Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/762678
DECEMBER 14-20, 2016 UCW 27 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ADVICE GODDESS Tulle Time A female friend of mine wanted to get married, but her boyfriend was resistant. He'd been married before, with disastrous results. He eventually married her — not because he wanted to be married but because it meant so much to her. Initially, she felt bad about this. She had to give up her romantic dream of getting married because somebody would want to be tied to her forever. Do men just marry women to make us happy? — Wondering Woman Evolutionary psychologists David Buss and David Schmitt note that we humans evolved to choose between two different sexual strategies — short-term and long-term. Women typically benefit more from a "long-term sexual strategy" — a commitment model, i.e., getting men to stick around to invest in their children. Men often benefit more from a "short-term sexual strategy" — a lack-of- commitment model, i.e., sticking it into a long line of sexfriends. That's because a man can have sex with thousands of women and never end up pregnant with something that needs to be fed, clothed, and sent to hipster day care. Though a man gets more shots to pass on his genes with the short-term "I love a parade!" approach, it's sometimes more advantageous for him to opt for a long- term strategy. It's a huge time-, energy-, and resource-suck to perpetually be on the hunt. Also, Buss explains, because "highly desirable women" can hold out for commitment, men can get a much better woman if they're willing to go for a long- term thing. Whether to commit generally doesn't play out in men's heads in such clear cost-benefit terms — like calculations on whether to go all in on pork futures. It's emotion that pushes them toward commitment — loving a woman who happens to insist on a commitment and wanting to make her happy. Economist Robert H. Frank calls love "a solution to the commitment problem." Mushywushy feelings are what keep you with that special someone — instead of running off the moment somebody who's objectively a better deal moves in next door or your beloved is tossing their cookies on the side of the road: "Bye, hon … hope somebody nice comes along to hold your hair back!" There are two major reasons you spend the rest of your life with one person: Either you realize you love them more than you love your freedom or you're serving a sentence for a string of really bad felonies. Copyright Amy Alkon NEWS OF THE WEIRD by CHUCK SHEPPARD Even Baking Soda Is Dangerous Almost all law enforcement agencies in America use the Scott Reagent field test when they discover powder that looks like cocaine, but the several agencies that have actually conducted tests for "false positives" say they happen up to half the time. In October, the latest victims (husband-and- wife truck drivers with spotless records and Pentagon clearances) were finally released after 75 days in jail awaiting trial — for baking soda that tested "positive" three times by Arkansas troopers (but, eventually, "negative" by a state crime lab). (Why do police love the test? It costs $2.) The truck drivers had to struggle to get their truck back and are still fighting to be re-cleared to drive military explosives. [KUTV (Salt Lake City), 10-31-2016] Unclear on the Concept Activists told Vice Media in November that 100,000 people worldwide identify as "ecosexuals," ranging from those who campaign for "sustainable"-ingredient sex toys to those who claim to have intercourse with trees (but sanding the bark for comfort might provoke concern about being "abusive"). A University of Nevada, Las Vegas professor studies the phenomenon and knows, for example, of humans who "marry" the Earth or prefer sex while rolling in potting soil or under a waterfall. On one "arborphilia" support blog, a female poster regretted her choice to have "convenient" sex with the sycamore outside her bedroom window instead of the sturdy redwood she actually covets. (Yes, some "mainstream" environmentalists somehow are not completely supportive.) [Vice Media, 11-2- 2016] [Inverse.com, 4-22-2016] The Continuing Crisis If You See Something, Say Something: Ricky Berry and his roommate walked in to a CVS store in Richmond, Virginia, in November to ask if it carried sliced cheese but were told no. Minutes later, all the employees walked to the back of the store, hid in a locked room, and called the police. Berry and pal, and a third customer (with a toothache and desperately needing Orajel), were bewildered by the empty store until a Richmond police officer arrived. After observing that the three customers appeared nonthreatening, he mused along with Berry that "this is how weird, apocalyptic movies start." WRIC- TV reported later that the employee who panicked and called police will "possibly" need retraining. [WRIC-TV, 11-23-2016] Copyright Chuck Sheppard ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, someone is interested in what you have to say, especially with regard to a personal issue. You're not quite sure if you're ready to reveal all that much to others. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, plans go well for you this week and you will follow through with the tasks you need to tackle. You may need to tweak a few things in the days to come, however. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you may not see eye-to-eye with a few close friends this week, but you can push past this and your friendship will endure. Try to find some common ground. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 A series of new ideas might make you everyone's best friend this week, Cancer. Your brain is working overtime, and you may be shocked at what you can accomplish. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Try something new this week, Leo. Make it something as simple as taking a new route to work or school or trying a new recipe in the kitchen. New experiences may surprise you. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you have a strong sense of pride and don't like to give up on things prematurely. But this week you have to respect another's perspective and concede a point. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, navigate a sticky situation as carefully as possible. Many may come to you for advice, but try not to get too involved in a conflict that has nothing to do with you. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 You will be full of energy this week and ready to handle just about anything that comes your way, Scorpio. You may gain some admirers after your even-keeled handling of a situation. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Big plans this week does not mean you can pass up on your existing responsibilities, Sagittarius. Try to make time for everything, and delegate any tasks that you can. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Keep listening when others around you are talking, Capricorn. You can learn valuable lessons just by sitting back and listening to what others have to say. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, others' charitable spirits prove contagious this week. Explore the volunteer opportunities available to you and don't be afraid to try something new. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 You may crave change this week, Pisces. Even small changes can make a difference. Try to incorporate new experiences into your days. Amy Alkon Chuck Sheppard Your opinion is something we always want to hear. Call or email us your feedback. WE'RE ALL EARS Questions? Comments? Story Ideas? Let us know how we're doing. 208 Rowan St. Fayetteville, NC 28301 910.484.6200 www.upandcomingweekly.com