Daily Titan October 13, 2010

Vol. 88 Issue 24

October 13, 2010

WHAT’S INSIDE OPINION The Dating Game: Communicating change ....................................... 4 FEATURES The story behind a student drug dealer ........................................6 SPORTS Bee in the Know: MLB’s freak injuries ........................................8 The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

The trouble with Proposition 19 Distribution concerns and violent cartels could muddy legalization ALLY BORDAS Staff Writer

The marijuana industry has been at the forefront of California’s political agenda. With the upcoming November elections, the issues with Mexican drug organizations and the people involved are in the spotlight.

Los Angeles Times writer John Hoeffel wrote an article about Proposition 19 and the drug cartels. The article stated that the passing of Prop. 19 “would do almost nothing to curtail violent Mexican drug organizations that ship the drug across the border, a finding that undermines one of the main arguments proponents have made.”

If Prop. 19 passes, the details of how California would adjust to the legaliza-

Hidden dangers of weed abuse

tion “are unclear since marijuana is still illegal under federal law,” according to Hoeffel’s article.

The four-year campaign against the drug trades has left nearly 30,000 people dead south of the Mexican border. Hoeffel said that Mexican President Felipe Calderon stressed his opposition to Prop. 19, arguing that the United States has done too little to suppress consumption. But Calderon’s predecessor, Vicente Fox, supports the initiative and has called for legalization in Mexico as well.

David Shirk, who was interviewed by the Washington Post, is the director of the Trans-border Institute at the University of San Diego. He doubts that losing the California market would hurt the drug gangs that much.

“The reality is that you would probably have to legalize consumption of marijuana throughout the United States, or in several significantly sized states, to have any kind of reverberations here in Mexico,” Shirk said.

The health benefits and problems of marijuana consumption MATTHEW PETROPULOS Staff Writer

The dictionary definition of marijuana reads as such: the dried leaves and flowering tops of the pistillate hemp plant that yield THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and are smoked in cigarettes for their intoxicating effect.

Marijuana usage has dated back to ancient times. When America started to colonize, marijuana became a major crop and was grown as a source of fiber. It was cultivated during World War II when Asian sources of marijuana were cut off. Marijuana was used to outfit the ships during the war.

However, in 1937 because of the

See TROUBLE, page 2

Clinics could suffer if measure passes JOSEPH SZILAGYI Staff Writer

Californians will cast a vote on Nov. 2 that could send shock waves throughout the nation by legalizing marijuana.

If passed, Proposition 19 will allow adults 21 and older to buy and possess the herb without state penalty, an idea that some students welcome with open arms.

“I think every citizen of the United States should be able to smoke whatever they want,” said Isabella Veracruz, a Cal State Fullerton junior.

Veracruz believes that the government puts too many regulations on society and that Prop.

19 will be a step towards more freedom.

“I’m going to vote for it,” Veracruz said.

Medical marijuana dispensaries, who are benefiting the most under the current law, is a group that will not be as welcoming of Prop. 19. Commercializing marijuana and selling it in an open market to anyone over 21 years of age may be a cause for concern for some dispensaries.

“How the hell am I going to be able to compete with a local liquor store selling the same exact product I’m selling but for a lower price?”

Said a manager of a medicinal marijuana dispen-

sary in Anaheim who asked to remain anonymous.

“I am able to find and afford the best weed in California because of how many people buy what I have to sell. If I lose business to a CVS or Walgreens I can’t supply the same high grade stuff I have now because I’ll be losing money,” the Anaheim dispensary manager said.

Today, the only way to possess marijuana legally in California is with a referral from a doctor.

This was established in 2003 by Senate Bill 420 in addition to Prop. 215, which legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes in 1996.

These government measures have given medical dispensaries the exclusive right to sell the drug to anyone with a doctor’s note.

“We are open six days, six hours a week and we have at least one customer in the shop at all times checking out our product,” the manager of the Anaheim dispensary said. “Right now business is good. I’m not making a ton of money but I’m getting by and I love what I do.”

But if marijuana is legalized in California, the dispensaries are in danger of losing business, something that has not been a problem of late.

Looking at the amount of marijuana dispensaries in Southern California suggests there is a profitable market that more and more dispensaries are tapping into.

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The Los Angeles Times reported that there are currently 169 dispensaries in Los Angeles and CaNORML.org reported that there are over 60 dispensaries in Orange County. Within the past year about 100 medical marijuana dispensaries opened in San Diego alone, according to the Washington Post. This happened after the Obama administration announced that it would not prosecute the purveyors of marijuana.

The closest dispensaries to CSUF are located in Anaheim and Santa Ana. According to the California Department of Public Health, there have been over 46,000 medical marijuana licenses distributed in the state since the passage of Senate Bill 420. The California Department of Public Health says a doctor’s referral can be given for illnesses such as anxiety, cancer and nausea. However, the way in which some licenses have been obtained is under scrutiny.

Veracruz said that she knew of people that pretended to have a disability in order to obtain a doctor’s referral.

“A few of my friends told the doctor they’d been having some anxiety issues and they got their referral,” Veracruz said. “Trust me, neither of them had anxiety.”

See PROP. 19, page 3

overuse of the drug for recreational purposes, the marijuana prohibition officially began with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. Before this Act was passed, 27 states had anti-drug laws in effect, according to DrugLibrary. com.

Withdrawal symptoms from addiction include irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and aggression. Panic attacks, increased risks of heart attacks, depression, schizophrenia and addiction according to AboveTheInfluence.com are just some of the horrible effects from the often-used drug, marijuana.

Marijuana as defined by Above the Influence is a green, brown or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. It has a chemical in it called tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC. All forms of marijuana are mind-altering (psychoactive). In other words, they change how the brain works.

See SYMPTOMS, page 3

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NEWS

IN OTHER NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

Chile miners: First retrieval could come soon Chile – Chilean officials said Tuesday the first of 33 miners trapped 2,300 feet underground for two months may be lifted to freedom within hours via a metal rescue capsule.

If all goes smoothly, all the miners should be freed during the next two days, officials said.

“We are really working as fast as possible to get these miners out,” Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said during a televised news conference. Golborne said he was not ready to declare “mission accomplished” despite his confidence in the rescue preparations. He said officials hope at least one of the miners will be out of the mine before the end of the day Tuesday

NATIONAL

China makes effort to ease ties with neighbors WASHINGTON — China moved, Tuesday, to ease its conflict with Southeast Asian neighbors over its territorial claims, releasing Vietnamese fishermen jailed for working in disputed waters and softening its language at a meeting of defense ministers.

