Tiffany Baez
Contributing Writer
(MIAMI)- Let’s face it; the music industry is competitive. There are hundreds, even thousands of artists who work hard to make it to the top. Some may say it’s a matter of luck, while others insist it’s all about talent and knowing the right people. Rising artist, Deniro Farrar on his Bow Down Tour with Denzel Curry, explains his journey on making it in the industry along with a few fun facts.
Where are you from?
-Charlotte, North Carolina
How long have you been in the Industry?
-Since 2010.
What advice do you give to aspiring artist?
-You get out what you put in. In order to see yourself succeed, you got to be able to but in 100 percent effort.
What made you want to start your career?
-God gave me the talent, and I’ve always loved music.
What’s the most difficult part of your career?
-Leaving my sons and family.
What is the most enjoyable part of going on tour?
-Getting to do what I love, performing.
Are you working on anything new?
-Yes actually, I’m working on a new EP with Ryan Hemsworth.
Who would be your dream artist to tour with?
-Kendrick Lamar and PartyNextDoor.
What are some artist that you listen to in your spare time?
-James Blake, Purity Ring, Little Dragon, Coldplay, PartyNextDoor.
What is your all time favorite food?
-Alfredo!!
Which artist would you say inspires your work?
-2Pac
What’s an interesting fact about you?
-I don’t smoke or drink and I have no piercings.
Do you have a quote that you live by?
-He who lives in fear lives not.
Any hobbies?
-I like exercising and running.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
-I live my life a moment at a time I never know what life will throw at me.
Deniro Farrar has a burning passion for his career as a performer, and he definitely couldn’t have made it alone. Throughout the interview he would reiterate how his kids are a huge impact on his career, being his biggest inspiration.
As we concluded the interview, he introduced me to his friends whom were all on tour with him and described how each one had a specific duty: cameraman, merchandiser, driver and promoter. Hence, there’s more than what meets the eyes.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
iPhone Announcement
Ryan Serpico
Staff Writer
Apple held their annual iPhone event in the Flint Center recently, the very same place where Steve Jobs announced the original Macintosh 30 years prior, to announce their latest incarnation of iPhone along with their newest product, the Apple Watch.
“Today we are launching the biggest advancement in the history of iPhone,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook at the beginning of the Keynote. Apple introduced not one new iPhone on Tuesday, but two, a 4.7–inch iPhone 6 and a 5.5–inch iPhone 6 Plus. Both feature an enlarged screen in comparison to the previous generation iPhone 5S, where the only choice was a 4-inch model.
Both iPhone 6 variants feature a new curved design that tosses out the sharp edged design language that the past two generations featured, while also being thinner and lighter than the prior generation. Inside, both feature an improved processor, improved cameras and an all new barometer sensor to measure elevation while running.
The internals within both new variants are identical to each other, besides the iPhone Plus featuring optical image stabilization, which uses hardware to stabilize shaky photos instead of software image stabilization that the standard iPhone 6 still uses. The iPhone 6 Plus also has improved battery life over the standard iPhone 6 by a couple of hours while browsing the web over LTE.
Apple also revealed their own mobile payment solution that they dub Apple Pay, which allows iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users to use their phones to pay for real world items in physical stores. Apple Pay makes use of the near field communication (NFC) chip that comes with the new iPhones to communicate with readers on merchant’s registers to pay for the items they want. An advantage over normal plastic debit and credit cards that they hit hard on was security, because in order to actually use your card you must authenticate every purchase with your fingerprint. So if a user loses their iPhone, they do not have to worry about their credit card information getting stolen because the thief cannot replicate your fingerprint.
After showing off all the new features of the new iPhone, Tim Cook started reviewing what they had announced for the day, but Cook was far from over and made it clear when he said that he had “one more thing” to share with everyone. That thing was the long rumored Apple Watch, Apple’s first new product since the iPad which was announced back in 2010.
The Apple Watch features three ways of input: digital touch (which is what is used now in modern smartphones), “force touch” which uses electrodes around the screen to differentiate a tap from a hard press to bring up alternative menus, and a digital crown—a knob on the side of the watch that acts not only as a home button, but also as a way to scroll through lists and zoom in and out of apps like maps.
Health and fitness was shown off as a predominant feature of the Apple Watch. With its heart rate monitor and M8 processor, the Apple Watch measures your steps and elevation without much effect on battery life. The device also features a new way of communicating with others by actually enabling you to send your heartbeat to a loved one if you are away from each other.
