great diverse talent that they have today. Pablo Honey was a career landmark, but it failed to show signs of hope for the band at the time of its release.
At the time of its original release, Pablo Honey couldn’t bring the band fame and fortune, or even proper venues to perform in. In fact, their first album tour was comprised of British colleges and small clubs.
It wasn’t until the album gained recognition in the U.S. that the band started to build a name for themselves.
Their debut single “Creep” had all the catchy qualities that the average listener was looking for, plunging the band to popularity through plenty radio time, a music video that became very popular on MTV and a North American tour.
Pablo Honey can easily be characterized by noisy, treble-heavy guitar riffs and meaningless, unnecessarily depressing lyrics, but it spoke to the youth at the time.
In 1993, music was full of teen angst, heavy guitar riffs, and rowdy crowds in small clubs. The big bands at the time were Nirvana and Pearl Jam who were yelling angry, meaningless lyrics into a microphone over crashing cymbals, and distorted guitar riffs were popular.
Although Pablo Honey wasn’t great, it was pertinent to the success of the their following albums, including their most recent one, In Rainbows, which shied away from the experimental and electronic sound they had been working with in recent albums like Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief, but went back to the basics that they began with.
Obviously, Pablo Honey by itself didn’t make Radiohead the band they are today. The record is only as significant as the work that followed.
The band’s second album, The Bends, really showed the world that Radiohead wasn’t just another angry bunch of kids.
The Bends took the distorted guitar tone from Pablo Honey and perfected it by making the riffs more elaborate, and by adding guitar parts to make the sound more atmospheric.
It wasn’t the worst album of the ’90s, but Pablo Honey was definitely Radiohead’s worst. Despite the grunge-like sound that contributed to influencing future albums and other acts at the time, as well as the recognition of lead singer Thom Yorke’s distinct falsetto, it was a failure.
If it wasn’t for “Creep,” their career might have ended there. Fortunately for us, it didn’t.
What a Buzzkill! April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Dylan Hares, Staff Writer
There is no doubt that George Mason University is growing. Lot I is closed for the construction of residence halls and Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads will see their first fall semesters starting in fall 2010. Both Student Union buildings are seeing construction and expansion, and we’re getting several new office and academic buildings all over campus.
With all these expansions in these hard economic times, it begs the question from tuition-paying students: What is it that I’m paying for exactly?
The consensus seems to be that Mason is a boring place on the weekends. At least half of the resident population goes home during this time and those who remain seek off-campus excitement. At least it seems that way when the campus is literally barren and on-campus events go unattended on the weekends.
This past Monday, Provost Peter Stearns and Senior Vice President Maurice Scherrens hosted a very candid and open budget summit at Ike’s. Among the points touched on were the cause of rising tuition and where the money goes.
According to Scherrens, this past year saw a $4.5 million reduction in the funding provided by the state. In the past 10 years, there has been a 35 percent reduction overall in state funding for the school.
This, Scherrens says, is a reduction across the board for the state-funded universities and is the direct cause of rising tuition.
What continually bothers me is why, despite the massive influx of students, we still have a less-than-stellar on-campus life, especially on the weekends. I’ve heard countless students say they wish they could join the riots at James Madison University, at least for some weekend excitement for a change.
According to the budget meeting, with so many new students, cutting essential services like dining and health services isn’t an option.
Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to pour all of our tuition money into those services and a lot less into entertaining students. Program Board saw a huge cut in funding and a significant decline in quality of events — at least from the perspective of those of us who have seen them.
I guess the final question is: will more students help? Or is it simply more students who will go home on the weekends? Sure, it will make the university some money, but will 400 more on-campus students help us?
Provost Stearns claims he wants to help drop the commuter-school title but will that ever be possible with the student population evenly divided between grads and undergrads, and with 1/6 of the student body living here? Think about it.
The sleeper hits of the summer April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Ross Bonaime, Staff Writer
Every summer, audiences become inundated with copious amounts of blockbusters. In the first month of this summer alone, Robin Hood and Prince of Persia will be released, as well as sequels to Iron Man, Sex and the City and the fourth Shrek movie.
Yet hidden in between these mammoth films are sleeper hits, movies that come out of nowhere as a respite from the usual. In past years, these films have included Garden State, Little Miss Sunshine and last year’s District 9. So here are the top five potential sleeper hits of summer 2010.
5. Babies
Summer can be a surprisingly great time for documentaries. Fahrenheit 9/11, March of the Penguins and Super Size Me all did remarkably well in their genre, during a time when blockbusters reign.
