THE THIS REALLY ISN’T HOW IT HAPPENED NOVEMBER 2O11 ISSUE
INSIDE
THE REAL THANKSGIVING HOW TO PACE YOURSELF WHY BLACK FRIDAY?
CONCEPT Lisa Hinrichs
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Waldron
DESIGN Theresa Lopez
THE SPREAD IS A DIGITAL PUBLICATION OF REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS JOURNALISM, ADVERTISING & MEDIA STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE OF MEDIA.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS F. Amanda Tugade, Arielle Desiray Contreras, Arik Wonsover, Ben Kohler, Kayla Flam, Latifah Al-Hazza, Mary Horkavi, Melanie Stone, Samantha Krabbe, Sarah Soenke, Stephany Guerrero, Steven Wear, Taylor Odisho, Klaudia Dukala, RenĂŠe Wunderlich EDITORS Betsy Drazner, Darshan Patel, Nora Johnson, Samantha Krabbe, Arik Wonsover PHOTOGRAPHERS Amanda Tugade, Arielle Desiray Contreras , Grace Gong, Michael Hoffman, Stephany Guerrero ADVERTISING For further details, contact us at spreadjournalism@gmail.com
THIS IS THE SPREAD The magazine run by the students of the College of Media at the University of Illinois. The magazine started by the club JAMS. The magazine that has a dirty-sounding name, but nothing but the best intentions. The magazine that settles somewhere in between the Daily Illini and the Booze News, but is completely different than either of them. The magazine pushing the boundaries of journalism and what it is “supposed to be”. The magazine that gives you everything you’re interested in, and nothing you’re not. The magazine that you are about to read (and hopefully, enjoy).
IT BEGAN
a year ago, when I was asked if I wanted to be in charge of the News-Editorial portion of the club JAMS. I agreed. Not because I wanted something to put on my resumé, but because I had an idea. An idea for a publication that would be unlike anything else the University of Illinois had ever seen. A publication that would push censorship to its limits, but remain prestigious all the same. And that was that. Well, not really, but that was how it began. We started small, with a Freshman Survival Guide released in August 2011, and then we grew. I accumulated a dedicated staff — writers, photographers, designers, editors — and then the real magic happened. And that real magic now sits right in front of you: the November issue of The Spread. We may be the “new kid on the block” and have a lot of experience to gain, but nonetheless, we hope to bring you something refreshing in the world of journalism: Hilarity in the bluntest form possible. Because journalism is not always war, crime and politics. It’s fun and games, too. Enjoy the second real issue of The Spread.
Emily Waldron
Editor-in-Chief
by Amanda Tugade
THERE IS ALWAYS MON by Sarah Soenke
For all fans of Arrested Development, the final lines of the series have been enough to keep us on the edge of our seats for the past five years.
“I don’t see it as a series. Maybe a movie,” said Ron Howard, executive producer and narrator of the show. It was the one hope us Bluth-loving viewers could hold onto for the revival of the short-lived TV show. If you aren’t a fan of the show, why the hell not? Arrested Development is a six-time Emmy Award winning, critically acclaimed series that ran from 20032006 on FOX. Comprised of an amazing cast, including Jason Bateman, Michael Cera and Portia de Rossi, the show circled around the hilarious antics of the dysfunctional Bluth family. The show’s critical success can be credited largely to the combination of the creator Mitchell Hurwitz’s intellectually-comedic writing and the talent showcased in the cast’s performance. It was often comedic, intertextual and reflexive, offering satire in reference to other shows and to itself. Shot in a documentary style, the tongue-in-cheek commentary by the show’s omniscient third-person narrator ties together
the many flashbacks, plot threads and supplement material, such as family photos, archive film and security camera footage. The best part of the show’s comedy is its subtlety; I can re-watch episodes and still find something new every time. While it fostered plenty of acclaim, FOX canceled the show due to its low ratings, garnering only six million viewers during its third season. Despite this, I doubt the show’s following is still so low. Similar to the likes of many cult series, Arrested Development has garnered countless fans long after the last episode aired. Long-running continuities of Arrested Development have also become iconic within pop culture. Some include the chicken dance, various characters’ imitations of chickens that resemble anything but that. And who hasn’t heard a reference to the banana stand? I have friends who still list it as their previous work on Facebook. And now the amount of support the new film receives will determine if that same loyal fan base still
NEY IN THE BANANA STAND exists. Hurwitz announced in October the promise of a feature film, with the guarantee that the entire original cast will be a part of the project. Not only that, but nine or ten episodes will be aired leading up to the film, establishing what each character has been doing in their five years absent. Now, if you’re like me, after the utter excitement and the screaming and jumping, there’s some worry. TV shows made into movies haven’t always lived up to expectations. Examples like The Simpsons and Spongebob Squarepants received good ratings from fans and critics, but also sacrificed the creative integrity that is required. Typically, fat franchises are fueled by the promise of high revenue, and the film becomes a regurgitation of the most popular jokes and plot lines of the show. Fans leave satisfied, but aren’t given anything new. The success is solely based on stretching out the show’s established talent, not its potential. However, Hurwitz is leading the movie in a different direction. Due to the five-year gap, the movie is forced to become a spinoff rather than a direct continuation
of the series. And rather than being built off the promise of money, the creators and fans have to prove its potential revenue in order for it to be produced. This leaves the driving force of the film to be its own comedic identity and originality.
“Just creatively, I have been working on the screenplay for a long time and found that as time went by, there was so much more to the story,”
Hurwitz said in an interview with the New York Times. The film and preluding episodes aren’t going to be a financially-driven shell of what the show once was. Hurwitz and other writers look promising thus far in creating a comedically-brilliant film reminiscent of the show but driven by originality. Part of that would be making the episodes accessible to fans, whether they are old or new. But until then, I and many others are left to anxiously anticipate what will be on the next Arrested Development episode.
THE REAL
THANKSGIVING by Latifah Al-Hazza
In
elementary school, I was always taught that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to the ones we love and the ones that help us, much like the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Indians. Little did I know, this was merely a fairytale of peace that was engraved into my American imagination. So what is the true story of this holiday? Thanksgiving marks the loss of Native Americans and was the first National Day of Mourning. This is the low-down of what really happened in Plymouth. A feast did take place, that part is true. The catch is, the Indians that attended were not invited. The Pilgrims never called it “Thanksgiving” as the holiday is known today. In reality, this historical “picnic” is actually one of the bloodiest events in history. So here’s what happened: Seven hundred men, women, and children of the Pequot Tribe gathered in an area in Connecticut for their annual dance. While they were gathered at the event, the tribe was surrounded and attacked by the English and Dutch, otherwise known as The Pilgrims.
