Mary Roach begins the chapter by stating, “Homo sapiens is one of the few species on earth that care if they’re seen having sex.” Roach brings up this idea because she is at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Accompanied by primate researcher Kim Wallen, she is observing the mating rituals of rhesus monkeys. The subject is Page, a young female who is looking to mate. Although she is timid at first, determination leads her to seek the alpha male, Keystone. Page tries several tactics to capture Keystone’s attention and ultimately succeeds. Roach describes this interaction as hormones at play. This strong sexual desire seen in rhesus monkeys also occurs in humans.
Hormones can make us do crazy and sometimes unexplainable things. For women, there is a simple solution that will balance hormone levels. Birth control lowers a woman’s libido while taking the Pill; however, libido may remain low even when the Pill is no longer taken. In addition to hormones, sex pheromones are thought to affect how humans and animals act. These pheromones are scents that trigger responses within the brain. Some examples include: cucumber, Good ‘n’ Plenty candy, sweat, and urine. The reactions vary depending on the person, but studies suggest that pheromones do work. A combination of hormones and pheromones could lead to mating, but what makes great sex?
Throughout most of her book, Roach rarely mentions homosexuals. She must have realized this, and thus the fifteenth chapter was born. Masters and Johnson, who were regular references in Bonk, make one final appearance. Their lab studies show that the best sex occurs between gay and lesbian couples. Masters attributes this to a phenomenon known as “gender empathy.” This secret to great sex happens when people take their time in foreplay. Teasing one’s partner to a great extent before sex has the capability of turning both people on. Homosexuals excel at this. Roach simplifies gender empathy into a single statement: “Doing unto your partner as you would do unto yourself only works when you’re gay.” The topic of homosexuality deserves its own chapter and not a few brief pages at the end of the book. However, this last minute information shows how thorough Roach is in her research and how dedicated she is to the topic of sex.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Chapters 12-13 Quizzer
1. Name the five drugs that women can take to relieve arousal problems. Why are they prescribed?
Viagra is prescribed to women even though it has only been approved for men. Doctors prescribe it to women because there are few options. Another drug offered to women is Ritalin. This works by helping the woman stay focused on sex. Marijuana could also be an option for women. This illegal drug has been known to enrich the sexual experience. However, there are no studies to support this. Bremelanotide (“the Barbie drug”) started as a sunless tanning agent, but it was discovered that the drug also increased sex drive. Perhaps the most promising drug is flibanserin. It is an antidepressant that increases libido and is currently being evaluated by the FDA.
2. When watching pornography, what are the biggest differences between how men and women respond?
Men are choosier when it comes to porn. They only become aroused by images of their sexual orientation and interests. Women, however, respond to all sorts of porn. They are physically aroused by males, females, gay couples, strait couples, and sometimes animals. The only gay image that seems to arouse strait men is the sight of two women having sex.
3. Why would Egypt be a difficult place for Ahmed Shafik to conduct sexual research?
In Egypt, the topic of sex and science hardly ever mix. Ahmed Shafik has managed to become a successful anomaly. Without access to cadavers, Shafik uses prostitutes instead. He has brought in technology for his studies that Egypt otherwise would not have. The culture is so sheepish about sex that even the word “sex” is scandalous to say on television. Nevertheless, Shafik has been able to excel in his sexual studies operated out of Cairo, Egypt.
4. Masters and Johnson discovered “spectatoring.” Describe what this is and how it affects people.
Spectatoring is when an individual observes and critiques oneself during sex. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, spectators tend to dwell on how they look or how they are performing. Women who do this tend to have less consistent orgasms and will commonly fake them.
Viagra is prescribed to women even though it has only been approved for men. Doctors prescribe it to women because there are few options. Another drug offered to women is Ritalin. This works by helping the woman stay focused on sex. Marijuana could also be an option for women. This illegal drug has been known to enrich the sexual experience. However, there are no studies to support this. Bremelanotide (“the Barbie drug”) started as a sunless tanning agent, but it was discovered that the drug also increased sex drive. Perhaps the most promising drug is flibanserin. It is an antidepressant that increases libido and is currently being evaluated by the FDA.
2. When watching pornography, what are the biggest differences between how men and women respond?
Men are choosier when it comes to porn. They only become aroused by images of their sexual orientation and interests. Women, however, respond to all sorts of porn. They are physically aroused by males, females, gay couples, strait couples, and sometimes animals. The only gay image that seems to arouse strait men is the sight of two women having sex.
3. Why would Egypt be a difficult place for Ahmed Shafik to conduct sexual research?
In Egypt, the topic of sex and science hardly ever mix. Ahmed Shafik has managed to become a successful anomaly. Without access to cadavers, Shafik uses prostitutes instead. He has brought in technology for his studies that Egypt otherwise would not have. The culture is so sheepish about sex that even the word “sex” is scandalous to say on television. Nevertheless, Shafik has been able to excel in his sexual studies operated out of Cairo, Egypt.
4. Masters and Johnson discovered “spectatoring.” Describe what this is and how it affects people.
Spectatoring is when an individual observes and critiques oneself during sex. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, spectators tend to dwell on how they look or how they are performing. Women who do this tend to have less consistent orgasms and will commonly fake them.
Chapters 10-11 Graphical Organizer Description
There are many ways people achieve orgasm. People with spinal cord injuries are still able to feel an orgasm despite their nervous system damage. Studies have shown that autonomic nerves are responsible for sensations and remain intact even when nerve damage is present. In the absence of sexual intercourse, many individuals resort to masturbation. Sex toys such as artificial vaginas and vibrators are common masturbatory instruments. People have also found other ways of achieving orgasm. There are women who can think themselves to orgasm and individuals who orgasm simply by pulling their own body weight up a rope (as in gym class). Orgasm is an important part of life. People have found many ways of obtaining an orgasm. Even the human body has developed its own ways of keeping this bodily pleasure working.
Chapters 8-9 Vocabulary
1. Saline: (noun) a salty solution (pg. 178)
2. Caftan: (noun) a long garment having long sleeves and tied at the waist by a girdle, worn under a coat in the Middle East (pg. 180)
3. Collagen: (noun) The fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue (pg. 184)
4. Errant: (adj) Wandering outside the established limits (pg. 186)
5. Eunuch: (noun) A man or boy whose testes are nonfunctioning or have been removed (pg. 187)
6. Incontinence: (noun) involuntary urination or defecation (pg. 188)
7. Voyeuristic: (adj) deriving sexual gratification from observing the naked bodies or sexual acts of others, especially from a secret vantage point (pg. 194)
8. Umbrage: (noun) Offense; resentment (pg. 197)
9. Priapism: (noun) continuous, usually nonsexual erection of the penis (pg. 199)
10. Vestigial: (adj) Relating to a body part that has become small and lost its use because of evolutionary change (pg. 199)
2. Caftan: (noun) a long garment having long sleeves and tied at the waist by a girdle, worn under a coat in the Middle East (pg. 180)
3. Collagen: (noun) The fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue (pg. 184)
4. Errant: (adj) Wandering outside the established limits (pg. 186)
5. Eunuch: (noun) A man or boy whose testes are nonfunctioning or have been removed (pg. 187)
6. Incontinence: (noun) involuntary urination or defecation (pg. 188)
7. Voyeuristic: (adj) deriving sexual gratification from observing the naked bodies or sexual acts of others, especially from a secret vantage point (pg. 194)
8. Umbrage: (noun) Offense; resentment (pg. 197)
9. Priapism: (noun) continuous, usually nonsexual erection of the penis (pg. 199)
10. Vestigial: (adj) Relating to a body part that has become small and lost its use because of evolutionary change (pg. 199)
Chapters 6-7 Summarizer
Chapter Six is all about impotence and various cures people have developed. A large portion of the chapter is devoted to the work of Dr. Geng-Long Hsu, a Taiwanese urological surgeon. When impotent men try Viagra will little success, they come to Dr. Hsu to receive a permanent solution. Hsu uses a rare technique that involves removing veins from the penis. The surgical procedure has worked on over 90 percent of men. Hsu takes great pride in his work. The reason this procedure works has to do with how penis functions. When a man is sexually aroused, arteries bring blood into the penis. After orgasm or an extended period of time, veins bring the blood out of the penis. When Hsu removes some of these veins, blood cannot exit the penis as quickly, and, as a result, the man can have an erection for a longer period of time. Besides scheduling a visit with Dr. Hsu, men have many more options to cure their impotence.
