05/01/09 Intermission [pdf]

inside

Intermssion talks to student film director Tim Gregory... page 3 Whet your appetite at St. Michael’s Alley and Fleming’s...page 4 Another volume of “Heroes” ends...page 5 Cloud Cult’s Shawn Neary discusses future, sustainable music...page 8 Experimentaion with the best mocha choices on campus...page 9 Intermission critiques today’s newly released “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”...page 12

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FRIDAY

5.01.09 stanford’s weekly guide to campus culture

VO LU M E

ALSO INSIDE

T E L E V I S I O N T O N AT U R E

S TAY C E YA N N C H I N V I S I T S S TA N F O R D F O R S L A M

D O C U M E N TA R I E S O N T H E

P O E T RY A N D R E A D I N G

BIG SCREEN,

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YOU GOT SWINE WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

IF

FLU

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Personally, I would travel to all the places I’ve always wanted to go, but never got the chance, especially those remote corners of the Earth that take lots of money and patience to reach. If you might be quarantined anyway, why not just go to some of the world’s most remote travel destinations? — joanna XU contact joanna: [email protected]

TRISTAN DE CUNHA

NORTH KOREA I’ve read some accounts of people who have gone to North Korea, and all of them have said that it’s like traveling back in time to the 1960s — North Korea has remained essentially unchanged since then. Apparently, going to North Korea is the next best thing to discovering a one-way, one-destination time machine.

FRIDAY

You’ve probably never heard of this place. Which makes sense, because it’s the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world — population 271 at last count. There are exactly 80 families on the island and they share just seven surnames: Glass, Green, Hagan, Lavarello, Repetto, Rogers and Swain. There is one visiting doctor from South America and the first television didn’t arrive here until 2001. This group of volcanic islands in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean is very difficult to get to — one of the islands is even called “Inaccessible Island.” If there was one place that would be safe from swine flu, this just might be it . . .

5.01.09 BONE TO PICK?

ANTARCTICA AND FALKLAN ISLANDS well then, email us! [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR Joanna Xu

LAYOUT EDITOR Jin Yu

COPY EDITOR Samantha Lasarow

DESK EDITORS Annika Heinle Kyle Evaldez

PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Zhang

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OUTER SPACE

I, for one, have always wanted to go to Antarctica. As the only continent that I have never stepped foot on before, Antarctica holds that certain unexplored, rugged appeal — not to mention the gorgeous landscape, enormous ice mountains, icebergs and my favorite animal next to pandas: penguins.

This is definitely at the top of my list, even though I listed it last. Sure, it would set you back $200,000, but if you were dying tomorrow there’d be no good to those savings away. As far as I know, the only commercial space flight is still with Virgin Galactic. The trip is only three hours on a private spacecraft, but it departs from a remote section of the Mojave Desert, and if you’ve got the dough and the guts, you’ll also need several days at a resort to prep for outer space. You’ll only be going 62 miles though — just 62 miles vertically.

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photos courtesy google images

STUDENT

FILM DIRECTOR TIM GREGORY TALKS ABOUT “POLITICAL ANIMALS”

n Wednesday afternoon, when I walked into The Daily office, hollering staffers’ names per usual to see if anyone else was there, I suddenly found myself — much to the my chagrin — in the middle of a film set. Turns out the film set was part of a Stanford senior’s feature film project. After a wrap, I stepped aside to talk with director Tim Gregory, a Stanford senior born and raised in Vienna, Austria, on his feature film “Political Animals.”

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intermission (i): What’s the title of the movie and what inspired you to make it? Tim Gregory (TG): The title of the movie is “Political Animals” and it’s my fourth movie at Stanford. Filming is happening from April 5 to May 2, and we will wrap up in a few days. I’m a political science major so I came up with the idea based on a lot of the things I’ve seen repeatedly done here at Stanford. There are three main characters and each character is based on tendencies I’ve seen in Stanford students. Tina is the activist — she’s very passionate about things, but doesn’t always think through the issues. She doesn’t embrace complexities. Sam is the investment banker. He’s politically curious but overwhelmed by all the different choices and groups. He finds activism and politics to be intimidating, even though he’s genuinely interested — so he goes into finance and becomes an investment banker. The third character is played by Daniel Torres-Rangel, who graduated from Stanford in 2005. He works for a senate campaign that he ideologically disagrees with. I’ve definitely seen this in some Stanford students — compromising your ideals to get the job.

i: Did you write the script for this film? TG: Yes, I did. I write all the scripts that I direct — mainly because I’m not in a position where I can pick scripts. I really like coming up with concepts and screenwriting. I generally have all the ideas for the movies I make. I came up with the idea for this around November of 2007, and I was tired of making short films — I was starting to feel constrained by the length. Of course, a few people helped me with the storyline and such. Professor Jim Fearon in the political science department helped out with coming up with the title and the storyline. Professor Laura Whitman from the French and Italian department also helped me a lot. i: How did you manage the budget? TG: We applied for two grants to cover most of the budget. The total budget of this is about $10,000, which is ultra-lowbudget for a film of its size. Most films of this length have about a $200,000 budget, so $50,000 would be on the low side, and $10,000 is considered really low. But it can be done. The thing about “Political Animals” is that there’s no spectacular special effects or action scenes. It’s basically a drama, so there’s a lot of character work. There are no demanding locations either — it’s mostly offices and apartments. My previous movie, “The Strange Case,” was a lot more demanding in that respect. We needed a make-up expert, there were some degrees of action scenes, and we even came up with clever ways to fake torture. We had to stage a lot of action and set pieces. i: Isn’t it difficult to make a good movie on such a small budget?

