Student protests nude poster
photo by Nicole Smith-Johns
Deerwood Center: Jason Harris covers poster he says is offensive. |
Nicole Smith-Johns
nicolesj@myway.com
On Tuesdays before his math class, Jason Harris stops by the library at the Deerwood center to get some tape and paper.
When he gets to his classroom he puts his books down and goes over to the front of the room and begins to cover up a piece of art.
The art, a piece done by Modigliani, is a silhouette of a nude woman called "Nudo Sdraiato."
While the piece, along with various other artists' work was placed at the Deerwood center as a part of the humanities curriculum there, Harris says he feels it should be taken down.
"God covered man after he sinned, why should we remove that covering now," said Harris.
The art however, will not be removed from the room.
"It is not offensive in our opinion," said Patti Adeeb, executive director of the Deerwood Center.
The art has gained only favorable comments from students so far, said Dean Ellie Minich of the Deerwood center.
For the past six months art reproductions have been added to nearly every room in the Deerwood center.
"The art was placed in an effort to enhance the cultural and aesthetic environment of the Deerwood center," said Minich.
However, Harris feels that the art is improper for a learning institution.
"We certainly did not mean to offend Mr. Harris in any way," said Adeeb.
But we want to expose our students to multicultural art throughout the world; she added and said the she would hope Harris could be open-minded.
"There should be no displays of nude women in any public place," said Harris.
"It is un-Godly and unconstitutional," he added.
Harris is not opposed to the other art at the Deerwood center; he is only opposed to that which displays nudity, he said.
Harris is also opposed to nude art in museums and said, "how far have we gotten from God that we allow this type of display?"
Harris is a born again Christian and said since God saved his soul in 2000 they have had a strong bond.
Harris said his relationship with God is not about religion, it is about a relationship-- a walk.
He said he feels strong convictions about the display of the art and feels that it is distracting to his studies.
Harris has met with Dr. Norman Will, the president of South Campus in effort to have the painting removed.
But Dr. Will informed Harris that the piece of art will remain in the room.
"I told Dr. Will that he needs to repent after that," said Harris.
Harris was given the opportunity to change his seat in the classroom and officials also offered too move the painting from the front of the room to the back of the room, said Adeeb.
But Harris declined both offers, again stating that the picture goes against what he believes in.
"He has another agenda-a religious agenda, and we respect that," said Dr. Vincent Jackson, associate dean of the Deerwood center.
"But the piece will not be removed," he added.
Harris says he is against anything that promotes nudity or destruction.
"I am against anything that brings down the moral fabric of our nation," he said.
Rob Berry, A classmate of Harris' doesn't feel as if the art is offensive.
"It's beautiful actually," said Berry.
Harris is an adult and should be able to tell the difference between art and pornography, said Berry.
"And this is certainly not pornography," he added.
Harris needs to realize that this is college, not elementary, or even high school. There are some students at the Deer-wood center majoring in art, said Berry.
But Harris said he just wants God's will to be done in this situation.
"I will pray and see what happens," said Harris.
College tightens web safety
Stephanie Gramling
Computer viruses have caused FCCJ to hike up its security on the web, said Deanna Mock of the FCCJ Learner Support Center.
"FCCJ has blocked some of the incoming mail from students because of the viruses that the database has received, but the new updates will not affect the outgoing mail," said Mock.
According to information given by Mock, every student enrolled in an online course will have an FCCJ e-mail account and will need to use this account for all course correspondence in Blackboard. If a student's course is in WebCt they may use the internal e-mail feature within the program.
"Students are required to use FCCJ student e-mail accounts to confer with instructors for all online classes," Mock said.
In order to get an FCCJ e-mail account, students can go to https://artemis.fccj.edu and log on with their social security number and pin, and then click on "Get a Student User ID."
If a student already has an FCCJ e-mail account, then simply log in to Artemis with a student user ID. If a student doesn't remember the password, it can be reset.
A user ID and password enables students to log on to Artemis where there are links to Blackboard and Webct as well as links to student e-mail accounts.
Going directly to Webct or Blackboard, still enables a student to log in with this Artemis student user ID.
Changing of passwords have to be done through Artemis and will be global in effect. A student's user ID and password will be the same for Artemis, Blackboard, and WebCt.
According to Mock, students will be able to enter Blackboard and Webct through Artemis or through the direct URL links: bb6.fccj.edu, webct4.fccj.edu. This means that students no longer need to contact instructors to get into a course.
Students can log in to their course, beginning on the first day of class, from Artemis or through the direct links listed above.
Students who want to enroll in an online course are urged to activate an account and contact the instructor. Students currently registered in an online course, should visit the Courseware Information for Students page for instructions on how to activate a Student User ID and password.
Students should also visit the Instructor's web page for other course information.
Former FCCJ student youngest elected official in Florida
photo by Tim Montler
Downtown: Clay Yarborough talks about his future. |
Stephanie Gramling
"Who better to manage soil than Clay," was the slogan that helped Clay Yarborough, a former FCCJ student, win the title of the youngest politician in Florida.
With no farming or agriculture experience, Yarborough decided to run for the Soil and Water Conservation Board in the fall of 2000.
"It was less than a month before the qualifying deadline before I learned of the district," he said.
At age 19, Yarborough was elected as the District 2 Supervisor of the Soil and Water Conservation Board, and at 23 is now the Chairman of the board.
"In 1953, there were approximately 150 farms and dairies in Duval County. Over the years it's gone down and stuff has moved out. Today, there are approximately seven left and most of them are in the north and northwestern quadrants of the county. What our board does, for example, is advise them in constructing ponds on their land. We consult a technician and a conservationist that will go and look at the site," said Yarborough.
Yarborough left FCCJ in the fall of 2002 and is currently enrolled at University of North Florida majoring in business management.
"Through working at WJCT [Channel 7], I gained exposure to politics by running camera for the school board and city council meetings. That is when I realized that Jacksonville didn't have any young representation in politics so I decided to run," he said.
Yarborough didn't consider his lack of experience as a disadvantage but rather an advantage.
"I think there has to be a variety of ideas from many different kinds of people to get different perspectives about a subject. When it comes to the School Board you don't want a board full of educators because then you only have one perspective, and you will just run in a loop."
Yarborough's hopes for the future are to seek reelection to the soil and water board in the fall of 2004, and to run for city council in Arlington in the spring of 2007. Also, he encourages students to get involved in politics, because a person can gain knowledge in not only politics but also fiscal responsibility and management.
