Fortunately, there is hope for both sides in this not-so-pretty presidential race. Both President Bush and his opponent Sen. John Kerry have a secret weapon working in their favor: incredible genetics. Each candiate has fathered hot offspring who are working the campaign trail in an effort to get young voters to the poll.

Yesterday, Jenna and Barbara Bush, the infamous twin daughters of the president, came to UMaine. The dynamic duo came to speak on their father’s behalf in the Wooley Room in DTAV. It’s true, I saw them with my own two eyes – it was glorious.

Jenna, the sultry blonde, spoke first. Her sexy, southern drawl reverberated throughout the room as she triuphantly touted her father’s efforts and shared family anecdotes. I tried, to no avail, to get the image of her infamous “Inagural Ball slip” out of my mind; it didn’t work.

Then, Barbara took the stage stealing the spotlight. Her brunette tresses swayed as she spoke about her mother’s efforts as first lady. The two stayed to meet and greet with some of the 140 people in attendance. They graciously smiled for pictures, hugs and well-wishes.

Being one of the people who actually got to shake both the twin’s hands, I can tell you it was a phenomenal experience. It’s not every day you get to touch the hands of the daughters of the highest office in the land. Not to mention the fact they are both gorgeous, although I am partial to Barbara, the young brunette. I even got a picture taken with her.

If Kerry was smart, he’d send his own attractive flesh and blood here to drum up some support for his campaign, especially here in Maine, one of two pivotal swing-states -the other is Nebraska, that could make or break the election. It’s sad but true, sex sells, even in politics. His daughters aren’t exactly strangers to the term eye candy, and that could be a key aspect of the campaign which could go overlooked.

Kerry’s already sent his step son, Chris Heinz, on Tuesday. And I’ve heard a couple of ladies saying he wasn’t hard on the eyes. So, John, if you’re reading this, and I’m sure with your hectic presidential campaign you are reading college newspapers, please send your daughters in the interest of partisan politics – yes, partisan politics and nothing else.

President Bush, I applaud your efforts in sending not only yourself, your wife and finally your hot daughters to our great state. As for who I am voting for, I won’t say. But John, if you’re reading, and I know you are, it couldn’t hurt to up the ante, and send a little lovin’ this way in the form of your two daughters. And UMaine students, please vote, because either way, we’ve got four years of hot daughters to watch.

Mike Melochick is a senior journalism major who is not washing his right hand until Nov. 2.

Perhaps it is the $280 million the government has to shell out in health care costs each year for inmates. Whatever made him sign the bill was a good thing. All I can say is go, T-2.

It’s about time politicians looked into new ways of saving the government some money. And, how appropriate, that at the same time, prisoners stuffed in overcrowded jails will actually be punished. Why should they have the luxury of smoking on the quad five times a day?

They are criminals. They need to get exactly what is coming to them. I’m a believer in the fact that all choices have consequences and you have to pay for your mistakes.

It’s time the sex offenders and murderers enjoy their twenty-five to life. Let’s give them the chance to sit in their corner and think about what they’ve done. Cutting smoking out of their day will save give them at least another hour to do so.

Banning smoking in prisons will ensure that the transition to life behind bars might be a little rougher, but, with less hacking and phlegm.

I’m all about letting people make their own decisions. Far be it from me to tell someone they shouldn’t be allowed to smoke, unless my tax dollars are paying for them to do so. That is unacceptable.

Luckily, that’s all about to change. I know if I were a Californian, I would be breathing a sigh of relief today.

Maybe now, the inmates of today and future citizens of tomorrow will come to appreciate a good cigar, just like California’s infamous Governor. Perhaps after their twenty-five are up, they can join Ahnold in his smoking tent outside the state office. All in all, we’ll be bringing politicians and criminals closer together.

Bethany Bubar is a sophmore journalism major.

The use of pepper-spray this weekend by Orono Police Department at a party on Park St. seems to be concurrent with department policy. So what would propel the authorities to use such force when dealing with a crowd of 200 party-goers?

Maybe it’s the fact that when 200 drunken college kids get together, the common mindset is not to listen. The students probably you out numbered law enforcement officers, and why not stick it to the man, right?

