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Our Perspective...
Voters left out in cold this November
There are 1,816 registered voters in the Boone 3 precinct.
1,460 are Appalachian State University students.
Farthing Auditorium offers handicapped parking and access,
a secure room for non-voters and a required number of square feet, right
in the middle of campus.
The Agricultural Center offers no handicapped or crosswalk
access and is a half-mile away from the Appalachian State campus.
Which one would the Watauga County Board of Elections pick
for the polling location for this November’s election?
Any rational person would pick Farthing, but the Board
of Elections is not a person, nor rational.
The Board of Elections is unconcerned about appealing to
almost 80 percent of a precinct’s registered voters.
John S. Hovis, chairman of the Board of Elections, even
admits that it might be dangerous to walk to the Agricultural Center
on Poplar Grove Road.
Hovis asks how many people walk to vote?
With the cost of parking on campus, more and more students
are using the AppalCART, hitching rides with roommates/friends and walking
to campus.
Those students are left out in the cold (literally, considering
the election is Nov. 2).
The Board of Elections and the local Republican Party are
purposelessly leaving students out of the political process in Watauga
County.
In Tuesday’s edition of The Appalachian,
Republican Party Headquarters volunteer Karen Wilson urged students to
register in their home counties, since they would know the local candidates
and issues better.
Why should students not vote in Watauga? This is where
students call home for at least four years.
If the students do not know about the issues pertaining
to Watauga County, there are plenty of sources available. Besides The
Appalachian, there is the Watauga Democrat, the Mountain
Times and Mountain Television Network (MTN). That is four news sources
that specifically cater to the High Country.
In addition, how many students paid attention to local
issues while in high school? The Appalachian does not remember
a tremendous amount of bone-chilling debates about the importance of
the county commissioners at the lockers.
This is the first time in many students’ lives when
they will begin to think about the world around them and want to make
a difference.
It is not only the Board of Elections’ job, but also
their responsibility, to make sure these voters are heard in November.
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| Billy Fowler | Editorial Cartoonist |
Fondue: new trend to cook your own
food
Fondue. What is that anyway? At first I thought it was
a yoga move, but the kind folks at Le Bistro Fondue recently helped to
transform me into a fondue guru.
Fondue is pronounced: fahn-DOO and comes from the French
word “fondre” which means “melt,” according to
www.gourmetsleuth.com.
The Web site also mentions that fondue dates back to the
18th century and that adding meat, vegetables, etc. into the mix are
more of an American influence.
For my first fondue experience, I took along two cohorts
to Le Bistro Fondue, where a variety of fondue dishes are available.
I once heard someone comment, “Why would you want
to eat something that you have to cook yourself?” For me, cooking
was definitely the best part. I will admit, I’m a bit of a control
freak, so being involved throughout the entire process was ideal. The
focal point of fondue is just that - cooking at the table.
A portable stove with two burners is a permanent place
setting at the table.
There are four varieties of the typical cheese fondue that Le Bistro Fondue
offers as an appetizer. There are four types of dinner entrees that include
sirloin, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp and lobster, all of which are accompanied
by a vegetable medley. There are three different ways to cook the meat. The
entrees cover all the bases for every taste and the non-meat eater has four
vegetarian selections.
The appetizers and entrees were flawless, but I do have
one qualm that involves the salad. The quality and freshness were up
to par, but I would have liked more vegetables to add to the plate of
lettuce, a few cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
In addition to these choices, there is a special meal option
for kids, who might not be into such tastes.
The process of preparing the food was new to me. A pot
filled with the selected cooking style is placed on the burner. Fondue
forks are given and the meat is cooked at your own desire. There is more
attention from the wait staff than there is in other restaurants, who
dish out the rations and assist when needed.
After all that cooking, we rewarded ourselves with dessert.
I recommend saving room for the sweet and filling fondue finale.
A plate filled with pieces of strawberries, bananas, apples,
rice krispie treats, pound cake and fudge brownie is brought out. (that
alone could have been an excellent dessert). Then there is a selection
of six different tastes in which to dip the desserts. We chose the “Peanut
Butter Dream,” that mixes dark chocolate with peanut butter and
peanuts. We ate every bite. When the goodies on the plate ran out, we
scooped up the extra chocolate-peanut butter-peanut mix with our fondue
spoons. Ahh, heaven. Our waiter, Jason, said that many people come in
just for dessert.
To the proverbial penniless college kid, prices might seem
a bit steep. But it is necessary to take into consideration the amount
of food. We had an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert all for a price
comparable to what you would pay elsewhere for that quantity.
