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LI FES T Y L E - F I N A NC E - TEC H - TO W N
VOLUME 01 ISSUE 01 JAN 2013
GRACELAND TOO SOME CAKE AND A HIGH STARCHED COLLAR
INSTAWHAT? YOUR PHOTOS HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE
ME, OH, MAYAN GUESS THE WORLD DIDN’T END AFTER ALL
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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JANUARY 2013
JANUARY 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
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...SHE TOLD ME TO MAKE UP MY MIND - HER OR ELVIS. SO I GAVE HER A MILLION DOLLARS CASH AND TOLD HER ‘BYE.’ GRACELAND TOO P8 FEEDBACK
LETTER
LET’S HEAR IT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
FROM THE EDITOR
TECH
MILLION DOLLAR UPLOAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
MONEY
HOW TO PUT HOLIDAY DEBT BEHIND YOU.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
FEATURE
Y U NO RESOLUTE ALL YEAR?! Despite the annoying Top 10 lists, resolution tips, and gym advertisements, I love the New Year. It’s a fresh start – a new beginning. Only in the beginning of a new year can you make drastic life changes without having to provide excuses to others. It is in the social safety net of the New Year that you can chop off your hair and buy that dress you didn’t think fit your style (but always thought was cute). Only this time of year can you start a new diet without feeling obligated to explain yourself when pulling up to the drive-thru with your friends. “Umm, do they have a salad?” Awkwardness sets in. “I mean, my wife’s got me on this thing…I dunno.” Why is this? Why does the word “resolution” only come around once a year, but disappear to leave our vocabulary until the next? I’d like to propose that we try something together – as a society.
TWO SUSPICIOUS MINDS JOURNEY TO MISSISSIPPI. . . . . . . . 8-9
What if we allow this magical social openness to extend further than the first few weeks of the year? We do, in fact, hold that power. We are society after all. So let’s try it. You could even use it as your resolution – a resolution of all resolutions, if you will. All year, let’s allow our hearts and minds to remain open to our brothers and sisters who wish to better themselves, regardless of the weird things they want to try. At SET, we’re also taking a fresh start on the New Year. In fact, you are officially holding Volume 01, Issue 01. Collect ‘em all. Welcome to the New Year. Welcome to SET.
HOMETOWN HEROES
JULIA GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
NON PROFIT
FEED THE PRIDE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
CALENDAR
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
HEALTH
STEPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
FOOD
SIMPLE TWISTS ON CLASSIC COLLEGE FOODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SPOTLIGHT
SEE WHO WAS OUT AND ABOUT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17
SPECIAL FEATURE
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
MOVIES
THE WORLD DIDN’T END - GO SEE A MOVIE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 THE SET STAFF
FREESTYLE
WHAT SHOULD HAVE DIED WITH THE MAYANS?. . . . . . . . . . . 22
SET CONTRIBUTORS
KAYLA SLOAN
Florence, AL
AMY JACKSON JONATHAN OLIPHANT
Tuscumbia, AL
Fairhope, AL
WILL RILEY
Sheffield, AL
DUSTIN VARNER Cullman, AL
ANDY THIGPEN
Cullman, AL
SET is a publication by and for local young people dedicated to lifestyle, finance, technology and community. It is published by Listerhill Credit Union as
part of its ongoing mission to promote the credit union philosophy of cooperation and financial literacy. It is a platform for 15-20 somethings in the community and it is free.
LINLEY MOBLEY
Cullman, AL
PACE HOLBROOKS Cullman, AL
ADAM GOOCH Killen, AL
Florence, AL
Florence, AL
ALEX LINDLEY
Florence, AL
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CAROLINE MCGRAW ANNA GRACE USERY
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4 FEEDBACK
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TECH 5
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46%
of total U.S. adults upload shareable photos online
INSTASCAM IN YOUR FACEBOOK.
MILLION DOLLAR UPLOAD The tech debates will never end, and I’m becoming apathetic. I’ve grown numb over the tablet wars, less enthused about Apple’s next product release and can hardly tell the difference between Windows 8 and Mountain Lion these days. Meanwhile in San Francisco… A few weeks ago, the photo sharing app, Instagram, tried to sneak in a few modifications to their privacy policy which had the tech world putting away their spec lists and posting up their blogs in anger. This updated version specifies that Instagram plans to integrate advertising banners and sell its over 80 million active user’s photos without prior consent. As you can image, this garnered a lot of national attention that resulted in instant celebrity feedback and a response from the co-founder of Instagram. Anderson Cooper’s tweet stated he was moving past Instagram and was looking for a new social network. In addition to celebrities, the group “Anonymous” offered its commentary to the media with the Twitter hashtag, #BoycottInstragram. According to AppData, since Thanksgiving, Instagram has lost 2 million active users. With so many concerned users, a resurgence of other photo sharing apps, such as
Flickr or Path, seems likely. Flickr is now integrated with Twitter (unlike Instagram) and Foursquare. I was one of the many frustrated Twitter users after Instagram and Twitter’s fallout. The new privacy policy is an ethical hiccup causing users to adapt or drop. By downloading or updating the mobile app and “agreeing” to all of the policies and procedures that everyone reads (including all of you, I’m sure), you are consenting for Instagram to “own” your photos and digitally pimp you out to online users. Regardless of the intent of Instagram, the pictures that we upload can appear anywhere and could create rather misleading endorsements. Is it a violation of privacy? Is a bird in hand worth two in the bush? Of course. My Instagram network is far from impressive, but like most cutting-edge social networks, exclusivity was my methodology behind using Instagram. Twitter became my escape after its launch because it became a network for some, but not all. Facebook has transformed into a reconnection point for distant relationships, but not peer engagement. Remember what happened to Myspace? Social media seems to be more mature in its current state but far from its apex. Maintaining an active online portfolio is a perpetual strain when your same friends follow you on all networks, so I would suggest that if you want to be different (but the same as everyone else), try Flickr. You can also join me in the protest against Instagram by using #jan16.
