LC 22

Kimberly Garcia

“The Glass Menagerie” in Manhattan

Looking for a new play to watch in the city? As reported in this New York Times Article, many people know Zachary Quinto as Spock of Star Trek and these same people will be pleasantly surprised to know that he is playing Tom in “The Glass Menagerie.” The play revolves around Tom’s memory of his family when he used to live with them, with Qunito as Tom, “an angry young man” and “an outcast” who works a dead end job. Ben Brantly also writes: “As Tom recalls his encounters with the mother and sister he loathes and loves with all his confused heart,” the atmosphere set forth by his memory emotionally moves the audience. Amanda, his mother, who had a wonderful past but now lives in a depressing present and who hopes Tom’s sister, Laura, a disabled girl, will benefit from getting married. With Tom’s mother being played by Cherry Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger playing Laura and Brian Smith as Laura’s gentleman caller, all of the actors give praiseworthy performances throughout the two hour and a half show, and prove to everyone “memory turns us all into poets.”

“The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams is playing at the Booth Theater located at 222 West 45th Street in Manhattan from September 26, 2013 to February 23, 2014. Tickets are priced at about $77 each

The group decided to do activities for our project. We thought this would be a good topic because there’s always something to do wherever you may be. Especially in school there are so many events going on and it’s always a good idea to check them out. Baruch College celebrates each month such as last month was Hispanic Heritage month and this month is LGBT awareness and breast cancer awareness. It’s a great way for people to learn new things and be part of the community. Also, as freshmen in our first semesters, it’s important for us to get out there and meet new people and try new things.

Esther Hanon

 “When the Davis Cup Came in From the Cold”

The tournament trophy was paraded at Club Sportiv Progresul by tennis players.

www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/sports/tennis/when-the-davis-cup-came-in-from-the-cold.html

With rain falling on its windows, an Air France jet arrived in Bucharest, Romania, in early October 1972. People in security, holding guns and clothed in leather jackets, guarded the men that arrived off the plane. These men were part of the United States David Cup team. The 1972 Davis Cup finals were an epic drama. Tennis historians consider these finals to be one of the best cup matches.

The Davis Cup is a best-of-five contest with four single matches, featuring each team’s two top singles and a doubles match. The Romanians used only two players: the graceful and unpredictable Ilie Nastase, a 26-year-old playboy and the reining United States Open champion, and the cunning brawler Ion Tiriac, a member of the 1964 Olympic Hockey Team. Nastase and Tiriac, national heroes and clay-court experts, each played two singles matches, and they teamed up for doubles. They won the 1970 French Open doubles title on clay. Smith, who had defeated Nastase three months earlier to win Wimbledon, was a lock to play singles and doubles. The outlook was uncertain for the Americans, even if Smith won his two singles matches. In the first match on the first day, Oct. 13, he beat Nastase in straight sets.

In the second match, Gorman was up by two sets to zero when Tiriac started his antics. He persuaded linesmen to side with him on questionable calls, and he sat in a chair in the middle of a game to break Gorman’s concentration. When Gorman served, Tiriac stared at the ground to force him to pause. Gorman, fearing bad line calls, said he felt “the court got a lot smaller.”

Our group selected the topic of sports because that was a topic that we were all interested in. We decided that sports would be the most interesting topic, since us girls try to keep up all the sports teams whenever we can. Additionally, sports prompts a variety of topics as we can each speak about a different sports team, since there are so many. We each picked an article that we enjoyed, or a sport team that we follow, and we summarized the article. The topic of sports best expresses the more salient issues and concerns of our first semester because most freshmen are nervous during the first semester, and are curious or apprehensive of what Baruch and their future will bring them. From our topic or sports, we can learn that no matter what happens, there is always time to improve, get up, and “play again” as the sports teams did. We should never give up, as the sports teams didn’t even when they might’ve lost an important game.

