Wednesday, September 15, 1982
Page 8
Daily Nebraskan
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spending in check
CheckRite ... an ugly word, like academic probation,
liver, herpes. The blemish on my checkbook, the wart
on my family's reputation, the unlight of my life.
I understand I should keep my checkbook balanced,
but I happen to be a person who is suffering from
dyslexia.
Once a year, a $2 check arrives at the bank in the
morning and 1 deposit my paycheck in the afternoon.
Between the ugly hours of morning and afternoon, the
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Staff photo by David Wood
Tractor Pull
Tractor sport pulls for more regard
By Chuck Jagoda
Tbe starter waves his green flag
diesel smoke shoots up black to the sky
a great green tractor rears like a stallion
and pulls against a greater weight
Tractor pulling is the country and western cousin of
drag racing. If it is not so widely known and popular as its
urban cousin, tractor pulling is at least the heavier sport.
With tractors pulling in classifications from the 5,200
lb. modified to the 16,000-lb. pro stock, it lives up to
its promotion as "the heaviest sport on wheels."
Although its results are typically reported in the
features instead of the sports sections of newspapers,
Carlin Synovec, president of the Nebraska Bush Pullers,
points out that "tractor pulling has gained popularity.
It's as well known now as baseball and football. It goes
on year-round. In the cold months, there are pulls in
the gulf states."
Synovec was at the race track of the Nebraska State
Fairgrounds for Saturday's open class tractor pulling
event. The same track saw action the previous weekend
as the site of a pull sanctioned by The National Tractor
Pulling Association.
Competitors use traditional farm tractors: John
Deere, Allis-Chalmers, Massey-Ferguson and International.
Harvester, as well as funny cars which can be modified
as to engine type, wheel size and frame shape. They have
names like "The Funny Farmer" and "The Big Green
Machine," and are liable to line up three diesel or two
helicopter engines on one chassis.
The funny cars were originally a separate organiza
tion known as the Midwest Modifieds. Two years ago,
they joined the Nebraska Bush Pullers. The fact that
some of the Modi'ieds are used strictly for competition
gives rise to the view that tractor pulling is a luxury
sport.
"Although some tractors are used only in competi
tion," Synovec admitted, "the great majority of these
people use their machines in the field."
Synovec finds tractor pulling different from other
sports because "it's a real competitive sport, (but) the
greater share of these people help each other in time
of trouble".
The announcer bears him out, requesting spare pulley
belts or spark plugs for ailing tractors.
The announcer passes the time between events with
comments on the sport and appropriate jokes:
- Why are John Deeres green?
- So they can hide easier in the tall grass.
411111111114111141111
Continued on Page 9
By Kris Saalfeld
"Promises, Promises," playing at the Lincoln Com
munity Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St., has difficulty ful
filling its promise of being a great performance.
The clever satire on American business life was written
by Neil Simon. He adapted the story line for the stage
from the Oscar-winning movie, "The Apartment." That
promises a well-developed, humorous, smoothly flowing
play.
Its modern pop music, which received rave reviews on
Broadway, and includes the favorite "I'll Never Fall In
Theater Review
Love Again," written by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics
by Hal David. That promises refreshing, upbeat music.
When "Promises, Promises" finished on Broadway in
1981, it had played a total of 1,281 performances and
had won three Tony awards. That promises a pleasing
play adaptable to the many personalities of its viewers.
However, "Promises, Promises" would be more ac
curately labeled "Problems, Problems." Aside from the
three main characters, the actors have difficulty expres
sing their roles. Witty lines from Simon are recited
without the emphasis he intended. There are places
in the play where the action is supposed to stop as the
lead character addresses the audience. Some actors miss
their cue and keep moving.
The rotating set squeaks loudly as scenes change
between acts sometimes drowning out the actor who
continues to talk or sing. Offstage noises of props being
dropped also could be heard.