AS THE INDIANS WERE FORCED OUT, THEY WERE SHOT DOWN ONE BY ONE. THE ONES THAT REFUSED TO LEAVE WERE BURNED ALIVE.
The next day, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony named the day “Thanksgiving”. Thanking what you ask? Thanking God that they successfully killed seven hundred men, women, and children.
THE INDIANS WERE GENEROUS SOULS THAT PROVIDED THE PILGRIMS WITH FOOD WHEN THE PILGRIM CROP FAILED MISERABLY. Contrary to what we’ve been taught, the Pilgrims were no friends to the Indians. They falsely acted as friends, when in reality, they were plotting to exterminate their hosts. Just a day before “Thanksgiving,” a Pilgrim by the name of Myles Standish chopped off the head of an Indian chief and stuck it on a wooden pike as a symbol of “white power”! An elevenfoot wall was built around the entire settlement to keep the Indians out. If an Indian came within close measures of the settlement, they were subject to robbery, enslavement, or even murder. To extend their hateful intentions, the pilgrims mounted five cannons on a hill around their settlement, constructed a platform for artillery and organized soldiers in preparation for the destruction of their so called “friends.” So don’t be fooled by what your teachers taught you; the Pilgrims turned on their hosts, the Indians, in brutal ways. This is the true story of Thanksgiving, a holiday that Americans celebrate every year. So — who wants turkey?
Cast on the set of Real World: New York in 1992, the first installment in the Real World series.
REALITY SHOWS by Taylor Odisho
T
ake me back to a happier time when the airwaves were not polluted with reality television shows, singing competitions and dance-offs. When MTV actually played music videos, and when VH1 tried to do the same. When soap operas evoked the most drama that we saw on television because they were just so ridiculous. Well, such soap operas have turned into “reality” shows concerning “normal” people. These “normal” people then become celebrities. And for doing what? Nothing. For doing what every American wishes they could, but don’t have the guts, or the funds, to do. For example, getting wasted in clubs every weekend, living a lavish lifestyle as a housewife and exploiting toddlers in their tiaras. Now, I don’t necessarily hate reality television. Sometimes, it can be really entertaining, which is why we as Americans latch onto it — and don’t let go. Networks, like E!, have taken the liberty of exploiting people willing to ruin their reputations for the sake of a little fame, fortune and screen time. And I have a few bones to pick.
KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS and their ridiculous lives
Let’s start with the most famous Kardashian family and list some of their notable accomplishmentsWe have the most famous of the clan, Kim. She began her career as Paris Hilton’s sidekick. They took over the Hollywood strip each weekend with a drink in their hand and a poodle in the other. Then, Kim decided to really branch out and make a name for herself, so she created a movie. Not just any movie, though, a rare movie that wasn’t even shown in theaters. This movie was about her sexual encounter with “rapper” Ray J, another reality television star who has no reason to have a show. If the movie didn’t help Kim’s career, it definitely had to be the spread in Playboy. And what do you give to someone that has accomplished so much in this world? A TV show, duh. Kim is now famous and sitting on top of a net worth of about $35 million. She created a movie, has modeled and now dabbles with reality TV. What a saint. There are two other Kardashians, sisters to Kim, but there is absolutely no reason they’re famous, yet I’m sure you know who they are. Now ask yourself: Why? My point exactly.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN dance//sing//act//cook loseweight//design clothes Another way reality shows are taking a turn for the worst is that competitions shows have multiplied in the last few years. Ever since Kelly Clarkson became the first American Idol back in 2002, everyone thinks they have the talent it takes to be the next big thing. Not only can people show what they’ve got through singing, but there are multiple dance, cooking and acting competitions. Basically, you name it, and there are a group of people who think they have what it takes to win it all. I applaud people who are trying to prove themselves and further their skills, but I would say eight out of 10
people who compete in these types of shows are just looking for their 15 minutes of fame. The ones who actually have the talent and motivation to excel usually end up advancing through to the later stages of the competition, such as now-fashion designer Christian Siriano, who won the fourth season of Project Runway. He had passion throughout the show and really focused on putting his best effort forward in creating clothing that everyone, and anyone, can and would want to wear. His passion was apparent, and today, he has a very successful fashion line that is sold through his store and distributed around the country at Nordstrom. I guess for the sake of people like Soriano, these competitions can be fun, but the producers of these shows need to weed out the no-talents who seek nothing more than fame. And maybe if people like Kim Kardashian weren’t turned into superstars over nothing, these reality shows might actually be worth watching.
#THINGSLONGERTHAN KIMSMARRIAGE 5. THIS ARTICLE 4. SNOOKI’S BF’S STAY IN ITALY 3. HER REALITY TV SHOW 2. THE MOVIE “FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY” 1. RON AND SAMMI’S TOXIC RELATIONSHIP
MAIZ (Prounounced MAH-EESE) by Arielle Desiray Contreras
Dos Reales or any other Mexican concept restaurant in campustown better watch out. Maiz Mexican Grill, the new restaurant on 1st and Green is dishing out some serious competition! How serious? Maiz opened its doors earlier this month with only two employees and has since had to hire four new additions just to keep up with business. In its first short month of existence Smile Politely, Champaign-Urbana’s Online Magazine has declared it “Simply perfect… and the best Mexican food you will find anywhere even close to Champaign.” It’s also already been featured on Urbanspoon.com and has received 100% positive ratings. And it’s not hard to see why. Walking in, the place was packed, filled with both students and locals eating at the counter and some standing. Every time a customer walked out, two more walked in. Everyone was greeted with a warm hello and was taken care of right away. Before we get into the finger-licking good, never watered-down, homemade, authentic food this new place is offering, let’s get to know who’s responsible for this Mexican phenomenon.
ARMANDO 101 Armando Sandoval Manjarrez, owner and cook, runs his new business with his fiancé, Karina Benitez. New business owner he may be, but Armando is a veteran to the restaurant business. He worked in his family’s very own restaurant in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood for 18 years before opening up Maiz in Champaign.
