The Oklahoma Daily by OU Daily

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

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news The Sooner racing team is expected to rise to the top of the national rankings. PAGE 3

Big 12 football is shaping up for a big year after only three weeks. PAGE 9

The Daily’s Joshua Boydston reviews four albums in this week’s New Music Tuesday. PAGE 7

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Wednesday’s Weather

70°/55°owl.ou.edu CAMPUS BRIEFS FUNDRAISING DRIVE BEGINS THIS WEEK This week kicks off the United Way of Norman’s annual fundraising drive. A luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 3939 W. Tecumseh Road. Campaign chairmen Randy Laffoon and Jim Wade will speak with the community about the progress of the campaign and present ideas for the final two months of fundraising. The public is invited to attend, but asked to RSVP by calling the United Way at 329-2025.

Students help homeowners with special needs Volunteers work through Habitat for Humanity to build ‘green’ houses MATTHEW MOZEK The Oklahoma Daily

For the past few months, members of Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity have been working to plan, design and build ‘green’ homes for those in need with the help of students and faculty in the OU College of Architecture. Combining the collective efforts of about eight Sooners, the organization is working to provide individuals with special needs, both physically and financially, with six new affordable and certifiably sustainable homes within the next year, said project manager Josh Carson. “To be affordable, the houses must have low utility costs and low maintenance costs as well as low construction costs,” said Bill McManus, chairman of the construction committee at Habitat for Humanity and construction science professor. “We are able to do this with creative building science based design and dedicated volunteers who pay close attention to detail,” he said. Carson, a construction science senior, said the process of building one of these homes takes about four to five months. Carson said he believes getting involved in community service organizations and applying the skills you learn while at OU is one of the best

ESTEBAN PULIDO/THE DAILY

Anne Baker sits in front of the house Habitat for Humanity is building for her family. things one can do for themselves and others. “I felt like [Habitat for Humanity] would be a good way to take some of my skill sets and give back to the community,” Carson said. “I get to

-Daily Staff Reports

Thursday’s dedication of Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. The event will be rescheduled at a later date.

Porter Avenue Corridor Project creates vision of growth and betterment

-Daily Staff Reports

COMPOST FACILITY TO BE OPENED THURSDAY

-Daily Staff Reports

STUDENT TO RECEIVE SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation will award Zachary Flaming, meteorology senior, a $10,000 scholarship Friday at the National Weather Center. Flaming is the third ASF award winner from OU in the past four years. The Astronaut Scholarship is the largest monetary award given to science and engineering students based solely on merit. -Daily Staff Reports

BASKETBALL TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY Season tickets for men’s basketball will be on sale for students today and Wednesday. T ickets are $140, with an additional $10 processing fee, and will be charged to the student’s bursar account. Student season ticket holders who attend games throughout the season may qualify for the rebate program. Those who attend 90 percent of the regular season games will be eligible for a full $140 rebate and those who attend 80 percent will receive a $50 credit. -Daily Staff Reports

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NEEDS CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

City Council meets to repair traffic problems

WAGNER DEDICATION DATE POSTPONED

A ribbon cutting for a new City of Norman compost facility will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at 348 Bratcher Miner Road. The facility contains 10 acres for composting and replaces the former compost facility built in October 1990.

work directly with the homeowners living in these houses, and I develop a relationship with them,

TEEKO YANG/THE DAILY

Elliot Sober, philosophy professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, lectures on “Darwin and Intelligent Design” Monday night in Dale Hall.

Guest professor speaks on Darwin and creationism Speaker claims opposing views not mutually exclusive JARED RADER The Oklahoma Daily

If you believe in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, it does not always mean you do not believe in God, Elliott Sober, a scientific philosopher and author, told an audience in Dale Hall on Monday. The OU Department of Philosophy invited Sober, a professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s philosophy department, to participate in the David Ross Boyd lecture series, in which the department brings philosophers to campus for several days. In his presentation, titled “Darwin and Intelligent Design,” Sober said many people think there are only two options concerning belief in God or evolution: atheistic evolution, meaning belief in Darwin’s theory that requires you to deny God’s existence and creationism, meaning belief in God that requires you to deny Darwin’s theory. “Apparently, evolutionary theory has suggested to people that there is no God,” Sober said. “I don’t think the theory says that.” Sober said he believes there is a third option, which he calls “theistic evolution,” meaning you can believe Darwin’s theory is true and that God exists. He used tenants of the theory of evolution to back up his argument.

Sober said the idea of unguided mutations in organisms does not mean the mutation was uncaused. He used an example of an experiment in which blue organisms are placed in a red and green environment – an environment in which developing camouflage for each organism’s respective environment would be favorable for the organisms’ lives. Sober said the experiment showed that the frequencies of developing and not developing the coloring are all relatively the same, meaning the probabilities of the mutations were unguided because the organisms were not affected by what would have been good for the organism. Sober also shared an analogy of gamblers tossing coins. The frequency of heads and tails on the coin is relatively the same, meaning it is not for the good of the gambler. Sober said these experiments do not reveal the hand of God. “Both these claims are consistent with the idea that God causes everything,” Sober said. “Maybe God is reaching into nature and causing those mutations.” However, Sober was careful to explain that he was not arguing for or against God’s existence. “I’m not actually arguing that God is involved in nature,” Sober said. “What I’m saying is that that belief … is left open by science.” DARWIN CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

