Why I Miss Bill Clinton (and other thoughts):

Yesterday, Jerry took Micah to The Mall for a while. When I met up with them later, I got an earful from Micah about the Battle Bots he saw in action in the rotunda. Jerry informed me that he had difficulty tearing Micah away from the action. I had read about the competition the previous day in the Strib and noted it because of its connection to my current project: grading student papers on potential interventions for juvenile delinquency. The article titled, "Battle 'bots: A guidance program for juveniles," describes how a local Alternative Learning Center offers a class in Battle Bot craft as a means of keeping young men involved in hands-on learning rather than crime. "Their 15-pound wedge-shaped battle robot is keeping guys such as 16-year-old Kiefer Morgan engaged in learning rather than going over the edge of juvenile delinquency."

That's quite a claim for a hunk of metal on wheels. This kind of idea seems to be a salient one for many, however, as my students' papers illustrate. Quite a few are proposing programs to keep kids engaged in leisure and other "pro-social" activities within and outside of school as a means to prevent and/or remedy delinquency. For the most part, though, these types of programs haven't shown statistically significant results in doing either.

But there is one indisputable fact: the Bots kick butt, as the video below illustrates. Anybody else remember this show?

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What are two grown-up nerds to do on a Thursday night in Chicago? Why, attend a taping of National Public Radio's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! of course! This is precisely what Jerry and I did last night, leaving Micah in the capable hands of his paternal grandparents. We headed downtown to the Chase Auditorium to take in the popular current events quiz show. Much zaniness ensued over the 90 mintues of the taping given the ample fodder availble in the current political scene. My favorite bit was the interview with columnist Maureen Dowd who provided some provocative insights on Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. All in all, a great evening, despite fighting traffic and running to catch the CTA (not such a pretty sight - a 31-week pregnant woman huffing and puffing to catch a damn train!). Though I may never have Carl Kassel on my home answering machine, I am proud to say that Peter Sagal is now a friend of mine on Facebook!

I highly recommend catching a taping if you're ever in Chicago on a Thursday. Tix are a mere $20.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm always in awe of the artists I know - putting themselves and their work "out there." Our Best Man Josh Wetjen will have his name in lights this coming July, along with dance sensation Eddie Oroyan (left) at the Southern Theater. Josh is a killer guitar player and has composed and will perform live the music for Eddie's original dance performance. Should be a synergistic evening!

Eddie Oroyan
Brown Rocket

Dancers: Eddie Oroyan and Laura Selle-Virtucio
Music: Joshua Wetjen

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Good friend and high school English teacher extraordinaire Josh Wetjen shared this video of some St. Paul Central High students fulfilling a requirement from their Environmental Science class. Al Gore could hardly do better...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just for fun, I subscribed myself to one of those weekly email services that sends you an update on your pregnancy, week-by-week. I like to be reminded of what's going on in my womb while I'm busily doing "important" things.

What strikes me as funny is that each week I am informed that my baby now resembles some form of produce in size. It started out with fruits in the early weeks, like "your baby is now the size of a grape" or "a plum" or a "large orange." But now that we're in the third trimester, we seem to have graduated to vegetables. Last week, my baby was approximately as big as a head of cauliflower and as of yesterday he is, apparently, "like a Chinese cabbage." Mmmmmm...

So, next time you're in the produce aisle, pause for a moment and think of my fetus. Any guesses as to what veggie he might be next week?

For more on my pregnancy, visit my birth blog: Off My Rocker

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This afternoon, Micah came downstairs after his "rest time" (a 45-minute time period during which Micah stays in his room by himself under the guise of rest, but really he just messes around while his parents intermittently yell from downstairs to be quiet) and announced to me that he had found his chapstick. Having not realized it was lost, I said, "Oh really?" He then presented me with a glue stick. I immediately told him that this wasn't chapstick and if he put it on his lips it would glue his mouth shut. Suddenly, Micah's hands flew to his face and he started yelling, "Wash it off!!" At which point I reassured him that the glue must not have worked because if it had, he wouldn't be able to talk to me (I also quickly checked the label to make sure it was non-toxic). If only it had actually worked...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm always happy to see an old friend succeed. While we haven't been in touch in a while, I was excited to see Michaelangelo Matos' review of Lenny Kravitz' new album in this week's Onion. Michael's really made the big time when it comes to his career as a rock critic. He's written for Rolling Stone, Spin, Village Voice, City Pages, and the Seattle Weekly, just to name a few. I will never forget our days as editors of the Richfield Senior High School Spotlight newspaper. Paste-up days were especially memorable, as was the pizza review we did in which Michael arranged for the delivery/pick-up of pizzas from several local pizza joints and we all stood around eating them and giving our not-so-serious comments. I like to think I had something to do with his success - I remember telling him that actually being a rock star was probably not in his future, but writing about rock certainly could be. Never one to mince words or spare his opinion, here's his take on Lenny's latest:

Well, there go the rumors that with each album, Lenny Kravitz was going to jump ahead three years stylistically, catching up with the present some time around 2008. From its title on down, It Is Time For A Love Revolution is spiritually interchangeable with his debut, 1989's Let Love Rule. Think about that: Lenny Kravitz has had a longer stint as an oldies act than most actual oldies acts. And in spite of a couple of bright riffs (the chunky "Love Revolution," the space-soul of "This Moment Is All There Is"), Love Revolution contains some of his hackiest work yet (which is really saying something), from the ponderous refrain of "I Love The Rain" back to "Love Revolution" itself, on which Kravitz overdubs himself in breathy "soulful" mode over his rockin' chorus, just to cover the bases. He's also got zip to say, most gratuitously on "Back In Vietnam," the most nuanced Iraq commentary since 10th-grade lunch hour. Kravitz used to catch hell for sounding like other people. Now people can make fun of him for sounding like himself.

