The Circuit

1 THE

CIRCUIT

A publication of the Whitman Pioneer

W

elcome to the first issue of The Circuit.

The Pioneer is a continuously evolving entity. Every issue is a product not only of the current staff, but of those who have come before and the contributions that they made to the paper’s development.

ISSUE

INAUGURAL This magazine is a part of The Pioneer’s legacy for the fall of 2011. It is a result of staff members’ willingness to believe in something as yet uncreated.

There was no formula to follow. We were—even more so than usual—educating ourselves from one problem to the next. The magazine represents the best of what characterizes the students who work for The Pioneer: A combination of passionate idealism and gritty dedication.

I wanted the magazine to provide a space different from the regular newspaper. It is a chance to expand to a new means of conducting information: a new form of conduit; a circuit. But despite its newness, the magazine circles back to its roots in the long tradition of Pioneer spirit.

A special thanks is in order for my Production Manager Ted Hendershot and his team of Production Associates, without whom our magazine would exist only in dreams. Whitman alumnus Megan Salzman Medica ’81 and John Medica also need to be acknowledged for their 2008 donation to The Pioneer, which has enabled this project.

With pride, we present The Circuit.

Patricia Vanderbilt Editor-in-Chief

staff

EDITORIAL

PRODUCTION

Patricia Vanderbilt

Ted Hendershot

Editor-in-Chief Section Editors Adam Brayton Alyssa Fairbanks Caitlin Hardee Cara Lowry

Web Team

Kirk Crosland Sara Rasmussen

Photography Editor Ethan Parrish

Illustration Editor Binta Loos-Diallo

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Production Manager Production Associates Katie Berfield Carter Muenchau Madison Munn Molly Olmsted Cara Patten

about

The Circuit is a publication of the Whitman Pioneer.

THE CIRCUIT

The Pioneer is an entirely student-run publication published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. Questions and Letters to the Editor can be submitted to editors@ whitmanpioneer.com. All submissions must be attributed and may be edited for concision and fluency.

Erik Larson

The Pioneer operates under the guidelines of its code of ethics, a document that is reviewed at least once per semester. To access the complete code of ethics of The Pioneer, please visit whitmanpioneer.com/about.

Aleida Ferrandez Marisa Ikert

For information about subscriptions or advertising, please contact business@whitmanpioneer.com.

Chief Copy Editor Copy Editors

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It pools where humans disdain to dwell, close to the Tao...

6

...sophomore Nandini Rathi has set the house thermostat at 77°.

‘It’s more like home for me,’ she said....

Sex

PHOTO ESSAY

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‘WRITE ON ME’ 12

“

“

what’sINSIDE

10

Drink 16

I am a BIG fan of the bow tie...

The Circuit | 3

Best to be like water,

Which benefits the ten thousand things And does not contend.

It pools where humans disdain to dwell, Close to the Tao.

Live in a good place.

Keep your mind deep.

Treat others well.

4 | The Circuit

Photo-essay by Faith Bernstein

Stand by your word.

Keep good order.

Do the right thing.

Work when it’s time.

Only do not contend, And you will not go wrong.

Tao Te Ching

The Circuit | 5

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ECCA’s living room is warm and lined with strands of Christmas lights, a cozy oasis from the early signs of winter weather brewing outside— primarily because sophomore Nandini Rathi has set the house thermostat at 77 degrees.

“It’s more like home for me,” she said.

I met up with Rathi, who is originally from northern India, and fellow international students sophomores Ivana Vukovic and Nilce Alvarez, from Montenegro and Ecuador respectively, to find out more about their experiences with Whitman’s unique culture.

Pioneer: What made you decide to come to Whitman?

Rathi: I found Whitman through UWC [United World College] Mahindra, my high school. I knew someone who ended up going to Whitman.

Vukovic: My story is similar to Nandini’s. I heard about it at UWC in Hong Kong.

Alvarez: I had moved to the States and had been working a year. I applied to Whitman so I could finish my studies in philosophy, which didn’t happen, by the way. It was my seventh school I applied to.

Pioneer: What about Whitman was appealing to you?

Vukovic: I loved the website. Especially the pictures of windmills. It seemed that Whitman really cared about the environment, and I liked that. It also said that Whitman was looking for people with diverse backgrounds.

Rathi: I also liked the diversity thing. And frankly, I wasn’t really aware of the difference between Washington and Washington D.C. Alvarez: Let’s go see Obama! I chose Whitman because it is one hour away from the TriCities, which is where I was living. That way my mom wouldn’t be worried that I would disappear. I also knew that a private college would give more financial aid than all the public schools.

Pioneer: Have you noticed any trends among Whitman students?

Vukovic: I didn’t think of what would I be finding here exactly, but I did imagine more people of different skin color, for example. It’s pretty white here. That disappointed me. I didn’t really think of any personality traits.

Alvarez: I don’t believe that there is a lack of diversity. Every student here is as diverse as we are. The fact that we come from abroad makes us automatically diverse. I believe that people— because they have a common nationality—they are mistaken in believing that diversity is from nationality. I’ve met three Americans that are completely different from each other, and each have something to contribute to the campus community.

Vukovic: I agree with that definition of diversity. We take for granted our diversity because we come from abroad. At Hong Kong, people were from different countries and cultural backgrounds. We’re diverse because we have different personalities, different likes and dislikes, but I feel that at Whitman, people are not that dissimilar.

