The Up-Beat Journalist

#9: Lego and gender

2012-02-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

I recently read an interesting post on Sociological Images about the regression of Lego's marketing efforts since the early 1980's when it comes to gender in their advertising. Look at these Lego ads from 1980-1982:

Now check out at Lego's new line, Lego Friends:

These new dolls are straight up creepy, not only because they sexualize girls' bodies (these dolls are taller, thinner, and bustier than traditional Lego women), but they imply that girls are materialistic, vain, and can't thrive in world that isn't at least fifty percent pink. Sigh. Lego, I absolutely adored playing with you when I was little, but that was when you believed little girls could be clever, and creative, and you know, little girls.

#8: On My Reading List

2012-02-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have a million and one advertising, public relations, marketing, design, and general writing books in my library. So far I've gotten through less than a sixth of them. It's doubtful I'll get through all of them, especially because I like to re-read my favorite parts so that my mind can absorb their lessons. I'm considering donating several of my books upon graduation to advertising students I find particularly promising.

Besides A New Brand World by advertising guru Scott Bedbury and Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits by brand consultant Debbie Millman, I have several books on my reading list this year. I've listed them below in no particular order:

1. Hitting the Sweet Spot: How Consumer Insights Can Inspire Better Marketing and Advertising by Lisa Fortini-Campbell
2. A Basic Course in American Sign Language by Tom Humphries, Carol Padden, and Terrence J. O'Rourke (I'm trying to teach myself sign language so I can use it when conversing with my boyfriend, who learned ASL in high school.)
3. Fundraising for Social Change by Kim Klein (Considered a bible for those looking to enter the non-profit sector.)
4. Hey Whipple, Squeeze This. A Guide to Creating Great Advertising by Luke Sullivan
5. The Care & Feeding of Ideas: A Guide to Encouraging Creativity by James L. Adams
6. Palimpsest by Gore Vidal
7. ~~When You are Engulfed in Flames~~ by ~~David Sedaris~~
8. The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri (Finished with Inferno!)
9. Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis

Books I want:

1. Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas by James L. Adams

Plus another 100 books I don't have the money for.

What's on your reading list?

#7: Team Expectations

2012-01-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

As per the prompt Deb gave us, I've outlined the traits and skills of someone I'd like to work with on the final project this term.

But first, a little about me. Over the past several years I've worked in writing and editing positions at a variety of student-run publications, including the Oregon Daily Emerald, Ethos Magazine, and The Commuter, Linn-Benton Community College's weekly newspaper. I currently serve as Managing Editor at Flux Magazine, where I edit and assign stories while leading a staff department of fourteen. I have some design and video production experience, and am a moderately skilled artist.

To view my complete work history, I encourage you to visit my Linkedin profile.

If you are to work with me this term, I expect you to:

a) have above-average writing skills,
b) enthusiastically complete your portion of the project on time,
and
c) be committed to only producing your best work.

That's it. If you are capable of those three things then I'd be happy to work with you on the final project. Let's get in touch.

#6: Killing Your Darlings

2012-01-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

I've been working on an episodic novel about the metal scene in the bay area (where I grew up) for the greater part of three years now. I took a brief break in 2010 when I was overwhelmed by schoolwork and the demands of a new relationship. When I came back to the novel six months later, I realized that while much of what I had written was still good, some of it was awful. I knew I needed to ax about a third of what I'd written.

Looking over my writing, some of it actually horrifies me. What was I thinking?, I'll ask myself as my eyes scan over my story, trying to make sense of things. Did I really write that? I guess I did.

Funny, I thought killing your darlings was supposed to be more difficult than this. Although I suppose the words I want to 'kill' aren't really my darlings if I want them gone. How was it that six months ago I thought that line of dialogue was funny, or that scene was at all moving? I'm not sure, but being in a different headspace has allowed me to see the glaring weaknesses in my story I once thought were gems.

I'm not alone in my belief that cutting the fat from your work will ultimately improve it. Check out this piece by Jeanne Marie Olson, a design and education lecturer at Northwest University.

#5: Alt Mags, How I Love Thee

2012-01-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

As someone who has worked on two student-run magazines at the University of Oregon, I have a special fondness for offbeat, niche publications that provide something a little different for their readers. I've included three of my favorites below:

Colors Magazine is a monthly publication that specializes in human-interest stories with an international focus that relate to a one-word theme. Colors' articles give me rich insight into worlds and ideas I would otherwise overlook. For instance, in last month's issue I learned all about shit. Yes, shit. I found the magazine so captivating that I urged my boyfriend to buy a copy for his sister (they have a gift-giving tradition in which they will buy each other useless and/or baffling gifts). I hope she enjoyed reading it as much as I did.

Fringe Magazine is 'The noun that verbs your world'; at least, that's their tagline. I don't disagree. Fringe is a web-only magazine that features experimental fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, and social commentary. By experimental I mean the writing and artwork really doesn't match up with any existing genre - it really is in a class all its own. Just read "I've Decided to See the Physician and Other Poems" and see what I mean.

FOUND Magazine houses and catalogs found notes and photos sent in by readers. Some of the items are hilarious. Some are scary. Others are profound or touching. FOUND is for the cultural anthropologist that exists in all of us.

#4: Clever street art by Russian artist Pavel Puhov

2012-01-21T21:19:00.000-08:00

I totally love how street artist Pavel Puhov incorporates urban structures into his artwork. It's the kind of guerrilla work you'd see being done by a small, innovative ad agencies like Google's Creative Lab . . . only Puhov's doing it for fun.

You can view more of Puhov's artwork here on Street Art Utopia. You can also visit Puhov's personal website here - lots of goodies to look through, although you won't be able to read the accompanying text unless you speak Russian.

#3: The future of book publishing is interactive

2012-01-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading PBS's Mediashift post on the future of book publishing, mainly because I want to be prepared to enter that industry when I graduate from college, but one thing I took away from the article was how crucial it is for authors(now called 'content producers' by digital media mavens) to connect with readers. Social media websites like Wattpad and Byliner provide a space for readers and writers to come together and start conversations about their shared passion (storytelling), giving authors the opportunity to hone their craft and develop a fan base. While publishing companies may aggressively market the author's work, in the digital world it's often up to authors to market themselves.

You can see this trend in practice any time you visit an author's personal website. They almost always have a blog in place that they use to attract and develop their audience so they have someone to sell to when they eventually publish their book. For instance, author and decorator Grace Bonney at Design*Sponge started out (and continues to operate) as a blogger, posting DIY articles and recipes to her website. From there she became one of the web's most popular design bloggers, giving her the prestige needed to attract publishing companies that wanted to capitalize on the audience she had created for herself. Her book, Design*Sponge at Home, continues to be immensely popular among the amateur home-decorating crowd, but it is Bonney herself who organizes book tours and hosts crafting events for her fans. Smart book publishing companies understand that readers want access to the mind behind the book, not just the book itself, making self-marketing and branding more important than ever.

#2: San Francisco in toothpicks

2012-01-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

I'm amazed by work that must have went into creating this beautiful kinetic sculpture by artist Scott Weaver. His piece, entitled "Rolling Through The Bay", allows ping pong balls to roll through various San Francisco landmarks. At the moment, the sculpture uses about 100,000 toothpicks, and took 3,000 hours to make. Weaver has been working on the project for over 34 and has no plans to stop.

It's incredible to think that this sculpture was made with nothing more than toothpicks and Elmer's glue. I can only imagine what it might look like in another 30 years time.

I take inspiration from Weaver's work. Here's an example of a person who found his passion (building things out of toothpicks) and went with it. I'm the kind of person who can't pick something to focus on, so I end up spreading my time and energy over too many subjects, which ultimately prevents me from becoming an expert in any of them. I'm always envious when I see classmates at Oregon discover what it is that drives them. So far I haven't had that epiphany yet. For now, I'm exploring everything I can. One day I hope to be as good at what I love as Scott Weaver is at making toothpick sculptures.

#1: Pop-up advertising . . . it's not just for websites anymore

2012-01-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

As a long-time crafter who recently began experimenting with paper engineering, I was instantly charmed by this clever two-page magazine ad by Leo Burnett in Sao Paulo, Brazil for Arcor gum.

I only have two criticisms, and both regard the advertisement's layout. The bubble gum is centered between the two pages but the woman's head is not, which I would find visually distracting as a reader. I also think it would have been better if the 'bubble' had been a little smaller, allowing the women's eyes to peek out over the top of it. To me, showing the woman's eyes would have given the ad greater impact because readers could then make eye contact with her. Other than that, I thought this ad was a fun and unusual way to remind women of the joys of blowing and popping that perfect bubble gum bubble.

Although not an ad, this vintage volvelle distributed by Kellogg's is a really cool example of how paper engineering can allow readers to interact with a page.

Obviously the labor costs involved in creating interactive paper ads may be far too great for most brands to consider, but a simple yet effective ad like the one for Arcor may yield enough in sales enough to cover expenses.

Make your own CD 'spinners' at the 'cheapest' blog in Eugene

2011-09-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

I've been interning at the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (lovingly known in the community as MECCA) this past summer and one of my duties is developing relationships between our organization and members of the Eugene community. During my research I came across the blog Eugene on the Cheap, whose author Lindsey firmly believes that "broke doesn't have to be boring". Her website offers information about how to have in Eugene without breaking the bank.

I was recently asked to write a guest blog post for her site while representing MECCA. I decided to write a tutorial for an easy craft project using materials you can find for sale (or even free) in MECCA's store. The project? Colorful spinning tops made out of nothing more than used CD's, bottle caps, paper, and marbles. This makes a great rainy-day activity or a fun party favor. Learn how to make your own here.

Thanks, Lindsey, for providing such an amazing resource to Lane County and for giving me the opportunity to write for your blog!

UO students oppose campus policing statute.

2011-05-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

Video under the cut.

Dan Marting in under a minute

2011-02-14T17:33:00.001-08:00

For an in-class lab I had to make a one-minute audio slide-show about another student in my class. My audio slide-show is about advertising student Dan Marting.

"A really boring story"

2011-02-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

For many of us scars are an embarrassment, an ugly souvenir we carry with us forever. They’re a reminder that our bodies aren’t the impenetrable forces we imagine them to be.

21 year-old Monica Fautch, however, is bothered by her scar for a different reason.

