December 7, 2011

THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF UT AUSTIN

Budget-Friendly Gifts for Everyone on Your List Best Moments in UT Football The Kappa Delta Chi’s and The Zeta Psi’s Get in the Christmas Spirit

DEC 7, 2011

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VOL. 3 ISSUE 15

December 7, 2011

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EDITORIAL.

10

The Best Moments

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How Austin Helps Musicians

27

UWeekly Sits Down

Why UT Needs to Protect the Arts Department

in UT Football

Deal with the Industry

with The Couch

SHOP LOCAL at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar

We’d all like to give and get expensive presents: the latest X-box, a new iPhone, a Kindle or something even larger like a new 54-inch widescreen HDTV or a trip around the world, all expense paid.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the lifestyle or monetary income to accommodate such a fantasy. During the holidays, this reality can hit harder than usual. As you sit and brainstorm what the people in your life might like to receive for holiday gifts, you might come up with one or two gifts that your bank account can’t cover. Simply put, you don’t have the money to buy all you’d like for the special people in your life.

It’s times like this that worrying. Getting angry or depressed about your finances will really set you back. What you’ve got to do now is come up with a game plan, and fast, as Christmas is quickly approaching.

Figure out your budget now. If you’re like most students, you don’t have much room for savings what with bills, low hourly wages and your weekly bar tab. As the holidays near, you might find yourself working less hours than usual, leaving you with less income than you’re used to.

So sit down and put pen to paper. Figure out how much you have to spend and divvy up the ante. Figure out who deserves more expensive presents and then divide the remaining money amongst the lesserimportant folks in your life. This should give you a rough ballpark figure on how much you can spend on each person. Once you’ve got these figures square in your head, stick to the plan, and don’t overspend regardless of how tempting it is!

Nostalgia This works especially well with parents. Is there something from your childhood that you remember? It could be a special brand

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of candles your mother always used to burn or a certain cologne your father used to wear before they stopped making it. Figure out something that will make your parents step back in time and remember back to when you were young, the economy was stable and there wasn’t a war going on in Iraq.

You can even bring something out of the attic, spiff it up and present it as new. It can be an old, forgotten family photo, a baseball mitt from when you were five or a macaroni and construction paper project from the 1st grade. Try to hit the heartstrings with this one.

wooden frame. Buy your choice of acrylic paint and/or patterns and some finishing spray. Paint the frame and finish it off with the spray. Add a memorable photo and viola!

Ask and ye shall receive When asking your parents for Christmas presents this year, please keep in mind that your parents have been hit by the current economic meltdown harder than you have.

Something homemade This might be a little cheap even for you, but in this economy, you gotta do what you gotta do. Don’t worry; your family won’t fault you for trying. Here are two surefire winners that won’t take too much time or money.

To sleep, perchance to dream

A homemade candle: Buy some wax paper, bees wax, essential oils, some dried flowers and a wick. Heat up

“Come up with a game plan, and fast, as Christmas is quickly approaching.”

the wax with a blow dryer, pour it on the wax paper and add the oils, flowers and wick.

Roll it up and watch it dry. You know what a candle looks like; do your best.

Hand-painted photo frame: Go to Michaels or Wal-Mart and buy a plain

apartment without cable or are constantly getting lost without that new GPS in your car, try not to bleed your parents dry when placing requests for Christmas goodies Figure out what you really need (the necessities) and ask for that. Ask for a tune-up for your car, a trip to the doctor that you’ve been putting off, a gift card to HEB so you can buy groceries. The trick here is to ask for something that you really need but wouldn’t be able to afford all on your own.

Your parents will be happy that you’re taking more responsibility for yourself and not asking for the latest toys.

Who knows, they might even throw in a new iPod as a reward for your newfound sense of responsibility.

In all likelihood, you have no idea what their true financial outlook is. Parents have a way of keeping secrets from their children in order to make them feel safe. They did it when you were a kid, and they’re probably doing it now.

So when the question comes up, “What do you want for Christmas,” try to keep it basic. While you might be dying inside your

We all have secret dreams, hopes and wishes. Chances are, the people you’re close to have mentioned them to you once or twice. At the very least, they’ve hinted about it. Here’s your chance to really show you care and that you’ve been listening.

Find a present that will help your friend on their way to fulfilling a long-time dream. If one of your friends wants to sail around the world, buy them a nautical map.

If your roommate has always dreamed of starting her own gardening business, buy her a how-to book. If you know someone who wants to write a book, apply for an official US Copyright. This particular option isn’t hard, but it does take a little brainstorming.

Hidden talents Ok, let’s say you have absolutely NO money, what do you do? You fall back on

your talents, of course (and maybe your good looks too, if you’ve got ’em).

If you’re good at painting, paint your friend a picture of something they will appreciate; if you’re a photographer take a series a photos and frame them for the people in your life. If you’re good at writing, write your boyfriend a poem of what a special guy they are. If you’re a musician, make a 3-song Christmas CD and give it to all the people you care about. Sometimes the time you take to make something means more than the money you dropped to buy a gift.

Let us not forget Thousands of people in Austin recently lost their homes and all their possessions in the Bastrop, Steiner Ranch and other wildfires. Chances are you or someone you know has been affected by this natural disaster.

For many, this will be a particularly painful holiday season with Chanukah and Christmas hitting close to the bone. If you and your family can afford it, try adopting a family from www. cbofaustin.org/Sponsor_a_Family. html and donating things that would make people feel most at home.

You can even give something small, such as sending a season’s greeting card or a phone call letting these people know they are in your thoughts and that you wish them well. If it is you and yours who have lost everything, the importance of togetherness is all the more underlined this season.

Shop Local this Holiday season The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is back Instead of elbowing your way through help take the edge off the stress of the the big box stores this holiday season, you holiday season. may want to hit the Blue Genie Art Bazaar “It’s all about feeling comfortable on Middle Fiskville Road. You’re almost shopping and having some amenities. guaranteed not to get maced by any Like a bar,” said Coakley. overzealous holiday shoppers.

The bazaar is open from 10 a.m. to Chris Coakley, one of the founding 10 p.m. every day until Christmas Eve partners at Blue Genie, said the event has when it will close at 6 p.m. The bazaar grown steadily since it began in 2000. In is located at 6226 Middle Fiskville Road. it’s first incarnation, the art bazaar was Brett Thorne a one-night event. It is now a month-long extravaganza that is housed in the Blue Genie headquarters.

“It’s all about “Every year we just keep feeling comfortable growing it and growing it,” said Coakley. “We shopping and having have so many friends some amenities. in the art world here in Like a bar.”

Austin and we thought it would be great to help them out because we have such a big space at our work studio, so we let them come and set up and sell their stuff.”

This year’s bazaar features 150 vendors selling goods ranging from concert posters to homemade soap. The space also features a full bar that can

Amanda Chappel

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5

Opinion

An appeal for the Arts Finding a well-deserved place for the arts at the University of Texas A couple weeks ago, the Daily Texan published an editorial calling for a cut in the budget of the already suffering arts program. The article implies that, given the number of conservatories and specialty art schools in the nation, public universities like UT shouldn’t waste money on programs that don’t see much of a return on the bottom line, and there is a good amount of truth in that. After all, no one has ever accused the theatre of generating terribly substantial revenue when you consider the resources that go into the school. But what the article only seems to really measure, however, is the value of the curriculum and the degree instead of the value of the students that attend them and what they take away from it.

Even if it may not seem like the typical major for a sports writer, I myself am a BA Theatre and Dance major with a focus in acting and, well, I love it. I love the classes, I love the material, I love that I get to major in something that truly is my passion. But just because I’m a theatre major doesn’t mean I don’t understand where it is theatre fits in the context of the everyday world. If anything, that’s the kind of mentality we need as a university in order to understand exactly where the theatre department fits at the University of Texas.

We, as the University of Texas, are a community or, dare I say, a civilization.

In every civilization, a strong sense of culture has always been the measure of that civilization’s development, because in every sense of the word, culture satisfies the highest peaks of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If art is a reflection of a culture’s sense

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December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

of self-awareness, then it shouldn’t be surprising that “self-awareness” sits on top of that hierarchy. Art has always been mankind’s purest form of expression and the more I continue to learn about my art through my major, the more I seek to use it in everyday life.

After all, I understand there’s more to life than being a theatre major: I have a job (writing for some newspaper), I just started out an entrepreneurial internship, I even work in front of and behind the camera for a few shows on TSTV, all the while finding time to audition for various shows and films.

