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: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16971
NEWS OF THE WEIRD by CHUCK SHEPPARD More than a half-million children WEEKLY HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY in the U.S. take antipsychotic medicines and (reported The New York Times in September) “(e)ven the most reluctant (doctors) encounter a marketing juggernaut that has made antipsychotics the nation’s top-selling class of drugs by revenue, $14.6 billion last year, with prominent promotions aimed at treating children.” In one psychiatrist’s waiting room, observed the Times reporter, “(C)hildren played with Legos stamped with the word Risperdal” (an antipsychotic made by Johnson & Johnson). (The company, which recently lost its patent on the drug, said it has stopped handing out the toys — which it insisted were not toys at all but advertising reminders for doctors.) [New York Times, 9-2-10] The Litigious Society Three self-described bisexual men filed a federal lawsuit in April against the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance for disqualifying them from the Gay Softball World Series in Seattle in 2008 because they were not sufficiently gay. Teams were limited to two heterosexuals, and when the men’s team won second place, questions were raised about the three until organizers took them aside and asked “intrusive” questions about their sexual attractions and desires. Ultimately, they were disqualified as being too straight. (The alliance acknowledged that it has no standards for judging gayness level, but explained, as a private organization, that it is not subject to federal law.) [Seattle Times, 4-20-10] Justine Winter, 17, who was badly injured in a car crash in Flathead County, Mont., in March 2009, filed a lawsuit in July 2010 against the pregnant driver whom she had hit and killed (along with the woman’s 13-year-old son). However, the local prosecutor has already charged Winter with two counts of homicide, based on text messages she had sent her estranged boyfriend minutes before the crash. “If I won (you),” she texted, “I would have you ... and I wouldn’t crash my car.” Also, “That’s why I’m going to wreck my car. Because all I can do is f--- up. Because I am a terrible person, and I know it.” Also, “Good bye ... my last words.” That was then; nowadays, Winter says the woman she hit was driving negligently and that construction companies failed to maintain the roadway properly. [ABC News, 8-16-10] Craig Smallwood of Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year against the makers of the online virtual-world game “Lineage II” for failing to warn him that he would become so addicted to playing it that he would be “unable to function independently in usual daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed, bathing or communicating with family and friends.” (He claims to have spent 20,000 hours over five years playing.) In August, Judge Alan Kay declined to dismiss the lawsuit and set it for trial. [Wired.com, 8-19-10] COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK SHEPHERD WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM *Lunch Buffet M-S 11-3 Closed Sunday b ARIES (March 21-April 19) Your powers of observation and insight are strong this week. Pay careful attention to the questions people ask you. Reflect the exact same question back to the asker and you’ll learn something truly interesting. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You might want to rearrange your vision of the past. There’s a lot to let go of. This is true for most people, and you won’t be the only one working on this. The way you see your history is just as important as how it really happened. GEMINI (May 21-June 21) You want to make an impression. It’s not because you care so much about what the other person thinks about you. It’s more because there’s some- thing inside you that wants to prove what you can do. Even though you could get by doing much less, you feel that you must make the extra effort needed to rise to the top. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Socially, you’ll walk a fi ne line. However, you also need to be sensitive to the egos of those around you. Remember that like equals like. Focus on the ways in which you are similar to the rest of your group. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You won’t mind the strong personalities around you, and you’ll have no problem complying with a leader’s wishes, even the ones that seem over the top. Because you are so secure in your own skin, you will flip all challenging situations in your favor. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The state of your community has a daily effect on you, though because it’s in the background, you don’t think about it too often. Offer up assistance for those who can’t say the same. n di a n ADVICE GODDESS LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) It could be argued that going out to dinner or taking a vacation is a waste of money — what do you have to show for it in the end? This thinking is wrongheaded. Your experiences will actually stick with you long after the material goods you could have purchased instead have faded into obscurity. