The Reader March 10, 2011 by Pioneer Publishing

march 10 - 16, 2011 VOL.18

dish 16

‘It’s All Good’

culture 21 Mr. Funny Pants

lifestyle 24 The Libertine

hard climb ahead music 27

Growing Confidence

More questions than answers regarding Nebraska’s child care privatization

OMAHA JOBS 2

cover story by andrew norman ~ Page 13

Weird 38

MOjo 40

FUNNIES 41

Full-time

Data Support Systems Programmer position swelchert@datasupport. com For more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

Now hiring friendly, experienced servers for nights & weekends. Excellent Tips. Apply MondayFriday 1p.m.-4p.m. 12997 West Center Road. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

Fantastic Beginnings Child CARE/PRESCHOO NOW ENROLLING ALL AGES 4102 South 13th Street Title XX Welcome www. fantasticbeginnings.com (402) 408-0395 Farmers Insurance PT Contact Manager Contact mcarlson1@farmersagent.com. For more information go to OmahaJobs .com. Senior Consultant, Implementation position. Able to Project Manage any and all project phases. Provide technical and advisory support to membership to ensure the development and implementation of products provide adherence to business requirements. TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT WWW.MASTERCARD.COM/CA REERS <http://WWW.MASTERCARD.COM/CAREERS> (POSITION #2506). For more information, go to OmahaJobs.com. Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Experience with use of math software programs is preferred, as well as teaching experience in a small liberal arts college or university. Visit OmahaJobs.com for more details. Nebraska CNA or Nebraska CNA/Med Aide 40 certified. Experience in Long Term Care if helpful Full benefit package: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Cancer, Critical Illness, Accident, 401(k) with a match, Double time on Holidays, and paid Vacation and Sick leave. Contact Kathy Hicks, HR Manager, Phone 402-614-4000, Fax 402-614-4015 Brookestone Village, 4330 S 144th St, Omaha NE 68137, Brooke stoneVillage.com.

JOB FAIR – APRIL 6, 2011 MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! OmahaJobs.com will be hosting their first of five job fairs for 2011 on April 6th at CoCo Keys Resort from 10a.m. to 5p.m. FREE to the public. Many great companies have already signed up to do recruiting that day. Bring plenty of resumes and dress for success. Adults looking for employment, career change and education opportunities. Please plan to attend Omahajobs.com job fair. Black Hills Corp. Blair, NE. visit: blackhillscorp.com. For more information go to OmahaJobs. com. Zio’s Pizzeria Servers Contact ziospizza@ juno.com. For more information go to OmahaJobs. com. Marketing Coordinator Provide support to business development department by organizing marketing projects, performing market analysis, and coordinating staff assignments. Visit OmahaJobs.com for more details. COLLEGE OF NURSING Faculty positions are available with teaching responsibilities in gerontology, community health, women's health maternal/children's health, medical surgical, nursing administration and acute care. These full and part-time positions will be available in 2011 at our Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff and Norfolk campuses. For more information visit OmahaJobs. com.

march 10 - 16, 2011

Full-time

As part of Black Hills Corporation (NYSE: BKH), Black Hills Energy is your service provider, offering electric and natural gas service to customers in Nebraska. We offer the following career opportunity: Service Technician (Blair, NE) Requires high school diploma and NE driver’s license with safe driving record. Must have completed at least 6 months in Service Technician Trainee classification or have equivalent training or experience as determined by the company; working knowledge of NE HVAC and plumbing codes, electronics & HVAC equipment; demonstrated ability to understand control systems, read blueprints and wiring diagrams. Must obtain and keep current, applicable licenses and certificates, and work assigned shifts, on call, assigned holidays and overtime as required. We offer an attractive salary based upon qualifications with competitive benefits and a supportive professional work environment. To learn more about Black Hills Corporation and apply for this position, visit: blackhillscorp. com EOE/AA.

ASSt. STORE DIRECTOR Manages, plans and leads the day to day activities of an individual retail store in conjunction with, or in absence of, the Store Director, ensuring profitable operation of all departments. Implements company merchandising and inventory programs. Schedules work loads; hires and trains store associates; and resolves all store associate relations issues. Has total responsibility for store operations when Store Director is absent. For more information, visit OmahaJobs .com.

Children’s Physicians RN/LPN (bilingual) FT We currently have a great opportunity for a bilingual nurse to assistant a new physician in our Spring Valley Clinic. A current NE license is required, pediatric experience preferred. Children’s Hospital & Medical CenterApply on line @ www.childrensomaha.org EOE

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST A multi-disciplined civil, structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering firm has an immediate opportunity for a talented full time Communications Specialist in our Lincoln or Omaha, NE office. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com. Merry Maids Solo Cleaners. Contact nporter@merrymaids.com. For more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

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R&R Advertising Seasonal PT jobs at TDAmeritrade Park Omaha. Contact jthaller@mac.com. For more information go to OmahaJobs.com. Hillcrest Health Systems Occupational Therapist & CMA/CAN/FT/PT Contact jyoung@hillcresthealth. com. For more information go to OmahaJobs.com. Fontenelle Nature Assoc. Finance Associate. Contact jhuffman@fontenelleforest.org. For more information go to OmahaJobs.com. Predictive Technology, Sales Representatives.Contact awilson@ptisolutions. com For more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

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Pioneer Publishing, a fast growing local media company with over 10 channels, both print and online, is seeking Marketing Solutions Experts for full-time, part-time and freelance positions. Successful candidates must be ambitious, creative, outgoing, super helpful with a passion for solving problems and building relationships. If you have a background in sales, marketing or customer service, especially in the bar, restaurant, automotive or media industries, we want to talk to you! We need team members who are ready to meet new people, understand marketing needs, close the deal and deliver ongoing value. Spanish proficiency is a plus. Graphic and Web Design Openings Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, Expression Engine experience a PLUS. Work with creative team of Local Print and Digital Media. Varying M-F schedules. English and Spanish required.

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Division Manager Business Planning and Analysis is responsible for the preparation of all financial plans, sales and load forecasts, corporate budgets, long-range capital and operating plans, pricing, managerial accounting and analysis functions to assist management in developing corporate financial strategies and programs. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com. Full time therapist Must provide occupational therapy services on site and off site for our elders at our continuing care retirement community. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

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March 10BURST_6_Upper_A_News - 16, 2011 3

ART BY MARK STUTZMAN

“A blissfully funny MONSTER MASH.”

March 29-April 3, 2011

•

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March 10 - 16, 2011

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EDITORIAL

Publisher/Editor: John Heaston Content Director: Eric Stoakes, erics@threader.com Managing Editor: Sean Brennan, seanb@thereader.com Contributing News Editor: Andrew Norman, andrewn@thereader.com Listings Editor: Paul Clark, listings@thereader.com Copy Editor: Ed Howard Contributing Editors: Ryan Syrek (film), Michael J. Krainak (art), Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik (lifestyle), Chris Aponick (music) Senior Editorial Contributors: Leo Biga, Michael Braunstein, Warren Francke, B.J. Huchtemann, Tim McMahan, Michael Pryor, Jesse D. Stanek, Kyle Tonniges, Sarah Baker Hansen, Sarah Wengert Editorial Contributors: Brian S. Allen, Avishay Artsy, Mike Babcock, Nicole Blauw, Wayne Brekke, Steve Brewer, Chalis Bristol, Jill Bruckner, Jeremy Buckley, Jesse Claeys, Paul Clark, Ben Coffman, Brent Crampton, Sally Deskins, Kyle Eustice, Jarrett Fontaine, Adam Froemming, Layne Gabriel, Phil Jarrett, Tessa Jeffers, Camille Kelly, Jason Krivanek, Casey Logan, Jasmine Maharisi, Sean McCarthy, Rob McLean, Neal Obermeyer, Adam Payson, Hal Senal, Justin Senkbile, Patricia Sindelar, Darian Stout, Carson Vaughan, Brandon Vogel, John Wenz, David Williams Photography Contributors: Neal Duffy, Bryce Bridges, Adam Brubaker, Justin Barnes, Fletch, Eric Francis, Dale Heise, Bill Sitzmann, Paparazzi by Appointment, Sean Welch, Marlon A. Wright

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m a r c h 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 11 V O L . 1 8 n o . 0 3

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7 Top News 8-9 News Hound ————————————————

heartland healing

11 Stopping at the Green Lights ————————————————

lazy-i

cover story

30 Paradise Lost ————————————————

HARD CLIMB AHEAD

hoodoo

More Questions than answers regarding Nebraska’s child care privatization ~ Page 13

31 Wonderland Weds ————————————————

film

dish

eight days

35 Hats Entertainment 35 Cutting Room: Film News 36 Pet Project 36 Report Card: Film Grades ————————————————

culture

38 Wyatt Earp Rolling Over ————————————————

16 ‘It’s All Good’ 16 Crumbs: Food News ———————————————— 18-19 This Week’s Top Events ————————————————

news of the weird

21 Mr. Funny Pants 21 Booked: Literary News ————————————————

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theater

22 Double Feature 22 Cold Cream: Theater News ———————————————-----

lifestyle

24 Filthy Fashionista: A Tribute to Pete ————————————————

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25 RGb the new BLK 25 Mixed Media: Art News ————————————————

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41 Planet Power Horoscopes ————————————————

funnies

49 Modern World, Red Meat, Dr. Mysterian ————————————————

music

27 Growing Confidence 27Backbeat: Music News ————————————————

Interns

Jessica Stensrud Dick Akromis The Reader is published every Thursday by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 7360, Omaha, NE 68107, 402.341.READ, Fax 402.341.6967. The Reader is free in the Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs area. Domestic subscriptions area available for $35 a year. Opinions expressed herein are those of the writer(s) and may not reflect the opinion of The Reader, its management and employees or its advertisers. The Reader accepts unsolicited manuscripts. For more advertising rates contact sales@thereader.com. To send comments to the editor, contact letters@thereader.com

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contents

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march 10 - 16, 2011

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MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

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notableevents

Q Master Transportation Plan Forum: Thursday, March 10, 10 a.m., Common Ground Community Center, 1701 Veteran’s Dr. Omaha officials meet with the public to discuss the city’s transportation plan. cityofomaha.org Q Dr. Pamies Memorial Service: Monday, March 14, 10 a.m., Joslyn Art Museum’s Witherspoon Hall, 2200 Dodge St. Service memorializing UNMC administrator Dr. Ruben Pamies. unmc.edu Q Buddhism in America: Tuesday, March 15, 7 p.m., Thompson Alumni Center, 6705 Dodge St. Project Interfaith hosts Duke University chaplain Sumi Loundon Kim for its annual Community Conversations series. projectinterfaithusa.org

Cold Stop by Fred Knapp, NET News

oncern over illegal immigration clashed with fears that a proposed solution might create more problems than it solves. People packed the Judiciary Committee hearing room at the Capitol March 16, and overflowed into another, as the committee held a hearing on LB48. That’s a proposal by Fremont Senator Charlie Janssen that would require police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop, if they have reasonable suspicion those people are in the country illegally. Committee members took turns grilling Janssen about how his bill would work, and whether it would result in racial profiling. Lincoln Senator Amanda McGill said the bill would cause legal immigrants to feel uncomfortable and leave. That led to this testy exchange with Janssen: “You’re talking about legal citizens leaving the state because we’re going to enforce the laws?” Janssen asked. “I guess that’s an issue with that legal citizen. I would want to live somewhere where I would think the laws would be upheld.” McGill responded, “And I want to create a community that people who are here in America legally feel comfortable living.” “We agree on that,” Janssen said. But McGill countered, “Well, you don’t seem concerned about this particular population.” “I’m concerned about the legal population,” Janssen said, “if that’s what you’re talking about.”

e d i t e d

B y

a n d r e w

n o r m a n

The numbers behind Nebraska’s congressional redistricting

“Not if they want to leave, you’re not. You’re blowing off the concern that they have.” Janssen interrupted, “Is there a question?” McGill ended the exchange with a testy, “No. I’m allowed to make comments as well.” Mike Barges was among those supporting the bill. He said his great grandfather emigrated from Mexico, but his brother was murdered by someone who fled to Mexico and hasn’t been prosecuted. “We can all say we know this is a problem we have across the United States,” he said. “But if we don’t force the federal government by

making them see that every state starts enacting these kind of things, so we’re talking about people who are breaking the law — not legal immigrants but illegal immigrants — who’s going to stand up for Nebraskans?” Omaha Deputy Police Chief Todd Schmaderer opposed the proposal. “We have a lot of crimes in our city right now,” he said. “We deploy our resources in the best way possible to address those crimes, and checking immigration statuses is the function of another law enforcement agency. It doesn’t necessarily fall within our direct mission, which is to

reduce crime and reduce the fear of crime. When we feel it does, we will intervene on those specific instances. But as a matter of practice, we have other missions.” The committee’s not expected to advance the bill. , This story was produced by NET News.

Chamber Opposes LB 48 The day before the hearing, The Omaha Chamber of Commerce announced its opposition to the bill: “There is no doubt that when a state enacts laws aimed at criminalizing and enforcing federal immigration laws, the result is negative publicity for the state, substantial legal costs to the taxpayers of state and local governments, and a substantial negative effect on that state’s economic development efforts. “There is substantial uncertainly as to how LB 48 would be interpreted and implemented, and there is substantial uncertainty as to how it would affect employers. “The question of whether and how a state or local government can venture into enforcing immigration policy has yet to be determined by the courts. At least until that question is settled, this should remain solely under the jurisdiction the US Congress. It is the recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Greater Omaha Chamber that the full Board of the Chamber oppose LB 48.” ,

numberscruncher

GO EAST:

Percentage of Nebraska counties that grew in population last decade: 25 Percentage of those counties in the eastern third of the state: 58 Percentage of Nebraskans who live in Douglas, Sarpy or Lancaster Counties: 53 Percentage of Nebraskans who live in Omaha and Lincoln: 37

Source: 2010 U.S. Census

upfront

Immigration bill gets icy response at hearing

topnews The goal for the Nebraska Legislature’s redistricting committee is simple enough: Make sure each of the state’s three congressional districts is home to roughly the same number of residents. Getting to that magic number, however, is more than just moving people — it’s moving political ideologies. Nebraska has 1,826,341 residents, according to 2010 U.S. Census figures. For 2011, each district will be home 608,780 people. The current population numbers per district are: l District 1 (Lincoln and eastern Nebraska) – 626,092 l District 2 (Douglas and portions of Sarpy County) – 638,871 l District 3 (69 westernmost counties) – 561,378 State lawmakers will need to add nearly 48,000 residents to the state’s 3rd District, creating a domino effect for Nebraska’s remaining two districts. The likely scenario is that District 3 will pick up its 48,000 additional residents from the bordering 1st District, which would then need approximately 30,000 people from the state’s 2nd District. But these aren’t just numbers. Each move has political ramifications that will affect the state for the next decade. Nebraska’s 3rd District is 58 percent Republican, according to the latest census data, and hasn’t elected a Democratic congressman since 1958. The 1st District is also considered a GOP stronghold, with 47 percent of residents registering as Republicans compared to 34 percent Democrats. Republicans enjoy a slight advantage in the 2nd District — 48 percent Republican to 38 percent Democrat. But in 2008, the district’s voters awarded Barack Obama the state’s first Democratic electoral college vote since 1964. Demographic differences are at play, as well. Nearly 80 percent of Nebraska’s black population and more than 40 percent of its Latinos – two traditionally Democratic demographics - live in the 2nd District. According to a Pew Research Center report, 89 percent of blacks and 60 percent of Latinos nationwide voted for Democratic congressmen in the 2010 election, compared with 37 percent of whites. In 2008, 89 percent of blacks and 69 percent of Latinos voted for Obama, compared with 47 percent of whites. The Republican-majority legislature began the delicate task of divvying up the state’s population at the redistricting committee’s first meeting Mar. 4. The committee will introduce its proposals for new district boundaries in the coming weeks, followed by a planned series of public hearings throughout the state. A hearing before the full Legislature is expected in May. — Brandon Vogel

theysaidit they BEN BASHING: “I think among all the Senate incumbents, [Ben Nelson] probably has created the most vulnerability for himself.”— Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleisher to the Lincoln Journal-Star on Nebraska’s 2012 Senate race. State Treasurer Don Stenberg announced Mar. 1 that he would run for Nelson’s seat, officially joining State Attorney General Jon Bruning in the race.

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ports for all county departments, and the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Omaha Public School Board voted 11-0 on Comprehensive Annual Financial Report are March 7 to approve a proposal that would cut available year round, Sunshine Week is a valuthe equivalent of 154 full-time jobs next year and able opportunity to highlight how much inforsave more than $7 million. OPS is facing a pro- mation is available to taxpayers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is an efficient and effective way for the jected budget shortfall of as much as $26 million for the 2011-2012 school year due to cuts in state citizens we serve to conveniently see how their tax dollars are being spent,â&#x20AC;? he says. aid and expiring federal stimulus funds. Spearheaded by the American Society of While the total numbers of layoffs could News Editors, Sunshine Week change once the state budget runs March 13 through 19. is approved in July, school DOWNTOWN OMAHA For more information visit officials approved a plan to sunshineweek.org. cut 50 teachers, 48 administrators, 35 paraprofessionExtra security employed als and 21 building support for downtown patrols staff members. OPS employs The Omaha Downtown Immore than 7,000 people. The provement District has hired district has until Sept. 20 to Frontline Security to provide submit its final budget. additional security patrols Faced with a $943 billion downtown for the next year. state budget deficit over the Started as a two-month pilot next two years, Nebraska has program in November 2010, proposed cutting $478 bilDID announced that officers lion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 51 percent of the total received an average of seven calls a week during deficit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in aid to public schools. the trial period. The officers are not armed but do carry police scanners and cell phones to conCounty Clerk supports tact law enforcement. open government initiative Under the new $45,000 contract one officer Douglas County Clerk Tom Cavanaugh announced the availability of numerous financial will be used to patrol the area Thursday through documents on the Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, douglas- Sunday during winter months with more officers countyclerk.org, in support of Sunshine Week, a and days added throughout the summer. national initiative focused on the importance of Stabbing death ruled self-defense open government and freedom of information. Cavanaugh says that while documents such The Douglas County Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office declined to as supplier payments, weekly County Board of bring criminal homicide charges against Jasaun Commissioner payments, monthly budget re- Thompson, 30, saying he acted in self defense

murderink they Kyle Williams, 18, died from a single gunshot wound to the head inside his home at 9701 S. 25th Ave. in Bellevue March 3. It was the first homicide in Bellevue this year and just the second since 2009. Police have made no arrests. 2011 OMAHA HOMICIDES: 7 (THERE WERE 5 HOMICIDES THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

when he stabbed to death his brother-in-law last week. On Mar. 3, police found Reno Busby, 24, suffering from multiple stab wounds at his home at 2118 Pinkney St. He later died at the Creighton University Medical Center. According to testimony, Busby pulled Thompson’s coat over his head during an argument. Believing Busby had a gun, Thompson began to swing a knife blindly sam walker to defend himself. Thompson, who has a prior drug conviction, was held on $25,000 bail and is facing a felon in possession of a deadly weapon charge that could carry up to a 20-year prison sentence.

