October 18, 2010 - College of Idaho

C
O
Y
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E
THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER OF THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO
COYOTE
18 OCTOBER 2010 - ISSUE #3
OPINION
Table of Contents
OPINION
NEWS
3 Editor’s Note
FEATURE
5 Rescued from 700 Meters
by Samantha Sink
3 Letter to the Editor
by Nick Murray
9 The Window to Alan
Below
by Stephen Anderson
by Emma George
by Colleen Smith
by Lorraine Barreras
HEALTH
4 Secret Dangers on Campus
by Lorraine Barreras
6 Obama Aces His Midterm
On Campus
by Rob Lanterman
8 Have a Green Fall
by Katy Stewart
Relationships
by Kalee Jones
Shut Up!
by Jessie Davis & Andi Hayes
of the Month
by Camrin Braun
10 Healthy International
by Lacey Kniep
by Karyssa Shaw
6 The Obama Failure
by Kayla Knight
10 September Ambassador
16 Get Out of Caldwell or
7 To Hunt or Not to Hunt?
by Kat Sillonis & Katy Stewart
SPORTS
15 Date Johnny
by Christian Low
15 Kul’cher rant
by Danielle Blenker
11 Costume Conundrum
by Kelly Hardegree-Ullman
14 Men’s & Women’s
12 Art Column
by Lorraine Barreras
Soccer
by Jessie Davis
Country
by Andi Hayes & Jason Hunt
the number of people Alex
Goold had to ask before he
could find a replacement
date.
68
the number of days left
until Christmas, Dec. 25.
the number of women residing
on the Supreme Court
21 Poise, Maturity, and
Lil Wayne
by Vicente Aranguiz
Phantasmagorious
by Danny Henson
24 Enjoying Life While
Battling Cancer
by Dr. Berger
Coyote Wisdom
College of Idaho
3
the number of problems from Dr. Miller’s accounting homework you have to work out yourself in order to get an A.
by DANIEL WENZ
by the numbers
6
2
0
Fresh Post-Apocalyspe
by Bradley Steele
13 Just Around the
River Bend
by Hayley Bahr
14 Men’s & Women’s Cross
the number of minutes
Professor Erickson is late
to class every Monday.
20 Blends Action and Story in a
22 & 23 Paradia
11 Combining Talents
14 Volleyball
by Kat Sillonis
by Leroy Fiscus
19 Dear Imbibers,
This is Beer Talk
by Andrew Heikkila
10 Real, Raw, and
8 Bicyclists Beware
17 Local Mexican Food?
18 CofI Party Basics
by Elliot Gould
9 Nanowrimo
by Andi Hayes
A&E
Why Not!
by Camrin Braun
Stanford’s World
5 Today 1/3, Tomorrow 4/9
4 On Partying
3
THE COYOTE
Fall Break
Failing Your Midterms
Dr. LiCalzi and Dr.
Maughan’s Relationship
Studying in McCain until 3:00a.m.
THE COYOTE
OPINION
EDITOR’S NOTE
Discouragement. It is something
we all feel at one time or another.
Discouragement takes away the courage
to try again. I would like to share how
I personally overcome feelings of
discourage. When I feel discouraged,
I usually flip open my Bible and look
through Psalms for a scripture verse to
read over and pray. (I usually do this
quite often for every other feeling I have
too.) This time as I was looking through
Psalms, nothing stood out to me. Nothing
caught my attention. I decided I should
stop searching for a verse and just read
for relaxation. For some random reason,
I decided to finish reading the book of
Daniel. Daniel is in the Old Testament
just like Psalms. I had started reading
Daniel over the summer and didn’t finish
it (how lazy of me since it is only twelve
chapters long). As I was reading Daniel,
a few verses of scripture caught my
attention. Daniel 4:34-35 says: “…For
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom is from generation to
generation. All the inhabitants of the earth
are counted as nothing, and He does what
He wants with the army of heaven and
the inhabitants of the earth. There is no
one who can hold back His hand or say to
Him, “What have You done?”” (HCSB).
This version may seem a little scary, so
I’ve included a paraphrase, Daniel 4:34-35
says, “…His sovereign rule lasts and lasts,
His kingdom never declines and falls. Life
on this earth doesn’t add up to much, but
God’s heavenly army keeps everything
going. No one can interrupt his work, no
one can call his rule into question” (The
Message).
I just found it fascinating that these
two verses of scripture completely
brightened my mood and encouraged my
mindset. I went from feeling discouraged
to completely understanding that God
will always know more than I. This is
encouraging in itself because it means I
don’t have to worry, be anxious, or fearful
of any earthly thing because God is my
protector. God is the sufficient witness. He
is in control of all things and no one can
“interrupt” or “hold back” His hand. He is
eternal and I know this from the scripture
above, “His dominion is an everlasting
dominion.”
Obviously, these are my opinions. You
may disagree, but I’ll just remind you
that it is my Editor’s Note. You may stop
reading whenever you feel like it. However,
I would like to share one more thing that
helps me overcome discouragement:
music. Maybe you can relate. Music is
uplifting; it is inspirational. Sometimes
music can be the opposite of those
feelings of inspiration and motivation,
but in this case, the music encouraged
me. I would like to introduce you to two
songs, “You Are God Alone” by Phillips,
Craig, and Dean and “Beautiful Things”
by Gungor. (I owe Aimee Antilla many
thanks for the latter song.)
These two songs have encouraging
lyrics. In “You Are God Alone,” a few
of the lines are, “You are not a God
created by humans hands. You are not
a God dependent on any mortal man…
You are God alone from before time
began. You were on Your Throne. You
are God alone.” This is so encouraging to
know that God is above mortal men and
He is everlasting, always on His Throne.
He is God alone and He can choose to
do anything. As for “Beautiful Things,”
a few of the words are, “All this pain, I
wonder if I’ll even find my way. I wonder
if my life could really change at all…You
make beautiful things. You make beautiful
things out of the dust…You make
beautiful things out of us.” From these
words I have learned that no matter how
discouraged I am feeling, God is making
beautiful things in my life.
Therefore, I want to encourage you.
Don’t let the change of weather from
summer to autumn get you down. Don’t
let things discourage you. Instead find
those things that encourage you. Maybe
you can encourage someone else along
the way too. To encourage is to infuse
someone with courage. Remember, that
you will always get up more times than you
fall.
Carpe Diem.
Letter to the Editor: Methane Generation
Magic Valley Full of Crap
by NICK MURRAY, Freelance Editor generation plants, into which all that crap
The September 2010 issue of the
Boise Weekly carried an article entitled
“Cow Country,” by Scott Weaver, who
described the increasingly severe pollution
of groundwater and air by concentrated
animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in
the Magic Valley. It’s no surprise that
thousands of tons of animal waste
concentrated in small regions can degrade
the environment. The surprise, to me,
was that the article made no mention of
one potential solution; regional methane-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Samantha Sink
HEAD LAYOUT EDITOR
Andrea Hayes
MANAGING EDITOR
Jason Hunt
FACULTY ADVISOR
Alan Minskoff
COVER
Lorraine Barreras
could be gathered to produce methane gas
for use in generating electricity for local
use (or for sale to the power grid) and
powering vehicles, some of which already
run on propane.
Nebraska is a leading state in this
technology. The first methane-recovery
plant to use animal waste (much methane
is already recovered from landfills) went
online there in September 2005, and
generated enough electricity annually
from the waste of 8,000 hogs to power 35
CONTRIBUTORS
Kalee Jones, Christian Low, Leroy Fiscus,
Colleen Smith, Kat Sillonis, Kayla Knight,
Katy Stewart, Bradley Steele, Camrin Braun,
Lorraine Barreras, Karyssa Shaw, Keats
Conley, Emma George, Jessie Davis, Andrew
Heikkila, Stephen Anderson, Danielle Blenker,
Danny Henson, Dr. Berger, Andi Hayes, Nick
Murray, Samantha Sink, Lacey Kniep, Rob
Lanterman, Kelly Hardgree-Ullman, Hayley
Bahr, Elliot Gould, Vicente Aranguiz
homes. The resulting residue is even better
as fertilizer than the raw product, and less
toxic. The time is ripe (to say nothing of
the air) for this technology in the Magic
Valley and anywhere that experiences
problems from CAFOs.
I mentioned this to my neighbor,
Prof. Don Mansfield, to see if the
College of Idaho might be interested
in developing a cross-departmental
project (Environmental Studies/Biology/
Chemical Engineering) to educate the
public on the available technology and
LAYOUT
Andrea Hayes, Colum Miskelly, Allison
Parrish, Stephen Anderson, Samantha Sink,
Lorraine Barreras
About:
The Coyote is the student-run campus
publication of The College of Idaho.
We provide a forum for student, faculty, staff and administrative voices.
The opinions presented here are not
necessarily those of The Coyote or The
College of Idaho.
perhaps produce a long-range plan for
a pilot plant somewhere in the Magic
Valley. He immediately suggested that this
would be an excellent topic for a senior
honors project—a great idea. I’m writing
just to toss this idea out into the college
community to see if it might take hold
in a few minds. It sounds to me like an
excellent way for the college to make a
contribution to the local region that could
not only improve the environment, but
stimulate the local economy.
Letters to the editor are welcomed and
will be printed as space allows. Letter
may be edited for grammar. Letters can
be emailed to coyote@collegeofidaho.
edu or sent to the address below:
Anonymous letters will not be printed.
The Coyote
The College of Idaho
2112 Cleveland Blvd.
Box 52
Caldwell, ID 83605
Payment:
The Coyote pays $0.03 per word, $15
for an original piece of art, $30 for an
original cover and $5 per photograph.
Writers will be reimbursed for costs
pertaining to reporting at the discretion
of the editorial board. Reimbursement
must be sought in advance.
Advertise and Anything Else:
Contact Editor-in-Chief Samantha Sink
at [email protected].
Articles may be submitted by emailing
them as a Microsoft Word file to [email protected] or
[email protected]
3
OPINION
On Partying
Last Saturday was the best Saturday
night I’ve had in a long time. Definitely
the best of this school year. Last Saturday
night there was the Jungle Party at the
Fleet Nest, which I must admit, in terms
of quintessential college parties, was a
solid effort. I even had the opportunity
to converse with one of the hosts of the
party and in his slightly inebriated state he
turned to me and said, “Colleen, tell me
the truth now, this is waaaaay better than
Fall Fling. Am I right? Just give me the
student fees and I’ll show you what’s up.”
Better yet was what I overheard one
of the other hosts, wrapped in a fluffy,
zebra print robe, say to a group of eager
freshman: “My freshman year, all the
parties were like this. But now we’re the
only ones that give a damn anymore. You
guys have to take over. You have to be the
next generation.”
These two statements got me thinking.
First, it is true. The partying dynamic on
campus has definitely changed dramatically
over the past three years. During my
freshman year large, themed parties were
the weekend norm. Part of the cause
of the shift may be the increase in CPD
crackdowns on noise complaints in the
area, but I also think there has been a
mindset shift amongst the student body.
There isn’t a demand anymore. If students
desperately needed large themed parties,
then they would have found a way to have
them. The demand wasn’t there, so the
trend has largely died.
The Jungle Party was the cap to last
Saturday. Honestly, that was the least
memorable part of it. My roommate and
I started the night off at the volleyball
game—in full spirit fashion. I made
the first appearance of the year in the
Coyote suit. Unfortunately, it was to an
unenthusiastic crowd. But let me tell
you, jumping around in the equivalent
of a giant bag made out of BO scented
insulation for an hour will always be
memorable. I even shook, jumped, and
shimmied my way into getting my picture
taken with the Parma High School
Volleyball team.
Once I’d lost half of my body weight
in sweat, I made my way over to the
bonfire/concert being thrown by PC
in the Oasis. I showed up still decked
out in the Coyote suit and seized the
opportunity to dance around in front of
the musician in all my Yotie glory. James
Orr, the musician that night, handed
me a candy-apple red guitar and after I
squeezed my giant mascot head under the
strap, we jammed out together, or rather
I pretended to jam out and James Orr
actually created music.
After I shed my moisture-laden
ensemble I headed over to CJ Watson’s
house for a game of fugitive with the
campus ministries crew. Over the next
hour and a half I chased down dark
figures through back allies of Caldwell,
from campus to the Indian Creek Bridge
in downtown Caldwell. One of our drivers
was pulled over by the CPD, but I didn’t
care as endorphins coursed through my
veins.
Before heading to the Jungle Party we
made an 11:00p.m. trip out to Los Betos
to refuel. We swapped stories about the
Secret Dangers on Campus
Part 1, Squirrel Search
When you first come to The College of Idaho,
your biggest concerns are not squirrels. Classes,
homework, gangs maybe, but not squirrels. However,
after you have been pelted by a few acorns and
hissed at by a tiny bushy tailed rodent a few times,
you grow to have a small amount of caution reserved
for these tiny treetop menaces. Every year squirrels
are a secret army against College of Idaho students.
From power outages, to thrown projectiles, they can
silently cause havoc around them. Behind their cute
little faces are forces to be reckoned with.
On campus just between the Activities Center and
McCain, there are as many as 18 squirrels at a point
in time. In my research, I chose to stake out in front
of KAIC to observe the behavior of our nemesis.
