Dinosaurs!

SPEEDOS, POLITICS, HOMEWORK: WHAT WOULD YOU MAKE ILLEGAL? • PAGE 5

La Crosse's Free Press VOLUME 10, NO. 42 | NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Ayurveda sent to save our rock scene?

PHOTO BY BRIANA RUPEL

Page 12

DINOSAURS! New Children's Museum exhibit brings out the kid in all of us

Page 5

PLUS: PEARL STREET HARVEST ALE • PAGE 13 | 'GOLDEN POND' REVIEW • PAGE 9 | THE ADVICE GODDESS • PAGE 15

2// November 4, 2010

Second Supper

Social Networking

NAME AND AGE: Ashley Tweten, 23

WHERE WERE YOU BORN? La Crosse CURRENT JOB: Waitress at Red Pines Bar & Grill

DREAM JOB: Meteorologist

LAST THING YOU GOOGLED: Poisonous spiders in Wisconsin ... I hate spiders.

IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE? New Zealand

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: See a tornado.

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IF A GENIE GRANTED YOU ONE WISH, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR? The ability to fly

FIRST CONCERT YOU WENT TO: That is definitely one I'll keep to myself.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF SECOND SUPPER? I can't choose a favorite!

HOW DO YOU KNOW SHUGGYPOP? We're neighbors. He found my cat when she went missing!

I pretty much owe him big time!

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

Second Supper

Things To Do Find out what you eat

The Top Fictional dinosaurs 1. Dino 2. Yoshi 3. Godzilla 4. Barney 5. Littlefoot 6. Reptar 7. Brontosaurus Election night losers 1. Barack Obama 2. Sarah Palin 3. Russ Feingold 4. Climate control 5. California potheads 6. Iowa Supreme Court 7. America

November 4, 2010 // 3

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Learn the in’s and out’s of what food production is really like throughout the nation by viewing the documentary “FRESH,” which is the predecessor to the documentary “Food, Inc.” FRESH” focuses on three individuals blazing a new food industry outline and re-facing our nation’s food awareness. This event is put on by Myrick Hixon Ecopark and the Woodridge Farm and will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, and Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Ecopark. Following the movie, a short presentation will give the La Crosse community a closer look at a CSA farm, and how consumers and farmers can benefit from the CSA business model. Cost for this event is $10 per person with online registration at FRESH website or $12 at the door.

Space is limited. Check out FRESH clips at www.freshthemovie. com.

1

Fight hunger

Bring on down those canned goods to help support the All City Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at Cameron Park, corner of 5th Avenue and King Street. Donations are also accepted at local grocery stores, including the both Festivals in Onalaska and La Crosse as well as the Festival in Holmen, the People’s Food Co-op, and Quillins Foodfest locations. Donations are also being accepted throughout this week at downtown businesses Kick, Stamp and Hand, Kyle Fisker State Farm and Courtyard Marriott. This event is hosted by the Student Advisory Council of UW-La Crosse, The Hunger Task Force, Rotary Lights and Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. This year’s goal is to collect 2,500 pounds of food and $800, topping last year’s one ton of food and $500. The Hunger Task Force serves La Crosse, Vernon and Monroe counties.

2

Learn to compost

Pondering what to do with those leftover food scraps?

The solution is near with an outdoor seminar featuring composting. The event is 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, 28097 Goodview Drive, Lanesboro, Minn. The basics of different composting options will be discussed.

The program is open to adults and youth over the age of 15. Registration is required; the cost is $10 per person. Individuals ages 15-17 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (507) 467-2437 or check out www.eagle-bluff.org.

3

Do it a capella

Experience some sweet blends as Tonic Sol-fa, an award-winning a cappella group named as one of the top five “must see” groups in America, performs at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the La Cresent High School Fine Arts Auditorium, 1301 Lancer Blvd, La Crescent. Come on out to this family orientated performance.

Tickets are $20 for reserved seating and can be obtained by calling 507-895-5150.

Get Slammed!

4

UW-La Crosse will host two National Poetry Slam champions, Panama Soweto and Ken Arkind, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9. These two are known for giving uplifting, inspirational performances. With rhymes that range from video gaming and superheroes to social injustice and racial inequality, this energetic performance is filled with quick wit and a positive look at life that brings laughs as well as goose bumps. The event is free and open to the public and takes place in Valhalla, Cartwright Center.

5

4// November 4, 2010

WisPolitics.com Report .........

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Second Supper

COMMENTARY THAT'S DEBATABLE

Editor's Note: Our usual That's Debatable combatants were unavailable to do their election sparring by our deadline, but we did comb the blogosphere and pruned these two opinions on the local vote.

Wisopinion.com (Eye on Wisconsin)

By Cory Liebmann

There are countless things to be outraged about regarding the election results last night. For me they include some of the following:

• The promotion of a failed county executive even though he has presided over the financial and literal falling apart of Milwaukee County (no wonder those voters overwhelmingly rejected him yesterday).

• Electing a policy lightweight that refused to talk about "details" until after he was elected. In the mean time he provided us with talking points and slogans. He, along with the help of his corporate soul mates,were able to buy a seat on the U.S. Senate. This clown may have bought an election but he will never be able to "replace" Russ Feingold.

• The collective amnesia that we have had as a nation in forgetting which party brought this historic recession on us. The record already reflects that for the last two years we have been (too slowly) heading in the right direction. Yet voters chose to elect people that want to implement the very same policies that brought us to economic disaster.

OK, we are all rightfully outraged but now what? I think that the only acceptable solution is to start channeling this outrage into strategic and aggressive action. There are certainly behind-the-scenes and less predictable actions that can take place long before any of this extreme bunch ever takes the oath of office. Then after taking office they will provide us with a plethora of opportunities. If recent history teaches us anything, we already know that this crowd is incapable of effectively governing (at least if they actually keep all of the fanciful campaign season

promises that they have made). Scott Walker no longer can pass the buck. He will have a Republican majority in the legislature and no Milwaukee County Board to blame. Republicans both in Wisconsin and nationally are bound to overreach very early and we should be prepared to take advantage of it.

CouleeConservatives.com

By Chris Muller

Fellow Dan Kapanke supporters,

A couple of you have expressed your disappointment to me privately and I suspect there may be a few others on this list who feel the same way.

I would like to take this opportunity to gently remind you of the incredible success we have achieved as a result of this campaign.

Dan Kapanke and his campaign helped inspire many of us to awaken from apathy and encourage others to do the same. These are voters who are now engaged in the political process and will likely continue to be supporters and volunteers in the future.

Dan Kapanke and his campaign helped us find the chinks in the armor of the incumbent's policy arguments and his poor sportsmanship when questioned aggressively. This is important information that we can use for the next two years to convince even more of our friends and neighbors that he does not belong in Congress. I can assure you that the citizen media will continue to keep a very close eye on our elected official in the House of Representatives and hold him accountable for his actions even if the established media will continue to give him a pass.

