CWU Pulse Magazine

Take an eerie tour at

PEOPLE’S

POND page 14

TALK DERBY TO ME

MEET THE LOCAL

DERBY GIRLS and Watch them Roll page 22

TACOS made with

all the love of

Old Mexico page 8

What You Need

To Know About

KOREA page 28

NEON: THEN and NOW

Fashion Trends

Revisited page 34

PULSE TAKES

OPEN

SUBMISSIONS

FOR CONTENT

page 44

pulse|| 1

CONTENTS

Editors Letter

5

Moonlighting 2.0 Serendripity: The Late Night Grub Hub

6

Outdoor Pursuits Calendar 56

Our Town

Spotlight

8

Off The Deep End 14 Legends of the local swimming hole In story and on film

And His Beat Goes On The Other life of Jackson Halford

18

12

Springtime Mixtape 16 Download our Soundtrack For the perfect springtime afternoon

Love Hurts Profiles of the Rodeo City Roller Girls

22

Food Porn Tongue n' Cheek From Mexico with Love and all the other parts

Staff Page

After Dark Ask Andrew

42

Bartender's Blues

43

Two Bartenders Blogging After Dark Memoirs

pulse|| 2

World Wut? Nuclear Thinking What you need to know about Korea: From Talking Points to Major Players

Spare Change

Fashion 28

Nailed 2.0 Nail Art Trends from Chic to Geek

34

Second Degree Good advice about continued education when one degree is not enough

40

Neon: Then and Now Bright Looks From the Eighties to Now

36

Rethinking Mental Health Community gains resources, Redefines independence

41

Revolution of the Selfie DIY Photos With a Vengeance

38

Varied Voices Moral Imperative

45

Circular Motion

54

Log Cabin in the Valley

54

NEWEST TO PULSE Original Stories, Poems and Artwork by and for students

pulse|| 3

Editor-in-Chief

Mende Smith Assoc. Editor/Art Director

Jamie Klouse

Assistant Editor

Peter O’Cain Designer

Alyssa Foland Faculty Adviser

Check us out Online

Jennifer Green

Spring 2013 Issue 1 Central Washington University’s policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and in employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, material status, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The person responsible for CWU’s institutional compliance with various federal and state laws and institutional policies dealing with discrimination is Staci Sleigh-Layman, Interim Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Barge Hall 221, -509-9632205 TTD 509-963-2207. CWU is an AA/EEO/ Title IX institution. Upon request, this document is available in accessible formats (Braille, large print or audio cassette). Contact Disability Support Services at 509-963-2171 TDD 509-963-2146. Pulse falls under the auspices of the Student Media Board at Central Washington University. For more information, contact the Communication Department at http://www.cwu.edu/~comm/

cwupulse.com

Pulse Magazine now has a companion web presence that has people talking. Our site publishes new content daily and our staffers are blogging about the news, issues, promotions, events and passions that fuel their writing lives. As our site develops, readers have the chance to browse the Pulse Archives and see how far our ‘zine has come and get a glimpse of where we hope to be in the future.

pulse|| 4

EDITOR'S LETTER

W

Now Is Our Time

I

henever I am looking for the latest news on, well, anything, I take a break from twitter and Facebook and try to get the latest news from a trusted friend. There is nothing quite like coddling up to a low set table near a comfy couch and getting the latest read, chat, or informed words face-toface.

n celebration of three years online, we have created a section for you, our readers. In ‘Varied Voices’ We ask that you send us your stories, poetry, and original artwork. We love to hear from all our alumni and friends, and submissions are a great way to create a dialogue with us.

P

M

ost of us grew up during a time when news was more of a monologue and thanks to cable television and a slew of newsroom dramas, today we get our stories in more of a two-way channel. Thanks to the interactive communication made available by all that convergent media offers us, the internet allows us a real shift toward dialogue. This newly evolved online version of our university magazine, Pulse, is a good example of that.

T

he past few years, we’ve sent out our design in an attractive,flip-through magazine style with the flash purpose of showcasing the lifestyle of the students of Central—through the myopic view of each new EIC. We all know magazines are stylish, luxuriant, and wrought with color and texture. They’re designed not only to be read, but also to be kept.

ulse readers can even post to our Instagram to show us the view from your mobile lives. But then, that’s what our magazine has been working toward the past few years, and that’s why we think you’re going to like the new online version of Pulse best of all.

T

S

W

W

hey’re the versatile companions we take on the road and seemingly the last of a well-loved medium. Printed ‘zines are perfect when you’re ready to travel, to sit in a comfy spot without your shoes, and curl up on the sofa or lounge in the backyard. ell, Pulse is online and offers no place for a coffee ring, but it is live on all of your devices and goes everywhere you go. Our latest issue offers so much more than a spot for your cappuccino. Issue 1 offers timeliness. Vibrancy.

Interactivity. Tour with us to the creepy banks of the local swimming hole, and jam the lines of Ellensburg’s own derby dolls with the click of your mouse.

o, look around, enjoy reading about what’s happening today at Central and the world. Send us your thoughts and ideas, and then bookmark it, pin it, and follow our blogs. There are great things in store, so keep checking back with us. e’ll meet you at the comfy chairs.

Editor-in-Chief

pulse|| 5

Jamie

Mende

Pete

Alyssa

Alex

Connie

PULSE STAFF

Patrick

Andrew

Karissa

Madison

Cody

Courtney

Alea

Darby

pulse|| 6

Contenders Calling Pulse Magazine is an award-winning online magazine, and we are not quite sure how to deal. In fact we have spent the last 15 days since receiving two Society of Professional Journalists awards wondering where we go from here. In the world of convergent media evolution, we are the awkward newbies to the Region 10 party; but only because we snagged two awards from WWU. Now, for the first time, the SPJ judges will be checking our pulse before penning the

best of our region in years to come. Kudos to the 2012 staffers of Pulse Magazine for really stepping it up, we thank you. Pulse has ventured into the deeper waters of where we have always longed to live: In the top 3 student run ‘zines never to return. Our collected voices have won us a legion of fans throughout cyberspace, from our Instagram to our website at cwupulse.com, and we cannot wait to see where they take us next.

Zach Braff // Garden State

The art of asking a lot of fans for a little loot to crank out the most talked-about film projects moviegoers are making possible for release in 2014. Asking fans used to be the last gasp for projects that couldn’t raise the cash for production. But in the movie business over the past year, a growing number of Indie directors, producers and screenwrit-

The Art of Asking

ers have asked the masses to avoid the hassle of dealing with fussy studios.

While contributions are technically donations, backers are paid in merch with everything from digital downloads of the films to dinner with the directors.

Some moviemakers even offer backers small roles in their movies and cam-

eos featuring their pets. These tactics are working: In the past two months, using the Kickstarter platform, Directors Zach Braff and Rob Thomas’ Indie movie projects have raised more than $1 million each from ordinary film fans. This might just be the ticket to success in the modern movie business.

pulse|| 7

Food Porn

Tongue n’ Cheek Madison McCausland

jarritos // pinterest.com

pulse|| 8

T

acos Chalito es lo mejor de la ciudad!

Ellensburg’s own taco truck serves up authentic Mexican food that will blow your mind. Tacos Chalito is family owned and a popular spot for those times when you crave authentic Mexican food and cannot just hop a plane to Cabo San Lucas.

Only fresh, local ingredients, paired with an affordable menu keep the wildcats coming back for more.

“I always get the cow tongue tacos, and they are absolutely delicious,” says Brett Bielec, a former education major, who drove 118 miles from Puyallup to grab tacos for lunch.

Beef tongue is not the only authentic treat you can get at Tacos Chalito.

Would anyone like some virria de chivo, tripas, or cabesa? Goat, beef intestine, and beef cheek are other authentic tastes to try before you die.

TC’s menu is topped off with all the trimmings, like limes, onion, cilantro, and avocados. With twin taco meals from $1.25 students can’t resist.

“Every time I’ve ever been to the taco wagon, I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality and taste of their food,” says Bryan Elliot, junior political science.

The value of their menu is also what turns college students into regulars.

“I spend more money here than anywhere else, even more on rent,” says Kasey Bielec, sophomore exercise science.

The most popular item on the menu is the super burrito, packed with rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, Queso, and avocado.

There are a variety of choices including enchiladas, huaraches, and quesadillas. Complete your meal with Mexican bottled Jarritos, Mexican Coca-Cola, or Orchata for less than $3.

Tacos Chalito, located on 209 South Main Street, is open late for your convenience and late night cravings.

Madison, 21, public relations & business administration, spends most of her time with Alpha Kappa Psi. She barely has time for her real passions; drinks and animal rights. Follow her here: @Mad_McCausland

pulse|| 9

pulse|| 10

pulse|| 11

Moonlighting 2.0

ANDREW NELSON

Andrew Nelson studies Public Relations by day and is a Bartender by night. A hopeless foodie, he can be found snapping pics at his favorite restaurants. Follow his blog for the answers to all of life’s most pertinent questions.

pulse|| 12

I

t’s 2 a.m. and you’ve just been un-

and other bartenders to get something

the menu in the future, once the warm-

ceremoniously ousted from the

to eat after they close their own bars

er weather sets in. There is talk of flat

cozy bar onto an unwelcoming

down,” Morgan says. “It’s for the young

bread pizzas, hot turkey melt sand-

locals and for industry people.”

wiches, and a nightly special.

The moonlighting menu features what

Morgan’s plate is all about variety and

any patron or industry person who sol-

from his late night vantage point, after

diers on to last call may desire: namely,

a night out at the bars, he has you cov-

tasty drunk munchies food that can

ered. “We might do specials in the fu-

be mashed into before heading home.

ture, maybe a spaghetti and meatballs

street. Amid hopes for a six pack and an after party, you’re probably wondering where the hell you can get a hot meal without having to walk halfway across town? No problem: Serendripity, the satellite kitchen across the street from Shooters 2.0, is serving sober-up snacks.

Biscuits and gravy, Mac n’ Cheese, a breakfast croissant, and even chicken

Mike Morgan, owner of Shooters 2.0 and long time resident of Ellensburg, decided it was time for an up-all-night place where people too lit to drive can sober up. Morgan says he opened Serendripity because there was no room for a kitchen in Shooters.

“I wanted there to be an opportunity

for

customers

and waffles.

night, or a chicken pot pie night.”

Since its first day, the tiny walk-up kitchen has been well received. “We

Morgan delights in doing all the cooking himself. “I’ve been cooking since 1988. I don’t like other people cooking my food,” Morgan laughs. “They’re all my recipes.”

had over 50 people last friday,” Morgan says. “We’re averaging 25 to 30 every night.”

Morgan serves espresso and wake-up treats for the morning crowd too.

Serendripity sells comfort food priced right. Like Shooters, it caters to students who live on little more than spare

Open six days a week, In the a.m hours Serendripity doubles as coffee

change. Everything on the menu rings

bar from 6 to

up at $5 or less, with half orders of B&G

3.

for just $2.

He hopes to expand

Food Porn Photos // Andrew Nelson

pulse|| 13

OUR TOWN R

ows of towels, picnic blankets, and sunbathers cover the lush green lawns. Half naked college students chase each other into the water, laughing and splashing their studies away.

Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, aka Carey Lake, aka People’s Pond, is owned by the City of Ellensburg. It is the most popular local getaway for people of all ages. The area fosters a setting for flag football, Frisbee, soccer, and there’s even a sandy spot reserved for volleyball.

“Yeah, I like it. I’ve gone around with my fraternity brothers, played football, just hung out. It’s a pretty nice environment,” says Jessie Miller, a political science major.

