DIG Magazine: December 2012

magazine

SURVIVING WITH

2012

JOHN & JON

December 2012

team

EDITOR’S NOTE

BY SASHA MILENA

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SASHA MILENA ART DIRECTOR LEROY MATTHEWS MANAGING EDITOR ERIKA JOHNSON ASSOCIATE EDITOR JULIE CHUNG ONLINE EDITOR DIANA SANGLAB ART ASSISTANT VIOLET BANKS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ALISON KEISER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MATT GRIPPI BETTY VILLALOBOS ANGELA RATZLAFF DANIEL GOLDSBARY EDITH KAHRS ALEXIS FULLER digmageditor@gmail.com

This is the last issue of Dig. It’s not due to budget cuts, but it’s because according to the Mayas, the end of time is near. On December 21, 2012, Cal State Long Beach will see its last days on Earth.

1250 Bellflower Blvd.

SSPA 030, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601

I’m sure you’re thinking- Are you really buying into that doomsday craze?

Phone: (562)-985-7984

PRODUCTION ADVERTISING

PUBLICATION ADVISER

Why not? What do we have to lose? Well, everything.

Just in case the world really does end, we’ve got you covered.

In this issue, we have a 2012 Survivalist Guide that shows you easy ways to prepare for survival on earth without the usual commodities.

BEVERLY MUNSON

GARY METZKER

1250 Bellflower Blvd.

SSPA 010B, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 Phone: (562) 985-5736

In addition to our survival guide, Managing Editor Erika Johnson and I sat down with ASI President John Haberstroh and Vice President Jonathan Bolin for one last time. They not only discussed their campaign promises, but also shared their very own apocalyptic survival tips.

If you’re still not sure what the Mayan calendar is and why we should care, check out the Apocalyptic Question by Betty Villalobos.

To get a feel for what students at CSULB would do during their last days on earth, Simon Nitsche walked around campus to ask the apocalyptic question. Watch the interviews on youtube.com/digmagazine and let us know what you’re planning to do before the world ends.

As I bid farewell to you, my fellow students, I hope this is not the end but simply the mark of a new era.

© Dig & 49er Publications Board 2012 Dig Magazine is a publication of Dig & 49er Publications Board. Signed letters or emails are welcomed, appreciated and must include authors’ name.

?

S U G DI agonline.com digm

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2012

4 | DIG NOW MOVIE, TV, AND VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

5 | DIG GIFTS GET THEM WHAT THEY REALLY WANT

6 | SURVIVAL GUIDE END OF THE WORLD SWAG

11 | MAYAN CALENDAR COUNT DOWN TO END OF DAYS

12 | COLLEEN GREEN LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR, A LOT OF SPICE

14 | CHILL STAYING COOL AT THE QUEEN MARY

8 | JOHN & JON

15 | CALENDAR

FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THIS DYNAMIC DUO TICK IN OUR TELL-ALL INTERVIEW

COVER PHOTO BY STEFAN AGREGADO

DIGNOW

BY MATT GRIPPI

MOVIES

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Trip Dec. 14

The most unexpected thing about this journey is that we’re going to have to wait years to see the end of it. Instead of the planned two-movies based on the 300-page prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” series, director Peter Jackson has decided to split the films up into three parts. This is partially a cash-grab and partially because Peter Jackson seems to be incapable of telling a story in less than nine hours, no matter how long the source material is. However, let’s not forget that the Lord of the Rings series was one of the most ambitious, critically acclaimed and visually stunning film projects of its time, and these films will most likely be at least something worth talking about. Unfortunately, if the world does end this year we will never actually get to see Bilbo fight that dragon.

TV

This Is 40

Django Unchained

Dec. 21

Dec. 25

Judd Apatow changed the style of popular comedies when he released his first two films “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” Before then, most R-rated comedy was over-the-top gross-out humor with little substance, or arthouse Woody Allen style comedies for intellectuals.

Apatow manages to balance gross-out R-rated comedy with realistic dramatic situations and improvised humor.

Nobody else can go from fart jokes to serious relationship drama so quickly and smoothly. “This is 40” is a spiritual sequel to “Knocked Up” starring Paul Rudd and Apatow’s wife Leslie Mann.

Expect a balance of filthy humor and real life observations that only someone like Apatow could provide.

There is no better Christmas present than a new Quentin Tarantino flick. This film stars Jamie Foxx as a freed slave who becomes a bounty hunter in order to save his wife from an evil and ruthless plantation owner played by the always great Leonardo DiCaprio.

