Issue 73.11
Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Union Weekly, not ASI or CSULB. All students Union Weekly
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be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available in the
“Hummus? More like ‘yummus.’” Marco Beltran , Managing Editor
Rose Feduk, Editor-in-Chief
editorinchief@lbunion.com
Marco Beltran, Managing Editor
marco.union@gmail.com
Connor O’Brien, Managing Editor
connor.union@gmail.com
Eric Garcia, Advertising Exec
advertising@lbunion.com
Music Career Rose Feduk In last week’s intro letter, I talked about how I thought that my house would be the
instrument that would allow the whole neighborhood to hear it. But like most things I attempted as a child, drumming
Shereen Lisa Dudar, Opinions Editor opinons@lbunioncom
Gabe Ferreira, Art Director gabe.union@gmail.com
Sierra Patheal, Campus Editor campus@lbunion.com
Brian Mark, Art Director brian.union@gmail.com
Michael Wood, Music Editor music@lbunion.com
Connor O’Brien, Cover Photography connor.union@gmail.com
Roque Renteria, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com
Truc Nguyen, Web Manager
both my brothers claimed to have also seen a ghost, claiming this time that his name
Katie Healy, Literature Editor literature@lbunion.com
Eddie Viramontes, Graphic Designer info@lbunion.com
the realization that “Hans” is the Dutch
to bring you great music. And that is how you make art. As a side note, since we at the Union Weekly
Alia Sabino, Culture Editor culture@lbunion.com
God Warrior, Grunion Editor grunion@lbunion.com
Luckily, you get to drown out that
Welcome is no longer going to be the only
Molly Shannon, Food Editor food@lbunion.com
Alyssa Keyne, Alfred Pallarca, Athletics Editors athletics@lbunion.com
music editors teamed up to bring you a
sitting at a table in the hot sun. Catch us at the Farmer’s Market this week (and every
Fortunately, the musicians highlighted
they relate to the music scene as a whole. I would probably be mentioned in that As always, we encourage submissions Assistant Editor:
Contributors: Leah Sakacs, Christina Chavez Duarte,
Questions? Comments? Croutons?
pans should be translated through an
ghost that lives in your house or the $700 drum set that you now use as a coat rack.
Long Beach, CA 90815.
Leon, Paula Tena, Michael Colbert, Lou Skant,
LBUnion.com
Open Meetings are Tuesdays at 5:30pm in
Join our Union Weekly Contributors group: http://tinyurl.com/kasq4yb
3 Opinions
America Rethinks its Past
Kevin Tran Staffer
Hollywood’s portrayal of slavery is getting more realistic There are certain past subjects that film companies have not tapped into yet. Often, these subject matters portray America in a negative light, and they exemplify the notion that America is not a perfect country. No matter how progressive this country gets, it still needs to reflect on its shameful past. However, because Hollywood is about the glorification of many topics, they often gloss over the unsettling historical stories that need to be told. That is why there are no movies about the Trail of Tears, the Kent State Shooting, or the Japanese However, because America has matured movies pertaining to slavery, such as Django Unchained, Lincoln, 12 Years a Slave, and, in the near future, Belle. As a result, America is realizing its troubled past and through
Come Fly Away Airports are happy places, not shooting ranges
examination, it can now go through the alcoholism is to admit that you’re an about slavery that surfaced from time to time, but none has matched the profound 12 Years a Slave. There are movies that use slavery in the backdrop of the Civil War, like Glory, there are movies about slavery that have focused on the political side, like Amistad and Lincoln Tarantino’s Django Unchained, where slavery was used as a problem, resulting in a movie that becomes cathartic by vilifying the evil “white” caricatures. 12 Years a Slave, on the other hand,
not sugarcoat or shy away from the truth. The movie also evaluates our judgment on this period of time. At times, the movie asks us the question, “Was it an atrocity or was it just the way things were?” We’ve read textbooks on how slaves were hanged and whipped, but 12 Years a Slave goes a step beyond that by putting us in the moment of the occurrence. We’re seeing a movie about slavery through the point of view of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. We witness his pain, his anguish, his frustrations, and all the more, we cannot do anything but watch how everything unfolds. There is a particular shot in the movie where he is being hanged while his toes are touching the ground, keeping him
to make the audience witnesses to the an unbiased truth on slavery, and it does
For the last 15 years of my life, LAX has indirectly and directly served my family and me in a multitude of life-changing my dad left LAX to embark on a journey in the United States, and ten years ago he was at last reunited with his whole family at that airport. About six years ago, my mom became an orphan and traveled alone back to the Philippines to reunite with her siblings and our late grandmother. Four years ago, my sister entered LAX and began her life
bear, but extracted from this excruciating scene is the truth, and this is what grants the movie its power. When going into this movie, there are many expectations to subvert. For one, it does not have a conventional story arc or a hero journey. Solomon doesn’t become a better person at the end of the movie, and the bad guys don’t really get punished in the story that allows us to witness someone’s the faint of heart, but the movie is absolutely essential as far as learning what our past was really like. Because of the advent of a realistic depiction of slavery, America has learned to apologize for its intolerable past and learn to be a better nation as a result of it.
and in the background, other slaves mind their daily business, treating the event as
me on this. The airport is where journeys to
situation is the fact that we still don’t have
your well-deserved vacation to an exotic land or reunite with friends, family, or loved
expert and will not go on a rant on how guns should be regulated in this country, but, in my opinion, there should simply be no use or reason for having them. Civilians do not last two years or so the amount of violence
treasure for the rest of my life. With that said, it saddens and appalls me to hear that somebody would attack cities are just too complex for guns to coexist
Alfred Pallarca Athletics Editor
traveled to Europe as a gift for his high school graduation. Also, last year marked the
don’t think they are contributing something meaningful to the growth of society at all. a few days later instead of sometime this several airports. They are the only place
the awful lines, and the other ridiculous emotions, and diverse groups of people all dubbed LAX the happiest, most wonderful place in California— —
am happy nothing worse has happened and tearful memories and most importantly, the aviation industry just can’t get a break, as they are always vulnerable to attacks.
