Have you ever wondered why your hair just won't act right? Why the frizz and split ends just love you? Why your hair soaks up EVERY drop of oil that hits it? Maybe you need a deep conditioning treatment that will love the hurt away. Or a spritz that will regularly moisturize your damaged and thirsty strands. Well ladies (and gents), if you have answered yes to ANY of these questions, then take heed to these awesome recipes that work for any type of hair.
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Utatu is a chartered club at Northeastern Illinois University on the CCICS satellite cam- pus located on the South Side in theBronzeville community. Utatu is dedicated to providing an African consciousness to the CCICS campus student life through workshops and student activities. Utatu held their second annual free Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 9, 2011. This event took place at the CCICS campus where many students and people from the community participated in the ceremony.
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Pasta, you can never go wrong with pasta, especially pesto. Then, if you add peas and some roasted pine nuts? It's a whole new level of delicious. This dish is a tradition in my family and is always made in mass quantities because there's never enough. Hence, the two pounds of pasta! If you don't want to make that much pasta, you can split the recipe in half or store the pesto mixture for later use.
Pesto Pasta and Peas
1 pound bow tie pasta
1-pound fusilli pasta
1/4-cup olive oil
1 1/2 cup pesto
1 10-ounce package frozen spinach thawed squeezed dry
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/4 cups mayonnaise ( I don't use that much)
1/2-cup Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cup green peas
1/3-cup pine nuts
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook the pasta for 10 to 12 minutes, drain, and toss the pasta into bowl with the olive oil. While you let the pasta cool, puree the pesto, spinach and lemon juice. Add mayo and continue to puree. Next, add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta (I add a little at a time, and I always seem to have some left over!) Finally, add the Parmesan cheese, peas, pine nuts, with salt and pepper sprinkled on top. Fold ingredients into the bowl until the pasta is lightly coated, serve at room temperature and enjoy!
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Have you ever really liked someone and been crushed to find out that the person you like really likes someone else. To make matters worse, you are shipwrecked on an island and can't find your twin sibling, so you go to town in disguised as your sibling. Ok, well maybe not that last part, but you know the first part! Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is a story of two siblings, Viola and Sebastian, who become lost at sea and shipwrecked on Illyria. Both siblings assume the other is drowned because they end up on different parts of Illyria, so Viola becomes a page (named Cesario) to Duke Orsino. Duke Orsino wants to marry Olivia, so he sends Cesario to court her for him, but Olivia begins to fall in love with Cesario. Poor Cesario is stuck between a man she wants to be with and a woman that wants to be with her, but neither Orsino nor Olivia can see Viola is just disguised as a young man. On top of that you have the tricky mind of Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, who adds to the chaos by playing with the minds of Sir Andrew Aguecheek (a squire), Feste (the fool) and Malvolio (Olivia's steward). What will become of all these love triangles and chains? Even though Feste is the fool, will Sir Toby make fools out of everyone else?
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When first picking up ‘The Alchemist' by Paolo Bacigalupi, I admittedly confused it with ‘The Alchemist' by Paolo Coehlo and even felt somewhat duped. A similarly named author putting out a novella with the exact same name as well-known, highly-acclaimed novel? Shenanigans, I say.
But the hegemony-rich world Bacigalupi brings to life is nothing like the stark philosophical landscape of Coehlo's book. Bacigalupi's "The Alchemist" is set in the Middle Ages of an alternate reality in the city of Khaim where magic use used to be common- place, but is now punishable by death. With civilization set upon by a mysterious bramble plague, a link was found between magic use and the explosive growth of magic-loving brambles that engulf fields, choke off roads and poison anyone who touches the branches. The book opens with a heart-wrenching scene about a widowed alchemist named Jeoz who is desperately trying to pry his sobbing young daughter away from the last piece of valuable furniture the family has to sell, her own little bed. Once a rich and influential man, Jeoz lost everything except his daughter and one loyal servant as his city declined and his livelihood drained away. The alchemist had become obsessed with finding a way to use alchemy to defeat the brambles that are destroying his country. By using the brambles own affinity for magic as a polarizing agent, the Jeoz creates a device that has the potential to strike a real blow against the bramble plague. But the upper society in Khaim has grown used to life with the bramble and dark machinations threaten the lives of everyone in the city as a result.
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Ingredients
2 pounds lean beef stew meat
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups water
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Two and one-half teaspoons salt
One-half teaspoon sugar
One-half teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
One-half teaspoon minced garlic
2 cinnamon sticks, each 2 inches long
8 whole cloves
2 pounds small white onions
http://www.emerils.com/recipe/1370/Greek- Beef-Stew
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Top viral videos watched by Independent staffers . . . and YOU
Jacklyn Nowotnik, Arts & Life Editor
1. Understanding PIPA/ SOPA & Why You Should Be Concerned
http://youtu.be/EBy7yooz3MM
2. Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus: Spoken Word
http://youtu.be/1IAhDGYlpqY
3. S**t Spanish Girls Say
http://youtu.be/LpaDBD84ET0
4. S**t Abuelas Say Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_dCjyMZfbU
5. Common – Stay Schemin (Remix) [Drake Diss]
http://youtu.be/p8OA-Ic-iK8
Shantez Tolbut - $#!+ Black Girls Say
http://youtu.be/fXDpfhehb6I
Emily Haddad - African Bull Frog Ant Crusher
http://youtu.be/WlEzvdlYRes
Mark Amponin – The Crazy Nasty@$$ Honey Badger
http://youtu.be/4r7wHMg5Yjg
Lluvia Carrisoza - The Snail (Rémi GAILLARD)
http://youtu.be/gHCxdlZ7G18
Jorge Vargas - The Gay Rights Movement
http://youtu.be/u62OtM_vt5k
...And here's a few videos from some NEIU students!