There are many ways to approach impotence. Surgeons can remove veins or install a malleable penile implant. An individual can use a cock-ring to restrict blood flow or purchase a vacuum pump. But perhaps the most popular cure for impotence was introduced by Pfizer in 1998. Since then, Viagra has become a household name. Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) could now find comfort in a simple little pill. The process is not as simple elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Zhuang Zhuang, a male panda, was given Viagra in 2002, and no results were observed. It is believed that male pandas suffer from extreme erectile dysfunction. Viagra can solve a man’s impotence, but is there a procedure that could cure senility?
According to Skevos Zervos and G. Frank Lydston, implanting younger testicular tissue into an older man can cure high blood pressure, senility, and arteriosclerosis. Some men even experienced an increase in “sexual power” and “vigorous and prolonged erections.” In China, men are told to ingest tiger penis with wine or brandy if they are suffering from performance issues. As a last resort of increasing confidence, a man can order a Neuticle, prosthetic testicles. Originally made for dogs, these fake testicles are implanted into the recipient by a plastic surgeon and come in various sizes. Men can now become as large as they want to.
There are many ways to approach impotence. Surgeons can remove veins or install a malleable penile implant. An individual can use a cock-ring to restrict blood flow or purchase a vacuum pump. But perhaps the most popular cure for impotence was introduced by Pfizer in 1998. Since then, Viagra has become a household name. Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) could now find comfort in a simple little pill. The process is not as simple elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Zhuang Zhuang, a male panda, was given Viagra in 2002, and no results were observed. It is believed that male pandas suffer from extreme erectile dysfunction. Viagra can solve a man’s impotence, but is there a procedure that could cure senility?
According to Skevos Zervos and G. Frank Lydston, implanting younger testicular tissue into an older man can cure high blood pressure, senility, and arteriosclerosis. Some men even experienced an increase in “sexual power” and “vigorous and prolonged erections.” In China, men are told to ingest tiger penis with wine or brandy if they are suffering from performance issues. As a last resort of increasing confidence, a man can order a Neuticle, prosthetic testicles. Originally made for dogs, these fake testicles are implanted into the recipient by a plastic surgeon and come in various sizes. Men can now become as large as they want to.
Chapters 4-5 Quizzer
1. It is no secret that sometimes farmers engage in sexual acts with their animals. Given the scenario of a male farmer and a female pig having intercourse, what would the sow experience differently with a man than she would with a male pig? What part of her experience would be similar?
The farmer and male pig have their own ways of engaging in sex. It takes longer for a pig to ejaculate (5 to 15 minutes) than it does for a man (1 to 5 minutes), and the pig’s ejaculate is about 70 times larger in volume than a man’s. A pig’s penis is curled (like its tail) while a man’s penis has only a slight curve. The biggest similarity between the two is their unusual habit of fondling breasts.
2. Do you believe that a female orgasm helps boost fertility rates? Why or why not?
I believe that there are some benefits orgasm has on fertility. Physician Joseph Beck conducted a study where he stimulated a highly sensitive female to the point of orgasm and watched the cervix at that very moment. Beck explains that the cervix made “five or six successive gasps.” The smooth muscle contractions and complexity of the female organ need further research. Humans were made to reproduce efficiently, and if orgasm does not help the chances of reproduction, why would it still be an occurrence within the body?
3. How has the human male’s anatomy evolved to deal with competition from other males?
The penis is designed to scoop out other men’s ejaculate from a woman’s vagina. In a study conducted by the State University of New York at Albany, it was found that 91 percent of competitor semen was scooped out of the vagina when a penis was inserted. A man’s ejaculate also contains spermicide, which is designed to kill other men’s sperm. Men are capable of waging chemical warfare in order to reproduce.
4. Do you think it would be easier to research sex in Leonardo Da Vinci’s time period or in the present? Why?
I think it would be easier to be a sex researcher in the present day. Sex research has always been an underground occurrence, but there is a larger underground society today. With sex toy shops and an increase in sexual education common today, sex research is not as far-fetched as it used to be. Also, studies in sex have come a long way since Da Vinci. Instead of cadavers, researchers now have willing volunteers to observe.
The farmer and male pig have their own ways of engaging in sex. It takes longer for a pig to ejaculate (5 to 15 minutes) than it does for a man (1 to 5 minutes), and the pig’s ejaculate is about 70 times larger in volume than a man’s. A pig’s penis is curled (like its tail) while a man’s penis has only a slight curve. The biggest similarity between the two is their unusual habit of fondling breasts.
2. Do you believe that a female orgasm helps boost fertility rates? Why or why not?
I believe that there are some benefits orgasm has on fertility. Physician Joseph Beck conducted a study where he stimulated a highly sensitive female to the point of orgasm and watched the cervix at that very moment. Beck explains that the cervix made “five or six successive gasps.” The smooth muscle contractions and complexity of the female organ need further research. Humans were made to reproduce efficiently, and if orgasm does not help the chances of reproduction, why would it still be an occurrence within the body?
3. How has the human male’s anatomy evolved to deal with competition from other males?
The penis is designed to scoop out other men’s ejaculate from a woman’s vagina. In a study conducted by the State University of New York at Albany, it was found that 91 percent of competitor semen was scooped out of the vagina when a penis was inserted. A man’s ejaculate also contains spermicide, which is designed to kill other men’s sperm. Men are capable of waging chemical warfare in order to reproduce.
4. Do you think it would be easier to research sex in Leonardo Da Vinci’s time period or in the present? Why?
I think it would be easier to be a sex researcher in the present day. Sex research has always been an underground occurrence, but there is a larger underground society today. With sex toy shops and an increase in sexual education common today, sex research is not as far-fetched as it used to be. Also, studies in sex have come a long way since Da Vinci. Instead of cadavers, researchers now have willing volunteers to observe.
Chapters 2-3 Graphical Organizer Description
Ever since Masters and Johnson first brought up the idea, researchers have been trying to determine whether the vaginal orgasm exists. As it turns out, the vaginal orgasm does exist, and there are many different views on how it occurs and what can help it occur quicker. Stimulating the “G-spot” in a woman’s vagina helps her reach orgasm sooner. Also, if a woman is an active “Kegeler,” she increases her chances of obtaining a vaginal orgasm. Unfortunately, some women are unable to have vaginal orgasm, due to their vaginal-clitoral gap. These secondary themes and supporting evidence show that vaginal orgasms do exist, and there are ways of making them easier to achieve.
Foreplay and Chapter 1 Vocabulary
1. Bigotry: (n) stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own. [pg. 12]
2. Serially: (adv) in a series, or regular order. [pg. 15]
3. Wanton: (adj) done maliciously or unjustifiably; uncalled-for. [pg. 16]
4. Vaginismus: (n) painful spasmodic contraction of the vagina. [pg. 17]
5. Amorous: (adj) Indicative of love or sexual desire. [pg. 22]
6. Demerit: (n) a mark made against one's record for a fault or for misconduct. [pg. 22]
7. Iconoclastic: (adj) characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions. [pg. 24]
8. Staid: (adj) characterized by dignity and propriety; serious. [pg. 29]
9. Idiosyncratic: (adj) peculiar temper or disposition; belonging to one's peculiar and individual character. [pg. 33]
10. Sadomasochistic: (adj) relating to the deriving of pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting or submitting to physical or emotional abuse. [pg. 39]
2. Serially: (adv) in a series, or regular order. [pg. 15]
3. Wanton: (adj) done maliciously or unjustifiably; uncalled-for. [pg. 16]
4. Vaginismus: (n) painful spasmodic contraction of the vagina. [pg. 17]
5. Amorous: (adj) Indicative of love or sexual desire. [pg. 22]
6. Demerit: (n) a mark made against one's record for a fault or for misconduct. [pg. 22]
7. Iconoclastic: (adj) characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions. [pg. 24]
8. Staid: (adj) characterized by dignity and propriety; serious. [pg. 29]
9. Idiosyncratic: (adj) peculiar temper or disposition; belonging to one's peculiar and individual character. [pg. 33]
10. Sadomasochistic: (adj) relating to the deriving of pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting or submitting to physical or emotional abuse. [pg. 39]
Monday, April 6, 2009
What Happens When You Watch "Alone?" Alone?