Heathrow, etc.—to be some of the happiest makes the security in the airport go apeentering those airports is just indescribable.
anything, just please stop the savagery. Put the gun down and deal with your problems the right way.
4 Campus
“...by providing a platform for our campus community to use creative expression to share our stories, we can remove the stigma associated with mental health and seeking support.”
Psychology and Poetry Cross Paths Project OCEAN invites you to Express Yourself Jennifer Young Contributor
Project OCEAN (On Campus Emergency Assistance Network) is collaborating with Program Council’s Poet’s Lounge and Los Angeles’ largest slam poetry venue, Da Poetry Lounge (DPL), to bring “Express Yourself Poetry Spoken Word” to CSULB on November 21, 2013 from 6pm-8pm in The Purple Room, USU 103. Students can sign up for free workshops with DPL’s teaching artist Natalie Patterson, where they will have the opportunity to learn how to write, edit, and perform poetry. Two free poetry workshops will take place on Tuesday, November 12th and 19th from 1pm-3pm in USU 105. Workshops will help students selected poets will be invited to perform at the Express Yourself Poetry Spoken Word event, alongside DPL’s featured poets. At our outreach table, when we promote the Express Yourself event, students are often enthusiastic and say, “Wow, that’s cool!” But how do we make it more than cool? How do we make it meaningful? We realized that our rationale for hosting a spoken word event needs to be better explained. Hopefully this article will provide a better understanding of the inspiration for this event. The history of spoken word poetry (SWP) has been traced back to ancient Greece, the Harlem Renaissance, and, more recently, the African-American Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. SWP was used as a platform to give oppressed people a voice to express sociopolitical injustices. Bob Holman, a poetry activist, hosted one of the Holman is recognized as one of the original slam poets at the Nuyorican Poets Café, York. Modern day SWP strives to maintain the spirit of seeking and sharing truth and weaves blues, poetry, hip hop, and theatre together, into a rhythmic and unstructured oral performance, where slang and ordinary language is used and accepted. Great, right? But how does this connect to Project OCEAN and mental health? Poetry
and writing are two of many forms of creative expression that can be healing to both the poet/ writer and the audience. Use of writing as a therapeutic tool in counseling has taken place over the past three decades. It is suggested that writing provides “psychological insight” and is healing because it gives individuals “control over the rate, depth, and intensity” of their therapy. Writing has also been shown to help people adjust to traumatic experiences and to reduce symptoms of asthma and arthritis, and it has been correlated to physiological and spoken word poetry alone to process personal crises and/or traumatic or unresolved disclosures is not recommended. Therefore, it is not recommended as a replacement for counseling or medical care. Nevertheless, spoken word poetry is health. Ian Levy, an educator and hip hop artist, developed Hip Hop Spoken Word Therapy (HHSWT), which uses a combination of elements from cognitive behavioral therapy, bibliotherapy, music therapy, and person-centered therapy. Artistic writing and performance can be used to heal. Express Yourself Poetry Spoken Word is a meeting of inspired minds (Project OCEAN, Poet’s Lounge and DPL) who strive to create a supportive campus environment by providing a space for individuals on campus to share life experiences—the good, the bad, and the strength to ride it all out. mission of CalMHSA—Prop 63, a state grant that focuses on stigma reduction and suicide prevention. We believe that by providing a platform for our campus community to use creative expression to share our stories, we can remove the stigma associated with mental health and seeking support, and create unconditional acceptance and support of one another. No shame, no hiding. Express Yourself Spoken Word promotes community, respect, and resilience. We look forward to seeing you at Express Yourself!
Workshop 1: Informative Session Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1pm-3pm, USU 105 Workshop 2: Performance Session Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1pm-3pm, USU 105 Poetry Spoken Word: Thursday, Nov. 2, 6pm-8pm, USU 103
To sign up visit www.csulb.edu/ocean
Clowns with Chainsaws Highlights of the Psych department’s haunted maze Alia Sabino Culture Editor
Everyday Ethics CSULB’s annual Ethics at the Beach conference offers essential tools to improve students’ decisionmaking faculties Alison Ernst Staffer
Being a person who has always been fascinated by all things morbid, it was about time that I tried one of the mazes on campus. The Psychology Student Association and Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society) hosted their annual Halloween maze (this year’s maze aptly named Cirque Du La Scream). I came in half expecting to just make fun of the entire thing, especially because the maze at the Queen Mary didn’t terrify me at all, but I came out actually impressed by how much of a good job they did. The combination of eerie music, creepy
you really think about it, a Halloween maze is the perfect place to execute a murder genuinely spooked. All the proceeds went to the Village, a program in Long Beach that focuses on recovery from mental illness.
