Captivating Carver

I can't deny that when looking at history Hilton Coliseum is the hardest place to play at given there impressive home streak in the late 90's and into the 2000's. However it would be absurd not to mention the fact that Hilton "Magic" is diminishing, rapidly. They have had 9 home losses in the past two years, six and counting for this year alone. To ignore the University of Iowa's newfound enthusiasm, posting an impressive 14-0 home court record, would be ridiculous. The Hawks will go for the longest Carver winning streak on Valentine’s Day against Michigan State. I shouldn’t say that Hilton Magic has diminished maybe its just changed venues.

Nations Leader? Maybe Not.

We in Iowa pride ourselves for having some of the greatest education standards in the nation. Yet I’m guessing that most Iowans don’t know that Iowa has no statewide educational standards. That edge that Iowans believed we had (and actually did have for some time) in education is now beginning to slip. We are getting lower and lower grades in assessment tests of statewide education, our students are longer out in front of the pack in placement test, and there’s government pressure to improve. One step in the right direction is to increase the minimum drop out age to 18. Skeptics say that this will costs us millions in tax dollars. Are we not willing to pay that? Are we that hypocritical that we want to have a state that is a leader in education, but we really don’t want to have to pay for it? Raising the minimum drop out age is just the tip of the iceberg. If we are a state that is truly devoted to being the nations best then we need to prove it. We need to work harder to get our high schoolers into college (and create jobs for them in state after they graduate). We have to provide support systems statewide that offers help to any student struggling to make it. The act is called No Child Left Behind, whether you agree with its policies or not, the name says it all. Let’s step it up Iowa and show that we truly are THE nation’s greatest state for education.

Unconstitutional?

Richard Wendricks must have been very confused when he stated that he thinks a ban on smoking in public places would be unconstitutional. I must have missed that day in history class. I know I get the Bill of Rights mixed up a lot, was “Every citizen has the right to smoke” the 9th Amendment? I think Richard should look at the Declaration of Independence. We are all created equal with unalienable rights: Life, liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness. That last one is my favorite; and any smoker who lights up around someone who does not wish to get lung cancer (or any other horrible disease linked to smoking) is impinging upon this right. Just as yelling FIRE in a crowed theater is not covered by the 1st Amendment, your “right” to smoke does not supersede my right to healthy environment. Hopefully someday smoking will be illegal (unlikely because of the amount of money it generates for the government), but until that day comes please stop impeding on my rights and keep you carcinogens to yourself.

Rush No More

Note: This posting was published as a letter to the editor in the Tuesday, January 31st, 2006 issue of the Daily Iowan

Ladies and gentlemen, the floor now belongs solely to the players. In response to Chad Aldeman and Jayne Lady’s debate on rushing the court, there is now but one answer, stay in your seats. The Big Ten has promised a fine of up to $10,000 to a team with three offenses, a fine that would easily wipe out the revenue produced by the increased number of sellouts this year. Putting aside the fact that it is absurd to fine a school for its students’ enthusiasm, I am personally all in favor of rushing the court, and did so at the Illinois and Indiana games, both of which were called for. The Illinois game was an upset of an undefeated team, so no one can argue that we as a crowd should not have been down there; and for those of you who thought that rushing at the Indiana game was unnecessary, then you obviously were not there. I have had season tickets for three years, and the Indiana game featured one of the loudest, upbeat, creative crowds I have ever been a part of. Whether you think it should or should not be done, we as students can’t go on the Carver floor for the remainder of the season (barring the greatest game ever played). The only court that should be rushed now is the one in Indianapolis in March.

Why are you complaining?

Tuesday four Iowans were sued by a group of major film companies for allegedly violating copyright laws by swapping movies on the internet.  The defendants may have to pay up to $150,000 for each movie.  I am truly getting sick and tired of the music and movie world seeking out people who have “stolen” movies and music over the internet. Proponents say it’s the same thing as stealing a DVD right from the shelf.  My question is this: Don’t you think that if everyone is “stealing” your material, that should be a signal that the market has changed and we as consumers don’t want to pay that much anymore?  These are multibillion dollar industries, and to hear actors and musicians claim that we are not paying for what they worked for is ludicrous. Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica, led the attack against Napster, claiming he was losing millions of dollars that were rightfully his. This is a man that could have stopped working at least 5 if not 10years ago and had a luxurious life for the remainder of his time here on Earth. This artists, actors and industry execs don’t care that you have to pay $15 for a CD, or nearly $25 for a DVD, let alone going to see a movie which is upwards of $15 is some parts of the country.  These people need to stop their useless complaining, cause franking I’m tired of it. Lower your prices and see how well your sales will do.

