cactus i.v.

By BEN SZMANDA
So Salman Rushdie is getting knighted, and the predictable riots, proclamations, and death threats, have ensued. There are folks who see the furor over his novel the “Satanic Verses” as a free speech issue (it is) and make Rushdie into a martyr. Others see it as an example of how all […]

By MICHELLE L.
satine81(at)aol.com

The Last King of Scotland (2006) is based on a fictional novel of the same name by British author Giles Foden. It tells an account of the reign of Idi Amin in Uganda from 1971 to 1979. A charismatic man, Idi Amin took over as Uganda’s president with the support of […]

By ROXY RETAIL
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
Liz Claiborne died on Tuesday. Now, I know what many of you are thinking: She was still alive? But to us in the fashion world, we thought… she’s still alive?
No disrespect to Ms. Claiborne, but I had thought she traveled off to the runway in the sky years ago. I mean, she was […]

By LISA SOKOLOWSKI
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
I have a desk at work. Two magnetic walls, one walls with a cork board-like material, a couple of drawers and a computer.
That’s pretty much all I get.
And it’s all I would need… if I didn’t have to share it.
There’s a woman who comes in and uses my desk after I finish my […]

By C.D. Allen
cdavidallen(at)gmail.com
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about time. How sometimes it seems like I never have enough and other times it seems like I can’t get rid of it. I think the key word here is seems.
My three main hobbies: reading, video games, movies. I’ve already confessed my love […]

By Melody
MyMelody4U(at)gmail.com
I’m an observer of human interactions, great at predicting how people will react in new &and diverse crowds. This ability has allowed me to play matchmaker. Most every couple I have introduced has a lasting relationship, which makes me very happy. “Hind sight” would be my middle name if I could chose one. There […]

By JAMES “TATTOO” CHAPRACKI
geocities.com/tattoospinstriping
Because no one besides James can take pictures of burros outside his door.

I wish I was witty.
I could fill volumes about carefully crafted characters, most of whom would have one liners that need to be repeated. People would quote my books like song lyrics and movies, and I’d be a best-selling author.
It’s like the time my friends saw There’s Something About Mary before I was able to […]

By LISA SOKOLOWSKI
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
I’m reading a book called “No Vivaldi in the Garage: A Requiem for Classical Music in North America” by Sheldon Morgenstern.
What’s hard to walk through? Mud? Then this is like reading mud.
I played the violin from second to 12th grade, and I was always fond of classical music. I know, I know. That’s […]

By MICHELLE RICCARDI
mia8263(at)gmail.com
Love is friendship on fire; that’s how I feel about you. Boy said to Hilary Duff in The Perfect Man.
I woke up Tuesday morning thinking about the same person I’ve been dreaming of for the past five months and thought of that quote. My relationship with this boy isn’t normal by any […]

By DIZZ TATE
dizztate(at)hotmail.com
What do you think of when you hear the name Rafferty Sloane? Personally, what jumps into my mind is glamor, and this describes the Rafferty I am talking to today exactly. She goes with a very Audrey Hepburn-ish {very fashionable} look with black hair trimmed into a perfect bob {Not like Victoria Beckham […]

By BEN SZMANDA
Adolph Hitler and the Nazis have long been the standard rhetorical examples of pure evil. People like to catch their opponents using them because it’s a sign of excess, but really, who cares? And what do you expect? We fought a horrible, bloody, war against the Nazis — it’s […]

Bu MICHELLE L.
satine81(at)aol.com
Alpha Dog (2006) is based on a true story. The characters’ names have been changed, but the story is what matters. A 15-year-old boy was murdered to settle his brother’s debt to a drug dealer. The mastermind was 21-year-old Jesse James Hollywood (“Johnny Truelove”), who at the time that […]

By ROXY RETAIL
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
Traditionally, as far as make-up goes, dark colors are for the cold months and light colors are for the warm months.
Not anymore.
I recently spoke with an image consultant who said all that tradition is out the window this summer.
I’m not saying darker is better, but dark is in! Think deep reds, plum, dark […]

By LANIE PIMENTEL
petunia5045(at)gmail.com
Running a company on a tight budget, well, it can really be quite annoying. Not that I’ve worked for a company that said, “Spend all the money you can,” but, sometimes, you just want to order a box of pens before getting final clearance from the big boss.
I believe that organization is key […]

By C.D. Allen
cdavidallen(at)gmail.com
It’s late in the afternoon as I start to write this, and I can hear thunder outside. My roommate has spread mothballs all around the house, and the smell is making me sick. He says he did it to keep snakes away from the house. Let me tell you why.
About […]

By Melody
MyMelody4U(at)gmail.com
Sometimes when you are in love, you compromise your needs for the wants and needs of the person you love. Sometimes you don’t regret your decision until the choice has been made and actions carried out. Who do you place at fault? Who can you blame? Recently I was made to question my own […]

By JAMES “TATTOO” CHAPRACKI
geocities.com/tattoospinstriping
This knows no words.

