rawr ‘Walking in a winter wonderland’
12.12.2014 Vol. 5 No. 14
Vandals holiday
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UI Jazzes it up
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Chirstmas Cliche
ShaneWellner Wellner| |Rawr Rawr Shane
horoscopes The Argonaut
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Your work in
Rawr illustration photography mixed media paintings sculptures short fiction poetry non-fiction Rawr is an alternative weekly publication covering art, culture, campus life and entertainment. We are accepting all forms of art and creativity to be featured inside the publication or on the cover. Email: arg-arts@uidaho.edu
12.12.14
Sagittarius 11/22-12/21 December is the month of closure for a lot of signs, but especially you, Sagittarius. Do not be surprised if any relationships come to an end soon, they are supposed to. Capricorn 12/22-1/19
Your expectations have been rather high lately. Keep your standards high, but lower your expectations so you aren’t constantly disappointed.
Aquarius 1/20-2/18
The sun is an important aspect of your life this month. Try to spend more time outdoors. Take in some vitamin D and soak in a few rays.
Pisces 2/19-3/20
As the year comes to a close, it is a time to work hard to achieve the goals you have previously put off. You will have success in whatever you set your mind towards.
Aries 3/21-4/19 This is a good month to reflect, not only your year, but also your life. Decide if your current habits best rep-
resent who you want to be. If it’s not, figure out how to change it.
Taurus 4/20-5/20 Remember to not compare yourself to others. Everyone is going through their own thing and most people act based off the best interests of themselves.
Gemini 5/21-6/21 Concentrate on the needs of others this holiday season. Remember to show others how much you love and appreciate them.
Cancer 6/22-7/22 Show a little more trust in others. Let your walls down and talk to friends and family about what is bothering you.
Alexia Neal | Rawr
Leo 7/23-8/22
Some things shouldn’t be planned. It’s OK to enjoy life without trying to be in control all the time.
Virgo 8/23-9/22 December is a good time to change your perspective on life. Start thinking about things in a more positive way and watch your life turn more positive as well.
Libra 9/23-10/22
The world isn’t out to get you. Both good and bad things happen to teach people lessons. Sometimes, it takes a while to find out what those lessons are.
Scorpio 10/23-11/21 This was a long year and it’s good to have some down time at the end of it. Get some sleep and cuddle up by a fireplace somewhere.
Graduation songs The end of the semester means another batch of students will graduate and move on to bigger and better things. Here’s a send-off playlist to all of those who are just days away from walking at the upcoming graduation ceremony.
dosage of teen angst everyone is still trying to outgrow.
“Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” by Green Day
This nausea-inducing, sappy ballad topped with extra cheese seems to pop Masen up at every significant “Graduate” by Matthews event from weddings to rawr funerals. Graduation is cerThird Eye Blind tainly a significant event, Third Eye Blind which warrants the inclusion is a nostalgic ‘90s band most of this song. “Good Riddance” graduates are sure to recogis like an annoying aunt who’s nize. “Graduate” is a relevant everywhere she doesn’t need to contribution to the occasion. be, but this song’s overstayed It may not be the best song welcome is a critical addition to by the band, but it’s definitely any graduation experience. catchy and has the perfect
“Coffee And Cigarettes” by Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World released this track several years after their commercial peak and the lyrics are sure to induce self-reflection and nostalgia for anyone who’s paying attention. The song is also super-catchy and the chorus will stay in your head for weeks.
“Forever Young” by Alphaville Fans of Napoleon Dynamite and corny slideshows need to have this song on their graduation playlist. It’s another cheesy classic and most people are bound to hate it. Regardless,
graduation is characterized by horrid oldie ballads like this one, so crank up the volume and walk around in your graduation robes proudly.
