>>Highs

Da return of da boombox It was only a matter of time before people decided once again that their fave music was too good to not share. And the JVC Kaboom ghetto blaster is too cheesy-cool to let pass.

Soccer hooligans It's only an upside until someone gets hurt. Then it's just great conversation.

Camping Well, you've been walking around in the right gear all year, you might as well give it a try.

Amon Tobin at Blizzarts Small. Fun. More. Please.

Rock Steady weekender Kool Herc! Grand Wizard Theodore! Rock Steady Crew's 21st anniversary in NYC on the weekend of the 24th. Cheap packages available. Call 278-2040.

>>Lows

Smashing Pumpkins' new goth look Only a matter of time before Bile-y Corgan took advantage of his uncanny resemblance to Uncle Fester. Predictable and pretentious. Surprise.

The Touch rave flyer A total rip-off of Benno Russel's 1996 Satellite 6 flyer. Completely stolen artwork. Completely uncredited. "Designed" by Cyber Generation (623-8193). Give 'em a call!

Water bottle holsters Hey, why not also hang your cigarette box off your shoulder?! And you can get a neat little purpose-made belt-pouch for your lighter! And a strap that goes across your chest which holds your Chapstick! And all that added to the cell-phone, beeper and Walkman clipped to your waistband will make you look like even more of an absolute asshole!

Techouse House producers! Now you too can say "I grew up listening to Kraftwerk" and further mask the fact that anything ever had to do with disco.

Newfangled clowns Even worse than mimes. We didn't think it possible.