A glance at the Homecoming 2007 festivities

Last week UMass Dartmouth crowned it’s homecoming king and queen, Jon Gillen and Erin Dacey representing Theta Delta Chi. There were a total of 11 teams consisting of fraternities and sororities, student senate, 20 Cent Fiction, and habitat for Humanity, competing for the title.

Competitions ranged from a penny war in the Campus Center, where teams tried to collect the most pennies possible, to a tug-o-war competition, a kickball tournament and a balloon toss. Another major factor leading to the crowning of king and queen was the voting, which took place throughout the week.

The events culminated with a parade along Ring Road just before the homecoming game. During halftime, Gillen and Dacey were announced as the 2007 king and queen. Also notable were James Charest and Danielle Lattari representing Sigma Tau Gamma taking the award for most points cumulated during the competitions.

THE BEER BARON

A tasty pale ale Thompson would approve

By Gary Albert

Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Good people drink good beer.” Good beer is exactly what Flying Dog Brewery’s “Doggie Style” Classic Pale Ale encompasses.

The artwork on the label of all of Flying Dog Brewery’s selections may appear oddly recognizable to anyone familiar with the Gonzo’s writing. This is because the artwork on these bottles is by the same artist who has illustrated for the majority of Thompson’s work his close friend Ralph Steadman. In fact, according to the brewery’s website, Thompson was the one who introduced the artist to the brewery’s owner, another of Hunter’s close friends

While the Flying Dog Brewery was originally a brewpub built in the early 90’s in Aspen, Colorado (15 minutes from Hunter S. Thompson’s home), it expanded into a full brewery in Denver a few years later, and they now ship all over the United States. “Doggie Style” Classic Pale Ale is Flying Dog Brewery’s flagship beer. American Pale Ales usually have a moderate to high hop content, meaning they are usually on the more bitter side with piney-citrus flavors, while English Pale Ales are usually more balanced and buttery. This beer falls on the in-between mark and has won awards in both categories, but then again, that is its downfall.

Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale pours a dark amber color with a light creamy head that lingers for a few minutes before settling. The smell is nutty and roasted malts with hints of caramel. The first sip is very balanced tasting, roasted, nutty tasting malts with a bite of herbal hops that isn’t overpowering on either end. This beer is tasty!

Later sips have a more outdoorsy, woodsy grain taste to them. It is almost as if every sip is different. Each of the flavors seems to stand out at different points in the sip and as the beer warms, making for a very complex taste profile.

The mouthfeel of the beer is slightly dry, with medium carbonation and is very light on the tongue. I find myself saying that this is easy to drink, but after a few drinks the complexity might make it feel a little heavier than it is. The complexity in the taste may also attribute to you tasting completely different flavors than I do, as everyone’s palette is different.

I’m not really feeling the hops as much as I would have expected, or have seen with other standard pale ales. Maybe I’m just too used to the intense bitterness of IPAs and need to start trying more regular pale ales. With an alcohol percentage of 5.32%, it is average content for pale ale.

Appearance: 4/5

Smell: 3.25/5

Mouthfeel: 4/5

Drinkability: 4/5

Taste: 4.25/5 - Pushing 4.5

Overall: 4/5

Recommended to anyone, even you “light beer” drinkers, this is a solid, very flavorful, fairly complex “standard beer,”

If you have a recommendation for a beer for me to review (anything goes), want to comment on or criticize my review, or just have questions regarding beer, send me an email at UMDBeerBaron@gmail.com.

Kicking off the ‘ADP’ tour

Tori Amos dazzles her Boston ‘Posse’

By Megan Gauthier

On Thursday, October 18, and Friday, October 19, alternative singer/songwriter Tori Amos took to Boston’s Orpheum Theater to entertain her posse of fans, commonly referred to as “Toriphiles,” while on tour for her latest album “American Doll Posse,” which was just released on May 1 of this year.

Boston was the second stop on Amos’ three-month-long tour, which began on October 16 in Wallingford, Connecticut, and which will conclude with a performance in Los Angeles, California, on December 16.