“For every grain of sand on our entire planet, there are a million stars out there in space…and where there are stars there may be planets, and where there are planets there may be life.” This statement by Sam Neill appears in the kL3z.com video Alone?. The creator of Alone? gives insight into the topic of celestial beings in a unique way. Alone? is a combination of videos, images, sound clips, and orchestral music that puts the viewer in a state of wonder. It begs the question: are we alone?
I chose to watch Alone? because it seemed less intrusive than the other videos on the website. Under each title is a brief explanation of what the video is about. Most of the videos give simple descriptions such as “Relaxation Video” and “Shocking Footage of Reality.” Alone? is one of the only videos described by a question. In this case the question is “Are We?” I feel as if this approach invites me to add my own input, whereas the other videos tell you what to think. For this reason, I paid more attention to Alone? than I did with Vicarious or Between Worlds.
Alone? had a calming effect on me as I watched it. Glistening images of space slowly drifted across the screen. These photos were occasionally interrupted by video clips. The first video grew progressively faster. Footage of animals in action blipped across the screen just long enough for me to grasp what I was watching. In the background was commentary from a peaceful voice that distinctly sounds as if it belongs to Liam Neeson. Then the video cuts to an image of the moon and fades out to reveal the gigantic Earth. There are many abstract photos of space that pan and zoom across the screen similar to a Ken Burns documentary. But while Ken Burns puts me to sleep in less than five minutes (a feat not easily achieved), Alone? puts me into a state of relaxation. There are very few spoken words. Occasionally a question or a related quotation from an American astrophysicist will pop up on screen. All of this was fine, and I get that these side notes add some depth to the piece, but these written words did little for the effect. The aspect that had the biggest influence on me was the music.
Meditation often involves some variation of auditory response. The person needs to focus on the repetition of a phrase or sound to help calm his/her thoughts. Negative stimuli are eliminated and the mind is cleared. Once relaxed, the individual then enters an altered state of mind that is said to have healing capabilities. Alone? was a form of meditation for me to some extent. There were no harsh images or sounds, which was a nice change from some of the other videos on the website. Orchestral music played over most of the piece. It was fanciful and robust at the same time. My favorite portion is when the string instruments add their style to the melody. The song sounds as if it belongs to a movie or something greater than a short online video about space. Without the song to guide the piece, I would have grown bored within the first few minutes. It drew me in and kept me focused on the glorious images that flashed across my computer screen. As I watched the video, my mind forgot about every non-celestial thought, which could be considered meditation. The music, the images, the text, and the videos combine in less than seven minutes to create this desired effect. Hats off to the creator.
I chose to watch Alone? because it seemed less intrusive than the other videos on the website. Under each title is a brief explanation of what the video is about. Most of the videos give simple descriptions such as “Relaxation Video” and “Shocking Footage of Reality.” Alone? is one of the only videos described by a question. In this case the question is “Are We?” I feel as if this approach invites me to add my own input, whereas the other videos tell you what to think. For this reason, I paid more attention to Alone? than I did with Vicarious or Between Worlds.
Alone? had a calming effect on me as I watched it. Glistening images of space slowly drifted across the screen. These photos were occasionally interrupted by video clips. The first video grew progressively faster. Footage of animals in action blipped across the screen just long enough for me to grasp what I was watching. In the background was commentary from a peaceful voice that distinctly sounds as if it belongs to Liam Neeson. Then the video cuts to an image of the moon and fades out to reveal the gigantic Earth. There are many abstract photos of space that pan and zoom across the screen similar to a Ken Burns documentary. But while Ken Burns puts me to sleep in less than five minutes (a feat not easily achieved), Alone? puts me into a state of relaxation. There are very few spoken words. Occasionally a question or a related quotation from an American astrophysicist will pop up on screen. All of this was fine, and I get that these side notes add some depth to the piece, but these written words did little for the effect. The aspect that had the biggest influence on me was the music.
Meditation often involves some variation of auditory response. The person needs to focus on the repetition of a phrase or sound to help calm his/her thoughts. Negative stimuli are eliminated and the mind is cleared. Once relaxed, the individual then enters an altered state of mind that is said to have healing capabilities. Alone? was a form of meditation for me to some extent. There were no harsh images or sounds, which was a nice change from some of the other videos on the website. Orchestral music played over most of the piece. It was fanciful and robust at the same time. My favorite portion is when the string instruments add their style to the melody. The song sounds as if it belongs to a movie or something greater than a short online video about space. Without the song to guide the piece, I would have grown bored within the first few minutes. It drew me in and kept me focused on the glorious images that flashed across my computer screen. As I watched the video, my mind forgot about every non-celestial thought, which could be considered meditation. The music, the images, the text, and the videos combine in less than seven minutes to create this desired effect. Hats off to the creator.
Friday, March 13, 2009
If You Will Delivers
Very few garage bands make it past the driveway. They are forever destined to play on a slab of concrete and perform for an audience of lawn mowers and bicycles. In 2006, three high school musicians from Mahtomedi, Minnesota decided that they were tired of playing the garage gig and set out to discover what happens when music meets the masses. Just three years later, the band has already achieved major milestones in the music industry and is perfecting the art of putting on a great show.
If You Will has already seen success in the Midwest. They have played at multiple venues which include: Club Three Degrees, The Enigma, Crosspoint Church, Living Word Christian Center, The Rock, The Cabooze, and The Varsity Theater. I was lucky enough to catch their most recent performance at Club Three Degrees in Minneapolis last Saturday night. There was a half hour wait to get into the club, as the bouncers desperately tried to fit as many people as they could into the venue. If You Will took the stage around 7:30. The club was packed, which undoubtedly put extra pressure on the band. Nevertheless, If You Will fed off of the audience’s energy and used it to fuel their own musical oomph. This ability comes natural to the trio, as each band member has an extensive background in musical performance.
Because I went to school with all three members of If You Will, I have seen their musical progression over the years. The band is comprised of three members: Seth Lienard, Stefan Swanson, and Aaron Rosell. If You Will formed in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Their performance at our high school’s Battle of the Bands won the crowd over and expanded their fan base almost instantly. They ended up taking first place. Aaron Rosell, the drummer and piano player, is the youngest member of the band and was also in my graduating class. I remember the middle school talent show where Aaron amazed the audience with his high tempo drum solo (this was no ordinary solo; it lasted around five minutes). Aaron’s other musical talent is playing the piano, which he has done at multiple school events. Seth Lienard is the bass player and one of the band’s vocalists. His unique bass riffs are a signature feature of If You Will and are the most recognizable notes in every song. Stefan Swanson, the band’s lead guitar player and other vocalist, is the oldest member of the band. He has been playing the guitar since he was in sixth grade, which calculates into about seven or eight years ago. He also has experience playing the bass guitar, piano, and drums; however, none of these instruments can contest his skill on the electric guitar. Stefan took time after If You Will’s performance at Club Three Degrees for a quick interview.
I only had a few questions for Stefan, and he was more than happy to answer them. Because If You Will has played at so many venues and with many other local bands, I wondered if Stefan had a favorite band he would like to open for. He quickly answered, “Red Hot Chili Peppers for sure, but I would never feel good enough!” As it turns out, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have had a major influence on If You Will. More specifically, John Frusciante, who plays guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has inspired Stefan’s guitar playing. Some of If You Will’s other influences are Incubus, Muse, and Coldplay. I asked Stefan what the best part of being in a band is, to which he replied, “The companionship of participating in something higher than myself with my brothers.” This response shows how close the band has grown over the years. The tight-knit relationship that If You Will has can also be detected in their music.