Wrong idea. The police in the surrounding areas have a reputation as hardasses, with good cause. But think about it, if you had to deal with drunken, cocky college kids, wouldn’t you be a little on the edge?

The life lesson: If the cops tell you to clear out a party, just do it. They don’t want to be there any more than we want them there. They are men and women with a job to do and sense of duty.

We also have a duty as college kids to listen to authority. We at The Maine Campus are not saying blindly follow “the man.” In fact, some of history’s greatest people and moments have come from rising against oppression.

But this is college, and it’s only a keg party. So, listen to the cops next time, and you won’t get a face full of mace.

Preaching to the choir at UMaine

Hey did you attend the Chris Heinz speech this Tuesday? Probably not. Thats okay, maybe you were able to actually make it to the Bush twins event this Wednesday in the Wooley Room instead? Nope, you probably didn’t get to go to that either. That’s because the attention these events got was silm to none. In fact most students on this fine campus of ours didn’t even probably know that these public figures where here at the university.

These events need to be publicized and discussed openly to the campus population – not just to some chairperson’s croonies. As a student body, we should be doing a better job of making the public aware of events .

Green Day

Warner Brothers

Released last week, Green Day’s latest album “American Idiot” is exactly what the nostalgic fans of the band have been looking for. If you’ve missed Green Day, you will be happy to know they’re back with a brand new, driving sound and hard hitting lyrics.

Following the political movement that the likes of the Rock Against Bush Tour and powerhouse A Perfect Circle have been working with on their latest albums, the first single off the album is the title track, sharing with the listener lead singer Billie Joe’s political distaste as he belts “Don’t wanna be an American idiot, Don’t want a nation under the new media. And can you hear the sound of hysteria? The subliminal mindf**k America.”

The album has a mixture of many sounds, from the fast punk tracks “St. Jimmi” and “Letterbomb” and ballads “Give Me Novacaine” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” American Idiot has a little something for everyone. Green Day even busts out a Middle-Eastern drum sample for the track “Extraordinary Girl,” which adds a nice variety.

Not often seen on a punk rock album, Green Day’s track list for “American Idiot” includes two songs that pass the nine minute mark. The album’s best would have to be one of those nine-minute tracks, “Homecoming.” It has great drums, guitar riffs and the usual pissed off – but singing happily about it – sound. Being nine minutes, however, it’s one of those songs that has many different parts to it, like “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” by Billy Joel.

Since it’s release, “American Idiot” has topped chart after chart and it hasn’t stopped yet. I don’t think it’s going to.

-Aerin Raymond

In Love and Death

The Used

Reprise Records

The second release from the Orem, Utah based band, The Used, “In Love and Death,” sees the band rise to a new plateau of songwriting. While still maintaining the patented sound that made their first album so popular, they have managed to raise the bar with a complexity that sets them apart.

Lines such as “And I know in my heart we all die, like the day and the night, like the sun in the sky, all this I’m giving up,” from the track “Light with a Sharpened Edge,” typify the album’s dejected yet hopeful theme. Other standout tracks include “Take it Away” in which they recruited Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails to help with programming, and the bouncy “Lunacy Fringe,” which sounds more like The Partridge Family having a bad day than a Bert McCracken-penned track.

Fans of the groups harder edge will not be disappointed, with the inclusion of the brutal track “Sound Effects and Overdramatics,” among others. Outside of the music itself, credit should be given to the album’s artistic direction as well. Alex Pardee of Eye Suck Ink was brought in to design visual aspects of the album along with the website, which is stunning. It brings a new outlook that only enhances the music.

Although there are no real surprises, “In Love and Death” does not disappoint and continues to build on the solid musical history that will continue to keep The Used at the forefront.

-Jesse Davis

He has allegedly murdered actress Lana Clarkson, though he maintains that she killed herself, according to the BBC.

Spector is free on a $1 million bail following the Sept. 27 hearing. If convicted, Spector faces life in prison.

*

Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake are among the names that have been invited to perform at a tribute concert for the late Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. Gibb died from a heart attack following intestinal surgery last January.

The tribute, organized by Gibb’s twin brother Robin, will be held in the United States sometime next year.

