Thursday, December 10, 2009
Vol. 95, Issue 58
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 SPOTLIGHT
Mystery surrounds missing engineering hybrid vehicle
SURF’S UP Meet a professor who’s helping students discover the importance of sustainable tourism. page 3
SPORTS
TITAN BATTLE Find out how the SDSU men’s basketball team fared against CSU Fullerton last night. page 5
TEMPO
NINE TO ONE Daniel Day-Lewis stars in “Nine,” an adaptation of the Tony Award-Winning 1982 musical. page 8
Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor
The L3 Enigma hybrid vehicle (pictured below) was reported missing in October. The vehicle was stored in an on-campus garage (pictured above) near the College of Engineering.
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INDEX SPOTLIGHT.......................................................................3 SPORTS............................................................................5 TEMPO.............................................................................8 CLASSIFIEDS..................................................................15 THE BACK PAGE.........................................................16
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A two-month investigation by The Daily Aztec has revealed that a former professor could be responsible for the disappearance of the College of Engineering’s hybrid vehicle. The vehicle, known as the L3 Enigma, is valued at approximately $30,000 and was reported missing to the San Diego State Police Department on Oct. 5. The L3 was last seen in early September by students, according to Dr. David Hayhurst, dean of engineering. The L3 was built by SDSU engineering students with support and oversight from faculty. The project began in 1998 after the department received a $300,000 appropriation from the California Energy Commission through the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account. Related documents from the California Energy Commission in 1997 list Dr. James S. Burns as the project’s manager, according to documents. The L3 was used for undergraduate and graduate students’ senior capstone design program taught by Burns. It was only used the semesters Burns taught the classes, according to Hayhurst. During the time the vehicle was at SDSU, it was not uncommon for it to be taken off-campus with completion of the proper documentation. There was even a previous instance when a missing property report was filed for the L3 because of a lack of paperwork. However, it was quickly determined to be a simple misunderstanding.
“They eventually found out where it was and found out that Professor Burns had taken it,” Hayhurst said. “We don’t know whether he’s taken it this time. It wouldn’t be a bad guess to think that he might have taken it again.” Hayhurst hasn’t dismissed the possibility that the current situation could be another issue of paperwork negligence. “It’s nothing unusual for Dr. Burns to take the car off campus,” Hayhurst said. “They’ll (the police) check into that, I’m sure, and hopefully they will find the car someplace. … I don’t think it’s anything more than somebody not filling out a report.” Burns hasn’t been with the university since October, before the vehicle was reported missing. Burns was at the center of controversy last semester, after students in two of his courses had to wait more than a month and a half after the semester had ended to receive their grades. Multiple attempts by The Daily Aztec to contact Burns by phone and in person were unsuccessful. The SDSU Police Department is currently trying to recover the vehicle and is actively investigating the situation, according to SDSU Police Lt. Lamine Secka. “I would say that anybody who has been affiliated with that program, we will explore their involvement in the case,” Secka said. “To label someone or someones suspect at this point, we’re not doing that. “But clearly, anybody who has any knowledge about the vehicle from the engineering department, from the foundation, from anywhere, are folks that we would want to talk to.” The SDSU Police Department will not comment on whether or not they know the location of the vehicle.
“I’ll just say that we’re exploring leads as to where the vehicle might be located,” Secka said. Burns, who was the main individual involved with the L3, had been with the university since 1994. Shortly after he started teaching at SDSU, a disgruntled graduate student shot and killed three of Burns’ colleagues. The three faculty members killed were Chen Liang, Constantinos Lyrintzis and D. Preston Lowrey. The vehicle was named L3 in reference to their last names. Dr. Eric Frost, director of the SDSU Visualization Center, was an acquaintance of Burns’ and remembers the day of the shooting and seeing the student on a bench before the shooting took place. “I remember looking and going, ‘There’s something wrong with that guy (the student) … that guy’s distressed,’” Frost said. “But there are people every day that are stressed here on campus. It’s part of being a student.” Since the shooting, a memorial park has been constructed near the Engineering Building for the three victims. The nondescript park is slightly unkempt and vandalized.
