Opinion

My favorite type of music isn’t a genre – it’s whatever the fewest people know. This statement is not to be confused for a hipster battle cry against all things “mainstream,” however. Unlike the many who celebrate music simply for its obscurity, I don’t boycott musicians who have ascended to higher levels of recognition, I don’t accuse one of my favorite lesser-known groups of selling out to the popular demand if they happen to score a hit, and I certainly don’t write off their artistic ability. Who says there has to be a distinction between what’s good and what’s mainstream?

On Oct. 5 the Dempsey Report was released. The university-sponsored evaluation was intended to show where UC Davis stands as an athletic program, and provide a blueprint for where the university could go from here.

Part of Yolo County Library’s eBook collection is now available for Kindle, Amazon.com’s digital reader. Library members can check out an eBook in the same way they would check out a real book – the book is available for three weeks, and then the content is disabled. This jump from paper to digital books is not uncommon in today’s marketplace. Seeing someone reading a digital book on the bus is equally as likely as seeing someone reading a real, paper book. This shift, while impressive, should be taken in stride and should be thought about critically. Books, which became prevalent after the printing press was invented around 1440, have shaped our culture into what it is today. While the advent of digital books is fascinating, we should realize that it has a direct effect on our culture and our lives. Just remember, the invention of the printing press helped the Protestant Reformation take form. The benefits of digital readers are clear. An eBook is much lighter than a normal book, and you can carry around as many books as you like in one tablet. Book prices are often cheaper on eBooks, and font size and brightness can be adjusted to the reader’s desire. And let’s face it, who doesn’t think they look cool carrying around a trendy, digital device? While these benefits clearly apply, the negatives of eBooks are also there. When a reader is reading an eBook, they lose the physical connection to what they are reading, along with the general experience of holding a book in their hand. While you can virtually dog-ear a page on an eBook, there is clearly a difference between a digital action and physical action. Spilling coffee on a paper book can be easily fixed with a hair dryer and some patience. However, spilling coffee on an eBook is an overall disaster.

A smooth-talking, very likable black man who promises stark economic change from his would-be predecessor is the current favorite to win the Presidential nomination … with the Republican party.

Friends are great … until they are nowhere to be found. If you have buddies who are as AWOL as the Hot Wheels, LEGOS, Nerf guns and other treasures your parents auctioned off in your absence, or who have made themselves as scarce as water in a sweltering desert, it’s sadly time you recognize them for the inconsiderate flakes they are.

In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes. And now, another unwanted fate has joined the ranks to complete a trio of utter distress: job interviews.

Bros: You’ve seen them around Davis. Whether they’re racing past you on their bikes wearing lacrosse pinnies or drinking Natty Ice on their front lawns blasting Jack Johnson, they’re everywhere.

When one is exploring the vast plethora of people and pages on their Facebook profile, there is really only one activity occurring: judgment. However, some of us aren’t born with the natural gift of being able to tell just how lame our so-called friends are with only a handful of photos and status updates to go off of. I usually like to claim I’m some sort of expert in my columns, so here’s my guide on how to read between the posts on a recent activity feed.

Media critic Marshall McLuhan is famous for reminding us “the medium is the message.” While any form of media carries content (DVDs carry video, MP3 players hold music, the internet has web pages, etc.), the form of the medium itself is also a kind of content. I think the trick is to determine what message the medium sends.

Thank you for making our Davis Neighbors’ Night Out Block Party so magical! You marched into our cul-de-sac dancing and playing wonderful tunes, and neighbors streamed in to see you and hear you play. People were dancing in the street and the mood was joyous. You stayed and played for a good long time and at the end you invited the children to talk to the band members and touch the instruments. You helped us all remember why Davis is such a great place to live. This will be a neighborhood block party we all remember. Thank you!

On Saturday, UC Davis officials held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to welcome the opening of West Village in Davis.

I had the opportunity the other day to watch a most enlightening program broadcast by UCTV. The one-hour program was called \