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MONDAY, DEC. 1, 2008 © 2008 OU Publications Board

OK shoppers enthusiastic but not unruly on Black Friday • 172 million people shopped over biggest retail weekend LEIGHANNE MANWARREN AND JESSICA JERNIGAN The Oklahoma Daily Despite facing one of the worst economic crises in U.S. history, Oklahomans still awoke in the early hours Friday morning to brave crowded parking lots and long lines on the busiest shopping day of the

year.

Black Friday shoppers in Norman and Oklahoma City armed themselves with promotional ads and coupons while they formed long lines before stores opened to take advantage of the best sales.

“I started at Kohl’s at 4 in the morning and then headed over to Wal-Mart for their opening sales at 5,” Black Friday shopper Susan York said. “There, the line to get in was so long that it was across the parking lot, the longest line I have ever seen.”

Even with a slow economy, long lines and overcrowded stores, Black Friday’s retail numbers were up compared to last year. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Black Friday Weekend survey, more than 172 million shoppers visited stores

and Web sites over Black Friday weekend, up from 147 million shoppers last year.

“It’s a tradition for me. I get excited to shop every Black Friday and go through the paper to look for the specials ahead of time,” York, an Oklahoma City shopper, said.

Though some of the more eager shoppers began their day as early as four in the morning, others chose to brave the stores later in the day.

“I got up at 9 in morning and that’s early enough for me. There was no way I was getting up before that,” Andrea Smith said Friday while shopping at Sooner Mall. “I saw some pretty good deals, and I might as well do my part with helping the economy out.”

While retailers offered multiple deals to attract

shoppers, the crowds decreased as the day wore on.

“It wasn’t that bad; the crowds were crazy at the beginning, but it lightened up throughout the day,” said Danielle Lake, Old Navy customer service associate at Sooner Mall. “It seemed a little slower than last year, but the people were more patient.”

While Black Friday shoppers went crazy in other parts of the country, Oklahoma shoppers were calm, patient and helpful to others.

“It was very busy but we had a good time,” said Staci Shepard, Old Navy manager. “Customers were nice even with the lines being long, but they seemed to be expecting that.”

SHOPPERS Continues on page 2

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT What’s on TV this week? The Daily’s Callie Kavourgias has you covered. Read “What to Watch.” Page 7.

SPORTS Led by Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore’s 57 combined points, the No.1-ranked University of Connecticut Huskies downed the No. 4 OU women’s basketball team 106-78 Sunday night. Sooner guard Danielle Robinson had 19 points while Ashley Paris scored 17. For the full story, check out OUDaily.com.

CAMPUS BRIEFS OU’s annual holiday lighting ceremony this evening OU’s annual holiday lighting celebration will be this evening at 5:30 p.m. at the David A. Burr Park.

Participants are invited to join in the celebration of lighting the holiday tree and menorah, singing along to holiday music and drinking hot chocolate and apple cider.

The University Chamber Ensemble and The Pride of Oklahoma Pep Band will perform seasonal music. There will also be an appearance

by Santa Claus and his elves.

Several campus representatives, including OU President David L. Boren and UOSA President Amanda Holloway, will speak about the season’s celebratory spirit.

In the event of inclement weather, the holiday celebration will be moved to Couch Cafeteria.

AP Photo

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With win, we’re in • OU jumps Texas in BCS rankings to advance to Big 12 Championship game

TODAY’S INDEX A&E Campus News Campus Notes Classifieds Crossword

Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham (18) carries the ball in for a touchdown in front of Oklahoma State defenders Jacob Lacey (17) and Orie Lemon (41) in the third quarter of the Bedlam game Saturday in Stillwater. OU won the game 61-41 and moved to No. 2 in the BCS poll Sunday.

Horoscope Opinion Police Reports Sports Sudoku

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fter a month of controversy over the BCS, the computers calculated in OU’s favor and ranked the Sooners the No. 2 team in the nation, ahead of Texas and on the way to their third straight Big 12 Championship game.

“We’re obviously excited to be representing the [Big 12] South and playing this weekend against an excellent Missouri team,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “I think the way our guys played in the last couple of games, beating a No. 2 team at home by 44 points and going on the road and beating a No. 11-ranked team where they’ve never been beaten before by 20 points made the difference.”

With OU, Texas and Texas Tech tied atop the Big 12 South, the division’s representative in Kansas City was determined by Bowl Championship Series rankings, which are decided by two human polls and a computer formula. Texas bested OU in one of the human polls, but OU won out in the other human poll and the computer rankings.

The tie and the BCS tiebreaker provoked heated discussion about the fairness of the BCS formula during the past weeks. But now, there is a clear representative for the southern half of the Big 12 in the title game.

“I’m sure Texas Tech and Texas are disappointed,” Stoops said. “All three of us have Big 12 Champion, trichampion, trophies, each of us have identical records in the conference.”

However, there is only one spot for a team from the Big 12 South to play in the championship, and Stoops said there should not be a grudge match among the teams that were left out.

“None of us put the system together, that’s how it is,” Stoops said. “I’ve found the entire week that everyone wants to talk about head-to-head competition, in that case Texas Tech is just as disappointed as Texas is; Texas Tech beat Texas, and just a few weeks ago we beat [Tech].”

All three teams finished the regular season with 11 wins, and one loss. OU was the first to lose, as Texas beat the Sooners in Dallas in mid-October, 45-35. The Longhorns fared well until falling to Texas Tech in Lubbock 39-33. The Red Raiders rode the wave of success for just over a week before being bested in Norman by OU. A plane flew over T. Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater throughout Saturday’s game, displaying a sign that read “45-35 settled on a neutral field,” a message aimed at reminding fans — and any BCS voters

BCS Continues on page 2

NOV. 30 BCS POLL RANK TEAM

BCS AVG

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

0.9713 0.9351 0.9223 0.8851 0.8076 0.7844 0.7805 0.7373 0.7034 0.634 0.5633 0.5306 0.4831 0.4276

Alabama OKLAHOMA Texas Florida USC Utah Texas Tech Penn State Boise State Ohio State TCU Ball State Cincinnati Oklahoma State

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News

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

BCS

CAMPUS NOTES

Continued from page 1

AP Photo

In this July 23 file photo, then-U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, listens to Israel’s President Shimon Peres, not seen, during a meeting in Jerusalem.

President-elect Obama’s plan for Israel comes under question • Israelis have mixed feelings about ‘the newcomer’ RYAN BRYANT The Oklahoma Daily While President-elect Barack Obama said he intends to keep Israel’s security a priority, some Israelis think Obama lacks a clear plan to establish peace between Israel and Palestine.

Maurice Roumani, a visiting professor of political science and the Middle East, said there are mixed feelings among Israelis about Obama.

“There are those that say he’s a newcomer, he doesn’t have experience,” he said. “On the other hand, he’s also regarded as a newcomer with new ideas. His appeal is taken by different groups in different ways.”

Roumani said Israelis are largely waiting to see what kind of foreign policy an Obama administration will enact. He said until he knows exactly how Obama will govern, it will be difficult to determine his foreign policy approach in the Middle East.

“Israelis are pragmatic,” Roumani said.

“They would like to see what’s going to be in the field. Not theory, but facts on the ground.”

Roumani said achieving Obama’s goal to foster peace between Israelis and Palestinians will depend on whether or not the next administration makes an effort to understand the area’s cultural history.

“The Americans have always been naïve about the Middle East and understanding the

mechanisms of the system, both human and governmental systems, and how they work,” he said.

International business junior Daniel Reches, a dual-citizen of the U.S. and Israel, said it will be difficult to predict how Obama’s election will affect Israel until Israel elects a new leader in February.

“You have an American president-elect who is very pro-Israel like Barack Obama, and at the same time, [Israel] is not sure what direction it will take in terms of foreign policy,” said Reches, political activities coordinator for Sooners for Israel.

Reches said that of the two viable candidates in the upcoming Israeli election, Tzipi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu, Livni’s approach to foreign affairs is comparable to that of Obama.

“Tzipi Livni supports a more direct dialogue, something more down the line of what Obama would like to see,” he said. “On the other hand, Benjamin Netanyahu favors a much stronger, much more assertive and dominate foreign policy, which is less down Obama’s alley.”

