One of the perks of attending a top quality university such as ours is the ample opportunity for thoughtful discussion with other students. Whether about politics, science or the arts, you’ll find no shortage of informed peers who are willing to share their shrewd critical insights. Read more...

Folk music was born out of the strife of the working man. The spare, socially-conscious songs, played mostly on acoustic guitar, grew up in the Dust Bowl. Read more...

A woman in dark blue hugs her arms around her body, crouched and writhing. At her side a man tears at his hair in angst. Then with a surge born of invisible motivation, the figures heave themselves forward in a silent scream. Read more...

Microsoft and its domineering copy protection ways strike once again. A few months ago I wrote about the new Media Center version of Windows XP, a bit of technology that makes video recording, audio/video playback, and picture viewing much more plausible in a home theater setting. Read more...

With the specter of war looming larger every day, many UCLA students are joining in protesting U.S. actions against Iraq. America is witnessing the most anti-war activism since Vietnam, and it’s only appropriate that we are also seeing a revival and resurgence of that era’s socially conscious protest music: folk. Read more...

A conductor since his late 20s, William Vendice has spent more than a few nights at the opera in his lifetime. This weekend, Vendice brings his 30 plus years of experience to Opera UCLA’s presentation of “L’Heure Espagnole” and “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges,” two one-act operas by Maurice Ravel. Read more...

Chris Smith may not look the Hollywood type while walking around campus, but appearances can be deceiving. There’s more that distinguishes this 42-year-old first-year doctoral candidate in UCLA’s Education Leadership Program than his age. Read more...