The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 23

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Vol. 95, Issue 23

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

Memory alive one year later

THE ‘GREEN FAIRY’ Find out the history behind absinthe and if the myths about the drink are true. page 2

SPORTS

GETTING TO KNOW Learn about San Diego State volleyball junior middle blocker Lauren Salisbury. page 3

TEMPO

REEL TO REAL Read interviews and a review of Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut titled “Whip It.” page 4 Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

TODAY @ SDSU Belly Dance Lessons 1 p.m., Peterson Gym 240 Students will exercise while learning the art of belly dancing.The one-hour class costs $60 for ARC members and is held every Wednesday until Oct. 28.

For more of today’s headlines, visit:

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CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199

EDITOR

IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CITY EDITOR, KEVIN MCCORMACK 619.594.7782 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

People gathered to remember Luis Santos, a local college student who was killed near campus. Four suspects have been charged with criminal offenses in relation to the incident.

K R I ST I N A B L A K E S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

Friends and family of a slain Mesa College student gathered to mark the oneyear anniversary of his death with a candlelight vigil at San Diego State on Sunday night.

The man, 22-year-old Luis Santos, was stabbed to death Oct. 4 last year, near the Aztec Recreation Center while walking home from a party with friends. The 8 p.m. vigil was held in the parking lot of the ARC. In an interview before the gathering, the victim’s

father, Fred Santos, tried to describe how hard the last year has been for him and his family.

“It has been tough,” Fred said. “We have good days; we have bad days. It has been tough. It has been very tough.”

Relatives and friends from the San Diego community, the Santos’ hometown of Concord and other states arrived to remember him at the site of his slaying. However, they came to remember his life, not his death.

“In remembrance of him we are getting together to remember him the way he

lived his life,” Fred said.

Santos described his son as extremely people-oriented and friendly. He said that his son enjoyed music and was a huge sports fan. His favorite sports were football, basketball and baseball; he rooted for the Oakland Raiders, Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco Giants.

As he fondly remembered his son, still grieving, he frequently wavered between describing him in the present tense and in the past tense.

“He gets along with everyone regardless of age or race or ethnic back-

ground,” Fred said.

“He was a very loving, caring person who helped anyone that he could help.”

Since Luis’ death, four men from Sacramento have been charged in relation to his fatal stabbing.

One of the men, 20year-old Rafael Garcia, pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to destroy evidence and will testify against the others.

This week, a judge set new trial dates for the others, 23-year-old Ryan Jett, 21-year-old Leshanor Thomas and 20-year-old Esteban Nuñez, the son of former California Assembly

Speaker Fabian Nuñez.

While he would not comment directly on the case, Fred noted that it is progressing.

“We’re just waiting and letting the legal system take its course,” he said.

No matter what questions are left unanswered for now, however, Fred said he and his family just wanted to concentrate on their loved one who they miss.

“We want it to be about remembering our son (and) the way he lived his life,” Fred said. “He is not physically with us, but he will remain forever with us.”

FEATURES EDITOR, AMINATA DIA 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS

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INDEX FOOD & DRINK............................................................2 SPORTS.............................................................................3 TEMPO.............................................................................4 CLASSIFIEDS....................................................................7 THE BACK PAGE...........................................................8

First New Member Series tonight The first New Member Series titled “Sex Signals,” will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Montezuma Hall. Check-in will start at 7:30 p.m.

“Sex Signals” is a sexual assault prevention program presented through a two-person play. The presentation’s purpose is to provoke discussions about dating, sex and the issue of consent.

“Unfortunately, many rape awareness programs lose students by being dry, somber, patronizing,

or pedantic,” according to the “Sex Signals” creator’s Web site, www.catharsisproductions.com “Sex Signals” mixes improvisational comedy, education and audience interaction to communicate to students the message of recognizing and preventing sexual assault.

“Sex Signals” will only perform for an audience of 400 attendees, according to Fraternity and Sorority Life Coordinator Doug Case. Because the Greek system is approximated at 800 members, only 50 percent of members are required to attend

the first New Member Series instead of the 70 percent that were required to attend last year.

Recruitment higher than expected Case said that he is pleased with the results of this year’s recruitment, which has increased despite the decline in overall student enrollment.

“We were concerned with having a decrease this year so we’re very pleased to have an increase,” Case said.

Case said the increase in recruitment may be part-

ly because recruitment was held later in the semester this year than usual.

The Panhellenic Association had a 9.5 percent increase in recruitment from last year. This year 378 females pledged as compared to 359 that pledged last year.

Some sororities, including Delta Gamma, Kappa Delta and Alpha Epsilon Phi, will be recruiting informally throughout the year because the chapters did not reach the maximum limit of 130 members.

The Inter frater nity

Council has received 354 bid cards so far this semester.

