Boasting an ultra-convenient trip onto the San Francisco Bay, the second annual Treasure Island Music Festival brought headliners Justice, TV on the Radio, Tegan and Sara and the Raconteurs for a long-winded two days.

Just as the national festival season gets longer and more dense, Treasure Island had its own stereotypical highlights: A Rihanna cover by Tegan and Sara, a way-too-loud set from France’s Justice with a wall of fake amplifiers and amusingly colorful costumes adorned by CSS and Goldfrapp.

Organized loosely by musical similarity – electronic-related acts on Saturday, Sept. 20 and indie rock on Sunday, Sept. 21 – the bill lost a little of the strength it had in its opening year in terms of impressive guests.

But what was lost in such regard, Another Planet Entertainment and Noise Pop compensated for with a games area, various festival “greening” measures and a newly introduced local artist campsite with interactive tents.

Probably the strength of this year’s festival was its sampling of local upcoming performers, many being Davis frequenters: Tegan and Sara, The Dodos, Port O’Brien, The Frail, The Morning Benders and Or, the Whale. All said performances were just as confident and energetic as bigger acts. Port O’Brien successfully engaged its audience at the Tunnel Stage during their set, providing makeshift percussion instruments and conducting sing-alongs to their tunes.

Compared to the recent first annual Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park, Treasure Island functioned better due to restrictions on attendance and mobility to and from the grounds. The travel time to the Island from AT&T Park averaged 30 minutes and was entertaining at that. Bauer’s “Intelligent Transportation” buses showed Current Television shorts to orient festival goers as well as provoke some laughs with the short “Texting Your Way to Love,” viewable on their website current.com.

For a comprehensive recap of the festival, visit treasureislandfestival.com or Current TV’s website coverage.

– Text and photo by Nicole L. Browner

Metallica

Death Magnetic

Warner Bros.

Rating: 2

It’s no secret that Metallica needed a good slap in the face after their failed 2003 release, St. Anger. If the “Some Kind of Monster” documentary about the recording of the album did anything, it proved that egotistical whining and group therapy sessions can’t create a solid record, or anything close to it.

So it comes as no surprise that Death Magnetic, the band’s ninth studio release, is a hard-fought attempt at a comeback with one goal: To regain respect from fans of late ‘80s Metallica.

And that’s exactly what Death Magnetic is – a shot at the past. They’ve re-adapted their long instrumental segments, almost entirely E-minor tuning and actual guitar solos, dropping longtime producer Bob Rock and enlisting Rick Rubin in the process. For the most part, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield’s vocals stay within his non-melodic limitations – something he really should have done in previous releases throughout the past 20 years. In the traditional Metallica method, the album’s numerous instrumental segments put a lot of distance between Hetfield’s lyrics.Death Magnetic doesn’t reach very far in terms of depth and creativity. Hetfield’s riffs aren’t as creatively impressive as they are fast, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett’s solos, as usual, are somewhat uninspiring. Ironically, the entire album can be downloaded and played on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

But overall, most lacking is any sense of finesse from drummer Lars Ulrich. While his playing isn’t as annoyingly tinny as it was on St. Anger, every drum track feels sloppy and dull.

“The Day That Never Comes” runs like a cheaply pieced-together ballad, with an even cheaper mini-instrumental jam tacked on at the end. Meg White could have recorded a better drum track for the song.

They’ve turned around, but they’re still diving in the shallow end. Just like old times.

Give these tracks a listen:

“The End Of The Line“

“The Day That Never Comes“

For fans of:

Dave Mustaine

Meg White

– Justin T. Ho

After an 11-year hiatus, the Blue Bomber is back with his ninth installment, Mega Man 9. But you won’t find fancy graphics and complex game play like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Spore. Instead, MM9 goes back to its 8-bit roots and with it comes old school game play.

In the year 20XX, robots and humans coexist, but mad scientist Dr. Wily is bent on world domination as he builds his own robot army. Another scientist, Dr. Light, outfits one of his own robots to fight Dr. Wily’s army, and Mega Man is born.

Taking place after Mega Man 8, chaos strikes again as robots start to riot. While many suspect the riots are Dr. Wily’s plan, Dr. Light is surprised to see that it is his own robots. To make matters worse, Dr. Wily televises that Dr. Light is the mastermind behind these new attacks. Mega Man is ready to clear Dr. Light’s name, along with some help from his friends.

