INSIDE: REO SPEEDWAGON, THREE DOG NIGHT HEADLINE FREEDOM FEST • PAGE 4

La Crosse's Free PressVOLUME 10, NO. 23 | JUNE 17, 2010

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PLUS: SOCIAL NETWORKING • PAGE 6 | NINE INCH NAILS ALBUM REVIEW • PAGE 7 | THE ADVICE GODDESS • PAGE 11

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BehindBlindfoldthe

Sharing the insights of tribal trance dance

ALSO ...The MajakMixtape

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2// June 17, 2010 Second Supper

LOGISTICS HEALTHINCORPORATEDLHI ®

LA CROSSE BEVERAGE, LLC La Crosse Radio Group

TM

Thanks to our Colonel-Level Sponsors: E. Stanek Electric, McHugh Excavating, Merchants Bank, Coulee Bank, Associated Bank, Cleary Kumm Foundation, US Bank, Collins Sign, Dairyland Power Coop

T H A N K S T O O U R S P O N S O R S !

Second Supper June 17, 2010 // 3

Sip the fruit of the vine to aid breast cancer fi ght A wine and beer tasting will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thurs-

day, June 24, at Riverside Center South, 332 Front St., to benefi t Gundersen Lutheran's Nor-ma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care. The event is sponsored by Festival Foods and includes a silent auction and door prizes. Tickets are $30 each or two for $50. They are available at Fes-tival Foods locations and the Gundersen Lu-

theran Medical Foundation. The event will be held in the Cargill Room.

See a premiere and meet the 'Human Google' Thanks to an extremely rare condition called "hyperthymesia," La Crosse radio anchor Brad Williams can recall in explicit detail nearly every day of his life. Brad and his uncanny memory are the

subjects of the fascinating and hilarious documentary "Unforgettable," showing at The Pump House Regional Arts Center, 119 King St., at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 24 and 25. Brad's brother, fi lmmaker Eric Williams, documents Brad's

cross-country trek, which includes interviews with Regis and Kelly, Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America; a trivia match with Jeopardy! all-star Ken Jennings; and a man-vs.-machine race between the "Human Google" and the real Google. For more info, visit www.unforgettabledoc.com. Tickets are $9 in advance and $12 on the day-of, and are available at www.thepumphouse.org or by phone at (608) 785-1434. Director Eric Williams and star Brad Williams will be in attendance both nights to introduce the fi lm and conduct post-screening Q&As.

TheTop

FIRST THINGS FIRSTThings To Do

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Best Canadian musicians1. Neil Young2. Leonard Cohen3. Joni Mitchell4. Neil Peart5. Maynard Ferguson6. Robbie Robertson7. Drake

Worst Canadian musicians1. Snow2. Chad Kroeger3. Justin Bieber4. Celine Dion5. Paul Anka6. Bryan Adams7. Sebastian Bach

Support our local big band The Great River Big Band, the area's only jazz repertory orchestra, will showcase Madison singer Gina Jorgenson when it performs at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 20, in Riverside Park, La Crosse.

Jorgenson's selections include Natalie Cole’s “The Very Thought of You” and “Al-most Like Being In Love.” The trombone section will be featured on Sy Zentner’s “On A Clear Day.” For swing era fans, the band is preparing “Polka Dots and Moon-beams” and “Tuxedo Junction” from the

Glenn Miller Orchestra. Other selections include Bob Florence’s “Flight of Fancy” and Les Brown’s version of “Slaughter on 10th Av-enue." The concert will move to Forest Hills Golf Course if it rains.

5

Celebrate two decades of friendship Busya Lugovier and fellow classical musicians will per-form a concert celebrating 20 years of the friendship between the cities of La Crosse and Dubna, Russia at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, at the Pump House Regional Arts Center, 119 King St. The program will include works by compos-ers such as Hayden, Rachmaninoff , Bruch, Bu-lachoff and Scott Joplin. For information, call (608) 785-1434 or visit www.thepumphouse.org.

Help save The Warehouse The Warehouse, a downtown La Crosse staple for nearly 20 years, is hosting fundraiser shows Thursday, June 24, and Friday, June 25, to raise money to maintain its cabaret license and pay property taxes. Owner Steve Harm said he has until June 29 to raise around $3,500, so this could be your last chance to help! "For 20 years I've been always thinking positive. That's the only thing that's kept us going," Harm said. "There's a lot of goodwill from the bands that are playing, and I think we'll fi nd a way." The club is unique because it is open to all ages, has a no-alcohol policy and is open to a wide range of musical styles. Tickets for the six-band shows are $7 a night or $10 for both nights and are available in advance at Deaf Ear Records, VPX Clothing, or online at ticketweb.com.

3

4// June 17, 2010 Second SupperCOMMUNITY

Three Dog Night Unlike REO Speedwagon, Three Dog Night did not experience an identity crisis. Nearly from the time the group formed in 1968 — a time still dominated by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and other legendary rock bands — until 1975, it ruled pop music, but it also placed on the rock and country charts. During that time the band had 21 CONSECUTIVE Billboard Top 40 hits and 13 gold albums, including 12 straight. The band reunited in 1981 and has been touring regularly since 1986. The band started with three vocalists — Danny

Hutton, Chuck Negron and Cory Wells — and then added four backing musicians. The band covered songs written by some of the best songwriters in the business, in-cluding Randy Newman, Laura Nyro, Hoyt Axton, Elton John, Leo Sayer, Paul Williams and Harry Nilsson among others. The band shut down in 1976. It reunited in 1981, how-ever, and like REO, remains a favorite wher-ever Boomers gather.

Album sales: more than 50 million (13 gold albums, one platinum)Best selling album: Three Dog Night (1969)Highest-charting noncompilation album: Captured Live at the Forum — No. 6 (1969) and Seven Separate Fools — No. 6 (1972)Top 40 hits: 21No. 1 singles: 3 — "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (1970), "Joy to the World" (1971), "Black & White" (1972)

Cronin and Michael Mur-phy when Cronin left the group for three years, but

Cronin has long been the voice of REO.

• Three Dog Night's original three singers were Danny Hut-

ton, Cory Wells and Chuck Ne-gron. Hutton and Wells remain

with the group (along with original keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon and

guitarist Michael Allsup).• Winner: Three Dog Night. None of these singers sounds exactly as he did in the day, but that can be said of most singers in their 50s and 60s. So, just by sheer numbers, two to one, Three Dog Night gets the nod, plus Cronin sometimes rambles much too long with his song introductions.

