11/21/11

THE

San Jacinto Times

Matt Schaub will not be running on the football field anytime soon with a broken foot. Page 2

The voice of San Jacinto College since 1991

Uncharted 3, among other titles, are great games for the holiday season.

Page 5

Food, finals often Holiday constants November 21, 2011

The Student Publication of the San Jacinto College District

Vol. 22, No. 10

Check out our staff blog at www.sanjactimesstaff@wordpress.com

Desserts are a charming part of holiday season.

Page 7

By CHRIS SHELTON San Jacinto Times

Photo by Greg Starks/San Jacinto Times

The only things guaranteed in the life of a student are death, taxes and bi-annual Final Exams.

Final exams can become a source of undue stress if you allow the performance pressure to consume your thoughts.

Some students are on pace to graduate while others are just looking to finish the semester strong. Whatever your current situation, success on final exams is pertinent to reach individual goals.

To alleviate the negative feelings and embarrassment that comes with failing fall courses, students must eliminate procrastination from their agenda. You should never put off studying today for hypothetical future study sessions.

As a former prolific procrastinator, I can say with certainty that it is not in a student’s best interest to put off studying. Prosticrastination causes many more problems and strains than its usefullness at the moment. Director of Educational Planning & Counseling at Central Campus, Daniel Neuls commented, “don’t wait until the last minute, because that causes the most stress.” Positive stress is a good motivator but cramming for an exam throws the equilibrium of the body out of collective balance, according to Neuls.

“When cramming for a test, you miss important details and it throws your body out of whack,” he said. It’s like trying to balance 100 plates with only two arms,” Neuls concluded.

Preparedness is fundamental to having confidence while taking a final. Neuls concurred stating, instead of cramming for a test students should study in phases because relaxation of the mind is the key to success during important examinations.

A good strategy that could be employed is studying two hours per day, beginning today. This would allow the last week before a final to become a pleasant review period. It would also allow you to rest and relax the preceding days before a test’s date.

A well-rested test taker is a better test taker.

Seven or eight hours of sleep the night before a test is putting your best foot forward for success. It allows you to wake up with a clear mind and embody a solid focus.

Do not be afraid to ask questions of your professor. Simply finding out the important factors of an exam that you should study increases your test taking acumen.

PLEASE SEE FINALS on Page 4

Simple good deeds can go long way to improving Holiday spirit Students utelize BlackBoard and other conventional methods like textbooks to help prepare for finals.

By ASHLEY CRUZ San Jacinto Times

San Jacinto community, this is our time to shine.

This thanksgiving let’s focus on more than just giving thanks for our meal and give in ways that impact the lives of people around you. We can make this thanksgiving count as never before.

This can be through simple ideas like volunteering your time, or making simple donation to local charities. Every little bit you can do helps make this holiday special. You never know who is on the other side of your decision to give. Do not miss this holiday’s opportunity.

MCT Campus

The small things in life affect us the most.

Here are a few ideas on how you can give to the people around you no only on Thanksgiving Day but throughout Thanksgiving week: • Invite others to join you and your family for Thanksgiving who may not have anyone to spend

their holiday with.

• Write thank you cards to friends, family, and acquaintances who have positively impacted your life. This is a simple activity to do throughout the week that can impact someone in a huge way. An encouraging word might be exactly what someone needs.

• A memorable family or group activity is collecting canned goods and donating them to local food banks or homeless shelters.

• Set aside money to spend on black Friday buying gifts for those who are unable to provide their children with Christmas presents this year. It can be for families you know or donations for a local toy drive.

• Buy a few gifts for the homeless whether it is a meal and blanket or jacket. You can always donate them to a homeless shelter Local donation/volunteer opportunities: Sheltering Arms is hosting their annual Turkey Trot fundraiser. This is a fun family event where

all ages are welcome to participate. All donations will be used towards improving the care Sheltering Arms provides the senior citizens of our city. For more information visit turkeytrot.shelteringarms.org.

The City Wide Club of Houston is taking donations and signing up volunteers. Their website gives you a clear list of items they are collecting to distribute to families over the holidays. If you have any questions you can call them at 713-7522582 or 866-510-2582. You can also visit their volunteer webpage at http://www.citywideclub.com/donate.html for more details.

The Houston Food Bank is always awaiting our help. If you would like to If you are looking for ways to feed the hungry in our city you can always visit the Houston Food Bank website for www.houstonfoodbank.org

Thanksgiving more than just stuffing; it’s also American History

By CRIS RODRIGUEZ San Jacinto Times

Thanksgiving! What’s the first thing that your mind thinks of, Turkey! Thanksgiving has more much more meaning that has been lost through out the years and has been diluted to a day of feasting and watching football. The actually Holiday was in remembrance of the thanks the Pilgrims gave when the reached the new world, and also their fellowship with the Native Americans that were already living here. The original colonist suffered some hard ship and really had a lot to give thanks for.

Brief history lesson: The year was 1620: a small

INSIDE

Commentary................2 Around Campus..........3 Front Page Jumps.......4 Entertainment..............5

ship named the Mayflower carrying 102 passengers made a 66-day voyage across the Atlantic in search of a new world. The Ship on its final day at sea they crossed the Massachusetts Bay, and dropped anchor at what we know as Plymouth.

The pilgrims were suffered a lot that first winter aboard the ship and only about half survived to see spring.

As the year went on the settlers were working together with the Native Americans. Squanto was a member of the Pawtuxet tribe and knew English for previously being captured by an English men and forced into slavery and then later returning to his native lands and teaching his tribe how to survive by cultivating. As they colonist and the Natives cultivated together their first Harvest of corn was a Success and they being that they were living form the land that was a great event. So on November 1621, after the

Pilgrims’ first corn harvest was successful. The Colonial Governor, William Bradford, Organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag Chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving” At the time the Pilgrims probably did not call it Thanksgiving but their festival lasted three days. Historians Actually do not know the exact menu and there is thought to believe that Turkey was not present on the Table the First Feast.

The First official proclamation for a Feast of giving thanks to God was put out there by Abraham Lincoln, at the height of the Civil War. Then many years later President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date up a week and made it the last Thursday every November.

Today’s Thanksgiving celebration has lost much of its original religious significance; instead, it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends.

MCT Campus

Thanksgiving is more than just Turkey Day.

Opinion/Commentary

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 2

Guns on college campuses could cause dire issues

By KRISTINA TAYLOR San Jacinto Times

The Second Amendment of the Constitution states that we all have the Right to Bear Arms; it is an individual right to protect ourselves.

All 50 states have their guidelines with citizens having concealed handguns and if anyone is unaware of them, you can check on nra.org. I am all for self-defense -- i.e. having a gun at home in case someone breaks in.

However, it is not in anyone’s best interest to be in a school filled with armed students, some of whom may not be all there mentally.

Although sitting next to someone in class with a gun on them does not make me comfortable or safe at all. We do not know what makes people crazy or what makes them angry. How do we know someone won’t snap and use their concealed weapon improperly? After all, not everyone is grown-up enough to behave responsibly with a firearm, so why allow them to take it to an environment like a University? I cannot imagine that many drunken Frat parties would be bettered by easy access to guns.

It is disturbingly easy to procure a weapon in the United States.

What is known as the Gun Show Loophole allows for people, without any real background check, to purchase most any kind of gun imaginable.

Having incidents in the past with a student or just anyone attacking a school with a gun has had many consider allowing students and/or teachers to have a concealed handgun with them on campus in case of an attack.

Some may feel safer in classrooms having a gun, but I believe it would just cause more problems.

Gun control is a hot-button topic..

MCT Campus

I am not sure how well I could focus in class knowing or not knowing who was armed at any given moment. Not to be callous, but we all know that the idea of some people being allowed to bring a gun to school is more than a little scary at some points.

