life. and how to have one.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

GOTTA HAVE IT
Buying into your emotions

ALSO INSIDE
FAITH-BASED FUN: What would Jesus play? MIND MAKEOVER: Get your brain in harmony

Jayplay
CONTENTS
October 2, 2008 Volume 6, Issue 7

notice 4-5 | play 6, 18 health 8-9, 16 | contact 13-14 | manual 14-15 reviews 18 | speak 19

pay and praise

christians can now purchase products specifically designed for their beliefs

ohminds responses to certainstuff my god, feelings can our

leave us with empty pockets. Jayplay takes a look at the dangers of retail therapy.

mind over matter

altering brain waves to improve your mental health

10
15%

BIGGEST
PARTY IN LAWRENCE
$3 $2
841-5855 ABEJAKES.COM

Heading Home

Friday @ 9

18 to dance 21 to drink
BACARDIS JAGER BOMBS

October 2, 2008

thursday, oct. 2
Veggie Lunch. Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 11:30 a.m., all ages, FREE. Tea at Three. Kansas Union Lobby, 3 to 4 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.suaevents. com. The Lost Trailers. Beaumont Club, 8 p.m., all ages, $13, www.thelosttrailers. com. DebateWatch. Kansas Union, Big 12 Room, 8 p.m., all ages, FREE. Bounce Live. The Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+, $3. Baby Birds Dont Drink Milk/Joy Wants Eternity. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace.com/ babybirdsdontdrinkmilk. Eisenhower Organ Duet/Fiat. The Brick, 10 p.m., 21+, $5-$7. Sudan Relief Benefit. Eighth Street Tap Room, 10 p.m., 21+, $3. Mindcontroll/ Baiowolf/A Blank Face Murder. The Gaslight Tavern, 10 p.m., 21+, $3. Sudan Relief Benefit. Eighth Stree Tap Room, 10 p.m., 21+, $3. That Damn Sasquatch. The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+, $3. Z-sonic/Leo/Souls Stutter. Daveys Uptown, 10 p.m., 21+, $6.

friday, oct. 3
FREE PLAY at The Replay. The Replay Lounge, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., all ages, FREE. Get Down Town. Downtown Lawrence, 4 p.m., all ages, FREE. Harvest of Arts Film Festival. The Granada, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE. Hitchcock Horror Classic Film Series: Rear Window. Lawrence Public Library, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE. Film: Get Smart. Kansas Union, 8 p.m., all ages, $2, www.suaevents.com. Keith Anderson. Voodoo Lounge, 8 p.m., 21+, $20-$40, www.keithanderson.com. Left on Northwood/ Times New Roman/ The Sky is Fallling/The Thirty. The Bottleneck, 9 p.m., all ages, $3-$5. Patties, Pong and PBR. Nice Cafe. 9 p.m., all ages, FREE. Friday Nights @ Liquid. Liquid, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., 18+, $5-$8. Young Livers. The Brick, 10 p.m., 21+, $5-$7. Sellout. The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m, 21+, $6. Cosmic Bowling. Kansas Union, Jaybowl, 10 p.m., all ages, FREE. Iron Guts Kelly /KTP. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $3, www.irongutskelly.com.

saturday, oct. 4
Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market. Eighth and New Hampshire Streets, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., all ages, FREE, www.lawrencefarmersmarket. com. Roots n Blues n BBQ Festival. Downtown Columbia, Mo., 11 a.m., all ages, FREE. The Becoming. Beaumont Club, 6 p.m., all ages, $10, www. wearethebecoming.com. Ardys/Bradford. The Gaslight Tavern, 7 p.m., all ages, $3. Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime. The Crossroads KC, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $16. REVOLUTION: Sweat. Dance. Rock and Roll. Lied Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $20-$50. Jesse Williams/ Leftmore. Solidarity! Revolutionary Center and Radical Library, 8 p.m., all ages, $3-$5. Film: Get Smart. Kansas Union, 8 p.m., all ages, $2, www.suaevents.com. Paw. The Bottleneck, 8 p.m., 18+, $5-$10. Imperative Reaction/ Aesthetic Perfection/ The God Project. The Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+, $13$15, www.myspace.com/ imperativereaction. The Afterhours/ Shebangs. The Gaslight Tavern, 10 p.m., 21+, $3.

sunday, oct. 5
Jeff/Vida. The Replay Lounge, 6 p.m., all ages, $3. All Shook Up. Lawrence Community Theater, 2:30 p.m., all ages, $14-$20. Sara Evans. Midland Theater, 8 p.m., all ages, $25$45. Hip Hop and Hot Wings. The Peanut, 9 p.m., 21+, $2. Panda Circus/ Oreaganomics/Joseph Post. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace. com/josephpost.

tuesday, oct. 7
Izzy Cox. Daveys Uptown, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $5. www. myspace.com/izzycox. Citizen Cope. Midland Theater, 8 p.m., all ages, $25$50. www.citizencope.com. Tuesday Night Folk Concerts. Signs of Life, 7:30 p.m., all ages, FREE. Tuesday Nite Swing. Kansas Union 8 p.m.- 11p.m, all ages, FREE. Uprising. Solidarity! Revolutionary Center and Radical Library 8 p.m., all ages, $1. Soul Gold Easy. The Brick 10 p.m., 21+, $5-$7.

venues
Abe & Jakes Landing 8 E. Sixth St. (785) 841-5855 The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire St. (785) 841-5483 The Brick 1727 McGee St. Kansas City, Mo. (816) 421-1634 Fatsos 1016 Massachusetts St. Lawrence (785) 865-4055 The Granada 1020 Massachusetts St. Lawrence (785) 842-1390 Midland Theater 1228 Main St. Kansas City, Mo. (816) 471-9703 The Peanut 5000 Main St. Kansas City, Mo. (816) 753-9499 The Record Bar 1020 Westport Rd. Kansas City, Mo. (816) 753-5207 The Replay Lounge 946 Massachusetts St. Lawrence (785) 749-7676

monday, oct. 6
My Children My Bride/For The Fallen Dreams/American Me/ Hester prynne/Gangsta with Capguns. The Jackpot, 7 p.m., all ages, $10. www. myspace.com/mcmb Americas Best Dance Crew Live. Midland Theater, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $35-$54.50, www.myspace. com/abdcseason2. Justin Nozuka/Gabe Dixon Band. The Bottleneck, 8 p.m., all ages, $11-$13. Dollar Bowling. Royal Crest Bowling Lanes, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., all ages, $1. Elektro Nekro Gothic. Daveys Uptown, 10 p.m., 21+, FREE.

wednesday, oct. 8
Lawrence Originals Food Festival. South Park, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., all ages. Trivia Bingo. Johnnys Tavern, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., all ages, $1. Merle Haggard. Midland Theater. 8 p.m., all ages, $45$65. Mammoth Life/ Transmittens/Kite Tails. The Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+ $5-$7. www.myspace.com/ officialmammothlife. Daleria/Brainbrow/ David Hasselhoff on Acid. The Gaslight Tavern, 10 p.m., 21+, $3. Meet Flower/Power Master. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m.,21+, $2.

