The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 84 by The Daily Aztec

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Vol. 95, Issue 84

THE

DAILY

w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m

AZTEC

Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913

I N S I D E T O D AY FOOD & DRINK

SDSU receives biotech grant S U M M E R R A I N B O LT S TA F F W R I T E R

BEST BEERS Find out about the surplus of San Diego breweries and what they have to offer. page 2

SPORTS

SENIOR NIGHT The SDSU men’s basketball team will say goodbye to its lone senior Kelvin Davis tonight. page 4

TEMPO

BAD COP “Brooklyn’s Finest,” the latest cop movie, doesn’t measure up to action-genre expectations. page 5

TOMORROW @ SDSU SDSU Men’s Basketball Practice 4:45 p.m.,Viejas Arena The Aztecs will hold an open practice tomorrow for all fans with a valid Red ID. Check out page 4 for more details.

CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199

In an effort to revive the biotechnology industry, the federal government has granted biotechnology programs within San Diego $4.95 million. The San Diego State College of Sciences collaborated with BIOCOM, a life science association, Miramar College and the U.S. military to form a proposition presented to the U.S. Department of Labor in October to receive stimulus money. The college was notified two weeks ago that the proposal was passed and they were awarded the grant they had hoped for. The biotechnology industry in San Diego is suffering a shortage of workers and the stimulus money will be used to train SDSU and Miramar students, military, veterans and unemployed workers in the community. San Diego is the third largest hub for biotechnology in the nation. The industry recruited a large portion of its workers from the community in the past, but now recruits more out-of-state and international workers. “Part of our goal is to keep the jobs in California so that they don’t have to import jobs from outside and hire them to do our work,” College of Science Dean Dr. Stanley Maloy said. “It’s our commitment to develop the workforce.” “It’s a three-year program to create jobs,” College of Extended Studies Dean Dr. Joe Shapiro said. “It is designed to create a long-term pipeline that will meet the need demand that is currently in biotechnology and life sciences as well as reach sustainability once the program is over.” The project is divided into five stages: start-up, recruitment, training, placement and retaining. “When you get into the project, it is designed to help people with no experience whatsoever to people who already have bachelor degrees and want to work on receiving their master’s degree,” Shapiro said. The “start-up” stage began Monday and SDSU students affili-

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Recently received stimulus money will be used to train local workforce in biotechnology and help employ San Diego State graduates.

ated with the project will begin enrolling in classes this summer. According to Shapiro, there will be a bigger push for students to enter the biotechnology field in the fall. “It’s important because this industry is one of the key drivers of the economy in the San Diego area,” Maloy said. “Workers need to be robust and healthy to help the rest of the economy be strong.” Maloy and Shapiro began planning for this program last summer. “It is a combination of players that were already involved and we

are just bringing them all together,” Shapiro said. According to Maloy, the grant has to be dispersed among many different areas within the program, meaning they will have to find a way to make it last. The area of concentration at SDSU will be in clinical lab sciences. “It’s a lot of money, but a really big problem,” Maloy said. “There are just not enough people in the industry.” San Diego received one of 55 grants awarded nationwide from the U.S. Department of Labor. San

Jose State was also awarded a grant. “We feel like this program is unique in the country since it is a collaboration of programs in the same industry,” Shapiro said. “We are no longer just one entity, we are all working together in San Diego.” The program plans to help students receive internships and jobs after graduation. A few of the companies within BIOCOM that will be giving internships are Life Technologies Co., Prometheus Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Gen-Probe and GenOptics Bio Interactions.

EDITOR

IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CITY EDITOR, WHITNEY LAWRENCE 619.594.7781 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

GREEK BEAT

FEATURES EDITOR, NICOLE CALLAS 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

OPINION, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

TEMPO EDITOR, ALLIE DAUGHERTY 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

PHOTO EDITOR, GLENN CONNELLY 619.594.7279 PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

WEB EDITOR, MYLENE ERPELO 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977

INDEX FOOD & DRINK............................................................2 SPORTS.............................................................................4 TEMPO..............................................................................5 CLASSIFIEDS....................................................................7 THE BACK PAGE............................................................8

Fraternity chapter closed Kappa Sigma fraternity’s national board revoked its San Diego State charter last week as a result of a violation of its probationary status, according to Doug Case, coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Case received a statement from the fraternity headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., that stated: “The Board of Directors of Kappa Sigma Fraternity has closed operations of its EpsilonIota chapter at San Diego State University for violation of the fraternity’s code of conduct. The chapter has 30 days to appeal this action, if it so elects.” Until the 30 days pass, the headquarters cannot release details of the violations committed by Kappa Sigma, according to Mitchell Wilson, executive direc-

tor of the fraternity headquarters. As of now, all operations of the chapter are closed, Wilson said.

