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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014
PAGE 5A
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arts & features
HOROSCOPES Because the stars know things we don't.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is a 9
Get estimates or bids before signing on. It's not a good time for travel or romance. Things may not go as planned. Share the load today and tomorrow, but hold onto the responsibility.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is a 7
There's plenty of work over the next two days. Finish a task you and your partner have been putting off. Avoid arguments about money. Don't gamble now. Sexual magnetism could set off sparks.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 6
Be gracious to a troll. You'll soon have time to relax. Today and tomorrow favor fun and games over seriousness. Beware hassles. Friends feed you energy. Enjoy loving creature comforts with family.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 7
Today is a 7
Listen to objections before just plowing ahead. Hold your temper and proceed with caution. It's time to clean up a mess. Open a new account or procedure. Home's the best place for you tonight.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is a 9
Someone has valid consider-
ations and suggestions.
Listening can be more powerful than speaking. Get all the facts.
Study new developments. The action is behind the scenes. Expensive gifts are unnecessary.
Share something you made.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is a 9
Finances take top priority. You can bring more into your coffers for the next two days. A brilliant idea pays off. Consider all options. Make your own choices, after hearing from the team.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is a 6
Conditions seem unsettled, so be careful. Today and tomorrow you're more assertive. Haste makes waste. Discuss domestic issues in private. Take it slow, and mull it over. Avoid distractions. Watch where you step.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today is a 7
Make more time for contemplation today and tomorrow.
Slow down and think about where you're going. Postpone an outing. Watch expenses, and budget to save. It pays to advertise... strategize to minimize cost.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is a 7
Circumstances dictate your actions for the next two days.
Choose from your heart. Let an expert speak for you in a controversy or confrontation.
Higher-ups are talking about you. Associates applaud.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-jan. 19)
Today is an 8
Career matters demand your attention today and tomorrow.
Hold off on a new idea for now.
Talk it over first. There are hurdles ahead. You can make a shrewd deal.
Choose your timing well.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today is a 7
Writing is possible now.
Today and tomorrow are good for exploration, research and discovery. Listen to someone who's been where you're going.
You can find ways around roadblocks and traffic jams.
Check references.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 It's a good time for a significant conversation about money Focus on financial strategies. New rules apply. Don't take risks. Keep track of earnings. Discuss changes. You can work it out.
Alumni host annual ugly sweater party
THE STORY
MARISSA KAUFMANN
@mariss193
A decade ago, University alumni Ramsey Mohsen and Scott Aripoli hosted their first ugly Christmas sweater-themed party.
"It started at our house, and I remember we were cleaning up and there had probably been 100-150 people at our house and we thought, this is a ton of people and we can take this sort of momentum and use this party as a way to raise money for a good charity," Aripoli said.
This year, the steering committee for the event decided to do something epic for its 10th year. After a long brainstorming session, they decided upon the goal of rallying all of Kansas City to celebrate the fusion of the holidays, ugly Christmas sweaters and charity in their own way, Mohsen said.
"You only get the 10th annual once in your event planning," Mohsen said.
Mohsen said the steering committee contemplated several questions while brainstorming, such as, "What does the 10th annual mean to us? Do we want to raise more money? Do we want to make the event bigger? Do we want to generate more awareness?"
The committee contacted Mayor Sly James and without hesitation, he declared Dec. 12 Ugly Christmas Sweater
ANATOMY OF AN UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER
Day in Kansas City. Mohsen said since poverty is not a new issue to the mayor, he thought it was a chance to raise awareness in a creative way.
In previous years, there were limited ways to get involved with the event. Aripoli said people could either attend the party, or businesses could become sponsors. This year, because there is an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day in Kansas City, there are opportunities for different kinds of unique participation, Aripoli said.
All profits are donated directly to a charity organization called Operation Breakthrough, which seeks to help children and families living in poverty in the Kansas City area.
level by providing teachers, therapists, dental services, a full library and more than a typical school offers, Mohsen said.
