spice it uphow do you like your salsa moves?page 5

lawrence inktattooed students bare their artpage 10

February 21, 2008

ALSO INSIDE | TO

EAT mEAT Or NOT TO EAT mEAT?

pAgE 8 | DISSEcTINg ThE ArcTIc mONkEyS’

SuccESS pAgE 17

Jayplaylife. and how to have one.

05 14moving to the latin beat

02 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Scooter is a vaguely humanoid character. He explained that his mother was a parrot but he didn’t know about his father. —muppet.wikia.com

jayplayersEDITORlkERmIT’s lEfT hanD Dani hurst

assOCIaTE EDITORlfOzzIEmegan hirt

DEsIGnERslmahna mahnaBrenna hawleyBryan marvin

COnTaCTlhElP YOURsElfJessie fetterlingGina souders

hEalThlGOOD fOR YOUJeff Briscoekaitlyn syring

manUallDO ITPeyton BaldwinJosh PattersonDianne smith

nOTICElTakE nOTE Of ITChris BellRebekah scaperlandaElise stawarz

PlaYlOUT anD aBOUTTravis BrownJoe huntDeepa sampat

CREaTIVE COnsUlTanTlknOWs a lOTCarol holstead

WRITE TO Usjayplay08@gmail.com

JaYPlaYThe University Daily kansan111 stauffer-flint hall1435 Jayhawk Blvd.lawrence, ks 66045(785) 864-4810

editor’s noteI love me some

salsa dancin’.This love of mine

could stem from my impeccable sense of rhythm, my weakness

for hot latin guys, or even my penchant for its edible counterpart with a side of chips. But most likely, it comes from the fact that when I was between 12 and 15 years old, my mother was a salsa dancer.

While she was never cast as a dancing extra in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, she did teach salsa dancing classes, and even performed a routine at a big Cinco de mayo celebration. she practiced with

her dance partners for a few hours every day for that show. By the end she was sweaty and tired, but she never looked happier. sometimes I would join in the fun, and then I was the happy one.

Check out Travis’ story on page 5 about salsa dancing at kU, and then pluck up the courage to try it out.

maybe I’ll even convince my boyfriend to go. see you there!

lDani hurst, editor

On the cover: Photo/Rachel anne seymour

play

contact

health

notice

manual

feature

speak

reviews

dips and salsaromance your way out of a rut

recapturing the butterflies

19

07

14

1910

how tickling the ivories cured perfectionism

a showcase of student body art

the keys to success

painted on the hill

07visit the bulkin’ islandspump up the protein

10

*New Ownership*

Open24EVERY WEEKEND

Hours

&Served all day! EVERYDAY!

BurgersBreakfast

1410 Kasold Drive 785-312-7300

SA

TUR

DA

Y

FRID

AYFree Play at the Replay

(Pinball). The Replay Lounge, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., all ages, FREE.

Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament. Burge Union, 4:30 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.suaevents.com.

Times New Roman/Cradle to Casket/Odius/Guinevere. The Boobie Trap Bar, 6 p.m., all ages, $5-$6, www.myspace.com/cradletocasket.

Silent Film Festival. Washburn University, White Concert Hall, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.kssilentfilmfest.org.

Film: Enchanted. Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium, 8 p.m., all ages, $3.

Black Oxygen/Empire/Forever Greye/Canvas.The Beaumont Club, 9p.m., all ages, $10, www.myspace.com/blackoxygen.

Helios Creed/Black Christmas/Sentient. The Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+, $6-7, www.myspace.com/helioscreed.

Terrordactyls/Callupsie. The Eighth Street Tap Room, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace.com/ thelegendaryterrordactyls.

Dylan Paul Band. The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+, $4, www.dylanpaul.net.

Cosmic Bowling. Kansas Union, Jaybowl, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., all ages, FREE.

The Sluggos/Macon Greyson. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace.com/thesluggos.

“Right Between the Ears.” Liberty Hall, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., $15.50-$19.50, www.rightbetweentheears.org.

HorrorPops/The Pink Spiders/Steve E Nix & The Cute Lepers. The Bottleneck, 7 p.m., all ages, $13,www.horrorpops.com.

Silent Film Festival. Washburn University, White Concert Hall, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.kssilentfilmfest.org.

Jason Boland & the Stragglers/FortyTwenty/Jeremy McComb. The Granada, 8 p.m., all ages, $12,www.thestragglers.com.

Film: Enchanted. Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium, 8 p.m., all ages, $3.

Son Venezuela. Abe & Jake’s, 9 p.m., 18+, www.sonvenezuela.com.

Guns N’ Bombs. The Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+, $12-14, www.myspace.com/gunsnbombs.

Chrissy Murderbot/Prince Acid. The Eighth Street Tap Room, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace.com/murderbot.

Cosmopolitics. The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+, $4, www.myspace.com/cosmopolitics.

Cosmic Bowling. Kansas Union, Jaybowl, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., all ages, FREE.

Brimstone Howl/Thunder Eagle/Black Tarantulas. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2.

THU

RS

DA

Y

february 21Tea Time. Kansas Union, Traditions Area, 3 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.suaevents.com.

Darkest Hour/Cephalic Carnage/Emmure/White Chapel. The Bottleneck, 6 p.m., all ages, $13,www.myspace.com/darkesthour.

Film: Running in High Heels. Kansas Union, Alderson Auditorium, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE.

The Sklar Brothers Comedy. Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE.

Dr. Troy Duster: “What Can DNA Tell Us About Race?” Dole Institute of Politics, 7:30 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.doleinstitute.org.

University Band and Symphonic Band. Lied Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $5.

Hackensaw Boys/Billy the Squirrel/Deadman Flats. The Granada, 8 p.m., 18+, $8.

NEON Dance Party. The Bottleneck, 10 p.m., 18+, $1-$5.

Kosha Dillz/infO/SwayzorBladez/Dublow Seven. The Jackpot, 10 p.m., 18+, $5-$7, www.myspace.com/koshadillz4life.

Brody Buster Band. The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+, $3, www.myspace.com/brodybusterband.

The Gunshy/Mustangs and Madras. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.thegunshy.com.

february 22 february 23 february 24

february 25

SU

ND

AYVisiting Artists

Forzato Quartet. Murphy Hall, Swarthout Recital Hall, 2:30 p.m., all ages, FREE.

Sunday Night Jazz. The Eighth Street Tap Room, 8 p.m., 21+, $3, www.eighthstreettaproom.com.

The Okay Thrill/Big Sky Blue Earth. The Record Bar, 10 p.m., 21+, $7, www.theokaythrill.com.

L’ocelle Mare. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace.com/ocellemare.

MO

ND

AYBlack Lips/Quintron

& Miss Pussycat/Modern Primitives. The Bottleneck, 7 p.m., all ages, $13.

Faculty Artists: Kansas Woodwinds. Murphy Hall, Swarthout Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m., all ages, FREE.

