Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 53 News, page 2

Food & Drink, page 3

Opinions, page 5

Soft side of Metallica

Sports, page 7

Study Break, page 6

Reported fight at Terrace View

COLLEGIATE TIMES

The ﬁght occurred around 4 p.m. in the 500 block of Terrace View. CAMERON AUSTIN & DEAN SEAL news reporters

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

You can purchase the exclusive ‘Enter Sandman’ T-shirts and donate to the charity at the University Bookstore or Vol. 2.

Band donates proceeds of ‘Enter Sandman’ T-shirt to the Morgan Harrington Scholarship BY DONAL MURPHY | news reporter Though many associate Metallica with hardcore rock and jumping in Lane, the band has shown Tech a caring side. All of Metallica’s proceeds from the Enter Sandman T-shirts that have been sold this semester will go directly towards the Morgan Harrington Scholarship fund. The T-shirts have been sold by Tech for the football season, and have so far raised over $33,000 for the scholarship. When Tech asked for Metallica’s permission to produce the shirts, Metallica agreed on the sole condition that its share went towards the Harrington scholarship. “This shirt has been on sale since football season. However, we didn’t start asking questions until Dan Harrington came to me last week,” said Kenny Jarels, who has been helping the Harrington’s keep Morgan’s story in the media and raise awareness. Morgan Harrington was a Tech student who went missing in 2009 after a Metallica concert in Charlottesville, Va. Her body was found the month after. Her parents, Dan and Gil Harrington, started the scholarship for students in Tech’s Carilion medical school, where Morgan Harrington worked as a summer intern with her father. “The scholarship was started right after Morgan’s body was found, so almost three years ago, and we have currently have a little over $100,000 in funds,” said Dan Harrington, who heard about the details of the T-shirt proceeds a week ago. Dan Harrington and his wife started the scholarship in order to try and find some good from the death of their daughter.

“Writing a scholarship in someone else’s name is a difficult thing to do, so we were thrilled that Metallica and Virginia Tech had worked together to help raise some money,” Dan Harrington said. In addition to the T-shirt proceeds, Metallica has also donated $50,000 to the Harrington’s in order to help with the reward they are offering for any information leading to the conviction of Morgan Harrington’s killer. The reward is currently up to $150,000. “I think it’s just incredible,” Dan Harrington said. “What a great idea and such a wonderful thing for Metallica to do.” The T-shirt was also promoted by Help Save The Next Girl, an organization started to help raise women’s awareness and prevent violence against women, particularly female college students. Jarels was astonished to hear Metallica was still willing to give such help to the Harrington family. “I was astonished that Metallica would allow Virginia Tech to make it, but gave everything that they made off the T-shirts directly to Morgan’s scholarship fund,” he said. “It just blew me away.” Having worked with the Harringtons for almost 3 years, Jarels was also involved in working with Metallica when it offered the reward donation. He has seen its kindness before, but was still surprised. “You think of Metallica, you think of this hardcore, tattooed, wild and crazy bunch of guys, but these guys are really very caring, loving individuals,” Jarels said.

Police were called to the scene of a fight to the 500 block of Hunts Club Road in the Terrace View Apartment complex on Tuesday evening. Neighbors didn’t report hearing anything, and were surprised when Blacksburg police officers knocked on the door to collect statements. “All I know is that I was upstairs on my computer, heard a knock at the door, came down, and there was a police officer,” said Nick Grippen, a junior computer science major that lives next door to the house in question. “I heard nothing out here. They had four or five officers, and one of them had a shotgun. They said there was a fight,

and someone had reported it.” Grippen said. Crime scene photographers took photos of the apartment door, as six cops huddled around the scene of the alleged fight. As of 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Blacksburg Police had not yet issued a public report and Virginia Tech Police had not issued a VT alert. VT alerts are used “when the Virginia Tech Police Department or university administration determines there is an immediate threat to the university community,” according the VT alert webpage. Terrace View leasing office said that until they receive an official police report, it isn’t able to make an announcement to the community. Follow the writer on Twitter: @CAustinCT, @jdseal92

Group takes reins for horse support

Follow the writer on Twitter: @HokieRealist

more info To donate directly to the scholarship, you can visit: vtc.edu/about/giving/ morgan-scholarship.html KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

A Second Chance was recently created in order to provide a solution for many horses in the area that experience abuse and neglect.

Angel Fund spreads awareness beyond campus MICHAELA REARDON news staff writer

Finding hope in tragedy, family and friends of Reema Samaha — victim in the April 16, 2007 campus shootings — founded the Angel Fund in 2007. “My family is very close with the Samaha family,” said Lu Ann McNabb, cofounder of the Angel Fund. “Reema was like a daughter to me.” Angel Fund is a non-profit organization created to address the many complex

issues that contributed to the Virginia Tech tragedy: mental illness, campus safety and security, lack of information sharing and privacy laws. Although they originally sought to address these specific issues, the Angel Fund has since evolved and has begun addressing other issues affecting the community. “What happened over the years is that we began noticing issues impacting our community here in Centreville and Chantilly,