If You Will has an alternative style, but occasionally one of its songs such as “Run Away” will bust out in a fury of hard rock riffs. Tasty distorted guitar licks, compliments of Stefan, are a pleasant addition to all the songs; however, it is Seth’s memorable bass riffs that provide backbone to the music and keep the audience coming back for more. When Seth’s bass and Stefan’s guitar combine, it makes for an enjoyable performance. As the band’s front men, both Seth and Stefan are capable of winning over a crowd, and watching them compete with each other for attention is amusing. They also know when to work together. The song “Hate Your Hate” is an excellent example of their teamwork. After a heavy guitar intro by Stefan, Seth comes in for a catchy bass solo that sets up the rest of the song. The vocals begin to line up with the bass line in an eerie sort of way. Both the vocals and the bass have to be perfectly in sync at this time in the song; otherwise, the effect will not be achieved. Later on in the song, Stefan and Seth come back together for a shared solo. It is exactly what the audience needs. The two bring massive amounts of energy to the stage. Although Seth and Stefan are both extremely talented, they would be lost without their drummer.
As the youngest member of the group, Aaron probably has the most energy. He also has the most exhausting job in the band. Keeping up with Seth and Stefan is not an easy task. Luckily, Aaron is a wiz kid on the drums. As a testament to his talent, the song “Ragnarok” was created. Throughout the entire performance of this song, Aaron never lets up. He becomes a whirlwind of thumping and thrashing. The look of Aaron’s drum show is something similar to the Energizer Bunny on steroids; it keeps going and going, and then it goes some more. Yet Aaron looks at ease when he is playing. It is as if he could handle way more than the band is giving him, but alternative bands do not usually have overly explosive drummers. Watching If You Will play at Club Three Degrees made me realize how far Aaron has come since his middle school talent show routine.
After only three years, If You Will has secured its place in the music scene. “Flight Plan,” the band’s first album, was released in 2007 and has eleven tracks. For being a first album, “Flight Plan” is daring. The style is not conventional but still has enough of a rock attitude to become widely popular. Then, in the beginning of 2008, If You Will released their first single. “Ragnarok” is a hard rock track with all the amenities. It is so intricate that at times it is hard to believe there are only three band members. The band’s next piece, “Above the Earth,” will likely be out in the summer of 2009. All of If You Will’s songs can be purchased on iTunes.
It is hard to say what will happen to these three friends from Mahtomedi. They have mastered small venues across the Twin Cities but are still a long way off from obtaining nationwide popularity. If You Will is definitely on the right path. Maybe all the band needs is a few more albums or perhaps a music video to launch them into the media spotlight. They are so talented that the possibilities are limitless. If You Will is certainly worth keeping an eye on in the upcoming years.
If You Will has already seen success in the Midwest. They have played at multiple venues which include: Club Three Degrees, The Enigma, Crosspoint Church, Living Word Christian Center, The Rock, The Cabooze, and The Varsity Theater. I was lucky enough to catch their most recent performance at Club Three Degrees in Minneapolis last Saturday night. There was a half hour wait to get into the club, as the bouncers desperately tried to fit as many people as they could into the venue. If You Will took the stage around 7:30. The club was packed, which undoubtedly put extra pressure on the band. Nevertheless, If You Will fed off of the audience’s energy and used it to fuel their own musical oomph. This ability comes natural to the trio, as each band member has an extensive background in musical performance.
Because I went to school with all three members of If You Will, I have seen their musical progression over the years. The band is comprised of three members: Seth Lienard, Stefan Swanson, and Aaron Rosell. If You Will formed in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Their performance at our high school’s Battle of the Bands won the crowd over and expanded their fan base almost instantly. They ended up taking first place. Aaron Rosell, the drummer and piano player, is the youngest member of the band and was also in my graduating class. I remember the middle school talent show where Aaron amazed the audience with his high tempo drum solo (this was no ordinary solo; it lasted around five minutes). Aaron’s other musical talent is playing the piano, which he has done at multiple school events. Seth Lienard is the bass player and one of the band’s vocalists. His unique bass riffs are a signature feature of If You Will and are the most recognizable notes in every song. Stefan Swanson, the band’s lead guitar player and other vocalist, is the oldest member of the band. He has been playing the guitar since he was in sixth grade, which calculates into about seven or eight years ago. He also has experience playing the bass guitar, piano, and drums; however, none of these instruments can contest his skill on the electric guitar. Stefan took time after If You Will’s performance at Club Three Degrees for a quick interview.
I only had a few questions for Stefan, and he was more than happy to answer them. Because If You Will has played at so many venues and with many other local bands, I wondered if Stefan had a favorite band he would like to open for. He quickly answered, “Red Hot Chili Peppers for sure, but I would never feel good enough!” As it turns out, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have had a major influence on If You Will. More specifically, John Frusciante, who plays guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has inspired Stefan’s guitar playing. Some of If You Will’s other influences are Incubus, Muse, and Coldplay. I asked Stefan what the best part of being in a band is, to which he replied, “The companionship of participating in something higher than myself with my brothers.” This response shows how close the band has grown over the years. The tight-knit relationship that If You Will has can also be detected in their music.
If You Will has an alternative style, but occasionally one of its songs such as “Run Away” will bust out in a fury of hard rock riffs. Tasty distorted guitar licks, compliments of Stefan, are a pleasant addition to all the songs; however, it is Seth’s memorable bass riffs that provide backbone to the music and keep the audience coming back for more. When Seth’s bass and Stefan’s guitar combine, it makes for an enjoyable performance. As the band’s front men, both Seth and Stefan are capable of winning over a crowd, and watching them compete with each other for attention is amusing. They also know when to work together. The song “Hate Your Hate” is an excellent example of their teamwork. After a heavy guitar intro by Stefan, Seth comes in for a catchy bass solo that sets up the rest of the song. The vocals begin to line up with the bass line in an eerie sort of way. Both the vocals and the bass have to be perfectly in sync at this time in the song; otherwise, the effect will not be achieved. Later on in the song, Stefan and Seth come back together for a shared solo. It is exactly what the audience needs. The two bring massive amounts of energy to the stage. Although Seth and Stefan are both extremely talented, they would be lost without their drummer.
As the youngest member of the group, Aaron probably has the most energy. He also has the most exhausting job in the band. Keeping up with Seth and Stefan is not an easy task. Luckily, Aaron is a wiz kid on the drums. As a testament to his talent, the song “Ragnarok” was created. Throughout the entire performance of this song, Aaron never lets up. He becomes a whirlwind of thumping and thrashing. The look of Aaron’s drum show is something similar to the Energizer Bunny on steroids; it keeps going and going, and then it goes some more. Yet Aaron looks at ease when he is playing. It is as if he could handle way more than the band is giving him, but alternative bands do not usually have overly explosive drummers. Watching If You Will play at Club Three Degrees made me realize how far Aaron has come since his middle school talent show routine.
After only three years, If You Will has secured its place in the music scene. “Flight Plan,” the band’s first album, was released in 2007 and has eleven tracks. For being a first album, “Flight Plan” is daring. The style is not conventional but still has enough of a rock attitude to become widely popular. Then, in the beginning of 2008, If You Will released their first single. “Ragnarok” is a hard rock track with all the amenities. It is so intricate that at times it is hard to believe there are only three band members. The band’s next piece, “Above the Earth,” will likely be out in the summer of 2009. All of If You Will’s songs can be purchased on iTunes.
It is hard to say what will happen to these three friends from Mahtomedi. They have mastered small venues across the Twin Cities but are still a long way off from obtaining nationwide popularity. If You Will is definitely on the right path. Maybe all the band needs is a few more albums or perhaps a music video to launch them into the media spotlight. They are so talented that the possibilities are limitless. If You Will is certainly worth keeping an eye on in the upcoming years.
Monday, March 9, 2009
UWEC field research study
1. The first student I spoke with, Jennifer, said that she prefers to study in her dorm room or in the Towers study lounge. She studies best when she rewrites her notes into a more condensed form. The second student I spoke with, Austin, also said he studies best in his dorm room. He studies best by sitting down and doing the work, either alone or with another person, and is not easily sidetracked. The third person I asked, Jake, had the same answer as the previous two. He studies best in his quiet dorm room, although sometimes he gets easily distracted and will turn on his Xbox 360 for a quick game of Halo. Samantha, the fourth person I interviewed, said that she studies best in other people’s rooms. She needs others to help her, and she learns the most when having fun. The last person I spoke with was Nate. He studies best in the basement of Murray Hall. His iPod helps him keep focused and helps him complete his homework much faster.
