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Measles Outbreaks Are Preventable But immunization rates are spotty in Milwaukee ::BY MARY SUSSMAN
easles has reared its ugly head again, despite have been declared eradicated in the United States in 2000. Two generations have grown up in a world in which measles was on the decline or virtually non-existent after a vaccine was introduced in 1963. Now, thanks to a vigorous antivaccination movement and increased global travel, measles is making a comeback. In the U.S., 1,250 measles cases were reported according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as of the beginning of October. Outbreaks have occurred in 31 states. Wisconsin is one state that has not yet had a measles outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the measles vaccine prevented an estimated 21 million deaths from 2000 to 2017. Prior to the development of the measles vaccine in 1963, measles caused 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year. Before the vaccine was actually in use, Wisconsin had more than 68,000 cases of measles and 19 deaths in 1963.
Few Germs Are More Contagious With measles outbreaks on the rise, physicians and public health officials are concerned. “Measles is incredibly contagious,” says Dr. Marylyn Ranta, associate chief medical officer at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “There are few germs on Earth that are more contagious. That means that if you have somebody who has measles in a room and two hours later somebody who has not been vaccinated steps into that room, he or she has a better than 90% chance of catching measles two hours later.” Ranta explains that most other germs won’t live that long in public places like stores or airplanes. “Think about how ventilation systems in buildings share air and air handling,” Ranta cautions. “If you have people who are under-vaccinated, meaning they haven’t had the full series, or are unvaccinated or are vaccinated but have immune problems, all of those people are at risk.” In Wisconsin, 2018 Wisconsin Department of Health Services data shows that 50,000 children had medical, religious or personal conviction vaccine waivers for one or more vaccines. Of the 50,000 with waivers, 44,000 had personal conviction waivers. Wisconsin is one of 15 states that has personal conviction waivers. Wisconsin was recently ranked fifth highest in the percentage of students taking vaccine waivers among U.S.
4 | OCTOBER 24, 2019
states. Health officials and doctors are concerned about the increase in personal conviction waivers that has occurred between 1997 and the present. During the 1997’98 school year, only 1.2% of students took personal conviction waivers. In the 2018-’19 school year, this percentage grew to 4.8%. In 20 years, an anti-vaccination movement has matured. The movement grew out of an article published in The Lancet by Andrew Wakefield, a British physician, who suggested a connection, from a very small sampling, between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and development of autism in children. Though Wakefield’s “research” was found to be deeply flawed and he had a conflict of interest in funding, MMR vaccine rates continued to drop dramatically after his article was published. To this day, members of the anti-vaccine movement, sometimes called “anti-vaxxers,” continue to cite his work to support their anti-vaccination agenda. It is no wonder that local health personnel may find it challenging to counter the anti-vaccine websites and social media messaging. Jill LeStarge, communicable disease and immunization program supervisor at the City of Milwaukee Health Department, says the exemption rate is high, in part, due to the increased information from the anti-vaccine groups. “This is a multi-faceted problem that is difficult to address,” LeStarge says.
Social Media Amplifies Anti-Vax Message
Social media has proved to be an effective vehicle for amplifying the anti-vax message. In a paper presented at the American Association of Public Health Convention in 2015, researchers conducted a content analysis of 480 anti-vaccine websites and found that they contained considerable misinformation, including the following: Vaccines were dangerous (65.6%), cause autism (62.2%) and “brain injury” (41.1%). Websites used both selective scientific evidence (64.7%) and anecdotes (30.0%) to support these claims. Anti-vaxxers invoked values such as choice (41.0%), freedom (20.5%) and individuality (17.4%) to underwrite their positions, and they co-promoted behaviors, which included the use of alternative medicine (18.8%) and homeopathy (10.2%), as well as eating a healthy (18.5%) or organic (5.2%) diet. Cleansing one’s body of toxins (7.1%), breastfeeding (5.5%) and religiosity (6.8%) were also promoted. In addition to hundreds of anti-vax websites, social media was used extensively to amplify the anti-vaccine message. A 2018 study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that bots and Russian trolls amplified the anti-vaccine debate between 2014 and 2017. The Russian tweets have now been removed. Using a set of almost 2 million tweets, the study found that whereas bots that spread malware and unsolicited content disseminated anti-vaccine messages, Russian trolls promoted discord by accounts masquerading as legitimate users, creating false equivalency between the anti- and pro-vax proponents, thus eroding public consensus on vaccination. “I think there’s a problem that we all face in that there’s an abundance of information available and very little in the way of anybody who is a referee for that information, particularly when we’re talking about the internet,” says Dr. James Conway, associate director for health sciences at the Global Health Institute, UW-Madison. “There’s always been distrust of science going all the way back to Galileo, and there’s always been questions about vaccines from when Edward Jenner started immunizing for smallpox.” Conway says we live in an era where people are questioning the validity of everything. Simultaneously, medicine “is trying to be more of a partner with people rather than the way it used to be that was more patriarchal, when we would kind of tell people what to do,” he says. “We’re encouraging people to go out and look for information and be educated consumers. At the same time, there’s an overwhelming amount of information out there and a lot of people are just not well-educated or scientifically literate enough to know which things are real and which things are not real.” Conway stresses that vaccines are extensively tested, safe and effective. Vaccinations continued on page 6 >
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NEWS&VIEWS::FEATURE > Vaccinations continued from page 4
Pockets of Under-Vaccination in Milwaukee Although 92% of children in Wisconsin are up-to-date with vaccinations, there are pockets where children are under-vaccinated. “Anytime we have pockets of people who are not protected, we are concerned,” says Stephanie Schauer, immunization program manager for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in the 2018-’19 school year, 61% of Milwaukee County schools reported that 90% or more of students met the minimum vaccination requirement. The bad news, however, is that 157 schools (36%) reported minimum vaccination rates below 90%, with 12 of those below 70%. “We know that where there are lower rates of immunization, that’s where outbreaks are likely to happen,” Conway says. “In schools, children are really in close proximity, and we’re encouraging them to play together and share. It’s a perfect scenario for disease transmission, especially for highly contagious diseases, like smallpox back in the era and now with measles.” In the 2018-’19 school year—the latest for which data is available—the following Milwaukee County schools had a much higher percentage of students taking the personal conviction waiver than the state percentage of 4.8%: Tamarack Waldorf School, Milwaukee (30%), Badger State Baptist School, Oak Creek (21%), St. John the Evangelist School, Greenfield (20%), Yeshiva Elementary School, Milwaukee (14%), Wauwatosa Montessori School (14%), Downtown Montessori Academy, Milwaukee (12%) and Grace Christian Academy, West Allis (11%). At another 14 schools, 9% of students took personal conviction waivers: Honey Creek Elementary, Highland Community School, Saint Lucas Lutheran School, Howard Avenue Montessori School, Milwaukee Seventh Day Adventist School, Milwaukee College Prep—36th Street, Blessed Sacrament Grade School, College Park Elementary, Atwater Elementary, Victory Christian Academy, Bayside Middle School, Shorewood Intermediate School, Mount Olive Lutheran Grade School and North Shore Montessori School. In total, 54 Milwaukee County schools (12% of the total) reported personal exemption waiver percentages of 6% or greater. In addition, at the start of the 2018-’19 school year, vaccinations “in process,” “behind schedule” or “no records” pushed the percentage of students meeting minimum vaccination requirements below 70% at the following schools (the number in parentheses is the number of students meeting minimum vaccination requirements): Carmen Middle School South Campus (28%), Pathways High (41%), Daniel Webster Secondary School (49%), Lee Learning Center (56%), Milwaukee Excellence Charter School (59%), Audubon Middle School (63%) Morse Middle School (63%), Southeastern Education Center (63%), San Rafael The Archangel (64%), Daniels University Prep (67%) and Milwaukee Scholars Charter School (69%). In 2018-’19, 15 Milwaukee County schools did not submit reports: Milwaukee County Correctional Facil6 | OCTOBER 24, 2019
ity South, Franklin; Lutheran Special School, Glendale; Lutheran Special School, Wauwatosa; Lutheran Special School, Hales Corners; New School for Youth Empowerment; Texas Bufkin Christian Academy; Believers Institute; University of Islam; A Promise of Hope Academy; Saint Charles Education Center; Calvary’s Christian Academy School of the Arts; Hillel Academy, Whitefish Bay; Plank Road Complex, Wauwatosa; Wauwatosa Virtual Academy; Milwaukee Academy, Wauwatosa; and Kingdom Prep Lutheran High, Wauwatosa. This year, parents had until Tuesday, Oct. 15, to get their children immunized to meet the minimum immunization requirements. State Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) introduced legislation in 2016 to end the personal conviction waiver, which accounts for 90% of all vaccine waivers, greatly outnumbering religious and medical waivers. It never got a hearing. After the growing number of recent outbreaks in 2018, he reintroduced it in April 2019. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Rep. Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth), Rep. Debra Kolste (D-Janesville), Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee), Rep. LaKeshia Myers (D-Milwaukee), Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee) and Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee). The bill is stalled in the Committee on Constitution and Ethics, headed by Rep. Chuck Wich-
that hearing nerves are particularly vulnerable, and a common side effect of measles is a loss of hearing. “People can have all sorts of permanent neurologic disabilities if they survive it,” Conway says. “When people are trying to talk themselves into it being OK not to vaccinate, they are kidding themselves.” Stephanie Schauer adds, “It’s not that we’re trying to scare parents, but we want them to recognize the risks that you take by leaving your child unvaccinated.” Public health officials speak about community immunity, in which high levels of immunization serve to protect the entire community even the few who are unvaccinated. “The immunity of the community protects the most vulnerable in that community,” Conway says. “Whether it’s the person on steroids for their transplant or someone who is on an anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis or a baby who is too young to be immunized. All of those vulnerable populations depend on community immunity to protect them. Vaccination is one of the simplest ways that people can contribute to that effort.” A 90% vaccination rate is needed for community immunity for most diseases, Conway explains. But for measles in particular, a 95% vaccination rate is needed, “because it is such a hard outbreak to shut down once it gets started, because of its long incubation period and because people can be contagious before they even
THE CDC ESTIMATES THAT IN THE 2017-’18 SCHOOL YEAR, 91.8% OF WISCONSIN KINDERGARTNERS GOT AN MMR VACCINE, DOWN FROM 94.2% IN 2009-’10. IN THIS STUDY, WISCONSIN WAS IN THE BOTTOM TIER OF STATES IN TERMS OF VACCINATIONS. gers (R-Muskego). Hintz thinks it unlikely that the bill will get a hearing anytime soon, despite bipartisan support for the legislation and the support of 20 advocacy groups. Wichgers, who is on record as opposing the bill, did not return phone calls from this reporter about it. Hintz says opposition to vaccines tends to come from younger parents who never experienced infectious diseases first-hand in the pre-vaccine era. “I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he says. “Once measles gets started, it’s hard to shut down,” UW-Madison’s Conway explains. “It has a really long incubation period. You can get exposed to someone with measles and have no idea you were exposed. You might not develop your own symptoms until 10 or 14 days later. Then, you can expose other people.” Conway says once you contract measles, it gets into your respiratory system and then into your bloodstream. If it lands in your brain, you get encephalitis—inflammation of the brain—which causes seizures and damages nerve structures in the brain. Measles causes pneumonia in one in 20 cases, encephalitis in one in 1,000 cases. The death rate is one or two for every 1,000 cases. Conway says
realize they are sick.” The CDC estimates that in the 2017-’18 school year, 91.8% of Wisconsin kindergartners got an MMR vaccine, down from 94.2% in 2009-’10. In this study, Wisconsin was in the bottom tier of states in terms of vaccinations.
Global Travel Drives Measles Outbreaks Increased global travel is another factor driving measles outbreaks. A recent report found that Cook County was a likely location for the next big measles outbreak because of the large number of unvaccinated international travelers arriving at O’Hare International Airport. So far in 2019, nine cases of measles have been reported in Illinois and 44 in Michigan. “We’ve been lucky that measles hasn’t hit either Milwaukee or Dane County,” Conway says. “It’s amazing to me, with as many travelers as we see every summer coming in and out from Illinois, that it hasn’t happened.” Globally, measles outbreaks are becoming more prevalent. Since the start of 2019, Europe has had approximately 90,000 confirmed cases of measles, well outpacing the 88,000 total for
all of 2018. Recently, Albania, Greece, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom lost their measles-free status. Romania, Italy, Philippines, Israel and Ukraine have had large outbreaks. In 2019, the U.S. came close to losing its measles elimination status. “It doesn’t take much for someone to get on a plane and introduce measles,” added Dr. James Conway. Milwaukeeans and Wisconsinites hardly live in an insular bubble. As a popular tourist destination, Milwaukee has 23 million visitors annually from other areas of the Midwest, the U.S. and around the world. Likewise, tourism brings 112 million visitors to Wisconsin as a whole. The Bureau of Transportation reports that almost 3.5 million passengers arrive at General Mitchell International Airport annually. In addition, U.S. citizens are traveling to foreign countries with growing frequency.
Vaccines Save Lives “In the late ’90s, the CDC went and added up all of its successes over the previous hundred years, and vaccines came out to be by far the number one public health measure that has saved more lives and prevented more morbidity than anything else we’ve ever done,” Conway says. “Vaccines are responsible for saving more lives and preventing more illness than anything else in public health.” WHO lists vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019 and reports that, despite the existence of a safe and economical measles vaccine, 110,000 people, mostly children, died from measles in 2017. Though measles is taking the contagious disease spotlight right now, unvaccinated children are also highly susceptible to a host of other preventable infectious diseases including influenza, mumps, pertussis and pneumococcus. “Every kid deserves to be protected from these common things,” Conway says. “Rotavirus causes diarrhea and vomiting in babies, and pneumococcus is the most common cause of ear infections, sinus infections, pneumonia and meningitis.” “Much of this comes down to equity. Everybody deserves an opportunity to be protected from diseases,” Conway continues. “I know in my heart of hearts, as a pediatrician speaking on behalf of kids, that no kid, if they were given the chance, would ever want to have any of these diseases if they really knew what these diseases were like.” “I hate to say it,” he adds, “but in some ways, it is selfish for parents to put their political or fundamental beliefs ahead of their own child’s well-being. I feel for them in some way, because I think they are trying to do the right thing for their kid and protect them, but they’re really making an erroneous set of assumptions that leaves their kids vulnerable to diseases that can disable and kill them.” Especially at a time when it is reasonable to expect that a measles outbreak might soon hit Wisconsin, physicians and health officials are encouraging all parents to get their children’s vaccinations up to date. They emphasize the proven safety and efficacy of the measles vaccine, despite the inaccurate information to the contrary being spread by anti-vax websites and social media. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::FEATURE
Vaccinations in Milwaukee County Schools: Facts and Figures All data is from the latest available: the 2018-’19 school year. n 61% of Milwaukee County schools reported that 90% or more of their students met minimum vaccination requirements, but 157 schools (36%) reported minimum vaccination rates below 90%, with 12 of those below 70%. n The following Milwaukee County schools had a higher percentage of students taking a personal conviction waiver than the state average (4.8%): Tamarack Waldorf School, Milwaukee (30%); Badger State Baptist School, Oak Creek (21%); St. John the Evangelist School, Greenfield (20%); Yeshiva Elementary School, Milwaukee (14%); Wauwatosa Montessori School (14%); Downtown Montessori Academy, Milwaukee (12%); and Grace Christian Academy, West Allis (11%). At another 14 schools, 9% of students took personal conviction waivers. All told, 54 Milwaukee County schools (12% of all schools) reported personal exemption waivers of 6% or greater. n At the start of the school year, vaccinations “in process,”“behind schedule” or “no records” pushed the percentage of students meeting minimum vaccination requirements below 70% at the following schools (the number in parentheses is the number of students meeting minimum vaccination requirements): Milwaukee Scholars Charter School (69%); Daniels University Prep (67%); San Rafael The Archangel (64%); Audubon Middle School, Morse Middle School and Southeastern Education Center (63% each); Milwaukee Excellence Charter School (59%); Lee Learning Center (56%); Daniel Webster Secondary School (49%); Pathways High (41%); and Carmen Middle School South Campus (28%). n 15 Milwaukee County schools did not submit reports regarding the status of their vaccinations: Milwaukee County Correctional Facility South, Franklin; Lutheran Special School, Glendale; Lutheran Special School, Wauwatosa; Lutheran Special School, Hales Corners; New School for Youth Empowerment; Texas Bufkin Christian Academy; Believers Institute; University of Islam; A Promise of Hope Academy; Saint Charles Education Center; Calvary’s Christian Academy School of the Arts; Hillel Academy, Whitefish Bay; Plank Road Complex, Wauwatosa; Wauwatosa Virtual Academy; Milwaukee Academy, Wauwatosa; and Kingdom Prep Lutheran High, Wauwatosa. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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30TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR 1989-2019 1434 N FARWELL AVE • 276-7288 • www.SHANKHALL.COM • all shows 21+
All shows start at 8 pm unless otherwise indicated Tickets available at Shank Hall Box Office, 866-468-3401, or at ticketweb.com
Fri 10/25
Rasputina CHARMING DISASTER
$20
Sat 10/26
Super-Unknown, Big Bang Baby, TEN Chicago $12
Fri 11/1
Sat 11/2
Yipes! $20
Think Floyd USA $20
Wed 11/6
Fri 11/8
Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds $25
Mike & Friends: Grateful Dead Tribute $10 adv/ $15 dr
11/9 California Honeydrops 11/11 Jesse Malin 11/12 Corb Lund 11/14 Trigger Hippy 11/15 Kinky Friedman 11/16 Damaged Justice 11/17 Donna the Buffalo 11/21 Cody Canada & The Departed 11/22 Dead Letter Office, Without U2
NEWS&VIEWS::TAKINGLIBERTIES
With Trump, All Roads Really Do Lead to Putin ::BY JOEL MCNALLY
D
ONALD TRUMP’S CLAIMS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE TRANSCRIPT OF A PRESIDENTIAL PHONE CALL TO UKRAINE doesn’t really say what it says are no longer operative. The president’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, let the cat out of the cellophane bag by publicly blurting out the truth. Sure, Mulvaney said Trump held up nearly $400 million dollars Congress appropriated for Ukraine to force President Volodymyr Zelensky into finding a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server hidden somewhere in Ukraine that Trump believes could blow a secret Democratic conspiracy against him wide open. “Absolutely, no question about that. But that’s it, and that’s why we held up the money,” Mulvaney said. “We do that all the time with foreign policy... I have news for everybody. Get over it! There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.” Mulvaney’s public confession immediately made life much more difficult for Republicans by publicly describing an impeachable “quid pro quo”—a president unconstitutionally abusing his powers by using U.S. tax dollars to extort unlawful foreign interference to benefit his own election. It also raises serious questions about the mental health of the president of the United States by focusing national attention on a truly crazy rightwing conspiracy theory Trump appears to believe. It’s about a mythical DNC server that could prove once and for all Vladimir Putin, Trump’s best friend in world politics, is totally innocent of all charges that Russia ever interfered in the 2016 election to elect Trump.
