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VOLUME 02 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2014
SURRENDER
THAT BURGER resolve to eat — and live — better
PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME
WI-FI ADDICTION DUMBING GEN Y?
LET ME SEE YOUR SODA POP
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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JANUARY 2014
JANUARY 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
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QUIT PROCRASTINATING. I’LL COME BACK TO THIS ONE LATER. SO YOU WANT TO RESOLUTE? P27 FEEDBACK
LETTER
LET’S HEAR IT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
FROM THE EDITOR
GETTIN’ FITBIT
YOUR RESOLUTION JUST GOT AN UPGRADE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
THE HEALTHY, WEALTHY WALLET
FIVE THINGS TO MAKE 2014 YOUR BEST YEAR YET . . . . . . . . . . . 6
EXPLOSIONS AND PEANUT BUTTER
A CUP OF KINDNESS
“For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne. We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne.” Sound familiar? To some, maybe, but to many, those words don’t even ring a bell. Honestly, they sound like a foreign language. But guess what? We all mumble through the lyrics to this song each and every New Years when the clock strikes midnight. That’s right, now you’ve got it! “Should old acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne.”
THE GUYS BEHIND THE PB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
So what does this song even mean? The poem was written by a Scottish man by the name of Robert Burns in 1788. “Auld lang syne” can literally be translated into “times gone by.” Go read the lyrics for yourselves, but to me, this song calls us together in love and friendship to put aside our differences and start the new year on a refreshed, positive note. If you don’t have any New Year’s resolutions this year, at least take a tip from this song and work to be more kind to those around you! Remember all of your friends, old and new, who have influenced you into who you are today. Send them a little note and let them know you’re thinking of them. We could all use a little more love and kindness in our lives. As you begin 2014, remember that SET is your platform! If you want to get involved with the magazine — whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer — our doors are always open. Not only will your work be published, but you’ll get a little dough on the side. Sound like a sweet deal? Email me at editor@ getsetmag.com or go online to getsetmag. com to get started. Happy New Year!
BY LINLEY MOBLEY, EDITOR
SET CONTRIBUTORS
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.
SPREAD THE GOOD
MAKING THE WORLD BUTTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
FROM LUNCH LINE TO LABORATORY
THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR FAVORITE FOOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
CALENDAR
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A YEAR IN REVIEW
2013 HAPPENINGS IN SET’S DISTRIBUTION AREA. . . . . . . . . . 16-17
KEY OF HEALTHY
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AS A TOURING MUSICIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
IT’S PRETTY EASY BEING GREEN
TIPS TO EATING HEALTHY WHEN YOUR WALLET IS LIMP. . . . . . . . 19
SPOTLIGHT
SET READERS IN ACTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-23
LOCAL EATS
REVIEWING NEW, LOCAL PLACES TO CHOW DOWN. . . . . . . . . . . 24
SOCIAL NOTWORKING
HOW THE VIRTUAL WORLD IS MAKING US DUMB . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SO YOU WANT TO RESOLUTE?
A GUIDE TO NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
NEW YEAR, NEW STYLE
CHANGE UP YOUR STYLE WITHOUT SPENDING A PENNY . . . . . . . . 29
THE MASTER CLEANSE JOURNAL
ONE GIRL’S EPIC JOURNEY TO CLEANLINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
FREESTYLE
BETTER YOUR BRAIN IN 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
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TECH 5
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About 20% of us keep our New Year’s resolutions.
is the #1 New Years Resolution made every year.
January is the busiest month for gyms nationwide.
GETTIN’ FITBIT
It’s a new year, and many of us are looking at making the resolution to live a healthier lifestyle in 2014. The first few weeks are usually easy, but the longer we go without something or someone to hold us accountable, the more likely we are to give up. That’s where Fitbit comes in.
package, and I love how the app logs everything I do, from what I eat to how much I sleep!” Users have the option of buying Fitbit in the form of a bracelet or a clip, and both can be worn with any outfit without drawing attention to it. Many users say this little device was the difference in them staying on track with their weight loss and healthy living goals. Fitbit’s price ranges from $59.95 to $129.95, depending on the style and services you choose. So this New Year, think about taking some of your left over Christmas money and making an investment in your health by trying Fitbit out.
PHOTO BY KAYLA SLOAN
YOUR RESOLUTION JUST GOT AN UPGRADE
Fitbit is the latest in healthy living technology. This little armband or clip, depending on the model, is breaking ground in how you track the details of your day. Each day it tracks how many steps you’ve taken, calories you’ve burned and floors you’ve climbed. It even measures the amount of sleep you get at night and can wake you up with a silent alarm by vibrating your wrist. Throughout the day, Fitbit syncs with an app on your phone and to an online site, tracking your activities and motivating you to do more. Along with being able to set goals, the app can manage calorie intake and compare your progress with friends. “I love using my Fitbit because not only does it keep me on track with my goals, but it also helps me ensure that I am taking care of my body,” said UNA student Laura Giles. “It really is the full
THE LATEST INNOVATION IN HEALTHY LIVING.
N IPAD AIR. A IN W , S E IK L T S O M GET THE
STORY BY SARAH EMERSON
6 MONEY
$24,301 - The average student loan balance in ‘12.
You can slash utility costs by using CFL bulbs, they use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
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Save money on gas by riding a bike or carpooling.
THE HEALTHY, WEALTHY WALLET START DOING THESE FIVE THINGS TO MAKE 2014 YOUR BEST YEAR YET If you’re like many young people, last year might not have been as good as you hoped. Young people in 2013 faced high unemployment rates and soaring student loan debt — not a great combo. It’s a new year, though and that means a fresh start! Here are five financial habits you can start developing today to make sure this year (and all the years to come!) is healthier and wealthier than those that came before it.
1. SAVE MONEY EVERY TIME YOU EARN
Maybe you earn $20 from dog sitting your neighbor’s miniature Schnauzer or $100 a month selling replica “Doctor Who” sonic screwdrivers on Etsy. No matter how much or how little you earn, start putting away a small portion of every dollar that comes into your hands. Even if you just save 5-10 percent, that small amount can add up to a large amount of money, especially once compounding interest comes into play. Don’t wait! Transfer this portion into a savings account right off to the top, before you have a chance to spend it. That way, saving for tomorrow is out of the way and everything left is yours to spend today.
2. KEEP AN EYE ON THE FUTURE
There will always be some big expense on the horizon that you need to prepare for. It might be few weeks away or several years down the line. Start looking ahead and try to predict upcoming expenses and emergencies. How will buying that new iPad today affect your ability to buy textbooks next semester? If your car insurance is due in July, are
you putting a little away each month now so it doesn’t surprise you this summer? Can you pay some of the interest accruing on your student loans while you’re still in school, so you won’t owe as much once you graduate? If you prepare for costs before they hit you, they don’t become big financial emergencies.
3. SEEK GOOD ADVICE
If you aren’t sure what the best course of action is, seek relevant, qualified advice from people with more knowledge and experience. If you don’t understand the confusing details of your student loans, go ask your university’s financial aid office for help. Not sure if that used car for sale on Craiglist is a good one? Go ask a trusted mechanic to look it over first. Just make sure the person you turn to for advice knows what they’re talking about. If your mother routinely goes on shopping binges for new clothes and puts all her expenditures on credit cards, she might not be the best person to ask for advice about purchasing decisions.