editors note
My dad plays in a bluegrass band. That hasnt always been something I was willing to admit. Back in my younger years, when all my friends parents listened to cool bands like U2, The Beatles and REM, I was embarrassed by the songs laden with twangy fiddle and harmonica riffs that my played during car rides, his shelves full of records and CDs by noname, quirky-looking bluegrass acts. I could never shake the feeling that liking bluegrass music made him seem a little Deliverance. A little not like the hip dad I needed him to be. His band would practice in our basement every couple weeks, and the music would float up through the vents into my bedroom. No matter how loudly I played my Mariah Carey cassettes, I could never quite drown out the frantic picking of the guitar, the staccato cluck of the banjo, the low croon of the upright bass. I made sure never to have friends over when dads band was practicing. A friend once saw my dads guitar in our living room and excitedly asked who it belonged to. I lied and said it was my brothers, and that of course he used it to play songs by whatever the emo band du jour was. The zenith of my dads bluegrass calendar comes every September with the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan. For the past 31 years, my dad has escaped south to Winfield for the festival, a Mecca for bluegrass enthusiasts around the world. Winfield is my dads heaven. He sleeps in a tent, eats his meals from a cooler, and spends every moment surrounded by the sounds of bluegrass. I have never been to Winfield. But I can picture the crowds of people, the outdoor stages, the sunlight on faded September grass. And I picture my dad therea little younger, a little more at homepicking his guitar. Happy. Check out Briannes story on page 6 about the Walnut Valley Festival and how this five-day bluegrass extravaganza is actually a popular destination for college students and music lovers of all kinds. I guess my dad was hip all along. lMegan Hirt, editor

Contributors Mark Arehart, Clayton Ashley, Darron Carswell, Francesca Chambers, Matthew Crooks, Miller Davis, Chris Horn, Mia Iverson, Editor Megan Hirt Amber Jackson, Danny Nordstrom, Associate editor Sasha Roe Meghan Nuckolls, Abby Olcese, Photo editor Jon Goering Amanda Sorell, Elise Stawarz Designers Drew Bergman, Peter Soto, Creative consultant Becky Sullivan Carol Holstead Contact Carly Halvorson, Matt Hirschfeld Health Asher Fusco, Susan Melgren, Contact us Realle Roth jayplay08@gmail.com Manual Heather Melanson, Ariel Tilson Jayplay Notice Matt Bechtold, Nina Libby, Sean The University Daily Kansan Rosner 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall 1435 Jayhawk Blvd. Play Brianne Pfannenstiel, Derek Zarda Lawrence, KS 66045 (785) 864-4810

jayplayers

October 2, 2008

NOTICE

QuestionAnswer &
with Kliph Scurlock, drummer for The Flaming Lips
When Lawrence musician Kliph Scurlock had the opportunity to be a roadie for his favorite band, The Flaming Lips, in 1999, he never dreamed hed someday end up touring the world as their drummer. But thats exactly what happened. Since then, hes played massive festival shows with the likes of Beck, The Police, The White Stripes and The Who. Scurlock still lives in Lawrence when hes not touring with the band. The local rocker recently took some time to chat with Jayplay about bunny suits, meeting his idols and the music scene in Lawrence. Q: So how exactly does a kid from Lawrence make the shift from roadie to drummer for The Flaming Lips? A: In 2002, the Lips were getting ready to do a tour as Becks backing band. Beck can be a little difficult at times. He kind of lives in his own world, for lack of a better term. I was going to go with them to LA for practice anyway, in case they needed something during their practices. Wayne couldnt get any solid answers out of Beck about whether he was going to have other musicians there. So I brought my drums and it turned out to be a good thing, because Beck didnt have a drummer, and I ended up practicing with them. Q: So you ended up playing drums with The Flaming Lips, who were opening for and acting as Becks backing band on his Sea Change tour? A: Yeah. The night of the first show of the tour, the Lips were going to open up and then be the backing band for Beck. So the Lips are getting ready to go on, maybe 20 minutes before the show starts, and the auditorium is really starting to fill up when it hits me: Holy shit! Im actually going on tour as a musician and getting paid to play. This is really cool. I started playing with them that night. I didnt know if it was going to be a permanent thing, and I didnt dare ask. Six years later, Im still here. Q: What keeps you coming back to Lawrence? A: My friends, great record stores like the Love Garden and Kiefs and great bars like The Replay and the Tap Room. I just really like it here. Weve got a small town here, and I can just walk everywhere. Q: What are you listening to right now? A: Im really enjoying the new Deerhoof record. Its been out for two or three weeks. Ive also been on a bit of a Beatles kick. Q: Do you have any favorite local bands? A: I really like The Dead Girls a lot. From Kansas City, I like Namelessnumberheadman and The Belles. Pretty much anything Chris Tolle does is excellent. Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers are awesome. There are more, but Im having a bad allergy day and my head is kind of fuzzy. Q: Youve played in many bands over the years. Is The Flaming Lips elaborate live show completely different from anything else youve done? A:Yeah, without a doubt. How do I put this without being too cheesy? I always feel really proud that these people just dont know whats about to happen to them. Its grown over the years and has become like an assault, but in a good way. I often get so
Photo by J. Michelle Martin-Coyne Kliph Scurlock went from being behind-the-scenes to taking the stage with The Flaming Lips.

wrapped up in playing the songs that I dont even register all the things going on, and its not until later when I see the video that Im like, Holy shit, that is a really cool show! Q: Tell us about the costumes. Is that just something straight from the mind of lead singer Wayne Coyne? A: It is. But it started at a show the Lips did in Oklahoma City in 2000. These two guys came dressed up in bunny suits and were handing out acid. Wayne thought that was great because so many people afterwards were like, Man, that was so great.You had people dressed up in bunny costumes! And Wayne was like, Well, no, we didnt. But we sure will in the future! Q: Youve toured all over the world. What are some of your exciting stories from the road? A: When I met Pete Townshend from The Who, that was pretty incredible for me. I started playing drums because my mom

took me to see The Kids Are Alright at the drive-in theater in the summer of 1980. When I saw Keith Moon playing drums, thats when I decided this was what I wanted to do. Q: Will The Flaming Lips be back to the Lawrence area anytime soon? A: I would think so, but probably not until next year. Right now the focus is working on new material. Q: Will we be seeing you in the new Flaming Lips movie, Christmas on Mars? A: Im in it a little bit, but I helped with building the sets a lot. Anytime I get to be around Wayne or Steven or Michael when theyre being creative is pretty amazing for me. Its inspiring to be around them and to see that these guys that Ive always revered as one of the all-time great bands are really just a bunch of dudes with no ego. Matt Bechtold

WESCOE WIT
Girl 1: I dont know many girls named Kayla who arent bitches. Girl 2: Midgets? Girl: (to friend) This video game is about battling Satan. Im going to get it for you for Christmas. Guy: (to group of people) Hey, if you have something to say, say it to my face. Say it to my BRACE face! Guy: I would totally chat up my grandma on Facebook. Girl 1: (in line at the Underground) Is the sesame chicken good here? Girl 2: Oh yeah. I love the ses. Guy: I left his house at one, but I didnt get home until like, four. Girl: How come? Guy: I kind of stopped by Hash.

Girl 1: Do you know what youre going to wear tonight? Girl 2: I dont know. It depends on what kind of ice cream they serve there. Guy: Have you seen the baby bunny? Girl: Wow. Somebody dropped some acid and didnt share. Guy: God, I feel so pathetic when I use a credit card to buy a soda. Girl: Yeah. And once you do, its like crack. Guy: (to female friend) When I came out of my closet...Oh, wait. Forget I said that.