i: Do you have any advice for students who are interested in filmmaking or who want to try their hand at the craft? TG: My advice would just be to get in touch with the film society at Stanford. Network with them and try to get crew positions. My first years at Stanford, I worked crew on two movies. The first gig was as a grip, so I moved things around, went to get food, etc. On the other one, I was an assistant director. Towards the end, I got to co-direct. Through working on set, you get to learn who’s good at what, so that when you have your own idea for a movie, you’ll know who to look towards or what quality to look for. i: What do you think of the film society at Stanford? TG: I like the film society here, I think it’s quite good. The other college I was looking at when I was applying was Cambridge, and I think their film society consisted of a few guys who got together to watch a movie every week. But here, we have decent equipment, workshops to get you familiar with the equipment and a group of people who are always willing to help each other out on their projects. If there’s one thing that can be improved, though, it would be offering more money to students to make ambitious projects. Stanford Film Festival is good, but it only shows mostly really short movies. If the University just gave a bit more incentive — right now, the greatest amount you can get in a grant is $500, which covers about parking ticket costs for us — I think students could be a lot more ambitious. i: Who’s your favorite director or directors? TG: I think my favorite director would have to be Alejandro Inarritu. He directed “Babel” and “21 Grams.” Both are serious, character-driven movies. My other favorite would be Christopher Nolan, who directed “The Dark Knight” and “Prestige.” Both were big-budget blockbusters, but Nolan put a lot of thought into plot and character, which is rare in these big-budget action movies. i: Favorite movies? Least favorite? TG: [My Favorites are] “Babel,” “The Dark Knight,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” I think “Slumdog Millionaire” is very overrated; I dislike the way it’s glorified so much. I also hated “Quantum of Solace.”

i: Who are the actors in “Political Animals?” TG: It’s diverse. We have some Stanford student actors, some professional actors. It’s a diverse group. Tina is played by Annamarie MacLeod, who is a semi-professional actress. i: When do you plan to finish “Political Animals?” TG: The final cut should be finished by the end of September. We’ll screen it at Stanford, then submit it to as many festivals as we can, with Sundance and TriBeCa at the upper end. We’ll see what it gets into. The last movie I filmed before this was about 45 minutes long, so we sent it to some short film festivals. It was called “The Strange Case” and it was about torture and the CIA. There were a lot of Stanford students involved with that one, too.

TG: It is a little bit, but I’m used to it — I’ve been making movies with few resources for a while now. I’m used to doing things on the cheap, and it’s definitely possible. I think directors can achieve a lot of things if they put their mind to it and don’t just take the first option that comes along. For example, if someone offers you equipment for $3,000, someone who has a large budget could just accept that offer. But if you put more effort into it, networked and made friends with the right people, you could potentially find something that’s half that price. If you do that for every item on your budget, then you’re in good shape.

(i): What are your future plans after college? TG: I don’t really have any at this moment. I was wait-listed at NYU Tisch Film School. I’ll be around until I finish editing this movie. After that, I could either go back to Europe or search for a job in politics. Politics and film are both open options. I would much rather prefer a career in film, but I think it’s easier to get a paying job in politics. — joanna XU contact joanna: [email protected]

photos couresy thestrangecase.com

friday may 01 2009

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RESTAURANT REViEW

RESTAURANT REViEW

ST. MICHAEL’S ALLEY: EATING ON A PRAYER

STEAK ON THE FARM ince Stanford University once served as the Stanford family’s cattle stock farm, it is only fitting that one can enjoy some top-notch meat without leaving campus. Those who live in SAE might be able to enjoy T-bone steak on Thursdays, but everyone else will have to venture beyond their dining hall. But don’t worry, The Axe and Palm has not added steak to the menu (it would probably be safer to eat British beef during the mad cow scare). To enjoy a top-of-the-line steak dinner without leaving Stanford’s boundaries, one need only head over to Fleming’s at the Stanford Shopping Center. Fleming’s, which officially bills itself as a prime steakhouse and wine bar, provides classic steakhouse fare in an environment that combines modern accessibility and comfort with an otherwise appropriately conservative atmosphere. The dark dining room, accented with wood and leather, contains large tables surrounded by comfortable chairs or roomy booths. While the wine list offers an impressive 100 selections by the glass — presumably justifying the wine bar moniker — the menu itself offers few surprises. Appetizers include soups, salads and steakhouse standards such as crab cakes. For entrées, one could theoretically opt for lobster tail or some other seafood, but there really is no reason to discuss main courses that aren’t steak. Entrées are, of course, served rigorously a la carte, which requires clients to order separate side items like asparagus, creamed spinach or potatoes. Perhaps the most impressive part of the meal was the chilled seafood tower. Officially it was designed to serve two, though it wouldn’t be too unreasonable to have it feed three people, especially given the $55 price tag. Embedded in a tower of ice were Alaskan king crab legs, lobster tails, crab claws, jumbo shrimp and small bowls of Dungeness crab meat and ceviche. The crab legs and shrimp were superb — easy to chew and full of their own flavor rather than some added seasoning. The shrimp was especially nice in contrast to the tasteless shrimp cocktails frequently found at even high-end parties. The lobster, while tasty, still fell short of a freshly-steamed lobster on the coast in Kennebunkport, Maine. As an addition or alternative, consider the tomato and mozzarella salad. Both appetizers set a high bar for the mains. Fleming’s signature dish is the bone-in rib eye. Other options include a filet — either on or off the bone — or a New York strip. The impressively-sized rib eye arrived from the 1,600-degree oven, cooked to medium-rare perfection. It came pre-seasoned with some salt and pepper and was delivered with carafes of three house sauces. The quality of the meat was evident from the first bite. And while the fat was well distributed to provide richness throughout — as should be the case in a rib eye — I do think a slightly leaner steak would have been better as the level of fat was detrimental to the texture and made it generally too rich for a steak of that size. Along the lines of the richness, a little less salt and butter might have allowed the taste of the meat to come through a bit more and make the steak generally easier to stomach. The creamed spinach on the side was easily passable, though the spinach flavor was rather subtle compared to the cream. The mashed potatoes, however,

