The Clause Blogs

BRITTANY HERSH | STAFF WRITER

A hush falls over the crowd as a man with a large mustache, button down shirt and jeans gets ready to sing the National Anthem in an uncharacteristically operatic tone when from behind me I hear a distinct, familiar voice scream out:

“Hey Anaheim!” to which the entire arena responds, “You Suck!”

This is the type of culture I come from—hockey culture that is. On a typical Saturday night during hockey season, the San Jose Sharks play to a sellout crowd at the HP Pavilion.

Currently, it is playoff season and true to custom, men of all ages in the Bay Area are growing out their playoff beards in solidarity with the Sharks. In Los Angeles the Kings have made it to the playoffs as the sixth seat but looking around no one would know it.

This illustration is an example of the difference between Northern and Southern Californian hockey culture, an awareness I have cultivated over the time I have been going to college in Southern California.

Before understanding the inner workings of fan reactions, the stadium atmosphere must first be examined. In Anaheim, the Honda Center had reddish-brown marble floors with gold colored hand rails. The HP Pavilion has white marble floors with standard hand rails. The glamorous, over the top feel at the Honda Center does not feel like people are attending a sporting event.

At the Honda center scantily clad women sell Budweiser beer while at the Shark Tank fully clothed women and men sell Gordon Biersch beer behind a stand. While advertisers are doing their job selling to a mainly male audience, men are going to buy beer at sporting events anyways and women just get plain offended.

When it comes time to sweep up the excess ice around the goalie net between plays, women in black spandex come out, while in San Jose this job is done by older men in windbreaker outfits.

As a woman, these blatant displays of marketing to men are offensive and as a result, make me annoyed so that I am distracted from the game itself. The atmosphere at the Honda Center focuses on status and marketing rather than the hockey, which sets the stage for fan reactions.

Sharks fans are by far some of the rowdiest fans in hockey. The crowd is full of standard characters like the “You Suck” and “Move your feet” guys. Whether you are an avid follower or on a date with that special guy or girl, the spirit is contagious. Almost every person is showing off some form of Sharks swagger and the line at the store has a ten minute wait between periods.

Tension hangs in the air when the other team has a power play in the last few minutes of the game and a loud shout of approval and sigh of relieve resounds in unison when Nabby has an amazing save or the Sharks clear the puck from their zone.

The second a goal is scored a rousing cheer and high fives consume the crowd as the entire stadium is on their feet screaming “Hey!” to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2.” When the Sharks get a power play the crowd moves their arms up and down to the Jaws theme song with their fingers acting as the teeth.

After goalie Evgeni “Nabby” Nabokov makes an unbelievable save “Nabby” is chanted throughout the arena. Even the fans get rewarded because when the Sharks get “four in the net, pizza you get.” Roundtable pizza gives free personal pan pizzas to every fan with a ticket for up to a week. My entire family and I scour the floor and trash after the game for thrown out tickets, sadly, a trend which has recently caught on.

Around the Bay Area posters of Thornton and Nabokov are sold out in every sports store and license plates with the Sharks logo can be seen on many cars. Local businesses throughout the Bay Area have signs that read “This is Sharks Territory” in their windows. It is that small town support feeling in an area a hundred times bigger. People respect the Sharks and know who they are whether they watch hockey or not. Sharks fans are diehard and intense, something which cannot be said about Duck fans who come late and leave early.

There are no characters, no gigantic sighs of relief, no theme songs, no free food and no chanting. The atmosphere is so docile that it seems like no one is paying attention and the people watching are more worried about getting beer on their hundred dollar outfit than missing a  memorable moment. Sharks fans go to the tank for a purpose—to watch hockey, while Duck fans go to the pond for something to do.

In finishing I would like to let everyone who is reading this know that the Ducks did not make it to the playoffs this year and that the Kings only made the sixth seat while the Sharks are the best in the west with the number one seat. GO SHARKS!