This is not an action movie filled with actors with lightning quick reflexes and special effects. You can’t outrun bullets in real life,

though many seem to think they can.

You may think you are prepared to stop a would be gunman, but ask yourself this question; outside of a controlled setting, how many of us have ever exchanged gunfire with another human being?

Is it not a bit arrogant to assume that we would be able to stop a bullet-spraying rampage just because we have a concealed handgun?

The age limit to have a concealed handgun with a license is at least 21. If any State was to allow Universities to have concealed handguns, the age limit would drop to 18. People who have come to schools with a gun are not just limited to Universities.

It has happened in high schools as well, so if this law were to pass or not pass it would not even affect them. If this law is not even going to affect high schools as well, then I do not see the point.

As a student, I would not feel safe at all going to my classes knowing that students all around me have guns. Even if I had a concealed handgun, I would still not feel all that safe.

I am not a mind reader but I also bet that many teachers would feel unsafe teaching a classroom of students all having guns on them.

Schools do need to be using precautious and try to decrease chances of shootings but students having guns could just cause more shootings to happen. I do not think the solution to gun crime is to have more guns. In all actuality, that might just lead to more violence.

Not every 18 year old in the Unites States is going to have the maturity or common sense to not do something rash with a gun.

Even in some past cases with an attack, the person was over the age of 21 and with a license to have a gun.

So that just shows that if we can not trust adults to not attack a school, then we definitely cannot trust a student as young as 18 to have a concealed handgun on campus.

Texans’ season in serious jeopardy with injury to Schaub

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

It’s not that what’s suddenly happened to the Houston Texans isn’t real; there just can’t be any way that it’s as real as it seems.

At 7-3, the best record in the AFC, our very, very good quarterback is out. Possibly for the rest of the year. This is why we pro-football fans in Houston feel like we shouldn’t be allowed to have nice things. It’s that dreaded and proverbial other shoe that we were all silently hoping would not drop.

Everything was so perfectly… perfect. The Titans, along with the Jaguars are rebuilding, Peyton Manning is relegated to the sidelines, and we finally had all the proper pieces to make a genuine and true run for the Playoffs.

And now? This.An entire season now hangs upon the extent of the damage to Matt Schaub and his Lisfranc injury. It sounds like a cozy, New England village, this Lisfranc we’re all suddenly hearing about and no doubt Googling.

Medically speaking, a Lisfranc fracture is when

Photo courtesy of CBS Sports

Texans QB Schaub is likely out for season. one or all of the metatarsals are displaced from the tarsus.

In commoner’s parlance, it’s when your foot is really messed up. Best-case scenario is six weeks in a cast with no weight bearing on the afflicted

appendage. Worst case is surgery, metal screws and wires and a recovery time of twelve weeks.

Notice that even the “best case” scenario is by no means good.

From a push for the playoffs standpoint, we all

aren’t you guys married yet?” No matter what answer I provide I typically receive a grave look in return, as if they are thinking, “Yeah you guys are never going to last.”

One month after I met my boyfriend he was deployed to Iraq. We endured two nine-month stretches at a time without seeing one another. We survived one of the hardest things a couple can encounter; a long distance relationship. But this still does not seem to be enough evidence for others that we have a strong enough connection to simply stay an un-married couple for a while.

To be fair we are engaged, but have chosen to wait to have our nuptials until after the two of us have both finished and graduated from school. This answer does not seem to satisfy those inquiring.

I am only in my early twenties. I feel as if this should be enough explanation, but it never is. I then have to go on to explain my stance on marriage and why we have chosen to wait. If I answer I do not believe it is the best idea for teenagers and people in their early twenties to wed, I instantly offend those who did marry at a young age.

If I answer that we have decided to wait until after we have finished school and are more settled within our newly adult lives, people assume that is just an excuse and that we do not plan to wed at all.

Once after explaining why we chose to wait, someone actually said to me, “You guys just don’t love each other enough to get married. Love is all that matters in a marriage.”

No, that is not true at all and it is simply a childish way of thinking. Love is definitely an important aspect of marriage, but it is certainly not all that marriage is or should be about.

I also have difficulty in deciding how I should refer to my significant other. I personally hate to use the term fiancé. It always comes across as pretentious to me and it also invites others to ask questions about our wedding date, and the dreaded “how long have you been together?”

I sometimes refer to him as my husband, which I quite honestly do consider him at this point. Yet, this answer also leads to questions about my marriage. Then I have to explain we are not exactly married yet, but we are planning etc. It is a never-

now have front row seats for the Matt Leinart Show. Maybe we’ll get lucky and it’ll be as fun as his Jacuzzi parties. Maybe the Texans’ running game will stay so good that it doesn’t matter who is under center. Maybe Andre Johnson will make Leinart look like an All-Pro. In all likelihood, opposing defenses will stack the box and force Leinart to throw. Merely typing that sentence gave me the worst kind of chills.

Granted, we have a very good ground attack and a really good defense, but are those enough to pass muster? It seems that we the fans now get to watch the Texans line up on the razor’s edge of football odds and sanity to see what side we end up on.

I’ve often considered myself too grounded in life to believe in curses or any such things and nonsense, but this has me thinking. The stars seemed to be in perfect alignment for something great, something never before seen by Texans fans. And now? Now all those bright stars fizzled out, taking with them both light and our hopes. The only thing worse is that I get the feeling we’ll all soon be hearing the oft-repeated, unofficial Texans mantra of, “I told you something bad would happen.”

A viable marriage takes more than love; make sure you’re ready

By MIRANDA JENKINS San Jacinto Times

“How long have you and your boyfriend been together?” I dread this question simply because of the inevitable follow up question that will soon be asked. “Why haven’t you guys gotten married yet?”

I feel as if no matter what answer I give I will be considered wrong, no matter whom it is doing the asking. I loathe the terms “boyfriend”, “fiancé”, and “husband” and no this is not code for I am in a friends with benefits situation, but I want it to be more. Nor does it mean that I am in some sort of complicated relationship in which I am not certain of where I stand with my significant other. My relationship is not complicated, but trying to define it by everyone else’s standards is.

I have been with my “boyfriend” exclusively for five years. I am normally congratulated on this fact as soon as anyone hears of it, but soon after the congratulations come the dreaded question. “Why

EDITORS

Michael Deats, Maria Chavez

MANAGING EDITOR

San Jacinto Times

Chris Shelton

WEB EDITOR Greg Starks

ASSISTANT EDITORS Jannette Marin, Ashley Cruz, Caty Christy CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

San Jacinto College Student Publications

Harrison Lee

CIRCULATION Cristal Calvillo

ADVERTISING Sara Quintana

ADVISER Fred Faour

The San Jacinto Times is published weekly by the journalism students at San Jacinto College Central, 8060 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, TX 77505.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the staff, its adviser, the administration or the Board of Regents.

The Times encourages letters to the editor.

Letters must be in good taste, accurate, free from libel, malice or personal controversy.

Letters must be limited to 200 words in length. Letters submitted without the author’s signature will not be accepted.

ending cycle that I cannot seem to find my way out of.

I am happy with my relationship and I am confident in our decisions, it is all of the meddling and judging from others that puts a damper on things. I sincerely hope that the questioners who think it odd that I am not married yet, simply share the small town rationale that seems to exist in towns only known for high teen pregnancy and low literacy rates, and do not represent the thoughts of the city dwellers I now find myself surrounded by.

If you currently are or plan to get married at a young age or if you plan to never get married, I will not judge you. I quite honestly do not care. I have found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with and it does not matter to me whether anyone else wants to get married or not. Every adult should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding marriage without having anyone else interfere and no one should have to explain a perfectly healthy decision they have made regarding marriage over and over again.