to grow, develop and come to the Porter area to create a mixed use neighborhood for Norman with walkable streetscapes, safe streets, better traffic control and enhanced quality of life with connectivity to the Main Street and TROY WEATHERFORD The Oklahoma Daily Campus areas,” Dillingham said. He said acceptance of the plan At tonight’s City Council meet- will not constitute any policy ing, citizens will be allowed to decisions. voice their opinion concern“What Tuesday’s action does is ing the Porter Avenue Corridor accept information that will assist Project, which encompasses as the city moves forward worka 60-block area around Porter ing with the public to craft policy Avenue extending from Castro to meet the goals that come from Street northward to Haddock, be- the vision,” Dillingham said. tween Findlay Avenue and Peters He said the passage of the plan Avenue. will not set policy, will not authoThe area being considered rize staff to enforce anything in does not currently balance resi- the study document, will not audential and business interests, thorize any taking of land by the Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said. city through eminent domain, She said properties have been will not spend public money, allowed to decay, the area is not will not raise taxes, will not set walkable, and it has many haz- design guidelines for property ards for automobile traffic. owners, will not change traffic “The importance of the corri- configuration on Porter Avenue dor to the community, its inter- and does not choose any funding face with a number of residential mechanism. neighborhoods and the location The next steps, if the action of important institutions like the passes, will be to create a land use Norman Regional Hospital cam- overlay, set design guidelines and pus are all reasons to act to insure develop implementation strateit is vibrant, attractive and more gies for the project. pedestrian friendly in the future,” Implementation of the plan Rosenthal said. will take several years, said The plan proposes changing Rosenthal. Porter to three lanes between Some elements of the plan Robinson and Alameda and uti- have raised public and business lizing roundabouts at Porter’s concerns, Atkins said. These intersections with Alameda and concerns include project financAcres. ing, traffic flow It would also MEETING INFO and pedestrian enact a line sepasafety. rating residential What: Public hearing on the “I believe the and commercial Porter Avenue Corridor Plan Council, citizens, areas on the east c o r r i d o r re s i and west side of When: Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. dents, and busithe corridor. nesses should “It is very impor- Where: City Council Chambers, have definitive tant to create and 201 West Gray St. answers to these establish a line for questions for the the area so that homeowners and plan to go forth,” Atkins said. “At businesses alike can prosper,” this point, until the concerns are said councilman Al Atkins. addressed, it does not have my C o u n c i l w o m a n C i n d y complete support.” Dillingham has been involved On Sept. 10, the City Planning with the project since its begin- Commission voted unanimously ning and said the plan creates a to recommend the project to City vision for Porter Avenue. Council. “In response to citizen and “This initiative comes to the business requests, the City has council with tremendous citizen engaged in strategic planning to participation and input … No develop a vision, goals and objec- plan is perfect or gets unanimous tives for the study area that best support, but the Porter effort protect the neighborhoods, allow combines the best of creativity, neighborhood revitalization, pro- vision, and public participation,” vide opportunity for businesses Rosenthal said.

VOL. 95, NO. 24

2 Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Meredith Moriak, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051

University Sing reduces requirements New changes give priority to student studies NATASHA GOODELL The Oklahoma Daily

Many students have a hard time balancing school, a social life, work and other activities, but in the midst of all this some students are also incorporating University Sing practices with Campus Activities Council into the mix. University Sing is an event put on with CAC where different organizations on campus pair-up to create original 12-minute musicals using songs by other artists, said Cory Lloyd, advertising senior and executive chairman of University Sing. “We’re trying to make it an event that is fun and beneficial to the community and all the people involved,” Lloyd said. He said CAC has decided to cut back practices this year to only eight hours a week, in comparison to its 10 hours of practice in years past. “I wanted to make sure, and Campus Activities Council as a whole, that we were setting up these kids to succeed,” Lloyd said. The executive staff for University Sing has been going around to the practices telling the students to never miss class for University Sing practices. “We make sure that students understand that school is the most important thing,” Lloyd said. Most of the students involved in this activity are involved in other organizations that require set study hours each week. “We’ve really tried to push it this year to see if there is a difference,” Lloyd said. There have been differences in grades during University Sing, said Lloyd, but it has never been anything too drastic. “They told us from the beginning that school comes before University

Si ng,” said Em ma Hunsaker, people to build friendships,” said University College freshman and Lloyd. Delta Delta Delta member. “It provides a fun outlet to go They usually have practices two along with their school schedules, hours a night for four days of the and helps students to get plugged in week. The directors really under- and involved on campus,” he said. stand and work with their schedules, University College freshman Tyler she said. Bridegan, member of Delta Upsilon, “They were willing to work with said he has enjoyed University Sing. me on my own time when I had to “We only have study hours twice miss a practice,” said Hunsaker. “It’s a week,” Bridegan said. “I think they definitely manageable. They don’t trust us enough to study on our do anything extreme.” own.” The houses are not allowed to let Bridegan said he usually goes to students practice the library five “It started out as a team beyond 10 p.m. days a week at “ I t h i n k i t ’s competition, and it still has night after praca lot of fun and but said he that aspect, but it has turned tices I ’v e g o t t e n t o hasn’t found it know a lot of the into an event that allows overwhelming. g i r l s s o m u c h people to build friendships.” Practices are more,” Hunsaker not the only assaid. “I’ve never –CORY LLOYD, ADVERTISING SENIOR pect of University danced before, Sing that has but this has been a really awesome been changed this year. experience.” “We have done a lot on the execuThe event pairs various organiza- tive end to loosen pressure,” Lloyd tions together and allows them to said. “We are lessening the time easily bond with each other, Lloyd commitment to make sure it’s better said. for the activities.” “It started out as a team competiUniversity Sing performances will tion, and it still has that aspect, but it take place during Parents Weekend, has turned into an event that allows Nov. 13-14.

Needs

Continued from page 1 which I really value.” The families who benefit from the construction of these homes greatly appreciate all of the hard work done by the volunteers involved in these projects. “I can’t describe [my excitement],” said Anne Baker, a future homeowner. “We can’t just move into a house just like everybody else can. We have to have, what I call, a special house, and I feel that’s what they’ve made for me.” OU interior design professor Elizabeth Pober helped with the construction design of homes for individuals with special needs, like Anne Baker, and acknowledges their appreciation. “They’re incredibly thankful on so many levels because you’re basically helping to change their lives, and it’s a pretty emotional thing for them,” Pober said. “It’s extremely rewarding to be able to help better their life and help create a nice living space for them to build a better future in.” The OU team members have provided a lot of much appreciated knowledge, McManus said. “As a construction committee, we wanted to make this house as environmentally friendly as we could,” Carson

Darwin

Continued from page 1

LILLY CHAPA/THE DAILY

Members of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and Delta Chi fraternity practice for University Sing Monday night at the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority house.

Sober said it was important to realize this position. “The reason I give this talk when I go to universities is that I think there are a lot of people who don’t know what to think

said. “The goal of Habitat is to not just provide a low-cost house, but low monthly expenditures as well.” He said the homes are insulated with 1 inch of foam on the outside of the house, which is something most home builders do not do. This element of construction will allow the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems to operate more efficiently, Carson said. He also said they are using radiant barrier sheathing, a form of plywood, which is covered in a foil coating. This will help keep the heat in during the winter and will help retract the sun during the summer as it reflects the suns rays, he said. In addition, Carson said they are using some of the most energy efficient windows bought in the marketplace. While these windows are relatively expensive, he believes they will make a world of difference. The homes are also sided with fiber cement over a welldesigned system of house wrap and flashing designed to carefully manage water over the full life of the house. The interior floors are ceramic tile, which will require minimal maintenance as well. To learn how to get involved in Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity, please visit http://www.cchfh.org.

about this,” Sober said. “I think the noise that’s out there from the neo-atheists on the one side and the creationists on the other makes it kind of easy to forget this third position.” Sober has authored and co-authored 10 books dealing with philosophy within science.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

