ARTSEVENTSTASTE m a r c h / 2 0 1 2
2012 AUTOS GO GO GO DRIVE MORE, PAY LESS
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RED CROSS’ TRAVIS COOPER FLIRTIN’ WITH DISASTER
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? MORE OF YOU ARE SAYING NOODLES THAN EVER BEFORE. CHEAP AND EASY, SOUNDS GOOD, RIGHT? KEEP READING...
ARTSEVENTSTASTE N B S D I t X X X J D P O X B Z O F U
2012 AUTOS GO GO GO DRIVE MORE, PAY LESS
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RED CROSS’ TRAVIS COOPER FLIRTIN’ WITH DISASTER
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?
ON THE COVER Oodles of Noodles. A reporters’ taste experiment.
MORE OF YOU ARE SAYING NOODLES THAN EVER BEFORE. CHEAP AND EASY, SOUNDS GOOD, RIGHT? KEEP READING...
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ABOUT
APPLE IN THE CLASSROOM
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Conway happenings: iCon has you covered with our events calendar. Check out photos from past area events. PAGES 4-7.
ON STAGE: WHO’S PLAYING WHERE
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FLAVOR: THE RAMEN EXPERIENCE
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ON THE MOVE: DISASTER RELIEF
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TECH: CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
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DISCUSSION: UCA SPEAKERS
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EDUCATION: APPLE IN CLASS
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LOCAL ICON: RACER JACK SULLIVAN
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AUTOS: 2012 FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS
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FASHION: DOWNTOWN SHOW
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leadingmen
Which actor goes home with Oscar?
roundabout. 8 music life art food conway
Matt Stell & The Crashers
STAFF CREATIVE DIRECTOR / STEWART COLE PUBLICATION SALES MANAGER / RHONDA OVERBEY GRAPHIC ARTISTS / JAY PRINCE & KELLIE MCANULTY SPECIAL EVENTS / LEAH BROWN FEEDBACK@ICONWAY.NET ADVERTISING SALES JESICA TALBERT • BETSEY WILLBANKS SARAH ALLEN • TARA SANDERS Follow us on Twitter: @iconwaymagazine www.iconway.net Check out our Facebook page for weekly calendar of events.
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MARCH 2012 / VOL. 2, ISSUE 2
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Toad Suck Review: Take Two
COMMENTS? We want your feedback! Write to us at feedback@iconway.net. iCon, Conway City Magazine, is a publication of the Log Cabin Democrat. All rights reserved. iCon is published monthly, 12 times per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to iCon, Conway City Magazine P.O. Box 969 Conway, AR 72033 For subscriber service, please call (501) 327-6621 Unauthorized use of materials contained herein is strictly prohibited. 3
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ICONEVENTS
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PARTY LIKE A HOLLYWOOD STAR 02.26 {SUNDAY} Party Like a Hollywood Star, 5 p.m., at the Ford Theatre, Downtown Conway. All the glitz and glam of Hollywood in Downtown Conway! Red carpet, paparazzi and champagne at Ford’s where you can eat, drink and cheer on your favorite nominees at the 84th Academy Awards. All proceeds benefit the UCA Digital Filmmaking Feature Film Fund. To get your tickets go to www.movieparty.eventbrite.com.
MACARONI-N-CHEESE PLEASE! 02.27 {MONDAY} Macaroni-n-Cheese Please! 5-7 p.m. at Conway Country Club. Gourmet mac-n-cheese competition between 17 local restaurants/dining facilities benefiting H.A.V.E.N (Help for Abuse Victims in Emergency Need) for info contact 3271701. EAR INFECTION WORKSHOP 02.28 {TUESDAY} Ear Infection Workshop at 5:30 p.m. at Hurley Chiropractic Wellness Center “Ear Infections and Antibiotics - The Truth Every Parent Should Know” – Special workshop on Ear Infections, facts and other choices. Interactive community workshop sponsored by Hurley Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Free. Call 501.513.3322 to reserve a space for you and a guest.
in partnership with
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UCA MEN’S BASKETBALL 02.29 {WEDNESDAY} UCA Men’s Basketball vs. UTSA, 7 p.m. Farris Center at UCA. CBC BASEBALL 03.02 {FRIDAY} CBC baseball vs Williams Baptist College, 1 p.m. at CBC. UCA BASEBALL 03.02 {FRIDAY} UCA baseball vs Murray State, 6 p.m. at UCA. UCA LACROSSE 03.02 {FRIDAY} UCA lacrosse vs Augustana, 7 p.m. at Hendrix. HENDRIX SOFTBALL 03.03 {SATURDAY} Hendrix softball vs Washington University, 1 p.m. at Hendrix. CBC BASEBALL 03.03 {SATURDAY} CBC baseball vs Williams Baptist College, noon at CBC.
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CASTING CALL: AUDITIONS! 02.24 {Saturday} Looking for men, women and children of all ethnicities that want to act in the feature film Sympathy Pains produced by the UCA Filmmaking Department and written and directed by Joe Dull. Filming will begin in June and last until August. Post production will continue through the summer of 2013, and will be completed in time for the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals. Please call Kat Dull at (501) 358-9505 to reserve an audition slot. See the website at www.daringlydullproductions.com
HENDRIX SOFTBALL 03.03 {SATURDAY} Hendrix softball vs Spalding, noon at Hendrix. UCA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 03.03 {SATURDAY} UCA women’s basketball vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2 p.m. at Farris Center, UCA. UCA BASEBALL 03.03 {SATURDAY} UCA baseball vs Murray State, 4 p.m. at UCA. UCA LACROSSE 03.03 {SATURDAY} UCA lacrosse vs Fontbonne, 7 p.m. at Hendrix. UCA TENNIS 03.03 {SATURDAY} UCA tennis vs UTSA, 11 a.m. at UCA. HENDRIX SOFTBALL 03.04 {SUNDAY} Hendrix softball vs Spalding, 10 a.m. at Hendrix. UCA BASEBALL 03.04 {SUNDAY} UCA baseball vs Murray State, 1 p.m. at UCA. UCA TENNIS 03.04 {SUNDAY} UCA tennis vs Oral Roberts University, 2 p.m. at UCA.
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UNLIMITED REALM WITH DAMON THOMPSON 03.09 {FRIDAY} Unlimited Realm with Damon Thompson 7 p.m. at The Church Alive, 1205 E. Skyline Drive in Conway. Registration is free, but due to the potential of a limited capacity we ask that you register if you plan to attend. Open to everyone. Our desire is to ensure that as many people as possible have a chance to attend. By registering your group, it enables us to keep up with the attendance and allows us to fill the event to capacity. This also gives us the ability to keep you informed on all the latest details right up to the very moment. For info or questions email info@thechurchalive. org, or call 501.327.4763. JEANS AND BLING 03.09 {FRIDAY} 2nd Annual United Way of Central Arkansas’s Jeans and Bling fundraising event, 7 p.m. at the Ford Theater in Downtown Conway. Jeans and Bling will provide additional funds to the annual campaign and support partner agencies’ programs. For info go to www.unitedwaycentralark.org. UCA TENNIS 03.09 {FRIDAY} UCA tennis vs ULM, 1 p.m. at UCA. CBC SOFTBALL 03.09 {FRIDAY} CBC softball vs Lyon College, 4 p.m. at CBC.
HENDRIX SOFTBALL 03.04 {SUNDAY} Hendrix softball vs Washington University, 2 p.m. at Hendrix.
CBC SOFTBALL INVITATIONAL 03.09 {FRIDAY} CBC Softball Invitational TournamenT. CBC vs Lyon College, 4 p.m. at CBC. CBC vs Louisiana State University-Alexandria, 6 p.m. at CBC.
