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Columns
Volume 21 Issue 6 September 29, 2014
Letter From the Editor
For 20 years The Synthesis’ goal has remained to provide a forum for entertainment, music, humor, community awareness, opinions, and change.
Publisher/Managing Editor Amy Olson amy@synthesis.net
by Amy Olson
amy@synthesis.net
This Week...
Furlough Fridays
PAGE 8
Creative Director
PAGE 4
Are You There, Desmond? It’s Me, Zooey. by Zooey Mae
PAGE 5
Productivity Wasted
Tanner Ulsh graphics@synthesis.net
by Eli Schwartz
Entertainment Editor
pwasted@synthesis.net
Alex Light Alex@synthesis.net SynthesisWeekly.com/submit-yourevent/
PAGE 7
Howl howlmovesmountains.tumblr.com
Designers
Liz Watters, Mike Valdez graphics@synthesis.net
PAGE 7
Deliveries
Immaculate Infection
Joey Murphy, Jennifer Foti
by Bob Howard
Contributing Writers
Zooey Mae, Bob Howard, Howl, Koz McKev, Tommy Diestel, Eli Schwartz, Mona Treme, Emiliano GarciaSarnoff, Jon Williams, Crown, Alex O’Brien
Madbob@madbob.com
The Frugal Terran
Photography
by TripHazard
Jessica Sid Vincent Latham
PAGES 17
Nerd
Dain Sandoval dain@synthesis.net
Accounting Ben Kirby
Director of Operations Karen Potter
Owner
Bill Fishkin bill@synthesis.net The Synthesis is both owned and published by Apartment 8 Productions. All things published in these pages are the property of Apartment 8 Productions and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way, shape or form without the written consent of Apartment 8 Productions. One copy (maybe two) of the Synthesis is available free to residents in Butte, Tehama and Shasta counties. Anyone caught removing papers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All opinions expressed throughout the Synthesis are those of the author and are not necessarily the same opinions as Apartment 8 Productions and the Synthesis. The Synthesis welcomes, wants, and will even desperately beg for letters because we care what you think. We can be reached via snail mail at the Synthesis, 210 W. 6th St., Chico, California, 95928. Email letters@ synthesis.net. Please sign all of your letters with your real name, address and preferably a phone number. We may also edit your submission for content and space.
210 West 6th Street Chico Ca 95928 530.899.7708 editorial@synthesis.net
PAGE 16
Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA
Remembering Marc Thompson
PAGE 18
by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff
PAGE 18
Reviews
Furlough Fridays Robin Baclor
PAGE 19
Supertime!
by Logan Kruidenier logankruidenier.tumblr.com
PAGE 20
Kozmik Debris by Koz McKev
kozmckev@sunset.net
PAGE 21
From The Edge
by Anthony Peyton Porter
PAGE 22 COVER PHOTO Curtis Pope FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 3
PET OF THE WEEK
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Now Hear This SYNTHESIS WEEKLY PLAYLIST Hot Sugar
Dear God, why do I watch Call The Midwife? It’s like ipecac for your tear ducts. I know this, but Netflix just added a new season, and here I am compulsively binge watching it and eye-barfing all over the place. They found the perfect formula: babies and mothers and selfless love and horrible things happening to good people and occasional miracles. Ugh, here it comes again. Crying is so weird. That sudden rush of heat, first to my nose then my eyes, the feeling of fighting it and losing, the helplessness, the emotional cloudburst. The heaviness after, almost like post-coital exhaustion; my whole body and mind feeling wrung out. And then the world is new, the day breaking open again like the sky after a rainstorm. The simplicity emerges first: where I am and what’s around me. After that comes the complexity: the things I need to do, recent memories, issues; the invisible ink that scrawls over the world, telling the story only I can see. For a moment I can evaluate everything from a distance; reality in layers. I feel better now, the day ahead of me seems more manageable. Maybe the real question is why don’t I love crying? If it winds up so positively, why do I resist it? Why hasn’t it become programmed into me Pavlov-style as desirable?
Tanner
Hot Sugar - “Leverage”
Liz
Brothers Comatose - “Morning Time”
Mike
Drake - “Believe Me”
Tara
Ed Sheeran - “I See Fire”
Becca
Daft Punk - “Instant Crush”
4
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
Once, as an 18-year-old wayfarer, I spent an incredibly intense three days alone in the redwoods, falling apart, crying my eyes out as a coastal rain storm rushed through the needled boughs above me. There was something about the wetness everywhere, the low clouds so thick that they barely hung in the sky, the web of tiny suspended droplets forced together through unbearable pressure until they collapsed to the earth in this heavy torrent, merging with it; my head so full of all my fragmented emotions and fears and burdens and all the things that had gone so
wrong, forced together until tears poured out of me like there was no end. In that one, encapsulated, isolated place, for that time that was open to me as long as I was open to it, I gave in completely. It changed me. I can’t explain how, only that the memory of it comes to me sometimes, this touchpoint. I remember the letting go, the unabashed grief, the sense that I didn’t need to be strong or justified or able to articulate. I didn’t need to protect myself, or protect anyone from my lack of control. I could just rain, just wail into the empty wind, just melt into the world around me, formless. When that final night passed and I woke to a crisp blue sky, my mind was clear for the first time I could remember, a deep and profound peace. I walked into town, coming suddenly face to face with two guys I knew from Chico. They asked what I was doing there, and I said nothing, that I was done. I asked why they were there, and said they didn’t know, maybe they came to take me home. It almost seems impossible that it went that way, but when you’re young and poetic, you just believe in the moment, you find meaning in coincidence and make it real.
Letter From the Editor by Amy Olson
amy@synthesis.net
The column formerly known as Comical Ruminations is now Are You There Desmond? It’s Me, Zooey. Also, it is absolutely not played out to say things are “formerly known as.”
CASH! CASH! CASH!
Godspeed You Lunatic Hillbilly What the heck is going on with Harley Quinn? Or more specifically I guess I should ask, what the heck is going on with the series creators and contributors? Last year DC announced it was holding open submissions for a few different panels of a Harley Quinn comic. I’m all for an increase in opportunities for up-andcoming artists to break into the industry, but I was mildly horrified when I learned that one of the panels open for reinterpretation was of Quinn herself, in a bathtub about to commit suicide. DC’s open call for Quinn shown in a humorous suicidal scene was made worse by the fact that this was publicized during September, which happens to be suicide prevention month. It seems DC has made another strange misstep in their seeming effort to differentiate themselves from the rest. DC fans have known for a while that a “scratch-n-sniff” issue was being released soon, but it’s come to light that the issue in question, “Harley Quinn Annual #1” will contain smells including leather, suntan lotion, pizza and what’s referred to in the story as “cannabisylocibe 7-A,” AKA cannabis. I can just imagine the writers for Harley Quinn (Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner), with a table of half-empty lines of coke in front of them screaming excitedly at each other. Snnnooooorrrrrt. “Holy shit. I just had an incredible idea. This is like, cutting edge shit! Wait. Wait. Wait. Listen. Are you listening?! Snnnoooorrrrrrrt. “Yes.” “Let’s make one panel smell like weed.” “YOU ARE A GODDAMN GENIUS. You know what we should do? Let’s get more coke.” When it came time to push this idea through to print, someone realized that there was a giant flaw in the plan to ship boxes of something weed-scented to a bunch of
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different countries. They decided to solve this by changing the “cannabisylocibe 7-A” scent to “grass clippings” for all countries other than the US. Good thinking you two, you really dodged that bullet. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at any publicity stunt attempted by the creators of a series which seems little more than a half-step above Juggalo fan fiction. Speaking of fan fiction (and this one’s for all you Harry Potter fans out there), it seems a conservative Christian mother has set out on a mission to rewrite the Potter books so she can let her kids read them without fear of them turning into witches. From her site, “Hello friends! My name is Grace Ann. I’m new to this whole fanfiction thing… My little ones have been asking to read the Harry Potter books; and of course I’m happy for them to be reading; but I don’t want them turning into witches! So I thought… why not make some slight changes so these books are family friendly?” This reminds me of the time I was a counselor at a summer camp and there was a kid who wasn’t allowed to drink Pepsi, not because of the staggering amount of sugar in it, but because the brand was currently featuring Harry Potter on their label for a promotion. There was something really infuriating about the entire situation. In any case, if the lunatic ramblings of this insane woman have intrigued you, the first seven chapters of her fanfiction, Hogwarts School of Prayer and Miracles, are available online. Godspeed.