Tickets for the concert at the Orpheum Theater ranged from $35 to upwards of $150, and the theater was completely sold out for Thursday’s show. “Gold ticket holders” who paid the most money were able to get a quick meet and greet with Tori two hours prior to the performance, but all who attended certainly got their dollars’ worth of entertainment from the sprite, lively Tori, who danced and gyrated around the stage all evening.

Amos’ tour is in promotion of “American Doll Posse” which is somewhat of a concept album and revolves around five alter-egos: Santa, a wispy blond who ponders the idea of beauty; Clyde, an edgy brunette who prefers to contemplate the idea of “potential;” Isabel, a Norwegian-esque blond, who delves into the concept of truth; Pip, who can only be described as “dark energy” in both looks and thought; and, of course, Tori herself, with her lustrous red hair and obsession with analyzing music. Each of her characters is responsible for having “written” a few songs on the album, and Amos chose to bring two characters to life during her show on Thursday.

The show was opened by UK-based guitarist/singer/songwriter Yoav, who is described as a fusion between Radiohead and Justin Timberlake. He played five singles from his debut album “Charmed and Strange,” which will be released on February 1, 2008. He charmed the audience with his hauntingly sweet voice and eerily mellow music, though his stage presence left a little to be desired. However, his style certainly compliments Amos’ musical tastes, and it is easy to see why she would have chosen him to follow her for the entire tour.

Amos opened the show by darting onto the stage as Clyde, dressed in a bright blue dress and accented by skin-tight leather pants which gleamed in the bright lights. The crowd went crazy as soon as she was visible, but she silenced them with the first heart-wrenching chord of the recognizable “Cruel,” from her fourth full-length album “The Choirgirl Hotel,” which was released in 1998.

“Clyde” performed seven songs, including “Bliss” from her 1999 album “To Venus and Back;” “Fat Slut,” “Smokey Joe” and “Teenage Hustling” from the new “American Doll Posse;” “Waitress” from her most popular album, “Under the Pink,” which was released in 1994; and, during her costume change, refrains of “Professional Widow,” from her third album “Boys for Pele” were heard in the background.

Before heading off to the changing room, Tori marched across the stage, flipping the audience off, much to their delight, and also motioning that they should kiss her behind. Much of the show revolved around Tori’s uninhibited raunch factor, as she grabbed her crotch, made lewd gestures, and rocked back and forth at the piano throughout the show.

She returned to the stage as Tori herself, decked out in a one-piece sparkly gold pantsuit, that only she could get away with and still look hot. Straddling a piano bench, Tori played two pianos simultaneously, while laser light effects danced across the ceiling of the old theater, and her familiar voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

During her second set, Tori played a total of 12 songs without a break. After her sparkly-gold return, she pleased the audience with the first single from “American Doll Posse,” the upbeat “Big Wheel,” which had everyone clapping and singing along. From there, she chose to take a more acoustic approach, dismissing her band members who had been rocking out on the guitar and drums while she played in the beginning of the show.

She played some of her older songs, much to the delight of Toriphiles who have been following her since the start of her solo career in 1992, back to her first album “Little Earthquakes.” She played “Crucify” from that album, as well as some of her other more mellow tunes, including “Concertina” from “To Venus and Back;” “Putting the Damage On” from “Boys for Pele” and “Jackie’s Strength” from “The Choirgirl Hotel.” She also played a few songs that were not released on any of her nine full length albums, including “Take to the Sky,” and “Etienne.”

One highlight of the night was when Tori spoke to the audience. She discussed how she had met the new Miss Massachusetts, who is coincidentally a student at UMass Dartmouth (Valerie Amaral), and how she had been inspired by the idea of the title. As a result of their meeting, Tori had scrambled to put together a song in honor of Miss Massachusetts for the show, and she played it for an amused audience, throwing in references to Boston and Donald Trump, which had everyone laughing.

She performed a few more songs, including “Code Red” from her new album before taking a bow and “Taking to the Sky,” but quickly returned for her first encore, during which time she played the incredibly popular “Precious Things,” from her first album, balancing it with the performance of “Digital Ghost” from her new album.

Due to the loud whistles, cheering and clapping which rang throughout the theater, Tori soon returned, bounding across the stage in her pointy high heels for her second and final encore of the night. She bent down and let audience members in the front row touch her hands before heading back to her seat at the piano. She capped off the night with “Bouncing Off Clouds,” a favorite from “American Doll Posse,” and “Hey Jupiter,” a mellow ballad from her album “Boys for Pele,” before disappearing for good.

