TUESDAY | AUGUST 13, 2013
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Sorry, she can’t hear through walls, doors
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Har-di-Har will perform at the Octopus’ one-year anniversary celebration.
One year, eight legs Octopus bar celebrates anniversary with music on the Hill By JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS — In less than a year, the Octopus on College Hill has become a known venue for various and unique musical performances. Although that may seem fitting because Octopus owners Dave Diebler and Barb Schlif make up twothirds of the Iowa rock band House of Large Sizes, Diebler said his initial plan wasn’t to have music at the bar. “I didn’t see having bands at all,” he said. “I wanted to open a neighborhood bar.” The decision to have music didn’t originate from him, he added. “People — younger people — pretty much demanded we do it,” he said. To mark the Octopus’ one-year anniversary, Diebler, along with Slim Beast Productions, are presenting a weekend of music Aug. 16 and 17.
Music weekend ■ WHAT: Octopus one-year anniversary celebration. ■ WHERE: 2205 College St. ■ TICKETS: $8, at Mohair Pear or the Octopus.
Schedule AUG. 16 ■ Gloom Balloon ■ Land of Blood and Sunshine ■ Emily Mollman AUG. 17 ■ Har-di-Har ■ In Rooms ■ Graham Howland
Ames artist Gloom Balloon, Land of Blood and Sunshine, of Marshalltown, and Cedar Valley artist Emily Mollman will perform Aug. 16. Har-di-Har, In Rooms and Graham Howland will perform Aug. 17. Gloom Balloon is a solo project of Patrick Tape Fleming, founder
of indie rock band Poison Control Center. Land of Blood and Sunshine is a pop rock band with a psychedelic sound. Har-di-Har is an experimental rock duo formerly of Cedar Falls. In Rooms is a Des Moinesbased samba/rock band. Graham Howland is a member of the local Dylan Sires and Neighbors rock trio. Poet Aaron McNally will also perform, reading a piece dedicated to the Octopus one-year anniversary. The Aug. 16 festivities will also include Iowa Swabian-Hall pork provided by Carl Blake, and three different beers provided by Broad Street Brewing Co. of Reinbeck will be tapped in the Octopus beer garden for the event. “I think it’s a fantastic, diverse lineup,” Diebler. The celebration marks the oneyear anniversary for the business, but there’s plenty else to celebrate on College Hill, Diebler said. Since
the Octopus opened its doors, new venues Gingers and the Social House have opened, and a farmers market is now being held adjacent to the Octopus. What was a vacant lot for years at 2215 College St. is now the site of a residential and commercial building under construction. “That building is really taking shape,” Diebler said. “It’s a great time to be up on College Hill.” The timing for opening the business was right. “Maybe we instinctively knew,” he said. “Maybe we’re just lucky.” The music is now an integral part of the business, he added. “We do music because it brings people in. It also brings the right kind of energy, excitement,” he said. “As long as we can make it work, we’re going to do it.” Tickets for each day of music are $8 and are available at Mohair Pear and the Octopus.
College freshman should have basic skills down pat By MARIA HOLT mholt@post-dispatch.com
As I confidently waltzed into my dorm for my freshman year of college, with my new-found independence and debt in tow, I felt ready to conquer the world. Other than to check in, I refused to call my mother for any issues; I pridefully decided that if I had any problems I would solve them myself. I was horribly mistaken. I found myself calling my mom about everything from learning how to make do with limited resources to how to handle the dreaded financial aid office and even how to remove a nail polish stain from a comforter. As opposed to relying on Google and phoning Mom 24/7, these are a few life lessons every student should know before heading off to college.