4. EXPLORE ALL YOUR OPTIONS
When a problem presents itself, make sure you know what options are available to you and try to choose the best one. If your car needs an expensive repair and you need to borrow to pay for it, check with your financial institution to see if you qualify for a lower-interest personal loan before you whip out that high-interest credit card. If you’re struggling to meet your student loan payments, see if you qualify for deferment, forbearance, incomebased repayment, assistance from
YOUR GOOD HABITS MAY LEAD YOU TO BE AS HAPPY AS GOOD OLE’ MR. MONEYBAGS. your employer or any other programs designed for just that situation. (If you don’t know what your options are, go back to Habit #3.)
5. GET IT IN WRITING
Always get any transaction details in writing and keep those records in a safe place. If you pay off the last of your balance on a car loan, make sure you get a receipt showing your balance is zero, so your lender can’t come back later and say you owe them more money. If you accept a job offer on the basis that you will receive a raise after six months, a paper record of that offer gives you some leverage in case six months
comes up and your employer doesn’t hold up their end of the deal. Keeping good written records protects you, and it protects the people you have financial dealings with. Picking up these five habits now could really help you in the future when you have a home, family and full-time job. If you’re New Years resolution list isn’t too long, adding this into the mix couldn’t hurt!
STORY BY ADAM KAMERER
JANUARY 2014
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MONEY 7
8 HOMETOWN HERO
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12 oz. jar of PB.
Numerous campers and motor homes are made in Winnebago County, Iowa, which is how the “Winnebago” got its name.
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JANUARY 2014
Women prefer creamy PB, while men prefer chunky.
EXPLOSIONS AND PEANUT BUTTER to do more than just talk about the problem, so they partnered with MANA Nutrition to do something bigger. The answer? Peanut butter!
THE GUYS BEHIND THE PB Mark Slagle and Alex Cox met while working with MANA Nutrition, a nonprofit organization that fights severe cases of malnutrition in children by providing MANA (Mother Administered Nutritive Aid), a readyto-use therapeutic food (RUTF) made of “fortified peanut paste that has been carefully formulated to provide a child’s basic nutritional needs.” According to MANA Nutrition, a malnourished child’s life can be saved with three servings of MANA a day for six weeks. While working with MANA, Slagle and Cox were given the task of getting the word out about the troubling issue
“We think peanut butter is something everyone can agree on and, at its core, it’s nostalgic and fun,” said Slagle.
of malnutrition and how RUTF is the solution to this problem. In their efforts to spread the word, they purchased a 1971 Winnebago (which they called Manabago) to travel the United States on a college tour. When asked about how Slagle and Cox got their start, Cox said, “I think you can boil the whole legacy down to us meeting, nodding in affirmation, growing mustaches, driving, repairing, driving, repairing and then finally, diving (in slow motion) from an exploding Winnebago in the background.” While on their tour, off the coast of California, their trusty Manabago caught fire and exploded.
ALEX COX AND MARK SLAGLE, MAKING PEANUT BUTTER PICKY PEOPLE PICK. Although a bit deflated, the two didn’t let the loss of their vessel slow their roll. They continued spreading the word by hitchhiking 2,500 miles across the country. During their journey, they decided they wanted
Thus, Good Spread was born. A small peanut butter company partnered with MANA Nutrition and World Vision that aims to provide nourishment to starving children.
STORY BY SARAH ANN KEETER
JANUARY 2014
NONPROFIT 9
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RUTF was endorsed in 2007 as a standard treatment of severe malnutrition.
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PEANUT BUTTER WON’T SOLVE WORLD HUNGER, BUT IT COULD SAVE A CHILD’S LIFE.
MAKING THE WORLD BUTTER In the fall of 2011, following their years of work with MANA Nutrition, Mark Slagle and Alex Cox came up with the idea of Good Spread, a line of “buy one, give one,” all-natural peanut butter blended with organic honey and sea salt. The guys partnered with MANA Nutrition and World Vision to make their dream happen. Basically, for every packet of Good Spread is sold, MANA gives a packet of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to a child suffering from severe malnutrition. World Vision then delivers the RUTF to the child at no cost to Good Spread. Ninetyfive percent of children treated with RUTF recover from fatal stages of malnutrition. Slagle and Cox not only wanted to help people, they wanted a fun way to do it. “Fun is one of our key ingredients, and what is more fun than peanut butter?” said Slagle. According to their website, other than being naturally awesome, the guys chose to make peanut butter because “it also
happens to be the base ingredient in therapeutic food and so the connection is obvious — you eat peanut butter and they eat peanut butter (of a stronger caliber, of course).” So far, Good Spread has sent over 33,000 packets of RUTF to the country of Chad through World Vision. Slagle and Cox hope to expand that number in the future. So how can you help spread good with Good Spread? Eat peanut butter, silly! Allergic to peanuts, but still want to help? Buy a pack and give it to someone else! For every pack you buy, you’re helping save a child’s life. Good Spread Peanut Butter can be purchased online at helpgoodspread.com and at the Turnip Truck, Cumberland Transit, The Belcourt Theatre and The Well Coffeehouse in Nashville, Tenn. as well as Enzo’s Market and Fastbreak Athletics in Chattanooga, Tenn. Slagle noted they soon hope to have Good Spread available at Rivertown Coffee Co. in Florence, Ala. and all 210 Harris Teeter grocery stores in the United States. Get out and spread the word — and maybe a little bit of peanut butter too!
STORY BY SARAH ANN KEETER
10 FEATURE
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JANUARY 2014
E N I L H C N U Y L R M O O R T F D A O O F R E T I R O O V A B F R A U O L Y D O N I T SCIENCE BEH
THE
THE ART OF SODA A BRIEF LOOK INTO THE FASCINATION OF FIZZ AND WHAT MAKES SODA POP! Since the early 1800’s, people all over the world have been enjoying the beverage known by many names. Some call it soda, others call it pop, but for most people in the South, it’s all considered Coke! No matter what you like to call it, it all comes from the same base ingredient — carbonated water. So how does it work? There are a few different ways to create carbonation. The oldest and most outdated way is by using yeast. Those little critters that make your bread rise also create carbonation. Here’s how: Yeast loves sugar. In the case of
soda, plain ‘ol sucrose will do just fine. You see, when yeast consumes sugar it creates alcohol while releasing carbon dioxide (CO2), or the fizz in this case. The trick is creating the carbonation without creating a large amount of alcohol. This is done by leaving the yeast to eat the sugar for only two or three days at room temperature. After this time, it needs to be refrigerated. At temperatures below 40F, the yeast will begin to “sleep,” or slow down eating up the sugar. Therefore, you have created carbonation without creating a large amount of alcohol. On the good side of things, this small amount of
alcohol that has been created (less than 0.01 percent) will act as a sort of sterilizer to keep outside microbes from ruining you soda. Another type of carbonating used, and the most popular in our time, is called “force carbonating,” which is the process used in soda fountains. Not only is it more efficient, but also easier to control the rate of CO2 that is being released into your beverage. So what makes it go flat? Unfortunately, CO2 molecules have a natural tendency to pop through the surface and escape forever as a gas. The trick to preparing the perfect pop, therefore, is to keep as much of this dissolved CO2 inside the liquid as possible. One way to do this is to refrigerate your soda. When soda is cold, the CO2 molecules have less energy to escape. So next time you kick back and enjoy your favorite fizzy beverage, you can impress your friends by tellin’ ‘em you know how it got that way. Cheers!!