The moves suggested Beijing is rethinking its aggressive assertion of claims over disputed waters and islands, which has heightened tensions with its neighbors.

At a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, with defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Chinese officials avoided their previous declarations that the South China Sea is a “core interest.” The phrase has been interpreted as a sign that Beijing would not yield on its claims in the resource-rich sea. Six countries assert sovereignty over portions the waters.

STATE

Researchers find possible link between jaundice in newborns

LOS ANGELES — Researchers may have discovered a possible link between jaundice in newborns and an increased risk of psychological development difficulties, including autism.

Danish scientists looked at data on the 733,826 live births in Denmark between 1994 and 2004. In that group, 35,766 were diagnosed with neonatal jaundice, a fairly common illness in babies that usually goes away within a week of birth. During the study period, 1,721 children were diagnosed with a psychological development disorder, and 4,257 children died.

Being exposed to jaundice, for children born at full term, resulted in a 56 percent to 88 percent increased risk of acquiring a psychological development disorder and a 67 percent increased risk for infantile autism.

For the Record It is the policy of the Daily Titan to correct any inaccurate information printed in the publication as soon as the error is discovered. Any incorrect information printed on the front page will result in a correction printed on the front page. Any incorrect information printed on any other page will be corrected on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also will be noted on the online version of the Daily Titan.

Please contact Editor-in-Chief Isa Ghani at 657-278-5815 or at execeditor@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

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October 13, 2010

Prop. 19 comes to campus Students and professors voice opinion on Proposition 19 YARELY RODRIGUEZ For the Daily Titan

On Nov. 2, people will vote on Proposition 19, the legalization of marijuana.

Prop. 19, also known as Regulate and Control Cannabis Act of 2010, would allow any person over the age of 21 to obtain one ounce of marijuana to be used for personal consumption.

It would further allow the growth of up to 25 square feet of marijuana.

If passed, the state government would be able to tax the sale of marijuana. Prop. 19 is proposed to generate billions of dollars in annual revenue that would help fund jobs and health care.

There is controversy with this proposition because not everyone wants marijuana to be legalized. Cal State Fullerton students and Faculty shared their thoughts.

“Our economy is messed up, so legalizing marijuana right now can be good,” said Japanese major Jossue Rodriguez, 18.

Rodriguez said that alcohol is a lot more harmful than marijuana so there is nothing wrong with legalizing it.

CELIA LIRA / Staff Photographer People can obtain a medical marijuana card for many health reasons including insomnia, anxiety, migraines and arthritis.

According to the Board of Equalization, legalizing marijuana would bring $1.4 billion a year in California. They say the money collected would go to funding, jobs, health care, parks, public safety, roads and transportation.

There are some people who oppose the legalization of marijuana.

Addiction is a concern to many because they think that if marijuana is legalized, more people will end up using the drug and become addicted to the drug.

“I have seen many people get addicted to that drug,” said Jose Villafuerte, 22, a child development student.

THE HOW TO ON GETTING A MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSE The Medical Marijuana Program was created as a voluntary means for people to inform the state that they are in need of marijuana for medical purposes.

In order to purchase marijuana from a dispensary all one needs is a doctor’s referral, but some people may feel more comfortable with a state-issued I.D. card.

This is how someone can get a medical marijuana I.D. Step One: First, you must qualify for an I.D. card. The California Department of Public Health states that you will qualify if you have: AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, persistent muscle spasms, seizures, severe nausea and other chronic illnesses.

Step Two: Find a doctor that will write you a referral. There are a number of doctors that will write a referral and they can be found with a little research on the Internet. Websites like Yelp.com allow you to search nearby cities for a doctor while also giving past patients the ability to write reviews that can be useful if determining which doctor to choose.

Step Three: Get your referral. Costs for visiting a doctor may vary, but expect to pay around $100 to $150. There are discounts, though, that can be found by searching the Internet. For instance, some doctors give a $50 discount if you mention that you heard about them on Yelp. Do your research beforehand.

Step Four: Apply for your I.D. card. After downloading and filling out an application from Department of Public Health’s website, just photocopy the doctor’s referral, mail the copy, the application, and a check for $66 for the I.D. to the Department of Public Health.

Step Five: Wait for your I.D. to come in the mail. Once you do receive the I.D. make sure to register it at the Department of Public Health’s website.

Information gathered by Joseph Szilagyi

An editorial by the San Bernardino Sun, suggested that Prop. 19 has various flaws. One major thing was that Prop. 19 would allow passengers to smoke in a vehicle, but not the driver.

They argue that this can have an effect on the person driving the vehicle because second-hand smoke may interfere with the driver ability to focus.

“Prop. 19, as written, is a mess. It would allow each city within California to create its own municipal codes so that a person could conceivably be OK in one city and then a block later be breaking the law. That’s a joke,” said Ioakim Boutakidis, CSUF child and adolescent studies professor.

Each city will have their own regulations on enforcing the rules on marijuana.

Boutakidis said change of these laws has to happen at the federal level. Regardless of what California passes, it would still be a federal crime to possess, grow or distribute marijuana, which would put us in conflict with federal law.

“So while I like the overall idea of changing national policy to make the use, cultivation and possession of marijuana less criminal, I cannot support Prop. 19 as written,” Boutakidis said.

TROUBLE: GAME PLAN NEEDED IF PROPOSITION PASSES ... Continued from page 1 Shawn is the founder and owner of Sunset Beach-based marijuana cooperative Cali Genes. Walking along Pacific Coast Highway no one would ever be able to identify his shop as a dispensary unless they knew exactly where to go.

“You are not allowed into the shop unless you have a medicinal card,” Shawn said.

Shawn graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1989 with a degree in music and psychology. He has owned his small dispensary in Sunset Beach for four months.

“I have been in the business for 22 years,” Shawn said. “I prefer my business to be called a ‘healing resource center’ since what we do is intellectually connect with people on the topic of marijuana.”

In response to how society views medicinal marijuana dispensaries, Shawn said “I do not want to be labeled as a parasite leeching off of society. I am passionate about my close relationship with my members.”

With all the media hype surrounding Prop. 19, Shawn is fo-

cusing more on the logistics of the ment has “risked so many lives be- Prop. 19 might help the economic law if it passes. cause of the illegal drug organiza- pressure California is enduring, “Who’s going to distribute it? tions.” he wants to know will keep an eye Are people going to use loopholes Jason Gorman, 20, is a junior out on marijuana regulations if the to get around taxation? Is it going history student at Santiago Com- drug is legalized. to be sold at the local Rite Aid? munity College.