UCA SOFTBALL 03.05 {MONDAY} UCA softball vs Ole Miss, 5 p.m. at UCA.
CBC BASEBALL 03.09 {FRIDAY} CBC baseball vs Dallas Christian College, 4 p.m. at CBC.
CBC BASEBALL 03.06 {TUESDAY} CBC baseball vs Ecclesia College, 3 p.m. at CBC.
UCA BASEBALL 03.09 {FRIDAY} UCA Baseball vs Lamar, 6 p.m. at UCA.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING 03.08 {THURSDAY} Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. For info call 327.7788.
CBC SOFTBALL 03.09 {FRIDAY} CBC softball vs Louisiana State University-Alexandria, 6 p.m. at CBC.
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CHASE RACE AND PAWS 03.10 {SATURDAY} 7th annual Chase Race and Paws - 2 mile RRCA run, pet run and pet costume contest celebrating the life of a Conway teen and his love of animals benefits Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter. 8 a.m. at PetSmart in Commons Shopping Center, 650 Elsinger Blvd. in Conway. The Chase Race portion of the event will be held first and is open to all runners and also qualifies as the two mile state championship race for the 2012 Arkansas RRCA Grand Prix Series. For info, contact Race Director Don Potter at 501-514-4370 or by e-mail at donp@tcworks. net. Registration for Chase Race and Paws is open online at www.chaserace.info. UNLIMITED REALM WITH DAMON THOMPSON 03.10 {SATURDAY} Unlimited Realm with Damon Thompson 6 p.m. at The Church Alive, 1205 E. Skyline Drive in Conway. Registration is free, but due to the potential of a limited capacity we ask that you register if you plan to attend. Open to everyone. Our desire is to ensure that as many people as possible have a chance to attend. By registering your group, it enables us to keep up with the attendance and allows us to fill the event to capacity. This also gives us the ability to keep you informed on all the latest details right up to the very moment. For info or questions email info@thechurchalive. org, or call 501.327.4763. HENDRIX TRACK & FIELD INVITATIONAL 03.10 {SATURDAY} Hendrix Track and Field Invitational, 10 a.m. at Hendrix. HENDRIX TENNIS 03.10 {SATURDAY} Hendrix tennis vs LeTourneau, 10 a.m. at Hendrix. CBC BASEBALL 03.10 {SATURDAY} CBC baseball vs Dallas Christian College, noon at CBC. HENDRIX BASEBALL 03.10 {SATURDAY} Hendrix baseball vs Dallas, 1p.m. at Hendrix. CBC SOFTBALL 03.10 {SATURDAY} CBC softball vs University of St. Mary, 2 p.m. at CBC. CBC SOFTBALL 03.10 {SATURDAY} CBC vs Baker University, 4 p.m. at CBC. UCA BASEBALL 03.10 {SATURDAY} UCA Baseball vs Lamar, 4 p.m. at UCA. SPRING FORWARD 03.11 {SUNDAY} Daylight Savings Time Begins. Spring your clocks forward one hour! HENDRIX BASEBALL 03.11 {SUNDAY} Hendrix baseball vs Dallas, 1 p.m. at Hendrix. UCA BASEBALL 03.11 {SUNDAY} UCA baseball vs Lamar, 1 p.m. at UCA. HENDRIX TENNIS 03.12 {MONDAY} Hendrix tennis vs East Texas Baptist, 4 p.m. at Hendrix. CBC SOFTBALL 03.13 {TUESDAY} CBC softball vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 2 p.m. at CBC. HENDRIX TENNIS 03.13 {TUESDAY} Hendrix tennis vs Central, 4 p.m. at Hendrix.
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HENDRIX BASEBALL 03.13 {TUESDAY} Hendrix baseball vs Ozarks (Ark.), 6 p.m. at Hendrix.
CBC SOFTBALL 03.13 {TUESDAY} CBC softball vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2 p.m. at CBC. UCA BASEBALL 03.14 {WEDNESDAY} UCA baseball vs Missouri State, 5 p.m. at UCA. UCA TENNIS 03.15 {THURSDAY} UCA tennis vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff, noon at UCA. CBC BASEBALL 03.15 {THURSDAY} CBC baseball vs Park University, 2 p.m. at CBC. ST. PATRICK’S DAY 03.17 {SATURDAY} Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Putt Putt Pub Crawl 03.17 {SATURDAY} Putt Putt Pub Crawl in Downtown Conway, for info go to www.downtownconway.org. HENDRIX BASEBALL 03.17 {SATURDAY} Hendrix baseball vs Southwestern, 2 p.m. at Hendrix. HENDRIX BASEBALL 03.18 {SUNDAY} Hendrix Baseball vs Southwestern, 1 p.m. at Hendrix. FIRST DAY OF SPRING 03.20 {TUESDAY} First Day of Spring! UCA LACROSSE 03.23 {FRIDAY} UCA Lacrosse vs Sewanee, noon at Hendrix. UCA BASEBALL 03.23 {FRIDAY} UCA Baseball vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6 p.m. at UCA. UCA SOFTBALL 03.23 {FRIDAY} UCA softball vs Sam Houston State, 6 p.m. at UCA. SPRING STAR PARTY 03.24 {SATURDAY} Spring Star Party at the swim beach at Woolly Hollow State Park, Greenbrier. State parks can be good places to stargaze because they are often far from urban light pollution. Volunteers from the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society will be on hand with numerous telescopes set up on the beach area for viewing by the public and the volunteers will be explaining the different celestial bodies. You may walk to one telescope and see a planet and then go to another telescope and see a “far away” galaxy. Small flashlights are permitted, but not encouraged (they disrupt yours and others’ night vision). If you bring one, please put red cellophane over the light. Admission is free.
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ICONMUSIC MATT STELL & THE CRASHERS
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FOLLOW MATT STELL AND THE CRASHERS ON FACEBOOK
BY DOUGLAS KNIGHT
ALWAYS ORIGINAL
“We’re playing original music for the most part. We play some covers here and there, but what we pride ourselves on is original music and making music that people like and that we like to play,” says Matt Stell, cover man for Matt Stell and the Crashers.
