December 2010 by Ashley Flowers

volume seven-issue three

on the

record

the student voice of k-state salina

baby, it’s

cold outside

on the record’s feelin’ it too. student life

our staff Ashley Flowers Publication Editor

Marty Fitzgerald Submissions Editor

T.J. Hearn

Promotions Editor

Dr. Jennifer Molidor Faculty Advisor

Contributors

Shae Blackwell April Bonilla Pam and Tim Bower Paul Cain Ray Dillon Matt Foutch Kara Godsil Annette Hernandez April Hockman John R. Johnson Ann and Les Kinsler Zach Martin Kevin McCurdy Morgan Miles Samuel Moritz Eric Scott Jess Simpson Brittney Talkington Tom Takase T.F.B. Jacob Warner Anna Velasquez

The Spirit Cats and Club Basketball team took the court at K-State Salina’s first pep rally to perform a dance before the basketball team’s scrimmage Photo by TJ Hearn

ON THE COVER

‘November Creek Beds’ Photo by Ashley Flowers

featured content

Service, Honor, Duty

OTR thanks our wildcats for their service

Parents Corner

Finding that holiday magic

Culture Shock

events December 06-12, 2010

Dead Week Stress Relief Activities

December 10, 2010

Fall 2010 Commencement

December 13-17, 2010 Finals Week

International student shares American experiences

December 18, 2010

The Superhuman Element

January 16, 2011

How the superhero genre continues to shape modern culture

The Drive to Fly

Take flight with a freshman flight student

Residence Halls Close

Residence Halls Open

January 17, 2011

Martin Luther King Day

January 18, 2011

First Day of Spring 2011 Semester

January 21, 2011

also inside 5

Campus News

Club Sports

Riley Said

Arts & Cats

Thank God for the iPod

The Satisfaction score

The Beginning of the End

International Food Fair Recipes

The Black Squirrel

Basketball and Futsal League and Wii Tournement Intramural Entry Forms Due

January 24, 2011

Next On the Record Deadline

this issue As On the Record continues to grow and develop we encourage students to contribute pieces from all aspects of student life. Are you a club president wishing to share your organizations latest achievement? A passionate engineer wanting to update your peers on the latest advances in technology? A poet trying to get your latest work published? Or even a photographer wanting to see your favorite photos in print? On the Record is here to be the student voice of K-State Salina; to reflect the dynamic nature of our campus community by providing a diverse forum of entertainment, news, and expression for students and campus organizations. To contribute email otrsalina@gmail.com or contact a member of our staff. We meet Thursdays at 2:30 in the Tullis Building meeting room and look forward to seeing you there.

Service, Honor, Duty at K-State Salina

On the Record would like to honor past and current K-State Salina students, staff, and faculty who have served their country in the armed forces. Thank you for your service. Terry Abbott Rick Acheson Brian Aden Jerrad Alexander Raylene Alexander Antonio Anguiano Aaron Baker Charles Ballentine Dwayne Barber Kenneth Barnard Kurt Barnhart Edward Bay Michael Bellinder Darrell Betzner Joseph Brown Douglas Bunch Andrew Burress Colby Byarlay Desmond Calloway Alan Castellano Daniel Cerny Brayan Cisneros Darren Cook Jordan Cousland Samuel Coy Neil Crose Craig Davidson Shawn Dionne Roberto Francisco Theda Franz Steve Garman

Bill Genereux Rodney Gordon Douglas Graves Eldon Green Bill Gross Joshua Hamilton Kirk Harris Joel Harts Brent Hartwich Michael Hetchler John Heublein Lowell Hinchee Todd Hokanson Rick Honeycutt Larry Huninghake Tim Iman Rae Ives Josh Jantz Stuart Jarnot BJ Johnson Bryant Johnson Nicholas Jones William Jones Hank Julian Donald Karstetter Travis Kee Quinten Kentzler Bernard King Joe Krause August Krueger Dennis Kuhlman

Jim Kuhn Brent Kunentson Matthew Lewis Kim Lucky Allen Manning Keith Manning JP Martinez Courtney Martinez Jason Mawhirter Casey McCoy Melissa McCoy Larry McDaneld Tyson Metcalfe Maurice Moore Dana Murrell Scott Nichols John Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien Jeremy Oman Matthew Osborne Jamiyu Otunba Lucas Pankey Kevin Parsons Shane Parsons Ryan Perez Jason Randolph Anthony Reid Christopher Rogers Danielle Russell Eric Scott Bruce Serrault Mark Shaw

Brandy Shaw Jeremy Shay Jonathan Simonian Andrew Smith Christian Smith Drew Smith Charles Sojka Jimmy Splichal Anthony Taddiken Jon Tarver Wesley Teel Felix Tse Kyle Velasquez Don Von Bergen Mark Walle Kenneth Warren Royce Whitnack Jacob Williams Mark Wilson Kenneth Windholz Michael Wise Kent Wray Theresa Wurzbacher

If you know of someone who has been inadvertently left off this list please write to otrsalina@gmail.com so that we might recognize them too.

on the record

campus news Writing Center tutors present at national conference Kevin McCurdy November 4th through 6th the International Writing Centers Association and National Conference on Peer Tutor for Writing took place in Baltimore, Maryland. But hold on, I’m getting ahead of myself. What the heck is a Writing Center? For those of you who do not know, a Writing Center is a free student AND FACULTY (we can help teachers develop assignments, guidelines, rubrics, and much more) support center open to assist writers[YOU] with reviewing, revising, and improving written communication skills. Our aim is to make better writers. We have five tutors who are more than eager to assist students toward becoming better writers. However, we also have many other resources that may be utilized such as the Writer’s Workbench software. Writing Center director Dr. Pat Ackerman, tutors Eddie De Herrera, and myself, Kevin McCurdy attended the IWCA conference to learn how to better serve student and faculty needs. Not only did we attend presentations from other Writing Center tutors and faculty, but we also gave presentations of our own. Pat’s presentation

Tutors Kevin McCurdy and Eddie De Herrera assist iin presentation at National Conference on Peer Tutor for Writing

focused on readability scores and how they may be used during the writing process. Eddie and I presented on Dr. Jung Oh’s Chromatography assignment and how the K-State Salina Writing Center and Library have collaborated to develop the assignment. For those of you who do not know her, Dr. Oh is our school’s Chemistry professor and over the past five years our Writing Center has helped her revise her assignment guidelines and grading rubrics. We have also worked with her students to help them revise their papers. Our library has been working with Dr. Oh’s students over the past six years to assist them in gaining an understanding of the online databases and locating credible information.

Rent a wildcat to help get in the holiday spirit!

