THE SHPEL
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3


90 Ch'uat S7IR A 1 d A r IrT 7 6R


,Z!_














L:~t


February 5, 2008 February 18, 2008


ri-
-.I- : .;. .1
'--- I
'
i


The solution to couch


CouchSurfing.com is changing
the face of inexpensive travel and
cultural immersion for thousands
of backpacking hopefuls.
BY LANA SELIGSOHN
SHPiEL contributing writer


Despite rapid popul
the Internet means the w
smaller. We can discuss s
a doctor in Sao Paulo or
with an ironworker in Jap
With the brilliant cream
Surfing, you can now fi
crash anywhere in the we


crashing in the digital age
ation growth, "A real-life version of "pay-it-forward, http://www.CouchSurfing.com.
world is getting Couchsurfing allows the arm-chair Couch surfing opened up
ong lyrics with traveler to experience exotic cultures opportunities for travelers to experience
review books in the comfort of their own city, while Madrid or Burundi through the eyes of
an. making the most impossibly remote a local. Members create profiles and
nation of Couch locations pedestrian for the enlightened search over 400,000 couch surfer's
nd a place to vagabond," says a testimonial from
)rld. Couch Surfing's Web site, SEE SURFING, PAGE 5


~- ---^


the y tudntrr *wis nespapr i thmmr


~. !: .
:if. ".
-~ .I! ...: .r-


Live from




Jerusalem,



'it's Tuesday


night'...

BY DAYNA MALEK
SHPiEL contributing writer

It started slowly.
After all- they waited this long- a few extra seconds
couldn't hurt.
The lights dimmed.
The crowd hushed.
A soft voice was heard coming from the stage, followed
by the light beating of a drum and the strumming of
guitars.
A group of religious men began rocking out to kick off
the show to a house of now-screaming fans.
Welcome to "Tuesday Night Live In Jerusalem'"
energetically co-hosted by Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy
Gimpel, The two men share a common bond back from
their days in the IDF service, kidding with each other as
they reveal a very real message to their audience. Buoyed
up by the excitement of the new venture, they literally
dance on stage as they talk to each other and the viewers.
"Tuesday Night Live is a show about the Jews of
Jerusalem coming together and speaking to the world,"
exclaimed Gimpel, to the energetic observers.
The live audience was full of men with short hair and
men with long hair; some with long beards and some clean-
shaven. There were women with nose rings and eyebrow
piercings. Young and old, Orthodox and Reform.
The first episode of TNL was an introductory show, with
the hosts explaining the purpose of creating such a series,
and asking the audience members to share their reasons
for moving to Israel.
Both co-hosts mentioned that in the end we are all one
extended family, and that in essence the land of Israel is
one big family reunion.
"The world never hears the real Israel; the world only
hears an Israeli voice of politics and pragmatism. We want

SEE TUESDAY, PAGE 2







21 NEWS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3


sLS S *


Viewers who watched "Lost"
season 4 premiere:

Viewers, in percent, lost
since the season 3 premiere:

Number of votes Obama
lost to Hillary in the Florida
Democratic primary:

Percent of men who suffer
from hair loss by the age of
sixty:

American lives lost since war
in Iraq began:

Internet Movie Database
rating of "Lost in
Translation" (out of 10):

Losses the 2007-08 Miami
Dolphins suffered in a 16
game season:

Voters John McCain lost or
won since Bernie Machen
endorsed him:


16.07
million


13


288,167


66



3,943




7.9



15




0


because Saturday was already taken
TUESDAY, FROM PAGE 1
the world to hear a Jewish voice!" Gimpel
added to loud applause.
Gimpel, who constantly, has a smile
plastered on his youthful face, told
the audience that TNL's purpose is for
the world to hear the voice of the new
generation in Jerusalem.
The second episode was recorded
immediately after the first and featured
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, who helped establish
the Efrat settlement.
Riskin spoke of the difficulties
involved with choosing to move to Israel i4
from the U.S. and the struggles he faced
establishing Efrat.
After some questions and discussion
between the hosts and the audience,
the hosts conclude the show by saying,
"Shalom from Jerusalem."
According to the show's Web site, the
new series is open to the public for no
charge.
"The event is open to locals, tourists, photo courtesy of Tuesday Night Live
students, and people of all backgrounds
who are looking for a chance to learn from Tuesday until July 15.
us on a weekly basis and get a true taste "We are confident," the Web site
of authentic Torah in the Holy Land," the concludes, "that Tuesday Night Live will
site said. quickly become the most popular weekly
Live shows are recorded every other gathering in all of Jerusalem."


The SHPiEL does not guarantee that the information or statistics in this table
are either factual or accurate, and in fact we probably just made half of this
crap up. So please don't hold us accountable if you try to show off your new
knowledge in front of all your friends and someone calls you out on your idiocy.
photo courtesy of Tuesday Nigh


The Only Student-Run Jewish Campus Newspaper in the Country, Right Here at the University of Florida


Editor-in-Chief
Giselle Mazur
theshpiel@gmail.com
Managing Editor
Joshua Fleet
joshlf@ufl.com
News Editor
Ben Cavataro
cavataro@ufl.edu


Scene Editor
Douglas Sharf
dsharf88@ufl.edu
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Zahara Zahav
zzahav@ufl.edu
Executive Advisor/Mentor
Rabbi Yonah Schiller
ravyonah@ufhillel.org.