The band’s home base is centered around the Conway/Morrilton area, but they tour throughout the South and the Midwest. The band includes Conway’s Darren Barry on lead guitar, Cliff Aaron on drums and Eric Williams on bass. They each come from unique backgrounds — like gospel and reggae music — which fuels their unique country/blues/soul/Americana sound. They have already produced two full albums: “The Sound of The Story,” 2009, and “Vestibule Blues,” 2011. Matt recently sat down with Icon Magazine and told us more about the original music his band is creating. So where did you get into music? What hooked me was the idea of original songs. I started playing music when I was about 21. There was a bar that opened up where I went to school in Springfield that catered to live music. It was my first foray into live, original music. I just grabbed a hold of it and thought this might be fun to do. Me and some buddies would play guitar together. For some reason I kept doing it. I had no idea that’s what I would be doing now, but here we are. I’m still plucking away, trying to learn how to play that thing. We can see from your website that you don’t exactly like this question, but we are going to ask it anyway. What kind of music do you play? That’s just a hard question to answer, especially when we’re trying to make original music. We don’t try to sound like anybody, but I guess we do sound like some mix between country, soul and blues. We think it sounds like the South, really. I feel like I’m doing a disservice to a different genre if I just put us in one. Or that I’m not representing what we do very well if I just say, “We’re this.” We like to say Americana, but a lot of times it’s not too descriptive to a lot of people. So it ends up being, “We’re sort of country,” and they think we’re something we’re not, but that’s as close as we can throw a dart to hit what we are. Let’s talk about your influences. I think everybody that orbits the red dirt or Texas music scene, which stretches from Arizona to Alabama, traces their roots through Waylon Jennings and a lot of the singer/songwriters — maybe Willie Nelson to a certain extent. I know I’m big into Jerry Jeff Walker, as far as the old card. Steve Earl and Townes Van Zandt, most people would say, would be influences. Even from that singer/songwriter tradition, I was very much influenced from a younger age by Bonnie Raitt, Allison Krauss, Al Green, The Band for sure and Johnny Cash. It’s an amalgam of thoughtful lyrics and groves that will keep you moving. That’s sort of the space we inhabit. How important is “place” in the music that you and your band produce? It’s very important because in the music scene we play in, place is hallmark. I mean it’s Texas. It’s geographic. It is a region. We are tied to that. I mean we’re not Texas, nor do we try to be, however
there are some parallels that you can draw between, places in rural America. I think a lot of us have some common ground on how we came up. I grew up in central Florida [as well as in central Arkansas] and I know that the parallels between that childhood and the childhood of the people that we are playing music with, all matters. We came up in similar ways, and that produces similar motifs. I see our music as less of a genre and more as something identifiable by where it’s made than by what it sounds like. I very rarely write about any place other than the South. We dig that you are into creating original music. You write or co-write almost all of the songs you play. Tell us some more about the process behind that. I generally start with just an idea. It usually comes out in lyric first, and then I’ll score those lyrics. Not always, but I’ve found that my style is predominately lyric and then music. Even saying that, I’ve actively tried to attack it the other way. As a musician, as your vocabulary increases with your instrument, you are able to say more with it. I feel like I can say more with words than a guitar for sure, but I can express myself a little bit with a melody. I’m always jotting ideas down in my phone. Most of them are terrible. Some are less terrible maybe. I’m just fleshing those out when I’m in Nashville or here [in Arkansas] writing with somebody. Once we get the idea, we kind of let the song make itself happen. It sounds a bit mystic, but it does happen that way. If the idea is there, then the way you express the idea can be done so many different ways. Once you start, it sort of perpetuates itself. But sometimes it is like pulling teeth. Tell us about something you’ve written recently. The other night I’d just written this new song in Nashville with a friend of mine. I was pretty excited about the idea of that song being able to grab ahold of people. It’s called, “Game Day Dress.” I don’t know how universal this is, but in the SEC you’ll see all these girls walking around in the middle of the afternoon like its prom, with heels on, their hair standing up, walking up nine flights of stairs with stiletto heels on and spending all day like that. I just really appreciate that effort. So I wrote this song. I had an idea of the people this would resonate with. I was playing this song the other night and then I asked the audience, “So, was that cool? I mean, what do y’all think?” Sure enough, most of the girls had positive things to say. Then I just heard one dude go, “NO!” And it was a small enough place that I knew who it was. I was like, “Well, I’ll be honest with you bro. I didn’t really write it for you, and if they like it and show up here the next time we play, you’ll show up too.” So with two albums and a growing fan base throughout the South and Midwest, what’s next for Matt Stell and the Crashers? Our tour schedule has stayed full. We have a three-week tour coming up with The Casey Donahew Band out of the DallasFort Worth area. It will take us from Austin to Lubbock to St. Angelo and Corpus Christi. Then it’s over to New Orleans. Then to Starkville and Oxford, to Birmingham, then to Little Rock and Fayetteville. We’re looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity for us. We’re actually spending a lot of time getting our ducks in a row and working on putting on the kind of show that you need to have to play on stage with some of these well-oiled machines. 9
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ONSTAGE ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’ 02.23 {THURSDAY} “Driving Miss Daisy” at The Lantern Theatre and Conway Community Arts presents Driving Miss Daisy, 1021 Van Ronkle in Conway. ‘THE ART OF THE DREAM’ 02.26 {SUNDAY} “The Art of the Drum” Traditional Japanese Taiko drumming takes on a new life with TAO. Athletic bodies and contemporary costumes meet explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography in a show that leaves the audience speechless. TAO has been seen in 17 countries and 400 cities attracting over 4 million spectators worldwide. Adored across the world, they present an unprecedented and timeless drumming performance, bringing a brand new genre to the stage at Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA. ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’ 02.26 {SUNDAY} “Driving Miss Daisy” at The Lantern Theatre and Conway Community Arts presents Driving Miss Daisy, 1021 Van Ronkle in Conway. ‘DOUBT’ 03.01 {THURSDAY} The Montana Repertory Theatre travels to Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA in Conway with the best in dramatic theatre. Since its initial soldout production off-Broadway, Doubt has enthralled and stunned audiences while garnering critical acclaim. Winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, Doubt provides a rare evening of theatre that entertains and captivates emotionally, psychologically and intellectually. “Doubt is a lean, potent drama…passionate, exquisite, important and engrossing.” –Newsday. For ticket info go to uca.edu/ publicappearances. ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’ 03.01 {THURSDAY} “Driving Miss Daisy” at The Lantern Theatre and Conway Community Arts presents Driving Miss Daisy, 1021 Van Ronkle in Conway. BEST OF STAGE & SCREEN 03.03 {SATURDAY} Best of Stage and Screen, 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA. Hear the greatest hits from the Great White Way and the silver screen in Conway. 03.03 This live performance by the Conway Symphony Orchestra will keep you bopping in your seat and tapping your toes. For tickets contact 450-3265. ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’ 03.04 {SUNDAY} “Driving Miss Daisy” at The Lantern Theatre and Conway Community Arts presents Driving Miss Daisy, 1021 Van Ronkle in Conway. ‘THE MUPPETS’ 03.04 {SUNDAY} Movie Matinee: The Muppets, 3 p.m. in the UCA Student Center Ballroom. On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his
friends Gary and Mary from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. JOSH VIETTI 03.08 {THURSDAY} Pop Violinist Josh Vietti, 1 p.m. at the UCA Student Center Courtyard. Free performance. Upbeat, soulful, and mesmerizing are three words that perfectly describe Josh Vietti. He has an unusual knack for combining sounds and rhythms from a variety of genres to make ‘just the right kind of noise!’ Josh has played the violin since he was four years old! At the age of 7 he received a scholarship from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he studied for 10 years. Josh has performed with the Los Angeles Ballet Academy and was featured in the 2010 NBA All-Star game commercial narrated by the actor Common. In September 2011, Josh recorded a track for multi-Grammy award winner Cee Lo Green. In November 2011 he performed on the Ellen Degeneres show. Hear him to experience how he makes parallel tracks intersect in an exciting melody. HENDRIX COLLEGE WIND ENSEMBLE 03.05 {MONDAY} Hendrix College Wind Ensemble Concert at Hendrix College. CRAIG ROBINSON 03.11 {SUNDAY} Comedy Show featuring Craig Robinson, 8 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA. Craig Robinson built a rep of quiet cool, evolving from minor roles in the hit sitcom ‘The Office’ (NBC, 2005-) to increasingly prominent billing and critical buzz. A stand-up comedian who worked at Chicago’s renowned comic cauldron Second City, Robinson first made his way into television as part of a tandem act with Jerry Minor, before landing brief but memorable guest shots on upper-echelon sitcoms such as ‘Arrested Development’ (FOX, 2003-06), and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (HBO, 2000-). In 2005, however, his luck changed when he earned a job as the stoic ‘Office’ warehouse manager Daryl on the hit NBC sitcom. The newly popular actor turned in memorable performances in the Judd Apatow film ‘Knocked Up’ (2007), Kevin Smith’s ‘Zach and Miri Make a Porno’ (2008), and the Apatow-produced ‘Pineapple Express’ (2008). In 2010 he vaulted to star status in the much-hyped major studio comedy ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ alongside John Cusack. Robinson’s critically beloved characterizations established him as a comedy secret weapon whose consistent scene-stealing seemed to augur larger roles in larger projects. For tickets, go to Reynolds Box Office or online at www.uca.edu/tickets.