Sorority hosts philanthropy this week Kappa Alpha Theta is hosting a broomball tournament called “Kites on Ice,” for all the fraternities at 9:30 p.m. this Friday in the Salvation Army Kroc Center on University Avenue. “It’s going to be a fast-paced, high-energy event that will be really fun to watch,” Kappa Alpha Theta President Mia Myklebust said. Tickets for the tournament are $4 pre-sale and $5 at the door. All proceeds will go to Court Appointed Special Advocates, an organization dedicated to providing a voice to abused, abandoned and neglected children, according

to the sorority’s Web site, www.sdsutheta.com/philanthropy.php. The sorority is also holding a fundraiser for CASA today from 11 a.m. to midnight at Yogurtland on El Cajon Boulevard and a beach cleanup at Ocean Beach from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. “It will be a week full of friendly competition and fun culminating in the broomball tournament Friday,” Myklebust said.

Fraternity “Derby Days” philanthropy Sigma Chi will be hosting a paintball tournament for the sororities at 9 a.m. Saturday at Lakeside Giant Paintball Parks. Mike Posner will host a concert at the Sigma Chi house later that night, according to Kevin Gelfand, Sigma Chi member. The philanthropy beneficiary is the

Children’s Miracle Network, “a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals,” according to the organization’s Web site.

New Member Series next week The second New Member Series, titled “Embracing Life’s Challenges: Greeks Tell their Stories,” will be held on Tuesday in Hardy Tower 140. Check-in will begin at 6:30 p.m. The event will highlight a panel of Greek students facing challenges including Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a visual disorder, a hearing impairment and dwarfism, according to Case.

—Compiled by Senior Staff Writer Reem Nour

FOOD & DRINK

The Daily Aztec

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Native breweries satiate craft beer cravings

Stone Brewing Co. Cheap, commercial beer pales in comparison to beer from Stone Brewing Co. With the menacing gargoyle logo and bold beer flavors, Stone is a favorite among beer enthusiasts. As the winner for the best brewery of 2008, Stone beers’ rich colors, thick density and ferociously hoppy ales make even beer snobs grovel at its greatness. Founded in 1996 by two men with a passion for beer, Stone has become known for making the San Diego brewing industry a classier business, as it continues to perfect the art of beer making. Stone’s flavors range from light pale ales with minimal hops to robust India Pale Ales. With seven house ales available yearround (including the local favorite Arrogant Bastard Ale), specialty ales for every season and 32 beers always on tap, Stone Brewery’s Escondido location is the place to be on weekends. With two bars, a lovely pond and

Pizza Port Pizza and beer is a typical staple of a good party, as it is probably one of the best combinations that has gone hand-in-hand since milk and cookies. Pizza Port has perfected the formula since 1987 when it first opened in Solana Beach. It has since expanded by opening other popular locations in Carlsbad and San Clemente. Pizza Port may not be the fanciest joint given its wooden, picnic-style tables, but this family-friendly eatery serves mean wings and scalding pizza with excessive amounts of cheese and sauce. With more than a dozen house ales on tap, they complement the pizza very well. The signature beer is Sharkbite Red, a robust red ale made with Centennial and Cascade hops that lends a spicy finish to the beer, according to its Web site. However, a word for the wise, Pizza Port’s darker beers tend to be bitter and detract from the pizza’s taste. For more information on daily beer, call 858-481-7332.

AleSmith Brewing Co. For those trying to escape hoppy flavors, AleSmith’s ales have rich and malty flavors. For those who don’t need the whole experience of food paired with beer, AleSmith is a hidden gem in the San Diego County for those who want an alternative. The Nautical

Courtesy of StudioSchulz.com

Nut Brown is the most popular beer at this brewery, which is an English-style ale that has a dark, rich, chocolate-malt flavor and a dosage of hops, minus the bitterness. Take a tour in AleSmith’s warehouse to enjoy the strong and complex flavors of the beers and their humorous names such as Old Numbskull, Horny Devil and My Bloody Valentine. Each sample is $1, but they are generously proportioned. For more information or tour times, call 858-549-9888 or visit www.alesmith.com.

