Tea Leaf Green: Headliner

La Crosse's Free Press VOLUME 10, NO. 30 | AUGUST 12, 2010

ALSO: Labor of love: Play turns actors into activists Page 5

H EADLINER Tea Leaf Green tops the bill at the Prairie Grass festival

Page 7

PLUS: SOCIAL NETWORKING • PAGE 5 | THE MAJAK MIXTAPE • PAGE 7 | the ADVICE GODDESS • PAGE 11

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Second Supper

Second Supper

Things To Do

The Top

Things to wait for 1. 2011 Milwaukee Brewers 2. Cooling pies 3. Godot 4. To exhale 5. The bus 6. Raspberry season 7. New episodes of 'Breaking Bad' Things La Crosse is known for 1. The River Killer 2. Oktoberfest 3. World's largest six-pack 4. Native American ball game 5. Old Style 6. The Driftless Area 7. "I want a soft shell and this is a stickup."

August 12, 2010 // 3

FIRST THINGS FIRST Get Éire Top of the mornin’ to ya! You will be able to hear just that this weekend at La Crosse’s famous Irish Fest taking place this Friday through Sunday at the Southside Oktoberfest grounds.

The weekend activities include food, entertainment, history and more.

There will be a special Irish market with vendors featuring unique items from the Emerald Isle. A cultural tent will feature Irish dancing, genealogy and storytelling.

There will also be a Wee Folks Area for the little ones featuring lessons on Irish dance, sheep sheering, games and more. Local brews and Irish favorites will be available to quaff. For information, visit http://www.irishfestlax.org.

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Tramp Onalaska bluffs Hike it up this Saturday in Onalaska at the Savannah Oaks nature preserve from 9 to 11 a.m. The hike will be a moderate to difficult hike up the bluffs of Savannah Oaks to a prairie look-out area on top of the bluffs. The 90-minute hike will be followed by a celebration of the partnership between the City of Onalaska and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy.

So bring along those good walking shoes, toss on those lightweight pants and put that camera in your pocket because you do not want to miss this view. Binoculars and water are also a must; the event is free and open to the public. For information, visit www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org.

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Take me out to the ballgame The Lumberyard is where you will want to be this Friday night for the Loggers last game of the season! The game against the Madison Mallards starts at 7:05 p.m. Tickets start at $5 each. For information, call (608) 796-9553 or search www.lacrosseloggers.com. See you at Copeland Park!

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Hit the trails!

Don’t miss Trail Fest this Saturday starting at 3:30 p.m. You will have the opportunity to go on guided mountain bike rides, and trail hikes will also be offered.

The event will end with an awesome dinner, which will be much deserved after taking in the great outdoor weather. For information, visit www.HumanPoweredTrails. com.

Strut your stuff Quick, check your watches. Is it before 7 p.m.? Then strut on down to the Cargill Room at the Waterfront for a modeling casting call. Prospective models must be free on Thursday, Sept. 9 for the 2010 Fall Fashion Show, produced by Downtown Mainstreet. Organizers are seeking male and female models between the ages of 18 and 66 to walk the runway in local attire. The casting call will be held tonight, Aug. 12, from 7-7:30 p.m. On Sept.

9, the day of the Downtown Fashion Show, models must be available starting at 2 p.m. for hair and makeup appointments. Vogue!

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Second Supper

COMMENTARY

The WisPolitics.com Week in Review sTOCk REpORT

RisiNG Broadband

Second Supper 614 Main St., La Crosse, WI 54601 Phone: (608) 782-7001 Online: secondsupper.com Publisher: Roger Bartel roger.bartel@secondsupper.com Editor in Chief: Adam Bissen adam.bissen@secondsupper.com Student Editor: Emily Faeth emily.faeth@secondsupper.com Sales: Mike Keith mike.keith@secondsupper.com Sales: Ansel Ericksen ansel.ericksen@secondsupper.com Sales: Michael Butteris michael.butteris@secondsupper.com Regular Contributors: Amy Alkon, Erich Boldt, Nick Cabreza, Mary Catanese, Brett Emerson, Jake Groteuschen, Shuggypop Jackson, Jonathan Majak, Matt Jones, Carolyn Ryan, Julie Schneider, Anna Soldner, Nate Willer Ralph Winrich Second Supper is a weekly alternative newspaper published by Bartanese Enterprises LLC, 614 Main St., La Crosse, WI 54601

Sudoku

Rural advocates have long bemoaned the lack of access to high-speed Internet service in the state's less populated regions. But $65 million from the federal government could go a long way in remedying that problem. The stimulus grants for Wisconsin will help telecommunications companies extend the fi ber optic cable that's used to transmit large amounts of data. The fi rms say they wouldn't be able to push the lines into some rural places without the federal money because of the expense and the lack of subscribers to cover the costs. Of the money, more than $31 million will go to Chequamegon Communications of Bayfi eld, while $25 million will go to TDS. The Madison-based company will also get another $89.5 million for work in 17 other states.

MiXED Lobbying results

Reports are still rolling in to the Government Accountability Board. But a WisPolitics.com check of some of the biggest Wisconsin lobbying groups show some were more engaged than others during the fi rst six months of the year. The Forest County Potawatomi appears to be the biggest spender for the period with $1.16 million. About 70 percent of that effort went to pushing the “Clean Energy Jobs Act,” which failed to garner a vote in either house of the Legislature this spring. The tribe spent almost $400,000 more lobbying during the fi rst six months of the year than it did in all of 2009. The next biggest spender among traditional powers was the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which dropped $632,316 after spending more than $1.5 million during all of 2009.

fAlliNG Commerce Department

Answers on page 11

A new report dings the agency as unfocused and antiquated in calling for a complete reorganization, and the three top candidates for guv all say they're on board with an overhaul. Agency offi cials defend their work, saying the report ignores a number of improvements under the leadership of Gov. Jim Doyle, including a streamlining of some permitting procedures and the creation of new incentives. The department has also worked to consolidate economic incentive programs since a Legislative Audit Bureau report found the state operated some 150 different programs and couldn't properly track them. Still, the authors of the report say it's time for Wisconsin to be bold in its approach to business growth. Among those calling for fundamental change are two former Commerce secretaries.

THAT's DEBATABlE

Editor's Note: WisOpinion.com has asked two veterans of Wisconsin policy and politics, Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now and Brian Fraley of the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, to engage in weekly exchanges on a topic of their choosing. The U.S. House last week passed and President Obama signed a bill that will provide states with $26 billion for teachers and health care programs, which reminded us of this Fraley-Ross debate over the "Son of Stimulus":

dedicated educators. Let's quit funding the bloated administrative budgets and non-education related positions and instead focus on classroom instruction. Finally, let's budget honestly and learn that using “one-time'' money to pay for ongoing obligations is fi scal insanity. The excessive compensation that is rampant in the educational bureaucracy has been yielding declining performance and exceeds taxpayers' ability to pay. Enough!