Baruch College is a very technological college. They have multiple computer labs all equipped with the latest software. The labs also have apple computers. Baruch also has technology center. It is called the Baruch Computing and technology center. It is commonly referred to as the BCTC. They are extremely helpful there. I always go to the computer labs to do some research, print things out or just do homework. I think Baruch should keep up with the latest technology. It would be extremely helpful if they do that.

I’m one of those people who think in songs lyrics and given practicslly any word can have a lyric or song title to sing. I walk down the street wishing my lifen had a soundtrack and whether I’m angry, sad, or happy I’m always lookung for a song to sing.I honestly believe that your music choices say a lot about you, so I’ll give you my top 10 of now on my playlist. Disclaimer (this does not reflect my knowledge/love for all the music i listen to)

10. Ice Cream by Muscles

This was my jam,bread and butter. This song has nothing to with everything and that is why I love it. Everyone has those couolde of songs that ahve no relevance to anything , but when you hear it or sing along then you can’t help but be filled with happiness. Ice Cream is that song for me, maybe its the first lines of Wooooooooooh ahhhhhh that make it seem like all your troubles fade away, or maybe its because even though I heard this song everyday for months,when I thought about 10 songs I would want on the playlist of my daily life Ice Cream seems to make my list. if you ever listen to it, try to keep an open mind, that way the good vibes can flow through.

9. L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole

I have a thing for love songs, but this one is something I would sing in bad and good times. Love songs are rarely so happy, but there are few exceptions. I first heard this song probably on parent trap, but Nat King Cole was a great musician and this song just makes me happy to hear the instrumentals and vocals. The old time swingy-fox trot vibe just makes me wish I was born whn music like this was still alive. It just makes me happy about LOVE!

8. Long Live by Taylor Swift

Just so you know I am a swiftie I can name almost any song she has written and sing it forward, backwards and with background vocals. However, this was one of the rare songs that wasn’t about love or losing her boyfriend. Long Live is about a group of friends becoming successful and asking not to be forgotten in eachothers minds if something shoud ever seperate them. That song made me want to stay friends with everyone I met and it made me want to cry, because what i no one remembered me after all the times we had together. When i was in highschoool this song was too relevant, and although it does not get nearly as much play as it used to, its definitly a reflection of how I value friends and friendship.

7. Electric Feel by MGMT

I like when the music just makes you feel as if your just in the ultra chill mode. When the bass hits right and the vocals are poignant and just perfectly suited for a relaxed, but upbeat sound. That is exactly what I use this song for, for a long time it was my ringtone and sometimes I wouldn’t answer just to hear it ring. Although I don’t get to hear this song nearly as often, it is still one of those song choices that I’d be willing to recommend to almost anyone.

6. Don’t Wanna Know by Fleetwood Mac

This song just brings back emmories, in highschool my best friends mom was a dead head and she played all the music from the 70’s everyday. When I heard this song even though lyrically I can’t necessarily relate it just makes yoiu want t dance and sing along. To me good music does that, if I don’t have the urge to feel like you do, or sing aong with your wailing sadness or upbeat tempo then that is not the song for me. If I had a choice I could listen to this song once a day and probably never get tired. It’s a good isten especially if you can appreciate the hippie movement and the rough music.

5. Novacane by Frank Ocean

I don’t always listen to rap song, but when do they are usually about love and also feature an r&b feel. I like singing, but i can always appreciate rap that isn’t just talking about money, cars, and hoes. Frank Ocean is an awesome artist and he writes amazing music. When I first heard the song I immediately loved it, although the lyrics again may have nothing to do with my life, when I was feeling down or when the guy I liked didn’t like me back this song would be my lyrical cover. I could hear it on repeat for hours and sing along with him. Even now when I hear it, I just want to rap along with him. For me this was a big deal, because although I listen to all kinds of music, rap was my least favorite until I found artists like Ocean and some of the more recent rappers. Definitely recommended for easy listening.