City seeks input on violence prevention in South Omaha Representatives from the Omaha Mayor’s office, Police Department and various community agencies and organizations will host a South Omaha Violence Prevention and Integration Meeting March 15 at 11 a.m. at the South Omaha Library, 2808 Q St. The public is encouraged to attend and discuss issues of truancy, violence, health, recreational opportunities and other issues facing youth in South Omaha.

UNO policing expert honored Sam Walker, professor emeritus of Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, received the W.E.B. DuBois Award

for “significant contributions to the field of racial and ethnic issues in criminology” from the Western Society of Criminology’s at its annual conference on Feb. 5. Walker is the author of 11 books on policing and criminal and social justice and has taught at UNO since 1974.

Council Bluffs to get first humane society The Peter Kiewit Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to the Midlands Humane Society for the construction of the first animal shelter in Council Bluffs. The planned $3.2 million dollar facility would provide shelter and services to more than 5,000 animals. Officials hope to break ground this year. To date, the Midlands Humane Society has raised $2.1 million dollars with the City of Council Bluffs pledging $1.5 million towards construction through a $1.25 per capita animal services fee.

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Shooting rounds Isaac Grell, 29, survived after saying he was shot by an unknown party while standing outside the Broken Rail Bar, 4910 N. 16th St., on March 4. Investigators said there was a “strong possibility” that Grell accidentally shot himself. Police have made no arrests. — Brandon Vogel

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march 10 - 16, 2011

dium. Thanks to the early kickoff there will be plenty of time to parse every move Taylor Martinez makes while looking for newfound maturity, and still get to Omaha in time to check out the home debut of new Creighton soccer coach Elmar Bolowich. The Jays take on St. Louis University at Morrison Stadium at 7 p.m. Should you be more interested in Bolowich than Beck you should probably get in touch with the Creighton Kommandos. The Jaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; European-style supporters club unveiled their new scarf design for the 2011 season â&#x20AC;&#x201D; good news, the skulls are back â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and is enrolling new members now. Check out CreightonKommandos.com for more information or find them on Twitter at twitter.com/CUSoccerFans. n Fun Fact: The Bellevue University menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team earned their ninth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament by winning the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament Feb. 26. The Bruins, a No. 4 seed in the 32-team tournament, face Ashford (Iowa) University on March 9 in Point Lookout, Mo.

thejump

n Who is Cleo Littleton? Only the first college basketball player west of the Mississippi to score 2,000 points in a career. Until Tuesday the Wichita State star was also the only freshman to earn first-team all-conference honors as a freshman in the Missouri Valley Conference. Doug McDermott joined him last week, earning a spot on the first-team and the Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Freshman and Newcomer of the Year honors as well. He is the sixth player in conference history to complete the rookie sweep. McDermott was one of four Jays to earn conference honors, and the good news for Jays fans is that none of them were seniors. Junior guard Antoine Young was named secondteam All-MVC, freshman guard Jahenns Manigat made the All-Freshman team and sophomore center Gregory Echenique, in only a half-season of action, landed on the All-Newcomer and All-Defensive teams. Creighton experienced some expected growing pains this season but March could have little more Madness on the Hilltop next year. n If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up for a Lincoln to Omaha, football/futbol doubleheader â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a clear indication of a highly advanced sports connoisseurship and elegant indifference towards Jaysker taunts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; April 16 is your day. The Huskers will debut the new Beckfense at their annual Red-White Game at 12:30 p.m. at Memorial Sta-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Brandon Vogel The Jump takes you behind the local headlines. Email jump@thereader. com and look for daily updates at twitter.com/brandonlvogel.

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CFLs: Stopping at the ‘Green’ Lights

sually Heartland Healing relishes sharing information and ideas with its readers. This week there was a touch of reluctance. More on that later. You can get lit but you can’t get a light. Try to buy a 100-watt light bulb in California. Go on, I dare ya. You won’t find one because they became illegal in January of this year. Up and down the Golden State, you can buy dope at your local medicinal marijuana clinic but you can’t buy a 100-watter at Home Depot. Minus the weed clinics, it’ll be the same in Nebraska next year. Within two years, nearly all of the type of electric bulb that has served us well for the past century-plus will be out of the marketplace. A simple-to-make, time-tested technology will be scrapped and replaced by a complex, chemical-laden experiment in lighting that is at best a stopgap measure. Compact fluorescent lights or CFLs, are being foisted upon the public by legal dictate beginning in 2012. Federal law stipulates that starting next year, all light bulbs must use 30 percent less energy and that means the light bulb as Thomas Edison invented it, the incandescent variety that we have known and used for 150 years, will be a thing of the past. Oh, we aren’t forced to use CFLs. They just happen to be the most affordable (though still far more expensive than incandescents,) and the most available. To paraphrase Dylan Thomas, we can always go darkly into that good night or use more expensive light-emitting diode bulbs. And hey, what’s wrong with a good, old-fashioned candle or camp lantern? The reality is, an invention that stood the test of time as far as reliability and safety is concerned will be replaced by untested and questionable technology. The Dark Side. Americans are energy hogs and cutting down on energy use is a great idea. CFLs just aren’t the best way to do it. CFLs sound like a good idea since they use less electricity to produce light. But that’s only part of the story. It takes more energy to produce a CFL. Critics point out that CFLs take much more energy to produce than the simple incandescent. Each CFL has a tiny computer chip inside to make it work. It’s far more complex. Plus, the vast majority of CFLs must be shipped from — you guessed it — China. The energy inputs to get a CFL to market put it in the red before it even hits the store shelf. Here’s what else they say. CFLs contain toxic mercury. They give off dim, unusual light. They don’t last as long as claimed. You can’t fit them into many sockets. They give off toxic radiation. The CFL industry admits that bulb life is shortened by turning the bulbs on and off, operating them in less than optimal temperatures and may be overstated in many cases. Plus, they pollute in many ways.

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Break an old-fashioned incandescent and you simply sweep it up. Break a CFL and your entire day (and health) could be compromised. No Roomba for error! How toxic are these bulbs? Cleanup procedures read like a HazMat guide for anthrax spores. The EPA tells us, first, no matter the season or weather, immediately open the windows to ventilate, turn off any central air conditioning or heating fan and leave the room for at least 15 minutes so the mercury vapor dissipates to an acceptable level. Next, they say, do not use a vacuum cleaner. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves. Scrape up the broken pieces with stiff cardboard or paper. Use duct tape or sticky tape to trap the small pieces. Blot up the finer pieces of glass and powder with damp cloths. Finally, place all of the debris, including the clean up materials, in a glass jar with a tight lid and deliver to your local hazardous waste disposal location. In addition, it is suggested that if the broken bulb contaminates a carpeted surface, discard the rug or carpet. Also, they say it may be wise to put down a disposable drop cloth when changing CFL bulbs. Is that the kind of item you want to have in your kid’s bedroom lamp? Hazardous when whole. Anything electric puts out some kind of electromagnetic field (EMF). Depending on the characteristics of that field, some EMFs are worse than others. EMF pollution is a serious threat with dangerous health consequences. CFLs are nasty when it comes to EMF pollution. One function of CFLs that is unavoidable can lead to migraines and seizures for epileptics. To make smooth-appearing light, a CFL has to be blasted internally with energy, pulsing over and over. In some CFLs it’s about 32,000 times a second and in some cases as often as 100,000 times per second. In reality, the bulb is flashing on and off so fast that the eye barely detects it. But it does. This rapidly flashing light source is believed to trigger migraines and cause the preliminary symptoms of a seizure in epileptics. Magda Havas, Ph.D. is a leading researcher in the field of EMF. Her research has found links between CFLs, EMF and a variety of symptoms. It’s well known that flickering fluorescents can trigger seizures and migraines in sensitive people but there is a whole host of problems that are linked to CFLs. Dizziness, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, digestive disorders, skin rashes, complications for sufferers of multiple sclerosis have all been described. CFLs affect those who suffer from lupus and other light sensitivity issues. With all the questions about CFLs, I want to stay with the Thomas Edison version of lighting a while longer. I admit I’m hoarding 100-watt bulbs. So save some for me. If we want to save energy, why not legislate that office buildings turn off their lights at night! Be well. ,

Heartland Healing by Michael Braunstein examines various alternative forms of healing. It is provided as a source of information, not as medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Access past columns at HeartlandHealing.com

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coverstory

hard climb ahead More questions than answers regarding Nebraska’s child care privatization

et comfortable before you ask state Sen. Kathy Campbell what concerns and questions she has about Nebraska’s child welfare privatization program. You’re likely to be there for a while. “Is the program as we’ve set it up sustainable, both financially, as well as service contracts or subcontracts with other agencies?” she says. “I think the financial questions and its future of sustainability — that’s a whole cluster of questions. And how the system is working on behalf of children or families is the other large area of questions. “Another set is how is the foster care system working within this new framework? “You want me to go on and on and on?” she asks, laughing. “The point here is that there’s just a great number of questions about what has happened.” Fourteen months into the process, answers are hard to come by. What is clear about Nebraska’s early effort to outsource its child welfare responsibilities is that it’s floundered. Three of the five lead agencies hired in the revision process have dropped out or declared bankruptcy, leaving just two service providers to oversee thousands of Nebraska’s most vulnerable children and families. The state has actually resumed its responsibilities in the entire western part of the state, but is working with fewer resources due to the failed work from private contractors. Each of the more than 6,200 child wards of the state has been given a new case worker — many have had multiple agents. For children and families who often struggle with mental health diagnoses and addictions, these changes are especially difficult. They delay the ultimate goal: establishing permanent, safe environments for the kids. A report by a governor-appointed board shows the process has been wrought with confusion: including unclear work responsibilities and lack of training for case workers; case workers who lack

brycebridges.com

by Andrew Norman

knowledge about families they represent and, in some cases, the experience to deal with complex child abuse and neglect cases; and lack of documentation and records that leaves government agencies and advocacy groups unsure of how they can help.

Where we’ve been In 2008, Nebraska’s child welfare system gained national attention. Lawmakers had passed a Safe-Haven law, signed by Gov. Dave Heineman, intended to protect newborns from being killed or unsafely abandoned by distraught mothers. But unlike the other 49 states that enacted similar laws, Nebraska law allowed parents to drop off any child — up to age 18 — at state agencies and other places. More than two-dozen kids — including a 17year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl — were dropped off at state agencies by parents or guardians. One woman drove from Georgia to leave her 12-year-old son with the state. In November 2008, lawmakers held a special session to amend the law to apply only to children under age 1. But the incident shed light on the state’s already failing child welfare system. “That was a huge nightmare where Nebraska sort of gained national prominence for not taking good care of its most vulnerable kids. And a lot of

those kids had been in the child welfare system,” says Sarah Forrest, policy and research associate for children’s advocacy group Voices for Children. Nebraska already had one of the worst childwelfare records in the country, including one of the highest rates of children removed from their homes. The Federal Department of Health and Human Services reviewed Nebraska’s child welfare system in 2002 and found it failing in all of its indicators of child safety, permanency and well-being. It also had problems with data collection and licensing procedures. It didn’t fair much better in a 2008 review. Like other states, Nebraska turned to the private sector to right its ship. In November 2009, the state contracted with five private agencies to provide all services for children and families in its child welfare and juvenile justice systems. But that system didn’t last long. CEDARS Youth Services withdrew from its contract and Visinet, Inc. declared bankruptcy in April 2010; and Boys and Girls of Nebraska, Inc. terminated its contract in October 2010, sending about 1,700 child welfare cases in western Nebraska back to the Department of Health and Human Services. These families often deal with issues of mental health, drug and alcohol addictions and domestic violence, says Georgie Scurfield, executive director of Sarpy County’s CASA program. Many struggle

cover story

with restrictions related to poverty, lack of transportation and access to services. “So they rely on services provided by these agencies to be able to prove that they’re doing better, to get their children home and to help their children out,” she says. When contractors quit, it meant personnel changes in every case. From January-October 2010, more than half of the children in the state’s care had two or more service providers, according to a December report by the governor-appointed Foster Care Review Board. “Families and children were having to deal with strangers coming into homes to set up plans or to provide services,” Scurfield says. “Those things are very difficult to deal with for families who had perhaps just learned to trust one person, for that person to be gone and somebody else to come in.” She says personnel changes, accompanying problems with documentation, can significantly impact children’s wellbeing. It also delays the end goal: moving cases to a swift and sensible conclusion. After Visinet and Boys and Girls Home pulled out of their contracts, shelters in North Platte and Kearney closed, forcing kids to be shipped as far as Columbus to have a place to stay overnight.

| THE READER |

continued on page 14 y

March 10 - 16, 2011

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cover story

coverstory y continued from page 13

“It’s really bad in western Nebraska,” Forrest says, where services have been largely depleted. These problems, Scurfield says, were accelerated by the state’s decision in October to hand over even more responsibilities to contractors. Starting in January, the state transferred case management duties to the two remaining contractors, KVC Behavioral Healthcare Nebraska and the Nebraska Families Cooperative. Activists and child welfare organizations loudly protested the decision, demanding the department slow down an already troubled reform process. Voices for Children in Nebraska said in a press release that it was “deeply troubled by this sudden move by DHHS, made without significant stakeholder input.”

Where we’re at In December, the Foster Care Review Board released a scathing assessment of the situation. There had been no significant reduction in the number of children in out-of-home care; it had not helped move more cases toward resolution or altered the rate of children returning to foster care. The report showed a deteriorating child welfare infrastructure. It found licensed foster homes decreased by 13 percent in the state from October 2009-October 2010, as well as anecdotal evidence that therapists and other service providers were ceasing work with foster care or going out of business because of payment issues or other problems with lead agencies. While the federal assessment found the state’s $725 per-month payment for nonrelative foster parents was too low in 2008, the board reported that non-relative foster parents were receiving only $600 per month in 2010. The report found 30 percent of cases reviewed lacked documentation — a troubling, 11-percent increase from 2008. “Service coordinators do not have sufficient training or background to keep children safe and obtain needed documentation/ evidence,” the report said. It found service coordinators’ workloads already “preclude their ability to be proactive for children and families.” The state DHHS disputed the assessment. “We are working to create better outcomes for children by making necessary changes,” said Todd Reckling, director of the Division of Children and Family Services, in a press release. “The report … focuses on the policies of the past and seems to advocate a return to practices of the past.”

Word came after the report’s release that Gov. Dave Heineman had decided not to reappoint two review board members, including chair Alfredo Ramirez. The governor’s spokeswoman, Jen Rae Hein, said the letters had been sent to the board members before the report had been released. Voices for Children in Nebraska Executive Director Kathy Bigsby Moore told The Reader in January that the members’ dismissal removes knowledgeable people at a critical time. “You know, there are times for fresh, new approaches, and then there are other times where you need people who already have that ground knowledge. And this strikes me as a time where continuity would outweigh change,” she said.

Where we’re going Georgie Scurfield has worked in the child welfare field for 30 years — across two continents. She began volunteering for the Sarpy County’s CASA program in 1990, and has directed the program for the last 14 years. She’s a member of — and formerly chaired — the Foster Care Review Board. Looking back, she says, Nebraska’s reform could have been more effective with better planning. She says when Florida privatized its child welfare services in 1996, “there was extensive and detailed legislation put in place to address the problems that were likely to arise as they moved through the privatization process. “And that hasn’t happened in Nebraska.” The Foster Care Review Board recommends the state rebuild its child welfare infrastructure and build a system of preventative services, in addition to dozens of other suggestions to help fix what’s broken. “There are a lot of really good people both in the department and the contractors who are trying to do good work,” Scurfield says, “but this needs to be a concerted effort and we’re in a difficult time economically to be making this scale of change. Campbell says, right now, no one knows the answers to the state’s reform questions. But she hopes her resolution, LR 37, will help. It allows the legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, which she chairs, to consult with the state’s Health and Human Services department, Foster Care Review Board, the courts, lead agencies and other stakeholders to use studies, reports and other information to improve the child welfare system. The committee could hold public hearings, subpoena and take depositions of witnesses to consider the goals of the system overhaul, measurable outcomes, coordination and long-term plan-

ning. And it could request a fiscal and performance audit. After a “rocky” year, Sarah Helvey, staff attorney and director of Nebraska Appleseed’s child welfare program, says the fiscal and performance audits are critical. “We think it’s really important to understand what went wrong and what went right over the course of the last year,” she says. “It can inform our steps moving forward.” The committee has until the end of the 2011 legislative session to get its questions answered. Campbell expects the committee to begin interviewing stakeholders this summer. “I think it’s going to work, I don’t think there’s a doubt about it,” she says about privatization. Scurfield says for that to happen, it’s going to take help from the community. She says volunteers are needed to review paperwork for the Foster Care Review Board, and to become Court Appointed Special Advocates — screened and trained volunteers appointed by a judge to advocate for one family of children at a time. These volunteers then report to the judges and work with case managers and service providers to ensure the children and families’ needs are met.

coverstory

“We need the community to step up and help out, because things are not looking good,” she says. Forrest says Nebraskans should care about this issue because it affects taxpayers as well as the state’s most vulnerable children and families. “If we don’t have a system that’s secure and stable, we’re going to end up putting a lot of money into something that’s not serving our families well, not providing efficient and good services,” she says. “Potentially, we’re going to lose a lot of money if we don’t establish something that really works.” Money underlies every question about revising the system. But child welfare is not like retail, Scurfield says. “We don’t have a Black Friday. Even if things are all right by next November, it isn’t good enough, because we’re doing the damage right now to the families who maybe could have been reunified, or the children who are not safe at home, or the families who could have had their children home safely.” , Learn how you can help by visiting NebraskaCASA. org and FCRB.Nebraska.gov. Hilary Stohs-Krause contributed reporting to this story.

cover story

| THE READER |

march 10 - 16, 2011

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84th Street Café Serving delicious cost-conscious food. 8013 S. 83rd Ave. • 597-5003 www.facebook.com/84thstcafe Anthony’s Steakhouse/The Ozone Club For more than 38 years, Anthony’s has been known for its steaks, using premium black angus beef aged on premises. Anthony’s is dedicated to bringing customers a truly special dining event every visit. 7220 F St. • 331.7575 anthonyssteakhouse.com Bailey’s Best breakfast in town. “King of Eggs Benedict.” 1 block south of 120th & Pacific • 932-5577 absolutelyfresh.com