But does this body of water have any secrets behind the gentle oasis façade?

The beauty of the pond would fool anyone who hasn’t lived in Ellensburg long, but for many years there have been whispers, stories, legends, if you will, of the pond’s dark past. Were there really a heap of dead cattle carcasses left to waste away at the bottom? Was it ever an old dump for tractors which would eventually pollute the water? Did several people drown here?

pulse|| 14

Off The Deep End

Legends of People's Pond ALYSSA FOLAND

People's Pond Photography // Alyssa Foland

Ellensburg Parks and Recreation’s Brad Chase has been the director since 2003 and he says no to all of the above.

there’s lots of dead things in lots of water. So, not a big deal,” Hogan says.

pulled further down the river? It’s hard to say for sure.

“If anything had happened out there during the time it has been a city park you would know and, um, just the knowledge of anything like that ever even remotely close to happening,” Chase says.

As the temp goes up, the students cool down. Despite these haunting ideas people don’t seem to shy away from the water. Although, there are the skeptical few who make remarks about getting in. So why have the stories survived all these years?

Gerard Hogan, moved to Ellensburg in 1988 and moved away briefly in the mid-90s. He is a Coordinator of Reference Services at Central’s Brooks Li-

"People are going to believe what they want to believe and I think, you know, I think there’s a population out there that enjoys urban myth,” Chase says.

The stories of what may or may not have happened so many years ago are alive and well in the Ellensburg community. It does not seem to affect the fun in the sun vibe that People’s Pond provides. Fables can give a town life, curiosity and a little bit of mystery to boot.

"[I think there’s a population out there that enjoys urban myth.]"

Chase makes it clear that he is not one to hunt down rumors such as these. He said there are things that are done to automatically debunk the stories.

brary. He said he believes there could be truth to the stories but it wouldn’t keep him from enjoying the water.

“The only one I’ve heard is the one about supposedly there is a dead cow or dead cows in there but none of it ever concerned me, and I kind of assume

“I kind of like it whenever local places have legends and folklore and such.

Yeah there are lots of them around the valley and on campus and I think there’s, one, there’s no way to kill them.

Probably the more you try to kill a story like that the bigger it grows,” Hogan says.

“From about late spring through fall we run tests on the water every week out there to make sure that the chloroform levels and/or the chloroform levels and the other bacteria levels are suitable for people to swim in and to utilize it.”

An article from the Ellensburg Daily Record, Aug. 2, 1974 confirms the drowning of Alan Davis. After a trip to People’s Pond on June 29, 1974 he went missing and was found a month later on July 27 in the Yakima River. Did Davis drown in Peoples’ Pond and get

Alyssa Foland, senior writing specialization, is graduating in June.

She is a writer, singer, ukulele player and designer in training. She loves all things fluffy and wants to make her mark on the world through the Peace Corps in a few years.

pulse|| 15

Springtime Mixtape CODY SPENCER

W

hen the sun decides that spring is upon us, the great outdoors open themselves up to interpretation. Â Whether your idea of a good time is floating the river or relaxing at a backyard barbecue, music will inject life into your favorite springtime activity. Â Use this Pulse playlist to add some flavor to the sunshine:

Mixtape Octopus // Pinterest.com

Click the Mixtape Octopus!

Cody Spencer is a music enthusiast who happens to be a writer. He uses his time to host two radio shows on 88.1 the 'Burg, write screenplays, and play the guitar. Cody says he has traveled to many corners of the world and has the stories to prove it.

pulse|| 16

The Black Keys – 10 A.M. Automatic This track is from The Black Keys’ years as a simple yet powerful electric blues duo, pre-Brothers. Dan Auerbach’s in-yourface guitar and Patrick Carney’s punchy drums will keep your game of Ultimate as intense and exciting as the Keys’ nononsense rock ‘n’ roll.

Catch 22 – Keasbey Nights There’s nothing quite like sun, suds and ska. Keasbey Nights’ catchy horn lines and contagious chorus hooks are a perfect complement to a day spent catching some sunshine and breathing Ellensburg’s sweet springtime breeze.

Dumbo Gets Mad – Plumy Tale Never judge a band by its name. This Italian psychedelic-rock duo started to blend their enticingly trippy soundscapes when they moved to Los Angeles in 2010. Though the band is relatively unknown, Plumy Tale is a great soundtrack for playing in the sun.

Presidents of the United States of Ameria – Lump This quirky, feel-good rocker will keep everybody smiling. The singalong-able chorus is backed by a hooky stop-start guitar riff that dares you to try and get it out of your head…and you won’t want to. Press “play” to instantly remind your group of friends what sunshine is supposed to feel like.

Jason Mraz – Did You Get My Message Jason Mraz is a genius at getting people to sit down and dance. He shows off an impressive vocal range here that will lift the boredom out of any road trip, whether you’re going across the country or taking a drive up to Vantage.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Last Dance With Mary Jane The simpleness of this song belongs next to a bonfire after a long day spent enjoying the spoils of another Ellensburg Spring.

Tom Petty is the perfect man to have at your party if you want to please different age groups – everybody from your little nephew to your great-grandma can dig on this sound. Impressing your entire family reunion just got easier.

Weezer – Surf Wax America Nobody will skip to the next song when you throw on this marriage of surf-rock and 90s pop. Before Rivers Cuomo got old and sour (let’s just be real here), he was the angsty, creative and exciting front man for the best feel-good band of his era.

Siphon the energy of this song and inject it into your day at People’s Pond.

Foster the People – Helena Beat Funk, synthesizers and a four-to-the-floor beat – the recipe for kick-starting a fantastic party atmosphere. Fire up the grill and enjoy some barbecued meat with the hooky chorus because sometimes, it doesn’t matter if you can decipher the lyrics or not. Bring this song with you to your friend’s next pool party.

Toby Keith – Beer For My Horses Even if you hate country music and can’t stand hicks, I’m willing to bet you at least tap your foot to this classic. There’s nothing in the song about girlfriends leaving, dogs dying or trucks breaking down, so the content is safe for pretty much all of society’s little cliques. When this song comes on during your next springtime adventure, you’ll be raising your glasses to it along with the rest of America.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Born on the Bayou There is something about the aura of this song that gets people to actually believe they were born in Loo-see-ana, even if for just a few minutes. Soak up these swampy blues while fly-fishing in one of Ellensburg’s premier locations, or just close your eyes and pretend that you know how.

pulse|| 17

SPOTLIGHT CONNIE MORGAN

AND HIS BEAT GOES ON I f the Facebook Gods could shut down their beloved site every year on April 1, many of us would be no worse for the wear. We would not comment on posts, scroll through any news feed or even bother to login.

This year, one Central student made an elaborate announcement of a dream job and opportunity to perform on a stage bigger than his wildest dreams. Jackson Halford’s post caught my attention, and I pitched this great story to PULSE Magazine and was ready to write it myself.

Unfortunately, the rumors of Halford’s success turned out to be a huge April Fools’ joke. But fortunately for the magazine, the dude is pretty interesting otherwise. Athlete, Electronic dance music DJ and Hawaiian transplant, Halford may be someone to keep an eye on.

Every college student is different, and every college experience is different. Regardless of whether you love to drink, play Magic the Gathering or play Ultimate Frisbee in the fields north of

campus, almost every student has one thing in common: we all have dreams.

Some are farfetched, some are very attainable, but nobody plans on staying in school forever. Everybody wants to be somebody.

For Halford, freshman Psychology, that dream is Electronic dance music. The amateur DJ spends hours producing his own EDM songs with hopes of someday getting the attention of high rollers in the electronic music scene.

Halford’s love of EDM wasn’t immediate. In fact, Halford, along with the masses, used to think electronica was just the same old boring beat repeating itself incessantly.

“I used to hate it because I thought it was all techno and the same repeating loop over and over again,” Halford says.

It wasn’t until a party in his home state of Hawaii that Halford first found his appreciation for dubstep. A DJ played a dubstep song that made Halford stop and take notice. Halford suspects Rusko but can’t be sure because at the time he was pretty unknowledgeable. Re-

gardless, he asked his friends the next day, “What the heck was that?” and he’s been hooked ever since.

Halford is a bit of a rebel in his home state Hawaii. EDM still is fairly new there and doesn’t have anywhere close to the fan base found on the mainland.

“Steve Aoki travels there a lot,” Halford says. “It wasn’t even a big thing a few years ago.”

Although dubstep is originally what got Halford experimenting with EDM, he tends to stick with electro-house and moombahton in his own musical creations.

“Sometimes dubstep is really intense,” Halford says. “But with dance hall or Latin infused music, the beat itself is gonna make you want to dance.” He considers these subgenres of EDM to be more universally accepted and more popular.

Electro-house is the category of house music with influence attributed to 1980s-electro, pop, synthpop and other subgenres. DJs of note in this genre include Deadmau5 and David Guetta.

pulse|| 18

Moombahton is also a form of house music, which fuses house and reggaeton together into a more “danceable” EDM sound. A reasonably new subgenre of house music, moombahton wasn’t officially invented until 2009, although the moombahton sound goes back much further than 2009. Artists of note in the Moombahton genre include Diplo and Pickster One. Halford started making his own music about a year and a half ago. The young man claims that drum and bass sounds are constantly ricocheting around in his brain and there was only one way to dull the sound: create his own EDM. Before DJing, Halford had been a drummer and a guitarist. His basic knowledge of chords and music theory has helped him progress as an EDM artist.

About six months into his hobby, Halford decided to start pursuing EDM as a serious career. Of course, he still plans to get a “real degree” in psychology and keeps busy with other hobbies such as running for the CWU cross-country and track team and gaming, but EDM is fast becoming his focus.

EDM is sort of the “American Dream” of musical genres. Everyone has a fair shot at success. Limited equipment is needed to create good sounds, you don’t rely on the talent of others and the online community is ever growing.

Recently, a lot of EDM artists have been achieving success. Halford hopes to follow in the footsteps of those like XCORE, who was unknown a year ago.

Now XKORE is headlining worldwide tours.

Even bigger names such as Flux Pavilion and Doctor P were obsolete a few years ago.

Like anyone exploring a hobby as a career path, Halford used his friends to test the waters. He admits that the tracks he first lined down weren’t his best work. His friends were polite in their words, but Halford could read their true reactions when a song flat out sucked. Now a veteran, Halford is proud to let not only his friends listen to his songs, but the general public as well.

“Every song I make is levels (No Avicii or Skrillex pun intended) above the last one,” Halford says.

Halford produces under the name OXYGIN and uses Logic Pro as well as a plug in called Massive. Though the difficult part about producing EDM isn’t the equipment, but knowing when to stop.

“I’ll make a sound with Massive and I’ll fine tune it for a while,” Halford says.

“I worry about what it sounds like before I worry about a melody.”

Halford deals with a genre of music where it’s completely acceptable and even normal to have a song span 15 minutes. As a perfectionist, he has difficulty deciding when to stop adding layers to a song. If left to his own devices, Halford could make a track that lasts an hour.

EDM DJ inspirations can come from anything—the rhythm of a bouncing basketball, a hip-hop song on the radio—and of course, other EDM artists.

Asking Halford to pick his inspiration leads to a gleam in his eye. The boy al-

pulse|| 19

most seems giddy and you can see the artists scrolling through his brain.

Halford explains that it he is generally a fan of every kind of music. He pulls from a little bit of everything and incorporates all of it into his music.

“It would be really hard to narrow it down to one style or artist,” Halford says, though currently his favorite EDM artists are Flux Pavilion, Knife Party and Skrillex.