Additional notable breweries Ballast Point Brewing Company has craftmade, specialty ales with a San Diego atti-

tude. For more information about tours call 858-695-2739 or visit www.ballastpoint.com. San Diego Brewing Company has greasy and finger-licking good food to complement its seven house beers readily on tap. More information can be found on its Web site at www.sandiegobrewing.com. Gordon Biersch may not be from San Diego, but one can’t miss this brewery’s delicious pairing of excellent food and rich beers that have a German flair. Visit www.gordonbierschrestaurants.com for more information. Whether desiring specialty lagers or just a beer on tap, San Diego is a hot spot for those longing to test their taste buds at many local breweries.

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RAINY DAY SPECIALS

Q U A L I FI E D PATIENTS WE L C O ME

SDOWA

1150 Garnet Ave. www.SDOWA.org

(858) 750-2401 10:30am-9pm Monday-Sunday

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Some may argue beer is better from a can, but nothing can quite compare to drinking malty liquor from a cold glass that brings out the crisp flavor of the frothy rim. Luckily for San Diegans, there hasn’t been a better time to love beer because they don’t have to travel far for a quality draught. San Diego county has become a diverse hub for beer connoisseurs as it is home to 33 different breweries. It may not be Munich, Germany, but Men’s Journal has ranked San Diego the number one beer town in the U.S. Some breweries have even mastered the art of pairing liquor with meals. Here are some of the native, home-crafted breweries that have become San Diegan favorites.

Ingraham

S TA F F W R I T E R

garden, Stone Brewing impresses even those who don’t drink alcohol. Uniquely enough, most of Stone Brewing’s food uses ale as a base, cooking it in with the food and making the meals and beer a match made in heaven. Free beer can be sampled at the daily tour, making the trip to Escondido more than worth it. For more information, visit www.stoneworldbistro.com.

Mission Blvd.

K A R I L UU

Grand Ave.

FOOD & DRINK

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Daily Aztec

Opposing fast food by making snail-paced meals The world is recognizing the importance of quality, tradition and “slow food” SA M I C OLLINS CONTRIBUTOR

Courtesy of Slow Food International

Directly opposing the fast-food phenomena of restaurants such as McDonalds’ opening all around the world, “slow food” emphasizes the importance of enjoying and appreciating the origins of quality food.

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Rome’s Piazza di Spagna is renowned for its architectural beauty. Sloping steeply from the court’s base to the church Trinità dei Monti, these “Spanish Steps” have served as a landmark and a place of peace for nearly 300 years. But in 1986, a disturbance affected this antiquated plaza. Directly adjacent to the local farmers markets that congregate at the steps’ foundation was the grand opening of a McDonald’s. An icon of fast food and of fast-paced habits now sat in a square where the atmosphere favored local craftsmanship, agriculture and, most importantly, the value of enjoying an unhurried life. The ironic presence of this McDonald’s inspired Italian food writer Carlo Petrini to found the slow food movement in 1989. “Slow food” is a direct jab at the term “fast food” and attempts to foil the manner in which food is prepared, served and eaten in places such as the Piazza di Spagna’s McDonald’s. “Slow Food helps people rediscover the joys of eating and understand the importance of caring where their food comes from, who makes it and how it’s made,” according to www.slowfood.com. A major emphasis of the movement is simply to appreciate the vibrancy of local, organic tastes and to reinstate the traditional products of specific agricultural regions. Slow food’s influence has spread since Petrini’s initial resistance in Bra, Italy to bases