2. For this task, I decided to find an international student in Katherine Thomas hall to interview. My only problem was that I did not know anyone who lived there. I walked up to the second floor and paced up and down the hallway looking for any possible matches. Luckily for me, I was able to find a room that was housing two international students from Hong Kong. They were willing to take a break from their video games to answer a few questions. The first student said that school here in the United States is more casual than school in Hong Kong. American students can show up to class wearing whatever outfit they choose, whereas students in Hong Kong have stricter dress code guidelines. The second student said that homework was the biggest difference between the two school systems. Schools in Hong Kong gave out little to no homework, while American schools tend to focus more on busywork. The two students also agreed that students here at UWEC participate greatly in their classes; everyone is eager to answer questions. Students in Hong Kong sit through class without saying much of anything to the teacher or other students. The two students said that they cope with the lack of involvement in Hong Kong by bringing their video games to class, which is not unlike the text messaging that goes on in some American classrooms.
3. According to the UWEC’s grading policy, an “XF” is an unofficial withdrawal from any course and is computed as an F. If this mark shows up on someone’s transcript, it has a serious affect on the student’s GPA and raises suspicion as to why the student did not show up to class.
4. Dr. Benning, a Psychology professor, has been teaching at UWEC for decades and has seen a drastic change in students over the years. He believes that students now have more of an egocentric view than ever before. Students are detached from their schoolwork; they fail to connect. Benning believes the University is to blame as well. He says that education has become a business, and its job is the train students to make money. Scott Gaulke of the math department agrees with Benning. He says that over the years students have become fixated on life after college, when really they should be focusing on learning as much as they can right now. Gaulke stressed that the job you receive after college is important, but you can’t get to tomorrow without going through today.
5. UWEC has many sculptures around campus. One the most interesting sculptures is just outside of the HAAS fine arts center. A metal wheelbarrow is carrying a huge rock. Carved into the rock are names of cities. My first interpretation of the sculpture was a symbol of the massive amount of work college is. It would be very hard to move that rock by oneself, but the wheelbarrow makes it easier. The wheelbarrow represents college and the rock is a successful future. College helps students succeed. However, this interpretation goes up in flames when one considers the names carved into the rock. Maybe the locations represent places your future will take you. The message is comforting to think about, which is maybe why the artist put the piece on campus. I could not find a title anywhere on the piece, but I will check back when the snow melts.
6. Volume One is a media magazine at UWEC. It tells of local movies, music, and other media events. For example, there is a guest flutist, Jessica Dunnavant, playing at the Haas Fine Arts Center. The show starts at 5 pm tomorrow, and admission is free. There is also a show on Wednesday at the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center called Four Bitchin’ Babes. The event is a mixture of songcraft and therapy. It starts at 7:30 pm and costs $20-$30.
2. For this task, I decided to find an international student in Katherine Thomas hall to interview. My only problem was that I did not know anyone who lived there. I walked up to the second floor and paced up and down the hallway looking for any possible matches. Luckily for me, I was able to find a room that was housing two international students from Hong Kong. They were willing to take a break from their video games to answer a few questions. The first student said that school here in the United States is more casual than school in Hong Kong. American students can show up to class wearing whatever outfit they choose, whereas students in Hong Kong have stricter dress code guidelines. The second student said that homework was the biggest difference between the two school systems. Schools in Hong Kong gave out little to no homework, while American schools tend to focus more on busywork. The two students also agreed that students here at UWEC participate greatly in their classes; everyone is eager to answer questions. Students in Hong Kong sit through class without saying much of anything to the teacher or other students. The two students said that they cope with the lack of involvement in Hong Kong by bringing their video games to class, which is not unlike the text messaging that goes on in some American classrooms.
3. According to the UWEC’s grading policy, an “XF” is an unofficial withdrawal from any course and is computed as an F. If this mark shows up on someone’s transcript, it has a serious affect on the student’s GPA and raises suspicion as to why the student did not show up to class.
4. Dr. Benning, a Psychology professor, has been teaching at UWEC for decades and has seen a drastic change in students over the years. He believes that students now have more of an egocentric view than ever before. Students are detached from their schoolwork; they fail to connect. Benning believes the University is to blame as well. He says that education has become a business, and its job is the train students to make money. Scott Gaulke of the math department agrees with Benning. He says that over the years students have become fixated on life after college, when really they should be focusing on learning as much as they can right now. Gaulke stressed that the job you receive after college is important, but you can’t get to tomorrow without going through today.
5. UWEC has many sculptures around campus. One the most interesting sculptures is just outside of the HAAS fine arts center. A metal wheelbarrow is carrying a huge rock. Carved into the rock are names of cities. My first interpretation of the sculpture was a symbol of the massive amount of work college is. It would be very hard to move that rock by oneself, but the wheelbarrow makes it easier. The wheelbarrow represents college and the rock is a successful future. College helps students succeed. However, this interpretation goes up in flames when one considers the names carved into the rock. Maybe the locations represent places your future will take you. The message is comforting to think about, which is maybe why the artist put the piece on campus. I could not find a title anywhere on the piece, but I will check back when the snow melts. 6. Volume One is a media magazine at UWEC. It tells of local movies, music, and other media events. For example, there is a guest flutist, Jessica Dunnavant, playing at the Haas Fine Arts Center. The show starts at 5 pm tomorrow, and admission is free. There is also a show on Wednesday at the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center called Four Bitchin’ Babes. The event is a mixture of songcraft and therapy. It starts at 7:30 pm and costs $20-$30.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Shanghai Bistro Does Not Disappoint
Every college town has its share of restaurants. Amongst the many pizza joints and chain restaurants, Shanghai Bistro stands out with a unique take on Asian cuisine. Their extensive menu features dishes from all around Asia and boasts an impressive selection of sushi. Shanghai Bistro is the ideal place to take a break from homework and treat oneself to a satisfying meal.
An inviting entryway immediately transports guests to the Far East. Linen covered walls shimmer with a deep yellow glow accented by traditional Chinese decorations. The three-tier sushi bar, brightly lit and busy with activity, is easily spotted in the center of the restaurant. In the rear of the building sits the main dining room. Granite tabletops and rich red walls are a pleasant surprise. The abstract paintings are great conversation starters. One of the most peculiar paintings consists of a uterus, a hacksaw, sperm, and a giant fetus. Although the piece is very strange and takes a while to grasp, it makes for an interesting evening. Shanghai Bistro continues the bizarre theme into its menu but does a much better job explaining its food than it does explaining its choice of art.
The menu is simple. Each item is clearly described, and every ingredient in the dish is listed. Servers are more than happy to answer any questions and are very knowledgeable. Do not be afraid to ask about any unusual ingredients. The prices are also straightforward. Almost every entree is less than ten dollars, with the exception of the high end sushi. For the truly broke college students, Shanghai Bistro offers a half-price happy hour from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. every weekday. However, if you are unable to make it during the happy hour, there are numerous inexpensive appetizers to choose from as well.
Appetizers can be ordered for around three dollars. Egg rolls come filled with either vegetables or barbeque pork. Served with a side of bright red sweet and sour sauce, each egg roll is encased in a crispy dough exterior and packed with fresh, crunchy vegetables. The rolls are unexpectedly light and have just enough flavor to entice the taste buds for the food to come.
The main entrees consist of duck, chicken, beef, or shrimp served over a hefty portion of rice and vegetables. Shanghai Bistro prepares duck beautifully. The Schezchwan Duck is a slightly spicy dish. The duck itself is not greasy and is so tender that it falls apart on the fork. However, the duck and the Schezchwan sauce combine to form a sticky texture that is somewhat unpleasant. While the main entrees have generous amounts of food and are priced to fit, the sushi is less expensive and generally comes in sets of five.