(including) a number of students committing suicide or who attempted suicide,” McNabb said. “There have been surveys done by Fairfax County that show that one-third of Fairfax County students suffer from depression. That was a big issue for us.” After working with the issues contributing to the tragedy at Tech and noticing the tragedies affecting the community closer to home, the Angel Fund decided to “re-vamp” its program by narrowing the programs

focus to mental healthand how it affects campus safety. “Aware of the tragedies we witnessed in western Fairfax County, we decided to create a board of community leaders to address these issues,” McNabb said. The mission of the Angel Fund is to make a difference through advocacy, education and implementation of programs. According to the program’s website, it seeks to “educate Virginia citizens on those see ANGEL / page two

CHELSEA GILES features staff writer

Horses are big animals that come with a big heart and an even bigger responsibility. A student club on campus, A Second Chance, is fundraising to support a shelter horse as its foster family until it finds a permanent owner. The club’s president, Kayleigh Burke, a sophomore university studies major, is passionate about the cause because of the positive outcomes she has witnessed in helping these horses. “I originally joined the club because, at the farm I used to work at, we had adopted a few horses that had been abused, and when they first came, they were really timid. (With a) little tender loving care, they

were good as new,” Burke said. A Second Chance aspires to foster at least one horse a semester. The club is less than two years old, so its members are in the midst of fundraising for their first horse. They sold raffle tickets at tailgates during the football season to save money for one this semester. Burke said the club would pay for the boarding and daily handling and riding of the horse until it was adopted. According to the Equine Rescue League website, fostering a horse means supporting its financial needs and providing individual attention and affection until it is adopted. The ERL, a non-profit organization located near Leesburg, see HORSE / page two

news

december 5, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: mallory noe-payne, victoria zigadlo newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Max Bemis, lead singer and songwriter of Say Anything, performs Wednesday, Dec. 5 for Daniel Pearl Music Fashions for Evergreens: All day at The Inn Day in the Haymarket at Virginia Tech. A must see holiday event in the Theater in Squires New River Valley! From November 22nd - January Student Center on Dec. 1st 14 professionally designed trees present 4. Daniel Pearl Music awe-inspiring decorating ideas and concepts in Day is a day of music an extraordinary display of holiday cheer. Come performances dedicated support our local businesses and vote for your in remembrance of Daniel favorite tree through December 9th! Cozy up with a mug of complimentary hot chocolate and enjoy live Pearl, a Jewish journalist entertainment at The Inn featuring the Blacksburg that was captured and Master Chorale’s own strolling octet of carolers, the publicly executed for his “Ad Hoctet.” Bring the whole family for our Friday religious beliefs.

upcoming events

Photo by Kevin Dickel

Night Family Dinners and enjoy the scents and sounds of the season! The entertainers will travel throughout The Inn including the Continental Divide, Preston’s Restaurant, the lobby, and the foyer from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For more information, call 1-877200-3360 or visit www.innatvirginiatech.com. To view all our holiday events, click “More Information” below.

The Inn’s Gingerbread House: All day at The

Horse: Equine community reaches out from page one

Va., helps A Second Chance to pay for all of the foster horse’s needs. The club is searching for a local farm or place of boarding where their foster horse could stay. A Second Chance finds potential foster horses through the ERL. The process begins with a horse given to a rescue shelter by its owner, or is taken there due to abuse issues. While in recovery, fosters of the horse sponsor it and spend time with it until the horse is adopted. Once it is adopted and if the horse is kept in reasonable distance, the ERL checks on the horse regularly until they declare the horse is in good hands. If the horse is given up again later, the ERL re-adopts it. Though abandoned or unwanted horses are not a major problem in Blacksburg, rescue clinics in surrounding areas have plenty on their hands. Krissy Peacock, a senior animal and poultry sciences major and president of the Virginia Tech Equestrian Club, said that there is an obvious problem not only in Roanoke but the entire

country with an overpopulation of horses and a lack of owners. The primary reason people give up their horses is the extensive costs of caring for one. The average cost for boarding a horse is $300 per month. That does not include the equipment needed to maintain them or the medications they may require. These costs do not subside for the shelter owners either, however. Most rescues are nonprofits, so owners mostly invest their own money or rely on donators to support the animals. Caring for the horses is also time consuming. Volunteers KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS are vital to the rescue centers, because the owners could Kayleigh Burke takes pride in ﬁnding a home for these gentle animals. lose time from another job by maintaining the shelter on Though these large animals home. The club has about 25 their own. can be daunting and full of sur- active members, some of which Another reason owners take prises, they are known as gentle are also in the Equestrian Club. the horse to a shelter is that giants in the equine commu- Though most of them have they can be surprising animals, nity. They are athletic beings horse experience, Burke said Peacock said. Some owners that desire a leader to depend that the club is open to anyone may not have the skills to con- on and a goal to chase. who is interested with previous trol a horse that behaves differ“They want to have a leader,” equine work or not. ently than they expected. Peacock said. “So if a person This dedication and a horse’s “A lot of people get intimidat- can be a leader for them, they’re personality is what Burke said ed and discouraged when they going to give them everything bonds a person to these aniend up with a horse that they they can.” mals. She said they are adaptcan’t handle behaviorally, and A Second Chance is full of able creatures, and though it it’s just too much for them,” members who want to see the is sad to know what they go Peacock said. horses recover and find a new through, they bounce back.

