Telescope 62.14

PALOMAR COLLEGE, SAN MARCOS, CALIF.

MONDAY FEB. 9, 2009

FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

VOL. 62, NO. 14

the-telescope.com

Palomar club focuses on environment ROBIN WITT THE TELESCOPE

For students who want to make a difference in the environment but don’t have a lot of the Environmental time, Student Organization of Palomar College may be the club to join.

A club for the busy student has been an important theme from the beginning of ESO. Founding members Kimberly Herman, Ed Solis and Alejandra Mendoza wanted to create an organization focused on the environment and community service, but at the same time realized students don’t have a lot of time.

Herman, who is studying biology, has served as copresident since ESO was formed over a year ago. She said academics are important to the group so they try to balance school and other commitments by having meetings and community projects only once a month.

Herman said she works three jobs and wants to specialize in ecological systems engineering.

Biology major Andre Navarro, also a co-president said busy students concerned about the environment are encouraged to join and contribute their ideas.

Herman said one of the first projects for ESO is a program later this month tentatively called “Leadership, Design Intention, and Abundance: Eliminating the Concept of Waste and Scarcity.” It is part of Campus Explorations, an ongoing seminar series that is focused on the environment this TURN TO CLUB PAGE 3

Palomar holds breast cancer fundraiser PAT CUBEL THE TELESCOPE

On Valentines Day, the Palomar Athletics Department wants you to show your heart and support for breast cancer research by attending the Pink Zone event at the Dome.

The Pink Zone is an organization established by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, dedicated to increasing awareness of breast cancer.

The Palomar men and women’s basketball teams will host a double header Feb. 14 starting at 3 p.m. as the women take to the court against Southwestern College and the men play Miramar College at 5 p.m.

“Our goal for (the event) is to fill the Dome,” said Scott Cathcart, Palomar College’s Director of Athletics. “We can accommodate 1,200 fans at the games and we are going to donate all of the proceeds from the event to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. This is a great opportunity for the college to come together as a community and show its support.”

Ticket prices for the event are $4 for students and seniors and $6 for adults and can be purchased at the Dome.

For the Palomar women’s basketball team, having the opportunity to host the Pink Zone event is something that hits very close to home for the team.

“One of our player’s mother is a breast cancer survivor,” said Natalie Curran, who plays guard.“I think a lot more people need to be aware of breast cancer. There is only so much I know about it and I think being at the Pink Zone will make a lot more people aware of it.”

COURTESY PHOTO With the death of North Carolina States women’s basketball coach The women’s basketball team is holding a fundraiser for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund KayYow from breast cancer on Jan. on Feb. 14. Kay Yow is an inspiration to millions of basketball players, fans and cancer sur24, the sporting world was remind- vivors. She coached for over 30 years and died from breast cancer on Jan. 24.

ed again of the loss of another N.C. State basketball coach. Former Wolfpack coach Jimmy Valvano passed away from cancer in 1993.

As a coach, Yow was one of the most respected coaches in women’s basketball and a very influential force for the growth of the sport.

She spent 32 seasons on the court as the head coach of North Carolina State’s women’s Wolfpack as well as coaching the United States Olympic women’s basketball teams to a gold medal.

Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and fought the disease for 22 years by living life on her terms and coaching basketball. “When life kicks you, let it kick you forward,” said Yow before her death.

Following the example of Yow as a coach and teacher, Palomar Coach Sherri Jennum felt that she (Yow) always did things right.

“For me as a coach and as a teacher, her message is very clear,” Jennum said.“It’s about basketball, but it’s also about much more. It’s about teaching young kids that come through your program about becoming the best individuals that they can possibly be.”

Before his death in 1993,Valvano started the V Foundation for Cancer Research with the help of ESPN,and in 2007 the WBCA started the Kay Yow Cancer Research Fund.The two have now partnered and are using the Pink Zone events as ways to promote knowledge and raise research funds to help find a cure for breast cancer.

“With stuff like this (breast cancer), there just has to be more money so we can get the research completed and find a cure to stop it so women aren’t succumbing to this anymore,” Jennum said.

“I want it to be a memorable and empowering day for everyone there,” Jennum added, “where you can sit back and say that was an amazing time.”

Students may pay for state deficit MAGGIE AVANTS THE TELESCOPE

The next few years may prove to be financially tough for California Community Colleges. Statewide budget deficits have forced legislators to propose ways to make ends meet, including talk of tuition hikes and the elimination of Cal Grant B. Almost half of most states’ budgets go to education, according to a Jan. 14 report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington D.C. and therefore large budget deficits greatly impact education.

Ron Owens, spokesman for California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, said that over 2.7 million students attend community colleges in California, and the proposed budget cuts would leave 260,000 students without the classes they need.

OPINION

Palomar College President Robert Deegan, who recently attended the Community College League of California’s Annual Legislative Conference in Sacramento, said the state of California is expecting a $40 billion revenue shortfall in the next 18 months. In an effort to make up the difference, the Legislative Analyst’s Office has proposed not only the elimination of Cal Grant B, but also raising tuition to $30 a unit as early as July 1.

“I have even heard from the LAO that it may go beyond the $30 mark,” Deegan said. “But what the state needs to realize, is that we (community colleges) are a part of the solution to the problem in California.”

Palomar students spoke out against the proposed tuition increases.

PAT CUBEL | THE TELESCOPE It was standing room only in the Governing Board Room on Feb. 4 for President Robert Deegan’s All College Forum, TURN TO DEFICIT PAGE 3 in which he discussed the California budget and how it affects Palomar.

ENTERTAINMENT Schools spending in wrong places PAGE 5

Taken delivers a psychological thrill PAGE 8

SPORTS

FOCUS Valentine’s Day gift ideas PAGE 6

Comets gear up for new season PAGE 11

2 | CAMPUS BEAT

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009

CAMPUS CALENDAR

Palomar College’s first graduate dies

Monday, Feb. 9

One of the first three recipients of an associate’s of arts degree from Palomar College passed away Jan. 1 in Edmonds,Wash., according to school officials.

Margaret Alexander (formerly Margaret Dornan) was born in New Jersey in 1927, and moved with her family to Escondido in 1940.

After attending Oceanside College, she came to Palomar College to complete her degree.

According to the book “Palomar College Golden Jubilee, 50 Years of Excellence,” written

by Professor Emeritus Pat Archer, she was first in the line of three graduates that participated in Palomar’s first commencement ceremony, held at Vista High School in 1947.

After graduation, she accepted a position at at the Bureau of Reclamation in Denver. It was there that she met her husband Thomas Alexander in 1952. However, he was enlisted in the United States Air Force, so much of their courtship was done via mail, including a marriage proposal.

She was an avid reader, according to her husband, as well an active volunteer at their church.

Alexander is survived by her husband and two sons, as well as her sister, Wilma Linde, of Lombard, Ill.

LUNCHTIME MOVIE OF THE WEEK “Faces of the Earth-Assembling America” will be shown from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in NS-125. The Earth, Space and Aviation Sciences and Geosciences Connection is hosting this event on alternating Mondays and Thursdays. It is a great opportunity to enjoy some favorite programs related to the Earth.

Tuesday, Feb. 10 IMAGES OF THE FIRE Drawings from 17 of West Coast Drawing’s local artists will be on display Feb. 10 through April 4 at the Boehm Gallery on the San Marcos Campus.

Admission to the display is free.

OUT OF THE BLUE The Communications Department is showing the foreign film series “Out of the Blue” from 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. in room P-32. The movie, made in New Zealand, is about a quaint village that begins to experience some terrifying events. Contact Robert Sheppard at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2444 for more information.

Concert Hour back in swing for spring Concert Hour is a series of musical performances put on for the students as well as the community. Performances are every Thursday at 12:30 and run for about an hour, unless noted otherwise. It takes place in the Performance Lab which is room D-10, free of charge.

There are three more Concert Hour performances for the month of February. Elena Yarritu, flutist, and pianist Gabriel Sanchez are scheduled on Feb.12 to perform various selections from their debut CD,“Scree.”

On Feb. 19, the Palomar faculty will have a recital, where they will perform a fun series of songs. February will be concluded with a rare performance on pipe organ by Michael Munson. He will be playing songs from Bach, Brahms and George Akerley. That performance, however, will be held in room D-5 instead of D-10, where Concert Hour is usually held.

“Kaiboerg” will kick off the March performances, with a duo by Jeff Kaiser on trumpet and laptop with David Borgo on saxophone and electric wind instrument on March 5. On March 12 local jazz pianist Joshua White will perform, joined by bassist Jeff Denson, drummer Danny Campbell, and Palomar’s own, Dr. Ellen Weller.