"At age 18, you are qualified to run for any local office including; Mayor, Sheriff, City Council, School Board, Soil and Water Conservation Board, just to name a few," said Yarborough.
Information relating to any elected office in Duval County may be obtained by calling the Duval Supervisor of Elections at (904)630-1410.
Children a mistake? No, but teen pregnancy is
Children are a blessing - at the appropriate time in life. To allow yourself to become pregnant at seventeen and eighteen years of age, or to even be in a sexual relationship at that age, shows ill disregard to the knowledge of the consequences of your actions. Intercourse has one purpose and one purpose only: reproduction, procreation, multiplication, which ever you would like to call it.
The satisfaction produced by this action is a bi-product. So to say that you never intended to get pregnant is irrelevant. The intention is to get that high that is a result of the action, the experience of the unknown. Curiosity killed the cat, but STDs kill everything!
Little girls with big imaginations that have grown up reading fairy tales and smut literature have become the downfall of many ambitious males. The ideal of finding that perfect male that will be their prince charming and save them from their evil family is deep seated in their subconscious and affects their perception of right and wrong. The old ideals of innocent dating are dead.
Welcome to the world of monogamous possession. When kids in high school start "dating" it's usually in the form of "your mine." That's how this whole Greek tragedy starts. Teenagers become increasingly serious about the relationship as time goes on, and not at a slow pace as you would expect. It's more of a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."
Love in the mind of the typical teen youth is ninety percent hormones and ten percent good intention. Males, by design, will do anything to please their female partner. Be it acting foolish in public or something that could jeopardize their future, they will eliminate all reason to keep her happy.
We are animals of habit. A few drinks, a good looking girl, a whiff of pheromones, some crossed signals, and the male brain is a utter mush puddle of positive thoughts - and bad results. Yes, in some cases teen pregnancy can not be avoided. Rape being a viable cause, drunkenness is not.
It takes two to tango but someone has to start the music. Males are wired to receive signals from their counterpart, and by sending out mixed signals an ignition switch is hit. From there on everything goes downhill on a steep incline. The brain goes numb and all reason and caution go out the window.
Animal instinct is all you can truly blame for teen pregnancy. So, you have to ask yourself one question. Are you an animal, or an intelligent human being?
Andrew Shelton
Just say no to the war on drugs
|
When 52-year-old, conservative Rush Limbaugh is addicted to OxyContin, Lorcet, and hydrocodone, we know that our nation's drug policy has to be reexamined. It's not just middle-aged, talk radio hosts that are hooked. We've seen Benjamin Curtis, the 22-year-old "Dell Dude," being arrested for criminal possession of marijuana ("Dude, you're going to jail!") and Jaguar receiver Jimmy Smith, age 34, using cocaine. Celebrity abusers are only a few of the tragedies: crack babies, gangs fighting over drug territories, and people stealing to support $100-a-day habits. Is our approach to drugs really working?
A recent letter writer proposed that "doing drugs should be outlawed no matter what unless they are to be used for medicinal purposes" and that the drinking age be raised to 25. I feel that our heavy-handed approach to drugs is failing us now and that hard-line policies will serve us no better than their disappointments in the past.
The most disappointing aspect about the War on Drugs is not that it has failed to keep the pushers out our children's schools or that there are hundreds of thousands of people in prisons who have never committed violence against anyone, never stolen anything, never threatened anyone; the disappointment lies in that murders, child molesters, and rapists are released early because our prisons are at capacity with nonviolent drug offenders. When you see a repeat offender in the news, think of the pot smoker who was taking up his jail cell.
Put yourself in the shoes of the drug offender to see how effective our system is. You would pay inflated, black-market prices, while black-market riches lure anyone willing to break the law as a drug dealer. This is why you see pushers in our schools and in our prisons. In 1997, even Charles Manson, despite being locked in a cage and constantly searched, was found to be running a flourishing narcotics business in his prison. When a drug bust occurs, the market is even more lucrative: the supply is purged while the demand remains the same. Thus, prices explode beyond the already artificially inflated levels. The overly inflated prices are why if you were an addict, you probably couldn't work at a normal, law-abiding job: you couldn't make enough to support your habit. You would have to become a prostitute, steal from people, or make black-market profits off of drugs. What if drugs were regulated, and addicts could work law-abiding jobs to support their addiction?
Than again, say you are not addicted. You don't hurt anyone, but you do drugs in the privacy of your own home and get caught. Would you be a better person if you spent five, ten, or fifteen years in jail? In jail you meet people who know how to steal, kill, and cheat other people. Would you join a gang? Who would you meet and what skills would you learn in prison?
Let's say that all non pharmaceutical drugs are made illegal as the letter writer proposed. One only thinks of the prohibition of alcohol of the early 20th century. Drugs. Gangs. Violence. Caffeine is a stimulant that has similar effects on the nervous system as cocaine. If you have a cup of coffee every morning, stop. See if you have headaches, irritability, and other signs of withdrawal. I know a few professors that would resort to violence for a shot of espresso in the morning. As for tobacco, a substance more addictive than marijuana, I would love to see the Marlboro Men fight with the Camel Clan over cigarette territories. Although I write about the fictitious gang names with tongue-in-cheek, it's not quite so funny when we think of the people who've died from violence of drug cartels or from impure drugs.
In our current system, it's almost impossible to help people deep underground in the drug culture. I admire Holland's drug policy, because people see what marijuana does to users. This is the key: We can treat users instead of them being hidden from those who can help and those who can learn from drug users' mistakes. Addicts in a regulated drug industry wouldn't die anonymously from some impure drug sold from a two-bit chemist in a trailer. The drugs would be regulated, and legal production would create prices at levels that people wouldn't have to steal to support their chemical addiction. There will always be people who make poor choices, but we could help addicts rather than locking them away, instead letting them seek help without fear of criminal prosecution.
We need to reevaluate our nation's drug policy. We must focus our limited law enforcement resources on safeguarding our nation from terrorism and our neighborhoods from violent criminals instead of pursuing peaceful drug users. (In the year 2000, 734,497 Americans were arrested on marijuana-related charges. That same year, only 625,243 violent criminals were arrested for murder, rape, robbery, or aggravated assault, according to the FBI). Even if you're unsure whether you agree with my stance on the issue, let's take steps in a sensible direction that the majority of Americans agree upon. Let's stop federal harassment of cancer and AIDS patients in the seven states that have decided to legalize medicinal usage of marijuana (recommended by a doctor). Americans agree that arresting sick and dying people by overstepping state wishes is inhumane. Federal marijuana laws should be repealed, and states should be free to adopt alternatives to today's failing punitive drug laws.