Professor: Theyre like, You wouldnt be a very good drug addict, and Im like, Yes I would! Guy 1: (finishing a sandwich): That was, by far, one of the best things Ive ever put in my mouth. Guy 2: (chokes on his sandwich laughing) Girl: (longingly) I want to put God on my iPod. Guy: Theater is incestuous. Everyone does everyone else. Matt Bechtold

October 2, 2008

Christian culture goes

Christians are producing and buying merchandise that imitates mainstream media products
By Nina Libby nlibby@kansan.com Type any word into the search engine of Conservapedia.com, and youll most likely find heavily biased conservative content. Andrew Schlafly, Princeton graduate and creator of Conservapedia.com, was so frustrated with what he viewed as Wikipedias liberal slant that he decided to create his own version of the online reference site specifically for evangelical Christians. Hillary Leibold, Chicago senior, says she was shocked when she read the sites entry on feminism, because it referred to it as a term used by liberals representing people who favored abortion. Web sites are not the only new media technologies Christians are producing and consuming these days. Christian-themed video games, computer games and movies are just a few of the other products companies are generating. Diana James-Kairns, marketing director for Digital Praise Inc., says the companys goal is to create family-friendly entertainment software for Christians. One of the products Digital Praise offers is Guitar Praise, a PC guitar game similar to Guitar Hero but with Christian music. Players can play along with Christian rock tunes while the song plays and the lyrics scroll across the screen. Jon Simon, Lenexa senior, says he cant imagine Guitar Praise would be any fun to play. Christian rock music isnt very good. The whole point is to play difficult songs, Simon says. Ive never heard a Christian song that, you know, wailed. Another product Digital Praise offers is Dance Praise, in which players stand on a dance platform and use their feet to hit colored arrows laid out in a cross. The game is exactly like Dance Dance Revolution, but with contemporary Christian music. James-Kairns says Dance Praise is one of the companys best-selling products because consumers love the family-friendly Christian songs and graphics that accompanied the game. The computer and video games produced by Digital Praise are just a few examples of products that emulate mainstream products but express a different set of values. Media scholar Heather Hendershot discusses different kinds of Christian media in her book, Shaking the World for Jesus. Hendershot says she examined the vast industry of books, films, videos and magazines that have targeted the evangelical middle class since the 1970s. Most evangelical media are not propaganda designed to induce a political or spiritual conversion, Hendershot writes. Christian music, videos, films and magazines are not uniformly designed to convert consumers. More often, consumers are assumed to already be saved, or it is hoped that this media might soften the unsaved consumers heart. With the emergence of media technologies, Christians can identify and enjoy the products made with their ideology in mind. David Noffsinger, 2008 graduate and resident of the Campus Christian House at 1320 Ohio St., says he would love to play a Christian-themed game like Guitar Praise. I listen to Christian rock and I play Guitar Hero, Noffsinger says. I think it would be fun to play a game like Guitar Praise, which combines the two. Beyond providing clean-cut entertainment, companies can also cash in on the sales of Christian media products. The success of Mel Gibsons The Passion of the Christ, which made $125 million in its opening weekend in 2004, is one example of the fiscal success of producing Christian products. Barbara Barnett, professor of journalism who teaches a course on media and society, says she doesnt think Christians are producing popular culture products only to make money. I think whats happening with a lot of groups of people, especially Christians, is that they feel disenfranchised by mainstream media. I think its more of meeting an audiences needs than it is to make money, Barnett says. After all, Christians are not the only group of people who have used technology to produce and consume their own cultural products. This is part of a trend that we have seen over the years with a lot of demographic groups more than religious groups. Blogging is an example of people creating media that fits a particular groups needs, Barnett says. Christians are just following a trend.

NOTICE

Other praiseworthy goodies

Good Spirit Car Air Fresheners are Christianthemed air fresheners for your vehicle. They come in packs of six. (www.christianaudigier.com) GraceWorks Interactive is a company that produces Christian-themed computer games like The Interactive Parables, which recites parables to players for memorization purposes. (www.graceworksinteractive.com) Heavenly Harmony Karaoke is a Christian karaoke computer game that lets you sing along to Christian songs. (www.cloud9games.com) Inspirational Totes are bags accented with an embroidered Scripture quotation from Philippians 4:13. (www.christianbooks.com)

Graphic by Becka Cremer

October 2, 2008

Where the bluegrass grows

Kansas own Walnut Valley Festival is a hot spot for music fans from around the world
By Brianne Pfannenstiel bpfannenstiel@kansan.com Sept. 9, 11:48 p.m.: David can smell bluegrass in the air. Sept. 14, 5:38 p.m.: David can taste bluegrass. Sept. 15, 9:28 p.m.: David is trying to forget about everything but bluegrass. Sept. 17, 11:41 p.m.: David is bluegrass. For nearly two weeks leading up to the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan., the status updates on David Podschuns Facebook page chronicled his anticipation for the coming weekend of bluegrass music. Podschun, a junior from Winfield, has been going to the festival with his family since he was little. Today the festival, which began in 1972 as the Walnut Valley National Guitar Flatpicking Championships, has become a tradition for locals, Kansans and bluegrass lovers around the world. At the festival, theres just music all the time, Podschun says. Really late at night it gets quieter, but its pretty much constant music. Thats one of the best things about it. This years festivities were dampened by a series of storms that uprooted festivalgoers from their traditional campsites to stations farther away from the main stage. But even the soggy weather couldnt dampen the spirits of the festival attendees. For many, the main action of the festival takes place far from the official stages and headlining acts, nestled instead throughout the campsites between cases of beer, sleeping bags and several generations of festival-goers. Winfield, like many folk festivals, is known not only for the prominent acts that grace its stages, but also for its impromptu jam sessions You cant walk through the campgrounds without hearing people playing music, says Taylor Stevenson, Winfield freshman. Everyone just jams together. Its definitely a community. The community aspect of bluegrass in general is what many fans say keeps them coming back to festivals like Winfield year after year. Roy Flottman, media director for the Winfield festival, says that in his 23 years of working the event, the camaraderie and sense of family that exists among bluegrass musicians and fans never ceases to amaze him. Growing up through the 60s, 70s and 80s, I went to a lot of rock festivals, Flottman says. The mentality was different at those kinds of festivals. The spirit there was more all of us against them. Here, its just all of us, playing music. At the risk of sounding like a flower child, its just very much a community. That community, he says, may stem from the deep roots of folk and bluegrass tradition. Bluegrass has a lot of historical significance, Flottman says. Its like storytelling, in a sense. Words and melodies just end up getting passed down. You can have relatively new songs with lyrics that go back generations. The Walnut Valley Festival is all about traditions as well, whether its staking out your familys favorite campsite every year or trekking to your favorite unofficial stage. But one of the biggest Winfield traditions is the opportunity musicians have to participate in instrument competitions. Musicians have five minutes to impress the crowd. They are then judged on arrangement, execution,
Photo by Don Shorock The Wiyos, a ragtime blues band from Brooklyn, N.Y., performs at this years Walnut Valley Festival, which took place September 16 through September 20 in Winfield, Kan..