lies just to see if Beam would play along or tell the truth. At the time, Beam didn’t speak up, because he simply saw these lies as little and unimportant. The lies evolved into actions when Scrushy began to pressure a bad quarter where HealthSouth failed to meet investor expectations. In accounting, there are ways to statements, due to the nature of having to estimate bad debt expense and the timing of revenue recognition. Beam described these estimates as being close to a “cookie jar,” where he could just change the numbers due to a bad quarter. Scrushy also instructed Beam to keep more start-up expenses on the books as assets. After a year of serving under Scrushy’s questionable ethics at HealthSouth, Beam quit the corporation in 1997 and retired. Fast forward to 2003, when the massive, multi-million accounting fraud was discovered at HealthSouth. Although Beam served for only a year, he still faced prison also listed as a felon for life, which leaves him
Hey, Long Beach! Welcome to week eleven, that time when you begin planning for December— and you realize that your social life is about to nosedive. I have six papers due next week for just two classes. What the hell, universe, am I the modern-day Job or something? Anyways, I am here to give you the Associated Students, Inc. update. What joy! Disability Awareness According to the ASI Secretary for Disability
enough to induce epileptic seizures made for quite the experience. I think what creeped me out the most was the clown at the end with an actual chain saw (although
This past Friday marked the seventh anniversary of CSULB’s Ethics at the Beach seminar. The half-day event included the powerful guest speakers Aaron Beam (former CFO of HealthSouth Corporation) and Dr. Richard Strozzi-Heckler (President of the Strozzi Institute). Both speakers had unique perspectives on ethical leadership that helped students more clearly see the impact of their decisions. Aaron Beam spoke about his brief time at HealthSouth under the company’s founder, Richard Scrushy. Beam said that even on his
Joseph Phillips ASI Chief of Staff
unable to hold another job. Although he had millions before, he lost everything he had during the trial. Unlike Enron, HealthSouth was a real corporation that employed great doctors and provided wonderful facilities for hospital outpatients. It proved to be an extremely a half-million dollars a year, and Richard Scrushy paid himself an annual salary of $100 million dollars. The fear of posting a bad quarter and thus risking his ego made Scrushy his employees. Despite multiple employees describing Scrushy as one of the individuals responsible, Scrushy’s $20 million legal team kept him out of prison. Dr. Richard Strozzi-Heckler taught students how to center themselves and the importance of doing so daily to eliminate stress. He also emphasized that students need to train themselves to handle potential ethical decisions. You make always go through a conscious process. Even the decision to do your homework instead of going out is an ethical decision. It has implications and before making a of your decision. Dr. Strozzi-Heckler also provided a copy of his book, The Leadership Dojo, to all of the students in attendance. Ethics at the Beach is a great opportunity for students to hear real-life accounts of ethical (or unethical!) decisions and how one little choice can greatly impact lives. It is absolutely critical for students to learn from these speakers so they do not make the same decisions later on in their professional careers. The next Ethics at the Beach will be held in Fall 2014.
Our Shoes” is taking place on Wednesday, November 6th to raise awareness of those who live with a disability on a daily basis. Participants in the event will be given an opportunity to simulate a disability in order to better understand the experience. We have two options: Walk-in disabilities, which do not require RSVPs, include auditory impairment, low vision, depression, and dysgraphia (a writing disability). Alternatively, an RSVP is required for total blindness, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, and schizophrenia. If you are interested in participating in one of the RSVP-required activities or have any questions, please send an email to Christopher. Vickery@student.csulb.edu Veterans’ Week There are multiple events taking place this week leading up to Veterans’ Day. Marshall has put together a training program for students to learn about soldiers’ experiences after coming home from war. This is the VET NET Ally, taking place this Tuesday from 9-12pm, with topics from why people join the military to self-identifying in the university. This is a great opportunity for professional development, so if you are interested, please RSVP with Marshall.Thomas@csulb.edu On Wednesday, there will be a seminar on PTSD and the experience of a veteran returning home. This will be taking place at 3pm in the USU-205. Homecoming Make sure to go check out the men’s basketball homecoming game next Saturday! There will be a tailgate beginning around 11am, which will also feature a Red Bull Chariot Race. The game begins at 3:05pm, so be sure to show up and show pride for your university by wearing black and yellow. If you have never been to an Athletics game before, this would be the one to come to! That is a miniscule fraction of everything going on this week, but alas, I am out of space. Have a good, calm month and take it easy. Winter is coming…
5 Campus
Shootin’ the Shit with the Execs
6 Music
“[DIY] is about being a craftsman, working on every part of a creative endeavor yourself so that ”
Devoted to DIY
Michael Wood Music Editor
A homegrown recording studio right here in Long Beach Tucked away in a crowded neighborhood next to 2nd street is a little gem of a studio crowded into a converted garage and a master of DIY who goes by the name of Sammy Rothman. When most people think of DIY, they
who shared the same musical inclination. “I used to just come home from school every day with my friends and then jam for hours with them,” Sammy said, “have some dinner, and then jam again. It became a sort of routine even before I started work on the studio.”
patches and Black Flag shirts in their room, trying to express themselves through fashion and trying to save a couple bucks on overpriced band merch. But it is simply so much more than that; it is about being a craftsman, working on every part of a creative endeavor yourself, so that you have ultimate control over
avoid complaints from the neighbors to his digital setup to the grand centerpiece of the studio, a large reel to reel tape recorder, bought secondhand from NBC, it was all done by Sammy and his friends, who, in the process
ages, its popularization by the punk movement has taken music away from the big studios and promoters and put it back in the hands of, you know, actual musicians. Sammy, a member of Tubby Boots and CSULB alumnus, has worked for years on perfecting his own studio. Originally it was merely a practice pad for him and his friends
would need to know, like electrical engineering. Complete with a used tape reel containing the audio tracks to an episode of Seinfeld, the reelto-reel tape recorder centerpiece gives his tracks and all of the tracks recorded in Sammy’s studio a unique warmness that simply can’t be achieved through the use of digital recording alone. However, digital recording does allow the producer a lot more freedom to alter the
A Tribute to Lou Reed
setup with the initial take stored on his reel to reel recorder, which is hooked up to his computer for processing and editing. Nowadays, it’s exceedingly rare to see musicians go the whole nine yards and truly devote themselves to everything associated with their music. I remember fondly being in a garage band in high school
and recording our work with a microphone hung from the rafters, which was connected to my laptop. It’s very easy to take the easy way out a lot of the time; that’s what makes a true DIY craftsman like Sammy admirable and a golden example for other musicians out there looking to make their mark.
