Pop Culture Journalism Class Blog

By: Donovan Taylor Hall

“Break it Yourself,” Andrew Bird’s latest album, gracefully brings back the art of story telling with songs. Combining music with social commentary — he makes you think, not just listen.

This is Bird’s seventh record Bird has released in the past 15 years. And, while many critics believed his last disc, “Noble Beast,” was his best work — he may have topped it.

“Break it Yourself” is filled with powerful messages involving life, love and the struggle to survive.

Combining Bird’s unique sound, such as the constant use of whistling and symphonic strings, with his philosophical lyrics helped create one sleepy journey into our minds that suddenly, and without warning, blooms into a masterpiece of substance, symphonies and social commentary.

Known for his thought-provoking lyrics, Bird uses the songs on this album to make statements about the world through clever metaphors and catchy choruses.

The song “Behind the Barn” is about the barn that the album was recorded in and where his roots in music actually began. It also seems like a nostalgic thank you to his past and a somewhat longing for the simplicity that came from his earlier days in music.

The one song that stuck out to me the most, was actually the first track on the CD, titled “Desperation Breeds….” The song is about the disappearance of bees in our environment and their struggle to survive. Cleverly, a violin mimics the bee. Although the song focuses on the flight of the bees, its underlying message  relates back to people and their daily struggles to survive.

In his more recent albums Bird has featured the guitar more, giving his music that indie rock feel. But in “Break it Yourself,” Bird returns to incorporating heavy strings turning the songs into graceful symphonies.

verall, the album plays like a beautiful, yet sometimes haunting, dream told in the form of a story.

By Donovan Taylor Hall

College students are getting really high — on the trampolines at Rebounderz in Sterling, Va.

Recently, the indoor arena started teaching intense classes in how to get mega air and do awesome tricks.

George Mason University student Christina Slakey’s boyfriend first brought her to the class as a surprise. Slakey, a 21-year-old studying Global Affairs, considers herself an active person but was not prepared for this work-out.

“At first, I thought it was going to be an easy and fun trip, but after I jumped for 15 minutes, I literally thought my heart was going to explode,” she said.

Classes run for one hour but after the first ten minutes, you’ll more than likely be drenched in sweat.

Despite feeling like she was about to have a heart attack, Slakey loved the tricks she learned and the burn from the workout she felt for the next several days.

“After two classes I was doing double back flips like a champ,” she says.

And classes only cost $12 a session.

Slakey’s boyfriend warned her not to eat or drink much before they arrived, which was advice she wished she had listened to.

“They were pushing me so hard to do two back flips in a row, but I kept messing up. Finally after 10 flips in a row, I was able to pull it off. But as soon as I landed, I had to run off and puke into a trashcan,” she says. “I ruined some poor family’s photo.”

If you want to try something far more extreme than your neighbor’s backyard trampoline, sign up for a class.

“All the throw up aside, this is one of the best discoveries I’ve made in my time at Mason,” Slakey says. “I would recommend it to everyone…except people who get queasy easily.”

By Tabby Hardman

Greg Bannister wants to make you a better man.

The 25-year-old community health major is the founder and President of a group on campus called G.E.N.T.-Men, which stands for Gallant, Educated, Noticeable, Tremendous — Men.

“The idea came from the struggles I went through as a freshman,” he says.

Originally from Roanoke, Va. he spent his first couple years years at The University of Virginia-Wise. But, he didn’t do well in school and he lost his financial aide and had to transfer to a community college.

In September 2010, he transferred to Mason — determined to create a group to help guys who needed guidance and advice. In April 2011, he held an interest meeting and soon he had nine members of his organization. Six of them, make up the executive board.

“The aim we are trying to achieve is to bring all males from different races, ages, and backgrounds at George Mason and help them prevent mistakes they make at University—be it academic, social, personal,”said Abraham Hart, a 20-year-old, criminology major from Silver Spring, and liaison of the organization.

The group’s slogan is: “Setting a trend today, so it’s tradition tomorrow.”