I smile a lot.
I laugh louder and more often than most people I know.
And I wouldn’t have life any other way.
I can find the silver lining in everything, no matter what. My best friend moved to Colorado, and I thought, “Now I have somewhere to visit.” My editor figured out how to do something that […]

By LISA SOKOLOWSKI
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
I was at a concert last week, and I overheard the following exchange.
Emo Kid Hiding Behind A Hardcore Facade: Jesse’s doing some solo stuff.
His Anti-Guyliner Friend: Yeah. He wants to kill himself.
EKHBAHF: Yeah.
HAGF: Did you hear Brand New’s new CD? It’s all about suicide.
I doubt HAGF ever heard of […]

By MICHELLE RICCARDI
mia8263(at)gmail.com
I suck at watching TV shows; that’s why I love the news. It’s always the same, so I don’t miss a thing. But everyone I know watches some show religiously, especially my mom.
My mom’s weekly ritual TV programming goes as follows:
1. Fox News for the weather
2. The Price is Right with Mr. Bob […]

By DIZZ TATE
dizztate(at)hotmail.com
“If you’re awesome and you know it, clap your hands” proclaims Paul’s t-shirt proudly. We both clap loudly as we see each other, our awesomeness spreading throughout the air with happy noise.
With a name like Paul Valentine, you have to be able to walk and talk with a certain edge. Now, some may […]

Dear Niki,
I have a major problem. My husband and my best friend HATE each other. All they do is fight. They both put me in the middle and expect me to pick a side. If I pick my husband, my friend gets upset, and if I pick my best friend my husband gets pissed. How […]

By BEN SZMANDA
“The towers didn’t seem permanent. They remained concepts, no less transient for all their bulk than some routine distortion of light.”
– From “Players,” Don DeLillo, 1977

“All plots end in death.”
– From “White Noise,” Don DeLillo, 1985
I’m not going to give you some quick synopsis of Don DeLillo’s career — […]

By MICHELLE L.
satine81(at)aol.com
Moms can be a little too concerned sometimes, especially when they disagree with the life choices that their children make. But when a mom lives a life of regret and begins to see her daughter making the same mistakes that she made, her concern becomes a mission that no mother should embark […]

By ROXY RETAIL
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
Fitness, Roxy style is now over.
It was fun while it lasted, right?
Right
If it was fun, maybe it would have lasted. But nothing about it — depriving myself of food, losing my self-confidence, hyper focusing on self image — was fun.
So that’s all, folks.
For those of you who diet and exercise on a regular […]

By LANIE PIMENTEL
petunia5045(at)gmail.com
Perks are a nice thing to have when working hard. According to Wikipedia.com, an online  encyclopedia, a perk is an employee benefit and benefits in kind (also called fringe benefits, perquisites, or perks) and are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries.
Now, who doesn’t like […]

By C.D. ALLEN
cdavidallen(at)gmail.com
Yeah, so… I coped out on my birthday. I said I didn’t have anything to say but that’s not entirely accurate. I just didn’t want to talk about getting older. Also, though I didn’t know it at the time, I didn’t want to think about not being as young […]

By MELODY
Hey everyone!! Welcome all to my first article for cactus i.v. It’s Melody here at your service. Writing and advice are two of my better traits, and it is quite fitting that I will be here to offer any sex, love and relationship questions you may throw at me.Let’s see, where to begin? I […]

By JAMES “TATTOO” CHAPRACKI
geocities.com/tattoospinstriping
You know you wanted more of the coyote skull.

By JIM MONTANA
jim.montana@hotmail.com
Hi again folks and welcome to another edition of Locker Room Talk right here on cactus i.v.
This past week seems to have been a time for confusion in the world of sports. The Magic were confused as to how they made the wrong choice. Billy Donovan was confused that he had […]

I’m keeping the hard hitting topics at bay this week. We’ve got too much cactus stuff to cover this week.
Laura is starting student teaching next month, and teaching the youth of America has somehow taken a higher spot on her priority list than writing for the cactus [[I don’t get it either!]].
Her farewell column will […]

By LISA SOKOLOWSKI
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
I heart sampler CDs. If a pile showed up in my mailbox, I’d be stoked.
The reason I’m such a fan is because one album can introduce you to a roster full of new bands. Sure PureVolume.com is a great way to find new tunes, but it’s more of a process. With a sampler, […]

By MICHELLE RICCARDI
mia8263(at)gmail.com
I’m not a fan of eggs, but my family is. I make egg salad, and it’s like these people have never ate a day in their lives. It’s an easy recipe, just time consuming.
You’ll need:
4 or 5 eggs
Mayonnaise
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinaigrette
Tomato
Directions:
Boil eggs in medium pot for 4 minutes. Cut up tomato in […]