Don’t think that this game is easy just because the game goes back a couple generations in graphics and music. Most people who have played the Mega Man games released for the NES will know exactly how grueling and unforgiving the games can be. With a three life limit before having to start a level over, expect to see the “Game Over” screen many times. At the end of each level is a boss, and some of them are downright merciless. As in true Mega Man style, there are eight new boss robots, one of them being a female (a first in the Mega Man world). Each has his or her own weakness that can only be used when you get the weapon of a boss from another level.

To make the game even harder, there are achievements and challenges for the player to unlock. Some are easy, like destroying a certain number of robots; others can get as hard as beating the game without dying once. Some challenges are almost impossible, like beating the game without taking any damage (only the truly hardcore would attempt this one).

Though Mega Man 9 is multiplatform (Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360), the releases will not be simultaneous, with the Wii version released on Sept. 22. PS3 will be released today, but Xbox 360 owners won’t see it on their consoles until Wednesday. And for a mere $10, no one will want to pass this game up. There will also be additional content to download such as a Proto Man Mode, where Proto Man can be played; that will be available Oct. 6. More will be released Oct. 20.

Though the challenges are hard, the game is simple enough for causal gamers to pick up. Hardcore gamers will not be disappointed with this retro Mega Man game, especially with all the challenges and extra content. Gamers will be reminded of what Mega Man truly is.

SHANE PARK can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com.

Students new and old need to spice up their lives, and a new year brings new types of fun, so leave it to MUSE to keep you in the know about live entertainment on and off campus. Carry around this brief guide to venues and regular events while you get acquainted with your new town.

The Entertainment Council: The EC is an ASUCD unit comprised of a student staff responsible for coordinating entertainment events on campus such as movie screenings and concerts. Last year, EC brought everything from Saul Williams and Lyrics Born to Jimmy Eat World and Tegan and Sara.

The EC also utilizes the ASUCD Coffee House, where Seattle-based The Cave Singers, who opened for Death Cab for Cutie last spring, and Sacramento’s Silver Darling will kick off the concert season Oct. 1. If you’re itching to know what to expect from them in the next couple of weeks, such as three soon quad shows and film sneak previews, join their facebook.com group.

Old Firehouse: KDVS 90.3 FM is a community-based radio station located in the basement of Freeborn Hall, which also hosts live concerts. Most are located at their on-campus show space, the Old Firehouse, next to the Music Building on the southeast tip of campus. Ranging from rock, hip-hop, experimental and beyond, KDVS strives to give an educational approach to music and has brought acts from near and far – far being Europe (Jennifer Gentle, SubPop Records).

Oct. 11 KDVS will host their annual music festival, Operation: Restore Maximum Freedom at Plainfield Station in Woodland. This year they’ve invited 10 bands including H E X L O V E, Religious Girls, and LSD and the search for God. More information about the station and its events can be found at kdvs.org.

Bistro 33 / The English Department: Live music isn’t your thing? No problem, prose and poetry are abundant in this college town, thanks especially to the English department at UC Davis. Professor Andy Jones hosts various events in downtown Davis at Bistro 33 – from trivia night every Tuesday and poetry performances on Wednesday nights. On campus, student literary publications such as Nameless Magazine and even the English department itself puts on readings from graduate students, faculty and visiting writers. The best way to keep tabs on such events is to visit the english.ucdavis.edu and to join Jones’ Poetry in Davis Facebook group.

The Memorial Union: It’s not a far trip to the Memorial Union, where a range of entertainment-related events from Campus Unions takes place every week. The Griffin Lounge is a study room by day, performance space by night – comedy troupe Birdstrike Theatre gives free laughs, Sick Spits busts out their slam poetry and Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournaments take place. Visit their “things to do” page at campusunions.ucdavis.edu.

The Art Building: Some students find themselves in the Art Building by chance – for an economics class, for instance. When that’s the case, showing up to class a few minutes early to explore the many facets of the building could provide ideas.