Brian Fraley: Predictably, they are dressing this up as the salvation of "teachers" ... but all it means is the federalization of local and state defi cits, which will only accelerate our descent into Greece-like insolvency. At some point this ridiculous spending spree has to stop, because it has already exceeded our ability to pay. But, I know, "It's for the kids!"

Ross: Conservatives have a simple goal for our education system: transfer public education dollars into the hands of private enterprise. Conservatives cherry-pick “horror stories” and create skewed testing measures that somehow show all our public schools aren’t worth the cost. It’s a nefarious scheme, built on the worst of intentions — privatizing public schools.

Scot Ross: Actually, I’d say "It’s for our future.'' Education has to be a top priority. After decades of underfunding at the hands of Republican administration and failed promises made through “No Child Left Behind,'' we have a simple choice: Support education and our children, or give up on this country’s future greatness.

Fraley: MPS (Milwaukee Public Schools) is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with public education. But we conservatives, who believe we shouldn't keep throwing good money after bad and should instead improve the outcomes at public schools, are the bad guys?

Fraley: The responsible education funding plan does not let the feds usurp local control of public schools. Let's give up on the educational bureaucracy that values the duration of service over the quality that's provided, thereby hurting the younger, and often most

Ross: MPS is a unique school district where dedicated educators, parents and students are bombarded like no other with junk science from the anti-public education forces — and yet the community is still standing.

And standing strong.

NEWs iN BRiEf Neumann, Walker meeting to be broadcast statewide

GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Mark Neumann and Scott Walker will meet in a town hall meeting that will be broadcast the evening of Aug. 25 and presented by a media collaboration that includes WisPolitics.com and WISN-TV.

The event will originate from the new Marquette University Law School and will broadcast statewide. TV veteran Mike Gousha will moderate the roundtable discussion with the candidates that will be followed by live questioning from citizen groups participating from locations around Wisconsin.

WISN-TV will simulcast the event with Milwaukee Public Television. It will be broadcast on WKOW Madison, WFRV Green Bay, WAOW Wausau, WXOW La Crosse and WQOW Eau Claire.

Wisconsin 13th for taxes, 25th for spending

Wisconsin ranked 13th highest in the country in 2008 for the amount of personal income eaten up by state and local taxes, but 25th for spending, according to a Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance analysis of Census data.

Wisconsin residents paid 11.76 percent of their personal income that year in state and local taxes, compared to a national average of 11.2 percent.

Meanwhile, state and local government spending equaled 20.5 percent of total state

personal income, compared to 20.2 percent nationally.

WisTax said Wisconsin ranks 38th in federal money received and 29th in fees, helping to explain the differences in the taxing and spending rankings.

"We tax ourselves for services that other states pay for with federal dollars or fees," said WisTax President Todd Berry.

Assembly candidate loses bid to have profanity on ballot

An independent Assembly candidate has again been rebuffed in her attempts to have the phrase “NOT the ‘whiteman’s bitch’” placed next to her name on the fall ballot.

Independent candidates are allowed to have up to fi ve words placed next to their names on the ballot in what is considered their statement of principles. But the Government Accountability Board rejected Ieshuh Griffi n’s request as some members raised concerns over the profanity in the statement.

Griffi n sued in federal court, but a judge rejected her lawsuit on procedural grounds and then refused her request to recuse himself from the case. Griffi n has vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Griffi n is running for the 10th Assembly District, which includes Milwaukee and a portion of Glendale. Incumbent Rep. Polly Williams, D-Milwaukee, is retiring.

Second Supper

COMMUNITY

Labor of love: Cast eager to share passion, politics of 'Waiting for Lefty'

NAME AND AGE: Chloe Rebekah Ihle, 17

By Jonathan Majak

CURRENT JOB: Donut boxer upper

jonathan.majak@secondsupper.com

Is there anything more American than baseball and apple pie? Maybe. Popularly dubbed the land of the free and the home of the brave, America is also, in a lot of ways, the place of the protest. Stretching back to the Boston Tea Party and running throughout the country’s history with women’s suffrage, gay rights, civil rights and even the current Tea Party movement, America has a colorful history of vocal discourse, and it's that history that is being tapped into in the Pump House’s upcoming production of the Clifford Odets’ play Waiting for Lefty.

It is a Thursday evening at the Pump House as cast members of Waiting for Lefty slowly trickle into the intimate 140-seat Dayton Theatre on the second floor. As the cast members — some in costume, others in their street clothes — chat among themselves, plunk keys on the piano and answer text messages, director Anne Drecktrah explains what she believes is at the core of Waiting for Lefty, a play following an attempted labor union strike.

“The show is about what it takes for a person to get off the couch and do something,” Drecktrah said.

For actor Ken E. Brown, the show highlights the time of protest before liking a group on Facebook or linking an informative video on YouTube.

“We are so much more passive now,” Brown said. “These people only really had the town halls.”

Written by Odets during the 1930s, the show is framed as a meeting of taxi cab drivers wanting to strike and includes a series of vignettes detailing the lives of characters.

According to ensemble member Christine Walth, the structure of the play, along with the intimacy of the theatre, will hopefully fully immerse the audience in the story.

“It’s like they are a part of it,” Walth said. “Union songs are played between scenes/numbers. I hope the audience will be impassioned.”

Political, emotional themes

Though the play was written during the Great Depression, actor Scott GibsonUbele said that the issues raised in the show — not only labor strife but also war and anti-Semitism — create a timeless central idea.

“It’s about questioning,” said GibsonUbele. “I think that applies to any time period.”

For Lance Newton, being an AfricanAmerican actor in this show brings another level of interesting issues to dig through.

“In this situation,” Newtown said, “this was written for a group of white actors. I don’t want to ignore why you would want to address a black actor with a white actress as a couple. Plus how the financial stuff was bad for everybody and even worse for some.

There’s another level.”

Finding the different levels to play a character is part of the fun of the play, ac-

At A Glance WHAT: Waiting for Lefty WHERE: Pump House Regional Arts Center, 119 King St. WHEN: Aug. 19, 21, 22, 26 and 28.

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $15 for members, $18 nonmembers, and $21 day of show.

FYI: For information, call (608) 785-1434, e-mail contact@thepumphouse.org or visit www.thepumphouse.org. The Pump House is open noon to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. cording to actor David Harmann who plays the role of Fayette, an industrialist with single-minded determination when it comes to America’s need to be prepared for war and his company's need to manufacture poisonous gas for chemical warfare.