Matchbox Twenty. Sprint Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $35-$65, www.matchboxtwenty.com.

The Spanktones Open Jam. The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+, $2.

iPod Battle. The Record Bar, 10 p.m., 21+, FREE, www.myspace.com/ipodbattlekc.

Deals Gone Bad/Will Brand. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.myspace.com/dealsgonebad.

february 26

TUES

DA

YCitizen Cope. Liberty Hall, 6:30 p.m., all ages, $20.50, www.citizencope.com.

KU Symphony Orechestra. Lied Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $5.

Tuesday Night Folk Concerts. Signs of Life, 7:30 p.m., all ages, FREE.

The Akanes/Stars Go Cold/Drunk Punk. The Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+, $5-$7,www.myspace.com/theakanes.

Vedera/Lights & Siren/Another Holiday. The Record Bar, 10 p.m., 18+, $8, www.myspace.com/vedera.

WED

NES

DA

YUniversity Forum: Political Consequences in Kansas of Latino Immigration. Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 12 p.m., all ages, FREE, www.ecmku.org.

Chess Night. Aimee’s Coffee House, 7 p.m., all ages, FREE.

Badfish/Scotty Don’t. The Granada, 7 p.m., all ages, $12, www.badfish.com.

Concert: Jazz Combos. Lawrence Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages, FREE.

Ludo/Anything But Joey/Ha Ha Tonka. The Record Bar, 8 p.m., 18+, www.ludorock.com.

The Whipsaws. The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $2, www.thewhipsaws.com.

where

VEN

UES

Abe & Jake’s Landing8 E. Sixth St.Lawrence(785) 841-5855

The Beaumont Club4050 Pennsylvania St.Kansas City, Mo.(816) 561-2560

The Boobie Trap Bar1417 SW Sixth Ave.Topeka(785) 232-9008

The Bottleneck737 New Hampshire St.Lawrence(785) 841-5483

Eighth Street Tap Room801 New Hampshire St.Lawrence(785) 841-6918

The Granada1020 Massachusetts St.Lawrence(785) 842-1390

The Jackpot Music Hall943 Massachusetts St.Lawrence(785) 843-2846

The Jazzhaus926 1/2 Massachusetts St.Lawrence(785) 749-3320

The Record Bar1020 Westport Rd.Kansas City, Mo.(816) 753-5207

The Replay Lounge946 Massachusetts St.Lawrence(785) 749-7676

0302.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Whenever a scene with Camilla was shot, nobody could remember what color Camilla’s eyes were, so Jim Henson created a theory that Gonzo couldn’t tell the chickens apart, so Gonzo would just assume that whichever chicken was with him was Camilla. —muppet.wikia.com

where it’s at

february 27

04 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Rizzo was named after Ratso Rizzo, a character from Midnight Cowboy who was played by Dustin Hoffman. —muppet.wikia.com

contact the writer: dsampat@kansan.com

play

Put on your poker face and head to the Crimson Café in the Burge Union tomorrow for a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament. The free event, hosted by Student Union Activities, will begin at 5 p.m., with registration beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The first place winner receives $250, second place gets $150 and third place wins $50. SUA games committee member Kelly Morgan, Lawrence freshman, says this is the third year SUA has held the tournament, and she says about 200 people have attended in past years.

“For the people who enjoy poker, it’s a great opportunity to hang around with peers having a similar interest, and it’s something fun and unique to do on a Friday night,” Morgan says.

l Deepa Sampat

this weekendplay some poker

Tyler Jack Anderson, New York City senior, is the lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and founder of the Lawrence-based band Volunteers. The band’s self-titled debut album, released in 2006, is available on iTunes or through its Web site, www.myspace.com/thevolunteersmusic.

What new things are you working on?We’re working on a new record, and we’re playing a few shows in March in New York City for some major record labels. We’re planning a tour this summer to the East Coast and West Coast, hopefully.

How did Volunteers form?I submitted music to KJHK’s Farmers Ball in 2005. I had made a bunch of solo electronic pop music. I got accepted and I didn’t want to play the show by myself with a laptop. I thought that was pretty outrageous. So I formed a band with my friends.

Has music always come naturally to you?Yes. I have a lot of music in my family. My uncle is a professional trumpet player in New York, and my mom is also very musical.

Where do you get inspiration for your songs?Everywhere: love, loss, anger, pain, grief, hopes, dreams, wishes.

Q&A with Tyler Jack anderson

Volunteers singer and guitarist Tyler Jack anderson

My girlfriend had been urging me to go salsa dancing with her for

weeks. I just assumed she was on a salsa kick. Then I began to see more of salsa: salsa

bands, salsa lessons, salsa dance partner want ads.

Why do the women love salsa so much? Is this some elaborate plan for Latin Americans to steal the hearts of

every woman in Lawrence through their seductive moves

and hypnotic rhythms? What is this salsa?

I decided to investigate.Fortunately, the KU Ballroom Dance

Club hosts a salsa class every Friday night. I called my girlfriend and told

her to wear something flashy. We were going to salsa.

I approached the Hashinger Hall dance studio and heard the exotic sounds of trumpets, congo drums and cow bells booming from within. My pelvis started swaying instantly. Or maybe it was quivering. Either way, I was under the spell.

I entered the tiny room and was struck by a wave of energy. Dozens of people filled this tiny box of glossed wood and mirrors. There were students, old folks and really old folks. Everyone was moving back and forth in fluid, sexy motions—even the senior citizens.

We started out learning the salsa step. I was instructed to keep my left arm extended while holding my partner’s right hand. My right hand was to remain directly under my partner’s left armpit and directly behind her left boob. This

didn’t seem so bad.Then I moved my left foot forward, then back next to my

right foot. Then I moved my right foot backward, then back next to my left foot. I’d mastered the salsa step. I could go home now.

Then the instructor showed us how to do the mambo step. Then the rumba step.

Whoa. I did not sign up for this. I agreed to the salsa and that was it. What was up

with all these other moves? Salsa was more complicated

than I had expected. I began to sweat. I gritted my teeth.

I grumbled. I became a very unpleasant dance partner.

Things got a little more enticing once we started with the twirls. It was amazing. All I had to do was spin my partner and we

looked pretty damn good. I tried incorporating a spin into every move.

My girlfriend got dizzy. I had to stop. It was back to looking like an oaf for me.

I enjoyed the second half much more. We started out by forming two circles. The music began. We each did a few steps, then, in some magical move that I never got quite right, we switched partners. I got to dance with almost everyone there.

I was a little apprehensive about every other guy putting their sweaty hands directly under my girlfriend’s left armpit and directly behind her left boob.

But the switcheroo circle soon turned into my favorite part. I met more people in that one hour than I usually do in an entire semester.

“With salsa, everyone changes partners naturally,” says Jorge Ortiz, former KU Ballroom Dance Club president and salsa instructor. “It is embedded in the dance.”