The IWCA/NCPTW was an enlightening experience. I personally feel more confident in my ability to assist students and any other writer, with their writing problems. So bring us your papers, ideas, and questions, or just stop in for a game of chess.

Now that you have an idea of what the Writing Center is, and what it offers, why not stop in and visit with one of our writing tutors. We are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:304:30 and Tuesday, Thursday 9:30-4:05.

Are your tree’s pretty leaves covering your yard? Would you like a little help wrapping all your presents this year? Want your house to look festive but don’t want to mess with the hassle of hanging your lights? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then RENT A WILDCAT! Members of Women in Aviation are offering to rake your fallen leaves, hang your holiday lights, or wrap your presents as a fundraiser. We ask that you provide the tools and equipment and we’ll provide the (Wo)man power! If interested in this service, please contact WIA President, Chelsea McChesney at 620.222.2730 or chemcche@ksu. edu. Wishing you a wonderful start to your holiday season, Women in Aviation K-State at Salina ksuswai@gmail.com December 2010

campus news

Students learn about monsters and superheroes Brittney Talkington

The Infectious Trifecta This lecture was all about vampires, werewolves and zombies. The origin of each type of creature and the psychology behind those creatures were discussed. Vampires are based on an actual person, Vlad Tempesh or Vlad the Impaler. He was a ruler on Transylvania during the 15th century. He was known for being brutal and impaling his enemies. Werewolves were first documented in the epic of Gilgamesh. One story says that a King tried to fool Zeus into eating a meal of human flesh. This angered the God and he cursed the King with a hunger for flesh. These are closely related to shape-shifters. There are two types of werewolves: voluntary (who can shift on command) and involuntary (who have no control over the change). Zombies actually came from the Voodoo tradition, and therefore, from Africa. They would create “zombies” by combining a neurotoxin and a psychedelic drug. Also, “zombie” dogs have been created by a team from the University of Pittsburgh. They kill the dogs by draining all of the blood from their bodies and replacing it with a plasma. Three hours later the plasma is removed and the blood is re-injected into the veins. The dogs then wake up.

The Superhero Workshop In this lecture, we discussed the psychological need for superheroes at different stages of life. Children enjoy superheroes for several reasons; one of which is how the superheroes engage the children mentally and teaches a sense of morality. With stories aimed at children, there is a clear line between the hero and the villain; both are taken to the extreme. When we enter adolescence, we see more of an interest in symbolism and abstract ideas presented by certain stories instead of the clear good vs. evil. These youth are the age of some of the actual heroes and feel as though they can work through the issues that these heroes do. There is also an attraction to the model and mentor relationship that is seen in many story lines. As we grow into adulthood, superheroes still serve a purpose. They provide a connection to youth and a return to childhood or adolescence. As far as societal appeal goes, comic book heroes of today serve as a connection to deeper myths like the epics of the ancient times. We live in an unpredictable world and look to these superheroes and their ability to overcome situations of struggle. 6

on the record

Otakats host first ‘Otafest’ Paul Cain As many of you noticed, the K-State Salina Otakats spent the week of November 8 through November 12th hosting events around campus in an event known as Otafest. Raising awareness of our club and doing something to give back to campus comprised the primary goals of Otafest. Below lies an account of how the week went. Hawt Chocolate - On Monday and Thursday we sold hawt chocolate in the Tech Center lobby. The cold did not display its presence on those days so they may have not been the best days for hawt chocolate. Anime Quiz - Since anime quizzes work equally well in warm whether and cold weather, our anime quiz table in the Tech Center lobby attractive a plethora of attention from various students

and faculty. The anime quiz tested the knowledge of random passerbys by asking them if they knew things like what anime was, which of their favorite childhood tv shows were anime, and if they recognized some anime characters. One thing that many people did not know was that Dragonball Z, Gundam, Pokemon, and other well-known Cartoon Network TV shows are actually anime. Origami Demonstration - The origami demonstration probably attracted the most people of any of our events this week. In it, Hideki Ajima led a packed origami workshop in the Tech Center lobby where interested parties could join in making a deluge of different origami objects, from foxes with helmets to big blue whales.

Anime Watch Party - Thursday night we watched Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.01 You Are (Not) Alone, a re-telling of the famous Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series designed for the silver screen. Some of you may remember Neon Genesis Evangelion from Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block. OtaRave - We wrapped up our week with the OtaRave in the Student Life Center on Friday. Cloaked in darkness, we flailed our glowsticks wildly to the permeating beat of the music amidst the glow of the blacklights until the night had well advanced. Although our attendance was low due to this being our first rave, we had fun and have many ideas on how to improve for future raves.

Student Support Services making a difference regionally Dr. Cari Lott, Director of Upward Bound, and Eric Brown, Upward Bound Academic Services coordinator, attended and presented at the 36th Annual Mid-America Association of Education Opportunity Personnel (MAEOPP) Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. The ten state regional conference was held from November 7-11, 2010. Dr. Lott presented, “A Numbers Game: A Common Sense Approach to the MKN Data.” Mr. Brown presented, “Technology: Transitioning to the Information Age.” During the conference Dr. Lott was also inducted at the tri-state chapter meeting to the TRiO executive board as the State of Kansas Representative for the second year. Dr. Lott also served as a research and evaluation committee member at the tri-state and regional levels this past year. Dr. Lott serves as a member of the tristate membership and credentials committee and as the Kansas fair share representative to the national Council for Opportunity in Education (COE).

club sports

Club sports bring new opportunities to K-State Salina students Kara Godsil K-State at Salina’s Club Basketball Team traveled to Colby, KS November 11th to play in a 3-day tournament. Their first game, against the host college, left the team not feeling too optimistic about their ability to keep up in the tournament. Friday was a brand new day with another game against a different school with another set of fans. The guys played hard but couldn’t quite catch the win.

After a close loss to Southwestern Community College, the guys were ready to wind down a little. The basketball team and dance team dined together and had a blast bowling at the local Fun Center. The Spirit Cats also made the three hour drive to support the basketball team and to perform at half time of their two remaining games. Saturday’s game was looking promising. The Salina Wildcats had the lead for most of the game against Raleigh’s Finest. However, with less than a minute left, the

Wildcats lost their lead and the game ended 80-77. The Spirit Cats are thankful to SGA for funding their trip to be able to support another campus club. It served as an opportunity to further spread the K-State at Salina name. Both teams feel the time spent together strengthened relationships between Club sports on campus. Both teams also invite you to come watch any event they are participating in! We love to see your support!