The staff reserves the right to edit the letters for accuracy without altering the general meaning.

Letters can be e-mailed to fred.faour@sjcd.edu. Letters must include name and phone number for verification.

The online edition of the Times is available at www.sanjacintotimes.com.

Advertising space is available for $5.00 per column inch. Special rates are available. For news tips and information on advertising, contact the Times at 281-4782752.

Around Campus/Commentary Espanol Norte

Lunes, Noviembre 21 • No hay actividades

Martes, Noviembre 22 • No hay actividades

Miercoles, Noviembre 23 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Jueves, Noviembre 24 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Viernes, Noviembre 25 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Sabado, Noviembre 26 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

33rd annual Big Feast

By JANETTE MARIN San Jacinto Times

Winter is here and the excitement is rising because we are all eager to wear our warm cozy jackets and eat our grandmother’s delicious pecan pie. Yes, Thanksgiving it right around the corner and we need to be thankful to God for all of his blessings to us and to our families at all time. We know that at this time of year there are families out there that do not feel the same way and it is because they are suffering from the economy and not being able to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for their family. The City Wide Club of America is preparing for the 33rd. Annual Thanksgiving Big Feast event that is held every year at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday, November 24th, 2011. The City Wide Club is a program that provides the greater Houston metropolitan area. It is known for their annual events and is committed to serve the community. Their holiday program like the Thanksgiving Feast not only serve traditional hot meals to thousands but also clothing, house hold items, shoes, blankets, jackets, flu shots, med-

ical examinations, and more. According to Chron.com, around 25,000 people including homeless, senior citizens, and underprivileged families are expected. This helpful event requires about 5,000 volunteers to make the holiday dinner a success, but so far half that number have registered to help. It is important that we look into our life and appreciate what we have and help the need and share our stories to them. We need to help them bring back their joy and the beauty of life by beginning with a smile. There are different websites where anyone can register to help cook, serve food, wash dishes, clean, sort clothing, and household items or prepare food baskets for the families to take home.

The websites are; www.citywideclub.com or americanmuslimvolunteers.org and if anyone is interested please call (713) 752-2582. Volunteers can work one hour, two hours or stay all day. Also families and children of 10 years and older are able to participate. Share your excitement and joy these holidays with someone who needs it and light up their heart with positive spirits and blessings.

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 3

8 DAYS A WEEK North

Monday, November 21 • No Scheduled Activities

Tuesday, November 22 • No Scheduled Activities

Wednesday, November 23 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Thursday, November 24 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Friday, November 25 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Saturday, November 26 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Sunday, November 27 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Domingo, Noviembre 27

Monday, November 28

• Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

• No Scheduled Activities

Central

Lunes, Noviembre 28

Monday, November 21

• No hay actividades

Central

Lunes, Noviembre 21 • Junta del club Catolico, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202 • Junta de SGA, 11:30 a.m., CILC 155 • Junta del club de psicologia, 2:30 p.m., CADM 209 • Co-ed kickball (con identificacion estudiantil), 3 p.m., Estadio de via

Martes, Noviembre 22 • Junta de escritores creativos, 11:30 a.m., C3.257 • Junta de TSEA, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 • Junta de GSA, 2:30 p.m., CADM 204 • coed softball (con identificacion estudiantil), 2:30 p.m., campo de deportes

Miercoles, Noviembre 23 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Jueves, Noviembre 24 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Viernes, Noviembre 25 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Sabado, Noviembre 26 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Sur Lunes, Noviembre 21 • Junta del gremio de juegos, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Junta del club de tenis, 3:30 p.m., canchas de tenis • Junta del club de MMA y aptitude fisica, 6:30 p.m., GYM 6120

Martes, Noviembre 22 • Asociacion estudiantil de la biblia, 11:30 a.m., cuarto de juegos • Junta del gremio de juegos, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Junta del club de tenis de 17 y menos, 3:30 p.m., canchas de tenis

Miercoles, Noviembre 23 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Jueves, Noviembre 24 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Viernes, Noviembre 25 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Sabado, Noviembre 26 • Vacacion de accion de gracias, colegio cerrado

Symphony seeks interns People attending the 33rd annual Thanksgiving Big Feast.

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

Any and all San Jacinto College students interested in a Communications-centric internship program will be thrilled to know that the worldrenowned Houston Symphony is seeking qualified applicants to intern in their Communications Department for the 2011-2012 performing season.

Students will gain hands on experience by working with one of the oldest and leading Fine Arts organizations in the City of Houston.

The work of the Communications Department consists of supporting the Symphony in the form of media relations, publicity efforts that help to bolster ticket sales, fundraising and overall internal. An emphasis will also be placed on internal and external messaging.

Those selected to intern will be included in such projects as: Helping to organize/maintain archived materials.

The Drafting of press releases and other various reports for regular meetings.

Assisting in the preparation of materials for 2012-2013 season.

Assist in maintenance of Symphony media database.

Date entry

Photos by Janette Marin/San Jac Times

The Houston Symphony requires that internship candidates meet the following requireLogo courtesy of The Houston Symphony ments: Be of Junior or Senior-level academic standing working toward an Undergraduate degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or an equally related field.

Be able to commit 8-10 hours a week.

Strong interpersonal and people skills.

Strong writing and organization skill.

Analytic and decision making abilities Must provide own laptop computer for use in office.

Must have transportation to make occasional deliveries to Galleria area office.

Adhere to company dress code policy of business casual attire.

Interns will also have the opportunity to attend concerts free of charge.

Please send cover letter and resume to Jennifer Mire at Jennifer.Mire@houstonsymphony.org if you are interested in this internship.

Holidays are for frivolity

By GABRIEL OSBURN San Jacinto Times

Holiday shopping on your mind? Chances are if you own a television, a radio, or have been outside of your home since Halloween this is the case. It is no secret that Christmas time has become a huge boom for businesses in America; in fact it is been that way for a while. You need not look further than Santa Claus himself for proof. Most people recognize the jolly fat man by his red and white fur suit and pointed hat, and that beard that probably needs to be trademarked.

What you may not be aware of is how much Santa owes his choice of apparel to the Coca-Cola Company.

In fact, before he was used in Coke’s Christmas ads in the 1930’s, Santa was actually green.

Haddon Sundblom, an artist in the employ of Coca-Cola, is the man responsible for the depiction of St. Nick that we recognize today.

Since the turn of the 20th century, Christmas has evolved into a commercial frenzy of One-DayOnly sales and price wars, and it has only gotten bigger since with dates like Black Friday and the latest addition, Cyber Monday, looming over

Author Sanderson to visit

Texas author Jim Sanderson will be at San Jacinto College on Tuesday, Dec. 6 in the book store on Central Campus.

Sanderson will be signing his book Faded Love in the book store at 1 p.m. From 2-3:30, he will read from his work and answer questions in room T155 of the ILC building.

shoppers.

Some have chastised this over commercialism of Christmas as unethical, and wish for older times when Christmas was celebrated in a more pure and decent way. I couldn’t agree more, in fact I think we should take a tip from the English carolers of the 1500’s and reinstate this old practice of door-to-door singing, the way it was intended, as a way to maybe get free alcohol. This was an awesomely useful, and very common, practice back in the day to get together with a group of buddies, take some old songs from church (or wherever), and get sauced for days in a row on someone else’s dime, with it being understood that you would reciprocate in some way by either playing host yourself, providing either drinks or food, or making some sort of donation to charity.

Not only is this a great way to get to know your neighbors, but it also takes advantage of all the left over adults who may have misgivings about trick-or-treating in their 20’s. Plus think of all the sexy Santa costumes! It is most economical to reuse your Halloween costume at least once.

However you choose to celebrate the holidays this winter, keep it safe and above all else, have a holly-jolly time.

