6 - Atlanta Public Schools

Aud
i
Audio editor Jessica
Baer discusses impact of classical
composer Mahler
on modern music and William
VanDerKloot reviews
today’s top Mp3 players.
o
Juniors Curry
Andrews and
Sarah Beth
McKay give
us the low
down on the
revamped High
Museum of Art.
sual
Vi
2
6
Rost
r
um
Issue
so
ti t y
d en
fI
1
8
2
0
ge
Teacher Jeff Cramer discusses
a recent jury-duty experience
and urges us to consider science or math career paths.
Also included are dates
for January’s major events.
Cover art
by Jessica
Brandon
10
rie
1
6
Cou
Men
a
Sophomore Hannah Rosembaum discusses France’s
recent problems with racism. Senior Kristina Weems
gives us advice on love.
Teacher Chris Hess gives
us one of his famous life
lessons.
C
o
n
t
e
n
t
s
e
tur
Several
Grady
students and a
teacher
talk
about
what it’s like to be multiracial
living in the United States.
Sophomore Scottie Bookman questions whether birth
order affects siblings or not.
Our
fashion
editors review
the
hottest
places in town
for thrift and consignment store shopping.
nexus
Volume 2 Issue 2
December 2005-January 2006
Contributing Writers
Scottie Bookman- Sophomore
Scottie Bookman is a girl. She is fluent in pig
Latin and likes to hang out in her mom’s
costume warehouse. She likes long walks in
the park and WILLY’S. Sadly, her friends have
decided she would be in Slytherin. In her
purse right now and always is a hairbrush, an
iPod, Burt’s Bees, a moleskin journal and much
more. In her free time, she herds elk in Wyoming.
Hannah Rosenbaum- Sophomore
“Where’d you get the coconuts? We found them.
Found them? In Mercia? The coconut’s tropical!
What do you mean? Well, this is a temperate
zone. The swallow may fly south. A swallow
carrying a coconut? It could grip it by the husk!
It’s not a question of where he grips it! It’s a simple
question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could
not carry a one pound coconut.”- Monty Python
Kristina Weems- Senior
Kristina is the queen of Grady’s yearbook, the
Orator. She is not to be messed with whilst giving speeches to her underlings. Even outside
of yearbook, however, Kristina makes her
presence known in every class she’s in. Kristina
loves reading and writing, and wants to major
in history at her dream school, Temple University.
This is one girl who knows how to love herself.
Sophie Cox- Sophomore
Sophie takes her coffee black. Your mom
should know that a pack of Skittles a day is
50 percent of your daily value of vitamin C, so
taste the rainbow. Sophie insists that the best
part of laundry is collecting the lint out of the
lint-catcher. She loves stories about woodpeckers, especially ones with explosives.
Chris Hess- Math Teacher
Mr. Hess used to spend all of his time playing
with other people’s money. Then he decided
that molding children’s brains seemed like a
much more appealing job. He torments his
classes with interesting lectures and critical-thinking homework assignments. He has
friends in high places... so don’t mess with him.
From
The
Staff
A great deal of the reviews in this issue of Nexus are
due to the collaboration of Grady students and Criminal
Records. Their new program, Criminal Records Aspirational
Music Journalism And Mentoring Program (CRAMJAM),
teaches high school students from the Atlanta area how
to write quality CD and DVD reviews. Several students
from Grady have already been published in their weekly
e-newsletter.
CRAMJAM awards the best writer of the week with a
discount at Criminal Records, located in Little Five Points,
in addition to the story being published on the Criminal
Records website. All students who write get a 20 percent
discount at Criminal Records. The winning review is selected by the employees of Criminal Records and the author is
given two free CDs of their choosing.
Criminal Records is very interested in helping students
get their work published on a larger scale. Their e-newsletter has 4,000 subscribers, not to mention the many people
who visit their website. To get involved with the Criminal
Records program, visit their store or sign up for their
newsletter at www.criminals.com. Students must select a
CD or DVD to review from a list Criminal Records provides
in their e-newsletter. You can then visit the store and listen
to the CD in-store.
Any work sent to Criminal Record also affects everyone
at Grady. Every week that a student gets a review published, everyone that goes to Grady will have access to
discounts in the store provided they have a student ID.
This a great opportunity to listen to new music for
free and to tell people what you think about it. Criminal
Records doesn’t edit any of the submissions, so whatever
you write will get seen by thousands of people. So submit
to Criminal Records, win some CDs, get famous, then send
your winning review to Nexus and have it published in our
magazine.
Nexus: a publication of The Southerner
Staff: Jessica Baer, Asa Beal, Lena Brodsky, Jeffrey Carpenter, Alastair CarterBoff, Rhanatah Griffith, Stone Irvin, Sam
Johnson, Koleen Sullivan, Madeleine
Webb.
Managing Editor: Micah Weiss
Print Staff: Alvin Hambick, Harlon
Heard, Michael Jackson, Adlai McClure,
Charlotte Napper, Benjamin Shaw
Founding Editors: Harrison Martin and
Micah Weiss
Adviser: Dave Winter
Design Editor: Alex Daniels
Advertising: Nexus is a non-profit
organization that relies on advertising
to generate revenue to cover printing
and maintenance costs. Nexus is read
by approximately 1,500 people and is
a great way to publicize your business.
To advertise with Nexus, contact Dave
Winter at [email protected].
Nexus is a bimonthly publication of:
Henry W. Grady High School
929 Charles Allen Drive NE
Volume 2 Issue 2
Atlanta, GA 30309
Submissions: Nexus is a submissionbased publication that relies on your
submissions for its content. Nexus
accepts submissions for all of its sections
and features (submissions may be edited
for length or content). Submission forms
are located in the Southerner room, or can
be obtained from Mr. Winter. For more
information, or to turn a submission in,
please contact Mr. Winter or any member
of the staff at [email protected].
audio
Mahler’s genius continues to resonate
Contemporary symphonists employ his revolutionary techniques
2
was Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Mahler’s
music also obviously influenced his
contemporaries, though many scorned
him because of his Jewish lineage.
After moving through increasingly
more prestigious conducting positions,
culminating in his completion of Weber’s
famous unfinished opera, Die drei Pintos,
Mahler was given the opportunity to be
director of the Vienna Opera. This was
the most prestigious directing position
in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but
because he was Jewish, he could not
occupy it. The high stature associated
images.goclassic.co.kr
In this modern age of short, catchy
pop songs, we frequently forget the
persistence of classical music within
our everyday lives. Few people realize
when they’re watching Indiana Jones, or
most any other blockbuster of American
cinema that the soundtrack playing as
Harrison Ford uncovers the secret of the
Egyptian tombs is a direct descendent
of the classical works of Gustav Mahler.
Mahler’s unique symphonies have
burned their mark into the face of
modern classical music.
Mahler was born July 7, 1860, in
Kalischt, Bohemia (modern day Czech
Republic). His family moved soon after
he was born to Jihlava, Moravia, in the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. Showing a
passion and talent for music, Mahler
was sent to the Vienna Conservatory,
where he studied piano, harmony
and composition. Mahler’s first works
possessed what would become
distinct Mahlerian features. In Mahler’s
earliest song cycles he was already
experimenting with the use of both
onstage and offstage orchestras. Also
present in Mahler’s next few works was
a feature he’s passed down to many
movie score composers: his tendency
to transition from a tragic tone to a
lighthearted tone within a single work.
The contrasting moods emphasize the
intensity of his emotions. Mahler’s first
four symphonies are separated from
his later symphonies by his frequent use
of a a late 1800s collection of German
folk poems known as Des Knaben
Wunderhorn for ideas within his music.