As an EDM artist, Halford is accustomed to explaining things. Outsiders of the EDM gang are usually confused by the genre. Preconceived notions of techno, raves and hardcore drugs are often associated with anyone bobbing their heads to a bass line.

It can get old explaining what dubstep, drum, bass and electro-house actually are.

“It’s hard when people describe dubstep as robots fighting or taking a dial tone and putting it through a blender,” Halford says. But he explained his style enough times to have come up with the perfect comparison.

Jackson Halford // Facebook.com

“The kind of music that I make … it is to techno what heavy metal is to pop rock,” Halford says. “Some of its similar but a lot of it is completely different.”

Follow Jackson Halford on his soundcloud and his twitter.

Connie Morgan is an Econ major, Radio DJ, athlete and music lover.

She also says she is a goofball. You can follow Connie on Twitter @ conniemmorgan.

pulse|| 20

NEWSWATCH If you’ve ever dreamed of a career in Broadcast Journalism, please talk to Professor Terri Reddout about how you can get involved in NewsWatch.

COM 442 Student-led news team dedicated to sharing stories that impact Kittitas County.

And His Beat Goes On // reddit.com

pulse|| 21

Rodeo City Roller Girls

LOVE HURTS COURTNEY VASQUEZ

pulse|| 22

T

he Rodeo City Rollergirls.

They’re your average, everyday, women but with a lot of added spice. When their skates are laced up, they are ferocious feminine competitors eager to defeat their opponents.

Bruises, blood, and broken bones.

Nothing can keep these women from the sport they love the most.

Shining with confidence, these women show strength and power in the game and in everyday life.

The Rodeo City Rollergirls are more than just teammates; they are family. It is clear that these women truly love and care for one-another. They are currently in their third season and show that they are ready to kick some butt.

Love Hurts Photos // Courtney Vasquez

pulse|| 23

Name // Kimberly Clark Derby Name // Mad Mina Name // Darlene Skane.

Derby Name // Onya Harding

“Mina” means “love” in German.

Age // 41

Occupation // Help Desk TechNamed after the famously angry nician. Web Mistress for the Rodeo figure skater, Tonya Harding, Skane City Roller girls. chose Harding as her moniker because she used to ice skate.

Position // Inside Line Age // 28 Occupation mom

//

Worst Injury // Mad Mina bruised her tailbone. She was out for a couStay-at-home ple of months.

Position // Sweep Worst Injury // Onya Harding once received a concussion during a match.

Video captured by CaTV’s own Kevin O’Donnell.

Onya Harding loves roller derby because she says, ‘it’s a healthy outlet’.

She first laced up her roller skates for the team when her attorney, Dovie Sigle, aka Rude Dee the head coach for the A-team, found out that she had experience in figure skating.

When Onya Harding is not sweeping for the team she is a mother to three small children. Her little ones keep her derby strong inside and out, on and off the court.

Mad Mina is truly a good girl but lets her aggression loose on the court.

She says she has always been a little reserved and really struggled with her mean streak when she started up with the Rodeo City Roller girls two years ago. As she goes on, being aggressive gets easier for her.

She loves her derby and her teammates and the friendships she has made with them. She’s proud of how well they all get along. “You’re only as good as your team,” Mad Mina says. She is actually a derby mom too. Her daughter, Switchblade Sage, also plays for the Rodeo City Roller girls. Her younger child, 12, cheers the team’s first and only mother/ daughter duo from the crowd. pulse|| 24

Name // Monica Snover Derby Name // paraDDDz

Trouble Em-

“She has a pair of D’s.”

Age // 36 Occupation // Customer Service Team Lead at Fairpoint Communications.

Name // Jennifer Loewen Derby Name // Sedusa Minor She loves Medusa.

Name // Stephanie Eare

Age // “45 and proud of it.”

Derby Name // Kesha N. Ma Breath

Positions // A little bit of everything.

Occupation // Works full time for Habitat for Humanity

Worst Injury // “Just a lot of bruises. Nothing to keep me from playing.”

Positions // Grandma Worst Injury // Unknown

If she could, Trouble EmparaDDDz Sedusa Minor is full of heart. She (T.D) would play roller derby seven loves her life, her family, and her days a week. team. A single mother of 8, Sedusa She is one tough cookie with a hint Minor is proud to be the only Roller of sparkling personality. Whether derby grandma on the team. She she is on or off the court, her posijoined the team in January of 2012. tivity shines. T.D joined up with the Rodeo City Roller girls in 2010, af- Derby, she says, makes her feel emter a friend took her to watch a bout powered and confident. “We all have in Seattle. Roller derby, she says, a story,” Minor says. Along with behas given her more confidence and ing a single mom, working full time, makes her feel more empowered. and being a roller girl, Sedusa MiT.D laces up her skates to get her freak on for her team, which she nor is studying Special Education at Central. says, is more like family.

Age // 32 Occupation // Certified Nursing Assistant Position // Inside Worst Injury // Tore her quads during Fresh Meat.

Kesha N. Ma Breath is new to the derby team this year. Derby, Miss Ma Breath says, has given her life new meaning. For the love of this sport and the fast and furious training it brings, the adrenaline rush is the best. As a derby girl she can skip the gym and still gets a good workout. She has no trouble being aggressive on the court, and proudly calls it “anger management.” pulse|| 25

Assist She has the power to push, pull, redirect, or whip another skater to help the jammer gain advantage.

Blocker Her job is to block the other team’s jammer from advancing and allowing her to score.

Bout

Calling of the Jam The lead jammer can call off a jam at any time by hitting her hips with her hands. This prevents the other team’s jammer from scoring.

Fishnet Burn A rink rash that results in a distinct criss-cross pattern on the skin.

Four The blocker who plays the fourth position and resides in the back of the pack.

Fresh Meat New recruits.

Hip Whip When a player (usually the jammer) grabs her teammates hips to swing herself forward.

Jammer The skater who scores the points. She is identified by the star on her helmet.

Pack A mass of blockers who skate around the track. The jammers goal is to get through or around them.

Pivot The blocker who stays in front of the pack and regulates the its speed.

She is identified by a stripe on her helmet.

Scoring Pass Any pass through the pack after the jammers first pass. At this point the jammer scores a point for every opponent she passes.

Talk Derby To Me

The term used for a roller derby “game” or “match.” They last 60 long and are split up into two 30 minute periods.

Three A blocker who plays the third position on the track.

Track The oval-shaped surface in which the action takes place.

Two The second blocker on the track. She often teams up with the Pivot in the front of the pack.

Courtney Vasquez, junior Broadcast Journalism, chose to write about the Rodeo City Rollergirls because she says she feels for them. Derby girls are tough and they deserve a shout out for their courage and strength. Vasquez interview and voiceover accompanied by Kevin O’Donnell’s video capture really bring the story to another dimension.

pulse|| 26

pulse|| 27

World Wut? Nuclear Thinking

R

Patrick Hasseries

Korea: What You Need to Know

elations have always been volatile between the U.S. and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly referred to as North Korea. In the past few months, U.S.-North Korean relations have worsened into a cold strain. North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-Un, has marked his rise to power with heightened aggression and a renewed nuclear arms program. The U.S. has responded by fortifying its nearby military presence. Things have now escalated into a nuclear standoff. Both nations have their weapons trained on the other.

Both are waiting for the other to give.

The current situation is the result of North Korea’s brazen pursuit of nuclear arms and the U.S.’s uncompromising response.

In December 2012, the DPRK test launched a rocket that it could potentially use to create an intercontinental nuclear missile. On Feb. 12, 2013, the DPRK performed a nuclear test that

triggered a magnitude 5.1 earthquake.

Now, North Korea has declared that it is backing out of its 1953 armistice agreement and entering a state of war with South Korea and the United States.

and returned to the DPRK in March after deserting across the Chinese border. They cited malnutrition and other harsh conditions as the reason for their flight.

The DPRK is infamous for nuclear testing, empty threats and warmongering, but the latest bout has included some uncommonly strong posturing.

It is also unlikely that North Korea has the technology required to strike the U.S. mainland. Its newest missiles may be able to reach Guam, but they would be incredibly inaccurate.

On April 10, North Korea placed missiles along its coast and aimed them at U.S. military bases throughout northeast Asia. It warned foreign embassies that they should vacate the Korean peninsula, stating its intent to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against the U.S. mainland, Japan and Guam.

Most officials around the world agree that the DPRK cannot make good on its threats. Intelligence reports suggest that North Korea does not have the food and resources necessary to maintain a war. As a recent example, a platoon of North Korean soldiers were captured

On April 11, NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten said, “The North Koreans have a missile that the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Winnefeld said ‘probably does have the range to reach the United States,’ but that’s separate from whether they can put that warhead on the missile. Also, that missile hasn’t been successfully tested.”

As an isolationist nation, North Korea always has tremendous potential for maintaining secrecy. Intelligence reports very well could be wrong. However, even if North Korea did have nuclear

pulse|| 28

weapons capable of striking the U.S. the general consensus is that they are not suicidal, despite having a penchant for saber-rattling.

The U.S. has deployed retaliatory and anti-nuclear measures to protect its allies and military bases in Asia. South Korea is poised to launch a counter-attack. North Korea’s few allies have also made it clear that they will not support the DPRK should it launch an attack.

As such, North Korea would experience a quick and decisive defeat.

International Response Many nations have weighed in on the current North Korea situation. Particularly strong responses have come from South Korea, the U.S., China and Cuba.

The new South Korean president, Park Gyeun-Hye, has ordered her nation’s military to “strike back without political consideration and without waiting for [her] approval” should the DPRK stage any kind of assault.

The U.S. reaction to North Korea has easily been the largest. As a part of the

annual joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, the U.S. flew nuclear-capable stealth bombers over the region.

The act was a message to both warn the DPRK and to reassure allies in the region that the U.S. would retaliate swiftly in the case of a North Korean attack.

In response to rumors that North Korea is preparing for another missile test, Secretary of State John Kerry met with Chinese, Japanese and South Korean officials to discuss the situation. He stated that the U.S. would be willing to reopen direct diplomatic relations with North Korea if the DPRK moved toward dismantling its nuclear arsenal.

In a recent New York Times article, Secretary Kerry was quoted, “I am open personally to exploring other avenues.

Fundamentally the concept is they’re going to have to show some kind of good faith here so that we are not going around and around.” However, North Korea’s actions have made it abundantly clear that this is unlikely to happen.

China, North Korea’s greatest ally, has recently grown disenchanted with the DPRK. The two nations were once tout-

ed to be as close as lips and teeth, but a rift has formed between them. The Chinese government, which often mediates between the U.S. and the DPRK, has expressed frustration with North Korea’s blatant disregard for international warnings to cease its nuclear weapons development. Outrage at North Korea’s consumption of Chinese resources has also become common among the Chinese populace (80 percent of North Korea’s national resources consist of aid from China).

Part of the falling out between China and the DPRK comes from a recent lack of communication. In the past, Chinese and North Korean officials worked together very closely (like lips and teeth).

Kim Jong-Il, the former supreme leader of North Korea, met and spoke with Chinese officials on a regular basis. Kim Jong-Un, however, has failed to develop consistent communications with China in the 16 months he’s held power.

In a recent speech at the Boao forum, President Xi Jinping of China recently said, “No country should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole

pulse|| 29

world into chaos.” His statement applies to any nation, but the belief among world leaders is that he was specifically referring to North Korea. China has also made strong statements about the U.S. reaction to North Korea, citing increased U.S. military presence around Korea and economic sanctions against the DPRK as inflammatory actions in a delicate situation.

