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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1998)
Satirist uses Internet to flash commentary Web alter ego pokes fun at world issues By Sarah Baker Senior Reporter He touts himself as “realer than Rush.” He sits in a cartoon studio high above a cartoon city equipped with flashing lights and billboards. And even though he lives in a car toon world, Flash Adair pokes fun at the real world every day. Using the Internet as his medium, Adair, a.k.a. Clay Naff, is attempting to take the world of satirical commentary by storm. Naff, news director at KZUM-FM (89.3) radio in Lincoln, created an electronic alter ego to share his politi cal views with the world. He said the Internet gives him the chance to dispense his ideas. “I have some views about American issues, and I wanted to express them,” Naff said. “I slowly, almost by chance, had the luck to come up with this alter ego character who expresses my views for me.” Naff describes his alter ego on the site as “an opinionated creature down to his roots.” Naff’s World Wide Web site, www.FLASHFAN.com, features eight topics, each of which, when clicked on, contains about five satirical arti cles surrounding that issue. Naff said he thinks people are interested in looking at his site for more reasons than just its interactive, animated quality. “I think the draw is that the subject matter can be fairly silly, but there is always an underlying issue,” he said. “The combination of what I hope is humor and real content will really attract an audience that decides to stay with it.” Naff said he writes the majority of the articles on the site himself, but is interested in outside contributions. “One of the things I want to include in the site is local talent, possi bly from UNL,” he said. Naff said he is going to begin searching for possible contributors Talent leaks from New York band By Jason Hardy Senior Reporter Cindy Wheeler doesn’t mind talk ing about her phobia of urinating in public restrooms. She says she’s just a bit bashful in the bathroom, that’s all. You know, a lit tle Pee Shy. Hopefully she’ll find the stalls of Nebraska a bit more welcoming when she plays with her band, Pee Shy, at Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St., Sunday. The band - which hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., via Tampa, Fla. — will play open ing act to Omaha band The Faint. Please see PEE SHY od 10 m iv iiar*- j. . .. ... . .. .. .. , ..c Scott McClurg/DN . CLAY NAFF, news director at local radio station KZUM-FM (89.3), poses with his altar age “Ftnh Adair" Niff pndron n iirn calHn political satire show, j as well as a satirical Web site, located at www.FLASHFAH.com. this summer. “I certainly hope to get some stu dents,” he said. “If they think they have a talent for satirical writing and are interested in issues that come up, I’m open to their contributions.” He said the response to the content of his site so far has been good. “I am just beginning to get some feedback,” he said. “Fve distributed a survey to some UNL students, and their responses were all positive for the most part. Fve also received some e-mails from people who appreciate the content. “It’s not scientific, but it’s encour aging.” Melissa Murphy, incoming presi dent of the University of Nebraska Lincoln Marketing Club, said Naff approached her about completing a survey about the site. “He came and spoke to our club, and some of the members filled out the surveys,” Murphy said. “I didn’t do one personally, but I thought it sounded really interesting.” The site consists of articles down the side of the screen, while the main area of the frame is dominated by advertising space that is for sale. Naff said die advertising is an inte gral part of the site. “The site is much like a typical magazine, about 70 percent advertis ing,” Naff said. “Eventually the ads will determine if the site survives.” Naff said he also is interested in u -- “Iam disturbed by the ‘12-year-old’ mentality in commercial media today.” Clay Naff KZUM-FM news director working with UNL students who want to market ad space. The site will eventually be fully interactive, including sound and ani mation, if NafFhas his way. “I am disturbed by the ‘12-year-old’ mentality in commercial media today,” Naff said “Most of it is pure fluff, and I don’t think people go for that” Naff said he wants one of his pri mary audiences to be college students. “People at a university are the ideal audience because they are informed but also have a sense of humor, where others may take offense,” he said. “My goal is to stop people from being captivated by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.” ‘-:-_ x-x-x-x-x-xv!_ _ . ■ .*■ • -v i - ■. Courtesy Photo PEE SKY, a four-piece baud from Brooklyn, K.Y., will bring its pop rock and fear of public lavatories to Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 0 St., Sunday night. The band’s lineup is (from left) Billy Orrico, Cindy Wheeler, Mary BuMera and Jenny Juristo. Bobcat (Joldthwait to bring stand-up act to Wesleyan From Staff Reports There’s going to be some rantin’ and ravin’ in Lincoln. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait will bring his trademark comedy style to Nebraska Wesleyan University tonight. Goldthwait, who takes on politi cal and social targets in his angry, comedic style, has been in a dozen movies and many other perfor mances. He made his television debut in 1982 on “Late Night With David Letterman.” Currently, Goldthwait is working on a new television show for the FX network called “Bobcat’s Big Ass Show.” ‘ v Goldthwait’s performance, spon sored by Nebraska Wesleyan’s Union Programs, will take place tonight at 9 in O’Donnell Auditorium in the Rogers Center for Fine Arts, 50th Street and Huntington Avenue. General admission tickets are $5 and can be purchased in the Courtesy Photo BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT will scream aai Bawl for a local amNeace whaa he performs at 0*BenaeII Aaditorinm, 50th Street aai UmHantn Iwnnaa twlnkt vwif iMjjiiHi hvonowi Nebraska Wesleyan Student Center Office, one block south of 53rd Street and Madison Avenue. For more information, call the ticket office at (402) 465-2412.