Along with other post-romantic
composers of his time, such as Richard
Wagner, Anton Bruckner and Richard
Strauss, Mahler called upon literature for
inspiration. Sometimes he even included
a chorus or singer singing direct quotes
from pieces of literature. Though his
compositions were occasionally pulled
from the writings of Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe and Friedrich Nietzsche,
Mahler’s most consistent source of ideas
with the conducting position made
it an imperial post and, according to
Austro-Hungarian law, a Jew could
not occupy an imperial post. To attain
the conducting job, Mahler converted
to Roman Catholicism. His greatest
accomplishment in his 10-year stay as
director of the Vienna Opera was to
introduce the Austrian public to the
genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Ludwig van Beethoven and Christoph
Willibald Gluck.
Mahler’s fifth through seventh
symphonies show his inventive use
of percussion, another contribution
to modern classical music and movie
[NEXUS]December 2005-January 2006
scores. His sixth symphony even uses
a hammer at one point. These three
symphonies are considered a trilogy.
The fifth symphony is the triumphant
journey of a hero and the sixth is his
tragic downfall. The seventh symphony
depicts the hopeless finale for the hero.
Mahler’s own journey through the late
1800s musical world of the AustroHungarian Empire was ending just as
badly.
The year 1907 brought only tragedy for
Mahler. An anti-Semitic press pressured
him into resigning from his post at the
Vienna Opera, and his eldest daughter
died. His wife was frequently unfaithful,
causing him so much emotional stress
that he eventually sought psychological
help from one of his friends, Sigmund
Freud. Reflecting upon the hardships of
his life, Mahler said,“I am thrice homeless,
as a native of Bohemia in Austria, as an
Austrian among Germans, and as a Jew
throughout the world.”
In 1908 Mahler went to New York and
eventually ended up conducting for
the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mahler wrote his last few symphonies
around this period. Mahler’s eighth
symphony was his most famous. It
is referred to as the “symphony of
a thousand” because of the large
group of musicians required to play
the piece. It was also Gustav Mahler’s
first composition to gain commercial
success. Around the same time Mahler
finished a work he titled The Song of the
Earth, which he refused to call his ninth
symphony because of his obsession
with the curse of the ninth, a curse based
around the deaths of many famous
classical symphonists after finishing or
while writing their ninth symphonies
(such as Beethoven, Bruckner and
Vaughn Williams). Mahler eventually
composed a ninth symphony, but died
while writing his 10th of a streptococcal
blood infection, on May 18, 1911, at the
age of 50.
-Jessica Baer
audio
iPod continues media domination our
The iPod, now in its fifth generation
capable of more than ever,
portable isfeaturing
a full color screen and the
ability to play video. It looks cool and
power has gotten a lot of hype, but does it
www.mercadolibre.com
still reign supreme in the world of
Apple iPod 5th Gen. Mp3 players? Here is a look at the
30GB $299.00
latest in hard-drive Mp3 devices.
Archos, iRiver, Dell and Apple.
All make similar hard-drive-based
players that are in the same price
range. Archos was the first of these
companies to release a portable
video player a couple of years ago,
Archos Gemini402 but price and size hindered his
20GB $249.95
success. Now their product is cheaper
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and more compact. The Gemini402
w.t
est
cen
Pocket Multimedia Center is a 20GB
tre
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g.s
e
audio and video player that looks
more like a PSP than an iPod. This is
due to the Gemini’s Mophun™ game
engine which allows users to play a
iRiver H10
multitude of games on the device.
20GB $299.99
It also boasts a high resolution
screen with near DVD quality image
resolution. The Gemini is versatile,
powerful and the cheapest of the
bunch at $249.95, but the interface
and the multitude of options may
make it complicated for some users.
Dell DJTM 30,
The iRiver H10 imitates the iPod
30GB $299.00
in every way, from its design to its
name.The 20GB H10 wishes it was an
iPod but falls short because it lacks a
video player and is incompatible with
Apple computers. The H10 attempts
to make up for this by including a
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super-sharp screen for displaying
photos, the longest battery life of
the four players (20 hours), four vivid
colors to choose from and a radio. It’s
limited file support and smaller hard
drive make it a hard sell at $299.
The Dell DJTM 30, is Dell’s futile
attempt at the Mp3 player market. Of
all the players reviewed, it is by far the
weakest. It has no color screen, will
not play videos, shows no photos,
supports very few file formats, only
operates on Windows and has
an overly complex interface. In its
defense the Dell DJ is 30GB larger
than both the iRiver and the Archos,
and functions with the Dell music
store, much like the iPod and iTunes,
but at $299.00, it’s a rip off.
The child of Apple continues with
its latest generation of iPod. The new
iPod is just as simple and fun to use
as its predecessors, but now has a
whole new book of tricks. Its color
screen and video playback ability
make it the ultimate portable toy.
The entry-level model can allegedly
hold 7,500 songs or 150 hours of
video. The iPod works with both Mac
and Windows machines due to its
marriage with iTunes. The new iPod
raises the bar for portable media
players with its sleek design, simple
interface and quality performance.
The iPod still reigns supreme at
$299.00.
-William VanDerkloot
Alastair Carter-Boff
-The Mountain Goats
-TV on the Radio
-Built to Spill
-The Unicorns
-DangerDoom
-Sigur Ros
-Cranes
-Great Lake Swimmers
Stone Irvin
-Mountain
-Ween
-Tenacious D
-Radiohead
-Mozart
-Tool
-Journey
-Cream
Releases
Album
Artist
U.S.A. : Still United
Born to Run: 30th Anniversary [import]
Flip side of Lil’ Flip
Ying Yang Twins
Dec. 27
Bruce Springsteen
Dec. 29
Lil’ Flip
playlists
Date
Jan. 6
Family
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Jan. 10
Oral Fixation Vol. 2
The Best of Jane’s
Addiction
Shakira
Jan. 10
Jane’s Addiction
Jan. 24
Jessica Baer
-Arcade Fire
-Bob Dylan
-The Misfits
-Ween
-Mahler
-Björk
-The Faint
-Talking Heads
3
audio
www.matisyahu.org
Jacksonville City Nights [Ryan Adams]
Diversity Found at Roxy
“Torah food for my brain let it rain till I drown, Thunder! Let the
blessings come down!”—”King Without a Crown” by Matisyahu
4
It’s Monday night, and I’m standing amongst a middleaged Hasidic Jewish man and his 9-year-old son, a white
man with dreadlocks, a group of young professionals, and a
few teenagers like myself. In case you couldn’t guess, I’m at
the Matisyahu concert at the Roxy, the only place where all
these different kinds of people come together to listen to one
man’s music.
Seeing Matisyahu in concert is an experience I will never
forget. It’s not that he is flashy or does crazy things on
stage. Actually, the opposite is true. It’s the fact that when
Matisyahu sings, it’s as if he’s praying directly to God or
speaking just to you. It’s watching all the adoring Hasidic
Jewish children around me dance and sing along with him
in complete adoration because Matisyahu is someone who
shares their religious beliefs and has managed to make a
place for himself in the secular music world.
Matisyahu’s unique reggae/hip-hop style is not one
you would expect to come from the mouth of a deeply
spiritual Jewish man. But once you put your assumptions
aside and begin to listen to Matisyahu’s music, it all makes
sense. Matisyahu begins and ends many of his songs with
beautiful chants of wordless syllables, which are called
nigguns and are a part of traditional Jewish liturgy. Once
the songs kicks into full force, Matisyahu raps powerful
lyrics mainly about his spirituality to driving reggae bass
lines and guitar riffs. This wordsmith brings forth powerful
images of his relationship with God and his disapproval of
drugs, but it never sounds like he’s preaching. Matisyahu’s
message comes straight from the heart. Don’t miss
Matisyahu’s new studio album, Youth coming out on Jan.