March 19 will be the last performance in March due to Spring Break, and it will feature solo pianist Solon pierce. He will be playing “Carnaval” by Robert Schumann and music from George Gershwin as well.

Concert Hour may also be viewed live on the Performing Arts Web site at palomar.edu/performingarts.

Study abroad this summer in Spain

The college’s Foreign Language Department is still taking applications for students to study abroad this summer.

Students can learn Spanish while living with a host family for four weeks in Spain. Two weeks will be spent in Salamanca, as well as two weeks on the southern coast of Spain in El Puerto de Santa Maria in the providence of Andalucia.

They can earn up to seven transfer units in Spanish in four weeks. For more information, contact Martha Evans at (760) 744-1150, ext.

2653, or e-mail her at mevans@palomar.edu.

There will also be trips to Costa Rica and Peru in winter 2009.

CAMPUS WEATHER

Wednesday, Feb. 11 CAMPUS EXPLORATIONS

CIARA KEITH | THE TELESCOPE

Careful with the clay Student Sandra Christie works on personal enrichment in Palomar College’s Art 137 Pottery Production class on Feb. 2.

Students can give life by giving blood

Thursday, Feb. 12 CLUB RUSH

Palomar College and the American Red Cross need your blood and to get to it the college will be holding two blood drives during the spring semester. The first blood drive will start Feb. 17 and run through Feb. 20.

Palomar’s Health Services Department and the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa sponsor the blood drives.

The Red Cross Web site says that one blood donation can save up to three lives, and that currently only three out of every 100 people in America give blood.

According to the Palomar Health Services

Police Blotter

This group is back to holding its regular seminars every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in room P-32.

The group’s focus for the spring 2009 semester is: “The Environment and Sustainable Living: Global Crisis and Solutions.” Part two of the film “An Inconvenient Truth” will be shown on this week.

Anyone who wants to make a difference is encouraged to join. Contact Linda Morrow at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2617 or 8113 for additional information.

Department,this is one event in which Palomar students usually really go out of their way to support with hundreds of donations.

The Red Cross’s Mobile Unit will be located in Parking Lot 11 next to Health Services and the E building daily from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All participating donors will receive a free gift from the American Red Cross.

Campus visitors are required to obtain a parking permit from the Campus Police and park only in the student parking lots.

For more information please call Palomar Health Services at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2380, or sign up on line at www.givelife.org and enter the code- Palomar SM. Donors must be healthy and over 110 pounds. For a full list of eligibilty guidelines for donors, visit the Amerian Red Cross’s Web site.

LOCKER BURGLARY

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

A locker burglary occured between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the F Building.

Campus Police did not disclose if anything was stolen out of the locker, but they advise students to lock their combinations in private, and to not give out their combinations to other people.

Campus Police have made the college aware of a sexual assault that took place at approximately 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, in Room P-32 on the San Marcos Campus. The alleged victim was not a student, and no other details are available at this time.

According to Acting Chief of Police Anthony C. Cruz, while the campus was not open at the time of the alleged assault, all students and faculty should still take precaution when on campus in the morning or late at night.

Students are advised to go to a populated area and contact the college police if they are not comfortable with their safety at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2289, and an escort will be provided.

Three separate incidents of graffiti took place in the men’s restroom of the F building.

According to Campus Police, the first incident involved black marker scribbles on the wall of the restroom. It occured between 7 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 21.

The second incident took place between 7 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 22, and involved blue spray paint.The third incident, taking place in the same restroom, was with black spray paint. It occured between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Jan. 25.

There are no known suspects at this time.

Anyone with information should contact Campus Police at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2289.

GRAFFITI IN MEN’S RESTROOM

Every semester, the Office of Student Affairs puts on this event to encourage students to join a club on campus. The festivities will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. in the Student Union Quad. For more information, please call Marilyn Lunde at (760) 7441150, ext. 2594.

Tuesday, Feb. 17 ANGELS IN AMERICA Auditions for “Angels in America” will be held at 7 p.m. in the Performance Lab, room D-10. The play will be directed by Michael Mufson. For more information please contact the Performing Arts Department at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2321.

Wednesday, Feb. 18 PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR Adolph Kelhn, an 88-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, will be speaking at 6:30 p.m. in SSC-1. He will be sharing excerpts from his journal, along with his experiences on from that day.

What’s up?

Do you know something we should cover? Let us know. To submit story tips or events for the campus calendar, e-mail us at telescope@palomar.edu or call (760) 891-7865.

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Thursday, Feb. 12

Friday, Feb. 13

Saturday, Feb. 14

Sunday, Feb. 15

60˚/38˚

65˚/39˚

68˚/41˚

69˚/40˚

68/42˚

69˚/43˚

70˚/44˚

RAINY

PARTLY CLOUDY

SUNNY

SUNNY

SUNNY

SUNNY

Monday, Feb. 9

SUNNY

NEWS | 3

MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

CLUB

DEFICIT

year. The event will be at 2 p.m.

Feb. 25 in P-32.

Herman said ESO has participated in several projects this past year including the Palomar College Arboretum Beautification Day, a campus screening of the movie “Who Killed the Electric Car” and beach cleanups.

According to Herman some of the ESO members learned how to install solar panels. Grid Alternatives, a program that provides low-income families with solar panels for their homes and employs volunteers to do the ROB BACON| THE TELESCOPE installation, hosted the training session.

Members of the Environmental Student Organization participate in regular activities to Navarro participated in the improve the local environment. From left to right: Andre Navarro, Elizabeth Cruz, Josh Lake Dixon cleanup in Goldstein, Monica Arancibia, and Kevin Nguyen.

Escondido. He said ESO memby e-mail that activist groups bers cleared brush and picked gy companies.

Whatever projects they like ESO put the community in up trash. Afterward they had a choose Herman said the main community college. They probarbecue.

Navarro would like to do more goal is to do something good for vide services to the community and opportunities to serve. beach cleanups. He said some the environment.

He added that students who “ T h e beaches have members of limit their time at college to forstopped pickESO have mal training in the classroom ing up litter m a n y miss out on valuable learning because they d i v e r s e opportunities. don’t have “It is in these groups that stuinterests funding anyand are pur- dents learn how to relate in more. suing many healthy productive ways, learn Herman said she would — Kimberly Herman d i f f e r e n t and gain insight into themlike to particiESO Copresident c a r e e r selves, develop new visions for p a t h s , ” the future and of course apply pate in the H e r m a n the lessons they learn in class,” C a m p u s Climate Challenge, a program said. “What we have in common Finkenthal said.

Meetings for ESO take place on aimed at stopping global warm- is an appreciation for the enviing by reducing pollution from ronment and a desire to give the firstWednesday of each month high schools and colleges, and if back to our community in some from 2 to 2:30 p.m. in SU-17.

For more information,visit ESO’s there is interest, host an energy way.”

Physics instructor and ESO Wiki: pc-eso.wikidot.com or e-mail debate with experts from wind, solar and other alternative ener- advisor Daniel Finkenthal said ESOofPalomar@gmail.com.

“Right now my mom pays for me to attend Palomar, as well as for my brother to attend Cal State San Marcos,” said Marixol Garcia, who plans on transferring to a university. “It would make it harder for her to afford.” Garcia has been looking for work so she can help her mom pay for her education, but she has been unable to find a job.

Math major Stephen Lamb also doesn’t want the increase.

“Twenty dollars a unit is nice.

Any more than that is ridiculous,” he said.

Besides the growing public outcry against tuition hikes, CCLC has also expressed to legislators their concerns in a report over the elimination of Cal Grant B, “…belttightening in financial aid shouldn’t disproportionately affect students, particularly those that are returning after spending time in the workforce.”

Deegan, who also serves as President of San Diego Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association, said that while in Sacramento, he and his colleagues pressed legislators to support the passing of the governor’s current budget, with the exception of the elimination of Cal Grant B. Katherine Monroy, 50, is an example of the growing number of students returning to college for new career training, and who could benefit from Cal Grant B. She recently got laid off after 16 years of work as a district sales manager for a distribution company.

“I came back to school to do a career change,” Monroy said. “This will be the first time in my life I may have to look into a student

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

We have... a desire to give back to our community in some way.

”

loan.”

Deegan said the increase in students due to the economic downturn has not been met with an increase in funds from the state.

Palomar did not receive a cost-ofliving increase in the 2008-2009 budget, and more than likely will not see one for at least the next two fiscal years.

