SEIZE THE PODIUM

The art of successful public speaking

FREE
FALLIN
Catching some air with
skydiving is easier than
you thought
BEER PONG HAZARDS
Tips for a more sanitary toss
life. and how to have one.
august 28, 2008
Jayplay
CONTENTS
2
August 28, 2008
Martial arts beyond the black belt
4
chop, kick, block
calm your nerves and captivate
your crowd 13
all eyes on you
notice 4 -7 | contact 11-12 | manual 13
health 14 | reviews 15
August 28, 2008
Volume 6, Issue 2
8
The Kansas skies are beckoning. Grab your
parachute and your courage and get
ready for an unforgettable experience.
falling with style
Do you know the law? e law?
FIres rerQe U tc S2,BCC.
OrIver's LIcerse sUserUeU.
A OLI vIII ME\EF Ieeve ycUr reccrU!
Free
legal
advice
for
students
AND
Representation
in
court on
tenant &
consumer
cases
Free
legal
advice
for
students
AND
Representation
in
court on
tenant &
consumer
cases
DUIs
Drunk
Driving
CeII GefeFIUe!
FIUe GefeEUs!
2CCB IreIreU OrIvIrQ
MetIcreI Erfcrcerert
CreckUcvr, AUQUst JB tc
GeterUer J
CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENT SUCCESS
`UeceUse krcvIrQ tHe Iev Is ycUr Uest Ueferse.`
Prevent
3
August 28, 2008
629 N. 2nd Street. Lawrence, KS
785-749-0200
www.subsonicscooters.com
,
785 749 0200 7
629 N. 2nd Street. Lawrence, KS 629 N. 2 N. 2nn
Subsonic Scooters
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Keystone Light
PBR Natty
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785.856.8088 3020 S. Iowa, St.
(Next to Best Buy)
thursday, aug. 28
Tea at Three. 3 p.m., all ages,
FREE, Kansas Union Lobby.
Obama Acceptance Speech
Watch Party. 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.,
all ages, FREE. Liberty Hall. 644
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
The Junkyard Jazz Band. 7
p.m. to 8:30 p.m., all ages, American
Legion, 3408 W. 6th, Lawrence.
Bob Dylan. 7:30 p.m., all ages,
$61.50, Uptown Theater, 3700
Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
Retro Ladies Night with DJ
Biz. 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., 21+, FREE-
$2, Crimson & Brews, 925 Iowa
Street, Lawrence.
Lights & Siren/Paper Owls/
Aubrey. 9 p.m., 18+, $5-$7, The
Jackpot, 943 Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Neon Dance Party. 10 p.m., 18+,
FREE-$5. The Bottleneck, 737 New
Hampshire, Lawrence.
Champagne with Friends. 10
p.m., 21+. $3, The Jazzhaus, 926
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
SUPERFRESH! 10:30 p.m., 21+.
$2, The Eigth Street Tap Room, 801
New Hampshire, Lawrence.
FREE PLAY at The Replay.
3 p.m. to 6 p.m., all ages, FREE. The
Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
American Idols Live. 7 p.m., all
ages, $39.50-$68.50, Sprint Center,
14th and Grand, Kansas City, Mo.
Andy Frasco. 8 p.m., 21+, $4,
The Jazzhaus, 926 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
The Roseline/The Whipsaws/
The Gaslights. 9 p.m., 18+, $5-$7,
The Jackpot, 943 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
Ghosty. 10 p.m., 21+, $2, Eighth
Street Tap Room, 801 New Hampshire,
Lawrence.
Cosmic Bowling. 10 p.m., all ages,
FREE, Kansas Union, Jaybowl.
Open Mic and Jam. 7 p.m., 21+,
FREE. Cross Town Tavern, 1910 Haskell
Ave., Lawrence.
Patties, Pong and PBR. 9
p.m., all ages, FREE. Nice Cafe, 803
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Friday Nights @ Liquid. 9:30 p.m.
to 2 a.m., 18+, $5-$8. Liquid, 806 W.
24th, Lawrence.
friday, aug. 29
Downtown Lawrence Farmers
Market. 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., all ages,
FREE. 8th and New Hampshire,
Lawrence.
Americana Music Academy
Saturday Jam. 3p.m. to 5 p.m., all
ages, FREE..Americana Music Academy,
1419 Massaschusetts, Lawrence.
Salsa Saturdays. 8:30 p.m., 21+,
Westport Beach Club, Pennslyvania
Avenue and Westport Road, Kansas City,
MO.
Cosmic Bowling. 10 p.m., all ages,
FREE, Kansas Union, Jaybowl.
Stereo Saturdays with DJ
Proof. 10 p.m., 21+, Fatsos, 1016
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Undercover KS. 10 p.m., 21+, $4,
The Jazzhaus, 926 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
The Global Warmers. 10
p.m., 21+, $3. The Gaslight Tavern &
Coffeeshop, 317 N. Second, Lawrence.
Common People Dance Party
& Social with DJ Yours Truly.
10 p.m., 21+, FREE-$2. Louises
Downtown, 1009 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
saturday, aug. 30 tuesday, sept. 2
wednesday, sept. 3
Tuesday Night Folk Concerts.
7:30 p.m., all ages, FREE, Signs of Life,
722 Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Tuesday Nite Swing. 8 p.m. to 11
p.m., all ages, FREE.The Kansas Union,
6th Floor.
Karaoke with Natalie. 9 p.m.,
18+, $3.The Jackpot Music Hall, 943
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
System and Station. 10 p.m.,
21+, $2. The Replay Lounge, 946
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Chess Night. 7 p.m., all ages,
FREE.Aimees Coffee House, 1025
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Pride Night. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., 18+,
$5. The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
The Dirty Disco. 9 p.m., 21+,
FREE- $2. Fatsos, 1016 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
ShoutShimmySoul Night (on
the patio). 10 p.m., 21+ $1. The
Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
monday, sept. 1
Ratatat. 8 p.m., all ages, $13-$15,
The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts,
Lawrence.
The Conformists/Beard. 10
p.m., 21+, $2, Replay Lounge, 946
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
Smackdown! 8:30 p.m., 18+.$5. The
Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire.
Hip Hop and Hot Wings. 9 p.m.,
21+, $2. The Peanut, 418 West 9th
Street, Kansas City, MO.
Rural Grit Happy Hour. 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m., 21+, $3. The Brick, 1727
McGee, Kansas CIty, MO.
August: Osage County. 7:30
p.m., all ages, FREE, Lawrence Arts
Center, 940 New Hampshire St.
