This week's stories:
By Stephanie Boyle
I have to admit that my stomach did flips as I prepared to mount Paisley, a white and gray spotted Appaloosa. Iıd never ridden a horse before this sunny Saturday afternoon, save the tethered ones at the fair that travel in a continuous circle. Though Thomas Schaeper, history professor, assured me that Paisley was a safe choice, I instantly thought of the e-mail heıd sent to our History 101 class that had prompted this visit to his home. Angie, his six-year-old Morab, threw him last week, leaving Schaeper with a nasty limp. However, the chance to try something new far outweighed my meager fear. I got on the horse. Schaeper lives in Ischua, about 20 minutes from campus. Though he has taught at St. Bonaventure since 1979, he first thought of moving out of Olean only in the early 90s. Schaeper and his wife, Kathy, bought Brook Hill Farm in 1993 to separate themselves from the tensions of school. Originally a dairy farm, his lavender farmhouse and bright-red barn were built in the 1890s. Trees and flowers of every color envelop the property, and the meticulous landscaping simply adds to the rural homey feel. I arrived in time to watch Schaeper saddle our companions. He gave me a few brief instructions on how to maneuver a horse, adding, ³The main thing is being confident and not doing something sudden.² He assigned me to, and gave me Paisley, leaving himself the frisky Angie. We led the horses to graze and watched as they ate fervently, pruning the grass closer and faster than a lawnmower. Over the next hour and a half, we tramped around the trails surrounding his home. We went from open fields to thick forests, passing many camps and man-made ponds. Schaeper explained that he avoids these cabins during hunting season. The horses spook easily, and trigger-happy hunters simply add to the problem. Though others own the posted land we crossed, he said most do not mind hikers and horses, and the signs are there to keep out motorized vehicles. Near the end of our journey, we stopped at one pond to let our horses drink, and Schaeper warned me that Paisley often goes right into the water. He told us a story of another guest who unfortunately lost a cell phone during one such unexpected bath. Luckily, this time Paisley seemed more interested in the tall grass near the edge than taking me swimming. Self described as ³never a country person,² Schaeper nonetheless rides all the time. Over the years, Schaeper has owned eight horses, but currently keeps four: Paisley, Angie, Thunder, an imposing black and brown steed that gleamed reddish in the sun, and Misty, a ³pasture ornament.² Misty, once an Amish buggy horse, has bad arthritis and can no longer be ridden. This is not a bad thing, since ³she gets a free ride,² and all the hay a horse could imagine eating. How did Schaeper discover the pleasures of horseback riding? When his daughter was seven, she begged him for a horse, as many little girls do. Her parents enrolled her in a 4-H program, and the rest, as they say, is history. When his knees prevented him from jogging, he took up riding horses. A preferable alternative, horseback riding provides a temporary escape. ³I find it awfully relaxing. (I can) get my mind off of school for a while,² he said. His wife, joins him ³once every week or so in the summer,² although she said, ³(I have) no desire to break my bones.² Schaeper believes that every student should have a hobby. He feels they provide a ³physical release or inner peace,² and that students should both ³work hard and play hard.² The college experience must have everything in it, whether undergraduates choose to visit Mt. Irenaeus, participate in intramurals, or watch a soccer game. He hopes that students from urban areas in particular have the chance to get out and see what the surrounding areas have to offer. ³Our campus looks like the sticks, but this is civilization,² he said. Heıs right. Compared to Ischua, Olean appears to be a booming metropolis. In places, the dense branches make navigation nearly impossible, and an array of woodland creatures, including bear and bobcats, call his boundless woods home. However, nothing stopped us from having a pleasant ride, and I left Brook Hill Farm hoping to have the opportunity to play with Paisley again soon. I found a great new hobby, but boy, was I sore the next day.
Friday Night Liveı provides mix of artists and sounds
By Mike Trask
The Campus Activities Board and Office of Student Activities released a compact disc featuring the 12 bands scheduled to play at The Rathskeller as part of the Friday Night Live Concert Series. You might have found it in the same place everyone else did; on the floor of your room. The idea for a disc deserves much credit for both the marketing scheme to bring more students to the shows and the effort that must have been involved in putting together the recording. Now letıs look at the music.
Jennifer Marie ³Gonna Get Me² Aug. 30
Marie sounds pretty good. Reminiscent of Nelly Furtado. This song has a funky drum beat which hooked me at the beginning. She has a pretty good voice. Her vocals are mellow enough to sound sensitive, but strong enough to sound inspirational. During the chorus, the songıs tempo increases. Not a bad start to the disc.