Here, there is the largest population of squirrels at
any time. I counted at least 6 before I was forced
to retreat under a hail of prickly green plant ammo.
The rest of campus yielded fewer results. I found 2
squirrels at the Activities Center, 2 outside Boone,
4
THE COYOTE
by LORRAINE BARRERAS
1 outside Strahorn, and the remaining squirrels
scattered about and in the Quad. As you can see,
even on a cold afternoon our campus is full of
squirrels. In their mind, this is THEIR campus. The
question that arises with this knowledge is how can
you protect yourself ?
Defense starts with knowing your enemy.
Squirrels are ambushers and like to throw things
without ever showing their faces. Acorns and
leaves are all fair game. To avoid injury, keep a
heavy textbook in hand. Biology books work as
great shields, although those of you who opted
for the cheaper international version may find
that paperback does not protect as well. Knowing
squirrels’ territories is also useful. Be alert of ‘squirrel
zones’ from KAIC to McCain. Keep your eyes open.
Only go back to sleepwalking once you’ve made it to
your classes or to a safer area. Be alert and be safe.
My fellow Yotes: Respect the squirrel, or face the
consequences. You have been warned.
night and caught up on each other’s busy
lives. It was while sitting under the sickly
yellow lights of the Los Betos dining room
with three random friends that I realized
I didn’t have an overwhelming urge to go
to the Jungle Party. While the large themed
party trend has disappeared in the past few
years, student life has skyrocketed. There
are so many well-run, creative clubs and
organizations out there that it is easy to
find ways to fill your weekends with nonalcoholic, social activities.
Do I miss dressing “euro-trash” and
dancing my face off in the basement of
2011 Colorado? A little. But I wouldn’t
trade it for a volleyball game, a concert, a
game of fugitive, and a good talk with old
friends. Our student life is vibrant. Take
advantage of it. We don’t need massive
parties to make a weekend memorable.
And for all you diehard party animals out
there, there will always be kappa.
College=no parents,
Colleen Smith
ASCI President
Photo courtesy of Lorraine Barrersa
NEWS
Rescued from 700 Meters Below
by STEPHEN ANDERSON
After spending two months nearly
half a mile underground, 33 trapped
Chilean miners were returned safely to the
surface Wednesday. The miners have been
trapped under the San Jose copper-gold
mine since early August when a massive
collapse separated them from the surface
700 meters above. The successful rescue
of the miners was met joyously by an
entire nation, led by Chilean President
Sebastián Piñera in welcoming the final
miner Wednesday night. “Tonight we
experienced a night we will never forget,”
said Piñera, addressing an enthused
crowd– “full of emotion, full of joy.”
The 69 days spent trapped in the mine
was record breaking. The location of the
men went undiscovered for the first 17
of those days, and the mine’s extreme
heat and humidity took its toll on limited
resources. During that period, the survival
of the miners has been attributed to
the leadership of Luis Urzúa (54), the
group’s shift supervisor and de facto
leader. “I hope this will never happen
again,” said Urzúa, the last of the miners
to be recovered. Discovery of the miners
through a drilled hole in late August was
followed by the deployment of food and
other materials. Cameras were deployed
also and used to capture the first images
of the trapped men. This visual contact
bolstered global attention to the condition
of the miners, which persisted up until
their rescue.
Engineers wrested for weeks with the
task of rescuing the miners from such
great depths, given the hardness of the
mine’s rock and its tendency to collapse.
In fact, the massive drilling project which
eventually succeeded was coupled by a
24-hour effort by the miners in keeping
their end of the enclosure free of debris.
The process used in the rescue involved
a massive Strata 950 drilling rig, and a
transport pod called the Fénix 2 (Phoenix).
This capsule, designed by NASA and
built by the Chilean Navy, travels one
yard per second, spinning as it rises. It is
modeled after the German “Dahlbusch
Bomb,” used in the rescue of German
miners in 1963. The meticulous process
used in rescuing the miners was quickly
overshadowed by emotional receptions
by family, friends and the country at the
surface. Awaiting the miners too are new
The Chilean Miners chapter is finally concluded
possibilities, financial and otherwise.
Lawsuits pending against the mining
companies are eminent and emboldened
by a long history of safety violations in
the Chilean mining industry. A judge has
already ordered the freezing of at least $2
million in assets from these companies. In
Today 1/3, Tomorrow 4/9
Feminist is a term which can conjure
up many images. There were the women
who burned their bras in the 1960s and
have since been made fun of on shows
like The Simpsons. There were the female
athletes, who walked into their coach’s
office topless to protest their lack of a
locker room for changing, while the men
had a nice one. Moves such as these lead
to the Title IX act, which could open up a
whole can of worms. One thing that has
remained consistent throughout the years
is women who have been fighting to feel
as though they were on equal footing as
the men that they work with.
Women have recently reached a new
milestone in that regard. October 1,
2010 marked the beginning of the first
full term of the Supreme Court with
three female justices sitting on the bench.
Elena Kagan was the forth ever appointed
female justice, but makes the third female
justice currently sitting on the bench. This
shows a change in national temperance
for females in power. It took some time
though to reach the Supreme Court due to
the lifetime tenure awarded once a judge is
approved by Senate.
Sandra Day O’Connor was the first
female Supreme Court Justice. She was
appointed in 1981 by Ronald Reagan.
Unlike her third female counterparts,
she was the only one nominated by
a Republican President. She had a
pragmatic style and centrist-oriented
conservatism that differentiated her from
the other conservative justices that she
served with. She emerged as the potential
swing vote in many of the cases that she
heard while on the Supreme Court. This
increased her importance.
O’Connor remained the only
THE COYOTE
female on the Supreme Court until
1993 until Bill Clinton nominated Ruth
Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg had been a
proponent of women’s rights her entire
life and continues to be as she serves on
the bench. She attended Harvard Law
School at a very difficult time for women
to do so. She was once asked how it felt to
occupy a place that could have gone to a
deserving male. Ginsburg argued a total
of six cases for women’s rights in front of
the Supreme Court before she sat on it. In
2009, Forbes named her among the 100
Most Powerful Women.
Ginsburg became the only woman
sitting on the court when O’Connor
retired under George W. Bush in 2006.
In 2009, Ginsburg again gained female
company with the nomination and
approval of Sonia Sotomayor. Ginsburg
and Sotomayor were joined by Elena
addition to the prospective lawsuit, miners
are also eyeing the potential for books
to be written on the incident. This is yet
another opportunity of fame and financial
gain for a once obscure group of Chileans
and one Bolivian, whose plight captured
the world’s attention in the past months.
by ANDI HAYES
Kagan just a few months ago.
Kagan is just now starting to hear
her first oral arguments. Both she and
Sotomayor have not issued enough of
their opinion in court decisions to have
left their mark on the Supreme Court and
the precedents that it creates. However,
Kagan and Sotomayor along with
O’Connor and Ginsburg have blazed
the way for women to have a larger and
more decisive say in the direction that the
government takes.
5
THE COYOTE
OPINION
Obama Aces
The Obama
His Midterms
Failure
by KARYSSA SHAW
Some people might think that there
is nothing positive when it comes to
President Barack Obama. These people are
somewhat wrong. Since his inauguration
in January 2009, President Obama has
accomplished a few things. The first of
these accomplishments is the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is a
form of an economic stimulus legislation,
which he signed in February of 2009.
The second of his accomplish-ments is
the Patient
Protection and
Affordable
Care Act,
a form of
the health
care reform
legislation,
which he
signed in
March 2010.
Another
accomplishment of
President
Obama’s is the
Dodd-Frank
Wall Street
Reform and
Consumer
Protection Act,
this is apart
of his financial regulatory reform efforts,
which he signed in July of 2010.
In foreign policy, President Obama
has been gradually pulling troops out
of Iraq. Personally, I was happy to hear
this because I had family members in
Iraq. He has also increased troop levels
in Afghanistan. Finally, President Obama
signed an arms control treaty with Russia.
President Obama has proposed to cut
business taxes and infrastructure spending.
This in the end probably won’t work,
but it shows that President Obama is at
least trying to lessen the problem of the
economy.
Sebastian Mallaby, Director of
the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for
Geoeconomic Studies says, “There is no
harm in trying the cuts because it won’t
6
by KAYLA KNIGHT
have cost the administration anything.” He
notes, “Obama needs to be seen throwing
new policy tools at the problem, even if
the tools don’t actually work.”
President Barack Obama’s midterm
campaign is taking him to four states
in seven days. The President is relying
on rallying voter enthusiasm and raising
money. He hopes that this will help
Democratic candidates in the 2010
midterm elections. President Obama
has said, “Don’t
give into fear. Let’s
reach for hope.” His
midterm message is
to support the party
like it did in 2008.
This is a reference
to his winning
the presidency in
November of 2008.
President Obama
is suggesting that
people support the
Democratic Party
like they supported
him in 2008. He
wants to get the
people of the United
States as pumped up
as they were in 2008.
The United
States is hoping
that President Obama stays on track
and accomplishes everything that we
need. He has accomplished many things
as President of the United States, but
there’s much more that needs to be
accomplished. His accomplishments
are good, but there is always room for
improvement. There are still the economic
issues that need to be resolved. There
will also always be some kind of foreign
policy that needs to be resolved. For now,
President Barack Obama is doing a pretty
good job at accomplishing things. He still
has a ways to go before his presidential
term is up. Whether you’re for President
Obama or against him, he is still the
president of the United States and he is
going to accomplish things that should be
accomplished.
Many Americans were hopeful for
the President Elect, Barack Obama after
the horrendous eight years of the Bush
administration. Still with that in mind,
many people not only in the United States,
but also around the world feel ill about the
progress our president has made. Before
being elected, many “Obama Worshipers”
began saying everything was going to
“CHANGE” and we would be a nation
of “HOPE.” Referring back to a hilarious
video clip that made national news, a
woman said, “Obama is going to pay for
my gas and mortgage.” The Anti-Obama
group just sat back laughing to themselves,
knowing these people would be sorry for
their clueless ideas. Has Obama really paid
for any of your so-called gas? What about
that mortgage payment? It leads many
people to wonder, what exactly happened
to these “Obama Worshipers?” Along
the lines of “worshiping,” have you heard
about the different elementary schools
that sang songs about the president? Many
schools around the country have started
to sing songs about our latest president.
Doesn’t that make you think
a little bit of Hitler? Some of
the more radical anti-Obama
groups say, “He is a Muslim,
who won’t even recite the
Pledge of Alliance”. Other
groups have started websites,
including those named, “Why
Jesus Would Not Vote for
Barack Obama.” Why would
Jesus not vote for Obama? Is
it due to the fact that he isn’t
a natural born citizen? Has
anyone even seen his birth
certificate? Or maybe it is the
fact that he is a Muslim (or an
Atheist), as many allegations
say.
The key things the
administration is focusing on
are the following: reviving
the economy, providing
affordable health care for all,
strengthening both public
education and social security
systems, independent energy, tackling
climate change, and ending the war in
Iraq. Let’s think hard into this…. Has
any of this actually happened? Some of
these things are in the process, but others
issues haven’t seemed to be touched at all
such as the uniform health care. Have any
Americans actually received this health
care? Many people disagree with Obama’s
facts saying that this is a communist
idea. Universal health care was, in fact,
something the communists did! And the
motto “CHANGE!!” hasn’t seemed to
“CHANGE” many people’s lives at all.
Also, the campaign stated “HOPE” but
all it has left many Americans doing is
hoping January 20th, 2013 comes quickly.
As an American what do you feel about
the Obama Presidency? Do you feel like
there has been a change?
Writers Note: I am not either side on
the issue of Obama’s Presidency. I have
my opinions but they have not been
expressed in this article. This is based on
what people online have said on internet
blogs and other media sites.
OPINION
To Hunt or Not to Hunt?
by KAT SILLONIS
Hiking in the great outdoors, watching
wildlife, mountain climbing, four-wheeling,
camping, nature photography, and spending
time with friends and family are all very
popular activities, enjoyed by people from
all walks of life and in all parts of the
world. Why does adding “providing food
for the family” to these activities freak
people out?
Hunting, by all accounts, is fun. It is not
politically correct to say it, but when you go
deeper than simply harvesting an animal,
hunting involves many activities we all
enjoy. As adults, “having fun” shouldn’t be
a reason to do something just because it is
not mature. But spending time with people
that we like and doing things we like is fun!
And when you pull out your bow, or sight
in your rifle, that little burst of adrenaline,
heart pumping, trying to second-guess
which way your target will move, or if he
will just stand there–that has got to be a
great feeling. Plus, when you hit the animal
and it falls down, you win! Who doesn’t
love to win?!
As children, we had recess; time away
from schoolwork to play. We’d go home,
finish our homework, and Mom would let
us play some more. As adults, with all our
responsibilities we still need to take time
to play. Hunting is a great form of recess
from our everyday stresses. Afterward, just
like a kid playing a video game you’ll want
to recount the thrill of the chase. Those
challenges you overcame to win! You might
even have a few photos to post on Facebook!
Recreation, in this case, hunting helps
balance your life and gets you away from
the grind for a while. It has an added
bonus of providing meat for your family
(actual free-range meat, not the chemicallyaltered stuff you get in the grocery store).
With that note, I will now share a recipe
written by one of the most prolific hunters
I know–My Great Uncle Al, from his
cookbook “Grumpy Al’s ‘I Hate Onions’
Cookbook.”