Overall, the show was highly entertaining, between Tori’s antics and the visual effects provided by laser lights. The audience was well behaved, and remained absolutely silent while Tori was playing, lest they miss one beautiful note produced by her classically-trained fingers. Excitement was thick in the air before the show began, and it followed all audience members out into the street and onto the subway.

Rumor has it that Amos, who currently resides in England with her husband, sound engineer Mark Hawley and their daughter, seven-year-old Natashya Lorien, will be taking a break from touring after the completion of the “American Doll Posse” Tour to work on a musical in the UK, though nothing is set in stone.

For more information on Tori Amos, visit www.toriamos.com – maybe you, too, will become a Toriphile! And for information on her opening act Yoav, visit www.yoavmusic.com. For information on upcoming shows in the historic Orpheum Theater, visit http://www.tickco.com/venue_schedules/orpheum theater_boston.htm.

Pink Floyd laser show lights up the night

By Megan Gauthier

On Friday, October 12, SAIL hosted a trip to the Pink Floyd Laser Light show, held at the Boston Museum of Science. Forty-five students met at 6 p.m. to take a bus into Boston, where they would be left to their own devices until the start of the laser show at 10:30 p.m.

Students over the age of 21 went to bars to watch the Red Sox games, while many others opted to walk around Boston and take in the sights, while still others chose to buy a pass to the museum and look at the exhibits.

Everyone gathered at the Planetarium at the appropriate time, and were ushered into an IMAX-like theater room, which is normally used for the viewing of constellations and stars. The chairs in the theater are half-reclined, making it easier to lean back and take in the sights. The room was set up in a large circle, with the laser projectors mounted in the center. The lights dimmed and lasers began to dance over the entire ceiling of the theater, following the rhythms of Pink Floyd’s concept/opera rock album, “The Wall,” which was released in 1979.

The concept behind the album is the biography of a fictional character named “Pink” who is “hammered” and beaten down throughout his life by his over-protective mother, his abusive teachers, and a wife who cheats on him. The idea of “the wall” is that Pink creates it in his imaginary world to protect him from outside influences. Every bad experience in Pink’s life is considered just “another brick in the wall.”

Much of the story is illustrated in the laser show, beginning with Pink’s birth. The Museum creates laser images that convey the story, such as a hammer with a face, bricks being placed to construct the wall, and metaphoric illustrations of other characters who affect Pink (a judge in the show is drawn as a backside with a face on it), while also integrating the traditional patterned lasers, which are reminiscent of Windows Media Player or ITunes visualizers.

The combination of the ethereal music and the visually mesmerizing colors and shapes make for an interesting evening. The show runs for fifty minutes, but because the show is so engrossing, it feels like mere seconds before it ends.

For more information on Pink Floyd and their other albums, visit their official website at www.pinkfloyd.co.uk.

The Boston Museum of Science hosts laser shows for Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” nearly every Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. The Museum also hosts other laser shows, including “Laser Beatles,” “Laser Zeppelin,” “Laser US” and “Laser Rock ‘70’s.” The cost is $9 for adults.

Fore more information on the Laser shows, or the Boston Museum of Science in general, visit http://store.mos.org.. To locate information about the Laser shows, scroll the page down to “Laser Shows,” located on the left-hand site, and select the show you are interested in. A calendar with dates and times will be available for each show.

MATT'S UNKNOWN MUSIC CORNER

And now for something completely different...

By Matt Meylikhov

Okay, this week you’ll notice something a little different. I like to promote lesser known bands that I appreciate and respect, but that doesn’t mean I only listen to this type of music. I listen to so much stuff, and a lot of it includes popular music.

The only thing is, I wasn’t sure if the bands I wanted to talk about today were known or not, since where I come from, everyone knows these bands, but I grew up in an environment that is mostly “scene” oriented.

So I tweaked the title so that I could discuss two bands today, both of whom have brand new albums out that I think are worth taking a look at.

The first band I want to tell you about is Say Anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have heard of this band. With their break out singles, “Alive with the Glory of Love” and “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too!” they have really increased their fan base with catchy lyrics, beats, and melodies.

