BMM (Books, Movies and Music)

Books:

David Goldblatt's The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer, written well, with passion and humor, a must for soccer fans and those just getting to know the "beautiful game". An epic at 900-some pages, as he is tackling a comprehensive history no one has complied before, it reads easily and fast. - A.G. Akturk

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
From the author of Fight Club, Lullaby is a dark look at what constant invasion of privacy and too much power can do to an average person. - Tara Garwood


My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler, the comedian best known from being on the show "Girls Behaving Badly", and being the host on her own show, "Chelsea Lately", Chelsea writes a very witty memoir. From her Jewish family to her frivolous escapades, Chelsea reflects on her life laughing about all the experiences that she had that and you just have to join in and laugh with her. - Mike Sutherland

Long Way Home by Ishmael Beah. This book is excellent. It's a touching memoir of Ishmael Beah . This book gives you the riveting insight on his life. His stolen childhood due to the genocide happening in his country, and his subsequent journey to becoming a child soldier. Although this book has some life altering occasions, it does have a wonderful ending and powerful message. A must read!! - Ekpa Eyoma

Movies:

Sleuth (1972), Starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine
An incredibly well-written and well-acted thriller, this is one of the most entertaining, enjoyable, keep-you-on-your-toes movies of all time. - Tara Garwood

There are questions you never ask servicemen and -women returning from a war. But the questions lie under the surface, waiting to be asked, waiting to be answered. To somehow share the burden of war in all its reality and ugliness, the National Endowment for the Arts funded an anthology of writing straight from the pens of our soldiers and Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience (2007) is the documentary based on these writers and their work. I don't know that those of us who've never been to war could ever truly share the burden of those who have and are serving overseas. But with projects like this, we can at least try. - A.G. Akturk

Sound of Music (1965) - I think i have watched this movie a total of 100 times, and i still can't get enough of it. I grew up to this movie, love the music, have the soundtrack, and love the message on love. You can never go wrong with this classic. - Ekpa Eyoma

Mirrors (2008) - So I have to admit, this movie was decently scary. The last true scary movie I saw was The Ring(2002), over six years ago, which is pretty sad. There was some gore in Mirrors which I did not really expect, which enhanced the scare factor, and made it into the best scary in half a decade. Many parts made me jump, but found some humor, there's nothing more funny that your friends jumping every few minutes - just beware the mirrors, it's a whole different world. - Mike Sutherland


Music:

Sacrifice by Lisa Gerrard - Sohayl Vafai

Disturbia by Rihanna. Always gets me moving, and feeling a little freaky!! - Ekpa Eyoma

I've been listening to Marc Broussard, lately. The man is the soul of Delta blues/rock! I can't get enough of his tracks Home, Gavin's Song and Let Me Leave! Home will put you right in the swampy heart of Louisiana, stompin' to the beat for your everlovin' life!! And Gavin's Song is the purest expression of a father's love for his son. Truly a Southern treasure. - A.G. Akturk

Cake (All albums)
Far beyond their radio hits Never There and Let Me Go, Cake's music is possibly the coolest you will ever hear. With beats that get you moving and surprising harmonies, they are perfect for any mood or occasion! - Tara Garwood

blink-182's I Miss You Yeah, yeah, I know that this song is old, but I just can't let go. A punk band that embodied punk. I Miss You seems to be about someone who died and with reference to Jack and Sallie from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, they died and that they wish to be together, wherever the deceased girlfriend may be. It could also mean that simply the relationship died and that they wished that they were still together. Whatever the definition, the song is addictive, sweet yet, dark. "Don't waste your time on me you're already
the voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)" - Mike Sutherland

Best of MC Summer Events '08: Chatauqua

The word Chatauqua originates from indigenous Native American lore, but in relation to MC, it is an annual event where actors bring historic figures to life. Sounds like something theatre geeks would be into, right? Think again. This year the theme was Civil Rights and they had the biggest names grace the stage: Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and George Wallace. The point being to personalize and re-examine seminal American moments in time. Trust me, in no other way do you feel more connected to the struggle of the Civil Rights movement, to 1960's America, than when you are staring into the eyes of Dr. King, Jr! And the voices! The voices of these (properly trained) actors, the resonance of Rosa Parks' words, George Wallace's almost-defeated-but-can't-count-me-out-yet proclamations.....goose bumps, I kid you not.