The Apple Watch features much variation with its two sizes of three different models of Apple Watch. There is the standard Apple Watch, which features a hard to scratch sapphire screen and stainless steel enclosure, the Apple Watch Sport that has the same screen protection as the iPhone, with an aluminum enclosure, and the Apple Watch Edition which is the same as the standard Apple Watch besides the fact that it’s made of 18 karat gold. You can also customize the watchbands that the Apple Watch has with the six different bands that Apple offers.
Like other smart watches on the market, the Apple Watch will allow you to view your notifications on your wrist and act on them, rather than pulling your phone out every time you hear your phone make a sound. Examples of this include replying to your friend’s text by using your voice, or getting directions from the Maps app. What is really different, though, is that you will be able to distinguish whether to go left or right, while driving, without looking at your wrist because the watch will create distinct haptic vibrations that will tell you which way to turn.
Apple says that the Apple Watch will go on sale early 2015 at a base price of $349.
Staff Writer
Apple held their annual iPhone event in the Flint Center recently, the very same place where Steve Jobs announced the original Macintosh 30 years prior, to announce their latest incarnation of iPhone along with their newest product, the Apple Watch.
Both iPhone 6 variants feature a new curved design that tosses out the sharp edged design language that the past two generations featured, while also being thinner and lighter than the prior generation. Inside, both feature an improved processor, improved cameras and an all new barometer sensor to measure elevation while running.
The internals within both new variants are identical to each other, besides the iPhone Plus featuring optical image stabilization, which uses hardware to stabilize shaky photos instead of software image stabilization that the standard iPhone 6 still uses. The iPhone 6 Plus also has improved battery life over the standard iPhone 6 by a couple of hours while browsing the web over LTE.
Apple also revealed their own mobile payment solution that they dub Apple Pay, which allows iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users to use their phones to pay for real world items in physical stores. Apple Pay makes use of the near field communication (NFC) chip that comes with the new iPhones to communicate with readers on merchant’s registers to pay for the items they want. An advantage over normal plastic debit and credit cards that they hit hard on was security, because in order to actually use your card you must authenticate every purchase with your fingerprint. So if a user loses their iPhone, they do not have to worry about their credit card information getting stolen because the thief cannot replicate your fingerprint.
Like other smart watches on the market, the Apple Watch will allow you to view your notifications on your wrist and act on them, rather than pulling your phone out every time you hear your phone make a sound. Examples of this include replying to your friend’s text by using your voice, or getting directions from the Maps app. What is really different, though, is that you will be able to distinguish whether to go left or right, while driving, without looking at your wrist because the watch will create distinct haptic vibrations that will tell you which way to turn.
Apple says that the Apple Watch will go on sale early 2015 at a base price of $349.
Ishion Hutchinson
Phillip McField
Staff Writer
Born in Port Antonio, Jamaica, Ishion Hutchinson not only wanted to make a career but a life out of literature. To him, the exact time where he knew that poetry would become a main staple of his identity was in high school; after submitting an essay to his teacher, his teacher handed it back to him, and said that it was a “long, boring narrative poem.” Luckily, the teacher decided to give Hutchinson a chance to hone this, inviting him to come afterschool to get it out of his system. “It was a punishment,” Hutchinson said, “that turned into a blessing.”
And what a blessing it turned out to be. With his talent and drive, Ishion Hutchinson earned a B.A. at the University of West Indies, a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) at New York University and a Ph.D. at the University of Utah.
His works have appeared in The Common, Poetry Review, Granta, The Huffington Post and other journals and anthologies. Several of his works went on to secure him the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award, a Whiting Writers’ Award and the Academy of American Poets’ Larry Levis Prize.
On Sept. 18, the Honors Committee and the Hannah Kahn Poetry Foundation brought Hutchinson to South Campus. Guests entered the Student Life center, some with journals and pens in hand and the rest with just the shirts on their backs, for a live reading from this award-winning author.
Barbara Nightingale, the South Campus Coordinator, introduced the renowned poet to an applauding audience. He greeted the audience and presented his book, “Far District: Poems,” to everyone before beginning.
For the next hour, attendees were treated to pieces from his book and brand new ones as well. Each of the 12 poems felt like they had weight behind them; the free verse style he chose for each poem conveyed the character’s emotions in an unrestrained way, making the stories feel genuine and real.
One poem, called “The Mother Tortured,” was a powerful catharsis about a boy’s sick mother. The boy watches helplessly as his mother goes mad before him and his sister. The mother is bound to the bed, grunting and screaming, and frothing at the mouth. In the end, the boy begs for his father, who abandoned them for the streets of England, to give his mother back.
