JUNE 24, 2014
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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
A&E
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‘Zelda’: The case for a female Link
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July movies: “Hercules,” “Boyhood” and more!
UAA backstage at Road to Vans Warped Tour
3OH!3 fans flash the band’s iconic hand symbol at Road to Vans Warped Tour on June 11.
By Kelly Ireland
arts@thenorthernlight.org
photos by kelly ireland
Sean Foreman from 3OH!3 waves to fans in audience.
Sound engineers run about with sound equipment as roadies carry instruments on and off the stage. Band members, local and big-time alike, mingle with fans with all-access and VIP passes while waiting for their time to go on stage. Warped Tour itself is quite the experience, but there’s nothing quite like being backstage at the event. Many UAA students found this out for themselves on June 11, getting the chance to go backstage at Anchorage’s Road to Vans Warped Tour event. There was a multitude of reasons that UAA students were in the midst of the backstage organized chaos. UAA student Jordan Duplessis, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, said, “My
friend was in the security team, and so he let me go backstage as long as we were respectful and not annoying. ... Money really could not buy my experience for Warped Tour.” Duplessis wasn’t the only UAA student backstage who also had a priceless experience. “I was able to go backstage with my friend, Josh, who sings in the band The Harlequin State. He’s really talented and a unique guy. Being backstage and meeting all the bands was utterly amazing! We were even able to come onstage with Yellowcard. Staring out into the crowd was indescribable,” said business marketing major Heather Holmquist. “Warped Tour was a blast. ... My favorite experience was definitely seeing Josh and The Harlequin State kill it up there. Equally as exciting
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UAA employee salaries now included in state records
By Evan Erickson
eerickson@thenorthernlight.org
The salaries of public employees are a matter of public record — but that doesn’t always mean these records are accessible to the average person. Juneau’s public radio and television station, KTOO, is spearheading an effort to create a searchable database containing the records of a variety of state agencies, including the sprawling University of Alaska system. For the UA system, though, this isn’t the first time this type of project has been undertaken. In May 2011, Heather Bryant began as editor-in-chief of UAF’s Sun Star newspaper, and brought with her an ambitious plan to cull together systemwide salary info — making the database available on the newspaper’s website. Through a series of editorials, Bryant explained the rationale for the project in response to criticism from staff and faculty. “Personnel accounts for approximately 60 percent of the university’s budget. It’s important to know how that money is spent,” Bryant wrote.
Some were outraged over the project, claiming their privacy had somehow been violated. “Publicizing my salary information is invasive, and is a cheap way to ‘target’ individuals. Doing so is indicative of a totalitarian democratic ideology. Shame on you!” Jonathan B. Horen commented on the website. One commenter suggested that it would be more fair if the Sun Star’s database included other state agencies in addition to UA employees — but the UA database would prove to be unwieldy and time-consuming for a student-run newspaper with a high turnaround. As of January 2014 the database has been temporarily removed from the website, though the Sun Star says they plan to make an updated database available soon. These days, Bryant works as the digital services editor at KTOO, applying her previous public record-wrangling experience to the job at hand — a database hosted by KTOO including state government, the Department of Public Safety, Department of Motor Vehicles and the Alaska Public Defender Agency.
According to an email from UAA Human Resource Services, the KTOO database will include UA employees’ gross salaries, healthcare and retirement benefit numbers, and employment status (full-time, part-time, permanent/temp or student employee). For UAA, the comprehensive database could be eye-opening, especially in the wake of the soon-to-be released findings of program prioritization. Incoming Faculty Senate President Diane Hirshberg, speaking from her own perspective, welcomes the steps toward transparency. “My hope is that some people take a critical look at how we spend, the amount of resources that are spent on high-level administrators statewide. ... We have a top-heavy university, and it’s been told to us by outside experts,” Hirshberg said. Bryant, speaking from Juneau, still believes the essence of the project has to do with “transparency in government spending and accountability in government spending.” KTOO hopes to have the public records database up and running sometime this fall.
UAA alumni place in Midnight Sun Marathon
photo by Valerie hudson
The welcome sign outside of the historic Ted Stevens International Airport is one of the first sights visitors see after landing in Anchorage.
You know you grew up in Anchorage when…
A grassroots approach to history By Valerie Hudson
features2@thenorthernlight.org
Education, Facebook and community are three things that rarely come together in a harmonious way. But on the Facebook page called “You know you grew up in Anchorage when…” that is exactly what one will find. While the title of the page conjures images of the common stereotypes those who have grown up in Alaska have become accustomed to, this page also offers a detailed account of Anchorage’s rich history recalled by the residents who have seen it evolve. Betty Tunnell, administrator and creator of the “You know you grew up in Anchorage when…” Facebook page came to Alaska after her father had been stationed across the state four different times. He fell in love
with the state and eventually left the family to live in Alaska during the early 1960s. When Tunnell became an adult she discovered that she was fascinated with talking to people who remembered old Anchorage, although they were few and far between. It wasn’t until 2011 that Tunnell made her fascination public by creating a page called “You know you grew up in Anchorage when…” on Facebook. She started by sending out a few hundred invites for people to join the page. Since then, the number has risen to the 11,889 members it has today. On any given day post can feature a variety of topics from memories of the good old days, before Anchorage had paved
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NEWS BRIEF
Denali Alaskan ATMs on the way out of UAA
photo by adam eberhardt
Participants in the Youth Cup make their way down Ninth Avenue last Saturday morning.