Are you interested in joining the dance team? If so, please attend our open try-out Wednesday December 8th at 3:30 in the SLC Gym. Please wear proper dance attire; however dance shoes are not required. *Also, keep in mind when scheduling spring 2011 classes that dance team practices will be held Mondays at 3:30 to 5:30 and Thursdays 9:15 to 11:15. Questions-Contact Teresa Hartman at teresa2h@ksu.edu December 2010

parents corner

Holiday magic John R. Johnson Halloween candy, pumpkin pie, candy canes, family and friends… as a kid, the holiday season is absolutely majestic! From October through January, there is always something to look forward to. Football games, snowball fights, Christmas trees and lights, the unmistakable allure of hot cider stewing in the crock-pot… all other months of the year are spent waiting for the season.

relatives one doesn’t much care to see and hear conversations they don’t really want to hear. The wretched hours inch away, all the while one hopes like hell to avoid a scene, and maybe even duck out before Grandma’s pâté de foie gras begins circulation. A person would rather take a swift kick to the genitals than mill about any longer than necessary. On the way home a sigh of relief finds a path through numb lips. It is over… until the next time.

Once one reaches the awkward transition from “kid” to “not a kid anymore, but not an adult either,” the magic dwindles. The spark dies out. From adolescence through the early years of young adulthood, the holiday season seems more like an obligatory, commercialized inconvenience. The holidays become a time to visit

A few years go by and people aren’t as smart as they used to think they were. Grandma is long gone, her atrocious pâté, nothing more than a fond memory. One finds their children now making all the noise, but it feels different. As the brood successfully covers every possible surface in sugary holiday desert residue, some

on the record

cider finds its way to the crock-pot for old time’s sake. Sitting on the sofa one might witness their children bubbling with the same spark they had in their youth. They realize, once again, they don’t know nearly as much as they think they do. Eyes opened, one begins to understand the true nature of family. Through the tiny pores in the heart that children unavoidably exploit, the magic trickles back inside. So, if one finds themselves clawing their way through young adulthood wondering where the holiday magic went, if they just wait a while… it’ll come back.

culture shock

Not in Kansas anymore.... or are we? Hello, I’m a senior in Technology Management. I’m from the beautiful developed country called Japan. My name is 高瀬登夢, Takase Tom (Last name comes first in Japanese). I’ve lived in the U.S. for about 4 years, and I’ve encountered a lot of great culture shock. I will honestly state my true impression about the U.S. in just a second. The United States is not an ideal place to live. This country is too huge. This fact caused me a lot of culture shock. Quality is the key. I will talk about differences of hospitality, quality, and convenience. Are you satisfied with current eating habits? Just eating steak and hamburgers? It is so unfortunate to eat only low quality food with no variation. To be honest, American cuisine is less tasty and less healthy than Japanese cuisine. Most Japanese people are particular about food. They don’t accept any lowquality food. I am a gourmet, too. I won’t compromise about food, which means I’ve had a hard time living in Kansas. Remember one thing, please don’t assume the Japanese restaurant in Salina offers totally “authentic” Japanese cuisine. It is an American-Japanese restaurant. I’m sorry that there is no authentic Japanese restaurant in Kansas. I suggest you go to Japan. However, if you don’t have time, go to New York or Los Angeles for preauthentic Japanese cuisine. Food is the biggest and the most serious issue. It is said that Japanese people’s intestines are bigger than Europeans and

Americans. However, Japanese people’s stomachs are more delicate and weaker than ones of Western people. A lot of research reports shows that Japanese people have a great tendency to easily get colon cancer by changing to Westernized eating habits because of the delicate stomach. In reality, the number of colon cancer patient has been dramatically increasing recently. This is so serious of a problem that Japanese people really must have high quality food to survive. By the way, Japan is famous for great deal of hospitality. I can proudly say with plenty of confidence that Japanese is the most courteous and hospitable race. For example, there are plastic cuisine models in front of restaurants. Customers can see exactly what kind of food the restaurant offers. On the other hand, restaurants in the U.S. often don’t offer menus with pictures. The U.S. lacks the kind of customer service I am used to. For another example, I can see hospitality difference in airline businesses, too. I’m a frequent flyer of the One World alliance so let’s compare JAL (Japan Airlines) and AA (American Airlines). I’ve experienced my precious baggage being broken by AA several times. I did see ground staff throwing my baggage for loading outside from inside of the airplane. JUST UNBELIEVABLE! On the other hand, ground staffs of JAL bow and wave their hands to each airplane while it is being pushed back from the spot. Hospitality difference is one of my culture shock. I’ve experienced in the U.S., though not everyone is like this.

Sorry for wandering from the topic of cuisine. I have lots of things to discuss. As all of you know, Japanese cuisine is famous for healthy. However, it’s not only healthy but also delicious. I’d like to emphasize that Japanese cuisine is not just Sushi. Yakiniku, Shabu-shabu, Sukiyaki, Ra-men, Gyoza, Tempura, Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, Curry Rice, Hayashi Rice, Natto, Nikujaga, Soba, Udon, Sashimi, Gyu-don, Katsu-don, Ten-don, Yakitori, Sake, Shochu, etc… I’m sorry I can’t list all because there are so many. But let’s start with Sushi first. I know some American people have a resistance to eating raw fish. Actually we eat a lot of raw food for other than Sushi; fish, egg, meat, etc. I know there is a common sense that eating raw food in the U.S. might be dangerous for body but not in Japan. This is caused by the quality differences. Food in Japan is always fresh. Here is my suggestion. If you feel resistant to eating raw fish, start with Unagi, fresh-water eel. This sushi contains sweet sauce. It is tender and will be melting in your mouth. Then try Salmon. That way you must be able to adapt yourself to raw fish smoothly. Remember, price is also different. Sushi in Japan is much much cheaper than one in the U.S. Most of Sushi restaurants in Japan offer 100 yen for 2 pieces, which means 50 yen, or approximately 50 cents per 1 piece. Different world huh? So do not think Sushi as expensive food. Also, we have special Sushi American people must love. How about Sushi with mayo? Sukiyaki (beef and egg) Sushi? There are tons of Sushi menu in Japan. Find your favorite one in Japan. December 2010

Speaking of beef, what kind of beef do you eat? American beef? Is it really delicious? Are you sure about that? It is out of question. Japanese beef is far superior to American beef. They are on different levels. Especially, Kobe Beef is very famous for the best supreme top-quality meat in the world. If you don’t know it, think back to the best basketball player in the world on the active list. Yes! Kobe Bryant, a NBA player for L.A. Lakers, was named after Kobe Beef. His father did love Kobe Beef. It is marbled beef and will be melting in your mouth. Oh, I’m now salivating… For another example of Japanese cuisine American people must love is Tonkatsu. It is also delicious. It is deep-fried pork cutlet. It’s unfortunate you’ve never experienced that crunch outside coating and that melt-in-your-mouth inside pork. It’s always good to eat Tonkatsu with egg on rice. Oh man... Also, Japanese confectioneries are delicious. American confectioneries are not something to eat. Those are too horrible to eat. For example, American cake uses much color. I can’t understand why American people love chemical substance. Same thing for American drinks. What is that? We need flavor variation instead of just color variation. Still love American cuisine more than Japanese? Fine. But try American cuisine in Japan, which is much better than one in the U.S. McDonald’s is a good example. By the way, we call McDonald’s “Makudonarudo” for official pronunciation in Japan but it is called “Makku” in Tokyo area (eastern Japan) and “Makudo” in Osaka area (western Japan). Anyway, “Makudonarudo” has various menus. Teriyaki Burger, Shrimp Burger, Gratin Croquette Burger, Texas Burger, New York Burger,