Grumpy Al’s Steak
One of Grumpy Al’s favorite foods
is steak. Al likes most cuts of steak from
most any critter–elk, antelope, deer, bear,
and mountain goat. (The goat was a bit
chewy, but the flavor was okay.) With bear
meat make sure to bone it out and trim off
all the fat.
The worst thing you can do to a steak
is expose it to an ONION! Also don’t
overcook. Well done is okay, but don’t
cremate it. Medium rare is best. You can
marinate, barbecue, boil, grill, or fry. It is all
good.
Al really likes barbecued steak. He has a
backyard gas barbecue, but his favorite is a
12-inch portable Pyromid barbecue that can
cook two average size steaks or four burgers
with just nine briquettes. The rack is full
of quarter-inch holes–not like most racks
that food falls through. The briquette rack
also has quarter-inch holes, so you can use
smoke pellets.
Al says take your steak and season it on
both sides with Johnny’s salt. Let it set 10 to
20 minutes. Then in the Pyromid briquette
rack, add a handful of smoke pellets–
hickory, oak, mesquite, apple, or cherry. Put
the steak on the cook rack and cook about
4-5 minute. Don’t you want to be the hero
who brings home the mountain goat or bear
for your family’s dinner? That is just about
as good as it gets.
THE COYOTE
by KATY STEWART
It’s getting chilly outside and
everyone knows what that means here
in Idaho: hunting season. Over the
years, hunting has become a growing
source of controversy between nature
lovers, animal rights activists, hunters,
conservationists, etc. Contrary to what
most people would believe of me, I’m
not against hunting. Humans have
hunted for food for thousands of years
before we got to where we are today.
We need food and meat is a necessary
part of our diets. We are omnivores.
But the difference between the attitudes
of our ancestors and the ones we have
now is what causes the dissention
we see today. Yes, we still need food.
Unfortunately, this is not one of the
main premises of hunting any more.
Hunting has become a way for humans
to show off their dominance by making
trophies out of the heads and bodies of
the giant beast.
I am fully aware that this is not
the attitude of all, or even most, of
Photo courtesy of Jenette Noe
the hunters out there. I think many
of them have fairly good practices
when it comes to killing animals. They
eat the entire animal, reducing the
reliance on the beef industry, which
I am totally in favor of. And they
control the populations, which would
inevitably outgrow their resources. This
is where I have trouble following. I do
think that the wildlife population is
having problems keeping up with their
resources; many of them will likely
starve, freeze, burn or die in some
other way through prolonged suffering.
It is a natural part of the wild.
However, why is it so much more of a
problem now than it has been before?
Predators like the wolf are gone and
forest fires are a lesser threat than in
the past. However, what I think we
fail to take into account is the impact
we are having on available resources.
I’m not saying we should just let
everything burn to control population
or introduce some other predator, but
I think we are justifying our previous
indiscretions toward the environment
by saying we are helping give starving
animals a more humane way to die. As
humans our big thing is expansion and
domination. This attitude has led us to
build huge cities, farms, factories, malls,
parking garages, and so many other
things that take away the natural habitat
and resources from wildlife. With
all of these building projects, comes
the pollution and degradation of the
environment that creeps further than
the borders of any city, and is causing
wildlife to outgrow their resources.
I worry that we continue to destroy
our environment and the habitat of
many wild animals and continue to
do so without taking into account
our impact. I worry that we look at
the consequences of our actions and
use it feed our addiction to a sport
based on dominance and the proof of
“manliness” through killing. Overall,
we need to reexamine the way we
“come to nature” and think about how
we can be a part of it, working with
nature instead of merely using it for
our own pleasure.
7
HEALTH
Campus Bicyclists, consider this
THE warning: bicycle safety is a rising
concern; not only to the riders, but also
to pedestrians and motorized vehicles
(including golf carts).
In 2009, there were reported statistics
of three hundred sixty-three bicycle
crashes, with seven fatalities in Idaho,
according to the Idaho Transportation
Department. Those numbers were
increasing from previous years, which can
only mean that they will continue to rise.
At the College of Idaho there are many
obstacles that can be the misfortune to
a bicyclist. Not only are there cars and
students jaywalking from sidewalk to
sidewalk, but there is also the occasional
speeding golf cart flying by (ot to mention
the enormous amount of squirrels).
Swerving through the crowds, carts, and
squirrels is bound to lead one directly in
the path of destruction, which brings me
to the safety tip numero uno: always wear
a helmet.
The helmet is the most basic device
of bicycle safety. Head injury is the
most common result from a bicycle
accident, after a collision don’t plan on
Bicyclists Beware
remembering about the party at Kappa on
Friday.
Local freshman from McCall, Kody
Schiermeier, a campus bicycling enthusiast,
strongly suggests that one wear a helmet;
“at the moment (in college) you are
spending a lot of money on your brain.
Why not protect your investment?”
I did a little experiment when I signed
up for this writing assignment, and took
my bike for a ride across the campus,
whether I was wearing a helmet or not is
irrelevant at this point. I took the different
paths of sidewalks, and found myself
with the urge to cut corners, which would
ultimately lead me to my destination even
faster. By doing so however, it created an
even bigger and more powerful obstacle
that I had not realized was in the equation;
there is a substantial amount of trees on
campus planted in various places.
Let me elaborate on the bicyclists’
surroundings in which they so confidently
cruise around in. The College of Idaho is
located in Caldwell, (if you were not aware
of this fact I’m sure that Professor Berger
will be more than happy to inform you of
some alternate “lower” education options
that are locally available).
Caldwell is, let’s say, somewhat
infamous for the amount of gangs and
those “bad” parts of town. A person on a
bike may not know this, but they need to
acquire the ability to dodge bullets while
riding. One positive about all the obstacles
on campus is that in the event of an
attack, they can be served as decoys while
the rider pedals to safety swerving through
the trees conveniently missing all the shots.
Bicyclists need to pedal with caution on
campus paying attention to the multiple
objects at the same time to avoid mishap.
Thank God that the cell phone has
enabled humans to handle such a workload
THE COYOTE
by LACEY KNIEP
of mastering multiple tasks. Without the
ability to cruise through everything with
not even a scratch, as most the riders do,
I’m afraid there would most likely be a
requirement that even the campus walkers
themselves would have to wear a helmet.
Hence, thank the phones.
After reading this article, I am
confident that my readers will help these
statistics decrease. However, there will
always be the poor unfortunate soul with
the minimal amount of luck. Worst case
scenario? Contact Carty Houst, a law firm
located in Boise, where bicycle accident
attorneys are readily available, no matter
the accident.
Have a Green Fall
by KATY STEWART
1
Yes, Fall is on its way, bringing with it the cold weather and much less daylight. These two factors bring a spike in energy use and in the case of you
off-campus students, a hike in the energy bill. If you want to save yourself some money or just want to cut back on your energy use, here are tips to
save energy during the fall and winter.
Since most of the floors in the dorms are tile and have very little insulation,
Wear more clothing. It’s cold outside, so instead of walking around in shorts
this makes rooms really cold. Get a rug to cover the floor and it can keep
and a tank top in your room and cranking the heat up too high just put on a
your feet and the room a lot warmer by adding some insulation.
sweater, some pants and warm socks. It will save a lot of energy.
5
2
If you’re leaving for a long period of time, make sure to turn off
your heater. Don’t just leave it running because you want a toasty
room to come back to.
During the day, open your curtains to let daylight in. It’ll warm your room
a little and you don’t have to use artificial light. When it starts to get dark,
shut the curtains to keep heat inside. Depending on your curtains, doing
this can keep your room a couple degrees warmer.
3
At night, rather than turning on the heater and waking up halfway
through the night because you’re dying, just throw on an extra blanket
or some extra clothing. That way you’re not using energy. Plus, it’s much
more appealing to get rid of a blanket than it is to get up to turn off the
heater in the middle of the night. I speak from experience.
8
4
If you turn your heater on, shut your door to keep all the heat in rather than
making it heat up the hallway as well. In the case of houses or apartments, close
off the rooms that you don’t necessarily need heated.
7
6
If your house or room has a thermostat, don’t set it above 68 degrees and
turn it down about five degrees at night. This simple action will save lots of
energy (and money if you’re paying your own utilities).
When washing your clothes, use cold water. This uses a lot less energy as the
appliance doesn’t have to heat the water up before starting the wash cycle.
8
All of these tips are pretty basic and easy things to do, but they will really
help lower your energy bill or your energy output by a considerable amount.
So try to employ some of these tips and have a green fall and winter.
THE COYOTE
FEATURE
The Window to Alan Stanford’s World
The research manager walked up to the
window as if he was going to order some
food. “Do you know what the deal is with
the IR today,” he asked.
“I haven’t had a chance to deal with that
yet. I’ve been trying to find exotic tropical
oils for Dr. Carter’s soap making,” replied
the man from behind the counter.
Dr. Dadabay approached the window
with a request: “One of the hydrogen
tubes is broken so I think we need to get
another one.”
The man looked at me and said, “You
think I’ve got enough to do around here?”
Alan Stanford has been the chemistry
stockroom manager for the past four years
and many students and teachers come to
the stockroom’s window on the second
level of Boone for his help.
But his history at The College of Idaho
does not begin at the stockroom window.
Stanford graduated from CofI with a
degree in zoology (now the equivalence
of a biology major), but he was well
acquainted with the school even before
that. His father, the late Dr. Stanford, was
a professor of biology for many years and
took him as young boy on the school’s
biology field trips where he developed a
passion and an appreciation for nature,
especially for birds. The annual field trip
to the Malheur Bird Refuge near Burns,
Oregon was one of his favorites.
Years later when Stanford was a CofI
student himself, he took several courses
from his dad.
“One of these classes, zoology, started
at 7:45 in the morning and he was there
at 6:30. He’d already have the blackboard
full of terms and nice drawings because
he was a fine artist. I had to get there early
because he would have started erasing the
board at 7:45,” remembered Stanford.
Although he didn’t take a single art
class at CofI (he took theater to fulfill his
liberal arts core), he started watercolor
painting during graduate school at
Washington State University in the late
70s.
His passion for watercolor painting
has continued for over 30 years now. His
exhibit entitled Canyon Therapy was shown
at the Stewart Gallery in downtown Boise
and featured Idaho and Eastern Oregon
canyons “as places to cool down”. Last
year he had an exhibit for three months
at the Idaho State Historical Museum
featuring Idaho History in watercolor.
One of his watercolors hangs in the
home of President Henberg. The special
watercolor recreates a photograph of
Hell’s Canyon that his father took on a
river trip down the Snake River in 1938.
“He was one of the first Caucasian
explores to go from Weiser to Lewiston in
handmade boats,” said Stanford about his
NaNoWriMo: Insanity.
Every November literary chaos erupts
around the world, which is known as
NaNoWriMo—The National Novel
Writing Month. Last year 167,150
participates began a quest: to write a 175
page, 50,000 word novel in 1 month. By
November 30th, 32,178 people succeeded.
This year, will you be one of them?
NaNoWriMo participants all start with
the same quest: abandon every thought
of order, method, style, or form. Just
WRITE. It is a hilarious and entertaining
way to reach inside yourself for the inner
author, meet some great people, and just
have fun. To accomplish this in a month’s
time, you would need to write 1,667
words, or 6 pages a day. For some of you,
By LORRAINE BARRERAS
it sounds doable, to others this sounds
insane. What would this quest feel like?
You start day one with a character,
a little idea of a story, and the first few
pages start out pretty decent. Days 1 thru
4 involve some attempts at editing and
rewriting and you stick to your original
plot. By day 7, you hit your first writer’s
block, so you give your story some slack
and drag through your 6 pages with some
pretty pathetic dialog and some laughable
settings. By day 12 you decide you hate
your main character, so you kill him—but
it’s ok because you can do whatever you
want. All you need is the word count. By
day 15 you’ve reached the halfway point
and you feel like your being eaten by a
by EMMA GEORGE
father’s river expedition.
Stanford also continues to bird watch.
After he graduated from Washington
State University with a master’s degree
in entomology and teaching biology, he
took his wife of twenty-eight years to the
Malheur Bird Refuge where she became a
passionate bird watcher too. He believes
bird watching is “one of the things that
sealed our relationship”.
Stanford and his wife often travel to
Arizona to watch the annual migration of
birds along the San Pedro and Santa Cruz
rivers. His favorite bird: the beautiful
Elegant Trogon. They find the tropical
colored bird near where they stay at an
organic ranch hidden in the pine oak
forests of the Huachuca Mountains.
In his spare time, Stanford builds
Mission furniture by hand. He only uses
chisels, planes, band and table saws, drill
presses, and as little hardware as possible
to construct the angular style furniture.
“I’m fiercely authentic. If I can avoid
using a screw, I will. Lots of young people
think planes are antiques so I think planes
are a wonderful thing,” he said.
Standford has returned to CofI after
a long career as Senior Water Quality
Analyst at the State of Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality. When he
retired in 2005, he knew his watercolor
painting, bird watching, and mission
furniture building would not keep him
busy enough. That was when he decided
to become the chemistry stockroom
manager.
Another student walked up to the
counter and asked, “Have you seen a
calculator or a chemistry book around
anywhere?