“Wonderwall” by Oasis This is the one track to remind you of every instance during college when you looked at someone and made the decision to not be friends with them. Whether it was
the student serenading his girlfriend while a bunch of onlookers laughed or the guy drenched in cheap cologne sitting outside of the library, this is the ultimate track to laugh at in universities across the nation. Here’s to hoping nobody will have to hear this song again once they’ve moved on. Masen Matthews can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
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Vivir mi aventura incredible demonstration on how to cool I have been in a different country each chocolate before we headed to a room to weekend and I’ve found myself wanting to practice our own chocolate making. enjoy the short time I have left in Europe by First, we were given pre-made truffle exploring these countries, rather than write. fillings to dump into a big bowl of melted One of the best parts about living in San Sebastian is on any given weekend chocolate and then transferred them to you can take a day trip to the one of three different toppings. Basque country of France for just Then we were given a baggie full of a two euro train ride, which is exmelted chocolate to make designs actly what my friend Summer and or blobs of chocolate in which we I did Nov. 14. would garnish with dried pineI just finished teaching Engapple or nuts. My favorite part was lish to a group of children, when making the chocolate bar where I Summer sent me a text telling me Emily sprinkled crushed nuts over the top. there was a train leaving to BayVaartstra Of course, we got to take all our onne, France, in two hours and we rawr creations home. were getting on it. Brussels was a quick little trip of We randomly went to France for the eating lots of chocolate and three days afday, spent less than 20 euro and still made ter returning to Spain, I hopped on another great memories while drinking French plane to Amsterdam, Holland. wine. It blew my mind. Everyone jokes about how Amsterdam As the semester winds down, many is the city with no rules, it’s not a joke. USAC students are trying to cram in weekBut, despite some sketchy places in the end trips to other countries in Europe, city, Amsterdam was one of the most including myself. amazing places I’ve ever been. I fell in love The weekend of Nov. 21, I went to almost immediately. Brussels, Belgium. All I can say is, getting The hostel we stayed at was refree samples at almost every chocolate ally nice too, and we made some cool shop you walk into will fill you up and acquaintances there and got a lot of free have your chocolate craving satisfied food out of them. The free breakfasts within minutes. were super big and fancy with fresh Brussels was also my first experience in made French toast, Dutch-style pancakes a hostel. Trying to navigate to our hostel and fried eggs with cheese and ham. We in the dark was an adventure in itself, even got to have a free dinner one night but I was pleasantly surprised at the nice and a free lunch of leftover pancakes. atmosphere and cleanliness of our room, We visited places like Vondel Park, despite its sketchy location. Rijksmuseum, Dam Square, this super For dinner, we headed to Grand Place, adorable and delish Cheese Museum and a popular tourist location at the center of lots of other places, but my favorite was by the city. We found a fantastic restaurant far the Anne Frank House. It was surreal to with great food for a reasonable price and walk up those staircases and to read about we enjoyed walking into several chocolate each room in the Secret Annex. shops for free samples. I also had my first Our last night there, Summer and I decided French macaroon and I may be addicted. we wanted a have an authentic Dutch dinner The next day, we set out to explore the city and our first item on the agenda was and we were not disappointed. As a matter of to go to the chocolate museum. While fact, we still constantly bring up how insanely learning more about the history of chocodelicious the meal was, even as we were eatlate and its origin was really amazing, the ing meals in Spain and Italy. best part was the demonstration on how It was difficult to leave Amsterdam, but to make the filled chocolates you would I am 100 percent positive I will come back see in the store. We watched the chocoto Holland soon to visit the rest of it. latier work his magic, and even though we With just two-and-a-half short days were feeling sick from all the chocolate back in San Sebastian, Summer and I samples we had already been given, we hopped on another plane to Rome, Italy. snatched the heart-shaped sample he had We are resting in our hostel right now, pulled fresh out of the fridge. satisfied and content with the five days The highlight of my Brussels trip was we have spent in both Rome and Florence. the chocolate making class we took at Emily Vaartstra Zaabar Chocolatier. Not only were there can be reached at samplers there, we got a free shot of arg-arts@uidaho.edu spiced hot chocolate and watched an
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Planes, trains and five countries
Emily Vaartstra | Rawr
Clockwise from above: The “I amsterdam” sign in front of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Holland. French macaroons on display in a store near Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium. A Belgium chocolatier demonstrated how to make hollowed chocolates at the Chocolate Museum in Brussels.