PLAY

tuning, show value and overall impression. Past instrument competition winners include Mark OConnor, Alison Krauss and Chris Thile of Nickel Creek. Bluegrass has seen many changes over the generations, and has, among youth, moved into a newer, more progressive style, dubbed newgrass. Lawrence has a thriving folk music scene and is home to many progressive bluegrass-style groups,

such as That Damn Sasquatch and Truckstop Honeymoon. Flottman says he sees many more KU students than Kansas State students at the festival, and he attributes this to the supportive atmosphere Lawrence provides for bluegrass musicians. The arts in Lawrence are incredible, Flottman says. Its such a great place for bluegrass and music in general.

Even more grass to go around

The music doesnt have to stop at the festival gates. The Lawrence and Kansas City areas have thriving folk and bluegrass scenes ready to take you in and tide you over until next years festival. Third annual Get Down Town Festival Featuring The Brody Buster Band, Trombone Shorty, Split Lip Rayfield and Mooreland and Arbuckle Friday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. New Hampshire Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets The Calamity Cubes/Deadman Flats Friday, Oct. 17, 10 p.m. The Gaslight Tavern Yonder Mountain String Band Wednesday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. Liberty Hall

October 2, 2008

Balance your brain

By Susan Melgren smelgren@kansan.com It sounds like a medical experiment: an anti-gravity chair, electrodes attached to your scalp, a computer that reads your brain waves and translates them into sound. But this isnt a scene straight from a sci-fi movie. Its called Brain State Conditioning, and it can help people with a wide range of emotional, physical and psychological problems. Brain State Conditioning was developed in 2000 as a way to help people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Lee Gerdes, CEO and founder of Brain State Technologies, says he struggled with the disorder for 10 years and wanted a way out. Using his background in computers, Gerdes created the technology by thinking of the brain as a computer network. He thought if he could show the brain what it looked like when in its most content state, the brain would change itself. Gerdes tried it successfully on himself in 2000. In 2002, he used it to help his son, who had dropped out of Iowa State University, get back into school and on the Deans List. than me, Hill says. Hill started treatment for her disorder the summer before her senior year of high school. During the next three years she was in and out of treatment facilities six times. She went to psychotherapy. She took mind- and mood-altering drugs. Two years ago she again checked herself into a treatment facility Nothing worked. Then she tried brain balancing. Hill, who was already going to the Life Enrichment Center at the time, says she had no hesitations about the training sessions. I tried everything else, Hill says. It cant hurt to try this. Hill went through about 10 training sessions with the Brain State Conditioning, and she says it changed her life. Before the sessions, Hill says she ate only low-fat foods in small quantities. She used to avoid certain foods such as oils, butter, fried foods and red meat. Now she eats three to five times a day, and her meals are more varied. It produced more results in me than anything else I tried, Hill says. I still try to eat healthy, but Im more relaxed. If I want dessert, then I eat dessert.

HEALTH

New technology can help you with your problems, big or small

Brain State Conditioning basics

Brain State Conditioning can help with a variety of problems. Addictive dependencies, such as addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling and tobacco Anger Anxiety Brain injury Chronic fatigue Chronic pain Compulsive behaviors Eating disorders Hyperactivity Inability to focus Lack of energy Lack of concentration Learning difficulties Obsessive thinking Panic attacks Poor memory Sleeping difficulties Stress Unhappiness

How it works
Brain balancing consists of a series of training sessions. Ed Bloch, director of the Life Enrichment Center in Lawrence, says the sessions shouldnt be thought of as a treatment. The technology isnt designed as a medical device, Bloch says. It doesnt diagnose or treat symptoms. It balances and harmonizes the brain. During the session, the client sits in an anti-gravity chair.Trainers, like Bloch, attach sensors to the clients head: two behind the ears, two on various lobes of the brain and a free-standing one on top of the head. The sensors pick up brain waves and send them to the computer. Specially designed software searches for imbalances in the brain by looking at the ratio of brain waves between different lobes. The software compares the brainwaves to a model of how a brain looks in its most contented state, and then decides how to get the brain there.The computer takes the best brainwaves, translates them into sound and plays them back as music to the client through headphones. The music sounds like an electric keyboard. Bloch says the sessions require little effort from the client because the process happens unconsciously. Bloch encourages patients to relax and to visualize certain things. Sessions usually last 70 to 90 minutes, and clients do two sessions a day. Bloch says about half of his clients needs 10 sessions to see optimal benefits, while the other half needs 20 or more.

Is this for real?

Bloch, director of the Life Enrichment Center in Lawrence, says that since he first started offering Brain State Conditioning last February, hes had more than 60 clients. Of those 60, only one person didnt benefit from the process. Gerdes says that brain balancing doesnt work for 10 to 15 percent of his companys more than 8,000 clients. He says drug or alcohol use during training can prohibit the process from working, but some brains also just have strong defenses against this kind of treatment. Spencer Payne, a clinical psychologist in Lawrence, says the technique used for Brain State Conditioning works, but he says that its only part of the formula. Because its embedded in music, the person is not aware, Payne says. Its not as good as learning to have conscious control. Its better to learn than to have done to you. Payne says the process can be beneficial because it moves the brain into a better place for the person to then undergo psychotherapy. Bobbi Bolley, a 26-year-old Emporia resident, agrees that Brain State Conditioning is only part of the process. Bolley had struggled with an eating disorder for 12 years when she went through the process. Unlike Hill, Bolley says she had lots of hesitations. She didnt think it could be a cure-all, and it wasnt a cureall but it was a key component in the healing process. She had tried two other treatments before brain balancing but says she wasnt mentally ready so didnt work. Before she underwent brain balancing, Bolley did therapy at the Life Enrichment Center. She says the therapy helped prepare her for the process. If youre interested in learning more about brain balancing, visit the Life Enrichment Centers Web site at www.lecnetwork.com or Brain State Technologies Web site at www.brainstatetech.com.

The Life Enrichment Center in Lawrence is one of 126 offices around the world that offer brain balancing. The software in each office is connected to computers at Brain State Technologies headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. The software sends data back to headquarters where it is processed and protocol is updated.

Does it work?
Tiffiney Hill, Lawrence resident is 34 and has struggled with eating disorders since she was 13, first bulimia then anorexia. It wasnt okay if even one person was skinnier