The audience was mostly made up of senior citizens, whom you'd expect at such events, to relive important moments, maybe to re-analyze them. And analyze they did! Part of the Chatauqua deal is that any audience member can ask questions of the personality and then of the actor playing the personality. They asked and cajoled and prodded the personalities to get to some core truths about their collective history which they'd long ago determined for themselves. And it was very enlightening (that's right, enlightening!) to see an older generation come to terms with leaders they'd lost too soon, with tragedies and politics which our generation can now take for granted. All well and good, but the other purpose of Chatauqua this year was to revitalize these leaders and their struggle in the hearts and minds of new generations. And so it was that there were children in the audience, brought by conscientious parents. Matter of fact, it intrigued me how polarized the audience was -- ages 4 to 12, and ages 45 to 70.

Picture this, then: Rosa Parks has just finished explaining her side of the story, ending with a beautiful Southern Baptist hymn. She stands on the little stage, mopping her esteemed brow. From among the forest of white plastic chairs arrayed in front of her comes bopping this little head and soon emerges a little African American girl, aged about 5 whom I'd spied earlier curled up on her guardians lap listening, enraptured. The little girl proceeds as close as she dares to the stage, and using her best outside voice asks the simplest question: "Ms. Parks, what is the KKK that you mentioned?" Rosa Parks, is stumped for a split second -- only a split second, mind -- and gives the only answer she can give, that they are very bad people who don't like anyone different from them and do those they've judged against great harm. Simple, eloquent, and in its very childishness, the exact point of Chatauqua!

Also deserving honorable mention, of the five musical acts which opened each show, Ellen Cherry (yes, you Tom Robbins fans, inspired by THAT Ellen Cherry) did the whole nouvelle-folk-green music movement great justice. She sang some favorites and a few of her own tunes, with great, warm banter in between and she is sooooo worth checking out on Facebook, etc.

You missed Chatauqua? Never fear, MCTV was there to put it all on tape! Episodes have been airing since July 17th so check Channel 10 for air times or check out www.youtube.com/montgomerycollege.


A.G. Akturk
Editor-In-Chief

Gas Leak

On July 23rd at 8:08 am, Summer Session II students were unable to access the cafeteria, nor any of the other facilities, in the CC building after it was evacuated by the MC Rockville Security due to a leak in the gas line. While reconstructing the sidewalks, contractors hit an undetected gas line, according to Christopher Karp, the Plant Maintenance and Operations Supervisor. His team was able to shut off the gas within the hour, but had the firefighters on site as a precaution. The building reopened at 9:04 am. Karp was unable to estimate how much longer it would take for the repairs to be complete or how long it would delay the construction. Debra Hayre, the Safety and Security Advisor for MC Rockville Security, explained that due to the gas being turned off, the cafeteria were compromised and would only serve cold foods. However after the building was reopened, MC Munchies was open for business and accommodated the hungry masses as best as it could. Thanks to the Security and the construction team working together they were able to prevent any injuries and have the building reopened as quickly as possible, preserving the safety of students and faculty.


