Wednesday
February 18, 2004
arts.michigandaily.com
artseditor@michigandaily.com
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By Melissa Runstrom
Daily Arts Writer
THE HOTTEST PICKS IN ENTERTAINMENT
FROM A DAILY ARTS WRITER
S
Modest Mouse - Even though they seem to have sold their
souls to the horror that is minivan commercials, this band's mix
of lulling melodies and often calming vocals interspersed with
the lead singer's randomly placed, piercing lyrics remains one of
the most unique sounds to join the mainstream record industry
in recent years.
"Lost in Translation" - Bravo to the Academy for recognizing
one of the most visually astounding, well-written and well-acted
works of the year. Although "The Lord of the Rings: The Return
of the King" will inevitably steal its crowning glory, the nomina-
tion honors a level of creativity that seemed to be overlooked in
recent Oscar history.
According to the Uganda Children's Charity
Foundation, more than 1.7 million children have lost
at least one parent to AIDS in Uganda. The epidemic
kills more than 300 people every day in Uganda
alone. Though the country is a step ahead of most
sub-Saharan African countries, being the first to
implement policies and programs to combat HIV
and AIDS, life expectancy has fallen to just 42 years.
According to UCCF, 30 percent of Uganda's
population was diagnosed with HIV in 1993. In
2002, however, the rate dropped to 5 percent.
Unfortunately, this number
results as much from the cam-
paign to curb new infections as The Children
it does from the high mortality of Uganda
rate of HIV/AIDS in East Thursday at7 p.m.
African countries. To provide and Saturday at
support for Ugandan children 8 p.m.
orphaned by the outbreak, the Tickets $18-$40
UCCF has put together a AtthePowerCenter
unique production of East
African song and dance.
In the "Tour of Light," showing at the Power Cen-
ter this weekend, 20 native Ugandans, aged 8 to 18,
dance, sing and play a variety of handmade instru-
ments from Ugan-
da and other East
k)
Ben Folds Five - While Ben Folds heads to Hill Auditorium, the
music buzz on campus surrounds his wavering solo career. Unfor-
tunately, his floundering attempts to gain
popularity on his own tarnish the
beauty that was Ben Folds
Five. Songs such as "Magic"
and "Stephen's Last Night in
Town" perfectly mesh upbeat .
tempos, fun lyrics and poetic
verse into one kick-ass musi-
cal package. .
Dave Chappelle --As a white girl
from the rural Midwest, I realize 4 w
that I am the butt of many Dave
Chappelle jokes. Even still, I am in
awe of any man who can create a
video like the R. Kelly spoof "I wants
to pee on you" and convey humor rather
than disgust. Dave, you're my hero.
Bum-chika-bum-bum ... bum.
C~ourtesy or UMS
-Aml
African nations.
The children are
chosen from an
orphanage where
they were trained
to dance as a way
to keep their her-
itage and culture
alive. The disas-
trous effect AIDS a
population threaten
important values and
through dance and sc
ly for entertainment,
tional ways to pass st
The performance,
52 ethnic groups w
reflecting history a
"(The children) help
ica and Africa," Ale)
director and presider
"I wouldn't be do
think they could cl
UCCF provides enor
vantaged children it
outreach program,i
widowed HIV posit
five or more children
raise $1 million this
said that when she fi
THE SPIRIT LIVES
UGANDAN GROUP PERFORMS TO
HELP FIGHT AIDS
nd HIV have had on the adult she knew that "if friends in America could see these
s to rob future generations of children perform, they would get involved."
