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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1997)
mber 1, 1997 flonday • September 1, 1997 l Fatburger by any Gther name... il-CS businesses need to rethink names B j ryan-College Station is full .ofbusinesses that cater to 'col- Tgestu- pts, •iiich is i ;iood since hr*l ’ College jiation is a <£+ f iwnfull • . College students. ’ Unfor- John imately, Lemons iereisa columnist jownside shaving hundreds of business- ssimultaneously trying to at- act students money. After all, flthere is one universal con- slant, it is that college students Jiave exceptionally had taste. As •result, Bryan -College Station is 5 iofbusinesses with names | hat could nev er exist in the real ; raid. Obviously, this fact doesn't :!otherniost Aggies, as these iteinesses se em to thrive, de- ate their qiu astionable 'iaonikers. I, h owever, have dif- pity patron zing businesses jith distaste!' j1 names. J Easily the c ddest restaurant nme in town is Fatburger. It is liame which reminds its cus- ,:mersof the ilaque collecting 111 their arterit s with each juicy jiite of their h; imburgers. For imately, Colk ge Station is Jessed with a Fatburger. Icannot understand how a staurant with a name that is nonymous with greasy lard in survive in any market. Most romise still cannot' ents still have the nga mediation ser- ; a room change. I has always been ieople in America find the n freedom and one ; inspect of munching on gristle i privacy. The last ]53bun unappealing, students had was ! Atleast Fatburger is honest. It aby brother when ales no attempt whatsoever ars old. And manypconvince its patrons that any- is no help when a Jag on its menu has nutrition- e st ill acts that age. palue. Imagine if Fatburger at- ppted to market itself to peaple who choose to eat teiy. It could rename itself < k-Fatburger.” "Low-l'atburg- ff’would easily dominate the lumburger industry. College Station also has its <irshare of strangely-named urs. Consider Barracuda Bar, ^establishment that screams Ifdator. Barracudas are not 2e animals. They savagely eat idler fish. Wlio wants to be Syforan angry barracuda men they go out? Speaking of going out, Club lone is a place I just can’t force self to visit. It is too depress- ig.Noteven the most die-hard Jvironmentalist wants to md their Thursday night in iiestablishment that constant- reminds them of impending NOR ion of Alcohol o consume or lible presence ise. to Purchase mder21 years : beverages, nation. misdemeanor indicating an ■son selling or I offense by a lated offenses, it includes 8 to suspension of 'S. Attendance uired. d convictions, (>2,000; and/or ment includes linor’s driver’s 1: 60 days for or subsequent irse; License Icohol-related end an alcohol smmission on >fage, a parent ourse with ,the evidence of vice within 90 aired evidence ie fine may be ure to comply ense or permit ecological disaster. As if the growing hole in the ozone layer is not bad enough, ozone is a major pollutant in big cities. People can’t breathe ozone. Asphyxiation is not fun ny. Would you go to a club named Club Sulfur Dioxide? If I named a club after a gas, it would be called Club Nitrous Oxide. Now that’s a name every body can laugh about. Think for a moment, what type of business is over-repre sented in Bryan-College Sta tion? No, not Mexican food restaurants — computer stores. There is an overabundance of computer stores in this commu nity. In fact, two out of every three businesses in this com munity are or soon will be com puter stores. Since the computer market is crowded, one would think that computer stores would try to flatter their customers. That is, of course, unless you are talking about Byte Me Computers. Last time 1 went to buy something, the store didn’t insult me. When the owners of Byte Me Computers were thinking up names for their store, I wonder what names they threw out for being too harsh. I imagine “You Can Take This Computer and Shove It Up Your *** Computers” and “Shut YourTrap Computers” did