Rathi: Over here, people are different, but I don’t know that they express it in as many different ways as they are capable of.

Pioneer: Has anything about Whitman really surprised you?

Vukovic: Dirty dancing. [laughs] It’s true. And I’m thinking about academics here. I didn’t really think that American students

6 | The Circuit

are as diligent as people here are. Before I felt that American students are supposed to be doing stuff outside the classroom. But maybe that’s because people are here because they want to do it.

Rathi: It surprised me how many people are on financial aid and how many have student loans. Whitman is supposed to have a lot of money, but the students don’t necessarily have a lot of money.

Pioneer: Do people here dress differently than they did at home? How do you feel about campus style?

Vukovic: People dress like they don’t care but they actually care. Like, ‘I did my hair this morning, but I’m going make it seem like I just got out of bed.’

Rathi: They want to show that you are cool without trying to be cool.

Alvarez: It’s no different. It’s all pants and shirts.

by Karah Kemmerly

Pioneer: How do you feel about the food here?

Alvarez: It’s not the quality of food, it’s the quantity, the amount wasted. In my country, if people had this amount of food, we’d have solved half our problems.

Vukovic: It hurts to see how much food goes to the trash bin, even at our house, for example.

Alvarez: Somebody’s working on that, I heard.

Pioneer: The green leaders are working on a project to reduce waste: No-Waste November.

Alvarez: See—people are aware of it, so it’s a problem. That’s good news. Not just foreigners, but people locally are aware of it.

TAKE

INTERNATIONAL

Pioneer: What do you think of the Whitman dating culture?

Rathi: We take dating as something else. It confuses me. I just don’t understand.

Pioneer: How do you take it?

Alvarez: A boy meets a girl, they fall in love, they get married, they have kids. That doesn’t happen here.

Something else happens that I don’t understand. I wish the dating scenario was a little bit more clear.

Vukovic: I wish people were more outspoken about their feelings.

Alvarez: People our age . . . it’s a difficult age. But it’s cultural too, though. Here affection is different than Latin American [affection]. It’s more easily expressed in Latin America. The manifestation of affection, showing it is an issue—everyone has feelings, the difference is how you show them.

Vukovic: [Are you] saying that people here don’t know how to show feelings?

Alvarez: It’s a culture of not showing feelings.

Vukovic: I kind of said that before. But I don’t know that it is a cultural thing. It might be just this age.

Rathi: It’s also different from what I saw growing up. It was more clear then. Here things get lost in between. There’s a lack of spontaneity.

Vukovic: There’s a lack of interest in dating in the first place.

Rathi: Possibly people think—if we agree that people are academically driven—dating is a responsibility too much on top of academic responsibilities.

Vukovic: If I compare this to Montenegro, this is a hookup culture. I don’t experience this back home. Sex requires a whole other level of relationship. You don’t go out to have sex with someone and then come back and think, ‘I just had a sex and it doesn’t matter.’

Alvarez: That’s the way I was raised too.

Rathi: Hard for me to compare because the culture I was raised in doesn’t acknowledge dating too much itself.

Hard to compare models. At home, it’s many different things, and I’ve seen all the spectrums.

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by Rolo

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GREATSEX

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hitman students, for the most part, are not afraid of sex—hearing about it, talking about it or having it. Hence, it was no surprise to see several hundred Whitman students show up in Cordiner Hall on Oct. 25 to hear Nicole Daedone speak about female orgasm. Though the lecture was titled “College Sex: Taking Good to Great,” it would have more appropriately been called something like “College Sex: Taking Subpar to Awkward Subpar.”

When asked by a Whittie how college students could move from anonymous hook-ups (the Subpar) to something better, Daedone answered that hook-ups will start to feel so unsatisfactory that, eventually, we will search for better sex. It was unclear how exactly she expected us to do this on a campus where most sexual encounters take place in certain houses on a certain street on certain days of the week.

If you were to try a sexual meditation technique with a stranger in an unfamiliar location (as Daedone did), you would most likely feel as though you were at a gynecologist appointment gone terribly, terribly wrong (the Awkward Subpar).

I completely agree with Daedone that we, as college students, can and should do better. I disagree only on the context in which a great sexual experience can occur.

First of all, a great sexual experience means great pleasure—for everyone involved. If your partner is underwhelmed by the experience, it will undermine your own experience.

Now, it is no secret that everyone has fun bits that are exciting, beautiful and enjoyable . . . but many are also tricky, especially women’s. This means that you need to be invested—a word that is synonymous with caring and perfectly contradicts the definition of a hook-up. Therefore, is it realistic for you to expect that stranger to rub you the right way? Or for you to know exactly what will blow that other person’s mind? No. But do you want to be rubbed the right way while also blowing someone else’s mind? Yeah, probably.

So, if great sex means each individual must be satisfied, the next question is: What type of environment, both physical and emotional, lends itself to pleasure and fulfillment?

While unfamiliarity can create excitement and spontaneity, it is perhaps more important to consider what else it usually means: risk, miscommunication and a lack of concern for others involved—which I imagine often makes the encounter feel numb, distracted, hurried or awkward.