ALICIA BORDER | STUDY ABROAD BLOGGER

The view from Mt. Nebo in Jordan looking toward Israel. This is where Moses stood at the end of his life looking into the Promised Land that he would never enter.

One month left in this land. That fact astounds me. The time that I have spent here has gone by entirely too fast, and the realization that these people aren’t going to be around next semester is beginning to set in. While that thought is true, this is not the reality that I would life to focus on. I have spent this semester in the Middle East. Before I left home, any time I told someone where I would be spending the next four months of my life they said, “wow, you’re much braver than I am,” or something to that extent. That truth has never been further from the truth. While yes, I am in the Middle East, there has been almost no threats of danger anywhere near me. There was the small riot things that happened a few weeks ago, but nothing huge. There was crazy tourists for Passover and Easter, but nothing crazy. But this week, the idea that we are currently residing in “terrorism land” became real.

Don’t worry yourselves yet, I’m not in danger. A bunch of my classmates and I had been planning a trip to Egypt: to Cairo and a beach town called Dahab. This trip had to be altered upon terrorist threats to capture Israeli tourists coming into Sinai. While Cairo isn’t in the Sinai, Dahab is. Our coordinators here at JUC have told us that we cannot go to Dahab, but directly to Cairo we should be fine. This means that most of us will not be going because out trip was only planned for two days to Cairo and the rest in Dahab. It is not often in America we find ourselves hindered by terrorist threats. Our plans remain unchanged and flexibility never seems to be needed. Being in the Middle East that is almost the exact opposite. The people here are on constant watch and are always ready to make changes to whatever they have going. Our comfort of security in America is something that we take so much for granted.

Though this reality somewhat hit me in the face today, yesterday came packed full of a sense of clarity through a picture that was able to give full expression to the thoughts I haven’t been able to express for quite some time. It was a beautiful thing. Yesterday was our last day on our last field study with Physical Settings of the Bible (our core class). We were at our last stop on Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have looked into the promised land that he would never enter. Dr. Wright, our director, began to talk about our futures and our lives beyond Israel, beyond JUC. While it was one of the hardest lectures to sit through because we all started to realize our time here is almost over (though we still have a month left), it was also, for me at least, one of them most eye opening. The view was terrific. We opened up Deuteronomy 34 where God shows Moses the land and we pointed to where all of the places he saw were. We have seen most of them. We know the land, we know where things are. For the Israelites, they would have to travel down from this place into a bit of wilderness again to cross the Jordan to get into more wilderness before the finally reach arable land. They would mutter the words, “you brought us out of Egypt for this?” But they didn’t know what was coming. They couldn’t see Jerusalem. And, from Mt. Nebo yesterday, neither could we, because it was hazy, as it almost always is. Dr. Wright compared this to our futures. We come out of Egypt and wander for years and then just when we think we are getting somewhere, we enter again into another type of wilderness, and all we see in the distance is haze. But as we go along, day by day, whatever is in the distance gets clearer as we get closer. But we have assurance, because we know where we’ve been, and we have a God who goes before us. It says this in Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

For so long I have felt confused as to what the crap is going on in my life, what I am going to do with my future or even the next semester. But for once, with that picture engrained in my head, I have peace. Shalom (שלום). I know that I have a God who goes before me. So even though all I see is haze, there is a promised land out there, and regardless God is with me, even through what seems like wilderness. There are clear days few and far between, and those will give light to what is out there so that there is hope in the haze.

So with a month left here in the Holy Land, I plan to enjoy my time in the clear and beautiful place in front of me, with the people I’ve grown to love, and ignore the imminent haze.

April 13 2010 9:37 P.M.

