Last week Andrea Talbott was "Spinning out Fire" on Loudon County’s hometown radio. The 21 year-old blond from Taylor Town, Virginia aired her first song to the public. "My mom dropped the song off to them," said Talbott. It was a surprise to me. She sent me a copy of what aired. I am just so excited." A year and a half ago, Talbott taught herself how to play on her father’s six-stringed Fender Guitar. "I have never had a music lesson in my life," said Talbott. "And I also learned the piano by myself when I was in third grade."

Talbott was always inspired by her father’s talent as a child. She grew up listening to him play his guitar at their beach house. "I remember sitting on the porch listening to my Dad play the guitar and then begging him to play more," she said. "I remember he told me that music was his weakness. He, along with Debbie Gibson, inspired me. I was inspired by her because she wrote her first song when she was 13." Talbott’s Dad, Charles, used to play guitar for a band in college, but admits that his daughter is far better than he ever was. "Andrea just has so much talent," he said. "She has gone farther in months than I ever did in years. She hears harmonies and things that I just don’t." As a child Talbott was pushed more towards the piano, but her desire was always with the guitar. "A guitar is just more portable than a piano," she chuckled.

Most of Talbott’s songs come from personal experiences. She will have a thought or experience and just write. It may be about boyfriends, friends, family or just a spiritual moment, but her songs are full of her life. "Spinning Out Fire" is about a moment she describes having with God. The lyrics detail messages that were helpful in her life at that time. Talbott’s room is full of poems that she treasures such as "Footprints," poetry by Jewel and her own works decorate her refrigerator and desk. Paintings of her art work fill her walls as well. Currently she has written 25 of her own songs, 17 of which she plans to release on a future CD. Talbott’s music is original; she does not learn anyone’s music, just her own.

"I figured out a song by Jewel once and that’s all I played for a month and a half," said Talbott. "It totally blocked any of my own ideas. I only thought about her stuff." Music fills the halls of North when Talbott practices. "It’s like having a mini-concert in your room," said roommate Melissa Garrett. "You begin to ask her to play certain songs over and over and over again." As many as 20 people at a time have stopped by to listen to Talbott sing. Though she is a elementary education and art major, her main goal is to release a CD by May 2001. "My CD’s called ‘Summer Forever’ and I can’t wait until it comes out," she said. The cover, a daisy with a blue background, is already designed and ready for a professional CD to fill it.

Shalom is hosting its annual Passover Seder Monday, April 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Shafer room. The event is held two days before the actual holiday begins. Passover has many meanings for Jewish people. As one sophomore, Jennifer Hechtkopf said, "As a Jewish person you believe you are set apart, and celebrating the holiday is a physical representation of that." Dr. Joyce Howell said that Passover is important to her because the Seder is a ritual by which you remember the history of the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. "The remembering of history is important so that you don’t repeat the oppression," she said. "It’s about history and remembering."

Passover lasts for eight days. According to Howell the holiday lasts for eight days, much like many other Jewish holidays, because there was only one temple in Jerusalem and people needed time to travel. She said this reminds her of "the days in which there was a real center for Jews," Jerusalem. In the ritual of the Seder the is line spoken: "This year we’re here; next year we hope to be in Jerusalem." A Seder, which literally means "order," is the major observance of the holiday that is held in the Jewish home on the first two nights. The Seder is a ritual meal that involves the reading of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt in a book called the Haggadah, which translates into "legend or telling."

The Jews had come to Egypt 400 years prior to their exodus to escape famine. They were enslaved by the Pharaoh because he thought they were a threat to his kingdom. To prevent the Jews from becoming allies with a foreign enemy, the Pharaoh ordered all first-born Jewish males to be drowned in the Nile river, and he forced every living Jew to be his slaves. Their lives were filled with bitterness and hardship, which is represented by the bitter herbs or maror on the Seder plate. It is believed that G-d saw the struggle of the Jews and sent his messenger, Moses, to lead them to freedom. Moses, although he was reluctant, asked the Pharaoh to "Let my people go!" When the Pharaoh refused, G-d struck him with ten plagues. G-d told Moses to prepare the Jews for the last plague, which meant that G-d and the Angel of Death were going to pass over every home and take the lives of every first-born Egyptian male. He asked the Jews to sacrifice a lamb and smear their doorposts with its blood. This would be a sign for G-d and the Angel of Death to "pass over" those homes.

When the Pharaoh had been defeated he ordered Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt. The Jews left so fast they were not able to let their baking rise, which is why Jews should remain "kosher for Passover" for the duration of the holiday. This means that Jews cannot eat anything with yeast in it or anything that rises. This is also represented by the matzoh, or unleavened bread on the Seder table. Hechtkopf said, "It doesn’t kill us for a week to sacrifice food we would normally eat." She added, "It’s a good thing for Jews to show that we can and still remember what our people went through." The observance of Passover is very difficult for many Jews, especially those who do not live near their family. Hechtkopf said, "I know I’m a minority, and as a resident student I know it is difficult to observe the holiday, but I do the best I can. Luckily, I live in town."

I have been practicing Judaism for three years now and Passover has some special meaning to me. As a person who was raised in a non-denominational home I had never learned the struggle of the Jews until I celebrated my first Jewish holiday, Passover, with a friend of mine. I was invited to sit down at his table and join him for his family’s Seder. Passover was my first lesson in the hardship of the Jewish people and I saw first hand the reason for the passion that all Jews have to keep their traditions and culture alive. Shalom invites everyone who wishes to learn more about Passover on Monday, April 17 for a non-kosher Passover Seder. The charge is $5 for students without a meal plan and $1 for those who do. Call Dr. Drees for reservations at 455-3402.

In the past year, oil prices have nearly tripled. Gas prices have soared from an average of less than $1.00 a gallon to $1.59 a gallon. These changes have taken place in the past year. Sophomore Melissa McGibbon said, "The rise of the gas prices are so extreme that they sometimes go up five cents from just the day before. I used to buy supreme but now I just get unleaded. I think this shows a sign of a potential recession." Some countries, like Norway, have increased the maximum limit of the production of barrels of oil so that the supply can keep up with the demand. With any luck, this will bring the prices of gas down. Those who drive gas-guzzlers, like SUVs, are affected the most by the rise in gas prices. Sophomore Mike Scarlott said, "I drive an ’87 Dodge Diplomat that gets 12 miles to the gallon. Because I drive so much, I have to fill my tank twice a week. That’s $50 a week just for gas."

It is unfortunate that the prices of gas are so high at this time of year with people traveling for Easter, Memorial Day, and summer vacations. However, the high prices in gas will not keep many people from traveling because the economy is doing so well. Finding a gas station with cheaper gas can be a difficult task. News stations, such as Channel 3, have what they call a "Pump Poll" in which viewers can call in and share information about the cheapest prices of gas around town.

Until the prices go down, drivers should carpool or combine their trips so they are not driving as many miles and using as much gas. In the past week we have seen some decline in the gas prices, but not enough to lessen the expense of driving. Sophomore, Jonathan Quinn takes a different approach to dealing with the high prices of gas. He said, "I personally think horses would be more economical."