Are You There Desmond? It’s me, Zooey by Zooey Mae
zooeymae@synthesis.net
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On The Town 6
PHOTOS BY JESSICA SID
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
Standards, Ambitions, Definitions BECAUSE ANALYSIS IS FUN! Are games art? Are games good? Are games even games? As you might guess, this article’s going to be rather contemplative, philosophical, even, so please put on your critical judgment hats and smoking jackets. Firstly, let’s ask the most pressing question: Why am I asking questions? Do I need to talk about them; do you need to read them? If you care about games, if you’d like most people to take even some games seriously, the answer is yes. Art can demand us to step back and become analytical, and I feel that above most arts, the game, digital or analog, is poorly examined. Few people talk of the esoteric and academic aspects of the game on the human mind, or even the meta examinations of playing a game, or comparing so many of the things we do to games. The game stands out for its interactivity, but interactivity, no matter how small, is the cornerstone of art. Even in standard cinema, where we are asked to remain seated and at attention for two or three hours, our brain works constantly, devouring, processing, examining, conjecturing. What of literature? What a game that art is! To offer intense examination and comparison, to root out the meaning of themes and visualize the sensation of description, this is a strange and difficult game that requires us to remain captive and incensed. So there, I’ve just given you a paragraph filled with heated rhetoric and even an exclamation point, defending the artistic prowess and fundamental power of games. Why aren’t there video game analysis courses, then? Why don’t philosophy students compare the existential and human agony of Planescape: Torment with Sartre? Well, there are a lot of good reasons, actually. Chief among them are money, standards, and that ancient beast we call Fun.
A curious thing happens to the gamer who plays hundreds of games, learns theories, waxes philosophic on endings and starts using terms like “poorly optimized UI.” They find themselves having less and less fun. Fun is a strange beast; it is ethereal, highly demanded, and frequently scorned. People do not go to the Museum of Modern Art to have fun. Right? Yet isn’t there a joy in an exquisitely expressed painting, even as we experience it? Isn’t there an intellectual euphoria as we tie together hidden themes in a literary work? Isn’t there a deeply personal, emotional, wordless dialogue when we stare at documentation of madness and horror? Art isn’t fun? Bullshit. It may leave us in tears, sick to our stomachs, and psychologically bitchslapped, but art is tons of fun. Why else do we gather together our friends to see it? Games try for mechanical fun, for ways to stimulate and satisfy the mind: puzzles, fantasy, strategy, persistence, exploration, innovation, personalization, agency, and the good old satisfaction of pressing a button and watching something explode. Games try for other types of fun: aesthetic pleasure, emotional pressure, tactical demand, personal responsibility, examination and thought. Fun is not just cheap sequels and streamlined combat. It’s functional, fantastic, emotional, experiential, and if you take the time to ask a gamer, or examine your own experiences in games, often quite personal. Games do not need to forsake fun to be respected, make waves, get taught in curriculums. They need to tame it.
Productivity Wasted by Eli Schwartz pwasted@synthesis.net
Howl, An Introduction Art by Logan Kruidenier (logankruidenier. tumblr.com) The room was pitch dark—indeed, the sun had never in its millennia of light-giving managed to reach down here, except perhaps in another age, when the huge slabs of stone that made these walls had been above the ground, a mountain maybe, before merciless time had thrown them deep into the earth, and infinitely powerful, infinitely incomprehensible hands had formed them into what they became—a sort of library, vast, subterranean, large enough to hold millions of readers, or just one. There was a shift in the air, a swiftly blinding light from the room’s center—then the room was dark once more, but for a faint luminescence, emitted in soft pulses from the small boy now standing there. I say “small boy” for ease of reference, but a closer examination would make his gender, and his very nature, increasingly unclear. Short, dressed in unrelieved black, with soft features and a sense of peace behind the eyes that could be mistaken for innocence—but this seeming youngster knew himself to be quite ancient. His last few centuries down here could be remembered at will, but his memory quickly failed him beyond that point. Could he even still call himself human? He wasn’t at all sure, and was not often worried by the question. He certainly enjoyed a very human-like, slim, durable body, but it didn’t fully match his idea of himself—rather, he identified more completely with the library itself—vast, private, filled with more information than any human could contain. Here was stored the living records of countless human lives; endless accounts of the rise and fall of civilizations, past and future.
descended into this library; he remembered that humanity sometimes, but now he was just Howl: curious, alone, learning, and watching. The dark room, built of massive stone slabs, each one covered in countless carvings, had just one door, and the boy made to leave through it. Glyphs carved in the archway round the opening caught his eyes, stopped his feet. A light sprang from the boy’s palm, floated over his head as he deciphered the writings. These were new; they hadn’t been here when he’d first entered the room. In a moment he had learned of exactly what had happened—a boy and a girl, in 2000 AD, had dreamed of Howl: they’d ridden behind his eyes, seen this library, caught a glimpse of what he did down here. He smiled. “So! Even in my aloneness, I can never really achieve complete isolation,” he whispered to himself. He looked up at the light floating over his head and gave a start. It winked out. The boy hadn’t known it was possible to make such things. Always was a torch needed down here to see anything… Although, now he thought about it, there had been times of forgetting his need for light, walking and reading and learning for hours in complete darkness. The boy shrugged and walked out into the massive hallway, humming to himself as he wondered about where to go next.
Howl howlmovesmountains.tumblr.com
He had been a grown man when he first FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 7
I made the 45 second drive across the street to Linda and JP’s for fear of arriving late, only to find Linda in the kitchen making “Quesadas,” JP drinking a silver soda, and their son Oscar running around in his underwear. Upon glancing up at the TV, I noticed the other half of the band, joining us via Skype from their Redding office. With much fork-clanking and lip-smacking as we devoured our delicious dinner, the conversation went something like this... To start things off, Adam’s got a funny story?
FURLOUGH FRIDAYS DIVIDED...BUT INSEPARABLE
Adam: Well, it’s a good story. JP was describing how we recorded the guitar tracks on our new album because they sound really, really great, and another gentleman was complimenting the way they sounded, and JP, how did you describe it? Why don’t you tell them how we recorded our guitars? JP: You want me to tell him what I said on Saturday? Or the real way we record them? Adam: the funny story is that JP said we
BY JEREMY VOTAVA recorded them through a Teddy Ruxpin. [silence]
Meagan: Awww, you just... killed it. [they laugh] JP: No what happened was, we were being interviewed by someone from the CNR. Uh huh. I’ve heard of that periodical . JP: It’s another publication. It’s new, I think. JP: Yeah, and you know how some bands will like, act like they’re all cool and witty and shit? Well I decided to try to be like one of those types, and I made up a story about how we recorded the guitars in which we did the really lo-fi technique where we recorded on tape and then we ran it back through a Teddy Ruxpin—but it wasn’t funny because the guy recording us was probably too young to know what a Teddy Ruxpin is, so it totally fell flat [laughs]. And uh... is that what was funny? Adam: I think I actually heard a cricket chirping. Meagan: I think the really funny part is that I totally bought it, and I was part of the recording process. [everyone laughs] I was like, “Really? We did that?” 8
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
Adam: I actually forgot what a Teddy Ruxpin was at first, so when JP was telling the story I was like, no... we used a D.I.—was it called a Teddy Ruxpin D.I.? He told it with such conviction! JP: You know what, for the next album we need a Teddy Ruxpin. [simultaneously with Meagan] That’s your album cover [we can make that our album cover!]. Damn! Great minds think alike, Meagan. Linda, what did you think was funny about this Teddy Ruxpin incident? Linda: Oh, I didn’t think it was very funny. [everyone laughs] It’s just a typical JP joke. This is the first time I’ve done a Skype interview. Considering that the other half of the band—it’s two couples, one band—Adam and Meagan are in Redding—how long ago did you guys move to Redding? Adam: We moved in the beginning of August. The beginning of August. Furlough Fridays continues though, even though JP and Linda are here in Chico. Who commutes? You guys jam up in Redding, right? Adam: It’s about 50/50. Meagan: We come down for shows and for practice, and they come up about once a month for practice. We work it out. That’s cool. You guys seem to play a lot of gigs, so that keeps you tight, right? Linda: With practice in between, we try to make it work. So you guys have been really busy—October 10th at LaSalles is your CD release party for Divided, what more can you tell us about that? Adam: I’d say... Divided is a representation of Furlough Fridays’ formative years, 2011 – 2013. The second track is the very first song we ever learned and played—written by JP, our current drummer, however he wasn’t part of the band at the time. Meagan: “New Growth,” right? Adam: Yeah. It started off as this kind of mellow thing, and then when Sam got into the band it really turned into this hard rockin’ song. The rest of the album we wrote with Sam and Brian in the band. As Sam was getting ready to move to Sweden we decided we really needed to put these down so we’d have a good hallmark of what this time was. So, we plugged into the Energy Plant and recorded the drum tracks and the guitar tracks live, and then the other stuff on top of it to really get that live sound that we’re known for. When people think of Furlough Fridays they think of raw intensity, I think. JP: One thing I love about this album is that I’ve been to every single Furlough Fridays show—from both sides, I’ve been in the audience, literally for every show, and now that I’m in the band drumming I’m still going to every show—and I can honestly say
that this album really sounds like Furlough Fridays. It captures that energy. Meagan: Yeah, the energy is way, way better. That’s my favorite thing—besides the music, obviously—the energy feels real this time. On the other one, we tried hard, but it was our first album. We learned a lot, and I think we keep getting closer and closer with every album to that goal of awesomeness. You raised your arms up like the Lion King or something, you’re like “Ahhhhhhhhh!” JP: That’s part of how we did this album, before we sent it off to the duplicator, we held up a flash drive at pride rock like they held up Simba, and then we were actually able to email it on a smartphone— Adam: “The Circle of Life” was the ringtone. JP: Exactly. This band is all about being technologically advanced and like, on the cutting edge. For example, Adam’s amp: he’s removed all the knobs he doesn’t need. [everyone laughs]
that. As I was saying, we recorded live—and this is super cliché—but as a band we really feed off of each other’s intensity. Because we were playing live at The Energy Plant, Sam and I would be looking at each other and kind of like, “Are you ready to go? I’m ready to GO.” And the intensity exploded. [Meagan laughs] Meagan: They were looking in each other’s eyes and there were explosions. JP: I think they bottled the explosions… And that’s available for the first ten people who buy the CD, they get a small bottle… Adam: … Lookin’ at each other, face to face, all sweaty… There’s going to be people camping out at LaSalles for days before just to get that vial of explosive rock juice. JP: Rock sauce? Linda: Do you see what I have to deal with here?