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After selecting another competitor on a contract put up for bid, Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union will be withdrawing five ATMs from UAA’s main campus as of July 1. The contract, which called for nine machines, including three in the newly built Alaska Airlines Center, has been awarded to Alaska ATM Service. According to the AAS website, the new ATMs will process “a surcharge on all ATM surchargeable withdrawals regardless of the cardholder’s bank or credit card.” Denali Alaskan claims to offer the largest Alaska ATM Alliance nosurcharge network of ATMs in the state. Brief by Evan Erickson
thenorthernlight.org
youtube.com/tnlnews
FEATURES Employment and everything after
By Evan Dodd Contributor
So my never-ending quest to find employment has finally ended, and my status as a mangy, unemployed hobo has finally been revoked. Well I mean, I’m still living on a couch and “mangy” is probably the most apt word for whatever my beard is doing these days, but at least someone is paying me real American currency for my labor.
After submitting upward of 25 applications, applying at REI no less than a dozen times and seriously considering working the street corners to make ends meet, I’ve finally been hired on as a landscaper. What that means is that I work 50-hour weeks and return home (well, couch) covered with the remains of the land I’ve scaped and hating all things green. All in all it’s been a good experience, given that I’ve already been paid and have yet to lose any significant body parts to heavy machinery. Unfortunately, the 50-hour weeks have severely limited the time I have available to even contemplate working on my summer class, and any hopes of sleeping in have been temporarily dashed. There’s also the matter of my newfound inability to pass even the smallest weed without pulling it, and my overly judgmental views on the proper manner in which to maintain a hedge. It’s like I’ve stepped into stepped into an alternate reality where I’m in the work camp from “Of Mice and Men.” I keep walking by coworkers talking about
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014 rumors of “work out in the Dakotas” or explaining that they only need three more years pay to build that house they’ve always wanted. It’s been entertaining so far, but if I see one of the bigger guys petting rabbits then I’m hitting the road immediately. I’ve noticed lately that unless you work a job that an 8-year-old child would aspire to do (police officer, fireman or non-Somali pirate) then no one actually wants to hear about what happened at work. One of my best friends does building maintenance, I do landscaping and everyone else I know works for the same pizza joint. Outside of extenuating circumstances none of us actually give a damn to ask about what happened that on any given day. For us the answers will invariably consist of “cleaned rooms,” “cut grass” and “sold pizzas or something.” So in the interest of not writing an entire column about watching grass grow (and then cutting it), let me end on a high note with the last glimmers of summer that I’ll be unceremoniously squashing into my remaining weekends. The next big adventure is a friend’s birthday party/Independence Day voyage across Lake Louise to a small cabin for
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a long weekend. Granted, we’re not currently sure how to get 15 of us across the lake (or to the lake for that matter) but we are planning on ringing in the New Year with festive cheer and good beer. At some point before the impending doom of senior year hits, I’m still trying to put together an expedition to do Crow Creek Pass from Girdwood to Eagle River. Let me be the first to say that I am in no way prepared for a hike of that magnitude and have probably around half of the gear necessary to complete the trip. In light of this I’ve met with my group of advisers (or idiot friends if you’re picky), and they tell me it’s in my best interests to make a trip as soon as possible and “just figure it out, man.” As always, the worst case scenario for these trips is that I accumulate new column material (alongside considerable hospital expenses) so I’m fairly excited about my remaining summer plans. Though my weeks consist of clawing my way out of piles of grass, gasping for air and cursing my decision to maintain yards, my weekends will be filled with hiking, adventuring and the occasional class assignment. Not too bad for a mangy hobo.
ANCHORAGE: History told by the people who lived it continued from cover
roads, past and present politicians, and individual “remember when” moments. But like most things, this page is not without work. “The problem is anytime you bring up politics or religion, people seem to forget how to act like grown-ups,” Tunnell said. She went on to address those who scream that her moderation of the site violates their First Amendment rights. “The First Amendment pertains to your rights with the government!” Tunnell said. “This is my page, and I have the right to delete whatever stands in the way of remembering the good in Anchorage, both past and present.” This page holds historical context for Anchorage. Within the page, memories are posts documenting events like when Kiss played in Anchorage in 1974 and 2000, as well as photos of Anchorage before the 1964 earthquake. This raises the question: Can the perspectives of individuals who lived in a certain place during a particular time period benefit individuals of all ages? Longtime Anchorage resident Amber Bates said, “This is a great page for people of all ages to come share their memories of living in Anchorage. Even if you don’t post to the page, it’s fun to see what others post and learn new things about Anchorage.”
The bluff below Kincaid Park’s motocross track is the burial site for an untold number of junk vehicles dating back to the early 1960s. photo by adam eberhardt
Kincaid’s car mountain By Evan Erickson
eerickson@thenorthernlight.org
The Sparc gallery provides the Arc’s art program a workroom equipped with lockers and space to paint and kiln-fire pottery. photo by valerie hudson
Arc engages with Sparc By Valerie Hudson
features2@thenorthernlight.org
The Arc of Anchorage is an organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through their numerous services like care coordination, short-term assistance and referral, community living services, family support services, behavioral health services, community enrichment and quality of life program, nursing services, supported employment services, and a recreational center. The Arc has recently added one more service to its alreadylong list: an art gallery named Sparc, a creative place which attempts to unite individuals of all abilities. The name of the gallery is a play on the words “spark,” as in a spark of artistic creativity, and “Arc.” It is located at 425 D Street in downtown Anchorage. This art studio aims to make the Arc’s vision a reality by encouraging Anchorage to be a community that recognizes and embraces people of all abilities. Sparc will offer a space for artists to participate in art mediums such as ceramics, stained glass, painting, beading, printmaking and Legos.
