Free Press Issue 4

free press 2011-2012

the

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4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, Kansas, 66049

edition 15 issue 4 november 3, 2011

iSad: Students Remember Steve Jobs

story on pgs. 4-5

mackey lecture

steve jobs

Students attend and contribute to the Jana Mackey lecture series to prevent domestic violence.

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We look back at the life and achievements of a technology legend.

4-5

bullying Should bullies be tried as adults?

Hannah Moran sounds off in this issue's editorial.

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Jana Mackey Lecture Series

#toptweetsoftheweek

news

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november 3, 2011

use the hashtag #fptoptweets to have your tweet receive 140 characters of fame.

TeenagersFact: Everything

Dearblankplease: Dear

that happens in elevators is awkward.

insufferable "know-it-all", Unless your name is God, Google, or Hermione, you, in fact, do not know it all.

Grouchyrabbit: To do list: Become a doctor. Eat an apple a day. Have intense internal struggles.

KUgirlproblems: Can't tell if

this guy filling in for my math professor is high or just really weird #kugirlproblems

Top Ten Worst Senior Pictures 10. Anything that makes you look like you’re doing a walk of shame 9. Posing with your TI-84 calculator 8. Shot of just your butt 7. Any picture that has you in it more than once 6. When you’re so photoshopped you look angelic 5. Glamour shots 4. Anything that contains more than one prop 3. Including your significant other at the time 2. Posing with someone else’s pet 1. Posing with your chainsaw

On the Cover

iPhones, iPods and iPads have all made a huge impact on society. Steve Jobs passed away Oct. 5, 2011.There has since been an outpouring of support by his fans since his death.

A Free State student takes an active role in preventing domestic violence by sarah whipple

Imagine being an activist who inspires thousands of people every day. While studying law at the University of Kansas, you are able to volunteer at various centers like the GaDuGi Safe Center in Lawrence, along with being a lobbyist for the Kansas National Organization for Women.

You are a woman who could actually make a difference in your community.

However, being such a strong woman activist can sometimes have its downfalls.

Jana Mackey, a student at KU who exemplified these qualities, was the most “unlikely victim of domestic violence.” Despite all of these things, she was killed by her ex-boyfriend in July of 2008.

To honor such a prodigious student and activist, the university has compiled a group of lectures that praise Mackey’s efforts, along with other women who have the same ideals.

Tony Porter, the most recent speaker for the event, spoke about the constant fight to end men's violence towards women. Porter was the first male lecturer at this event, which was held on Oct. 24.

The lectures happen almost every year and the range of speakers is vast. Presidents of women organizations and other journalists have been some of the key speakers of this event.

Kathy Olcott, a junior at Free State, has been able to help with this event by providing her general input and planning the events.

In fact, she was a close friend of Mackey.

“After she died, I got very close with her parents,” Olcott said. “The second year they took me as a VIP guest to the lectures.

I met everyone who was involved and it was such a wonderful

Photo by Tori Crawford Members of the Free State Social Awareness Club listens to guest speaker Tony Porter.

opportunity. The next year they were just like, ‘Well you loved it so much, do you want to help be a part of it and help plan it?’ I jumped on the opportunity.”

Olcott, along with Social Awareness club, attended this event to learn more about gender equality and women’s rights. They hope that more people will come and get involved in the projects to end gender prejudice.

After all, the people who attend this event are interested in following in Mackey’s footsteps.

Even if the events do not happen every month, Olcott has some advice for young advocates like herself.

“The first step to help is always learning,” Olcott said. “Learning what you can do to help, that’s what I’m going to try to do. Next year, Social Awareness will be a lot more involved and helping out, so in general, join Social Awareness or if you don’t want to help specifically with this cause, there are a lot of organizations in Lawrence that you can volunteer at once you can drive or are 18.”

The official Jana Mackey distinguished lecture series website states, “Jana was strongly committed to social justice, and in her memory, we hope to inspire others to share her cause and make a difference."