I feel completely comfortable with my body, to the point where I have been naked in front of thousands of people (yes, fact). Nonetheless, there is something about the thought of letting a stranger, or even an acquaintance, stroke me softly with my legs spread in the butterfly position while I twiddle my thumbs and wonder where their hands have been that is just . . . not appealing.

While I will be the first to admit that it is beyond difficult to find a person you connect with and a place you feel comfortable in before you decide to have sex, I will also be the first to advocate how worthwhile it is. Whitman students are more often than not incapable of turning off their brains and having an entirely physical experience, unless you decide to count the drinking and dancing that goes on at parties.

Fortunately, great sex doesn’t call for you to turn off your brain.

Satisfying sex is about investment—how often does something easy turn out to be something great? Laughing hysterically when your bare chests press together and accidentally make a farty noise, or spontaneously calling on a naked game of “Magic: The Gathering” post-sex (coupled with some technique of course) is what makes the experience fulfilling. Not your ability to feel satisfied when a stranger strokes you exactly three-eighths of an inch to the right of the center of your clitoris under bad lighting and on someone else’s floor.

PROFILEKristinVINING

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n a rather gray day in November, The Pioneer sat down to chat with Kristin Vining, music assistant here at Whitman College about teaching, composing and musical inspiration.

Pioneer: I know you were a student here at Whitman. Could you could tell us a little bit about your background?

Vining: I started out at Walla Walla University for one year, and I was there studying piano with Leonard Richter. And then what happened was I transferred to Whitman because I also wanted to study French. I took a French class at Whitman and loved it, so I ended up coming here full time. I studied French and music until my senior year, when I dropped my music major and only did French. I thought I was going to be a French teacher.

Pioneer: Clearly you are not teaching French. What happened?

Vining: I went to France for a year and taught English in the French school system.

I came back to Walla Walla, and after about a year I started teaching piano at Whitman, Walla Walla University and the community college. So I’ve been teaching here since 2000.

Pioneer: What inspires you to teach?

Vining: My friend Julie Jones said something about my teaching that I would like to define me: She told me that I teach people, not piano. And I think that’s true. I really teach individuals . . . my approach to each individual lesson is different with each person.

Pioneer: How has your work with the Summer Dance Lab program inspired your music?

Vining: The friendships and relationships I have with dancers has led to new types of compositions. I started writing pieces for ballet class that were based on the Cinderella story. In the fall of 2009, Julie Jones at the Community College asked if I had anything original I was working on that could be for singers. I thought of the Cinderella pieces and that they would be perfect for singers. I started working with those pieces and expanded them into the operetta, the French Cinderella operetta “Cendrillon.” We have continued that tradition and every winter quarter we do an original operetta. So now we’ve done “Cendrillon,” “Cartes Postales,” the Paris operetta and then this winter quarter it will be a coffee-themed operetta!

Pioneer: Are there aspects of the Walla Walla community that you like to incorporate into your work?

Vining: I love this community. I love just spending time downtown and at the Roastery and at the three schools. And, as much as possible, as much as I can bring in members of the community, as much as I can connect students from the different schools—that is what I really love to do. I like being a bridge between the community and the different schools.

by Alyssa Fairbanks

Pioneer: What have been some of your favorite pieces that you’ve composed?

Vining: Last spring I had the opportunity to write a set of litanies for the Choral Society, so these were a set of Latin prayers. One of my favorite pieces I have written is the ubi caritas from that work. The Latin text for that prayer is where charity and love are God is there. There was just something about that piece that created a certain atmosphere. I felt like I wanted to stay in that atmosphere, be in that atmosphere as much as possible. The “Cendrillon” operetta was really special because that was the first operetta I had written and in French. It combined my love of the French language, my love of music [and] my love of people all in one big project.

I would say that it was the first time I felt like everything that I love to do and am inspired by came together in one big project. It combined language and music and art and sparkles. There are always sparkles in the operettas, always.

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WRITEONME The week before Thanksgiving Break I posted 13 photographs around campus with the prompt: “Respond to what you see! Write on me.” Based on response levels, I eventually consolidated the photos into Penrose Library. As an anthropology major and photographer, image interpretation is fascinating to me. It was especially thrilling to watch our community react in very diverse ways and challenge each other’s comments.

I hope this project can serve to illuminate a slice of human experience and thought and promote new engagement with subjects that lurk near the boundaries of polite conversation. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed.

Here is a selection of the photographs.

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by Marie von Hafften

The Circuit | 11

WINTERYTREATS

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olidaydrinks

by Alyssa Fairbanks

As chilly winter weather sets in, what could be more tempting than a warm holiday drink or something sparkling to welcome in the New Year? Here are a few recipes perfect for sipping on while studying by the fire in Reid or to impress friends at an upcoming party!

Barcelona Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate, popular in Spain and the rest of Europe, features a hint of orange and is a little less sweet than the traditional American version.

Ingredients 2/3 cup boiling water • 2 ounces good-quality dark or bittersweet (60 to 70 percent cocoa) chocolate, finely chopped • 1 1/3 cups low-fat milk • 1 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar • 1/2-inch piece orange rind strip Preparation Combine boiling water and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan, stirring until chocolate melts. Add milk and next 4 ingredients (through rind); cook over medium-low heat, stirring with a whisk. Heat 5 minutes or until tiny bubbles form around edge of pan, stirring frequently (do not boil). Discard rind. Pour 1 cup mixture into each of 4 mugs. To finish, spoon whipped cream on top and dust with cocoa powder.