“Alive with the Glory of Love” was even featured on the season finale of the hit television show “Scrubs.” But most scene kids have known about Max Bemis and his crazy train for quite some time now. And somehow, despite how much he keeps screwing us over, we love him.

You see, Max Bemis is insane. Literally. He has a severe mental disorder that has caused the band to cancel tours while Max goes to the hospital/rehab. Every time I have attempted to see them live, the show has been cancelled due to Max’s mental instability. The last time I had an opportunity to see Say Anything, I decided not to buy tickets because I figured he would just cancel again. But lo and behold, he actually played that time, so looks like the joke is on me.

But it’s this element of his damaged psyche that makes Say Anything what it is. The name of the band is not only from the classic John Cusack movie, but it’s also a reference to Max’s inability to censor himself. Say Anything has some of the most honest lyrics you will ever hear.

In their first major release, “…Is A Real Boy,” the liner notes tell of how the album is a concept album of Max going insane and finding himself unable to hold back his feelings, leading to the devastation and ruin of his own life, which lead to violence, a lot of drug use and Max’s girlfriend leaving him.

The last song “Admit It!!!” is merely a spoken word rant by Bemis in which he calls out all the stereotypical scene kids for all their stupid habits before admitting that he is guilty of the same things.

And now, Max has finally calmed down and gained a bit of sanity long enough to put out a brand new, double disc album, “In Defense Of The Genre.” Featuring an insane amount of guest artists (including Pete Yorn, My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, New Found Glory’s Jordan Pundik and Chad Gilbert, Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba, Taking Back Sunday’s Adam Lazzara and Fred Mascherino, Anna Waronker, DJ Swamp, Bayside’s Anthony Raneri, former Rainer Maria singer Caitlin De Marrais, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, The Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba, Saves the Day’s Chris Conley, Underoath’s Aaron Gillespie and The Starting Line’s Kenny Vasoli) and 27 new songs, this album packs quite a punch.

It’s rather a lot take in. But due to the size of the album, that leaves something for almost every pop fan to enjoy. Whether that is the ridiculously catchy song, “Baby Girl, I’m A Blur,” or the high octane “People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist,” or maybe one of the slower songs like “Spores,” this album packs it in there.

It is debatable whether Max successfully pulled this endeavor off or not. I have had this album for about 2 weeks, and still have not been able to fully take it in. I do not honestly know where I sit on it.

I was a big fan of “…Is A Real Boy,” and even though I like Say Anything, I feel 27 songs may be too much. But what I do greatly appreciate is the effort that went into making this. Most artists are comfortable with writing 10 songs, maybe a couple bonuses, and putting it out there. But Max actually wrote out 27 songs to catch every emotion of the story he wanted to tell, and that is commendable.

So for the price of any regular CD, it’s quite a steal and a worthwhile check out if you’re into the pop-punk style of music. I’d recommend it. So give a listen at http://myspace.com/sayanything.

Now let’s switch the spectrum up a bit. I need to take some time to talk about one of the greatest bands out there making music right now. And I really mean this. These guys are some of the best people, have some of the most talent and really know what it means to be a modern day rock back. They will always have an incredible amount of respect from me and will always be one of “my” bands to me. I am talking about none other than Thrice.

Part of me feels like that should be enough. I should just say Thrice, and you should know exactly who I am talking about and what they do. Unfortunately, I can’t rely on that, but where I grew up, EVERYONE knew Thrice, even the kids not into “scene” music.

I am sure Thrice has broken out a bit more because the tours they conduct are insanely big these days, but Thrice is literally one of the few bands I would ever consider going to an arena to see. I don’t usually like big shows like that.

The last time I went to an arena show was for Taking Back Sunday and that was the last time I ever saw that band, and their first release was very iconic for myself when it came out. They have changed, but Thrice has not.

Thrice formed in 1997 with the line up it still has today: Dustin Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi and brothers Riley and Eddie Breckenridge. Since forming, they have traveled the globe and put out six full albums and two EPs, all of which I have comfortably sitting at home in my collection.

They have also been featured on several compilations and soundtracks. And in 10 years, they have never lost there way, never “sold out” and have never compromised any of their artistic integrity in any way, shape or form.