Netanyahu’s more conservative Likud party is currently ahead, according to two recent Israeli newspaper polls.

Reches said he thinks Obama will strengthen the U.S. government’s alliance with Israel based on Obama’s votes in the Senate, as well as his cabinet appointments, such as Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who is expected to be appointed Secretary of State today.

Reches said he supports Clinton’s possible appointment to Secretary of State because of her positive stance on Israel.

“I think Obama and his administration will definitely support the Israeli people’s ability and right to determine their own future as it comes to diplomatic and foreign policy issues,” Reches said.

who might have been watching — that Texas beat OU in a head-to-head matchup. The message failed to include the fact that Texas lost to Texas Tech, who Red lost to OU. Stoops said he did not see the plane flying around the stadium on Saturday, but he did hear about it.

“I thought about [flying a plane around their stadium],” Stoops said. “But I didn’t feel it would be too classy of me to do that. I just feel there is some place that is appropriate and some place that isn’t, I didn’t want [our words and actions] to come back and bite us.”

Stoops said he did not appreciate that the message did not include Texas Tech’s victory over Texas. Stoops said he felt the Red Raiders deserved credit for beating Texas.

“If you’re going to discount [Texas Tech] for how we beat them, then you’ve just said a lot by taking them out of the conversation. It’s a three-way tie, not head- to-head, you are making a huge statement by saying that.” Stoops said. “[Tech] has the same record as the rest of us in the league ... you have to remember they beat Texas just a few weeks before, and then we beat them here.”

Stoops said he enjoys playing tough non-conference opponents so OU’s strength of schedule, a factor in BCS rankings, is strong.

“I knew that coming into this season that TCU and Cincinnati were going to be tough,” Stoops said. “I think it’s good

for our fans, and for college football we have to play tough teams out of conference to show we’re one of those teams.”

Stoops also said that he is still in favor of a playoff system, rather than a reliance on BCS rankings.

“I’m still in favor of a playoff system because I don’t think anyone has been comfortable with this,” Stoops said. “It’s been aggravating more than anything, all the influences out there, all the different influencing, lobbying and trying to sway votes is out there.”

Texas’ head coach Mack Brown did an interview during OU’s game on Saturday to plead his team’s case to be ranked higher in the BCS. Stoops said he didn’t feel the need to make the same gesture during Texas’ game against Texas A&M on Thanksgiving.

“If that’s what they have to do, then that’s what they have to do, I didn’t feel the need to do that,” Stoops said. “I was asked to speak during Texas’ game, on Thursday, but I said ‘No, I don’t want to do it,’ I didn’t feel it was right.”

Despite all the drama and excitement of the BCS discussion, OU still has to win against Missouri next week in Kansas City to keep the Sooner’s conference and national championship hopes alive.

“We are very focused on how good a team Missouri is, and we’re going to have to play well to go up there and have a chance to win,” Stoops said.

Shoppers

TODAY UNION PROGRAMMING BOARD A seminar on procrastination will be at 3 p.m. in Carnegie Building, room 200.

TUESDAY SCHOOL OF MUSIC A concert will be at noon in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS A Bible study will be at noon in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, Sooner Room.

PRE-NURSING CLUB A meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Physical Sciences Center, Room 122.

UNION PROGRAMMING BOARD

Continued from page 1 Some retailers enticed shoppers to come out and shop with uncommonly large sales.

“This Black Friday was slower than it has been before, but a couple of rich people made up for it,” said Moria Ryan, Sooner Mall Dillard’s sales associate.

“For example, one girl came in and spent $4,000. [Dillard’s] has us pay attention to sales figures, and this year we were up 30 percent from last year. But, that was because everything was on severe sales, something we did not have to do in the past.”

While some stores used large sales to bring in more shoppers, other stores met unexpected success for the day.

“It was really busy [Friday],” said Bailey Fox, a Forever 21 sales associate.

“It was my second day working here, and they had to teach me how to work the register so we could open up all four

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registers. We originally had one set goal for the day, but by the early afternoon we realized that we were going to meet that goal, so we set a higher one.”

Some shoppers saw this Black Friday as an opportunity to snag huge bargains and finish their holiday shopping early.

“I usually get my Christmas shopping in right before Christmas, but this is the first year I actually got up early, waited in line and scouted out the sales beforehand,” shopper Jamie Stier said.

Other shoppers found Black Friday an opportunity to save money for the Christmas season during this unpredictable economic time.

“The economy has really affected us,” said Jon Wells, Black Friday shopper and Oklahoma City resident. “But we decided to shop, because we are hoping that all the sales on Black Friday will help us save money this Christmas.”

A seminar entitled “All About Research Writing: Finding, Citing & Using Sources” will be at 7 p.m. in the Bizzell Memorial Library, lower level room 227.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are identified.

Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation.

ERROR SUBMISSIONS e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666

What should I do with my life?

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FREE ADMISSION Visit Postsecret.blogspot.com for more secrets!

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FOCUS is a program designed to help answer some of life’s questions. It’s an online self-assessment program designed to help you choose a major and pick the right career. Better yet, it’s free for enrolled OU students. Get started on your path toward a satisfying existence by using FOCUS, found at hiresooner.com.

Find us on the 3rd floor of OMU, across from the ballroom. Call us at 325.1974.

Career Services is a department in OU’s division of Student Affairs. The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

Ellis Goodwin, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666 fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Campus News

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

3

On the ‘band’ wagon after weight-loss surgery Pops, which were both a delightful surprise as I hadn’t had either since I was about 10 years old.

I kept walking up and down the halls as much as possible. This also gave me some time to chat with the other patients as they did their rounds. One of the most unusual aspects of the procedure was the camaraderie that came with what felt like a group procedure. It’s not often that you go for surgery and everyone else there is having the same thing done.

Everybody had a similar story to tell: failed diets, continued weight gain, health problems and unhappiness caused by weight.

Yet, we were a diverse group. Most of us were in our 20s and 30, but one of the seven undergoing surgery was only 13. I think it’s absolutely outstanding that he performs this surgery on teens, because obese teens can have just as many health problems as adults, not to mention the painful social problems it can cause.

• A first-person report of weight-loss surgery in Tijuana, Mexico AMANDA TURNER The Oklahoma Daily My trip to Mexico for LAP-BAND surgery was as exciting and wonderful as an experience that involved cutting open my abdomen can be.

My mother’s worst fear was not realized as I was not operated on by a mariachi band, nor was a donkey involved in my transport.

I went to the modern Obesity Control Clinic in Tijuana, where I had surgery on Nov. 21, performed

by Dr. Ariel Ortiz, world-renowned LAP-BAND surgeon and author of the book “LAP-BAND for Life.”

Ortiz has treated thousands of patients, and taught many American doctors to perform LAP-BAND surgery as it has increased in popularity in the U.S. and Canada.

LAP-BAND is not like gastric bypass surgery in that there is no rerouting of the digestive system.

LAP-BAND is a tool that helps patients lose weight by eliminating a great deal of their hunger, allowing them to eat smaller portions and make smarter choices in what they choose to eat.

I paid $7,700 for my surgery package, which included the stay at the clinic and two nights at the hotel. It totals $8,000 including the cost of my airfare to San Diego. I was quoted $16,000 to have the procedure done in Oklahoma City, which would be an outpatient procedure with no overnight stay.

My insurance would not pay for the procedure because of an exclusion for all treatment of obesity.

I suffer from chronic back problems and have gained quite a bit of weight since recovering from spinal fusion surgery in December 2007.

Thursday, Nov. 20 I arrived in Tijuana at the Lucerna Hotel in the evening, which is one of two hotels the clinic uses.

I was slightly nervous because I was supposed to lose 13 lbs. on the pre-operative diet, and when I weighed myself before I left Thursday morning I had only lost 5 lbs. I was eating a very low-calorie diet of 750 calories a day, but I don’t think my metabolism is the speediest after years of yo-yo dieting. I was worried I would arrive only to be told I weighed too much.

While traveling I had some frozen yogurt at the airport plus chewable fiber and more water. After I checked into my room, the staff brought me some apples so I had one and went to sleep.