Her scar doesn’t have a “good” story.

Fautch was seven years old when she cut her thigh on a palm tree during her sister’s soccer game in her family’s hometown of Yorba Linda, Calif. At first she didn’t notice what had happened; the injury caused no pain, and being a child the soccer game easily distracted her. It wasn’t until ten minutes later when she felt a small stream of blood trickling down her leg that she realized she'd been hurt.

“I felt the blood more than I felt the scar,” Fautch said.

The cut left an unremarkable scar on her upper left thigh, where it remains barely visible to even the most discerning eye. Still, Fautch is self-conscious about her scar’s appearance and its lack of an “interesting” back-story.

“Scars on anyone don’t look attractive, especially when there’s no good story behind it,” Fautch said.

Fautch revealed that at the time she received the cut, she was hopeful it would leave a lasting mark.

“I think I kind of hoped it would [scar], because I thought scars were cool. Now I wish I didn’t have it.”

Fautch doesn’t care if people ask about her scar, but she does want them to know they probably won’t find her explanation very satisfying.

“It’s a really boring story,” Fautch said.

The un-armed arm of the law

2011-02-05T20:01:00.000-08:00

UODPS officer Andrew Johnson says he believes the campus

policing statute would make the university safer for everyone.

Driving through the Spencer View Apartments parking lot, Public Safety Officer Andrew Johnson eyed a suspicious-looking woman standing by the dumpsters. Was she harmless? Or armed and hopped up on drugs? For Johnson, knowing which could mean the difference between life and death.

After a moment of deliberation, Johnson decided she didn’t pose any serious threat to the campus and resumed cruising the parking lot.

“Generally tweakers are out here at night, just flying high on meth,” Johnson said as he continued his patrol of the area. “They’re scary to deal with, you know. They’re so across the board.”

Johnson is one of 18 University of Oregon Department of Public Safety officers patrolling the main campus and surrounding properties. To become an officer, Johnson had to go through eight weeks of vigorous training at a police academy that covered detective work, criminal law, procedural law and investigations. Although they lack the same recognition that the Eugene Police Department receives, University public safety officers share many of the same duties as fully-sworn police officers, including the right to stop, search, investigate and arrest individuals on probable cause.

Like police officers, they put their lives on the line in order to do their job. But unlike police officers, unarmed UODPS officers have no way of protecting themselves or others from violent criminals.

A new series of campus policing statutes being proposed would change all that. Currently, the University of Oregon is supporting three state Senate bills, the main one being SB116, which would give universities controlled under the Oregon State Board of Higher Education the right to create and maintain fully-sworn police agencies on campus. If the statute is passed, officers like Johnson would be provided the opportunity to become a fully-sworn police officer as part of the new campus agency, giving them the same rights and benefits as state-trained, state-employed police officers, including the potential ability to carry firearms or Tasers while on duty.

To Johnson and other UODPS officers, it’s not just about the right to wield a weapon. Without the authority of fully-sworn police officers, UODPS officers lack the ability to investigate, arrest and follow through on investigations where no probable cause exists, such as in cases of on-campus theft that doesn’t occur in their presence.

“If I talk to a student about their purse being stolen, I’m going to write a report, and then I’m going to send it to the Eugene Police Department,” said Johnson. “I would like the ability to write the report and then see the investigation through, and then talk to the student and let them know what’s going on through the investigation process, because once I hand it over to EPD, I don’t know what’s going on anymore.”

Even before working at the University, Johnson had a strong interest in law enforcement. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, his family moved several times until finally settling down in Eugene, where Johnson graduated from Sheldon High School. After working a string of security-related jobs for stores like Safeway, Bi-Mart and Fred Meyer, Johnson decided he had enough of being cooped-up indoors, and applied to become a UODPS officer at the University of Oregon, where he has been working for the past two and a half years.

Johnson said one of his favorite things about working in a campus setting is interacting with students.

“I enjoy working with young adults," said Johnson. "They’re coming to a pivotal time in their life where everything is new and exciting, and I enjoy seeing the people becoming young adults as they move up from high school and [are] coming into the real world.”

UODPS officer Chris Rouse, who has been working at the University for 11 years and was one of the officers who trained Johnson for the position, said that during the training he “noticed [Johnson’s] greatest strengths right away were his communication skills and his inter-personal skills.”

“Once he’s in the room, you know an officer’s in the room, and he’s in charge,” said Rouse. “But he also knows when to tone it down too. “

It’s when officers don’t tone it down that concerns some University students who feel the use of firearms or Tasers on campus could lead to instances of police brutality. Johnson firmly believes that for UODPS officers, having the ability to fully enforce the law takes precedence over whether or not campus officers will be issued weapons.

“The firearms and the Tasers? That’s secondary,” said Johnson. “We’re not concerned about the tools under our belt, or what we can employ to hurt somebody. We’re concerned about the authority we can be granted to help somebody.”

Despite this, he still feels that if the campus policing statute is to pass, firearms are a necessity if fully-sworn police officers are to do their job, and that without a gun, his safety, as well as the safety of the campus community, could be jeopardized.

“I want to go home at night," Johnson said. "I understand I’m taking a risk by doing this job, but if I’m going to go out there and risk my life for the people that I protect, I have to have a way to protect myself. I don’t know a police officer who doesn’t carry a gun. It’s a tool of the trade.”

Until the campus policing statute passes and Johnson is given the chance to become a fully-sworn police officer, he will continue to hope for change. For now, though, he’s out there patrolling the university; without a gun, but not without courage.

Photo Credit: Maya Lazaro

The Sick Town Derby Dames in photos

2009-11-30T15:30:00.002-08:00

The Sick Town Derby Dames are a roller-derby team based out of Albany, Oregon. I had the chance to write a story about them for The Commuter, Linn-Benton Community College's student paper. You can read my article about them here, but if you really want to know how hard these women work to improve at their sport, pictures tell it best. Check out their story in photos after the cut.

Wrath of Kant (Denise Cerruti, left) and Stitches 'n' Bones (Kerri Cribbs, right) practice blocking in proper form during a Monday derby practice at the Linn County Fairgrounds. They are both members of the Sick Town Derby Dames, the Albany area derby team. Players can use their shoulders, torso, butt, and hips to block or knock other players off the track, but using elbows can get a player sent to the penalty box.

Face Control (Mica Habarand) tries to weave between other players during advanced drill.

Queen Bee Yotch (Jill Welch) shares a laugh with her teammates during advanced drill.

Vicious Circle (Denise Gardner) leads a pack of blockers around the track during a scrimmage. Blockers and pivots stop jammers from lapping them and scoring points.

Some of the new recruits join the travel team in a group photo. The travel team consists of 14 women who have passed their basic skills test and are able to compete in games.

Around the 'hood

2009-11-30T04:05:00.000-08:00

Since I've only been living in Oregon for about a year, I thought I'd get to know a little bit more about my neighborhood. After talking with so many interesting individuals in my community, I found out that my 'hood is actually a pretty cool place. Find out just how cool after the cut.

Hilary and Clive Harrison, a married couple who manage the Lewisburg Country Store off of Highway 99, are known for their creative sign poetry advertising the newest beers in stock.

Intern Joe Covey and Lieutenant Shawn Morgan on duty at the rural fire station on Lewisburg Road.

Joe Covey explains the use of the Wild Land vehicle, a fire truck that's used in fighting grass fires. Any staff or intern who give tours to reporters must buy everyone at the station ice cream. Covey will be purchasing ice cream later today.

Covey shows how interns are graded on their performance in drills and exercises. Once an intern has a mark in all of their boxes, they are eligible to become paid staff.

Father Steven Soot and his son help decorate the Lewisburg Historic Grange Hall for the holidays, which also doubles as a Greek Orthodox Church. The hall was turned into a church in 2003.

The colorful chapel at the Greek Orthodox Church includes Persian style carpets and brightly painted icons that seem to glow when the room is flooded with light.

Derby Dames roll on

2009-11-30T04:01:00.000-08:00

CosMo Pain (Meghan Kyllo, left) blocks Face Kontrol (Mica Habarand, right) from passing her during a drill.

To friends and family she’s known as Meghan Kyllo. By her teammates she’s known as CosMo Pain. When not studying to get into the diagnostic imaging program at Linn-Benton Community College, she spends her free time knocking women to the ground in spandex and lace-up skates.

This is the world of roller derby – a sport dominated by women in knee-high socks and ruffled skirts, unafraid to show aggression in the rink. It’s a sport that requires discipline, skill, and above all, grit. As a person who makes an effort to avoid conflict, I’m unsure and more than little nervous when my editor asks me to write a story profiling LB students who play for the Albany derby team. Like many who attend LB, my knowledge of derby exists little beyond the cliches I've seen on TV. The words "roller derby" conjure up images of dumb women in tight skirts and even tighter tops cat-fighting to please male spectators salivating on the sidelines. Think Rock of Love on skates.

When I arrive at the Linn County Fairgrounds for derby practice on Monday, I find something very different from what I had come to associate with roller derby. I see no women in push-up bras anticipating a male audience, or women with hulking bodies, tattooed limbs, and feathered mullets. Instead I find athletic women of all shapes and sizes, most in their late twenties and early thirties, gabbing about their weekends and sharing jokes. I instantly relax. These aren’t media-carved cutouts; these are relatable women I see every day at school and in my community.

Lil' Pwny (Melody Wirtz, center) enjoys a laugh with teammates Queen Bee Yotch (Jill Welch, left) and Wrath of Kant (Denise Cerruti, right) during a drill.

The team, named the “Sick Town Derby Dames” by founder and president “Brick” La Rae Wallace, was formed in July 2007 when Wallace got involved with a team down in Eugene and wanted to bring the derby experience to her area. The team began small, with only eight women coming to practice each week. Recruiting and fundraising efforts have improved those numbers; the team now boasts a travel team of 14 players, as well as 20 new recruits who are currently in the process of being groomed for games, called “bouts” in derby jargon. The team is still young and has only recently begun playing bouts, their first one being held last May, and the recruits are hoping the make it onto the travel team in time for the next scheduled season.

Face Kontrol (Mica Habarand, middle right) attempts to pass her teammates during a drill. Each woman must start at the back of the pack and work her way to the front, effectively blocking each teammate along the way.

