press play above or go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCindilnY4c

http://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-visits-cornell-university-new-questions-answers-lecture

To read the full article go here: http://www.slopemedia.org/magazine/magazine-music/billy-joel-plays-bailey/

On Display All Week:

November 28 through December 2, All Day

AIDS Memorial Quilt

Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room

Please join us for the reception of our display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Willard Straight Hall. “Founded in 1987, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world.”  Panels of the quilt will be on display in the Memorial Room to commemorate the many losses from HIV/AIDS. The reception will have free food and drinks, and will be attended by Scott Fried, the keynote speaker for AIDS Awareness Week. Find out more about the AIDS Quilt here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAMES_Project_AIDS_Memorial_Quilt

November 28 through December 2, All Day

AIDS Education Poster Display

Willard Straight Hall, Art Gallery

Chosen from approximately 1,149 posters, this display has been specifically designed for Cornell’s AIDS Week 2011.  The posters have been digitally reproduced from the originals house in the Human Sexuality Collection in Kroch Library.  Each is unique and pertinent to the nation or locale that it was designed to serve in Africa.  More information about the collection is available at http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/ead/htmldocs/RMM07723.html 

Tuesday, November 29, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Candlelight Vigil

Ho Plaza

In commemoration of those who have suffered and passed from HIV/AIDS,  join Sexual Awareness For Everyone (SAFE) and the Protestant Cooperative Ministry for the 2011 Candlelight Vigil.  Grab a free cup of coffee, and some baked goods from Ithaca Bakery as we listen to personal accounts of those living with HIV/AIDS and those we have lost.

Wednesday, November 30, 7 p.m.

Wear Red:  CU Women’s Basketball Game

Newman Arena

Join your fellow Big Red Bears in Red as you cheer on the on Women’s Basketball Team as they battle it out against Binghamton University.  Wear your red to show support for National AIDS Week.

Thursday, December 1, Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Lunch with Scott Fried

626 Thurston Ave., Multipurpose Room

Join us for lunch with National AIDS Week keynote speaker, Scott Fried.  The Intercultural Center and LGBT Resource Center invite you to this free lunch to hear Scott talk about what motivates him to be a speaker on the college circuit and to preview his keynote speech.  All are invited to attend.  Taste of Thai Express will be catering (veg and vegan options will be available).

Thursday, December 1, 3 to 5 p.m.

Reception for National AIDS Week

Willard Straight Hall, Browsing Library

Please join us for the reception of our display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Willard Straight Hall. “Founded in 1987, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world.”  Panels of the quilt will be on display in the Memorial Room to commemorate the many losses from HIV/AIDS. The reception will have free food and drinks, and will be attended by Scott Fried, the keynote speaker for AIDS Awareness Week. Find out more about the AIDS Quilt here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAMES_Project_AIDS_Memorial_Quilt

Thursday, December 1, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.

Keynote Speech:  Scott Fried

Goldwin Smith Hall, Kaufman Auditorium

Scott is a nationally acclaimed speaker on HIV/AIDS, dedicated to providing education, awareness, and hope about the disease he has had since he was 24.   Scott uses himself as Exhibit A. He begins each lecture with his story of how he got infected with HIV in 1987 at the age of 24, during his first and only unsafe sexual encounter.  His unstoppable approach to educating others can be encapsulated into one thought: one must understand the value of one’s own life, and hold it sacred, in order to refrain from dangerous behaviors that could lead to HIV infection and other crises.  (http://www.scottfried.com/index.html)  Please join us right after the presentation at 104West! for a sit down dinner with Scott, and get the opportunity to have a more intimate conversation with him. (Cost: One meal swipe) Please contact Nate Treffeisen at nt222@cornell.edu  if you don’t have a meal plan.

Thursday, December 1, 7 p.m.

Dinner with Scott Fried

104 West

Please join us right after the presentation at 104West! for a sit down dinner with Scott, and get the opportunity to have a more intimate conversation with him. (Cost: 1 meal swipe, BRBs, or Debit/Credit.) Please contact Nate Treffeisen at nt222@cornell.edu  if you don’t have any questions or need assistance in attending.