Gorman fears that the legalizaWhat governing body will regulate Gorman wants to tranfer Cal tion of marijuana will cause major and collect taxes? We don’t really State Fullerton next year. He has problems, especially with youth. know which way (Prop.) 19 will had a medicinal marijuana card for “People smoke because it is the fall so it is a bit sketchy,” Shawn over a year that was originally pre- thing to do in California,” Gorman said. scribed for said. “But if it passes and someIf Prop. m i g r a i n e s thing goes wrong, weed will be 19 passes, and insom- blamed for the whole incident.”

This proposition is just too California’s nia.

Gorman believes Prop. 19 won’t good to be true; this industry marijuana “I also affect the Mexican drug organizais not going to flip 180 degrees industry will got the card tions. drastically because I “They will just move away if it passes.... change. was ticket- from California and go to another “A lot of ed for pos- state,” Gorman said. “Drug run- Jason Gorman, dispensaries session of ning won’t stop and the movement Santiago College student are afraid cannabis,” of drugs will continue.” the prop Gorman Gorman knows that if Prop. 19 will pass and are afraid their sales said. “After settling it in court, I passes it will have to be regulated will plummet,” Shawn said. decided to get my card and be legal by the government.

Although Shawn owns a marijua- about it.”

“But what people aren’t looking na shop, he is surprisingly against Gorman’s views on Prop. 19 are at are the companies that are going Prop. 19. He believes that it will completely different than Bou- to come in and see this movement do more damage than good. year’s views. as a way of making a huge profit,” “It has good intentions, but “It is not ready to be legal yet. Gorman said. “They are going to there is no promise that it will There is no legitimate game plan,” start ripping the public off.” work out,” Shawn said. “It is a Gorman said. “This proposition is Shawn agrees with Gorman and complete clusterfuck.” just too good to be true; this in- states that “companies as well as Shawn is planning on going dustry is not going to flip 180 de- the government want to industriinto the seed-growing business a grees if it passes.” alize marijuana. When people are bit more since the dispensary inGorman also feels that although given an inch, they take a mile.” dustry is changing at a rapid rate.

Paul Bouyear, 21, is a junior theater student at Orange Coast Community College. He was prescribed a medicinal marijuana card seven months ago for insomnia.

Bouyear is a strong supporter of Prop. 19, who said he generally does not receive many responses from people when they find out he has a card.

“People usually think it is smarter that I have a card instead of doing it illegally,” Bouyear said.

Bouyear also believes that passing Prop. 19 will help with how drugs are run.

“If it is legalized, then California government can begin to grow its own weed,” Bouyear said. “We can appoint people to grow it and then those would be the only people we DAVID MUNOZ / Staff Photographer would have to track.”

Bouyear feels that the govern- If passed, Proposition 19 would allow for the growth of up to 25 square feet of marijuana.

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October 13, 2010

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NEWS

TO LEGALIZE OR NOT TO LEGALIZE

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PROP. 19: DISPENSARIES WORRY

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... Continued from page 1 Moreover, billboards around Los Angeles and Orange County can be seen advertising a quick and discreet way to obtain a medical marijuana license. Some dispensaries insist, though, that the loopholes of the current system are for the government to take care of and not theirs.

“Who am I to ask why someone is in my shop?” said the Anaheim dispensary manager. “When you buy cough syrup does the cashier ask you, ‘Are you using this for a cough or to get high’? No they don’t. It’s none of my business so maybe (Meg) Whitman can take care of it.”

Whether or not California’s next governor decides to impose tougher restrictions for obtaining a medical marijuana license will depend on the outcome of Prop. 19. According to a recent poll conducted by Reuters, most Californians oppose legalizing marijuana with 53 percent of likely voters against the measure and 43 percent supporting it. A June poll showed a more tightly contested race, but the Anaheim dispensary owner thinks it is too early to tell how Prop.

19 will pan out.

“The last thing I want to do is get my hopes up,”the Anaheim dispensary manager said.

There are various purposes for passing the proposition depending on who you ask. Besides the drug’s recreational and medical benefits, CSUF junior Katelyn Marie says the effect that legalizing a popular drug will have on the economy is a major reason why it should be legalized.

“I do think that taxing marijuana is going to help us out of the recession, and I really think it’s going to do good things, not so much just harm,” Marie said.

Even though the manager of the Anaheim dispensary agrees that taxing and regulating marijuana will be a valuable source of revenue for the state, he says that job security is reason enough to vote against its legalization.

“I feel that if I vote to legalize pot and allow anyone to buy it I might as well pack up my bags and look for a new job,” the Anaheim dispensary owner said. “I get that California needs the money, but I don’t want to be unemployed and that’s my primary concern.”

If marijuana is legalized, dispensaries will need to look for new ways to make up for lost revenue. One viable

Q&A with Compassionate Wellness Alternative Dispensary JOSEPH SZILAGYI Staff Writer

Compassionate Wellness Alternative 1651 E. Edinger, Suite 104 Santa Ana 92705 Interview with: Melanie Hassom Owner of CWA and Edgar Borrayo Employee Q: How long have you been in business?

Melanie Hassom: We’ve been open for about 90 days.

Q: Why did you get into the business?

Hassom: There’s a lot of people with medical issues and a lot of doctors are offering different kinds of drugs. People are tired of taking a ton of different pills and are looking for a natural remedy instead. We have patients that are young and old, and marijuana is a natural medicine.

I was a “no drugs” mother, but I’ve come to understand it better. My mother has dementia and Alzheimer’s and doctors are giving her a bunch of drugs with different side effects like

headaches and stomach cramps. I had a patient with oral cancer that told me, “I know I’m going to die” and she wanted to try marijuana because she was seeking some form of relief for everything. It can help people.

Q: What misconceptions do you think people have about dispensaries (and marijuana)?

Edgar Borrayo: That (dispensaries are) just run by a lot of teenagers. They think it’s a gateway drug, it’s just an excuse to get high or something and there’s really no beneficial uses they be-

lieve, which there actually is for back pain and stress relief.

Q: What product do you guys specialize in?

Borrayo: We specialize more in the flowers right now, on our buds, but we’re trying to get more of an industry for the bakeries because some people prefer eating it rather than smoking it because it does hit you a little bit different depending on your symptoms… we’re trying to suit everybody’s needs.