Hawaiian Burger, California Burger, German Sausage Chicken Burger, Cheese Fondue Chicken Burger, Diavolo Chicken Burger, Carbonara Chicken Burger, Bacon Potato Pie, etc... Didn’t you know that?? Can you believe that menu variety? I love Gratin Croquette Burger the best. It is much better than American McDonald’s. American McDonald’s is not interesting at all to Japanese people. Actually, in Japan, other Japanese burger shops are better than Japanese McDonald’s. It must be fun for you to find Japanese-nized American companies in Japan. Even if it is the same company’s product, it is very different in Japan and in the U.S. Are you now interested in marketing differences between Japan and the U.S.? More examples? Sure. Here we go. We have various KitKat and it has over 50 flavors, Green Tea, Blue Cheese Cake, etc. Even I’ve not tried all flavors. In this way, food and products in the U.S. are not interesting at all compared with ones in Japan. DO NOT DIE WITHOUT TASTING REAL JAPANESE CUISINE. Life is short. Enjoy your life to your heart’s content by eating high quality cuisine. In Japan you don’t need a car. Railroad network is the greatest in the world. Shinkansen is popular fast train. It runs 330 km/h, or 205 mi/h. Also we have a magnetic levitation train. It runs 581 km/h, or 361 mi/h. I heard Japanese Railway company send skill of these trains for future railroad throughout the U.S. Japanese company is trying to improve this developing country. So be patient and see how the U.S. will be changing. These are just some of the ways Japan is a wonderful place. The reason I say this is not because I am Japanese. Even if I was American, I must love Japan once I know the greatness of Japan. Some of you might think I’m just speaking ill of the U.S but these are truth. Why don’t you check what I’m saying is true or not by visiting Japan? Try Japanese-nized McDonald’s. I’m more than happy to be your tour guide in Japan. Fly with JAL (Japan Airlines), ANA (All Nippon Airways), or K-State Citation Jet, just kidding. Thank you for your interest about Japan. I’m really sad that I can’t introduce about whole Japan today. To be continued in Japan… right? All right, I’m graduating this semester, but see all of you soon in Japan! And shout that famous phrase “We’re not in Kansas anymore!” in Japan.

on the record

Here are other brief comparisons of the differences I’ve realized: JAPAN

Call Elder Person

Never Called by First Name

By First Name

Popular Payment Method

Electric Money

Credit/Debit Card

Toilet

Warm Seat with a Washing Function

Cold Seat with Loud Flush

McDonald's

24 Hours Open for Walk-in too

Night for Drive Thru Only

Game Arcade

Much More Fun

Not Fun At All

Road

Asphalt with Many Functions

Concrete

Traffic Rule

Right-hand Steering Wheel on Left Lane

Left-hand Steering Wheel on Right Lane

Cell Phone

More Multifunction (Infrared Rays, QR Code...)

Less Color Variety

At Home

Take off shoes and relax

Leave Shoes even if it's rainy outside

Bathtime

Soak in the bathtub and relax

Short Shwer Time with keep standing

Pen

With Soft Jell Grip

With Hard Grip

Way of Talking

Distinction of Men and Women

No Distinction of Men and Women

Regular Car Inspection

Required. No Shabby Cars.

Not Required. There are some shabby cars.

Gambling

Pachinko, Horese Racing

Casino

Convenience Store

Much More Convenient

Out of Question…

Home Electrical Appliances

Much Superior

Out of Question…

Vending Machine

More Variety (Tobacco, Book, etc) Everywhere (Street)

Limited

Canned Coffee

Popular

None

Working Hours

Long

Short

School

Uniform

Ordinary Clothes

Car

More Fuel-efficient

Less Fuel-efficient

Parking

No Street Parking. Back A Car into the Spot.

Head-in Parking.

Laundry

Hang the Washing Out in the Sun

Never Hang the Washing Out in the Sun

Education other than School

Cram School is Popular

None

Driving License

$3,000 for Driving School

Cheap. Educated by Parents

Minimum Driving Age

Minimum Drinking Age

Hanging Out with Family

Not Always First Priority (Friend, Job...)

First Priority

High School

Distinction of Humanities and Science Course

No distinction of Humanities and Science Course

Hair Color

Other than Black is considerd as unprofessional

Various Color

Sex Education

Not Common

Common from Childhood

Being Humble

Good

Not Good

Tipping System

None

Common

At Restaurant

Srerved One After Another

Served at Same Time

To Go Box at Restaurant

Can Be Considerd Rude

Common

OVERALL

MUCH MORE VARIETY

MUCH LESS VARIETY

December 2010

Arts & Cats

Celebrating the creative tidbits on the K-State Salina campus

“Welcome”

Welcome to my humble abode The sound of the logs crackling in the fire Burning red full of desire Drinks will be generous and plentiful Supper will be from the heart Find a place in my home Welcome friend to my humble abode anonymous

Photos by Brittney Talkington

on the record

“Winter Night”

The snow glistens The moonlight shines The larks sing In the dark night The wind sings

“Turpentine”

The turpentine guardian of the mountain Lays his arrow light Vanish still his armor sheen With the sound of crickets plight Anna Velasquez

anonymous

What I see in you Sad or mad I don’t see in you I see happy, I see glad I see love, I see friendship.

Christian Corrazco, age 10, a birthday gift for his stepmom, April Bonilla

“Overdrive”

Mind on overdrive Words coming out like vomit Can’t keep up I’m losing track On the tip of my tongue But I can’t spit it out You sitting next to me But can’t distinguish whether it be a dream or reality Feels like I’m in a movie Because pain like this just doesn’t exist Only in the movies And you are the villain The one hated by all Loved by few Chasing after you Yelling for you to hear me But you never do You never did My dreams have all become nightmares Crying has become second nature I do it more than I breathe Consumed with every thought Every movement Empty words Mind on overdrive Anonymous

“romantic” the romantic ones pine away wanting to be your heart the seat of love... boring being a heart is boring it does one thing: beat it stays in one place and never touches you might as well be liver or spleen i want to be your first metacarpal-the first bone of your lovely thumb make you opposable (which i relish, by the way) and give you dexterity, allow you to grasp a brush a fork a spoon or work a pair of lacquered chopsticks with mother of pearl inlay

“Difference of Opinions” I awoke early today, a soft and pleasant grey I cannot deny Feeling benign Going about my way Driving through peaceful rain With the world looking plain I found a spot In the lot Went to class without complain People say its dreary Teachers getting weary Have to put up Cant say shut up To a person with a query Classes are now boring Computers are annoying And what a lark I should just park As traffic is in mooring Today is very grey Now I have to say GO TO HELL, I’LL RING THE BELL THAT SENDS YOU DOWN THAT WAY. T.F.B.

