UA composer digitizes God

Sure, digitally manipulated voice samples implying the presence of God sound amazing, but can you dance to them?

Composer Daniel Asia, professor of music and head of the UA's composition program, thinks you can. As part of a celebration of Asia's 50th birthday, he's presenting his electroacoustic composition, "Sacred and Profane," in a new way.

Asia will be a part of other concerts celebrating his work in New York City, Cleveland, Seattle and Salt Lake City this year, and the BBC will record his March 31 performance in London. [Read article]

If your mom was like mine, she never gave you $5 to waste playing those virtual reality games when they first came out.

I may have been on reduced lunch when VR hit the market, but I was on the wise to realize that all technological entertainment gets cheaper by the year. So I waited.

And now, my years of boycotting high-priced VR entertainment are at an end.

The UA Treistman Center for New Media will be hosting a free VR presentation on Monday of computer-generated, multisensory information that tracks a user in real time. [Read article]

With a rebel yell, you cry, "I hate fucking Valentine's Day!!!" You need a place to go brood over that rat-bastard or dirty-tramp who did you wrong. Or maybe you just want to attend an event that will strike as a symbolic bare-ass to all the losers who rush out to purchase little cutesy heart candy and "special" Hallmark cards with red flowers and fluffy, white teddy bears.

Well, brothers and sisters, luckily the downtown bar scene feels you. [Read article]

First published in 2003 and now in paperback, Susan Sontag's slim volume examines the history of media's presentation of wartime horrors on humanity. From pre-photograph newspaper descriptions of wars' physical atrocities to the modern broadcast news-censored feeds we now receive on CNN, the book brims with examples of how the media opts to present wartime suffering to the public.

"Regarding the Pain of Others" handles its topic in a nearly objective fashion, which makes the book much more important than an opinionated view on the publication of gruesome images. Nearly each page includes a new example of some past media portrayal of a battle, war or atrocity. [Read article]

As we are all aware, Valentine's Day quickly approaches. And while it brings excitement for some, it brings anxiety for many young lovers.

But if you're romantically challenged, don't worry. The Melting Pot has got you covered. The fondue restaurant screams romance in cuisine and ambience.

To answer your fondue FAQs, "fondue" derives from the French verb "fondre," meaning "to melt." Originating in Switzerland as a way of cooking hardened cheese, fondue has morphed into different methods of cooking meat and melting chocolate. [Read article]

Easy-to-make origami valentines that your date will surely love

Are plush teddy bears and velvet roses from Circle K not your idea of Valentine's Day perfection? Is the only thing left at the store a dented box of Clay Aiken valentines? Save yourself the heartache and risk only paper cuts by making your own.

These Martha Stewart-inspired origami valentines are heart-shaped and fold into their own tiny envelopes. Martha describes them as "thrilling," "mysterious" and "beautiful." Oh, Martha. [Read article]

Maybe you remember the song "Maneater," ("Woah here she comes/ Watch out boy, she'll chew you up"). If you do, it's probably been stuck in your head for your entire life. Curiously, its creators, Hall & Oates, are more readily forgotten.

Daryl Hall and John Oates are the best-selling vocal duo in history, and they're coming to Centennial Hall as part of an annual Hillel Benefit concert Sunday. They may even play their minor hit cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." But it's unlikely. [Read article]

Swell

Sounds Like: Acoustic music for your next road-trip mix tape

See Also: American Analog Set

Whenever You're Ready

Swell's latest album, Whenever You're Ready, a collection of 15 pop acoustic songs, can be enjoyed momentarily.

In fact, both the current and the archaic meaning of "momentarily" apply when listening to Whenever You're Ready. The sooner listeners get past the rather dull opener, "Soon Enough," the faster they can enjoy "Next To Nothing," the album's second track. Easily the album's best song, "Next to Nothing" has layers of vocal harmony, acoustic guitar, gentle organ and found samples over a driving drumbeat. Listen to the song moment by moment for maximum enjoyment. But the next few good tracks are buried 10 songs deep into the album. "Miss It," track 12, and the last two tracks are the highlights of the CD. It takes just a moment of track skipping to get to them; but honestly, who wants to waste their time doing that? [Read article]

Caution! Spoiler ahead: This movie sucks.In a bad economy, everyone is struggling to make ends meet. So why do we waste our precious, hard-earned money on prepackaged Hollywood? It's beyond me. And I'm starting to lose faith in humanity.