not make the cut. Although there may be a glut of computer stores in towo. there is only one Cajun food restaurant in Bryan-College Sta tion. Unfortunately, it is named Crazy Cruz’s Cajun Po-boys. While alliteration in a name is attractive, crazy people general ly don’t run restaurants. Can crazy people be trusted with butcher knives? Crazy peo ple should be receiving counsel ing. I'hen, once their condition has improved, maybe they can open a Cajun food restaurant. Crazy people, however, should be allowed to eat Cajun food, as I Ve always thought you have to be a little unstable to like the stuff anyway. Despite their abhorrent names, these businesses must be doing something right. Peo ple happily patronize them year after year. Potential Aggie entrepre neurs, however, should note that once they leave the Brazos Valley, consumers are less like ly to be receptive to businesses with crass names than the local population. In the meantime, though, I think I’m hungry for a Fatburger. Vlinor: A minor otor vehicle in a unt of alcohol in is alcohol-related ishment includes or suspension of r has at least two is punishable by jail for up to 180 imunity service. 11 be denied or conviction; 180 is not eligible for ;e Sign up for these fun Fall ‘97 noncredit programs and workshops. Register now! 845-1631 The date of the earliest class session is shown after each class title. ass Work ained Glass I • Sept 15, 16 iained Glass II • Oct 21 tched Glass • Sept 24 <aded Glass • Oct 15 Wtery A Shop eginning Pottery Wheel Throwing • Sept 15, Oct 13, Nov 3 termediate Pottery Wheel Throwing • Oct 13 and Built Pottery • Oct 28 odworking • Sept 15, Oct 20 dting & Framing • Sept 18, Oct 23 Business/Personal Living Smart Living Well • Nov 3 Basics of Investing • Oct 21 Windows95 # Sept 17 MS Word 7.0* Oct 8 MS Excel 7.0 • Oct 29 Discover the Creativity With: • Sept 17 Itro Auto Repair • Sept 16 Interm Auto Repair • Oct 21 Creative Writing • Sept 16 L The Battalion IFESTYLES Students find mobile homes a unique alternative to Traditional’ housing W hen most people think of mobile homes and trailer parks, images of pickup trucks on cinder blocks and “Hee- Haw” reruns come to mind, not col lege students. However, many would be sur prised to learn how Texas A&M stu dents are using this affordable and under-utilized method of housing. Student housing is broken down into two categories at A&M: Off- campus and on-campus. The ma jority of off-campus housing is con centrated in apartments and rental houses. These arrangements offer students a chance at independence and privacy that is not associated with dormitory living. Rent and other expenses can af fect students’ budgets. Students wanting an affordable abode and an escape from the mass of humanity called dorm living have another option. Mobile homes and trailer parks, known to be targets for tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters, are now becoming a target for college stu dents. They are cost effective, private and classier than most think. Brad Angell, a senior agricultural development major, has lived in a trailer for four years. He owns his trail er and pays $135 a month to rent the lot his trailer sits on. “A trailer can be huge, offering a lot of space,” Angell said. “But your electricity bill tends to be a little higher.” John Petty, a senior petroleum en gineering major, owns a trailer and said it is a good investment. “When you rent an apartment or duplex, you’re really throwing money . down a hole,” Petty said. “With a trail er, you can sell it back, providing a re turn on your investment,” Petty said. “The privacy is another big thing — when you need your quiet time, it is very easy to obtain it.” Privacy is a reason cited by many as an advantage of trailer living. Residents do not have to worry about Prodigy’s “Firestarter” blaring in power bass mode at three in the morning. The privacy allows residents to do the same, plus they can invite some friends over while they’re at it. But the isolation can be a