With the lack of authentic media coverage comes ignorance of the sport. Many outsiders find derby confusing and complicated, but any sports fan should be able to wrap their head around the anatomy of a bout, which actually has fewer rules than most national league-driven sports. A bout consists of two thirty-minute sessions, each session containing several two-minute races around the track, which are called “jams”. A “jammer” from each team must successfully lap the pack of “blockers” and “pivots” in order to score enough points for their team to win the bout. Jammers are awarded with one point for each player they pass from the opposite team. Blockers use their shoulders, butt, torso, and hips (hands and legs are off-limits) to stop jammers from lapping them, while pivots sets the pace of the jam and alert fellow teammates when another team’s jammer is approaching.

Wratch of Kant (Denise Cerruti, left) and Stitches and Bones (Keri Cribbs, right) practice blocking each other during drill. Both women use proper technique by keeping their elbows in as so not to get sent to the penalty box.

Upon entering the team, each woman chooses a unique nickname that she uses during bouts, practices, and get-togethers. The name is then checked against a national register of derby names to ensure there are no doubles. Nicknames usually have some sort of personal meaning to the player, but some are just clever plays on words. For instance, Little Pwny enjoys videogames, while Stitches 'n' Bones is both an archeologist and an avid knitter. CosMo Pain named herself after her favorite drink. Other handles I encounter include Smack Dapuss, Vicious Circle, and Face Control. The names seem to serve as manifestations of the plucky personas players adopt in the rink.

Players often decorate their gear to reflect their own tastes and personal style. Here Vicious Circle (Denise Gardner) shows off her custom helmet.

Brick sees me standing awkwardly with a camera as the women get on their gear and immediately invites me to skate. I politely decline, too afraid to ditch my warm winter boots, but after snapping photos of the girls practicing blocks, falls, and jumps, I begin to feel inspired. They make it look so easy. When I return to the fairground on Wednesday for another practice, Brick looks at me again and raises an eyebrow, a silent dare to put down my notebook and don some wheels. This time I nod. I’m ready.

Because of my limited ability to skate, I’m paired with the new recruits. Stitches 'n' Bones, our coach for the evening, glides over to us in a polka-dot skirt with the grace of a ballerina (not surprisingly I later find out she was trained in ballet as a child). She begins the intense two and a half hour practice with a lesson in posture. We’re instructed to “sit” in our skates, a basic derby position in which my knees must remain bent at a 90 degree angle. On top of this, I must lean forward and keep my elbows in (use of elbows in a bout could get a player sent to the penalty box), effectively ruining any sense of balance I thought I may have had. After merely 30 seconds of maintaining this position my calves are violently trembling and my back burns so much I think my spine is on fire.

“Don’t slouch,” Bones warns me, eyeing my rounded torso. “Keep your back straight.”

We then move on to stops. Still in basic “seated” position, Bones skates over to a cone and abruptly stops, her right foot perpendicular to her left, mimicking a ballet third position. The other women quickly follow suit, stumbling and occasionally falling, but still faring far better than I, who instead practices against a wall in order to steady my wobbling legs. I can’t seem to drag my feet together in a any way that resembles Bones’ fancy footwork.

After this comes endurance training. The recruits groan in protest and I instantly begin to sweat. Bones starts her stopwatch and we do a series of sprints, each followed by a recovery period. We are reminded to stay as low as possible, remaining in basic position in order to increase our speed. By now my back is beginning to numb to the pain.

Bones easily laps me during the sprints.

“You should be giving 70 to 85 percent effort during recovery, and 100 percent effort during sprints,” she says as we start to slack off during drill. I become distracted by the colorful knee-high socks recruits are wearing and lose my footing. I fall to the floor. Bones skates over to me.

“You want to keep you palms closed when you fall,” she tells me, “or your fingers could be run over.”

Finally, we get to the jumps. Bones places several objects around our practice track and tells us we’re going to have to perform both one-footed and two-footed jumps if we’re going to pass the basic skills test needed to join the travel team. She encourages us to try the jumps we’re comfortable with. I protest loudly at the large suitcase laid out in front of us. Certainly we aren’t expected to jump over that?

“If a girl falls down in front of you, what are you going to do? You can either jump over her or trip over her,” Bones lectures me, and to punctuate her point, she whirls past the recruits and jumps over the suitcase as though it were nothing.

At this point I decide that I should get back to reporting the traditional way and ditch the skates, happy to let my sore muscles recover on the sidelines. Across the room I can see CosMo Pain with the travel team and advanced players skating around the rink at unfathomable speeds, forcefully knocking each other off the track, sometimes onto the ground. Nobody cries or whines about chipped nails. While players are often referred to as “derby girls”, these are no girls - these are strong-willed women for whom pain is just part of the game.

“If you go to a rink, you’re bound to fall and hurt yourself,” Brick tells me when I ask her about the dangers of derby. With proper technique, players can avoid injury by absorbing hits and falling like pros, but for inexperienced players injuries like broken fingers and twisted ankles are more common.
I’m fascinated as to why these women dedicate themselves to such an inherently violent sport. Why derby?

“I’ve been skating since I was nine years old,” says Marisol “Jala Pain Yo” Rodriguez, a paralegal student at LB with whom I spoke with by phone. “It was a great opportunity to get on skates again.”

Players who skated as children refer to themselves as rink rats and value the chance derby gives them to recapture that experience. But for most team members, it’s more than just the chance to skate that draws them derby.

“It’s rough, fun, aggressive, and girly. We get to wear skirts and fishnets,” says Brick, indicating towards her skull-adorned skirt. “It’s a full contact sport, but we’re still able to look like girls.”

The “looking like girls” aspect of the sport has also contributed to the ever-pervasive stereotype that derby isn’t a true sport like football or hockey, but rather something women do to lose weight or pass the time with. Roller derby receives no funding beyond what teams make during fundraising, efforts which include everything from car washing to garage sales. Players must buy their own gear and pay monthly dues to their teams or leagues, and they rarely, if ever, get paid to play. Derby is not regularly covered by newspapers, and when it is, it’s usually relegated to the “community” or “fitness” sections, opting to emphasize the sport’s weight loss aspects rather than information about actual bouts. The LA Times recently ran a story about derby (“Derby Dolls: On A Roll in LA”) in the “Local” section of its website, while high school football and baseball teams are given regular “Sports” section coverage. The NY Times went as far to include an article about derby in the “Fashion and Style” section of its website (“Rolling, Rocking Nights Out for Mom”), turning roller derby into an edgy trend rather than treating it like a legitimate sport. I later find out that roller derby isn’t covered under Sports Insurance, despite the clear risks for its players.

The flip side of stereotypes are those that depict derby girls as what Brick calls “tattooed bikers”, butch women with buzz cuts and attitude. The Derby Dames are anything but. These are everyday women leading everday lives, coming together each week to play a sport they're passionate about. Outside of derby, Rice Crackr manages a restaurant, Toxic Spill is a math professor at OSU, Saint Nick teaches art to children, and Queen Bee Yotch works at a retirement home in Albany. Brick’s day job is spent doing research for OSU, and the team includes a slew of nurses. Many of these women are married and have families. Shannon “Tits 'n' Tofu” Pfingsten can often be seen skating along side her husband Ian, a ref who occasionally must “Thourough’er Out”. Yes, even refs are allowed derby names.

Brick Wallace (LaRae Wallace, left) and Rice Crackr (Lindsay Tokuda, right) pal around during practice.

CosMo Pain is now recovering from her scrimmage. She and Jala Pain Yo are jammers, a position that requires speed and agility, and the practice has left her catching her breath. She’s back to laughing and smiling though when the travel team begins cool down stretches.

“Derby draws women together,” she tells me when I ask what motivates her to play. “They’re like family.”

The travel team stretches and grabs some water after an intense two and a half hour practice.

Brick shares similar sentiments.

“You get to have conversations with women that you never thought women would talk about,” she says.

“I’m also 40, and it’s nice to get in touch with 20 year-olds,” she adds, chuckling.

It’s true there is some youthful new blood amid some of the older players, but there’s no ageism here. What CosMo Pain said earlier rings true to me. These people are family, and it is a love of derby that connects them all. No one is judged by their sex, age or ability. Even men are encouraged to become referees. The only requirement is an interest in derby.

Brick sums it up their inclusive attitude best.

“Show up and we’ll put you in skates.”

Some of the new recruits join the travel team for a group photo.

How You Can Join
Show up to any of the practices and they’ll provide you with skates and gear. Practices are Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 pm at the Linn County Fairgrounds Expo. Center. You can also email Brick at sicktownderbydames@gmail.com. More information can be found at http://www.sicktownderbydames.com/. Players must be 21 years or older to join. Returning members will be expected to pay monthly dues and eventually purchase their own gear.

Queen Bee Yotch (Jill Welch, far left ), Wrath of Kant (Denise Cerruti, middle left), Face Kontrol (Mica Habarand, middle right), and Smack DaPuss (Natasha Cerruti, far right) practice building endurance during a drill.

Queen Bee Yotch (Jill Welch, middle left) attempts to self-assist using teammate Face Kontrol (Mica Habarand, far left) with Wratch of Kant (Denise Cerruti, middle right) and Lil' Pwny (Melody Wirtz, far right) close behind.

Saint Nick (Nichole Havranek, left) skates around the track during practice as Brick Wallace (La Rae Wallace, right) follows behind her.

Vicious Circle (Denise Gardner, center) leads a pack of blockers during a scrimmage.

Roller Derby Moves

CosMo Pain (Meghan Kyllo), Brick Wallace (La Rae Wallace), and Rice Crackr (Lindsay Tokuda) show us how the game is played.

Blocks
CosMo Pain (left) and Brick Wallace (right) demonstrate how to correctly block another player during a bout. Players may use their hips, butt, torso, and shoulders to block the other team from passing.

Brick Wallace (right) uses her backside to block CosMo Pain (left) from passing. Because she does not use her hands, legs, feet, or elbows, this is a legal move.

CosMo Pain (left) shows an illegal elbow block. Elbows are strictly off-limits during a bout and offenders are sent to the penalty box. Players skate with their elbows in so as to not get fouled by the referees.

Using feet to kick or trip other players, as Brick Wallace (right) is demonstrates above, is prohibited in derby and will get the offending player sent to the penalty box.

