MICHAEL MANTEL Franti is shown here having a good time playing the Sno-Core Icicle Ball. By Mary Williams Daily Bruin Senior Staff Walking slowly in bare feet, shorts and a T-shirt, Michael Franti seemed unaware that his manager Pretty, a large man with dreadlocks that reached down to his waist, was trying to hurry him through a tight schedule that included travel, an interview and a performance. Read more...

  Godfrey Films "Mad" Mike Jones fearlessly jumps into the Grand Canyon. By Beverly Braga Daily Bruin Contributor Everyone dreams of flying, but for motocross junkies, they don’t ask for wings ““ just a decent bike. Read more...

  Howard Ho Please send battle plans to General Ho at [email protected] Click Here for more articles by Howard Ho Attention, soldier! This is the educational column, dedicated to fighting the culture war while you sit back and read about it. Read more...

  Della Rossa “Street Gangs and their Families” The Perfect Exposure Gallery (213) 381-1137 Through May 17 Whether their facial expressions are of anger, sadness or joy, there is a common thread among the subjects captured in Della Rossa’s photographic exhibit, “Street Gangs and Their Families.” Most of the 43 black-and-white photos in Rossa’s exhibit display the tragedy and contagiousness of gang life, and a few display happy endings. Read more...

By Howard Ho Daily Bruin Reporter Music is, somehow, supposed to have more power when we feel sorry for the musicians. Psychologically disturbed David Helfgott certainly owes his success to having a miserable life in the film “Shine.” Beethoven is the worst, or best, for just being deaf. Read more...

By Sara Mortimer Daily Bruin Contributor David Sedaris appeared before a sold-out Royce Hall last Thursday, and within seconds it became difficult to hear his laid-back, nasal voice above the audience’s laughter. Read more...

By Kathleen Dunphy Daily Bruin Contributor People often criticize the way bands such as O-Town and the Backstreet Boys came together by calling them finely-tuned commercial machines whose lone goal is to sell records, and sell a lot. Read more...