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texas School funding cut AMARILLO— Gov. Rick Perry has visited his native West Texas for a ceremonial signing of a budget bill that slashes funding for public schools and other services. Lawmakers scrambled to balance the deficitridden state budget without raising taxes or spending the so-called rainy day fund, and did so mostly by slashing education by $4 billion. Perry was vocal about protecting the state’s reserve fund amid calls to tap the money to ease the pain of cuts.
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Century Tree saplings to raise money for President’s Endowed Scholarship fund
lowest gas price
$3.54 1900 Texas Avenue South and Holleman Drive www.texasgasprices.com
nation &world Mich. tour boat crashes EMPIRE, Mich. — Authorities in Michigan say dozens of people waded to shore and two were rescued by helicopter from a tour boat that was damaged by a wave in Lake Michigan. The Coast Guard says the operator of the tour boat Pictured Rocks called for help shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday after a wave reportedly went over the boat’s bow, smashing a window and causing electronics to malfunction. The boat had 61 people aboard.
Calif. faces default SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California borrowed $5.4 billion from private investors Tuesday as a hedge against a possible default by the federal government. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer secured the package of short-term loans from a group of banks, credit unions and investment funds so the state can avoid a potential cash shortage if the federal government fails to extend its debt ceiling. If that happens, the government could shortchange states on health care and education funding. Associated Press
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COURTESY PHOTO
Andy Duffie’s Century Tree saplings growing at his home in Vernon, Texas will allow Aggies to take a piece of Aggieland home.
Century saplings Erin McAllister Special to The Battalion Andy Duffie, class of 1978, has been growing Century Tree seedlings since October 2010 to sell for a $100,000 President’s Endowed Scholarship fund. The Century Tree is a landmark and tradition on the campus that has memories for many students. “In my opinion, Aggies will think that having their very own Century Tree growing in their front yard will be pretty cool. Especially all of those Aggie couples who were engaged under the Century Tree,” Duffie said. “Each tree will be a great conversation piece to help advertise Texas A&M around the state.”
Duffie collected 3,000 acorns from the Century Tree in October 2010. He took the seeds to his hometown of Vernon, Texas, where he planted it in small containers. Out of the 3,000 acorns about 600 sprouted. He plans to sell the seedlings in 2013. “Duffie has a very unique and very thoughtful way to raise money for the President’s Endowed Scholarship fund,” said Whit Whitaker, junior agronomy major. Whitaker said he’d like to own a Century Tree but he has no place to grow one. He said having a Century Tree would be like having a part of Texas A&M tradition. Ashley Dunkerley, junior agricultural communication and journalism major, said this could
take away from the tradition of the Century Tree on campus. “As a student, I believe selling century trees will take away that authenticity of the original Century Tree,” Dunkerly said. “There is only one Century Tree and that it is the only one with the superstition of romance and if you walk under it with someone you are destined to be together forever,” Dunkerly said. “I do not believe that the century trees that are being grown will have the same effect as the one on campus.” The century trees, Duffie said, will be a conversation piece and let Aggies take home part of an A&M tradition while supporting a great cause.
sports
Sherman talks football at Big 12 media summit Adrian O’Hanlon III
Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION
Coach Mike Sherman answers questions about this football season at the summit in Dallas.