However, because recruitment for the IFC is less formal than that of the Panhellenic Association, these bid cards are tentative. Case said usually 75 to 80 percent of the males who place bid cards actually decide to pledge. If 75 percent of those bids actually pledge, Case said, then recruitment will result in 266 members for the IFC, which is an increase from 245 last year.

—Compiled by Staff Writer Reem Nour

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The Daily Aztec

FOOD & DRINK

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Popularity of absinthe increases in bars K A R I L UU S TA F F W R I T E R

Although a mysterious allure swirls around the alcoholic drink absinthe, most rumors about it are false. Some people argue bohemian artists and writers from the 19th century had described hallucinations and visions of a “green fairy” after drinking absinthe — these are also untrue.

Absinthe had been banned in the U.S., France and Switzerland since the early 1900s partly because Swiss man drank two glasses of absinthe (plus a lot of other alcohol) and killed his family.

According to chemist and the American distiller of Lucid Absinthe Supérieure, T.A. Breaux, when wine crops failed in the late 19th century and prices increased, absinthe became a cheaper alternative to other types of alcohol. In order to regain the market, the wine industry launched a propaganda campaign using the example of the alcoholic Swiss man to demonize and eventually outlaw the drink.

Since absinthe’s 2007 legalization in the U.S., it has been a popular commodity in many bars and taverns, such as The Tower Bar on University Avenue.

“People really like the mystique and myths about it,” The Tower Bar owner Mick Rossler said. “It’s one of those drinks that if one person is seen drinking it, everybody wants one.”

Rossler serves his drinks the old-

fashioned French way known as “La Louche.” The process involves a fountain dripping icy water over a sugar cube on a slotted spoon into a shot of absinthe. “The Bohemian Method” started in Amsterdam in the ‘90s and involves setting ablaze a sugar cube that is pre-soaked in alcohol, dropping it into a glass of absinthe and then adding a shot glass full of water to douse the flames. However, this is not the preferred method of bartenders because it is hazardous and takes away the potency of the drink.

“People usually like it chilled and generally it’s never recommended people to have absinthe straight,” Rossler said.

Wormwood is the main ingredient in absinthe. Rossler even insists this generation of absinthe is the same as it was 100 years ago.

However, the wormwood now has less levels of thujone. Thujone is a naturally occurring chemical that in large amounts can cause nausea, convulsions and even death.

According to The San Diego UnionTribune, thujone was rumored to cause hallucinations and madness in absinthe drinkers. Although, it now seems these symptoms were because of common alcoholism and beverage impurities.

According to Rossler, thujone is also related to the chemical THC, which often has a sedative effect.

“Out of all the alcohols out there, no one acts crazy on absinthe,” Rossler said. “Instead, people act very mellow.”

MCT Campus

The myths surrounding absinthe’s hallucinogenic effects are false; no hallucinations actually take place after the alcohol is consumed.

However, the mellow feeling only works when the drinker consumes only absinthe. Rossler generally recommends never mixing absinthe with other alcohol.

As a precaution Rossler also mentions, when purchasing

absinthe, make sure the label says “Absinthe Superior.”

“Some brands add food coloring to make it that bright green,” Rossler said. “If it doesn’t say Absinthe Superior, then it’s fake and not the traditional kind.”

For now, drinkers can party like it’s 1899 — sort of. Nonetheless, interested drinkers can purchase quality absinthe in specialty beverage stores such as BevMo!. The price ranges between $40 and $75.

The realities behind juice cleansing diets This diet aims to cleanse the body with natural juices NICOLE C ALLA S A S S I S TA N T F E AT U R E S E D I T O R

Few things are more refreshing than starting the day with freshsqueezed juice. After all, juice is rich with nutrients, flavorful fruits and enough energy to start a morning

off right. But one’s attitude toward juice may change when having to drink it as a sole source of nutrition.

A juice diet requires individuals to substitute all solid breakfast, lunch and dinner foods for juice.

Whether it be a juice cleanse to fight fat or for cancer prevention and treatment, juice cleanses have been used for years by doctors and the health conscious.

While eliminating all solid foods from one’s diet may seem like an extreme diet choice that can often lead to “yo-yo dieting,”

juice cleanses are often used to “cleanse the body’s palette” to improve the body’s functions, not for crash dieting.

The negative stigma associated with juice cleanse diets are not true, according to Dr. Sandra Cabot’s book, “The Juice Fasting Bible.”

“A juice fast … is extremely good at ailing the body to heal itself. The best available evidence indicates that minerals and other nutrients contained in juices help break down and dispose of old and dying cells, rejuvenate active cells,

and speed up the process of building young and vital cells,” Cabot stated in the book.

Going on a juice cleanse requires careful monitoring of one’s diet to ensure the diet is properly executed.

“I did a juice diet and I lost weight, but I was always weak and famished for food, so after I went off of the diet, I gained all of the weight back,” Lauren Mielke, a San Diego State alumna said.