Mulled wine sangria

A fresh take on a holiday classic, mulled wine sangria is great for winter entertaining in Walla Walla.

Ingredients 1 bottle merlot or other red wine, chilled and divided • 1/3 cup sugar • 1 sachet Mulling Spice Blend • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (about 1 large orange) • 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen unsweetened strawberries • 1/2 orange, thinly sliced and cut in half • 1 (12-ounce) can club soda Preparation Combine 1 cup wine, sugar, and sachet in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool. Discard sachet.

Pour mixture into a pitcher; add remaining 3 cups wine. Chill thoroughly. Add juice, strawberries, orange slices and club soda.

eggnog

Creamy and rich, homemade eggnog can be made up to one week in advance.

Ingredients 3 1/2 cups low-fat milk • 1/2 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 1/4 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 2 large egg yolks • 1/4 cup bourbon • 2 tablespoons brandy • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preparation Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk one-third of hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Add yolk mixture to remaining hot milk mixture, stirring with a whisk. Cook over medium heat 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Pour into a pitcher; stir in bourbon, brandy, and vanilla. Cover surface of eggnog with wax paper; refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve dusted with nutmeg or cinnamon.

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avoryspread

by Ellie Newell

Rosemary-Scented Garlic Spread with Gorgonzola

Take a head of garlic and remove most of the husk from the outside without breaking it into its individual cloves. Slice the top of the head with a sharp knife, maybe the top half inch, exposing the tops of the cloves. Place it in an oven-safe dish and pour a 2:1 mixture of chicken broth and white wine and a dash of olive oil into the dish until the garlic is halfway submerged in liquid. Place a few sprigs of rosemary in the liquid mixture and bake covered at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until the garlic becomes soft. Fish out the rosemary and replace with fresh rosemary leaves. Place a generous slab of Gorgonzola on top of the garlic, re-cover, and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is pleasantly melted. Remove the dish from the oven, cool slightly and serve while still warm with ciabatta or another similar artisan bread.

The garlic cloves can be separated with a butter knife and smooshed onto the bread while the broth makes a delicious dip. ¡Buen provecho!

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hoppingsmart

by Caitlin Hardee

The holiday season is rolling around again, and we all know what that means: shopping madness. Before you buy your mom yet another gift certificate to Bath & Body Works, consider these fun and cheap holiday gift ideas.

for the coffee lover

for the music lover

Available in-store or online at tinyurl.com/cratecoffee

Available online at tinyurl.com/dakmart

Crate & Barrel offers a beautiful 18 oz. ceramic mug for $5.95 with the word “coffee” embossed in dark typeface.

This simple but elegant mug molds nicely to the hand and its large volume can easily accomodate other hot drinks as well as soup, oatmeal and various warm winter treats. Pair it with a bag of coffee beans from Coffee Perk or the Whitman bookstore.

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Dakmart has a range of professional studio-grade circumaural Sennheiser headphones for extremely cheap prices.

These babies are amazingly comfortable and will take the audiophile in your family into a winter wonderland of sound.

The Sennheiser EH-150 headphones are the best deal at $8.98, but are often backordered. The EH-350, HD212 and HD428 models also provide awesome quality at prices from $23 to $25.

raftyofferings

cookie jars by Karah Kemmerly

Growing up, my mother made a few of these every year to give out to the relatives. I’m including a cookie recipe, but you can make the jars with dry ingredients for other types of cookies or muffins as well.

They’re easy to make, and they look quite festive.

What you’ll need 1 mason jar • 1 index card • 1 marker (or a few) • 1 ribbon • 2 cups oats • 1 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup mimi M&Ms • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips Things to do 1. Pour the dry ingredients into the mason jar one by one, creating layers.

2. Write the cookie recipe on an index card. (see below) 3. Decorate the card as desired.

4. Punch a hole in the card and slide the ribbon through the hole.

5. Tie the ribbon-card around the lid of the jar.

Treasure Chest Cookies: The Recipe (makes 3 to 4 dozen) 1 jar cookie mix • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 1 egg • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, egg and vanilla. Slowly add and stir the Treasure Chest Cookie Mix until the mixture is well blended. Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and use to flatten cookies. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes.

Transfer to wire racks to cool.

for making memories

GIFTSANDGOODIES

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Don’t feel like shelling out hundreds of dollars at Best Buy for the latest digital camera? Why not go retro instead? Check your local Craigslist or Amazon for Polaroid cameras. A good working model can usually be found for between $5 and $30.

If you buy off Craigslist, try to make sure the seller has an old pack of film and can demonstrate that the camera is in working order. After you have a camera, film is available online from the Impossible Project, at www.shop.the-impossibleproject.com/shop/film, for an average of $24 per pack. Whether a gift for the avid photographer or a toy for the whole family to play with, polaroids are a medium that draw forth the precious moments in life through the necessity of selection.

When snapping a hundred photos from different angles is no longer feasible, what remains are precious singular snapshots of love and togetherness.

decoupaged glass by Cara Lowry

If you live in Walla Walla, where glass isn’t easily recycled, chances are you have lots of empty vessels cluttering your countertops, shelves or even floor space. Lucky for you, a little time, paper and adhesive can turn these old recyclables into decorative gift items! Finished jars make great candleholders or gift boxes; bottles become quirky vases or unique shelf décor.