The Battalion DALLAS — The mood was as tense as a scene from a murder trial on Law & Order at the Big 12 Football Media Days in Dallas Monday, while the Big 12 coaches played the hushed witnesses, not giving any evidence to lock the mob bosses away for good. The media days heard rule changes, preseason expectations and the recent lethal accusations brought against Texas in their new 20-year, $300 million agreement with ESPN to launch the Longhorn Network. Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Sherman was first to take the stand and kept a tight lip when grilled about the Longhorn Network’s pending plans to air high school football games
and its potential to aid the Longhorns on the recruiting front. “I’ll be honest, I’ve been asked that by Aggies on my coaching tour and my standard answer is I have enough on my plate getting our team ready to play,” Sherman said. “We’ll have half-a-million Aggies watching it, and we’ll have the Big 12 watching it, and the advantage or disadvantage thereof. But truthfully, I’m just focusing on what I gotta do and with my job.” Sherman also talked about his expectations for the team after the most-hyped preseason in recent history for the Aggies. He said A&M would improve on its conference-best rush defense from 2010 and the offense would be a force See Media on page 2
entertainment
Spielberg previews ‘Tintin’ movie Jared Baxter The Battalion SAN DIEGO — Steven Spielberg, his name alone is synonymous with many of Hollywood’s most revered classics, and with a lifetime achievement award ready to be handed to him, Spielberg arrived at Comic Con to present his motion-captured film, The Adventures of Tintin. Friday’s panel began with a montage of Indiana Jones, Jaws, E.T. and all things Spielberg before the man himself stepped out on stage to
a standing ovation and received Comic Con’s Inkpot award for film and pop culture. “I wouldn’t be here without you, the audiences that support the movies and staying kids the rest of your life,” Spielberg said. Joining him was fellow filmmaking icon, Peter Jackson, who drew laughs for his Tintin test footage as a comical sea captain interacting with a drunken, CGI dog. The directing dream team spoke on what brought them together in their efforts to adapt the long running European
Jared Baxter — THE BATTALION
Excited fan gets to shake hands with Steven Spielberg See Spielberg on page 2 when his shirt catches Spielberg’s eye.
7/26/11 9:22 PM
pagetwo thebattalion 7.27.2011
news for you
whereoncampus Think you know every nook and cranny at Texas A&M? The first people to get the answer correct will have their names published. Send your response with your name, class and major to photo@thebatt.com.
texas Sex club shutdown in Dallas DALLAS — A judge has closed down a Dallas establishment run by a man who calls it a religious mission but has allegedly been found by Dallas police to be a sex club. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Dallas city attorney’s office said it had obtained a temporary restraining order against Glenn Hudson to close his establishment, The Playground. In its court petition, the city said Dallas police vice officers had determined in an undercover operation that the business was a “swingers’ club” operating in a space that had a certificate of occupancy for a church, mosque or synagogue. The Associated Press could find no working telephone number for Hudson. However, the city statement says Hudson called his business a religious “outreach mission.” A court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.
nation&world Severe fire erupts in plastics company
Jay Kapadia— THE BATTALION
Forest Genetics Greenhouse and Lab
First correct responses: No Correct Responses
Stephanie Leichtle— THE BATTALION
Senior receiver Jeff Fuller discusses his plans for this football season at the Big 12 media conference.
Media Continued from page 1
with the duo of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael in the backfield. “Well, I just think it goes without saying that the familiarity of our defensive scheme, [that] some of the mistakes we made last year, I don’t see us making this year,” Sherman said. “I think [Gray and Michael] are a great one-two punch. They’re such different types of runners that I think the defense will have to really know who is in the game because they both possess different things and have different strengths.” The Big 12 staff also addressed College Football Officiating new rule changes for the 2011 season. Rule changes for the upcoming season include more leniency on unsportsmanlike conduct calls, clock adjustments at the end of either half and an option of penalizing a team 10-seconds when the clock is under one minute. The league also delivered the renewed definition of blocking below the waist which prohibits blocking below the belt when the ball passes five yards beyond the line of scrimmage and outlines blocking in the neutral zone.