Finally, and most importantly, Dan Kapanke and his campaign did a remarkable job of echoing the voice of the people who are frustrated with the incumbent's support of out-of-control government. I believe that those efforts are part of the reason why we now have a bright red state instead of a dark blue one in our state government.

.........

NEWS IN BRIEF Outside groups drop millions on Wisconsin races

EVERY SATURDAY FROM 9PM TO CLOSE

MyEaglesNest.NET

Outside groups spent at least $10.8 million on federal races in Wisconsin through late October, with backers of conservative messages outspending liberal-leaning groups, according to numbers from the Center for Responsive Politics.

The group broke out what spending it could into pro-Democratic/anti-Republican and pro-GOP/anti-Democratic. But CRP noted on its site that some spending by outside groups couldn't be broken down.

Of the money that could be identified as benefiting one side or the other, just under $3.8 million has been spent opposing Democrats, while $1.2 million has been spent backing Republicans.

On the other side, $2.8 million has been spent against GOP candidates with $333,000 more supporting Democrats.

The state's U.S. Senate race was the most expensive for outside groups, with

nearly $3.9 million spent. OpenSecrets.org lists over $2.2 million directed either in favor of Republican Ron Johnson or against U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, compared to just over $50,000 spent either against Johnson or for Feingold, D-Middleton.

Outside groups spent money in three state congressional races, with the open 7th district the most expensive at nearly $3.4 million spent. Groups spent just over $2.5 million in the 8th district and just over $1 million in the 3rd district. All of the money attributed for or against candidates in the 3rd CD favored Republican state Sen. Dan Kapanke in his race against veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind.

CRP reported that outside spending in the current election cycle has eclipsed the 2004 level, when the presidency was on the ballot.

STOCK REPORT

RISING GOP state Senate fundraising:

Republican candidates in the top Senate races outraise their Dem counterparts in the final fundraising period, though all but one of the Dems had more money in the bank to start the final push. Still, the money raised by the candidates pales in comparison to some of the cash being dropped in the races by outside groups. A WisPolitics tally of independent expenditure reports filed with the GAB shows some $8.3 million in spending, and that doesn’t cover some of the mailers, TV and radio ads that aren’t reported to the state and often overshadow the candidates.

MIXED Prosser opposition:

Marla Stephens, the chief of the State Public Defender Office’s appellate division, steps forward as the first candidate willing to take on conservative Justice David Prosser next year. But insiders aren’t sure she’s the top tier candidate liberals want to take on the incumbent. Considering what WMC did to Louis Butler two years ago, some cringe — or salivate — over the kind of ads that can be run against someone representing criminals in their appeals. Liberals believe Prosser could be vulnerable next year thanks to his testimony at the trial of former Speaker Scott Jensen and his decision while Outagamie County DA in the 1970s not to prosecute a priest accused of molesting two boys. But it will take the right candidate. Some float departing Dane Co. exec Kathleen Falk as a possible candidate, but others say that’s more wishful thinking on the part of liberals, who have been encouraging her to run.

FALLING Jim Doyle:

One new poll says Doyle is one of the most unpopular incumbent guvs in the country, and Doyle is the focus of one memorable exchange from Friday's guv debate in which Barrett says to Walker that “there's actually more similarities between you and Jim on some of these issues.'' Insiders say Doyle’s legacy is on the verge of being wiped out after Walker won the guv’s office and both houses of the Legislature flipped. The high-speed rail line he proudly landed for Wisconsin, the expansion of BadgerCare and other top priorities are at the top of the ``undo list'' for Republicans. Still, others say the shots at Doyle are overblown and any problems Dems have are more about the national mood than they are about the twoterm guv.

Second Supper

COMMUNITY

Children's Museum goes Triassic

Open the door, follow the tracks on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur (maze)

By Briana Rupel

briana.rupel@secondsupper.com

There’s a new playground in La Crosse, one that can only be found by following sets of mysterious, giant prints lining the sidewalk. If you do choose to follow those prints, you won’t find the standard swing sets and slides at the end. Instead, an interactive maze, a paleontologist’s lab and even the towering owners of the giant prints await.

“Welcome to the Triassic Period,” a bright sign beckons you, “please set your watch for 230 million years ago.”

You are about to enter the new dinosaur exhibit at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse.

“It’s kind of always been on our list of things we’ve wanted,” said Leanne Poellinger, marketing and development director for the Children’s Museum, “but as far as really working on raising money and finding what we wanted, we started some time last year.”

To raise over $50,000 to cover the cost of the exhibit, the museum relied on a couple of grants it had received and individual donations. The La Crosse Community Foundation as well as the Mud Run, an obstacle course-based event held in October, each contributed $10,000.

The main expense was the maze, which was designed and created by Minotaur Mazes, a company out of Seattle that ships mazes to museums around the country. However, the concept of re-using played a significant role in the exhibit coming together as well. Some used items were purchased from the Madison Children’s Museum, and the huge dinosaur models seen throughout the exhibit were born out of mainly foam and Fiberglass from

a salvage yard in Oshkosh.

Poellinger said the exhibit will be great for classrooms. “Teachers will love it in that it’s really educational,” she said. “I’m surprised. I didn’t even know it’d have as much information as it does!”

Right from the start, the maze guides children through “Dinosaur Basic Training” where they discover first what distinguishes dinosaurs from ordinary reptiles. Kids have the opportunity to drop and give five special dinosaur push-ups before they continue their journey through the periods when dinosaurs lived. When the kids reach a crossroads in the

maze, they tap into the knowledge they’ve learned on their journey to answer questions.

If they answer correctly, an arrow points them in the right direction. Otherwise? A dead end looms around the corner.

The maze boasts loads of interactive learning features as well, such as “Glide through the Jurassic,” a section of the maze devoted to different theories about how dinosaurs learned to fly. This physical challenge invites children (and adults weighing less than 150 pounds!) to test these theories by gliding through the air on a monorail. There’s also a dig pit area where kids can learn about how paleontologists work to discover buried bones and fossils, then test out their skills by digging for actual casts of real dino bones and teeth.

“I think it appeals to a broad range (of people),” Poellinger said, pointing out that kids and adults alike find dinosaurs fascinating, “so we hope it will have a broad appeal.”

Though the exhibit has only been open less than a week, Poellinger enthusiastically stated the response from visitors has already been great.

And even though it’s not quite field trip season, Poellinger said the museum has already started to get inquiries from schools.

The museum will top off the exhibit in about a month with an additional paleontologist’s site. The site will be complete with an “explorer Jeep” and an 8-foot tent where kids can go to work in the lab and explore fossils.

Poellinger said the museum plans to keep up the exhibit for many years. “It’s what we would consider a permanent exhibit. ...

We may add to it, change it a little bit, but it’ll be here.”

