The New Era of Journalism Made for GW Students, By GW Students

September 2008Vol. 1, Issue 1

TWO SIDES TO THE GUN DEBATE

VISAS AND PASSPORTS

I THINK I NEED IT TO SURVIVE

THE PARTY AFTER THE AF-TER-PARTY: HOW TO BEAT A HANGOVER

CORRECTION:RICK ROSS MIGHT NOT BE THE BOSS

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Editor’s Note ………………………………. 2Business

I Need It To Survive, I Think. …………...3 Politics

A Victory for Every American…………..4 DC Hand Gun Ban: Pro Handgun Ban………….6

Music Correction: Rick Ross May Not Be the Boss………..7In The Booth With Jay Electronica………….8Reviews……………..9 Top 10 Greatest MC’s …………...12 On the Lookout…………….13Our Last Words ……………..16

SportsBeijing 2008: One for the Record Books? ………...17

Health Hangovers: What Happens After the After — Party…….18C9H17C9H17O2. ……..20

Columnists Visas and Passports: The Journey Before the Journey…….21 Ole Talk …...22

EDITOR’S NOTEGreetings to those who strive to learn as much as they can like many on The Ace staff. With so

many complex issues in the world today, it’s often difficult to come to a consensus on how to solve prob-lems. The problem becomes even harder for those whose source of information often leans to one side. With so many different viewpoints, it is hard to bring people together to read one publication, watch one news program, or listen to one radio show. That source of information and discourse comes with a stigma of being too liberal, too conservative, or just outright subjective because of their appeal to just one group of people. Those critical of those programs have every right to express their opinions and strive for a change in programming. If one viewpoint was to dominate the media, then that perception of the news threatens to misinform the world and bring us into an era where publications becomes shapers of the truth when in fact their journalists serve the original purpose of giving the specifics of current events and phenomenon.

We often divide ourselves because of our differences. Little do people know that if they looked beyond their differences, there are many things they actually have in common. Since the start of The Ace Blog, many people from different walks of life have come to read things that interest them and revel in how the world is changing only because everyone can share in it.

Everyone deserves a voice no matter their background and by no way should be afraid to come out. The Ace invites any person or organization to discuss any issue and challenge the media to report as hard as they can so the truth is never hidden.

Thanks, Samuel Collins, Jr.

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Today, the entertainment industry dictates what to deliver to the people and how to best satisfy the consumers of all films, in particular, box-office smash hits such as Batman Returns: The Dark Knight. Films have never looked so appealing and desirable to watch, not just once, but several times. People watch most films in theaters only to repurchase them a few months later either via rentals or DVD. Of course this way they’ll get to watch that all-important “deleted scene” for twice the amount they paid to watch the movie in the first place. In addition, the U.S. can look forward to se-quels and series of films that gross well over hundreds of millions of dollars, and then the process starts all over again!

With the American economy enter-ing a “recession”, where is all the money coming from to watch all these films? Of course there are millionaire benefactors and production companies that continuously fund these box-office films because they know if you film it, people will watch. But, with the average yearly US income just graz-ing $20,000, the chances for those looking for involvement in the film industry might seem slim. So, why are people still always at the theaters?

For almost one hundred years now, the United States has been under the con-trol of corporate America. Each corpora-tion’s agenda continues to dominate world markets. Edward Bernays, one of the most famous people to influence the American economy throughout the past century real-ized that Americans could be manipulated

into believing they need things they really do not by influencing their subconscious. For the past century, public relations advocates have been creating products not necessary for survival, yet highly desirable. What was once needed for survival is irrelevant in the current economy because now what really matters is what a person wants at the given time.

In the early 1920’s at the birth of U.S. consumerism, women smoking ciga-rettes in public was taboo. In order to in-crease the sales and profits of major ciga-rette corporations, Bernays knew it was necessary to gain public acceptance of women smoking in public. As a result, he hired rich debutantes to light up cigarettes in public for all to see, while the newspaper printed articles titled “Torches of Freedom.” Cigarette sales soon skyrocketed, and women soon became huge consumers of the product. Bernays was able to engage the emotions and memories connected with each product he endorsed, and therefore change people’s needs to wants and desires.

The truth is, for the most part, any extra money that the typical U.S. citizen earns is spent, never to be seen again, within the first several days of receiving it, thus continuing the wonderful flow of money in the economy and ensuring that the financial balance in the U.S. remains constant. Our economy essentially runs on the prospect that you spend money that you don’t have. In other words, America loves your debt. The entertainment industry is only one of many benefactors.

I Need It To Survive, I Think.Josh Joseph

Ali Saadat, and Daniel Silberstein

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The Supreme Court’s decision in the land-mark District of Columbia v. Heller case is a victory for every American. There is no more doubt that our Constitution gives every citizen the right to posses arms—a right that is as sacrosanct as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The judgment of the Supreme Court car-ries consequences that are not lost on me as a resident of the District of Columbia and as a student of politics. Still, there is much to highlight here that I believe is good for America and on which my liberal colleague Ben Cole will probably disagree.

The Supreme Court essentially concluded three things concerning the 2nd

amendment and the District’s ban on handguns. First, the court decided that the Second Amendment protects an individ-ual’s right to possess a firearm uncon-nected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. This alone is enough to drive my liberal col-leagues crazy. Traditional liberals have always argued that the 2nd amendment does not confer the right to bear arms to citizens but rather as a condition of serving the State in an organized militia. “Look no

further…” the liberals argue, “…than the first clause of the 2nd amendment and you will see that the right to bear arms cannot be liberally applied to every citizen.” The opening salvo of the Court in this decision, however, completely devastates the liberal proposition that service in a militia or in conjunction with State organization is a req-uisite for the right to own a gun. In doing so the Justices take us back to grammar school. They conclude:

The Second Amendment is naturally divided into two parts: its prefatory clause and its operative clause. The former does not limit the latter grammatically, but rather announces a purpose. The Amendment could be rephrased, “Because a well regu-lated Militia is necessary to the secu-rity of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

Although I agree that the initial clause an-nounces a purpose, I would take their analy-sis even further and argue that the prefatory clause establishes the degree to which a suf-ficient condition may exist in order for the constitutional right, as it is expressed in the antecedent clause, to not be necessary. This

A Victory for Every AmericanAndrew Cooper

D.C. Gun Ban Decisiona.k.a

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ET AL. v. HELLER

Brief History of Case (As outlined in the U.S. Supreme Court Syllabus No. 07-290; March 18 – June 26, 2008 and reproduced here.)

District of Columbia law bans handgun possession by making it a crime to carry an unregistered firearm and prohibiting the registration of handguns; provides separately that no person may carry an unlicensed handgun, but authorizes the police chief to issue 1-year licenses; and requires residents to keep lawfully owned firearms unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock or similar device. Respondent Heller, a D. C. special policeman, applied to register a handgun he wished to keep at home, but the District refused. He filed this suit seeking, on Second Amendment grounds, to enjoin the city from enforcing the bar on handgun registration, the licens-ing requirement insofar as it prohibits carrying an unlicensed firearm in the home, and the trigger-lock requirement insofar as it prohibits the use of functional firearms in the home. The District Court dismissed the suit, but the D. C. Circuit reversed, holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess firearms and that the city’s total ban on handguns, as well as its requirement that firearms in the

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servatives recognize the crucially important role gov-ernment plays in maintaining order. We believe in rights but not unlimited ones. We recognize that there are always circumstances when a right, enumer-ated or otherwise, may be limited for good reasons.

The most common explanation of curtailing a right, from the conservative view, is when the expres-sion of a person’s individual right endangers or in some way imperils the expression of another’s. We do not believe that a person may scream fire in a crowded theatre. Nor do we believe that criminals and brutes have the right to walk around freely on America’s streets. In the same way that liberty may be constrained as the result of a crime so too can the right to own a fire arm. Conservatives do not support the owning of weapons by the mentally ill or the crimi-nal. Concurring, the Court writes:

It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the pos-session of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and govern-ment buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.