“He (Burns) sees himself with that car — the L3 — as if he’s carrying the torch for those people,” Frost said. According to Frost, Burns and other faculty members had trouble coming to agreements at times. Another member in the engineering department declined to interview about the L3, saying, “I’m afraid that even thinking about Dr. Burns and his vehicle gives me a headache due to the persistent problems he caused the department over the years.” According to Frost, difficulties faculty members might attribute to Burns could be a result of the shooting in 1996. “There’s more there, and my guess is that is actually what might be taking place in engineering,” Frost said. “We tend to look at things like the controversy that is surrounding Jim Burns, (and) we just go … ‘So what was he thinking?’ “Well that doesn’t make sense. So I sort of thought, ‘Jim is making a statement to Dean Hayhurst that has nothing to do with the students.’” Although the L3 was used for engineering classes, there has not been any impact on the department’s programs, according to Hayhurst.
Courtesy of Herecomesmongo.com
SPOTLIGHT
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Daily Aztec
3
ONE PROFESSOR. ONE S TUDENT.
ONCE A MONTH.
A slam dunk for a successful career F R A N C I S R . D E L A C R U Z , Staff Writer
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Most students prefer to party, socialize and hang out when they are 21 years old, but not business management senior Rex Brown Jr. Inspired by a friend who was killed in an act of violence in the San Francisco area in May 2007, Brown started a nonprofit organization called Baskets 4 Hope. With the motto “Hope through Hoops,” Brown’s organization aims to empower inner-city youth with different sport activities such as basketball and other athletic programs.
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Sustainable tourism surfing into SDSU SYDNEE BROOKER, Contributor Imagine living in a small, elevated hut made of Sago Palms in the forests of Papua New Guinea or watching schools of manta rays breeding off the northern tip of Sumatra in Pulau We, Indonesia. For most people these experiences are out of reach. But for sustainable tourism professor Dr. Jess Ponting, they are a part of life. Ponting can often be found either in his office in the Professional Studies and Fine Arts Building or surfing at Black’s Beach. He came to San Diego State 18 months ago from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji to help develop SDSU’s sustainable tourism program. With this idea of sustainable tourism, Ponting has dedicated his life to helping underdeveloped countries around the world and getting students excited about learning through world experience. “Sustainable tourism, in simple terms, is tourism that does not deplete economic, social, cultural and environmental resources,” Ponting wrote in his publication “California Sustainable Tourism Handbook.” “The ultimate goal is to provide high-quality experiences for visitors, strengthen host communities and cultures and develop tourism-related livelihoods while preserving the surrounding environments.” His other achievements and publications include, drafting Fiji’s surf tourism development policy and writing the book “Consuming Nirvana: The Social Construction of Surfing Tourist Space.” He was also the first person in the world to complete a doctorate degree in sustainable surf tourism and has been published in surf magazines, scholarly journals and textbooks from Indonesia to South Korea. Traveling and going to school has taught Ponting diverse lessons about the world. “In order to achieve conservation, which has always been my driving goal, you need to have an alternative for local people to achieve development,” Ponting said. “If you’re asking people in the Amazon not to allow others to come and cut down their rain forest land for a profit, you need an alternative for them. Community development and
conservation are intrinsically linked. That is the basis. It can be the key to unlock many things.” He also uses what he has learned to inspire his students. “I want to get (students) to think about the impacts of the travel that they do,” Ponting said. “I want them to think about traveling and introduce a new way of learning. Talking about it and then living it is very powerful. We want to move this emphasis to a practical learning component in terms of experience and cool internships.” Sustainable tourism students have interned for companies such as iJourneyGreen. According to ijourneygreen.com, this company allows travelers to pay an annual fee to have a portion of their carbon emissions counteracted in the places they travel to. iJourneyGreen also grants microfinance loans to individuals within specified tourist destinations. According to Ponting, this allows small business owners to purchase simple things such as sewing machines, which can dramatically advance their business and the overall economy. Other internships include six to 12-month research trips to Fiji, Australia and Indonesia that will allow interns to work with Ponting’s colleagues. Next semester Ponting is trying to introduce RTM 496, which is a one-unit field studies course focusing on the sustainability of California whale watching. Students will go to three seminars and then take a trip to Baja, California to examine the economic issues affecting the local community and the management of whale watching.