As Nico Jaumard, Moissac, France, graduate student, and Emily Moisan, Saint Charles, Mo., graduate student, have proven, these lessons are a great place to find love. The two met through the KU Ballroom Dance Club about two years ago. Now they teach a salsa class together and plan to marry this August.

Salsa lessons are also a great way for couples to break away from normal dating activities. Shane Kanter, Overland Park sophomore, and Emma Casey, Overland Park freshman, decided they were going to get in better shape together this year by “dancersizing.”

Then there are the people who just go to dance.

Kaitlin Dozier, Fredonia freshman, goes to the weekly salsa lessons with her girlfriends. “I like to get all my classy dancing done on Friday and leave all my frisky dancing for Saturday,” Dozier says.

As I finished the lesson, I couldn’t understand how anyone could do this every week. I was sweaty. I was tired. I’d touched dozens of clammy palms. All I wanted was a shower and a cold beer.

“You started looking a lot better there at the end,” my girlfriend says.

“Yeah?”“Thanks for taking me. I had fun.” Maybe there is something to this

whole salsa thing.

0502.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

A Jayplay writer and both of his left feet investigate the Latin dance craze

photo by: Taylor Miller for more information: www.ballroomdancers.com

contact

By Travis Browntbrown@kansan.com

KU Ballroom Dance Club Salsa ClassesEvery Friday7 p.m.-9 p.m.Hashinger Hall dance studio (1st floor)

and

Learn to Salsa

DipsEveryone was

moving back and forth in fluid, sexy motions—even the

senior citizens.

good for you/bad for you

06 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: The fame of Rowlf the Dog led to two books of piano sheet music released under Rowlf’s name. —muppet.wikia.com

lip balm

contact the writer: ksyring@kansan.com

Many people feel a strong attachment to lip balm. They can’t walk out the door without it. But do people use it because they need it, or do they need it because they use it? Is there really a lip balm conspiracy that’s rendering us all completely addicted?

Lee Bittenbender, a dermatologist at the Dermatology Center of Lawrence, 930 Iowa St., says that lip balm is not, in fact, addictive. He says that using lip balm is beneficial for your lips, especially if it has sunscreen in it to protect those smackers from the sun.

During these harsh winter months, it’s important to keep your lips moisturized, Bittenbender says. At times, people feel uncomfortable if they’re not wearing lip balm, but this is not a sign of addiction—their lips are just telling them it’s time to moisturize.

Bittenbender says that if you use a certain kind of lip balm and your lips still feel chapped, you should consider switching brands. He says some people might experience chronic discomfort because they are allergic to the flavor, dye or sunscreen in the product they’re using.

So rest easy, lip balm wearers: You can lather those lips as much as you want.

VERDICT: GOOD FOR YOU

l Kaitlyn Syring

health

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Between JB Stouts & Salty Iquana

Despite the snow showers, spring break is in sight, and many students have begun prepping their beach bodies. Many run and lift weights to get that perfect physique, but sometimes all that work needs to be supplemented. Some students turn to protein supplements to increase the effectiveness of their normal workouts.

Brent Hale, a doctor and amateur bodybuilder, says that for people who work out regularly, it’s difficult to eat the amount of protein necessary to continue building muscle. Even a diet of protein-rich lean meats and chicken would require lots of chowing down to consume enough protein. Hale says the general theory is that you should consume one to two grams of protein per day per pound of body weight.

A chicken breast contains about 20 grams of protein, and an egg contains about six grams. Taking in about 200 grams of protein a day for an average male would thus require a lot of eating. For this reason, a variety of different protein supplements are on the market to offer a quicker solution. Available in an array of flavors, protein supplements provide an additional 20 grams of protein per drink.

Jake Foiles, Leavenworth senior, started taking a powder protein supplement his freshman year of college to help him build lean muscle. Now a senior, Foiles says he has gained about 10 to 15 pounds a year working out and trying to eat well. Foiles says the supplements help his body maximize the effort he puts in at the gym, but they are no replacement for hard work.

“I know a lot of people who take supplements and don’t work out. They’re not going to make any progress,” Foiles says.

Foiles is no longer looking to gain weight, but still takes protein supplements to maintain the work he has done throughout the past three years.

The body needs eight key amino acids to continue to build muscle. The best place to obtain these building blocks is through protein. Even people who just want to lose weight can benefit from the added muscle protein helps to build.

Muscle keeps burning fat even when the body is in a relaxed state. Hale says people who do not eat enough to continue to build muscle can actually be hampering their efforts at the gym. When they work out, their bodies may begin to break down the muscle if it doesn’t have enough carbohydrates and protein to fuel the workout. This can result in less fat burning and produce a less-toned body. Putting the right nutrients in your body is vital to seeing results.

Greg Brunin, St. Marys senior, works out four to five times a week and drinks a protein smoothie after his workouts. He started taking protein supplements in high school, and he has tried other supplements like Creatine, but says he generally stays away from unnatural products. Brunin says he knows guys who swear by other products, but he stopped taking Creatine supplements because he didn’t see substantial results.

Hale says he doesn’t buy into the hype surrounding some supplements, and advises staying away from products like Creatine that have not been approved by the FDA.

One downside to taking supplements to increase protein in the body is the monotony of drinking grainy shakes or bland drinks after every workout. Hale says it’s a decision you just have to commit to.

Brunin tries to keep a variety in his protein drinks by making smoothies and adding fruit.

The type of protein you purchase might vary based on the results you’re looking for.

Hale says using 100 percent Whey protein provides all the amino acids the body needs while some other protein supplements may

not. For people trying to gain weight, using a product with more carbohydrates will help fuel workouts and build mass. Those trying to lose weight should stick to low-carb products. Everyone should make sure they understand what they are taking before

starting on supplements, Hale says.

Brunin says he read up on different products to be sure he knew what he was taking and avoids things he doesn’t know enough about. Taking a supplement and not working out enough can lead to the body storing the nutrients as fat. Even supplements contain calories

the body needs to burn. Understanding what your body can handle and what it needs is an important step in determining what extra help you should choose.

Those spring break bodies won’t come without hard work, but understanding the body’s processes can aid in working on your LGN (looking good naked).

0702.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

How this nutrient can help you bulk up or slim down

photo illustration by: Brenna Hawley and Lisa Lipovac for more information: www.bodybuilding.com

health

By Jeff Briscoejbriscoe@kansan.com

Pump up the protein

Even people who just want to lose weight can benefit

from the added muscle protein helps to build.

Muscle keeps burning fat even when the body is in a

relaxed state.

“Too chicken to go vegetarian?” A recent batch of ads sponsored

by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) asks this question.

Though PETA’s primary concern is for the animals, eating meat is actually deadly for the planet, too. One of the leading contributors to climate change is the amount of methane gas released by current methods of agricultural production.

Methane is the chief component of natural gas, but the place that it’s coming from these days seems anything but natural. One cow farts and burps out more than 63 gallons of methane daily. Multiply that by the 1.3 billion cattle in the world, and the planet is going to need a bit more than a dose of Gas-X to cure this problem.