Zombie Infection Day 4

Infected: 212 Resistance: 194

It was today. Today was the day that the zombie horde outnumbered the resistance. I don’t remember exactly what time it was, but I’m pretty sure it was somewhere around 4 that the tide turned, how can we continue to go on like this? I feel that we are losing ground, losing our minds. I don’t even know how long, I can continue to survive. I shiver and grow cold at the thought of going on campus, when will the Calvary come save us? Although I think they are dead as well, I’m not even sure if Captain Cougar is still alive, I hope he is. If he is though, why hasn’t he come and saved us? He could capture all of the zombies and throw them into the sun, and then we wouldn’t have to deal with this infection any longer.

I pray that after tonight we will still have survivors and that we can continue to fight back against this tyranny. Long live the resistance!

Humans Vs. Zombies War Journal go to www.theclause.org/blogs

ALICIA BORDER | STUDY ABROAD BLOGGER

The procession down from the Mt. Of Olives into Jerusalem.

I never really thought much about Palm Sunday. I mean, I knew it existed and it seems like I learned about it every year in Sunday school as I grew up. But in all reality, I never really thought about what the big deal was, or how it really went down, and to be honest, I probably couldn’t have told you what exactly happened on Palm Sunday that made it Palm Sunday. So this year, being that I’m in Jerusalem during Holy Week I decided it was a good idea to probably check that situation out. So, in doing my homework, I read the account of Jesus making his way into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in all four Gospel accounts. Here is Mark’s account so you don’t have to go look it up:

¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” ⁴They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”⁶They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!“

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

¹⁰“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest!”

¹¹Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Sunday before this one we talked about the triumphal entry. The pastor brought up something that I had never thought about before. That donkey had never had anyone sit on him before. Have you ever tried to sit on an untamed, unbroken horse or donkey? Probably not the best of ideas, they normally go crazy (according to what I’ve been told). Yet this donkey, doesn’t seem to have this problem. The idea behind this alludes to the idea that Jesus has come to bring God’s order back to the world, not only in us, but in all of creation. It is through Jesus that God is going to bring our broken world back to His original intent. That’s a fantastic image that I have missed all of these years. Amazing.

With that image in mind I moved into Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is a strange day to me. We should be excited because God sent His son for us, and because of that we are free, and this is the day that the whole thing started. This is the day that Jesus marches into Jerusalem being declared as the Messiah. But, it is also a day that, from our point of view, looks forward to Jesus being hung on that cross to die, because we screw up. So needless to say I have slightly contradictory feelings. All of that aside, there was a procession from the top of the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on this Palm Sunday. I, along with several of my fellow classmates walked alongside thousands of fellow believers from all over the world. We were walking in front of a group from who knows where that were singing (in Spanish) and dancing to their hearts’ content. It was beautiful. To watch such sheer joy be expressed is such a cool thing. There’s something about knowing that Jesus walked that ridiculously steep mountain 2000 years ago that grips me on the inside. It is the guy that I have learned about all my life; but it was there that I began to really picture him in the flesh. Jesus was human. Like me. Jesus had legs, and probably wasn’t a fan of hills. (That’s an assumption…but you get the idea.) Jesus breathed. I wonder how many people walked with Jesus into Jerusalem, was it a crowd of thousands like the one I witnessed? How many coats and palm branches lined the road? What would Jesus have been thinking? He knew he had to die, I bet he was a bit freaked out; being human he must have been…right?

All of that makes me think about how the only reason he had to walk that downhill slope into the city where he would be brutally killed was because of the crap we’ve done, the crap I’ve done. That breaks my heart. Our relationship with Jesus is supposed to be a love relationship. How much would it kill us to have the one we love brutally tortured and killed because of the dumb things we’ve done? I bet we would be more motivated to quit doing dumb stuff if we knew that the one we loved would be killed for it. Its so hard to think that we can’t make that effort or just don’t care enough when its Jesus. How much more does He pursue and love us than another human? Yet we still don’t know if he’s worth it….even when he gave more than we would ever ask another human to give. But he was human…and he did give that for us. I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind.