We've been down that path of a heavy-handed, feel-good War on Drugs. We know where that path leads. It's time that we "just say no" to the War on Drugs.
Randy Wilbourn Jr.,
Kent Campus
Course dropping: a waste of cash
Jay Stamper
vhighspotv@yahoo.com
November 12 is the last day for many of you students to get out of that class you are tanking in, even though you, or someone else, paid hard earned money for it.
Withdrawing from classes never made sense to me.
Maybe I have never been in a situation where I needed to, but I can't think of too many great reasons besides prolonged illness or military duty, and at least with military duty, you can get a refund.
What is the main reason for students to withdraw?
Poor grades. Either the subject matter is over that student's head or too many nights at the Roxy interfered with valuable study time.
To me, withdrawing, in many cases, is a cop out for students who don't want to be students.
Just because you spend the money for the class, it doesn't mean you have 3 shiny new credit hours to put on your transcript.
You spend the money because property taxes don't foot the bill like with public schools.
College is not an opportunity given to everyone. It is the next step to making yourself a little wiser and more promising than your standard high school graduate. It is a way to better your self, not 13th grade.
Why withdraw from a class that you have to take again any way? After that, there is no choice or second chance, unless you want to pay out of state tuition.
$57.90 a credit hour is cheap compared to most of the colleges throughout the land, but when you withdraw from a 3 credit hour class, that is $173.70 thrown out of the window. What can $173.70 buy these days?
o Nintendo Gamecube with a couple of games.
o A Fender Squire Affinity sunburst Stratocaster Special.
o A 20" Apex Flat Screen TV and a trip to Burger King for two.
That is just a short list of crap you can blow money on. At least you can look at this stuff instead of a big ol' "W".
If you fail a class or earn a D, wear it like a badge of honor and try again.
In the long run, it will be better than running away from a little adversity.
Jazz ensembles wail at Wilson
Kevin Conley
As the lights went down, two jazz ensemble groups took on some legendary jazz compositions for an enthusiastic crowd at the Wilson Center.
The FCCJ Jazz Studies Program has been under the direction of Matt Vance for the past eight years.
Both jazz ensemble groups have been part of the Jazz Studies Program since its inception in 1970. The Jazz Ensemble Two gives the musicians a chance to prove their musical prowess and earn a spot on the prestigious Jazz Ensemble One.
FCCJ Jazz Ensemble One has been recognized as one of the finest community college jazz ensembles in the country. They've routinely traveled to the International Association of Jazz Educators Annual Conference in a new city each year.
The Jazz Ensemble One has consistently placed the most students on the prestigious IAJE All Star Jazz Ensemble, an audition-only group assembled for the conference.
Vance was also chosen to direct the all-star band in 1999.
Jazz Ensemble One was the only community college band to be invited to Toronto for this past year's IAJE Conference.
A display of the FCCJ Jazz Studies Program and the jazz ensemble groups was in the Wilson Center on Tuesday night, showing why they consistently excel.
Jazz Ensemble Two first took the stage.
The groovy notes of the trombone filled the air as the Jazz Ensemble Two launched into a stirring rendition of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," originally recorded by Stan Kenton.
The Jazz Ensemble Two was playing second fiddle to no one as the director, Paul Weikle, led the group through the opening number.
Weikle encouraged his musicians with a fantastic light-heartedness and an unbridled enthusiasm that could be seen on all the musicians' faces.
Although all the tunes performed by Jazz Ensemble Two showcased its member's musical prowess, the last number put all the pieces together.
Awe-inspiring solos from guitarist Kyle Robert and drummer John Lumpkin highlighted the spectacular closing number. Their final song showed the crowd that they could definitely hold their own on any night.
The pressure mounted for Jazz Ensemble One to show why they are one of the best community college bands in the country.
Their opening number was no disappointment. A Glen Miller classic, Opus One, was highlighted by the solo work of Corey Patterson on tenor sax and Justin Kelly on the trumpet. The half-full auditorium roared in approval after the first number.
The group's next number was a tongue-in-cheek rendition of an old standard. It revealed the creativity of the director, Vance, and his accomplished band as they put their own twist on the classic, "Have Ever Met Myron?" An interesting pace set up the wonderful solo work. The inventive piece was accented by the impressive solos of Eric Kennedy on alto sax and Mike Spottswood on the lead trumpet.
The next number might have been the centerpiece of the show or at least the most emotional number.
The Benny Golson tribute to the late, great Clifford Brown was right on. With a deliberate and somber pace, the piece showcased yet again the solo work of Spottswood on the lead trumpet.
Both Golson and Brown would have been proud to be associated with this powerful tribute to the jazz legend.
The closing number put the bow on the musical gift for the crowd in the Wilson Center. "Big Swing Face" made famous by Buddy Rich was the closing number of the concert.
The piece showed off the range of Jazz Ensemble One as they meandered through this great piece of music. The dexterity of the band was remarkable with dueling trombones flowing throughout this composition.
Quick and easy recipes help students
Michelle Attia
mmartin80@myway.com
Many college students are learning for the first time about cooking for themselves. Here are some recipes to start your collection.
For an inexpensive and quick, but delicious meal try:
Chicken Tetrazzini
Ingredients
2 tablespoons margarine
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
4 chicken breasts or legs
1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1/2 pound spagehettini
1 can (10-ounce) of condensed cream of mushroom soup
In a skillet sauté the onion and garlic in margarine until tender. Add chicken and brown on both sides. Stir in the mushroom soup, milk and parsley. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions on package, cooking only minimum time indicated, drain and put into a baking pan. Arrange chicken pieces on top, cover with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 400 degrees F. for approximately 20 minutes.
This easy chicken recipe serves 4.
For those wanting a more elegant or romantic dinner try:
Mussels in White Wine Sauce
Ingredients:
4 Cups of mussels
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. chopped yellow onion
2 Tbsp. chopped garlic
2 Tbsp. pernod (a licorice- flavored liqueur from France)
1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
Juice of 1/2 of a lemon
3/4 Cups Lemon Butter Sauce (recipe follows). Be sure to make lemon butter sauce before starting.