Who had more drama?• REO Speedwagon's drama has focused largely on Cronin, who some fans blame for destroying a rock band with sappy power bal-lads. His fi rst stint with the band lasted only one album (T.W.O.) due to missed rehears-als and "creative differences." The fi nal break with Richrath has been blamed on confl icting egos, differences over the band's direction, battles with addiction, greed, envy, lust, et al., as well the ubiquitous creative differences.• Three Dog Night's fall from pop heaven was blamed on drugs and burn out. Negron gets much of the attention, not only because he sang lead on some of the band's biggest hits but also because of the band's drug and sex exploits chronicled in his book, "Three Dog Nightmare." (He claims for example, that his member split during sex with a groupie.) Despite being clean and sober since 1991, Ne-gron's bid to rejoin the band was rejected and he has soldiered on with a solo career.• Winner: None. It's a tie. Both bands let suc-cess and its accompanying temptations over-shadow the music.

REO Speedwagon Formed in 1967 in Champaign, Ill., REO Speedwagon went from bars and re-gional outdoor fests in the 1970s to the top of the charts in the early '80s. REO built its reputation with high-energy rock exempli-fi ed by guitarist Gary Richrath and kickass live shows but ultimately cashed in com-mercially mostly with ballads penned by lead singer Kevin Cronin. The slide from rock to pop culminated in the late 1980s when drummer Alan Gratzer, one of the founding members with keyboardist Neal Doughty, and Richrath left the band. The band continued touring and recording but never was able to recapture the energy that had been a hallmark of its early years. REO remains a popular act with its Baby Boomer audience, however, and is looking forward to celebrating the 30th anniversary of Hi Infi delity, which was the best selling album of 1981 and spent 15 weeks atop the charts, next year. Some fans are speculating online that the estranged Richrath may even be in-volved in some way. Album sales: more than 40 million (3 gold albums, two platinum and three multi-platinum)Best selling album: Hi Infi delity (1980)Highest-charting album: Hi Infi delity — No. 1 (1980)Top 40 hits: 13No. 1 Singles: 2 — "Keep on Loving You" (1980), "Can’t Fight This Feeling" (1984)

Cast aside your walkers, Boomers: Freedom Fest rocks

1. Where did REO play the fi nal show of its Hi Infi delity tour?2. Where did the band stay while recording its fi rst album?3. What was special about REO's 1981 con-cert in Denver's McNichols Arena?4. Which Steven Spielberg movie featured the REO song "Wherever You're Going"?5. What No. 1 song by REO was featured in the South Park episode "Miss Teacher Bangs a Boy"?

Answers: 1. Milwaukee County Stadium (sold out); 2. 157 Riverside Avenue, West-port, Conn.; 3. It was the fi rst live concert broadcast by MTV.; 4. "Goonies"; 5. "Can't Fight This Feeling"

Editor's Note: While Second Supper focuses mostly on the musical acts headlining Freedom Fest, there are many other activi-ties as part of the celebration honoring veterans and current members of the armed services The event — best described as a triumverate joining the Veterans Memorial Ride, Deke Slayton Airfest and Freedom Honor Flights under one moni-ker — includes a motorcycle rally and ride, airfest exhibits and air show performances, a performance by the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, music by The Remainders, Three Dog Night and REO Speedwagon, and fi reworks helping welcome home some area World War II veterans returning from a Freedom Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to visit "their" memorial. For a schedule of events, see the Free-dom Fest advertisement on Page 2.

RememBeR theSe gUYS?

Who has the better name?• REO Speedwagon was named after a fl at-bed truck and fi re engine manufactured by the REO (Ransom Eli Olds) Motor Car Company.• Three Dog Night was named after cold Australian nights, which indigenous Aus-tralians measured by how many dingos they would sleep with; especially cold nights were three-dog nights.• Winner: REO Speedwagon. Although the band lost much of its Speed when Richrath left, Three Dog Night should be hyphen-ated, and when's the last time you voted for a band with a hypen in its name?

Who has the better vocals?• REO Speedwagon went through two lead singers, Terry Luttrell for one album before

Battle oF the BandS

teSt YoUR Reo iQ

did YoU know? It did not receive the level of attention of John and Yoko's pose, but Three Dog Night also did a naked album cover. The original cover for It Ain't Easy, released in 1970, featured band members without their clothes, though strategic parts were cov-ered. However, retailers objected and the albums were pulled and replaced with more socially acceptable artwork.

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Second Supper June 17, 2010 // 5COMMUNITY

PHOTO BY MARY CATANESE Denise Keenan will lead a Tribal Trance Dance program in La Crosse on Saturday.

*This fundraiser is brought to you by the MVDGC and the Hokah Community*

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248 Twin Creeks DrHokah, MN 55941(507) 894-8633

BOB’s SUMMER jamJuly 17, 2010

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uddah’s Belly

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Featuring Music By:

when you open to allow this energy to move through you, you may find yourself moving in ways that you've never moved before. This is one of the healing aspects of the dance. Your body knows how to move to adjust to physical challenges and to reclaim and rebal-ance your mind. When you come out of the dance, more of your higher sense is intact, and less of your ego, giving you more free-dom, creativity and spontaneity. Each dance is unique. The dancers are free to sit down or lie down or stand motionless at any time during the dance, and we will make sure that they are undisturbed by the other dancers.

Q. Do people really see "visions," or what do most experience?

A. Trance dance is a journey of movement and meditation and is a beautifully personal experience. Some people definitely experi-ence visions and find themselves feeling as though they are deeply connected to Mother Earth and Father Sky, identifying with and moving as, a particular animal, or spiraling into the Milky Way. Re-enactments of past life experiences may occur. Throughout the dance, you may receive images and guid-ance, and sometimes experience emotions and deep healing.

Q. After dancing for about an hour, facilitators ask the participants to lie on the floor. What hap-pens during this stage?

A. At the end of the dance, we play a low, rumbling "Om" sound and as participants lie on the floor, they are given the opportunity to integrate the grounded state of sacred Presence. We encourage people to lie face down, with their heart and third eye chakras facing the earth, and this can be a time of deep dreaming.

Q. At the end, the dancers gather in a circle to “integrate” what they have experienced. What does this mean?

A. This is an opportunity to share your expe-riences, if you choose, and to join together in a sense of community. Since this can be such a deep and personal experience, some-times you do not feel like talking, and if so, you are free to simply sit in the circle. I al-ways end with a guided meditation and ask for healing for Gaia.