“The Arc has had an art program for 15 years or longer. By obtaining this space, we are able to offer a wider variety of mediums to work with, as well as becoming more a part of the community being downtown,” said Lacie Stiewing, art instructor at Sparc. Sparc hosted a First Friday event on June 6 and plans to host other first Friday events in the future. Art classes, where anyone from the community can register online and participate, are also on the agenda for this fall. “The new space has already placed the Arc’s art program more into the public eye,” said Jacquelyn McGary, senior public relations specialist at the Arc. Stiewing said Sparc benefits its clients by offering a therapeutic outlet. She recalled a story told to her by a person who worked with the Arc for 17 years. She said, “An individual, who couldn’t connect with anybody and wasn’t very verbal, was brought into an art room and seemed to calm down a little bit, although he wouldn’t really do anything. ... After a while of putting the pencil in his hand he eventually began to draw, which in turn lifted his spirits.”
Think back to a time before protected areas within population centers were all the rage, and you’ll understand how hundreds, if not thousands, of junked automobiles ended up stuck between a park and a wildlife refuge in Anchorage proper. It’s not immediately apparent that the 444-foot bluff below Kincaid Park’s motocross track is actually a sea of cars covered in sand and topsoil. Some are half-buried, jutting towards the sky at odd angles. A few are left completely exposed, and for many, the only evidence is a classic fender or taillight poking through the tall grass. From the tidal flats below, part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, the extent of the waste becomes clear. A massive gash in the side of the bluff exposes hundreds of rusted, mangled chassis — a tetanus playground. According to the Anchorage Park Foundation, the current site of the motocross track, off of Jodhpur Street, was a junk car crushing operation until 1975. The site had long served as a convenient place to dump vehicles, a practice most likely dating back to before the 1964 earthquake. Curt Abbas, 66, took a job at the dump in the fall of 1970, bulldozing hundreds of cars over the bluff and out of sight. He recalls dirt bikes racing around the scrapped cars before the site was cleared. Abbas explained that in order to get the vehicles over the edge, a hole had to be punched in the ridge that hemmed in the landfill at the time. After the cars had been pushed through the hole, the entire ridge was leveled on top of the cars — creating the steep, unstable terrain seen today. “That bluff was pretty much vertical before,” Abbas said. In 2010, Abbas had recently retired as general superintendent of Granite Construction Co. and returned to the site to lend a hand in a massive volunteer effort to clean up the eyesore. The ambitious idea came from Joe Meehan, lands and refuges program coordinator at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Meehan had already gotten his hands dirty several years earlier pulling out more than 2,000 tires with a group of volunteers — many of the tires had previously lined the motocross track. Meehan assembled a new team in 2010. This time around Granite Construction Co. agreed to volunteer personnel and heavy equipment, made possible by Granite’s environmental manager at the time, Shawn Crouse. NC Machinery loaned the group an excavator, a crucial piece of equipment for the project. In early January of that year, with the coastal marshland frozen solid, the group set to work. A fleet of heavy equipment crossed through the Anchorage International Airport to a point of access four miles from the cleanup site. The group plowed an ice road to the site, hugging the coast across the boundaries of Kincaid Park. Silas Hoffman, 32, a dispatcher with Granite, was one of the younger volunteers given the duty of running winch cords up the snowy bluff to vehicles that appeared retrievable. For some of the lodged carcasses, the equipment below was no match.
The excavator loaded the cars into trucks that shuttled back and forth for the five-day cleanup. Hoffman believes the effort recovered at least 60 cars. “We got as much as we could,” Hoffman said. “It would take more volunteers to get more.” With an untold number of vehicles still remaining under an unstable hillside in a wildlife refuge, the possibility of a complete cleanup seems out of the question. “I don’t think a complete removal of the dump site is feasible as it would require a massive excavation of the bluff (certainly to cost millions),” Meehan said. “We had an engineering assessment that pretty much states the same.” Nevertheless, Meehan wants to see the project through to some kind of practical closure. According to Meehan, the bulk of the cars currently visible in the gully are a consequence of erosion brought on by pumping water from the irrigation pond used to wet down the motocross track. Meehan says there may be an agreement in place to cease pumping water over the bluff. Neither Anchorage Parks and Recreation or the Anchorage Racing Lions, which maintains the track, responded to attempts to substantiate these claims. The Great Land Trust currently has $50,000 pledged toward a future cleanup. Meehan says that ADF&G may have as much as $40,000 for the project, and there are additional funds that may become available. “My current plan is to stabilize and revegetate the sites that are eroding (mainly the big gully) and to perhaps ‘shave’ off some of the vehicles at ground level that are imbedded in the bluff and cover them with topsoil,” Meehan said. Whether the Kincaid cleanup reaches some form of completion remains to be seen, but it shows that some shortsighted actions of the past may be reversible.