But the sad truth is, I wouldn’t be doing

the impact of the theatre and dance school one way or another.

Look, I get it. There are 50,000 undergrads on this campus and I know that there are some of you out there that wouldn’t be caught dead in a theatre no matter what the circumstances are, and that’s ok. That’s simply your way of going about things and I respect

“To completely ignore that there is a substantial sense of culture on this campus would just be ignorant, and to think that the theatre department has nothing to do with it would be even more so.” any of this if it weren’t for the theatre or the UT Theatre and Dance Department. In all honesty, chances are if I never applied to the theatre school here, I probably wouldn’t have gotten in, and if I didn’t get in, well, I would just have to be kicking ass at some other university. Even though the benefits I’ve reaped from this school may not show up specifically on the bottom line of the T&D department, you can bet this school feels

your opinion. But to completely ignore that there is a substantial sense of culture on this campus would just be ignorant, and to think that the theatre department has nothing to do with it would be even more so.

And if you’re wondering why I didn’t just go to a conservatory, it just wouldn’t be for me. Hell, there are simply too many opportunities to be had at a major university with a bad-ass football team. I just knew that

I wanted to go to a place that had a strong acting program, which UT does, and a thriving campus, which UT also does.

Besides all that, there are, in fact, students who graduate with theatre degrees that go on to work in different fields, which does happen despite the level of specificity that comes with a theatre degree. But guess what? Careers aren’t made purely from degrees. They’re made from putting yourself in positive situations and capitalizing on chances when they present themselves to you. In my experience, at least, theatre has been the greatest teacher of that lesson I’ve ever known.

The Daily Texan can continue to write about “the questionable value of arts programs” (the very title of the article that spurned this little piece of writing), but when I assess the value theatre has imparted not only on me, but the community as a whole, there’s absolutely nothing to question. If you still find yourself questioning the value of the theatre department, for goodness sakes just see a show! At the very least you can take a date with you and look classy in the process. Just be careful, though: you might actually find some value in whatever it is you’re watching. Fair warning.

Brian Bogart

Fight for your rights

Dec 10 marks the day the world celebrates human rights With all the protesting, pepper-spraying, sex trafficking and rights violations that are going on in America and the rest of the world, Human Rights Day comes just in time to celebrate Occupy Wall Street’s two-month anniversary.

Human Rights Day is celebrated each year all across the globe, and is a high point for the UN, whose sole mission is to ensure the rights of all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion no matter what country they live in.

This year, celebrate Human Rights Day by not only being thankful for your own rights,

but also by spreading the word about HRD and perhaps contributing to a pet cause of yours.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Written between 1947 and 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been a document that significantly shifted the world’s consciousness towards global and political fair treatment. It consists of 30 Articles dedicated to outlining what “fundamental human rights” are and upholding the four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.

Much like our Constitutional Bill of Rights, the UDHR is the lifeblood of all UN activity.

In a world that is becoming globalized, this

document might one day have the ultimate say in the affairs of all countries and citizens alike.

What to do, what to do?

While most HRD events are held in huge cities such as New York and Geneva, there’s no reason why you can’t hold your own observation with friends. Write letters to your editor, congressman or print and pass out these nifty posters found at: www. o h c h r. o r g / E N / N e w s E v e n t s / D ay 2 011/ Pages/VisualDesigns.aspx You can also submit a question to UN

High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, through Facebook: www.facebook. com/events/184207984999448/ There will also be a live webcast with Pillay at noon on Dec 9. Just visit www. unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/index.html for more details.

The important thing to remember is that this is an international day celebrating all the past accomplishments of the UN and rights workers as well as a celebration of all of those who suffered injustices and cruelty in the world. This is also a day to look forward to all of the work still to be accomplished in the way of equality and justice for all. There’s still a lot to get done before the oppression throughout the world ends, but great progress is being made.

Amanda Chappel

Free Burma Free Palestine Occupy Anywhere LGBTQ Women’s rights Bullying Poverty Illiteracy Sex trafficking War crimes Torture Medicine for all UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

7

Dayplanner

Amanda Chappel

Publisher Michael Huereque

Events on or around campus Repaying your assload of debt

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

December 8 Yep, we know you did it. We know you took out loans to pay for weed and rent while in college. It’s OK. It happens to the best of us. But, yikes, now you have to pay it back. Let this friendly cash cow show you how in Bevonomics 303.

Burdine Hall (BUR) 136, 2-3 PM

December 21 Known for their over-the-top musical performances and renditions of classic Christmas tunes, TSO will be in town for one night and one night only. Go see one of the top-selling acts in the world. You know, if you’re into that sort of thing Frank Erwin Center, 4 PM & 8 PM

Explosions in the sky December 8 Ever wanted to blow up a birthday cake? How about melt a hotdog?

Here’s your chance to get close to something similar. “Mad scientist” Dr. David Laude and “culinary wizard” Josh Watkins will produce for your pallet a refined yet exciting medley of gourmet treats. It’ll only cost you $36. RSVP morgan.jones@austin.utexas.edu AT&T Conference Center, 6-7:30 PM

To the Artmobile! Nov 4-Dec 17 The Mobile Archive has driven its way all around the globe. From New York’s MOMA to the Institute of Art in Poland, this installation by the Israeli Center of Art is sure to astound.

Visual Arts Center (ART), 7-11:45 PM

Third Thursdays at the Blanton December 15 This is your last chance to experience the fun and excitement of third Thursday at the Blanton. Music, art, yoga and books. Who could ask for more? Bring your mats. First come, first served.

Blanton Museum of Art, 5-9 PM

The Schedule

Your guide to all things burnt orange.

Friday, Dec 9

Ad Designer Terry Kennedy Editor–in–Chief Sarah Neve Copy Editor Daniel J. Frimpter Campus Writers John Jarzemsky Amanda Chappel Luke Winkie

Entertainment Writers William M. Bass Devon Tincknell Sarah Vasquez Karissa Rodriguez Brett Thorne Elijah Watson Circulation Jeremy Tooker

Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., 6:00 PM

Intern Arryn Zech

Saturday, Dec 10

M Basketball

CONTACT uweeklyaustin.com editor@uweeklyaustin.com

Texas State, Austin, Texas, 7:00 PM

W Basketball Michigan State, Austin, Texas, 2:00 PM

W Volleyball NCAA Regionals, Lexington, Ky., 3:30 PM

Tuesday, Dec 13

M Basketball

Nicholls State, Austin, Texas, 7:00 PM

BRIAN BOGART

December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

Art Director Jessica Caraway

Sports Writers Ryan Betori Brian Bogart

W Volleyball

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Account Executives David Avalos

PUBLISHER Highbrow LLC ABOUT UWeekly Austin

UWeekly Austin is an independent publication and is not affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin. One free copy per person.

Additional copies may be picked up at our office for .50 each. Opinions expressed are those of the writers/authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff or publishers of UWeekly. Not liable for omissions, misprints, or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. © Copyright 2011 Highbrow, LLC

Opinion

That’s what she said.

Photos and Interviews by Brian Bogart

So how ‘bout this weather?

Air It Out

Dear UT guys that all dress the same, I get it. You’re really into UT, and you’re really into living in Texas, but that doesn’t mean that your sense of style and originality should go out the window. Unless, of course, that window is attached to a jacked up 4x4 Chevy. Otherwise, that can go right out the window too- straight into a raging river.

Have you ever seen yourselves on game day? It’s like a sea of light blue jeans, cowboy boots, orange shirts and baseball caps with fish hooks on them. Last time I checked, you are not on the football team, so why are you all dressed the same?

Although you want to show some school spirit and unity with your fellow students, morphing into one giant burnt orange blob is not the answer. Think about it. If I’m at a bar and you hit on me, what am I going to my friends? “That guy in the orange shirt and cowboy boots just hit on me.” Believe me, they won’t know which one I’m referring to.

“I guess my favorite thing about the changing of the seasons is getting to change out my wardrobe.”’

Emily Haueisen

“The weather feels like the taste of chai tea, Halloweentown 1 and 2, Disney Channel original movies, triple-fold increase in wardrobe possibilities, bonfires, toasted pumpkin seeds, and hot baths.”

Aly Talley

Sincerely, Orange doesn’t look good on everyone How to get us to actually print what you write.