“However, during a juice fast, one is consuming plenty of food …

MCT Campus

Juice cleansing diets, or juice fasting, attempts to cleanse the body with all-natural juices. First-timers need to make sure they consult with a doctor to avoid any health problems.

There is no restriction on the amount of juice that can be consumed. Therefore, it should not happen that one feels hungry during a juice fast,” Dr. Cynthia Foster, who practices alternative medicine, stated on her Web site.

“Many people make the mistake of not drinking enough juice … Drink at least a gallon per day, and more if there is hunger.”

To ease the process for firsttime juice dieters, juice cleanses don’t have to last weeks to experience the benefits. According to Cabot’s book, there are four effective juice fasts that last from one to seven days. The One-Day Energy Fast helps control desires for unhealthy food while allowing the body to repair after a weekend of unhealthy food and alcohol damage. There is also a Seven-Day Deep Cleanse Fast that is meant for more serious and experienced juice dieters who seek a more intense detoxification of the body.

The healthiest juices to drink include: greens (parsley, kale, beet greens and chard), root vegetable drinks (carrots, beets and sweet potatoes) and fruit drinks (dark grapes, apples and citrus), according Foster’s Web site.

Before starting a juice cleanse diet, there are important guidelines to prepare the body.

“I strongly suggest that a minimum of five to seven days before beginning your juice fast — no matter its planned duration — you remove all animal products from your diet … Also cut out all greasy and deep-fried foods … By the third day your fast begins, your diet should basically consist of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds and beans,” Cabot wrote.

Before starting a juice diet, it’s highly recommended to consult with a doctor to learn more about personal health restrictions and proper usage of the diet.

SPORTS

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

VOLLEYBALL

The Daily Aztec

3

CLUB SPORTS

Getting to know: Lauren Salisbury

‘Juice’ Vazquez finds niche on football field M AT T H E W M C C L A N A H A N CONTRIBUTOR

On Mondays, Justo “Juice” Vazquez changes to a different person. He brushes his teeth a little harder and he ties his shoes a little tighter. But it’s not that he cares for fresh breath more than anyone else does on the first day of the week. Vazquez does it because he’s jacked up. And why wouldn’t he be?

Mondays are flag football game day, baby.

“Ever since I was a little kid sports have been a natural high for me,” Vazquez said.

“I’m usually a low-key person, but on game days, I’m really active around my house. I do everything ten times harder.”

When Vazquez was a child he was a bit on the chubby side. His peers picked on him because of his belly and the teasing was often hard to bear. But there were two things that would cheer him up: humor and sports.

Vazquez turned to humor because he learned life is better when you’re able to laugh at yourself, and he turned to sports because when Vazquez is on the field and has the ball in his hands, there’s only one thing on his mind: Touchdown.

While Vazquez is no longer chubby, his looks continue to precede him on the football field.

“I roll up in my soccer cleats and I have this ragtag look about me,” Vazquez said. “I look like I’m a soccer player trying to play flag football.”

But if appearances translated into performance, Larry Bird wouldn’t have been one of the best basketball players ever. And similar to what Bird did on offense, Vazquez leaves his opponents with wobbly knees and a reminder that it’s dangerous to underestimate him.

On defense, the story is much the same.

Vazquez is easy to find for unfamiliar spectators and he’s not shy about letting you know it.

“I’m the guy on the corner making plays,” Vazquez said.

This is not an opinion to be debated, but a fact that other teams must deal with. This San Diego State club flag football phenom is a fierce competitor and if he were allowed to tackle, he would. But because tackling is prohibited, Vazquez rips flags from his opponents’ waists and leaves the laundry on the ground for his victims to pick up. And his demeanor doesn’t change when he does this.

There’s no celebration dance and there’s no trash talk. Because according to Vazquez, “It’s all business, all day.”

But sports for Vazquez aren’t like a business at all. Sports have always been there for him and there are no words a person can say that can soothe the soul the way a pick-up game can. Sports are Vazquez’s Grand Canyon. They are his “Mona Lisa.” And when Vazquez is on the field, he is free from the multitude of life’s anxieties.

Sports, for Vazquez, are also a reason to brush his teeth a little harder and tie his shoes a little tighter.

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Junior middle blocker Lauren Salisbury leads the Aztecs with 146 kills and a .318 hitting percentage.

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

Name: Lauren Salisbury Position: Middle blocker Number: 3 Height: 6-1 Class: Junior High School: Carrol High School Hometown: Southlake, Texas How she fits When junior middle blocker Lauren Salisbury was named to the preseason allMountain West Conference volleyball team, it was clear that she would play an important role for the San Diego State volleyball team this year. Not only did she finish last season as an all-conference selection, but she led SDSU in hitting with a .344 percentage. But she brings more than just talent to the Aztecs.

“Everyone on a team takes some type of leadership role,” Salisbury said. “I like to think I let my teammates feel confident and know that they (can) beat anyone on the other side of the net.”