Adam: On purpose!
Meagan: Ewwwwww.
JP: That’s what this band is about… technology, energy, and “The Circle of Life.”
I just love that I keep seeing your kid running by in the background [laughs].
Adam: What I think is cool about this album compared to our last one—because our last album, in terms of tone and stuff sounded really good, but we did record to a click track. On this current album, Divided, we didn’t do
Linda: This is what it’s like, kids running around… It’s a family affair.
JP: We get together and practice and our kids go nuts, running around the house while we sing and play, it’s good times. Adam: I like it when Avery comes in to get something out of your kitchen, and Oscar too, and they’ll look at us and they’ll do like the bull horns and be like “Yeeeeeaaaah!” and then run away. That’s Awesome. Linda: Our kids are very supportive of our dreams. They’re your biggest fans? Linda: They are our biggest little fans. Going back to the energy of the album—one of the things I wanted to mention is, that was one of the last things we did together in the lineup that we had at the time. With Sam on drums, and Brian on lead guitar on a lot of stuff. What was cool was that we knew it was going to be the last thing we did, our last, conclusive project with that lineup. That kind of went into the whole energy of the album. I know that Sam was kind of going through some personal family stuff at the time that was really hard for him, and I feel like he just channeled everything into the album. I think it was a really positive way to end that chapter and start a new one. It seems to have worked out quite nicely. Was it always in the back of your mind that you were going to step in and play drums JP?
JP: No, it actually wasn’t. That’s awesome, you were just like Superfan, Superdad, watching the kids while your wife’s band played… JP: Yeah, what happened was, after a show Sam kind of dropped a bombshell, like “Hey guys, I’m moving to Sweden. I don’t think it’s going to work.” [laughs] You could Skype with him, right? JP: Exactly. It’s not like he could fly back for gigs or whatever. So anyway, they had to try out a bunch of new drummers, and I didn’t play drums at the time, I’ve never owned a drum kit, this was about a year and a half ago… I kept listening to the drummers who’d come over and play, and they played with a lot of really good drummers, but there was just something, like… I’d call it “jamability.” You’ve got to be able to let loose, have the jamability, and really sink into the energy of the band. They had decided on one drummer, and I just said hey, let me just play with you guys for like one practice session. Let me just get in there and improv everything and just go for it. We did that, and it was just like, “Yeah, OK. Let’s get this guy a drum set.” You’d heard the songs before, you probably had them in your head. JP: Yeah, I’d heard the songs before a million times. And actually, we had a show like a week after that, and I didn’t even own a drum set yet. We went to the show and I bummed FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 9
a drum set off of the drummer from Bogg, and that was literally the first time I ever played on an acoustic drum set. I had practiced on Adam’s e-drums, he had some like $100 e-drums… Adam: They were like $300. JP: [laughs] So anyway, the first time I’d ever played an acoustic drum set was at that show. And you know what? We didn’t get booed off the stage. Adam: No, we didn’t. Meagan: You had that American eagle/American flag cut-off sleeve T-shirt, it was great. Linda: Yeah, that’s JP’s ‘Merica shirt he likes to wear… Sounds like you need to bring that shirt back. Linda: It was actually “Music for Music,” and they had a band drop out, and we’d turned the gig down because we felt like it wouldn’t be a very good idea, but they’d had someone drop out and begged us to do it anyway, so we figured why not. It was for the kids. Well, it seems to me as like a booking agent, a fellow musician and local personality, and I deal with you in that capacity too, you guys are always ready to step up and do a gig. I don’t think you guys have ever really said no to me. Adam: Well, we could never say no to Jeremy V. Linda: We’re total show whores, and if we can work it out we definitely will. The biggest challenge right now seems to be babysitting, but so far it’s not too bad. That’s the biggest drama that we deal with, we’re not a drama-filled band. So after October 10th, what’s next for you guys? A little tour, perhaps? Linda: We would definitely like to do a tour. We’ll probably end up recording before we go on tour, but how much of that we can take with us, I don’t know. We want to go back to the studio, we already have like 15 new tracks that we’re ready to record. All new stuff that we’ve written with JP this past year. Adam: The cool thing about these new songs, the 15 new tracks that Linda’s talking about, is that we actually really like every one of them. A lot of the old ones that we play we’re like “Rrrr, that song.” Meagan: I love all of them, they’re all precious little cupcakes. [everyone laughs] JP: Yeah, Adam, what’re you trying to say? Adam: I have like ADHD when it comes to songs. I’m like “Yeah, that’s cool. I’m bored of it now!” Linda: Yeah, he does. Well, I’m sure everyone in the band has their own favorite 10
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
song, and then a song they don’t like as much, but maybe Meagan does because the bass is really cool… So how many tracks are on Divided? Linda: Eight tracks. Adam: Nine. Is it eight or nine, come on guys. Do we need to have a band meeting? Adam: Well there’s eight tracks, but then there’s one that’s like a psychedelic segue track. OK. Does it have its own track number? JP: It has its own track number, but it fades into the next track. Which, for any band that’s trying to make an album with a fading track, it’s such a hassle. The mastering situation, and then getting it duplicated… you have to find the right place that’s actually willing to do that for you and like work with fading in tracks and stuff like that. What a pain in the butt. Just make your tracks separate, don’t try to be all artsy. Adam: It’s not about artsy, it gives it that live feeling! This opening track, “Mitosis,” we did it at the Z-Rock Rock Fight and it was like super epic or whatever— Linda: Do you see that? Yeah, sorry Adam. We’re admiring the 106.7 Z-Rock Money Shot Rock Fight poster on the wall, between Furlough Fridays and Into the Open Earth. That was quite a show. JP: It was. Adam: Yeah… If you listen to the track it starts out with heavy drums and into this kind of heavy metal type of sound, and then it melts into the song “New Growth” that we were talking about earlier. It worked out really well live, and so Sam and I were really into doing that on the track, trying to capture that live feeling. So, the new album, on October 10th, will be available for $5, is that right? Linda: That is correct.
Meagan: Do you guys think we should do some kind of a costume incentive, too? Like wear your costume and get high fived by a member of the band or something? JP: That’s a good incentive. Adam: Or sweated on… JP: Ugh, yeah. I like high fives and sweat, so I’m in. Adam: Oooo! Sweaty high fives! Are we talking Halloween costume, or like cosplay costume, or D&D costume...? Meagan: I like cosplay, I’m a fan of that. This Halloween I have the most epic costume ever. It has many pieces, which, I don’t want to give them all away, but if you’ve never seen Batman in a fairy costume you should come to our show… Linda: Meagan, I thought we were doing the costumes this weekend? Meagan: Oh, right! Nevermind, that’s this weekend. But, I will resurrect the Batman-fairy with a corset… it’s going to be good.
That’s an awesome deal.
So you might wear it again? Because when you say this weekend, you’re talking about the past because we’re in the future right now as people are reading this.
Meagan: Only on October 10th!
Adam: It’s so Bill and Ted.
Then it goes up to $10?
I’m so confused, man.
Linda: Yeah, we want to give the people who come out to support us an incentive to be there, but also there’s going to be a lot of other really cool bands there: there’s going to be a Sacramento band that some people may have seen at Aftershock called Fall Rise, Dr. Luna, Scattered Bones, and a Reno band called Six Mile Station. It’s going to be a super epic show, and it’s going to be $7. We feel like if people are spending $7 to get in the door, we might as well not charge too much for the album.