PHOTO BY KAYLA SLOAN STORY BY ARRON HANNAH
JANUARY 2014
FEATURE 11
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LET’S GET CHEMICAL THE DIY SCIENCE OF CHEESE-MAKING
PHOTOS BY SARAH WALLEY Cheese can be made by several different methods, but one particularly easy way is to use acid to create your curds. Acidulated cheese is created when acidulated milk is heated until it coagulates and forms curds. “Acidulated milk” just means “milk with an acid in it.” When the mixture is heated to 165F, the blob-shaped proteins in the milk separate (a term known as denaturation). The protein’s molecular structure changes, becoming insoluble in water. This molecular shift then facilitates coagulation, which is the creation and separation of curds (the chunky cheese) and whey (the cloudy water leftovers) — bet Miss Muffett had no idea how scientific her snack was! With just a bit of science, you
yourself can create a glorious glob of rich ricotta. One way to use your fresh-made ricotta is in a flatbread recipe, and whadayaknow! I’ve got one for you right here.
ROASTED FIG AND RICOTTA FLATBREAD WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION For balsamic reduction, put 1 cup balsamic vinegar in a pot and reduce to a thin syrup over medium heat. In a bowl, toss 8 figs (washed, dried, quartered) with salt, pepper, olive oil (to taste), and half of the balsamic reduction. Roast at 350F until tender. And now, for science! Here’s the recipe you’ll use for your ricotta:
1/2 gallon whole milk 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar (don’t use the red stuff, you’ll have pink cheese!) 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 tsp salt (no iodized salt! It needs to be sea or kosher salt) Place milk into a non-aluminum saucepot (the acid will pull aluminum into your cheese, you don’t want that!). Add salt. Bring milk to a simmer over medium heat. Add lemon juice and vinegar and simmer lightly for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 20 minutes. Line the inside of a sieve with a double layer of cheesecloth. Strain milk mixture through cheesecloth into a bowl, catching solids. Allow cheese to
drain in the cheesecloth while cooling down in the fridge (3045 minutes). Refrigerate stored in airtight container. Pile your figs and ricotta on top of the flatbread, and warm briefly in the oven. Pull out of the oven and drizzle with balsamic reduction and enjoy!
STORY BY ERIN WITTSCHECK
12 FEATURE
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JANUARY 2014
CHEAP EATING IS CHEATING THE AMERICAN FOOD DILEMMA OF FILL-ER-UP CHEAP EATS AND ARM-ANDA-LEG ORGANIC FOOD As I pull up to McDonald’s to order my usual two McDouble’s, a small fry and a Coke (confession: dollar menu fiend), I never think twice about what I’m eating. If it tastes good, it’s for dinner — that’s just how my mind works. I always leave thinking, “I’ll eat a salad or carrot sticks for dinner and all will be right with the world.” But, with all these recent injections, additives, preservatives and biological hoopla going down in secret corners of federal buildings to “enhance” nutritional values of foods, who the heck knows what we’re eating anyway? Aside from being a dollar menu fiend, I am also a documentary fiend. Anything that tells the story of real events and captures my attention, especially about food, is worth watching. I once was couch loafing and flipping back and forth between channels — NASCAR and Pawn Stars, of course — when I came across a documentary about a Hispanic family who came to the U.S. to live the “American dream.” Fast food wrappers littered the floorboards of their beat-up Plymouth and for good reason. “That food is cheap,” the mother said. “Why would I buy fresh vegetables for outrageous prices and still be hungry when I can buy a dollar hamburger and be satisfied?” This mother is not the only one with this viewpoint, in fact many of you probably think this way. So let me educate you a bit. My brother works at one of the largest chicken distribution plants in the state of Alabama, Aviagen, and one day I casually asked him how big chickens got these days (noting the hefty packages of chicken body parts I luff home from Walmart). He responded by saying “homegrown” chickens are fed, injected with antibiotics and genetic stimulants and fully grown in approximately 17 days (whhhaaat??). An actual homegrown
chicken takes about four months to be fully-grown, chick to chicken. Take a second to think about that … we are all eating mutant chickens. While we’re on the topic of mutant chickens, I feel I should also mention this. I recently spoke with UNA biology professor Dr. Lisa Ann Blankenship about the biological components of chicken litter that is used for fertilizer. She startled me by saying that it is made up of remnants of decomposed chickens — stuffed with antibiotics and other funky goop — and their excrement. Basically, chickens are stuffed with antibiotics and genetic modifers, the chickens die and decompose and the farmers spread that in their fields. All of this crap (literally) is more than likely transferred to the fruit and veggies we are ingesting. One of the big reasons these chemicals are so bad for us? They can heighten our resistance to antibiotics, the medicine that fights infection. “With the rate of antibiotic resistance increasing within the population, we are looking at about 30-35 years left of antibiotics. After that, even the common cold virus will be so complex and aggressive medicine will not be able to treat it,” said Dr. Blankenship. With only a fraction of these disturbing facts in your head about conventional food, doesn’t that make you want to eat fresh, crisp, green veggies all day, err day!? Buying food just because it’s cheap might actually be cheating your body out of a lot of the nutrients and protection it needs. Eating organic might not be the cheapest or easiest way to live, but it might be worth it for those who want to know exactly what they’re putting in their body. Turns out, organic food is 20-40 percent more nutritious and,
PHOTOS BY KAYLA SLOAN once you factor in what you would be saving in health care costs, ends up being only 20 percent higher. Conventional farmers normally use about 400 different chemicals and pesticides on their crops, chemicals that leave their residue even after you wash the food. So how do you avoid that? Check out your local farmers market! Not only would you be helping your community, but these guys can tell you exactly what’s been put on their produce as well as how it was fertilized (and honestly, the prices aren’t bad). In conclusion, the dilemma ultimately boils down to farmers eventually not being able to grow enough food to feed the over 7 billion
people in the world. However, we don’t have that problem right now, there are plenty of farmer’s markets that are having to throw out fresh, organic produce every day because people choose to buy the conventional produce at the grocery store. Hopefully all of this info has simply made you more aware, or at least made you consider what you’re putting in your body with each forkful.
STORY BY ANNA GRACE USERY
JANUARY 2014
FEATURE 13
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COOL SCIENCE A COOLER WAY TO MAKE ICE CREAM THAN WITH ROCK SALT AND ICE There is a food scene growing around the world called gastronomy — definition: the study of food and culture. Gastronomy is filled with food nerds that study how food
is made up from the molecules and how it relates to the culture surrounding it. What makes gastronomy cool is when it’s used in restaurants. These kinds of restaurants are typically called gastropubs, and are places where the chefs really push the boundaries as far as what they create. They create foods and pair foods based on their chemical make up all the way down to the molecular level. Pretty cool. Because it’s so awesome, ice cream finds its way into this scene, too. The trendy way to make ice cream these days for gastropubs (and chemistry labs) is with liquid nitrogen. Nitrogen is so cold that it’s usually found as a gas. So, for nitrogen to be found in its liquid state, it has to be super cold, like instant frostbite cold. It
literally freezes anything it touches. But it will evaporate almost instantly. And because it does this, it can be used to make ice cream. The reason liquid nitrogen works in creating ice cream, is because it “flash” freezes the milk and cream. It freezes the cream so quickly that the milk molecules stay very small and the water molecules don’t have enough time to crystallize, which is perfect for ice cream because crystallization in ice cream isn’t fun (you’re left with hard, not great ice cream). This rapid freezing also helps preserve the nutrients in dairy products, preventing the breakdown of proteins (healthy ice cream!). Making ice cream with liquid nitrogen
is almost faster than getting a tub of it out of the freezer, and who doesn’t want instant ice cream!? If you’re looking to do this at home just mix together milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and (if you happen to have some lying around) pour in liquid nitrogen, stirring until it’s thick and scoopable. When you’re done, fix yourself a bowl, go out on the porch, hold it high in the air and scream, “Look at what I have created!!”