bit bur densome. Manda Hays, a senior agricultural development major, rents a trailer about 20 miles out in the country. “I lived in the dorm my first two years, and I grew used to the cama raderie,” Hays said. “In comparison, you’re a bit more isolated out in the country. But I’m hardly ever home, so I tend not to notice it as much.” Petty said he agrees. “In my opinion, if there is one drawback, that is the lack of opportu- “I really don’t see any trailer trash around us, but after a party, our place might look like it.” BRAD ANGELL MOBILE HOME DWELLER AND SENIOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT MAJOR nities for social interaction compared with dorms and even apartments.” A burning question on a lot of students’ minds has to do with the stereotypes associated with trailers. "I really don”t see any trailer trash around us, but after a party, our place might look like it,” Angell said. Petty said there is a little truth to the stories. He once spotted a car on cinder blocks next to his trailer, and Angell said he has seen pink plastic flamingos around his park, but in all, trailer parks have a much higher stan dard of decor than popular culture usually thinks. Many parks have strict guidelines on the age of inhabiting trailers and rules about beautification, such as regular lawn mowing. Many of the parks in town cater specifically to students, forming col lege communities similar to any dorm or apartment. Students who live the trailer lifestyle are involved in activities such as Web page design and stu dent leadership. So those looking to change their living quarters might want to sing “Oh, Mobile Home on the Range.” After all, they are not just for extras from Deliverance anymore. 696-5570 Monday Night Football $1.00 Chuggers of Miller Lite $1.00 Bar Drinks 'T' v ' Also: Hot Dogs, Machos, Frito Pies \\rP e TUESDAY Bones & beer 42 Tournament for CASH Winners Take ALL $1 Pints (Bud, Bud Light, Zigenbock) $1 Bar Drinks 8- a0 [ > I mm Free Burgers & Does 5 till.... $1.75 PITCHERS 8-10 Fajitas & Hot Links 5 till.... 500 Well $1.00 Chuggers 8-10 mm SHRIMP BOIL 5 TILL 500 Well $1.00 Chuggers munm 500 Well $1.00 Chuggers mum SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 500 Bar $1.00 Chuggers 8-10 8-10 8-10 0^* Stop by our convenient location on the lower level of the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M. Creative activities designed for you! J Do you have a special interest that you can teach? If so, call us about our fall semester. Dance Beginning Country & Western Dance • Sept 16, Oct 21 Jitterbug • Sept 16, Oct 21 Bellydance • Sept 17 West Coast Swing • Oct 22 One-Shots • Oct 4, Nov 7, Oct 8 Ballroom • Sept 17 Health A Sport Community CPR & First Aid • Sept 22, Oct 21, Nov 17 Combat Hapkido • Sept 18, Oct 23 Billiards • Sept 17, Oct 16 Photography Photography I • Oct 6 Photography II • Nov 3 Black & White Photography I • Sept 17 Black & White Photography II • Oct 22 Portrait Photography • Sept 17, Oct 14 Art Figure Drawing for Adults • Sept 16, Oct 21 Painting • Sept 15, Oct 20 Watercolor • Sept 17, Oct 22 Free Hand Perspective Drawing • Sept 18, Oct 23 Flowers A Crafts Fall Wreath • Oct 8 Christmas Wreath • Nov 5 Pot Pourri Angels • Oct 15 Beginning Quilting • Sept 14, Oct 26 Cake Decorating • Sept 17 Gingerbread House Construction • Nov 5 Memories • Sept 18, Oct 23 Guitar Beginning Guitar • Sept 16 Intermediate Guitar • Oct 21 Worldly Things Travel* Sept 22 Japanese • Sept 15 Italian • Oct 21 French • Sept 15 Russian • Sept 16 Spanish I • Sept 15 Spanish II • Oct 20 English as a Second Language (ESL) • Sept 16, Sept 29 Sign Language I • Sept 16 Sign Language II • Oct 21 Wines of the World • Oct 21 Wines of America • Sept 16 \ } 5 3 5 5 3 3 ) 3 3 3 3 J 5 3 3 j 3 j 3 3 3 i 3 3 3 3 ) i 3 J J 3 3 3 nisdemeanor to ime) from any public place in uted hours: >7 AM > Noon ^ ours; Monday - Thursday 12 noon - 10 pm Friday - Saturday 12 noon - 5 pm Just for the FUN of it! 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