Sunday, Nov. 30 A little more than a week after the surgery I’ve lost about 5 more lbs. I am so glad I did this procedure before the Thanksgiving holiday because I have really needed to rest and take it easy.

Since the surgery I have been restricted to a liquid only diet. This allows the band to heal properly and keeps it from slipping. The biggest danger with LAP-BAND surgery is that the band can slip either Photo Provided up or down. If it slips up it can go up around your esophagus, where it is useless except to cause pain Amanda Turner, journalism senior, poses Nov. 22 at the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico, where she underwent and heartburn. A band that migrates down is more LAP-BAND surgery on Nov. 21. Read her blog for more details at OUDaily.com. dangerous and can be deadly.

The first few days I drank broth and juice, and was “lean” on the band, he said, or it will slip.

Friday, Nov. 21, 7 a.m. not hungry at all. I continue to have some gas pain, Midway through the morning I went in for particularly in my left shoulder. They recI met with six other patients in the hotel lobby at surgery. When they wheeled me into thee ommend lots of walking and shoulder 7 a.m. The clinic picked us up in two white vans with operating room, it was the first time I rolling to try to get the gas out. the silver OCC logo on the sides. We drove to the got scared. When they put the mask Thanksgiving was a big day for me clinic, which was part of a large medical building a over me I began to cry but after two because it was the first day I could few minutes away. breaths I was out. Before I knew it I eat yogurt smoothies and creamy Typically the pre-op exam is done the day before woke up and it was all over. My new soups. I’ve had to adjust my eating the surgery, but because I arrived in the evening it partner was implanted and ready to To read the entire story and habits a lot. It’s been very hard to eat was done the same day. I first met with the cardi- work with me. to follow Amanda’s blog, log and drink slowly but I think I am getologist, who tested my lung capacity and gave me Not too long after I woke up, my on to OUDaily.com. ting the hang of it. There is no more an EKG. nurse Carmelita helped me up and drinking with meals. Instead I have to Then I met with the nutritionist, Dr. Gabriela walked me up and down the halls. wait an hour after eating to have something to drink.

Miranda. To my relief I was down 8.5 lbs. We dis- This kick starts the digestive system after anesthesia Doctors don’t want the upper pouch above the band cussed nutrition, eating plans and exercise habits, and also helps to fight my new arch enemy: the air to stretch out. and she gave me handouts with all the information I that got into my body cavity during the procedure.

The clinic also hosts an online forum where needed to follow.

They pump your stomach full of air to give the patients can share stories and get advice. That has Patients need to be on a liquid diet for the first surgeons the room to work, and after they sew you been a very helpful resource as I recover, and can ask 21 days after the LAP-BAND is put on to allow the up the air turns into gas which rises to the joints. It if something is normal or not. The main weirdness is stomach to heal. began to feel like I had just had surgery on my shoul- the stomach grumbling that is ever present.

Ortiz walked around and met with all the patients der instead of my stomach.

I’m also not allowed to drink carbonated beveragpersonally. I was impressed he took the time to talk es for six months, and as a recovering Diet Mountain to me about myself, the surgery and especially the Dew addict, it’s going to be tough. limitations of the band. He emphasized that the band Friday evening Post-surgery they gave me Capri Sun and Otter is a tool to help, but it won’t do all the work. Don’t — AMANDA TURNER IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

You Are Invited!

The OU Family, Students, Faculty and Staff of All Beliefs and Perspectives Are Invited to

OU’s Annual Holiday Lights 5:30 p.m.

TODAY Come Celebrate at DAVID A. BURR PARK South of the Huston Huffman Center and East of Couch Center

... and Enjoy Holiday Music Hot Apple Cider Hot Chocolate Santa and Elves Seasonal Remarks

By OU President David L. Boren Oh, and ...

Lots of Lights!

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The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

4

Opinion

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

Hailey Branson, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

OUR VIEW

OU football team, coaches deserve kudos We usually use this space to 12 Championship in Kansas City, Kansas. (See page 1 for whine, moan, grumble — use whatever word OUR VIEW details.)

We are extremeyou want — to point is an editorial ly proud of the OU out something that’s selected and debated football team and its wrong with the world. by the editorial board and written after a coaches.

But, for once, it is nice majority opinion is OU fans did not need to point out that someformed and approved thing is right with the by the editor. Our View to fly a tacky airplane is The Daily’s official banner like Texas fans world: The OU Sooner opinion. did. They had statistics football team is now the and a great game to number two team in the country and bound for the Big prove they support a great team.

Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State University proved that OU is deserving of its spot in the Big 12 Championship against Missouri.

OU’s offense and defense on the road were relentless.

OSU was a tough opponent, having played well against both Texas and Texas Tech while on the road.

For OU to come to OSU’s home turf and win by 20 is highly

respectable.

Quarterback Sam Bradford was a true leader for the Sooners, and his cartwheeling dive Saturday showed his dedication to his team and his selfless desire to win the game.

OU also showed classy behavior off the field.

We were impressed by Stoops’ and Bradford’s post-game interviews in which they refused to beg for a high BCS ranking, opting

instead to talk about how good the Big 12 South teams have been this year.

This has been a good season for the Sooner football players’ reputations.

The Sooners have been wellbehaved this year, a nice change from the previous two seasons, which began with the dismissal or suspension of OU players.

The Sooners are led by a quarterback who is a good student

Derek Fox — advertising sophomore

STAFF CARTOON

Opinionated?

Have an opinion about politics? What about campus issues? Or religion? Or science? Or social issues?

If you do, then The Daily’s opinion desk is for you.

The opportunity to gain valuable experience working for the award-winning Oklahoma Daily as an opinion writer for spring 2009 is now available.

The opinion page — one of the most-read pages of the newspaper — is a great place to get your unique point of view seen by the public. All viewpoints are welcome.

Spring applications are now available in The Oklahoma Daily newsroom, 160 Copeland Hall.

Applications will be due by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 to Ray Martin, The Daily’s spring opinion editor.

If you have any questions, please e-mail dailyopinion@ ou.edu or call the newsroom at 325-3666.

and a respectable, well-spoken role model.

We are proud of our football team, and you should be, too.

But the most significant representation of Sooner fans’ pride should come this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship.

Sooner fans must show up en masse to show their support to a team that certainly deserves it.

He’s not even technically president yet.

Who’s calling for a turnover?

YOUR VIEWS Column about Oklahoma politics ‘hit every point’

Column represents voting with faith, not politics Hailey Branson’s Tuesday column took a great deal of courage to write, even on the OU campus.

My classes are full of students who probably see the flames of hell licking at her knees for writing this article.

I salute her courage as a young person in an environment that does not affirm her thoughts or words.

Branson represents a new voice that I believe is entering the American political scene.

My daughter and son-in-law who live in Dallas are both Christian conservatives who usually vote Republican.

This year they voted for Obama.

When I asked them why, they gave me two reasons: “He sounds intelligent and thoughtful,” and, “He seems to be DOING what Jesus taught rather than talking about what Jesus taught.”

As a liberal parent and Christian, I listened very carefully to these two people whom I love dearly.

They are taking their faith seriously enough to select the candidate they believe actually serves in the world as Jesus did, rather than becoming ideologically linked to a political party.

This is the NEW (actually it’s very old) way for either a conservative or liberal Christian to vote.

Choosing the candidate who most closely represents the ACTIONS rather than the words of Jesus follows more faithfully the gospel message.

I do believe that if Christians can pay close attention to the actions of the candidates rather than to their politics or their words, we might have a new practice within politics in our midst: voting with integrity AND faith.

Thank you again for this column. I shall pass this one along to many of my friends.

It represents what good education truly foments: openmindedness, courage for the discourse and debate, and intelligence.

Dr. Barbara S. Boyd Director of Outreach/Faculty Religious Studies Program

T H E

I N D E P E N D E N T

Mumbai prominence presents both problems and benefits Mumbai, India was rocked by a series of coordinated terror attacks last week that left over 170 people dead and several hundred injured.

Because of India’s rising prominence in the world that can be attributed to a booming economy and a large, well-educated population, the attacks were front-page news stories.

