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Show : WWW.NETXNEWS.NET MONDAY • APRIL 10 • 2006 - • • • ; . # Michelle Walker Life Editor "4-3-2-1 ^ • • ^ y s 5 " v ' '*• Cesar's Way leads Amazon Top 5 /" Iv Wiv v 77^ World is Flat ft. #7 Alphabet Ultrametabolism TJ. leads I Billboard's Top 5 Albums ^ K ^% >v A ••V 31 Tim McGraw- Greatest Hits Vo\ 2 ^ ^ V '8J>. Schoo/ Adus/ca/ Sounc/frac/: ^ I Ohoifface Killah FtshScale • > / Rob Zombie Educated Horses lop ten • ":S« Signs that Spring is here i The nights and the skirts are getting shorter I 5 Has-been baseball players are signing up for city softball leasues 9 You took the top off your Jeep last week. Then it rained UVSC professors keep mysteriously canceling class 8 Even the smart people are wearing flip-flops You. just realized that finals are practically here 7 Tanning salon business has gone up ten-fold People at the gym have minimized flirting in order to actually work out 6 You just bought teal bikini number Everybody's getting engaged four I Ice Age leads box office Top 5 | Ice Age: The Meltdown Inside Man ATI « | Failure to Launch 5 Vfor Vendetta When at the barrel l of a gun..." •£ai These are the words I found myself screaming, along with over 2,000 other die-hard fans, at Guster's Campus Consciousness Concert on March 31st. "Trie Campus Consciousness Tour's aim is to educate, inspire, activate students, and above all, leave a positive impact on each community and college/ university that the tour reaches," said band member Adam Gardner (guitar, vocals). UVSC is one of 22 campuses the Indie Rock favorites are "educating" this spring. I first saw Guster at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon, five years ago. There were maybe a hundred people in the crowd and 1 think my ticket cost S6. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. The band has written two albums since 2000: Keep It Together (2003) and Ganging Up On The Sun, to be released June 13. 2006. which constituted most of Friday's play list. After watching their performance, I will be first in line to pick it up. Their new sound is heavier than their previous releases, most likely due to the recent addition of the fourth band member, Joe Pisj«pia. You can preview a few of their new songs at Guster's myspace page, or at www.guster.com. Crowd favorites at the concert included: Manifest Destiny and One Man Wrecking Machine. And what a crowd it was! The energy on the floor was crazy, matched only by lead singer Ryan Miller's enthusiastic vibe and precise lyrics and the band's trademark stage banter. Especially noteworthy is drummer Brian Rosenworcel. His talent is trulyamazing. He does things with bongos that other musicians can only dream about. 1 have to admit it, I was more than a little bummed when he only played the first 30 seconds of Bury Me. The night concluded with Rosenworcel stepping out from behind the drums for a spectacular encore, a surprisingly good rendition of the Temple of the Dog classic, Hunger Strike. If you're a Guster fan - or just a fan of POOH music -. you've got to see these guys in concert. Joining the ranks with Dave Matthews Band and Collective Soul, Guster is one of the few bands that are always better live. Although I still prefer the intimate atmosphere of a smaller venue, it's exciting to see how far the band has come and I look forward to seeing their fan base continue to grow. Because after all, as my new tee shirt says. "Guster is for lovers." Book Review A fantasy worth your time Michelle Walker Life Editor I haven't read a lot of fantasy novels; in fact, my knowledge of the genre pretty much begins with The Sorcerer's Stone and ends with The Half Blood Prince. I realize there is a huge adult fantasy market out there that I have yet to tap, but honestly, I feel like talking dragons and conniving fairies are more effective (maybe even more believable) in children's literature. One such novel that I believe deserves attention is UVSC student Justin Reed's Mary Miur: Forever Ten, The story catalogues the adventures of ten-year-old Mary, a young orphan determined to grow up. Doesn't seem too extraordinary? Here's the kicker: two years ago, a wizard stole Mary's birthday, cursing her to remain "forever ten". In order to proceed in her growth and break the curse, Mary must learn the date of her birth. Mary goes to Death Moor, notorious for the undead that stalk the outskirts of the foggy city, in hopes of finding somebody who can speak to her parents. This initial quest leads to several sub-quests, including helping her new friend Hapner JUfiTI N REED Courtesy Photo/Justin Reed reclaim his voice and discovering the mystery behind her parents' death. Forever Ten is a fun and fast read. It has a fairly straightforward plot, filled with action and adventure, featuring a believable heroine. Reed has a unique and powerful voice, mastering the art of simile. The writing style is simple it is definitely geared toward a young audience, but the easy language and vivid visuals support the momentum of the plot. The text, however, is far from flawless. There are parts that are awkward and choppy, and sections that lose their effect because they're cut short. And, (although this may just be the soon-to-be English teacher in me) 1 was distracted by typos and minor grammar mistakes that I was surprised to find in a published work. Nevertheless, as a whole, 1 am very impressed with the novel. Reed is a talented writer and I expect great things from him in the future. I have great respect for any college student who can find time to even be creative, let alone create such a great story and have the determination to publish it. "This book will appeal to anyone who is looking for a good adventure novel," said Reed. "Although Mary is only ten years old, her story will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It contains laughter, conflict, sorrow, and my own odd humor." Forever Ten is available through www.amazon.com or you can save a couple bucks and buy it directly from Reed's website, www.justinreedauthor.com. |