13 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(04/15/10 4:53am)
Poetry, hip-hop and … financial management? It’s not every day that these words are in the same sentence. But it might be just as rare that a combination of charisma and commitment manifests itself in somebody as capable as Allen Mask.Tall and clean-cut, Mask is as easily at home in a three-piece suit as he is wearing a pair of Nikes and hi-fi headphones.
(03/25/10 2:47am)
Wailing out of Texas like a barnstorm banshee, Andrew Anderson’s latest album merges country and rock-a-billy with a modern aesthetic. As Long as This Thing’s Flyin’ relies upon Anderson’s ability to use the full spectrum of his western style. His meaningful and sometimes blunt lyrics sound like Cake, if that band used fast mandolin or banjo.
(03/18/10 3:01am)
When an album is touted as a guitar lover’s dream there are serious promises to keep. In their latest release, Citay digs through rock history to weave irony and references to classic rock into something to satisfy people yearning for the bygone days of guitar greats.
(03/04/10 3:23am)
Homer Simpson once equated selling pretzels to desperately trying to cram one more salty treat into America’s already bloated snack hole. Hard rock and munchies aren’t exactly apples to apples, but Feeding the Fire does a lot to stand out from a crowded field with DisInfoNation.
(03/04/10 3:22am)
Homer Simpson once equated selling pretzels to desperately trying to cram one more salty treat into America’s already bloated snack hole. Hard rock and munchies aren’t exactly apples to apples, but Feeding the Fire does a lot to stand out from a crowded field with DisInfoNation.
(03/04/10 3:20am)
Homer Simpson once equated selling pretzels to desperately trying to cram one more salty treat into America’s already bloated snack hole. Hard rock and munchies aren’t exactly apples to apples, but Feeding the Fire does a lot to stand out from a crowded field with DisInfoNation.
(01/21/10 5:48am)
After only a week in existence, the University’s newest dining option is proving that sustainable food could be a sustainable option.Lenoir Mainstreet’s newest restaurant, 1.5.0., has been profitable in its first week in business, and University officials said they are hoping students will continue to support the healthy campus eatery.Mike Freeman, director of auxiliary services, said he had originally hoped the new restaurant would break even in terms of finances. But after its first week in business, he said the restaurant is poised to exceed his expectations.“It is a little early to speculate what average daily sales will be, but it is still trending upwards,” wrote Scott Myers, director of food and vending, in an e-mail.The restaurant earned $914 on the first day of operation, and grew its business to make $1,843 on Tuesday, Myers said. Average daily sales have been around $1,320, about one-fourth what Chick-fil-A, the most popular establishment, earns in a day.1.5.0. is UNC’s answer to student requests for healthier dining options on campus, and the restaurant’s executive chef, Paul Basciano, said the first week of business has proved promising.Sales from the previous operation, Zoca, which served Tex-Mex food, accounted for about 5 percent of Mainstreet’s total sales. In comparison, Chick-fil-A represents about 30 percent.Freeman said this new restaurant should eventually represent a much larger portion of sales than its predecessor, but it will take some time as students become used to the establishment.The eatery serves healthy, sustainable food with ingredients acquired from local farmers. Food is typically considered sustainable if it comes from fewer than 150 miles away, which is where the restaurant gets its name.Sophomore Zack Toal said he has eaten at 1.5.0. several times and enjoys the style of food.“I generally eat organic food at home,” said Toal, who is from Atlanta. “The pricing here is pretty fair.”Basciano said he works to create a realistic but attractive menu with an eclectic mix of foods. Sweet potato fries with honey butter and Indian dahl have been some of the hottest sellers so far.Basciano, a New York City native, is no stranger to rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. Part of his career was spent working with top chefs in the nation. At one time, he cooked for actor Paul Newman. He also holds both business and culinary degrees and owned several food businesses before taking his current position at UNC about five years ago.Basciano said he believes his latest challenge is just as exciting as any that he’s faced.Freeman said the University hopes to install a burrito station near the soups and salads in Lenoir to replace the demand formerly filled by Zoca.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/05/09 5:46am)
Future students might enjoy shorter lines and more food choices if Carolina Dining Services acts on recent proposals.