OU RACE FOR ANOTHER NO. 1 RANKING JONO GRECO The Oklahoma Daily

Whenever someone connects OU with the No. 1 ranking, they typically associate it with the football team. But another OU team, housed in Felgar Hall room 147, is hoping to clench the No. 1 ranking this season. The OU racing team, which consists of engineering students that build, maintain and race a team car in Formula Society of Automotive Engineers, is expected to be named the top racing team in the nation after the previous No. 1 team, the Rochester Institute of Technology, placed poorly late last season. Dave Collins, OU racing team captain and engineering senior, said he knew the team was good when he joined, but did not think it would be the best in the nation during his tenure. “I didn’t know that we would wind up getting considered to be the best team in the U.S.,” Collins said. “That seems pretty daunting with a lot of the teams we are running around with.” Collins said the RIT racing team did not finish in its last competition at Formula Student Germany UK, and that should put OU into the top spot. According to the competition’s Web site, RIT finished No. 28 out of 78 teams, and was 446.5 points behind the winner.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Members of the Sooner Racing team smile next to their race car and trophies. “The endurance race is a 22-kilometer event, and if you don’t finish you don’t get any points for it,” Collins said. “So, you lose out on 400 points in the event. If you miss 40 points on an exam or a competition, it’s going to hurt you pretty bad. So if you don’t finish the endurance run, it’s going to kill your score for the event.”

Engineering junior Nic Evans said RIT’s results should propel OU into either fifth or sixth in the international poll. The team is currently ranked eighth in the world with 715.447 points. Evans said the latest poll has not been released yet, but he expects it to come out when the European season ends, which

CRIME REPORT

CAMPUS NOTES

GRAFFITI COMES TO OU

TODAY

OU Police are investigating five occurrences of graffiti on and around the Couch Restaurants Friday. Three reported cases of graffiti on campus happened Wednesday when OU staff members reported paint marker graffiti in the Asp Avenue parking garage, around multiple areas around Cate Center and behind Gaylord Hall. OUPD has linked the graffiti in the parking garage to the graffiti found on the north side of Gaylord Hall.

CAREER SERVICES Career Services will present Interviewing 101 for engineering majors from 11:30 a.m. to noon in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Crimson Room. Career Services will present Interviewing 101 for architecture and construction science majors from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the College of Architecture’s seminar room.

POLICE FIND BAG OF MARIJUANA AFTER OU-TULSA OU Police found an abandoned plastic bag of marijuana and a marijuana pipe in the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium after the game.

CITIZEN’S ARREST AT UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE OUPD arrested Marko Wayne Williams after an employee at the Follet University Bookstore in the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium found him allegedly urinating inside of his store on Saturday and placed him under citizen’s arrest. —Ricky Maranon/The Daily

CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study from noon to 12:45 p.m. in the Union’s Sooner Room.

WEDNESDAY POLICE REPORTS The following is a list of arrests and citations, not convictions. The information is compiled from the Norman Police Department and the OU Police Department. All those listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Charles William Higdon, 21, 500 Elm Ave., Friday, also driving under a suspended license Tevys Utoi Crutchfield, 26, 800 Elm Ave., Friday Derek Tyler Bigbey, 22, 3000 S. Jenkins Ave., Saturday, also driving under a suspended license, transporting an open container of alcohol, driving without proof of insurance and attempting to elude police Joshua James Classen, 27, E. Boyd Street, Saturday Katie Kesseler Boleman, 22, Classen Boulevard, Sunday, also leaving the scene of an accident Joseph Matthew Lovitt, 22, 620 Elm Ave., Sunday Michael Joseph Robbins, 23, 351 E. Robinson St., Sunday Cody James Johnson, 23, 300 W. Boyd St., Sunday Jonathan Louis Long, 25, 300 W. Boyd St., Sunday PUBLIC INTOXICATION Bryan Christopher Jacobs, 23, 3000 S. Jenkins Ave., Saturday

CAREER SERVICES Olivia Katelyn Abel, 21, 900 Asp Ave., Saturday John Stephen Wheeler, 31, E. Lindsey Street, Saturday Robert L. Osburn, 31, 794 Asp Ave., Saturday Raymond Anthony Lasley, 56, 794 Asp Ave., Saturday Jerry Lee Baldogo, 29, 1200 24th Ave. S.W., Saturday, also assault and battery Marlon Ray Cook, 26, 762 Asp Ave., Sunday, also outraging public decency Jeremy Todd Roy Lovitt, 24, 796 Asp Ave., Sunday Jason Michael Gray, 18, 1400 Asp Ave., Sunday Brock Randall Sisney, 23, 796 Asp Ave., Sunday. also assault and battery OUTRAGING PUBLIC DECENCY Marko Wayne Williams, 29, 1307 Jenkins Ave., Saturday Ashly Regan Abrams, 31, 794 Asp Ave., Saturday William Matthew Reavis, 20, 432 Page Circle, Saturday DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION Mohammed Jawadi Altammar, 23, 300 W. Boyd St., Friday AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Autumn Michelle Everett,

20, 747 Asp Ave., Sunday COUNTY WARRANT Bobie Edward Ford, 21, 2400 E. Robinson St., Sunday HARMFUL DECEPTION Donna Louise Forga, 54, 316 Chalmette Drive, Sunday ASSAULT AND BATTERY Hannah Charlene Lark, 21, 1114 McGee Drive, Sunday Jeri Nicole Polski, 36, 1114 McGee Drive, Sunday DISTURBING THE PEACE Nancy Carole Liles, 48, 2316 Heatherfield Lane, Saturday Melissa Gayle Paulk, 55, 2313 Heatherfield Lane, Saturday POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Ethan Miles McCracken, 21, W. Gray Street, Saturday Courtnei Nicole Sawyer, 19, 730 Stinson St., Sunday, also possession of drug paraphernalia Skyeler Devin Sebourn, 19, 730 Stinson St., Sunday, also possession of drug paraphernalia MUNICIPAL WARRANT Andre Rayshawn Tyson, 28, Meadowood Avenue, Sunday, also county warrant

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Evans said will be this week. Collins said the team uses the poll as a motivational tool to improve. “[We are] trying to use it as motivation and drive to kind of pick up and do everything right. Trying to use it as motivation to stay a little late on Friday nights or make sure we get something done,” Collins said. The racing team ended its competition season in July, and the team is currently in its offseason. Evans said the team uses the offseason to work on the car, and one of its goals is to be one of the first teams to finish its car. “We know [the car] is going to break,” Evans said. “It’s there to break when we’re testing it, and that hurts during competition. We do all we can to work on the car to prevent it from breaking in competition.” One thing the racing team can brag about over the football team is it has fared better against teams the football team has lost to over the years. “We’re doing better than Florida right now,” Collins said. “[We are] doing better than Brigham Young, doing better than Texas by a lot and really tearing up on OSU.” Collins said the racing team is recruiting new members who are welcome to attend for open meetings to whoever wants to join the team at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in Felgar Hall’s Hitachi Conference Room.