Q: How long does it take to produce a

sellable product?

Borrayo: It just depends on the quantity and quality you’re looking for, it can take anything from three to nine months depending if you’re growing indoor, hydro, or outdoor as well.

Q: How do you compete with other dispensaries in Orange County?

Borrayo: We really don’t want to call it competing, more as that we’re just trying to suit the needs of every patient, from the low budgets to high budgets.

And again our low budgets are high quality meds.

SYMPTOMS: NEGATIVE SIDE TO HERBAL DRUG ... Continued from page 1 In today’s world, marijuana is not being used for production but rather personal use for the stimulants and feelings of how the drug affects the human body. It causes many health problems and affects the drive and motivation of individuals.

“I think there are already too many people smoking it, so it will be hard to stop people from doing it,” said Jairo Alonzo, a Cal State Fullerton senior majoring in criminal justice.

Proposition 19 has brought marijuana to the attention of all Californians for the Nov. 2 election.

“Prop. 19, if approved by voters, will legalize various marijuana-related activities, allow local governments to regulate these activities, permit local governments to impose and collect marijuana-related fees and taxes and authorizes various criminal and civil penalties,” according to Ballotpedia. com.

“I think it’s a gateway drug. Marijuana users are definitely more likely to try other types of illegal drugs,” said Greg McIntosh, a business major. “I think that is one of the reasons why people smoke marijuana, the thrill of it being illegal. I think it is only a matter of time until they find something new if Prop. 19 passes.”

Some citizens of California strongly support Prop. 19.

“Many people will be affected by this election. I think it is should be legal because it is so readily available and easy to attain. Medical licenses are the same,” said Stacy Larson, a CSUF senior criminal justice major. “Too many people have them without legitimate injuries or sufferings. However, the bad thing about legalizing it is that kids are going to abuse another drug once marijuana is legal.”

The financial advantages of taxing marijuana are evident and many Californians are aware of the said advantages. Others believe smoking marijuana for a continued amount of time will result in addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

“These withdrawal symptoms begin within about one day following abstinence, peak at two to three days, and subside within one or two weeks following drug cessation,” according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Smoking marijuana for a long periContact Us at news@dailytitan.com

od of time can cause harm to a person’s body, vital organs and functioning parts. The major organ that is affected is the brain.

When someone smokes marijuana, THC passes through the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain.

According to the NIDA, “THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the “high” that users experience when they smoke marijuana.”

This affects the memory, thoughts, time perception and other functions of the brain of people who smoke the drug. It forces individuals to lose the clearest perception of reality like alcohol does, making ill advised decisions to result.

“I think there will be a lot more car crashes because people will abuse it like alcohol. However, people that need it for valid medical reasons, I am all for it,” said Matt Figueroa, a CSUF senior psychology major.

Marijuana also has its effects on the heart. It increases the risk of a heart attack because it increases the heart rate of a person after they smoke the drug.

Another area that is greatly affected by marijuana are the lungs. “In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke does. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increase the lungs’ exposure to carcinogenic smoke,” according to NIDA. Users of the drug do not think of the consequences to their lungs when they smoke. They will suffer from the usual smoker’s cough, chest illnesses and the heightened risk of lung infections. Users can get all these problems with the added displeasure of paying taxes for it if Prop. 19 passes in November.

Another disadvantage to smoking marijuana is a low and abnormal sperm count. Men that smoke often have a temporary, reduced amount of sperm up to 50 percent, according to LiveStrong.com.

“People are not thinking of the taxes they will have to pay if Prop. 19 passes. Marijuana has become very easy to come by,” said Bree Lortie, a CSUF senior majoring in human services. “With the new Prop. 19, it will be taxed and that is not good for anyone. I do not smoke it but I am always against taxes.”

option may be to contribute to the community.

Compassionate Wellness Alternative (CWA), a dispensary in Santa Ana, is reaching out to senior citizens by educating them on how marijuana can ease the pains that come with age, like loss of appetite and chronic pain.

“Seniors are definitely a group that will see health benefits if they try marijuana,” said Melanie Hassom, owner of CWA. “We want to run seminars to educate about the benefits of marijuana and answer questions that seniors have.”

Hassom said that seniors are just as likely to be in need of marijuana’s health benefits as younger generations, and that they should not be excluded as a group to advertise to.

“It’s valuable for everybody,” Hassom said.

It is yet to be seen what other dispensaries have up their sleeves if Prop 19 is passed, but do not think they will lie back and let customers buy marijuana elsewhere without putting up a fight.

“I’ve been in this business for a couple years now and there’s no way I’m giving it up,” the Anaheim dispensary manager said. “I don’t know exactly what I’ll do yet, but I’ll figure something out.”

GOT MUNCHIES ?

Various edible forms of marijuana provided by dispensaries JOSEPH SZILAGI Staff Writer

The Great Pumpkin Bar: costs $8, lasts six hours

Beef Jerky: costs $10, lasts 16 hours

Reeses Pieces Cookie: costs $6, lasts three to four hours

Snickerdoodle: costs $6, lasts three to four hours

Photos by Celia Lara dailytitan.com/news

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4

OPINION

October 13, 2010

The

Pot won’t fix California Proposition 19 isn’t going to help our state’s economic problems SAMANTHA DABBS Staff Writer

In 2004, over 298,000 people entered into a rehab, reporting marijuana as their primary drug abuse according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

More access to marijuana will mean more access to people becoming addicted.

Imagine the number of addicts there will be if Proposition 19 is passed.

No wonder it’s a felony to grow or sell marijuana in the U.S. by the Federal Control Substance Act. Yes – growing or selling weed is a federal offense in the United States.

You may be asking: I thought medical marijuana was legal to sell?

Well the regulation of medical practice is up to the states, not the federal government, so California slithers by federal law by selling it for medical purposes.

Now that California is in neverending budget turmoil – everyone just relax, vote for Prop. 19, light up a joint, get high and we can try to make money off of it.

Funny how when there’s money involved Californians’ eyes get big.

Take some time to look at the facts before getting too excited about Prop. 19.

If you are over the age of 21, you will be able to possess one ounce of marijuana for your personal consumption by state law.

But, the local governments will decide where and when it can be sold and how high the taxes will be to raise revenue or to offset costs associated with marijuana regulations.

To Americans who sell pot illegally – this proposition is not in your favor.

RAND (Drug Policy Research Center) reports that the estimated $375 – today’s going rate for an ounce of weed – will dramatically drop to the retail price of $38 per ounce (not yet taxed).