“He feels like he is a patriot,” Harmann said. “He’s a racist and looks down on other people, but you can’t play him as just a villain. In his mind, what he’s doing is correct.”

For a show steeped in politics, it could be easy for the personal toll of things to get lost in the shuffle, but actresses Madeline Fendrick and Allyssa Dunn said the show examines the emotional fallout.

“The female roles take on a different more personal issue,” said Dunn.

“We really show how the relationships as well as the kids are affected,” Fendrick said.

Though their situations in the show are serious, Fendrick believes the direness is balanced out by the determination.

“There’s hope and their belief,” she explained. “They stood up and fought.”

Great cast, great play

For a show so heavily focused on politics, performers signed up for surprisingly personal reasons.

“I’m doing this because of all these actors are great,” Brown said.

“It’s a definite draw,” added Brandon Harris.

Greg Parmeter, who, like Brown, is juggling directing another show while working on Waiting for Lefty, saw it is as an opportunity he didn’t want to miss.

“This is a wonderful play I’ve really wanted to do,” Parmeter said. “Actors dream about this show.”

Actor Donnie Mezer said the production will be a great experience for both the audience and the performers because of the spontaneous feel of it all.

“There are going to be plants in the audience yelling things out,” Mezer explained. “And every night their reaction will change. Every night the audience changes.

So when we get up and do our speeches, every time it’s like doing it for the first time.”

August 12, 2010 // 5

Social Networking

WHERE WERE YOU BORN? La Crosse

DREAM JOB: Being an anthropology professor last thing you googled: Lilac cookies if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? New Zealand, so I could live with Jemaine and

FIRST CONCERT YOU WENT TO: O-Town what is your favorite part of second supper?

I dunno, I guess Eric Boldt's badass mazes.

how do you know shuggypop (interviewer)?

El Jefe was creeping on me in front of Jules and Shuggy told him to step off. He's my knight in shining armor.

— Compiled by Shuggypop Jackson. shuggypop.jackson@secondsupper.com

Bret

what is Something you want to do before you die:

Great MUSIC & fun!

Be on BET

celebrity crush: Pauly Shore what is your beverage of choice? Water what book are you currently reading? “Death's Acre” tell us your guiltiest pleasure: Usher What is your biggest pet peeve? Emily Burton What one person, alive or dead, would you want to have dinner with? Erykah Badu

August 27-29 UW-L Campus

TWO DAYS OF: Music, dance, crafts crafts, ethnic foods plus THREE Evening Concerts

FEATURING The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank John Gorka Ellis Eliza Gilkyson Cheryl Wheeler Claudia Schmidt Hot Sauce Mustard’s Retreat Greg Greenway ¡Que Flavor!

Muddy Flats ts and the Hep Cats

tell us a joke: Wanna hear a clean joke? I took a bath with bubbles.

Wanna hear a dirty joke? Bubbles is the girl next door. what's the last thing you bought? Eggs what's in your pocket right now?: I’m not wearing pockets.

If a genie granted you one wish, what would you ask for? A little house in Jamaica

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6// August 12, 2010

Second Supper

ARTS

The Arts Review Bizarro Masterpiece Theatre Medium: Film Stimulus: Balls of Fury (2007) Director: Robert Ben Garant Starring: Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, James Hong Written by: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon

You might think that Christopher Walken would be the show-stealer in this tale of ping-pong glory. You’d be wrong. As a Fu Manchu wannabe gangster, Walken certainly tears up any scene he appears in. The absurdity of seeing him dressed in all manner of formal Chinese attire is as hilarious as it is weird. Yet there are three characters in Balls of Fury who upstage him.

The first is a jacked-up German with a perfect blond flat-top and spandex battle gear who serves as the hero’s ping-pong nemesis. Played by Thomas Lennon (Reno

911’s Lieutenant Dangle), Karl Wolfschtagg storms through the film, ready to throw down on anyone in his way. Lennon’s wideeyed intensity is kind of awesome.

The second is Diedrich Bader, who portrays a tank-topped concubine in Walken’s man-harem. Sent to the hero’s bedchambers, he has to spend the night or die. Undeterred, the hero and the man-whore have a rockin’ night playing Boggle and hanging out. Bader plays his character with a delightfully dimwitted optimism that I’m sure is absent from most male prostitutes.

Yet the best performance in Balls of Fury is that of James Hong, who once more serves admirably as the token dirty old Asian. Best known for his role as the crazy old wizard Lo Pan of Big Trouble in Little China, Hong turned “Indeed!” into a cult classic password.

Hong’s role in Balls of Fury mixes Lo Pan’s fixation on honor with the more earthly creepiness of his role in Revenge of the Nerds II and his ambiguously gay persona in Totally Awesome! As Walken’s blind former mentor, Hong reluctantly takes on his round-eye protégé to obtain satisfaction. He plays this role with such an imperious witlessness that he is a joy to watch.

Considering all this, the fun in Balls of Fury becomes less about the story itself and instead in watching the crackpot characters which populate it. Indeed, the main characters are often less compelling than the supporting cast. As hero Randy Daytona, Dan Fogler — who seems to be getting typecast as a Belushi-via-Jack Black — pretty much autopilots on the wildman schtick he improved

upon as a Star Wars geek in Fanboys. In total, he’s more fun than George Lopez’s FBI straight man, but Lopez commits an act of desperation in the film that boosts his character past the hero.

The concept of Balls of Fury is ludicrous, but that works in its favor. You might think that an epic comedy about ping-pong wouldn’t work out. You’d be wrong.

— Brett Emerson

The Screening Room Medium: Film The Other Guys (2010) Director: Adam McKay Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton Writers: Adam McKay, Chris Henchy

With Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, director Adam McKay and star Will Ferrell collaborated on one of the '00s' best comedies. The opening sequences of The Other Guys suggest that McKay and Ferrell have returned to form, ditching the miscalculated absurdity of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers in favor of well-constructed gags and pointed satire.

But much of the film’s early momentum disappears by the time buddy cops Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg) stumble into a pseudo-plot involving a Ponzi scheme. The Other Guys may not ultimately live up to the potential its first 20 minutes teases, but because of its relative

restraint and honesty, the film earns enough big laughs to dismiss the bad ones.

What starts out as a borderline parody of overblown action comedies (with a few hilarious scenes featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson) quickly turns into a series of childish shouting matches between Ferrell and Wahlberg. They remain at odds for most of the film, but never is their bickering so annoying as when we first meet them.

The Ponzi scheme plot mostly takes a back seat to their antics — which is fine, because the goal here is to let the two leads flex their comedic muscles as much as possible with the least amount of interference. There are many hits, and there are many misses. There are amusing non-sequiturs and unnecessary side plots. The Other Guys is an overloaded comedic stew. This is a good thing — better for a comedy to be overstuffed than understuffed — Nick Cabreza

Have an Opinion?