“Each year, our utility bills go up about $1 million,” Deegan said.

“That and other market inflations are what the cost-of-living increases are supposed to pay for.”

While students may have to pay more tuition in the near future to help with the costs, Palomar has already begun to cut corners in other areas.

According to Deegan, the school is under a “modified hiring freeze” which has saved $2.5 million this budget year alone. They have also cut hours for part-time faculty and 700 classes.

“Even with all these changes, our faculty has done an outstanding job maintaining the integrity of Palomar,” Deegan said.

Deegan further explained that the college receives $4500 per fulltime student, up to 19,500 students. When the amount of students reaches over 19,500, the school is not slated to receive any additional funding and Palomar is expecting to exceed 20,000 in the next school year.

“It’s like putting an extra cup of water in soup,” Deegan said. “It starts to get watered down.”

“We are the largest provider of workforce training in the state,” Owens said. “We are the economic engine of the state. This is the worst possible time to incur any disruption to the flow of fuel to that engine.”

4

| OPINION

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009

OUR VIEWPOINT

Citizens should be accountable, too The governor blames the legislature. The legislature blames the governor. The Republicans blame the Democrats. The Democrats blame the Republicans. With all the finger pointing, it’s no wonder we forget who really led us to where we are: us.

Once the election is over the real work begins. This is when we need to be the most vigilant of our elected officials and what they are doing.

So far Californians have not been vigilant.

By doing nothing we are putting a stamp of approval on overspending and mismanagement, not to mention the perpetuation of a worsening economy.

This is made obvious in the latest California budget news.

“If adequate cash solutions are not in place by Feb. 1, I will, with great reluctance, begin to delay all unprotected payments for at least 30 days,” wrote John Chiang, California State Controller, in a letter to Legislators dated Jan. 16 available on the Controller’s office Web site.

The situation is only going to grow if the governor and the legislature cannot agree on a budget and as of Feb. 4 another deadline has passed with only continuing negotiations and no agreement on a budget.

So payments will be delayed for 30 days or longer for personal income tax, bank and corporation tax refunds, Cal Grants, social security, Cal Works, funding for developmental disabilities and other programs.

These payments are delayed because the state has a cash flow problem so bad, that in order to pay its required financial obligations something had to give and that something was the payments.

At the joint convention held for both the senate and assembly on Dec. 8 Chiang said, “By March, we will have exhausted our general and borrowable funds and run more than $1.9 billion in the red.”

For a state to have exhausted its funds is totally unacceptable.

It’s not enough to blame the legislators for exhausting those funds. Point the finger at those who put them there.

If people continue to stand around and say, “This is bad,” and then just leave it up to the ones in charge, nothing will change.

“It’s not my fault. It’s bad management. Why should I pay for it?

Why do I have to fix it?” This response shows no accountability.

This should not be. Who elected the “the bad management?

Californians did. Who can take them out of office? Californians.

So the next step that must be to totally reform California’s budget and to take accountability to a practical and personal level, which can be achieved by taking ownership of the state’s financial woes.

Californians will be able to accomplish is by doing something as small as periodically typing, “California budget” into Google or any search engine. This will bring up latest news on the budget with this knowledge Californians can act with emails, phone calls and/or letters to our elected officials expressing our concern and question. That will make those individuals in elected positions to be more accountable for their decisions.

Keep doing this regularly and history may not repeat this situation.

GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

MONDAY FEB. 9, 2009

FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

The Telescope is published 11 times per semester. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty and staff members or the governing board trustees.

ADDRESS | The Telescope, Palomar College 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 NEWSROOM | Room MB-1 PHONE | (760) 891-7865 FAX| (760) 891-3401 E-MAIL | telescope@palomar.edu ADVERTISING E-MAIL | telescopead@palomar.edu

Tradition interferes with progress Stem cell research opposition is poorly founded KELLEY FOYT THE TELESCOPE

The separation of church and state has been a basis of American society since Thomas Jefferson coined the term in 1802 in a reference to the First Amendment.

That concept is challenged on a day-to-day basis regarding debates on gay rights, science and sex education — as well as the ever-controversial topic of stem cell research.

Religious traditions concerning morality should not be factored into the dispute over any political debate, much less stem cell research.

Both politicians and the general public should be able to set reliaside gious beliefs in order to establish what is best for our country. Granted, there should be a balance between science and religion in politics, but decisions should first and foremost remain objective.

Stem cell research’s rise to fame lies in studies that suggest that these cells could unlock the secret to the treatment and cure of some of today’s most inexplicable diseases.

Imagine a world without AIDS, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, blindness and deafness, as well as a host of other medical complications for which the cures have long eluded scientists.

The moral debate over stem cell controversy is focused on the harvesting of human embryonic stem cells.

In an article from Time magazine, Jessica Reaves put the dilemma best: “Is it possible to protect the strict boundaries inherent in the ‘sanctity of life’ and still harvest these cells to help the living among us?”

Some opponents of the research argue that the practice acts as a gateway to reproductive cloning, and therefore devalues the worth of a human being.

Nothing would ever be accomplished if nobody took risks in fear of a domino effect. People

“

should have the decency and self-discipline to be able to limit their actions, especially when the original actions can be so beneficial.

At the heart of the stem cell dispute lays the controversial battle over abortion. The cells used are from embryos, and so are considered alive by some.

Until recently, scientists obtained these cells from discarded embryos stored at invitro fertilization clinics. more controversial A approach is taking the stem cells from aborted fetuses; consent from the patient who had decided to terminate her pregnancy would be necessary.

Pro-life activists who oppose stem cell research commonly cite this method as a counterargument. There is also the question of whether stem cell research might actually increase the rate of abortion.

Scientists should only be allowed to accept donations; women should not have a financial gain that rewards abortion.

Religious traditions concerning morality should not be factored into ... political debate.

”

POLLING PALOMAR

What are your thoughts on stem cell research?

• All for it • Against it • Need more research

• Undecided • No opinion

Results from last poll (as of Feb. 3)

To participate in polls, go to www.the-telescope.com.

The Telescope welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters must be typewritten, under 300 words and include the author’s first and last names, major and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters can be e-mailed to telescope@palomar.edu or delivered to the newsroom in Room MB-1.

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 14

EDITOR IN CHIEF | CRYSTAL EVANS NEWS EDITOR | MELISSA LERAY ASST. NEWS EDITOR | MAGGIE AVANTS OPINION EDITOR | ERIC WALKER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR | ALEJANDRA JACKSON FOCUS EDITOR | KELLEY FOYT SPORTS EDITOR | JARRED POWELL PHOTO EDITOR | ROBERT BACON COPY EDITOR | ERIC WALKER AD MANAGER | CRYSTAL EVANS DISTRIBUTION MANAGER | KEVIN THOMPSON INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS | CHARLES STEINMAN, MATT NULL ONLINE EDITOR | ANTHONY SCHWARTZ JOURNALISM ADVISER | ERIN HIRO PHOTOJOURNALISM ADVISER | PAUL STACHELEK

Most people who support stem cell research have a similar viewpoint.

I would be no more or less likely to consider an abortion if I knew that the fetus could be used for scientific experimentation. The embryos are currently being callously discarded, and would be put to better use for experimentation.

There may be less divisive means of obtaining the cells; unfortunately, the cells taken from embryos are superior.

With the new Obama administration in effect, there is prevalent expectation that restrictions on stem cell research will be removed, or at least lightened.

For adversaries of stem cell research, an ethical obligation offsets any prospective gains.

But church and state should remain separated as long as the welfare of the general public is maintained at a high priority.

The possibilities that could be unleashed from stem cell research are mind-blowing.

As Reaves flawlessly put it, “To turn back now would be tantamount to turning our backs on a bright, sustaining light because we are terrified of the shadows it creates.”

The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be received one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.

STAFF WRITERS | HEATHER CAMERON, SHAWNNA CLEARY, ANDRE COLEY, PAT CUBEL, SHOKO HACHIYA, NIGEL HARRIS, MELISSA JARRETT, SHAUN KAHMANN, BARBARA ANN MAC LAREN, CHRIS MEYER, CASEY OLAYA, CYRILA RICHARDSON, TYPHANIE SHARFNER, JAVIER TOVAR, LESETT TUNNELL, KARA VERMEULEN, MATT WADLEIGH, GRAIANNE WARD, ROBIN WITT STAFF CARTOONISTS | JOSEPH BONNET

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS | HUGH COX, PAT CUBEL, CIARA KEITH

ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS

CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

CFAC CALIFORNIA FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION

JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES

MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

SPEAK OUT!