4.Radio by Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey is hands down right now my obsession, her voice is haunting, her music is sad (just the way I like it) and she has lyrics that are about books. What’s not to love!? However, this specific song is about how people like her now that she is on the radio and it’s about how people will like you , but hate you on the low. I can relate, thats life where you have people who seem to be all about you until you do well. One of the few songs I want to listen to on repeat , maybe it’s the way she says vitamin lol. Either way this is definitely one of my top 5 . Two for you Glen Coco!

3.House That Built Me

A year ago I moved away from the house I had lived in since I could remember. I remember listening to this song and wanting to cry because that’s what the lyrics are all about. Miranda sings about her home where her parents had dreams and her dog died and where she had become herself, and she sung about feeling as if she may not be able to come back home again, but wanting to see it one last time. That’s how i feel about that house where I had my first bestfriend, and learned to love reading, and cried,laughed and slept. All my hopes in dreams were made in that house and one day I will go back because that’s the house that built me. Although I heard the song way before that incident, I hold it closely because it’s one of the few songs that really apply to me.

2.Warning Sign by Coldplay

My senior year this was my themesong. I sang in 3 shows during my senior year. One of my guitarist friends told me that she wanted to perform this song at the winter concert, so I began to learn it, not to enjoy but to replicate the vocals, however as I kept listening I fell in love, just like every other coldplay song I’ve ever heard, and when we performed I always felt like I knew what Chris( lead sing) was saying. The lyrics talk about missing the sings, and missing the good parts and just wanting to crawl back into his significant others arms. That was ultra relevant my senior year with all the non-sense that was happening with my friendships and my non-existent lovelife. Either way it’s a great song, and once again Coldplay has made me happy, sad, and thougtful with their lyrical prowess. Brava!

1. We Belong by Pat Benetar

I LOVE PAT! I LOVE THE 80’S ! I just really love this song and I just want to walk around singing love songs at people about how they belong together. Tis’ all.

I have a pretty bad memory, so I can’t detail each moment of childhood, especially not the really great moments unfortunately. But these songs represent pieces of my life that were so perfect or influential that when I look back on them it almost feels like I’m reliving that page of my life. These songs aren’t just memories, they’re more like lenses that flash in and out—even though they represent the past to me, they shape the way I see things every day. It’s weird thinking about it now and saying it aloud, but each of these songs made me who I am.

1. I Miss You – Blink-182

“Take Off Your Pants and Jacket” by Blink-182 and “All the Right Reasons” by Nickelback were the first two albums that I took out from the library and burned onto my computer. It’s one of my most ridiculously vivid memories. I couldn’t wait to get home and listen to them. In particular, I played “Take Off Your Pants And Jacket” on loop for hours. The album was the most spectacular thing I had ever heard—it was loud and rebellious, and it made me feel alive. That was one of the best days of my life because it was the first time I felt like I was being myself. I didn’t pick out the CD for anyone but me; it wasn’t the kind of music my friends or my family listened to. In fact, for weeks I drove my family crazy playing that album at all hours of the day, and my mother would go on about how unhealthy “that kind of music” was. I couldn’t care less. I listened until I knew all the words and I begged my parents for a bass so I could be like Mark Hoppus. A lot of things have changed since that day I got home from the library, but even now Blink-182 is my favorite band and their songs still carry a lot of meaning and emotion for me. “I Miss You” is actually off of another album by Blink-182, but it’s my favorite song by them.

2. Someone That You’re With – Nickelback

People STILL give me grief for being a Nickelback fan. I’ll be honest, it probably is more a matter of taste, but I just can’t see how anyone who loves rock could hate Nickelback. I heard a radio reporter once say that the general opinion of Nickelback is ‘hick, trashy and just all around bad.’ In a weird way, I think that’s my favorite part. I mean, I obviously don’t think they’re bad, but I think what other people perceive as hick and trashy is just honesty. A couple of guys singing and writing about things they really want to say and feel every day—things they’ve experienced in real life. I do like their music and style, but more than that, I love that their lyrics are just the honest, unedited truth. That raw, uncut style would really influence the way my own songs would be when I started writing, and in general the way I thought people should speak to each other. I have a way of saying what I want to without focusing too much on what people will think. This can obviously be a flaw, but for the most part it keeps me honest with others and myself.