Time management Transitioning from high school to college, it is imperative that students know how to schedule their free time effectively. Using a planner consistently will help keep track of classes, meetings and study time. Students can also use their smartphones apps as a scheduling tool. Here are a few to help avoid the pitfalls of procrastination: iStudiez Pro — Students can include course schedules, plan study sessions, and input assignment deadlines, among other things (available on iOs). Outliner — This app allows you to organize your thoughts, tasks and to-do
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lists. Outliner uses Dropbox so that students can share their information from any computer or web-enabled device (available on iOS and Android). Trello — Trello takes a productive approach to studying and collaborating with your peers. This app helps you plan an entire project from the beginning stages to the final product.
Financial affairs If the recent recession taught us anything, it’s that credit card debt can get you in trouble. Students will be targeted by credit card companies, so they need to know how credit words and its effect on future buying power.
Students should also learn to budget and prioritize their expenses. Many free online tools and templates are available to students and parents.
Car maintenance Students should know how to check the oil level and washer fluid in their vehicles, how to jump-start a car and how to change a tire. Those without wheels of their own should learn to decipher public transportation schedules.
Health Students are more susceptible to chronic illness because of the close living
quarters of the residence halls, says Dr. Douglas Carlson, professor of pediatrics at Washington University. “It’s important to take precautions such as washing your hands and not exposing yourself to others if you are sick.” Plenty of rest and exercise, as well as a healthy diet, can keep the immune system running properly. “We are naturally drawn to foods with high fat and cholesterol content,” Carlson said. “It’s important to limit your intake of these items and avoid processed foods.” Also, students should take advantage of their school’s workout facilities. Inactivity leads to the all-too-common weight gain known as the “freshman 15.”
The husband thinks he is married to Superwoman. The man doesn’t expect me to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but he does think that I can hear through walls, closed doors, around corners and up a flight of stairs. You might think my lack of superpowers would impede Lori our communicaBorgman tion, but it really is the author of doesn’t. "I Was a Better He will be Mother Before I working from Had Kids." home in the kitchen and I will be working from home in the family room and he will say, “Muum bruff, buddlah budda mm bruff.” “Pardon?” I ask in a raised voice, still glued to my chair. “Carton?” he answers back in a raised voice, still glued to his chair. “That carton of ice cream is gone!” I shout through the wall and around the corner. Sometimes I twist my mouth when trying to talk to him through walls, thinking it will somehow help the sound wind around the corner. Granted, it is only 8:40 a.m. and he probably isn’t looking for a carton of ice cream. It is entirely possible that I may have misunderstood him. It is even possible that I may not have had a clue as to what he said and just took a guess, but the walk from where he is to where I am is the same distance as the walk from where I am to where he is. He knows he didn’t hear what I said, and that I didn’t hear what he said, but he’s not coming in to ask so I just stay put and add “carton of ice cream” to the grocery list. A minute or so later he appears and says, “I didn’t say carton, I said ‘pardon.’” “But I had just said ‘pardon’ to you,” I say. “No, you said ‘carton’,” he says. “No, I said ‘pardon,’” I say. “This is going nowhere,” he says. “And fast,” I say. “Would you like some ice cream?” When we aren’t talking through walls, he likes to test my supernatural abilities by playing One Flight Up. He waits until I am past the bottom stretch of stairs, and on the next to last stair and starts a conversation from down in the kitchen. If I am wearing shoes that click, I just keep clicking because I figure he has to hear me on the hardwood floor going upstairs. If I’m not wearing clickers, I usually just shout downstairs, “Oh, I didn’t know about that.” It’s true. I didn’t know about that and I still don’t know about that. It’s usually a safe response, as the husband works for the media and is constantly relaying stories of crime, death and mayhem, much of which I don’t know about and don’t want to know about. Medical people tell medical stories, mechanical people tell mechanical stories, news people tell news stories. Sometimes I wish one of us was an impressionistic painter. Our conversations would be more pleasant. And colorful. Moments ago I heard my stomach rumble so I asked, through the wall, still glued to my chair, “Should I make us something for lunch?” “No thanks, I don’t need anything to munch,” he shouts back. “I’ll just wait for lunch.”