1. Everything Anonymous – Not only are we giving you an opportunity to publicly air your grievances, we’re allowing you to hide behind the cowardly mask of anonymity to do it. So we don’t want your name. But we’re also extending that same courtesy to whomever you’re complaining about. If a wasted girl spilled food on you at Kerbey Lane, then call her “a girl.” We don’t need her name, date of birth, or UTEID. 2. Be Brief – Sorry would–be Unabombers, we’re not going to publish your entire manifesto. Short and not–so–sweet is key. If you can’t say what you need in less than 250 words, than you’re rambling, not ranting.

3. Stay Specific – There’s a lot to be annoyed about on campus. We know. But please pick one issue, not seven, and avoid digressing. An open letter to whoever keeps shaving their pubes in the communal sink is good; a list of things you don’t

like about living in the dorms is less so.

4. Powerful Language – At UWeekly, we write our own rules. We’re down to say a naughty word now and again. But there is a huge difference between the rare, well–placed profanity and a barely literate Youtube comment. Your critiques should be at least a little bit more cutting than “blah blah blah is a *@#&!!!”

5. To Whom It May Concern – Air It Out is publishing your open letters, so don’t forget to address them as such. Did some douche lose his lunch the last time you rode the E–Bus? Then open with “Dear Dude Who Barfed on the Bus.” And just because we’re not giving out your name doesn’t mean you can’t let him know who it’s from. Just sign it, “Sincerely, Everyone Else on the Bus.” Please send all Air It Out submissions to AirItOut@uweeklyaustin.com

“At the moment, the best thing about the changing of seasons is what it brings food-wise. Fall wouldn’t be fall with out pumpkin lattes.”

“The thing that I like most about seasons changing in Texas is that when summer turns to fall, the cool air is so refreshing after a long, hot summer.”

“When the air outside is cool and crisp and walking to class is a pleasant experience, drinking hot coffee and wearing sweaters!

“Seeing how the student atmosphere develops is really interesting to me. How people change and how our campus looks seems to create a different world every couple of months.”

Amaris Chang

Victoria Goss

Becca Sefarian

Kate Kislingbury

UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

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The best of the best The five most memorable moments of UT’s season

Despite the drumming that RG3 and his Baylor Bears delivered, it hasn’t been a bad football season. Now, it wasn’t anything special; in fact, it can’t even be called a success. Within the context of Texas’ football canon, this season will be appraised as a disappointment, something to gloss over and forget about. But in comparison to last year, this season is a $25 bottle of Pinot Noir as opposed to a big box of Franzia. That pinot noir won’t win you a wife, but it also won’t leave you slapping the bag and waking up the next morning in a delirious fog of regret with disconcerting questions of “Did that really happen?” So, with that mind, let’s celebrate the good. Here are the best moments of the 2011 Longhorn season, and, well, the flavor ain’t all that bad.

5. Case to Irby; KSU gets nervous

The play didn’t lead to a win, but it seemed like the first time since Colt’s departure that a play produced tangible excitement in DKR Stadium. Case had just relieved David Ash of his duties (two picks will make that happen) and, despite some early struggles,

showed himself to be a gamer. In his second series, Case led an impressive drive that was capped with his beautiful find of Blaine Irby amid KSU pressure. In a sense, the play was a perfect metaphor for the game itself, and maybe even the season. There was promise, hope, and even exhilaration at times. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Still, the roar in DKR was refreshing, if only for a few minutes.

4. Irby does the impossible; Bergeron barrels through Tech Irby’s amazing, incredible, mind-boggling, insert-any-positive-adjective-you-want catch was the single most impressive Longhorn play of the season. After all, it’s pretty hard to argue against Sportscenter’s top play. I’ve seen Irby around campus and he definitely has a Clark Kent-esque physique, but he truly looked like Superman when he stretched out to make a one-handed grab that

that turned out to be the peak of Whittaker’s inspiring and tragically short season. But aside from Fozzy’s leadership, this is what fans will remember about Whittaker and it’s a pretty sweet impression. Early in the second half, the OU game was already out of hand. But Fozzy’s breathtaking kickoff return gave Longhorn fans at least one reason to not totally avert their eyes in shame from every single Sooner fan. It wasn’t too relevant, but that didn’t take away from its brilliance. Fozzy’s return in the next game, against OSU, was anything but irrelevant. It was an act of will that kept the Longhorns in the game. Fozzy’s 100-yard run changed the face of the game, taking it from 28-10 to a seemingly surmountable 28-17 score. It also established Whittaker as the only Longhorn to ever return TDs in back-to-back games, a distinction that’s befitting for a player who shined in a unique way.

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made the Baylor game worth watching (at least for a while). As great as Kirby’s catch was, Joe Bergeron still deserves love for his offensive outburst that was as huge as it was unexpected. Against Kansas and Tech, Bergeron went for a total of 327 yards and 5 TDs. Kansas was garbage, but without Bergeron against Tech we might not have gotten an important W. Now that’s top-notch stuff.

3. Two games, two kickoff returns, one indelible Fozzy It’s bittersweet to look back at the moments

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November 30, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

2. McCoy scrambles and we all get to talk shit The drive. It’s the last impression A&M fans will have of UT for some time to come and it is haunting. Aggies had to suffer as their defense completely crumbled and looked utterly fossilized against a shoddy Texas passing game that shoved it down their throats when it mattered most. Ten years from now, this McCoy run might be the only distinguishing feature of his legacy. But at the time, it was incredible.

Amid the confusion of the one-minute drill and the ensuing chaos of desperate defense, McCoy

had the balls to take matters into his own hands.

It didn’t look pretty but McCoy managed a 25-yard scramble that put the Longhorns in field goal position. It also put Texas atop a rivalry that’s been largely one-sided once and for all.

1. The 40-yarder for all of the 40 Acres

On paper, it was just a kick. And a simple motion of the leg is not a feat of physicality that’s particularly rousing. But Tucker’s kick transcended field goals and, perhaps, football.

As the ball, in what seemed to be slow motion, sailed 40 yards and finally through the uprights, a 100-year history travelled with it. Tucker had the hopes, the fears, and the bragging rights of a century riding on his shoulders (or, more accurately, his cleats) and he nailed it. In college, 40 yards is far from a chip shot. And for Aggie fans it probably seemed even farther, the distance from Tucker’s foot to the uprights representative of the disparity between one iconic program and one that, although it claims otherwise, has merely hung in its shadow.

The Highlight Reel With all the acclaim Tim Tebow often gets, I gotta say I feel kinda bad for the guy. It seems like nearly everyone except for his own team’s management is rooting for him even though he’s 5-1 as a starter this year and has the Broncos back in the playoff race. It’s easy to see why John Elway is reluctant to fully get behind his quarterback; Tebow is essentially the anti-Elway in nearly every way he plays the game. But for goodness sakes, how hard is it to ask an owner to get behind his quarterback? It seems like it shouldn’t be all that hard if the guy is 5-1 as a starter.

He’s back, everybody, he’s back! I’m talking, of course, about Tiger Woods.

OK, maybe he’s not totally back—after all, the Chevron World Challenge ain’t exactly Augusta—but it seems to be very apparent that over the last two months or so, Tiger has been on an upward trajectory. Probably most satisfying about the win was that it wasn’t just an event Woods took an early lead in and held on to. Hell, Tiger was trailing by a shot heading into the 17th hole and

even birdied on the 18th to win it, but if that doesn’t sound like the Tiger we once knew, I don’t know what does.

After being one of the sexiest teams in the first half of the season, the Detroit Lions have lost five of their last seven games and really have no one to blame but themselves. They’ve been trying for the last year or so to establish a hardnosed BAMF (google it if you’re not sure) kind of mentality, and to an extent they succeeded. They lost the handle, however, when they let that mentality dictate how they played football instead of the other way around. Detroit fans shouldn’t worry too much, however. With the youth and talent of the team and the overall positive direc tion the franchise is heading in, the Lions should be around to contend in the coming seasons.

All I want for Christmas is: CelticsKnicks, Heat-Mavericks, Bulls-Lakers, MagicThunder, and Clippers-Warriors. Wait, you mean I actually got that? Well fuck me.

Like many four-year marriages, A&M’s love affair with Mike Sherman was littered with good times here and there, but was ultimately littered with too many disappointments to overcome the pending termination papers. Now that Sherm-Wow is out of a job, chances are he’ll find his way back into the NFL, and now that the Aggies are out of a head coach, chances are they’ll continue to find ways to lose football games. Not necessarily because I think they’re going to hire a bad coach, but mostly cause it’s what they do best. Hook ‘em!

