Somewhere in between writing 90,579,485,789 articles for this issue and another thrilling game of office baseball, the three editors of this year's Arts and Entertainment desk decided that their first column would be better reading if it featured introductions by each of them individually.
Shining moments of the same caliber were shared by the creators of Focus Factor and the person who green-lit the sitcom Sister, Sister.
"The Indie Guy" I'm Nicholas and this is how I feel today. I think pirates and cowboys are so cool I sometimes can't sleep at night. I don't eat meat because it makes me sick, physically. I was straight-edge for a long time, but I sold out of that cult. I really don't drink often, but God fashions my beliefs, not Ian MacKaye. Fugazi is one of the most overrated bands ever, and I'm sick of people using either them or Radiohead to describe a band.
I think that cigarettes are terrible. My best friend Hector Kiekbusch quit, and it was hard, but he did it. I like liberals, but I hate when they can only see their side. I like conservatives, but they make me giggle a lot. I really hate the NRA and violence.
Soccer is a beautiful game, and the U.S. National Team makes me smile. My friend Tim and I have a six-pack of tickets for the Sabres, and Rob Ray should have his number retired. I miss Joe Freedy at throwingback.
I love being in a band and touring. In fact, during this article I've thought at least 34 times about getting in the van and going to some other city to sing and scream and talk to new people like I did for a good portion of this summer.
I like old shows like The Twilight Zone and Welcome Back Kotter. All I watch now is Kilborn, I'm With Busey and That 70s Show.
It makes me mad that when people are asked their preference in music they say, "I like everything except country." You know what? I like everything and country. I like Snapcase, Kathleen Edwards, the Gloria Record, Norma Jean, the Appleseed Cast, Richard Buckner, mewithoutYou, Sigur Ros, the Postal Service and Ryan Adams.
I think Good Will Hunting is great and that the best parts of Buffalo are the Mohawk Place and Pano's at 3 a.m. I am not photogenic and have had chicken pox. Seventeen times. I think Fyodor Dostoevsky is the best author ever. I major in English, am a horrible skateboarder, and the best dancer in the world. I'm lame, and am active on every horrible Web site like Friendster, Live Journal, etc.
I think adorable girls are wonderful. I will break your heart. That is all and here's Ben.
"The Classic Guy" The first day of grade school usually started off the same way each year. We'd go around the room and introduce ourselves to the rest of the class. Even though we all knew each other from the years before, the teacher would instruct some sort of mixer to get us back into the swing of social friendliness and camaraderie.
It usually didn't work, for the sake of practicality. It seemed pointless. All we'd end up talking about was what we did at summer camp, who were going to sit next to at lunch, and whose yard we would play at after school.
While I'd like to say that none of my professors did that this week, I'd be lying if I said they didn't. But that's fine; I will honor all of my past teachers' perennial requests and offer a few words about myself. I warn you, I (think I) am much cooler in person.
My name is Benjamin Siegel, I just turned 21, and I study film theory and journalism. I was born in Buffalo, I now live in Williamsville with my mother and new stepfather, and have a brother who's six years my senior.
Music makes me pretty happy, especially good, classic music. For me, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac would all make fine guests stranded on a deserted island. Likewise, the film catalogs of Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen Spielberg are perfect friends to spend lonely nights on the couch with a huge jug of wine and a bag of Doritos.
And if you haven't noticed, I work at the Spectrum as an Arts & Entertainment editor. While my tri-weekly column will be all about the arts - and my crazy thoughts about it - I wanted to take the opportunity and say hello.
When you get the chance, pass it on.
"The 'Hardcore' Guy" I'm Mike Flatt. Some people like to refer to me as "hardcore." Others know better than that. It's true that I listen to the most pulverizing bands I can find and have done so for a number of years. It's also true that one of my favorite recreations is attending concerts wherein people bash each other with whatever body parts or instruments are available to them, as well as dogpile whoever happens to be holding the microphone, conducting hand-to-hand combat for the privilege of screaming.
While some may say these are the only criteria necessary to be met to fulfill the hardcore standards, there are so many more that I do not meet. For example, my other favorite pastime of the summer is golf. I also like to use methods of keeping in shape other than stage-diving and fighting, which, however effective, do not entirely appeal to me.
I have no piercings, no tattoos and cannot play the guitar. I have my reasons. I also like to eat red meat, which demonizes me among a large portion of my favorite bands and their fans.
I simply identify with many of the lyrics and feel an in incredible rush of energy when 18 Visions or old Vision of Disorder, maybe even a little Throwdown if my less art-loving side takes over, boom from my very loud speakers. Luckily, the question of whether I'm 'core or not didn't come up when I applied to be cool.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