“No, I haven’t, but I’ll keep an eye
out,” Stanford sincerely replied.
This won’t be the last question he is
asked today.
monster you created. Nothing in the story
makes sense. Your main character is gone.
There is a random subplot leaping up
from the seams and you can do nothing
but desperately prod it, saving the embers
of your work. You just focus and continue.
By day 20 your story officially derails and
is racing away from you in complete and
utter disregard of the plot you tried to
strap it to. Your story takes a shape of its
own, if it has a shape that is. It picks up
sub-character hitchhikers, eats its way back
to a 5th grade vocabulary, and tramples
your carefully crafted first chapter to pulp.
Then on day 30, it dies. You are done. And
you slowly read through your completed
book, waiting for something brilliant to
jump out at you. Then you finally reach
the end and think: “Wow, this story
SUCKS!”
But you know what? You did it. You
did what one-hundred and thirty-five
THOUSAND people started. And, yeah,
the little paper certificate you can print
isn’t much of a reward, but when you go
back and read your story, you feel a little
better about yourself. You told the English
language: ha, eat this. Then, you go on
with your life.
NaNoWriMo is a month to just break
rules. You don’t have to be a writer and
you can have absolutely no literary talent
because the only thing against you is a
word count. Nothing has to make sense,
and NaNoWriMo is whatever you make
it to be. The goal is just to allow yourself
to have some fun with writing and to not
be tied down by the basic outlines your
stuck with in the ‘real world’. Go ahead
and write crap. November 1st is coming.
It’s time to break some rules. For more
information about NaNoWriMo, visit
www.nanowrimo.org.
Photo courtesy of Jenette Noe
9
Real, Raw, and On Campus
THE COYOTE
FEATURE
by ROB LANTERMAN
Although some may not know it, College
of Idaho’s English Department has its very
own rock star! Well, maybe “rock star”
isn’t the best term, seeing as Professor
Scott Knickerbocker does not play rock
music, nor does the style embraced by his
band. The Hokum Hi-Flyers tend to attract attention from today’s pop-culture of
MTV viewers. “Mainly, I would categorize [our style] as ‘old-time’ [Appalachian
mountain] music,” says Knickerbocker.
However, after more consideration, he
decides a more fitting term would be
“American Eclectic Roots music,” which
for them is mostly old-time (a genre that
pre-dates bluegrass), but can also include
old-school swing, blues, and a bit of Cajun
music. And for many who appreciate ar-
tistic quality, Hokum Hi-Flyers could be
a breath of fresh air in this day and age.
They play a style of music more real and
raw than anything on commercial radio.
How so? Their songs, though mostly
not originals, are traditional tunes that
go back to even before the 1920s. These
are the kind of songs that represent
the average American of yesterday and
characterize what it meant to be part of
this great nation. Not to mention they
use all acoustic, unplugged instruments.
Knickerbocker himself plays the banjo,
occasional guitar, and is one of the three
lead vocalists. But he is only one-sixth
of Hokum Hi-Flyers. The band also includes Dave Daley (vocals/fiddle), Jonah
Shue (vocals/fiddle/guitar/mandolin)
and his father Gary Shue (guitar/mandolin), Patrick Harren (harmonica), and Travis Ward (stand up bass/guitar/harmony
vocals). (The band’s Facebook page also
lists Gary’s wife, Dorothy as an honorary
member, being the “square dance caller”
for live performances.)
Bottom line: Musicians of this kind
were exemplifying DIY (Do-It-Yourself)
attitudes before punk-rock even existed.
Hokum Hi-Flyers play old-school – real
old-school – music from back when. As
Knickerbocker implied, musicians did
more on their own terms, even if that
meant a poor-quality recording or no
money at all. It was more about the artists
and listeners enjoying the music than business and fame.
Although most of the songs they play
are not written by them personally, they
could probably tell you that their set-lists
consist of songs relatable to whatever the
artists thought of as real people, without
any humanity removed from songs by
modern music technology. Hokum HiFlyers plan on recording an album this fall
with their own equipment with live tracking (meaning they record every track in
one performance like at a concert – hence
the term “live” tracking). At this time
there are no recordings of them for us to
listen to, but to hear them live you should
go to the Linen Building in downtown
Boise on October 15, 6:00 pm. Anyone
with a passion for real, raw, grassroots
music should be there because Hokum HiFlyers just might be for you!
Healthy International Relationships
International students are a huge
asset to our community. They provide an
irreplaceable source of real education—
exposure to other cultures and worldviews.
They are involved, high achieving students
themselves. We are privileged to have them
on our campus.
One of the greatest opportunities
they afford is the opportunity as a
campus community to dip our toes into
international relations. The Women’s
and Men’s Center is all about healthy
relationships and this is an important one:
a healthy relationship with the rest of the
world.
Being an international student is
tough. I’m no expert, but even from my
secondhand perspective I can see it’s a
huge adjustment, a terrifying adjustment.
And for all that they bring to us, a
culture, a fresh perspective, an entire way
of life, we can at least give back a safe
environment. An open and welcoming
new home, too.
We have over eighty of them here at
The College of Idaho. I live with two. I
work with one. I sit next to at least three
in Anthropology. Although I wish it wasn’t
true, I know that it’s not always how it
should be here for them. I know that
sometimes they encounter unfriendliness,
prejudice, lack of appreciation, and
sometimes outright verbal or emotional
violence. I know that sometimes instead of
“Thanks for your courage. Thanks for all
you’ve taught me. Thanks for being here
and being you,” they experience ignorance,
intolerance, and even hate.
by KALEE JONES
Healthy relationships are vital for
healthy, happy lives. And good relations
with our internationals are absolutely
indispensable for the success of our
community. The college has a long history
of great community ties. The college has
immense potential for even stronger ones.
Let’s gladly welcome our international
buddies into the family and not throw
away amazing opportunities for growth,
understanding, and friendship that they
bring.
September Ambassador of the Month
The “Ambassador of the Month”
award goes to a student ambassador that
has volunteered above and beyond what is
asked of them to share their experiences
at C of I with prospective students and to
provide a “student face” for The College.
This month’s award goes to Sarah Higgins.
Sarah is a junior from small-town
southern Idaho pursuing degrees in
history and education. She has been a
student ambassador for one year and likes
to share with The college’s visitors that,
“Here, you’re not just a number.” She has
10
been influential for many visitors to
our campus by leading tours, hosting
prospective students overnight and
answering the dozens of inevitable
questions that come from visiting
parents.
Sarah’s visit as a prospective student
made up her mind to attend CofI and
she now returns the favor to other
prospective students. “The small class
sizes, caring, enthusiastic professors,
and the Liberal Arts core allowed me to
discover subjects I wouldn’t normally
by CAMBRIN BRAUN
venture into. Because of the unique
community and opportunities C of I
provided, I have found a passion for
History and teaching, as well as learning
and growing as a person.” As part of her
“growing,” Sarah is currently involved
in Gamma Phi Beta, ResLife, Outdoor
Program, Snowboard Team, and many
other things.
Thank you, Sarah for all of your hard
work and for volunteering your time to
help visitors experience C of I.
FEATURE
Combining Talents
Darth Vader is invading the College of
Idaho, or at least the music department
that is. A long time ago in a galaxy far far
away (otherwise known as the Langroise
Recital hall about four weeks ago) the
choral choir began rehearsing for the John
Williams concert in accordance with the
Boise Philharmonic and the NNU choir.
The concert will be performed on three
occasions so there is no excuse to miss out
on some fantastic music. The concerts will
be on October 22nd at the NNU Brandt
Center at 8:00p.m. and on October 23rd at
the Morrison Center, one performance at
11:00 a.m. and the other at 8:00p.m.
The concert contains a variety of
John Williams’ pieces. The choir has been
working hard on five scores: “Battle of
the Heroes” (Episode III Revenge of the Sith),
“Duel of the Fates” (Star Wars The Phantom
Menace), “Hymn to the Fallen” (Saving
Private Ryan), “Call of the Champions”
(Official Theme of the 2002 Olympic Winter
Games), and “Dry Your Tears Afrika”
(Amistad). The orchestra will also be
performing music from movies like Harry
by DANIELLE BLENKER
Photo courtesy of Danielle Blenker
Potter, Schindler’s List, ET, The Terminal, and
Superman—all movies with soundtracks by
John Williams.
Unlike the college Chorale Choir,
which has been working on the music
since the start of the year, the Boise
Philharmonic has not yet begun practicing
the music together. Geoff Hill, a first year
member of the orchestra and a College
of Idaho student explains, “We only do
four to five rehearsals starting the week
of the concert. Everyone still practices
on their own though in advance. Within
four days time it will have gone from
pretty good to performance quality.” Sean
Rogers, director of The College of Idaho’s
chorale and concert choirs, says that he is
also excited about the upcoming concert
and working with the Boise Philharmonic.
“The students have an opportunity to not
only sing with the caliber of the Boise
Philharmonic, but by singing with them
also puts the college in good light as far as
leadership goes. There is a sense of pride
Costume Conundrum
Are you having trouble brainstorming
costume ideas this year? Or have you
simply run out of time to create an
elaborate costume? If so, here’s a list of
fun costume ideas that are simple to make.
Requires a Name Tag
Monkey: Wear a brown hoodie or cut a
hole in the center of a brown sheet to wear
it as a robe. Wear a name tag that says,
“My name is: E.” (Bonus points for a bald
cap.)
Sloppy Joe: Dress like a slob and wear a
“Joe” nametag. (Alternative idea: If you’re
a guy, you can dress like a witch and be a
manwich.)
Play on Words
Birthday Suit: Wear your Sunday best
adorned with balloons, ribbons, scraps of
wrapping paper, and party favors.
Butterfly: Juggle sticks of butter all night.
If you can’t juggle, rope a friend into
playing catch (Potentially very messy.)
Freezer: Remember freeze tag? Same
general idea.
THE COYOTE
Harry Potter: Carry around a flower pot
with a wig in it.
Holy Ghost: Use the traditional sheet
trick, only with a few more holes in your
linen.
Pirate: For geeks: wear a shirt inscribed
with d(pi)/dt. (The time derivative of pi
is a “pi rate.” Nevermind.)
Pool Boy/Girl: Carry around a cue stick
and a couple of billiard balls.
Sheet Music: Drape yourself in sheets,
and sing like a Gleek.
Involving Diapers
Father Time: Put a diaper on a clock, and
cradle it like a baby.
Flower Child: Put a diaper on a sack of
flower, and cradle it like a baby.
Mother Earth: Put a diaper on a globe,
etc.
Yo-Yo Ma: Put a diaper on a yo-yo, etc.
Tacky Attachments
Black/Red Sea: Cut a large “C” out of
construction paper and tape it to your
shirt.
being instilled in the students.”
Both Geoff and Sean have favorites
in the concert. “‘The Olympic Fanfare
and Theme’” says Geoff, “because
there’s no way you can listen to it and
not feel like you’re in something regal
and magnificent.” Sean likes “Hymn to
the Fallen.” Previously, Sean had assisted
in performing it at a benefit concert for
cancer survivors. Now, he is excited to be
preparing the college chorale choir to sing
it with the Boise Phil. “It’s an exhilarating
experience to work with them,” he says.
The College of Idaho has a history
for being well known because of its
brilliance in the arts. Last year the choir
performed with the Boise Philharmonic
and Opera Idaho choir in Bernstein’s
Candide. Led by Robert Franz, director
of the Boise Philharmonic, the choir was
praised heavily for its diligence in learning
the music and all around outstanding
performance. It is no wonder they are
receiving another chance to sing with
Boise’s most recognized orchestra.
by KELLY HARDEGREE-ULLMAN
Chick Magnet: Attach plush chicken toys
all over your outfit.
Strawberry Patch: Tape straws and teddy
bears to a small patch of your clothing.
(W)rapper: The possibilities here are
endless. Just attach the appropriate items
to your regular outfit. 50 Cent: two
quarters. Eminem: m & m wrappers. SaltN-Pepa: salt and pepper shakers. Ice-T:
tea bags.
Pillsbury Dough Boy/ Michelin
Man/ Marshmallow/ Cloud/ Ghost
of Shamu: Wear a white sweatshirt and
sweatpants, and stuff a pillow inside.
(More) Traditional
Bunch of Grapes: Attach filled purple
balloons to your outfit.
King Tut: Wrap yourself in the traditional
toilet paper, but add a crown to the
ensemble.
Magic 8-ball: Wear black clothes, and
put an 8 on the front with duct tape.
Whenever someone asks you a question,
answer with one of the standard replies.
(See Wikipedia for the full list.)
Oscar the Grouch: Cut leg holes in a
trashcan, and wear the lid as a hat.
Santa Claus on His Day Off: Wear a red
sweat suit stuffed with a pillow.
11
FEATURE
Lorraine Barreras
THE COYOTE
Lorraine Barreras is a freshman
this year at the College of
Idaho. She loves painting,
especially on unusual surfaces
like clothing, snowboards, or
walls. Her favorite canvas is
her car, which is ‘in the works.’
Lorraine also works a lot with
digital artwork, drawn from
scratch in Photoshop by using
an art tablet. Her favorite things
are animals and characters from
stories that she writes.