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michael rooney

ere’s the scenario: your parents are in town and offer to take you out anywhere in the area. You’re at a loss of where to go. Well, you are in luck and stuck no longer as Intermission explores some of the hidden gems of Palo Alto and help you and yours eat out right. This week, we set out on a trek beyond University Ave to the hearty Californian café known as St. Michael’s Alley. While St. Michael’s Alley is located at the corner of High and Homer Streets just across the street from campus, it’s not (yet) a widely-known restaurant among Stanford students. This is understandable as the classy restaurant doesn’t necessary cater to the college crowd, considering that dinner entrees are in the $16-$30 range per plate. Also, reservations are a MUST. I arrived for lunch right when the restaurant opened and it was near packed within 20 minutes. Unless you are on a real nice date, this is probably not the best place to go for the student on a budget, even for brunch (served at 806 Emerson Street) in which plates hover around $15. With that said, lunch is a possibility, especially if you want to see some of the Palo Alto movers & shakers, sample wines from their exhaustive listings, or have a great business lunch. The elegant atmosphere and good food make it a good choice to “do” a meal in a business or romantic setting. Understanding that lunch is at this choice is probably your best bet, let’s tackle the quality of the food. I would say the overall quality is good, but choose wisely as some dishes are better than others. Let’s begin with the starters, as much as you may be tempted by its fancy name, don’t pick the Charcuterie Plate, which is essentially a meat antipasto. The portions are way to0 small to justify its $12 price tag. Their soups are delicious as are their salads. Probably, the most

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interesting dish on the appetizer menu consists of Ginger Prawn Lollipops. My jury is still out is that one, send me an email with what you think if you’ve tried it; I’m open for some convincing either way. For the heartier appetitive, St. Michael’s Alley offers several sandwiches and burgers, ranging from the “ABC” half-pound Burger to a turkey wrap to a grilled veggie sandwich. I focused in on the pastas, sampling the Gnocchi, Fresh Pasta Shells, and Pepper Ravioli as a daily special. While I might be predisposed to liking the gnocchi dish as it’s my favorite pasta, St Michael’s Alley’s version of the classic tasted exactly like an incarnation of the dish I enjoyed when I visited Rome in February. The Pasta Shells with its favors blended together within a creamy sauce were similarly delightful. Both of these plates are quite filling and will make your tastebuds dance for joy. As for the pepper ravioli, its sauce was a little overpowering and while the ravioli’s were cooked well, quite a bit of the power of the dish was lost leading to some disappointment. In sum, St. Michael’s is a great place for a power lunch, but with its hefty price tags for its dishes (especially for dinner) be sure to choose your dish wisely. I encourage you to go with a friend and explore their menu together as some of the dishes were outstanding. St. Michael’s Alley is open for lunch Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for brunch Saturday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m. Before you go, check out their full menu at their website http://www.stmikes.com/.

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— tommy TOBIN contact tommy: [email protected]

courtesy quinn anya

THE END OF ANOTHER “HEROES” VOLUME eroes Seasons 3, Volume 4 ended on a slightly disturbing twist. If you haven’t seen the show, don’t read this. If you have: Nathan died but not quite, because Matt Parkman brainwashed Sylar to replace him. The side-plot with Angelica Petrelli in the middle of the season was, in my opinion, irrelevant filler. The introduction of her sister seemed out-of-place in the plot-line, and while the history behind the Company is interesting, it could’ve been told elsewhere in the story. Eitherway, nobody likes watching filler, and that’s what a lot of Heroes season 3 episodes felt like. The only reason I kept watching the show was in part reminiscence for the awesomeness that was season one and also to see Sylar. He is just about the most awesome character and the only reason for watching the show anymore. His personal history, development, psychotic tendencies are deeply interesting. My only complaint against Sylar is that he is getting way too powerful. I really liked the Peter/Sylar contrast in the first season — they had the same ability to acquire other abilities, yet their personal goals and personalities were completely different and Peter was Sylar’s only equal. Then the writers probably decided that Peter was too powerful — and he probably was — so they took a chunk of his abilities away. Now they’ve decided that Hiro Nakamura (definitely one of my favorites) is too powerful and he’s suffering repercussions from using his powers. Who next? I wish there was more consistency in the show and less wishy-washiness. The first two seasons were about character development; recently, it’s just been more about powers and abilities. One of the only heroes who’s never underwent a change in her abilities is Claire — and her self-righteousness and constant whining on the show is near intolerable. Also, how many times is Ali Larter going to reappear in this show? First Niki/Jessica dies, then Tracy Strauss appears, then fakes a death. The show insinuated that Niki, Tracy, and Barbara were triplets that all were injected with various abilities. Barbara hasn’t even appeared yet — it appears that Ali Larter will never be out of work. Although initial fan reaction to the season finale twist

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photos courtesy google images

was negative — the Nathan/Sylar combination was truly disturbing — I think it was interesting and thought-provoking. What makes a person an individual? What else can Matt Parkman’s power be used to do? The season finale ended in a giant philosophical question mark. Some are questioning whether Heroes will be canceled. The first season peaked at 16 million viewers, but the third season has been steadily declining in ratings. In my opinion, Heroes probably won’t be canceled; the season finale provided an interesting enough twist, and most of NBC’s shows are not doing well this season. The Nathan/Sylar combination, formation of another new Company, Sylar’s proposal to Claire . . . all are interesting topics that can be played out well. Also, I think Tim Kring should consider bringing back some characters: The Haitian and Micah Sanders should get bigger roles. Lyle Bennet needs to do something because as of now he is just about the most useless character ever. And Isaac Mendez’ power, while a good plot device, needs to stop haunting this show. I, for one, am lukewarmly eager to see how next season will play out. — joanna XU contact joanna: [email protected]

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“WEEDS” VS. “BREAKING BAD:” WHICH DRUG SHOW TO WATCH? nsure about which hip drug-dealing show to watch? Let Intermission help you figure out which is right for you. Read on to discover the similarities and differences between Showtime’s hit “Weeds” and AMC’s awardwinning “Breaking Bad,” both of which deal with unlikely drug dealers in unfortunate conversations. While both shows are very close in many aspects, it is easy to tell the two apart and decide which you want to fill up your TiVo.