For the full story, visit fsfreepressonline.com.

photo illustration by tori crawford

the free press staff

Miranda Davis Editor in Chief

Ryan Loecker Editor in Chief

Megan Engleman Design Editor

Allison Harwood Copy Editor

Katie Guyot Copy Editor

Amani Safadi Managing Editor

Allison Morte Managing Editor

Ian Patterson Cartoonist

Taylor Augustine Designer

Sam Boatright Reporter

Victoria Crawford Photographer

Kyle Freese Reporter

Sarah Whipple Designer

Kimberly Messineo Hannah Moran Reporter Reporter

Emma Machell Social Media Editor

2011-2012

Sarah Rohrschneider

Reporter

Natalie Hiebert Designer

The Free Press is an open forum that accepts letters to the editor and guest writings. They must include the writer's name and telephone numbers. Articles may be edited due to space limitations, libel or inappropriate content. Letters may be submitted to Room 115, sent in care of Free Press to Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66049 or submit online at fsfreepressonline.com.The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Free Press staff, the high school administration, nor that of the USD 497 Board of Education.

november 3, 2011

by emma machell

Though most of us probably don’t want to admit it, winter is quickly approaching. This means no more autumn leaves, late night bonfires or school fall sports. As the fall sprots season winds down, here’s an introspective look back some of the highlights.

Football

Let’s be honest; you’re not a true Firebird if you don’t go to at least one home game. There is nothing quite like seeing the wave of green and hearing the fight song while socializing with your friends. And seeing a spectacular game is just another benefit.

“We outdid everybody’s expectations,” senior Tim Turner said. “We weren’t supposed to win more than two games.”

And they definitely won more than two games. By the week of the LHS vs. Free State game, the Firebirds had won six games and lost only two.

The season was full of highlights for the team.

“We beat Olathe North, which was nice,” Turner said. “The last time we beat them was in 2008 when they went to the state championship. Our record against them is like 4-11. They’ve dominated us so it was really nice to get a win under our belt."

While the entire team has worked extremely hard to get to the point where it is today, Turner has his own ideas of who works the hardest.

“Our offensive line as a whole has to work the hardest,” Turner said. “They have to know blocking assignments and they have to know when to block down field for runs or passes and when the linebackers are coming.”

Looking back, Turner isn’t too worried about leaving the team in the hands of the underclassmen. He believes that they will be able to take control and lead the team to another winning season next year.

Cross Country: Cross Country

You’ve probably seen the cross country team around Lawrence. It is that giant cluster of kids sprinting around town. Some of us might think they’re crazy, but really they’re just driven and they love doing what they do. “[I won] first place at the Haskell meet this year,” senior Ruthie Ozonoff said with a fond smile. “I never thought that I would win first place, but I did.”

Though running in cross country can be exhausting, those who are involved really throw themselves into pushing themselves to be the best they can be.

“Every year we camp out at Rimrock and, in the morning, we run [13 miles] back,” senior Paige Kallenberger said. “Last year I did 10 ½ miles so this year I was determined to run the whole thing.”

The main focus in cross country is doing one’s personal best and both Kallenberger and Ozonoff agree that, as cliche as it sounds, everyone was a winner, breaking their personal bests left and right.

“All of our meets were really good,” Ozonoff said. “Everybody placed really well and kept getting personal records and good times. So we had a pretty good season.”

photo by danielle stringer

Top:Various members of the girl's cross country team start their race at the meet at Rim Rock Farm.

Bottom: Kyle McFarland (l5) and Shawn Knighton (2), help run a play against Shawnee Mission Northwest in the homecoming game on September 27.

Girls Tennis

Nothing has slowed senior Guin Toalson down since she and her partner, Caitlin Tilden, qualified for state at regionals.

“I screamed on the court, which is something you’re not supposed to do,” Toalson said.

Though they suffered a few losses, one involving a tied game and a line judge, girls’ tennis came out strong.

Since tennis is a big part of Toalson’s life, she hopes to play competitively in college but she does acknowledge leaving her alma mater will be sad.