Mohsen said Operation Breakthrough is a nonprofit charity started by two nuns who had a vision to provide opportunities for people who did not always get started on the right foot. It helps people living under the poverty
1. SNOWFLAKES APLENTY Because: winter.
THE ORGANIZATION
"We have always had this motto that no dream or no idea is too big, and nothing is impossible," Mohsen said. "Every year we sit down and we dream big and we literally try to think of things that are fun [and] exciting, but can also help with our goal of driving awareness and funds for Operation Breakthrough."
The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party impacts Operation Breakthrough in three ways:
"You can see it in the eyes of the people who work here, you can see it in the eyes of the children, that something amazing is going on here, and we have got to help these guys," Mohsen said.
3. RED AND GREEN COLORS
This one is a no-brainer. A Christmas sweater isn't Christmas-themed without its traditional holiday colors, just like Santa isn't Father Christmas without his reindeer squad.
He said the committee toured a few organizations, but they knew immediately after leaving Operation Breakthrough that it was the one they wanted to become involved with.
2. VARIOUS FUZZY ANIMALS What ugly sweater wouldn't be complete without spreading holiday cheer using fuzzy creatures?
all proceeds from the event go directly to the charity, the party helps collect toys and it ultimately generates awareness, Aripoli said.
THE PARTY
The 10th annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party will be at 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Tower Tavern, 401 E. 31st St., in Kansas City, Mo. The party has come a long way from its original house party, Aripoli said. When guests arrive, they can expect to encounter a photo booth, a bar lit up with Christmas lights and a large dance floor where DJ Ashton Martin will spin. Guests can also participate in the silent
auction offered at the event.
There are also different titles the steering committee awards to deserving party-goers. Titles include: most Christmas spirit, sexiest sweater, most creative and best sweater, Mohsen said.
"It is amazing how far people go just to have extremely creative ideas." Aripoli said.
Aripoli said the event also offers a rent-a-sweater service. At the end of the night, you can return the sweater and get most of your money back.
"This is one party where you cannot show up in your normal Friday night clothes, you have to have an ugly Christmas sweater on," Aripoli said.
Students celebrate culture during holidays
Edited by Alyssa Scott
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MARIA SANCHEZ
@MariaSanchezKU
When Emily Wolf was young, she remembers her father picking her up so that her small hands could reach the candles and watch the dancing flames. It was her turn to light another vibrant candle on the Hanukkah menorah.
Junior Chase Ensz, top left, poses with his family.Ensz is one of many students who celebrate a variety of religions during the holidays.
"It's all of our family, with the lights turned off and just the menorah is lit," Wolf said. "I think it's really beautiful."
Within another family and another tradition, junior Chase Ensz from Prairie Village remembers a Christmas Eve filled with Nerf gun darts. Ensz and his cousins battled for hours with the gift that his grandmother gave to all eight grandchildren, as she does every year.
Kwanzaa is yet another tradition and holiday celebrated through the end of December into the first of the year. Kwanzaa celebrates family, community and African culture, as it is a Pan-African, non-religious holiday, according to the creator of Kwanzaa, Dr. Maulana Karenga.
However, being born into a Christian household, the winter
holiday that Ensz has grown up celebrating is very much a religious phenomenon. For him, this holiday holds spiritual meaning that marks the birth of Jesus Christ.
"The religious side, I've always enjoyed because it's the time of the year that Christ was born," Ensz said. "We celebrate that and we celebrate why he came."
The idea of presents and spending money during the Christmas holiday is something that Ensz said he personally does not agree with. As gifts for the family, Ensz's mother donates a certain amount of money to causes in each of her children's names. Ensz said like his mother, he enjoys buying gifts for others that are meaningful.
"I think people care too much about certain things," Ensz said. "I think giving presents is more of a relationship thing rather than a gift thing."
On the other hand, Wolf has never celebrated Christmas in her life. Although she said nothing ever felt out of place when she was young, she was conscious of the difference.
"What I can remember was being little and knowing I shouldn't tell the other kids that Santa wasn't real," Wolf
said. "I've never thought I was missing out on anything."
Hanukkah is the winter holiday Wolf and her family celebrate, as her parents are Jewish. Although religion is a large part of this celebration, Wolf said it's not the religious aspect of Hanukkah that draws her to it, but rather the heritage of it.