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WEEDS Starring Mary Louise Parker, “Weeds” is Showtime’s halfhour-long hit “dramedy.” It tells the story of Nancy Botwin, a single mother of two, living in Agrestic, an upper-class suburban community. Her husband dies very suddenly of a heart attack

and, due to poor financial planning, her family is left with nothing. Unwilling to uproot her sons from school and the community they are accustomed to, Nancy turns to the next logical solution: marijuana. The demand for the drug in her community is very high among adults, so Nancy transforms from PTA mom to town dealer. The drama and hardship in the show is offset by the hysterical characters in Agrestic. Elizabeth Perkins, who plays PTA head Celia Hoades, is perhaps one of the funniest actresses on television and has won multiple Emmys for her performance on “Weeds.” Kevin Nealon plays Doug Wilson, Nancy’s perpetually-stoned accountant who causes more trouble than

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good. While “Weeds” is packed to the brim with one-liners and humorous situations, the show still boils down to the fact that Nancy is facing arduous times, and, in order to support herself and her sons, must work in a world that causes problems for everyone involved.

BREAKING BAD

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AMC’s Emmy award-winning series “Breaking Bad” is notably more serious than “Weeds.” Starring Bryan Cranston from “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Breaking Bad” follows the life of Walter White, a brilliant chemist. Walter worked on a chemistry project that ended up winning the Nobel Prize, but due to unfortunate circumstances, receives neither a tenure nor notoriety. He instead winds up working as a high school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is even forced to keep a part-time job at a car wash to make ends meet. He has a wife who surprises him with pregnancy and a son with cerebral palsy. One day, after fainting at the car wash, Walt is told that he has stage three lung cancer, which means 15 months left to live. Through several strange circumstances, Walt meets up with a former student, dropout Jesse Pinkman, and becomes entrenched in the wonderful world of crystal meth dealing. Walt begins cooking meth in order to pay for his treatments and ensure financial security for his family after he is gone. As depressing as this show may sounds, Bryan Cranston gives an inspired performance that recently won him an Emmy. It is almost impossible to believe he is the dad from “Malcolm in the Middle.” “Breaking Bad” won’t leave you happy and laughing — but it will leave you in awe and on edge, excited to see what happens next week. — annika HEINLE Contact Annika at [email protected].

OUR

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pril 22 — My favorite holiday, Earth Day. Finally a holiday solely dedicated to a topic that everyone can appreciate — the fragility of our Earth. I had been anxiously waiting for this day for a while — firstly, to celebrate the beauty of our planet, but more importantly, to see the new movie “Earth.” This film, narrated by James Earl Jones, primarily follows the lives of three “families” as they try to survive varying adverse conditions: a polar bear mother and her two cubs, a herd of elephants and their calves and a humpback whale with its calf. The film also depicts the many varying habitats on Earth, as well as the animals that populate them. Sounds familiar, right? That is because the Discovery Channel series “Planet Earth” has a very similar concept. I love “Planet Earth,” so the fact that the film seemed so similar to the series was actually a major reason for my excitement in seeing it. However, as I sat in the theatre watching the movie, it all seemed very familiar. I had definitely not seen the movie before, yet the scenes and animals were not new to me. Was I experiencing déjà vu? I could not believe it — basically, the film is different scenes from “Planet Earth,” edited together into one large, all-encompassing ode to the planet. The movie itself is definitely entertaining and many of the environments are breathtaking, but I’ve already seen it all before. And not just once — I’ve seen “Planet Earth” a lot. The bottom line is, I felt kind of ripped off. I could just as easily have stayed home and watched “Planet Earth” DVDs.

A COLLAGE

Vi g n e tt show es of three how o anima ur l the ch angin planet res “families” ponds g envi ronm to ent.

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I could not be mad for too long because a lot of the cinematography is mind-blowing, regardless of how many times you’ve seen it. The use of editing enables the film to accelerate the natural changes an environment experiences throughout a single day, or even an entire season, to mere seconds for us to witness. You can see plants blooming and moving in relation to the sun, and the leaves of the trees changing colors and falling off. The film showcases a wide variety of different animals in different environments. It presents everything from walruses swimming in the Arctic Circle to birds of paradise courting potential mates in the tropics. Unfortunately, the film also includes the harsh reality of the food chain — there are several scenes of exchanges between predator and

prey. These interactions only emphasize the fact that our time on Earth is very short. It may sound odd, but the sight of different animals and the struggles they endure just to survive the day really makes us appreciate the relatively easy life we have as humans. The film is truly a testament to life and death, the power of nature and the importance of familial bonds. The film made me want to run outside, clog all the exhaust pipes of the cars sitting in the parking lot and scream profane things at people who litter. The breathtaking landscapes and heartwarming storylines make you realize the inadequacy of a single day dedicated to the Earth — every day should be Earth day. —Cameron SOKOLIK contact Cameron Sokolik at [email protected].

STACEYANN CHIN:

POETRY

AND “PARADISE”

uring Admit Weekend, I entered the Spoken Word Collective show featuring Staceyann Chin believing that I knew what to expect. I had watched every video of her on YouTube, visited her personal Web site and read her Wikipedia site. I was ready for spoken word poetry that would be loud, funny and full of an interesting brand of activist fury. What I got was something that was much softer and much more intimate. The show was in Cubberley Auditorium, but only the front half was filled. It began with Lyla Johnston of the Stanford Spoken Word Collective DJ-ing an amazing set that had people dancing in the lobby as well as in their seats. Staceyann Chin was sitting in the front during all of this, and I wondered what must have been going through her mind then. After Lyla finished, Ariella Tai, a senior in the Collective delivered her own poem. At one point during her delivery, Ariella removed her lapel mic, which I believe set the tone for how the rest of the night was to go. It became a show that was more about sharing and less about performing. When StaceyAnn took the stage, I was elated but cautious. I didn’t know how a small, quiet Stanford audience would handle all the energy that I had seen on YouTube or all the talk about vaginas, but once Chin began speaking, I knew I had nothing to worry about. She knew how to read her crowd. Some of her