FAIRFIELD, Calif. — A fire at a plastics company sent black smoke billowing hundreds of feet into the air Tuesday, but officials said no damage or injuries were reported. The fire broke out about 1 p.m. in an outdoor storage area at the Macro Plastics Inc. complex near Travis Air Force Base, said city spokeswoman Gale Spears. A thick plume of dark black smoke was visible for miles, drifting eastward to the south of Sacramento. Fairfield is in the eastern San Francisco Bay area Businesses adjacent to the fire were evacuated and residents within a mile of the blaze were asked to stay indoors Macro Plastics makes plastic bins used in harvesting grapes and other agricultural products. Stacks of the perforated plastic bins could be seen burning in footage from KCRA-TV in Sacramento. The burning plastic produced thick, black hydrocarbon smoke and a very hot, swirling fire. The Solano County health department and specialists from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District were monitoring the air, said district spokeswoman Kristine Roselius. Company employees told fire officials that some repair work, possibly including welding, was being performed in the area before the fire broke out, the Daily Republic newspaper reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Spears said. Associated Press
Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION
Spielberg Continued from page 1
comic book character written by Geroges Remi, pen name Herge. “I didn’t know anything about him until I read a French review of Raiders in 1981, and it kept comparing my film to Tintin, so I got a book in French,” Spielberg said. “I didn’t need to read the words to read the story. I could see the point, too. It felt like a cousin to Raiders. In the world of Herge, Tintin was a reporter, and he kept doing what you’re not supposed to do, putting himself into the stories he was reporting, and he would become the story. And for us, with Raiders, Indy was an archaeologist, and he would go after an antiquity, usually a supernatural antiquity of some kind, and he would get caught up in the legend and become the story, so there is a commonality.” Spielberg sat on the rights to Tintin for more than 20 years before the rise of motion-capture technology and success of James Cameron’s Avatar convinced him that now was the time to bring Herge’s reporter to computer-generated life. He noted the brilliance of the technology is that he can cast anyone for any part regardless of their looks, and yet still have all of their nuances and personality traits.
ADUATING SENIORS R G
“Steven got rights to Tintin in 1983, when I was making Bad Taste. I was reading stories about Steven and him making Tintin,” Jackson said. “I was a huge Tintin fan and was looking forward to Steven’s Tintin movie … for a quarter of a century. You can’t imagine what it was like when he invited me aboard. I thought for, oh, two seconds.” Fully rendered in 3-D by the folks at Weta, the same visual effects wizards behind Avatar and Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, Spielberg described his camera as a video game controller with a six-inch screen in the middle, allowing him to capture a scene with computer-generated backgrounds in real time. “We wanted characters in a 3-D world, but we also wanted to make it a hybrid of live-action and animation, and even though they have faces you’d never find in a human being, we wanted pores and sweat and stubble, a level of detail that almost feels like live-action,” Jackson said. “Neither Steven or I are very good on computers. I can barely send an e-mail. We wanted to create a version of animation and motion-capture that allowed Steven to step inside the virtual world with the characters and the locations and the sets that were built over a two-year period before we shot the movie. This is a hybrid where Steven had a virtual camera where he could step in and film it like a live-action film. The thing that I’m excited about when I watch this come together is that this is a film that Steven shot himself. It’s almost like his early 8MM films
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in that way.” The footage shown featured Tintin, played by Jaime Bell, and his Fox terrier, Snowy, in 3-D sequences showcasing Spielberg’s traditional talent for globetrotting adventure and death-defying action. “It’s just using new tools to tell my stories the way I know how to tell them. It’s the way I’m comfortable with. I wanted to be in the volume with the actors,” Spielberg said. “The movie is a dense detective story. It’s a murder-mystery. It’s very funny when it needs to be. You just saw the tip of the iceberg, the earliest iteration of the storytelling. It’s gone way beyond this in terms of storytelling and spectacle. You’ll see that soon.” With one question left for the audience, a lucky fan worked his way around Comic Con’s strict “no autographs or requests” policy by wearing a t-shirt that kindly asked Spielberg for a handshake. And with a wave of Spielberg’s hand, the fan was escorted on stage to line up one of the more photographed handshakes in recent memory. “Direct him!” the crowd chanted. Jackson lined up the shot with his own digital camera as Spielberg made sure the picture was just right, marking the closing scene of Spielberg’s universe at Comic Con.
thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Taylor Wolken, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. News offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.
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Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.
7/26/11 8:53 PM
news wednesday 7.27.2011
classifieds
PLACE
AN AD Phone 845-0569 or Fax 845-2678 The Grove, Bldg. #8901 Texas A&M University
WHEN
TO CALL 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day
ANNOUNCEMENTS Horseboarding at Sundown Farm, covered arena, outdoor arena, 979-324-0654, www.sundownequine.com
AUTO I buy vehicles, running or not running. 979-778-1121.