Brian Bogart

Ryan Betori

Photo: Jeffrey Beall

In a class of their own As the Longhorns prepare for Big 12 play, Rick Barnes looks to establish an identity for his team It’s not a secret that basketball on the 40 Acres for the last decade or so has been characteristically marked by the dreaded “P” word: Potential. Minus the magical Final Four run of ‘03, Rick Barnes’ teams have been defined by playing a host of talented underclassmen who shine at times, only to bolt for the NBA after one or two years of a college career. It’s a system that yields a mixed bag of success for Longhorn fans, who often see UT players succeed in the NBA at the expense of their current team (just imagine if Kevin Durant as a senior was playing for Texas last year).

Sometimes, a changing of the guard is seen more often than Texas fans would

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December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

like to see, but with new arrivals come new promises, and with new promises come the dreaded P-word before it becomes dreaded.

is properly fostered and stimulated that we can really see what these players do.

Luckily, college basketball isn’t the sport that’s currently out of commission from a lingering lockout; we’ve already had a chance to see these Horns. Besides an early season two-game losing skid in games they probably should have won, Texas now sits at a respectable 5-2 as they finish out their nonconference schedule. After beating UCLA last Saturday though, Texas should win out until conference play except for a possible slip-up at North Carolina. If Texas can make it to 10-3 or 11-2 by the time they square

While the team is starring a lot of young talent, however, there are a few familiar faces that have already made their mark on the season. For starters, J’Covan Brown appears to have fully embraced his role on the team from offensive role-player to full-on team leader and Alexi Wagmene is beasting it on the boards for Texas as well.

What sticks out most for this new Texas team, however, is the program’s continued success in cultivating basketball talent from Canada as Myck Kabongo is reminding fans everywhere of Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph. As a freshman, Kabongo already leads the team in assists and is even one of the leaders in points per game, but could still be a little bit more efficient with his shot selection. Still, those are simply the growing pains that come with being a freshman, something a coach like Rick Barnes should be all too familiar with.

So for another year, Texas should find itself sitting on the upper end of the Big 12 power rankings based on what can become of that P-word. Obviously, all eyes will be on Kansas to see if they can make another trademark Big 12 championship run, especially with their authority being challenged in the last couple seasons. But while it’s important to recognize where this team is at the moment, it’s never too early to think of where this team’s P-word can take them. Let’s just hope Rick Barnes is used to working with that P-word enough at this point that he can translate it into some Ws. All I know is it’s going to be a fun season at the Erwin Center. Hook ‘em.

“It’s not a secret that basketball on the 40 Acres for the last decade or so has been characteristically marked by the dreaded “P” word: Potential.”

When it comes to playing freshmen early in their careers, all you really have to go on is the P-word. After all, it’s only once that talent

off against Iowa State in early January, they should be in position to put together a solid run in conference play.

Brian Bogart

Let’s go bowling Why bowl season is the best week of the year (other than Shark Week) Yet another fall semester gone, yet another football season on the verge of reaching its (always) untimely end.

While the regular season is officially in the books, bowl games can serve as launching pads for teams looking to make a statement heading into next year. Even though the announcement of the championship game was met with a collective groan from everybody outside of the SEC, and greeted with giggles of delight by everyone in the Southeast, there are still a number of great match-ups to look forward to this winter. No, we’re not going to get the high-profile Big 12 vs. SEC game many of us were hoping for, but a close look indicates that this should be a bowl season we won’t soon forget.

BCS Championship Game: LSU-Alabama With all of the speculation that followed the first game between these two rivals potentially meeting in this very situation, it’s interesting to finally see this hot mess finally come to fruition. It’s hard to say either team isn’t worthy. After all, they’ve probably proven to be the only two truly dominant commodities in college football this season, and when they did actually do battle it ended in an overtime squeaker. But in a year where the Big 12 was statistically the best conference in the nation, many outside of the SEC will always feel some sense of unfinished business when looking back at the winner of this game.

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State-Stanford More than anything, I love me a good quarterback duel, and as far as bowl game duels go, none are more compelling than the match-up of Brandon Weeden and Andrew Luck. One is a 28-year-old former pro baseball player, the other one is an architecture major with the mental maturity of a 28-year-old. Sure, you’ve probably heard by this point that Luck projects to be the greatest football player to ever grace Earth in the history of time, but Weeden is an extremely capable veteran who has led one of the most prolific offenses in

committee may have snubbed Kansas State and Boise State at the expense of putting

“Sure, you’ve probably heard by this point that Luck projects to be the greatest football player to ever grace Earth in the history of time, but Weeden is an extremely capable veteran who has led one of the most prolific offenses in college football this year.” college football this year. I want to see some fireworks, dammit, and I intend to get them.

Sugar Bowl: Michigan-Virgina Tech With the Sugar Bowl’s usual SEC team in the national championship game, the Sugar Bowl committee decided to match up two storied programs in Michigan and Virginia Tech in what figures to be a contest of speed, speed, and more speed. Sure, the selection

asses in the seats of the Superdome, but it’s no contest as to what the sexier match-up is.

While Denard Robinson is more than eager to mark his place in Michigan lore on the heels of a very successful season, Virginia Tech is still looking to get the sour taste of the 38-10 ACC championship loss to Clemson out of their mouth. It’s been a while for Michigan to get back in the spotlight after a few tough seasons, but this marks Virginia Tech’s opportunity to win 12 games for the first time in school history.

Orange Bowl: West Virginia-Clemson Historically, the Big East doesn’t seem to do all that well in major bowls given their status as a perennial punching bag for most other AQ conferences, and, in all honesty, West Virginia hasn’t done a lot this year to shake that stigma. They only have one win against a ranked team this year and it was against fellow Big East “juggernaut” Cincinnati when they were ranked 23rd by three points. Otherwise, they’ve been whipped by Syracuse, LSU and lost a squeaker to Louisville in what could be a future Big 12 conference game. On the other end of the spectrum, Clemson has been one of the more surprising teams of the season, but they do stumble into the bowl season having lost three of their last five. They did pick up a lot of momentum, however, when they beat the fifthranked Hokies in the ACC championship game in surprisingly lopsided fashion. This one might just depend on which team decides to show up.

Brian Bogart

The best present a bro could ask for NBA games coming back provide extra shot of jolliness Let’s face it. The sad truth is that as you get older, Christmas loses its luster. On Christmas Eve, when I was younger, my biochemistry was similar to that of Charlie Sheen when he’s banging seven gram rocks.

It was a weird mixture of agitation, sleeplessness, and a delirious, inscrutable euphoria, all from the prospect of some new Lego sets.

But now? Just let me sleep in. And as for the wish list? Money, socks, and a belt that’s not from Abercrombie (dammit mom, this isn’t 7th grade anymore). For the last six years or so I guess you could say the jolly’s been drained from Christmas. That is, until this year. With the NBA announcing it will be resuming play on December 25th, I’m as juiced as a first grader salivating over a Tonka truck.

And here’s why:

1

Mavs try to defend title

What the Mavs did last year in the playoffs is no less miraculous than Santa Claus instinctively knowing which houses on my street belonged to Jewish families (nope, not that one Rudolph).

The one year nobody talks about the Mavs as title contenders is the year they finally decide to win a title.

But the magic of that playoff run makes a title defense all the more difficult. Can Dirk be a superhero, Barea such a menace, and Jason Terry everything in between two years running? It’s certainly possible. At any rate, it’ll be fun to watch.

infamous decision it seemed like a gimme.

And yet, watching the Heat last year, one couldn’t help but feel they were overrated.

The supporting play was bad, Bosh didn’t live up to his Bosh-sized contract, and LeBron choked harder than a chicken bone down the wrong pipe. For my money, it seemed like several teams (Thunder, Mavs, and perhaps the Bulls, Celtics, and Lakers) were better than the Heat from top to bottom.

But nobody in Miami wants to hear that. For the Heat, it’s win or be laughed at. With last year’s epic collapse still looming large, it’ll be great to cheer for another macabre failure.

3

Old stars going dim

Regardless of your feelings towards Kobe Bryant, it’s simply asinine to refuse him his place as our generation’s greatest basketball product.

When the fat lady sings on Bryant’s career, he’ll be a top 5 all-time player. The NBA’s been around since 1946, so that type of player only comes around every 13 years or so.

It’s a real treasure. But, alas, like all mortals, Kobe is human and he is getting old (33, but he’s been playing professionally since 18). Kobe’s stats have been slowly declining and unless he starts taking steroids it’s not going to turn around. The same can be said for the Celtic’s Big Three (Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce). It’s been fantastic to watch the stars align in Boston but they’ve only got a few more seasons of being worthy at gazing upon. If all this wasn’t sad enough for a basketball fan, it gets worse. The Spurs are beginning to look like that old guy at Gregory Gym who wears polos and plays a style of ball that is unrecognizable.