Gold Rush

A challenge to the students of Iowa and the residents of the Iowa City/Coralville area: Iowa men’s basketball head coach Steve Alford has called for a Gold Rush at Tuesday night’s game against what will be a Top Ten team in Indiana.  For those of you who don’t get out to watch basketball games, this is the perfect opportunity.  Iowa is coming off three straight Big Ten wins, is one of the nation’s best defensive teams, and has a chance to do what no other Hawkeye team has ever done: pursue an undefeated home schedule. Now is the time to support the best athletics team on campus, and remember; WEAR GOLD!!!

1/25/2005: What a Success!!! There has probably not been a more fun enviroment to be a part of this year (even including Illinois) than last nights game against Indiana. We need to pack Carver like that every night. Gold Rush night was a complete success, let's do it every year.

GPA Is More Important Than 40 Time

I could not agree more with Marc Hansen’s article on Tuesday. Too often the talented “student”-athletes are pampered and sent from grade to grade without truly ever learning anything. To have a true shot at making it to the next level, student-athletes need to showcase their skills at the collegiate level. This requires actually studying, getting good grades, and scoring well on placement tests. A killer jump shot or a canon of an arm can’t get you a 25 on the ACT’s. Most people don’t realize that for every superstar that makes it to the NBA or NFL there are countless left out with no education to spend the rest of their lives working for minimum wage talking about how good they were and how good life could have been.

American Eagle Songlist

There are a lot of people out there looking for a name to put with "that song" they heard at American Eagle Outfitters. I know, because I have been one of those people. Even being an employee there, I will hear a song I like (a lot) and decide I want to download it when I get home. Well, during work I rarely have time to look at the TV in the back to see who it was, and even if I do, I forget the song title and artist by the time I get home. Then I spend time trying to scour through for lyrics of a few words I remember or to see if anyone else has anything out there. Well, the search stops here. This is the newest listings of music being played at American Eagle Outfitters nationwide. This song list starts December 26th, 2005 and will run for up to two months. I will try my hardest to get the new one as soon as it comes out. Most of these songs can be previewed at MTV.com after searching for the artists. Any questions? Let me know.

Death Cab For Cutie.......Soul Meets Body
Fall Out Boy......................Dance, Dance
Gwen Stefani..................Cool
Blackalicious.....................Your Move
VHS or Beta....................You Got Me
Block Party......................Helicopter
Beastie Boys....................Pass the Mic
Franz Ferdinand.............Do You Want To
Sahara Hotnights...........Alright Alright
Ja Rule f/ Lloyd...............Caught Up
Warlocks.........................It's Just Like Surgery
Junior Varsity.................Get Comfortable
Shout Out Louds............Shut Your Eyes
Fiona Apple......................O' Sailor
Nine Inch Nails..............Only
Like Young......................Snobs and Slobs
Juliana Theory..............This Is A Lovesong... For the Loveless
Rihanna............................Pon De Replay
Radio 4...........................Dance to the Underground
Mando Diao......................Down in the Past
White Stripes.................The Denial Twist
Natasha Bedingfield........Unwritten
K-OS................................Superstar Pt. Zero
Rob Thomas.....................Lonely No More
Gorillaz...........................Dare
Sleater-Kinney................Jumpers
Silverstein.......................Smile in Your Sleep
Jurassic 5..........................World of Entertainment (W.O.E. is Me)
Alanis Morissette............Crazy
Snoop Dogg.......................Signs
f/ Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson
Ed Harcourt.....................Born in the 70's
Rufio...................................Out of Control
Gavin Degraw...................Follow Through
Walkman...........................Little House of Savages
Kings of Leon...................Molly's Chambers
Forecast.............................These Lights
Black Eyed Peas...............Don't Lie
Santana..............................I'm Feeling You
f/ Michelle Branch & The Wreckers
Long Wave.......................There's A Fire
Cold Play............................Speed of Sound
Soviettes.........................#1 is Number Two
Beck....................................Where It's At
Baby Bash f/ Akon...........Baby I'm Back
LCD Soundsystem............Tribulations
INXS................................Pretty Vegas
Jay-Z f/ Pharell................Excuse Me Miss
Hello Sequence...............Don't Look Away
Sean Paul...........................We Be Burnin'
Ivy...................................Thinking About You
Louis XIV..........................Finding Out True Love Is Blind
Dialated Peoples............The Platform
Stellastarr*.......................Sweet Troubled Soul
Pretty Girls Make Graves.......This Is Our Emergency
Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx.......Gold Digger
Viva K.............................No Better Time
Ricky Martin f/ Amerie & Fat Joe......I Don't Care
Sun.................................Must Be You
Trey Songz f/ Twista.............Gotta Make It
Brooke Valentine...........Boogie Oogie Oogie
w/ Fabolous & Yo Yo