The Argonaut
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SPEAK
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Vandal traditions Cy Whitling rawr
From ugly sweaters to exotic meals, or from gift giving squirrels to seafood and family board games, the holiday season is full of different traditions.
Sophomore Morgan Murdock said her family has a tradition of bonding through adversity for Christmas. “My family always goes out, way into the timberline past all form of human civilization to get our Christmas tree,” Murdock said. “You don’t really know what family bonding is until you’ve been hiking through the Alaskan timberline looking for your Christmas tree for five hours.”
Morgan Murdock UI sophomore
For sophomore Allison Gray, the food is important in the holiday festivities as well. “My favorite Christmas tradition is having crab and seafood on Christmas Eve and then opening stockings,” Gray said.
It’s a little more simple for junior Ben Perley.“Mostly just food,” Perley said. “Usually every Christmas my dad makes our whole family beef wellington.” According to Perley, his family also opens one present on Christmas Eve and the rest the following morning.
Allison Gray UI sophomore
Ben Perley UI junior
For freshman Trevor Morse, Christmas morning starts with a family breakfast. “My mom makes a really good sausage, egg, scramble thing. It’s pretty much the one day a year that we have it,” Morse said. Trevor Morse UI freshman
Senior Emalee Long said she enjoys her extended family’s Christmas party. “We do a white elephant gift party with our whole entire family, grandparents, cousins, everybody,” Long said. On Christmas Eve, they have clam chowder and everyone from the family opens one present. On Christmas day they all go out to see a movie, Long said. Emalee Long UI senior
“When my sister was little we taped her voice, and she was four, and she had this really really cute voice,” Roman said. Now the family listens to the tape every Christmas and it’s “just this big laughing fest.” They also set up a traditional nativity scene in front of the Christmas tree. Joanne Roman UI student
Junior Jacob Kline said on Christmas Eve him and his siblings open their presents to one another, as well as mysterious presents from the local squirrels. “The squirrels are a family tradition of the squirrels that live in our huge oak tree out back, and the squirrels always give us pajamas for Christmas,” Kline said. Jacob Kline UI junior
Cy Whitling can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
Rawr
2014 represented in music Five of the best albums to emerge in 2014 2014 was another big year for music, with bigname releases coming from every genre, from country to hip-hop. With new albums dropping weekly, it was difficult to stay on top of the new releases. Here’s a list of a few of the best albums to come out this year.
5. “El Pintor” by Interpol
tween rappers Killer Mike and El-P, and the release of the original “Run the Jewels” album came soon after. After touring relentlessly through 2014, including headlining Boise’s Treefort Music Fest in the spring, the duo is back with a sophomore album. “Run the Jewels 2” is toned down in comparison to its predecessor in terms of raw speed and aggression, but the verses and beats are still top notch. The album features guest appearances from a multitude of different artists, including Rage Against the Machine’s front man Zack de la Rocha. All of this helps to form their release, which is the furthest thing from a sophomore slump.
Interpol’s first album in four years was 3. “Another Language” by This Will Masen fantastic on every front. This was epitomized s thew Mat in the first track, “All the Rage Back Home,” Destroy You rawr which featured lush layers of guitar riffs and “Another Language” is a euphoric journey driving verses along with a catchy chorus. through the depths of post-rock. The result is It’s one of the best songs Interpol has released to date a sprawling dosage of ambient guitar riffs, pounding and the rest of the album follows suit. “El Pintor” is evdrums and textured keyboard backtracks. The predeerything a rock album should be and it’s refreshing to cessor to this album was a timid affair, but it’s safe to hear innovative music within such a saturated genre. say This Will Destroy You reestablished itself as one of the front-running bands in its genre. Everything about 4. “Run the Jewels 2” by Run the Jewels “Another Language” manages to be peaceful and Run the Jewels exploded into the hip-hop scene nonabrasive without being self-absorbed or formless, last year as a moniker for the hyped collaboration bewhich makes it a cohesive listen from start to end.