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Please limit letters to no more than 300 words. Second Supper reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and grammar. For more information, call (608) 782-7001.

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Second Supper

MUSIC

Tea Leaf Green stirs pinch of soul into Prairie Grass ByAdam Bissen

adam.bissen@secondsupper.com Tea Leaf Green is the soulful stepchild of the jamband family. Arising early in the '00s from the San Francisco music scene, the band has a flair for instrumental jams, but it's rarely given to the self-indulgence that afflicts many in the scene. Instead, Tea Leaf Green has an ear for pop harmonies and lyrics that are more than just an afterthought, which makes them closer cousins to Wolfmother than Widespread Panic. That also makes Tea Leaf Green an excellent choice to headline next week's Prairie Grass Music Festival in Houston, Minn. This week we caught up with keyboardist/harmonica player/songwriter Trevor Garrod (he of the curly mop on the cover of this newspaper), before a recent TLG show in Telluride, Colo., where the band was playing two aftershows for a recent Phish stand. Tea Leaf Green may not have the same following as those kings of the jam scene, but they’re well poised to open the ears of ticket-less ‘heads.

Second Supper: I know Tea Leaf Green is often lumped into the jamband scene with Phish. And to some degree I could see why that would happen due to your energetic shows and the way you trade off on solos. But Tea Leaf Green sounds different from most jambands. So what do you think of that label and the way your band fits into it?

Trevor Garrod: Well, it’s defi nitely a mixed bag as far as the label is concerned. But I’m not going to deny it. It’s certainly the scene that we grew up in as a music vernacular, but we defi nitely have struggled to fi nd our own voice amongst it. We don’t try to sound like anybody else [in the jam scene]. We just liked the same kind of music when we were growing up. Like the Who or Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin — they were jambands.

SS: The Tea Leaf Green bio says you got to join the band after attending their first ever paying gig. Is the story really that simple?

TG: Um, there’s more to it. They weren’t Tea Leaf Green then; I don’t know if they

CONTiNUED ON pAGE 9

The MAJAK MiXtAPe

By Jonathan Majak jonathan.majak@secondsupper.com

Oh gay marriage, how’s it going? With a California federal judge reversing the state’s ban on gay marriage and ruling it unconstitutional and Ellen DeGeneres’ wife, Portia de Rossi, fi ling papers to legally have her last name changed to DeGeneres, you’ve been having a busy week, haven’t you? We here at the Mixtape love a wedding — gay, straight or indiscriminate — because it’s the joining of two souls, the meeting of two hearts and hopefully the precursor to an open bar and a DJ with a taste for early '90s dance music. So in honor of all the gay marriage news and our own invite to a commitment ceremony this weekend, the Mixtape has put together our own gay marriage mix respectfully dubbed “You May Now Top The Bride.” It’s so good it’ll have Larry Craig tapping his foot for all the right reasons for once.

The Mixtape is keenly aware that there is a huge amount of attention paid to the fi rst dance. Instead of plumbing the depths of back catalogues of gay icons such as Cher or god-forbid Streisand, we turn to mumbling gay icon extraordinaire Rufus Wainwright and his tune “One Man Guy” off his Poses album. A simple strumming song with backing vocals from sister Martha and written by his father, Loudon, it’s the perfect choice of the couple’s fi rst song as Rufus sings in his distinct voice, “I’m a one man guy in the morning, same in the afternoon.” Like good buttercream frosting on a wedding cake, the song is delicious and just sweet enough in small doses.

Next up is gay rapper Cazwell and his ever classy tune “All Over My Face.” If we went into full salacious detail what this disco-inspired rap tune’s lyrics were, we’d probably be slapped with a plethora of fi nes, but we will give you a hint: “It’s all over your face, tell me how it tastes.“ Suffi ce to say, this song is for the honeymoon.

Lastly, sometimes marriages, gay or otherwise, don’t work out. Here at the Mixtape one of our chief reasons for supporting gay marriage is because we believe in gay alimony after a gay divorce. So if they put on and then took the ring off of it, feel free to play the Dirty Projectors and Bjork tune “On and Ever Onward” from their digital album Mount Wittenberg Orca. About whales or some such Bjork-fueled nonsense, one can easily pretend about moving on with one’s life while listening to the gleeful harmonies. Remember, love is just a pair of skinny jeans away.

Buy: The soundtrack to Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

YouTube: Cazwell’s jubilantly not safe for work video “Ice Cream Truck”

Read: Gossip community du jour Oh No They Didn’t (http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/)

By Brett Emerson brett.emerson@secondsupper.com

August 12, 2010 // 7 take up a panoramic scope and really draw in the listener: “Wichita Lineman” and “Getting Out.” Only when the fi nal song, “Long Long Way Back Home,” abruptly swerves back to power rock is the mood broken.

Beyond a few tracks in which he tries a bit too hard, Manousos has crafted a fi ne piece of work.

Media: Album Stimulus: Falling Still — May All Magic Guide and Change You Anno: 2009

Falling Still opens its album with its best song, which is “Birth.” It’s a Foo Fighters-sounding track that takes the listener through a wide array of moods, beginning at bouncy, upbeat rock and descending into a captivating rush of guitars, strings and desperation in the second half.

What follows is a collection of high energy, dirty white boy rock music. Most of May All Magic Guide and Change You doesn’t match the songwriting featured in “Birth.” Its closest competitors come in the bipolar gloom of “Zeus” and the soft strings of “Smashing,” two tracks that appear at album’s end. Yet in and of themselves, the tracks in the middle serve their purpose as party songs.

The result is strong, if inconsistent.

Media: Album Stimulus: Paul Manousos — C’mon C'mon Anno: 2010

Media: Album Stimulus: Paul Turner — Another World Anno: 2010

There’s an old school blues rock vibe that runs throughout C’mon C’mon, which at times is either to its benefi t or detriment.

In a song like “Getting Better,” the punchy, upbeat rhythms and Manousos’ juke joint wails combine in a way that comes off as a little too smug and self-consciously cool.

When he brings things down in songs like “Outside of Town” and “Kindly Said,” Manousos sounds more natural in tone. He’s more in this frame of mind than not, though there are a few hipster songs on the album that are grating.

There’s a nice stretch of tunes at the end of C’mon C’mon in which Manousos really opens up his talents. “Big Walls” is probably the album’s best song, a bluesy piano song in which he quietly muses on street-level revolution. Following this is a pair of songs that

This is a really pretty bit of orchestral acoustic. Turner anchors the forefront with soft vocals and guitar and fi lls out his songs with similarly subdued accompaniment.