Not surprisingly, several so-called environmentalists have had trouble addressing this problem. Not once in his documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, did Al Gore mention methane, probably because it’s the most inconvenient truth of all. Your flesh-eating tendencies are killing the planet (among other things).

The beef industry gets a prime cut of the blame, but the other industries are guilty as well. The production of two pounds of beef releases more greenhouse gases than taking a three-hour drive in your Hummer while leaving the lights on back home, according to New Science magazine.

It can be a lonely world come mealtime for us vegetarians in the Midwest (motto: Beef, it’s what’s for every meal of the day). Even food that appears to be vegetarian is sometimes cooked in animal fat or contains traces of meat.

Fortunately, dining services on campus have been receptive to the needs of vegetarians and others looking for the occasional meat-free meal.

“We are always looking for vegetarian recipes,” says Nona Golledge, director of KU Dining Services. “Even though someone may not classify themselves as a vegetarian, they still want healthier options.”

Golledge estimates that about 26 percent of Dining Services’ 5,000 recipes are vegetarian.

For students who don’t want to make the full transition, residence hall dining facilities serve soy Boca burgers and black bean burgers.

On-campus dining selections have a huge influence on what students eat. Golledge says that on an average day, the 20 on-campus dining operations serve about 10,000 people.

KU Dining Services recently introduced organic foods into select venues, and meat from Local Burger—a restaurant that serves only locally raised meat —is offered in The Market in the Kansas Union. As consumers, we should buy organic and local products whenever possible because doing so cuts down on pollution while also supporting our local economy.

Becoming a full-fledged vegetarian is a bold and difficult move. I don’t know how many more films like Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me or visits to TheMeatrix.com it will take for people to make the move to eating less meat, but we can’t keep farting around with such a serious environmental problem.

tip

s fo

r b

eco

min

g a

vege

tari

an

greening it your guide to greener living

08 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

Contact the writer: lkeith@kansan.com

manual

By Lauren Keith

It took me 20 years, but making the transition to vegetarian, vegan or simply to eating less meat doesn’t have to take you until the cows come home.

1. Read.As with anything new, read as much about it as you can. Check out books from the library or Web sites like www.GoVeg.com.

2. Find new recipes, or revise the old.Thanks to the Internet, you no longer have to buy new cookbooks to start enjoying a new menu. There is a buffet of vegetarian recipes online. For your favorite recipes, try using meatless substitutes like Boca or Morningstar Farms brands.

3. Don’t go cold turkey.Start by eliminating red meat or other meats that you don’t eat frequently. Red meat is generally considered the least healthy, but a gradual transition into vegetarianism usually works better than giving everything up at once.

4. Get enough protein.A common misconception about vegetarians is that they don’t get enough protein, but meat eaters actually consume more protein than they need. Besides meat, protein is found in nuts, seeds, beans and soy. Try supplements if you are worried about not getting enough nutrients.

5. Enjoy.Being a vegetarian is not supposed to be torture, although it may be difficult to give up your favorite meat-filled foods initially. If you feel like you’re depriving yourself, you’ll stick with vegetarianism about as long as it takes you to say the word. Instead, know that you’re doing something good for yourself and the planet while trying new, great-tasting foods in the process.

Source: www.zenhabits.net

interesting fact: The Swedish Chef’s gibberish gained a life of its own in 1992 with the creation of a Unix filter capable of converting standard English to Chefspeak. —muppet.wikia.com

Blue Plate Dinners, 4931 W. Sixth St,, is a meal preparation service that aims to simplify home cooking. The store gathers all the ingredients, and then customers can prepare the meals and freeze or refrigerate them for later. Lori Johns, co-owner of Blue Plate Dinners, says the meals are an inexpensive alternative to fast food or to going out to eat every night. The store is set up in stations, with each station arranged like a restaurant kitchen. Each station has the ingredients set out in tubs so customers can find them easily. “You know how long it takes me to find cumin in my own kitchen?” Johns jokes. “Here, it’s right there.” This recipe, adapted by Blue Plate co-owner Rachel Wydeven-Oliverius, was the featured recipe at Blue Plate in January.

Chicken and Vegetable Stir-FryServes 4 to 6 people

Ingredients:

Optional:

Cooking Instructions:

1. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, honey and canola oil in a glass or plastic bowl. Add chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour marinated chicken and marinade into skillet and cook, turning chicken halfway through, about 5 minutes, or until chicken turns evenly white.

3. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. Pour vegetables into pan and cook about 2 minutes; return chicken to pan and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until internal temperature of chicken measures 165 degrees and vegetables are tender.

4. Serve over cooked rice. l Dianne Smith

manual

cook it ChiCken and vegetable stir-fryCompletely free Closet organizersreuse it

If you’re like many students, cleaning your room is less about actual cleaning than it is about cramming stuff into your closet. It does work, in the sense that it gives your room the appearance of tidiness. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well, eventually one must open his or her closet and address the heaps of clothes, shoes, old textbooks and assorted knickknacks that accumulate over time.

When the time comes to actually sort and organize things, wine boxes are a sturdy and thrifty way to get the job done. You can use wine boxes for drawers in places that normally don’t have drawers—just turn them on their sides and stack them for shelving. They are also a handy way to store old notebooks and textbooks. If you have more stuff than closet space, many wine boxes come with artsy decorations, so you can choose ones that fit your aesthetic.

You can also make shelving for your closet out of supermarket produce containers. Many produce pallets are designed to be shelf-ready, meaning they are made for transport and to display fruits and vegetables once they reach the supermarket. In other words, they are designed to be both sturdy and user-friendly.

An employee of Jensen’s Liquor, 620 W. Ninth St., who asked to go by the name Tango, says the store gets shipments every day and the best time to pick up boxes is in the afternoon. Produce containers can be picked up for free anytime from wholesalers like Sam’s Club and Costco.

I guess you don’t really have to clean your closet. You could just move, in which case you could use wine boxes transport your stuff to your new, yet-to-be disheveled abode.

l Josh Patterson 1 ½ lbs. chicken, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces3 tablespoons Dijon mustard½ cup soy sauce2 teaspoons garlic, minced1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and minced (can use jarred)¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons canola oil2 cups broccoli florets, steamed in microwave or boiled, until bright green and slightly tender (about 4 minutes)½ cup onions, cut into 1-inch pieces

½ cup water chestnuts (canned, sliced, drained)1 cup baby corn (canned, drained)

1 cup green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces1 cup red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

relaxation made easy

DIY: aromatherapyAromatherapy uses

concentrated oils—called essential oils—that are extracted from the flowers, leaves or other parts of a plant. The oils, which carry the plant’s scent, are said to have healing properties. Students have a hard time getting into aromatherapy because essential oils can be expensive and students just don’t know what to do with them, says Lowen Millspaugh, assistant wellness manager at The Merc, 901 Iowa St. Millspaugh recommends using high-quality organic oils, ones that are grown without any herbicides or pesticides. “You don’t want to put that stuff on your body,” Millspaugh says. With a little guidance, aromatherapy can be easy. And with these recipes, students can use essential oils to make their own relaxing spa treatments.

