Akts@Entertainment
Lonely genius lives, loves, loses over time
Courtesy of Panteon Books
“Einstein’s Dreams”
Alan Lightman
Pantheon
“Einstein’s Dreams” is a lovely
book. Neatly bound in black, it fits
snugly in an overcoat pocket — a
book made to be held.
It’s lovely in other ways as well.
The first offering of fiction by Alan
Lightman, who has written popularly
on the subject of physics and the
nature of time (“Ancient Light,”
“Time for the Stars”), “Einstein’s
Dreams” is a series of jewel-like vi
gnettes, each examining a different
possible world where time obeys dif
ferent rules.
“Suppose time is a circle, bending
back on itself. The world repeats it
self, precisely, endlessly,” the first
“dream” begins.
In this world, lovers parting for
ever weep, not knowing they will
meet and part again and again, having
already done so in infinite repetitions.
What if time were a sense? Some
would perceive it one way, some an
other. And the terrible unfortunates,
the time blind, what of them?
In another world, time is a flock of
birds — they can be captured and
held.
In another, time flows backward.
One awakes in a bed, old and withered
and senile, and slowly remembers the
future as the gray washes out of one’s
hair. Life ends, safe and comfortable
in the womb.
Not all of these ideas arc new, but
/
i
the book aims beyond the science
fiction surface at the human heart.
In another world, time
is a flock of birds -
they can be captured
and held like that.
This great game of “what if’ has a
human dimension. For in all possible
worlds, people are heartbroken by
time; in every world there is not enough
time to learn time’s lessons before the
end of a life that will always seem
foreshortened looking back.
And among the dreams wanders
the familiar disheveled dreamer,
Einstein. Still young himself, he has
just finished his new theory of time.
But he has been troubled by these
dreams of other kinds of time and
would like to tell his friend, Besso.
But he never does; the distance
between himself and other people can
do nothing but widen as he learns to
focus his mind on ideas further and
further from common human con
cerns.
The air of sadness that surrounds
him is due partly to the fact that we
know his future: the divorce from his
first wife, the growing old, and the
terrible implications of his theory of
time.
We inhabit a time different, if not
in kind, from his own. We can watch
him dozing on his cluttered desk in the
patent office, but we are powerless to
wake him.
The dreams fall unbroken into him
and into this beautiful book.
— Mark Baldridge
— i
Bio uncovers R.E.M.
I
Courtesy ot Little, Brown
“R.E.M. Behind the Mask”
Jim Greer
■ Little, Brown
; Everything you ever wanted to know about
Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael
Stipe—collectively known
as R.E.M. — is now avail
able in an excellent hard
back coffee-table book en
titled “R.E.M. Behind the
Mask.”
Written by Spin Maga
zine senior editor J im Greer,
“Behind the Mask” takes a detailed look at the
college rock cull heroes that redefined contem
porary music forever.
“Behind the Mask” is a fast-paced review of
the band’s brilliant career, taking an album-by
album account that describes the music itself.
It is not just an attempt to decipher the
meaning oflyncs and the mystery surround
ing the band. The bulk of the book is spent
describing the early days of R.E.M.’s career,
but a fair amount is spent on current happen
ings. This combination gives it a smart and
different feel.
Greer’s book is packed with hundreds of
full-color photographs and a few grim-looking
black and whites that serve as a pictorial lime
line following the band from its early days in
Athens, Ga., up to the multiplatinum effort
“Out of Time.” The photos also, intentional or
not, present a bit of humor in the eccentricities
of Michael Stipe.
R.E.M.’s most recent album, “Automatic
for the People,” was left out of the book because
of the uncharacteristically short six-month span
between albums. ,
One of the more outstanding aspects of the
book is its extensive interviews with Stipe and
guitarist Peter Buck, something that has been
missing in past R.E.M. write-ups.
The interviews answer some questions about
the band’s reported inner turmoil, including a
feud between Buck and Stipe.
Other topics of discussion are politics, rap
music and touring — a practice that came to a
screeching halt after the 1989 “Green” tour.
The book docs have low points, though,
which involve a 15-plus page section that gives
a complete discography, a list of guest appear
ances and a record of every show the band has
ever played. I stopped counting at 200 pages—
quite a hefty number of pages devoted to such
a pointless topic that only seems to take up
precious space.
Regardless, “Behind the Mask” is a must for
every R.E.M. fanatic. It would also make inter
esting reading for any music lover who ever
rocked to “Radio Free Europe” or got caught
singing along with “Shiny Happy People.”
In short, buy this book.