The current nuclear tension motivated another of the DPRK’s allies, retired Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, writing a letter for the first time in over nine months, told North Korea, “We remind you of your duty to the countries that have been your great friends, and it would not be fair to forget that such a war would affect more than 70 percent of the planet’s population.”

Behind the Madness A number of reasons for North Korea’s actions have been suggested. There is some speculation that Kim Jong-Un may simply be more militant than his father, that he is trying to assert his position as a strong military leader or that he is merely a puppet figure for North Korea’s generals, who are eager to start a war. However, there is no significant evidence showing that any of these possibilities are the case.

pulse|| 30

Andrei Lankov, author of The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia has suggested that reasons for North Korea’s warmongering may be domestic in nature.

More and more of the outside world is leaking into North Korea via China and South Korea.

Lankov claims that citizens of the DPRK are seeing “the fruits of Chinese economic growth and are much impressed by what appears to the average North Korean as prosperity beyond their wildest dreams.” He goes on to say that they are further perplexed by South Korea’s economic achievements because the DPRK’s official media traditionally presented the South as a “destitute, near-starving colony of U.S. imperialists.”

The war is thus a way for the DPRK to cow its citizens by reminding them that they are surrounded by enemies and only the North Korean army can protect them.

A widely accepted possibility is that North Korea expects the world to give them aid in exchange for peace. The DPRK has raised hostilities before, only to back down when offered relief aid.

The Obama Administration, however, has stated that it will no longer abide by this diplomatic strategy.

“The United States refuses to reward bad North Korean behavior. The United States will not play the game of accepting empty promises or yielding to threats,” Tom Donilon, President Obama’s national security advisor, told the Asia Society in New York.

The U.S. is averse to playing these belligerence games any longer because it signals to other so-called “Rogue States” that nuclear arms are a legitimate means to achieving their diplomatic goals.

Legitimacy of the Threats While the U.S. is bolstering its military presence around the Korean peninsula, nearly everyone is certain that North Korea will do nothing.

Joo-Il Kim, a North Korean defector currently living in Britain, claims that the DPRK will do nothing because its people are too starved to fight. As Kim explained to The Independent, a British newspaper, the biggest surprise he encountered upon fleeing to China was not the technology or the prosperity but the uneaten fruit he found while running through a forest.

“There were apples just dangling in the trees, falling on the ground,” Kim said.

“In North Korea, even the smallest apple will be eaten because the people are starving. But China had abundant food.”

Mark Hayden, a history graduate of Western Washington University and a two-year resident of South Korea, also doubts that North Korea’s threats are legitimate. As he explained, the DPRK wins in every outcome except all-out war.

“North Korea is all a charade,” Hayden says. “The military is a charade. Hell, even the tunnels to South Korea are a charade. You know what the rapidly mobilizing North Korean army is doing

right now? Probably working in fields.

Sure, there’s the missile stuff and the nukes, but those are a charade too.

“I think [they’re after] the usual: they want handouts, be it in material terms, or prestige or legitimacy. Like that phone call from Obama that Kim JongUn wants so badly.

“They will continue to step it up until we bend a little, or they’ll claim some kind of victory (i.e. ‘We scared the imperialist invaders so badly that they decided not to invade.’).”

The Inevitable Outcome With North Korea unable to commit to a full-scale war and unwilling to cease its nuclear weapons development, there is really only one possible outcome for the DPRK unless it drastically changes its political plan. It will face harsher and harsher sanctions, possibly even losing its Chinese aid, until its government collapses beneath the starvation of its citizens.

As Banyan Group explains at The Economist, a totalitarian communist nation like the DPRK has a much higher breaking point than any democratic capitalist nation. The suffering of its people will mean little until even the upper ruling class begins to feel it.

Causing wide-spread suffering through sanctions may seem inhumane, but for an uncompromising nation like North Korea, there are few options likely to succeed other than all-out war. Sanctions could potentially cost thousands of North Korean lives, but war would cost millions and could potentially lead to worldwide turmoil.

pulse|| 31

Unless the DPRK changes its stance, the reform or collapse of North Korea is inevitable. The only question is how long it will take. When even the upper class is starving, the DPRK may grudgingly agree to halt its nuclear program and reform in exchange for aid.

Or, there may come a time where the North Korean people become desperate enough to revolt. At which point, the international community will likely step in to assist.

At this time, a revival of the Korean War is unlikely. To world leaders, it simply isn’t worth the lives or the money it would cost, no matter how much the North Korean people deserve to be freed.

Writing is Patrick’s lifeblood and great passion. This guy relishes writing from the miniscule cutline to the great novel. For that reason, he pursued a B.A. in English writing and web design. His eternal dream is to become the next great American novelist. In the meantime, he is looking to land a five-year writing gig to support his wife and son.

World Wut collage courtesy of club.china.com; dokdo-takeshima.com; koreanhistory.info; bostonherald.com; pulse|| 32 banoosh.com; www.ideastream.org; www.vosizneias.com

Raienn // DeviantArt.com

pulse|| 33

FASHION Nailed 2.0 ALEX MANENICA

W

hile you may love the way you look in your new pair of spiked platform heels, you may have to work up some courage to wear them around campus. When you want to make a statement without drawing too much attention to yourself there’s always the simple and trendy solution of nail art.

If you’re one of those people whose DIY projects turn out to be less than you imagined, there’s always the solution of going to a salon for little more than spare change. Ellensburg offers a variety of different nail salons, and the local beauty school is one of the most affordable. The Bluestone Academy of Cosmetology offers manicures at super low prices, and the nail technology student’s love doing artful manis.

Jenna-Kaye Stringer, a student at Bluestone is a part of the nail technician program. After taking an art class, she discovered her love for art could be translated over into the world of nail design.

Nail Art // reddit.com/r/redditlaqueristas

pulse|| 34

“I really love painting and drawing, and that’s what I love about doing nails. The possibilities are endless” Stringer says, “With summer coming up, and more and more people coming in, I do about 2-3 nail designs every day.”

Stringer says the most popular designs she’s asked to do are flowers, and everyone loves polka dots, but she makes up her own as she goes along sometimes too.

“The craziest design a client ever asked me to do was to draw superheroes on their nails! Most of the time it’s not that crazy. It really depends on a client’s personality, if they’re really outgoing and bubbly I’ll make something really fun and bright but if they’re more quiet and reserved I’ll keep it simple.”

The most popular nail design is still the French manicure—a style dreamed up by Jeff Pink, the creator of Orly His Hollywood salon embraced the whitetip-and-natural-base look as a response to the movie sets that were plagued by the task of redoing an actress' nail color with every costume change she made.

The entertainment industry so loved Pink's new, chic, timesaving do but it was not catching on fast enough. Pink brought his genius little nail art trick to the runways of France; that is when it really took off as the fresh look for the American girl.

Alex Manenica, senior public relations is new to blogging. She says she loves sparkles, the color pink, calendars, and kittens. Follow her blog and you will always know what is going on with Alex.

Cher // orlybeuty.com

pulse|| 35

NEON Then & Now KARISSA LEHN

Blogging on Fashion

I

n 2013, the Millennial Generation has done the inevitable. We have managed to combine the fashions of decades past and turn them into modern trends. Our generation has combined the calm, conservative fashions of the 50s and 60s with the bold, risqué styles of the 70s and 80s. Resurfacing fashion has taken over our 21st Century streets, offering up a confident impression to those who wear them.

We’re sirens for the inner brightness and we’ve spun it with an abundance of quiet, calming prints, and punched bold colors are in fashion right now, on everyone, in every magazine. Style’s rejuvenated. Representing decades that most Millennials haven’t had the chance to witness. Well, now’s our time.

Long before Kylie and Kendall Jenner released their 2013 fashion line with Pac Sun featuring 70s fashion to the tune of high-waisted denim and t-shirts with logos, Elemental colors were flying boldly.

Lauren Conrad has released her spring line with Kohl’s that represents a few bold, floral prints that could be cut from your grandmother’s drapes circa 1955.

The 50s, 60s, and 70s have made such a statement hanging on racks of all major department stores season after season.

But what about the 80s?

Where did swishy tracksuits and parachute pants go? Into the trash where they belong, that’s where. But the 80s have made a comeback in neon swag and everything from shades, to scarves, to skimmer jeans. A bright, loud, screaming in your face, blast from the past, comeback.

You just can’t miss it and if you have, you’re missing out!

Neon has landed back on the racks of major department stores repping names like Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors. It’s occupied handbags and high heels, nail polish and prom dresses.

Designers have taken that wilder 80s vibe and brought it back to us. Neon is everywhere. In the spirit of Debbie Harry and The B52’s, like the trend-setting ladies sporting trends when MTV was young. Neon is alive and trending here on this very campus. The Wildcat Shop introduced a new crew neck in the brightest neon in Wildcat history.

Bright pink, florescent orange and lime green sweatshirts have taken over campus this spring, running the Wildcat Shop dry of this edgy, distinctive trend in less than 24 hours.

After their third shipment of these bright flashy things, the Wildcat Shop has witnessed the hype and it has yet to fade.

It’s no secret that neon is speckled all over campus. Whether students have purchased their neon from our very own Wildcat Shop or stole their dad’s pop-lime green mesh trucker hat from his beer league softball game in 1985, the trend is anything but calm and collected.

Karissa says she is just a small town girl chasing the PR dream under the city lights, prefacing that any town with a stoplight will do just fine as well. She is a great blogger and bartender too.

pulse|| 36

Neon Collage // Pinterest.com

pulse|| 37

R(e)volution of the Selfie DARBY COX

arm was always in the way! Somewhere an apple dropped on a teenager.

The timer was even brilliantly used for solo pictures. Because we all know he had that camera balancing on a soda can, placed on a box, on top of an overturned trashcan. But I think we’re supposed to think someone took an artsy picture “by accident,” so let’s. It’s good manners not to point that out.

Noun selfie (plural selfies) • (Internet slang) A self-taken picture.

All good things must come to an end though, and all the selfies were shuffled over to Facebook pages. Along with Facebook, rose the MacBooks and

D

ON’T even act like you’ve never seen this person in the mirror before. I’m pretty sure if you were to go back through that Photo bucket account you’d remember (you know, so you could use the HTML code to put a picture of yourself taken by yourself on your “About Me” section, right next to your profile picture of yourself taken by yourself). Maybe you weren’t that into hair extensions and tar eyes. But remove all that and throw on a cable knit Hollister sweater and hoist up that peace sign to the side and there the rest of you are.

The point is, no matter what kind of person you were in the MySpace days, 90 percent of all profile pictures were taken by you: •From above •With one hand •And sometimes, you looked off to the side (cuz you’re shy like that) So began the selfie.

After a while, that camera arm got tired though. And what if you wanted to get your friend in there too? The camera

made pictures of your duck face and dinner look deep and philosophical.

As if, all a photo of your midnight quesadilla needs to really capture the pain of your quest for self-love is ‘inkwell’ with a black border. Having said that, I love my Instagram account and I love ‘Inkwell-ing’ my duckfaces, pictures of my boyfriennnnnnd, and the bowl of ramen that substitutes for every meal of the day.