Star of “Saturday Night Fever” John Travolta has been asked to host the event. It will raise money for the Gibb Family Foundation, which helps charities such as the Diabetes Research Institute and the National Drug Abuse Council.

Robin Gibb is also in the process of putting together a tribute album for Maurice, slated to feature artist such as Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas performing Bee Gees’ classics.

*

In late 2006, Johnny Cash will be idolized in a Broadway musical. The late legend’s life will be the focus of the musical “Ring Of Fire,” directed by Richard Maltby Jr.

The show, which will feature Cash’s faith, love and life experiences, will feature over 49 songs by both he and his late wife, June Carter Cash.

The title tracks, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “A Boy Named Sue” will all be featured in the play, and is set to be previewed by producer Bill Meade and Phoenix Prods in select cities next autumn.

*

Legend Bob Dylan has recently shocked many of his fans with excerpts published from his memoirs.

He explains that he felt nothing in common with a generation that ordained him their voice, reports NME.com.

“Roadmaps to our homestead must have been posted in all 50 states for gangs of dropouts and druggies,” Dylan said.

“I wanted to set fire to these people,” he said of the fans who would group outside his family home, climb onto his roof, and break in. The family was forced to move to New York to escape.

Set for release on Oct. 12, Dylan wrote the “Chronicles: Volume 1,” over three years on a manual typewriter.

*

Thom Yorke of Radiohead led the protests at a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament rally in Yorkshire, England this weekend. He claimed that Tony Blair’s support for George W. Bush had been giving him “sleepless nights.”

The protest centers around Tony Blair’s support for the “Star Wars” missile defense system which George Bush is set to launch this autumn. The planned multi-billion dollar system is intended to shoot ballistic missiles out of the air before they reach their target, therefore protecting the West from potential attack. CND and its supporters claim that missile defense is an offensive rather than defensive system and will only serve to heighten global insecurity.

The Star Wars protest marks Thom Yorke’s second public appearance in as many weeks. The week prior he had joined R.E.M. on stage at a secret fan club show at London St. James Church.

Marshall Dury: Pearl Jam took to Boston on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and let me tell you – it was a sight to be seen.

Tracy Collins: Especially if you made it for Eddie Vedder’s preset. I, of course, was stuck in a horde of people trying to buy a T-shirt from a man who couldn’t quite understand that I wanted a men’s medium, not a women’s medium, but even from outside the seating area, Cat Stevens’ “Don’t Be Shy” had me squirming from the get go. As is usually the case with Eddie’s choice of artistic expression, the choice of the Cat Stevens tune was more than just for melody, and the follow-up, the Beatles’ “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” had the crowds rushing from outside the stage area to catch the first glimpse of Eddie on what was to be a rocking opener leading up to the Vote for Change tour.

MD: After partaking in the atmospheric, emo-rock that is Death Cab for Cutie, everyone in the Fleet Center was loud with anticipation. When the lights dimmed, the darkness erupted with cheers and whistles, as Pearl Jam opened their set with the dream-like soliloquy of “Release.” Characteristically calm at the beginning, Pearl Jam followed up – true to form – with the punchy and abrasive “Last Exit,” “Hail, Hail” and one of my personal favorites “Save You.” The ball was rolling on the rocking.

TC: And rock they did. Hard. So hard that the entire first set kept arms in the air and feet pounding the concrete as the band wailed through “Do The Evolution” and “Dissident” to an Avengers cover, “The American in Me.” So hard that even veterans to the show were surprised at how drained the first set had left them. But how could you not be sweating after “Given to Fly” and jumping in tempo to the best version of “Evenflow” I’ve heard yet. After Mike’s guitar solo, which even I, an amateur guitar-listener at best, could appreciate, you couldn’t help but justify why rockers have elevated to a status close to royalty in America. These six musicians warranted it, and by the end of “Evenflow,” they had us right where they wanted us.

MD: From the indulgence of the guitar playing in “Evenflow,” Pearl Jam introduced the B-side “Down,” noting the historian and Boston activist that the song was centered around – Howard Zinn. Before launching into the upbeat, high-powered song, Zinn came out and imparted some words of wisdom to the crowd: “Hi. Stop the war!” What followed next was one of the band’s most well-known earlier hits, “Jeremy.” Overplayed on radios across the country, this single took on new meaning live. The singing was perfect – with Eddie’s wails – and the guitar playing was nothing short of awe inspiring.