Rock Band Mondays with
Metal Mark. 8 p.m., 21+, FREE. The
Riot Room, 4048 Broadway, Kansas
CIty, MO.
The Spanktones Open Jam.
10 p.m., 21+, $2, The Jazzhaus, 926
Massachusetts, Lawrence.
sunday, aug. 31
Im not
a movie
buff or a
red-carpet
fashion
enthusiast,
but the Academy Awards ceremony is
my must-see TV event of the year.
Its not the glitz or the glamour or
the anticipation of wholl win thats fas-
cinating. For me, its watching celebrities
effortlessly pull off acceptance speeches
before an audience of millionscelebs
who just days before were photo-
graphed in unfattering moments of
spontaneity and debauchery now stand-
ing calm and composed, eyes focused,
shoulders back, voices suddenly rapt
with confdence and articulacy.
How do they do it? Where does
someone as unstable as Amy Wine-
house get the composure to speak
candidly before the world? I get tongue-
tied, fushed and shaky just giving a
speech before an audience of 15 in
Bailey Hall.
And Im not alone: Scientifc surveys
abound that place public speaking
atop the list of Americans worst fears,
though I doubt it tops being buried
alive or experiencing a power outage
during the Oscars.
But never fear, dear readers, because
whether you need to prepare the
perfect wedding toast, pen a riveting
political speech or just survive COMS
130, Heathers story on page 13 has got
you covered.
While most of our public speaking
skills will never be on par with those
of, say, Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah or
even a tipsy Jack Nicholson on Oscar
night, we can all master basic skills and
strategies to make getting up in front of
a crowd a little less formidable.
lMegan Hirt, editor
editors note
Editor Megan Hirt
Associate editor Sasha Roe
Photo editor Jon Goering
Designers Drew Bergman, Peter Soto,
Becky Sullivan
Contact Carly Halvorson, Matt
Hirschfeld
Health Asher Fusco, Susan Melgren,
Realle Roth
Manual Heather Melanson, Ariel Tilson
Notice Matt Bechtold, Nina Libby, Sean
Rosner
Play Brianne Pfannenstiel, Derek Zarda
Contact us
jayplay08@gmail.com
Jayplay
The University Daily Kansan
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810
Contributors Mark Arehart,
Clayton Ashley, Francesca Chambers,
Matthew Crooks, Miller Davis,
Chris Horn, Mia Iverson, Danny
Nordstrom, Abby Olcese, Amanda
Sorell, Elise Stawarz
Creative consultant
Carol Holstead
jayplayers
4
August 28, 2008
NOTICE
By Matt Bechtold
mbechtold@kansan.com
Krav Maga. Hap Ki Do. Aikido. Kuk
Sool Won. Kumdo.
These are just some of the martial
arts you might not be familiar with, and
if youve ever thought about studying a
martial art, your choices are probably a
lot more diverse than you thought.
When most people think of martial
arts, they picture fght scenes from
popular Hollywood blockbusters or
televised mixed martial arts matches. But
in addition to these more recognizable
fghting styles, there are countless
traditions and philosophies from around
the world that make up martial arts
today. And, here in Lawrence, were
fortunate to have a rich, diverse selection
to choose from.
Several martial arts even have clubs
at KU. Active clubs include Ki-Aikido,
kendo, fencing, judo, karate and Tae Kwon
Do. KU Recreation Services sport club
director Jason Krone says theres a chance
that a Brazilian jiu-jitsu club will be forming
this semester, too. In addition to the clubs
youll fnd on campus that offer inexpensive
training, most martial arts schools in
Lawrence offer discounted rates for college
students.
Krav Maga
Don Booth, a seventh-degree black belt
in Tae Kwon Do, is the head instructor at
Premier Martial Arts, where he also teaches
Krav Maga.
Krav Maga is an unarmed combat
fghting system designed to teach maximum
effectiveness in a minimal amount of time
something Booth says he found useful
as a police offcer in California. It is a
non-traditional, no-nonsense, modern self-
defense system developed by the Israeli
Defense Forces for the hostile world they
faced.
Anybody can come and do this, Booth
says. We promote a non-intimidating
program. If Im your partner, the better I
can make you the better Im going to be.
Its not about knocking you down to build
me up.
Along with his wife, Susan, who is
a sixth-degree black belt, Booth offers
what he says few other schools can claim:
bringing male and female perspectives to
the teaching and training of martial arts.
We work with KU right now,
contracted to do womens self-defense
classes, so I think that theyve looked
around and did their own evaluation, and
found that we did practical self-defense,
rather than silly stuff. It works, Booth says.

Kuk Sool Won
While the modern art of Krav
Maga places its highest value on sheer
effectiveness, other schools offer different
philosophies and a broader range of
techniques.
Kuk Sool Won, for example, takes its
techniques from ancient Korea and blends
arts practiced by the Korean royal court,
Buddhist monks, and tribal warriors. These
three aspects give modern Kuk Sool Won
schools a diverse syllabus. While striking,
kicking, and weapon systems such as the
sword, staff and spear are common in the
martial arts world, Kuk Sool Won teaches
the use of more unusual weapons as well,
such as the folding fan and belt, which are
remnants of the Korean royal court.
I have some martial arts experience
in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu, and this is a
lot different for me, Says Jason Gregory,
Herington graduate student. Theres an
etiquette side to this and more of a focus
side beyond just the raw intensity of hitting
a bag or opponent. Its a little more refned
than kickboxing.
Walter Dimmick, professor of biology
and head instructor of Kuk Sool Won at
the Lawrence Athletics Club, says Kuk Sool
Wons diversity of technique stems from
the three-pillar origins of Kuk Sool Won,
rather than cobbling together styles from
multiple schools like modern mixed martial
arts.
Dimmick says the best thing that comes
along with martial arts training is a strong
mind and an ability to remain calm in the
face of stressful situations.
Aikido and Iaido
Aikido is a style that differs from many
martial arts. It places peaceful resolution
as its highest ideal and is purely defensive
in nature. Rather than jarring blocks and
counter-attacks, Aikido uses an attackers
energy against him, neutralizing the attack
while doing as little physical harm possible
Try a variety of
martial arts for
empowerment,
health and
self-defense
Kick your semester into gear
Photo by Ryan McGeeney
Melanie Johnson, left,. struggles to overcome instructor Mark Taylor from the disadvantage of Taylors headlock during a Krav Maga training session at Premier Martial Arts in
Lawrence. The Krav Maga (literally close combat in Hebrew) fghting style was developed in Israel.