The film is a spaghetti western with some elements of a blaxploitation grindhouse movie, which is an insane genre-bending exercise that could only come from Tarantino’s mind. Few filmmakers have a better track record than Tarantino, so this is almost guaranteed to be a lot of fun. Check it out if the world doesn’t end.

The Walking Dead Season 3

Unlike the game, “The Walking Dead” TV show hasn’t been all good. The first and second seasons had some strong episodes but they suffered from writing problems and bland characters. Deaths didn’t really seem to matter emotionally, and there were times where the series seemed to really lag.

However, season 3 has stepped it up significantly. With a new villain called The Governor, new characters, and an entirely new setting, the show has finally hit its stride. Finally we get great, scary, gross zombie battles coupled with believable drama and characters we actually care about. If you’re new to the show it is worth joining in, even if you don’t want to watch the first two seasons. If you’re curious, seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix.

VIDEO GAMES The Walking Dead

Based on the popular comic book and television series, this video game continues the story of the zombie apocalypse and its effect on the human race.

The main character is Lee Everett, a man accused of murdering a congressman who was sleeping with his wife. Everett escapes from a cop car when the zombie apocalypse hits, and is forced to survive the changed world by making tough decisions. Unlike most zombie games, this one is a point-and-click adventure game that focuses more on emotion, decision and character development than action. Choices you make during the game and friendships you form with other characters will affect the rest of game and how you make it out in the end. Make one mistake and the wrong person might die, or your friends will stop trusting you. The writing and story are fantastic, and the game is great at delivering moments of legitimate terror without just making loud noises that startle you.

The game was originally released as a five part series on the PS3 and Xbox online stores, but it will be available in its complete form this month.

4

FOR HER

THE FUNNY GIRL THE BOOKWORM An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned But Probably Didn’t ($23) This 1987 classic has been revived and updated with new indispensable knowledge on global affairs, popular culture, economic trends, scientific principles and modern arts. Any self-proclaimed bookworm would love adding this to her collection.

THE GIRLY GIRL

THE ARTIST

Personalized Candle ($24) These soy candles are a unique gift for the girl who loves to be pampered. Choose from 22 themes (ex. harmonious, abundance, anniversary, birthday, etc), 14 colors and 20 fragrances.

Create a custom candle by adding a personalized message.

Holga 35mm Camera ($48) This little gadget makes colors radiate and gives photos a classic look whether you’re advanced or a beginner. It’s also a nice change from the seriousness of digital lens. The girl with an artistic eye will love having the developed outcome.

Porn for Women ($10) It isn’t what it sounds like! It’s a photo book full of handsome men... cooking, cleaning and asking for directions. The pictures are accompanied with hilarious captions like: “I love to clean.” Gift this totally PG novelty spread to a girl with a sense of humor and she’ll definitely get a laugh out of it.

Lumnique.com

Urbanoutfitters.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

DIG THESE GIFTS

BY VIOLET BANKS

THE GAMER

THE TECHIE The North Face E-Tip Gloves ($45)

Some guys are really into their laptops and phones. These stretchy, snug-fitting gloves let you use touch-screen cell phones, laptops and MP3 players without removing your gloves. The trick is in the X-Static® material placed at the thumbs and index fingers. If the guy does more than just check his mail with his gadgets this is perfect for him.

Nordstroms.com

THE MUSIC MAN DIY Guitar Pick Punch ($25) If you are friends with a guy who plays the guitar you’ve heard him whine about losing his picks. This is the perfect solution. He just places whatever material he wants between the guitar pick hole punch and out comes his pick. Give this to the guy with the guitar and he’ll have no more excuse for why he can’t play you some tunes.

Thinkgeek.com

FOR HIM

Gamefly Subscription ($15/month)

This is definitely the perfect gift for the guy who spends most of his time with his console. It’s like Netflix for games. He’ll create a list of games, they ship the first on the list, and when he’s done he sends it back. This saves him a lot more money than buying a game and getting a few bucks back when he’s tired of it. And the best thing is there is no contract so you can cancel it anytime.

THE PARTY GUY DIY Juice to Alcohol Kit ($10) We all know the kind of guy who is always down for a rager.

Whether he’s throwing the party or attending he’ll love this. The kit comes with six packets and each packet will carbonate16oz of juice to alcohol. In about 24-48 hours he’ll have his own homemade alcoholic beverage.

