01-30-2012

Aztecs get battered by Rams Antonio Morales

MONDAY January 30, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 64 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M

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SDSU’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT N E W S PA P E R SINCE 1913

sports editor

INDEX: CSU 77 | SDSU 60 It was just one of those games for the San Diego State men’s basketball team against Colorado State on Saturday.

It was one of those games in which the road team couldn’t buy a bucket, which was evident by SDSU’s 31.3 shooting percentage from the field and 14.3 percent shooting from three.

It was one of those games in which the other team seems like it can’t miss, which was evident by CSU’s 49 percent shooting from the field and its 46.3 percent shooting from three.

It was one of those games in which the opposing team remembered a last-second loss it suffered against the visitors the season prior.

All of these elements led to a performance that can be described as nothing else but ugly for the Aztecs.

And the result was ugly, too.

SDSU fell to the hot-shooting Rams 77-60. The loss snapped the Aztecs’ 11-game win streak and gave them their first loss in Mountain West Conference play.

Rams run wild Much might be said about how bad SDSU looked against CSU, but the Rams deserve credit for creating this result. They had about as impressive of a performance as a team has had against the Aztecs this season.

It was a complete win. CSU played great on both ends of the floor, it shot well and caused trou-

NEWS

Jamaal Franklin scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in No. 12 / 13 SDSU’s 77-60 loss on Saturday. |

ble for SDSU’s talented backcourt.

Head coach Steve Fisher acknowledged this fact after the game, when talking to KOGO 600AM’s Ted Leitner.

“We were beaten today,” Fisher said. “We had a difficult time making shots. Part of that goes to Colorado State and how they guarded. We had a hard time making shots and they made shots.

They were 23-of-23 from the freethrow line. Today, they were, without question, the better team.”

Backcourt blues The Aztec backcourt has been the team’s strength all season long.

Against the Rams, it struggled mightily. Sophomore point guard Xavier

Thames, and junior guards James Rahon and Chase Tapley couldn’t put the ball in the basket. The trio combined for a 6-of-36 shooting effort for 24 points: Add in sophomore point guard LaBradford Franklin, and the numbers look even worse.

“We were 6-for-40 with those four guys,” Fisher said. “Chase is one of the leading shooters in the country; and to their credit, they ran him off some shots when he missed some shots. Then it’s harder to make your next shot. We had a lot of shots and missed a lot of shots.”

Sophomore guard Jamaal Franklin’s performance was the lone bright spot for SDSU. Franklin scored 24 points and had 10

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

rebounds, for his sixth double-double in the last eight games.

News and notes The Aztecs’ winning streak against unranked teams was snapped at 58 with the loss. Its nine-game win streak against CSU was also put to an end. Tapley scored 10 points for the 15th straight game, with his 10point effort.

SDSU is now locked into a firstplace tie with UNLV atop the MW standings. Both teams have conference records of 4-1.

The Aztecs next opponent is Boise State; the Broncos have yet to win a conference game this season.

The game is at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.

Occupiers, graduate students rally against code of conduct.

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WO M E N ’S B AS K E T B A L L

SDSU claims 12th straight win

OPINION Cyber stalking is a growing trend. Read how to develop tools to defend against it.

Ruben Meza

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contributor

SDSU 66 | CSU 57 Junior guard Courtney Clements played like a snipe-shooter last Saturday. The Mountain West Conference leading scorer displayed her patience firing from long range, ironically using just one eye.

The San Diego State women’s basketball team (16-4, 6-0) defeated Colorado State 66-57 in Viejas Arena, extending its win streak to 12. Clements led SDSU with 19 points, while tying her career high of five 3-pointers.

The Aztecs took control of the game early, going on a 11-2 run midway through the first half for a 28-16 lead with 5:09 left to play.

SDSU gave up some momentum, however, allowing CSU (8-13, 4-2) to end the half on a 6-2 run, leaving the score at 33-25.

“We didn’t control the tempo the way we could’ve during those final minutes of the half,” head coach Beth Burns said. “We still have to work on being aggressive when playing with the lead.”

To start the second half, CSU senior guard Kim Mestdagh missed a 3-

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Junior guard Courtney Clements led SDSU to a 66-57 victory on Saturday by scoring 19 points. |

point attempt, which Clements rebounded and took up the court to start SDSU’s first possession of the second half. Suddenly, Clements went down awkwardly for several minutes after being poked in the eye by Mestdagh.

“Initially it really hurt,” Clements said while Burns examined her eye following the game. ”But afterwards it was fine.”

It certainly was, as Clements

knocked down her fourth 3-pointer of the game on the following possession, like nothing ever happened.

The Aztecs’ backcourt pressure and 22 forced turnovers kept victory out of reach for CSU, but the team continued to keep it close.

The Rams managed to shrink the deficit down to just seven points with two minutes remaining.

Sophomore guard Kiyana Stamps, suffering from the flu, put a stamp on

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

the victory with a spin move followed by an acrobatic, mid-range step-back jumper off the glass to increase the lead to 63-54 with 1:34 remaining.

“Kiki’ is a gamer,” Burns said.

“Some people are really good when the game’s on the line and she’s one of them.”

SDSU will take on Boise State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday for its first-ever game in Boise, Idaho.

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Recently, my cousin got married in ... Bakersfield.

For those not familiar ... think of Larry the Cable Guy’s armpit, if it had a Walmart.

