The D'Angelo Center: A New Beginning

Photo Courtesy of Olga Zapisek

St. John’s University has always prided itself in making its students and faculty feel like part of an intimate community. However, despite the university’s best efforts through student organizations and events, a piece of the puzzle was still missing. Now in time for the holidays, St. John’s University has unveiled for its students a present like no other-the much anticipated student university center.

For a year and a half, construction has been building expectations amongst the St. John’s community of what the new building would look like inside and out. And though the place is still full of construction workers as they complete their work to the last knot and bolt, it is also no stranger to students.

The D’Angelo Center officially opened its doors on December 7, after a ribbon cutting ceremony, coinciding with the University’s Winter Carnival at which food and drinks from the new dining additions could first be tasted.

According to Rev. Harrington C.M., the new building is just what the university needed to make the student body feel at home during their leisure and study time.

“Now we have two places where our community gathers. We have St. Thomas More Church where we gather as a community of faith, and we have the D’Angelo Center, where we gather as a community of learning and a community that shares life together,” Rev. Harrington, C.M told St. John’s University.

But what exactly does this modern, 5-story, $77 million brick-and-stone building hold? To put it simply: a whole lot of wonders.

Equipped with 14 state of the art classrooms, 6 seminar rooms, and various dining banquets, the D’Angelo Center is sure to be a breather for students from the overly crowded Marillac Cafeteria.

“I have stopped going to Marillac Cafeteria, unless it is to grab a quick snack on the go. I can’t stand the noise coming from this overcrowded place. I can’t even hear my own thoughts there. Studying is just out of the question,” Pharmacy Student, Kimberly Wang, said.

To even out dining areas and ease student complaints, the student university center is featuring a variety of healthy cuisines from different parts of the world. For instance, the food court is home to the Chop’d Fork Friendly Salads and Au Bon Pain Soups, as well as Pia Dori Flatbread Co. featuring Certified Halal meat and poultry products. In addition, the building holds a Starbucks Café and the Campus Activities Coffeehouse at which three new video game consoles (X-box 360, Playstation 3, and Wii) are held for students’ entertainment.

Yet the revealing does not end there.

Aside from having bountiful dining places, students can also enjoy recreational time with their peers thanks to a game room with two pool tables, two air hockey tables, and one foosball table.

To boot, there are two places for quiet study time: The D’Angelo Living Room (equipped with its very own fireplace donated by the graduating class of 2009), and the Center for Student Engagement with its very own computers and student laptop plug-ins.

The new D’Angelo Center is also home to various student organizations such as the Yearbook committee and the university newspaper.

“We have only been in the new office for about a week. We have to share the new room with two other organizations, which is neat because I get to meet new people,” Torch Online News Editor, Jose Silva, said.

However, though the new university center does surpass its old predecessor by a long shot with new furniture and commodities, how exactly do students feel about this building and its services?

They couldn’t be happier.

“The building is beautiful and modern. I love the massive windows and high ceiling,” Senior, 21, Stephanie Sica, said. “I will definitely spend time on the couches and the Starbucks café.”

“The building looks nice and creative. It changes the whole campus look when I pass by that area,” sophomore, Farah Laskar, added. “I heard there is good food there, so I might go eat there during my breaks. I also might think about doing my homework there, but only if I see that it's a quiet area.”

As one semester ends and another begins, one question remains. Just how long will the students appreciate this space?


D'Angelo Center from Olga Z on Vimeo.

Nook's Hidden Controversy

E-readers--they’re every avid readers dream and with the Christmas season right around the corner they are selling faster than candy canes. But despite skyrocketing sales, one e-reader is stirring up an immense level of controversy in the world of writers.

Say hello to the Nook. A slick, dual color, touch screen e-reader with 2GB of memory space and a Wi-Fi connection, which boasts itself for storing 1,500 E-books all for the price of $259. Offering more than a million titles from its E-book library, you would think the newest prized invention of Barnes and Noble, more popular than Amazon's Kindle, would be an enticing hit in the publishing industry. Yet most writers detest it.

Why, you ask? The answer is quite simple. Because of the new Barnes and Noble lend me technology. Thanks to this new technology, an owner of an e-reader can lend any book that they purchase to their friends for free. What’s more is that it does not necessarily have to be sent to another e-reader. It can be sent to any and from any iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC, or Mac, by simply using the Barnes and Noble e-reader software, which can be downloaded for free off their website.