“Tall Grass” Leave me in the tall grass By that creek bed in November Where the snow’s still heavy and falling And the ground is getting hard by cold But will still move to my touch, my weight, and it’ll take me back I’ll give it my all, the body and this soul the tall grass and the creek bed and the snow they can have every ounce that they’ll hold and leave the rest to freeze and break and melt in the spring what’s left can be reused, reformed I beg you-make something so much more worthwhile but it may take a day or an hour or a year or ten you’ll want to take that time while I watch my breath and go blind by grey skies in cold, clear, welcoming peace. Ashley Flowers

J. Edward Matthews

December 2010

Haikus & Limericks Submitted by Dr. Molidor’s Introduction to Literature class “Marriage” Some for money Others because they have to Love is my reason. By Matt Foutch “Salina” The leaves are falling and the town is glistening with color. By Morgan Miles “On Veteran’s Day” We owe them respect While soldiers battled and died Others only cried By Jacob Warner “Seasons” The trees are barren The cold envelops the world Welcome to Winter By Eric Scott “Thanksgiving” The turkey is stuffed potatoes and corn await prepare the big pants. By Samuel Moritz “Soldiers and Cats” The Cats say goodbye to the heroes who protect wishing them soon home By Anna Velasquez Mom is a hero she doesn’t jump or fly high her power is love. By April Bonilla

That damn cricket sound A glorious symphony Keeping me from sleep By Anna Velasquez Cape Though I hold powers And do things you cannot do I am not a God By John Johnson

Unfortunately the old woman lived in a shoe She had so many kids, who knew They cooked barley stew And then they went poo Now the plumbing is clogged in the shoe By: Anonymous A day amongst my peers is enough to bring me to tears do I look like the fool I was in high school Is truly my deepest fear. By: Anonymous I do not like this limerick It makes me something sick flowing with rhythm and rhyme And keeping a perfect time Yet is over far too quick By: Anna Velasquez

on the record

There once was a boy named Jacob homework he chose not to make up. “Make wise choices young, you fool” Says his mother, 33, still in school, “Choose student not dad as you grow up”. By: April Bonilla

The cat jumped over the moon To eat some spaghetti with his spoon To his surprise What caught his eye Was little boy blue in the lagoon By: Anonymous

sign by hoto De

There once was a kid who lived in a zoo His friends were monkeys and a kangaroo Pouncing and swinging Laughing and dreaming They would play till the cows said moo! By: Anna Velasquez

5 Points With five in hand I stride down the aisle Too many to choose, with so much style Hero, Joe, Jedi, or bot Can’t get one I’ve already got Go ahead Mom, this may take a while By John Johnson Rampage Trust when I tell you not to be mean A lack of tact could cost you your spleen I may do a little dance And rip my purple pants A nightmare of gamma-glow green By John Johnson Skywalking I came all this way from a planet of sand Even suffered songs from that Cantina Band Across the stars to make your acquaintance To find your saber and so little patience Just waiting to cut off my damn hand By John Johnson

lowers

Ashley F

The rhuman e p Su t n e m e l E Johnson John R.

“Look!--Up in the sky. It’s a bird! It’s a plane. It’s popularized, trite graphic fiction!” Or is it? Since it’s inception in the late 1930s, the superhero genre has had no shortage of criticism, from McCarthy-Era politicians, to the worrisome mothers of yesterday.

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Even Nancy King, a 2010 Senatorial Candidate from Maryland, condemned comic books in her recent political campaign. Despite the rollercoaster of criticism over the decades, colorful stories of unbelievable feats by beings with unimaginable power are popular to this day and continue to thrive. Superheroes have become one of the most successful genres in print, on screen, and in licensed property. However, do these superhero escapades offer more than simple entertainment? They do. Although primarily targeted at the demographic of children and young adults, superhero comic books and other fables have significant literary value. These comics represent a correlation to ancient mythology, reflect where their society of origin is politically and socially, and explore the cultural and psychological aspects of individual personalities. To this end, superhero fiction is worthy of deeper examination and understanding on a literary level.

More than three thousand years ago, the ancient Greeks

Captain America is another example of socio-political status

believed in Gods and Goddesses that ruled over the world. One in

reflected in the pages of comic books throughout the years. In

particular, Hercules, stands out as one of the earliest superheroes.

the 1940s, the stories were extremely simplistic, good versus

In a Storyworks article, Yesterday and Today: Hercules & Superman,

evil tales where Cap valiantly fights off Nazis at every turn and

comparisons are drawn that illustrate the many similarities of the

always emerges victorious. More modern Captain America stories,

mythological heroes from thousands of years ago, and the spandex-

particularly after the events of September 11th, 2001, show

sporting superheroes of contemporary comic book fiction. Both

the character as a human being much more torn and conflicted

Hercules and Superman had tremendous power at an early age.

between morality and duty in a complex world, as expressed in

Both dedicated themselves to using powers to help humankind.

Jerry Adam Smith’s article from Utne, Not Your Father’s Captain

Each defeated villains and monsters, had a nemesis, and rescued

America. “Comic books have always reflected the social and

beautiful damsels from certain peril. However, In Mark Waid’s

political environment in which they are created, but only recently

Kingdom Come, Superman suffers from fear, guilt, and uncertainty;

have superheroes started to address the issues raised by the war

he is not portrayed simply as an infallible God-like being. This

on terrorism and the war in Iraq.”

dynamic allows more complex plots to unfold and readers find the

On a smaller scale than mythology, sociological perspective, or

heroic characters easier to relate to.

politics, superhero stories affect people on a personal psychological

Tales of both heroes sprouted from a society in need, and generated

level. Comic books, movies, and television programs about

profound effects. Ancient Greeks had tasted blood in many conflicts

superheroes continue to rise in popularity in our society because,

and stories of courageous warriors, such as Hercules, enabled

at the core, most people desire to achieve difficult feats and receive

these soldiers to fight on and ready themselves for the next great

admiration and praise for that achievement. People fantasize about

battle. Superman came about at a time when the Nazi regime rose

scoring the winning touchdown of a football game, a promotion

to great power. G.I.s received comic books from home to boost

in their careers for a revolutionary idea, or sweeping a potential

moral while fighting overseas in the largest global conflict modern

lover off their feet. The superhero adventure is an extension of

society had ever witnessed. Greek mythology is seen as scholarly literature, with immeasurable historical significance. One day, perhaps the stories of the Justice League of America may prove as important in the development of western cultures.