Web Editor
Lori Finkel
Imfinkel@ufl.edu
Layout Editor
Jackie Jakob
jjakob@ufl.edu
Public Relations
Brittany Smaridge
bviesti@ufl.edu


Photo Editor
Jeremy Fields
froma@tfl.edu
Distribution
Jesse Karr
lax09@ufl.edu
Political Cartoonist
Jamie Caceres
jnc5122@ufl.edu


kn
0-v

E
:IA







The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3


The Beatles get a ticket to ride

Israel lifts 43-year ban on fab four


NEWS 13


BY ELAINE WILSON
SHPiEL staff writer

In 1965, the Israeli government was
not convinced that the Fab Four simply
wanted to hold your hand.
The Beatles were scheduled to
perform in the holy land in the mid-60s,
but were rejected when it was decided
that the British rock sensation would
corrupt the morals of Israel's youth. ,
Forty-three years later, on Jan. 28,
the Beatles ban ended.
To ensure the band's new kosher
status, Israel has issued an apology
letter. The letter, according to the
Yediot Ahronot, an Israeli newspaper,
expresses the nation's "great regret" for
not allowing the band to play in 1965.
The two remaining band members,
Sir Paul McCartney, now -65, and
Ringo Starr, 67, will receive the letter
personally from Israeli Ambassador to


Britain, Ron Prosor.
Copies of the letter are also to
be given to family members of the
deceased band mates, John Lennon and
George Harrison.
Additional copies will be sent to
the Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool,
where the band got its start.
Over four decades after the
cancellation of their Middle Eastern gig,
the Beatles (the surviving half) have
been invited to perform at Israel's 60th
anniversary in May.
Family members of George and John
have also been invited to attend.
It is uncertain whether the surviving
two band members will play. The
manager of the Beatles Story Museum,
Jerry Goldman, warmly received the
invitation and, despite his doubts of
availability, he expressed a desire to
see the two former Beatles perform in
Israel this May.


I .


Copyrighted Material


Syndicated Content

Available from Commercial News Providers"


Shorts


Briefs
BY BEN CA\ATAiRO


fShoowing attack in Mauritania near Israil embassy
Three French nationals were wounded in the Mauritania's capital city
of Nouakchott on Feb. 1, according to reports. Israeli and Mauritanian
officials have expressed uncertainty whether the target of the attack was
the Israeli embassy, as originally thought, or a nearby restaurant/disco
frequented by Westerners.
The three victims of the attack were the restaurant owner, his father
and a bystander. Three suspected gunmen were arrested the following
morning after fleeing a checkpoint.
The satellite TV station Al-Jazeera reported that Al-Qaida in Islamic
North Africa, affiliated with the global al-Qaeda, had claimed responsibility
for the attack in retaliation for Israel's involvement in the Gaza Strip.
Mauritania, a West African natio of 3.3 million people, is one of only
three nations with full diplomatic relations with Israel. Islamist militants
have repeatedly referred to Mauritania in public statements, including
released a videotape calling for an attack on the Israeli Embassy in
Mauritania by Ayman al-Zawahiri in February 2007.
IConstruiction begins omn i ., Holoicas.t Museum)
SGroundbreaking for the new Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
began Jan. 25 with a ceremony attended by Holocaust survivors, Israeli
representatives, and city officials. The museum, build in Pan Pacific Park
dose to a Holocaust memorial monument, will be the first permanent
home for the museum, which existed in temporary locations since its
establishment in 1961 by Holocaust survivors and the Jewish Federation
of Los Angeles.
Among those attending the ceremony were Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa and the museum's Executive Director, Mark Rothman, who
rang 12 bells in memory of the six million Jews and six million others
killed.
The museum, which has raised $20 million for construction as well
as an operating endowment, will have free admission and will hold tours
for students. Completion is expected in 2010.
JObana says Muslim smears aimed at targeting Jewish
supporters]
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-ill.) has said
that a "constant virulent campaign" is being waged to reduce his support
from the Jewish community.
Emails have circulated throughout the Internet falsely claiming, with
different variations, that Obama is a radical Muslim who was educated
in a madrassa. Separately, Danny Ayalon, a former Israeli ambassador,
criticized Obama in an article, sparking an uproar in the diplomatic
world.
Obama has in recent days spoken to key Jewish leaders and deployed
Jewish backers, including AIPAC board of governors member Lee
Rosenberg and Democratic fundraiser and philanthropist Alan Solomont,
who has been credited with pushing Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) to
endorse Obama.
lBedouins, Palestinians skirmish after Gaza border bieachl
The breach of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Jan.
23 has resulted in armed skirmishes. Food shortages and rising prices-
including a tripling in the price of tea in Rafah-led to tensions between
Palestinians and Egyptian Bedouins in the town of al-Joura over alleged
Egyptian price-gouging.
The Gaza Strip has come under increasing isolation from the
international community following Hamas' seizure of Gaza in December
2006. Israel sealed the border completely in riid-January, and in the
ensuing humanitarian crisis a border crossing near Rafah was blown
apart. The UN estimates that up to 1.5 million, half the population of
Gaza, may have crossed the border.


p..... '.
r-12AN, 2, 11111._,i
Re 10 -v P-L _







41 SPORTS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3


- Rumblin' tumbling' reptiles


BY NERI STEIN
SHPiEL staff
- a writer

yeT h e
University
of Florida
is a football
School.
S Men s
Basketball is
undoubtably
a second favorite.
The football program developed
under first Gators Heisman winner
and later Head Coach Steve Spurrier in
the 1990s. Around the same time Billy
Donovan redeemed the basketball
program and shaped it into an SEC
and national powerhouse.
Ok, that's a good 20 and 10
of football and basketball glory,
respectively. But what about the
sport that generally flies under the
radar, Gator gymnastics?
Women's gymnastics was one of
the first sports for women at UF and