(10/26/09 4:24am)
Chapel Hill and Carrboro are known for a vibrant music scene.And for the next few weeks, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will be an unusual venue for a different type of production: laser rock shows.For the first time since 2004, the planetarium is putting on a set of laser shows that are choreographed to psychedelic music from artists like Pink Floyd, U2 and Led Zeppelin.“I think it’s well done,” said senior Travis Ray, a student assistant in charge of ensuring the shows run smoothly. “It’s definitely a change from the normal planetarium shows.” The lasers are emitted by specialized equipment rather than the star projector astronomy students are familiar with. The planetarium splits ticket revenue with the company that leases the equipment.This technology allows the shows to project a more colorful, lively show than traditional projectors can produce.The show “Laser Zeppelin” includes images of fabled guitarist Jimmy Page’s face melting, various stairways leading to heaven and a suspicious phallic shape at the climax of the song “Whole Lotta Love.” The planetarium gift shop offers 3-D glasses for a small fee as a way of enhancing the experience. Planetarium External Relations Director Jeff Hill said the glasses aren’t necessary but give the audience a deeper sensory effect.He also noted that some of the later shows are only appropriate for ages 13 and up, particularly Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” Hill said it’s up to parents to judge whether the content of the shows is suitable for their families.The show’s content changes on Halloween, with several screenings of a spooky laser event. The family-oriented Laser Halloween is backed by classics like the Ghostbusters theme song and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”“We hope the families will bring their children to see early in the day before the Franklin Street activities start up,” Hill said.The series is set to end Nov. 22, with a “Last Chance Laser Weekend.” The planetarium will forego the usual educational programming and show the entire laser line up back to back from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.Notable laser show enthusiasts include Chancellor Holden Thorp, who served as director of the planetarium from 2001 to 2005. Under his leadership, the planetarium branched out in an effort to attract different demographics. Hill said Thorp is a fan of laser rock shows.
(10/07/09 4:26am)
Students have met the prospect of a Wendy’s restaurant in the Student Union with mixed feelings after learning that Carolina Dining Services is leaning toward the fast food franchise.Administrators revealed a plan last week to expand on-campus dining options by opening a Wendy’s in the space occupied by the copy center in the Union. While some students said they were excited by the proposal to add a 24-hour fast food dining option within three years, others voiced their concerns about the nutritional value of the food and additional student fees that might be incurred.“I love Wendy’s,” said junior Bunmi Fashusi, who works in the copy center on the bottom floor of the Union. “It’s about time they brought fast food to campus.”But other students said they objected to the student fee increases that would come with the new restaurant.Junior Juan Tuset said he would not want to pay the fee because he is likely to graduate before the opening.“It is a little upsetting that I know I’d never be able to take advantage of it,” Tuset said. “I wouldn’t want to pay for it.”Director of Auxiliary Services Mike Freeman said an estimated student fee increase of $18.11 would be assessed in order to cover the construction debt. Freeman said the Union Board of Directors will meet Oct. 19 to come to a consensus on the new restaurant.Freeman said about $4 of the fee would be directed toward the construction of the Wendy’s. The other $14 would fund an expansion of the Top of Lenoir dining hall. The plan calls for about 200 more seats to the second floor of Lenoir Hall.“There’s no way we can serve this campus in the coming years with the setup we have now,” Freeman said.Preliminary documents regarding the changes and fee increases indicate that two other campus restaurants — the Beach Café and the Starbucks at Rams Head — were renovated without fee increases. Both projects exceeded their estimated budgets with a combined cost of nearly $5.5 million.Money for these projects came from Carolina Dining Services’ existing budget.Sophomore Allison Cummings said she would not be satisfied with a Wendy’s or any fast food franchise. “In terms of UNC being a research university, in terms of health care, having another fast food restaurant is strange,” Cummings said. She added that a healthier restaurant would be worth the price.“I think the expense could be an investment in health, in values.”Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/01/09 4:15am)
Administrators are leaning toward putting a Wendy’s fast food eatery in the bottom floor of the Student Union within three years.The decision to install a fast food restaurant in the current first-floor copy center is part of a large-scale plan to expand dining options on North Campus and alleviate crowding in Lenoir Dining Hall.The installation of the restaurant would cost about $1.5 million and would be paid for by a student fee increase, said Mike Freeman, director of auxiliary services. Carolina Dining Services officials have long planned to put a restaurant in this location. The plans became more focused after hiring MarketMatch, a market consultation firm, to conduct nearly a year of research on student dining habits and preferences.On Oct. 19, members of CDS and representatives from MarketMatch will present their findings to the Union Board of Directors and interested students. They expect to make a final decision within a few months.“From Carolina Dining’s perspective, yeah, we’re leaning toward Wendy’s,” Freeman said.Freeman said the long-term plan is to improve the layout of Lenoir.“We are so overcrowded in Lenoir Hall that we need to kind of disperse and pull people away from Lenoir,” he said.The new restaurant has to meet three criteria developed in response to market research, including student feedback, Freeman said. The guidelines were developed because some restaurants on North Campus have failed — including Burger King in Lenoir.MarketMatch’s research found that students have certain requirements of on-campus restaurants. The establishment has to provide quick service, which limits the choice to a fast food eatery. It also needs to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and remain open for 24 hours. The average meal also needs to cost less than $6.50.The restaurant must also be able to physically fit into the space currently occupied by the copy center. The copy center would move to an undetermined space in Student Stores.MarketMatch also analyzed foot traffic patterns on campus, distributed surveys, held focus groups and conducted interviews to help CDS learn how to best maximize their space and meet student demands, Freeman said.The study also divided the campus into 14 geographic locations and calculated which dining establishments residents could reach within a five minute walk.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/28/09 5:02am)
Tuesday’s test of the Alert Carolina system was marked in part by a drastic increase in the efficiency of the text message alerts.