that fantasy. In We Need a Hero, an article from The Futurist, Philip Zimbardo, renowned psychologist and author, writes, “We may all be called upon to act heroically at some time, when opportunity arises. We would do well, as a society and as a civilization, to conceive of heroism as something within the range of possibilities for every person.” Although people may never “leap tall buildings in a single bound,” superhero fiction encourages people to be heroic, courageous, do the right thing, and make sacrifices for the greater

One might argue that Greek mythology

good, even in our day-to-day lives. After the catastrophic climax

and contemporary superhero fiction

of Kingdom Come, Batman chooses to aid those affected by the

differ as the Greeks believed the stories

aftermath by spending his days running a hospital from his home,

true and that belief shaped every facet

while Superman begins the cultivation of new farmlands for future

of their culture and way of life, while the

crops. Both are examples of how one has the ability to simply make

society that developed the comic book

the choice to help others or not. In “superhero,” the human element

superhero knew it to be escapist fiction

of the “hero” is more important and more powerful than the “super.”

from the get-go. However, these stories also serve as effective social and political allegories. Alan Moore’s Watchmen (1987), a twelve-part comic mini-series published from 1986 to 1987, was set to the back drop of New York City during the latter years of the Cold War and exudes a dark, fearful, and paranoid tone reflecting society’s disposition at the time. The book received a Hugo Award in 1988.

Comic books and superhero lore are much more complex and relevant than one might believe at first glance. The stories say far too much about society and culture, as well as speak to the fantasies of the deeper psyche to be simply dismissed as mindless entertainment. Whether art imitates life, or life imitates art, the superhero genre documents poignant reflections of humankind, how life is lived, and provides a moral compass for exploring one’s personal integrity.

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Thank God for the iPod....... Jess Simpson Assistant Director of TRiO & Student Support Services

I am on my way to work and I happen to have MP3/iPOD hook-ups in my rig when I hit the shuffle button and listen to some music I loaded up on my iPOD. I have 158 songs on my iPOD (not very many according to my daughter). She has like 50 million songs on hers…ok more like a couple thousand. Anyways, I am listening to chosen songs I have loaded up and I realize that I am pretty bored with all at this point. Most of this music has come from my own CD collection (about 350) whereas about 20 songs have been downloaded from iTunes. No Limewire here folks, wanna stay out of jail. Anyways, I listen to my iPOD exclusively as I have come to the conclusion that most all modern music today sucks. Period. Really bad…minus a few country songs. Ok, let us rewind to 1986. Air Jordans were in their second year of production, the space shuttle Challenger blew up, and I was a freshman in high school. This was a serious transition year in music as “Metal” was in its prime, “Rap” was making its first commercial impression and college radio was strong thanks to bands like Husker Du and

REM. Punk rock was winding down (really has never gone away completely) and country music was on the verge of exploding into this monster for the next 20 years. Country music owned the 90’s, period. Anyways, I was leaving football practice one day in 1986 and I saw a bunch of dudes on skateboards “shredding” on the parking lot and heard the most awesome sounds I could ever recall at the time. I could not understand the words but thought, “Damn, this is awesome!” Turns out it was the “Sex Pistols” and the “Dead Kennedy’s.” I walked up to the group of skateboarders, some of the guys were in my class, and I asked them who it was in the tape deck and where did they get it? Yes folks, a tape deck. I would attach a picture but cannot figure out how to do so. Anyways, my love for music was born officially. I had always liked music but never invested or completely thrown my energy into it like I did after that day. Back to present day, I am married, with three children, of which two are teenagers. At any given time in my house there is Country music, R&B/Pop (gross), Classic rock, Alternative and Punk playing somewhere in bedrooms and the garage. Lady Gaga (LG) is really popular now a days and I can hardly wait for her to become nothing more than the flavor of the month and disappear into the “once was” of pop music. Her music does not really qualify as anything other than some very produced vocals attached to sound. If anything else, the studio band or whoever is playing deserves credit here, not LG. Boom!!! Anyways, I do not think that LG is music. With that said, I would like to tell you who/ what is. Here, in no particular order, is a list of some of the coolest bands I have ever heard:

1. Iggy Pop and the Stooges

All I can say here is that this stuff is just plain awesome.

2. The Beastie Boys

When they were a punk/thrash band prior to entering the RAP scene.

3. The Jesus and the Mary Chain

Cool band from the mid 80’s that were involved in the evolution of “shoe gazing.” Look it up…

4. The Pixies:

One of the greatest bands ever, period.

5. Hank Williams II and III: Both of these guys sound great.

6. Suicidal Tendencies:

One of the first “skate bands” to hit it big. Great music for a number of years.

7. The Blind Boys of Alabama:

These guys are ridiculous. I saw them live in Hays with a group of SSS students last year. They rocked the house y’all.

8. The Sex Pistols:

Because of these guys, I have drawn the “anarchy” sign on every notebook I have owned since 1986.

9. Wall of Voodoo: Crazy…

10. DEVO:

One of the most influential bands of the 70’s and 80’s. Thing is, not everyone recognizes them for it.

11. The Go Go’s:

Yes, I know and Yes, I said it…The Go Go’s…

12. Janes’s Addiction:

They rank right there with The Pixies.

13. Dead Kennedy’s:

My first ISS in high school was related to the Dead Kennedy’s, check’em out.

14. Metallica:

What else can I say?

15. Soul Asylum: Greatness…

Anyways, if you have not had the opportunity to hear any of these artists, please check them out via the interweb or go visit the House of Sight and Sound here in Salina. If you mention my name they will give you a 20 percent discount…kidding. Otherwise stop by my office and I would love to talk some music. Until next time, let Lady Gagme alone and maybe she will go away quietly. 18

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(satisfaction x time) / cost =

The Satisfaction Score Paul Cain

Introduction

(satisfaction x time) / cost = satisfaction score. The satisfaction score I created uses hardcore logic to ascertain whether a given action is worth its cost. The basic idea is to take how satisfying something is, relate it to how long it will be satisfying for, and then factor in the cost to get your fun score. Higher numbers are better because you get more fun for less money. Using this equation, you may determine whether staying up late to imbibing intoxicants provides more satisfaction than going to sleep at a reasonable time. However, beneath the surface of this equation lies a great depth of complexity and nuance.