“ C u r r e n t l y, B r o w n i s busy tr ying to expand B a s kets 4 Hope to help more people and g e t o t h e r s involved.” According to Brown, his friendship with Eric Campos was started and sustained by basketball. He believed that this organization would help him remember his fondest memories with Campos. Brown’s first event was a simple basketball tournament but the organization has grown since. Nike Inc. recently awarded Baskets 4 Hope the Back Your Block grant. Out of more than 1,000 applicants, the grant was only given to selected organizations that have shown passion for sports. Brown said this grant will help expand Basket 4 Hope’s services and the funds it receives will be used for sports to help kids strengthen their lives. “My vision for the future is shared and appreciated by Nike,” Brown said. However, running a nonprofit organization takes a lot of time, and Brown’s biggest concern
“I want to (students) to think about traveling and introduce a new way of learning.” te ur Co
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“It’s a matter of rolling out exciting courses such as RTM 496,” Ponting said. “What I would really like to see is three field-based courses in one semester. I also want to form more partnerships in the industry to get more exciting internships for students.”
while building the organization was his grades. Despite his parents’ belief in the importance of charity work, he said they were also worried about him neglecting school. But Brown has stayed positive and motivated about balancing Baskets 4 Hope with school. He said he only had two things in mind: to get a 4.0 grade point average and to make his organization grow. But the organization has even helped to raise his grades, he said. “It helps your grades because it keeps you focused,” Brown said. “People who have passion (can succeed) even though it takes hours away from studying,” In addition to helping others, Brown is interested in attending law school, and his experience at San Diego State and Baskets 4 Hope certainly a valuable opportunity. Last summer, Brown spent five weeks at an all-expense paid residential study program administered by Harvard Law School, New York University School of Law and the Advantage Testing Foundation called Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools. This program helps talented and motivated undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds to prepare them for getting into the nation’s leading law schools. Among the 6,000 applicants, Brown was chosen as one of the 20 finalists. C u r r e n t l y, Brown is busy trying to expand Baskets 4 Hope to help more people and get others involved. “If you think there’s a cause that you need to fight for, then it’s worth fighting for,” Brown said.
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SPORTS
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Daily Aztec
5
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Leonard’s career night lifts Aztecs E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR
The San Diego State men’s basketball team had been in a bit of a funk the past few weeks, committing turnovers and boasting small 3point percentages. So last night against Cal State Fullerton, SDSU turned to Mr. Basketball to get the team out of its rut. Freshman forward Kawhi Leonard, recipient of CalHiSports.com Mr. Basketball State Player of the Year award in high school, piled u p a c a re e r- h i g h 2 3 points and 18 rebounds, AZTECS 82 leading the Aztecs in an TITANS 68 82-68 rout against CSU Fullerton at Viejas Arena. “Obviously Kawhi Leonard filled the stat line pretty effectively,” head coach Steve Fisher said. “He’s got big hands, long arms and pursues every shot that goes up. I’m hopeful that this will not be his high for career rebounding. He competes and plays hard, which was good to see.” Leonard led SDSU in nearly every statistical category. He was 9-of-17 from the floor, recorded a career-high five assists and played a game-high 38 minutes. In the post-game press conference, Leonard said it took a few games, but now he understands what it takes to be successful at the Division I level. “He’s working his butt off in practice, getting after shots and staying after practice working on his game and it’s showing on the court,” junior forward Billy White said. “He’s a hell of an athlete. Getting every rebound, knocking down the jumper, going to the lane, he’s doing pretty good right now. Our team’s very proud of him.” Though the Aztecs (7-2) won by 14 and their star freshman led them, there were some lowlights for SDSU last night. And almost all of them came from the charity stripe. The Aztecs were, as Fisher put it, “abysmal” from the free throw line, making just 13 of their 32 attempts. Leonard was just 5-for-10, White was 1-for-5 and junior forward Malcolm Thomas was just 3-for-7. “It was just an off night for us,” White said. “Unfortunately, nobody could make a free
throw tonight. Most of them were in and out; we just couldn’t buy one tonight.” Fisher said SDSU’s free-throw shooting will be better when the team takes on Pac-10 Arizona at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Viejas Arena. The Wildcats lost most of their star power — both Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger moved on to the NBA — but the team still has Pac-10 talent. Point guard Nic Wise leads the team with 16.6 points per game and will be a hard guard for the Aztecs.