CNN’s blanket coverage was interrupted only by snippets of odd Black Friday-related happenings, including a death by trampling. There also was little mention of either Iraq or Afghanistan.

All eyes instead seemed focused on India. As this thorough news coverage on the other side of the world shows, the attacks drew the world’s attention to Mumbai’s – and India’s – increasing global prominence.

Mumbai, formerly Bombay, has always been among India’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities. Thirteen MUNIM million people make their home in this teeming metropIt is the home of Bollywood, the famed Indian film DEEN olis. industry. The vast majority of India’s major companies have headquarters or offices in the city, as do many foreign companies who have recently invested or started operations in India.

That prominence and recent global high profile contributed, at least in part, to making Mumbai a lucrative target for terrorists, as proved through several means.

Tourists Thousands of Western tourists are in the city on any given day, as are many high-level employees of foreign companies.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Westerners visiting other parts of the world for business and pleasure. However, to the convoluted minds that plan and carry out terrorist atrocities, harming people from many different countries at once guarantees increased global publicity and recognition of whatever it is they claim to represent.

News reports of the attacks show that locales frequented by foreigners were systematically targeted.

Hotels, a popular café and an American-supported Jewish center were all attacked. Most of the foreigners killed were at these locations, as would be expected.

The very fact that these expatriate bastions exist and are commonly known shows how common foreigners in Mumbai truly have become.

It is profoundly troubling that their mere presence would attract violence against them.

Geography The problems of Mumbai’s rising prominence are exacerbated by geography.

Situated on the Arabian Sea coast in Western India, Mumbai is a crossroads of the Middle East and South Asia. In centuries past, this meant that the city was a hub of trade and the exchange of ideas. In today’s world, that means Mumbai is distressingly close to the violent extremism espoused in much of the Arabian Peninsula.

Furthermore, Mumbai’s proximity to South and North India means it

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

NEWSROOM DIRECTORY Meredith Simons Ellis Goodwin Nanette Light Amanda Turner Nijim Dabbour Hailey Branson Amy Frost

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O F

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T H E The Fine Print:

Judy Bradley Architectural and Engineering Services Administrative Assistant

STAFF COLUMN

Contact Us:

Wow, wow, wow!

What a great column Hailey Branson wrote for Tuesday’s edition of The Daily. She hit every point about how we “liberals” in Oklahoma feel.

I moved away from Oklahoma at the age of 25 and lived in the Washington, D.C. area for almost 21 years.

Returning to Oklahoma has been wonderful in that I’m near family and friends, but difficult in dealing with so many intolerant conservatives.

May you find the right place for you and your political beliefs and values.

Thank you so much.

is also lashed by domestic regional upheavals. In a society as blindingly multiethnic as India, those upheavals are not to be taken lightly. India’s archrival Pakistan also is not far away.

This means that groups based in Pakistan can easily strike Mumbai, as was the case in the July 2006 train bombings, and may well prove to be the case in this most recent round of violence.

In the case of Mumbai, the geographical attributes that made it such a fast-growing and attractive city for domestic and international commerce has also been somewhat of an Achilles’ heel.

The international commerce has definitely been a boon for the city, but also has made a relatively accessible target even more lucrative.

The positives The attacks have highlighted some undeniably positive aspects of the rise of Mumbai and India. The nation has always had a relatively free press. Increased revenues and investments have allowed that press to greatly develop and rival the world’s best.

This was evidenced by CNN’s Indian affiliate, CNN-IBN providing the vast majority of material that CNN broadcast stateside.

This is a stark contrast to most other newsworthy situations, in which Atlanta-based CNN’s own journalists and crews collect and report the news. In this age of worldwide instantaneous telecommunications, having a developed and capable world-standard press is both a necessity and indicator of a true global standing.

The Mumbai attacks also showed India’s military strength and competence. India turned down all offers of foreign commando and rescue teams. The country really didn’t need help controlling the situation.

Mumbai’s police forces and Indian military commandos regained control of all the occupied sites within two days.

They did it in the idle of crowded urban areas while facing prepared gunmen holed up inside buildings and holding hostages.

To the forces’ credit, it does not appear that anyone other than the terrorists were killed in the rescue attempt.

This is a welcome, but unusual statistic. The Russian military’s 2002 rescue attempt at a theater in Moscow, for example, killed 129 hostages held by a terrorist group.

A country’s military ability is one of the oldest indicator’s of its power and prominence among nations. As shown in the past few days, India is not lacking in this area.

Overall, the attacks were a tragic indicator of Mumbai’s ascent to a global-level destination, much like New York, London and Bali – which were all rocked by terror attacks. Mumbai indeed has arrived, so to speak, and that may not be a completely good thing.

However, as the coverage and response to the attacks show, Mumbai as a city and India as a nation are ready for the challenges that are sure to come with their continuing rise on the world stage. This crisis has been quelled, and, though battered, Mumbai appears stronger and better prepared for whatever other trials may come in the future.

Munim Deen is a microbiology senior. His column usually appears every other Tuesday.

U N I V E R S I T Y

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s).

Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification. Submit letters Sunday

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O K L A H O M A

through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Guest columns are accepted at editor’s discretion. ’Our View’ is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily.

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

The board meets 1 p.m. Sundays in 160 Copeland Hall.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.

Sports

Corey DeMoss, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

5

STAFF COLUMN

OU reputation needs another national title t seems fitting that as Sunday’s BCS rankings were released, former Sooner coach and Fox analyst Barry Switzer was the one to announce it.

The man whose teams embodied “Sooner Magic” more than any other announced to the world that it definitely seems to be back.

Because in all honesty, how did OU pull this one off?

I’m not saying the Sooners don’t deserve what they have. They’ve earned every bit of it, and I have plenty of numbers to back up why I think they are the best team in the Big 12 South.

First off, OU had a stronger schedule, defeating four teams currently ranked in the BCS top 25. Texas only beat three.

In those games, OU outscored opponents by an average of 21 points per game. Texas outscored its quality opponents by 8.25 points per STEVEN game.

JONES The Sooners and Longhorns also played five common opponents: Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas and Texas A&M. OU played three of those games on the road and two at home, while Texas was the opposite. In those five contests, the Sooners outscored their opponents by a total of 148 points, while Texas outscored the same opponents by a total of 90 points.

But now there’s really no need for such stats. The Sooners are Big 12 South champions regardless.

But this stuff doesn’t happen.

Losing to Texas is supposed to knock you out of the Big 12 South race. Losing arguably your best defensive player who orchestrated your defense screws you over.

Counting on Texas to lose a game here, Texas Tech to win a game there, and then cap off your season by beating the No. 2 and No. 12 teams by 64 combined points? That stuff doesn’t normally work out.

But somehow, it did. And that’s all there is to it.

Basically, the race for the Big 12 South came down to this: each team – Texas, Texas Tech and OU – had a legitimate argument to win the division, but none have the right to complain about being left out.

Each team had the opportunity to win every game this season, and if they had, they would be in the championship game. But none of those teams did it. None.

So they all continued to play, lobby (some more than others) and the system ran its course. And now OU will go to the Big 12 Championship, like it or not.

But as OU was announced as the new No. 2 in the BCS Sunday afternoon, it was blessed and cursed at the same time. Now, all eyes will be on the Sooners, waiting for one misstep, so they can blame the BCS for robbing Texas.

If the Sooners lose, even by a single point against Missouri or in a possible National Championship, the talk will be all about how the BCS got it wrong. Add in OU’s recent BCS bowl woes, and the situation gets even stickier.

It’s simple: OU has to win their next two games, no questions asked.

We’ve seen this before. In 2003, OU lost the Big 12 Championship game to Kansas State, but was blessed with a trip to the National Title anyway. There, they lost to LSU, 21 – 14.

In 2004, USC, Auburn and OU were all undefeated at the end of the regular season. Again, the Sooners slipped into the Championship, leaving the undefeated Tigers watching. USC ripped OU by 36.

The Sooners can’t let it happen again. As far as football tradition goes, few schools in the country can compare with OU. But the Sooners have had a lot of opportunities recently, and done little with it. Their recent history, despite dominating the Big 12, isn’t all that pretty.

So if the Sooners blow this chance, it may be a while before they get the benefit of the doubt again. They simply can’t afford to lose.