Lemon Butter Sauce:
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. clarified butter (you'll need about 1/2 stick butter; directions follow)
2 Tbsp. finely chopped yellow onion
2 Tbsp. finely chopped garlic
6 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. dry white wine
Kosher salt
White pepper
2 Tbsp. cold butter
To clarify butter: Melt 1/2 stick butter over low heat. When melted, remove from heat and set aside for several minutes to allow the milk solids to settle to the bottom. Skim the clear (clarified) butter from the top and discard sediment. (This can be done ahead.)
To make sauce: Heat clarified butter; add onion and garlic and sauté until transparent. Add lemon juice and white wine and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes to reduce liquid. Remove from heat and swirl in cold butter until sauce is smooth and emulsified.
Mussel Preparation:
Soak mussels in cold water for several minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush and remove "beard" (the little tuft of fibers protruding from the shell), either with a sharp knife or by pulling on it with a damp cloth.
Rinse mussels again in cold water.
Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet; add mussels. Cover and cook until shells begin to open, about 2 minutes. Add onion and garlic and toss. Cover pan again and cook for 1 minute. Add pernod, basil, lemon juice and lemon butter sauce. Return to flame for 30 to 45 seconds with top off skillet.
Discard any mussels that did not open.
Serve in a deep bowl.
Recipe makes 2 servings.
Enjoy these recipes and be sure to look for more to follow, or email me at MMartin@myway.com for more ideas.
FCCJ student wins shot at stardom
Dan Steele
Florida Community College-Jacksonville music major Mark Dorsett won the Gimme the Mike! contest and a shot at becoming a celebrity.
Dorsett, who won with a perfect score by the judges for his rendition of the song "Faithfully," entered the Channel 4-WJXT contest on a whim.
"I basically stumbled into it. I had a gift certificate for a store in the mall, and when I saw the booth, I decided to try it," he said.
The Grand Prize for the contest was a demo CD, a photo shoot for publicity, and a 5 day-4-night trip to Jamaica.
The American Idol-like contest saw over 500 people in the initial tryout, which was narrowed down to 25. A winner was chosen each week, with a "wild-card" contestant chosen from those not picked as the weekly winners.
The wild card winner, Lisa Bickmore, took second place. She had previously faced Dorsett during the weekly contest, with Dorsett winning by a tie-breaker.
Dorsett is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School for the Arts, and has been involved in music since sixth grade. He credits his lengthy and rewarding involvement in music to Karen Applebaum, choir/chorus director at DuPont Middle School, who advised him to attend Douglas Anderson.
"That really refined me, and put me where I am today."
Funeral program gets accreditation
Cynthia Pereira
cpereira@myway.com
The Funeral Services Program has received their initial three-year accreditation from the American Board of Funeral Services Education (ABFSE).
The program's coming up on its two-year anniversary and has already produced its first crop of graduates. These graduates were awarded an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree.
The graduates will go on to intern with local funeral homes and prepare for the National Board Examination. However, the classes starting in 2004 will be required to take the National Board Examination before graduating.
Some graduates will transfer to a university that offers a Bachelors degree in Funeral Services. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics depending on factors such as level of schooling, the median annual earnings for funeral directors was $41,110 in 2000. The median annual earnings for embalmers were $32,870 in 2000.
The goal of the program is to, "generate more qualified people to do this job," said Roy Weimert, Funeral Services Program Director. "There just aren't that many people going into this business anymore."
When asked if this program was his "baby", Weimert said, "It feels like triplets."
The first year and a half of the program has been successful. "The big step was getting accredited," he said. "You've got to crawl first…"
Many of the program's students are "second career people," said Weimert. As a result most of the program's classes are offered in the evenings to accommodate the responsibilities that many of their students may have.
Weimert said that they are currently working on implementing online courses as well.
"The great need is here, in North Florida," said Weimert. "The funeral community is behind us."
For information regarding the program, please Roy Weimert at 766-6511 or 766-6622.
Inner-city school seeks students to volunteer
Fay Farley
A Jacksonville inner-city school is seeking college students as volunteers to tutor third through fifth grade students who are preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
So far, only one student has volunteered.
"We really need them desperately," said Stephanie Lee, volunteer liaison for Project Reach at West Jacksonville Elementary Electronic Magnet School.
Tutors are needed Monday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sessions are in 45-minute time blocks.
Volunteer tutors will be needed until the annual FCAT is administered in the first week of March.
The FCAT is Florida's high-stakes test that measures all aspects of a student's education and a teacher's instruction.
Tutors are needed in all areas of study, but one area remains crucial.
"Basically, it's reading," Lee said. "We also need help with math because most adults don't want to do math."
Dr. Donna Keenan, a University of North Florida professor, will train the students in tutoring techniques during a two-hour training session.
With the elementary school located at 2115 Commonwealth Avenue, Lee said, "We are not far from Downtown or Kent, no more than three to four miles from either school."
Although this would be more convenient for Kent and Downtown students, Lee said that students from all campuses are welcome.
Lee can be contacted at 630-6595 between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Lee considers the college students' involvement a way of improving FCAT scores while setting a good example.
"It's always good for students to see other students that have made it to college - especially inner-city students," Lee said.
'Getting inked' a high art form, advocates say
Kevin Conley
The room's vibrant yellow walls are adorned with various original works of art. The conversation filling the room vibrates in an equally colorful way. It could be an art museum, but it's not.
It's a tattoo studio.
Oddity Ink Tattoo Studio in North Jacksonville Beach along with its owners, 28 year-old Dwayne Crafton and Santana, reflect the growing acceptance and popularity in mainstream society that tattoos have enjoyed in recent years.
The 9-month-old tattoo studio sits behind the popular seafood restaurant, Harry's. In this upscale outdoor shopping center on Tenth Avenue North and Third Street, the tattoo parlor and its decorative storefront fit right in.
The world of tattoos, until recently, was considered only to involve bikers and convicts.
That deviant image linked to tattoos was fostered through a stereotypical portrayal in all forms of media. Only recently have tattoos become socially acceptable and in some cases considered high form of modern art.
"The kind of people that I tattoo has definitely changed in the past few years from some of your more hard-core guys to students to successful businessmen," said Crafton, co-owner of Oddity and a tattoo artist for the past 11 years.
The tattoo industry has experienced a recent economic boom and rapid expansion.
This growth has been evident locally with the openings of almost a dozen shops in the past year.
The demand for tattoo parlors has grown in the past decade because the type of people sporting tattoos has broadened more with each passing year.
"Everyone is ready to get ink these days," said Crafton.
People from all types of occupations and walks of life from police officers to elementary school teachers are now "getting ink" and becoming a part of a once deviant subculture.