Many agree with Prop. 19 because they think that it will help end the drug trafficking problem.

If weed is going to be sold for $38 per ounce, let’s think about the rest of the U.S. and even the nearby countries for that matter.

This price would be a bargain for them!

California will be the go to spot for pot, and people will be traveling from all over to get the discounted price.

People will flock to California to buy drugs, but let’s not forget

Dating

Game

Change: Avoid being the jerk

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what this particular drug does to the human body.

Marijuana’s short-term effects include: distorted perceptions, memory impairment, difficulty thinking and solving problems.

Why are we asking for more people to be this way on a daily basis?

It’s bad enough that we have to deal with drunk drivers.

Now we want to lower the cost of weed, making it more likely for people to smoke it and even more likely for them to get in their car and drive afterwards.

Unlike alcohol, the active chemical in marijuana, THC, can leave traces in your system up to a couple weeks.

This brings about an issue: How will police officers know if drivers are under the influence of mari-

juana at the time, or if they had smoked a couple days ago?

They can’t breathalyze them like they can with alcohol.

They could make them pee in a cup or take blood, but these types of tests take time and money, and again it would be difficult to tell if someone smoked that day or weeks ago.

If marijuana is legalized, then there will be no way of regulating if users are driving around under the influence, and we know with the current number of DUIs in California that we can’t leave it up to each person’s own judgement to not smoke and drive.

Before voting on Prop. 19, California’s voters need to stop looking at dollar signs and start looking at the drug’s facts, effects and impossible regulations.

Courtesy of MCT

MELISSA HOON Detour Editor

It’s a tale as old as time: some things will never change. This holds true in most aspects of life, including relationships. Sure, perhaps you can turn bad sex into good sex. All it takes is a hand guided here, then there and bing, bang (pun intended) – problem solved. But your partner’s personal habits and lifestyle are more difficult to change than bad sex. How do you know when it’s worth it to try to change your significant other?

No one wants to be the jerk in a relationship. Typically, you don’t want to be like Godzilla and stomp on every minuscule thing your partner does, demanding change.

But there are some things that are worth asking your partner to reconsider for change – and there is a proper, or at least sane (remember, no one wants Godzilla as their other half), way to ask.

First, look in the mirror. You are not perfect either.

When bringing up your partner’s flaws, perhaps you should ask him or her what might bother them about you. They say communication is the key to healthy relationships, but compromise is equally important.

This might sound like a disaster waiting to happen – opening a “flawed” can of worms isn’t my cup of tea either, but it’s more beneficial than sweep-

ing those problems under the rug and waiting for the emotional explosion.

If you truly believe you’re the perfect eighth world wonder, get off your high horse and leave the relationship. Don’t let the door hit you, or your horse, on the way out.

As humans, we make mistakes. Perhaps you didn’t want to be that jerk in the relationship, so you held off bringing up problems that bothered you.

Instead of committing to cleaning up the mess of the emotional explosion you would have caused by finally telling your partner about his or her flaws, you decide you can’t take it anymore and break up instead.

Wrong move! How is that fair to your partner? You tried to avoid being the jerk, but now you’ve become the jerk. Your partner didn’t know these things bothered you since you failed to communicate, so it’s unfair to end things promptly after bringing up the problem at hand for the first time because you never gave your partner the chance to change.

So when is it fair to ask for change?

If you want too much change at the beginning of a relationship, do both you and your partner a favor and break up immediately?

Generally, when deciding if a flaw is worth asking to change or not, remember that as cliché or lame as it sounds, couples (should) grow together in relationships. If your partner’s lifestyle bothers you, at first you might think you’d be Godzilla if you asked for change.

But just like you’ve grown as a couple, your partner has grown as an individual and is probably not the same person as when you met.

So if the lifestyle that is bothering you is the same as when you met, perhaps it’s time for progress and change to be made. Your partner might want the change too, but just needed encouragement via your suggestion.

Change is part of human nature so it’s OK to ask for it. Just communicate, compromise and avoid being that jerk or monster, then maybe you and your partner will live happily ever after.

Evolution and creation can coexist ALYSSA WEJEBE Staff Writer

When I attended community college, I once talked with a person at a religious booth after a science class – it was a Jehovah’s Witness, I think.

Well, they did most of the talking, especially when they said evolution wasn’t true – I completely shut up after that and just politely listened.

Though at the same time I was marveling at the irony I wasn’t about to reveal to them – I had just left a lecture from my anthropology class about human evolution.

Here’s a brief refresher course: evolution is the belief that a lower life form gradually changed, evolving into present humans today.

First of all, to make something perfectly clear – I believe in the evidence that points to us evolving from said lower life form, but that

lower life form is not a modern primate or monkey.

Kevin Dickinson says on his website, “Human Origins,” that the misconception started when scientists used modern technology to discover that humans and apes shared 98 percent of the same genes – and many people thought that meant humans evolved from modern chimps.

We actually share a common ancestor with the primates. According to PBS.com, the common ancestor we share with chimpanzees is estimated to have lived five to eight million years ago.

In fact, every organism is related, whether they are living or extinct.

We even share a common ancestor with bacteria, though way more distant.

Dickinson said that even Charles Darwin himself noted that “humans and African apes must have shared a common ancestor.”

Funny thing: I really don’t think evolution makes a grand statement that God doesn’t exist after all.

When I first learned about evolution, I found it didn’t clash with the Bible studies I’d been taught at my private elementary school. It just seemed like evolution was just the specific description of how God created life.

I saw no problem in thinking that the Bible didn’t literally mean God created life in seven days, reconciling with evolution’s lengthy time. In my mind, evolution was how God created life.

What surprised me was that thinking has a concrete name: according to SocyBerty.com, such thoughts can go by the name of the Deist Clockwork Cosmos, a universe “God set in motion (with) a set of physical laws governing the evolution of all things, both living and non-living elements.”

According to the University of Oregon online, Isaac Newton supported this line of thinking, “that God had created the world as a perfect machine that then required no further interference from Him.” It is not the same as the Intelligent Design Theory, despite some strong similarities. According to GotQuestions.org, most believers in this theory use the elements of complex design they see in the natural world as proof of God’s existence.

This too is not to be confused with Biblical Creationism. It’s said on gotquestions.org that they are, in a way, reversed – Biblical Creationists start with the Bible and try to prove it, while Intelligent Design theorists again simply observe the biological world first and then conclude God must’ve made it.