Attic Bar & Grill Great food and great drinks with live music. 3231 Harney St. • 932.5387 atticbarandgrill.com Blue Planet Natural Grill Healthy People. Healthy Planet. 6307 Center St. • 218.4555 blueplanetnaturalgrill.com Cascio’s Steakhouse Established 1946, 63 years of selling great steaks. 1620 S. 10th St. • 345-8313 casciossteakhouse.com Dundee Dell Omaha’s Finest Neighborhood Restaurant & Pub 5007 Underwood Ave. • 553.9501 dundeedell.com Hector’s Boasting the only Baja-style Mexican cuisine in the city, Hector’s serves fresh food with panache from Baja California and northwest Mexico. Two Locations: 1201 S. 157th St. • 884.2272 3007 S. 83rd Plz. • 391.2923 hectorsomaha.com La Casa Pizzeria Fine Italian Dining Since 1953. Located on historic Leavenworth street in midtown Omaha, La Casa has the freshest pizza in town. 4432 Leavenworth St. • 556.6464 lacasapizzaria.net La Mesa An authentic Mexican experience, from mouthwatering enchiladas to fabulous fajitas. Top it off with one of La Mesa’s famous margaritas. Voted # 1 Mexican Restaurant eight years in a row. Locations: 156th and Q • 763.2555 110th & Maple • 496-1101 Ft. Crook Rd. and 370 (Bellevue) • 733.8754 84th and Tara Plaza (Papillion) • 593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit (Council Bluffs) • 712.256.2762 la-mesa.com Matsu Sushi Downtown’s Original Sushi Restaurant 1009 Farnam St. • 346-3988 matsusushi.wordpress.com

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march 10 - 16, 2011

Locally owned Tommy Colina’s another reason it’s a good time to be a midtown foodie by Steve Brewer

Tommy Colina’s is also open for Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Dye expects to expand into Saturday brunch within a few weeks. He said the focus is on classic breakfast items, such as eggs Benedict and fresh biscuits, with some modern ingredients. Dye and co-owner Grant Lundin have worked in many local restaurants, most recently at Shuck’s and Bailey’s. They decided to take the plunge with their own place last year. “We wanted to be in the midtown corridor, and we liked the space,” Dye says. “We wanted to be a lunch place. I don’t want to work nights anymore, and we thought this was a good location for lunch.” Don’t ask for Tommy Colina, by the way. The name is an amalgamation of “Tommy,” “Collin,” and “Melina,” children of the owners. Dye said winter is traditionally a slow time for local restaurants, but that business is picking up as spring approaches.

his is a good time to eat lunch in midtown Omaha. Midtown Crossing brought several restaurants to the area, and now Tommy Colina’s Kitchen has created a new midday choice just up the street. Tommy Colina’s Kitchen opened in October in the old Don Carmelo’s space at 35th and Farnam. It’s a locally owned, mostly-lunch restaurant offering a wide range of traditional favorites with some upscale twists. My wife and I visited on a Monday at 11:30 tommy colina a.m. You first serve yourself from the beverage area, then seat yourself and order from a server. I tried the T.L.T. sandwich ($6.99), which offers thick-sliced turkey on griddled sourdough bread with craisinberry mayonnaise. The ingredients were served cold, aside from the bread, and I would have preferred warm turkey. However, the unusual mayo lifted this dish from an ordinary sandwich into an interesting lunch. My wife ordered the daily special, which on this day was the Frenchy Burger ($7.89). It featured a half-pound, extremely juicy patty, topped It certainly was during our visit. By 11:45 a.m., the room with two slices of Canadian bacon and drizzled with was mostly full, with many large tables of co-workers. When goat cheese. This is a mighty meaty burger with a salty we left at 12:30 p.m., customers were waiting for a table. flavor, and is perfect for enthusiastic carnivores. Both The atmosphere at Tommy Colina’s is casual and entrees came with thickly-sliced house chips. On Mon- utilitarian. The chairs are not very comfortable, but days, a free cup of soup is also offered. you’re probably not planning to linger very long at I tried the Chicken Diablo (ordinarily $3.19), lunch, anyway. The most memorable feature is the east which had a peppery base and a slightly spicy kick. She wall, where customers are encouraged to write graffiti. had the Nana’s Minestrone (ordinarily $2.89), with One quibble is that an icy blast of wind seems plentiful vegetables in a nice tomato broth. to rocket through the room whenever the front door “Daily Economy Deals” on other days of the week opens. I recall this problem from the Don Carmelo include discounts on certain entrees, and free drinks days; you might want to look for a table in the back. on Fridays. When I was first assigned this review, I happened Burgers are the featured attraction here, with 10 to sit with a group of Kiewit employees at an event. versions on the regular menu. Co-owner and executive Since they work across the street, I asked them about chef Jon Dye said in a later interview that the Tiajuana Tommy Colina’s. Yes, they had all tried it, and said it Taxi burger ($7.39) with jalapeno bacon salsa might be was becoming an office favorite. his most popular dish. “The menu is sort of all over the place,” one of There are also 10 “world chicken” sandwiches, them said, “but it’s all good.” , four hot dogs and 13 sandwiches of all kinds. Most diners might miss the six salads, since they are listed Tommy Colina’s Kitchen is located at 3562 Farnam St. Hours on the back of the menu with drinks. are Mon.-Wed. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thurs.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 8 p Portions are large for lunch, and we both left quite m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call full, spending about $20 for two entrees and two sodas. 502.9027 or visit tommycolinaskitchen.com.

| THE READER |

dish

n Last week Loft 610 Executive Chef Ben Ackland and the staff invited us to stop in and sample items from the Midtown Crossing restaurant’s revamped bar and cocktail menu. We started with a flight of the bar’s signature cocktails (available for $2 per shot on Thursday nights, if you want to sample them). All were variations on the martini, and most were on the sweet end of the spectrum. Their signature martini, the Loft610 — a Bombay Sapphire-based martini with lemonade, green tea, cucumber and strawberry — was a dead ringer for a Jolly Rancher candy, for example, but their Manhattan Loft — a variation of the classic bourbon-based martini that added a touch of lemon — was a keeper we’d come back for. The first, and one of the best, items we sampled from the Bar Bites menu were the Maytag Blue Cheese Chips ($4) — simple and addictive house-made potato chips with just enough blue cheese crumbled over them to keep you coming back. Roasted Garlic Hummus ($5) dusted with cayenne pepper and housemade flatbread and calamari ($6) were next. Both were done well. The hummus had the perfect balance of heat and earthiness from the ground chickpeas, and the calamari, accompanied by a thick, ketchuplike Sriracha sauce and a garlic ailoli that clung to the well-fried squid when dunked, made for a rich starter with the sauces. The bruschetta ($7) was spot-on. Though simple enough to make, the ratio of garlic, salt and basil to olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pepper, mozzarella chunks and tomato was pitch-perfect. For one glorious minute, it felt like a bright summer day even though spring had yet to arrive. The most expensive item we sampled, the Smokey Mussels ($10) were terrific: briny bivalves cradled in a sauce of Boulevard ale, garlic, tomato, house-smoked bacon and jalapenos and served with slices of baguette to sop up the sauce. While any one of the ingredients could have dominated the dish, Ackland reined them in, allowing the mussles to take center stage. More smoke came in the form of the jaw-dropping, slap-your-mama-good Smoked Pumpkin Soup topped with roasted pumpkin seeds that is worth a visit in and of itself. The smoky undertones really took the pumpkin to another level of comfort-food goodness, and it really hit the spot on a chilly winter night. All the items arrived in generous portions — one could easily make a dinner from the bar menu and keep the food tab under $20. If you need another incentive, every night this month one lucky bar patron will get a free tab at 6:10 every evening, even if they’re dining on items on the restaurant’s dinner menu.

crumbs

dish

— Kyle Tonniges Crumbs is about indulging in food and celebrating its many forms. Send information about area food and drink businesses to crumbs@thereader.com

| THE READER |

March 10 - 16, 2011

8 DAYS

TOPTV

“Breakout Kings” Sundays, 9 p.m. on A&E

Fox reportedly had a shot at this cop series and passed, consigning it to cable. That’s hard to imagine, since “Breakout Kings” is one of the best new series in recent memory. It’s based on the premise that everybody deserves a second chance. A U.S. marshal creates a special task force to catch escaped convicts, consisting of a disgraced cop and three colorful prisoners who know a little something about jailbreaks themselves. For every fugitive they catch, the prisoners get a month knocked off their sentences. That might not be the world’s most original premise, but the execution is flawless, with brilliant writing and acting. The tone is generally droll, but there’s also plenty of excitement as the team pursues its runners. Car chases, gun battles, wisecracks, con games, sex – for once, all those elements combine into a compelling package. Whoever passed on “Breakout Kings” at Fox should be fired immediately. Everybody deserves a second chance except that chump. — Dean Robbins

MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

T H E R E A D E R ’ S E N T E RTA I N M E N T P I C K S M A RC H 10 - 16 , 2 011

THURSDAY10 Opening March 10

Three Tall Women

The Blue Barn Theatre, 614 S. 11th St. Thurs.-Sat. 7:30pm, Sun. March 20 at 6 p.m. and no shows March 25-27 $25 adults, $20 students, seniors, TAG members or groups of 10 or more 345.1576, bluebarn.org A perfect event in celebration of Women’s History Month, Edward Albee’s 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Three Tall Women examines the truth of a woman’s life through the perspectives of three generations — one self-assured young lady, one middle-aged cynic and one proud elderly woman suffering from dementia. Though the story, said to be an autobiographical glimpse into Albee’s relationship with his mother, seriously examines the harshness of familial relations, love and death, and it is told with vicious comedy. Two-time Theatre Arts Guild Awardwinner Susan Clement-Toberer directs along with a team of TAG winners, set designer Martin Scott Marchitto, lighting designer Carol Winser and sound designer Martin Magnuson. Fashion designer Jennifer Pool created the costumes for the small cast of four who will surely shine — stage vets Sonia Keffer, Ruth Rath, and Kristin Kluver and Chris Fowler in his debut role as “The Boy.” — Sally Deskins

FRIDAY11 March 11

Keller Williams

Whiskey Roadhouse 2701 23rd St., Council Bluffs 6:30 p.m., Tickets are $18 www.caesars.com/whiskeyroadhouse If the name Keller Williams evokes images of banjos, fiddles and washboards, then you’re not too far off. The Virginia-based multi-instrumentalist has earned a stellar reputation in the “jam band” world playing alongside acts such as Yonder Mountain String Band, The String Cheese Incident and Ratdog. Taking traditional bluegrass and folk, Williams infuses electronic elements, jazz and funk to breathe new life into his music. The “one man jam band” captivates his audiences with frequent live phase looping (known as the Gibson Echo-plex system) with ev-

| THE READER |

picks

PICKOFTHEWEEK

March 11

Willie Nelson and Family

WILLIE NELSON

Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. 8 p.m., $45-$75 ticketomaha.com, 345.0606 Here comes America’s favorite singer-songwriter/outlaw/activist/icon/author/actor. Is there anything Willie can’t do? He even held his place on the “artistic roll call” after complicity in a wretched 1991 Taco Bell commercial. (See Bill Hicks’ “Save Willie” from Rant in E Minor.) He’s also done scads of collaborations with everyone from Bob Dylan to Ben Harper to Al Green to Kid Rock and beyond, because really, who wouldn’t want to share a song (and likely a smoke) with Willie? Our fair red-headed stranger may have gone grey, but his live show still packs a wallop. Expect as much as energy as ever, that same angel voice and his trademark, beaming, bazillion watt smile. Tickets are available at 345.0606 or ticketomaha.com. — Sarah Wengert

erything from theremins to a Gordon Anderson custom eight-string guitar. The most incredible thing about Williams is he is self-taught and can’t read a single note. Even if his style of music isn’t your thing, seeing him perform is a worthwhile experience as he usually takes the stage alone. The massive amount of sound that he is able to emit is a feat in itself. Currently on a solo tour, Williams lands in the Omaha area this Friday. — Kyle Eustice

March 11-13

UNO Hockey vs. Bemidji State

Qwest Center Omaha 7:37 p.m. Friday, 7:07 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Sunday’s game only if-necessary) Tickets starting at $17, 554.6287, omahasteam.com

In what’s been a banner first season for UNO hockey in the WCHA, the stakes now get higher with the conference playoffs getting underway. As the regular season’s fourth place finisher, the 21-13-2 and Top 15-ranked Mavericks face 10th place Bemidji State (12-17-5). On the surface it appears a mismatch — until you note UNO went 0-3-1 against Bemidji during the season, part of a pattern that’s seen the Mavs play up or down according to their competition. In this weekend’s bestof-three series it’s imperative UNO skates with a sense of urgency. Perhaps Dean Blais should hypnotize his team to believe they’re facing elite North Dakota or Wisconsin and not little old Bemidji. It would help if fans turn out like they do for those marquee opponents — a raucous atmosphere might just get the muscle memory twitching the right way. — Leo Adam Biga

t h e rea d er ’ s entertainment pic k s march 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 March 11-13

Patti Austin: The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., $15-$80 omahasymphony.org, 342.3560

Born the daughter of a jazz trombonist who named Quincy Jones her godfather and Dinah Washington her godmother, Patti Austin came steeped in musical tradition. The Grammy winning singer’s body of work has spanned many genres, but particularly fans of jazz, soul and swing will love this powerful pops performance. In concert with conductor Thomas Wilkins and the Omaha Symphony, Austin brings the music of Ella Fitzgerald to life. She’ll perform “Our Love is Here to Stay,” “The Man I Love” and other tracks by The First Lady of Song, many of which Austin did on 2002’s Grammy nominated For Ella. — Sarah Wengert

MONDAY14 March 14

The Dirty Heads w/ New Politics, T.U.G.G.

Slowdown, 729 N 14th 8 p.m., $16 adv / $18 DOS, 345.7569, theslowdown.com The members of Dirty Heads have been together since their freshman year of high school — that far off distant land of 1996. While most high school bands are content to fight a lot and break up, the punkrap-reggae fusionists in Dirty Heads chose instead to hone their craft, playing music that’s like a latter day Sublime. Recently named one of the best bands of 2010 by Rolling Stone, the group has broken through with their single “Lay Me Down.” Also on the bill are Danish alt-rockers New Politics, themselves finding success with single “Yeah Yeah Yeah” and Wisconsin reggae band T.U.G.G. — John Wenz

WEDNESDAY16

THREEUPTHREEDOWN Thursday, March 17

March 16

Avenue Q

Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. 7:30 p.m., $25-$60, ticketomaha.com or 345.0606 The 2004 Tony-award winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q doesn’t necessarily go into full-on attack mode against the “you are sooo special”-vibe given off in classic children’s television programs such as “Sesame Street.” But the play’s poor, 20-something New York City-dwelling characters (which are furry puppets, some not all that unlike a few of Jim Henson’s characters) do discuss how disappointing it is to discover that life is not that easy and you are not sooo special after all. Just like you probably did at one time or another. Then they go on to have relationships (yes, there’s a hilarious sex scene and yes, there’s a mixtape involved at one point) and encounter difficult social situations, all the while trying to achieve big dreams without big money. Just like you probably did at one time or another, too. The disclaimer for the uproarious and uplifting Avenue Q carries this Parental Advisory: “60 percent adult situations; 40 percent foam rubber or in some cases 80 percent Tony-winning hilarity; 10 percent adult situations and 10 percent foam rubber.” In other words, these puppets aren’t for kiddies. — Sean Brennan

avenue q

Celtic Cabaret: Legend and Lore Featuring Jill Anderson

Scottish Rite Cathedral 202 S. 20th St. $20 general admission, $18 for seniors 402.346.6580, redchairrecords.com

Jill anderson

maha native Jill Anderson was first bitten by the acting bug while attending Central High School. “I was in the chorus and was cast as the lead in many shows,” Anderson said. “From my acting, I received a lot of reaffirmation. I always knew I had to be an actor.” She received her BFA in dramatic arts, magna cum laude, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Since graduation, she has made her living by writing jingles, acting in commercials, doing voice-over work and singing for weddings and churches. She made her first foray into film with the television movie Love Kills and had a bit part in Sean Penn’s Indian Runner. Her big break came in 1994 with the co-lead in Omaha: the Movie. Her performance caught the attention of a Disney executive and she moved to Los Angeles, where she got an agent. After six months she packed it up and returned to Omaha. In 1998, Anderson released her CD Cool of the Day, which features 12 Irish and Scottish songs. Her follow up was Seven Songs and the even more recent Celtic Cabaret, which she transforms into a stage show. Anderson provides some insight into that show as well as her take on a few things Irish. The Celtic Cabaret sounds like an awesome and unique way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. How did you come up with the idea? Well, this is the fourth year running for this show. The first time I did it at the P.S. Collective in Benson and it went so well that I have made it into an annual tradition — choosing a different aspect of Irish music to explore each year. The idea just occurred to me sort of out of the blue — a thought bubble. “Hmmmm. What if I combined my theatrical and cabaret background with my love of Irish music?” The result? Celtic Cabaret. Tell us about your Irish heritage? Do you have a favorite Irish tune? I have a thimble full of Irish on my Mom’s side of the family — there was a Riley way back in the family tree, but don’t tell anybody — I’m mostly Norwegian and German. More than anything, I just love the sound of the music. It has inspired me since high school and I’ll be damned if I’ll tell you how long ago that was. Too many (songs) to name though I must say, “She Moved Through the Fair,” “The Water’s Wide,” “Dirty Old Town” and pretty much anything by the Pogues top the list. For those of us less-informed, describe what cabaret really means. A cabaret show is usually about an hour long or a little longer and it is a collection of songs chosen to illuminate a theme. For instance my theme for this show is Irish legend and folklore. The songs are generally linked by patter, which is the spoken stuff between the songs. It puts the songs into some kind of context. — Eric Stoakes

picks

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march 10 - 16, 2011

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Comic/writer Michael Showalter hits the road with a new book

by Chris Aponick

omedian Michael Showalter’s involvement with MTV’s classic sketch show “The State” should be enough to draw a crowd to any of his shows. So should his appearances on Comedy Central in “Stella” and “Michael and Michael Have Issues,” both of which co-starred Michael Ian Black. Fans of silly, absurd comedy who flock to cult-classic showings of Wet Hot American Summer, or have seen the dryly brilliant Showalter-penned movie The Baxter, should pack the house. And if that’s not enough, Showalter says he plans something absolutely mind-blowing at the end of his set. Really, it’s magical and mystical and it’ll make you wonder if your drink’s been spiked with hallucinogens. But first things first. The New York-based comic, actor and writer just released his first book, Mr. Funny Pants. While at first Showalter jokingly refuses to talk about the book, requesting that The Reader talk to his representation, he does in fact tell how he wrote his first book. “On a computer,” Showalter says. Then anticipating the follow-up question, Showalter confirms his keyboard prowess. “Yes, I do touch-type. I use all 10 fingers when I type,” he says. The book, which is a series of comic essays, observations and memoirs, follows a narrative backbone of Showalter trying to write a book. The reason for taking on the project was obvious — telling people that you are writing a book sounds good at parties, he says. “It was done entirely out of vanity. I wanted people to like me and think that I was smart,” Showalter says. On a more honest note, Showalter says everybody wants to write a book because, well, books are cool. “We all pretend we read them,” he says. When he started he was easily able to get publishing rights taken care of, as Grand Central Publishing practically begged for the chance to put the book out. Showalter responded quickly

when asked if he had to finagle Grand Central into printing the book. “More than convinced them, they paid me $5 million to write the book,” he says. “The advance was astronomical.” Whether that’s true is probably up to Grand Central, Showalter and Mr. Showalter’s financial team. On his current tour, Showalter is doing bookstore appearances and comedy sets. The bookstore events feature more proper readings from the book, while the show is framed more as thoughts Showalter had while working on his book. Showalter says most of his comedy sets will happen in venues that usually have bands, including Omaha. For Omaha, he says he’ll just sit at a drum kit with a microphone and play Built to Spill covers. There will only be a tiny bit of stand-up comedy. Actually, Showalter says he usually avoids the comedy club circuit because it’s harder to connect with fans when he plays those rooms. “People who know about me wouldn’t know if I’m playing a comedy club,” he says. Meanwhile, Showalter’s last television project, “Michael and Michael Have Issues,” is officially over, as is Showalter’s relationship with Comedy Central, which aired “Michael and Michael,” as well as Showalter, Black, and David Wain’s previous effort, “Stella.” Showalter says he is insisting it’s over and he won’t subject himself to having another show canceled by the network. “They are begging for us to come back,” Showalter says. “But we’re holding firm.” A movie project by Showalter, Black and Wain, who also do live performances under the “Stella” banner, could be up next, though nothing has been written. Meanwhile, Showalter is doing all he can to insure he packs houses while on tour. If that means drawing on experiences from hanging out with Black, who has starred on a network television show, countless VH-1 specials and Sierra Mist commercials, so be it. “If it will make you happy, I will tell stories about Michael Ian black at my show in Omaha,” Showalter says. And when all the jokes are over, prepare to be amazed, Showalter says.