Using your hands to push or pull an opposing team's player, as Brick Wallace demonstrates above (right), is ground for being sent to the penalty box. However, players can strategically push their own teammates.
Assists
Rice Crackr (left) uses teammate Brick Wallace (right) in what is called a "self-assist". Assists are used to help a player (usually a jammer) move to the front of the pack in order to pass the group. Grabbing on to an opposing team members is prohibited in derby, so players must only assist using their own teammates.

Brick Wallace (right) uses a "whip assist" to help Rice Crackr (left) get to the front of the pack. Whip assists involve one player helping another by pulling them from behind and then letting go.

Falling CosMo Pain in "baseball" fall position. Players who are knocked to the ground should try to glide into this fall so they can quickly recover to their feet. During derby it can be dangerous to remain on the floor for too long, as skaters can accidentally run over fingers or trip over fallen players.

Here Brick demonstrates a second way to fall called "The Rockstar" named for the dramatic move musicians use on-stage to stimulate a crowd. This type of fall allows players to quickly regain their footing, much like the "Baseball".

CosMo Pain shows a third way to fall called the "Superman" named after its resemblance to the comic book hero. This fall is good way to distribute the stress of the impact to all four limbs instead of just one.

Brick Wallace demonstrates an improper fall. Players should always lean forward so that they don't land backwards and injure themselves.

The travel team give each other a group high-five after a grueling practice.

Photo Critique: "A Weekend in Rajasthan, India"

2009-11-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

I went to the NY Times and viewed their slideshow "A Weekend in Rajasthan, India". For once it seems that the Times did NOT use a lot of photoshop (or rather, they probably did, but not in a way that looked obvious). I was expecting a lot of bright colors, as the slide show was about India (Bollywood has clearly influenced my thinking here), but instead the colors were dark and muted, obscured by shadows. I really liked the shot of the curry potluck, especially because of the repeating shapes (bowls) and the contrast of the orange curry against the dark night sky. You can tell that the photographer used flash in many of his photographs due to the telltale sign of the bright white light in the upper left corner of the photos. I'm assuming he had to use the flash though, because most the photos were taken at night. Photo 15 is so regal - the palace is illuminated by all those yellow lights, and the photographer took the picture from across the palace at the gazebo, so you get to see the building's columns framing the photo. This is by far one of my favorite photo-essays I've seen at the Times website. Well-done.

Photo Critique: "Alaska's Matanuska Valley"

2009-11-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

The slide show I looked at from the NY Times was focused on Alaska's Matanuska Valley. The photos show amazing contrast between the dark rocks and the white snow. I'm sure Photoshop was the photographer's best friend here. The second photo in the series serves a purpose (the first one was just there to look pretty, I assume) because it shows how climate change has affected the glacier. The photo shows how the snow has melted, leaving rock underneath.Photo number four is a really interesting shot that captures the entire mining cart track. It was probably taken from a helicopter or another elevated location, but the picture looks so much better taken that way than if the photographer had just shot it from ground level. Photos five and eight would be good to use in an article about the historic mining camp because they show visitors enjoying themselves.

Overall I noticed that the NY Times uses Photoshop REALLY well, because all of their photos have amazing contrast, brightness, and color balance. Even the shot of the girls in the coffee shop looks dramatic because of the lighting.

In-class photo quiz

2009-11-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Barista Katie Hannigan makes coffee for hungry LBCC students at the HotShot Cafe.

LBCC Students enjoy time between classes at the the school's Hot Shot Cafe, where they can study, hang out with friends, or have a cup of coffee.

Pam Scannell makes cheese burgers for students at LBCC's Courtyard Cafe.

Photo Critique: "Car bomb rips Pakistan market"

2009-10-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Today I visited the NY Times website and found a dramatic photo-essay on the recent car bomb that went off Wednesday in the market district of Peshawar, Pakistan. The photographer used primarily wide and medium range shots so they could capture the intense level of destruction going on around them. The photos detail the confusion and chaos of the bombing, fire and rubble framing every picture. They also show people helping to care for the wounded, both demonstrating the strong sense of community in Peshwar, but also the devastating effects this conflict has had on its people. The photos have great contrasting colors - bright orangey-red fire stands out against ashen skies and crumbled buildings. Ultimately, these are very powerful photos of a very disturbing event.

LBCC's 80's-themed Halloween dance in photos

2009-10-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Partygoers showed off their best dance moves while students on either side cheered them on.

Student Kevin Thibeert and his wife Ellen got a little nosy at the dance.

See more after the cut.

Katelynn Gurr made an entrance as a pirate lass.

Joee Simcox, Brittany Blankenship, and sisters Franki and Randie Monson arrived as a group to take on the dance floor.

Heidi Smith fluttered in as a woodland faerie while Amy Pensinger slunk in as a vampiress.

Student Body President Nic Bowman and his wife Nicole brought back childhood memories as they danced in lego costumes.

Students Brian Fields and Corbin Dallas rocked popular 80's trends.

After captivating the crowd with MJ moves while "Thriller" reverberated against the walls, student Kia Linton gave a final performance for the camera.

Cadence Ballard, daughter of Student Ambassador Maria Ballard, took a break from dancing with her mom to pose for the camera.

Student Body Vice President Meghann Fenn made a fashion statement with polka-dot shoulder pads.

Brett Stubbs came dressed as Slash, while Leanna Phillips dressed in traditional 80's rock garb.

Commuter contributer Bonnie Star came as Driscilla Langridge, navigator of the airship "Persephone", a "steampunk" inspired character of her own making.

Student Leadership Programmers Chris Hornell, Sandra Ballardo, and Jessica Calhoun greeted partyers at the door with free glow necklaces.

DJ Sott Sanders did his best impression of John Travolta as he played 80's disco and hip hop tracks.

Tastey treats were provided for students who attended the dance.

Mmm . . . candy corn.

Students enjoyed dancing with their friends under a shower of flashing LED lights.

The environmental portrait

2009-10-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

The assignment was to take a head shot and several environmental portraits of someone going about their daily lives. It should be natural looking, and not too posed. For my subject I chose Connie Shaffer, a woman who works for LBCC's printing services at the Lakiamute Center. See the photos after the cut.

Here we have the head shot:

Print Technician and Bindery Specialist Connie Shaffer

In this next series we have the environment portrait:

Print Technician and Bindery Specialist Connie Shaffer laminating signs for LBCC.

Print Technician and Bindery Specialist Connie Shaffer demonstrating how to use an old-fashioned book binding machine.

Print Technician and Bindery Specialist Connie Shaffer covering textbooks with plastic wrap.

Breaking the Habit

2009-10-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

So I recently (i.e. within the last five minutes) went over to Rob's Media Blog and read an entry quoting advice from professional blogger Chris Brogan on finding the motivation to publish posts online every day.

Every day? I can hardly find the motivation to post every week!

I see a lot of blogs out there where the authors struggle to write posts; the writing is weak and there's no commitment to the words. After going through my blog archives and rereading old posts, I realize I'm just as guilty. Why?

A major component of writing for me, and I assume for most people, is believing your words are of value to others. If I don't feel confident my opinion matters, or that my story would interest people, writing devolves into chore, instead of being the exciting, creative process it should be.

In order to blog, I need to feel so passionately about a topic that I convince myself others will want to read about it. Passion breeds confidence. Look, if you're willing, at Rush Limbaugh. Here is a man passionate about what he believes; so passionate, in fact, that he was given his own radio show so he could share his ideas with the general public. His anger, frustration and fear towards, well, everything, is so strong that it's made him confident his ideas are valid, interesting and important. Stupidly confident, yes, but the kind of confidence that allows him to do his best work. (Note: His best work consists of irresponsible and lazy reporting, poorly constructed arguments with little research behind them, and the vocabulary of a grade school bully. None the less, it's still his best work.) If I think the audience is receptive, I'll publish something that's actually worth reading, because I'll be committed to the idea, have done the appropriate research because of that commitment, and presented my ideas with style, skill and accuracy.

The solution to reviving a dull blog is to feel passionate about something every day. Start caring, and others will begin to care too.

Photo Critique: "Photo Replay: Oct. 5"

2009-10-07T09:16:00.001-07:00

This photo I found illustrates the powerful emotions the Italian football team felt when they won the U-20 World Cup. The photo is a medium shot, showing a scene packed with drama and action. You can see a player on the sideline (note that the player is the shot's centerpiece, drawing your eye directly to him) in mid air, feelings of joy, relief, and what I believe to be a bit of shock, evident in his face. Another teammate is thrusting his hand into the air, the liquid from his water bottle splattering into the shot, but not obstructing the photographer's view of the player's expressions. The water in the air adds even more emotion and movement to the photo. The blurring of the audience in the background allows the viewer to connect with the winning team without the distraction of the crowd and makes the scene all the more intimate.

My first photojournalism experience: Pitiful, awkward and smelly

2009-10-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Photojournalism students snap pictures of people smoking outside of North Santiam Hall as part of an in-class assignment.

Photojournalism students snap pictures of people smoking outside North Santiam Hall as part of an in-class assignment.

Considering that I have trouble taking a decent picture of myself, let alone others, I knew that my first attempt at photojournalism was going to be a challenge. Unfortunately, preparing myself for the worst did nothing to relieve the tragic event. My photos consisted of either the grimacing faces of my subjects or the backs of people's skulls. Not pretty. Being a shy and socially maladjusted person, securing permission to shoot prospective subjects was difficult; people responded by hiding their faces from my camera or responding to my requests with a resounding "um".

The worst part was snapping pictures of the smokers outside of North Santiam Hall. My eyes were watering so much it was like my face had wet itself. I truly believe tobacco smoke is one of the worst smells in the world, and judging by the burning sensation punishing my nostrils right now, my nose agrees with me.

LBCC students wait in line in order to be admitted into the campus bookstore.

The LBCC bookstore is alive with noise and commotion as students pay for their textbooks.

Getting thrifty

2009-06-10T08:33:00.001-07:00

Thrift stores receive a lot of flack (unless of course they’re “vintage boutiques”, but that’s a topic for another post) for presumably selling ugly clothing five sizes too large. These are lies told to you by fashion magazines and advertisers who would like to take your money. You can find great shopping at thrift stores – you just have to know what to look for. I myself have bought several pairs of heels from my local Goodwill, many of them like new (but without that new price). Here are some guidelines for finding that perfect blouse or a fantastic skirt on a budget-friendly. Let's go thrift store shopping!