The expansion of the industry has allowed Crafton to open his own shop concentrating exclusively on custom work to fill a creative void.
The growth of the clientele of tattoo parlors has been good financially, but has not been without its drawbacks artistically.
"There are a lot of places that are more of a stamp studio than tattoo studio," Crafton said. "They're less concerned with the art and more with volume of stamps that they can do in a day."
He attributes this to the growing number of people getting their first or second tattoo.
Leafing through one of their portfolios full of famous music stars and stunning realistic works of art on skin, it's evident Crafton and Santana have done well in the past few years.
"Any respected artist makes $100-$125 dollars an hour, but a lot depends upon different aspects, like colors, size, and location. Getting paid to create art is a great way to live," Crafton says.
Walkers raise money for vision awareness
Mary Sheffield
The Sixth Annual Vision Awareness Walk took place Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavillion.
The walk was started by Independent Living for Adult Blind (ILAB)in collaboration with the Division of Blind Services, Veterans Administration's Visually Impaired Service Team (VIST), and Southeastern Guide Dogs as a fund raiser and just a way to let people know that there is hope for the visually impaired.
Their motto is "There is hope when vision fails (through rehabilitation)," according to Becky Simpson of ILAB.
Annually the walk brings in about two hundred participants with at least 25 visually impaired. This year the walk had about two hundred thirty participants with about forty being visually impaired. Each participant received an event t-shirt.
Participants were also asked to raise money through fund-raisers with the highest five fund-raisers receiving prizes. Prizes included tickets to the Alhambra Theater, FCCJ Artist Series tickets, Waterford Crystal, and dinner packages.
Proceeds have come to about $6,000 annually, increasing each year. From this, about $4,000 is given to ILAB and $2,000 the Southeastern Guide Dogs.
"It was a beautiful day", Simpson said of the day of the walk.
St. Augustine tavern offers sea songs
Laura Morrison
The Bilge Rats at the Taberna Del Gallo are drawing good-sized crowds with rousing shanty songs, hearty drink, and fine company.
The 18th century tavern at 35 St. George St., in St. Augustine is part of the historical Spanish Quarter Village.
"Visitors to the Taberna Del Gallo may be surprised at the amount of locals and regular clientele who travel from Jacksonville and Gainesville to enjoy themselves," said lead shanty man, Bradley Taylor-Hicks.
The 1740 tavern is a reconstruction built on the foundation of the original Spanish tavern. By day the building is part of the Spanish Quarter tour, but on Fridays and Saturdays from 2 to 9:30 p.m. the tavern comes to life serving drinks. At 7:30 p.m. the shanty men arrive to entertain. The group performs three 45-minute sets.
Although the tavern has been open for a year, the music began later when one quiet evening Taylor-Hicks, 26, and some of his fellow Spanish Quarter interpretive guides got together to sing sea shanties. Some people showed up at the tavern and kept asking for more and the next thing they knew The Bilge Rats had become a fixture on the weekends, inviting people of all ages.
The Bilge Rats consist of four talented male singers dressed in period appropriate clothing. Taylor-Hicks, a native of London, said that they researched the songs paying special attention to "Shanties of the Sea" by Stan Hugill. Mystic Seaport Publishing, which is considered the leader of the network of U.S. shanty groups, published the book.
The songs which are sung each evening are British, American, and West Indian sea shanties.
"I have been singing since I was a kid," said Taylor-Hicks. "What I enjoy most about the tavern is being able to help other people enjoy themselves. They come out of their shells when they look around and see everyone singing and then they begin slapping their mugs on the table. You see a sense of freedom."
A visitor to the Taberna Del Gallo will settle down to wooden tables surrounded by decorative Spanish lanterns and candles that light both the indoor intimate setting and the outdoor patio covered with a vine arbor.
The "cantinera", a female tavern keeper, greets visitors with a bucket of delicious peanuts. Beverages include sangria, beer, wine, and soda.
The tavern features Yeungling from the oldest U.S. brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Kelly's Hard Cider is another drink of choice. Alcohol prices range from
$3 to $4.
"Come down and leave all your good sense at the door and enjoy yourself," said the shanty man.
The tavern and singers are also available for private gatherings. For more information contact the Spanish Quarter Village at 825-6830.
Casino ship looking for bingo callers
Fay Farley
The Otis Smith Kids Foundation needs student volunteers at least 18 years old to operate bingo games on a gambling ship.
The ship, La Cruise Casino, offers non-profit groups an opportunity to run bingo games on the way out to international waters where the gambling begins and also on the return trip in.
The foundation began in 1989 by Otis Smith, former NBA star, who grew up in Jacksonville. It provides programs and serves to improve the quality of life in Northeast Florida for children between the ages of 6 and 12.
"The importance of volunteers cannot be stressed enough. Without volunteers we can't run bingo and that upsets a lot of people," said Bonnie Upright, director of community development at the foundation.
"It's a great way for folks to spend an hour and make a contribution to the community," she said.
"Every dollar counts for the foundation," she said.
Security on the ship is very intense as the gambling, whether it's bingo or blackjack, is permitted and overseen by the Organized Crime Department of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, said Upright. Cameras are everywhere. It not only lends credence, she said, but also insures that people behave.
Contributions from bingo can range from a few hundred dollars to a thousand, depending on the weather, the season, and how much people are winning.
"People win a lot - they will spend more freely on the way back in," Upright said. "People are more charitable, more generous. It's that time of year."
When the ship is boarded and before playing bingo, "We talk and make them aware of our foundation," Upright said. The foundation banner hangs up to remind people of who they are and what they do.
Even though the non-profit organization has a mission to serve, the bingo is still about having fun, she said.
Volunteers are needed to sign up for one or more cruises.
The schedule alternates between a Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Saturday schedule every four weeks. Weekday cruises are from 6 p.m. to midnight. Weekend cruises are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
November dates are: 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 25, and 27.
Volunteers are required to arrive one hour prior to departure. The dock is located at 4738 Ocean St. in Mayport, next to the St. Johns River Ferry. Parking is free.
Once on board, volunteers receive about a 10-minute training session. "Training is pretty straight forward. It's easy," Upright said.
Volunteers can call bingo, verify winning bingo cards, sell cards, and assist with payouts.
With the cruise lasting five to six hours and with only about two hours for playing bingo, there is a lot of free time.