STORY BY REESE SHIREY
14 CALENDAR
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JANUARY 2014
JANUARY 2014
CALENDAR 15
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EVENTS
JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 31 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY 1
NEW YEARS DAY NASHVILLE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION RUN @ Court of Flags, Nashville, TN 4:00pm JORDAN DENTON & BARRY BILLINGS @ On the Rocks, Florence, AL
JANUARY 2 BOXCAR VOICES @ The End Theatre, Florence, AL 8:00pm
JANUARY 3 THE BORO BAND @ Gary’s Place, Spring Hill, TN 9:00pm
JANUARY 4 UNA BASKETBALL VS. LEE @ Flowers Hall, Florence, AL 1:00pm
JANUARY 6 DYLAN LEBLANC @ 116 East Mobile Street, Florence, AL 7:00pm BCS VIZIO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME @ Pasadena, CA 7:30pm EST
JANUARY 7
NASHVILLE PREDATORS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 7:00pm
JANUARY 8 CLASSES RESUME FOR SPRING SEMESTER @ University of North Alabama, Florence, AL CLASSES RESUME FOR SPRING SEMESTER @ Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL CLASSES RESUME FOR SPRING SEMESTER @ Northwest Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals, AL CLASSES RESUME FOR SPRING SEMESTER @ Wallace State Community College, Cullman, AL JORDAN DENTON & BARRY BILLINGS @ On the Rocks, Florence, AL JEFF DUNHAM @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 7:30pm ANOTHER VENDETTA @ The End Theater, Florence, AL 7:00pm
FOLLOW APOLLO PLAYS AT PEGASUS RECORDS ON JANUARY 17TH.
JANUARY 9
PROJECTIONS & REFLECTIONS @ Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL 9:00am UNA BASKETBALL VS. VALDOSTA STATE @ Flowers Hall, Florence, AL 6:00pm KAYAK POLO @ Flowers Hall Pool, Florence, AL 6:30pm
JANUARY 10 GYPSY ROSE @ Gary’s Place, Spring Hill, TN 8:00pm CHEAP THRILL DEVILL @ Pegasus Records, Florence, AL
JANUARY 11 UNA BASKETBALL VS. WEST FLORIDA @ Flowers Hall, Florence, AL 1:00pm NASHVILLE PREDATORS VS. OTTAWA SENATORS @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 6:00pm OPRY AT THE RYMAN: FT. ERIC CHURCH @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 7:00pm BUCK SIXX @ Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, Columbia, TN 8:00pm
JANUARY 15 JORDAN DENTON & BARRY BILLINGS @ On the Rocks, Florence, AL
JANUARY 16 CLASSES RESUME FOR SPRING SEMESTER @ Columbia State Community College, Columbia, TN KAYAK POLO @ Flowers Hall Pool, Florence, AL 6:30pm BOXCAR VOICES @ The End Theatre, Florence, AL 8:00pm
JANUARY 17
JANUARY 22
16TH-19TH CENTURY FASHIONS IN MINIATURE @ Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL 9:00am JORDAN DENTON & BARRY BILLINGS @ On the Rocks, Florence, AL
JANUARY 23 UNA BASKETBALL VS. WEST ALABAMA @ Flowers Hall, Florence, AL 6:00pm KAYAK POLO @ Flowers Hall Pool, Florence, AL 6:30pm
JANUARY 24
FOLLOW APOLLO @ Pegasus Records, Florence, AL
WHO SHOT JR? @ Gary’s Place, Spring Hill, TN 9:00pm
JANUARY 18
JANUARY 25
NASHVILLE PREDATORS VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 7:00pm BILL COSBY @ Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, AL 8:00pm ORANGE CRUSH ROCK @ Gary’s Place, Spring Hill, TN 9:00pm
UNA BASKETBALL VS. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE @ Flowers Hall, Florence, AL 1:00pm MISS UNA PAGEANT @ University of North Alabama, Florence, AL 7:00pm
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
GNARLY CHARLIES, JORDAN DEAN AND HANNAH ALDRIDGE @ Pegasus Records, Florence, AL 8:00pm
JANUARY 30 UNA BASKETBALL VS. WEST GEORGIA @ Flowers Hall, Florence, AL 6:00pm KAYAK POLO @ Flowers Hall Pool, Florence, AL 6:30pm BOXCAR VOICES @ The End Theatre, Florence, AL 8:00pm
JANUARY 31
NASHVILLE PREDATORS VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 7:00pm THE BICHO BROTHERS BAND @ Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, Columbia, TN 8:00pm
16 SPECIAL FEATURE
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JANUARY 2014
A YEAR IN REVIEW
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT 2013 HAS ALREADY COME AND GONE! AS WE PREPARE OURSELVES TO LOOK FORWARD INTO THE NEW YEAR, LET’S TAKE A LOOK BACK TO ALL THE EXCITING THINGS WE SAW HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND SOUTH CENTRAL TENNESSEE.
A CLOSER LOOK AT ALL THE H JAN. 31, Lydia Rogers and Clarabelle and the Creeps play at The Black Owl Trading Co.
FEBRUARY
Local musicians Ben Tanner, John Paul White and Will Trapp open indie label Single Lock Records. FEB. 22, The Florence Public Library hosts ‘Music in The Stacks’ with the Wildwood Ruminators.
Jan. 26, Emily Winkler wins the 39th annual Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant.
MARCH
MARCH 8, St. Paul and The Broken Bones play at Pegasus Records.
MARCH 22, The Bear and The Local Saints play a dual album release show in 7 Points.
JUNE 25, Tim Stevenson finishes Florence Main Street’s mural representing the local lifestyle.
JULY
JULY 19-28, Florence hosts the 32nd annual W.C. Handy Festival, bringing in Grammy-winning blues artist Keb’ Mo’.
JUNE
JUNE 11, Local musical duo The Civil Wars release their single “The One That Got Away.”
JUNE 21-22ND Cullman, Ala. hosts 2nd Annual Rock the South Music Festival featuring Sara Evans, Hank Williams Jr., Scotty McCreery and more.
JULY 23, Pegasus Records’ venue opens with a show by The Weeks and local acts The Gnarly Charlies, Cicada Screamers and While the Ship Sinks.
AUGUST
AUGUST 2, The Court Street Market opens during First Friday, hosting a number of local vendors.
OCT. 23, Poboys Cajun Grill opens on Church Road in St. Florian. OCT. 26 -27, Wilson Park hosts 27th annual Alabama Renaissance Faire.