The Nelson Gallery is a faculty-run art gallery and invaluable resource for students, as its fine arts collection consists of over 4,000 pieces. Last spring, the gallery received a gift from the Andy Warhol Foundation of concealed photographs of Debby Harry and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wedding, which will be exhibited this school year.

Students can descend the stairs to the Basement Gallery, a student-curated space known to have well-attended receptions equipped with refreshments and live music. For upcoming arts events, check the events board in the lobby of the art building or visit art.ucdavis.edu.

Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts: Though the most mature of entertainment outlets on campus, Mondavi boasts world-renowned acts for both students and community members. Last year ticketholders witnessed Jane Goodall speak, watched orchestrated performances from Itztak Perlman and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and were awed by Cirque de Soleil performers.

The upcoming season will include Yo-Yo Ma, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and other artists. Lucky for students, tickets are half-price and often more heavily discounted if a professor requires students attend an event for a class. The full season schedule and ticket information can be found at mondaviarts.org.

Wyatt Pavilion & Main Theatre: Some were meant for the stage, and at UC Davis both students and community members awe audiences with musicals, comedies and dance performances. The department of theatre and dance holds lectures, performances and workshops for even non-majors, and more information can be found at theatredance.ucdavis.edu.

The Varsity Theatre: Every town must have an independent theatre, where the not-so-average and occasionally most enlightening films may be enjoyed. The Varsity Theatre on Second and C showed last year’s gems like Persepolis, The Darjeeling Limited and The Kite Runner, and no doubt will show more Sundance-worthy flicks, as well as film festivals such as the Davis Film Festival and preview screenings from the ASUCD Entertainment Council.

For an up-to-date arts and entertainment events calendar, see Artsweek on page __ every Thursday.

NICOLE L. BROWNER can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com.

The UC Davis Design Museum is looking back at its history in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the design department.

Its newest exhibition, Teaching With Evidence: Faculty Gifts from the UC Davis Design Museum brings to display important pieces that have acted as the inspiration for some of the curriculum and focus of research of the design program. The exhibit opens today at the Design Museum at Walker Hall, and an opening reception and talk will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the museum.

Senior design lecturer emerita Jo Ann Stabb began working in the department in 1968 as a professor and witnessed the beginnings of the museum, acting as the collection’s curator until 2002.

She said that the collection at the Design Museum is a valuable research and teaching tool.

“It evolved,” Stabb said. “We kept getting better and better donations, no longer just out of attics. In the late ‘70s, we had enough [artifacts so] that we really needed some help.“

The point behind the Design Collection was to have actual examples to study and for students to have access, Stabb added. She said that during her time as a professor, she would find certain pieces that she would go back to and include in her lesson plan year after year.

“It was really a study and research collection so [students] could look at [pieces],” Stabb said. “We keep talking about the virtual world, but when it comes to the material aspects of our world, we really need to see it in person in order to understand it.“

For the exhibit, Stabb donated a series of lithographs that depict late 19th century fashions from France and Germany. The lithographs are still currently used as examples for Design 143: History of Costume as well as the fashion illustration course in the apparel design series.

Other pieces in the exhibition include a Kohistani woman’s tunic from design professor Victoria Rivers, an Afghani woman’s kurta from design professor emerita Katherine Rossbach and an embroidered coat from China loaned from the UC Davis drama department.

Art history professor Jeffrey Ruda, who donated a silk textile piece from the 1700s, noted the importance of design history and having the actual pieces to observe.

“For me, design history combines intellectual and sensory excitement,” Ruda said. “That’s why I collected textiles. We do learn from photographs, but no picture yields the optical richness of an original.“

The holdings at the museum expanded from the original teaching collection to a general collection. Associate professor and collection curator Adele Zhang said that this change allowed for a better chance to serve the community.

“[We can] promote collaborative relationships with other institutes and upgrade our collection to a new level to research and conserve the material cultures,” Zhang said.

This year, the museum will also present “Trans-4-Mations,” a research project that explores the personal stories from members of the Design Program.

“Teaching with Evidence“ opens today at the Design Museum in Walker Hall. An opening talk and reception will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. For more information, visit designmuseum.ucdavis.edu.

RACHEL FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com. 

A typical scenario: It’s a weekday evening, and I’m sitting at home watching television with my roommates. The TV is turned to the Disney Channel – “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” to be more precise.