Volleyball at nationals again

The San Jacinto volleyball team made it to national tournament, winning the Region XIV conference tournament.

The team is 30-3 and was seeded fourth at nationals. They have made seven straight appearances at the national tournament.

The team is led by Soph. Jazmine Green.

• Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202 • SGA Meeting, 11:30 a.m., CILC 155 • Psychology Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 209 • Coed Kickball (w/Student ID), 3 p.m., Track Stadium

Tuesday, November 22 • Creative Writers Meeting, 11:30 a.m., C3.257 • TSEA Meeting, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 • GSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 204 • Coed Softball (w/Student ID), 2:30 p.m., Rec Sports Field

Wednesday, November 23 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Thursday, November 24 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Friday, November 25 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Saturday, November 26 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Sunday, November 27 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Monday, November 28 • Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202 • Coed Kickball (w/Student ID), 3 p.m., Track Stadium

South

Monday, November 21

• Gaming Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Tennis Club Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts • MMA & Fitness Meeting, 6:30 p.m., GYM 6120

Tuesday, November 22 • Student Bible Fellowship, 11:30 a.m., Game Room • Gaming Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • 17 & Under Tennis Club Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts

Wednesday, November 23 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Thursday, November 24 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Friday, November 25 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Saturday, November 26 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Sunday, November 27 • Thanksgiving Holiday, College Closed

Monday, November 28 • Gaming Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Tennis Club Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts • MMA & Fitness Meeting, 6:30 p.m., GYM 6120

Jumps, etc.

FINALS SCHEDULE Monday, Dec 12

– If your class meets at 8 a.m./8:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. MWF– Monday, Dec 12 – 8:0010:00

– If your class meets at 10 a.m./ 10:30 a.m. MWF or 10 a.m. MW– Monday, Dec 12-

10:15-12:15

– If your class meets at 12:30 p.m. MWF or 1 p.m. MW, Dec 12 – 12:30-2:30

– If your class meets at 2:30 p.m. MWF or 2:30 p.m. MW– Monday, Dec 12 – 2:45- 4:45

– If your class meets at 5:30 p.m. MW– Monday, Dec, 12- 5:15-7:15

– If your class meets at 7 a.m. M or 7p.m. MW- Monday, Dec 12- 7:30 – 9:30

Tuesday, Dec 13 – If your class meets at 8 a.m./ 8:30 a.m./ 9 a.m. TTH– Tuesday, Dec 13 - 8:00 – 10:00

– If your class meets at 9:30 a.m./ 10 a.m. TTH- Tuesday, Dec 13- 10:15- 12:15 – If your class meets at 1 p.m. TTH- Tuesday, Dec 13 -12:30- 2:30

– If your class meets at 2:30 p.m. TTH- Tuesday, Dec 13 – 2:45-4:45 – If your class meets at 5:30 p.m. TTH- Tuesday, Dec 13- 5:15- 7:15

– If your class meets at 7 p.m. T or 7 p.m. TTH – Tuesday, Dec 13- 7:30-9:30

Wednesday, Dec 14 – If your class meets at 7 a.m. /7:30 a.m. MWF or 8 a.m. MW – Wednesday, Dec 14 –

8:00-10:00

– If your class meets at 9:30 a.m. MWF- Wednesday, Dec 14- 10:15- 12:15

– If your class meets at 10:30 a.m. MWF or 11:30 a.m. MW- Wednesday, Dec 14- 12:30-

2:30

– If your class meets at 1:30 p.m. MWF- Wednesday, Dec 14, 2:45-4:45 – If your class meets at 4 p.m. MW- Wednesday, Dec 14, 5:15-7:15 – If your class meets at 7 p.m. W – Wednesday, Dec 14, 7:30-9:30.

Thursday, Dec 15 – If your class meets at 7 a.m./ 7:30 a.m. TTH- Thursday, Dec 15- 8:00-10:00

– If your class meets at 11 a.m./ 11:30 a.m. TTH- Thursday. Dec 15- 10:15-12:15 – If your class meets at Open, Thursday, Dec 15- 12:30-2:30

– If your class meets at 4 p.m. TTH- Thursday, Dec 15, 2:45-4:45 – If your class meets at 7 p.m. TH- Thursday, Dec 15, 7:00- 9:00.

FINALS

Continued from Page 1

It also helps to start test day with a solid fulfilling breakfast. Eating a hearty meal will keep your mind and body in perfect balance. It will eliminate idle thoughts of the perfect breakfast bagel while you are focusing hard and deciding between A or C on question 22.

Participating in light exercise allows oxygen to flow to the brain and gives you more energy for your upcoming test. You can help improve your overall thought process by doing 25 Jumping Jacks or running in place for five minutes.

Finally, students should conceptualize success. Before walking into the final exam test classroom, picture the grade you expect for yourself. Do not drop your expectations; instead steadfastly pursue the grade that you want. You have studied the content and have a clear understanding by this point. There is no way you should fail if you put in the preparation necessary.

Students should utilize the resources available at San Jac to help improve study habits and procedures. San Jac offers options, of which, all students can benefit.

Student Life Coordinator, Amanda Rose,

1. Pull out your syllabus for each class and mark off the important dates in your student handbook.

2. Prepare prior to attending your class.

3. Sit within the first three rows in all of your classes.

4. Attend class regularly.

5. Get to know your professors.

6. Always take a few minutes to review the notes you have taken in your classes.

7. Review your test and look to see if your lecture and study notes capture the information contained on the test.

8. Create a study zone where all you do is study.

9. Set a prescribed time to study, and follow it.

10. When taking a test it is important to understand that some anxiety is normal.

-From the San Jac Central Counseling Center

HISTORY

Continued from Page 1 Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on the year and give thanks even through economic and personal hardships. There are other traditions that go along with Thanksgiving. Volunteering is a common Thanksgiving Day activity, and communities often hold food drives and host free dinners for the less fortunate.

So this year before you sit down at the table or where ever you may don’t forget about your fellow American who may not have the same provision as you.

Lets not forget what struggles our ancestors went through to make this land work and to survive. Let not take this day for granted and focus on the turkey and just eat. Sit back this thanks giving and really reflect and give thanks for every thing you do have.

MCT Campus

Thanksgiving, from its inception, has been an endearing American Holiday.

Blog post of the week Jumper cables anyone?

Joseph Soto looks over pressing materials as Final Exam Season approaches.

encourages San Jac students at all campuses to visit the tutoring centers, which are readily available. She also hopes students take a levelheaded approach to passing finals. “If the professor offers an optional study session or hands out a study guide, make sure you do it. It sounds like common sense but some students don’t.”

For peer tutoring that encompasses all subjects, be sure to make an appearance at the Student Success Center, said Rose. All three campuses offer a Student Success Center.

Central and South Campus also offer labs specific to certain subjects. The Math Lab assists students with mathematic and scientific concerns. The tutors at the Writing Center check over essays and help with other English Class issues.

True enough, finals are here, however they do not have to hold the same pejorative connotation that its mere mention has held in the past. If you work hard and pace yourself with healthy study habits, good grades on final exams will transition nicely into a happy holiday season.

The Top 10 Ways to improve your grades and study skills

Sanjactimesstaff.wordpress.com is a staff blog that is constantly updated.

There are some very compelling posts and we encourage you to read and comment.

Photo by Chris Shelton/San Jacinto Times

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 4

For some weird, extraordinary reason Tuesday night was great. I actually fell asleep and the next morning I even woke up a little earlier feeling good. But my attitude changed as soon as I tried to leave. I was done getting ready and I stepped outside heading for my car and it wouldn’t start. I have a beat up ford focus, and I can say I love my car because it takes me where I need to go and back, but Wednesday morning was a different story. It just wouldn’t start. It was 6:45 in the morning and just my luck my husband was already at work. Weird thing that he usually goes in to work at 11 am (he has the 2nd shift) but the previous night his boss had called him in to go in early. So I couldn’t call him, I was panicking and I called my mom.