A view from the bottom of Kincaid’s car ridge. photo by evan erickson
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THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014
‘Zelda’: The case for a female Link
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MUSIC REVIEW
Image courtesy of Nintendo
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org A couple weeks ago, Nintendo finally announced it long-awaited new “Legend of Zelda” game for Wii U. The trailer begins with a vast open world, dotted only by a green figure riding a horse. A monster begins to attack. It chases the figure into the forest, where it flings off its cloak, takes aim with a bow and gets ready to fire. And then, an hour or so after the announcement, series creator Eiji Aonuma dropped what may have been an even bigger bomb: “No one explicitly said that that was Link.” It was then that I (and many other “Zelda” fans) took a closer look at the trailer’s protagonist. This hero carries a ponytail, along with more feminine features. A lot of fans jumped to the conclusion that this may be involving the princess Zelda. But personally, I hope this isn’t the case. A certain brain slug has written a column regarding female protagonists in video games, and as fans of him know, they’re mostly limited to character customization (see “Saint’s Row” and “Skyrim”). There’s the odd exception like “Tomb Raider” or “Heavenly Sword,” but these exceptional protagonists have often been sexed up by advertisers — well, at least until Lara Croft was rebooted last year. So let’s look at the last Nintendo adventure to predominantly feature a female character as the hero. Before this adventure, this character was one of the most respected female characters in any medium, let alone gaming. Even though we had never heard her speak until then, we knew through her actions that she isn’t the kind of character you
want to anger. We knew, through her accomplishments in previous games, that she was a lone-wolf bounty hunter, trained in a vast arsenal of deadly weaponry with a drive for vengeance. “Metroid: Other M,” the latest Nintendo adventure to feature a female protagonist, threw that character away for a helpless crybaby that had to rely on other men for assistance, all voiced by an actress who sounded like she had undergone several lobotomies. They had the opportunity to do something special with one of the most powerful women in fictional history, and they botched it. Now let’s turn our sights toward Link. We know that he’s a courageous guy, maybe a bit much for his own good. He’s tenacious, good at problemsolving, enthusiastic about his work, a little shy around others and follows what he believes is right. Imagine a female version of that! Imagine if women in video games were able to show that kind of characterization! With the exception of pre-“Other M” Samus, no other female hero has been able to accomplish that. This is Nintendo’s chance to redeem itself. This is its chance to pave the way for new characters in the world of gaming — to show the industry that a powerful, smart and tasteful female character is possible, to finally use this underselling console and its gargantuan tablet controller to break new ground. This is Nintendo’s chance to truly innovate again. And I hope they take the chance and run with it. Note: Some readers are inevitably going to bring up Commander Shepard from the “Mass Effect” series as a strong female protagonist, but seeing as she is fully customizable and can also be a man, I personally choose not to count her, even if she is exceptionally written.
‘Lazaretto’ proves Jack White’s musical genius By Kelly Ireland
arts@thenorthernlight.org Jack White’s second album “Lazaretto” is something to either download or grab off store shelves as soon as possible. With a little bit of everything, there’s at least one song on the album that everyone can enjoy. With hard-hitting chords and head-nodding beats, this album is sure to impress. White told the Rolling Stone that the songs are inspired by short stories he wrote when he was 19. The album opener, “Three Women,” discusses three love interests, of which the man is being chastised for and to which he has to say, “Well, these women must be getting something/‘Cause they come and see me every night.” The song is heavy with piano and has a bluesy feel to it. The album’s title track, which was the single that premiered before the album was released, is a true ear-pleaser. The instrumentals are quite masterful in the song. The lyrics are expertly strung together and are very clever, for example, “I’m so Detroit, I make it rise from the ashes.” This song is a little more rock and a little less blues in comparison to the opener. The songs that follow build on the previous two songs and either are blues or rock. There is, however, an upbeat-sounding
song, “Alone in my Home,” that defies genre definition. One of the most standout songs on the album, “High Ball Stepper,” is purely instrumental. It’s a perfect example of White’s genius in music and his ability to play many instruments. The song totals 3:54 in time, but unlike many instrumentals over three minutes, it doesn’t feel indulgent in the least. The only downside to the album is that it ends on a sad note with the slow-paced “Want and Able” that reminds listeners that our wants can’t be met with our abilities to fulfill them. The downer end puts a stop to the build of the other songs. If anything, the song serves as a resolution to the buildup of the album — and in that case, serves good purpose. Even though the song is a bit sad, it’s still wellmade. Overall, “Lazaretto” is beautifully put together, and Jack White further proves he has some major chops in the music world. Artist: Jack White Album: “Lazaretto” Label: Third Man, XL Recordings, Columbia Genre: Blues, rock Release Date: June 10, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW
‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ is fantasy at its finest By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org The first “How to Train Your Dragon” film was something of a surprise success. Very loosely based on a recent children’s book series, it was a coming-of-age story about a boy raising a pet dragon against the will of his village. It was pretty standard stuff when it came to film tropes and clichés, but it pulled its story off so well that it didn’t matter too much. Now, the sequel, aptly titled “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” breaks into its own and creates a unique and exciting story fit for fantasy fans of any age. The film picks up five years after the first one left off. The hero, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel, “This is the End”), is now a man, and his village has accepted dragons as pets, tools and family. However, while exploring the unknown, he runs afoul of a dragon trapping crew and is soon thrust into a conflict that will span from protecting his own home to learning more about his family’s mysterious past, all as he prepares to succeed his father as the village chief. Like the first film, everything in this film feels genuine. This isn’t a typical boardroom sequel manufactured simply for the purpose of profit; this feels like a continuation of an arc. While the first film didn’t really leave that much room for a sequel, this does a good enough job of continuing the story that it feels necessary to the world. And while this film’s story stands well enough alone to