They want to help students structure their life, so they don’t party too much and bomb out of college.

“The freedom of school can become overwhelming and it’s our goal to help guys make those steps in the right direction,” said Hart.

Every Sunday at 6 p.m. the organization meets in the Johnson Center, room F,  to induct new
members and also hold an open study hour for anyone to come and check out the group as well as get some work done.

“When they’re at the meetings we try to give them at least one tip to better their study skills and themselves,” said Khy Long, a 21-year-old, management major from Chesapeake, Va. and secretary of the organization.

Men seeking to join have to be academically and socially worthy.

“Members have to have at least a 2.5 grade point average, a respectable image on campus, and they have to show commitment—we want them to be a regular, not just show up every so often,” said Long.

This coming Sunday G.E.N.T-Men are holding another weekly meeting in which they will add another 11 members to their roster and are hoping to branch out and mix with other on campus groups very soon.

By: Donovan Taylor Hall

Simone Sattler has been a singer-songer writer since she was born.

“I feel like I could sing before I could actually form sentences, she says. “I’m pretty sure I made up songs in baby talk.”

The 21-year-old senior majoring in music grew up in Manassas, Va. where she started playing piano and formally writing music when she was 12.

“Singing is therapeutic,” she says. “I can sing through anything. Through my music I am able to say things I normally wouldn’t.”

During her time at mason she has been focusing on the basics, learning how to sing classical songs.

“But my heart is with singing my own songs,” she says. “Songwriting will always be my passion, no matter where I go or what I do.”

Her band, Simone and the Spectrum, got together last September and having been playing local bars and venues such as Fat Tuesdays, Iota, and Water’s Edge. On top of that, they have performed at a few house parties.

“Her performing is so personal and intimate,” says Elizabeth Bergin, a senior studying Art History, who has seen Sattler play several times at Fat Tuesdays. “I love hearing her jam out with her band, she really gets into it. You can tell she loves singing in front of people.”

While she wants to be a professional singer, Sattler insists that no matter what, she wants to stay herself.

“I don’t like the idea of fame,” she says. “I would never want to not know who my friends are, I always want to stay true.”

As for her future in music, Sattler plans to pursue her dream as long as she lives.

To check out more on Simone & the Spectrum you can go to their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simone-the-Spectrum/138860239545643?sk=info.

You can also hear her EP at:
http://www.myspace.com/simonesattler

How In One Afternoon, the Fruitless Endeavor of Trying to Find a Needle in a Haystack Lead to Appreciating the Haystack for What it Is

by John Gillooly

Growing up in Fairfax, there is one places I’ll never forget: An arcade on 236 across from the cemetery near the old courthouse. I used to go there alot when I was a kid, a place where I could take $5 (a lotta money to me in those days) and spend a solid hour or two drowning the world out with antiquated beeps and whistles as I protected the world from invaders or simply helped a hungry yellow dot defeat scary ghosts.

BY: RYAN WEISSER



Every college student knows that future job employers are going to Google you. So, some of those drunken pictures on Facebook might be a bad idea.

But now, some employers are not just seeing what turns up on the search engine, but have actually asked  interviewees for extremely personal information — passwords to social media accounts.

“I’ve always known that employers will look up my Facebook profile or see what I’m tweeting about,” said Matthew Plum, a 20-year-old junior from Gainesville, Va. studying Business Management at George Mason University, “but I would never ever expect them to want or even need my password to my accounts. That’s just a complete violation of my privacy.”

Not only is it a violation of privacy, but according to Facebook’s “Terms of Use” under “Safety,” it is breaking a committment to not share login information or log in to someone else’s account.

“I’ve heard that a few states, like Maryland, are even taking legal action to make sure that employers cannot do this anymore” said Sarah Al-Hage, a 21-year-old senior from Woodbridge, Va. studying Communication.

And with the stress of a depressed job market on many college students’ shoulders, students are feeling as though they are given an ultimatum: to give up their personal information or give up a job.