So let’s do a quick run down on their past releases before I discuss the latest: We start with “Identity Crisis” of 2001. This album is essentially a rock-metal album, featuring lots of riffing and screaming (screaming that only grew greater in strength and could later help personify the band).

It also showcases Dustin’s penmanship as a lyric writer. Take a look at the opening words to the album: “Image marred by self-infliction/Private wars on my soul waged/Heart is scarred by dual volitions/Juxtaposed and both engaged/Kindle flame, a test of faith/Pray help me see it through/I put all my trust in you.” Now, for a typical writer, you might get the line “I put all my trust in you,” but the rest of it? No. I don’t think so.

A year later the band released “The Illusion Of Safety.” As far as things go, this CD helped most people define Thrice’s music: heavy riffs throughout the song in a post-hardcore fashion, less emphasis on solos and lots of great screaming.

Dustin, who switches between singing and screaming quite frequently, is one of the best lyricist/vocalists out there, in my opinion. I can still remember the day that I picked up “The Illusion Of Safety” and how happy I was to bring it home. It’s still one of the best records in my collection.

If you don’t believe me, just hop on your computer and find the tracks: “See You In The Shallows,” “Deadbolt,” and “So Strange I Remember You.”

Next year, they released “The Artist In The Ambulance.” OH, what a record. I don’t think I can honestly praise it enough. The title/title track are based on writings from an author by the name Al Burian, analyzing the role of artists in society and comparing them to EMTs; an EMT can physically lift you off the ground to save your life, and a musician can do it emotionally if the right songs are written.

If you are not at least a little intrigued about the contents of the CD now, I’m not sure what to tell you. This CD has so much depth to it and a lot of meaning behind it, which should captivate you on its own.

In 2005, Thrice released both a CD/DVD set about the band, with the CD featuring b-sides, live material and the album “Vheissu.” “Vheissu” is a reference to the novel V., and the search for a mysterious entity, one whose possible name was Vheissu. The album is there most experimental to date. It still holds true to their heavy nature and sound, but now they begin to experiment with other possible sounds. They use electronics, piano and some strings to vary the sounds.

Dustin was quoted in Alternative Press as saying that he wanted the new album to feel a bit like the soundtrack to a movie that did not yet exist. That feeling is definitely pulled off. There’s a lot to this album and it takes more than a couple listens to fully appreciate.

And now we come to 2007, and Thrice’s most adventurous release to date. “The Alchemy Index” consists of four EPs (2 released now, 2 released in April of next year), and each EP deals with a specific element: fire, water, earth and air.

Each song on the EP deals with a specific element. On top of that, each album has a central sound. Fire and Water are out right now, for your listening pleasure, with the sound of Fire being extremely heavy in the vein of their older work, and Water being electronic in the vein of “Kid A” by Radiohead. It is quite a marvel of a double set. “The Alchemix Index Vol. 1 and 2” captures a pure sound that is lost in today’s generation. What other artist besides Thrice can write songs focused only on fire and water? You would need Captain Planet to write music for that possibility to exist. The closest you can get is The Dear Hunter’s theoretical color project.

Each EP has only 6 songs, so released together they make one full album. It is more than worth your money.

So please give Thrice a listen over at http://myspace.com/thrice. It’s totally worth it. Seriously, just trust me.

As always, feel free to send me an e-mail (mmeylikhov@umassd.edu) with any band you feel is not talked about enough and a place for me to listen, and I’ll consider them for this column.

Maroon 5 rocks out in Boston

By Melanie Correia

Touring for their newest album, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long,” Maroon 5 was just at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on October 15. And I certainly hope that they will come back soon!

Originally named “Kara’s Flowers” in 1994, Maroon 5 was born in late 2001. With their first hit, “Harder to Breathe” off of the album “Song’s About Jane,” Maroon 5 took the public by storm, winning two Grammy awards.

Within their next album, the single “Makes Me Wonder,” was the “number one selling single and video on iTunes. It was also the number one selling album, with more than 50,000 digital pre-sales. After its release, the album broke iTunes sales records its week of release, selling over 101,000 albums,” as recorded by the iTunes site.