“I know I’ll play [tennis] in the summer but I don’t know if I’ll end up playing in college,” Toalson said. “It kind of depends on where I go, so it’s kind of upsetting.”

There isn’t one specific person on the team who works above and beyond everyone else, according to Toalson. Everyone on the team always works hard in practice and listens to what her coach tells them to do with a smile on her face.

“A lot of the girls are in lessons outside of tennis,” Toalson said. “They’re really dedicated and they work really, really hard to get better.”

Next year’s team will consist of a solid group of sophomores and juniors that are ready to take on the challenge of leading the Firebird tennis team to victory.

Want to see the full story? Go to fsfreepressonline.com

3

sports

The Final Plays of Fall

photo by amanda schaller

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feature

From the Stone Ages to the 21st Century

The Life and Legacy of Steve Jobs

Advances in technology affect students' lives at school by kim messineo

From typewriters to computers, tape players to iTunes and postage mail to instant messages, the world has made many advancements in technology.

Even in a school community, the technology advancements are obvious. Just a few years ago, students could find a VHS player and old movies to be used for learning.

This year, a technological addition that has been installed are the smart boards. Students can see them in any math classroom they walk into.

“With our math teachers traveling from classroom to classroom, we decided to put them in all ten classes.” said Principal Ed West.

Smart boards help students like they help teachers.

“They can help kids understand and make learning the material fun,” junior Leah Gruber said. “Sometimes we use it to review for tests.”

Math teachers aren’t the only people who are getting new technological items. Apple iPads have been approved to be purchased for use in

Silicon Valley prodigy Steve Jobs leaves permanent mark on technology by sarah rohrschneider

The night of October 5, Steve Jobs, the innovator and co-founder of Apple died from pancreatic cancer.

“I was sitting on my couch on Facebook when I saw all the status updates that Steve Jobs [had] died,” senior Sean Cesare said. “My first thought was ‘No!’” For many students at Free State, their reaction was the same.

“I was surprised,” sophomore Ginny Nace said.

“I was hanging out when my friend came upstairs and said ‘Steve Jobs is dead,’” senior Hannah Stevens said. “I was like ‘Whoa…Really?’ It seemed too subtle the way she told me, as if it were no big deal. It seemed...sarcastic. It didn’t seem right.”

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The first Apple product [my family] had was a big bulky old Macintosh computer.

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In California 1976 at age 21, college drop out Jobs and his school friend Steven Wozniak, started Apple in an old garage. Jobs had no training in technological design or hardware engineering. Nevertheless, the two worked together to begin to make a dent in technological history.

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senior Jon Fitzgerald

In 1981, Wozniak was injured in a car accident, spending months recuperating and never returned fully to working on the company. The task to continue was up to Jobs.

The Apple II displayed early indications of Jobs’s talent with technological design. Most people in 1977 were used to scientific looking contraptions, but there was something sleeker about the Apple II.

I remember my family’s first Apple product was a desktop computer.

“Much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on,” Jobs said in 2005 at Stanford, looking back at the beginning of his career.

The first product they came up with was the computer, the Apple I. Jobs did what he did best at the time which was advertising, while Wozniak created the different parts for the Apple I. The Apple I came disassembled with an instruction manual, and was eventually upgraded to the Apple II.

After visiting a research lab in Palo Alto California in 1979, Jobs was inspired by the experimental computers with computer mouses and good graphics, willing to make computers the best they could be for the future.

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The Macintosh television advertisement, found on YouTube, was the clever play on George Orwell’s book 1984. This ad created an image of a new technological era. Though the Macintosh was flawed, it was the beginning of a new technological era.

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My first iPod? An iPod shuffle. senior Sean Cesare

Upon Jobs’ return to Apple, he ended the feud between Microsoft and Apple. With his slogan “Think Different,” people were once again captivated. In 1998, the new, sleek iMac became the world’s best selling computer.

I think that technology will slow down a lot, just because [Jobs] invented so much.

In 1985, new innovators began to try and take over Apple. They stripped Jobs of his leadership, and took over the company. Frustrated, Jobs resigned from Apple, not returning until 1997.