Jimmy Zarembski, Junior, History - My First Hardcore Song' by 8yr old Juliet OFFICIAL
http://youtu.be/uU6U-8LP1DY
Ashley Beranek, Sophomore, Communications – Nerdy White Kid KILLS "Look at Me Now"
http://youtu.be/Teaft0Kg-Ok
Matthew Aldana, Senior, Theater –Self Defense (Derrick Comedy)
http://youtu.be/2REG3-Wb5gM
Laugh at My Pain is Kevin Hart's latest installment of his series of record-breaking stand up shows. You'll find yourself doubling over at his sidesplitting antics. He talks about fatherhood, marriage, and of course - the relatives.
Sick and Tired? Well Wanda Sykes is too and she has a whole lot to say about it. Wanda is on her "A" game in this 2008 standup comedy. You won't want to miss her epic performance in Sick and Tired.
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The Chicago Artists Association's Fall 2011 Exhibition brings together more than two dozen works in a wide array of media, including paintings, collage, photographs, sculpture, and metalwork. Although the pieces reveal a panoptic of contrasting subject matter, overall they simultaneously reflect the diversity of artists featured in the show, both in their talents and backgrounds.
This diversity symbolizes the larger scale community that represents Northeastern Illinois University, since the invitation for submissions of work for the juried show was extended to all NEIU students and all media.The result of the Fall 2011 Exhibition is a visual bouquet of assorted artworks that are not bonded to a single theme by artists including Lisa Beiwel, Darius Dennis, Diane De Ribaupierre, Jacqueline Hochbaum, Todd A. Irwin, Marco Solis Martinez, and Cordarice Mark Thomas.
Spectators are given the freedom to enter the show without any preconceived notions; he or she might find him or herself in love with the vibrating colors of JoannaPryzblak's Media, made of acrylic, magazines, and gel medium, or captivated by the somber glare of Mayer Daley attired in the garb of a butler in Dennis' oil on canvas, Sells Itself. Another attention grabbing work is Irwin's Warhol-eqsue sculptural piece, $29.99, whichconsists of six stacked boxes screen-printed with the words "New!, Art, Conceptual, and Nothing Inside!"
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If someone described you as a "horrible, sharp-as-flint, evil-eyed, ill-omened, hateful, shriveled –up, self contained, solitary old oyster," wouldn't you want to change that? Sadly enough that's what the whole town seems to think of old man Ebenezer Scrooge, especially around the joyful Christmas time. Scrooge has no interest in charity or being flexible towards his honest, hard working and unrewarded clerk, Bob Cratchit. However, Scrooge's mind will soon change with the help of three Christmas ghosts; past, present and Christmas Yet to Come.
Ronald Combs was a former music professor in Northeastern's music department, and he took the memorable Charles Dickens's novel, A Christmas Carol, and put an operatic spin on it. What's the difference between any other versions of A Christmas Carol you may have seen and this one is, in this operatic version the dialogue within the production is sung not spoken. As well as the fact that because it is operatic, there is a different singing style used in this show. The style being that the music in this show isn't very pop sounding like it is in musicals, and the phrases of music have a more flowing feel (which in the music world is called legato).
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Oh, what to do in Chicago during winter break? Many of us have solid plans, like just lazing around and doing absolutely nothing. But what, pray tell, will you do when that becomes boring? Here's a simple guide of events and happenings around town, guaranteed to cure you of any "winter break blues".
The Armando Diaz Theatrical Experience and Hootenanny
Open run on Mondays at 8:30 p.m.
Improv/Sketch
$12
iO Theater
3541 N. Clark Street, Wrigleyville
phone 773-880-0199
Baby Wants Candy: The Rock Musical
Open run on Fridays 10:30 p.m.
Improv/Sketch
$15
Apollo Theater
2540 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Park
phone 773-935-6100
The Nutcracker (2004) Helgi Tomasson, USA, 120 mins. with Elzabeth Powell, Davit Karapetyan
Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m.
Dance
Gene Siskel Center
164 N. State Street, Downtown
www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description
Pechakucha Night Volume 20
Tue Dec. 6 at 8 p.m.
Spoken Word/Poetry Slam/Open Mic
$10
Martyrs'
3855 N. Lincoln Avenue, North Center
phone 773-404-9494
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Christmas day is the one day out of the year where kids wake up extra early just so they can run to where their Christmas tree awaits them brightly lit, lovingly decorated with presents underneath it. However, the big man in red comes with the age old question…how does he deliver presents to every boy and girl in the world in just one night?