About the facilitator Denise Keenan owned and operated Keenan Wellness Center in La Crosse from 1993 to 2005, when she moved the business to Milwaukee. Her sister, Louise, runs the Heart Song Wellness Center in La Crosse.Keenan is a certified hypnotherapist, a li-censed massage therapist and a Miracle of the Breath facilitator. She is trained in yoga and martial arts, trance dance and other movement techniques, as well as a wide va-riety of holistic therapies.

We met former La Crosse resident De-nise Keenan as she was preparing to facili-tate a Tribal Trance Dance workshop at the Marian Center in Milwaukee last weekend. Seven women, ages 20 to 50s, sat in a circle as Keenan prepared them for their spiritual journey. The sweet aroma of incense hung light-ly in the air of the darkened room. As in-structed, they had come dressed in comfort-able, loose clothes that would not limit their movements. Shoes were left at the door. The mood was set. Soon the music, the drums, the dance would begin. Trance dance is perhaps best described as “moving meditation.” Tracing its roots to our earliest ances-tors and the shaman of indigenous tribes, trance dance uses percussion rhythms, mu-sic, breathwork, dance and sensory depriva-tion (blindfolds) to help participants access their inner vision or “trance” state. Participants, according to Keenan and other facilitators, often report they return from this “vision quest” with unique spiri-tual, mental, physical and emotional insights and greater wisdom how to apply their in-sights to their daily lives. Keenan this week brings her Tribal Trance Dance to Three Rivers Waldorf School, 901 Caledonia St., La Crosse, with a 6:30 p.m. session Saturday, June 19 featur-ing African music. Registration is $20. Infor-mation is available by contacting Denise at Dance@TheTribalDance.com or at (414) 774-2168, or by visiting thetribaldance.com. We asked Keenan about the elements of trance dance and some of the misconcep-tions.

Q. Before the dance begins, participants are en-couraged to formulate a personal intention or fo-cus as a starting point for their explorations. Can you explain?

A. Intention is a vital element of any non-ordinary journey. It is not the same as "want-ing." It simply implies readiness for change. Setting an intention is part of the conscious preparation to let go of the ordinary and in-vite Spirit to enter into the dance with you, and to direct your dance. At the beginning of the trance dance, participants prepare the physical bodies, clear their minds of conflict and create specific intentions.

Q. One of the keys to achieving the trance state, according to some, is the breathing. Can you ex-plain the type of breathwork used and why it is so important?

A. This is the Breath of Fire. It consists of two inhalations through the nose and an exha-lation through the mouth. The nose is the only orifice in the human body that has di-rect connection to the brain. When breath-ing in this conscious way, you increase oxy-gen and energy directly to the brain, which, through movement, enhances the sense of euphoria through the secretion of endor-phins in the brain.

Q. The Milwaukee session featured Mideastern music. The La Crosse session features African mu-sic. How does the music help?

A. We use lots of drumming rhythms because the body recognizes that sound instinctively. It is the beating of our heart. The brain will eventually stop listening to it, trust that it is there, and let go so that you can reach a trance state. We decided to do a progression of music — in a series of dances — from dif-ferent indigenous civilizations, starting with the birthplace of man, in Africa, then follow-ing the flow of humanity as it moved around the world.

Q. After their breathing exercises, participants don blindfolds before beginning to dance. Why?

A. The bandanna or blindfold removes the ego's participation and anxiety because peo-ple don't worry about how they look. Your eyes come right out of your brain, so this also removes 90 percent of your perception of reality. People are encouraged to trust their bodies, letting their equilibrium be guided by their body sense, rather then their external vision. In the darkness, the pineal gland is blocked and one is free to dance from their heart. Going into the darkness and inviting Spirit (or Divine Essence) in has been a component of healing ceremonies for thousands of years.

Q. Dancers move to the rhythms but all move in their own way. Is there a right or wrong way to trance dance?

A. There is no right or wrong way to trance dance. Trance dance is pure energy, and

Trance dance facilitator guides participants on journey within themselves

6// June 17, 2010 Second SupperARTS

This fi lm gets a lot of hate by people who claim that this is Kevin Smith’s lowest moment as a fi lmmaker. Criticism of this movie largely rests on its (mostly) family-friendly nature, the argument being that Smith, by making a fi lm that wasn’t fl ooded with comic book references, explicit dia-logue, and inside jokes, had lost his way. I’m not buying it. Number one: blind brand loyalty is shit. This applies equally to creator and consumer. In the same way that I don’t im-mediately fl ip out at the mention of an up-coming Kevin Smith fi lm, his artistic scope should not be limited by the expectations of his already established fanbase. I don’t want to know exactly what to expect from anyone, and as such I appreciate that Smith made a largely straightforward fi lm about the perils of single fatherhood. He gets a lot of crap for Jersey Girl, and he seems to have internal-ized all that in order to placate the snobs, but he shouldn’t. In pursuing new horizons, not lighting up the sky is no failure. What I like most about this fi lm is George Carlin, who is a big beam of light in every scene in which he appears. Carlin plays Ben Affl eck’s dad, a bright eyed old crank who welcomes his newly-widowed son back home. The old man serves as the guid-ing force for Affl eck’s Ollie, not taking crap from his son and forcing him to take respon-sibility for his daughter. If the role had been fi lled by anyone but the chronically enraged yet bemused Carlin, the effect wouldn’t have been as great. The other part of the fi lm that bears mention is its fi nale, in which Affl eck’s daughter performs a musical number at the school talent show. While the rest of her classmates put on repetitive renditions of “Memory” from Cats, young Gertie busts out some Sweeney Todd. Carlin and a few of his bruiser buddies serve as the child’s backup singers, and Gramps gets his throat cut by the demon barber. It’s a moment of silly ab-surdity that is all the more notable because it also contains the emotional payoff of the entire fi lm. Yes, Ben Affl eck and Liv Tyler once again hook up on screen, but their pairing here isn’t a fraction as vile as the Animal Crackers scene in Armageddon. The romance in this fi lm is secondary to the bond between

The ArtS ReviewBizarro Masterpiece Theatre

Medium: Film Jersey Girl (2004)Director: Kevin SmithStars: Ben Affl eck, Liv Tyler, George CarlinWriter: Kevin Smith

Medium: Film Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)Director: BanksyDocumentary

