Blurbex

Jennifer Brack, adviser to USF’s student government, led the Virginia Tech vigil Wednesday afternoon on USF’s Tampa campus.

“What happened at VT defies logic, which can naturally create confusion and frustration. So we are joined today by those who can offer their services and support to any of you who can benefit. (Many different religions were represented on behalf of the Campus Ministry Association.)

At times like this, many of us feel helpless yet committed to offer support. VT acknowledges people around the world want ways of paying tribute. On their website, many have posted messages to the VT community. We welcome you to do the same. The University has also created the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to support memorials, grief counseling and other support.”

Later Brack read from a speech VT Prof Nikki Giovanni gave at the convocation in Blacksburg, VA. Tuesday night. “‘We are Virginia Tech, we are sad today and we will be sad for quite a while…We are better than we think. And not quite what we want to be. We will continue to invent the future. We are the Hokies. We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech.’”

John Gardner of Valrico was one of the first to show up for the vigil, wearing a Chicago maroon-colored dress shirt and a necktie striped with burnt orange and the same shade of red. He moved to Tampa 20 years ago, right after graduating from Virginia Tech.

Immediately I wanted to approach him because of the festive school colors, not to mention he was one of the first arrivals, silently milling about. But I passed him, hesitating whether to keep walking or not. He was noticeably saddened, pacing, and I didn’t stop. A few minutes later, I collected the courage to approach him, now sitting on a bench behind dark glasses. Gently I asked if he felt like speaking with me. He agreed amiably, but couldn’t give me more than a sentence before he was overcome by his grief.

He managed to compliment USF on the organization of the vigil before politely ending our interview.

I didn’t interview anyone else with such a personal connection to VT, or one fighting so hard to keep the tears at bay. Regardless, the students who began filling up the lawn were contemplative, reserved, yet eager to give me their input on the events at VT, each acknowledging that it could have as easily happened here.

Maja Lacevic, a sophomore from Bosnia, volunteered at the vigil, offering students cards to write well wishes that would be sent to the Virginia Tech community. “Every time I hear about violence around the world, it’s always a little bit of a shock. I came to America to escape all that stuff.” (more…)

A couple of years ago Darius Weems, 17, had never seen mountains or the Pacific Ocean. In the summer of 2005, the Athens, GA. native, who was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, crossed state lines for the first time in his life. Together with buddy Logan Smalley (his former camp counselor at Project REACH) and 9 other friends, the young men hit the road with plans to see postcard views of America. The trip is chronicled in Smalleys’ documentary Darius Goes West, which opened and closed the 2^nd annual Sunscreen Film Festival Easter weekend at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Pete.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most severe form of muscular dystrophy. It’s also the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect children and has no cure. In 1999, Darius’ older brother Mario passed on from the same illness. For years, Darius watched as his brother’s body slowly stopped working, knowing he was destined for the same fate. Those who inherit this disease rely on wheelchairs for mobility by the age of twelve and don’t live beyond their early 20’s.

Knowing Darius was more than halfway through his lifetime without ever having been out of his hometown, his friends decided a roadtrip was in order, hopeful that MTV’s Pimp My Ride would trick out Darius’ old set of wheels when they reached L.A.

Their adventure coincided with the 15^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The young men learned just how accessible (or not) their country is to all Americans. At the Carlsbad Caverns in California, 75 stories inside the Earth, Darius was able to maneuver his wheelchair through the pathways with enough room to turn around in most places. But in St. Louis, 50 steps prevented him getting to the very top of the Arch. Special treats abound in the movie, like meeting United Cerebral Palsy volunteers William H. Macy and Desperate Housewife-y Felicity Huffman.

Through generous donations and lots of hospitality, the crew traveled the country having the time of their lives together: enjoying wasabi for the first time, floating in the ocean, and white water rafting. Early on, MTV expressed interest in fitting rims and a Playstation 2 onto Darius’ wheelchair. The travelers spend most of the film trying to prove that such an episode would be desirable to Pimp My Rides’ 70 million viewers. Smalley asks in the film: “What better way to educate the younger generation about a disease that affects their demographic?”