Arthur Christmas gives us an inside look at the prominent, yet very dysfunctional, family of the Clauses. Grand Santa and his old but faithful cone wearing reindeer, Mr. and Mrs. Santa and their sons Arthur and Steve…not to mention the thousands of elves that work and live at the north pole. You have Grand Santa who is very stuck in his ways as the Santa that got around the world in one night on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and by going down the chimney, not by all the fancy gadgets and elf power Santa has now. Then there's Santa who's the big man in red but owes the success of Christmas to his son, Steve. Steve uses modern gadgets and thousand of elves in the control center and goes out with Santa to help coordinate the delivery of presents without blowing their cover. Lastly, we have Santa's other son, Arthur, who loves nothing more than the excitement of Christmas and writing letters back to the millions of children that send Santa letters every year. However, Christmas isn't exactly perfect, because Santa somehow misses giving one little girl her present. Steve and Santa both agree that there is no time for Santa to go back and leave it under the tree, but a determined Arthur begs to differ. With the help of a wrapping elf, Grand Santa and some reindeer; Arthur sets out late Christmas morning to deliver this forgotten present. However, will he make it in time without blowing Santa's cover?
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On Nov. 11, .:Seeds:. Literary Arts Journal had its first annual Winter Launch in Golden Eagles. Special guests included Dr. Tony Adams from the Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT) department, Eric Von Alroth, artist and a recent alumnus and Avery R. Young, a local artist, poet, educator and activist.
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The semester is coming to a close, and the holidays are upon us. One way we at the Independent thought we might be able to help spread a little cheer, and thank our lovely readers is by giving you some great recipes that we thought might go over well at your upcoming holiday dinners. The recipes are favorites in our households, and most are pretty easy to make. So, read on! Enjoy your holidays, and stay safe!
"Real Deal" Sweet Potato Pie
Your Auntie's Baked Mac-n-Cheese
Beef Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine
Simply Sensational Smoothie
Tuna Salad
Simply Sensational Smoothie
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If you follow the video game news somewhat closely or even browse the internet for more than a few minutes a day, you've probably come across some sort of hype regarding "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" game. For those not too familiar with the game, "Skyrim" is the latest installment of the Elder Scrolls franchise that is highly regarded among the roleplaying and general gaming circles. The hype leading up to this release has been one of the biggest and furthest-reaching promotional campaigns seen for a video game in a very long time, especially for a game outside of the first-person shooter genre.
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Two reviews on the films, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" and "Super 8" by our very own Opinions Editor, Syed A. Hussain.
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Are you tired of the same old games that have you shooting at virtual enemies, racing fantasy cars that you know you won't ever get to drive or playing 3-D games that only make you dizzy? Don't you just wish there was some sort of video game that made you want to get up and start moving? If your answer is yes, then you'll be glad to know that there is a video game series out for just that reason.
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The NEIU Stage Center offered students and staff a chance to see another classic Neil Simon play, "The Odd Couple" directed by Lisa Cantwell. This cute, hilarious and grungy comedy had the audience tickling with laughter during Oct. 20-22, 26-29. The play's setting involves a couple of divorced bachelors– Oscar (played by Nick Shea), your typical messy cynical guy and Felix (played by Rand Ringgenberg), the shy, compulsive neat freak that leans towards traditionally female related chores around the home–that move in together after one of the guys goes through a particularly hard divorce.
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Chicago has a long history of strong-willed mayors that have wielded their political power with impunity, using legally questionable means to implement their agendas. Anton Cermak, Richard J. Daley and his son, Richard M. Daley, are just some of the more prominent examples. So, when the Starz channel announced that it would produce "Boss", a show about a fictional Chicago mayor, critics and political junkies took notice.
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Victor Pichardo, music director of Sones de Mexico, visited Northeastern Illinois University on Nov. 2 for a lecture and performance in honor of Dia de los Muertos. Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead for non-Spanish speakers, is a holiday that occurs on the first two days of November celebrating and honoring friends and family members who have passed away. The holiday incorporates bright colors, traditional music played on some not so traditional instruments, dancing and food. Dating back to the Aztec and Mayan cultures, it is believed that on these two days the spirits of those who have passed come back to visit family members.
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NEIU Students Fight Against Victimization
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Take Back the Night (TBTN), moderated by Brenda Rodriguez, president of the Feminist Collective, was held at NEIU on Oct. 19.
TBTN is an international movement to reclaim the night as a safe space to resist violence. Resulting from when serial killers, such as the "Yorkshire Ripper," became known for the rape, abuse and killing of several prostitutes at night over 30 years ago, women started to rally and protest on the streets, and speak out about women's issues such as rape, domestic abuse and sexual assault.
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On the corner of Western and Berwyn lies the Korean BBQ restaurant San Soo Gab San. Its parking lot is constantly full throughout the weekend, with cars waiting for others to relinquish a parking spot, even during the late hours (the restaurant closes at 5AM, only to open back up at 10AM).
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Revolutionary Road (2008): Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and Michael Shannon
You ever wonder whether or not you're living life to the fullest? Revolutionary Road touches the idea of the ideal American dream and how it can really go south if you realize that you hate your life and wonder if the grass is greener on the other side. Frank Wheeler (DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Winslet) are your typical suburban family; husband goes to work and wife stays home to care for the children and clean. However they are not happy with their repetitive and emptiness of their lives, so April convinces Frank to move to France to feel what it feels like to live. However Frank gets a job offer with more guaranteed money and April finding out she is pregnant again leaves both of them arguing and whether to stay in France or staying in the hopelessness of their current lives.
