28 The Michigan Daily Weeken4 Mag~azim- ThursdaJanuary 21,1999
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The Michigan Daily Weekentd
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The TanglIed Web:
Little-known sites we think you liike
http:/www.weathercom/twc/homepage. twc
As much as we all loath to admit it, The Weather Channel is truly one of the simpler pleasures of life. Now, thanks to
the Web, the wonders of colorful weather maps, fascinating meteorological phenomena and exciting storm fronts can be
downloaded on any computer. The Weather Channel Website is full of news and history dealing with things that get us
wet and make us sweaty.
Some of the great features of the site include week-long forecasts for virtually any moderately populated city, video of
weather patterns and travel updates for both roads and air. Meteorology is no longer such a mystery.
-Aaron Rich
Shahida Nurullah "Songs Within Me"
will feature a Detroit native with an
international flair, singing songs
close to her heart, such as "Lush
Life," Brazilian songs and a selection
of show tunes. Kerrytown Concert
House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann
Arbor. 8 p.m. 769-2999. $10-$25.
Taproot Ann Arbor's finest "rap-
core"playing live in the Motor City.
Sounds like fun. Alvin's, 5756 Cass
Ave., Detroit, (313)832-1857. 9 p.m.
$5.
Vanilla Ice Stop, colloborate and lis-
ten. Ice is back - you know the
rest! Aww, yeah! Harpo's, 14238
Harper St., Detroit. (313) 824-1700.
8 p.m.
THEATER
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-
on-the-Moon Marigolds See
Thursday. 7 p.m.
The Rainmaker See Thursday. 8 p.m.
The Moon Wolf See Thursday. 8 p.m.
Students $12; others $15.
ALTERNATIVES
Annual Book Sale So this is what
they do when you don't check out a
book for awhile. Hardcovers for
$0.50 each and paperbacks for
$0.25 a piece. The sale continues
through January 25. Ann Arbor.
District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.
Sunday
CAMPUS CINEMA
The Natural (1984) A young man
with the potential to be the greatest
baseball player of all time is shot by
a psychotic woman. Fifteen years
later, he makes it to the pros for his
one and only season in the sun only
to find corruption and the toughest
battle of his life. Michigan Theater,
603 E. Liberty. 1 p.m. $10.
Gods and Monsters See Thursday.
4:45, 7, 9:15 p.m.
MUSIC
sometimes the name speaks for
itself. T.C.'s Speakeasy, 207 W.
Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, 483-4470.
8 p.m. $2.
Jazz Jam Session Raise the roof and
Set ready to jam. Bird of Paradise,
07 S. Ashley, 662-8310. 9 p.m.
Free.
The Original Brothers and Sisters of
Love Do members of the Brady
Bunch sing backup? Showing up is
the only way to know for sure. Arbor
Brewing, 116 E. Washington, 213-
1393. 9 p.m. Free.
Vince Junior Books, blues and a
warm drink on a Sunday afternoon.
It's fantastic. Border's, 515 E.
Liberty, 913-1100. 1 p.m. Free.
Logan Skelton As part of the
Pianists@Kerrytown Series,
Professor Skelton will play the works
of Bela Bart6k. Kerrytown Concert
House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann
Arbor. 4 p.m. 769-2999. $5-$25.
THEATER
The Rainmaker See Thursday. 2 p.m.
The Moon Wolf See Thursday. 2 p.m.
A LTERNATI VES
Annual Book Sale Fill a grocery
sack for only $4. The bigger the bag,
the better the deal. Ann Arbor
District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.
Drawings by Delacroix from the
University of Michigan Museum of
Art The museum offers a free tour
of this temporary exhibit. University
Museum of Art. 2 p.m. Free.
- -- --- ----- -- -- ---
Monday
CAMPUS CINEMA
M (1931) Fritz Lang's chilling study
of a serial murderer pursuedrboth by
police and the criminal underworld of
Berlin, who cynically recognize that
child murder is bad for business.
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty.
4:10 p.m. $5.25. -
river captain who is struggling to
keep his boat running, Steamboat
Bill, alive despite competition from a
modern boat owned by his rival.
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty. 7
p.m. Free.
Gods and Monsters See Thursday.
9:15 p.m.
MUSIC
Acoustic Open Mic Clear your
throat, shake your shouldersuand
own the audience. Tap Room, 201 W.
Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, 482-5320.
9:30 p.m. Free.
Bird of Paradise Orchestra Larry!
Larryl Larryl Let's face it, even if
Larry Bird returned, the Pistons
would still win the title. Oh yeah,
and there's some big band, jazz-style
stuff invovled too. Bird of
Paradise, 207 S. Ashley, 662-8310.
9:00 p.m. $3.
Mozart Birthday Concert In this 7th
annual bash, the University Chamber
Orchestra, directed by Kenneth
Kiesler, will perform the overture to
"La Clemenza di Tito," the
"Posthorn" Serenade, "The Ribbon
Trio" and assorted concert arias. Go
to this, then e-mail your parents.
They will be impressed. Very
impressed. Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m.
ALTERNATIVES
Annual Book Sale See Saturday and
Sunday.