BY WILL RILEY
6 MONEY
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60+ towns in the U.S. have their own local currency.
JANUARY 2013
48 percent of printed bills are $1 notes.
THAT RAIN CLOUD IS DEBT DEBT AVALANCHE:
HOW TO PUT HOLIDAY DEBT BEHIND YOU
This one is for all the number crunchers out there. Start by paying off the debt with highest interest rate. This helps you rid yourself of the most damaging debt first. High interest rates means you’ll be paying significantly more in the long run and eliminating that first saves you money over time. You won’t see results as fast as you would with the snowball method, but the high interest costs you more the longer it lingers. The avalanche method works from the top down, similar to an avalanche; thus, the name. What makes people a little hesitant about trying the avalanche method is that you have to be disciplined to use it – not the most instantly gratifying method.
I’M BEYOND BROKE. AND YOU ARE TOO. What I’ve learned is that earning money really isn’t the hardest part about managing our finances, even though we all are guilty of saying “If I can just get a few more hours at work this week, I’d be set,” and then following it up with “I really hate working so much.” But that’s because we spend it all, super inefficiently; “No kidding.” Some of us just cannot get by without compiling debt – essentially spending all the money we don’t have but wish we did – and getting stuck peeking out from under a pile of bills. In our defense, this debt is getting through things like school and allowing us a sweet car and a somewhat decent bachelor(ette) pad. Things we all need.
NOW TO MAKE THIS CURRENT: Everyone makes New Years’ resolutions, but, let’s face it, no one ever keeps them. This time around, it can be a little easier to be the exception and not the rule. First thing, get your finances in order. Organizing your debt reduction plan is a lot easier when you have an idea where your money is going and where you can afford to be more efficient. A great tool to keep track of your spending and budget is Mint.com. Mint is a free online service (and app) that syncs with your checking account and categorizes your purchases in multiple graphs and charts, making it incredibly easy to
DEBT PUPPY:
YOU SHOULD SEE MY DEBT SNOWMAN. understand. Some people don’t want to know the breakdown of their spending tendencies; but knowing this helped me find that I eat fast food entirely too much! Second thing, there are three methods of paying our debt down. All of which are easier than going to the gym – Number 1 resolution.
DEBT SNOWBALL: This one is easy. Basically, you start with the lowest debt and work your way up to the highest debt, intensely paying one off while paying the minimum balance due on the others. This creates a “snowball effect” because you see progress faster, making you feel better about sticking to the plan rather than giving up like – like that one day you really needed a coke and broke your three week record without carbonated drinks. For example, say you have five
outstanding bills: $100, $600, two of $900, and an “OH, shoot!” bill of $5,000. Let’s say the monthly dollar amount due on the $100 is $10. Start paying $20 instead and continue to pay the minimum for the others. You’ll pay that off in a few short months without drastically changing your spending habits. Then, when that is paid down, take the money you were using to pay the $100 debt and put it towards the $600 balance. If that monthly minimum due is $60, you’ve started to pay $80. Continue the process of taking money allotted for previous payments and putting it toward the next debt all the way through paying off the massive $5,000 and you’ve done it efficiently over a span of time that doesn’t take ridiculous chunks out of your checking account at one time.
This last method puts priority on the debt you have the most emotional attachment to. For example, a family member lent you money. You would pay that family member back before you move on to other debt. In the same sense, seeing the person you owe money to is a constant reminder. Another way to approach this method is placing the emphasis on the item to which you have the greatest emotional attachment. Say you got a puppy – we all love puppies. If there is an item you have a strong emotional attachment to or that would be the most damaging to do without, pay that debt down first and follow suit in your other debts. Christmas has passed and (because our families’ have expensive taste) we have a lot less money than we did before the holidays. To further that thought, we owe a lot of money too; most of the time, it’s not even your fault. It’s that middle, overlooked sibling that you forgot to presents buy for until Christmas Eve that squeezes your bank account dry and pushes you into the red – but this year, it should be much easier to bounce back no matter what your debt may be. At that point, maybe we can step back and ponder – was it all worth it to begin with?