Thursday, December 1, 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Allied Against AIDS Fashion Show

Clark Hall, Atrium

Help us as we raise awareness about the ongoing struggles with HIV and AIDS faced by millions of people around the globe and also raise funds for those most affected by this disease.  The night will feature:  Condom Couture fashion show, AIDS activist Scott Fried, performances by some of Cornell’s favorite dance and a cappella groups, catered food, raffles and silent auctions, and a free photo booth!   Condom Couture Fashion Show –A popular staple event for other FACE AIDS chapters, the goal of the Condom Couture fashion show is to promote safe sex in a nonthreatening way. Dresses and other clothing items made primarily out of condoms were designed AND made by Cornell students and will be showcased at the event!  Performances by Beketsev Israeli Dance, Anything Goes Musical Theatre Troupe, Illuminations Chinese Cultural Dance Troupe , Hearsay A Cappella, and Teszia Belly Dance Troupe!  $5 Suggested Donation.  Open to entire Cornell Community

Friday, December 2, All Day

Free, Anonymous HIV Testing

626 Thurston Ave.

Free, anonymous rapid (results in 20 minutes) HIV testing will be offered on campus by the NYS Health Department to members of the Cornell community.

Morning appointments (10am-12) will be available by calling 255-4782.

Afternoon slots (starting at 12:30pm) will be walk-in:  first come first served.

For information, call 255-4782.

Sponsored by the LGBT Resource Center and Gannett Health Services.

fun., an american indie pop band, recently visited Cornell, where they gave a stellar performance prior to Janelle Monae’s set. Slope Magazine writer Victoria Sobel had the opportunity to catch up with the band, comprised of Nate Russ, previously from the band The Format, Andrew Dost, formerly from the band Anthallo and Jack Antonoff, also a member of the band Steel Train, and ask them what life on the road was like. Things we learned: Yelp and locals are guides to live by, you must have a basketball on hand, and you can never have enough mouthwash.

Victoria Sobel: I can imagine how hard it is to find consistent good food on tour… was wondering if there are a few places you guys like to go to… and if you have some favorite places in certain cities?

fun.: It’s hard sometimes, but we have pretty good luck with Yelp and asking locals. There are a few places we always look forward to hitting; my biggest one is Pacific Dining Car in LA. Another one I always look forward to is Resto du Village in Montreal.

VS: Do you guys play any sports on your down time?

fun.: Yes. Nate and I play basketball every day. If we can’t gather enough people for a game we either play 21 or work on shooting drills. We also play football if there’s a big enough field nearby.  Basketball-wise Nate compares himself to Brandon Roy, I’d say I play more like Tayshaun Prince.

VS: I know how hard it is for me to pack to go away for a weekend, how do you pack for months at a time?  Any secrets or packing tips?

fun.: I tend to really over-pack, I’m definitely not the guy to ask. I even bring two kinds of mouthwash – a whitening rinse and ACT Fluoride rinse, that both have to be carried outside the rest of my stuff. It’s very inconvenient but I’m sort of a hoarder and I’m obsessed with dental hygiene.

VS: What has been your favorite tour so far?

Maybe it’s just because it was the most recent, but the one that sticks out the most is the Panic! at the Disco tour we did earlier this year.  Panic, and the Foxy Shazam guys are all awesome, it was musically a great fit and everybody just seemed to get along great.

VS: If you can collaborate with any artist on a song who would it be?

 I would really love to work with Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend some day. He’s a brilliant producer and just has such a clean, well-thought-out sound.

VS: With all the down time you have on tour are there any television series you guys are into?

Jack just finished The Wire, which I’m about to start.  I also love Breaking Bad (JUST SAW THE SEASON FINALE LAST NIGHT!) and Game of Thrones.  We just finished the new season of Curb all together, which we all love.  I haven’t watched much of the new season, but I love The Office too.  And we’re all constantly going back to Arrested Development.  We all love TV and this is kind of a golden age for it.