NOVEMBER
Northwest Shoals Community College celebrates its 50th anniversary. OCT. 10, National Geographic photographer and UNA grad, Michael “Nick” Nichols begins “The Short Happy Life of a Serengeti Lion” exhibit at Court Street Market.
NOV. 18, Alabama Chanin hosts the grand opening of The Factory. OCT. 19, The Inaugural Dragon Boat festival was held at McFarland Park in Florence.
NOV. 25, Odette, a locally sourced restaurant, opens on Court Street.
NOV. 26, The Pie Factory opens on Court Street in downtown Florence.
JANUARY 2014
SPECIAL FEATURE 17
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HAPPENINGS IN SET’S DISTRIBUTION AREA FROM 2013 APRIL 2, Stanfield’s River Bottom Grille opens at McFarland Park. APRIL 20, Pegasus Records hosts Record Store Day featuring The Bear, Grace and Tony and Blind The Sky.
MAY MARCH 27, Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant opens newest location in Columbia, Tenn.
APRIL
APRIL 1, Columbia, Tenn. hosts annual Mule Day Festival, attracting over 200,000 people.
MAY 16, Dillon Hodges releases his fulllength album at The Zodiac Theatre.
MAY 14, Florence Foodies begins monthly food series at local restaurants.
MAY 18-19TH, 27th Annual Arts Alive festival held in downtown Florence.
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST 6, The Civil Wars release self-titled album that hits number 1 on Billboard 200.
SET magazine expands distribution into south central Tennessee.
AUGUST 23-25, Billy Reid hosts his 5th annual shindig. Music in the Park features local acts such as Belle Adair, The Pollies, The Pyles, The Bear, The Decoys and St Paul and the Broken Bones.
SEPT. 27, “Muscle Shoals” documentary makes its box office debut. SEPT. 28, The Aids Action Coalition hosts the Red Rhythm Runway at the Marriott Shoals featuring local fashion and music.
AUGUST 23, Billy Reid and Single Lock Records open new event space, 116 E. Mobile. AUGUST 24, The documentary “Muscle Shoals” makes its hometown debut at the Shoals Theater accompanied by a Secret Sisters concert.
MAY 1, National artists Phillip Phillips and Mat Kearney play at the Spring Concert hosted by UNA.
AUGUST 31, The Variety Record Lounge re-opens in Columbia, Tenn.
OCTOBER
SET celebrates its 1st birthday.
OCT. 5-13, Cullman hosts 31st annual Oktoberfest.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR
NOV. 26, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine’s company, Beats Electronic, announce their partnership with the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation to restore FAME Recording Studio and the iconic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.
2014?
DECEMBER NOV 29, The Pollies and Firekid perform at the Black Friday show at 116 E Mobile.
DEC. 9-10, UNA’s ATO and The Well host the 6th Annual Rock The Wreath with The Ray Brothers to collect toys for Toys for Tots.
STORY BY SHANE MOODY
18 MUSIC
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Keep a calm head and maintain balance in your life with all things.
KEY OF HEALTHY
DYLAN LEBLANC OPENING FOR LUCINDA WILLIAMS AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES.
HOW DYLAN LEBLANC STAYS HEALTHY AS A TOURING MUSICIAN To the average person, staying healthy is a real challenge. Cheap fast food, little time to exercise and lack of discipline makes staying healthy harder than one might think. For a touring musician such as Shoals resident Dylan LeBlanc, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is especially difficult. In late 2010, a 20-year-old LeBlanc began touring in many venues across the U.S. and sold out shows across Europe. The constant travel resulted in LeBlanc eating lots of fried and frozen foods, staying up late with friends and struggling with anxiety. LeBlanc slowly realized that this was not the way to live. Now a little older, Leblanc has learned a few helpful things. “Whereever I go, I always make a stop at a local grocery store to stock up on fresh foods to snack on. I stay away from anything frozen,”
said LeBlanc. “Often times for meals, venues will give you a $15 cash out to spend at local restaurants or prepare you a fresh meal there. I like eating at the venues because they normally offer some good choices.” LeBlanc used to stay out late every night partying with friends and didn’t leave much room for sleep. After living this way for a while he realized that he wasn’t able to perform as well as he should. “I knew that if I wanted to be treated as a serious musician, I had to treat this as a serious job,” LeBlanc said. “Staying out late was sucking all my energy and affecting my performance on stage. I’ve learned that moderation is key. I can still go out for a while at night with friends, but I need my sleep to be able to have the energy to put on a great show.” LeBlanc used to suffer from bad anxiety, so being aware of his mental health is also important. “Going through airports and flying used to stress me out so much. But I’ve learned to just stay calm and relaxed. When traveling, I spend my idle time reading, e-mailing family and friends and just keeping a calm head.” Dylan LeBlanc proves that positive lifestyle changes, less stress and a healthy diet can drastically improve one’s energy, job performance and quality of life.
STORY BY ALEX RICHEY
JANUARY 2014
JANUARY 2014
ART/DIY 19
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Lettuce is a member of the daisy family.
Herbs have more antioxidants than some fruits & veggies.
IT’S PRETTY EASY BEING GREEN roughly once a week, or whenever the soil looks dry. 4. Watch your babies grow. As your herbs or peppers are growing, feel free to use them generously as you cook. The more you trim the plant, the more it will produce. If you don’t have space to grow a garden, but still want fresh, organic produce, then check out your closest farmer’s market! You can find a farmer’s market near you by using LocalHarvest.org.
PRESERVE YOUR PRODUCE
Canning is another way to ensure that you can enjoy your fresh vegetables all year. Canning veggies means that you have organic produce on hand when things are out of season. If canning isn’t your thing, you can always freeze your produce for future use.
FRESH HERBS ARE GREAT FOR COOKING AND WILL BRIGHTEN UP ANY ROOM.
TIPS AND TRICKS TO EATING HEALTHY WHEN YOUR WALLET IS LIMP As a college student, when I hear the word ‘organic’ all I see is signs, all I see is dollar signs (thanks Rihanna). It’s no secret, eating organic isn’t really the first option when funds are tight. This stigma comes from the prices attached to all-natural and organic products found in your local grocery store. But guess what? It’s pretty easy to eat organically and not be completely broke all the time. Here’s how!
GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN
A bit of earth can go a long way when planting veggies. So even if you’ve got a small yard, planting a garden is easy and fun! From what I’ve heard, tomatoes grow well pretty much anywhere and produce a lot of fruit, so you can’t really go wrong there. Carrots, lettuce, cucumbers and peppers are also easy to grow. To fully utilize your garden, go online to find out when the best times are to plant
certain fruits and veggies. Here’s what you need to grow your garden. 1. Find the sun. Sunshine is definitely important when it comes to your garden. Ideally, you want a spot that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight. 2. Prepare your soil. This means you’ll have to do some tilling and weeding. As you till, sprinkle in some top soil or fertilizer to give your plants some extra nutrients. 3. Water! It is extremely important to water your plants every day. A little tip for the hotter months — water your garden at night so the hot sun doesn’t scorch your plants. 4. TLC. As your plants begin to grow, remember to continue taking care of your garden. You’ll probably have to weed once a week to keep pesky plants from taking over.