The Spurs are beginning to look like that old guy at Gregory Gym who wears polos and plays a style of ball that is unrecognizable.

2

Big Three attempt to be Big ThreE

For Miami, anything less than a championship is a failure. It’s as simple as that. When LeBron announced his

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December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

Photo: Texas A&M Athletics

Photo: Keith Allison

Tim Duncan is one of the best there’s ever been. But soon that sentence will have to be changed to the past tense.

4

The changing of the guard

We could spend all day lamenting the moribund nature of some of the decade’s best players, but there’s really no time. After all, there’s a whole group of nascent superstars emerging that are bound to ensure that our children are able to watch good basketball. Let’s go down the list. Derrick Rose: Might be the most freakish point guard of all time. He also has some bomb commercials. Kevin Durant: Better than LeBron? He just might be. Cooler?

Definitely. Blake Griffin: Should have his own Sportscenter segment. Will go down as the most ferocious (and dominant) dunker ever.

Kevin Love: The great white hope. Love looks like he’d be a really good lumberjack, but as fate would have it he’s also good at basketball.

Russell Westbrook: Sure, he’s shaky at times.

BUT HE’S 23! I’m old enough to have been on

his high school basketball team. That’s nuts.

John Wall: Wall’s game is almost as smooth as his commercials. But look for the scale to tip in favor of his play this year.

5

Dwight Howard/Chris Paul uncertainty

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are arguably the best players at their respective positions. Before the trade deadline, they’ll also be on a new team. The NBA playoff picture can shift to wherever they land. Chris Paul in New York would be absolutely devastating. He, Amare, and ‘Melo would realistically rival Miami’s Big Three. The same can be said for Howard, who New York is also targeting. Then there’s also the prospect of Paul in Boston, which could make them immediate title favorites. Or the addition of Howard to the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets could give New York another team to cheer about.

Basketball thriving in the Big Apple again?

It’s tough to cheer against that.

Ryan Betori

The times they are a-changin’

Photo: Wild Child

Live music capital of the world offers solutions for struggling artists It’s been said that adversity breeds creativity. If that’s true then it certainly explains a lot of what is happening in the music industry right now. More music is being made and marketed than ever before but many prominent artists are either barely eking out a living or

having to work odd jobs to make ends meet.

In a telling interview with Alternative Press in January, Geoff Rickly of Thursday admitted that in 2010 his total income was less than $10,000.

His band’s last four studio efforts debuted in the Billboard Top 100, yet he was forced to work

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It may have happened the first time you downloaded a song off of Napster or when you received your first iTunes gift card.

Maybe it was when you received an invitation to join Spotify or the first time a friend

showed you a site like the Pirate Bay. The fac that the music business has been drasticall altered by the Internet is enough of a truism that we can almost skip mentioning it Established artists like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails have eschewed the traditiona record label systems in favor of their own models that have allowed them to retain the rights to their music and connect with fan in unprecedented ways. The Internet ha given artists a chance to reach an audience o millions but that hasn’t come cheaply. Buying music, whether in physical or digital form is slowly becoming antiquated as fans are finding ways to get music for free and band are obliging by often giving their music away As one might expect, Austinites are offering solutions and alternatives to the record label model Anthony Erickson, one of the co-founder of the Austin-based Eye in the Sky Collective believes there is a rising middle class of musician and hopes his organization can cater to tha group. Erickson’s formula involves what he call a “one-stop shop” for artist services including recording, promoting and merchandising.

“The benefit with our system over a labe scenario is that you are able to retain all the rights to your music and therefore benefit from your art and make a sustainable living with your art,” said Erickson. “With a label you’re sharing your profits with that label.”

For an artist working within the traditiona record label model, a song that is sold for 99 cents on iTunes creates about 10 cents of profit for the artist, while iTunes and the label take 34 cents and 55 cents respectively. The Eye in the Sky Collective allows bands to retain the lion’s share of such sales The collective’s flagship act is the folk-pop group Wild Child, whose recently released album Pillow Talk reached the top spot on Hyp Machine (think Billboard Magazine but relevant

ct y m t. e al n e ns as of g m, e ds y. g l. rs e, ns at ls g

el e m h e

al s e d e s. p d e t).

The band’s entire album was recorded and produced by the band’s keyboard player Evan Magers and his business partner Alex Peterson. This DIY attitude is a growing trend among independent artists.

The days of huge advances from record labels are all but over. In 2000, the top-selling record of the year was ‘N Sync’s No Strings Attached with 11.1 million records sold in the United States alone. Compare that to the top-selling album of 2010, Eminem’s Recovery, which only managed to move 3.42 million copies within the country. Erickson believes the solution to the financial woes that many independent artists might feel is to not depend solely on album sales for income.

“There are so many revenue streams beyond just selling your music that artists have to tap into from touring to publishing and licensing opportunities, merchandising, public appearances and so many other outlets that artists need to be taking advantage of,” said Erickson. “What a lot of artists are missing is all of these gears working at once.”

The thought of an independent artist licensing their music for commercial purposes was once

Photo: Kristie Bocanegra

on a free compilation from Dallas-based music blog “Escaping the Ordinary.” Ty Griffin, the blog’s founder, said the compilation was downloaded about 2000 times in its first month of release and there are already plans for a follow-up in early 2012.

“It’s meant to be this promotional tool that bands don’t have to pay me for,” said Griffin.

“You are a lot more in control of your career than a lot of bands back in the day.” viewed by many as “selling out,” but an increasing number of bands are turning to that for income that has been lost through slumping record sales.

In one of the most extreme cases, indie dance outfit Of Montreal wrote a jingle for Outback Steakhouse. Austin-based bands like This Will Destroy You and Explosions in the Sky have hit Hollywood for movie licensing opportunities.

The former’s most recent contribution was to the soundtrack of Moneyball.

“There’s always been a fine line between art and commerce, and artistic integrity and selling out,” said Erickson. “I think artists are coping with that a little better. It’s not necessarily seen as the evil that it once was.”

Many bands have taken to giving their music away or selling it through a pay-what-youwant model. One such band is Austin’s own Dawn Over Zero, who were recently featured

“Every band wants to have their songs heard so they’re going to promote the compilation.

It’s meant to be a pure form of promotion for some good music.”

By pairing established artists like Circa Survive and Manchester Orchestra with smaller independent artists like Dawn Over Zero and Black Books, Griffin’s compilations have created valuable exposure opportunities for unsigned acts.

Griffin’s advice to any young artists looking to make a go of it in the music business is to use the tools the Internet has given them.

“Bands are able to go and create their own social media channels, their Facebook and Bandcamp pages,” said Griffin. “Bands need to realize that when you have those opportunities you need to utilize those channels. You are a lot more in control of your

career than a lot of bands back in the day.”

The current economic climate of the industry would be enough to scare most prospective entrepreneurs to a safer and more lucrative bet, but that hasn’t stopped Griffin’s longtime friend and business partner Dan Goldin from launching a label of his own. In October, Goldin officially launched Exploding in Sound Records based out of New York City.

Goldin began his career in the music business as a temp for Island/Def Jam and saw the leaks in the ship that the Internet was exposing. Goldin began his own blog, Exploding in Sound (for which the label would later be named) as a reaction to being forced to toe the major label line.

“I thought, ‘If I have to promote music that I think sucks all day long, in my spare time I’ll promote music that I think is awesome,’” said Goldin. “The most important thing as far as a label goes is believing in the bands you have.”

Goldin’s belief in the Boston-based rockers Pile was enough to make them the new label’s inaugural signing. Goldin’s experience within the major label system has made him weary of the pitfalls of running a business based on art. Goldin said he plans to run the label and manage its finances very conservatively.

As for his own music consumption habits?

That’s a little less conservative.

“I spend an absurd amount of money on music,” said Goldin. “As someone who is invested in music, how can I expect anyone to buy music if I’m not? You can’t be mad that your favorite band is not successful if you’re not buying their albums.”

Brett Thorne UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

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2011 is coming to a close, and whether the day of reckoning is actually upon us or not we wanted to take some time to remember the best, and the worst, moments from the last year.

THE BEST Best celebrity relationship that will result in one of the most historical pregnancies since Jesus Christ: Jay-Z and Beyonce Come on, it’s hip hop’s Roc-A-Fella mogul and R&B’s sensual queen. This kid already knows that it’s the shit, and the messiah of anything and everything swag.

