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History of the Jack ‘o lantern
Pumpkins are very common around Halloween. Something that is even more popular is the Jack o’ lantern, but many do not know where that name originated. Jack o’ lanterns are pumpkins that have been hollowed out and carved. Traditional Jack o’ lanterns have a candle placed in the center to showcase whatever was carved into it. Nowadays, most people recognize jack o’ lanterns to be fancy pumpkins, but pumpkins have not always been used. In ancient Ireland, jack o’ lanterns were made from turnips or potatoes. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Irish Potato Famine (from 1845 until 1849) brought Irish immigrants to the United States, who brought the concept of Jack o’ lanterns as well. According to the History Channel, the practice of carving turnips and making them into Jack o’ lanterns stems from an … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Police Blotter
Oct. 15 2:27 a.m. Disturbance Officers responded to a noise complaint at 55th Street and Rockhill Road. 4:51 p.m. Vehicular Accident A driver in the School of Education lot struck an object with his car. Oct. 16 12:16 a.m. Disturbance A large party was disbanded by an officer at 54th and Harrison Streets. Oct. 17 3:40 p.m. Injury A student at the Durwood Soccer Stadium felt her knee pop and was transported to the hospital. 5:40 p.m. Injury A student at Durwood Soccer Stadium injured her knee but refused medical attention. Oct. 18 1:21 p.m. Vehicular Accident A vehicle pulled out from a parking space and struck a passing vehicle in the Administrative Center drive. Oct. 19 11:27 a.m. Information A university-owned laptop was reported stolen from a staff member’s vehicle at 52nd street and Rockhill road. 3:14 p.m. Violation of University Rules and Regulations Suspects were found at the University Center parking lot in possession of a … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Briefly Mentioned
Priest comes to Kansas City Society of Jesus (S.J.) Jesuit Priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, Reverend Gregory Boyle, will be presenting “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 1 at the Rockhurst University Convocation Center. Father Boyle will discuss how the gang divide in Los Angeles was lessened by showing great care for others and business. He started Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles over 20 years ago as a program that would try to address the problems beginning to arise in the gang-involved youth. Homeboy Industries is recognized as the largest gang prevention program in the United States. Send a message to hsom@rockhurst.edu to register for the event. Admission is free. The Convocation Center is located at 54th street and Troost Avenue on the Rockhurst campus. For more … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
‘The King Stag’ is a must see!
“The King Stag” is the tale of King Deramo (Greg Brostrom), searching for his honest and true queen. The town’s prime minister, Tartaglia (Mark Thomas), also has an agenda to pair his own daughter, Clarissa (Kelly Rebecca Gibson), with King Deramo. Yet King Deramo’s choice of a queen proves to be a surprise for Prime Minister Tartaglia, who will do anything to change this turn of events. Colorful in design and dialogue, this play has something … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
Ask the Cook: Easy smoothies and frappuccinos
This week’s question: “I love frappuccinos and smoothies, but I don’t like paying $4 for them. How can I enjoy them at home and save some money, too?” You’d be surprised how easy it is. These basic recipes use simple ingredients you already have on hand or are easy to find at any grocery. Your most important tool is a blender. Don’t have one? No problem: a decent model will cost $30 to $50. Depending on how often you go out for smoothies, your new blender could pay for itself within a month. My favorite is the Magic Bullet. It has one-and two-cup sizes for easy measuring and makes not only great smoothies but also dips and salsas. I found mine at Bed Bath & Beyond. Smoothies are easy and require just three ingredients: … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
Weird News
Yes…no…yes…no… A 19-year-old man left a party in northern California and decided to hitch a ride home after police officer stopped to check on the lone hitchhiker. The man asked the officer for a ride home, and the officer asked the man if he had anything illegal. The man answered “yes” then quickly changed his mind and said “no.” The man then agreed to be searched. The officer found powder cocaine on the man and arrested … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
Top 5: Scary movies
Many people watch scary movies during the Halloween season, but one question I have is whether or not they really know what scary is? Scary isn’t gore, blood or guts squirting from a zombie’s mouth after gnawing off a victim’s limb. What many people think is scary is not typically intended when the films were made. Scary is that eerie feeling you get in the pit of your stomach while watching a movie. It’s that scene that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
‘See-Saw’: Well-balanced
The Charlotte Street Foundation hosted “See-Saw,” an installation-based performance created by composer Mark Southerland and choreographer Jane Gotch. Both performers are UMKC alumni. There is a final performance this Monday night at La Esquina, at 1000 W. 25th St. “I would say that we based it off mirror neurons in our brains,” Gotch said. “We are hard-wired to have empathetic responses toward other people and animals on the planet. That’s our nature. We feel that performers utilize mirror neurons in performance to elicit an empathetic response from the audience.” “So now that we know about this consciously,” Gotch said. “We wanted to bring this into performance in a non-soap opera after-school special sort of way, like as a tear-jerker, but how we could really create through experiences physical empathetic responses to what they … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
Top 10: U-News Staff Costumes
Kristen McMillen, Staff Writer – My homemade costume was a Rubik’s cube. My dad made it for me, and I wore it when I was about 5 or 6 years old. It was made out of a square box he painted black. He cut squares out of colored construction paper and glued them to the box to make a Rubik’s cube and cut holes for my head and arms. He then cut out the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
What you thought you knew about Halloween
Halloween is a day full of mystery and darkness. Given its macabre associations, it’s no wonder countless myths have formed that scare and confuse many. One of the most prevalent myths is that people go out of their way to hurt children on Halloween. Every year worried parents take their children’s candy to be X-rayed, looking for razor blades, needles or anything else that might fit into a chocolate bar. In nearly every case, the person who brings the candy in is the culprit and is simply looking for media attention. Most experts agree X-raying candy is unnecessary. A poison candy scare from the 1970s to early 1980s spread by moral panic due to several reports of actual poisonings. Halloween is also sometimes referred to as “the Devil’s holiday.” With its dark associations of death … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment
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