Shereen Lisa Dudar Opinions Editor
An obituary for a rock n’ roll legend Legendary rock musician Lou Reed passed away last week. His death was announced in the most emotionally exhausting manner—a bunch of reliable sources said he died, then a satirical website said it was a hoax, which we all desperately
Lou Reed was best known as the guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the Velvet Underground. The band was managed by Andy fucking Warhol, and now everyone correlates them with artsy bananas. The banana-adorned debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, was not received very well until after the band disbanded, but the cult following essentially included every rock band to precede them to this day. The album is all the over the place, from the harmonious bells on the opening track,
“Sunday Morning,” which is reminiscent of a lullaby, to the ballads about drug culture like “I’m Waiting for the Man” and of course, “Heroin.” The lyrics portray a gritty society, full of expensive drugs, cheap sex, and rock n’ roll. After a few more Velvet Underground albums and a self-titled solo album, the world received Transformer, a glam rock gift that the gods on Mount Olympus were The breakthrough hit of the album was “Walk on the Wild Side,” which re-charted on iTunes posthumously. Last spring, the University Art Museum showcased Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music, a departure from conventional rock and the beginning of experimentation with industrial music and sound art. The hour and four minutes of feedback and guitar
was experimental and artistic. That’s exactly or composition, but it was by no means random. The UAM created a sound room with 12 loudspeakers, where visitors sat in the middle and were surrounded by sound, similar to Reed’s experience onstage. I went to the opening reception, and Lou Reed was there. He had everyone sit in a circle with their eyes closed, just listening shy to go up to him and say anything; I just marveled at the legendary man before me.
If you have any interest in rock or punk music, your favorite band has probably done a cover of a Lou Reed song. The list is endless: Bowie, Death Cab for Cutie, Duran Duran, and Joy Division. Even Susan Boyle—who, quite frankly, completely missed the drug references and turned “Perfect Day” into a choir song about sunshine breaking through Lou Reed will live on through his music legacy and the species of underground velvet spider that has been named Loureedia after
sensation told me the Velvet Underground odd to me, but I realize now that what Lou Reed was doing in the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist could be appreciated by anyone with a pulse. His brand of rock music
is beloved by established and aspiring pop, punk, rock, and even hip-hop musicians.
to not only achieve success, but to cement some sort of legacy within the realm of popular music. To make a difference, to drive and inspire
terribly insincere attention-hungry Miley Cyrus can do anything to tarnish This sort of outcome is the goal, and with the talent that has been coming
Words by John Villanueva Union Weekly Alumni Michael Wood Music Editor
Photos by Connor O’Brien Managing Editor
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been in the back of the mind of any young kid who ever plucked a string or picked up a pair of sticks. Not just the fame and the money of course, but
Tearing Up the Scene
Nirvana did it by combining the murky grunge of ‘90s alt rock with a lyrical earnestness that captured the sentiments of young adults across the globe. The Strokes did it with attitude, a New York cool that made you wonder what would happen if they actually started trying. Alt-J did it because everyone today is a goddamn moron, or due to some combination
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it was, and they wanted
Terminal A In a musical landscape that seems to willfully neglect a very emotional and authentic response to its surroundings, Terminal A are doing their part to reverse the process. Harkening back to the days where musicians displayed their ideals and emotions for all to see, Terminal A seems to be approaching the modern music era of “likes” with a very sincere motivation and a stoic determination comprised of Romantic-era theatrics and righteous anger and they’re goddamn great at it. I’m lucky enough to call both Colin and Lee close friends, and while that may strike readers as a venture into nepotism, the quick and ever-expanding rise in the popularity of the group warrants such attention. These two are animals. Maybe not quite animals, as such a title seems to discount the almost ethereal aura that seems to clear the room of any and all distractions when they begin. What takes over, and you are more than glad when time I saw this group in a dingy little bar in downtown LA and many subsequent times after, was true. True everything. An emotional resonance that echoed both sophistication and primal instinct with every struck chord and every venture into the crowd. These guys had it, whatever it was, and they wanted everyone to know, the world be damned if they were too lazy to adhere to the message. They were going to do anything to express what they needed to onstage. Colin strutted and snarled a voice like one heard at a revival, telling his adherents to go out and fucking do something. A motivational speaker in the truest sense of the term, fuzzy feelings be damned. On the front lines as well, assisting in the assault, and without whom this whole healing process
would be nothing, was Lee, glaring as if he wanted to tear the entire world apart and channeling aggression into spilled blood and personal damage. And I literally mean blood. Now, attitude would be nothing without music to back it up. Thankfully, these two are gifted with the ability to craft tunes that maintain the message they give out without being completely unlistenable, watered-down pretentious bullshit, as so many try and fail to do. A two-man show melding primitive technological specs with sparse, almost synthetic instrumentals creates the version of 100 Years. Grounded by prerecorded backtracks, Lee lays over a very part sawtooth synthline, while Colin barks
adventure through the concrete kingdom of Berlin. I can only praise what these two are trying to accomplish. Though bands start with diluted resolutions, this duo for a true human experience, delving into a sound and fury that will only become bigger and louder.