By DIZZ TATE
dizztate(at)hotmail.com
Fashion. F to the a to the s to the h to the iI to the o to the n, to quote our Fergilicious friend over there. Street fashion, it has to be said, changes as easily as the wind on the willows, and therefore must be tracked carefully. Of course, this week […]

By BEN SZMANDA
An elephant appears in a region that’s never seen one before. Six or seven blind wise men are called in to identify the strange animal, but when they get there, each man grasps a different part of the elephant’s body and comes up with a different answer. From this point, depending […]

Dear Niki,
After a night of drinking, I had a one night stand with my best friend, and, just my luck, I’m going to be a daddy in two months. I don’t want a relationship with her, but we are living together and she gets CRAZY when I spend time with other women. How can I […]

By MICHELLE L.
satine81(at)aol.com
I remember seeing the previews for Smokin’ Aces (2006) on TV and thinking, “That looks like it’ll be a fun movie to watch.” After it came out, though, most of the reviews I read said that it was over the top, too violent and bloody just for the sake of being stylish, […]

By ROXY RETAIL
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
Water sucks, it really really sucks.
That’s from Waterboy, one of the greatest Adam Sandler movies ever (which isn’t hard considering he’s also made Little Nicky and Punch Drink Love).
It’s also the tune I’ve been singing all week.
I weigh 104 pounds, so that means I’m supposed to drink 52 ounces of water a day. […]

By LANIE PIMENTEL
petunia5043(at)gmail.com
I am on my third job, while writing for the cactus. Three! And I must say, this one is AWESOME. Okay, so I started on Monday, and the only truly thing I love about this job thus far is… the commute. Or, the lack thereof. I work three miles away from […]

By C.D. ALLEN
cdavidallen(at)gmail.com
Since I’ve already written about driving a taxi for the summer, I suppose it’s safe to write something to include it in further articles.
If you ever thought driving a taxi was only about knowing where things are and getting there fast, then let me tell you that’s just where it starts. […]

By MIKE M.
airdog06757(at)yahoo.com
[[Editor’s note: Jennifer is in the process of leaving the sex and relationships column, and cactusiv.com is looking for a new writer. So, for now, enjoy a string of guest writers until I announce someone permanent. And, heck, if you think you know about sex and relationships, drop me an email at cactusiv(at)gmail.com]]
I’m […]

By JAMES “TATTOO” CHAPRACKI
geocities.com/tattoospinstriping
The only question remaining is: Is the Road Runner next?

By LAURA SIMON
laura.m.simon(at)gmail.com
Hello again, cactusiv.com readers! Well, sadly, this will be my next to last column. I am gearing up to start my student teaching and will have to give my full attention to those little ones for the time being. But we have a great new sports writer lined up to make […]

Can we talk about this Dutch television show hoax called The Big Donorshow?It went something along the lines of this: A dying woman was going to pick one of three reality-show contestants to give her kidney to. The losers, presumably, die.
At least, that’s how it was marketed.
At the show’s very last moments, it was […]

By LISA SOKOLOWSKI
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
I don’t believe in fate. I have this whole proactive approach to live that doesn’t have anything to do with music, so maybe you’ll get the explanation in an editor’s note one day.
But for now, take solace in the fact that I don’t believe in fate. Or the cliché “Everything happens for a […]

By DIZZ TATE
dizztate(at)hotmail.com
As we set off through the first long, lazy days of summer, the summer fashions are taking us back by storm, appearing on ever street corner as far as I can see. Bikinis, big sunglasses, and highlighted hair are erupting through the shopping malls, so this summer, it is all about being bright!
Put […]

By LANIE PIMENTEL
petunia5045(at)gmail.com
Couscous. Its what’s for dinner. Well, if it’s not on your menu, it certainly should be!
According to Wikipedia.com, couscous consists of spherical granules which are made by rolling and shaping moistened semolina wheat and then coating them with finely ground wheat flour. So in other words, couscous is finely cut pieces of […]

Dear Niki -
I work full-time… and then some. I get paid for 40 hours a week, but I’m always at the office closer to 60 hours a week. I don’t get paid overtime because of some contractual policy. However, I want to ask for a raise. How do I do this without risking getting fired?
- […]

By BEN SZMANDA
I may have discovered the secret key to getting attention on the web. All you have to do is mention Mormonism in a less than favorable light. And apparently, saying nice things about Jon Krakauer’s “Under the Banner of Heaven” amounts to the same thing. Seriously, google the book, you’ll […]

By ROXY RETAIL
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
I’m not a gym nerd. The mere thought of leg curls and push ups makes me run to the freezer to get some ice cream in spite.
It’s not that I’m intimidated by the gym, but I have no motivation to get me there. The you’ll feel better after you go argument doesn’t do […]

By MICHELLE L.
satine81(at)gmail.com
Have you ever had that feeling that every possible scenario that can happen in life, even the scenarios that can’t, have been immortalized on film? Movies nowadays are based on old ideas, whether it be comic books that have already been written or continuations of stories that have already been told. […]