The end of every piece was met with satisfied applause from the audience. Whether the guests came just to listen or to take notes from a professional, they got more than they expected that night. “I really enjoyed Mr. Hutchinson’s performance, even though I don’t really [indulge] in poetry myself,” said Michelle Barnett, a biology major. “I do listen to music, though.”
Demitrey Johnson, a music technology major, expressed interest in having the poet come back for another performance. “I thought it was refreshing to hear somebody with a different perspective than other poets, like his life growing up in Jamaica. I would definitely want him to come back here again.”
Barbara Nightingale found the event to be a success, and when asked about future literary events on South Campus, she wanted to have a few next semester. “We’re having several events planned, all the way until Poetry Month in April.”
Ishion Hutchinson is the Assistant Professor of English at Cornell University and a contributing editor to the literary journal, Tongue: A Journal of Writing & Art. His award-winning poetry anthology, “Far District: Poems” (2010), costs $15.99 on his website, www.ishionhutchinson.com.
Staff Writer
And what a blessing it turned out to be. With his talent and drive, Ishion Hutchinson earned a B.A. at the University of West Indies, a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) at New York University and a Ph.D. at the University of Utah.
His works have appeared in The Common, Poetry Review, Granta, The Huffington Post and other journals and anthologies. Several of his works went on to secure him the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award, a Whiting Writers’ Award and the Academy of American Poets’ Larry Levis Prize.
On Sept. 18, the Honors Committee and the Hannah Kahn Poetry Foundation brought Hutchinson to South Campus. Guests entered the Student Life center, some with journals and pens in hand and the rest with just the shirts on their backs, for a live reading from this award-winning author.
Barbara Nightingale, the South Campus Coordinator, introduced the renowned poet to an applauding audience. He greeted the audience and presented his book, “Far District: Poems,” to everyone before beginning.
For the next hour, attendees were treated to pieces from his book and brand new ones as well. Each of the 12 poems felt like they had weight behind them; the free verse style he chose for each poem conveyed the character’s emotions in an unrestrained way, making the stories feel genuine and real.
One poem, called “The Mother Tortured,” was a powerful catharsis about a boy’s sick mother. The boy watches helplessly as his mother goes mad before him and his sister. The mother is bound to the bed, grunting and screaming, and frothing at the mouth. In the end, the boy begs for his father, who abandoned them for the streets of England, to give his mother back.
The end of every piece was met with satisfied applause from the audience. Whether the guests came just to listen or to take notes from a professional, they got more than they expected that night. “I really enjoyed Mr. Hutchinson’s performance, even though I don’t really [indulge] in poetry myself,” said Michelle Barnett, a biology major. “I do listen to music, though.”
Demitrey Johnson, a music technology major, expressed interest in having the poet come back for another performance. “I thought it was refreshing to hear somebody with a different perspective than other poets, like his life growing up in Jamaica. I would definitely want him to come back here again.”
Barbara Nightingale found the event to be a success, and when asked about future literary events on South Campus, she wanted to have a few next semester. “We’re having several events planned, all the way until Poetry Month in April.”
Ishion Hutchinson is the Assistant Professor of English at Cornell University and a contributing editor to the literary journal, Tongue: A Journal of Writing & Art. His award-winning poetry anthology, “Far District: Poems” (2010), costs $15.99 on his website, www.ishionhutchinson.com.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Cholesterol Education Month
Phillip McField
Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again, people. The time when many set up an appointment for a lipid profile and modify their lifestyle in order to curb their LDL levels. The time when a juicy burger is substituted for an organic salad, and time to dust off the ole treadmill. No, this is not about New Year’s resolutions; this is about Cholesterol Education Month.
Every September, health professionals bring the dangers of poor dieting into the light with a whole month dedicated to teaching people about cholesterol. Medicines, exercising plans and other recommendations are posted on various sources to raise awareness.
The condition known globally as high cholesterol is an epidemic in the United States. Over 102 million American adults are living with this and only one-third of them actually get treatment. If left unchecked, high cholesterol can lead to a multitude of health problems like Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol is not limited to adults. Children that suffer from obesity, diabetes, or any sort of exposure to tobacco are at risk for this condition. Teens and young adults should also get screened every five years for preventive measures.