Being the Super Mom that she is, she said would come over and help me.

I figured that my car just needed some jumper cables, and I thought to myself well this shouldn’t be hard, I have seen other guys do this. So after super mom dropped off my brothers in school and drove from Pasadena to Pearland we started to do some technical, mechanical, serious work on my car. It was just jumper cables right?

We could do it! Could we?

So we plugged in the jumper cables from my car to her car… and waited. Nothing happened. We switched the cables… nothing? So we just gave up we didn’t know what in the world we were doing, and I think if we would’ve kept on messing with cables and cars we probably burned down my driveway.

My neighbor, who has his own mechanic shop came over and helped us. Turns out both me and my mom had a super mega “blonde moment”, we didn’t know in order to use the jumper cables both cars have to be turned on…. oops!

By Lesly Delgado

Entertainment/Reviews

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 5

Audio, Video, Disco is more like “daytime music”

By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times

Justice is Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay.

They are the second biggest French House duo to cross over the world into American (semi) popular music, their label mates Daft Punk are definitely number one.

Justice was formed in 2003 and has released one live album, two full-length studio albums and eight EP’s to date.

Justice’s first work together was in producing tracks for Musiclorvision’s Hits Up To You, which was an Electro-pop concept compilation record where the tracks were supposed to sound like they were meant for the Eurovision song contest that has been ongoing since the mid 50’s.

Their rise to prominence came after their remix of the Simian track Never Be Alone for a Paris college radio station’s remix contest.

The success of that remix earned them a spot on the roster of Ed Banger records, who release material from other French artists like Uffie (who is absolutely awesome) and Daft Punk who are arguably the greatest disco-house, French-House, Electro-pop producers/DJ’s in the known universe and who recently produced all of the music for, and

appeared in, Tron: Legacy.

Once on a major label, the duo began working with bigger and bigger acts.

They have remixed tracks for Brittany Spears, N*E*R*D, Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk, and Franz Ferdinand, so apparently they are doing some really good work.

Justice seems to be much more popular in Europe than here in the States.

In 2008 the song D.A.N.C.E was nominated for Best video, and Justice themselves were nominated for Best Electronic/Dance act at the annual Victories de la Musique, the song did not earn the award, but the duo did win the Best Electronic/Dance act.

They have been nominated and won MTV Europe’s award for Best Video in 2006 for Justice versus Simian’s We Are Your Friends. In total, they have been nominated for four MTV Europe Music Awards, and won three of those four categories.

In contrast, they have only been nominated for one American MTV Video Music Award, and did not win that one.

Seemingly, the U.S. is coming around because three of their works have been nominated for four Grammys.

The song D.A.N.C.E was nominated for Best short

form music video and Best Dance recording, but won neither. †, their first studio album, was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance album, but again, did not win.

Their remix of MGMT’s (management) Electric Feel (the best song on Ocacular Spectacular), was nominated for Best remixed recording, non-classical and actually won in 2009.

If winning a Grammy is not reason enough to check out their stuff then perhaps, for you, nothing is.

Their sophomore release Audio, Video, Disco came out on October 24th of this year and is actually receiving the attention it deserves.

That is because it is a great record.

As Xavier de Rosnay put it, Audio, Video, Disco is much less aggressive and lighter than †. The first album was much darker, and the new one is more like “daytime music.”

I would generally agree with him.

There is a lot of electric piano and really bright percussion work; the vocals are light and airy without being lame and loosing it’s edge, and it is just a generally pleasant sounding record.

Audio, Video, Disco seem to be a nice progression for Justice, their work is getting more refined with a much higher production value.

The record is sonically amazing, the mix work is great, and it was mastered very well with an overall even sound.

This record is just like all of their previous releases in that it has a cross on the cover.

There is also a large illuminated cross on stage at every single one of their performances.

I do not necessarily get why they do it, but I read that they said 80 percent of France is Christian, and that they wanted to have a strong concept for each record they release to keep people guessing.

Either way, I dig it, and I am sure if you strap on a set of headphones a crank it up to eleven you will enjoy it too.

Audio, Video, Disco deserves an A, and that is what it gets. An A

incorporated a lot more of it into Odd Soul than their previous works.

Commercially, their previous record Armistace did better, but I believe Odd Soul to be hands-down the better record.

Armistace charted at number 18 on the U.S. Billboard charts and numbers three and four on the Alternative and Rock charts, while Odd Soul received the number 24 spot on the U.S. Billboard charts and numbers seven and eight on he Alternative and Rock charts in the U.S. I do not understand why that is, but I do understand that genius is often overlooked at first, and I am chalking it up to that.

Odd Soul is one of the “jammin-est” records that I have had the pleasure of listening to this year.

It is a harmonious blend of electro-pop, bluesrock, alternative-rock and some 60’s-esque noise scapes that will literally blow the wax out of your ears if played at the correct decibel level.

song about being worried that Jesus will return and find everyone is sin, and is easily the second best track on Odd Soul.

One More is a trance inducing 60’s-like sprawl of a rock song that just keeps on going and ends with one sweet guitar solo. I also really like how the bass and drums keep the energy of the song sky-high and never stop until the song is over. Rhythm sections are always so underappreciated.

The record closes with In No time, which is a sonically beautiful five minutes that ends the wonderful energy of Odd Soul with a soothing crescendo of loveliness.

Odd Soul is an excellent record through and through, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves Blues or just straight-up Rock and Roll. It has something for everyone and is an A+ record.

Now Mutemath is technically a Christian band, but they are not Christian Rock. The singer Paul Meany is a Christian and writes lyrics that entail Christian ideals, but does so without being preachy and cramming it through the speakers into your brain.

Something I am very appreciative of.

It is refreshing that a band such as Mutemath can earn the success that they deserve so much.

New Orleans’ Mutemath releases new LP Odd Soul

By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times

New Orleans electro/blues-rock quartet Mutemath has released their third full-length record Odd Soul on Teleprompt records, of which they are the only band on the label.

Most likely due to the fact that Paul Meany, the front man for Mutemath started Teleprompt records to release their music due to problems the band had with Warner Bros. wanting to release their records through their Christian music label Word records.

Mutemath’s members Paul Meany and Darren King were previously in a Christian Rock band called Earthsuit that is no longer recording music, and that is where the idea for Mutemath started.

It was originally a long distance project between the two; Meany lived in New Orleans, and King lived in Springfield Missouri.

The two began a sort-of musical ping-pong of sending music back and forth and adding bits and pieces in here and there. They played a few shows under the moniker of MATH, but once the band established a following and garnered some success, they changed the name to Mutemath, partly because another artist was already using MATH.

Google Images

Since their formation in 2002, Mutemath has released three studio albums, two live albums and three EPs. Odd Soul is the latest, and the best in my opinion.

The band has clearly been influenced by the incredible Blues scene in New Orleans and has

Two perfect examples of what this record holds within its artful paper walls are Walking Paranoia and One More.

Those two tracks alone are reason enough to buy this record.

Walking Paranoia is a fuzz bass-laden funk-blues

✓ A holiday gaming list:✓

By JACOB KESSINGER San Jacinto Times

CAREER TRAINING. MONEY FOR COLLEGE.

AND AN ENTIRE TEAM TO HELP YOU SUCCEED. Serving part-time in the Air Guard, you’ll have an entire team of likeminded individuals who want to help you get ahead. You can choose from nearly 200 career specialties, and develop the high-tech skills you need to compete in today’s world. You also train close to home, all while receiving a steady paycheck, benefits and tuition assistance. Talk to a recruiter today, and see how the Air Guard can help you succeed.

