Opinion
United States First Amendment
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30,2009
United States First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
Lytton: Standardized tests in need of major overhaul
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Anyone who finds an Olympus voice recorder, please turn it into McCollum. My grade depends on it.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
If you can't handle being poked, you probably shouldn't be playing football.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I want a Henry. I'll settle for either.
Is it gay if my friend and I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" in my basement by ourselves? We are both guys.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
Last night I had a dream that I worked for Nickelodeon and was an extra on the Amanda Bynes show. Why can't my real life be that cool?
Darling, you put me in the magic position.
I am ready to start living my life instead of planning to
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I put your mom in the magic position — financially.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I watched a guy straight up pee on the seat in front of him at the game on Saturday. Then the person in front of him sat down in it. Absolutely disgusting.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I really don't want to write this essay.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
To compensate for my faults, failures and wrong doings I just work harder. An oddly Puritan mindset for an atheist.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I just realized: on the first date, we each paid for our own meal. On the second date, she paid for both of us. I'm doing pretty well.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
The procedure is that the man is supposed to fork over his cash. Get used to it, gents!
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I got back to my dorm and it was 81.6 degrees. What the hell?
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
Miller's lumberyard: More wood than you can take at once.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
I wish "The Sims" had a porno version. That would be so much more fun.
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
Bible study sessions I'm not drunk enough for that.
Is it bad that downloading the entire Black Eyed Peas discography was the best decision I've made in a while?
--unless you have contracted this disease, and should be reason enough to get a test.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Get tested for HIV at no cost
Tomorrow several campus groups will be sponsoring free HIV/AIDS testing to students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kansas Union as a part of World AIDS Day. Students should take advantage of this generous event.
The tests will be provided by the LGBT Resource Center, Queers and Allies, and the Douglas County AIDS Project
Taking the steps to get tested can seem unnecessary or scary, but it's important to remember that for diseases such as HIV, treatment is always easier and more effective the earlier it is diagnosed. Ignoring a possible problem can only make it worse. Finding out as soon as possible should be a priority for anyone who engages in sexual intercourse.
Sharing drug needles and having unprotected sex are the easiest ways of getting the disease. The most common symptoms are fever, rash and severe sore throat, all occurring together around 10 days after infection. These symptoms rarely occur together
People with friends who are at risk should encourage them to get these free tests as well. Presenting the facts and statistics is sometimes not enough, but hearing it from a friend can be a strong motivation.
KANSAN'S
OPINION
Getting the test can prevent that from happening, as can practicing safe sex, with a latex condom
their responsibility to their sexual partners; no one wants to transmit this disease unknownly.
The actual testing is quick and easy. Results come back promptly, often within the same day.
As scary as a positive result may be, today the outlook for leading a normal life with HIV is higher than ever. Even though 33.4 million people throughout the world are living with HIV, more than ever before, deaths caused by complications of AIDS are down 10 percent during the
Though the treatments and testing for HIV have improved, a lot of stigma and discrimination is still attached to the virus. Despite stereotypes, the virus is not isolated to gay men. Twenty-six percent of HIV cases in the U.S. are female, according to the Center for Disease Control. High risk sexual behavior and the sharing of drug needles means heterosexual men are also at risk. Spitting, kissing, touching or sharing utensils does not spread HIV.
past five years, according to the World Health Organization. Newer treatments are allowing people to live longer, more productive and healthier lives with HIV.
Getting a test for HIV takes courage to get past the fear of what the test could mean. However, ignoring the problem doesn't solve anything. Finding out sooner only improves the chances of keeping the disease under control. Sexually active students should visit the Union tomorrow for a free test.
Clayton Ashley for The Kansan Editorial Board
EDITORIAL CARTOON
REP EMANUEL CLEAVER
WANTS TO PRECEDE
THANKSGIVING DAY
WITH A
"NO COMPLAINING DAY."
NEAT IDEA.
THANKSGIVING IS MORE THAN TURKEY.
LIKE CHRISTMAS ISN'T ABOUT SANTA
EASTER, BAIRAM, HANUKKAH ARE ALL
MORE THAN FOOD AND CANDY.
NICHOLAS SAMBALUK
MUSIC
Hip-hop's balancing act
As everything in life requires balance in order to sustain its own existence, the genre of hip-hop music is no different. Emerging as a revolutionary brand of music in the late 1970s, hip-hop has since branched off into two sub-genres that every artist, righteously or not, is allocated to and associated with. The balance these sub-genres achieve with one another is what allows hip-hop to remain appealing to so many people and continue to be successful.
Rappers are generally classified as either "gangster," referring to the majority of highly publicized artists featured on MTV and BET, or "conscious," those generally associated with the underground hip-hop movement.
Typically, gangster hip-hop artists produce "trap rap," referring to the work of rappers who spit mostly about hustling, gangbanging and material possessions.
"Conscious" artists, on the other hand, generally tend to rap about real life for the rest of us, the state of society as a whole and their own lyrical ability.
Though all hip-hop fans like most kinds of rap (as long as it has tight lyrics over a dope beat), hip-hop heads almost always have a personal preference for one genre of hip-hop over another
One fan may listen to Young Jeezy and T.I., while another might like Little Brother and De La Soul. This can cause rifts
Though hip-hop is essentially divided into gangster and conscious rap, it is also a melting pot boiling with thousands of voices, each one unique and impressionable regardless of its designation as a gangster voice or a conscious one. Each of hip-hop's sub-genres has so much to offer that it's foolish not to explore the many other realms of the hip-hop universe.