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junior Tesla Khague

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be increased.

Since the district would buy the tablets in bulk, it would be as if they bought a couple new sets of textbooks for the students.

“Technology is moving so fast that we research things and by then something better has come along,” West said.

As the years go by and students become Why Work Anyplace Else? more ‘plugged in’ during the school day, learning Brandon Woods at Alvamar offers part time positions in a resident directed care environment. may or may not become easier.

We are looking for caring, qualified individuals “Technology can be very distracting, and to serve our residents in a professional manner. kids might not pay attention. On the other hand though, technology can be a great way to learn,” We offer an excellent orientation program, competitive wages and ongoing training. said Gruber.

Regardless of people’s opinions, technology We are an upscale retirement community offering opportunities for new is out there and it’s becoming a part of many experiences and advancement.

Why work anyplace else? Come see us at Brandon Woods! people’s everyday lives.

Like sophomore Jackson Schneider said, Apply in person “Technology is out there, and as it advances it Human Resources can make school more fun and easier to learn.”

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"

“I think Pixar has the opportunity to be the next Disney,” Jobs said in 1998.

“Not replace Disney, but be the next Disney.”

Despite a few failures, with the help of a team of young people talented in software and hardware, the Macintosh Computer was released in 1984. This was the first time an affordable computer with a graphical user interface, folders, and icons was ever released.

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career tech ed and English classes. They will be integrated into lessons for the students.

Once teachers become used to the features of the iPads, the goal is to be able to have students using them in activities for learning and involvement.

Principal Ed West is hoping to create a better connection with students and their use of technology into the school day.

“Our goal is to be able to allow [students] to stay plugged in when they get to school,” West said. “To use in school the [cell phones, iPods, etc.] that they turn on as soon as they walk out the door, or during lunch and under desks during class.”

Technology departments for the district have even been looking into tablets for students. The three main concerns are cost, maintenance and security.

Checking out tablets to students each year, there would be needed maintenance and security to take care of. Tech support staff might have to

For most of us, Jobs’ creation of Pixar and his return to Apple is what we grew up with. In 1995, Jobs created Pixar Animation Studios. Toy Story was released shortly thereafter, becoming the year’s top grossing movie.

sophomore Ginny Nace

"Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything," Jobs said.

november 3, 2011

feature

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november 3, 2011

In 2007, Jobs unveiled the iPhone. In 2010, the iPad was introduced. All Apple products are constantly being improved and released.

I think technological [innovations] will go up.

People will be inspired because they will think 'I’m going to do it for him.'

The question for a lot of us is what will become of Apple?

Jobs was on a roll. In 2001, the iPod First Generation was created, a moment that some of us remember. As soon as the iPod was released, Apple was not just a computer company anymore, but a consumer-electronic company.

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junior Aspen McDaniel

Without Jobs the world of technology will be different, but his legacy of achievement will never fade.

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work,” Jobs said at Stanford in 2005. “And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.

As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

I owned a red Nano, the very first, really old version of the Nano. It donated about 25 percent to people who have AIDS in Africa. senior Hannah Stevens

novmeber 3, 2011

opinion

6 Bullying, Hazing

and Terrorizing... It's all the same thing.

Bullying has changed since the classic schoolyard scuffle; these days bullies are being held accountable for the potentially fatal consequences by hannah moran

"JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT AND UGLY. HE MUST DIE!" One post said. Another read, "I wouldn't care if you died. No one would. So just do it :) It would make everyone WAY more happier!"

Suffering a constant bombardment of cruel messages was simply a part of life for 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer.

That is, until he was found dead on Sunday, Sept.

18, as the result of an apparent suicide.

So, as contributors to today’s society, what are we doing about it?

Even as his Fromspring account (where people can post anonymous comments) was bombarded with hateful, damaging insults, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer stayed positive. The happy teenager continued video blogging to support other gay teens.