3. Claire de Lune – Claude Debussy

Before I knew anything about anything, I did know that music did something for me. Something about music made me feel like myself, made me feel good. But as a third grader with limited independence and no cable TV, I didn’t know how to find music. So I used to download free samples on Microsoft Music Player, and before that, I listened to the free music that came with the Player. It was mostly some funky, Indie songs, but it also included a little classical music. I guess that was my first real introduction to classical music and why I appreciate it so much. There aren’t really words to describe Claire de Lune—or rather, there are but the list would never end. I think I define all pure music against this one song (by pure I mean strictly instrumental or classical). It requires a combination of skill in dynamic and deep passion. If it’s played any other way, it’s simply wrong. When I would spend long hours recording without getting anything right, I would listen to this song to calm down. It reminds me not to try so hard, not just with music, but with anything. If you can’t do something with the passion it requires, you shouldn’t be doing it at all.

4. Part of Your World

“The Little Mermaid” IS my favorite Disney movie of all time, but that’s actually not why this song is on this playlist. Growing up as a tall girl wasn’t exactly easy. I think people always assumed that being able to loom over everyone else automatically made me stronger or less affected by what people say because I could always “beat them up” if I wanted. But I was just a kid like everyone else, and being isolated based on my appearance took a serious toll on my confidence. I always identified with this song because all I wanted to do more than anything was fit in and be normal like everyone else, which in my case, was about as possible as a fish growing legs.

5. True Colors – Cyndi Lauper

I once said those exact words to my father: “I just want to be normal.” He busted out laughing and cackled at me, “You’re a tall, black girl! You’ll NEVER be normal, sweetie.” And then he continued to laugh to himself… The point of the story is that it took me a long time to love being tall and be myself no matter how uncomfortable people tried to make feel about it. I love, love, LOVE this song because it’s all about seeing someone for who they really are. If you’ve never really felt that level of insecure before, it’s so easy to label people, but everyone has true colors that you have to look beneath the surface for. As a kid, it was my best friend who actually started a lot of the jokes about me. She actually made up a song called “skyscraper” with one of the kids that bullied me, and they would sing that song every time I walked into a room. But I believe in true colors, so she’s still my best friend. I’m not just talking about myself, I’m talking about what I define as beautiful—something more than how you look and how you act.

6. Mona Lisa – Nat King Cole

On really long road trips, my mom used to torture my siblings and I with the “Lifetime of Romance” collector’s edition. It’s basically a compilation of oldies from about the 1920s-1970s. My mother and grandmother eventually inflicted me with a ruthless love for really old music, which no one within a 5-year span of my generation could identify with. This was always my favorite song. It reminds me of my grandma, who was my only true best friend growing up. She had a smile that kind of always looked that to me, and I just admired her in general.

7. Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones

What is there really to say? I watched “Rock ‘N’ Roll High School,” bought the CD at Walmart for $9.99, and started dancing this to song in socially unacceptable places. I don’t know if it needs more explanation than that.

8. Heard ‘Em Say – Kanye West ft. Adam Levine

This song just reminds me of my Grandma and the kind of advice she would give me, and most importantly, the way she lived her life. When hear this, I remember who I want to be and how I want to be remembered.

9. When the Day Met the Night – Panic At the Disco

These lyrics are poetry, and I think that makes the song mean so much more—because you have to think about it. And when you do think about it’s just beautiful. The Sun meets the Moon and the entire world is golden. That’s you, that’s life—a combination of good times and bad times, cloudy and sunny, which leaves behind a little golden treasure. I just think it’s a beautiful concept.