Memorable Quote:"Hopeless emptiness. Now you've said it. Plenty of people are onto the emptiness, but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness" (John Givings).
8 1/2 (1963): Starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aime¢e, and Sandra Milo
Whenever you experience writers block or any type of blocks that won't let you be productive, you feel as though it's on purpose that your brain won't let you be productive. The same can be said of the protagonist of 8 1/2. Guido Anselmi, a famous Italian director, is suffering from director's block as he works on his new science fiction installation. Without any idea of what the film should be, losing interest in the project, and having to deal with his marital problems altogether, his flashbacks and dreams dig into his memories and finds it difficult to separate fantasy and reality.
Memorable Quote: "All the confusion of my life... has been a reflection of myself! Myself as I am, not as I'd like to be" (Guido Anselmi).
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What would you do if you were given a second chance at life? If you had the green light to reevaluate how you've been living and review the people you've come into contact with and impacted, would you take it? "The Gedanken Experiment" is a theatrical version of the lifelong questions we often ask and eventually use to evaluate ourselves as people, good or bad.
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There's nothing like the warm, cozy, red and green feeling of excitement that a good cup of Christmas cheer makes you feel. A holiday season filled with shiny ribboned presents, illuminated Christmas trees, hot cocoa, Santa Claus and holiday traditions. However, what would Christmas be without your problematic family?
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Some of NEIU's best wordsmiths gathered in Alumni Hall on Oct. 21 and illuminated the room with poetry, both personal and powerful.
Clyde McLeod, event coordinator and member of the Black Heritage Committee, introduced the first speaker,NEIU student Jason Ferguson, as a "serious poet." Ferguson recited three original poems, speaking frankly about the violent death of his mother and losing the loving grandmother who raised him to cancer. His other poems were about faith and the unfair treatment of African Americans. McLeod himself stepped up next, rhapsodizing about surprising beauty in a poem aptly named "Beauty."
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Chipotle Mexican Grill hosted its first annual Cultivate Chicago festival in Lincoln Park on Oct. 1 celebrating music, food and local farming; musical performances included The Cave Singers, Mayer Hawthorne & The County, as well as headliners Calexico.
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It started in an effort to create a community of artists of all mediums from on and off campus. From the start, visual artists have had a solo expository every other week. On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Alison Greer and Talie Zrihen celebrated the one year anniversary of Black and White Night at Hollywood Lounge. In the strain of providing a space for untapped talent, Greer and Zrihen also offer ‘Poet Hole', which happens during every third event. In this portion of the bi-weekly feature, visitors have been able to take to the stage and perform poetry, journal readings, comedy and whatever else the individual can spew. Bands and DJs also grace the stage to entertain NEIU students and other patrons from in and around the community.
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NEIU's annual talent show was held on Sept. 29 in the auditorium, enticing its 18 contestants with cash prizes of $1,100 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.
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1. PASS HR 1489 REINSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL. – A depression era safeguard that separated the commercial lending and investment banking portions of banks. Its repeal in 1999 is considered the major cause of the global financial meltdown of 2008-2009.
2. REPEAL BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY
3. FULLY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THE WALL STREET CRIMINALS who clearly broke the law and helped cause the 2008 financial crisis.
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While "terrorist watch cause group" may not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Food Not Bombs (FNB), a non-violent group that uses creative outlets to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment, its radical tendencies might still be what has helped spark the movement.
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The skies were clear and the fall weather was amazing, as residents took to the streets of Bryn Mawr and Kedzie to enjoy the North Park Art Walk. One of the artists in the gallery, Dana A Salmorin, a junior at North Park University was excited about her experience, "the Art Walk as a whole is amazing. It's something you don't see a lot often. Also, this time of the year is perfect for something like this. The weather is good and allows for more people to come out."
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"What's happening in Melody is happening all over our country. Drug task forces use military tactics to terrorize poor people. Drug laws specifically target people of color. Mean- while federal money goes to counties that convict the most people. And plea bargains are aggressively pushed to hasten those bargains."
Can you imagine living in such a world? A world where certain uncontrollable circumstances in your life can be the cause and effect of everything that happens to you, a world that takes pleasure in financially profiting from scaring you away from your own freedom.
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On the evening of January 31, 2012, many Glee fans awaited eagerly for the Glee tribute to Michael Jackson. The show started off with our lovable Glee members (the New Directions) already thinking about sectionals and how great it would be to do a Michael Jackson set. That's when Blaine busted out with fellow Glee members in MJ's "Wanna Be Starting Something." However, all hopes of presenting the spectacle that is Michael Jackson is threatened when the Warblers' lead vocalist announces that the Warblers (Blaine's former school choir) will be singing an MJ set list for sectionals as well. Of course the New Directions weren't going to let this go, especially with Mr. Schuester asking them to think WWMJD (What Would Michael Jackson Do?) This led to a New Directions and Warblers vocal battle of Michael's "Bad." It was pretty clear that the New Directions won the battle, but that didn't stop the Warblers' lead vocalist from throwing a slushy, with rock salt in it, at Blaine's face. The rest of the show dealt with the New Directions having MJ week without Blaine, acceptance letters from colleges, and the blossoming of relationships between a few couples within the New Directions. Michael Jackson week included many great MJ songs like "Scream," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Human Nature," "Ben," "Smooth Criminal," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," and ended with an amazing rendition of "Black or White."