12
THE COYOTE
FEATURE
Just Around the River Bend
Environmental Studies and Biology Students in Action
Photos courtesy of Keats Conley
On October 8 and 9, five people from
The College of Idaho community traveled
up to McCall to help the Idaho Fish and
Game (IFG) with a stream restoration
project on a portion of Boulder Creek.
The group consisted of four students:
Laura Barbour, Keats Conley, Kyle
Quinney, and myself, as well as one
professor, Dr. Chris Walser.
The adventure started Friday when we
all gathered at Boone Hall to find waders
that fit. We had to address the dilemma
of chest high or thigh high? After we had
all of our gear loaded, we began the three
hour drive to the McCall Outdoor Science
School (MOSS), where we would be
meeting the other volunteers and spending
the night. The drive was uneventful. We all
just worked on homework or chit-chatted.
We arrived at MOSS as the last bit of
light was disappearing below the horizon.
We went into the dining lodge for dinner
and met the other volunteers. After the
meal, we found our cabin accommodations
for the night. We put on more clothes
as the temperature in McCall was about
15 to 20 degrees cooler than when we
left Caldwell. We then walked the thirty
feet to Payette Lake and looked up at
the clear black sky that had hundreds
of visible stars. There was a young lady,
who was a volunteer for the IFG project
that happened to have a star chart and
knowledge of some of the stories
behind the constellations and one really
impressive laser pointer that was able
to be seen in the sky so she could point
out the constellations to us novices. It
was a lot of fun to learn all about these
constellations such as the fight between
Hercules and Draco the dragon, and why
Cassiopeia was in her chair. The majority
of us were asleep by ten o’clock. It is
amazing how early you go to bed when
there’s nothing to do.
We awoke early Saturday morning for
breakfast at 8:00a.m. Dr. Walser shared
with all of us how his cooler that had
been outside his cabin was ransacked by
some creature of the night (most likely
raccoons) and was dragged some twenty
feet or more. Based on what they ate, they
didn’t like pretzels, but loved soy milk. At
least we can rest assured that raccoons are
healthy eaters.
When we were all finished with
breakfast, we packed up and headed to
the site where we would be working. We
drove south of McCall towards Donnelly
on some back roads to a farm, where
we cut willows ranging in diameter of ½
an inch to two inches at the base. These
willows were going to be the essence of
our project. We were going to take these
willows and make stakes from the thicker
ones and use the rest to weave together to
stabilize the bank that has been eroded.
The bank is unstable. We filled the bed of
two trucks with willows placed vertically
and then we were off to the stream. One
group went to one section. Meanwhile
the other group, which had all of The
College of Idaho folks, went to another.
We unloaded the willows and put on our
waders and received
our instructions on
how to do the willow
weaving.
We placed willows
tightly together
horizontally along
the bank close to the
water. The weaving
prevents water from
continuing to erode
the bank because the
dirt is just caught in
the willow and builds
up. We used willows
instead of another type
of material because
willows will sprout and
grow off shoot even
when they are laid
horizontally. As long as the end is touching
the dirt it will re-sprout. This makes it a
perfect stabilizer because in a year, there
will be a decent amount of growth. The
roots from the willows provide great
stabilization for the dirt.
It was around 11:30a.m. when we
started the actual process. Since the
ground is so hard, we had to use the
stinger, a ¾ inch pipe that uses water
pressure from the creek as a means to clear
a path for the pipe to puncture through
hard soil, to put holes into the bank for
the stakes. After a fair enough of stakes
had been pushed into the ground, the real
work began. We took one long willow
branch and bent in around the stakes.
The process continued by braiding willow
branch after willow branch around each
other and the stakes as tightly as we could
and as close to the water’s edge as possible.
by HAYLEY BAHR
It took almost three hours to have eight
people do a twenty-five foot section of
bank. It was hard work because to make it
tight enough we had to place more stakes
and leverage them to put tension on the
willow branches. After we had enough
weaving done on the bank, we moved to
another section because we didn’t have
enough time to do more weaving. We just
pounded stakes in to provide as much
stabilization as possible. We put in quite
a few stakes in this section horizontally
Photos courtesy of Keats Conley
like what you may see on some A frame
fences. Any left over willow branches
were thrown into the stream. They will get
lodged sporadically downstream and will
take root there and grow.
Once we finished we were all very
proud of our hard work. It was an
exceptionally rewarding experience. We left
the project site having made new friends
and knowing that we made a difference on
this section of the stream. There are many
more years of work to be done.
Photos courtesy of Keats Conley
13
SPORTS
THE COYOTE
Cross Country
Soccer
After taking a week off after the Fall Harrier Classic, the Lady Yotes returned to
action in Missoula, Montana on October 2. However, the day of travel to get to the race
and the mild altitude did not do the Lady Yotes any favors. After a slow start to the race,
they did not show well.
The Lady Yotes bounced back in a big way the next week at Pocatello in a dual meet
against ISU. Although getting third out of the three teams that raced, the times of the
runners’ tell a very different story. The Lady Yotes had 4 runners who were faster than
the programs’ second fastest time ever on the course before that day. This indicts great
things in the future of the program.
Kayloni Jones won Casacde Conference Woman’s Runner of the Week honors after
being the Lady Yotes number 1 runner at both of the above mentioned meets.
The Lady Yotes return to action at their home meet this Thursday at the Fairview
Golf Course in Caldwell.
The men’s soccer team is struggling this season, but they are still playing hard.
Moral was boosted after a 1-0 win against Northwest Christian in Eugene, Oregon.
Unfortunately, things went downhill when the team was faced with a game against
Concordia in Portland. After that, the Coyotes lost three consecutive games, both away
and at home.
The devastating loss to Warner Pacific—the final score being a close 1-0—the
Coyote men played Northwest Nazarene University. The guys had some good
opportunities to score goals in the NNU game: Brian Buckingham hit the cross bar after
a corner kick during the first half of the game. Drew Smith was also close to getting a
goal during the second half.
Within in the team, Coach “Smitty” Smith is watching for good things from new
player, Ben Tjaden. Mats Boehnke is tied in the league for game-winning goals with two
shots and Brad Byers fearlessly takes the lead in the league with five assists.
Coming up for the Coyotes are two away games October 15th and 16th, then they are
at home during fall break. If you are going to be around, go check out the games and
support the soccer team. There can never be too many fans at the games!
by ANDI HAYES & JASON HUNT
Women’s
Men’s
With four meets down and two races to go, the men’s cross-country team continues
to plague all other competition. In the past two weeks, the cross-country team has
defeated five Division-1 schools, as well as numerous other conference teams resulting in
Coyotes moving up to 9th place in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll.
On October 9th, the Coyotes ran against Idaho State University in Pocatello. The
Coyotes got first place, beating ISU for the first time on their home course. The toppack was led by Greg Montgomery, who is only a sophomore. Montgomery set a new
program record and claimed first place at the ISU race last Saturday. Not only did he
beat the second place runner by a good eight seconds, but he also became the first C of
I individual meet champion. Since 2004, only one person has run a faster time on the
high-altitude course. This feat also got Montgomery Cascade Conference Men’s Runner
of the Week award.
The Cascade Conference race in Oregon is only four weeks away. If the team’s
progression continues as it has, there is no reason why the Coyotes can’t run head-tohead with number one ranked conference team, Southern Oregon, and secure their spot
at the National race in Vancouver, Washington.
The Coyotes return to racing action this Thursday at home on the Fairview Golf
Course, right here in Caldwell. With several key runners coming back from injuries, the
top seven runners are sure to make some serious damage at the race against main rival,
Eastern Oregon. With this Thursday’s race being the last regular season race, both the
men’s and women’s team could use all the school spirit they can get.
Cross Country Photos courtesy of Daniel
Wenz; female photgraphed: Kayloni Jones;
male photographed Greg Montegomery
by JESSIE DAVIS
Men’s
Women’s
Lady Yotes soccer is taking over the field again this year. With a total of five losses
and six wins this season, the women picked up the pace and were recently ranked No. 4
in the National Poll.
On October 1st, the Lady Yotes flattened Warner Pacific with a final score of 4-1
which was unexpected. C of I player Kelly Hardegree-Ullman scored two of the goals
for the game, while Chelsea Heffner and Sarah Hicks scored the other two. It was not
until the 76th minute that the Lady Yotes defense allowed the Warner Pacific Knights to
score a goal.
The women lost to Concordia the next day during their home match, but came
back strong the following weekend with two wins against Northwest University and
Evergreen State.
The Lady Yotes’ are playing at Corban on October 22nd and Northwest Christian on
October 23rd and fans are hoping for some more wins. The next home game is October
27th against Trinity Lutheran. Coming up on October 30th is their last Cascade Collegiate
Conference away-game against Eastern Oregon University before the Tournament
Semifinals for the 2011 soccer season.
FALL SPORTS
UPDATES
Volleyball
by KAT SILLONIS
Photo coutresy of Jessie David;
player photographed Aaron Reynolds
The Lady Yotes have come surging back in the second half of the season, defeating Southern Oregon
and are now tied for first in the conference. This will allow the Yotes to be ranked higher in the national
standings (especially since SOU was ranked 12th at the time of their three-set defeat in Caldwell). At press
time, the Yotes were ranked 14th in the nation according to the latest NAIA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll.
Along with all this wonderful team success, senior hitter Sarah Harris was named the NAIA National
Volleyball Player of the Week, the fourth Yote volleyball player to earn national player of the week honors.
She helped annihilate SOU with 14 kills and two solo blocks. Against OIT the next night, Harris had 13 kills,
eight blocks, and three aces. An impressive weekend for the senior.
The Lady Yotes are coming down the home stretch of conference play with only three home games left.
The rest of the season will determine if the team will make it to nationals or not. So any and all support they
can get in the stands will be really helpful.
14
OPINION
Date Johnny
THE COYOTE
Keep your friends close and your enemies so
close that you are almost kissing.
by CHRISTIAN LOW
It’s easier to identify someone if you can see their face, but what if you can’t identify someone and you can see their face? Ouch. Embarrassing. Don’t act like
you don’t know what I’m talking about. Say you meet two Asian guys at the caf, chances are 85%* that you won’t be able to tell the difference between the two
10 seconds after you’ve met them (* = a poll that is 100% correct). I would like to call you a racist, sir. Well, even more embarrassing is that those two Asian guys
were my brother Jonathan and me. Not only are you a racist, but also inconsiderate. Jerk.
Well instead of beating yourself up, I have provided a list of differences between my brother and me so that you don’t see me and slap my ass thinking that
it’s Jonathan. Weird.
dresses way better than me.
1 Jonathan
Jonathan has the style of an Ivy League assassin; the guy that looks like he’s about to
4
2
Jonathan can do like at least 10 pull-ups.
Yeah, I definitely can’t do that many.
3
double kick Black Dynamite in the face and get away with it. He looks so classy; it looks like
Jonathan likes badass action movies. I like romantic comedies.
he’s going to a wedding—yeah, a wedding with your mom.
I’m really sensitive. My brother will literally rip your face off.
On the other hand, I don’t look so cool. In fact, it looks like I’m about to get double
kicked in the face by my brother. Take that self! You got me.
Jonathan’s pants fit really, really flippin’ well.
Jonathan is way better looking than me.
Johnny’s pants look like magic. Sometimes, I call him David Blaine because
I mean I’m not Seth Rogan, but Johnny is one handsome son of a biscuit.
he
eats
razor blades and spits them out at death-sentenced inmates. What was I
Jonathan is like the Asian version of James Dean, but way more elusive and
talking
about?
Oh yeah, my brother’s pants. They fit perfectly! I’m like, “man, how
way more rebellious. He should seriously be the lead singer of a band called
do
those
pants
fit so well? Who’s your tailor? Jesus? Does he even use scissors?”
That Band with that Really Handsome Lead Singer. I mean I know what I
would do if I had his looks. I’d probably look in the mirror a lot.
5
6
7
Jonathan’s Tiffany’s necklace says “LOW” vertically;
mine says “LOW” horizontally.
Did I mention how handsome Johnny is?
If one of us has offended you, it’s probably not Johnny.
Johnny is just a nice kid. What are you trying to say?!
Jonanthan is just an
all around good guy,
that you should date,
if you are female.
There’s no excuse now! Don’t be a jerk—
study this list. You read it: my brother will either
double kick you in the face or rip your face off
while wearing some badass, perfectly fit pants.
Racism is against the law. Hazzah!
Editor’s Note: Christian did not title this piece.
kŭl’cher rænt
I love it that when you ask Americans
who they are, they respond with, “I am
1/8th Cherokee, ½ Polish, ¼ Chinese,
and .012345 African.” My first thoughts
are, “Where is the African???? Is it in
that dark freckle? Maybe your birthmark?
How about… no, your lips are definitely
Chinese. BUT YOU ARE WHITER
THAN SNOW!!!!” Americans just do not
make sense.
Americans are mutts, and as mutts
we do not know who our real mothers
are because they kicked us out faster
than Professor Maughan can say “Queen
Elizabeth the Third!” This caused some
major identity issues to occur and these
issues created more issues until our
identity became so skewed that we had to
create new issues just to gain an identity
that is correctly defined by the U.S.
Constitution. Which, as we all know, the
interpretation of is very bi-polar.
As Mutts, we stay strong by stating
things that may, or may not be true.