Thinkgeek.com

GameFly.com

5

BE A 2012 SURVIVALIST

BY EDITH KAHRS AND ALEXIS FULLER

6

A SURVIVALISTS AND STOCKPILERS GUIDE TO LIVING

F

reeze-dried foods may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the end of the world, but after reading this, they just might. The year of 2012 has long been talked about as the end of the world, as predicted by many ancient beliefs.

This fear has many people across the nation stockpiling goods. Simply put, stockpiling goods are survival kits on steroids. Stockpilers practice the “couple extra” method, which allows them to be more discreet about their purchases by buying a few extra items for the pile each trip. Now that you’re ready to hit the stores, here are a few facts and important information about foods that you can add to your pile.

FOOD CALCULATIONS: HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

At the Wise Food Storage website there is an active calculator that will estimate how much food is needed to survive. You just type in how many people over age ten, or under age ten as the case might be, that need to be served.

The calculator will give you several sets of information such as the amount of servings, whether that amount will last for two meals or three meals per day and the cost of that number of servings. wisefoodstorage.com

DIFFERENT FOODS FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

Some of the main entrees for the emergency food packs are stroganoff, cheesy lasagna, teriyaki chicken with rice, and Alfredo pasta with chicken. There is also the option of putting together your own styled emergency food kits.

GOTTA HAVE IT!

COOKING 101

There are many different ways to cook during an emergency, but the two most popular are either to secure a Stove in a Can or a solar oven. A combination of the two might be the best way to go. You never know when Mother Nature will put her two cents in!

BATHROOM BREAKS

You can get a complete portable toilet system for emergency use. The top even looks like a toilet seat. Definitely a necessity for all!

HOT AND HOTTER

In Southern California it can get pretty cold at night. The surest way to keep warm is by getting a portable heater. One thing you don’t want to do is try to cozy up to a charcoal grill. The fumes from a charcoal grill can kill. Play it safe.

EVEN COVERAGE

Even with the basics, you have to keep covered.

In this case, you need an emergency shelter.

The simplest form would be a tarp, some rope and tent stakes. That’s all you really need. But of course, emergency shelters also come in a large variety of shapes and sizes.

SEEING IS BELEIEVING A DICTIONARY FOR THE SURVIVALIST

Even in an emergency you can get busy cranking things out. In this case, you’re cranking the power for radio or light. By cranking the handle, there is no need for batteries, which makes it a handy tool to have.

The National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs will show a person how to care for the most basic medical needs while trying to survive.

Water is a necessity to survive. A person can live for several days or weeks with little to no food, but only a few days with little to no water.

Collapsible water containers are a must, as well as water purifying tablets. One tablet will go a long way.

7

IT’S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONE’S GOTTA DO IT JOHN & JON LET US KNOW WHY THEY’RE THE RIGHT MEN FOR ASI.

BY ERIKA JOHNSON AND SASHA MILENA PHOTOS BY STEFAN AGREGADO

8

S

elf-proclaimed weird guys John and Jon are not your typical Associated Students, Inc. student body president and vice president. John and Jon was the catchy slogan they used when they ran for office last Spring, but the title stuck even after they were elected.

Now, they are notoriously known across campus as John and Jon.

The new club sports scholarship is exclusively for the 34 club teams at CSULB. Each team has to write an essay about how money shortfalls have affected them and how more money would improve their team.

“Student scholarships are very important, but at the same time, we have club sports on campus that nobody knows about,” Bolin says.

As we walk into the ASI President’s conference room, we are greeted by the rather slick John Haberstroh and the outgoing and quirky Jonathon Bolin. Dig magazine dug in to see if the duo has fulfilled their campaign promises since being elected.

The CSULB roller hockey team won the Division I championship in 2011. “Some of them are really amazing and they don’t get any funding,” Haberstroh says.

Bolin says that they decided to run for ASI a week before applications were due. “Our whole campaign started as a joke and then once it got started, we were in it to win,” Bolin says.

The Academic Excellence scholarship is for those who go above and beyond in their academic studies. Three awards will be presented to one graduate student and two undergraduate students for submitting an excellent end of the year project.

“We both quit our jobs to campaign,” Bolin says.

“We made it so there was no going back.”

CAMPAIGN PROMISES When the two began their campaign back in March they based their platform on three main ideas.

The first was to take a 30 percent pay cut that would generate more than $13,000 to form student scholarships that would be awarded monthly. The second idea was a parking ticket refund program and lastly, they proposed weekly townhall meetings where students could tell them what they want from ASI.

John and Jon have made an effort to be more visible and increase direct communication with students on campus.