BED AND BREAKFAST Romantic Getaways & Engagements. Secluded Cabin Suites. All Day, All Night. 7flodge.com 979-690-0073. Spring Creek Ranch B&B. New private cabin on 22acres, king bed. 979-218-2561.
COMPUTERS Superior Teks. $59.95 for software repair. $80.00 for hardware repair. Call 979-703-7963 or visit www.superiorteks.net
FOR RENT $395 Available now and prelease. 1/1, 2/1, 2/2, Free Wi-Fi/water/sewer on Northgate, on shuttle. Short-term leases ok. Call Maroon & White Management 979-422-5660. $750/mo. 2bd/1.5ba +office. 2-car covered carport. Fenced, pets ok. W/D connections, updated, biking distance to campus. 1716 Leona. One still available, going fast! AggieLandRentals.com 979-255-1108. $850 Pre-lease, 3&4 bedroom houses, W/D, pets ok, near TAMU. Call Maroon & White Management, 979-422-5660. 1bd+Office/1ba, Townhouse Style Units, include W&D, 1-mile from campus, www.HolikSquare.com 1bd+Office/1ba. $495, Student Community, 1-mile from campus, www.HollemanByThePark.com 1bd/1ba Spacious floorplan w/cathedral ceilings. Brand new luxury apartment condos. Fullsize stainless steel appliances, balconies, W/D, designer ammenitites, granite/wood/tile, bus stop. Only 36units on Holleman at Wolf Pen. www.broadstoneranchatwolfpen.com 979-776-6079. 1bd/1ba. $465, Student Community, 1-mile from campus, www.HollemanByThePark.com 2-story, 4bdrm/4ba., 2-car garage, tile floors, large fenced backyard w/huge covered deck. All appliances, w/d and yard maintenance provided. On bus-route in College Station at Navarro/Antelope. Available 8-20/11. $1780/mo. Call 956-490-4444 or 979-220-8400. 2bd/1ba duplex in Wellborn area. Best suited for individual or couple. Rural setting, pets ok. 979-690-6161. 2/2.5 duplexes on Ashford, starting at $950! W/D included, fenced, shuttle, United Realty 979-260-1200, open Saturday 10-2, www.united-rico.com 2bd/1.5ba Close to campus. W/D, small pets allowed. $550/mo. Call 979-574-3534. 2bd/1.5ba, Townhouse Style Units, include W&D, 1-mile from campus, www.HolikSquare.com 2bd/1.5ba. 1100sqft. Fireplace, on shuttle. $675/mo. 402 Fall. AggieLandRentals.com 979-255-1108. 2bd/1ba, Townhouse Style Units, include W&D, 1-mile from campus, www.HolikSquare.com
FOR RENT 2bd/2ba duplex. Very large with walk-in closets, large fenced backyard. W/D connections, pets ok. On great shuttle. $750-$775/mo. 979-693-1448. 2bd/2ba S.W. Valley, fenced, new carpet, paint, &tile, shuttle, fireplace, great for students, no HUD, $700/mo. 979-696-0895. 2bd/2ba unique floorplans w/balcony views of Kyle Field. Brand new luxury apartment condos. Fullsize stainless steel appliances, W/D, designer ammenities granite/wood/tile, bus stop. Only 36units on Holleman at Wolf Pen. www.broadstoneranchatwolfpen.com 979-776-6079. 2bd/2ba. $495, Student Community, 1-mile from campus, www.HollemanByThePark.com 3/2 duplex, fenced, pets allowed. New carpet/tile, w/d, off Graham Rd., $930/mo. total. 210-687-5111. 3/2 Duplex, near dog park. Tile/carpet, W/D, shuttle route, 2miles to campus. Available August. $975/mo. 979-217-1553.
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$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.