There are some people who don’t have a yard to plant a garden in, but there are plants that grow just as well in your windowsill! Herbs like thyme, oregano, rosemary, parsley and cilantro, as well as some peppers, grow easily inside with a little love and water. A few simple steps to creating an indoor garden. 1. Find a sunny spot. The windowsill is always a good place that is sure to get lots of light! 2. Get a pot. Try to find a pot with holes at the bottom for drainage; this will keep your plants from drowning. A mason jar or a tin will work well as long as you don’t over water your plant. 3. Fill ‘er up. Fill your pot with potting soil. With your finger, make a small 1-inch hole in the soil and place the seed in it and then cover it back up. Water
Here are 3 easy steps to can fresh produce. 1. Prep. Have plenty of jars and lids on hand — generally mason jars do the trick. Wash them to ensure they are clean whether they are jars you’re reusing, or ones from the store. 2. Pick. Select your recipe and prepare it. Whether you’re making a fresh pepper jelly to go along with goat cheese and toast or tomatoes to save for marinara sauce later, prepare your recipe and fill the jar up with your magical concoction. 3. Submerge. Once your jar is filled (leave room for expansion), place the lid on it and submerge in boiling water to create an airtight seal and ensure safekeeping. While buying organic food may be expensive, growing your own garden isn’t. Keep up with what veggies grow best during specific months so you’re ensured fresh produce year-round if you commit yourself to it. Now, go forth and grow!
STORY BY ANNA LEIGH ROSSI
20 SPOTLIGHT
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SAY CHEESE!
SET READERS IN ACTION
PHOTOS BY JEREMY JACKSON, KAYLA SLOAN, LINDSEY TUBVILLE
JANUARY 2014
PHOTOS BY NAME AND NAME
27TH ANNUAL ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE WILSON PARK, OCTOBER 27, PHOTOS BY JEREMY JACKSON
SAWYER BEHEL, HANNAH BOATRIGHT, ANNA BURKS, JAMERI WILLIAMS AND JAKE WILKINSON
SNOW WHITE
DEVIN JOHNSON AND REBECCA LINAM
PAYTON PRUITT, SKYLER MANSELL AND PHILLIP BLEVINS
THE UNTITLED SILENT FILM EXPERIMENT THE END, OCTOBER 31, PHOTOS BY KAYLA SLOAN
HALEE WILLIAMS, DREW QUILLEN AND ETHAN FRANKS
CAMERON KELLY-JOHNSON AND JENNIFER CRAVENS
JANUARY 2014
SPOTLIGHT 21
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JACOB SHEDD, CATHY HOANG AND KERRIE HOLLOWAY
ANNA GRACE USERY AND ELISE COFIELD
SET HOLIDAY LAUNCH PARTY PEGASUS RECORDS, NOVEMBER 1, PHOTOS BY JEREMY JACKSON
MATT WILSON, CODY HOPPER AND BRANDON PENNINGTON
ABBY LEE HOOD AND SPENCER CANTRELL
MCKENZIE LOCKHART AND KRISTEN DUNN OF TWO OR MORE
HANNAH ALDRIDGE
KATIE ALLEN AND ALLIE SOCKWELL
22 SPOTLIGHT
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JANUARY 2014
SAMUEL SATTERFIELD, KYLE ENLOE, NOEL GEIGER, MATT JONES AND SARAH ANN KEETER
KRISTI ODELL, TEGAN AND SARA
ERICA PIERCE AND ADAM BENEFIELD
WHITNEY BAYLES, HALEY CARTER, ASHLEY BLANCO AND BURNING MARSHMALLOW
BEKAH ARORA BUCKHEAD COFFEEHOUSE, NOVEMBER 8, PHOTOS BY LINDSEY TUBVILLE
SABRINA BONE AND DEYSI COOK
KELLY MERKEL
JANUARY 2014
SPOTLIGHT 23
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MELISSA BURNEY, MARK SELLS AND KIM RISER
JOHN PEDEN AND REBECCA CUZZON
GRAND OPENING OF THE FACTORY
ALABAMA CHANIN, NOVEMBER 18, PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALABAMA CHANIN
DAN DYER
KIMI SAMSON AND DOC DAILEY
ALABAMA CHANIN OPENED UP THE STORE AND SERVED SAMPLES FROM THE CAFE’S MENU THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT
DYLAN LEBLANC, DOC DAILEY AND DANIEL CRISLER
24 FOOD
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True restaurants didn’t exist til the late 18th century.
The first restaurant review was published in The New York Times in 1859 and was titled
“How We Dine”
JANUARY 2014
There are about 980,000 restaurants in the U.S.
LOCAL EATS REVIEWING NEW, LOCAL PLACES TO CHOW DOWN
1. ALABAMA CHANIN’S THE FACTORY
Where: Lane Drive in Industrial Park, Florence, AL Price Range: $4-$9 What’s on the Menu: Hearty soups, café sandwiches and breakfast fare. The counter is stocked with scones, fruit, hot coffee and cakes in mason jars to grab on the go. The Verdict: My vegetable chili was perfect for a cold day and the mushroom Gruyere egg pie was fluffy, light and delicious. Both came with a hefty side salad with nuts and cheese shavings. You won’t leave hungry! Atmosphere: It feels amazingly homey for a factory! You are seated at antique farmhouse tables with mismatched chairs and oversized pillows. From the fabric on your glasses to the napkins in your lap and the plates you are eating off of — all the products are made by Alabama Chanin or sold in the store by other vendors. Best Place To: take a lunch break and get creative inspiration. Make Sure To: look around the retail space before you leave. Pick up a pretty scarf for your mom and support our local fashion maven.
2. MULETOWN ROASTED COFFEE
Where: Public Square, Columbia, TN Price Range: $1-$12 What’s on the Menu: Coffee, coffee, coffee! Oh
yea, and some baked goods. The Verdict: The coffee beans are roasted in-house, so what you get is extremely fresh, bold and flavorful. If you’re a coffee lover, you definitely want to grab some of their beans. If you don’t live around Columbia, you can buy bags of beans at Rivertown and The Factory in Florence! Atmosphere: The coffee shop has a quaint and relaxing vibe. With the strong aroma of coffee, original hardwood floors, mismatched chairs and a really cool wood slat counter, you’re sure to feel welcome as soon as you open the door. Best Place To: hang out with friends, read or study. Make Sure To: try their baked goods. The chocolate chip cookies are to die for.
3. POBOYS CAJUN GRILL
Where: County Road 30, St. Florian, AL Price Range: $7-$15 What’s on the Menu: All of the Cajun choices imaginable — chicken and sausage gumbo, fried alligator and crawfish fettuccini. If you are brave, try the Nawlin’s Rabbit N’ Dumplings. The Verdict: My Beer, Cheese and Crawfish soup was utter perfection. It was creamy and sweet and filled with crawfish and rice. Because it is the restaurant’s namesake, I ordered an oyster po’boy. The oysters were battered perfectly and loaded onto the sandwich. I threw some hot sauce on top and went to town.
Atmosphere: This is a very laid-back establishment with red gingham tablecloths and simple décor. My soup came in a Styrofoam bowl but it didn’t make it any less tasty. Best Place To: go eat after a football game. Make Sure To: chew your oysters thoroughly. On our visit, I bit into something hard — a 0.5inch pearl!