Michael Sutherland
Online Coordinator


Construction team reviewing blueprints

MC Munchies facilitating the students

MC Tobacco-Free

After almost a decade of efforts to make Montgomery Community College tobacco-free, starting on August 1, 2008 all tobacco products were banned from MC’s three campuses. That means all college owned property, indoors and out are off limits to tobacco users. Nope, you can’t use tobacco products in the parking lots, in the previously designated smoking areas or on the soccer fields – you can’t use them anywhere on MC grounds. The college’s tobacco-free policy comes after years of trying to limit tobacco use. First, tobacco use in buildings was banned. Then, there was the 25 foot rule. Now, it is totally banned. If you think a couple of administrators, fed up by unruly youth, decided to take measures to eventually ban tobacco use, that simply isn’t true. The wider community chimed in on this one. And all MC members are affected, from the custodians to your professors. One just wonders: Will it work? There are Healthy Campus Advocates roaming the campuses warning tobacco users to stop using their products or else… Or else what? They’ll get a slap on the wrist? We are told repeat offenders will be formally admonished. Using tobacco products could be treated the same way as bringing an illegal substance on campus. That means the worst punishment for users would be expulsion. Don’t worry, you’d have to be caught many times before it ever came to that. Besides, what’s stopping tobacco users from walking off campus to smoke? Many hospitals have similar tobacco-free policies and the users simply caper off the hospital grounds to smoke. One can see it being a nuisance to neighboring communities, but as long as it’s not on college property, you can smoke, chew and spit all the livelong day. It’s too soon to say whether the tobacco-free policy will be a success, but after so many years of culminating successes in favor of the policy, one is apt to think it will be.

Sohayl Vafai

Associate Editor

New Courses for Fall 2008

Daniela here, enlightening you on the latest course additions and curriculum changes for Fall 2008.

The Health Sciences program has recently implemented new prerequisites: a GPA of at least 2.50, assessment level or completion of EN101, 101A, 102 or 109, MA 110, BI107, and for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) applicants, PH010 are now necessary to be considered for the program.

A new three-credit honors course titled Ethics/Professional Accounting entails "an examination of the major ethical issues encountered by accountants." The prerequisites for this honors class are as with any other honor class; completion of at least 12 credits, a 3.2 or higher GPA and an A or B grade in EN101/EN101A and AC 202.

Summer 2008 approved courses are expanding the Paramedic curriculum. The new offerings include Basic Emergency Medical Tech, Intro to Pre-Hospital Environment, Patient Assessment, Pharmacology, Airway Management, Trauma, Medical Emergencies, and EMS Operations. Clinical Radiology II is also now available for the Radiology program. Mostly held off-campus and requiring previous credit in several lower level health-science courses, these classes are meant for those determined to work as future hospital employees, whether it is in nursing or ambulance personnel.

To round out the health-science curriculum, new Polosomnography courses – the study of the purposes and arrangement of the cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular systems in relation to sleep pathology – have been added. Another addition is the Sleep Disorders class, which includes "relationships of physical and psychiatric disorders and the effects of various medications on sleep patterns." These courses are so new that ,as I was browsing through the Fall 2008 Schedule, PO, the category for Polosomnography was not yet available. Pretty exciting, if you ask me!

On the other side of campus, the Communication Arts Technologies department has created three brand new interactive options for existing courses: Graphic Design, Photography and Broadcasting, featuring "full audio/video lectures and demonstrations in addition to Q&A sessions... perfect for the students who can't be in a classroom.'"

For a closer look at descriptions, credits hours, and prerequisites, go to http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/credit/WhatsNew/Fall08whats%20new.pdf

Daniela Pila
Technical Director

Welcome to The Montgomery Advocate's Blog

Well, hello, dear reader! Surprised to see us online? Just another way in which we are attempting to better serve your needs, really. The buzz word, the redefining impetus of the whole journalism industry is convergence, which means journalism alive and thriving online, interactive, multi-dimensional. Not to say that we are completely abandoning our print edition; but as we are starting fresh this year, with a revitalized line-up of staff and editorial members, we thought we'd jump on the convergence bandwagon and bring our beloved Montgomery Advocate up to date in the digital age.

Our blogs will go hand in hand with our print articles, feature then further explore vital campus issues, provide a quicker way to update information, and receive your thoughts and comments more efficiently than before. We are striving for increased photographic input, up-to-date classifieds, comics and a debate format advice column exclusive to our online avatar!

We welcome your suggestions and discerning demands as we further develop our site: Please email me directly or send a note to Mike Sutherland, our Online Coordinator, at onlinecoordinator.advocatemcr@gmail.com. Have pictures you want to submit? Send them to our Photo Editor, Mike Seabaugh at photoeditor.advocatemcr@gmail.com.

Ever humbly yours,

A.G. Akturk
Editor-In-Chief