OPINION | 5

To what extent, if any, do you support stem cell research?

“

It’s cool with me. They can do what they want. I see the benefit. I don’t see the negative.

”

—Stephen Frisbie,medicine

“

I’m mixed about it. I haven’t heard enough about it either way.

”

—Sky Earl,business

Schools need to fix priorities

GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

MARK NOTARIAN THE TELESCOPE

As the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals fought for the Lombardi Trophy on a field in Tampa, many Palomar students worried about their transfers to a Cal State University system that is so strapped for cash they are forced to cut back on admissions, raise tuition, increase class size and cut back on classes due to the financial debacle in Sacramento.

The cries of the administrators have been adamant and shrill and the press for the most part has swallowed their united party line hook line and sinker.

Because of this I was shocked to see not one but two commercials for UCSD during the Superbowl telecast on NBC. Advertising during the Superbowl is not just expensive — they garner the single highest revenue for whatever network airs the contest. Even local spots run for up to $100,000.

The purpose of any advertisement is to get a consumer to pick the advertised brand adding to the customer base. But by their

own admission the UC system has a surplus of candidates: They actually need fewer students. $200,000 is not going to make or break an educational institution ordinarily, but in these unique financial times is burning that much money in one minute prudent?

This led me to the office of legislative analysis, and there I discovered that the Cal State University system has earmarked $70 million dollars for advertising this year. How many extra classes could 23 schools add with an extra $70 million? Just as the Cardinals made a Herculean effort in the fourth quarter of the big game, many students here at Palomar are expending great efforts in hopes of transferring to Cal Poly, UCLA, UCSD, UC Riverside, and Cal State Fullerton but because of budget cuts many of them will be met with apologies instead of welcomes.

Their efforts are insufficient to attain goals that as Californians should be a guaranteed right.

Since the decimation of the US

manufacturing base and the Reagan revolution, our nation has gone from the greatest importer of raw materials, largest exporter of finished goods and premier lender nation to the premier debtor nation, largest exporter of raw materials and number one importer of finished goods.

Our leaders tell us, “That’s OK! You can be retrained or educated in order to compete in the hightech world economy.”

What they don’t say is without at least a four-year degree you are not only not competitive in the world economy — you’re not even competitive in the local job market. We are fighting for our lives and those in control of those lives are throwing away $70 million a year. As students, we are faced with a choice: lie down and get run over or stand and fight.

In the 1960s there was a popular phrase, “If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem,” It is time for students to unite and demand what is ours.

The days of administrative waste must end and we all must work to end them.

Ask Aunt Gertrude Dear Aunt Gertrude:

Valentine’s Day is coming up and my girlfriend says it’s not important and not to make a fuss. She said the same thing about her birthday. We didn’t talk for a week. She is kind of sending out mixed signals what should I do?

“

I support it. I think it’s a pro. Like, if she decides to have an abortion, it’s not a total loss.

“

I don’t know a lot, but what I do know, it helps. I know a lot of people can benefit from it.

”

—Amanda Sprague,business

“

“

—Brad Norton,undecided

Scientifically it’s interesting, but I don’t think it’s that important. I have a moral issue with it.

”

—Bettina Heinz,chemistry professor

Dear Counting:

If you would like to Ask Aunt Gertrude, send your question to askauntgertie@aol.com

”

Partially. Not if they’re growing babies.

Scared of the Future

In the immortal words of Franklin D Roosevelt, “You have nothing to fear but fear itself!”When it comes to event days no mater what evidence you may have to the contrary always do something.

This is not tradition or mandate: It is an act of relationship survival. This does not mean you have to take your girlfriend on a shopping spree at Tiffany’s (though if you are inclined to do so don’t overlook all the advantages dating an older woman can have — Aunt Gertrude can be contacted through the paper), just make an effort.

Listen to things she says, know her favorite song, food, color, know the little things and get creative. One friend of mine got a charm bracelet and every holiday he bought her a charm that had some sort meaning to her — for example they took a trip to Alaska so he bought her a polar bear charm and teddy bear.

Use your head and your heart and you will be just fine.

” —Jeri Reya,English

“

I think it could be helpful if we do it right. It’s all about how it gets conducted.

“

”

I’m not familiar with the topic.

—Tommy Schilling,undecided

”—Matthew Bostwick

6

| FOCUS

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009

Dating on the cheap A Valentine’s Day date doesn’t have to be expensive to be unique and memorable CRYSTAL EVANS THE TELESCOPE

Being creative on Valentine’s Day has long been a problem for many men. They know that their girlfriend or wife expects something special, but it is hard to come up with something new and creative.

With the current economic crisis, finding something affordable is even more difficult than finding something creative.

However, there are a variety of activities that can be both fun and inexpensive that will make this Valentine’s Day one that to always be remembered.

Movie Marathon If you want to stay in grab a few classic romantic movies and snuggle up on the couch for a night of good movies.

Wine Tasting If you're both over 21, visit the Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad where you can participate in a wine tasting for a nominal fee. The wine comes from grapes grown at the winery just east of Ramona.

Ice Skating Cuddle up with a date at the Iceoplex rink. Public session is from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m on Saturday. Admission and skate rentals is $10 per adult.

Drive-in Movie If you want to see a movie under the stars go to the South Bay Drive-in.

Admission is $7 per person for a double feature, just don’t forget your radio.

The Beach

the sand for a romantic, yet cheap, dinner date by the waves.

Hiking/Biking Head south on Twin Oaks Valley Road and you'll run into San Elijo Hills. The master planned community has over 18 miles of hiking trails with panoramic views of San Marcos and the ocean.

Live Music Lestat's Coffeehouse in Normal Heights has an intimate coffee house setting with live music. Lisa Sanders, who plays mostly soul music, will be playing on Valentine’s Day, or check out another local bar with live music.

Coffee Get a hot cup of coffee at a local bookstore and peruse the aisles of books, magazines, movies and CDs together.

Concert If your Valentine is into something more hardcore, go to Soma. The Sleeping, This is Hell and Emarosa are playing.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $12.

Sports Challenge each other to a little one-onone at a local basketball court or get a group of couples together to play some touch football to have some fun and burn off those Valentine chocolates.

Stargazing Pack a warm blanket, some chocolates and a bottle of wine, or a bottle of sparkling apple juice for those under 21, and hit a local park or beach for a little night time stargazing.

ROB BACON

| THE TELESCOPE

Creative V-Day gifts Watch a not-so-chick

Take a moonlight walk on the beach.

Grab a couple of burritos before you hit

Ramiro Meraz of San Marcos created this floral arrangement and selected these gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Give a gift that is unique this Valentine’s Day ALEJANDRA JACKSON THE TELESCOPE

Chocolates and roses are overrated, and conversation hearts are for the elementary school set, so this Valentine’s Day give your sweetheart something they will remember long after the holiday is over.

Pamper the one you love with the gift of a massage from Massage Envy. Personalized gift cards not only give you the chance to choose the length of the massage, but you can also add extra money on the card so your significant other can indulge in items like spa accessories and skin care products.

Prices start out at $49 for a one-hour massage. For more information visit www.massageenvy.com.

Show how much you care this holiday by designing a custom stuffed animal at Build-ABear Workshop.

Anyone can pull a sad stuffed teddy bear off a shelf but at Build-A-Bear, gift giving becomes a more interactive and customized gift.

Start by choosing the animal you want and filling it with stuffing. From there you can choose from a sea of clothes and accessories to dress your creation and make it truly special for your date.

For an added personal touch, record your own personal declaration of love onto a sound chip. The chip can be placed in your bear.

Stuffed animals range in price from $5 to $25. For more information visit www.buildabear.com.

For the more artistic or adventurous gift giver, www.cafepress.com might be the perfect place.

This Web site allows you to create one of a kind apparel and gifts using your own images or to shop through thousands of products designed by other users.

Cafepress even offers one day shipping for those last minute shoppers. So go ahead and give the gift of yours or your paramour’s artwork on a shirt or their favorite lyrics on a hoodie that will have everyone asking where they got it.

For the shoe fiend in your life, the Converse Web site gives the option of designing your own pair of shoes.

Customize the color of nearly every part of the shoe from the tongue to the heel stripe.

There are an endless number of color and pattern combinations to choose from to ensure that the recipient of these custom kicks won’t have to worry about running into someone with the same pair.

Prices start at $45 and are dependent on the type of shoe and materials used. For more information visit www.converse.com Flowers wilt and die, so for an interesting twist on the traditional bouquet get an edible arrangement.