BY DUSTIN VARNER
JANUARY 2013
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MONEY 7
8 FEATURE
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JANUARY 2013
TWO SUSPICIOUS MINDS JOURNEY TO MISSISSIPPI BY ANDY THIGPEN & JONATHAN OLIPHANT PHOTOS BY JONATHAN OLIPHANT Sixty years ago this year, a kid wandered into a Memphis studio with a voice and a style that would to break a lot of rules and a lot of hearts. Elvis Aaron Presley’s music has come to represent a definitive moment in what would become rock and roll: the mixing of old and new styles, the blending of “black” music and “white” music, the oozing sex appeal of gyrating hips, and the voice of a god — or a King. From that day when Sam Phillips listened a little closer to this kid from Tupelo to his rise in the 1960’s, and then to his fall after hundreds of shows under cruel, harsh neon of Las Vegas, Elvis has captured the heart and soul of a truly American art form as well as the hearts and souls of millions of screaming fans across generations. It is arguable, but there is perhaps no heart Elvis has captured more than that of Paul McLeod’s. For the past 58 years, McLeod (pronounced “McCloud”) has dedicated his time — as well as the entire first floor of his Holly Springs, Miss. home — to the collection and display of Elvis paraphernalia and memorabilia. His home, “Graceland Too,” is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for visitors to come and revel in the legacy of Elvis. The tour is only $5, and on the third visit, you’re a lifetime member, which grants you free access anytime thereafter and immortality on Graceland Too’s photo wall. In honor of Mr. Presley’s 78th birthday this month, SET magazine sent two writers to explore this phenomenon so that others may know what some may call obsession (what others may call love) for the man who was crowned as “King of Rock and Roll.” Jonathan: We left Florence, Ala. at 4 a.m. after a McDonald’s coffee-and-biscuit run. I had just finished the midnight premiere of “The Hobbit” and Andy had been watching the meteor shower. We kept switching between “Jailhouse Rock” and “Viva Las Vegas” until I lost 3G connection in the backlands of Mississippi. At this point, Andy didn’t last much longer before falling asleep. With now only a meteor shower to keep me entertained, the quiet two-hour drive to Holly Springs seemed to take forever. Andy: I awoke just after 6 a.m. to a pleasant town square with the city hall in the center. It could have been a scene from “Pleasantville”,
and the early dawn light helped cast the place in a pseudo-sepia tone light. We found MacLeod’s house easy enough — just look for the giant blue house. This isn’t your American Dream, frosted baby blue with a white picket fence and a dog. The house is cobalt. The windows are blued out. The wrought-iron storm door is blue. The roof. The columns. The two lions guarding the front walk, and the barbed wire wrapped around them and the chain link fence surrounding the house — everything. Blue like the Almighty dropped a bucket of paint that globbed all over this one house and spared the rest of the block. J:We knocked on the door (blue, if you wondered)
and waited, giggling at the surreal scene, until MacLeod opened up. We waited about six minutes cracking jokes about various outdoor décor until we heard a noise from inside. The door creaked open as you could imagine it would. “Come in!” a voice called out from the inside. “Where are you guys from?” “We’ve been traveling through the night from Alabama, and we came to see ‘Graceland Too,’” I responded as the door opened to reveal a man standing in pitch blackness. “Eerie darkness inside a barbed wire house? Perfect,” I thought to myself as I tried to look past the doorman and through the dark halls. A: As he invited us in, he explained some of his power was out, but he had an electrician there trying to fix it. Walking in was like walking onto the set of “Hoarders: the Elvis Presley Edition.” There was stuff everywhere, and the house had a smell like nothing had been moved in years. Not a mildewy, moldy smell, but rather the smell of musty settlement. There were little trails in the shag carpet — carpet from the original Graceland, mind you — where we could walk safely between the mounds of memories. Because part of his power was out, there were lone flashlights and occasional floor lamps dimly lighting the place, which did nothing to ease my nerves or make the whole scene less surreal. Every square inch of wall and ceiling space was smothered with Elvis like the peanut butter on his famous banana sandwich, and every cabinet, desk, and crate was filled to the brim with his legacy.
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The King never played a show outside the USA.
FEATURE GRACELAND TOO
VARIOUS
JANUARY 2013
various vs time spent there
TRUST
ELVIS KNOWLEDGE GAINED
LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT
TIME
9
To see all of the photos visit getsetmag.com mannequin wearing only a decayed Army jacket was laid to rest on a rusted ironing board. Three different cars, all “owned by Elvis,” sat decaying in his driveway. And there on the back, barbedwire fence sat a crude replica of an electric chair attached to a car battery. A chair, MacLeod said, that “35,000” people have sat in. A: There’s a point in the tour where the focus on Elvis seems to blur. The tour becomes less about Elvis and his legacy, and much more about Paul MacLeod and the unfathomable and unreal amount of stuff he has; not to mention the psychosis. The numbers he throws out are, at best, fabrications and unverifiable estimations.