Google Images

When I smell turkey, I think “headshots.” When I see Christmas lights, I want to level up. When I see Santa Claus, I wonder what kind of zombie he would be, and how best to dispatch him if he were.

The holiday season means only one thing to me: games, games, and games!

With so many great and not so great titles this year especially, it can be difficult to decide what to buy for yourself or a loved one. So, in order to perhaps make things a little easier on everyone, I’ve decided to make a selective list of games that highlights the notable titles to watch for.

What follows below is a list of games that are definitely worth you rental or purchase dollars.

Star Wars: The Old Republic, is slated for a Dec 20 release and pre-ordering is still available.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations: PS3/Xbox 360: Open World Action/Adventure. Assassin’s Creed features some of the best Parkour in videogames, and Revelations is shaping up to be Ezio’s greatest adventure yet.

Batman: Arkham City:PS3/Xbox 360: Action/Adventure. Batman: Arkham Asylum was the first good Batman game since Batman has been in games, and Arkham City takes Batman out of the halls of Arkham Asylum and gives him a whole city to lurk around in. This one is a must have.

Battlefield 3: PC/PS3/Xbox 360: First Person Shooter. While maybe not as tight as Modern Warfare 3, it does feature a much larger playercount, not to mention jets, helicopters, tanks, and more.

Dark Souls: PS3/Xbox 360: Action RPG. Dark Souls is the spiritual sequel to 2008’s Demon’s Souls, which delighted players and critics alike with its freshly brutal difficulty and rewardingly deep combat and leveling system. Dark Souls is even bigger and meaner than Demon’s Souls, and promises to beat you down in more ways than ever.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim: PS3/ Xbox 360: Open World First Person Fantasy RPG. Each edition of an Elder Scrolls game is a cause for celebration for gamers, and Skyrim looks to be the biggest TES game yet, which is really saying something. With 100+ hours of gameplay, an enormous, detailed world, and countless options to play as anything from a magic-wielding Orc, to a bow-wielding lizard-man, to a wood-elf with a sledgehammer, and anything and everything in between, this may be the only game you need this season.

Gears of War 3: Xbox 360: Third Person Shooter. GOW 3 has been out for a while now, but if you haven’t picked it up yet, do so. GOW 3 has more features than the two previous games com-

bined, and the incredible online multiplayer will keep you busy long after you’ve dominated the campaign alone or with a friend.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Wii: Action/Adventure. Every console Zelda game since, well, always has been touted as a masterpiece, and Skyward Sword looks like it may just top its predecessors. Featuring 1:1 Wii MotionPlus controls for sword-swinging (this means that if you make a downward slash with the controller and stop mid swing for a horizontal slice, Link will mimic your actions perfectly onscreen) and a Wind Waker-like system of island hopping (except Link is ditching his rickety raft for a gigantic bird) Skyward Sword is going to be a big seller.

Modern Warfare 3: PS3/Xbox 360: First Person Shooter. Haters can hate, but Infinity Ward has created an experience both accessible for the casual and incredibly deep for the devoted. MW3 has more of everything that made the first two MW titles the best-selling franchise of the hardcore console generation. If this game hasn’t been on your radar, it’s probably because you don’t have a television.

Need for Speed: The Run : Xbox 360/PS3: Racing. Need for Speed has always had a great arcade feel, and the demo for The Run looks promising. The premise is a cross-country road race for which The Run promises over 3,000 miles of drivable track and events such as racing down a mountain through an avalanche along the way.

Rage: PC/PS3/Xbox 360: Open World First Person Shooter. Legendary game developer Id, creators of Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake, is behind this post-apocalyptic shooter. Need I say more?

Saint’s Row: The Third: PC/PS3/Xbox 360: Open World Action. Developer Volition has done a great job of separating its Saint’s Row franchise from the other driving, shooting, crime-based open world game, Grand Theft Auto, by completely abandoning GTA’s more serious tone and reality based feel, and going for a completely ridiculous experience where shooting people out of a drivable circus cannon is a viable way of defeating your enemies.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: PC: Massive Multiplayer Online RPG. This may be Bioware’s first attempt at an MMO, but with Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect series under their belt, it’s safe to say that these guys know their space operas. The Old Republic has the potential to topple World of Warcraft from its spiky, gilded throne.

Uncharted 3: PS3: Adventure. No one does huge set pieces and over-the-top story like veteran developer Naughty Dog, and the third in the Uncharted trilogy is the best one yet.

Around Campus

Healthy alternatives

BY LESLY DELGADO San Jacinto Times

What is the busiest day for plumbers? The busiest day for plumbers is the day after Thanksgiving.

That’s right, America. Let’s be honest here and not try and pretend that every year on the fourth Thursday of the month of November we do not stuff our faces with too much stuffing, carbs, fats and a little too much of everything that the next day we have to throw it out. Or use it to feed whatever wild animals appear in our neighborhoods at night.

The day after Thanksgiving we suffer from major side effects like stomach aches, bloating and several symptoms not fit for printing in a family newspaper. Eventually these side effects go away, but we keep the flabby stomachs, the double chin, and those few extra pounds. Is there any food that is really worth the love handles and spare tire around or torsos?

Thanksgiving Day, like many other Fall celebrations, is one of the Holidays used as an excuse to eat, eat and eat some more. There is the Turkey, the stuffing, the greenbean casserole and the ever popular Cranberry Sauce, just to name a few. All sounds delicious, but is it really nutritious?

The United States is constantly stereotyped for being fat, kids being over weight, and the truth is that we as a Nation are obese. According to the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2008, 34% of adults 20 years and over were obese.

Why put ourselves through the pain of eating and

gaining all that weight? We know we do not like it, and eventually one day we have to enroll in a very expensive gym two months later in January as our part of our annual “New Years Resolution”. You will most likely see these facilities jam-packed, but that is usually for the first two months or so.

This year during the Holiday season, we should try to eat a little better while still enjoying what we love about thanks giving. Here are some helpful tips: Side Dishes/Vegetables: Stop using canned vegetables they contain too much salt and preservatives that can be bad for your body, they also lose a lot of nutrients during their stages of preparation. Don’t be lazy and use the real stuff instead, it will taste better and your family will be impressed.

The Turkey: Bake it in the oven instead of frying it in gallons of oil. Turkey is a meat that is lean and does not have lots of fat and skin. Skip the crackling skin and go for the breast meat. Fried, cooked or steamed turkey will most likely still turn out to be dry.

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 6

Holiday movie guide

BY MARIA CHAVEZ San Jacinto Times

With the holidays come movies. Movie fans look forward to the holiday season movie releases. This season there are a few that are highly awaited. The 2011 Holiday season brings popular series to the big screen like Happy Feet Two and Breaking Dawn. The following titles are to be released in the following weeks:

11/18/2011- Breaking Dawn: Part 1 and Happy Feet 2

11/23/2011- Hugo, The Muppets, Arthur Christmas, and My Week With Marilyn 12/09/2011- New Year’s Eve. The Sitter, and Young Adult

12/16/2011- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, 12/21/2011- The Adventures of TINTIN

12/23/2011- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and We Bought a Zoo.

These are just titles that are available, but there are many more that are being released throughout these dates and after the new year, like the new Daniel Radcliffe movie, The Woman in Black and The Devil Inside.

Dessert: If you are making a dessert that is overloaded in butter or creams, remember that these can be replaced with yogurt or margarine. No one will be able to tell the difference. Try using fresh fruits that are naturally sweet instead of those frozen syrup, which tend to have too many calories.