“I STARTED AS A DISHWASHER. MY MOM WAS THE WAITRESS AND MY DAD WAS THE COOK. I EVENTUALLY MADE MY WAY TO THE KITCHEN,” Armando said from behind the artfully crafted greentile counter imported from Pueblas, Mexico. Armando attributes much of his success to his background growing up in Mexico on a farm with his grandparents. His grandmother, whom he and his fiancé playfully argued was either 75 or 80, grew her own corn and beans and made her own tortillas from scratch. Armando has taken this “homemade” concept and brought it to our lucky taste-buds in Champaign…Now onto the good stuffthe food!
DELICIOSO 101 What makes Maiz Mexican Grill different from any other Mexican restaurants in town? Well, for one Maiz makes everything in house. The tasty salsas and sauces are made fresh from scratch every morning. The chicken, steak and pork are cut, seasoned and all cooked to juicy perfection right in their kitchen just feet away from where patrons are served. The tortillas are to die for and also homemade at the restaurant. Armando said what also makes his restaurant unique is the huitlacoche on the menu. In English, it is better known as corn smut. It is a fungus that grows on corn and while that may sound gross, Armando says it’s the fastest selling item on his menu.
What’s even better is Maiz gives you the option of how your food is prepared. You can opt for your tortillas and food to be fried or grilled. Armando said Mexican food is only fried in big cities in Mexico and food on the farm is often grilled.
“I GREW UP ON HOMEMADE TORTILLAS AND HOMEGROWN VEGETABLES. IT’S JUST NATURAL TO ME,” Armando said. “We were organic before the
mine was served to me, a customer at the register peeped over and asked the cashier what I was having and said he wanted that next time. Karina also offered me some chips and salsa with my meal and even though their chips are from a bag, they are deep-fried in-house too! The salsas have the perfect amount of kick and you can taste the freshness in every chip you dip. All in all, I give Maiz five stars and highly recommend you stop in for a bite. Just have some patience; this place is never empty!
organic craze began!”
WHAT’S ON THE MENU? I ordered the chicken torta ahogada (but you also have the option of asada, pastor or chorizo). And whoa! This torta is nothing like I have ever had before. For one, you need a knife and fork to eat it because it’s covered in a savory (spicy) sauce that soaks up perfectly on the deliciously warm bread. The torta itself is filled with the meat of your choice, beans, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese and sour cream. There’s even a funny story behind this neo-torta. Armando’s fiancé Karina offered up a story as I chowed down. The concept for the torta soaked in sauce was actually an accident. A Mexican street vendor in Jalisco, Mexico accidentally dropped a torta into a sauce bowl and his customer insisted on eating it anyway. Lo and behold, it was a hit! Word got out and it’s something you can find in restaurants across Jalisco now. Students in Champaign love this torta too, and it keeps gaining fans. In fact, when
Salsa at Maiz
HOW TO:
PACE YOURSELF AT THANKSGIVING by Mary Horkavi
THANKSGIVING You’ve spent the last 364 days preparing for this day – working out all day, every day and limiting yourself to 500 calories per 24-hour cycle; only getting takeout when it is absolutely necessary. It’s the only day of the year when it’s okay to binge a little — or a lot (okay, excluding Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and every other “holiday” where you convince yourself it is okay to exceed your daily caloric intake). It’s Thanksgiving. Yes, ladies and gents, the best eating holiday known to man. This holiday season, however, I’m going try and take a different approach to eating. Here are a few of my tips for pacing your food consumption so you can eat what you want without having to unbutton your pants (don’t deny that you do it, because I do it every year without fail):
START AT 2 P.M
. When I say start at 2 p.m., I am referring to the actual big turkey meal. You don’t want to overeat in the morning before all the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes are out, but you need to stay nourished prior to stuffing your face. If you don’t eat some fruit, a small bagel or a bowl of cereal in the morning, then you will be starving later, which will make it difficult to control yourself. Your eyes will become bigger than your stomach and therefore that button on your pants will be undone sooner than you’d ever imagined.
THE TWO-BITE RULE To avoid overeating, take small servings so that you are basically just “sampling” everything. In any situation, the two-bite rule is very effective. For example, if you are given a cookie, you only eat two bites of it. You might be reading this with your jaw on the floor, but trust me, it works. The first bite you take is heaven, nothing can compare. Bite
number two is absolutely satisfying and just makes you feel awesome. But, any subsequent bite you consume is just there to occupy your mouth and pleasure your taste buds – it does nothing for your self-esteem, however. Two bites are all you need to feel satisfied.
FEED IT TO THE DOG Now, if you are not a dog owner, then I’m sorry. You’re kinda SOL (but not really because you can do this with any omnivore roaming around in your backyard). Eat slowly. This will fill you up faster than you’ll even realize. If you’re naturally a fast eater, create a conversation at the dinner table. That way, you’ll be talking more than you’re eating. You’ll never notice that you’re getting full on half the food you put on your plate and it will keep you feeling content the entire day. Place your plate on the floor (when no one else is paying any attention), let the dog lick the plate clean and that way, you’ll still hold the title of “Best Thanksgiving Eater.” If you follow all three of these tips, you’ll be good to go this Thanksgiving! And since you won’t be feeling bloated (like you felt last year), you can go on a nice little walk with the fam. It’s a great way to spend the rest of your evening and still work off those extra calories you ate. Enjoy!
ODD FUTURE by Sarah Soenke
On September 8th, Adult Swim announced that it has picked up “Loiter Squad,” the newest creative production from Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. Scheduled to begin airing in 2012, the show is to be a 15-minute compilation of sketches, pranks, and music, an off-the-wall showcase of the alternative hip-hop collective’s creative talents. This new media facet of Odd Future’s steadyclimbing success is not surprising. Since their nearimmediate media attention began in early 2010, Odd Future has been a viral source of controversy. Their dank, coercive lyrics are ridden with profanity, kidnapping, murder, and rape – abominable acts that are only hyped by the group’s sense of interiority. Tyler the Creator, the group’s charismatic leader, is at the head of the hard-earned integrity – their appraisal of swag and endorsable anti-everything rhetoric clearly defines Odd Future’s stance: you’re either for them or you’re against them. Underneath the morally offensive content, the group is without doubt talented. The raspy, groaning growl of Tyler’s voice is distinctive to the dark, posthorrorcore sound, while Earl Sweatshirt, the youngest member of the group at age 17, has lyrics in his mix tapes and collaborative tracks that have made him one of the most notable members of the group. Their use of beats, ranging from artists like Gucci Mane to Hi-Tek, is an unconventional marker of intelligence that other emerging young rappers fail to maintain. Yet, their lyrical content is the epicenter of their media attention. The misogyny and homophobia of their lyrics’ vivid and relentlessly angry fantasies has listeners either in praise for their creative integrity or in repulsion – a dispute that, unfortunately, draws away from their musical talent. Sara Quin, of the indie band Tegan and Sara, criticized Odd Future fans’ acceptance of the nature of their lyrics, asking, “In any other industry, would I be expected to tolerate, overlook and find deeper meaning in this kid’s sickening rhetoric?”