This year, that surprise summer documentary could be Babies. The film chronicles a year in the life of four different babies across the world.
And if there’s one thing that’s cuter than marching penguins, it’s cross-cultural babies.
4. Get Low
Get Low, based on a true story, is about a man in the 1930s who decided to throw his own funeral while he was still alive. The film features Robert Duvall as the man throwing the party with Bill Murray as the funeral director assisting him.
Given the quality of summer movies, this one could be the lead contender in summer films to walk away with some Oscar buzz.
3. MacGruber
With all the incredible talent on Saturday Night Live, it is surprising that the films based on the show’s skits haven’t been successful at all, with the exceptions of only Wayne’s World and The Blues Brothers.
But with the much-underused current cast member Will Forte’s film adaptation of MacGruber, a satirical take on resourceful ’80s secret agent MacGyver, we might see a turn around for the much-maligned history of SNL movies.
2. Splice
This summer could potentially be the season of surprising Adrien Brody hits. Before he stars in the reboot of the Predator franchise, he will star with Sarah Polley in Splice, a film about two scientists who attempt to splice together human and animal DNA and are forced to deal with the horrifying creature they have created.
The film gained notoriety at this year’s Sundance film festival for its ridiculous and crazy ending.
1. Cyrus
While not particularly famous directors, the Duplass brothers have become poster boys for the up-and-coming mumblecore genre.
Their seminal films The Puffy Chair and Baghead have led the way in this minimalist comedy style.
In independent circles, this genre has been one to watch, but this summer, larger audiences will get their first taste of it with Cyrus.
An incredible cast featuring Jonah Hill, Catherine Keener, Marisa Tomei and John C. Reilly should help them gain some notoriety.
The film tells the story of Reilly and Tomei, who begin a relationship, only to find out that Tomei’s son, played by Hill, still lives at home.
Cyrus looks like a fantastic comedy-drama with the Duplass’ improvisational style that should make it a great film to check out when you are tired of seeing the same old, same old at the multiplexes.
Big payoffs for good causes: Relay for Life and Students Helping Honduras raise more than $46,000 total April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Kristen Byrne, Broadside Correspondent
Every day, students walk by kiosks in the Johnson Center. But what they don’t realize is that just one minute of their time or one dollar from their pocket could help save a life — or a community.
Students Helping Honduras (SHH) and Relay for Life at George Mason University have extended their helping hands to better the community by raising money. SHH is focused on building a new community for families that were displaced in Honduras due to Hurricane Mitch in 1998, while Relay for Life’s main concern is to raise cancer awareness, primarily through its annual event. Although these two organizations are passionate about different issues, both are reaching out to the Mason community for help and support.
Despite how recently the club was organized, SHH has raised $4,000 dollars for the Learning and Empowerment Program in Honduras, with a goal to raise $10,000 for the chapter by the end of the semester.
Relay for Life exceeded its goal of $35,000 by over $7,000, bringing its total to over $42,000. The students of both organizations have worked hard to get these results. “Every day teams were hosting bake sales, donut sales and restaurant nights to help raise their team totals,” said Teal Dye, event chair of Relay For Life. “Individuals worked hard to spread the word, sending e-mails requesting support.”
Students Helping Honduras and Relay for Life are constantly planning activities for students. Many students from SHH have traveled to Villa Soleada in Honduras to dig sewers and teach children English. The SHH students are helping to build and fund a school.
To get donations from the student body, relay teams sold items. The Pink Carnations team sold T-shirts and hot dogs to raise awareness.
For SHH and Relay for Life, it’s about getting the Mason crowd excited to support a cause. But sometimes this is a challenge.
“SHH is really working hard to build the group and gain enthusiasm from the students,” said sophomore global affairs major Rachel Bruns, next year’s SHH president. “It’s also hard because the economy is affecting everyone.”
While SHH and Relay for Life have encountered some difficulties in raising money, they have found enthusiasm is the key to getting students involved. With fun activities like SHH’s Spring Fling Luau and Relay for Life’s Heated-Wing Competition, Mason students are becoming more excited about these groups.
“Once you get someone really excited about what you’re raising money for, they will want to donate,” said Bruns. “That’s what worked for me.”
A festival of dramatic proportions April 26, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Jason Ulrich, Broadside Correspondent
On April 23 and 24, the Department of Theater and the GMU Players presented the Fourth Annual 10-Minute Play Festival. Taking place on the TheaterSpace stage in the Performing Arts building, the show was broken up into two acts
.