5
August 28, 2008
NOTICE
to the attacker. This philosophy has made
it popular with police forces around the
world.
Andrew Tsubaki, professor emeritus of
Asian studies, is a ffth-degree black belt
and teaches a style of Aikido called Ki-
Aikido. This style of Aikido emphasizes not
only technique, but also the development
of ones ki, or mental energy, which
allows a defender to better connect
with an attacker in order to redirect the
attack into a throw or a pin. This emphasis
is made clear by the fact that there are
two ranking systems: one for technique
and one for ki development.
Tsubaki warns that frst-time visitors
may be puzzled, because kicking and
punching is what they expect to see in
martial arts. But when they see Aikido for
the frst time, they see an attack being
diverted and thrown away, or redirected
to the ground and pinned. It looks easy,
but Tsubaki says this can be misleading.
Sometimes, for untrained eyes, its so
simple, Tsubaki says. It looks like nage,
the one receiving the attack, does hardly
anything, and that uke, the attacker, throws
himself. But the observer is failing to catch
what is causing the attacker to fail.
Iaido is a Japanese art involving the
swift drawing, cutting, and re-sheathing
of a sword. Initially, it was a practice
of samurai to train in this way so they
could respond immediately to surprise
attacks. Unlike martial arts that pit two
opponents against each other, modern
Iaido has become more of a meditative
art with martial origins, designed to
be introspective and to help develop
calmness of mind.
Hap Ki Do
Grand Master Ki-June Park is head
instructor at the Lawrence Tae Kwon Do
School, where he teaches Tae Kwon Do,
Hap Ki Do, Kumdo, Sun Do and self-
defense clinics for women.
Most people familiar with martial arts
have seen spectacular high-kicking, board-
breaking demonstrations of Tae Kwon Do.
But fewer are familiar with Hap Ki Do,
a Korean art that focuses on falling and
rolling, throwing and joint-locking, Kumdo,
the Korean name for Japanese Kendo,
which is a full contact sword-fghting art
practiced in armor, or Sun Do, a yoga-like
meditative discipline for ki development
that, according to Park, is the root and
ultimate goal of martial arts.
We as martial artists have to respect
each different martial art, Park says. Each
martial art has their own culture and
heritage and tradition and method. We
have to keep a respectful manner.
That said, Park says there are two
types of schools to avoid: those who
teach hodge-podge mixed martial arts
without a sense of tradition, and anyone
advertising quick-fx self-defense courses.
True self-defense skills, he says, can only
come after months and years of training.
The best option for you
Not surprisingly, all of the instructors
say the best way to decide on a martial
art is to go watch a class or take an
introduction class to see how the the
instructors teach.
Booth of Premier Martial Arts suggests
looking for a balance between price and
the quality of instruction when choosing
a class. He also says look at higher-ranked
students and instructors at a school to
see what you might look like someday, and
what youre getting for your money.
Ultimately, fnding the right martial art
for youboth in technique and philosophy
could bring greater empowerment,
discipline and health benefts to your life.
Theres one out there for you, and it might
be closer than you thought possible.
Photo by Alex Bonham-Carter
Pam Jones watches Jana Rittenhouse fip in the air while practicing Ki-Aikido, at the Kansas Ki Society in
Lawrence. Ki-Aikido is a form of martial arts that is grounded in body and mind instead of brute force.
Martial Arts in Lawrence
More information about all KU martial
arts clubs can be found on KU Recreation
Services Web site, www.recreation.ku.edu.
Krav Maga:
Premier Martial Arts
3201 Clinton Parkway Ct., Lawrence
785-749-4400
www.pmalawrence.com
Kuk Sool Won:
Lawrence Athletics Club
3201 Mesa Way, Lawrence
785-865-5169
www.lawrenceks.net
Aikido and Iaido:
Kansas Ki Society
711 W. 23rd St. #14, Lawrence
785-843-8419
www.kansaskiaikido.org
Tae Kwon Do:
Lawrence Tae Kwon Do School
1846 Vermont St., Lawrence
785- 841-5661
Those looking for other uncommon martial
arts not mentioned above might consider
making the short drive to Olathe and the
Wu Tong Academy, which teaches Wing
Chun, Tai Chi Chuan, Escrima (Filipino stick
fghting), Muay Thai Kickboxing, Six Elbows
Gung Fu, Pentjak Silat (an Indonesian
fghting style), Shaolin Animal Gung Fu,
Hawaiian Kempo, Praying Mantis boxing,
mixed martial arts and free womens self-
defense classes. More information can be
found at www.wutongma.com.
NOTICE
6
August 28, 2008
Girl: So, I walked into his bathroom
and there were so many boxes of Cot-
tonelle Wipes. Like, who the hell wipes
their tush with that shit?
Guy: My friend still calls his girl-
friend Adams rib. She actually
just dumped him.
Guy: I once saw Michael Phelps
jump out of a helicopter into a
pool of Jell-O. He ate his way out
after swimming 45 laps, of course
then killed an entire clan of Samurai
with just his big toe.
Girl 1: I hear Robinson has a really
nice sauna.
Girl 2: No shit? I heard they have a
Jacuzzi, too.
Guy: Naismith is the reason I joined
the army.
Guy 1: I have 4 percent body fat.
Guy 2: Really? I have no idea what
mine is. Its at least 23.
Guy: (to girl) Hey, whats your name?
Dont even try to be mean-slash-rude-
slash-cool.
Girl: (to friend) I wonder if I have any
missed calls. Doubt it.
Girl: Does anyone have a brush? My
bangs are like, retarded.
Girl 1: Have you taken Math 101?
Girl 2: Not yet.
Girl 1: Take it online. I cheated my ass
off.
Girl 1: First football game this week-
end!
Girl 2: Shablam-a-blam!
Guy: (pointing at guy wearing skinny
jeans) That guys balls are never going
to drop.
Nina Libby
wescoe wit
Wii love Harry Potter
Companies often capitalize by model-
ing video games after successful block-
buster movies, and the Harry Potter series,
obviously a huge success in print as well,
is no exception. Electonic Arts, the com-
pany that produces video games for War-
ner Bros., has announced the July 2009
release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
Prince for Nintendo Wii.
EA has previously released Harry Pot-
ter games for PlayStation 2 and Xbox,
but the company has had a more diff-
cult time creating a game for Nintendo
Wii because the system is controlled via
physical movement.