How's this for ironic: eccentric French-born Los Angeleno Thierry Guetta embarks on a mission to make a documentary about graffi ti art, but in the end it's renowned British street artist Banksy who makes a documentary about him. The result is Exit Through the Gift Shop, a rousing and en-lightening fi lm that's both an immersive introduction to some of the world's most-stunning street art (for a few examples, look no further than Banksy's Wikipedia page), and a lamentation on its evolving role in the commercialized art world and the con-sequences thereof. The chance to glimpse some of the most brilliant pieces of street art is itself worth the price of admission, es-pecially considering so many of them have been washed away or painted over. Exit also has a compelling narrative arc, one that cuts beneath graffi ti's oft-debated status as art and analyzes the effects of the medium's burgeoning — and in some ways plateauing — popularity. Used-clothing store owner Guetta's ob-session with his video camera borders on the creepy — he fi lms everyone and everything he sees without abandon. Eager to make a documentary about something, anything, he stumbles upon a subject when he learns that his cousin is actually a French graffi ti artist who goes by the alias Space Invader. Invader introduces Guetta to an array of guerrilla artists, and Guetta fi lms the art-ists in action and likewise documents their fi nished products. Though Guetta amasses hundreds of thousands of hours of footage, he can't seem to locate the elusive Banksy, one of the most reknowned, prolifi c and se-cretive street artists in the world. When Guetta actually does meet Banksy, there's a subtle shift in tone that turns the jovial, informative documentary into something more cynical and thought-provoking. Exit becomes less panoramic when Banksy suggests that Guetta, before the outside observer and admirer of art, become an artist himself. The fi lm fi nds a cohesive theme worth exploring — the commodifi cation, simplifi cation and over-all bastardization of street art. Despite a wandering thesis, Exit pays loving tribute to the medium in the most honest and entertaining way possible, capturing the exhileration of creating graffi ti art and the passion and dedication of those who cre-ate it, and — more importantly — calling out those who would (and in ways already have) exploit it.

— Nick Cabreza

The Screening Room

Social Networking name and age: Meagan Sorenson, 22

wheRe weRe YoU BoRn? Viroqua

cURRent JoB: Massage therapist

dReam JoB: See above

laSt thing YoU googled: Roger Waters

iF YoU coUld liVe anYwheRe in the woRld, wheRe woUld it Be? In the mountains in a little cottage with my boys

what iS Something YoU want to do BeFoRe YoU die?Sail the ocean blue

iF a genie gRanted YoU one wiSh, what woUld YoU aSk FoR? For everyone to be less materialistic

FiRSt conceRt YoU went to: Some country concert when I was a kid

what iS YoUR BeVeRage oF choice? May Wine

what Book aRe YoU cURRentlY Reading? "The Power of Now"

tell US YoUR gUiltieSt pleaSURe: Cookies before bed

what iS YoUR BiggeSt pet peeVe? Close-minded people

what one peRSon, aliVe oR dead, woUld YoU want to haVe dinneR with? John Lennnon and Yoko

what'S the laSt thing YoU BoUght? Redbox movie

what'S in YoUR pocket Right now?: 10 dollar bill and a hair tie

what iS YoUR FaVoRite paRt oF Second SUppeR?This part

how do YoU know JenniFeR (laSt week'S inteRView)? Soon-to-be sister in laws and good friend

— Compiled by Shuggypop Jackson,shuggypop.jackson@secondsupper.com

father and child, and Tyler plays the support-ing role with abashed restraint. Similarly, Af-fl eck is a great fi t to play a self-centered prick made good, and Jersey Girl features some of his best acting since, well, Chasing Amy. Kevin Smith, quit apologizing!

— Brett Emerson

Second Supper June 17, 2010 // 7

Open 7 days a week inside Festival Foods, La Crosse

608.787.4500 • www.altra.orgMonthly prize will be awarded at the sole discretion of the judging team. Photos showing Altra members in a dangerous or illegal setting will not be considered, so don't even try it. Same goes for photos not rated G. Photos will not be retouched other than to obscure the number on the card if visible. By submitting a photo, you certify that you have the legal right to grant Altra unrestricted permission to publish the photo in any medium. Contest open to Altra members who are current Debit Card users. Sorry, Altra employees and their immediate family members are not eligible for prizes.

Willis (Sears) Tower, Chicago

Winning Photo submitted by John Hestekin, Altra member

Show us where Altra has taken you and

win a Flip Mino™

Send us a photo of you with your Altra Debit Card.Maybe it's a vacation, an unusual setting,

or an everyday experience. Be creative! Each month through December, a team of Altrajudges will pick our favorite photo and award that lucky Altra Debit Cardholder a Flip Mino™ camcorder to keep recording their adventures.

Visit us online for complete details.

MUSIC

Medium: AlbumStimulus: How to Destroy AngelsBand: Nine Inch NailsAnno: 2010

For good and ill, the new project of Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor sounds a lot like his old project, with a fe-male singer. While there are far worse foun-dations to build from than the electronic wizardry of Nine Inch Nails, this collabora-tion between Reznor, his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and longtime cohort Atticus Ross doesn’t appear to have grown a distinct identity yet. On the other hand, the self-titled EP from How to Destroy Angels is a rumbling and snarling piece of work that will hook longtime Reznor fans. The main difference between the two musical entities hinges upon Maandig, who made her name as a co-vocalist for the cheerfully spacey electro-rock band West In-dian Girl. While the difference in tones be-tween that band and this one is severe and Maandig is stepping out from a chorus into a solo vocalist role, she makes the transition well, even if she remains a bit soft-spoken. The six tracks that comprise this release are different shades of the same gloom, all having easy comparisons to tracks within the

The Majak MixtapeBy Jonathan Majakjonathan.majak@secondsupper.com

Here at the mixtape, we like to think we are able to honor history, namely the mix-tapes that helped give this column its moni-ker. Oh the glorious mixtape, where artists not fully in bloom lay down tracks before the fame, the questionable collaborations, the requisite attempts of a movie career. For the most part, mixtapes are most artists at their most pure, the most un-messed around with. So this week we’d like to highlight some mix-tapes of artists who may have broken into the mainstream but made some of their best work on the down low in what we’re calling the “Mixtape Mixtape.” If you had told me wheelchair Jimmy from Degrassi would be considered a viable and even vital part of the rap community, I would’ve laughed in your face but here we are, with Drake’s debut album "Thank Me Later" dropping. It’s a solid, reaching-for-greatness album, but Drake would be hard-pressed to top the quality of his mixtape "So Far Gone." A bragging mix of uptempo