And by not knowing what is and what is
not, we have gained the social stigma of
mistrust. This mistrust has in turn given
us lives well spent on thinking about
narcissistic ideals of how to look better
than the Jones’s. This “American Love” is
Christian is the weird
and loud one, in case
the picture did not tell
you that.
a-mer-i-can: a split personality of identity
by LEROY FISCUS
what made all of us mutts, all of a sudden,
shut up.
As the great era of pot, great music,
and demonstrations that ended the
American identity changed, the era of the
full breed identity also ended. The growth
of the identity was, at this point American.
Then, the identity suddenly disappeared as
the government set fear into the American
heart and technology began to consume
the lives of those who actually cared. In
turn, the American Mutt became a mute, a
de-evolved version of its former self. And
as mutes, we sit respectfully at our kitchen
tables and scream into our cell phones and
commit social suicide on Facebook, as the
good American Mute should do.
HOWEVER, we mutes still have hope!
Mutt identity is being reclaimed. The full
breeds are making a comeback in a loud
way! Gay rights, religious intolerance vs.
tolerance, government lies being exposed
though SMART people and the acceptance
of AN AFRICAN PRESIDENT (even
though he is a bit of a putz). I have a
feeling that the American identity is about
to come back into full fruition and we will
once again stop being so segregated and
come together in a culture of community
and be able to finally have the reasons to
call ourselves 100% AMERICAN!
15
THE COYOTE
FEATURE
Get Out of Caldwell or Shut Up!
by JESSIE DAVIS & ANDI HAYES
We have heard people complain many times that they do not like Caldwell. Well, if you are one of those people then we suggest that you pay attention to this list and take your
opportunity to get the hell out of Caldwell, if you want to.
Top 10 Places to go for Fall Break
Moscow, Idaho
Native Idahoans can go visit some old (drinking) buddies at the
University of Idaho, but try not to contract any unwanted diseases. It takes
about 6.5-7 hours of driving time. People from out of state can take the
opportunity to see what other Idaho schools are like. Make sure that you do
not miss the big red rocker. While you are there, you can also pop over to
Pullman, Washington and see Washington State’s campus as well.
Bend, Oregon
Site of several really great ski mountains. Bend also offers live theatres, art galleries,
and natural history museums. It’s a great location for hiking and biking, too. It is about
7 hours of away.
Spokane, Washington
Lots of cultural adventures can be found in Spokane. Hostels offer great deals
for students and there are also a lot of cool stores for shopping. Spokane is about 7
hours from here.
Portland, Oregon
Portland offers a lot of cultural experiences, such as theatre and art.
Portland also has a really rad downtown area. The only drawback to Portland
is the large amount of bums. Portland takes about 7 hours of driving time.
10
9
8
7
6
Salt Lake City, Utah
It is more than just the Mormon capital of the world. Salt Lake City has cool
malls, neat architecture in the downtown area, a funky road system, and the Mormon
Temple. The arts and culture is prevalent, so check out a few awesome concerts while
you’re there. About 25 minutes away is Lagoon, a theme park located in Farmington,
UT. It takes about 6 hours to drive there and you can see some real mountains too.
McCall, Idaho
A great place for a quiet week up in the mountains. Just three hours from campus,
McCall has numerous campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, autumn colors, and just
a lot of natural beauty that you can’t really get in Caldwell. They have a variety of
restaurants and shops, including Chapalas, an amazing Mexican restaurant. Check out
the best Chapalas in Idaho and tell them Jessie sent you. They’ll know.
4
5
Missoula, Montana
It is the quintessential college town with a booming downtown. There are a
bunch of people walking the streets, so you can just people watch if you do not
feel like wandering into the many bars that line the ways. Missoula also has many
street musicians that will encourage your dancing in the streets. It is only about 7
and a half hours away; however, many of the roads you take are quite windy.
Seattle, Washington
There is always something going on in Seattle. The waterfront city is about
8 hours from here and booming with cultural events like concerts and theatre.
Shopping is also great in this city.
3
Nevada
1 Reno,
There are no coffee shops. No free wireless access. However, there are
lots of sketchy wedding chapels, if you want to get hitched—which costs
money like pretty much everything remotely worth doing in Reno does.
Winnemucca, Nevada
Otherwise known as Yucka-Mucca. No matter what Nike tells you:
just don’t do it. It is a little hick town that hosts the NIAA Wrestling
Championships every year, enough said.
Preston, Idaho
This is where the movie Napoleon Dynamite was filmed. That is
the only thing that has ever happened in there. The town’s webpage
is mainly devoted to the movie that was filmed there SIX years ago.
2
3
Nampa, Idaho
We know it is home for a lot of students, but branch out.
Find someplace else to go. We do not want NNU cooties
coming back over here, anyway.
5
theme park in the Northwest and is still open for Halloween. Be ready to be scared
after an 8 hour drive.
Sun Valley, Idaho
In only about 4 hours, you can get to beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho. A small and
unique town, it is filled with many different shops and galleries that you can explore.
1
4
La Grande, Oregon
The Oregon Trail went through La Grande. And that was about it.
6
New Meadows, Idaho
If you want to know what hamburger looks like before we eat it,
then New Meadows is the place for you. There are also lots of lovely
run-down buildings in the thriving metropolis of “New Ghettos”.
It has one school for all grades. That is a step up from a one room
school house. That is how small it is. Sneeze and you would have
more excitement.
Jackpot, Nevada
Even though Jackpot is only three and a half hours away, does
not mean you will find a jackpot there. Once you spent the money
on the gas to get there, you have to spend the money to gamble
because there is nothing else to do there. College students that are
drawn to such things as gambling would probably be better off just
spending the money on alcohol; it might last longer.
7
Kennewick, Washington
Unless you like getting lost while trying to find your way out of the
Tri-City area, don’t attempt it. Kennewick is known for the remains of a
prehistoric man and bad drinking water.
9
Theme Park, Idaho
2 Silverwood
Located near Coeur d’Alene, Silverwood lays claim to the title of the biggest
16
Top 10 Places to Avoid During Fall Break
8
John Day, Oregon
Geology majors would like this location because of the fossil beds.
Other than that, the 2,000 people of John Day probably don’t see too
many visitors.
Ontario, Oregon
Their slogan is, “Where Oregon Begins.” Even the town itself
admits that you should not stop there, you should only begin there.
If you are going to head towards Oregon, go to Oregon.
10
Local Mexican Food?
Why Not!
THE COYOTE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
By CAMRIN BRAUN
Tacos El Rey
Price: 4.5 ($3-6) Cleanliness: 5
Food Quality: 4 Food Amount: 3
Good Mexican food in a really clean restaurant with bars on the windows. You’ll
definitely be the only non-Hispanic person there. Rice and beans is run-of-the-mill
excellent like many Mexican restaurants and their burritos are delicious and filling. They
boast a large menu as well as excellent salsas and guacamole from a squirt bottle. And
the food is fast! Don’t be misled by the rundown, foreboding exterior. Step inside, be
chuckled at by the Hispanic cooks, and enjoy awesome food for an even more awesome
price.
Located at 216 N 5th Ave in Caldwell. Open 11am-11pm, closed Mondays. Phone
at (208)459-4668.
According to the 2006 Census, 22.2% of the Canyon County population is of
Hispanic or Latino origin. This is larger than the US as a whole at 15.8% and Idaho
at 10.7%. Then we must ask ourselves, what follows high percentages of Hispanic
people? If you answered awesome Mexican food, you’re right! Caldwell alone hosts
at least 10 Mexican restaurants—that I’ve discovered so far. For someone who wants
a change from cafeteria food (although it is excellent) and late-night, alcohol-induced
Jack in the Box grease bombs, Caldwell’s Mexican restaurants provide a unique
opportunity that less fortunate (less cultured) Idahoans miss in their 99.9% Caucasian
communities. Over the next few issues (and without rhyme or reason), I’ll sample the
best (and worst) of Caldwell’s Hispanic cuisine so you can make more informed (and
safer) dining decisions and hopefully come to appreciate the unique opportunity we
have in Caldwell.
Fiesta Guadalajara
Price: 3 ($7-9) Cleanliness: 4
Food Quality: 3 Food Amount: 4
Caldwell’s Mexican American destination. If you’re in for “our” version of the food
from down south, go Fiesta. It’s a clean, well-decorated restaurant with good food. Price
and food quality is average but good. Fiesta provides a good atmosphere to sit down and
chat over some enchiladas. The service was fast and friendly and the atmosphere lively.
And you’ve got to love the free chips and salsa.
Located at 420 N 10th Ave in Caldwell. Open every day at 11am, closes at 9pm on
Sun, 10pm Mon-Thurs, and 11pm Fri/Sat. Phone at (208)455-8605.
Antojito’s El Taconazo
Price: 5 ($5 and under) Cleanliness: 4
Food Quality: 5 Food Amount: 4
What does shiny chrome, freedom of the open road, and fresh corn tortillas
have in common? You guessed it. Taco truck. If you’re willing to step out of the
box, Antojito’s El Taconazo is well worth your time. They sport only three menu
choices: tacos ($1 all day every day), burritos, and tostadas. It’s definitely worth the
5-10 minute wait for your food, and be prepared to picnic or tailgate because there’s
no place to sit. The people seem a little standoffish, but they are polite and make
awesome food. All the tortillas are homemade and the tacos make up for their small
size with their flavor. The real gem of this taco van, however, is the burrito. It’s a $5,
12”, 2 lbs. behemoth that comes with everything on it but the kitchen faucet (sink
included).
Located at 180 S 21st Ave in Caldwell. Open approx. 11am-7pm, closed
Mondays. Phone at (208)280-2221.
17
C of I Party Basics
THE COYOTE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The phrase “Gettin’ Crazy” has different meanings for different people. For some people it means
taping forty ounces of malt liquor to your hands, for others it means going out and bobbing for
apples. Whatever your poison is the chances are good that at some point in your career at The College
of Idaho you are going to find yourself at a party.
What can you expect when you are out partying with your fellow Yotes? Well, here are a few things
to look out for along with some helpful tips.
Bowling Night
Theme Parties
The night where sober students and “not so sober” students clash to create
one of the most anticipated Wednesday nights each month. Bowling night is an
event that Program Council puts on once a month for the students. It’s free and
a great time for students whether they drink or not. This is just an event you’ll
have to experience for yourself. Also there are almost always pre-funk parties
before bowling nights since you can’t bring drinks into the bowling alley.
This is pretty self explanatory. These are
parties that have a common theme as to how
you dress. For instance, at a “Highlighter Party”
everyone wears bright colors that you would find
from a highlighter marker. Both house parties
and dance parties can sometimes be themed.
Theme parties are super fun and are definitely
worth dressing up for. If you think that you’re
too cool to dress up for a theme party, think
again. You will probably just look out of place
and end up feeling uncomfortable.
Pre-Funk Parties
Small get-togethers, where friends will
meet and drink before the party. It is good
way to socialize and easy to put together.
House Parties
Formals
These are dances that the school
puts on about once every few months.
If you like dancing but don’t particularly
like “dancing dirty” per say, then formal
dances are a great chance to dress up and
do some slow dancing.
Dance Parties
Yes the ever elusive dance party.
Everyone should go to at least one
dance party. It will be a whole new
experience for freshman. Even if it
doesn’t suit your fancy at first, you
should at least go with some friends
to try something new.
Local parties at student houses. These are great parties, especially if you feel uneasy
around large groups. They make up the majority of partying at the college because of
the schools size. It’s a good way to meet people and have the ability to have one-onone conversations. There are a couple of things to watch out for with house parties:
First, is the location of the house. The closer you are to campus the better. The
more time you spend walking on the streets, the higher chance you have of being
pulled over by the cops. Therefore, try to stick close to campus and if you find
yourself far from campus and intoxicated, then call campus safety! They will pick you
up from the party and drive you back to your dorm and you won’t get into any kind
of trouble. Their priority is the safety of the students and they are an extremely useful
tool for all students (Their telephone number is 208-459-5151.)
Always respect the host of the party. It is their house and their rules. If the cops
come, the host will be the one talking to them. Treat the house you are at with respect.
It’s a good way to be invited back.
Always bring your own drinks to parties. It’s unfair to expect other students to
provide beverages for you, at the very least, bring money to pay your friends back
with. Nobody likes the guy who’s always bumming off of other people.
Before you enter, pay attention to noise and the neighbors. If you can tell that it is
late, then the party is loud. If there are neighbors around with their lights on, there’s a
good chance the cops will come. It doesn’t mean don’t go, but it means if you notice
it’s getting super loud, then it’s not a bad idea to leave a little early.
18
by ELLIOTT GOULD
The Police
Don’t ever run from a party if the cops come. Wait
for awhile. Usually the cops will talk with the owner
of the house. If you really don’t know what to do, ask
an upperclassman. They’ve been around for a couple
of years and they know how the police operate in
Caldwell.
Be respectful. Remember that police are people
too and usually they don’t want to cause any problems.
If the cops come to a party, it’s probably just because
there was a noise complaint from a neighbor and they
just want to quiet things down. “Yes, sir” and “no, sir”
will get you a long way if you find yourself confronted
by a cop.
Sporting Events
A huge part of being a Coyote is showing our
school pride and getting rowdy. If you have the
chance to go any of the schools many sporting
events, then I would highly suggest you do so. They
are fun and usually you’ll get to see the men’s crosscountry team, sporting their short shorts.