Usually this includes various bowed instruments, though a few songs get a splash of drums and “Astronauts” runs piano parallel to the guitar.

He’s a high-caliber songwriter, yet Turner doesn’t sway too far from his formula.

Despite changing the accompaniment from song to song, many of these tracks adhere to similar structures. For Turner’s style and talent, that’s no serious crime, and running at a half hour, the album is exactly the right length.

Another World might not be an album for all seasons, but for that one contemplative mood, it is perfect.

8// August 12, 2010

Second Supper

MUSIC

music directory // August 13 to August 19 fridaY, .

August 13

Minneapolis

Animal House // 110 N. Third St.

population

Heatbox (Prairie Grass Pre-Party) • 10 p.m.

Flipside Pub and Grill // 400 Lang Drive

RUSH // AUG. 27 Minnesota State Fair • $40-$70

Impulse // 214 Main St. Three Beers 'til Dubuque (Impulse 1-year anniversary party) • 9 p.m.

Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank // SEPT. 2 Cabooze • $8

JB'sSpeakeasy // 717 Rose St. Lollipop Factory, jEHAD, Pocket Fisherman (hard rock) • 10 p.m.

north side oasis // 620 Gillette St. Str8Up (rock) • 7 p.m.

Pearl Street Brewery // 1401 St. Andrew St.

Adam Palm (man about town) • 5 p.m. piggy's blues lounge // 501 Front St. S. The Shufflin' Duprees (blues)• 8 p.m.

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. Sarah Pray (indie folk) •10 p.m.

The Joint // 324 Jay St. The Deedles (Electrograss) • 10 p.m.

The Root Note // 114 4th St. S. Brothers Burn Mtn. (roots) • 8:30 p.m.

The Warehouse // 324 Pearl St. The F-Ups, The Disabled, Blue Collar Slobs (LACROSSAPALOOZA) • 7:30 p.m.

saturdaY,

August 14

Animal House // 110 N. Third St.

Roster McCabe (Prairie Grass Pre-Party) • 10 p.m.

my second home // 2104 George St. The Fabulous Baloney Skins (Wisconsin big band) • 9 p.m.

387,970

Slayer, Megadeath, Testament // AUG. 21 Roy Wilkins Auditorium • $8-$207

Katrina Rose (country) • 9 p.m.

Nighthawks Tap // 401 S. Third St. Dr. Lee & the Terminally Chill Band (classic rock & blues) •10 p.m.

just a roadie away

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Nas // SEPT. 6 First Avenue • $40.25 Get ready punks, rockers and kids of all ages: It's LACROSSAPALOOZA weekend at the Warehouse! Stretching from Thursday, Aug. 12 through Aug. 19, the beloved downtown club will host five shows (a Sunday night bill was recently cancelled) featuring at least 20 bands. Perhaps the most anticipated set of the week will belong to the F-Ups (pictured) who will headline a "Coming Back Show" Friday night. Once signed to Capital Records with a few spins on the Vans Warped Tour, the quartet originally, based in Rochester, Minn., had a rather impressive run from 1999-2006. We don't have the space to say what happened next, but long story short: They're back! Thrash down memory lane with The F-Ups for a low-dough price of $5.

Nighthawks Tap // 401 S. Third St. Dr. Lee & the Terminally Chill Band (classic rock & blues) •10 p.m. piggy's blues lounge // 501 Front St. S. The Shufflin' Duprees (blues)• 8 p.m.

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. Red Sky Warning, Go Long Mule (folk rock) • 10 p.m..

The Joint // 324 Jay St. Monkey Wrench (hard rock) • 10 p.m.

The Root Note // 114 4th St. S. Jim Seem (folk rock) • 8:30 p.m.

The Warehouse // 324 Pearl St. One Can Only Hope, The Runaway Sons, Release the Hounds (LACROSSAPALOOZA) • 7:30 p.m.

sundaY,

August 15

The Joint // 324 Jay St. Adam Palm with Shawn Wooden (Palm Sunday) • 4 p.m.

mondaY,

August 16

Ludacris // SEPT. 12 First Avenue •$30.75 Pavement, No Age // SEPT. 12 Roy Wilkins Auditorium • $35.50

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. Jazz Liver (jazz) • 10 p.m. recovery room // 901 7th St. S. Kin Pickin’ (open jam) • 10 p.m.

August 19

Del’s Bar // 229 Third St. Open jam • 10 p.m.

thursday,

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. Shawn's Open jam • 10 p.m.

Del’s Bar // 229 Third St. Michelle Lynn (Americana) • 10 p.m.

tuesdaY,

August 17

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. Dave Orr (open jam) • 10 p.m.

The Warehouse // 324 Pearl St. Stephen Jerzak, Let’s Get It, Call the Cops, Plug In Stereo, Jamestown Story (LACROSSAPALOOZA) • 6 p.m.

wednesdaY,

August 18

Nighthawks Tap // 401 S. Third St. Dave Orr's Damn Jam (open jam) • 10 p.m.

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. TBA (mystery) • 10 p.m.

Southside neigh. center // 1300 S. Sixth St.

Hornisimo (brass ensemble) • 11 a.m.

The Starlite Lounge // 222 Pearl St. Kies and Kompanie (jazz) • 5 p.m.

French slough // 1311 La Crescent St. Kin Pickin’ (jam grass) • Noon

The Warehouse // 324 Pearl St. Swimming With Dolphins, For the Del’s Bar // 229 Third St. Foxes, Joel Tock, Letters To Nowhere, Adam Palm (man about town) • 10 p.m.

Neon (LACROSSAPALOOZA) • 6 p.m.

Popcorn Tavern // 308 S. Fourth St. The Sunday Blend (fusion) • 10 p.m.

Nighthawks Tap // 401 S. Third St. Bad Axe Jam (gear provided) • 10 p.m.

Second Supper

The Best Food & Drink Specials in Town LOCATION

August 12, 2010 // 9

YOUR GUIDE TO CONSUMPTION

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

ARENA

SUNDAY

Midwest Poker League 7 p.m.

Closed

Wyld Wednesday: $2 Jumbo UV, mixers $1.50 Coronas

Ladies' Night, $5 Long Island pitchers

$1 Cherry Bombs, $1 Keystone Light silos

$1 Cherry Bombs, $1 Keystone Light silos

BODEGA BREW PUB

$2 BBQ Pork Sliders

2-Fers, Buy any regularly priced food item and get one of equal or lesser value for free

$2.50 Coors vs. Keystone pitchers. All specials 9 p.m. to close

AUC2D: $5, domestic taps, rail mix- 10-cent wings, $1 Miller High Life ers, Long Islands. All specials 9 p.m. bottles, $1.50 rail mixers; $2.50 call to close drinks. All specials 9 p.m. to close.