Sushi virgins have nothing to fear, except for the Knock Out Roll. I ordered this dish despite the warning of its high level of heat. The server laughed to herself as she walked away with my order. I felt as if the entire restaurant had an inside joke, and I swear I could hear the laughs echo out from the kitchen. The Knock Out Roll was not as spicy as the menu had warned. Filled entirely with bright green wasabi and roasted chili peppers, the taste was worse than the heat. The flavor mimicked burnt rubber in the most evil way possible. It took me a good minute to finish one roll after I had convinced my body that this was indeed food. Wasabi should never be featured as the main ingredient in a dish. It is similar to putting a heaping scoop of spicy mustard on a plate and attaching a five dollar price tag. Luckily there are more enjoyable sushi varieties offered.
The California Roll and Tobiko Roe Roll are both delicious. An American take on sushi, the California Roll is always prepared with crab. Shanghai Bistro makes its California Rolls with white rice and chilled crab meat. The crab itself is delicate but too stringy, and the rice is barely enough to mask the texture. Less complicated than a California Roll, a Tobiko Roe Roll is exactly what its name suggests: flying fish eggs wrapped in seaweed. The eggs are an intense shade of neon red. Despite there being so many eggs, the flavor is very mild and only slightly fishy. To prevent a texture overload, I suggest eating the eggs in small bites of a few hundred instead of eating the entire roll at once. Because it is such an odd dish in the college culture, Tobiko Roe is actually fun to eat. College students can share this delicacy with their friends or save it all for themselves. For the more adventurous diners, there are exotic sushi types such as eel and sea urchin, but be sure to ask if the ingredients are available. They were out of sea urchin when I went.
Shanghai Bistro creates an exciting dining experience. Intriguing wall art, elegant amenities, fearless dishes, and comical servers all enhance the excellent food. The restaurant offers all of the classic Asian entrees but also adds some twists that even the most stubborn diner will find to their liking. Shanghai Bistro’s friendly atmosphere makes it a great place to stimulate the mind and the taste buds.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Letter to the Editor- Statewide Smoking Ban
For:
Roughly 50,000 nonsmoking Americans die every year from diseases caused by secondhand smoke according to the American Lung Association. These deaths can be prevented. While secondhand smoke occurs in many places, bars and restaurants are notorious for their integration of smokers into public areas. In the recent decade, there has been a surge of attention brought to the issue of smoking. As a result, smoking bans across the United States are being approved. The bars and restaurants complain that these new laws hurt revenue, but the smoking ban is one step toward a healthier America.
Smokers are affecting more than just themselves when they choose to smoke in public places. The National Smoking Control Program (NSCP) states that there are over 4,000 harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, of which 400 are poisonous and 50 are known carcinogens. When smokers exhale after taking a drag, the harmful chemicals are released into the air. According to the NSCP, about 90 percent of the smoke from every cigarette ends up in the air as environmental tobacco smoke. This smoke is potent and dangerous, especially in enclosed public places such as bars and restaurants.
Indoor dining establishments have always attracted the smoking crowd. Bars are a great place to meet with friends and possibly share a drink or two. Unfortunately, smokers take it upon themselves to ruin this atmosphere. They fill the air with toxic chemicals from their secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers in the area are forced to either breathe the harmful smoke or leave. Exposure to secondhand smoke has many negative health effects including lung cancer and heart disease, which may lead to death. Perhaps the most startling aspect of secondhand smoke related deaths is that they can all be prevented.
Restriction on smoking in public areas is essential for preventing harm to nonsmokers. Bars and restaurants are shared by smokers and nonsmokers alike; however, some smokers continue to smoke indoors, where their smoke is trapped and inhaled by nonsmokers. Smokers have always had the freedom to smoke outside, where their bad habit only affects themselves. Businesses need to acknowledge that some nonsmokers choose to live in a smoke-free environment. A statewide ban of smoking in public areas would eliminate secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Against:
Imposing a statewide smoking ban would be devastating for businesses. The ban drives away the smoking crowd as well as the revenue they generate. Restaurants, bars, and hotels rely heavily on catering to smoking consumers. If those consumers cannot smoke, they would most likely look for somewhere else to spend their time. An absence of smokers will ruin business and possibly lead to a layoff of employees. It is not fair for restaurants, bars, and hotels to suffer the consequences of the smoking ban.
Dr. Mark Clayson, a graduate of King’s College in London, has researched the effects of a smoking ban in many countries. In most of the cases, businesses saw a significant drop in revenue after a smoking ban was issued. Dr. Clayson knows that secondhand smoke is dangerous, and the facts are well known; however, there are other statistics that have gone largely unnoticed. These statistics describe the effects of smoking bans on businesses.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in four Americans smoke. Since the smoking ban has begun, bars across the United States have seen a 40 percent decrease in business. This plummet in revenue has forced these businesses to lay off employees. Smokers who continue to go to bars have to smoke outside. Some of these smokers are also intoxicated. As a result, communities have seen an increase in noise complaints. These negative effects have occurred in other countries as well.
Canadian businesses have experienced an overwhelming reduction of customers. Dr. Clayson discovered that just 80 days after the smoking ban, British Columbia’s hospitality industry suffered $8 million worth of losses. This includes nearly 800 layoffs and the closure of 9 businesses. For example, the Werx Club used to bring in $1,500 on the average night, and now the club only makes $150. It is not only bars and restaurants that are being affected. Charitable bingo halls across British Columbia have seen a drop of $5 million.
Smokers know the risks they take when they light up a cigarette. Bars, restaurants, and hotels should not have to suffer for the choices that these smokers make. Nonsmokers and smokers have co-existed in restaurants and bars for decades. A smoking ban only hurts the bars and restaurants that have brought these two kinds of people together. If a smoking ban is enforced, the economy would suffer, and jobs will be lost.
Roughly 50,000 nonsmoking Americans die every year from diseases caused by secondhand smoke according to the American Lung Association. These deaths can be prevented. While secondhand smoke occurs in many places, bars and restaurants are notorious for their integration of smokers into public areas. In the recent decade, there has been a surge of attention brought to the issue of smoking. As a result, smoking bans across the United States are being approved. The bars and restaurants complain that these new laws hurt revenue, but the smoking ban is one step toward a healthier America.
Smokers are affecting more than just themselves when they choose to smoke in public places. The National Smoking Control Program (NSCP) states that there are over 4,000 harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, of which 400 are poisonous and 50 are known carcinogens. When smokers exhale after taking a drag, the harmful chemicals are released into the air. According to the NSCP, about 90 percent of the smoke from every cigarette ends up in the air as environmental tobacco smoke. This smoke is potent and dangerous, especially in enclosed public places such as bars and restaurants.
Indoor dining establishments have always attracted the smoking crowd. Bars are a great place to meet with friends and possibly share a drink or two. Unfortunately, smokers take it upon themselves to ruin this atmosphere. They fill the air with toxic chemicals from their secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers in the area are forced to either breathe the harmful smoke or leave. Exposure to secondhand smoke has many negative health effects including lung cancer and heart disease, which may lead to death. Perhaps the most startling aspect of secondhand smoke related deaths is that they can all be prevented.
Restriction on smoking in public areas is essential for preventing harm to nonsmokers. Bars and restaurants are shared by smokers and nonsmokers alike; however, some smokers continue to smoke indoors, where their smoke is trapped and inhaled by nonsmokers. Smokers have always had the freedom to smoke outside, where their bad habit only affects themselves. Businesses need to acknowledge that some nonsmokers choose to live in a smoke-free environment. A statewide ban of smoking in public areas would eliminate secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Against:
Imposing a statewide smoking ban would be devastating for businesses. The ban drives away the smoking crowd as well as the revenue they generate. Restaurants, bars, and hotels rely heavily on catering to smoking consumers. If those consumers cannot smoke, they would most likely look for somewhere else to spend their time. An absence of smokers will ruin business and possibly lead to a layoff of employees. It is not fair for restaurants, bars, and hotels to suffer the consequences of the smoking ban.
Dr. Mark Clayson, a graduate of King’s College in London, has researched the effects of a smoking ban in many countries. In most of the cases, businesses saw a significant drop in revenue after a smoking ban was issued. Dr. Clayson knows that secondhand smoke is dangerous, and the facts are well known; however, there are other statistics that have gone largely unnoticed. These statistics describe the effects of smoking bans on businesses.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in four Americans smoke. Since the smoking ban has begun, bars across the United States have seen a 40 percent decrease in business. This plummet in revenue has forced these businesses to lay off employees. Smokers who continue to go to bars have to smoke outside. Some of these smokers are also intoxicated. As a result, communities have seen an increase in noise complaints. These negative effects have occurred in other countries as well.