A.V. Club Rating: C-

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was a great night for wrestling at The Barn last night! My #1 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes came to town and took care of business:

"We took care of business the way we needed to take care of business... We just come to wrestle, and we came here ready to wrestle. We don’t talk about the past." - Iowa Head Coach, Tom Brands (quotes)

I'm liking the new Tom Brands regime quite a bit. The Hawks looked aggressive, scrambled well and didn't give up on matches when they were behind. It's an attitude-thing that seemed (to me) to be missing under Zalesky's leadership.

I wasn't sure if Micah would let us watch all that much of the dual. He's still a bit too young to be captivated by sporting events. He does ask critical questions, though. When we explained that wrestling was about two guys trying to "tackle" each other (trying to keep it simple), he asked, "Why not a boy and a girl?" There are any number of directions to go with that question, but I did reassure him that girls do wrestle in some places. In any case, we were able to see the matches at 133 through184 - enough to see the Hawks' victory was at hand.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOY!!!!

(head is on the left)

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jerry and I decided to buy Micah his very own digital camera for Christmas. It's a vtech Kidizoom Camera designed especially for kids (e.g. allegedly, it is durable). Being a camera for kids, it has special photo enhancing features. Here's a likeness of me taken by my little angel. I suppose it's about what I deserve some days:

Merry Christmas to all!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 06:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've been doing any number of ditzy things lately. Normally, I would blame it on stress. But I'm really not that stressed right now. So, I'm chalking it up to baby brain. I have no idea if this phenomenon has been scientifically studied, but many women I know testify to having experienced this during pregnancy. Here are some of the silly things I've caught myself doing:

*putting my croutons on my spaghetti instead of my salad
*walking up an extra flight of stairs thinking that was where I was going
*putting shampoo on my shower puff instead of soap

Most of the time, these are harmless, easily corrected mishaps. The other night, though, something really interesting happened. I was putting Micah to bed and forgot to put on his nighttime pull-up. He'd still been wetting those at night so we've kept him in them. But then I forgot to put one on, and guess what? He stayed dry all night long! He was the one to point it out in the morning, too, in his proudest big-boy manner. So, we've kept the pull-up off and for three straight nights he's stayed dry. Thanks to baby brain, my son may now be fully potty-trained. Go figure!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been doing a whole lotta traveling lately, at least by my standards. As of today, I will have traveled to three major US cities in less than 30 days. From October 27-29 I was in San Francisco for the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education. My duties there were to help meet potential candidates for an open faculty position at the School of Social Work. Incidentally, I also took care of my friend and roommate, Jemel, who had a bit too much fun on Saturday night! Second, I traveled last week to Atlanta, as blogged below, for the annual meetings of the ASC. Now, we're off to Chicago, this time on family business - to visit Jerry's parents and celebrate Thanksgiving, my 33rd birthday, and an early Christmas. A triple whammy! Should be a great time (read: lots of free babysitting - thanks, Grandma & Grandpa!). I'll happily hang up my traveling shoes for a while after this. I'm ready to stay in one place for a while...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I spent the better part of last week in Atlanta attending the American Society of Criminology meetings. The conference itself had a few cool moments, especially a plenary address given by President Jimmy Carter. A dang fine man, if you ask me. Fellow grad student attendees also provided some particularly entertaining moments (Thanks, Shelly & Mike!). But the hands-down highlight of my time in Atlanta was an afternoon I stole away to spend with a dear friend who resides there, Tony Gatewood (pictured right, on the left).
Without even needing to verbalize my culinary preferences, Tony quickly shared the list he'd already generated of great soul food places for me to choose from. The dude knows me! I chose the most down-home of the options, Beautiful, located in the West End neighborhood. Man, was it beautiful! The food was down-right spiritual. I'm not kidding. I was transported as I feasted on meat loaf, baked macaroni, collard greens and corn bread. The conversation was also soul-satisfying. Nothing like spending hours across a table from a good friend, breaking bread and talking deep. I loved every minute.

After lunch, Tony gave me a walking tour of the Atlanta University Center where he works as a campus minister. I thoroughly enjoyed the King Chapel on the campus of Morehouse and the Thursday Market atmosphere at Clark. All in all, it was a great day. Thanks, Tony!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every now and then something gratifying happens in academia. I suppose receiving news that an article has been accepted for publication might reach the top of the list for many academics, at least for us young 'uns trying to prove we've got what it takes. So, I'm pausing, momentarily, to enjoy my second peer-reviewed publication. This one will be published in the top-ranked journal in social work (Children and Youth Services Review).

I'm probably in some ways prouder of my first publication because I'm first author and the whole thing, from conception to analysis, was really my baby. But my bragging point on this second one is that I - wait for it - I did the statistical analysis!!! Yup. Logistic regression, baby! Me and LR are so tight, you wouldn't believe it. Our data set has several limitations (duly noted in the article) and the analysis wasn't that complex, but, dammit, I did some math! Oh, I know somebody hears me...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Done, done and DONE!
Turned 'em in at 3pm yesterday. I'll know in about a month if I passed. Right now, just glad it's over!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

My father is fond of saying that the best thing he ever saw was Sioux City in his rearview mirror when he moved to Minneapolis in the late 60s. Yet we all maintain a deep affection for the northwestern Iowa town where my great-grandmother lived out all of her 98 years and where my dad's parents lived for much of my childhood. Many beloved extended family members still live there and in surrounding areas.

We have always hit the road for trips to Sioux City, a solid five hours from these parts. But now I'm thinking I might need to find a reason to fly there, if just to have a ticket stub with SUX on it. It's good to see Sioux City making the headlines with such humor:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - City leaders have scrapped plans to do away with the Sioux Gateway Airport's unflattering three-letter identifier — SUX — and instead have made it the centerpiece of the airport's new marketing campaign.

The code, used by pilots and airports worldwide and printed on tickets and luggage tags, will be used on T-shirts and caps sporting the airport's new slogan, "FLY SUX." It also forms the address of the airport's redesigned Web site — http://www.flysux.com.

Sioux City officials petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration to change the code in 1988 and 2002. At one point, the FAA offered the city five alternatives — GWU, GYO, GYT, SGV and GAY — but airport trustees turned them down.

Airport board member Dave Bernstein proposed embracing the identifier.