107 3rd St. S. 782-1883 122 4th St. 782-0677

BROTHERS

Closed

306 Pearl St. 784-0522

FEATURES

Free beer 5:30-6:30; Free wings 7:30- Taco buffet 11-2; 8:30, Free bowling after 9 $1 Pabst bottles and $1 bowling after 9

W3923 State Highway 16 786-9000

HOWIE’S

Fish Tacos: 1 / $2.50, 2 / $5.00, 3 / $6.50.

AUC2D: $5, domestic taps, rail mixers and Long Islands. Wristband Night: $2.50 SoCo & Jack. All specials 9 p.m. to close., 50¢ shots (2 flavors)

$3 3 Olives mixers, $3 Mojitos, $2 $3 Bacardi mixers, $3 Mojitos, $2 Cherry Bombs, $1 Bazooka Joe's; Cherry bombs, $1 Bazooka Joe's.

FAC: $3 domestic pitchers, micro/ All specials 9 p.m. to close. import taps, anything that pours.

4-9 p.m.

All you care to eat pizza buffet, 11-2

All you care to eat fish fry 4-10; unlimited Glow-N-Bowl $9.99

Prime rib dinner 4-10; unlimited Glow-N-Bowl $9.99 9 p.m. to close: $2 Bacardi mixers, $2 domestic pints, $1.50 shots blackberry brandy

1125 La Crosse St. 784-7400

Happy hour 4 to 9 p.m.; 9 p.m. to 9 p.m. to close: $3.50 domestic 9 p.m. to close: $1 rails, $2.50 pitch- $5 all you can drink close: Night Before Class - $3 pitch- pitchers ers, beer pong ers of the beast

9 p.m. to close: $1.25 rails, $1.75 bottles/cans

9 p.m. to close: $2 Captain mixers, $2 bottles/cans, $3 Jager bombs

IMPULSE

Closed

Closed

Karaoke 9 p.m.-Close; Happy Hour daily 5-8

Wine & martini night; Happy Hour daily 5-8

18+ night (1st and 3rd Thursday of each month); Happy Hour daily 5-8

$25 open bar package, 11 p.m. to Happy Hour daily 5-8 close: domestic/import beer, rail, call drinks, martinis; Happy Hour daily 5-8

JB’S SPEAKEASY

$1.75 domestic bottles

SIN Night

$1.75 domestic bottles

Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

$1.79 burger (after 8 p.m.)

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hat Night: Buy 1 drink, get 1 free w/ Rail drinks $2 (4:30 to close); Buckets of beer $10, Boston Bobby's Margaritas $4 (Straw, rasp, mango, hat (4:30 to close); $1.50 chili dogs After 8 p.m. specials: $5 skewer of drummies 10 for $2 (4:30 to close), peach and reg); After 8 p.m. specials: (after 8 p.m.) shrimp,l $1.79 burger, $1.50 chili dogs $1.79 burger (after 8 p.m.) $5 skewer of shrimp, $1.79 burger

214 Main St. 782-6010

Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

717 Rose St. 796-1161

SCHMIDTY’S 3119 State Road 788-5110

SLOOPY'S ALMA MATER 163 Copeland Ave. 785-0245

SPORTS NUT

$2 can beer (2-6 p.m.) $11 buckets of beers (6-close)

$2 can beer (2-6 p.m.)

12" pizza: $8.99 up to 5 toppings (4-close)

Wings, Wings, Wings... $2 off 14: Ladies night, 2 for 1 drinks (6-close), pizza, $2 can beer (2-6 p.m.) $2 can beer (2-6 p.m.)

Buck Burgers

Tacos $1.25

15-cent wings

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday Fish, $2 can beer (2-6)

$8.99 12-ounce T-bone

2 for 1 pints/pitches w/ student ID over 21 15-cent wings

801 Rose St. 784-1811

THE LIBRARY

Sunday Fun Day - Wristband Night

Half price tequilla, $1 domestic taps Karaoke, $2 Double rails and all Beer Pong Tourney and $3 Bacardi mixers, $3 Jumbo Long and rails bottles; $3 Double call drinks wristband night, $2 cherry bombs, Island Iced Teas 50¢ shots (3 flavors)

123 3rd St. 784-8020

TOP SHOTS 137 4th St. 782-6622

$5 Pitchers/$2 bottles of Miller $1.75 Miller/Bud Light Taps, $2.25 $1.75 Rails, $1.50 Domestic Taps, $2 domestic bottles, $2.50 Skyy/ products (11-4pm) MIcro/Craft Taps, $2.50 Cherry Bombs $3.50 Jager Bombs Absolut mixers, $2 Dr. shots $2 Corona Bottles, $2 Kilo Kai Mixers (7-1AM) (7-1AM) (7-1am) , $3 Bloodys (7-1AM)

5 Domestic Bottles for $10, $5 $2 Captain Mixers, $2. Long Island Micro/Import Bottles $11.50, $7 Mixers, $3 Effen Vodka Mixers (7Micro/Craft Pitchers (7-1AM) 1AM)

TRAIN STATION BBQ

Ask for great eats

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Barn burner $7.95; 4 to 9 p.m., Hobo dinner (serves two) $30.95

WHO'S ON THIRD

Happy Hour until 10 p.m. $1.50 domestic taps, $2 rails from 10 to close

601 St. Andrew St. 781-0005 126 3rd St. N. 782-9467

$1 taps of PBR, $1 rails

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., extra side with sandwich; 4 to 9 p.m., $1 off rib dinner

Special varies

$3 call doubles, $2 Bud products

Ladies' Night: $2 top shelf, $1 Pink $8.50 Fish Bowls, $2 Miller products $1 off Three Olives, $2 domestic taps Tacos Everyone: $2.50 bombs, $2 taps, $3 Jack/Captain doubles

$3 Jumbo Long Island Iced Teas, $3 3 Olives mixers $5 Miller/Bud Light Pitchers, $2.25 Leinies Bottles (7-1AM)

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chicken on fire One-half chicken three bones $7.95; 4 to 9 p.m., Bones and bris- $12.95 kets $13.95

To advertise here, call (608) 782-7001 or e-mail us at advertising@secondsupper.com.

Tea Leaf Green Continued FROM Page 7 even had a name. I just kind of watched them at a party and was like “Hmmm.” I was at a period in my life where I just went to college and there was all these kind of pretentious indie rockers. I was trying to fit in with them but not really hanging, couldn’t really dig it. I needed more guitar solos, just needed to jam! I saw them playing and I saw Josh playing guitar and I was like “Yeah! I want what he’s got.” F*** all this pretentious indie crap, I want some soulful jamming, you know. Let’s have some f***ing fun!