achieved success early on.
Since 1982, the Gators have gone to
the NCAA Gymnastics Championship
15 times,, and made it to the final
round six times.
Under Coach Rhonda Faehn, UF
placed third nationally last season,
behind Georgia and Utah.
They were ranked first for almost
the entire season and previously beat
the Georgia Gym Dawgs for the SEC
Championship.
UF and UGA had a rematch several
weeks ago to open SEC play, with
UGA ranked second and UF first. This
was the 117th time the two teams
competed against one another.
The Gators and the Dawgs have
played football 83 times, but never
while both teams held the #1 and
#2 national rankings. Just in the past
three years, UF and UGA have faced
off while being ranked in the top
three nationally.
But in this sport, the SEC rivalry is
a little different. There's no mocking
the other team- except when two
members of their team fall of the


beam. Then again, it's hard to boo
when you see what they can do-and
especially hard when you consider
that half the team members will
compete in the Olympics.
For the Gators, Nicola Willis
represented Britain in the 2004
Olympics. Neither she nor Britain
placed in those Games, but she
has earned distinction for -her
performances for the UK in the World
and European Championships.
But she and the rest of the Gators
just couldn't compare to UGA's two
Olympians, Courtney McCool and
Courtney Kupets. Both represented
the United States in 2004 Olympics
and took home the silver medal in
the Women's Team All-Around.
Before the Games, McCool, Kupets
and Carly Patterson (not on the team)
were all predicted to do well in the
Individual All-Around.
Patterson took the gold medal.
McCool did not place in any of the
individual competitions that year, but
Kupets stood out, earning the bronze
for the Uneven Bars. Both will again


represent the U.S. in 2008 in Beijing.
Kupets received a warm welcome
when UGA came to Gainesville. While
her team finished on top, she was
edged out individually by Gator
Corey Hartung.
The defending National Champion
Gym Dawgs beat the Gators by a tiny
margin of 196.85 to 196.825. Most
individual honors went to Gators.
The most exciting event is clearly
the floor. The Dawgs are well known
for their floor routines and the whole
team's hand movements.
But for the Gators, each floor
routine manages to squeeze in a
Gator Chomp somewhere.
UF sophomore Melanie Sinclair
was named SEC Gymnast of the
Week, the first of 2008, going into
the competition.
This was her second time to
.receive the honor (the ninth Gator to
do so, and the 15th time the honor
has gone to UF).
Gator Gymnastic meets are free
to students and are every Friday at 7
p.m. at the O-Dome.


W.W. Gay
Mechanical Contractor, Inc.

FLORIDA (904) 388-2696

Jacksonville
Gainesville Orlando St. Augustine
Little Rock, AR






r. Ci. QlF iTSpNS
FOcR rEEST IN-OFTCE


COPvFAxPzr -A1
IMHE 3AiTGTENE -352-377-5817


YPESTON


EL.ECr RI1C, -INC.
Jay Lin.kenheit
EC 15 4-48M !5ayp,-re svntunkelatrc crn,
EC I "IUD18
4000 S.WV. 35th Ten'ac Gainrresville, FL 320Gt
Voice 352-373-S3516 Fa. 052-;35-3836


Ir ason Rosuenberg~ai
Spciliin in Bras CacrReosruto


4500 Newberry Road
Gainesville, FL 32607
phone: 352-336-6037


^--m-asc-~m -^- ~ "" -- i-- --i=-

SWEETWATER
"..-. ORGANICNC COFFEE ROASTERS

S Thinking Globallr-Rcasting Localy.

,M A-1


PARTISAN ROASTED & FAIRLY TRADED Lp









CONSTRUCTION CO
Proud Supporters of
Hillel at UF and The ShPiel


EIiG lii Y Paul Kennedy
COflRuL7IsCAio Service Manager
business, telephone o ystem paul@iennedycommunica ion coc1
& dat networking dire: 386 487 1525


41V Ir '3. 2;:' 4 Ri Cii 37l. 261P *- p 352 3n !C35
P0 /1i SW 313r* A od CkJ^a f W t [, 3523& 73'f
2 3'5WC,;rN r ,:. .tl5 u1 ,, t 5 i ,3202 66 '1 ..0





TARGET COPY

OPEN 24 HOURS
Mitch Bayer
Customer Relations
(552) 538-9905
niiiLhlinrgei copy.coHm


~f~a~is~








SCENE 15


The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 3


All the world is a song: David Homan's solution to World Peace


BY FARYN HART
SHPiEL staff writer

"Israel is the hot bed of the Middle
East. Culture is that thing that brings
together rather than separates.
"It can focus on more than just
the political Israel that makes CNN
headlines-the musician playing cello in
the bomb shelter not pointing his gun
at the other side."
These are the words of David Homan,
Executive Director of the America-Israel
Cultural Foundation that supports and
develops artistic life in Israel.
The arts came naturally for Homan,
and he began acting as soon as he began
speaking. Learning to play the piano
was a natural developmental stage after
learning how to sit.
Though he gave it up briefly,
inspiration from Nirvana's "Smells
Like Teen Spirit" and The Red Hot Chili
Pepper's "Under the Bridge" piano
versions sparked a relapse and started
his improvisational experimentation in
jazz and pop.
Homan grew up in Gainesville while
his father was a celebrity professor of
Shakespeare at the University of Florida.
Homan wished to escape this shadow
and explore his own independent path
to success. The thought of passing
his father's colleagues on the plaza,
reminding him of incriminating
Christmas party stories, seemed to help
in his decision.