"Let's make the best of it," Bernstein said. "I think we have the opportunity to turn it into a positive."

He noted that many airports, including some of the busiest, have forgettable three-letter codes.

"I've got buddies that I went to college with in different cities that can't even remember their own birthdays, but they all know the Sioux City designator — SUX," he said.

Mayor Craig Berenstein, who in 2002 described SUX as an "embarrassment" to the city, said he views the new slogan as a "cute little way" to make light of the situation.

Image: get your fly SUX t-shirt here!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of extreme adventure lit. As a result, I've read nearly everything written by Jon Krakauer, including Into the Wild, which has now been adapted to screen by Sean Penn.

Into the Wild is a true-story of Christopher McCandless, a recent college graduate who gives away his savings (nearly $25,000) to charity and changes his name to Alexander Supertramp as he wanders the Western U.S. He refuses contact with any of his family members, leaving his parents wracked with worry for months on end. Eventually, Supertramp heads to Alaska to attempt survival in the only remaining true wilderness in North America. Tragically, Supertramp dies of starvation in an abandoned bus, ironically only a few miles from where he wandered into the Alaskan wild - a very easy distance from the civilization he aspired to escape.

In the book, Krakauer wrestles with the question of how to judge Alexander Supertramp. Was he a naive idealist? Was he mentally ill? Was he just a big ol' jerk? Or maybe just down right stupid? Krakauer refuses to pin him down. While acknowledging Alexander's many weaknesses, Krakauer insists that Supertramp was on a quest for a life full of meaning and in his own way he found it, despite the fact that many of us question his intelligence and sanity as a result.

In this way, Into the Wild strikes me as a good read about the travails of the transition from youth to adulthood. By all typical measures of "success," Supertramp did not make it. He refused to engage in the conventional benchmarks of the young adult period (education, employment, marriage) even though he had the seemingly perfect set-up to achieve them: loving parents, a middle-class, white suburban background and a world-class education at Emory, all of which he tossed to the wind. But to his credit, Supertramp explored in-depth, and perhaps the the extreme, why life might be worth living and who he wanted to be in the world. These are key questions, of meaning and purpose, that are essential to growing up. I hear echoes of these concerns when I listen to young people talk about their transitions out of society's most entangling institutions: the military, prison, foster care, residential treatment centers. Who am I? What do I want to be? Will I make it? Am I a hero? A failure? A good mother? A throw-away?

Deep stuff. So, I look forward to seeing Into the Wild on screen soon. Colin Covert of the Strib has given the film four out of four stars and Rotten Tomatoes shows a 79% Fresh rating. I have no doubt Sean Penn will deliver Alexander Supertramp just as he ought to be - without any easy answers.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since I last posted on this topic, I've finished reading The River of Doubt as well as The Member of the Wedding. For the first three of my summer reads, I took my cues from recommendations on NPR. For my final pick of the summer, I've taken a tip from the hubster and am immersed in a noir-esque novel called Citizen Vince set in the fall of 1980 about an ex-con who comes face to face with his ambivalence about turning legit when his voter registration card comes in the mail. I'm enjoying the novel a great deal, particularly due to its congruence with my research interests in criminology and reintegration, not to mention my boss' expertise in felon dis/re-enfranchisement.

Here's my favorite passage from the book so far. The protagonist has just received his voter registration card in the day's mail and flips on the TV only to find a debate between Carter and Reagan. With the 2008 election brewing, I find this quote to be quite resonant:

"And yet here is Vince Camden, at the peak of technology and development, at the crest of a remarkable wave of human achievement, in a world created by piling these single thoughts together, strung out over millennia - here is Vince Camden, himself a technological and legal creation, standing alone in a heated, wired, insulated shelter, witnessing a thirteen-inch box beaming a mash of electrons that when unscrambled depict two men vying for the most powerful position in the history of the world at a time when the push of a button can effectively end civilization. Here is Vince Camden, overwhelmed by his own significance and by his desire to change, by the undertow of history, and by the weight of so many choices, undone by this miracle of being and by all these strands connected in the thread of one simple thought:

Which one of these stupid fucks are you supposed to vote for?"

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Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A few weeks ago, my son noticed a "no smoking" sign at church (we meet in an elementary school building on Sunday mornings). The kind volunteer in his Sunday school classroom explained the sign to him. Later that day, Micah began asking me about "smokes." At first, I thought he was just talking about smoke in the plural. It was only when he mentioned a sign that I realized he was referring to cigarettes. I think he must have heard the part about "no smoking" and just assumed that what you're not supposed to smoke are called smokes. Makes sense, no?

Well, since then, Micah discusses cigarettes and "no smoking" on a daily basis. When he draws, he draws "no smoking" signs. When we read Curious George, he notices and inquires at length about the pipes and cigars he sees the characters smoking (Thanks, H.A. & Margaret!). He also, as of today, incorporates "no smoking" messages into the children's songs that he sings. For example, "Here we are together, no smoking, no smoking. The more we get together the happier we'll be." He also informed me today on the way home from daycare that he thinks Teddy Roosevelt* must have smoked because he died. I tried to explain the subtle fact that not everyone who dies does so because they smoked, but this only led to an endless series of questions about how else people can die. I am pretty morbid anyway, but explaining all manner of paths to death to my four year old just wasn't what I wanted to talk about in rush hour traffic.

In any case, if you happen to bump into Micah anytime soon, be prepared to be read the riot act on smoking and how if you do it you will die. Can we possibly hope that this attitude will last into his teen years?

*Micah has been watching Night at the Museum regularly this summer, of which Teddy Roosevelt is a key character.
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Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm a Pepsi drinker by upbringing. I was raised on the stuff. My great-grandmother drank a Pepsi a day and lived to be 98 years old. She was buried with a Pepsi at her side. Mt. Dew is my Pepsi-product of choice - you'll find me with a Diet Dew in hand (or very near my hand) most of every day.