They have done so by holding town hall meetings in The Nugget twice a month. The meetings provide an opportunity for students to talk about issues with John and Jon on a more personal level. The two make it a point to grab a cold beer at the beginning of each meeting.

Although they have fulfilled most of their campaign promises, others didn’t fare quite as well.

During the campaign last Spring, many people mentioned that they thought the pay cut idea was just a stunt to get elected. However, John and Jon took the cut and have implemented a scholarship program with the funds.

The parking ticket refund program was put on the back burner. Bolin says they were working with the director of parking services. However, as of recently, the director no longer works for the university.

Haberstroh and Bolin have taken 30 percent of their salary and have put it towards student scholarships totalling $7,210. The amount was less than originally proposed because they had based their campaign around outdated salary figures.

THE BIG ISSUES Haberstroh says students are concerned about funding for classes, and he also says this is one of the most pressing issues at CSULB.

The initial plan was to give scholarships away monthly, but that plan was revised and they are now giving away the scholarships on a quarterly basis.

“We did four quarters because we thought we could give more money to more people,” Bolin says.

John and Jon have four new scholarships this year. The Beach Pride award is comprised of three $500 scholarships, which are awarded to students who have extreme school pride.

The textbook scholarship was John and Jon’s first project together. Advertisements were posted across campus and on social media sites on the first day of the semester.

“We got over 200 applicants for a $200 textbook scholarship,” Bolin says. “The fact that $200 affected these people’s lives so much was so great.”

“[Students] are saying ‘my classes just got cut again’ or ‘my tuition is going up,’” Haberstroh says.

Haberstroh blames the California legislature for these budget problems. “[The California legislature] are establishing the budget every year, and for the past couple of years they have thought it was okay to cut our budget and think that we could still provide the same quality and access,” Haberstroh says.

“We’ve been cut about 50 percent over the last four years.”

JOHN & JON SURVIVAL GUIDE IF THE WORLD REALLY ENDS ON DEC. 21, JOHN AND JON ARE PREPARED; ARE YOU?

JOHN HABERSTROH 1. Hope for the best; plan for the worst.

2. Pack some snacks.

3. Don’t forget your sunscreen.

4. Don’t eat the yellow snow.

5. Be sure to stretch out those creamy-hamstrings.

JONATHON BOLIN 1. Don’t rule out zombies; in fact, expect them.

2. Run away when in fear, don’t pray.

3. Don’t hesitate to kill. Those cute, adorable zombie babies will be the death of you.

4. Only fire a gun when you have to. The noise will draw others who may want to steal and or kill you.

5. Try and find a member of the opposite sex, head to mountains, build a cabin and begin rebuilding life.

However, Bolin says that students have a stake in this problem as well.

“It is the legislature but it is students knowledge about issues,” Bolin says. “John and I go to Sacramento and lobby congressmen and women.”

John and Jon are part of the California State Student Association, a group of officially

9

“THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING WEIRD AND WACKY, AS LONG AS YOU GET THE JOB DONE.”

“WE’RE TOTALLY YIN AND YANG.” -JOHN HABERSTROH

-JONATHAN BOLIN

recognized representatives of the 23 CSU campuses, they represent the 440,000 students who attend state colleges across California.

John and Jon wanted to increase the student votership and help students understand their impact on the election. They say this was especially important since education was on the chopping block.

Bolin says “the student vote actually passed Prop 30.” He also says, for the first time in 12 years, fees will not increase.

“Prop 30 passed and that was our biggest accomplishment,” Haberstroh says.

JOHN & JON EXPOSED John and Jon claim to be CSULB’s first nonbusiness and non-greek ASI leaders.

“We’re totally yin and yang,” Haberstroh says.

“We can both be serious and we can both

be wacky, but I think we balance each other incredibly well.”

have an undeniable chemistry and don’t look like they’re stopping anytime soon

Haberstroh and Bolin met last year while studying abroad in Turkey. The two have been friends ever since.

“I wear my wackiness on my sleeve. I’m weird and proud,” Bolin says. “There is nothing wrong with being weird and wacky as long as you get the job done.”

“Jonathan and I want to prove to people that you don’t have to be a stuffy, suit-wearing...”

Haberstroh catches himself mid-sentence as Bolin laughs hysterically.

Haberstroh looks down to realize he is wearing a suit and tie, just as he had described. “I was waiting for you to say that,” Bolin says.

“You don’t have to be a prim and proper person to be cool and to do cool stuff,” Haberstroh corrects himself. “We want to break the mold.”