Career Services will present Lunch & Learn: How to Find an Internship from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the Union’s Heritage Room. Career Services will accept walk-ins from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Career Services lobby. Career Services will present Interviewing 101 for JMC majors from 1:30 to 2 p.m. in the Gaylord Hall of Fame Room. CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. in the Union’s Sooner Room.

BOYD LECTURES The Eleventh Series of the David

Ross Boyd Lectures will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in Dale Hall, room 128. KAPPA PHI Kappa Phi Christian Sorority will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Wesley Foundation. OKLAHOMA SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION The Norman Oklahoma Science Fiction Association will meet from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at New York Pizza and Pasta on Campus Corner. CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST Campus Crusade for Christ will hold a meeting from 9 to 10 p.m. in the Santee Lounge of the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Will Holland, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

COMMENT OF THE DAY »

In response to Monday’s news story, “UOSA tailgate draws more students in second week”

OUR VIEW

“This is a waste of our money. If people want to throw parties or tailgates, how about they throw them with their own money and not from the fees students are forced to pay.” -bruenig

YOU CAN COMMENT AT OUDAILY.COM

STAFF COLUMN

SOCIETY, STUDENTS’ UN should take RESUMES BENEFIT stronger stand on FROM SERVICE WORK Holocaust education One of the best things about attending a university the size of OU is that people of several different backgrounds and with varying skill sets are brought together in one place, which allows for group collaboration for the greater good of society. Students and faculty members of OU’s architecture college have demonstrated a good example of this (see page 1 for details). A group of about 10 students and professors have been working together to help build houses in conjunction with Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity. We want to commend these members of the OU community for their service, and we would like to encourage others to learn from their example. They put what they learned in OU classrooms to good use in the real world to help members of the community who are in need. We realize everybody is busy, and as the semester progresses, this will become increasingly true.

But giving back to the community doesn’t take much time, just dedication. It can be rewarding, too. It not only gives you a warm, gooey feeling on the inside, but also bolsters your resume. If you put your skills learned at OU to use in the community, like the members of the architecture program did, you can put it on your resume as an example of real world experience, and this can only help your chances of getting hired after graduation. Having said that, we also want to encourage you to do community service because it’s the right thing to do. The boost it gives to your resume is only a side benefit. So don’t wait for the next time Big Event rolls around. You can get started now, and if you do, you’ll be glad you did. For more information on getting involved, call Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity at 360-7868.

STAFF COLUMN

Open-minded debates are only ones worth having We are great, in part, because of the Still many ignore their personal lack diversity of our people. Their many tal- of omniscience and castigate others’ ents and abilities are what make great- views rather than legitimately consider ness. We accept and respect the various their viability. customs, beliefs and differences among This is the easy way out of a divisive our people. discussion. It is easy to assume people But no more. who don’t share our views are ignorant. We pay tremendous That we are right and others need to lip service to the idea of read what we read, then they’ll see the diversity, but we don’t light and think like we think. After all, always consider what it we are absolutely right. means. Instead of celebrating our difference In recent years, the of experience and history, we shun talking heads of cable them. We declare others’ knowledge news have called many and experiences to be of less imporgood American citizens tance than our own based on their side “un-American.” of a debate rather than what they actuMAX T h e i r r e a s o n i n g : ally know and think. AVERY These un-Americans Just because someone fails to share protest and think in your opinion doesn’t mean they’re ways the various talking heads don’t ap- wrong. It means they have different exprove of. They label them bigots, elitists, periences, or different information, not communists and extremists, and worse, necessarily limited information. their main accusation is generally that I’m not saying each person shouldn’t these people are hopelessly ignorant. have an opinion or take a side. Have an Westboro Baptist Church came to opinion, but don’t assume anyone with O U l a s t F r i d ay t o a different opinion is protest at Hillel, a Just because someone wrong based on their Jewish community fails to share your opinion opinion alone. Listen to center near campus. doesn’t mean they’re that person - you might According to their learn something. Web site, godhatesf- wrong. It means they have I wonder what isa g s. c o m ( re a l l y ) , different experiences, sues you’re thinking they were under the or different information, about while reading impression that if not necessarily limited this article. While writthe Jewish children ing this I was thinking weren’t “cloistered;” information. specifically of health they would change care reform, the situtheir ways and convert to Christianity. ation in Honduras, Hugo Chavez, imThe talking heads and Westboro migration, international trade, Israel/ Baptist Church have something in com- Palestine and proselytizing religion, but mon. They want their opposition to see it truly applies to all polarizing issues. things their way, claiming it’s only a We have been far too prone to dismatter of facts. They blame the dissent miss opposing viewpoints as ignorant. on the ignorance of their opposition. We need to truly listen to the opposiHow would it make you feel to hear tion with our minds open; maybe then that, “I honestly believe that if you knew it wouldn’t sound so crazy. the issues like I know them, you would We have a diverse campus, diverse take my side, you would think like me, nation and diverse world; if we listen, you would believe like me, you would we may find there are more than two act like me, you would be like me. It’s sides to many of the polarizing issues of just your ignorance that is holding you this world. back from my enlightened view?” Then we may really have trouble This is an inconceivably closed- forming an opinion. minded and conceited viewpoint. For those of us who are not omniscient, it would be presumptive for us to assume that if others knew what we Max Avery is a political science and history senior. know they would side with us.

Last Friday, the Westboro Baptist Church – a “Christian” cult known for its protest of soldiers’ funerals – gathered outside the OU Hillel building in an attempt to disrupt the celebration of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana. Hillel reacted with absolute grace and maturity in not planning a counterprotest, refusing to give the members of the Westboro group the attention they desire. And the outpouring of support for Hillel from a variety of student groups on campus was a very effective cry against intolerance. MARY It has not always been STANFIELD the case, but I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of this country’s population does not support such anti-semitism. Unfortunately, we’re beginning to see the signs that decades of progress are steadily being reversed on the other side of the Atlantic. Many - if not most - Arab countries are seeing a rise in the popularity of outright Holocaust denial. Some prominent Islamic leaders unabashedly preach that the Holocaust is a lie made up by the Israeli state to garner sympathy from the rest of the world. And because Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe, countries there have been forced to deal with Holocaust denial within their own borders. In an effort to maintain political correctness, some of those countries have discussed limiting or banning Holocaust education to avoid a conflict with the education Muslim students receive at home. None of these countries have acted on these discussions, the stories about British schools doing so were hoaxes, but the fact that they can even seriously discuss it is disturbing enough. We do not need reminding of the horrors, the death toll or the far-reaching effects of the Holocaust. To list them would only be empty, often-repeated words. This isn’t about emotional responses, and it isn’t about guilt over past sufferings. This is about the very real ways the actions of Nazi Germany changed the face of politics, global relations and human rights forever. That anyone would be willing to pretend it never happened, just to avoid a potential cultural clash, is inconceivable. Outside of Europe, this possibility is already becoming reality. Last week, a furor erupted over the possibility that United Nations

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Mary Stanfield is a philosophy sophomore.