For a soothing facial steam, fill a bowl with hot water and add a few drops of essential oil. Pick an oil according to your skin type: lavender for normal skin, rose for dry skin and clary-sage for acne-prone skin. Drape a towel over your head, covering the bowl to lock in the steam. Then wait while the steam opens your pores and lets the oil penetrate your skin. “It’s a nice treat,” Millspaugh says. “A nice little home spa treatment.”

Making your own bath salts is another way to use essential oils. In a quart-size Ziploc bag, combine ½ cup each of kosher salt and Epsom salt. Add a few drops of food coloring, close the bag and shake until the color is spread evenly. Then add five to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil and shake again. Lavender is especially relaxing, and the Epsom salt will relax your muscles and soften your skin. This recipe makes enough for two baths: simply pour half the bag into the bath and swirl with your hands until the salts dissolve.

l Dianne Smith

0902.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Fozzie was named after puppet builder Faz Fazakas, who created the mechanism that allowed Fozzie to wiggle his ears. —muppet.wikia.com

contact the writers: jpatterson@kansan.com, dsmith@kansan.com

Wine boxes and produce containers can be used to tidy up a messy space.

serve this chicken and veggie stir-fry on a bed of fluffy rice.

lavender essential oil recipes soothe skin and relax muscles.

1102.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21photos by: Rachel Anne Seymour1002.21.2008

VOL. 5 ISS. 21interesting fact: Animal is sometimes referred to as “The little skirt chaser.” He was actually influenced by

someone Jim Henson knew who would get drunk and chase women. —www.associatedcontent.com

feature feature

Right: Shannon Sullivan, Ottawa junior, deisgned the phoenix image that is now her tattoo. The tattoo is out-lined in brown ink, which is unique because most out-lines are done in black.Below: Sullivan originally planned for the tattoo to be filled in with earth tones like browns, reds and golds, but she’s considering leaving it as just an outline.

I still remember the day my sister called to tell me she’d just gotten her tattoo. It was beautiful. Even the low-quality cell phone photo she sent me couldn’t mask the swallow’s bright colors and bold lines. She told me about her experience at the tattoo parlor and how the thing itched like hell. My heart was racing; not because I was excited for her (although I was), but because I feared the imminent encounter with our mother. I knew she’d be pissed.

My sister told my mother right after she told me, and all I can say is that she’s lucky there was a phone between them. There was yelling. There was a lot of yelling. My mother was angry because her daughter knew how negatively she viewed tattoos. My sister argued that it wasn’t meant as a personal offense, but that she’d wanted one for a long time and had finally gotten it done. My mother still disapproves. My sister still feels justified.

As for me, tattoos are exquisite works of art, but they’re not for me. It’s not that I’ve never wanted one, but I can’t imagine me on my sister’s side of the phone.

lDani Hurst, editor

KU students unveil their skin and their ink

Above Left: Rick Stuckey, Prairie Village senior, got his tree tattoo at age 21.He chose the image because he is always outdoors and wanted a tattoo of something he would always enjoy. “I am never going to wake up and say, ‘I hate trees. I don’t want them on my body anymore,’” Stuckey says.Above: Andrew Jilka, Salina junior, shows the butterfly tattooed on his left hand.Right: Jilka models his sleeve tattoo, which has three squid in the design to represent his family. Jilka has been interested in tattoos for as long as he can remember. To him, they symbolize where he is at and where he has been, he says.

feature

12 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: A statue of Jim Henson and Kermit stands on the campus of Henson’s alma mater, the University of Maryland. —muppet.wikia.com

contact the writer: dhurst@kansan.com

Above Right: Megan Vaniman, Kensal, N.D., senior, displays the tattoos on her foot. She has eight tattoos total. The first tattoo Vaniman got was the trio of Chinese symbols on her foot. She tells very few people the meaning behind her ink. “I keep it a mystery,” she says.Above: Adam Rasmussen, Leawood senior (also pictured on cover), has a dragon tattooed on the side of his torso.Right: Vaniman reveals her piano keys and musical note tattoos. The musical note on the nape of her neck is the first note in “Moonlight Sonata” by Ludwig van Beethoven, Vaniman’s favorite song to play on the piano.

DIY: greeting cards

1302.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Kermit and Miss Piggy ranked #34 on Bravo’s list of 100 Greatest TV Characters. —www.tv.com

the perfect personalized gesture

contact the writer:dsmith@kansan.com

Making your own greeting cards can be a simple solution to that last-minute run to Hallmark. Store-bought cards can be pricey and pretty cheesy, too. By picking up a set of blank greeting cards and decorating them yourself, you can turn the small gesture of giving a card into a more meaningful, personalized gift.

Hobby Lobby, 1801 W. 23rd St., sells sets of blank cards, complete with envelopes, starting at $4.44 for a set of 25. At that price—about 18 cents a card—you’ll save plenty of money. And while you’re at Hobby Lobby, pick up some glitter, stencils and colorful pens to make your cards as eye-catching as possible. With extra cards and art supplies on hand, you’ll never be caught off guard by a friend’s birthday that might have slipped your mind.

Now, it’s time to start thinking about the touching message you’ll write inside. If you’re stumped, visit www.quotegarden.com, which is full of card-worthy quotes for many different occasions.

And, if you’re too cheap to buy wrapping paper for a gift, making your own is just as simple. Grab a piece of blank paper and use your extra art supplies to decorate it to complement your homemade card. Simple patterns, such as stripes or polka dots, usually work best.

l Dianne Smith

manual

Next Wednesday!

Butterfly

1402.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

RecapturingHow to break out of that relationship rut

photos by: Jessie Fetterlingfor more information: www.therelationshipgym.com

contact

Remember when you first started dating your boyfriend or girlfriend? Remember how your heart jumped when he picked you up for your first date? Remember wondering if tonight was the night she was going to sleep over? Remember the butterflies?

Those were the days when everything in your relationship was just starting. But now your relationship may have fallen into the same daily routine. Spending almost every night together, the two of you have become too comfortable with each other and predictability has replaced any spontaneity in your relationship. The “new and exciting” has become the “old and familiar.”

Lindsay Crupper, Overland Park graduate student, and her fiancé, Timothy Haake, a senior at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., have been dating for more than three years. They finish each other’s sentences, watch reruns of Scrubs and run the familiar errands together. They like to stay in, play board games, wear sweat pants and maybe forego taking showers. Their relationship has fallen into a routine.

Tom Atchity, Overland Park senior, says he and his girlfriend are also familiar with relationship routines. They drive each other to school every day, spend every night together, watch reruns of Lost, sleep in until 1 p.m. on weekends, eat brunch at Hayes Hamburger & Chili once a week and read the newspaper together every Sunday morning.