Ultimately, it doesn’t always have to be science versus faith with evolution – they can coexist.

Courtesy of MCT

Letters To The Editor The Daily Titan welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include the sender’s first and last name. Students must include their majors, and other writers must include their affiliation to the university, if applicable. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and spelling. Send letters to Isa Ghani, the editor-in-chief, at dteditorinchief@gmail.com.

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October 13, 2010

FEATURES

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Photographs By CELIA LIRA / Staff Photographer The first CicLAvia in Los Angeles was held on 10/10/10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents of Los Angeles and surrounding areas were able to walk, skate or ride their bikes freely without having to come across heavy traffic on the streets of Downtown L.A.

Say hello to CicLAvia

CELIA LIRA

A group of people got together to organize the very first CicLAvia, which is a 30-year-long tradition from Botoga, Colombia.

The streets of Los Angeles were closed temporarily to traffic Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for people to come and walk, skate,

play and ride their bikes through Downtown.

The free space stretched for 7.5 miles, from Boyle Heights to Downtown and MacArthur Park to East Hollywood.

The goals for this event were to promote the businesses around the surrounding area, allowing people to drive less to help the environment and to get people healthier by doing more physical activities.

What?

Los Angeles first ever CicLAvia

When?

10/10/10

Where?

Los Angeles, Calif.

Who? Los Angeles natives

Staff Photographer

Lilo, a dog from the Arts district, enjoys the open road with the people of Los Angeles.

Arthur Maldonado and Alex Enriquez take a break from riding and grab a bite to eat.

Joe Linton, a CicLAvia organizer, helps participant, Dan Alegria, with his flat tire.

Even children were out and about riding their bikes freely on the streets of Downtown L.A.

Multimedia

Cyclists Cruise Down LA Streets See bikers going green at dailytitan.com/ ciclavia

This tradition originated in Colombia as a counterpart for congested traffic; the first CicLAvia arrived in Los Angeles this past weekend.

Scan to view

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October 13, 2010

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FEATURES

Diary of a student dealer KEITH COUSINS Asst. News Editor

San Diego State students funnel in and out of the two-bedroom apartment, some stay to try out the product – others simply are there to buy and go.

A Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas poster hangs in the living room and a glass bong, referred to as Kimbo Slice after the brawler of the same name sits on a glass table at the center of the room.

When people come in he grabs a scale and his product, carefully weighs it and money is exchanged. On some nights he sits and smokes with his customers, the majority of whom are his friends.

But today he simply hands the bong to customers, letting them try out the weed before they buy, because he needs to cram for an exam.

Wesley Pipes (an alias chosen by the source) transferred to SDSU in 2006, after spending three years at College of the Canyons in Valencia – where he earned an associate degree. Throughout his three years of pursuing a degree in biology, Pipes also sold marijuana from his apartment.

“I knew there was a lot of demand, so it wasn’t a hard thing to start doing,” Pipes said. “but not for monetary gain, just so I could smoke for free.”

Pipes started out small with his friend Chris, they knew a good dealer and more often than not people would come to them looking for weed.

“I was doing the middle man thing for a long time, with people always like ‘can you get me an eighth’ and going back and forth,” Pipes said. “It got tiring so we just started picking up more so we wouldn’t have to keep going to this guy’s house all the time. It just blossomed from there.”

By selling to friends and co-workers, Pipes was able to quickly build a steady customer base. Although he wasn’t trying to make money from the venture, it quickly became a profitable enterprise.

“It helped, without even trying I did make money,” Pipes said. “I wasn’t trying to make money but I could kind of smoke as much as I wanted and still come out on top.”

Rather than hinder his ability to perform in school, selling marijuana made school easier since he didn’t have to

worry about taking more shifts at work or living on a tight budget. Although he did have to take out student loans, “I didn’t really have to worry about money that much,” Pipes said.

There was still an intricate balance of school, work, and “work,” for Pipes. “(There were) definitely times when I was trying to study and I had people coming to the door or calling me all the time, I would kind of just try to get them in and out so I could get my shit done,” Pipes said.

The law was also a constant concern, particularly in 2008 when a major campus drug bust took place.

Pipes recalls being in class that morning and receiving 20 text messages on his phone asking if he was alright and everything was cool.

“I didn’t know what they were talking about, then they told me the DEA just arrested like 90 people,” Pipes said.

“At that point I thought that if I wasn’t already in trouble, nothing was going to happen. I thought it was just a minor thing at first that it would blow over quick but it ended up not.”

According to a U.S. News story, the bust resulted in the arrest of 96 individuals – 75 of them were SDSU students. In a massive undercover operation code named, “Operation Sudden Fall,” police seized, “marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy pills, mushrooms, hash oil, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, brass knuckles, one shotgun, three semiautomatic pistols, and about

$60,000 in cash.”

Pipes had neighbors that were arrested in the raid, however no one that he worked with was caught. Around this point, he began questioning if his dealings would ever end.

Whether it was the occasional string of 3 a.m. phone calls or the steady stream of customers – up to 20 in a given day – the constant flow of people began to wear on Pipes.

“There were sometimes when I said ‘is this ever going to stop?’ I never really had weight, the most Chris and I would ever pick up was a qp (4 ounces of pot) or maybe a half p,” Pipes said.

“But we were on the lower end, so there was a lot of little business over and over and over again. People got to the point where they were dependent.”

A year after Pipes received a bachelor’s degree in biology from SDSU, he moved into a new residence and quickly realized that it was time to stop dealing. Living close to campus was ideal for his operation, but without the massive daily foot traffic, he feared his dealings would not go unnoticed.

“Where I moved to the traffic isn’t something I could really hide,” Pipes said.

The dealing is behind Pipes now, he works full time at the same retail store he did during college while trying to find a job in the environmental science field. But his time spent as a student and a drug dealer are times Pipes does not regret.

CELIA LIRA / Staff Photographer A gram of marijuana is weighed on a small digital scale for distribution and sale.

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KAREN DICKINSON / Staff Writer Teams begin to gather in order to commence the walk which started in front of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Crowd strides for cancer KAREN DICKINSON Staff Writer

More than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with cancer within the next year and 1,800 will be from Orange County alone, said an American Cancer Society spokeswoman at the first Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk in Costa Mesa Saturday.

Men and women participated in the noncompetitive walk to show their involvement and support for breast cancer.

KCAL 9, CBS 2 and JILL 92.7 FM sponsored the event. It started at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and circled around South Coast Plaza mall. Participants were enthusiastic at 8 a.m. and water was provided while volunteers cheered walkers on along the entire way.