31.
-Micah Weiss
[NEXUS]December 2005-January 2006
Ryan
Adams
became
known early on for playing
many different types of rock.
His new album, Jacksonville
City Nights, differs greatly
from his other seven
albums in that it consists
of a mixture of 14 countryrock and country songs.
The album writes another
chapter in Adams’ already
diverse songbook. Many of
the songs start out with a
twangy country beginning
that leads to lyrics relating
to anything from his father’s
voice to his meeting a darkhaired girl in Mississippi. I
enjoyed the way Adams
tried to do something new,
but the album still needs
a little work. The majority
of the songs all have the
same upbeat country sound
except for “Dear John” and
“Silver Bullets”, which are
slow piano melodies.
I
definitely recommend this
album to listeners who
enjoy happy-go-lucky music
and who want to hear some
exceptional country music. I
admire Ryan Adams’ change
from rock to this new
upbeat country-rock, which
helps cement his image as
an ever-evolving songwriter
and musician.
-Noah Shaye
òòòò
New Whirl Odor [Public Enemy]
I’ve been listening to
Public Enemy for many years,
and I’ve decided that they
are the Rolling Stones of rap.
Every year, they have put out
a new album and continued
to be successful. This year
is no exception. With their
latest album, New Whirl Odor,
Public Enemy returns to the
music they were famous
for making in the late ‘80s
and early ‘90s. Those of you
who are looking for good,
old-school political hip-hop,
this is the right album for
you. Every track on here
is tight as hell, and it’s great
to hear a master like Chuck
D show our new generation
how it’s really done. This isn’t
one of those CD’s that raps
about hoes and guns—this
is one of those CD’s that
makes you sit back, think
and say “wow.” My favorite
tracks, I highly recommend,
include “New Whirl Odor”
and “Bring that Beat Back.” I
also liked “Superman’s Black
in the Building,” which is
12 minutes long and worth
every second. If you are a
fan of Public Enemy, this
is a must-have album. If
you are part of the 50-Cent
generation, this is also
recommended. You just
might learn something.
-George Sanders
òòòòò
audio
Green Gorilla, Monster and Me [Ralph’s World]
Back to Bedlam
[James Blunt]
James Blunt is a singer/
songwriter with a new
idea. His debut album
Back to Bedlam leaves an
impression on listeners
that’s anything but blunt.
It may just be his English
roots, but his words seem
to float out of the songs and
into our hearts. His lyrics are
so infectious that some may
find them overly predictable,
but the optimism in his
voice brings comfort to
each song. The fusion of
guitar, drums and piano
creates a nice background
to accompany his angelic
voice. Often compared to
established artists such as
Elton John, Blunt’s sound
is a soundtrack to a dream
not intended to end. The
complexity of his voice
makes it hard to sing along,
but you’re really better off
listening and reflecting
on the music anyways.
Including allusions to “Three
Wisemen” and references
to the war in Iraq in “No
Bravery,” Blunt transcends
the sound we expect from
his
cute-boy-who-woesthe-girls-with-guitar-lovesongs image. For that
reason alone, you should
give him a chance and
listen to his undoubtedly
sweet,10-track album all the
way through.
-Hannah Rosenbaum
òòòò
These Were
The Earlies
The Earlies are a half
Texan/half British band
and—although they may
not have much competition
in that division—they’re
a good one. Their debut
album, These were the
Earlies, was released in
the U.K. a year ago and in
the U.S. about a month
ago.
I
wholeheartedly
recommend this album. It’s
the type of music that elicits
a happy feeling; its various
tones complement each
other beautifully resulting
in an awesome listen.
From the lighthearted
“Bring it Back Again” to
the contemplative “The
Devil’s Country,” this album
is appropriate for any
disposition, but I’d suggest
pensive solitude. If you don’t
allow yourself to sit and think
while you listen to the album,
it won’t mean anything to
you. It’s perfect for a deep
thought process. The album
isn’t ruined with untalented
vocals, as much of today’s
music can be. The lyrics avoid
competing with the album’s
instrumentals by coming in
only when necessary— and
by not trying so hard to
be infectiously catchy. I
can’t categorize The Earlies
beyond an indie band, but I
can say that they’re original
enough to merit a listen.
-Scottie Bookman
òòòòò
This is an all-call to Grady’s
babysitters and expectant
parents: if you desperately
seek an alternative to purple
dinosaurs and color-coded
Australians, look no further.
Take the trip to Ralph’s World
as I did on Nov. 11 for his concert appearance at the Breman Heritage Center. Ralph
(actually Chicago renaissance
musician Ralph Covert) is
simply the best artist producing children’s music that my
family has discovered. He
sings about parents’ need
for caffeine by day and vino
by night; he explains the itsybitsy and great-big-hairy spiders in existential terms; he
crafts a geneaological riddle
by which a man becomes
his own grandpa; he rapidly
counts the wheels of a big rig
in roman numerals from I to
Dave Winter
XVIII. While his wit engages
the adult mind, his infectious
musical style captivates the
kiddo in all of us. His live
performance was polished,
and he readily and facilely
took requests from any and
all of his six albums. Start by
buying Ralph’s World or At the
Bottom of the Sea or his DVD,
Say Hello and you’ll buy more
before Christmas. Get to him
before the color-coders at
Disney do.
-Dave Winter
òòòòò
If You Were Mine [Marcos Hernandez]
As Marcos Hernandez’s
single “If You Were Mine” first
resonated in my headphones,
I couldn’t help but laugh. The
uninspired single is simply
lyrically ridiculous. The song
is a ballad of the somewhat
laughable ways Hernandez
would express his love for
some deserving lady. The
song brings to mind horrific
flashbacks of ‘N Sync and the
Backstreet Boys set to an
even more dismal beat, that
is droning, blatantly synthetic, and so boring it is hard to
recall completely. Hernandez
however, is not entirely to
blame for this affront to musical sensibilities. “If You Were
Mine” is only one example
of how producers and song
writers working in the music business mass-produce
trash that is later used as a
base to create an appalling
mockery of real music. Maybe
songwriters don’t get paid
enough to write anything
decent, or maybe Michael
Jackson is such a hard act
to follow—musically not
sexually—that nothing will
really compare favorably.
Whatever the cause, one
thing is certain: Mr. Hernandez, “If You Were Mine,” I
would have directed you to
a wiser career choice.
- Stone Irvin
ò
5
visual
“Spectacle is Spectacular”
Costello Spans Generational Gap
The Right Spectacle is Elvis Costello’s newly released DVD
of his all-time best videos from 1978-1994. On this 27-song
video, the content moves from some of Costello’s way-early
stuff, like “[I Don’t Want to Go to] Chelsea,” “Pump it Up,”
“Radio Radio,” to some semi-recent recordings, like “So Like
Candy,” “Sulky Girl” and “13 Steps Lead Down.”
The Right Spectacle is not for everyone. Don’t let this be your
first impression of Costello, or you might get scared away. The
videos are great, but you have to understand Costello as an
artist before you can really get them. They’re colorful, fun and
random, featuring Costello as pop art, in a car, in a nightclub
and on various game shows. The videos evolve throughout
the disc, as does the music and the time period. The earlier
content is extremely primitive, on the spot shooting in front
of a white screen with not much going on besides the band
members being their geeky selves. As the disc goes on, the
videos get more real and emotionally charged, showing the
band’s evolution. The graphics get more interesting, the
locations change more often, and some videos (“Accidents
Will Happen” in particular) have no footage of real people
throughout
the
entire
video, only
animations.