LUKE ATKINSON/THE DAILY

Jacob Phelps, grandson of Westboro Baptist Church’s founder Fred Phelps, protests the Rosh Hashanah Friday at OU Hillel. Counterprotesters also showed up in support of Hillel.

T=: O@A6=DB6 D6>AN Jamie Hughes Editor-in-Chief Meredith Moriak Managing Editor Charles Ward Assistant Managing Editor Ricky Ly Night Editor Will Holland Opinion Editor Michelle Gray, Merrill Jones Photo Editors

refugee schools in the Gaza Strip might include information about the Holocaust in their curriculum. Hamas leaders accused the UN of trying to confuse their children’s emotions by spreading Jewish lies. In response, UN officials said the refugee schools always base their curriculum on that of the host country, and information on the Holocaust was never part of the intended curriculum. Some Jewish organizations say this recent claim is just the UN switching its position in the face of opposition from terrorist groups. Whatever the case, the situation is reprehensible. The information on the Holocaust was supposed to be included in the Human Rights unit added to the curriculum in 2002. The focus of this unit is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global expression of the rights that apply to all human beings, which passed in 1948 as a direct consequence of World War II. This is extremely significant material for any child, but it is especially important in an area of the world where human rights have historically been threatened. However, this historic document cannot be studied outside of its historical context. The horrors of World War II, particularly the Holocaust, inspired this achievement in global human rights. To study this accord while pretending the events that inspired it never happened not only devalues the agreement itself, but it undercuts any potential benefit that might come from sharing it with students. Yes, the people of the Gaza Strip have every right to their beliefs – even though the occurrence of the Holocaust isn’t a matter of opinion, but of historical fact. And no, the UN schools do not have the right to come in to their countries and teach their children things they find unacceptable just because the UN is offering them an important service. But they aren’t doing anyone any good by including information in their curriculum that is so integrally tied to the Holocaust, while purposefully avoiding the actual event. If they are so eager to avoid the conflict over established facts, they should drop the issue from their curriculum altogether and find an alternative way to demonstrate information about human rights. That way, the UN would be less likely to offend the Jewish community, while still being able to cover important issues and, most importantly, look less like outright cowards for giving in to the slightest pressure from Hamas.

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

« «VOLLEYBALL The Sooners head T north to Kansas n Wednesday for a W Big 12 battle. B

Annelise Russell, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

FOOTBALL

Big 12 football opponents’ seasons shaping up JONO GRECO The OKlahoma Daily

OU and the rest of the Big 12 have faced their ups and downs just three weeks into the 2009 season, but it is probably the second best conference in the nation behind the Southeastern Conference. Here is a rundown of how OU’s Big 12 competition looks so far.

BIG 12 SOUTH No. 2 Texas Longhorns (3-0, 1-0) The Longhorns remain the only top-10 Big 12 team to remain unbeaten since the preseason came out, and the credit for their success can be given to their offense. Texas averages 44.7 points per game, and its leader, senior quarterback Colt McCoy, has played well through his first three games. Texas Tech put up a good fight against the Longhorns and exploited some of their defensive problems, but so far this season Texas has proven itself as the class of the conference.

No. 16 Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1) It is hard to gauge how good the Cowboys are because they have shown flashes of brilliance and a dull performance in their three games. Despite Oklahoma State’s week-two setback against Houston, it has the talent with senior quarterback Zac Robinson and junior wide receiver Dez Bryant to put up a good fight with Texas and Oklahoma for the Big 12 South title.

Texas A&M Aggies (2-0) It is somewhat of a surprise to see the Aggies playing as well as they are, but then again, their opponents have not been of the best quality. Still, their weak schedule is not an excuse to look down on them. The Aggies have won both games by scoring more points than people are used to them racking up. But, it would not be surprising if the Aggies fell to the bottom of the Big 12 South once their conference schedule starts up.

Baylor Bears (1-1) After starting off the season with a big victory against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the Bears have come back down to earth after losing to Connecticut 30-22 this past weekend. Sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III has done everything his critics have expected of him by throwing for modest numbers and bringing a running threat to the table. Baylor will put up a more concerted fight in the conference than in years past, but it has shown little so far this season to make anyone believe it will make a run for a conference title anytime soon.

Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-1, 0-1) Despite losing to Texas this past weekend, head coach Mike Leach and the Red Raiders have proved they can still play at a high caliber without recently departed quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Texas Tech was able to hold its own against the Longhorns with junior quarterback Taylor Potts, and blew out its other two opponents by a combined total of 70 points. The Red Raiders should not be overlooked when they show up on the schedule.

BIG 12 NORTH No. 20 Kansas Jayhawks (3-0) Kansas has blown out all three of its opponents en route to an impressive start, but the rest of its schedule will sets up some problems for its Big 12 title hopes. The Jayhawks conference schedule includes the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Tech Red Raiders and Missouri Tigers, and there is a faint possibility Kansas will win four or five of those games.

No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-1) The projected Big 12 North champions are coming off a disappointing loss to Virginia Tech, but as a whole the Cornhuskers have looked impressive. In their three games they have given up an average of 9.3 points per game and outscored their opponents by 74 points.

AP PHOTO

Texas wide receiver John Chiles, left, rushes for 34 yards on a quarterback-draw during the first quarter against Texas Tech, Saturday in Austin, Texas.

Missouri Tigers (3-0) The Tigers have been the surprise from the Big 12 North so far. It was expected that Missouri would have a good season, but its 38.7 points per game average without recently graduated quarterback Chase Daniel has been a good sign for the team’s future.

Iowa State Cyclones (2-1) The cyclones have recently been one of the weakest teams in the Big 12 North, and this year is no exception after a 3-35 loss to in-state rival Iowa.

Colorado Buffaloes (1-2) Colorado has started the season with two disappointing losses to Colorado State and Toledo, and has shown little to be considered a threat to the rest of the Big 12 North.