Liberals, in their quest for unabridged and unfettered rights, fail to realize the far-reaching implications of such a condition. When society fails to deny or curtail, at the very least, the rights of individuals when the expression of those rights crosses the line of sensibil-ity, then society itself moves closer to anarchy. I, like other Sensible Conservatives of my generation, would argue that it is only within a framework of freedom tempered by reason and good measure can the full extent of a right be enjoyed.

The third and final point made by the Court is that the “…handgun ban and the trigger-lock require-ment (as applied to self-defense) violate the Second Amendment. The District’s total ban on handgun pos-session in the home amounts to a prohibition on an entire class of arms that Americans overwhelmingly choose for the lawful purpose of self-defense.” Instead of focusing on the narrow scope of the issue addressed by the court in this point, I would rather focus on the greater implication that this position has on the inter-pretation of gun regulations. At first glance it seems as if the court merely struck down the District’s trigger-lock requirement in a narrowly tailored application of the ruling but in a broader context the court intro-duces a concept of law that may give liberals some hope. The conservative court allowed for societal mo-res to be taken into account when deciding which gun regulations should be legal and which should not. The court does this by suggesting that the ban in the Dis-trict is not struck down merely because it violates the 2nd amendment in principle but that any statute ban-

is called an if-then conditional statement in the disci-pline of formal logic. It means that if a condition holds in a circumstance then another condition must also exist necessarily.

Remember, the second amendment was in-cluded as part of a bill of rights adopted immediately after ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It was nec-essarily adopted along with nine other amendments as a condition of those that feared government power. It was the result of a drawn out fight between the feder-alists and anti-federalists with respect to which rights should be enumerated (necessarily explained) and which should not (necessarily assumed). The long and short of the main argument against the bill of rights (along with the 2nd amendment) was that all the rights enumerated were given by God and should not be stated necessarily because then Government would believe that those rights not enumerated were re-served to it to regulate and were not necessarily as-sumed. With this in mind, by inserting the word ‘not’ into the antecedent clause (what the court calls the ‘operative’ clause) of the amendment, we uncover the crux of what the anti-federalists were aiming for:

“While a well regulated Militia is sufficient to the security of a free State, it is not necessary if the right the people to keep and bear arms is not infringed.”

This interpretation fits the society in which we live today in principle more than the liberal interpretation of the amendment.

Militias are no longer raised to do work in de-fense of the State because ‘we the people’ have volun-tarily armed and enlisted citizen-soldiers at every level of society in our common defense. Citizens may con-duct a citizen’s arrest as easily in our own homes by force of arms as a citizen-soldier in the local police force may apprehend evil-doers in the marketplace. There is no question that our society is more secure when citizens can protect themselves against the ilk of murderers, rapists, and thugs that want nothing more than to sap all that is good and honorable out of the men and women who labor justly to build a life for themselves and their families.

My more liberal contemporaries like the Hon-orable Adrian Fenty (who I have coincidentally grown to respect), love to point out that when there are more guns on the street there is more gun violence, but what they fail to underscore is their definition of violence. Let us not forget that when a robber engages a local merchant in the course of a robbery the epi-sode is always considered violent even though one party acts in the right of self-defense while the other is committing a crime. The conservative would argue that sometimes a violent response can promote a last-ing peace. Think civil war and WWII to name a few.

If there is anything in this opinion that I be-lieve conservatives and liberals can agree on it is the second point that the court makes. The court’s second point is that: “like most rights, the second amend-ment right is not unlimited.” Conservatives for gen-erations from Abe Lincoln to my generation of con-

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ning arms that are socially acceptable and used for lawful purpose violates the amendment in spirit. This means that the spirit of the law protects firearms with lawful uses and does not protect others. If I were lib-eral this is where I would focus my regulating efforts!

As the arbiters of what ultimately becomes socially acceptable the judges in effect reserve the right to later consider other bans and statutes like the District’s. Let us not forget that the Supreme Court exists as a representative body of the best and the brightest from amongst the population. They, in the-ory, represent the interests of all citizens within the body-politick. If my colleagues do not like the Court’s decision in this matter they may, in time, take up the issue by replacing the Court. That only comes, how-ever, with electing a President with the same goal in mind. The point the Court is trying to make, and it is a point well taken by conservatives, is that each com-munity decides what arms are acceptable and lawful. If an AK47 had a lawful use outside of military service then the Court would rightly reconsider the ban on assault weapons. Luckily, it does not have a lawful, so-cially acceptable use and so it is justly outlawed.

I am sure my colleague Ben Cole will agree ultimately that this country is great because of the freedoms that we may safely and individually express. Our collective expression of rights, however, is as im-portant as our individual expressions. On a more phi-losophical level this is a discussion between individual liberty and collective security. Yet, since my colleague will concede the point that, in this case, the 2nd

amendment refers to a collective right, then I will sa-lute the liberal movement for the concession.

People have a right to defend themselves and above all their homes. There is no place more sacred than the place we rest our heads, raise our families, and live out our lives into our elderly years. Similarly our possessions and our lives are holy and as such should rightfully be protected even to the utmost force of arms.

I sometimes take for granted the security that I feel knowing that, when home, I am protected by force of arms at a moments notice. And how little se-curity I feel when in my dorm room reading UPD crime reports of break ins and gun-point robberies. It seems to me somewhat interesting that cities in South Carolina like Charleston administered by conservative gun principles have less gun violence than cities like the District that are governed by progressive gun laws. Still, the Supreme Court ruling is a victory for every American in that it once again affirms a funda-mental freedom that we may safely enjoy without the “State” dictating our lives. We all know what the 2nd

amendment meant before District of Columbia v. Heller. Even liberals knew, deep down in their hearts, that this was a losing issue. Well, it is on paper now and it is the law. The sun still came up this morning.

Is the 2nd Amendment a collective right for the mili-tia or an individual right unconnected to any military service? To be honest, I have not seen enough evi-dence or convincing argumentation to convince me that either answer is uniquely consistent with the in-tent of our constitution's framers. So, while I person-ally side more with the collective right argument, I am, for a lack of much offense against the individual rights side, forced to concur with the Supreme Court's recent declaration in DC v Heller that the right to "keep and bear arms" belongs to all Americans whether they want to let off some rounds at the gun range or join the National Guard.

But what types of rounds may those be? The District argued, and I agree, that even in an individual rights framework, legislators may decide which types of guns to allow in an effort to respond to a particular crisis and further public safety. In this case, given the despi-cable wave of gun-related violence in Washington, ri-fles and shotguns may be allowed while handguns may be banned. The plaintiff proposes 3 counter-arguments to the District's contention, both of which disintegrate under scrutiny.

First is the contention, put forward by Heller's attor-ney Alan Gura, that the handgun ban when combined with the unload and trigger-lock provision regarding rifles and shotguns, amounts to a near-total ban on the use of firearms for self-defense, which would run counter to an individual rights reading of the Amend-ment. True, however, the District had already stated in their arguments that the Court need not consider the handgun ban and the trigger-lock provision jointly, meaning if requiring rifles and shotguns to be locked and unloaded is an unconstitutional infringement, a different decision may yet be rendered on the consti-tutionality of the handgun ban. In other words, the Court could have made a decision that allowed DC residents to keep registered, licensed rifles and shot-guns ready to be operated at a moment's notice in their homes, while still allowing the DC handgun ban to remain intact.

Failing this first argument, CJ Roberts proposed a fur-ther rhetorical objection: to state that a ban on hand-guns but not rifles comports with the right to "keep and bear arms" is tantamount to declaring that pro-

DC Handgun BanPro-District Gun Ban

By: Ben Cole

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hibiting books but allowing newspapers is consistent with the 1st Amendment. Unfortunately, the only strength of this analogy lies in its rhetoric. Even by the most conservative gun-rightist estimates, the guarantees provided by the 1st Amendment are categorically broader than those provided by the 2nd Amendment. The myriad federal gun control laws banning machine guns and armor-piercing rounds - which the Court almost guarantees will re-main intact with its ruling -prove this point. Based on prior jurisprudence and common sense, banning an entire medium of com-munication is necessarily contrary to the 1st Amendment, whereas banning an entire class of fire-arms is only construed as a violation in the most un-reasonably reactionary sense. In oral arguments, Dellinger furthered the distinction between the 1st and 2nd Amendment guarantees by pointing out that a ban on the stockpiling of weapons is consid-ered within the Constitution although it would be patently absurd for the government to disallow the stockpiling of words.