“(Leonard) is a hell of an athlete. Getting every rebound, knocking down the jumper, going to the lane, he’s doing pretty good right now.” —Billy White, junior forward “Now we need to get ourselves ready for a Pac-10 team that we haven’t beaten since I’ve been here,” Fisher said. “And we’ve had chances and we’ve played some pretty good games with them, so we got to come out and compete hard and believe we’re good enough to win.”
AT A GLANCE WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday WHERE: Viejas Arena
VS.
WHY TO WATCH: SDSU will take on Pac-10 Arizona at home. Fans are encouraged to gr ab tickets today and tomor row as a capacity crowd is expected.
Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor
San Diego State men’s basketball freshman forward Kawhi Leonard racked up a career-high 23 points, 18 rebounds and five assists in a game-high 38 minutes in last night’s 82-68 victory against the Titans.
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SPORTS
The Daily Aztec
MEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Conference Overall
Conference Overall
NEW MEXICO
WYOMING
0-0
0-0
9-0
7-0
0-0
7-1
0-0
SAN DIEGO STATE
TCU
0-0
0-0
7-2
6-3
MCT Campus
Sophomore guard Ronnie Moss and the Horned Frogs are in seventh place in the most recent MWC standings.
6-3
BYU
AIR FORCE 0-0
6-3
NEW MEXICO
BYU 0-0
7-1
COLORADO STATE
UNLV 0-0
Thursday, December 10, 2009
5-2
0-0
5-3
BEHIND THE NUMBERS
SPONSORED BY
FOR SDSU MEN’S BASKETBALL COLORADO STATE
SAN DIEGO STATE
0-0
0-0
5-3
0-0
5-4
0-0
0-0
5-4
0-0
Points for SDSU against CSU Fullerton last night
68
Points for the unfortunate Titans
23
Career-high points for freshman forward Kawhi Leonard
18
Career-high rebounds for Leonard
14
Points for junior forward Billy White against CSU Fullerton
4-4
20
Assists for the Aztecs
19
Turnovers for the Titans
40.6
Free-throw percentage for SDSU
AIR FORCE
WYOMING 0-0
4-4
UTAH
UTAH
82
4-4
UNLV
TCU
4-4
0-0
2-7
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The Daily Aztec
TEMPO
Thursday, December 10, 2009
REEL 2 REAL
Day-Lewis masters versatility once again Oscar winner takes the lead role in a movie based upon the hit ‘8 1/2’ J O S H E LW E L L S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R
Not that anyone asked for it, but "Nine" is to movie musicals what "Ocean's Eleven" is to heist films — an entertaining and stylized film featuring a collection of attractive, A-list Hollywood celebrities (as opposed to actors, which doesn’t feel right to describe something starring Fergie). “Nine,” a film relying on its “act-ebrities” (there, that’s better, it has to describe Kate Hudson, too), is probably best described by going through the cast list. Each cast member brings something to the table for this modern twist on the 1982 Broadway production of the same name, which was an update of its own, of Federico Fellini’s classic “8 1/2.”
“... casting so many popular stylish actors and actresses is clearly the marketing draw for the film. Because that appeal will most likely determine whether or not the film makes money similar to “Ocean’s Eleven,” someone had to analyze it. ” At this point in his career, Daniel DayLewis, two years removed from his Oscar-winning role as oilman Daniel Plainview in “There Will Be Blood,” is all but daring screenwriters and directors to challenge him. After portraying various degrees of evil in “There Will Be Blood” and as Bill the Butcher in “Gangs of New York,” Day-Lewis tackles not only a thick Italian accent, but also sings professionally for the first time with his character Guido Contini. If this doesn’t put him back on an awards podium, it’s only a matter of time before he pulls an “I Am Sam” for another Oscar. French import Marion Cotillard continues to seduce American audiences after winning her own Oscar two years ago in “La Vie en Rose” and after sharing screen time this year with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in “Public Enemies.” She brings an extra layer as the tortured wife, Luisa, being forced to deal with her husband’s extramarital affairs. Well,
Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
“Nine” is the story of one man, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, and nine other women who are played by celebrities ranging from newcomer Fergie to veteran Judi Dench.