Ruts are common in relationships that have lasted for long periods of time. Eventually you feel you know each other so well there isn’t anything new you could possibly learn about each other. Tim Connor, motivational speaker and author of Relationship Ruts and How to Avoid Them, identifies four factors that contribute to a relationship rut: perception, expectation, romance and stress.

How you perceive your partner leads to expectations, which can often result in disappointment. Expecting your boyfriend to suddenly quit being messy or your girlfriend to suddenly become low-maintenance is dangerous because it’s important to have accepted each other’s flaws early on in your relationship. Couples under a lot of stress tend to repeat arguments and lose communication. All of these destructive factors can create a rut in a relationship.

A study at Stony Brook University in New York looked at how couples can escape these kinds of boring ruts. Arthur Aron, social psychologist at Stony Brook who conducted the study, says its results show that couples that engage in “novel and arousing activities” experience a significant

statistical increase in the quality of relationship. Aron’s research studied 60 couples during a 10-week period and found that the couples that participated in exciting and pleasant activities— such as rock climbing or visiting an amusement park—experienced the increase versus couples that participated in more mundane activities (Can anyone say dinner and a movie?).

Engaging in these activities alone will not magically fix a relationship that is experiencing an actual conflict, Aron says. Trying new things with each other will only help couples that are feeling bored.

Connor emphasizes that both partners need to want to try these activities. Insisting your girlfriend go sailing with you when you know she gets seasick easily may not be the best idea, Aron says.

When Crupper and Haake grow tired of playing chess, they go out and try to experience something new that they’ve both wanted to try. In the past they have taken line-dancing classes, and they’re currently enrolled in a

financial class to prepare for their marriage. Haake wants to try out a cooking class in the near future. “I don’t really cook, so it will probably help out our marriage,” Crupper jokes.

Atchity says escaping Lawrence and driving to Kansas City for a night helps break the predictability in his relationship. “We often like to go out and eat somewhere fancy that makes us feel middle-aged,” Atchity says.

Aron stresses that trying something

new will not get you out of a relationship rut if you only try it once. Couples should try something new every month. Connor suggests focusing on the relationship as an entity by writing a list of behaviors you want to put back into the relationship on separate sheets of paper and placing them in a jar. Each month, pull out a piece of paper and focus on that behavior for the rest of the month. You can also use this method by compiling a list of new activities you and your partner want to try and pick one out each month.

But are new and exciting activities the only thing that can keep a relationship afloat? Haake says incorporating new activities in his relationship is fun every once in a while, but excitement alone doesn’t form a long-lasting relationship.

“What everyone else might call mundane, Lindsay and I just have fun doing it,” Haake says. “I admit I usually don’t feel the butterflies anymore, but every now and then, Lindsay will walk into the room looking like a million bucks and those butterflies will come flying right back.”

By Gina Soudersgsouders@kansan.com

theEffect

1502.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21interesting fact: In 1998, Miss Piggy released “Moi,” her own brand of perfume. —muppet.wikia.comcontact the writer:

gsouders@kansan.com

contact

how we met opposites attract

A.J. Strickland, Washington, Kan., senior, is a cowboy who likes to spend time on the shooting range. Sandra Mayle, Wichita graduate, is an urbanite who likes to hang out in coffee shops. He drives a truck. She drives a Nissan Sentra.

They couldn’t be more different from each other, but one night they found themselves working the eight-hour late shift together at the front desk of Lewis Hall.

He was intimidated by her looks, and she thought he was kind of weird. But with nothing to do but sit for eight hours, Strickland and Mayle ended up talking and getting to know each other. “I don’t know how she could have put up with me talking about my farm in detail for at least half an hour,” Strickland says.

As their shift came to a close, Strickland found the courage to ask Mayle on a date. “He asked me to go with him to the shooting range,” Mayle says. “But I think everyone secretly wants to shoot a gun. At least I did.”

The couple has been together for more than a year. l Gina Souders

sandra Mayle and a.J. strickland

Which summer movie are you most excited

about this year?

What’s your favorite holiday?

if you could have any superpoWer What Would

it be?

Why do you think attendance in this year’s

democratic caucus Was significantly higher

than in 2004?

Who has been the biggest influence in

your life and Why?

Megan DietelSt. Louis junior

Kathleen SebeliusKansas governor

5questions

I am really looking forward to The Dark Knight. After all the hype about Heath Ledger’s character, I think it’s going to be a very interesting movie to watch.

I’m going to be very unoriginal and say Christmas. I just really love being able to spend time with my family.

I would love to be able to teleport to anywhere in the world like in that new movie, Jumper. I’ve always wanted to travel all over the world, but being a poor college student, I don’t exactly have the money to do that.

I think the young people in our country are finally getting excited about politics. I think their involvement really increased this year’s attendance.

My grandma. She was raised on a small farm in Kansas and was always struggling. She’s become very successful and I look up to her a lot.

l Gina Souders

My chick flick is definitely Sex and the City. It also looks like there is a great new Indiana Jones movie as well as fighting pandas—a good summer for all!

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I enjoy spending time together with my family and close friends as well as enjoying one of the great American dinners of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. It’s far less hassle and hype than some of the other holidays.

The only superhero I ever knew about growing up was Superman—“faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a powerful locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Since I’ve never run into kryptonite, I still think those powers would be the best.

In 2004, the Caucus was just about who was going to attend the convention. This year, Kansas Democrats had a real voice in choosing the party’s nominee. We have a candidate in Barack Obama who is inspiring thousands of new voters to tune in and turn up, to work and to vote. It will make a huge difference in the election and in his opportunity to be a great president.

My parents, Katie and Jack Gilligan. They gave me unconditional love and support, taught me about sacrifice and service, and gave me the confidence to believe that anything was possible, if I worked for it. Every child should be so lucky!

16 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Kermit the Frog performed his song “The Rainbow Connection” at the Academy Awards in 1980, where it was nominated for Best Original Song. —muppet.wikia.com

contact the writer: gsouders@kansan.com,

rscaperlanda@kansan.com

notice

wescoe witGirl 1: How much do you think each boob weighs? Girl 2: I don’t know. Maybe 15 pounds each? Girl 1: That much? Girl 2: I don’t know. Maybe not.

Chemistry professor: You guys wouldn’t believe what chemists do to each other in the lab late at night. Guy 1: I’ve never taken a shot of straight gin. I don’t even know what happens. Guy 2: When I drink it, nothing’s left. All the bottle is gone. Guy 1: I hear when you drink it, your clothes come off. Girl: To have a MySpace, don’t you have to be a musician or something? Guy: No, you just have to be a slut who wants to get some. Girl: So, like, a slutty musician?

Girl 1: What are you doing tonight? Going out? Girl 2: Eh, I don’t know. I might. Girl 1: You need to! Come get crazy with us for Lent! Girl: I’ll call you if I need a drunk driver. Wait…I’ll be drunk. You be sober.

l Rebekah Scaperlanda

Every year, millions of people watch the American Idol auditions on TV, but last summer, 18-year-old Dallas native Shannon Murray experienced the process firsthand.