Rob Falgiano Band ³Lounge in B Flat² Sept. 6 This song features an acoustic guitar and many other instruments. All the different sounds get in the way of each other. A pounding bass drum really detracts from the overall value of the song. The incomparable band sounds like it may be a jam band, but also seem to have some pop influence. Perhaps it sounds better live, or perhaps the production on this track wasnıt as good as on Marieıs.
Original Skin ³Think This One Through² Sept. 13
This song starts out with some heavy guitars and maracas. When the drums first entered I expected Original Skin to sound like P.O.D. But, it ended up sounding more like The Tragically Hip. The singer couldnıt be heard well and the chorus sounds like heıs singing, ³Ba-ba-ba-ba ya.² The song also runs a bit long for a compilation-style album at over four and a half minutes. But, overall, a solid sounding band.
Leah Zicari ³Why Do You Care² Sept. 20
Some people would say this song sounds like Ani DiFranco, but the singer doesnıt sound very angry. I would say she sounds a bit like Sheryl Crow. In one line, Zicari sings, ³We all need a little bit of Godıs mercy.² The song has a great rhythm and could serve as a female break-up song.
Red Light District ³Out To Sea² Oct. 4
This band, featuring St. Bonaventure alumni, sounds a lot like The Goo Goo Dolls. The song has solid guitars, a sensitive male voice and a catchy chorus of ³I put a message in a bottle and I sent it out to sea.² The only big negative was a long 80s rock guitar solo.
Cosmic Stepping Stones ³Blue Green² Oct. 18
This song sounds pretty spooky. It has an interesting industrial feel to it reminiscent of Gravity Kills. I wouldnıt go as far as to compare it to Nine Inch Nails, but it has some heavy drums and unique keyboards. Itıs hard to tell if a guy or girl sings, but the singer sounds good. He or she has the perfect voice to match the bandıs sound. The repeating lines, ³I wanna go. Will you come with me?² leaves something to be desired in terms of depth. Cosmic Steeping Stones has the most unique sound on the album.
Bittersweet ³A Pipe Dream² Oct. 25
This band sounds like Sixpence None The Richer. The song has a very pop-oriented sound. I didnıt like it.
Bob Fera Band ³Illusions² Nov. 1
This sounds like a bad Tom Petty cover-song. Frankly I didnıt make it through the song before skipping ahead. It didnıt keep me interested and sounded awful.
The Gifted Children ³Vampire Genius Boy² Nov. 8
The best song on the album. Everything about this bandıs sound screams Our Lady Peace. Even the singer sounds like the guy from Our Lady Peace. But, The Gifted Children deliver straight rock. They have the perfect balance of guitars, drums and vocals. ³Vampire Genius Boy² has all the qualities of a great rock song and none of the pop cheese. The chorus of ³All the life you thought was all the life you stole,² blends sing-a-long lyrics with thoughtful comments.
Major Healy ³Super² Nov. 15
This kind of sounds like Tal Bachman, but could also be confused with something that didnıt make the cut on a Butthole Surfers record. ³Super² is definitely one of the most original songs on the record. It sounds ragged, but not in a bad way. It also uses a lot of echoes.
Martly ³Columbus² Nov. 22
This sounds like Third Eye Blind — not a bad song, but not a good one either. Martly uses some odd guitar effects at one point.
Katie Miller ³Grass Angels² Dec. 6
A DiFranco sound-alike. If you like that kind of thing you will like Miller. If not, donıt bother. Her sound is not an acquired taste. Acoustic guitar, female vocals and all the rest youıd expect.
Overall, the Friday Night Live Concert Series CD provided a much better listening experience than I expected. The Gifted Children and Original Skin stood out as the most pleasing to my ears. Cosmic Stepping Stones offered a different sound than I anticipated on the album. All artists reviewed are scheduled to play, or did play at The Rathskeller at 7:30 p.m. on the date listed.