Pick an arrangement of fruit and chocolate dipped pieces to satiate any sized sweet tooth.

Prices range anywhere from $30 to $100, depending on the size and type of fruits used in the arrangement.

From the modest bouquet of chocolate dipped strawberries to the extravagant assortment of pineapple, strawberries and grapes accompanied by a balloon and a teddy bear, these edible arrangements are sure to please.

For more information visit www.ediblearrangement.com.

chick flick this V-day MARK NOTARIAN THE TELESCOPE

Valentine’s Day is dreaded by most men. They would rather curl into a weeping ball while pulling their hair out than sit through “The Notebook” or “Sleepless in Seattle” again.

However, there are many romantic movie options that can please everyone.

1 “A Fish Called Wanda” John Cleese is superb as a middle aged lawyer seduced by a younger diamond thief, Jamie Lee Curtis, and tormented by her psychotic lover Kevin Kline.

2 “All of Me” Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin star in this love story movie that shows one can be a crowd. Also featured is Victoria Tennant and Richard Libertini.

3 “Oscar” On the day Chicago’s toughest gangster Snaps Provolone (Sylvester Stallone) promises to go straight, he becomes involved in a series of romantic mix up’s, mistaken identities, police entanglements and an eminent plot to rub him out!

The supporting cast features Marisa Tomei, Tim Curry, Harry Shearer, Peter Riegart, Chaz Parmentari, Vincent Spano, Kurtwood Smith and the late Don Ameche.

4 “Romancing the Stone” Romance author Joan Wilder and American ex-Patriot Jack Colton find love while running from snakes, bullets, drug smugglers, secret police and kidnappers in the Columbian jungles in hopes of rescuing Joan’s sister and finding an enormous Emerald.

Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito lead the cast of this Robert Zemeckis film.

5 “Love Actually” Don’t let the title fool you, this is almost a perfect film. It has eight inter-locking stories that take place over a few weeks before Christmas. It is intelligently written charming, funny and touching. The cast features Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman , Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson and Billy Bob Thornton.

FOCUS |

MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

Saving at a wicked clip

7

BY VANESSA WILLIS MCT CAMPUS

Michelle Harrison recently paid 10 cents for $40 worth of groceries.

“And it would’ve been more, but the store had a 20-coupon per transaction limit,” Harrison says, laughing.

She and fellow coupon diva Frances Bullock say it’s not hard to get there.

The frugal friends say in a typical week they save about 70 percent off their grocery bills after a couple of hours of clipping and sorting.

And during a store’s triple coupon promotion, they can get most of their groceries for free. So many items, in fact, they often have enough to donate to area food pantries.

As rising gas prices and the slowing economy create fresh anxiety about family budgets, coupons are an easy way to stretch a buck.

The Charlotte, N.C., moms approach coupon management like a parttime job. But they stress that even folks who work full-time can save at least 50 percent off their groceries with just two hours of clipping and planning, and a couple more to shop at multiple stores each week.

Bullock, 38, says her savings in the first six months of this year will pay for a Walt Disney World vacation for her family. She’s a stay-athome mom to Ethan, 6, and Gavin, 3, and wife to David.

Harrison, 36, is a CPA, and says her savings have allowed her to maintain her family’s lifestyle after reducing her work schedule. She now works part-time so she can be with son Ryan, 2, and husband Dwayne more often.

“I had always clipped coupons on a casual level,” Harrison says. “A year ago, there was a triples event at Lowe’s Foods and I scored $125 worth for $25 and thought I’d done great. But then I talked to another couple who’d gotten $250 (worth) for $25 and I thought ‘Holy cow!’”

That’s when she started devoting more time to planning her coupon use.

Bullock says she’s always been frugal but got extra serious about coupons after her boys were born and she stopped working outside the home.

They both — Michelle Harrison started reading Coupon expert Internet coupon forums for tips and to get links to printable manufacturer’s coupons.

They also began paying more attention to store circulars and started tracking prices on items their families use most.

They estimate that extra time and mindfulness have doubled their savings.

“One great deal I got recently was at Lowe’s Foods when they had cereal buy-one-get-one-free,” Harrison says. “I had four coupons for 70 cents off, so for four boxes of Kellogg’s cereal, I paid a total of 95 cents.

And the register spit out a coupon for $10 off my next shopping order, which I knew would happen because I read it on an online forum. So, in effect, they were paying me to shop there.”

“

I thought I’d done great.

But then I talked to another couple who’d gotten $250 (worth) for $25 and I thought ‘Holy cow!’”.

”

Inserts and swaps Both women buy multiple copies of the Sunday newspaper to get NEIL NAKAHODO| MCT CAMPUS extra coupon inserts and participate in a free, local online coupon swap (at CharlotteMommies.com).They also organize their coupons in threering binders, tucking them into the pockets on clear plastic baseball card pages.

“I have them all sorted by categories and divided by different color tabs so I can flip to them easily” in the store, Bullock says.

Their actual grocery shopping takes the least amount of time, though both visit at least two stores every week. (They each bring a cooler to History of coupons store perishable items in their cars.)

1894 Coupons are born. Asa “I don’t spend much time in each store since I do most of my planCandler, the druggist who bought ning at home and my shopping list is made out before I leave the the formula for Coca-Cola for house,” Bullock says. $2,300, gives out handwritten tickets for a free glass of his new Know the policies fountain drink.

Along the way, they’ve learned the importance of knowing each 1895 C.W. Post store’s coupon policies. distributes the Some have strict rules about Internet printable coupons, and others grocery first will double coupons worth up to 99 cents only. It also pays to know coupon worth 1 which stores allow “stacking,” coupon-speak for using a manufacturer’s cent toward his coupon along with a store coupon on the same item. See store Web sites new product: for policies.

Grape Nuts.

Both women say shoppers should pay great attention to what the regAsa Candler 1930s: Coupons ular price for individual items is at different stores. become a staple “Just because you have a coupon or it’s on sale doesn’t mean it’s a in American households because good deal,” Harrison says. “A sale can mean just 10 cents off, and it of the Depression. might be smarter to save your coupons. Items tend to hit their lowest 1940s: Supermarkets sprout price about every 12 weeks. You should always try to combine a sale across the country and continue with a coupon to get the biggest savings.” the coupon tradition that began Harrison says she’s learned to be creative about where she gets her in neighborhood groceries. coupons.

1957 The Nielsen Coupon “Go through your cupboard and figure out what you buy and use on Clearing House becomes the first a weekly basis,” she says. “Contact those manufacturers, compliment business devoted to coupon their products and ask for coupons.” redemption. Coupons have creatAnd where beer and wine is sold at grocery stores, she suggests ed a new industry. checking for tear-pad coupons near the beverages. She often finds sav1965 One-half of Americans are ings on meat and seafood there. coupon users.

Bullock and Harrison say they follow the rules — they don’t try to use 1975 More than 65 percent of expired coupons or ask stores to bend their policies.

American households clip “If it’s a really good sale, then I try to go just every few days so I don’t coupons. take all of the items from the regular customers,” Bullock says. “Never clear a shelf! That to me is bad coupon karma and greedy.”

QUICK CUTS: Fast facts on coupons Maximize your savings 1. Organize coupons in a binder or accordion file.

Separate into categories according to item type and arrange by expiration date.

2. Go online. Manufacturer Web sites offer deals for $1 or more off. Discussion boards at sites including HotCouponWorld.com and AFullCup.com have members sharing links to printable Internet coupons.

3. Buy multiple copies of the Sunday newspaper to get extra coupon inserts.

4. Consider using the $1 trial membership at TheGroceryGame.com to learn

how to combine coupon use with store sales.

5. Take advantage of triple coupon promotions at grocery stores.

Coupon stats • 86 percent of Americans use coupons.

• 80 percent of manufacturer’s coupons are distributed through Sunday newspapers.

• Shoppers saved about $2.6 billion in 2007 with manufacturer’s coupons.

• Coupon users report an average savings of 11.5 percent each trip.

• Manufacturers offered approximately $330 billion in coupon savings in 2006.