After a short encore break, Pearl Jam came back to start their acoustic set, beginning with bassist Jeff Ament’s “Low Light.” The slow pace and energy-filled song set the stage for the acoustic set. Quickly following was Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War,” certainly the most politically charged song of the evening – as Pearl Jam bit their thumb at the industrial complex that has created the war raging in Iraq. Political statements aside, the song was the only lyrical mention of partisan politics, as Pearl Jam is known for supporting the progressive cause.

TC: We absorbed the political tone respectfully and the men on stage rewarded us with one we all knew all the words to: “Small Town.” Eddie belted it out and we did, too. Back and forth, the band rocked like it was playing for a small crowd of friends and the thousands in the audience sang like we all had mics and the gift. It was Boston; outside, we ignored each other passing on the street as rain poured down on us and we may have afforded strangers eye contact and a polite smile at the pub while we were counting the minutes to the concert, but we knew everything would be different under the FleetCenter roof. “I just want to scream, hello,” and we did it as loud as we could for the six on the stage. As usual, Pearl Jam gave the gratitude right back to us. Because it is an equal opportunity band, Eddie explained, they played one for the back: “Last Kiss.” A few of us moaned inside at this one, which was one for the radio if nothing else, but the guys reminded us why we love them so with a chilling rendition of “Crazy Mary.” It’s no surprise that the music sounded fiercer live, amplified by the intense motions of the men on stage, but even the lyrics seemed to mean more in Boston than they do coming out of the stereo in a dorm room: “That which you fear the most could meet you halfway.”

MD: After another short encore, the band waded into a chilling and emotional version of “Love Boat Captain,” showboating every members dynamic in the band – even Boom Gaspers. A longtime staple for Pearl Jam concerts made an appearance as Eddie employed the fans in the arena to help him sing the entire first verse and chorus of “Betterman.” The last two songs of this encore ended on a note that can only be understood after experiencing the concert. A cover of The Dead Kennedy’s “Bleed For Me” helped show Pearl Jam’s wide range of talent – adding a metal feeling to a common viewed “classic rock band.” The encore ended with “Blood,” off of their sophomore release “Vs.” With that the lights dimmed, but not for long.

Soon Eddie was back on stage with the Fleet Center house lights on. He informed every listening fan that the proceeds from the two Boston shows (including Wednesday’s) would go to benefit the defense cases of the West Memphis Three. Giving a brief history of the details surrounding the wrongful incarceration of the three men, Eddie invited the rest of the band back onto the stage. They ended their last encore with the ripping riffs and scorching solos of “Alive,” one of their better-known, early singles.

What is most commonly looked at as a single experience of going to a concert can frequently turn into an evening to never forget. The music, impassioned singing and charged energy of every band member and fan in the Fleet Center made the first of the two shows something few will forget.

Marshall Dury is the editor in chief of The Maine Campus. Tracy Collins is the production manager.

In the upcoming movie “A Sound of Thunder,” based on a short story by Ray Bradbury, a group of time travelers journey to the past and happen to kill a butterfly. However, this seemingly insignificant event has dire consequences as the group returns to present day New York City, to find “Time Waves” altering the present. Would this really happen if we traveled to the past? Would one small change in the past drastically affect the present? Is time travel even possible?

“Plenty of scientists have speculated that it is, perhaps by exceeding the speed of light or entering a wormhole,” said Batuski in Maxim. “Chaos theory tells us that some small events can have outsize consequences, so, yes, a certain butterfly could have a big impact. But most events would be so diluted by others that they’d be imperceptible.”

Maxim magazine, with an audience of over ten million, is known by college kids all over the country. Of course, when we discovered a member of the UMaine community was quoted in one of the latest issues, we jumped at the opportunity to barrage the man with questions. With steady, intelligent eyes and a quick smile, Dr. Batuski answered all of our questions, assuring us that taking a part in such a popular magazine was “a thrill for sure.”