J: Andy and I glanced at each other with amazement. And then it happened so quickly. Like someone unbottled a Niagara Falls of information, Paul MacLeod began pouring out his Elvis knowledge non-stop. This was the beginning of the tour. The overly-caffeinated Coca-Cola lover moved us through the hallways spewing information. A: The first item he called our attention to was a picture of his son, Elvis Aaron Presley MacLeod. Yeah. It’s like that. “You see that kid with the hat on over here? That’s my son, Elvis Aaron Presley,” he said with something like pride. He then somehow pivoted to his ex-wife. “Him, me and my ex-wife, she told me to make up my mind – her or Elvis – so I gave her a million dollars in cash and told her ‘Bye.’” “A million dollars, huh?” I was skeptical. “And if you look over here…” the tour went on. No questions to be asked to validate or prove anything. Over the course of the tour, we learned he has $100,000 worth of guns in the house, “thousands” of newspapers and TV Guides mentioning Elvis, “31,000 hours” of documented footage of Elvis on TV and radio, “35,000 keys” to the place, “35,000 records,” “$10,000 in t-shirts,” and a slew of other numbers of items that could never be fact-checked or counted. If at any point we happened to stray away and devote even an ounce of attention to anyone or anything but MacLeod, he would give a little whistle and a loud, commanding, “YOU!” and reel us back in. J: Elvis wasn’t the only big name carelessly thrown around that night. “Any actor you name in the world has been here. Muhammad Ali has been here 3 times.” Which — you guessed it — makes him a lifetime member. “Bill Clinton came in here three times,” added MacLeod just before adding more color to the
story. As we continued the tour of this man’s home, disbelief and nervous laughter come from Andy and me as we walked into another dark room. With Elvis vinyls plastered on the walls and a small light display in the center, this was the showroom. MacLeod pointed with the flashlight to a gold suit on display in the corner of the room. “That’s my burial suit,” he claimed. “I’m gonna come back and haunt my ex-wife. I’m gonna tell her, ‘Honey, you lied when you said you loved me, and I had no cause to doubt you.’” A: At this point in the tour, MacLeod pulled back a curtain revealing a pitch-black hallway. He shuffled us through the hallway into a room with no electricity. Using our cellphones as flashlights, MacLeod unveiled stacks and piles of pictures he had taken of past patrons. These pictures, covering every inch of the room, revealed lifetime members clad in his iconic black leather jacket standing by a portrait of The King. The electrician was telling us he had worked for MacLeod for over twenty years and had seen people from all over the world come through the halls. “How many pictures you say you done took of people come in here?” the electrician asked MacLeod. “Almost half a million,” he said, without hesitation. Now there is a number I may be able to believe. It was like a bad dream, looking at all of the faces of kids, families, frat guys, and mothers from all over the world – all posed in front of Elvis’ picture – some wearing a black, leather jacket, some making faces, and others just smiling, frozen in a pitch black closet somewhere inside “Graceland Too.” J:If that’s not terrifying enough, there’s MacLeod’s backyard — the pinnacle of the tour. We stepped outside into the morning light again. The yard was filled with junk. A dirty, faded
J: Factually, we cannot account for any of MacLeod’s statements, but at the same time, we don’t really want to. I don’t really care if he does in fact have 35,000 keys or records lying around. The trip was never about facts. It was never really about Elvis either. I mean sure, Elvis was the King and all, but that’s not what makes “Graceland Too” special. Underneath all of the Elvis memorabilia is a man that has dedicated nearly his entire life to this iconic rock legend. And to me, that is more intriguing than Elvis Presley could ever be. A: “Graceland Too” is the ultimate in objectification and fetishism. In MacLeod’s house, Elvis seems to lose humanity, as he becomes an object, like a marble bust of Homer or Alexander the Great. However, the experience of walking through MacLeod’s house of obsession is one, I believe, that should be experienced by anyone who has a love for Elvis as well as by anyone who needs to have validation of their own sanity. Jonathan and Andy have now left the building. Unfortunately, the building hasn’t left them. Photos: Top Left: Outside graceland Too. Middle: Elvis phone. Below: Paul MacLeod talks about the King.
10 HOMETOWN HEROES
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Henderson’s goal each day is to make someone happy.
JANUARY 2013
Hunger leads to fatigue and lack of concentration.
HAPPY TO HELP JULIA GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND A recent UNA graduate with a degree in art education, Julia Henderson has known two things she has wanted to do for a long time: help people and be a teacher. “Really, I’m looking for a place where I can build something up that is in need,” she says. “I got it from my mom—I really like to help people.” Henderson says her mother raised her and her three sisters all with a sense of giving.
“I can’t think of someone who has a more genuine heart,” she says. “She taught me to give to people regardless of if I’m skeptical of whether or not they really need it. I just try to see the best in everyone.” Helping people has been a lifelong endeavor for Henderson and her family. “Growing up, if we had leftovers in the car after we ate, we’d give them away if we passed someone who looked like they needed it,” she says. Last year, Henderson took the opportunity to apply her mom’s life lessons. As a resident assistant at the University of North Alabama, Henderson was expected to deal with student problems in the dorms. But when faced with the problem of students stealing food from each other, she went above and beyond
her expected responsibilities. She started a food pantry. Henderson realized students were stealing food because they couldn’t afford to buy it. Now, the Feeding the Pride food pantry is up, running, and serving UNA students in need. The pantry is designed to keep needy students from starving or even stealing. While Henderson started a food pantry to help out UNA students in need, not everyone can undertake such a large effort. She says smaller efforts can have just the same effect. “It’s as simple as if you see someone
who needs help, help them,” she says. “It can be something as small as having a conversation with someone who is having a bad day.” With her future ahead of her, Henderson wants to continue helping people, no matter where she ends up. “I’ve always wanted to be the lady who carries around little packs of food and hygiene items to give to homeless people I see,” she says. “I want to keep helping people for the rest of my life. It’s who I am.”
BY ALEX LINDLEY
JANUARY 2013
NON PROFIT OF THE MONTH 11
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The pantry accepts donations from any community member or organization.
FEED THE PRIDE
SO NO STUDENT WOULD GO HUNGRY
Help feed tHe pride of UNA by doNAtiNg items or volUNteeriNg yoUr time to tHe UNiversity food pANtry todAy!