By Shane Colligan
Twenty minutes east on Route 417 stands a salute to days gone by. Redıs and Trudyıs, a one-story, three-room restaurant, boasts ownership of a sandwich unlike any other in the area. Redıs and Trudyıs (located at 501 South Main St. in Portville) seems like a local landmark. The 12-table restaurant invites newcomers and regulars from the very first step in the door. The circa-1965 stagecoach wallpaper and welcoming atmosphere takes diners back to their grandmotherıs kitchens. Diners seat themselves in one of three rooms: the front non-smoking room, the back smoking room or the main entrance area with counter seating. They can take a gander at the wall-mounted Pepsi-board menus featuring no item costing more than $2.50. Redıs and Trudyıs offers traditional American fare: hot dogs, french fries and toasted-cheese and chicken sandwiches, but the restaurantıs true highlight must be the hamburgers and cheeseburgers. Not the average pre-fabricated, compressed hamburger patty, Redıs and Trudyıs serves loose-meat hamburgers (like a Sloppy Joe without the sloppy part, a burger unique to the area, according to Nancy Marlett, a waitress at the restaurant). The restaurantıs cooks prepare to order and they will put anything diners want on their burgers. A hamburger with everything at the restaurant contains chopped onion in the hamburger, with ketchup and mustard on a toasted, buttered and salted bun. An order of fries completes the all-American meal, but be careful! The fries are made to order, too, and they will be very hot when the server brings them to the table. To keep the prices low, the Redıs and Trudyıs staff does not use silverware, which can break and needs to be cleaned after every use. Instead, drinks are served in wax-paper cups, fries come in a paper holder and the cheeseburgers and hamburgers arrive wrapped in a combination wax/tissue paper. Rip the paper back, but be sure to eat over the paper! Sometimes the loose meat escapes the bun. At other non-fast-food eateries, the time it takes between placing an order and actually getting it is always uncertain. However, at Redıs and Trudyıs it takes only five to seven minutes before the food is on the table, despite making every burger to order. This kind of welcoming staff and friendly clientele has not been seen since 1985 when CBSı long-running comedy ³Alice² went off the air. Though the servers wonıt tell you to ³kiss their grits,² they constantly offer service with a smile. The restaurant is named for real people, although Marlett could not verify they once owned the establishment. They offer take-out and have a drive-thru window, but it looks as if it hasnıt been driven through in a decade or so. However, the buildingıs run-down appearance and the-glory-days-are-goneı façade only add to the dining experience. For $7.13, The Bona Wolf got the most bang for his buck, enjoying a hamburger with everything, an order of fries, a large soft drink and blueberry pie a la mode. Done with lunch but still hungry for fun? Take a stroll across the parking lot and play a round of miniature golf at the neighboring Tollgate Golf. Redıs and Trudyıs owners Fred and Melanie Caya also own the mini-golf course. Even though itıs open mostly during the summer, ³if people want to (play any other time), they can,² Marlett said. Redıs and Trudyıs is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. until10:30 p.m. The restaurant closes on Mondays. For more information, call the Cayas at Redıs and Trudyıs at (716) 933-8982.
By Steph Boyle
Will Rachel marry Joey or Ross? Can Grace make it to the hospital in time for her insemination? Will those quarantined in the ER develop smallpox? NBCıs Must See Thursday began strong last week, with stellar premieres from old-timers ³Friends,² ³Will & Grace,² and ³ER.² ³Scrubs,² new to the night, and ³Good Morning, Miami,² new to the world, also had great showings. ³Friends² kicked off its ninth, and most likely last, season with the classic misunderstandings and ensemble antics reminiscent of early years. Monica and Chandler double their efforts to conceive a child, meeting some interesting resistance. Phoebe unknowingly creates conflict, and, donıt worry, the Rachel/Joey/Ross marriage controversy gets resolved — for now. Despite the great performances by our ³friends,² this episode belonged to Jack Geller (Elliot Gould), Ross and Monicaıs father. From flatulence problems to forgetting he has a grandson to spying on the randy folks in the closet, his comedic timing and general stupidity provided a hundred laughs. ³Scrubs² now finds itself in the trickiest time slot on television: following ³Friends.² Countless shows, like ³Inside Schwartz,² have gone under trying to master the spot. The premiere fared well, with our four lovable medics recovering from the aftermath of some startling revelations. ³Scrubs² sticks with its winning formula, mixing comedy with great acting. John McGinley (³Office Space² and ³The Rock²) continues to dazzle with his insane character, Perry Cox. He delights in keeping his residents on their toes, but his uncharacteristic pleasantness in this episode simply adds to the doctorsı confusion, and to the hilarity. A running gag concerning pants wetting grows old quickly, however a final twist redeems the joke. All in all, ³Scrubs² seems to be the sitcom that will finally conquer Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Harry Connick Jr. keeps the ³Will & Grace² tradition of great guest stars going strong. Connick plays Leo, a Jewish doctor who takes a liking to Grace after rescuing her in the park last season. His presence will no doubt throw a kink into Will and Graceıs baby plans. Beside debating their own future, they must also offer Karen advice, regarding Lionel, a persistent suitor. Karen wrestles between her conscience and her libido, nearly succumbing to temptation. However, with her husband Stanıs untimely emergence from prison, her plans may go awry. The lovable New Yorkers provide many laughs through typical witty remarks and classic facial expressions. Debra Messing and Eric McCormack showcase their acting abilities, demonstrating the great chemistry that vaulted the two to stardom. Thursday night also saw the series premiere of ³Good Morning, Miami.