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BY COURTNEY SPRADLIN
COURTNEY SPRADLIN PHOTOS
ICONFLAVOR DO-IT YOURSELF
THE RAMEN EXPERIENCE
I’ve gone through the ramen noodle phase and emerged on the other side. It started in my early teens and lasted through college, of course, when if ramen noodle consumption were to appear on a line graph, it would be seen as a large red spike. As a 27-year-old girl with a brain, thighs, something like a butt and a sensitivity to arm surface area, I have closed this chapter of my life. Because of that brain thing I am aware not only of the ramen noodle diet’s effect on my vanity, but on my overall wellbeing.
just fine. As it is, the average person takes in two to three times the recommended amount. I’ll refer to the Mayo Clinic for this information as it pertains to the average person’s healthy sodium intake - which is less than 2,300 mg a day, or 1,500 mg if you are age 51 and older, if you are an African American, have high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney problems. The Mayo Clinic notes that these numbers are the maximum allowed for continued health, reflecting the upper limit, and that you should take in less than this.
days. I don’t expect conglomerates will rally together for a MSG campaign like that of High Fructose Corn Syrup, excuse me, “corn sugar,” any time soon. The truth is, I couldn’t find a lot of science to back up what many claim to be the temporary, though unpleasant effects of MSG. What I am sure of is that it is tasty. Many have described MSG as a trick on the brain. The tasters in your mouth are tricked into thinking that you are consuming a yummy protein. I don’t want to think about it too hard, but know that this stuff, behind sodium, is the second ingredient in instant noodle flavor packets.
Far be it from me to tell the public to stop eating this cheap and universally delicious “meal,” but there are some things to consider. One crucial thing to note is that if you, the average person, eat a package of fried and dried instant ramen, you’ve reached or exceeded your sodium limit for the entire day.
At sodium’s worst, it negatively influences your blood pressure, leading to heart disease. At its best, it helps your body maintain the right balance of fluids, helps transmit nerve impulses and aids in the contraction and relaxation of muscles. You will die without it. You will die with too much of it.
Sodium is not just table salt. It is found in its natural occurrence and most definitely in processed foods. Processed foods are bathed in sodium. Let’s break it down.
Now we have understood sodium on an elementary level and have come back to the annoying euphemism of “moderation in all things.”
You’ve been on the ramen aisle; you know what’s there. You’ve seen how cheap it is and maybe you’ve looked to your left, to your right, over your shoulder and dropped the 25cent problem fixer in the basket. The kids can make it by themselves! They’ll actually eat it! For you, reader, I visited the ramen aisle where the largest selection might be found - Price Cutter.
Sodium is a good friend of your body’s, and if it were not for our cultural consumption habits - sodium and you would get along
Another aspect of the instant noodle genre to note is the presence of monosodium glutamate, or MSG, a dirty word these
Four dollars later, I had many varieties to analyze and on which to report back to you.
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Big Cup Noodles Thirdly, I tried the Big Cup Noodles, shrimp in flavor. I’ll go ahead and say that this was a big let down. With the most sodium so far and a fishy aroma, *cuts eyes at Icon editor* I wondered if I could just skip this one all together. The shrimp flavor was not overpowering, and that was due to shrimp, in some form or another, being among the last of ingredients. I’d say it was salt-flavored. Sodium count: 1,6000 mg. You’re pretty much done. Cup Noodles Next I went for the trusty Cup Noodles, with a twist. Instead of the typical yellow chicken, (why is chicken flavor yellow) I had before me a Spicy Chile Chicken variety. I noticed first that the graphic on the box is not of a chicken, but of a rooster, which I hear is not generally good for eating. This theme carried through the rest of my time with Cup Noodles Spicy Chicken, not generally good for eating.
THE EXPERIMENT The variables of this cheap, weird and salty experiment are: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup, oriental in flavor; Top Ramen, a product of Nissin Foods, oriental in flavor; Maruchan Yakisoba Teriyaki Beef Noodles; and three cup/bowl varieties, Cup Noodles Spicy Chile Chicken flavor, Big Cup Noodles, shrimp in flavor, and Bowl Noodles Rich and Savory in chicken. The control: Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. For sick amusement: Lowrey’s Bacon Curls Microwave Pork Rinds, original in pig skin flavor. Maruchan Yakisoba Teriyaki Beef Noodles The first of the noodle variety I “cooked” was the 99-cent Maruchan Yakisoba Teriyaki Beef Noodles. I don’t know if it was the square shape and handy tray or what, but I went for that above the others. Upon peeling back the lid, I noticed that the product had an unpleasant aroma before being cooked. I noted the unusual directions. ‘Fill water to fill line or the product may ignite and burn.’ Taking care to add the right amount of water, I cooked the noodles in the microwave and tasted the result. They were too sweet, much too sweet. This is unusual for me because I eat nothing without sugar. Something just seemed wrong. Then the beef flavor kicks in. The taste immediately brought to mind a teal-colored box of beef bullion cubes from the 80s that my mom has been known to pass off as “everlasting.” Sodium count: 1,300 mg. Half or more of all people living may eat this and have one plain potato for their next and only other meal to stay in line. As an aside, this variety has more fat than most - 20 grams. Do not like.
Bowl Noodles Rich and Savory The second variable was the Bowl Noodles Rich and Savory, chicken in flavor. This Nissin (the proclaimed originators of instant ramen) product boasts “spoonable noodles” for we Americans, and a curious packet of “soup booster.” Apparently, this is their variety with the richest, savoriest broth. This is reflected in the price, making this instant meal $1 more than the rest. I couldn’t pinpoint the ingredients of this soup booster on the package, but I added it and noticed a marked soup boost. I’m betting this packet was made of liquid sodium, MSG and extract a la chicken. So does Bowl Noodles Rich and Savory live up to its big talk? Yes. Yes it does. I couldn’t quite stop eating once I tasted it. I came to regret this later after more experimenting required more eating. While conducing my research, I came upon the opportunity to order a case of 12 on Amazon.com for $14. I passed, reluctantly. Sodium count: 1,200 mg.
Upon reviewing the ingredients, I came across “chicken powder.” Thus began a manic episode of winding Internet research pertaining to the minerals involved in food preservation. Just so you know, the instant noodles, comprised of enriched wheat flour, vegetable oil, and less than one percent salt, soy sauce, are kept “fresh” with a combination called kansui. You won’t find this on the label in the U.S., but it is a combination of ingredients for preservation. For firm texture, the following are used: sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, and phosphoric acid. Sodium carbonate is described as a soda ash derived from plants; potassium carbonate is apparently used in soapmaking; and phosphoric acid is native to Coca Cola and is an acid responsible for soda’s tangy flavor. Chicken powder, I assume is made of chicken. I can’t imagine the process from and I don’t want to - living, breathing chicken to powder. Three minutes to spicy chile chicken, the directions said. And halt. Boil water? Not with Keurig. It’s not the standard “K cup” but the handiest coffee maker on the market now effectively makes a cup…of noodles. If only the noodles had been the standard yummy yellow chicken, this would have been a shining moment of laziness for me. As it was, there were weird brown chunks that looked more like beef than chicken, or maybe it was rooster! Chicken liver, maybe. As for the spiciness, it was definitely there. And though red colored salt covers a multitude of sins, I never made it past the brown chunks. My one and only bite brought a great gustatory memory to the front of my mind. From my notes: ‘If this is not the same seasoning used on delicious, delicious Hot Fries, then may I be struck with lightening.’ I’m nostalgic now, but it’s for Hot Fries, and not for Cup Noodles Spicy Chile Chicken. Sodium count: 1,340 mg. Brown chunks count: About 7.