Finally, Justice Scalia, in his decision, comes close to answering the question of the reasonableness of ban-ning handguns while allowing long arms. His argu-ment, however, is a mere reiteration of the points in favor of handgun ownership, and a convenient gloss-ing of the District's arguments for a handgun ban. He somehow reads into the 2nd Amendment as specifically allowing certain types of weapons and disallowing others, although it clearly makes no such distinction. What is obvious is that it is left up to legislatures to decide which types of arms Ameri-cans may or may not possess, so long as some type of possession is allowed within reasonable limits.Failing to provide a strong counter to the District's contention that banning handguns and allowing rifles provides residents ample opportunity to "keep and bear arms" in the self-defense of their homes, the Court should have ruled the trigger-lock provision unconstitutional and reversed the lower court's de-cision on the handgun ban. There is simply no argu-ment to be made that any individual right contained in the 2nd Amendment allows the possession of whatever firearm one chooses. Thus any law that allows for some reasonable keeping of arms for the defense of hearth and home must be upheld.

Correction: Rick Ross Might Not Be The

BossBy Justin Alexander

In the hip hop community, there are a number of taboos. One of those taboos is a strong discomfort and disgust for the law. Most in the hip hop community will tell you that law enforcement is corrupt, vicious and noticeably racist toward minorities. So when one of hip-hop’s most gangster artists is ac-cused of being a corrections officer, how should the hip hop community respond? Dur-ing July, fellow Miami rapper Trick Daddy leaked photos of Rick Ross graduating from a corrections officer academy. Along with the picture, a job application and pay stub has also been released to further support the case against Ross. Ross avidly denies the accusation as any sane rapper would.

Will such a rumor hurt the career of Rick Ross? The answer is uncertain. Rumors that rapper Prodigy of Mobb Deep was a “ballerina” have seem to had a sore affect on his career. On the contrary, rumors that Bow Wow was raped by his body guard were ac-knowledged yet did not affect his support from his fans and soon vanished. I would predict the rumors will eventually fade away and noth-ing detrimental will happen to Rick Ross’ ca-reer (even though the picture of Ross is pretty compelling).

Despite the seemingly convincing amount of evidence against Ross, he has no reason to be worried. Hip-hop of late has seemed to be a breeding ground for hypocrites. 50 Cent bashed Ja Rule for singing on his singles and appealing more to a feminine audience. Yet 50 has made millions off singing on his own songs and has had successful singles that are geared toward the opposite sex. Lil Wayne kisses an-other man yet still says, “no homo” to assure you of his lifestyle. A majority of rappers have claimed to be murders but couldn’t even kill time. Most advocate against snitching, but rap-pers snitch intentionally and unintentionally. Even if the allegations against Ross are true, no sweat. Rick Ross should be able to continue to be the boss and fit right in with the rest of the current hip-hop community.

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Welcome to the first edition of The Ace’s Music Section. My name is Jamie Benson, a sophomore at GWU planning to ma-jor in English. Each month, our team of writers will bring you the newest album reviews, album previews, artist profiles, and special features. In addition, we’ll present exclusive artist interviews in conjunction with WRGW’s Funkadelic Freestyles. Funkadelic Free-styles is a progressive hip-hop radio show that airs live every Tues-day night during the school year on gwradio.com and on campus TV channel 22.

The Ace Music Section September 2008Music Editor Jamie Benson

Music Writer Justin AlexanderMusic Writer Sade-Chase Marshall

Often nicknamed “the enigmatic rapper,” New Orleans-native Jay Electronica tried to spend most of the past year behind the scenes. His face popped up in photo-graphs with established artists like Nas and Erykah Badu, and rumors of an intimate relationship with Badu sud-denly became indie hip-hop’s most talked about story.

Back in December, he promised that he’d release the follow-up to his 15-minute odyssey of a song, “Act I: Eter-nal Sunshine (The Pledge), on Christmas Day. The holi-day came and went, and it seemed as though Jay had disappeared until his first concert in New York at Nokia Theatre back in May. The Funkadelic Freestyles crew caught up with Jay Electronica in Boston as a part of this summer’s Rock The Bells tour, and we asked him all about Erykah, Nas, and the pending release of Act II and Act III.

Can you give us a brief description of your journey from New Orleans to Brooklyn in under 60 seconds?

Uh…lots of sacrifice, lots of patience. I couldn’t have made it this far but all along the way I had an angel. It was almost like every year I would meet an angel that would move me forward and help me to grow finally ‘till I got to here now. I mean, I don’t even know how to put in 60 seconds; it’s been a terrific journey and I don’t have

no regrets.

While we’re talking about how you got here, you’ve got a lot of friend in high places with Erykah Badu and Nas. How do you plan to prove to people that you’re a true artist be-yond the co-signs?

It’s just a matter of people getting a chance to experi-ence. If somebody like Robert De Niro and a couple of other actors say “this actor, he’s a good actor,” then the co-sign is good, that’s fine, that’s peace, but you don’t a chance to see it for yourself until you go see the movie with that guy in it and then you can judge for yourself. I’m confident in my skill level and everything, and I’m confi-dent in my ability to take on the role of a student and learn and grow to better myself. By the time you see my movie you’ll say, “okay, Robert De Niro was right!”

In that sense, who are your favorite teachers if you’re the student?

I mean, my favorite teachers go from old school to new school just in terms of music, but we’ll stick to rap be-cause that’s what we’re dealing with. Rakim, Scarface, the D.O.C., Outkast, Nas, Ice Cube, Spice 1, MC Eight…me being from New Orleans, I had a very good mix of things. Right now, everybody on the tour is a legend, is a

In the Booth with…Jay Electronicahttp://myspace.com/jayelect

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professional show-rocker, professional mic-rockers, and I just got my notepad out learning from everybody out here. I’m learning what I’m doing wrong, how can I im-prove, and really who I learn from the most is the people.

You’re traveling now on a full US tour, but when’s your world tour coming, when are you conquering the world?

World tour coming real soon. We tightening this one up, we’re tightening the boot straps, getting it tight and clear as a whistle, and like I said I had already talked about the types of ideas for shows that I had wanted to do with the vaudeville, the magic, the 1800s type of style/setting. I haven’t had the chance to put that type of thing on the past few shows because I’ve been opening, but as soon as we get done with this and polish up, get some more music out on the airways then we gonna take the full Jay Electronica production and I’m sure it’s gonna reach.

Act II and Act III, your next releases, are coming?

Act II and Act III are definitely coming. I promise you that.

One last question: Nas discussed in a re-cent interview his desire to record full al-bums with Dr. Dre and DJ Premier. Do you think you’ll ever see yourself in the position of producing a full Nas LP?

I would be honored to if he would like to. I really love Nas and I admire his skill and ability as a poet and he’s one of the only people in the industry – not one of the only peo-ple in the industry, because I have good relationships with people in the industry. Contrary to what people say, “industry people are shady,” I’ll say that Nas is one of the most humble, down-to-earth, persons that you would meet. It would be honor to do a full project with Nas, but I can tell you this: me and Nas have some stuff coming through the pipeline that’s gonna be busting heads…

LAXThe GameGeffen Records

With all the foolish and outrageous statements he’s made over the past few years, you would have thought The Game (Jayceon Taylor) had already finished digging his grave. After the G-Unit fiasco ended, he found spare time between albums to take shots at Jay-Z, Lil’ Eazy-E, and Ras Kass. Amidst the drama, the West Coast rapper has prepared his most impressive project since his star-studded debut, “The Documentary.”

The brilliance of “LAX” (Life and Times) hides behind its first two sub-par singles, “Game’s Pain (feat. Keyshia Cole)” and “ Dope Boys (feat. Travis Barker).” The radio hits do the album as a whole no justice, especially considering the best pro-ducers appear on non-singles like “Cali Sunshine (feat. Bilal)” and “Letter to the King (feat. Nas). Hi-Tek handles the beat for the latter track, utilizing a chilling sample from 1970s pop/rock band The Jaggerz for an emotional tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his widow, Coretta Scott. The King nod comes with

controversy, of course. Before ending the song, The Game has words for Martin’s historic colleague and recent news headliner by saying,“I wonder why Jesse Jackson ain’t catch him before his body dropped.”