Thanksgiving a time to remember those that matter

BY TIFFANY SEXTON San Jacinto Times

Thanksgiving tends to be a holiday that retailers forget about, but the average American does not. According to the U.S. census bureau from infoplease.com there are about 242 million turkeys raised, 735 million pounds of cranberries being produced, 1.9 billion pounds of sweet potatoes, 931 million pounds of pumpkins, 2.2 billion bushels of wheat, and 736,680 tons of green beans. It is definitely no secret, American’s love to eat. Although everyone enjoys the turkeys and pies the real meaning of thanksgiving tends to be devalued.

The real meaning of thanksgiving is actually in the word itself, to give thanks. As you go throughout your life it is extremely easy to take things for granted. When you tell someone about your bad day a common response is, things could be worse, and from my experience you usually do not stop and think that they could be right. My parents have always told me that there is someone out there who is worse off than you and it used to frustrate me until one day it clicked, and that I needed to start being more thankful for what I do have even when things are going.

Growing up the average teenager does not want to hang out with their parents, it is considered to be “un-cool”. You think their perception of life is old school and their rules are ridiculous. Breaking their rules tends to be a hobby that you acquire and being grounded becomes routine. This was the reality that I was in while I was a teenager. As I have learned since I have gotten older, your parents staying together while you grow up is not the norm, and some families even grow up without a roof over their head and food on the table.

This thanksgiving, be thankful for who raised you and what they have provided for you, whether you still live with them or you have long moved out. The people in your life who have helped you to become who you are today are the people who deserve your hug this thanksgiving and being told thank you for all that you have done.

Attending college is not easy, for some people it is a struggle to find the motivation to stay in school, especially with the cost. You are in college for a reason, just like you are reading this article for a reason.

Someone somewhere wants to see you achieve your dreams, whether it is out of your pocket book or theirs. Another reason to be thankful this thanksgiving is for having the ability to attend college. There are a lot of people out there who do not have the money to attend and

would love to be in your shoes. Maybe this will be your perfect opportunity to tell your professors thank you for teaching me the skills I need to achieve.

In the economy we are in right now, money tends to be a difficult subject. People are losing jobs left and right and prices are continuing to rise. This year has definitely been a difficult one especially for our famers with the droughts across the United States. A state of mind to hold on to while we go through this thanksgiving is to realize a job is a job. There might be times where you are having a bad day or your boss is really riding you, but in the end it is still better to be employed.

This thanksgiving why don’t you try reminding your boss that you are thankful for your job and that even when times get tuff you are still extremely grateful that he or she is allowing you to work there.

The little things in life are what matters to most people. A solid thank you could turn anyone’s day around. This thanksgiving not only should you get a full belly. But while you are doing that, remind your loved ones, professors, and bosses that you are thankful for all of what they do for you and you could not be any more grateful.

Holiday Recipes

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 7

Here are some staff favorites for your Thanksgiving

By KRISTINA TAYLOR San Jacinto Times

Many families have their Thanksgiving traditions whether it is, eating around the big screen to watch the football game, sitting at a nice

Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing

Recipe courtesy of Barbara Platoni Ingredients 3 packages frozen, chopped spinach 3 pounds ground round 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 2 large onions, chopped Grated Parmesan Salt and pepper 2 jumbo eggs 1 (1-pound) package jumbo pasta shells 2 cups tomato sauce (your own or ready-made) Directions Place frozen spinach in a strainer and run under hot water until thawed. Squeeze all of the water out and place in a large bowl. In a large sauté pan, cook the ground round until browned. Drain meat, reserving 2 tablespoons fat in the pan, and place meat in the same bowl with the spinach. Stir in the cream cheese until blended with the meat and spinach. Sauté the chopped onions in the reserved meat fat until transparent. Transfer onions to the bowl with the other ingredients and stir to combine.

Thanksgiving arrives but trying new recipes could bring new traditions into your homes. There are many recipes on foodnetwork.com that seem easy enough and appetizing. They have recipes for turkeys, sides, dressings, stuffing, desserts and even what to do with leftovers.

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen Ingredients

Add grated cheese, salt, and pepper, to taste, and combine. Let mixture cool and then add the eggs.

The filling can be made up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta shells in boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and cool to the touch. Stuff the shells with the meat mixture. Place shells in a large baking pan and cover with tomato sauce. Cover with foil and bake for approximately 1 hour. Serve.

Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; prep 30 minutes, cook 1 hour 25 minutes.

Serves: 6-8

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

For those of you who are fans of the more advanced/insane aspects of baking, I bring to you, from the depths of my family cookbook, a cake most delicious and complex. Be sure to bring your appetite and patience to the kitchen for this charming confection.

S’mores Cake

set up table, cooking the same things that everyone loves and having Thanksgiving at a particular persons home in the family. My number one side dish at Thanksgiving dinner to have is green bean casserole and my grandmother’s lasagna; it is the best.

Everyone has their favorite food that they look forward to when

Ingredients Graham Cracker Cake layers 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 1 cup sugar 3 large egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups graham cracker crumbs*2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup milk 3 large egg whites, room temperature Directions Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray or oil and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract. In a small bowl, whisk together graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, salt. Working in two or three additions, alternate stirring the graham cracker mixture and the milk into the butter mixture. Beat egg whites to soft peaks in a clean, medium-sized bowl.

Working in 2 or three additions, fold egg whites into graham cracker mixture, mixing until no streaks of white remain. Divide evenly into prepared pans. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until cake springs back

2 (14-ounce) packages gingerbread mix 1 (5.1-ounce) box cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix 1 (30-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping 1/2-cup gingersnaps, optional Directions Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool.

Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl.

Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the ginger-

when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans for 3 minutes, then invert onto wire racks (remove parchment paper) to cool completely before filling and frosting.

To assemble: Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving platter. Spread about 1/2 cup of the chocolate frosting onto the cake, then spread the marshmallow crème into an even layer. Top marshmallow layer with second cake round, then pour remaining frosting over the top, spreading it into an even layer with an offset spatula and allowing it to drip slightly down the sides of the cake. Cake will set up quickly, and should be stored in the refrigerator if not being served shortly after being assembled.

Makes 1 9-inch cake.

Serves 8-10

Marshmallow Filling and Milk Chocolate Frosting Ingredients

1 7-oz jar marshmallow crème, 8-oz milk chocolate, chopped,1/4 cup half and half/cream, 2 tbsp. butter, 2 tbsp. corn syrup In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate, half and half, butter and corn syrup until melted. Stir with a fork or small whisk to ensure that everything comes together smoothly. Proceed to assemble cake (above) once the frosting is prepared.

All photos courtesy of Cooks.com

bread, and then add a layer of whipped topping.

Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped topping. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl.

Total time: 10 hours; prep 30 min., inactive 9 hours, and cook 30 min.

Serves: 20

Directions *If you grind your own grahams in the food processor, you’ll need about 20 graham cracker squares. I used a regular store brand, nothing fancy. Grind a little extra, so you don’t have to go try and process one by itself if you’re short.

Around campus

November 21, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 8

A farewell from the departing Times staff: Thank you

Photo by Gabe Osburn/San Jacinto Times

Departing members of The Times Staff, from left to right: Chris Shelton, Ashley Cruz, Mike Vasques, Harrison Lee, Jannette Marin, Lesly Delgado and Greg Starks.

As a student it is rare to actually want to come to class. During my he will be majoring in History. Harrison said,” This class taught me

BY MIKE VASQUEZ stay here at San Jac it was his classes that made me come to school to the importance of teamwork, and I can absolutely say it has made me San Jacinto Times start the day. This was true for all of us leaving the paper this semes- a better writer.”