For better or for worse, they are not afraid to be different. John and Jon have come a long way since the beginning of the campaign. The two

If you still don’t know how you are going to spend your last day on earth, check out these events:

But don’t be fooled by their laid-back attitude.

“Whether or not someone takes us seriously, that’s their subjective opinion,” Haberstroh says.

John and Jon are serious about knowing their audience, representing the student population and are prepared to stand behind what they say and do.

“Our hearts are just in it,” Haberstroh says.

“We’re here because we think we can do a good job. We will let the history books decide that.”

Hotel Maya End of the World Party | Dec. 21, Long Beach If you plan on staying in Long Beach, check out the local End of the World Party at Hotel Maya. The party will begin at 9 a.m. and count down to the end of the Mayan calendar. Authentic Mayan cuisine and music will make this a night to forget.

Mayan Holidaze | Dec. 17-21, Tulum, Mexico If you feel like spending your last days on earth in the middle of Mayan ruins, head to Mayan Holidaze festival located just minutes from the Mayan Temples at Tulum. Bands such as The Disco Biscuits and Umphrey’s McGee will perform shows to take attendees into the first cycle of the new Mayan calendar at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa.

For more information visit: www.hotelmayalongbeach.com

For more information visit: www.mayanholidaze.com/tulum

10

THE APOCALYPTIC QUESTION

BY BETTY VILLALOBOS

T

he earth begins to break and crumble beneath our feet. Yellowstone becomes an erupting volcano. California disappears into the Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon of impending apocalypse is sweeping the world by storm. According to readings of the Mayan calendar, the world will end on December 21, 2012.

The classic Mayan civilization flourished between 1000 BC to about 1530 AD, when the Spanish arrived in Mexico. Mayan culture developed many calendars, dominantly the religious calendar (Tzolkin), the civil calendar (Haab), and the Long Count Calendar, around which today’s obsession with the end of the world revolves.

So how was it determined that doomsday would be just a few days before Christmas? It’s all in the logistics. The Mayan Long Count Calendar measures time by baktuns (144,000 days), katuns (7,200 days), tuns (360 days), uinals (20 days), and kins (one day or “one sun”).

The Mayan calendar consists of 13 baktuns, measuring over 5,000 years of time.

“According to the accepted correlation between Maya and Christian calendars, this has come to mean the end of the world,” said Dr. Hector Neff, an anthropology professor at Cal State Long Beach of Mesoamerica archaeology.

On December 21, 2012, the final katun cycle ends and the Mayan calendar resets at zero.

The resetting of the calendar is what many scholars have speculated as an indicator of humanity’s end and the literal resetting of life.

culture valued time differently than most modern western societies, which leads to misinterpretation of the calendar.

Because the Maya created their calendar by observing the alignment of the planets and the stars, some have speculated that even if the world does not end, there will be a shift in the earth’s alignment.

“In cultures like Maya, they don’t value the time but more of what can be done in that time,” Raby said. “People and human relationships are more important.”

Naturally, some are skeptical of this prediction.

“It’s just nonsense,” said CSULB astronomy professor Paul Hintzen.

From a scientific standpoint, there is conflicting data regarding the suggestion of a major adjustment in the stars. Even if there was change, it is difficult to conclude the change will trigger natural disasters.

“It would literally take thousands of years to notice any changes, and there’s nothing expected to happen in December that will trigger a change in the stars or constellations,” Hintzen said. “[The Mayas] just got tired of counting and ended it randomly.”

In contrast, looking at the calendar from a cultural point of view could suggest the Maya did not intend to mark judgment day.

Namika Raby, a cultural anthropologist and professor at CSULB, suggests that the Mayan

Raby also said that it is important to remember what the calendar meant to the Mayan people and that the Mayan cyclical calendar could simply mean the beginning of a new cycle.

“If you value people and relationships and then it’s not there, then the culture ends and stops,” Raby said.

No matter the reasoning, the notorious date has attracted immense attention and has been the basis of many books and films. Films such as “2012,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “The Book of Eli” have all depicted the destruction of modern society and a rebirth of humanity. “[Hollywood] just made a movie and then people started buying tickets to leave the earth because they think the world is going to end,” said geology major Georgie Aronson.

Before the world witnesses the last sunrise on Dec. 21, make the most of what time is left, just as the Mayas did.

11

O

ne girl, one drum machine and one guitar are all that is needed to make up the low-fidelity gritty pop music of Colleen Green. Her mix of 1990s grunge and female-pop influences creates catchy, simplified riffs that instigate a transfixed groove of toetapping and head-bopping.