Angel: April 16 project focuses on mental health from page one

issues, advocate for changes to Virginia’s policies and laws and implement practical solutions to prevent another tragedy.“ The foundation is currently working on three pieces of legislation: two addressing the recommendations of the Virginia College Mental Health Study, and the third addressing threat assessment teams. It is also working on organizing town hall discussions and panels to discuss the issues affecting

the mental health of students in the community. In addition to these, the Angel Fund facilitated the implementation of the program Actively Caring for People. This program was created by psychology professor E. Scott Geller and his students. Its participants recognize individuals preforming acts of kindness by passing on a green wristband and has been recently implemented in Westfield High School, Mount Vernon

High School and Stone Middle School. Every year, the Angel Fund holds a cabaret at Westfield High School in honor of Reema. The Remembrance Cabaret for Reema draws family, friends, alumni and current students from Westfield and Herndon high schools and Tech to sing, dance, perform skits, and play musical instruments. The recipient of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble of Virginia Tech’s Reema J. Samaha Memorial

Scholarship, performs every year. “Reema loved dance and theater, and the Cabaret was started by her friends and family who wanted to honor her in some way,” McNabb said. “So her friends in theater and her dance friends from both in Centreville and at Tech got together and even wrote songs dedicated to her and dances dedicated to her.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @MReardonCT

Inn at Virginia Tech. The Inn’s Gingerbread House, handcrafted by Assistant Banquet Manager Zach Coffren, Engineer Lynn Boland, and Executive Chef Chad Brodkin, will be displayed all holiday season long. Cozy up with a complimentary mug of hot chocolate from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on November 30, December 7, 14, and 21. Visit The Inn for our grand holiday decorations and enjoy Christmas carols among our Fashions for Evergreens display. Your family will love our Friday Family Dinner, $12.95 Adults and $8.95 Kids. For more information call 1-877-200-3360.

Free Entrepreneurship Advice:

3:00pm to 5:00pm at 3001 Torgersen Hall. VT KnowledgeWorks and the College of Engineering are excited to roll out a new opportunity for both STUDENTS and FACULTY who are interested in all things entrepreneurial. Jim Flowers, executive director of VT KnowledgeWorks, will offer office hours on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus.

Exam Preparation — The Final Challenge: 5:00pm to 6:15pm at 111 Femoyer

Hall. This seminar is designed just for freshmen to help them prepare for and survive their first set of final exams at Virginia Tech.

what you’re saying On Hokies to face Rutgers in Russell Athletic Bowl

Anonymous: The Russell Athletics Bowl game

is between members of the ACC and the Big East. The last I looked, LA. Tech belongs to neither conference. If you want to blame La. Tech. for not going to a bowl game, blame the school’s Athletic Director. He could have opted for two other bowl games but he didn’t and paid the consequences when Northern Illinois got voted into the Top 15.

Old Hokie HT79: Tech will start winning when they stop messing around with the uniforms and wear the ones that they became a football power in. Good God! Turkey Tracks?!! That’ll put the fear of ultimate destruction in your opponents! Anonymous: Louisiana Tech didn’t get into a bowl at all and they play much better and more exciting football than the Hokies. I don’t know who wants to watch two really boring teams in VT and Rutgers.

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

status

arrestees

11/30/2012

8am - 4:15pm

Larceny of cell phones

Newman Library

Inactive

12/3/2012

7:35am

Aggravated assault

Power House

Cleared by arrest

Dewayne Wilburn, 48

TAKE A STUDY BREAK! Rent skis from Back Country Ski & Sports and go skiing with friends! Skis, Snowboards, Cross Country Skis, Backpacks, Climbing Gear, Hiking Boots and Shoes Kayaks, Canoes, all things Whitewater, Hammocks, Golf Discs, Slack Lines and much more

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editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopolous featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

food & drink

december 5, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Drink of the week: Baileys Cherry Cafe Eatery boasts tasty, exotic food BY EMMA GODDARD | features editor With December finally upon us, this winterthemed drink is sure to be a hit among your friends. The maraschino cherry juice adds a bit of a twist to this sweet blend of flavors. Drinking the Baileys Cherry Cafe is a great way to celebrate the holidays and makes for an ideal holiday party cocktail. Ingredients: 1.5 ounces Baileys Coffee Irish Cream Liqueur 1 ounce Captain Morgan rum 1 dash maraschino cherry juice 1 twist cinnamon 1 twist sugar

CONTRIBUTED BY AL PAVANGKANAN

Directions: 1. Rim martini glass with cinnamon and sugar. 2. Drizzle cherry juice in the glass to layer. 3. Shake Baileys and Captain Morgan with ice. Strain and enjoy. KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS

Cafe de Bangkok offers Thai cuisine like its Pad Thai dish and its house dip for affordable prices. MADELEINE GORDON features staff writer

Recipe: Vanilla Bean Pudding BY BRIAN CROMER | features staff writer

PAUL KURLAK/SPPS

Pomegranate seeds add a tart, bright flavor to this vanilla pudding. However, instead of pomegranate seeds you can substitute other fruits or chocolate chips for a sweeter dessert. When combining the heated milk and the egg mixture, make sure it is done slowly, so the eggs do not cook. If the eggs scramble, then the pudding will not set properly. Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes

Although downtown Blacksburg is home to many local eateries, few break the mold of rural college-town restaurants quite like Cafe de Bangkok. Cafe de Bangkok offers Thai cuisine along with a modern atmosphere. Just off Main Street, Cafe de Bangkok sits unassumingly behind the post office in a charming brick building. As I entered the restaurant, the cozy, modern atmosphere immediately welcomed me in. The entrance of Cafe de Bangkok opens up to a bar and waiting area fi lled with black wooden tables along with matching benches. The warm glow from the candles atop the tables gave the restaurant its relaxed vibe. While the restaurant wasn’t too busy and had many tables available, the hostess, who greeted us as we entered, didn’t seat us right away. After a curious five-minute wait, we were shown to our table. The restaurant section of Cafe de Bangkok continues to add to the warm, modern atmosphere, as the walls are painted shades of yellow and

orange. After another curious wait, the waitress came to take our drink orders. I perused the menu, which offers a wide range of foods, from starters and soups to various types of main dishes. The restaurant has plenty of options for the main course and has many dishes from each section of the menu like curries, rice woks, wok noodles, noodle bar and the main event. As a starter, I ordered the Cafe de Bangkok dip, which is its zesty house blended peanut dip that is served with a crispy Thai skin wrap. Don’t let the “skin” description scare you away. The appetizer was basically a Thai version of chips and dip. The skin wrap was actually chip-like, but also seemed like the shell of a spring roll. The dip was tangy and delicious, with crushed peanuts mixed in. The appetizer was a good portion size and definitely a bargain for only $2.89. For the main course, I decided to order the Bangkok Pad Thai. I’ve had many variations on Pad Thai throughout my lifetime and was looking forward to their take on the classic dish. The wait between our appetizer and main course was

longer than usual, but not too long. The appetizer left me wanting more, and by the time the entree came, I was filled with anticipation. As the waitress set the Pad Thai down in front of me, I could see that the portion was huge. The heaping portion of Pad Thai looked and smelled delicious. It did not disappoint. The flavors abounded in this dish and left me satisfied. According to their menu, the Bangkok Pad Thai’s thin rice noodles are sauteed in a Thai sweet and sour sauce with green onions, tomatoes, chopped peanuts and bean sprouts. The dish was sweet, savory and not too spicy — just the way I like it. It filled me up and left plenty to take home, which makes it a bargain at just under $10. The leftovers made for a great lunch and tasted just as good as the day before. Although the service was a little slow, my experience at Cafe de Bangkok was pleasant, and I will defi nitely being going back or may try their take-out option. If you’re stuck in a dining rut and have an adventurous appetite, Cafe de Bangkok is a nice and affordable break from the usual with its modern vibe and exotic food.

Ingredients: 3 cups whole milk 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 vanilla bean 1 egg 1 pomegranate Directions: 1. Split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds. Add it to two cups of whole milk and bring it to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch, egg, sugar, a pinch of salt and the remaining cup of milk. There should not be any clumps of cornstarch in the mixture. 3. Once the milk is at a simmer, slowly whisk it into the egg mixture. Take care not to add the milk too quickly, otherwise the eggs will scramble. 4. Return the mixture to the saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until it reaches the desired consistency. Make sure that you scrape the bottom of the saucepan so that it does not scorch. 5. Chill in the refrigerator until fully set, about three hours. 6. Break open the pomegranate and remove the seeds for garnish.

Good times creeping down your antenna?

news

december 5, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

TECH

GAD E L K C A T S STUDENT

FFES A G D N A S GETS , APP

editors: mallory noe-payne, victoria zigadlo newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Students say Windows 8 ‘isn’t so bad’ BY ALEX GOMES | news staff writer

t’s been over a month after the release of Windows 8 in late October, and while many of Virginia Tech’s students have been quick to upgrade, the transition to a new operating system will likely take longer for the university and other large organizations. Windows 8’s radical design changes have attracted some early adopters, but in the bigger scheme of things, the operating system is still being accepted the way new versions of Windows have in the past: slowly and steadily. The biggest and most obvious change to the operating system is the Start screen. Filled with large, colorful rectangles related to various interests and apps, it blurs the line between desktop and mobile device. The screen has a bit of a learning curve to it, but it offers a much different way of interacting with Windows. “I love the interface of it,” said Alexa Small, a sophomore political science major. “It just

Control

your Schedule Graduate on time! Work Summer Session classes into your plan to keep on track. Course request opens in December. www.summer.vt.edu

looks so easy and consumer friendly.” Those who prefer the design of previous versions of Windows need not worry. The desktop format of Windows 8 is still a large part of the operating system, it’s easy to switch to, and it looks very similar to Windows 7. The whole interface is much more tablet friendly, which can be good news to Tech’s large population of tablet laptop owners like Shree Sanyal, a freshman math major who started using Windows 8 a few weeks ago. “I saw I could get it free from Tech, so I decided, ‘Why not?’” Sanyal said. Sanyal is one of many students who is able to download a legitimate copy of Windows 8 through Tech’s software distribution website. Through it, most students are able to download any of Windows’ more recent editions of Office and Windows for free. Andrew Long, a senior in mechanical engineering, took advantage of the opportunity and upgraded once he could. According to him, the new start screen took a little getting