Much to my disgruntlement, the University of Minnesota sells only Coca-Cola products in its vending machines. The past three years of grad school have been tough when the caffeine bug hits and I've run out of my own supply. Darn those exclusive contracts! I've learned to tolerate Cherry Coke. I've comforted myself with the fact that I was paying only 65 cents per can. As of July 1, however, this one cold comfort has come to an end. I now must pay 75 cents to consume a beverage I don't even really enjoy. They've also jacked up the price on animal crackers, my snack-of-choice-in-a-pinch, to 85 cents as opposed to the former 80 cents. You can still buy a bag of M&Ms for 80 cents, so I fail to understand why a bag of generic animal crackers should cost more than chocolate!

It may sound like nickels and dimes to you, but this is a boycott-worthy cause if I ever saw one. Now if I could just dig that last dime out of my wallet, I could buy that damn can of Cherry Coke...

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Posted by Sarah Shannon at 08:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two exciting events are afoot in the world of music, at least the kind I listen to. The first is that the John Lennon catalog is now available on iTunes. Hurrah! Upon learning this fact, I immediately downloaded Well, Well, Well, but so many favorites await my mouse click...

The second is that Over the Rhine (OTR) is soon to release their latest record, The Trumpet Child. One local station has already played a tune or two from the forthcoming album on the air. OTR produces the kind of songs I sing with my eyes closed (sometimes while driving...I can't help it!). I've heard their style described as alt country and dreamy roots, but they also infuse jazz, rock, spiritual and all manner of sass and sweetness into their melodies. Take a listen here. I highly recommend Trouble and Let's Spend the Day in Bed for a little grown-up romance...

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Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Sunday, September 16th I will don my walking shoes and join 2,000 other people walking for justice on Boom Island in Minneapolis. I'm doing so to raise funds for ICAN of the Twin Cities, a fabulous organization to which I belong and without which I would never consider having another baby. Seriously. Having a c-section birth with Micah was one of the most traumatic things I've yet experienced, and ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) has helped me move forward and heal. If you want to support me in my walking efforts, click here.

ICAN's mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary c-sections, supporting c-section recovery, and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). I could write a manifesto here about the medical establishment, but instead I will post ICAN's statement of beliefs, which summarizes many of the reasons I find its mission so compelling and important:

We, the International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc., believe that:

1. The cesarean section rate remains at an alarmingly higher rate than the 15% average recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO estimates that half (50%) of all cesarean sections performed in the United States are unnecessary.

2. When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. With half the cesareans being performed deemed unnecessary by WHO, the risks these mothers and babies are exposed to are avoidable and costly.

3. In most cases VBAC is safe for both mother and infant. A repeat cesarean should never be considered routine– it is major abdominal surgery with many risks.

4. Birth is a normal physiological process. Given sincere emotional support, real education, and an honest opportunity, 90-95% of women can deliver vaginally, joyfully, as nature intended.

5. Women have the right to accurate information regarding nutrition and risks of drugs during pregnancy and labor. Poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol, and medications taken during pregnancy and labor often affect the infant's well-being and contribute to unnecessary cesareans.

6. Women have the right to the information necessary for using medical technology and procedures judiciously. The misuse of technology has fostered the high cesarean rate. Women have the right to know what tests are being performed, the side effects of such tests, the right to decline any procedures. Informed consent is not a privilege, it is a right of all birthing women.

7. Women must be allowed to express all their birth related feelings in a safe and supportive environment. The emotions of a pregnant and birthing woman have profound effects on the birth outcome.

8. Patient-choice cesareans are unethical and immoral on the part of physician. Women are not being fully informed of the risks of this option in childbirth, and therefore make decisions based on cultural myth and fear surrounding childbirth.

9. We as women must now assume more responsibility for our own bodies and births. At stake are our babies, our bodies, and our futures.

This material may be copied and distributed with retained copyright.
© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 08:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are some criminologists who cite low self-control brought about by faulty parenting as the root cause of delinquency. I have found that the Curious George series of children's books illustrates this concept rather clearly. You see, George's guardian, the Man in the Yellow Hat, is constantly leaving him unattended, during which times George gets himself into enormous amounts of trouble. In fact, in the inaugural Curious George story, George lands himself in prison, no less, for accidentally summoning the fire department while imitating the Man in the Yellow Hat using the telephone. He also smokes a pipe, an additional habit picked up from his guardian. In every book, George's behavior is credited to his unyielding curiosity (low self-control?), which, despite his best efforts to "be good," always seems to draw him into delinquent behavior, including painting jungle graffiti all over an unsuspecting lady's apartment and taking an entire block's worth of newspapers and making them into paper boats instead of delivering them. Yet, in the end, George always wins the authorities over, either by the skills only a monkey has (four hands are handy!) or by somehow doing something good. Perhaps human juvenile delinquents should take George's methods to heart!

Well, Micah is really into Curious George these days, watching the PBS cartoon daily and reading every story the library owns (well, I read them to him - over and over and over and over again!). The Minnesota Children's Museum currently has an exhibit on Curious George, which the hubster escorted Micah to last week. Sounds like it was pretty cool. An interesting fact learned there was that H.A. and Margaret Rey, creators of Curious George, were Jewish refugees who fled Paris a few hours before it fell to the Nazis in WWII. One of the few things they took with them was their first Curious George manuscript. Seems like that was a good thing to pack...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our little neighborhood rag published the first of a two-part piece this month on the meaning behind the street names in our area. The streets are alphabetical and are named for famous individuals in (mostly) American history, particularly literary, military and political figures. To be honest, I hadn't thought much about this, but found the story absolutely fascinating. I was particularly pleased to find out that we live on the street named after Washington Irving, creator of Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle. I've long had an affection for the macabre, so the Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a favorite yarn.

Here are the famous folks behind the first-half of the alphabetical streets in Minneapolis:
Aldrich Ave: Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Bryant Ave: William Cullen Bryant
Colfax Ave: Schuyler Colfax
Dupont Ave: Samuel Francis Dupont
Emerson Ave: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fremont Ave: John Charles Fremont
Girard Ave: Stephen Girard
Humboldt Ave: Alexander von Humboldt
Irving Ave: Washington Irving
James Ave: George P.R. James
Knox Ave: Henry Knox
Logan Ave: John Alexander Logan

Sleepy Hollow image

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The hubster has launched a new endeavor on his blog: a taste-testing podcast in which participants compare the taste of organic vs. non-organic food items. I am one of the reviewers, along with our best man Josh. The inaugural episode features grass fed vs. meat packing plant beef. Check it out here. Stay tuned for organic vs. non-organic apples...