So this Palm Sunday, while I celebrated that God sent Jesus to die for me because I know the end result of resurrection and redemption, I also mourned for the fact that I personally did things (and will continue to do things) that caused the one who loves me eternally more than anything else so much pain and in the end caused him to have to die because he loves me that much. I am grateful for a day like Palm Sunday that cause so much joy and such a reality check (painful and sad though it is) all at once, because our God loves us eternally. Our God is the King of Kings and the Savior of the World. Praise God.

Meagan Clements | Guest Writer

Tyler Hilton sings at a local concert

Get ready to sink your ears in some solid new songs! With an EP out April 20, an LP to follow and a sweltering tour with Spill Canvas, charismatic recording artist Tyler Hilton of Warner Brothers Records brings a tasty blend of tunes ranging from country/folk to Americana pop.

“[For the EP], I picked songs that were a little more love-story driven—that’s why I named it ‘Ladies and Gentlemen,’” Hilton said. “They were also the first songs that I wanted people to hear off the LP.”

For Hilton, “The Storms We Share” (follow-up LP to 2004’s “The Track of”) was about finding the right balance—satisfying himself, the fans and the major label.

“I was tying to find that balance between writing pop/rock tunes, singer/songwriter folky tunes and country tunes and also make the record exciting and not some kind of sleepy record,” Hilton said. “It was definitely by far one of the hardest things I’ve had to put together.”

If left up to Hilton, he’d release a record with as many as 25 tracks on it.

“I kept thinking that my own personal feelings about the songs were sometimes getting in the way of what would be the best for the record,” Hilton said.

Customary of most major labels, the bar was set high for Hilton.

“Sometimes you can overpressure somebody and squeezing something out of them ends up sounding not genuine,” Hilton said. ”On the flipside of that, you can end up pushing someone past where they want to be pushed and end up coming up with some of the best music you’ve ever made, which is what in a lot of cases, happened with me.”

From up-tempo yet intimate scores to radio-friendly riffs, Hilton’s passion for playing exceeds just another “hit song.” Sketching the “sunset desert haze” with his signature throaty rasp, Hilton leaves listeners but one option—crank up that stereo and sing along.

“Tyler’s voice sells any song he sings on, and his voice is the thread that ties the album together,” indie artist Curtis Peoples said. “Whether it’s the more acoustic songs like ‘Say It Like A Lie,’ or more pop/rock songs like the song we wrote ‘So Young,’ you believe Tyler when he’s singing.”

While writing for the record, Hilton moved to Nashville, setting clubs alight with his novel compositions and immersing himself in songwriting sessions with Grammy-award-winning country trio Lady Antebellum.  Rachel Yamagata, Colbie Caillat and Taylor swift were among other artists Hilton befriended.

Hilton, who grew up performing country, folk and blues music, agreed that living in Nashville accentuated the “country” in a few of his scores. Still, he was apprehensive to let genre define his new record.

“I just wanted to write songs that I dug and produce them in the best way I could,” Hilton said.

However, writing for the record proved tougher than Hilton could ever have imagined.

“I started realizing that putting together a group of songs for a record was different than putting together a group of songs for a setlist,” Hilton said.

It wasn’t long before frustration set in.

“I’d put together a favorite group of my songs and they wouldn’t sound good together—they would sound disjointed,” Hilton said. ”I couldn’t figure it out—I didn’t know if it was the production that wasn’t working so I kept having to change producers, change studios and change cities.”

While Hilton may have endured hardships in writing and recording for “The Storms We Share,” the album (as its title alludes) spotlights several tracks of encouragement, among them “Keep On” and “This World Will Turn” (both which appear on Hilton’s EP).

“Hilton’s lyrical depth seems to reflect his personal struggle, growth and subsequent maturity over the past few years,” longtime listener Pat Wehner said. His musical intensity has a bite which pulls you in…you feel as though you’re traveling that road with him.”

A vulnerable yet honest performer, Hilton molds thought-provoking lyrics (“the beauty in the window/the princess of the shadows”), picturesque imagery (“I’ve never seen the sky as vanilla as tonight”) and edgy yet endearing moments sure to tickle your emotions whether cruising in the car or listening live.