I’ll be the first to admit, I was one of the 50,000 pre-sales on iTunes, which meant that I could also pre-order the tickets to their concert last week.

Opening for Maroon 5 was well-known Swedish band, The Hives. The Hives alone captured the audience. Around since 1996, the Hives have had quite a rep. Known for their synchronized outfits, they didn’t fall through this time.

The Hives played songs from their next album, “The Black and White Album,” which has an anticipated release date of November 13. The band had an incredible amount of energy. Lead singer, Pelle Almqvist had so much energy, I was tired just from watching him.

He didn’t stop jumping, singing, running and climbing throughout the seven or eight songs they played in their opening act. The songs they played matched their pep and energy. They delivered quite a show, and I would recommend checking them out, as well.

Maroon 5 opened up with their latest hit, “Wake Up Call” on a stage littered with lights, instruments and a large backdrop of a broken M, the symbol pictured on their latest CD cover. The next hour and a half was nothing but non-stop energy, excitement and hits. They played a number of hits off of “Songs About Jane,” including “Harder to Breathe,” “This Love,” “Sunday Morning,” “Secret” and others.

Their songs had the audience on their feet singing and dancing. Lead singer Adam Levine even gave the thousands of fans there a singing lesson mid-way through the show, having them sing along with him and the band.

After the song, “This Love,” arguably their most well-known, Adam Levine told the audience that he was so lucky to be doing what he loved to do, and that it was the fans that allowed for this. He then said, “It’s one of the best feelings in the world to just write something down one day and then years later have thousands of people singing it back to you, with you.”

They played some favorites off “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long,” including “Wake Up Call” and “Makes Me Wonder,” their latest hits, along with “Won’t Go Home Without You,” “Can’t Stop,” “Little of Your Time” and others.

So regardless if you can go to their next show or not, Maroon 5’s newest CD is definitely something worth checking out. If you can get to a show, do it!

INDEPENDENT GAMER

‘Cave Story’ takes you underground

By Brett McCabe

There are two prevalent topics in the independent gaming scene: innovation and nostalgia. If developers aren’t trying to think of a new twist to put on a classic genre, then they are attempting to take you back to a time when games weren’t loaded up with bad licensed music and marketed to the simple-minded.

In order to propose an idea to big companies, it’s easiest to compare your product to popular titles in order to sell it. How will I sell you this game? Think “Super Metroid” meets “Zelda”!

“Cave Story” is a pseudo 8-bit/16-bit side-scrolling action platforming RPG. You play as a robot boy solider named Quote, similar to “Mega Man,” who wakes up and doesn’t know what happened... blah, blah, blah...and has to defeat the bad guys and save the land of the rabbit-like creatures. We’ve all heard it before. These style games were never known for their engaging storylines.

“Cave Story” was developed by Studio Pixel which is only made up of one man, Daisuke Amaya, AKA “Pixel.” Over a span of five years, Pixel created all of the programming, art and music himself.

Originally released as a freeware title in Japan, it became so popular that Aeon Genesis Translation Project (a website dedicated to translating great Japanese games) created an English version for us to enjoy. And as the audience grows and toys around with it more, ports are even in the works for Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, Gameboy Advance, as well as Xbox.

This game is so well designed that you wouldn’t even know it was just a freebie. If I didn’t know any better, I’m sure you could have convinced me this was an old Japanese game for the Super Nintendo that never made it to the United States. The graphics are refreshingly old-school.

Expect some big boss battles, cheesy yet charming chatting and furious firefights. Not only is it a lengthy game, but it also boasts three alternative endings, giving it much more playability.

You start out more or less defenseless. Almost all the weapons are guns, so anticipate doing a lot of Gun-star Heroes-type blasting. Explore the land, pick-up power-ups, carry out tasks and solve basic puzzles.

Upgrading your weapons and health bar is essential to defeating certain enemies and making your way across the terrain. Packed with secrets, investigating the game’s world is crucial if you really want to collect everything. There are many hidden items and locations to be uncovered by players willing to take the time to look.

Interestingly enough, I can’t find any mention of the game winning any awards. I’ll assume Pixel just never submitted it to any competitions, considering the entire project was created exclusively for fun.