Michael Connelly Noted author will
be signing copies of his latest novel
"Angels Flight." Borders, 612 E.
Liberty St., 668-7652. 7:30 p.m.
Sebastian Matthews University instructor
and poet is the featured artist for the
Guild House Writers Series. Open mic ses-
sion follows. Guild House, 802 Monroe St.
8:30 p.m.
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Tuesday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Atlantic City (1981) An aging, small-time
numbers runner dreams of himself as a
ruthless gangster. Michigan Theater, 603
E. Liberty. 7 p.m. $5.25.
DANIEL aDO NEL/Daily
Nigh-flying monster truck Bearfoot flew through the air and ripped up the fled at
the Pontiac Silverdome. its lunding was not nealy as graceful as Its takeoff. While
mOnster truck rallies are not uncomnmon, they are always exciting.
Monsters tear up
Silverdome floor
wit bgh-lyng ct
By Matthew Iarritt
and Laro Rich
Daily Arts Writers
PONTIAC - Standing next to the
monumental piece of metal that is Grave
Digger gives one pause. The vehicle,
whose size and strength dwarf any human
who stands beside it, scoffs in the face of
fear during its death-defying routines.
This colossal truck,. that checks in at
more than 10,000 pounds and cost more
than $150,000 to put together, has devel-
oped a large fan base due to its striking
success in the world of truck racing.
At the Pontiac Silverdome this past
Saturday, the Michael Jordan of monster
trucks was once again in action in the US.
Hot Rod Monster Jam and, to the surprise
of no one, took first place honors.
Monster truck racing is akin in many
people minds to professional wrestling;
It is incredibly popular and at the same
time a guilty pleasure.
The sport involves two gigantic, usual-
ly florescent, rigs racing side by side on
identical, but separate, courses in a mad
dash for the finish line. The field is set up
with two major jumps for the drivers, one
over a lone car, and the second, the fin-
isher, over a mega-quartet of junkyard
autos. The racers typically cross the finish
line in mid-air for races that generally end
within 15 seconds of the start gun.
That is to say, 15 seconds of the loud-
est, most earth-shaking (literally) noise
that any spectator has ever experienced.
The long-time fans can be easily picked
out by their earplugs or headphones.
Unknowing amateurs are unaware of the
ear-rattling sounds, and their regrets ring
true for days after. Envisioning a jack-
hammer in a quiet library would only
begin to give newcomers an idea of what
they're up against.
Saturdays festivities began quietly at
the "Pit Party," where fans of all ages met
their favorite drivers and sized themselves
up against the mighty trucks. The two-
hour event took place on the Silverdome
floor, allowing fans to grace the same
field (albeit a muddy one) as Detroit
Lions great Barry Sanders. Autographs,
photographs and seismographs were all
part of the ground shaking festivities.
One of the pit favorites, Gary Bauer,
the driver of Nitemare II, explained that
breaking into the business doesn't start
behind the wheel but rather as part of a
truck team. "You have to get to know the
geometry of truck," Bauer said . The 16-
year veteran of the monster truck circuit
showed that his years of experience and
under-the-hood education were well-
spent as he raced to the night' final four,
losing in a controversial photo finish.
The monster action began with the
night inaugural race involving a clash
between racing titans Pony Express and
Bearfoot. The race was an eye-opener for
fist-timers due to the extreme noise and
intensity of the showdown.
The spirit was amplified even more
when the race's winner, Bearfoot, landed
upside down across the finish line. The
driver walked away from the wreck but
the victory was bittersweet, seeing as the
crash finished his truck for the night. The
six following first-round races paled in
comparison to the event's heart-stopping
opener.
While the victorious giants rested for
their second round matches, fans were
treated to the so-called "Quad Wars' and
See TRUCKS, Page 11B
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) Buster
Great American Blues Jam And Keaton stars as the son of an old
Hardly recognizable without
bums, Vanilla Ice will be in
Gods and Monsters See Thun
p.m.
MUSIC
Blues Jam I can jam therefore
attitude like this will make for
show. Tap Room, 201 W. Mich
Ypsilanti, 482-5320. 9:30 p.rr
The Folk Monty Hey wasr
nominated for an Oscar ar
movie of the year by some
last year? It does, howeve
some folk music. The Ark,
Main St., 761-1451. 8 p.
kish Session Jump around! Jl
Cross your fingers and maye
Pain will show up. Conor O'Nei
Main, 665-2968. 9 p.m. Free.
A LTERNATIVES
Bell Hooks Talented profe
critic will speak about the
of writing and her new boo
"Remembered Rapture." E
612 E. Liberty St., 668-76
Richard Tillinghast Richa
Tillinghast and other local
share the works of their f
writers. All are invited to
favorite poems. Ann Arbor
Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.
Wednesd
CAMPUS CINEMA
Affliction (1998) See what a
buzz is about, in this intense d
ring Nick Nolte and James Co
233 State St. 7 p.m. Free.
Photo courtesy of lion'
George of the Jungle consorts with Mrs. David Helfgott? No, it's just Brendon Fraser and Lynn Redgrave in "Gods and
Monsters," the latest movie about dead Hollywood directors.