Writers Wanted Second Supper is looking for freelance columnists to write on any of the following topics: • Local government/politics • Local restaurants • Life in La Crosse • Visual arts/fashion Send letter of introduction and 500word column sample(s) to editor@secondsupper.com.

November 4, 2010 // 5

6// November 4, 2010

Second Supper

COMMUNITY

Speak Your Mind with Kent Westlund

If you could make one thing illegal, what would it be?

"Humungous car audio subwoofers. The kids in my neighborhood are making me crazy when I'm trying to sleep!"

Amanda Hynek Dietician, La Crosse

"Political attack ads. It's out of control; there has been nothing else on TV for weeks. And they're all liars anyway."

Kelsey Wigham Student, UW-L Exercise & Sport Science

"Skinny jeans for men. It's an eyesore: there is way too much business going on down there."

Andrew Fischer Artist, La Crosse

"Talking way too loud in shared public spaces. I don't want to hear the conversations of inconsiderate strangers."

Matt Thurston Artist, La Crosse

"Speedos. It's not a good look for anyone; even if you're a really hot guy playing volleyball on the beach."

Courtney Sandvold Waitress, La Crosse

"Homework. It really interferes with a person's social life. Though I don't do a lot of it anyway."

Joe Ahlquist Design Technology student, Bemidji Minn.

Second Supper

November 4, 2010 // 7

8// November 4, 2010

Second Supper

ARTS

Medium: Literature Stimulus: Meghan McCain — Dirty Sexy Politics Anno: 2010

Danica McKellar’s math books directed toward teenage girls. Though she admits to swearing like a sailor and falling far short of the feminine ideal put forth by her Republican Party, Meghan’s account of political life is clearly directed toward McKellar’s audience.

When she’s not taking her party to task or discussing her growing disillusionment with her old man’s campaign, McCain tends to spend her time obsessing over her hair, wardrobe, girlfriends and the ubiquitous UGG boots that she mentions at the slightest provocation. The title’s not exactly accurate; the Sexy in Dirty Sexy Politics is actually more about gender than hookups, but I suppose Dirty Girly Politics doesn’t have the same ring.

On the surface, getting something out of this book depends on the reader being able to do one of two things: enjoying fashioncentric tales of girls on the campaign trail, or being able to roll one’s eyes at these bits and move on. The former isn’t for me, but McCain’s book stays on its political task enough to hold me over through the eye-rolling.

When she discusses her alienation from the Republican Party or the damage caused to her family during her dad’s 2000

campaign, McCain provides a cogent case for moving conservatism beyond its closedminded, reactionary and youth-dismissing current state. While unmistakably right-wing on infrastructure issues, her views on social issues come dangerously close to liberal. That McCain isn’t a pundit and doesn’t have a political background works to her benefit. Some chapters feel more guarded and use more political speak than others (it’s hard for me to take seriously anyone under 30 using the phrase “young people”), but McCain tends to stick with forthrightness, without the entitled moral trolling that accompanies much of today’s popular conservative writing.

When the discussion moves to her dad’s 2008 presidential campaign, it becomes harder to agree with every point made. Meghan is hardly objective, but that’s the point. She provides a sympathetic insight on John McCain the person, even as she criticizes the vultures and opportunists who commandeered his campaign as it gains traction. As could be expected, a big part of this story focuses on Sarah Palin’s running mate effect on the campaign. While Meghan quickly sours on Palin’s blatant lunge for the limelight, she steers clear of catty tabloid trash-talking.

Those expecting slick diatribes and reinforced party lines from Dirty Sexy Politics will come away empty-handed. More than anything, this is a tale of a girl put out of her element, expected to be a campaign prop and rebelling against it. It doesn’t always work, but this is a nice change from the usual shouting of political literature.

— Brett Emerson

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ARTS

Review: 'Pond' another high point in golden theatre season

By Jonathan Majak

jonathan.majak@secondsupper.com

If you haven’t gone to a show in La Crosse this theatre season, you’re an idiot.

Blunt but true, because this season has been an embarrassment of riches from Sweeney Todd at the Muse, Reasons to be Pretty and Servant of Two Masters at Viterbo, The Last Days of Judas at UW-La Crosse, West Side Story and now On Golden Pond at the LCT.

On Golden Pond continues the fantastic streak the local theatre community has been on with its warm and inviting production style, from Dillon McArdle‘s set design and Kevin Laumbach‘s sound design, that makes you feel like you‘re up at the summer cabin, the comedic performances of its cast, and the well chosen play that the La Crosse Community Theatre has decided to put on.

The play details one summer in the lives of Norman and Ethel as they spend their 48th summer together on golden pond and find their quaint surroundings disrupted when their estranged daughter, Chelsea, her new boyfriend, Bill, and his son, Billy Ray, arrive on Norman’s 80th birthday.

As the central couple of the play, J. Michael Hartigan and Suzanne Young skillfully navigate two characters who, in less capable hands, could come across like a live action version of The Lockhorns. Every put-down, every witty retort that is said between the two has such undercurrent of not just love but mutual admiration, a quality in relationships not often portrayed, which was refreshing.

Through David Kilpatrick’s direction, Hartigan and Young make the dialogue feel less like the bouncing back of admittedly clever dialogue and more like the conversations of two people who know each other’s every idiosyncrasy. Hartigan takes a character who could be viewed as funny but a total a-hole

and gives him, if not a cuddliness per se, at least a degree of humanity underneath the bluster, while Young makes Ethel every bit his match in a role that could come off martyr-ish if played incorrectly.

As the intruding family of visitors, Sheri Eimermann, Sean McDevitt and Keaton Kennedy all find the right balance in their acting with material that is just a breath away from becoming sitcom-y but instead stays grounded in interesting family dramedy territory. Without verging into shrill, Eimermann mines both the comedy and the hurt feelings of a daughter who sought her father’s approval for a lifetime. In some ways, Hartigan’s charm as Norman makes it hard to not see Eimermann’s character as a whiner, but Eimermann shows great moments of wincing vulnerability when greeted with her father’s critiques. Sean McDevitt is hilarious as the new boyfriend who goes from buffoon to adversary to ally in one scene and does so without making those turns seem false. Keaton Kennedy as the grandson is well-cast and has particularly strong chemistry with Hartigan and Young. Also, Jim Nelson as both mailman Charlie Martin and a slightly dense telephone operator keeps the laughs going throughout the show.

Is the plot resolution in the second act beyond pat? Absolutely. Are tender moments in the show too many times underscored with music that telegraphs their emotional weight? Yep. And is the ending telephone scene jarring in its break from the reality of the show? For sure.

But those minor quibbles aside, the show works as a whole because it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a good, sturdy play about a family, and there is something admirable about that.

So go to LCT and enjoy the pond and hear the sound of the loons.

Preparing for new digs, La Crosse Community Theatre leaders want to hear patron's thoughts

As they move forward on a new building, La Crosse Community Theatre leaders are asking for public opinions on what is needed and wanted in a new theatre. A series of focus groups is planned for Thursday, Nov. 4, at 118 Fifth Ave. N.