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2. “Here and Nowhere Else” by Cloud Nothings Cloud Nothings’ fourth release is the latest addition to its catalog of alternative rock. It’s not as grating or in-your-face as the band’s past releases, but the songwriting faced an increase in quality. Despite clocking in at a mere 32 minutes across eight tracks, “Here and Nfowhere Else” manages to say everything it needs to say and there’s a commendable lack of filler. Fans of groups like Japandroids and Death From Above 1979 should hear this before leaping into 2015.
1. “Foundations of Burden” by Pallbearer This album is a drawn out, sludgy doom metal affair and the approach fits Pallbearer’s songwriting style. “Foundations of Burden” was critically acclaimed as one of the best releases in its genre to drop during 2014. Most of the tracks are on the lengthier side, with many of them clocking in above 10 minutes each, but each one manages to grasp the attention of its listener in different ways. Down-tuned guitar riffs backed by massive rhythm sections help create the sounds of a top-notch album, and this release deserves allthe positive attention it gets. Masen Matthews can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken A Crumbs Recipe Card Jordan Hollingshead crumbs
Whoever thought of wrapping chicken with bacon should go down in history as the greatest person to ever live. For all you meat lovers out there, this recipe is right up your alley.
Ingredients 4-6 slices bacon 2 chicken breasts 1 red pepper shredded cheese salt and pepper (optional)
Directions 1. Butterfly cut both chicken breast 2. Salt and pepper inside the chicken breasts 3. cut the red pepper si it is able to lay flat and put inside the chicken breast with the shredded cheese 4. Fold the chicken back together and carefully wrap the chicken in bacon 5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes 6. When chickenis cooked throughly, set oven to broil for two minutes to crisp the bacon Jordan Hollingshead can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu
Jordan Hollingshead | Crumbs
The Argonaut
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Aly Soto | Rawr
Survival tips for finals Don’t let end-of-course exams bring you down The sounds of murdered social lives are haunting ears across Moscow and they can only mean one thing: finals. It’s a time for mass hysteria, mental breakdowns and falling asleep over stacks of textbooks. Luckily, there are quick tips to make life easier while slaving away over countless study guides.
Stay healthy
in hundreds of grams of added sugar and other sweeteners.
Time management
A crucial step to succeeding with finals is to manage time appropriately. Don’t procrastinate until the night before a test to start studying. Schedules for finals have been posted since the first day of the semester. There’s no room for excuses! Breaking up days of the week to dedicate certain times to certain subjects is helpful as well. Preparing for several tests at once can Masen be daunting, but figuring out what and to Matthews study and when to do it is incredibly helpful.
Avoid detrimental behaviors, if possible. This means no all-nighters, no caffeine or any other habits that create stress. Obviously, this is much easier said than done. Regardless, the human brain isn’t at its sharpest when it’s busy trying to stay awake after less than two hours of sleep. When caffeinating, try to drink coffee or tea instead of energy drinks and soft drinks. It’s better to drink something natural than to indulge
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Studying
Efficient study habits are a big part of doing well in finals. Find a quiet spot to hide away in, like an apartment or the library. Finding what works on a personal level is key, too. Some people do well with flash cards, others do bet-
ter with outlines. No two brains work alike, so figure out what works best and act on it. Taking breaks is important as well. Get up and go to the bathroom or make a phone call every 30 minutes to avoid fatigue.
Know the test While it may seem obvious, it’s important to know what will be on the final. Final exams could be comprehensive or they could be based on a particular unit. Some are multiple choice, while others come in essay form. Most professors give out review guides, so be sure to know those from front to back. Outlining a review guide, or even an entire curriculum, can make all the difference. Finals aren’t fun at all, but they’re not going away. Use these tips to prepare ahead of time and watch those final grades shoot up after acing every test. Masen Matthews can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
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Mike Locke | Courtesy
Every year the Lionel Hampton School of Music’s Jazz Choir hosts a holiday conert. This year over 700 people are to flush out the risers to sing some holiday songs.