If we’ve learned anything from The Game over his four-year career, we know that he has a personal affinity for name-dropping. Along with the Jesse Jackson reference, he mentions 51 different artists, 23 celebrities, and seven athletes on “LAX.” It can get downright annoying and often takes away from his talent as an emcee, but that’s just who The Game is. He’s a unique hybrid of a superfluous celebrity and a real lyricist, constantly crossing the line between the two (very opposite) sides. As a quality and com-plete project, “LAX” may be the last chapter in The Game’s troubled novel. We can be rest assured, however, that Jayceon Taylor will keep running his mouth and remain utterly close to the always-bright limelight.

LISTEN: Letter To The King (feat. Nas)OVERALL: B+

REVIEWS

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Yoga At Home Volume 1Dumhi (Haji Haj)Independent release

The legendary rapper Sadat X opens Philly producer Haji Haj’s latest effort with an inevitable truth: “Now I’m a smoker, I ain’t even lying.” Declaring his passion for a certain green plant speaks directly to the Dumhi name, a moniker used by Haji Haj and his various emcees from Washington, DC to New Jersey.

While only a third of the regular Dumhi crew is present on “Yoga At Home,” we’re introduced to a number of independent rappers who have been recog-nized on the rise along with Sadat X, who provides a strong veteran presence.

The concept of the album was generated from a yoga instruction video-tape led by Master Swami Vishnu, who provides spiritual guidance for Haj’s enlightened listeners. Brooklyn emcee Che Grand reveals his re-laxation techniques on “Sun Exercises,” while Random and Trek Life stress “The Benefits of Practice” over a powerfully knocking beat from Haj. The only downside to “Yoga At Home Vol. 1” is its length. Clock-ing in at a mere 21 minutes, the EP could have been longer, but the good news is there will be additional volumes, and additional like-minded independent hip-hop.

LISTEN: Breathing Techniques (feat. Von Pea & Jermiside)OVERALL: B-

The Return of the Dirty CymbalstREBLEFREEMitchellaneous Recordings

Mainstream hip-hop artists should take a word of advice from Detroit producer tREBLEFREE. Perhaps tREB might have a few problems selling his name among the witty Flo-Ridas and T-Pains, but he sure knows how to make a thorough album from start to finish. And the best part? “The Return of the Dirty Cymbals” is only his first solo album.

tREBLFREE made a few heads turn last Christmas when he released his James Brown tribute EP, “N**** I Know James,” with the help of Chicago rapper DVS. DVS returns for tREB’s solo debut, riding a funky horn sample on “Constipated Mathemati-cian” and tearing apart the album’s centerpiece, “Limelight.”

The lasting effects of “RODC” are generated from tREBLFREE’s clean sequencing, a musical trait that heavyweight producers like Dr. Dre and DJ Premier pride themselves on. It is to be noted, however, that tREBLEFREE wouldn’t have an album at all without the numerous inde-pendent artists who agreed to join him, for they, along with the pro-ducer, have created quite an impressive effort.

LISTEN: Change Gonna Come (feat. Ilwil)OVERALL: B

Zo! & Tigallo Love The 80’sZo! & Tigallo (Phonte of Little Brother)Hall of Justus

One of Washington D.C.’s fresh transplants, the highly-inventive pro-ducer Zo!, teams up with Phonte of Little Brother for a limited edition project with wide-ranging results. With only 2500 copies pressed worldwide, Zo! & Tigallo, (as the veteran rapper refers to himself when in falsetto), tapped deep into the 1980’s musical archives by covering

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six well-known tunes.

Particular highlights include the atmospheric “Take On Me,” the subtly-emotional “I’m Only Human,” and the funky vocal stylings plastered throughout “Written All Over Your Face,” a Rude Boys classic. The EP’s finest moment comes midway through “Something About You,” when an electric kazoo replaces Phonte’s vocals for a triumphant climax and a per-fect lead-in to the last two minutes of the song. Also included on the EP are two remixes; one from Foreign Exchange producer Nicolay and another from Oakland’s next big thing, the synth-heavy producer Trackademicks.

LISTEN: “Something About You”OVERALL: A-

Grey HairsReksShowoff/Brick Records

In hip-hop, an artist can go his whole career without being known outside of his local community. With Massachusetts native Reks, he’ll more than likely remain in touch with his roots, while at the same time he’ll be rubbing elbows with a few of the most recognized emcees and pro-ducers. That’s pretty much the story with “Grey Hairs,” his sophomore album featuring a healthy balance of hip-hop’s promising up-and-comers and established legends.

DJ Premier provides one of his signature drum patterns for a blackout-style track, aptly-titled “Say Goodnight,” and when Reks is done rapping, you’ll want to toss him an oxygen mask. New York rapper and blog boy wonder Skyzoo contributes a verse to the rather re-laxed “Money on The Ave,” while Lil’ Fame of M.O.P. pumps high-energy and adrenaline into “All In One (5 Mics).” And who’s respon-sible for all those features, you might ask? Deliver a thank you to “Grey Hairs’” executive producer, DJ Statik Selektah, who has been co-signed by Tony Touch and Premier among others. With Statik’s guidance, Reks has released an album complete with deep thought and solemn guidance for the streets.

LISTEN: “Big Dreamers [Lawton Remix] (feat. Termanology & Krumb Snatcha)OVERALL: B

ADDITIONAL RELEASES88-Keys Adam’s Case Files Mixtape B+Elzhi The Preface B+Ludacris & DJ Drama The Preview Mixtape B-Murs & 9th Wonder Sweet Lord BRandom The 8th Day A-Theo The Birth Mixtape B-Torae Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself Mixtape B+Young Jeezy The Recession C+

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A debate that has gone on from lunchroom tables to water coolers, here’s my personal list of the 10 greatest emcees to ever rock the mic.

10. Scarface: Definitely the most under rated rapper around and king of the south, rarely mentioned with Pac and Big despite holding it down for way longer.

9. DMC: One half of hip hop super group Run-DMC, Darryl Mac stood out due to his smooth flow and laid back style, leaving all those other sucka MC’s in the dust.

8. Ice Cube: Despite the asinine claim that hip hop started in the west, Cube was easily one of the most intelligent and gangsta rap-pers ever.

7. Chuck D: Known for not being to fond of Elvis nor John Wayne, Chuck was the most honest and open MC on any subject matter.

6. Big Daddy Kane: From dookie ropes to the high top fade, BDK was nobody’s equal on and off the mic.

5. Rakim: Because to me MC means move the crowd, and Rakim did just that with a rhyme style that was unmatched for years to come.

4. Notorious B.I.G.: Big had it all: clever word play, vivid storytelling capability, charisma, and enough lyrics to bolster Jay-Z’s career. Big could give you a party record, a diss to the phony kings of NY, or a tale of the everyday struggle.

3. 2Pac: Probably the most poetic and angriest rapper, Pac’s raps were like bullets to his adversaries and holy communion to his fans.

2. Nas: From classic albums to controversial ideas, Nas continues to have a successful career filled with creativity and longevity.

1. Jay-Z: Best rapper alive? Arguably. What goes without debate is that Hov has been one of the most influential artists in music, not just rap.

TOP 10: The Greatest Emcees

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ON THE LOOKOUTBy Jamie Benson & Sade-Chase Marshall

Previews

Common – Invincible SummerG.O.O.D. Music/Sony Records

September 23rd

A few months ago, rumors swirled as to what the next move for Common would be doing musically. The rapper-turned-actor originally announced plans for an album titled The Believer, and planned on building hype for the full-length with a shorter EP, Invincible Summer. Now, Invincible Summer is the album and interestingly enough, it’s going to be released in the fall. The LP’s first two singles have done fairly well; both feature Pharrell, and DJ Semtex, BBC 1 Xtra’s hip-hop connosieur, has confirmed that The Neptunes handle a good portion of the album’s production. And to answer your question: at press time, there were zero songs produced by Kanye West.