Murray auditioned in Dallas for the show’s seventh season with about 12,000 other Idol hopefuls, and Murray says the experience is much different than it appears on television.

Before getting their shot at a stint on TV, contestants begin by auditioning in groups of six in one of 12 tents with two judges in each tent. Simon, Paula and Randy aren’t anywhere to be found, and they actually don’t come to town to film their segments until several months later.

Murray says another surprise was the amount of waiting time. Murray and her dad arrived at the stadium where the auditions were held at 3 a.m. the day before, and waited hours just to get a wristband, which would guarantee an audition spot the following day. Getting in to audition then required another long wait. You might be the next Kelly Clarkson, but you’ll have to suffer long lines for your art.

Murray was cut in the very first round in Dallas, but to check out those whose suffering paid off, tune in to American Idol every Tuesday and Wednesday (and sometimes Thursday) at 7 p.m. on FOX.

l Elise Stawarz

what it’s liketo audition for american idol

above: aspiring idols gather in dallas’ texas Stadium.Below: Murray (left) during the audition process.

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music guyA road map to music utopia

1702.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

By Ben Garmisa

play

interesting fact: Kermit the Frog is left-handed. —www.berro.com

Arctic Monkeys (For fans of The Strokes and Bloc Party)

It’s a bit ironic that a band comprised wholly of technologically dense lads would owe most of their success to the unstoppable march of technological progress. For the upbeat, fast-paced and lyrically clever post-punk pop-rock Arctic Monkeys, though, the success is more than merely ironic—it is wholly unexpected. While many in the music industry would consider the group’s continued refusal to put record label scouts on their guest lists to be an act of self-sabotage, it has, in fact, allowed the tenacity and devotion of the group’s fans to really propel the group to greatness. The Arctic Monkeys’ fans have shown that, in an age when RIAA lawyers sue their own customers while lowering artists’ compensation, true talent can still provide a pathway to stardom and success.

After the group of four friends formed in 2002, they started playing some small local venues while handing out free demos to anyone who would take them. Now, so far this is a pretty normal way to achieve success (a lot of successful bands start out like this), but then the group veered sharply down the road less traveled… After garnering a fervent fan-base around Sheffield (UK), the labels and agents came knocking—but the band refused to guarantee them guest list space or VIP treatment at their shows, eschewing the normal route in favor of doing what they loved. Simultaneously, the fans began their work by uploading and sharing the music

on sites such as MySpace, where the Monkeys quickly became one of the most popular artists. When asked in a 2005 interview with Prefix magazine (a music magazine in New York) if they even knew how to upload their music to the web, the band replied with a succinct “no, no.”

Next, a fan who just so happened to be a photographer went to a few shows with video cameras and eventually had enough film to slap together a music video for what he thought was their best song at the time, “Fake Tales of San Fransisco,” and uploaded it to his Web site (keep in mind this was before advent of YouTube). After a few weeks, the video became so popular that it was placed in constant rotation on MTV UK. The song was finally released in studio recording form on the band’s first album, which subsequently became the fastest-selling debut album of any British band ever—including the Beatles. Go back and read that again. The Arctic Monkeys’ debut album sold more

copies in its first week than did the Beatles’ debut—and the Monkey’s didn’t even have a major label backing them—just a lot of devoted fans spreading the gospel. The album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, was finally named TIME magazine’s album of the year in 2006.

BONUS: There may be an awesome mash-up of Kaiser Chiefs’ “I Predict A Riot” and the Arctic Monkeys’ “I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor” cleverly titled “I Predict That You Look Good On The Dancefloor” floating around somewhere on the intertubes… And when I say “There may be” I mean “There is and go listen to it ASAP.”

Jay

pla

ysays...rentKansas

Sure, lots of TV shows and movies pretend to take place in Kansas. CBS’ series Jericho invented its own town here, and who could forget the faux-Topeka house party in Almost Famous with all those “real Topeka people, man.”

A refreshing exception to this let’s-say-we’re-filming-in-Kansas-but-really-film-it-somewhere-else thing is Kansas, a little-known crime drama shot in the summer of 1987 in Lawrence, Topeka and other parts of northeast Kansas. According to the 80s Movie Rewind Web site (www.fast-rewind.com), more than 2,000 Kansans, mostly from the Douglas County area, were extras in the film.

A young, scruffy Matt Dillon (Crash, There’s Something About Mary) stars as a bank robber drifting through the Midwest. In the sunflower state, he meets up with another traveler played by 80s Brat Pack-er Andrew McCarthy. The two become partners in crime, though quickly turn into bitter enemies. The film is full of fights, romance and plenty of Kansas farmhouses.

Its slightly far-fetched plot and occasionally cheesy dialogue might bother die-hard film buffs, but Kansas is worth watching for its stunning cinematography of our stomping ground, and the fact that you’ll recognize the scenery and maybe even some of those people standing around in the parade scene.

You can rent Kansas through Netflix (www.netflix.com) or Blockbuster Online (www.blockbuster.com).

watch“The Mysterious Ticking Noise” and “They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard”

While these aren’t the only fantasy movie spoofs out there, these are two of the funniest and best-executed ones. And believe us, we’ve looked. In order to enjoy either of these, however, you must have at least a small place in your heart for these movies. Otherwise, you’ll find little to no humor in them. And remember: They’re supposed to be dumb.

“The Mysterious Ticking Noise” is one installment of a series of Harry Potter hand puppet shows. This particular one centers around—you guessed it—a mysterious ticking noise. It opens with Snape, who hears the noise and starts singing “Snape, Snape, Severus Snape” in time with the music. But what starts out as a simple ode to himself quickly turns into a noisy melee as each of the main Harry Potter characters adds his or her own name to the song until it’s a round-robin including Ron, Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, and even Voldemort. I’d let you in on the source of the ticking, but I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.

The music for “They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard” is based on a techno version of the theme music from the Lord of the Rings movies. It is comprised of movie and sound clips, which go surprisingly well with the chosen tempo of the music. Believe it or not, after watching this once or twice, you’ll find yourself humming the tune and singing, “They’re taking the hobbits to Isengard, gard, g-g-g-gard” to yourself (because if you sang it out loud, people would make fun of you).

Matt Dillon in Kansas.

“The Mysterious Ticking Noise.”

“They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard.”

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ie

Don’t be quick to “jump” out of your seat for this one. Jumper isn’t a must-see movie, but it is worth checking out at some point.

Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Episode III, Awake), Samuel L. Jackson (Coach Carter, S.W.A.T.) and Rachel Bilson (The O.C.) make up the cast of this sci-fi thriller based on the novel of the same name.

Christensen stars as David Rice, a young man who learns he has the ability to teleport himself virtually anywhere he can think of. He spends years living a life of leisure, making himself rich and sleeping with women all over the world. But his fun comes to an end when an organization that seeks to kill “jumpers”—people with the ability to teleport—comes after him.