Billy Stalcup, sales associate at Game
Nut Entertainment, 844 Massachusetts
St., says EA will have problems trying to
integrate wand actions and broom fying
into the Harry Potter game for Wii. Stalcup
says such actions will take a great deal of
precision, and with said precision comes
the possibility of creating yet another EA
fop like Red Steel. One of the frst re-
leases for Wii, Red Steel failed to utilize
the versatility and response of the Wii
mote, and, in turn, many facets of the
game turned out to be disappointing.
The completion of J.K. Rowlings se-
ries has put more pressure on Warner
Bros. and EA to
continue to at-
tract Harry Pot-
ter customers.
By producing
the movies and
video games,
these com-
panies now
take on the
full weight
of the Harry
Potter mar-
ket. Lucky
for them,
c hi l dr en
and adults
alike tend
to devour
anything associated with
the popular books, so sales should be
anything but marginal.
Nina Libby
FREE POOL
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(Every Saturday)
925 Iowa
(Behind the Merc)
785.749.5039
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7
August 28, 2008
NOTICE
Question
Answer
&
With music that can at once sound both
chaotic and skillfully orchestrated, Ad Astra
Per Aspera has become one of Lawrences
most unique local acts. The band is headlining
a show at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts
St., on September 6. Frontman Mike Tuley
took time to chat with Jayplay.

How did you get into
playing music?
When I was 9, I saw the movie La Bamba,
and I thought playing guitar looked like a
fun lifestyle. It was my frst real exposure
to rock music. My parents had sold most
of their rock records when I was a kid, so
I defnitely didnt grow up with The Beatles
or anything like that. A lot of my friends
did, but I didnt ever listen to The Beatles
until I was in my 20s. Then I got into metal
and Easy E in ffth and sixth grade. I had
friends who would make me secret tapes.
Wed skateboard and smoke cigarettes
and listen to Anthrax and Easy E and our
parents would fnd our tapes and break
them. Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth,
Mudhoney--all those bands kind of came
into our orbit when we were like 14, and
then thats when I started taking guitar
lessons.
Do you play other
instruments besides
guitar?
Right now I play in three bands. I play
drums in a hard-core band called Dark
Ages, and I play bass in a band called Hairy
Belafonte.
What kind of music do
you listen to?
I listen to a lot of music from Africa, like
Afro-pop. I was really into Ethiopian jazz
and Nigerian funk and all kinds of stuff. But
also, touring with Dark Ages, I hear a lot of
hard-core and punk.
What do you do when
youre not playing
music?
I just started going back to school. I
graduated from college with a BA in 2004,
but Im going back now. Im going to get a
BA in history.
Where are your favorite
spots in Lawrence?
I really like the Love Garden. I didnt really
drink much when I lived in Lawrence until
the last year I lived there, but I defnitely
liked going to The Replay Lounge. We
used to walk along the river and just kind
of follow the train tracks out of town
sometimes and walk through farmers
felds. I like the fact that in Lawrence you
can literally walk out of town.
How would you describe
Ad Astra Per Asperas
sound?
People always say we are experimental. I
think that gives people the impression that
we are diffcult to listen to. I dont really
think thats the case at all. I think we play
some really catchy stuff. I would just say
were a weird, fun rock band.
What is in Ad Astras
future?
Were really into projects right now. Weve
decided we want to do four seven-inch
records. Additionally, this fall we are
forming the Ad Astra Arkestra, which is
going to be a 15-piece orchestra. Were
going to record an EP under that name. I
think its going to be fantastic. Im excited
to see where it goes.
Sean Rosner
with Mike Tuley of Ad Astera Per Aspera
Contributed photo
as you get used to jumping regularly, but she
says that connecting with people and seeing
the excitement they get from the sport makes
regular jumping worthwhile.
All frst-time jumpers are required to jump
tandem, which means you are strapped to a
coach for your jump, and the coach is strapped
to the parachute. You dont actually get
attached to your tandem instructor until the
plane is in the air, which can be nerve-wracking
when everyone else has their chute checked
and equipped before boarding, Reimer says.
The plane ride lasts about 25 minutes. The
atmosphere inside the plane can change from
day to day, Sharp says. Occasionally, everyone
is quiet and meditative, while other times they
are bursting with excitement. Sharp says the
plane ride can have a meditative feel to it,
helping her focus.You dont have a phone call,
you dont have this and that, she says. Youre
just there.
Reimer says the interior of the plane is
always loud with the sound of the engine and
the rush of the wind, as well as being about 30
or 40 degrees colder
than it is on the
ground. Plane rides
in cold weather can
be quite miserable,
she says.
At 10,000 feet,
the real excitement
begins. The door of
the plane opens up
and suddenly its time
to leave this perfectly
good airplane behind. That realization when
the door opens is pretty huge for those on
their frst jump, Sharp says.
The actual experience of jumping out of
an airplane can vary. Its a really indescribable
feeling, says David Wilson, Lawrence
sophomore and vice president of the KU
Skydiving Club. People feel like they should
feel like theyre falling. You dont really feel
that.
Sharp says the reason you dont feel like
youre falling is because youre going from 90
mph horizontally in the airplane to 120 mph
vertically, only a 30 mph difference. Sharp adds
that the lack of apparent motion towards
the ground also infuences that feeling. When
jumping from 10,000 feet, the ground doesnt
seem to be approaching as fast as it really is.
Sharp says students are allowed to take
as much or as little control as they want at
Skydive Kansas, so if youre not comfortable
with pulling your own chute or orchestrating
the landing, your tandem coach will take care
of all that for you. Students are encouraged
to take more responsibility in the jump to get
the most out of the experience. Sharp says
students who try to stay aware of whats going
on around them and want to do more than
hold the basic form are the most fun people
to jump with.
Free fall in tandem skydives only lasts about
30 seconds, Sharp says. It seems to last longer,
however, because of the amount of information
your brain is trying to process in that short
amount of time. Its like a sensory overload,
Reimer says.
After 30 seconds, its time to pull the chute
and prepare for landing. Contrary to popular
belief, Sharp says you dont jerk upward when
the chute is pulled. Instead, you feel a strong but
steady deceleration. The approach takes fve
to seven minutes, which you can spend either
maneuvering the chute for a roller coaster-like
experience or just taking it easy, Sharp says.
Once the parachute is deployed, the rate of
descent drops to a little over 10 mph, though
high winds and downdrafts can increase the
speed. By the end of the descent, Sharp says
the goal is to have mostly horizontal speed to
lessen the force of the
landing.
Once on the ground,
its time to celebrate
your victory over gravity.