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poems, which were normally yelled, were whispered on that night. Poems that had been fast were slowed down and finessed. Chin also spent quite a bit of time reading to us from her newly released book, The Other Side of Paradise, a heart-wrenching memoir that tells the tale of Chin’s very difficult childhood. She made the audience a part of her story, so that we laughed with her, cried with her and felt as though we might actually know everything there is to know about a vagina — in a very empowering way. Later, Chin gave a question-and-answer session that really focused on aspects of her book that had touched audience members. She was honest with us, telling us about why she’d left her hometown in Jamaica, and telling us about activist issues of the LGBT community towards Jamaica that she didn’t agree with. One person asked Chin how she felt about spoken word poetry now, and Chin responded that it was good for her when she was younger and needed a rant, but that these days she is ready for more nuanced work. And I think that work is what the Stanford audience got a taste of; she was candid, and we were open. The experience was a very lovely one. — y a a G YA S I C o n t a c t Ya a : y g y a s i @ s t a n f o r d . e d u

photos courtesy google images

friday may 01 2009

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OH, PROFROS... A

INTERMISSION TALKS CLOUD CULT’S

SHAWN NEARY

s most of you reading this are probably aware, last weekend was Admit Weekend. That’s right. Admit. Weekend. You know what that means . . .

ProFros! Everyone’s favorite prospective freshmen storm campus hoping to test the waters at this particular university before they make their decision to attend. And in Stanford’s case, the water-testing analogy is pretty true to life. The University puts a surprising amount of effort into encouraging its visitors to jump in the fountains. And off they go! Hundreds of high school seniors splash around trying to get a sense if this is what they’d like in a college environment. Is the water too cold? Is it too hot? Does it have the tannic taste of academia? Maybe it tastes too much like athlete sweat. Maybe it doesn’t have a high enough alcohol content. Who knows? In truth, every single one of the ProFros receives a slightly different taste of the Stanford experience, and whether they like it or not is simply a matter of individual opinion. There are, however, certain universal traits of a ProFro. For one, almost all of them start on the same page. They show up with sleeping bags and backpacks full of their most presentable underwear. They know that this lanyard around their neck is important, but also that it’s probably uncool. More than anything, they’re excited and tired and nervous and they’d follow that flag-waving HoHo into the depths of the abyss if that were where he was leading. It’s a pretty even playing field. Then, they arrive at their assigned residence, where they are greeted by the entire dorm. It’s typically quite the spectacle. There are banners and confetti and silly string everywhere. Music is playing and people are dancing. This year, I saw a bunch of shirtless guys wearing sunglasses act as part of a welcoming committee, no doubt demonstrating Stanford’s “shirt-optional” policy. And right at that moment, the ProFro population starts to diverge and specialize, demonstrating a large variety of different approaches to this whole “Admit Weekend” situation. Many react as I would react in the face of such welcoming revelry and blatant nipple-displays: they’re shy. There are a lot of polite grins, head nods and waves. The general sentiment seems to be, “Oh, you didn’t have to go through all the trouble. It doesn’t have to be such a big deal.” For others, however, this kind of welcome clearly confirms their longstanding suspicions that they actually ARE a big deal. You can see it. Their faces light up as they think, “Oh my God, I knew it.” From there on, it’s just more individuation. There are always those East Coasters who flew in this morning and are so sleep-deprived and jet-lagged that they fall into a coma around 10:30 p.m. and cannot be roused. Then there are those who stay up all night in the lounge, comparing notes about test scores and checking to see if high school social labels, like “nerd,” still apply. The statement “everyone at Stanford is kind of a nerd,” will undoubtedly be thrown around at some point, and that negation of identity will inevitably upset and frighten at least half of the people in the room. There are the ProFros who attend every single event on their schedules and there are those who attend none of them. There are the ProFros who wander aimlessly all over campus with apparently no knowledge of how to read a map. This is actually, again, sort of a universal trait of ProFros. Apparently Stanford does not require its admits to have any understanding of North, South, or the phrase “You Are Here.” By far the most interesting part of ProFro behavior, at least to me, is their attempts at romantic interactions. I think there is something distinctly fascinating about high school students’ attempts to make out with strangers on weekend trips. The media definitely encourages it. College is where you hook up, man. It’s crazy town. But also there’s that thing about being away from your parents and away from your normal peer group. These are NEW people, and their newness means that they have sex potential. I mean, of course you can’t make out with Todd from back home. You know his whole social group. It wouldn’t work out. But Jake from Michigan? He might be totally into you. You should go for it. It’s very animalistic. And what amazes me is that sometimes it actually happens. Every year you hear stories about ProFros hooking up with each other. Amazing. I don’t really understand the appeal of making out with someone for a weekend and then chatting with them on instant messenger for the rest of the summer about whether or not you’re going to bring a mini-fridge. But then, I didn’t attend my own Admit Weekend, so maybe I don’t understand the magic.

s far as Stanford is concerned, sustainability and the environment are both very important issues. For the band Cloud Cult, the environment is of the utmost importance and being environmentally responsible shapes much of what they do. Cloud Cult has released ten albums and has been denominated “absolute genius” by “Pitchfork.” Their album They Live On The Sun was one of the most critically acclaimed of the year and was ranked along the likes of Modest Mouse and Radiohead. Their most recent album, Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes), has also being garnering incredible reviews. Cloud Cult recently performed at Coachella on the main stage in the company of legends such as Paul McCartney, The Cure, and Morrissey. Intermission was lucky enough to receive a personal interview with Cloud Cult bassist, Shawn Neary, and the chance to chat with him about what the band is up to. intermission (i): You were formerly of (popular indie band) Tapes-N-Tapes. How did you wind up in Cloud Cult? Shawn Neary (SN): I was working in Minneapolis, and got a call from a friend who books for Cloud Cult telling me that they were looking for a new bassist. He asked if I wanted to try and I mean,