in nine different countries with major headquarters on every continent except Antarctica. Today, there are more than 100,000 members in the worldwide effort. San Diego is also home to a slow food community that was started in 2001 by Chef Gordon Smith and six other members. Written in bold, red letters in the “About Us” section of www.slowfoodsandiego.org, the allimportant mission statement is reiterated: “Slow Food San Diego supports community efforts toward a greater understanding and availability of quality, sustainable and local food ... SFSD is committed to preserving food traditions and reviving the table as a center of family and community,” the Web site states. The clubs’ activities are constructed on the grounds of furthering Slow Food’s philosophy and availability. “(The mission is to) build relationships with producers, campaign to protect traditional foods, organize tasting and seminars, encourage chefs to source locally, nominate producers to participate in international events and work to bring taste education into schools,” according to www.slowfood.com. “(Slow Food’s promise is to) cultivate the appreciation of pleasure and quality in daily life.” Becoming a member of Slow Food is a simple, one-step process. Prospective members can fill out basic residential information and make a minimum donation of $60 at www.slowfood.com. Slow Food promises members a connection to a local chapter and invitations to regional, national and international food events. “(It also offers a chance to) become part of a growing movement that is changing the way America eats,” according to www.slowfood.com. And this ambitious enterprise is slowly, but surely, doing just that.

The Daily Aztec

SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Aztecs say goodbye Trio of post players rely on one another to senior leader B E AU B E A R D E N S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

David J. Olender / Assistant Photo Editor

Kelvin Davis has battled through chemotherapy and radiation treatments during his career at SDSU but has always kept a positive attitude. His teammates said tonight will be a “win-one-for-Kelvin” game.

E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

Kelvin Davis is a jokester. He’s the senior leader of the San Diego State men’s basketball team, but he’s been known to let his teammates have it from time to time. As junior guard D.J. Gay said, “He always has a joke for somebody. Every day it’s something new. Whether it’s talking about somebody being overweight or just talking about something else, he’s always on somebody’s head.” After practice at Viejas Arena one day, Davis made a bet with junior forward Billy White: First person to 11 points in one-on-one wins. The loser probably had to buy nachos. Davis played off of White, forcing the 6foot-8-inch, 235-pound power forward to shoot the ball. When White missed, Davis got the ball. After that, Davis just started jacking up jumpers. “Every time K.D. touches it, he’s hitting shot after shot,” Gay said. “He hit like six or seven in a row, and he’s just yelling and talking and talking and Billy just gets really quiet.” White tried to get serious. He tried to Dup the 6-foot-3-inch shooter. But Davis just kept making it rain. “The score was like 10-2 and K.D. was winning,” Gay said. “And it was like game point, and K.D. steps back like 3 feet behind the 3-point line and he shoots it in his face and just turns around as if he were Gilbert Arenas and it goes in. And he’s just running around the gym; running around the gym just leaving Billy there with the sad face. “And that’s K.D. for you. You know, he’ll pick you up, but he also knows how to bring you down. That’s K.D. for you.” His teammates love and respect him. And how could they not? He always has a smile on his face, even if it is at the expense of one of his teammates.

But they loved that smile even more when he was going through some of the most difficult times of his life. In April 2008, Davis was diagnosed with cancer. Hodgkin’s lymphoma hindered him in the 2007-08 season and sidelined him for most of the 2008-09 season. But he battled through chemotherapy and radiation treatments and still found time to joke with his teammates. “I never saw much change aside from when he came back from his chemo,” Gay said. “When he came back from that, you could tell those days that he was sick and something was wrong with him. But other than that, he always had a joke to tell, he always had a smile, he was still K.D. He never changed.” After a practice last season, nearly two months after he finished his chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he was on the court with Brian Carlwell shooting 3pointers. He backed up about 6 feet behind the 3-point arc, turned to Carlwell and said, “Bet you nachos I can make three in a row from here.” Carlwell told him no way. So Davis started shooting. First shot, swish. Second shot, swish. On the third shot, as he released the ball, he screamed, “Nachos!” It bounced off the rim. He laughed, turned to Carlwell and flashed a smile. “We’re going to miss him,” White said. “He is a fun guy to be around. I had a great time with him for my three years here. I wish he could come back another year. We’re just going to miss him.” Davis will play in his last regular-season home game at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Viejas Arena against Colorado State. White said tonight will be a “win-one-for-Kelvin” game. “I don’t know what my feelings will be like until I step on that court and get the butterflies out,” Davis said. “Hopefully it’s our official last home game instead of coming back for the NIT Tournament.”

BEATBOX Open practice tomor row The San Diego State men’s basketball team is encouraging fans to come out to tomorrow’s practice at 4:45 p.m. at Viejas Arena. Students with a valid Red ID card can catch the final 45 minutes of SDSU’s practice and enjoy pizza and soft drinks.