October 2, 2008

HEALTH

reusing water bottles

Recycling bins are overflowing with them, lecture hall floors are littered with them and Wescoe Undergrounds refrigerators are stocked with them: Plastic bottles full of water, fruit juice or sport drinks. Rumor has it that reusing these bottles made with a recyclable plastic called PET can be dangerous because toxins can separate from the plastic and leach into the liquid. A 2007 University of Heidelberg study finds that PET plastics could, over time, release a potentially harmful toxin called antimony. According to the study, two out of 132 brands of bottled water contained a measurable amount of the substance. But the Environmental Protection Agency says in a pamphlet that drinking water can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. The rumor about potentially dangerous bottle-borne toxins started with a masters thesis written by a University of Idaho student. The report was widely circulated via spam E-mail, and became an urban myth of sorts. But the students findings were deemed unreliable by plastic advocacy groups, and the EPA declared that the toxins would not lead to cancer. Julie Tuley, Lawrence Memorial Hospital oncology coordinator, says that although environmental variables can sometimes lead to cancer, the plastic bottle rumor was no more than a myth. As far as Ive seen, there havent been any reliable studies tying bottles to cancer, Tuley says. VERDICT: GOOD FOR YOU Asher Fusco

alcoholic mouthwash
Brush, floss, rinse. Thats the routine most of us think we need to follow to maintain a healthy mouth, but that last step could be causing more harm than good if youre using a traditional, alcoholbased mouthwash. While the alcohol content of mouthwashes varies, some can contain up to 30 percent alcohol. Sure, rinsing with these mouthwashes can kill germs. So does rinsing with brandy, scotch or vodka says Debbie Rogers, dental hygienist at Dental Studio in Lawrence. Rogers says the alcohol content of mouthwash has a two-fold negative affect on the mouth. First, although it kills bacteria, mouthwash doesnt remove bacteria from the mouth. Rogers says the bacteria must be mechanically removed using an instrument such as a tongue brush. Second, alcohol dries out the mouth.The drier the mouth is, the more bacteria can grow in it, Rogers says. Saliva helps to keep the mouth clean by naturally washing out bacteria, but the alcohol in some mouthwashes dries out tissue in the mouth, and resulting in less saliva. Because the mouth harbors a lot of bacteria, it needs all the natural cleaning it can get. Its the dirtiest part of the body, says James Otten, Lawrence dentist.It has more bacteria, fungus and parasites than anywhere else. Otten agrees that alcohol can dry out the mouth, leaving it susceptible to bacteria and even some fungus. VERDICT: BAD FOR YOU Susan Melgren

October 2, 2008

FEATURE
A look at what makes us shop till we drop
than six days.Whether its online, in a store, from a catalog or on TV, shopping consumes more of our daily lives than cleaning the house, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. College students are particularly fond of shopping: A 2005 study by the International Council of Shopping Centers found that young adults ages 18 to 24 visited the mall approximately three times per month, spending an average of almost $70 per visit. Some students are selfprofessed shopping addicts and admit to spending money on things they dont really need. But shopping involves more than just exchanging money for a cute top or a new iPod. Behind each decision, from where to go, what to buy and how much to spend, there are hidden mechanisms that tie into our emotions and psychological well-being. In fact, in extreme cases, shopping can be just as addictive as drugs or alcohol. results, they dont have to go tanning as often, saving money on how much they spend at the tanning beds.

FEATURE
ADDICTION
Instead of developing a dependency on drugs and alcohol, shopping can turn out to be some peoples dangerous vice. In extreme cases, shopping for relief from a negative emotional state can lead to a shopping addiction, or what Benson calls compulsive buying disorder.Although it isnt yet in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a handbook that lists mental disorders and criteria for diagnosing them, compulsive buying disorderand what contributes to itare gaining more recognition by the mainstream media. Compulsive buying disorder is characterized by frequent shopping trips, purchasing items that you cant afford, using shopping as relief from everyday stressors, lying or covering up purchases and essentially spending yourself into debt. The disorder is not gender-exclusive.Although studies show that the majority of retail purchases made in a year are made by women, men can be just as addicted to shopping as women. The issue is whether its impairing your life, Benson says. If youre using shopping as kind of an equal opportunity, all-purpose mood changer, that is a sign of the beginning of compulsive buying disorder. Some consumers claim they feel a rush when they go shopping or when looking at their new purchases. It turns out a shopping trip can have similar effects to those of a drug. Both release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with things that are new or exciting to a person, according to an article from Psychology Today Magazine. This high is essentially an overwhelming amount of dopamine to the brain.The subsequent fall, which typically involves feeling guilty about the purchases made, happens when the dopamine levels return back to normal. Shopping becomes an addiction when consumers cant live without this high. In order to get rid of the guilt, they buy something else, thus feeding their dependence like a drug addict getting a fix. The realities of compulsive buying disorder hit very close to home for Jennifer Harness. She says a member of her family is a shopping addict, spending money on purchases that are usually never used. Like many compulsive buyers, the items still have their tags and never come out of the packaging. Instead, they pile up around the house as the bills pile up as well. For compulsive shoppers, its not the merchandise they are excited about, but rather the high they experience when shopping and when buying something new. Aware of this, and of her own tendency to become addicted to trivial things, Harness says she tries her best to keep her spending under control.

WHY WE DO IT
Instead of heading to the bars or devouring a pint of Ben and Jerrys after a rough day, Jennifer Harness, Ottawa senior, calls her friend, and the two go shopping. Shopping happens to be what we do best, Harness says. Ive adopted a motto I saw at the Mall of America: Shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist. Harness isnt alone. As it turns out, our emotional state has a lot to do with our financial decisions. According to a June 2008 study by Carnegie Mellon University researcher Cynthia Cryder called Misery is not Miserly, people are likely to hand over more dough when theyre feel ing sad or upset. Sadness typically leads to an increase in self-centered thinking, which causes people to spend more money. Although Cryders study was only published recently, this phenomenon is not new. After all, the phrase retail therapy has existed for years. One of the first publications of the term was on Christmas Eve in 1986 in the Chicago Tribune: Weve become a nation measuring out our lives in shopping bags and nursing our psychic ills through retail therapy. Cryder says she was originally interested in the topic because previous studies showed that sadness leads to an increase in valuation. In other words, when people are sad, they overestimate the value of various items. This concept, called the endowment effect, has been confirmed by psychologists who study behavioral economics. Psychologists say that when people are sad, they feel the need to change something about their lives. To fulfill this need, they are willing to pay higher prices for new items, which are symbolic of change. Cryder says she wanted to delve further into the topic, and discovered that self-centered thinking also plays an important role. She says her next study will investigate how guilt and shame may influence decisions to spend money. April Benson, psychologist and author of I Shop, Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying and the Search for Self, says that consumers typically go shopping to seek comfort from a negative internal state. However, Benson says this relief is only temporary. With any problem, youll have to do more and more to get the same kind of relief, Benson says. Someone who is constantly shopping, looking for objects to fill holes that they cant fill, will never be satisfied. Other reasons for making purchases include rewarding oneself for a recent accomplishment, being influenced by shoppings social aspects, and even patriotism. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, President George W. Bush repeatedly encouraged Americans to go shopping in order to keep the economy alive.

psychology
of a
By Carly Halvorson chalvorson@kansan.com As Mary Newman, Overland Park freshman, enters White House Black Market, a little black dress immediately grabs her attention. She takes it to the dressing room, tries it on and walks out to the 360-degree mirror. The dress is beautiful. It hugs every curve, is just the right length, and the little white flower pattern is adorable. Reluctantly, Newman checks the price tag. $168. She begins to reconsider, but then catches another glimpse of herself in the mirror. She sees how flattering the dress is and smiles, knowing that its perfect. Newman shops around the store a little longer, carrying the dress with her. Just as shes about to leave, she holds the dress up one last time, thinking of all the places she could wear it and how perfectly it fit. After much debate, she resolves to buy it and walks to the cash register. The cashier delicately wraps the brand new dress in tissue paper, and Newman feels a twinge of guilt as she hands over her debit card. Sure, the dress may be a little bit more than she had wanted to spend, but its worth it. In her mind, the pros outweigh the cons. Every year, the average American spends approximately 146 hours shopping. Thats more