Reactions to a jump can
be mixed. Some people
just never want to do
it again, Reimer says.
And some people, like
me, are like, When do I
get to go again?
Now all thats left is to head home, grab
some friends, and plan your next jump.
Students who decide to jump multiple
times can work toward a license. The frst
license skydiving students can obtain allows
them to jump on their own. Skydive Kansas
training program requires at least 25 jumps,
starting with tandem jumps and culminating in
solo jumps with a coach in the air with you, but
not attached to you. Students are also required
to attend classes on the ground to master all
the skills they need to obtain a license.
Is it safe?
Safety is a primary concern in skydiving, so
its surprising that some people dont even ask
about it when they jump, Sharp says. People
trust you with their lives, and they dont usually
ask a lot of questions, she says.
Part of safety comes with being well-
equipped for the jump. All skydivers must
undergo extensive training when they jump,
and equipment must be kept up-to-date and
properly tested. Sharp says all the equipment
8 August 28, 2008 9 August 28, 2008
Falling
with style
By Chris Bell
cbell@kansan.com

he drone of the engine reverberates
through the small plane as you prepare
yourself for whats to come.Your coach
double and triple checks the harness
holding the two of you together. The
attention to detail calms your frayed
nerves a little bit, considering hes the
one wearing the parachute.
Before you know it, the door opens and youre
sitting on the edge of the plane, about 10,000 feet
above the ground.You can feel the buzz as adrenaline
pumps into your blood.The wind whips around you
at more than 90 mph, and the roaring engine flls
your ears. Your coach is behind you braced against
the door frame. He calls out, Ready, set, GO! and
pushes off from the plane.
The next 35 seconds seem to go on forever.Your
adrenaline spikes from the rush of the free fall as
you try to take in your surroundings. Its exciting and
terrifying all at the same time.The ground rushes up
at you at 120 mph, but it doesnt really seem to
be getting any closer. The coach signals for you to
pull the chute. You grasp the handle and give it a
yank, expecting a sharp jerk upwards as the canopy
opens above you. Surprisingly, you only feel a gradual
deceleration as the parachute slows your descent.
For the next few minutes, your coach guides you
through the landing process. Once on the ground,
he releases you from the harness and shakes your
hand. Congratulations, he says with a smile. You
just completed your frst skydive.
The earliest use of a parachute dates back to
China in the 1100s, according to the United States
Parachute Association (USPA) Web site. Skydiving
frst emerged as a sport after World War II, when
former soldiers began using surplus parachutes to
jump as a hobby. The popularity of the sport has
increased since then, with more than 2.1 million
jumps reported by the USPA in 2007.
For KU students, skydiving is very accessible.
Students interested can join the KU Skydiving Club
or just schedule a jump with Skydive Kansas, a drop
zone located only an hour away in Osage City.
The first jump
When you arrive at the drop zone, youre
immediately required to sign a waiver before you
can jump. It feels like youre signing your life away,
says Emily Reimer, Wichita senior and president
of the KU Skydiving Club. After that, you watch
a 30-minute training video and work with an
instructor to practice the form and function of the
actual jump.
Jen Sharp, an instructor for Skydive Kansas, says
its like learning to drive a car. Sharp has been a
skydiving instructor for 16 years, and she has logged
more than 2,000 skydives. Reimer, who had her
frst jump in 2006, has more than 200 jumps logged.
Sharp says that the adrenaline rush does fade a little
How jumping
out of a perfectly
good airplane can
be a great idea
T
used by Skydive Kansas is no more than three
years old.
Sharp says she strives for safety when giving
skydiving lessons instead of pushing for no
fear, and one of the most important factors
in being safe is understanding how to use your
equipment.
Weather is another factor that can turn an
exciting skydive into a dangerous, 10,000-foot
drop to the ground. Even mild weather
conditions can delay or stop a jump. Reimer
says that 15 mph winds are the most that
students are allowed to jump through, though
Contributed photos
A skydiver fashes the peace sign during her free fall,
while being guided by her instructor. (Top) Two skydiv-
ers prepare for a snowy landing. In a descent, the goal
is to have more horizontal speed than vertical speed.
Caution isnt
cowardly. And
not having fear
doesnt make you
courageous.
Jen Sharp, skydive instructor
10
August 28, 2008
she adds that, with experience, it becomes
relative to your own comfort zone. Its
also illegal to jump through clouds, Reimer
says, so a low cloud ceiling could result in
a little more time on the ground.
Finally, Sharp says that Skydive Kansas
always gives people the option not to
jump if they dont feel comfortable, even if
theyre already suited up and in the plane.
Skydiving is not without its dangers,
however. According to the USPA Web
site, 853 injuries and 18 fatalities were
reported in 2007 out of more than 2.1
million jumps. Ed Scott, executive director
of USPA, says injuries are usually a result
of poor landings rather than equipment
malfunctions. Scott says the type of
parachute used by skydivers today is
very forgiving and maneuverable, but
can be mishandled. He says that injuries
and deaths occur when people land hard
under a fully-open parachute. Most of the
time, he says these people are intentionally
landing very fast, which can cause the
skydiver to hit the ground before he or
she is prepared for landing.
Scott says students dont usually
have to worry about injuries, as student
parachutes are larger and more forgiving
than the standard parachute. He says
these parachutes are designed to make
it hard for students to maneuver in ways
that would lead to trouble, and students
are also often provided with some kind of
in-air support, guiding them through the
descent and landing.
Sharp says one of the biggest
misconceptions is that being too careful
means youre scared. Caution isnt
cowardly. she says. And not having fear
doesnt make you courageous.
Where do I sign up?
Students interested in trying out the
sport can contact the KU Skydiving Club.
Reimer, the club president, started the
club in spring 2007. She says the club holds
occasional meetings at the Kansas Union
to introduce prospective members to the
sport. People can get information about
the club at the info fairs at the beginning
of each semester or from its Web site,
groups.ku.edu/~kuskydiving.
Wilson, club vice president, says the goal
of the club is to get members interested
in the sport and hopefully work for their
license, which allows members to skydive
solo. He says the club tries to go for jumps
about once a month, though members are
free to go on their own whenever they
want.
There are benefts to jumping as a
club member. The club jumps with Skydive
Kansas, which offers discounts to club
members, and Reimer gives free parachute
packing lessons during meetings.
Skydiving isnt cheap, however.
According to the KU Skydiving Club
Web site, the frst tandem jump costs
$165, even with the club discount. As you
continue to gain experience, the price
starts to decrease, but the sport still
requires a decent amount of cash.