“At the end of my show, I turn into a glowing ball of light and I float away.” , Michael Showalter plays the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St., Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12. For more information, visit onepercentproductions.com. Showalter will also be reading from his book, Mr. Funny Pants, at the Bookworm, 8702 Pacific St., at 1 p.m. Saturday.

michael showalter

n Get your poetry this Wednesday, March 9 when the Midwest Poetry Vibe converges at Irie, located at 302 S. 11th St. on the edge of the Old Market. The event, which runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., will include a mix of poetry, R&B and live performances, not to mention food and drink specials. n Saturday, March 12, is the state finals for Nebraska’s Poetry Out Loud competition at the Sheldon Art Gallery (12th and R on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus). The state champion will get a chance to represent Nebraska at the national competition in Washington, D.C., in April. Admission is free. n Comedian and screenwriter Michael Showalter (profiled at left) will be at the Bookworm at 87th and Pacific this Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m. to sign copies of his new book, Mr. Funny Pants. Even if you’re not familiar with Showalter’s work, comedy fans should definitely make it a point to attend the signing. n If you’re in the mood for a road trip, head down to Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, March 13, for the Poet Laureati!: A Convergence of U.S. Poets Laureate. The event, which runs through Monday the 14th, features 18 poet laureates from throughout the United States, including former U.S. poet laureate Ted Kooser of Nebraska, plus W.E. Butts (N.H.), Marilyn L. Taylor (Wisc.), Peggy Shumaker (Ark.), Walter Bargen (Mo.), Mary Swander (Iowa), Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg (Kan.), Sue Brennan Walker (Ala.), Lisa Starr (R.I.), Denise Low (Kan.), Norbert Krapf (Ind.), Marjory Wentworth (S.C.), Mary Crow (Colo.), David Romtvedt (Wyo.), David Evans (S.D.), Jonathan Holden (Kan.), Joyce Brinkman (Ind.) and Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda (Va.). The event also serves as the book launch for An Endless Skyway: Poetry from the State Poets Laureate of America. Other events include a special auction to have dinner with a poet laureate, panels on poetry as it relates to healing, the land and spirituality, publishing, making a living and the process of writing. Registration rates begin at $55 for the all-day conference. For more information, go to UnitedPoetsLaureate. wordpress.com.

booked

Mr. Funny Pants

culture

— Kyle Tonniges Comments? Questions? Want more? Check out our Booked blog online at thereader.com. Or email us at booked@thereader.com.

culture

| THE READER |

march 10 - 16, 2011

theater

by Warren Francke

ugust Wilson never ends with a whimper, but goes out with a bang. And, again in King Hedley II at the John Beasley Theater, he goes to God through a Bible-quoting character named Stool Pigeon who preaches of glory over another fallen black man. As always, the great playwright adds to our understanding, not just of an African-American ex-convict in 1980s Pittsburgh, but of the timeless human struggle to find honor and dignity amidst adversity. As is often the case with this company, Tyrone Beasley in the title role plays the more troubled man, a grim counterpart to his father John’s Elmore, who wears life’s burdens more lightly. So it is with their women, Elmore’s love Ruby (Marci Holley) and King’s wife Tonya (Gennean M. Scott). Ruby can still smile and sing, “Red sails in the sunset,” despite the violent death of her husband, but Tonya is desperate to survive without losing her man to prison or worse. All four deliver powerful, sustained performances in this nearly three-hour drama. They’re well supported by guest artist Bus Howard as Stool Pigeon and especially by the easy style of Dayton Rogers as Mister, the young man who helps King raise money so they can go into business. They’re selling stolen refrigerators at $200 a pop and hope to open Royal Video, “specializing in Kung Fu.” King can’t get a job after serving seven years for shooting a man named Pernell who “called him out of his name” and scarred him with a razor. Tyrone’s King Hedley sizzles with intensity, angry over his difficulty in acquiring money that seems to come easily to white men. His more relaxed friend Mister is willing to take risks for financial gain, but tries to keep King from more dangerous directions. And both women work to keep their men alive. Ruby can hope for happier times with the sporty 66-year-old Elmore, but Tonya will settle simply for survival. As for Stool Pigeon, he wants to know what newspapers can tell him about what’s happening, and about when God will bring fire, not

march 10 - 16, 2011

flood, the next time. Howard gives him a halting speech, sputtering a bit, whether talking about the death of Aunt Esther, who he insists was 366, or burying a cat in Ruby’s yard. With this production, the Beasley has presented nine of the 10 Wilson plays focused on each decade of the 20th Century, with the final one, Radio Golf, planned next season. None have disappointed and King Hedley II is no exception. It runs through March 27 at the LaFern Williams Center, 30th and Q.

Autistic License It’s 10 minutes before the start of Autistic License and a vaguely familiar face in the lobby belongs to a woman texting on her phone. “Are you Stacey?” the nosy reviewer asks, and she smiles affirmatively.

ting on the Ritz” ala Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle as his friendly Frankenstein monster. Then she watched him becoming a man as he recited Hebrew at his bar mitzvah. We watched with her as a lifetime of parenting ups and downs unfolded: meetings with a psychologist, played superbly by Therese Rennels (Don’t you love it when a talented performer disappears completely into a well-written character?), angry curses from her husband as their son renames his computer files, sharing with support groups, rushing to the emergency room over a swallowed marble. You wonder how she feels when Echelle Childers portrays her best and worst, and when David Mainelli shows her husband’s anger as

king hedley

Mark o’leary

Reviews of Autistic License and King Hedley

coldcream

Double Feature

Stacey Dinner-Levin came down from Minneapolis to see again — “I can’t count the times,” she says — her play about raising an autistic child: the early confusion, scary diagnosis, then all the joys and sorrows of living in interesting times. She sat beside director M. Michele Phillips, her friend from a book club. Michele had attended one of the triumphant times, Geordy’s bar mitzvah. And she greeted Michal Simpson’s performance in the SNAP! Productions play with hearty laughter as he progressed from a 2-year-old who could read the Sunday newspaper ads, from the toddler who exclaimed, “Bob Barker,” and “Come on down” and “a new car” to the 7-year-old who ran away in a red fez, disguised as the invisible man. She enjoyed the boy and his younger brother in top hats, dancing with canes and singing “Put-

| THE READER |

theater

well as his love. She’s seen her husband play the boy on stage and she’s seen her son play himself. But, make no mistake, playgoers didn’t need the playwright’s presence to find joy in her story. One could quibble about some artificial exposition — such as facts about autism revealed in a lecture device — but any flaws were heavily outweighed by the realistic family scenes. , The John Beasley Theater’s King Hedley II runs through March 27 at the LaFern Williams Center at 30th and Q, Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. More information at johnbeasleytheater.org. SNAP Productions’ Autistic License runs through March 27 at 3225 California St. with showtimes at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. and 6 p.m. Sundays except for the 2 p.m. final performance. More info at snapproductions.com.

n Let us delight in the incongruity of Edward Albee’s mother and Life with Father opening on the same weekend that a onewoman show called An Angel Cried a Tear Last Night makes a one-night stand. As different as they can be, the three share the fact that we don’t get to choose our parents. Albee called his Pulitzer Prize drama, Three Tall Women, “a kind of exorcism,” then admitted he didn’t care for the woman any more at the end of it than when he started. The 90-year-old played by Ruth Rath is seen as representing his adoptive mother, a parent who didn’t accept his sexual orientation as he left home at age 18. Sonia Keffer and Kirsten Kluver play the same woman, one who works for the elder, at different ages, her 50s and her 20s. Chris Fowler is the Albee-like boy, observing but not speaking as his demons are exorcised. They’re directed by Susan ClementToberer, whose success in interpreting Albee’s The Goat or Who is Sylvia? promises another Blue Barn triumph. n Calling Life with Father a classic doesn’t quite do justice to the comedy opening Friday at the Chanticleer Community Theater in Council Bluffs. How popular was it? It ran from 1939 to 1947 on Broadway, and then the Omaha Community Playhouse grabbed it as quickly as they could to start their 1948 season. Chances are you didn’t see it 63 years ago, but might have caught it since on stage or film. If not, Clarence Day, the father played by Tim Daugherty, has been described as “forthright and irascible,” or you might call him more of a tyrant who requires the near-death of his wife Vinnie (Kate Simmons) to soften his overbearing heart. But that’s imposing a 21st century bias on this mid-20th century favorite, so I suspect director Bonnie Gill will give us a version that shows clearly why this was a lighthearted hit. Fun footnote: when it came to the Playhouse it was paired with I Remember Mama. n The Angel Cried one-nighter at P.S. Collective, 6056 Maple in Benson, on Friday deals less with mama than papa as Amy Marschak, both writer and performer, slowly unveils a childhood secret. A press release set a record for praising blurbs, seven pages with “wonderful, powerful, touching, courageous” and so on, apparently from Canada. It’s at 8 p.m. and costs $15, $10 for students and “low income.” Don’t know how they do that, but it makes more sense than “seniors.” — Warren Francke Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to coldcream@thereader.com.

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NEBRASKA KIDNEY ASSOCIATION

March 10 - 16, 2011

“Libertine,” shot by Bryce Brides, marked the metro area’s introduction to the first of many “Filthy Fashionista” productions. Aimed at providing an alternative view of the local style scene, Filthy Fashionista will be organizing photo shoots and runway shows each month at venues all over Omaha. Fashionista officially kicked things off Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Attic Bar, located at 33rd and Harney streets. Our models and musicians came together to pay tribute to poet, rock star and fashion icon Peter Doherty. When he’s not busy bedding super-models, gracing the covers of magazines or playing sold-out shows with his band Babyshambles all over Europe, the U.K. icon can be found fine tuning his fashion sense. He recently launched his own line of men’s accessories called “Albion Trinketry,” which is available online and offers a variety of men’s jewelry, pocket watches, cuff links and money clips. Omaha boutiques Souq and Coriander, along with our favorite A-M Surplus military store in Bellevue (thanks, Andy!) were quick to lend a variety of garments and trilby hats which helped the models channel their inner Dohertys, especially the boys from the band And Collapse, who performed later in the evening. Up next for the Filthy Fashionista — a fashion tribute to hip-hop’s newest sensation Mac Miller and the rest of the “Taylor Gang.” Email kidbk313@ hotmail.com for more information.

March 10 - 16, 2011

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lifestyle

art

Sitzmann mixes his photo palette with shades of black and white

“prophetic and apocalyptic” and featured the artist and his family in cameo. RGb features 17 large and medium digital prints with what the artist describes as an automotive finish of sanding and varnish learned from fellow artist Matt Jones in order to remove the glossy appeal typical of most commercial by Michael J. Krainak photography. The one exception is the large format, glazed ommercial photographer and designer Bill Sitz- print “Urban Harvest” that along with the last equally immann has made a good living and a significant posing work, “Expat,” serve as imposing bookends for this impact on pop culture, especially music. As a free- largely effective, first solo effort. lancer and core member of Minorwhite Studio, a collective “’Urban Harvest’ was hanging in a small group show of graphic artists and writers devoted to music, fashion and at the back of the Nomad Lounge,” Bainbridge says, “and it architecture, Sitzmann has helped put Omaha on a national made me take notice of Bill outside the music scene and the map with cover shots in Time and Rolling Stone on behalf of commercial world. There is that air of cool to the desperaSaddle Creek bands. tion he depicts. For the first time I really understood his abilThose cover photos of artists like Conor Oberst es- ity to construct piecemeal images into a thought or dream tablished Sitzmann not or passing fancy.” only as an accomplished This work, along with commercial artist but as a sort of triptych of more interesting interpreter of overtly satirical pieces, hang an American lifestyle with in the main floor gallery and a decidedly global, urban represent the more realistic point of view. The wellaspect of this show in both traveled artist brings an subject and theme. In most edge to his promotional of the remaining work in the and advertising shoots that gallery below we are treated fit well into Minorwhite’s to tableaux of social commenmission to create “conceptary whose commentaries are tual still lifes” on behalf of subtler but elusive, and perits clients. In other words, sonal yet more cryptic. work that engages the mind In virtually all the imagas well as the senses in ways ery a single male figure domiunexpected. nates, and it can be argued The latter is especially that he is literally the artist, what attracted Shane and a stand-in, a doppelganger or Shaun Bainbridge of the an alter ego. Simply because, New BLK Gallery, who these narratives are largely photography by bill Sitzmann have organized Sitzmann’s auto-biographical based first solo show, RGb: Modupon first-hand experienced, ern, Digital, American. Photography. ODERN. DIGITAL. dreams, wishes or fears in what he interprets as the human AMERICAN. PHOTOGRAPHY. This exhibition, which con- condition, American 21st century edition. tinues at the venue’s location at 1213 Jones St., may have an For instance, “Urban Harvest” imagines Sitzmann as “American” brand on it, but it clearly has Sitzmann’s stamp a millennial in a post 9/11 pastiche living with his young as well. family out of their Dodge Caravan on the verge of losing “I noticed immediately with Bill’s photography of the everything and ending up on the street. The protagonist local music scene he was trying to capture visually what his looks off the frame to the left with an air of almost diffidence ear interpreted, like a young Annie Leibovitz,” Bainbridge as his prospects look dim. Despite this and the threatening says. “One thing was certain, when you saw it, you knew it foreshortening of this urban milieu, the mood is almost was Sitzmann’s, that unique line drawn in the sand matched laconic as his wife and son distract themselves on their lapwith a completely open, positive personality.” top. They appear almost indifferent to their new vagabond, Sitzmann initially brought this more intellectual ap- off the grid status as if okay with no more commitments or proach to his photography to New BLK at the gallery’s entanglements. And that graffiti on the brick wall behind diverse group show, Respectacle, a body of work that chal- them, “Yes We Did!!!” may not be ironic. lenged the viewer to not only “respect the vision” but atThe next three Giclee prints, “Time Savers: In, In/Out tempt to interpret it as well. Among the more rewarding and Out,” strongly suggest that the quality of life left behind efforts for both artist and viewer was his large digital tab- by our hero in the first image left a lot to be desired. This is leau, “The Second Coming,” which this critic described as especially true of the figure in “In/Out,” who hasn’t the time

in his busy world to eat McDonald’s, text and take a crap, so he does all three simultaneously while on the toilet. This is scabrous, Swiftian satire in the best tradition of the latter’s “A Modest Proposal.” The next 13 vignettes, with the exception of two portraits, one startling and expressionistic, No. 10 “makes you … stranger,” the other impressionistic and unimpressive; No. 14, “never more than She can handle,” are obscure scenarios, the best of which at least impress visually as well as intrigue. Conversely, No. 5, “We All Live on Colin’s Submarine” is lost in an overly dark blue palette; No. 8, “The Flock Has Lost Its Shepherd” is undone by text overkill when the image alone lives up to its title and No. 13, “Slow Disclosure” is contrived in its far left composition. More successful in design and concept, especially so, are Nos. 6, 12, 16 and 17. In the first, “Which Side is Really Bitching for Change,” a diplomat type “phones it in” in a bit of Chaplinesque slapstick reminiscent of the short “Easy Street” while a building across the street screams “End This Barbarian Israeli Aggression.” This most socio-political piece comments effectively on all such issues that divide us via its clever, humorous use of signage also. Two more personal auto-bio works include “Founders Favorite,” No. 12, and “The Visitors,” No. 16. In the former, a young man in his long underwear sits bewildered chained to his dining room floor while his family is fading from view at the table. This could be interpreted as, either his family has become the “ball and chain” in his career life or it is he and his own personal issues that are weighing them down as they fade from sight. “Visitors” is equally striking and ambiguous. In this scenario, Sitzmann is gazing, back to the viewer, at a multi-generational family portrait with his own image superimposed over a sibling or two, parents and maybe a grandparent, aunt or uncle. At first glance, the artist may be contemplating the impact of his hereditary makeup, but what’s really interesting is that while his family is in color, he appears almost as a blackand-white negative, which suggests at least one of two things: the lack of nurture in his upbringing despite what nature endowed him with, or he fears he hasn’t lived up to either. Lastly, there is that ghastly and ghoulish “Expat” to contemplate. Laid out on a surgical table, Sitzmann has just had the “United States” removed, apparently from his gut or loins, in a bloody operation. It’s a fitting end and companion piece to the opening “Urban Harvest.” Sitzmann, finally, sarcastically, has had all that ails him removed, much of which is on display in images No. 2-16, and his life goes on without fear, worries or conflict. The question remains: Was the operation a success, or was our hero as artist and “Expat” merely lobotomized of sorts and paid for with his muse? The look in his eyes would suggest the latter, further evidence that sometimes the cure is worse than what ails you. , RGb: MODERN. DIGITAL. AMERICAN. PHOTOGRAPHY. of Bill Sitzmann continues through Mar. 25 at the New BLK, 1213 Jones St. Visit thenewblk.com for details.