Each act was composed of four plays, of which two tended to be comedy-driven and two that were dramatic. The plays covered a plethora of topics, ranging from imaginary boyfriends to a broken medical system.
There were three showings, which began with the premier on Friday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m., followed by a 2:00 p.m. Saturday matinee and ended with the final show at 8 p.m. that Saturday night.
The shows themselves were as varied in subject as they were in tone. Made up of 44 actors, the first act kicked off with Of British Mice, Simple Men & Squirrel Gangs by Philip Dallmann. This was a hilariously self-referential fairy tale that kept the audience in stitches.
Definitely one of the strangest plays, this performance also housed the largest cast; theater major Chelsea Withington gave a standout performance as the British Mouse, as did Mason O’Sullivan as the Broadway-savvy Head Squirrel.
The final show, You’ve Got Possibilities by Dave Joria, received similar reactions with a terrific performance by Michael Burgos trying to become reacquainted with his ex, who just so happens to be the secretary of the Superfriends.
Some other humorous shows were Why Cupid is Blind, an amusing and funny play by Rachael Graham about a couple who meet each other through a blind date, but there’s a catch.
Theater major Sarah Morrissey was uproarious as the chick flick-obsessed waitress. Perfect Love Vs. Real Life, by Missy Ann Wilmoth, was full of great physical performances, especially from Paul Laudiero as the perfect man.
The strongest show of all was Ice Man by English major Liz Long, which starred theater major Chris Aldrich as an old man whose heat has been turned off. The performance here is more than heartbreaking. Aldrich, who also starred in Madeline Muravchik’s ACCIDENTAL RENDEZ-VOUS, was “just happy to get the opportunity.”
Another show that left a huge impression was The Morphine Diaries by theater major April Brassard and starring Maxie Morales, which discussed the state of America’s medical system. Rounding off the festival was The Quiet Earth, by English major Joshua McCreary, which was about dealing with your past.
With all plays written, directed and starring students, this was a great festival that truly had something for everyone.
According to Maxie Morales, “This really was such a great process and with only a week to rehearse, everyone worked so hard!” It certainly was well worth it.
Mason’s guilty pleasure: Cobra Starship’s performance brings Mason Day to a successful close April 25, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentBy Pearson Jones, Asst. Style Editor
“We came here for one reason and one reason only, to be your fucking guilty pleasure,” cried out Cobra Starship’s leading man Gabe Saporta to a fist-pumping sea of unruly George Mason University students during Thursday’s Mason Day concert. The crowd was guilt-free, however, as students shamelessly danced their way through a synth-pop set list of hipster anthems about alcohol-induced hookups and hot messes.
The band headlined George Mason University’s annual Mason Day last Thursday in a transformed lot L that featured carnival rides, free eats and a main stage that stayed ghostly vacant for most of the day until Starship’s arrival.
Assistant Director for Programming Michelle Davis felt the night proved to be a hit with students.
“Overall it was great” said Davis. “Everything went really smoothly and we had an amazing crowd out there, so I’d say the students really liked it. We had a lot of students excited and enjoying the concert so I think it was a great success.”
The instantly recognizable hit “The City is at War” set things off for the night, showcasing the bands infectious energy that caused the Mason Day crowd to ditch the rides and swarm to the stage.
Cobra Starship’s set list proved to be predictable throughout the night, only highlighting the bands more commercially successful singles.
Rarely did the band risk taking a chance to step out of their comfort zone and dust off some of their lesser known songs for the crowd.
The band’s Gwen Stefani-inspired “Hollaback Boy” and guitarist Ryland Blackinton’s teasing performance of AC/DC’s intro to “Thunderstruck” were the only two surprises of the night.
The bands ability to interact with the crowd was the highlight for most of the attendees.
“I’m not really into the band’s music, but the crowd interaction they had with the students kept it interesting for the people who didn’t really know them that well,” said senior administration of justice major Cameron Foster.
Contributing to the Mason- themed day and proving even more their ability to control a crowd, the band led the Mason student mob in a “G-M-U What” chant.
The chant included Blackinton yelling the “G-M-U” part in auto-tune with drummer Nate Novarro banging out a beat along with it.
In addition, Saporta even brought up a Mason student to sing Travis McCoy’s part in Starship’s debut single “Snakes on a Plane.”
After their set ended, the band came out for their encore performance and played “Good Girls Go Bad,” the first single off their most recent album Hot Mess. “This song is to make all the GMU girls out there go bad,” said Saporta.