Canadian businesses have experienced an overwhelming reduction of customers. Dr. Clayson discovered that just 80 days after the smoking ban, British Columbia’s hospitality industry suffered $8 million worth of losses. This includes nearly 800 layoffs and the closure of 9 businesses. For example, the Werx Club used to bring in $1,500 on the average night, and now the club only makes $150. It is not only bars and restaurants that are being affected. Charitable bingo halls across British Columbia have seen a drop of $5 million.
Smokers know the risks they take when they light up a cigarette. Bars, restaurants, and hotels should not have to suffer for the choices that these smokers make. Nonsmokers and smokers have co-existed in restaurants and bars for decades. A smoking ban only hurts the bars and restaurants that have brought these two kinds of people together. If a smoking ban is enforced, the economy would suffer, and jobs will be lost.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pizza Perfection
Pizza sometimes has a split personality. Sometimes it is a gourmet presentation of fine ingredients, melted together with only the best cheeses, and other times it is a greasy mess of mozzarella, quickly baked and delivered to your door in less than 30 minutes. My last encounter with pizza was an unusual incident.
Delivery pizza chains have taken quite a turn in these last few months. Making the switch to all-natural ingredients has renewed hope for one of these famous chains. I had the privilege of eating an entire cheese pizza from Pizza Hut last Saturday night. After a 12 hour long track meet, I sat on a coach bus with 50 of my teammates, eagerly awaiting the Pizza Hut pizzas that were already an hour late. We were all starving and the some of us were beginning to lose faith in the delivery man. Then out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of headlights in the distance. Soon the familiar glow of the Pizza Hut sign spread across the empty parking lot, and cheers echoed throughout the bus.
Within minutes everyone had a hot slice of pizza in their hand. I managed to score my own box of thin crust cheese, because the people around me demanded that they eat only pepperoni or sausage. My stomach saw no difference and neither did I. At this point in the day I was just happy to eat. The steam poured out of the box as soon as I opened it. A sweet smell of fresh baked dough filled the air. I took in the moment as the warm pizza box seemed to say, “Hey there. Sit back. Enjoy my cheesy goodness.” That is precisely what I did.
The interior bus lights turned off, and everyone became quiet. As I took my first slice from the box, my ears tuned in on the sound of 50 people carefully chewing. Each bite was savored. I became anxious for the feast before me. The nine television screens lit up as we pulled out of the UW-Platteville parking lot. Our first movie of the night was Predator. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s acting was not up to par with the fine pizzas we were all enjoying, but nobody complained.
As the sound of dozens of machine guns blasted out of the bus’s speakers, I took my first bite. The first noticeable taste was cheese, lots and lots of melty, gooey cheese. I could not quite distinguish how many various cheeses were on the pizza, but I assure you that it was not a solo act. A taste such as this could not be accomplished by mozzarella alone. The cheese gave way to the tomato sauce, which hit my tongue next. Soon the richness of vine-ripe tomatoes, combined with a delicate assortment of spices, was all I could taste. The final all-star in the team was the crust. It was thin. It was crispy. It was delicious. It was the kind of crust that could stand up to all that cheese and not succumb to gravity’s temptations. As I bit into the flaky crust, pieces broke off and gave my mouth something to chew. The crust was not yeasty, but still held that fresh baked taste. I quickly finished off my first piece and set off to devour the seven more pieces that were waiting for me. In short, Pizza Hut has truly progressed from its greasy past. The all-natural ingredients were definitely noticeable, and I tip my hat to their new lease on life. If you have not tried Pizza Hut in the past few months, I strongly recommend giving them another chance.
Delivery pizza chains have taken quite a turn in these last few months. Making the switch to all-natural ingredients has renewed hope for one of these famous chains. I had the privilege of eating an entire cheese pizza from Pizza Hut last Saturday night. After a 12 hour long track meet, I sat on a coach bus with 50 of my teammates, eagerly awaiting the Pizza Hut pizzas that were already an hour late. We were all starving and the some of us were beginning to lose faith in the delivery man. Then out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of headlights in the distance. Soon the familiar glow of the Pizza Hut sign spread across the empty parking lot, and cheers echoed throughout the bus.
Within minutes everyone had a hot slice of pizza in their hand. I managed to score my own box of thin crust cheese, because the people around me demanded that they eat only pepperoni or sausage. My stomach saw no difference and neither did I. At this point in the day I was just happy to eat. The steam poured out of the box as soon as I opened it. A sweet smell of fresh baked dough filled the air. I took in the moment as the warm pizza box seemed to say, “Hey there. Sit back. Enjoy my cheesy goodness.” That is precisely what I did.
The interior bus lights turned off, and everyone became quiet. As I took my first slice from the box, my ears tuned in on the sound of 50 people carefully chewing. Each bite was savored. I became anxious for the feast before me. The nine television screens lit up as we pulled out of the UW-Platteville parking lot. Our first movie of the night was Predator. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s acting was not up to par with the fine pizzas we were all enjoying, but nobody complained.
As the sound of dozens of machine guns blasted out of the bus’s speakers, I took my first bite. The first noticeable taste was cheese, lots and lots of melty, gooey cheese. I could not quite distinguish how many various cheeses were on the pizza, but I assure you that it was not a solo act. A taste such as this could not be accomplished by mozzarella alone. The cheese gave way to the tomato sauce, which hit my tongue next. Soon the richness of vine-ripe tomatoes, combined with a delicate assortment of spices, was all I could taste. The final all-star in the team was the crust. It was thin. It was crispy. It was delicious. It was the kind of crust that could stand up to all that cheese and not succumb to gravity’s temptations. As I bit into the flaky crust, pieces broke off and gave my mouth something to chew. The crust was not yeasty, but still held that fresh baked taste. I quickly finished off my first piece and set off to devour the seven more pieces that were waiting for me. In short, Pizza Hut has truly progressed from its greasy past. The all-natural ingredients were definitely noticeable, and I tip my hat to their new lease on life. If you have not tried Pizza Hut in the past few months, I strongly recommend giving them another chance.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Hawaiian Shirt from Hell
Walking into Savers this past Sunday put me in a state of both awe and fear. I was in awe of the massive display of outdated clothes but fearful about the unknown history behind each piece of clothing. It was obvious which decade each item emerged from, and some of the pieces of clothing made me cringe. For example, I could only imagine what happened in the black leather pants I found, no doubt a product of the hot and sweaty 70s disco era. I am sure that back in the day these items were all the rage, but I still couldn’t help but wonder, “Who actually thought this looked cool?” And so I found myself standing before endless rows of men’s clothing, which were neatly assorted by size and color.
The task before me was strange but manageable. My purpose was to find an item that I would never in a million years wear, buy it, and then wear it for an entire day. I brought along my roommate, Austin, as a second opinion. We scoured the rows for around ten minutes, pointing out the ugliest items along the way. Then I saw it. Hanging in front of me was a hideous lime-green shirt, covered in a pattern that resembled a woven basket. Along the bottom of the shirt were a dozen or so little brown tiki men dancing back and forth. I snatched the shirt from the rack and held it up for Austin to see. He said, “No.” I said, “Perfect.”
After lugging the shirt back to the dorms, I quickly plucked my purchase out of the white plastic bag and threw it on. I felt like the Hawaiian shirt was built for someone else, and by someone else I mean an overweight man sipping beers somewhere in Mexico as Jimmy Buffet music blares in the background. I shook my head and tossed the shirt toward my dresser. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
My first class on Monday started at noon, and I normally eat right at eleven. The three people I normally ate lunch with were a little less pleased to see me once they caught glimpse of my obnoxious shirt. They kept on asking me if I was really going to wear this awful shirt all day. They had no idea. It was one of the shortest lunches I have ever eaten at the cafeteria. Generally I stop eating after my fourth or fifth trip up to the food lines, but today I stopped after one. No way was I going to humiliate myself more than I had too. The less people who saw me wear this shirt the better.