Kansas State Wildcats (1-2) Legendary head coach Bill Snyder’s return to coaching has not found too much success this season, but it might take time before the Wildcats return to the prominence they found during Snyder’s first tenure with the team.

6 Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu â&#x20AC;˘ phone: 325-2521 â&#x20AC;˘ fax: 325-7517

PLACE AN AD Phone: 325-2521 E-Mail: classifieds@ou.edu Fax: 405-325-7517

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SPECIAL NOTICES University of Oklahoma Surplus Store 2101 W. Tecumseh Road (405) 325-2782 Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only - 8:30 AM - 2 PM Televisions & electronics, lab glassware & misc lab supplies, household & ofďŹ ce supplies, furniture, & miscellaneous. www.ou.edu/property_control/index.htm.

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J Housing Rentals

TUTORS WANTED!!! Available positions in the OU Athletics Department!!! Junior, Senior, Graduate, and Post-graduate applicants only!!! ANTH/BOT/JMC/GEOG/HIST/H R/ METR/PHIL/PSY/RELS/SOC/W S/ZOO/ P SC!!! Hiring for Fall 2009. Call 325-8376 for more info!!!

APTS. FURNISHED Fall Special! 1 BLK FROM OU, very nice 4 room apt, 800 sf, wood ďŹ&#x201A;oors, 1012 S College, Apt 4, $300/mo. Call 360-2873 or 306-1970.

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CONDOS UNFURNISHED THE EDGE! 1/2 off 1st mo, no app fees! Starts $325rm. 231-2119 welcomehomeok.com

MOVE-IN SPECIAL! 1 bedroom Nottingham Condo for rent, avail now. 417-8619439 or 308-8470.

HOUSES UNFURNISHED 1109 E LIndsey - 2bd, 1ba, CH/A, dishwasher, stove, refrig, no pets, dep $500, rent $675 127 W Hayes - 3 bd, 1 ba, newly remodeled, no pets, refrig, dep $450, rent $675 329-1933

1 bedroom near campus, $340/mo plus all utilities, $200/dep, no pets. Call 8866709. $400, bills paid, efďŹ ciency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, ďŹ re sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store ofďŹ ce. Selling 1 year lease at The RESERVE. 1 bdr of a 4 bdr ďŹ&#x201A;oorplan. $1000 incentive to take over the lease. Call 480-628-3426

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Previous Solution

8 4 7 3 8 7 2 1 9 5 9 4 5

2 5 7 1 6 3 8 4 1 8 3 3 7

8 2 5 9 3 1 7 6 4

4 7 1 5 2 6 3 8 9

3 9 6 7 4 8 2 5 1

1 8 7 4 9 3 6 2 5

9 3 4 2 6 5 1 7 8

6 5 2 8 1 7 4 9 3

2 4 3 6 5 9 8 1 7

5 6 8 1 7 4 9 3 2

7 1 9 3 8 2 5 4 6

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

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ACROSS 1 British title 5 Like some shoulders 10 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hit the brakes!â&#x20AC;? 14 A fit of shivering 15 Shake awake 16 Road runner 17 Places for coin collectors? 19 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jeopardy!â&#x20AC;? contestants, collectively 20 Demographic datum 21 Areas by malls 22 Tighten, as a fist 24 Bundled units, in some product names 25 They have certain rings to them 26 Computer availability 29 In power, as a king 32 Combine, as traffic lanes 33 Feature of some muscle cars 34 Crib talk 35 Cotswold cries 36 ___ fatale 37 â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know who said itâ&#x20AC;? abbr. 38 Diminutive creature 39 Chianti and Bardolino 40 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Frasierâ&#x20AC;? surname 41 Scrap for

2 col (3.792 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ...........$760/month Boggle ............$760/month Horoscope .....$760/month 1 col (1.833 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword .....$515/month (located just below the puzzle)

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Fido, perhaps 43 Part of an old heating system 44 A bit of land in the ocean 45 Wedding reception staple 46 Admission 48 Arctic breakaway 49 Bad thing to be caught in 52 International accord, e.g. 53 Road no-no 56 Collection of verse 57 Throw into confusion 58 Aquatic predator 59 Catch, as livestock 60 Divasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tributes 61 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beowulfâ&#x20AC;? beverage DOWN 1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Trekâ&#x20AC;? android 2 Ebullient 3 Contraband carrier 4 Snakelike fish 5 Actress Shields 6 Alex Haley book 7 Double-play duo 8 A drop-off among smokers? 9 Act as a witness 10 Lustrous fabric 11 It creates a flashing light

12 Applying to ears 13 Friend of Kanga and Owl 18 Scapegoatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s burden 23 MEGA Bloks alternative 24 Overeats (with â&#x20AC;&#x153;outâ&#x20AC;?) 25 Reagan and Clinton each had two 26 Flower cluster, as on a carrot 27 The king of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Positive Thinkingâ&#x20AC;? 28 Gridlock helper 29 Grapevine tidbit 30 â&#x20AC;&#x153;... tree falls in the forest and ___ ...â&#x20AC;? 31 One whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done for 33 George of the CIA

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

ÂŠ 2009 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

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Previous Answers

36 Exceptional, as a restaurant 37 Extra dry 39 U. of Tennessee athletes 40 â&#x20AC;&#x153;1-2-3-kickâ&#x20AC;? dance 42 African fly 43 Flat-bottomed canal boats 45 Ball girl? 46 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Me tooâ&#x20AC;? sort 47 Chief of a Mafia branch 48 Makes an offer 49 One-time alternative to pounds 50 Builder at Cuzco 51 Cry of shock 54 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without further ___ ...â&#x20AC;? 55 Turkey, maybe

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Tue

« LISTE LISTEN

Cassie Rhea Little, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051

OUDAILY.COM OUDAILY

Listen to music samples from the albums albu featured in today’s Music Tuesday. New Mus

» MAYER HAWTHORNE: “A STRANGE ARRANGEMENT” At first listen, you would think that I must have reviewed an album released back in the ‘70s. However, Mayer Hawthorne’s “A S t r a n g e Arrangement” hit the shelves just weeks ago, and it is truly amazing how this immaculate debut feels both old and JOSHUA BOYDSTON new. Te xtured, worn melodies spin over brassy horns and pattering tom snaps bring in the essence of old, but it is Hawthornes’ velvety vocals that not only brings “A Strange Arrangement” further into antiquity, but also simultaneously lifts this mummy to life. The album jives with the soulful delivery of Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes, but he isn’t merely imitating them. Hawthorne is more than capable of crooning with the best of him. His voice is immensely rich and silky, and the vocals just pop with life. A n d j u s t l i k e Ja m e s B r o w n , Hawthorne’s melodies are bound to get you dancing. When he rips into more lively jaunts, like “The Ills,” you’ll be shimmying in no time. He seems even more at ease with lovely, dripping ballads, like “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” though. Hawthorne uses these opportunities to flex his range and croon to the point of irresistibility. “Maybe So, Maybe No,” snaps with a punchy beat will swirls of piano cascades and vocal gushes and will quickly have you wondering how a 29-year-old could be this good at soul music. The lively “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” boasts nearly as much joyfulness as there are apostrophes as he blends the balladry and dancing to perfection, making for great shower-singing fodder. All in all, “A Strange Arrangement” becomes a wonderful treasure dug up at Goodwill. Charming in its timelessness, inspiring with its freshness, it effortlessly wins you over as you discover a new jewel you love just as much as the person it belonged to before.