art

mixedmedia

RGb the New BLK

n Photographer Teresa Prince will show her series of “bitch” photos this week at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center. The project, called “Bitch: It’s Our Word Now,” features a series of images of women holding signs that claim the word as their own and define it in ways personal to them. Prince began the project because she wanted to take the word – oft used negatively to describe people who don’t stick to traditional gender roles – and celebrate it. The images will be on display in the student center lounge on Thursday, March 10 until 6 p.m. Prince will speak Tuesday at noon on the UNO campus, 6001 Dodge St. n Students in the South High Magnet School Art Department are showing work this week at the Bancroft Street Market. The show features painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, mixed media and design work from students who attend the school. Bancroft Street Market is located at 2701 S. 10th St., and the show continues through the afternoon of March 13. n Mentors who are part of the Kent Bellows Studio will show work at the RNG Gallery beginning Saturday, March 12. Some of the mentors in the show created the work with the help of their students, who provided critique and feedback to the older artists. Christina Narwicz curated the show, which opens with a reception on the 12th, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., and continues through March 27. The gallery is at 1915 Leavenworth St. n The Dundee Gallery kicks off spring with new work from Lissa Hase and John Stillmunks. Both artists are Omaha natives, though Hase now lives in Boulder, Colo., and Stillmunks lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he runs the Thought Gallery. This series focuses on Aesop’s Fables. The show opens on Friday, March 11, with a reception from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. and continues through March 27. n The first annual 2011 Bemis Center Regional Exhibition will open March 18 in the Bemis Underground. The first annual event features the work of artists who live within 100 miles of Omaha. Juror Kate Hackman chose 36 artists from the more than 200 submissions; some are exhibiting for the first time. Three of the artists will win $500 and a 2012 solo show in the Underground. The winners will be announced at the opening reception on Friday, March 25 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Hackman is associate director of the Charlotte Street Foundation, a Kansas Citybased non-profit that supports artists. She’ll give a gallery talk on Saturday, March 26 at noon. — Sarah Baker Hansen Mixed Media is a column about local art. Send ideas to mixedmedia@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

march 10 - 16, 2011

art

OpeningS

DUNDEE GALLERY, 4916 Underwood Ave., 505.8333, dundeegallery.com. NEW WORK: Lissa Hase and John Stillmunks, opens Mar. 11-27, reception Mar. 11, 6 p.m. ELDER GALLERY, 51st and Huntington, Nebraska Wesleyan University, nebrwesleyan.edu. FACULTY EXHIBITION: Group show, through Apr. 8. EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Richards Hall, Stadium Drive and T, Lincoln, 472.5025, unl.edu/art/facilities_eisentragerhoward.shtml. UNDERGRADUATE STUDIO ART COMPETITION: Opens Mar. 10-24, reception Mar. 14, 5 p.m. FRED SIMON GALLERY, Burlington Building, 1004 Farnam St., nebraskaartscouncil.org. NEW WORK: Anne and Mike Burton, opens Mar. 14-Apr. 22. GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE EXHIBITION, 1425 H St., Lincoln, nebraskaartscouncil.org. NEW WORK: Marcia Bauerle, through Mar. 11. NEW WORK: Nancy Lepo, opens Mar. 16-Apr. 15. INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. “MARSEILLE QUILTING: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES”: Talk by Frederique Sevet-Collier, opens Mar. 13, 2 p.m. MARSEILLE: WHITE CORDED QUILTING: Through May 8. REVISITING THE ART QUILT: Through Apr. 3, gallery talk Apr. 3, 3 p.m. KIMMEL HARDING NELSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 801 3rd Corso, Nebraska City, 874.9600, khncenterforthearts.org. LAURINE KIMMEL HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION: Opens Mar. 14-Apr. 30, reception Mar. 19, 2 p.m. KING OF KINGS CHURCH, 11615 I St. REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN: Photo exhibit that includes the photos of each of the 98 Fallen from the War on Terror who had ties to Nebraska and Iowa, opens Mar. 13. RNG GALLERY, 1915 Leavenworth St., 214.3061. THE KENT BELLOWS STUDIO MENTOR EXHIBITION: Group show, opens Mar. 12-27, reception Mar. 12, 7 p.m. SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. TUESDAY NIGHTS AT THE SHELDON: Gallery talk with Janet Farber, opens Mar. 15, 5:30 p.m. BETTER HALF, BETTER TWELFTH: Women artists in the collection, through Apr. 1, 2011. AN AMERICAN TASTE: THE ROHMAN COLLECTION: Through May 1. POETICAL FIRE: THREE CENTURIES OF STILL LIFES: Group show, through May 7. TRANSFORMING VISION: PHOTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION IN SHELDON’S COLLECTION: Group show, in conjunction with Lincoln Photofest. SILVER OF OZ, 6115 Maple St., 558.1307, silverofoz.com. NEW WORK: Charity Hathaway, through Mar. UNL ROTUNDA GALLERY, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, 472.8279. VISIONS OF SISTERHOOD: Opens Mar. 14-18. VAN BRUNT VISITORS CENTER, 13th & Q St., Lincoln, unl. edu/finearts/. CELEBRATION OF GRADUATE STUDENT WORK: Group show, opens Mar. 10, 12 p.m.

ONGOING

A TO Z PRINTING, 8320 Cody Dr., Lincoln, 477.0815, atozprint. com. NEW WORK: Julia Lauer-Cheene, through March. ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART OLD MARKET, 1108 Jackson St., 884.0911, aobfineart.com. PATTERNSCAPES: Julie Phillips, through Mar. 20. BANCROFT STREET MARKET, 2702 S. 10th St., 680.6737, bancroftstreetmarket.com. NEW WORK: Group show by South High School students, through Mar. 13. BEMIS CENTER, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org. STILL LIFES: New work by Vera Mercer. ANOTHER NEBRASKA: Group show by the Nebraska Arts Council individual artist fellows. Both shows through Apr. 9. BLUE POMEGRANATE GALLERY, 6570 Maple St., 502.9901, bluepom.com. SPRING INVITATIONAL: Featuring Jaime Bowers and Nancy Smith, through March. CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER SUTHERLAND GALLERY, 701 N. 40th St., 551.4888, cathedralartsproject.org. SHARING SPACE: New work Dennis Wattier and Deborah Murphy, through Apr. 2. DRIFT STATION GALLERY, 1745 N St., Lincoln, driftstation.org. ONE MARK TO THE NEXT: Group show, through March. DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 801 S. 10th St., 444.5071, durhammuseum.org. SCHOOL HOUSE TO WHITE HOUSE: THE EDUCATION OF THE PRESIDENTS: Through Mar. 27. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition, through Mar. 20.

march 10 - 16, 2011

EL MUSEO LATINO, 4701 S. 25th St., elmuseolatino.org. MOLAS EXHIBIT: Textiles created by the Kuna people of Panama. NEBRASKA MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS: Group show, through Apr. 16. EL CABALLO: The horse in Mexican Folk Art, through May 4. GALLERY 9, 124 S 9th St., Lincoln, 477.2822, gallerynine. com. LOUDER THAN SIRENS: New work by Meghan Stratman, through Mar. 22. GRAND MANSE GALLERY, 129 N. 10th St., Lincoln, grandmanse.com. NEW WORK: Paintings by Neal R. Anderson, through March. GREAT PLAINS ART MUSEUM, 1155 Q St., Hewit Plc., Lincoln, 472.0599, unl.edu/plains/gallery/gallery.shtml. DOUBLE VISION: New work by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, through Mar. 27. HAYDON CENTER, 335 N. 8th St., Lincoln, 475.5421, haydonartcenter.org. UNREAL LANDSCAPES: Steve Ryan & Diane Fox, through Mar. 12. HOT SHOPS ARTS CENTER, 1301 Nicholas St., 342.6452, hotshopsartcenter.com. OPEN HOUSE: Old Market Artists open house, Project Harmony is the 2011 beneficiary. ART WITH HEART: Fundraiser for American Heart Association. Both shows through Mar. 27. JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, joslyn.org. THE GLORY OF UKRAINE: Two part exhibition that forms an unprecedented celebration of this large European nation, through May 8. FROM HOUDINI TO HUGO: The art of Brian Selznick, through May 29. KIECHEL FINE ART, 5733 S. 34th St., Lincoln, 420.9553, kiechelart.com. SHARED HISTORY: Anthony Benton Gude with works by Thomas Hart Benton & Dale Nichols, through Apr. 8. KRUGER COLLECTION, UNL Architecture Hall, 10th and R, Lincoln, 472.3560, krugercollection.unl.edu. THINK GREEN: Interior/green design and miniatures, through Mar. 18. LAURITZEN GARDENS, 100 Bancroft St., 346.4002, omahabotanicalgardens.org. A TROPICAL PARADISE: Amazing tropical plants, through Apr. WEEDS/PODS/SEEDS: New work by Kristin Pluhacek, reception Mar. 20, 1 p.m. THE LANDSCAPES: New work by Kristin Pluhacek. Both shows through Apr. 17. METAMORPHOSIS: The art of Jun Kaneko, through Mar. 20. THE LICHEN, 2810 N. 48th St., Lincoln, thelichen.com. MARCH OF THE UNICORNS: Female-dominant group show curated by Sandra Williams, through March. LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 48th and Baldwin, Lincoln, 434.2787, luxcenter.org. NATIONAL JURIED CUP EXHIBITION: Julia Galloway juries. JURIED STUDENT ART SHOW: Group show. Both shows through Mar. 24. METRO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Fort Omaha Campus, 30th & Fort St., North Building #10. LUIGI WAITES EXHIBIT: Artwork honoring Luigi Waites, through Mar. 30. MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., Lincoln, 477.2828, modernartsmidwest.com. WATER FORMS: New work by Kelly Manning and Amy Smiths, through Mar. 26. MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, 308.865.8559, monet.unk.edu/mona. THE ANIMAL KINGDOM: Through Jun. 5, 2011. A GREATER SPECTRUM: African American artists of Nebraska, 1912-2010, through Apr. 3. THE NEW BLK, 1213 Jones St., 403.5619, thenewblk.com. RGB: MODERN. DIGITAL. AMERICAN. PHOTOGRAPHY.: New work by Bill Sitzmann, through Mar. 25. OLSON-LARSEN GALLERY, 203 5th St., Des Moines, IA, 515.277.6734, olsonlarsen.com. NEW WORK: Group show, through Apr. 9. PARALLAX SPACE, 1745 N St., Lincoln, parallaxspace.com. VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS: Work by Matt Belk, through Mar. 28. RETRO, 1125 Jackson St., 934.7443. PARADIGM: New work by Gerard Perfung, Holly Kranker, Manuel Cook and Phil Hawkins, through March. TUGBOAT GALLERY, 14th and O, 2nd floor, Lincoln, tugboatgallery.com. WHIPSTITCH: Group show featuring Erika Eden, Mary Pattavina, Eric Tremblay, through Mar. 26. UNL HILLESTAD TEXTILES GALLERY, 35th & Holdrege, 2nd Floor, Home Eco. Bldg., Lincoln, textilegallery.unl.edu. ADDRESSING THE BODY: LESSON IN QUILTING: Through Mar. 18. UNO ART GALLERY, Weber Fine Arts Bldg., 6001 Dodge St., 554.2796. 2011 ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION: Curated by Brigitte McQueen, through Mar. 17. WORKSPACE GALLERY, Sawmill Building, 440 N. 8th St., Lincoln, sites.google.com/site/workspacegallery. SELECTIONS FROM THE FORTIETH PARALLEL: MISSOURI, KANSAS, AND COLORADO: New work by Bruce Myren, through May 5.

| THE READER |

art/theater listings

“The Refusal to Swallow One’s Tongue: Genocide Testimonies of Rwandan Women”. COMEDY SHOWCASE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY 11

check event listings online!

theater oPENING

AN ANGEL CRIED A TEAR LAST NIGHT, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., pscollective.com. Opens Mar. 11, 8 p.m., $15. AVENUE Q, Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St., omahaperformingarts.org. Opens Mar. 16, 7:30 p.m., $25-$60. KING HEDLEY II, John Beasley Theater, 3010 R St., Omaha, johnbeasleytheater.org. Through Mar. 27, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 3 p.m., $16. LIFE WITH FATHER, Chanticleer Theatre, 830 Franklin Ave, Council Bluffs, chanticleertheater.com/index.php. Opens Mar. 11-27, Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $17, $14/seniors, $9/students. RED HAMLET, Red Theatre, Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln. Opens Mar. 16, 7 p.m., FREE. SMOLDERING FIRES, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., 345.4849, rosetheater.org. Opens Mar. 10 & 12, 7 p.m., Mar. 13, 4:30 p.m., $6. THEATRIX NEW ARTISTS FESTIVAL, Temple Building, 12th & R St., unl.edu/theatrix/. Oopens Mar. 10-13, various performances and readings. THREE TALL WOMEN, Blue Barn at The Downtown Space, 614 S. 11th St., 345.1576, bluebarn.org. Opens Mar. 10-Apr. 2, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 6 p.m., $25, $20/students and seniors. WELCOME ABOARD, Ricks Cafe Boatyard, 345 Riverfront Dr. Opens Mar. 12, 5 p.m., $20.

oNGOING

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com. Through Mar. 27, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $40, $24/student. FANTASTIC MR. FOX, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., 345.4849, rosetheater.org. Through Mar. 13, Fri. 7 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m., Mar. 12, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., $16. LISTEN TO ME, Nebraska Wesleyan, Studio Theatre, 2710 N. 48th St., 465.2384, nebrwesleyan.edu. Through Mar. 13, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $10, $7.50/ seniors, $5/students. NUNSENSE, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St, omahaplayhouse.com. Through Apr. 3, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 6:30 p.m., $40, $24/students. THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, Circle Theatre, 55th & Leavenworth, 553.4715, dlmarr@cox.net. Through Mar. 12, Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m., $23/show & dinner, $13/show.

poetry/comedy thursday 10

AARDBAARK, The Bookworm, 87th & Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 6 p.m. (2nd Thursday.) ALICIA OSTRIKER, Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., unl. edu, 7 p.m. Acclaimed American poet and critic. “CHANGING PLACES: THE GEOGRAPHIC TURN IN THE DIGITAL HUMANITIES”, Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., unl. edu/plains/, 3:30 p.m. Panel discussion. COMEDY NIGHT AT THE SIDE DOOR, 3530 Leavenworth St., 8 p.m., $5. Every Thu. LAMBDA PI ETA COMMUNICATION LECTURE, Nebraska Wesleyn, Callen Conference Center, 5000 St. Paul Ave., Lincoln, 1 p.m., FREE. Lecture presented by Dr. Beatriz Torres, “Gesundheit! Bless You! Salud! Promoting Health Across Cultures”. MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT, Omaha Public Library, A. V. Sorensen Branch, 4808 Cass St., omahalibrary.org, 6 p.m. 21+. RANGIRA BEA GALLIMORE, Nebraska Wesleyan, Story Student Center, 5000 St. Paul Ave., Lincoln, 3:30 p.m., FREE. Lecture:

NO NAME READING SERIES, Zen’s Lounge, 122 N. 11th St., Lincoln, unl.edu/noname, 4 p.m., FREE. Featuring Heather Stauffer & James Redd. RALPHIE MAY, Rococo Theatre, 128 N. 13th St., Lincoln, rococotheatre.com, 8 p.m., $30. JOSH BLUE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m, 9:45 p.m.

SATURDAY 12

COMIC SHOWCASE, 908 Fort Crook S, 291.7665. Feauring local talent. THE MR. FUNNYPANTS TOUR W/ MICHAEL SHOWALTER, The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge. com, 7 p.m., $12. MICHAEL SHOWALTER, The Bookworm, 87th & Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 1 p.m. Author of Mr. Funny Pants. POETRY OUT LOUD STATE FINALS, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, 1 p.m. POETRY SLAM & OPEN MIC, Omaha Healing Arts Center, 1216 Howard St., 345.5078, omahaslam.com, 7:30 p.m., $7 suggested donation. The longest-running slam in Omaha. (2nd Sat.) SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK CLUB, The Bookworm, 87th & Pacific, bookwormomaha.com, 10 a.m. (2nd Saturday.) JOSH BLUE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday 13

BOOKS AND BAGELS, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 11 a.m. TANYA COOK, W. Dale Clark Main Library, 215 S. 15th St., omahalibrary.org, 1 p.m. Lecture: “Women In Politics.” JOSH BLUE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m.

monday 14

DUFFY’S COMEDY WORKSHOP, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3543, myspace.com/duffystavern, 9 p.m. (every Mon.) POETRY AT THE MOON, Crescent Moon Coffee, 816 P St., Lincoln, 435.2828, crescentmoon@inebraska.com, 7 p.m. Open mic and featured readers. (every Mon.)

tuesday 15

88 IMPROV, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 8 p.m, 88improv.com, $5. (1st and 3rd Tuesday) SUMI LOUNDON KIM, UNO Thompson Center, 6705 Dodge St., unomaha.edu, 7 p.m., $10, $5/students. Lecture: “Blue Jean Buddha.” INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP, The Bookworm, 87th & Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha. com, 6:30 p.m. SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF, The Hideout, 320 S. 72nd St., 504.4434, myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff, 9 p.m. Spoken word, comedy, music and chaos (every Tue.)

Wednesday 16

ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC FOR MUSICIANS & POETS, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, 1624 S. St., Lincoln, 8 p.m., 477.2007. Hosted by Spencer. (every Wed.) MIDWEST POETRY VIBE, Irie, 302 S. 11th St., 9 p.m., poetry, R&B, Neosoul music, live performances, concert DVD and food and drink. (Every Wed.) MINDFUL MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS, UNO Thompson Center, 6705 Dodge St., unomaha.edu, 7:30 a.m., $10, $5/ students. Led by Sumi Loundon Kim. PAUL A. OLSON SEMINAR IN GREAT PLAINS STUDIES, Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., 3 p.m. The topic is Importance of Elders in the Omaha Tribe, presented by Wynne L. Summers. PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL: BOLD NATIVE, McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Farnam, 7 p.m., FREE. The film follows a young woman who works for an animal welfare organization. (every Wed.) POET SHOW IT, 1122 D St., Lincoln, 9 p.m. Hosted by Travis Davis. (1st & 3rd Wed.)

A Beneﬁt for the Band’s SXSW Expenses

SXSW SEND OFF PARTY

Satchel Grande WAITING ROOM

MONDAY MARCH 14

| THE READER |

$5 Cover ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE BAND!

MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

Marnie Stern shares all her work with collaborator, Hella’s Zach Hill

by Chris Aponick

some time, doing more recording layers than she had ever done before. Things were much more fleshed out this time around, she says. “It was a bit more personal for me,” Stern says. Stern records all the guitar parts by herself, then sends them to Hill to drum on. Once the tracks are sent off, the two will decide which ones they like the best. Then she will work with him on vocals and overdubs in the studio. The separated process has also been how Stern works, since she was first asked by her label about which drummer she would want to work with. “I always have written on ProTools and tried to put things together,” Stern says. “I’ve gotten a little bit better at arrangements.”

arnie Stern travels with a companion that helps her cope with life on the road. It’s her Maltese-Yorkshire terrier mix dog, named Figgy. “She’s very perfect,” Stern says. “We need her.” Stern, the New York-based guitarist/singer, says her dog provides love and affection during long stretches of touring, providing a calming influence for Stern and her marnie stern tour mates. Taking Figgy on walks in new cities also gives Stern a chance to explore and break free from the process of loading in and out of gigs. “It takes us out of the touring element,” Stern says. “We’re used to touring with her.” Pictures of Figgy figure prominently on Stern’s blog, where she also puts random musings, videos and pictures. The tongue-in-cheek website is Vajamming.blogspot. com. Most of the content reflects the band’s life on the road. “It’s just what our lives are like,” Stern says. Currently, Stern is out on the road supporting her third record, a self-titled effort released in October 2010 by Kill Rock Stars. During a Friday afternoon phone conversation with The Reader, Stern talked in middle of her tour during a one-night stay at her home in New York. “It stinks coming home in the middle (of a tour) because you want to stay,” she says. The self-titled record is once again Stern and drummer Zach Hill of Hella, who does not tour with Stern. Stern had been working on the material for the record for quite

march 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

At the start of working with Hill, Stern says there was a bit of apprehension about the tracks she would send him, but that’s not the case anymore. Now she just sends everything, including things that Stern thinks are weird and things that she doesn’t think are very good. Through her three records and live performances, Stern has also developed a reputation for her intricate guitar playing. She’s only been serious about playing since her early 20s, she says. She was quickly drawn to bands like Hella, Don Caballero and the Flying Luttenbachers and how they used noise elements with a sense of controlled chaos. Stern says she would spend thousands of hours, trying to incorporate those stylistic choices into her own playing by recording tons of material onto four track and later on, onto ProTools. Despite the hours spent in the lab working on guitar, Stern says she’s not a guitar obsessive. “I don’t really have any personal relationship with the guitar,” she says. Those hours set up the latest record to take the next step, as this time around Stern didn’t focus as much on the guitar work first then finding a vocal melody to pair with it second. While she’s always sought out guitar parts with the goal of putting it into a song. She was ready to evolve beyond that. This time it was geared toward writing complete songs. The shift in approach presented some frustration and difficulty, but ultimately Stern says she was excited to sit at her desk and try to come up with stuff. “When the songs finally came together, it was really rewarding,” Stern says. , Marnie Stern w/ Tera Melos and Thunder Power play the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., Friday, March 11 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8. For more information, visit onepercentproductions.com.

music

n Military Avenue in downtown Benson is about to get stranger, thanks to a May 28 show with Primus. The alternative rock weirdos led by Les Claypool will play outside in Benson, just north of Maple Street on Military Avenue, during Memorial Day weekend. The band is preparing their first disc of new material since 1999’s Antipop. The One Percent Productions and Rad Kadillac co-promotion starts at 7:30 p.m. and costs $32.50 in advance. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 12 at 10 a.m. After the show, Somasphere will play a special late show inside the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. That show will be $5 at the door. n Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies have entered the studio to work on a new record, a follow-up to the band’s 2009 self-titled album. Hoshaw says he plans to release the new album this year, hopefully in the summer. The band has tracked most of the instrumental tracks for 11 new songs at the Music Factory Productions in Omaha. n Bear Country may have technically hung it up just a few weeks ago, but its principal members have already risen anew as Gus & Call. The five-piece Slumber Party Records band has just finished recording a new album at ARC Studios. No release date is set, but the band is set to play Saturday, March 12 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., with Miracles of God and others.

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Growing Confidence

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telekinesis

n Merge Records is now good enough to win Grammy Awards, but that doesnít mean Omaha will show up to see two of the labelís most promising young bands play in town. Telekinesis and the Love Language played energetic sets to a light Tuesday crowd at the Slowdown. Little Brazil also played a set heavy on catchy, new songs. Telekinesis, the indie power-pop project of Michael Benjamin Lerner, continues to show an impressive evolution. His three-piece band ó he drums ó were as noisily direct as Superchunk, with nods toward Teenage Fanclub and early Death Cab For Cutie. Too bad so few actually chose to see it. — Chris Aponick Backbeat takes you behind the scenes of the local music scene. Send tips, comments and questions to backbeat@thereader.com.

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| THE READER | 3/7/11 4:44 PM

MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

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told that once a band plays on The Late Show with David Letterman or any other competing late-night show that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re blackballed from appearing on Saturday Night Live, which is a shame because BE would do real damage on SNL, and deserves the spot. But you take what you can get, I suppose. Letterman has been a faithful supporter of Conor for years. Oberst certainly knows who has been in his corner since the beginning. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope he remembers when it comes time to schedule local interviews surrounding the June Westfair date. I get these psychic visions every now and then, and the most recent one told me that overall music sales are bouncing back. Fratt said my hunch was correct. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The two previous weeks both beat last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first time we have had consecutive back-to-back weeks that have beat last year since 2006.â&#x20AC;? Fratt thinks the music industry, which has been spiraling downward since the Napster days, has finally touched its toes in the mud of a very deep lake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking we may have finally reached bottom,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Album sales (full length) remain 74 percent physical, 26 percent digital at this moment. A pretty staggering stat. Only small sellers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; those under 1,000 units â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have digital sales greater than physical. And once sales cross 500,000 units, digital falls below 18 percent.â&#x20AC;? And get this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The indie sector is actually back to gaining market share,â&#x20AC;? Fratt said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One percent in 2010. Not a lot, but 1 percent of 430 million [units] is decent money.â&#x20AC;? He thinks the new Bright Eyes album will float sales of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire back catalog. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see. Music website Spinner.com reported that Oberst and his crew have decided to make another record, (probably) putting an end to speculation that Bright Eyes will die after its year-plus-long tour ends. The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demise was a silly premise to begin with, when Oberst is Bright Eyes and will continue to work with fellow BE members Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott in one form or another, regardless of the name of the project. That said, somewhere the folks at Saddle Creek Records breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone knew Conor would continue to write and record music, but none of his non-BE stuff is released on The Creek. Far and away, Bright Eyes is the labelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only remaining cash cow (in addition to the labelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamite back catalog). The release of The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Key may be enough to give Saddle Creek a yearover-year increase in revenue when compared to 2010. But even with their golden goose safely within the stable, Saddle Creek needs to find another Bright Eyes to add to its roster. And with that, the wheels touched down on a different, much colder tarmac. My vacation was over, and it was time to get back to work. ,

LAZY-I is a weekly column by long-time Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on the Omaha music scene. Check out Timâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily music news updates at his website, lazy-i.com, or email him at lazy-i@thereader.com.

ateline, Providenciales. We walked between the red stripes painted on the hot tarmac as we headed to the loading ramp, a long line of tanned Americans leaving this third world vacation destination to return to whatever frigid lands we had escaped from, if only for a week. On a short hillside to my left, next to the tiny airport, was a wall of unpainted cinderblocks stacked in a stair-step row, a halfbuilt something that would never be completed, sitting next to a salmon-colored fortress of pillars and concrete latticework. A young blond woman in a concert T-shirt who had waited with us in the infinitely long security line had said that, only a few years earlier, the island had been dirt roads and little else except for the resorts, of course, which had been built along the coastline like modern-day palaces. Since then, Providenciales, part of the Turks and Caicos chain of islands in the North Atlantic, had grown up. The roads were now paved and shops had sprung out of the dirt. The island certainly had outgrown its airport, which was bursting at its water-stained seams, unable to handle the tidal wave of tourists scheduled to leave at the same time; the airlines hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bothered to stagger the departures. It was like every chaotic train station scene from every war movie ever made, but with costumes provided by Tommy Bahama. An hour later the check-in and security lines were gone. The uniformed staff sat in plastic chairs with nothing to do until tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s departures. I write this aboard Delta Flight 548 while listening to the new album by Memphis, Here Comes a City, as the smell of the soiled diaper sandwiched to the ass of the child in the seat in front of me wafts through the cabin and into my unfortunate nostrils. Much of the past week had been spent listening to Bob Marley, piped from the hidden sound system of the Cabana Bar where everyone drank ice-cold bottles of Presidente beer and watched the sun set on the ocean. I thanked the Sun God that at least it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Jimmy Buffett. Memphis was an oasis. Some notes while Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been gone: Homerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head honcho Mike Fratt said Bright Eyesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Key came in at No. 40 on the Billboard charts during the recordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second week of sales, moving 11,314 units. Normally, that would have landed Conor and Co. higher on the chart, but it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;another BIG week at Soundscan,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sales are on a roll. Adele did over 350,000.â&#x20AC;? Yikes. Despite the launch of the Bright Eyes Global Domination Tour, that number should slowly decline until the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next network appearance. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been

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| THE READER |

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Wonderland Weds, SXSW Approaches

acebook friends and fans were able to follow the wedding day of Austin’s Carolyn Wonderland long-distance. The locally popular blues and roots artist married A. Whitney Brown of “Saturday Night Live” and more recently “Daily Show” fame on Friday, March 4. The a ceremony was on Doug Sahm Hill in Austin’s Butler Park. They were married by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees fame, who became ordained as a mailorder minister to officiate. The duo met at one of Nesmith’s Video Ranch concerts about a year ago when Wonderland performed and Brown was the master of ceremonies. “We wouldn’t have met without him, so it seemed the most appropriate,” Wonderland said in press statements. Earlier in the week Wonderland eloquently posted to Facebook “I am marrying A. Whitney Brown, the man of my dreams and waking life.” Facebook friends including renowned Austin photographer Todd Wolfson posted photos of the pair, beautifully dressed in white for the occasion and, more importantly, beaming with happiness.

SXSW Ramping Up Those heading to Austin for SXSW next week have plenty of live music options. One don’t-miss roots event is the 11th Annual Guitartown/Conqueroo kick-off party on March 16, co-hosted by Los Angeles roots publicist Cary Baker. The party takes place this year at The Dogwood, 715 West 6th St. The Guitartown/Conqueroo party joins the many unofficial events, free and open to the public, that have sprung up around the monster music extravaganza. The day-long Guitartown/Conqueroo event includes performances by Jon Dee Graham and his new project,The Hobart Brothers & Lil’ Sis Hobart (Graham, Freedy Johnston and Susan Cowsill) plus Graham’s Austin quartet. Also performing are artists like Kevin Welch, Syd Straw, Ian Moore, Slaid Cleaves, The Hotclub of Cowtown and The Silos. SXSWblog.sched.org offers the promise of creating your own virtual SXSW schedule and Austin360. com also offers a compilation of listings. Longtime Austin musician John Jordan, notable to Midwest listeners for his long stint as bassist with the Chris Duarte Group, is among the artists promoting a special Million Musicians March For Peace and rally at 3 p.m. on March 19 outside the Austin state capital. Carolyn Wonderland, Sara Hickman, Eliza Gilkyson, Guy Forsyth and Michael Fracasso are among many artists scheduled to participate. “Be an instrument for peace” is one of the group’s mottoes. Find out more at InstrumentsForPeace.org.

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Brostad in Austin

Speaking of Austin, former Omaha musician Cass Brostad has been landing plenty of gigs in the city since moving there after Thanksgiving. She’s won regular solo slots at established venues like The Hole in the Wall and Momo’s and has formed a band called TigerMega. They recently played for Balcony TV in Austin, though their performance has yet to be aired. Music fans need to look up BalconyTV.com, which offers live and recorded performances and interviews from balconies all over the world. It’s one more way cool music can go viral.

Nebraska Blues Challenge Deadline Bands must submit entry forms to the Blues Society of Omaha by March 15 for the first Nebraska Blues Challenge. See OmahaBlues.com for entry forms and rules. Visit Blues.org for more on the Blues Foundation and the International Blues Challenge. This showcase and competition gives many promising regional bands a springboard to the national spotlight. The winner of the Nebraska Blues Challenge will represent the BSO in the 28th International Blues Challenge in Memphis from Jan. 31 through Feb. 4, 2012.

21st Amendment Needs You

Music at The 21st Amendment Saloon, formerly The New Lift Lounge, at 96th and L, continues on a trial basis. The new owners are basing any long-term commitment to the early Thursday shows on audience support. Former owner and Blues Society of Omaha president Terry O’Halloran remains involved with booking the bands; so as O’Halloran often says, “Get out and get into it” if you want these shows to continue. On Thursday, March 10, catch one of the most applauded female blues guitarists, Debbie Davies. On Thursday, March 17, get ready for the Louisiana party sounds of the horn-heavy and guitar-driven Josh Garrett & The Bottomline. World-famous horn band Roomful of Blues hits the stage Thursday, March 24. Thursday shows begin at 5:30 p.m.

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Willie Nelson plays the Orpheum on Friday, March 11. The Brad Cordle Band gigs at the Old Market’s Havana Garage Cigar Bar on Friday, March 11. Kansas blues-rockers The Terry Quiett Band open for Keller Williams at the Whiskey Roadhouse on Friday, March 11. (See 8 Days). The Terry Quiett Band also plays Your Mom’s Downtown Bar (formerly Downtown Blues) on Saturday, March 12. Dana Cooper plays The Folkhouse on Saturday, March 12. See FolkHouseConcerts.com. You can get your green on early and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with free music at Louis Bar in Benson on Saturday, March 12. Headliners are acoustic guitarist George Burl and the mighty fine Travelling Mercies from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. See LouisBar. com for the full schedule. ,

HOODOO is a weekly column focusing on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a Reader senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who has covered the local music scene for nearly 20 years.

Monday thru Friday 7 a.m. and Noon

Cox Cable 17 or Qwest Channel 79 check the schedule at www.tknomaha.org

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MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

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SEND CALENDAR INFORMATION — including addresses, dates, times, costs and phone numbers — to The Reader’s calendar editor. Mail to or drop off information at P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107; email to listings@thereader.com; fax to (402) 341.6967. Deadline is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to issue date.

thursday 10

THE GOLDEN MEAN W/ YOUNG N GREEDY DOORS @ 8:00SHOW @ 9:00

THU 3/10/2011

SAT 3/12/2011

THU 3/17/2011

FRI 3/08/2011

THU 3/24/2011

THE ST. PATRICK’S SHAMROCK FEST FEATURING AGAINST THE ARTIFICAL, AURASING, SIDEWISE, THE END IN RED, AND COINCIDE DOORS @ 6:30SHOW @ 7:00 “GET PINCHED” LAKE SULC W/ STANBYE, BIG ELEPHANT, ANEURYSM, AND AVERT YOUR EYES DOORS @ 6:30 SHOW @ 7:00 WHAT DWELLS WITHIN W/ A SEQUENCE OF GHOSTS, THE CATALYST, WORDS LIKE DAGGERS, AT WAR WITH GIANTS, AND DIRE GNOSIS DOORS @ 6:30SHOW @ 7:00 HEARNEBRASKA.ORG PRESENTS: SOJH W/ SCHOOL OF ROCK DOORS @ 6:30SHOW @ 7:00

READER RECOMMENDS

DEBBIE DAVIES, (blues) 5:30 p.m., 21st Amendment Saloon, $10. GREG K, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. SOUL NIGHT W/ DJ KOBRAKYLE, (DJ) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $2. OPEN JAM, 9 p.m., Chrome. BIG SCOTT ALLAN, (island) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille. SPIKE NELSON TRIO, (jazz) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8:30 p.m., Liv Lounge. MATT WHIPKEY, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Myth, FREE. TALKING MOUNTAIN, MAMMOTH LIFE, THE BENNINGTONS, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5. THE OCCASION, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. SWAMPJAM, (blues) 8 p.m., Pour House, FREE. THE GOLDEN MEAN, YOUNG N GREEDY, (hip-hop) 9 p.m., Sokol Underground, $5. JR HOSS, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. JAZZ AT VENUE, 7 p.m., Venue. SUGAR & GOLD, YIP DECEIVER, (indie/dance) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $8. ONCE A PAWN, SICK OF SARAH, LUCAS SILVERIA OF THE CLIKS, HUNTER VALENTINE, (indie/rock) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

FRIDAY 11

ALEXSED, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5. DESPERATE BAND WIVES, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. THE KILLIGANS, MY RAGING MIND, BANJO LOCO, (rock/ celtic) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5.

READER RECOMMENDS

STEPHEN BILLS, OH RYAN, 2600, SWAY, JP GOODEBEATS, (DJ) 9 p.m., Bones, FREE. LAZERWOLFE, (rock) 10 p.m., Bourbon, $6. HI-FI HANGOVER, (cover) 9 p.m., Brewsky’s Park Drive. CONSPIRACY THEORY, (cover) 9 p.m., Chrome. OPEN MIC W/ JES WINTER, 4 p.m., Clancy’s, FREE. SAS, MARLA, THE RIVER MONKS, (rock) 8 p.m., Cultiva. DOMINIQUE MORGAN, (hip-hop/pop) 8 p.m., DC’S Saloon. CHRIS SHELTON, (rock) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille. BAND CAMP, (cover) 8:30 p.m., The Grove. BRAD CORDLE BAND, (blues) 9 p.m., Havana Garage.

READER RECOMMENDS

MusicOmahaShow.com

The Documentary three-part episode

With Special Guest:

Andrew Jay

From Rock Paper Dynamite

march 10 - 16, 2011

PATTI AUSTIN SINGS THE ELLA FITZGERALD SONGBOOK, (standards) 8 p.m., Holland Center, $15. SWAMPBOY BLUES BAND, (blues) 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen. RISING FOE, (rock) 6 p.m., Knickerbockers. E-NUTT, (hip-hop) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers. ON THE FRITZ, (cover) 9 p.m., Loose Moose. MATT COX BAND, (blues) 9 p.m., McKenna’s, FREE. NWU SYMPHONIC BAND CONCER, (classical) 7:30 p.m., O’Donnell Auditorium. MILLIONS OF BOYS, FURMER, ONCE UPON, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5. WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY, (counry) 8 p.m., Orpheum Theater, $45-$75. SCOTT SCHRAM BAND, (rock) 6 p.m., Oscar’s, FREE. LEMON FRESH DAY, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone. AVARICIOUS, (cover) 9 p.m., Prestige. GROOVE PUPPET, (cover) 9 p.m., red9. MARNIE STERN, TERA MELOS, THUNDER POWER, (rock/ singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $8. BRAD HOSHAW & THE SEVEN DEADLIES, (rock) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5. THE CONFIDENTIALS, (cover) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. FUNK TREK, (funk) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $7.

| THE READER |

music listings

NO JUSTICE, WHISKEY BENT, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ron’s, $10. GUNK FOR GROWNUPS W/ KOBRAKYLE, $PENCELOVE, VJ DINAN, (DJ) 10 p.m., Waiting Room, $5. TERRY QUIETT BAND, (blues/rock) 9 p.m., Your Moms Downtown Bar. LLOYD MCCARTER AND THE HONKY-TONK REVIVAL, (country) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $6.