As I watch the tow-headed twins get into easily avoidable, G-rated (but still entertaining) mischief, the simple and obvious fact dawns on me: I’m 21, and I still watch the Disney Channel. Avidly and with utmost enthusiasm, in fact. Sometimes, I actually change the channel to watch shows like “Hannah Montana” or the umpteenth showing of “High School Musical.” Bonus points if it’s the karaoke edition.

So why haven’t I grown out of these shows?

Like most of you, I come from a bygone TGIF-Nickelodeon-Disney era. I grew up with the Winslow family and the Tanners (I was never really a fan of the Huxtables), I entered middle school looking for my own Feeny mentor. “Clarissa Explains It All” ended; two years later, I moved on to “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” I had my daily dosage of Nicktoons, and I can still remember the jingle that went along to Zoog Disney movies.

Nevertheless, the evidence still stands: I have no little brothers or sisters to use as my scapegoat. I don’t baby-sit. My interaction with children is pretty much limited to pointing out and cooing over cute babies from a polite distance. Ergo, my tastes are essentially as sophisticated as they were over 10 years ago.

Then I consider the vast technological advances over the past decade or so. Perhaps age and naivety had the best of me back then: I had to share a computer with the rest of my family up until college, and before then, my web browsing was pretty much bound to research for some social studies project or doling out the e-props on my friends’ Xanga blogs. With the age of innovation ingrained into society and infinite stores of knowledge so easily accessible, it would make perfect sense that the attitudes of today’s youngsters have evolved to be more mature as well.

That might be the case on actual school grounds, but in terms of Disney Channel land, not so much. Take the Jonas Brothers, for instance. Sure, they play real instruments and wear jeans as tight as any other scene kid, but the JoBros are basically as sugarcoated as any pop boy band circa 1999. Their songs feature lyrics that are as thoughtful and original as any ‘N Sync number, and equally catchy.

There hasn’t been any real evolution in terms of television plotlines, either. A couple of minor changes, and any episode of some preteen-oriented program could easily be a scene straight from “Boy Meets World.” With the main character hosting her own Internet show, you may think that Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” is about a tech-savvy, enterprising young woman. But don’t forget that Clarissa Darling already made her mark on the interwebs long before, just with a far crappier interface.

When all else fails, turn to the blame game. My answer: The Disney Channel is simply too difficult to avoid.

Think about all the multiple media outlets available: Television shows, movies, record deals, websites, video games, clothing lines – you name it, and someone’s face and name is probably plastered all over it. The Olsen twins mastered this art of promotion famously with their production company Dualstar Entertainment Group before they reached legal drinking age. Even now, the two are still experts in running the media gamut, but also they cater to the cosmopolitan crowd in addition to the kiddies.

Today’s prime example of multimedia meat is 15-year-old Miley Cyrus, the girl responsible for playing “Hannah Montana” on the Disney Channel. The show’s premise is ridiculously appealing to all: During the day, she’s Miley Stewart, your regular brown-haired girl-next-door. Come nighttime, she’s teen pop princess Hannah Montana, in all her blonde and highlighted glory.

As might be expected, she has transferred this television success to the music industry. Her “Best of Both Worlds” tour, which featured Cyrus as well as her pop star alter-ego, grossed $36 million, with tickets being sold by scalpers for as much as $1,000. The girl has become her own brand: Her face is imprinted on T-shirts, backpacks, blankets, notebooks – basically, any item necessary for everyday living.

So, does it make a difference that I realize the hyper commercialism and formulaic of these new teen queens and kings, or am I simply another victim? I can scoff and poke fun all I want, but the bottom line is, I still watch. A lot.

RACHEL FILIPINAS hopes that readers won’t lose respect for her based on her choice of entertainment. Chastise or empathize at rmfilipinas@ucdavis.edu.

Young Jeezy

The Recession

Def Jam

Rating: 4

Where the fuck has Jeezy been?

In a time when Lil Wayne seems permanently affixed in the hip-hop limelight, Atlanta-based rapper Young Jeezy has been lurking in the shadows. So here’s an update on your favorite ex-drug dealer/toy drive organizer in hip-hop.