FOR RENT 3bd/2ba Huge! Stained concrete and wood floors, stainless steel appliances, fenced backyard, pet friendly, handicap accessible. 1107 E.27th Street. $1400/mo. 979-255-5461, www.picketfenceproperties.net 3bd/2ba large country home, 5-min. to TAMU, available now, $1000/mo. +deposit, 571-8088, 690-7129. 3bd/3ba, gated luxury Waterwood Townhome. 1001 Krenek Tap Road. Granite counter-tops, spacious closets, reserved parking spots, W/D, bus route. $1275/mo/ individual leases. Call 817-988-4530. 4 or 5bd/2ba house, 1112 Berkeley, available August, two living, close to campus, new tile, W/D, no pets, $1295/mo, 979-731-8257, www.BrazosValleyRentals.com 4/2 house. 2-living areas. W/D connections, large backyard, pets ok. 1217 North Ridgefield. $1400/mo. 979-693-1448.
3/2 duplex. 5-minutes from campus, fenced yard, bus route, fairly new. Call 214-505-6534, 469-233-4653.
4/2/2 house w/large fenced backyard. Great location. W/D connections, pets ok. 1701 Todd Trail. $1400/mo. 979-693-1448.
3/2 Houses, Townhouses &Apartments, 1250sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. $900/mo. 979-694-0320, www.luxormanagement.com
4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Houses, Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 694-0320. www.luxormanagement.com
3/2/2 call 979-777-9674, effective July 10th call 979-255-2423.large home, near TAMU, available now, central air/heat. 3/2/2 house w/large fenced backyard. W/D connections, pets ok. 1801 Langford. $1150/mo. 979-693-1448. 3/2/2 house w/large fenced backyard. Pets ok. 2312 Bristol. $1200/mo. 979-693-1448.
4bd/2.5ba Med. style duplexes w/garage. Security systems. All appliances including W/D. $1380/mo. No pets. Available now and August. 979-703-8925 or info@gwbcs.com 4bd/2ba house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com
3/2/2 House, $1000/mo. W/D, lawn care, pets ok, near TAMU. 1002 Wedgewood Circle, Bryan. Huge back porch, privacy fence, trees, shed. Ag owned. 713-397-2112.
4bd/2ba large house, 1-mile from campus, close to everything, W&D and mowing included, fenced and pet friendly, www.LoneStarHousing.com
3/2/2, fenced yard, appliances, pets OK with refundable deposit. $1050/mo. 1001 San-Benito. 979-690-0786.
4bd/2ba Updated. On shuttle, fenced yard, W/D connections, pets ok. 3413 Wildrye $1250/mo. AggieLandRentals.com 979-255-1108.
3/3 duplex, Oldenburg. High ceilings, huge closets, tile floors, all appliances, and many extras. $1200/mo. Pre-leasing for August. 979-229-6326. 3/3 spacious duplexes off Graham, Aggie owned, 1411sqft, W/D and lawncare included, wood floors, fenced yard, $1000/mo., Must See! 713-397-3444. 3bd/1.5ba Townhome w/covered carport. Fenced, pets ok. W/D connections, updated, bikiing distance to campus. $750/mo. AggieLandRentals.com 979-255-1108. 3bd/2ba house on shuttle bus route, new carpet, paint, covered parking, fenced backyard, W&D included, dog friendly, $1250.mo, 832-858-3630. 3bd/2ba House on small cattle ranch. 12miles from campus. $750/mo, includes water and trash pickup. Prefer someone w/ranch experience. 979-690-6192. 3bd/2ba house. 812 Blanco, in Bryan off 2818. Updated. Fireplace, fenced. No pets. No HUD. $895/month. Available August. 254-289-0585 or 254-289-8200.