“We know where our new theatre is going,” said LCT executive director David R. Kilpatrick. “We just don't know what it will contain. Does it need a black box? How many restrooms? How big should our scene shop be? These are just some of the questions that we have, and we want input from our theatre audiences and volunteers.”

The focus groups are broken into the following categories: 4:30 p.m., senior au-

dience members; 5 p.m., youth audience members; 5:15 p.m., actors; 5:40 p.m., backstage technicians; 6:10 p.m., costume technicians.

However, anyone is welcome to come when their schedule permits. For anyone not able to be at the focus group meetings, there is an online survey available on the theatre’s web site, www.lacrossecommunitytheatre.org.

“This is a preliminary step, so all ideas are welcomed and will be given due consideration,” Kilpatrick said.

For more information, call the box office at (608) 784-9292 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

November 4, 2010 // 9

©2010 Treasure Island Resort & Casino

Second Supper

10// November 4, 2010

Second Supper

ARTS

The Arts Review Bizarro Masterpiece Theatre Medium: Film The People under the Stairs (1991) Director: Wes Craven Cast: Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie Writer: Wes Craven

With all due respect to Freddy Krueger, I think The People under the Stairs is my favorite Wes Craven film. It’s absurd without being moronic, disturbing without losing the plot, and best of all it has a wonderful sense of claustrophobia and dread. Even in its silliest moments that dread is there, which is all the more punctuated by the moments when the tension gives way to silliness. This is a great horror movie.

The story centers around a ghetto kid named Fool, who in appearance and de-

meanor resembles the brashly intelligent kids from The Boondocks. With his mom dying and the family facing eviction from their apartment, Fool gets taken in by a young Ving Rhames and taught the burglar’s trade.

Rumor has it that the slumlords responsible for the family’s predicament are sitting on a horde of gold coins, and Fool’s mentor intends to collect.

Problem is, the landlords are a bit more than simply greedy ghetto aristocrats. The mom-and-pop opportunists are an awesome display of insanity. First of all, Mom and Pop are also brother and sister. Nice. In fact, they come from a long and almost entirely vertical family tree, which clearly had an effect. Their labyrinthine house is also home to a humaneating Rottweiler, a molested and perpetually terrified “daughter,” and the titular People, failed attempts at abducting a properly moral son who end up mutilated and dumped in the basement to starve when the parents get disappointed.

As a pair, they spend most of the movie running around their house, screaming “Burn in Hell!” at the top of their lungs as they try to stop poor Fool from defiling their daughter. Individually, they’re even greater.

Mom is a monster housewife, sporting big red hair, thick-painted eyebrows, and a hooker’s crooked mouth. Her psychotic attempts at imposing moral order may be less overtly frightening than her counterpart’s, but she’s the real terror in this story.

Dad, however, is simply amazing. He looks every bit the perverted pastor, and he

runs with the prejudice to amazing heights.

His role is to be the muscle, and much of his time on screen is spent storming through the house and blasting holes in the walls with a shotgun. Even better, he does much of the rampaging in a full-body leather Gimp suit.

Fantastic.

As much as I got behind Fool’s desperate attempts to get out of the house, there’s no denying that Mom and Pop are the heart of this film. The joyous terror they infuse every scene with makes this one of the best fright flicks ever.

— Brett Emerson

The Screening Room Medium: Film Howl (2010) Directors: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman Cast: James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm Writers: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman

I am familiar with Allen Ginsberg only in name. I now know that Howl gets its title from the poem that is widely regarded as Ginsberg's crowning achievement. This is useful information for anyone expecting from this film a straightforward biopic, because Howl fuses together four unique yet

interconnected threads, three of which focus almost exclusively on the work and not the author who created it.

Only two of them feature James Franco as the iconic beat: a 1955 open mic where Ginsberg first reads "Howl," and a 1957 interview during which he dishes on the poem's influences, the writing process, his mother, his sexuality, etc. — everything you'd expect to learn in Ginsberg 101. He also reads "Howl" over a series of animated sequences that — to the delight of stoners everywhere — interpret the poem with surreal, dreamlike imagination. The odd man out is the fourth thread, a dramatization of the 1957 obscenity trial in which Lawrence Ferlinghetti stands accused of selling obscene material after publishing "Howl".

Looking at a poem through four different lenses does make for an extensive examination, but not a particularly exciting one.

The film would have you think that "Howl" is the only Ginsberg worth reading. The four segments' disconnectedness makes the film feel more like a related-by-theme-only anthology than a complete narrative. The constant switching between threads keeps the pace fresh, but by the halfway mark it feels as if the film has already played all its cards.

Howl at least made me slightly interested in picking up some Ginsberg, but it ought to come with a "for-die-hard-fans-only" warning.

— Nick Cabreza

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Maybe it's a vacation, an unusual setting, or an everyday experience. Be creative!

Each month through December, a team of Altra judges will pick our favorite photo and award that lucky Altra Debit Cardholder a Flip Mino™ camcorder to keep recording their adventures.

Visit us online for complete details.

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Second Supper

November 4, 2010 // 11

MUSIC

music directory // November 5 to November 11 FRIDAY,

November 5

Minneapolis

FREIGHT HOUSE // 107 Vine St. Dan Sebranek (songwriter) • 6 p.m.

population

JOHN MELLENCAMP // NOV. 22-23 Orpheum Theatre • $39.50-$246.50

NIGHTHAWKS TAP // 401 S. Third St. The Swampers (“Gator music”) • 10 p.m.

ATMOSPHERE // NOV. 28 First Avenue • $18.75

PEARL STREET BREWERY // 1401 St. Andrew St.

GWAR // DEC. 6 Cabooze • $22

Pat "Pete" Ferguson & Chubba (acoustic Banditos) • 5 p.m.

POPCORN TAVERN // 308 S. Fourth St. More Than Lights, Another Exoneration (indie hip-hop) • 10 p.m.

SEVEN BRIDGES // 910 Second Ave. N. B.Squat Woody (1-man band) • 7:30 p.m.

THE JOINT // 324 Jay St. Clovis Mann (blues, roots rock) • 9:30 p.m.

THE ROOT NOTE // 114 4th St. S. Jim Seem (folk rock) • 8:30 p.m.

THE WATERFRONT TAVERN // 328 Front St. Greg Balfany/LaX Jazz4tet (jazz) • 8 p.m.

VITERBO FINE ARTS CENTER // 929 Jackson St.

Believe it or not, Brat Pack Radio wasn't always stuck in the '80s. This show band of unbridled Coulee Region popularity is actually comprised of music five music industry veterans from the Twin Cities. Founder Ryan Lance was once a member of the in-demand a cappella group The Blenders (7 albums recorded, several national tours,1 regional Emmy), but he now takes on a new identify: "Gilbert Downey Jr." Along with "Polly Ringwald," "Raul Estevez," "Budd Nelson" and "Randy Michael Hall," Brat Pack Radio is a veritable karaoke time machine, playing all the songs you remember from the 1980s (if indeed you remember the ‘80s). The Pack is back in town Saturday night for what's sure to be a huge show at Howie's. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

NIGHTHAWKS TAP // 401 S. Third St. E-Rock (rock) • 10 p.m.