And I love above all, that I can upload once, and send those works of art to my entire social network. So I hope you’re not tired of my face yet. Because no matter the occasion: baby shower, new shoes, visiting the grand canyon, whatever. A selfie of nothing but my face really makes you feel like you’re there with me. It’s not vanity. It’s my goddamn Facebook/Instagram/Foursquare/Snapchat and I’ll post as many pictures of my face as I wanna.

that wonderful Photo booth App with its entire frog eye-making and spacebackground-having fun. And everyone loves those pictures—I know I do. What I don’t love is the Facebook album specifically dedicated to MacBook photos that are literally 30-plus pictures of the same person making slightly different variations of the same damn face.

“Here’s my Gaga-esque face straight forward, here’s my face straight forward but my eyes are looking to the right, here’s my face straightforward with my eyes looking to the left. See the difference?”

Lastly, and probably my most hypocritical, is the Instagram selfie. Instagram

Selfies // Pinterest.com Darby Cox, junior Public Relations, is in her first year with the Magazine.

She is an in-your-face kind of writer.

As an Alaska native, and former National Park Ranger, she brings a clever wildness to our magazine.

Follow her on Twitter @daubscox.

pulse|| 38

First Selfie with iPhone // Leo Reynolds, flickr.com/photos/lwr

pulse|| 39

SPARE CHANGE The Second Degree CODY SPENCER

R

eturning to college for another bachelor’s degree may seem costly at first glance, but some students have actually pursued the option. In today’s notoriously unstable job market, building a solid set of credentials may be worth the second effort.

After going back to school, Joshua found that his college experience was different than it was the first time around. “I’m a bit older than the rest of the standard student body,” Miller says.

“This wasn’t a problem with my specific degree program…but [the difference] is there.”

Joshua Miller obtained a second bachelor’s degree in information technology after previously earning a degree in philosophy.

Making the decision to acquire another bachelor’s degree is a challenge in itself, as past college experience does not necessarily guarantee that a student even has the option. “Some schools do not like accepting students for another undergrad degree,” Miller says. “It affected where I went.”

“I got [the degree in philosophy] because I loved the program and when I went through school the first time, I was told it didn’t matter what you got [a degree] in, that ended up being very untrue and the jobs I was able to find were not even close to what I was willing to accept.”

It is unsettling to face the fact that circumstances beyond our control prevent us from simply studying what we love and being able to make a living off of it.

Continuing to pursue your passion may involve picking up a second job and save money until you can explore another option: obtaining a master’s degree. Applying for a master’s program will definitely put a dent in your wallet and cost you some time, but the rewards will pay off your investment. “ Obtaining a master’s degree pushes you to the next level,” said Justine Eason, Program Coordinator for Graduate Admissions at Central.

Central offers a variety of master’s programs.

A listing of the offered programs is displayed on the CWU Office of Graduate Studies and Research website.

“Students should apply by at least January of the academic year, or even a year before,” Eason says. “It depends on the program.”

Revamping your education is possible, but it is challenging. Each student has a unique set of goals to accomplish as individuals. The job market is changing, and so are the standards of credentials.

Cody Spencer is a music enthusiast who happens to be a writer. He uses his time to host two radio shows on 88.1 the ‘Burg, write screenplays, and play the guitar. Cody says he has traveled to many corners of the world and has the stories to prove it.

White Rabbit // Disney

pulse|| 40

Rethinking ALEA THORNE

E

ach month Ellensburg Washington residents gather to go on an adventure. Adventure comes in many forms; a daytrip to a Seattle zoo, A Mariners game, or the Moses Lake Water Park, overnight camping trip to Lake Chelan.

In a corner office in downtown Ellensburg, Central Washington Disability Resources (CWDR) provides hope to the community.

Founded by and for people with disabilities, the facility is a not for profit organization designed to provide advocacy and resources to people with disabilities of all kinds and ages.

For 20 years CWDR has helped disabled people residing in Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Douglas, Yakima and Chelan find low incoming housing, help with DSHS and provide more information about their disabilities.

CWDR services provide three case managers for 100 people in the program.

“We strive to understand daily challenges faced by the disabled community,” Von Elison, CWDR’s executive director says. “We want them to have a place where they can have fun be safe and feel at home.”

Offering classes to the general community encourages us to rethink mental health. Elison and her team strive to offer their clients a place to live, job search opportunities, medical assistance classes, time management and social skills training, and personal finance.

Gretchen Thatcher is an independent living specialist at the facility. Her work

MENTAL Health is of primary importance at CWDR and she empowers the clients to do for themselves.

“Many of the people who come in here never had a checking account or never had to write bills,” Thatcher says.

CWDR also provides weekly activities for Ellensburg residents. Such as dances, Art classes, movies and game nights.

To some, an adventure is the wildest things they have ever done, to the volunteers and workers at a local resource facility, the adventure is offering those with special needs the chance to live life to the fullest.

As CWDR also provides life skills training and assistance to disabled individuals well beyond daytrips and events, the niche they fill is a vital part of the Ellensburg community.

A nearby residential facility, Elmview is just up the block. Mayor Bruce Tabb is also a regular face around the CWDR community.

“A lot of Elmview clients participate in CWDR activities,” Mayor Tabb says, “It’s a great way for them to get out in the community and have some fun.”

CWDR is multi-faceted in the areas of special needs clients, offering research opportunities to area outreach programs and focus groups.

the community how to be politically correct with people with disabilities.

The facility also has books, videos and other material regarding different disabilities such as autism or traumatic brain injuries that the public can come and check out in order to educate them.

Donated Medical equipment is also available at the office for check out.

“It helps people who are getting out of the hospital but still need to recuperate,” Thatcher says. “If they don’t want to buy one for only a short amount of time or just want to try it out and see if it works for them, they can just rent it from us and save money.”

One of the most extraordinary things Thatcher believes that the organization does is it provides a place where people can come and feel at home. With the agency having 51 percent of their staff having a disability they understand what their clients are going through.

“People with a disability can come in here and not feel judged they can come in and be who they are,” Thatcher says.

“They can get help from people who understand and have been in their shoes.”

The National Center for Learning Disabilities released a new survey last month that revealed that most Americans lack basic understanding of learning disabilities and/or disabled persons.

Click here for their findings.

“If someone is looking for a resource Alea, senior double major Print group we complete the research and Journalism and Political Science. make it available to them,” Thatcher enjoys cooking and watching insane amounts of TV. Alea works at says. Not only does CWDR provide Elmview. services for people with a disability they also offer sensitivity training to businesses and care providers around Rethinking Mental Health // Dr. Neil Pugach

pulse|| 41

AFTER DARK Ask The Bartender

ASK ANDREW

ANDREW NELSON

What if I told you . . .

We can all admit that it would be nice to have restaurant-grade drinks at your house parties. Bud Light....not horrible.

Vodka and orange juice...boring. (Envision Morpheus) “What if I told you there was a way to make your booze taste awesome without having to buy a full bar?”

Mixers: One fool proof method is using equal parts sweet and sour with whatever else you’re using, whether it be soda, tonic or juice. Another is choosing types of juice that compliment the fruit you’re using. Pomegranate and lime go well together, as well as orange and pineapple.

There are a couple foolproof methods to making your drinks taste awesome.

As long as you’re not trying to make a perfect martini, you won’t need a shaker. Heck, just pour the drink from one glass to another if you want it mixed.

Fresh fruit: the first trick is to smash fresh fruit into your drinks, especially citrus. Adding lemon, lime or orange (or all three) will greatly increase the taste of your drinks. Lemon goes well with whiskey, orange and lime with flavored liquors like citrus vodka.

Liqueurs: not to be confused with liquor, liqueurs are generally lower in alcohol content and higher in sugar. They make great mixers. An easy place to start is buying some triple sec (orange flavored liqueur) and adding just a dash to your drink. Think one part triple sec, three parts hard liquor. Adding just a pinch of liqueur can be the X-factor that’s been missing.

DIY: If you feel like going all out, make your own sweet and sour mix. This will triple the quality of literally any cocktail you use it for. Just use equal parts sugar, water, lemon juice and lime juice. Wait for the sugar to dissolve and you’re in the money.

Hope some of these tricks help you guys.

pulse|| 42

Roadhouse Bar // Karissa Lehn

BARTENDER'S BLUES KARISSA LEHN

I work a lot.

Being a full time student and working 30-plus hours a week is exhausting. Being a full time student working 30-plus hours a week as a bartender is extremely exhausting. The customer service industry is exhausting. I'm just exhausted.

I'm tired of people and how they treat me when they are having a bad day.

Don't take it out on me—I'm not the problem. YOU are the problem. I noticed something this weekend while I was working.

I had a customer come to the bar, sit down, order a beer, start looking at the menu. Not an issue, everyone does that.

What this gentleman didn't do was reply to my "Hi! How are you today?"

He didn't acknowledge my presence at all!I was there to serve him his beer and make sure he was fed. He made me feel like a bother, really. I was annoyed and I rarely checked on him, presented him his check and told him to have a good night.

Right after he sat, I had a couple come in and sit a few chairs down. They beat me to the punch and asked me how my day was, asked me about school,

and complimented my hair all before I could get them a drink. This isn't all that normal either, but they definitely set the tone for their service. Not because I'm a snippy bitch or anything, but they were more inviting to converse with, unlike the gentleman at the end of the bar with a sour face and a bad attitude.

So I'm here to present you with a challenge: the next time you go out to eat or get a drink in a restaurant, engage in conversation with your server. Ask them how their day is. Don't act like someone just ran over your precious kitten. Oh, here’s a good one: SMILE! It's weird, I'm more likely to approach you if you're smiling and not pouting.

I don't want to deal with a chick that looks like she's about to cry. I have enough emotions of my own; I don't need yours, too.

But seriously, you, as a customer, set the tone for your service. You are just as responsible for your service as we are.

We are people too! If you don't believe me, go get a job as a server or barista— anything in the customer service field. I feel like that should be a requirement to participate in society.

Drink Recipes // engineers-drinks.blogspot.com

pulse|| 43

VARIED VOICES V

aried Voices, publisher of original creative and literary works, is an independent department of CWU Pulse Magazine. We are committed to a vigorous presence of the creative voice in our culture.

Varied Voices exists to discover and to share the best expressions in all media and reach the largest possible audience. It is our hope to use this platform to raise the independent creative voices of all student writers, readers, bloggers, performers and artists to a more visible position in American culture.

These works of fiction, poetry and photography all share the voice of prominence, showmanship, and reflection.

Untitled Photo reduces the spring of our existence to a formidable statement of rock, mettle and fertile earth. Maitland Johnson, 19, is a recent EHS graduate.

Klouse’s Moral Imperative, takes us into places of the universe, the heart, and soul of mankind in a time of conflict and draws us liberally into the fringes of a Steampunk world to the Rather than celebrating the works of our own center of a reflexive storm before releasing us university alone, our editors wish to standardize somewhere far from the solace of home. This a receptive climate for student media by journey is not one that is quickly forgotten. developing new audiences, creating new platforms for delivery, and encouraging Hoffman’s two poems Circular Motion and independents to speak to the joy, the pain Log Cabin in the Valley were selected for and the passion for modern creativity in and the echoes of a lifestyle gone and cleverly out of the collective universities that stick to recapturing the triviality of the elements.

Klouse and Hoffman are CWU seniors. the bones of us.

So, dear readers, we have been wanting to open the magazine to various voices of CWU and college students of, well, anywhere. Here we make a little room for art, writing, articles, video, audio and more.

If you are as fabulous as you know you are, then we want to hear from you. We all have rejection letters and not-for-us notes from college lit mags, right? We promise not to send you one.

If we like your work, we'll publish it right here.