Homan attended Bard College, "a
little thousand-person IB university
system," where he studied music,
dance and live theatre. He then made
his way to New York- City- which
seemed to be the hub of networking for
aspiring artists-and received an MA
in Music Composition from New York
University.
Though the city is a sort of Mecca,


it is also brutal. If one can reach the
two year mark of survival, he or she
deserves all the city has to offer.
Homan was immediately caught up
in the "it's who you know" mechanism
of success that gets the homeless man
playing sax on the street into gigs at
The- Blue Note.
The idea of networking success
led to the conception of the Live Arts
Collaboration (LAC). This project
encourages and instructs artists of all
disciplines to create new works engaging
broad audiences and documents how


this collaboration works. Homan saw the
LAC as a group of friends with their own
ambitions that could keep in touch and
have a fighting chance in the sea of NYC
where the people and opportunities are
unlimited. One must be prepared for the
competition from the other two million
artists hoping to make an impact.
His coordinative and organizational
knack got the attention of William


Homan works for the foundation
with the vision that culture prevails,
breaks down barriers and allows for
international celebration to silence the
piercing sound of war.
He believes the Starbucks enterprise
may just provide the solution. Wherever
in the world there is an increasing
population of coffee shops there
seems to be a meeting of liberalism
and conservatism. There is a place for
discussing things and drinking lattes
- which may explain Iran's recent clamp
down on the bean cafes.
Homan has used his identities in
Judaism and the arts to spread the
vibrant culture oozing out of Israel
exposing it to loyal Diaspora Jews as
well as non-Jews who should enjoy
more than just the red-string craze.
He believes in taking small steps
toward big goals and despite the
frustration and disappointment that
naturally arrises, he thinks is important
to enjoy the journey in honest
connection to a supportive network.


Schwartz, the President of the American-
Israel Cultural Foundation, and at age
twenty-six Homan agreed to be Executive
Director of the Company. He reminisced
about his arabesque NYC apartment,
answering the door to his parents (who
had arrived for Thanksgiving dinner)
while he was on the phone deliberating
Schwartz's offer.
In two years with this multi-billion
dollar company, Homan has realized
the dire need to support the artists
who rise out of a culturally rich but
stereotypically sterile country.


sofa, loveseat, pullout, futon, recliner, double as beds


SURFING, FROM PAGE 1

profiles to find a place to stay, or just
get a tour or a cup of coffee.
Each profile lists a variety of
character traits for its user, from
language, education and hometown, to
personal philosophy, taste in music and
even mission in life.
Casey Fenton, the creator of the Web
site, got the idea after buying a cheap
ticket to Reykjavik.
He didn't want to rot in a hotel, so
he e-mailed 1,500 students in Reykjavik
and after a few responses, had an
"amazing, crazy weekend just south of
the Arctic Circle."
He decided this was much better
than playing "Mr. Tourist."
It isn't just about free
accommodations for a night.
Couch surfing is about cultural
understanding through immersion.
While many hosts will offer an extra
bed and some blankets, the point of
couch surfing is to meet people who will
offer a real 'day in the life' experience,
like that of a typical citizen.
Your couch surfing host in Dublin


can lead you to his favorite pub, or you
can be directed to the most delicious
pizza in Sicily.
The Web site has put in several
precautionary measures to ensure the
safety of its users.
Members can be vouched for only by
an already-vouched-for Couchsurfing.
com member, making it a circle of
surfing trust.
There are many groups on the Web
site for like-minded people, including
the Kosher Couch group and the Jewish
and Judaism group.
This makes it easy for a prospective
traveler to find a home that can
accommodate a kosher diet.
Additionally, according to a Couch
Surfing representative, individual
profiles would list whether or not a
particular user kept kosher.
Leo Stein, 22, a recent graduate from
the University of Florida, just spent a
few weeks Couch Surfing in northern
Florida.
In a phone interview, he said that
after being rained out while camping,
he created a profile and within minutes
received a response for a bed and dinner


from a man in
Ft. Walton.
When the -
storm ended,
Leo-had such
a positive
experience .
that he and
his girlfriend,
Keshet, '
continued e
to crash on
couches
across the
panhandle.
"It started
as a panic
button sort of
thing but it is
truly amazing
because of
how free it is," Leo said.
"The whole situation is not about
Shaving a place to sleep but it is about
the people you meet and the stories you
hear."
He said he- felt completely safe
because they wouldn't travel to anyone's
house without references.


If


photo by Jeremy Fields


When asked if he would do it again,
he responded that he was still surfing at
the time of the interview.
"It's the most universal idea. It really
changes how someone can travel," he
said. "You can be broke and still see the
world."


Homan was immediately caught

up in the "it's who you know"

mechanism of success that gets the

homeless man playing sax on the

street into gigs at The Blue Note.







61 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3


Gene Simmons sucks on'Celeb Apprentice'

BY JOSHUA FLEET
Despite predictions that KISS alum Gene Simmons would be "around for the long-
haul" (as one msnbc.com commentary put it) on Donald Trump's new celeb version of
"The Apprentice," the aging rock star was fired from the show on Jan. 17 in only its
third episode.
Simmons, born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel in 1949, was clearly supposed to be
Celeb Apprentice's saving grace. Suffering from seasonal bouts of low ratings, Trump's
failing franchise seemed to rely on Simmons' sex appeal (wait, how old is this guy? He
can't possibly still be sexy, can he?) to pull it from the reality-TV muck.
Perhaps the gods of American consumerism had enough of Trump and Simmons'
old man egos. In an unexpected twist seemingly beyond the control of either man, the
poufy-haired billionaire was left with no choice but to fire Simmons.
Of the remaining contestants, Simmons had this to say: "[They] don't have a popcorn
fart chance of even shining the guy's shoes."
Popcorn farts aside, Simmons' departure hopefully foreshadows a similar departure
of the whole Apprentice phenomenon.