"I'm not a religious person, but I like the culture and the
tradition — learning about Judaism and the history of it," Wolf said.
Although Hanukkah is by no means the biggest Jewish holiday, Wolf said she thinks sometimes it's forgotten that Christmas isn't the only holiday of the season. Growing up celebrating this holiday, Wolf said she often hoped for more recognition for Hanukkah.
"I don't really mind it because
for the 19 years of my life, that's how it's been," Wolf said. "But I always wished there was more Hanukkah related things."
For Wolf, Hanukkah does not just mean an opportunity to learn more about her own culture or history, but it also means getting to see her family.
"Even though they're not that far, I don't get to see them a lot," Wolf said. "I'm really excited for this year just because some of my cousins are off at college, too, so we'll get to come back and have Hamukkah [together]."
No matter the religious or cultural ties within just three of the winter month holidays, the comfort of family and warmth rings through them all.
"I really like Christmas Eve—the feeling of Christmas Eve," Ensz said. "Just the idea of it's usually cold Christmas Eve so you go into a warm house with a fire burning and you sit down with your family, talk with them and enjoy the company."
If you celebrate Kwanzaa and would like to share your memories and insight, the Kansan would love to tell your story. Tweet at @KansanNews.
Edited by Andrew Collins
Massholes to debut third show this week
RYAN MILLER
Puynmiller. UDK
@Ryanmiller_UDK
Want to become Mayor of Lawrence? It might be easier than you think.
Massholes 3, a Lawrence-based comedy quiz show, will take place this Friday. The show is hosted by A Card Table Production with Harpoon and will take place at the Eagles Lodge #309 at 1803 W. 6th Street. The winner of the show earns the "title" of "Mayor of Lawrence".
Will Averill, a 2013 University alumnus from Lawrence, will host the show. He said the event is a comedy quiz show that pits Lawrence comedians against the host as well as the audience in a fun comedy event.
Averill also said this is the third installment of Massholes and the event has been taking place every few months since
it began six months ago. For this installment, Averill said they're adding some new elements. He said this is the first time they will have special guests, including local artists Jason Barr and Amber Fraley, as well as the state representative Boog Highberger who will act as a judge for one of the rounds.
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Averill said the most challenging aspect about Massholes is trying to get special guests from around Lawrence.
"We're trying to get famous local folk to come in and be guests, eventually wed like to try and get Bill Self, so it's something we're working on," said Averill.
Massholes is also pairing up with the Ballard Center in Lawrence for the first time to help them with canned good donations. The cost to get in the event is $5, but only $4
if you bring a canned good donation.
Averill said that the show is similar to an improv game, similar to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" He said there will be two panels of three guests apiece. If the panel doesn't get the question correct, the audience can have their turn at answering the question.
Matthew Gaus, a University alumnus from Lawrence, is one of the panelists for the event. Gaus said he joined up with Massholes once Averill approached him about it.
"I've been doing comedy stuff with him for 15 years at this point, and he had this big idea he'd been talking about and I thought it sounded like fun." Gaus said.
Gaus said he's done a lot of sketch comedy and stand-up comedy over the years, and the most challenging part was participating in a comedic
event that didn't allow for any preparation, unlike the improv style of Massholes.
Comedy Quiz Show
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.
and 9 p.m.
"It's good to flex your comedic muscles [in ways] you don't get the chance too in other circumstances," Gaus said.
Where: Eagles Lodge #309 at 1803 W. 6th Street
Cost: $5, or $4 with a canned good donation
"From my experience in
Gaus said one of his goals for this go around with Massholes is to be elected "Mayor of Lawrence," and that the host gives you a platform speech to give to help with the "elections."
college, there's a lot of people who insulate themselves, but there's so much cool stuff going on in this town, and this is a great way to get your feet wet if you haven't had the chance to explore around a bit," he said.
One goal the group has for the future is to set up a YouTube channel, and hopefully get a podcast, or video broadcast of their shows online, so people can watch the shows later or are easily accessible to people that no longer live in Lawrence.
"It's not only for people who have been here a long time but also for people new to town, so they can learn the strange and quirky things about Lawrence," Averill said. "We welcome everyone."
— Edited by Logan Schlossberg
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