I can say that I have been blessed to have some great friendships in my brief time of being alive. Whenever I watch a movie, or read a book, I tend to compare the characters within it to the people around me. There have always been those pairs in fiction that make me evaluate my own relationships. Am I the loose cannon cop sporting a mullet, or the aging professional that is just getting too old for this shit? Am I the goofball, or the straight man? To give all of you readers a brief road map to what I view as the best dynamic duos of fiction, here are Josh’s Top 5 “Fictional Duos.”

5. Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence from “Boy Meets World” – ABC Broadcastings gift to the ‘90s known as “TGIF” gave us the television series “Boy Meets World” in 1993. The series covered the events in the tight knit family of a boy named Cory Matthews and his ordeals that he faces as your everyday American kid. Topanga Lawrence began the series as one of Cory’s friends and confidants, and in later episodes blossomed into Cory’s love interest. The two were eventually married after almost seven seasons of friendship and high school drama. These ‘90s lovebirds represented all that a friendship could be for TGIF viewers.

4. Conner and Murphy MacManus from “The Boondock Saints” – Never has religiously fueled vigilantism been conducted with such style and dark humor then in the tattooed hands of Conner and Murphy from “The Boondock Saints.” For those of you that haven’t seen the film, the Irish Catholic brothers are fraternal twins that receive a divine calling to clean up the streets of gang infested South Boston with all the guns, knives and Irish stereotypes at their disposal. Notable deeds of the saints include shooting pornstar Ron Jeremy as he’s whacking the weasel, holding up a courtroom to execute a mob boss and killing a Russian gang member with a toilet.

3. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson from “Sherlock Holmes” – Whether you’re referring to the film portrayals of Watson and Holmes, or their origins as the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the pair of super sleuths represented the original “buddy cop” formula. Holmes played the unpredictable and eccentric genius that could either be solving a murder case or indulging in opium use. Watson was the straight laced assistant whose “elementary” observations and mature nature balanced out the often socially awkward Holmes. Their perfect partnership had its ups and downs, and showed how a working partnership could also be a great friendship.

2. Han Solo and Chewbacca from “Star Wars” – This duo was so famous for always accompanying one another in the iconic Millennium Falcon that an alternative to the shotgun rules called “Chewie” has been developed by geeky guys just looking for a good time. Han and Chewie were space hot rod cruising, blockade running, gun toting badasses who gave a roguish charm to the Star Wars universe. Han Solo was a Corellian smuggler portrayed by the still suave Harrison Ford (seriously, if you’re Indiana Jones and Han Solo you get to do whatever the hell you want) who found his calling to help the Rebel Alliance while chasing the tale of future wife Princess Leia. Chewie was the furry co-pilot of the Falcon from the planet Kashyyyk that can rip the arms off of people that upset him. They represent the perfect “boy and his dog” formula, but with blasters and spaceships.

1. Snoopy and Woodstock from “The Peanuts” – These iconic “Peanuts” characters top off the list of duos. Debuting in 1950, Charles Schulz demonstrated the strength of friendship through Snoopy and Woodstock’s fictional adventures. Snoopy was the dog of Charlie Brown, the prematurely bald boy next door. Woodstock was a small bird who was originally a baby bird that was left in a nest that had been built on Snoopy’s stomach. His trademark chicken scratch filled speech bubbles were only understood by Snoopy. The two had adventures as the “World War I Flying Ace” and his co-pilot, golfing buddies and trivia rivals. Their friendship is perhaps the most pure, innocent and long running friendship on this list. Their keen understanding of one another shows that even if the rest of the world thinks you’re a lazy dog, or can’t understand anything you say, there is always that person that will stand next to you.

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2010 brings about another U.S. Census, and with every person needing to be counted, some students have questions about the Census and its purpose.

“Required once every 10 years by Article 1 (Section 2) of the U.S. Constitution, the census will count every person living in the United States, both citizens and noncitizens,” said Michael Aumack, census partnership specialist. “Census data are used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives, re-district each state and determine the distribution of the Electoral College.”

The U.S. Census was first conducted in 1790 by President George Washington to count every individual in the U.S. for the purpose of determining the number of representatives for each state, Aumack said.