If you’re looking for another thriller for purely entertainment purposes, this is your film. But if you hate it when events happen in a movie with no real explanation, steer clear of Jumper. Christensen does a great job of allowing the audience to understand his character. Surprisingly, Samuel L. Jackson is the one who gives a lackluster performance as the leader of the organization that’s after Christensen. You’re never really sure of his character’s motives or his background.

The plot is definitely there, but it’s just not used to its full potential. If Jumper 2 gets the green light, which it supposedly has, the director should expand more on background information on some of the events and people in the film. The organization after Christensen isn’t explained well until the end of the film, and still by then there are several other little things that just don’t add up.

It was nice to see Christensen and Jackson reunited since the memorable Star Wars Episode III. It’s also interesting to think how rapper Eminem would have done in this one, as he was originally cast in Christensen’s role. Jumper is entertaining overall, but you may want to wait for it to hit the rental stores.

HHHIIMatt Lindberg

18 02.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

interesting fact: Statler and Waldorf were named after two New York City hotels—the Statler Hotel (which was renamed the Hotel Pennsylvania in 1992) and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Waldorf’s wife, Astoria, completes the set. —muppet.wikia.com

jumperreviews

mov

ieThe fact that I couldn’t personally relate to The

Savages, and yet found it delightful, is a telltale sign of a great movie, as good movies are wholesomely enjoyed by the people they were made for, but great movies transcend demographics.

The movie’s opening montage shows old ladies working on a synchronized swimming routine and a golf-carted grandfather blissfully taking in the monotony of Sun City, Ariz., aka Retirement Paradise, USA. Enter Wendy and Jon Savage (Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman), two siblings reuniting to take their father (Philip Bosco) back East where they both live because, as Linney eloquently puts it, “He’s been writing on the walls with his shit.” Diagnosed with dementia, their dad is disoriented to the point of believing that the nursing home his kids have put him in is a hotel. But for all of his confused outbursts, it’s his children who end up needing the therapy only family can provide. While caring for their father in his final days, Hoffman and Linney work through feelings of guilt about the quality of care they’re giving their father and their more serious personal issues, which drag further drama along with them.

Don’t worry: It’s not the maudlin melodrama that my summary may have made it out to be. Yes, The Savages does have heart and emotion, but it’s also frickin’ hilarious. More about exploring the problems of brother and sister than those of Papa Savage—who is relatively content in his ignorance—writer/director Tamara Jenkins has a knack for putting Hoffman and Linney in awkward environments and then stepping back and letting them react, usually without any words at all. And then there are the sibling fights, which are so well done that you’ll want to step on-screen and yell, “Hey, break it up!” The brisk pace and subtle humor—with the occasional outburst—reminded me of Sideways. This turned out to be no coincidence: Sideways writer Alexander Payne produced The Savages.

HHHHIIan Stanford

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I sat on the piano bench in my piano teacher’s living room one Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. I was a junior in high school, and for the last 11 years, this had been a routine. Ms. Rivers had a beautiful shiny black grand piano that I was sure she polished at least once a day. She was a master pianist and composer, and if I was lucky I would catch her playing a piece she had written when I walked into her house each week for my lesson.

This particular lesson shouldn’t have been different from any other, except that during the past week I had nearly quadrupled my practice time. I was working on a nocturne by Chopin, and for nearly two hours every night, I would sit at my piano going over and over each scale, chord and trill. At the end of the week, I felt as though I had almost mastered the song, but there was one trill that was particularly pesky. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my fingers to move fast enough between the notes. But I wanted it to be perfect, so I did the only thing I could think of: I kept practicing.

After my warm-up exercises, Ms. Rivers took a seat in her green and gold old-fashioned armchair and waited for me to begin. I wanted to play the piece flawlessly, and I hoped all my practicing was going to pay off. After all, practice makes perfect, right?

I wiped my hands on my jeans, took a deep breath and let my fingers take over. The sheet music was out, but I didn’t need it. I had practiced the song so many times that I had it memorized. I began playing softly and slowly. When I came to a crescendo, the music became loud and energetic. The chords chimed and the scales sung. I played flawlessly.

Almost. After I had finished, Ms. Rivers rose and approachedthe piano bench. “Very good,” she said enthusiastically,

putting a hand on my shoulder. “I can tell you’ve really

been practicing.”My vision blurred with tears. In my mind I knew she was

giving me a compliment, but in my heart I knew I had messed up the trill. It wasn’t fast enough nor smooth enough. I played the rest of the piece without missing a note, but all I could think of was my failure.

I couldn’t hide my tears. But before Ms. Rivers had a chance to ask what was wrong, I spilled everything. I told her about

the hours I had spent at my piano, how I would run the trill so many times my fingers became raw. By now the tears were

streaming down my cheeks.She looked at me thoughtfully for a moment.

“You can’t always be perfect,” she said. “There are some things, no matter how hard you try, you just won’t be able to do. It’s the effort you put into it that really matters.”

The words knocked the wind out of me. You can’t always be perfect.

All my life, I had tried to be perfect—so much so that I would routinely wear myself out. When my friends would hang out together, I would stay at home working on a school project that I

had already finished, but that I thought could look better. If I thought my notes from class were too messy, I would rewrite them so the handwriting looked perfect. I would stay after school in the journalism room after everyone had left except the night custodians, working on our school newspaper until each page looked just right or until my adviser would finally kick me out.

I had been this way for as long as I could

remember. Even in preschool, while the good kids colored outside the lines and the bad kids scribbled on the walls, I would sit by myself, hunched over my paper, taking time to ensure that not a spot of color crossed the black outline of the picture.

When I didn’t reach the level of perfection I sought, I felt inadequate. I was never good enough for myself.

In that moment at the piano, Ms. Rivers helped me gain some perspective. Nobody can be perfect all the time. So what if I couldn’t hit the trill? I had tried my hardest and given it my all. Sometimes that’s all you can do. Even if failure is the result, it’s the effort that matters.

After I gained my composure, I played the piece once again. And, once again, I messed up the trill. But this time, it didn’t matter. I didn’t have to be perfect, and it was okay.

Now, every time I sense myself slipping into my old perfectionist tendencies, I try to remember my piano lesson that day. It’s all right if I’m not perfect at everything. In fact, I realize now that that’s impossible. Instead, I focus on putting the greatest effort into whatever I do, and that’s how I judge my successes.

And so far, I can say I’ve been pretty successful.

learning the keys to successHow a piano lesson set the tone for my future

By Deepa sampat

1902.21.2008VOL. 5 ISS. 21

Contact the writer: dsampat@kansan.comGraphics by: Brenna Hawley

speak

interesting fact: Beaker does a mean Little Richard impression and also knows how to beatbox, which he showcased on the Muppets Tonight TV show. —muppet.wikia.com

The words knocked the wind out of me. You can’t always be perfect.