it’s nothing that Elin Nordegren hasn’t already brought to the table. (That was too easy.) Penelope Cruz is, without a doubt, Hollywood’s most attractive actress. She’s surrounded by a half-dozen other beautiful females and her role as “the mistress” stands
SNEAK PEEK
Five bands to shake up the Epicentre ALEESHA H A R R I S MANAGING EDITOR
Looking for a little Thursday night fun, but the house parties just aren’t cutting it anymore? Head to the Epicentre in Mira Mesa, a venue renowned for its poorly promoted big-name concerts and relatively inexpensive ticket prices. Tonight’s show boasts a respectable
lineup of young, up-and-coming bands for fans of the slightly heavier music set. “The Leave It To The Suits Tour” boasts a four-band lineup including headliners I See Stars, We Came As Romans, Of Mice & Men, Broadway and Adestria. The all-ages show starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $13. For more information visit, www.myspace.com/wecameasromans.
apart from them all. Hmm, a “half-dozen” and “mistress” in the same sentence; this might as well be an article about Tiger Woods. (Yeah, that was even easier.) Hudson finally — finally! — follows up her role of Penny Lane in “Almost Famous” with a role showing off the talent that nominated her an Oscar as the “Band Aide” of the film’s fictional rock band, Stillwater. This was a relief after she provided six sound hours of sleep in "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "You, Me and Dupree" and "Bride Wars." Plus, Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas stars as a worn down, yet vocally talented, prostitute from Contini's youth? That wasn't a stretch. Nicole Kidman phones in her performance as Contini’s muse, begging fans to enjoy her (short) screen time simply based on "Oh! Wow! Remember how good she was in "Moulin Rouge!"? It doesn’t work. The next actress pulls off short screen time much better. Judi Dench — who as M, may have more James Bond film appearances than Sean Connery at this point — acts as the confidante and mentor, this time not to “007,” but to struggling film director Contini. Needless to say, the woman who won an Oscar for eight brief minutes of screen time in “Shakespeare in Love” shines here as well. Sophia Loren reminds audiences of Hollywood’s “Golden Era” by adding a
sophisticated performance as Contini’s mother in the film, and somehow provides Cruz competition as the film’s most attractive actress, even though she’s 75 years old. OK, maybe not that much competition. The significance of the title comes from Fellini’s original film, “8 1/2,” as a recognition of his prior body of work: six films, two short films and a collaboration with another director. Original Broadway writer Maury Yeston explains that if you add music to “8 1/2,” “it's like half a number more.” And there’s yet another answer to something that wasn’t asked for in the first place, similar to how no one asked for the musical cinematic equivalent to “Ocean’s Eleven.” But it’s here anyway, and with a cast such as this, it will be hard to resist after it’s released on Christmas Day. While this may have been more of a review of the actors themselves as opposed to the movie, casting so many popular stylish actors and actresses is clearly the marketing draw for the film. Because that appeal will most likely determine whether or not the film makes money similar to “Ocean’s Eleven,” someone had to analyze it.
Movie: Nine Distributed by: The Weinstein Company Directed by: Rob Marshall Grade: B
10
TEMPO
The Daily Aztec
Thursday, December 10, 2009
REEL 2 REAL
New film shows Mandela’s love of peace and sports Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon team up to render a tale of political hope T I M D R AU T S TA F F W R I T E R
Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial effort “Invictus” tells the true story of how former South African President Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) came up with the brilliant plan to unite his country by rallying the nation’s rugby team to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Matt Damon costars as Francois Pienaar, the captain of the rugby team.
“Eastwood takes a conventional Hollywood approach to telling this amazing story, creating an entertaining and truly inspiring film.” The film does a good job showing how racially and economically divided South Africa was in the wake of apartheid, and the steps Mandela took to fix it. He starts by hiring Caucasian bodyguards to his entourage, which worries some of the African members of his staff. Mandela leads by example to achieve his dream of transforming his divided country into a unified “rainbow nation” with reconciliation and forgiveness. Freeman gives an excellent performance as Mandela. It is interesting to hear Freeman speak in a South African accent, as his natural
voice is so recognizable it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the role. Rather than attempt to achieve a holistic perspective on the essence of Mandela and his life, Eastwood uses this series of events to portray the courage, perseverance, intelligence and friendliness of his character. For the most part, Eastwood maintains the levity of the film by incorporating instances of subtle humor into the dialogue. In addition to portraying Mandela’s personality during the early years of his presidency, the film focuses much attention on the actual rugby matches. This brings a sense of excitement to the film, allowing the audience to feel as if it is watching an actual game. There are also several scenes in which Mandela interrupts important conferences to check the score of the game. The title, “Invictus,” comes from a poem by William Ernest Henley. Mandela found strength and inspiration from this poem during his time in prison, and passes it on to Pienaar hoping it will inspire him as well. Eastwood takes a conventional Hollywood approach to telling this amazing story, creating a truly inspiring film. While it may lack the emotional power of some of Eastwood’s recent pictures, such as “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “Million Dollar Baby,” his latest film “Invictus” offers a painlessly rewarding movie experience. This is a story that deserves to be heard and it is only fitting that it is told by some of the best filmmakers and actors in the business. “Invictus” opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow. It is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of approximately two hours. For more information about the film, visit http://invictusmovie.warnerbros.com.