“The USA was the first country in the world to base its democratic form of government on a ‘house of representatives’ based on total population,” Aumack said. “The Senate has two reps per state, but the House of Representatives has 435 seats that are allocated based on the total population of each state.”

For most ESU students, this is the first time that they will be filling out the U.S. Census, and the process presents a new and different task to those that are new to living on their own.

“This will be my first census, but I haven’t received it yet,” said Katie Galliart, freshman English secondary education major. “My family moved here in June of 2000 from Heidelberg, Germany, and I’ve never really thought about the census much since I wasn’t even here when the last one was conducted.”

Some students believe that doing a census every 10 years, while not intruding too often, may not be as accurate as one that could be done more frequently.

“I think three to five years would be better since everything in our country changes so fast,” said Aaron Thomson, sophomore physics major. “10 years ago everything in our nation was totally different.”

Thomson discussed his belief that the census was an important part of the US tax system.

“I think it’s very important,” Thomson said. “If everybody fills out everything then our government will know what’s going on, and where to put our money.”

Aumack emphasizes the necessity for college students to participate so that their government knows where to put the tax dollars they contribute.

“The college students living on-campus in dormitories will be counted by a census taker who will work with the Residential Life staff to count everyone living in the dorms,” Aumack said. “Those students who live off-campus will get a census form delivered to their door by the postal service or a census worker, and each student living in the apartment or house should answer the questions on the form.  Once the form is completed, the students should simply put the completed form in the envelope and deposit it in a mailbox or give it to a postal worker.”

If students have any questions about answering the Census, Aumack said that students should call 1-866-872-6868 for English instructions, and for instructions in a language other than English they should visit the official U.S. Census Web site at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/contact/index.php.

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The villains in a movie make the story. There’s no other way to say it. Heroes are predictable, normally fighting on the side of the perceived “good” with a set of personal rules that prevent them from being too crazy. Villains on the other hand are not hindered by a society’s view of good, only required to do everything but that good. They can be unpredictable, cruel or are often dark character foils for the main character. For everything that heroes can show us about the good we are capable of, there is a villain prepared to show us the darkest depths of the human psyche. Here are Josh’s Top 5 movie villains.

5. Reagan MacNeil/Pazuzu from “The Exorcist” – Regarded as one of film history’s most disturbing films, “The Exorcist” original film print is believed by Evangelist Preacher Billy Graham to have an actual demon in it. “The Exorcist” pits an aging priest, and one who is losing his faith, against the ancient demon Pazuzu in a battle royale for the soul of 12 year old Reagan. Pazuzu takes the cherubic little girl and turns her into a vulgar, supernaturally strong and pea soup vomit spewing hellhound. Favorite line: “Your mother sucks c@&$s in hell Karras, you faithless slime.”

4. Darth Vader from “Star Wars” – Darth Vader is easily recognizable as the darkly clad antagonist of the “Star Wars” trilogy. Vader was voiced by James Earl Jones in the original trilogy, and wowed audiences with his force choking, light saber slashing, no-holds barred pursuit of the Rebel Alliance. It was later revealed that Vader was the father of hero Luke Skywalker, and the character gained a whole new depth. He became a tragic figure, much like Lucifer in Judeo-Christian mythology, who fell from grace to become the figure of ultimate evil in science fiction. Unfortunately for audiences, the aforementioned fall from grace was portrayed by cardboard cutout actor Hayden “Mannequin Skywalker” Christensen in the recently released prequel films. Favorite line: “Remember… no disintegrations!”

3. Alex DeLarge from “A Clockwork Orange” – “A Clockwork Orange” tells the tale of a dystopian future England where teenage gang leader Alex DeLarge wreaks havoc with his gang members. Alex rapes, murders and controls his cronies with disturbing, almost childlike, glee. The tables are turned on the teenage terror when he is imprisoned and forced to give up violence through brainwashing. An odd twinge of pity enters the viewer when watching the terrible struggle Alex faces when tempted to fall into his old habits. Alex deserves a top position for the unpredictable and wanton nature of the violence he perpetrates. Alex was even listed by Heath Ledger as an inspiration for his Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Favorite line: “I’ve suffered the tortures of the damned, sir – tortures of the damned.”