Behind the Ray Ban sunglasses and long umber hair, Green makes a presence on stage, confusing, tricking and hooking people with her music. Her sweet personality, laid back vibes and love for marijuana round off the sharp low-fi edge of her recordings.

Green resides in Los Angeles and often plays shows while touring across the country; however, she still finds time to play in local venues around LA, Long Beach and Fullerton. She has started to make a buzz within the growing punk and psychedelic scene in Southern California, making friends with Burger Records and bands like The Audacity and the Dum Dum Girls. The fact that she is a girl with a sweet personality and has a love for books separates her from most of the Los Angeles rockers.

Green moved to LA after being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness. She recuperated while living with her brother, and on her free time, she decided to make music.

Since the release of her first full-length album, “Milo Goes to Compton,” Green has signed on with Hardley Art Records and toured with bands such as the Tennessee punk-duo Jeff the Brotherhood and LA

12

Colleen Green will be going on tour in April of next year. Photo By Natalie Bouroumand female pop group the Dum Dum Girls.

Now that I moved here, I’ve loved it ever since.

I’ve heard you have been working with the label Hardley Art. I also heard that it’s associated with Sub Pop.

Has living in Los Angeles inspired your music?

It’s like their sister label, it’s like a subdivision. But it’s just a couple different people that run Hardley Art. They have a different kind of demographic I guess.

Yeah. I think it definitely has. I mean, living in Oakland was a big inspiration for me because everyone who lives there is an artist or musician. The whole idea of California and Los Angeles, like there’s so much music, so many legendary bands that have come out of here.

Just the whole idea of it is inspiring.

What has it been like working with them?

How would you describe your style of music?

It’s been awesome. I’ve been talking with them for two years now, or almost three. I really like Subpop.

I always thought that label was really cool. I just feel really privileged to be associated with them at all.

I understand that California is not your home state. What was the transition like, moving to Los Angeles?

I originally moved to Oakland from Boston with a handful of my friends. Basically it was because my boyfriend at the time wanted to move to the Bay Area. I was in a band at the time, and we wanted to move as a band. We just wanted to take in something new.

Why did you decide to move to LA? I actually moved to LA after a year of living in Oakland, because I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and I couldn’t really like work anymore. It was just a weird time. So my brother said I could move down and live with him for free, because I wasn’t making money.

It’s just like an easy-going kind of style … that’s kind of how I am in life. So … my personality just kind of translates into my music. It’s just laid back … it’s accessible. It’s really hard to describe your own style.

It’s supposed to be fun, it’s supposed to be kind of sad, it’s supposed to be catchy.

A lot of your recordings, and even most of your live performances, consist of you, a guitar and a drum machine. What spurred that kind of lineup?

Well … when I first came to LA, I started playing around with the drum machine, and I didn’t know anyone here at all, so I spent all of my time alone, and was just kind of like, ‘I want to write an album!’ It was kind of out of necessity that it all fell into place. I just wanted to record and make recordings from a drum machine, because I don’t play drums and I didn’t know anyone around here that did.

“SO...MY PERSONALITY JUST KIND OF TRANSLATES INTO MY MUSIC. IT’S JUST LAID BACK ...

IT’S ACCESSIBLE.” Is it difficult playing on stage by yourself? Is it fun?

It’s both! I’ve played in bands before, and it’s really fun being up there with other people, because you can look up there and be like ‘Hey, we’re in this together,’ and if something’s going wrong, you have that support, and it gives you more confidence. And as Colleen Green, I’ve played with other people … and it always makes things a little bit different. But it’s really scary to be up there alone.

So, if something goes wrong, it’s all on you.

Yeah! It’s all on me! I never liked it if I was in a band and something’s going wrong, and I blame it on the drummer or whatever. I didn’t like having to rely on people. So if something goes wrong, it’s all on me, and it’s my responsibility. And if something goes right, it’s all on me too. I like the idea of being up there alone. I think that’s like the true nature of Colleen Green.

What’s it like playing with other people?

Well, I’ve been trying to do different things. I’ve played with just a drummer at some shows. I’ve played with just a bass player for one tour. I played with a full band on a tour that I did in September. So, I’m just trying to do different things so that when people come to see me more than once, they’ll be like ‘Oh, that’s interesting.

It was different last time I came.’ I just like to keep it fresh, I guess.

You mentioned that one of your inspirations was The Thermals. Who or what else inspires you?

I’m really inspired by my friends that make music.