Meagan: Yeah… That’s why they don’t give me a microphone on stage. I’m like Hansel, from Zoolander: “Do I know what product I’m selling? No. Do I know what I’m doing today? No. But I’m here, and I’m gonna give it my best shot.” Adam: Nailed it. Join Furlough Fridays for their CD release party at LaSalles on Friday, October 10th. Get more info at ffchico.com
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FOOTBALL
SEASON IS HERE
Food & Drink Monday Tuesday
ALL GAMES EVERY SUNDAY $5.49 GRAD BURGERS ALL DAY FREE WIFI FOR ALL YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL NEEDS 344 west 8th St | chico, ca | 530-343-2790
Wednesday Thursday
191 E. 2ND ST • 898-0630
Friday
Closed. We need to drink, too!
Closed
6PM - close $1 Off Pitchers Come see our beautiful Patio! Happy Hour 4-6: Menu cocktails $1 off. Sierra Nevada Draft $3
$1 WELLS, DRAFTS, DOM. & SIERRA NEVADA 8-10PM PROGRESSIVE 10-2AM UP 25¢ PER HR. UNTIL CLOSE
WEDNESDAY
Saturday Sunday
Closed
$2.50 TUESDAY: Tacos, Corn Dogs, French Fries or Tots, Chips & Salsa and Motzerells sticks only $2.50 ALL Day! $3 Sierra and Dom Pints $ 3.50 Kamis ALL DAY!
Come see our beautiful Patio! Happy Hour 4-6: Menu cocktails $1 off. Sierra Nevada Draft $3 Live music 8-10
Closed
Come see our beautiful Patio! Happy Hour 4-6: Wander Food Truck on the Patio 6pm
Open 9PM Bartender Specials $3 14oz. Slushies $4 20oz. Slushies
Join us for Beers on our Patio Bar! Happy Hour from 4-6.
Open 9PM Bartender Specials $3 14oz. Slushies $4 20oz. Slushies
Tacotruck.biz and Beers on the Patio!
WE OPEN AT 12:00PM MIMOSAS WITH FRESH SQUEEZED OJ FOR $5 UNTIL 5PM.
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday! Summertime Special $2.50 Wells & Sierra Nevada Drafts during Giants & A’s Games! Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday! Anniversary Special PB&J - Shot of Jameson whiskey with bolttle of PBR only $6.50
WING WEDNESDAY! $2 for 3 Wings
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM
8PM-Close $2.50 Fire Eater Shots $5.50 DBL Bacardi Cocktails
Full Bar in Back Room Weds, Fri & Sat Nights! PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Mon-Fri Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic Pints
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!
$3.50 Soccer moms $6 Dbl Roaring Vodka
Mon-Fri Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic Pints Weekend Blast Off!! 8-close $5 Blasters
We open at 12:00pm.
NEW THIS WEEK... TUESDAY
Mon-Fri Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic Pints
Summertime Special $2.50 Wells & Sierra Nevada Drafts during Giants & A’s Games! Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM Anniversary Special PB&J - Shot of Jameson whiskey with bolttle of PBR only $6.50
Open Mic Comedy Night Every Other Week! Happy Hour 2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR & Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
$6.99 Pulled pork sand w/ fries or salad 25 cent wings from halftime 'til they're gone! MONSTER MONDAY SPECIALS 6PM-CLOSE BEER $3.50/4.50/5.50/6.50 FREE Pool after 10PM
Two Dollar Tuesdays! $2 PBRs $2 Tacos! Happy Hour 2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Cans Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
Chicken Strip Sand only $6.99 before 6 PM TWO BUCK TUESDAY 6-11pm $2 Rolling Rock, Olympia & Single Wells $2.50 PBR, Coors and Double wells
Chicken Waffle Wed.! 8 ball Tourney 6pm sign-up Happy Hour 2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
Reuben Sand w/ fries or salad $6.99
Chico Jazz Collective 8-midnight Happy Hour 2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra & Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
Baby Back Ribs $11.99 Philly Cheesesteak $7.99
Rock Out at The DL! Enjoy Live Music, Great Grub, and 10 9' foot tables Open @11am All ages untill 10pm
10 oz. Tri-Tip Steak w/ Fries or Salad & Garlic Bread $8.99 8pm-Close $4 Jäger $5.50 DBL Vodka Red Bull $2.50 Kamikaze shots FREE Pool after 10PM
8pm-Close Pitcher Specials $6.50/$9.50/$13 FREE Pool after 10PM
6pm-Close $4.50 Grad teas $3.50 All beer pints FREE Pool after 10PM
Open 9PM Bartender Specials $3 14oz. Slushies $4 20oz. Slushies
Open at 11AM $4.50 Bloody Mary $5.50 Absolut Peppar Bloody Marys Noon - 6PM $8 / $9 SN Dom Pitchers $5.50 DBL Bacardi Cocktails
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM Full Bar in Back Room Weds, Fri & Sat Nights! PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Rock Out at The DL! Enjoy Live Music, Great Grub, and 10 9' foot tables Open @11am All ages untill 10pm
Baby Back Ribs w/Salad, Fries & garlic bread $11.99 8pm-Close $4 Single/$6 Double Jack or Captain $3 Sierra Nevada Pints FREE Pool after 10PM
CLOSED
10AM -2PM $5 Bottles of Champagne with entree $4.50 Bloody Mary $5.50 Absolut Peppar Bloody Marys
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Free Pool with Purchase! 1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Cans
$5.49 Grad/Garden/ Turkey Burger w/fries or salad Bloodies $3 Well, $4 Call, $5 Top, $6 Goose Mimosas $2/flute, $5/pint $6 CHEAP Beer Pitchers FREE Pool after 10PM
$1 WELLS/ROLLING ROCK, PALE ALE & DOM.
Summertime Special $2.50 Wells & Sierra Nevada Drafts during Giants & A’s Games!
$3 BUTTE PORTER $4 VODKA REDBULL
THURSDAY $1 PALE ALE & DOM. UP 25¢ PER HR. 8PM-CLOSE $4 151 PARTY PUNCH $5 DBL CAPTAIN
F r i d ay 4 - 7 p m
Wednesday 9pm
HAPPY HOUR!
DANCE NIGHT DJ SPENNY & JEFF HOWSE
THE PUB SCOUTS 337 Main St.
12
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
530-343-1745
Please Drink Responsibly
Closed
Go DownLo
BEAR-E-OKE BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. 11am-10pm.
Happy Hour 11-6PM select bottles & drafts $3
CLOSED
2 FOR 1 BURGERS ALL DAY !! MINORS WELCOME!
CLOSED
CLOSED
Happy Hour 4 - 7pm
Progressive Night:
Closed
$1.50 sliders and other cheap eats!
8 - 10pm $1 Dom, Wells & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 10pm - Close: Up $0.25 per hour til closing
1/2 OFF EVERYTHING!!!
4-6PM $1 Dom Drafts $2 SN Drafts & Wells $5 DBL Captain Buck Night 8-Close $1 wells, SN Pale Ale, Rolling Rock, Dom Draft $3 Black Butte $4 Vodka Redbull
Closed
4-6PM $1 Dom Drafts $2 SN Drafts & Wells $5 DBL Captain 8pm - Close $4 151 Party punch 22oz. 8 - 9pm $1 Pale Ale & Dom.Draft Up $0.25/ hr until close
Closed
LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM Closed
Go DownLo
BEAR WEAR! 1/2 off while wearing Bear Wear. MUG CLUB 4-10PM
$2.50 Select Sierra Nevada or Dom Drafts $2 Kamis -any flavor All Day
$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour 4-8pm
All 16 oz Teas or AMF $3 All Day
$3.50 Skyyy Vodka Cocktails $3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour 4-8pm
LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
WACKY WEDNESDAYS ( 8 - cl ) DJ Party 4 different DJ’s $1 wells $2 calls $2 domestic bottles $6 pitchers of well drinks
Go DownLo
Happy Hour 4 - 8pm Ladies Night! 88 pm - CLOSE $5 Pabst pitchers $2 shot board $4 Moscow Mules $3 Jamo and Ginger Buck Hour 10:30 - 11:30
Early Bird Special 9-10PM 1/2 off wells
Happy Hour 4 - 8pm
Early Bird Special 9-10PM 1/2 off wells
FIREBALL FRIDAYS!!! 8PM - Close $3 Fireball Shots $4 Big Teas $3 Coronas
TRIKE RACES! Post time @ 10pm. Win T-shirts and Bear Bucks. MUG CLUB 4-10PM LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
1/2 OFF COVER before 10PM
BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. 11am-10pm. MUG CLUB from 4-10PM
Happy Hour 11-6PM $3 select bottles & drafts $2.50 16oz Wells All Day
$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour 4-8pm
Happy Hour- 4-7pm $5 Fridays 4-8pm Most food items and pitchers of beer are $5
Power Hour 8 - 9pm 1/2 Off Liquor & Drafts (excludes pitchers) 9PM - Close $3 Pale Ale Drafts $9.75 Pitchers
Open at 9PM
Hot "Dawgs" ALL DAY!