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There's nothing new about Staceyann Chin except the new addition to her family, and for that, we at Independent say congrats. Though new to motherhood, Chin is no virgin to the literary scene. Ms. Chin has toured the world, with her poetry leading the way and opening the doors for other oppressed female voices. She remains one of the integral writers of contemporary Black literature and for many budding feminist poets she's the gauge by which to critique one's written work. Though best known for her works of poetry, after reading her memoir one would be hard pressed to deny that Staceyann Chin can tell one heck of a story.
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Big venue concerts have proven that no matter how exciting the art- ists playing are, the venue itself can be quite unstimulating, especially when general admission tickets are so unaffordable that you're stuck in a chair far away from all the action. You might as well be watching the band perform live on Youtube. This is how I felt going to the Rise Against concert on Fri- day January 27th at the UIC Pavilion.
Fortunately, this all changed when my friend and I noticed one of the guards had let about twenty people go onto the floor without the proper wristband. So we took a shot at joining the revelry and within seconds we were in the middle of a mosh pit, enjoying the music and our fellow fans.
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Rare previously lost footage featuring some of America's most prominent Black leaders and musicians These are no where else on the web, courtesy of Donald Budzinski www.themotiondevotion.com
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<br />
http://youtu.be/RAMm5qn50VA
President Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon Plays Piano and Sings Happy Birthday to Jazz legend Duke Ellington at the White House.
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<br />
http://youtu.be/GaySAIUlYsc
Jazz Legend Duke Ellington Meet Civil Rights Martin Luther King Jr. in a historic film clip about Marian Logan.
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<br />
http://youtu.be/FCpV7oIDoFQ
President Obama Makes A Surprise Visit to SouthSide Chicago School St. Columbanus on November 26, 2008, 2 Weeks After Being Elected.
PlayList
Michelle Redmond, Senior/CMT Major:
Sweet Thang – Chaka Khan and Rufus
Laura Ann Williams, Chicago:
Halleluja – Jeff Buckley and
Dear Prudence – The Beatles
A Felise McBeth via Facebook:
Let's Stay Together – Al Green
Alexis Dennis, Senior/Sociology Major:
Bob Marley's "Legend" Album!
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On Jan 14, The Side Project Theatre packed a tiny area of tightly-placed folding chairs full of people, all anticipating the opening of Daniel Caffrey's play, "Little Triggers." Sitting at the top of a black-painted and elevated wooden platform, I noticed most eyes facing toward the bedroom-sized stage. The music grew quiet, the lights went dim, and my imagination ran wild wondering just how this play would incorporate both puppets and live characters in such a space.
The main character, a young assistant office manager is working late on a wintry Christmas Eve in the city some- where. His name is Martin, (played by Kevin Lambert) and he is busy distracting himself with mundane office tasks such as shredding paper, paper basketball waste disposal and scary movies. Martin's boss Mr. Bahnson (played by Rob Grabows- ki) enters the picture briefly bringing Christmas gifts, champagne and an overbearing yet hospitable presence to the eerily empty atmosphere of the office space. We learn that the rather ominous looking (and acting!) copier machine is on the blitz and that a repair man is en route to hopefullyrem- edy the situation. The wait leaves a hapless Martin once again to his lonesome and restless self. Perhaps more importantly and sweetly adding to the mounting tension, Martin is left to question where his life is headed; a stable yet predictable path concerning shredding paper, endless phone correspondence, and otherwise mundane office operations.
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As students return to school, rushing to get books, completing last minute scheduling changes and looking for inexplicably missing room numbers, it is safe to say that the beginning of the spring semester is just as hectic as the end of the fall semester was with finals and reports. What made this semester much sweeter was the mellow jazz beat echoing through Village Square on Jan. 12. Curious to find the source of the scintillating sounds, I quickly came upon a group of students playing jazz in front of the Student Union's Descartes coffee shop at a small booth.
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On December 11, 2011 at Regency Inn in Chicago, Aspira Inc. of Illinois celebrated its annual Areyto (ah-ray-toe) ceremony. The Areyto ceremony traces its roots directly back to the indigenous people of Puerto Rico, the Tainos (Tah-ee- nos). For the Tainos, Areyto was a religious ceremony that was celebrated in the main plazas of their Taino communi- ties. This ceremony would bring communities together and festivities would include a fest and ritual songs and dances that would commemorate the good deeds of the Taino people. Today, it seems that the Areyto ceremony serves as an initiation ceremony for new Aspira club members, as well as a renewing of initiation for older members. With Aspira Inc. of Illinois serving more than a dozen schools, the banquet hall was packed with young excited faces waiting to become members of such an educated and proud group of people.