tunes and slow burning songs, "So Far Gone" found Drake at his cocky best before he was swallowed up by the hype. Another person trying to manage the hype is Drake’s fellow Young Money label mate Nicki Minaj. Pretty much appearing ev-erywhere from tracks on Christina Aguilera’s album to Ludacris to Mariah Carey, Minaj is the alleged savior of the pretty dormant branch of hip-hop that is female rap. An un-holy marriage of Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim and ODB in terms of delivery and image, Minaj’s mixtape "Beam Me Up Scotty" is stacked with materialistic raps that work mainly be-cause of Minaj’s personable delivery. While Minaj is still searching for a hit for her up-coming new album (single “Massive Attack” wasn’t one and second single "Your Love" is more Annie Lennox sample than rapping), "Beam Me Up Scotty" points to Minaj being a star in her own right. A surprising edition to this hip-hop heavy list is Liz Phair. If you’ve ever wanted to experience an artist at their most awe-somely raw, look no further than Liz Phair’s "Girlysound." Less a mixtape and more dry run of her whole career, "Girlysound" had tunes that would end up on each of her subsequent major label albums, sometimes worse for wear. Extremely rare and never of-ficially put out, "Girlysound" shows Liz Phair in all of her monotone glory in the proper unadorned environment.

Buy: The Black Keys’ new album "Brothers"

YouTube: Breakbot’s video “Baby I’m Yours”

Nine Inch Nails catalogue. “The Space in Between” opens with a crawling soundtrack piece filled with buzzing low end string synths. “Parasite” builds up speed with the low end chugging into bursts of keyboards and explosions of distorted guitar. The best track on the EP is a menacing dance groove titled “Fur Lined,” in which Maandig lays on static-shredded pop vocals that run parallel to robotic drums and bass. Following this is “BBB,” a militant track that would have been at home on NIN’s Year Zero, and “The Believers,” which echoes earlier Nine Inch Nails tinged with jungle elements. The clos-ing track, “A Drowning,” finishes everything off with the usual picturesque sense of sad-ness and despair. The sum total is an excellent introduc-tion that leaves many things unfinished. Reznor’s music tends to be at its most com-pelling when it gets outside of his usual comfort zone. By placing himself in a pre-sumably more democratic group than he had been used to while existing as the en-tirety of Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels has acquired the potential to break past its current typecasting. If he lets go a little bit more, and if Maandig steps up just as much, it could become something drasti-cally exciting.

— Brett Emerson

Visit us online at www.secondsupper.com

8// June 17, 2010 Second SupperMUSIC

ween // JUne 26Roy Wilkins Auditorium • $26.50

Santana & SteVe winwood // JUne 30Xcel Energy Center • $23.50 - $260

tool // JUlY 1Xcel Energy Center • $ $37.50 - $57.50

deVo // JUlY 3Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater • $55-$100

the hold SteadY, the whigS // JUlY 3-4Cabooze • $28

leVon helm Band, John haitt // JUlY 6Minnesota Zoo Ampitheatre • $55-$67.50

just a roadie awaymusic directory // June 18 to June 24

fridaY,

JB'SSpeakeaSY // 717 Rose St.The Brent Brown Band (Jerry Garcia Band tribute) • 10 p.m.

nighthawkS tap // 401 S. third St.The Levitating Train Committee Band (rock/blues) •10 p.m.

noRth Side oaSiS // 620 gillette St.Geared Under (rock) • 9:30 p.m.

peaRl StReet BReweRY // 1401 St. andrew St.Shawn Wooden (troubadour) • 5 p.m.

piggY'S BlUeS loUnge // 501 Front St. S.Dust Bowl Blues Band (blues) • 8 p.m.

popcoRn taVeRn // 308 S. Fourth St.The Mark Joseph Project (jam rock) • 10 p.m.

pUmp hoUSe // 119 king St.La Crosse-Dubna Friendship Assn. 20 year celebration (classical) • 7:30 p.m.

SheR BeaRS // 329 goddard St.The Fabulous Baloney Skins (Island Days party) • 8 p.m.

the Joint // 324 Jay St.Kin Pickin' (jam grass) • 10 p.m.

the waRehoUSe // 324 pearl St.Ari Herstad, Will Hutchinson (pop-rock) • 7 p.m.

the wateRFRont taVeRn // 328 Front St.New Jazz Infidels (jazz)• 8 p.m.

June 18

satUrdaY,

Boot hill pUB // 1501 St. andrew St.Mark & Janette Hanson (folk/jazz/blues) • 7 p.m.

piggY'S BlUeS loUnge // 501 Front St. S.Dust Bowl Blues Band (blues) • 8 p.m.

popcoRn taVeRn // 308 S. Fourth St.Deep Sea Summit, Hyphon (trance-rock, hip-hop) • 10 p.m.

June 19

thUrsdaY,

del’S BaR // 229 third St.Doug Otto & the Getaways (open jam)• 10 p.m.

FReight hoUSe // 107 Vine St.Muddy Flats & the Hepcats (blues on the patio) • 6 p.m.

nighthawkS tap // 401 S. third St.Dave Orr's Damn Jam (open jam) • 10 p.m.

SoUthSide comm. centeR // 1300 S. 6th St.Stardust Therese Roellich and Greg Bergh (standards) • 7 p.m.

the StaRlite loUnge // 222 pearl St.Kies and Kompanie (jazz) • 5 p.m.

the waRehoUSe // 324 pearl St.Before We Fall, Idle Ecstatic, Kjome, New Fable February, Miss August, Ra-diator (Warehouse fundraiser) • 6 p.m.

June 24

Deep Sea Summit (pictured) is a Winona-based electronic rock band with a propensity for trancing out. The group, which blends computer effects with live instrumentation, is building a strong following across the Mississippi, but it's been a while since they've performed in La Crosse. Fans of Lotus, the New Deal, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and other like-minded groups would be wise to come down to the Popcorn Tavern on Saturday for a late-night dance party. La Crosse's own Hyphon opens the show with a set of indie hip-hop, including at least one live collaboration with DSS. The show begins at 10 p.m. with a $5 cover. Expect a lot of Winona fans to make the trip, but don't let them show you up on the dance floor!

sUNdaY,

BandShell // Riverside parkGreat River Big Band (jazz) • 7 p.m.

concoRdia BallRoom // 1129 la crosse St.Orange Blossom Special (classic country, old-time) • 1 p.m.

FRench SloUgh // 1311 la crescent St.Kin Pickin’ (jam grass) •Noon

popcoRn taVeRn // 308 S. Fourth St.The Sunday Blend (fusion) • 10 p.m.