Best technological innovation that foreshadows the world being taken over by robots: iPhone 4S Pushing the boundaries of technological advancement, the iPhone 4S can do just about anything. It has retained many of the features of its predecessor, while acquiring some new ones along the way. One of those features is Siri, a voice control system that can search the web, create reminders and even communicate with you. If you see people talking to themselves or laughing at the monotone replies of something that sounds like Plankton’s super computer from “Spongebob Squarepants,” do not be concerned; it is probably just Siri.

Best moment In UT football season that resulted in one of the greatest weekends ever: Justin Tucker’s 40-yard field goal Our hearts were beating hard in our chests as we awaited Tucker’s field goal attempt in the remaining seconds of UT’s game against rival Texas A&M. The football was thrown back, Tucker kicked and the ball flew high, going through the goal post with flawless precision. We screamed, jumped and laughed in the faces of any person pro-Aggie, our cheers profound as they roared throughout the Kyle Field stadium. That night

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December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

will go down in history and Justin Tucker, if you happen to read this, I hope you received more than turkey during the break.

Best YouTube video to be changed into a song since Antoine Dodson’s “Hide Yo’ Kids, Hide Yo’ Wife”: Demetry James’ Greg Jennings Video: “I put the team on my back though;” “Darren Sharper!” If neither one of these statements results in laughter you need to put down this paper immediately and watch this video. Narrator Demetry James voices an animated and injured Greg Jennings as the widereceiver triumphs over Saints safety Darren Sharper. Do not be surprised if you catch yourself putting this video on repeat, saying, “I put the team on my back though,” for situations such as group projects, pitching in for beer or carrying your friend back to their dorm from 6th Street.

THE WORST Worst person to ever become a hit sensation online: Rebecca Black It wouldn’t be right to start off a worst of 2011 list without beginning with Rebecca Black.

Known for her weekend anthem “Friday,” Black has been parodied, threatened, praised and many other things that should not have any correlation with one another. Regardless of criticism, Black has released two other songs that are surprisingly good: the inspiring “My Moment,” and the cheesy, teenage romance song “Person of Interest.” “Friday” will forever serve as a reminder that some people should NEVER be able to recite the days of week and no one gives a fuck about which seat you can take, especially if there is only one seat available.

If Gibbard goes back to his bowl cut days or Deschanel revisits her former The New Guy self, the world will truly end.

Best Tumblr that may result in its own television series: Texts From Bennett Texts From Bennett is proof that the world will not end any time soon. A Tumblr page dedicated to the conversations between an unnamed author and their wannabegangster cousin Bennett, Texts From Bennett revolves around the most ridiculous of situations. From wanting to kill a dog with a poison-dipped frisbee, to filling a woman’s car with water, the conversations between the author and Bennett are hysterical. Just read the conversation about Bennett’s stuffed animal, “Hustla Da Rabbit,” and you too will be impatiently waiting for the next Text from Bennett.

Worst couple to break up which may result in some of their best work: Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel Surely when this break-up occurred hipsters throughout the world criedAlthough unfortunate, both have continued on with their various projects. Deschanel, along with musical partner Matt Ward, recently released the She & Him Christmas album, A Very She & Him Christmas. Gibbard is still rocking hard in Death Cab for Cutie who are currently on tour. Whatever the future holds for them, one thing if for sure: If Gibbard goes back to his bowl cut days or Deschanel revisits her former The New Guy self, the world will truly end.

Worst movie to ever be shown in theaters that has led to brainwashing women all over

the world: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn This movie will be remembered for two things: being one of the worst pieces of film to ever premiere on theater screens worldwide, and for having one of the most disturbing pregnancy scenes ever. Seriously, that scene makes Knocked Up look like a mere sex-ed video.

THE WTF Movie to not take popcorn to because it will result in vomiting over everything in sight: The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence A movie that involves masturbating with sandpaper, giving people laxatives to release their bowels in the mouths of others and shoving items into people’s rectums. If you thought “Two Girls One Cup” was life-ruining, Full Sequence will make you NEVER want to eat chocolate ice cream, pudding or anything similar again. Fun Fact: Did you know that a fear of feces is defined as coprophobia? You have Full Sequence to thank for that.

Video that is proof that someone creepy is awaiting your every post on Facebook: Take This Lollipop A Facebook app that was released just before Halloween, Take This Lollipop showed just how easily a person can hunt you down. So, before you make that post of informing friends that you’re wasted heading to Kerbey Lane to sober up, just keep in mind that there may be some creep reading that.

Song that has ruined your life because now whenever you hear someone yell “Oh my God” you speak in robot: Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” Bass drop, weird dying elephant sounds and the flailing of limbs. Enough said.

Thanks for all that you had to offer 2011. Now to party hard and hope the world does not explode as we await for 2012.

Eli Watson

12 Days of Deals Holiday Bonanza Starts this friday 12/9

each day, a different deal will be posted on facebook.com/frockonvintage

Coming out is a slow process Chances are, people already know.

OK, so you’ve done the wondering, the experimenting, the soul searching and you’ve decided that you are, indeed, homosexual. Now what?

Well, you come out, of course!

With the holidays coming up, you will have ample time alone with family and friends and this just might be the perfect time to tell them your little secret.

But, is it that simple? Coming out of the closet can be a very slow, sometimes dangerous process with untold consequences both positive and negative. To come out is to admit that you’ve been living a lie and lying to the people around you for quite some time. Now it’s time to fess up.

To come out also means that you’re finally ready to take on the inevitable assault of questions, stereotypes and pigeon holes people will try to put on you. Just take a deep breath. You can do it!

As scary as it may seem, the task before you can be easier than expected if you break it down into small, manageable chunks and spread out the goal of being “out” over time.

Once you’ve decided that it’s time to come out, be prepared. Choose the people you tell, and the order in which you tell them, carefully. Make sure you’re ready for their questions and probing. Try to pick a time and a place where you and the other person can talk freely and cry if necessary.

you gain confidence about who you are. You can talk, share, laugh or cry. The first person is always the hardest, but once those forbidden words come out of your mouth, you’ll realize that you were torturing yourself over nothing for far too long. Once you do this, you can start to build up coming-out confidence when approaching people of whom you are unsure of how they are going to react.

Family ties If you’re ready to tell your family yet, or are planning to tell your mom and dad first, this is a huge rite of passage.

No matter how well you know your family, it’s always unnerving to predict how they will react as some people have a way of surprising you.

Once you’ve worked up the nerve, it’s best to just buck up and do it.

Just spit it out. Make sure it’s in a setting where they feel comfortable and they have the opportunity to ask you any questions they have. Be patient, honest and kind. Remember that they might be shocked, not because you are gay or lesbian, but because you aren’t the person they thought you were, and that can be hard to handle for some.

“Don’t just pop out like a Jack-inthe-Box”

Takin’ it easy Tell the easiest people first, the people you know will be OK with it when they find out.

This will help relieve some of the burden you’ve been carrying around about it as well as help

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December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

Slow ride Now that you’ve told your friends and family, you don’t have to go shouting it from the roof tops. Take your time, and take it slow. Don’t just pop out like a Jack-in-theBox. Once you’ve got the main people in your life up-to-date, you can slowly start to tell other people like acquaintances, work friends and any new people you meet. In December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

fact, sometimes it’s easier to tell a stranger than your sister’s boyfriend.

If you try to tell everybody all at once, you will cheat yourself of the opportunity to really savor this time in your life. This is a time that you’re becoming more authentic, truthful and brave. Also, if you try to tell

too many people at once, you might feel overwhelmed and not able to process all of your emotions and the reactions from the people around you. This is who you are, and you have the right to take this as slow as you need to.

Amanda Chappel

ARRYN ZECH

No special words of wisdom for everyone this week, just your average gaming up date.

Notch Leaves as head of Minecraft

Marcus “Notch” Persson is leaving as head of Minecraft. He isn’t leaving Minecraft all together, but rather just handing the last say as a lead developer to Jens “Jeb” Bergensten.

“We’ve been working together on Minecraft for a year now, and I’m amazed at how much in synch we two are when it comes to how to design the game. And when we don’t agree, we discuss it and something much better comes out at a result. He’s truly a great person to work with, and I feel very confident handing over the leadership of Minecraft to him.”

I don’t think this will

mean too much to the whole feel of Minecraft, especially since Notch will still be at the company, but it will be interesting to see if he does take things in a different direction.

EA stretching Dead Space thin

EA has a new plan with its game Dead Space, and if you ask me, it’s a pretty dumb idea. Looking for new ways of expansion, EA has come out saying that they wish to create a few new games to spice things up.