Life on the Lunatic Fringe
Here’s the shocking truth according to Trump and other regular consumers of rightwing conspiracies spread on lunatic fringe websites: Russia was framed. All those attacks on democracy were an inside job. It started with corrupt Ukrainians trying to make Russia look bad for invading their country. They conspired with U.S. Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and the DNC. Those diabolical Democrats cleverly hacked into their own 8 | OCTOBER 24, 2019
computers during the campaign to steal and widely publicize their own politically damaging emails. Corrupt FBI agents hired CrowdStrike, a leading national cybersecurity firm, to fabricate evidence pinning all those crimes on Russia. They fooled Robert Mueller into indicting 13 employees working for a Russian “troll farm” and 12 Russian military intelligence officers. Then, CrowdStrike covered up their evil plot by hiding the DNC server containing all the explosive evidence somewhere in Ukraine. Sometimes, Trump tells rallies Clinton’s server with her missing emails could be there, too. I know that paragraph sounds loony. But go back and read the White House transcript of Trump’s telephone call. Trump wants Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General William Barr to help Zelensky find that DNC computer server. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, both Republicans, sent a letter urging Barr to investigate the same ridiculous conspiracy to sabotage Trump’s campaign in 2016 and smear Russia. With Trump openly soliciting foreign interference in U.S. elections, Johnson and Grassley added an ironic admonition: “Such allegations of corruption deserve due scrutiny, and the American people have a right to know when foreign forces attempt to undermine our democratic processes.” It’s understandable the House impeachment investigation centers on Trump’s pressure on Zelensky to open a criminal investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. It’s a brazen abuse of the presidency for Trump’s personal political benefit. Neither Biden has ever been accused of wrongdoing in Ukraine (except by Trump), but if Biden is the Democratic nominee in 2020, Trump would love to joyfully smear him for being under criminal investigation and lead chants of “Lock him up!” The nutty conspiracy theory Trump also wanted Zelensky to investigate as a “favor” is convoluted and difficult to explain, not to mention totally insane. But the greatest danger from the Trump presidency for the entire world is Trump’s continuing alliance, publicly and privately, with Russia. What House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the president to his face is true. With Trump, all roads really do lead to Putin. That’s certainly worthy of an article of impeachment as well. The issue has become even more urgent with Trump’s sudden withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, conveniently fulfilling Putin’s fondest dream by making Russia the dominant outside power in the Middle East. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can write all the op-eds he wants condemning Trump for abandoning Kurdish allies in Syria to slaughter and leaving “the American people and homeland less safe” by emboldening our enemies. All those words will be meaningless if Senate Republicans obediently do what Trump keeps predicting and refuse to seriously consider all the mounting evidence of his unconstitutional assault on our democracy. No one really knows why Trump keeps betraying his own country to serve Putin. But it’s time for his Republican supporters to stop pretending that’s acceptable for an American president. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::ISSUEOFTHEWEEK
Planned Parenthood’s Doors Are Open, No Matter What ::BY TANYA ATKINSON
I
T IS NO SECRET THAT WOMEN’S ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE CONTINUES TO BE UNDER ATTACK. This year alone, we’ve seen unconstitutional bans on abortion and new restrictions on birth control access and cancer screens. Here in Wisconsin, those attacks have resulted in the loss of $3.5 million in annual Title X federal family planning funds benefiting more than 30,000 patients who rely on Planned Parenthood. This decision comes despite Planned Parenthood’s 50-year history of successfully providing patient care in Wisconsin under this important program. Title X is the nation’s only federal family planning program. Its purpose is to make sure people who are uninsured, immigrants or don’t qualify for Medicaid are still able to access preventive reproductive health care. It covers services like medically accurate education, birth control, cancer screenings, wellness exams and STD testing and treatment. Forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program through programmatic changes and an unethical gag rule creates real harm for women who may now be forced to decide between getting their birth control and feeding their family. It creates real harm for young women, women of color and the immigrant community who disproportionately rely on Title X because of systemic inequities in health care, and it creates real harm for patients like Christy from Hartford, Wis., who depended on Title X for her care. “I wasn’t sick. I had no symptoms that there was something wrong with me. If I hadn’t been a patient of Planned Parenthood, I would not have known that I had cervical cancer until I was sick, and I probably would have died,” she explains. Too many people are already forced to make impossible health care decisions. Forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program is a direct threat to already vulnerable people in our community, our friends and our neighbors.
Nonjudgmental Health Care
Yet hope remains. Every day, the highly trained staff at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin proudly provides nonjudgmental health care for people of all genders so they can be safe, healthy and strong. Despite the $3.5 million annual loss, Planned Parenthood will not turn its back on patients. Our doors are open. With communities’ help, we will ensure that people can access the essential health care they need—no matter what. Even in a hostile political climate, Planned Parenthood is determined to thrive, doing what is best for our patients. With the unwavering determination of our supporters, we have protected and enhanced health care access. In all our health centers, we’ve added early pregnancy complication management, endometrial biopsy services, prenatal care connections and postpartum care. In La Crosse, Wis., we’ve merged with another trusted community health partner to enhance essential health care and educational services. In Sheboygan, Wis., we’ve expanded abortion access through addition of medication abortion services. Maintaining health care access for our patients, regardless of income, insurance coverage or immigration status in the wake of Title X is critical for community health. Supporting Planned Parenthood’s health centers, education programs and advocacy work is an investment in the health of the community. Investment looks like becoming a monthly sustaining donor in Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to ensure you and your neighbors have access to health care. Investment looks like trusting Planned Parenthood as your health care provider. Investment looks like being courageous and visible in your support for Planned Parenthood. Communities across Wisconsin have stood with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin for more than 80 years. By working together, Planned Parenthood hopes to continue to be there for people who need it, no matter what. Tanya Atkinson is the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
self-guided driving tour
20
th
Annual
earthwoodandfiretour.com
Oct 26 & 27 2019 10am to 5pm 22 fine artists at 16 studio locations
Jefferson • Cambridge • Lake Mills • Johnson Creek
SEINFELD
OCTOBER 24, 2019 | 9
::SAVINGOURDEMOCRACY ( OCT. 24 - OCT. 30, 2019 ) The Shepherd Express serves as a clearinghouse for all activities in the greater Milwaukee area that peacefully push back against discriminatory, reactionary, homophobic and authoritarian actions and policies of the Donald Trump administration and others who seek to thwart social justice. To submit to this column, please send a brief description of your action, including date and time, to savingourdemocracy@shepex.com.
Thursday, Oct. 24 CLOSEmsdf October Picket @ Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. Ninth St., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. CLOSEmsdf is a community activist group aiming to close the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (MSDF). It holds monthly pickets in front of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Petitioners hold signs and pass out pamphlets about why they believe the MSDF should close.
MICAH annual meeting, “MICAH: Running the Race to Justice” @ Bayshore Lutheran Church, 1200 E. Hampton Ave., 6-8 p.m. Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) was founded in 1988. It is a multi-racial and interfaith organization committed to work on issues of the greatest importance to the residents of the city and the county of Milwaukee. Initiatives discussed at the meeting will include The Coalition on the Lead Emergency, the “Unlock the Vote Campaign,” Milwaukee’s public school system and more.
Saturday, Oct. 26 Community Brainstorming Breakfast Forum @ Wisconsin African American Women’s Center, 3020 W. Vliet St., 8-11 a.m. Markasa Tucker, the director of the African American Round Table, will join other community activists to discuss Milwaukee’s 2020 budget and the police department. The public is welcome.
Peace Action of Wisconsin: Stand for Peace @ the corner of East Brady Street and North Farwell Avenue, noon-1 p.m. Every Saturday from noon-1 p.m., concerned citizens join with Peace Action of Wisconsin to protest war and literally “Stand for Peace.” Signs will be provided for those who need them. Protesters are encouraged to stick around for conversation and coffee after the protest.
Child Detention: Palestine to Milwaukee to U.S.- Mexico Border @ Milwaukee Public Library, Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St., 2-4 p.m. The Palestinian writer and human rights activist, Yousef Aljamal, will join Milwaukee activists to discuss “connections between Palestinian child detention in Israel’s military prisons in the West Bank and the U.S. prison industrial complex, including migrant detention,” the event page says. Aljamal recently translated into English the book Dreaming of Freedom: Palestinian Child Prisoners Speak.
Monday, Oct. 28 Budget Town Hall Meeting with Supervisors Dimitrijevic and Haas @ 3000 S. Howell Ave., 6-7 p.m. Milwaukee County Board Supervisors Jason Haas and Marina Dimitrijevic will be on hand to discuss Milwaukee County’s 2020 budget. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
10 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
::OUTOFMYMIND
Never Miss a Good Chance to Shut Up
“W ::BY PHILIP CHARD
hen I’m with him, I feel invisible,” Kelly shared, referring to her brother, David. Other family members expressed similar concern. “Who I am doesn’t seem to matter,” one told me. “With David, it could be anybody. He just needs an audience so he can talk somebody’s head off.” Multiple attempts by family to provide David with respectful feedback about his overthe-top verbosity proved fruitless. Even when they warned that his ceaseless nattering was off-putting to others, nothing sunk in. Nonetheless, under persistent pressure, he agreed to see me, albeit reluctantly. David was a man of many words, but he didn’t use language for connecting with others. Instead, his so-called conversations consisted almost entirely of a breathless and uninterrupted monologue. After our first session, I didn’t feel like I’d actually met a fellow human being. It was a non-engagement. During our hour-long visit, I occupied less than 5% of the airtime, at most. Never once did he ask me a question, show interest in me as a person, or use my comments for anything more than a springboard to his next tirade. Folks of this ilk harbor a powerful and urgent need to run their mouths. They subject those in their midst to the polar opposite of the silent treatment. The composition of their audience, be that one unfortunate soul or many, is of little concern to them. The intrinsic pressure to “say it!” overshadows all other considerations.
Arrogance, Narcissism, Entitlement
So, what’s behind this propensity? Verbose people include several general types. First, there are those who come by this tendency naturally. It’s just part of their highly extroverted, gregarious temperament. Usually, these folks possess sufficient self-awareness to recognize they are excessively talkative, and some even try to pull back on the verbal reins at times. In short, naturally verbose people are usually manageable. Less so are those who over-talk because of arrogance, narcissism and entitlement. These types are rightly accused of “holding court.” Their self-aggrandizement leads them to believe, often subconsciously, that they should do the talking because, after all, they regard themselves as the most eloquent, erudite and witty persons in the room. This is not a mindset that proves easy to modify, so narcissistic verbosity is usually highly problematic. Another vexing type of hyper-talker, the variety represented by David, is one driven by fear. For these folks, interacting with others is fraught with a measure of unease and risk. Many of them suffered significant emotional trauma during childhood inflicted by other people, leaving them wary of human connection and the vulnerability it requires. To them, openness and emotional closeness carry the potential for being hurt once again. By dominating the airtime in a so-called conversation, David, and those like him, seek to minimize the risk of emotional harm by avoiding a back-and-forth exchange of experiences and feelings. Most often, the listener will simply grin, nod and bear it, so there’s less chance she or he will respond by being critical, disagreeing, reacting emotionally, etc. What can be done for those like David? A key consideration is how that individual responds to feedback. If they react to respectful feedback by either being non-responsive (ignore or deflect the question) or by becoming very defensive at the inference that “you talk too much,” there’s hard work ahead. In David’s case, his family found him non-responsive to their feedback, which became increasingly blunt. What did prove helpful was employing counseling methods that addressed this man’s unresolved emotional trauma, gradually decreasing his wariness around people likely to be safe, like close family and true friends. By opening up emotionally with others, he gradually acquired greater empathy and less of a “circle the wagons” mindset. The capacity to listen to others soon followed, and a two-way communication pathway, rather than a one-way soliloquy, was slowly paved. Over time, David learned to follow the advice of Will Rogers, who said, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” For more, visit philipchard.com. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
NEWS&VIEWS::POLL
You Disagree with Donald Trump on Syria Last week, we asked if you thought Donald Trump’s precipitous withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Syria—essentially abandoning our longtime allies, the Kurds—was the right move. You said: Yes: 15%
No: 85%
What Do You Say? Milwaukee County’s Columbus Park was recently renamed Indigenous Peoples’ Park, and Gov. Tony Evers has designated the second Monday in October (heretofore Columbus Day) as Indigenous Peoples’ Day throughout Wisconsin. Initiatives like these recognize native populations displaced and decimated after Christopher Columbus and other European explorers reached North America. Do you agree with these efforts? Yes No Vote online at shepherdexpress.com. We’ll publish the results of this poll in next week’s issue.
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 11
::CANNABISCONNECTION THE GO-TO SITE FOR EVERYTHING CANNABIS IN WISCONSIN
We will keep you informed each week about the growing availability of legal cannabis products in Milwaukee and what’s happening at the state level with respect to Wisconsin’s movement towards legalization, what’s happening in other states and in the rest of the world.
CBD American Shaman: West Allis Is Part of a Rapidly Growing Franchise ::BY SHEILA JULSON
L
ike many people, Jerri and Brad Landry, owners CBD American Shaman (10236 W. National Ave.), hadn’t been familiar with cannabidiol (CBD) until this past year. When a friend told Brad about the Kansas City, Mo.-based CBD American Shaman franchise, opening a location intrigued him, but Jerri wasn’t completely sold on the idea. “We were misinformed or had misconcep-
tions about CBD, most of which turned out to be incorrect,” Jerri says. When the couple began researching the company, Jerri says she was moved by franchise founder Vince Sanders’ story of developing a product to help his uncle, who was dying from stage-four lung cancer. “That hit home for me, because my mom died at age 39 of breast cancer. Back then, there wasn’t Google and no means to search for alternative medications. I wondered if CBD could have helped her.”
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CBD American Shaman
Jerri and Brad started using CBD American Shaman products and noticed how their sleep had improved. They opened their location in West Allis Friday, Aug. 9, and they’re looking to open a second location in a yet-to-be-determined area. In addition to the Landrys’ location, there are CBD American Shaman stores in Waukesha, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Racine and Kenosha. All are independently owned and operated. CBD American Shaman’s website states that stores are coming soon to Franklin, Wauwatosa, New Berlin and Mequon. Are CBD franchises becoming a trend? Other franchises in the Milwaukee area include Your CBD Store, headquartered in Florida. There are also regional CBD franchises such as Doc Green Well in Florida and Oklahoma-based CBD Plus, with locations throughout the South. “One of the other franchise owners here in the Milwaukee area quoted that, ‘We feel that CBD American Shaman is going to be the Walgreens of CBD,’ because we have a safe, comfortable environment with a spa-like feel,” Jerri says. Every store has a similar appearance with stone countertops and a warm, calming ambiance. CBD American Shaman carries full- and broad-spectrum tinctures (also referred to as
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oils), topical creams, serums, gummies, hard candies and a bath and body line featuring lotion, face cream, lip balm, massage oil and bath bombs. Their pet line includes tinctures for dogs and cats, as well as treats and chews for dogs. In September, CBD American Shaman’s products earned U.S. Hemp Authority’s certification, a voluntary certification program established in 2018 and funded by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. CBD American Shaman sources hemp from Montana and Kentucky. According to an article earlier this year in the Great Falls Tribune, Montana grew the most hemp in the country last year, about 22,000 acres, as part of a pilot program. The Big Sky state even outpaced Colorado, which grew 21,578 acres last year. CBD American Shaman’s flagship is VG Cloud tincture, available in 11 flavors. It is made with nanotechnology that breaks down CBD oil into microscopic particles, allowing for better and quicker absorption into the body. There’s also water-soluble tincture available in five flavors. Customers can also sample the tinctures at any CBD American Shaman store throughout the United States. Jerri says their location also offers samples of topical creams and lotions. They have a “Compassionate Care” program available to customers being treated for chronic illnesses. Once approved, customers can receive a 30% discount. In addition, Jerri says they offer a 10% discount to military members and veterans. Brad had served in U.S. Air Force from 1986 to 1993 as a jet engine mechanic. Despite the booming popularity of CBD, Jerri notes there’s still a small percentage of people actually familiar with it and how it works, so there’s lots of room for growth. “I feel people will become more educated and seek out sources that provide good information, so gas station products and these fly-bythe-seat-of-your-pants places will fall by the wayside,” she predicts. “The future for hemp looks bright in Wisconsin.” For more information, visit cbdwestalliswi.com. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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::CANNABISCONNECTION
First U.S. Cannabis Restaurant Opens in Los Angeles ::BY JEAN-GABRIEL FERNANDEZ
A
merica’s first cannabis restaurant, Lowell Cafe, opened at the beginning of October in Los Angeles. “Yes, we are real AND legal,” the establishment’s website proudly announces. At Lowell Cafe, the food itself will not be infused with cannabis, but a range of pot pre-rolls, vapes, pre-packaged edibles, concentrates and extracts are available for sale—and immediate consumption—alongside high-quality cuisine. The restaurant also provides pipes and bongs, which can be used in the dedicated smoking areas. The way cannabis influences users isn’t limited to psychoactive effects. The high is usually accompanied by a greatly enhanced sense of taste and smell. Anyone who has ever tried cannabis knows of “the munchies”—the ravenous
hunger that sometimes accompanies marijuana use. Most people just devour pizza or cookies to satisfy them, but few have actually faced the munchies with professionally cooked restaurant fare specifically designed to hit all the right spots, which is precisely what Lowell Cafe promises, not unlike pairing wine with food. The menu wasn’t left to just anyone. Chef Andrea Drummer is a well-known cannabis cook whose book, Cannabis Cuisine: Bud Pairings of a Born Again Chef, was named one of the best cannabis cookbooks available by Forbes. “Chef Drummer is renowned for her ability to pair a cannabis strain with a dish that compliments its particular terpene and flavor profiles. She is the driving force behind Lowell Cafe, where she’s fashioned a unique menu of healthy, flavorful, non-infused dishes complementary to our cannabis offerings,” the restaurant explains. Patrons can expect mouthwatering fare like pulled pork shoulder served with blueberry barbecue sauce, caramelized onion and kale slaw or an angus double burger with red pepper, aioli, pickles, onions and white cheddar cheese, which are served with a choice of salad, kale slaw or fries. Other offerings include New Zealand jerk lamb chops with mango salsa, avocado and white bean hummus served with chips and seasonal vegetables and confit tamarind wings with a homemade glaze. The menu is divided between salads (the ingredients of which are primarily provided by local farmers markets), sandwiches and snacks, and all items seem both delicious and intriguing. Crav-
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THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS, RANKED BY THE BUSINESS JOURNAL AS ONE OF MILWAUKEE’S TOP WORKPLACES, IS SEEKING TALENTED CANDIDATES: • Must be able to work Independently • Be highly motivated and like to win • Have strong communication and diplomatic skills • Be organized and have the ability to meet deadlines in a high paced environment • Enjoy developing creative solutions for clients • Preferably a minimum of two years Sales Experience DUTIES: • Consult with businesses and nonprofit organizations to develop creative solutions for their advertising needs • Sell an array of advertising and marketing services from print and digital (web site, e-newsletters, social media and mobile) to event participations and sponsorships • Develop advertising proposals and campaigns for clients • Conduct meetings with clients to present developed materials • Prospect for new business clients • Ability to close sales
TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, SUBMIT YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO: KGARDNER@SHEPEX.COM. NO CALLS, PLEASE. 14 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
Lowell Cafe COURTESY OF LOWELL CAFE
ing sweetness is a core component of munchies, so a large part of the menu at Lowell Cafe is dedicated to ice cream, cheesecake (served with berry compote and coconut whipped cream), sundaes and milkshakes. The cafe doesn’t serve alcohol.