Not only do
the videos
change, but
the
music
changes as
C o s t e l l o ’s
personal
style evolves.
The
early,
hyper tracks
mature into
well thought
out – though
still
funsongs.
This DVD is definitely worth buying if you know Costello
and like his music. True, your parents might listen to Costello,
and yeah some of it is REALLY old, but it’s still freaking
awesome. Your parents were cool once, too, and just because
the videos don’t have scantily-clad girls shaking their butts
in front of the camera doesn’t mean that these videos aren’t
artistic in their own way.
Overall, the DVD is a great showcase of Costello’s musical
evolution. It displays all of his talents in many different ways
and keeps you wanting to see and hear more. It’s not just
about the visuals. Without the music, the videos would be
nothing.
- Lauren Dellinger
6
[NEXUS] DECEMBER 2005 -JANUARY 2006
HP4
The two-and-a-half hour
fourth Harry Potter film boasts
entertaining and at times hilarious
dialogue that J.K. Rowling didn’t
quite pull off in her novel. The
talent is truly exceptional, as the
actors and their performances
have grown up since the first
film. While I was disappointed
at the number of inaccuracies in the film, it was still
excellent-definitely the best movie in the Harry Potter
series so far. Harry Potter fanatics should not expect
the movie to be perfectly true to the book, but don’t
make the same mistake I did—the movie will be
much more enjoyable if you don’t think about the
book.
Get Rich or Die Tryin
“Get Rich or Die Tryin” is the acting
debut of rapper Curtis “50 Cent”
Jackson. Based on the artist’s life
story,
the cinematic timeline
touches on critical events in 50’s
life from his childhood to his present icon status. The best part of
the movie, besides the gunplay,
bloodshed and violence, was the
emphasis on hip-hop music, from 50’s flirtation with
rap to his rise to stardom. The director’s philosophy
as well as 50’s vision came together beautifully in the
motion picture. While it won’t do for 50 what 8-Mile
did for Eminem, 50 should get some well-earned respect as an artist.
- Matt Foster
War of the Worlds
With a world-class director, an allstar cast and a famous story, War of
the Worlds would seem to be a
can’t-miss movie, but it is anything
but. Any director other than Steven
Spielberg would have been burned
in effigy after making this movie.
Spielberg managed to cover up
what little story there was with
special effects and meaningless conflict between the
main characters. Spielberg uncharacteristically forgot
to include any semblance of a plot in the movie.
Viewing this DVD for an extended period of time will
make you want to return it immediately. Be wise and
don’t waste your money buying it in the first place.
- Max Beeching
visual
Rent
Based on the critically acclaimed
Broadway musical, Rent the movie
tells the stories of seven individuals
and their seperate struggles with
AIDS, poverty and romance on
the streets of New York City’s East
Village. The movie’s soundtrack
narrates
each
character’s
individual endeavors. The opening
song of Rent, “A Year in the Life,” immediatley sets
a moving, powerful tone that lasts the entire film.
Surprisingly, many of the actors from the broadway
musical reappear in the movie. The movie triumphs
with its refreshingly insightful and beautiful message
of living life at its fullest-even when faced with death.
- Jordan Echols
Ghost in the Shell
Stand Alone Complex Vol. 6 is a
handheld masterpiece. Released
for PSP, the game surpasses any
other
handheld
first-person
shooter on the market, partially
because it includes a
wide
arsenal of weapons. Stand Alone
Complex’s storyline takes place
one year after the events in
the popular show, Stand Alone Complex. It has plot
twists sure to please both new and old fans alike.
The controls are a little awkward at first, but there
are multiple configurations to choose from to suit
your style. This game is well worth your hard-earned
money and continues the Ghost in the Shell legacy.
- Ryan Betty
My Friend Leonard
My Friend Leonard is the sequel
to the 2003 book A Million Little
Pieces and continues the story of
James Frey’s life after rehab. Frey
delves into his relationship with
Leonard, a mafia head-man and
father figure he met in the facility.
As he did in A Million Little Pieces,
Frey gives readers a raw, honest
insight of the life he leads and a vivid portrayal of
his thoughts. The tender friendship between the two
men during recovery makes Frey’s story inspiring and
compelling beyond any memoir I’ve ever read. My
Friend Leonard is as striking, if not more so, than A
Million Little Pieces.
- Sally Zintak
Huey Hits the Small Screen
Popular Comic Strip Manifests into Hit TV Series
Aaron McGruder, the creator of the hit comic strip The Boondocks,
brings his artistry to television in the new Cartoon Network TV
series of the same name. The show about black teenagers Huey
and Riley and their grandfather aired Nov. 2 and can be viewed
every Sunday at 11 p.m. on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. The TV
version of The Boondocks is a more elaborate and complete version
of the comic, incorporating more of
Huey’s neighbors and delving into the
characters’ backgrounds. The show is an
experiment in and of itself, as explained
by McGruder in the opening frames of
the show: “The show will either be a
hit with a huge following, or it will be a
complete bust.”
The series is hilarious. It has garnered
a loyal young adult audience that
validates the array of praise the show
has recieved from the media, including
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to the San
Aaron McGruder
Francisco Chronicle. The show itself boasts
sharp animation and familiar voices behind the characters, including
The Dave Chappelles Show star Charlie Murphy voicing Rich, a
neighbor. The show, like the strip, is most known for comedy on
multiple levels, and it’s representation of socio-cultural issues, such
as interracial relations in the U.S. and other American controversies.
The sarcastic and biting humor makes the series hilarious, though
more suited for the socially and culturally conscious American.
- Carson Phillips-Spotts
T
HEATRE
D
VD
G AME
B OOK
T
ELEVISION
7
visual
Atlanta art reaches a new High
8
The acclaimed Groundhog Day by Andrew Wyeth is part
of the painter’s exciting new exhibit at the High Museum.
museum do more than simply
double the museum’s square
footage. The new minimalist
atmosphere creates a blank
slate environment that does
not compete with the art and
is actually optimal for viewing
the modern pieces.
To bring light into the galleries,
Piano ingeniously designed
a system of curved tubes,
each with its own skylight
funneling natural light down
from the sky. The grid of circles
is a piece of art in and of itself.
You can enthusiastically stare
at the ceiling for hours, but
fortunately you don’t have to
resort to this. The large amount
of natural light, soaring ceilings,
airy skylights, and large, open
galleries brings a new way of
experiencing art to the High.
The newest experience, the
Andrew Wyeth exhibit, is
definitely worth at least an
hour of your time. The exhibit,
titled Memory & Magic, displays
the detailed watercolors and
[NEXUS] December2005-January 2006
temperas for which Wyeth is
famous. Reoccurring themes
like memory, nostalgia, loss,
death and rebirth bring a sense
of startling mystery, creating
some truly moving pieces.
Our favorite piece, Christmas
Morning, was Wyeth’s first
attempt to paint death. The
piece portrays Wyeth’s dead
relative in a ghostly, translucent
form (a seemingly difficult
technique to master) watching
his physical body walk away
into the landscape. The grass
looks like it is really flowing,
and you can feel Wyeth’s
sense of loss. Although his
subjects are limited to nature,
vessels and thresholds, Wyeth
sneaks in hidden metaphorical
meanings and symbolism. The
exhibit was fantastic.