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FOR SICK AMUSEMENT microwavable pork rinds Before we close on this experiment, remember that I ate microwavable pork rinds. I surely have not forgotten. The science of this food item is beyond me. I understand popcorn, but I do not understand the reason that a small pork rind expands into regular pork rind when heated. In any case, the smell that occurs when this happens is an olfactory assault. From my notes: ‘Why would anyone want to do this?’ I bit into one still sizzling “rind” and immediately spit it out. If you should venture to this low, I assume you’ve given
up on things the least of which is your sodium intake, but your sodium level with this snack is: 1,085 mg.
THE CONTROL Campbell’s condensed chicken noodle soup Lastly, our control in this experiment was trusted Campbell’s condensed chicken noodle soup. This stuff is so at home with us that when we are at our sickest and will put nothing else into our bodies, Campbell’s is considered as safe as our own saliva. The ingredients, placed upon the can in Camden, New Jersey, are mostly recognizable. Chicken meat instead of chicken powder; carrots; celery, etc. Campbell’s has caught onto our label insecurities, 14
and has placed a “heart healthy” claim underneath its age-old logo. With check marks beside ‘heart healthy’ and ‘0g Trans Fat per serving,’ there’s an informational sentence letting the consumer know that ‘While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease.’ Notice the avoidance of sodium. We must have our salt and we get it. While lower than other variables, the sodium count in a Campbell’s can of chicken noodle soup is: 1,025 mg.
I
’ve heard that when it comes to Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, you’re one or the other. Does this carry over to ramen noodles? Brand loyalty is a proven phenomenon that marketers have capitalized on since the 60s. The question is: Are you Maruchan or Top Ramen?
RAMEN CHEF WITH HIS DOG, KUPO
Top Ramen sodium count: 1,600 Maruchan sodium count: 1,780, the highest from our variables.
POOR MAN’S PAD THAI Matt Saunders, my half-Filipino best friend offers us his favorite recipe for instant ramen with a Thai twist. Ingredients: Ramen packet (any will do, but I prefer the spicier varieties) 1 tbsp. peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) Sesame oil Diced onion Garlic powder or minced garlic 1 lime Tbsp. sugar Red pepper flakes Tsp. soy sauce. • Cook ramen as directed on the ramen package, but drain the water. • Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, ramen packet (optional), garlic powder. • In a frying pan, saute your onions and garlic. • Over medium to low heat, add cooked ramen and your whisked sauce. • Stir well; cook for three minutes. Add water if it looks like it’s getting too dry. • Remove from heat. Top with peanuts, bean sprouts, green onions! Boom!
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Severe Weather Awareness Week: Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has joined the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) to urge the citizens of Arkansas to prepare for the severe weather season. The Governor has proclaimed February 20-24, 2012 as “Severe Weather Awareness Week” in Arkansas.
ONTHEMOVE TRAVIS COOPER
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FLIRTING WITH DISASTER If you stop by the American Red Cross office on Parkway in downtown Conway, you might just run into Travis Cooper. He is one of five Red Cross employees in the state with the title disaster manager, and he serves 11 counties in central Arkansas. Within the structure of the American Red Cross in Arkansas, he works to ensure that Red Cross workers in those counties have what they need for preparedness and response for disaster relief. Cooper attended Arkansas Tech University to study emergency management and parks and recreation management. “That’s where I began to get most of my experience with disasters,” he said. “The ultimate reason why I pursued a career in emergency management and working for the American Red Cross is the value of a human life and also the reward you get from helping someone in a time of need.” While in college, Cooper furthered his training and experience by working with Sebastian County Emergency Management Department for six months, he noted. He began work with the American Red Cross in May 2010 and has been working in the central Arkansas area since July 2011. Among his job duties are case management and material support and resources. For example, he drives a pickup truck that belongs to the Red Cross so that he can pick up bulk items in large amounts. He networks with local partners to secure those resources, he said. On a daily basis Cooper monitors case work and funding through donations to those who have been affected by disasters. The American Red Cross responds to disasters ranging from single family fires to widespread flooding. Cooper said many people are unaware that the charitable organization provides assistance to families who have lost their possessions in house fires. It is one of the things the Red Cross
does most often. “We respond to so many fires,” he said. Also, Cooper coordinates more than 100 volunteers who respond to disasters and serve in other capacities for the nonprofit organization. “They do most of the work. I’m just here as a resource,” he said. He noted he has also had the opportunity to be the job director for the Red Cross at a largescale disaster. “I had the privilege to provide oversight at the flooding that covered 12 counties in northeast Arkansas last year right after the Vilonia tornado. I worked out of Jonesboro the whole month of May. Then we got hit with a tornado in Franklin and Johnson Counties, and I was oversight in those counties for a month. We spent well over $1 million last year between the flooding and the Vilonia tornado.” Cooper, who grew up in Huntington, Ark., near Oklahoma, has not needed disaster assistance personally, but has had a close call. “On April 15, 2011, our family ranch was struck by a tornado in Wister, Okla. We had large amounts of damage to barns and a fence and structure, but not the house. Whenever a disaster happens to me personally, I see how, what we do as staff and volunteers of the Red Cross, is important to our communities,” he said. Cooper and his wife, Kallie, live in Russellville and have a son, Landon, 2, and another little boy on the way. He concluded, “It’s a reward to know you’re helping someone and being part of an organization that has a past history of humanitarian efforts,” he said. “I greatly appreciate getting paid to do what I love to do. Knowing that I’m making a difference is the ultimate reason.” The American Red Cross is always looking for volunteers to help provide emergency services to people affected by disasters and emergencies. To volunteer, or to take a class or learn preparedness tips, go to www.arkansasredcross.org or www.redcross.org.
VOLUNTEER. TAKE A CLASS. LEARN PREPAREDNESS TIPS. GO TO WWW.ARKANSASREDCROSS.ORG BY RACHEL PARKER DICKERSON
STEWART COLE PHOTO
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ICONTECH CES
WHAT’S HOT IN TECH Hot TV Improvement New DirecTV HD Interface For years, DirecTV has been a leader in bringing High Definition programming into our homes. Where they’ve lagged behind has been with an ugly standard definition guide and GUI interface. In January they rolled out their HDTV interface in Arkansas, and it’s finally on par with the programming picture quality.
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Hot Game Scramble With Friends From the makers of Words With Friends comes another addictive turn-based word game. This time instead of Scrabble, they’ve taken on Boggle, where you identify as many words as you can from a grid for points. The adaptation works great and is a lot of fun as you challenge your friends to see who can get the best score.
Hot Twitter Account @fivethirtyeight Former sabremetrician Nate Silver has taken the analytic approach he used in baseball reporting and has focused it on the election process. He was spot on during the 2008 election, and his account is a must follow in 2012. Word of warning: his analysis is so good it may take some of the drama out of the upcoming campaign season.