Season so far SDSU has depended heavily on Salisbury thus far, as the she is one of only three on

the team to start in all 15 matches. She leads the Aztecs with 146 kills and a .318 hitting percentage. Earlier this season against San Francisco, Salisbury notched a season-high eight blocks in a 3-1 victory for SDSU.

Matthew McClanahan / Contributor

Despite his “ragtag” appearance, Justo Vazquez is a force to be reckoned with on the flag football field.

Best tool Salisbury has been one of the most consistent players for the Aztecs this season, but she contributes in another way as well.

“I bring a lot of enthusiasm to the team,” Salisbury said. “Some players are quiet and some are loud, I think that I bring energy to the court. I also try to always show my teammates that I will always play hard and that they can always rely on me at any point in the game.”

Something you don’t know Similar to many of her teammates, Salisbury had to make a choice between two different sports before focusing her attention on volleyball. “I love basketball,” Salisbury said. “I chose volleyball over basketball in high school. Although I love volleyball more than anything I still miss basketball sometimes.”

Quotable “I have already learned so many new things from our new coaching staff,” Salisbury said. “I think that we are progressing like we thought we would and I think we still have a lot of room to grow and become a stronger team.”

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

SPONSORED BY

FOR SDSU VOLLEYBALL

Advanced Test Preparation

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Games played for junior middle blocker Lauren Salisbury this season

59

Sets played by Salisbury

146

Team-leading kills for Salisbury

.318

Hitting percentage by Salisbury this season

744

Kills by SDSU this season

768

Digs this season for the Aztecs

58

Blocks recorded by Salisbury this season

139

Blocks recorded by SDSU this year

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

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TEMPO

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

UP CLOSE AND CINEMATICAL

‘Whip It’ director, actors talk roller derby A L L I E D AU G H E R T Y A S S I S TA N T T E M P O E D I T O R

The Daily Aztec: How are you different from most directors?

Drew Bar r ymore: Well, one of the things I think is a little unorthodox is I don’t have a video village, which can be a place a lot of producers gather around and critique performances or shots. Or they all sort of get involved.

I have everyone stay far away from the actors and trust in our process. And I work right next to the camera, so when I’m working on a performance I’m able to say to the actor “Please do what you would do naturally. I don’t want to get in the way of your instincts.”

And we’ll try that take, then, “All right, let’s try it this way,” and we’ll start to amalgamate both of our instincts together. Then I’ll say, “Can we try and do this line reading I’ve heard for the last two years in my head?” But one of my favorite things, ultimately, is to say, “Surprise me.”

And I love to keep the camera rolling. I think you can get three very different line readings if you do them three different times in a row rather than cutting between each take … it’s about just getting out there and being in a sort of boxing match with your actors and trusting them and inspiring each other and stimulating each other. And it saves a lot of time. I also don’t say “Action” and “Cut,” which glides people into a scene very naturally and glides people out of the scene very naturally. And in editing those heads and tails are very, very, very invaluable.

DA: Was it difficult to balance directing the film and acting in it at the same time?’

DB: It would have been easier in some ways to just focus on directing, but I wanted to be in the trenches: Understanding the scary, hard, unattainable goal of achieving the skills of roller derby. I wanted to be getting injured in there with them. I think that instead of being just a leader, there’s something different about a coach. I feel like a coach is in the dugout, they’re with the team; they’re sweating it out with them, inspiring them, motivating them to go farther. I didn’t want to be the guy who owned the team and sat up in a glass

Courtesy of Darren Michaels and Fox Searchlight

rebelling against beauty pageants, being tough and taking charge appeal to you most about the script?

DB: I studied a lot of films that represented pageants and they all parodied them, they all made fun of them and I didn’t want to do that in this movie. I think pageant is not something to be talked down about. It’s a way of life, it’s a door-opener, it’s a life choice for people. It wasn’t right for Ellen’s (Page) character Bliss in the movie and it wasn’t right for me

of all those things I feel with my own friends, which is find your tribe.

DA: After completing the movie, in what ways did you find directing to exceed your expectations and in what ways did you find it not meeting your expectations?

DB: It definitely did not meet my expectations on any level. It’s a 24-hours-a-day, sevendays-a-week job. You have to love something so much that you’re willing to get out of bed for three years and focus all of your passion and all of your attention on something.

So the only thing I would say to any other director is you’ve got to love the thing that you’re working on more than anything, because it becomes your life. I look forward to finding something else to love (as much as) this film, my first film I got to direct.

DA: How would you describe Pash’s and Oliver’s role in the bigger picture of “Whip It?” A l i a S h a w k a t: Pash is Bliss’ best friend in the movie, and she kind of represents how she’s gone through this small town and this kind of controlled world that her mother keeps her in. She represents who Bliss is in how she feels lost and not knowing who her “self” is and then she discovers herself in the bigger picture, bringing it full circle in roller derby.