be enjoyable to newcomers, watching the first one beforehand will make the story that much more satisfying. And, man, what a story! While there are certainly light moments to keep the kids entertained, the plot contains some of the most grueling and heart-wrenching twists this side of “Game of Thrones.” There were moments that even left the audience in tears, but there were also enough triumphant moments to make audiences stand up and cheer. It feels less like a kid’s film and more like a genuinely epic high fantasy adventure, and that’s quite an accomplishment. And while it probably goes without saying, given the first film’s reputation, the flying sequences look stunning in motion. It’s one of the few films to successfully pull off the illusion of flight, and it’s breathtaking even in 2-D. Audiences who go to see “How to Train Your Dragon 2” are in for a real treat, regardless of whether or not they’ve seen the first film. There are few films that truly deserve the adjective of “epic,” but this is definitely one of them. It’s one of the finest summer blockbusters in ages and a great ride for fantasy lovers of any age. Film: “How to Train Your Dragon 2” Release Date: June 13, 2014 Director: Dean DeBlois Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera
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THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014
FOREIGN FILM FANATIC
‘Beyond the Black Rainbow’ is beautiful, empty By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
The annals of sci-fi are haunted by the campiness, and occasional genius, of the ‘70s and ‘80s. With the advent of CGI, amateur and professional filmmakers alike had a field day with visuals. Playing out with fever dream clarity, the halls of “Beyond the Black Rainbow,” look like a mishmash of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “THX 1183.” The movie focuses Elena (Eva Allen, “The Big Year”), a girl with psychic powers being held in a facility run by a perverse doctor. During a series of uneasy one-on-one sessions, the doctor tells the girl, “You’re a very sick girl,” but he could be talking about himself in equal measure. As far as sci-fi villains go, the doctor (Michael Rogers, “Continuum”) is a stoic menace. Even before removing his “accessories,” Rogers feels like the embodiment of psychosis. But beyond his performance, there’s not much in the way of acting. Allen is serviceable as Elena, but she doesn’t carry all of the narrative weight her character implies. Therein lies the biggest problem with the movie: It’s all implication. The plot,
if it can be called that, is purposefully hard to follow and feels as isolating as a dream. When it comes down to it, that isolation serves no purpose and “Black Rainbow” ends up feeling empty. It’s all flash and little substance, but the flash is hypnotizing. Director Panos Cosmatos has an eye for visuals. Each scene pulses with color and creativity. His aesthetic sense feels like the lovechild of Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch, meticulous and surreal all at once. Pulsing under it all is an ‘80s era synth track. Any fans of John Carpenter’s work in the eponymous decade will feel right at home. Beyond that, the movie is hopelessly empty. “Black Rainbow” is an acid trip without the revelations. It’s like Cosmatos poured all of his energy into the cinematography and lost the story along the way. As a daring piece of eye candy, “Black Rainbow” works, but as a full meal it will leave viewers starving. Title: “Beyond the Black Rainbow” Director: Panos Cosmatos Release date: Dec. 31, 2010 Country: Canada
BACKSTAGE: A local presence continued from cover
photo by kelly ireland
Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada takes passion in his singing.
photo by kelly ireland
Thomas Zimmerman, from local group The Harlequin State, plays on June 11.
was seeing All Time Low, which I’ve been crazy about since probably the eighth grade.” While backstage Holmquist got to spend time with Yellowcard, 3OH!3 and Less Than Jake as well. While many people backstage were enjoying the experience purely as entertainment, there were other UAA students that were there to work. “I volunteered to help haul gear offstage,” said journalism major Ammon Swenson. Swenson said his favorite experience while backstage was “watching Less Than Jake get ready,” because he’s been listening to them since he was a little kid. Dental hygiene student Rachael Peltier was there expanding her photography portfolio and taking pictures of the bands perform. “Being back-
stage was pretty cool. Being able to watch the bands from the photo pit was the best part, though. Watching these bands I’ve only ever seen in music videos and being able to take photos of them was an honor, really.” Peltier, like Holmquist, also had friends in the local bands that she got to see perform. “My favorite experience from backstage was watching my best friends go on stage nervous and walk offstage with huge smiles,” Peltier said. “I’ve watched some of those bands like The Harlequin State, Noise Brigade and Griffith grow exponentially in the past two years.” UAA’s backstage presence at Road to Vans Warped Tour made the event just as much about the main bands from out of town as it was about the local musicians and students. It was the experience of a lifetime for many.
photo by kelly ireland
All Time Low member Jack Barakat makes the teenage dreams of many girls a reality.
photo by adam eberhardt
Fans of the local band Griffith attempt to scream into the microphone during the Road to Vans Warped Tour on June 11.
Roger Manganelli of Less Than Jake jamming on the bass.
photo by kelly ireland
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014
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movie preview bY kelly ireland
“Tammy”
“The Fluffy Movie”
“Planes: Fire and Rescue”
“Step Up: All In”
When Tammy (Melissa McCarthy, “The Heat”) gets fired from her job at a fast food restaurant called Topper Jack’s, she takes to the road with her grandmother, Pearl (Susan Sarandon, “Ping Pong Summer”), in a crazy adventure.