Mon. - Sat. 4PM - 6PM $1 Dom. draft, $2 SN Draft and Wells Power Hour 8 - 9PM $3 Pale Ale Drafts $9.75 Pitchers
BOTTLE SERVICE Now Available! Call for reservation 898-9898
CLOSED
CLOSED
LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
Select Pints $3
Early Bird Special 9-10PM 1/2 off wells
LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
$4 Sex On The Beach $4 Sierra Nevada Knightro ON TAP $1 Jello Shots 7-10PM $3 Fireball
$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour 4-8pm
KARAOKE "INDUSTRY NIGHT" 8 PM - CLOSE HALF OFF ALMOST EVERYTHING!(Except Red Bull and Premium Liquors) Specials All Day!
Call To Rent For Private Party
$4 World Famous Bloody Joe $5 Premium bloodys your choice of vodka
Champagne Brunch 11am - 2pm $4 Champagne with entree
LIVE MUSIC 1/2 OFF COVER before 10PM
Go DownLo
BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. 11am-10pm. LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
Open ‘til 1AM
Champagne Brunch and SPORTS!
4:00 - 5:30 PM
$5 bottles of champagne
Happy Hour 4 - 7pm
LIVE MUSIC 1/2 OFF COVER before 10PM
Opening at 8pm for 80's NIGHT!! 8 pm - CLOSE $4 Sauza Margaritas $3 Kamis $3 Shocktop & VIP pint
3 WINGS FOR $2
9pm - Close $2 12oz Teas $3 20oz Teas $2 Well, Dom Bottles & bartender Specials $5 Vodka Red Bull
$1.50 sliders and other cheap eats!!
FOOTBALL
10-2pm every sunday morning 134 Broadway St, Chico, CA | 530.893.5253
191 E. 2ND ST • 898-0630
BOTTLE SERVICE Now Available! Call for reservation 898-9898 Large selection of wines, sangrias and Martinis.
Open at 9PM Large selection of wines, sangrias and Martinis.
NEW THIS WEEK... TUESDAY $1 WELLS, DRAFTS, DOM. & SIERRA NEVADA 8-10PM PROGRESSIVE 10-2AM UP 25¢ PER HR. UNTIL CLOSE
WEDNESDAY $1 WELLS/ROLLING ROCK, PALE ALE & DOM. $3 BUTTE PORTER $4 VODKA REDBULL
THURSDAY $1 PALE ALE & DOM. UP 25¢ PER HR. 8PM-CLOSE $4 151 PARTY PUNCH $5 DBL CAPTAIN
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Wednesday, October 1st
SOCIAL DISTORTION SENATOR THEATRE
This show kind of advertises itself. Are you telling me you DON’T want to swing your butt around shamelessly to “Story Of My Life”? Sweet, loud, raw, joyful tunes from tattooed hunk Mike Ness and his latest lineup of slick-haired rockers, forever putting wannabes like Alkaline Trio shame. I think I may have pissed off 50% of punk fandom with that last statement. Come journey with Social D through their catalogue of seven full-length albums. $35, 7pm.
Saturday, October 4th
BLACKALICIOUS LOST ON MAIN
Legends descendeth upon us. Gift Of Gab and Chief Xcel became underground heros with 1993’s Melodica, put out three more full-length albums after that, and are gearing up for their first new album since 2005, entitled Emoni. Gab knows what the fuck he’s doing, and will rap circles around any of you, all day, every day. Every day! If you don’t know, then check “Rhymes For The Deaf Dumb And Blind.” 9pm.
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SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
Friday, October 3rd
TINCUP LASALLES
It’s been awhile since Chico’s seen a decent bass music party anywhere besides Peking on Friday nights, but now Lake Tahoe’s TINCUP is bringing his killer trap game to LaSalles. Oh, right, trap is an extremely obscure term still… It’s bass-y and down-tempo like dubstep, but without all those wompy sounds, and that big rave-music drop is perpetually hinted at but never delivered. We’re getting a lot of talent here for a very small cover charge: TINCUP, Port City Players, DJ3W, Freakbeatz, and Gimmie. $5, 9pm.
Sunday, October 5th
13TH ANNUAL TOUCH OF CHICO CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER (BIDWELL)
When is there ever something to do at Chico Creek Nature Center besides look at their rehabilitated owls? Which is an awesome thing to do, by the way. This Sunday will see KZFR’s 13th annual Touch Of Chico: bodyworkers, massage therapists, acupuncturists, and more will all be offering discounted services and workshops. Featuring live music and refreshments. 12pm-6pm.
New & Exciting: Ongoing Events: 29 Monday
El Rey: Aaron Carter. $15 adv., $18 door, 7:30pm Sierra Nevada Big Room: Hot Buttered Rum. $22, 7:30pm
30 Tuesday
Madison Bear Garden: Open Jam ft. opening set by Chris Schadt Band. Free, 9pm-1:30am LaSalles: Dead Horse Trauma, I-Exist, Smak City, Gun Metal Gray, Into The Awakening. $5, 8pm
1 Wednesday
Senator: Social Distortion. $35, 7pm
2 Thursday
LaSalles: Happy Hour with Lady Bird And The Unknown Universe. 6-9pm Laxson: The Lone Bellow. $26 adults, $10 students. 7:30pm
3 Friday
Blue Room: Unhireable: An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy, ft. Steve Swim. $10 adv., $12 door, mature audiences. 8pm Empire Coffee: Portrait Drawing Group Art Show opening reception. 4:30-6:30pm LaSalles: TINCUP, Port City Players, DJ3W, Freakbeatz, Gimmie. $5, 9pm Happy Hour with CeeDub. 6-9pm Lost On Main: Zac Deputy, ZuhG Maltese: Bogg, Fantastic Negrito. $5, 9pm Peking: BassMint. Bionix, Eyere Eyes, Billy The Robot, ALO. 9:30pm Rendezvous: Roland Dyens. $15 adv., $19 door, 6:30pm Sierra Nevada: Oktoberfest. SOLD OUT, 4-10pm
4 Saturday
Chico Museum: “Mik ‘cupu dy, the story of the Mechoopda” exhibition opening. City Plaza: National Yo-Yo Contest. 10am LaSalles: Happy Hour with Tough Love. 5:30pm-8pm Laxson: Rosanne Cash. $46 adults, $10 students. 7:30pm Lost On Main: Blackalicious CD Release Party, ft. GThizz, Cody G, Rudedawg. 9pm Monstros: Don’t Care, Smak City, No Fraud. $5, 8pm Sierra Nevada: Oktoberfest. SOLD OUT, 4-10pm
29 Monday
The Bear: Bear-E-oke! 9pm Chico Womens Club: Prenatal Yoga. 5:30-6:30pm DownLo: Open Mic Night. Free. Pool League. 3 player teams, signup with bartender. 7pm. All ages until 10pm Empire Coffee: Portrait Drawing Group art show. 7am-7pm Maltese: Open Mic Comedy or Music, alternates every week. Signups at 8pm, starts at 9pm. Mug Night 7-11:30pm The Tackle Box: Latin Dance Classes. Free, 7-9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Yoga Center Of Chico: Sound Healing w. Emiliano. Breathwork, Meditation, Healing.
30 Tuesday
100th Monkey: Fusion Belly Dance mixed-level class, with BellySutra. $8/class or $32/month. 6pm The Bear: Open Jam Night, bring instruments, 9pm-1:30am Chico Women’s Club: Yoga. 9-10am. Afro Carribean Dance. $10/class or $35/mo. 5:50-7pm. Crazy Horse Saloon: All Request Karaoke. 21+ DownLo: Game night. All ages until 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: Salsa Lessons, 7-10pm LaSalles: ’90s night. 21+ Panama Bar: Tropical Tuesdays ft. Mack Morris & DJ2K. 10pm Studio Inn Lounge: Karaoke. 8:30pm-1am The Tackle Box: Karaoke, 9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology: Material Culture: Wearing the Art of Chikoko, Tues-Sat 11-3, Free, donations accepted
Woodstocks: Trivia Challenge. Call at 4pm to reserve a table. Starts 6:30pm
1 Wednesday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Doug Rathburn, sculptor, Norm Dillinger Retrospective. 12-5pm The Bear: Trike Races. Post time 10pm Chico Women’s Club: Afro Brazilian Dance. 5:30-7pm DownLo: Wednesday night jazz. 8 Ball Tournament, signups 6pm, starts 7pm Duffys: Dance Night! DJ Spenny and Jeff Howse. $1, 9pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm The Maltese: Friends With Vinyl! Bring your vinyl and share up to 3 songs/12 minutes on the turntable. 9pm-1am Panama Bar: Game Night. Prizes & Specials. Free to play! The Tackle Box: Line Dance classes. Free, 5:30-7:30pm. Swing Dance classes. Free, 7:30-9:30pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology: Material Culture: Wearing the Art of Chikoko, Tues-Sat 11-3, Free, donations accepted Woodstocks: Trivia Night plus Happy Hour. call at 4pm to reserve a table. Starts at 8pm
2 Thursday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Doug Rathburn, sculptor, Norm Dillinger Retrospective. 12-5pm The Beach: Live DJ, no cover, 9pm DownLo: Live Jazz. 8-11pm. All ages until 10pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Has Beans Downtown: Open Mic Night. 7-10pm. Signups start at 6pm Holiday Inn Bar: Karaoke. 8pm-mid-
5 Sunday
The Barn: Screening of 2001: A Space Odyssy, the first of a month-long horror move marathon, every night in October. 6pm Chico Creek Nature Center: 13th Annual Touch Of Chico. Massage, Bodywork, music, refreshments. 12-6pm.