Others try to defend their fan-hood and tolerance of the lyrical content by pointing out the artistic value in Odd Future’s creative expression. Zach Baron of the Village Voice argued that “what artists like Odd Future... do, maybe, is venture where other people won’t and there start considering all sorts of human behavior we would prefer not to think of as possible.” Certainly, none of OFWGKTA’s ten-some members actually go around committing the acts their music describes – just as actors and actresses do not actually carry out their character’s actions in reality. Odd Future rather uses their music to create a first-person literary voice that forces themselves and their listeners to confront the discomforting disgust that we so often dare not to acknowledge in our everyday lives. To Tyler the Creator, it isn’t a matter of having a social effect, but creative freedom. “It’s the first shit that comes to our heads, seriously,” He said. “I’m interested in serial killers’ minds and shit, so I rap about it at the moment.” Whether you view them in admiration or contempt, the members of Odd Future are artists and, moreover, entertainers. The critical discourse that so closely follows their name is irrelevant, to both the artists themselves (clearly) and their music. Just as the work of similarly controversial artists has failed to have a dramatic effect on the morals of their listeners, so will Odd Future’s music. However, their reputation, whether negatively or positively publicized, only grows. The clever-witted and talented youth of Odd Future remains resilient against their critics as their hilarious, often violent, antics continue. ODWGKTA stands as an inventive receptor of critical feedback within the music industry; rather than be negatively affected by their haters, they use the publicity to their advantage. The discourse itself is what the group wants. The critiques only fuel their f*ck-all attitude, whether correct or not. But when faced with the lashing demands of mainstream’s conservative morals, creative integrity is ultimately something to be respected. And certainly, it’s something that pays off. With Tyler the Creator’s recent win of the Best New Artist VMA, the publication of their book Wolf Gang, and now the upcoming show, “Loiter Squad,” Odd Future’s success is still growing.
RELATIONSHIPS
I’M THANKFUL MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS:
I’M THANKFUL
MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS NOT:
by Nora Johnson
SMART
A CHEATER
If you’re dating someone with a low intelligence level, it sucks.
Why be with someone who wants to be with every other guy/girl on campus.
ATTRACTIVE
COCKY
Enough said.
Confidence is one thing, but cockiness is another. Arrogance isn’t a good shade on anyone.
SPONTANEOUS Random flowers/presents/notes are the best!
TOO SERIOUS
A GOOD DANCER
Relationships should be fun and exciting. You’re not married so you don’t have to spend all your free time together and lose your life.
Nobody wants to be the chick at Joe’s everyone stares at because her boyfriend is dancing like an idiot. Or the guy everyone stares at because his girlfriend is dancing like a floozy.
FUNNY Laughing till your stomach hurts and tears are rolling down your face is the best.
A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR If you got into U of I, you’re smart. Don’t use it to your advantage to lie and sneak around on your significant other. If you’re gonna lie and cheat, don’t get into a relationship.
RUDE If your girlfriend is the girl who is so high maintenance it’s almost unbearable, how are you going to bring her home to meet your mom? Rudeness is not acceptable, and it will get old fast.
RELATIONSHIPS
I’LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE WEEKS” by Kayla Flam
Being in a long distance relationship is not easy. Your significant other can’t just come over whenever you please, and you can’t always bring them to all your school functions. Everyone has their own advice on relationships that cross county — and sometimes state — lines. I’ve been a long distance relationship for the past three and a half years, and from my experience, I can give you advice on how to tackle this strange type of relationship. I hope I either help you make yours stronger, convince you that long distance thing is not always bad, or help you know when it’s not working any longer. The first thing you need in any relationship, especially long distance ones, is trust. If you have trust issues, do not go into a long distance relationship. You have no way of knowing their every move, and it’s a lot harder to spy on someone hundreds of miles away from you than someone who lives in the same town. If you and your significant other have had problems in the past with trust — for example, he or she cheated on you, and you found out they got blacked out drunk from a friend’s Facebook, etc. — it’s a lot harder to deal with these issues when you’re not physically together. Jealousy strikes the best of us, and if you can’t handle that your boyfriend lives on the same floor as a group of party-hardy girls, or your girlfriend has a hot math tutor, then forget about making it work — because it won’t. And the breakup will suck even more. I’m not saying if you have a spark of jealousy now and then to immediately end the relationship, but know when you’re worrying over something real, or something that’s just in your head. That brings me to my next point: Communication is key. This goes for all relationships, but especially long distance ones. In this digital age, there is no reason you cannot have some contact with your boyfriend or girlfriend at least once a day. My boyfriend and I text each other all day, responding to the other when we have time. We talk on the phone a couple times a week, and post videos and links to each other’s Facebook walls. Don’t become a stalker, checking their Facebook a billion times a day and calling them every 5 minutes, but do make sure you’re communicating. Since you’re not able to see each other
every day, updating your significant other on your day-today happenings is important. It might seem stupid, but if they were at the same school as you, they would already know what you were doing since they’d see you more often. Going along with that, you have to be open about how you feel. If you’re not happy with how things are going, tell them. It doesn’t do any good to let things boil over simply because you don’t see them. If you wish they would call more, tell them. Also make it clear what you want out of this relationship. Do you think it will continue after you’re done with school? What if you end up getting jobs in different locations? Will you move for them? This isn’t a normal relationship where you can necessarily put off talking about the future. It’s important to go back to this discussion every 6 months or so, as things change, so you can determine whether the relationship is worth continuing. Having common interests is what helps start relationships.