DIVISION DAY: “VISITATION” With one of the most markedly different sounds around, it’s hard to tell what exactly it is that inspires Division Day. Every moment marks a shift from what you had pinpointed them as being. You hear elements of metal, grime, alternative, and just plain ol’ rock, and when those come together, the product is quite remarkable. Division Day eventually comes across as a more artsy though accessible version of gothic-rock. They

present themselves in a way that comes across very dark and mysterious, and the music follows this mostly, though there is a very intimate, romantic detail to it all. Songs like “Azalean” feel like falling in love with an equally broody counterpart in an abandoned Hot Topic. It’s a sort of moodiness that quickly falls into a fascinating vulnerability. Eve n i n t h e m o re b ra s h m o ments, such as in the scratchy thud of “Reservoir,” there is still that trail of vulnerability, and when that weakness is exposed even more, the result is somehow stronger, as “Planchette” shows with a gentle sweep of piano and strings that eventually soars into a pitch black sky of crashing cymbals and deep key strokes. There is an almost techno element to “Chalklines,” a song that has the band at its most catchy with squiggles of guitar and cavernous synth calls that bend over the pressure of straightforward bass punches and fuzzy riffs. “Visitiation” certainly does feel like a visit to a brand new place. It screams of a darker, icy place made less frightening by the tight grip of your companion’s hand. Vulnerability doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing after all. You can catch Division Day this Saturday at the Conservatory.

EARLY DAY MINERS: “THE TREATMENT” Early Day Miners, a band that started off casually playing on porches and back decks, certainly feels as relaxed as their beginnings. The music feels like warm summer nights made a little cooler with the glint of the moon and slight breeze whizzing through. There is also a clear Midwestern twang in some of the moments that bring Wilco to mind. However, those moments tend to be buried a bit too deep. Early Day Miners certainly like to draw things out as long as possible. It is a storyteller with a good story, but tends to milk things out a bit too long. Nearly all the songs are pressed past the four-minute mark, often times closer to five. Songs like “So Slowly” and “The Surface Of Things” are stunningly gorgeous with a nice contrast of fast and slow, hard and soft, but are stretched to a length that will have you wondering when they are going to end. There is a nice spic y flair to “Spaces,” with its shaky shutters and guitar pangs, but it feels tired far before its expiration. The one song that does work at its length is “How To Fall,” a leisurely stroll of echoing bass lulls and pleasantly fuzzy guitar twitches with earnestly winning vocals. “The Zip” follows a darting path of a private investigator with its daring

PAUL SMITH GIVES COLLECTION A CONGOLESE MAKEOVER LONDON — Celebrated designer Paul Smith took London Fashion Week on a side trip to Africa Monday night with a startling show inspired by styles worn by young men in the Congo. Smith, who made his name in colorful menswear, adapted the way musicians in the Bacongo region wear brightly colored suits with beautiful accessories and turned it into an unusual women’s wear collection. The first model set the scene, looking androgynous in a bright pink suit with red lining and a red bowler hat. Others followed in bright colors, with pink a dominant theme for the first part of the show, which was met with thunderous applause

in the ballroom of the elegant Claridge’s hotel. After the show, Smith — beaming with pleasure — said he got the ideas from “The Gentlemen of Bacongo,” a book of photos depicting the dress of the dandies there. “When you look at these guys, they are just magical,” he said. “The pocket handkerchiefs, the ties, the cufflinks, the watches, everything.” He said the show reflected his desire to mesh various traditions from different parts of the world. “We used lots of prints, very optimistic colors, African prints. I love mixing all the fashions together,” he said. -AP

The Daily’s Joshua Boydston reviews four of this week’s most notable new music releases.

bass line and murky guitar whine, but gets a bit winded before catching the target. Tracking “Becloud” with a fast forward button, it’s disappointing that nearly every moment sounds identical, especially unforgiving considering its eight-minute length. “The Treatment” quickly becomes an all too dense novel with not enough action to keep you reading until the good parts. There are certainly many good ideas, but you begin to wonder if it’s worth the time leading up to them. The album title even sounds like a Grisham novel, though they seem to favor the legal dribble to actual gripping moments. Less courtroom procedures and more murderin’ would suit them well. There is certainly promise to this sound; they are just in need of a better editor.

VOLCANO CHOIR: “UNMAP” Volcano Choir, mostly the brainchild of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, is a fascinatingly hazy experiment that drifts between all sorts of inspirations and whimsies, rarely resembles any sort of typical song/album format and, more than anything, sounds surprisingly fun. Justin Vernon brings along a few more friends than he did with Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago,” an album he recorded almost entirely by himself in a remote cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. While that album was immensely intimate and soul-baring, “Unmap” sounds like friends just having a good time, playing around with music and seeing what can come out of it. “Husks and Shells” is simply gorgeous minimalist-folk, while “Seeplymouth” sort of hops awake with tapping thumps and bouncy brass. The chilly “Dote” glows like an icicle with its distant synth chants, while the immediately following “And Gather” beams in like sunshine with warm strings and handclaps. I can’t help but smile hearing them toy around with Autotune in “Still.” Perhaps the most interesting moment is that of “Cool Knowledge.” It resembles nothing you’ve ever heard before, clocks in at a little over a minute, and nearly sounds like Justin Vernon is about to hop into a freestyle rap flow before cutting out abruptly. The perfect blend of musicianship and playfulness culminates in “Island, IS,” a lighthearted shower of stuttering guitar and synth shimmers that becomes a beach covered in snow. It’s nice to hear Justin Vernon cut loose, and if I can get another “Unmap” as a result, I’d be perfectly fine with him goofing around with his friends anytime. Joshua Boydson is a psychology sophomore.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Album covers from this week’s New Music Tuesday.