This leaves authors financially hurt and unable to protect their work, much like musicians whose work is freely distributed over the internet through peer to peer connections. Needless to say, the Nook’s technology has writers outraged.

“If all you have to do is wait for your friend to send a copy of a book to your nook or to your i-Phone, why buy? And if no one is buying, then fewer and fewer writers will be able to make a living by writing,” Michelle Richmond, author of “No One You Know,” said on her blog.

Though there is talk of a new model where the lending would become available through a licensing program, publishers are not happy with this resolution and continue to push it back in a relentless tug of war. Barnes and Noble itself has refused to comment in regard to these accusations.

Yet readers say the lending feature should pose no threat, since it is severely limited. E-books can be lent only once to designated individuals and for a maximum of 14 days. Furthermore, there are only a few titles that are designed for this feature. But what has left readers really astonished is the fact that when they lend the book, they themselves cannot read it; therefore, contradicting the era of technological advancement versus a library.

“I'm a little pissed off by this, especially since I was so excited about the Nook, but not entirely surprised. It's like when Microsoft introduced the Zune's sharing feature. They understood that people share physical media and want to share digital media, but still forced (probably at the record labels' behest, but whatever) a 3-play, 3-day restriction that was so strict nobody ever used the feature. And now Barnes and Noble is following in Microsoft's footsteps,” Gideon commented on a Gizmodo blog post.

Yet despite the array of controversies and problems, it looks like the Nook is here to stay, as it enters the sold-out holiday marketplace.

No Z's For College Students

Aliza Moorji, 21, napping on the Great Lawn at St. John's University

Sleep deprivation. We have all suffered from it at one time or another leaving us in a zombie like trance throughout our daily activities, despite the unparalleled amounts of caffeine ingested by our bodies. However, what happens when this occasional phenomenon becomes part of a daily regime?

The coffee cup in one hand and energy drink in the other trend has become a commonplace one among college students to stay awake in class. This phenomenon is no stranger to New York City’s St. John’s University. With little or no sleep and class lectures on average running from one to three hours, students constantly try new methods to stay conscious. Yet sometimes a can of Redbull doesn’t do the trick leaving students dozing off during class or missing them altogether.

According to St. John’s University Media Graphics Professor Durso, this is not something that surprises the staff of the university, but rather the number of such circumstances.

“Although this is not a “new” problem, there appears to be many more instances of it today than in the past.”

According to an article in the Daily Utah Chronicle, a recent poll taken by the National Sleep Foundation found that approximately 60 percent of college students lack in sleep. The study also showed that 39 percent of the adult population, including college students, gets less than 6-7 hours of sleep on a daily basis.

“I usually get about 7 hours of sleep during the school week but that's not enough. I wake up feeling tired and have to drag myself out of bed. I would like to get at least 8 hours but that only happens when my first class in the morning is cancelled,” St. John’s University student, 21, Aliza Moorji, said.

This leads to a massive amount of problems. From cascading grades and GPA’s to the inability to perform and handle stress or emotions, the side-effects are endless and can progress to serious health problems. According to sleepdeprivation.com, doctors warn that severe sleep deprivation can lead to depression, heart disease, irritability, and tremors. In addition, weight fluctuations can occur as well as faster skin aging, since the body does not receive enough time to rejuvenate itself.

So why do college students sleep so little?

While some students may resort to late night partying, others complain about the workload, implying that between classes, exams, assignments, and work they have too much to consume on their plates. Some even have an additional task of an internship.

“It's not so much of sleep deprivation but more of stress. During the last few weeks though, I do find it harder to fall asleep than usual because I toss and turn until I can actually fall asleep. But it's because of stress,” Moorji, said.

However, there are those students who resort to procrastination, and do their assignments at the very last minute resulting in all-nighters. Often times they are also distracted by the array of websites designed specifically for them keeping them from a good night’s sleep.

“Students think that staying up late to catch up on school work and social networks is a good idea. The reality is that they lose so much sleep that they fall further behind on everything and the vicious cycle starts again,” Durso said.

With so many students falling into this trap, the question remains, how can these problems be solved? University professors are eager to work together with students to make college life a little more bearable for them, but under one condition—student cooperation.

