Want another reason to get involved with Global Outreach? Well, if that fish-eye shot from GO! New Orleans participant Jenn Pelly is any indication, not only does the program allow you to do humanitarian work in poverty- or disaster-stricken areas, but it also gives you a chance to hobnob with similarly compassionate megastars.
On Saturday evening, Oakland genre-benders WHY? played to a packed crowd at the Knitting Factory, in support of their great new album, Alopecia. Now, full disclosure: I have loved this band for a while now, and it would be hard for me to speak negatively about their music.
That being said, I don’t think even the most casual of listeners could have walked out of the Knitting Factory without feeling as if they had seen a fantastic studio band create something even more special on the stage. Yoni Wolf’s deeply personal, imagery-laden lyrics were delivered with quiet intensity, often with help from the large group of loyal fans who sang along with nearly every word. Yoni’s brother, Josiah, is a percussionist with immense talent, able to swing back and forth between pounding, snare-heavy rhythms and gorgeous xylophone twinklings. Doug McDiarmid and Austin Brown (the new touring member) were on point, as well. The band seemed incredibly comfortable in their own sound, an impressive feat when one considers the utter scope of their infectious mini-epics.
WHY? is a band with near-limitless potential, and it does not seem hyperbolic to say that they will prove highly influential in the years to come. If their focused Knitting Factory performance proved anything, it’s that they are ready to spread their sweeping sound to a larger audience.
Just before leaving the stage, Yoni stated simply, “It was a good night.” No arguments here.
More photos below…
photos courtesy vapnet and ianblue
As you know, Spring Break is drawing to a close, which means that The Observer Blog’s hiatus must come to an end, as well. And what better way to return than with a link to this gloriously funny post on McSweeney’s Internet Tendency?
Say what you will about Dave Eggers and his literati cohorts over at McS’s, but the idea of Papa giving his two cents on the NCAA tourney’s top contenders leaves us yearning for more fictional coverage of America’s greatest sporting event. What would Joyce have to say about the chances of The Fightin’ Irish making it to Sweet Sixteen? For now, we can only guess.
photo courtesy SirKnight#4
Earlier today, and in the wake of accusations that he was involved in a prostitution ring, Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned from his post. On Monday, Spitzer’s resignation will go into effect and Lt. Governor David A. Paterson will be sworn in as the new governor.
At a press conference held at his Manhattan office, Spitzer had this to say:
“I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.”
According to The New York Times, Spitzer’s decision comes after a Tuesday spent inside his Fifth Avenue apartment, deliberating with his wife, lawyers and close friends.
The legacy Spitzer leaves behind is one that differs greatly from the expectations placed upon him in recent years. In June 2005, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson called the then-New York Attorney General “the future of the Democratic party”.
But following today’s resignation, it seems as if it is Spitzer’s personal future that is in need of direction.
photo courtesy Lindsay Beyerstein
At a press conference earlier today, Governor Eliot Spitzer admitted his involvement as a client in a prostitution scandal. According to The New York Times, Spitzer’s office was notified last Friday that the governor had been named as the suspect in a federal wiretap investigation that intercepted a phone call arranging for a high-end prostitute to be sent from New York to Washington, D.C., where a person referred to as Client 9 had rented a hotel room. Client 9 was found to be Gov. Spitzer, who spoke briefly today, making no mention of any decisions regarding his political future. During the press conference, Spitzer’s wife, Silda, stood beside him.
Spitzer released a statement hours after the story broke, saying that he “acted in way that violates his obligation to his family.”
“I apologize first and most importantly to my family,” Spitzer said. “I apologize to the public, to whom I promised better… I am disappointed that I failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself.”
Spitzer has been deemed “a rising star” among the Democratic party, according to CNN, for his efforts to root out corruption, bust white-collar criminals and tackle organized crime.
Last October, Spitzer spoke to the students of Fordham College at Lincoln Center and addressed “morality and practicality.” He spoke about his platform to provide driver’s licenses to people without social security numbers, and health insurance to all children.
More updates to come.
photo courtesy preamble
Musician and #1 Judy Garland fan Rufus Wainwright is calling for a voluntary NYC blackout on June 21. According to Gothamist, “the musician proposes that we all set our sundials to noon on June 21st to signal a group shut down of all electric lights, appliances and anything else that plugs in…for 12 hours. His hope is to call attention to global warming and energy conservation.”
An interesting idea, no? Wainwright will perform a sold-out candlelit set at the Angel Orensanz Foundation to promote his dark day, which will come on the heels of the March 29 Earth Hour, which asks citizens and businesses to turn off their lights for one hour, beginning at 8 p.m.
Not having been present for the last (albeit accidental) NYC blackout, I would love to say what kind of earth-friendly celebrations could spring from this. Hopefully, all those folks who love to give the “you should have been there” speeches will help to recreate that night’s joyously dim debauchery.
It was announced Sunday morning that The Fordham Observer took home first place honors in the four-year non-weekly category of the Associated Collegiate Press’ Best of Show contest. The winners were announced at the final day of the ACP’s National College Newspaper Convention in San Francisco. Congratulations to the entire staff and expect to see a full press release soon.
photos courtesy The Backlot and iambrianwong
That means you, Ja Rule and Anthony Robbins! (But not you, Danny Trejo or Brian Wong.)
We at the Observer are big fans of things that only come around every four years: the Olympics; presidential elections; production nights that end before 1 a.m, and, of course, leap years!
Celebrate today’s little cosmic quirk by munching on some fun facts, courtesy of ok50.com.
1. Today our year is 365.2425 days, off from our solar year by .00031, or one day’s error over 4,000 years.
2. If you’re a “Leaper,” you will have beaten the 1,506 odds against being born on Leap Day.
3. Leap Year was the traditional time that women could propose marriage. When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years – February 29th.
4. There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year. Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year.
5. Leap Year cocktail – never order a Leap Year cocktail by name. Instead, call out the ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 0.5 oz Grand Marnier, 0.5 oz sweet vermouth, and a squeeze of lemon. Shake with crushed ice and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.
6. Leap Year Day Babies will never have a “Golden Birthday”. A Golden Birthday is when your age matches the number of the day of the month you were born on. Leap Year Day Babies will have to be 116 before they turn 29 on the 29th!
7. The premise of Gilbert and Sullivan’s musical The Pirates of Penzance is based on the birth of the main character on a leap day. Frederic was, as a child, apprenticed to a band of tenderhearted, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master’s instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Frederic, upon completing his 21st year, rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society. But it turns out that he was born on February 29, Leap Year Day, and he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday (when he’s 84!).
photo courtesy MyCine
So, at this point, we all know most of last night’s Oscars results, and if you’re anything like me, the last thing you need is another long-winded rant about who got robbed and who looked awful. Therefore, I will merely take a quick glance at the night’s major awards, with a five-word maximum for my thoughts on each.
Best Picture: No Country for Old Men — There Will Be a recount.
Best Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men — Should have won for Fargo.
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will be Blood — Makes hoop earrings look cool.
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose — Stunningly beautiful. The Monster effect.
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men — Mostly remembered for the creephair.
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton — Cate, it ain’t you babe.
Full list of winners after the jump…
In this video, a three-year old tries to explain the plot of Star Wars Episode IV. This is the cutest thing you will see all week. Or possibly ever. I am left fairly speechless by how awesome this kid is. Just watch it.