www.una.edu
Launching last semester, Feeding the Pride is one of only 20-25 food pantries on college campuses across the country. At first, the pantry, (which operates solely with food donations from the community) struggled to find donors. But, almost immediately after founder, Julia Henderson, sent out a campus-wide email, the goods came pouring in. In addition to its partnership with UNA Collier Library’s canned food amnesty program, the pantry partners with several churches and other organizations in the Shoals to provide food to students and their families who apply for assistance online. The pantry, located in the Guillot University Center on UNA’s campus, operates when school is in session, but Henderson and her
two co-workers didn’t send students and families away for the holidays hungry. “We gave out a lot of our donations to students to keep them fed over the break,” she adds. The mission of the pantry is to serve students of all kinds, Henderson says. “I want to acknowledge that many students are single parents or nontraditionals,” she says. “It’s not just 20-somethings that are out there. We even keep some baby food for students with children.” The pantry is run entirely by volunteers, Henderson says. UNA students Jessika Walker and Magdalina Lira, two volunteers who have helped out from the beginning, will take over Henderson’s manager position as student co-managers next semester. Henderson says planning and running the pantry has given her renewed faith in people and the UNA community. “Through all of this, I’ve fallen in love with the UNA community all over again,” she says. “I get goose bumps just thinking about it.” For more information, visit Feeding the Pride’s website at http://feedingthepride.wix.com/ feedingthepride
BY ALEX LINDLEY
12 CALENDAR
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EVENTS
JANUARY 2013
JANUARY 3 - FEBRUARY 9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY 3
PHOTO BY DARBE ROTACH
INTEREST MEETING FOR DOWNTOWN FLORENCE SILVER SCREEN FUNDRAISING PROJECT by Florence Main Street. Meeting at Indie Space, Florence, AL, 5:30pm
JANUARY 5
MAXWELL D RUSSELL, Black Water Hatties, Huntsville, AL, 9:00pm – 1:00am
JANUARY 11
HUNTSVILLE HAVOC VS MISSISSIPPI RIVERKINGS, VBC, 7:30 – 9:30pm 7’ CLEARANCE, Flobama, 9:00pm
JANUARY 12
XTERRA ALABAMA “MONTE SANO” STATE PARK 5K/15K TRAIL RUN, 8:30pm – 11:30am
JANUARY 15
BLIND THE SKY, Swampers Bar and Lounge (Marriott Shoals), 5:00pm
JANUARY 17
SHOALS ON STAGE PRESENTS THE ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, Norton Auditorium, 7:30pm
JANUARY 18
MARTIN LUTHER KING WALK, GUC Performance Center, 12:00pm (noon) LUKE BRYAN W/THOMPSON SQUARE & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, VBC, 7:30pm – 10:30pm
JANUARY 19
PLANET INK, Pegasus Records, Florence, AL, 8:00pm
JANUARY 25
BLUE MAN GROUP, 8pm, visit http:// broadwaytheatreleague.org for tickets. RED MOUTH, the end. Theatre, 9:00pm
JANUARY 26
BLUE MAN GROUP, 2pm & 8pm, visit http:// broadwaytheatreleague.org for tickets. Miss UNA, Norton Auditorium, 7:00pm for
BLUE MAN GROUP 3 Nights. Visit broadwaytheatreleague.org for tickets. tickets, visit una.edu/boxoffice
for tickets, visit una.edu/boxoffice
BLUE MAN GROUP, 2:00pm & 7:30pm, visit http://broadwaytheatreleague.org for tickets.
UNA STEP SING, Norton Auditorium, 7:00pm for tickets, visit una.edu/boxoffice
JANUARY 27
FEBRUARY 1
UNA STEP SING, Norton Auditorium, 7:00pm
FEBRUARY 2
FEBRUARY 7-9
Send your events to CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
A MUSICAL REVUE, Shoals Community Theatre, 7:30pm & 2:30pm
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
JANUARY 2013
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CALENDAR 13
14 HEALTH
Weight loss is the number one New Year’s Resolution.
College males and females are consuming more than 30 percent of their calories from fat, which
exceeds the American Dietetic Association’s recommendation of no more than 30 percent a week.
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JANUARY 2013
Only 8% followed through to reaching their goal.
STAYING HEALTHY IN 2013 10 EASY STEPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU 1. Set small goals. Many people get discouraged because they can’t reach the large goals they’ve set for themselves. Achieving small goals keeps you motivated. 2. Always work out on a Monday. People who work out on Mondays are more likely to work out the rest of the week. 3. Find a workout buddy. An accountability partner knows your goals and helps push you towards them. 4. Introduce one fruit and veggie into your diet every day. Eating well makes your body feel great and motivates you to stay active. IT’S NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK IT IS.
STEPS TO KEEP YOU MOTIVATED AND HEALTHIER ALL YEAR LONG The New Year is upon us. However, the holidays have our biceps sore from hauling forkfuls of stuffing into our mouths and wheezing after walking up only one flight of stairs. As we lament the fact that our pants will only fit if we leave the top button undone we are given hope by three little words: New Year’s Resolution. It seems that through the years, losing weight and getting in shape have commonly been at the top of the list when it comes to goals set for the New Year. The University of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology did some research last year and came up with a set of New Years Resolution Statistics. According to this research, only about 45% of Americans make resolutions each year. Out of this 45%, the top New Year’s Resolution for 2012 was you guessed it - weight loss. Lead personal trainer of Gentle Movements in Florence, AL, Sarah Gillis, explained that this is the number one goal because people “use the New Year as a starting point for
changing the rest of their lives.” Out of the 45% of Americans that made New Year’s Resolutions last year, only 8% followed through to meet their goals. That’s because at the beginning of the year we are motivated, eating well, and feeling great. But after a few weeks we find ourselves back on the sofa watching trash TV and shoveling in a bag of chips. Health guru Andrew Hall stated that a main reason we give up is because we expect instant gratification. The fact that we can’t see any progress discourages us and leads us back to the bad habits we had before. A second reason, according to Gillis, is that instead of focusing on health, we focus on our weight; then, and when the pounds aren’t falling off as fast as we want we get discouraged and give up. “We all want to feel good and look our best,” said Gillis. “What we see on the scale isn’t a true measure of our overall health, and when we shift our focus to eating healthier and becoming more active we begin to feel better and reach our goals without worrying too much about how much we weigh.” So, are you tired of making weight loss resolutions only to have your goals fade away after the first month? Are you ready for the miracle cure that will keep you on track and help you shed those holiday pounds? Do you want to be healthy and in shape in a matter of five minutes? Does this sound like an infomercial yet? Well, it’s no infomercial – and you definitely can’t make any of that happen in just five minutes. But, after talking with Gillis and Hall, I got the lowdown on how to easily make your resolutions last and keep yourself healthy year round.