People of all ages and backgrounds attended the event including corporations, sororities, families and small groups of friends.

More than 100 teams registered and a team called “Sal’s Gals” was not hard to miss. They wore fluorescent pink wigs in honor of 44-year-old Sally Heath who was diagnosed in January.

“My co-workers have been very supportive. They wore wigs today because

I have been wearing wigs through my whole treatment. I wanted them to see what it was like,” Heath said.

With so many attendees, it was easy to get lost in the sea of pink. Although some people lost their teams, the walk went on.

“I lost my group but I have my iPod on so it will be fine,” said 42-year-old Toni Jones.

She came to walk in honor of her friend Janelle who had both breasts removed six months ago. Jones said Janelle would definitely walk next year after being one year in remission.

According to MakingStrides.org, in 2009, an estimated 192,370 women in the United States were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and about 40,610 women were expected to die from the disease. About 1,910 men in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society saves lives by finding cures through groundbreaking research. They spend $130 million a year on cancer research and have invested more than $3.4 billion in cancer research since its research program began in 1946. $136,547.19 was raised by Orange County alone. It is the first of many successful walks in Costa Mesa to be put on by the American Cancer Society and attendees are enthusiastic

about staying involved in making strides against breast cancer.

“My grandma died. This is (the) first charity I’m walking for and planning for more,” said 28-year-old Santa Ana resident Anne Sitchon.

The next Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event will be held Sunday Oct. 17 in San Diego.

Multimedia

Walk Against Breast Cancer See what people Scan to view are doing to stand against breast cancer at dailytitan.com/ bc-event

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October 13, 2010

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Campus Events

Crossword

Johnny Cupcakes speaking live, Monday Oct. 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in Steven G. Mihaylo Hall room 1502.

FREE & open to the public. Bring cash to purchase a Johnny Cupcakes T-shirt.

Brought to you by: Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM)

brought to you by mctcampus.com

2000

Spem/Egg Donors

EGG DONORS NEEDED We are seeking attractive women of all ethnicities under the age of 29 who are physically fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. $10,000 plus all expenses. If you have a desire to help an infertile family please contact us.

E-mail: Darlene@aperfectmatch.com 1-800-264-8828 www.aperferctmatch.com Perfectly matching donors with families since 1998.

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Career Opportunities

Political Campaign jobVietnamese-Speaking Phoners Needed!

Earn $360 per week while making a difference in California politics and getting the Vietnamese community out to vote! Phone bankers needed for cutting-edge political campaign work based in the Los Angeles area.

Callers needed now through Nov. 2, 2010. Afternoon, evening, and weekend work - 30 hours/week, $12/hour.

Previous experience in political, organizing or telemarketing preferred, but not required.

Hey! Guess what movie this quote is from!

“Wait, whose subconscious are we going through exactly?”

Callers must speak Vietnamese.

Write your answer on the Daily Titan’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/daily.titan

E-mail us: pnuguyen@cft.org or call 310-774-7777

or send a tweet to: www.twitter.com/daily_titan

Horoscopes

brought to you by mctcampus.com

Daily Sudoku: Sun 3-Oct-2010

6 1 3 7 4 2

8 4 6 5 9 1

3 9 8 2 5 6

8 6 5 1 3 2 9 7 4 4 9 3 8 6 7 5 2 1 Daily Sudoku: Sun 3-Oct-2010

5 1

6 2

1 2 6

8 2

5

8

7

7

5 9 5 1 1

8

How To Play: Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9: and each set of boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

5 1

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Don’t drag your feet. You might stub your toe. Instead, move briskly ahead, enjoying the harmony that comes with working smoothly in a team.

5 9 5 1 7 4 8 5 3 6 9

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Associates all agree to a central change you’ve suggested. Move ahead before anyone changes their mind. You’re glad this is out of the way.

8

1 2 6

9 7 4 1 2 8

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) As you explore communication avenues, a new fortunate vista opens up. Others may fuss about details. Move ahead cautiously.

1

5 2 9 6 3 7

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Don’t be the one who’s dragging their feet now. You want instant results, remember? Ignore side issues to achieve steady forward movement.

6 2

8

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Internal dialogue provides you a different point of logic. Harmony is the goal, and the assertive energy required to achieve it. Imagine freedom.

8

2 6 7 8 1 4

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) An idea you’ve nursed along unfolds today. You don’t need a lot of money to take the next step. Enthusiastic co-workers make your dream possible.

8

5 9 7

7 5 1 4 8 3

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Did you sleep well last night?

If not, take time out for a quick nap or quiet time to relieve stress. Get the people around you to do the same.

2

7 4

1 3 2 9 7 5

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) A neighbor may try to distract you from household matters that require attention now.

Someone at home watches the fort and calls you back in when it’s time.

9 1 7 5

1 3

hard

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Don’t expect visible results from today’s efforts. Everyone is chipping away at the requirements, but may not be ready to share results.

8

6 2 9 4 5 1 8 3 7

Gemini (May 21-June 21) You have too many irons in the fire. Weave your activities together, first by applying logic, and then by anticipating good fortune.

Sudoku brought to you by dailysudoku.com

Daily Sudoku: Sun 3-Oct-2010

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Like a butterfly, you flitter from one project to another without much direction.

For the best results, choose one idea and pursue it logically.

Sudoku

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Aries (March 21-April 19) Family responsibilities require your undivided attention. If you want friends to know what’s up, tell them yourself. Don’t keep it a secret.

dailytitan.com

8

SPORTS

October 13, 2010

Bee in the Know... MLB’s freak injuries

Sports Columnist

Each year, there seems to be a clod of injuries in Major League Baseball that send fans into a tizzy and wondering, “How did he do that? Even I haven’t done that!” This season was no different, with numerous celebration injuries, coffee table attacks and a new inductee for the Sneezing Hall of Fame. It’s time to reflect on those who had the misfortune of having their embarrassing bits of klutziness highlighted in the media.

Starting off his New Year with a literal bang, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion fell victim to a wayward firework. He was celebrating New Year’s when a firecracker lit by one of his brothers flew laterally, hitting him in the face, causing first and second-degree burns. Luckily, Encarnacion did not suffer any serious injuries or require surgery, though he’ll likely be a bit wearier of flammable flying objects.

Home runs, always dangerous to give up, proved equally dangerous to hit this season, as no less than three players fell victim to a trip around the bases.