Head coach Steve Fisher and the Aztecs will speak to fans at the end of practice thanking them for their support this season. SDSU will play Colorado State tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Viejas Arena and will finish its regular season on the road against Air Force on Saturday.

Jessika Bradley, Paris Johnson and Allison Duffy have more than just a connection on the court for the San Diego State women’s basketball team. The three post players have a friendship off the court that has played a big role in their success together. And it has been the hard times that have helped them relate to each other the most. “Everybody has their moments during the season, when you just want to break down because you’re frustrated about how you’re playing or if you’re performing or not performing,” junior forward Bradley said. “There’s so much stress that it takes, that when I have a hard day at practice a text from Duffy saying, ‘Hey you’re good, come watch a movie or something.’ “Or I know that I can go to study hall with Paris and Duffy and then still end up being with them at 11 at night because we don’t want to leave each other. So I think it’s that, that when we’re in good times it makes us appreciate it so much more.” Most of the fun they have together stems from their similar personalities. Johnson mentioned that they make a lot of jokes, while Bradley said they’re really goofy. This connection has helped create a comfort level on the court that allows them to trust each other when it comes to a key moment in a game.

“If I see Paris cutting on the baseline and I know it’s her, I know if I pass it to her she’s going to do something with it,” Bradley said. “And if it’s Duffy, I can kick it back out and she can hit the three.” This versatility that all three players provide SDSU with has been important all season, especially because the Aztecs didn’t have it last year. Johnson was depended on heavily, but now a lot of the pressure has been relieved. “It’s hard for teams to guard all three of us when we’re on the court,” junior center Johnson said. “Because usually they’re going to want to double me, JB or Duffy, but now Duffy moves to the three. So they have to stay out on her, which is going to leave us in the post.” With just two Mountain West Conference games remaining, the success of Bradley, Johnson and Duffy will be key for SDSU (1610, 8-6 in MWC play) as it prepares for the MWC Tournament beginning on Tuesday. But first, the Aztecs will play their final regular season road contest against Colorado State (13-14, 5-9 in MWC play) at 6 p.m. today at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. “This game is significant for us for a lot of reasons, but mostly to finish with 10 wins in conference which is one of our latest goals,” Bradley said. “CSU is a good team and we don’t take anyone lightly. Also, the older players realize what wins and losses right now mean when it comes time for the MWC Tournament.”

Beau Bearden / Senior Staff Writer

Junior forwards Jessika Bradley, Allison Duffy and center Paris Johnson have built off of each other to give SDSU a formidable presence in the paint. The Aztecs’ final two games before the MWC Tournament are this week.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

SPONSORED BY

FOR SDSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 6.6 41

Advanced Test Preparation

Rebounds per game for Jessika Bradley this season, a team-high Assists this year for Bradley, a team-high for forwards

.351

3-point shooting percentage for Allison Duffy this season, a team-high

24.6

Minutes per game this year for Duffy, a team-high for bench players

.530

Team-high field-goal percentage for Paris Johnson this season

Blocks for Johnson this year, second only to Bradley’s 51

Games remaining for SDSU’s regular-season schedule

Week until the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

TEMPO

The Daily Aztec

REEL 2 REAL

Another sub-par cop drama lacks gravitas M AG G I E P E H A N I C K S TA F F W R I T E R

Hopefully, the day will come when producers stop throwing money at mediocre crime dramas. That day has not yet come. Instead, audiences will be subject to yet another feature film intent on showcasing the gritty reality of those policing life on the streets. Director Antoine Fuqua’s attempt to recreate the success of his 2001 hit “Training Day” falls short on a number of levels. “Brooklyn’s Finest” spends half its run time creating empathy for the three main characters and never gets around to constructing a coherent, involving story. While the film follows the same vein of police corruption as its predecessor, it lacks any element of plot.

Despite the drawn-out attempt to establish a bond with the three officers, there is no shortage of superfluous gunfire and naked women throughout the film.

Courtesy of Overture Films

“Brooklyn’s Finest” originally premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and impressed viewers because of the all-star cast. “Brooklyn’s Finest” will begin playing in theaters nationwide on Friday.