If 2008 doesn’t end with national title number eight for OU, it could mess things up for a while.

So congratulations Sooners, you’ve won the Big 12 South. Now it’s time to go to work.

I

AP Photo

Running back Chris Brown (29) runs into the endzone in the second quarter of OU’s 61-41 victory over Oklahoma State Saturday. Brown rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on the day and helped the Sooners score more than 60 points for the fourth consecutive game.

OU stampedes Cowboys • Sooners finish regular season with 20-point Bedlam victory JOEY HELMER The Oklahoma Daily “Oh, it feels good; it feels real good.”

“Kansas City, Kansas City!”

Those were the words of senior strong safety Nic Harris and redshirt freshman kicker Jimmy Stevens as they walked up the ramp following a 61-41 OU victory over Oklahoma State Saturday.

The win caused a three-way tie between OU, Texas and Texas atop the Big 12 South, and BCS rankings will now send the Sooners to the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City.

But it wasn’t easy Saturday, as Oklahoma State gave OU all it could handle.

“I’m incredibly excited about [the win],” said head coach Bob Stoops. “Again, I give credit to [OSU head coach] Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State staff and their players.

They’re a very good football team. We did something that no one else was able to do this year — come in here and win — because they’re a very good football team.”

What looked like a disastrous start in a pivotal Big 12 road rivalry game turned into a brilliant one as sophomore cornerback Dominique Franks intercepted an early Zac Robinson pass — Head shortly after the Sooners went threeand-out on the first possession of the game.

Two plays later, sophomore running back DeMarco Murray blasted through the Cowboy secondary for 20 yards and an early 7-0 Sooner lead.

Despite a short-lived 10-7 Cowboy lead, the Sooners methodically set the tone and never let OSU lead again.

For much of the game, the ball simply

seemed to bounce OU’s way.

After OSU closed the Sooner lead to 21-19, the Cowboys attempted a two-point conversion. Robinson fumbled and redshirt freshman Frank Alexander recovered it and ran 96 yards for two points.

On the ensuing possession, junior tight end Jermaine Gresham, who was in the right place at the right time several times, caught a tipped ball off senior wide receiver Manuel Johnson that turned into a 73-yard touchdown.

“You’re always real fortunate to get plays like that,” Stoops said. “[There’s] no question, and I feel fortunate tonight.”

On third-and-goal from the nine-yard line on the Sooners’ next possession, sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford scampered eight yards and leaped toward the endzone.

Two Cowboy defenders hit him in midair and sent him flying out of bounds.

“That was a huge play; I thought that was the play of the game,” Stoops said.

Officials reviewed the play and upheld the call that Bradford had come short of the goal line. “[Coach Stoops] didn’t really say anything, just to be careful obviously,” Bradford said. “When I saw the replay, I was just thinking that I really wish I got in, but oh well.”

Bradford then fumbled the snap on the next play but managed to find just enough of an opening in front of him for a seemingly commanding 37-26 lead.

But the Cowboys stormed back on 17-yard touchcoach Bob Stoops adown pass from Robinson to star sophomore wide receiver Dez Bryant.

The two then connected for a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 37-34 early in the fourth and give OSU some momentum.

“Give Zac Robinson some credit; he played an excellent game,” Stoops said. “[He] just frustrated us so many times because you thought you had him sacked, and he’d break through or throw the ball and make plays,

“I was incredibly proud of the way we played ...

Sam Bradford [is] just out of this world; it’s just incredible the way he played.”

or he’d run for a first down. That kind of play really threw us off some. You know, he made some plays on us, but we hung in there and made some plays.”

When it seemed like the Cowboys would finally get the stop they needed, Bradford stayed as poised as could be and delivered the first touchdown pass of the season to junior tight end Brody Eldridge, a two-yard toss over the middle on fourth and goal with just more than 10 minutes left.

However, the Achilles heal of the season, kickoff return coverage, finally became a factor in this game in the fourth as junior Perrish Cox took the next kickoff 90 yards to once again cut the deficit to three.

“We had guys there to make the tackle and trying to pull the football out, so some of the decisions we made were disappointing,” Stoops said. “But again, give Perrish Cox credit. He’s a strong, tough guy that ran through it.”

But as one would expect, Bradford once again drove the Sooners down for another score, this time seven plays for 65 yards, capped off by a 17-yard pass to senior wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.

This one did, in fact, turn out to be the clincher as the Sooners later added a 27-yard field goal and a 25-yard touchdown run by junior running back Chris Brown to win by 20.

It seemed like for every punch the Sooners took, Bradford was ready to bring the Sooners back up and drive them down the field again.

“He’s an emotional leader for our team, not just for the offense, but for the whole team,” Gresham said. “He’s a great guy to be behind.”

Once again, the Sooners were unstoppable on offense, amassing 557 yards, including 370 through the air and 187 on the ground.

Bradford finished the day 30-for-44 for 370 yards and four touchdowns.

“I was incredibly proud of the way we played,” Stoops said. “Another game with 60 points, I think that’s four in a row for us.

Sam Bradford [is] just out of this world; it’s just incredible the way he played.

“You look at our third-down conversions, fourth-down conversions, no turnovers. All in all, [that’s] incredible. Kevin Wilson and our offensive staff, again, just did such a great job moving the ball.”

— STEVEN JONES IS A LANGUAGE ARTS EDUCATION JUNIOR.

WHAT YOU MISSED OVER THANKSGIVING BREAK Men’s basketball wins NIT Season Tip-Off in OT

Wrestling team dominates Oklahoma Open

On Wednesday, the OU men’s basketball team traveled to New York City to take part in the remaining rounds of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden.

The No. 11 Sooners defeated UAB 77-67 in the tournament semifinals behind sophomore Blake Griffin’s 35 points and 15 rebounds, despite facing double- and triple-teams all night.

OU then moved on to the finals to face No. 10 Purdue, which beat Boston College 71-64 in the other semifinal.

Against the Boilermakers, Griffin pulled down at least 20 rebounds for the third time in four games — after failing to record 20 rebounds in any game last year — but missed three free throws late in regulation that allowed Purdue to tie the game and force overtime.

Griffin then redeemed himself by hitting the go-ahead free throw with just more than one minute remaining in overtime, and the Sooners went on to a 87-82 win.

The game seemed destined to be decided at the foul line, as OU shot 46 free throws to Purdue’s five.

Freshman phenom Willie Warren led the Sooners with 22 points, marking the first time in his young career he has led the team in scoring.

OU will now take part in the Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series, beginning Thursday at Lloyd Noble Center against USC.

The No. 19 OU wrestling team claimed eight individual championships at Lloyd Noble Center during the annual Oklahoma Open Saturday.

The Sooners won eight consecutive championship finals beginning at 141 pounds, and five of those final bouts were between OU teammates.

Redshirt sophomore Zack Bailey, ranked 12th nationally, went 4-0 on the day at 141 pounds to claim first, defeating teammate Seth Vernon by a 7-3 decision in the finals. Kyle Terry, ranked No. 15, also was perfect on the day and defeated Sooner Will Rowe, 7-3, at 149 pounds. Terry was voted most valuable wrestler in the college division.

Chad Terry and Ryan Smith also went 4-0 on the day at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Chad Terry upset teammate and No. 14 Shane Vernon in the finals, winning 5-3, and Smith won a 3-2 decision over Alex Meade of Oklahoma State.

The Sooners are 3-0 in duels, and have beaten opponents by a combined 114-6.

Women’s basketball crushes Marist One game after falling to No. 4 North Carolina in the finals of the Preseason WNIT, the women’s basketball team bounced back to defeat Marist 83-57.

Freshman Whitney Hand led the team with 20 points, while both Paris sisters — Courtney and Ashley — recorded double doubles. Courtney Paris’ streak of double doubles now stands at 97 games.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

UNIVERSITY THEATRE In the OU Arts District

CONTEMPORARY DANCE OKLAHOMA

Track and field signs top-10 recruiting class The incoming OU men’s track and field recruiting class was given a top 10 ranking by Track & Field News, coming at No. 9 nationally.

