Researchers have recently been pushing the anti-texting and driving
advertisements seemingly more and more everyday. Yet, there is something that
many more of us take part in that has been found to be much more dangerous on
the road.

A new study has been conducted by Erie Insurance Group. The study has
shown that drivers who daydream or are distracted at the wheel are five times more
likely to get in a fatal accident than those texting or participating in a phone call
while driving.

The study’s results showed that distracted drivers accounted for 62% of the
65,000 fatal accidents in the United States over the last two years whereas only 12%
resulted from texting and driving.

The top four forms of distracted driving, other than daydreaming, that came
up in the study were rubbernecking (looking at another accident that has already
taken place), having other occupants in the car, reaching for an object while driving,
and eating/drinking while driving. The study also proved that driving with pets,
operating the radio controls, and reaching for an ashtray were three other common
causes, yet not as common as the top four.

Officials describe distracted driving as, “any activity that takes your eyes off
the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off your primary task of driving
safely”. The study has been released as a measure to help drivers be aware of the
risk they take when engaging in activities such as this and hope to minimize the
number of fatalities in accidents in years to come.

As many know, North Korea has been making repeated accusations of military threat towards the United States and ally South Korea. This is a result of the long political discrepancies between the communist North and their enemies.

Recently, North Korea has severed communication ties with the South and United States, reopened nuclear weapon manufacturing plants and nullified the armistice agreed upon in the 1950’s in the Korean War.

The United Nations has also been trying to intervene in the matter, urging the North not to test or manufacture nuclear weapons. Son of Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un has blatantly disregarded the UN’s sanctions on nuclear production despite threats of military intervention.

Is this all hype? Or is the North serious? Seems to be a bit of both.

The situation feels a lot like the North flexing to gain military superiority because of the length of the threats without any action being taken.  Also, the North has attempted to photoshop images to make their technology seem greater than it really is. In addition, many Internet jokes have come about as a result of the North’s ability to stand up to it’s threats.

This being said, the South or United States’ governments are not treating the threats lightly. The United States and South Korea have been training together regularly on the Asian peninsula as a preparation for assault in case of an attack. Also, the United States has increased the defense missile programs on the West coast to prevent a nuclear device from being able to reach the mainland. They have added over 30 military defense systems along the coast, in Alaska and Hawaii.

Will there be a new war developing? Only time will tell. South Korean officials are preparing for an attack at any moment but the nature of the situation leaves it up to debate if any action will be taken.

Below is the photoshopped image of North Korea’s “hovercrafts”:

Who’s still looking for a way to finish up those last few Cincinnatus hours?
Or who is just looking for a new place to volunteer? I know of an amazing company
in Blue Ash that everyone should experience at least once before they graduate. It’s
called Matthew 25 Ministries, and it’s an incredible outreach effort that has helped
hundreds of communities all over the world. It’s all based right here in Cincinnati. I
am continuously shocked to find out how few people know about this place!
Founded in 1991 by local priest Wendell Mettey, Matthew 25 Ministries has
flourished from a small group of people carrying suitcases with supplies to a few
underdeveloped countries into a massive movement that ships millions of pounds
of goods around the world every year. And it’s still expanding! Now involved in over
35 different countries, M25M responds to need wherever it lives. Natural disasters,
poverty, disease, hunger, you name it and Matthew 25 is there. It’s hard to believe
the impact that a single warehouse in Blue Ash can have on desperate people living
miles and miles away.

Matthew 25 couldn’t exist without its dedicated volunteers and staff. I have
been going there for a few years now and there is a reason I keep going back. It’s
impossible not to meet someone new and interesting every time you go to sort
donations like clothes, toys, games, kits, and even paint. Every single volunteer has
an amazing story that is unique and interesting. There are college and high school
students, older folks, and even children who take time out every once in a while to
gather at Matthew 25 and give as much or as little time as they have to help out.
Not religious? Neither am I. The beauty of Matthew 25 is that you don’t have
to be a devout Catholic (or even Christian at all) to volunteer there. All they ask is
that you take an initial tour of the facility (which is AMAZING) and then it’s off to
work! You can come and go as you please during open hours, and free water and
snacks are always provided in the kitchen. Listen to music while you sort or get to
know your fellow volunteers! Don’t have time to volunteer? Matthew 25 is always
accepting donations.

For more information, visit www.m25m.org or call them at 513-793-6256
with any questions. Come and go whenever you please, bring friends and family,
learn something new, and do something incredible for those less fortunate than you.
It seems to be good to be true, but it really is that simple! I hope to see you there!

By: John Franklin

It is an unfortunate truth that more often than not, the quality of a band is inversely
proportional to the hygiene and physical appearance of its fanbase. I’m certainly no exception;
after all, I have great taste in music, and I’m so unattractive, the only extracurricular I can
participate in is radio. All of this has made me question our society’s insistence of the supremacy
of concerts over studio album. Really, paying a minimum of twenty dollars to go to a crowded
facility to hear lower quality versions of songs you enjoy, while standing around people whose
bathing patterns are, at best, sporadic, seems like a bit of a tough sell. But on Sunday, March 3 rd,
I was granted an opportunity to fully appreciate the pleasure to be had in live music.