I usually hate California music. Whether it be from my exposure due to lifelong California residency or its oversaturation of the musical market, or the fact that Wavves’ little brother was in my high school jazz band and would hawk that shit all the time, I’ve grown weary of the same up-tempo surf and sun screed (weed infused drawl), especially nowadays, where the scene has drifted toward an approach of undeserved OC upper-middle class cynicism (see
Burger Records for a prime example of rich kids’ petulant whining). Yet, there seems to be something endearing about the band members sitting in front of me. Approachable and completely without pretense, the members of India House seem to have it together and are acting exactly as musicians with their mind-set should be acting. They just wanna have fun and make great music. Composed of five Cal State Long Beach students, the members of India House are, surprisingly in this day and age, actually knowledgeable musicians. As they were discussing gear and tones, as well as the recording process (their EP was painstakingly crafted over the course of the summer), I was incredibly amped at the fact that not only did they know what they were doing, but they were doing it incredibly well. “If You Make It” barrels out of the gate with a fantastic hook and a successful call and response chorus that many attempt and fail miserably, while “Tell Your Friends” will satisfy your 2am drunk sing-along requirements. All the songs are incredibly well crafted and succeed sonically, and for a band that seemingly has taken the time to plan out their every move and tone, the main goal remains the same. “I’ve never understood preaged guitars,” says Rain, who, on lead vocals and guitars, has helped craft the sound along with his bandmates. He then goes on a very contemplative and well-reasoned argument one why instruments are meant to be played not meant to be pretty, and my heart swells in acknowledgement that there is hope for the younger generation (let it be known that I’m really only a year older than these guys.) I was also able to get a good sense of the message of the music, which is to say,
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narcissistic concept album nonsense. If anything, the thing taken away from listening to the EP and talking to these guys was a singular word: fun. Not Fun., whose music ironically is the antithesis of fun, but straight up fun. Beers with buds, dating dames, and just living the life. India House responded to any perceived future criticism tactfully as well, stating with the enthusiasts posses, that they were doing what they wanted to and how they wanted to do it. The stake through the heart, the apart from their contemporaries, was their attitude. Knowledgeable and selfdudes, they acknowledged their message and embraced it. A band that acknowledges that they are out there to present a product mind whenever they play. “We just want to put out something aurally pleasing, and something that just sounds fun.” THAT’S THE RIGHT FUCKING ATTITUDE! Do it for the fans, but also do it for yourself. The end goal should never be success, and those who think that need to give their instruments to these guys.
Single Barrel Six is one of those rare bands that not only attempts to revive an older style, but does a damn good job at emulating the spirit and the experience of ‘80s metal, grunge, and golden age punk, they have persevered through plenty of speed bumps, including the loss of their frontman, only to come out better than ever at the end of it all. I was able to sit down and talk to drummer Andrew Diaz, rhythm guitarist Mitchell Wolkow, and lead guitarist Robert Turner about everything from the struggle of getting started to the advice they would give young musicians out there. At the core, the members of Single Barrel Six are craftsmen. While technical prowess and popularity tend to be enticing for a musician, they seek something greater, a complete sound that is greater than the sum of its parts. Andrew
Diaz had a particularly poignant criticism of a lot of local bands, saying that,“They stopped listening to the quality of the sound and they started thinking ‘I can play that better’, or ‘I can play that faster, I’m better than that,’ when really it should
stars like The Mountain Goats to Fugazi, La Dispute, Title Fight, Rites of Spring, and Modest Mouse. “I could just list all of
sounds good.” However, their style as outsiders in the local scene does not come without a cost. Much of the band’s success has come from plenty of DIY hard work, printing their own stickers and band t-shirts and promoting their own shows ceaselessly. Mitchell described it best: “We’re going broke doing this, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Robert also chimed in saying, “Of course we have to do everything we do ourselves, no one will do it for you. No one’s going to come by and just start tossing money at us. Everybody has to pay their dues.” I asked them what advice they’d give to any young musicians out there. Robert summed this up perfectly by saying, “Take your music seriously. A lot of times when you’re starting out, you feel like no one will listen and that no one will even bother to care about you, but if that’s stopping you from working on your music, then you’re never going to be taken seriously by others.”And take their craft seriously they do. When talking about their recording process, Robert said, “Good enough is a dirty word in the studio. If anyone tells you ‘ehhh, it’s good enough,’ then you have to try again and give it another shot. It has to be
scene here in the Southland. It’s slowly
Barrel Six and see their work, you can catch them November 16th at the Queen Mary and keep up with them at facebook.com/ singlebarrelsix.