“I would be more than happy to work with any student, but I think the issue is time management and understanding your own strengths and weaknesses as a student of life,” Durso said.

Weight Loss Shoe Fad

Weight loss sneakers: you have seen them before and perhaps even purchased a pair. Now with Reebok’s recent new EasyTone ad campaign these once popular sneakers are in high demand all over again. But just how healthy and safe are they?

Designed for battling cellulite, toning muscles, improving posture, and weight loss, through their heavily cushioned rocker sole, which forces the wearer to use muscles that would normally remain inactive, the sneakers have become a sensation across the nation. Cleverly advertised commercials aimed at women show a promising path to a healthy lifestyle and a model-like body. But before you run off with your credit card to the nearest shoe outlet store, consider the fact that these shoes may not be for everybody.

According to About.com, though doctors recommend daily 30 to 60 minute walks due to several health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and better heart functionality, they do not necessarily have in mind weight loss sneakers, but rather comfortable walking shoes. Shoes should not cause unnecessary strain and discomfort when walking, especially for the young and elderly whose bones are more fragile and prone to injury. Instead they should offer good heel and ankle support to prevent fractures and complications.

According to USA Today, weight loss sneakers may be supportive but can be the cause of severe muscle strain.

“The shoes limit normal motion in the foot. So you may be under-using some muscles and overusing others,” Marlene Reid, a podiatrist in Naperville, Ill., and spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association, told USA Today.

In addition to extraneous tension in the muscles, which can cause great discomfort to some, there is also the problem of balance. Weight loss sneakers require those who wear them to have near perfect balance, which for the inexperienced may result in falling.

“Shoes do make a crucial difference in assisting exercise and preventing injury. But the best results come when shoes and orthotic inserts built for your foot are evaluated by an expert,” Dr. Bruce Hensel of NBC4 told NBC.

According to USA Today, originally weight loss sneakers were manufactured as therapeutic footwear for those suffering from arthritis and other medical problems involving one’s feet.

However doctors and fitness trainers alike are not barring these not-so-new shoes, but reminding that everything should be done in moderation.

“Look, all these things have a placebo effect,” Dakota Mitchell, a personal trainer in Woodland Hills, California told NBC. “You pay a hundred bucks for a pair of trendy rocking shoes and you are probably going to be walking more than you would normally. You see results, but it's from exercising more, not from the shoes. Anything that gets you out there doing it, is good.”



Image courtesy of http://www.extreme-evolution.net

A Day In Embden, Maine

Public WiFi: A Hacker's Paradise

Sitting in your local Starbucks with a tall Mocha Frapuccino in hand, you turn on your laptop and seize the opportunity to hook up to a public free WiFi provider. They’re everywhere. Airports, cafes, hotels, and even gas stations have them. But just how safe are they?

The answer: not very. According to several reports, including those of the NY Times, public WiFi’s are a magnet for security hazards. Hackers particularly have thrown their anchors into the deep abyss of the oceanic hot spots of public wireless internet providers. Though a number of people are aware of the dangers lurking at public internet access points, most narrow it down to the mere refusal of making credit card transactions or typing in personal information.

Yet the precautions should go deeper than that.

According to a Yahoo Tech article, anything that requires an online login like Facebook or other social networking sites, as well as personal e-mail accounts are subject to exploitation by hackers. The threats intensify if you are using a public computer, since cookies are stored making the sites and logins you just used easily accessible to anyone who sits at the computer after you.

The problem lies in insufficient public internet security.

“The problem is, the really good people have written sniffer programs so that the less-sophisticated people have access to the same technology,” Michael Sellitto, a Harvard graduate student studying international security, told the NY Times. “Say a Microsoft Word document gets transmitted. The sniffer program will collect that and someone could open it up on their computer.”

Yet even your own wireless connection at home can leave one in the path of danger if not protected by a unique password.

So how can you protect yourself from becoming a victim and having your information stolen in a matter of seconds? According to the NY Times, there are several things you can do.

Create a password to safeguard your own wireless connection at home. Also make sure you have a new or updated version of an anti-virus program to further prevent hackers from invading your privacy.

Installing a specialized program, like RoboForm, meant to encrypt all personal data such as passwords is a safe and easy way to protect your data from being stolen in public places. Such programs can also be stored on USB ports creating a secondary protective barrier.