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obviously . . . I tried out the part with Craig Minowa (lead singer/visionary) and learned like thirty new songs. My first show was in September 2007, and it has just been crazy since then. (i): How was Coachella, one of your first big music festivals, this year? SN: We went into that not really knowing what the crowd was going to be like, and stuff like that. We got too many groceries because we didn’t know things were going to be catered . . . [laughs] You know, we were so new to the whole big festival thing. We drove from Michigan overnight, and I only saw Beirut on Friday, and on Saturday I saw M.I.A. for the first time. That was fucking sweet! We saw Atmosphere from the top of our RV. Sunday, we saw the Cure and My Bloody Valentine. Incredible. (i): Cloud Cult’s music has been reviewed with the best, like Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, and Radiohead. Who would you say Cloud Cult draws inspiration from? SN: Well, one of Craig’s favorite bands is the Cure. But I mean, the Flaming Lips isn’t too far off as far as any comparison. What Craig is writing about definitely shows some Lips. We also are hearing that we sound a bit like U2, which I can see in a few songs. I mean, it’s pretty cool to hear we sound like | CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 |

contact austin: [email protected]

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MOCHA

MADNESS

can’t possibly keep myself satisfied by just pouring another cup from the pot. So, I turn to espresso drinks — where the true artistry of coffee comes into play. Give a barista some high-quality coffee beans, but it’ll still take quite a bit of work to mix together the perfect drink. And for me, the drink of choice is mocha — maybe white, maybe caramel, maybe even hazelnut. And on a campus with four main coffee sources, there’s quite a bit of variety in the mocha experience.

CoHo Small: $3

hose who know this Daily editor know well that I’m loud and proud about being a coffee addict. The term “coffee addict” might not be the best way to describe it, though. I mean, I truly am addicted: two-plus cups each day, and when I don’t have at least one of those by 5 p.m. on a given day, I’ll probably have a headache. However, I don’t have a particular affinity for straight-up coffee. Even with cream, sugar and the intrinsic flavor that comes with good coffee, I

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Medium: $3.50

I’m a regular at the CoHo for many reasons, not the least of which is that they provide some high-quality drinks at the center of campus. The CoHo mocha, while a little inconsistent in quality (you don’t have to go all the time, like I do, to know that it’s really dependent on your barista), has enough flavor and kick to keep you coming back for more. The relatively reasonable price and ease of access may have to do with it, but this is a perfectly suitable espresso drink — one you won’t be dissatisfied with on your way to class or when spending some time on the CoHo couches. That’s not to say it can’t be better; the CoHo surprisingly uses Hershey’s syrup for its chocolate, and one can only imagine how much better it’d be if the mocha were made with some real cacao flavor. A few tips for ordering this mocha: don’t try the white — it’s made with Ghirardelli chocolate (a step up from Hershey’s), but far too strong; caramel is an excellent syrup addition, and hazelnut is also nice. Oh, and ask for Juan to

“THE NAMESAKE:” WHAT’S here are a variety of reasons I could tout Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. It has awarded the Pulitzer prize, for one, and was a New York Times Bestseller for many weeks . . . except those are exactly the sorts of things that usually warn me away from a book. I could gush about the depiction of expat Bengalis-in-America, or the struggles of third-culture kids, or how marvelously Lahiri immerses you in this confusing world. These were not my particular draw, either, however. I originally picked up the novel because I had fond memories of her shortstory collection Interpreter of Maladies that I read in a high school English class, and the quip on the back said that the main character’s name was Gogol. Okay, I thought. I like the cover art, whatever. Right? The book was in fact incredibly difficult for me to get into. In part this was because my personal life was, shall we say, going through a rough phase, and the growing pains of a Bengali-American boy in a novel were not exactly the sort of material I looked to for relief. But when I finally bent my nose back into the pages, parallels between the problems of Gogol’s youth and my own screamed at me. Indeed, thousands — millions? — of American children and adolescents face similar difficulties; we’re a nation of immigrants, even if we may have settled here however many generations ago. Where to begin? One of the main “discussion points,” for lack of a better term, in the book is the sort of aggregate surrogate family the Bengali form to replace the family network they had been used to in their homeland and help carry forward traditions and culture in an alien society. America? Society? We’re a society of nuclear families, one of our most unifying holidays is Black Friday, and our most identifying ethnic food is probably still Coca-Cola. At times I feel more German than American, despite never having set foot anywhere on the European continent. Because, after all,

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make it.

Axe and Palm Small: $3.10

Medium: $3.60

Large: $3.95

From the mocha with the best value for your time and dollar to what is likely the worst value. Many things have been said in the pages of The Daily about the quality of Axe and Palm food some fair, and some maybe ignoring the deliciousness of a few offerings — but it can’t be denied: Axe and Palm has the worst coffee. Period. This espresso drink lacks even a hint of espresso flavor, tasting more like the watered-down hot chocolate you had at far too many concession stands as a teen. The espresso kick may come through in the end, making this a somewhatacceptable option if it’s late, the CoHo has closed and you’re desperate for caffeine — but really, don’t skimp on flavor just for the sake of using Cardinal dollars. Of all the mochas tried, this is the only one I don’t recommend trying.

Moonbean’s Coffee Small: $3

Medium: $3.50

Large: $4

Surprisingly, Moonbean’s mocha is actually cheaper than that at Axe and Palm (except for the large, but that’s a minor five cents). And really, it’s better for many more reasons than that. This one, like the CoHo, has actual chocolate flavor. | CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 |

REALLY IN A NAME?

photos courtesy google images

what the —— is an American? Identity crisis is what The Namesake is all about, though, and as the title suggests, the protagonist’s name carries a heavy role in the tale. A series of communication difficulties and cultural barriers (such as a distinction between “given” and “pet” names) land the newborn Bengali-American child with a tragic Russian author’s surname, Gogol, as his given name. I could think of a worse fate in a place where baby name books are common fodder for parents-to-be to study. There are some particularly amusing innovations. Supposedly one recently popular girl’s name was Nevaeh — heaven spelled backwards. Regardless, Gogol’s lack of a “good name” in Bengali tradition compounds with adolescent insecurity as he realizes that his name both sounds “weird” and isn’t even a