Our favorite YouTube

Havah Negilah's


BY ZAHARA ZAHAV


When Bob Dylan strummed the guitar and blew a
harp to "Hava Negilah," Jewish folk music took one
giant step forward in coolness. Now, through the
magic of globalization and YouTube, the bar/bat
mitzvah ditty is being sung and danced to across
the world.
A simple search on YouTube brings up a Thai
rendition of the classic Jewish hit, sung by a line of
women sitting lotus style and bobbing their bodies
to the beat.
In the UK, Lauren Rose topped charts with
her version, which includes a chorus where she
whispers, "baby, let's dance." The song, which Rose
said she recorded as a Hanukah present for her
grandfather, is reminiscent of early Spice Girls.
The most dramatic adaptation of the 90-year-
old song is "Bollywood Hava Negilah," a musical
act from India that almost beats out the original
Chasidic party song.
Harry Belafonte's 1957 recording still stands
strong, but the Internet shows that people from all
over the world are agreeing with the message of
Hava Negilah: Let us rejoice'


I


No moo shoe here
BY ZAHARA ZAHAV
Natalie Portman has joined the ranks of multi-
talented actresses-those who've recorded music,
danced and mastered the art of baby adoption. But
Portman is taking multi-talent one step further. This
month, she is releasing a vegan shoe line. That's no
fur, no leather, no feathers- you know, the stuff in or
on shoes that usually makes them expensive.
The endea\ or is admirable. It's sweet that Portman
likes animals so much that she thinks we shouldn't
wear them. Unfortunately, the people that agree
with her might not want to dish out $300 for a pair
of shiny Mar, -Jane heels that honestly look like '90s
prom gear.
The shoes come in red, black, navy and silver
and have a plain design. The euphemism is "classic,"
but why does classic, ethical fashion have to be so
expensive? It seems like the real purchase here is the
Natalie Portman name.


A101111111








The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 3


David Wain does himself

BY JOSH FLEET

I just finished watching the panoply of David Wain's
new'short show, "Wainy Days," and let me just say: Ha
Haaaahaahahahaaaaaaaah Ha Ha Haha haaahaa hhhaaaa HaHa
Ha
Double teaming, double entendres, vulgar dancing, random
outbursts of show tunes, slapstick violence and middle school
sex jokes characterize just an iota of "Wainy Days." Oh, and
Holocaust jokes there's one or two of those in there too.
So, the show isn't exactly new- in fact, close to 20 episodes
have already aired online- but most people haven't heard of it, .
so we can pretend.
Wain, who brought us "The State," "Wet Hot American
Summer" and "Stella," stars each week in his own imaginary talk
show which can be seen at http://www.MyDamnChannel.com.
Each episode runs for a few minutes and features Wain and .
his extended family of famous comic friends tagging along in
New York City for ridiculous and unpredictable adventures.
I think I speak for myself and maybe m\ self alone when I say that "Wainy Days" is
uniquely hilarious, side-splitting, unreal, grandiloquent... splentabulous even!
If youhaven't seen it or an\ of the rest of Wain's comedic estate, please, do \ourself
a favor and watch them.


ur opinions on a lot of things...




How 'bout them Apples

BY RYAN WEISS

When the title of a band of musicians includes the word "the," it is often assumed they are
a group of bohemian New Yorkers who drink beer and smoke pack after pack of cigarettes.
But, as the old saying goes, when one assumes, he or she makes...
Well, you know.
The Apples, a group of Israeli jazz musicians, has put together two albums full of fun and
inventive tracks that resemble an ongoing jam session, switching pace and tune every four or
five minutes.
But unlike modern jazz, which can be rather boring
if your belly is absent of merlot. The Apples do much
more than play a few horns and guitars. Thrown in
among the usualjazz instrument nation are random vocal
clips, record scratching and other quirky mixers.
Moving ahead with this pattern of offbeat behavior, ATTENTION I
their track titles not only provoke an eyebrow raise
but also reveal their Israeli identity'. Titles range from
"Keep the Faith," "30 Shekel" and "lewfro" to "The
Bulgarians," "Kidney Stone" and "Wool""
For those who can't get enough jazz or crazy
Israeli in their systems, a taste of The Apples at
"theapplesmusic.com" or online at http: ''www.
myspace.com/theapplesmusic might help.


SCrey BL ng Makes him NormAL

BY RYAN WIESS
Subliminal messages are no longer backwards-playing
Black Sabbath records that recommend you commit
suicide.
Subliminal, a rising Israeli hip-hop star and front man
of the group
TACT (Tel
A% ig Cit h
Team) is
Israel's Toby
Keith.
Of course,
being
patriotic in
Israel is a
bit different
than being
"patriotic"
in the United
States. Don't be fooled by Subliminal's oversized coat and
icy gold chain (though it does flash some pretty hot Star of
Da% id Ice).
Subliminal speaks out against drunk driving, troubling
policemen and all other ac ts American rap groups glamorize.
"In Israel. our reality\ is very different. If we see a cop
chasing some guy down the street, we'd jump in and help
the cop. Cops are saving our Itves every day," said Ya'akov
"Subliminal" Shimoni.
The novelty of a right-wing hip-hop artist has not gone
unnoticed. Touring France, he was greeted with protests
from leftists and Arab/Muslim communities. As for his
popularity within the Jewish community, Subliminal hopes
to branch out into production in languages ranging from
English to Arabic. "We want to open up the international
hip-hop community," he said.


i. .
77 --- ---
Ni 2 . . -. . m . .= .. .. .: . .n. . . = ,. .= . . .r .