EAT. DRINK. PLAY. Find Out How you Can Play Pool for Only $1/Day!
night LaSalles: Free live music on the patio. 6-9pm Maltese: Karaoke. 9pm-close Panama Bar: Buck night and DJ Eclectic & guests on the patio. 9pm Quackers: Karaoke night with Andy. 9pm-1am University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology: Material Culture: Wearing the Art of Chikoko, Tues-Sat 11-3, Free, donations accepted Woodstocks: Open Mic Night Yoga Center Of Chico: Ecstatic Dance with Clay Olson. 7:30-9:30pm
3 Friday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Doug Rathburn, sculptor, Norm Dillinger Retrospective. 12-5pm The Beach: Live DJ, 9pm Cafe Coda: Friday Morning Jazz with Bogg, happy hour. 10am-2pm Chico Art Center: Open Studios Art Tour. 10am-4pm DownLo: ½ off pool. All ages until 10pm. Live Music, 8pm Duffys: Pub Scouts - Happy Hour. 4-7pm Empire Coffee: Portrait Drawing Group art show. 7am-7pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: DJ Dance Party. 8pm-midnight LaSalles: Open Mic night on the patio. 6-9pm Maltese: Happy hour with live jazz by Bogg. 5-7pm. LGBTQ+ Dance Party. 9pm Panama Bar: Jigga Julee, DJ Mah on the patio. 9pm Peeking: BassMint. Weekly electronic dance party. $1-$5. 9:30pm Quackers: Live DJ. 9pm Sultan’s Bistro: Bellydance
Performance. 6:30-7:30pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology: Material Culture: Wearing the Art of Chikoko, Tues-Sat 11-3, Free, donations accepted
4 Saturday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Doug Rathburn, sculptor, Norm Dillinger Retrospective. 12-5pm The Beach: Live DJ, 9pm DownLo: 9 Ball tournament. Signups at noon, starts at 1pm. All ages until 10pm Empire Coffee: Portrait Drawing Group art show. 7am-7pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: DJ Dancing. 70s and 80s music. The Molly Gunn’s Revival! 8pm-midnight LaSalles: 80’s Night. 8pm-close Maltese: Burlesque with The MalTEAZers! 9pm Panama Bar: DJ Eclectic on the patio. 9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Yoga Center Of Chico: Mind Power Workshop w. Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. 1-4pm
5 Sunday
Dorothy Johnson Center: Soul Shake Dance Church. Free-style dance wave, $8-$15 sliding scale. 10am-12:30pm DownLo: Free Pool, 1 hour with every $8 purchase. All ages until 10pm Empire Coffee: Portrait Drawing Group art show. 7am-7pm LaSalles: Karaoke. 9pm Maltese: Live Jazz 4-7pm. Trivia 8pm Tackle Box: Karaoke, 8pm
LESSONS, LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS! GREAT FOOD! LIVE MUSIC! 319 Main Street (530) 892-2473 FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 15
Serial Flip-Floppers, Hypocrites, and Waiting for the Rain THEY SAY THE RAIN IS COMING BUT I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT. It’s about 7:30 on Wednesday night and I am anxiously awaiting the rain. Various local meteorologists have assured us it is coming, but only time will tell. I believe we’ve battened down everything that needs battening. Earlier today it was windy, but now it is eerily still. The crickets are chirping, the goats across the street are baaah-ing, and I can hear the distant rumble of thunder from the north. I bottled up a gallon of mead today—the liquid is amber-colored and so clear it is unreal. It already tastes okay, but we’re meant to wait another year before we really dig into it. The aging of these wines I don’t understand, but it makes a huge difference in the eventual flavor. I also started up a bucket of quince and apple cider. Everything I brew is an experiment, but that one could really go sideways.
On The Town 16
PHOTOS BY VINCE LATHAM FACEBOOK.COM/VANGUARD.PHOTOGRAPHY
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
People are up in arms about “ObamaCare” after the local news ran a story about a clinic in Magalia closing. They cited the onus placed upon them by new regulations related to the Affordable Care Act as the reason for the shut-down. I get sick of hearing about it, frankly. I get that people don’t like Obama, but maybe the GOP ought to look within. First off, the Republicans absolutely skewered Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry in 2004 by labeling him a “flip-flopper,” because he had the audacity to change his
mind regarding a policy. Okay fine, but then they run John McCain in 2008, a politician who went from being an independent who would reach across the aisle in 2000, to a straight down the line right-wing conservative in his 2008 bid. Never mind Sarah Palin the coffin nail. Fast forward to 2012 and here we have a Republican party that is apoplectic about the “socialist healthcare system” that they have labeled “ObamaCare.” This is the number one issue the Republicans are running on. Yet who do they nominate for the office? None other than Mitt Romney, the man who actually implemented the blueprint for the ACA when he served as Governor of Massachusetts. During his run Romney finds himself forced into the unenviable position of having to come out as being for his own plan, before he was against it. It’s really crazy. How can a political party run such deeply flawed candidates and then moan and cry when they don’t win? Some Republicans love to call people who voted for Obama stupid, but look at the alternatives the “Grand Old Party” provided. Sometimes the conspiratorial part of my mind tells me they meant to lose those last two elections. That theory would hold a lot more water, though, if there was any rising star coming out of the rank and file Republicans. Really the party had better hope for new advancements in prolonging life-spans if they want any kind of chance going forward. I love her to death, but my Fox News watching grandma is their primary demographic, and she is in her middle nineties.
Immaculate Infection
by Bob Howard
Madbob@madbob.com
Food and Math Are Both Nourishing HOW MUCH TO SPEND ON FOOD We all need to eat, and thus we need to find a way to either get food or get money for food. It follows that there’s a minimum level of spending necessary to survive at our desired level of comfort. So how much is a reasonable amount to spend on food each month? The “recommended percentage” (see previous columns) for food is 15% of total spending, which can be misleading. If your total monthly spending is $1,000, then food would be about $150. That’s a pretty solid goal, in my opinion. If your monthly total is $4,000, then food would be about $600, and I think that’s excessive (for an individual). You’d be better off spending less on food and more on your savings. To explore the question of what’s reasonable, let’s engage in a math-based thought. There are three parts, but I swear it’ll be easy and fun. Part one: estimate how much you currently spend per meal. Take your total monthly spending on food and divide it by 90. Boom, you’ve got your average spending per meal. Part two is even easier: determine the cost of just one meal you’ve eaten recently. If you buy a slice of pizza and a drink for five bucks, then your total is five bucks. If you made a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, it’ll be a little tougher. Figure you used a half cup of oats, which you got in bulk for a dollar per pound. Googlefu gives an estimate that a half cup of oats weighs one tenth of a pound, so your meal of plain oatmeal cost about ten cents. If you put
half a banana in the oatmeal, or used a bit of milk, have fun adding those estimated costs to your calculation. Part three: estimate the cost of eating your part two meal for every meal in your month (ala part one). Pizza-eater is looking at $450, while Captain Plain Oatmeal only spent $9.90. As reasonable people, we can safely say that neither of those meals is sufficiently nutritious to eat for every meal. Nutrition and boredom require we spend a bit more than ten bucks. At the same time, we can reasonably conclude that spending five bucks per meal seems a bit high. Sure, some person who’s into juicing only raw live organic free range paleo vegetables might have the funds to afford five bucks for every meal. But if they have the space available to garden, they might also get the same food by growing their own for significantly less. Thinking about food as a cost-per-meal calculation can help reign in spending. Going out to eat? Try saving half for a second meal, and watch that $8 burrito becomes two $4 meals. If you think my suggested $150 per month/ $1.67 per meal is too low, give yourself a goal of two bucks per meal. I bet you can make a spinach, lettuce, bell pepper, and sunflower seed salad for under a buck.