Being so popular in the gaming scene, many different websites dedicated to “Cave Story” have emerged. Download the remixed music album and unofficial sequel “Jenka’s Nightmare” if you can’t get enough of this great “classic” game.

Download “Cave Story” for free at http://www.miraigamer.net/cavevstory/ (Windows + Mac compatible).

ASK MISS CHERRY

Can you stay satisfied without sex?

Dear Miss Cherry:

In a previous article, you mentioned the HPV vaccine Gardasil. I’m 20 years old and sexually active, should I be getting it? Also, where can I go to get it?

— Vaccine Queen

Dear Queen:

It would be a good decision to get the vaccine if you are sexually active, but you should speak to your primary care physician before making any more decisions.

Gardasil is usually given to women and girls from 10 to 26 years of age. The vaccine is routinely given to 11- to 12-year-old girls so they can receive it before they become sexually active, but it is recommended for any women who are currently sexually active.

You shouldn’t take it if you have a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast or any other component of the HPV-vaccine.

It’s important to get Gardasil if you are in a sexual relationship because it can prevent two types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer and two other types of HPV that causes 90% of genital warts.

It is given as a three-dose series with the second dose given two months after the first dose and the third dose given six months after the first dose.

As for where to get the vaccine, it mainly depends on your insurance. Health Services on campus does not carry Gardasil. A prescription from either your primary doctor or the staff at Health Services must be written for the vaccine. Then you must get it filled at a pharmacy. Health Services can administer the vaccine at no additional cost in the office. But make sure to see what your insurance company will pay for.

Some plans will only cover the vaccine if it is given in the office of your primary care doctor or if the PCP writes the prescription for the vaccine. Other insurances don’t cover the vaccination at all, and it can be a big out of pocket expense without any coverage.

So a good place to start with Gardasil is to check with your doctor to see if it’s right for you, then see how your health insurance plan will cover it.

Dear Miss Cherry:

My girlfriend and I made a rare decision: we want to wait until we are married to have sex. We are both firm in our decision, but the only problem is, we have needs. Do you have any suggestions for what non-sex activities we can do until the big day arrives?

— Patiently Waiting

Dear Waiting:

Good for you and your girlfriend for making a decision and sticking by your beliefs! There are plenty of ways to experience sexual play without intercourse.

One huge aspect would be oral sex. You can pleasure your girlfriend by going down on her. Intensify the pleasure by using both your tongue and fingers simultaneously.

Another option during oral sex is to introduce sex toys such as a vibrator or dildo. Have your girlfriend choose one that she believes is right for her.

Also, look for more ideas in your refrigerator. Try drizzling chocolate syrup on each other’s bodies and then licking it off. The same can be done with whipped crème. Your girlfriend can apply it to your penis and then lick it off seductively. Experiment with different substances on various parts of your bodies.

More options would be to give sensual massages in the nude. Being completely naked while giving the massage makes it doubly erotic. Take turns massaging various parts of each other; take it a step further by being blindfolded.

Another great alternative to sexual intercourse is mutual masturbation. Watch your partner as she masturbates; it will be a surprising turn on and then allow her to watch as you do the same.

Use your imaginations to think of new techniques to please each other without sexual insertion.

EDITOR’S NOTE: While Miss Cherry’s advice is well-researched and supplemented with matierals provided by on-campus Health Services, she is not a trained health professional.

All serious medical questions should be discussed with a trusted family healthcare provider or member of the university’s dedicated Health Services or Women’s Resource Center staff.

Health Services can be contacted at 508-999-8982 or visited online at www.umassd.edu/studentaffairs/health/.

The Women’s Resource Center is located in Pine Dale can be contacted at 508-910-4584 or visted online at http://www.umassd.edu/wrc/.

RECOMMENDING RHONDA

Salem’s haunted Halloween happenings will scare you silly

By Rhonda

Halloween is fast approaching, and if you haven’t yet caught the ghosts and goblins bug, you may be due for a trip to Salem, Massachusetts to renew your interest in the holiday. Salem, which is widely known for being the site of many witchcraft trials in 1692, is currently holding its twenty-sixth annual “Haunted Happenings,” which began on October 4 and runs through October 31 (a crazy day to visit!).