--Michael Lehr
New sci-fi show making trax
By Sam Kepfield
Staff Reporter
“Time Trax” (Saturdays, 5 p.m. on Fox)
is the latest entry into TV’s science fiction
renaissance.
While it docs not have the record-break
ing pull of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”—
which beat out network competition in some
markets — “Time Trax” bears watching.
The two-hour premiere on Jan. 23 intro
duced Captain Darien Lambert (Dale
Midkiff), a law enforcement officer in the
year 2193. Lambert and his superiors are
bedeviled by disappearances of criminals
and shady characters, all of whom vanish in
the basement of the Smithsonian Institute.
Lambert is eventually led to a time-travel
machine run by a renegade scientist The
scientist is making a profit off the missing
criminals, who are seeking a one-way es
cape into the past. The machine has a 200
year limit, and has been in operation for ten
years.
After the death of the lovely co-inventor
of the TRAX project (and a budding love
interest), Lambert goes back to 1993, in
order to catch all the other lime travelers and
send them back to 2193. In the opening
episode, he foils an assassination attempt on
the president of the United States.
Lambert is aided by SELMA, a powerful
mini-computer disguised as a credit card,
who appears holographically
schoolmarmish.
The acting, through a cast of mostly
unknowns, was a bit overdone during the
first hour, but moderated soon after. The
script, thus far, has interesting twists, both in
its technology and its depiction of a United
States where whites are a minority.
“Time Trax” bears a resemblance to the
better episodes of “Buck Rogers” and
“Battlcstar Galactica.”
Syndication may give “Time Trax” the
breathing room that network TV fails to.
Throw in good writing and good acting, and
“Time Trax” has definite possibilities.
Give it a look.
Jazz Festival to swing into town
By Sarah Duey
Staff Reporter
Jazz will take over the campus this weekend
with ihc 1993 Nebraska Jazz Festival.
Concerts are scheduled for Thursday, Friday
and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Kimball Hall. Tickets
arc available at the Lied Center box office.
The UNL Jazz Ensemble and the Air Com
bat Command Heartland of America
“Noteablcs” Jazz Ensemble will perform in
Thursday’s concert. This performance is free
but requires a ticket.
The featured artist for the festival this year
is trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard.
Blanchard worked on the score for the film
“Malcolm X” as a composer, conductor, pro
ducer and performer. The Terence
Blanchard Quintet will perform Friday. Tickets
arc $18 and $14 for the public, $9 and $7 for
students.
Saturday’s performance features the winner
of the high school jazz band competition and
the Nebraska Jazz Festival Orchestra with guest
artists. Tickets are $5 for the public and S3 for
students.
3 Bicycles For Sale
Fisher CR-7 MTB. Cook Bros Cranks, I.R.D. Post, An
swer Stem $675. 474-4748.
5 Clothing For Sale
J.P. Originals Wedding Gown for sale Never worm Best
offer. Call 421 -5357 or 474-3030 after 5pm, Leave mes
sage and number.
6 Computers For Sale
MUST SELLII ATAT PC 6300 w/12" mono-monitor, exl.
keyboard 256K RAM. 20MBHD; ATAT DOS IBM
DjspJaywnte-3; Epson FX 286 nig printer; and desk 488
10 Misc. For Sale
FOR SALEiTwo student basketball tickets, for KU-rest of
seasonl Don 1 miss the ‘BIG EIGHTI* Call 436-8000,
leave message.
19 Ticket Exchange
■SSSSSSSS^SSSSSSSSSSSSSSESSISSSSSSS
• * TICKETS WANTED ' •
KANSAS VS NE/FINAL 4
• BIG 8 TOURNAMENT *
. CASH PAID—432-3877 _
2 KU/NU FLOOR TlCKE TS 4 SALE. 2*50 438-1209 OR
420 1189
Wanted: 2 floor or first level Nebraska-Kansas tickets.
February 7. $30 each 1-339-0973 evenings.
20 Vehicles For Sale
86 Honda Civic 4 door. 5 speed, air, AM/FM cass. Nicel
S39S0 offers.
Baer s Automotive Sales
1647 S. 3rd
„ 477-6442 _
Must sellll 1980 Honda Accord. 2-door hatchback. Mod
erate rear end damage Otherwise, great shape $700
O.B.O. 466 2388
— ' . =
110 Announcements
Need to do cross-training for
the April MCAT?
Kaplan course begins this Sundayl New location: 245
North 131h. 475-701010 enroll
POSITIONS OPEN
NEBRASKA UNION BOARD
Sut positions are open on Union Board The Board s
recommendations are to be sought and given careful
consideration in all aspects of Nebraska Union opera
tions. programs and planning. Applications available at
115 Nebr. Union, deadline Friday, Feb. 5 at 4:00pm
Applications available at 115 Nebr. Union.