What you’ll need 1 glass vessel (bottle, jar, etc.) • Elmer’s glue or Mod Podge (found in most craft stores) • 1 paintbrush (foam brushes work best) • 1 bowl • water • paper product of choice (wrapping paper, tissue paper, magazine clippings, newspapers, old calendars, etc.) • scissors • ribbon (optional) Things to do 1. Wash the vessel, if empty (You can also decoupage an unopened item like a bottle of wine).

2. Prep your workspace (Decoupage gets messy! I recommend putting down a layer of old newspaper or cardboard).

3. Prepare paper scraps (You can cut out specific pictures from magazines, tear paper for a rough edge, crumple tissue paper for an interesting texture—really, anything goes).

4. Mix Elmer’s glue and water in bowl.

5. Dip paper scraps in glue-water, adhere them to surface (Or nix the glue-water and apply Mod Podge to paper scraps with foam brush to adhere them to surface).

6. When finished, coat with Mod Podge if desired (Glue-water decoupage creations have a matte finish; a Mod Podge coat will yield a glossy, more water-resistant finish).

7. Air dry.

8. Garnish with ribbon if desired.

The Circuit | 13

“ “ “ “

I’ve been wearing socks with boots and tights a lot.

Lauren Platman, ‘15

The necklace is a pendant I got from my dad... it’s a Ganesh.

Eli Smith, ‘13

I bought this [ring] at the World’s Fair, in Spain..

Evelyn Levine, ‘15

I am a big fan of the bow tie.

Andy Martin, ‘14

FASHIONSPOTLIGHT

Photography by Cade Beck

For our magazine issue, The Pioneer brought together some of our previous Style Spotlighters with some new faces.

First-years Lauren Platman and Evelyn Levine, sophomore Andy Martin, junior Eli Smith and senior Nanyonjo Mukungu share style tips and fashion philosophy.

14 | The Circuit

This [earring] is my house-mate’s.

Nanyonjo Mukungu, ‘12

Hot Poop owner Jim McGuinn (left) smiles in his shop and proudly holds a hat displaying the record store’s name (above right). Guitars (above) and albums line the shop’s walls.

HOTPOOPSCOOP

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n first stepping inside Hot Poop, Wa s h i n g t o n’s oldest independently owned record store, one is immediately over whelmed by the sheer amount of stuff compacted into the small shop. Shelves upon shelves covered with semi-organized CDs and DVDs line the thin walkways.

Band posters, banners and guitars of all shapes, sizes, colors and designs cram the walls. Elvis and Johnny Cash echo from the store’s speakers, and old music videos from various bands play on an assortment of television sets scattered throughout the crammed space. A giant bowl of Doritos sits on the counter, and the entire store smells of incense.

This haven for the music lovers of Walla Walla—which just celebrated its 38th birthday on Nov. 5—has a surprisingly big selection for such a smalltown establishment. The CD collection features everything from the Grateful Dead to this month’s Michael Bublé Christmas album, while DVDs offer a collection spanning Dick Tracy to porn.

Owner Jim McGuinn is still as passionate and excited about his business today as he was the day it first opened. Born in Guam, McGuinn originally opened his business in San Diego before moving it to

Walla Walla. It hasn’t always been easy, but he has never regretted his decision.

“Every day could fill a chapter in a novel tentatively entitled ‘Paddling Upstream Without a Banjo or a Canoe . . . Wouldn’t You?’ McGuinn explained. To quote the Beatles, I have worked ‘Eight Days A Week’ with a grin on my face for 38 years, or so it seems.”

How is it that he can still enjoy his job after 38 years of the same places and faces? The truth is, this entrepreneur just really loves music and everything to do with it.

“Personally, I really love the sweet, soulful sound of a warm continual ringing cash register,” McGuinn joked when asked about his favorite bands.

“A shorter list of the bands that I don’t like: I have never really appreciated Pat Boone or 99 percent of the musical performers from the TV show ‘American Idol.’ I am madly appreciative of the lifetime achievement of the Muppets.”

Quirky, fun and incredibly knowledgeable about music, McGuinn is an amazing resource for any Whitman students looking for expand their musical horizons or even just find that certain CD they’ve been searching for.

Main Street’s most popular music store goes by many different names to its biggest fans, with “The Musical Cathedral of the Unassuming Virgin,” “Hotel Poop” and “Hot Pop Shop” be-

by Mallory Martin

ing some of its owner’s favorites. Whatever you choose to call it, though, it’s fair to say that Hot Poop’s name is its biggest initial draw to customers. However, contrary to popular rumor, the shop was never known as Hot Shit.

“Hot Poop is a pun on the musical category ‘Hot Pop,’” McGuinn explained.

“Music that sells well is called Hot Pop because it is hot popular music that is currently selling briskly. In a very short time, [however] ‘Pop’ turns to ‘Poop.’”

Campus music enthusiasts should definitely stop by to meet the man and check out the music store; I doubt any will leave empty-handed. If McGuinn is unavailable, his long time employees Michael McGuinn, Keith Knotts, Zack Knotts and Jason Small are equally apt and excited to point you towards some great selections.

As a closing word to Whitman students, McGuinn offered up a little musical advice.