Movie: Invictus Distributed by: Warner Bros. Directed by: Clint Eastwood Release Date: Dec. 11 Grade: A-
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
TEMPO
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Daily Aztec
11
SNEAK PEEK
Son Volt plans to paint a landscape of music Saturday
P AU L H E R N A N D E Z S TA F F W R I T E R
Having a previous run of special Jack Kerouac concerts (known as One Fast Move Or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur) that highlighted the collaboration with Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), Jay Farrar’s stream of lyrical imagery now finds a way out west, with his band and purveyors of the alternative country frontier, Son Volt. The heartland-based band will travel to Solana Beach’s Belly Up Tavern Saturday, showcasing in spirit the ranges of dust-bowl ballads, vintage fuzztone guitar, downbeat drumming and brisk pedal steel.
Son Volt’s current lineup (Farrar on guitar / harmonica / vocals, Dave Bryson on drums, Andrew Duplantis on bass / backing vocals, James Walbourne on lead guitar and Mark Spencer on keyboards / steel guitar) is embracing an old focus with a revived energy on its latest effort, “American Central Dust,” released last July on Rounder Records. The natural progression is evident in Farrar’s signature drone and the band’s tight tower of sound, with a focused simplicity that still hungers curiosity both musically and lyrically. The grinding gears of Son Volt’s evolution continue to grind, creating a music it feels is important, and it’s unwilling to sway from its niche.
Since its inception in 1994, Farrar has steered the vision of Son Volt in groundbreaking territory that re-boils the understanding of the working lives of miners, meat cutters, ironworkers, etc., while breakups, drugs, abandoned factories, unemployment and other turmoils ravage American towns hanging on to the American Dream. This interaction comes to life in hushed acoustic ballads and raucous bar room rock at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Belly Up Tavern. For more information on Son Volt, go to www.sonvolt.net. For upcoming shows at The Belly Up Tavern, take a peek at its calendar at www.bellyup.com.
SNEAK PEEK
91X Wrex the Halls this Sunday 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
Ho, ho, ho! The holidays are back once again, complete with numerous options on how to celebrate. One of the greatest ways to revel in all that is merry is 91X’s annual holiday extravaganza, 91X Wrex the Halls. This year’s stop-all concert boasts a hefty lineup complete with AFI, Rise Against, 30 Seconds to Mars, Thrice, Anberlin and Paper Tongues. DJ Edgartronic will also be mixing before the bands perform.
Mariem Bier / Staff Photographer
The best part about 91X Wrex the Halls is that it will take place on campus at Viejas Arena. The allages show will be held this Sunday. Tickets are on sale now
and start at $39. For more information about this rockin’ holiday concert, visit www.91x.com or tune in to 91X at FM 91.1 for a chance to win free tickets.