“The Fluffy Movie” is a documentary film about Gabriel Iglesias, or “Fluffy,” stand-up comedy shows and his rise to fame as a comedian. The documentary will only be available in theaters.
Previous stars and new stars of “Step Up” come together in Las Vegas to battle for the ultimate dance title to help cement their futures as dancers.
“Deliver Us From Evil”
From the creators of “Cars” comes “Planes: Fire and Rescue,” the story of air racer Dusty (Dane Cook, “Planes”), from the first “Planes” movie, who has a damaged engine and can never race again. Dusty becomes an aerial firefighter in place of racing.
July 11
“Wish I Was Here”
Stanley (Colin Firth, “Devil’s Knot”), a masterful magician, is recruited to investigate reports of a supposed spirit medium. He must determine if the young socialite, Sophie (Emma Stone, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2“), is truly a medium. During his investigations she makes him question if magic really does exist and if illusions aren’t the only way for magic to happen.
July 4
July 4
Detective Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana, “Lone Survivor”) believes that human nature can explain everything. A priest named Mendoza (Édgar Ramírez, “The Counselor”) makes Sarchie question that belief, saying the cases Sarchie is dealing with are actually demonic possessions.
“Earth to Echo” July 4
While hanging out, a group of kids’ phones start going haywire and receive images of a map. Wanting to find out what it all means, they go to the location on the map and find an alien named Echo who needs their help.
“Life Itself” July 4
“Life Itself” is the documentary on the movie critic Roger Ebert (self, “Roger Ebert’s 14th Annual Film Festival: A Retrospective”) and writer of “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.” The film explores how he has advanced the movie industry and also documents his battle with cancer.
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” July 11
After a virus released 10 years ago wipes out most of the human population, genetically evolved apes have taken over. When a group of surviving humans come across the apes they try to make peace, but the peace can only stand for so long before one species goes extinct. Get ready for a story of survival of the fittest as the apes and humans enter into war of the species.
July 11
“Boyhood” “Boyhood” follows Mason (Ellar Coltrane, “Hallettsville”) from age 5 to 18. The film takes a look at love, dealing with change and growing up.
“And So It Goes” July 11
Oren Little (Michael Douglas, “Last Vegas”) finds himself in charge of taking care of his granddaughter, whom he recently found out about when his estranged son comes asking for help. Little must enlist his neighbor (Diane Keaton, “The Big Wedding”) and his friend (Frances Sternhagen, “The Closer”) for help in looking after the girl that he has no idea how to care for.
“Land Ho!” July 11
When two old friends and former brothers-in-law Colin (Paul Eenhoorn, “This Is Martin Bonner”) and Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson, “Pilgrim Song”) reunite after years apart, Mitch surprises Colin with plane tickets to Iceland despite the other’s trepidations. Mitch uses the trip as a chance to help Colin get over his deceased wife, Patty, and rediscover why life is beautiful.
“Sex Tape” July 18
With their sex lives slowing down and their relationship on the brink, Annie (Cameron Diaz, “The Other Woman”) and Jay (Jason Segel, “How I Met Your Mother”) decide to make a sex tape to reignite their spark. While making the film does just that, the video accidentally makes it onto Jay’s cloud account, where it’s available for all their friends and family to see. The two take every step to make sure no one sees the video.
“The Purge: Anarchy” July 18
The annual purge from the first “Purge” film hasn’t stopped in the dystopian United States. In “The Purge: Anarchy,” couple Shane (Zach Gilford, “Devil’s Due”) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez, “Kingdom”) must survive the streets after their car breaks down. “Anarchy” also follows Leo (Frank Grillo, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”), who is out seeking revenge for his son’s death.
July 18
July 18
Aidan Bloom (Zach Braff, “Oz the Great and Powerful”), facing many life changes and decisions as a struggling actor, questions what is good for himself and his family. He decides to home school his two children, Grace (Joey King, “American Dad!”) and Tucker (Pierce Gagnon, “Big Thunder”), to become closer with both his kids and his wife, Sarah (Kate Hudson, “Clear History”).
“Mood Indigo” July 18
Bachelor Colin (Romain Duris, “Populaire”) gets pushed by friends to meet Chloé (Audrey Tautou, “Thérèse”). The two fall in love and later get married. But then Chloé gets a rare disease where a flower grows in her lungs, and Colin must take care of her.
“I Origins” July 18
Ian Gray (Michael Pitt, “Seven Psychopaths”) follows a pattern of numbers to a billboard with a pair of eyes on them. He then meets the girl that the eyes belong to, Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, “Juliette”). She talks of how she feels they know each other from a past life, which he refuses to believe as a scientist. Despite this, the two fall in love, and following her death Ian has to face that what Sofi said might be true.
“Hercules” July 25
Hercules (Dwayne Johnson, “Ballers”), after completing his 12 labors, is enlisted to help defeat a warlord and the gods by the King of Thrace. Hercules’ success will help put the rightful king back in charge. He also seeks to take revenge on those who killed his family.
“Lucy” July 25
Lucy (Scarlett Johansson, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) is a captive being tested on with an experimental drug that allows her to access a larger percentage of her brain. She goes on a search to destroy her captors. The tests seem to backfire on the captors, as Lucy is able to perform almost inhuman feats with greater access to her brainpower.