What Can Cannabis Businesses Look Like?
Lowell Cafe was allowed to operate thanks to an innovative business initiative by the City of West Hollywood, which could serve as an incubator for all cannabis businesses in America. Through merit-based licenses, those new businesses can be a source of employment, revenue, urban development and tourism, as evidenced by Lowell Cafe’s instant popularity. In November 2017, “the West Hollywood City Council adopted a cannabis ordinance allowing a variety of different cannabis businesses to be licensed in the city. The ordinance included eight licenses in each of the following categories: adult-use retail, medical dispensary, consumption lounge (smoking, vaping, edibles), consumption lounge (edibles only) and delivery services.” Lowell Cafe is the first to receive one of the consumption licenses out of more than 300 applications submitted. In order to be selected, applicants need to prove the strength of their business model. As West Hollywood compiled the best applicants, we can have a glimpse at what an industry could look like for which cannabis licenses are given
to deserving entrepreneurs. Here are some highlights: n The Artist Tree A multi-purpose building centered on a cannabis learning center, cannabis museum, a self-service ordering station and an art gallery. It would tie together the mentally enlightening experience of marijuana with art and learning, as well as a restaurant, bar and retail store. n Lord Jones The world’s first hotel-based cannabis boutique, focusing on luxury retail and white-glove service at a location on Sunset Strip. n Chroma Social Lounge A restaurant space with the modern, green feel of an arboretum, diffused lighting and a warm ambiance accented with fire pits, string lights and a patio wrapped around an olive tree. The food would be cannabis-infused and focused on small batches, local products and cannabis cocktails. n Door Number Six A spa doubling as a cafe, clinic and education center where cannabis and CBD consumption are intertwined with other wellness products and techniques to offer optimal relaxation and well-being. n Muthatree An exploration space mixing cannabis and virtual reality. A large gallery space dedicated to discovering the wonders of virtual reality and 3D digital art while consuming marijuana and healthy food items. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
Use our interactive, up-to-date guide to find stores offering CBD oil products and other cannabis-related products
shepherdexpress.com/cbdshop SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::NAVIGATINGTHEHEALTHCARE
-HEALTHINSURANCEMAZE
Purchasing Health Insurance in the Marketplace: Look Before You Leap
Essential Health Benefits (required in all individual plans) include maternity care, prescriptions and newborn screenings, and young adults are allowed to stay on a parent’s health plans up to age 26—a very popular feature of the ACA called “dependent coverage.” Similarly, by not discriminating against individuals with preexisting conditions, health plans changed ratesetting methods. Plans can be more expensive based on geography and age (to a controlled level), but not rated based on level of disability. Even after nearly a decade, many agents and brokers remain to assist consumers identify and select health plans. The ACA allows the sale of insurance plans outside the marketplace, as long as the plans cover Essential Health Benefits and follow prohibitions on discriminating against those with preexisting conditions.
::BY BRYNNE MCBRIDE AND BOBBY PETERSON OF HEALTHWATCH WISCONSIN, INC., WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR SHEPHERD EXPRESS
ACA Still Going Strong; Open Enrollment Fast Approaching
T
HE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA), changed health care delivery, financing, cost and consumer protections and the way most Americans shop for individual health insurance. The law created a new marketplace structure for purchasing private, individual health insurance coverage from a federally operated site, healthcare.gov. Wisconsin, under then-Gov. Scott Walker, opted to use the federal site instead of creating a Wisconsin-run marketplace. The early days of the marketplace were rough, and the federal website frequently crashed, leaving many consumers and advocates frustrated. But after working through early challenges, the centralized purchasing of private, individual coverage is a centerpiece of the ACA. The move to a central, online marketplace put control in the hands of many consumers. To understand the great opposition to these changes, one only needs to think about the fear of lost jobs to a very large and powerful group of stakeholders, health insurance agents and brokers. Remember that online purchasing virtually wiped out the travel agent; many insurance agents and brokers feared the same fate and fought the new marketplace structure tooth and nail. Others adapted to the new reality and new opportunities in a changing market. In the end, the marketplaces permitted consumers to shop for health coverage with the new advantage of uniform insurance applications that promoted efficient apples-to-apples comparison of costs: premiums and out-of-pocket costs, as well as covered services, provider networks and consumer protections. Insurance company mumbo jumbo, typically hidden in the fine print of an application or policy, became more limited. Policies must prominently display cost information. The new rules helped streamline applications, since income and household information were often available through existing data from federal government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The new law also eliminated lifetime caps and annual benefit limits. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
More than 12 million people gained access to insurance through the ACA in 2014, the marketplace’s first coverage year. (More than 8 million individuals purchased private insurance, while an additional 4.8 million enrolled in Medicaid.) Substantial, new enrollments reduced the number of uninsured individuals and dramatically reduced instances of uncompensated hospital care. Patients had coverage for the first time, and hospitals had an insurance source to bill. In recent history, however, the 2017 Republican tax bill zeroed out the individual mandate’s penalty for not having insurance, chipping away at a critical enforcement mechanism of the ACA. For individuals without health coverage in 2019, the penalty owed on taxes in 2020 is now $0. Census data already shows the number of uninsured individuals creeping up, and hospitals have already reported an uptick in uncompensated care. Purchasing health insurance does not need to be a painful process, and, in fact, a little work in advance can save you from a lot of painful debt and expenses later on. The ACA’s Open Enrollment Period occurs each fall, now running Nov. 1-Dec. 15 each year. But remember, changes in household size or income could qualify an individual for a “special enrollment period”—an opportunity to secure coverage after a qualifying life event that is outside the traditional Open Enrollment Period. The 2020 Open Enrollment Period for private health insurance coverage on healthcare.gov kicks off on Friday, Nov. 1, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 15, for coverage that begins Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. There are several ways to connect to the marketplace: By going online: visit healthcare.gov. By telephone: 1-800-318-2596. By paper and mail: visit marketplace.cms. gov and view “Applications and Forms.” Applying online is usually the easiest way to apply and is largely a two-step process. First, answer the questions about household size and income, immigration status and employment and tax dependents in the home. Gather all important documents and information on each member of your household in advance to make these questions easier: names, dates of birth, Health continued on page 16 >
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::NAVIGATINGTHEHEALTHCARE
-HEALTHINSURANCEMAZE
> Health continued from page 14
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16 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
Social Security numbers, immigration document information for lawfully present immigrants, employer and income information, insurance carriers and a copy of last year’s taxes. Then, select a plan category from the listing of “metals;” that is, a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plan. These are largely distinguished by how the customer and plan split costs and don’t necessarily indicate a difference in plan quality or covered services. The marketplace enrollment process uses consumer information to help identify and direct eligible people to Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus. This process is not foolproof, and people with fluctuating monthly income due to work hours, commissions or those with student loan expenses can sometimes miss eligibility options and credits in the simple screening process. Likewise, people with pre-existing conditions can secure health insurance coverage through the marketplace but should still review eligibility for Medicaid programs for people with disabilities who can still work part time. The marketplace’s “no wrong door” eligibility approach helps direct lower-income individuals and families to more appropriate coverage systems but does not always account for different states’ Medicaid eligibility rules. The second step in the application process evaluates the applicant for financial assistance in the form of tax credits to reduce premiums or Cost Sharing Reductions to reduce out-ofpocket costs for deductibles, co-insurance or other co-pays associated with a plan. These financial incentives are both income dependent and plan based. Advance Premium Tax Credits are subsidies to reduce health insurance premiums. Eligible individuals will have household income within the range of 100%-400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) determined at the time of application. The subsidies are based on your anticipated income during the upcoming tax year and are later reconciled against your actual income on your tax return. Cost Sharing Reductions are savings on out-of-pocket expenses that are available to individuals who fall between 100% and 250% of the FPL who have purchased a Silver tier marketplace plan. Cost Sharing Reductions are still available despite recent political decisions impacting insurance company compensation for these payments. Most people seeking insurance can purchase coverage through the marketplace with the exception of those eligible for Medicare and those not lawfully present in the United States. Eligibility for tax credits, though, can be a trickier and potentially costly determination. For example, a person with anticipated annual income under 100% of the FPL should be directed to Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus for coverage, since they are ineligible for marketplace-related tax credits under the law. On the flipside, people with higher incomes must report any additional income increases in order to avoid repayment of tax credits at the end of the year.
A New Plan or Renew Your Plan?
An individual with marketplace coverage in 2019 can renew or change coverage during the Open Enrollment Period. If they fail to act, the plan will renew into the “closest plan available” unless the exact same plan is being offered in 2020. While “auto-renewals” are a helpful feature, consumers should always review their options to avoid a default renewal for at least two good reasons. First, the “new” plan may have dramatically different costs, network of providers or covered services. Second, the consumer’s information and eligibility for tax credits may have changed due to a new job, income or household size. Open enrollment is an opportunity to review current information and make adjustments. It certainly is the better alternative to doing nothing only to find that your income information was incorrect at renewal and that you now owe income tax to repay excess premium tax credits. For 2020, there are three major things to watch for when applying for marketplace coverage: First, a process called “Direct Enrollment” allows an individual to purchase individual coverage through an insurance company or online health insurance seller directly, without redirecting to healthcare.gov. These plans include qualified health plans with ACA protections as available options. However, such plans may not include tax subsidies; this is true even if that same plan is available for purchase on healthcare.gov. Where you purchase your plan matters. Second, cheaper plans may be deceiving. Short-term health plans are available for sale that are not comprehensive insurance, may not cover preexisting conditions and don’t follow Essential Health Benefits requirements. Be aware of plan benefits when shopping for insurance during Open Enrollment. That plan may indeed be too good to be true. Don’t get saddled with a junk plan. Review the exclusions or limitations of the plan. Finally, watch for scams! The official marketplace is healthcare.gov—not any website that ends in “.com,” “.net” or “.org.” Specifically, look for the “.gov.” Other websites may look quite similar, even using officiallooking logos and patriotic colors. Those sites are hosted by insurance sellers or brokers and are not the marketplace. When shopping for insurance, remember that help is available. The marketplace itself has a “Find Local Help” button that lists Marketplace Navigators, assisters, agents and brokers, sorted by zip code. Unfortunately, in another attempt to stifle enrollment in the ACA, the Donald Trump administration slashed funding for navigators, outreach, education and advertising. Still, some resources remain for consumers who need help with marketplace enrollment, but those with more complex insurance concerns, such as advanced medical needs or fluctuating income, may require a higher level of eligibility assistance. This level of consumer support is currently unavailable or severely limited. The situation is dire for rural populations and those with health disparities or exceptional medical needs. Wisconsin can and should do more. But despite the executive orders, the dozens of attempts to repeal
and replace, the lawsuits and the tweets, the ACA is still the law of the land, and the marketplaces have remained remarkably resilient.
Reviewing Your Policy: A Checklist
As you review your health insurance policy and plan options, make sure you fully understand how the insurance would work for your family and your needs. Here’s a handy checklist to help guide you through your review: Know Your Policy: Read through your health insurance policy. Make sure to keep letters and updates from your insurer about changes in network providers and covered services. Policy Provisions: Identify important provisions that define the quality of health care and services. Review them carefully. Review your coverage limits and copayment and deductible responsibilities. It pays to know about your insurance before you need it. Keep a Paper Trail: Keep a good set of written records. A paper trail consists of any records that verify your contacts with your provider and your insurer. These records will be extremely useful in the event that you need to build a case to get the care you need. Pre-Authorization and Preapproval: Some policies require notice before you have certain types of medical procedures. Make sure you are aware of them. If you do not notify the plan as required, there is a good chance they will not pay out benefits on your claim. Co-Insurance: Covering a deductible may not be the end of your liability. You might also be responsible for paying co-insurance, which is the percentage of the bill you pay after the deductible is satisfied. Out-of-Pocket Maximum: If you have a serious or chronic medical problem, you have the potential to build up large hospital bills just from deductibles and co-insurance. ACA policies have an out-of-pocket maximum where insurance caps the deductibles and co-insurance at a set level each year. For the 2020 plan year, the outof-pocket limit for a marketplace plan is $8,200 (individual plan) or $16,400 (family plan). After your expenses reach that level, the insurance company pays for all of your medical expenses for the rest of that year, except for co-payments. Inpatient and Outpatient Coverage: Some insurers only pay for inpatient hospital stays and do not cover outpatient services. However, physicians treat some very serious and expensive illnesses on an outpatient basis. For all these reasons, make sure to read the fine print. Benefits and Exclusions: Despite the ACA provision related to Essential Health Benefits, every plan still has unique benefits and exclusions. Read sections of your policy carefully to identify covered and non-covered services alike. If you have unanswered questions after reading the policy, contact the plan or an insurance agent. Provider List: Health insurance through the ACA will offer you a provider directory that includes the clinics, specialties and doctors covered under the plan. For many people, choosing their health care provider is the most important issue in selecting insurance coverage. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
November 16, 2019 • Italian Community Center • 11am - 4pm Health & Lifestyle Expo dedicated to the empowerment of all women to achieve both personal and professional goals SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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::DININGOUT DAVE ZYLSTRA
FEATURE | SHORT ORDER | EAT/DRINK
Mekong Café
Milwaukee Favorite Mekong Café Stays on Top
Another addition, the weekday lunchtime buffet ($12.95), has expanded to include weekends from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and is worth a visit onto itself. Wonderfully fresh and varied, the buffet is a great way to get to introduce yourself to Mekong Café’s menu—whether you’re a new customer or a long time Mekong fan wanting to expand your palate. It’s always a treat to discover a new favorite dish or possibly even an off-menu, extra special dish on the buffet. Begin your meal with rich and creamy Thai iced tea (large $4), a perfect way to cool your mouth if spicy food gets too intense. A nice selection of imported Thai and Laos beer ($5), as well some sake or other wines ($6 per glass) are available if you like an alcoholic beverage with your meal. It could be easy to over-order on appetizers as there are so many excellent options available, but you can’t go wrong with the Nam Kow ($7). This Mekong signature appetizer is loaded with flavor and just enough spice to make you glad you have that Thai iced tea. Basically, a lettuce wrap, but the ::BY SUSAN HARPT GRIMES delicious filling for this wrap consists of crispy bits of deep-fried rice ball, ham, coconut and peanuts, all seasoned with lime and zippy curry paste. Another OR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, MEKONG CAFÉ, has solid choice is the Fresh Spring Roll ($6). Like most fresh rolls, Mekong’s version been delighting Milwaukeeans with outstanding comes wrapped in a softened rice-based wrapper and is stuffed with fresh letAsian cuisine prepared in traditional ways and tuce, carrots, cilantro, basil and cucumber. The standout difference here is the with a dedicated passion that has inspired an everseriously big shrimp that completes the roll (a veggie-only version is available) expanding local following. The food served here and served with an authentic peanut sauce. celebrates the countries the beautiful Mekong river Everyone is wowed when food arrives, still sizzling to the table. At Mekong, flows through: Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. one of the best and most fun dishes to receive is the Mekong Chicken ($14). Over the years, there have been many improveLightly breaded, deep-fried chicken tops a bed of beautifully sautéed cabments and positive changes made at Mekong Café. Relatively recent remodeling has created a welcoming, dedicated area at the bage and carrots, and it is served, sizzling, with a lovely volcano sauce. Or go for the Jungle Chicken ($13) marinated in Laotian herbs then front for easy carryout orders. Warm tones on the deep-fried and served with an exquisite papaya salad. The walls, hardwood flooring and twining vines along Mekong Café Thai Pud Prik Khing ($13) is also quite good, perfectly sautéed the ductwork at the ceiling has made the dining area 5930 W. North Ave. a delightful retreat from the bustling crossroads green beans served with your choice of meat and packed with outside. Anyone concerned about the environment flavor from the chili paste base that is softened a bit with lem414-257-2228 • $$ will be happy to note that Mekong Café has just ongrass and lime. Fans of Vietnamese Pho will love the meat mekong-cafe.com converted to sugarcane, fiber-based, biodegradand seafood ($12-$13) options, which are served with all the Handicap access: yes able bags and takeout containers. accoutrements.