The plan is to make a handful of new style games for the Dead Space franchise. The first game would be a first person shooter, the second game would be a flight simulation type game, and the third game would be an action-adventure type game a la Uncharted.

If you ask me all of this is

if you ask me all of this is really diluting the idea of Dead Space, which normally scares the crap out of me to be honest.

really diluting the idea of Dead Space, which normally scares the crap out of me to be honest.

EA still plans on coming out with a Dead Space 3 in the near future complete with a co-op option for you and your friends, though instead of a pitch black setting, they’ve traded it in for a frozen tundra with blizzards so thick that you essentially get a white out to hide monsters instead.

Dead Space 3 will supposedly be the last Dead Space to feature Isaac as its protagonist, thus ending the trilogy of Dead Space.

From L.A. Noire comes Whore of the Orient

Writer and director of L.A. Noire, Brendan McNamara, is making a new game and he’s decided to call it Whore of the Orient.

Though there really isn’t much about the actual game out to tell right now, I’m interested in finding out the story to it.

Hope it’s a sort of Moulin Rouge style, that would be interesting.

McNamara has said that the game will feature “one of the great untold stories of the twentieth century.”

What is known about this game is that it’s going to be set in, you guessed it, Shanghai.

UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

21

The

battle of top ramen This week on Versus we tackle the legendary bachelor-chow of Top Ramen. Is it an acceptable and balanced part of our collegiate nutrition? Or should it be reserved for only the saddest depths of forlorn fratiness? Luke Winkie takes his recorder to West Campus to find out.

Is living off of top ramen an acceptable way of life?

• I mean, I consider my life to be an acceptable way of life. –Sean Harris

Luke Winkie

• I don’t think a life spent munching on ramen constitutes “humanity.”

–Ashley Avien

• If eating salty faux Asian noodles three meals a day isn’t living, I don’t know what is. –Terrance Evans

• That was a past life, goddamnit. I’ve moved on. –Edgar Zevon

• There’s something poetic about getting through the day and only spending 50 cents a meal. –Eric Dawson

• I used to think it was an acceptable way of life. Then I got a girlfriend.

–Freddie McEnroe

Are you at all worried about Top Ramen’s tremendous salt levels?

• You’re talking to someone who ate three Butterfingers this morning.

–Sean Harris • I don’t read nutritional facts on personal principle. –Stephen Cooper • I’ve been drunk enough to eat salt straight from the shaker.–Thom Powell

• Considering it’s like eating a salt lick, I’m pretty worried. – Edgar Zevon • Anyone who eats a lot of ramen needs to be constantly checking their blood pressure. –Nicki Espinosa

Have you ever eaten ramen for breakfast?

• I always like to start the day with a salt-induced stroke.

–Nicki Espinosa • I bet it’s not frowned upon in some cultures. Or some fraternities. –Freddie McEnroe • It’s a step above Big Bite. –George Rollins • I made it for a girl after she stayed over once. –Ricky Hernandez

• At that point you might as well starve. –Ashley Avien • That goes against every possible instinct humanity should have. –Larry Cunningham • Oh my god I honestly feel nauseous just thinking about that.

–Ryan Toslow

You go home to a new significant other’s house to find their shelves stacked with Top Ramen, how do you react?

• We’re going to get along great. –Sean Harris

• I’d immediately burn the house down. –Ryan Toslow

• We’ll starve together but be happy together. –Eric Dawson • I’d probably think she’s my mom. –Tanner Pittrew

22

December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

• That means we both couldn’t cook, which is already a big red flag.

–Nicki Espinosa

Photos: Eli Watson

zeta psi

Kappa Delta Chi

Kappa Delta Chi

zeta psi

zeta psi

Kappa Delta Chi

zeta psi UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

23

Barstars Photos: Giselle Widmir

UWEEKLY

RETURNS

Shiner’s Saloon 422 Congress Avenue

9 1 n

30 for Sunday Football Complimentary buffet 11-12:

Ja

24

December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

toulouse

Beso

402 East Sixth Street

307 B West 5th Street

Barstars Photos: Giselle Widmir

You’re this week’s winner!

Come to our office to collect $25!*

chupacabra 400 East Sixth Street

shiner’s saloon

the library

422 Congress Ave.

407 East Sixth Street

the library

Beso

407 East Sixth Street

307 B West 5th Street

For more party pics, go to uweeklyaustin.com.

*If your face is circled, you’re this week’s winner of Barstars! Come to our office at 2608 East Sixth Street, Unit 3 Mon through Wed (9–5 p.m.) to collect $25 cash! (Be sure to Facebook us to let us know you won!)

UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

25

Super Crossword

Crypto Quip

Clue: X Equals T

This is a simple substitution cipher in which each letter used stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Solution is accomplished by trial and error.

26

rose garden

December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

Sudoku

the couch Local band to release their first full-length album Austin band The Couch will release their first fulllength album Old and Touchin’ Blue on Dec. 14 at the Mohawk. Vocalist Taylor Wilkins sat down with UWeekly to discuss the upcoming album and why he and the rest of the band, drummer Jud Johnson and bassist Kyle Robarge, decided to add newest member, multiinstrumentalist Sara Houser, to the mix.

Well first things first, you got a new member. What made you decide to bring in a new member?

I personally can say that I’ve always wanted to add more elements to The Couch. We’ve had shows where we had somebody come on stage, play piano or another guitar part or sing and stuff. I guess with the new record and the new sound, we just wanted to push a new way and expand our boundaries as a band. You can only do so much as a three-piece, so that spread the idea of wanting somebody else. Actually, the funny thing about Sara joining the band was I was doing a research project on female musicians and she was one of the participants.

We were just talking and we just got along really great. I’d seen her play before. I thought she was amazing, so it really just dawned on me there. I asked her about it. The next night, we went to a show with her boyfriend Grant and saw Jud there. It just all kind of happened. We all got drunk together and we’re like, yeah, let’s play in a band. So there it was.

songwriter herself and has a great voice, and I think that her influence is just going to have a great impact on future Couch stuff. Definitely hope that.

Adding someone like Sara is going to make it even more... I guess more variety.

I know this is your first full-length. I

remember the last time we had talked about how you released LPs and you had plans to someday release a full-length.

Yeah, when we had talked last, it was definitely a cloudin-the-sky kind of idea. We wanted to do it. We didn’t

all these hopes and expectation of how it’s going to turn out and you’re sitting there just worrying and, like, “This is going to sound great.” You get excited at moments and you have your doubts. It’s this process of dealing with it.

Then it’s sitting on your table and you got 250 copies and you’re like, all right, I’m about to send this out to a lot of people. Let’s see how this goes. Party on.

But you released two singles, right?

From this? Yes. “Close to You” is something we recorded in early February or March at the time. And we released that then as a single and it did really well, so we decided to put it on the album. And we kind of remixed and re-mastered it so you’re definitely getting a slightly different, improved version, a better-quality sounding version of “Close to You,” and that’s how all the songs are from the other sessions. But yeah, we previously released “Close to You” and now we’ve released “The Way You Came.” This is the newest single from our album, I guess, so to speak.

“Then it’s sitting on your table and you got 250 copies and you’re like, all right, I’m about to send this out to a lot of people. Let’s see how this goes.”

But she joined after you finished recording the album, right?

Yes. We had recorded everything. A guy named Ben Houtman did all the keyboards and stuff and the guy who recorded it, Lars Goransson, also did a lot of extra instrumentation. So I guess we wanted to add somebody.

Then she came in and then it was this process of learning how to play the record together. So the last couple of weeks she’s come in to fill those parts. Then in the future, hopefully, we’ll all write together more. Be more cohesive.

So right now, she’s just learning the record for the show and then afterwards, see where it goes from there?

Yeah, she definitely came in to be able to put those extra production values in, but she’s a great

know if we were going to be able to do it or we didn’t even have the songs yet. But I guess as the year went by and we just did two more sessions and realized that we have enough material to make a good album. We had already received a lot of good feedback from the stuff we were putting out. So we took the best of the best in the first two sessions and combined it with this new material from the last session we just did and there was an album.

How does it feel to finally release your first full-length album?

You know, it’s funny. It’s great. I didn’t realize I was going to feel so, I don’t want to say completed, but it was like watching a child finally being born, knowing it was there for nine months and growing. Like, you have

How’s the reception?