I walked to my 12:00 class and received some strange looks along the way. It was a particularly nice day out, mid 30s, but I still wore my coat for obvious reasons. Nevertheless, my bright green Hawaiian shirt seemed to leap out at everyone who walked past me as if it was saying, “Hey! I’m under here! No coat is ever going to cover me up! How warm does this guy think it is? 95 degrees? Who wears a Hawaiian shirt in the middle of winter?” I just wanted my shirt to shut up. Those little dancing tiki guys were starting to make me angry.
As I walked into my English 110 class, I was shocked to hear that it had been cancelled. This was the class I was doing the assignment for, and now Bailey was going to miss out on our hip new threads. The other students seemed a little disappointed too. Then it hit me. Class is cancelled. I started to think of all the fun things I could do in the hour before my 1:00 class. A million ideas flashed before my eyes until I remembered what I was wearing, and suddenly I felt a little less inclined to be active. I left the classroom in search of my own dark corner to sit in, far away from the judgment of others.
I entered my next class, Math 111, around 12:57. The class was already full, but not one person seemed to look up at me as I entered the room. I was not too surprised. Everyone in this class is only taking it to fill up their GE Math requirements, and half the time the teacher even appears to be tuned out. There is not much more to say about what happened. No one mentioned anything to me about my shirt, nor did anyone seem to notice.
After my Math class I took the bus back up to the dorms, which was also uneventful. By the time people start to get on the bus, they already have their iPods blasting at full volume and are usually too busy texting to notice anything else going on. Lucky me.
Wearing the shirt made me feel as if I was not being myself. People were not seeing me as I wanted them to, and it made me uneasy. There are occasions when I do consciously tweak my wardrobe, but never anything as drastic as this. The green Hawaiian shirt is now at the bottom of my dresser, and that is probably where it is going to stay. Perhaps one day the shirt will make a returning appearance, but I highly doubt it.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Fairytale
Henry and Gretchen
Once upon a time there were two kids named Henry and Gretchen. They both came from families that were well off and both were very smart. They had been life long friends, but that eventually evolved into love. Henry and Gretchen sailed through high school and soon they were into college. Their intelligence continued into college and their roommates despised them because they were always so affectionate towards one another. It was only a few months into school when Henry and Gretchen’s roommates devised a plan to get them kicked out of college. Henry’s roommate knew of this teacher who didn’t like Henry and Gretchen, so he decided to approach the teacher about this plan. The teacher was one of the university’s oldest professors of shamanism and her name was Wanda. She was caught off guard by such a question, but decided very carefully and finally agreed to help being the evil woman she was.
The plan was put into motion on Halloween night in Madison. Wanda was to throw a house party and invite many people, including Henry and Gretchen. Although Henry and Gretchen were fantastic students, they still knew how to party and Henry’s roommate knew that they wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. All Wanda had to do was snap a picture of the two drinking underage; surely such a picture would be grounds for expulsion. Meanwhile, back at the dorms, Henry and Gretchen received a text telling them about an awesome party. They decided that was a good way to spend their night, so they got into costumes; Henry dressed up as a woodsman and Gretchen as Little Red Riding Hood. Once they were ready, they started to pre-game before heading to the house party.
Many beers later the two left for the party. They had never been to this house before, so to make sure they could fine their way back to campus, they left a trail of broken pieces of beer bottles with every other step. When they arrived, the party had already begun. They immediately found the alcohol and grabbed a drink. Then they decided to try and find people they might know, which wasn’t easy considering it was Halloween and everyone was dressed up. Everyone’s costumes were so elaborate that they didn’t even recognize Professor Wanda dressed as a wolf. While Henry and Gretchen were enjoying themselves, Professor Wanda took that opportunity to try and catch them in the act. She took many pictures that night, but none of them were good enough. Wanda got so frustrated that she took a break and went upstairs. Henry’s roommate, seeing this, thought that she got a good picture and followed her upstairs. He walked into Wanda’s room and maybe it was the alcohol or just something about the way the skin tight wolf costume hugged the woman’s frail old body, but he just had to have her, and so he made a move. Back down at the party, Gretchen decided that she had to “break the seal” so she went to the bathroom. However, the bathroom downstairs had a line so Henry and her went upstairs. As Gretchen was going to the bathroom, Henry saw a light coming from a bedroom down the hall, so he went to see what was going on. Much to his surprise he stumbled in on Professor Wanda and his roommate in a passionate embrace. He was shocked and confused but then out of the corner of his eye he saw something glisten. It was a camera resting on a night table beside him. He acted instantly, snatched the camera and took the picture. The flash of the camera startled the two lovers, but before they could catch him he was out the door. He flew downstairs to grab Gretchen and they took off back to campus. Henry and Gretchen were long gone before the Professor or Henry’s roommate could stop them and almost immediately the picture was on facebook for everyone to see.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friedman Article Reflection
Over the past week, my English 110 class and I have been in a quest to find our true intellectual ability. The assignment dealt with an equation proposed by Thomas Friedman, author of The World Is Flat. Friedman believes that the sum of an individual’s Curiosity Quotient (CQ) and Passion Quotient (PQ) is more important than his or her Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Therefore, the equation we used was CQ + PQ > IQ. Friedman’s equation is best explained by Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind. Pink says, “You show me a curious, intrinsically motivated kid – and I’ll show you someone who’ll leave the kid who merely complies with the rules and studies for the SAT in the dust.” Friedman may have stumbled onto something big, but there is one major flaw in his equation.
The assignment started with a 20 minute online IQ test, which I finished with a score of 150. I then took a curiosity test online, which turned out to be a daunting process of answering what seemed like the same questions over and over again. Thirty minutes and 240 questions later, the website analyzed my answers and gave me a ranked list of my 24 strengths. Curiosity sat in the fifth spot on my list, which meant that it was one of my top strengths and gave me a CQ score of 19. Next, we took a quick ten question passions test in class, which ultimately determined how well you are fulfilling your passions. I ended up with a 90 on the PQ test. After the three tests were completed, we moved onto the final step.
Because I had scored high on both the CQ and PQ tests, I was feeling confident that Friedman’s equation was going to work. I was dead wrong. The equation would not work for me no matter how high I scored on either test. My combined total from the CQ and PQ tests gave me a score of 109. With an IQ score of 150, this meant that the IQ side of the equation was much higher than the CQ + PQ side. According to Friedman, the difference in scores means that I lack curiosity and need help discovering my passions in life. This was not the outcome I was hoping for. Luckily, there is a flaw in the equation that makes it impossible for my CQ + PQ score to be higher than my IQ score. The highest possible total for CQ + PQ is 124, which is much less than my IQ. Friedman definitely needs to fix this. I know that his equation is theoretical, but it should still be functional.
Looking past the mathematical mishap, I found that Friedman’s equation makes sense and boasts a powerful message. Too many times I realize that something does not interest me, and my only solution has been to simply grin and bear it. Some examples include: a boring class about molecular moles, group projects with kids who have no idea what year it even is, monotonous math lectures that never end, and other moments in school that make the clock seem to tick slower than normal. Like many other students, I quickly fell victim to daydreaming. Surely there must be a better way to cope with the boredom.
If Friedman were asked how to boost the level of interest, he would most likely address the problem at its roots. A lack of curiosity creates the boredom that so many students, including myself, feel from time to time. I can draw on two of my strengths when b
oring situations arise. Strength 5, curiosity, and Strength 13, enthusiasm, have the ability of turning dull lectures into an opportunity to learn something new. These two strengths can give me the power to stop texting in class, turn off the solitaire game on my iPod (as addicting as it may be), or put down my pencil before the hour-long doodle session even begins.
I realize that I’m making it sound as if there are no classes that interest me; however, there are many classes that I enjoy attending. Art classes have always been my favorite. Once the pencil or paint brush is in my hand, the rest is up to me. I can turn up my iPod, talk to other students around me, or walk around the room in an effort to develop new ideas. My art teachers were the best. They allowed me to paint whatever I wanted and gave me the tools to flex my artistic muscle. My passion for art eventually pushed me into the field of Advertising, which turned into Marketing after some coercion from Dr. Timothy Vaughan. Now a Marketing major at UW-Eau Claire, I hope to pursue my passions and enhance my curiosity with the liberal arts education I receive.
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