5. Make time for your meals. Skipping meals usually results in overeating later. 6. Drink plenty of water. Water helps you lose weight and improves your energy level. 7. Have patience. There will be times when you skip a workout or eat badly and that’s ok! Don’t beat yourself up –your body needs rest. 8.
Be conscious of your sugar and sodium intake. These two things can cause inflammation and swelling.
9. Sttrreettcchh! Stretching when you wake up and before you go to bed increases blood flow, which makes your body serve you better. 10. Be realistic. Those girls and guys on the cover of Cosmo? They don’t really look like that, so don’t beat yourself up because you can’t get that body. A helpful thing to remember, Hall says, is that “success is an individualized thing.” Don’t compare your progress to the person next to you because everyone’s body is different. Keep these 10 steps in mind and you should have a very healthy 2013!
BY LINLEY MOBLEY
JANUARY 2013
FOOD 15
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FT college students have over $60b in buying power
They spend most of their discretionary funds on food.
SPICING UP THE NEW YEAR Slather (definition: “Spread or smear thickly or liberally”) hot dog bun with peanut butter, peel and place banana in bun, and squeeze jelly on top. Hot diggity dog! Savor this classic spin on the classic PB&J.
SPICY RAMEN NOODLESPAD THAI STYLE Open the package of Ramen noodles (any flavor), place the crunchy block in water and boil. Don’t have the time? Contrary to popular belief, Ramen noodles ARE microwavable.
HEY, I KNOW WHAT HEALTHY IS.
SIMPLE TWISTS ON CLASSIC COLLEGE FOODS The value of a home cooked meal is priceless. Living away from home and being in college removes that pleasure of a free meal we all once savored on a daily basis. All college students know living on a budget can be bland, but that doesn’t mean your food has to be. Relish the flavor and savor the taste of pad Thai pizzazz and other quick, easy recipes that will bring out the chef in every college student.
PB&J DAWWWGS Following the afternoon of grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, one problem always remains. When the grilled meats have been consumed, what to do with the leftover buns? Usually, they hang around for a while, making friends with mold and ending up in the garbage off to a place unknown. Instead, get crafty with these simple peanut butter and jelly dawgs! You will need: • 1 hot dog bun • 1 banana • Peanut butter • Jelly – preferably in a squeeze container
• First, place the noodles in a microwavable bowl, add approximately two cups of water, and set the timer for four minutes. • When the noodles have cooked to soft, stir in the flavor packet then drain the liquid. Next, add: • 1 teaspoon smooth peanut butter • 1 teaspoon chili sauce • 1 teaspoon soy sauce • 1 teaspoon hot sauce Voila. This fusion of Little Italy and Chinatown will have your taste buds thanking you and begging for more.
HOT, HOT, HOT POTATO If you find yourself pulling out the “How to Use an Oven For Dummies”, this recipe is for you. Don’t let grandma know this secret, but a baked potato can actually be microwaved. Simply poke a few holes in the potato to allow it to aerate, put in the microwave for 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the potato, and let cool. To desired temperature. Creativity is unlimited when it comes to potato toppings. Try butter, shredded cheese, and bacon bits for a classic loaded baked potato. Or, try a pizza potato by adding butter, pepperoni, parmesan cheese and any other of your favorite pizza toppings.
SPICY MAC AND CHEESE WITH A FAST FOOD TWIST Mac and cheese is a classic staple of our childhoods that make a surprise comeback during our college years. You can’t beat getting a meal in the form of a box for a quarter of your hard earned money. Eating mac and cheese is a way to save time, savor
a taste of your childhood, and get full after a long night of studying. However, you’ll also need to make a famous “Run for the border” (to TacoBell) to make this entrée. Simply follow the directions on the macaroni and cheese box and add six packets of the mild, hot, or fiery Taco Bell sauce of your choice. This simple ingredient adds a robust flavor that will satisty those late night cravings.
OOEY GOOEY GRILLED CHEESE A cook’s first discovery is putting a slice of cheese between two pieces of bread and melting it in the microwave, creating an ooey gooey sandwich. People all around the world have their own variations of this classic comfort food. Butter and cheese are the primary ingredients, but one ingredient that will add to the gooiness of the sandwich is mayonnaise. Although this condiment isn’t highly regarded, it is favored by all grilled cheese lovers. Simply: • Slather butter on two pieces of bread • Repeat step one with mayonnaise • Place preferred cheese (multiple slices) on inside of bread Now, here is where the paths diverge. For a rich, flavorful taste, add butter to a skillet, put it on low heat, place the sandwich in the skillet and let it simmer on both sides until golden brown. Others may not have the time, cookware, or desire to use the oven, so the microwave is a reasonable exception. For those of you rich folk who have a toaster, the art of grilling cheese just got a whole lot simpler. Simply flip the toaster on its side creating a nice, warm environment for your grilled cheese to cook. This classic sandwich has held onto the hearts of many young and old alike. Capture your youth and try out this simple ooey gooey grilled cheese! Although we students try to be varied in our diets, these true “college foods” usually make it into the menu quite regularly, which don’t have to be so boring. Creating a spread of college vittles such as the highly acclaimed Ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese is not difficult to do. These suggestions and recipes are ways to simply spice up the norm, letting your inner “Head Chef” claim power over the kitchen.