PIGGY'S BLUES LOUNGE // 501 Front St. S. Steve Meyer Band (blues) • 8 p.m.

November 6

WATERFRONT (CARGILL ROOM) // 328 Front St.

SUNDAY,

November 7

POPCORN TAVERN // 308 S. Fourth St. The Blend (rock fusion) • 10 p.m.

RED PINES BAR & GRILL // W7305 Hwy Z Guitar Logic (acoustic) • 8 p.m.

THE ROOT NOTE // 114 4th St. S. Emily White (indie folk) • 1 p.m.

SEVEN BRIDGES // 910 Second Ave. N. B.Squat Woody (1-man band) • 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY,

THE JOINT // 324 Jay St. Sena Ehrhardt Band (blues) • 10 p.m.

HALL & OATES // DEC. 10 State Theatre • $25-$100 OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB HALFORD // DEC. 12 Target Center • $27.50-$997.99

WEDNESDAY,

November 10

Steven Marking's “I’ve Known Rivers” DEL’S BAR // 229 Third St. (chamber pop) • 7 p.m.

Cheech & Andy (from T.U.G.G) • 10 p.m.

POPCORN TAVERN // 308 S. Fourth St. The Fur Low Riders (Rock U) • 10 p.m.

Moscow State Symphony (Russian classical music) • 7:30 p.m.

THE ARTERIAL // 1003 S. 16th St. The Honor System (rock) • 9:30 p.m.

WHO’S ON THIRD // 126 3rd St. N Travis Oppelt & Quenten Brown THE BODEGA // 122 4th St. (acoustic covers and originals) • 10 p.m. Nick Shattuck w/ Dan Rodriguez (pop-rock) • 9 p.m.

SATURDAY,

387,970

CLOUD CULT // NOV. 18 First Avenue • $18.75

JB'SSPEAKEASY // 717 Rose St. The Great Unknown (Philadelphia alt-country) • 10 p.m.

PIGGY'S BLUES LOUNGE // 501 Front St. S. Steve Meyer Band (blues) • 8 p.m.

just a roadie away

November 8

DEL’S BAR // 229 Third St. Open Jam • 10 p.m.

POPCORN TAVERN // 308 S. Fourth St. Shawn's Open jam • 10 p.m.

TUESDAY,

November 9

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

POPCORN TAVERN // 308 S. Fourth St. Open Jam • 10 p.m.

RECOVERY ROOM // 901 7th St. S. Kin Pickin' (open jam) • 10 p.m.

THURSDAY,

November 11

DEL’S BAR // 229 Third St. Michelle Lynn (CD release) • 10 p.m.

NIGHTHAWKS TAP // 401 S. Third St. Dave Orr's Damn Jam • 10 p.m.

POPCORN TAVERN // 308 S. Fourth St. The River Road Ramblers (bluegrass all-stars) • 10 p.m.

HOWIE'S // 1125 La Crosse St. Brat Pack Radio (‘80s experience) • 9 p.m.

THE WAREHOUSE // 324 Pearl St. Ayurveda, All Skylines Collide, Two Star (alt- math- world rock) • 6:30 p.m.

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

THE ROOT NOTE // 114 4th St. S. 3rd Relation Jazz Trio (jazz) • 8:30 p.m.

THE STARLITE LOUNGE // 222 Pearl St. Kies and Kompanie (jazz) • 5 p.m.

JB'SSPEAKEASY // 717 Rose St. Lava (CD release show) • 10 p.m.

THE WATERFRONT TAVERN // 328 Front St. Greg Balfany/LaX Jazz4tet (jazz) • 8 p.m.

THE WAREHOUSE // 324 Pearl St. Fight the Quiet (screamo) • 6:30 p.m.

THE WAREHOUSE // 324 Pearl St. Floral Terrace (indie) • 6 p.m.

FOX HOLLOW // N3287 HIGHWAY OA. Smokin’ Bandits (rock, bluegrass) • 9 p.m.

12// November 4, 2010

MUSIC

The Majak Mixtape

By Jonathan Majak jonathan.majak@secondsupper.com

Oh Randy Moss, always snatching failure out of the jaws of victory, aren’t you?

Just a slim four weeks after returning to the Minnesota Vikings, Moss finds himself temporarily without a team this week as he was “waived” by the Vikings after being his usual Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm self, critiquing the organization in interviews while also allegedly throwing a hissy fit over food catered to the locker room. In a lot of ways, Randy Moss is the grown version of a child at the mall or a restaurant or airplane who is screaming and causing a ruckus while embarrassed parents try to get them to smile and/or shut the eff up. In honor of Moss, who very well may have found a new team to play with/terrorize by the time this is published, we have written this mixtape, dubbed “Moss Grows on the North Side of This Mixtape.”

First up, we have to start with Beyonce’s ode to self-involvement, “Ego,” off her I Am Sasha Fierce album. If Randy Moss ever put out an album, he could always title it I Am Sasha Douche, according to a lot of fans from various franchises who have had the (dis)pleasure of having Moss among their ranks. It’s not about hating a sports star for having a big ego; it’s practically stipulated in their contracts that they have one. It’s about

ego coming in the way of the drive to succeed, and Moss has been accused of phoning it in during games several times over the course of his lengthy career. Whether he did or his cornrows were just too tight that day, we’ll never know.

But all of the together makes for what can only be called, in the words of a new track of N.E.R.D.’s just released album Nothing, a “Perfect Defect.” We’re not saying that Moss is untalented. Far from it. It just seems as though a large bulk of his talent is concentrated on pissing people off. It’s like he read How To Alienate People and Lose Friends and took the book as a serious theory on how to live one’s life. And when you’re in an industry where pretty much anything can be forgiven as long as you can play well, there’s little or no motivation for him to change his personality.

And somewhere, we think that the management of the Vikings is giving an exhale of relief for two reasons, hence our last song being a throwback to the Queen of the Night herself, Whitney Houston, and her song “Waiting to Exhale.” Number one, they are free of Randy Moss again and the circuslike attention he always seems to attract. And number two, it’s the first time in some weeks they’ve been making headlines for a player being a dick instead of allegedly showing his.

Buy: Elvis Costello’s new album National Ransom

YouTube: The Streets, “Trust Me”

Read: What Would Tyler Durden Do? www.wwtdd.com

Get your mixtape on every weekday at the Majak Kingdom blog along with weekly recaps of Glee and the Real Housewives of Atlanta, all at www.majakkingdom.blogspot.com

La Crosse's Free Press Reminds you to support the retailers, restaurants, taverns and bands that support us. We are funded solely by advertising so if you want to support us, support them!

conscientious commerce: Hear us RoaR!