Lesly Delgado will also be attending the University of Houston and As our last Finals of the semester are complete, for some of us this ter. This says a lot not only about the course, but the man who teachwill be the last time we come through these doors. With the friends we es it. Like any great leader Mr. Faour is always calm and collected, will be studying Corporate Communications. Lesly said,” I loved the have made and the memories of our past struggles, we move on to never taking any credit for our achievements, but always taking the class and being able to express myself through writing. I will miss my other universities to complete our journey to success. Though we blame anytime we mess up; but your team can only be as good as your classmates and of course Mr. Faour.”

Jannette Marin will also be attending the University of Houston and might have a few differences in our future, we all have on thing in leader. The future looks bright for the paper and as we leave; we do so knowing that the paper is in good hands. will be majoring in Media Production. Jannette said,” I was able to common.

I am going to be attending the University of Houston where I will be intern at 104 KRBE because Mr. Faour helped me with the opportuniThat is the fact that we have all benefitted from our time in the classes taught by our fearless leader, professor Fred Faour. From the first furthering my education in Communications. I will be majoring in ty. I’m going to miss his passion for the media and his great teaching.”

Greg Starks will also be attending University of Houston and will be day he changed our outlook on all things media and the way we per- Media production. I owe this newfound interest to Faour as well ceive it in mass communications, to the solid confidence he has because through my internship with ESPN that he helped me get, I majoring in Media Production. Greg said,” I’m going to miss hearing found my passion in this field. the elephant woman story.” To find out what this story is you must instilled in us as we leave Reporting II, we all owe him our thanks.

Ashley Cruz, will be studying Journalism at the University of Texas take one of professor Faour’s courses.

For those who will decide to take any of his courses, it is guaranteed As we move on to the next chapter of our lives, I can honestly say to have an impact on your outlook media wise. He offers students a in Arlington. Ashley said,” It was through this class I realized what I chance, an opportunity to express your views, and have your voice want to study, because I can use the tools it gives me in creative ways very talented people in these classes surrounded me. I have no doubt that someday I will see them on TV, see a film they were involved in, heard. For all of us leaving, we can all agree that Mr. Faour has given to reach my life goals.”

Chris Shelton will be attending the University of Houston and will read a book they wrote, or hear them on a radio. I will even see their us opportunities, and a select few have even received internships that will undoubtedly help us get our foot in the door in our respective be majoring in Journalism. Chris said,” This class has solidified my names in magazines and newspapers as very successful writers. We all belief that I want to be a journalist.” would like to thank Mr. Faour for giving us opportunities and more fields.

Chris Rodriguez hopes to attend a film school in California, where importantly a direction for our future. When we make it big he will For me, I am going to miss coming to class to open discussions about what’s going on in the world. I’m going to miss lectures that inspire he will advance his passion for film. Chris said, “I really enjoyed the most definitely be in our thank you speech. Good luck to all my classside comments and laughter throughout the room. Above all I’m class, and made a lot of contacts through my reporting class. Mr. Faour mates and to the ones who will be here next semester, keep doing what you’re doing because you all are very talented. going to miss the people and the unique style of teaching that Faour taught me a tremendous amount of knowledge.”

Harrison Lee will also be attending the University of Houston, where Thanks and goodbye. has.

Photos by Michael Deats/San Jacinto Times

Photo by Maria Chavez/San Jacinto Times

Ahsley Cruz, left, Janette Marin and Lesly Delgado (left photo) are shooting for big future. Cris Rodriguez, Marin and Cruz (center photo) have been working together on the Times for nearly a year. Chris Shelton and Mike Vazquez (right photo) will also be moving on after a successful run with the Times.

Night on the galaxy railways; a goodbye from H. Lee

BY HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

Life is about equal parts the timing and the moment. The give and take that comes with the Pas de Deux of existence. There is an elegance about the way we spin and waltz through our lives, never knowing who the next partner will be, or what song we will be dancing to. The pull and sway of a proper starlight tango cannot be experienced by trying to surmise what will happen in advance, but can only be enjoyed in the moment. It is not something to be rushed into hoping for a big spin, dip or twirling flourish at the end. It is a machination to slowly slant with.

As experiences go, this one has been less of a winsome Waltz and more of a frenetic Foxtrot, but that certainly is not to say it hasn’t been anything but memorable. The lively casts of characters that have passed through the twin doors of the The San Jacinto Times have served as sophisticated Sonatas that filled the newsroom with bright ideas and infinite inspiration.

Destiny is a concept that some people believe can only be shaped and changed by the person themselves. Through such singularly strong concepts as dedication and a desire to better one’s self in a particular medium, The Times to me morphed into something that superseded the title of ‘extracurricular activity’ and metamorphosed into nothing short of a calling. My original intent for signing on with The Times was, to be shamelessly honest, padding for my transfer application to the University of Houston. Never did I imagine I would devote the

entirety of my time at San Jacinto College with The Times.

It had to be luck that I was able to actually appreciate the journey I was on. I was able to look out the windows of the proverbial train to enjoy all of the shining sights along the way. Working at a newspaper was enough to open my eyes to the concepts of a constantly evolving concept. Original experiences recurrently dotted my route with The Times. It sometimes felt like I was running through a newlyopened airport terminal in the dead of night, stressed yet excited about whatever flight I was trying to catch.

The late nights spent hunched over my Mac, sifting through the cascading promenade of words and pictures form a matchless delineation in my memory. The pairs of spent contact lenses that I assume dot my bathroom sink are perfect evidence of the endless endeavors of the editor’s eye. There is nothing quite like sparring with the written word, spending endless hours trying to make it bend to your own idealistic whims.

Words are magical little things. They can do so very much with so very little. Even the most perfunctory of terms can be made glorious with just the right bit of arrangement. The process of learning this black and white ballet is something I will probably never fully comprehend, but I am quite content to do my best to continue to chase it down. Life is better if we do not seek to understand every little thing. That is an amazingly profound life lesson, one of the many, I have learned during my service to The Times.

I would be beyond remiss if I did not give all the

accolades I possibly could to those who have been by my side for this wonderfully stylish storybook soiree. In my time as a member of San Jacinto’s Fourth Estate, I can scarcely commit to memory everyone who has gone above and beyond any call of duty to help me. It is a truly wondrous and joyful thing to know that there exist those who would help for the simple reasons of helping. All of my fellow riders upon this endless scribe-filled journey have given me something that I will forever carry with me in any and all of my future enterprises. The me that entered the newsroom almost two years ago bears no real resemblance to the me that will leave for the University of Houston in the Spring. I would have it no other way, really. Nights filled with competing opinions and the occasional temper flare has shown me the importance of a more carefree, Joie de vivre approach to life.

Though it is still early in my life, I know that my two years here have left me endlessly indebted to many people, faculty and students, at this institution. The often dull aspects that come with building and editing a paper were made less by the humorous addition of my coworkers, who were never slow to want to find a YouTube video or online meme to lighten the mood. Never was I challenged more to better myself and my writing abilities than by my faculty advisor, Mr. Faour.

Would that I could properly summarize the gamut of emotions I have experienced here, but that would result in a paper of at least 25 pages. From the pits of boredom to a most infinite of intellectual highs, I have found myself face to face with feelings and situations I did not know existed. Learning the apro-

Maria Chavez/San Jacinto Times

Harrison Lee is leaving for UH.

pos way of dealing with these and all the other unforeseen occurrences that quickly became new and daily things has been maybe the most important. It is very contrived, but, like life, working for a newspaper taught the perfect axiom of ‘adapt or die’. The Times showed me that verve we know as everyday life is much more profound and deep than we probably know.

Life is one long starlit night on the galactic railroad. Nothing ever really ends; we just sporadically change trains or tracks. The timing and the moment that comes with each decision can sometimes feel like destiny, but remember that we make our own destinies. At the end of this particular route, all I can really do is bow, give a wink and smile and say to you all, “See you on the railways”.