4. ODETTE
Where: Court Street, Florence, AL Price Range: $6-$11 for lunch, $6-$25 for dinner What’s on the Menu: Southern classics with trendy twists — braised short rib gnocchi, buttermilk-brined fried chicken with green tomato chutney and a vegetable plate with options like ginger-roasted squash and griddled potato cakes. The Verdict: Pumpkin and Ricotta are two flavors I would never pair together but worked beautifully in my appetizer. The pork loin could not have been more tender and juicy — I almost didn’t think it was pork loin when I was chewing. Atmosphere: Sleek black chairs, abstract artwork and modern tablescapes including tiny saltcellars make this eatery unique. The upscale, contemporary décor in Odette could have been picked from the streets of Soho in Manhattan. It is a perfect balance with the utterly Southern cuisine that the building hosts.
Best Place To: go out for a date. Make Sure To: check out their merchandise in the front of the store featuring fun patterned dishes and dinnerware.
5. THE PIE FACTORY
Where: Court Street, Florence, AL Price Range: $5-$10 for small plates, $12-$26 for entire pizzas, What’s on the Menu: Snacky appetizers, fun pizzas, calzones, salads and dessert pizzas. The Verdict: I tried a few varieties of pizza but I loved the High Cotton. The tomato cream sauce, mushrooms, grilled chicken and Wickles hit it out of the park for me! If you are into veggie pizzas, try the Granny’s Garden Fresh pizza with huge chunks of vegetables. You will get your recommended daily serving! Atmosphere: Though the bar takes center stage in the building, the booths and high barrel tables are also nice places to hang out as well. The interior is very rustic and includes a pretty cool Mason jar chandelier. Best Place To: go out with friends on a Friday night (take friends to chip in for pizza!) Make Sure To: check out the Bag-O video game in the back!
STORY BY CLAIRE STEWART
JANUARY 2014
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Students spend 6x as many hrs online than on homework.
HEALTH 25
At Farmville’s peak,
Farmville players outnumbered actual farmers 60 to 1.
Over 1/3 of U.S. marriages begin with online dating.
SOCIAL NOTWORKING HOW THE VIRTUAL WORLD AT OUR FINGERTIPS IS MAKING US DUMB Being a part of the millennial age group has made me realize three things about my generation: 1) we create great goals for ourselves, 2) we have ambitious plans to achieve our goals and 3) most of Gen Y has chronic “ADD.” Regardless of the sarcastically self-diagnosed illness, I’ve begun to wonder why so many of us are having the same problem. Have you noticed you can’t read as much as you used to? You probably can’t even focus on homework without getting on Pinterest or checking your Instagram. We’ve become a society of constant multitasking — a fast paced, continuously distracted generation. I recently read a book called “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr that proposes the Internet, in fact, is the culprit behind the lack of focus. The whole book, supported by numerous studies and research, states the idea that the Internet is actually changing our brains and how we think. While the Internet readily provides the world’s information at the touch of a button, is it really making us more intelligent?
THE QUICK FIX
What’s your first reaction when you don’t understand an awkward ‘80s reference? You Google it, of course! So how does Google relate to your brain? Whenever you
“GET OFF THE COMPUTER, YA DUMMY! FOR YOUR HEALTH!” perform a quick Google search, this information doesn’t transfer into your deep memory. It’s only a quick fix. The point is that the Internet is taking away the ability for many people to think deeply and critically. We are substituting deep and linear intelligent thought for sporadic bits of information.
R.I.P. ATTENTION SPAN
With the “quick fix” solutions, we demand immediate information from the Internet, which creates the illusion that our minds must be constantly stimulated by technology. As a result, we’re slowly becoming incapable of concentration and contemplation — the deep part of the brain that requires extreme focus. Let’s examine our society for a second. What do you see? People are mindlessly scrolling through their favorite social network and are constantly connected to technology — they can’t distinguish between reality and the virtual life smart phones and computers provide. While things like tablets and laptops make student life just a little more bearable, one thing is certain — the Internet is definitely changing
something structure.
within
our
cognitive
CHANGING OUR BRAIN STRUCTURE — WAIT, WHAT?
Remember that life defining moment back in the first grade when you stood up for your friends against the school bully? Well, maybe not. But if you’ve ever had a true life defining moment, you know it changes how you perceive the world. In the book, Carr mentions the concept of neuroplasticity — “the brains ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.” In simple terms, our brains quickly adapt based upon our experiences and environment. For example, when we are introduced to a life-altering tool like the Internet, based on neuroplasticity, it is only human nature that we change how we think. Our cognitive thought process eventually changes from deep and linear to “chronic ADD.”
HOW TO AVOID IT
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Internet, I love my MacBook, I love my iPhone, and at times, I love them too much! Regardless of my undying love for technology, I’ve definitely
noticed a shift in how I think. “So, if the Internet can potentially make us dumb, what can we do about it?” The first thing to do is to simply be informed and admit what’s happening. It’s a fact. The Internet is changing our brain and how we think. There’s no getting around it. In addition to being informed, we can be conscious of the Internet’s effects on our brains and use it to our advantage. For example, now that I know the Internet can have a negative effect on my ability to think critically, I tend to isolate myself from all other outside noises and web pages while I’m doing an assignment. What better way to do that than to play loud music to tune everything out? How ironic. The Internet is an overwhelmingly positive thing. That’s a no brainer. With that being said, every rose has its thorns. Take this information, share it with others and use this tool to change our distracted generation into something great during 2014.
STORY BY KYLE ENLOE
26 SPECIAL FEATURE
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JANUARY 2014
JANUARY 2014
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SPECIAL FEATURE 27
The #2 New Years Resolution was to
39% of 20-year-olds achieve their resolutions.
75% of resolutions make it through the first week.
SO YOU WANT TO RESOLUTE? A GUIDE TO NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS It’s that time again, the ending of one year and the beginning of yet another. It’s the time when we reflect on the past year and really scrutinize every mistake we made during those 365 days in an attempt to better ourselves. That’s right, I’m talking about New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are commonplace in American society, and we are some of the worlds best when it comes to making, and then subsequently breaking, them. So to help you guys out I decided to churn out a list of good resolutions for you all to pick up with gusto and turn your lives 180 degrees — and two months later a second 180 degrees. Enjoy.
1. EAT HEALTHIER
We all have those moments when we pull through the drive through of McDonalds and order a pair of Big Macs, then we look at that sad, pathetic wretch staring back at us in the rear view mirror.
2. START EXERCISING
Get off the couch, ya lazy bum! Also, see ‘Run a Marathon.’
3. RUN A MARATHON
If you want to run a marathon just go for it, you don’t need training! I’m sure your adrenaline will keep you going at least for the first 3 miles. Just remember to drink lots of coffee and energy drinks before you start running or take a tip from Michael Scott and eat a heaping plate of pasta right before your race.
4. START READING
This one is easy … in fact, if you are seeing these words in front of your face you’ve already begun. Good job anonymous girl or guy!
CARB UP!
5. QUIT PROCRASTINATING I’ll come back to this one later.
6. START MAKING AWESOME BUSINESS PLANS
So, you want to start a business? Two businesses? Five? Well then get to work! You’ve got a whole shimmering year to get it done. Get out there and make the best spaghetti stand and/or Etsy store you can!