2. Amon Goeth from “Schindler’s List” – Goeth embodies the terror of the Holocaust in a manner that was horrifically real to the viewer. Goeth was the commandant of the camp that Oskar Schindler’s Jewish workers were imprisoned in. Ralph Fiennes, famous now for his portrayal of Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, plays the Nazi officer in a cold, calculating manner. He’s selfish, loathing of the dirty prisoners he lords over and views the extermination of the Jews as a task that he’s required to do efficiently by Hitler. Goeth executes prisoners in a random manner, at one point shooting from the porch of his villa at any random prisoner in his sights. He smokes, drinks and has no remorse for the lives he takes – in essence taking all the pleasure of living while depriving others of it. Goeth is nearly the perfect villain. Favorite Line: “This is very cruel, Oskar. You’re giving them hope. You shouldn’t do that. That’s cruel!”

1. The Joker from “The Dark Knight” – I hate to jump on the Heath Ledger Joker bandwagon, but the unpredictable and chaotic deeds of “The Dark Knight’s”  antagonist went beyond a mere battle of good and evil. Ledger’s Joker asks every viewer about where their hearts lie in the age old debate over humanity’s inclination to chaos or order. The Joker’s monumental task of battling Batman appeared to be no different than taking out the trash as the whole of Gotham City was plunged into chaos by the “Clown Prince of Crime.” Knives, explosives or poison; The Joker had no qualms about who he iced. Favorite Line: “Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can’t savor all the… little emotions. In… you see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So in a way, I know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards?”

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Local musicians Muffington are planning to rock the halls of Beer:30 with their reunited group tomorrow, with Stacy Kumberg opening for them.

            “We haven’t had Tyler Stephens, our rhythm guitarist, for a few weeks,” said Riley Day, junior music education major. “He’s coming back from Ohio to practice with us this Wednesday, so that’ll be very refreshing.”

            Muffington, an experimental rock band made up of students from fifth floor South Towers dormitories at Emporia State, has been in the Emporia music scene for over two years now.

            “The local music scene is a tight knit group,” said Glenn Woolard, junior percussion performance major. “We owe a lot to the guys at Flint Hills music.”

            The group’s distinctive style combines elements of jazz, reggae and alternative rock. At previous shows, they’ve covered Grateful Dead songs and Beatles songs.

            Stephens, former ESU student and guitarist for Muffington, had left the group to go back to Ohio with his father for a time, but is returning to play with the group for the show this Friday.

            “My dad lives in Ohio and I am moving back with him,” Stephens said in a previous interview. “Hobo Monk is made up of my dad’s friends from Ohio.”

            Part of the group’s goals for the reunion is to practice together for a tour that would include Kansas City and Ohio.

            “Our plan is to go up to Ohio where Tyler’s dad has some connections to make a CD,” Woolard said. “After we get our CD out, we can fund our tour, or use the money so we don’t have to eat virtually nothing.”

            This summer is going to be integral in the band’s growth, Day said.

            “We’ll hopefully get our CD made this summer,” Woolard said. “Then maybe we’ll be able to get to Lawrence, Ohio, or Kansas City.”

            The band attributes its success largely to the collaboration it has had with Josh and Jared Olsen, owners of Beer:30, particularly with Josh’s volunteering to play bass.

            “We wouldn’t be anywhere without them,” Woolard said. “They’re awesome guys, and they’ve helped us out ever since the open-mic night.”

            In a prior interview, Josh Olsen conveyed his enjoyment at being invited to play with Muffington, and described how he believed the local music scene was trying to grow.

            “I’ve been friends with them for a while, and they needed a bass player for some songs,” Olsen said. “I think the local music scene is trying to grow.”

The concert at Beer:30 starts at 10:30 p.m. with Kumberg and Muffington’s keyboardist Greg “Greenhorn” Drummond performing together.

            “Drummond is a great keyboardist, and he is a baller,” Day said. “Also, everybody should watch Stacy open, since she has such a beautiful voice. After that we come on around midnight, and get to play after everybody’s had a few drinks.”