The class is led by two Track & Field News All-Americans: Ben Latham, who competes in javelin, and distance runner Kevin Williams.

OU is one of only three Big 12 Conference schools to bring in two male Track & Field News All-Americans. Williams is a seven-time state champion from Colorado while Latham is a three-time Connecticut state champion who finished second in the javelin at the 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals.

— DAILY STAFF

8 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 11-13 3 p.m. Dec. 7 Reynolds Performing Arts Center

OU Fine Arts Box Office (405) 325-4101

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For accommodations on the basis of disability call (405) 325-4101.

6

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Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

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HELP WANTED MERCURY POST & PARCEL needs p/t customer assistant. Apply at 121 24th Ave NW. Wanted: Enthusiastic, Motivated Individuals.

As a leader in community banking, Republic Bank & Trust is committed to providing a unique quality experience to our customers, community, and bankers. We currently have the following positions available: PT Teller: Mon-Fri 3-7pm, Sat 8am-1pm FT Teller Applicants are encouraged to apply in person at 401 W. Main, Norman, OK. Republic is an EOE. Male needed to work with male individual with developmental disabilities. &7.50/hr to start. Paid training. Please call Panhandle Opportunities at 942-4822 or fax resume to 942-4993.

Bartending! Up to $250/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520, x133.

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Employment HELP WANTED

Employment HELP WANTED

Traditions Spirits is seeking motivated, energetic, and professional FOH managers, kitchen manager, and dishwashers for Autograph’s Sports Bar at Riverwind Casino. Manager applicants must have experience. Apply in person at 2815 SE 44th, 3 miles west of Riverwind on Highway 9. 392-4550.

MARC HEITZ CHEVROLET, Oklahoma’s #1 Chevy Dealer, is seeking a part-time receptionist. Qualified candidates must be mature, have a bright personality, and be able to multi-task. Experience a plus;yet, not required. We will train.

Hours are 2-9pm every other Tues; 2-9pm every Thurs; 2-9pm every other Fri; and 8am-2pm every Sunday. Apply in person between 9:004:00. Please see receptionist and be prepared to interview. 1221 Ed Noble Parkway.

Financial institution has immediate opening for an experienced teller. Previous banking experience or experience in retail is preferred. Strong customer service skills req. Earn monthly performance incentives in addition to salary. Part time positions available. Apply in person at First Bank & Trust Co., 2330 36th Ave NW, Norman or send resume to Human Resources, PO Box 580, Duncan,OK 73534. EOE, M/F/D/V. Taco Bell is looking for friendly faces! Help wanted for afternoons & late night. Competitive salaries, great benefits, and a career with a future! Apply in person at Taco Bell 1024 24th St. NW in Norman!

Ask for Charles! Great things start here!

Make up to $75 per online survey www.cashtospend.com.

America’s FAST LANE is now hiring lube techs, car wash attendants, service advisors, cashiers, and management trainees. Full and part-time positions are available with no experience necessary. Fast Lanes offers competitive pay, flexible schedules, and opportunity for advancement. Apply in person at 1235 West Main Street, Norman OK or call 321-5260.

The UPS Store: Part time and seasonal help wanted immediately! Apply in person at 3334 W. Main in Norman.

Traditions Spirits is hiring cocktail servers at Riverwind Casino in Norman. Must be 21, apply in person at 2815 SE 44th, 3 miles west of Riverwind on Highway 9. 392-4550.

J Housing Rentals $400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

APTS. UNFURNISHED

CONDOS UNFURNISHED 1,2,3,&4 bedrooms, starting at $350/mo. 1/2 OFF FIRST MONTHS RENT! Available immediately.

The Edge at Norman. Call (303) 550-5554 or email: iris_macintosh@msn.com.

HOUSES UNFURNISHED NOW LEASING FOR MAY 2009, nice 3 bed brick houses 1 & 2 blks west of OU on College or Chautauqua Ave. call BOB Mister Robert Furniture 109 E. Main 321-1818, or stop by to apply for other sizes.

Near OU, 3 bed, 1.5 bth, ch/a, garage, no pets, 504 Inwood Dr, $750/mo., deposit required. Call 996-6592 or 329-1933 Nice, large 3-4 bd, 826 Jona Kay, 3/2/2/2 living, fp, 2000sf, $950/mo; 2326 Lindenwood, 4/2.5/2/3 living, 2400sf, $995/mo. 360-2873 or 306-1970.

FROM THE COLD.

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There are no limits to caring.

1-800-899-0089

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Difficulty Schedule: 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.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 01, 2008

ACROSS 1 Nail’s cousin 6 Barracks no-show 10 “King ___�

14 “According to the grapevine ‌â€?

15 The Biggest Little City in the World 16 “More� and “lasting� attachment 17 The U.S., metaphorically 19 Servicestation item 20 Casserole veggie 21 Joint inflammation 22 Sports showoff 24 Azure 26 Ancient Canaanite deity 27 Dawson of the NFL 28 Bone in a column 32 “I can hardly wait!�

35 1993 Nobelist Morrison 36 Animal that may be “XING�

37 Space attachment 38 Game with drawings 39 Stationer’s unit 40 Mr. Rogers 41 Some black sheep 42 Badtempered

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8 7 5 9 4 6 3 2 7

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WE DON’T JUST GIVE HOMELESS FAMILIES SHELTER

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POLICY

To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information.

Mental Illness – What a difference a friend makes.

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43 Shipwreck retriever 45 Grand Coulee, e.g.

46 “Good golly!�

47 Siamese gathering?

51 Small bite 54 Word with “water� or “fountain�

55 Chromosome carriers 56 Bird in hieroglyphics 57 Beggar 60 Casual turndown 61 Cosmetics additive 62 Lifeless 63 Schooner’s spine 64 End of the night 65 Fills roles DOWN 1 Foolish fellows 2 Boldness 3 4 x 100, e.g.

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5 Cubs’ home 6 Put forth reasons for or against 7 “Jesus ___� (Bible’s shortest verse) 8 “Double Fantasy� songstress 9 Ladies’ man 10 They take a beating 11 “Art of Love� poet 12 Infamous

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adjective 44 Sensitive subject, to some 45 Absurdist art movement 47 Clinton defense secretary 48 Argument flaws 49 Difficult to miss 50 ___ and all (as is) 51 Stole material 52 Bassoon’s little brother 53 Good and juicy 54 Mislead, slangily 58 Chicken-king link 59 ID provider

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

Š 2008 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

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Adam Kohut, A&E editor dailyent@ou.edu phone: 325-5189, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Arts & Entertainment

POLICE REPORTS

DISTURBING THE PEACE

Names are compiled from the Norman Police Department or the OU Department of Public Safety. The report serves as a public record of arrests or citations, not convictions. The people here are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Minh Tuan Vo, 20, 2200 block Classen Boulevard, Nov. 23, 2008 Evan Christopher White, 24, 1600 block Ann-Branden Boulevard, Nov. 23, 2008 Linda Freeman Yaksima, 66, 3300 block W. Robinson Street, Wednesday

DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE

INTERFERENCE WITH OFFICIAL PROCESS

Laura Rodriguez, 25, 2500 block Jenkins Avenue, Tuesday

DRIVING WITH LICENSE CANCELED/ SUSPENDED/REVOKED

DOMESTIC ABUSE

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA

DOG AT LARGE

Justin Daniel Brooke, 25, Boyd Street, Monday, also municipal warrant and county warrant Keith Lee Swing, 32, 2200 block Classen Boulevard, Monday Estelita Quintero, 21, 5400 block Huettner Drive, Monday Quincy Toliver Taylor, 37, Buchanan Avenue, Thursday Ron Abraham Elliott, 35, Symmes Street, Saturday, also possession of drug paraphernalia

Jeremy D. Cheatwood, 32, 600 block Smalley Drive, Nov. 19, 2008

MUNICIPAL WARRANT Brandy Michelle Corley, 24, 200 block W. Gray Street, Monday Kendall Wayne Densmore, 24, Villa Drive, Nov. 23, 2008 Joy Denice Frances Holt, 39, Asp Avenue, Monday Kortnie Inez Green, 26, 900 block E. Symmes Street, Tuesday Shannon Gail Rowell, 35, 1300 block Atlanta Circle, Wednesday Jonathan Ray Arnold, 33, 900 block W. Main Street, Saturday Johnny Dale Campbell, 39, 400 block 12th Avenue S.E., Saturday Karla Marie Onco, 24, 200 block W. Gray Street, Saturday

OUTRAGING PUBLIC DECENCY James Wayne Hunter, 22, 700 block Asp Avenue, Nov. 23, 2008 Albert Robinson IV, 22, 900 block Asp Avenue, Nov. 22, 2008 Jeffrey Bruce Foster, 31, 700 block Asp Avenue, Thursday

•The Daily’s Callie Kavourgias takes a look at this week in television.