person on stage. He had this much to say about what motivates him towards being a musician: “I feel like everyone who says that they don’t want to be in a band is a fucking liar. Why wouldn’t you do this? It’s the coolest thing, it’s the best thing. Even at its worst, you can still say, ‘Fuck it, I was in a band.’ When I’m on the stage, it’s when I feel the most whole, it’s when I feel the least alone.” This attitude was absolutely apparent in his music. His style is that of
Struckout If there is one word that describes the philosophy of Struckout, it’s honesty. Honesty with yourself, to your audience, just pure unadulterated brutal honesty is their M.O. I had the chance to sit down with Daniel Speer, the lead singer, songwriter, and bass player, who talked to me about all about his experiences in the band. When
me in some way,” he said, struggling with the daunting task of naming all of his
bands that bare their souls in their music, following in the footsteps of other locals like Joyce Manor. On that note he said, in Long Beach. I want to do more house shows but that means I need to know more people and be less introverted. Other than that, there are only bars. I mean there’s DiPiazzas but they treat people like shit so it’s not worth it most of the time.” Having spent hours upon hours stuck
this thought. He went on to say, “Because have to drive a little bit to get involved.” Daniel’s aspirations are high, without a doubt. He mentioned that his short-term goal is to transcend the boundaries of being a local band and just simply become a good band. “I want to write better songs; I want the next album to be a good album. I don’t want to be just good for a local band; I want to kill it up there,” he said. Of course, with motivation like this, I had to wonder what drives a person to do such a thing. Admittedly shy and somewhat anxious,
in a way vulnerable, bearing himself to the world and wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“IT’S NOT ROMANTIC, IT’S STALKING”
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 5:30 Check in & Refreshments; 6-8 PM Program USU Beach Ballroom A&B Join us for an evening with CSULB alumnus, nationally recognized stalking expert Detective Mike “Duck” Proctor. Duck will share information on cyber stalking and social media, how to respond if you are being stalked, and other insights from more than 30 years of experience. A CSULB panel with representatives from Counseling & Psychological Services, Judicial Affairs and University Police will follow to provide campus resources. For more information contact the Women’s Resource Center at wrc@csulb.edu Sponsored by:
11 Entertainment
Oldie but Goodie Bad Grandpa gives us what we want and then some Roque Renteria Entertainment Editor
Bad Grandpa is the latest installment to the Jackass series. It has been three years since Jackass 3D; and Johnny Knoxville has been hard at work formulating his new approach to practical pranking. For the first time, a Jackass related film has a story line! Borrowing elements from the 1973 classic Paper Moon, Bad Grandpa follows Irving Zisman and his grandson Billy as they travel across the country in search of Billy’s real father. During their crosscountry adventure, Irving and Billy, played by Jackson Nicoll, in a series of mishaps. The pranks featured in the movie will please Jackass fans, and possibly those unfamiliar with the show. Some gags include: indecent exposure, property destruction, and other forms of exploiting the unsuspecting public. As usual, most of the hilarity arises from shock value. My laughter was accompanied with amazement.
Knoxville admitted that Paper Moon was a taken a page from other cinematic works. For example, at least two of the pranks in Bad Grandpa have been used in previous movies. One prank at a funeral parlor was a scene from Death at a Funeral. And the prank pulled at the beauty pageant was a not-sosubtle nod to Little Miss Sunshine. These pranks work because of the chemistry between Knoxville and Nicoll. Without a doubt, Jackson steals the show. Jackson was outrageous and hilarious. He is a cool customer. Kudos to the casting director who hired this kid. Throughout the movie, way beyond his grade level. This kid is a pro. There are times during the movie where I would have rather seen Jackson talk than an actual prank. It made me think, “does Jackson need Knoxville or is it the other way around?”
Our Interview with Johnny Knoxville
I really enjoyed this film and its approach. Normally, I don’t consider Johnny Knoxville, a master storyteller, but Bad Grandpa is a concrete example of his poetic tendencies. Maybe it isn’t on par with Rilke, nor is it the most original story to hit theaters this year, but it’s a pleasant deviation from the other documentarystyle films of Jackass. Knoxville, being a father himself, understands the bond between a father and son. In this case, he extends that intimacy and love into a benevolent grandfather and his pottymouthed but amiable grandson. Overall, I give this film a seven out of ten and would recommend it to anyone who wanted to laugh their ass off and feel slightly touched. The film is in theaters now, and it’s rated R. No shit.
Union Weekly Staff
Knoxville reveals some of the magic behind his pranks
Bad Grandpa hit theaters on October 25th; and it debuted as the number one privilege of asking Johnny Knoxville a question over the phone, along with other universities. However, the transcripts we received only had the questions asked and the answers provided by Knoxville. Therefore, let’s pretend the Union asked all these questions, because it makes us look like better journalists. And it more or less legitimizes the paper. At least, that’s what we think. Enjoy. Q: Based on the trailer, I’ve seen that Bad Grandpa can be more of story. In the previous Jackass and stunts amongst one another. I was just wondering, why the sudden change in Bad Grandpa? Johnny Knoxville: Well, we did a lot of pranks on the public on the TV show and as we became well—more well-known, we kind of have to focus. But when we do pranks on the public, when I would think the public, it was primarily the old man as the movies went on. So we’ve been thinking about this movie for
a long time about doing a whole movie with the old man. And we just decided to commit to it. I’m glad we did because I think you guys are really going to like it. Q: We’re just wondering, how do you hide these cameras? Like if there’s some dude in the corner with a trench coat or is there a
JK: Well, that’s—we would have a van look like a work van that we would station close to where we’re shooting. And, you know, it. And we would have cameras inside, baby We have all kinds of things. And sometimes we will get permission for pranking We’ll go in the night before and put up twoway mirrors. And so, it’s a whole involved process to hide the cameras so no one knows what’s going on. Q: I was just wondering, it’s been a number Jackass, and your career has changed a lot since then. And I’m just wondering what
it’s like to coming back to Jackass and doing the pranks again? A: And it’s—it pertains the, you know, there’s a couple of stunts and a lot of pranks a lá Jackass, but it’s its own unique thing because of the story. So it’s a natural progression, but one we’ve managed to just happy to be shooting again. I like doing pranks and stunts. Q: What was the inspiration for adding in this story of a grandfather taking his grandson across country and establishing this emotional connection between the two? JK: Well, we—Paramount wanted us years ago to do a whole movie with Irving Zisman. And eight—nine years ago, I didn’t see it. But and we thought, “Well, if we were going to do a whole movie with him, what would we do? We’d had to have a loose type narrative.” And we—the inspiration to the narrative we came up with was Paper Moon. You know, Peter Bogdanovich classic with Ryan O’Neal
and Tatum O’Neal and he did this—where he didn’t know it was about her, but he has to actually drive her to a cousin or something. He has to drive to her two states over. And so that’s how we—that was the inspiration for Irving having to drive his grandson across country, it was Paper Moon. Q: parents to let him be a part of such an outrageous movie? So, I mean the kid does a lot of crazy things. JK: Oh, Jackson’s parents are the best, they are like—there is a reason he is solid and fearless and competent, and just—he’s just a brilliant kid. And it’s because he’s got great parents and they trusted us, thank God, and I mean Jackson has a sister who is just as they would go back to having babies because they have some wonderful children.