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You know Hollywood is running out of good ideas when a remake of the ‘80s Cold War action flick “Red Dawn” sounds in any way appealing to a modern audience. Hollywood is also making a few bucks off of a Wolverine of a different sort with the new trend of making superhero oriented movies of varying quality and fan following. Many casual movie goers may view comic books themselves as a strange and childish medium read by virgin lads with altars to Kevin Smith in their bedrooms. To combat this, some literary critics have insisted that comic book superheroes are to us what Beowulf was to his audience – a reflection of what we view as heroic in our own time. I would have to agree with these literary critics, and present to you Josh’s Top 5 “Superheroes.”

5. Green Lantern a.k.a. Hal Jordan– The Green Lantern is a DC Comics hero with power that derives from a ring that can create solid matter and energy only limited by the bearer’s imagination, courage and willpower. In essence, the ring of Green Lantern is as strong as he wills it to be. Whenever the Green Lantern desires to “recharge” his ring he places it in a lantern and recites the Green Lantern Oath: “In brightest day, in blackest night,/No evil shall escape my sight/Let those who worship evil’s might,/Beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!” Green Lantern is scheduled to be made into a movie with Ryan Reynolds playing the jeweled harbinger of justice.

4. Thor a.k.a. Donald Blake – Thor is the Norse god of thunder, and one of the most powerful beings in existence in the Marvel Comics universe. This Viking badass is sent to earth under the guise of a meek scientist that transformed into the god of thunder whenever he tapped his cane on the ground. The fact that a Norse god finds himself fighting crime on Earth is astounding, especially when you consider the injuries you could incur if you decided to shoplift then get your ass beaten by a giant hammer wielding guy with a winged hat and cape. Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, has the ability to beat the hell out of frost giants, other gods and even give the Incredible Hulk a run for his money. On top of all of this, Thor is getting a movie adaptation directed by acclaimed Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh – NERDGASM!

3. The Comedian a.k.a. Edward Blake – I get a peculiar sense of joy in including The Comedian in this list. The Comedian was a character in Alan Moore’s 1986 “Watchmen” graphic novel that did everything a hero is not supposed to do while still being considered a masked hero. He takes the idea of humans being anything more than animalistic as a sick joke and does whatever he damn well pleases in order to prove that correct. He does all this while chomping on a cigar and wearing a happy face pin on his costume. The Comedian is one of the characters that marked the turning point of comic book characters from masked defenders of the Status Quo to literary characters that can spit in the face of all that we hold dear.

2. Batman a.k.a. Bruce Wayne – Batman was created by comic book artist Bob Kane in 1939. Batman’s origins lie in the tragic tale of multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne whose parents were murdered in front of him as a boy. As he matured, Wayne took it upon himself to fight crime with fighting techniques and gadgets that he could acquire with his virtually unlimited personal resources. Featuring some of the coolest villains in comic book history such as The Joker, Two-Face and the Riddler, Batman’s status as a human and powerless superhero has translated to instant box-office success. Batman’s appeal lies in his ability to tow the line between hero and villain with his personal creed to never kill. Often the only thing that separates his personal trauma from his enemies is his oath to not kill and this created some of the heaviest stories in modern comic history.

1. Captain America a.k.a. Steve Rogers – This patriotic pansy turned super-soldier exploded onto the comic book scene with a right hook straight to Hitler’s face for his first cover in 1941. Captain America began as a wartime propaganda character that was later revived into a leader for the legendary superhero team The Avengers. Cap’s power derives from a serum that was administered to him as part of a World War II experiment to create the perfect soldier. The Cap may remind some of the jingoistic ignorance of the mid 20th century but his post revival self has come to represent the unyielding ideas of liberty, patriotism and moral uprightness. He has even, on several occasions, rebelled against the demands of the U.S. political system to better protect his belief in the freedom of the citizens he shields.

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Karen Hough, founder and CEO of Improv Edge, encouraged students to use networking and the concepts of improvisation in their professional and personal environments in a presentation in the Memorial Union Colonial Ballroom, Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

Karen Hough, founder and CEO of Improv Edge, encouraged students to use networking and the concepts of improvisation in their professional and personal environments in a presentation in the Memorial Union ballroom last night. Hough was hosted by LEAD.

            “If it weren’t for ‘yes,’ improv wouldn’t work,” Hough said. “’Yes’ is just as important in the business world as well. We are critical people at our core, and our first instinct is to say no a lot of the time.”