The best scene in the whole movie and, consequently, the only one with any shred of unpredictability, establishes Sal (Ethan Hawke) as a cash-strapped crooked cop. With his wife expecting twins, Sal is procreating faster than he can build rooms in his small Brooklyn, N.Y. home and sacrifices his professional and personal ethics in order to provide for his family. Meanwhile, veteran officer Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere) spends his time with one of Brooklyn’s finest hookers, crossing days off his calendar until his planned retirement. Fans of a cheerier Gere will be disappointed to find him extremely worn down and increasingly unlikable throughout the film. The usually dependable Don Cheadle blatantly looks like a fish out of water in his role

as Tango, an undercover cop immersed in Brooklyn’s drug-trafficking community. Exhausted by his double life and begging placement at a desk job, Tango finds himself conflicted when his former accomplice, Caz (Wesley Snipes), returns to the streets after being acquitted of a crime. The film begins amid turmoil between gangsters, civilians and police. The main characters are not connected until their desperate storylines finally collide at the end. Unfortunately, by that time the audience is still not invested and relatively apathetic toward their fates. The opening scene contains a dialogue about how people are not good or bad, but can be “righter” or “wronger.” The next two hours and 20 minutes are spent painstakingly trying to illustrate that principle: There are rarely instances of absolutes; instead, there are always shades of grey. Despite the drawn-out attempt to establish a bond with the three officers, there is no shortage of superfluous gunfire and naked women throughout the film. In fact, “Brooklyn’s Finest” has more bloodshed than a Quentin Tarantino flick. The violence depicted is not a means to an end, but merely an opportunity to show as much blood pour out of people’s mouths as possible. The film is about brutality and aims to show violence and betrayal occur equally on the streets as inside police precincts. Unlike 2006’s “The Departed,” which operates on a similar basis, “Brooklyn’s Finest” lacks heart, skill and intelligent casting. Fuqua mistakes shoddy camera work, argyle-clad gangsters and a barrage of forlorn looks for a well-articulated story. The film suffers because of it. The one redeeming quality is a super-fly ‘70s soundtrack, but even groovy tunes only go so far. For more information, go to www.brooklynsfinestthemovie.com.

Movie: Brooklyn’s Finest Distributed by: Overture Films Directed by: Antoine Fuqua Release Date: Friday Grade: D

UNDER THE SCOPE

Scottish rocker looks forward to HOB show K AT Y M C C R E E RY S TA F F W R I T E R

Scottish band Biffy Clyro is soon to hop across the pond to grace San Diego with its presence at the House of Blues alongside Manchester Orchestra, The Features and O’Brother this Sunday. But before it does, The Daily Aztec had the chance to speak with bassist and vocalist from Biffy, James Johnston. Johnston dissects the life of a rock artist living in the U.K., gives advice for aspiring artists and conveys his excitement about coming to sunny San Diego.

The Daily Aztec: Is this your first time performing in San Diego? James Johnston: No actually, we played a festival in San Diego a few years back. We are all looking forward to coming back. DA: I know it’s been awhile, and given scheduling while on tour, you probably didn’t get to really explore, but is there anything about San Diego that you are looking forward to seeing or doing? JJ: The thing that I am most looking forward to: the great weather. We come from Scotland. There is notoriously bad weather over there; it’s always raining. It really affects people’s moods and demeanor by being outside in the nice weather. Where we come from we are always indoors, so it will be a nice change.

DA : How do you enjoy playing with Manchester Orchestra? Is this part of a tour or is it just a onetime performance? JJ: We are playing part of a tour that hasn’t started yet. We both supported a band named Say Anything. This isn’t our first time with them — we are friends with them and we have toured together before and they asked us to come out on the road with them again. DA: Are there any songs you especially like or dislike performing? JJ: There are none I dislike performing, we really like playing all of our songs; we like playing them live especially. I really enjoy playing “The Captain,” it’s got a really good groove to it, a very fun song to play live. All songs take on different meanings different nights, it helps to keep it fresh and interesting for us as well. DA: Do you have a target audience? If so, what would you say that is? JJ: No (we) don’t necessarily have a target audience, hopefully people that like good music. We don’t guess who our fans are, it’s more important to make music that you believe in and play it because you like it and hope others do too. Second-guessing yourself is never a good thing. DA: As an international band, do you enjoy playing in America? How is it different as opposed to playing in the U.K.? JJ: Yeah we’re looking forward to doing it

more in the coming years. It’s a source of frustration that we haven’t played here more often. The record company hasn’t allowed us to so far. We are really excited, but all people enjoy music for the same reason. Once we start to get sweaty we have a good time regardless of where we are.