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The legacy of Civil Rights in the United States is best represented by the sit-in movement and the battle to desegregate public schools. It is this legacy that the Kenwood Oakland Com- munity Organization, KOCO, draws from in its fight against the closure and consolidation of south Chicago neighborhood schools with a prolonged sit-in at City Hall, just outside the office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
I was late for the sit-in by three days.
Like many, I had only a vague idea of the politics of school closings. On the face of it, the argument is simple: if a school isn't doing well, why shouldn't it close? It's a seductive argument, one that speaks to American values like hard work and merit.
Still, when I learned of KOCO's protest the day before, I decided I had to hear for myself what would make these folks so outraged over the closing of failing schools. And sitting with members of KOCO, listening to their story, I began to see the bigger picture.
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On a balmy and snowy Chicago winter's day, there's only one thing can get me out of the house - and that's partaking in a good movie with my children. When producer George Lucas announced that Red Tails, a movie about the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII, would be coming to the silver screen, I was so excited. I've been on pins and needles ever since and swore I'd be the first to hop in line to support this film. I was not disappointed - and neither were my sons.
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Lluvia Carrisoza, Visual Media Editor
1. Calle 13 - "Latinoamerica"
2. Flobots - "Handlbars"
3. Behold the Pale Horse - "Die for Me"
4. Art Brut - "Emily Kane"
5. Blondie - "Rapture"
Nicole Lela, Staff Writer
1. Kari Jobe - The More I Seek You
2. Casting Crowns - Blessed Redeemer
3. Newsboys - God's not Dead
4. Hillsong United - Forever Reign
5. Hillsong United - Like an Avalanche
Jennifer Galuhn, Staff Writer
1. Pink - Raise your Glass
2. B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams from Paramore - Airplanes
3. Third Eye Blind - Slow Motion
4. Glee - Loser Like Me
5. Beethoven - Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Emily Haddad, Associate Managing
Editor & News Editor
1. Andreya Triana - A Town Called Obsolete
(available free on Amazon MP3)
2. I Fight Dragons - Heads Up, Hearts Down
3. The Opposition - Black Voices
4. Sister Soleil - My Heart Goes Boom
5. The Beatles - Sexy Sadie
Rogelio Armando Edrington,
Manager of the Auxiliary Area NEIU
1. The Four Tops - It's The Same Old Song
2. George Michael - Freedom 90
3. Chrisette Michele - Epiphany
4. Tina Turner - Proud Mary
5. The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problem
Nicholas Joly, Production Editor
1. Outasight – Tonight is the Night
2. Roscoe Dash – Sidity (Ft. Big Sean)
3. Rick Ross – Stay Schemin (Ft. Drake & French Montana)
4. Lloyd – Be the one (Ft. Trey Songz, Young Jeezy)
5. Jacob Latimore – Nothing on me
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My boyfriend and I began our winter break in Columbus, Ohio. After a few days in Columbus exploring the entire capital, learning about the state history and enjoying the regional architecture, we drove out to New York City. About noon on December 31, 2011 we were passing through the Lincoln Tunnel and parking in Manhattan. I was ecstatic the moment I walked out of the car and stepped onto the pavement. We were situated about three blocks away from Times Square. The first few hours we walked around and visited 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Central Park, Hell's Kitchen, and the Theatre District. Absorbing the sights, sounds and smells- the garbage lining the streets, the strange array of architecture, the bustle of rude people pushing past us, and the mixture of pleasant scent of food and the putrid odors of waste- homesickness overcame me. I began to appreciate my clean and well organized Chicago, which I took for granted.
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The One That Got Away – Katy Perry: Bryce Adjei-Boteng, Sophomore, Math/Education
Memory Lane – Eddy Current Suppression Ring: Maddy Johanek, Freshman, Vocational Studies
Next Go Round - Nickelback: Barbara Carroll, Freshman, Biology
Someone Like You - Adele: Mimi Shoshani, Prospective Student
Yellow Angel - Senses Fail: Haydee Quinones, Sophomore, Biology
Marry the Night - Lady Gaga: Adell Griffin, Freshman, Psychology
Viva La Vida - Coldplay: Kevin Andres, Sophomore, Psychology
Bag Raiders (Album) - Bag Raiders: Paul Coltran, Sophomore, Graphic Design
Ella Whitehead, Graduate Student, HRD
1. Who's That Girl – Rhianna
2. Party – Beyonce
3. Wale – Lotus Flowerbomb
Nicholas Joly, Sophomore, Chemistry
1. Heartbeat – Childish Gambino
2. Boo Thang –Verse Simmonds
3. Do It Like You – Diggy feat. Jeremih
Log on to submit the tunes you're grooving to this holiday break, on our website!
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What will you be doing over winter break?