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) There seems to be enough time to do the work you must do, but very little time to explore options and ex- tras. And yet, it’s those seemingly extraneous activities that allow you to be most creative. Adjust to make more time for them. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)You are most fulfi lled when putting something into the world that wasn’t there before. You do need the right conditions in order to be creative, but it’s not what you think. It’s a simple, repetitive task that will open you up to inspiration. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Your task is interesting this week and will stimulate you on many levels. Instead of being pulled in many directions and spinning out uncontrollably, you’ll stay contained and controlled as you spin inward. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Sometimes you cross a goal off of your list because you accomplished it. Other times, you cross it off because it’s been there so long it’s getting old. If it were really the right goal for you, you would have done it by now. Slash a goal off the list in order to make room for a new one. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You’re the leader of a group, and this takes thought, en- ergy and effort. By the end of the week, you’ll likely feel that you need a break from being in charge. You want others to operate indepen- dent of your direction. By Holiday Mathis I’m Knot With the Band I’m 28 and my boyfriend of fi ve years is 29. I’m ready to get married, and he’s fl at-out not, but wants us to stay together. Our maturity levels vary greatly. I’m getting my Ph.D. while working full time. He has a job, but can’t save or manage money and just wants to play in his bands, and stay out and party. He’s very affectionate and constantly tells me he loves me, but regarding getting married, he always says things like, “It’ll be our turn one day,” or says he’ll propose by the end of X month, but never does. I’m in therapy over this, but he refuses to come. In general, he can’t articulate himself in an argument and often refuses to discuss unpleasant topics (money, bills, or emotional issues). Every- one around us is getting married, and in our society, there are articles and websites that say a man’s proposal is the ultimate way of showing his devotion and love. I try to remember that my value comes from within, but I need to know that the man I love wants me that much, and forever. — Waiting Everything you say about the guy screams that the only aisle he’ll be walking down anytime soon is one with a big sale on Tostitos or beer. This doesn’t make him a bad person — just a bad person to be hitting up for a marriage proposal. Sure, in the name of love and conflict avoidance, he’ll pluck a month off the calendar for the big day, or tell you “Our day will come!” and maybe even believes it in the moment. But, let’s get real. Distant consequences don’t exactly play a part in his decision-making, and his idea of planning for the future probably involves remembering to get to the payday loan place so he can get his guitar out of hock before the weekend. Women in your position ask Amy Alkon Fine Dining Mon - Sat 5-10 Full Service Bar • Large Parties • Catering • Take Out Reservations Accepted “Exquisite Indian cuisine prepared by a world renowned chef.” 3401-A Raeford Rd. (Formerly Pierro’s) Next to All American Freeway 433-4351 • shalimarfaync@yahoo.com themselves, “If he loves me, why won’t he marry me?!” It isn’t always that simple for men. Studies by sociologist Pamela Smock and others suggest that men’s readiness to marry is often tied to whether they feel financially stable and successful in their careers. Careers? Your boyfriend doesn’t have one, let alone $20 to carry him through the weekend. Still, he clearly isn’t commitment averse. He’s been committed to you for five years; he’s just squeamish about signing a contract to drive you to Bingo when you’re 90. Yes, getting married is supposed to be the ultimate way of showing love and devotion, and maybe that’s why so many people do it four times. You need to ask yourself: Are you more in love with the guy or the idea of marrying the guy? Whatever you do, quit trying to drag him to therapy. He isn’t mentally ill. He doesn’t even sound troubled. Okay, so he can’t hang onto a dollar or have adult conversations about uncomfortable subjects, but he seems to love you and want to be with you. And maybe he can, if only you can accept him for who he is — a guy who might eventually pop the question, but it’ll probably be something along the lines of would you like another round, and if so, can he “borrow” $8. (c)2010, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2010 UCW 23 A i r W e o p x lr E d e Cl nisi Non-Vegetarian Halal Meat Vegetarian & egeta get ssa *Items Change Daily! NOW OPEN ms Cha g Daily ms C ms Ch D ily! ria C u I e n c e