            Hough began her presentation with the concept of the “Yes! Deck,” a four step method that can be applied to the business and improvisational comedy world. She used interactive games to illustrate the steps.

            “The idea of involving the audience on a very personal level helped to get the points across better,” said Matthew Crome, freshman management and information systems major. “I think it speaks to your audience a lot more if you get them involved, and the involvement helps get the ideas better stuck in the audience’s mind.”

            Audience participation was essential, and Hough made sure the audience participated when she said she was perfectly comfortable with silence.

            “The improv games were a great opportunity,” said Adam Wright, junior business administration major. “Everyday people are put in those situations and don’t know how to deal with those situations, so her presentation made it accessible to people.”

            Hough also claimed that people only listen to 50 percent of every sentence before they begin to think about what they are going to say next, or are otherwise distracted by something else.

            “People want to be heard, want ideas, collaboration and give and take,” Hough said. “If you figure out how to connect with people at an elemental level at this age, your success in your relationships and business ventures will be phenomenal.”

            The emphasis on connecting was demonstrated through the elevator pitch demonstration and improvisation game.

            “The ones who get promotions, or the jobs they want, are the ones with good people skills,” Hough said. “The elevator pitch should tell someone what you do, your name and why they should care within the time it takes an elevator to go seven floors.”

            Students were reminded at the end of the presentation of the importance of the elevator pitch.

            “The elevator pitch was a very nice touch,” Crome said. “I am a business major, so I’ve had similar lessons. I liked how she said it should be natural.”

            Networking’s importance as making legitimate connections, and not just handing out business cards was reiterated through Hough’s stories.

            “I made my first major business deal on a kid’s soccer field while it was pouring down rain with a woman I thought was just another soccer mom,” Hough said. “You never know when a relationship you build will mean something down the road. This room is your first powerful network, and I have friends I made in college and we have stayed connected for many years.”

            Even some individuals who were not going into the business field considered the presentation’s lessons helpful for their future careers.

            “I thought the presentation was informative and insightful,” said Kaitlyn Jarvis, freshman history major. “My dream is to one day work in museums, and a good part of that is being able to walk up to people you don’t know and introduce yourself. That’s something I am not comfortable with yet, and I think this presentation helped move that direction.”

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Aishah Shahidah Simmons, documentary filmmaker and lecturer speaks with students about her documentary, “NO!,” Monday afternoon in Visser Hall 330. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin

The hardships and struggles that faced the black community in the past, and its current struggle against sexual violence was discussed by mother and daughter speakers in a series of events presented by the department of ethnic and gender studies last Monday and Tuesday.

“My making ‘No!’ was something that I tried to separate myself from, and I am not actually anywhere in the film,” said Aishah Shahidah Simmons, documentary filmmaker and lecturer. “But as I went along, I found out that I had everything to do with it. Through the production of the film, I found that I healed.”

The presentations began on Monday with a workshop by Aishah Simmons concerning documentary filmmaking, and particularly focused on examples that dealt with issues facing the black community. About 15 ESU students and faculty attended. Her film “No! The Rape Documentary” was shown on Tuesday night in Visser Hall.

“I never knew how much of an issue (sexual violence) was for African-American women,” said Frances Busby, senior secondary English education major. “Social issues play a role in the classroom, so I am hoping to use the information I learn in the classroom.”

That same evening Aishah Simmons’ mother, Gwendolyn Soharah Simmons, professor of religious studies at the University of Florida, presented her experiences as a college girl that helped with the peaceful protesting organization Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement.

“My story is a small one, but there were so many of us young people who took time out of their lives for the Civil Rights Movement,” Gwendolyn Simmons said. “It really was a great fortune to serve on the frontlines during the movement.”

Gwendolyn Simmons described in great detail the influences and events that brought her into the heart of the Civil Rights clashes in the state of Mississippi in the summer of 1964.

“I had (civil rights information) coming at me from all sides,” Gwendolyn Simmons said. “It didn’t take much to move me from my ‘no involvement’ stance that I had shared with my grandmother.”

The opposition of her family to her joining the movement, particularly her grandmother, was a major theme in the presentation. The danger of the undertaking was the reason for their opposition, Gwendolyn Simmons said.