Depending on your level of cynicism, it may not come as a surprise that MTV cops out by the end. But once the trip comes full circle and the gang is back in Athens, community members pull through in a special way. As essential as it is to be a citizen of the world and be exposed to as many different people and places as possible, it all starts with being a good neighbor. For Darius, the folks at home follow through.

Midway through the documentary, we also meet Charley Seckler, about 5, who was diagnosed with DMD the year before. He’s as active as any child, but slowing down. His father Benjamin, a doctor, and mother Tracy, know what’s coming. Just months after the diagnosis, Charley’s parents founded Charley’s Fund, a nonprofit that has since raised $2.5 million towards research or a cure for DMD. They hope to eradicate the disease in Charley’s lifetime. All proceeds from Darius Goes West goes to Charley’s Fund.

“When Darius talks about a cure, he doesn’t talk about it for himself, but for the next generation,” said Logan.

Of all the messages in the film, the one Darius stresses is that wheelchair reliance does not mean limited mobility. “You shouldn’t be afraid of traveling. Some places may not be accessible, but you’ll find some way to get around.”

“Everyone should see this film,” said Tony Armer, co-director of the Suncreen Film Festival. He’s a bit partial to be sure; he was among the few who handpicked the film from a couple hundred submissions. After having seen it, so am I.

Darius, who likes video games and freestylin’, spit at a festival party Saturday night. His music can be heard throughout the film and he’s busy completing an album (with a producer who’s worked with a band whose name sounds like Charles Barkley).

As for the rest of the crew, most of whom went to school for either special education or film, they’ll be traveling to festivals around the world with their message. Now you know it.

Darius Goes West received the Audience Award and was selected Best Documentary Film of the Festival by the Sunscreen Film Festival jury.

The front half of Ferguson Hall was filled Thursday night with a few hundred people eager to see cult celebrity Hal Sparks. A Renaissance man in the entertainment field, Sparks is an actor, comedian, musician and general hottie (if you’re into guys that weigh less than you).

Popular among women and gay men alike, Hal’s fame is mostly attributed to his five seasons as Mikey, the lead character on Showtime’s Queer As Folk. You might also remember him from the elevator scene in Spiderman 2 — he’s the one that tells Spidey what a cool costume he’s wearing. Some say he’s also responsible for the downfall of E’s Talk Soup, but the show didn’t have that far to fall anyway. And his jokes were always funny. Mostly.

Texas born, L.A.-based comedian Chris Bonno, opened the show. A well-rounded sort of fella, Bonno was either nervous and used it as a crutch in his act or can mimic nervousness to use it as crutch in his act. He clutched an acoustic guitar for half the set, periodically breaking into song. The best part was his grand finale: a spot-on impersonation of Paul McCartney. With a simple shaking of his hair forward into his face, he captured the look of McCartney, bringing to mind SNL’s “The Chris Farley Show” skit. (“Farley: Remember when you were with The Beatles … and everyone thought that you were dead? That was, um, a hoax, right? McCartney: Yeah. I wasn’t really dead.”)

Sparks hit the stage looking like a teenager who went crazy at the Hot Topic — crisp black T-shirt, shiny wallet chain linked with Iron Crosses, hair stylishly streaked with red. More than just a pretty face (and body), the man had done his homework on Tampa, pleasing the crowd with tidbits of local info. Sparks’ talked throughout the set; running around the stage while sharing a story about paintball, singing (very well) every time he got the chance to show off his ’cords. He even sprawled out on his back four or five times. His best bits were imitating the dinosaur shows he loves on the Discovery Channel (much screeching like a winged reptile), and discussing the reason the T-Rex was so mean (their arms were too short for them to whack off).

(more…)

According to a new study, Japanese women live longer than anyone else on the planet, and in the last 5 years, have even increased their lifespan one year longer. Surely there must be something that Japanese women, who often opt for dogs over husbands, can teach us.

Largo city commissioners will meet tonight to decide whether or not they should fire Steve Stanton because he wants to be a she. Looks like Stanton, who currently has all his original parts, is getting an early introduction to the whole glass ceiling thing.