The Frugal Terran by TripHazard
PHOTOS BY VINCE LATHAM FACEBOOK.COM/VANGUARD.PHOTOGRAPHY
On The Town
FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 17
You Gotta Love Your Cards HEART ON FIRE: THE MURDER OF MARC THOMPSON I only knew Marc for one evening. I didn’t even know that it was “Marc” with a “c,” or that his last name was Thompson. Not until I read his name in the paper this past week.
the table with his big, gap-toothed smile, his wit, his ready laugh. This isn’t posthumous rose-colored bullshit. The man made a definitive impression on me.
But maybe six weeks ago we played in a poker tournament together, over at Casino 99. For most of the tournament, we were the two “big stacks,” meaning we had the most chips. We were fucking with each other; joking; trying to get in each other’s heads.
At one point, though, I did compliment him. He had just taken a bad beat and lost a big chunk of his chips. But he kept on playing with the exact same joy and aggression.
At one point the conversation at the table turned to race and President Obama. This is not your usual poker table conversation material, which is customarily kept on safe subjects like Football statistics or the terribleness of ex-wives. This evening, though, someone at the table was complaining about President Obama issuing the most executive orders of any president in history. Someone else (a former ambassador, nonetheless) then pointed out that that is in no way true, googling it for proof and forcing some very entertaining eating of words. “Yes, but you forgot to multiply that number times black,” I joked, perhaps unfairly. Which made Marc crack up. And a short time later he leaned in toward me and said, “I see you…” and then—I don’t remember exactly how he worded it—he let me know that he “saw me,” that, in short, he saw that I was clever and with it on the issues he was into; that he appreciated me, starting each compliment with “I see that.” Do you know how rare that is? How rare it is for a man to be that generous and kind and complimentary and direct with another man? (I didn’t remember this moment until just now, as I sat down to write this; the memory just popped to the surface, and its rarity became clear just now as well.) I “saw” Marc, too. But I didn’t have the courage and confidence that Marc had, to just straight up tell him. This is what I saw: Marc was funny and he was smart and he was courageous and he was brimming with lifeforce and verve, commanding and energizing
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“I like your style, man,” I said (or something like that, it was some six weeks ago). “No matter what happens, you keep playing confident.” “You gotta believe in your cards,” Marc said. (This I remember quite clearly.) “You gotta love your cards. You got to.” And I remember thinking—knowing—that what he was saying was clearly about more than cards. It was about an orientation toward life and fate and self. Marc’s suggestion—“you gotta love your cards”—wasn’t about an optimism of expectations; it was about one’s relationship with one’s reality. That’s what I thought at the time, though it was less a thought, then, than it was a feeling; a sort of flash of recognition. And I was moved, I remember, and impressed, partially because I have a depressive disposition and tend not relate to my own life in that way; tend not, perhaps, to appreciate my own cards as much as I should. That was the effect Marc Thompson had on me over just one short evening playing poker. This is what I read in the paper (in a tasteful and very well-written/reported article by Ken Smith in the News&Review called “Death of the ‘lone soldier’”): Marc Thompson was (almost certainly) murdered; his body found on September 3rd, burned in his car in a remote location off of highway 70. 25-year-old Marc Thompson was set to graduate from Chico State this year; a Sociology Major, with minors in both Psychology and Gender and Sexuality. He was the A.S Commissioner for Multicultural Affairs from 2012-2013. He was one of the featured subjects of If These Halls Could Talk, an (from some small clips I’ve seen) honest and searing
documentary about race relations in University settings. And he had just sold his first article to a newspaper—a Turkish paper, oddly. The article is a powerful and personal and wisebeyond-his-years exploration of the national and personal reactions we’ve all been having following the death of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri. The article was published on September 14th, but Marc was already dead. When I was a little kid, one of my earliest memories is of watching my grandmother cry as she watched the news. She did that a lot. She’d cry and swear and mumble to herself and even take swings at the air, watching the news, infuriated at all the injustice and pain. I don’t remember what the particular tragedy was, at the time, but I remember thinking that I wouldn’t be like that—that I couldn’t be like that—that I—that we—couldn’t let all the pain in the world whip us around like that, because there was so much, because we couldn’t possibly take it all in. And so I didn’t. We didn’t. The generations who grew up around 24-hour news cycles didn’t. We built callouses of irony and analysis up around our hearts. Because we had to. Perhaps I’m projecting here, making this sweeping generational comment. But I think something has definitely happened to us as the Sphere of Things We Can Do Something About has been so rapidly eclipsed by the Sphere of Things We Must Now Know. The pain and tragedy are far beyond what we’re biologically evolved to handle. Just an eye-blink back in evolutionary history, if we knew about a tragedy it was generally because it was happening within walking distance or right in front of our face. We could go do something about it. Now, all the pain in the world is piped straight into our heads, but we’re mostly powerless to do much about it. How could we not have formed defense mechanisms against that pain?
But something about the murder of this young man who I barely knew has torn my scar tissue down. And it hurts. I’m so fucking angry. Here was a man just getting started; a man of such promise and complication and moral courage and depth and spirit—and somebody just snuffed him out. I want to curse this killer; to call him a piece of shit, whoever he is. But instead I’ll quote a bit from the writings of Marc Thompson, a man much wiser than myself, from the first and last article he’ll ever publish, “The Troubled Lenses of Humanity.” Marc ends the piece about Ferguson and national healing quoting Gandhi, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” But he begins it this way: “Death can be a time of sorrow or celebration, anger or happiness, peace or unrest; it is for each of us to decide how we welcome this inevitable phase, both for our selves and those we love.” But Marc: I don’t know how to feel anything right now but sorrow, anger, and unrest— and it doesn’t feel like a choice. On Marc’s Facebook page, there are now well-wishers and memory-sharers; people saying similar things to what I’ve said here. Then, if you scroll down, back through time a bit, you find (who I believe to be) his sister, saying he is missing, crying out for him. Then you can keep scrolling, back to when he was alive and casually posting things. The last thing he ever posted, on August 23rd, at 1:58 in the morning, was the Yeats poem “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven.” Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. Scroll down a little farther and you find a few pictures Marc posted of himself as a child. Same bright smile, same bright eyes. Rest in Peace, Marc Thompson. May your family and those who loved you find peace and justice. I’m going to try my best to believe in my cards, and to love them as best I can, too. If you have any information: Contact Butte County Sheriff: Detective Matt Calkins: 530-538-7671 The Justice For Mark Thompson website: stirfryseminars.com/JusticeForMarc To help Marc’s family with funeral costs go here: gofundme.com/e82i0c
Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA
by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff
Furlough Fridays - Divided REVIEW BY ALEX LIGHT The obvious star here is the female lead vocalist Minnie Mental: She’s a girl, she’s got great pipes, and she’s not afraid to sing with some grit. A solid, driving simplicity is the main appeal of Divided, framing Minnie’s crooning nicely while the band waits for the loud parts. The loud parts are the best parts—the band obviously feels most at home when they’re powering through heavy garage rock riffs. The mix is then nicely filled with chunky guitar fuzz and big drums before returning to the slightly underwhelming verses. Of the album’s big loud parts, “Scarlett” has some of my favorites: they’re so thick and colorful that I really think the song could have cut out its first minute of quiet groove, the sooner to get to the good stuff. “Still Water” holds a better pace, keeping the sweet loudness up front and minimizing the filler. Divided is rock-solid and keeps the musical ideas nice and simple. It seems like they’ve chilled out and become more thoughtful since their 2012 release Sliver, which in this context comes across as a loud party album.
Robin Bacior with Nyx, Ave Grave, and Chris Keene 1078 Gallery - Sept. 19 BY HENRY HUGGINS Can we talk for a minute about Rick Barnett’s work? It’s currently displayed in a shared show at 1078 Gallery, and if you haven’t been to check it out yet, you’re a damn fool. I arrived at 1078 Gallery on Sept 19 about 10 minutes prior to the start of the show. On the bill for that night was Nyx (Angelica Tavella), Ave Grave (Sean Galloway), Robin Bacior, and Chris Keene. Although I’m a longtime resident of Chico, this was to be my first Robin Bacior show, and she certainly didn’t disappoint. The show kicked off with Ave Grave (Sean Galloway), who wore a skeleton suit and was joined for various songs by Nyx and members of Chico band the Mondegreens. I was reminded again just how great the acoustics of 1078 are as Galloway’s melancholy yet piercing vocals rang out and blended perfectly with the guest vocalists. Nyx was up second, with her breathy, sweet vocals and wide eyes looking out over the crowd as she rocked back and forth on her heels calling to mind a Mark Dryden painting come to life. Tavella’s playful and spirited nature of the layered sounds and engaging
vocals hang in the air with a subtle undertone of humor that makes me excited for what we’ll hear next from this young performer. In a move that seemed like a case of playing into the impatient nature of select audience members, somehow it was decided that Robin Bacior would play third, instead of Chris Keene. Bacior played songs off her soon-to-be-released album, with accompaniment of cellist Dan Bindschedler. Her velvety-soft voice slid over each note, given depth and a greater sense of fullness with the mournful sound of the cello. A brilliant musician, I absolutely understand why so many had turned out to witness her play. As the gear was packed and Keene took to the stage, it bears mentioning that a great number of the audience suddenly disappeared. Perhaps they had an extra large number of things to write in to the CNR about, I don’t know, but I can say with certainty that they missed an excellent cap to the show. Keene sang crowd favorites like Steal Your Blood, and even dropped in a new song, a pensive yet memorable tune. Keene’s voice (like his songs), is that rare, elusive breed that mixes emotion with restraint, producing a sound that at first listen might seem simple, but is actually complex and difficult to reproduce. His mastery of melodies and composition makes for some of the best music to be found in our incredibly talented scene, I just wish more of the audience members had stuck around to witness it. FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 19
by logan kruidenier logankruidenier.tumblr.com
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SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 2014
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 BY KOZ MCKEV
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
You are the balance in this period of seeking out harmony. Relationships are your number one priority. You are seeking the meaning of justice and fairness more than usual. At the same time Mars moving through your ninth house makes you long for some sort of adventure. Venus moves into your seventh house on Monday, making romance and coupling a more available option. Monday is also a day of increased good fortune and the ability to take an upgraded experience. Friday and Saturday have a festive, party-like atmosphere.