used to. “It isn’t so bad. It probably took me just a few days to get used to, so not long.” While the interface might be exciting, the introduction of a new operating system means related applications and functions will have to adapt. Apple has yet to release Boot Camp support for Windows 8, which means Mac users won’t be able to try a fully-functional Windows 8 just yet. Even VT Wireless has been reported to have some compatibility problems with Windows 8, though VT WLAN still works well. Despite its mixed reviews among tech blogs and early adopters, Windows 8 hasn’t quite grown enough to receive a measured response from the general public. The real impact of Windows 8 on the working world has yet to come. Follow the writer on Twitter: @alexgomes_CT

editors: josh higgins, bethany melson opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

opinions

december 5, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Michelle Sutherland Managing Editor: Nick Cafferky Design Editors: Andrea Ledesma, Alicia Tillman Special Section Design Edtitor: Danielle Buynak Public Editor: Erin Chapman Web Editor: Chelsea Gunter News Editors: Mallory Noe-Payne, Victoria Zigadlo News Reporters: Priscilla Alvarez, Cody Owens Features Editors: Emma Goddard, Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Ben Kim, Katie White, Kara Van Scoyc, Allie Sivak, Jacob Wilbanks Opinions Editors: Josh Higgins, Bethany Melson Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Special Sections Editor: Cody Elliot Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Kristin Gunther, Mackenzie Fallon, Alexis Livingston, Kayleigh McKenzie Photo Editor: Kevin Dickel Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: Ryan Francis Circulation Manager: Travis Neale Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White MCT CAMPUS

Obama leads US Gaming future looks bright into “lost decade” A A

fter five years of lousy economic performance, you would think people would be sick of it by now. Guess not. How else do you explain why we're having a big fight over inequality instead of arguing over how to jump-start growth? There's no denying inequality has increased. Median wages haven't kept up while families in the upper tax brackets have prospered. But even so, getting the economy back on its typical growth path of 3.4 percent a year should be the overriding imperative. That would do wonders for the immediate problem of too few jobs and too many jobless; not to mention the problem of lagging incomes and insufficient federal revenue. Sadly, that's not the topic du jour. Prosperity harbors a contradiction. Rapid economic growth requires a relatively high degree of inequality, which is more tolerable when the pie tends to grow for all. In hard times, those who succeed and enrich themselves draw more envy and the political left amps up its obsession with punishing the rich, expressed in the form of taxes that impair the economy's potential. The current inequality obsession has gotten so bad some people think we would be better off running the top tax rate back up to 91 percent- where it was in the 1950s. Those were prosperous times, they say. Businesses were still created. Investment was healthy. And there was less inequality! The New York Times' Paul Krugman gave this a try in a recent column, with the added notion that we would also be better off (less inequality!) if organized labor had the same heft it did in the '50s. As a Nobel laureate, he had to know better. Today, the economy is weak even with relatively low tax rates. Yet Krugman and his fellow travelers say the solution to our woes is a job market dominated by labor monopolies, unions, and a tax rate that gives upper-income investors and business owners virtually no incentive to earn an additional dollar. Krugman forgot that the 1950s were a unique period in our history. Much of the developed world's industrial capital was incinerated in war and was still being rebuilt. Of

course the American economy prospered. How could it not? Moreover, as James Pethokoukis of the American Enterprise Institute recently pointed out, jobs were plentiful in those years in part because the post-war boom came at a time when the size of the labor force was reduced, not only by a Depressionera birth dearth, but also by the loss of potential workers killed or wounded in war. Krugman would profit from reading a recent column by his Times colleague, Eduardo Porter. It includes several passages that were amazing to fi nd in The Times. A sample: The U.S. tax system is "one of the most progressive" in the developed world. It does "more to redistribute resources and reduce inequality" than tax codes in other countries. But progressive taxes "make it hard to raise money" because they "encourage people to reduce their tax liability rather than to increase their pretax income." And: Hitting top earners with high rates "can discourage work and investment." Porter was arguing for flatter, European-style taxes like the value-added tax or a carbon tax- levies few people can avoid, which produce revenue like gangbusters. Porter doesn't think Washington does enough to support lowincome families compared with big-government social democracies, which rake in much more revenue. The European debt crisis, however, highlights the flaws in that model. It's true we must have more revenue and the Simpson-Bowles plan, once assumed to be a roadmap for the fiscal cliff talks, would have produced more by carving loopholes from the tax code. But it also would have encouraged growth by rolling back the top rates. Forget it: Obama now insists we dispense with the rollback. To heck with growth: He wants to carve out the loopholes and raise the rates. If he gets his way, we could face four more years of economic anemia, which means we may someday look back on the Obama years as the Japanese look back on their "lost decade." E. THOMAS McCLANAHAN -McClatchy Newspapers

