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/786618
30 UCW FEBRUARY 15-21, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ADVICE GODDESS Savings and Alone I'm a 28-year- old guy in a corporate job. I'm out there trying to meet women and date (or hook up), but I'm not doing so well. In college, I was able to hook up and get girlfriends pretty easily, and I haven't put on 100 pounds or anything. I've noticed that three of my male co-workers (at my same level at work) are getting lots of girls. All three are in major debt from buying clothes and leasing cars they really can't afford. Is being on the road to bankruptcy really what it takes to impress the ladies? – Living Within My Means Research on men and women ages 18 to 45 by evolutionary social psychologist Daniel Kruger found that men who had run up credit card debt were more likely to have multiple sex partners than their more sensibly spending bros. (Women's debt level didn't have any meaningful effect on their sexual body count.) Looking at Kruger's findings, another evolutionary psychologist, Glenn Geher, speculates that men's overspending "may act as a false signal of wealth, and although it is a false signal" (of the ability to provide resources for a woman and any children) "sometimes this deception is effective." As for why that might be, just as a guy doesn't get to ask a woman whether her genes or steel-belted Spanx are the force behind her supermodel abs, a woman won't be poring over a guy's credit report at the bar. She'll just paw admiringly at the cashmere hoodie he took out two loans and sold his twin brother into slavery to buy. This isn't to say you need to go into the red to get girls. It's ultimately a bad strategy for any guy who wants more than a string of flings. However, what would probably lead more women to give you a chance are the first-glance trappings of success — beautiful shoes, designer eyeglass frames, that fab cashmere sweater, and maybe a really nice soft leather jacket. The thing is, you can get these items simply by shopping shrewdly — like at end-of-year sales or on eBay. They'll surely cost more than the duds you'd otherwise buy, but consider them investments to get you in the door. Remember, even women who want a boyfriend who's fiscally responsible are likely to be impressed by that sweater that took four years combing a Mongolian goat to make. And let's say some woman's just looking for a hookup. It's all good; she won't know you long enough to discover that although you do drive a brand-new "alternative-fuel" vehicle, it isn't a Tesla; it's a Schwinn. Copyright Amy Alkon NEWS OF THE WEIRD by CHUCK SHEPPARD Work of a Researcher "Field work is always challenging," explained Courtney Marneweck of South Africa's University of KwaZulu- Natal in a recent journal article, but studying the sociology of a white rhino's dung meant developing a "pattern- recognition algorithm" to figure out "smell profiles" of 150 animals' feces — after tracking them individually to observe them in the act. Wrote Marneweck, "I think my record for waiting for a rhino to poo was 7 1/2 hours." Conclusion: Rhinos use feces to send distinct social signals on genetically compatible herds, mating access and predator dangers. (Or, in the Los Angeles Times "clickbait" version of the story, rhino dung "has a lot in common with a Facebook post.") [Los Angeles Times, 1-14-2017] The Way the World Works "Retiring" the Herd: Settlement of a class-action lawsuit against a group of dairy co-ops was announced in January with milk producers agreeing to pay $52 million on charges they had conspired to fix the dairy supply for years to get top-dollar prices. Among the producers' primary tactics, allegedly, was using what the industry calls "herd retirement," which is "retirement" only in the sense that 500,000 healthy young cows were slaughtered — just to drive up prices by eliminating otherwise-available milk. The $52 million will be for consumers in 15 states and Washington, D.C. [Washington Post, 1-19-2017] Wrist-Slapping: (1) Rutgers University Athletic Director Pat Hobbs, responding to the NCAA's announcement of violations against the school's sports programs (including failure to penalize 16 football players who tested positive for drugs), told the Asbury Park Press in January that he would immediately dismiss from teams any player testing positive for hard drugs — upon the fourth violation (if for marijuana only, upon the fifth). (2) In January, the Russian parliament voted 380 to 3 to amend its assault law to allow a spouse one punishment- by-"ticketing" (i.e., not criminal) for domestic violence against his partner — provided the bodily harm was not "substantial" and that it happens no more than once a year. [Asbury Park Press, 1-11-2017] [USA Today, 1-27-2017] Copyright Chuck Sheppard ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 This week you may get caught up in family conflicts that you don't want to deal with right now. Yet, if you manage the situation the right way, it'll blow over more quickly. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you could learn some very interesting things about activities that are going on around you. Pay attention to those that grab your interest the most. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you already are a sensitive person, but the activities of the week may tug at your heartstrings just a little bit more. Don't be shy to express your feelings. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Today you may be receiving mixed messages from others, Cancer. You will have to dedicate some time to separating the fact from the fiction from what others are saying. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 This week you can have an enjoyable time attending social gatherings, Leo. You'll enjoy relaxing in the company of some friends or family members. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 The stars are advising you get back into the swing of things, Virgo. Forget your past frame of mind and prepare for a whole new adventure that is right around the corner. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, the challenges of the week could be catching up to you. Try to plan a day where your only activity is maximizing on relaxation. There will be time for responsibilities later. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, you are inspired to clarify your personal situation and make some changes in your life. Try a new strategy because the old methods may be inadequate. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 The time has arrived to focus on your personal life, Sagittarius. Things have been quite a roller coaster lately, and you can find a way to even out the landscape. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Find a new and creative approach to a routine conflict, Capricorn. You may find that stress is abated with a different perspective to the situation. Scorpio can lend a helping hand. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Your relationships will evolve and there will be many changes in your personal life, Aquarius. Keep your strong personality in check and let others express themselves, too. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 You often find yourself attracted to individuals with very strong personalities who also are eccentric, Pisces. Try to expand your horizons. Amy Alkon Chuck Sheppard