7. STOP MAKING SO MANY FOOLISH BUSINESS PLANS, DUMMY
Get a little overzealous with your business venture ideas last year? Well then this resolution is just for you! Simply stop making those foolish business plans and you’ll be living a foolish-business-plan free life in no time.
8. GET TO CLEANING
Look up some tips on Google or find a book, maybe “How to Become a Clean Freak in Eight Minutes.” You can do it, I believe in you! And just think, after you throw yourself into a lifestyle of perpetual cleaning you’ll have a new resolution for next year — stopping your compulsive cleaning habits.
9. KEEP BREATHING
This one is great for New Year’s resolution beginners. Don’t get too ambitious on your first resolution; you want to dip your toes in the water first. Just keep on breathing in the air around you and call it a year.
10. GET A RAISE
Want to make more money this year, huh? Well then bend down, pull up those shoelaces/bootstraps/knee socks, march into your boss’s office, politely remind him/her how valuable you are and then beg for more money. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of tears. Trust me, how do you think I got to write this article?
11. FIND A JOB FROM WHICH TO GET A RAISE
Want to get a raise, but don’t have a job? Well here you go! All you need to do is check out the Internet for job openings, apply, get the job, then back track to number 10.
12. GET MORE SLEEP
This year should definitely be the year of rest for you. This one is for those night owls who just couldn’t stop staying up till 3 a.m. watching “Breaking Bad” on Netflix. From now
on start setting an alarm for a decent time to hit the hay. (WARNING: don’t forget to set an additional alarm to let you know when it’s time to un-hit the hay.)
13. START KEEPING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
All you need to do for this one is make a resolution. The catch is that, this year, you have to keep it. Remember you don’t want to blow two resolutions and have that kind of shame flowing over you the entire year, so buckle down buster.
14. STOP MAKING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
You just couldn’t say, “No,” to those double fudge brownies again, could you? That’s four years straight now, I think it’s time to give up … resolutions aren’t for everyone. I hope 2014 is the year that you finally start keeping your resolutions — or break them, I don’t care.
STORY BY STEPHEN JACKSON
28 FASHION
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JANUARY 2014
JANUARY 2014
FASHION 29
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1 in 3 women carry a purse that exceeds six pounds.
The average woman wears 20 percent of her closet 80 percent of the time.
#3 NYE resolution in 2012: “Spend less, save more.”
NEW YEAR, NEW STYLE CHANGE UP YOUR STYLE WITHOUT SPENDING A PENNY
Keep the outfit clean and simple by mixing classic pieces, like a black blazer, with your favorite ripped jeans, button-up shirt, and worn-out converse shoes. Statement jewelry finishes the crisp look.
PHOTO BY KAYLA SLOAN
SPORTY MEETS PREPPY.
So, if you are tired of being the girl who continuously wears the cartoon t-shirts, or the girl who always wears a garment decked in chevron, or even the girl who always wears rock-n-roll leather, look no further for change than your very
PHOTO BY KAYLA SLOAN
PHOTO BY KAYLA SLOAN
Before you start begging Mom and Dad to take you shopping, I’ve got a little hint … your very own closet is the best place to find those ‘new’
pieces! Since fashion trends come and go on a regular basis, your closet is home to years worth of trends mixed in with classic pieces and articles of clothing that speak to your personal style choices. It doesn’t matter what pieces you have, it’s all about the way you wear them that form a particular style.
textured tights, cheetah print, metallic and leather mixed with a laced blouse and cardigan adds edginess to a preppy look.
patterns. Go for contrast between blacks and browns, with the pop of softer eclectic pieces.
own closet! Transform the clothes you already have and mix them with pieces you’ve pushed to the back from your high school days. Go from preppy to bohemian without leaving your room! Look for classic pieces, like black skinny jeans, a simple blouse or dainty flats and pair them with accessories representing your new style! You no longer have to be tied to a certain stigma of stylish personality. Let 2014 be the year you step outside the box with your fashion without having to break the bank.
PHOTO BY KAYLA SLOAN
With the New Year beginning, it is typical for people to examine themselves and want to transition into a ‘new and improved’ version. Most of the time that means eating better, working out or studying more … but sometimes people are just over their punk/prep/hipster phase and want a change of wardrobe. But with school, work and everyday life, who has time (or money) to go shopping for new clothes? Not me!
ADD SPORTY FLAIR TO YOUR STYLE. Pair a laid ROUGHEN-UP YOUR CLEAN- SOFTEN YOUR EDGY PIECES BOHEMIAN back hoodie and t-shirt with a CUT PREPPY WEAR WITH WITH BOHEMIAN DETAILS. chunky scarf and bandage skirt. EDGY TOUCHES. Details like Don’t be afraid to mix textures and Sneakers, like Vans, keep the outfit relaxed.
STORY BY REBECCA LOGSDON
30 SPECIAL FEATURE
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The cleanse was first created to flush out toxins.
JANUARY 2014
Nutritionists say cleanse lacks vitamins & proteins.
THE MASTER CLEANSE JOURNAL causing my taste buds to shrivel up. Today just might be the last day of this ‘healthy’ and ‘nutritional’ diet.
ONE GIRL’S EPIC JOURNEY TO CLEANLINESS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12
It has only been a few hours since I began the Master Cleanse, which consists of me drinking 60 ounces of water mixed with maple syrup, lemon juice and cayenne pepper each day for 10 days in replace of food. Not eating isn’t the problem, but having to drink the ‘cleansing juice’ is absolutely vomit inducing. I am thankfully allowed to drink regular water as well, so I chase the ‘cleansing juice’ with almost a whole bottle of water every time I take
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
I am currently enjoying a cheesy Philly burger from Montagu’s. Yes, I could not take one more day of drinking that disgusting and revolting stuff. If people were thinking about doing the Master Cleanse in hopes to lose weight, good luck to you! The Master Cleanse was definitely too insane for me but if you think you can take it on, go for it. I promise you will not last more than five days.
a gulp. A lot of water helps, but the taste still finds me while I am sitting in class. I may last 10 days but my taste buds just might not make it. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be used to the taste.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
I am on my second day with the Master Cleanse and I am ready to throw it to the curb and grab some chocolate milk and a turkey club from Einstein’s. Not eating has definitely made my stomach shrink in just one day. I also feel like the juice has attacked my organs and
THE MOST AMAZING THING YOU’LL EVER DRINK…NOT! spine with brass knuckles. I can’t say the ‘cleansing juice’ has yet made a huge change to my body besides
STORY BY BRITTANY LEACH
JANUARY 2014
FREESTYLE 31
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FREESTYLE
BETTER YOUR BRAIN IN 2014
BRAINTEASERS
SUDOKU
1. Johnny’s mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child’s name? 2. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? 3. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet? 4. What word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly? 5. A farmer has five haystacks in one field and four haystacks in another. How many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in one field?
WORD FIND
MAZE
1. Balance 2. Energy 3. Health 4. Relax 5. Train
6. Diet 7. Fitness 8. Nutrition 9. Stamina 10. Workout
It’s proven that puzzles and brainteasers stimulate your brain and increase cognitive function. People who consistently challenge their brains are less likely to experience mental decline later in life. So we’ve put a few puzzles together to help give your brain a workout! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@getsetmag) for the answers!
11. Endurance 12. Goal 13. Power 14. Strength 15. Gjaopxrvt
PUZZLES BY MATT JONES