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DININGOUT::EATDRINK
Twisted Path Distillery’s New Chai Liqueur
S
::BY SHEILA JULSON
ince opening Twisted Path Distillery in 2014—located inside Lincoln Warehouse at 2018 S. First St.—Brian Sammons has consistently used his ingenuity to craft unique yet approachable, scratch-made organic spirits that have become much appreciated throughout town. This month, he released their newest product for retail sales: Twisted Path’s 80-proof Chai Liqueur. Twisted Path’s Chai Liqueur is not overly sweet, nor is it creamy or low in alcohol like most commercial liqueurs. “This falls into a unique category,” Sammons emphasizes. “I tell bartenders not to look at this like Kahlúa; it’s very different. It’s a higher proof, with a very intentional balance of proof, sugar and spice concentration that makes it handy and easy to use in cocktails. It can be used in cocktails in ways that most liqueurs can’t.” Sammons says the idea for a chai liqueur came from his wife, Laura Singleton, who makes chai from scratch at home for the family to drink. Her own recipe has black tea and a blend of spices. “She used to occasionally drink liqueurs like Bailey’s Irish Cream but now drinks only
organic dairy. I can’t have dairy at all, so the thought came up of making something like Bailey’s, but organic,” Sammons recalls. “Then, we thought we could just separate out the cream part, and people can add their own cream, coconut milk or soy milk.”
A ‘Swiss Army Knife of Cocktails’ There were no other chai liqueurs on the market, Sammons notes, so he got to work measuring out spices, grinding them in a Cuisinart and putting them into a giant tea bag. Sammons designed and built many items in his distillery, so he used his D.I.Y. skills to come up with a 55-gallon “teapot.” Using Twisted Path’s vodka for the alcohol component, he added the black tea, herbs, spices and cane sugar and initially launched the Chai Liqueur about a year ago in the Twisted Path tasting room as part of their experimental series. “It turned out to be good for all kinds of things I didn’t expect. It’s the Swiss army knife of cocktails,” Sammons says. He carefully calculated the sweetness level so it can be easily substituted for simple syrup in cocktails without bartenders having to do a lot of cumbersome calculations. The chai sour—made with Twisted Path’s Chai Liqueur and lemon juice and shaken on ice—has a bright flavor and tastes more complex than having just two ingredients. “Some cocktails are unapproachable to make at home; either you don’t know how to do it, or you need too many ingredients,” he says. The Chai Nog is made similar to traditional eggnog and has Chai Liqueur, cream, sugar, eggs and water, served chilled. Those drinks and others made with Chai Liqueur are available at the tasting room, with recipes soon to be posted on their website (twistedpathdistillery. com). Sammons also recommends Twisted Path’s Chai Liqueur as a base spirit, in hard seltzer, hot or cold coffee, hot or cold cider, milk, hot cocoa and even as a substitute for vanilla extract while baking. Once Sammons had Twisted Path Distillery’s new label design ready, he launched his 80-proof Chai Liqueur for retail sales. It’s available at area retailers, including Otto’s, Ray’s, Total Wine, Woodman’s in Oak Creek and some Sendik’s red bag locations, with more locations coming soon.
EVAN CASEY
::SHORTORDER
Get the Goat at La Sierrita
::BY JAMIE LEE RAKE
A recent visit to one of Milwaukee’s newest Mexican restaurants, La Sierrita (2689 S. 13th St.), found an excellent dish prepared in their kitchen but unlisted on their menu. La Sierrita’s birria, or goat soup, merits attention. Nearly boneless, tender, torn-looking chunks of lean meat populate a broth so richly brown it borders on burgundy. A couple quarters of lime, hills of chopped cilantro and red onion and a few dried red chilis arrive beside the bowl to complement the already succulent flavor. If goat is a step too far, there are tacos, tortas and other items made with suadero, the soft cut of beef just above the udders. Also on the menu are gorditas, tostadas, breakfasts, seafood entrées, plate dinners and other soups, including menudo and pozole (made from pork loin).
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La Sierrita
O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 19
Museum of Wisconsin Art
Bloomin’ Holidays Friday–Sunday, November 8–10, 2019
Florals in the Galleries | Artist Marketplace | Talks | Outdoor Lights
Kick off the holidays at MOWA View the full event schedule online at wisconsinart.org/bloominholidays Bloomin’ Holidays is free with membership or $15 for the
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weekend, which includes a complimentary membership.
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::A&E
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CHRISTAL WAGNER
FEATURE | FILM | THEATRE | ART | BOOKS | CLASSICAL MUSIC | DANCE
Oracle and ‘Utterance’
Rehearsal for Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s ‘Utterance’
MILWAUKEE OPERA THEATRE COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL GROUPS ON A PROPHETIC PRODUCTION ::BY DAVID LUHRSSEN t Delphi, in ancient times, the future was foretold. Seekers from across Greece and the Mediterranean came to the city under towering Mount Parnassus to hear the Oracle, the priestess of Apollo. Seated on a tripod, the Oracle answered questions, often enigmatically. Perhaps the future is a riddle? The surviving oracular texts are the inspiration behind Utterance, a remarkable piece of original music, words and motion by Milwaukee Opera Theatre (MOT) in collaboration with Aperi Animam and Cadance Collective. One source for Utterance is Prophetiae Sibyllarum by Renaissance composer Orlande de Lassus, whose place in vocal polyphony is comparable to Beethoven’s innovations in symphony. De Lassus’ motet will be juxtaposed with the contemporary work of a UWMilwaukee experimental composer with a national reputation, Amanda Schoofs. She describes her music for Utterance as “human in its scope and eternal in its sound.” The poetry is derived from the Oracle’s pronouncements called the “Sibylline Oracles.” Writing in English, Schoofs put her poetic interpretations of those texts to music. “They are new revelations, a new way of looking at the Oracle, the same thing de Lassus did,” says Daniel Koplitz of Aperi Animam, a Milwaukee choral group known for carefully studied yet imaginative interpretations of early music.
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Koplitz continues, “Utterance will be more than a concert, more than theater—it’s all-encompassing.” According to MOT’s artistic director Jill Anna Ponasik, Utterance “will wash over the audience. It’ll be environmental—you’re feel it all around you.” MOT’s company manager Danny Brylow jumps in. “There is no concrete narrative,” he explains. “‘Meditative’ is the exact word. Especially in Amanda’s music, there is a real expansion of time—of taking each moment and exploring it—a sense of expanding consciousness.” “It’s a meditation on prophecy and revelation,” Ponasik adds. Utterance will be staged in the Victorian gothic surroundings of Calvary Presbyterian Church. There are no pews; the church’s folding chairs will be ringed around the stage set, a labyrinth whose four entrances represent the cardinal points. Members of Aperi Animam will be arrayed within the labyrinth along with flutist Emma Koi and cellist Alicia Storin from Cadance Collective. At the center of the labyMilwaukee rinth, Cadance’s dancer Christal Wagner plays the Oracle, expressing the texts in words and movement. Opera Brylow calls the visual aesthetic “vaguely punk or post-punk as Theatre a way of connecting with the modern side of the ancient-modern Utterance spectrum.” Aperi Animam will sing de Lassus’ Latin texts and mainCalvary tain a wordless incantation through much of the performance. Presbyterian Schoof’s poetry will be spoken and sung. Church “It’s about the human yearning over what’s to come. We look for Oct. 29 - 31 something to tell us,” Ponasik says. “It’s about the yearning for meaning, for getting it right. What are the oracles we’re listening to, now? People should leave Utterance slightly rearranged…” “But hopefully more aligned,” Brylow concludes. Utterance will be performed 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29; 8 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 30; and 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 628 N. 10th St. For tickets, visit milwaukeeoperatheatre.org or call 800-838-3006.
O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 21
WWBIC’S 2019 ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON GIVING TUESDAY
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The Bad Seed
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Young Rhoda is mature beyond her years and adored by the adults in her life, but her penchant for lying and lack of affection has her mother uneasy. When one of her classmates drowns during a field trip, her mother’s worst fears are confirmed. Set in a small Southern town, The Bad Seed is a 1954 play by American playwright Maxwell Anderson, adapted from the novel of the same name by American writer William March. The Waukesha Civic Theatre production will be directed by Kelly Goeller and feature Maddie Dixon as troubled youth, Rhoda Penmark, and Kelly Simons as her mother, Christine. “Troubled” being an understatement. The Bad Seed is not a play about a distraught mother trying to deal with an unruly, headstrong daughter in which, after much conflict, they find inner happiness and contentment and there’s a promise of a wonderful life thereafter. No; far from that. The Bad Seed is a study in psychology and what makes a person, well, bad… in this case, very bad. Can tendencies toward malevolence be overcome by love, or is a bad person condemned to always be such? Anderson’s play poses many questions, answering some while leaving others open. (John Jahn) Oct. 25-Nov. 10 at Waukesha Civic Theatre, 264 W. Main St. Waukesha. For tickets, call 262547-0708 or visit waukeshacivictheatre.org.
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@shepherdexpress 22 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
::PERFORMINGARTSWEEK
“Best of Bach Chamber Choir: Celebrating 50 Years of Singing”
Entering its 50th season, Bach Chamber Choir recently appointed a new director, Christine Flasch, who also serves as the director of the Southwestern Suburban Symphony. Flasch grew up in Milwaukee, but her impressive solo, choral and conducting résumé has taken her all over the U.S. “I am dedicated to carrying on the legacy of this fine ensemble by presenting and promoting high-caliber choral music throughout the Milwaukee area,” she says of her new position. “Best of Bach Chamber Choir: Celebrating 50 Years of Singing” takes place on Sunday, Oct. 27, at All Saints Cathedral (818 E. Juneau Ave.). The choir, with Flasch at the helm and accompanied by a chamber orchestra, will (as their website states) “perform fan favorites, from contemporary to Mozart, that offer lots of variety.” (John Jahn) For an exclusive interview with Christine Flasch, see this issue’s Off the Cuff column. For tickets, call 414-587-1624 or visit bachchoirmilwaukee.com.
“Autumn’s Colors”
Autumn in Wisconsin is beautiful; the leaves on trees and bushes alike gradually change from their verdant vibrance to glorious hues ranging from bright yellow to dark brown. There’s no work on the Philomusica Quartet’s concert program specifically about the fall season, but its title is still apropos because it brings to mind the often breathtaking colors we see during these months before winter sets in. The “colors” are those of the instrumental sound emanating from the quartet in these beautiful works. On the program is Max Bruch’s String Quartet in C Minor, Op. posth. (1852). Bruch was a master with orchestral color and melody—attributes that shone through in all of his oeuvre. The meatiest piece on the menu is Johannes Brahms’ Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B Minor, Op. 115 (1891), for which the quartet will be joined by fourtime Grammy Award-winner Todd Levy as guest clarinetist. Finally, there’s American composer Aaron Copland’s Two Pieces for String Quartet (1928). (John Jahn) Monday, Oct. 28, at the Center for Arts and Performance, Schwan Concert Hall, 8815 W. Wisconsin Ave. For tickets, visit wlc.edu. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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A&E::INREVIEW
Alana Griffith in Milwaukee Ballet’s ‘Coppélia’
Milwaukee Ballet Mounts a ‘Coppélia’ for All Times ::BY JOHN SCHNEIDER
I
HOPE TED KIVITT TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF COPPÉLIA that opened Milwaukee Ballet’s 50th season last weekend. Kivitt, a star of American Ballet Theater in the 1960s and ’70s, danced the male lead in Coppélia when it was this company’s first-ever full-length production 50 years ago. In fact, he’d come to town some months before that to help birth Milwaukee’s first professional ballet with a showcase of dances at UW-Milwaukee. Then, from 1980-1986, he oversaw the company’s growth as its artistic director. Now, as an honored audience member for the company’s newest Coppélia, I trust he saw and felt the value and importance of all that work, for Milwaukee Ballet surely stands among the nation’s greats. The joy, skill and warmth of the performers, the fullness of the characterizations and the clarity of the storytelling in this laugh-out-loud comic classic created for me a kind of enchantment in this dark time. I was blissfully lost in it. The intoxicating music by Léo Delibes played a big role in that, much thanks to conductor Pasquale Laurino’s perfect tempos and the rich playing of the orchestra. Anyone who’s taken ballet lessons as a child will have that heart-lifting signature mazurka from Act One sewn into their soul. The fairy-tale scenery and costumes were borrowed, and I hope the Richmond and Louisville Ballets will forgive me for saying that our man David Grill’s lighting greatly heightened their effectiveness. The spooky doll workshop in Act Two appeared like a hallucination, an effect enhanced by the fact that the valiant dancers playing life-size dolls—today, they might be androids—held so still for such long periods I thought they were mannequins. Their sudden mechanical movements, when called for, were spectacular. Of course, it was Michael Pink’s choreography and staging and the all-around terrific performances that turned this ballet from 1870 into something truly immediate. I can’t say enough about Marize Fumero’s tireless performance in the central role. Whether balanced on the point of one foot with the other above her head or executing strings of spins and leaps, she was fully in character, her face and body a perfect expression of Swanhilda’s inner life at every moment. In the Kivitt role, Davit Hovhannisyan surely pleased his forerunner with his power, grace and humor. And in the crucial role of the doll maker, Timothy O’Donnell made this outsider complex and tragic. 24 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
‘The Great Cathedrals’ Honored by Master Singers of Milwaukee
“M
::BY JEAN-GABRIEL FERNANDEZ
UCH OF THE WORLD’S MOST BELOVED CHORAL MUSIC WAS WRITTEN FOR CATHEDRAL CHOIRS,” the choral group Master Singers of Milwaukee (MSM) write about their season opener, “The Great Cathedrals.” Pulling from the half-century-long experience as a premier Milwaukee choir, the singers aim to transport the audience to cathedrals across the world, where and when the history of music was made. The concert, which spans nearly 500 years of music history, from the 16th century to modern times, was conducted by MSM music director Eduardo García-Novelli. Most of the songs are contemporary—eight out of 13 are from the 20th century alone—but the concert features some great names in the history of music, including Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat and Felix Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer. The setup is such that the audience is entirely surrounded by sound. There is a large organ behind and the choir ahead—but most importantly, the perfectly appropriate All Saints’ Cathedral, where the show is performed, provides an echo chamber that enhances it all. The voices are powerful and envelop the audience instantly, bouncing off the walls of the cathedral and giving the songs a surreal, almost angelic quality. Beautiful singing is a staple of such a show, but soprano Beth Lambrecht’s solo in the Mendelssohn was a high point of the evening. Although this show mainly brings to the fore the vocal prowess of the choir members, the instrumental work of organist Jayne Latva truly stood out, playing no little part in the final result. Allison Schafernak’s clarinet part in Paul Halley’s Agnus Dei did a fine job complementing the instrumental backdrop of the show, as well. Master Singers of Milwaukee PHOTO BY KATE KEEGAN PHOTOGRAPHY
A ‘Kaleidoscope’ of Complex Emotional Survival ::BY RUSS BICKERSTAFF
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OOPERATIVE PERFORMANCE EXPLORES CYCLES OF ABUSE AND RECOVERY IN KALEIDOSCOPE, a dance theater piece in the cozy space at Danceworks. The white frame of a doorway rests between two implied rooms. Kaitlyn Moore and Dana Leone Strothenke bring the complexities of emotional survival to the stage as a couple of women simultaneously recover from abusive relationships in a journey which feels considerably more expansive than its 50-minute runtime. The doorway is all that’s on stage. Costuming is casual. The production doesn’t weight itself down with anything other than motion, emotion and the pulse of the narrative. The two rooms inhabited by the two survivors serve as prisons. The only way out of one is into the other. Their abusers can enter and exit freely. Thom Cauley and Maelen Kloskey play the antagonists in relationships that gracefully bristle with emotional gravity. Creator-director Emily Elliott allows the relationships on both sides of the door enough time to develop a real sense of emotional connection between each pair, which gradually mutates into abuse. This serves as a firm foundation for the emotional pain and loss that follows when the abusive relationships are finally dissolved. Sandra Hollander and Caitlyn Nettesheim play to the emotional support dynamic that survivors of abuse struggle within the course of recovery. The relations between survivors, supporters and abusers on both sides of the door reverberate against each other in beautifully bittersweet echoes. By the end of the hour, abuse and recovery cycles back in on itself in a strikingly powerful narrative that concisely breathes insight into the nature of human connection. It’s only 50 minutes onstage, but it’s an experience well beyond the movements of any clock. Through Oct. 26 at Danceworks Studio Theatre, 1661 N. Water St. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
A&E::INREVIEW
D
ROSS E ZENTNER
Love and Loss in First Stage’s ‘On the Wings of a Mariposa’
::BY BLAINE SCHULTZ
EATH IS A FACT OF LIFE, AND FAMILY MEMBERS CHOOSE TO DEAL WITH THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE DIFFERENTLY. First Stage’s On the Wings of a Mariposa reveals the connection among three generations of women in Michoacán, Mexico. Directed by Karen Estrada and adapted by Alvaro Saar Rios from the book Ghost Wings by Cedarburg’s Barbara Joosse, the cast is comprised of 10 young actors and two adults. Dialogue is a mix of English and Español brought to life by the Latinx cast. Pilar (Abby Hanna) had a special relationship with her Abuelita (Laura Crotte) and the scent of roses and tortilla on her deceased grandmother’s rebozo triggers comforting memories. She works through her grief with the help of her Mami (Rána Roman). While empathetic, mom also realizes the need for her daughter to find way to deal with their shared loss. A shimmering backdrop of an enchanted forest conjures the magic realism of young actors portraying migrating monarch butterflies and a talking mouse. It spins the metaphor of long journeys, always accompanied by the spirit of loved ones, to life. The original recorded score, music and lyrics by Dinorah Márquez and performed by Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil adds dreamlike authenticity. After school, instead of coming straight home, Pilar has trekked to the forest to have conversations with the spirit of her Abuelita. Grandma metes out wisdom, yet Pilar is still scared by the monsters in her bedroom each night. As the rebozo’s scent fades, Pilar fears her protector will no longer be able to banish los monstros. But her Mami tells the girl to trust the power of memory through walls of time. She will carry her grandmother in her heart no matter where life’s migrations take her. She even accompanies her daughter to the forest, though fearful, to the same place Abuelita took her as a girl years before. When a friend’s uncle dies in a mining accident, Pilar begins to understand the universality of grief. The Día de los Muertos marketplace celebration shows how all generations rely on the love and support of friends and family. Through Nov. 10 at Todd Wehr Theater, 121 E. State St.