First up was Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim slugger Kendry Morales, who bopped a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners in late May. All seemed well as he rounded third and headed home, but he slipped while jumping into the dogpile waiting for him at home, breaking his leg and ending his season and the Angels’ hopes at October magic.

Things went so badly for the hard-luck Baltimore Orioles that even when something went perfectly right, it turned into Disaster-piece Theatre. When Luke Scott stepped to the plate and crushed a go-ahead

“

“

STEPHANI BEE

homer on July 1, he pulled his ham- Latos landed on the Disabled List string rounding first base, bringing with side pain after sneezing. his home run trot to a hobble and Proving that it is not a good idea landing him on the disabled list. to fight with coaches, Tampa Bay Then there was comeback man Rays pitcher Grant Balfour missed Jim Edmonds of the Cincinnati over a month with a rib injury susReds, who felt a pop in his Achilles tained when he was wrestling Rays rounding the bases after homering pitching coach Jim Hickey.

Sept. 21. Though he didn’t tear the The 2010 Man of Misfortune Achilles, he has not played since the Award goes to Mariners masher Rusinjury, what may become the final sell Branyan, with two freak injuat-bat of his career. ries. First, a hotel room coffee table It didn’t always take a home run viciously attacked him by standing for a player to hurt himself. He stationary as Branyan tripped on didn’t even have to be the one to get it, suffering lacerations and bruises the big hit. Take to his toe. Then, 2009 National mirroring an inThere really is no safe League Rookie jury Wade Boggs of the Year incurred while place on the diamond.

Chris Coghlan, pulling on his Chicago Cubs rookie Tyler cowboy boots, who tore the meniscus in his Branyan leaned Colvin was skewered by a left knee when down to pick up broken maple bat...

he tried to serve his son’s dropped Wes Helms with sandal at a pizza a shaving cream parlor when he pie following Helms’ walk-off hit. slid off his chair hitting the cement There really is no safe place on the floor with his tailbone, causing him to diamond. Chicago Cubs rookie Ty- miss nearly a weeks’ worth of games. ler Colvin was skewered by a broken Considering the misfortunes that maple bat, bringing back concerns befell various players this season, about the types of bats players were it’s safe to suggest that your favorusing and ending his season. ite team starts wrapping players in Joining past inductees Goose bubble wrap. At least then the snaps, Gossage, Sammy Sosa, Russ Spring- crackles and pops won’t be coming er, and Marc Valdes, Padres ace Mat from breaking bones.

Courtesy of MCT Kendry Morales (8) had jumped up to celebrate his 10th-inning grand slam at home plate with his teammates and injured himself as he landed May 29.

Contact Us at dtsportsdesk@gmail.com

DTSHORTHAND NL Comeback Player of the Year

Courtesy of MCT Green Bay Packers Aaron Rogers avoids Washington Redskins LaRon Landry, Sunday.

Five weeks in the books MATTHEW PETROPULOS Staff Writer

I don’t think any fan of the National Football League could have predicted what has happened so far after the fifth week. Cowboys, Packers, Saints, Chargers and 49ers aren’t looking like the high touted Super Bowl contenders critics praised before the season started; while the Bears, Buccaneers, Redskins and Chiefs are leading their divisions respectively.

Where do I begin with the Dallas Cowboys? They are 1-3 after five weeks. They came out of a bye week having prepared for the Tennessee Titans for two weeks and continued to commit mental errors that killed them.

The Green Bay Packers have been decimated by injuries. Week one against the Philadelphia Eagles they lost their starting running back, Ryan Grant for the season. Against the Detroit Lions they lost their starting strong safety, Morgan Burnett for the season.

The Saints are not looking like the defending Super Bowl Champions.

They are still 3-2 but lost to the mediocre Arizona Cardinals and their rookie quarterback, Max Hall. The Cardinals had three defensive touchdowns to seal that game.

The Chargers lost to the Raiders for the first time in seven years.

Phillip Rivers looked good but they couldn’t recover from their mistakes and currently sit at 2-3.

The 49ers have been the biggest wreck. They were supposed to unseat the Cardinals as division champs but that’s hard to do when they haven’t won a game and sit at 0-5. Enough said.

Now onto the surprise teams.

The Bears are off to a 4-1 start and beat the hapless Carolina Panthers without their starting quarterback Jay Cutler who was out with a concussion. Their biggest win was Monday night against division rival Green Bay, and they currently sit in first.

The Buccaneers were supposed to be the doormat of the NFC South division but have shocked a lot of people along the way. They are off to a 3-1 start and have played some really efficient football evident by their win over Cincinnati in week five.

The Redskins, like the Bucs, were also supposed to be the doormat of their division but are sitting in first place after five weeks. Their overtime win against the Packers in week five really gave their team some momentum.

The biggest surprise team so far is the Kansas City Chiefs. They were the last unbeaten team, which no one would have ever thought unless you were a prideful Chiefs fan. They lost in week five against the Indianapolis Colts but look to rebound to their winning ways Oct. 17 against the Houston Texans.

Only time will tell if the predicted Super Bowl contenders will start to play like it and if the surprise teams can keep it up the whole season.

When the Atlanta Braves were looking to cut payroll over the winter, they had to decide if they wanted to keep right-hander Javier Vazquez, a pitcher who has been the model of consistency, or Tim Hudson, a 35-year-old pitcher on the rebound from Tommy John surgery. General manager Frank Wren looks like a genius, as he traded Vazquez to the New York Yankees for a package of prospects and kept Hudson, who looked dazzling in his return.

Though Tommy John surgeries usually have predictable outcomes, there is always a wary glance shot at an older pitcher who undergoes the procedure.

Hudson would be moving past his prime, and though pitchers generally come back from the surgery stronger than before, there are always questions when age is involved.

Hudson put all doubts to rest this year, as he posted his best season ever, allowing only 74 runs while working 228 2/3 masterful innings. He walked only 74 batters, which is actually a touch higher than most of the righty’s career rates, and something to be expected from a pitcher undergoing Tommy John. Though he is not much of a strikeout pitcher as most aces are, Hudson worked everything to his advantage, playing off a .250 batting average on balls in place and generating an astounding 64.1 of his outs on the ground. When Bobby Cox needed innings absorbed, Hudson was a constant presence, and though he didn’t dominate in his lone playoff start, his season was nothing short of amazing.

Racking up 17 wins and putting up a 2.83 ERA, what can be expected from a pitcher that returns from an injury? In this case, a sign of pure determination and strength.

Brief by Stephani Bee