Time travel is an area of study, and there are a few theories that most agree are most probable. “Every little event, even subatomic, causes the world to split,” says Batuski. This world split is called the “Many Worlds Theory.” Every decision or possibility, even on the subatomic level, creates a new universe.

For example, an electron spins either up or down after observation, says Batuski, but before observation, it spins both ways. According to the “many worlds theory,” after being observed as either spinning up or down, a new place is created in which the electron is spinning the opposite direction. Assuring me there were a lot of electrons out there, and a lot of other aspects of our world that possessed more than two possibilities, Batuski showed me how infinite this lattice work of worlds would be.

An old Halloween episode of “The Simpsons,” put Homer right in the middle of the “many worlds theory.” He tries to fix a toaster, ends up making a time machine which he uses, changing eternity. Telling Dr. Batuski about this experience with physics and time travel earned a quick smile and laugh. With a shrug, Batuski said that is theoretically what happens, just a little exaggerated.

Maxim writer Alfred Schulz said he and other staff members at the magainze found Dr. Batuski very knowledgable on the topic of time travel, and found our good Doctor gave answers that were much more down-to-earth and reader-friendly than other universities, such as Columbia.

“He helped me out quite a bit,” said Alfred Schulz. “He was much more cool, and gave far superior answers.”

Regrettably, Dr. Batuski says he did not get the chance to meet any of the Maxim models. “Although,” he said, “it is a pretty sexy magazine.”

The Bear Brew Pub, a familiar fixture of the University scene, is going through an overhaul to expand its services. Over 600 people flocked to the restaurant on Sept. 16 to experience the opening of a new pool lounge and partake in the drink specials that accompanied it. The event marked the first in a series of changes that owner and Bangor native Matt Haskell hopes will give the area more variety.

“I’m trying to bring a little bit of the big city up here. I don’t really think that Maine has anything in the state that’s like what I’m about to create,” Haskell said.

What he hopes to create is a European-style lounge that will coexist with the pub’s relaxed atmosphere. In keeping with these plans, the first floor will remain a place for casual dining and drinks while the second floor will be expanded to incorporate a dance area overlooked by lounge seating, and will also include much-needed bathrooms. The third floor, with its pool tables and TV, will provide patrons with a more sports-oriented element.

At 26-years old and recently out of college himself, Haskell understands that students need a range of night life activities to stay satisfied.

“College kids don’t always want to sit in a quiet brew pub. They want to dance and listen to live music,” he said.

Haskell plans to host guest DJs and hip-hop artists from larger cities, but emphasizes that the second floor will be more than a dance club. It will also be used to host comedians, jazz dinners, open microphone nights and trivia nights where teams can compete for money. Patrons will be able to reserve booths in the dance lounge for special occasions.

Haskell said he thinks this diversity will set the Bear Brew apart from other businesses in the area. Also, there will not be a cover charge at the door, only at the dance lounge entrance.

“I’m not going to rob people blind for a door charge. I’m going to run the same old specials. Thursday night’s going to be the same cheap drinks,” he said.

Haskell has recently painted the building’s exterior and hopes to finalize all renovations by mid-December. If his plans are not ready before winter break , he will wait until the University is back in session to hold a grand opening, where patrons can expect promotions like ten-cent shots, according to Haskell.

“It’s sort of my way to give back to the customers. They make me lots of money, so I can in turn give back,” he said.

Helping with the restaurant is Haskell’s lifelong friend, Phil Savage, who spent the last six years running a club in Boston. Savage returned to Bangor to be nearer to family, and is impressed with the way Haskell has diversified the Bear Brew crowd. He understands that broad appeal on of the aspects that makes the Bear Brew distinctive.

“One of the big things I think that Matt and myself can’t stress enough is how we don’t want to change any of the good things we have going on here, we just want to expand,” Savage said.

The program now promotes service learning, according to Kathleen March, a Spanish professor involved with the organization.

Mano en Mano, meaning “hand in hand” in Spanish, is a “labor of love” for its founder, Candace Austin, according to March. The new project, in cooperation with Literacy Volunteers of America, is designed to help migrant workers who are illiterate in their native Spanish.