‘CHRISTMAS AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER’ When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Network: NBC It’s the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. The show is hosted

by Al Roker and will feature performances by Beyoncé, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts and more.

You know you’re hoping to see Beyoncé do that “Single Ladies” dance for the billionth time.

Jon Woodcock, 23, 100 block Crestland Drive, Monday

Photo provided

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

‘UGLY BETTY’

Michael Saul Frazier, 23, 2700 block E. Indian Hills Road, Tuesday

When: 7 p.m. Thursday Network: ABC

LEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT Kristopher Louis Hutzenbiler, 27, W. Main Street, Tuesday, also driving under the influence-liquor or drugs/actual physical control

Betty has an idea for an article for “Mode” – a day in Manhattan on zero dollars.

Somehow, receptionist Amanda gets paired up with her for the adventure. Amanda is crazy and hilarious, and her interaction with Betty should be entertaining.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Rickey Wayne Joslin, 26, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Monday, also petty larceny and county warrant Linh Hoang Dinh, 20, 2900 block Oak Tree Avenue, Wednesday Shaun Anthony Head, 32, 100 block 12th Avenue S.E., Wednesday, also failure to register as a sex offender Chauncey Tate, 24, 700 block Asp Avenue, Saturday

Photo provided

‘GREY’S ANATOMY’ When: 8 p.m. Thursday Network: ABC The Chief awards Cristina with the first solo surgery, but for some reason she has to choose another one of the residents to give it to. Who will she choose? Also, here’s hoping the increasingly annoying Izzie/Denny story line will get some clarification — or maybe just go away.

UNREGISTERED ALARM Amanda G.I. Osburn, 26, 2000 block W. Lindsey Street, Monday

TRANSPORTING OPEN BOTTLE Sarah Elizabeth Mcguffee, 21, N. Porter Avenue, Wednesday, also driving under the influence-liquor or drugs/actual physical control of the vehicle

Photo provided

‘GREATEST HOLIDAY MOMENTS: TV AND FILM COUNTDOWN’

DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Michael Dustin Knight, 26, E. Robinson Street, Monday Jimmie Albert Dodd, 50, 200 block W. Haddock Street, Wednesday Grant Owen Mcdaniel, 25, Stinson Street, Thursday Jose Luis Soto Flores, 44, 1800 block W. Robinson Street, Friday

POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL Christopher Douglas Lake, 20, 700 block Asp Avenue, Nov. 22, 2008 Tyler Jonathan Smith, 18, 700 block Asp Avenue, Nov. 22, 2008

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCELIQUOR OR DRUGS/ACTUAL PHYSICAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE John M. Mccurley, 44, 100 block Willow Branch Road, Monday Joshua Alexander Cline, 23, Brookhollow Road, Wednesday Stephanie Danielle Mcallister, 23, Elm Avenue, Wednesday

PETTY LARCENY Sarah Fahy Menzie, 60, 1100 block W. Main Street, Nov. 22, 2008 Judy Ann Wade, 53, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Nov. 22, 2008 Kayla Deanne Peters, 19, 3400 block W. Main Street, Tuesday Steven Dwane Howell, 19, 600 block 12th Avenue N.E., Tuesday Rochelle Lanette Loggins, 32, 3400 block W. Main Street, Tuesday Lural David Perry, 48, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Wednesday Willie Edward Webb, 38, 600 block 12th Avenue N.E., Wednesday Kyle R. Witman, 22, 2200 block W. Main Street, Tuesday Deviny Michele Martin, 18, 3400 block W. Main Street, Wednesday John Matthew Herider, 28, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Saturday

7

What to watch: Dec. 1 through Dec. 7

Joseph Voci, 85, 400 block Rosewood Drive, Nov. 17, 2008 Marne H. Harveland-Botkin, 58, 700 block Jenkins Avenue, Monday

Brian Richard Green, 20, Newbury Drive, Monday, also municipal warrant and county warrant

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

When: 7 p.m. Friday Network: ABC

Noah Zohn Steves, 26, Asp Avenue, Wednesday, no insurance verification

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Forrest Lee Ryan Barrett, 27, Porter Avenue, Thursday Evan Ross Cooper, 21, 800 block W. Main Street, Saturday Shawn L. Heiter, 44, Gray Street, Friday

The title explains it all. But who doesn’t love a good countdown? It will feature scenes from “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” See where your favorites rank.

Curtis Robert Grant Moore, 19, 600 block E. Robinson Street, Thursday, also aggravated driving under the influence and transporting open bottle

COUNTY WARRANT John Nathan Smith, 30, W. Lindsey Street, Thursday Heather Louise Cochran, 34, N. Porter Avenue, Friday Michael Ray Wallace, 55, 800 block N. Interstate Drive W., Friday

NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE Christopher Wayne Pruett, 37, 300 block W. Gray Street, Friday, also obstructing officer and driving under the influence-liquor or drugs/actual physical control of the vehicle

TRESPASSING Susan Rebecca Fajt, 31, 900 block N. Porter Avenue, Saturday

POSSESSION OF WEAPONS Jason Wesley Long, 26, 1700 block Briarcreek Avenue, Friday, also interference with official process

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA David Ramirez, 23, Ed Noble Parkway, Saturday

VISIT OUDAILY.COM RIGHT NOW. HURRY. PLEASE.

— CALLIE KAVOURGIAS IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

Photo provided

MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL

HOROSCOPE

A&E BRIEFLY ‘Christmas Story’ fans celebrate film’s 25th year

Whitney Houston denies reunion with ex Bobby Brown

CLEVELAND — Fans of the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” are celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary with a convention at Cleveland’s Renaissance Hotel, and trips to the house where the movie was made.

The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepard’s memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

The film was a modest theatrical success, but critics loved it. It eventually joined “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” as a Christmas cult classic.

NEW YORK — Whitney Houston has issued a statement denying the rumors of a reunion with Bobby Brown.

Acting on behalf of Houston, the singer’s publicist Nancy Seltzer calls speculation that the exes are getting back together “a complete fabrication.”

Seltzer pinpoints the rumors to a report in Wednesday’s Chicago SunTimes that said Houston and Brown had been spotted out and about in Georgia looking romantic.

Houston and Brown divorced in April 2007 after 14 years of marriage.

— AP

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Dame Fortune is personally looking out for your interests, especially with regard to your finances and security.

Something constructive will take place concerning a means to make money.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You are always at your best when surrounded by people who think in grandiose terms. Something big can be accomplished if you’re involved with an insightful group.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- At this time, you won’t have to initiate much of anything in order for good things to happen. The breaks will be there when and where you need them.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- There is a lot of justification to feel hopeful concerning your involvements with others. People like and respect you, and they will help you attain your objectives.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Someone in the position to provide help will open a door barred to most that could prove to be extremely lucky for you. It’ll be the break you’ve needed.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Because you’re under excellent aspects to be able to work out mutually advantageous agreements, most anything you put together will benefit and please everyone involved.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- There are extremely good opportunities all around. One in particular could strengthen an arrangement you have with others, especially when they find out they can profit as much as you can.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Make plans with friends in regards to a future event. By doing so now, it will help avoid conflicts with others who might want to join you at the last minute.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Favorable conditions for your work or career are moving in a direction that can carry you far. It will be up to you not to let these chances slip by.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Concentrate on issues or matters that require the approval of friends or associates in order to carry them out. Because others think highly of you, this is where you will shine.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -There is a strong possibility that you could profit in a personal way. Keep all your avenues open so you can act on something that will turn out to be an extremely lucky break.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Some stimulating and encouraging news could revive your enthusiasm for a lackluster past endeavor. It will have something to do with a social event.