Isabel Quintero & Marti Gobel Renaissance Theaterworks’ ‘The Roommate’
PAUL RUFFALO
Transformative Experience for Two Women in Renaissance Theaterworks’ ‘The Roommate’
Trinity Escalera and cast in First Stage’s ‘On the Wings of a Mariposa’ SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::BY ANNE SIEGEL
A
T FIRST GLANCE, PLAYWRIGHT JEN SILVERMAN’S SCORCHINGLY FUNNY COMEDY, THE ROOMMATE, resembles Neil Simon’s classic The Odd Couple. In this case, it’s two middle-aged women who make plans to room together. In Renaissance Theaterworks’ production, Sharon (Isabel Quintero) is a divorced Iowa homemaker whose biggest thrill is her weekly book club. She puts out an ad to attract a roommate to split expenses and ends up with Robyn (Marti Gobel), a street-smart hustler from the Bronx, N.Y. Robyn is gay, vegan and a pot smoker, all of which are relatively new concepts to Sharon. Needless to say, the women’s first meeting is an awkward one. In discussing her background, Robyn reveals that she formerly did slam poetry. When Sharon wants to try her hand at it, Robyn cautions her: “All first poems are bad—but there’s a great liberty in being bad.” Sharon takes that advice to heart, in more ways than one. She transforms her life completely under Robyn’s hesitant supervision and guidance. Soon, the two of them are involved in all sorts of questionable enterprises. An enthusiastic Sharon proves to be a quick study, and the two of them grow closer as time goes on. They both discover that they are mothers, bringing a maternal touch to the conversation. When Sharon confesses that she doesn’t think her grown son likes her very much, Robyn retorts: “Our kids don’t have to like us. They just have to survive long enough to become us.” The fact that their escapades all take place in Madelyn Yee’s naturalistic looking set makes them seem all the funnier. The set—just a kitchen and adjacent living room—is appropriately lit by designer Sarah Hamilton. A pair of props masters (Melissa Centgraf and Simone Tegge) work silently and efficiently in the half-lighting of scene changes. Their props suggest what’s ahead in the following scene. The New York-based playwright wrote the piece to give meaty roles to an underserved group—middle-aged actresses. She has constructed a judgment-free zone for the characters to find themselves, and they delightfully thwart the conventional means to find deeper meaning in their lives. Under Suzan Fete’s capable direction, the two characters are a perfect fit for their roles. Gobel and Quintero are at the top of their game, thrusting and parrying like two fencing partners in a duel of words. The result is a definite must-see of the fall theater season. Through Nov. 10 at the Studio Theater in the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 25
A&E::VISUALART COURTESY OF ST. KATE
SPONSORED BY
OPENINGS: Readings by Tyler Farrell and Jacob Riyeff Thursday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. Haggerty Museum of Art 1234 W. Tory Hill St.
In conjunction with its current exhibitions based on text and image, the Haggerty Museum of Art presents readings with Marquette University professors Tyler Farrell and Jacob Riyeff. Farrell teaches writing, poetry, drama, Irish and British literature and film. He’s published three poetry books: Tethered to the Earth, The Land of Give and Take and Stichomythia. Riyeff also teaches and is a translator, poet and scholar of medieval literature. His books include Old English Rule of Saint Benedict, In the Bosom of the Father and Sunk in Your Shipwreck. For more information about this reading (which is free and open to the public), call 414-288-1669 or visit marquette.edu/haggerty.
Installation view of Lisa Beck’s “Send and Receive” Exhibition at St. Kate
Lisa Beck’s Complex Geometries at St. Kate ::BY SHANE McADAMS
I
HAVE HAD THE SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE OF VIEWING LISA BECK’S CURRENT EXHIBITION “SEND AND RECEIVE” (OPEN THROUGH NOV. 8 AT ST. KATE—THE ARTS HOTEL). I viewed it a number of times, in an indirect manner, before seeing it as a dedicated viewer. Over the course of several visits to the hotel, her show hit me at oblique angles…like flickering visual shoulder taps. Without even acknowledging them consciously, her works threw half-formed impressions at me from afar. What vaguely seemed like a polite show of colorful geometric abstractions were hiding more sweeping truths about the nature of that and other histories. The particular piece of work that flickered in my mind like a sun-floater was a seven-foot tall, free-standing sculptural painting of concentric blue and pink rectangles. It sits in the center of the intimate gallery space at the St. Kate Hotel with a seemingly static composure. The work is a more complex construction featuring a tightly ordered geometric abstract painting placed against a silver panel at a right angle. This reveals an ordered array of nested rectangles only by reflecting them along a vertical bilateral axis. The mirroring panel completes the composition imperfectly, as the mylar foil plane is irregularly dimpled and therefore not cleanly transposed. As a result, 26 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
what one sees is a dissolved image begging for closure and resolution. It is elusive even as it is emergent, opening up another separate spatial dimension in the oblique mirrored space. The walls in the gallery feature a collection of 2-D works plying similar historical and conceptual contradictions. They cannily reference the history of geometric abstraction through the use of tight bands of color, clean angular lines and tight craft. However, they disrupt our expectations of that history by spoiling the urge to read them as concrete hermetic objects. Beck’s omnivorous application of reflective foil and wood texturing subverts what might look like basic formulaic art if seen from a safe distance. An arrangement of glass spheres on vertical wires crystalizes her position with regard to the other subject matter. The installation is gorgeous despite its more topical ambitions. They resemble drops of dew clinging to a spider web (only by visual coincidence, of course). The spheres function as a prism through which the rest of the show comes into focus. Because they hang in the center of the gallery, one is forced to view the wall-based geometric abstractions through the concave lenses, which turns the pieces into amorphous liquid distortions. Each work is multiplied as you look at it through the glass orbs. Their scale is also diminished, and their numbers multiplied. By distorting and obscuring the more conventionally abstract objects, the installation becomes a statement about abstraction in the most real and applicable sense of that hopelessly slippery term. Beck’s work at the St. Kate Hotel tugs gently on the paradoxical thread that has insufficiently divided the multiple meanings of the term “abstraction”; the definitions that have lazily shapeshifted between objectivity and non-objectivity for a century. Digging further into either side of this oppositional relationship is less interesting than what Beck does by showing that it is both and neither. She entertains the idea in “Send and Receive” that the membrane between the representational and the imagined, the concrete and the abstract, is a rhetorical construction, and that art and contemporary visual culture at the moment might be best served by thinking of it as a spectrum of possibilities—truth might be multiple, solid, fluid and immaterial at the same time.
Gallery Night for “God Gave Me a Song”
Oct. 25 (5:30 p.m.) and Oct. 26 (12 noon) King Drive Commons Gallery and Studio of African Diaspora Culture 2767 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
The community is invited to celebrate the opening of an exhibit titled “God Gave Me a Song.” It is directed and curated by Marquita Edwards in recognition of the strengths and resiliency of African Americans through some of their songs, dramatization, poetry and artworks. Attendees will see the featured quilts, fine art paintings, photography and memorabilia. There will also be dramatizations, live music, lectures and delicious culinary delights provided by Pas Da Peas Catering. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the gallery’s Facebook page.
“More Pink Noise: Works by the Stella Collective” Oct. 25-Jan. 11, 2020 Var West Gallery • 423 W. Pierce St.
Var West’s More Pink Noise: Works by the Stella Collective is a group exhibition featuring 11 artists. Rooted in photography, the artists’ individual approaches also incorporate video, installation, fiber, sound and sculpture, exploring and expanding upon the boundaries of each medium. For the past several years, the Stella Collective has been cultivating support among women in the fine art world; its members gather monthly to show and critique new work, develop practices and promote community. As for the “pink noise” part, it’s a metaphor for the dynamics of the collective: a pink noise sonic pattern is a mixture of all the audible frequencies playing simultaneously, where every octave has equal power. For more information, call 414-3052444 or visit varwestgallery.com. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 27
A&E::FILM
H
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Will Smith Battles His Clone in ‘Gemini Man’ ::BY DAVID LUHRSSEN
enry Brogan (Will Smith) who knows too many secrets. To assassinate is a sniper so quick and as skilled a man as Henry, Varris calls on a sharp-eyed that he can as- young man with an eerie resemblance to the sassinate a target seated on a target, an acorn fallen close to the tree: Not rocket-fast, high-speed Eu- Henry’s long-lost son, but his clone. “How is it possible?” asks Henry’s comicropean train. Whether this is possible is beside the point in Gemini Man. relief sidekick, Baron (Benedict Wong), bewilThe opening scene establishes Henry’s skill set dered by the young duplicate. “It’s complicated but doand triggers the clockwork choable,” insists his dead-serious reography of Ang Lee’s actionsidekick, Dani (Mary Elizathriller genre picture (with a Gemini Man beth Winstead). End of science little martial art tossed in). talk. On with the show. Will Smith Henry has earned big money One of this century’s most over the years, killing bad guys Mary Elizabeth versatile filmmakers, Lee (difor U.S. military intelligence— Winstead rector of Brokeback Mountain or is he working for Gemini Directed by and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Global Security, the private Ang Lee Dragon) occasionally tries his firm where the dirtiest work is Rated PG hand at material below his levoutsourced? Like many aspects el (Hulk). With Gemini Man, of the sketchy screenplay credhe’s taken on a pulpy Bourne ited to a trio of writers (seldom a good sign), it’s not entirely clear. The point Identity-esque, continent-jumping story of is that Henry wants to retire, but for Gemi- deep-state conspiracy with a Blackwell-style ni’s Founder and CEO, Clayton Varris (Clive security contractor as the frame. Lee has the Owen), death is the only retirement for a man rhythm down pat and even manages to stage
‘Gemini Man’
an almost dangerously believable motorcycle chase through the winding alleys of Cartagena, Colombia. However, the “roger that,” “he’ll be contained” dialogue doesn’t elevate the formula, nor does the mostly wooden acting from the supporting cast. The remarkable thing about Gemini Man is that the always likeable Smith plays both Henry, 50-something with a touch of gray, and his clone, the wiry 20-something known throughout the film as Junior. Lee employs digital de-aging to render a younger version
of Smith resembling the Fresh Prince of BelAir. The twist of a mature person struggling with his younger self is interesting though not richly developed by the turgid screenplay. As written, Gemini Man seems to insist that nature is the main text and nurture the unread footnote. Raised as he was in entirely different circumstances, would Junior really be so identical with Henry, the source of his DNA? Maybe the story could have been better resolved with fewer explosions? Maybe Lee will set his sights higher next time?
Festival now underway! Tickets: mkefilm.org
28 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
[ FILM CLIPS ]
[ HOME MOVIES / NOW STREAMING ]
The Addams Family PG
n Crimson Peak
Originally intended to be a Tim Burton vehicle, this animated version of the family that invented goth is imaginative and entertaining. After moving to New Jersey, The Addams’ lifestyle comes under scrutiny. Different in both appearance and behavior, the family is targeted by a scheming reality TV host (voice of Allison Janney) who mobilizes the town against them. It is against this backdrop that a number of eccentric Addams’ relatives arrive for a family reunion. Filmmakers Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon stay true to the recurring characters created by Charles Addams. Likewise, the action takes a back seat to the cheeky comedy that frequently accompanies such reboots. (Lisa Miller)
Black and Blue R With its plot echoing Training Day, this film positions Alicia West (Naomie Harris) as a rookie New Orleans cop. When her body cam captures veteran cops participating in outright murder, she decides to turn them in. West takes shelter at a local grocery store owned by a sympathetic businessman (Tyrese Gibson). They must get her footage to the precinct chief while evading cops and drug dealers who want her dead. Action sequences begin promisingly but are meandering and overlong. Partially making up for inferior writing, both Harris and Gibson deliver top-notch work. (L.M.)
Countdown PG-13 On a lark, nurse Quinn (Elizabeth Lail), along with some of her friends, downloads an app that predicts precisely when the user is going to die. Quinn initially laughs off the forecast she has just three days to live until users with even shorter timelines mysteriously die just as predicted. Not only does this film rehash a familiar plot, but the force behind the killings is poorly conceived. The film’s best hope is horror-loving teens who won’t mind its un-scary demon. (L.M.)
Red is the outstanding color in Crimson Peak (2015), a film that makes astute use of the palette—especially darker hues juxtaposed against pure white. With Crimson Peak, director Guillermo del Toro crafted a cinematic gothic story featuring a Byronic anti-hero (Tom Hiddleston), his sinister sister (Jessica Chastain), an American innocent abroad (Mia Wasikowska) and better-than-usual CGI. The groaning, decaying castle is pure Edgar Allan Poe, haunted by the spirits of terrible misdeeds.
n Man of a Thousand Faces
They called Lon Chaney “The Man of a Thousand Faces.” In this 1957 tribute movie, James Cagney pushes himself emotionally and physically, playing the silent star best recalled for his still-shocking role as the masked organist in The Phantom of the Opera. Chaney gets the Hollywood treatment, turning pain into melodrama, yet the movie gets at the general idea: The bullied child of deaf-mute parents, Chaney combined empathy for outsiders with remarkable physical agility.
n “Holocaust”
The 1978 mini-series launched Meryl Streep’s rise as the great actress of her generation and introduced “Holocaust” as the standard term for the Nazi campaign to exterminate the Jews. It’s a largely accurate impression of history dramatized through an overlapping set of family stories. That it remains painful to watch testifies to its endurance. The one problem with “Holocaust” is a screenplay that shoehorns an array of historical references into dialogue that doesn’t ring true.
n “China Beach: The Complete Series”
All 62 episodes of the popular series “China Beach” (1988-1991) are collected in an elaborate DVD box set. “China Beach” worked territory familiar from “M*A*S*H” but located the action in Vietnam around a medical evacuation hospital near Da Nang. In episode one, protagonist Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany) is shown reading Graham Greene’s The Quiet American, his disparaging appraisal of U.S. naiveté in Vietnam. It’s a sign that someone smart had a hand in the program’s inception. —David Luhrssen
James Brozek, 38th & Lincoln, 1975/76. Gelatin silver print. Courtesy of the Historic Photo Archives / Milwaukee Public Library. Copy photo by John R. Glembin. © James Brozek
N EE IO FR ISS M D
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Friday, October 25, 6 p.m. Strange Fire Collective founders address policing bodies, political action and access to power through works and words of artists, curators and writers. Strange Fire Collective seeks to highlight work made by women, people of color, and queer and trans artists.