I can sum up the premise of the movie in four words: White people are crazy.

Usually, that's a boat I can hop aboard, but not in this case. A guy who looks like he took styling and acting lessons from Vanilla Ice plays the main "crazy white boy" character. This white guy and his white guy posse duel against the main characters in a break-dance competition that, in the end, teaches everyone about friendship, love and life. Can someone please hand me a Kleenex? [Read article]

You know how it goes: a non-professional hockey team with a roster full of misfits and underdogs is pieced together. The coach, a determined elder, sets out to turn this ragtag gang into the best damn hockey team this side of the Great White North.

Along the way, a few bumps and minor in-house skirmishes are sustained, but the puck-heads remain focused, destined to make headlines from Bangor to Bakersfield. [Read article]

Television, music and clothing aren't the only things that acquire new trends every few years.

"New Trends in American Poetry" is the topic of a panel discussion hosted by the UA Poetry Center's Visiting Poets and Writers Reading Series tonight.

Poets Loren Goodman, A. Van Jordan and Suji Kwock Kim lead the discussion. Two students pursuing a master of fine arts degree from the UA, Andrew Bode-Lang and Sommer Browning, will also participate in the panel discussion. [Read article]

Larry David, the man behind "Seinfeld," has produced some of the funniest television in years. David was the co-creator and writer for "Seinfeld" for the duration of the show, and based the character of George on himself. With "Curb Your Enthusiasm," David takes self-deprecation, insensitivity, lack of tact and situational farce to a new level.

If you've never heard of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," it's probably because it airs only on HBO (the newest season started in January) or because you dislike brilliant television. Or it's because you're deaf, in which case I'm sorry and you'll be happy to learn the DVD has subtitles. The show was inspired by the success of a one-hour mockumentary about a stand-up performance by David. In essence, the series continues in the same fashion of the documentary, incorporating stars playing themselves and forays into the business side of Hollywood. [Read article]

If you haven't seen The Deludes yet, it's probably because you couldn't get in the door. Che's Lounge, 350 N. Fourth Ave., is usually packed to capacity on the Saturday nights that they play, or at least they were when the Wildcat showed up. The Deludes have been playing in Tucson for two years now.

In 2003, they released Jim Waters presents ... The Deludes. The album complements their live performance, which is more gritty, but in no way substitutes it. The record is lyrically inspired pop rock that moves between folk, country and '70s rock. Larry Wawro, the lead singer and guitarist in the trio, graduated from the UA in 2000 with a degree in media arts. Since then, Wawro has been concentrating on his band, but he found time to sit down for a pint with the Wildcat and talked about Tucson, "the house of rock" and revelation born out of VH1. [Read article]

Today

New Trends in American Poetry - UA Foundation building, East Speedway Boulevard and North Cherry Avenue, Room 301/303. Poets Loren Goodman, A. Van Jordan and Suji Kwock Kim will participate in a panel discussion. 9:30 a.m. 626-3765

Deathray Davies - Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Would the Kinks' Ray Davies approve of this punk rock band inspired by his name and a sci-fi weapon? Who cares? 11 p.m. $6. 798-7298. [Read article]

Are you tired of looking up porn in the computer lab at 3 in the morning? Has a woman ever told you she'd rather "just be friends"? Or do you just have problems approaching women? You might need "The Nice Guys' Guide to Getting Girls."

The book is a self-help guide that advertises: "You can be a nice guy and still attract women!"

The title of the book comes from the popular theory that women are usually more attracted to jerks and turned off by guys who are too nice. Justin Marks, spokesman for "The Nice Guys," dismisses the myth of the jerk. [Read article]

Calling all ladies who lunch! Get in the car and drive the 15 minutes up north to North. And gentlemen, while you may not want to sit around over light Italian fare in the daytime hours and gossip, don't dismiss North just yet.

The restaurant, located in the La Encantada complex at East Skyline Avenue and North Campbell Avenue, doubles as an affordable lunch spot (dinner prices jet up a bit, but don't skyrocket) and chi-chi bo”te, clad with martini drinkers ready to mingle. [Read article]