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Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When it comes to pleasure reading, I generally go for books that fall into one of the following categories:

Mystery/suspense
Biography/history
Extreme adventure

I tend to be drawn toward historical fiction, as was the case with my most recent read, The March. I can't properly claim to be a Civil War buff - I know very little of battles and generals. But I've always found that historical period to be captivating, probably for less-than-original reasons: the larger-than-life historical characters like Lincoln and Sherman, emancipation, the test of this republic's tenacity. Doctorow's narrative was vivid and his characters captivating. A couple of passages caught my attention in particular:

At the surrender of Johnston to Sherman: And so the war had come down to words. It was fought now in terminology across a table. It was contested in sentences. Entrenchments and assaults, drum taps and bugle calls, marches, ambushes, burnings, and pitched battles were transmogrified into nouns and verbs. It is all turned very quiet, Sherman said to Johnston, who, not quite understanding, lifted his head to listen.(p. 348).

Sherman's reflections: Though this march is done, and well accomplished, I think of it now, God help me, with longing - not for its blood and death but for the bestowal of meaning to the very ground trod upon, how it made every field and swamp and river and road into something of moral consequence, whereas now, as the march dissolves, so does the meaning, the army strewing itself into the isolated intentions of diffuse private life, and the terrain thereby left blank and also diffuse, and ineffable, a thing once again, and victoriously, without reason, and, whether diurnally lit and darkened, or sere or fruitful, or raging or calm, completely insensible and without any purpose of its own.

And why is Grant so solemn today upon our great achievement, except he knows this unmeaning inhuman planet will need our warring imprint to give it value, and that our civil war, the devastating manufacture of the bones of our sons, is but a war after a war, a war before a war. (p. 359).

The latter quote struck me particularly for its potential relevance to soldiers returning from Iraq. I will be leaving next week for Ft. McCoy to interview returning soldiers as part of the research project I'm extremely fortunate to be working on this summer. I have a feeling I'll be more than moved by some of the words I'll hear spoken there.

What's really exciting is when a book encompasses several of my preferred categories. My next read does just that - River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey. The book combines biography/history and extreme adventure. Given that I'm a Jon Krakauer junkie (highly recommend Into Thin Air and Into the Wild!), I'm excited to delve into this true story of a former president fighting for his life in the Amazonian jungle! I'll keep you posted...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

These latter days have certainly taken their toll around these parts. To lighten the mood, we've taken to watching a new HBO series, Flight of the Conchords. While the bits between songs often fall flat, the musical aspect of the show provides lots and lots of laughter-inducing material. In case you do not have the benefit of HBO in your home, here's a song to illustrate:

"Bowie Song"

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I for one appreaciated this week's release from the Vatican of the "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road." In terms of sermon-making, I tend to prefer those that utilize narrative and metaphor. However, as a churchgoer, it is sometimes useful when the pastor outlines practical tips for daily living. I am not a Catholic, but I am a driver and so I eagerly reviewed the guidelines to glean some spiritual wisdom for navigating this season's construction-congested freeways in the Twin Cities.

I found that I am doing quite well on some points, such as "thou shalt not drive and drink." I also tend to stay reasonably close to the speed limit (you have to go with the flow, y'know). But on other commandments I am not doing so well. "Thou shalt not make rude gestures behind the steering wheel" - oops. No "cursing" - yikes. But I would most certainly stop to help accident victims - or at least call 911 on my cell phone.

So, I guess I'm a mixed bag when it comes to righteous behavior behind the wheel. The Guidelines do urge Catholic drivers to make the sign of the cross before embarking on the road. Maybe I'll pick up this habit, just for good measure...

Photo

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A friend once related this quote to me: "The movie about my life will be really boring, but it will have a kick-ass soundtrack" (or something like that). I can't remember if he was quoting a movie or someone he knew, but the quote has stuck with me. This would most certainly describe any such film attempted about my life to date, unless some serious embellishment were involved.

Nevertheless, I frequenty spend time planning the soundtrack. Artists featured would include The Beatles, Mozart, Miles Davis, James Brown, Over the Rhine, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Cat Stevens, Nina Simone, CCR, U2, Mahalia Jackson, Roger Miller, Michael Jackson, New Kids on the Block, Lauryn Hill, Public Enemy, and Nirvana, to name a few.

Also included would be a more personal favorite, The Honeydogs. This is not only because I like their music, but also because the front man would be involved in the movie's plot given that he is a friend of mine. Perhaps this is where a bit of embellishment could fit in. But I digress....

Tonight my little fam along with the sis and good friend Josh ventured out to St. Paul's Mears Park for a night of free music with the H'Dogs. I enjoyed hearing their tunes live for the first time. I've only come to know their repertoire in recent years after working with Adam at HIRED, so songs in my film would be from the last two albums. Here are a few tunes that would definitely make my biopic (listen to clips here):

Panhandler's Serenade
The Rake's Progress
Elan Vital
Heads or Tales

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I spent nine years living in Iowa City - attending undergrad at the University of Iowa and then working for five years following graduation. I frequenty refer to it as my time of exile. Every now and again Iowa makes the national news wires - typically at times such as these when political hopefuls make their way to the heart of the midwest for speeches and glad-handing. But today's claim to fame for the "Fields of Opportunity" really takes the cake. The aspiring criminologist in me is simutaneously amused and disturbed - going to prison for stealing toilet paper?!?

Butts charged with stealing toilet paper

Mon Jun 11, 6:40 PM ET

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa - Police blame a woman named Butts for stealing toilet paper from a central Iowa courthouse, and while they're chuckling, the theft charge could put her in prison.