If you dont want to go the club
route or are only interested in jumping
with a couple of friends, you can contact
Skydive Kansas through its Web site,
www.skydivekansas.com. The price is a
little higher, but the experience is just as
impossible to describe.
Next time youre looking for something
new and exciting to try out, give skydiving
a shot for an experience youll never
forget.
Contributed photo
A skydiver completes a successful jump. Jen Sharp, instructor at Skydive Kansas, says being cautious
when skydiving isnt cowardly, but a smart frame of mind.
CONTACT
Matt: I had more of a thats it?
reaction my frst time around. Sure, the
sex was great, but I didnt feel as if some
burden was lifted or I was more accepted
because someone found me attractive
enough to spend an intimate hour or so
with me. It was a check off my to-do list
that couldnt have come faster. That check,
though, means a lot more to some than
others.
If youre waiting for religious reasons,
then consult some kind of religious fgure.
What God wants from me in the bedroom
has been a mystery to me since my frst
Amen. For medical reasons (sex isnt
always the cleanest recreational activity),
a nurse or doctor at Watkins Memorial
Health Center would be glad to help.
And fnally, if its more of a right person
situation, youll know it when you talk to
him or her about it. If your signifcant other
laughs at your hesitations, is so horny he
or she gets jittery when sex is mentioned,
or doesnt want to talk about it, wait for
another time or person.
Fran: This may sound trite, but you
should wait to have sex until you are dating
someone you cant live withoutand you
should be sober. You really are giving
your partner a part of you when you have
sex, even if you later realize you made a
mistake.
I lost my virginity to my second serious
boyfriend when I was a senior in high
school. My boyfriend and I had been dating
only two weeks when we had sex, but
somehow I knew the timing was right
that and I might never have the opportunity
to have monogamous sex with a guy that
hot again.
The sex itself was not mind-blowing,
but the emotions I felt were. Im still dating
the same guy. At frst I wondered if the sex
was so fulflling because I have a high libido
or if my boyfriend was just well-endowed.
But two times while we were broken up, I
slept with other people, and the sex was
awful. One of the men was even my frst
love. Both times I waited until I had been
seeing the guy for about two weeks before
taking that step, and both times I was really
into said guy. But once in bed, I felt nothing,
except disgusted afterwards because I had
added a number to my list and had nothing
to show for it. That was when I realized the
sex with my current boyfriend was amazing
because of our connection. Keep waiting.
Youll be glad you did.
Fran: Slow down and be realistic. Stop
thinking about your boy in the Big Apple
long enough to think about the Big Picture.
You are a senior. You have less than a year
to fnd a job and decide what you are going
to do with your life. Before you consider
beginning a relationship with Mr. NYCor
anyone else for that matteryou need to
decide what you see in your future. If your
love interests interests dont align with
yours, then you need to move on. I am an
extreme romantic, but unfortunately the
economy is not. I doubt it is in your life
What should I do if
this guy and I decided
that wed just have fun
all summer because
we knew it had to end
when he went back to
NYC, and now that hes
back in NYC I cant
stop thinking about
him?
Steven, senior
Send your sex and relationship questions to bitchandmoan@kansan.com.
plan to work 50 hours a week at a 2-star
restaurant in New York City while you look
for a job you can apply your major to, until
you just give up because it is impossible to
get a job in NYC with little to no experience.
Do you really know anything about Mr. NYC?
Sure, his favorite color is baby blue and you
and he like to take long walks on Wescoe
Beach, but what about his long-term career
plans? How does he feel about children?
What is his relationship like with his family? I
doubt these were topics you discussed with
your summer fing, and why would you when
you are expiration dating? I hate to say this,
but that honeymoon period talk is more than
just a myth from my personal experience, and
I would imagine that is even more true of a
summer love. Do you honestly think you can
sustain a life-long relationship off of what you
had? The honeymoon period of life is almost
over, and the real world is about to begin. To
end on a positive note, though, if he is worth
it to you, then go for it. Sure, it will be hard
having a long-distance relationship. I feel your
pain. I am about to embark on a long-distance
adventure myselfwish me luck. But with the
right person, it is possible to have a stronger
relationship because of the distance. Cut out
going to the bars, sex and watching TV, and
then tell me how amazing your boyfriend is.
Matt: You sound like an in the moment
kind of guy, and you are stuck in a moment
that you need to get out of. Now. Yes, absence
does make the heart grow fonder, but your
heart sounds like its about as soft as jelly, and
this NYC situation is about to puncture it.
Fran mentioned something about a
relationship. Fun is not a relationship. A fun
relationship consists of cutesy texts and
drunken nights. You have moved passed fun
and on to serious. Your NYC man, though, is
still in his fun state of mind.
I recommend getting off your chest
whatever youre bottling up, listen to NYC
mans reaction, and go from there. Im
assuming that because NYC man lives in
NYC, he would have told you how he felt
frst (if any serious feelings existed). I can
barely keep up with East Coast people, and
your fond heart needs to slow it down.
Bitch and Moan should not be taken as a
substitute for professional, expert advice.
925 Iowa Street
$4 Pong Pitchers tonight
Featuring DJ Biz
9 PM
No Cover 21 and Over
11
August 28, 2008
with Matt Hirschfeld and
Francesca Chambers
and
How long should you wait before you give it up?
C., junior
CONTACT
12
August 28, 2008
Questions
the it factor: tv shows
All Over It
Survivorman. This guy goes out on
different scenarios and survives for
a week. I go camping
and would like to
know how to survive if
anything happens.
Rachael Iden, Lenexa
senior
Jacked. Its about car jacking and it
takes place close to
my hometown. Im
convinced one of these
days Im going to see
someone I know jacking
a car.
Molly Iler, Summit, N.J.,
sophomore
Over It
Survivor. Its basically the same thing
every season with
just a different
setting.
Shannon South,
Lenexa freshman
Survivor. It seemed
to get stupider
every year.
Clay Larson, Lawrence
freshman
Matt Hirschfeld
5
Lindsay Hanson Metcalf
Deputy Editor of Ink and
2004 graduate
Im bummed that there are
no chivalrous men left on
the Earth. I hate it when
a guy doesnt open doors
for me.

The economy. Theres a
recession happening right
now, and I defnitely feel it.

Im a liberal arts student,
and to me, KU has the
most valuable liberal arts
degree compared with
other institutions.

I paid $240 for a yellow
permit and I have to fght
off the parking vultures
those people who circle
around the lot, looking for
a place to park, and they
always take up the whole
damn aisle.