4bd/2ba Updated. Will have new flooring and paint upon move-in. Fireplace, large fenced yard, pets ok. W/D connections. Close to TAMU Health Science Center campus. $1250/mo. AggieLandRentals.com 979-255-1108. 4bd/4ba private bathroom. $295/$270 per room. Whole condo $1180/$1080/mo. Wood/tile floors, large living room, new refrigerator, central a/c, walk-in closets, on shuttle. Student community, large pool, basketball court, sand beach volleyball. 979-574-0040, 281-639-8847. 4bdrm/2ba house, available 8/2, 2-car garage, hot-tub, $1500/mo. bike to campus, 979-229-7660. 704 Gilchrist. 4bd/3ba. Huge living/dining, looks over creek. All appliances, W/D, CA/CH. 2/1 upstairs w/outside entry. Master +main bath downstairs, +study, +bath off kitchen. No dogs. $1400/mo. Discounted for long-term leasing professionals Leave message 512-477-8925. Available August. Available now! Newly renovated 4bd/2 Jack and Jill bath. W/D, Lawn Maintenance, pest-control. $1460/mo. 3530 Farah, C.S. Contact 940-300-6220. Bryan duplex. 2848 Forest Bend. 2bd/1.5ba. W/D included. Fenced yard, pest control and yardcare provided. Fireplace. $575/mo. 979-731-8951.
Puzzle answers can be found on page 4 of today’s edition
FOR RENT C.S. 4-plex. 707 San Pedro. 2bd/1ba. W/D provided, water paid. Yardcare and pest control provided. $550/mo. 979-731-8951. College Station: 1/1, 800sqft, $575/mo. and 2/2, 1000sqft, $700/mo. Shuttle, all appliances, W/D, lawn/pest/maint. included. 906 Spring Loop (off University). KAZ Realty 979-324-9666. Cottage. Holik C.S. 2bd/1ba, 1000sqft., W/D, Balcony, wooded. Private drive. Quiet. $650/mo. 979-777-2472. Cozy 2bdrm/2bth condo 3-blocks from campus, yard, w/d connections, over 1000sqft., no HUD, updated, $585/mo., 506-A College Main 254-289-0585, 254-289-8200. Fourplex 2bd/1ba, Duplex 2bd/2ba. $595/mo and $650/mo. $500 deposit. Near shuttle. Pets ok w/deposit. W/D connections, some utilities included. 979-696-8899. Gleissner Hall, Northgate area. Walk to campus. Water, sewer, and garbage paid. 1/1 $555/mo. 2/1 $665/mo. 979-846-8981. Horse Lover’s Dream! 3bdrm, minutes from A&M, 5 acres, Fenced, $1395/mo, 4334 N.Grahm. 979-776-8984. http://sites.google.com/site/aaarentalcs/ Duplex for rent, 2/1, no deposit. $599/mo. 979-450-0098. Leasing for August! 4bdrm/2bth houses. Spacious floorplans. Great Location. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, w/d, fenced yards, refridgerator, icemaker,lawncare. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com Newly remodeled 4/2 house. Walking distance to campus, tile & wood floors, great location, nice big deck & yard. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com TRADITIONS AT NORTHGATE! $1000 off with sublease. 2bd/1ba. tradcs@yahoo.com Walk to campus. 2bd/1ba four-plexes. 405/407 Cherry. $500-$600/mo. Call 979-260-7000.
HELP WANTED AlphaBEST Education, Inc. is seeking qualified individuals with educational and child-care experience for academic based after school programs in the Bryan Independent School District. After-school until 6:30pm. $10.50-$15/hour. rostermann@alphabest.org Callaway House is now accepting applications for Community Assistants. Apply online at: http://www.americancampus.com/ our-company/employment or apply in person at: 301 George Bush Drive West. EOE.
HELP WANTED PT Graphic Designer: Need to be proficient in Photoshop, Flash, HTML, and CSS. Designs must be cross browser compatible and knowledge of MySQL and PHP is a plus. Email resume to carol@systekmail.com or call 979-695-9955. The Corner now hiring all positions for daytime and afternoon shifts. Come by in person after 9pm to apply.
LOST & FOUND Lost black wallet. $100 Reward if I.D. found. Call 817-501-6650. Lost Chihuahua. Black and brown. Name is Primo. Missing since 7/24/11. Lost around Walmart, C.S. 979-739-0555.