“As the Rolling Stones once sang on their album, ‘If you are out tonight and on a bike, don’t forget to wear white.’ Also, stay away from hard drugs or you are sure to become as angry, cranky and lifeless as your parents.”

Hot Poop is located at 210 E. Main, Walla Walla, Wash. 99362 and is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

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MUSIC M83 HURRY UP, WE’RE DREAMING

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elebrated electronic act M83’s latest album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, is a massive departure from more ambient past albums, providing an emotional journey that is easily accessible to music fans across indie, rock and pop boundaries, and has escaped the electro niche to crack major alt radio stations. After the exulting energy of hit track “Midnight City,” listening to dreamy, lethargic song “Wait” is like floating in a pool of liquid stars, as sparse drops of synth and a soft rain of acoustic guitar fall over cosmic, aching violin pads and Anthony Gonzalez’s epic voice.

Exuberant instrumentation under a child’s whimsical spoken narrative follow on “Raconte-moi une histoire,” continuing with a broad spectrum of beautiful, enthralling material that incorporates influences across almost every genre, from bassladen electro funk on “Claudia Lewis” to soaring rock opera gestures on “My Tears Are Becoming a Sea.” Best of all, you get a double album, 22 tracks total for $14.99 on iTunes.

COLDPLAY MYLO XYLOTO

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didn’t even listen to the previews before buying this album—it’s Coldplay, so you know it’ll be good. The question is, will it be “curl up and read a book with a mug of tea” good or “soaring heart-seizing cosmic choirs of inspiration” good? As it turns out, some of both. It’s vintage Coldplay, personal and moving, shifting between a racing, thrumming tapestry of guitars and synths with Chris Martin’s characteristic whoa-ohhh’s on “Hurts Like Heaven,” to a rough, low break-your-heart croon on the more subdued track “Us Against the World.” The breathtakingly raw quality of Martin’s voice on “U.F.O.” is almost reminiscent of fellow UK rocker Gary Lightbody’s arresting, stripped-down vocals on live performances of “Run.” “Princess of China,” featuring Rihanna, echoes the most epic gestures of Viva la Vida, with a truly massive chorus. The lyrics are forgettable, but the sheer power of Rihanna and Martin’s voices together sweeps the listener away on a tide of sound. Brian Eno’s godlike production skills tie the whole album together in a shimmering whole as vibrant as its cover art. Do yourself a favor and grab this record. Does it sound like Coldplay? Yes. Is it groundbreaking? No. Will you enjoy it? Absolutely.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE CEREMONIALS

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ocal titan Florence Welch and her collective are back with the follow-up album to 2009’s Lungs, and hers are as impressive as ever. The album opens with “Only If For A Night,” a massive number with her trademark layered vocals and ground-shaking, swelling drums. Welch’s voice whirls smoothly into “Shake It Out,” another soaring song that instantly lodges in the mind. The album’s third single “No Light, No Light” is a true alt-pop masterpiece, with the perfect radio-ready blend of aching, quiet verses, a soaring, catchy chorus and a powerful underpinning of drums.

The album’s strongest artistic moments come in the soul flavor on tracks like “Never Let Me Go,” with Welch’s voice tumbling effortlessly between depths of contemplative spiritual gravitas and fluttering, heart-piercing heights. The soul influence comes out particularly strong on “Leave My Body,” with a rich gospel choir of Welch’s own backing vocals accompanying her as she wanders through an exquisite, earthy blues territory that makes you want to stand up, clap along and bear witness. If there’s a weakness to the album, it’s that each track is so entrenched in Welch’s consistently amazing vocal acrobatics that the wonder wears off and grows tiresome. Buy the entire album and dump it in a playlist with some other artists to space out the effect.

RIHANNA TALK THAT TALK

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ihanna’s Talk That Talk is front-loaded with a strong, diverse selection of tracks. Opening reggae-pop song “You Da One” is a relaxed return to her Caribbean roots, perfect for dancing slowly on the beach with a drink in hand.

“Where Have You Been” incorporates euphoric Euro dance beats with rapturous accents of acoustic guitar. “We Found Love,” featuring Calvin Harris, is similarly laden with European electro influence, irresistibly lifting the listener and infecting your ears with the hopelessly catchy hook. The album maintains a strong flow all the way through, with contributions from Jay-Z and truly superb production. However, none of the tracks stand out lyrically to the caliber of “Love the Way You Lie (Pt. 2),” eschewing the darker themes Rihanna explored on Rated R and Loud for lighter dance floor material, albeit with an aggressive, self-empowered sexuality. My recommendation: Buy the first four tracks, bittersweet ballad “Farewell,” and “Fool In Love” from the deluxe version; take a pass on the rest.

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TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN

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Once Upon a Time

ith rich sets, gorgeous costumes, endearing characters and an engaging storyline, “Once Upon a Time” was my surprise favorite this season. I had low expectations for this late season opener, which follows a small town in Maine where Anderson and the Grimms’ most popular storybook characters have been cursed to forget their past lives. Enter Emma Swan (“House”’s Jennifer Morrison) and her long-lost son Henry (newcomer Jared Gilmore), who seek to break the curse and restore the town of Storybrooke to its former fairytale glory. To be honest, I thought it sounded like a bad Disney movie. However, I severely underestimated “Lost” writers Adam Horowitz’s and Edward Kitsis’s brainchild.