12 Culture
Macabre Museums
Cultural collections with a morbid twist
Alia Sabino Culture Editor
I was watching Carrie with a friend at the Pike the other night, and the infamous prom
of delight and I could not help the smile on my face as I kept murmuring, “Yesssss,
people to doing such deranged things. Still in the spirit of Halloween, we
mad at those that hurt her and enthralled
give you the feeling of inspiration one generally gets when walking through
of Art). This feature on museums is dedicated to those that make you feel squeamish, melancholic, suspicious, angry or downright likely to throw up. Take a
where the eponymous main character goes as a moment when I realized how sick and strangled them with electric wires using her telekinetic powers, I felt a sudden surge
Museum of Death
take a walk on the dark side—a world of conspiracy theories, mass homicide,
the realization that there are others out
Before they let you into this atypical museum located on Hollywood Boulevard, look at ‘test pictures’ to see if you’re too squeamish to handle what they have to
most gruesome pictures of murders, which included the Black Dahlia and other forms of mutilation. Trust me when I say that this isn’t for the faint of heart.
which included some of their actual twisted (exactly why I went there in the
of them escaped and are currently living among us doesn’t exactly make for a good night’s sleep.
horrid topics. They had a TV playing the creepy recruitment video of Heaven’s Gate, a religious group that committed mass suicide
crime, where they recreated the suicide.
Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Museum Alyssa Keyne Athletics Editor
On a sunny afternoon, I decided to take a tour of Psychiatry: an Industry of Death with my good friend Kelsey. The museum is in the Los Angeles chapter of The Citizens Commision on Human Rights (CCHR), on Sunset Boulevard. While we were outside
such as the ones on humans as animals, eugenics, the Holocaust, segregation, and
nature of psychiatry. Although there were for us. Kelsey and I soon agreed that the
there were few, if any, acknowledgements that it helps some people. Granted, with evidence
psychiatric drugs. There was also a section on
is the one that covers the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which contains illnesses that psychiatrists vote into existence without any medical tests. Overall, I would say that the museum
museum curators we had ever met. They greeted us, let us park for free in their lot, Once we were inside the museum, we got
covering modern medications, they were
the museum is devoted to the initial forms of
In the last part of the museum, the CCHR had collected testimonials from victims and
Just keep in mind that some people may not agree completely with CCHR’s opinions regarding psychiatry.
13 Culture
Museum of Tolerance
There’s nothing treated with more gravity and solemnity than the Holocaust.
as though you’re entering a courthouse. The tour is highly interactive, including
cultural consciousness that merely the act of denying it is met with hostility and exclusion
the victims of the Holocaust. The museum
Michael Wood Music Editor
on things like women’s rights and slavery are also given their proper attention— of Tolerance was treated with the utmost
that stuck with me the most. Everything from graphic pictures of the massacres to
any other museum was the intense security. Almost nothing is allowed inside in the
you’re given a card that when inserted into various machines, details the life and experiences of a particular family during those times. Unfortunately, there are very few happy stories to tell from those cards. The gravity of the museum really sinks in when you find that some of the older docents were Holocaust survivors themselves. With that particular tragedy strongly to go and visit so that you can hear the stories from those who lived the have this opportunity for long.
even those are scanned with metal detectors,
Watts Towers
Los Angeles. Granted, they’re not located
the tour. Essentially, Rodia went mad, and nothing in his life mattered more than the creation of these towers, so much so that his family disowned him and left him to die. He that he spent every spare second of his life
Alia Sabino Culture Editor
National Historic Landmark. This work of art is composed of 17 interconnected structures, two of which the use of steel rods wrapped in wire mesh and coated with cement. The structure itself
loved ones and everyone else around him. His wife, as she threatened to leave him, said that he didn’t have three children (which Despite this tragic ending, I recommend
Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant who worked as a construction worker, developed
hearing this man’s story, I could not help
Dia de los Muertos Exhibit at MOLAA Roque Renteria Entertainment Editor
for everyone. I saw a group of kids donning skeleton face paint and smiling and
of Long Beach and the surrounding areas
expose all its white teeth against the dark contrast of death made me feel a
Unlike its American counterpart, the
in words. Death may have surrounded me
Latinos from all across Latin America and their roles and lives in Western and other societies. One piece that stood out, and follows our theme of costumes, was a series
alive and appreciative of my culture—and
class Hispanics as superheroes doing their daily errands. One construction worker was disguised as The Thing (Fantastic Four), a mother with her children sported a Catwoman costume, and my personal favorite was a window wiper squeegeeing
how everyday folks like you and I manage to adapt to our environment and provide
Spiderman costume. If you’re in the Long Beach area and want
families visit the gravesites of lost family departed. Overall, there’s a general sense
14 Literature
Photo by Sam Winchester Assistant Editor
Literary Rambo Dare you undertake National Novel Writing Month?