“It’s so scary and it’s totally unfair for an employer to do that,” said Lorrin Massengill, a 20-year-old senior from Gloucester, Va. studying Mineralogy and Geology. “It’s ridiculously hard to even find an unpaid internship, let alone a job, so I think it’s completely unethical to put people in that sort of situation where they have to choose between their privacy and a job.”

Also, many students use the same password for multiple accounts. One password could give someone access to a Facebook profile, blog, e-mail and even a bank account.

“If a future employer were to ever ask me for my passwords, I would leave. Plain and simple,” Massengill continued. “I’m not going to give someone I don’t know or who holds that much power over me something like my passwords. It’s just way too risky and it shows that they don’t have any trust in their employees.”

(photocredit: technorati.com)

By: Jessica Farley

“La, la, la… whatever,” is one of the verses to Hot Chelle Rae’s double platinum hit, “Tonight, tonight.”

And “… Whatever,” has been the overwhelming student response to the university’s announcement that the band will be headlining at the 47th annual Mason Day festivities.

“All of their songs that I know are kind of   ‘played out’ now,” said freshman Casey Romine, an 18-year-old Nursing major. “There is nothing really ‘special’ about them. I’m just kind of ambivalent.”

And other students are sharing her same, I-don’t-know reaction.

“Their sound is really similar to the bands selected in the past two years. It would be nice to have a performer with a different sound,” said Ashley Rivera, a 20-year-old junior majoring in Communication.

In 2010, pop-punk band Cobra Starship headlined Mason Day’s musical performances, and last year it was pop-rock band Plain White T’s. Both bands, as well as this year’s Hot Chelle Rae, are predominantly male and possess a similar “pop-punk, alternative” sound aesthetic.

On the flip side, many students are excited about the opening act — Mason’s own Sub-Radio Standard. The band, which originally formed in 2005 in Sterling, Va., has two GMU students as members- freshmen Michael Pereira and Mark Siford.

“Some of them are friends of mine,” said 19-year-old bioengineering major Katie Clark, about the opening act, “it will be a cool experience to see them performing for a large crowd.”

By: Jessica Farley

Math major Julie Michaels loves Italian fashion designer Marni. And she was totally amped that the high-end label is now sold at H&M.

“I always am interested in off-beat, quirky designers, and Marni definitely fits that,” says Michaels, a  20-year-old sophomore at George Mason University. ” I’ve been pretty excited.”

Marni’s designs went on sale a few weeks ago at H&M.  The store has had huge success with designer collaborations in the past.Their first pairing was with Karl Lagerfeld in 2004, sold out in some cities within one hour. Until Marni’s launch, the most recent guest designer was Versace in the fall of 2011.

But how will “Marni for H&M” fare with GMU’s own fashionistas?

“I don’t usually shop designer collections because of the prices, but I do like to watch them and find cheaper alternatives that follow the trends they’re trying to start,” said Lauren Kaminski, an 18-year-old freshman majoring in Photography.

She perused the online look book recently. “There are some great separates in this line,” she said.

By college-student standards, the clothes still aren’t cheap. Some are still “a bit pricey” says junior Aisha Thomas who looked at the clothes online.

“But they are also really one of a kind,” says Thomas a 20-year-old criminology major.

By Samita Mason

Funny, adorable and beautiful actress Reese Witherspoon is back with another comedy. This Means War, released on Feb. 17, 2012 involves two CIA agents who find out they are dating the same woman.

Special agent FDR Foster (Chris Pine), and special agent Tuck Henson (Tom Hardy) are best friends. FDR is a womanizer who tells the ladies that he is a captain of a cruise ship. Tuck has an ex-wife, young son and introduces himself to women as a travel agent. After seeing a commercial for online dating, he decides to sign up and meets Lauren Scott, played by Witherspoon.

Shortly after their first date, Lauren bumps into FDR at a video store. He flirts with her, asks her out, and soon the men find out they are dating the same woman. The friends make a pact not to have sexual relations with her and let Lauren decide who she wants to be with.  Their pact quickly gets broken when feelings begin to develop. They use their CIA technology to spy on her and find out what the other is doing with her.