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7







8 KVETCH The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3

-1 1IIIIIIIIIII lIIIIIIlIIIIIII IIIIII II IIIIII FII III1 IIIlIIIII I IIIIIIII IIIII I I IIIII IIIIII IIIIIII IIIII IIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII I II I" III III [ I I IIIIIIIIIIIIIII .I ILL

W lom rar KhdrFi ending g Me Peace
-. oUUf Mind

T h e violence?" It was a conversation about intentions to have peace on the something of my own definition, no
KHADER ABU EL-HAUA name of the a person's comments regarding the ground at the end. matter how perfect, imperfect or far
Web site situation in Gaza. There were about I personally think that even from perfection it is.
S- .immediately 15 comments when I last checked. countries at war should not pull their It doesn't mean that we should put
= stopped me: Supporting responsible freedom of diplomats from enemy countries. our minds in the cupboards.
Shttp://www. speech ensures a healthy discussion. Or at least they should not block Rather, to simply talk, listen, then
mepeace.org. Many may predict that participants communications with "the arrogant listen some more and talk again.
ME peace? on the Web site just exchange words enemy". For a true peacemaker seeks If we reason our opinion and
.= ...j *A- "' "Why not MY in a hice manner to play things safe to drop the sword at the nearest have evidence to support it, then our
Space? and to keep it friendly, opportunity, when there is a proper opinion might be correct.
On this Web site, just as on Indeed, I respect the honesty solution to be reached with words. In the same manner, what we think
SFacebook, people have profiles and bravery that I saw there, as one I'm on Facebook. I know there is is wrong may be right.
Sand start light conversations participant spoke about that, too, in a lot of racism, stupidity and tons of I remember a part of Prophet
Son 'comment walls' of personal one of the comments. weird behavior there. Mohammad's speech where
Pages or as discussion threads. Many I was impressed that participants However, I still have-my Facebook he says, "All of you are from -
discussions attracted my attention. really differ in perspectives, and the account because it is useful for Adam, and Adam is from soil."
One titled, '"Peace with Justice" is peer pressure of 'not saying taboos' communication and if properly used, I think Adam would prefer to see =
Just a war cry!,' was of the first, is not a big problem as happens the positives are greater than the his sons, everywhere, be in peace.
S An Australian man began a brief in some similar peace-promoting negatives. Similarly, mepeace.org has than to fight each other.
intro with six points for details. It was environments. I was surprised that people who are very different from Well, leaving me with a nice first
Quick yet neatly organized. A Jew, a powerful phrases used-by some one another and provides an excellent impression did let me get to know
SChristian Arab and a French man toward others were still polite, opportunity to hear the other opinion more about this social networking
responded the most, agreeing and Despite disagreeing on how to of what is right. Web site. I hope you'll it least give it a
Disagreeing throughout. define the nature of peace, especially It's called MEpeace.org because it's visit. By the Web site I mean mepeace.
S Another interesting discussion was with the term 'justice' and its more important to have peace from org not Facebook, by the way!
entitled "Is there any one-here really dimensions as seen by individuals, within, to be of a peaceful nature, Q Comments? Contact Khader
Guilty of racism, bigotry or supporting members of mepeace.org maintained than to demand getting "my peace"- at khaderoabuelhaija@gmail.co.t Kh
at khader.Iabuelhaija@gmal.com. =-
i11111111111 1111111111111111111111111 111111111 1111I11111111111111 11111111 111111I 111111111111111111 I III I I IIIIIII


THE SHP ET:














In preIparation for the re-laiunching of our Web
site. Tlhe SHPiEL is seeldino:

Bloggers and Web Designers

This is a great opportunity orr experi ence and inlips.

For more information contact Lori Finiikel at IlmuFinkelilfl.ediiu.







The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 3


KVETCHI. 9


Mini-skirts, breath mints

and college careers


BY GISELLE MAZUR
SHPiEL staff writer

The popular culture of the United
States has never denied accusations of
being superficial and shallow, and yet
it never ceases to shock the children of
the Baby Boomers with its absurd ideas
of what is considered acceptable.
There is a widely read internet
newsletter entitled "Making it Count"
which reaches thousands of ambitious
teenagers on a weekly basis. These
teens, concerned about their futures, ask
to receive the newsletter with the idea
that it will contain helpful information
on colleges and careers and advice for
their futures.
They were in for quite a shock when
they learned "Mentos, the Freshmaker"
was vital to obtain a high-paying job.
The newsletter is, in fact, no more
than an advertising scheme for major
corporations to brainwash the youth
of the country into believing that all
they need to be successful is a beautiful
image and the right hair-care products.
No need to worry about the major
math test, "Don't sweat it, RELAX", the
Old Spice deodorant will protect those
armpits from the stench of fear and
tension (much more important than the
test grade by far)..
And of course no college will mind


Sally's mediocre grades because she
has dandruff-free hair. Her Head and
Shoulders has taught her all about the
"tingling sensation" and how it's a good
sign. Let's just hope Sally understands
the tingling is only a good sign in
reference to her shampoo.
Our teenage prodigy now looks
and smells like a success, but it's also
important for her to feel like one. No
young lady over the age of fourteen
can honestly say she has never had the
most glorious privilege of the menstrual
cramp: Mother Nature's gift of life.
It just wouldn't be right if our high
achiever missed her meeting with the
McDonald's representative because of
her period pains.
But no worries, with ThermaCare
Patches she can "Just put it on and
GO!" and have a painless interview-
physically anyway.
Of course there are no tips in the
newsletter on how she can calm her
nerves or pull up her grades.
But she won't need any of those
things if the interviewer is a man
because chances are he wouldn't have
the slightest clue if "she [was] born with
it" or if it was Maybelline, and he more
than likely he wouldn't care.
Her Abercrombie mini-skirt fits her
just like it does the models in the ads,
or at least is as short.


e M 0 a Free
boozin,'
schmoozin' and
entertainment.
f Details TBA.
February 12
10 Pm
Hillel -JMarch 20


PurimPalooza vol. 2


STHE SHPiEL

goes to the polls!

BY BEN CAVATARO
and SHPiEL voters everywhere

So in our very own, super non-formal, probably useless exit poll, we asked
voters at campus precincts to tell us about their views on religion and politics.
Due to the last-minute nature of this brilliant idea, our pool was small and our
results probably don't represent any sort of majority. But we at least thought
they might be entertaining.