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Focus your efforts and energies on those critical, long-neglected endeavors. Once you make them a priority, you’ll successfully wrap them up in short order. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Don’t be shy about getting in touch with those who can help advance a present interest. They are likely to be just as drawn to your ideas and proposals as you are. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -This might finally mark the day when you will start to receive long-overdue remuneration. It could just as easily turn into a favor or a deserved acknowledgement, rather than money. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Many people have big concepts, but they do not always know what to do with them. In your case, an idea might not be grandiose or elaborate, but you’ll know how to market it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- There are two areas in which you could be extremely fortunate. One is where your material interests are concerned; the other is likely to be your standing among peers in the community. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- An interesting merger could take place when an old goal intertwines with a new one. This combination will allow you to move forward and develop things.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Although you can sometimes be shy about doing things, instead of ducking challenges or questionable objectives, you’re likely to relish them. Don’t doubt yourself. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Have you stayed in touch with friends who have moved away some time ago? If not, track them down, because something work-related awaits you through renewed communication. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Unexpected occurrences might normally bother you, but not at this time. As conditions shift or circumstances alter without your instigation, you’ll end up liking the results and what comes of them. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You’ve always had the ability to see both sides of an issue, and you are likely to be extremely happy that this asset is functioning so well. It’ll serve you better than usual. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Be careful not to sell your abilities or talents short. Others will recognize what you have to offer and that your asking price is worth every penny. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Take advantage of any dealings with influential people who seem to be willing to do what they can for you. They will know that your proposals will benefit them, too.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

ANNUAL STATE FAIR PROVIDES Small gadgets make a big impact UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT, CUISINE Every September, hordes of Oklahomans make a pilgrimage to Oklahoma City for an event that only comes around once a year: The State Fair. Friday evening, I was one of those people. My friends and I piled in the car and made the short drive up to the fairgrounds, just off I-44 in ASHLEY Oklahoma City. BERNTGEN With the smell of cotton candy and cigarette smoke wafting through the air, we all eagerly jumped out of the car, bought our tickets and checked our judgments at the door. When one thinks of culture shock, he or she normally thinks of the struggle of to speak the language in a foreign country or to learn how to use an unfamiliar transpor tation system. But culture shock was what I felt upon enter ing the fair. People from every corner of the state, off every age and race converged in this one, small space to enjoyy true Oklahoma fun. One of the main reasons people attend the fair is, of course, to ride the rides and play the classic fair games. I’ve never considered myself a ride person, so while the daredevils of my group rode the Ferris wheel and roller coaster, I decided to play a game. I opted for the balloon pop game, where the player throws a dart at the balloon and attempts to pop it for a prize. Maybe I was a sucker for the “every player wins a prize” policy of this particular game, or maybe I just had gullible written all over me, but the five minutes I spent playing this game were the most confusing five minutes of my life.

One minute, I was throwing my free practice dart, the next I was walking away $20 poorer and with a knockoff Winnie the Pooh doll that broke an hour later. Perhaps what the fair is best known for (and definitely what my friends and I were most looking forward to) was the unique cuisine, something I like to call fair fare. The criteria are as follows: Take the least healthy food you can think of, add batter and deep-fry it. The choices are truly overwhelming: turkey legs, roasted corn on the cob, Indian tacos, cinnamon rolls, cotton candy, corn dogs, lemonade, funnel cake and of course deepfried Snickers bars and Oreos. If there is anything I learned Friday night, it is the food sampling aspect of the State Fair experience needs to be tackled strategically. My suggestion is every person in the group should get one or two different items and share with everyone else. w Unfor tunately, this thought failed to cross my mind Fr iday night and now I’ll have to wait another year to find out what deep fried garlic mashed potatoes taste like. With our stomachs full and our wallets empty, we w sluggishly made our way to the car. Although the conversation on the ride back to Norman consisted of remarks like “I should have ridden the giant slide!” or “I can’t believe I ate that whole turkey leg,” it is safe to say we all left the fair a little bit more culturally aware (did you know there are people in the world who put their kids on leashes?) and wiser. The night fell nothing short of each of our own deepfried fantasies. The State Fair of Oklahoma is taking place through Sept. 27 at the State Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd in Oklahoma City. Ashley Berntgen is a public relations senior.

Since the creation of the Internet in the mid-90s, new gadgets have spread like wildfire. Every year, the introduction of the latest “cutting-edge” technology changes the landscape of the digital world. Ga d g e t s l i k e t h e touch screen and Wi-Fi ALEX will soon be things of EWALD the past, knowing the competitiveness of companies like Apple and Microsoft. Therefore, it’s only appropriate we take note of the latest advances of 2009 to mark how far we’ve come.

ZUNE HD Released about a weekk ago, Microsoft’s Zune HD MP3 player is a sharp upgrade from the last generation of Zune. The added touch-screen and video feature takes this gadget to the next level. The MP3 player can also now access the Internet. The Zune HD seems like everything an antiApple consumer would want in a music player, with the touch screen having become the staple of all 2009 gadgets. Let’s hope that Microsoft’s user-friendliness can increase as this iPhone competitor enters the techie marketplace.

BlackBerry made a comeback this year after the company released the BlackBerry Tour in mid-July and plans to do the same with a second edition of the touch-screen Storm in October. The Tour is just a sleeker update of the Curve, while we await the better update for the Storm, whose clicky touch-screen proved a hindrence to fast typing.

IPHONE Following the 2008 release of the iPhone 3G, Apple’s latest iPhone update keeps it ahead of the competition, enhancing the phone’s performance, camera and voice capability. And with this iPhone update came the update of every other Apple system, such as iTunes’ revamped interface and the aforementioned Nano upgrade.

NINTENDO DSI

Apple is notorious for updating its products–specifically the iPod. Although the company didn’t come out with a new iPhone or Macbook as previously hoped, the new Nano is a nice upgrade with a video camera planted on the back and a microphone.

Nintendo finally released its latest DS upgrade, the Nintendo DSi, in the United States last April after having been A available in Japan since November. The features previo u s l y p re s e n t i n t h e original – the double/ touch-screen, the mic, the lighting options and the rotational system – are expanded upon when the predictable, yet exciting happens: Nintendo puts a camera on the DSi. Players can now take and edit photos with the built-in camera and even upload them to Facebook and the Wii’s photo channel via Wi-Fi. The DSi can also function as an external storage system for pictures, software and audio files. The portable gaming system can only go up from here with all of the promising upgrades supplied to the DSi.

BLACKBERRY TOUR

Alex Ewald is a University College freshman.

IPOD NANO

POSTPONED

The dedication of Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall, originally scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, has been postponed. It will be rescheduled at a future date. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.