SUNDAY 13

KELLER WILLIAMS, 8 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, $18. SQUARE TURN BOULEVARD, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Your Moms Downtown Bar. TIJUANA GIGOLOS, (blues/rock) 5 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4. HEAR NEBRASKA PRESENTS: THE PHOTO ATLAS, LITTLE BRAZIL, THE VINGINS, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

SUNDAY GOLD W/ GREG K, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. RIFFLORD, EZRA, MOTHER PILE, (rock/metal) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $10/adv, $13/dos. THE MADONNA SCHOOL FUNDRAISER W/ THE DICEY RILEYS, (celtic) Brazen Head.

FUNKTROPOLIS, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5. TAXI DRIVER, (cover) 8:30 p.m., Ameristar, FREE. DESPERATE BAND WIVES, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. PLATTE RIVER RAIN, AUNT MARTHA, THE LEPERS, (rock/ folk) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5. LEGACY, (cover) 9 p.m., Bear’s Bar. FIELDHOUSE, STOXX, SCRU FACE JEAN, (hip-hop) 9 p.m., Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21. SHOOT TO THRILL, (cover) 9 p.m., Chrome. THE SURPRISE LEFT, NATHAN BRADY CRAIN, (rock) 8 p.m., Cultiva. KIB B, (tribute/instrumental) 9:30 p.m., Duffy’s. HADLEY, (flamenco) 6 p.m., Espana, FREE. DANA COOPER, (folk) 7:30 p.m., FolkHouse, $15.

BOATS, GREEN TREES, DEAN THE BIBLE, (acoustic) 7 p.m., Clawfoot House, $5. HEAR NEBRASKA PRESENTS: THE KICKBACK, HER FLYAWAY MANNER, (rock) 9 p.m., Duffy’s. TRIO NUOVO, (chamber) 3 p.m., Ethel S. Abbott \ Auditorium, $32, $8/students. PATTI AUSTIN SINGS THE ELLA FITZGERALD SONGBOOK, (standards) 2 p.m., Holland Center, $15. SWAMPJAM, (blues) 6 p.m., Millard VFW. BURKE BAND BENEFIT DANCE & AUCTION, (jazz) 2:30 p.m., Regency Marriott Ballroom, $7. TRIO NUOVO, (classical) 3 p.m., Sheldon. MASTERS & MUSIC SERIES: TIME, EMOTION, & MEMORY W/ JULIE ANDERSON, 5 p.m., UNO Gallery, $15. THE ELEPHANT 6 HOLIDAY SURPRISE TOUR, (rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $12.

SATURDAY 12

READER RECOMMENDS

AQUARIAN FEST W/ 37 YEARS, PETER, PAUL, & MORRIE, EXIT 41, TERRY LITTLE, TOM AND TONY ALLEN, MIKE BROCK, THE BISHOPS, BLUE AGENT, THE FISH HIPPIES, (rock) 7 p.m., Gator O’Malley’s. KRITICAL KONDITION, (cover) 8:30 p.m., The Grove. BRAD CORDLE BAND, (blues) 9 p.m., Havana Garage. BENT LEFT, SUBJECT TO AUTHORITY, EASTERN TURKISH, SHIDIOTS, (punk) 6 p.m., The Hole, $5. PATTI AUSTIN SINGS THE ELLA FITZGERALD SONGBOOK, (standards) 8 p.m., Holland Center, $15. NIGHT SHAKERS TRIO, (jazz) 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen. ACADEMY OF ROCK, (rock) 6 p.m., Knickerbockers. DEAD ECHOES, DROWNING IN THE PLATTE, DUNDEE STRANGLERS, UNDER SHALLOW GROUND, (rock/ metal) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers. A LITTLE NIGHT OF MUSIC W/ BERNADETTE PETERS, (broadway) 7:30 p.m., Lied Center, $49-$59.

READER RECOMMENDS

GEORGE BURL, TRAVELING MERCIES, ROBO DOJO, THE FINE IRISH WHINES, O’CONNELL BRIDGE, (rock/ celtic) 3 p.m., Louis, FREE. HONEY & DARLING, THE PHOTO ATLAS, NEW LUNG, (indie/rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5. ALL YOUNG GIRLS ARE MACHINE GUNS, (acoustic) 3 p.m., Omaha Public Library Millard Branch, FREE. HIFI HANGOVER, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. JAYME DAWICKI, (singer-songwriter) 7:30 p.m., Pizza Shoppe Collective, $5. BLUE HOUSE, (rock) 9 p.m., Prestige. LEMON FRESH DAY, (cover) 9 p.m., red9.

READER RECOMMENDS

NORTH OF GRAND, ERIC IN OUTERSPACE, CAT ISLAND, (rock/surf/punk) 9 p.m., Sandbox, $5. WILLIS, (rock) 8 p.m., Shamrock’s. MIRACLES OF GOD, SIMON JOYNER, GUS & CALL, WELL AIMED ARROWS, (rock/folk) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $8. AGAINST THE ARTIFICIAL, AURASING, SIDEWISE, THE END IN RED, COINCIDE, (rock) 7 p.m., Sokol Underground, $7. ANNA ROXIA PRESENTS: “BORN THIS WAY”, (rock) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5. FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT, (celtic/folk) 8 p.m., Studio Gallery, $10. THE CONFIDENTIALS, (cover) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

MONDAY 14

SONGWRITER SHOWCASE & OPEN MIC, 8 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, FREE. ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE, 7 p.m., Bourbon, FREE. ACOUSTIC JAM W/ TIM KOEHN, (blues) 8 p.m., Deuces Lounge. MONDAY NIGHT BIG BAND W/ BOB KRUEGER, (jazz) 7:30 p.m., Brewsky’s Jazz Underground, $6, $5/students. MIKE GURCIULLO AND HIS LAS VEGAS LAB BAND, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. THE READER’S SXSW SEND OFF PARTY W/ SATCHEL GRANDE, (funk) 8 p.m., Waiting Room, $5.

TUESDAY 15

VIC NASTY, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. PHANTOM TAILS, (rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern. JLB, (reggae) 10 p.m., Duffy’s. JOSLYN CASTLE MUSIC SERIES, (chamber) 7 p.m., Joslyn Castle, $25. WANNA BE HEARD OPEN MIC, (acoustic) 6 p.m., Oasis. AMY SCHMIDT, (acoustic) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., The Phoenix, FREE. THE DIRTY HEADS, NEW POLITICS, T.U.G.G., (rock/ hip-hop/punk) 8 p.m., Slowdown, $16/adv, $18/dos. WALTER TROUT, (blues) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, $15/adv, $18/dos. NICOLAS SEMRAD, ANDY BUTLER, EMILY BASS, GRANDPA SCIENCE, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

Wednesday 16

READER RECOMMENDS MIDWEST DILEMMA, THE NATIONAL RESERVE, CHRISTOPHER BELL, IAN AEILLO, (folk/rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5. TIM KOEHN ACOUSTIC JAM, (blues) 8 p.m., Brass Monkey. THE DICEY RILEYS, (celtic) 7 p.m., Brazen Head. JR HOSS, (acoustic) 7 p.m., Loose Moose, FREE. TONY LAMAR, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. BOOZAPALOOZA W/ FERAL HANDS, TIES, BLOODCOW, (rock) 9 p.m., Venue162, $5. OCTOPUS NEBULA, NEW REB, DJ BLAC, (electronic) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $12. BLU SIMON, (blues) 9 p.m., Your Mom’s Downtown Bar, FREE. JOSH GARRETT AND THE BOTTOM LINE, (blues) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, $8. TSUMI, ROCK ROSE, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

VENUES

Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, ameristar.com Arena Bar & Grill, 3809 N. 90th St., 571.2310, arenaomaha.com BarFly, 707 N. 114th St., 504.4811 Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St., 554.5834, barleystreet.com Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln, 730.5695 Downtown Blues, 1512 Howard St., 345.0180 Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3453, myspace.com/duffystavern The Hideout, 302 S. 72nd St. Knickerbocker’s, 901 O St., Lincoln, 476.6865, knickerbockers.net LIV Lounge, 2279 S. 67th St., 884.5410, livlounge. com Louis Bar and Grill, 5702 NW Radial Hwy., 551.5993 McKenna’s Blues, Booze & BBQ, 7425 Pacific St., 393.7427, mckennasbbq.com New Lift Lounge, 4737 S. 96th St., 339.7170

0 O’Leaver’s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd., 556.1238, myspace.com/oleaverspub Ozone Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, 72nd and F, 331.7575, ozoneclubomaha.com. Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com Qwest, 455 N. 10th St., qwestcenteromaha.com Side Door, 3530 Leavenworth St., 504.3444. Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., 345.7569, theslowdown.com Sokol Hall, 2234 S. 13th St., 346.9802, sokolundergound.com The Sydney, 5918 Maple St., 932.9262, thesydneybenson.com Stir, 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, harrahs.com Venue 162, 162 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, 712.256.7768, myspace.com/venue162 Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com Whiskey Roadhouse, Horseshoe Casino, 2701 32nd Ave., Council Bluffs, whiskeyroadhouse.com Zoo Bar, 136 N.14th St., Lincoln, zoobar.com

UPCOMING SHOWS

The Elephant 6 orchestra featuring Will Cullen Hart, Bill Doss, Peter Erchick, John Fernandes, Julian Koster, Scott Spillane, Andrew Rieger, Laura Carter, Derek Almstead, Heather McIntosh, Bryan Poole, Theo Hilton, Robbie Cucchiaro and others play the music of The Olivia Tremor Control, Elf Power, Circulatory System, The Gerbils, Nana Grizol, Major Organ and Adding Machine, Pipes You See,

SUNDAY, 3/13/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM

THE ELEPHANT 6 HOLIDAY SURPRISE

SPOTLIGHT SHOW

THURSDAY, 3/10/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM SUGAR & GOLD

FRIDAY, 3/11/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM FUNK TREK

FRIDAY, 3/11/11 9:00PM @ SLOWDOWN MARNIE STERN / TERA MELOS

SATURDAY, 3/12/11 7:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM MICHAEL SHOWALTER EARLY SHOW

FRIDAY, 3/18/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM AFTER THE FALL

MONDAY, 3/14/11 8:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM THE READER’S SXSW SEND OFF PARTY

w/ Yip Deceiver

TUESDAY, 3/15/11 8:00PM @ SLOWDOWN THE DIRTY HEADS w/ New Politics & T.U.G.G.

w/ The Wreckage, The Matador, & Take Me To Vegas

WEDNESDAY, 3/16/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM OCTOPUS NEBULA

3/18/11 AFTER THE FALL 3/18/11 RALLY FOR ONE 3/19/11 EDGE OF ARBOR 3/20/11 TARA VAUGHAN 3/22/11 THE DODOS 3/22/11 NOW, NOW 3/24311 SATURN MOTH 3/25/11 THE ENVY CORPS 3/26/11 SATCHEL GRANDE 3/27/11 TOM RUSSELL

w/ New Reb & DJ Blac

w/ Satchel Grande

THURSDAY, 3/17/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM THE FILTER KINGS

w/ Bloodcow, The Whipkey Three, & The Beat Seekers

3/28/11 RAILROAD EARTH 3/29/11 LANDING ON THE MOON 3/30/11 STATE RADIO 3/31/11 MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 3/31/11 OLD 97’S 4/01/11 IT’S TRUE 4/01/11 COLD STEEL 4/02/11 THE READY SET - EARLY SHOW 4/02/11 TORO Y MOI 4/03/11 JAMES MCMURTRY

More Information and Tickets Available at

WWW.ONEPERCENTPRODUCTIONS.COM

music listings

| THE READER |

march 10 - 16, 2011

March 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

E D I T E D

The Adjustment Bureau and the power of fedoras

by Ryan Syrek

didate’s spirits. He promptly delivers a breathtaking address that puts him right back on the map … and then never sees Elise again. Well, that was the plan anyway. When a chance encounter on a bus reunites the two, the agents of fate are called in. God apparently has a “Mad Men” fetish, as representatives of “the Chairman upstairs” are dressed like 1960s extras in trench coats and fedoras and are dispatched to separate the lovebirds. Gifted with confusing powers — they can predict mortal decisions, provided there isn’t water around, and get their powers directly from

lthough he doesn’t get name-checked, the Almighty plays an invisible supporting role in The Adjustment Bureau, the first Philip K. Dick short story adaptation to morph from science-fiction to theology-fiction. Despite the illusion of crushing doom promoted by the dour, oppressive orchestral music in the trailers, writer/director George Nolfi’s THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU fable is actually a sweetly simple, crossdemographic romp. Charmingly clever until it tries to be full-on smart, this level of competence still feels fresh during the pre-spring doldrums. In the biggest acting stretch of his career, Matt Damon plays David Norris, a budding politician from New York, not Boston. The youthful would-be senator has his campaign derailed when voters find him too juvenile to elect after photos of him mooning his classmates at a college reunion. In a film that features quasiangels manipulating fate, the least believable element is that voters were turned off by Damon’s exposed posterior. Rehearsing his concession speech in the men’s bathroom, David is delighted to meet the shoeless Elise (Emily Blunt), whose spunky personality and noteworthy cleavage raise the downtrodden can-

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 14th & Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster Street) More info & showtimes 402.933.0259 · filmstreams.org Facebook & Twitter: /filmstreams

their hats — these imposing figures attempt to keep things moving according to “the plan.” Philosophical discussions of free will and fate bubble and pop alongside a remarkably believable love story. Not too shabby for entertaining mainstream fare. Blunt and Damon are the anti-Jolie and Depp, with audiences likely flinching from the visible sparks between them as opposed to cringing when they were contractually obligated to touch. The remainder of the cast mostly belongs to the hatwearing, magic dude club, including John Slattery, Anthony Mackie and Terence Stamp. Although clearly adversarial, they seem more bummed out to be peeing on true love than delighting in their interference. Nolfi’s finest creative moment was deciding to ditch an aura of creepy in favor of a decidedly endearing tone. When Damon argues against Stamp or Slattery, it never turns into “good versus evil” so much as it feels like a conversation shared by many a stoned duo, albeit more eloquent. This isn’t to say the stakes don’t feel big, only that the thrills have a lower-case “t.” With charming-as-hell leads, a creative conceit and cleverness abounding, even a hackneyed, predictable ending can’t derail the entertaining ride. The Adjustment Bureau is delightful, interesting and pleasant; it’s further proof that original ideas can provide the same level of crowd-pleasing, widely appealing entertainment as sequels. ,

GRADE: B+

B Y

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S Y R E K

■ Close friends of mine are afraid of birds. Those folks should prepare to be terrified, as Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater is taking your feathered nemeses one terrifying step further. Ghost Bird, a documentary about the discovery of the long-extinct ivorybilled woodpecker, should be intimidating to avian-phobes on title alone. On March 15, a collaboration with the Nebraska Chapter of the Nature Conservancy will result in a discussion following a screening of the film. For tickets, check out filmstreams.org, but let me save some of you time at the Q&A: No, they are not all “out to get you.” You just smell like bread. ■ When Alcon Entertainment, a Warner Brothers-based production company, snapped up rights to make prequels or sequels to Blade Runner, fans collectively had a tiny mouth regurgitation. Thankfully, they’re at least saying the right things, as Alcon producer Andrew Kosove said they would love to have Christopher Nolan direct an installment. While this is the equivalent of sitting on a mall-Santa’s lap and asking for a bicycle, at least their heart is in the right place. ■ JJ Abrams just cast Jesus. Well, that is to say Abrams and buddy Jonah Nolan (Chris’s brother… and original creator for the concept of Memento) have cast Jim Caviezel (the Christ from The Passion of the Christ) as the lead in “Person of Interest,” their new TV pilot. Also starring Michael Emerson (“Lost”), I am officially a person interested in this show. — Ryan Syrek

CUTTINGROOM

Hats Entertainment

film

Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@thereader.com. Check out Ryan on the radio on CD 105.9 (Fridays at around 7:30 a.m.), on his blog at thereader.com/film/ C19 and on Twitter (twitter.com/thereaderfilm).

This Week Biutiful First-Run (R) Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Academy Award Nominee: Javier Bardem. Through Thursday, March 17 “A near perfect movie. Javier Bardem is remarkable.” —Chris Jones, Esquire

Steven Soderbergh Series: Ocean’s Eleven 2001

Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Friday, March 11 - Thursday, March 17

Ocean’s Eleven

1960 Directed by Lewis Milestone. Featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford & Angie Dickinson. Friday, March 11 - Thursday, March 17

ﬁlm

Family & Children’s Series Three Stooges Shorts: An Ache in Every Stake, MicroPhonies, In the Sweet Pie & Pie March 5-17 (Saturdays, Sundays, Thursdays)

One Night Only! Ghost Bird 2001

Tuesday, March 15, 7pm

Presented with The Nature Conservancy, Nebraska Chapter, with a post-show panel on our state’s threatened & endangered species.

| THE READER |

MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

film m o v i e

r e v i e w s ,

c o m m e n t a r y

a n d

Pet Project: Pirates alums launch an animated Western starring a lizard

by Ben Coffman

iting the need to do a smaller film after his work on the bigger-than-life Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, director Gore Verbinski managed to once again rip Johnny Depp loose from Tim Burton’s greedy grasp in the hopes of creating a slightly goofy animated Western. With its painstakingly precise animation and a giant cast of vibrant characters, the film Rango turned Rango into anything but a “small” film, but it certainly makes for fun moviegoing. When Rango begins, our titular character (voiced by Depp) is your run-ofthe-mill pet chameleon. He whiles away his days in a glass aquarium, writing and acting in plays that star himself, 45 percent of a Barbie doll and a plastic fish. It’s a lazy lizard’s life, and it’s not too bad, until Rango’s entire aquarium is bucked from his owner’s car while traveling through the Mojave Desert, leaving Rango stranded in the middle of nowhere. Rango meets an abdominally bisected armadillo named Roadkill (Alfred Molina), who directs Rango to begin a mystical journey of discovery. An homage to the opening “look out for the bats” scene of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas leads to a brief dust-up with Dr. Gonzo and Raoul Duke. It also lets us know that Verbinski and company are going to have some fun with this thing. Following this meta moment, and with a quartet of owl mariachis dropping in for

reportcard

127 Hours (ON DVD) Boyle’s film is so good, it deserves more than the sound of one hand. clapping. READER RECOMMENDS

Biutiful It’s pretty ugly … but it’s a pretty kind of ugly.