The story develops around an aspiring young Consoli
dated Life Insurance Company accountant. Chuck Baxter,
played by David Claus. As the story unfolds, company
executives discover that Baxter lives alone in an apart
ment, and promise him promotions and high recom
mendations in exchange for the use of his apartment for
their "company affairs."
Baxter's romantic interest is co-employee Fran
Kubelik, played by Julie Chadwick. However, he discovers
that scheming personnel manager, J.D. Sheldrake, played
by Dick Terhune, is carrying on his own affair with
Kubelik. Tragedy, conflict and humor follow, leading
to a surprising, romantic conclusion.
Claus and Chadwick are exceptionally talented singers.
Claus's naivete, boyish charm and delightful character
representation keeps the audience from being totally
disappointed. The choreography is also well staged
throughout the play.
Certain scenes are very enjoyable, but the lack of
overall polish and professionalism makes these scenes
appear only occasionally in the production.
"Promises, Promises" will continue at the Playhouse
Sept. 16-18 and 23-25 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 19 at 2:30
p.m. Tickets may be reserved by calling the box office
at 489-9608. from 10 a m. to 4 pjn. Monday through
Friday.
"Promises. Promises'" has scenes you wouldn't want
to miss. Just don "i go to the performance expecting too
much. It's a promise the play won't be able to keep.
bank charges me $7.00 for insufficient funds, sends my
check to CheckRite, which in turn charges me $8 and
calls me on the phone.
"Miss Vos, this is CheckRite."
"Hi, can I just call you Check?"
"I'm afraid you owe us S 15."
"I was afraid of that, too. Do you realize $15 would
pay for half of a polo shirt? I can pay you in three
weeks."
Two and a half weeks later . . .
I had just finished spilling coffee on my beige blouse.
Nothing serious ... it was 9:30 in the morning, 1 was
shifting into third, and I spilled my coffee. I wouldn't
be home for eight hours. People would point and laugh
at me. I mean, if 1 was interviewing someone for a job
and they had coffee spilled on their blouse, I would
think that it was kind of a nice human touch ... a
nice, clumsy human touch. 1 would offer them some
cream and tell them, "We'll call you."
I was driving east on 'O' Street. As 1 approached
Gateway, I decided to stop at Sears and pickup an un
expensive blouse. . . maybe a cup of coffee . . . and
continue on my way.
After losing my left front tire on a speed bump, I
parked my car under the enclosed mall and headed inside.
A girl in a polo shirt got out of the car next to mine. 1
thought that perhaps 1 should hurt her in some way, take
her shirt or at least tear it.
Once inside Gateway and past the CheckRite sticker
on the door, I saw a small group of people with Oxford
polo shirts on, pointing and laughing at me. I thought
maybe it was the coffee stain. I wondered to myself,
if their oxford polo shirts could stop bullets.
My hand covered the CheckRite emblem as I entered
Sears and headed for the blouses.
"Excuse me Miss, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm looking for a shirt that might go with this
coffee stain."
"Oh my, look at you. How did you manage to get the
whole cup on your blouse? My little 5-year-old is just
like you . . . macaroni, burritos, ice cream ... I'm going
to tell you just what I tell her, 'Things always taste
better if you wear them first.'
"Is that small group of people in Oxford polo shirts,
pointing in this direction and laughing. . . are they with
you?"
"Kind of ... do you have any water polo blouses?"
"Water polo?"
"Do you have any beige blouses?"
"We sure do. Do you take a large or extra-large''"
"A medium." 6
"How's this? Do you like this?"
"Sure, could I just slip it on here?"
"Will this be cash or charge?"
"I'm going to write a check."
A red notebook comes out from under the counter
"T.Marni Vos?"
"Right."
'I'm sorry, we can't accept your check."
'Td like to charge this . . . what do you mean? Why
not?"
"Your name is in the CheckRite notebook."
I pulled my coffee blouse over my head I walked
past the small group of Oxford polo people, lost my
right front tire on a speed bump and headed for mv iob
interview. '
CheckRite ... an ugly word, like academic proba
tion, liver, herpes. ". .