Second Supper

A dose of Ayurveda to treat La Crosse's ailing rock scene

The unsigned New York rock band Ayurveda will headline a concert at the Warehouse Saturday night.

By Jason Crider jason.crider@secondsupper.com

This Saturday, Nov. 6, the Warehouse will host one its most exciting lineups in a long time, featuring alternative rock giants Ayurveda. The five-man group burst onto the national scene with the release of its debut album Being in 2008. Fast forward two years and two albums, and the band has transformed into simply one of the best alternative acts around.

The group’s name is a reference to a holistic, alternative medicinal practice used traditionally in India, which acts to conceptualize both the band’s constant evolution and the attention the members pay to every detail in their music. Bassist Dan Halperin, who also plays synth during their live performances, explained, “Rather than just having [our music] be sonically interesting, we try to have a good theme to our music. On a conceptual level [it has to] be valuable.”

The lyrical themes throughout their discography range from the metaphorical to the mundane, but there often seems to be a very spiritual, almost mystical, quality hiding behind the group’s onslaught of experimental alterna-rock. Lead singer Tom Burchinal’s vocals help to really set the group apart from other acts; the guy sounds like a more technically impressive Maynard James Keenan (Tool/A Perfect Circle) except that he sings relevant music with conviction.

Mix this with some extremely catchy hooks, a few mathy interludes, a handful of tastefully executed flannel-rock choruses and the occasional guilty-pleasure, System of a Down guitar riff (think pre-Mezmerize), and it becomes quite obvious that there’s more to Ayurveda than the “alternative” label it so frequently and unfortunately grouped under.

Despite the intimidating repertoire of talent, these guys seem to remain about as

down to earth as they come. When I asked what people should expect from them this weekend, Halperin just laughed and responded “to have their f***in’ minds blown.”

If alternative rock isn’t your thing, the show will also feature the indie-pop group Two Star. The five-piece band has been rapidly making waves in the Chicago area over the past year with an eclectic blend of emotional, atmospheric music that draws heavily from bands such as Bright Eyes, Thursday and Brand New. They set themselves apart by focusing their songwriting on intricate harmonies and melodies backed by upbeat drumming and subtle guitars and bass.

Lead guitarist and vocalist Justen Hamelton describes it simply as “song-based music that we can stand by despite what ever genre people want to put on us.” The Chicago band is also playing an acoustic set on the UW-La Crosse campus on Friday night to promote the Warehouse show on Saturday.

With all of the student population and promising downtown venues, it really is a shame that we don’t get more lineups like this in the area. The Warehouse has done an excellent job trying to push the local hardcore and metal scene, the Root Note caters wonderfully to acoustic acts and the occasional hip-hop, the Popcorn has excellent jambands, and there’s plenty of bars to play at, so why can’t La Crosse get a more diverse selection of music?

I can’t be the only one who’s dying for some bigger and better bands to come to the area. In order for this to happen, though, I think we need to do a better job of putting La Crosse on the map. Bands don’t want to play a venue if only a handful of drunken college kids show up, so we need to kill this trend while we still can.

This show is an all too perfect opportunity to help make La Crosse a town actually worth playing. The doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $7. See you there.

Second Supper

November 4, 2010 // 13

YOUR GUIDE TO CONSUMPTION

The Beer Review 2010 Harvest Ale Pearl Street Brewery La Crosse, Wisconsin

If I had to pick my favorite aspect of the American Microbrewery Revolution, it might be the mantra of “drink local.” That’s not simply a catchphrase for purveyors of the nation’s finest beer. It’s also an integral component of the microbrewery business model, one that started as a novelty but continues to gain ground against America’s most established beer makers. (I’m now struck by a parallel to the Tea Party movement, but I can’t bring that up, not tonight).

Anyhoo, I’ve spent years bandying the “drink local” concept to anyone who would suffer a conversation, but I was struck with

new resonance last Thursday when I attended the release party for Pearl Street Brewery’s Harvest Ale and Pumpkin Ale. First of all, I immediately recognized almost every person in the Tasting Room — which isn’t especially rare for a town like La Crosse, but is vital when attempting to build a lasting beer culture.

But I didn’t just know the people drinking, or even pouring, the beer. All around the brewery were dozens of friends who planted and harvested the multitude of hops used in the 2010 Harvest Ale. Hop vines literally wound up the side of the brewery this summer, and brewmaster Joe Katchever invited everyone to pick a few pounds in exchange for free beer. Others tossed in a stash from their private harvest.

The result of all those La Crosse hops is a seriously flavorful and fresh-tasting beer

that will be a treat to any hop hound. “I’m so happy this beer turned out hoppy,” Katchever confessed to me at the release party while his infant daughter nibbled on barley kernels. “Otherwise I couldn’t drink it.”

Purchase: Growler of Harvest Ale, free at the brewery in exchange for 10 empty 6-packs Style: Amber ale Strength 7 percent ABV Packaging: Like most PSB releases, the Harvest Ale is only available on tap, and I was too busy mingling to notice the color of the handle.

Appearance: The beer pours a dark amber color that is translucent when held to the light. The head is grey but smallish.

Aroma: Although I don’t know the varieties of all the local hops, this beer reeks of organic freshness with some black pepper notes

The Best Food & Drink Specials in Town

on top of evenly roasted Wisconsin malts.

Taste: The Harvest Ale oozes with juicy hop flavors, but it’s not mouth puckeringly bitter — which could be attributed to the “green” hops, but credit should also be given to the brewer’s smart malt balance. This is an amber ale, not an IPA, but it still has a nice salivating finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full, but juicy and mouthwatering Drinkability: It’s stronger than a session beer, but so tasty my girlfriend and I had no trouble downing a growler. (Of course, on some election nights, that is easier than usual.)

Ratings: No one else has rated this beer online, so I’ll just go ahead and give it a B+.

Nice work, friends! Your Pumpkin Ale wasn’t too shabby either.

— Adam Bissen

LOCATION

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

ARENA

Text "Arena" to 83361 for Specials

Texas Hold 'Em Poker

Pool and dart leagues

Wyld Wednesday: $2 jumbo UV mixers, $2 Coronas

Ladies Night: Ladies drink free 9-11 $1 Cherry Bombs, $1 Keystone Light $1 Cherry Bombs, $1 Keystone p.m. or all night with $5 wristband, silos Light silos including all UV Vodkas & XXX; $5 Long island pitchers

$2 BBQ Pork Sliders

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

107 3rd St. S. 782-1883, www.arenalax.com

BODEGA BREW PUB 122 4th St. 782-0677

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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

BROTHERS

$2.50 Bud Light bottles, $3 Witches $2.50 Coors vs. Keystone Brew and Scary Shot Specials 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.