“Literacy benefits the community. If they’re not literate in their own language, that affects what they can do in English,” March said. “They’re stuck.”

Over the weekend of Sept. 11 a group of a dozen volunteers went through literacy training in a workshop run by Ruth Colvin, the founder of Literacy Volunteers.

March described Colvin as a very sharp lady with lots of experience teaching people to read and write in different countries. Her methods are then adapted to different languages. This is the first Literacy Volunteers program in the United States for a language other than English, according to March.

Those attending the workshop learned about different techniques and concepts, then got to practice their instruction. They learned how to determine a student’s level of literacy, different assignments to work with and methods to view and interact with your student.

“We had to think about what the adult learner is thinking,” March said.

Colvin’s methods are learner-centered.

“It’s not a top-down program,” March said. “It’s respectful of the learner.”

A volunteer may have his or her student bring in literature that they want to learn to read. He or she may create a book with his or her student, so that student can hold on to his or her own words, which they’re able to read.

Many of the volunteers haven’t found their students yet and may end up traveling to Milbridge. March’s answer to finding people in this area who could be helped by the program is to seek them out. She is in the process of setting up a deal with Wal-Mart where she and other volunteers could host a table inside to talk to people.

“A lot of people come up from the coast [on weekends] to shop,” she said.

March got involved with Mano en Mano because of her students. Shaunessy Saucier and Rebecca Brochu, current UMaine seniors, started working last fall with a family from Milbridge.

The Milbridge children were going to school, but they didn’t speak any English. There was no one to translate for them in the school system, according to Saucier.

She and Brochu made the trip once a week to Milbridge to talk to the kids and play games in a mixture of English and Spanish. It wasn’t the best situation for the children, but it was better than nothing, Saucier said. Their work led to the connection between March and Austin, when March went to visit last January.

March strongly advocates for more service learning at UMaine.

“Service learning gets students out in the community. They have an active part in their learning,” she said.

She calls it applied education, as opposed to listening to a lecture.

“I can’t see a more effective way for students here to improve their Spanish,” she said.

Its not unusual to see Matthew Gagnon on public display. In his years as a UMaine political science major, Gagnon made himself famous for building a solid foundation for a previously-shaky UMaine Student Government. Through his two-year vice presidency, he single-handily revised numerous landmark documents, created new positions and branches, as well as chaired numerous committees.

Gagnon could also be seen sporting the Greek letters of Sigma Phi Epsilon, running the College Republicans’ meetings and frequently appearing in the headlines of many articles for The Maine Campus. And pretty soon, neither will the residents of Old Town. Having already personally introduced himself to a plethora of the citizens, Gagnon is now embarking on an even more aggressive campaign including promotions of all tangible kinds: pins, posters, bumper stickers, magnets and other gimmicks.

Gagnon runs on the platforms based on the concerns he heard while running his door-to-door campaign in the June primary. On the forefront stands Maine’s economical situation, which closely links his second concern, the support for Maine’s higher education. Gagnon sees these two issues as “strongly linked,” citing that success in either issue depends on the success of the other.

Gagnon’s opponent is county commissioner Dick Blanchard. Gagnon shrugs off questions regarding his opponent’s advantage because of age, connections and experiences.

“I think my age is an advantage and a disadvantage. If you ask some of the elderly citizens of the district, they might be inclined to say they’re looking for someone with more experience. And about everyone else looks at my age as an asset, because of my youth and enthusiasm. It just depends on who you ask,” he said.

In the experience versus enthusiasm debate, spectators tend to ask the younger opponent if his experience as a political science major can compensate for actual experience in the real world. Or at least, if it helps move along the career path.

The college graduate and aspiring politician, answering as equivocally as possible, reports that though he found the political science program “interesting and innovative,” nothing compares to the real life experience an actual campaign allows.

“The education you get in a college classroom is invaluable … but the actual dive into the real world of experience is where you can make your mistakes and truly learn,” Gagnon said. While he admits he is still learning from this political experience, he is eagerly awaiting Election Day, a day he hopes will be the first day of a long career in politics.

“I’ve always been interested in politics. My interest strengthened during my years in Student Government and my major in political science, but what keeps it afloat is who I am,” Gagnon said.