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Thursday, December 10, 2009
TEMPO
The Daily Aztec
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LIVE AND DANGEROUS
San Diego Symphony perfects Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 SA RA H GR I E C O A S S I S TA N T O P I N I O N E D I T O R
The San Diego Symphony is one of the city’s finest hidden treasures. After more than 25 years of playing in downtown’s Copley Symphony Hall, the symphony continues to “wow” all who partake in its splendor. Fans of classical music and those who are new to its magnificence will enjoy the cultural experience the San Diego Symphony has to offer. The flawless architecture within Copley Symphony Hall is reason enough to visit. Within the building is a grand room filled with intricate Gothic design and breathtaking chandeliers. Keeping with the holiday season, the walls are now adorned with poinsettias that provided an atmosphere of festivity for all concertgoers, giving a breath of fresh air to downtown’s typical modern design and a unique touch compared to other theaters in San Diego. While the inside is beautiful, the marvelous music one encounters within that will surpass expectations. Music director of the symphony, Jahja Ling, is in his sixth season of conducting and his devotion to music is undeniable. He has traveled around the globe conducting both contemporary and classical pieces. Ling’s vast experience in the arena is demonstrated when he is onstage, guiding his musicians through the notes of 18th century composers. Saturday, Ling and his orchestra performed Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor with choral accompaniment by the San Diego Master Chorale. Ling conducted with energy and ease and took the audience through the many emotions of Beethoven’s longest symphony. The orchestra seemed to channel the spirit of Beethoven in the 68-minute arrangement.
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Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was progressive for its time and reflects a struggle with new direction in a time of rigidity. The orchestra plays the powerful and inspiring symphony with great passion, which is how one imagines Beethoven would have wanted it to be. The true star was concertmaster Jeff Thayer, who led his fellow violinists through the stylistically wondrous performance. Thayer’s talent reverberated throughout the concert hall and his exceptional skills were duly respected.
The symphony’s finale is the famous “Ode to Joy,” which in Beethoven’s time was the first use of a choir in a symphony. After nearly an hour of purely instrumental music, the addition of the choir added depth and meaning to the production. The four soloists and chorale sang their way through the end of Beethoven’s masterpiece, shaking the very foundation of the concert hall. Ling, the orchestra and the chorale were exceptional in the execution of Beethoven’s timeless symphony. The thrilling performance
made a lasting impression on the audience. Spectators gave Ling and his 79 musicians a rousing standing ovation upon completion. A newfound appreciation for classical music is sure to be had at Copley Symphony Hall, and it is likely to remain a treasure of San Diego for years to come. The San Diego Symphony, located at 1245 Seventh Ave., has concerts and events yearround. Tickets can be purchased at www.sandiegosymphony.com.
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THE BACK PAGE
The Daily Aztec
DAILY HOROSCOPE
HUMOR: POPE’S DOCTRINE
The long-awaited mailbag
R
emember when I wrote that I would start running mailbag columns every month? Yeah, well, that didn’t happen. I’m sure you were all crushingly disappointed. But, because finals are abound and I ran out of jokes about two months ago, it’s time to run some e-mails. As always, these are not edited in any way, except for obscenities (that always seem a little excessive with my readers):
“Hey man, everybody loves Yoshi. Donkey Kong is a dude who has two kids, no wife and kidnaps princesses (God knows why). F*** DK. But you are right on one thing: Red does command authority. Go go power rangers.” I got more mail from that Mario Kart column than all other columns I’ve ever written combined. Most of the animosity came from people who race with Yoshi and Toad, which isn’t surprising. My roommates have these girls who come by to play Wii every once in a while. I don’t come out of my room to interact with them on account of my severe social issues, but they constantly shout at me from the living room, “I love Toad!” This is one of those “insertyour-own-joke” situations.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
D AV I D P O P E A S S I S TA N T S P O R T S E D I T O R
“I would rather get glaucoma than read your articles. Not for the drugs either. The pain would be less agonizing than reading another one of your articles.” Last year, someone said they would rather hurl themselves into oncoming traffic than have to live in a world where I was given a weekly humor column. I guess this is an improvement.
“The vampires these days would rather take a walk on the beach and hold hands than kick someone’s ass. I’m not even bothered by sexy vampires, the chick in “Underworld” was pretty bada**. Definitely split a dude in half. But when “Twilight” vampires go into the sun they don’t turn to dust or die, they sparkle. I can’t be too critical though. I’ll probably watch the new movie. And I’ll most likely like it. But I’ll watch pretty much anything.” This was in reference to my Halloween column in which I expressed my concern with the whole “Twilight” thing. This actually came up when Edward and I went out on Halloween.
Edward was talking to some girl and when she asked his name he said, “I’m Edward, like the vampire.” She awkwardly smiled and promptly walked away. A very positive-looking Edward immediately looked down at me and I said, “Well, now we know: Don’t compare yourself to a ‘Twilight’ character. This was a valuable learning experience.” That it was Edward, that it was.