It’s time to think in terms of reasonable practicalities. Make things more organized and efficient. This is a time of improvements to allow better function and performance. Working as a team player is to your advantage at this point. Wednesday and Thursday are your power days this week, where you can take risks and succeed. Be aware of ways to improve your personal health. Charitable causes and service work can lead to better karma in the future. Be aware of the needs of others that may have less power than you do.
Your creative abilities are on the rise. You find out what exactly is the true expression of your soul. Work with different art mediums and try out different musical instruments. Be more loving for the fun of it. Learn new ways to be playful and to spread joy. Seek an alliance with people who have a similar form of passion. The only rough spot is Mercury going retrograde late Saturday morning. Over the next three weeks be extra mindful about the things you are engaged in. Avoid beginning new projects until the afternoon of the 25th.
Conscious memories can dictate our present situation. Uncover the traumas that have been hanging out in the back of your brain. Tell your creative blocks to get out of there. Be a more present force in your family. Pay attention to the needs of your parents. Artistic projects may need to be redone. Children may need a second chance. Be aware of the people who feel like family to you. Write things down, or do a computer backup, as information could get misplaced with Mercury going retrograde on Saturday. Sunday is good for a boost of confidence.
Swift movement is what you’ll be engaged in. A stirring of your passions begins with the moon’s positive aspect on Mars, Jupiter and Uranus Monday. Your actions should have a sense of ease. Physical vitality will be restored. You’ll find yourself more intellectually curious. You’ll delight in working with your hands more. Friday and Saturday could be good for romance. Patiently work through any conflict. Communication, environment, and your relationship to your peers is emphasized. Listen twice and speak once.
Being resourceful is one of your values. You are practical and know about yard sales, coupons, and do it yourself fixes. Recycle and make space for a more refined and functional you. You are about to put on a new face. When in doubt, toss it out. Space allows for the alchemy of magic. Mercury going retrograde in your house of communication leads me to think it’s time to talk less and listen more. Finances should begin to improve. You’ll have more fun in the kitchen. Refine and improve upon what is already in front of you.
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
You are the flavor of the month. Your impartial considerations make you appear to be a suitable mate to others. The real challenge lies in being real as to what your needs are. It’s time for you to seize the day. Do something nice for yourself. Celebrate all the things about your life that you love. Mercury going retrograde may mean you’ll need to return a purchase or help out a family member. Breath deep and take it all in stride. Friday and Saturday the moon will be transiting your fifth house adding creative passion, playfulness and love to the mix.
The dark mysteries of life become more evident. One of the reasons Scorpio tends to be morally motivated is do to our knowledge of karma. When things are hard we can be patient. Invest only in the tools that will make the job easier to perform. Mercury goes retrograde in your first house. Allow yourself to be alright about not knowing things. Pay attention to domestic and family needs over the weekend. Sunday looks good for being with children and engaging in recreational activities. Pay attention to messages in dreams.
Many of you are socially active. This week begins with and outrageous Sagittarius moon. Sports, fanaticism, philosophy, and being in tune with nature are some of the potentials for these days. Be humorous, generous, and detached from material cares. Be open minded towards helpful friends’ suggestions. The weekend looks good for short trips, neighborhood parties and pursuing activities that you are passionate about. Spend Sunday being grounded in practicalities. Engage in exercise and physical activities to blow off steam.
Work is where it’s at this week. You are in the public eye thus there is an emphasis on reputation, usefulness and the ability to use your talents and skills. The moon will be in Capricorn on Wednesday and Thursday. These are days when your influence is strong. Use diplomacy without being caught in a lie or a “twisted truth.” Friends can take you only so far as most people have other burdens that need attention. Be graceful, artistic and sweet. Be honest about the bitter truth that you wrestle with on a daily basis.
Now that all the tourists and trend followers are done with their vacations, now would be a great time for you to get into the world of exploration, relaxation and the discovery of good things. Your social life continues to be active while your personal life deserves attention. The moon will be in Aquarius on Friday and Saturday. This is a good time for making practical adjustments. Your career continues to make improvements. A long distance love relationship is possible. Epiphanies and new ideas will need to be adjusted in the coming weeks.
This is not a time where you have much control over the things around you. In fact it probably feels like someone else is holding the keys to your destiny. It’s important to ask friends for help when you need it. Address the issues that limit you from taking your life further. Monday and Tuesday could be busy days career wise. Mid-week it will be good to check in on your friends. You may feel restless for more physical affection. Sunday the moon goes into Pisces. You may find some resolve for your deepest and darkest thoughts.
Koz McKev is on YouTube, on cable 11 BCTV and is heard on 90.1FM KZFR Chico. Also available by appointment for personal horoscopes call (530)891-5147 or e-mail kozmickev@sunset.net FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 21
Local Politics I haven’t paid much attention to politics the last few years. Actually I’ve avoided it more often than not, but local politicians’ shenanigans interest me, and I went to the candidates’ forum done by the League of Women Voters in the Chico Silly Council room last week. The place was packed. I went to see Heidi Hall and Doug LaMalfa, who are running for the House of Reprehensibles, and I accidentally hit the jackpot. I didn’t know about any other participants until I got there and found that the League of Women Voters had included candidates for the Chico Unified School District board and the Chico Silly Council. Mark Twain allegedly said, “In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.” He said that a long time ago, too. I got to sit for three hours listening to mostly blather, and even when it wasn’t blather it sounded like blather—and now and then, drivel—because everybody used the same frame of reference and agreed on the basics. Some of them seemed sincere, which I know can be practiced, and some of them were obviously full of it, or maybe themselves. They all believe in the essential goodness of the system although they think it’s broken in some way that they can fix. My kind of politician is anybody who supports eliminating the body to which she wants to be elected. Three candidates for the Chico Unified School District board showed up, as did seven candidates for the Chico Silly Council. What a bunch. There had been four candidates for the CUSD board, but one of them withdrew her candidacy, perhaps the wisest of the lot. Doug LaMalfa is not one of us, unless you’re him. He said, “I’m from the neighborhood.” but I don’t think he was talking to me. He’s fine with fracking—never mind all the water used and the poisons involved, it makes us less dependent on foreign sources. Saying that Doug LaMalfa might be simple might be libelous, so I won’t.
From The Edge
by Anthony Peyton Porter A@anthonypeytonporter.com
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LaMalfa’s also not so sure about this globalwarming flap, temperatures have always varied, et cetera. I can’t argue with that last bit. Some talk about climate-change deniers like heretics and, like Ms. Hall, cite numbers to back up the notion that people have made the Earth hotter. I don’t put much stock in numbers on a little screen, no matter what they’re supposed to mean. I think that’s part of my fogeydom, and I’m delighted. I don’t care whether the Earth is warming up or not. Nor do I care what role people played, and I definitely don’t care that an organization of Catholic bishops has agreed to blame global warming on us, which Ms. Hall thought worth mentioning, along with the concurrence of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. It must be so. All the experts say so. What flavor is the Kool-Aid™? I think the adjustments thought necessary to counteract global warming make sense and seem mindful of the effects of materialistic capitalism and capitalistic materialism. That’s why I recycle and don’t let the water run while I brush my teeth. I don’t care what Catholic bishops think, or ninety-seven percent of the scientific climate-change experts in all of Creation, for that matter. You want to be careful voting for the candidates for the Chico Silly Council, because a couple of them are a little loose around the edges, not quite tucked in all the way. They would liven things up, though, which would be worth the risk, and they can count on my support.
this
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Where the hell are the socialists when we need them? Or any other “-ist,” for that matter, including communists—communism didn’t fail; the Soviet Union failed—though no damned “-arians,” except vegetarians. I’d vote for a vegetarian.
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