However, the safest way to protect your hardware is to simply limit your use online to websites that do not require personal data when using public WiFi.

"Connect only to the networks that you trust. Make sure that your communication is secure, disconnect the wireless when you stop using it, and maintain the list of wireless connections that you use on your laptop so that you don't accidentally connect to networks that may spring up when you're traveling,” Kiran Deshpande, president of AirTight Networks, told CNN.

More Than Just Halloween Horror

Sitting back comfortably in the darkness of a crowded movie theatre, we flinch instinctively at the gory sight of a man having his leg ruthlessly cut off during the newest horror movie. Slightly nauseated we turn our heads around only to find to our horror a trembling 6-year-old sitting a few seats away in the company of their guardian. Many of us, if not all, have been subjected to this type of scenario at one time or another giving rise to the question: does the fault in letting underage kids see Rated-R movies lie within the movie theatres or in parental judgment?

According to FirstShowing.net, all movies possess a comprehensive rating released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which identifies appropriate viewer age.

Currently, the MPAA defines Rated-R movies as thematically adult oriented suggesting that children under the age of 17 not be allowed to view such motion pictures without a guardian. However, their advice does not end there, but rather continues in clear-cut detail:

An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.

Yet, parents rarely pay attention to the listed ratings, and instead instill their own set of guidelines exposing their children to potentially harmful psychological effects.

According to a 2006 study done by the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, horror movies may cause permanent emotional problems in young children.

“Watching 'Friday the 13th' with your child is probably not a good idea. Children under the age of 5 may be too young to actually watch and understand violent movies; however, they are psychologically affected by the scenes they are exposed to,” Dr. Daniel S. Schechter, the study's principal investigator in an interview with Science Daily said.

With a high possibility of inflicting post-traumatic stress disorder upon young viewers, which can follow them into adulthood, parents are strongly advised to rethink their choices.

“It is important not only to follow the ratings guidelines, but to see the movie yourself before you see it with your child and consider how they will likely experience it at their age. Even some movies marketed to children can be inappropriate. When in doubt, parents should consult with other parents or a professional,” Schechter continued.

As Halloween approaches, parents should think twice before making the choice between Paranormal Activity and A Nightmare Before Christmas, selecting movies appropriate to their child’s age and emotional state.

Top image courtesy of Firstshowing.net

Ralph Lauren Does It Again

When we are little we hear “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.” But what happens when what we hold to be beautiful becomes warped and unrealistic?

Recently, Ralph Lauren, a giant in the fashion industry, released a digitally retouched photograph of model Filippa Hamilton making the already thin woman appear skeletal. At 5’10 and 120 pounds, the size 4 model is anything but fat, yet the image shows a grotesquely thin waist and hips to match making Hamilton’s head appear abnormally big.

For Hamilton, who worked for Ralph Lauren since 2002 and considered them her second family, this came as a shock--but not as much as the news of her termination with the company. According to an article in the Daily News, Hamilton claims that Ralph Lauren fired her on the accord that she did not fit into their sample clothing anymore, though her weight had not fluctuated while working for the company.

“They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore,” Hamilton told the Daily News.

Despite Hamilton’s allegations Ralph Lauren did not withdraw their previous statement of the model being unable to meet their obligations under her contract with them. However, they apologized for the photoshopped image saying that it was an accidental mistake on their part.

Yet a few days later another distorted image from Ralph Lauren appeared in an Australian store window. This time it was of model Valentina Zelyaeva whose already thin waist was retouched to alien proportions. With two photograph releases of emaciated looking models all in the same week the probability that both were an accident becomes almost improbable.

Needless to say, the public and the models have exploded in anger.

“Why don't they just show their clothes on skeletons ... or are those not skinny enough?” online blogger Elizabeth wrote in a post on Photoshop Disasters. “One ridiculously Photoshopped image is laughable, but a collection of them is grotesque.”

Another blogger from the same website said, “Aren't advertisements meant to make you buy things? Or is this some Ralph-Lauren-sponsored anorexia-awareness campaign?”

Hamilton is concerned how such releases may affect young women’s perceptions of beauty.

“I think they owe American women an apology, a big apology," she said. "I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy,” Hamilton told the Daily News.