8

News

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

NEWS BRIEFS STATE

WORLD 51 protesters wounded in Bangkok explosions

BANGKOK, Thailand — Attackers set off explosions at anti-government protest sites Sunday, wounding 51 people and raising fears of widening confrontations in Thailand’s worst OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Tourism Departpolitical crisis in decades, which has strangled its ment is spending $1.9 million on a project economy and shut down its main airports. to repair and renovate decades-old cabins at Thousands of government supporters Oklahoma’s state parks.

The renovation project is in its final phase on gathered, meanwhile, in the heart of Bangkok for a rally denouncing the protesters, further the cabins, built during the Great Depression in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The inflaming tensions.

The rally was designed to show support for project encompasses 180 cabins at seven state parks — Beavers Bend, Great Salt Plains, Boiling Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who has appeared helpless in ending the crisis that has Springs, Roman Nose, Keystone, Tenkiller and stranded up to 100,000 travelers, brought the Lake Murray.

Earlier this month, the state Tourism Commis- key tourism industry to a virtual standstill and affected plane schedules worldwide. sion approved spending $996,800 to upgrade Somchai has been forced to run the governfurnishings at 56 cabins in Lake Murray State ment out of the northern city of Chiang Mai Park in far southern Oklahoma. Hardy Watkins, because of fears for his safety in the capital. the commission’s executive director, said those Sunday’s explosions hit Somchai’s Bangkok renovations should be done by the end of 2009. office compound, which protesters seized in August and have held ever since, an anti-government television station, and a road near the NATION main entrance to Bangkok’s domestic airport, which the protesters are also occupying. At least Space shuttle Endeavour 51 people were injured, officials said.

Cabins in Oklahoma state parks to be renovated

finishes 16-day mission EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts safely returned to Earth on Sunday, taking a detour to sunny California after storms hit the main landing strip in Florida.

Endeavour wrapped up a 16-day trip to remodel the space station and add housing for bigger crews. The shuttle dropped off all kinds of home improvement equipment, including a new bathroom, kitchenette, exercise machine, two sleeping quarters and a recycling system designed to convert astronauts’ urine and sweat into drinking water.

But the mission wasn’t without its problems.

Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper let go of a $100,000 tool bag during the first spacewalk, muttering “Oh, great” as it floated away.

And Endeavour’s astronauts also had to put in extra effort to get the urine processor working.

About seven liters of recycled urine and condensation were coming back aboard Endeavour for extensive testing. No one at the space station will drink the recycled water until the equipment runs for 90 days and ground tests ensure it’s safe. More samples will be returned on the next shuttle flight.

The shuttle crew also conducted four spacewalks to clear metal shavings from a solar wing rotary joint at the space station. The joint had been jammed for more than a year and hampered energy production at the orbiting outpost.

Initial tests indicated the repairs on the joint were successful.

Swiss voters make controversial legal heroin program permanent GENEVA — The world’s most comprehensive legalized heroin program became permanent Sunday with overwhelming approval from Swiss voters who simultaneously rejected the decriminalization of marijuana.

The heroin program, started in 1994, is offered in 23 centers across Switzerland. It has helped eliminate scenes of large groups of drug users shooting up openly in parks that marred Swiss cities in the 1980s and 1990s and is credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts.

The nearly 1,300 selected addicts, who have been unhelped by other therapies, visit one of the centers twice a day to receive the carefully measured dose of heroin produced by a government-approved laboratory.

They keep their paraphernalia in cups labeled with their names and use the equipment and clean needles to inject themselves — four at a time — under the supervision of a nurse, and also receive counseling from psychiatrists and social workers.

The aim is to help the addicts learn how to function in society.

The United States and the U.N. narcotics board have criticized the program as potentially fueling drug abuse, but it has attracted attention from governments like Australia and Canada, which in recent years have started or are considering their own similar programs.

Muslims condemn Mumbai attacks KARIN LAUB Associated Press RAMALLAH, West Bank — Muslims from the Middle East to Britain and Austria condemned Sunday the Mumbai shooting rampage by suspected Islamic militants as senseless terrorism, but also found themselves on the defensive once again about bloodshed linked to their religion.

Intellectuals and community leaders called for greater efforts to combat religious fanaticism.

Indian police said Sunday that the only surviving gunman told them he belongs to the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-eTaiba. The group is seen as a creation of Pakistani intelligence to help fight India in the disputed Kashmir region. Another group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, has also operated in Kashmir. Both are reported to be linked to al-Qaida.

Ten gunmen attacked 10 targets in the three-day assault including a Jewish community center and luxury hotels in India’s commercial hub. More than 170 people were killed.

Many Muslims said they are worried such carnage is besmirching their religion.

“The occupation of the synagogue and killing people in hotels tarnishes the Muslim faith,” said Kazim al-Muqdadi, a political science lecturer at Baghdad University. “Anyone who slaughters people and screams ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is Great) is sick and ignorant.”

In Britain, home to nearly two million Muslims, a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, Inayat Bunglawala,

AP Photo

Indian Muslims, protest the Mumbai terror attacks, as a placard reads “Down with terrorism” Saturday in Ahmadabad, India. Indian commandos killed the last remaining gunmen holed up at a luxury Mumbai hotel Saturday, ending a 60-hour rampage through India’s financial capital by suspected Islamic militants that killed people and rocked the nation. said that “a handful of terrorists like this bring the entire faith into disrepute.”

A previously unknown Muslim group, Deccan Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The name suggests origins in India.

Pakistan has denied involvement and demanding that India provide proof. In Pakistan, Jamaat-ud Dawa, an Islamist group believed to have ties to Lashkar-eTaiba, denounced the killing of civilians.

In Islamic extremist Web forums, some

praised the Mumbai attacks, including the targeting of Jews.

A man identified as Sheik Youssef alAyeri said the killings are in line with Islam.

“It’s all right for Muslims to set the infidels’ castles on fire, drown them with water .... and take some of them as prisoners, whether young or old, women or men, because it is one of many ways to beat them,” he wrote in the al-Fallujah forum.

Survey: High school students increasingly lie, cheat, steal DAVID CRARY Associated Press NEW YORK — In the past year, 30 percent of U.S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test, according to a new, large-scale survey suggesting that Americans are too apathetic about ethical standards.

Educators reacting to the findings questioned any suggestion that today’s young people are less honest than previous generations, but several agreed that intensified pressures are prompting many students to cut corners.

“The competition is greater, the pressures on kids have increased dramatically,” said Mel Riddle of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “They have opportunities their predecessors didn’t have [to cheat]. The temptation is greater.”

The Josephson Institute, a Los Angeles-based ethics institute, surveyed 29,760 students at 100 randomly selected high schools nationwide, both public and private. All students in the selected schools were given the survey in class; their anonymity was assured.

Michael Josephson, the institute’s founder and president, said he was most dismayed by the findings about theft. The survey found that 35 percent of boys and 26 percent of girls — 30 percent overall — acknowledged stealing from a store within the past year. One-fifth said they stole something from a friend; 23 percent said they stole something from a parent

or other relative.

“What is the social cost of that — not to mention the implication for the next generation of mortgage brokers?”

Josephson remarked in an interview. “In a society drenched with cynicism, young people can look at it and say ‘Why shouldn’t we? Everyone else does it.’”

Other findings from the survey: • Cheating in school is rampant and getting worse. Sixtyfour percent of students cheated on a test in the past year and 38 percent did so two or more times, up from 60 percent and 35 percent in a 2006 survey.

• Thirty-six percent said they used the Internet to plagiarize an assignment, up from 33 percent in 2004.

• Forty-two percent said they sometimes lie to save money — 49 percent of the boys and 36 percent of the girls.

Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that “when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know.”

Nijmie Dzurinko, executive director of the Philadelphia Student Union, said the findings were not at all reflective of the inner-city students she works with as an advocate for better curriculum and school funding.

“A lot of people like to blame society’s problems on young people, without recognizing that young people aren’t making the decisions about what’s happening in society,” said Dzurinko, 32. “They’re very easy to scapegoat.”