“My grandmother told me, ‘You’ll be raped, shot and thrown into a creek with a bail of cotton around your neck,’” Gwendolyn Simmons said. “I was shocked when I learned that white men had been killed.”

Gwendolyn Simmons highlighted some of the lesser known groups and demonstrated just how large of a movement the battle for civil rights was.

“It’s too easy to just say Martin Luther King ran the Civil Rights Movement,” said Karen Manners Smith, professor of history and director of the ethnic and gender studies program. “We don’t have as many stories in American history that are as successful as the Civil Rights Movement.”

Some students that attended the lecture felt motivated about what they considered current social injustices.

“I think students today are more apathetic,” said Carlos Pringle, senior history major. “I feel motivated to support the rights of homosexuals, even if people don’t agree with what others do they should support their right to work the job they want and have civil rights.”

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Emporia State’s Black Student Union (BSU) traveled to Texas for the Black Student Government Conference last weekend to learn strategies for leadership and action on ESU’s campus.

“I believe it was one of the most powerful conferences a student can go to for student government and being a student leader,” said Lasonya McElroy, junior communication major. “This conference has helped me stay focused on my goals and what we’re trying to promote.”

The three day conference was held at the University of Texas at Austin where more than 700 students attended.

“The theme for this year was ‘Powerful Beyond Measure,’” said Sheryl Lidzy, assistant professor of communication and theatre. “The purpose of the conference, which was started 33 years ago, is to empower black students to become leaders in the world.”

The conference is attended by the Big XII schools as well as smaller schools, and was started in 1977 to help black students make an impact on their campuses.

“It started in 1977 in Columbia, Missouri,” Lidzy said. “Next year we’re going back to Columbia.”

Some of the themes for the conference included personal health, leadership strategies and finance management.

“The 33^rd Big XII Conference on Black Student Government 2010 program offers you Texas hospitality with a deliberate conference schedule with focused topics that promise to expand your knowledge, invigorate your pursuit of excellence, soothe your soul and fuel your spirit,” said Soncia Reagins-Lilly, senior associate vice president for student affairs of the University of Texas at Austin in a letter to conference attendees. “As your educational career advances, please realize that many people are investing in your leadership and your success.”

ESU’s Black Student Union went to the conference to learn new effective leadership skills, Lidzy said.

“The members of the council are usually the ones that go,” Lidzy said. “I will say that this is not what happened this time, and that we are developing new leaders, which is really exciting.”

The organization of the conference allowed for six keynote speakers for each meal of the conference, and then the students attended workshops for the rest of the conference.

“Some of these workshops included things like how to be black on a primarily white campus, but also how to lead effectively, be an effective adult and even how to deal with relationship issues,” Lidzy said. “They were really cool workshops.”

Speakers carried powerful inspirational messages, and even helped students realize how negatives in their lives could be transformed into positives, McElroy said.

“One of the speakers that stands out to me was a woman named Angel,” McElroy said. “She used her personal story and things that happened to be mistakes and failures in her life and told us how she used what could have destroyed her to her gain.”

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I’ll be the first to admit that women carry a certain burden that men can never quite understand. In the traditional social roles that have been maintained by a patriarchal system the domain of women has been the home and family, while we boys get to go outside and play cowboys and Indians. Well, in honor of Women’s History Month, I am going to recognize what women I think best went out to play with the boys, and often kicked their asses. Here is Josh’s Top 5 “Badass Beauties.”

5. Annie Oakley – Annie Oakley was a famous sharpshooter of the Wild West, and considered by many to be first true American female superstar. Born Phoebe Anne Mosey, she initially began shooting to support her widowed mother and seven brothers and sisters, but became widely noticed when she beat her future husband (also a sharpshooter) in a shooting contest. Standing at five feet tall, the little lady stunned audiences of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show with her shooting expositions. Oakley was rumored to be able to shoot a playing card facing the edge, and then shoot it six more times before it hit the ground. Clint Eastwood: eat your heart out.