MISCELLANEOUS JUNK IN THE TRUNK BCS Resale Shop, 1909 S.College Ave., Bryan. Used Furniture, Appliances, TV’s, Home Decor, Antiques, Cool& Unique Stuff, cheap! 979-224-2462. www.junkinthetrunkbcs.com
MUSIC Party Block Mobile DJ- Peter Block, professional 22yrs experience. Specializing in Weddings, TAMU functions, lights/smoke. Mobile to anywhere. Book early!! 979-693-6294. http://www.partyblockdj.com
PETS 1-Tea Cup registered ShihTzu, Tea Cup poodles, Tea Cup designer puppies. $350-$600. 979-324-2866 linda_d_54@yahoo.com Adopt Pets: Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kittens, Many purebreds. Brazos Animal Shelter, 979-775-5755, www.brazosanimalshelter.org
REAL ESTATE B/CS. Sell/Buy/Invest! Re/Max, Michael McGrann. TAMU ‘93 Civil Engineering. 979-739-2035, Nadia McGrann, 979-693-1851. aggierealtor.com
ROOMMATES 2-roomates needed. Spacious 2-story townhouse off Harvey Mitchell. Fully furnished. 4/2.5 $400/mo. +1/4 utilities. 713-823-9340. Available Now! 2-Male roommates needed. 3 bed, 2 bath house built 2010 in Bryan off Finfeather. Just 5 minutes from west campus. W/D in house. Rent is just $400 +utilities. Call Myles at 817-648-8842. Female roommate wanted, $350/mo. plus utilities, Woodbrook Condos. Call 281-795-4110.
Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan.
Female roommates needed. 3bd/2ba duplex. 2.5miles from campus. 1-block to bus stop. $325-$350 +utilities. Available now. 832-573-9744.
Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.
Roommate needed. 1-block from campus. All amenities. 979-846-3376.
Housekeeper for C.S. home. P/T, M-F, daytime only. $10/hr. Call 979-450-4363, laladypoet@yahoo.com
Roommate wanted. $300/mo. All bills paid. Fully furnished. 979-777-4445.
Immediate opening for a math teacher- all levels. Science a plus. Late afternoon and evenings, Mon-Thurs. Call Sylvan at 979-846-4988. Local business needs office assistant M-F. No weekends. Apply at 3320 S. College Avenue. 979-779-7042.
Roommates needed at Rolling Ridge Mobile Home Park. Contact Hunter 979-481-4148, 979-548-0548. Roommates needed. 4bd/4bth $350/mo, washer/dryer, phone & internet, University Place on Southwest Parkway. 281-844-2090.
Mix practice veterinary clinic seeking full-time receptionist. People skills a must! Email resume to scvs_navasota@yahoo.com Part-time warehouse help needed. Flexible hours. Business hours are M-F 7:30-5. Apply at Valley Supply 3320 S. College Ave. Bryan, TX. 979-779-7042.
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news for you texas Perry Slams President’s speech AMARILLO, Texas — Texas Gov. Rick Perry slammed President Barack Obama’s speech on the debt ceiling debate as condescending on Tuesday, saying he heard the president tell Americans they “just wouldn’t understand” the issue. “Mr. President, Americans are paying attention, and they do know what they’re talking about, and they do realize that what you want to do is raise taxes, spend more, put America further in debt,” Perry said. “And that’s not what they want to do.” The Republican governor, who said he is still evaluating whether to jump into the race for his party’s presidential nomination, said he was stunned that Obama “would think that Americans aren’t paying attention” to the debate.
nation&world Lawyers push back StraussKahn date NEW YORK — The court date that could determine the fate of the sexual assault charges against Dominique StraussKahn was postponed Tuesday for more than three weeks as prosecutors kept evaluating a case rocked by their doubts about his accuser’s credibility, and then roiled by her public pressure on them to keep pursuing it. Lawyers for the former International Monetary Fund leader said Tuesday they’d agreed to put off the Aug. 1 date to Aug. 23 to give Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. more time to investigate, as they did weeks ago in agreeing to postpone a date once set for July 18. But they underscored Tuesday that they were looking forward to an answer soon on what prosecutors plan to do. “We hope that by August 23 he will have reached the decision to dismiss” the case, said the attorneys, Benjamin Brafman and William W. Taylor. Strauss-Kahn denies the attempted rape and other charges. The DA’s office declined to comment on the investigation. Prosecutors have shown signs that they are conducting an extensive probe that could take some time.