“The Weekenders” Group
Originating on Facebook, this is a new program
spearheaded by C.J. Watson and Madison Skogsberg that
will provide events that are alternatives to parties on
the weekend. This group is sponsored by the Campus
Ministries of the school but available to students of
any group or belief. “I think people desire an alternative
community on the campus, but it’s not always found.
This is a way to provide social opportunity on campus
where there hasn’t been one before,” said C.J. Watson.
Anyone interested in these opportunities can email CJ
or contact him on Facebook.
Advice from “The Royalty of Rage”
Campus events
Fun events the school
puts on. Examples are
Spring Fling or the new
Fall Fling. Leave your
schedule open for these
kind of events. The school
puts a ton of money into
these events and they’re a
blast for everyone.
“Watch out for jungle juice, drink it like beer, not like juicy juice.” says Skylar
Herbert.
Jungle juice is a mixture of fruit juices and Everclear or beer. Everyone makes it
different but the whole point of jungle juice is that you can’t taste the alcohol. So it’s
especially dangerous for inexperienced drinkers. The best plan is to drink it slowly and
get a feel for how much it’s affecting you.
“It’s college, you’ll never get the chance to do this again. It is the only
environment that provides a safe and socially acceptable place to go out and have fun.
Partying is a part of the college experience, so go out, have fun, and be safe. Rage. ”
-Alex Goold
College is something that you only get to do once, partying is one aspect of that
College experience and just because you choose not to drink shouldn’t mean that you
have to miss out on that aspect. School is stressful and partying can be a good social
way of balancing out the schoolwork you do throughout the week. And hopefully this
article can provide you with the means to keep the balance of work and fun, while at
the same time giving you the tools to keep yourself safe.
Dear Imbibers, This
is
Beer
Talk
Installment #2
THE COYOTE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
by ANDREW HEIKKILA
Pull up a stool. This is Beer Talk. I
love beer almost as much as Howard
Berger loves Manishewitz, or as much
as Christian Low loves talking shit at
damn near every sporting event there
is (and Christian is very good at it – I
would hate to be golfing or playing tennis
against C of I, personally). I love beer
like Liberace loves men. So what next,
then? Now that we’ve established that we
want to drink beer until our livers turn
black and fall out of our buttholes, quite
a few questions might arise, and quite
a few roads will present themselves to
be traveled. But let’s keep it simple–first
thing to do is go buy some beer.
Now, buying your poison is not to be
taken lightly, ladies and gents, it’s a very
big commitment. It’s like taking a date
to prom; you have to be picky because at
the end of the night, on either occasion,
you might be in a bathroom throwing up,
brushing your teeth for hours, and trying
to get the tastes of regret and SnaggleTooth Sally out of your mouth. Putting
my horrible prom experiences aside, I
understand that a lot of people just want
to go to Albertson’s to pick
up a 30-rack of Keystone
because it’s cheap and it’s all
gonna get you fucked up in
the end, but I say NAY, my
friends! A great Zamboni
mechanic once told me:
“it’s not about where you’re
going–it is about how you
get there.” If I would have
conjured his words on my
ill-fated prom night, and if
many of us would do the
same on our own Saturday
nights, then all of our
hedonistic ventures would
imprint themselves into
our hearts and minds much
more positively. Instead,
my beer-guzzling peers, I
say turn your nose up at
that cheap, watered-down
brew and set your sights
on the prom-date of your
dreams, who in this instance
will happen to be encased
in a bottle and made of liquid. Yes, it
will cost you a little bit more, but good
dates aren’t cheap. Here is another quote:
“The bitterness of poor quality remains
long after the sweetness of a low price is
forgotten.”
How does one pick the right beer
to compliment his/her evening? (Good
question, self—I’ll answer you right after
a little anecdote.) Last year, during the
holidays, I meandered on over to the
World Market to buy myself a Christmas/
Hanukah/Kwanza present, which
happened to be… you guessed it… beer.
At that point in my life, I was not the beer
enthusiast that I am now. I was, in fact,
an inexperienced babe in the figurative
woods. Lucky for me, World Market
sells singles and has over 80 different
choices of beer. Subsequently, I bought
them. Besides the inevitable 10 lbs. from
caloric intake that comes with drinking
80 different types of beer in two weeks,
I gained knowledge and experience. The
same knowledge and experience that I will
guide you with, my little ducklings.
The first thing to know about beer is
that there are two major types. Without
getting too technical, one will observe
that ale is made with top-fermenting yeast
at higher temperatures and will usually
have added flavors that come from
fruits and spices (known in the industry
as adjuncts), and generally more hops
and malts. Lager, on the other hand, is
made with bottom-fermenting yeast at
lower temperatures. For the most part,
lager has less additional material added.
In layman’s terms, lagers are lighter
beers and are served cold, while ale is
heavier and should actually be served at
room temperature. Basically, all of the
commercial cheap beers such as Budlight, Keystone, and Miller are lagers. This
is not to say that lagers are not good beers
to drink. There are quite a few fantastic
choices out there, exotic and mysterious
in their own right. If you are not a fan
of darker, heavier beer, then your search
has ended, my friend. Go out into the
world, you adventurous drunk, and try a
Pilsner Urquell, a Red Stripe, or a Harp
Lager. Do your research. Find the prom
date that you think will taste delicious
with a burger or a pizza. However, keep
in mind that to limit thyself to lager is like
limiting thyself to a certain type of promdate: preppy, well-dressed, and possibly
uninteresting. However, ales are known
to be wild and crazy and might just rock
your world.
There are more types of ale than a
mortal such as myself can begin to list,
but some of the most popular ones are
India Pale Ales (“IPAs,” which fall under
the broader category of pale ales), which
are lighter and often hoppier than most.
A good starting point for beginners might
be Bridgeport IPA. There are stouts
and porters as well. They are very heavy
and dark beers and personally, not my
favorites unless I’m eating a sandwich
with them because they pair very well
with food. If you’ve ever had a true Irish
Car Bomb, you’ve used Guinness, which
(surprise, surprise) is a porter. I’ve had
some great stouts and porters; I’m just
very choosy about them. Try Polygamy
Porter and the seasonal MacTarnahan’s
Winter Humbug. My favorite type of
ale is the Heffeweizen, which is basically
what everybody knows as “wheat-beer.”
The most variety in flavor that I’ve
experienced has been in the kingdom of
the Heffeweizen Gods. Try out Pyramid’s
Audacious Apricot Ale, or Sierra Nevada’s
Kellerweis (the latter has a nice hint of
banana in it). A word to the wise: give
your Heffeweizen a little roll before you
drink it, as there is yeast that settles at the
bottom of the bottle and is meant to be
consumed. Some people think it’s gross
because it kind of looks like clouds of seamonkeys and semen mixed in with your
beer, but I don’t let it bother me. Other
types of ale include brown, red, blonde,
which simply refer to color; the Belgian/
Trappist (which you will definitely hear
about later) and lambícs too. Honestly, the
list is longer than Ron Jeremy’s cock and I
do it no justice.
What you’re going to want to do is
use the oldest technique in the book: trial
and error. If it looks good, try it. If you
don’t like it, fuck it, what have you truly
lost? Nothing, but you’ll have gained
knowledge, dear soul. And knowledge is
worth more than a cubic foot of helium’s
weight in gold. Another reminder: ale,
while frequently more expensive than
the shitty beer we normally pound down,
commonly has a higher alcohol content
than the average Busch or Budweiser.
Party on, Wayne.
In summation, what have we learned
today? (1.) Never go to prom with a girl
named Snaggle-Tooth Sally. (2.) There is a
beer/prom-date out there for you; you just
have to find it. A shitty beer/shitty promdate is not worth it. (3.) There are many
different types of beer/prom-dates and
you might not like how they all taste. But
be patient! Though it might take a couple
tries, you’ll find your Prince Charming/
Princess if you just drink enough. (4.) It
might be a little expensive, but it will be
worth it to find that right beer/prom-date.
(5.) Christian Low likes to yell at sporting
events. Why? Probably because he likes
beer, but I can’t say for sure.
Once again, thanks for reading, I’ll be
back next time and remember: half-empty
or half-full, it’s beer in your cup, so drink
19
THE COYOTE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Blends Action and Story
in a Fresh Post-Apocalypse
by BRADLEY STEELE
It’s a rare thing nowadays to find a
game that wants to tell you a story. Sure,
most games have plots, but most of them
serve only the function of ushering you
from set piece to set piece, shootout to
shootout, or dialogue tree to dialogue tree.
On top of that, most game plots consist
of the poorly written, self-indulgent prose
and dialogue that can be found in most
junior high school literature classes.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West does things
a little bit differently by hiring some
real talent and putting the story at the
forefront of the game, resulting in a solid
and original single-player experience that
won’t soon be forgotten.
The game, loosely based on
the Chinese story Journey to the West and
written by Alex Garland (whose previous
writing credits include The Beach and 28
Days Later), opens with the main character
Monkey (voiced and motion-captured by
Andy Serkis, who also directed the game
and wrote some of the dialogue) aboard
a futuristic, airborne slave ship, which
promptly crashes. After an escape that
leaves him unconscious, he wakes up in
the company of Trip, a tech-savvy young
slave woman who has rigged Monkey up
to a headband that forces him to do her
bidding.
Trip’s mission is to reach her home
and her family, but she lacks the brawn
to do so by herself. And so, much of the
20
gameplay revolves around the interaction
between Monkey and Trip as they make
their way to Trip’s home. The player
controls only Monkey but can give
commands to Trip as well, the catch being
that if Trip dies, Monkey dies too.
Trip serves as a support player,
providing the player with scans of areas,
information about enemies, and upgrades
for Monkey’s health, weapons, and shields.
Thus, much of the gameplay requires
the player to use both Trip and Monkey
effectively. Trip can throw up decoys to
distract enemies while Monkey dispatches
them, and Monkey can command Trip to
activate switches for him.
The enemies themselves are all
mechanical horrors, but there isn’t a lot of
diversity among them; you fight the same
four or five robots for the entirety of the
game. Combat, as well, leaves some to be
desired. While the animation is fluid, the
controls aren’t as responsive as a Devil May
Cry or a Bayonetta, which was frustrating
when I was trying to fend off three or
four enemies at a time and kept attacking
the wrong target or swinging at empty
space.
Thankfully, the game is not difficult
at all. I played on normal difficulty, but
I’m pretty sure I could have bumped it
up to the hardest setting without trouble.
Enemies don’t hit for very much and
it’s impossible to die at the hands of the
jumping puzzles, which are simply a matter
of finding the next handhold/ledge/pole
and pressing A. The most difficult parts
are the boss battles, but even those didn’t
kill me.
The game follows a pretty distinctive
flow through its eight-or-so hours:
exposition, jumping puzzle, combat,
repeat. Having said that, though, the
combat scenarios are varied; most of it is
standard third-person action, but there’s an
on-rails shooter section and some “defend
Trip from robots” sections that break
up the combat. To clarify, the hand-tohand combat isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s
shallow and doesn’t offer much depth or
customization.
The art direction is absolutely superb,
though. The opening chapters take
place in post-apocalyptic New York, but
it’s overgrown, and plants and flowers
abound. It’s like a visual representation of
Alan Weisman’s book The World Without
Us. You really do feel like you’re looking at
a world that nature has taken back.
Fueled by the Unreal engine, which
has typically been used as the graphical
backbone of the drab and dreary Gears of
War games, Enslaved renders a hauntingly
beautiful world. Skyscrapers overgrown
with vines tower overhead and grassy
hilltops fill the horizons. Even when
Monkey and Trip move indoors, the color
palette remains fresh and diverse, making
the game a delight to watch and look at.
The problem is that there just isn’t a
whole lot of game here to justify the cost
of entry. There is no multiplayer mode,
and all of the achievements and trophies
can be completed in two playthroughs (or
one, if you’re good). It’s hard to justify
buying this game unless you truly end up
loving it.
But the story is where the game
truly shines. The dialogue between the
intentionally small cast is never stilted
or cheesy and flows naturally. The plot
kept me guessing, too. I thought I had it
figured out by the two-thirds mark, but
the story eventually wound itself to an
ending that felt, for lack of a better word,
“right.” The end of the story might not be
entirely satisfactory for some, but I haven’t
been able to stop thinking about it since I
finished the game. It actually reminds me a
lot of Beyond Good and Evil, an underrated
game with a fantastic story for the PS2.
As I said, it’s a rare thing to find a game
that cares about its story and wants you
to hear it. Enslaved not only wants you to
hear it, but it wants you to think about it,
as well. It’s a shame that Enslaved probably
won’t sell very well, since it’s not based on
an existing franchise. If you’re a fan of
good writing and a good story, then you
owe it to yourself to experience Enslaved.