Greg Street – Greg Street Certified WorldwideInterscope RecordsSeptember 30th

As one of Atlanta’s most popular radio DJs, Greg Street has a multitude of connections in hip-hop. When he decided it was time to put together an album, he had no shortage of artists who were willing to hop on the project. The compilation includes the single “Good Day” featuring Nappy Roots, a feel-good song that invokes the memories of Sunday afternoon cookouts. “Dope Boy (Remix)” allows Greg’s pal and producer Don Cannon a chance to rework Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s “T.R.O.Y.” with new vocals from Lupe Fi-asco, Wale, and Kardinal Offishall. The good times don’t end there, though. Be on the lookout for appearances from Lil’ Wayne, The Game, Rich Boy, and more.

Heltah Skeltah – D.I.R.T.Duck Down RecordsSeptember 30thUnderground hip-hop heavyweights Rock and Sean Price (a.k.a Ruck) are back to reprise their roles in the legendary rap duo Hel-tah Skeltah. Their new album, D.I.R.T. [Da Incredible Rap Team], will be in stores September 30th on Duck Down Records. Their sophomore release will feature label-mates Buckshot and Smif N Wessun along with production from Illmind, Khrysis, and Evidence.

Joe Budden – Padded RoomAmalgam DigitalOctober 28thRemember Joe Budden? Luckily, the folks at Amalgam Digital did. The indie record label, responsible for hip-hop’s first genre-specific digital retail store, signed Joe Budden shortly after he severed ties with Def Jam in 2007. The rapper’s sophomore album, Padded Room, will be in stores and available online on October 28th and the first single, “Touch and Go,” will receive video treatment this month.

Shows In Your Area

9.22.08 The ELs w/Phonte of Little Brother @ Busboys & Poets9.24.08 Red Bull Producers Showcase feat. Wale @ 930 ClubClipse, Wale, Consequence, & Southeast Slim

@ University of Maryland College Park

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T.I. – Paper TrailGrand Hustle/Atlantic RecordsSeptember 30th

In a sense, the house arrest of Atlanta rapper T.I. may have been more of a blessing than a burden. It’s rumored that he’s recorded over fifty songs for his new album Paper Trail, and judging from the songs that have leaked already, he seems to be as focused as he’s ever been. Following the mediocre response of T.I. vs. T.I.P., his last studio album released last year, Paper Trail has a plethora of guest appearances for stability and quality. DJ Toomp returns as an executive producer, while Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, B.O.B., John Legend, and Kanye West will all add their vocals.

Termanology – Politics As UsualST Records/Nature SoundsSeptember 30thMassachusetts native Termanology has released his third single with DJ Premier for his new al-bum Politics As Usual, due out on September 30th on ST Records/Nature Sounds. The song, “How We Rock,” features Houston rapper Bun B of UGK, an artist who Term says expressed interest in working with him via DJ Premier. It definitely pays to have friends in high faces, as Politics As Usual will allow producers like Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, and Alchemist to continue to showcase their beats.

Featured Artist – Solange KnowlesOn: Her new song, “F*** The Industry”

I love it. I thought I was going to hate it but I did-n’t. Solange Knowles surprised me. For this track, she uses Kanye’s beat ‘Everything I Am’ and sings over it. And I thought she was about to butcher it, but it sounded like a completely different song. Her song is about how the music industry tries to make her into carbon copy of other great female singers (she also makes note of her not being a video vixen).

I feel somewhat bad for the girl though because she lives under the shadow of her sister, but then I re-alize how much money she is making and my sym-pathy flies straight out the window. Even though I still don’t think she’s the best singer, at least she can carry a note. And to me her talent is more so in her lyrics. I just feel her honesty, and I know for certain that is one thing she has over her sister…experience of life. Now please B-stans do not come at me with rocks, I love Beyonce too, but she is missing depth and I blame that on her father. Then

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again she wouldn’t have made it this far without him, and Solange wouldn’t have been able to produce hot tracks without Beyonce becoming the mega star she is.

Anyways, I’m not sure if you all are aware of Solange’s blog (never read it myself), but if you are interested you can visit this site, http://www.solangel.typepad.com/. Here’s an excerpt from her blog talking about her inspi-ration for the song,

“This song in NO WAY shape or fashion has a negative light to any of the artist I mention...I love and respect them ALL. I am just simply expressing myself and my story. When I say F.U. I am talking to no one in particular, only those that feel guilty of categorizing :)

I feel that many people can relate to this song outside of the industry and that’s why I want to share.”

Besides the fact that she later goes on to say “I hope u have a beautiful sunny day and starry night”, I have a lot respect for Solange. She has the bravado to talk about some of the realities of the music industry that a lot of other celebrities are too afraid to talk about in fear of ruining their careers.

‘F*** the Industry’ is the first track off her mixtape ‘I Can’t Get Clearance’. I might have to cop this one.

DC Artist Profile: Southeast Slimhttp://www.myspace.com/seslim202

Back in early 2006, a then-unknown young rapper by the name of Wale recorded an homage to Washing-ton DC’s most known music genre, go-go. The song, “Dig Dug,” became the most requested record by a local artist in DC radio history. More than two years later, Wale is now a national name and has already toured with the likes of Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, and Nas.

Think Wale came up with “Dig Dug” on his own? Fellow DC rapper/producer and college classmate Southeast Slim has a different story. “[One night at college] I get a knock at the door and they say, ‘this is my dude Wale from the football team, he raps.’ I was like, ‘cool, come through.’ I can’t remember if I told Wale we should sample go-go or whether he had the idea to sample go-go.” After sampling his first go-go record with the song “Keep It Gangsta,” Slim found his niche and was ready to present Wale with the beat for “Dig Dug.”

“With ‘Dig Dug’ I told him I had found something that he’d like and I played it for all my boys. They were like, ‘this joint tight, when are we going to record it?’ I was like, ‘this joint ain’t for us, it’s for the homeboy Wale.’”

Why didn’t Slim keep the beat for his own rap group, EMP? He had a hunch that they’d never get any play, and he knew that Wale most likely would. His theory turned out to be true, as Wale has catapulted into a larger market while Slim and EMP remain local in DC.

Southeast Slim isn’t really worried about who’s listening to his music. “My motto is: I make music for me and the people that like the music.” With that philosophy in mind, Slim has done well in the DC-area with two popular mixtapes on his own and five with his group EMP. His production work is featured on the soundtrack for the video game Madden 09 with Wale’s song “Breakdown,” and his newest mixtape “That Dope” features another collaboration with his old college friend called “The Bomb.” Catch Southeast Slim on September 25th opening for Clipse, Wale, and Con- sequence at the University of Mary-land College Park.

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OUR LAST WORDSIn our first issue, Jamie Benson and Justin Alexander offer two separate opinions on the most controversial album of the summer, Nas’ “Untitled.” Jamie offers his feelings through the eyes of a white American, while Justin shares his through the eyes of an African American.

When the news leaked late last year that Nas was considering titling his album the N-word, I remember feeling rather unemo-tional about the issue. I asked radio personality/female emcee Amanda Diva, who has interviewed Nas on six different occasions, her opinion on the subject. She shrugged and then laughed, simply stating that she was all for controversy if it has a purpose, although she wasn’t sure if Nas’ bold statement was actually going to make any sense.

While overseas outlets refused to carry the album and Nas was forced to change the title, the concept is certainly still evident in the music. Powerful records like “You Can’t Stop Us Now” and “Fried Chicken” produce thought-provoking messages, though songs like “America” and “Y’all My N*****” tend to fall short of clearly explaining themselves. Overall, using The Ace’s letter grade system, I’d probably give it a B+, and that’s being generous.

Was I partially let down due to the color of my skin? In this situation, it could very well be true. I caught several of his racial-specific metaphors, including the line “I’m throwing molotovs for Emmitt [Till]” on the Jay Electronica-produced “Queens Get TheMoney” and Nas’ brilliant allusion to ghetto-infesting insects on “Project Roach.” What I discovered, or perhaps rediscovered, is that multi-platinum African American hip-hop artists have constantly overshadowed political black leaders. A rap star’s voice and opinion is becoming increasingly more powerful, even during an election year in which a black man could very well be our next president.