The greatest quality of “Once Upon A Time” is that it makes the audience think. As Emma and Henry try to determine which Storybrooke citizens are which storybook characters, viewers are desperately trying to figure it out as well. Horowitz and Kitsis take their storyline slow, adding in great build ups and plenty of suspense. They even find room to add some cute romance between the amnesiac princes and princesses. In addition, “Lost” fans will appreciate the incredibly subtle “Lost” references continuously tossed in. See if you can find them all.

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Up All Night

or this season’s most adorable, feel-good show, look no further than “SNL” writer Emily Spivey’s semi-autobiographical “Up All Night.” My second fall favorite, starring Will Arnett of “Arrested Development” and Christina Applegate of “Samantha Who,” relates the humorous antics of new parents Chris and Reagan Brinkley as they struggle with the ups and downs of parenthood. “SNL” alumna Maya Rudolph pops in as Reagan’s clueless BFF and co-worker Ava, while “My Name Is Earl”star Jason Lee guest-stars as their sweet, single-dad neighbor Kevin.

With a strong cast, cute anecdotal humor, sweet married moments and an adorable baby, “Up All Night” stole my heart from the pilot episode. Maybe it’s just my extra X chromosome, but I find that this season’s treasure touches my heart in a place that I wasn’t quite getting from current baby favorites like Fox’s “Raising Hope.” “Up All Night” offers relatable, wholesome entertainment 100 percent of the time, and I absolutely love it.

Music: Caitlin Hardee Movie/TV: Nathan Fisher & Mallory Martin

adly, I must admit that family and friends have forced me to see every installment of the “Twilight Saga” to date. Surprisingly, “TS: BD—P1” was not as bad as I anticipated, quite possibly because of all the sex, blood and gore! The movie opens—of course—with hunky Jacob (Taylor Lautner) ripping his shirt off and running into the woods. Jacob is a dreamy stud as long as he does not open his mouth to speak.

“Breaking Dawn” chronicles the ongoing sexual tension between Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) as they get married, run off on a luxurious honeymoon in South America, and yes, finally do away with their abstinence policy. Bella, naturally, wants a normal honeymoon full of sex with her vampire guy. But Edward is afraid that he might get too carried away and hurt her in the process. Finally, just before I yelled at Edward to “do it already,” they have sex.

And thus the newlyweds’ problems begin. Bella gets pregnant and no one knows what to do with a vampire-human baby. The lovebirds are rushed back home as the baby grows rapidly inside Bella. The werewolves want to kill the demon baby, but Jacob comes to the rescue!

I can finally say bravo to the “Twilight” series’ director for making the movie a little more edgy and tolerable, with sex, gore, violence and unnecessary amounts of drinking blood. But why, WHY Taylor Lautner was allowed to open his mouth is beyond me. The guy truthfully cannot act and I could tell the director just gave up and decided to use him as little as possible.

Having never read the “Twilight” books, I was occasionally confused and the movies don’t make me want to do research. But, as a guy, it was kind of nice to be able to lean over and ask the girls around me for clarification. I’m not excited to see another, but the saga is becoming more tolerable.

REVIEWS

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TV&MOVIES

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CROSSWORD A semester in review

Across 2. Those who eat what you don’t?

5. Summer reading, part V 6. Downtown eatery fueled by confectioner’s sugar 7. Summer reading, part VII 8. Why campus is so quiet all of a sudden 10. Nightmare on Rose Street 14. Memorial Hall quakeproofing 17. Outdoor Program assistant director Stuart 19. Non-commensalist play 20. Pageant theme characters 21. Retiring professor Bob 23. Sem.-beginning musical act 26. Capital search engine?

27. New fro-yo go-to

Questions

Down 1. Summer reading, part VIII 3. Future resident of Prentiss 4. Unpretentious clothing items 9. Summer reading, part III 10. Summer reading, part I 11. Newly-renamed maj.

12. Summer reading, part II 13. Downtown protests 15. What Whitman students will teach 16. What was taken from good to great 18. Net redesign 22. Summer reading, parts IV and VI 24. Unpretentious laughs 25. Human hamster balls, to a Kiwi 26. Secret collector Frank

1. What kind of shoes do you wear?

A. Chacos or no shoes B. Leather lace-ups with a classic patina from that obscure vintage store C. Uggs, Toms or slippers D. Cheap flip-flops or expensive loafers E. Cleats or running shoes 2. Describe yourself in one word: A. Intrepid B. I refuse to allow a single word to define me C. Diligent D. Awesome

Answers

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5 6 7 8 9 10

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PERSONALITYQUIZ What kind of Whittie are you?

E. There’s no “I” in team 3. How do you get around campus?

A. Bike B. Stroll C. Walk or drive D. Drive E. Run 4. What do you do on a Friday night?

A. Snow camping in the Wallowas B. Go to Coffee House, drink PBR and discuss feminist theory C. Get ahead in P-Chem D. The last thing I remember . . .

Mostly A: Outdoorsy You spend your afternoons slacklining, at the rock wall or working at the OP. If you haven’t abandoned the Whitman bubble for the wilderness on the weekend, you’re probably at a geo party drinking cheap beer out of a mason jar.

Mostly B: Hipster You can be seen sporting an androgynous hairstyle, patterned button-down shirts and thick-rimmed black glasses that you stole from the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” in 3D, even if you won’t admit to having been there.