IN YOUR HEAD
If youve ever felt bombarded with promotions and ads upon entering a store, theres a reason for that. If youve ever been unconsciously drawn to logos with the color red in them, theres a reason for that, too. Advertisers have conducted countless hours of research to find out the secrets to getting consumers to open their wallets. Many students have noticed the effects of such research when going into a store with the intention of only purchasing one item but coming out with more. For Jennifer Frederes, her downfall happens to be Target, the store with the bright red bulls-eye as its logo. You cant walk into Target and just buy one thing, says Frederes, Overland Park freshman. I always spend at least $20 to $30 every time I go. This isnt an uncommon experience. Studies have shown that a large majority of purchases are made on impulse. Taking advantage of this, stores put signs advertising their sales or special promotions right at the entrance. Because these purchases are unplanned, people are forced to come up with a reason for getting the item. A common excuse many people give, especially if the item is expensive, is that its worth it because theyll use it a lot. A $150 pair of jeans can have its price drastically slashed to $20 or less once the person does some mental math. The person simply divides the price by how many times per month he or she will wear them, and the jeans are magically less expensive. Sometimes you have to justify things because you know what youre buying is impractical, says Carolyn Knop, Liberty freshman. For example, two students who asked not to be named say theyve purchased a particular brand of tanning lotion that sells for about $100. Both students say the lotion is worth the price for many reasons: It has 20 bronzers in it, which lead to better and faster results. It comes in a larger bottle than many tan accelerators, meaning they can use it for longer. And, because of the

Continued on page 12
October 2, 2008

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October 2, 2008

photo illustration by Ryan McGeeney

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FEATURE
THE SILVER LINING
Like most things in life, shopping can be a completely harmless activity if handled in moderation. However, just as its not the best decision to go to the bars the night before a big exam, it isnt a good idea to go shopping when funds are low. Many students have developed their own ways to keep their bank accounts from dropping into the red. A common strategy many students use is to only spend money they know they have. In other words, use cash or a debit card instead of a credit card. That way you can see the money being spent immediately after you spend it. Credit cards have no immediate consequences, and can thus create dangerous situations of overspending. Also, research isnt required just for essays. When making a big purchase, take the time to look around and do some price comparisons. Grant Huang, St. Louis senior, says before he purchased his MacBook Pro and his iPod, he shopped around a bit. I always try to look for more discount stuff, but thats still good quality, Huang says. If Im looking for something that is expensive, obviously I would do some shopping around and do some research into it. The expensive things, like a computer or electronics, you have to be smart about. To help students become smarter with their money, the Office of Student Financial Aid has created a financial literacy task force. The task force covers everything from learning how to pay off student loans, how to use credit cards wisely and how to manage savings accounts. However, perhaps the most important thing is that students change their attitudes about spending. Right now, its just fun to spend money, Huang says. Im sure that when I move out on my own, my parents will cut me off and be like, Okay, its up to you now.

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photo illustration by Ryan McGeeney

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questions
By Carly Halvorson
Lisa Lampanelli Insult Comic Robert McCullagh Kansas City, MO

[Monthly Wine Night]

five
What do you do when youre upset about something? What do you like best about fall?

I try to feel my feelings. I cry, yell, punch a pillow, or hit a skinny, pretty woman. I find the last helps the most. I love the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the sight of newly carved jack-o-lanterns. I also enjoy seeing network shows fail and get cancelled after two episodes, especially if they star one of my enemies. Celebrities should do what they do best: look pretty, hit paparazzi and lay on the casting couch. Leave politics to the people who already know how to fuck it up the most: the politicians. Free.

I go for a walk or a run, maybe listen to some music. Just some type of exertion, preferably physical. I like seeing the leaves change and the overall atmosphere of things changing around me.

Do you think its a good idea for celebrities to get involved in politics?

Celebrities help influence people, but then they get criticized. Everyone should be involved in politics and have a voice; they just get criticized for their influence. Pleasant and with good people like my friends and family. I get up, go for a run, take a shower, grab some breakfast and then read the news. By the time Im done its usually time to go to work or go to class.

What do you want your last meal to be? Whats your morning routine like?

I turn on Howard Stern, read my daily anti-anger meditations during the commercials and wash my snatch.You know, just normal average stuff like that.

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DO-IT-YOURSELF: Hot drinks for cool nights

Though we dont want to admit it, the beautiful weather weve had recently will soon give way to chilly days and chillier nights. As it starts getting colder outside, its still easy to warm up your insides with simple, tasty concoctions of hot drinks and alcohol. A lot of people want hot drinks when its cold out, but they dont want coffee late at night, says James Zoeller, Chicago senior and bartender at The Bourgeois Pig. Zoeller says The Bourgeois Pig, 6 E. Ninth St., often serves drink specials such as Hot Toddys or Irish coffee as the colder months begin to settle in. Now you dont even have to leave the comfort of your cozy home if youre craving a hot, spiced drink. Just follow these recipes. If you like it fruity Try The Bourgeois Pigs spiced cider 1. Heat 9 oz. of some tasty apple cider in your favorite cold weather mug. 2. Add 1 oz. of the brandy of your choice. 3. Stir it with a cinnamon stick and drop

MANUAL

CONTACT

the cinnamon stick in to add some flavor. Zoeller says its easy to make this recipe your own with any number of variations. At The Bourgeois Pig, bartenders top the drink with whipped cream, but you could add other toppings like caramel. Zoeller says if you dont like brandy, you can use Tuaka or spiced rum instead. If chocolate is more your thing Alex Plassmeyer, bartender at Henrys on Eighth, 11 E. Eighth St., recommends making a Warm Snuggler, which only has two steps. 1. Make your favorite hot chocolate. 2. Add some Peppermint Schnapps to give it a kick, then stir. This recipe can be specialized anyway you like. If youre not a fan of drinking, or youre not legally allowed to do so both drinks are still delicious sans alcohol. Ariel Tilson

and
with Matt Hirschfeld and Francesca Chambers

My boyfriends mouth just seems to naturally have a bad smell. Breath mints and brushing his teeth seem to help a little bit, but I find myself not wanting to kiss him because of his breath. Should I just deal with it? Danielle, senior
Matt: You may just have to deal. Some causes of bad breath cant be helped, such as genetics (determines number of bacteria in the mouth), hormonal changes and many medications (antidepressants, antihistamines and decongestants). If hes clean in those respects, you can take a look at other aspects of his life to determine what could be causing the foul smell. Not eating carbohydrates, foods high in protein, smoking and alcohol all contribute in certain ways to bad breath. Look up the KForce Bad Breath Program if his breath is making you contemplate being with him and hes will to pay up for some change in oral hygiene. Some bad breath home remedies include brushing teeth with baking soda, gargling with salt water, taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal, and eat parsley, among many others (try www.mothernature.com for more ideas). Your boyfriend most likely knows about his condition and has accepted it. He knows of way to avoid it becoming a problem in casual conversation, but its unavoidable in a mouth-to-mouth situation. If you cant learn to deal with an aspect of him he may not be able to help, ditch him. I cant imagine on your potential wedding day, when the priest asks him to kiss the bride, you having to settle with just shaking hands. Francesca: One day when I was in choir in middle school, one of my best friends leaned over and told me I had bad breath and every time I opened my mouth to sing, she could smell it. I was mortified. Sometimes I had a bad taste in my mouth, but I did not know other people could smell it. From that point on I started bringing my toothbrush and toothpaste with me to school and whenever I felt the taste start to seep into my buds, I excused myself and went to brush my teeth. At some point, the problem disappeared and I have not had it again, except when I wake up or eat garlic food- as far as I know. Another change I made was during freshman year in high. I saw a friend using a tongue scrapper once, and after seeing how much plaque and buildup it removed form her tongue, I was sold. Tongue scrapers can be bought in both disposable and non-disposable forms. Disposable scrapers look similar to the mini-teeth flossers you can use if you dont want to hold the string while flossing your teeth. Non-disposable scrapers are made of plastic and are about the size of your hand. Both types can be bought for less than $5. I still use my scraper a few times a week to be on the safe side. But if Matts advice does not work in conjunction with the tongue scraper, I would agree that you have a tough choice to make.