COMPLETE DWI DISCUSSION
AND EDUCATION HOURS
ONGOING WEEKEND FORMAT. STILL TIMEI February
8 & 7, 8:00am-5:00, E 6 D Associates, 486 3790_
Nebraska Model
United Nations
Spring Simulation
Feb 3-6 Nebraska Union
$25 per delegation ♦ $10 per UNL Delegate
For into call 472-1780 or stop in Room 117 Neb Union
2-Year Army
ROTC Scholarships
FOR ALL DISCIPLINES NOW AVAILABLE^ If you have4
semesters remaining you may be eligible. Full tuition at
UNL, plus up to $450 00 for textbooks. Call CMMain
DuRant at 472 2468 lor more information.
ATTENTION FRESHMEN,
SOPHOMORES, & SENIORS!
Monar Board Notable Information Sheets are available tor
students displaying scholarship, leadership and service
Information sheets areavailable at the Offices for Student
Involvement (200 NU city, 300 NU east). Culture Center
and Office of the Vice Chancellor (or Student Affairs (124
Administration) They are due February 5
ALASKA SUMMER EMPLOYMENT - fisheries Earn
$600+/week in canneries or $4.000Wmonth on fishing
boats Free transportation! Room 6 Boardi Over 8.000
openings. No experience necessary Male or Female. For
employment program call 1 206 545-4155 ext. A5778.
Attention! Laurie Collins Multiculturel
330 Fall '82 studentet
We are meeting at Chi Chi's at
7:00pm Febr. 17 lor a ‘Reunion’*
No RSVP, just cornel
Buying used video games. Nintendo. SNE S and Genesis
Sunday.Fab. 7from 12-5pm Village Motor Inn. 5200 0 St
Room 102.
Rock Climbing In Oklahoma
with Outdoor Adventures. Experience Quartz Mountain.
February 17-21. Sign up deadline February 8.
INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYMENT -Make money teach
ing base conversational English abroad Japan A Tai
wan. Many provide room A board * other benefitsl Make
12,000-$4,000* per month No previous training or teach
mo certificate required. For employment program call
(208) 632-1146 ext. J6778
THIRD ANNUAL CORPORATE PARTNERS
BUSINESS INSTITUTE
Attention C BA students l Applicat ions for thlsprofessional
seminar are now available m CBA, rm.237 The seminar
wil be held February 19 and 20, applications due Febru
ary S.
UPC
Applications are available for Committee Chair and ex
ecutive positions on the 1993-94 University Program
Council, at 117 Ne. Union, 200 Ne Union, and 300 Ne
East Union. Comejom the teaml
wanted”
10 HUNGRY PEOPLE to participate in the UPC WACKY
WEDNESDAY Pie Eating Contest. WEDNESDAY 1 p m
CitjMCampus Lounge. Interested? Contact Travis 472
. By the numbers...
with Dave Bower Campus Program Director for the
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Nebraska
Wednesday. Fab 3, 8^30 pm in the Sefleck Continental
Dining Room. Learn how to drink responsibly and still
h*v* •0,»fChi-Chi's will begin serving free
mocktails at 8.00 pm. For more info, call Dave, 436 0779,
Spokeswoman lor China** Democracy Movement
Choi Ling: win be speaking in the Bali Room. Nebraska
Unon at 730pm Friday, February 5. Froo tor UNL stu
dents wnh ID. $4 at the door non-students Call 472-1780
or stop in 117 Nebraska Unon for information.
115 Meetings
Biology Club
Meeting Thursday. February 4 at 730pm in Ftoom 118
Manter. Dr. Lynch win be the specter Refreshments
provided
MARKETING CLUB
Thursday Feb 4 at 6-7:00pm (Guaranteed!) m the City
Union New Members/All Majors Welcome1
Phi Beta Lambda
Com* |oin the excitementl Business meeting Thursday
6pm m Umon. Casual attire
Rodeo Team
Exec/team meeting Benefit dance posters. Wednesday
7 p.m„ East Campus Union.
Student Foundation
We arc having a meeting SERIOUSLYI! Com* exerted tor
a new semester This Thursday at 5pm in the Union.
TCAB
Reminder of our meeting tomorrow. 5:30pm in Mabel See
you therell Remember elections are coming upl
WHAT NEXT!?!
Find out all the tricks ot getting into
Med. School, Law School, or Graa School.
Three featured speakers at the next
GOLDEN KEY
General Chwxer Meeting
7:00 p.m. raid., Feb 3
ftoom 121 HAH
All members and non-members are encouraged to
attendl