• The Capital 1 imes Monday. Novemher 6, 2000 Cheap Seats 8r Sticky Floors film reviews "Everest" By Paula Marinak Capital Times Staff Writer The lack of oxygen in the final 3,000 feet of the climb slows minds to an ago nizing crawl. It takes every ounce of strength and determination to put one foot in front of the other. Your only compan- ion is the sound of your own breath inside your oxygen mask. If you survive your twelve-hour journey through the Death Zone, you will join the elite few who have managed a feat that most can only dream about: standing on top of the world. Everest is one of three films currently showing at the the Grass/Rite-Aid IMAX Theater in Harrisburg's Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. Viewers of this dramatic documentary will trek alongside a team of international climbers in their quest to scale Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak. Part of the Himalayan range which stretches 1,500 miles across Asia, Everest is located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The mountain towers above all others on the globe. It formed hundreds of millions of years ago as a result of the collision between the Indian subcontinent and the Asian continental plate. The enormous buildup of pressure and heat eventually gave birth to Everest. Now soaring to a height of 29,028 feet, the mountain grows one-quarter of an inch per year because Earth's land masses continue to shift The mission to conquer Everest often begins halfway around the world. For months in advance, athletes train their bodies and minds for the grueling test they will face during the weeks on the slopes. But no amount of hard work can ever truly prepare those who are lured by the peak's many challenges. As one climber stated during the film, "The gods of the mountain say whether you can climb or not. If you honor them properly, they will protect you. - When this documentary was filmed, 12 teams were on the moun tain at once. More than 20 people from four different groups tried to reach the top. Everest has many potent weapons in its arsenal. The hurricane-force winds that routinely batter its upper regions produce wind chills at least 100 degrees below zero. Hypothermia and frostbite con stantly threaten team members. Of the 150 people who have died trying to scale the mountain, roughly one third of those lives were claimed by avalanches. The group whose journey this film chronicles set out for the summit in the wake of one of the most devastating tragedies in the history of mountain climbing. Their journey explores the entire range of emotions that emerges when people join forces to face one of nature's most formidable creations. It is a testament to the incredible power of the human spirit. Very few people have ever stood atop the world. Join Ed and Paula Viesturs of the United States, Jamling Tenzing Norgay of India, Araceli Segarra of Spain and the rest of their team as they climb toward their place in history. Everest runs through March 9, 2001. Call the Whitaker Center at (717) 214- IMAX for tickets and information, or visit their Web site, www.whitakercenter.org. Federal Voting Assistance Program PSH Student Furious Over Two Party System By Kathryn Wix For The Capital Times When Ralph Nader stepped onto the campus at Washington State University for his interview with the campus televi sion station, he was denied access even though he had an authorized pass. Others in Nader's party were let through without question. They held the same type of pass. Nader was held up by an unnamed mem ber of the Commission on Presidential Debates, because the "real" candidates were also on campus for their debate. Campus security was told clearly that Nader was not to be admitted. Holy para noia, Batman! What does it say about our political system when a presidential candidate, arriving for an interview, is denied access to the campus where a presidential debate is being held? I'll tell you what it says. The democracy our forefathers so inge niously created has been turned into noth ing more than a machine used to propel the status of big business. This "busines socracy" has meant a two-party system with candidates no one is excited about, except big business, because they have lined the pockets of both parties. They will be the only real winners in this elec tion. These same special interest groups are so scared of losing their hold on American politics that they established the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has the ability to set the standards for inclusion in the debates. So far those guidelines have been designed to include only the Democratic and Republican par ties. The criteria used for the 2000 debates were as follows: candidates must be con stitutionally eligible, they must have enough votes to mathematically have a chance at winning the Electoral College and they must have at least 15 percent of NEWS & OPINIONS if you don't do it, who will? the popular vote according to nationwide polls. Supporters say that the rules are designed so that only those who realisti cally have a chance to win are included. I say that is bull****. Our "busines socracy" has been operating so long that the only way to change the debates so all members of society are included, is to allow any nationally recognized party that receives campaign funds to be a part of them. What are they afraid of if their can didates are so great? Well that's it, they're not and America sees that. To define who can debate and who can't by national polls is extremely unreliable. The public should be furious that this is the state of our nation. We should no longer allow just two parties to represent the millions of citizens in this country. Removing the two-party system will take activism on the part of every citizen. Those in power won't willingly hand it over. It will be worth it to have a govern ment that truly represents its people, one that we could all look to for guidance, security and comfortable life. By includ ing third-party candidates in debates, I feel we may get real answers out of the debates. It will force candidates to defend their positions and answer questions on the issues. I look forward to the day when I can know where a candidate stands, when I can cast my vote for someone I truly believe in. Be a participant! I VOTE on Nov. 7
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