SS: What did Tea Leaf Green sound like in those earliest days?

TG: Like Phish. [laughs] Not really, I don’t know. We were just kind of a funky jamband.

We didn’t have any goals, like world domination and stuff. We just wanted to get in the bar, and maybe have some free drinks.

SS: Whenever I’ve seen you guys I’ve always been impressed by your songs — the number of them and the quality of them. How big is your repertoire versus the amount that you’ve laid down in the studio?

TG: Um, yeah. We have way more songs in our repertoire that we haven’t gotten on to a record before. That’s why on this last record Looking West, it had no new material.

It was all old material, because some of our favorite songs have never gotten on other records. For a lot of those it becomes almost beside the point to try to make a studio version of a song you’ve been playing for years.

We’ve been raging those songs that have

reached so many heights in clubs across the country that it’s impossible to try to recreate that in the studio.

SS: I used to be — and I guess I still am — a big Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey fan, which is the jazz-fusion band your bass player Reed Mathis used to play in before joining Tea Leaf Green in 2007. What does Reed provide to the band?

TG: Reed, he is like a full 25 percent member, creatively and spiritually. When our old bass player Ben left, we didn’t want to just recreate something that we’d been doing.

We wanted to bring someone else into the band that would take us in a new direction.

Reed certainly has. He’s taught us a lot about music and phrasing and the history.

He’s practically like a scientist, really. And he tells us that he’s learned a lot from us too, you know, so it’s kind of been like an exchange these last couple years.

At A Glance

WHAT: Prairie Grass Music Festival WHERE: Outback Ranch; Houston, Minn WHEN: Aug. 19 (preparty)-Aug. 22 FYI: Over 60 bands on 3 stages; music until 4 a.m. on the main stage TICKETS: $85 includes camping, VIP $150 SS: Tea Leaf Green is known as a hard-touring club act, yet you also play a lot of the big summer festivals. Do you play different shows for a festival set versus when you’re playing inside a club?

TG: Well, I think whether the sun is up or not is definitely what colors our performance.

There’s certain songs we won’t play in the sunlight. That would just be inappropriate.

10// August 12, 2010

Maze Efflux

Second Supper

DIVERSIONS "That won't cut it" Gotta be sharp for this one

By Erich Boldt

By Matt Jones

The Beer Review Oberon Bell's Brewery Comstock, Michigan

Good God, is it hot out! I’ll spare you all the gory details about the status of my nether regions, but suffice to say, I could use some liquid replenishment right now. There are a lot of beers to turn to in a situation like this, and while this week’s selection may not be the ultimate in thirst-quenching bliss, nothing soothes the sweltering Midwest quite like Bell’s Oberon. It’s such an omnipresent beer this season that I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed it before, but there’s no time like the present to give Oberon the full treatment. Over the past few days I’ve taken this bestseller through a summer beer boot camp — a bottle while walking the dog, a glass after ultimate Frisbee, that singular joy of a shower beer — and it’s always been a welcome companion on my adventures. That’s the way Oberon is.

It may not lead your taste buds through an obstacle course, but it’s a beer made for good times and easy living. And since my apartment lacks any air conditioning, I could sure use plenty of both right now.

The Oberon pours a hazy golden straw color with a bubbly off-white head that leaves minimal lacing. The appearance is very cloudy, which could be in-

dicative of unfiltered wheat or a heavy yeast presence, and both are prevalent in the nose. There’s also a strong citrus content, which makes the Oberon smell like orange marmalade on crackers, although it Appearance: 8 also has more tangerine notes than Aroma: 7 I’ve found in any other beer. Raising Taste: 7 a bottle, Oberon hits the tongue Mouthfeel: 7 with a thicker body Drinkability: 7 than you’d expect for a summer ale.

It tastes like a wise Total: 36 amalgamation of an old-world pale ale and an American wheat beer, with a sweet malty character that washes over the tongue while mixing with citrus hops. The mouthfeel is full, but perhaps a little too carbonated, though the taste lingers nicely on the tongue while the hops provide a dry finish. I’m not usually a fan of wheat ales, but I could tip back three of these with little problem, and plenty more if I was at a barbecue. Pro tip for your next picnic: pack a mini-keg of Oberon and you’ll be everyone’s best buddy, especially in this liver-boiling heat.

— Adam Bissen

ACROSS 1 "Serpico" author Peter 5 San Francisco water 8 Later, on a clock 13 Tubular pasta 14 It may be more than enough 15 Swashbuckler who left his mark 16 How things are often trampled 18 Ankarans, for example 19 They're not very useful for cutting steak 21 That thing, in Spanish 22 Some Greek consonants 23 It happened back in cold-en days 27 ___ Friday's 28 ___ thai 30 Thousand, slangily 31 They're not that good for cutting cloth

36 Facing the pitcher 37 Cracklin' ___ Bran 38 Gag reflex spot 39 They won't cut through your opponent, like in the movie 42 Restricted hosp. areas 43 ___ 4 update (recent Apple release) 44 Amtrak stop: abbr.

45 "This Is ___" (1934 hymn) 48 "Want ___ Be" (2005 song by Ginuwine) 49 Sharon Jones & The ___-Kings 52 They're good for their own job, but lousy for cutting thicker stuff 56 Doll line that features Yasmin, Cloe and Jade 59 Destitute 60 "Vive ___!" ("Long live the king!")

61 "...can ___ long way"

Answers to August 5 puzzle Last chance, Harvey: Final words from the late Mr. Pekar

62 It's seen near the 6 63 Packs (down) 64 Pitiable fool 65 Super Mario World console DOWN 1 They may be pulled down 2 "...___ the republic for which it stands" 3 Work without ___ (take risks) 4 Ecosystem with world's largest land migration 5 Gives a card to, in soccer 6 Bartlett's attrib.

7 The Abominable Snowman 8 Quetzalcoatl worshiper 9 Grouchy TV doctor 10 Make a mistake 11 Boat with bears 12 Advisable tactics 13 Stray hair found at crime scenes, perhaps 17 A couple of dates, say 20 Veni-vici link 24 Love, in Lille 25 When tripled, a Motley Crue hit 26 Fashion journalist Klensch 27 Non-stick cookware company

28 Tests for high school jrs.

29 Play divisions 31 Tale 32 Bottomless pit 33 Pirate's cry 34 Bulleted points, perhaps 35 Cinematographer Nykvist 36 It's just a little bit 40 Best Picture winner with Maurice Chevalier 41 Sean of "Lord of the Rings" 46 In the lead 47 "Surf ___ Must Die" (1987 comedy) 48 Bones near the elbow 49 Tractor man John 50 Backsides, in Birmingham 51 "Hey, over here!"