Bob Dylan. Hes such a
great writer, and hes such
a weirdo. Id love to hang
out with him and see how
he writes his songs.
Theyre so messy!

Probably national security
and the war and the way
the world perceives the
United States.

A few reasons: It was
three hours away from my
parents, its a great school
and I got a scholarship.
And then I found out later
that I liked journalism and
it worked out great!

Im actually pretty
easygoing, but I would say
that one of them has got
to be cutting in line on the
Interstate when theres
construction. If everyone
would get into a single-fle
line, things would move
much more quickly.
George W. Bush, because
Id just love to see what
goes through his mind. It
would explain a lot.
Sarah Kerby
Augusta junior
Whats the most
annoying thing about
the opposite sex?
What issue is most
important to you
in the upcoming
presidential election?
Why did you choose
KU?
Whats your biggest
pet peeve?
What famous person,
dead or alive, would
you want to spend
the day with?
By Carly Halvorson
13
August 28, 2008
How to conquer the public speaking phobia
photos by associated press
Keep these tips in mind from communi-
cations studies Professor Diana Carlin
when giving special occasion speeches.
Wedding toastSome speakers go
overboard when toasting newlyweds
and focus on their personal relationship
with the bride and groom. Remember
the wedding guests have a relationship
with the couple, as well. In the toast, re-
call something positive youve observed
about the couples relationship and wish
them well. Theres no need to recall how
they met each other while drunk at a bar.
EulogyThere are three things to re-
member when giving a eulogy. First, sum-
marize the high points of the persons life
and their qualities. Second, comfort the
family. Third, offer words of encourage-
ment. Also, make sure to include that the
person who died has a legacy that will
live on, despite his or her death.
Activism speechWhen youre try-
ing to encourage people to do some-
thing, the introduction needs to grab the
audiences attention. Tell why your cause
is important and how it relates to them.
Tell the audience what you want them to
do and how they can do it.
Tips for public speaking
By Heather Melanson
hmelanson@kansan.com
Im a nervous person, and when I found
out I needed to take a public speaking course,
I panicked. I panicked while I prepared for
speeches. I panicked immediately before giv-
ing speeches and panicked while delivering
them.
My public speaking course taught me
the basics, but if I had had the guidelines Im
about to relay to you, speeches could have
been easier.
First: Its okay to be nervous if you have to
give a speech.
Communication studies professor Diana
Carlin says its natural to be nervous, and if
you arent, then you should be worried. Car-
lin, who teaches a speech writing, class, says
one way to help ease your nerves is to prac-
tice your speech beforehand. She says know-
ing your introduction well will get you off to
a good start.
Before you can plan your speech, you
need a topic. Your topics may be limited if
youre giving a speech for a class, but try to
pick something that interests you.
Carlin says to search for model speeches
on the Web and fnd what makes them good.
Tutorials and textbooks are other ways to
learn what makes a good speech, she says.
Carlin shares two guidelines to remem-
ber when putting your speech together: First,
know your audience, and second, understand
the audiences expectations for the type of
speech youre delivering. For example, she
says during Commencement, the audience
expects the speaker to congratulate the
graduates.
Carlin says to start by organizing your
points and put them into an outline, a manu-
script or a combination of both.
Barbara Ballard, associate director for civ-
ic programming and outreach at the Dole In-
stitute of Politics, says to try to have fun with
your speech. Ballard says even if the speech
is about a serious matter, there are still ways
to engage your audience. She says one way is
to ask the audience a question, pause to let
them ponder the question and then answer
the question.
Student body president Adam McGonigle
says its important that your message is mean-
ingful to the audience.
If you want people to have an enthusi-
astic response to what youre saying, then
you need to say it in an enthusiastic way,
McGonigle says. You need to be able to en-
ergize people around your message.
Ballard says to know your subject matter
and audience. She also says its best to make
an odd number of points, like three or fve,
because its easier for the audience to re-
member.
If youre well-prepared, then the ner-
vousness sort of goes away, Ballard says. If
youre not prepared, I think you stay nervous
because youre not sure exactly how its go-
ing to go.
Ballard compares giving a speech to an
athlete performing in the Olympics. She
says even though athletes have practiced,
theyre still nervous, but they know they can
perform.
Ballard also says to make eye contact. She
says people dont like to be read to, so the
more natural your speech seems, the more
the audience will pay attention. If you can in-
teract with the audience, then they will feel
like they are a part of what you are saying,
Ballard says.
It also helps to familiarize yourself with
the setting. What type of room will you be in?
Is it big or small? Will you be addressing the
audience from a lectern on a stage or on the
foor directly in front of them? Ballard says
these are all things to consider.
Electrical engineering senior Jamie Hines
gives recruitment speeches for the School of
Engineering. She says a good way to practice
is to videotape yourself delivering the speech.
This makes you aware of your faws, she says.
Hines says she recorded herself and noticed
that she would rock while giving her speech.
She was then able to work on eliminating that
distracting habit.
Hines also says if you appear confdent,
then your audience will think youre conf-
dent. She says be honest, clear, concise and try
not to sound like youre giving a sales pitch.
Carlin says public speaking is the No. 1
fear for most people, and its not easy to give
a speech. She says even if you make a mis-
take, audiences are forgivingjust laugh it off.
Also, if you make an unnoticeable mistake, just
keep going, she says. No one will know the
difference.
Try these simple tips
to speak like a pro
MANUAL
HEALTH
14
August 28, 2008
thats disgusting: beer pong
thats disgusting: old contact lenses
Most people dont go around picking
up dirty things off the foor and plopping
them into their can of soda or glass of
milk. But on many nights, college students
do just that: They pick up beer pong balls
from the foor and throw them into each
others cups of beer.
What pongers dont realize is that
they are exposing themselves to harmful,
or even deadly, bacteria.
Jan Hudzicki, clinical assistant
professor at KU Medical Center, says the
three biggest infection risks from beer
pong are strep throat, pneumonia and
meningitis, which is potentially fatal and
can be contracted by sharing beer cups.
Hudzicki says there is also bacteria and
fungus living on the foor where a ball
lands after a missed shot.
A common excuse students use is
that the alcohol in beer kills any lurking
germs. But Hudzicki says this simply isnt
the case. Alcohol in its purest form takes
up to 20 seconds to kill bacteria. The
alcohol content in beer is greatly reduced,
and we all know there isnt enough time
during an intense beer pong match to wait
for all the germs to die.