July 25
“Magic in the Moonlight” July 25
“A Most Wanted Man” July 25
A Muslim man illegally immigrates into Hamburg, Germany. German spies, lead by Günther Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman, “God’s Pocket”), go after the man and a group he’s involved in through unauthorized means in order to protect national security.
“Very Good Girls” July 25
After high school, best friends Lilly (Dakota Fanning, “The Motel Life”) and Gerry (Elizabeth Olsen, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) embark on a quest to lose their virginities before college. The two end up falling for David (Boyd Holbrook, “Out of the Furnace”), and their friendship and relationship with him is tested.
“Happy Christmas” July 25
After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jenny (Anna Kendrick, “Life After Beth”) comes to live in Chicago and stays with her brother (Joe Swanberg, “Proxy”), his wife (Melanie Lynskey, “Togetherness”) and their new baby before she gets a place of her own. Her partying and drinking threaten her ability to stay with her brother and his family, and she must learn to shape up.
06 A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014
GAME REVIEW
‘Lifeless Planet’ is a contemplative journey
SEAWOLF
SLUG
Electronic Entertainment Expectations By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde George has become hilariously sick again. I mean, seriously, I’d almost feel sorry for the guy if he didn’t get sick so often. And since this means he gets to miss out on that summer vacation I mentioned a few articles ago, I took our plane tickets, traded them in and got to head to beautiful Los Angeles without him. Ha! That’ll learn yer. I’m using a beautiful, bikini-clad woman that he will never know to write this now, and I’m sending it to him so he can feel my joy — and subsequently feel his own rage, which will no doubt only make him sicker. And to twist the knife even further, I even went to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 for short. E3 acts as an annual gaming nerd mecca where the big three console manufacturers (among others) display what they intend to release later this year and beyond. George probably caught the whole thing in the news, but I got to go and see all of the cool stuff personally. And I have to say, I’m pretty underwhelmed. Now, I’m underwhelmed by a lot of things here on Earth, but this in particular was pretty underwhelming by comparison. You have to keep in mind that most gamers expect huge announcements, the kinds that make them jump up and preorder games and pick up consoles just to play them. And maybe it’s just because George isn’t here with me, but I’m just not feeling it. So let’s talk about the big three console makers and what they had to announce. Microsoft had the advantage in that it got to start the Xbox conference first, but it fumbled the advantage by showing off the latest “Call of Duty” to start the show, which looks as bland and forgettable as the rest of them do. It went on by showing off some more games that’ll appear on the PS4 anyway, before finally announcing something exclusive: They’re remaking all of the old Halo games! Most of the rest of the announcements were for other reboots of a lot of their older franchises, so aside from a couple neat
little titles like “Sunset Overdrive” and “Scalebound,” Microsoft pretty much unveiled nothing new. Sony started with some new stuff, like “Destiny” and “Entwined,” and generally focused on independent creators over big-budget fluff, which is nice, but they tended to focus more on non-game entertainment, including around 20 minutes focusing on a new TV series that most of us probably don’t care about. They finished off with another sequel, “Uncharted 4,” which I would be excited for if George or I had any experience whatsoever with that series. Nintendo, instead of announcing tons of games, seemed to put all of their eggs in the “Super Smash Brothers” basket, and with the exception of “Melee” back in 2001, that has never worked. George eagerly awaited the release of the third installment, “Brawl,” and after a few months, he was back playing “Melee” again. I suspect the same thing will happen with this new entry, no matter how good it is. The other third-party publishers mostly announced more sequel fodder. Electronic Arts announced nothing new, and aside from a new “Rainbow Six” title that looks suspiciously like “Counter-Strike,” neither did Ubisoft. If there’s one thing to take away from E3, friends, it’s never to get too excited for something. As we’ve seen with the “Brawl” example, most games end up disappointing. Think of some of the best games of the last few years: “The Walking Dead,” “The Swapper,” “The Last of Us.” None of those were announced at any E3. So just keep a level head and don’t pre-order anything yet. So those are my thoughts on this whole E3 thing. And — curses! That stupid “conscience” thing is making me want to return to Anchorage. Well, beautiful bikini-clad human girl, we had a lot of fun, but I think it’s time for us to part. I’ll be back in Anchorage re-enforcing the Slug Empire’s will in no time. Until then: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Back in 2012, “Journey” launched a whole new genre. It inspired the type of game involving relatively peaceful and thoughtful adventures through environments that are more about philosophical thought than they are about any challenge. Games like “Gone Home” and “Dear Esther” have mastered the craft, and now, Alaska’s own Stage 2 Studios have added the interstellar “Lifeless Planet” to the growing genre. The title begins with a nameless hero crash landing on a planet thought by scientists on Earth to be teeming with life. However, on arrival, the planet appears barren. More mysteries arise when he discovers a Russian settlement on the planet, along with a strange woman who appears to be alien. It’s up to the protagonist to discover how the Russians got there first, what happened to the planet’s life and and why this woman is so important. Although names are rarely brought up, each character is well-written. Russian audio logs bring a sense of glory followed by desperation, and while the protagonist often states the obvious, he still has some nice things to say. The titular planet, even in the simple Unity engine, looks absolutely gorgeous. Incredible mountainous vistas can be seen everywhere, and the planet’s atmosphere can really bog down and create some genuine horror at times. The game’s