I applaud Nas’ work on “Untitled,” though my relationship with it may forever be strained. It’s a stronger effort than his previous release, “Hip Hop Is Dead,” but it’s far from being compared to classics like “Illmatic” and “It Was Written.” “Untitled” just happens to be the perfect title for an album stuck somewhere between controversy and greatness.

~JB

Since switching record labels from Columbia to Def Jam, Nas has heavily used controversy to be the extra force behind his mu-sic. Not only have we gotten good music from Nas, but we have also gotten a side of controversy to wash compliment the rhymes. Unlike most controversy however, Nas has reason for his.

“Hip Hop Is Dead” was a necessary album. Although the so-called O.G.’s throughout the existence of rap have stated hip hop was dead long before Nas, “HHID” was the loudest cry. Not only was the album the most heard case, but also the accusation of hip-hop’s death came at a fairly good time to make a case for its death. At a time when lyricism, b-boying, and DJing were at an all time low in terms of quality, a message needed to be made and Nas did just that.Fast forward to 2008. Yes it is cliché to say, but the truth is that so much has changed yet so much has remained the same despite how far we have made it as a society. Nas saw the time in which to address the issue in the best way he knew - musically. Therefore, I was not upset that Nas had initially planned for the album to be titled, “Ni**er”. I do admit to having a little concern for white fans and the possi-ble amount of fights that could occur if certain songs were mentioned in the wrong places. A great deal of racial injustice has been bought to the light by the media. Could that all be due to Nas and his controversial album title? Probably not, but I like to think so.

As for the album itself, “Untitled,” impressed me given the situations surrounding it. The album casts a strong theme and mes-sage that sticks to the original album name. Songs such as “Y’all My Ni**as” and “N.I.G.G.E.R.” are evident of that message. Yet the album is not in the form of a typical rap sermon in which all you do is fall asleep to the message behind the lyrics. Tracks such as “Fried Chicken”, “You Can’t Stop Us Now” and “Breathe” all are clever and well produced. The lead single off the album, “Hero”, proves to be an example of the versatility that Nas has shown throughout his career. In a time where most singles are tender with sung hooks and themes of love, Nas sticks to his roots. Despite being a single, “Hero” still has the rawness and pride of an underground track while having commercial appeal thanks to the production of Polow Da Don (Usher‘s “Love In This Club” and Fergie’s “Glamorous” are just a few of the producer’s credits).

As a devoted Nas fan, I can say he has never let me down with an album release (even “Nastradamus” had hits on it, don’t front). Despite being slightly biased, Nas has had a catalogue that can easily compete with any other hip hop discography, and “Untitled” definitely does not ruin the legacy of that catalogue nor does it augment it.

~JA

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Unbelievable! Riveting! Jaw dropping! These are just a few words spectators around the world used to describe the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games which left mostly everyone else speechless. This skillful and masterly choreographed display of talent held the world in awe as more than 15,000 Chinese men and women put on an opening ceremony which will go down in history as one of the most spectacular Olympics Opening Ceremonies ever produced.

In the Chinese culture, the number eight signifies prosperity and confidence as the start date for the Summer Olympics was scheduled on 08.08.08. Zhang Yimou, the Chinese director in charge of this fantastical performance wanted to be technically sound on every aspect of this grand scale piece while still keeping the sacred number eight in mind. The Opening Ceremony began at exactly 8:08:08pm (in China) including a mu-sical exhibition with exactly 2,008 band members. All of the dancing, stunts, colors and ornamentation that culminated with a former gymnast lighting the flame while be-ing suspended by wires, is bound to make this Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony one that will be difficult to forget.

With such an extravagant Opening Ceremony, the 10,500 athletes put on their own elite performances to carry on the pro-verbial torch throughout the Olympic Games. To say the least, it was a record set-ting summer for the Olympics. Some high-lights included the highly publicized U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps record setting per-formance in every swimming event breaking the record for most gold medals in a single Olympics and also the record for most over-all gold medals in the world. Usain Bolt of Jamaica set both Olympic and World Re-cords in the Men’s 200m and 400m earning the title of the world’s fastest man. Bolt ac-complished this with freakish God-given tal-

ent and ease, breaking American Michael Johnson’s previous Olympic Record by three - hundredths of a second in the 100 meter contest. The women of China dominated the female swimming and diving events tak-ing all of the gold medals in each contest in-cluding an untouchable, robot-like exhibition in the synchronized diving events. Both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Basketball Team brought home gold medals going undefeated throughout the Olympics including the pre-liminaries. Mentioning every record-setting performance or brilliant display of talent would fill more pages than allowed. But in summation, the athletes at the 2008 Summer Games in total set 43 new World Records, 132 new Olympic Records, China won the gold medal count with 51, and the United States won the overall medal count with 110.

Beyond the awe, the hype, and the medals, the Olympics symbolized more than gold, silver, and bronze. These Olympics symbolized friendly international competi-tion free from greater world conflict. Not only are the Olympics a time for athletes to display each their individual prowess and peak athletic ability, it is a time for countries to send their best competitors to one world stage for the ultimate challenge: proving to the entire world that you are the best at what you do.? However, the athletes do it for more than themselves and more than the gold. These athletes are representing their various countries trying to bring a sense of pride to their loved ones at home cheering them on.

Getting to the Olympics is a chal-lenge in and of itself. Medaling or not, each respective country greatly appreciates the efforts of its athletes. From record finishes and amazing comebacks, to dropped batons and heartbreaking losses, the Olympics were an emotional rollercoaster for not only the athletes, but the spectators as well.

Beijing 2008: One for the record books?Adam Layne

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Hangovers: What Happens After the After-Party

Amanda Holder

Fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, upset stomach, a mind-boggling head-ache and promises that you'll never drink again, usu-ally result from the overconsump-tion of alcohol. You may have taken one too many shots or drank one too many beers. Whatever the case may be, your

body is in de-tox mode at this point. This detoxifica-tion process is known as the infamous hangover.

A hangover is the laymen term for veisalgia, "algia" being the Greek word for "pain." While con-suming alcohol, the body loses vitamins and liquids deemed necessary. To regain these lost nutrients, the body only needs time and rest to overcome the exces-sive amount of alcohol previously consumed. In addi-tion to getting much needed rest, ask your roommates and/or suitemates to keep the noise level to a mini-mum. Noise can give you an instant headache if you are not suffering from one already. Although there is technically no cure for a hangover, there are some remedies that can help to speed up this recovery proc-ess.

1. Drink lots of fluids: fruit juice, water and sports drinks are especially helpful. Fruit juices and sports

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drinks are potent with fructose which burns alcohol rapidly

2. Avoid Pain Killers: aspirin like alcohol thins blood which advances feelings of nausea. Tylenol, Advil and generic Ibuprofen may cause damage to your weakened liver and per-suade stomach bleeding

3. Avoid Caffeine: Coffee and tea will fur-ther dehydrate your body

4. Take a long shower: Begin with cold wa-ter and end the shower with hot water

5. Get A Workout: exercise can stimulate the body to resume homeostasis

6. Alka-Seltzer morning relief: known to cure hangovers within as little as 15 minutes

7. Pickle Juice: recent clinical studies prove that drinking pickle juice up to two hours in advance of heavy drinking significantly re-duces the chance of acquiring a hangover

8. A swig of wine: ironically an additional smidgen of alcohol helps your body to recover temporarily by prolonging the hangover for a couple of hours. Pain will subside because your body reacts as if it were still inebriated.

Of course, the best possible way to rid yourself of a hangover, is to avoid contracting one altogether. Hangover prevention may al-

low you to enjoy yourself while yet evade the dreadful morning after episode. The most obvi-ous advice would be to steer clear of binge drinking. Do not wait until it is impossible to see, hear, walk or talk correctly, to call it a night. Keep track of how many drinks you have con-sumed over the course of a night. Set a conser-vative limit as to how many drinks you will have and abide by your chosen boundaries. And also, it never hurts to have a sober friend around who can honestly tell you when you've had enough.