ZYNGA’S SCRAMBLE WITH FRIENDS Download the ad-free version of Zynga’s Scramble With Friends for $2.99 here: http://bit.ly/w53umI. BY JAMES RYKEN
BIG IDEAS
CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW WRAPS UP WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas wrapped up in the middle of January. Every year during this show all of the big electronics manufacturers converge in Vegas with the entire business press. They hope to make a big splash that will positively affect word of mouth and sales throughout the year. It’s often during CES that breakthrough products, which will be released during the remainder of the year, are announced. Below are a few of the highlights from this year’s show: New 55-inch OLED TV’s Both Samsung and LG announced that they would have 55-inch OLED TV’s on sale during the second half of 2012. OLED is an acronym for Organic Light Emitting Diode. The actual screen is comprised of organic compounds that emit light. The bottom line is that this allows the OLED television to be ultra-thin. The OLED sets unveiled at this year’s CES are just a few millimeters thick and weight less than twenty pounds. Another feature of OLED technology is that the field of view is nearly 180 degrees, unlike most other HDTV’s which are typically less than half that much. The picture is brighter than anything on the market today, and the framing around the edge of the screen is nearly non-existent, giving this set the impression of consisting of nothing but crystal clear image. OLED TV’s are also more energy efficient than their counterparts. Before one runs out to put in their pre-order, though, these models will initially be extremely expensive, rumored to be in the $10,000 range. When plasma sets first came out they were priced similarly, so it’s expected that the price will decrease accordingly and affordable models should be available in a few years. Cord Cutting Device: Simple.TV One of the more interesting devices unveiled at CES this year was a small device called Simple.TV. This slick little gadget contains no hard drive or video output, but will stream media to several devices, including iPads, GoogleTV, Boxee Box, and Roku devices. Simple.TV will stream not only recorded or saved material from a hard drive supplied by the user, but can also access live TV and output to the device of your choosing via a dedicated app that is available on all of the listed devices. All of the reporters who got a first-hand look at Simple.TV raved about it, so this is one to keep an eye on, especially for those who are looking to shed themselves of cable or satellite bills. Odds and Ends from CES 2012 • TV manufacturers Samsung and LG both announced that upcoming TV models would offer voice control, similar to Apple’s Siri or Microsoft’s Kinect. • Speaking of Kinect, Microsoft publicized that Kinect would soon be available for PC. • The tablet race isn’t over just yet. While many in the media have crowned Apple the king of all things tablet, several manufacturers revealed plans to aggressively price feature-packed tablets over the next year. For those that don’t want to pay the ‘Apple premium,’ there will continue to be many options available.
Attendees check out the unveiling of 4G devices at the Verizon booth during the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas.
• Microsoft is joining Apple and won’t be participating in CES going forward. During the 2012 CES, Microsoft gave its last keynote. Like Apple, who had no presence at all this year, Microsoft will no longer be visible at CES going forward. These companies are so big, that they prefer to make their announcements on their own.
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ICONDISCUSSION SPEAKERS AT UCA
SUSAN EISENHOWER TO DISCUSS 1957 CRISIS Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower, will discuss his intervention in the 1957 Little Rock Central Crisis in a lecture at the University of Central Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 23. Eisenhower’s 11 a.m. lecture in the College of Business Auditorium, part of UCA’s Arkansas Civil Rights Symposium: Little Rock Central 55 Years Later, is free and open to the public. “Susan Eisenhower is the most ideal presenter for this topic due to her continuance of several of Dwight Eisenhower’s leadership projects through her work at the Eisenhower Institute,” said Dr. Rollin Potter, dean of UCA’s College of Fine Arts and Communication. “President Eisenhower’s leadership at that crucial time changed American history.” The day’s other events will include a screening of the 30-minute documentary film, The Crisis Mr. Faubus Made: The Role of the Arkansas Gazette in the Central High Crisis, at 2 p.m. in the College of Business Auditorium. A panel discussion will follow from 2:30-4. The panel, to be moderated by Ernest Dumas, long-time Arkansas Gazette reporter and editorial writer, will include Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, along with Jerry Dhonau and Bill Lewis, Gazette reporters who covered the Central High Crisis; and Wadie Moore, who graduated from the segregated Horace Mann High School in 1968 and went on to become the first black newsroom employee at the Arkansas Gazette, where he was a sportswriter and editor until the paper closed. The film screening and panel discussion are also free and open to the public. In 1957, the Little Rock Nine prepared to desegregate Little Rock Central High School. On the night before school started, Gov. Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent them from entering the school, eliciting the editorial ire of the late Arkansas Gazette. President Eisenhower stepped in with the force of the federal government, enabling the black students to finish the school year, if under duress.
Eisenhower is a daughter of President Eisenhower’s son John. She is a strategist and international affairs expert, an award-winning author, frequent television news guest and distinguished lecturer and is president of the Eisenhower Group, Inc., which provides strategic counsel on political, business and public affairs projects, and chairman emeritus of the Eisenhower Institute. According to www.eisenhowerinstitute. org, the Institute honors the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower and is a distinguished center for leadership and public policy that prepares the successor generations to perfect the promise of the nation.
JACKSON TO CONTINUE SERIES AT UCA
The Rev. Jesse Jackson will continue the Log Cabin Democrat Lecture Series at the University of Central Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 23.
Jackson, president and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, one of America’s foremost political figures, will speak at the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. on the University of Central Arkansas campus. “Jesse Jackson is one of those people who appear in sound bites on television,” Jerry Biebesheimer, director of UCA Public
Appearances, said. “We are looking forward to getting to hear him at length and unedited.”
Jackson has been called the “Conscience of the Nation” and “the Great Unifier,” challenging America to be inclusive and to establish just and humane priorities for the benefit of all. Jackson was born on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, S.C. He attended public schools in Greenville before enrolling in the University of Illinois on a football scholarship. He later transferred to North Carolina A&T State University and graduated in 1964. He
began his theological studies at Chicago Theological Seminary but deferred his studies when he began working full-time in the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was ordained on June 30, 1968, by the Rev. Clay Evans and received his earned Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000. According to www.rainbowpush.org, “he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice.” 21
ICONART TOAD SUCK REVIEW
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BY TAYLOR GLADWIN
TAKE TWO
TOAD SUCK REVIEW DEBUTS GROUNDBREAKING SECOND ISSUE WITH LAUNCH EVENT TO FOLLOW The University of Central Arkansas’ literary journal, the Toad Suck Review, has just published its highly-anticipated second issue, which is packed with American literary icons such as Charles Bukowski, Amiri Baraka, Anne Waldman and Shepard Fairey. This issue also includes many emerging and established writers. Copies may be purchased through Amazon.com, Spdbooks.org or at the upcoming Launchapalooza on the UCA campus, Friday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m., in the Lewis Science Center room 102. T-shirts will also be on sale, as well as books by contributors and editors. Readers at the Launchapalooza, which will be the final event in UCA’s ArkaText literary festival Feb. 20-24, will include poet Terry Wright, whose latest chapbook, Fractal Cut-Ups, is due to come out this year; Fayetteville author Thomas Cochran, author of the novels Roughnecks and Running the Dogs; speech-path maestro Gary McCullough, whose work has appeared in CAIRN: The St. Andrews Review, The Nocturnal Lyric and Papa; Little Rock native Frank Thurmond, who teaches literature at UALR; and Tim (T-Bone) Thornes, reading for the late Roy Trask, whose posthumous book Surreal Killer is celebrated as a postmodern masterpiece. “We don’t have the bling like we did last year for a fancy fete at Michelangelo’s, but we are prepared to burn bright amidst the Bunson burners of Lewis Science Center, where we will wow the Toad Suck World, then continue on to the Bears Den for a gala reception in honor of our star-spangled local debut,” Editor-in-Chief Mark Spitzer said. Wright, a UCA professor of writing, added: “The Toad Suck Review is a golden ticket that gets one beyond candied wonkification. It’s a bullet train that buzzes by the usual moral morasses and pulls up instead to your final destination: cultural evolution. A TSR live event is the meteor the dinosaurs of mainstream art and literature see before settling in for a well-deserved, multi-millennial hibernation in oozy bogs until one finally apprehends what these reptiles have become: polluting contaminants.” The annual Toad Suck Review is published by the Department of Writing in the College of Fine Arts and Communication and is thrilled to be back as a powerhouse of cutting-edge poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. This issue includes a new section on eco-writing and a focus on literary translation as well as a spotlight on Arkansas writers. The reception following the Launchapalooza will take place at 10 p.m. at Bears Den Pizza, 235 Farris Road in Conway. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit toadsuckreview. org or contact Spitzer at (501) 450-3339 or toadsuckreview@gmail. com.