SEND YOUR ORIGINAL WORK: written words, spoken words, chapters, audio tracks, video of your band, short film, etc. to variedvoicesinpulse@gmail.com

Untitled Photo // Maitland Johnson

pulse|| 44

Moral Imperative Jamie Klouse

“I

said open fire, damn it!” The unfeminine voice on the radio crackled with distortion as the Lord Admiral shouted.

Captain Jim Keery stood beside the helm of the airship Powdered Maiden, a swift but lightly armored cruiser. The leather of his gloves groaned as he tightened his grip on the radio transmitter. Despite the overcast weather, light poured through the ballistic glass at the fore of the bridge, but the brim of Keery’s peaked cap cast shadows below his brow. They melded into the trim brown beard that followed the contours of his jaw from temple to temple.

The Lord Admiral was a powerful woman, but as Keery’s command of the Maiden entered its second year, he had begun to distrust her motives. She had promoted him to Captain and given him this command out of necessity, despite his more moderate political alignment. There was a shortage of officers in the Enclave. Now, Keery knew why.

From behind him, a man in a similar, though less adorned, dark blue uniform stepped forward, his boots echoing on the steel floors. “Orders, Captain?”

“Commander Doget,” Keery said, hesitating with a command.

sea of green foliage surrounded a sizeable encampment of refugees from the Azurian countryside.

A few moments passed before the forward guns rotated toward their targets, but soon shockwaves from the muffled blasts shook the ship and delivered death upon the civilians below. The canvas tents erected by the refugees erupted in flames, while shells tore people apart. Some were lucky to be struck directly, while others received terrible wounds from shrapnel as the ordnance exploded into thousands of shards. Keery slid his hand over his mouth to hide the horror on his face.

A few minutes of carnage were enough.

Keery turned to Doget, “Cease fire.”

“Aye, sir,” Doget responded, then relayed the command to the ship. The firing stopped.

Keery grabbed the transmitter of the radio, “The main camp has been destroyed, Lord Admiral.”

The voice came through the receiver with more clarity than before, “Excellent. Are there survivors?”

“Some, my Lord,” Keery said, trying to maintain his composure.

“How many are there, Captain?”

After a moment, Doget prompted him, “Sir?”

“A few hundred remain, my Lord. They are scattered, but most are dead or dying.”

The words fell out of Keery’s mouth like lead weights, “Order the forward battery to open fire.”

Without a delay, the Lord Admiral ordered, “Notify the Army of their location and return to Laurel for debriefing.”

“Aye, sir,” Commander Doget said. He stepped to the back of the bridge and lifted the mouthpiece of the ship intercom to his mouth. “Forward battery, fire at will!”

“Aye, my Lord. We’ll return at once.” Keery hung the transmitter on the side of the radio then turned to Commander Doget.

Keery stepped toward the ballistic glass at the front of the bridge and raised a gloved hand to his chin. The bow of the ship stretched dozens of yards ahead, but the bridge was situated high enough to treat Keery to a dreadful view of the massacre.

Fifty feet below the iron-sided airship, a

“You heard him, Commander. I’ll be in my quarters.” Keery did not wait for acknowledgement.

Keery strode through the ship, his boots beating out a soft, sad melody on the metal planks of the passageway. When he closed his eyes, Keery relived the deaths of those refugees: one man was consumed in flame and vanishes before the smoke cleared; a woman burdened by a heavy sash across her chest was torn apart by the shrapnel of the artillery shells, leaving little more than a red smear on the emerald plain.

Keery’s boot caught on the lower lip of a bulkhead hatch. He fell forward. He caught himself on the other side, but he wished he could lie down and let himself pass from this world. In joining the Navy, he had sought to uphold the nobility of the Enclave – an entity that only came to existence to preserve society in a world falling apart – but as he rose in rank, the atrocities he was forced to perpetrate on behalf of the Dynasty only grew in severity.

Two more hatches passed and Keery reached his quarters. Upon entering, Keery was smothered by the adulation of his biggest fan and only solace. His worries melted away as Brisco stretched up over to Keery’s knees. His soft leathery ears framed the bright face that had far too much skin, causing it to wrinkle in places. Brisco’s small body wiggled back and forth as his short, white-tipped tail shook with excitement.

“Down Brisco,” Keery said, gently nudging Brisco to the floor. “I can’t have fur covering my uniform today.” Brisco obliged and dropped to the floor. The beagle trotted alongside, toenails clacking on the floor, as Keery reached into his closet and pulled out a bag of dog food. Brisco’s excitement overcame him as he started making small whimpers and half-barks. Keery poured a bit into Brisco’s bowl beside the closet and stepped back as the feeding frenzy began.

He returned the bag to the closet and stepped toward the window of his quarters.

Outside, clouds turned tangerine in the dying sunlight. In the morning, he would meet with Lord Alva Colley, the Admiral of the home fleets of Laurel. Keery hoped his next assignment would require fewer deaths. A knock came from the door to his quarters.

pulse|| 45

“Come,” Keery said, as he removed his cap and jacket.

Commander Doget entered the room, stepping wide around Brisco, who was chasing his bowl around the floor, his nose preventing him from consuming the last nuggets of chow. Doget was tall with broad shoulders.

The sharp angles of the Navy uniform accentuated his powerful frame. He was the son of a lesser noble, a family that had risen to title by controlling large swaths of farmland prior to the fall of the Azurian Republic. Doget’s family now controlled only a negligible portion of the farms on the outskirts of Laurel. Seeing no future in such humble enterprises, Doget sought notoriety through the military instead.

“The ship is on course for the capital, Captain,” he said. “We should arrive in the morning.”

Keery turned to face Doget, “Very good, Commander.” Doget did not move to leave.

“Is there something else?”

“Yes, sir. I,” Doget said, trailing off as uncertainty shook his resolve.

Keery knew what was coming. “Go on, Joseph,” he said. “Out with it.”

“Sir,” Doget stood straight and stiff, looking Keery right in the eyes, “I worry about your ability to follow orders.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, anxiety crept across his face. His eyes opened wider and his jaw tightened. Brisco secured the last bits of food in his bowl and silence descended on the room.

Keery turned back to the window. The clouds scattered clouds of tangerine had turned to blood red, but stars were becoming visible as the sun hide itself beyond the horizon. Low on the southern horizon, half of the moon gleamed silver-white. The other half was dark and stood idle as night overcame the world.

Doget spoke again, “You respect the Lord Admiral’s authority, do you not?”

“I respect the power she wields. Nothing more,” Keery said, still facing the window.

“Respectfully, sir, your insubordination can only end badly.”

Keery turned back to Doget. His eyes were dark, the skin of his face taut. Doget was a noble, so Keery chose his words with care, “I will execute the duties of my position as required of me by oath, which is to the people of the Enclave, not the nobility of the Dynasty.”

Doget took exception to this and found resolve to retort, “The nobility represent the people, Captain.”

“That is debatable, Commander. Now unless you wish to chide me further, I suggest you return to your duties,” Keery said. Feeling the tension in the room, Brisco moved beside Keery and sat down in silence, his soft and gleeful expression replaced by a deadpan stare in the direction of Doget.

Doget grimaced, adjusted his cap and stepped backward out of the captain’s quarters. “Yes, sir,” he said. “Of course.” With that, he disappeared through the door, his footfalls fading as he proceeded down the passageway.

“Haughty bastard,” Keery said, kneeling to Brisco’s level. “He’d rather see me hang than lower himself to serve a commoner like myself.” Keery stretched Brisco’s face as he slid his hands to the dog’s ears. Brisco’s facial expressions seemed to change from anger to surprise as the loose skin shifted.

Keery pulled Brisco’s floppy ears up and stretched them out like wings.

“Brisco the bat!” Keery said, a wry grin crossing his face. Brisco grumbled and pulled back, shook his face to reset it, then lunged forward and unleashed a barrage of licks on Keery’s face. Keery chuckled, then stood and prepared for bed.

The Imperial capital of Laurel shined brightly in the morning sun. It stretched out in every direction as the Powdered Maiden approached, a mixture of grassy fields and clusters of plaster and stucco structures girdled by ribbons of cobblestone streets that ran across the city. The shipyards were almost empty, aside from a few ships undergoing repairs or salvage. The ship shuddered as the belly set down on the docking platform, and the unsettling silence crept in as the steam engines came to a halt and the

continuous thrumming background noise ceased.

Keery pulled the dark blue double-breasted coat on over his shoulders and fastened the brass buttons bearing the crest of House Davvis: a displayed eagle with its wings spread wide, a single head wreathed in bay leaves. He adjusted the golden braids danlging from his epaulets and straightened the medals hanging from his right breast. Last, he hung his saber from his belt and pulled on his cap.

“Let’s go, Brisco,” Keery said, reaching for the leash hanging in the closet. Brisco erupted with excitement, his entire backside wiggling with anticipation. Keery secured the leash to Brisco’s collar and swung open the hatch to the passageway that ran the length of the ship.

The clamor that usually echoed from the iron walls of the passageway was absent.

The Maiden had been manned by a skeleton crew for several weeks now, after the majority of them were re-assigned to ships engaging the remnants of the failed Azurian Republic’s navy, now manned by farmers and washed-up officers turned to piracy, beyond the northern marches of the Enclave. Keery walked swiftly through the empty corridors toward the exit at the rear of the ship, preceded by the energetic Beagle. An airman greeted him at the exit, saluted, and opened the door.

“Airman Garry,” Keery saluted. Garry returned the salute. “I’ll be in the town most of the day. Could you please take care of Brisco in the meantime?”

“Gladly, Captain,” Garry responded. “It’s always a pleasure.”

Keery passed the leash to Garry, gave Brisco a vigorous rub on his head and disembarked the ship. Brisco’s whimpers faded against the noise of the capital as Keery made his way to the government square.

The décor of offices of the Admiralty was ornate, with intricate gold patterns lining the walls and delicate designs adorning the tall stone columns of the hallway that ran around a courtyard of well-kept lawn and

pulse|| 46

flowerbeds, a large fountain at the center. Its noblesse was superseded only by the Imperial palaces. Keery disdained the opulence.

A long walk around the courtyard brought him to the elegant glass doors of Lord Colley’s offices. A yeoman in red livery lined with black and gold opened a door from the inside and ushered Keery through. Keery removed his cap and crossed the threshold.

Beside him, the yeoman stated, “The Lord Admiral is expecting you presently.”

“My thanks,” Keery said as he strode toward the oak doors at the back of the lobby and knocked.

“Enter,” said a voice, coarse and ragged from the tirades for which Lord Colley was famous.

Keery entered. The office was immense and full of furniture. A large desk sat at the center of the room before a massive window looking out on the palace gardens behind, but around the desk were lounge chairs, tables, bookshelves, gas lamps – all decorated to the same degree as the outer grounds.

The Lord Admiral stood beside a bookshelf full of leather-bound tomes – atlases, treatises on naval warfare – with one such tome in one hand and a pair of spectacles in the other. Her uniform was much like Keery’s, dark blue, golden epaulets, brass buttons, but the medals hanging from the breast of her jacket accumulated in a near comical mass of metal and ribbon. The Admiral looked up from her text and regarded Keery for a moment before setting the book down on an end table beside a red leather chair.

“Your hesitation this morning brings you dishonor, Captain,” she began.

Keery stood stock-still and received the rebuke.

She continued, “Nevertheless, we are in more need than ever of capable commanders, so to punish you would be a disservice to the Empire.”

“You are kind, my Lord,” Keery said with a slight bow hiding his grimace.

Colley nodded then sat in the chair and beckoned Keery to be seated in the chair opposite her. Keery obliged, detaching his

sword from his belt and resting it against the chair, then laying his hat in his lap.