Now I had been to plenty of concerts before then, and I admit I did enjoy them. But
before I saw They Might Be Giants that day, I did not fully appreciate what makes a live show
worth going to. For those unfamiliar with them, They Might Be Giants is a band formed in 1982
whose style ranges from eccentric to experimental, occasionally branching out into “out there.”
Although highly flexible, they have always maintained a coherent style and tone in their music,
providing clever lyrics that are disarming, stimulating, and almost always eerily relatable. Most
importantly, they are wildly fun. TMBG has been around for a little more than 30 years, and not
surprisingly, has a wide range of fans. One thing I noticed on Sunday was that parents would
come with their children, with both groups being diehard fans. I think this was central to what
made the concert so great, and here’s why.

Unlike most writing or graphic arts, music is a performance. When you’re at a concert,
the creator, the very reason you are there, is right in front of you. There is a connection between
the performer and the audience, and because of this, the experience has less to do with the art
itself, and more to do with the connection between the creator and the witness. This means the
audience has just as much of an impact on what you experience as the performer. This doesn’t
mean that the audience and performer have equal responsibilities though. The band controls and
unites the audience in such a way that draws everyone in to the event. We ourselves are another
instrument for them to entertain us with. What made this particular concert so wonderful was the
skill that John and John, the band’s founders, had in bringing everyone into the spirit of things.
It didn’t matter that not everyone had showered that day, or that a lot of folks there looked older
than my parents. What mattered was the energy we all shared in the cramped but cozy Madison
Theater, watching one of our favorite bands perform with bass clarinets and puppets.

After that Sunday, simplifying the differences between concerts and studio albums to
“one is better than the other” seems arbitrary. You’re just as likely to listen to a sickeningly

banal studio album as you are to go to an embarrassingly rough live performance. It’s a matter of
playing to the strengths of the activity, and in concerts, it’s bringing the audience into the energy
of the music. Because with any music, you don’t “just” play a song.

By Tyler Harris

After arriving at the Mad Frog to see Wheels perform, I was told by the lead singer
of the opening band, Rosedale, that Wheels had to cancel the show due to the
snowstorm. Needless to say, I was disappointed. I decided to stick around to see if
the opening band would still deliver a good show, and they did not disappoint. The
local band had three members: two guitarists, one of whom was the lead singer,
and a drummer. They reminded me of Blink-182 the way the three of them equally
provided for the overall sound, but their music had a Mayday Parade kind of flow.
You know, that angsty teenage heartbreak mojo. The band kept the audience’s
attention, even after everyone slowly realized that Wheels wasn’t showing up.
The one song that stuck out to me was a track they titled “Online Venting” that
was accompanied by great lighting effects and exceptional use of a microKorg
synthesizer. Overall I give the show a 4 out of 10, but 2 extra credit points for being
put on the spot at the last minute and managing to deliver a decent headlining
performance.

Los Angeles based rapper and producer, Tyler, The Creator, held the first show
of his ‘Wolf’ tour on Tuesday, and it was wonderfully ratchet. The show was sold
out, which Tyler mentioned on stage was a surprise to him, because he didn’t think
anyone in Ohio listened to his stuff. The music started off with Taco Bennett playing
some hard rap music, followed by Tyler rolling in from offstage on a desk chair.
Tyler’s music is very loud and offensive, so needless to say, the venue was packed
wall to wall with a very rowdy crowd. The songs chosen for the lineup included
songs from all of his albums, including his upcoming album Wolf, and especially his
first album, Bastard. He only took the stage for about an hour and a half, but he was
able to perform many songs in that time because he tended to only play the first
half of each song. The highlight of the concert would have to be when a fan threw
something on stage and Tyler said, “Is that cheese?! Who threw cheese on stage?”
and laughed hysterically.

“Spring Breakers” features a lot of the things you’d expect – a little bit of dubstep, thanks to Skrillex;
bouncing breasts; beer; bongs; a couple lines of cocaine – but fans of Harmony Korine’s work know that
boobs and drugs will be the least of worries for those who are easily offended.

Korine’s latest film has been hyped up and talked about since Disney stars Selena Gomez and Vanessa
Hudgens were cast alongside James Franco as a white rapper and drug dealer. Throw Ashley Benson of
ABC Family’s hit show “Pretty Little Liars” in the mix and the media had a field day.

Benson, Gomez, Hudgens, and Rachel Korine (the director’s wife) portray Faith, Brit, Candy, and Cotty
– no, they aren’t strippers – four friends who are bored of and depressed by their college lives in their
small home town. The girls stop at nothing to escape to Florida for spring break, where their worlds are
rocked by rapper and drug dealer Alien (Franco).