² Mark Feuerstein (³Conrad Bloom² and ³The West Wing²) plays Jake Silver, a young producer, trying to turn around the lowest-rated morning show in the country. Silver must also control his feelings for the beautiful hairstylist Dylan (Ashley Williams), while dealing with his eccentric staff. His employees include Gavin, a conceited host; Lucia, a fiery Latino co-host; Frank, a neurotic station manager; and Sister Brenda, a meteorologist nun with an attitude, who throw comments like ³Youıre firing me? Iım a freakinı nun.² Sister Brenda (Brooke Dillman), provides a pinnacle in the decent cast. Her wisecracks may prove to be the backbone of the show. Silverıs grandmother, Claire, also offers him advice in life and love, but not without a few weak gags. Despite a few tired jokes, ³Good Morning, Miami² definitely wakes you up. ³ER,² coming off a dismal eighth season and the loss of staple Anthony Edwards, rebounds nicely in season nine. Following the mysterious appearance of what seems to be smallpox, the staff evacuates the ER of all but five people. A spectacular sequence of events on the hospital roof leads to a gruesome amputation, one of the most memorable moments in ³ER² history. While transporting the last critical patients to a rescue helicopter, Robert Romano inadvertently stands up into the tail rotor. He immediately loses his left arm in a graphic display rivaled only by an el-train accident in season three. The rest of the episode takes place over 14 days, detailing the antics of the staff still inside the ER and the beginnings of Romanoıs painful convalescence. ³ER² scores a hit with its first episode, hopefully setting a tone for the rest of the season. On a night crammed with fantastic shows. With CBS coming on strong with veteran hit ³CSI² and bright newcomer ³Without a Trace,² NBC rises to the challenge. According to Nielson Ratings, ³Friends² won the night with 34 million viewers, edging out ³CSI.² ³ER² placed a close third, with ³Scrubs² and ³Will & Grace² in a respectful seventh and ninth place. ³Good Morning, Miami² earned the 13th spot, with 17.5 million viewers.
By Alex Harris
The television season started last week with new shows trying to post good ratings to insure a spot in next yearıs fall lineup. For some shows, that means pulling out all the stops, and in the case of ³Push, Nevada,² making the show as twisted as possible in its first season. ³Push² begins with I.R.S. agent Jim Prufrock, played by newcomer Derek Cecil, receiving a fax that deals with financial misdealings at a casino in Push, Nev. Prufrock heads to Push to talk Silas Bodnick, in charge of the casino. While in Push, he meets a weird cast of characters, including a truck driver who has covered the cab of his truck with pictures of his half-naked, ex-stripper wife. A strange woman who Prufrock meets in a bar warns him to get out of Push, and their conversation foreshadows a love interest between Prufrock and the woman. However, the strangest of the characters turns out to be Bodnick himself. Actor Jon Polito plays Bodnick with an ingenious creepiness, the same type of character Polito has played in movies like Big Lebowski and Millerıs Crossing. Bodnick, an untrustworthy guy with possible mob connections, dodges Prufrock and his questions throughout the hour-long show. When Prufrock meets Bodnick, the audience discovers a huge on-going conspiracy in Push. Everyone warns Prufrock to leave, but he refuses to listen, leading to an extremely bizarre and twisted ending, that leaves the audience in suspense, waiting to see what will happen in the next episode. ³Push,² written and produced by Ben Affleck, does not compare to ³Good Will Hunting² or ³Project Greenlight² previous work heıs done. The show, which premiered Sept. 17 started out slow but quickly picked up. The constant twists and financial subject matter tends to be rather confusing and the biggest problem with the show. The camera work stands out as the best aspect of the show, using very quick transitions and a kind of gravelly shot, reminiscent of director David Lynchıs ³Mullholland Drive.² The showıs storyline and weird twists, draw from Lynch also, especially Lynchıs 1980s show, ³Twin Peaks.² Conventional drama lovers will definitely want to stick with shows like ER. ³Push² provides an alternative for the viewer who prefers a show that successfully combines weird twists with dark humor. Despite ³Pushıs² interesting and exciting storyline, it might not be around for too long. Author and producer Elmore Leonardıs ill-fated ³Maximum Bob² of the 90s and Lynchıs ³Mullholland Drive,² which never aired in the late 90s proved that weird and twisted, no matter how good, donıt last long on primetime television. Can Ben Affleckıs young talent save this series from the realm of canceled shows? Viewers will have to stay tuned to find out. Watch Push, Nevada on Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Send questions and comments to The Bona Venture. |