EAGLES NEST

$5 domestic pitchers

Bird Brain Trivia 8 p.m.; $1.50 do- Wing Night - 25-cent wings (dine- $1.50 domestic bottles and rail mestic bottles and rails 4 p.m. to in only); $1 Miller High Life silos and drinks, $2 craft bottles, 4 p.m. to close PBR silos; $1.50 taps and rail drinks; close $2 craft taps. All specials 4 to close.

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 domestic bottles Karaoke 9 p.m. to close and rail drinks, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Taco buffet 11-2; $1 Pabst bottles and $1 bowling after 9

All you care to eat pizza buffet, 11-2

All you care to eat fish fry 4-10; un- Prime rib dinner 4-10; limited Glow-N-Bowl $9.99 unlimited Glow-N-Bowl $9.99

All you can eat wings, includes a Wisconsin cheese steak sandwich choice of potatoe, slaw and a frosted with a pint of beer, $8.99 pint, 4-9:30 p.m., $8.99

Ladies Night, $1 off all drinks, 4 to All you can eat boneless wings, inclose; Pint-Aritas $3 (lime or straw- cludes a choice of potatoe, slaw and berry) a frosted pint, 4-9:30 p.m., $8.99

306 Pearl St. 784-0522

1914 Campbell Road 782-7764

$1.50 domestic taps and rail drinks, 4 p.m. to close

FEATURES

W3923 State Highway 16 786-9000

FLIPSIDE PUB & GRILL 400 Lang Drive 784-2242

HOWIE’S

AUC2D, $5 domestic taps, rail mixers $2.50 Bud Light bottles, $3 Witches $2.50 Bud Light bottles, $3 Witches and Long Islands. Wristband Night: Brew and Scary Shot Specials Brew and Scary Shot Specials $2.50 SoCo & Jack. 50-cent shots (two flavors). All specials 9 to close.

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

IMPULSE

$5 AUC2D wristbands: domestic taps, rail mixers, Long Islands, 9 p.m. to close; live DJ, dancing 9 p.m. to close

Free Wing Night (while supplies last); $5 wristband happy hour, 5 to 9 p.m; $5 AUC2D wristbands: domestic taps, live DJ, dancing 9 p.m. to close rail mixers, Long Islands, 9 p.m. to close; live DJ, dancing 9 p.m. to close

$5 wristband happy hour, 5 to 9 p.m; live DJ, dancing 9 p.m. to close

JB’S SPEAKEASY

$1.75 domestic bottles, $1.75 Dom Monday Madness: $1.75 domestics Tuesday Boozeday $1 off all liquor Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m. bottles and rails, $2.50 Bombs and rails, $2.50 Bombs, $1 off all top drinks and 50 cents off all shots, $2 shelf and specialty beers Bombs

Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

1125 La Crosse St. 784-7400 214 Main St. 782-6010

717 Rose St. 796-1161

SCHMIDTY’S 3119 State Road 788-5110

SLOOPY'S ALMA MATER

$1.79 burger (after 8 p.m.)

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

Alcohol-free night, 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., $5 AUC2D wristbands: domestic for ages 25 and younger; live DJ, taps, rail mixers, Long Islands, 9 p.m. dancing, giveaways, AUC2D soda, to close; karaoke 9 p.m. to close $10 cover

$5 AUC2D wristbands: domestic taps, rail mixers, Long Islands, 9 p.m. to close; karaoke 9 p.m. to close

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

Happy Hour 5 to 7 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

163 Copeland Ave. 785-0245

Tacos: $11 buckets during pro and Tacos: $11 buckets during pro and college football games. college football games.

Happy Hour 2 to 6 p.m.

12-inch pizza $8.99 Happy Hour 2 to 6 p.m.

THE LIBRARY

Wristband Night

Half price tequilla, $1 domestic taps Karaoke, $2 Double rails and all Beer Pong Tourney and $2 U Call Its 9 p.m. to close and rails bottles; $3 Double call drinks wristband night, $2 cherry bombs, 50¢ shots (3 flavors)

123 3rd St. 784-8020

TOP SHOTS

14-inch pizza, $2 off; Wings Happy Hour 2 to 6 p.m.

Ladies night, 2 for 1 drinks (6-close), Happy Hour 2 to 6 p.m.

Happy Hour 2 to 6 p.m.

9 p.m. to close: $2 Bacardi mixers, $2 domestic pints, $1.50 shots blackberry brandy

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch buffet 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., $6.99 Tacos: $11 buckets during pro and college football games. $2.50 Bud Light, $3 Swamp Waters, costume contest

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

(7-1 a.m.) a.m.)

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

$5 Miller/Bud Light Pitchers, $2.25 Leinies Bottles (7-1 a.m.)

POPCORN TAVERN

$2.50 Captain mixers $2 16oz Old Style & Lost Lake cans

$1.75 PBR Bottles $2.50 Captain mixers $2 16oz Old Style & Lost Lake cans

$2.50 Captain mixers $2 16oz Old Style & Lost Lake cans

$2.50 Captain mixers $2 Grain Belt

$2 Coors & Coors Light Bottles, $2.50 $2 16oz Old Style & Lost Lake cans Skyy mixers, $2.50 Captain mixers $2 16oz Old Style & Lost Lake cans

$2 16oz Old Style & Lost Lake cans

WHO'S ON THIRD

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

$1 taps of PBR, $1 rails

$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

137 4th St. 782-6622 308 4th St. S. 782-9069

126 3rd St. N. 782-9467

14// November 4, 2010

Second Supper

DIVERSIONS

Maze Efflux

"Solve for X" Mad skillz with math skills

By Erich Boldt

By Matt Jones

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

We have trouble, right here in river city!

Which starts with T and that rhymes with Z. And that stands for Zoo! Times are tight; the zoo is millions short and years behind with no otters in sight. There are pictures of falcons and stuffed raccoons but who wants to see those? A loon? And a store, the zoo has a store! With T-shirts and trinkets and birdhouses galore.

OK, I can’t rhyme the rest of this letter.

I’m no Vanilla Ice. That man’s a genius.

The zoo is using a lot of space for a gift store. I’ve owned a gift store; it’s no way to make money, especially in this economy. If the zoo wants to make money in this town they should close that store and use the space for a childcare center. A play based center with a focus on the environment, wooden toys or nondescript ones that uses a child’s imagination to come to life. No plastic noisemakers pretend cell phones or computers. They could take frequent trips to the marsh, plant a garden and eat seasonal foods when possible. It’s located near the university and centrally located within the city. This way they would have cash flow and a captive audience everyday. I think they could start to build on that.

OK one more rhyme.

Close the gift store down; box it up and invite the kids to come around. The monkeys were sad and to see them go, made me glad.. But at least they were something and now we have nothing.

— Joey P Kay

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: Michael Butteris michael.butteris@secondsupper.com

ACROSS 1 Music game with a floor pad, for short 4 Apples that are colorful 9 Vast tales 14 Come up short 15 Warm-weather style of pants 16 Treat in a greasestained bag 17 Crate for actor Radcliffe (if X=1)?