It’s been fantastic. Everything’s been great. Maybe people are afraid to tell me something bad. Everything’s been really great so far and then it’s great to hear a bunch of different takes on it. Some people are like, “Oh I hear this,” and other people hear that. It’s always good hearing different groups of people relate to it in different ways. Seems to cut across some good lines that we want it to cut across.

And you were on KUT’s Song of the Day. Yes. That was fantastic. The reception’s been great. I’m excited and still nervous.

Sarah Vasquez UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

27

Wednesday

Weird Wednesday: Mitchell

Will bass 28

friday

Marshall Ford Swing Band

Zechs Marquise

@ The Highball, 1120 S Lamar

@ Antone’s, 213 W 5th

Wednesdays are a lot weirder than you think. According to the Fortean Times, almost 93 percent of paranormal activity, death by auto erotic asphyxiations, and encounters with dopplegangers occur on Wednesdays. Luckily, if you aren’t into any of the above, the Alamo has your back with Weird Wednesdays. For only one dollar, you can feast your eyes upon the most exploitative, awful, and imaginative films ever committed to celluloid.

Tickets: www.originalalamo.com

Move over Asleep at the Wheel; besides, sleeping while driving is not safe for your health or for the general public at large, so stick to texting. It seems the Marshall Ford Swing Band are taking over driving the lineage of Texas swing in this town. If you aren’t familiar with Texas swing, it’s a style of country music pioneered by Bob Wills that combines jazz, country, blues, and rockabilly, making for a potent sound that one’s feet can’t resist moving to. Up-and-comers Marshall Ford Swing Band will boogie down with their signature take on the sound.

►►Also Worthy

►►Also Worthy

►►Also Worthy

Sweat Lodge

Black Cock

Can’t stop the funk! (Dance Party)

The Nouns

Grits and Gravy (Dance Party)

Weight (Dubstep)

Faceless Werewolves

Did you see those Bats?

Neon Cobra

The Megaphone Show

Audic Empire

Flosstradamus

Ping Pong Wednesday

Block Party

Jigglewatts (Burlesque Show)

@ Alamo Ritz, 320 E 6th

The top events & shows in Austin this week

thursday

Beerland, 711 Red River Trailer Space, 1401 Rosewood Antone’s, 213 W 5th

The New Movement Theater, 1819 Rosewood Lavaca Street Bar, 405 Lavaca

December 7, 2011 | UWeeklyAustin.com

Red 7, 611 E 7th Barbarella, 615 Red River

Flamingo Cantina, 515 E 6th Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River

The New Movement Theater, 1819 Rosewood

There are a lot of bands out there that travel in psychedelia. However, no one quite delivers it like Zechs Marquise. Comprised of Marcel Rodriguez of The Mars Volta and the brother of axe slinger Omar Rodriguez, Manfred Rodriguez, Zechs Marquise definitely visit the same psych rock shaman as their peers in The Mars Volta. On the other hand, Zechs ditch the convoluted and sometimes grating vocals that the Volta dabbles in and goes straight for the jugular with just their instruments. Turn the vaporizer up to 11!

Tickets: www.ticketfly.com

Loft 718, 718 Congress Plush, 617 Red River

Trailer Space, 1401 Rosewood Beauty Bar, 617 E 7th 29th Street Ballroom, 2906 Fruth St

saturday

sunday

monday

Sing-along: Frank Sinatra @ Alamo Lake Creek, 13729 Research Blvd

Apparently, there was a time when performers prided themselves on being classy. No stolen awards, onstage vomiting, or baby mama drama. Revisit those halcyon days with the Rat Pack sing-along. Sing along with Frank, Sammy, and Dean while you toast to the stars.

Karaoke Apocalypse @ The Highball, 1120 S Lamar

This isn’t your grandma’s karaoke, unless your grandma is Ted Nugent. Deciding to ditch the lame video monitors and depressing atmosphere of traditional karaoke, karaoke apocalypse utilizes a live band, The Dead Motley Sex Maidens, to help you fulfill all of your rockstar dreams that have been squashed by J. Lo and Steven Tyler. Whether you are William Hung or in a stellar Journey cover band, there is no better place to prove how awful or awesome you are at singing all while having a great time, one that you will probably try to drown out in the whiskey river soon afterward.

Oh Science! @ ColdTowne Theater, 4803 Airport

There are too many things to do in this town: concerts, public executions, witch trials, and pornographic movie theaters. Unfortunately, most of those things will put a dent in your wallet to attend. If you are tired of watching Lee Leffingwell behead his political opponents in front of city hall to fulfill your weekly free entertainment quota, then head over to ColdTowne Theater on Sundays for some free improv comedy by one of the funniest troops that side of Airport.

Tickets: www.drafthouse.com

►►Also Worthy

Pocket Fisherman Emo’s, 603 Red River

Marshall Anderson

Skinny’s Ballroom, 115 San Jacinto

tuesday

Austin Slam Open Mic

Tickets: www.originalalamo.com

@ 29th Street Ballroom, 2906 Fruth St

Stop slamming pogs and beers and start slamming verse at 29th Street Ballroom.

Bring your own street cred.

►►Also Worthy

►►Also Worthy

Naw Dude

Verbal Abuse

Scratch Acid

Warren Hood and the Goods

►►Also Worthy

Sons of Hercules

TV at the Alamo: Breaking Bad

Baliff

Craig Finn (Hold Steady)

James Ryder

Trampled by Turtles

Brandon Callies

CineSundays

Thrash and Burn Tour

Trailer Space, 1401 Rosewood Emo’s East, 2015 E Riverside 29th Street Ballroom, 2906 Fruth St Frank, 407 Colorado Momo’s, 618 W 6th

Red 7, 611 E 7th

Momo’s, 618 W 6th

Alamo S Lamar, 1120 S Lamar Beerland, 711 Red River

29th Street Ballroom, 2906 Fruth St

Mohawk, 912 Red River Parish, 214 E 6th

Emo’s East, 2015 E Riverside

UWeeklyAustin.com | December 7, 2011

29

►►Chuggin’ Monkey

►►Friends

219 E 6th

208 E 6th

$2 wells/domestics

$2 Vodka Bombs

►►Pluckers

►►The Library

2222 Rio Grande

407 E 6th

Mother Plucker Mugs

$1 Domestics, Wells $2 Import Bottles

►►Fuel

►►Touche

607 Trinity

417 E 6th

$1 Wells, $2 Domestics, $3 Any Bombs

$1 Schnapps

►►Maggie Mae’s

►►Tiniest Bar in Texas

323 E 6th

817 W 5th

$2 domestics til 11pm, $2 wells til 9pm

$1 Bud Light and Bud

►►Malaia

►►Trudy’s

300 E 6th

409 W 30th

$2 Domestic Beers, $2 Wells til 11 pm

$4.50 Ritas

►►Darwin’s Pub

►►Mooseknuckle Pub

223 E 6th

406 E 6th

$2 Wells/Domestics 12-9 pm

$2 Wells/Domestics til 11 pm

►►Cain and Abel’s

►►Ginger Man

Gabriel’s

1900 University Ave

You know the name. After all, the origin of this sports bar’s name can be traced back to the UT fight song (which can be traced back to the bible), and given it’s location on MLK and University Avenue, it’s no wonder why this place identifies so heavily with the University of Texas. Located conveniently in the lower corner of the AT&T Conference Center, Gabriel’s is the more casual, alternative to the center’s more upscale restaurant, The Carillon, located right across the hallway.

With big screen TVs on just about every wall of the restaurant and UT paraphernalia adorning nearly every inch of the venue, Gabriel’s is the perfect place to go if you want to spend a decadent night out on campus, or are just looking to grab a few beers on your way to the game. Unfortunately, though, the drinking doesn’t necessarily end “‘til Gabriel blows his horn,” so it’s still the same as any other bar. But don’t let that stop you. Just grab a Longhorn Iced Tea and thank me later.

You’ll be glad you did.

Brian Bogart

►►Cuatros

2313 Rio Grande

301 Lavaca

1004 W 24th

Sunday Funday

Logo Pint Night

$2 Tecates and Modelo Esp. $5 Deer and Beer

►►Cuba Libre

►►Lavaca St. Bar

►►Third Base

409 Colorado

405 Lavaca

1717 W 6th

$2 Wells

Big Beer Mondays. $6 25oz

$2 Lonestar/Fireman/Shiner

►►Spill

►►Blind Pig

►►Mother Egan’s

212 E 6th

317 E 6th

715 W 6th

$1 wells/Miller High Life

$2.50 Wells/Domestics

Pint Specials During Pub Trivia

307B West 5th Street www.besocantina.com

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