world can be both beautiful and terrifying, and it pulls off both feelings incredibly well. The game takes a lot of cues from games like “The Dig” and “Another World,” and that’s definitely a good thing. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t control very well. While the main character has a jet pack-facilitated double jump, the platforming still feels incredibly clunky. Getting from point A to point B can often be a chore. While the game lets players grab and push objects, pressing the button to do so doesn’t always work as intended. While there are some moments that fix these issues — most notably when the jet pack gets upgraded — the controls make the experience still feel like a game still in beta testing. While some platforming sections may be a little frustrating, the game as a whole thankfully doesn’t rely on them. This is a game that focuses on atmosphere and storytelling, and on those two fronts, the game does an incredible job. The mystery paces its revelations out perfectly, making the tale very intriguing, and the game can be quite a looker to boot. It’s an interplanetary journey that is definitely worth traveling. Game: “Lifeless Planet” Developer: Stage 2 Studios Platform: PC Genre: Journey Release Date: June 6, 2014
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014
07
MARATHON: Brothers sweep top 3 positions in men’s event By Travis Dowling
sports@thenorthernlight.org
June 21, 2014
On the summer solstice, runners from around the globe converge in Anchorage, Alaska, to participate in the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon. The marathon covers 26.2 miles of the Anchorage area, starting at Bartlett High School, traveling through the eastern foothills and across Anchorage to the Delaney Park Strip finish line. University of Alaska Anchorage alumni runners David Kiplagat and Davya Flaharty won the men’s and women’s marathon titles in Saturday’s 41st annual Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon and Half-Marathon. Kiplagat originally from Kapsabet, Kenya, was the marathon’s returning men’s champion, finish-
ing in 2 hours, 32 minutes and 11 seconds. Kiplagat’s brother, UAA alumnus Paul Rottich, finished in second place with 2:32:13. Kiplagat’s and Rottich’s brother, Solomon Kandie, posted a time of 2:32:24, finishing the marathon in third place. Flaharty, of Fairbanks, won her first Midnight Sun Marathon, finishing in 2:59:51. Anchorage runner Kirsten Kolb finished in second place with a time of 3:05:46. UAA alumna Kiersten Lippmann placed third, posting a time of 3:06:28. The Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon was presented by the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Municipality of Anchorage. Over 4,400 runners participated in the event, representing 50 states and 13 countries. The race is sanctioned by USA Track and Field and is recognized by the Boston Marathon as a qualifying event.
photoS by adam eberhardt
Kids participating in the Youth Cup at the park strip await their start last Saturday morning.
Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan fires the starting pistol June 21 to start the Youth Cup.
Thomas finalizes incoming class Courtesy of UAA Sports Information via goseawolves.com
ANCHORAGE — Head coach Matt Thomas finalized his 2014-15 Alaska Anchorage incoming class Wednesday with the addition of Anthony Conti, giving UAA eight rookies for the 35th year of Seawolf hockey. Conti, a local of Vancouver, B.C., joins the Green and Gold after splitting time with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles and Penticton Vees. He combined for 16-27 — 43 totals during the 2013-14 season in 55 games played. Conti also led the Eagles in the playoffs with seven points in six games. A year before, the 6-foot3-inch, 205-pound forward dressed for Vancouver Northwest of the BCMML, where he
helped the Giants to the team crown as one of the league’s top scorers with 18-30 — 48 totals in 35 games. “Anthony is going to be someone that is simply going to get better and better each day he is at UAA,” said assistant coach Josh Ciocco. “He will come into our program at just 18 years old and already has NHL size. Not only is he big, but he’s got sneaky good hockey sense and is absolutely fearless.” Conti joins classmates Austin Azurdia, Tad Kozun, Matt Anholt, Tanner Johnson, Jarrett Brown, Olivier Mantha and Jared D’Amico. The Seawolves commence the 2014-15 slate Oct. 4 with an exhibition game against Western Ontario, before hosting Maine and Wisconsin for the annual Kendall Hockey Classic at the Sullivan Arena, Oct. 10-11.
Anchorage Bucs player Evan Powell hits the out to right field last Wednesday night against the Lake Erie Monarchs.
Summer Solstice Alaska Baseball League skateboarding
photo by travis dowling
By Travis Dowling
sports@thenorthernlight.org
Baseball is America’s pastime, and with long summer days, there are few things as enjoyable as sitting back with a hot dog in one hand, a cold beverage in the other and some peanuts to snack on while enjoying a baseball game. With the closest Major League Baseball team in Seattle, Anchorage residents can only attend the Alaska Baseball League to enjoy the wonders of a pitcher and batter facing off on a two strike and three balls count. The ABL is made up of collegiate-level players. To be able to play in the ABL, players in the league must have attended one year of college and
must have one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Teams represent all areas of Alaska from the team in Fairbanks, the Alaska Goldpanners to Kenai home of the Peninsula Oilers. Anchorage has two teams in the ABL, the Anchorage Glacier Pilots and the Anchorage Bucs. These two teams play a double header every Fourth of July, capped off by a fireworks display. Some notable baseball players that played in the ABL in the past are Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jeff Kent and C.J. Wilson. For those in need of a break from summer classes, take a relaxing evening to enjoy the sounds and wonders of America’s pastime and be on the lookout for the next Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player.
photoS by adam eberhardt
Participants at the Summer Solstice Skate Jam show off their skills June 21 at a makeshift skate park on Fourth Avenue.
COMICS
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, June 24, 2014
08
The Northern Light is a proud member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of the Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 4,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.足足足
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THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org Executive editor 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Vacant Managing Editor 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Tulsi Patil
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