"Spending time with family and friends. I can't wait to build a huge snow castle with a wall in the middle of the street and a $5 toll for using MY road!" –Alex Quintero, freshman, Undecided
"Working at MicroCenter and sleep but mostly catch up on my photography. If that blizzard happens though, I'm going to come at it with two buckets of salt and yelling obscenities."– Chris Silva, senior
"Basically just hanging out with family – with my other five sisters and three brothers. We've already got our Christmas tree up. Our family always comes together after Thanksgiving for that while Christmas carols play in the background. Fingers crossed that it's a white Christmas, just not a blizzard."– Sheryl Franklin, senior, Political Science
"Going to Canton, Ohio to visit my mom, one of my sisters and my two brothers; Syracuse, NY to visit my sister and her six nieces. If this blizzard is a reality, I'll definitely be shoveling out my mom's house but it'll be even worse in Syracuse, so I hope it doesn't come to that."– James McNeil, senior, CMT
"Iowa or Florida. So, it's either corn or oranges. I'm going to pile up as much snow as I can and jump off a tree or a garage roof. I'll probably go to Hickory Hills for some sledding, work in the rec center, equipment room and gym supervisor."– Hernando Reyes, Secondary Education/English
"I'm planning to do nothing. No, I'm serious; I'm committed to doing nothing. My mom's going to Puerto Rico and I'll be in Chicago being bored. If I'm snowed in, I'm going to play video games and not save my files. To borrow from Ms. Bitters, ‘Where my winter break was, there was nothing!'"– Cecilia Perez, freshman, CMT
"Take the show on the road to Arizona to visit my brother on Christmas Eve who suffered from a stroke on the same day a year ago. Through the miracle of technology, we've maintained contact every day via text; whether it's a joke or a prayer, we're never far from each other's thoughts. If the blizzard comes to Chicago, I can't wait. Snow is like music to my heart. See, I was born in northern Minnesota, so I'm a winter guy. I'll take 900 inches of snow over 100 degree temperatures. That's not even a question."– Elbert Tavon Briggs; "The Purple Snow Guy"; English, Writing and Composition Master, graduate student
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It's that time of year again where everything seems to sparkle, things seem a little brighter and people just seem to smile a little more. It's the holiday season and I think it's probably the one time of the year where I am just extremely happy. I can't tell you exactly why, other than the spirit of the holiday excites me. However, my holidays just wouldn't be complete if I didn't catch these awesome holiday specials on TV. I thought I'd share so you can enjoy them this year, too!
Movies
1. Home Alone 1 (1990)
2. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
3. The Santa Clause (1994)
4. Elf (2003)
5. A Christmas Story (1983)
Animated Shows
1. A Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
4. Shrek the Halls (2007)
5. 8 Crazy Nights (2002)
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(Co-Sponsored by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.)
Organizers of the Ladies Outreach Lounge gathered in the Student Union on Dec. 2 to ask two very important questions. What does it mean to be a woman? How can we stay empowered as Black women and not lose our identity?
The event featured a reading of the poem, "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou and a pledge that was taken by all women in attendance. Guest speaker Manesha Stiff, Program Specialist for Project Success, spoke about the dual roles of women and how to find success in a professional environment.
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Shantez:I think that the "Sunday Morning Juke Joint "concept is fascinating. Can you explain how this has become your brand?
Avery:I didn't make it a "brand" or "niche". I was asked to name it. So, it's actually a fluke! (laughing)But I like to think of it as the negotiating between the sinner and the saint. In Black culture, this is a person who is moved and understands both in the same divine energy. You see, this was how I was brought up. I have to honor that aspect of myself. I'm just keeping the tradition. This concept challenges the idea that Jesus jukes too! (laughing) [It challenges the idea] of humanizing the spirit. Mixing music with poetry came from my ‘momma'. We [the black community] have always used art as a form of ministering. So that mixture is the idea of praising the work of our ancestry.
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The newly released movie "50/50" is a dramedy about the journey to health of Adam, a young man who is diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. Directed by Jonathan Levine, "50/50" stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam and Seth Rogen as Adam's best friend, Kyle.
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Brazilian director Cacau Amaral visited Northeastern Illinois University on Nov. 16 for the screening of "5x Favela, Agora por Nós Mesmos" (5x Slums, Now By Ourselves) free of charge for students in the Recital Hall. After a brief introduction from Paul Schroeder-Rodriguez, Ph.D., Department Chair of World Languages and Cultures, the movie was played on the giant screen that hung over the stage.
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In order to promote unity within the NEIU student community, the National Honors Society Club, the Psychology Club (as well as their honors organization, Psi Chi) and the French Club threw a chocolate themed party of delicious proportions on Nov. 16 in Alumni Hall.
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Music for you to groove to!
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For many of us, midterms have passed. But now we've reached the second half of our fall semester, and this time calls for tapping into our energy reserves to boost up for the last few weeks ahead. Here's a quick and easy recipe that's sure to help our preparations for that final stretch!
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During the weekend of Oct. 28-29, a group of about 14 NEIU students (myself included) traveled to the Stronghold Retreat Center in Oregon, Ill for the Spectrum Leadership Retreat; this year the themes were multi-culturalism and social justice.
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What are some ways you cope with stress during midterms? "Going to the library more often, like the one at DePaul because it's open until midnight. I'll also buy energy drinks to study and go to sleep early to wake up early." - Paulo Ramirez, Junior "Reading calms me down; right now, my favorite book is Thirteen Reasons Why. Or I'll just take it easy and watch "Pretty Little Liars" or hang out with family members and friends." - Hamdi Mohamed, Freshman
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Based off an urban legend in Chicago and inspired by Ursula Bielski, this story has been adapted
Every year I hear how haunted Chicago and its surrounding suburbs are, and of course, it takes more than a little internet hocus pocus to scare me. Lately however, I had been hearing about recent ghostly apparitions and shiny orbs being spotted around Bachelor's Grove Cemetery in Palos Heights, Illinois.