Over the film’s hour-and-a-half runtime, there is girl-on-girl action, a robbery, a jail stint, a strip club, a
drive-by shooting, and above all, guns, guns, and guns. James Franco plays Britney Spears’ “Everytime”
on the piano as the spring breakers twirl around with guns in pink ski masks. Oh, and Gucci Mane stars
as Franco’s nemesis.

“Spring Breakers” is, in a word, ridiculous, and with the right mindset, hilarious. Franco drawling “sprang
break fo’eva” ad nauseum does not cease to be funny. Vanessa Hudgens uttering the line “Seeing all this
money makes my [expletive] wet” is movie gold.

What makes “Spring Breakers” compelling is that it carefully treads a thin line between satire and self-
aware comedy. Korine simultaneously mocks the youth culture that glorifies drug culture, hedonism,
and thug life, while also taking it to an entirely new level.

It’s not for everyone – word of mouth suggests that the film is not so popular – but fans of Korine’s work
will appreciate “Spring Breakers,” which is tame by his standards. With its neon visuals, hilarious script,
girls-gone-wild stars, and an air of controversy, “Spring Breakers” will surely earn cult classic status.

Staceyann Chin Performance: Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:00pm, Catskeller:

Staceyann Chin is a poet, performing artist, and LGTBQ rights political activist for fifteen years. Not only is this published poet recognized in the Washington Post and New York Times, her story of growing up in Jamaica as a homosexual has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Chin will be performing FREE and also signing for her memoir this Tuesday.

UC SLUTWALK 2013: Wednesday, April 3rd, 12:00pm-2:30pm, McMicken Commons:

The slutwalk is an international protest movement against rape culture, victim blaming, and slut blaming. The program was initiated by a police officer stating a women’s clothes determine whether she will be raped or not. This anti-slut shaming statement is to make an impact and visual stance to demonstrate UC students that are against clothing’s automatic consent and stand firm against blaming women for their sexuality.

Relay for Life: Friday, April 5th to April 6th, 5:00pm -Noon, McMicken Commons:

Thousands of UC students are coming together to raise hope for cancer! Everyone is walking in the American Cancer Society Relay because they are all there for the same reason. Feel the power and show your support!

Unresolved Eunomia Spring Fashion Show: Friday, April 5th, 7:15pm, Fifth Third Arena:

A collaboration of NSBE, 4A, Shades of You, and RHA are bringing you the hottest and latest fashion trends in a FREE fashion show presentation in Fifth Third Arena.

Lupe Fiasco with Kirko Bangz: Saturday, April 6th, 8:00pm, Fifth Third Arena:

Lupe Fiasco will be HERE, on campus, LIVE this Saturday for the PAC Spring Concert! Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for students from other schools! Find out more information HERE. 

Today is the day!! The Cincinnati Red’s Opening Day game is TODAY at 4:10 PM. The Reds are playing the L.A. Angels.

All day long before the game, Cincinnati will be the home to multiple celebratory events.  The second annual opening day block party on the corner of Joe Nuxhall Way and Freedom Way. The block party started at 11 AM and is free to attend!  The 94th annual Findlay Market Parade will also happen again this year.  The parade is set to start at noon.

Joe Torre will throw the ceremonial first pitch for the game. Torre was the manager for Team USA at the 2013 World Baseball Classic.   A. John Winfrey, a Cincinnati Firefighter, will sing the National Anthem. Also, The Mistics, a local quartet, will perform God Bless America.

The opening day game marks the 19,999^th game in Cincinnati Reds’ history. So when you get done with class today, head downtown and celebrate with the city of Cincinnati on one of our biggest days of the year!!

GO REDS!!

“ Monday, April 1 “

x EQUATOR BEAR [jazzy power pop / tango till you're sore]
https://www.facebook.com/EquatorBear?ref=ts&fref=ts

o GROVE CITY [narrative multifarious folk music]
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grove-City-the-band/247582075379242?ref=ts&fref=ts

“ Monday, April 8 “

x ISAAC JOEL [of Healing Power (formerly Pomegranates)]
http://isaacjoel.bandcamp.com/

o JOEY COOK [of Healing Power (formerly Pomegranates)]
http://firs.bandcamp.com/

“ Monday, April 15 “

x DIVING BELL [electronically-manipulated saxophone + live modular computer programming + percussion]
http://jerodsommerfeldt.com/diving-bell/

o SHAYNA DULBERGER QUARTET [New York City's finest avant jazz musicians]
http://www.shaynadulberger.com/

“ Monday, April 22 “

x CARNAL UNIT [flattering synth pop song]
http://carnalunit.bandcamp.com/

o NORTH AMERICA [New Mexico New York wave]
http://northamericamusic.bandcamp.com/

“ Monday, April 29 “

x CLAIRE TIMMERMAN [American tradition of the human condition]
http://www.reverbnation.com/clairetimmerman

o WHITFIELD CROCKER [rocking chair music by Benjamin Thomas of The Happy Maladies]
http://danielsmyth.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/people39.jpg