“As an English senior, your writing needs much work. your articles suck b**** and aren’t even the least bit funny. its a scientific fact that your not funny and nobody loves you. you annoying douche ***.” I never should have taught my grandma how to send an e-mail. Anyway, those are pretty much the only e-mails fit to run. Everything else was either too full of curse words or made no logical, much less grammatical, sense. And for those of you fretting about finals, don’t worry. I’m back with my Christmas spectacular on Monday, so at least you have that going for you.
BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (12/10/09) The coming year offers greater potential for leadership and publishing. Do you have an idea for a novel or a story? Perhaps you want to run for election.This is a good year to imagine success and make it your own through daily application of skills towards the desired goal. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - Get started early on any project that you want done by day's end. Expect interference in the form of demands from distant sources. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - You have a long list of tasks facing you. Take five minutes to discuss the plans. Then, focus on your part, and all goes well. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 You couldn't have asked for a better day to accomplish your favorite goal. Others get turned on to your ideas. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 Everyone has an opinion, and you hear about them all. Just because you listen doesn't mean you need to take action. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 7 - New projects begun today hold promise for income in the future. Bring the ideas of others together into one master plan. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 -
You love what you do, so focus on that today. Let others pursue their own ideas. You can catch up with them later. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 5 Everything works out well today if you begin on practical footing and state your needs clearly.Then, monitor feedback. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 6 - An older person makes demands. Listen and learn.You don't have to do everything right now. But you should take steps to satisfy yourself and others. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - You get a lot more done today than you thought possible, if everyone works together. Prioritize, but also do the small stuff. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 6 - If you apply yourself to the task at hand, you'll get a lot done in a short time. Plenty of time for play this afternoon. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - Challenge yourself to say only what must be said today. Others hear criticism where none is intended. Shift gears late in the day. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 There's no lack of energy now. What's missing is careful communication. Balance the truth with compassion. © 2009,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.
—David Pope is an English senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.
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.
Check out the puzzles and games in Monday’s issue of The Daily Aztec and bring a little fun to finals week!
Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com
www.thedailyaztec.com © 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 “Food, Body and Mind” diet maven 6 Pierce portrayer 10 Lummoxes 14 Wolf cry, often? 16 River past Thebes 17 See 57-Across 18 “Fall back” interval 19 What F or M may indicate 20 Shinto temple gateway 21 Longtime Chicago Symphony maestro 22 See 57-Across 24 Steppes native 27 Purge 28 Yemen neighbor 29 Like many rebates 33 Part of FYI 36 See 57-Across 39 Approves 40 Salon preparation 41 Tiger Woods’s dad 42 Airline with a hub in Copenhagen 43 Uptight 44 See 57-Across 51 Iraqi port 52 Cliff dwelling 53 “__ to Extremes”: Billy Joel hit 56 Gunny fiber 57 Clue for 17-, 22-, 36- and 44-Across 59 Slaughter who famously scored the winning run in the 1946 World Series 60 Not feeling well 61 Reveille counterpart 62 Latin 101 verb 63 Frère de la mère DOWN 1 Some are CPAs
EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS
Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 2 All-night party 3 Infield mate of Derek 4 Haifa’s country: Abbr. 5 Go-__ 6 Olds compact 7 Romance languages ancestor 8 R2-D2 or C-3PO 9 Rock blaster? 10 Waiting to talk 11 Garlicky mayo 12 Rampal’s instrument 13 Calligrapher’s embellishment 15 Call to a mate 21 It flows along La Rive Gauche 22 Good thing to go out with
23 Grease, so to speak 24 Cairn terrier of film 25 Out of control 26 Art community near Santa Fe 29 Caribou relative 30 Soccer star Freddie 31 “__ only money” 32 Rock’s __ Lobos 33 Greek house? 34 “__ not to reason why”: Tennyson 35 Be dependent (on) 37 Home of the College World Series 38 They’re often
next to fives 42 Chill pill target 43 At the original speed, in music 44 __ d’art 45 Regional wildlife 46 Setting that affects depth of field 47 Songwriter Sammy et al. 48 Pays attention to 49 Immortal PGA nickname 50 Roberto’s rivers 53 Dedicated by the auth. 54 Highlander 55 Quaint word in some tavern names 57 Dessert choice 58 Ages and ages