Drinking responsibly most definitely in-cludes "not driving while drunk," but this cliché consists of so much more. If you enjoy drinking alcohol, there are some general facts that you should keep in mind. Most notably, learn your personal drinking limit. Weight and height are important factors in determining your drinking limit. Before drinking, eat a healthy meal filled with starches, vitamins and minerals. Greasy foods such as pizza and cheeseburgers do not combine well with alcohol. A better choice would be foods rich with starch and carbohy-drates. Another helpful fact is that cheap liquor is harsher on your stomach than more expensive liquor. On the same hand, darker spirits contain more congeners (direct contributors to hang-overs) than lighter spirits. Remember that your body is equipped to handle one drink or one beer per hour. Distributing a night's worth of drink-ing over several hours helps your liver to natu-rally break down toxins. It is also wise to choose a few alcoholic beverages that you like and to which you've grown accustomed. Different

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C9H17C9H17O2By: Abike Kamson

Trans fat. For many in the US, trans fat means fried foods, deliciousness, and essential ingredients for restaurants and eateries alike. For others more or less in the political sphere, trans fat reminds individuals of the steady loss of Americans’ core freedoms as our “nanny” gov-ernment has succeeded in banning the consump-tion of trans fat in many parts of the United States. For the rest, trans fat means something entirely different. Serious health risks, unaware-ness, and permanence, to name a few.

Yes, I said permanence. Trans fat cannot be metabolized. Ever. Because your body is un-able to ever metabolize trans fat, it is then turned into fat cells for storage, probably in-creasing your risk of permanent obesity. Do you ever wonder why you can’t lose those stingy five pounds or get those six pack abs? Don’t auto-matically blame trans fat, but there is a high prob-ability that your body simply can’t remove that trans fat sludge. Even more disturbing, the pri-mary health risk identified with trans fat con-sumption is an elevated risk of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This is because trans fat causes serious and significant lowering of HDL (high density lipoproteins), “the good” cholesterol, and raising of LDL (low density lipo-proteins), “the bad” cholesterol. In 1994 it was estimated that heart disease rooted from trans fat caused 30,000 deaths annually in the US. To-day, that estimation is even higher. If that doesn’t strike a chord, this should. There are suggestions that the negative consequences of trans fat con-sumption go beyond the cardiovascular risk. Ad-ditional chronic health problems caused from the consumption of trans fat are Alzheimer’s Dis-ease, cancer, diabetes, liver dysfunction, infertil-ity, not to mention obesity.

Now, I’m not trying to freak you out. We’ve all had our share of these deceptive little monsters. After all, they have been around since 1909. The question we should all be asking is if trans fat is so bad for us, why then was it put into our food in the first place?

Well, let me first start by telling you the benefits trans fat has provided. This might explain perhaps why trans fat has remained in our food products for as long as it has. For one, trans fat

prolongs shelf life. To restaurant owners and manu-facturers, this is a blessing. Lengthening food stor-age means company costs decrease, which is always a plus. To add to its durability, trans fat is also rela-tively inexpensive. Financially then, companies are acquiring an advantage from substituting monoun-saturated fat or polyunsaturated fat with trans fat. A third benefit of trans fat, more or less accepted, is that it provides a certain kind of texture or “mouthfeel.” Trans fat tastes good, in other words. This benefit is up for debate as many would argue that other, natural oils, such as canola and olive, provide the same if not a better taste. The critics make sense, I’ve never considered artificial straw-berry flavoring to taste better than a real straw-berry so why should trans fat taste better than other oils that have not been modified? One thing is for sure, while trans fat increases products’ shelf life it decreases that of the consumer.

So, to answer the question, why were they put in our food, it’s simple. It’s a reason that continues to keep many harmful products in public and widespread use today: trans fat is a money maker. It has created significant profit for the food industry for nearly a century due to its resilience and cheap price. Cutting out trans fat from the consumers’ diet would be like taking a cigarette from the hands of a five-pack-a-day smoker. Choosing to have trans fat in one’s diet should be like choosing to eat an apple instead of an orange, to wear pants instead of shorts. It’s a matter of individual choice. Right? In all fairness, until about the 1960s, it was believed by both the government and the people that the unsaturated fats of say margarine were actually better than the saturated fats of butter. Trans fat, which is an unsaturated fat, was not meant just to be a cheaper, more finan-cially attractive product for wholesalers and retail-ers; it was sought after as a way to create a health-ier alternative to saturated fats. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that trans fat’s true identity was made known and its toll evident. Thus, trans fat was a failed project and now we know, natural is always a better option than artificial.S o, where do we go from here? Ban these artificial, money making, terrible-for-anybody, big oops trans fats? After all, if companies would put trans fat in their food because it extends the shelf life of a product what else would they be willing to put in the food we consumers eat? Let’s say syn-

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thetic rubber becomes the new trans fat, will we keep this toxic substance in our food because it supposedly adds a more scrumptious taste and it’s relatively inexpensive? An exaggera-tion, I know, but if left to our own devices, can we count on everyone to take the necessary precautions to research and study certain products in order to make the right choices for themselves as well as their loved ones? Perhaps we do need a certain amount of “nannying “after all…But then again, would-n’t giving the state the power to authorize what we eat be a dangerous decision in itself? Giving the government this sort of power can lead to a trend of excessive regulation, breeding petty tyranny and an unchecked federal government. We wouldn’t want a resurrection of “The Big Brother” in Orwell’s 1984. Perhaps the ancient Chinese proverb of “The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be" applies even now in the 21st century.I’ll be honest, my opinion on this matter of trans fat has al-tered slightly from the beginning of this article until now. I see logical reasoning in both arguments…there must be some sort of compromise that both sides could respect. Perhaps setting tolerable limits for trans fat in food products? No. Even the most conservative amounts of trans fat can be detrimental to one’s health. The American Heart Association (AHA) recom-mends one’s daily intake of trans fat be limited to less than one percent of total calories and has even recommended that the government require nutrition facts to label the presence of trans fat on all commercial food products. (Note: if you want to avoid eating trans fat, pay attention to the nutrition facts label and know that ‘hydrogenated’ or ‘shortened’ are merely semantics for trans fat.)

Ok, compromise number two: educate the people and let them choose whether they will continue to eat trans fat or steer clear from them. We Americans value our rights and freedoms. Freedom of speech, the press, religion, etc. We’ve grown up with these set of ideals that have been so instilled in us that I still hear little kids scream, “I can do what-ever I want it’s a free country!” Americans have a rebellious nature, we can’t help it. With that said, most Americans aren’t just going to let the government take away their right to eat trans fat or use it in their food, even if it’s strictly prohibited and illegal. It just became illegal to drive and manually use your cell phone in California, but I’ll admit I don’t always follow that rule. I consider myself a very good driver, so why must I share the consequences of those that can’t handle vehicular multi-tasking?

Instead of efforts directed on banning trans fat, how about Trans Fat 101 being the main concern. People are ulti-mately going to decide for themselves what they’re going to do, so as long as they are at least informed on the risk they are taking and aware of the consequences, all we can do really is hope that they’ll make the right decision. Now, if the gov-ernment as well as non-governmental organizations are as concerned as they supposedly say they are for our health and safety, they will go beyond educating us and actually supply the people with healthy and affordable alternatives, and not just in economically well-off areas either. On CNN’s Black in Amer-ica, I recall a woman who said that she “can find a gun faster than a tomato” where she lived. Ridiculous. In case you didn’t know, those being affected the most by trans fat are minori-ties, specifically the African American population. Hello, Crisco? Primarily this is due to lack of access and affordability of healthier food options, but the problem also roots from poor eating habits. Frankly, we all need to get our act to-gether. Say no to trans fat!

So you decide right when you get into college that you’re going to make the most of it. Have a position in every interesting organization, go on excursions throughout the city, and even tackle the free gym. So where does studying abroad fit in the typical col-lege experience? If you’re like me, an English major dying to turn what I love, fashion, into a plausible career path, then studying abroad is the perfect way to gain experience and learn about a new culture. However, there are some tips to make sure you won’t be wasting your time or money.