“real” Indian name. The breaking point for Gogol comes when, as a high schooler, he attends a college party with a few of his friends, flirts with a girl, calls himself Nikhil, and ends up losing his virginity. This apparently positive outcome provides the motivation for him to officially change his name before taking off for Yale. Much of his time is colored by confusion over his name — his parents interacting with his roommates, for example, or hesitancy to bring his girlfriend to his parents’ home, “where he is still Gogol.” I have perhaps experienced this sort of confusion more than most. Arriving at Stanford in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (my “given name”) and carrying over a high school nickname compounded in a way such that I often don’t even respond to my “proper” name. Thus the idea of “good” and “pet” names naturally intrigues me, as I am drawn to the writing profession and its history of pen names. Many of our cherished Dead White Men, for example, are remembered by names they weren’t born into. What, after all, is a “real” name? Many cultures have a long history of new names alongside life’s milestones as, perhaps, Skillful Bear Hunter becomes Three-Limbed Half-Face. And of course, we have our own tradition of a name-changing coming-of-age ceremony: weddings. In summary, it amuses me when Facebook berates us to only use our “true” name, as the internet profligates the twin antithesis to this with anonymity and security problems abounding everywhere. And it frustrates me that names, numbers, and their specters are stuck on us as if this really were 1984. I mean, our dog has an RFID tag embedded in him. To me, that screams, “this product is being tested on animals, get ready humans.” — k a t e H AY E S contact kate: [email protected]

friday may 01 2009

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those guys. (i): Is it true that Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) is the last Cloud Cult album? SN: That’s actually not true. I mean, Craig hinted at that but there is talk of another album down the road. We are going to slow down for a little bit. We are touring for the film that we released this April. We are going to take a lot of time to relax and spend some time focusing on other things. But it’s not the last — we just are going to slow down. (i): Tell me about your label, Earthology Records. SN: Craig, like eight years back, recorded his first album and he looked around for a label that would release it in a way that he felt comfortable with. They all put out so many toxins and pollutants. So he started his own record label. It basically only puts out Cloud Cult records and it’s been really environmentally savvy. The only thing we can’t solve is the plastic disc. Thankfully, there is digital downloads. The sleeves we use are all recyclable paper, and we use soy ink for the printing. We do the best we can to cut out as many pollutants as possible, and minimize our carbon footprint. For any environmental damage that is done, we plant a tree. It’s important to us.

However, if Moonbean’s mocha does have a flaw, it’s that the espresso overpowers the chocolate. This mocha isn’t rich enough for my taste, which is why I’d rank the CoHo mocha higher than this one, but it does get the job done. Consider this mocha the one that you grab in the morning, before class or just after, for the sake of having some espresso that is tasty and will wake you up. Later in the day, though, I recommend going elsewhere — or just try the mocha freeze, which is excellent.

(i): We at Intermission are always looking for new bands to listen to. Are there any bands out there that you are really getting into? SN: Tonight I’m going to go see Horse Feathers. I really, really love that band. There are some bands here [in Minneapolis]. There is this band Best Friends Forever, you have to check them out. They are just ridiculous. My friend just introduced me to T-Rex. I guess better late than never. I’m also revisiting My Bloody Valentine, after this incredible Coachella performance. Cloud Cult will be playing at the Independent in San Francisco on May 12. To learn more about the band, visit www.cloudcult.com. — annika HEINLE contact annika: [email protected]

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Coupa Cafe Small: $3

Medium: $3.25

Large: $3.75

If you want a mocha mocha, this is it. Tucked away over in Y2E2, this is the mocha you’re only going to have every once in a while, not because of price — it’s actually on the cheaper end — but because of how far you have to go for it, and because the café closes at 5:30 p.m.

But, when you do have the pleasure of a Coupa mocha . . . wow, it is a pleasure. Coupa uses real chocolate, and you can taste it immediately. The drink is rich, with bits of chocolate in every drop. At first, you might be taken aback because it tastes more like some excellent hot chocolate. But don’t worry, it does have that espresso kick, and it eventually comes through, just much smoother than you might expect, especially if you’re used to Axe and Palm (and I really hope you aren’t). Probably the best part of this mocha, though — and this only happens if you have a sit-down mocha in a mug — is when you get to the end of your cup and find a nice pool of rich, dark chocolate. What to do? Easy, just grab a spoon! I bet you didn’t think you’d do that with a mocha . .. — christian TORRES contact christian: [email protected]

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5.01.0 F 5:30pm Citizens of Wine - Wine Tasting CoHo learn the art of wine tasting

Sa 7pm Charity Fashion Show Roble Field it’s charity, bitches

S 2pm Charity Fashion Show Clothing Sale Elliot Program Center because it’s still charity, bitches

M 8pm Jazz Jams CoHo just chill out and relax

T 9pm Stacy*Clark CoHo another fabulous coho concert

SEX

IN THE TIME OF SWINE FLU

hat is with all of this swine flu madness? How is a gal supposed to find her next sexual conquest when everyone is so nervous about some kind of pig disease? Roxy knows that something is definitely wrong when the only disease — STD or otherwise — that she has to worry about is the swine flu. Things on campus definitely heated up even more when our very own Provost John Etchemendy announced that Stanford is already working on a massive contingency plan in the case of an outbreak on campus — which might include sending all of us home! As I fondled with the idea of school being canceled and being sent back home (a girl can dream, right?) it suddenly hit me: How am I supposed to get my sex on at Stanford if I’m not even at Stanford? Because of this, Roxy has decided to create an emergency sex checklist so that we all can have our priorities in order in case of an outbreak.

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1. PACK UP YOUR ESSENTIALS! Don’t worry about clothes or other such petty belongings, all you need here is plenty of lube and condoms. It wouldn’t hurt to throw in some EndBac spray as well.

2. GATHER ALL THE HOT AND HEALTHY! Before things become so crazy that the University has to send home all of the students, you would be well-advised to quarantine yourself with all the attractive people you can imagine. In Roxy’s case, I’m going to bring my favorite man candies with me for a no-holds-barred “slumber” party. Some of my favorites include some football players, swimmers, hot professors (tenure only), TAs and maybe a beefy Phi Psi. Only the strong and hunky here — so if you’re sick and got the coughs, you’re welcome only at the hospital.