DA: While in the states, are there any slang phrases people use that particularly strike you as odd? JJ: There are words here that we don’t use in the same context, like “rubbish.” In the U.S. it means trash. But we are accustomed to a lot of the American movies so that helps us to understand. I think people have a harder time understanding us than we (do understanding) them. DA: As an artist, when you create your music is it to portray a message or more of an emotional outlet? JJ: It is for both and they don’t really differ for me. Sometimes there is a message in the songs but we are not a sociopolitical band. Our songs have meaning but it is more about personal experiences and things that happen in our own lives. DA: How do you challenge yourself as an artist and as a band? JJ: The greatest challenge is doing things differently. We try to recreate success but the biggest challenge is to remain true to yourself and make music that you believe in.

Many bands lose the enjoyment in playing and stop doing it for themselves, but we are close as a band and have been playing for about 15 years. My twin brother and I (who is also in the band) have been playing since we were about seven or eight. Enjoyment is massively underrated.

DA: Do you have any bands that you particularly like to perform or tour with? JJ: Yes, we like Queens of the Stone Age. We toured with them in the northeast states and in Europe. They are a legendary band. Every night there is something new. One of our favorite bands who we just came off tour with is Muse. Those guys are great and we really respect them DA: Do you have any advice for aspiring artists? JJ: Yeah, do things you enjoy doing, make music that you enjoy playing, do it for yourself. It’s a tough life being away from your family so if you don’t enjoy that you might hate it. You might like the idea of it but it’s a lot more hard work than it’s cut out to be. People get into this industry not knowing what they are getting themselves into, so be prepared for all the negatives as well. For tickets visit www.hob.com. For more information on Biffy Clyro, visit www.biffyclyro.com.

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HUMOR: TOADSTOOL CHRONICLES

My brother loves Taylor Swift

y brother Chuck loves Taylor Swift. He’s a 23year-old 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army. When I mockingly asked him why he likes her music so much, he told me he’s secure with his sexuality. I had to listen to Taylor Swift all the way from Santa Cruz to San Jose during Winter Break, which was a good half-hour drive. I felt funny listening to it in my brother’s Prius Hybrid. There we were, two heterosexual men in our 20s, listening to the pop / country diva’s “Today Was A Fairytale.” I felt like slapping my brother in the face to rid him of his confusions, but chose to deal with it because he seems to justify his Swift obsession: The other guys in his regiment also like her. This was especially unnerving to me — the possibility that the soldiers who defend our great nation may also have a weakness for Hannah Montana or Justin Bieber. Chuck also loves Lady Gaga, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Lady Gaga is solid. My brother tells me there are aspects of war that transcend sexually awkward moments, such as

N O A H H E N RY CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

the time he had to spoon with another man during a snowstorm. I wanted to suggest they sing Swift’s song “Teardrops on my Guitar” to take their minds off the numbing cold the next time they get into a similar pickle, but knew he’d react with violence. My brother is big, cocky and hairier than Robin Williams. I am very afraid of him. This got me thinking. Maybe the manlier you are, the less prone you are to compensate for the more “manlier” things in life such as listening to hard music, watching hard movies or having hard abs. Maybe Chuck Norris listens to Barbara Streisand before he falls asleep. Or maybe my brother just has a soft spot for girls who sing about horseshoes and cattle or whatever else Taylor Swift sings about. In my efforts to understand my brother’s obsessions with Taylor Swift, I decided to buy her album, “Fearless.” With my mom’s credit card. After a bit of listening, I was surprised to hear that not every song was about

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

pickup trucks and riding ponies (although a few were). And the pickup truck thing got me thinking. Why are female country singers always singing about their ex-boyfriend’s pickup trucks? It’s like when they break up, she doesn’t attack his personality or some character flaw, she just goes straight to that pickup truck. Then the song proceeds to acknowledge that this crazy country diva might eventually slash the tires on the pickup truck and roll it off a cliff. And sometimes, albeit rarely, the ex-boyfriend is inside of said pickup truck when it crashes into a rock face and ignites into a blazing inferno. After all of this Taylor Swift exploration, I’m still baffled and in the dark as to why my brother adores her. But I will get to the bottom of this. And I swear the next time my brother decides to play her music with me in the car, I can only hope she chooses his Prius Hybrid to roll off a cliff.