Then, at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, September 18th, Jamey published his last two posts--one expressing how he wanted to see his great grandmother who had recently died, and another thanking his idol, Lady Gaga. Jamey was found dead that Sunday, as a result of an apparent suicide.

The recent suicides of several young people who were bullied have directed national attention to the horrors and truths behind bullying. So what are we doing about it? Schools nationwide have guidance counselors and various anti-bullying programs, but what happens to the bullies? The question remains as to whether it should be tried as an adult crime with adult penalties.

11-year-old Mitchell Wilson of Pickering, Ontario was not cyberbullied, nor was he subjected to

constant homosexual slurs.

Instead, Wilson, who has muscular dystrophy, was outside walking when a 12-year-old boy from his school smashed his face into the pavement, allegedly in attempt to steal Wilson’s iPhone. Wilson was “Never the same after the attack,” said his father.

Wilson was picked on in school because of his disability, but the attack was the last straw.

Wilson’s father found his son’s body--a plastic bag tied over his head, on the morning of what would have been Wilson’s first day of sixth grade. Charges pressed against Wilson’s attacker have been dropped because Wilson can no longer testify.

My first thought about all of this is really? What kind of sick people post such destructive comments or beat up an 11-year-old with muscular dystrophy?

Evidently, there are many malicious teenagers in this world who will bully to unthinkable extents.

After an incident in Carson City, Nevada, where members of a high school wrestling team stripped a teammate, beat him with spatulas and urinated on him, members of the Senate introduced a bill that would classify a first bullying offense as a misdemeanor, the second as a gross misdemeanor, and the third offense a low-level felony.

If the offender is between ten and 17 years old, they are tried as a juvenile. However, in certain crimes such as violence and sex crimes, the teenager could be tried as an adult and be subject to adult penalties.

Bullying is typically a very juvenile offense, but depending on the impact, the offender could be

tried as an adult, even with jail time.

In Jamey Rodemeyer’s case, the people bullying him were around his age, and their bullying directly linked to his suicide. However, while they may have caused a death, they are still kids. They can handle whatever severe punishment they are charged with, but these kids also need serious psychiatric help.

Despite the school programs, help groups, and support of parents and administrators, bullying still persists today, perhaps with more dire consequences than ever.

We are still fighting.

After Jamey Rodeymeyer’s death, Lady Gaga delivered a very emotional performance at the iHeartRadio festival in Las Vegas, dedicating her song “Hair” to Jamey. Later, she tweeted in honor of him.

"I am meeting with our President. I will not stop fighting. This must end. Our generation has the power to end it,” posted Lady Gaga.

Are you or someone you know being bullied?

You aren't alone. Here are some numbers to call when you are feeling down and pushed to your limit.

Local Numbers:

Phone a Friend (785) 865-2600 Headquarters Counseling Center (785) 841-2345

National Numbers:

Phone a Friend (785) 865-2600 Headquarters Counseling Center (785) 841-2345

Birds Word

Tad Bray Nyle Anderson freshman “If it was a suicide then I think the cops should get into it because if there was a suicide then it was probably a higher degree of bullying. If it’s just inschool bullying then the office should just take care of it.”

junior sophomoreHaileigh

Whitman

“I think law enforcement should be involved because if it’s ruining someone’s life and they have enough problems to commit suicide then it should involve law enforcement officials.”

Q: What is the appropriate punishment for bullying?

Teanna Totten “I think that it really depends on how far the bullying goes.

Maybe the school should get more involved and more active in punishment.”

Let us know!

teacher Ron senior

Kelly Hall “My sister goes to Central and an autistic kid there committed suicide because he was bullied so much.

[Bullies] should get in trouble with the school and, depending on if they continue to do it, then the law.

Have any ideas?

Go to fsfreepressonline.com or mention us on twitter with your suggestions!