June 20

wEdNEsdaY,

del’S BaR // 229 third St.Adam Palm (open jam)• 10 p.m.

nighthawkS tap // 401 S. third St.Welcome H.O.G. Rally (open jam) • 10 p.m.

RecoVeRY Room // 901 7th St. S.Kin Pickin’ (open jam) • 10 p.m.

June 23

MONdaY,

popcoRn taVeRn // 308 S. Fourth St.Shawn's Open jam • 10 p.m.

June 21

June 22tUEsdaY,

popcoRn taVeRn // 308 S. Fourth St.Fayme and Casey (acoustic) • 10 p.m.

the aRteRial // 1003 S. 16th St.Travis Oppelt and Quenten Brown (acoustic) • 9 p.m.

the Joint // 324 Jay St.UC3 (Mahlim, Powers, Cheech) • 10 p.m.

the waRehoUSe // 324 pearl St.Four Letter Lie, Lower Definition, I Am Abomination, Life on Repeat, Be-fore We Fall (pop punk) • 7 p.m.

the wateRFRont taVeRn // 328 Front St.New Jazz Infidels (jazz)• 8 p.m.

Minneapolispopulation 387,970

RiVeR Jack'S //1835 Rose St.Latin Vibe (steel pan trio) • 2 p.m.

the Joint // 324 Jay St.Adam Palm & Joe Gantzer (Palm Sun-day) • 4 p.m.

the Bodega // 122 4th St.The Journeymen (Brian Murphy fundraiser) • 9 p.m.

ViteRBo Fine aRtS centeR // 929 Jackson St.La Crosse Concert Band (Concert Hall Spectacular IV) • 7:30 p.m.

Second Supper June 17, 2010 // 9YOUR GUIDE TO CONSUMPTION

The Best Food & Drink Specials in Town To advertise here, call (608) 782-7001 or e-mail us at advertising@secondsupper.com.

LOCatiON sUNdaY MONdaY tUEsdaY wEdNEsdaY thUrsdaY fridaY satUrdaYaRena 107 3rd St. S.782-1883

Midwest Poker League 7 p.m. Closed Wyld Wednesday: $2 Jumbo UV, mixers $1.50 Coronas

Ladies' Night, $5 Long Island pitchers

$1 Cherry Bombs, $1 Keystone Light silos

$1 Cherry Bombs, $1 Keystone Light silos

Bodega BRew pUB122 4th St.782-0677

$2 BBQ Pork Sliders 2-Fers, Buy any regularly priced food item and get one of equal or lesser value for free

Fish Tacos: 1 / $2.50, 2 / $5.00, 3 / $6.50.

BRotheRS306 Pearl St. 784-0522

Closed $2.50 Coors vs. Keystone pitchers. All specials 9 p.m. to close

AUC2D: $5, domestic taps, rail mix-ers, Long Islands. All specials 9 p.m. to close

10-cent wings, $1 Miller High Life bottles, $1.50 rail mixers; $2.50 call drinks. All specials 9 p.m. to close.

AUC2D: $5, domestic taps, rail mix-ers and Long Islands. Wristband Night: $2.50 SoCo & Jack. All spe-cials 9 p.m. to close.

$3 3 Olives mixers, $3 Mojitos, $2 Cherry Bombs, $1 Bazooka Joe's; FAC: $3 domestic pitchers, micro/import taps, anything that pours. 4-9 p.m.

$3 Bacardi mixers, $3 Mojitos, $2 Cherry bombs, $1 Bazooka Joe's. All specials 9 p.m. to close.

FeatUReSW3923 State Highway 16786-9000

Free beer 5:30-6:30; Free wings 7:30-8:30, Free bowling after 9

Taco buffet 11-2;$1 Pabst bottles and $1 bowling after 9

All you care to eat pizza buffet, 11-2 All you care to eat fish fry 4-10; un-limited Glow-N-Bowl $9.99

Prime rib dinner 4-10; unlimited Glow-N-Bowl $9.99

howie’S1125 La Crosse St. 784-7400

Happy hour 4 to 9 p.m.; 9 p.m. to close: Night Before Class - $3 pitch-ers of the beast

9 p.m. to close: $3.50 domestic pitchers

9 p.m. to close: $1 rails, $2.50 pitch-ers, beer pong

$5 all you can drink 9 p.m. to close: $1.25 rails, $1.75 bottles/cans

9 p.m. to close: $2 Captain mixers, $2 bottles/cans, $3 Jager bombs

9 p.m. to close: $2 Bacardi mixers, $2 domestic pints, $1.50 shots blackberry brandy

impUlSe214 Main St. 782-6010

Closed Closed Karaoke 9 p.m.-Close;Happy Hour daily 5-8

Wine & martini night;Happy Hour daily 5-8

18+ night (1st and 3rd Thursday of each month);Happy Hour daily 5-8

$25 open bar package, 11 p.m. to close: domestic/import beer, rail, call drinks, martinis; Happy Hour daily 5-8

Happy Hour daily 5-8

JB’S SpeakeaSY717 Rose St.796-1161

$1.75 domestic bottles SIN Night $1.75 domestic bottles Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m. Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m. Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m. Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m.

SchmidtY’S3119 State Road788-5110

$1.79 burger (after 8 p.m.)Breakfast 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hat Night: Buy 1 drink, get 1 free w/ hat (4:30 to close); $1.50 chili dogs (after 8 p.m.)

Rail drinks $2 (4:30 to close); After 8 p.m. specials: $5 skewer of shrimp,l $1.79 burger, $1.50 chili dogs

Buckets of beer $10, Boston Bobby's drummies 10 for $2 (4:30 to close), $1.79 burger (after 8 p.m.)

Margaritas $4 (Straw, rasp, mango, peach and reg); After 8 p.m. specials: $5 skewer of shrimp, $1.79 burger

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SloopY'S alma mateR163 Copeland Ave. 785-0245

$2 can beer (2-6 p.m.) $11 buckets of beers (6-close)

$2 can beer (2-6 p.m.) 12" pizza: $8.99 up to 5 toppings (4-close)

Wings, Wings, Wings... $2 off 14: pizza, $2 can beer (2-6 p.m.)

Ladies night, 2 for 1 drinks (6-close), $2 can beer (2-6 p.m.)