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (3/3/10) Your willingness to listen to others develops in two ways this year.Your partner(s) have plenty to say about responsibility and work.Your internal source speaks clearly about how you can remain independent AND satisfy your associates' demands. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 7 Consider a partner's demands early in the day.This frees up time to work on independent projects that tickle your imagination. Exchange ideas in a group setting. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 - Today, all group members come together to discuss the rationale for a project. An older person presents irrefutable logic. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 Logic is your strongest tool today. Associates have imaginative ideas that take work in an independent direction.Your job is to bring everything down to earth. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 5 While spending time away from home with associates, you refocus thinking on a household project. Perhaps you run across some unique home accessories. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 7 - A partner or associate offers clever insight into a problem that has resisted solution. This transforms a great difficulty into a happy conclusion. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 7 Just about everyone tells you how much

they appreciate your efforts now.These compliments spur your creative ideas. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 Your general health benefits from creative interaction with your favorite person.This could involve recreational sports or artistic pursuits. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - Your imagination has worked overtime, providing you with the concepts you need to create a practical, logical scheme. Incorporate a healing element. Add good medicine. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 7 - Don't allow others to dismiss your creative ideas. Restate your position if necessary. Make sure everyone gets your point. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 6 - Logic suggests that you bend under pressure.The best way to accomplish that is to demonstrate generosity (except on key points). AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Take time today for rest and healing. You've been pushing hard enough, and now can relax (easier to say than accomplish, maybe). PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 The focus shifts to other people.You need their resources. Find creative ways to show why they want to help you. It's a win-win. © 2010,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

—Noah Henry is an English senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Daily Aztec.

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

1 2

3 4

Instructions: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

CROSSWORD

GARDEN REFLECTIONS Senior Staff Photographer Karli Cadel shot this photo of the Botanical Garden building at Balboa Park being reflected off the lily pond.

ACROSS 1 Hit bottom? 6 Irritate 10 Excessive elbowbenders 14 Put down 15 Sandy color 16 World’s largest furniture retailer 17 Fibs 20 Author LeShan 21 “Bad” cholesterol letters 22 Scrooge creator 23 The first film it aired was “Gone with the Wind” 24 Inauguration Day events 25 Seductive peepers 29 Barnyard sound 32 A car with this is often easier to resell 33 What quibblers split 35 Asian on the Enterprise bridge 36 Deadens 39 Spanish hand 40 Seagoing mil. training group 42 Montgomery native 44 His, to Henri 45 Like large cereal boxes 48 Online suffix with Net 49 Some dashes 50 Like test papers awaiting grading 53 __ chi ch’uan 54 Swell, slangily 57 1963 Elvis hit with the lyrics “You look like an angel ... but I got wise” 60 Leave out 61 Signaled backstage, perhaps

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 62 “The Da Vinci Code” star 63 Shake, as a police tail 64 TV’s tiny Taylor 65 Typical O. Henry ending

12 Suffix with four, six, seven and nine 13 Say freshly 18 __ Dantès, the Count of Monte Cristo 19 PayPal “currency” 23 Brook fish DOWN 24 On point 1 Black Friday store 25 Cap’ns’ subordievent nates 2 Term paper abbr. 26 Make used (to) 3 Excel input 27 Apollo’s birth4 Part of i.e. place, in Greek 5 Easily heard herd myth leader 28 __ culpa 6 Feeble cry 29 Home of the 7 German “I” Hurricanes 8 “Dragnet” ser30 Cuban-born TV geant producer 9 Useless 31 United 10 Jockey’s wear 34 Pile up 11 Steinbeck migrant 37 Mideast political gp.

38 No different from, with “the” 41 De Beers founder Rhodes 43 When “They Drive,” in a 1940 Raft/Bogart film 46 Cat of many colors 47 Demand from a door pounder 48 Vindictiveness 50 Superstar 51 Pixar clownfish 52 Alamo competitor 53 Ocean motion 54 Done, to Dumas 55 Questions 56 “__ in Show” 58 __ gratia: by the grace of God 59 Mich.-based labor group