Landon Pigg: Yeah, they’re like two obstacles that kind of help further depict her journey, which is the main story: her changing and her overcoming some personal issues.

AS: Yeah, exactly. (Oliver is) through sex, I’m through friendship.

Courtesy of Darren Michaels and Fox Searchlight

box up and away (and) be a sideline dictator.

For me it was really great to feel like I was in it with everyone and knew what they were going through. That way we could push each other further, as well.

DA: How did you go about capturing the feel of Austin, Texas (where the movie takes place)?

DB: I find that when I watch a lot of films about Austin, I sort of see this sort of stock footage drive-by of the capital. As much as I love the capital building, I find that I (like) to avoid landmark types of places … I tried to show the sides of Austin that not only derby girls themselves, but certainly I hang out in and go to as a real lover of Austin.

DA: Did the feminist aspects of this film such as

personally (because) I equated pageants to Hollywood. I was never someone who could fit in a certain box or upheld the idea of perfection. I’m an incredibly flawed character, and I find that I’m a little bit more like a derby girl than a pageant girl in that I embrace my flaws. I want to go out there and instead of being poised, I kind of want to be athletic.

And go out there and kick butt and show what I can do! And I also don’t like watching women be competitive with each other and have it be about winning or losing. I like watching women be a team and have great camaraderie and help each other up and have done good healthy competition, but help each other up when the other one gets knocked down, or go drink a pitcher of beer at the end of a game. Derby was emblematic

DA : Alia, would you support your own friends in roller derby?

AS: It depends on the friends. Yeah, probably.

No, I would. It’s a cool sport. I’m a tiny bit shallow in the fact that I like my friends to be involved in something cool. So they either have to be an artist or something interesting.

Otherwise, I get bored easily. So, yeah, I would definitely support them in roller derby because then I could be like, “Yeah, I have a friend, she’s a roller derby girl.”

DA: What did you think of the funky outfits you had to wear in the restaurant scenes?

AS: The Oink Joint uniform was really great.

Catherine Thomas, who’s the most amazing wardrobe stylist, made them and I think they’re hysterical and great. I think a lot of Pash’s actual clothes were some of mine and some of hers. We kind of combined it, but I liked it. I think it brings a comedic feel.

DA: Did either of you have any say in the soundtrack?

AS: I didn’t. Only that I was like, “Oh, this

sounds good,” and they were like, “All right.

We’ll put it through, then.”

LP: I had a lyrical say, a little melodic say, some choral, structural say. Yeah, Drew was keen on encouraging me to go for it and see if I could come up with anything that worked in the film. And “High Times” was a song that got written for it, and now it’s on the soundtrack. So that’s nice. That’s a nice little treat.

DA: Landon, how was the transition from writing songs to acting in a major motion picture?

LP: There’s some similarities there. The creative process in a lot of the arts, I think, comes from a similar kind of mental state anyway. So there’s just a way to approach things with a kind of … is it left, no I think right brain is the creative side. But it was an all right transition. I did some musical high school theater back in the day, and that was a little more similar to the transition.

DA: How was it for both of you to work with Drew as a director?

A S : Drew was an amazing director. She is very patient, I trusted her. So patience, trust, she’s very pretty … I like that. And she’s just like, a fun-time gal. She’s just great. I enjoyed every minute of it. And I think everyone in the cast did, too.

LP : Every positive thing you might assume about Drew Barrymore is in fact entirely true. So if you think she’s fun-loving, if you think she’s loyal, if you think she might know how to have a good time, if you think she might be a smart businesswoman — all these things are true.

DA: Did she have any certain directing techniques?

AS: Yeah, well as an actress. I think Quentin Tarantino said once that every new director should take acting lessons first. True story. …

Obviously Drew is an actress and has been for most of her life. So, she really knew how to connect to the actor’s side.

LP : Yeah, a quick story on the heels of that is the scene where (Pash is) kind of getting arrested, and the cop (had her) face down on the car. I remember watching the scene and Drew was on the hood of the car with Alia and she’s almost to tears as well because she’s empathizing with what (the) character must be feeling like. So she’s a very hands-on director in that way.

A S : She uses a lot of method. Some of those actors who do method work, they pull from real experiences. And she did that with me.

It helped a lot.

TEMPO

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Daily Aztec

5

REEL 2 REAL

Barrymore directorial ‘Zombieland’ tames gore with comedy debut doesn’t skate

MCT Campus

T I M D R AU T CONTRIBUTOR

Darren Michaels and Fox Searchlight

Despite a butt-kicking female cast, film falls short A L L I E D AU G H E R T Y A S S I S TA N T T E M P O E D I T O R

“Bliss” is defined as a type of supreme happiness. In the new film “Whip It,” however, Bliss is a 17-year-old girl who is anything but happy.

Her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) consistently enrolls her in beauty pageants — a place where Bliss’ blue hair and army boots don’t fit in. Yet when she discovers a flyer in the neighboring town of Austin, Texas, she finally finds a way to escape her small town of Bodeen: Roller derby.