1. If you want really nice clothing, find a thrift store in areas where the wealthy live. According to The Budget Fashionista, a website devoted to finding stylish clothing on the cheap, “you can often find awesome items donated by people who, for whatever reason, can’t be seen in an item twice.” I've found shoes and bags at my local Goodwill that would have rung me between $60 and $120, in some cases more. The Goodwill in Eugene, Oregon is practically a designer store in itself! If you're a brand whore, shopping where the rich throw their discards is key.

2. “Check all buttons, zippers, and snaps before you purchase anything,” says Stefanie Anderson, an employee at The Arc in Corvallis, Oregon. Although stores generally check to make sure all items are usable, sometimes small problems like those listed above are overlooked, or the clothing is considered to be so nice that it goes up on the hangers anyway.

3. If there is no fitting room, try on the clothing as soon as you get home. If the clothing doesn’t fit or doesn’t sit right on your body, then often times the store will let you return the items, giving you credit for other purchases at the store. If you want to be 100 percent sure the clothing you’re buying fits, put on clothes that hug your body before you shop. The Budget Fashionista suggests wearing “tight fitting clothing like leggings and tank tops, so you can try on items quickly and somewhat modestly. “

On Donating

If you want to donate clothing to a local thrift store or charity organization, first make sure your giveaway clothes are wearable (as in, no obvious tears or holes, no major discoloring, and no missing buttons or zippers). Stores such as The Arc will put damaged items into a “rag bag”, a bad full of stained, torn clothing that is sold for about $5.00 What are the rag bags used for? Well, rags. Any donation is appreciated, but know that if the clothing you give away is considered un-wearable, it will probably end up being used to mop up cat pee.

Even if the clothing isn’t that damaged, it may still go into the rag bag. When I arrived at The Arc in Corvallis and asked to see how Stefanie, an employee there, decided what clothing to keep and what to sell as rags, she pulled out a green tank top. It looked fine to me, and I assumed she was going to keep it, but she pointed to the fabric and said, “The tag here is worn and the clothing is wrinkled. You can see the wear in the fabric.” Into the rag bag it went.

I admit, blushed a little at that comment. I own tops eligible for the rag bag.

If you’re thinking about donating to Goodwill, you can either take your items to one of the brand's retail stores or drop off your giveaways at a goodwill truck. These are usually located in the parking lots of popular shopping centers. You can use the Goodwill Locator to find a goodwill donation site in your area.

Clothing that Goodwill wants to sell will be sent to another location for steaming, cleaning, and pricing before it ends up on the hangers.

If you feel that your giveaway clothing is high-end and want to make a small profit from its sale, you can take your clothing to a consignment store. If a consignment store decides to sell your clothing, you will get a percentage cut of whatever is sold. Shops like Second Glance, a consignment store in Corvallis, will give you as much as 40 percent.

By donating your unwanted items to a charitable organization, you can receive a tax credit. By buying unwanted items from a charitable organization, you'll not only support the store, but leave with some unique and stylish fashion pieces.

Here are various pairs of shoes I've bought at thrift stores:

Photo Credit: Maya Lazaro.

"La Crème De La Crème" lives up to its name

2009-06-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Willamette Valley Community Orchestra

“La Crème De La Crème” was a more than fitting title for the Willamette Valley Orchestra's performance Sunday at Ashbrook Independent School in Corvallis. Backed by a talented orchestra, special guest Andrew Kolb, a revered cellist and chamber musician who has performed in quartets, symphonies, and orchestras all over the world, mesmerized audiences in a symphonic program consisting of three pieces, each designed to take the listener on a unique emotional journey.

The evening opened with Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 5”, a piece that wove in and out of soft, soothing melodies and fierce violin passages. Following that came the main course of the program; Camille Saint-Saens “Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor”, where Kolb made his grand entrance. Closing his eyes, his brows furrowed in something that looked like a potent mixture of concentration and passion, Kolb's fingers seemed to tease a melody from the strings. The supporting orchestra sections were at times proud and at others times subtle, but never once did they overshadow Kolb’s playing, instead, harmonizing with his notes, occasionally emphasizing the melody through call-and response repetition.

After a short intermission, the orchestra, this time without Kolb, embarked on its final piece of the evening – Antonin Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 7 in D Minor”, a song which sound gradually became louder and fuller, reaching a climactic peak before slowly winding itself back down again .

Kolb gave a short interview to the audience before the show. When asked about the challenges he faced while practicing for the concert, Kolb responded candidly.

“Well,” Kolb said with a chuckle, “It’s kind of hard.”

Kolb only rehearsed with the orchestra four times before the performance.

Musical Director and Conductor Sean Paul Mills attributed the orchestra’s seasoned sound to its dedication to practice and performance, no matter the weather conditions.

“If we rest, we rust. I mean, this is Oregon; it’s gonna rain on us,” Mills said.

Being the last show of the Willamette Valley Community Orchestra’s 2008-2009 Season, “La Crème De La Crème” has finished its run. The 2009-2010 Season, however, is just beginning, with shows like “Masterworks”, “Made in the Americas”, “Romantc Angst”, and “Rule, Britannia” lined up to perform starting this August. Those interested in learning more or supporting the Willamette Valley Community Orchestra through donations can call (541) 829-3932 or go to their website at http://www.wvcommunityorchestra.com/.

Who: Willamette Valley Community Orchestra
What: "La Creme de La Creme", featuring guest cellis Andrew Kolb
When: June 6-7 at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Firstch Christian Church of Albany, Ashbrook Independent School
Why: Beautiful music from some of the state's best musicians

Photo Credit: The Willamette Valley Community Orchestra.

"Shakespeare's Journey" offers too much drama

2009-05-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

While "Shakespeare’s Journey" provides a thrilling escape into the life of one of the world’s greatest playwrights, it devotes too much of the show to drama and not enough to comedy, and errs on the side of inaccurate. Put on the OSU University Theatre, the performance employs humor, drama, and a wonderful a Capella quartet to show both Shakespeare’s struggles and triumphs.

Highlights of the play include music sung by the Madrigals, a group of four student singers (Marissa Addicott, Josh Randall, Katie Wolf, and Zeke Pitney) who help narrate the play with beautiful songs, and rousing scenes where actors Will Kempe (played by L.B. Hind, whose performance stole the show) and Nicholas Tooley (Robert LaFever) humor the audience with clever puns and raunchy quips worthy of the real Shakespeare’s approval.

The emotional center of the play lies in the rocky marriage between Shakespeare (played by Bryan Bernart) and his wife Anne (played by Maarika Teose). Anne is a particularly sympathetic character during the play as she struggles to raise a family alone to the disapproval of the local church while her husband conducts an elicit affair with The Dark Lady (Anastasia Bumbar).

However, it is in this marital drama the play loses some of its appeal. While the play is cleverly written in a sort of “Shakespeare for Dummies” style, it doesn’t seem to have a clear direction. Although the production has many of the elements of tragedy (the loss of Shakespeare’s son, an arranged marriage, the dissolving relationship between a husband and wife), the play ends with Shakespeare and Anne finally beginning to mend their relationship, which as a happy ending would mark the play as a comedy. Unfortunately, while it’s unrealistic to assume Shakespeare’s life could play out as a comedy, the production doesn’t use enough humor to keep the audience from being overwhelmed by the play’s heaviness.

The play also ends during a brief time of peace between Shakespeare and his wife, giving audience members who know little of the playwright's life the impression that their relationship problems resolve themselves. Historically, things ended unhappily; Shakespeare died leaving his wife nothing in his will except for the “second best bed.”

Overall, the play is a thoughtful, interesting look at Shakespeare’s life with some fantastic acting performances and lovely music, but if you’re looking for something light and comical or meticulously accurate in detail, you may want to skip out on this one.

The play runs from May 7-9 and May 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. in Withycombe Hall. Tickets are available online and at the OSU Theatre Box Office in Withycombe Hall.

Photo Credit: Image by Maya Lazaro.

Who: The OSU University Theatre
What: A performance of "Shakespeare's Journey"
When: May 7-9 and May 14-16 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Withycombe Hall located at 30th and Campus Way
Why: Come if you're interested in the life of one of the world's greatest playwrights

What Swine-!

2009-05-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

If Porky the Pig were real, he'd be on America's Most Wanted list. Why? Two words: swine flu.

But is it really the fault of pigs that we're getting sick? In an interview with Anthony L. Komaroff, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Newsweek reported that swine flu is actually a mix of flu genes that contain human, swine, and avian components. It's likely that this virus arose from humans working in close quarters with livestock, which themselves are bred in cramped spaces, creating a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Because humans and livestock share the same space, viruses are able to adapt, evolve, and transmit their genetic material much more easily.

According to the Center of Disease Control, the virus cannot actually be spread through eating pork or pork products. It can, however, be spread from human to human through coughing and sneezing by people with influenza.

So, why hate on pigs? Sure, they contributed to this soon-to-be pandemic, but we were ultimately the ones who caused it. By caging livestock in close quarters with one another, and working so closely with them without proper protective gear, we created the perfect environment for flu viruses to form and spread. Instead of blaming and slaughtering innocent swine, as though these animals have somehow consciously created this virus in an effort to harm humans, we should focus on containing the virus, educating people on how these viruses form and spread, and reforming the way farmers and corporations handle livestock so that we can prevent new viruses from spreading in the future.

Photo Credit: Image by Bearman2007, courtesy of Flickr.com.

Romanticism 101

2009-05-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

Romancing your partner isn't as hard as it looks. Even if being sentimental and thoughtful isn't really your thing (I may or may not have once thrown-up on a date), here are some tips anyone can use to make their loved one swoon and gush, "That's so romantic!" (Yes, even a man.)(Especially a man.)

1. Know the things that make you partner smile. Listen to them when they talk and watch their body language. If their face lights up when they talk about baby seals, then maybe it's time to schedule a trip for Alaska. Unless of course they're talking about clubbing baby seals, in which case, disregard this post entirely and seek your partner some psychological help. I can't be held responsible for cases of seal-murder.

2. Not everything romantic is necessarily a cliche. Think outside the box. Don't have the money for exspensive chocolates? Make your beau a giant heartshaped cookie instead. Don't have a sunset? Why not paint one and present it as a gift instead?