A year after his fine second release, The Inspiration, Jeezy popped out of the woodworks to make love in the club like a thug with Usher. They performed the song on Saturday Night Live’s season finale, where Jeezy had a chance meeting with none other than John McCain.

I imagine it was an awkward moment. Jeezy, Levi’s defying gravity below his ass, would offer a terrorist fist jab to a wrinkly McCain, who in turn would give his best “That’s not change we can believe in…” smile. A few words would be shared and the two would part ways.

Instead, what followed was probably the strangest, most homo-erotic election controversy that you haven’t heard about.

The two hit it off, enough to the point where an over-enthused Jeezy would show some love for the old vet in an interview. And McCain was reported to have dug Jeezy’s feature in “Love In This Club.” And I hear they’re in each others‘ Fave Fives.

As for the interview, Jeezy, known as an Obama supporter, talked with Vibe about his meeting with McCain.

“No disrespect to Barack, but I fuck with John McCain [no homo],” he said in the magazine.

The corner of the universe where politically active gangster rappers reside collapsed for a moment until Jeezy posted a video on the Internet. He explained that he misspoke and that Barack-o, as Jeezy calls him, is his man.

The man-love triangle got its due closure in Jeezy’s third major release, The Recession, in which Jeezy implores Americans that they “better vote for Barack Odrama.” Apparently he’s thought of several nicknames for the Democratic nominee.

Anyway, The Recession, is pretty damn good. The beats are hot and Jeezy’s flow is as dark and viscous as ever. In fact, sometimes he’s so hoarse, he sounds like he’s about to die. For a guy who’s rapped in detail about his death, funeral and fiery afterlife, he certainly sounds like he’s on his way.

While the top-notch production carries the album, Jeezy’s personal and direct lyrics offer a vignette of life as a drug dealer. He boasts about his glories (“When I was 14 I turned nothing to a quarter-mil/ Probably why I never give a fuck about a record deal.“) yet humanizes the game (“My grandma off in the church/ While I’m in the refrigerator/In search of the baking soda/ Right next to the mashed potatoes“).

The Recession is by no means groundbreaking, and new listeners will be turned off by his redundant flow. The apocalyptic synthesizers and his guttural “ooookaaayys” may frighten the children. And despite the album title, The Recession is still just about drugs. But hey – if McCain can appreciate it, so can you.

Give these tracks a listen: “What They Want,“ “Hustlaz Ambition,“ “Circulate“

For fans of: T.I., 2Pac

– Chris Rue

Among the hordes of people and carnival games at Friday night’s The Buzz event, dancing fans will want to keep an eye out for The Battle at the Buzz – a five-hour breakdancing competition taking place on the Memorial Union patio, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The event – which was organized by the UC Davis Breakdancing Club in conjunction with Campus Unions and The Department of Campus Recreation and Housing – will pit local and Bay Area breakdancing groups against one another in a three vs. three competition. The winners will take home a $250 cash prize. A friendly two vs. two breakdancing event will also take place between breakdancers from Davis and UC Berkeley.

Senior biotechnology major Jenny Ceguerra, a member of the Davis Breakdancing Club and one of the event’s organizers, said that she is expecting about 15 groups to perform and attempt to win the cash prize. So far the lineup includes three groups from the Sacramento and Davis area: Empire Crew, Floweva and Freshest Smash Force.

Ceguerra said she’s impressed with the amount of people interested in breakdancing in Davis.

“I’ve talked to people from UC Irvine and [Sacramento] State, and they don’t have as big of a breakdancing club as we do here at UC Davis,” she said. “There’s a good scene here, lots of people that love breakdancing and hanging out.“

Senior biology major Nick Chi, a senior who will be performing in the competition, said he continues to see more people getting involved with breakdancing.

“I think [the scene] is definitely growing. Last year after Davis Dance Revolution, a lot of people showed interest,” he said. “And there’s a lot more breakdancing on television these days with shows like “America’s Best Dance Crew.” It’s convincing people to try it out.“

Ceguerra said that although the club has plenty of members, they haven’t been able to arrange their own on-campus performances because of the overwhelming amounts of insurance money and paperwork required.