fter reading the opinion article by Ryan Turk titled “Future game consoles bring new problems” in the November 30th paper, several things stuck out to me enough to warrant a response. First, I find the word “rumor” precisely once in the entire article, despite the fact that every “known” feature of the next wave of game consoles from Microsoft and Sony is either a rumor or pure speculation at this point. But the author writes the article as if these rumors are iron-clad facts and I think it is very likely readers would come away incorrectly assuming those things were true. The reality is that there have been contradictory leaks and rumors about the consoles. I have seen everything from the next Xbox having no disk drive to it having a Blu-Ray player. And it is unlikely plans are even finalized at Sony or Microsoft yet with regards to features and hardware specs. Second, I would suggest to both the author and readers interested in gaming to look at the current state of the PC gaming market, where selling used games has long been very difficult at best. Digital distribution has already taken over thanks to services like Valve’s Steam, EA’s Origin, and even Gamestop’s own Impulse. And yet somehow PC gaming is exploding right now, despite hav-

ing almost no retail shelf presence in stores like Gamestop. If you want to save money on buying oldbut-still-good games, look no farther than Steam, which regularly has huge sales. Just this past weekend, I bought an expansion to Empire: Total War for $2.50, marked down from its usual $10 price and there were many other games marked down by 50 to 75 percent. So, the solution for publishers and developers to combat used game sales already exists — selling the old game digitally at vastly reduced prices — and is having stunning success. And because digital distribution is actually much cheaper than physical media, publishers get a higher percentage of the game’s cost and can thus charge lower prices, while still making the same amount of profit in the end. Third, I’d argue that being assured that having every game I purchase on Steam digitally tied to my account — so I can re-download it whenever I want — is a much better value than having my $60 tied to a disk that can be easily lost or damaged. Of course, this is my opinion and other may value having the physical disc more. The point is that this is not a zero-sum game; both formats can be successful. Fourth, it is in our best interest as gamers to ensure that the publishers and developers

of the games we love get rewarded for their work and investment. The current used-game market gives the actual creators of games no money after the initial sale. We should be supporting ways to both get old games at reduced prices and ensure developers make enough money to create the next great game rather than just fueling Gamestop’s profits. The real question is do we want our gaming dollars to go to middle men or the actual content creators? Finally, let me conclude by saying that the author’s outrage over rumored features of unannounced gaming consoles is unwarranted at this time because we know next to nothing about them. But let’s indulge in some speculation. It seems highly unlikely Microsoft and Sony will “kill” physical media in the upcoming generation; let’s not forget not everyone in the world has an Internet connection as fast as Virginia Tech’s. What’s more likely is there will be more emphasis on allowing day-one digital downloads of new games alongside the physical launch. But saying anything for certain about the next consoles from Microsoft and Sony is, at this point, premature.

KYLE GIBB -guest columnist -senior -computer science

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december 5, 2012

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Home is your magnet this year.

Investments, wellness and socializing are themes. Romance heats up the first half of 2013, and sparks shift to career and finances after June. Stay organized, and get a second opinion on big decisions.

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Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. - Eleanor Roosevelt Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com

XKDC by Randall Monroe

6 8

7 3 2 1 9

7 4

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4 3 5 9 1 3 7 5 5 4 1 7 6

Complete the grid so that each column, row and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9. For a greater challege see how fast you can complete the puzzle. Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

Week ending December 7, 2012

By Bruce Venzke and Stella Daily

ACROSS 1 Unexpected delivery 16 War novel that became a Gary Cooper film 17 Cypress and others 18 ’03 retirees 19 Get ready to dry 20 Window shopper’s buy? 21 Nabisco trademark 23 Ring up? 25 Gem 28 The Oscars, e.g. 32 Start of a cheer 33 Numismatist’s prize

Top Tracks Locked Out of Heaven • Bruno Mars

(1) 1 (2) 2

Girl On Fire (feat. Nicki Minaj) • Alicia Keys

(3) 3

Ho Hey • The Lumineers

Home • Phillip Phillips

Gangnam Style • PSY

12/05/12

39 It has collars and stays 40 Hoop spot 41 Source of many tiny animals 42 Some bling 43 Jazz __ 44 Fix the boundaries of 45 Cinnabar, vis-àvis mercury 46 Western resort at 6,200 feet 48 Suspensefully held in 50 Phil, for one 53 Annual employee review contributor

55 AMA and ADA 58 Chemist for whom a flask is named 60 Uses up one’s minutes, and then some 64 Dissident’s request 67 Tons to do 68 Military priority

DOWN 1 Pollen is produced in them 2 Sci-fi vehicles 3 Many a Lewis Black bit 4 Break site 5 Whistling zebra? 6 “If Only __ a Butterfly”: Imogen Heap song 7 Comic intro? 8 Carolina university 9 Luxurious 10 In a fog 11 Simple place to rest 12 Chess champ after Fischer 13 __ 51 14 Original name of the radio show “Gang Busters” 15 Brutus’s being 22 Increase one’s home’s value, in a way 24 McCartney song inspired by a dream 25 Baking aid 26 Bride’s accessory 27 Star known by her first name 29 Al’s nemesis 30 Shiny shell lining 31 Rough cloth 34 Rage 35 Not a whit 36 __ Friday’s 37 Filmmaker Peckinpah 38 Recording giant 47 Like some inspections

49 Knitter’s pattern 51 Minneapolis suburb 52 Behind-the-lines job 53 Reacted to bad news, maybe 54 Remove 55 Shimmering swimmer 56 Caramel-inchocolate brand

57 Latch (onto) 59 “Bibbidi-BobbidiBoo” prop 61 Film composer Menken with eight Oscars 62 Protests 63 Hook’s right hand 65 “My mama done __ me ...” 66 Letters on the beach