Friday Fish, $2 can beer (2-6) 2 for 1 pints/pitches w/ student ID over 21

SpoRtS nUt801 Rose St. 784-1811

Buck Burgers Tacos $1.25 15-cent wings $8.99 12-ounce T-bone 15-cent wings

the liBRaRY123 3rd St.784-8020

Sunday Fun Day - Wristband Night Half price tequilla, $1 domestic taps and rails

Karaoke, $2 Double rails and all bottles; $3 Double call drinks

Beer Pong Tourney and wristband night

$3 Bacardi mixers, $3 Jumbo Long Island Iced Teas

$3 Jumbo Long Island Iced Teas, $3 3 Olives mixers

top ShotS137 4th St.782-6622

$5 Pitchers/$2 bottles of Miller products (11-4pm)$2 Corona Bottles, $2 Kilo Kai Mixers , $3 Bloodys (7-1AM)

$1.75 Miller/Bud Light Taps, $2.25 MIcro/Craft Taps, $2.50 Cherry Bombs (7-1AM)

$1.75 Rails, $1.50 Domestic Taps, $3.50 Jager Bombs (7-1AM)

$2 domestic bottles, $2.50 Skyy/Absolut mixers, $2 Dr. shots (7-1am)

5 Domestic Bottles for $10, $5 Micro/Import Bottles $11.50, $7 Micro/Craft Pitchers (7-1AM)

$2 Captain Mixers, $2. Long Island Mixers, $3 Effen Vodka Mixers (7-1AM)

$5 Miller/Bud Light Pitchers, $2.25 Leinies Bottles (7-1AM)

tRain Station BBQ601 St. Andrew St. 781-0005

Ask for great eats 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., extra side with sandwich; 4 to 9 p.m., $1 off rib dinner

Special varies 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Barn burner $7.95; 4 to 9 p.m., Hobo dinner (serves two) $30.95

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chicken on fire $7.95; 4 to 9 p.m., Bones and bris-kets $13.95

One-half chicken three bones $12.95

who'S on thiRd126 3rd St. N.782-9467

Happy Hour until 10 p.m.$1.50 domestic taps, $2 rails from 10 to close

$1 taps of PBR, $1 rails $3 call doubles, $2 Bud products

Ladies' Night: $2 top shelf, $1 Pink TacosEveryone: $2.50 bombs, $2 taps, $3 Jack/Captain doubles

$8.50 Fish Bowls, $2 Miller products $1 off Three Olives, $2 domestic taps

Pig’s Eye PilsnerPig's Eye Brewing CompanyLa Crosse, Wisconsin

Appearance: 3

Aroma: 5

Taste: 5

Mouthfeel: 4

Drinkability: 5

Total: 22

This week’s installment of Canned Beer Month introduces the most local — and cheap! — beverage that I ever re-member reviewing for this newspaper. It comes from the Pig's Eye Brewing Compa-ny, which isn’t on the radar of most beer aficionados (even those in La Crosse), though it’s produced at the City Brewery just a couple of blocks from my apartment. I’m often surprised to learn the malted beverages that are brewed down in that place. For years, Pig’s Eye was produced by the Minnesota Brewing Company, but when that business went belly-up in 2002, two former employees (Phil Gagne and

The Beer Review Jeff Crawford) p u r c h a s e d the rights to the line and opened as an “alternating propr ie tor” with City. In essence, they function as a “brewery with-in a brewery” — renting City’s production, bottling and packaging lines — which is a typical arrangement at the City Brewery, but it’s not the only reason I can give the Pig’s Eye a mild endorsement. Icy cold and slugged from a can, this isn’t an all-bad beer. And at $6.50 for a 12 pack, you defi-nitely get your money’s worth! I saw on the Internet that Pig’s Eye used to have a vicious pirate logo, so it’s a little disappointing to see the black-and-

white canoe-ing scene printed on the can, but you don’t buy this beer for its looks. (And you shouldn’t pour it into a glass, either, because it’s

practically see-through.) The aroma is fairly clean with notes of damp hay, but none of the freaky adjuncts you’ll often find with beers at this price. The taste is also pretty OK if — and this is a big “if” — you drink it while it’s still cold. When I sipped my first one a little too slowly I was worried the Pig’s Eye would stay in my refrigerator until I moved out. The Pilsner hits the tongue with a watery body and immediately begins fizzing due to the car-

bonation. It has a bready malt profile and an all-around sweetness. The hops aren’t especially notice-able, but they help at the finish and somehow contribute to this Starburst-af-tertaste-esque flavor that I got on my first sip. At just 4.5 per-cent alcohol, this is a fairly drinkable beer — but don’t please take that as an en-dorsement. At best I could recommend sharing a case with 11 of your friends, perhaps after a morning of panhandling.

— Adam Bissen

10// June 17, 2010 Second Supper

buildings 30 Some tests 31 Cub Scout group 32 Antlered beast 33 The Family Stone leader 35 Some motorcycles 36 On the cheap end 37 It may get in gear 38 Greek consonant 39 "Smoking" alterna-tive 43 Tissue swellings 44 Nevada county 48 "The Writer's Alma-nac" subject 49 Burning the mid-night oil 50 Cowboys' home 52 Office notes 54 Part of NEA 56 Busy workers during April 57 Latvian capital 58 Right on the map? 59 "Get going!" 60 Playwright Coward 61 The whole kit and caboodle

For answers, call (900) 226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Or to bill to a credit card, call (800) 655-6549. Reference puzzle #0471.

ACROSS1 "Little Women" sister 5 His famous role is be-ing reprised in 2010 8 List with activities for kids 12 ___ con pollo 14 Wyatt of the Old West 16 Apple pesticide banned in the 1980s 17 Play ___ in (affect) 18 It may stick out of one's pants 20 General Colin's nick-name in the dynamite business? 22 Old synthesizer brand 23 Albuquerque coll. 24 Kind of dye 25 Helper, for short 27 Goddess of the dawn 29 "Humble" homes 34 "The Office" actor Steve made up of many

parts? 37 Snoring cause 40 Its chairman was Yasser Arafat 41 Long-limbed 42 Thurston of "Gil-ligan's Island" moving to Missouri? 45 "The Worst Co-median of All Time," according to Maxim 46 Betty White recently hosted it 47 Tater 51 Fashion line? 53 Madness's musical genre 55 ___-Locka, Florida 56 Soundgarden front-man Chris crushed by the other team? 61 Polynesian capital 62 Its ads compare cereal bowl quantities 63 Falls behind 64 Dirty