COUPON TIPS ONLINE To learn more on how to use coupons to save money, visit these Web sites: • Hot Coupon World (www.hotcouponworld.com) • A Full Cup (www.afullcup.com) • Coupon Mom (www.couponmom.com)

8

| ENTERTAINMENT

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009

WHAT’S HAPPENING Wednesday, Feb. 11

Who: The Airborne Toxic Event w/ The Henry Clay People and Rademacher What: Rock/Alternative Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $12-14 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Wednesday, Feb. 11 Who: Set Your Goals w/ Media Blitz! and Final Fight What: Rock/Alternative Where: Troubadour Cost: $12-14 More info: www.troubadour.com

Thursday, Feb. 12 Who: Iration w/ Tribal Seeds, The B Foundation and Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds What: Reggae Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $10-15.50 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Friday, Feb. 13 Who: Miguel Mijares w/ Manoella Torres What: Latin Where: Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl Cost: $33-113 More info: www.livenation.com

Friday, Feb. 13 Who: So Long Davey and Valencia w/ Artist vs Poet What: Rock Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $10 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Saturday, Feb. 14 Who: LL Cool J w/ DJ Jazzy Jeff What: Rap/Hip-Hop Where: Harrah’s Rincon The Pavillion Cost: $45-55 More info: (760) 751-3100

Saturday, Feb. 14 Who: Styx What: Classic Rock Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $65-90 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

COURTESY PHOTO

Liam Neesen stars as Bryan Mills, an ex-government anti-terrorism agent who comes out of retirement to save the life of his daughter who has been kidnapped by human traffickers.

‘Taken’ personifies action film SHAUN KAHMANN THE TELESCOPE

Back in the 80’s, movie promoters always let you know when you were going to see an action movie. You’d see helicopters flying over a jungle in the trailer and they’d tell you the movie was starring a bunch of bodybuilders instead of actors.

In recent years however, movie directors and promoters have smartened up. They started hiring real actors to help sell their action films as “psychological thrillers” such is the case with “Taken.”

“Taken” is about an ex-government operative named Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson, who after a career of combating terrorists as an agent of the government, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his daughter Kim, played by Maggie Grace.

While attending his daughter’s birthday party, we are introduced to Mills’ ex-wife Lenore, played unsympathetically by Famke Janssen, and her wealthy

new husband.

Mills later explains to Kim that his line of work with the government was as a “preventer”, stopping acts of terrorism before they occur. The movie never delves into the ethical grey-area of detaining and presumably killing people for things that they might be involved in.

But this is an action movie.

While meeting with Lenore and Kim at a café they tell him Kim wants to stay with a friend in Paris. He is initially reluctant but ultimately grants his slow leave on the condition that she calls him when she reaches the airport in Paris. When she finally does call, it’s because she’s witnessing her friend get abducted.

And she’s next.

From here on, we are treated to what may be the best action sequences of Neeson’s career, ever. Even though he’s pushing 60, you’d never know it with the way he moves (or at least appears to be moving) with the quickness of a cheetah. Cracking heads, breaking arms, and literally taking names like nobody’s

movie. business.

The film never asks any moral Who knows, if he’d fought like this in “Batman Begins” they questions about Mills methods would have had to change the and expects the audience to do name to “Batman Began: But the same.The film shows us in no then got his head torn-off by uncertain terms that torture Liam Neeson.” Fast-cuts and works and that true justice canother “shaky” camera tech- not be obtained within the confines of civilized socieniques make the action ty, but that we must feel extremely fast but MOVIE REVIEW lower ourselves. can also make it hard to For all the ads made tell what was going on ‘Taken’ it appear to be, at times. And then “Taken” couldn’t have there’s the incredible HH been more of an feeling that Mills never OUT OF FOUR STARS action flick if it had seems to getting hurt had Liam Neeson from any of this. STARRING: Liam chucking one-liners “Taken” is a film that Neeson, Famke Janssen, through a cigar-laden stretches plausibility to Maggie Grace grin while the jungles the breaking-point, and RATED: PG of Vietnam burned then it breaks it. behind him. Right Performances from down to its happy, conNeeson, Janssen, and the supporting cast are excellent sequence-free ending, “Taken” though. Most notable is Grace, is a true-blue American action who plays Kim with surprising film, minus one flame-thrower.

It would have been easy to warmth and likability considering it’s a role that she could have review “Taken” as an action easily phoned in. But as good as movie, but it wasn’t sold as one. the performances were, they The story just can’t keep up with couldn’t elevate the narrative the action. And neither can the beyond what it was, a silly action camera.

Allen not afraid to offend on ‘It’s Not Me It’s You’

Along-side the catchy music, the record reveals many strong political views. In the boldly British superstar, Lily Allen’s titled “F*** You,” Allen devotes second studio album, “It’s Not an entire track to those who are Me It’s You,” is not for those who not open to accepting homosexutake offense to vulgar language ality, calling them “small mindand detailed sex scenes. ed” and their points of view as On her second album, Allen “medieval.” proves she still knows how to stir The track “He Wasn’t There,” up controversy. Allen sings of directly speaks of Allen’s own many experience that go beyond father. She sings of growing up taboo. From details of her exces- with lies and abandonment. The sive partying to drug usage to track displays her the fear of aging, Allen empowerment over an MUSIC REVIEW strays far from the usual unfortunate situation. love ballads of many risAllen suggests that ing pop stars of today. while living with the The record offers absence of her father insight into her personal she finds strength. life. She tells of sexual In the midst of her blunders and horrificalrather electric beats ly desperate relationLily Allen comes the very dull ships. Although many of ‘It’s Not Me It’s You’ “22,” a song about the her lyrics create unclear fear of turning 30. The HHHH examples, they offer just song takes pity on OUT OF FOUR STARS enough detail to zero in woman who are geton the life of Lily Allen. ting older and what it is like not The record consists of a 12 having men in their lives. tracks with electro-pop qualities.

Allen’s rising hit “The Fear,” Continuous measures of repeat- portrays celebrity wealth and ed beats run through each track, their excessive spending habits. making them easy dance songs.

She sings about the scary effects CASEY OLAYA THE TELESCOPE

COURTESY PHOTO

Lily Allen tackles high profile issues like homophobia and drug abuse on her new album. of money on her own soul. Lily sings, “I am a weapon of massive consumption.” She speaks of the desire for diamonds, being thin, and idolizing film stars instead of mothers.

This album will keep your feet

moving and your brain in motion.

For those who tired of mainstream monogamy and mindless fluff of today’s billboard hits, “It’s Not Me It’s You” comes highly recommended.

ENTERTAINMENT | 9

MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

Oscar nominations: the favored, the forgotten JULIE HINDS MCT CAMPUS

It's a beloved annual tradition griping about the Oscar nominations.

The batch of nominees announced Thursday already has prompted some questions. Like, how come "Gran Torino” was left out of the fun?

Nothing for best picture or best actor or director for Clint Eastwood? Uh, memo to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: Get off our lawn!

And why no best picture respect for “The Dark Knight,” a snub that left many fans disappointed? If a caped crusader this nuanced and serious can’t leap into the top Oscar category, can any superhero?

Still, there was a lot to celebrate. It was a good day for the sweeping romantic fable “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” It earned the most nominations with 13.

There also was joy for the crowd-pleasing underdog “Slumdog Millionaire,” which came in second with 10 nods.

“Button” and “Slumdog” are the leading contenders for best picture. They’ll be up against two dramas rooted in American political history, “Frost/Nixon” and “Milk,” and one with a Holocaust theme, “The Reader.”

That’s just one of the intriguing races of the 81st annual Academy Awards. The golden guys will be handed out on Feb. 22. It’s time to stop complaining and start contemplating the good stuff the red carpet possibilities, the surprising nominations and the blockbusters that weren’t left out in

GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

the cold.

Did we mention the sexiest man alive, Hugh Jackman, aka Wolverine, is hosting?

To get a jump on the big night, here are the moments to watch for.

Will “Slumdog Millionaire” continue to soar? Probably. A love story about a poor orphan from Mumbai who competes on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” the little film traveled a rocky road behind the scenes to reach theaters.

It could have gone straight to DVD after its original backer was shut down. But it found a home with another studio division, Fox

Swim Instructors Wanted Instructors $12-19/hour Customer service $10/ hour Contact Brett at (760) 744-7946

Searchlight, and has earned about $45 million so far.

And after scoring big at the Golden Globes, “Slumdog” has a good chance of winning the big Oscar prize, even against an epic like “Button.” Why? Because it’s a “Rocky” for a global economy that captures the fears and hopes of the times.

Which snub was the biggest shocker? The conventional wisdom was a beloved Hollywood legend like Eastwood would at least get a best actor nod.

But the bigger disappointment was that “The Dark Knight” didn’t sneak into the best picture category. If it had, it could have lured

JML Copyediting/Proofreading Hand in written workwith perfect punctuation,spelling,grammar. j.logue@cox.net (760) 732-1380

viewers back to the Oscars, reversing last year’s audience decline. Ratings tend to be bigger when blockbusters are included.