The coolest part of this new
High would have to be the
third floor of the Weiland
Building, home to the most
visually appealing artwork in
the High Museum. Brightly
colored, wall-length paintings
and found-object art with
glass sculptures and illusions
make for a must-see, optically
exhilarating reality on the third
floor. If a wall-tall painting of
the constellations isn’t enough
to get you there, then maybe
Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe
is. These additions make for an
impressive new High.
All in all, the new High
Museum of Art has justified
its spot at the top of the list
of Atlanta’s hot destinations.
Try to go on a weekday when
you won’t have to battle the
crowds to enjoy the additions.
Tickets are $10 for “children”
ages 6-17, and $12 for students
with identification.
We give the new High
Museum four very enthusiastic
thumbs up, and we’re sure you
will too.
- Curry Andrews
and Sarah Beth McKay
William VanDerKloot
William VanDerKloot
Eight hundred skylights provide for natural light, which
is optimal to view the floor’s
modern art.
High.org
Been to the High Museum of
Art lately? The next time you
go, you’ll be in for a big surprise.
The museum recently finished
its extensive $180 million
renovation and expansion, reopening its doors on Nov. 12.
New additions include three
new buildings, a five-level
parking garage, a convenient
cut-through courtyard, the
inspiring
Andrew
Wyeth
exhibit and possibly one of the
most entertaining collections
of contemporary art Atlanta
has ever seen.
The High first approached
architect Renzo Piano with its
hopes to expand the museum
almost 30 years ago. Piano and
his team of architects based
in Genoa, Italy, along with the
Atlanta-based firm Lord, Aeck
& Sargent, Inc., created an
expansion designed to reflect
both the existing architecture
of the High Museum and
Woodruff Arts Center, as well
as the artwork it protects. In
this work they succeeded—
the new additions to the
This fruit scuplture can be viewed from the lobby window s.
Y
ou are white; so
are your friends.
You wake up
every day, take
your shower and
climb on bus 931. You hang
out with the soccer players
after school. You throw up
a gang sign without a clue
as to what it means. You are
black; so are your friends.
You wake up every day, take
your shower and climb on
bus 931. You hang out with
the football players after
school. You throw up a gang
sign, and you know exactly
what it means. Everyone
may take the same shower,
everyone may ride the same
bus, but not everyone fits
into the tidy boxes we use to
organize our identities. For
biracial students at Grady
High School, the world isn’t
as easily divided.
Katie and Gabby
IN
Grady’s biracial students
shatter racial stereotypes
Story by Sophie Cox
LIVINGCOLOR
Katie Van Heidrich and Gabrielle
Lopez have grown up together
with one thing in common: they
are both biracial. Sophomore
Katie Van Heidrich, whose mother
is black and whose father is white,
grew up with lighter skin than
her siblings. When friends started
making fun of her for being lightskinned, she realized for the first
time that she was different. For
sophomore Gabrielle Lopez, whose
mother is black and whose father
is Mexican, the confrontation with
her racial identity was a bit more
straightforward. A playmate asked,
“Why don’t you look black?”
Because not everyone in
their families looks the same,
Van Heidrich and Lopez both
difficulty
great
experience
convincing friends that their
family is indeed, their family.
Despite a rapid growth in the
population of multiracial people
(Atlanta alone hosts 5,177
according to Census 2000) most
Atlanta teens still don’t recognize
these changes in modern families.
Van Heidrich is often mistaken as
her sibling’s cousin rather than
her sister.
Van Heidrich and Lopez are
attractive. Our interview was
by
interrupted
constantly
attempted passes from eager
boys, leaving me with the
impression that Van Heidrich and
Lopez are very popular girls. Still,
Van Heidrich insists that being
popular on top of being mixed
only makes matters worse. The
girls both feel that survival at
Grady involves two options for
their social life: acting white or
acting black. “Black people are
usually stereotyped as acting
rowdy or in an unintelligent
manner, ignorant, which I’m none
of. If that’s the definition, then
I don’t want to ‘act black,’” Van
Heidrich said.
Lopez cut in right away with
what it means to act white. “Acting
white means to use proper
English. Someone told me I was
acting Mexican one time, and all I
could say was ‘No, there’s no such
thing.’”
We can expect that in the
coming generations the world’s
population will be filled with
to
due
people
multiracial
interracial dating. There are
already almost 2 million biracial
couples in America. But when it
comes to interracial dating, many
biracial young people today
gravitate towards the race with
which they are most comfortable,
adding more confusion to
the issue. When asked about
interracial dating, Lopez and Van
Heidrich were skeptical.
“I’d feel like I wouldn’t have
much in common. I’d have to get
to know [the person] really well,”
Lopez said, when asked if she’d
ever date anyone that wasn’t
Latino or black. She was also
skeptical about dating Latinos,
because she identifies more with
her black roots.
“If I were to date a white person,
I’d be 10 times more picky with
them than a black person,” Van
Heidrich said. None of the people I
talked to were really comfortable
Continued on next page
dating people of the race
they did not identify with,
even though that race is
part of who they are.
Anjali
“Kemb cho?” is “How
are you?” in Gujarati,
the language that Anjali
Gokarn, a Jain Indian and
junior at Grady, speaks
with her mother. Her
biggest frustration? The
misconceptions of her
ethnicity. Gokarn tells
people that she is both
white and Indian, but
when her peers hear
Indian, they think Native
American. She often hears
many Spanish slurs from
people mistaking her for
a Latino.
“That’s not what I am,”
Gokarn
said.
“People
are ignorant. Like, when
people ask me what kind
of Indian I am they ask,
‘Are you the one with the
dot on their your head or
the feather?’ People always
think I’m related to Osama
Bin Laden. Boys are always
bothering me about the
Kama Sutra.”
General curiosity can kill
communication with mixed
youth. If you are speaking
to someone who is biracial,
can you help but wonder
what they are exactly? You
spend the conversation
mindlessly nodding while
yearning for their identity.
This preoccupation works
both ways, in that biracial
kids know that you are
searching for something in
them—not through their
eyes but through their
skin.
Nigel
Nigel Levine, whose
mother is Native American
and whose father is black,
was adopted by two white Alexander realized she was the pressure she felt
people and has grown different when a white girl whenever she opened
up in the predominantly in her kindergarten class her mouth. Upon moving
white neighborhood of tricked her into giving a to
Atlanta, Alexander
Virginia Highland.
teacher the finger. Her attended
Spelman
“It took me until fifth friends refused to believe College, an experience she
grade to begin to be more that her mom, a Filipino, will never forget. When
aware of me,” Levine said. was really her mom. asked about perceptions
“I [then become] more self Growing up in Oakland, of race on the West Coast
conscious.” Coincidentally, however, there was a versus the East Coast, Ms.
at the same time that he small population of mixed Alexander said that she
was becoming more aware children to hang out with, appreciated the South’s
of his ancestry, his friends making life easier.
frankness.
were
becoming
more
“Mixed
kids
stick
“One thing about the
aware of his appearance. together,” Ms. Alexander South is you all are much
They would make racist said. “Adults can accept more honest about race.
jokes,
mainly
ones people being mixed; it’s No one is scared to tell you
involving Mexicans, to rile the kids who don’t. Society that they ‘just don’t like
him up.
makes you pick you, nigger,’” Ms. Alexander
...
“ T h e r e’s
or
choose.” said.
not much
Because
If it takes a mile in
biracial kids
you can
of
the
disomebody
else’s shoes
know
you
are
do about
versity in to appreciate where they
searching for someit. Every
California, come from, then the
thing in them—not M s . biracial people I talked
race gets
made fun
Alexander to must have had a head
through their eyes
of,” Levine
would find start. They have a gift;
but through their
said.