3. Nostalgia and sentiment are key. Think of a memory that's meaningful to you (in a positive way, of course). Now imagine yourself sharing that memory with your partner. For example, instead of buying your girlfriend exsensive jewelry, give her a piece of your grandmother's heirloom jewelry instead. It will mean a lot to your partner if you include them in your past.

Image by Bob.Fornal, courtesy of Flickr.com.

My family road trip to Vancouver in photos

2009-04-15T15:47:00.001-07:00

My family's recent Vancouver road trip, in photo essay format.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge outside of Vancouver.

Parental units making their way across the bridge.

Vancouver seen through reflections.

A great blue heron flying to its nest in Stanley Park.

The Diver, a statue of a woman in a wetsuit at Stanley Park.

Totem pole display at Stanley Park.

A tortoise at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park.

A beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park.

A cold evening in Vancouver.

Fruit kabobs at the Granville Island Public Market.

Delicious desserts at the Granville Island Public Market.

Meat display at the Granville Island Public Market.

Candies at the Granville Island Public Market.

More meat.

More desserts. Yum yum yum!

An olive bar the Granville Island Public Market.

More deliciousness.

Stacks of strawberries at the Granville Island Public Market.

Cheese!

A wet walk back to the hotel. I liked the way the weather captured the lights.
Snakeskin shoes for the stylish man.

How NOT to bake a cake

2009-04-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

1. Buy cake mixes labeled "extra moist". Sure, they're tasty, but trying to make anything that requires support or layers is going to turn into an Eiffel Tower of cake goop.

2. Use cold frosting to decorate your "extra moist" cake. The frosting will refuse to stick and pull morsels right off the cake, forming craters that will make your dessert look a battle front from WWI.

3. Use pudding or pie mix as cake filling for your "extra moist" cake. It makes for a really cool volcano effect, but a really unattractive cake.

4. Use decorating gel without cooling the gel beforehand in the fridge to make sure it isn't runny. I had to use a straw (a STRAW) to suck up the stuff so it didn't drip all over the place. It was runnier than a nose with swine flu!

After reviewing the above directions, here is my revised guide on How NOT to Bake a Cake.

1. Actually believe you're capable of baking a cake.

And et voila! You'll have this:

Personally I think it looks pretty tasty, but I have an unhealthy relationship with sugar so my opinion should be ignored unless you want to get Type II Diabetes before age 25.

Up-date: The boyfriend liked it. Guess who's getting diabetes?

Journalism presentation creates controversy at OSU

2009-04-12T20:43:00.001-07:00

The LaSells Stewart Center auditorium at OSU was filled with heated discussion last Thursday as Frank Blethen, CEO of The Seattle Times, finished a presentation outlining the decline of privately owned local newspapers due to corporate buyouts and the need for government intervention and support to keep local papers going.

During his presentation Blethen argued that "the free press [was] in free fall" due to lack of newspaper diversity, and accused corporate-owned news companies of setting unsustainable profit margins that have led to the demise of several local and national papers.

Some audience members voiced disagreement in their comments and queries during the Q&A portion of the presentation.
One man criticized Blethen for buying the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin when he himself had stated he was against corporate buyouts of local papers. Another believed that the decline in newspaper readership had more to do the internet's competitive edge as a convenient and immediate way to access information than profit margins and poor reporting.

For others, however, Blethen's presentation came as a revelation.
Said audience member Lillian Love, "I never really had an appreciation for what independent nespapers have to offer until I heard him speak. It woke me up. We have to speak our truth individually, and we need diversity to find the truth. And that's what our forefathers established with the first amendment - the ability to find that truth."

Photo Credit: "Newspaper" by just.Luc, courtesy of Flickr.com.

Women who forget anniversaries

2009-04-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

David and I on a particularly romantic evening

I am a bad woman. Or at least, I feel that way after watching romantic comedies (which I only do under duress, of course). What woman forgets her anniversary? My boyfriend actually had to remind me which month and day we had started dating. The realization came about a month ago when we were discussing via phone the next date I'd fly down to California, where he currently lives. I suggested a four day visit starting the 10th of April, but he insisted that I had to be there on the 16th. Confused, I asked him, "Why the 16th?" My query was met with silence at first, and then a nervous laugh.

Oh. Oh.

Is my lack of concern for this date really that rare? Have I disgraced my feminine sisters with my inattentiveness to a day that (supposedly) most women fawn over months beforehand?

Perhaps, but I'm trying to recover from this faux paux by doing something extra special for him. I hope my actions will redeem my womanhood. Or at least assure my guy I'm not a total insensitive jerk.

The one good thing I can say about my little memory lapse is that it does challenge gender roles, and that's always a good thing in our rigidly defined society. My boyfriend is the ultra-romantic, super sentimental guy who remembers every date, enjoys planning unforgettable evenings, and loves to cuddle. I, while loving loving cuddling and the like, forget important dates pertaining to our romance and occasionally need to be reminded of them.

So, until our anniversary, I'm wearing the (metaphorical) pants in this relationship.

Photo Credits: Taken (uh, and badly shopped in MS Paint) by Maya Lazaro.

Questioning my career choice

2009-03-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Although I didn't always show it (through my, ahem, reluctance to blog regularly), I've really enjoyed Feature Writing as a class. Both my professor, Rob Priewe, and my classmates have been tremendously helpful and interesting throughout the quarter. However, the class has also made me question my ability to excel in this field, and because of this I'm reconsidering my major.

My boyfriend is already pursuing an "artistic" major - he hopes to become a music teacher. Making it as a musician is tough, and many schools are dropping their music programs due to the continuing budget crisis. And although the transition of news reporting from print to web will open up many new jobs, web news has yet to make enough revenue through advertising to support itself.(web advertising currently brings in less than 10% of revenue for major news companies). Looking at it objectively, can two people with bad career prospects really cohabitate? We'd starve.

So. I am rethinking my major and considering getting a degree in something more, oh god, I'm going to get so much flack for this . . . practical. The word used to make me cringe, but when I think about being able to live comfortably with the love of my life and the stress it would put on our relationship if I were unable to get a job, practicality in choosing a career doesn't seem so daunting. The sacrifice is worth it.

Not to say this class hasn't been amazing. I've learned so much about writing, deadlines, editing and personal responsibility, and my professor and classmates have made the course a truly enriching experience. But I've also learned a lot about my own inner workings. From this class I've determined several things, including that 1) I like clear deadlines and due-dates for assignments, 2) I'm no entrepreneur, and 3)being given too much freedom with work assignments would make me anxious.

Hidden beneath my desire to be creative and forge my own future is a need to be directed and told what to do by a supervisor. I'm no fan of helplessness, but I'm not sure I'm ready to make the bold personal choices that journalism requires. It's a profession for the brave, and after being surrounded by such passionate, interesting individuals for the past 12 weeks, I feel strangely meek in comparison (this is through no fault on their part, but simply a product of self-preservation - I'm painfully shy and easily embarrassed). How well will I, someone who is now just recently venturing out of her comfort zone, fare in a world of reporting?

Not very well, I think. And my boyfriend and I are going to need all the money we can get if we want to afford an apartment in California.

That doesn't mean I'm necessarily giving up journalism as my major. I'm actually plan on taking the News Writing and Reporting class next quarter, because I know the skills I learn there will be useful no matter what career decisions I make. I hope that all my classmates succeed in whatever they do, and that I may end up in a class with them next quarter.

Farewell, for now.

Photo Credit: Newspaper image from mixedink blog.

Do medical dramas like "Grey's Anatomy" or "House M.D." reflect health care's reality?

2009-03-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

“I don’t really watch hospital shows myself, but I know a few nurses that do,” said Kathy Davies, a medical assistant at the Corvallis Medical Clinic. “I understand why they watch, though. They want to see if the show’s done their history.”

Davies’ observation may ring true for many working in the medical field.

A 2006 study at the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found that 84 percent of medical students and 81 percent of nursing students watched hospital dramas regularly, with the top shows being "Grey’s Anatomy" and "House M.D." If the people who keep us healthy are regularly watching these shows, then perhaps it's time we start asking: Exactly how accurate are these medical programs?

Scott, a family practice physician based in southwest Illinois and author of the website “Polite Dissent”, says not very. On his website he reviews episodes of "House M.D." for their accuracy and finds that the show makes some pretty serious mistakes in the treating and diagnosing of patients.

“There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to their diagnostic strategy; they just jump from one convenient explanation to another,” Scott lamented on his website.

One of his biggest complaints is that the doctors on "House M.D." often perform the jobs of the nursing and radiology staff.

“Are there no radiologists or radiology techs, ultrasound technicians at the hospital? How come the young guns have to run all their own tests?” He asked in one post.

Experts echo similar sentiments. According to Bryce Cleary, a family practice doctor at the Corvallis Medical Clinic, “There’s no such thing as a diagnostician. There are specialties, but no one doctor specializes in everything.”

Cleary also takes issue with Dr. House’s lack of concern for his patients. House is known as an abrasive yet brilliant physician whose bedside manner, while gaining him a substantial fanbase, would make any real patient cringe.

“House would lose his license. They don’t forgive you if the patient gets better,” said Cleary.

It’s not just "House M.D." that fails to create a realistic image of a hospital. According to Davies, the show “E.R.” is also guilty of certain medical faux paus.

“During an emergency, there are all these procedures that need to be occurring. There’s no time to be having a conversation with another doctor," said Davies. "It’s like, ‘Get out of the way.’”

But perhaps more fascinating to audiences than the medicine are the steamy hospital romances that dominate these programs. The sensual relationship between Dr. Meredith Grey and Dr. Derek ‘Mc Dreamy’ Shepherd on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” is famous for its passion both in and out of the doctor's office, with rival coworkers constantly interfering in the couple’s already testy relationship.

Wallace Knapp, a dermatologist at the Corvallis Medical Clinic, says that sexual relationships between medical staff is not the case for most hospitals.

“They jump from bed to bed. That never happens,” Knapp said.

Cleary agreed.

"It’s incredibly unrealistic. There’s nothing special about a hospital that makes people want to date each other," Cleary said.

While viewers may fantasize about hospitals being fantastic places where brilliant doctors badmouth their staff and romances blossom at every corner, fortunately for them their doctors can tell fiction from reality.