Bliss (Ellen Page) soon finds herself transfixed in the world of roller skates and tough names. After blindly auditioning for and making the derby team known as the Hurl Scouts, she is thrown into a life she feels she can finally fit into. Her brutal moves on the track earn her the nickname Babe Ruthless, and she along with her teammates Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), Bloody Holly (Zoe Bell), Rosa Sparks (Eve) and Smashley Simpson (Drew Barrymore) fight to become this year’s champions. Still, Bliss must learn to manage relationships from her old and new life such as with her best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat) and her new crush Oliver (Landon Pigg).

The rules of roller derby are simple: Four members from each team make a pack on the oval-shaped track. The jammers, who are the only ones who can score, are 20 feet behind them. The girls make laps around the track, and a point is given for each person of the

opposite team a jammer passes. This may sound simple, but for a world laden with basketball and football movies, “Whip It” provides some refreshing sports action scenes.

And don’t let the roller skates be misleading: Roller derby is a vicious event. Nonetheless, the movie fits more into the genre of dramatic comedy than sports.

“Whip It” earns most of its importance from being Barrymore’s directorial debut.

Unfortunately, however, it’s obvious she’s a beginner. Although the film has good acting, noticeable chemistry between the characters, and a fabulous announcer named Johnny Rocket (Jimmy Fallon), many things are missing. The movie has no clear beginning and just seems to start off running. The Hurl Scouts overcome its losing tendency with seemingly no explanation, many questions go unanswered and sometimes the plot is unclear. It may make more sense to those who have read the book “Derby Girl” by Shauna Cross, on which this movie is based.

“Whip It” is a fun flick for the average moviegoer as long as expectations aren’t too high. It was released in theaters last Friday.

For more information on “Whip It,” visit www.foxsearchlight.com/whipit.

Movie: Whip It Distributed by: Fox Searchlight Directed by: Drew Barrymore Release Date: Oct. 7 Grade: C+

“Enjoy the little things” is the message of Columbia Pictures’ new horror-comedy “Zombieland.” Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), an unlikely young hero who lives by his own set of survival rules, introduces audiences to a world where nearly every human on earth has been infected with a zombie virus.

On his way to Columbus, Ohio, in search of his family, Columbus meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a gun-toting, zombie-killing tough guy with a heart of gold determined to find the last Twinkie on earth. The new buddies later encounter two sisters: Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). The four are forced to team up to search for a zombiefree area while still working out their trust issues with each other and picking off mean nasty zombies along the way.

Even though this movie features scary zombies, it plays like a family comedy.

Levity is maintained throughout the film as Columbus facetiously narrates his point of view and offers visual anecdotes of his previous zombie encounters. When the neurotically phobic and safety-minded Columbus meets the witty, aggressive Tallahassee, the capacity for jokes is sufficient enough given the chemistry between the two. Add obese zombies, Bill Murray and an abandoned Hostess truck full of cream-filled treats to create the funniest movie of the Halloween season.

Murray cameos himself during one of the movie’s best scenes at his Beverly Hills mansion. This sequence alone is worth the price of theater admission.

For those wondering, “Zombieland” portrays zombies as fast, violent victims of a pandemic infection (similar to “28 Days Later”) as opposed to the slow, reanimated corpses of George Romero’s legendary “Dead” series. Memorable zombie appear-

ances include an undead Charlie Chaplin impersonator and Clown Zombie (Derek Graf), who happens to be Columbus’ archnemesis. While this is not the first zombie clown to appear on screen (Romero featured one in both “Day of the Dead” and “Land of the Dead”), Clown Zombie definitely takes the cake as the best dressed and most menacing.

One notable difference between “Zombieland” and fellow zombie comedies such as “Shaun of the Dead” and “Dead Alive” is that this one is a little less gory.

While there is just enough blood and guts to keep die-hard horror fans appeased, the level of carnage is relatively tame, especially given its R-rating. This does not take away from the film, however, as it features zombie kills creative enough to satisfy fans of both horror and comedy. For instance, dropping a piano from a church rooftop (which earned Zombie Kill of the Week) or shooting zombies from a moving rollercoaster during the film’s finale at an abandoned amusement park.

The chemistry between the four lead actors is apparent in their performances by conveying believable changes among the characters’ attitudes as they interact with one another, which shows Ruben Fleischer’s accomplishment in directing his first feature film. “Zombieland” is a sunny, humorous take on the zombie movie — unlike any other of its kind. Its priceless gags and family dynamic should be enough to win the hearts of even the most skeptical of audiences.