At
herself the they have a much keener
skin.
first,
like
“token black” insight than a monoracial
many teased
in a room split person does. They are
kids, he accepted
with a number of living proof that we
what his friends were
Latino and Asian kids. can break down racial
saying. Later he realized Every time she’d speak, barriers, that race doesn’t
that the jokes bothered the entire class would have to matter. It’s a
him and that perhaps his turn around and listen good thing too, seeing
own friends were oblivious intently, as if her thoughts as biracial people are the
to the hurtful things they were repre-senting the fastest growing minority
were saying.
entire black race. With her population today. Don’t
“People who are biracial classmates and teachers worry
about
making
learn to accept others [for expecting her to speak room for them in your
who they are] and are on behalf of millions of America, just hope they
more logical about race,” others, you could imagine have room for you.
he said. Levine learned
that he had an advantage
over his friends; he was not
ignorant and could teach
SHADES OF GREY: The world isn’t black and white for
them to be more aware.
mixed-race families. (Clockwise from bottom left)
-Sophomore Katie Van Heidrich poses with her brother,
Josh, and sister Halley at home.
Ms. Amore Alexander, a
-Sophomore Nigel Levine as a child with mother Beverly
history teacher at Grady,
Molander and father Blair Levine.
is multiracial. “I’m Filipino,
-Sophomore Gabrielle Lopez (left) filmed by her father
Burmese, Spanish and
Joe Lopez with her two sisters (front) and three cousins
black. Well, put African.
(rear) during Easter,1998.
Black is a color.”
-Sophomore Anjali Gokarn in traditional Indian garb
Growing up in the
with her mother.
Oakland bay area, Ms.
-Amore Alexander, right, with friend Adeline Aranaydo
in 1994; at age five with her mother in Singapore .
Ms. Alexander
BIRTH ORDER
BAFFLE
A lot of us have wondered about
which sibling we’d like to be—oldest,
middle, youngest or an only child—
but birth order influences more than
who gets the most attention, the
newest clothes or whatever may seem
most important to you. Our birth order
position contributes to our experience
growing up and who we become as a
person.
We’re all aware of the stereotypes
associated with birth order. Only
children can be spoiled and
inconsiderate, along with being
particularly mature. Oldest children
are often more responsible and careful
to abide by rules. A middle child is
more likely to become the “problem
child” and can be very pessimistic.
And finally, the youngest sibling is
often much more laid-back due to a
feeling of inferiority. But before you
get upset, let me concede that these
are stereotypes that are not true in all
cases.
“There are stereotypes that are
anecdotally true, but that’s different
than statistically true,” said Marjorie
Bufkin, a family therapist. Mrs. Bufkin
frequently works with birth order
and, having raised two daughters who
claimed Grady’s valedictorian titles for
the classes of 2002 and 2005, she is
very familiar with the subject.
“[Birth order effects] relate to one’s
impression, but this doesn’t mean
they are statistically relevant,” Mrs.
Bufkin said. This was a point that
she was very careful to stress when I
interviewed her.
There isn’t a person in the world who
isn’t an only child or an older, younger
or middle sibling. This fact makes
birth order unique because everyone
knows enough to develop their own
opinion about the subject.
“The youngest kid gets away with
more,” said sophomore Jamison
Kinnane, the oldest of three. “When I
was in third grade, I had a bed time
“
of 8:30, but now my younger brother
[who is in fourth grade] goes to sleep at
the same time as me.” Her experience
may illustrate why older siblings are
typically more likely to follow rules;
they know they can’t get away with as
much as their younger siblings. Being
a younger sibling, I have to agree
with Jamison, although I’d probably
describe the older sibling’s feeling
of responsibility as being somewhat
uptight and stubborn—in the best
way possible, of course.
“The older sibling is like the guinea
pig for the parents,” said Elly Bookman,
my older sister. “As the oldest kid, you
have to learn everything on your own,
so if the younger one pays attention,
they’ll have a head start.” Because
they have a live-in mentor from day
Boys are boys just like girls are
girls—some people are born more
shy or more responsible than
others—and yet the influence of
our birth order position will
always be present.
one, a younger sibling may be more
social and mature.
“Growing up, I felt it was up to me
not to let my parents down,” said
math teacher Chris Hess, the oldest
of two children. Mr. Hess is known for
guessing his students’ birth position
based on their behavior. I myself have
witnessed him pinpoint someone
as the “younger brother” when they
proved to be somewhat obnoxious.
He tends to be right. I believe that if
Mr. Hess didn’t have his older sibling
qualities, such as a love of power
and attention, he would not enjoy
teaching nearly as much.
The easiest birth position to
consolidate into a single stereotype is
the only child. They are stereotypically
known as spoiled brats. There’s a
calmer atmosphere in the house, a
larger load of gifts at birthdays and
a condensed love that would have
otherwise been distributed amongst
other children. Like all stereotypes,
however, there are exceptions.
“I don’t think [the stereotype is] true
because it really depends on how
your parents raise you,” said Caroline
Denton, an only child. “As long as they
make sure you’re thankful, it doesn’t
matter if they give you a lot. You
just have to be reminded that it’s a
privilege.”
Only children also seem to share
some qualities
with
younger
children, such
as being more
demanding
and thirsty for
attention. They
even share the
tendencies
to
grow up faster
and to be more
mature. Younger
siblings
who
modern changes, such as an increase
share a larger age difference with
in the presence of divorces and
their older siblings are particularly
stepchildren it’s become harder to
likely to behave like only children.
recognize birth-order stereotypes.
Middle children are highly affected
The overall effect birth order has
by gender and therefore tend to be
on us is based on nurture. It doesn’t
the most enigmatic. For example,
make sense to expect the rules
within a family with a girl in the
always to apply because no trend
middle and boys on either side, the
is 100-percent dependable. Nurture
girl may take characteristics of middle
can only go so far. Boys are boys just
children as well as only children
like girls are girls—some people are
because she is the only girl. If the
born more shy or more responsible
girl’s older sibling was a girl, however,
than others—and yet the influence
while her younger one was a boy, she
of our birth order position will
would have characteristics of middle
always be present. All things
and youngest children for being the
considered, it remains a question of
youngest girl. Likewise, the boy may
nature competing with nurture.
have the typical characteristics of the
youngest child and an only child as a
-Scottie Bookman
result of being the only boy.
Today,
middle
children
are
increasingly scarce because couples Illustrations: (from left) Nyssa Daniels,
Carson Hale and Alex Black
often stop at one or two kids. With
Couture
Thrifting for fashion in Atlanta
The concept of recycling
does not have to be limited
to short black bins and
curbside vehicles. For those
who do religiously rinse
their cans and compact their
milk jugs, there is another
often overlooked form of
recycling: used clothing.
Buying used clothing is not
only earth conscious but
also in style.
What many people do not
understand, however, is that
you do not have to spend
$100 at Urban Outfitters to
flaunt this popular, worn and
vintage look. Thrift stores
not only offer comparably
lower prices, they also lend a
greater sense of authenticity.
Vintage items found in thrift
stores have much more
character than the clothing
found in the mall that
mimics this style at a much
higher price.
While thrift stores tend
to have more vintage
items, people in search for
brand names and more
trendy styles should try
visiting consignment shops.
Although most consignment
shops tend to have higher
prices than thrift stores,
many offer plans in which
you can receive money or
store credit for bringing in
your own used clothing.