“The survivors were collected and are being marched to the prison as we speak. They will face a swift trial this afternoon,” Colley said.

“Their crime, My Lord?”

Colley raised an eyebrow, “Besides their presence in Enclave territory, you mean?”

Keery nodded.

“They were in possession of stolen supplies from the Navy storehouses.”

Keery’s hands tightened around the brim of his cap, the leather creaking once more. He struggled to hold his frustrations in check, “How did they get access to Navy stores?”

“That’s under investigation,” Colley crossed a leg over the other, leaning back in the chair and straightening her pant leg. She regarded Keery, her piercing blue eyes meeting his and cutting through his resolve, “You pity them.”

“Not pity, my Lord. Compassion,” Keery said with a waver in his voice.

Colley’s other eyebrow raised meet the first.

“Compassion?” she asked, her voice fluttered with indignation. “For refugees?”

Colley stood beside the chair and studied the sizeable map of Azuria on the wall.

It was littered with the names of former states of the collapsed Azurian Republic, and cities now crumbling to ruin. Near the bottom, a few hundred miles inland, was Laurel – the last remnant of the great Republic. Formerly the capital of all of Azuria, the city of Laurel now served as the capital to the Enclave – a small city-state of Laurel and the surrounding countryside. Around the city, the borders of the Enclave had been drawn on the map in the form of a laurel wreath. Colley rounded on Keery, “We are sworn to protect the Emperor, his will, the citizens of Laurel, and no other. Do you understand this duty?”

“I do, my Lord. Yes,” Keery answered.

Colley surveyed him for a moment, then said, “Good, we shall speak no more about it.” She crossed the room to her desk and motioned Keery to follow. Keery rose and followed her to the edge of her desk. “As your ship is only manned by a skeleton crew,” Colley said, “your ship shall remain here until the next round of recruits has been trained. You will continue to report directly to me.” Colley pulled on an ornate silken rope beside her desk and a faint bell jingled in the main room. The yeoman opened the oak door and waited.

Keery stood at attention and saluted her, “Aye, my Lord.”

“I cannot begrudge a man who seeks to feed his family, my Lord. Stealing is a crime of course, but starving is not.”

“Certainly you don’t believe we could feed all the people of Azuria,” Colley retorted.

“No, my Lord. Of course not.”

Colley continued, “That is, after all, why House Davvis established the Enclave in the first place.”

Keery sat in silence, but soon realized Colley expected acknowledgement, “Yes, my Lord.”

“In the future, you will not allow your… compassion… to interfere with my orders.”

Keery lowered his head in resignation, “Yes, my Lord.”

“’You will present yourself for questioning in the matter of the missing supplies at 3 o’clock in the Hall of Peace.’ Heh, what a load of crap,” Laz Meacle muttered to himself, sauntering down the hallways looking for the court room. “Damned nobles talk like horse shit on rose petals. You’d think they’d at least know enough to label these cursed doorways.”

As Meacle reached a supreme level of frustration with the predicament, he noticed a tall man in an officer’s uniform at the end of the hallway observing a portrait on the wall. He set off toward the man in the hopes he might have more of an idea where there court might be. The man’s uniform was tidy and clean, the lines were crisp and his hat stood tall. The golden ropes and brass but-

pulse|| 47

Steamship in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

pulse|| 48

tons shined like treasure. By contrast, Meacle’s uniform was faded from long years of service, the ropes from his shoulders were tangled so he had tied them together above his epaulets to get them out of the way, and the tarnished saber at his side jingled with the slight limp in his step.

When Meacle reached the man, he saw he was quite young – early-30s perhaps – but he was a captain already. The captain hardly glanced in his direction. He was studying the portrait on the wall intensely, deep in thought. The portrait hung from ceiling to floor, at least twenty feet. It portrayed a massive, fat, well-decorated man in uniform holding the scepter of rule. Meacle gathered he was an emperor – a member of the Davvis Dynasty. The man’s white hair curled over his shoulders, but not so much as to obscure the immaculate white and gold uniform beneath. His round cheeks glowed a rosy red, but his face was frozen in a gaze of serious consideration.

“He looks like he shat himself,” Meacle said.

The officer turned to Meacle. With irritation in his voice, he said, “Lieutenant, you forget your place. What’s your station?”

“First Quartermaster, Navy headquarters, Lieutenant Laz Meacle, sir.”

“Captain Jim Keery of the Powdered Maiden,” the captain said. He took in the state of Meacle’s uniform and sighed, “And beside your place, it seems you’ve forgotten your hat as well.”

Meacle shot his hand up to his bald head and felt around, “Damn it all!”

“The man you’re insulting was the first leader of the Davvis Dynasty,” Keery continued, returning his gaze to the portrait.

Meacle considered him a moment, then responded, “No disrespect intended, sir, but they all seem a lot of arrogant, selfish bastards.”

Keery looked back at him intrigued, “You sure have a mouth on you. How did you manage to become an officer?”

“I’m well organized, sir,” Meacle said, trying to straighten the lapel on his faded jacket.

Keery’s grave veneer cracked at last and he laughed in spite of himself. “I must say, if you’re the most organized quartermaster we have, we may have already lost.”

“I’m sorry Captain,” Meacle said, shifting the topic, “I’m expected in the Hall of Peace in 20 minutes. You wouldn’t happen to know where that is…”

Meacle chuckled then looked up at the portrait again, “So what about this guy deserves defense?”

Keery stood straighter, “Of course, follow me.”

“He established the Enclave,” Keery answered. “He protected Laurel from the collapse of the Republic.”

“In other words, he’s the one that kept food from the people,” Meacle responded.

Keery lowered his gaze and stared through the floor a moment, turning something over in his mind. “The Davvis weren’t always so cruel,” he said at last. “Muskell Davvis was just a wealthy businessman, like all the original nobles.”

“Aye, you don’t have to remind me,” Meacle said.

“He saw the collapse of the Azurian Senate first hand and organized the businessmen of the city to prevent Laurel from falling as well.”

“Then deposed the Senate,” Meacle shot back. “They paid off the generals and used them to force a coup and shut the citizens of the countryside out.”

“The Navy hadn’t been paid in weeks because the Senate was deadlocked,” Keery explained. “Davvis and the other men paid their wages. Closing the gates of the city was meant to be a temporary measure until the government could be reformed.”

Meacle laughed aloud at this, his raspy voice echoing in the stone hall, “Reformed?

They declared themselves the new government.”

“I don’t disagree that much evil has been done since then,” Keery admitted, “but Muskell Davvis never anticipated 50 years of instability.”

“If by instability, you mean mass starvation across Azuria, I’d say he was a damn fool,” Meacle said. “Laurel’s greed has left the rest of the country a mess, and now we murder anyone who seeks to feed themselves.”

Keery remained silent.

The quartermaster was a short and portly man, but above all that, he was quite old.

His hair had nearly given in entirely to grey and he had messy stubble populating his chin and temples. Despite his unkempt appearance, Lieutenant Meacle had a kind and honest face. Keery was amazed that at his age he hadn’t either retired or been promoted beyond Lieutenant. Although, considering his disposition, perhaps it wasn’t too surprising.

Keery led the Lieutenant to the Hall of Peace which was only a short walk from where they were. Meacle hobbled along, keeping up with Keery’s swift pace, even with his apparent old injury. The quartermaster’s comments had been crude, but they aligned with Keery’s frustrations. The Davvis Dynasty had overreached their mandate over the last several decades. Muskell Davvis had been a reasonable man, but only a few years after the secession he died of a weak heart. His son Maglin succeeded him as president and quickly declared himself Emperor. The nobles assembled behind the Davvis family, eager to continue expanding their wealth and influence that had grown with unexpected speed under Muskell.

As Lieutenant Meacle had said, now the Enclave finds itself at war with its former brethren – the children and grandchildren of citizens of the Azurian Republic. Keery struggled to keep the images of the massacre earlier that morning from his mind.

As Keery and Meacle approached a pair of gigantic oak doors, a two yeoman stationed at either side of the entrance stepped forward. They wore the same livery as the man who served the Lord Admiral – the livery of the Royal Guard. One was a large man, tall and equally wide. The other was a shorter man, but he held a long, decorative halberd and looked quite capable of using it.

pulse|| 49

“Please state your business, Captain,” said the larger yeoman.

“I am accompanying Lieutenant Meacle to his appointment in the Hall,” Keery said.

Meacle stepped forward and handed the yeoman the summons, grumbling under his breath.

The yeoman nodded, handed the summons back to Meacle and returned to the door.

With a heave and a grunt, the larger man pulled the massive oak door open just wide enough for one person to pass at a time.

Meacle stepped forward, but Keery hesitated. He had little interest in watching a trial, but the Lieutenant’s passionate arguments had piqued Keery’s interest. He followed Meacle through the entrance.

“You can kindly take your justifications and shove them up your arse, my Lord,” Meacle shouted at the centermost man in panel of five arbiters. The court erupted in a mixture of nervous laughter and uproarious anger. The arbiter at the center of the panel slammed a brass hammer down on the desk and shouted for order. Keery sat in the gallery, entranced by the spectacle of the lieutenant destroying his career.

After the noise had waned, the arbiter at the end of the panel said, “Lieutenant Meacle, you have still not answered Lord Arbiter Stokes’ question.” The arbiter motioned to the arbiter at the center of the panel, a younger man with trimmed brown hair and beard. His searching green eyes betrayed a sharp intelligence.

Stokes asked again, “Were you aware that supplies from your warehouses had been given to refugees from outside the Enclave?”

“Aye, I knew. It’d be hard to miss that much going missing,” Meacle responded, not missing a beat.

Stokes followed up, “Why did you not report the supplies missing?”

“Well it’d hardly be smart to incriminate myself, would it, my Lord?” The court erupted once more.

“To be clear, you are saying you authorized the distribution of these supplies to refugees?”

men lifted Meacle to his feet and escorted him from the room.

“Not so much authorized as distributed myself,” Meacle said.

Stokes considered his next question as the court settled down again. He seemed intrigued at the brutal honesty this man was offering. Keery wanted to know what drove Meacle to such damning declarations as well.

“Why would you do such a thing?” Stokes asked.

Meacle paused, surprised at such an open question. “They’re starving, Arbiter,” he said. “We took the best lands around the city and threw the tenant farmers out to fend for themselves. Without the organization of the Republic or the Enclave, the countryside has devolved to anarchy and warring clans. Regular families can’t provide for themselves. Meanwhile our Emperor gets fat and murders them for trying to feed their families.”

The courtroom as silent as a tomb. This man had said what the working class of Laurel knew, but no one spoke of for fear of retaliation.

“And you would foment rebellion against the Enclave in order to feed refugees?”

Stokes asked.

“Foment rebellion?” Meacle said. “I’m no leader, my Lord. I just do what I can. But I’d sooner die trying to feed them than sit on my hands and watch them starve.”

Stokes considered this answer for a moment, then spoke again, his voice heavy with regret, “Lieutenant Meacle, under the law, I must find you guilty by your own admission in this court. It is regrettable that the Enclave cannot provide for all of Azuria, but stealing from the military is treason with a penalty of death. You will be detained by the Navy until your execution is carried out.” Stokes then set down the brass gavel and removed himself from the room, a look of disgust passing over his face.

Keery stood as yeomen shackled him at the stand. Meacle’s looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting with Keery’s. Keery saw not a shred of regret on Meacle’s face. The yeo-

A flash lit the darkening afternoon sky not far from where the Powdered Maiden was berthed behind the government offices. All eyes in the galley looked out to the sky as the earth began to rumble, then the deep booming of a massive explosion split the air. Everyone was on their feet in an instant and shuffling onto the observation deck to investigate what was happening. Keery stood and followed the crew outside.