Hamilton is right to worry. According to About.com 7 to 10 million women in the United States suffer from eating disorders. Putting re-touched images of models in magazine and websites sends the wrong message to the populace making young women especially vulnerable and ready to follow such “trends”.

“Young girls have indicated in surveys that they are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of cancer, nuclear war, or losing their parents,” Lisa Berzins, PhD, said at a 1997 Congressional briefing on eating disorders.

With that in mind, it makes one wonder when the fashion industry will make it their problem to worry about providing women with a healthy body image before they become just another statistic.

Can You Win The Nobel Peace Prize?

It is no mystery that last week the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarded U.S. President Barack Obama with a Nobel Peace Prize. Neither does it come as a surprise that the controversial decision brought on mixed reactions. Yet the question that has grasped the minds of the masses is how exactly does someone win a Nobel Peace Prize?

Not to shatter lifelong dreams, but contrary to recent popular belief, the win does not come from fruitless promises. According to an article on About.com, the process is complex and overwhelming, starting with nominations that can often be kept secret for fifty years.

According to the Nobel Peace Prize website, nominees are chosen from a specific pool of candidates ranging from non-profitable organizations to government officials on the ground that they “have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

In spite of that, the person who is selected by the committee does not have to have their work completed. It is the initiative that counts and merits the triumph, which is to serve as a significant turning point in fulfilling the suggested tasks.

When picking the winner, the pool of contenders is shrunk down to 5 to 20 people, and further reviewed and debated across the board of committees, until a unanimous vote is made.

So, how exactly did President Obama walk away with such an ostentatious title when he himself has only delivered promises, and thus far no evocative actions?

According to The Lede, the New York Times news blog, the answer has been the subject of arguments across the world with some people claiming Obama is more than merely a politician, but rather “the new spirit of dialogue and engagement on the world’s biggest problems.” Others, however, are disgruntled with the committee’s choice, emphasizing that nominating a person who had only been in office for 12 days shows the problems of today’s society.

According to The Lede, the renowned director of the Norwegian Center for Human Rights at the University of Oslo and human rights title holder in Norway, Nils Butenschon, said that Obama had not yet accomplished acts of substance, and therefore, should not have been nominated this year.

“It seems premature to me,” Mr. Butenschon said. “I think the committee should be very careful with the integrity of the prize, and in this case I don’t think we are in a position to really evaluate the full impact of what this candidate has achieved. Sometimes of course the prize is awarded to people who are in the process of making history, so to speak, but in this case I think it is too early to know that.”

Nonetheless, despite the steadfast steaming reactions, the committee remains silent about its decision saying only that Obama was chosen for "his extraordinary efforts" in promoting diplomacy between nations and peoples.

Obama’s win is not the first one to spark controversy. According to Newsweek’s blog, Wealth of Nations, Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Carter, and Woodrow Wilson are a few who were thought to be undeserving of wearing the same title as Mother Theresa due to their past histories and spoiled efforts.

Still, as Newsweek’s blog put it, “the dual warlike and peacemaking natures of these laureates are perhaps appropriate: we wouldn't be the first to point out the irony of a peace prize named for the man who invented dynamite.”

Movie Prices on the Rise

The sweet memories of a single trip to the movies costing $8 with an order of a large soda and popcorn to match are long over for movie lovers.

As movie matinee prices skyrocket to an approximate range of $13 to $15 at many theatre locations, due in part to a recent 30 percent increase, one is looking at an approximate $60 setback for a family of five, before even thinking of hitting the concession stand.

According to an article in The Seattle Times, the cause of instantaneous wallet thinning at ticket stands has been a direct hit of escalating corn costs nationwide.

Changes like this have left movie goers frustrated and wishing for theaters to reconsider decreasing ticket costs to $5 or $8.

“Paying $13 for a ticket plus the price of a drink and snack makes me just want to wait for the DVD to come out, so that I may rent it instead of throwing away my money to see something that I might not even enjoy,” said, movie fanatic, 22, Chris Wood.

Forest Hills Resident, 45, Henry M, couldn’t agree more.

“I do not understand why ticket prices cannot remain at the mere price of $5 per ticket. They should just increase the concession stand prices. Why should I have to pay for something I do not even buy?”

According to The Seattle Times, spokesman for AMC, Justin Scott, proclaimed that corn was not the only impactful circumstance. Numerous economical factors went into consideration over the increase of ticket prices, leaving theatre companies with no other choice, but to spike the costs.