There are many gangster songs that incorporate thoughtful lyrics and outstanding production on par with any underground artist. There are conscious rappers that release songs the biggest Rick Ross fan would agree "go hard." It's the balance of contrasting influences inherent in different breeds of hip-hop that make the genre and culture as a whole so
between hip-hop enthusiasts because one may respect the other's brand of hip-hop less than their own as they often value drastically different ideals. For this reason, some fans tend to neglect the opposing sub-genre of hip-hop and stick exclusively with the style and artists they are familiar with. This is a grave mistake.
intriguing and fascinating to follow.
Gangster and conscious, mainstream and underground, all offer a different voice and appeal to different hip-hop fans. Hip-hop accommodates fans seeking violence and fans seeking guidance and knowledge of self. As a result, it psychologically appeals to a wide variety of fans.
The two primary sub-genres hip-hop has created have contributed an equal amount to the hip-hop movement in its rise to popularity and the international influence it enjoys today.
Hip-hop is a versatile genre with ideals that are sometimes drastically different from one another. But, such as our own world, it is the balance of these ideals that enables hip-hop to maintain its existence and remain so popular.
>
Coldham is a Chicago senior in journalism.
CHECK'EM OUT
Hot track:"Jets Over Everything,"by Curren$y
New Artist: Pill
Buy: "Til the Casket
Drops," by Clipse
(available Dec. 8)
LGBT
Advice for the bi-curious
Let's talk about something totally cliche in life, especially in college: curiosity and experimentation, or as my friend Julia jokingly puts it, "IUGS"
Bi- curiosity is just as normal as any other kind of experimentation. You come to college and take different classes and try to decide on a career path. You may also indulge in other new and exciting activities. You know, alcohol, minor drugs, new religions or making out with someone of the same gender
What is a LUG? A LUG is a "lesbian until graduation." These are women who date or sleep with other women until they graduate college, whereupon they revert back to the hetero-normativity that is expected of them by society. They are part of the bi-curious or "questioning" category — what most people who are curious about the same sex, but not sure if it's really for them, are commonly called
Although these may have crossed your mind before, you were unable to pursue them until the freedom offered by college life came around. Curiosity is as natural as breathing. If you happen to be of the bi-curious nature and remain unsure of how to pursue your new-found interests, here are some tips.
If you are a man curious about other men, just blast showtunes, ABBA or Barbra Streisand from your room and see who shows up at your door. If you are a woman curious about other women, consider the Indigo Girls or Tegan and Sara.
iPhone also makes a "gaydar" application that will show other people in your area who have the same application.
On a more serious note, if you are truly curious, get to know someone in the LGBT community, which on our campus, is not hard. We have an active LGBT student group, Queers and Allies, as well as
local gay-friendly establishments such as Henry's on Eighth and Wilde's Chateau 24. It's all about networking.
The best way to approach your curiosity is to put yourself out there. Most of us in the gay community are used to curiosity. After all, we were once ourselves. And believe me, we're more than willing to share our own stories and experiences with you. We understand the curious thoughts and feelings, and you will find plenty of support within the community in whatever way you need to fulfill your curiosity.
Whether it's connecting with a gay acquaintance, using the Internet or playing a game, there are many ways in which to indulge your curiosities. Just don't be afraid. Like I said, it's natural. Hope to see you "out there."
If person-to-person contact isn't your kind of thing or even if you're a little shy, no worries. That's why we have the Internet. There are plenty of Web sites where you can connect with gays everywhere. Personal recommendations for the ladies: afterellen.com and autostraddle.com. For men: afterleton.com or connexion.org.
It's not a crime to kiss someone of the same gender and decide it's not for you any more than it is to find you like it more than you thought you would. Heck, that's how it happened for me during a game of Truth or Dare.
Bornstein is a Lawrence senior in women's studies and sociology.
Can one movie save the planet?
BLOG: GREEN MY GUY
Unable to attend a showing of "Food, Inc." at the Kansas Union two weeks ago, my boyfriend Austin and his roommate Blake watched the DVD instead.
What was most interesting about their reactions to the movie was how the plight of the modern farmer seemed to resonate the most with Austin and Blake. Having grown up in Western Kansas and seen firsthand the effects of industrial farms on small family farms, they felt most connected to the stories of farmers caught under the control of large food corporations.
I knew the movie probably wouldn't turn them into complete organic eaters or vegetarians, but I hoped that watching it and having a more visual representation of what our current food system is like would be more effective.
Can one movie change a person? It appears that in this instance, Austin and Blake remain unaffected. Though a bit disappointed, I realize
that it is difficult to change a person's established mindset with a 90-minute documentary. Change is not sudden. It's not immediate, easy or a one-time thing. It takes time, encouragement and gradual implementation.
Living a more sustainable lifestyle is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes it is easier to go out for fast food, pop in a TV dinner or reach for a bag of chips.
But I like to think it's kind of like exercising. Sometimes you are motivated and you hop on that treadmill every day of the week. Other times you feel discouraged or lazy and sit on the couch and play "Call of Duty 2" every day (ahem, Austin).
But when those down weeks or days or moments happen, you can't just quit. You get off that couch and get on your treadmill. You put down the fast food and head to the farmer's market to show your support for eating and living sustainably.
— Janie Chen is a junior from Olathe. Her sustainability blog can be read at www.greenmgyuy.wordpress.com.
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