Some student volunteers may choose to spend their time gambling, which is okay with Upright. She suggests that a volunteer might want to bring a book to read or a game to play. On a weekend cruise there could be a chance to layout in the sun.
"They are representing the Otis Smith Kids Foundation," Upright said. "They cannot drink alcohol on the cruise but they can gamble. They can enjoy themselves."
Volunteers are given a per diem of $5 for food. They receive a 50 percent discount for food items.
Coffee, tea, and sodas are plentiful and provided free. Snack carts are also on board with gum and chips. Brown bagging is no problem.
A grill is open during the entire cruise where burgers and wings are cooked. Cold sandwiches and salads are also available.
To get on the schedule or for further information contact Stefanie Ambrosio at 880-6847.
Federal grant awarded to FCCJ
Kevin Conley
Florida Community College has received a $1.8 million federal grant that will help ensure that students who begin at FCCJ complete their education.
"It all comes back to services for students," said Vice President of Liberal Arts Margarita Cabral-Maly.
According to Cabral-Maly, the goal is to use this federal grant to improve the overall retention of students through strengthening the systems directly related to their success.
One of the first activities planned for the grant fund is the launch of a program called Strengthening Learning Support System for College Preparatory Students. This program will enable the college preparatory student to have access to strengthening academic systems, student support systems, and information systems related to student academic risk factors.
The retention of college preparatory students will be increased with the help of faculty and staff redesigning courses and increasing accessibility to computer labs.
Other programs will follow, Cabral-Maly said.
The basic idea, she said, is to get students acclimated to the rigors of the college curriculum before they're overwhelmed by the college course work.
The federal grant culminated a two-year process involving 50 people from college-wide groups, both student groups and faculty committees, according to Cabral-Maly.
The five-year grant will be unilaterally dispersed across the college's four campuses.
The funds will be allotted on individual project basis.
The government sets up the fund of $1.8 million available to FCCJ, and a college office evaluates each project on an individual basis with the help from student and faculty groups.
The future is definitely bright for the current and future students of FCCJ, Cabral-Maly said. She feels the two years of hard work was time well spent.
College cable November listings
The college's TV schedule has been updated to include titles of program series of both video courses for credit and non-credit programming options.
Interested in learning more about Autstralia? See the channel times for "Australia: That Unique Continent" on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Want to bone up on math before taking the course next term? Check the listings for Elementary and Intermediate Algebra.
Two new video-based courses are being offered spring term. OCE 2001, Survey of Oceanography debuts as a video course in January. "The Endless Voyage" contains 26 half hour lessons with titles ranging from "The Water Planet" and "The Ocean's Memory" to "Going with the Flow" and "Dirty Water." Catch sneak previews on at 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays with repeats on Thursday mornings and Friday nights.
"Stepping Stones" is the new video course replacing "A Time to Grow" for DEP 2102 Child Psychology. These all new programs can be previewed at noon Wednesdays and at 8 p.m. Friday nights.
Visit "Telecourses" on the Distance Learning homepage at www.distancelearning.org for channel listings in different areas and for specific program titles. For more information, call 997-2669.
Couples' verbal spat takes violent turn
Michelle Attia
mmartin80@myway.com
A verbal dispute turned violent Oct. 27 when two students, one male and one female, got into a physical confrontation.
The two students were in an emotionally heated argument when a security officer passing by noticed the disturbance.
He radioed for help.
"Fight in main parking lot; need assistance," he yelled.
From all over the campus, security guards came running.
Security officers said later that the male wanted the female to get into his car. The female refused.
The male grabbed her by the hair in an attempt to force her into the car.
She turned around, hit at him and he started hitting her back.
Security officers arrived at the scene and broke the two students up.
Another struggle ensued as three of the officers wrestled the man to the ground as they escorted the woman away from the area.
Shouts were heard as the male cried, "Get off me! This ain't your business!"
One security officer received a minor injury to the eye, and both students sustained minor wounds. None needed hospital care.
The woman later decided not to file formal charges against the man. The man, security officers said, is facing a period of suspension from FCCJ.
Literary magazine gets new faculty advisor
Lora Nast
The Experience, FCCJ's literary and art magazine has a new faculty advisor.
Kent Campus English Professor Kathleen Ciez-Volz took over the position when the previous advisor, Professor Marilyn DeSimone, retired at the end of the summer term.
DeSimone, who had been the magazine's only other advisor, kept the award-winning magazine running continuously for over 30 years, making it the longest running literary magazine at the college level in the state.
"I have enormous shoes to fill," said Ciez-Volz of her predecessor and mentor. Ciez-Volz also said that she, along with other faculty members, considers DeSimone an unsung hero of the college.
Although DeSimone is retired, she has committed to helping the new advisor work out any printing or production issues in the future, Ciez-Volz said.
The magazine contains the literary works and art of FCCJ students.
Even though The Experience has a faculty advisor, the literary content and its inclusion in the publication are completely student-driven. "It truly represents the students' voice," said Ciez-Volz in an interview.
While the written work is selected solely by students via a literary review board, Ciez-Volz works closely with professor Derby Ulloa to select pieces of student art that would work best for the black and white publication.
The free magazine is published annually each spring. Students can pick up the most recent issue at Student Services.
A call for submissions for the spring 2004 edition will be posted around all campuses and on the college Web site soon. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 14.
Any FCCJ student carrying a minimum of one credit hour can not only submit any literary work, but be on the review board as well.
Students are not limited to the amount of work or the timeframe in which it was written.
Ciez-Volz said that if a student has the basic requirement of one credit hour, he or she can submit any poem, dramatic piece or short story - it doesn't matter when the piece was written.
As with her predecessor, Ciez-Volz will accept either typed or handwritten submissions. However, she said that submitting on disc or via e-mail would be ideal.
Any student interested in submitting their work can drop off submissions to B-257 Kent Campus or e-mail them to kciez@fccj.edu.
For those preferring to mail their submissions, send to Professor Kathleen Ciez-Volz at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, 3939 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205.
The magazine "gives the student [the chance] to put their message in a bottle, and let the world read it," said Ciez-Volz.
Spanish film to be shown at Wilson Center
Stephanie Gramling
The FCCJ Department of Foreign Languages is sponsoring its second multicultural movie night and discussion of the 2003 fall session.
On Wednesday Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage of the Wilson Center at South Campus, FCCJ will present the free showing of "Knocks at My Door."
Refreshments will be served courtesy of South Campus student activities.
This movie is set in a small, imaginary Latin American town that is in political turmoil. It puts a face on the moral dilemma confronting many of the fledgling democracies of South and Central America.