Seven hundred voices strong UI Lionel Hampton School of Music to host annual Jazz Choirs Holiday Concert Lyndsie Kiebert rawr
Every community has its traditions, each with a unique and long-standing significance. According to Moscow native and University of Idaho freshman Elaine Zabriskie, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Choir’s annual Holiday Concert is one of those traditions. Zabriskie performed in the concert once in third grade and again when she was a junior in high school. Her family attends the event every year. “When I was in third grade, I didn’t understand,” Zabriskie said. “I was in awe of it all, but when I came back as a junior, I was even more so. I finally realized how much work went into this. It wasn’t just magic, it was hard work.” The Jazz Choir’s Holiday Concert began nearly 30 years ago with the help
of long-time Jazz Choir Director Daniel Bukvich. The event has since stitched itself into the patchwork of Moscow’s Christmas traditions, creating fond memories for students like Zabriskie, Bukvich said. The concert incorporates elementary, junior high and high school students throughout North Idaho and Eastern Washington. These students collaborate with UI’s jazz choir program and orchestra to perform holiday music. The music varies from classic carols to original music arranged by Bukvich and his colleagues, as well as a few pieces arranged by UI students. The Kibbie Dome — where the concert is traditionally held — is filled with roughly 700 voices, singing about the joys of the holiday season, Bukvich said. The featured musicians and vari-
ous choirs only have one rehearsal as a whole group before the event. Often times, accompanying musicians do not see their sheet music until the day of the performance, Bukvich said. “It’s a taste of the real world for our students who want to be professional musicians,” Bukvich said. Their hard work and dedication has not wavered over the years, resulting in an event the entire Palouse can be proud of. Bukvich said he credits local volunteers and supporters for shaping the concert into what it is today, and said he hopes to see the growth continue. “We have a huge commitment as a school of music and a university to the community of Moscow,” Bukvich said. “This is a great tradition. It’s a way to every year just go, ‘It’s nice to be here.’” Zabriskie said she is proud to be a part of such a meaningful, far-reaching
more information The Holiday Concert is from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 in the Kibbie Dome. Admission is by donation. Proceeds will go to the Lionel Hampton School of Music.
holiday tradition. “Everyone is showcasing their talents and being spirited, and it’s just nice to be around a bunch of people who really care,” Zabriskie said. Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
The Argonaut
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Cy Whitling | Rawr
Scotchman’s peak is great for either a day hike or overnight camping, and offers great views of Lake Pend Oriel. It is just one of the wild destinations close to Moscow.
Three for three wilderness stretching north. In the late summer and fall, huckleberries grow on the lower slopes and in the meadows at the base. With the berries come bears, and it is recommended to come prepared with bear spray. At the peak, a herd of mountain goats reside. They will eat anything salty and are known to nibble on sweaty shirts or socks left to dry on the rocks. It is also important not to feed the goats, as a man was gored in the area last year. Hiking Scotchman’s will take up a solid day hike or you can camp at the peak. Unfortunately there is tling Cy Whi no water at the peak though, so travelers must rawr pack their own.
When it comes to traveling, there is something I like to call “the three hour rule.” If a destination is within three hours, it is usually feasible to visit for a weekend. Three hours takes a traveler far enough away to allow then to access new places and experiences. Anything more than three hours and it becomes a full blown road trip. Moscow is perfectly located for the three hour rule. I’m still exploring the possibilities, but here are three destinations worth visiting within about three- hours of town.
Scotchman Peak
Scotchman’s Peak is located near Clark Fork, on Lake Pend Oriel in Northern Idaho. After a mellow drive across the lake, through Sandpoint and finally along some winding forest service roads there is a dead end at a gravel parking lot. From this lot the well-marked trail winds up the mountain with 3,700 feet of elevation gain in a little over four miles. As it reaches the peak, the dense woods open into meadows with views of the lake and barren boulder fields near the summit. At the top, visitors are treated to incredible views of the lake and
Ice Lake Southwest of Moscow, Ice Lake is located in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in Oregon’s Wallowa. After a winding drive visitors arrive at the Wallowa Lake trailhead. From there, it is about an eight mile hike to the lake. With a substantial elevation gain, this one is not for the faint of heart. Along with great views of the mountains, there is also a log bridge and interesting rock formations
Three destinations within three hours of Moscow
along the way. The lake is surprisingly large and has great trout fishing as well as cold and refreshing water. From there you can summit several other peaks overlooking the lake. Ice Lake is also perfect for camping trips.