"She's facing potentially three years of incarceration for three rolls of toilet paper," Chief Lon Walker said, stifling a laugh as he talked to KCCI-TV about Suzanne Marie Butts. "See, I can't say it with a straight face."

Workers had noticed the rolls disappearing from the Marshall County Courthouse much faster than usual, Walker said.

Butts, 38, was caught last week after an employee saw her taking three rolls of two-ply tissue from a storage closet, Walker said.

Butts insisted it was the first time she'd pilfered toilet paper, but she declined to answer further questions on her attorney's advice.

The fifth-degree theft charge, a misdemeanor, normally carries a sentence of less than a year in jail. But Butts could face more time if convicted under the state's habitual offender law because she has prior theft convictions.

Walker did not know why Butts was at the courthouse, but said that she did not work there.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A happy moment from graduation day!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the day I wed Mr. Gerald Patrick Shannon of Barrington, Illinois. I must say, I made a very fine choice. As a partner, Jerry is as good as it gets: he's kind, smart as all get-out, hard-working, a devoted father, and he mows the lawn. Did I mention that he cooks and does the laundry? He also knows me really well - what makes me tick, what I like and don't, when to give me a hug and when to piss off (usually). He gets me. In sum, he's a damn good man. So, raise your glasses for my spouse.....to Jerry!!!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've long admired sharks for their sleek and brutal beauty. I've always known they were something really special.

Well, I now know that lady sharks have a distinct advantage over we she-humans. Perhaps it's the millions of years of evolution they have on us, but shark-chics can have babies by they own selves. Imagine, no need for a partner ready and available when ovulation occurs, no ovulation kits, no dinner and candles. Just me and my eggs, thank you very much! Ok, so maybe it has some disadvantages (kids with no genetic variation), but still...

Study: Female sharks fertilize own eggs

By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer

DUBLIN, Ireland - Female sharks can fertilize their own eggs and give birth without sperm from males, according to a new study of the asexual reproduction of a hammerhead in a U.S. zoo.

The joint Northern Ireland-U.S. research, being published Wednesday in the Royal Society's peer-reviewed Biology Letter journal, analyzed the DNA of a shark born in 2001 in the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. The shark was born in a tank with three potential mothers, none of whom had contact with a male hammerhead for at least three years.

The baby was killed within hours of its birth by a stingray in the same tank. Analysis of its DNA found no trace of any chromosomal contribution from a male partner.

Shark experts said this was the first confirmed case in a shark of parthenogenesis, which is derived from Greek and means "virgin birth."

Asexual reproduction is common in some insect species, rarer in reptiles and fish, and has never been documented in mammals. The list of animals documented as capable of the feat has grown along with the numbers being raised in captivity — but until now, sharks were not considered a likely candidate.

"The findings were really surprising because as far as anyone knew, all sharks reproduced only sexually by a male and female mating, requiring the embryo to get DNA from both parents for full development, just like in mammals," said marine biologist Paulo Prodohl of Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, a co-author of the report.

"As is typical with scientists, we doubted our own results and so we did it again, and then a third time using a new technique with new genetic approaches. This confirmed there was no DNA of any male," said Prodohl, an expert in fish genetics with specific knowledge of hammerhead DNA.

Before the study, many shark experts had presumed that the Nebraska birth involved a female shark's well-documented ability to store sperm for months. This seemed the most plausible scenario even though the sharks had arrived at the Nebraska zoo as immature pups.

The lack of any paternal DNA in the baby shark ruled out this possibility.

"This phenomenon has now been demonstrated in all major vertebrate groups except for mammals. Birds do it, reptiles do it, amphibians do it, fishes do it, and now sharks are known to do it," said Bob Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla., who was not involved in the project.

The report's other co-author, Mahmood Shivji of the Guy Harvey Research Institute in Dania Beach, Fla., said the finding explained growing numbers of anecdotal reports of male-free shark births in captivity.

Shivji said the research "may have solved a general mystery about shark reproduction," because it suggests that sharks can "switch from a sexual to a non-sexual mode of reproduction." But he said this was not necessarily a positive ability because baby sharks produced only by the mother suffer from reduced genetic diversity.

Genetic diversity makes living creatures better able to adapt to threats, such as disease and climate change.

Prodohl said if self-impregnation was occurring in the wild because female sharks cannot find male partners amid rapidly declining shark populations, it would represent "an evolutionary dead end that compromises the survival of the species."

He said he suspected this was "already a problem in the real world," and noted the population of blue sharks off the west coast of Ireland had fallen by 90 percent in the past 12 years.

But Hueter said he doubted it was happening anywhere besides in captivity. He also argued that the power to self-impregnate represents "an evolutionary strategy to keep the population and species going when all else fails. Genetically, it's a last resort tactic because it leads to genetic uniformity, and eventually that will catch up with the population and make it less fit.

"But as a short-term alternative to extinction, it has its benefits," he said.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I got an "A" in Advanced Social Statistics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a really big deal to me and a great boost to my confidence in my ability to be a social scientist. Oh dear, I need to breathe....

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

In our quest to obtain a reliable bathroom scale, my husband scoured the internet and consumer reviews. He then ordered a model with strong evidence for its quality. When it arrived in the mail today, I had a great laugh at its title - "Fat Loss Monitor with Scale." Apparently, a scale is just not enough anymore! I'm actually hoping to gain a few pounds in the months ahead. More on that in future posts....

Photo

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, folks, as of 12:45 this afternoon, the world has a brand new Dr. of Education, and he happens to be my 58-year-old pops. You can call him Dr. Tom Stertz - I'll call him Dr. Dad. I've written before of my pride in my dad's accomplishments, but today made it official. After jettisoning his 23-year career teaching auto mechanics at Dunwoody College of Technology to pursue his PhD eight years ago, the old man has successfully defended his dissertation: "The Relative Effectiveness of Student Retention Initiatives Within Technical Colleges in Minnesota."

Yay Dad! Sky-U-Mah!