On the Horizon:
Fallout: New Vegas
(Xbox 360, PS3)
It’s the same post-apocalyptic vibe
as Fallout 3, only set in a bombed-out
Las Vegas instead of a bombed-out
Washington, D.C.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
(Xbox 360, PS3)
The latest installment of the now-annual
Call of Duty franchise takes you to
Vietnam and beyond, with new additions
to the wildly popular multiplayer.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Poise, Maturity and Lil Wayne
THE COYOTE
by VICENTE ARANGUIZ
The Thermals –Personal Life
This Portland trio released their fifth album Personal Life with the poise and maturity any eight year old band
should possess, but lacked a most essential element; inspiration. Yes, I said it. Personal Life was uninspired. That’s not
to say it wasn’t good, by any means. Hutch Harris vocally struts between run of the mill power-pop-punk and Death
Cab like a champ. However by the third track “Never Listen to Me” I realized it never came to life despite catchy
guitar riffs and that crunchy distortion those hipsters can’t seem to get enough of these days. Four and a half minutes
later one realizes bassist Kathy Foster was playing the same six damn notes the whole time. She’s cute, so I’ll let it slide
this time, but goodness Thermals, put some gusto behind your Portland punk motif. One thing to note is that they
give off a garage band-esque sound that seems to be part of a dying breed these days, deeming it music library worthy.
However, they pull it off without that twinkle in the eye clearly evident in younger bands of similar style. Personal
Life plays at the Neurolux on October 30; you can be the judge yourself. I suggest knocking back a few Black Velvets
during the show to compensate for Personal Life’s lack of liveliness.
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
Clamoring and crashes. Drum machine loops and distortion pedals. You can call it baroque, shoegaze, or hillbilly acid indie,
but labels aside Halcyon Digest is undeniable, pleasing to the ears. It is surprisingly diverse in sound and style throughout. Eleven
tracks (each with a niche) draw from different watering holes of influence. For example, Animal Collective’s undertones are as
obvious as Ferrari red paint at times. Yet the Atlanta quartet switches up the style early and often enough that by the time you
cry, “That’s so Merriweather Post Pavilion!” they are oscillating onto the next available instrument. The track “Sailing” gives a
much appreciated acoustic breath to the album—a well executed change of pace. One song later, ‘Desire Lines’ punches out one
of the most engaging four-minute conclusions I have come across in a long time; “Hey Jude” would’ve tipped its hat. Finally,
“Helicopter” sealed the deal for me with still three songs to go. Catching one completely off guard, with drum loops and harp
like notes, the swelling ambient sounds sneak up on you like riding waves of harmonious chords. I’m not one for giving albums
numerical ratings, and frankly, Halcyon Digest doesn’t need a gold star to prove to you its place as one of the best albums of 2010.
Lil’ Wayne – I Am Not A Human Being
We all know Mister Birdman Jr. and what he is about. You don’t need me to tell you to go home and torrent his album.
Darkstar – North
The British are coming! The British are coming! Okay, before you run and put your tea party hat on, it’s just the English band
Darkstar that’s releasing its debut album North and no, it’s not as invasive as the Redcoats. If anything it’s billed as intelligent dance
music, seeping with somber electronic vibes. Lasting nearly 40 minutes, North takes you by the hand and ventures into an organic
soundscape with the splendor of snow capped peaks looming in the distance, but musically never tackles anything more than
rolling hills. The second track “Gold” is a Human League cover, but the Darkstar boys slap some mud on it and mold it into their
own precious metal. The song ‘Addy’s Girl is a Computer’ trots a little faster that neighboring tracks, but vocally provides nothing
for singing enthusiasts. Recently recruited singer James Buttery does a good job putting words to the two electronic angst, but his
role is seldom straining. If I had to put them in a category, I’d say they are like a Crystal Castles that went to charm school. Refined
and under control, North in itself is nothing revolutionary in the realm of down-tempo electronic music, but damn, why can’t I get
enough of this Darkstar?
21
Paradia
Phantasmagorious
THE COYOTE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
by DANIEL HENSON
Halloween…I love it. Take note that this is NOT a list of scariest movies. This is a list of films that make a good pass at capturing
the spirit of Halloween scariness. Halloween scariness differs from “regular scary” in its tone of theatricality and masquerade. In the
way fairy tales draw on our childlike wonderment, these films latch on to our childish fears and our oldest nightmares.
1
The Strangers (2008)
Trick ‘r’ Treat (2009)
Since the first time I saw this, I knew it
was a classic. It has everything: murderers,
ghosts, a goblin, werewolves, candy,
vampires, and witches—although all with
slight modifications and adaptations to suit
the tone of the tale. It is the Pulp Fiction of
Halloween movies.
2
5
4
Staying home alone gets harder whenever I
remember this film exists. While The Strangers has
some moderate defects as a film, it’s one of the only
movies that still gets me jumping. There’s a twisted
pleasure in forcing yourself back into your seat,
mentally screaming, “Oh no bitch, don’t go in there!”
It’s not a complicated thriller, but the protagonists are
authentic and the villains are people you love to hate;
terrorists in the most real sense of the word.
The Shining (1980)
If you haven’t seen this: fucking see it. Kubrick
does horror starring Jack Nicholson, enough said.
An American Werewolf in London
(1981)
The only reason this doesn’t take the
number one spot is because Trick ‘r’ Treat is
better at paying homage to the holiday itself,
but AAWIL is by far the best self-conscious
horror film I’ve ever seen. As an added bonus,
it features the single best transformation scene
of any werewolf movie before or since.
6
3
The Silence of The Lambs (1991)
The House of The Devil
(2009)
Creepy. There is no better word
for this film. It crawls, steadily,
ominously and even when it sprints
forward you can feel the weight of
despair within it. Indie horror is
the realm of raw terror. This film
pushes all your buttons without
you noticing until it’s too late. The
ending is hokey enough to maintain
the 80s aesthetic, but even with our
“modern” sensibilities applied it is
haunting.
22
28 Days Later (2002)
7
This is not a zombie movie.
Zombies are a slow, creeping terror.
This is a post-apoc survival horror
and a damn good one at that because
Danny Boyle remembers that what
makes movies stick
with us is not how
scary the monsters
are, but how scary the
humans can get.
De Palma’s chilling cinematographic
decisions in this film are without equal and
Anthony Hopkins’ performance is legendary.
Jodie Foster is often overlooked as a mere
foil to Doctor Lecter, but her country girl
in the city persona is an achievement of
incredible character work. The score, the
filming, and the acting, are good on their own,
but the coalescence of visceral horror and
Hitchcockian suspense have earned this movie
a spot on another list of mine: “Perfect Films.”
THE COYOTE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
8
9
11
Saw (2004)
It’s pretty hard to remember that at one
time, Saw was a low budget post-indie flick that
took risks and had a plot…and acting…and
was good horror. That all changed about thirty
seconds into Saw 2. The first one remains to
me a hallowed classic, even just for the sake of
nostalgia. It’s hard to remember, but the face of
pop horror was very different before Saw made
gore porn socially acceptable.
Paranormal Activity (2009)/The
Blair Witch Project (1999)
It might seem cheap to put these in the
same slot, but they share major defining
qualities, making them about equal. The
Blair Witch Project tends to be scarier
than Paranormal Activity when you watch
it in the fall. Like The Blair Witch Project,
Paranormal Activity is a slow burn, a quality
unfortunately obliterated by its theatrical
ending. Both get credit for being original.
The Evil Dead (1981)
This movie is so bad, it’s bad. Evil Dead is
one of those movies that can’t be explained
to you properly unless you’ve seen it. There
are elements so brutal that Sam Raimi now
regrets having put them in the movie. Grunge
notwithstanding, this is really the seminal
“cabin in the woods” film, even though it
comes at the end of the subgenre’s initial wave.
Antichrist (2009)
10
Be duly and repeatedly warned: you should not see this
film unless you are ready for it. It is misogynist, misanthropic,
and pornographic in the worst sense. I almost put this film in
the top half of this list, but realize that my sanity has already
been brought into question a number of times. While director
Lars von Trier has been accused (with veracity) of being a
shock artist, the first word of that label draws focus from
the second. While disturbing, uncomfortable, and at times
unnecessarily grim to the point of distracting the viewer from
its core existential elements, Antichrist is still one of the most
beautifully executed films I’ve seen. If the blueprints tell an
engineer to build an atomic weapon, there is no reason that
the construction of something so horrific and dehumanizing
cannot also be exacting, artistic, and in the specific sense of
the word, moving. It just doesn’t move you in a direction you
would likely want to go.
12
The Amityville Horror (1979/2005)
Both of these are fine films, given
that they profit off of the suffering of
real human beings. The modern one
lends itself to a lot of the unsaturated
horror movie tropes of its time. Still,
Ryan Reynolds’ dramatic roles are few and
far between, so definitely worth it. The
original has the inherent creepiness of
being made in the 70s.
Samhain Approaches. Enjoy.
In Theatres Now
The Social Network
It’s the most un-David Fincher film I’ve ever seen him produce. A lot of this has to do with the casting, which is ostensibly disparate
from his Byronic tendencies, but by the end it still feels familiar. Eisenberg may be no Brad Pitt, but the moodiness and internal
struggle he brings to the table earn him a place among Hollywood’s best leading men. Far from being a less funny Michael Cera,
Eisenberg has real chops. You’ll find yourself remembering his scenes with Andrew Garfield (a.k.a. Spider-Limey) more than pretty
much everything else. Hell, you might even shed some light on your own Facebook neuroses.
Everything else—yes, including Red, which was a pain in the ass to get an illegal copy of—is either schlock or okay, but not good
enough for me to knowingly recommend you to spend ten bucks on that instead of booze.
23
THE COYOTE
BENCHING WITH BERGER
Enjoying Life
While Battling Cancer
Well I have it: cancer. Except for my
missing class and the pain that will come
from upcoming surgery, it is not a big deal.
I know I will beat this thing and I want
to beat it by Halloween. But when these
things happen, how are we to feel? What is
the proper response to upheaval?
Every morning I open my Siddur to
begin Morning Prayer. After a few poems written in the Middle Ages, there is
the story of the Akeidah taken from the
twenty-second chapter of Genesis. It is the
story of God demanding Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah.
Why is that story there? Why should that
story be read early in the morning? It is
there to tell you that harsh demands will
be made on you—maybe not today, maybe
not tomorrow, maybe not next year—but
some kind of financial, emotional, or physical upheaval IS COMING and you have to
find the inner strength or courage to deal
with it. And no one can find that strength
for you. You have to find it and act on it. I
know how I find it.
In the thirtieth chapter of Deuteronomy comes the most important of all Biblical commands: “Choose Life!” I do not see
Life in this sense as just the proper working of my organs. I see life as that which
makes our days, months, and years meaningful and most importantly, enjoyable.
When the radiologist told me, “you have a
malignant and aggressive cancer,” my first
response was to ask myself, what would I
miss most in life if I died tomorrow? That
is how I know how to live TODAY!!!
First of all, I will spend lots of time with
people I love most—my friends. That
24
by HOWARD BERGER
means superb dinners with vintage wines
finished off with vintage ports or cognacs.
It will mean more trips to great casinos
and restaurants in Las Vegas. It will mean
travelling to distant places to have great
dinners with former students and not
worrying about the price!
Second, it will mean making my classroom experiences even more dynamic and
Third, it means that I must work harder
than ever to realize my legacy—the first
Chair of Jewish Studies in the Intermountain West. And this work, meeting donors
and praising the college, is wonderfully
meaningful and exciting!
Fourth, it means making plans NOW
for great things to come. Even now, my
next trip to Jerusalem is on my mind. Stay-
“My bout with cancern
is simply an unpleasant,
but absolutely temporary
interruption in my very, very
good LIFE!”
pleasurable (once my bandages come off).
Even more than the anticipated pain after
the pain killers wear off, missing class is
THE most difficult part of this experience
for me. It means ‘standing up to cancer’
will make me an even better professor and
friend. I will end the Fall Semester with a
bang and I am working now to make sure
my winter and spring courses are just plain
knock-outs!
ing at better hotels in Tel Aviv and Eilat
this summer can be expected. Even now,
as a few people know, I am planning the
BIGGEST, GRANDEST, EVENT at The
College of Idaho for next spring!
My bout with cancer is simply an unpleasant, but absolutely temporary interruption in my very, very, good LIFE!
This is why it was wise of the ancient
rabbis to insert the Akeidah, the binding
and near murder of Isaac on Mount Moriah, at the beginning of the Siddur (the
prayer book). The story teaches so many,
many things and one takes from the story
many, many things, depending on your life
at the moment. The Jewish Tradition has
always taught that Life is immensely difficult and that even the high and the mighty
must “walk through the Valley of Death.”
And often it teaches that the “good die
young” and that “the wicked prosper.”
The Jewish Tradition offers absolutely no
guarantees about anything. My job, my
responsibility, as a tiny particle swimming
in that tradition is to face upheavals with,
for lack of a better word, balls! Everyone
faces upheavals and some can claim they
have faced more than others, but that
doesn’t matter. Today, this is the one I
have to confront. And so into battle I go.
I choose from the many weapons that my
Jewish Tradition provides to arm myself
with pleasure/joy as I battle this cold and
impersonal threat. I will arm myself with
my wonderful plans for the future: shouting to the cancer, “You will not interrupt
even ONE of them!!”
So I tell all of you, all as I tell these
perverted cancer cells that entered my
body like Al-Qaida terrorists, “There you
guys are thinking you rock me with fear
and here I am filled to overflowing with
great plans for my classes, for next summer, and for a GREAT SPRING EVENT
and here I am bursting to try new wines
and cognacs with great friends!! Do I really have to say WHICH OF US WILL
PREVAIL?!!! You guys are going to hit the
curb hard!!