Mostly C: Library Hermit You get high off of telling your friends that your homework sucks

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E. Carbo-load before going to bed early 5. What holds your beverage of choice?

A. Mason jar B. Chipped vintage mug from Goodwill C. Travel mug D. Stolen Bon App cup E. Varsity water bottle 6. Favorite place to eat in Walla Walla?

A. Wheat fields/potluck in my backyard B. Patisserie C. Clarette’s post-all-nighter D. Jack in the Box at 3 a.m.

E. Reid

more and casually dropping your grades into conversation. It’s been so long since you’ve seen the sun you look like RPatz in Twilight, and you don’t know what day it is.

Mostly D: Bro You’re frequently overheard in the library trying to piece together the totally awesome time you’re sure you had last night. You know youth is fleeting, but drunken pacts with your fellow bros will last a lifetime.

Mostly E: Varsity Athlete You wake up with the sun, eat a hearty breakfast and get to morning practice all before the library hermits and bros crawl home. You’re easily identified by the ice Saran-Wrapped to various body parts and your respective team’s signature T-shirt and/or sweat pants.

Front and back cover: Photograph by Faith Bernstein.

2: Photograph of Patricia Vanderbilt courtesy of Carrie Sloane.

3: Photograph of flower by Faith Bernstein, stock photograph of globe courtesy of stockvault.com, photograph of sunset by Marie von Hafften, photograph of eggnog by Ethan Parrish, fashion photograph by Cade Beck.

4-5: Photo-essay by Faith Bernstein.

6-7: Stock photograph courtesy of stockvault.com, illustration by Emily Johnson.

8: Stock photograph courtesy of stockvault.com.

9: Photograph of Kristin Vining contributed by Vining.

10-11: Photo-essay by Marie von Hafften.

12: Stock photographs of poinsettias, wine and garlic courtesy of stockvault.

com; photographs of eggnog and hot chocolate by Ethan Parrish.

13: Stock photographs of bow, coffee and ornaments courtesy of stockvault. com; illustrations by Alex Bailey.

14: Fashion photographs by Cade Beck.

15: Photographs by Marie von Hafften.

16: Promotional photograph of Anthony Gonzalez courtesy of Naïve Records, promotional photograph of Chris Martin and Coldplay courtesy of Parlophone/ EMI, promotional photograph of Florence Welch courtesy of Island Records, promotional photograph of Rihanna courtesy of Def Jam Recordings.

17: Illustrations by Julie Peterson.

18: Crossword by Adam Brayton.

Personality quiz by Cara Lowry, Grace Evans and Christa Heavey.

19: Illustrations by MaryAnne Bowen.

by Alex Hagan and Clara Bartlett

credits

AMATEURASTROLOGY

ARIES: Intense eye lust has been building up over the past semester between you and a classmate. So endure the possible awkwardness and reap the rewards of your risk. Ben and Jerry await you if all else fails.

TAURUS: You’re prone to making decisions on a whim lately. While your self-confidence runs high, beware of coming off as brash or arrogant. Watch an episode of “Jersey Shore” and take a lesson from the guidos.

GEMINI: Your creative energy is strong. Take some time to explore your artistic side; you might be surprised at what you find out about yourself. It’s cool—miniature earwax sculptures are totally an underrated art form.

CANCER: You seek counsel from unreliable sources. Be warned, this guidance can lead to destructive consequences if taken. Now you’re starting to find it ironic that you’re reading this horoscope.

LEO: With a lot of work and rising tensions between friends, you’re feeling more and more stressed. Be sure to find a moment to take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. But try not to do it in a residence hall bathroom.

VIRGO: You are feeling organized and in control. Your financial prospects are promising. But don’t spend it all in one place. That “Star Wars” collectible bed-sheet set probably isn’t worth it.

LIBRA: The full moon on the 8th brings misery with it. You seek solace in your favorite romantic comedies, but be careful: Too many viewings of “Bridget Jones’s Diary” can result in unrealistic expectations for both the men in your life and the hilariousness of uncomfortable situations at parties.

SCORPIO: The first weeks of the year bring a series of poor choices. You’ll hit rock bottom when you consider getting a tattoo of a design you “serendipitously” doodled in class. Whatever you do, don’t go through with it­­—it’s hideous.

SAGITTARIUS: You will have an alarmingly successful start to the next year. Things may seem like they’re all going your way for once. Don’t be fooled though. One drunken, teary karaoke rendition of Rihanna’s latest single means you’ll be back to square one by the end of February.

CAPRICORN: Things are looking hazy. You’ve always been the most mysterious sign due to your spontaneous nature, but who knows what will happen to you next? Looks like things will be—oh, wait. The telescope just had a smudge on it. Same old, same old for you, I’m afraid.

AQUARIUS: Your frenemy is seeking revenge for the passive-aggressive Facebook status you posted about her last week. What would Blair Waldorf do?

Well, she probably wouldn’t be seeking advice from a horoscope, that’s for sure.

PISCES: Making New Year’s resolutions is a futile endeavor. Let’s face it, Pisces, the only thing going for you is that 2011 is almost behind you. The 16th brings a mild sense of hope when an unexpected second chance comes your way, but that’s just Saturn messing with you.

On the web

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