As he exited the hatch to the deck, a crackle came over the intercom, followed by Doget’s voice, “Captain, Lord Admiral Colley is calling for you.”

Keery returned inside and picked up the transmitter to the intercom on the wall of the galley, “Patch me through, Commander.”

The receiver hissed as Doget complied. After a moment, his voice came back, “You’re on with the Lord Admiral, sir.”

Keery spoke, “This is Keery, over.”

Colley replied, “Captain, there’s been an explosion at the research labs bordering the stockades.” Her usual authoritative tone was infected with panic. Keery could hear voices in the background as she spoke. She probably had the entire leadership of the Navy in her office.

She continued, “A massive number of refugees have been released and are currently escaping throughout the city.”

“Has anyone been hurt?” Keery asked, astonished.

“Reports are unclear,” Colley said. “You must stop them from escaping.”

“Why don’t we just let them go, my Lord?”

Keery asked. “Surely containing the damage to the research division is more important?”

“A recently convicted criminal was imprisoned with the refugees,” she responded.

“We believe he may try to organize rebellion against the Enclave. You must go now.”

pulse|| 50

“Aye, my Lord,” Keery said, “Doget, are you still on?”

“Yes, Captain,” Doget responded.

Keery tightened his grip on the transmitter, “Prepare the ship for departure.”

The Powdered Maiden rose over the city of Laurel. White but painted pink and orange by the setting sun, a large cloud rose from the site of the explosion at the research laboratories. Keery ordered Commander Doget to take the ship to the outskirts of the city nearest the explosion, hoping to cut the escaping refugees off. He dreaded a repeat of the morning’s massacre, but refusing the Lord Admiral’s orders once more might put him in the chair Meacle occupied just hours prior.

“Lord Admiral Colley to the Powdered Maiden, respond,” crackled the voice on the radio.

“Powdered Maiden here, Captain Keery speaking.”

“Captain, it’s been confirmed that the explosion was a cover,” Colley said. “It appears Lord Arbiter Oscar Stokes initiated a pressure overload in the Ionium Dioxide reactors. The damage is contained and military police have found and dealt with him.

He was aiding the escape of the refugees.”

“We read you, Lord Admiral. We will recapture any that we can,” Keery said.

“Negative, Captain,” Colley responded.

“Capture is not necessary. They must be stopped at any cost. You are ordered to open fire on sight.”

The sky was nearly dark before when the Maiden caught sight of a large group of refugees. Doget gave orders to the crew and navigated the ship into position. The refugees scattered before the Maiden as they heard the engines thrumming toward them. They sought cover, but they were in an open field with sparse vegetation. At the center of the group, one man stood still and stared directly at the ship.

“Prepare to fire,” Doget commanded when the ship came into range.

The refugees continued to scatter, but the one man at the center stood stock-still, as though to openly challenge the Maiden.

Keery stood at the ballistic glass panel at the front of the bridge and stared down at the man. He wore a familiar faded Navy uniform and his bald head shimmered with the rays of the setting sun. Doget approached the window and looked down.

“At last. A civilian that welcomes an honorable death,” he said. “The ship is in position, Captain,” Doget announced. “We will open fire on your order.”

Keery stood silent, staring down at Meacle, the former lieutenant. The man had stood by his principles and challenged the nobles to their faces in open court. Now he stood and challenged a cruiser of the Imperial Navy. Meacle’s spirit shook Keery more than even the engines of the Maiden.

Keery looked over Doget’s shoulders and shouted, “You will follow my orders.”

The bridge crew immediately began preparations to set down, but Doget continued to stand in front of Keery.

“Captain, I must inform you that you are disobeying a direct order from the Lord Admiral,” Doget said. The bridge crew slowed their preparations and stared at their commanding officers.

“This is mutiny, Doget,” Keery said.

“Airman Garry,” Doget said.

Garry stepped apart from the bridge crew, “Yes, Commander?”

“Restrain the Captain,” Doget ordered.

Garry hesitated, looking first at Doget with shock, then to the Captain. Keery looked back at Garry.

Keery spoke, “Do what is right, Airman.”

Garry nodded, “I cannot obey that order, Commander.”

“Damn you, Airman,” Doget shouted.

“Captain, please accompany me to the brig.

I am relieving you of command.”

Doget spoke again, “Captain, should we open fire?”

“I will not leave the bridge, Commander,” Keery said.

Keery turned to face Doget, “Negative, Commander. Set the ship down.”

Rage filled Doget’s eyes as he drew his saber and stepped back. “They never should have expected anything else from an up-jumped commoner,” he said.

“Excuse me, sir?”

“I said set the ship down, Commander.”

Keery stood stunned. He would have blood on his hands again.

Doget’s eyes went wide, “Captain…”

Colley’s voice crackled on again, “Do you copy, Captain?”

“You have your orders,” Keery said, looking directly at Doget.

Keery raised the transmitter to his mouth once more, “Aye, we copy.” He set the transmitter down and turned to Commander Doget, “Find them.”

Doget turned and looked at the rest of the bridge crew, which returned his stunned gaze.

“Aye, sir,” Doget confirmed.

“I can’t do that, sir,” Doget responded.

“Is there a problem, Commander?” Keery asked.

Keery frowned and stepped back from Doget, but before he could draw his own saber, Doget lunged at him. Keery moved aside as the blade slid past him. Keery drew his saber and rounded on Doget, who recovered and brought his blade to meet Keery’s. Airman Garry stepped back and drew his sword, but did not engage. The rest of the bridge crew watched in surprise.

Doget pushed Keery’s saber aside and brought his blade down in a swift downward cut. Keery stepped backward and re-

pulse|| 51

taliated with a sideways strike, finding an opening in Doget’s defense. Keery’s blade bit into Doget’s sword-arm and a spray of hot blood erupted from it. Doget cried in pain and dropped his sword. Without a hesitation, Keery brought his sword around in a powerful arc and struck the Commander at his neck. Doget’s head cut cleanly and fell with a metallic thud to the floor of the bridge. Blood pumped from his neck as Doget’s body crumpled to the floor.

Garry turned and addressed the bridge crew, “You heard the Captain! Land the ship!”

Keery faced the crew, blood spatter staining his uniform, “I hope there are no other objections.”

A few minutes later, Meacle stepped onto the bridge and saw the mess of blood surrounding Doget’s body. “Looks like you

The Maiden alighted on the field within a minute. Keery turned back to the bridge window and saw Meacle still standing in front of the ship, staring right back at him.

Keery motioned for him to come aboard, and ordered the bridge crew to open the main hatch.

need a new first officer, Keery,” he said.

“I think I’ll need a great deal more than that,” Keery said, “but a first officer’s a start.”

He offered a hand to Meacle.

Meacle pushed it aside and stepped toward Keery, embracing him and guffawing, “Ha! I guess we’ll have to make do!” He stood back and pointed out the window.

Keery turned around and saw the file of refugees boarding the Powdered Maiden and smiled.

Read the next installment of Moral Imperative in CWU's Manastash Literary Magazine, publishing June of 2013

Pocketwatch // Pinterest.com

pulse|| 52

pulse|| 53

Circular Motion Pat Hoffman

A

ccumulating more currency and becoming a better man, he flies through the clouds with a sleek wing tipped jet that costs more than all of our lives combined. Bask in it. Money is a necessity in life, but some worship their bulging bank accounts.

The bad deeds of my existence have barely harmed anyone. Maybe I hurt their feelings. But do you know what my intentions are? Your narcissism, big man, will ruin countless lives of humans, dolphins, elephants, and trees, every single day. You poach for horns and relentlessly leave the bodies to rot.

The dentine husks are like your bones.

Why do elephants have massive brains, but cannot speak like humans? You Mr. Elephant may be a product of the Encephalization Quotient. A bigger brain for a broader body? Humans, with their

tremendous frontal lobes, are animals just like you, kind souled elephant. So fuck you poacher: doing everything for your ego and your wallet.

And then they try to convince you to follow their lead. Searching for a life of excess and an obsession with power.

Every commercial wants to fixate you with becoming someone built upon their fairy tale image of glory. A new Mercedes to be sophisticated and beautiful. Take some ExtenZe if you aren't proud of your bulge. Someone should take a bat and beat the television of owned media into mush. But I still enjoy some of the shows.

I went to a famous restaurant with a friend's affectionate family. Eavesdropping my way into others' social lives, the man next to me is bragging about his hotels. It's okay. The woman at

the bar is stunning. I stare at her, not thinking sex, but wondering what she believes. What do you think? Staring back, she examines me: I guess she likes my face. The only way I could have her is if I had a wad of cash oozing from my mouth onto my suit. But I am a judgmental bastard. She could have a heart of diamonds, or a heart of soft unheard daisies just beginning to blossom. Perception forces me to judge everything that surrounds me. The intent of the judgment is of utmost importance. We are shaped by endless circumstances, situations and stimuli. But in the end, all of our lives are like a mosquitoe's short journey; we disappear. My intentions may be different than yours, yet we still end up in the same place. Hold your equanimity close.

Log Cabin in the Valley Pat Hoffman

Living in the forest and losing track of the modern age, with one hundred cans of soup and an Osage Orange bow.

Accepting anything with no correct way to behave.

Stuck in contemplation, no longer as a wage-slave.

Fishing on the river and letting the mind go through the forest while losing track of the modern age.

Forget about the woes of the weathered world stage.

Without a clock, time can learn to drag out slow.

Accepting anything with no lawful way to behave.

Russell, Schopenhauer, and Schlick, continuously turning the page.

Observing a hummingbird and wondering what she knows from living in the forest and losing track of the modern age.

The evergreens still stand here, not living in a cage, swaying with ease while absorbing the fumes of coal; they accept anything with a natural way to behave.

Oxygen crisp enough to help one let go of the world's blind rage.

Eyes focused straight ahead, just allowing the ball to roll.

Living in the forest and losing track of the modern age.

Accepting anything with no proper way to behave.

pulse|| 54

Spokane Drive // Smith

pulse|| 55

May 2013 OPR Calendar Sunday

Kayak Pool Session28

Monday

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday

29 Sunset Hikes

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tunnel Falls (cont’d) 5 Intro to Whitewater 6 Sunset Hikes Kayak Pool Session

Kayaking Class 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

30

Wedne

7 Intro to Wh

Kayaking 7 p.m. to

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Intro to Whitewater 12 Kayaking Class 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

14

Intro to Whitewater Kayaking Class 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Intro to Whitewater 19 Kayaking Class 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

River Rafting

13 Sunset Hikes

26 River Rafting

20 Sunset Hikes

21 Challenge

27 Sunset Hikes

28

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Open Hou

pulse|| 56

esday

1

Thursday

2 Tunnel Falls

Backpacking Trip

hitewater 8 Rock Climbing: g Class Vantage 9 p.m.

Friday

9

Saturday

3 Tunnel Falls (cont’d) 4

10 Intro to Whitewater 11 Kayaking Class 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

17

18

23 River Rafting Trip

24 River Rafting

25

30

31

15 Intro to Whitewater 16 Kayaking Class 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Course 22

urs 5 p.m.

29

All Day

1

Manastash Ridge // Ronald Hanko

pulse|| 57

COM 446

cwupulse.com

Terri Reddout at Reddoutt@cwu.edu

COM 481 pulse|| 58

pulse|| 59

pulse|| 60