"It's not one or the other, concessions or tickets," Scott said. "A lot of factors are considered to find the right balance."

Even so, the complaints though quantitative, linger in silence as no thunderous protests have been made to counter the increases, which might not prevail anytime soon.

Yet, even in this downturn economy, the movie business is not faltering. Rather, surprisingly enough, it is doing better than in past years with a 17.5 percent increase.

According to The Numbers, a site dedicated to movie trends since 1995; this year ticket sales have exceeded the one million mark.

Though contradictory to the circumstances, the outcome is not all that startling to the movie franchise. According to an article on CNN.com, people are searching for outlets where they can forget about their overbearing problems if only for a little while.

“Films are a good form of entertainment during a recession because you can sit back and -- sad or happy -- you lose where you are and you go into the movie,” chairwoman of the film studies department at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Jeanine Basinger, said.

Hence, movie theatres will not relent unless boycotts and protests ensue, seeing as their revenues have been anything but negative.

Research data used for this article can be found here.

Social Life Lacking?

At first glance the social life at St. John's University may appear bountiful and promising, yet given a closer look the idealistic college experience vanishes for many incoming students.

With a grandiose number of events, academic clubs, and student organizations, which continually increase in number, it may come as a surprise that there is a problem with an intricate part of campus life. Yet, though the opportunities are endless, the problem lies in the e-mail notification system that is supposed to inform the students of upcoming events.

According to St. John's University senior, Stephanie Sica, the e-mail notifications are not adequate and do not arrive in a timely fashion, especially for students living off-campus.

"I get e-mails the day before or the day of not giving me enough time to decide if I’d like to go.”



Journalism major, Kevin Coltrinari, couldn't agree more.

"They should focus on getting it out there. It is only there if you're looking for it."

Albeit the evidential and current problem, students are satisfied with the events that are available, when they do hear about them.

Recently, the Fall Movie Series have been creating quite a commotion amongst the student body with free movie showings of popular blockbuster hits like “Public Enemies” and “Hangover,” which are available with a SJU student ID card. Those who are not members of the University can equally enjoy this event with their friends, but need to pay an entrance fee of $5.

Nevertheless, the event is not without its problems with unusually bad picture quality and sound, making the wait for the DVD more worthwhile than sitting in the tightly packed sardine seats of the Little Theatre.

“They were really bad quality. It looked like they were filmed on VHS,” Sica said referring to the Saw movie series she had seen in the past two years.

Taking into account the facility improvements occurring on campus, students sit in hope that the university will fix the problems that have ensued and prevented the expansion of a vigorous St. John’s community.

Art Knows No Limits

When told to think of the word ‘art’ our minds immediately conjure up iconic images of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” or Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans.” Not once do we think of the ordinary and unattractive. Instead, we overlook them, questioning their very existence in the world of art. Yet, this October comes an art festival, Art In Odd Places, manifesting simplistic objects found in our every day lives as extraordinary, stating that art knows no limits.

With the help of 60 artists, New York City’s 14th Street is being transformed into an outside museum as disregarded objects, signs, installations, and live acts flood block after block, giving life to the age old adage: “art is all around us.”

According to the Director of Art In Odd Places, Ed Woodham, the month long festival is intended to not only give passerby’s the chance to interact with artwork in the public domain, but also to relate to the art history of 14th Street.

“In 14th Street, we had a site uniquely calibrated to encourage art that manifests the signs of our times while also being a signpost toward future possibilities,” said Woodham.

Though each of the projects is meaningful and exquisite in nature, Polish artist, Olek’s, sign performers are one of the highlights of this festival. Perched outside public transportation stations and dressed in vibrant crocheted camouflage, stand ordinary people carrying signs from various countries, instilling a silent message of artistic dialogue.

However, the journey into art does not stop there with each day being filled with 10 to 15 acts, such as artist San Randolph’s money hunt, where $1 and $5 bills are hidden for passerby’s delight, or artist Tim Thyzel’s portable water fountains made out of umbrellas and water bottles.

Last year, the overly popularized project was of LuLu LoLo, the 14th Street Newsboy, who would shout out headlines from her newspaper “14th Street Tribune,” solidifying the importance of New York’s history.