“We thought a show might be impossible. But with The Buzz, all those issues are already taken care of. We’re eager to show off the Davis breakdancing scene to a large audience and get people excited about what we do.“

The battle will consist of individual members of each team squaring off against one another – one side will perform and then the other will have a chance to show their skills, said Chi. After all the routines are complete, the judges decide which group deserves to win.

Mike Morales, a local breakdancer and one of the event’s judges, said he will be looking for teams that can be creative and fun to watch.

“Some people judge on certain aspects of the dance, whereas I judge sort of like a boxing match – I evaluate round for round, both groups begin with 10 points, and then I deduct for mistakes,” he said. “It’s less about technical abilities and more about originality and aesthetically pleasing routines. Of course, at the end of the day you can’t crash.“

As for standing out in the noisy carnival atmosphere of The Buzz, Ceguerra has a simple reason for interested students to attend.

“Because it’s breakdancing, it’s entertaining and you get to see good competition. I love competition – who doesn’t?”

ZACK FREDERICK can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com. 

For UC Davis student Dallas Imbimbo, driving isn’t a problem. No matter where he is, he’ll find his way out.

His mother, Toni, will eat anything. “The Amazing Race“ was, as his friends call it, a no-brainer.

Imbimbo, a senior communication and psychology double major, competed in the latest season of “The Amazing Race“ last spring. The series is set to premiere on Sunday on CBS.

“The Amazing Race“ is a reality television show where contestants compete in races in various countries around the globe. Every team is composed of two members, each with some sort of pre-existing bond or relationship. The first-place team is awarded a prize of $1 million, and smaller prizes are awarded along the way.

Dallas‘ sense of direction has always been one of his prominent strong points, rendering him the full-time driver for the team. According to friend and UCD alumnus Jeff List, Dallas and his friends would often take random off-ramps throughout San Francisco in order to test Dallas‘ sense of direction. Toni, on the other hand, was designated to take charge of any eating competition, something they decided well before the race began.

“We had kind of that understanding going into it that she wasn’t touching the steering wheel,” Imbimbo said. “Any time any eating things came up, she was going to be the one doing it. I was like, ‘There’s no way in hell I’m doing that.‘”

Dallas and his mother Toni, who comprise the Bay Area team of the show, were chosen from a group of well over 100 other teams. The qualification process consisted of a written application and a simple introduction, recorded on the spot in a three-minute video. Thousands of teams tried out for the show nationwide.

Filming coincided with the end of winter quarter 2008. Dallas took spring quarter off for the show, conveniently making it back in time for Summer Session I.

“He didn’t need much preparation,” List said. “He’s kind of a character on his own. He’ll talk, he’ll never miss a beat, so when he’s in front of a camera he’s perfect for a show like that.“

“The Amazing Race“ is no walk in the park – the amount of physical exertion and endurance required to complete the race is substantial and was a significant factor in Imbimbo’s mental preparation before the race. He said that he did not put himself through any special conditioning before the filming, but after watching previous episodes he understood the importance of being able to carry his partner’s weight in addition to his own.

“Based off interviews I’ve seen in prior seasons, they don’t have time to eat too much food – only on planes,” Imbimbo said. “I knew I’d be losing a lot of weight, so if I lose it over time I’ll still have an advantage on other teams.“

However, most important to their team’s chemistry was Dallas and Toni’s long history together as a family. Toni raised Dallas as a single mother and was often the disciplinary force of the family. Moreover, Dallas‘ move to college limited their time together, and Dallas often spent his summers in Davis.

“Really, both of them together make a great mother and son kind of relationship,” said Ben Wang, a UCD alumnus who roomed with Imbimbo in his freshman year. “He’s a cool guy – you can get along with him really easily.“

“What was great about the race was that it was the first time we had to spend a lot of time together,” Imbimbo said. “It was cool to have a friend in this whole thing.“

In addition to the relationship he built with his mother, Dallas views the race as an educational opportunity for him, as the race took him to many third world countries and exposed him to poorer, impoverished cultures.

“You [can] see some pictures on CNN or National Geographic, but you actually don’t really know what it’s like,” Imbimbo said. “[In] going to these places, you see people that have nothing, and they’re the happiest people you’ve seen in your life. These people are so content with life – they can find happiness in anything. It brings you to peace with yourself.“

JUSTIN T. HO can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com.