The Goods, The Bad, The What the Hell is She Wearing!

Lil Wayne, Lady Gaga, System of a Down. These are three of the most popular musicians around and about in today’s music scene. But, along with the music comes the media and publicity scene. Who has the hottest latest trend? Who has the best outfits? These are questions that would never have been asked about back in the 1960’s. The plain laid back hippie lifestyle was the in thing. We all know that the use of marijuana played a major role in the culture, but to the public’s eyes, there wasn’t much diversity. Think of the popular names of the 60’s, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. All of these groups had an influence to drug use and dressed about the same.  Now days, you cannot find any musician wearing the same outfit to an awards show.

          The world of fashion in the sixties held an “anything goes attitude”. Colors began to flow throughout clothing, along with patterns. Looking at the UMBC students of the 60’s, not much was different from what is described. Very few were clean cut when it came to hair, and when it came to shirts and jeans, colorful button-ups and bell bottoms were worn. Jimi Hendrix played a major role in the color scheme of 60’s clothes. When performing on stage, Hendrix would wear a bright colored scarf around his forehead, then symbolizing the anything goes attitude. Music was provocative and told stories of the musician’s journeys through life.

          Since the 90’s, clothes have changed dramatically themselves. The button-up of the 60’s transformed into the flannel worn by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Pants went from being heavily baggy, which were worn mostly by gangster rappers like Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.  This was the era of the rebels, the grunge, and the notorious. Now days Rap has transformed its culture back to a conservative 1950’s look. While at the same time, certain artists are beginning to wear outrageous outfits that resemble the dada movement. These artists are role models to our youth, and will continue to influence fashion upon them till the end of time.

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Don't judge a book by its cover

Sitting on the old and dusty, seventy’s looking couch, I read over my best friend’s English paper in thought of what grade I had received on mine. Papers were received as names were called out from the obnoxious nasally voice of the teacher. After a short five minutes, I put my friends paper down in disbelief that my name had still not been called. As I approach her desk the only thought that can transpire is “I must be in trouble”. I pull the teacher aside to ask what had happened to my missing paper. She simply pulls out the paper and says “well I have this paper right here with no name on it, but it can’t possibly be yours”. 

I skim over the text reading the words that I had slaved over the last week writing. This was my paper, it was definitely my paper. My teacher says “You obviously didn’t turn in a paper, I know students like you. The jocks that take advantage of other students work. The ones who are lazy and care for nothing.” Sitting there in disbelief of what I had just heard, I blew up in the teachers face with profanity no one should use. But that day she crossed a line. To question a student’s knowledge strictly on appearance is absolutely unheard of. This just shows another perfect example of the old saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover”.

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Aim for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars

Growing up with older brothers was always a learning experience. With such a large age difference between them and I, it was hard to be a part of the games they played day in and day out.  Being left out in a game of football or basketball was not uncommon. They had an overall size advantage. But, when it came to baseball, they believed anyone, any size could play. Now I am here, at UMBC playing on the baseball team, leaving behind a list of accolades achieved throughout the past years. My brothers never played a minute on any college athletic team. I give them the credit for my success in sports.  Ever since I was little my oldest and if you must say “wisest” brother would always tell me, “set your goals high, so that you’ll never set yourself up for regret”.  Now I am competing at the division 1 level and my goals have been set even higher. Some people doubt that I will ever play professional baseball, I believe those assumptions are only fuel for my fire and help me strive to get better day by day. One day, I will fail, and I will find my place in this world. But I will never live my life saying what if? The time has come to prove my conscious mind wrong. It is time to prove the others wrong.

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Who am I? You tell me

Hello, My name is Tom Gilchrist. I am a Junior at UMBC and I play on the baseball team. I am currently majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on business and culinary arts. My passion is baseball. Its all I've done since I was around 3 years old. Around 8th grade i developed a passion for cooking, and ever since then I have wanted to open my own restaurant. I know it is a hit or miss type of industry, but I believe if your not living for a reason, then your not living. I am basically full Irish and I love it. The family environment that I share with the people around me really is one of a kind. I was born in Olney, MD. And I have lived the same house my whole life. The best part about that is having the ability to relive all the memories created there. In the future I plan to open my own restaurant with my best friend Steve down in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida. Who wouldn't want that life?