53 Juli Inkster's org.

54 Visionaries, they hope 55 Get ready (for) 56 Simple lunch 57 Stephen of "The Crying Game" 58 Shot site For answers, call (900) 226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Or to bill to a credit card, call (800) 655-6549. Reference puzzle #0478.

Visit us online at www.secondsupper.com

Second Supper

August 12, 2010 // 11

THE LAST WORD Life’s too short to not go after what you want.

— Beside Myself

The ADviCe GODDess

By Amy Alkon amy.alkon@secondsupper.com Want salt and pepper spray with that?

The girl of my dreams works at a restaurant I eat at almost every day. When she started six months ago, I began sitting in her section. I’ve never had feelings this strong. I can’t even look at her without freezing up. Two months ago, I asked her out, and she turned me down, saying it was a bad idea because I'm a customer and she's too busy to date. She couldn’t even look me in the eye.

I was bummed, but I kept sitting in her section.

My feelings got stronger every day, and last week, I couldn't resist bringing her a couple of roses in a vase and a love letter expressing my feelings.

She wouldn’t accept the flowers and reluctantly took the letter. The next day, she said I make her uncomfortable, and I should sit in someone else's section. I was crushed. My world ended. I’ll give her space for a few months and eat elsewhere, but I don't want to move on. I'm a businessman, and whatever I want, I always work hard to achieve.

In business, not taking no for an answer can be an effective strategy. Of course, the widget account doesn’t have to wait tables to pay the rent, and it isn’t picturing you following it home and standing in the rose bushes trying to peer into its bedroom.

In the wake of a rejection, a persistent man might ask a woman out a second time, but you went straight to persistently creepy: bringing roses (in a vase!) and a love letter — a level of romantic effort that’s appropriate when you’ve been dating for six months and have developed deep feelings for each other.

Note the words “each other,” and the fact that the only interest this woman has shown is in having you sit in another waitress’ section (ideally, one in the northern Yukon).

OK, your feelings for her are growing stronger every day — including the feeling that what she wants is beyond irrelevant.

Think about how unhappy you’re making this waitress. You’re robbing her of her peace of mind, and if you start going back, maybe even her ability to pay her bills. I get that you have the hots for her, but you don’t even know this woman. What could you possibly have said in that letter you wrote, “I love the way you look when you bring me extra salad dressing”?

Now, maybe you’re afraid of the risks involved in having a real relationship;

maybe you lack the experience and social intelligence to understand what one is.

Instead of dealing with what’s missing in you, you avoid it by turning this poor waitress into an obsessive hobby. This isn’t love; it’s stalking with a bottomless cup of coffee.

You are overdue for a relationship — with a cognitive behavioral therapist, the kind that helps you understand and correct deep irrationalities in thinking and behavior.

You’re also way overdue for a breakup with your imaginary girlfriend. No need to say any goodbyes! Just give her the wordless gift of no more you. Permanently. Because, as you note, life’s too short — to spend a chunk of it in jail, after you not only ignore her feelings but those of the judge that you need to stay 500 yards away from her at all times.

model always works for Ben Affl eck or Adam Sandler. But, this is real life, in a diner, so they don’t need dramatic confl ict to keep people in the seats, just reasonably edible eggs and bacon.

As I’ve already e-mailed you repeatedly: STAY AWAY FROM THIS WOMAN. Act like you care about her by being kind enough to accept that she doesn’t want you, and by respecting that she (not you) gets to decide who’s in her life. Go get the therapy you desperately need, and when your therapist deems you emotionally healthy enough to date, pursue women who talk to you because they like you and think you’re cute, not because it’s their job to tell you they’re out of meatloaf.

A blast from the pest

Sudoku

Hi there. It’s “Beside Myself” with one more question about the waitress I’ve fallen for that I corresponded with you about the other day. Can a 40-year-old man have a relationship with a 20- to 25-year-old young lady? Is that too much of a gap?

Does age really matter?

— Still Beside Myself

No, the fact that she probably wants you in jail really matters. The gap that counts is the one between delusion and reality: You aren’t her one and only; you’re the pervy guy at Table 4. Sure, in romantic comedies, the “harass your way to happily ever after”

Downtown La Crosse, above Fayzes - 782-6622

top shots joke of the week The elementary school was celebrating multicultural week. One of the sessions would cover religion, and students who wished could present a symbol of their faith to their classmates.

The first up was a boy who announced, "My name is David. I'm Jewish, and this is a Star of David."

Check out our new Beers on Tap!

The next presenter was Mary, who said, "I'm Roman Catholic, and this is a rosary."

Finally John got up: " Hello, I'm Lutheran, and this is casserole."

Good People, Good Drinks, Good Times

SUNDAY

$5 Pitchers $2 Bottles of Miller Products (11-4 pm) $2 Corona Bottles $2 Kilo Kai Mixers $3 Bloody’s (7-1am)

MONDAY TUESDAY

$1.75 - Miller/Bud Taps $2.25 Micro/Craft Taps $2.50 Cherry Bombs (7-1am)

$1.75 Rails $1.50 Domestic Taps $3.50 Jager Bombs (7-1am)

$2.00 - 1 Player, $3.00 - 2 Players 50 Cents Off Drinks, $1 Off Pitchers

WEDNESDAY $2 Domestic Bottles $2.50 Skyy/Absolute Mixers $2 Dr. Shots (7-1am)

THURSDAY FRIDAY 5 Domestic Bottles 4 $10 $5 Micro/Import Bottles $11.50, $7 Micro/Craft Pitchers (7-1am)

$5 Miller Lite/Bud Light Pitchers

SATURDAY $2.25 Leinies Bottles (7-1am)

$2 Captain Mixers $2 Long Islands $3 Effen Vodka Mixers (7-1am)

from page 4

12// August 12, 2010

Second Supper

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U.S. Cellular Visa Debit Card issued by MetaBank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Allow 10–12 weeks for processing. Card does not have cash access and can be used at any merchant location that accepts Visa debit cards. Card valid for 120 days after issued. Required Data Plan is $30 per month. Application and data network usage charges may apply when accessing applications. $20 Virtual Account: $20 virtual accounts are issued by MetaBank. Credit must be redeemed by 11/1/10. Customer must have or create a Google Checkout account in order to redeem. Credit will be processed within four to eight hours and provided to customer via e-mail. Once redeemed, credit is valid for 120 days. Virtual account funds can be used only for online purchases with Google Checkout. BOGO: Buy one handset and get a second handset for free. Mail-in rebate and activation required on each handset. See store for details or visit uscellular.com. Limited-time offer. Android, Android Market, Gmail and Google Maps are all trademarks of Google, Inc. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

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