USE YOUR COMMON INTERESTS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BOND. If you both watch a television show, either watch it together over the phone or Skype, or talk about it afterwards. Follow a sports team, or start a collection of some sort — as long as you’re bonding over a common interest. I don’t want to come off as a Debbie Downer, but any good relationship requires work, especially when you’re living in different locations. I have a great relationship with my boyfriend, but I’ve also known a lot of long distance relationships that seemed great but ended up not working. I hope my advice can help you evaluate your own relationship (both normal and long distance), but in the end its up to you to determine whether longdistance dating is worth it or not.
ILLINI DEFENSEMEN RELISH
IN THE ROLE OF UNSUNG HERO by Arik Wonsover THE FIGHTING ILLINI head into their bye week with an overall record of 6-3. For some teams, that would be considered a success, but for the Illini, it’s been somewhat of a train wreck. The Illini started the season off with a 6-0 record, but after suffering 3 straight close losses to Ohio State, Purdue, and a last-second loss to Penn State, the Illini look to get back to their winning ways. While star quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and wide receiver A.J. Jenkins receive most of the recognition for the 6-0 start, the root of the Illini’s success has come from its defense. As the offense basks in the glory, the defense lurks in their shadow and assumes the role of the dark knight. If you’ve walked around the University of Illinois campus lately and happened to notice a gigantic, 6’4” 265 lb behemoth, it was likely junior Illini defensive end Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus has been merciless to the opposition, no pun intended. Through 9 weeks of the season, he leads the nation in sacks (11.5) and leads the Big Ten Conference in tackles for loss (16.5) and forced fumbles (6). Three straight losses suffered by the Illini have lit a fire under Mercilus.
“WE’RE MORE CONCENTRATED AND MORE FOCUSED THEN WE’VE BEEN BEFORE, especially coming off of three straight losses. Of course you start doubting yourself a bit, but we’re more focused now,” Mercilus said. The Illini’s offense has hit a wall as of late, mustering up a mere 28 points in the past 3 games, which has taken its toll on the defense. For Mercilus, it’s just part of the job description.
has taken its toll on the defense. For Mercilus, it’s just part of the job description. “It can be frustrating at times, but the thing is that’s what defense is for. Go in there, if the offensive messes up, gives up a turnover, that’s what defense is all about. You got to get that ball back as soon as possible,” he said. Mercilus is the anchor of the Illini defensive line, but Jonathan Brown is the composer of the Illini’s defensive backs. Jonathan Brown plays middle and right linebacker for the Fighting Illini, and he might just be the most intimidating player on the roster. At 6’1” 235 lbs, sophomore Jonathan Brown is a nightmare for opposing lineman. In fact, he earned a one-game suspension earlier this season for intentionally kneeing Northwestern offensive lineman Patrick Ward in the groin (ouch). He is currently 7th in the Big Ten in tackles (69) and 6th in sacks (4.5), not too shabby for a second year player. Brown said the Illini cannot let their losses phase them.
“JUST KEEP COMING OUT, BITING DOWN, DOING WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING. AND JUST KEEP PLAYING, THAT’S THE BIGGEST THING, DON’T LET THE LOSSES GET TO YOU,” he said. With a bye week under his belt, Brown looks to use his fresh legs to bounce back against future opponents. “I think the trick is keeping that bounce in your step, that’s what we’ve been able to do as a defense. So now I think we’re going to be back fresh and keep the bounce,” he said. With the Illini more motivated than ever, the Illini’s remaining opponents will have their hands full. Whitney Mercilus and Jonathan Brown will continue to dominate the opposition, and hopefully won’t go unnoticed.
CHAMPAIGN UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
by Ben Kohler
Music serves as an escape for some, inspiration for others, and an emotional outlet for many more. With a campus of more than 40,000 sets of ears, the ChampaignUrbana community is subject to enormous musical talent. For individuals hoping to gain a fan base, or even pursue a career in the music world, gaining recognition on such a large campus can prove to be quite a task. With multiple venues, including Canopy Club, the High Dive, Foellinger, and Assembly Hall, the University of Illinois has welcomed multiple artists that have recently gained massive popularity among our highly diversified generation. In the past year alone, Champaign has brought in acts such as Wiz Khalifa (twice), Kid CuDi, Lupe Fiasco, Death Cab for Cutie, Cut Copy, Minus the Bear, Passion Pit, Skrillex, Of Montreal, and the one and only: Bob Dylan.
Notice the genres of the artists listed above. With such a large, concentrated population craving live performances and new sounds, booking agents for Champaign’s venues have the increasingly difficult task of scheduling bands that students will not only make time, but spend money to go and see. For lesser-known musicians, there’s a lot of pressure to create something that sets them apart. One such example, DJs Milk N Cookies, spent much of their time here on campus networking and crafting an energetic sound that eventually led to them opening for just about every act that played at Canopy last year. James McElwain, aka “Milk”, attributes their surge of popularity to the massive network that they created through the Greek community and the employees of the bar system,
as well as the marketability of being identical twins. Along with his aforementioned brother Paul, aka “Cookies”, the two have made a significant impact that has led to them touring and electrifying crowds across the country.
“I HAVE MET AND WORKED WITH MANY TALENTED DJS OVER THE YEARS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY NOT MAKE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO BIG OF AN EGO, OR DO NOT BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.” Said McElwain. “My brother and I are incredibly selfdetermined, and will not be content until we are on top of the electronic music scene.” The struggle to gain a musical reputation is something I am personally familiar with as well. For the past several months, my band, “Bromley”, and I have been slaving away in a seventh floor study lounge, creating what we believe to be a nuance among the world of music, and a sound that could potentially gain recognition around campus. Guitarist Brian Nolan, who remains confident that the resulting sounds will be welcomed by music listeners here in Champaign, agrees that making this unique sound and standing out among such a large number of students is definitely intimidating. “There is the pressure of creating something new and original that nobody has heard, and making that sound relatable and catchy,” said Nolan. “It is a daunting task, but by combining a drummer who is heavily hiphop/electronically influenced, guitarists who are rock/ indie based, and a keyboardist who is classically trained, we believe that we have fused our talents to create a combination of sounds that every college student is craving. We call it Alternative/Rock-step.” After several visits to Pogo Studios right here in Champaign and working with legendary record producer Mark Rubel, it seems that a full length album should be ready to drop sometime during second semester, along with multiple concerts at the aforementioned venues across campus. Milk N Cookies latest bootleg of Adele’s Someone Like You Bromley’s first single can be downloaded for free here.