“This Means War” is a hysterical movie that will have you laughing from beginning to end. The practical jokes that each agent plays on one another, girl talks with Lauren and her best friend and the lies to win the woman make this a fun comedy from start to finish.

By: Victoria Miller

Dancing with the Stars kicked of their 14th season on Monday, introducing 14 new contestants. Stars paired with their dancing professional partners took on either the spicy Latin Cha Cha Cha or the elegant Foxtrot. Who will take home the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy?

Maria & Derek:
Cha Cha Cha
‘Extra’ TV host Maria Menounos, pairs up with three-time winner Derek Hough.The couple sizzled as they took on the hot number. Overall the judges praised Maria for what she left on the floor, but she needed to gain confidence, amp up the sexy and shake those hips.
Scores: 7,7,7 for a total of 21 points

Jack & Anna:
Foxtrot
Jack Wagner always known for getting the girl in shows like General Hosiptal and Melrose Place, has a new lady in his life, ballroom partner Anna Trebunskaya. Judges agreed that Jack acted beautifully. The dance was entertaining, but the technique was not there
Score: 8,7,8 for a total of 23 points

Donald & Peta:
Cha Cha Cha
Green Bay Packers’ Wide Reciever Donald Driver is paired with Peta Murgatroyd. Donald had the audience on their feet by the end of their routine. He was a ball of fire.
Scores: 7,7,7 for a total of 21 points

Gavin & Karina
Foxtrot
Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw is partnered with returning champ Karina Smirnoff. The dance was charming — but DeGraw was a little stiff.
Scores: 7,6,7 for a total of 20 points

Roshon & Chelsie
Cha Cha Cha
Disney Star Roshon Fegan teamed up with Chelsie Hightower The youthful couple attacked the number with high energy.
Scores: 8,7,8 for a total of 23 points

Sherri & Val
Foxtrot
Light on her feet, The View Co-host Sherri Shepherd partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy lit up the entire ballroom during her first dance.
Scores: 8,7,8 for a total of 23 points

Melissa & Maksim
Cha Cha Cha
Melissa Gilbert, known as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie, stated, “I’m trading in my pigtails and prairie dress for sequins and high heels.” Partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy choreographed a difficult routine, which she executed well  — but the judges told her to relax.
Scores: 7,6,7 for a total of 20 points

William & Cheryl
Cha Cha Cha
Tela novella star William Levy partnered with long time DWTS professional Cheryl Burke. The couple started rehearsals 10 days later than everyone else — but  you would have never know.
Scores: 8,8,8 for a total of 24 points

Martina & Tony
Foxtrot
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is teamed up with Tony Dovolani. Intense on the court, she needs to be more graceful on the dance floor.
Scores: 7,6,7 for a total of 20 points

Katherine & Mark
Foxtrot
Opera Singer Katherine Jenkins is paired with two time mirror ball champion Mark Ballas. Watching them was like watching two professional dancers.  She looked elegant and graceful as she glided across the floor. Katherine received the highest score of the night.
Score: 9,8,9 for a total of 26 points

Gladys & Tristan
Cha Cha Cha
The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, danced with Tristan McManus.  She lip synced to the song and her sassy facial expressions were planned to perfection.
Scores: 8,7,8 for a total of 23 points

Jaleel & Kym:
With the help of Pro Kym Johnson, former Family Matters star Jaleel White proved to everyone that just because you play a clumsy dork, doesn’t mean you actually are one. The routine was beautifully danced with ease and charm. The final dance of the night Carrie Ann said, “That was icing on the cake.” His score tied him in first place with Katherine.
Scores: 9,8,9 for a total of 26 points

Compared to previous seasons of DWTS, season 14 has a talented bunch. The lowest score of the night was a 20 and the highest of 26, which is the highest score ever to be awarded in week 1. The competition continues next Monday on ABC at 8 p.m. and first eliminations will air Live, Tuesday at 9 pm.

image from washtimes.com

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