Pictured at left: My Dad (right) and his mother upon his high school graduation, 1966. Bet she's braggin' on her boy all over Heaven!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 01:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This is reaching back to 2004, but I saw a bumper sticker with this slogan driving in this morning and had a good chuckle:

I also found the following counter-slogan online:

With the last Harry Potter book due out in July, as well as the film version of "Order of the Phoenix" coming out the same month, I'm hoping that we Muggles can have some more fun with this in '08.

Voldemort
Wormtail

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

*Source: I totally stole this from someone on the hubster's Cubs message board! But guess what? See above.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ok, so, given the discussion in my previous blog about the paucity of appealing candidates for President in '08, I was excited to see this story come across the wire this morning:

LOS ANGELES - The online social networking site MySpace and reality TV producer Mark Burnett are teaming to launch the search for an independent presidential candidate.

MySpace is a unit of Fox Interactive Media, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
--

Here's hoping they find a network! FOX, anyone?!? C'mon, who here wants to make a run for it???

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I spent a couple hours yesterday hanging out with the Sociology department at their annual Sociology Research Institute (SRI). Though I'm technically a social work student, I've managed to weasel my way in to Soc. People seem to like to mix up sociologists and social workers anyway.

There was great intellectual activity going on at SRI for sure. I enjoyed a conversation between my kind benefactor and Tom Johnson of the Council on Crime and Justice. But to be honest, the coolest thing about the afternoon for me was meeting the Gopher Marching Band Drum Major. Not only is Molly the first female drum major for the Gophers, but she's also a double major in sociology and political science and sits in an office down the hall from me on the 11th floor of the Social Science Tower. Oh yeah, and she'll be interning in DC for Jim Ramstad starting next January. A pretty impressive chick, if you ask me!

Having marched in high school myself (and dated the drum major!) and married a man who marched one year for the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, I was immediately fascinated to learn more about Molly's experiences as drum major. So, I marshalled my best interviewing skills to that end:

Me: So, like, do you get really nervous being out in front like that?
Molly: Not really, I'm used to it now.
Me: But, I mean, like, your first Big 10 football game halftime show, weren't you, like. "Oh my God?"
Molly: Yeah!
Me: And you carry that thing, that big stick...
Molly: It's called the mace.
Me: Yeah, the mace! That's so cool.

*the goose step, in marching band terms, is the one where the drum major runs way out in front of the band, throwing the mace, and raising his/her legs out in front while leaning back - akin to this image from rugby. This is not to be confused with the fascist form of the step...

Photo

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I absolutely love this story. And the fact that it comes from the homeland of my beloved grandparents (God rest their souls) warms my heart all the more.

Wisconsin sheriff writes self a ticket
Associated Press
Last update: April 11, 2007 – 10:16 AM

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brown County Sheriff Dennis Kocken tailed a speeding driver to give her a warning, but he ended up writing himself a ticket after he rear-ended the vehicle.

Kocken was following a Chevrolet Cavalier in his county-owned Ford 500 when the driver slowed to turn. Kocken, who had moved behind the car to avoid a snow removal vehicle in his lane, hit the Cavalier. No one was injured.

Kocken called for a deputy, who wrote a report on the March 7 accident but did not issue a ticket. The Brown County District Attorney's office reviewed the report and found a ticket was not warranted.

But it kept bothering the sheriff, who was elected in 2002.

"Finally, I decided to write myself a ticket,'' Kocken said. "I felt it was the right thing to do.''

The ticket for an unsafe lane change carries a $160.80 fine, which Kocken said he will pay.

"As sheriff, I'm held to the highest standard in law enforcement,'' he said. "How can I hold officers accountable if I don't hold myself accountable?''

The Cavalier's driver could not be reached for comment.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I seem to have a serial problem with one-season-stands with reality TV shows. A couple years ago I watched a season of American Idol and even voted for Bo Bice! I also watched a season of The Bachelor - the Paris edition, I believe. The latter was an exercise in alternating self-hatred (for watching such misogyny) and utter fascination wondering who HE would pick. Now, I'm hooked on Dancing with the Stars!

I have to admit, I'm fascinated by Heather Mills' participation, both as a pariah and as an amputee. I've also identified my three early favorites for finishing in the top tier:
Ian Ziering (of 90210 fame and, therefore, a key figure in my adolescence)
Laila Ali (daughter of Muhammad; kick-ass chick boxer)
Joey Fatone (of N'Sync fame)

We'll see how they do! My sister and bro-in-law attended the local show on the DWTS tour last year (she got real close to Joey McIntyre, another instrumental figure in my adolescence). Maybe we'll have to go next time around!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 03:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Yup! As promised, spent 90 minutes of precious Sunday afternoon "date time" with hubster viewing Blades of Glory and it was glorious! Of course, it's crude, superfluous, and of dubious merit in general. But it was funny - to the point of tears a couple of times (for me). Having once been a skater, there's nothing like a good, solid figure skating spoof including cameos by real skating stars, and Blades delivered.

Photo

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I have!

Me & Sgt. Baker on his wedding-renewal day. By all accounts, his wife Scholastica (also a solider) wears the pants. But he doesn't seem to mind...and I sure didn't mind that hug!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

It's been more than 10 years since I last set foot in New York City. I guess a couple important things have happened in my absence. The hubster and I are here piggy-backing off of his annual meetings for composition instructors.

In any case, I came prepared for fun. Our hotel is minutes from Rockefeller Center and it's still skating season. So, I brought my blades. AND I carried them on the plane. With the threat level at Orange, I wasn't sure if two 12-inch blades with spikes on the end would be welcome on a commercial jet. So, I asked the kind folks at the United ticket counter in MSP. Apparently, no one had ever asked before. So, a TSA expert was summoned who gave the OK. The United ticket counter employee laughed and said, "You can't bring a hockey stick, but you can bring ice skates!"

Photo

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Some kids have a security blanket, others a stuffed animal. Most who have a security item have something tangible that they can touch, hold, hug. Not my son. No. He has never really been attached to objects. But what he does have is a security alter ego. When my son feels scared, upset, insecure, he retreats into his other self which is...a cat. Here is a segment of tonight's conversation:

Micah: I WANT my DINOSAURS!
Mommy/Daddy: Micah, go to sleep now.
MIcah: mmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!