Almost everyone that I’m friends with is a musician or an artist in some way. Like Jeff the Brotherhood, I love that band and they are friends of mine. There are a few bands in Boston that I really love. There’s a band called Bugs and Rats that are friends of mine that I’ve known for a really long time. The Dum Dum Girls I’m inspired by. I like to take [things] that are closer to me and people that I closely admire.

What kinds of things do you take from them?

Bugs and Rats always have extremely low-fi recordings.

Super low-fi. They always record by themselves. A lot of people would say that it sounds like absolute shit, but I love that. And I would say, ‘Oh, that’s so dirty and

so raw!’ It just sounds great. But with the Dum Dum Girls, they are super poppy, and I think of their sound as super pretty.

What makes you so attracted to that dirty low-fi type of recording?

I don’t know! I’ve always really liked stuff that sounded like that. I don’t know where it comes from. I used to really like this band called the Lawrence Arms, and they have one [album], I think it’s their first album, called ‘Ghost Stories,’ and it’s super gritty. And then every album after that is super produced and super polished, and I stopped liking them. I guess I just thought it was more real and less pretentious. But I like music that sounds good too!

What are some of your favorite bands that you have toured with?

I loved Jeff the Brotherhood, I loved the Dum Dum Girls, Crocodiles, Diarrhea Planet is amazing. This band Girlfriends from Boston. Another band called the Big Big Bucks from Boston, that are amazing. They are one of those bands that puts out albums like all the time, but they don’t really tour that much.

What’s your favorite part about going on tour?

I really like almost everything, I think. I love driving. I love traveling. I really like to see what all the different cities look like. The architecture, the way the houses are, and just the landscape in the different cities. It’s interesting seeing what the people are like. When you’re with the right people, just being in that tour mode, in that mentality … You get this kind of camaraderie, traveling together all in a pack.

Photo By Kate Homer Why did you choose to record in Seattle?

They asked me, the Hardley Art people just thought it would be a good idea. Well basically, I wanted to record it myself in my bedroom again, because that’s what I’ve always done, that’s what I’m most comfortable with. But they want to put out something that sounds good, so they wanted me to come and do it with them, kind of under their eye. I just recorded it in one of the guy’s from Hardly Art’s basement.

Do you play everything on this record as well?

Yeah! I played everything except a couple of lead guitar lines that I couldn’t really play, cause I’m not that good of a guitar player. Danny played a few things on the record.

Is there a set date on when it will be released?

It will be out in early 2013.

Are there going to be any new tours in the work?

I heard that you are working on a new album right now. What’s the process looking like?

I really would like to go on tour, probably in April or in May of next year. It [the album] should be out by then.

I’ll be at South by Southwest in March, and hopefully do a long tour by then.

Well, I actually already recorded it in April. I spent a month working on it in Seattle. So now, I’m just working on the art and stuff for it. Getting it ready for it to be released.

Some say that the apocalypse is coming at the end of this year. If the world were to end next month, what would you do?

You do your own artwork?

Yeah! Up until this point I have done all my own artwork.

But it gets hard. I mean, I really like doing it, but it’s just like one more thing, but it’s fun to do.

I don’t know. I’d probably just wait. I’d probably just hang out and just live my life. There’s still a lot of stuff I want to do, obviously, before the world ends, but there’s no point in getting all in a tizzy. I’d rather just relax and live my life.

13

QUEEN MARY HOSTS ‘COOLEST’ EVENT IN LONG BEACH CHILL TRANSFORMS THE QUEEN MARY INTO A FROZEN WINTER WONDERLAND

BY DANIEL GOLDSBARY PHOTOS BY GASPAR RODRIGUEZ

T

A view of the castle in the fantasy room through a frozen archway.

he Queen Mary has boxed up the Dark Harbor Halloween skeletons and cobwebs to make room for a frozen fantasyland filled with spectacular ice sculptures, ice tubing and an outdoor ice-skating rink.

A Queen Mary replica, carved completely out of ice..

Chill, the new winter-themed attraction in Long Beach, is the first of its kind on the west coast.

From afar, Long Beach residents can see the Queen Mary smoke stacks decorated with vibrant Christmas lights. Although the ship is not part of the attraction, it serves as a welcoming marker on the way to the main event.

International Special Attractions, a company based in China, brought the event to the Queen Mary. Though they have produced numerous other ice attractions around the world in a similar format for twelve years, ISA founder and president Haiping Ge said the attraction they created at the Queen Mary is one of a kind.