All you have is 30 days to write 50,000 words. That’s 1,600 words a day, which is about six pages’ worth in MLA format. If you complete this challenge, thus writing enough words for a short novel, then you can call yourself a novelist! November is National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo, ¬nd those who utilize all of those words for an actual story are the Rambos of the novelist community. The idea behind the challenge is to gain
month of writing furiously every day, you
She’s Only 13! Romeo and Juliet are anti-romantic Alyssa Keyne Athletics Editor
British Literature teacher in high school abhorred Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, I was shocked. All my life experiences and English classes had taught me, until that point, that the play contained one of the most titillatingly tragic love stories of all time. Hearing those heretical words drop from the lips of my revered teacher made me furious. With her denouncement of the story, she denounced the dreams of thousands of young girls around the country. I soon learned, however, that her viewpoint was entirely legitimate. When I started critically reading the text itself was not romantic at all. Sure, there are soliloquies and monologues in which the titular characters describe their passion for each other, but (a) those texts are ripe with innuendos and (b) they’re not based on anything other than physical appearance. whether or not you’re going to fall in love with a person, but if you’re only focusing on looks, you’re falling in lust. I’ve fallen in lust, too, but many people will agree with me that it is certainly not something to kill people for and end your life over. No, my friends, especially lady friends, Romeo and Juliet is not the ultimate love story, unless
out your plot. Embrace the clichés to your heart’s desire! I decided to give it a try myself, and as Twilight. The concept is a fantasy love triangle romance, and there’s a dragon lurking in the background. Why a dragon? I have no idea; ask me again in 30 days.
mortals. However, NaNoWriMo can help a writer break through the daunting task of
Katie Healy Literature Editor
gain momentum that will hopefully carry you all the way through the climax, falling action, and resolution. Your novel might not be a best seller in December, but at least you’ll learn a lot about the novel writing process. Whatever you do, resist the urge to
you truly desire a recent dumpee to praise your ASSets. Oh, did I mention that Romeo is in love with another girl in the beginning of the play? Her name is Rosaline, and she broke his heart by deciding to become a nun. Now, if you think that desperation is sexy, I may understand your attraction towards Romeo, but, sadly, I’ve dated too many men in that situation to know that it is as ephemeral and
is 17 years old, and Juliet is FRICKIN’ 13. She’d hardly gone through puberty, let alone started menstruating. If you actually research the play, you’ll find that it is based on an Italian narrative poem that depicts the foolish acts of two immature teenagers. At the end, the families don’t reconcile; Juliet’s maid gets banished and the apothecary is hanged for helping the imbeciles. I understand bridging the divide, but you just don’t fight stupid with stupid. So ladies, before you sigh to the popular notion that Romeo and Juliet and everything based on it is exemplary of idyllic love, you role models. You deserve something better.
“All you have is 30 days to write 50,000 words.”
15 Food
Post-Pumpkin Depression
Molly Shannon Food Editor Pumpkin Puree When you remove the guts from a
Pumpkin Seeds Extract the seeds from the pumpkin
Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin Bowl
Before you roast any of your pumpkin
you clean the seeds so there as little pumpkin
you create an abundance of opportunities
’em up. Dump the oiled up seeds on a baking
great addition to any landscape. Apparently
possibilities are endless.
you questioning your sexuality.
and so on.
this genius pairing!
Pumpkin Costume
Pumpkin Loaf
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Beauty
The granddaddy of all pumpkin recipes is perfect pumpkin-king costume. Just try not to bump into things due to the limited sight you’ll have. If you have more than one small
the most from the pumpkin is the pumpkin loaf. I usually associate the pumpkin loaf
Pumpkin is a prime ingredient for beauty products. One recipe for a “hair mask” calls
It is ICONIC. It is DEMONICALLY good. The pumpkin pie is as American as the apple tablespoon of coconut oil. Mix the puree and
gloves. Way better than those lame-ass Sock
in autumn. There’s pie for all seasons. When
blend everything. Apply this mixture to your
add to that “harvest feel.” If you’re making a the latter is obviously preferred. What better the pumpkin immediately smashes to pieces the strong taste of the pumpkin. A bundt
pumpkin facial. Take the pumpkin/yogurt cup of apple cider at your side to complement
almonds and olive oil. Apply the mixture to
pinata. Great for kids.
Sugar and Spice Makes Vegan Nice Going vegan isn’t that bad. It’s not like abstinence. Being vegan just means
Joshua Chan Staffer
Learning to cook is comprised of more of time to cook breakfast there is vegan
you put in your body. From my point of
grill carne asada. Salads are blander than the speakers on C-Span. But if I add ranch
Although most vegans do it for animal
I simply replaced the ingredients that
Take chili made from beans and soy meat for example. Even if you cook the beans
The key to enjoying vegan food is all those double bacon cheeseburgers.
Being vegan ain’t so hard. It just takes abundance of vegan fast food joints (there it just becomes a part of your schedule.
contained processed sugar. That is not to
Volume 73 Issue 11
Monday, November 4, 2013
LBUNION.COM
DISCLAIMER: Hey, God Warrior Here. I was living in devil town. Didn’t know it was a devil town. Oh lord it really brings me down about the devil town. All my friends were vampires. I didn’t know they were vampires. Send all your rasta-pasta to 1212 Bellflower Blvd Suite 239, Long Beach, CA 90815. This page is satire/parody and does not represent ASI nor the CSULB campus. In Hellboy McGirl’s name, I pray you. Submit gobsmackers and bubgubblers and via email to grunion@lbunion.com.
Say What What in My Butt
Nightmare Before Kwanzaa
As my grandson says, “‘Tis the season to hoe it
after years of rotting to by Grampa Klondike
by Hellboy McGirl
Nightmare
Before
Christmas
Nightmare Before Chistmas The Second Chapter: Nightmare Before Kwanzaa is
Nightmare Before Christmas: Nightmare Before Hanukkah, The Final Chapter.
Forest Gump
Dick Van Dyke Show
INSIDE