Tip 1: You are going to another country to learn about a new and different culture. Try not to com-plain about things that are different like how McDonald’s in Paris or London doesn’t have a dol-lar menu. You’re going overseas! Try your best to learn the native language. It has been my experience that if you at make an attempt locals will be more willing to help you. Your goal should be to try something different and be a little adventurous without falling into old habits. (When in Rome, do what the Romans do really applies here!)

Tip 2: Accept that there are things that you will not be able to change. Many countries over seas do not have the electrical current of the U.S. This means you will either have to bring a converter or skimp on the electrical devices. You do not need two telephones, a Sidekick, your iPod, and laptop! Try to think of a piece that has more function rather than bringing all of them. Also, packing for overseas trips can sometimes be a nuisance. As a female, I happen to over pack thinking I need the freshest sneakers and all my stilettos. What you don’t think about is that bringing things you love is a BAD IDEA! Since they are easier to coordinate, try

Visas and Passports: The Journey be-fore the Journey

Irene Ojo-Felix

22

One of my first memories at GW is meeting three older students. Two of them were of West Indian parentage. The third defined herself as “just regular black.” As a West Indian, I had to laugh at this and I thought, so what am I? Irregular black? Now I find myself thinking about how my Caribbean identity sets me apart from the rest of the black community. Statistics show that a large propor-tion of black university students are first or second generation immi-grants from Africa and the Caribbean. According to the Washington Post more than a quarter of black students at selective universities are first or second generation immigrants; this is twice as large as the percent of immigrants in Black America overall. Some would say that we “immigrants” are taking away from African Americans’ rightful forty acres. Now the subject of the black immigration is more rele-vant than ever. With a presidential candidate who fits such defini-tions- being the son of an African man and an Ivy League graduate-certain questions are arising: Are immigrants threatening the ad-vancement of African Americans? Are we, in turn, being alienated from the black community?

Everything is based on perceptions: Who has a right to what? Who fits what ideals? Who serves whose interests? How and why? Acceptance to a position is based on merit, which blacks more easily attain in countries where they are among the majority, the leaders and the wealthy. Statistically, immigrant blacks have distinct advantages over non-immigrants in gaining acceptance to selective colleges and universities, including higher SAT scores, higher atten-dance of private schools and a better likelihood that one or both parents graduated from college. Acceptance is also based on how one presents oneself. Schools may perceive immigrants as hopeful and having less of a “chip” on their shoulders than their American counterparts. Whether or not this is true, accepting an immigrant feeds the ideal of a rainbow America. That is excellent news for those who believe that affirmative action is meant to create diversity. The image of a safe, “non-angry” black immigrant weaves nicely into the American fabric.

Interweaving with African Americans, however, may not be so easy. As a foreigner, I can only imagine what it must feel like for African Americans. When GW was established in 1821, African Americans were not even allowed to read. Yet here we are, almost two hundred years later with Affirmative Action and provisions fi-nally made for the descendents of American slaves. The Affirmative Action policy affords opportunities for career/ educational success to previously disadvantaged social groups (sometimes at the expense of other, deserving contenders, sparking controversy.) So these descen-dents click “send” on their Common App thinking they have found a tiny ray of vindication, only to find they have been displaced by the son of a Nigerian doctor or a Grenadian bureaucrat. Many will won-der if this is fair and if this is the intended purpose of affirmative ac-

packing neutrals, blacks, and grays, and then buy what you need there. Bring what you need and you’ll love yourself when you’re hauling it off the conveyor belt at the airport by yourself.

I know the hair situation is something that a lot of people, especially people of color, will always ponder. Ladies, opt for a hairdo that will last long enough and look beautiful! Fellas, if you feel comfortable with a friend or an overseas barber go ahead. Otherwise, grow it out and keep it moving.

Tip 3: This might be the most important thing when you want to travel for a long period of time. Get your visas, passports, and tickets ahead of time. It saves money and a migraine. Passports can take a while to be made and sent to you in the mail so it’s best to get them early in your pre-trip plans. Depending on the country you visit, visas can take up to a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Check with the consulate before you plan your trip to make sure what items you need to bring to the of-fice such as bank statements or notarized pa-pers. Both your visa and passport are your ID in different countries, so keeping them with you at all times is extremely important.

Tip 4: Unless you are going to countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, or any other place where the U.S. dollar is still of high value, get ready to spend exorbitant amounts of money on everything, especially those who want to visit Europe. Prepare ahead by working your tail off and the reward will be glorious I promise you. No one likes picking between cute Italian leather shoes and food (I would pick the former).

Tip 5: Enjoy yourself! So many people never get to go anywhere outside their state, let alone the country. Live, learn, laugh, but above all have fun!

There are so many other things that come into play when going abroad but I’ve found that experiencing sticks a lot more than telling. Get out there and see the world!

Definitions and DivisionsDaria Ann Martineau

Ole Talk

23

tion. Many people answer this last question ‘no,’ and several times they claim that the immigrant blacks have not suffered through African Americans’ history.

These dissenters should understand, however, that few people migrate because their lives back home are going well. I am hardly a refugee but I know in my native Trinidad I would not have the same opportunities America affords me. Remember there was slavery in the Caribbean -and, believe it or not, in Africa too. Furthermore if we want to talk about suffering we would have to go into the long list of struggles that various Afri-can nations have had to face in the last century alone for exam-ple genocide in Rwanda and Sudan, legal segregation in South Africa and political unrest in Zimbabwe. But this is not a compe-tition of who has struggled more.

The issue is: who deserves a place in America’s best schools? It has been said that when universities look for minority students their philosophy is “any old black will do.” Is it more important, then, for us to integrate or to distinguish ourselves? We continue to debate this as well as whether the aim of Af-firmative Action is to vindicate African Americans or to create a more diverse setting. Until we can answer such questions there can be no resolution to any possible intra-racial divisions.

If such divisions do, in fact, exist- if we as immigrants are a threat and thus, being alienated, then we have to see the divisions clearly. Perhaps we need to put in place or rather up-date our definitions: the new “black.” We must identify our-selves as students, as black people and in relation to one an-other. We must decide before an admissions director decides for us. Let us define, once and for all, “regular black.” Let us find out what these labels mean to all of us.

On Saturday I was given a popcorn bath. It alleviated my stress, cleansed me, and eliminated all the negativity, from the past and future, from my life. It was part of a Candomble (a religion brought to Brasil by African Slaves who were part of the sugar cane trade) ceremony at a Church called Sao Lazaro. The timing couldn’t have been better, considering the semester started for us the week before and I was so stressed out. I thought my Portuguese was getting better until I had my first class… in Portuguese! It was symbolic anthropology and I literally just sat there for two hours try-ing to understand something, anything! I have never been so frustrated in my life. It felt like I had taken two steps forward and then ran a mile backwards.

But as the Mae de Santos poured popcorn over my head I realized that this is all part of the cultural experience. Everyday you have to take the good with the bad. While be-ing in Brasil left me uncomfortable and frustrated at school, it allowed me to experience one of the most amazing cere-monies I’ve ever seen. In life, there is always a balance.

As part of the program, we’ve been studying a lot about Brasilian reality and what it really means to be Bra-silian. It has made me think a lot about what it means to be American and I’m discovering that I don’t really know. I find I have very little pride in America. I would go as far as to say that I’m almost embarrassed to say that I am American. Why? I have no idea. Luckily, I can pass for a Brasiliera (until I open my mouth!), so I don’t get that question all too often.

One of the most interesting things about the Bra-silian Reality, I’ve found, is that while everyone looks differ-ent (literally, Brasilians come in all colors and shapes), they are unified by their Brasilian identity. I wonder if some day Americans will be the same way. Maybe they are already and my lack of American pride has forced me to turn a blind eye.

While I have had my fair share of awkward and un-comfortable moments and conversations, I would not change my experience for anything in the world. Being here in Brasil has forced me to learn so much about myself. It has made me think about things that would never have crossed my mind. I’m learning that the world is a much bigger place than I have ever thought. Suddenly, all the things I used to stress about don’t seem so important. I’m gaining perspective, and that is priceless. Hopefully next time you hear from me, I will be teeming with excitement from all the pre-carnaval prepa-rations! Until then, um beijao de meu coracao para todo mundo!Tchau!

STUDYING ABROAD WITH SHOLEH GEULA

PART ii

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