Another myth students believe is
that rinsing the balls off in a water cup
will kill any germs. This does no good,
however, because the beer in the playing
cups is whats contaminated. Hudzicki
says students best bet is to use Clorox
disinfecting wipes to clean the balls after
they hit the foor. This will reducebut
will not eliminatethe chance for
infection.
Hudzicki also suggests pouring the
beer from the cup on the table into your
own separate cup before drinking it, which
keeps players from drinking from the same
cup after each other.
Now get out those wipeys and get
your game on!
Realle Roth
Its past one in the morning, and your
eyes feel like someones burning a hole
in them with a laser. As you peel your
contacts outdried out after 18 hours
of wearyou rack your brain to try to
remember the last time you threw out
that old pair and put a fresh set in. Was
it two weeks ago? Three weeks? Or was
it six?
The effects of wearing your contacts
for longer than the recommended time
may not be noticeable at frst, but make
it a habit and you risk serious damage
to your eyes. Brent Crandon, Lawrence
optometrist, says the area of the eye
where contact lenses are worn is one
of the few areas of the body that has no
direct blood supply. Because of this, the
tissue in the eye needs exposure to fresh
air to survive. Contacts do allow oxygen
to pass to the eye, but the older they get,
the less oxygen they let through.
Crandon says an eye that doesnt
receive enough oxygen can begin to
swell. In some cases, fragile blood vessels
that bleed easily grow across the entire
eyeball.
The lack of oxygen also weakens
the eye and opens it up to infection.
Some people develop a corneal ulcer, an
infection in which bacteria eat away at
the eye. Crandon says a corneal ulcer will
feel like a huge speck of dirt under the
contact and will make the eye red and
irritated. Eyes with corneal ulcers will also
become sensitive to light and will often
discharge mucus. Crandon says people
who leave corneal ulcers untreated risk
losing their eyesight within three to four
days.
So, how many weeks has it been
since youve changed your contacts? Cant
remember? Then its probably time to
ditch them.
Susan Melgren
MUSIC: Xavier Rudd,
Dark Shades of Blue
With his new Dark Shades of Blue
album, released August 19 on SaltX
records, Australian singer-songwriter
Xavier Rudd now stands with big-name
acoustic artists like Jack Johnson and Ben
Harper, for whom he was once an opening
act.
Rudds latest work differs from his
usual acoustic guitar tracks and takes a
turn for the darker and distorted sounds
of his electric guitar. Rudd teamed up with
sound mixer Joe Barresi, who is known for
his work with acts like Tool. The result is
a powerful and psychedelic sound similar
to artists like John Butler and Ben Harper.
While the album is much more aggressive
than Rudds previous work, he still
manages to lyrically convey his optimistic
perspectives and progressive politics
through the music.
Tracks like Edge of the Moon mix
Rudds relaxed lyrics with his new electric
sound. Edge of the Moon features a
catchy, distorted guitar riff accented by
some upbeat, anthem-like vocals. Also
excellent are Up in Flames and Black
Water, which showcase Rudds incredible
slide guitar skills.
Rudd belts out strong vocals over the
mellow arpeggio of his electric guitar on
Shiver for a relaxing change of pace from
the rest of the album. The tracks vocals
tell a meaningful story of a young man at
an important crossroad in his life, and help
make it the best song on the album.
Overall, Dark Shades of Blue is a very
good album, and Rudds new sound proves
he can do much more with a guitar and
belongs next to great guitarists like Keller
Williams and John Mayer.
Danny Nordstrom
Conor Oberst, in a song called Eagle
On A Pole from his new, self-titled album,
sings, I tried so hard to settle down.
Settling down is clearly not something
hes good at. Oberst, under the moniker
Bright Eyes, has long been known as
Omahas golden child, a beacon of creative
hope in a town otherwise known only for
its zoo and the College World Series. But
Oberst has been spending a lot less time
in the city, recording his newest album
in Tepoztln, Mexico. He even chose to
release it on Merge Records rather than
his longtime label, Saddle Creek Records,
which he helped form.
The change seems to have done him
good, however, as Conor Oberst is his best
release since 2005s Im Wide Awake, Its
Morning, and a serious improvement from
2007s Cassadaga.
The story goes that Oberst and crew
found a hotel made up of a few houses,
rented it out, and went about recording,
hanging out and meeting the locals. The
album refects this with its relatively
mellow vibe and a strong focus on string
instruments and big band numbers. Its
reminiscent of a jam session attended only
by people who are incredibly talented. On
several tracks the listener can even hear
insects and people in the background.
Its perfect music to play while spending
a night with friends, or to have on in the
background during a study session.
The songs also show a marked
improvement in songwriting, something
thats always been Obersts strong suit.
Songs are much more structured than
they have been in the past, and Obersts
vocals are also stronger, especially in his
lower register.
This album is a solid effort, and Oberst
has pushed his own boundaries to offer
fans something new and refreshing.
Elise Stawarz
MUSIC: Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst
As a rule, flms patch-worked from
old musicians greatest hits albums
rarely strike any serious chords with
an audience. The familiarity is nice, but
nostalgia alone does not a good movie
make. Mamma Mia! breaks this trend by
combining the catchy tunes of ABBA with
a viable storyline which, despite its faws,
acts as a perfect canvas for both the songs
and performers.
The movie tells a story as old as
time. A young woman (Amanda Seyfried)
about to be married doesnt know her
fathers identity. However, thanks to her
free-lovin mothers (Meryl Streep) oddly
specifc diary our ingnue can narrow it
down to three successful menplayed
by Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan
Skarsgard. She invites all three to her
wedding which, needless to say, ends up
causing quite a stink. Everyone gets so
worked up, they just cant help singing
about it.
The flms charm lies in its sense of
humor. Though no actual winking occurs,
the cast is clearly performing with tongues
frmly planted in cheek. Complete with an
impeccable chorus of singing and dancing
elderly Greeks, a duo of over-the-hill
sex-starved biddies, and an empowering
parade of women singing Dancing
Queen,
Mamma
Mia! will
make even
the most
masculine
man giggle
with
delight.
But lest
you think
all is fun
and games,
there is a
poignant
side
to this
otherwise pleasant fuff piece. Streep
portrays the embarrassment and pain
the situation has brought her with
vulnerability that few, if any, could have
attained, which culminates into the most
heartfelt singing performance captured
on flm in decades. Is Mamma Mia! fne
cinema? Assuredly not. It makes no
attempt to be. However, it remains the
best flm surprise of the summer.
Matthew Crooks
MOVIE: Mamma Mia!
REVIEWS
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August 28, 2008
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