The Ice Kingdom inside the Spruce Goose Dome is the main attraction of Chill. Ge said that the dome was an essential factor in choosing the Queen Mary to host the attraction. Guests are offered a complimentary parka before entering the chilling 9-degree dome.

It took four weeks to carve 2 million pounds of ice to create all the ice sculptures inside the Ice Kingdom.

14

The entrance sign to The Ice Kingdom itself sports a grouping of multicolored crystal lanterns and giant snowflakes. Stepping inside The Ice Kingdom will transport you to a holiday playground made of pure ice. In order to

transform the 2 million pounds of ice used, about 30 ice sculptors from China were flown in to carve ice sculptures in subfreezing temperatures for four weeks.

The Ice Kingdom is separated into various rooms, each with its own theme. In the fantasy room, an ice castle stands in the center with corridors large enough for adults to walk through.

In another room, a miniaturized, yet still large, ice sculpture of The Queen Mary with slides coming off each side stands as high as the ceiling. In a small inlet, a few other sculptures celebrate Kwanza and Hanukkah.

Just outside The Ice Kingdom, a large slide made of ice is lit up with green and blue lights. Guests can rent large orange inner tubes to go down the slide for $9.95. A 6,500 square-foot outdoor ice skating rink can be found just outside the Spruce Goose Dome. Ticket prices for the rink start at $9.95 and skate rental is $2.95.

Queen Mary will Chill Long Beach until Jan. 6. Explore the icy world of colorful sculptures, frozen slides and the holiday-filled scenery Chill has to offer. Ticket information can be found on the Queen Mary’s official website www.queenmary.com/chill.

DECEMBER 21

3

21

4

8

20 - 22

15 1 | 30th Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade | 6 pm - 9 pm 1 | Nas & Ms. Lauryn Hill | The Wiltern | 7 pm 1 | Lewis Black | Long Beach Convention Center | 8 pm 1 | Walk off the Earth | Yost Theater | 6:30 pm 1 | World Aids Day 2 | Women’s Basketball vs. U of AZ | Pyramid | 1 pm 3 | Men’s Basketball vs. Fresno State | Pyramid | 7:05 pm 4 | National Cookie Day 4 | John & Jon Town Hall Meeting | The Nugget | 2 pm 5 | International Ninja Day 7 | Megadeth | The Fox Theatre, Pomona | 6:30 pm 7 | Bloc Party | Hollywood Palladium | 8 pm 7 | The Secret Affair | Alex’s Bar | 9 pm 7 | Faux Fur Friday 7 | First Friday’s Long Beach | 6 pm - 10 pm 8 | 2nd Saturday Art Walk Long Beach | 4 pm - 10 pm 8-9 | 23rd Annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas | Gibson Amphitheater @ Universal CityWalk | 3 pm 8 | Bloc Party with Dum Dum Girls | The Observatory | 8 pm 8 | Fartbarf & Bella Novela | The Prospector 8-16 | Hanukkah 9 | Metric | The Fox Theatre, Pomona | 7 pm 9 | Women’s Basketball Vs. Santa Clara | Pyramid | 2 pm

12 10 | Human Rights Day 11 | John Cale with Cass McCombs | El Rey Theater | 7 pm 11 | The Game | House of Blues Sunset Strip | 8 pm 11 | Fathers & Sons | The Prospector 12 | Snoop Dogg | The Fox Theatre, Pomona | 7:30 pm 13 | Andre Legacy | Key Club | 7:30 pm 14 | Zion I With Minnesota | El Rey Theatre | 8 pm 14 | La Riots | Yost Theater | 10 pm 14 | Kill the Noise | Avalon | 9:30 pm 15 | Naples Island Boat Parade | 6 pm 15 | Kreayshawn | Avalon | 6pm 15 | Smut Peddlers | The Observatory | 8 pm 15 | Boys Noize Live | Hollywood Palladium | 9 pm 16 | Record Swap | Alex’s Bar | 12 pm 16 | People Under the Stairs | El Rey Theater | 7 pm 18 | Stevie Tombstone & Kern Richards | The Prospector 20 | Women’s Basketball Vs. Canisius | Pyramid | 5pm

20-22 | The Growlers, Cosmonauts & Jail Weddings | Alex’s Bar | 9 pm

21 | AraabMUZIK | Avalon | 9:30 pm 21 | Women’s Basketball Championship Game | Pyramid | 7 pm 21 | “The Year to Go Mayan,” End of the World Party | Hotel Maya Long Beach | 9 am 21 | END OF TIME

15

magazine

digmagonline.com facebook.com/digmagazine @digmag