19 Part of UHF 20 Golden Globes genre 21 Charged particle 23 "Over here!"

24 Marks certain bovine parents (if X=4)?

29 Warm, so to speak 30 Like a fairy tale piper 31 "Simpsons" word added to the OED 34 ___ Hari 37 Architect Gehry 40 Old record label's

boat to reach isolated areas (if X=10)?

44 Poet Federico Garcia ___ 45 Software test version 46 Penn of "Harold & Kumar" 47 GOP opponents 49 Rademacher of "General Hospital" 52 Lugs two giant neighboring letters without any help (if X=8)?

58 "Now I see!"

59 Turkey neighbor: abbr.

60 "Well, I must ___ now..."

62 Unsophisticated 65 Spatula hung from the Jaguars' scoreboard (if X=9)?

68 Course clubs 69 Large collars 70 Baggage-scanning

Answers to Oct. 28 puzzle Regular Contributors: Amy Alkon, Erich Boldt, Nick Cabreza, Mary Catanese, Jason Crider, Brett Emerson, Jake Groteuschen, Shuggypop Jackson, Jonathan Majak, Matt Jones, Carolyn Ryan, Briana Rupel, Julie Schneider, Nate Willer, Ralph Winrich Second Supper is a weekly alternative newspaper published by Bartanese Enterprises LLC, 614 Main St., La Crosse, WI 54601 Letters are encouraged and can be sent to editor@secondsupper.com.

Have you lost weight? — Why, yes, yes I have

gp.

71 Army nickname 72 Canine, for one 73 Pig's digs DOWN 1 Connecticut senator Christopher 2 Sneezy, e.g.

3 Kidney-related 4 Time period that shaped the Great Lakes 5 ___ de mer 6 Police radio report, for short 7 Saint ___, U.S. Virgin Islands 8 "___ one, half a dozen..."

9 www.harvard.___ 10 Election contender, for short 11 Completely uninformed 12 Ham preparer, perhaps 13 Remains 18 Model married to David Bowie 22 Get some rest 25 ___ Club 26 Dental hygiene brand 27 Minor quarrel 28 Where "You Are" 31 Dial-up alternative 32 Prefix before scope 33 Addition to some

prison sentences 35 ___ kwon do 36 They're not pro 38 Gun rights org.

39 Arizona senator Jon 41 ___ Energy Center (home stadium of the NHL's Minnesota Wild) 42 Purina competitor 43 "Little Miss Sunshine" actor Paul 48 Message frantically tapped out 50 Signature for #43 51 Feature of Mary, but not marry?

52 City where Yo-Yo Ma was born 53 "Star Trek" crew member 54 Joe Namath was one 55 Muse of lyric poetry 56 Habitual ways 57 Clear Channelsponsored annual rock event 61 Battle 63 Lang. of T.S. Eliot 64 Compass dir.

66 Tic-tac-toe line 67 It goes boom For answers, call (900) 226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Or to bill to a credit card, call (800) 655-6549. Reference puzzle #0489.

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Second Supper

November 4, 2010 // 15

THE LAST WORD

The Advice Goddess

By Amy Alkon amy.alkon@secondsupper.com Settle sore

I’m a 23-year-old law student with a boyfriend who attends grad school 16 hours away.

We’re both swamped at school, so we visit once a month. I've only been with one other guy, but I hate the dating scene. Still, maybe I need to date around to make sure he’s the right person. Then again, since you date to find someone you love, why would you leave someone you love so you can date? I’m pretty sure he’ll propose when we both graduate, and he’s theoretically everything I want, but it frustrates me that he has grand plans and never follows through. Also, he’s willing to move thousands of miles to be with me; I can't say I’d do the same. I do love him, but I once read that once you doubt the love, you've stopped loving that person forever.

— Hung Jury

Doubt gets a bad rap. Doubting love doesn’t mean you’ve stopped loving, but that you’ve started thinking. Sheep doubt

nothing. Chances are you’ll get further in life by questioning things than by living like something that ends up dinner and a sweater.

You say this guy’s “theoretically” everything you want, which is super if you’re looking to live theoretically ever after. Of course, theoretically is pretty much how you’ve been living. You’re both swamped at school and see each other once a month. If you’ve been in school throughout your three years together, you’ve had, what, 36 dates?

If so, more than anything, what you have together is a lack of information.

Because most people change a great deal between 20 and 30, pledging to spend the rest of your life with somebody at 23 is like asking a 6-year-old what she wants to be when she grows up, and holding her to it. (You try finding tooth fairy jobs in the classifieds.) Your 20s should be your “Who am I?” years. Until you get that answered reasonably well, you shouldn’t be moving ahead in any serious way to “Who am I with?”

— not even if you find dating only somewhat more enjoyable than having all your toes pulled off with white-hot pliers.

Dating to find somebody you love is what you do after you’ve dated enough to get a handle on all the stuff you hate. Falling in love is easy; staying in love takes some doing, especially the 320,000th time you find yourself hearing those “grand plans.”

Only when you take stock of somebody’s worst qualities, and decide you can live with

them, are you ready to commit. Get married without doing that, and maybe you aren’t really saying “I do,” but “You’ll do.”

At this point, a wiser approach would be a more Amish one — and no, I don’t mean tossing all your lightbulbs, donning a bonnet and churning butter. They have this practice called “Rumspringa” — a “running around” period for Amish teens to dabble in modern culture: smoke, drink, date and wear zippers. Experiencing what’s out there helps them make an informed decision — whether to stay modern or go back and live Amish. You, likewise, might propose a period of time where you both date around so you can get a better sense of whether you’re with him because you’ve been with him or whether you’re actually choosing him over a bunch of others. If you keep seeing him, avoid pledging to be together forever until you’re reasonably sure you’ll still want to be together at 27 — tempting as it is to respond to “Will you marry me?” with something a little more romantic than “Um, uhhh…look!

A UFO!”

see that they never leave that person’s side.

That did work for Romeo and Juliet. Then again, they were fictional. And dead. Explain to your boyfriend that you need down-time because you need down-time; you’ve always been that way, and it has nothing to do with him. Set aside certain nights as date nights so he won’t be standing there staring up at the tower wondering when you’ll let down your hair. We all know that endless togetherness can start to feel rather, well, endless; we just hate to admit it. Help him see that what’s truly romantic is having the chance to miss each other, and he just might be the guy who inspires you to blurt out, “You had me at ‘Goodbye, see ya in a coupla days.’”

Lack of space, the final frontier

I need about three nights a week to myself or I feel smothered. Last night, my sweet new boyfriend wanted to hang out for the fifth night in a row.

I told him I needed some down-time, and he said OK, but sounded hurt.

— Independent Woman

For many people, love is finding somebody, then doing whatever they can to

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16// November 4, 2010

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