Photo by Jose Goulau, couresty of Flickr.com

Viviane Simon-Brown: A picture of sustainability

2009-03-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

“The UnShopping Card
Do I really need this?
Is it overpackaged?
If it breaks, can it be fixed?
How will I dispose of it?
What is its environmental cost?
Is it a fair trade product?”

This is the text on Viviane Simon-Brown’s business card. Nothing about her position as a professor of forestry at Oregon State University or as coordinator of the school’s Sustainable Living Project. Just a website, a phone number, and a conversation starter on recycled paper.

This is clearly the card of someone who wants to change the world.

Before beginning her teaching career at OSU, Viviane worked as a forestry technician in central Oregon. It was her job to maintain and protect Oregon’s forests by examining soil, counting baby trees, and providing educational information to visitors. It was a job that allowed her to do what she enjoyed most – spending time outdoors, something that she regrettably has less time to do now as a professor.

The forest was also the place she discovered her passion for sustainable living. Unlike most of her peers in the field, she wanted to look outside traditional forestry and instead focus on the consumption aspect related to logging. If people wanted to use the forest for lumber, then she wanted them to use the trees efficiently.

From there her interest grew broader. After applying for a faculty teaching job at OSU’s Department of Forestry, she began researching sustainable living as a whole, and eventually formed the Sustainable Living Project, a unique program that differs vastly from the usual lumber-oriented curriculum offered by the college. The project offers both credit and non-credit classes for students who are interested in “green” businesses and careers, as well as for those who simply want to become more environmentally conscious.

Viviane is one of the few women working in a high level position at the OSU forestry department. In an industry with few female role-models to look up to, she’s managed to become one of OSU’s most prolific forestry professors. Her success in such a male-dominated environment can be credited to her dedication to making conservation and sustainability accessible to both faculty and students.

Her classes are known to be very hands on. Some, like “Climate Masters”, involve “energy audits”, in which the class goes to a student’s home and calculates its carbon footprint. Students are always surprised when she collects the waste and leftovers from their snacking during break to use in her own compost. She buys her clothes second-hand, keeps her own garden, and makes it a point to walk or bike to school. Viviane is the perfect example of someone who “walks their talk”, one of her central teachings. Students look up to her because of her passion for the subject as well as her credibility.

On her days off, you will not find Viviane by knocking on her door. She will not be there. She will be paddling down the Willamette River in her canoe, surrounded by the natural world. Because although she may have carved her place in OSU’s forestry department as a dynamic environmental revolutionary, it is here, in the quiet beauty of the outdoors, she is at home.

How to date a musician: The definitive guide for those considering to share a life of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll

2009-02-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

You may never see your boyfriend's face.

Dating a musician can present some difficult challenges that often leave women feeling overwhelmed, pregnant, and borderline alcoholic. Navigating such a relationship may be confusing or unfamiliar to you. Don’t be put off by the challenge. With this time-tested guide, you and your man will be singing the same tune in no time. As my own musically blessed boyfriend once said, “While I may leave beer stains on the carpet and occasionally forget to bathe myself for five consecutive days in a row, I can give you rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, texture, form, and dynamics, baby. Oh, and can I have five dollars?”

1. Rampant alcoholism and drug abuse is a given, so know what you're getting yourself into. When you find your man half naked passed out in a bathtub somewhere with crude sharpie drawings on his forehead and vomit in his hair, realize this is perfectly normal and acceptable musician behavior and treat it as such. Music is about invention, and nothing aids invention more than intoxication. So when your boyfriend’s stumbling around in a drunken stupor, just smile and hand him another beer. Any interference from you on part of his drinking or smoking will result in the stifling of his creative juices and the alienation of his bandmates.

2. Be prepared to live in filth. Personal hygiene and cleanliness are not high on most musicians’ priorities, which means you’re going to be spending a lot of time scrubbing, washing, drying, and throwing away empty beer cans. Just because your boyfriend has low standards doesn’t mean you have to though. Encourage him to bathe regularly, and reward him with alcohol and Chinese food when he successfully takes out the trash or vacuums. Buy deodorant and strategically place it where he can see it. He’ll take the hint.

3. Get on his band’s good side. Having the people he gets drunk with on a regular basis think you’re a control freak with a stick up your butt isn’t going to win you any brownie points with your man. Why? Because he’ll have to deal with their constant harping (“Dude, you’re dating a psycho. She’s got bad juju, man, I’m telling you.”), and in the end he’ll dump you just to shut them up. The solution? Food. Men love food, and musicians are no exception. The next time you visit your boyfriend backstage or go sit in on a practice, bring in some homemade comfort food to share with the band. They’ll totally love you, and even better, they’ll be nagging your boyfriend for more of your delicious dishes, which means he has to keep you around if HE wants to stay on his band’s good side.

4. Separate yourself from the common groupie. You're not some desperate tag along trying to flash your way backstage, you're his girlfriend. Maintain a certain level of respectability and you’ll be treated like a VIP, not an STD. This doesn't mean you shouldn't dress up for your man, but behaving like a squealing fangirl puts you in their ranks, and you have more dignity than that. By being the self-assured, intelligent, responsible woman you are, your musician will remember why he chose to be with you in the first place and ditch the groupies.

5. Be supportive. This cannot be stressed enough. Musicians are particularly sensitive to criticism, so always have something kind to say, even if it’s just, “You were working really hard in there.” ‘Good job’ is far too general, so when complimenting your boyfriend try to find specific things he actually did well. He’ll value what you have to say and will know you’re not just being nice.

6. Understand that your boyfriend is married to his music first, his beer second, and then hopefully you. Music is his baby, his life, his ambition. You’re his girlfriend. You may be a Swedish supermodel with a graduate degree in culinary arts, but as long as your boyfriend enjoys the sound of music over the sound of your voice, you’ll always place second (or third if there’s beer involved) in your man’s heart. If that’s too much to muster, then perhaps dating a musician isn’t the right choice for you. Accountants are much more reliable and make a lot more money. Plus, they hate their jobs so they won’t ever be accused of ‘working late’ in preference to being with you.

7. Get a life. Because seriously? Your life shouldn’t revolve around his hobby (or in some cases, his career). Go to his concerts, advertise his music, buy him shiny new instruments if you can afford it, but cultivate some interests of your own. Let your own creativity shine through and your relationship will improve immeasurably. You’ll serve not just as a source of inspiration to yourself, but to him too. And who doesn’t want a song written about them?

Image by AdamNF, courtesty of Flickr.

Red Box Review: "Tropic Thunder" steals thunder from other comedies

2009-02-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Although it’s been three months since Ben Stiller’s comedic brainchild “Tropic Thunder” made its premier in Nov. 2008, many disabled groups are still feeling the disappointment at Stiller’s portrayal of a mentally disabled man, and his use of the word “retard” as a punchline.

The scene between method actor (played by Robert Downey Jr., a method actor in real life) and fading action star Tugg Speedman (Stiller), in which they use the word “retard” several times in regard to Speedman’s past role as disabled farmer “Simple Jack” offended several disabilities advocates , including The Special Olympics and the American Association for People with Disabilities. Said advocate Andrew J. Imparato, president of the American Association for People with Disabilities, the movie was “tasteless” and “offensive from start to finish”.

The day of the film’s release, representatives for disabilities groups who had gone to a private screening picketed the premiere, holding signs that read, “Call me by my name, not by my label” and “Ban the movie, ban the word”.

Timothy Shriver, chairman for the Special Olympics stated, “We’re sending a message that hate speech is no longer acceptable.”

The message, however, has made little impact on the movie’s popularity. Entertainment Weekly recently rated it one of the ten best films of the year. Well-known movie review site “Rotten Tomatoes” (www.rottentomatoes.com) gave the film a positive review, with the general consensus being that the film’s “biting satire” and “subversive humor” made it “a triumphant late Summer comedy.”

The majority of audiences who viewed the film found it to be a clever satire of Hollywood politics. They, like Dreamworks, saw it as a movie “featuring inappropriate and over-the-top characters in ridiculous situations.” Have critics and audiences, most of whom are non-disabled and have little knowledge of disability issues, been too lenient?

It is difficult to say. Before the film was aired Paramount/Dreamworks screened the movie several times with different interest groups, and they received no complaints regarding ‘Simple Jack’ until the movie’s premiere.

Said Stiller, "We screened the movie so many times and this didn't come up until very late ... It's about actors and self-importance. I think the context of the movie it's pretty clear."

Whatever the case, disabled activists have rallied around their cause in hopes Hollywood will change their tune when it comes to making movies involving disabled characters or issues. Activist blogger Patricia Bauer published an article encouraging Dreamworks to diversify their workplace by employing more of those with disabilities, and to donate a portion of the film’s profits to disabilities advocacy and support groups. Audiences have been asked not to rent or purchase the Tropic Thunder DVD. So far, over 2 million have been sold.

What those who claim the film is meant to lampoon the film industry fail to realize is that some laugh at Simple Jack not because he’s a parody of Hollywood’s excesses and exploitation, but because he’s disabled. No matter why we think it’s funny, we should all become aware of the prejudice and ignorance those with disabilities struggle with on a daily basis, and perhaps think twice before laughing at Simple Jack.

Image by wetwebwork, courtesy of Flickr.com.

Stephen King: On Writing

2009-02-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

King's memoir "On Writing" gives readers a glimpse into the creative mind of one of America's most beloved horror authors, and some sage advice on becoming better writers themselves. In his novel, King provides both painful and humorous anecdotes from his often difficult childhood, reminisces about his first commercial success with “Carrie”, and describes the moment he first fell in love with his wife. Readers also learn about King’s “toolbox”, the nuts and bolts of crafting an effective story. Some of King’s tips include “use the first word to come to mind, if it is appropriate and colorful” and “the adverb is not your friend”. But perhaps the most surprising of King’s revelations was that while talent can be honed, it can't be made.

Three things I learned from Stephen King were a)if you're going to write about something, make it worthwhile, b)there is no such thing as a muse - you must simply keep writing whether you feel inspired or not, and c)practie makes perfect.

The first point King makes in his forward.

"The easy answer is that someone who has sold as many books of fiction as I have must have something worthwhile to say about writing i, but the easy answer isn't always the truth. Colonel Sanders sold a hell of a lot of fried chicken, but I'm not sure anyone wants to know how he made it. If I was going to be presumptuous enough to tell people how to write, I felt htere had to be a better reason than my popular success."