Despite the common belief that cholesterol is harmful in general, that is simply not the case. There are two types of cholesterol found in the body: HDL (High-density lipoprotein) and LDL (Low-density lipoprotein). HDL is the good one, providing cells with nutrients to keep them alive while its evil twin LDL blocks arteries with plaque while cackling and twirling its moustache.
Having an artery clogged is only a small danger when it comes to having high levels of LDL. If a piece of plaque were to break off, it would be carried throughout the bloodstream until it would get stuck, and as a result, a stroke or heart attack can occur.
Although it is best to keep a low LDL level, the ideal levels differ depending on a person’s susceptibility to heart disease. 130 mg/dL is the recommended target for the average American, but an individual that is at risk for heart disease should keep their levels below 100 mg/dL, while an individual at very high risk must keep their levels below 70 mg/dL.
Another danger of having high cholesterol is its lack of symptoms—you could have it right now and never truly know it. Because of this, health professionals advise patients to get a lipid profile (or a screening), especially if cholesterol problems are hereditary.
Thankfully, there are four different ways to fend off this condition:
1. Engaging in at least thirty minutes of physical activity a day can help keep cholesterol from rising. Preferred exercises are walking, jogging, biking and even gardening.
2. Keeping a healthy weight is a must. Being overweight or obese increases the amount of LDL in the blood.
3. Abstain from smoking, or quit as soon as possible. Cigarette smoke lowers HDL levels, increasing the chances of blood clots forming and damaging blood vessels.
4. Avoiding non-fatty foods is also a good strategy. Lean cuts of meat, oatmeal, fish and raw nuts are but a few healthy choices. Studies also show that consuming the chemical known as “flavonoids,” found in dark chocolate and red wine, lowers LDL levels (just keep the term “moderation” in mind).
For some, high cholesterol is an easy thing to manage, but for others it can be difficult. So hopefully this information can help those who are struggling to live a healthier lifestyle.
It’s that time of year again, people. The time when many set up an appointment for a lipid profile and modify their lifestyle in order to curb their LDL levels. The time when a juicy burger is substituted for an organic salad, and time to dust off the ole treadmill. No, this is not about New Year’s resolutions; this is about Cholesterol Education Month.
The condition known globally as high cholesterol is an epidemic in the United States. Over 102 million American adults are living with this and only one-third of them actually get treatment. If left unchecked, high cholesterol can lead to a multitude of health problems like Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol is not limited to adults. Children that suffer from obesity, diabetes, or any sort of exposure to tobacco are at risk for this condition. Teens and young adults should also get screened every five years for preventive measures.
Despite the common belief that cholesterol is harmful in general, that is simply not the case. There are two types of cholesterol found in the body: HDL (High-density lipoprotein) and LDL (Low-density lipoprotein). HDL is the good one, providing cells with nutrients to keep them alive while its evil twin LDL blocks arteries with plaque while cackling and twirling its moustache.
Having an artery clogged is only a small danger when it comes to having high levels of LDL. If a piece of plaque were to break off, it would be carried throughout the bloodstream until it would get stuck, and as a result, a stroke or heart attack can occur.
Although it is best to keep a low LDL level, the ideal levels differ depending on a person’s susceptibility to heart disease. 130 mg/dL is the recommended target for the average American, but an individual that is at risk for heart disease should keep their levels below 100 mg/dL, while an individual at very high risk must keep their levels below 70 mg/dL.
Another danger of having high cholesterol is its lack of symptoms—you could have it right now and never truly know it. Because of this, health professionals advise patients to get a lipid profile (or a screening), especially if cholesterol problems are hereditary.
Thankfully, there are four different ways to fend off this condition:
1. Engaging in at least thirty minutes of physical activity a day can help keep cholesterol from rising. Preferred exercises are walking, jogging, biking and even gardening.
2. Keeping a healthy weight is a must. Being overweight or obese increases the amount of LDL in the blood.
3. Abstain from smoking, or quit as soon as possible. Cigarette smoke lowers HDL levels, increasing the chances of blood clots forming and damaging blood vessels.
4. Avoiding non-fatty foods is also a good strategy. Lean cuts of meat, oatmeal, fish and raw nuts are but a few healthy choices. Studies also show that consuming the chemical known as “flavonoids,” found in dark chocolate and red wine, lowers LDL levels (just keep the term “moderation” in mind).
For some, high cholesterol is an easy thing to manage, but for others it can be difficult. So hopefully this information can help those who are struggling to live a healthier lifestyle.
Monday, September 1, 2014
“He’s Dead”
Damian Gordon
When you come out of a horror movie laughing, something has gone terribly wrong…or maybe right in this case.