This political drama and cultural learning experience was organized by Professors Zidovec and Barquinero.
Downtown hosts international festival
Downtown Campus international students, hailing from half the countries of the world, will host a multi-cultural festival from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20.
The students will present a wide variety of visual, cultural, and performing arts in the annual International Education Festival.
The festival will include international films, music, dancing, poetry readings, ethnic foods, and a coffee cafe in the Downtown Campus courtyard.
All four days of activities are free to all who attend.
A colorful Chinese "lion dance" parade will kick off the celebration on Monday, Nov. 17.
International student's displays and portrait projects will brighten the lobby, and the cafeteria will feature ethnic dishes. Throughout the week students plan to wear native dress.
Student dancers from Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships (CASS) will present Central American/ Caribbean songs and dances daily.
On Monday, in the large auditorium, the internationally acclaimed PBS documentary movie "Time for School" will showcase innovative educational programs from Japan, India, Benin, Brazil, Bangladesh, and other countries.
On Tuesday, there will be poetry readings, dancing, and an international coffee cafe in the courtyard. Also, the international fashion show, hosted by John Paul and Treisha with music by DJs Paco and Papo.
Latino heritage will be celebrated on Wednesday with the touring exhibit, "¡Piensa Grande! (Think Big!)."
The FCCJ celebration of cultural diversity concludes Thursday with an international film festival, dancing, and storytellers.
This year's film is the acclaimed art-house drama, "The Red Violin." The film traces the history of a legendary instrument across five continents as it affects the lives of generations of people over three centuries.
Luis Montalvo, the CASS Coordinator, and Aleen Marsh, ESOL, are coordinating the events.
Schedule of activities
The Downtown Campus will host International Education Week from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20.
Here is a list of activities, all of which are free and open to all.
All week, international foods, international student displays and portrait project, in the lobby.
Monday, Nov. 17.
• 11:30 a.m. to noon- lion dance, in the lobby.
• Noon to 12:30 p.m.- CASS country-dance in the courtyard.
• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.- "Time for School," PBS movie, followed by a discussion, in large auditorium.
Tuesday, Nov. 18.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.- international coffee, international poetry reading, and international dance in the courtyard.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.-Latino heritages in the lobby
• TBA, Latino heritage lecture in room 1018
• 11:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.-CASS country-dance in the large auditorium.
• 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.-fashion show hosted by John Paul and Triesha with music by DJs Paco and Papo in the large auditorium.
• 1 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.-CASS country-dance in the large auditorium
Thursday, Nov. 20
• 10 a.m. to noon-international film in the large auditorium.
• 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.-CASS country-dance, courtyard.
• Noon to 1 p.m.-storytellers in C-103.
Campus has international flavor
Jacksonville is a growing international cultural center for Northeast Florida. And FCCJ's Downtown Campus has become an international campus.
Students represent over 100 countries and their diverse cultures.
The two largest groups of international students hail from Bosnia (167 students) and Columbia (163 students), organizers said. Other large groups of students are from Cuba, Iran, Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan.
One of the mosta popular noncredit courses on campus is English for Speakers of Other Languages. There are 1,486 students in these classes taught by two full-time professors and 33 adjuncts. The ESL program provides college credit English courses for students who wish to gain fluency to earn their associates degree.
Socrates cafe gives free reign to free thought
Melissa Fegeley
Free thought manifests itself on campus through a group of faculty and students who meet regularly for what they call the Socrates Café.
Based on the concept developed by Christopher Philips, author of "Socrates Café: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy," FCCJ communications Professor Arnold Wood incorporates Philips's take on philosophy with what makes America Great-the freedom to speak your mind.
"It is topic-based, free-flowing conversation," said Wood, explaining that the gathering's purpose is to "Share viewpoints," and also to "really find out what they think, rather than criticize what they think."
Wood also explained his goal is to motivate all in attendance to take part.
Topics generate either from within the group or stem as an idea from Wood.
As the discussion develops, the topic also evolves, transforming into something unique, while participants contribute their thoughts based on their perceptions of the topic.
Past topics include the deciphering of whether fair is fair and an exploration into the idea of physical immortality.
Student Rachel Thomas has never missed a session.
Thomas believes the forum allows room for a personal declaration of a separate viewpoint. She expressed her view on the inability to say what you really want in most situations, "You can't talk anymore," she said.
Wood conducts the sessions at least once a month. He said there would also be one more meeting before the holidays.
South Campus Student Activities Coordinator Walter Fitzpatrick provides the group with refreshments.
As for the price of attendance, it is as free as the flow of thought.
Contact Arnold Wood at 646-2341 or Walter Fitzpatrick at 646-2276 for more information.
Freaky Links: great sites on the web
Brad Hall
variablerush@myway.com
Generals
This site features journals and war strategies written by many famous warriors throughout history including; Sun Tzu and Julius Caesar. This site would be an excellent resource for someone writing an essay on a military strategist.
http://www.sonshi.com/
Elections
The presidential election is coming up next year and Politics1 is ready. This site features information on every Democratic hopeful and information on every Party, even the elusive Rave Party.
http://www.politics1.com/
Harassed
This site is about a man who works a regular 9-5 job as a web designer for a pretty large company who occasionally gets harassed by an entity known only as The Crazy Drunk Guy.
http://www.joynk.com/cdg/
Comic
This last site, called I.Q Prerequisite is a web comic written by a woman named Laura Venning about the trials and tribulations of being a college freshman. We have all been there before once or twice.
http://www.laurascomics.com/
That's all until next time…
Spring course links science and movies
Panashe Muwunganirwa
An innovative course that combines movies and science is back for another semester.
The class, Selected Topics in Biological Science (BSC 2933), will be offered this spring on Mondays from 2 p.m to 4:45 p.m under the instruction of Prof. William Robichaud.
It is offered only at South Campus.
Robichaud said that BSC 2933 is a class in which the scientific and social implications of certain movies will be studied and discussed.
"You can learn without being filled with all kinds anxiety," he said.
Participation will be the bulk of the grade in this class, he added.
Guest professors will be invited to give insight during discussions of films that get into their fields.
Students interested in signing up for the class should preferably have had at least one college level science course or be inclined to science, Robichaud said.
This class will not replace any science or humanities requirements and will be counted as an elective, he added.
The class will feature well known movies such as "Lorenzo's Oil," "Soylent Green," and "Andromeda Strain."
Students should expect to watch a movie a week, he said.