3. STERILIZATION PARTY! Before actually quarantining yourself, you have to make sure everyone is clean and germ free. Roxy’s suggestion? Pile everyone into a communal show, lather, rinse and repeat! Of course, while you’re all in the shower together, you might as well enjoy yourself, right? Just make sure your rubbers are waterproof!

4. LOCKDOWN! Now that you’re all squeaky clean, it’s time to get dirty again. Choose your quarantine zone wisely — Roxy’s personal choice is Synergy (minus all the hippies). The house is gorgeous, the rooms are huge, and it is quietly secluded on a hill away from the heart of campus.

5. BUNKER DOWN LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW. Now that you’re all set in your quarantine zone, you might as well get really “cozy” with all of your new housemates. You never know when the swine flu will hit pandemic proportions, so you might as well enjoy life to the fullest while you can. Nothing makes sex hotter than the highs of national hysteria and end-of-the-world panic. If you thought make-up sex was good, you have no idea what this will be like. So now that you have Roxy’s end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it sexpertise, you are ready to handle any kind of disease outbreak — all you have to do now is get on your back, point your toes to the heavens and ride it out . . . XOXO, —roxy SASS

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were outstanding and combined milky smooth texture with natural flavor. Fleming’s service was professional and efficient. Orders were taken punctually, food arrived at an appropriate pace and plates were always removed in duly professional form. Neither the water glasses nor the bread basket was ever empty. However, everyone at the table agreed that our waiter, while friendly, was a bit strange and erred on the over-talkative side. While clearly among the best meals you can get without leaving Stanford, a Fleming’s dinner

does not come without a price tag. After shelling out a portrait of President Grant for an appetizer, paying $43 for each rib eye doesn’t help. Then again, those prices are about par for the course at a steakhouse. And while Fleming’s was very good overall, it was a little short of the perfection that goes with those prices. So, for the money, there are better steaks in the world — but given the convenience, Fleming’s is by no means a bad bet. —theo POLAN Contact Theo at [email protected]

W 8pm Boise Noise CoHo because who doesn’t love some noise

Th 8pm Vice CoHo more great music

steve lesser

friday may 01 2009

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MOViE REViEW

WOLVERINE: AN ACTION MOVIE WITH X-MEN MONIKER hese Intermission reviewers are huge X-Men fans, so it acters are that well-developed; cult fan-favorite pains us to have to say this: If you are looking for the even greatness that was “X-2,” you’ll have to look elsewhere. “Deadpool,” played by funny“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is action porn and blood- man Ryan Reynolds, is given minpumping at some points, but it’s not epic on any proportions. imal screen time and thus no This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see the movie — it just chance to steal the show — which means that you shouldn’t go in with any expectations of char- definitely needed to be stolen at times. acter or story development. Logan then chooses a life of The movie begins at a furious pace. From the get-go we seclusion, living with see Logan (Hugh Jackman) as a child and therefore get a brief love-interest Kayla Silverfox in the Canadian glimpse of his home life. Logan’s father is Rockies while he works as a lumberjack. However, killed by Victor Creed’s father; Logan gets when Victor returns for revenge and kills Kayla, revenge by murdering the elder Creed — who Logan is consumed by revenge and agrees to Stryker’s in his dying breath admits that Logan was his proposal to undergo the transformation into Weapon X — son as well. Logan and his newly discovthereby embedding adamantium into his skeleered half-brother Victor Creed ton. The rest of the movie is Wolverine hell-bent (Live Schreiber) go on the run A SCALE s. at O st ON al it F v on revenge. and participate in various wars th e : s in g The transformation into Weapon X and the through the ages — the ri O X -M e n adamantium skeleton are two of Logan’s definAmerican Civil War, World War I, Wo lv e ri n e World War II and the Vietnam ing characteristics in the later X-Men films and 3 War. After surviving a firing squad PG -1 A d ve nt ur e comics. We remember him as the indestructin io ct A ble and gruff, aloof man who heals unbelievduring the Vietnam War, Logan an am ad Wol ve ri ne ’s t T he or ig in s of an ut ably fast and can destroy just about anything. and Victor (later Sabertooth) are m t an d vi ol en ti um sk el et on You would think that given all this, the recruited by William Stryker to join ed . pa st ar e re ve al a group of mutant fighters named Weapon X transformation that made him indestructible would be epic. But it wasn’t, and the scene was Team X. This is the first 15 minutes in fact so short and underdeveloped that it was a serious letof the film. We are barely introduced to the members of Team X down. To us, Logan has always been one of the more tortured before they engage in their first mission and Logan discovers that the actions of this squad do not align with his own morals and psychologically interesting characters of the X-Men crew. — Team X is in Nigeria, about to kill a group of innocents, His cold demeanor yet empathetic nature, and above all his when Logan stops and walks away. Therefore none of the char- mysterious past, make him a fan-favorite. Therefore, we want-

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ed to see a movie that dealt with the core of Logan’s character and his origins. Considering the title, we don’t think this was an unreasonable expectation. Yet this movie didn’t tell me anything new about Logan; in fact, despite being the main character that is constantly present throughout all 107 minutes of this film, Logan manages to come off one-sided and flat. This is probably because he never undergoes any sort of character transition or development throughout the entire movie — it seems like he was just born the Logan we know. Even the man/animal identity crisis that he undergoes is underdeveloped and barely memorable. In “XMen Origins: Wolverine,” we learn about the things that happened to Logan, but not really how he became Wolverine. We wanted to love this film. We hoped that this new “Origins” franchise would help reboot the series. Much to our disappointment, all this movie offers is a ho-hum action outing that just happens to feature Wolverine and some X-Men mutants thrown in. — k y l e E VA L D E Z contact kyle: [email protected] — joanna XU Contact joanna: [email protected]

photos courtesy fox movies

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intermission