More info on the band:

 fun. just released a new single, a powerful alternative pop anthem, “We Are Young” (take a listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KmCguRVnvc) featuring touring mate, Janelle Monae which achieved the #3 chart position on Hype Machine. fun.’s forthcoming Fueled by Ramen debut (http://www.youtube.com/user/FueledByRamen#p/c/409BB5286DDF9170/0/nq2ekIMMYXA ) was produced by Jeff Bhasker, known for his work on “Watch The Throne” in addition to hit tracks with Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Alicia Keys.  Watch the band behind the scenes in their in-studio video: http://ournameisfun.com/

Slope Day (Friday Parody) by The Hangovers

Why have I changed my mind? On two occasions, Rusty’s has come through for me, earning them the prefix Trusty. One time, in between class, I grabbed a cinnamon scone and waited in line to order a vanilla latte (by the way, Rusty’s probably houses the most extensive Starbucks menu, for those of you who are Starbucks fans).  While I was waiting on the long line (Rusty’s is popular in between classes!) I began to eat my scone. Look, I get hungry sometimes! It wasn’t until I went to go pay that I realized I had left my wallet at home. Completely embarrassed, I humbly explained my situation, not really knowing what they would do. The drink had not been made yet, but I couldn’t very well put back a half eaten scone. When the same situation happened at Trillium Express (yes, this has happened to me before), I was lucky enough to be with a friend who spotted me.

To my surprise, Rusty’s was very understanding and let me off with an IOU. I was dumbfounded. Could a coffee stand be that nice? Apparently so. I should have dubbed Rusty’s “Trusty” right then and there, but it took a second time for the same situation to occur (yes, this has happened to me three times) for me to realize just how amazing they were. From then on, Rusty’s would be referred to as “Trusty Rusty’s” and this long pointless story would accompany its title.

You don’t just have to take my word for it, just check out these Facebook statuses! On Thursday at 10:16am my good friend Maria Hessenauer posted: “Loooooves that the coffee man at rusty’s this morning took pity on my sick/dying self and gave me free coffee ” Shortly after someone posted “they are my fav. the guy gives me free flavor shots in my lattes!” Clearly I am not alone in my beliefs.

So what’s the moral of the story? Go check out Rusty’s in the lobby of Uris hall, you won’t regret it.

After making it through the surprisingly friendly custom officers, and getting ripped off at the foreign currency exchange, we embarked on our next leg of the journey – a three hour bus ride to Hangzhou. It was a wonder we even found the bus terminal in the first place. To a foreigner it looked like nothing more than a convenience store/ an off track-betting outlet, which just so happened to have a parking lot as well. If it weren’t for Lindsay paying attention, we might have missed the call for Hangzhou all together. Luckily, we heeded the call, grabbed our bearings and boarded a miniature coach bus.

Riding the bus was quite the experience. Passengers had no problem berating the bus driver, at least it seemed like they were yelling at him. Then again it was all Chinese to me. As a form of retaliation I suppose, the bus driver decided to put the talk radio up full blast so that even us, who were sitting towards the back of the bus could hear it. That didn’t seem to bother the passengers who found it okay to scream into their cell phones. At least I can say that informal observations of cross-cultural cell phone use for my thesis is now complete!

Almost immediately after exiting the bus we were met by a lot of middle-aged men yelling “tacksie, tacksie?” Lindsay, who we have dubbed the mother figure, took charge and gave an affirmative yes. And what a taxi ride it was. Never has a taxi driver offered me a cigarette before, nor has one yelled at me to stay in the car while he unloads my luggage. He also did not speak a word of English, and got very frustrated with us when we didn’t understand him. But he was jolly nonetheless and sang us many songs from his Chinese pop song cd that he kept on repeat.

After showering and a much-needed nap, it was time to explore. I walked along the promenade on Hangzhou’s beautiful west lake literally inches from my hotel, watched some street performers and scouted out a place for dinner. Where did I go to get a feel for Chinese culture you ask? The nearest dim sun place would have made sense but nope. I went to Starbucks. Hear me out! If one is to truly compare cultures, there must be a control against which to compare them. There is a Starbucks in literally every city you go to (there were ones in Europe too), so what better way to understand differences by seeing how individuals act in the same setting. Andddddd I was hungry, and didn’t feel like being adventurous on my first night.

Well as they say in China, Sianora! or bye! (okay so that’s actually Japanese,  learned that the hard way). More episodes of the special China edition to appear soon!

No picture offered at this time – They were out of the Apple Brie Melt! – Check back next week.