65 Simmons competitor 66 Major event for a law student 67 Abbr. in many Cana-dian city names 68 Caustic substances

DOWN 1 Shearing sound 2 Baseball stats 3 They get deployed 4 Ian of "Ratatouille" 5 Body type somewhere in the middle 6 Obama Chief of Staff Emanuel 7 "I could ___ referee" (line from Jay-Z's "Em-pire State of Mind") 8 Down Under pal 9 Airline with a hub at Ben Gurion 10 Finger part 11 Online address 13 Asian mammal also called a "humped cattle" 15 Elizabeth Wurtzel autobio drug 19 Blue solid on a pool table 21 Lower-level apart-ment number 26 Network that merged with UPN 28 Missile storage

"All the right angles"They've got the market cornered

By Matt Jones

Answers to June 10 puzzleSmoothie mix: Add these acts together and blend

Maze Efflux By erich Boldt

DIVERSIONS

Have an opinion?Send your letters to the editor to

Second Supper, 614 Main St., La Crosse, WI 54601 or by e-mail to

editor@secondsupper.com. Letters should be signed and include phone number for verification

purposes. Please limit letters to no more

than 300 words. Second Supper reserves the right to edit letters for

length, clarity and grammar. For more information,

call (608) 782-7001.

enJoY YoUR SUppeR

online atwww.secondsupper.com

Sudoku answers on page 11

519 Commerce St - Holmen, WI 54636 - 608-526-3399Behind Select Carwash, Only 8 minutes from Valley View Mall

M-F 10-8 Sat 9-5 Sun 12-5

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Second Supper June 17, 2010 // 11THE LAST WORD

Downtown La Crosse, above Fayzes - 782-6622

$1.75 - Miller/Bud Taps$2.25 Micro/Craft Taps$2.50 Cherry Bombs(7-1am)

$5 Miller Lite/Bud Light Pitchers$2.25 Leinies Bottles (7-1am)

top shots joke of the week

Good People, Good Drinks, Good Times

SUNDAY TUESDAY THURSDAYMONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY$5 Pitchers $2 Bottles of Miller Products (11-4 pm)$2 Corona Bottles$2 Kilo Kai Mixers $3 Bloody’s (7-1am)

$1.75 Rails$1.50 Domestic Taps$3.50 Jager Bombs(7-1am)

$2 Domestic Bottles$2.50 Skyy/AbsoluteMixers$2 Dr. Shots (7-1am)

5 Domestic Bottles 4 $10$5 Micro/Import Bottles$11.50, $7 Micro/CraftPitchers (7-1am)

$2 Captain Mixers$2 Long Islands$3 E�en VodkaMixers (7-1am)

Check outour new Beers

on Tap!

$2.00 - 1 Player, $3.00 - 2 Players50 Cents Off Drinks, $1 Off Pitchers

What's the difference between a Yankee Stadium hot dog

and a Wrigley Field hot dog?

You can buy a Yankee Stadium hot dog in October.

SATURDAY

complete with the details of what you aren’t guilty of: “I just want to let you know, Honey, I didn’t murder fi ve people, three of them women, and bury their bodies fi ve yards from the chestnut tree.” Marriage used to play out on the Wal-Mart model: the idea that one person would meet your every need from altar to gravestone. Couples these days seem to understand that this is ridiculous, and have friendships outside the relationship. But, there are friendships and then … well, let’s just say there are two kinds of people who text as much as your husband and this woman: 14-year-old girls and people with the hots for each other. He might swear it’s platonic, but can you see him goodnight texting some hairy buddy of his? “Yo, Frank, tuck me in?” Marital tenure has been in the news thanks to the Gores rounding out their 40th anniversary by announcing their divorce. People are calling this sad/tragic/horrible. But, is it? OK, they promised to be together forever, but the reality is, things end. People use each other up and grow apart. It takes guts to admit it’s over, especially in light of all the “stay together no matter what” propaganda, like calling an ended marriage a “failed relationship.” (Why is it a failure if you had a bunch of good years together?) As I’ve written before, for couples who don’t have kids, or whose kids are grown, a marriage license should be more like a driver’s license: up for renewal every fi ve years. Spouses would be less likely to slob up,

Serial monotony My husband of 18 years woke me up one morning to inform me that he told this woman in the class he’s taking that he’s happily married and isn’t looking to cross any lines. Feeling uneasy, I peeked at his text messaging and call history. They’d been texting for hours before his declaration to me, and text all day, every day. (He texts her upon reaching his offi ce, and before he goes to bed at night.) Meanwhile, he had me stop calling him during work because it didn’t leave us enough to talk about at dinner. He claims they’re just friends but refused to cut back on their texting, despite how it’s upsetting me. He keeps saying he can’t have friends because of me, and thinks there’s nothing wrong with texting her all day.

— Distressed

When you aren’t guilty, you don’t wake your wife to confess your guiltlessness —

The ADviCe GODDeSSBy Amy Alkonamy.alkon@secondsupper.com

get mean, and cut off sex, and they’d have to ask themselves the question you two should: “Do we want what we have, or do we just have what we have?” Marriage is supposed to be a partnership, not a partnership with an option on a harem. Still, you don’t get to tell another adult what to do, just what you refuse to stick around for. But, unless you make it clear that you’re willing to walk, you may as well tack a rider on your marriage contract allowing unlimited extramarital texts. If you believe you two have more to share than collective boredom, try fi ring up his empathy. Ask how he’d feel if some guy called you on your home phone every fi ve minutes during dinner, and one last time at bedtime: “Hey, man, mind putting your wife on the line so I can sing her to sleep?” At the very least, it’ll make for some compelling dinner conversation to break up all the chewing, and it’s probably your best shot at getting him to consider changing his calling plan to one that leads to fewer dropped wives.

Searching for that special yum one A nice-enough guy who’s part of a group of friends I hang with sent me some “You looked delicious today” and “What a great butt you have”-type e-mails. I felt fl attered, then got a case of the ickies. Should I ask a trusted male friend (also in our group) to lie and say I have a boyfriend?

— Skeeved

Chances are, the guy’s just a doofus —

one who doesn’t get that “You look beautiful” is a compliment and that what he wrote is basically “Hey, sex parts!” The moment a guy shows interest in you, decide whether you have any interest in him, and shut him down right away if you don’t. Whatever you do, don’t create boyfriend fi ction you’ll have to maintain. Assess this guy and the group dynamic, and either ignore his e-mails or respond with something like “I’m telling myself you were drinking when you wrote that, and we’re both going to forget you ever sent it.” That might sound mean, but it’s actually the benevolent response: letting him know that he can’t just haul off with “You looked delicious today” unless he’s already getting it on with a girl or he bumped into her when she was dressed as a giant chocolate croissant.

Sudoku From page 10

12// June 17, 2010 Second Supper