According to guest curators, Erin Donnelly and Radhika Subramaniam, the goal is to take commonplace domestic and industrial objects like cardboard boxes, and give them the chance to be something else in a creative sphere.

“We invited artists to explore the freedoms of the public realm and find imaginative apertures in it,” they said.

Therefore, watch your step the next time you tread the streets of New York City, since you never know when you might stumble upon a piece of art.

The festival runs from October 1-26. For more information go to: Art In Odd Places or visit a map of the scheduled events.

Top Image courtesy of Art In Odd Places and Olek

Au Revoir France, Hello New York

Though for many tourists, “New York: I Love You” is a cliché saying found on numerous memorabilia, tucked away on street corner shops in the middle of Manhattan, to the citizens of New York it is a way of life; a whispering telling of their hidden everyday stories.

Bringing these stories to life through a kaleidoscopic and philosophical venture hails an anthology film from 11 independent movie directors on the mysteries of love in the Big Apple.

Reminiscent of 2006 film Paris Je T’aime, the movie New York: I Love You joins 12 various love narratives, which do not always end in happily ever after. Stepping into each story for no longer than 5 to 6 minutes, the viewer becomes a voyeur, given a glimpse into the stone cold reality of New York’s forgotten and elite, where the drama knows no pause button.

Bidding farewell to the Eiffel Tower and welcoming in the Empire State Building, the film, like its predecessor, is a continuation of an intricate look into all genres of human connection. Though meant to be relatable in several aspects, especially for candid New Yorker’s, the film does carry a twinge of fairytale risqué throughout its path setting a dangerously idealistic promise of love for all who watch.

Nevertheless, amid a slightly distorted message which rings by “every moment…love begins,” there lies a renowned cast of actors, such as Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman, lusciously coaxing you to take a bite of the city that never sleeps.

The movie is due out in select theatres October 16, 2009.

For more information about this movie and locations near you please visit: http://newyorkiloveyouthemovie.com

30 Seconds To Mars Releases Album Date

Earlier this month there had been rumors of the release date of American rock band's, 30 Seconds To Mars, upcoming album entitled, This Is War. Now, the band has announced the official date of the album release on their website. Brace yourselves 30 Seconds To Mars fans for the attack is set in full motion for November 24.

The release date is only a small part of the excitement that is yet to come. In early October, fans across the States will be able to hear their first new single entitled "Kings And Queens."

Boys and girls across the world-mark your calendars for the battle begins soon!

5 New Songs From The Academy Is

With only a year between albums, alternative rock band, The Academy Is, has done it again with the announcement of a brand new EP. The EP, which is entitled Lost In Pacific Time, will feature five brand new songs, and is set to be released September 22.

According to the band's website, the EP will be available in album format as well as on I-Tunes. Though the EP is not yet available, one can pre-order it on the band's website, and have it in their hands by September 29.

The track list of the songs includes the following:
1) I'm Yours Tonight
2) Days Like Masquerades
3) Sputter
4) New York (Saint In The City)
5) In The Rearview

Presently, the band is going on tour as part of this year's Fall Ball, sponsored by Alternative Press Magazine. Therefore, catch them live or through songs, and welcome in the autumn madness!

Taking Back Sunday On Tour

Hoping to end the year with a scream, American rock band, Taking Back Sunday, has announced on their official website their upcoming fall tour dates. Performing across 20 states including Oklahoma, the hometown of co-lining alternative rock band, The All-American Rejects, the tour lingers with promise of dirty little secrets.


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According to the band's official website, the fun does not end there, with the band intending to do meet and greets across America, as well as performing at smaller venues with Anberlin, fun and Gavin Castleton, prior to the fall foliage.


Topping the charts with their hit single "Sink Into Me" off their 2009 album, New Again, the band has left audiences wondering at the next surprise.


Therefore, whether fan or foe, don't miss your chance to see these two bands playing together before tickets sell out!

30 Seconds To Mars Attacks October

With Christmas season right around the corner, the anticipation for new music albums is at an all time high. Yet, one specific album from American rock band 30 Seconds To Mars has fans spiraling out of control. The album, which has been rumored to be entitled "This Is War," has been set for release in October 2009, making music lovers worldwide wonder at the band's new method of attack.

Topping the charts with four singles from their previous album "A Beautiful Lie," it is no wonder at the fervor that is brewing.



"A Beautiful Lie" music video