It’s definitely not an NBA court
NBA BASKETBALL:
WHAT’S THAT? by Steven Wear
I
t’s been so long since I’ve seen an NBA game that I’m starting to forget what the sport of basketball is. You hear about a bunch of “babies” complaining about money so much that people are going to forget that there’s an actual reason these athletes and coaches get paid. Every week there’s reports of “progress”, but since the lockout began on July 1st, the story has been the same. The situation is one of greed and unaccountability. The finger pointing between NBA commissioner David Stern, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) President Derek Fisher, and NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter is Busch league. After every meeting you can expect one of these three characters to claim that one of the other two isn’t willing to negotiate. For those of you living under a rock, or those of you who turned on your television November
28
1st expecting to see the Bulls play the Mavericks, here is a summary of what has happened. In June 2005, a six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached that guaranteed players 57 percent of basketballrelated income (BRI). Only a year after the agreement was reached, owners started to complain to NBA commissioner David Stern about the disparity between small-market and large-market teams. That is one of the main issues of the current agreement. Negotiations for the current agreement have been going on since the beginning of this year with the owners claiming that they were losing over $300 million dollars a year and the exorbitant player salaries were to blame. Originally, the owners wanted to reduce players’ salary by 40% and create a salary cap of $45 million per team.
This got players like Kobe, who made more than half that (24.8 million) last season, become a little uncomfortable and have a newfound concern for how the league was set-up. In June when the lockout was on the brink of beginning, the owners suggested a “flex cap” system that limited payroll to $62 million, but penalizes teams if the overall league average goes over that number.
THE PLAYERS’ REBUTTAL WAS AN OFFER OF A BRI REDUCTION FROM 57 PERCENT TO 54.3. Negotiations broke off and the lockout began, as the owners demanded a larger share and players refused to completely cave. The preseason has already come and gone. A 50-50 BRI (basketball-related income) split has been proposed, and to it makes sense to me. David Stern announced October 27th that all games through November 30th are cancelled. No longer is an 82 game season possible. The claim that owners like Mark Cuban and Paul Allen are just as interested as small owners in cutting players’ salaries (as a way to increase competition) is bullshit. At this point, no other reason — besides the owners wanting more money and the players not wanting to lose money — can be taken seriously. If there were more important incentives than that at hand, the lockout would have ended as soon as the 50-50 split was suggested in mid-October. The owners have now stated that they would be willing to accept the 50-50 BRI split, but the players union won’t budge any lower than 52 percent. What has been agreed upon is that player contracts have been shortened from 6 to 5 years. The length of the CBA and the BRI split are the two main issues left to discuss. Neither side is in this with good intent, with greed being the main issue, but the players should accept the 50-50 deal. The lockout is a lose-lose situation and a 50-50 split is the quickest way to make a compromise. Each month of the regular season that is cancelled costs the players around $350 million. Even if an agreement is reached, there is going to be at least another month of organizing what is left of the season. Hundreds of jobs have been lost. This lockout is a testament to the lack of importance fans hold to the players and owners. It isn’t as if fans are going to stop watching basketball because of this, but it puts the league in a bad light.
It’s officially November, which means one thing: Cold. I don’t know about you, but nothing warms me up more than a scarf around my neck. Being a poor college kid, I can’t exactly afford tons of cute scarves. So I decided to make one. Things got REAL crafty in my dorm room when I whipped up my very own t-shirt scarf using only a t-shirt and scissors. Here’s how you can do it, too;
DO IT YOURSELF
DIY T-SHIRT SCARF by Melanie Stone
STEP 1: Cut off the hem of the t-shirt. STEP 2: Cut the shirt into horizontal strips, about 1 inch each.
STEP 3: Stretch out the rings. STEP 4: Wrap each ring around your hand 4 times. STEP 5: Using the extra pieces of the t-shirt, cut 2-3 inch strips and stretch them. Use these to tie the bigger rings together. There you have it! I wore mine out the night I made it and got tons of compliments. If only they knew that my scarf came from an old t-shirt.
IS BREAKING DAWN BREAKING UP YOUR RELATIONSHIP?
by Klaudia Dukala
The Twilight saga undoubtedly became an instant hit as soon as the blood-sucking vampires and werewolves hit the big screen, but is this megahit’s pending sequel, Breaking Dawn, secretly breaking up relationships? With Breaking Dawn being one of the most anticipated films of 2011, there is no doubt that millions of dollars will be spent by young adults who are eager to see the famous Bella and Edward wed. It is no surprise why this saga attracts so many young adults, though. Packed with action and alluring drama, Twilight, merges fantasy with romance, as it showcases Bella Swan’s love triangle with 104-year-old, sparkly vampire, Edward Cullen, who is inevitably obsessed with her, and Jacob Black, enemy of Edward, who is equally addicted to Bella. Rumors say, however, that Edward, irresistible man candy/vampire, is hurting guys’ odds at scoring a date with a Twilightloving lady. The question is, why?
Edward, eternally devoted to Bella, is a charming, enticing bad boy. He is strikingly handsome, mysterious, driven, polite and extremely dangerous – which seems to drive girls all around the world wild. Edward always supports Bella; he offers her protection and security, and he never argues. He has a perfect family, a worldly education and a caring personality. Women look at Edward’s character and instantly compare him to their own significant other, which usually results in a bit of disappointment. Girls wonder why their own relationships aren’t like Bella and Edward’s, and why the male population of the world isn’t inhumanly fawning over them. They watch these movies and expect their boyfriends to resemble a fantasy man who never makes any mistakes during his lifetime. These unrealistic expectations of what a boyfriend should be like lead to arguments, which later lead to breakups, which are all caused by (surprise, surprise!) a fantasy chick flick! The truth of the matter, however, is that real-life boyfriends don’t sparkle, they don’t wait until you are married to get into your pants and they don’t sneak up to your room in the middle of the night to watch you sleep (okay, that’s a little bit creepy). They also won’t be able to save you if you are about to get hit by a moving vehicle. In short, boyfriends will never be perfect. Real men can’t live up to the high standards that the Twilight saga creates, and women need to stop confusing fantasy with reality, because the reality of Twilight is that it isn’t real. So for all of you female “Twihard” fans out there, don’t get sucked into a fantasy world this month, and go ahead and say yes to that tan and imperfectly perfect guy that asked you out to dinner last week. And gentlemen, leave the glitter and plastic fangs at home.
