Rainbow Rock
"Good music is good music," says Chicago singer/songwriter Dylan Rice. "If the music is good, no one really cares what your sexual orientation is at the end of the day." Rice is part of "Revolutions," the first compilation release from Music with a Twist/Columbia Records. His song "The Lie," which he is currently shooting a video for, is featured among ten other emerging national and international LGBT artists across various genres. "I’m very excited and humbled and honored and all of that mixed together…it’s exciting that Sony is basically backing and promoting this music not only to the LGBT market but also to the mainstream market." Rice, who performed at the closing ceremony of the Gay Games last year, feels that there shouldn’t be "straight music versus gay music." "There’s been this invisibility for gay artists and it used to be that your gayness is a strike against you and you had to downplay that," says Rice. "Music with a Twist is saying your gayness is a fact and you don't need to hind behind that anymore."

Puzzle Passion
"Anyone can solve the Rubik's Cube," says Tyson Mao, champion. But in order to qualify for the grand prize at this weekend's U.S. Open 2007 Rubik's Cube Championship, competitors must not only solve the puzzle, they have to do it in under twenty-four seconds. Mao is still optimistic. "…the simple fact is people believe the Rubik's Cube is difficult when it is not. They simply haven't spent any time looking into it. People beat themselves before the cube beats them." Apparently that's the approach Mao took when he taught Will Smith to solve the puzzle for "The Pursuit of Happyness." "He was genuinely interested in the Rubik's Cube, and a fantastic and eager student. He's a very smart guy. I would invite him to my birthday party." It doesn't look like Smith will be showing up for the tournament, but others from around the country are gathering at the Chicago Cultural Center this weekend to win a chance to compete at the world championship in Budapest. Events include the main speed-solve, a one-handed speed solve and a blindfold solve. So what is it like to watch this thing, with colorful cubes spinning around, being solved in just seconds? "I'm not sure I can actually answer this question from the spectator's point of view, because I'm usually the one behind the desk running all of the competition's operations. I'd hope it was exciting and inspiring, and I'd like spectators to walk away knowing that with a bit of time and effort, anything is possible."

(2007-06-15)

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