BY ANNA GRACE USERY
16 SPOTLIGHT
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SPOTLIGHT
SET FINDS READERS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT
KASEY MARTIN
DANIEL CRISLER/ CICADA SCREAMERS
JANUARY 2013
PHOTOS BY AMY JACKSON , ABRAHAM ROWE AND KAYLA SLOAN
KELSEY DAMONE, COURTNEY WILLIAMS
STEPHEN JACKSON, JEREMY COUCH, LILLY HOLLY
SET LAUNCH PARTY
JAMES AND LAURA SHERRIL
JANUARY 2013
SPOTLIGHT 17
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HOLIDAY TRUNK SHOW, FLORENCE, AL
NATALIE NICHOLS, JENNY RAY
RACHEL LEE WALLACE
SET LAUNCH PARTY
JOHN MUFFLER, DAVID GIST, MICHAEL BOWLING, ALEXANDER BOWLING
TRAVIS LINDSEY, JESSICA MANN
SET LAUNCH PARTY
SET LAUNCH PARTY
OLIVIA SHERIF
18 SPECIAL FEATURE
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JANUARY 2013
SPECIAL FEATURE 19
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In 2011, 25% of U.S. Citizens served as volunteers.
Volunteers have lower mortality rates.
A VOLUNTEER NEW YEAR 10 CHOICES FOR VOLUNTEERING IN NORTH ALABAMA IN 2013 New Year’s resolutions are traditionally about bettering oneself. But how about bettering oneself through giving to others? Volunteering can give you the opportunity to do just that. In 2013, consider giving of your time and talents and contributing to your community as a volunteer. Here are ten terrific places to volunteer in north Alabama. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start. To find a volunteer placement that matches your interests and experience, read on. 1. Are you technologically talented? Volunteer your time with BEST, the organization that hosts middle and high school robotics competitions. In BEST events across the state, students are challenged to construct a functional robot from a box of everyday objects. Spearheaded by Auburn University, BEST has multiple regional events and local championships; the organization received the help of over 3,500 volunteers last year alone. Volunteers help with everything from mentoring students to judging the competitions themselves. Visit the BEST volunteer page for an application. Bonus tip: You never know – you might meet the next Steve Jobs. 2. Love to spend time with kids? Review the volunteer opportunities at the Children’s Museum of the Shoals. You could help with exhibit setups, children’s camps, art classes, and more. And if the Children’s Museum website is any indication, one lucky volunteer also gets the chance to suit up in a fluffy white costume and play the role of the Easter Bunny. 3. Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) is a non-profit serving animals in
Northwest Alabama. In particular, PAWS seeks to serve abandoned and abused animals by providing them with permanent and foster homes, and they need volunteers to help with adoption events, fundraising, newsletter writing and graphic design, foster care, and more. For additional information, visit the PAWS Volunteer page. Bonus tip: This is an excellent excuse to spend time with really, really cute critters. 4. Prefer to work with people oneon-one rather than in a large group? Check out Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Shoals. Spend time doing the things you already like to do, be a meaningful mentor, and help shape a young person’s life in the process. Bonus tip: You may even score free tickets to cultural and sporting events to attend with your ‘little sib.’ Really! 5. Okay, so maybe kids aren’t your thing, but you still want to help. You can also be a friend to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through your local Alabama Arc chapter. 6. Get fit and volunteer! It’s a win/win, right? YMCA’s Volunteers at the Y coach sports teams, fundraise, teach classes, and much more. Opportunities vary based on location, but check in at your branch to see what’s available. Bonus tip: Ask about a membership. You might even qualify for a scholarship or reduced rate membership. 7. For my fellow nerd volunteers, transfer yourself to your local library. Libraries are often in need of volunteers to shelve books, design displays, and coordinate programs too. In fact, the FlorenceLauderdale Public Library is seeking volunteers for individuals
to do all three. Bonus tip: Make friends with the Bookmarks Coffee staff and you’ll have a great time! 8. Give your time to your local American Red Cross. If you’re concerned about natural disasters and the far-reaching consequences of severe weather, Disaster Action Teams and Emergency Services Teams would welcome your support. Bonus tip: Better to be prepared than paranoid. 9. The Northwest Alabama Safe Place offers shelter, support, and education for victims of abuse and violence. Safe Place has a number of volunteer needs, including: oncall workers, GED tutors, home and car repair workers, computer technicians, and pet foster care
providers to name a few. If you have a specialty skill, the Safe Place would love to hear from you. 10. The Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama (and Boy Scouts too) are actively seeking volunteers to lead troops, train leaders, provide administrative support, and accompany troop members on service projects and camp experiences. Bonus tip: If you contribute your time, they might just throw in some cookies to sweeten the deal. Happy Volunteering!
BY CAROLINE MCGRAW
20 COLLEGE LIFE
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JANUARY 2013
JANUARY 2013
MOVIES 21
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50 movies released this year are sequels or prequels.
Average ticket price in 2012 was $7.83
5 FILMS FOR 2013
OIL CAN.