Nearly 40,000 text messages were sent in a fraction of the time it took to send the messages last year, said Priscilla Alden, assistant vice chancellor for ITS user support and engagement.
Following system tests last semester, some students complained that text messages took too long to reach people.
But Alden said Alert Carolina has since changed the company that manages the text messages.
Alert Carolina conducted a head-to-head test between Rave Wireless and Pier Systems, two technology companies. The results showed that Rave was far more capable of handling the volume of messages needed and was selected as the new provider, Alden said.
Pier Systems is still used to host the alert system Web site.
Alden said Alert Carolina is using “the best of what both companies do best.”
Thanks to the change, the alert system sent nearly twice as many messages in less than half the time it took last year. About 23,000 were sent during each of last year’s tests, and the first messages arrived about 15 minutes after they were sent, Alden said.
Tuesday’s test messages took about three minutes to reach phones, Alden said.
Brian Payst, director of technology and systems support, said there was very little cost associated with the upgrades, but he could not provide exact figures.
“The University is going to pay what we need to in order to get messages to people,” he said.
Payst said the system includes a series of components designed to ensure that people are notified regardless of their location.
“Say there’s a chemical spill. If you’re at home, you might not hear the siren if you’re in Hillsborough, but you’d see the e-mail and know not to come to campus,” he said.
Mike McFarland, the University spokesman, said in an e-mail that some people thought the sirens were more audible during Tuesday’s test, though no changes were made to the actual volume. He said cloud cover that day may have contributed to the higher volume.
Prior tests have been conducted in clear conditions, he said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/08/09 4:19am)
The student group Technology Without Borders is discussing the feasibility of upcoming projects, including a massive service mission targeting Ghana.The group, formerly known as Fight Against the Digital Divide, works locally to improve computer literacy and provide equipment to people. Now the group is considering expanding its efforts overseas.Initially, Technology Without Borders provided free training in computer and software use to UNC staff. Now it refurbishes old computers and laptops, updates them with new software and donates them to less fortunate middle school students.Some of their efforts are in concert with the Kramden Institute Inc., a nonprofit group based in Durham. Kramden specializes in putting computers in the hands of middle school students who have shown academic diligence.While many student groups stress giving time and effort to distant needy communities, members of Technology Without Borders realize that there is a need for their services in the Triangle.“There are so many digital divide issues right here in our own fortunate community that get overlooked,” said Shaddi Hasan, a leader in the group. “It’s not just IT anymore.”Act local, think globalIn an effort to branch out and have an international impact, the group plans to travel to Ghana and construct an Internet network. The idea is to connect rural villages with no Web access and few resources to larger cities in order to build i-clinics to help with medical questions.Through a streaming interface, less-skilled village clinicians can consult quickly with doctors in major metro areas or even with doctors in the United States.With limited resources in the target area, the project is likely to encounter obstacles.“For the whole west coast of Africa, there is only one Internet line, one connection to the outside world,” said Calvin Young, one of the group leaders who headed up the project discussion last week.The first step is for the group to help construct a software tool that will allow them to build a virtual model of the towers, servers and routers needed to set up the network across a realistic topographical surface. Group members said such digital imaging will save considerable time and effort.Volunteers will work with a computer science class, which will create the tool as part of the curriculum. The project is not set in stone, but it is slated for summer 2010.Anyone interested in donating skills and time to the effort can attend the group’s next meeting Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Campus Y, Room 207.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.