Portrait of Milwaukee People, places, and progress of our city On View Now
miad.edu/creativityseries #MIADcreativity 273 E. Erie St., Milwaukee SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Presenting Sponsor:
mam.org/portrait
O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 29
A&E::BOOKS
BOOK|REVIEWS
Postcards From the Chihuahua Border: Revisiting a Pictorial Past (UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS), BY DANIEL D. ARREOLA One thing is clear from paging through Postcards From the Chihuahua Border: The map lines separating the U.S. from Mexico were always meant to be crossed. The postcards collected in the book show bridges for trains, motorcars, animal carts and pedestrians, and in earlier times, ferries that regularly crossed the Rio Grande and Rio Bravo. Ciudad Juárez, across from El Paso, Texas, was an American tourist town with cabarets and expatriate-owned bars populated by colorful characters straight out of a Hollywood movie. Refugees? A black-and-white photo postcard shows a man leading his burro across the river, fleeing the Mexican Civil War. Violence? Rare, but spectacular in the postcard depicting burned out Columbus, N.M., after Pancho Villa’s raid. Mostly, Postcards From the Chihuahua Border depict business and bustle, which by 1960 meant streets crowded with American cars and lit by colored neon. (David Luhrssen)
The Glory and the Burden: The American Presidency from FDR to Trump (UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME PRESS), BY ROBERT SCHMUHL
The Glory and the Burden includes a startling statistic: Just 14% of eligible adults voted for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primaries. It’s one of many interesting points raised by Notre Dame American studies professor Robert Schmuhl in his latest book. Maybe less surprising but more alarming is the mere 18% who trust the federal government, down from 77% in 1964. Those and other factors have combined to permit candidates unthinkable in an earlier age to rise to the highest office in the land. Extremism, “alternative facts” and divisive media have destabilized and decentered the process of electing presidents with the White House’s current occupant as an outcome. Schmuhl shows that, in recent decades, voters tend to veer from one personalityimage to its opposite, giving hope that 2020 will bring a well-spoken, civicminded leader to the fore. (David Luhrssen) 30 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
BOOK|PREVIEW
Seeing Wisconsin From Fresh Perspectives
I
::BY JENNI HERRICK
N WORKS OF CREATIVE NON-FICTION, writing about place allows authors to nimbly reimagine and reintroduce familiar landmarks and locations. Two local writers have done exactly this in new books that offer a fresh perspective on Wisconsin places we thought we knew. Madison writer Krista Eastman, a Wisconsin native who grew up in the Driftless Area of the state, debuts a contemporary collection that provides a nuanced portrait of both the familiar and the foreign. In The Painted Forest, Eastman moves between local backdrops and far-flung locales to raise insightful questions about identity, curiosity and an unlikely array of individuals. Eastman’s musings offer keen observations that infuse each essay in this boundary-breaking anthology with a playful voice and artful imagination. The Painted Forest gives even the most erudite Wisconsinite new places to explore and an enlightened ethos on life in the Midwest. If you ask any Wisconsinite to name the waterpark capital of the world, they will probably (and correctly) identity the Wisconsin
Dells. But as J Tyler Friedman shows in his book, Among the Wonders of the Dells: Photography, Place, Tourism, this unique geographical area has a rich history that encompasses much more than waterslides and wave pools. Friedman, who serves as associate curator of contemporary art at the Museum of Wisconsin Art, has compiled the first comprehensive photographic history of the Dells region, featuring never-beforeseen images by eight artists. Picturesque photos are accompanied by rich essays that explore Wisconsin’s supreme tourist destination of both today and yesteryear. Boswell Book Co. will host authors Krista Eastman and J Tyler Friedman on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Krista Eastman PHOTO BY SHARON VANORNY SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::OFFTHECUFF DAVE ZYLSTRA
Christine Flasch’s New ‘Labor of Love’ ::BY JOHN JAHN
T
hough Christine Flasch grew up in Milwaukee, her far-ranging musical talents (dance, piano, voice, conducting) have taken her to Madison, Chicago and New York City, but she’s come back home. Flasch is the founding director and conductor of the Southwestern Suburban Symphony (SWSS) and, most recently, director of the Bach Chamber Choir. Off the Cuff managed to catch up with the busy Maestra Flasch to ask her some questions about her new job. What can us choral music lovers expect from the Bach Chamber Choir with you at its helm? We will celebrate the significant accomplishments of the Bach Chamber Choir in the upcoming 50th anniversary concert by performing many of the choir’s favorite choral works—including several masterpieces from the choral canon—but we’ll also unveil some refreshing works that are not often heard. For example, the program will open with Henry Purcell’s 1694 Birthday Ode to Queen Mary, Come, Ye Sons of Art. Many music lovers are familiar with the famous duet, “Sound the Trumpet” from this work and the lovely “Strike the Viol,” but they don’t often know the plaintive “Bid the Virtues” for soprano, the two impressive, short baritone arias in the work or the delightful choruses that support the vocal solos. I especially wanted to acknowledge the fine compositional talents of the former director of the choir, Brian McLinden, so we will include his lovely piece, Under the Greenwood Tree, from William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. I want to keep the great masterpieces alive but also elevate lesser-known works that are equally compelling and worthy of performance. This will be a labor of love (and appreciation). Is there instrumental music at Bach Chamber Choir concerts? Yes. Originally, the ensemble (named The Bach Chamber Choir and Orchestra) included chamber orchestra in all of their performances; but, due, I would guess, to the cost of utilizing orchestral musicians on a regular basis, instrumental accompaniment was reduced to fewer selections with a smaller number of players. As funding allows, I will want to add orchestra to many of our concerts if the repertoire calls for it. For example, we’ll present Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria in January with chamber orchestra. What’s the current status of the Southwestern Suburban Symphony? Glad you asked! After the successful debut of the SWSS in 2015 and a “full-court press” through December 2018—which included eight concerts—I took a much-needed rest. Even an “Energizer Bunny” like me begins to run out of steam at some point, and I realized that I desperately needed to take some time last winter to slow down, restore the batteries and consider next steps. It was an excellent decision; after my selfimposed sabbatical, new ideas began to flow, and new energy returned. It was during this time of reflection and rest that word came to me of the opening of the directorship of the Bach Chamber Choir. I was very reluctant to take on additional
Christine Flasch
responsibility—given what the demands of launching a symphony orchestra had taken out of me—but I couldn’t seem to let go of the new possibility. When I learned that there were many applications for the position, the old energy began to flow, and I tossed my hat into the ring of candidates. A long and thorough selection process occurred, and, at the conclusion of the search, I was delighted to learn that I was selected as the new director of this fine group of singers and to lead them into the next chapter of their legacy in the Milwaukee community. Bach Chamber Choir will perform 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, at All Saints’ Cathedral, 818 E. Juneau Ave.
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O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 31
::HEARMEOUT ASK RUTHIE | UPCOMING EVENTS | PAUL MASTERSON
::ASKRUTHIE
::RUTHIE’SSOCIALCALENDAR
SPONSORED BY WINNER OF THE JEWELERS OF AMERICA’S 2019 CASE AWARD
Take a Chance on Love
Oct. 24—‘An Evening with Joan Rivers & Friends’ at Saint Kate Arts Hotel (139 E. Kilbourn Ave.): I’m back on stage once again as the incomparable Joan Rivers. Spend a hilarious night at the fabulous Saint Kate Arts Hotel, when Joan welcomes her guests Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Selena, Lady Gaga and others. This evening of celebrity impersonation has sold out twice before, so pick up your tickets via brownpapertickets.com soon. Take advantage of the underground or valet parking and arrive early to enjoy cocktails in the impressive lobby bar.
The high holy day for many LGBTQ folks is nearly upon us. No, not Pridefest. No, not National Coming Out Day. I’m talking about Halloween! It’s time to get spooky-spooky or sexy-sexy, head out and have some fun. If you’ve lived in Milwaukee for any segment of time, you likely know that the city is loaded with devilish debauchery, enchanting engagements and bewitching bashes perfect for any of your Halloween haunts. Don’t believe me? Check out my social calendar for just a few of the scary socials available to you. I’ll be back next week with even more Halloween ideas, but in the meantime, let’s read a message from a little devil looking to turn up the heat on his unsuspecting friend.
Dear Ruthie,
I’m falling in love with my BFF. Let’s call him “Scott.” Scott and I have been inseparable since we met 3 months ago. Going out on Saturdays turned into spending entire weekends together and now into meeting nearly every day. I’m starting to fall for him fast and hard (and I mean “hard” in every way). Should I tell him? I’m afraid of ruining a great friendship, but I’m truly thinking he’s the guy I’ve been waiting for.
Help! Friends with All Benefits Dear Friendly,
Oct. 23—Pride Rides Wisconsin Happy Hour at Fluid (819 S. Second St.): Hop on your motorcycle while the weather still allows and take in this monthly rotating happy hour. Mix and mingle with other bike riders, learn about Pride Rides and meet some of the friendliest bartenders in town during the 6-8:30 p.m. event.
Sounds like this could be a sticky situation (pun intended). You state that you’re starting to fall for him. Set a timeline for yourself... say, a month. See where your feelings are after that time. If you feel the same after that deadline, then tell “Scott” how you feel. It will likely affect your friendship if he isn’t onboard, but you only live once. Take a chance on love, sugar!
Oct. 24—A Very Trixie Halloween at This Is It! (418 E. Wells St.): She’s baaaack! Local girl gone big time, Trixie Mattel, returns home to host her annual costume contest at This Is It! This year, the bar is offering up a star-studded show including RuPaul alum Jaymes Mansfield. Wear your Halloween best as hundreds of dollars in cash and prizes are up for grabs during the contest, which starts after the 10 p.m. show. Oct. 25—Día de los Muertos at The Milwaukee Domes (524 S. Layton Blvd.): Rich in traditions, symbolism, colors and flavor, the Day of the Dead is a celebration you must experience to truly appreciate. Mix up your Halloween routine with this family friendly 6 p.m. party that includes food, music and more. Call The Domes at 414257-5608 for your $10 ticket. Oct. 26—A Bad Guy’s Halloween Party at D.I.X. (739 S. First St.): Bring out your inner bad boy when the team at D.I.X. hosts this sinful soirée. The nasty-boy bash starts at 10 p.m. with drink specials, DJs and more. Party into the night with Milwaukee’s largest Halloween-themed drag shows (11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.), and try your best to win the costume contest. Oct. 28—LGBT History in Milwaukee at Plymouth Church (2717 Hampshire St.): The UW-Milwaukee Archives and Milwaukee Pride join forces to offer this free presentation to the public. Experience highlights of film footage from the UWM Archives’ LGBT holdings, including a restoration of the WTMJ TV report “Some Call Them Gay,” as well as restorations of taped Milwaukee protests, demonstrations and other clips from local stations. The 7-9 p.m. presentation will be held in the church’s reception hall. Oct. 30—Theology-on-Tap at Hamburger Mary’s (734 N. Fifth St.): Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church offers up free weekly discussions about the Catholic church and the LGBTQ community. Join the 6 p.m. discussion where you’ll meet likeminded friends and discuss issues, concerns, histories and more surrounding faith, the Bible and religion. You’ll also enjoy a free beverage and light appetizers. Free and open to all over 21, this is part of a series of discussions that run through November 20. Call 414-383-1100 or email at info@milmcc.org for more information. Ask Ruthie a question or share your events with her at dearruthie@shepex.com. Follow her on Instagram @ruthiekeester and Facebook at Dear Ruthie. Watch, like, subscribe and share her reality show, “Camp Wannakiki Season Two,” on YouTube today!
like the paper, but on radio! like the paper, but on radio
Tune in to Riverwest Radio (104.1 FM) at 9:30 a.m. on the last Friday of each month to get the inside scoop on what’s coming to the paper. 32 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
I h a te The film blog of the Shepherd Express by Managing Editor Dave Luhrssen
shepherdexpress.com/hollywood SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::MYLGBTQPoint of View
LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH and the GRANDER SCHEME OF THINGS ::BY PAUL MASTERSON
A
s LGBTQ History Month wanes, we should reflect on this year’s events that have become part of our history. It’s a mix of good and bad, of course. Given the fact that 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, one would expect significant and historical strides have added to the momentum of our nation’s advance towards LGBTQ equality. Yes, there are reasons to celebrate. Certain celebrities came out; a number of cities and states banned conversion therapy for minors; the State of New York banned the so-called gay and trans panic strategy to defend violence against LGBTQs; and Illinois became the fourth state to require LGBTQ history be taught in public schools. Perhaps most historic is the fact that an out gay man, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, is running for president. But, as important as these may be, the current course of the nation throws a sobering pall over what otherwise would be cause to celebrate. Unfortunately in the name of profit and using fear as a cudgel, the national Republican leadership has devalued human dignity and human life itself. One need only look to the recent past to witness the trickle-down degradation of truth, justice and the America way of life. Internationally, the regime’s sell-out of our Kurdish allies, tolerance of China’s suppression of democracy, cozy embrace of dictatorships and dismissal of climate change science all negatively impact millions of lives. Domestically, we can only watch aghast at the rise of hate crimes and the erosion of human rights. Whether kiddie concentration camps and family separation for immigrants of color, the Muslim ban, the diehard defense (and SHEPHERD EXPRESS
misreading) of the Second Amendment in the face of tens of thousands of victims of gun violence, the trending American attitude towards human life can be best summed up by the regime’s soulless leader, who, when responding to the death of a young British man, killed by the reckless driving of a U.S. diplomat’s wife, essentially shrugged and said, “shit happens.” And, when U.S. congressman and civil rights activist Elijah Cummings died last week, Christian regime proponents cheered his passing as God’s punishment for, among other transgressions, his support of LGBTQ equality. Speaking of which, in the midst of LGBTQ History Month, the U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating whether Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act applies to LGBTQ Americans. In other words, the court is to determine if we can be discriminated against and fired by an employer simply because of our sexual orientation. That such a matter is even on the docket should be unfathomable in a nation where the pursuit of happiness as a right is enshrined in its Declaration of Independence, but it is. I suppose some see their “happiness” defined by hating others. What is particularly disconcerting is that the federal government itself supports the idea that employers have every right to fire employees who happen to be LGBTQ. A decision against us could portend future cases to abrogate our rights. So, here we are. Fortunately, history is a process driven not by fate but by human forces. We can only hope the side of truth and justice prevails. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
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SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::MUSIC
For more MUSIC, log onto shepherdexpress.com
CALEB KUHL
FEATURE | ALBUM REVIEWS | CONCERT REVIEWS | LOCAL MUSIC
Matt and Kim
Matt and Kim Come Playing ‘Grand’ in Its Entirety on Tour
::BY ALAN SCULLEY
att and Kim have made a career out of creating upbeat, catchy pop anthems that seemed tailor-made to get concert crowds smiling, jumping up and down and singing. The music on the duo’s latest album, Almost Everyday, should have that same effect. But lyrically, a little darkness has crept into the songs, mixing a few clouds in with the usual sunny disposition of the music. “We’d been lucky enough to have a comfortable life and a positive life, and I think on a lot of our albums, the songs reflect that,” singer-keyboardist Matt Johnson said. “But it was interesting to get the inspiration from having a tough year and how that kind of, in a therapeutic way, led us to write songs to kind of just discuss this and try to get things off our chests. And that was new for us.” The difficulties began when Johnson’s partner in the group, drummer Kim Schifino, suffered a torn ligament during a concert in March 2017. This meant reconstructive surgery on her leg and a long and grueling rehab that forced Matt and Kim to stop doing one of their favorite things—playing live shows—for the better part of a year. Add in a world around them that featured the tragedies and heartache of mass shootings and a divisive political-social climate, and it seems perfectly reasonable that the songs the duo created during this period weren’t all cartwheels and giggles. In particular, the specter of death pops up on multiple occasions throughout Almost Everyday, although not in the kind of serious or heavy-handed ways many artists deal with this topic. More often than not, the emphasis isn’t on finality as much as it is on the importance of making the most of the limited time one has on this planet. The notion of life being temporary and filled with special people, times and experiences that can be gone at any point resonated with Johnson as he endured the first period in his adult life when he wasn’t able to tour and fully experience the life he and Schifino have created in Matt and Kim. “It made me feel like this was a time after the band, like we were a retired band,” he says. “I had never taken that kind of time off, and it made me reflect on ‘Remember when we used to be in this band that would tour around the country and play shows for people?’ I felt like I had this bit of this It’s a Wonderful Life perspective on what if this was all gone. I think that made its way into the album.”
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Catchy as Can Be
If there’s a bit more grit and cohesion to the lyrics on Almost Everyday, the music on the album shares the buoyant, celebratory, catchy-as-can-be character of the five previous albums Johnson and Schifino have released since forming Matt and Kim in 2004. If anything, though, the music is bigger and bolder sounding than ever on Almost Everyday. “We’re an indie band, and we don’t want to not be an indie band. That’s the space we want to be in,” Johnson said. “But we also were like, ‘what is the current version of indie music?’ “We’re big fans of bands that are in hip-hop and pop music, and my feeling is that when I listen to music now and it doesn’t have things in that sub-beat range and stuff, it’s almost like it’s missing a spectrum of sound,” he continues. “We wanted to still keep the indie mentality, but add it into a world where we’re listening to these DJs who give you huge spectrums of just sonics, from super-deep lows to pristine highs, and how do we make that part of what we do?” Almost Everyday came out in May 2018, and Schifino was back to full health and dancing and jumping on her drums— Matt until recently. In early August, she fell and Kim on stage at the Maha Festival and tore an ACL. She’s been undergoing physical Turner Hall therapy and will be back in action for the Ballroom duo’s fall tour, which will celebrate the Friday, 10th anniversary of the Grand album. Oct. 25, That 2009 album featured the gold-cer8 p.m. tified single “Daylight” and was the commercial breakthrough for Matt and Kim. In addition to playing the Grand album in its entirety, Johnson said the group will play a selection of other songs. Fans can expect the other tunes to be crowd pleasers. “The biggest satisfaction I get on stage is what makes the audience excited. If I see them jumping up and down and singing along, I’m so into it,” he said. “If the audience wants to hear ‘Daylight’ 15 times in a row, they’ve got it. But I think they like it a little more diverse.” Matt and Kim perform at Turner Hall Ballroom on Friday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m.