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The 84th Annual sunday, february 26, on abc
by jay bobbin
Best Picture »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
“The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer “The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer “The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers “Hugo” Graham King and Martn Scorsese, Producers “Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers “Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers “The Tree Of Life” Nominees to be determined “War Horse” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Jay’s Pick: Not only does “The Artist” truly exude artistry, it celebrates film and also displays a worldview of moviemaking, a combination that is all but impossible for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which gives out the Oscars, to resist. Clearly, that is the picture to beat in this race, though the field of nominees surely represents great variety. That goes from a popular choice (“The Help”) to the latest achievements by two of our greatest directors (Scorsese’s “Hugo,” Spielberg’s “War Horse”). And good on Brad Pitt for having two contenders here (“Moneyball,” “The Tree of Life”), and also on Woody Allen for making it back in with his very accomplished and entertaining “Midnight in Paris.” As for “The Descendants,” the compensation is that the majority of its most pivotal parts have separate nominations.
Best Animated Feature Film »» »» »» »» »»
“A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli “Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal “Kung Fu Panda 2” Jennifer Yuh Nelson “Puss in Boots” Chris Miller “Rango” Gore Verbinski
Jay’s Pick: “The Adventures of Tintin” not being in this category is one of Oscar’s most stunning omissions this year, if only for its creative pedigree. (Um, what’s that director’s name again? Spielberg or something?) With that said, I just don’t see the American contenders – “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Puss in Boots” and “Rango” – as strong enough to be Academy Awardworthy. Sure, they all had their enjoyable points, but to be the Oscar winner in any category takes much more than that. It’s the highest level of accomplishment in the industry for a given year, and on that count, I’d rather have the considerably more unique “Tintin” as an option. That leaves “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico & Rita.” And here comes the coin toss … I’ll call it for “A Cat in Paris.”
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Best Directing »» »» »» »» »»
“The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius “The Descdendants” Alexander Payne “Hugo” Martin Scorsese “Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen “The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick
Jay’s Pick: A best picture winner not having a corresponding best directing victor can be mystifying, but this could be one of those years, since for all the evident style of “The Artist,” Martin Scorsese stepped outside his box and showed an equal amount of it with “Hugo.” And the Academy just loves that man, so it well may take this opportunity to reward him for expanding his boundaries so visibly, creatively and successfully. At the same time, here’s to Woody Allen for landing himself back in the directing race (and, for that matter, the best original screenplay race) for his best-reviewed film in some time. And neither Alexander Payne nor Terrence Malick outputs movies too regularly – to risk understatement – and the quality of their current entries makes them worthy nominees as well.
WIN $25,000 IF YOU CAN PICK THE WINNERS!
Enter the UCA digital filmmaking department’s Academy Awards (Oscar) Pick the Winner Contest.
Best Actor in a Leading Role »» »» »» »» »»
Demián Bichir in “A Better Life” George Clooney in “The Descendants” Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”
Jay’s Pick: The ease with which George Clooney seems to play many of his roles often leads to his being underrated as a hard-working talent. “Syriana,” which earned him an Oscar as best supporting actor was an obvious stretch for him given his amiable nature. I would have named him best actor for “Up in the Air,” which was an absolutely masterful performance. This time, he scores on a similar level as the husband and father shocked to learn his now-hospitalized wife has been cheating on him. He’s determined to seek out her paramour, even if it means bringing his kids along to Hawaii on the hunt. Are there other deserving nominees here, including Clooney’s good pal Brad? You bet. Nevertheless, as far as I’m concerned, this award goes to Clooney.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role »» »» »» »» »»
Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs” Viola Davis in “The Help” Rooney Mara in “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” Michelle Williams in “My Week With Marilyn”
Jay’s Pick: Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher – like anyone didn’t know that would be Oscar material even before they saw a trailer for “The Iron Lady”? And it is, and that’s why she is the very likely winner here. This would be the recent Kennedy Center Honoree’s second victory in the category, and another example of a performer who absolutely fulfills what’s expected. That “well, of course she can do that” view is the main thing that could work against her here, though the accomplishments of such rivals as Michelle Williams – hugely impressive as a very credible Marilyn Monroe – Viola Davis and the never-count-her-out Glenn Close also are definite factors. In the end, though, the award must go to the most towering performance of the bunch. And that is Meryl Streep’s.
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball” Nick Nolte in “Warrior” Christopher Plummer in “Beginners” Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Jay’s Pick: The Oscar talk for Christopher Plummer began as soon as the first reviews for “Beginners” were in. That was a while ago, and it continued through the film’s home-video release – a sign of a fabulous performance being remembered, and a virtual lock on an Academy Award win. This is one of those great occasions where not only an individual piece of work can be rewarded, but also an entire career, amounting to much more than the role of Captain von Trapp in the enduringly popular “The Sound of Music” (which, Plummer has said numerous times, is hardly his own favorite credit). However, honorable mention must be given to two other nominees in particular: the great Max von Sydow, who generated a superb character literally without words; and Jonah Hill, who now may be regretting “The Sitter” being his most recent release.
Best Actress in a Leading Role »» »» »» »» »»
Kenneth Branagh in “My Week With Marilyn”
Best Actress in a Supporting Role »» »» »» »» »»
Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist” Jessica Chastain in “The Help” Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids” Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs” Octavia Spencer in “The Help”
Jay’s Pick: First, hooray for Melissa McCarthy! Not only is it rewarding to see a pull-out-all-stops comedy performance honored with an Oscar nomination, it’s also great to see someone make such marks in the movie and television worlds simultaneously, given her recent Emmy win for “Mike & Molly.” But McCarthy will have to content herself with the Emmy. This award is Octavia Spencer’s to lose, and anyone who has seen “The Help” knows why. Her trajectory during this film-award season has been entirely expected and fulfilled, and that kind of traction is hard to derail. In a superb ensemble cast, she is a deserving standout. She’s also shown magnificent humility throughout her journey to fame, a very attractive element in and of itself to voters as they fill out their ballots.
Pick a winner for each of the 24 categories – get them all correct and win $25,000. If more than one person gets all 24 correct there will be a drawing to determine the final winner. Read the rules at www.thecabin.net/ academy-awards, then pay $20 to enter the contest at www.pickthewinners.eventbrite.com
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ICONEDUCATION APPLE IN THE CLASSROOM
OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! On Jan. 19, 2012, Apple changed the game again. Apple announced iBooks 2, iTunes U for iPhone and iPad, and iBooks Author. iBooks 2 iBooks 2 now brings textbooks to the iPad. These dynamic textbooks are offered for K-12 educations. Currently they are offered for $14.99 and can be redownloaded at no charge. Apple also launched a program called the Educational Volume Purchase Program which will help teachers distribute the digitized books to students. The textbooks are media-rich, with editable photographs, diagrams and video, and they are interactive, by just a single swipe across a paragraph a user can save text to their notes. In just three days 350,000 Textbooks were downloaded. Just a few of these books include Algebra 1, Biology, Geometry and Environmental Science. The New iTunes U iTunes U offers full college-level courses, everything from lectures, to slides and homework. Apple is now debuting this on the iPhone and iPad so anyone wanting to learn something now can from the comfort of their couch or bed. iBooks Author iBooks Author is a free Mac App available in the Mac App Store that allows educational book creation. This program allows users to place text, input graphics and interactive areas for other users to interface with on an iPad. This is a major step for Apple bringing the company into the world of self-publishing.