Le Bistro Fondue may have a semi-fancy setting, but there
is also a “mom and pop” restaurant appeal. Jason mentioned
that fondue is also a great idea for a date because of the cooking interaction.
Also, some of the pressure is taken off with the server, who is frequently
standing by to assist and make explanations.
The overall look of the restaurant needs improvement. A bit more decor around
the restaurant is definitely needed. However, owners Hugo and Kristen San Martano
just opened the restaurant in May, so that could be a factor.
Admitting he had high expectations, one of my cohorts,
Moseley, said, “Considering we were the only table, I’d like
my water glass to be full of ice.”
There are some perks to checking out Le Bistro Fondue.
A 15 percent discount is offered to Appalachian State University students
and the off-campus-meal plan is available.
Moseley said that he would definitely be “doing it
again.” I would have to agree.
Details: Le Bistro Fondue. 454 West King Street. For reservations,
call (828) 265-1373. Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday 5-10
p.m. Closed Sunday. Breakfast is also served Thursday-Saturday.
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Court cases, team trades
affect NBA outlook
Ever since the 1998 NBA Finals, when Michael Jordan shot
the memorable jumper to win it all, the National Basketball Association
(NBA) has lost most of its association with fans.
Ratings have plummeted, fan support dropped and basketball
merchandise is at a decade-long low. Until the additions of Lebron James
and Carmelo Anthony last year, the NBA was in serious trouble of never
finding that charismatic “superstar” that fans can bond with
like MJ.
Kobe Bryant used to be the front-runner in that class.
Bryant was 26-years-old, had three championship rings and was the co-centerpiece
of a dynasty in Los Angeles that seemed unbeatable.
Then came last summer’s rape charges. Although all
charges were dropped, it is clear Kobe has a lot of reconstruction to
do to claim that poster boy image he once held in the NBA.
You have to believe that James and Anthony have the best
chances of rejuvenating a league that sits firmly in a distant third
behind baseball and football in TV ratings and merchandise sales.
All that in mind, this upcoming 2004-2005 season looks
to be the first in the post-Jordan era that has the NBA poised to reclaim
the legacy it once held in sports.
Not in recent memory has an off-season been filled with
so much surprise and player movement as the likes of this past summer.
You have the best player who has possibly ever played center,
Shaquille O’Neal, traded to the Miami Heat.
Tracy McGrady, arguably the second best shooting guard
in the league behind Bryant, was traded to the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets now have in their holster the new top one-two
punch in the west in McGrady and Yao Ming.
Steve Nash was let go by Dallas. Young all-star Jamal Crawford
was dealt to the New York Knicks by a Bulls team that has officially
traded away a great team (i.e. Brad Miller, Elton Brand and Ron Artest)
in the past five seasons.
The always emotional Kenyon Martin was traded away by the
salary cap conscious New Jersey Nets to Denver, who will boast a scary
trio in Martin, Marcus Camby and Anthony.
On top of all that, you had the best shooting guard in
the league in Bryant, his future uncertain facing possible jail time,
having NBA teams coming to his house with free agent offers. Eventually
he re-signed with the Lakers for a cool $136 million dollars.
Finally, there seems to be a beam of hope for the NBA to
reach the audience that was once in awe of the likes of Jordan, Barkley
and Bird a couple decades ago. With the replacements now appearing to
be Bryant, Kevin Garnett and O’Neal.
James and Anthony will have a say in that line in a season
or two; it’s only a thought as to what heights those two phenoms
can achieve in a demanding league with demanding expectations.
For those who enjoy watching the secondary drama behind
the game, this season will bring plenty of it. You have McGrady going
up against his former team he so desperately wanted out of in Orlando
and seeing Steve Nash battle against, instead of with, Dirk Nowitzki
and the Mavericks. However, all of those games pale in comparison to
the amount of attention that the first O’Neal vs. Bryant game,
conveniently on Christmas Day, will receive. In an off-season that involved
so many trades, you begin to see what kind of world we live in where
the days of never thinking the best athlete can be traded are gone.
The A-Rods, Shaqs and Clinton Portises of the world are
all at stake, no matter where they are in their careers.
Even Jordan almost finished his career (prior to the Wizard-era)
in something other than a Bulls uniform.
In a book by Spike Lee called “The Best Seat in the
House”, Lee has a conversation with Michael Jordan back in 1996.
Before Jordan signed his $30 million contract, there was a 30-minute
window where the Bulls weren’t sure if they wanted to give Jordan
the money he was demanding, and the Knicks ere waiting on the phone to
give him the deal if the Bulls pulled the plug.
Now that, my friends, shows just about how far loyalty
goes in the NBA, where the best player to ever set foot on an NBA floor
was at risk of being let go.
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