O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 35
::CONCERTREVIEWS
Beaker
Funk-Punk Fusion Trio Beaker Detoxes with ‘Prehab’
P
::BY ETHAN DURAN
laying music isn’t rocket science, but sometimes it feels like it. Starting a band, keeping it together, recording music and booking shows are some of the hurdles that musicians jump through to keep their heads above water. These are a few of the challenges that Milwaukee “punk-pop,” mad scientist-themed trio Beaker have faced recently. Currently, the band is working on an eight-song CD titled Prehab, promised for release in a few weeks. The self-release was announced by bass player and lead vocalist Carl VanDommelen during an interview with the Shepherd Express. Beaker is a mix of fast-tempo punk-rock music, art rock and pop—“pop” being closer to ’80s pop than to contemporary pop music. Though they’re embedded in Milwaukee’s fun-sized punk scene, they break the conventions of traditional punk-rock tropes; instead of wearing leather jackets and playing four chords, they wear lab coats and dish out improvisational solos. With that said, their showmanship and energy on stage is not to be underestimated. In a way, Prehab describes a phase that the band is going through right now. Personnel changes and other complications have kept recording on a backburner, but new players have given the band new energy. Guitar player Gabe Fritz had been a longtime fan of Beaker before he took the place of the old guitarist, who had left for rehab. Wolf Hentzen plays the drums and edited their latest music video, “Anthem.” VanDommelen, who formed Beaker in 2005, says, “Our aim right now is to push things into higher gear.” “The players seem a bit more stable that the past ones, hence why it took so long to release the CD,” he continues. “We want to see what we can do with it. We’ve opened for national Beaker touring acts before, and we’d like to get back into that again.” Quarters VanDommelen’s funky bass riffs mix with Fritz’s metalhinted guitar work in the song “End Of Days,” a piece of Saturday, social commentary with some religious references. “DickOct. 26 head,” which is about troublesome roommates, is smart, catchy and sounds like something from Devo’s first album. During live performances of “Anticipointment,” a satiric song about consumerism, VanDommelen clicks a switch on stage that lights up the merchandise table in a glowing statement of irony. “We want it to be a show, not just three people playing music and hoping the crowd gets into it,” VanDommelen explained, talking about his goals for when the band is on stage. “I got sick and tired of going to see live music and having a bunch of musicians navel-gaze or not interact with the crowd whatsoever. I went to the full opposite end of the spectrum and my point was to engage the audience as much as possible and get them to be a part of the show.” The lab coat-clad Beaker will play at Quarters in Riverwest on Saturday, Oct 26, alongside skate-punk band Picked Last, local rapper Kē aka John Doe and hard-hitting rock ’n’ roll band VexNation. This will be a familiar pairing, since Beaker played with VexNation recently at MKE Punk Fest 9’s opening party. Patrons are encouraged to bring at least two hygiene items for a donation drive. Costumes are encouraged as well. More info on the event can be found on its Facebook page. 36 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
Elton John’s Fond Farewell at Fiserv Forum ::BY HARRY CHERKINIAN
W
hen following the Yellow Brick Road, it’s always best to start at the beginning. That is, unless you’re Sir Elton John, who brought his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” final tour to Fiserv Forum last weekend. He was allowed to stray off path as he stopped at his Honky Château, visited the Madman Across the Water and travelled with his alter ego, Captain Fantastic, alongside his sidekick, The Brown Dirt Cowboy (longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin). Yet, the 72-year-old British pop rocker always found his way back to the album named for this final tour, the music that remains at the crossroads for much of the sounds and images of the legendary singer-songwriter. EJ was in top, er, make that over-the-top and spectacular form throughout a razzling dazzling three hours of recognizable hits and unearthed gems for the sold-out crowd. However, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was the framework for the show, opening with “Bennie and the Jets,” followed by “All the Girls Love Alice,” where the amped-up electric guitar work by Davey Johnstone was an early indicator of just how much the show would rock—and rock it did! Yellow Brick Road’s double-song opener, “Loves Lies Bleeding-Funeral for a Friend,” arrived 90 minutes in and was like much of the evening: flawless musically, stunning visually and a testament to EJ’s masterful showmanship. Amid a perfect-sounding “rainstorm,” fog rolled in, a
candlelight chandelier materialized, and EJ moved across the stage playing his piano as his stellar sixpiece band layered the seven-minute instrumental with deft precision, seamlessly merging into the raucous “Bleeding” of the track. There were so many hits that it’s an excellent reminder of just how much Elton John was the soundtrack of our lives from the ’70s onward: “Daniel,” “Your Song,” “Sad Songs (Say So Much),” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”… The list goes on and on and on, just like EJ’s unstoppable energy and love of performing. But he shined up some of his lesser-known songs to great effect. “Take Me to the Pilot” and “Burn Down the Mission” achieved higher heights played live, the band rocking out as they did with extended versions of “Rocketman” and surprisingly, “Levon.” EJ and crew gave “Levon” a churchy organ sound opening which morphed into a rollicking honkytonk stretch finally settling into a bonafide rocker. It was more than fitting that EJ played his first breakout hit, “Your Song,” for the first encore, the tender missive of heartfelt love just as poignant today as it was when first heard in 1970. Of course, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” was the final farewell. So, thank you Sir Elton John, for an incredible journey through music and time. And a fond farewell. At least, for now. At least until next time.
::NATIONALACT
Bob Dylan Returns to Milwaukee
RAPH PH
ETHAN DURAN
::LOCALACT
(With Nothing Left to Prove) ::BY BLAINE SCHULTZ
A
t this point, Bob Dylan has nothing to prove. Like Pablo Picasso and Miles Davis, he redefined his chosen art form. From protest songs to proto-Americana to gospel, he has never stopped evolving as an artist. Since 1988, the 78-year-old troubadour has rolled on with his Never Ending Tour. Best to leave your expectations at the door, as Dylan changes arrangements of classic songs as the mood strikes him. With his voice deeper and hoarser and Father Time suggesting Dylan move to piano from guitar, he leads a band that conjures “the thin wild mercury sound,” blending the best moments of roadhouse R&B, Memphis’ Sun Records and Chicago’s Chess Records.
Bob Dylan
On record, his continuing Bootleg Series has offered fascinating looks behind the curtain. Definitive albums, like Blood on the Tracks and The Basement Tapes, have been released in sets that offer frozen snapshots of masterpieces taking shape. An upcoming set is built around the often-bootlegged informal recording sessions with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. On film, Dylan and Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Thunder Revue shifts history and reinvents the story of the 1975 tour. Like a rock ’n’ roll Rashomon, it just might leave you wondering whose version of the story you should trust. Bob Dylan performs at The Rave / Eagles Club on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::THISWEEKINMILWAUKEE COURTESY OF THE PUGALISTS
FRIDAY, OCT. 25 The Pugilists w/ Spudbucket @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 8:30 p.m.
The Pugilists
Long in the tooth? Guess again. While most of their contemporaries have long since sold their drum kit or their Stratocaster is gathering dust in the back of a closet, these local veterans refuse to quit. The Pugilists moonlight as ’80s New Wave tribute band Radio Radio, but beneath the greasepaint of a covers act lies a resume that includes The Lackloves, The Carolinas, Spill, Nick Pipitone, the Mighty Deer Lick, Michelle Anthony, The Blow Pops, Happytown and Sugarsmack.
David Hazeltine and Jim Rotondi @ Blu, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY OCT. 26 The Drowsy Lads @ Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 7:30 p.m.
The Drowsy Lads
The Drowsy Lads are brothers John and Daniel McKewen, father and son Phil and Josh Franck and long-time friend Bryan Brookes. The Ohio-based multi-instrumentalists combine their talents on fiddle, button accordion, tenor banjo, flute, whistle, guitar, bouzouki, uilleann pipes, 5-string banjo, concertina and bodhrán. The Milwaukee Irish Fest veterans’ performances are a mix of traditional Irish songs and dance tunes along with original arrangements and compositions complemented by humor and bits of bluegrass and classical music. Formed 15 years ago, the five-member group was voted “The best Irish Band in America” in 2018 by Irish American News. That year also brought the release of a fourth critically acclaimed album, Everyone In.
COURTESY OF THE DROWSY LADS
Milwaukee and New York City are both big chapters in pianist David Hazeltine’s career. Before he was a teenager, Hazeltine was playing the clubs. He has since recorded 35 albums as a bandleader and hundreds more as a sideman. Trumpeter Jim Rotondi, who accompanies Hazeltine at Blu, has toured and recorded with the likes of Ray Charles and Lionel Hampton. Bassist Jeff Hamann and drummer Mitch Shiner round out the band for this two-night residency on Friday and Saturday.
LOCAL • ORIGINAL • HANDCRAFTED • UNIQUE • INTRICATE • IMAGINATIVE • ALLURING
Xposed 4Heads Halloween Show @ Circle A, 8 p.m.
R HALFIN
Since 1982, Mark G.E. has served as social director for Xposed 4Heads, the Milwaukee synthfriendly collective that refuses to take modern society seriously. Will Halloween be just another day for these folks? What does a band who regularly appears in-costume wear for this occasion?
Loudon Wainwright III
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Loudon Wainwright III @ Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake, 7:30 p.m.
If Loudon Wainwright III failed at becoming the “new Dylan,” he more than succeeded becoming his own artist. Long considered a songwriter’s songwriter, Wainwright can count novelty hits (“Dead Skunk”) and performance on television shows (“M*A*S*H”) as ticks on his bucket list, but his one-man song and story performance “Surviving Twin” on Netflix demonstrates Wainwright’s command of the stage. Fans of Martha and Rufus would do well to learn how close those apples fell from the tree.
Sunday, November 3, 2019 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Grace Center • 250 E. Juneau Ave. Milwaukee Enjoy a day at Grace, where 25 local artisans will sell their original and handcrafted work, including: • Woodwork • Greeting cards BUY GIFTS FOR THE • Jewelry • Artisan chocolates UPCOMING HOLIDAYS • Scarves • Organic and (OR SPOIL YOURSELF!) • Caramels high-quality teas gracedowntown.org • 414-271-3006 • Candles • Vegan and organic • Artwork body care products • Photography • Illustrations O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 37
MUSIC::LISTINGS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. (Walker’s Point), Michael Sodnik w/Andres Crovetti & Kolestrand Art Bar, Open Mic Comedy Cactus Club, Jack M. Senff w/Holy Pinto Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), Christy Hays Caroline’s Jazz Club, The Group w/Eddie Butts County Clare Irish Inn & Pub, Acoustic Irish Folk w/ Barry Dodd Jazz Estate, The Janet Evra Quartet Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, Josh Morningstar & Ben Banaher Mason Street Grill, Mark Thierfelder Jazz Trio (5:30pm) McAuliffe’s On The Square (Racine), Open Mic Night O’Donoghues Irish Pub (Elm Grove), The All-Star SuperBand (6pm) On The Bayou, Open Mic Comedy w/host The Original Darryl Hill Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Eric Barbieri Acoustic Duo Rock Country MKE, Jim Rosetti Rounding Third Bar and Grill, World’s Funniest Free Comedy Show Route 20 (Sturtevant), Comedy Showcase Saloon on Calhoun with Bacon, Reverend Raven & Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys w/Westside Andy Sazzy B (Kenosha), Gypsy Jazz Shank Hall, Roots of a Rebellion w/The Tritonics Sheryl’s Club 175 (Slinger), Acoustic Jam w/Milwaukee Mike & Downtown Julius The Packing House, Barbara Stephan & Peter Mac (6pm) Transfer Pizzeria Café, Martini Jazz Lounge: Mike Pauers Trio
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
Alley Cat Lounge (Five O’Clock Steakhouse), Ali & Doug Duo Ally’s Bistro, The Aaron Hetzel Trio American Legion Post #399 (Okauchee), Back Draft American Legion Post #449 (Brookfield), Boomer Nation Art Bar, Scott Wilcox Blu Milwaukee, David Hazeltine & Jim Rotondi Cactus Club, The KVB w/Numb.er, Black Thumb & Erik Void Cafe Carpe, Karen Johnson Camp Dundee Bar & Grill (Campbellsport), Robert Allen Jr. Band Caroline’s Jazz Club, Sam Belton Jazz Experience Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: Old Sam and the Teardrops (8pm); DJ: Fazio (10pm) ComedySportz, ComedySportz Milwaukee! Company Brewing, Cream City Beat Battle Vol. 2
County Clare Irish Inn & Pub, Traditional Irish Ceilidh Session Golden Mast Inn (Okauchee), Joe Kadlec (6pm) Iron Mike’s, Jam Session w/Steve Nitros & the Liquor Salesmen Jazz Estate, Nineteen Thirteen (8pm), Late Night Sessions: Gramma Matrix Late Night Vinyl (11:30pm) Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, Halloween Beer Hall B: The Unheard Of w/Mud River Lee & the Bluegrass Belles, and Western Edge Lake Lawn Resort, Brian Fictum Lakefront Brewery, Brewhaus Polka Kings (5:30pm) Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, The Pugilists w/ SpudBucket Mamie’s, The Blues Disciples Mason Street Grill, Phil Seed Trio (6pm) Mo’s Irish Pub (Downtown), WP After Parties w/Big Something Pabst Theater, Jo Koy Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Jypsy Riverside Theater, Ben Sparaco and The New Effect (outdoors, 5:30pm) Rock Country MKE, Whiskey Flats Shank Hall, Rasputina w/Charming Disaster The Cooperage, Art Riot (6pm) The Ivanhoe Pub & Eatery (Racine), Joe Wray The Miramar Theatre, Bleep Bloop (all-ages, 9pm) The Packing House, Tracy Hannemann Group (6:30pm) Turner Hall Ballroom, Matt and Kim w/Beach Goons Up & Under, We Killed the Lion Walker’s Pint, The MilBillies Walker’s Point Music Hall, Central Disorder w/Cold Black River & Reflection of Flesh
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26
American Legion Post #449 (Brookfield), The Falcons Art Bar, The Woodpile Blu Milwaukee, David Hazeltine & Jim Rotondi Cactus Club, All Ages Arts Milwaukee: Negative Positive, Trinity Grace & Neptune’s Core (3pm), The Eradicator album release w/Dollar Signs, Devon Kay & The Solutions, and Mertles Acres (9pm) Cafe Carpe, Craig Cardiff Caroline’s Jazz Club, Paul Spencer Band w/Warren Wiegratz, Tom McGirr, James Sode & Dave “Smitty” Smith Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: Xposed 4Heads “Halloween Show” (8pm); DJ: Quixotic Control (10pm) Club Garibaldi, Lupinare w/Magnetic Minds & Evacuate ComedySportz, ComedySportz Milwaukee! Company Brewing, The Haunted House Party County Clare Irish Inn & Pub, Blackthorn Folly Cue Club of Wisconsin (Waukesha), Milwaukee Tool Shed Band Five O’Clock Steakhouse, Kirk Tatnall
Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, The Drowsy Lads Jazz Estate, Lesser Lakes Trio (8pm), Late Night Sessions: Joe Niemann Quartet (11:30pm) Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, Rockabilly For Rescues (MADACC) w/Crazy Rocket Fuel, and JP Cyr & The Midnightmen Lake Lawn Resort, Terry Sweet (6pm) Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Hay Milwaukee Halloween Hootenanny w/The Long Line Riders and Friends Mason Street Grill, Jonathan Wade Trio (6pm) Milwaukee Ale House, 76 Juliet Mo’s Irish Pub (Downtown), WP After Parties w/Big Something Motor Bar & Restaurant, The Blues Disciples (5:30pm) Pabst Theater, Thievery Corporation w/Immortal Girlfriend Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Andrea & The Mods Rave / Eagles Club, Bob Dylan and His Band (allages, 8pm), Big K.R.I.T. w/Rapsody & Domani Harris (all-ages, 8pm) Reefpoint Brew House (Racine), Troy Boyworld Riverside Theater, Ben Sparaco and The New Effect (outdoors, 5:30pm) Route 20 (Sturtevant), Jinjer w/The Browning, Sumo Cyco, El Famous & H1Z1 Sazzy B, The Bruce Mak Trio Shank Hall, Super-Unknown w/Big Bang Baby & TEN Chicago The Back Room @ Colectiv, Marika Hackman w/Girl Friday & Disq The Cheel / The Baaree (Thiensville), Leroy Airmaster The Cooperage, Art Riot (1pm) The Knick, 5 Card Studs The Miramar Theatre, Immortal Technique w/Chino XL, Agent Green & Taiyamo Denku (all-ages, 7pm) The Packing House, Joe Jordan & The Soul Trio (6:30pm) Up & Under, Good Grief
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27
Angelo’s Piano Lounge, Live Karaoke w/Julie Brandenburg Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. (Walker’s Point), Rev. Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys w/ Westside Andy Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), Bill Miller Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: Derek Pritzl & Friends (8pm); DJ: Sextor (10pm) Greendale Gazebo Park, Mambo Surfers (5pm) J&B’s Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill, The Players Jam Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, The Blues Disciples w/Perry Weber (2pm) Mo’s Irish Pub (Downtown), WP After Parties w/Big Something
Rave / Eagles Club, Young Thug & Machine Gun Kelly w/Polo G (all-ages, 8pm) Riverside Theater, Ben Sparaco and The New Effect (outdoors, 5:30pm) Riverwest Public House Cooperative, Elevator Trio (5pm) Rounding Third Bar and Grill, The Dangerously Strong Comedy Open Mic
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28
Jazz Estate, Blues Night w/Misha Siegfried Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Poet’s Monday w/host Timothy Kloss & featured reader Kenneth Woodall (sign-up 7:30pm, 8-11pm) Mason Street Grill, Joel Burt Duo (5:30pm) Paulie’s Pub and Eatery, Open Jam w/hosts Josh Becker, Annie Buege, Ally Hart or Marr’lo Parada Turner Hall Ballroom, SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque Up & Under, Open Mic
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
Brewtown Eatery, Blues & Jazz Jam w/Jeff Stoll, Joe Zarcone & David “Harmonica” Miller (6pm) JC’S Pub, Open Mic w/host Audio is Rehab Jazz Estate, The Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts / Riverwest Artists Association, Tuesday Night Jazz Jam Mamie’s, Open Blues Jam w/Marvelous Mack Mason Street Grill, Jamie Breiwick Group (5:30pm) Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Al White (4pm)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
Cactus Club, So Greedy Presents: Skyzoo, Elzhi, Dana Coppafeel, Philmore Greene, 60 East, Landon Wordswell, Dope Folks DJs & DJ Chill Deville Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), Old Man Luedecke Iron Mike’s (Franklin), B Lee Nelson & KZ Acoustic Jam Jazz Estate, Pocket Change Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, Polka Open Jam Mason Street Grill, Jamie Breiwick Group (5:30pm) Mezcalero Restaurant and Bar, Larry Lynne Trio Morton’s (Cedarburg), Paul Stilin Group w/Gervis Myles, Dave Cornette, Jeff Harrington & Chris Lehnert Paulie’s Field Trip, Wednesday Night Afterparty w/ Dave Wacker & guests Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Al White Riverside Theater, Eric Andre w/David Gborie The Back Room @ Colectivo, Velvet Negroni The Cheel / The Baaree (Thiensville), Donna Woodall Jazz Trio (6:30pm) The Packing House, Carmen Nickerson & Kostia Efimov (6pm) Wicked Hop, Jazz at Noon w/Don Linke
Mamie’s
3300 W. NATIONAL AVE. | (414) 643-1673
CREATURES IN COSTUMES PARTY
Friday, OCT. 25 • 8 p.m.-Close Scary Sounds by
Blues Disciples 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
10/24 Fox & Branch 10/31 The Golden Grenades
38 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
Costume Contest:
PEOPLE IN COSTUMES GET A TICKET WITH EVERY PURCHASE TO ENTER INTO A DRAWING TO WIN $100. WINNER ANNOUNCED AT END OF NIGHT.