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs Jerry Johnson Hot Springs offers something different than the other destinations. There is no long arduous hike with a huge elevation gain. Instead, travelers would take a drive down through Lewiston toward Missoula. From the parking lot, it is a little over a mile hike in on a soggy trail though cedars and ferns. The hot springs are easy to spot, as their steam rises through the trees. There are several pools of varying sizes and temperatures spread throughout the area. It’s not often one gets to relax in a natural jacuzzi, and after a quick dip in the nearby icy river, the springs offer a perfect escape. Moscow is surrounded with destinations. Get out and drive for a few hours to know the area better. Cy Whitling can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
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A collegiate 10 days of Christmas They’re only tired old sayings because they are true ‘Tis the season to kick off the holiday clichés. As snow starts to pile up and Christmas carols fill the airwaves, we are reminded of the many tired old phrases that inCy habit this season. While Whitling some readers may exerrawr cise their inner Grinch and try to steal our long hallowed mannerisms, we must resist. We must stand strong, dismissing them with a jolly “Bah, humbug.” We cannot let the ghosts of headlines past haunt us. We cannot bow to Jack Frost’s icy will. Yes Virginia, we will stand tall and proud. We will embrace our cliches and revel in them, we will make our weakness our strength and stand proudly upon it, like that Jolly old elf, Kris Kringle, perched atop a heap of presents! With this conflict in mind I bring you the college student’s 10 Days of Christmas. On the first day of Christmas, My teacher gave to me: A final tha-at scared me. On the second day of Christmas, My mother gave to me: Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the third day of Christmas, My adviser gave to me: Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the fourth day of Christmas, My editor gave to me: Four boring stories, Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies , And a final tha-at scared me. On the fifth day of Christmas, My best friend gave to me: Five goofy snapchats, Four boring stories, Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the sixth day of Christmas, Don Verlin gave to me: Six winning games, Five goofy snapchats, Four boring stories,
Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the seventh day of Christmas, UI gave to me: Seven student loans, Six winning games, Five goofy snapchats, Four boring stories, Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the eighth day of Christmas, My college gave to me: Eight snow days, Seven student loans, Six winning games, Five goofy snapchats, Four boring stories, Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the ninth day of Christmas, My professor gave to me: Nine group projects, Eight snow days, Seven student loans, Six winning games, Five goofy snapchats, Four boring stories, Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. On the 10th day of Christmas, All my teachers gave to me: Ten final papers, Nine group projects, Eight snow days, Seven student loans, Six winning games, Five goofy snapchats, Four boring stories, Three internships pending, Two frosted cookies, And a final tha-at scared me. Through all the adversity Christmas can bring, stay strong. Make like a snowplow and push through. It won’t be too long until you’ll be throwing back eggnog and sugar cookies. Embrace the holiday cliches. You only get to use them once a year. Cy Whitling can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu
Shane Wellner | Rawr
The Argonaut
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Friday Fiction
The curse of finals past Claire Whitley rawr
The morning was just like any other. I brought my ice skates to school so I could play some hockey in front of the Idaho Commons, my buddies and I terrorized some squirrels and I didn’t bother to study. Not a word, not a page, not a theory or train of thought passed between my notebooks and my eyes. We went out that night to a party on 1st Street and I’m not entirely sure how I made it home. That night was when the dreams started. I dreamt of last year when I earned straight As. I made the dean’s list two semesters in a row, but my entire social life was lacking. I dreamt of the late nights I spent hovered over my desk and the jeers of the other people on my floor as they went out on Friday nights. I woke up in the middle of the night confused. I wondered where I was, and it took me several minutes before I realized I was in my apartment, wrapped up in the blanket my mom gave me for Christmas last year. I must have fallen asleep on the couch watching “A Christmas Carol” again. All of those weird ghosts and funky hallucinations seemed to be tripping me out. I grabbed a glass of water and headed to my room. As I shut off the light, I heard a tapping sound. Tap. Tap. I looked around in the dark, straining to see what could possibly be making the noise. Tap. Tap. Tap tap tap! It grew frantic, louder, closer. I suppressed a scream. Then, floating in front of me was the textbook I used for my integrated seminar class last year. The ethereal book seemed as if it was judging me in my blanket burrito. How could I be awake at 1:00 a.m. with a final lurking on the horizon? I ignored the book, however. I was tired and still slightly intoxicated. I buried my head under a pillow and fell fast asleep. The next morning was just the same.