This one of the very few horror movies that gives legitimate reasons for why the characters can’t leave or have a reason to be there. It’s not hard to feel sympathy for these characters because they’re not dumb teens tripping into Jason’s machete.
When everything starts to go wrong, everybody else but Scarlett is smart enough to want out. She has the power of being the lead actress, while everyone else with less screen time knows better— to fear for their lives.
Before it became somewhat of a joke, where the movie shines is in the character department. A sense of fear for many of these characters’ lives can be felt.
Papillion (François Civil) was the standout actor as his charisma carried the movie; he played the team’s guide and it would be hard for anyone to not want to follow him. I look forward to seeing him in other projects in the future.
A thing about these “found footage” movies is that when the interesting events start to happen, nothing can be seen because the camera is all over the place.
There are points throughout the movie where it’s going “hey, there’s so much scary stuff going on,” while shaking the camera. That’s great Movie, except nobody can see any of it and it feels like you’re hiding the fact that nothing’s actually going on.
“As Above, So Below” had some tension up to a certain point halfway through the movie, but then lost it due to the fact that nothing was happening and anything that did just received laughs from the audience.
The acting all around was very solid; it was just the dialogue that dragged it down sometimes. Some of the moments would have been frightening if there wasn’t a horrible line before it making the crowd giggle.
Scarlett enters a tomb to find a mummy lying on a table and says, “He’s dead.” Now, I may not know much about mummies, but one important fact about them is that they’re all dead.
Near the end, everything gets crazy and it feels like an amusement park’s fun house gone wrong. This is where the handy cam truly works in pulling the viewer.
In a claustrophobe’s worst nightmare, part of the movie features a trapped Benji, and I found myself squirming in the seat and even finding it harder to breathe.
As an adventure movie with horror elements, “As Above, So Below” would succeed. It takes the audience on an entertaining quest, but it’s not so much on the level of being a horror film.
This is a great date night movie. Its runtime is not long and whoever is scared of horror movies would definitely be able to watch this.
South Campus Bureau Chief
When you come out of a horror movie laughing, something has gone terribly wrong…or maybe right in this case.
“As Above, So Below” is about a team of explorers that search the catacombs of Paris, where they uncover the horrors beneath the streets they walk. Centering on Scarlett (Perdita Weeks), she uncovers a clue in Iran that leads her and others into madness.
This one of the very few horror movies that gives legitimate reasons for why the characters can’t leave or have a reason to be there. It’s not hard to feel sympathy for these characters because they’re not dumb teens tripping into Jason’s machete.When everything starts to go wrong, everybody else but Scarlett is smart enough to want out. She has the power of being the lead actress, while everyone else with less screen time knows better— to fear for their lives.
Before it became somewhat of a joke, where the movie shines is in the character department. A sense of fear for many of these characters’ lives can be felt.
Papillion (François Civil) was the standout actor as his charisma carried the movie; he played the team’s guide and it would be hard for anyone to not want to follow him. I look forward to seeing him in other projects in the future.
A thing about these “found footage” movies is that when the interesting events start to happen, nothing can be seen because the camera is all over the place.
There are points throughout the movie where it’s going “hey, there’s so much scary stuff going on,” while shaking the camera. That’s great Movie, except nobody can see any of it and it feels like you’re hiding the fact that nothing’s actually going on.
“As Above, So Below” had some tension up to a certain point halfway through the movie, but then lost it due to the fact that nothing was happening and anything that did just received laughs from the audience.
The acting all around was very solid; it was just the dialogue that dragged it down sometimes. Some of the moments would have been frightening if there wasn’t a horrible line before it making the crowd giggle.
Scarlett enters a tomb to find a mummy lying on a table and says, “He’s dead.” Now, I may not know much about mummies, but one important fact about them is that they’re all dead.
Near the end, everything gets crazy and it feels like an amusement park’s fun house gone wrong. This is where the handy cam truly works in pulling the viewer.
When the movie introduced Benji (Edwin Hodge), the token black guy, as soon as he came on screen, the first thought that came to mind was “R.I.P.”
In a claustrophobe’s worst nightmare, part of the movie features a trapped Benji, and I found myself squirming in the seat and even finding it harder to breathe.
As an adventure movie with horror elements, “As Above, So Below” would succeed. It takes the audience on an entertaining quest, but it’s not so much on the level of being a horror film.
This is a great date night movie. Its runtime is not long and whoever is scared of horror movies would definitely be able to watch this.
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