The class was offered last year and was very successful, he said.
A larger enrollment is required next term for it to be brought back in the year 2006, Robichaud said.
He first conceived the idea of starting this class about a decade ago after seeing that FCCJ had the same quality of education as most four year institutions.
Robichaud said that he wanted to come up with a class that was informative yet fun.
"You figure people like to watch movies, and people like to talk about movies...," he said.
His chartreuse posters on the bulletin boards have already attracted the attention of students who have been calling him and requesting information about the course.
For more information, contact Robichaud at 646-2069.
Spring registration is currently in progress.
Student can register in person at campus enrollment offices or on the web through Artemis.
Artemis can be reached at www.fccj.edu.
Classes for the spring term begin on Jan. 5.
Bowling tournament wants students to play
Chris Arter
The FCCJ Bowling tournament is looking for competitors for the upcoming event set to begin soon.
The tournament is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. Nov. 4 at Bowl America, and is free for FCCJ students.
The level of competition is at a very relaxed level according to staff. Organizers of the event hope others will not feel intimidated to compete.
"I would encourage everyone to come out...it's easy going and there's nothing to be nervous about," said Rob Benson, the recreational coordinator and organizer of the event. "It's free. It's fun."
The tournaments are held twice a semester. Although the attendance since the beginning has been enough to sustain the tournament, Benson said he would like to see more people come out.
The winners will have their choice of either a trip for two at the movies or two games of bowling at Bowl America.
Usually, the 10 people who typically compete in the tournament are males, but females have been known to steal the show as well.
"This one girl tore us apart one time," said Nick Vanoven, a self-proclaimed pro and a competitor in the last two events. "She better not come back," he added jokingly.
For more information, contact Benson at 646-2274.
Wilson Center hosts showcase
Melissa Fegeley
This term, students, faculty, and staff get the chance to view some of the finest student work from FCCJ'S fall theater performance courses in The Annual Acting and Directing Showcase, which will be presented Saturday Dec. 13, in the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the arts.
The Acting and Directing Showcase is an annual event that has taken place for the past nine years.
"This is a chance for [the students] to show off their best work from classes to a public audience," said Ken McCulough, professor of theatre and coordinator for the Wilson Center.
This term there are three performance classes participating, one class focused on directing, and two focused on acting. From each class, three to four, 10-15 minute scenes from full-length plays will be presented.
"Each class votes on the strongest three scenes," said McCulough.
The acting monologue performances originate from a one-act play that won the 1989 Heideman Award from The Actors Theatre of Louisville. Written by Brad Korbesmeyer, the play entitled "Incident at San Bajo" takes place in the southwestern United States. It explores the strange, but humorous tale of seven people who manage to survive a mass murder.
Students from the direction class are able to choose a play to direct a scene from, but McCulough said the scenes chosen tend to derive from contemporary plays.
The showcase contains a wide range of themes, including those that are serious, those that are humorous, and those of an adult nature.
The show is open to students and faculty, as well as the general public. Admission price is three dollars and the show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.
Seating is on a first come, first serve basis; no reserved seating is available. The 125-seat theatre "tends to fill up quickly" McCulough said. Plan to arrive early to ensure an excellent seat for the show.
Bouncing Souls celebrates 15 years of hard-core
Stephanie Gramling
"We are inspired by all incidents whether it be government, media, military, or corporate outlets. September 11th changed us all and it has had a huge affect on our writing," said Greg Attonito, the lead singer of Bouncing Souls.
The hard-core band, The Bouncing Souls, have been together for 15 years, and are originally from New Jersey.
The band started their career with Chunksaah records, then moved into the BYO Records, and finally to Epitaph where the last three releases, The Bouncing Souls in 1997, Hopeless Romantic in 1999, and How I Spent My Summer Vacation in 2001, grew in popularity.
The band consists of Greg Attonito on lead vocals, guitarist Pete Steinkopf or "The Pete", Bryan "Papillion" Kienlen on bass and vocals, and Michael McDermott on drums.
"Our new release Anchors Aweigh is in the making. We are really excited about this record. But records are like children, when you have a new one it's all exciting, but all of them are important," said Attonito.
The band is now on their Anchors Aweigh Tour with Tsunami Bomb and Strike Anywhere. They were in Pensicola on Sept. 24, in Jax Beach at the Freebird Cafe on Oct. 20, and at the House of blues in Orlando on Oct. 21.
"The songs just write themselves and the creative process works in its own way. We live in the moment, and we write about what we feel right now. There is so much shitty music out there, why can't people write about their true feelings," said Attonito.
Check out their website www.bouncingsouls.com for tour info.
Battle Royale too edgy for US?
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Brad Hall
variablerush@myway.com
Every year in the Republic of Greater East Asia a random 9th grade class is picked to participate in the government's Battle Royale Program.
Forty-two students from different backgrounds are brought to an island battleground to fight to the death. After three days if there is more than one survivor, they all die.
The story starts innocently enough. A group of students from Shrioiwa Junior High School take a class trip north when all of a sudden sleeping gas is administered through the air vents. All of the students wake up in an empty classroom on a deserted island where they are told the rules of this sick game and those that survive orientation are each given a bag containing a loaf of bread, a liter of water, a map, a compass, and a random weapon. The weapons range from a fork to a sword to an Uzi.
Battle Royale takes place in a concurrent alternate timeline where China, Japan, and Korea have formed the Republic of Greater East Asia, rock music is outlawed, and Bruce Springsteen is the world's most popular musician.
The main characters in the story are Shuya Nanahara, star baseball player, Noriko Nakagawa, a friend of Shuya's, Shogo Kawada, a new student who seems to know more about the Program than he lets on, and Shinji Mimura, the class revolutionary. Together, they try to subvert the government's Program and escape the island with their lives.
Each character has their own reasons for surviving the game and each character is fleshed out in unbelievable detail, you start to feel that you can relate with their struggles.
Battle Royale, written by Koushun Takami and translated from its original Japanese by Yuji Oniki is published in America by VIZ, has already become a controversial hit all over the world and spawned a series of movies. Toei, the company that owns all rights to the movie franchise has released Official versions in Europe, China, and Australia. Toei is hesitant to allow more than just the book to be released in America because people in this country tend to be more "Litigation Crazy" than people in other countries.
Battle Royale has been said to be a modern day Lord of the Flies in that it makes you feel that the normal struggles one endures everyday could all be rendered moot in an instant. This is a hit that is not to be missed.
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