Hilton’s laid-back looks and witty sense of humor aren’t all adorning teens and twenty-somethings are attracted to.

Spinning his scores since 2002, Katie Williamson was moved by themes of love and encouragement dominating Hilton’s latest releases.

“I think any songwriter is affected by what’s going on around them and Tyler’s records all show influences from his life’s story,” Williamson said. “I think it’s inspiring and it’s cool—from where I’m sitting anyway, being a fan for all these years, to see that gradual change and to see everything fall into place for him.”

Stephanie Stephens, another longtime listener, agreed.

“Overall I enjoy Tyler’s music because you can hear and feel the passion he pours into every song,” Stephens said. “Musicians share their emotions through song and Tyler does so flawlessly.”

Hilton agrees it’s best not to look at the past or to the future, but rather live in the present.

“It’s humbling to think that this business can change in a dime,” Hilton said. “You can try to guess where it’s going but you can’t and so you’re safest bet is just to make something that’s good and that you dig.”

From an ounce of vocal grit enough to sustain energy throughout tracks like “Sixteenth Summer” and “Sunset Blvd” to the sound of his contagious laughter sweeping across center stage, Hilton is one artist worth the investment.

“Tyler’s new songs have more of a depth and a richness in the production,” Peoples said. “The highs are higher and the lows are lower. Songs like ‘I Believe In You’ and ‘This World Will Turn’ are big emotions, but they’re still really catchy tunes.”

Whether redefining simple elegance or raising the bar with undeniably catchy hooks sure to garner accolades from an all-ages audience, Hilton puts “memorable” back in music, leaving listeners a reason to lend an ear.

Music theory professor Joel Clifft caught sight of a YouTube video entitled “Girl Who Got Away,” premiering one of Hilton’s unreleased tracks.

“The simplicity of the chords and melody are an effective vehicle to deliver some beautiful poetry,” Clifft said.

Whether you enjoy soaking up the sun or meditating with the music, Hilton’s upcoming releases will tug at your heart and gnaw at your soul. A bountiful brew of fearless folk/rock, jubilant soul-pop and galvanizing musical licks, Hilton’s releases emote more than just colorful textures and canny flavors.

From swank rhythms to the daring fusion of energy and intimacy all in one line, Hilton ventures into musical territory, few singer-songwriters have gone before. Braving the adversities often faced by industry artists, Hilton has “survived the storms” and has the songs to show for it.

“I think in the time it’s taken to make this record (you know a lot of people would have made several records), I feel the growth,” Hilton said. “I think I have become more susceptible to other people’s ideas in a good way and become more secure in who I am as an artist.”

For tour dates or information on purchasing Hilton’s music, visit: http://www.tylerhilton.com or check out his MySpace music page. Registered users of Hilton’s website receive a free download of “Keep On,” hailing from his April EP, “Ladies and Gentlemen” and summer LP “The Storms We Share.”

April 12 2010 1:41 P.M.

Zombie Infection Day 4

Infected: 140 Resistance: 271

It has been chaotic these last few days.  When the zombie infection first started I wasn’t too worried to make my way onto campus. Especially since I didn’t need to be on campus for too long on Friday, then came the weekend and that was fine, University Village was pretty clean and I didn’t have to go to campus.

That was then.

Now, my heart pounds every time I leave the safe cover of a classroom. I sit in class literally shaking with adrenaline coursing through my veins. I can barely eat I’m so nervous. It was one thing to make it to class, that’s easy; odds are that there is a time where the building will be clear. The worst was chapel today, the entire walk from my classroom up to the building I jumped at every noise and peered around every corner socks at the ready.  After making it safely to chapel , I sat in nervous anticipation, and then quickly exited chapel and survived. I live to see another day.

For more Humans Vs. Zombies War Journal go to www.theclause.org/blogs