Swall

“I don’t think punishment works. Instead of punishment there needs to be an appropriate response. Maybe we could talk about consequences or maybe we could try to figure out what’s going on with that individual who’s doing the bullying.”

november 3, 2011

t'Ryan #4: Female

Loecker

Above: Ryan Loecker receives the full out beauty treatment from his makeup artist Allison Harwood for his day as a girl.

ian's inspiration: "Hanging Out"

by ian patterson

E

ver since Facebook became popular, we have added every single person we are, or at one time were, friends with. Does that strike anyone else as weird? We will grow up never losing touch with anyone we have deemed worthy enough to click the “add as friend” button. I’m left wondering how this will change the way we conduct ourselves as adults.

This issue’s center spread is dedicated to technology, something people our age are drenched in. Our lives are controlled by technology in almost every aspect. I’m typing this article on a computer, something that still bewilders some of our parents. I will get up tomorrow morning and drive to school in a car with more gadgets and gizmos built into it than I will ever understand and I will check my iPhone about 200 times between now and then.

I’m addicted to technology.

With the recent passing of Steve Jobs, someone who was known as the innovator of a ton of technology, I sit thinking about how technology plays a role in Miranda my life. While I

have no doubt that technology and new ideas are essential to the growth of society, it still doesn’t sit well. I wonder if I will only communicate with people via Skype, or if kids will play outside or play virtually “outside” on their Xbox5000. I also want to know how long it will take all of technology mentioned in this piece to become irrelevant and outdated.

Every once in a while I wish I lived in an earlier time. Where if someone wanted to talk to you they had to call the land line and have good manners with your parents. Or when people wrote invitations, letters and cared about their penmanship. There was a time when relationships weren't mindless texting conversations, but quality time with one another. To me, there is something very special about having the ability to be able to function without technology. Now it’s unique to have enough social skills to speak to someone in person and not hide behind a computer or a cell phone.

I look forward to the future for many reasons. I hope that with technology we cure diseases, grow as a society and make more cool iPhones, but I also hope we learn to use it responsibly. I’m tired of seeing every emotion a person has, poured onto a status update. Or hearing about another person caught sending inappropriate pictures of themselves on phones. For our generation to master technology, we must use it with moderation and common sense.

I wonder if I will only communicate with people via Skype, or if kids will play outside or play virtually “outside” on their Xbox5000.

Tech Troubles

Even though I received my fair share of confused looks and glares from my peers, the majority of people I came in contact with seemed to be a lot more understanding than I originally expected. For a school where most guys wear Ryan basketball shorts and sandals every day of the year, this was rather shocking. People I expected to be the least understanding jokingly offered to hold my hand and walk me to class.

The worst part about this experience was how uncomfortable I was. Although I got over the physical discomfort of the bra, skirt and makeup, I could not handle feeling like someone else for very long.

After seeing what girls go through to look “pretty,” I have much more respect for the girls who aren’t afraid to go a day in sweatpants and a hoody. I also have a great deal of appreciation for the fact that I’m a guy, and I only had to deal with that once.

Davis

7

opinion

T

o those freshmen I walked past on Thursday, Oct. 20: No, I am not a transvestite, I just decided to dress as a girl for a day.

Well, more like half a day. I could only handle wearing the bra, makeup, skirt and fake Ugg boots for so long.

Recommended by the girls in my newspaper class, pretending to be a girl was one of the original ideas for t’Ryan. Out of all the ideas for my column, this one took the most convincing. Don’t get me wrong, I was all for dressing pretty for a day, but the response I expected from my fellow students frightened me.

Although I don’t have much of a concern for what others think of me, I was worried dressing in drag might cause too much of a commotion.

Surprisingly, the reaction was quite positive.

On an average school day, I wake up at 7:30 a.m., shower, get dressed, brush my teeth and leave. After the experience of pretending to be a girl, I learned that waking up 30 minutes prior to school would never fly. There are many more variables that go into “getting ready” than I originally thought.

Once I finished putting on a skirt, boots, a necklace and a bra in the men’s bathroom, I had to receive a make-up treatment in front of the whole yearbook class. After having my eyelashes curled and a number of different types of cosmetics shoved in my face, I began to wonder if I was being taken seriously, or if I were just the butt of some cruel joke.

Thankfully, I have short hair, as there is no telling what they would have done to me if it were longer.