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O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 39
NEGATIVITY
THEME CROSSWORD
By James Barrick
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
© 2019 United Feature Syndicate, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication
40 | O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
DOWN 1. Glorify 2. British composer 3. Farm machine: 2 wds. 4. Wapiti 5. Jai alai 6. Fanning and Macpherson 7. Birds, in biology 8. Spanish hero El — 9. Sixth sense 10. Climbed 11. Nut for pies 12. Black and liberal 13. Opus — 14. Superlative suffix 15. Ghosts 16. — soit qui mal y pense 17. Simians 18. Simple
24. Game period 25. Glowing review 26. Carve 32. — fixe 33. More far-reaching 34. Stench 35. Fathered 36. Made a hole-in-one 37. Swerved 38. Lone Ranger’s companion 39. Stakes 40. Mends 41. In a huff 42. Love of fine art: Var. 43. Glacial ridge 45. Addicts 46. Place for contemplation 49. French department 50. Was evidence of 51. Cotillion 52. Intervening, in law 58. Big vessel 59. Joke 60. Remember the —! 61. Bottle: Var. 62. Poet’s preposition 64. Long suit 65. Dupe 66. Spots on a card
67. Red River city 68. City on the Nile 69. Norse gods 70. Medicinal plant 71. Preserved 72. Like some leaves 73. More rational 75. Eva — Saint 76. Pepo 79. Passes along 80. Very 81. Blacken with heat 82. Native of Provo 83. Withered 89. Consecrated ointment 90. Hollers 91. Dramatis personae 92. Take, in a way 94. Telegram 95. Game of chance 96. Smooch 97. Lab compound 98. Best or Ferber 99. Unreliable one 100. Perceive 102. Pointed arch 103. Defunct acronym 105. Recipe meas. 106. Greek letter 107. Federal agcy. 108. Compass pt. 109. Japanese statesman
Solution to last week’s puzzle
10/17 Solution
WORD FIND This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 22 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.
More to do Solution: 22 Letters
© 2019 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.
85. Otherworldly 86. Discarded material 87. Tight 88. “Elmer Gantry” author — Lewis 90. Hair-raising 92. Exchange system 93. Robust 94. Swiss — 95. Tea variety 96. Like a grogshop 99. Place in SE Asia 100. Olympian queen 101. Certain promise 104. Dividends yet to be paid: 2 wds. 110. Boys 111. Word in a commandment 112. Liberace’s instrument 113. Letters 114. Term in bridge 115. Openings 116. Direction indicator 117. German river
Bag Basin Bin Books Box Broom Bucket Bury Cans Carpet Clothes Cockroach Cut Dirt Dispose Empty Enrich
Filth Fines Foam Foul Glass Gutter Hard Ill Mats Mice Mop Nation Oven Paper Penalty
Rugs Schools Shower screen Sick Smelly Sweep Throw Tidy Tiles Tins Tip Vacuum cleaner Wash Wipe
10/17 Solution: Someone is pushing all my buttons Solution: Housework is never ending
ACROSS 1. Put a load on 5. Heartsease 10. Toolshed item 15. Impostor 19. Fleshy seed cover 20. “Blue Hawaii” star 21. A dwarf planet 22. Pontiff 23. Layman: 2 wds. 27. Calendar abbr. 28. Some votes 29. Mournful cry 30. Interference 31. Intimates 33. Interlaced 35. Player on a field 37. Arenas 39. Succored 40. Resolute 44. Sophia of movies 45. Nullify 46. Knowledgeable ones 47. — judicata 48. Brand name, perhaps: 2 wds. 53. WWII abbr. 54. Crystal-gazer 55. Brag 56. Diminutive suffix 57. Elderly women of rank 60. Tends 61. Pretender 63. Sculls 64. Have a liking for 65. In that case 66. Accusation 69. Put into words 70. Three-tiered galleys 74. Ultimate 75. River in France 76. Earth goddess 77. Genus of macaws 78. Non sequitur: 2 wds. 84. Feather scarf
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SHEPHERD EXPRESS Date: 10/24/19
::FREEWILLASTROLOGY ::BY ROB BREZSNY SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Sometimes the easiest way to get something done is to be a little naive about it,” writes computer engineer Bill Joy. I invite you to consider the value of that perspective, Scorpio—even though you’re the least likely sign in all the zodiac to do so. Being naive just doesn’t come naturally to you; you often know more than everyone else around you. Maybe you’ll be more receptive to my suggestion if I reframe the task. Are you familiar with the Zen Buddhist concept of “beginner’s mind”? You wipe away your assumptions and see everything as if it were the first time you were in its presence. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Is it always a bad thing to be lost? To wander in the unknown without a map? I’d like to propose a good version of being lost. It requires you to be willing to give up your certainties, to relinquish your grip on the comforting dogmas that have structured your world—but to do so gladly, with a spirit of cheerful expectancy and curiosity. It doesn’t require you to be a macho hero who feels no fear or confusion. Rather, you have faith that life will provide blessings that weren’t possible until you got lost. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Worrying is the most natural and spontaneous of all human functions,” wrote science educator Lewis Thomas. “Let’s acknowledge this, perhaps even learn to do it better.” I agree with him! And I think it’s an ideal time for you to learn how to worry more effectively, more potently and with greater artistry. What might that look like? First, you wouldn’t feel shame or guilt about worrying. You wouldn’t regard it as a failing. Rather, you would raise your worrying to a higher power. You’d wield it as a savvy tool to discern which situations truly need your concerned energy and which don’t. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Some wounds go so deep that you don’t even feel them until months, maybe years, later,” wrote Aquarian author Julius Lester. Pay attention to that thought, Aquarius. The bad news is that you are just now beginning to feel a wound that was inflicted some time ago. But that’s also the good news, because it means the wound will no longer be hidden and unknowable. And because you’ll be fully aware of it, you’ll be empowered to launch the healing process. I suggest you follow your early intuitions about how best to proceed with the cure. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you’ve been having dreams or fantasies that the roof is sinking or the walls are closing in, you should interpret it as a sign that you should consider moving into a more spacious situation. If you have been trapped within the narrow confines of limited possibilities, it’s time to break free and flee to a wideopen frontier. In general, Pisces, I urge you to insist on more expansiveness in everything you do, even if that requires you to demolish cute little mental blocks that have tricked you into thinking small. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Singapore has one of the world’s lowest fertility rate. A few years ago, this state of affairs prompted the government to urge Singaporeans to have sex on an annual holiday known as National Day. A new rap song was released in the hope of pumping up everyone’s libidos and instigating a baby boom. It included the lyrics, “Let’s make fireworks ignite / Let’s make Singapore’s birthrate spike.” I have a different reason for encouraging you to seek abundant high-quality sex, Aries. According to my analysis, tender orgasmic experiences will profoundly enhance your emotional intelligence in the coming weeks—and make you an excellent decision-maker just in time for your big decisions. (P.S. You don’t necessarily need a partner.) TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 1530s, explorer Jacques Cartier led expeditions from France to the New World. As Europeans often did back then, he and his team were rude and brutish to the indigenous folks who lived there, stealing their land, kidnapping some of them and slaughtering herds of great auks in a bird sanctuary. Yet there was one winter when Cartier’s marauders got crucial help from their victims, who gave them vitamin C-rich pine-needle tea that cured their scurvy. I suspect you Tauruses will embark on quests and journeys in the coming months, and I’m hoping your behavior will be
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
different from Cartier’s. When you arrive in unfamiliar places, be humble, curious and respectful. Be hesitant to impose your concepts of what’s true and be eager to learn from the locals. If you do, you’re likely to get rich teachings and benefits equivalent to the pineneedle tea. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many software engineers have enjoyed The Pragmatic Programmer, a book that helps them develop and refine their code. One popular technique the book offers is “rubber duck deprogramming.” Programmers place a toy rubber duck in front of them and describe to it the problems they’re having. As they explain each line of code to their very good listener, they may discover what’s amiss. I recommend a similar approach to you as you embark on metaphorically debugging your own program, Gemini. If a rubber duck isn’t available, call on your favorite statue or stuffed animal, or even a photo of a catalytic teacher or relative or spirit. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Read the following passage from Gabriel García Márquez’s novel One Hundred Years of Solitude: “Gaston was not only a fierce lover, with endless wisdom and imagination, but he was also, perhaps, the first man in the history of the species who had made an emergency landing and had come close to killing himself and his sweetheart simply to make love in a field of violets.” I admire the romantic artistry of Gaston’s dramatic gesture. I applaud his imaginative desire to express his love in a carefully chosen sanctuary filled with beauty. I praise his intense devotion to playful extravagance. But I don’t recommend you do anything quite so extreme in behalf of love during the coming weeks. Being 20 percent as extreme might be just right, though. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his song “Diplomatic Immunity,” rapper Drake disparages tranquility and harmony. “I listen to heavy metal for meditation, no silence,” he brags. “My body isn’t much of a sacred temple, with vodka and wine, and sleep at the opposite times,” he declares. Is there a method in his madness? It’s revealed in these lyrics: “All that peace and that unity: all that weak shit’ll ruin me.” In the coming weeks, Leo, I urge you to practice the exact opposite of Drake’s approach. It’s time to treat yourself to an intense and extended phase of self-care. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s a favorable time to refresh your relationships with your basic sources and to make connections with new basic sources. To spur your creative thought on these matters, I offer the following questions to meditate on. 1. If you weren’t living where you do now, what other place might you like to call home? 2. If you didn’t have the name you actually go by, what other name would you choose? 3. If you had an urge to expand the circle of allies that supports and stimulates you, whom would you seek out? 4. If you wanted to add new foods and herbs that would nurture your physical health and new experiences that would nurture your mental health, what would they be? LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Mushrooms have spores, not seeds. They’re tiny. If you could stack 2,500 of them, they’d be an inch high. On the other hand, they are numerous. A ripe mushroom may release up to 16 million spores. And each spore is so light-weight, the wind can pick it up and fling it long distances. I’ll encourage you to express your power and influence like a mushroom in the coming days: subtle and airy but abundant; light and fine, but relentless and bountiful. Homework: You don’t have to feel emotions that others try to manipulate you into feeling. You are free to be who you want to be. Freewillastrology.com.
Go to realastrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s Expanded Weekly Audio Horoscopes and Daily Text Message Horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 877873-4888 or 900-950-7700.
::NEWS OF THE WEIRD ::BY THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
Crème de la Weird
N
ear closing time on Sunday, Oct. 13, in a pub in Ruinerwold, Netherlands, a “completely confused” and “unkempt” 25-year-old man appeared with a strange story to tell. Pub owner Chris Westerbeek told Dutch media the young man ordered five beers and “said he was the oldest (of six siblings) and wanted to end the way they were living,” according to The New York Times. The man had walked to the pub from a farm outside town, where police found five adult siblings, the youngest of whom was 18, had been living in a secret basement, accessed only by a hidden door behind a cupboard, for nine years. They were apparently “waiting for the end of time,” police said, and the younger siblings were totally unaware that there were any other humans at all outside their basement. The family, including the father, who also lived on the farm, survived on a large garden and a few animals. NL Times reported police arrested a 58-yearold Austrian man, believed to a tenant of the farm and identified only as Josef B., initially for refusing to cooperate with the investigation and later charged him with holding the family against their will; it was unclear where the mother is. At press time, the story was still unfolding.
Perp Walk Weird Tommy Lee Jenkins, 32, recently moved away from Oshkosh, Wis., to Whitestown, Ind., but on Tuesday, Oct. 1, he struck up an online relationship with “Kylee,” a supposed 14-year-old girl in Neenah, Wis., according to the U.S. Justice Department. As their correspondence progressed, he requested sexually explicit photos of Kylee and made plans to engage in sexual behavior, court documents said, but when Kylee refused to come to Indiana, Jenkins decided he’d come up to see Kylee—by walking all the way from Whitestown to Neenah. The Oshkosh Northwestern reported that waiting for him at the end of his 371-mile trek were Winnebago County
Sheriff’s deputies (one of whom was “Kylee”) and FBI agents, who arrested him for using a computer to attempt to persuade, induce or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Jenkins faced other child sexual assault charges in 2011 and 2012 and had been sentenced to probation.
Off-the-Cuff Weird While patrolling a Bath and Body Works store in Waukesha, Wis., an unnamed security guard let the boredom get to him. Around 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, he slipped his handcuffs on, only then realizing that he’d left the keys at home. Forced to call police, who responded and freed him from his restraints, the bored guard then hid the cuffs from himself so he wouldn’t be tempted to put them on again. According to WDJT, he told police it wasn’t the first time he had handcuffed himself without having the keys.
Offal-y Weird The Lestinas have lived next door to Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker in Bagley, Iowa, for 10 years without incident, but early in October, they discovered almost five inches of animal blood, fat and bones had flooded their basement. Lestina said it would have risen higher if not for his sump pump. He approached the meat locker next door for help, but, he told WHO TV, “They say it’s not their fault and told me ‘good luck.’” Lestina reached out to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which investigated and found that the business had slaughtered hogs and cattle on Thursday, Oct. 3, and flushed fluids down the floor drain, which is probably connected with the Lestinas’ drain. The family of seven has had to move out of the home while trying to resolve the cleanup issue.
Shaun of the Weird In Eldorado Hills, Calif., homeowner Matthew Eschrich woke up late on Saturday, Oct. 12, saw a sensor light on next to his garage and went downstairs to investigate. When he heard rumbling, he realized there was an intruder and called 911. Just then, his sister-inlaw, who also lives in the home, called to say she had just pulled into the garage and saw a man running away, “wearing just a bra and panties,” KXTV reported. The intruder was later identified as Shaun McGuire, 37, who was taken into custody and charged with burglary, indecent exposure and trespassing. © 2019 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | 41
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::ARTFORART’SSAKE
Put Some Lead in Your Pencil ::BY ART KUMBALEK
I
’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, for those who think voter suppression is not a thing, I got news for you’s. Just the other day, I received from a high friend in a place a copy of a literacy test with math that Republicans would like to shove up your blue heinie by November 2020 in all Democratic districts and states that went donkey in 2016. To be able to cast your ballot, you’d have to pass this test. So, let’s see how you’d do if these GOP jags can get this passed. And so you know, I am not responsible for any of the content below. I simply pass this verbatim information I received on to you ’cause a well-informed public knows an ass in the Oval Office from a hole in the ground, what the fock.
and a few days later he was sneaking up on the flock and just as he was about to pounce, the dog grabbed his leg and wouldn’t let go. The simple farmer came to his senses and thanked the dog for preventing him from making a fool of himself. But this same scene happened every night for a couple, three, and he had become quite irritated and frustrated with the dog. It was then that he spied a life raft bobbing in the surf. In the raft was a beautiful woman barely alive. He took her back to his shelter, revived and nursed her to health. After several days, the woman was feeling fine and that evening a rush of gratitude swept over her and she said to the simple farmer, “I owe you my life, and I’ll do anything you desire.” And he said, “That’s fabulous. So, you think you could hold on to that dog for about 15 minutes?” And then, after 27 days, 14 hours, 51 minutes and 16 seconds, the simple farmer was rescued and finally made his way to market.
Your 2020 Electoral Literacy Test
A simple farmer was on his way to market with 11.23 dozen eggs when the 1963 light-green Dodge pickup truck he was driving had a flat tire, which caused him to lose control of the truck, whose odometer read 116,746 miles, and land in a ditch at the side of the road. Discovering that he had no spare tire and that 2.76 dozen of the eggs were damaged, the simple farmer loaded the remaining good eggs into his wheelbarrow and walked 4.6 miles to the nearest town where he planned to board an eastbound train that would take him to market. While pushing his wheelbarrow toward the nearest hamlet, which would be quaintly nestled in the gently rolling hills like a bead of perspiration upon the breast of a 10 a.m. dancer at a 24-hour gentlemen’s establishment, the simple farmer recalled the events of the evening before he departed on his journey: He and his wife were lying in bed; she was knitting and he was perusing the latest issue of Farmer’s Weekly. He looked up from the page and said, “Did you know that humans are the only species in which the female achieves orgasm?” The farmer’s wife looked at him wistfully and said, “Oh, really. Would you care to prove it?” The farmer said, “It’s late, but I can certainly try.” So, he got out of bed and walked out into the farmyard leaving his wife rather confused. He returned 90 minutes later, tired and disheveled, and said to her, “OK, here’s what I know. I’m sure the cow and goose didn’t, but the way that pig’s always squealing, how can I tell?” At 11:43 a.m., the simple farmer boarded a train that would travel from Natchez to Mobile at 35 mph, and then from Memphis to St. Joe at 37.8 mph. While crossing over the Mississippi River, the train derailed. The simple farmer—and 6.23 dozen of the eggs—survived but found himself on an apparently deserted island except for a friendly dog. After a few days, he decided to reconnoiter the island, and discovered that the only other inhabitants, besides him and the dog, were a flock of 18 sheep. He recalled how his farm buddies would brag how they would screw sheep for kicks and he promised himself that he’d never be that desperate. But he couldn’t get those sheep out of his mind,
Now, in order to cast your ballot in this election, you must answer three questions: 1. Which of the following may be easier to find than a black white-supremacist Republican: • Jimmy focking Hoffa • Life on Pluto • A lover-done-me-wrong country-western song with lyrics by Spinoza • Reasonable and rational hospital costs • A rabbi named Abdul • An Irish guy who says, “No thanks, I think I’ve had enough” • The passage, “What the fock,” somewhere, anywhere, in the New Testament 2. How many eggs did the simple farmer in the story above have left to sell at the market and what was the license plate number of his pickup truck? 3. What is the Dutch philosopher Spinoza’s first name? So there you go, and now no matter what it takes, you just got to get out there and vote, wherever and whenever, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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