Movie: Zombieland Distributed by: Columbia Pictures Directed by: Ruben Fleischer Release Date: Oct. 2 Grade: A

6

The Daily Aztec

TEMPO

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

LIVE AND DANGEROUS

Robert Earl Keen showcases blues craftsmanship P AU L H E R N A N D E Z S TA F F W R I T E R

The handmade craftsmanship of Robert Earl Keen’s songs comes from a tradition that is not common these days. Keen’s influences draw from the practitioners that surrounded his upbringing in his native state from country legend Bob Wills to one of the godfathers of slick blues, Lightnin’ Hopkins. Such broad yet unified cultures of music surrounding his residency has made Keen one of the more gifted songwriters to come from the Lone Star state in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Houston-bred and born Keen showcased his songwriting talents at the House of Blues last Thursday, coaxing his folk, country and rock textures that have kept his musical tradition unmistakable and fresh.

Storytelling sing-alongs was the theme for the evening with the loyal attendees who were armed with tall boys and cowboy lids.

“Feelin’ Good Again” proved its namesake with a chorus that boomeranged across the venue of fraternity followers.

The five-piece band (Rich Brotherton on lead electric guitar and vocals, Bill Whitbeck on bass and vocals, Tom Van Schaik on drums, Marty Muse on pedal steel guitar and Keen on guitar and lead vocals) gracefully owned its Texas musicianship and wit with songs about trailer-park holidays such as “Merry Christmas From the Family” and salute to chew “Copenhagen,” with lyrics such as “What a Wad of Flavor!” Keen’s band and the crowd acknowledged that the songs were becoming more enjoyable with alcohol.

Even between songs, Keen told tales of life

and how some of his songs came about with booze being involved, such as the track “Village Inn Motel,” for which Keen claimed he wrote in the wee hours of the morning after a night of drinking in Idaho.

Humor wasn’t the only craft covered, however. Renditions of Townes Van Zandt’s “Flyin’ Shoes” pleased the souls of the serious fans as did the Grateful Dead’s “Ripple,” which was sung by guitarist Brotherton during the encore. Naturally, the tombstone favorite “The Road Goes On Forever” was the clinching ballad that rambled into a jam giddy-up that served as the soundtrack for the night’s gathering.

“The Rose Hotel,” Keen’s latest project in four years on the label Lost Highway, yields his signature sounds of painted landscapes and rustic, drunken hoedowns. The CD also features guest appearances from Billy Bob Thornton and the baritone vocals of Greg Brown.

Constantly digging for a good story, Keen’s musical personality has consistently grown in depth and control. “The Rose Hotel” has once again personified his unique sense of wordsmith and pride through irony and satire.

Paying homage to fellow musicians who’ve touched the heart of many is a core element in Keen’s pioneering craft. The opening track “The Man Behind The Drums” effortlessly pays musical debt to another treasured musician, Levon Helm (formerly of The Band).

To check out Keen’s emerging sound, visit www.robertearlkeen.com. And for more information on upcoming shows at The House of Blues, visit www.hob.com.

Karli Cadel / Senior Staff Photographer

Karli Cadel / Senior Staff Photographer

Karli Cadel / Senior Staff Photographer

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THE BACK PAGE

The Daily Aztec

DAILY HOROSCOPE

HUMOR: I’M A GIRL, YOU KNOW

The etiquette of living

M

aybe it’s just me, but I’m beginning to think more and more people have forgotten the etiquette of life. Actually, let me rephrase that: By people, I mean 99.9 percent of San Diego State students. As if I already didn’t hate waltzing around on campus four days a week as it is, the masses of people I am forced to share sidewalk space with have to completely and utterly irritate the hell out of me now too.

I don’t claim to be a perfect person — mainly because my friends and family remind me on a daily basis of what a train wreck I am — but come on now people.

Didn’t your parents teach you anything about good manners when you were a child?

I’m not talking about the simple “please” and “thank yous,” because frankly, if you don’t do that already, you’re a total waste of life in my book. What I’m referring to here are customs so simple even your dog would be able to execute them.

For starters, I hate walking up any set of stairs at school. The only reason I choose them instead of the elevator is because I’m not handicapped, and I don’t want to become another obese American who looks in desperate need of a treadmill and a lifetime membership with Jenny Craig. Nevertheless, whoever decided the multitude of staircases were in fact essential to my well-being should be shot.

R Y A N E I S E N AC H E R S E N I O R S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

Now, taking into consideration I hate having to trudge up and down these stairs all the time, there’s nothing that aggravates me more than people who don’t understand the right-of-way rule.

You know, kind of like when you don’t have a stop sign, but the guy attempting to make a left turn does, which in turn results in him having to stop? Well, it’s the same damn thing when it comes to stairwells, except it goes a little something like this: up the right, down the right.

Someone please enlighten me. Where in this phrase do you see “I’ll walk up and down the left,” or “I’m so ignorant I’ll just push my backpack into you while I attempt to barrel straight down the middle?” Oh right, because you don’t.

Don’t try to justify your ignorance by using the excuse that you “just had no idea,” because it’s common knowledge. But hey, for the moronic people who really “just had no idea,” now you know. If you do it to me again, I’ll “accidentally” trip you down the stairs.