10. Waltz from Swan Lake – Ferdinand Lang & Berlin Symphonic Orchestra

I didn’t read the playbill. If you’re ever going to a show you’ve never seen before, I recommend not reading the playbill. I had no idea what was going to happen when I saw Swan Lake. I just sat down and watched, and so the music, the movement, the beauty, the passion—it all just consumed me. I was literally shocked into a state of all emotion. It was easily the best night of my life.

A Playlist Story

I am going to show you a little about who I am with 8 pictures. Hopefully after you look over them with my comments, you will be able to know a little more about who I am since I don’t talk too much. I’m usually not this quiet, but once I get comfortable I am pretty loud.

Concerts

One thing that I love to do- go to concerts and listen to music. I just find it so much fun going with thousands of other people who share the same interest in music and just having fun with each other.

Many of you may not know that I am Jewish and I am part of the Sephardic Community of Brooklyn. Most of our community came here between the early 1900’s up until the 1980’s.

I am a big fan of the New York Knicks. Even though i live in Brooklyn and the Nets just moved in and got a few all-stars, I will remain a Knicks fan and i look forward to beating the Nets this season.

This is because I LOVE listening to music. All types of music- whether it is by a band or a dj or a rapper.

This picture is because both of my parents and pretty much all of my community come from Syria. They had to escape and come here with hardly anything and are now doing well.

I really really love food. I think I an just eat all day. Favorite foods- pizza, cake, sushi, ice cream, french fries, steak and hamburgers.

Kevin Durant is my favorite athlete and basketball player in the world. He is really an amazing player and I just love the way that he plays.

I chose this picture because i am really interested in Business. I am not sure in which part of business I want to major in at this point. All i know is that it is going to be in the field of business.

The main part of my life that makes me who I am is my Indian culture. My parents moved here before I was born from India, but I haven’t forgotten who I am and where I come from even though I’ve lived here my whole life. I visit India almost twice a year and that time is probably the best time I have throughout the whole year. I love eating Indian food and I’m glad that I could get that at home instead of having to go out somewhere. I am Sikh and religion is a very important part of my life and I try to go to the temple at least once a week.

I have three siblings, an older sister, and older brother, and a younger brother. People usually think being the middle child sucks, but it isn’t bad at all. I have a two year old shih-tzu named Bruno, and he’s everything to me. I live alone in the city now and miss seeing him everyday like crazy. My house is in Long Island, and I’m glad that I’m not too far and could still see my family everyday.

One of my favorite things to do is shop. Any alone time I get, I go shopping and I could spend hours doing it, just like any other girl. I’m a coffee addict and I can’t start my day without it. Chocolate is my weakness and I could eat it all day. I’m into baking, and I bake amazing brownies.  Chipotle is my absolute favorite fast food place. I like to read, if the book is good of course. I’m not into many TV shows that are recent, but Friends is probably my favorite show of all time.

This slideshow contains some pictures of things and people who are very important to me.

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I decided to do a list of 10 songs to convey who I am. Music has been a very big part of my life, but as you will soon be able to tell, my tastes in music have changed dramatically.

1. Minuet in G major, Bach

When I was little I used to play an instrument. This happens to be the last song I played in full and clearly resembles the kind of music I was exposed to up until this point.

2. All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix

This song signaled the start of my exposure to “contemporary” music in some sense. Although it was decades before my time, Hendrix was much more modern to me than Bach. This was also the first song that also got me very excited about music and lead me to explore various more genres.

3. Carry on Wayward Son, Kansas

This happens to be the first song that I can remember liking after my Jimi Hendrix phase. It was a small, but important step in my progression through music. It isn’t much more contemporary than Hendrix, but it launched me into a variety of new music from the 70’s.

4. Crash into me, Dave Matthews Band

This is an interesting song that really puts me at ease. It happens to be one of my all time favorite songs and listen to it frequently. It might be from the 90’s, but at least it’s a song that was released after my birth.

5. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman

A small step forward in time and another song that made my favorites playlist. I feel a strange connection to this song that I don’t quite understand. Also, I can’t play the song without giving it a complete listen. Something bothers me if I don’t let the song finish playing.