King goes on to make the third point when he criticizes those who claim an interest but never get about to reading or actually picking up a pen.

"The sort of strenuous reading and writing program I advocate - four to six hours a day, every day - will not seem strenuopus if you really enjoy doing these things and ahve an aptitude for them; in fact, you may be following such a program already. If you feel you need permission to do all the reading and writing your little heart desires, however, consider it hereby granted by yours truly."

Thanks, Stephen King. I'll get on it.

Photo by "demitri parides", courtesy of Flickr.com.

Navigating the darkroom

2009-02-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

You never truly value your ability to see until you enter a darkroom. It's here, where the only thing guiding your view is a dimmed red light, that you begin to feel unsettled, your sense of sight rendered useless. You're out of your element, spooked by imagined monsters in dark corners. Your hands are a blessing as they feel what your eyes can't see. You fumble over switches, levers, over smooth walls and hard surfaces. You're trying to develope your film, and it's hard. The material feels slick as it curls in your palm. It retreats into itself as if it too fears the darkness. You grunt in frustration when you can't get your film into the canister on the first try - you need out of this room, but you can't leave until the job is finished.

You do not want to be here.

The room smells acidic; it burns your nostrils, makes you sniff is discomfort. You can almost taste the developer on your lips. You rub your tongue on the roof of your mouth and swallow to escape it's acridity. The solitude drives you mad. Alone in this darkroom, you hear nothing but the sound of your own breathing. You crave human contact. Quickly, you finish developing the film - you fix, stop, agitate with hypoclear, wash, and drop it in the photoflo. You hear whispering behind you, but when you turn around no one's there.

When your head starts playing tricks on you, it's time to leave.

You're blinded when you exit the darkroom. You squint angrily like a newborn emerging from the womb. And once your eyes adjust, and you begin to feel like yourself again, you make a promise to yourself.

You vow never to enter the darkroom again.

Image by family kloss, courtesy of Flickr.com

How To Date A Musician

2009-01-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

This article was originally written for The Commuter, a weekly student newspaper at Linn-Benton Community College. I have since posted a revised version of this article, which I consider to be better quality. It's up to you to decide which you like better.

Dating a musician can present some difficult challenges that often leave many women feeling lost, overwhelmed, and borderline alcoholic. What attracted you to him in the first place may be what eventually drives the two of you apart. Such a relationship requires a different kind of approach that may be confusing or unfamiliar to you. However, if done correctly, dating a musician can be a very rewarding experience that will enrich your life.

1. Recognize that your music taste sucks. At least, this is what your boyfriend will be telling you on a daily basis. Although you may try to steal his i-pod so you know what bands to namedrop the next time he asks what you’re listening to, this could actually backfire if executed improperly. When your musical tastes mirror his he may at first be pleased, but it’ll soon give way to suspicion if you start naming every song on his playlist. A better way is to pick a few bands you know he’s into and then add in a few of your own into the mix. That way when the inevitable question comes up he won’t think you’re totally musically illiterate, and you'll still maintain some originality. Another option is to simply develop better taste in music. Oh wait. Nevermind.

2. Rampant alcoholism and drug abuse is a given, so know what you're getting yourself into. When you find your man half naked passed out in a bathtub somewhere with crude sharpie drawings on his forehead and vomit in his hair, realize this is perfectly normal and acceptable musician behavior and treat it as such. Music is about invention, and nothing aids invention more than intoxication. Think for a moment about the all the bands you listen to. How many of them have wrestled drug and alcohol addiction? Chances are, probably all of them. So when your boyfriend’s stumbling around in a drunken stupor, just smile and hand him another beer. Any interference from you on part of his drinking or smoking will result in the stifling of his creative juices and the alienation of his bandmates.

3. Be prepared to live in filth. Personal hygiene and cleanliness are not high on most musicians’ priorities, which means you’re going to be spending a lot of time scrubbing, washing, drying, and throwing away empty beer cans. Just because your boyfriend has low standards doesn’t mean you have to though. Encourage him to bathe regularly, and reward him with alcohol and Chinese food when he successfully takes out the trash or vacuums under the couch. If hygiene's a problem, buy deodorant and strategically place it where he can see it. He’ll take the hint. Also, if your boyfriend has long, thick, or generally unruly hair, a rich conditioner may be a good investment. If he resists, tell him shiny, healthy hair will give him more stage presence. He’ll be washing those luscious locks in no time.

4. Get on his band’s good side. It’s probably a smart idea considering he spends a large chunk of his time in their presence, and having the people he gets drunk with on a regular basis think you’re a control freak with a stick up your butt isn’t going to win you any brownie points with your man. Why? Because he’ll have to deal with their constant harping on him for having such a psycho girlfriend, and in the end he’ll dump you just to get them to shut up. The solution? Food. Men love food, and musicians are no exception. In fact, it’s quite possible that musicians consume more food than the average human male. So the next time you visit your boyfriend backstage or go sit in on a practice, bring food with you to share with his band (homemade is always best). They’ll totally love you, and even better, if they're nagging your boyfriend for more of your delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, then he'll be forced to keep you around if HE wants to stay on his band’s good side.

5. Separate yourself from the common groupie. You're not some desperate tag along trying to flash your way backstage, you're his girlfriend. Maintain a certain level of respectability and you’ll be treated like a VIP, not an STD. This doesn't mean you shouldn't dress up for your man, but behaving like a squealing fangirl puts you in their ranks, and you have more dignity than that. By being the self-assured, intelligent, responsible woman you are, your boyfriend will remember why he chose to be with you in the first place and ditch the groupies.

6. Be supportive. This cannot be stressed enough. Musicians are particularly sensitive to criticism, so always have something kind to say, even if it’s just, “You were working really hard in there.” ‘Good job’ is far too general, so when complimenting your boyfriend try to find specific things he actually did well so he values what you have to say and knows you’re not just being nice. Constructive criticism is well-received from musicians and generally encouraged, but be warned: It’s quite possible your guy may be uncomfortable receiving instructional advice from you, and will shut you out the moment you open your mouth. If that’s the case, then it might be good to just stick with offering encouragement and letting people he isn’t dating tell him what he needs to improve.

7. Understand that your boyfriend is married to his music first, his beer second, and then hopefully you. If he had to choose between you or his music, it's an easy guess as to which one he’d pick. Music is his baby, his life, his ambition. You’re his girlfriend. You may be the most wonderful, sweet, loving, intelligent, funny, beautiful girl in the world, but as long as your boyfriend remains unable to musically *play you (notice how I used the word ‘musically’), then you’ll always place second (or third if there’s beer involved) in the race for your man’s heart. If that’s too much to handle, then perhaps dating a musician isn’t the right choice for you. Accountants are much more reliable and make a lot more money. Plus, they hate their jobs so they won’t ever be accused of ‘working late’ in preference to being with you.

8. Get a life. Because seriously? Your life shouldn’t revolve around his hobby (or in some cases, his career). Go to his concerts, advertise his music, buy him shiny new instruments if you can afford it, but cultivate some interests of your own. Musicians are by nature very creative people, and chances are what drew your guy to you was that same creative energy you saw in him. Let that shine through, and your relationship will improve immeasurably. You’ll not only serve as your own muse, but you’ll also become a source of inspiration for him too. And who doesn’t want a song written about them?

*or use you as a microphone if he’s a singer

Image taken by AdamNF, courtesy of Flickr.com.

Education on a Budget: How Linn Benton Students are coping with the Financial Crisis

2009-01-16T06:58:00.000-08:00

When the stock market crash of October 2008 drove our nation’s economy into a sudden recession, many students were left wondering how they’d be able to pay their bills, and if they could pay them, whether there would be any money left to buy textbooks.

Students already living paycheck to paycheck have started cutting their spending in areas not pertinent to rent or school. Dining and entertainment? No thanks, says sophomore Jake Williams. “I definitely don’t go out to eat as much. You have to separate your wants from your needs.”

Jeremy Bullis, a sophomore studying computer and electrical engineering, believes it’s important to keep a tight reign on his finances. “I spend less on things I don’t need. I’ve been checking my bank account more often and keep a running total in my head.”

His fears might be more spot-on than he realizes. As people begin to default on their loans and credit card companies get tighter, students with poor credit will have more trouble receiving loans.

When asked if they’ve been saving money, many students echo a similar sentiment: seeing as they don’t have much money as it is, finding any to save once their bills have been paid off is nearly impossible.

“All my money goes to bills,” says Sarah Stevenson, a psychology major, “but I do keep a small jarful of change. It’s not like we’re buying houses.”

However, not everyone is as concerned as their peers when it comes to their wallets. Those who rely on their parents for financial support don’t feel as affected as those who work full or part time.

Says Ben Barto, a computer ccience major, “I don’t have enough money to worry about it.”

Perhaps there is reason to worry. The Corvallis Gazette Times recently reported that Oregon’s community colleges might have to make a $15 million budget cut this biennium. In turn, the amount of scholarship money is being reduced. According to dean of student services,
Bruce Clemetson, there are more students eligible for state needs grants than ever and less money to give them.

“The state doubled the amount of money available to students, but we ran out in October. The State Emergency Board put a few million more back into it, and that money was gone by the first of December.”

Because of this, some budget cuts have been made. “We’ve had to reduce some student awards. We didn’t eliminate any, but we did reduce the amount of money being given," says Clemetson.

What changes should students expect to see in the future?

Clemetsen is hopeful but realistic. “Long term, we hope funds grow. We have more demand than the budget is capable of handling. Short term, the school is not going to be able to provide as much scholarship dollars as it use to. Also, scholarship money may be more difficult to receive in the future. We hope for the continual commitment on part of the state and government to help us during these times.”

Photo by jenn_jenn, courtesy of Flickr.com

"Manufactured Landscapes" Documents Photographer Edward Burtynsky's Search For Man-Made Beauty

2009-01-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

"Manufactured Landscapes", directed by Jennifer Baichwal, follows the journey of Edward Burtynsky as he travels the world to photograph quarries, recycling yards, factories, mines, and dams. His images capture the alien allure of places most would dismiss as having little aesthetic value, and their haunting quality asks the audience to question the relationship between ethics and beauty as they are taken through debris-filled cities and landfills.

You can listen to a Q&A with Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtysnky at New York's Film Forum here.