4. Boudicca – This queen of the ancient Britons, whose name means “victory” in her native tongue, came to prominence when her husband died around 60 A.D. Her husband was a King of the Iceni tribe that was allied with the Romans, and according to his wishes he wanted his daughters to rule his tribe after his death. After his death, the Romans flogged Boudicca, raped his daughters and seized his tribes holdings. Boudicca roused several of the tribes of Briton together to rebel against the occupying Romans, and in her campaign of retribution it is estimated that she killed between 70,000-80,000 people in the three major settlements she attacked. Her attacks prompted the emperor Nero to consider abandoning Britain altogether, and forced him to reroute whole legions from other places to put down this female rebel filled with righteous indignation.

3. Anne Bonny – Anne Bonny is remembered simply for the fact that she was a female pirate during the “golden age of piracy” in the 18^th century. Bonny married a small time pirate, and then promptly cheated on him with another pirate named “Calico Jack” Rackham. Rackham offered Bonny’s husband money to buy her for marriage, but she refused to “be bought and sold like cattle.” Bonny joined Rackham’s crew and with another female pirate, Mary Read, they stole a ship called the “Revenge.” The infamous three sailed around the Caribbean taking ships and money. Bonny was eventually captured but used the fact that she was pregnant with Rackham’s child to delay her execution until her father could pay her ransom.

2. Lyudmila Pavlichenko – During World War II the Soviets became renowned for their use of snipers, particularly the skill of Vasily Zaytsev who was portrayed by the significantly less fugly Jude Law in the 2001 film, “Enemy at the Gates.” He had 242 verified kills, and got enough bling from Comrade Stalin to make Lil’ Wayne jealous. Uniquely, the Soviet Army also allowed females to serve as snipers, where Pavlichenko became famous for her 309 confirmed kills. This woman from Ukraine, who was also a successful student at the University of Kiev, was one of 2000 women to volunteer to be snipers for the Red Army. Only 500 of them survived the war, with Pavlichenko being one of them. Pavlichenko received the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union, which is less recognition than what Zaytsev received for killing fewer men. She went on to be the first Soviet citizen to visit the White House, had her own stamp made in the Soviet Union in 1943 and 1976, had a Woody Guthrie song written about her and finally had a ship named after her posthumously. She is considered by military historians to be the most successful female sniper in history.

1. Joan of Arc – If you ever wonder what God tells people to do, look up Joan of Arc. This 15^th century maiden of France rose to prominence when she claimed that God had told her to drive the occupying English back to their homeland. Joan did not simply stand back and watch what her visions could inspire, but instead strapped on armor and rode out to the city of Orleans where she helped break the long standing siege in only nine days. She took bold action in leading French forces when their strategy up to that point had been one of caution and cowardice. Joan was captured when she was unhorsed by an archer, and she was kept in prison due to her family’s inability to pay her ransom. She died being burnt at the stake by English clergymen for heresy after being sexually assaulted and signing a confession she couldn’t read. Joan was canonized years later when Pope Callixtus III declared her innocent of any charges of heresy.

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With National Eating Disorder Awareness Week falling on the week of Feb. 28 -March 6, Emporia State’s counseling department and its students face the complex issue of eating disorders.

“[My friend] was always very conscious of what she was eating, looking like and how people were seeing her,” said Matt Bricker, senior sociology major. “She tried counseling, but that was hit and miss. Recovery was a long process for her, and it took a lot of effort.”

The purpose of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is to ultimately prevent eating disorders and body image issues while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment, according to the National Eating Disorder Awareness’ official Web site.

“Eating disorders are not talked about very often,” said Anita Bodkin, counselor for Emporia State’s counseling center. “It’s a hard thing to admit to but our campus has students with eating disorders just like any other college campus.”

Bodkin says the consumption, or purging, of food for the body can be an attempt to fulfill some other emotional need that is being unfulfilled.

“Eating disorders are often called a ‘needing disorder,’” said Sally Crawford-Fowler, assistant director of student wellness of the counseling center. “There is a need to feel good, and I think the media and most of society puts a lot of pressure on people to be a certain way to feel good. Eating disorders are much more common amongst people with perfectionist personalities.”

The counseling associated with helping alleviate the effects of eating disorders involves a significant amount of counseling and discussion, Bodkin said.

“We try to help the person figure out that need that is going unfulfilled,” Bodkin said. “Once we’ve identified that need we try and help them meet it in a healthy and productive manner.”