Tuesdays ’ Puzzle Solved

12/04/12

WORDSEARCH: SPORTS Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

WORD BANK 1. BASEBALL 2. BASKETBALL 3. CHEERLEADING 4. CYCLING 5. DANCE 6. FENCING 7. FOOTBALL 8. GOLF 9. GYMNASTICS 10. HOCKEY 11. LACROSSE 12. RUGBY 13. SOCCER 14. SOFTBALL 15. SWIMMING 16. TRACK 17. VOLLEYBALL 18. WRESTLING

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editors: matt jones, zach mariner sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

december 5, 2012 COLLEGIATETIMES

Baseball’s Winter Meetings are full of intrigue This week, baseball executives, agents and media have descended upon Nashville, Tenn. for the annual MLB Winter Meetings. The Winter Meetings mark the most active part of the baseball offseason. Unlike the other major sports, baseball’s offseason is longer and more in depth, but the hottest part is this week in Nashville. Teams will be going in looking for the perfect free agent or trade to round their team out, or build a new franchise around. The biggest markets this year is for outfielders and starting pitchers. At the start of the offseason the outfield market was one of the best in years with star free agents Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton and Angel Pagan, as well as players like Denard Span and Justin Upton possibly available by trade. But in a pre-meetings move, the Atlanta Braves locked up their replacement for the departing Bourn by signing B.J. Upton to a five-year, $75.25 million contract. Upton, 28, relies on his speed to play excellent defense in centerfield, while bringing more power hitting to the position than usual. The next day, the Braves’ division rival, the Washington Nationals, traded for Span, who is a leadoff hitter extraordinaire and is probably the best fielder of the lot. These moves trimmed the market of both teams looking for outfielders going into the meetings, but it has still been a hot market. On the first day of the meetings, the San Francisco Giants re-signed Angel Pagan to a fouryear, $40 million contract. Pagan, believed to also be a target of the Philadelphia Phillies, is probably the least talented of the bunch, but is still a quality player. Those Phillies are still searching for their answer in centerfield, and many have linked them to Michael Bourn. However, Bourn, whose agent is the notorious Scott Boras, is looking for a nine-figure contract, which many teams have hesitated to give him. The Phillies could explore the trade market during their time at the meetings instead.

Meanwhile, Bourn could end up signed by a team on the rise looking to make a splash. Similar to the Jayson Werth signing by the Washington Nationals in 2010, a team could give Bourn the big contract he wants to signal a new era in the team’s history. But the big target is former Texas Ranger and MVP Josh Hamilton, who is a corner outfielder. However, Hamilton has dealt with serious personal problems in the past, which may scare some teams off. He also has injury concerns that could lower his contract value. Many teams have been linked to Hamilton including his old team, the Rangers, as well as the Boston Red Sox. In the pitching market, the big target is former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke. Many have speculated Greinke will be the beneficiary of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ newfound riches, but the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers are also involved. Outside of Greinke, the pitching market is fairly deep with names such as Anibal Sanchez, Dan Haren, Kyle Loshe, Ryan Dempster and Edwin Jackson. All of these pitchers are quality pitchers who can change a team’s fortunes without the big contract Greinke will certainly garner. The Nationals signed Haren on Tuesday to a 1-year, $13 million contract to fill out the 5th spot in their rotation, but the rest of these pitchers are available and many teams have been linked to them. Teams to watch are the Detroit Tigers, the Angels, the New York Yankees, the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles. All of these teams consider themselves contenders in 2013 and need some rotation help. All this week, rumors will be flying around Nashville as everyone tries to find the next big signing. For baseball fans, this is an early look at what to expect when the 2013 season begins. JAMES O’HARA -sports staff writer -junior -computer science

MCT CAMPUS

Big name sports agent Scott Boras represents some of the biggest names in baseball. His top client this offseason is Michael Bourn.

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DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP THE COLLEGIATE TIMES TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LOVE YOUR PET TELL US ABOUT HIM!

collegiate times presents

nam // Rico name info //Boa Constrictor inte interests // Hiding in his log, lo exploring, riding on his owner’s ridin shoulders, climbing shou legs. his owners’ o

Send your pet’s name, breed/age, interests, and a picture to creative.services@collegemedia.com

Pet Advice of the Week: Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The upcoming days require patience, as there may be a disagreement about priorities or delayed correspondence. Research the best deal. Wait for new orders. Consider assuming more authority.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Review the instructions again. Share the load today and tomorrow, but hold on to the responsibility. Avoid backtracking. What you get isn’t what you expected. Stay pragmatic.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Consider attending a business seminar. Plan your agenda. Build a picture of wealth in your mind. Doubts may rise. Imagine doing what you love..