Reality struck when I saw myself in the mirror. No offense to my makeup artist, Allison Harwood, but seeing all that junk on my face was just too much to handle.

lawrence guide

the

by sam boatright

David Sedaris @ Lied Center Nov. 9 Best-selling author, radio contributor, humorist, comedian, writer.

David Sedaris is a jack of all trades, and much like his broad range of professions, Sedaris’ witty and sharp humor observes a wide variety of themes from culture shock to anthropomorphized animals to pesky lisps. Sedaris often approaches each story-- which he usually bases off events that happen in his life-- with a nonchalant air and a brilliant humor.

Seeing Sedaris live offers an entirely new aspect than reading his books or magazine essays. The clever intellect mixed with the piercing, amusing tone spoken with a subtle lisp and theatrical facial expressions makes Sedaris’ stories that much better when hearing him live. The difference is that of hearing a friend tell a comedian’s joke: it’s still funny but one will laugh the

most when being told the joke with the original, unique delivery of the comedian.

Called “the rock star of writers,” Sedaris has written multitudes of books, articles and essays since his writing start in the early '90s, each being critically acclaimed and praised, having a total of five New York Times Best Sellers and selling over seven million copies. Dress Your Family in Courdirouy and Live at the Carnegie were both nominated for Grammys in the Spoken Word category. Sedaris frequently contributes on NPR’s "This American Life" as well.

Sedaris will make you laugh until you cry and then make you think and then make you burst into more laughter. Period. There’s no two ways around it. Youth tickets are $15 and adult tickets are $30. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Thee Oh Sees @ The Granada Nov. 25

Murs @ The Granada

Demetri Marin @ Uptown Theatre

November 29

Hailing from San Francisco, indie rock group Thee Oh Sees bring their experimental twist on power pop to The Granada on Nov. 25 with opening bands Total Control, The Spook Lights, and Mouthbreathers.

Upon first listen, Thee Oh Sees’ music can be described in one word: quirky. After listening to them again, their music is still quirky. But quirky in a good way. A familiar quirkiness. A quirkiness that beckons one to keep listening, as if the jittery, trippy and grungey sounds are an addiction that can only be absolved through replays of the three-minute kookiness that is their songs.

Known for their lively, aggressive, punk-spirit infused shows, Thee Oh Sees’ concert at the Granada will have fans energetically jumping up and down, or at least wildly dancing around. The quartet’s punk-rock vibe is reminiscent of X’s and the Talking Head’s electrified on-stage spirit, best shown off in venues the size of the Granada. So maybe Thee Oh Sees can be summed up in a few words actually: captivating, wild, outlandish and, of course, fun.

Be ready for one heck of a show, and don’t wear nice clothing: spilt beer will most likely be flying everywhere. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door and doors open at 9 p.m. The show is all ages.

November 19

November 4

lawrence guide

8

november 3, 2011

Someone Still Loves You Bon's Yettsin @Wonder Fair

City and Colour @ The Granada Nov. 14

If Thee Oh Sees are loud, quirky and trippy, then City and Colour is the exact opposite. That isn’t to say that they don’t bring the emotion and passion, though.

City and Colour is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Dallas Green, who injects jolts of soul and tear-conjuring emotion into every song. Not to suggest that one will bawl at every song, but Green’s delivery alone is enough to make neck hairs stand on end and goosebumps scatter your arms. Combine that with heart-aching lyrics that dig deep and sweetly strummed guitar strings and a beautiful Frankenstein takes form.

Although City and Colour’s music is probably often listened to on car rides with friends at midnight or while lying awake in bed on winter nights, the concert will be exciting and certainly worth going to as Green brings out the emotion from the records to an eager crowd. Green’s music takes its own form but sometimes hints at the falsetto of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and the rawness of Connor Oberst of Bright Eyes.

City and Colour will no doubt have you singing along to anguish-ridden choruses and verses that shine with rays of optimism. Tickets are $20 in advance and doors open at 7 p.m. The show is all ages.