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The anticipation for a good, scary movie this Halloween can finally come to an end: Paranormal Activity 3 is here, and it's better than the second one! Paranormal Activity 1, 2, and 3, are movie sequels presented backwards; part three takes us back to when the two sisters, Katie and Kristi (the main characters), were little girls and how the haunting began.
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The Playboy Club, a historical drama about the eponymous club in 1961 Chicago, premiered on NBC on Sept. 19, after months of advanced publicity and discussion. The show was filmed on location, promising ample work opportunities for local actors and crew, while Playboy Enterprises, owners of the Playboy magazine and related ventures, promoted the show heavily, hoping that its success will invigorate its stagnating brand.
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Tired of the same old scrambled eggs or sick of being sunny side up? Try making a frittata! A frittata is similar to an omelet but has a little extra oomph. Instead of being folded over like an omelet, it's open-faced and, depending on your preference, more fluffy.
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The hallway outside of Northeastern Illinois University's Recital Hall was bustling and crowded on Oct. 6 as audience members entered the Hall and filled seats to watch the original and inspirational play, De Camino al Ahorita; although the play was in Spanish, the screen above the stage displayed English supertitles.
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Miranda Scott - Copy Editor
1. Pumped Up Kicks- Foster the People 2. Bounce- Calvin Harris feat. Kelis 3. Party Animals- Chris Young the Rapper 4. Sexy and I Know It- LMFAO 5. Frick Park Market-Mac Miller
Grace Caruvana - Copy Editor
1. The Bitch Came Back- Theory of a Dead Man 2. White Rabbit- Jefferson Airplane 3. Mad World- Gary Jules 4. Diamond Eyes Shinedown
5. Mordred's Song- Blind Guardian
Janean L. Watkins - Editor in Chief
1. Your Touch- The Black Keys 2. Hands- The Raconteurs 3. Back to Black- Amy Winehouse 4. Perhaps Vampire is a Bit Strong, But...- Arctic Monkeys 5. Icky Thump- The White Stripes
Sadaf Syed - Managing Editor
1. Someone Like You- Adele 2. Miss Independent- Kelly Clarkson 3. Californication- Red Hot Chili Peppers 4. Mr. Scruff- Kalimba 5. Mundene- Coco Mbassi
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As part of the tenth annual South Asian Progressive Action Collective's (SAPAC) month-long exhibit commemorating the Sept. 11 attacks, it held a performance entitled "Voices of Resistance: Revision" (VOR) on Oct. 15 at Marwen. Dr. Ahalya Satkunaratnam, NEIU professor of the Women's Studies Program and Political Science, was one of the several artists to perform and take part in the VOR exhibition as part ofSAPAC; her piece, "Con-Sequential," was a Bharat Natyam inspired dance, which mixed techno with classical Indian music.
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While in San Antonio, Texas, just a few hours before hitting the road to Houston, the guys of Pop Pistol were preparing to kick off ElMovimiento—a cross-country tour that will lead them to Chicago this month.
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With the iPhone 5's imminent arrival, "app" developers have been testing the new device's technical limits In order to see how much more complex their new applications can be. This is definitively true when comes to touch screen game developers. The iPhone (and iPod Touch) becomes much faster and more powerful with each generation, thus there being more and more powerful games that are coming out for the devices.
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At 21, Demi Lovato has matured, and so has her music. "Unbroken" is a departure from her teenage Disney sellouts and ascends towards adulthood, just like the singer. "Unbroken" is a gem of an album which should also appeal to male listeners.
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Over the past few years, we have seen several television shows that used Chicago as a setting. With our city depicted more often now, this raises a question do those shows accurately represent Chicago? Or do they merely name check the city, without giving any thought to the qualities that make it unique?
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Why Safe Sex Was Invented
In the heady days of the Sexual Revolution of the 60s and 70s, when women gained agency over their own sexuality, when the Pill and legalized abortions reduced the risks of pregnancy, and gonorrhea and syphilis had medical cures, most of us did not bother with practicing safe sex. Safe sex hadn't been invented yet. Safe sex wasn't even on the radar of most of us in those days.
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Celebrating the very first day of the scariest (and most fun) month of the year, Oct. 1saw the 3rd annual Chicago Costume Fashion Show shine the spotlight on costumes once again. Coming in on the heels of Fashion Week around the world, Chicago had its own uniqueglamour gala event to tantalize the fashionista community, Halloween style.
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Here's what Independent Staff members are listing to currently. Check out the tunes, and feel free to add what you're listening to in the "Comments" section!
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Bumpin’ to the Beat
Imagine that you can take the flow of a rapper such as Bizzy Bone, fueled by the heartfelt passion of spoken word, set to fervent drum patterns—beautifully intertwined with the musical colors of both a guitar and bass—and combined them with an angelic voice, echoing sagacious lyrics. All of this would give you a musical epiphany, otherwise known as Righteous Ones.
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