Send us your sex and relationship questions at bitchandmoan@kansan.com.

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October 2, 2008

MANUAL
Feed your pet natural pet food
Natural food products for us humans have been popping up all over grocery stores. We tend to watch what we put in our bodies, but what about our furry friends? Before your next trip to the pet store, consider this information from Natural Pet Food and Supply, 3025 W. Sixth St., Manager Chris Jennings. What is natural about natural pet food? Meats in natural pet food are made with human safe products. So, yes, you can eat natural pet food without getting sick. The meat products never had hormones or steroids pumped into them, and fruit and veggie products are pesticide free. The food is also free from sugars and salts, and has no corn, wheat or soy products, which can cause allergies in pets. Most natural pet foods tend not to have preservatives. What are some differences between natural and typical pet foods? Other pet foods tend to have byproducts, unexplained ingredients and the worst parts of meat. Some unnatural foods even contain bone meal, or ground up bones. What are some benefits of feeding your pet naturally? Jennings says theres the potential for a longer life span with natural pet foods. Pets usually have less physical problems, theyre more attentive, and have healthier coats and weight. He also says the food is more wholesome, so you dont have to feed your pet as often. Lawrence resident Michelle Walter says she used to feed her dog Science Diet and Iams. Her dog developed liver damage that caused his nose and paws to bleed. Science Diet is kind of like McDonalds, Jennings says. Walter switched to natural pet food

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HEALTH

THATS DISGUSTING
fecal plume
Be seen wearing your shirt. Win $50. Tuesday.
You may have pressed the lever and heard the sudden rush of water, but that doesnt mean youve bid your feces a final farewell. With every flush, a fine mist of H2Oand bacteriais sprayed out of the toilet and onto any surface within a range of 6 to 8 feet. It looks like the Fourth of July when you capture it with photography, says Chuck Gerba, professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona. Gerba was the first American scientist to study what he calls the toilet aerosol effect. He first tackled the subject in a 1975 study, in which he found potentially harmful bacteria could linger in bathroom air for two hours after each toilet flush. Different toilet designs make for a variety of spray patterns. Public restroom commodes often spray backwards, while standard tank toilets distribute filth more evenly in all directions. Gerbas advice to frequent flushers: Keep the toilet lid down when flushing, or place chlorine tablets in your toilets tank

to help kill bacteria. If you cant help leaving the lid up, at least hide your toothbrush in a drawer or cabinet, because Gerba says salmonella and E. coli bacteria are often expelled from toilets, and toilet germs are a common cause of diarrhea. You dont want to brush your teeth with what you flush down the toilet, Gerba says. Asher Fusco

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THIS WEEKEND: Java Breaks Cereal Bar

Still wondering why Mom never let you pour chocolate milk over your cereal? So is Java Break, 17 E. Seventh St.The folks at Java Break have taken this boring breakfast standard out of its morning routine and transformed it into a late-night pastime with the opening of its new cereal bar. Take a seat at the 1970s-inspired bar and relax to some classic black and white cartoons on the TV while the Java Break staff tricks out your bowl of cereal with toppings ranging from staples like bananas and strawberries to things that might make your mother cringe, such as M&Ms or apple pie filling. T h e choices can be intimidating at first, but at only $2.50 a bowl,

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ut & about o
Whats your favorite outdoor activity on a nice day?
I like playing sand volleyball because I dont suck at it like other sports. Jayne Sperry, Pittsburg, Kan., junior Flyfishing. I can enjoy the weather and just the calmness of it. -Andrew Hendricks, Overland Park freshman

PLAY

MOVIE: Miracle at St. Anna

Director Spike Lees new movie, Miracle at St. Anna, has no resemblance to his break through film Do the Right Thing, the memorable Malcolm X, or his Hollywoodfriendly film Inside Man, which starred Clive Owen. No, you will not see Spike Lee in this film. But that doesnt mean its not a film worth seeing. St. Anna is the first film in which Hollywood has focused on the 92 Infantry during WWII, aka, the Buffalo Soldiers. Our four main Buffalo Soldiers include Stamps (Derek Luke), Bishop (Michael Ealy), Negron (Laz Alonso) and Train (Omar Benson Miller). Although every character in this film is heavily stereotyped, including the above mentioned soldiers, each in their own right accurately represents a piece of the African American dream in the 1940s. The film opens with Negron in his late 50s as a postal worker who pulls the trigger on an elderly Italian man. This action sends the story to a junior New York writer, Tim Boyle (Joseph GordonLevitt) who is openly baffled as to why a WWII Purple Heart recipient would kill a man in cold blood. With this question in mind, Lee takes his audience back to September of 1944 in rural Tuscany, where our four soldiers had been separated from their company. Among their trials and tribulations is

REVIEW

I like to go to the lake and hang out with friends, or just sit outside and read a book. -Caroline Smieja, Bremen, Germany, graduate student

a young Italian boy, Angelo, who becomes drawn to Train. The boy holds a mystery within him that unites the separated soldiers in triumphs and temptations alike. If you dont know the difference between a Partisan and a Fascist, I would suggest brushing up on your WWII key terms before viewing this film. In the end, after celebrating the Buffalo Soldiers, Lee reinforces the belief in a higher being, faith in humanity, and the idea that safety and control leave no room for miracles.