ESU counselors provide services for students with eating disorders, but the center has no formal plans for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The center’s commitment to providing care for eating disorders all the time instead of one week a year is the reason for the lack of plans, Crawford-Fowler said.

“Most people don’t seek treatment till it interferes with their social lives,” Crawford-Fowler said. “We always have literature and counselors available for anyone who needs it.”

Many students enter college with eating disorders, or other issues, that they did not have the resources to treat before, Bodkin said.

“My friend had an eating disorder in high school,” Bricker said. “She was only able to start recovery in college.”

Peer groups and self-image were the keys to Bricker’s friend’s recovery from the effects of her eating disorder.

“She definitely needed a better support group,” Bricker said. “Some of her friends had similar problems, and it didn’t help her. She seems much happier now, and less concerned with perceptions and much more willing to be herself.”

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Warfare is perhaps the single thread that has permeated all of human history. Whether you view war as the unfortunate bloodshed that is necessary to change the world, or as the ultimate demonstration of man’s greed and stupidity, it has some great rhetoric associated with it. Hollywood portrays most epic battle sequences with a speech directly before the action, and sometimes it makes us feel like we’re part of the always under-equipped and outnumbered army. So here is Josh’s Top 5 spine-tingling, ass-kicking inducing movie pre-battle speeches.

5. Aragorn’s speech at the Black Gate from “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” – Up until this point in “Lord of the Rings,” we’ve sat through a movie so lengthy that even the talking trees merited a hooray for some excitement. Following the massively scaled and miracle laden battle of Minas Tirith, we are treated to the even more desperate battle at the Black Gate of Mordor. When this speech is delivered to the men of Rohan and Gondor that face certain death at the hands of the forces of Sauron, you’ll want to go hunt some Orc yourself. That being said, you still can’t excuse the Fellowship’s bed scene at the end of the movie. Favorite line: “A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship – but it is not this day!”

4. Plataea speech from “300” – This speech was delivered at the end of “300” by the ridiculously ripped and one eyed character Dilios who is played by David Wenham. The audience has just seen the death of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans play out, and they took a few thousand Persians with them. Their sacrifice at Thermopylae has inspired the armies of Greece to get together and unload both barrels on the Persians. During the speech, the Persians with 3:1 odds in their favor, are off-screen apparently crapping their pants at the prospect of fighting 10,000 Spartans and 30,000 other Greeks – bona-fide badass. Favorite line: “This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny and usher in a future brighter than anything we can imagine.”

3. Speech at Area 51 from “Independence Day” – This speech is sure to make anybody want to piss red, white and blue. The city sized spaceships of an alien race have decimated the cities of the entire Earth, and their ships have a shield that protects them from any weapon humanity has. A character played by Jeff Goldblum discovers a computer virus that can disable the aliens’ shields and a worldwide counterstrike against the invaders is coordinated, with the good ol’USA leading the charge with Bill Pullman and an alcoholic crop duster as the heroes. God Bless America. Favorite line: “And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive!’ Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!”

2. Speech before the Battle of Stirling from “Braveheart” – In any other set of circumstances the occurrence of a bunch of men in skirts with blue faces might be seen as a tad peculiar. In “Braveheart,” it’s about the manliest damn thing you can imagine. William Wallace is motivating his Scottish rebels to hold their ground and fight alongside him against the mass of English knights across the field. This speech gives me chills every time, simply for the fact that he acknowledges that his men have the choice to go home and die a peaceful death in their beds sometime in the future, but that staying there and kicking the shit out of the English gives testament to their Y-Chromosomes. Favorite line: “And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!!!”

1. St. Crispin’s Day speech from “Henry V” – This was the original speech that inspired every “let’s take a few of the bastards with us” type speeches that we know today. Originally written by William Shakespeare in 1599 for the stage, this speech comes from the title character right before the Battle of Agincourt. For the best version of this on film, I recommend Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 version. The historical battle’s details may be different, but in the play, Henry’s English forces are outnumbered by the French 5:1. Henry has to motivate his men to go out onto the muddy field of Agincourt and face the knights of France. Henry’s men are tired, few and the visiting team. I won’t spoil the ending. Favorite line: “We band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.”

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