And so it goes. Now if we could just get him to catch mice.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I bet members of Wilco rarely, if ever, consider the 3-5 year old age bracket as one of the band's key markets. But they struck a chord with my 3 1/2 year old today. I put the CD in on a whim while running errands this afternoon. The CD was burned for me a little while back by a friend and includes some classic power ballads tacked on the end. I had considered skipping straight to those, but my son usually tells me he doens't like "that music" and so I figured I'd give Wilco a try. Pretty soon, Micah was asking me to repeat tracks and asking "What's this song about?" As the CD played on, he bopped his head up and down and made statements such as, "I wonder what song is next..."

This of course, got me wondering what it was about Wilco that appeals to my son's musical taste. Perhaps the upbeat guitars? The whimsical percussion? Whatever it was, I had a great time watching my kid rock out in the back seat. Thanks, Wilco!

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 09:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have a confession to make. I'm halfway through my semester of Advanced Statistics and on the verge of handing in my first paper (worth 40% of my grade). The confession is, I think I like stats!!!!!

Once you have picked yourself up off the floor and cursed yourself for placing a bet that I would have a total meltdown by now, let me know...

Believe it or not, it's true. I, the once stat-avoidant, have been transformed into a stat-addict. I have been spending inordinate amounts of time with Stata, trying different models and running various tests and, well, sometimes....I just can't stop! It's really fun - like playing a video game, if you ask me. Which is not to say that I think statistical analysis should be approached in a cavalier way. But it's incredibly rewarding to build a model and really feel like you can say something about the results (with all the appropriate caveats, limitations noted, etc). And then to take it apart and try it another way. Damn, I sound really nerdy. I know, this is shocking.

So, how has this transformation taken place? Here's what I think:

1) What a difference a teacher makes! The instructor for this course is the best math teacher I've had since 7th grade algebra. This is probably because he makes us do very little math and instead focuses on the math we "need" to know to understand the model and the interpretation of results. Letting Stata do the math for me is like a marriage made in heaven (kind of like how my husband does all the cooking, laundry, and lawn care - no shit, just ask him!).

2) Bull-headed determination on my part not to be a stat-flunkie. I want to be a well-armed researcher, which includes having a decent proficiency in statistical methods.

3) The decision to stop thinking of myself as stat-stupid.

I don't have the data to model the relative influence of each of these factors on my statransformation, but I have a feeling that each is significant, or perhaps the interactions between them account for all the difference.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I'd like to thank you all for helping me become #38 on the UThink system for blogs with the most comments. I couldn't have done it without you. Well, unless I just commented on all my own blogs. But that would be pretty sad, huh? I'd like to set a new goal, however, and I hope you'll help me reach it. I'd like to go for the gold and surpass Oil is for Sissies which has 5,881 comments. I'm now at 354, so it's a lofty goal. But I'm up for the challenge if you are!

Picture
I've decided to take Brad Wright's advice and credit my photo sources from now on. Just seems like the right thing to do...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 08:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I have the great fortune of being a part of a developing research project on "re-entries" - that is, the process(es) by which individuals emerging from various institutional settings "make it" in society and what helps or hinders this process. We'll be interviewing folks coming out of prison, chemical dependency treatment, mental health treatment, foster care, and military service. Somehow I feel like this picture captures the hope of re-entry...

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 02:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I don't care how badly this gets panned, how low on the Tomatometer it scores, I am going to see this movie as soon as it comes out. With Will Ferrell on the ice, this is sure to be a gut-busting good time. Sadly, my own ice follies are on hold for the semester as my class schedule interferes with ice time. Although I was recently chastised by someone for never having visited the John Rose Oval, it will just have to wait.

Posted by Sarah Shannon at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fresh off my own recent experience of positive review, I can't resist posting this review from the New York Daily News of friend and former co-worker Adam Levy's latest Honeydogs release, Amygdala. So, all five of you people who read this blog, check it out! BTW, The 'Dogs are playing tonight at Minneapolis' Varsity Theater and on February 15th at Iowa City's The Picador.

Oddness on the brain
THE HONEYDOGS
"Amygdala"
(Navarre)
How does a songwriter make odd tunes seem easy, giving every melodic twist and turn an inevitable flow?

Few musicians have figured that out, which is why most stick with familiar chords and sweet refrains. But every so often a brave soul manages to make strange chord progressions and rare keys equally pleasing.

In the late '60s, the Beatles provided the most enduring legacy for these leaps. Steely Dan offered its own twist with their hits of the '70s. Now Adam Levy has given us his version of these sonic improbabilities with the Honeydogs.

Levy's songs sound so simple that at first you won't notice how much is going on in them. In "Truth Serum," one of the songs on the group's new album, "Amygdala," he manages to give the tonal tricks and quirks of jazz the charm of pop. In "Heads or Tales" Levy borrows a tack from John Lennon's "Across the Universe," stretching out its melody with a near-numbing monotony before the chorus moves a surprising direction away from the Beatles' template.

It's probably inevitable that allusions to the Fab Four would show up in so many songs. In various passages, Levy nicks Beatlesque vocal chorales, piano breaks, or acoustic guitar textures, only to reinvent them with his own sly tunes.

The last Honeydogs CD, 2003's "10,000 Years," earned some over-heated comparisons to "Sgt. Pepper," based on its more ornate filigrees. But when the Minneapolis band started out in the mid-'90s, they more often got lumped into the alt-country category. Levy has done all he can to wiggle out of that box in the years since. On "Amygdala," he borrows from psychedelia, power pop, folk-rock and bossa nova, without ever slavishly mimicking any one.

Levy is just as tricky when it comes to lyrics. He packs them with surreal wordplay. (The CD's title refers to the brain neurons that regulate emotions, particularly fear.)

Given the light way the band plays Levy's music - and considering the singer's dreamy voice - the album ends up sounding closest to a similarly sophisticated British group from the '80s: Prefab Sprout. Like that band, the Honeydogs have proven that a few minor chords, placed with care, can have a major effect.

Jim Farber