Shane Wellner | Rawr
I brought my ice skates to the Idaho Commons and played hockey, then sat at Einstein’s watching herds of freshmen and studying students. It was a typical day. I picked up The Argonaut, read the same news I read yesterday… Wait. It was Friday. A new issue of the paper should have been out by now. The rest of my day went by in a cloud as I pondered the situation. There was no way. I picked up an old paper, that’s all. That night my friends and I went to a party on 1st Street. I don’t remember how I got home, but I remember falling asleep watching an ABC special showing of “A Christmas Carol.” Rustle. Rustle. Flip. Flip. Rustle. Flip. Tap. I groaned and rolled over, landing face first on my living room floor. Glaring around my in search of whoever had woken me up, I noticed my statistics notebook on the coffee table. Ignoring the shimmering white paper, I pulled myself to the kitchen for a glass of water. Rustle. I stiffened and glanced over my
shoulder. My notebook was hovering off the table slightly, the pages turning on its own command. I saw words, numbers, doodles stuck as they had been yesterday when I was in class. Then, there was a scratching sound as words were scrawled across the front of the page. “You should be studying.” With a gulp and an indifferent sniff, I turned on my heel and went to my bedroom. I dreamt of sugar plums. The following day was a disaster. I forgot my skates, couldn’t play hockey, didn’t have my wallet and my backpack was full of books. Not that I intended on doing any studying of course, but I must have forgotten to take the books out this morning in my sleep deprived stupor. I went to the same party I’d gone to before, but decided to only have a few drinks. My friends called me a baby and continued playing King’s Cup. After a few hours, I went home and decided to watch a different Christmas special. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was on Nickelodeon. This time I woke up to the sounds
of a restaurant. Cash registers beeped, grease gurgled and orders were being called out to customers. I squeezed my eyes shut against the noise. When I dared to peek, I had to repress every urge to scream. There I was, standing in my kitchen wearing an atrocious McDonald’s outfit, flipping burgers, chewing gum and looking bored. The zombie food service worker version of me glanced over her shoulder. “I wanted to be an engineer. One that solved the genome sequence and cured cancer. But now I just flip burgers.” I sprinted to my room and slammed the door. Pulling out my books, pens and any paper I could find, I flipped on my desk light and studied like I never had before. I didn’t sleep that night. “Seriously? Did you sleep all day again?” I opened one eye languidly and glanced around my little apartment. “What day is it?” I heard myself ask my roommate. “Oh, come off it. It’s Friday. December 12.” I closed my eyes again with a smile.
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Fr ctoi a F
Elves are the modern day versions of “Nature folk” described in Pagan religions of the past.
The traditional Christmas dinner in England used to be a pig head prepared with mustard sauce.
It was once believed that any woman who stood under mistletoe and was not kissed would not marry the coming year.
Forego throwing out your Christmas tree and make it lunch. The Evergreen is actually edible, well most parts of it anyway. In addition, it is nutrient enriched, so if you take the advice stated previously you’d be getting a good source of Vitamin C and roughage.
If you counted all the gifts that were given in the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” you would realize that the number of gifts being presented were 364 in total, thus a gift was given for each day of the year.
Kris Kringle really lives in the North Pole. But guess what he foregoes the reindeer and drives a 1984 Ford Tempo, additionally; he delivers Pizza instead of working in a magical toy shop.
From christmasfacts.net
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Taradiddle 1. A small lie or fib 2. Pretentious nonsense
Example: During secret Santa times it is okay to tell a few taradiddles.
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Rawr
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12.12.14
Congratulations University of Idaho grads!
Idaho Commons: 885 . 2667 info@uidaho.edu
Student Union: 885 . 4636 www.sub.uidaho.edu