“The Dark Knight” did get eight nominations, however, including one for best supporting actor for the late Heath Ledger, who was so magnificently chaotic as the Joker.

Did Kate Winslet wind up in a winning category? This gets tricky. The good news is Winslet was nominated for best actress for “The Reader.”The bad news is she was hoping to get a supporting actress nod for that film, plus a leading actress nomination for “Revolutionary Road.”

More good news: Now she won’t have to split her votes between two categories. More bad news: It might have been easier for her to win the supporting category.

Good: She’s already won two Golden Globes for “Revolutionary Road” (as a lead) and “The Reader” (as a supporting actress).

Bad: She’s been nominated for an Oscar five times before this without winning.

And so on.

What will be the most hotly contested category? The best actress race could be the trickiest pick in your family Oscar pool.

The category, often overshadowed by best actor, is a strong contest between Winslet and Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Angelina Jolie (“The Changeling”), Melissa Leo (“Frozen River”) and Meryl Streep (“Doubt”).

Although Streep, Oscar’s most nominated performer with 15 total, would seem the one to beat, Hollywood loves to reward newcomers like Hathaway, emerging unknowns like Leo, celebrity royalty like Jolie and frequent nominees like Winslet.

Who’ll rule the red carpet? One word: Brangelina.

With Jolie in the running and Brad Pitt nominated as best actor for “Button,” the world’s most glamorous mom-and-pop duo will have to make an appearance. And no offense to the rest of the field, but they’ll generate more heat than a dozen Josh Brolins (supporting actor nominee for “Milk”) or a hundred Frank Langellas (best actor nominee for “Frost/Nixon”).

Simpson proves her flexibility with country music conversion WALTER TUNIS MCT CAMPUS

It wasn't the sort of career move anyone saw coming. Jessica Simpson: pop pinup, reality show princess, tabloid celebrity and country singer?

Truth to tell, Simpson didn’t exactly see Nashville as part of her star journey, either. But believe the transformation.

"I didn't set out or say to myself, ‘I’m going to make a country record,’ or anything like that,” Simpson said in a recent phone interview. “There were just songwriters in Nashville I wanted to write music with. And what we did ended up being country. It’s just more of who I am.

“I never looked at country as being too far removed from what I had been doing.

But then I never really felt that, in the pop world, I owned everything I was doing. The music was a bit more scattered. I would have five or six producers on a record, which didn’t help the consistency or the flow. For me to do a focused record, to really tell the story of the experiences I’ve been through in life, was important. Going to Nashville and writing with those writers helped me dig into a deeper side of myself.”

The country version of Simpson seems to be a solid sell. Her debut country album, “Do You Know,” hit No. 1 on the country charts and No. 4 on the pop charts upon its release last fall.

A convincingly contemporary Nashville single, “Come on Over” has won considerable airplay.

But then Simpson, 28, is used to big numbers.

The four pop albums that the native Texan has released in the past decade have all achieved gold or platinum status. The country conversion, it seems, was as much a cry for credibility as anything else.

Her music has always been a hit, but it paled next to the profile that Simpson created offstage, beginning with the

2003 MTV reality series “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” that chronicled the early days of her marriage, which eventually failed, to pop singer Nick Lachey.

Since then, her celebrity romances have gained as much attention in the tabloids as her music has on the charts.

“I don’t know if you ever get used to tabloids and people making up stories about you and writing about you when you’re not really attached to it, like you would be if you were giving an interview,” she said. “You never get used to that. But there is a way to not allow that to be your focus. I really just have to detach myself from the world of gossip and preconceived ideas.

“They’ve been writing about me for a long time. And for some reason, people still want read it all. Sometimes it definitely gets frustrating. But that’s why I write music: so people can get to know the real me.”

One of Simpson’s first major public stabs at country nose-dived, however.

At a December 2006 taping of the Kennedy Center Honors, Simpson performed as part of a tribute to lifelong idol Dolly Parton. But after botching the lyrics to 9 to 5, and then being dissatisfied with a second recorded attempt for the broadcast, Simpson withdrew from the event.

But the silver lining to such a public and professional humiliation was Parton herself, who befriended the singer, offered encouragement and penned the title tune for “Do You Know.”

“Dolly really helped me become secure about being onstage again and secure with who I am as an artist. She is obviously a mentor. She is an incredible songwriter, an incredible singer and an amazing woman. I mean, people don't know much of anything about her personal life. That's something I'm absolutely jealous of. I don't know how she did it.

I've got to get some tips.”

10 | DIVERSIONS

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009

Horoscopes

By Linda C. Black

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You'll have to pick and choose.

Stay out of a fight you can't win.

You might be able to have everyIf asked, you might help mediate. thing you want, but not all at Wait until they ask you, though. once. Set priorities and don't get Otherwise, stay out of their way. rattled if you have to wait a while.

Make cookies, or go buy some.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Discuss your next big decision with your family before you act.

They're involved too, and it'll be easier if they're on your side.

Give something up to make that happen.

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The others may still be obstinate, but you can make a few suggestions. Write them down in a letter perhaps, or discuss them with your friends. Don't bother to tell the combatants; they aren't listening yet.

Sagittarius (Nov.22-Dec.21)

Continue to act as translator.

This isn't an easy job, by the way.

Make a plan, but also deterBut you have natural talent. mine the plans that others have You're good at helping others made. That should be easy to figresolve their conflicts. You teach ure out, because they're trying to objectivity. convince you to change. Keep your own objectives in mind.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Capricorn (Dec.22-Jan.19)

Should you save or should you spend? That's the big dilemma.

If all you can do is keep talking, There are a few things you really that's good enough for now. need, but don't get the specialty Rome wasn't built in a day and it items. No caviar or champagne didn't crumble in one day, either. this time.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your "discussion" devolves into an argument at times. You see your position clearly, but the other person doesn't. Explain the concept more simply.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Communication is starting to flow more easily, and that's surely a blessing. Other things are breaking down, though. Schedule your personal break for later tomorrow.

Aquarius (Jan.20-Feb.18) The funny thing is, the more you fight, the better you understand where that other character is coming from. Sort of. Well, that's a clean, group-therapy sort of fight. Do the best you can.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) The job is not going as planned.

There are very good reasons for that. Some of them came up after you began. The changes are not your fault. Adapt.

11 | COMET SPORTS

MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

Familiar face returns to restore past JARRED POWELL THE TELESCOPE

The Comets started the 2009 softball season with a familiar face from their decorated past. Head Coach Mark Eldridge, who retired after the 2006 softball season, has returned to coach the Palomar softball team.

Before Eldridge retired, he won 1,040 games, 21 consecutive conference championships, and three state titles.

“I am just coming in trying to keep things going until the school can get a full-time coach,” said Eldridge, who replaced Scia Maumausolo who wasn’t retained and was 54-21 in her two years at Palomar.

With the state budget problems, the school has frozen the schools head softball coach position. The school will possibly look in house as assistant coach Lacey Craft, a former player under Eldridge, will be considered.

For the first time in 23 years, the Comets are not the defending champions of the Pacific Coast Conference. After last years disappointing conference finish, the team is eager to start the season.

“It’s going be a good season,” returning infielder Andi Anti said. “We have a lot of talent, returning starters from last year. We just have to work hard to get what we want this year.”

Craft said she’s excited about this season.

“We have a lot of returning sophomores this year, we have a large roster and have had a lot of competition all fall so those are huge,” Craft said.

Returning from last year’s second place team is Anti and team captains Shawna Barrow.

Anti started her collegiate career last season by leading the team in batting with a .446 batting average and slugging percentage with .748. Barrow led the team in stolen bases last season with 23 and also was the team’s third leading hitter with a .380 batting average.

The Comets suffered a big loss when

PAT CUBEL| THE TELESCOPE

Assistant coach Tony Ferracone instructs the outfielders on the fundamentals of fielding. The Comets started the season on Jan. 30 in a tournament in Las Vegas. returning starter and team captain “Surprisingly it’s two different coach- “The sky’s the limit for this group Theresa Houle injured her knee during ing styles and it’s about adjusting to his because they’re experienced, motivated the offseason. She will be out for the coaching style,” Barrow said. and they push each other to be the best.” year, and said her softball career as a Craft explains Eldridge’s style as old The Comets started their season in a Comet is over. school. tournament in Las Vegas on Jan. 30. They Houle is the team’s vocal leader. She “Everything he touches turns to gold,” went 2-3 in the tournament and returned was second on the team last season with Craft said. “He knows the game of soft- home to upset the No. 1 team in the state a .382 batting average and led the team ball and brings a lot of tradition and Cerritos College 9-8 on Feb. 2. with seven home runs and 34 RBIs. experience to the team.”