THE WORLD DIDN’T END – GO SEE A MOVIE You’re a smart person, you knew you’d survive December 21 to see the new year… just like the guys who were making movies for 2013 did. In fact, there seem to be so many cool movies coming out this year that you may not know where to start. Allow me to help with my Top 5 movies to watch for in 2013:
1 - WORLD WAR Z
Let’s go ahead and get the apocalyptic movie out of the way. There are going to be a lot of zombie films this year, but this one stars Brad Pitt and looks like an epic 28 Days Later. Don’t pretend like that didn’t just convince you to see this movie.
2 - MAN OF STEEL
This movie is being portrayed as a real Superman reboot for our generation. They’re going to tell us what made small-town kid Clark Kent into the caped crusader. We’re probably going to love it because Christopher Nolan (Director of The Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception) is producing it, and that guy can’t make a bad movie, right?
5 - STAR TREK INTO THE DARKNESS 3 - THE GREAT GATSBY
You read the book (by F. Scott Fitzgerald) in high-school. Honestly, you’ve probably even seen a movie of this before, but never with Leonardo DiCaprio doing his “I only play disturbed characters” thing. It’s going to have all the glitz, glamour, and drama that a 1920’s period piece deserves, as well as an awesome cast.
4 - IRON MAN 3
I know what you’re thinking: “Another superhero movie? Really, bro?” Well, if you’ve seen the other movies, you’d know that Tony Stark isn’t a superhero-type. He’s just really rich and really smart (and Robert Downey Jr. has made these movies really awesome). With that said, this looks like it’s going to be the darkest Iron Man to date, so don’t miss it.
No, seriously. Beam down your inner Trekkie and go see this. There are a lot of sequels to popular films coming out in 2013 (The Hobbit, Hunger Games, Monsters Inc., etc.) but this one makes the list because of how great J.J. Abram’s first Star Trek was. Come on, you know you want to.
BY PACE HOLDBROOKS
22 FREESTYLE
During the Cold War, the U.S. lost 8 nuclear weapons
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JANUARY 2013
8% of people successfully achieve their resolutions
THE NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION WHAT SHOULD HAVE DIED WITH THE MAYANS? CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! You made it! Crank up the REM because,
“It’s the end of the world as we know it…” Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the Mayan calendar marked December 21st of 2012 as the end of a 5,125 year-long cycle that should have marked the end of the world. There were several suggested scenarios for how the end would come, from the Earth being swallowed by a large black hole to what could basically be described as a head on collision between Earth and another planet. But thankfully, none of them were right. We survived! And like all the televangelists that have come after them, the Mayans were wrong. The fact that you’re reading this is really good news, but the question remains… what’s next? 2013 is here! What will you do now? As we go into a brand new year the focus will shift to new beginnings. By now you’ve probably made several New Year’s resolutions of how you’re going to lose weight this year or finally buckle down so you can graduate college in less time than it took you to graduate high school. We all want to be better in 2013 than we were in 2012, just like we wanted to be better in 2012 than we were in 2011. We all make resolutions with the greatest of intentions, but the simple truth is that most of those resolutions won’t make it to the end of January. You survived the end of the world, but the question you need to ask yourself is, “What should have died with the Mayans?” What are those things in your life that NEED to die? What are those things that are holding you back from becoming that better person and from living that better life? Henry W. Longfellow once said, “Great is the art of the beginning, but greater is the art of the ending.” If we’re honest with ourselves, we all need to come to grips with some endings in our life because good cannot begin until bad ends. The problem is that most people don’t like things coming to an end (unless we’re talking Pauly Shore). We don’t appreciate endings for what they are because we’ve always been taught that endings are bad. Endings are not only a part of life, but they are a requirement for living and thriving both professionally and personally. Endings are necessary! As we go into the New Year, rather than focusing on the things we need to START doing, let’s focus on the things we need to STOP doing. Want to lose weight? Don’t start going to the gym until you’ve stopped your late night love affair with Little Debbie! Have you decided you’re finally going to run that 5K you’ve been talking about for years? Before you start hitting the treadmill it might be a good idea to stop smoking. Are you looking to get out of debt? Don’t start trying to work a budget until you’ve stopped your reckless spending. BOGO is not your friend! You can’t go into a new beginning without an ending. The problem most people have is that: as much as they want a new beginning, they’re more afraid of going through a necessary ending. Why do we avoid endings? For many of us it’s because we’re afraid of the unknown. We don’t necessarily enjoy where we are but at least we know what we can expect from our current condition. New beginnings are scary. Many of us avoid endings because we don’t like confrontation, and we’re afraid of hurting someone (hence, three straight twoterm presidents). You hate your job and you’re either scared of your boss or you don’t want to let him/her down, so you stay stuck in a career that’s going nowhere. Maybe you’re in a relationship that you know is dragging you down. You love the friends you’ve had since middle school but their negative
attitudes are draining you. Maybe it’s time to end those relationships so that you have room in your life for people that bring out the best in you. The reason people live average lives is because they choose to live average lives. As you start this New Year, what things in your life are holding you back? What are those tough decisions you need to make to get away from the average life you lived in 2012? Before you can get to the next level in your life, you have to say goodbye to the last level of your life. A 3 year old wearing arm floaties and sitting in a kiddie pool is cute; a 28 year old doing the same thing is just pathetic. What are those things in your life that should have died with 2012? The Mayans missed it. The world didn’t end. We’re all still here, and we all have the opportunity to live today better than we lived yesterday…but it’s going to take some endings.
BY ADAM GOOCH
JANUARY 2013
FREESTYLE 23
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