TODAY’S STUDENTS 26
HAVE GROWN UP COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN TECHNOLOGY. IPOD, IPAD, COMPUTER — THESE ARE THE WAYS THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR WORLD. THEY NEED A TEXTBOOK MADE FOR THE WAY THEY LEARN.
Luke Irvin // Irvin Media // @thelukeirvin
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ICONDOWNTOWN FEDERAL PLAZA
PUBLISHER unveils plans FOR NEW LCD LOCATION In its 132nd year, the Log Cabin Democrat is moving to a state-of-the-art facility that will enhance the media company’s position as the news and information leader in Faulkner County. “Our ever-changing environment compels us to constantly look for ways to improve the services we provide our customers — our readers and our advertisers. Relocating to Federal Plaza will enable us to better serve these stakeholders for years to come,” said Publisher Rick Fahr.
the Log Cabin’s parent company, Morris Publishing Group, sold its Front Street property to Covington Properties, which will redevelop the existing structure for new office spaces. However, maintaining a downtown presence was a critical aspect to the company’s dedication to Conway’s central district.
Federal Plaza is the renovated Federal Building on the southeast corner of Front and Main streets.
“We were among the charter members of the Downtown Partnership, and our commitment to a vibrant, growing downtown has not and will not waiver,” Fahr noted. “This historic facility goes hand in hand with our place in the region’s history and is a perfect match not only for historical purposes but for moving forward in the 21st century.”
Morris Publishing Group Chief Executive Officer Will Morris IV confirmed the company’s desire to remain a vital and supportive corporate citizen.
Construction guidelines call for Federal Plaza to be ready to occupy in late March or early April.
“Our company has published great newspapers for generations. In the most recent decades, we have grown our businesses to include digital products that serve the public and our advertisers in many ways,” the CEO said. “As our world is changing, so, too, must we change. Rather than allow ourselves to react to these changes, we are proactively looking ahead. Conway is an important market to our company, and we are happy to be able to heighten our profile here today and for the future.”
Additionally, the Log Cabin has nearly completed an agreement for a longterm partnership with Paxton Media Group’s The Courier at Russellville. Under terms of the agreement, The Courier will print the daily Log Cabin newspaper and ancillary products.
The relocation is one component of a multi-step process. In December,
“We look forward to this partnership, which will benefit readers and advertisers by improving the reproduction quality of our products and giving us more flexibility to add additional pages with full color,” Fahr said. “We expect to begin this transition within 60-90 days.” 29
LOCALICON JACK SULLIVAN
CONWAY TO VICTORY LANE Jack Sullivan of Springhill has turned an interest in race cars into a profession. He races on dirt tracks almost year-round. A native of the Conway area, Sullivan said he was attending high school at Conway High when he started his career in racing. “I worked in high school at KFC, making chicken. I thought, ‘I don’t like chicken. Why am I even cooking chicken?’” He went to GRT Racing in Greenbrier to ask for a job in the field he was truly interested in. “I had an interest in racing. I just didn’t know anything about it. I went up there and asked for a job. They wouldn’t give me one. I begged for about two weeks.” He finally got his foot in the door and started learning the ropes and meeting people. He bought a go-cart and started racing. His goal was to one day race in Little Rock. He never dreamed of going farther. “I didn’t come from a racing background. I was just interested,” Sullivan said. “I had a buddy who bought a race car. He was the one driving it, and I was just going to work on it. He ended up getting married, and I ended up with the car. That’s how it all happened.” He said it started out like any other industry — he began at the bottom and had to climb the ladder. He has been in the business since he started working at GRT in 1994. He started racing when he was about 23, he said. Now he works for himself, and GRT is a sponsor that supplies the car. Sullivan drives a dirt, late-model car. The car’s motor costs about $35,000, he said, and a car like the one he drives costs about $70,000. “We race starting in the beginning of February until we stop in November, 80 nights a year, on dirt tracks. We race from Arizona to Florida to Canada,” he said. “There are local tracks that have local races. We usu-
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ally try to go to the bigger paying shows across the country. There are several sanctioning bodies across the country and also private entities. “We race along with the Daytona 500 and all that. There’s a dirt track. Some of the NASCAR guys will come race with us, the guys who come from a dirt background. I’m on a team with some of them.” He noted his brother, Chris Sullivan, is key to his success. “I couldn’t do it without my brother. He’s a real big supporter.” Sullivan also has a four-year-old son. “He’s probably opened more eyes for me personally. I took a lot of things for granted. I enjoy my family, my brother. You miss birthdays, family outings, things most people would go to because we race during the weekends most of the time. It takes a certain person to do this, and a lot of people don’t understand this.” He said when he is not racing, he enjoys working on old cars or mowing the yard. “I’m usually working in the yard or playing golf or trying to get away from it. This thing consumes your life and you can’t get away from it. It will drive you crazy because, to be good at it, you have to do it every day. It’s not a 9-to-5 job where you punch a clock and go home. I’m eating supper and thinking about racing. There’s so much to it. I’m constantly thinking about it. It’s a disease. “What’s crazy is I like to travel. I like the show of it. I like racing. The racing is actually the easy part. It’s the going and the working on all this stuff ... it takes so much time and effort. It’s more work than people think it is. “Fans come up to you and say, ‘Boy, I wish I could do this,’ but all they see is the race cars. I do all the truck driving too. It’s a lot of wear and tear, but the taste of victory is what we’re after, and once you win something, it makes it all worthwhile.”
BY RACHEL PARKER DICKERSON
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ICONAUTOS FUEL EFFICIENT
GO. ICON’S 2012 GAS-SAVING AUTOMOBILE PICKS
CHEVROLET VOLT MPG 35 city/40 hwy Price range $39,145
AND
CHRYSLER 200
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
MPG 18 city/31 hwy Price range $18,995-$32,270
MPG 22 city/42 hwy Price range $15,515-$25,795
NISSAN LEAF
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MPG: 106 city/92 hwy Price range: $35,200-$37,250
HONDA CR-Z
MPG 35 city/39 hwy Price range $20,195-$21,755
TOYOTA CAMRY MPG 21 city/39 hwy Price range $21,955-$29,845
GO. AND GO.
SOURCE: MOTORTREND
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ICONFASHION ASHLEY YINGLING
SHOW AT FORD THEATER CONSUMES DOWNTOWN CONWAY On April 20-21, The Ford Theater in downtown Conway will be hosting a fashion event like no other: The Ford Theater Presents Ashley Yingling’s “Love For Fashion.” The event will feature local Conway boutiques and some of the top designers in Central Arkansas.
lowed fashion blog with more than 170,000 followers as of January 2012. The blog’s popularity continues to grow and is currently averaging more than 40,000 unique visitors per month and 3,750,000 page views per year.
The event will begin with a VIP cocktail party at the Ford Theater. The main event on Saturday evening will feature the product lines of designers with Conway and central Arkansas ties, local boutiques in downtown Conway, and more than 80 models.
Since beginning Love For Fashion in October of 2009 at the age of 16, Yingling has been a guest blogger for Tumblr.com, with backstage VIP access to Milk Studios and an attendee of most February Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week 2011 events. She has also met with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry, including Oscar de la Renta and Nina Garcia.
Ashley Yingling, 19, a 2011 Conway High School graduate, is the principal blogger and owner of loveforfashion.tumblr.com a widely fol-
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Designers and retailers seek Yingling’s review and commentary on
their collection and products. Additionally, Yingling’s knowledge of the fashion industry is becoming known in the local community. She has been featured in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and SYNC Magazine as well as TodaysTHV, KATV News and B98.5’s The Morning Rush with Jeff Matthews and Lisa Fischer. Yingling has been a featured blogger at internationally followed websites, including Milkmade.com, Boticca.com and College-fashionista.tumblr.com. She has been mentioned in TheCut.com and NYMag.com.
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