They will play their next game at home “I just have a lot of wear and tear on my The team’s goal for the season is clear- at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13 against Saddleback body from playing softball throughout the cut. They want the Pacific Coast College. years and my body has been breaking down,” Conference championship back at Houle said. “I will still be with the team, but Palomar.

I will never play softball again. I have to be “We want to win the conference chamstrong for everyone that’s playing.” pionship, start another streak, host With a new coach, the Comets are regional’s and hopefully win and go to adjusting to his style. the state playoffs from there,” Craft said.

Six sophomores receive scholarships for football Six Palomar College football players transferred to four-year colleges during the semester break, or signed during the first day of the NCAA Division I regular signing period on Feb. 4. Leading the group is running back Leilyon Myers, a 2008 J.C. Grid-Wire pre-season second-team All-American who missed the entire season with an injury. Meyers transferred to Texas-El Paso.

“I think what I can do is move a pile,” Myers told the El Paso Times. “I like to fight for the extra yard in short-yardage situations.”

Head coach Mike Price said in the same article, “His nick-

name is Superman. ... He’s a stud. He signed with the University of Washington two years ago and that didn’t work out, so he went to Palomar.”

Former Oceanside High standout Maurice Patterson has already transferred to the University of Nevada at Reno, and Wolfpack coach Chris Ault told the Associated Press that Patterson is “one of the fastest if not the fastest” player on the team.

Another player, defensive back Arthur Render, decided to de-commit from West Virgina and instead signed with Tulsa. Coach Todd Graham calls Render “one of

the top junior college impact players in the country and who will be a big-time player in Conference USA.” Three other sophomores also signed a letter of intent , including offensive tackle Justin Klingerman, who will transfer to Old Dominion.

Outside linebacker Nate Paopao signed with Eastern Michigan and defensive tackle Jonathan Mitchell signed with Henderson State.

Palomar’s other sophomores will sign later in the signing period, which runs until April 1, or simply will transfer to four-year college programs after the spring semester.

COMET SPORTS |

MONDAY, FEB. 9 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

SPORTS ON DECK

Tuesday, Feb. 9 BASEBALL Orange Coast vs Palomar 2 p.m. at Palomar

Wednesday, Feb.10 BASEBALL Palomar vs College of the Desert 2 p.m. at Palomar.

Thursday, Feb. 12 BASEBALL LA Pierce vs Palomar 2 p.m. at Palomar

Friday, Feb. 13 BASEBALL Mt. SAC vs Palomar 2 p.m. at Palomar

SOFTBALL Saddleback vs Palomar 2 p.m. at Palomar.

Saturday, Feb. 14 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Southwestern vs Palomar at 3 p.m. at Palomar Dome

MEN’S BASKETBALL Miramar vs Palomar at 5 p.m. at Palomar Dome

Saturday, Feb. 21 SOFTBALL Palomar vs Long Beach City College 11 a.m. at Palomar

SOFTBALL Palomar vs Citrus 3 p.m. at Palomar

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Imperial Valley vs Palomar at 3 p.m. at Palomar Dome

MEN’S BASKETBALL Cuyamaca vs Palomar at 5 p.m. at Palomar Dome

Wednesday, Feb. 25 SOFTBALL Southwestern vs Palomar 3 p.m. at Palomar

For updated Comet scores, go to www.the-telescope.com.

12

Comets dismantled by first place Knights CHRIS MEYER THE TELESCOPE

It was a rough night for the Palomar men’s basketball team as it was no match for the first place San Diego City College Knights as the Comets lost 83-60.

Palomar was bested by San Diego City star forward Malcolm Thomas as he collected 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists while converting 9-10 from the charity stripe.

The Knights (22-4 overall 11-1 Pacific Coast Conference) Jamel McGuire also pitched in with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists and Marquintice Davis had 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

“We are very fortunate we have Malcolm Thomas and he’s one of the leading scorers in the state and one of the better players in the state of California,” said San Diego City head coach Mitch Charlens.

Thomas will be attending San Diego State next year and McGuire will be headed to Cal State Fullerton.

The Comets (13-11 overall 7-4 conference) were dominated in the first half by the Knights as San Diego City opened with a 7-2 lead and Palomar head coach John O’Neill was visibly frustrated and could be heard from across the court calling for an early time out.

The Knights continued to frustrate the Comets running the floor, and getting physical in the paint. There were many fast breaks that San Diego City took advantage of often with Palomar shorthanded coming back against the fast break and Thomas showed his high flying skills and PAT CUBEL| THE TELESCOPE flash with an array of dunks.

The Comet’s Eric Johnson put a Cory Leitzke tries to initiate some offense by driving to the basket. The Comets rallied but lost to the first place Knights 83-60 stop to the Knights’ outrageous Palomar made only 24 percent in the second half and it showed Overstreet said. run with a strong drive to the basAt one point in the second half, ket, converting his shot. He was of its shots in the half and didn’t as they doubled their attempts Overstreet had four consecutive hit a single shot from from the free throw line. fouled on the There was a point where both baskets for Palomar in just over three-point range. attempt that ended COMETS 60 Palomar went into the teams got testy as a foul was two and a half minutes. a 21-2 San Diego KNIGHTS 83 Overstreet ended the game as locker room stunned called on San Diego City and City run.

UP NEXT and down by 36 points players had to be separated after the Comets leading scorer with The Knights conwith San Diego City a Palomar player was struck in 24 points, six rebounds, and tinued to pressure Miramar at Palomar the face. The officials convened three assists. Richard LaFleur leading 50-14.

Palomar in the first Feb. 14 “We weren’t really and the head referee reversed the had 15 point and three rebounds half by getting prepared to play in foul against the Knights and gave and Eric Johnson also had 10 many defensive 5 p.m. the first half,” possession to the home team. San points. rebounding oppor“It looks like we need to win Assistant coach Brad Diego City players continued tunities and conAT STAKE Hollingsworth said. their feistiness, resulting in out or not lose more than one verting with their “We were thoroughly Charlens calling a time out and game,” Hollingsworth said about big men following The Comets need to win intimidated in the walking on to the court to settle the Comets chances at making to the basket. out to be considered a the playoffs. “We don’t look at it down his team. first half.”

Palomar could contender for a In the final few minutes, that way we look at the next Going into the secnot execute getting postseason berth ond half, Palomar Overstreet took scoring matters game…we’re just going to conthe ball down in the looked like an entirely upon himself by driving to the centrate on Monday, concentrate low post on their offensive possessions with San different team. Johnson, who was basket and pulling the Comets on the next practice, the next Diego City’s presence in the paint Palomar’s solo standout in the closer to making the game game.”

The Comets have four more area. The Comets relied on their first half received help from Theo respectable.

“If my shot is not dropping then conference games and are at perimeter shooting in the first Overstreet. Palomar made a commitment to attacking the basket I have to go to the basket,” home on Feb. 14 against Miramar. half and it was non-existent.

Palomar beats rival MiraCosta

Down by four at the half, the Palomar College men’s basketball team used a second-half come- COMETS back to beat rival SPARTANS MiraCosta by the score of 67-61 on Jan. 28.

With the win, the Comets recorded their four straight victory and sixth wins in their last seven games Theo Overstreet led the team with 21 points including three 3pointers in the second half.

Kevin Deeb contributed 16 points. The Comets were able to comeback after a 2867 24 halftime deficit 61 to clinch the victory.

Despite having a shot accuracy rating below 40 percent, the Comets, with the help of Richard LaFleur, were able to out-rebound the Spartans thus providing more opportunities to put pressure on MiraCosta’s equally shaky defense.

“We were able to get some stops at the end of the game, we didn’t get stops all game,” Comets assistant coach Brad Hollingsworth said. “They were a good team and played us extremely hard. We were able to hang on and make just enough shots.”

The Spartans started the game strong, out maneuvering and out running the Comets. Their shot accuracy was higher and were able to take advantage of oppor-

tunities created by turnovers and steals. Though not as efficient, Palomar was still able to play around MiraCosta’s weaknesses.

“We were the aggressors in the first half,” Spartans head coach Patrick Conahan said. “In the last 28 seconds all we had to do was block off on a free-throw and get a rebound and we could have tied the game. The Comets made some good adjustments at the half”