6. Edge of Desire, John Mayer

This is actually one of my best friend’s favorite songs. Since I live hundreds of miles away from my best friend it’s hard to see him a lot. This song is a way for me to connect to him no matter where I am. Seems silly, but it helps me and it’s actually a good song.

7. Closer (presets remix), Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon is band that my sister and I bonded over a few years ago. Every time I listen to a song from them it always reminds me of a time with her. This song is one of my favorites from their album.

8. Dearly beloved, Yoko Shimomura

A song from Kingdom hearts. It is a very nice piece that highlights my history with classical music. I added this song to my list because I feel it highlights the fact that I am a gamer. I like playing video games and I appreciate them a lot. I feel as though they are an art and that they are under-appreciated.

9. Powerful Stuff, Sean Hayes

I really like Sean Hayes as an artist and this is the first song of his that I heard. This has to be one of the most contemporary songs on my list. In some ways it means so much because he was the first artist I actually saw live. 

10. Una Palabra, Carlos Varela

Although this is very good song, I don’t know what to say about it. It doesn’t seem to fit into a genre of music and that is why I left this song for the end. It’s a song with such strong lyrics that it seems to resonate with me long after it ends. It might even be consider more a poem than a song, but I think it deserves to hold a spot in my list. Like the rest of the songs on this list, this holds a special place in mind. 

Hi I’m Sean

Playlist

1. What I Got- Sublime

This is one of my favorite songs. It is all about remaining positive through any situation in life and how being not reactive can keep a situation grounded. It demonstrates how people through out world need to create love and become aware that anything in the world can happen but change is not necessarily a bad thing.

2. When I Paint My Masterpiece- Grateful Dead

Coming from a long line of Dead heads and being a huge Bob Dylan fan this song means so much. Perfection is everything and creation is even more. The lyrics are amazing and paired with Jerry’s guitar there is nothing better.

3. Funny Face- Red Hot Chili Peppers

This is a song that not many have heard and everyone who likes or even respects the Red Hot Chili Peppers should.

4. Infinite- Eminem

This is one of the most incredible demonstrations of lyricism in rap. I am a very big Eminem fan and have been for a very long time. I did not hear this song until my senior year in high school which is surprising to me because I make an effort to hear the songs that people don’t commonly hear or know about by bands and artists that I like.

5. Come as You Are- Nirvana

This song is a classic. As I sit here writing this I have a Curt Kobain poster sitting above my head. The main was deeply disturbed and still one of the greatest musicians of all time.

6. If I had $1,000,000- Bare Naked Ladies

This was one of the first songs I ever new all the words to and in general is just an awesome and uplifting song. It is all about having a million dollars and being able to share and give. Have a fruit roll up. Best ending ever as well.

7. Triumph- Wu-Tang Clan

Before moving to Brooklyn in eighth grade I was not very exposed to Wu-Tang, what a shame. An institution in the rap industry the first verse in this song is one of the best ever. The first time I ever heard this song I was in BErlin for a Family friends birthday party during christmas break. It was an incredible experience that I relate back to whenever I hear this song.

8. Cats in the Craddle- Cat Stevens

This song was introduced to me by my dad and I love it. It is not everyday listen but something everyone should have heard. My dad used to live in California and I would talk to him everyday but only got to spend time with him a few times a year. This was not sad for me because I loved being able to go out to California and surf and do all of that exciting stuff. This song for me carries really great and positive memories.

9. Can I Kick It?- Tribe Called Quest

WHAT A BEAT. And yes you can.

10. Drops of Jupiter- Train

This is a beautiful song that I have memories of spending time with my mom on long car rides and blasting. I am not a huge train fan but this is awesome

11. Seany Boy- The Samples

Sean Kelley is the lead singer of The Samples and was a good friend of my parents while they were all in college. When my parents used to have parties at there house they would have The Samples play in the backyard and from the stories I’ve heard they through some awesome parties. They say my name had nothing to do with this song but either way I find it pretty inspirational.