We searched the metro
Atlanta area for thrift
and consignment shops
that offer great clothing,
a cool atmosphere and
exceptionally
affordable
prices.
-Rhanatah Griffith and
Koleen Sullivan
16 [NEXUS] December2005 - January 2006
504 Flat Shoals Ave. Atlanta, 30316
East Atlanta
This small but organized store has a great
selection of vintage belts and purses.
2480 Briarcliff Road NE Ste 17 Atlanta 30329
Druid Hills
A consignment shop where name brand
items can be found for cheap prices,
such as Lacoste shirts for $30.
428 Moreland Ave. Atlanta 30307
Little Five Points
This store offers both wacky costumes
and everyday wear, with a fun and
eclectic flare.
1320 Moreland Ave. SE. Atlanta 30316
East Atlanta
Although extra patience is required,
great vintage clothing can be found
at extremely low prices.
420 Moreland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307
Little Five Points
This thrift store is a great place when in
seek vintage T-shirts and old Levi’s.
FASHIONABLY MARTINEZ:
Couture
“It’s all about the layers”
This fall season is exciting for the fashionforward, fashion-conscious
dude. The
layered look has been tweaked and refined,
challenging and pushing archaic rules to the
edge. Mix your prints, patterns and plaids,
traditionally considered fashion “don’ts.” Allow
me to give you a real-life example: I walked
into the free-standing Burberry showroom on
the Magnificent Mile in Chicago a couple of
weeks ago and had a surprisingly enlightening
time. If you can make it past the overexposed
trademark of plaid, plaid and more plaid on the
first floor, you will make it to the upstairs level.
The second floor carries Prorsum Burberry, their
high-end line. The dress forms were decked
in the overall current style and sported this
season’s hottest trends. It was very inspiring.
Here’s what I saw (and how to do it yourself ).
Start with a solid undershirt or T-shirt and
wear a patterned long-sleeve shirt. The pattern
can be plaid, vertical or diagonal stripes, or
even floral. Tuck the shirt into your slacks,
preferably plain-front khakis or jeans. Match
the outfit with a leather or fabric belt, then find
a neck tie to go with the shirt. The tie should
have a print such as tiny florals in a repetitive
pattern which works exceptionally well with
striped shirts. The next layer in the ensemble
can be either a cardigan, which is very in this
season, or a sweater vest. This layer needs to
be a solid color. This will visually ground and
balance the outfit and will allow you to sport
a houndstooth, tweed or plaid blazer. Finally,
wear good leather shoes and throw a handwoven, extra-long, chunky scarf around your
neck. Done.
This look may not be for you, but everyone
can pull elements from the layered style and
give it their own interpretation or twist.
-Vincent Martinez
THE GK RUNWAY NOMINEES
Nexus’ couture editors Rhanatah Griffith and Koleen Sullivan
have been keeping an eye on who’s stylin’ at Grady.
Here are their top picks for the issue.
Keep dressing well, and you may just make it on the list...
Clockwise from left:
Junior
Kyle Estes sports the layered
look with an equestrian twist.
Freshman Devin Harris wears a
knitted shrug. Senior Reed Gott
shows his style with a vintage,
leather blazer. Junior Chris Perez
shows his sophisticated style
with a striped, button up shirt.
Freshman Edge Sullivan rocks a
preppy but edgy look.
17
Rostrum
France’s
dirty
little
secrets
Two week long riots prove that France’s race-free society is a lie
BY HANNAH ROSENBAUM
magine for a moment
that you’re a Frenchman
of North African descent
casually turning on the
news on Thursday Oct. 27,
2005. You flip to the French
newschannel Duex Nouvelles
expecting a normal
I
newscast; instead, you hear a chilling
story about two young men being
chased by police into an electrical
tower, where they are electrocuted
to death. The police claim that they
didn’t know the teens were there.
Cue an eruption in the Paris suburbs
the very next morning. As text
messages and emails are sent out
over night large groups of organized,
angry minorities begin a 14-day
rampage through the city. Cars,
schools and all sorts of government
buildings are torched, and not until a
state of emergency is issued, do the
French officials begin to deal with the
problem.
Some French people seem to have
a problem with recognizing who is
French and who is not. Supposedly,
if you look North African you are not
recognized as French, but if you look
European (meaning white) you are
French. Apparently France doesn’t
believe culture transcends race.
The discrimination is targeted
toward young men of North African
descent. The odds against them
include discrimination in the work
place and from police, poor education,
and run-down apartments isolated
from the city. These factors alone
often leave these boys wandering
the streets or even homeless. Imagine
someone drowning, trying to come
up for air, but the water just keeps
pulling him down.
18
even end up homeless. The
few North Africans that do get a
chance at a career own small
grocery stores, providing a
service to their struggling
peers.
The
customers,
ironically, seem to all be North
African or Arabic, creating
isolated sub-communities in
France.
The French government has
somehow slipped under the rest
of the world’s radar. Aside from
the brutal riots, and the persistent
The color of your skin or
joblessness, discrimination problems
the tinge of accent in your voice
gain little notice worldwide. When
still seems to mean everything
the French fill out census papers, they
in France even though they
do not specify ethnicity; therefore,
ignore all racial categories in
the statistics can never point to a
their own constitution, insisting
certain race to identify its poverty
that they mean nothing and that
and job problems, which allows the
French identity erases all ethnic
government to, once again, ignore the
distinctions. France’s progress
issues.
in the civil rights department is
In a country where gas is almost $5
France
pathetic. Maybe
a gallon, and the average
into
take
should
family is bringing in
Some French
what
consideration
a little less than
America did about its
$30,000 annually,
people seem to have
civil rights problems
not being able to
a problem recognizing
almost 50 years
get a job is the
who is French and who is
ago. They seemed
last thing these
not. Supposedly, if you look citizens need.
to have gotten
North African you are not recthe memo about
T
h
e
wars,
pointless
stereotypes are
ognized as French, but if you
but when it comes
that the French
look European (meanto domestic ethnic
are snobby and
ing white) you are
conflict, France needs
ethnocentric. These
French.
to get a clue from the U.S.
events leading up to
Another ironic factor is
the recent riots are perfect
that these North Africans are getting
examples that these stereotypes
a world-class education. France is are partially true.
known for its excellent educational
Hundreds of years ago the French
system. The teachers instruct all of took a very big step in dealing with
their students to think for themselves the issues they had with economic
and to be independent, then teach differences. Two centuries years later,
them about the French Revolution it may be the burning cars and a
and about equality through out their state of emergency, or the politicians’
childhoods. Then, when they get into wholehearted
concern
for
the
this real world that their teachers country’s future, but either way, it’s
have “prepared” them for, they have surely overdue that they sort out the
trouble getting jobs, and they may ethnical issues of their country.
[NEXUS] December 2005 - January 2006
Rostrum
The wisdom of being content in winter
BY CHRIS HESS
earning to be thankful
for what you have, while
pursuing what you want is
one of life’s greatest lessons. Not only
will being thankful make you happier,
but it can also get you through
the bad times, the “winters” of life.
We’ve all had them—those
times when life falls
apart. Winters usually
come after fall, when
everything is going
terrific. It’s tempting
to think they will
never come, but sure
enough, they do. I
wish I could promise
you they won’t, but that
wouldn’t be the truth, and
part of “life lessons” is telling the
truth.
For me, a long winter began five
years ago this month when I walked
into my bathroom to get ready for bed.
My wife was sitting on the edge of our
whirlpool tub and said, “I don’t love
you anymore. I want a divorce.” After
about a month, I ended up living in an
L
extended-stay motel surrounded by
my clothes, a few books and a journal.