J customs that are only recorded The UCCF is a registered nongovernment organ-
ong. Though performed primari- ization that provides orphans with food, clothing,
singing and dancing are tradi- education and shelter. The program even funds the
ories on to new generations. education of seven children in America. Through
will highlight each of Uganda's the "Tour of Light," children themselves raise
vith specific dance and music money for continued support. They dance and sing
nd culture from East Africa. in order to increase awareness and aid. Alexis
bridge the gap between Amer- Hefley said that they "bring attention to the devas-
xis Hefley, the UCCF executive tating effect that AIDS has."
nt, commented. UCCF reports that Uganda has the highest pro-
ing what I am doing if I didn't portion of AIDS orphans in the world. The organi-
hange the world," she added. zation strives to make the situation in Uganda
mous opportunity for the disad- better for all of the children. It is through the
serves. Through its community power of traditional song and dance that Hefley
it educates kids who live with believes the children convey "a message of hope."
ive women who are caring for She described the children on tour as being bright
n. The organization has a goal to and cheerful despite the hardships they face. She
s year for its programs. Hefley added that they "have a lot of talent and enjoy
rst got involved with the UCCF what they are doing."
"Monk" - I don't think I have ever
seen a Tony Shalhoub performance I
didn't like. The man is a genius por-
traying quirky characters. With the
bevy of crime dramas on televi-
sion of late, "Monk" provides
viewers with a much-needed
reprieve from the typical
rape/murder prototype that is
"Law & Order." Besides, any
show that can entice John Tur-
turro to guest star has already
won my affection.
Courtesy or uM
Shake it like a Polaroid picture.
Couresy of USA
'Makeover' can't build a winner
I.
By Kevin Hollifleld
Daily Arts Writer
Take every home redesign show,
change nothing except the budget and
put a familiar face in charge. This is
the formula for ABC's "Extreme
Makeover: Home Edition," which
started as a special but has become a
weekly staple.
The show takes ABC's "Extreme
Makeover" concept to the homestead,
As an engineer in
the U.
S.
Air Force,
no telling what
all but demolish-
ing a family's
home and reout-
fitting it within a
week, a job that
would normally
take three months.
The residents are
sequestered while
there s
Extreme
Makeover:
Home
Edition
Sundays at 8 p.m.
ABC
Courtesy of ABC
a horde of contractors take over the
house. Upon their return, viewers
watch as they go nuts about the revo-
lutionary kitchen gadgets or sob over
the shag carpet.
Ty Pennington, easily the most
attractive and irritating of TLC's
M "Trading Spaces" gang, takes the reins
with his own crew, a group of mis-
matched eccentrics who enjoying argu-
ing with each other, generally slowing
down the project at hand. These types
of conflicts have, at least in part, made
this genre so popular.
The classic example of the rogue
contractor is evident as Preston Sharp,
the "Exteriors/Big Ideas" crewmember,
The only thing you can nail Is me.
takes a chainsaw to the hedges without
approval, disagrees with Constance
Ramos, the "Building/Planning" mem-
ber, about the new look of the house
and is threatened with arrest by the
foreman upon removing a lamppost
from the yard.
The pilot featured the Powers family,
who originally moved into their Santa
Clara house and furnished it with lawn
chairs. While his wife and children were
away at a Disneyland vacation, Rodney,
the father who was serving with the
National Guard in Iraq, returned to lend
a hand in planning and remodeling the
house. At the end of their vacation, the
rest of the family comes home to a tear-
ful reunion and a dream house.
ABC has promised visits from
celebrity guests each week. For exam-
ple, former Dodgers manager Tommy
LaSorda dropped by on the first
episode to christen the Whiffle-ball dia-
mond in the backyard.
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
is a continuation of redecoration reality
television, only on a larger scale. The
trend started with Bob Vila's "This Old
House," the home improvement show
that handled one project at a time, giv-
ing instruction to potential do-it-your-
selfers. Now, practicality has taken a
backseat to pure entertainment, focus-
ing mainly on the crew's confrontations.
In the end, the families are presented
with homes having so many posh inno-
vations, the average remodeling budget
could never pay for them, even though
viewers are constantly reminded all the
products are available at Sears.
you'll work on.
(Seriously, we can't tell you.
I
United States Air Force applied technology is years ahead
of what you'll touch in the private sector, and as a new
engineer you'll likely be involved at the ground level of new
and sometimes classified developments. You'll begin leading
and managing within this highly respected group from day
one. Find out what's waiting behind the scenes for you in
the Air Force today. To request more information, call
1-800-423-USAF or log on to airforce.com.
Ai