Another thing that ticks me off almost as much as having to utilize the stairs on campus is driving my car through Parking Structure 4. If I weren’t lazy, I’d probably park in PS1 or PS6, where it is much easier to locate a parking spot, but that would require walking an extra 100 feet

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

to get to campus and that doesn’t really fit into my agenda.

For some reason though, the people who circle the eight levels of PS4, hoping to snag a real winner of a spot, also just so happen to have the driving experience of a 16-year-old who just got their license.

Please explain to me why it is necessary to come screeching around the corner like a bat out of hell and stare at me like I’m the idiot when you are the one driving in both lanes? I’d like the name of your driver’s ed instructor so I can call him or her and ask why they thought it was appropriate to pass you after they obviously skipped the entire section on parking with you.

I know I’m nowhere near a flawless driver, considering I have three speeding tickets under my belt, but I do know this: There is no need to drive 45 mph in an eight-story parking structure.

Doing so is not going to make a parking spot magically appear and it will not get you to the fourth floor any faster so you can speed home and make it in time for happy hour. Cut it out, or next time, I swear I will crash my car straight into the grill of your car and tell my insurance company I suffer from chronic seizures.

—Ryan Eisenacher is a journalism senior.

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (10/07/09) Words have power. Right now you can recall the details and put them together in a suitable package.This takes surprisingly little effort and gains excellent results.Today you can depend on your luck.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - You're being drawn in seven different directions at once. Share your intuition with others, and go with it.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - The important thing is to think things through before starting. Let instinct point your feet in the right direction.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 With all the activity around you today, be sure to take time for special moments with your partner.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 You get 67 chances today to get your ideas out in the open. Please get the lid off that box!

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 Fantasy is a medium you suddenly appreciate.This doesn't mean you should go around telling lies.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 Everything's cooking on the right burner

now! Just be sure to add the spices at the right time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 Balance work with pleasure. Ask an important question. Listen carefully to the answer.You may be surprised.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - If you remember a dream once you're awake, share it with the first person you see. Or record it in your journal.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - As if you didn't have enough to do on your own, others add to the pile.

Sort the high-priority items.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Your list of things to accomplish is huge. By day's end it will be short. More than one opportunity arises.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - You form or strengthen partnerships today through generous offers and practical means.The same goes for tomorrow.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 You have a lot of thread to weave into the fabric of your work today.You're definitely up to the task. © 2009,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

—This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

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.

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com © 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

CROSSWORD

A SWEET SERENADE Senior Staff Photographer karli cadel snapped a shot of the opening act for Robert Earl Keen at the House of Blues this past weekend.

1200 Student Employees as.sdsu.edu/jobs

ACROSS 1 Perform in a play 4 Skilled 8 Check signers 14 1950 Edmond O’Brien suspense classic 15 Sliding __ 16 Hide out 17 49th state’s largest city 20 Parking spot money taker 21 Sly 22 Grating sound 23 1/60 of a min.

25 “Was __ hard on him?”

27 E.M. Forster classic set in fictional Chandrapore 35 “What __ is new?”

36 Washroom, briefly 37 Is ahead 38 __ for tat 39 Houses with sharply angled roofs, and what this puzzle’s four longest answers literally have in common 42 Point to pick 43 Sam of “The Piano” 45 Dapper guy?

46 __ about: approximately 47 Classic Italian “farewell” song 51 Far from tanned 52 Conclude 53 Loud crowd noise 56 Community service org.

59 Popeye’s creator 63 Two-part drama that won two Best Play Tonys and a Best Miniseries Emmy 66 Freezing period

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 18 “Steppenwolf ” writer Hermann 19 Way off the turnpike 24 Young cow 26 Lubricates 27 Health Net rival DOWN 28 One with a trade 29 Moving about 1 Eve’s mate 2 Ice cream holder 30 Needle-toothed fish 3 Diplomat’s forte 31 Give the slip 4 Has a crush on 5 NYC’s Bronx, e.g. 32 “Hawaii Five-O” nickname 6 Bread purchase 7 Thus, to a logician 33 Figure of speech 8 __ win: go all out 34 Stars, in Latin 39 Thomas __ 9 Afflict 10 Beginning of Edison 40 Scuff or scratch time, figuratively 41 Suffix with differ 11 Film lioness 44 Interpret via 12 Korean soldiers mouth move13 Trade 67 Pesky kid 68 Acne spot 69 Clinton press secretary Myers 70 Tax time VIPs 71 Commercials

ments 46 Neatness 48 Paris palace 49 Moore of “Ghost” 50 Maps within maps 53 Vice squad action 54 A single time 55 “The African Queen” co-screenwriter 57 “The Suze Orman Show” channel 58 50-and-over org.

60 City near the Sphinx 61 Word before rain or rock 62 Sewer rodents 64 The “L” in XL: Abbr.

65 Goat’s cry