It was cold that winter, with ice and
snow and temperatures dipping into
the teens—a fitting backdrop for my
personal distress. I was lonely and sad
and I found it hard to be thankful.
During the bad times, however,
it’s important to try. Make a
list of all the things you
are thankful for right
now. Recognize that
things could be worse.
Sometimes talking to
a friend can help—
someone outside your
circumstances could give
you a fresh perspective.
I found it helpful to watch
funny movies and TV shows.
Laughter is terrific medicine in the
middle of winter. Whatever you have
to do, do it! Being thankful for what
I had, while believing in and striving
for what I wanted pulled me through.
After all, I had family who loved me,
friends who supported me and a
thorough faith that better days were
ahead.
So maybe you’re experiencing
winter—your girlfriend or boyfriend
doesn’t want to be with you
anymore. A friend has betrayed
you. Your parents don’t accept you
for who you are. You didn’t get into
the right college. My advice is to
give thanks for what you do have,
and wait…wait for spring because
it is coming. Spring is when flowers
push through the snow, birds sing,
and possibilities begin. And the
great thing is that spring comes
right after winter.
I’m now remarried, deeply in love
with my beautiful wife and our 8month-old baby. A new beginning!
I’m happier than ever—but even
when I wasn’t, I was able to smile
because I gave thanks. In fact, it
was one of the things my wife said
made her fall in love with me. I had
joy, hope and faith, in spite of my
circumstances. So be thankful, and
maybe one day all of your dreams
will come true, like they did for me.
And that is today’s life lesson.
Sharing love with others makes us all happier
BY KRISTINA WEEMS
L
ove: the one thing
we search for, long
for, chase and think
of. We all want to be in love,
to find that special
someone
we
can call our
own. The one
person who
knows
us
inside and
out, makes
us
laugh
and wipes our
tears away. True
love is completing.
We simply exist as halves
until we meet our perfect
match and become whole.
Everything makes sense
when they walk into our
lives. Life makes sense
because we found them.
We are happy, loved and
complete.
I’m not sure who
came
up
with
this
completing
notion of
love. Why
are
we
t a u g h t
that we are
incomplete
until someone
else
comes
along and fills our
souls? Is this the reason we
continuously search for the
one thing we think will fill
the emptiness inside? The
feeling that something,
someone, is missing from
our lives? I have concluded
from personal experience
and observation that we
create our own holes. We
allow people into our
lives, depend on them to
complete us, to make us
happy and to fill us with love.
What we usually overlook is
the fact that we are already
whole. We don’t have to
search for the love we think
we so desperately need
because we already have it
inside our hearts. It’s called
self-love. We should step
into others’ lives to share
what we have, not to give
what we hope to receive.
If your partner entered
into the relationship
searching for love and
you did too, then there’s
no love to give. This is
why some relationships
fail. We have to be willing
to share what we have;
our love, time, energy and
attention. Being in love
is not about finding that
missing piece, it’s about
adding to your own
bundle of love inside. It’s
time that we stop looking
on the outside and start
looking inside ourselves.
We are whole, we are love,
we are everything that
we need. Love is about
sharing, not completing.
19
Menagerie
C
O
R
N
E
R
R
A
M
I had jury duty a couple of weeks
ago. Like most teachers, I dislike
being called to serve because it
takes me out of the classroom,
which causes my students to
get behind in the curriculum.
The experience, however, proved
to be particularly interesting.
My name was called to report
to a courtroom with 35 other
prospective jurors. The selections
process calls for each attorney to
ask questions of the group and then
pick 13 jurors to hear the case. The
others are excused and sent home.
The case was a personal injury suit
involving an automobile accident.
The lawyer for the plaintiffs asked
me what subject I taught. Since I
was under oath, I had to tell the
truth: general physics, AP physics
and chemistry. The attorney for the
defendant was delighted and asked
E
R
’
if we ever discussed the physics of
automobile collisions. I told him that
we go into great depth about this
subject because my students are
just getting their driver’s licenses
and need to know how their car
will respond in certain conditions.
I was not selected for the jury.
The plaintiffs did not want anyone
with real knowledge of physics
sitting on the panel to convince
the other members of the jury that
their claims might be exaggerated.
How do we view scientists in
our society? Many of us expect that
“Quotes”
S
they will somehow miraculously
solve all the environmental and
technological problems that arise,
while inventing new products
to make our lives more pleasant.
But how do we solve the small
problems that we encounter
daily? Will you be knowledgeable
enough to drive your car safely,
fix electrical items, use chemicals
safely and employ simple machines
to accomplish difficult tasks?
With only about 15 percent of
college students choosing science
and math as a major, we face a
shortage of scientists in the near
future. Please consider the fact
that you need to understand
your personal world and have the
opportunity to serve the rest of
the world, by making the sciences
a serious focus of your learning.
-Jeff Cramer
eBay Items of
the Month
“An aquarium in Georgia has announced that it
will be the first aquarium to feature digital fish
in a computer generated environment. Experts
say the only place that has more fake fish is Red
Lobster.”
-Conan O’Brien
“A lot of people say the reason that President
Bush went on this Asian trip is to take a break
from the critics who say he manipulated the
truth, mislead the public and supports torture.
Well, at least he won’t hear any complaints from
the Chinese about that.”
-Jay Leno
“A new poll reveals that 56 percent of Americans
believe that Wal-Mart is bad for the country,
while the other 44 percent work there.”
-Amy Poehler
20 [NEXUS] December 2005 - January 2006
Xbox 360 brandnew game console
Deed to one square
inch of Hawaii
The Xbox 360 is one of the
hottest videogame consoles
on the market. Consequently,
there can be an absurdly
high price that comes along
with it. It contains surround
sound audio, 500MHz and
three 3.2 GHz IBM CPUs.
Starting bid: $3,500
Buy it Now: $5,000
Closing bid: none
Prime real estate is up
for grabs in the islands of
Hawaii. The catch is that it’s
only one square inch. Imagine what you could do with
one square inch of land. If
lava flows over it, then you
could have a possible acre
of Hawaii on your hands.
Quantity: 1,000
Price: $10 for five deeds
Menagerie
SUN
MON
1
2
Holiday Jam
@ Philips:
Bow Wow,
Ciara and
others.
Nokia Sugar
Bowl @
Georgia
Dome,
8:30 p.m.
TUES
3
WED
THUR
5
4
FRI
6
SAT
7
Blood Rayne
comes out in
theatres.
Winter Break
8
9
2nd
semester
begins
15
16
23
11
Georgia Tech
vs. Virginia
State @
Alexander
Memorial
17
Bon Jovi
Concert
@ Philips
Arena,
7:30 p.m.
Aerosmith/
Lenny Kravitz
play @ Philips
Arena,
7:30 p.m.
22
10
24
18
12
Holy Hip Hop
Showcase @
Earthlink Live
19
20
Basketball:
Grady vs.
Carver,
6 p.m.
MLK’s
Birthday
25
13
Golden
Dragon Circus @ Atlanta
Symphony
Hall.
26
27
NFL
Conference
Championships
30
Superbowl
of Motor
Sports @
Georgia
Dome
21
Basketball:
Grady vs.
Paideia,
6 p.m.
28
Battle of the
Bands @
the Georgia
Dome,
10 a.m.
Basketball:
Grady vs.
Cross Keys,
6 p.m.
29
14
31
Islamic
New Year
Sam Johnson
Absent steps of Grady after a busy day in the month of December. As the semester winds down, the students get ready for the Winter Break.
21