Federal review denies cancer link to 9/11 NEW YORK — Ground zero residents and first responders sick with cancer will continue to be excluded from receiving help from the federal government program created to aid victims of the Sept. 11 World Trade Center terror attacks until at least 2012. A federal review of scientific evidence, required under law and published Tuesday, supports keeping cancer off a list of Sept. 11 health problems including asthma, interstitial lung disease and mental illnesses such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Some first responders and people who lived near the lower Manhattan site on Sept. 11, 2001, believe their cancer is connected to the cloud of toxins that bloomed from the destruction of the 110-story WTC twin towers. But the review, by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, determined that “very little” evidence had been reported on the link between the massive toxic cloud and cancer. Associated Press
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voices thebattalion 07.27.2011 page4
GUESTCOLUMN
Debt ceiling food fight Jackson Lane: We need grownups, not politicians
W
ashington has been given the task of managing future government’s spending. Capitol Hill has historically been known as rather inefficient at accomplishing business at hand and in this case, it might turn out to be extremely dangerous for the outlook of the United States economy.
Artist’s name — THE BATTALION
Osa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
As we should have expected, the politicians in Congress have taken the opportunity to make their own political point to please their constituents. Less than ten days away from the August 2 deadline, a day in which the federal government would effectively run out of money to fund itself, the markets have been in suspense, leading S&P, the world’s leading debt-rating agency, to warn of a possible downgrade of U.S. government bonds. This would send the economy into a downward spiral worse than was seen in the 2007-2009 recession, but politicians in Washington are engaged in game of chicken with our future livelihood. Not only must Congress address the future debt ceiling deadline, but a federal deficit reduction plan must soon be agreed upon. Several plans have come to the floor of the House and Senate last week to help deal with America’s debt
crisis. The House-passed Cut, Cap and Balance, a plan that calls for the raising of the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion, over $1 trillion in immediate government spending cuts, and the future discussion of the adoption of a Constitutional amendment that calls for balanced federal budget. In the Senate, a bi-partisan group has proposed a deal that proposes nearly $4 trillion in spending cuts along with a tax reform plan that would provide $1 trillion in additional revenue. The first priority must be to raise the debt ceiling, so that during the first week of August, the United States can pay for the day-to-day operations of government, as well as pay for pension and entitlement obligations guaranteed years or decades before this crisis. Although it might seem like a smart move to make in moving toward financial solvency, the Congress should do all it can to put in place reform and raise
the debt ceiling quickly, so the markets can breathe a sigh of relief and avoid a financial catastrophe. The plan should include both cuts to discretionary spending and reform to Social Security and Medicare in hopes we might confront the impending entitlement debt death spiral. Not only must this plan include spending cuts, but it might have to include some tax hikes and/or closures of some tax loopholes. Although no one likes tax increases, it might be required to achieve a balanced budget. Both Democrats and GOP leaders in Congress must be willing to compromise in order to sidestep certain economic doom. Jackson Lane is a senior finance major.
TAKE A PIECE OF A&M HISTORY WITH YOU · Reserve your 2012 Aggieland The 110th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook will chronicle traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, Greeks, campus organizations and seniors and graduate students. Distribution will be during Fall 2012. Cost is $75, plus tax. Go to the optional services box in Howdy when you register for fall.
· Order your 2011 Aggieland (if you haven’t) The 2011 Aggieland yearbook will be a 720-page record of the 2010-2011 Texas A&M school year. Books will be mailed out during Fall 2011.
· Purchase the award-winning 2010 Aggieland (if you haven’t) The 2010 Aggieland is a 632-page photojournalistic record of the 2009– 2010 school year. By credit card go online to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.
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