CAMPUS REC’S
BEST KEEP SECRET: COOKING CLASSES by Renée Wunderlich
Desserts get a bad rap in most diet plans, but as part of the ARC’s Healthy Cooking Program, I learned how to bake, blend and even sauté four healthy, after dinner delights.
First up, Peach Frozen Yogurt. This ice cream-like treat would favor smoothie lovers, being that it’s made of mostly nonfat plain yogurt and frozen peaches. It kind of tastes like a runny sorbet. While it was super quick and easy to prepare, I think I would throw it in the freezer for 10 minutes to ensure it doesn’t end up as peach cream soup.
Classic No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
½ cup 2% milk ½ cup cocoa powder 1½ cup sugar ½ cup butter ½ cup peanut butter 1 tsp vanilla 2½ cups quick-cooking oats
½ 1 ½ ½
tsp vanilla extract package of frozen peaches 16 oz. cup nonfat plain yogurt cup superfine sugar
Directions Pulse peaches and sugar in blender until finely chopped. Add vanilla and yogurt. Blend til smooth and creamy. (113 calories, 0 grams fat, 27 grams carbs, 1 gram fiber, 1 gram protein)
were next on the roster and took the longest to make. My only problem with this dessert is that I had to wait for the cookies to cool – so stick them in the fridge to cut down on the nail biting.
Ingredients
Directions Mix milk, cocoa powder, sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla, beat in oats. Scoop with spoon and drop onto greased cookie sheet. Let cool. (80 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 10 grams carbs, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams protein, serves 6-10)
I don’t really consider this last dessert in the same ballpark as the other three when it comes to healthy alternatives, but I have to
Kinda Bananas Foster or Sautéed Bananas with Praline Sauce say that the
looked just as impressive as it tasted. If you turn a blind eye to calorie counts, and serve it banana splitstyle with vanilla bean ice cream, you’re sure to
The Fake Cheesecake Berry Parfait ranked as the most surprising dessert of the evening. I am a fan of cottage cheese, but I know that many are not. Let me assure you that the parfait had no resemblance to that curdy stuff your grandmother eats. In fact, it tasted like it came straight from the Cheesecake Factory.
Ingredients ¾ cup low-fat cottage cheese 3 tbsp confectioners’ sugar 2 tsp granulated sugar ¼ tsp vanilla extract
share.
4 cups blueberries, strawberries, or any sort of berry/fruit 4 tsp semisweet mini chocolate chips (optional)
Ingredients
Directions
impress everyone. This is, of course, assuming you
¼ cup maple syrup 3 Tbsp fat-free milk 3 Tbsp chopped pecans 4 large bananas – peeled, halved lengthwise
Directions Bring maple syrup, milk and pecans to boil in saucepan over medium-
Combine cottage cheese, sugars and vanilla extract and blend on high until mixture is smooth and creamy. Spoon some berries into the bottom of a parfait glass. Heap 2 spoonfuls of cottage cheese “cheesecake” mixture onto the berries. Add another layer of berries, followed by cottage cheese. Top with chocolate chips. (168 calories, 2.5 grams far, 34 grams carbs, 4 grams fiber, 6 grams protein)
high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes or until mixture thickens and reduces to about 1/3 cup. Meanwhile, heat nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Lay bananas flat side down, stirring frequently to prevent burning for 2 minutes. Plate bananas on serving dish and drizzle with sauce. (235 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 51 grams carbs, 4 grams fiber, 2.5 grams protein)
For more information on how to attend the next Healthy Cooking Program, visit the ARC or go online to register at. Students pay either $15 dollars for an individual class, or $20 for a full semester pass.
C O O K
WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE...SHOPPING? by Stephany Guerrero
Black Friday is on our heels again, and for the fashion-conscious — yet budget-minded — this can either be a glorious or horribly hectic day. We can get our pretty heads out of bed at 3 a.m. and brave the crowds — through all the fleece-slinging people out there — but unless you are hoping to score some electronics, it may be better to forgo Black Friday and wait it out for Saturday. Saturday clothing deals tend to be pretty much the same, or sometimes even better, as retailers want to hype up shopping for the rest of the season. The myth that Black Friday is the only time to score great deals is untrue. Cyber Monday is also a comfortable alternative post-Turkey day, but deals are usually up much before the actual day. A good tactic is to check out what you really want on websites now and keep monitoring until those holiday deals kick-in. Stretch your shopping legs in December, and if you really want a deal, and can wait, the week after Christmas can be a fashionista’s killing. Retailers want to open space for spring fashion and will drop winter clothing prices dramatically. Among the heaps of snow and bitter cold we’ll soon be braving, the clothing you buy after Christmas will still be just as useful. Personally, I have found myself devastated at waiting in line for hours only to score very few items, none of which ever really turn out as what I really want. Moreover, the free items retailers pass out are rarely useful (I’m looking at you, pleather legwarmers). Let the people pillage as we and our suede boots stay untarnished and cozy in the comfort of home or find other things to do, like:
Watch all the seasons of Project Runway or the Rachel Zoe Project as inspiration for the next day of shopping.
Rest until shamed hours of the day as the turkey-coma wears off. Conversely, prepare to fight (shop) the next day by hitting up the internet for some karate moves. If you are really up to it, go ice-skating. Nobody will be there and you can fall flat without public humiliation. Make loads of peppermint mocha coffee to power you through your newly-learned karate moves (and double as Christmas cheer points).
Visit the zoo. It is around this time that they open for free and decorate the trees and play Christmas music. It will be eerily quiet, but it will be all yours. If it’s snowing, go forth and relive your childhood dreams, like sledding. No one will be there to mess up that belly flop, 360-degree move you’ve been dying to try out. When referring to the announcement that big retailers would be opening at midnight this year, Seth Meyers, from SNL’S Weekend Update said it best: “Because nothing puts people in the giving spirit like enduring a long stressful holiday with their family hopping in the car, half-drunk in the middle of the night, and battling an angry mob over a tennis bracelet.”
Wishing you a broken- bone and hair-pulling free holiday shopping season!
WHAT’S
COOKING GOOD LOOKIN’? by Kayla Flam
I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing these past few months. I turned 21, my brother graduated from high school, and I’m graduating college in May. These events have prompted me to go back into my photo albums and remember my kick-ass childhood (I was a pretty awesome kid). This then led me to think about my favorite foods as a kid, and inspired me to share some favorite childhood recipes. These recipes are designed for you to relive your childhood, but in a grown up way. While the food may be more sophisticated than what you ate as a child, you are more than welcome to eat in your Power Rangers costume instead.
Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese 2 ½ cups (9 oz) dry macaroni pasta (or whatever pasta suits your fancy) 2 ½ cups whole milk 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, plus extra to coat baking dish ¼ cup all-purpose flour Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 ½ cups) 3 oz fontina cheese, grated (about 1 cup) 3 oz Emmenthal, Gruyère or similar Swiss-type cheese, grated (about 1 cup) ½ cups bread crumbs
Directions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in the pasta and boil for about 5 minutes until it is
about half-cooked. Drain well, rinse with cold water and set aside, tossing from time to time as it cools to avoid sticking.Put the milk in a small saucepan, bringing just to a low boil over medium heat. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until it foams up and has a slightly toasty smell (it should not brown), for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the warm milk into the pan and whisk to blend. Continue to cook the sauce, whisking often, until it thickens, for about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and gradually whisk in the cheeses until fully melted. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper, then add the pasta and stir to fully coat all the pasta with the cheese sauce. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over. Set the dish on the oven rack and place a cookie sheet on the rack below to catch any drips. Bake until the macaroni and cheese is bubbling hot and the top is nicely browned, for about 40 minutes. Let it sit for about 15 minutes before serving.
Homemade Pizza This is a fun girls/guys night in dinner. If you don’t want to make your own dough from scratch, you can buy boxed dough that you just add water to, or the Italian aisle always has pizza crusts already prepared. The fun part is putting all your toppings on!
Ingredients Dough 1 Tbsp yeast or 1 pkg. dry active yeast 1 cup hot water 1 tsp salt 2 ½ cups flour 1 tsp sugar 2 Tbsp vegetable oil Toppings 1 can tomato sauce 1 lb shredded Mozzarella cheese whatever toppings you want to put on it
Directions Dissolve yeast in hot water. Using a fork, stir in salt and sugar. Add flour, ½ cup at a time, stirring with the fork. Add oil and stir vigorously with fork. If dough is sticky, add another ½ cup of flour. Allow dough to rise for a ½ hour. Using floured hands, knead dough, then spread out on a greased cookie sheet with floured fingertips. Spread tomato sauce over dough. Add toppings in layers. Add cheese on top. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup You can go the long, complicated route and make your own chicken stock (roast a whole chicken, cut out good meat, put carcass and leftovers in a big pot with onion, celery and carrots and boil for a couple hours) or you can use a prepackaged organic chicken stock. Simply pour stock in a big pot, add roasted chicken breasts (diced), carrots, celery (optional), onion (optional), and egg noodles, and cook until noodles are tender. Voila, delicious chicken noodle soup!
Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese
Meatloaf Maybe this wasn’t your favorite as a kid, but it’s an easy dish that may remind you more of your parents’ childhood (assuming you think of your parents’ childhood as an episode of the Brady Bunch).
Ingredients 1lb ground beef 1 egg 1 cup Italian bread crumbs 1 cup ketchup or chili sauce or barbeque sauce ½ cup parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape, and place in a loaf pan. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for about an hour, taking off the foil about 10 minutes before the timer is up. If desired, spread extra ketchup on top. I hope these recipes sparked some trips down memory lane. And don’t forget to drink your milk with these meals, so when you grow up your bones will be nice and strong!
PANDORA SPOTIFY LAST.FM by Sarah Soenke
VS
Pandora, Last.FM and Spotifty: The three big names in free Internet music streaming. They all play your favorites, now have mobile apps, and connect to Facebook. So what’s the difference? When perusing through the free music streaming options, it’s apparent that there is quite a difference between the three leading competitors. While all of them provide free music listening, their services are meant to fulfill different purposes for their listeners. The question is whether you want music recommendations, control over a new music collection or a musicoriented social networking site. Or possibly a mixture of all three?
PANDORA,
the leading site with a reported 80 million users as of February 2011, is the first: a music recommendation service. Started in October 2008, the site operates off of the Music Genome Project to provide music suggestions based on songs or artists the user enters into the site. The Music Genome Project is composed of a complex mathematical algorithm that organizes almost 400 attributes or “genes” that classify different song characteristics, ranging from the gender of the lead vocalist to the tone of the instruments used. Determined by music analysts, the genes that are associated with the user-provided song or artist is then used to pull up similar songs or artists that are characterized by the same genes. Users are also able to provide positive or negative feedback towards the recommendations, which are taken into account for future selections. After allowing it to become adjusted to your specific musical preferences, it basically becomes a highly personalized radio that streams right to your computer.
LAST.FM
would also fall into this “music recommendation” category, although it also dabbles more in social networking. The website has accumulated 30 million active users since its start in 2002. Using its music recommendation system “Audioscrobbler,” a detailed profile of each user’s musical tastes and listening habits is created based on the songs that are “scrobbled” from the user’s radio listening on the Last.fm station, or the user’s computer or portable MP3 player. The Last.fm Internet radio is built off of a suggested artist put in by the user (similar to Pandora), which is then used to play songs by similar artists that the user can either “ban” or “love.” The user can then view friend’s profiles and compare musical
tastes, while also reading detailed bio pages of bands and musicians.
SPOTIFY, the youngest site having started in October 2008 and with only 10 million active users, provides a different service. Instead of providing the user with only recommendations (and inadvertently withholding some of the listening control), all of the control is given to the user. With Spotify, users can search through millions of available tracks, build up their personal library, create playlists, and listen to radio of the top artists of a variety of genres. The biggest aspect, probably one that is filling your Facebook news feed as you read this, is the sharing feature of Spotify. Tracks and playlists can be linked with one click through Facebook or Twitter for your friends to listen to. Not only can the website provide recommendations, but so can the users to one another. Is one ultimately better than the others? Well, it all depends on the user. All three options offer a paid subscription with similar upgrades, including no advertising. They all also offer a free app that can be used on mobile devices. However, Last.fm and Spotify definitely have more marketing potential; their user networking and sharing features allows the sites to advertise through their users. Both sites have even created integration features for each other: plays on Spotify can be scrobbled to a Last. fm account, while Last.fm users can add a Spotify link to tracks in their library so they can be played through Spotify. Even so, Pandora’s highly personalized music selections for their users’ radio cannot be beat. It all comes down to what you want to get out of your music listening.