Satisfaction

I believe satisfaction represents the most important variable in this equation. Many factors cause satisfaction to vary, even when engaging in the same activity. For

The Beginning of the End Brittney Talkington

This is it: the beginning of the end. It has been over a decade since we first met the “boy who lived.” Together we journeyed to Diagon Alley, made Hogwarts our home, found friends, played Quidditch and battled the forces of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We have grown up together. But the final battle approaches. Soon it will all be over. The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 has come, and I’ve realized that, after June, when part 2 is released, there will be nothing left to look forward to. This makes me terribly sad. It’s almost as

example, petting a cat is only satisfying when the cat is not trying to bite you unless you’re a masochist. Satisfaction also depends on a person’s mood. Shooting zombie Nazis in a video game provides at least temporary satisfaction when you are unable to shoot the zombie Nazis that symbolically exist in real life. However, when all is well with the world, shooting zombie Nazis may not be as appealing. Additionally, the difference between perceived satisfaction and actual satisfaction disrupts satisfaction calculations as if Sigmund Freud and Friedrich Nietzsche decided to return to life and mozy on over to church for open mic night. I have found that sometimes, an experience isn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be, bringing up the whole issue of trying to create satisfaction projections. I’ve found that the best thing to do is to simply be aware from moment to moment of the exact feelings that a given experience gives you to better understand how satisfying an experience actually is. For example, I noticed that when eating food, I can only taste the food’s flavor for the first few bites; after that, I no longer taste anything. The satisfaction fades away. I did not realize this before. I saw the taste of food as a much more continuous rather than unstable satisfaction. By giving it the fathomage of attention that a cat gives to hearing the sound of a can-opener, I was able to better estimate the actual level of satisfaction gained from it. Such a method can really be applied to almost any

if this is the final sign that my youth is truly over. All the magic will be gone. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. You see, though, ever since I started reading the series when I was nine years old, there was always something to look forward to: another seven hour wait in line for a book coming out, another movie premiere to dress up for, a theme park opening. Like so many of my generation, Harry Potter has been a constant in my life. It has become such a staple of our culture you would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t at least seen the movies. Just as Star Wars was a phenomenon that changed popular culture forever and gave us a whole slew of words like “droid” that everyone now

experience in order to better understand the psychological meaning that it has to oneself. Imagine the possibilities. Have you ever bought something and then later regretted that decision?

Time

Since satisfaction varies, how does time factor in? How long does an experience stay satisfying? Since satisfaction often fades over time, at what point does an experience cease being satisfactory? How long does Cookie Monster have to eat cookies for the pit in his soul to fill?

Cost

The third issue is cost, and not just monetary cost. This cost can be psychological costs, emotional costs, relationship costs, health costs, or any the cost of any other thing that you value. In other words, how much satisfaction might you lose later in order to gain this satisfaction now? The same method of determining satisfaction can be used to better understand the true costs of an experience. Maybe the true cost or value of an experience cannot be determined until all of its effects have had time to unfold when life’s end has been reached. After all, if Howard Dean didn’t listen to so much Judas Priest when he was young*, maybe he would not have had the impulse to scream “BEE-AHHHH!” after the Iowa primary.

knows, Harry Potter has given so much. The word “muggle” is now in the dictionary. I mean, there are even people forming Quidditch leagues now, for crying out loud. So I suppose it won’t all be gone in the blink of an eye, it will just be a little different; nothing new, just revisiting. You can bet, though, that on some cold, rainy days, you’ll still be able to find me curled up in bed wearing my Griffindor sweatshirt with my Chudley Cannons blanket wrapped around me, drinking Earl Grey tea and reading the series for the umpteenth time. I suppose some things will never change.

December 2010

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The Drive to Zach Martin

The fingers of my left hand wrapped gently around the yoke and the fingers of my right rested on the worn black finish of the throttle knob as I turned on to my final approach for runway 34 at Hays Regional. My eyes darted down to the panel and I pulled the yoke back to hit the 65 knots that Justin had so profoundly beaten into my brain. My left finger keyed the mic with a nervous twitch. “Hays traffic, K-State 20 is on final for runway three-four, touch and go, Hays.” I smiled at the fact that I managed to click that off without getting completely tongue tied, and watched out the windscreen, as the runway grew closer. The five workers who had cleared the runway a few minutes before were now leaning on their shovels next to the first taxiway, presumably anticipating a brilliant student-pilot landing; or landings…depending on which way you choose to look at those bounces. My hands tensed a little at the thought of such embarrassment. I loosened my grip on the controls and made gentle corrections to keep the plane on glide path. As I crossed the threshold, I pulled the power and began my flare. A light gust of wind lifted my right wing, and I corrected with a somewhat abrupt right aileron input and a little right rudder to keep the nose down the centerline. “That was a little rough,” I mumbled to myself. The flare seemed to take hours after that; holding the nose up, waiting for the stall horn to squeal, and waiting to hear the sound of the tires chirping as I planted the mains against the pavement. The sounds never came. The nose dropped slowly and I suddenly realized that I was on the 20

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Fly

ground. I let loose a cheesy grin as I rolled down the runway and then realized that I needed to keep moving. I reached over and flipped the flap switch up and back down to ten degrees, touched the trim wheel and glanced at its setting, and pushed the worn black knob in all the way. The airspeed indicator’s needle began its slow, jumpy, sweep past 50 knots and I pulled back lightly on the yoke. My right foot pressed a little harder on the rudder pedal as we lifted off together, the plane and I, for our next leg to Minneapolis.

of a leather office chair and sipping my Dr. Pepper. My parents and relatives would like that a lot and I know a lot of people going to school to get such jobs for that very reason. It is something in high demand that will always be needed and pays well with little danger involved.

It was my first solo cross-country flight. The first time I was let loose in the mighty Cessna 172 to conquer some unfathomable distance alone, without Justin’s smartass, but information filled remarks to guide me. It was a milestone in my mind; one of many in the life of a pilot, but a milestone nonethe-less. It is moments like that touchdown in Hays that make me remember why I am here.

The drive to fly is an uncontrollable, undeniable passion that I cannot even begin to explain; one that has been with me ever since I can remember. I am not sure who originally said, “Do what you love, and love what you do,” but that is the way I see my future. I will do anything short of sell my car to fly. I need my car to sleep in, but I would gladly sell my soul for the opportunity to fly in the left seat of that 737 that I so curiously watched in the night sky as a kid, no matter how mediocre the pay. The drive and dream to fly is one that I will never give up on, no matter the circumstances, because why live if you are not doing something you love. It would make life more than a little pointless in my mind. Whether your dream is to fly a plane, to design the world’s most incredible new architectural structures, to be a photographer, to work in unmanned systems, to help and work with people in a social environment, or to teach our next generation of students, live your dreams, no matter what your dream is, no matter what it takes; because if you are doing anything else, life just will not be the same.