Stay inside. Im kind of an indoors person. I like to watch TV shows like Family Guy and actionadventure films. -Susan Agbor, Limbe, Cameroon, sophomore

Mia Iverson

Swinging at the park on the swing set because you feel the wind in your face as you kick your legs. Im basically a kid at heart. -Jessica Smith, Lenexa Freshman

REVIEW

MUSIC: Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue

On the path from child actress to indie music sensation, Jenny Lewis has accomplished what most musicians only dream of accomplishing. Fans and critics reacted positively to her career as the primary vocalist of indie rock group Rilo Kiley, and in 2006 Lewis branched out with a solo career and released Rabbit Fur Coat. Lewis has also collaborated with the likes of The Postal Service and Cursive. With her sophomore solo release Acid Tongue, Lewis delivers an album that offers a personal, lively feel with each track. Several guest stars add their touch to her tunes, as well. Elvis Costello belts out his rough vocals on Carpetbaggers, and M. Ward contributes his guitar skills to the track Pretty Bird. The Black Crowes Chris Robinson adds vocals to the title track a harmonious tune with a personal, insightful feel, and actress Zooey Deschanel sings with Lewis on Trying My Best to Love You, a sweet and lilting song with gospel-infused melodies. The Next Messiah is an eight-minute-long anecdotal track that is equal parts country and rock n roll, and See Fernando is upbeat, with drumming and strumming that contribute

Swimming at the lake. Its fun and never gets boring, especially if you have floaties on. --Toni OBrian, Joplin, Mo., freshman

Taking a nice jog around campus. Its a great way to break away from studies and other everyday stress. -Brandon Nakada, Orange County, Calif., graduate student

Playing on the playgrounds of random schools in the evening, when the kids arent around. -Michelle Kalen, Olathe sophomore

Smoking hookah outside at Jerusalem Caf in Westport. Its fun, and they also have good hummus as well. Charlie Mock, Overland Park sophomore Derek Zarda

an invigorating attitude to the album. Lewiss music is earnest and genuine, with elements of pop, country, gospel and rock all packaged together and topped with the indie rock stamp of approval. With Acid Tongue, Lewis has proved her musicianship once again, and carved her niche in the indie world a little deeper.

Amanda Sorell

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October 2, 2008

Taking the road less traveled

When the 9-to-5 grind in a cubical sounds more like a prison sentence than a career, being your own boss is the only choice
By Matt Bechtold mbechtold@kansan.com Sitting in an overstuffed leather chair, laptop in front of me, I look out through large plate glass windows to see Belfast flowing by in a stream of pedestrians and traffic. Black cabs and double-decker buses dart in and out of traffic. Kids in colorful school uniforms maneuver through the obstacle course of men in suits sporting black umbrellas like canes. Its Monday morning, and the city is coming to life. But this is no office building, no typical place of business.A small stream of teenagers and business suits diverges from the group and detours through my office to the sound of cappuccinos being made and cooks preparing for the lunch crowd to come. The scenery is becoming a little distracting, so I tune it out with my headphones and focus on my work. The citys hustle and bustle is suddenly set to my own personal soundtrack, and Im ready to start my day. My morning ritual varies, but regardless of whether Im traveling, it always begins with deciding whats next. I have a checklist of things I want to accomplish, and I have to be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. I open a Web browser and a smile spreads across my face as I find a surf shop that has a lodge near the beach in Donegal Bay in Ireland. For a mere $80, I can stay the night at the lodge, eat in its kitchen, rent a wet suit and surfboard, and take a three-hour surfing lesson from one of the Bundoran Surf Companys resident pros. I book a night and dig into my days work of designing a new clients Web site with gusto, knowing that its going to be one incredible week. Ive wanted to travel and see the world since I was a kid.And now that my small Web development and graphic design company has established itself, Ive been thinking, I

SPEAK

could be doing this on a beach somewhere, so why the hell am I not? Lack of Internet access was the only reason before. But now, Wi-Fi hotspots are everywhere, making my dream of traveling the world while continuing to build my own business a possibility. My little brother, also an entrepreneur, told me a joke once. He said, The problem with climbing the corporate ladder is that until you reach the very top the view never changes. Youll always have an ass in your face. For years, Id been doing network administration, photography, graphic design, programming and journalism. All of those skills came together when I took the editors position of a music journalism Web site and magazine. That was my last corporate job, and I was doing something I truly loved. But I came to the conclusion that while I loved the work, I could never be a 9-to-5 kind of guy, Id never be happy in a cubical, and my bosses usually did turn out to be asses. The only option that made sense was to start my own business. I knew Id be willing to work harder and longer for less to build

up my own business rather than put up with one more day working for someone else. So I did. I made the leap and started building a ladder of my own doing commercial Web site development and graphic design. Its still a small ladder, not much bigger than a step-stool, really. Im going to have to add a few rungs in the near future and hire some help. But for now, the best part is that its small enough to be portable, letting me pick it up and carry it around the world, stopping wherever the view is best. I get to sleep in, because its one of lifes greatest pleasures. I grin while my friends bitch about their terrible commutes to work. I wake up grateful in the knowledge that Im working for myself. I sit down at my desk or in my caf office smiling at the fact that my life is an adventure. Most of all, I never get burned out, because the projects change from day to day, and I never know what Ill be working on next. But this clearly isnt a lifestyle for everyone. It takes a lot of willpower and discipline to be your own boss. Its tempting every day to blow things off or to procrastinate, but it

only takes a few of those days for your bills to come in and remind you that paychecks dont just magically appear because you clocked in. Leaving school to start my business was a tough decision. But school was something I swore Id always finish. I didnt expect to be 34-years-old before I graduated college, but thats just how things fell together. Although earning my diploma isnt going to earn me any bonuses at work, Ill know I finished something important that has broadened my horizons. Besides, my love of journalism didnt vanish when I became my own boss, and freelance writing is definitely compatible with the globe-trotting lifestyle Im aiming for. I will graduate in May and while I certainly didnt get to this point along any straight paths, I have no regrets. Im looking forward to checking one more thing off of my very long list of things to see and do. Whats next? I get a great big smile on my face just thinking about it.

graphic by Becka Cremer

October 2, 2008

19

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WEEKLY SPECIALS
FRIDAY SATURDAY
$4 Double Wells $2 House Shots $3.50 Blvd. Wheat Big Beers $5 Double Crown $4 Double Wells $2 House Shots $1 Wells $2 Mich. Ultra $2.50 Domestic Bottles $3 Bombs $12.00 Buckets (Bud) $2.50 Bloody Marys

FRIDAY: $3 Bacardi & $2 Jager Bombs

$2 Domestic Bottles $2 House Shots

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY MONDAY SUNDAY Something BIG is happening at Abe and Jakes on Thursdays! Stay tuned!!
$5 Off Pizza $5 Domestic Pitchers $2.50 Domestic Big Beers $3 Call Drinks -Closed$3 Micro Pints $3.50 Big Beers (32 oz.)

JOHNNYS TAVERN

WAYNE & LARRYS

$2.50 Corona Bottles $3 Double Wells

$1 Domestic Draws $3 Long Island Ice Teas -Closed-

$2 Miller Bottles $2.50 Captain Morgan

BROTHERS

$1 Well Mixers $2 Martini Menu $1 Well Mixers (Jager (Jager & Bacardi Bombs) & Bacardi Bombs) $3 MUG Club (Taps & Wells) $2 Big Domestic Draw $2 Big Domestic Draw $1.00 Mug Refills $2 Call Mixers $2 Call Mixers

-Closed-

$3 Bottles of Becks Oktoberfest Beer for a Limited Time in October!

Fantasy Football Stat Night! $.10 Wings & Half Price Night

LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
$2 Imports $3 Jager Bombs $3 Guinness
$3 Miller High Life Liters $2 Free State $2 Boulevard Draws $2 Capt. Morgan

THURSDAY NIGHT: Steak Night: $10.29 Steak, Salad and Side

$1 Wells $2 Mich. Ultra $1.50 Screwdrivers $3 Miller High Life Liters $1.50 Domestic Bottles $2 Smirnoff (any flavor) $2 Honor Vodka

THE POOL ROOM

JO SHMOS

AWAY GAME WATCH PARTY!

Lawrences GET DOWNTOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Between 8th & 9th New Hampshire Street.