Aries (March 21-April 19) The pace is picking up. Accept your greater good. Your workload’s getting more intense, as the excellence attracts attention. Release something or someone who’s leading you astray.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Keep it practical. Figure out inances today and tomorrow, but wait until overnight to sign. Pay bills. Changes necessitate budget revisions. Bide your time. Your assumptions get challenged.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Stay out of someone else’s argument, and get into relaxation mode for the next two days. You’re gaining support. Somebody nearby sure looks good. Seduction suffuses the ambiance.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Stick with the facts at work. Don’t go too far too fast. Fix up your home today and tomorrow. Use water imagery. Have the party at your house. Cancer (June 21-July 22) A voracious learning phase begins. Practicing something you love to do goes well now. Save enough to get a special treat, after paying bills. Resolve confusion. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Work now; play in a few days. Avoid distractions. You can earn extra cash now. Glamorize your appearance. Ground a vision in reality, and resist temptation.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Assertiveness works well now, so avoid distractions. You’re more powerful than usual for the next few days, which is useful with a dif icult job. Take irst things irst. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Slow down and contemplate potential outcomes. Postpone a private meeting. Wrap up details today and tomorrow. Listen at keyholes. There may be a con lict of interests. Revise later. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) It’s getting fun now (and public). Ponder party possibilities, and enjoy planning music, food and diversion. Give up a fantasy, especially under pressure. Pass along what you’ve learned.

The Boa Constrictor is a nocturnal hunter, and in the wild will feed on lizards, birds and mammals such as bats, squirrels and opossums. In captivity such a varied diet isn’t required and Boas can be safely fed on a constant diet of rats or rabbits depending on size. Hatchlings can be started on small ‘fuzzy’ mice and the prey size increased as the snake grows, working up through small to large mice, rats and then rabbits for large boas.

SUBMIT TO PET OF THE WEEK Want to see your cuddly cutie in the paper? Send us an email with a picture followed by the above information and we will publish your furry friend! creative.services@collegemedia.com

sports 8 At 7-0, Hokies are on a winning path

editors: matt jones, zach mariner

december 5, 2012

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

COLLEGIATETIMES

Thirty years. It’s been three whole decades since a Virginia Tech basketball team has started a season 7-0, but that’s exactly what new head coach James Johnson has spurred the Hokies to do this season. With the unceremonious removal of former coach Seth Greenberg in the offseason, a little change in the program was inevitable. But no one was expecting that Johnson would be able to so radically alter the direction of the team so quickly. The stylistic differences between the old Hokies and the new are readily apparent. Greenberg was a proponent of tough defense and a methodical half court offense, while Johnson has implemented a run and gun system, which is mainly predicated on the players having fun by shooting any time they please. If Greenberg’s offenses had something of a speed limit, then Johnson’s is just one constant green light, as he’s encouraged players to shoot early and often. No one has responded to this change more vigorously than Erick Green. Greenberg often tried to employ Green as more of a traditional point guard that facilitates the rest of the offense, but Johnson has given Green free reign to pull the trigger whenever he sees fit. While this approach might not work for some players, the senior has exploded, averaging 24.9 points per game for the season off of 95 field goal attempts this season — nearly 20 more than the next closest player. Green’s efforts haven’t

gone unnoticed by the rest of the country, either. He’s earned ACC co-player of the week honors two weeks in a row and is getting early All-America buzz for his stellar early performance. But Green isn’t the only player thriving in the new offense. Last season, Jarell Eddie’s role on offense could be generously described as standing around and waiting to shoot. This year, Eddie’s been encouraged to play considerably more aggressively, as he’s frequently made big plays by taking the ball to the basket. He’s also been tasked with bringing the ball up the court frequently, even when Green is on the floor, allowing him to blossom offensively. He’s attempted 77 shots on the year, with 36 coming from behind the arc, and his 50.6 percent shooting percentage seems to show that this new system is ideally suited for him. As good as these two have been, it’s hard to ignore Robert Brown’s development as well. Although Brown was more suited to Greenberg’s offense than Eddie and Green may have been, he’s really taken a step forward as a shooter this year, and when that’s paired with Johnson’s high tempo attack, the results have been exceptional. He’s averaging 13.3 points per game on the season, but in the last two games against Iowa and Oklahoma State, he’s scored 18 points, finishing only behind Green in both cases. Brown is hitting 39.3 percent of his attempts from behind the arc as well, giv-

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Jarell Eddie drives the ball in last Tuesday’s 95-79 win over Iowa at Cassell Coliseum. At 7-0, the Hokies are off to their best start decades. ing the team three viable outside shooting options, which allows the team to space the floor quite effectively. However, outside of any one player’s individual performance, the biggest difference about this year’s team is the attitude surrounding the program. While Greenberg was known to have a bit of a rebellious, antagonistic streak, Johnson is considerably more personable. He gets along with every-

one, whether they’re players, reporters or stadium workers. This new attitude is noticeable even when the players are on the court. They clearly enjoy this new system, and their joy is evident as they gallop up and down the floor. The way they describe him is also very telling. After Greenberg’s authoritarian coaching style, Johnson’s youth and open personality are clearly the kind of

change everyone around the program needed. All these positives aren’t without a few negatives, however. The team can boast wins over one ranked team in Oklahoma State and another major conference team in Iowa, but outside of them, their toughest competition has been UNC Greensboro. It’s also hard to tell how the team’s lack of depth will affect them this early in the season.

It’s all well and good to sprint up and down the floor now, but when February rolls around, how will this team, which is only nine deep, hold up? But these concerns are still far off for a team’s that on top of the world. Right now, it’s a new day in Blacksburg, and it’s a pleasure to watch. ALEX KOMA -sports staff writer -junior -communication