A plurality of voters were 18 years old, 21.2 was the
average age, and the oldest voter was 53. About 32%
of respondents said they grew up in a Republican
household, while another 41% said they grew up
in a Democratic household, with the rest having
independent, non-voting, or split family. Of voters who
identified both the party affiliation of their households
growing up and their own party affiliations, only eight
changed all Republican to Democrat.

Thirty-two percent of respondents were registered
Republicans, while 65% were Democrats; the low rate
of independent voters is probably due to Florida's
closed primary system, in which those not registered
with a party cannot vote in primaries. (Independents
could vote for the constitutional amendment and for
the nonpartisan Gainesville City Commission races).

The survey found 39% of voters in The SHPiEL poll
for against the proposed amendment to the Florida
Constitution dealing with property taxes, and 49%.,
voted against. (Statewide, the amendment gained
64% support, passing the 60% threshold needed for
passage).

Around 75% of respondents said they had watched the
presidential debates that had taken place over the past
few months, and an overwhelming 87% said they would
vote for the presidential nominee of their party even if
the candidate they voted for lost the nomination.

Two-thirds of voters surveyed said they practiced an
organized religion, and a smaller majority of 55%
considered themselves religious. Only one in three said
that religion should play a role in voting, although 34%
believe that religion in playing a large role in the 2008
campaign. Only five of the 69 respondents said they
did not believe in the separation of church and state.


SUSAN NEIIGROSCHEL, GRI, CRS
RLALTOR-ASJOC'I Et
(352) 371-15261A\
(3 [52) 376.0839 RBiSIIENfC
(352) 870-1722 C 1.
slusaintcugeaSo l.comn
,. ,1
M. M. PARRISH,
REALTORS"
%870 N'Vl .d i IItrmi
GinwclsileS Fl, 2606
edah Cffisa Ir ,demdnslly
OtwtI And Operdlrld. ewwwmnllpnrTiisl.conm


Tonya Blackman
TER RTOW MANAGER
Phone: (800) 258-2861
Fax: (877) 942-4135
www.myserviceoffice.com
e-mail: Lt.Mackm n@'erviceffiee.cmn


TIHE SHP EL
Opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily
reflect those of The SHPiEL. We encourage comments
from readers who possess all points of view. No,
really, we're interested in what you have to say. Feel
free to write a letter to the editor or you can contact
us with a column idea. Please send comments to
theshpiel@gmail.com.







101 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3


James' Cinema ."T r
Highlights Presents:E *E
F "O-"'R TITLE-L, A PAiR c' ,.C.S, HOW FUNNV CAN YOU BE?


BY JAMES WILKEY
SHPiEL staff writer

"The Ten," directed by David Wain, is an
example of how a movie can start off poorly and
end up, well, not poorly I guess. ..
"The Ten," recently released on DVD, has an
amusing concept: take the Ten Commandments
and make 10 funny stories out of them.
The only real problem with the concept is
the movie seems little more than an elongated
"Saturday Night Live."
The film attempts to create a narrative by
giving our "guide" through the commandments
(Paul Rudd) a story about adultery, which plays
out between the other nine skits.
Unfortunately, the adultery skit doesn't really
string the other commandments together. This
makes the whole film feel like sketches at a pep
rally (an R-rated pep rally of course).
That wouldn't be a bad thing if the sketches
were funny. They certainly teased a chuckle from
me here and there but never a good hearty laugh.
"The Ten" starts off slow, some funny bits can
be found, but they're hidden in a slew of lesser
humor that really drags the funnier stuff down. As
the film progresses, the skits become a little more


focused, and several of the characters reappear,
making the whole film link together better. "The
Ten" hits its peak a little too late.
Another, problem with "The Ten" is that the
sketches often only graze the commandment on
which they're based.
This problem could have been overlooked if
the film put a few more
stitches in my side:
"The Ten" has a AD
charmingly low-budget RfO
look. The recurring
'set is a black void [AASI
with two stone tablets KE
that anyone with a KE
little creativity could
reproduce.
Yet, it comes off
as minimalistic rather
than cheap.
What caught me
off guard was the
relatively big-named
cast. It may not feature
Keira Knightly or
George Clooney, but
"The Ten" does boast


Adam Brody ("Thank You for Smoking"), Jessica
Alba ("Good Luck Chuck," "Sin City") and Famke
Janssen ("X-Men" series.)
Over all, "The Ten" is not a bad movie, but it
'falls short of its potential. I'd recommend a rental
for a few cheap laughs.


I _







The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 3


CALENDAR & GAMES


Su S a. y Monda Tueda Weneda Thusda Frida S


Men's Basketball
at Tennessee
9 pm
Twilight Tuesdays
7pm -


voxGraphis
Valentine's Sale
Plaza of the Americas
11 am

Morningbell 0.
Orange and Brew':
8 pm


voxGraphis
Valentine's Sale
Plaza of the Americas
11 am

Band of Horses 0
Common Grounds
9 pm


Men's Basketbal
vs Georgia
3 pm
Bee Movie :";)
Reitz Union Auditorium
9 pm & 11:30 pm
Velveteen Pink -
Side Bar
10:30 pm m
,\-.


Bee Movie
Reitz Union Auditorium
8 pm & 10:30 pm
4 -"


voxGraphis
Valentine's Sale
Plaza of the Americas
11 am


Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Phillips Center
7:30 pm
.,- -

ValenStein's Day
Hillel
10 pm


Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Phillips Center
7:30 pm
Men's Basketball
vs LSU
8 pm.