There are more glamorous, much better paying jobs out there than being a pilot. This is not the 1950’s. The reality is a low-time pilot getting started nowadays makes less money a year than a manager at McDonalds, works worse hours, and depending on the employer, has less benefits. For many people who think about flying as a career, that is a definite deterrent. As is the astronomical cost of training required to even make it to that mediocre-paying job. Practically, I would probably do better financially to spend the next four years of my life studying to be an Aeronautical Engineer. Then after graduation, designing new unmanned systems to put people like myself out of a job, all while sitting in the relative comfort

That being said, I am here against a whole family’s worth of advice because this is what I have wanted to do since I was a little kid; sitting out in a field in Tennessee, watching the strobe lights of a Boeing 737 flicker through the cool, silent night sky above me.

Recipes from K-State Salina’s International Food Fair Mexican Rice & Hamburger Annette Hernandez

Brown white rice – about a cup in one tablespoon of lard, once brown then add to pot that you have going with three cups of chicken broth boiling, also add one small can of tomato sauce, turn down heat to low and cook until rice is done, add chicken broth as needed, DO NOT STIR.

Italian Wedding Soup

Brown hamburger, drain grease, add homemade hot sauce, comino seed and salt. Simmer until ready to serve. Good with fried potatoes and tortillas.

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Shae Blackwell

70 Minutes to Prepare and Cook Ingredients 3/4 cup white onion, finely chopped 1 tbsp olive oil

Cream Puffs

8 cups low sodium vegetable broth

April Hockman

1 tbsp black pepper

Heat to a rolling boil in saucepan:

1/2 package (10 oz) frozen cut spinach

1 c. water

1 cup Acini di Pepe

½ c. butter

15 frozen meatless meatballs, cut into quarters

Stir in all at once 1 cup sifted flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture leaves the side of the pan and forms into a ball (about 1 minute). Remove from heat. Beat in thoroughly 4 eggs, one at a time. Beat mixture until smooth and velvety. Drop from spoon onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake until dry. Bake at 400°, 45-50 minutes.

Directions

Custard filling: Mix in a saucepan: ½ c. sugar ½ tsp salt

Heat olive oil in heavy stock pot Add onion and garlic and heat over low for 3-5 minutes Add frozen spinach and cook another minute Add vegetable broth, cover and simmer 45 minutes Bring soup to a boil Once boiling, add pasta and frozen meatballs, cook at a slow boil about 10 minutes Makes about 6 2-cup servings.

1/3 c. flour Stir in 2 cups milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring until it boils; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir a little over half of this mixture into 4 egg yolks (or 2 eggs), beaten. Blend into hot mixture in saucepan. Bring just to boiling point. Cool and blend in 2 teaspoons vanilla or other flavoring. (Can also use vanilla pudding for filling if in a time crunch)

Goat Cheese Crostini

Easy & Fantastic Cheesecake Pam & Tim Bower

Two packages (8 oz. Each) Cream Cheese, room temperature ½-cup sugar Two eggs ¾-teaspoon vanilla extract

Ann and Les Kinsler

One graham cracker pie crust

Olive Oil

4 oz

Goat Cheese

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs and beat until the entire mixture is well blended, scraping sides of bowl when necessary. Pour the batter into the graham cracker crust and bake for 40 minutes, until middle is nearly set. Cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, overnight is best. Add cherry pie filling, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, or other toppings just before serving.

¼ cup Ricotta Cheese 1T

Fresh Basil, chopped fine

Lemon zest, (grated lemon peel)

Lemon, squeezed for juice

Mix ingredients and spread over the toasted bread

Serves 8

Baguette Bread: Slice thin, brush with olive oil, and toast

Prep 15 min Bake 40 min Chill 3-12 hrs December 2010

The Black Squirrel Ashley Flowers

A long, long, long time ago there was a girl who was madly in love with a boy. She wrote ridiculous poetry about the boy because said he was believed, at the time, to be well worth sappy poems and maddening rhymes. One such poem was titled ‘The Sounds That Silence Make.’ In an effort not to nauseate readers, I’ll spare the poem itself and share a close-reading of its words. Winter has always been my favorite season. I can’t remember a time I didn’t find snow to be the most enchanting thing the universe ever shared. Growing up on a farm that always felt a million miles from civilization, and ten million when we were snowed in, I became well acquainted with nights flooded with moonlight and quiet snowfall. It’s absolutely silent. You hear nothing but silent snowflakes hitting their fallen brothers. It’s haunting, and enchanting, and overwhelming, all at once. That silence can clear one’s head with an efficiency Henry Ford would admire. But as the weather has yet to accommodate my desperate desire for a thick layer of snow, I’ve been spending my time filling my head with other sounds (since there’s no silence to echo through it)....Here’s a sample of what Stellamaria (my iPod) has been playing: “O Children,” Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds This song appears in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One and has done nothing but jerk tears since I watched Harry and Hermione awkwardly shuffle around their tent. It’s six minutes of pure awesome ripping apart every thread of your soul and then putting it back together. Like when you get a massage that works out all the tension in your shoulders by making you feel like you were hit by a train for a few minutes and then like you could win the Olympics after you realize all that weight’s been lifted. 22

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“Devil’s Spoke,” Laura Marling Laura Marling is a quite clever lyricist and I can’t seem to get tired of listening to her words and music. This song sounds just like it’s been racing through fall woods, waiting for the first snowfall to finally take a break from some sort of marathon. “Dog Days Are Over,” Florence + The Machine It doesn’t necessarily recall the perfect tranquility that I associate with snowfall but it definitely fills me up the same way watching it snow does. It moves quickly and passionately and with the same excitement I’ve been building since September for the first real snow. “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” cover by Taken by Trees I will probably spend the rest of my life associating this song with snow after my ‘Sweet Blue’ photography project last year. It’s chilling and harmless at the same time. It gets played in the happy place I go when I realize it’s 2:30 am and I’m still working on OTR so why shouldn’t it be in the same happy place that exists for the snow. And “Hallelujah,” cover by Kate Voegele Fitting right? Of course I celebrate snow with a glorious internal shout of ‘Hallelujah.’ But when Kate Voegele does that shout it’s pretty and drawn out and covers me with the same peace that the snow covers everything else with.

December 2010

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record We are the student voice of K-State Salina. Our purpose is to reflect the dynamic nature of our campus community by providing a diverse forum of entertainment, news, and expression for students and campus organizations. To contribute to this publication, email otrsalina@gmail.com or contact a member of our editorial staff.

Otter says: Finals stressing you out? Defenestrate!

(The act of throwing someone or something out of a window)