A-

B+

Black Swan A It’s like Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” … only with more sexytime.

march 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

film

m o r e

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the occasional narrative boost, Rango begins his trek across the desert, sans water, on a journey of self discovery that lands him in the tiny town of Dirt, a place with a water supply that’s diminishing as quickly as Warner Bros.’ grasp of the Charlie Sheen brouhaha. Rango marks the first time that Industrial Light and Magic (George Lucas’s special effects company) has provided the CGI animation for a feature film, and the results are, well, magical. Visually, Rango’s characters are as highly detailed as the voice acting — not to mention the characters themselves (thanks to writer John Logan). The desert landscapes are rich and intoxicating, the fight scenes extraordinary; Pixar and Dreamworks should take note — with Rango, ILM has officially thrown its hat into the ring, and their hat is of the 10gallon variety. Produced by Nickelodeon Movies, Rango exists in a kind of no man’s land of animated films. The film looks like it should be kid-friendly, but much of the rapid-fire dialog will sail far over the head of your average third grader (a demographic that seemed to be heavily represented at my screening). Add to that a preoccupation with death and the occasional prostate-check joke, and most young children will probably walk out of Rango lobbying to see Mars Needs Moms. Older viewers will appreciate Rango’s Western narrative, even if it lies somewhere between Blazing Saddles and straight-up spaghetti. The central character for Rango is not unlike a metaphor for the film itself — a pet (or pet project) turned loose in the wilds, left to fend for and invent itself. ,

GRADE: A-

Fish Tank After a swim in this Tank, you’re going to want a shower.

A-

Hall Pass The recommendation for this unfunny comedy is in the second word of the title.

The King’s Speech BNot the best movie of the year, but lots of people will tell you it is. Unknown Those expecting Taken may get took.

C-

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| THE READER |

March 10 - 16, 2011

newsoftheweird

Handcrafted Silver Jewelry, Repair and Gallery

T H E W O R L D G O N E F R E A K Y B Y Z W I T H I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y TO M B R I S C O E

Wyatt Earp probably rolling over in his grave

SILVERSMITHING CLASSES AVAILABLE

ombstone, Ariz., which was the site of the legendary 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (made into a 1957 movie), is about 70 miles from the Tucson shopping center where a U.S. congresswoman, a federal judge and others were shot in January. A Los Angeles Times dispatch later that month noted that the “Wild West” of 1881 Tombstone had far stricter gun control than presentday Arizona. The historic gunfight occurred when the marshal (Virgil Earp, brother of Wyatt) tried to enforce the town’s no-carry law against local thugs. Today, however, with few restrictions and no licenses required, virtually any Arizonan 18 or older can carry a handgun openly, and those 21 or older can carry one concealed.

Silver of Oz 6115 Maple Street | (402) 558-1307 www.silverofoz.com

Leading Economic Indicator The government of Romania, attempting both to make amends for historical persecution of fortunetelling “witches” and to collect more tax revenue, amended its labor law recently to legalize the profession. However, “queen witch” Bratara Buzea, apparently speaking for many in the soothsaying business, told the Associated Press in February that official recognition might make witches legally responsible for future events that are beyond their control. Already, witches are said to be fighting back against the government with curses — hurling poisonous mandrake plants into the Danube River and casting a special spell involving cat dung and a dead dog.

Compelling Explanations British loyalist Michael Stone still claims it was all a misunderstanding — that he did not intend

to assassinate Irish Republican Army political leaders in 2006, despite being arrested at the Northern Ireland legislature carrying knives, an ax, a garotte, and a bag of explosives that included flammable liquids, gas canisters and fuses. He was later convicted, based on his having detonated one explosive in the foyer and then carrying the other devices into the hall to confront the leaders, but he continued to insist that he was merely engaged in “performance art.” (In January 2011, the Northern Ireland court of appeal rejected his claim.) Phyllis Stevens, 59, said she had no idea she had embezzled nearly $6 million until her employer, Aviva USA, of Des Moines, Iowa, showed her the evidence. She said it must have been done by the “hundreds” of personalities created by her dissociative identity disorder (including “Robin,” who was caught trying to spend Stevens’ remaining money in Las Vegas just hours after the showdown with Aviva). Stevens and her spouse had been spending lavishly, buying properties, and contributing generously to political causes. As the “core person,” Stevens said she will accept responsibility but asked a federal judge for leniency. (The prosecutor said Stevens is simply a thief.) Thomas Walkley, a lawyer from Norton, Ohio, was charged in January with indecent exposure for pulling his pants down in front of two 19-year-old males, but Walkley said he was merely “mentoring” at-risk boys. He said it is a technique he had used with other troubled youths, especially the most difficult cases, by getting them “to think differently.” Said Walkley, “Radical times call for radical measures.”

>7FFO >EKH

MON THRU FRI 2-7 Try our WORLD FAMOUS Bloody Marys 4556 LEAVENWORTH ST. • 402-551-4850 38

MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

weird news

COPYRIGHT 2011 CHUCK SHEPHERD. Visit Chuck Shepherd daily at NewsoftheWeird.blogspot.com or NewsoftheWeird.com. Send Weird News to WeirdNewsTips@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, FL 33679. Illustrations by Tom Briscoe (smallworldcomics.com).

Ironies U.S. News & World Report magazine, and the National Council on Teacher Quality, announced plans recently to issue grades (A, B, C, D and F) on how well each of the U.S.’s 1,000-plus teachers’ colleges develop future educators, but the teachers of teachers appear to be sharply opposed to the very idea of being issued “grades.” The project’s supporters cited school principals’ complaints about the quality of teachers applying for jobs, but the teachers’ college representatives criticized the project’s measurement criteria as overly simplistic.

The Litigious Society Paul Mason, 50, an ex-lettercarrier in Ipswich, England, told reporters in January he would file a lawsuit against Britain’s National Health Service for negligence — because it allowed him to “grow” in recent years to a weight of nearly 900 pounds. Mason said he “begged” for NHS’s help in 1996 when he weighed 420, but was merely told to “ride your bike more.” Last year, he was finally allowed gastric surgery, which reduced him to his current 518. At his heaviest, Mason estimates he was consuming 20,000 calories a day.

Update Life is improving for some Burmese Kayan women who, fleeing regular assaults by soldiers of the military government of Myanmar, become valuable exhibits at tourist attractions in neighboring Thailand — because of their tribal custom of wearing heavy metal rings around their necks from an early age. The metal stacks weigh 11 pounds or more and depress girls’ clavicles, giving them the appearance of elongated necks, which the tribe (and many tourists) regard as exotic. While human rights activists heap scorn on

these Thai “human zoos” of ring-necked women, a Nacogdoches, Texas, poultry plant recently began offering some of the women a more attractive choice — lose the rings and come work in Texas, de-boning chickens.

Least Competent Criminals Not Ready for Prime Time: Jose Demartinez, 35, was hospitalized in Manchester, N.H., in January. With police in pursuit, he had climbed out a hotel window using tiedtogether bed sheets, but they came undone, and he fell four stories. Detected burglarizing a house in Summerfield, Fla., in January, Laird Butler fled through a window but not from police. The homeowner’s dog had frightened Butler, who crashed through the glass, cut himself badly, and bled to death in a neighbor’s yard. Kevin Funderburk, 25, was charged with sexual assault of a 71-year-old woman in her Hutchinson, Kan., home in December. By the time his mug shot was taken, he was in a neck brace — from the victim’s frying-pan-swinging defense.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra • Mondays 8 PM Live at the Concertgebouw • Tuesdays 8 PM Modern Classics • Fridays 6pm Midnight Special • Fridays Midnight Metropolitan Opera • Saturdays Noon Classical Guitar Alive • Sundays 10 AM Composer Spotlight • Sundays 11 AM Going Beyond Words • Sundays Noon From The Top • Sundays 5 PM New York Philharmonic • Sundays 6 PM

WWW.KVNO.ORG

Recurring Themes During an early-January freeze, an 8-year-old boy, standing across the street from Woodward (Okla.) Middle School, apparently fell for the traditional dare from his brother and licked a metal pole. He had to wait on his tiptoes for emergency responders to come unstick him. In January, John Finch, 44, of Wilmington, Del., became the latest alleged burglar to break in (through a window) and be unable either to climb back out or figure out the automatic locks on the doors (and thus be forced to call 911 on himself to be rescued). ,

weird news

| THE READER |

march 10 - 16, 2011

planetpower w ee k l y

h oroscopes

ne week until the Full Moon in Virgo. Take care of the details now and Winter will be over before you can think about it. One more week to dream... Glub glub..... MojoPlanetPower.com l PISCES (2.20-3.20) Almost done/Never done? Both sides now/somehow? Your reality has merged into fantasy/imagination and is ready to return back once again, Yin to Yang/Yang to Yin, as the Sun shall burn away Winter’s lingering snow/fog with the fire within. What psychological maladies do you still allow to exist within your Self? Cleanse within the depths of your personal subconscious; your entire retained memory of this lifetime. Fire within the forge of this new Spring (April 3rd) so’s you can satisfy your subconscious need for meaning in your every project of 2011. Yawn, yawn... You’re almost done ... dreaming. a ARIES (3.21-4.20) You’re a month away. Clean up your subconscious. (Well then maybe look it up?) We’ve all got one? (No, it’s not that lecture!) It’s the root (what a dirty mind?) of why/how you are you; and we all know you worship the “self?” Well, your self will be born again in an unexpected, LARGE, spectacular way around April 3rd’s New Moon in Aries, amidst a crowd of crazzzzy planets to cheerlead you through a know-it-all Capricorn or Libra’s opposition. Clean up your subconscious through creative dreaming. Who/where do you want to be four short weeks from now? b TAURUS (4.21-5.20) Take care of business (Venus in Capricorn) for these next two weeks. Spring is always your thing? Love will be looking for you while you’re complaining he/she came too late. How can the MOJO guess? Who/what came to mind with the mention of love/Venus? How do you tell when an actor/actress is acting? During break! Take a break and find your real Self. You dealt yourSelf your karma. You give love, you get love. You don’t, you won’t. c GEMINI (5.21-6.21) You are the leader of the pack. You are already where everyone else will want to be three or four more weeks from now. You’ve got until the end of March to show your middle man/ woman expertise to the higher ups. Do your homework (the rest of March) or you risk appearing the April Fool. d CANCER (6.22-7.22) The Full Moon in Virgo is in a week. Take care of the details now and then get ready for Mercury retrograde in April. The Moon enters Cancer Sunday the 13th at 9:29 a.m., the first day of Daylight Savings Time until Tuesday after-

march 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

mojo

b y

mo j opo

noon. Use it. I smell a seafood dinner? How does the MOJO know? e LEO (7.23-8.22) Another week out of your element? Hang in there. You’ll have the Moon in your sign from Tuesday afternoon until we “speak” again. Seek completion at that time. You’ve got one Hell of an opposition the first week in April! Everyone has to play the “Fool” sometimes. You’ll be due, Boo Boo. f VIRGO (8.23-9.22) Last week in the barrel (You/ it will be back soon!). The Full Moon is in your sign at 28 degrees Virgo, Saturday the 19th. Start preparing now. It’s your half birthday. Look at where you are now and/versus where you want to be six short Full Moons from now, back (September) when you’ll be back in power. April will jolt you with “mess” ups in work and health issues. Be forewarned and prepared. g LIBRA (9.23-10.22) Please read Taurus. The confusion in April helps you. Your creativity will/shall be sparked. There’s money in confusion? Clean up? Re-directive advice and/as service? Replacing chaos with harmony? Your forte. Good luck. Beauty makes everything worth it/while. h SCORPIO (10.23-11.22) Your work space is LOADED starting in April. Prepare now. It’s going to be crazy and watch out for your nerves at home (4th House). Your 6th House activities are going to ENLARGE (Jupiter), energize (Mars), electrify (the planet Uranus) and confuse (Mercury will be retrograde). Sounds like there’s some money in it for you after April 22nd, when Mercury moves direct. Listen up and keep your “3rd ear” open. i SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.21) What did you scam/think about/plan/dream/devise in/on the first week of January? It was a mother?! How does the MOJO know? I’ll tell you. Start now! You’ve got one year. How does the MOJO know you are the Speaker, the luck, the “travel” agent, the comedian, the leader of the pack. Electricity is/will be a/the key. Show us “the lock.” j CAPRICORN (12.22-1.20) Rough April coming up. It happens at a party or a gathering of some kind. Someone you trust proves to be on a different agenda and bad raps your kids or your creativity and your ability as a parent. You’ve got three weeks to prepare. Your relationship provides/proves the spark as opposition seeks to thwart. k AQUARIUS (1.21-2.19) Boom! Now it starts. Please read Sagittarius. Leadership qualities sparkle for you these next seven lucky years. Start now! Your color is red. You’ve got one Hell of a Spring to your step. Walk now, jog during, April 1st until April 22nd and then sprint into the next seven years of your life. ,

Bilingual Career Fair Metropolitan Community College 27th & Q

UÊ >ÀV Ê£ä]ÊÓä££ÊU )N THE NEXT YEARS THEATER PROlTS WILL INCREASE BY OVER PERCENT (OW EVER NONE OF THIS MONEY WILL GO TO SMALL REGIONAL THEATERS )NSTEAD THE MONEY WILL BE RESULT OF THE INCREASED POPULARITY OF SHOWING LIVE "ROADWAY SHOWS THAT ARE BROADCAST TO MOVIE THEATERS NATIONWIDE )N FACT MANY WHO ATTEND THIS FORM OF hBROADCAST THEATERv WILL SPEND MONEY THEY WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE SPENT ON LOCAL LIVE PERFORMANCE AND MID LEVEL THEATERS

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 11am to 4 pm

THAT RELY ON THIS AUDIENCE WILL CLOSE UP SHOP 4HE FUTURE WILL OFFER ONLY TWO KINDS OF THEATER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SPECTACLES AND EXTREMELY LOW BUDGET INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS 5NEXPECT EDLY THIS WILL KICK START A NEW CREATIVITY IN !MERICAN THEATER AS SMALL PRODUC TION COMPANIES BEGIN TO PRODUCE A LARGE AMOUNT OF NEW WORK lNDING A SORT OF UNDERGROUND AUDIENCE THAT PREFERS THEIR ART UNTRIED AND PUNKISH

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| THE READER |

MARCH 10 - 16, 2011

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| THE READER |

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classiﬁeds

corned beef hash, green bagels with cream cheese and fruit Soup Revolution from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with Irish stew and Irish soda bread Drink: $4 Bailey’s, $4 Smithwick drafts, $4 Guinness drafts, $4 Teddy cocktails (Jameson and ginger ale), $3 UV bombs

LiT 180th and Pacific, 905.2548

Theme: “Come dressed in your best green getup” Drinks: $2 “Naughty Shots” and $3.50 Bud Lights Entertainment: DJ Chris “Suit” Jones

Maloney’s 1830 N. 72nd St., 502.1880 Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2011

Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m. Parade starts at 15th and Howard, goes east on Harney to 11th St., then south to Howard Street, and west to 14th. A post-parade party will be held at Nomad Lounge, 1013 Jones St., starting at 10 a.m. There is a $5 cover charge and a limited menu that includes hot dogs and nachos.

Barrett’s Barleycorn 4322 Leavenworth St., 554.5805

Open at 8 a.m. Food: Breakfast with Corned Beef Hash, Eggs, Sausage, Fruit, Bagels, served until 10 a.m. Lunch with Irish Stew and Corned Beef Sandwiches. Entertainment: Omaha Pipes and Drums 12 p.m.5:30 p.m.

Barry O’s 420 S. 10th St., 341.8032

Open at 6:30 a.m. Food: Hot Breakfast and Corned Beef, Cabbage and Potatoes Entertainment: Omaha Pipes and Drums

Brazen Head 319 N. 78th St., 393.3731

Open at 6 a.m. Food: Irish Breakfast until 11 a.m. Entertainment: Ellis Island 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Heated DJ Tent at 8 p.m. Drink: Outdoor Beer Garden

Bud Olson’s 3207 Leavenworth St., 342.9116

Open at 6 a.m. FREE corned beef and cabbage until it runs out

The Dubliner 1205 Harney St., 342.5887

Open at 6 a.m. Food: Corned Beef Sandwiches and Guinness Stew Entertainment: Dicey Riley’s 1 p.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

Clancy’s 7128 Pacific St., 393.1610 114th and Dodge, 498.6400 168th and Center, 505.4400

All locations open at 6 a.m. Food: Corned beef and cabbage and a few other sandwiches at all locations Jone-Z party bus lines starting at 2 p.m. and running to 2:30 a.m. through all locations Music At 72nd St: Omaha Pipes and Drums at 2 p.m., Johnny O and Skid Roe from 2-6 p.m., Blind Dog Fulton 7 p.m. to midnight At 114th: Omaha Pipes and Drums at 4 p.m., Fishheads noon to 4 p.m., Rough Cut 7 p.m. to midnight, various DJs including DJ Davie Rocket At 168th: Omaha Pipes and Drums at 6 p.m., Monkey Puzzle 2-6 p.m., Blue House 7 p.m. to midnight, DJ T-Fresh at night Promotions: Jager and Jameson girls

Gator O’Malley’s 12143 W. Center Road, 916.5201

Food: Corned beef and cabbage with a creamed potato; Corned beef sandwiches, Irish hot dogs, Irish potatoes and Irish Stew Entertainment: Johnny Clash 1-5 p.m., The Brad Cordle Band 6-9 p.m., Paisty Jenny 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Kennedy’s Irish Pub 5170 S. 72nd St., 932.7184

Open at 6 a.m. Food: Irish breakfast to include scrambled eggs,

Open at 6 a.m. Food: Corned beef hash breakfast, corned beef cabbage for lunch and dinner Drinks: “Shot girls” with Bailey’s, Jameson and Bushmills; largest Irish whiskey selection in Nebraska; Irish beers Entertainment: Tent with live music

O’Connor’s Irish Pub 1217 Howard St., 934.9790

For Saturday, March 12 Open at 8 a.m. Food: Serving breakfast of green country gravy with corned beef over egg bread; corned beef and egg scramble; lunch special is Shepherd’s Pie Drink: Absolutely no upcharges For Thursday, March 17 Open at 9 a.m. No cover all day Food: Corned beef sack lunches Drink: Absolutely no upcharges

Rusty Nail Pub 14210 Pierce Plz., 933.9753

Open at 8 a.m. Food: $3.99 green eggs and ham, $2.99 corned beef and cabbage Drink: $2 green beer pints Entertainment: Live music all day

Sullivan’s 3926 Farnam St., 933.7004

Open at 6 a.m. Food: Homemade soda bread, butter and jams, $1 corned beef sandwiches after noon Drink: Specials all day

Two Fine Irishmen 180th and Q, 933.3990

Open at 6 a.m. Entertainment: Omaha Pipes and Drums at 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., J.R. Hoss at 5 p.m., Lemon Fresh Day at 9 p.m.

| THE READER |

March 10 - 16, 2011

You're Invited!

SATURDAY, MARCH 26TH The Max at 15th & Jackson 5:30-8:30pm

Opera like you have NEVER seen it! Featuring the BEST female impersonators and their interpretations of classic opera arias.

OF THE OPERA Tickets $35

25 & Under $25 / 21+ only Includes delectable munchies from Dixie Quicks and signature cocktail tastings. Cash bar available. SIGNATURE TASTINGS SPONSOR:

To purchase tickets go to: www.ticketomaha.com or call 402-345-0606 A processing fee will be assessed if paying by credit card. To pay by check or cash, please visit the Ticket Omaha Box Office at 13th & Douglas Questions? Call Opera Omaha at 402-346-4398 or operaomaha.org