Valentine's Day


Dierks Bentley
O'Connell Center
7:30 pm


Student Arts Juried
Exposition
University Gallery
7pm 9 pm
Ligature Design Show
Focus Gallery
7 pm 9 pm


Men's Basketball
at Vanderbilt
3pm

Umoja Orchestra
Common Grounds
9-pm 16


Miss UF Pageant
Phillips Center A flick we've picked
7 pm

S "O Music we groove to

: /s "Free Sci-Fi movie screening, 7 pm
LfG~~r
rNm


93'


v*
te 0


r 0 0


. *
wo


S0


* 0


p w
p0 0 0
*,0 0 0


* 0'Cpy 0 &
:: Co py.r!

00

J .Syndin

ailable'from Co

** *
- -
0 0 $
*tT ti


a a a


I a


& a a


ghted Material


cated Content -


- -


mmercial News Providers"

o ___
-


.f -


-- -


"M 0 of @Nm


11


So.




top
Av



t
t


C1109wgwi


C








121 FEATURE


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 3


A confluence of continents floods a tarpon springs stage


BY JOSHUA FLEET AND FARYN HART
SHPiEL staff writers

In a musical confluence of continents,
*Pharaoh's Daughter, led by Basya
Schechter, performed their version of
"Sephardic Folk-Rock" on Jan. 24 in
Tarpon Springs, Fla.
In.- a city with a rather large
population of retirees, the stage of the
Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center
(TSPAC) is framed by the American and
Florida state flags.
When Pharaoh's Daughter came
to town, the banners it brought along
created a blur-of color and culture.
It was only the band's second visit
to Florida in their'decades-long career.
They performed in front of a small sea
of grey and white hair at a venue that
boasts intimacy.
The theater is just 10 rows deep.
"It's all about communication," said
Michael N. Raysses, Theater Operations
Coordinator of the TSPAC in reference
to the theater's purposeful size.
The theater is the only place in the
area that can host real music played by
true musicians, Raysses said.
"There's heart, there's ideas and
there's soul" in the music brought to
Tarpon Springs, Raysses said.
This is certainly true of the Brooklyn-
based band.
Basya Schechter unites souls from
a mesh of different music genres,
and each member of her band brings
a different history and culture to the
stage like when Israeli recorder'player
Dapli Mor mixes notes with Japanese
jazz violinist Meg Okura.
Together they make sounds that
are both eclectically rhythmic, and
spiritually and physically stimulating.
Mor, on haunting recorder and soulful
vocals, played the instrument like many
Israeli children. She was constantly
asked by relatives when she was going
to pick up a serious instrument.
Music seemed to choose her-she was
accepted to an art high school and then
the musician unit in the Israeli Army.
Mor's perseverance in inventing her own
experimental
style landed her
a collaboration
with Schechter
four years ago.
On bass,
Shanir Ezra
Blumenkranz
rip p e d
Klezmatic lines
and sent the
crowd surfing,
Sephardi style.
Tliough his
own projects on
Tzadik Records,
John Zorn's
avant-garde
brainchild, and Pharaoh's Daughter pe


living as a musician in New York City,
Blumenkranz naturally ran in the same
circles as Schechter, who has also been
featured on Zorn's label.
Like a Chabbadnik urging some
disenfranchised Jew to go to Israel or
lay Tefillin, Blumenkranz reiterates
the importance of New York City to the
world and to music.
It's the musician's holy city.
But shout-outs weren't exclusive to
the big city. One of the drummers of
Pharaoh's Daughter, Mathias Kunzli, is
from Switzerland. The guy hammering
on the accordion, Uri Sharlin, hails from
Israel. And the piercing violinist, Meg
Okura, is a native of Tokyo.
Though the career of a musician
relies heavily on show-to-show success
and interspersed inspiration, the liberal
lifestyle of being on the road, meeting
people, networking and passing on
sounds is something for which Pharaoh's
Daughter lives.
Their latest album, "Haran," blends
the songs of Schechter's Chassidic
upbringing, personal reflection of
Hebrew texts, Middle-Eastern and
African rhythms and the closed eyes
and swaying bodies of the performers.
There is an unspoken cadence that
connects this nuclear family as the
voices of their respective instruments
bounce and play off each other.
At any given moment, the stage
graced by Pharaoh's Daughter consists
of the standard drums-piano-bass
combination with an additional
psychedelic mix of violin, accordion
and even an oud, a traditional Middle
Eastern stringed instrument which
Schechter plays.
Baye Kouyate, a talking drum master
from Mali now living in Tampa, sat in
with the band in Tarpon Springs, adding
another layer to an already amalgamated
fusion of world beats. Kouyate's pulse,
the thunder-crashing rhythms of
Kunzli and eerie ramblings of Sharlin
on synthesizer helped to solidify the
band's unusual, original sound.
Schechter, who has recorded songs
not just in Hebrew, but in English,


reforms at Highline Ballroom in NewYork City.


Aramaic, Ladino
and .more,
is -currently
working on a
project with
P.haraoh h s
Daughter called
"A Song of
Songs." The
songs in this
new project
take their words
straight from
the original
biblical text of
the same name,
Schechter said.
"Shir
H a S h i r
HaS h is ri m, From right to left: Baye
as it is called
in Hebrew, is Basya Schechter, Daph
about two equal stage at the Tarpon Spl
about two equalJan. 24.
lovers, longing shown Jan. 24.
for each other.
"It's just total equality. There's
nothing else in the Bible like it,"
Schechter said.
Pharaoh's Daughter played two


photo courtesy ofJoshua Fleet
Kouyate, Shanir Blumenkranz, Meg Okura,
na Mor, Uri Sharlin, and Mathias Kunzli on
rings Performing Arts Center after their


more shows in Florida before heading
out across the country and back to New
SYork. Their sound and soul took flight
and evolved along the way.


Lc -
--t . -'- "- t" '. 'I ","d -

Shapi Is Pe FUJ 66Fture
..
... -ll