This year, over 125 local businesses, including museums, haunted houses and shops are participating in “Haunted Happenings,” extending their hours to celebrate the spirits of Halloween and also offering discounted rates and ticket packages.

The events extend from Front Street to Derby Street to the Salem Commons, so make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. I would recommend parking at the Salem Mall parking garage, where the cost is $20. The mall is host to a haunted house, many Halloween-themed stores and also has a wall full of brochures, guides and maps to aid you in your self-guided tour around the town.

Aside from the traditional haunted houses, Salem witch dungeon museum, Salem wax museum, Salem haunted village, Frankenstein’s laboratory and candlelit ghostly tour (information available at www.hauntedhappenings.org/attractions.htm), Salem is hosting a few special events for the holiday.

On October 25, the Hawthorne Hotel is holding The Vampires’ Masquerade Ball, a 21 plus event, which begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 12:30 a.m. According to the site, the ball is “an evening of erotic fear and morbid lust” and offers a chance to join the “undead royalty as they ravenously descend upon the Witch City to summon all Vampires to attend to their thirst for blood.” For more information on this event, visit http://www.festivalofthedead.com/vampiresmasqueradeball.html. The cost is $95 per person and you must buy tickets in advance, so visit the website to reserve yours immediately!

The Official Salem Witches’ Ball is going to be held on Friday, October 26, also at the Hawthorne Hotel. This year’s theme is “The Scarlet Letter: Heretics and Harlots” and a $1,000 prize is being awarded to the patron with the best costume. Special guest Fiona Horne, author of eight witchcraft books, has returned to her musical roots and will be performing at the ball, as well as the Dragon Ritual Drummers. The event is 18 plus, and tickets must be purchased in advance. The cost is $150 per person. For more information on the Ball or to reserve your ticket, visit http://www.festivalofthedead.com/witchesball/index.htm.

On Saturday, October 27, there are quite a few events being hosted. The Salem Waterfront Hotel’s Third Annual Wicked Night on the Wharf runs from 9 p.m. to midnight and will include a DJ, prizes and games. The cost is $30 and patrons must be older than 21.

The Bridget Bishop Ball is also being held that night at The Lyceum Bar and Grill, with a cover charge of $45 a person. The cost includes hors d’ouevres, a band, dancing and costume prizes, and runs from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Additionally, the Hawthorne Hotel is hosting its Ship of Ghouls Ball, which is a costume ball that promises to be a scream. It runs from 8 p.m. to midnight and includes three floors of live music and entertainment, $1,500 cash prizes for costumes, free merchandise (t-shirt and photo), all included in the $85 cover charge.

An authentic séance is being held on Sunday, October 28 with renowned Salem Witch Leanne Marrama, who will communicate with the spirit world right in front of your eyes. The event begins with a lecture by Leanne and is followed by a demonstration, which leads to the actual séance. Once she has successfully contacted the other world, there will be a celebration with food and spirits (the alcoholic kind, not the people kind!). The event costs $100 a person, and is held at the Hawthorne Hotel. For more information, visit http://www.festivalofthedead.com/spiritworld.html.

On Halloween, there are 8 events to choose from, which you may explore on http://www.hauntedhappenings.org/events.htm.

Of course, if you’re feeling thrifty and don’t want to pay for entertainment, I would suggest just giving yourself a tour of the town. Take in the historic architecture, visit shops and stores, dine in the quaint little eateries and take in the sights and sounds of Halloween Happenings. Most of the museums and haunted houses cost between $8 and $10, which isn’t too taxing on the wallet, so I certainly suggest you visit a few of them before the season ends!

Salem is approximately two hours from campus, and relatively easy to get to. Take 195 West to 24 N to 93 N to Exit 18 (Mass Avenue/Frontage Road) and go to the far right lane. At the second traffic signal, take a right onto the South Boston Bypass Road and follow signs to access the Ted Williams Tunnel and I-90 East/Logan Airport. From the Williams Tunnel, take Route 1A North. Follow Route 1A all the way into Salem.

For more information on Salem’s Haunted Happenings, visit www.hauntedhappenings.com. For more information on the town of Salem, visit www.salemweb.com. And if you still aren’t feeling a touch of the Halloween spirit after you take a trip to the ghostly town, then you must be batty!