B A C K PA G E

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W E AT H E R : PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 68 LOW: 45 SUNSET: 5:19 PM

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, January 30, 2012

NEWS

Students rally behind Wardle at SDSU Grad students and occupiers protest code of conduct Hutton Marshall news editor A group of protesters participating in the Occupy movement gathered on campus last Wednesday to express their opposition to what they see as San Diego State’s use of the student code of conduct to deter students from protesting against the California State University system.

Ashley Wardle, the SDSU graduate student arrested at a CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach, and later tried by SDSU’s Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, was present. Her arrest and dealings with SDSU’s disciplinary process sparked these rallies against the use of CSU’s student code of conduct.

There were several other graduate students protesting alongside the occupiers. Political science graduate

C R I M E B E AT

A S B E AT

student Amir Shoja spoke about his discontent with the way the CSU system is currently utilizing the code of conduct.

“They’re essentially using disciplinary code quite randomly, like the way they picked out Wardle,” Shoja said. “It’s them trying to make an example of students, so they’re afraid to contest (the trustees’) decisions.”

Wardle, Shoja and the rest of the group there to protest began their “mic check.” One person yelled out a message, the rest of the group then echoed the speaker, magnifying the volume of the speaker’s message.

“Public universities should be conducive to political activism,” several activists chanted on the steps of Manchester Hall. “Public universities should never bar student voices from the decision-making process that affects the student body.

“We will protest, and we won’t accept the use of the student code of conduct to silence us.”

For more details about Wardle’s arrest, refer to last Thursday’s article, “Student protester faces stiff sanctions” at thedailyaztec.com.

DUSTIN MICHELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Suspect still missing Last Thursday, two subjects, a male and a female, fled from police after attempting to steal a vehicle.

Continuing with the search, the San Diego State Police Department required helicopter support and eventually located the female suspect. The male suspect is described as an adult white male with a heavily tattooed head and wearing a white tank top. He was last seen near West Commons on the SDSU campus.

Pickup truck burglaries Last week, nine reports were made in the course of two days, most of them issued on Monday evening, concerning stolen catalytic converters on a number of Toyota pickup trucks.

Police say there is still no suspect information at the moment.

Greenfest 2012 The annual green-conscious festival will be from April 22-28, and is in need of a festival performer. Those who would like to perform at GreenFest can send their information and a video to the Greenfest 2012 Executive Committee. A link to the Facebook page with details on entry can be found at as.sdsu.edu/greenfest/.

The deadline to apply is this

Friday. Students will be able to vote for their favorite performer from Monday, Feb. 6 until Sunday, Feb. 13.

The week of GreenFest will include many ethically minded and environmentally friendly events, such as a 5K run walk, an art show, a carnival and many other fun activities.

Citations on College Avenue The popular stretch between Montezuma Road and El Cajon Boulevard on College Avenue is the top location for speeding citations

Adapting to budget cuts News arrived that Gov. Jerry

given in San Diego County. Most of these are issued because of California’s “basic speed law,” the California Department of Motor Vehicle enforces near schools and residential areas.

According to the San Diego Police Department, there are various citizen requests made annually to enforce security for seniors residing in Jewish Family Service’s College Avenue Older Adult Center and those attending the synagogue.

This area generates $109,000

annually; 10 percent of this revenue goes to SDPD and 90 percent to the city’s general fund, which is San Diego’s primary funding source with reserves of more than $4 million.

Brown cut California higher education funding by a further $100 million for the Fall 2012 semester. Fortunately, San Diego State’s reserves, plus the recent tuition increases, should be enough to cover the gap.

However, more cuts may come in November if Brown’s newly proposed tax initiative does not pass. “The Schools and Local Public Safety Protection

Act of 2012” moves to temporarily raise sales and income taxes to fund public schools.

If the initiative fails, $200 million more could be cut from the California State University system, which translates to about $10 to $15 million for SDSU. Voters will pass or reject the measure in November.

–Compiled by Staff Writer Ana Ceballos

–Compiled by Contributor Amy Williams

Love Library wants love tales Ilgin Karlidag contributor Love is in the air in Love Library. In honor of its 40th anniversary, Love Library, named after San Diego State’s fourth President Malcolm Love, is holding a contest for whomever can share the best true story of how they found love in the library.

“More than scholarship goes on at Love Library. Students also use it to connect with people, whether it’s studying, building friendships or romantic relationships,” Lynn Hawkes, special projects officer, said.

The stories shared by the contestants do not have to be strictly about “romantic love,” but can also be about friendship or love for academics. In other words, anyone can write a true romantic story, regardless if they’re a student, a non-student community member or just a bookworm.

“The stories should not only be centered in the Love Library but also

compelling, humorous and romantic,” Hawkes said.

“The library is the most important learning environment outside of the classroom, but the library is also an essential setting for the social connections students make: Connections that last a lifetime,” Dean of the SDSU Library and Information Access Gale Etschmaier said.

The contestants, selected by a panel of judges, will be rewarded with bouquets and romantic dinners for two at 1500 Ocean at the Hotel Del Coronado. The stories will be posted on the library’s website, and the winning entry will be announced at a reception held at 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day in room LL 108.

The reception will also be followed by a magic lantern show titled “A Victorian Valentine Show,” performed by the American MagicLantern Theater.

The stories should be 500 words or less, and the deadline to submit is Feb. 9.

Email submissions to love.library.contest@gmail.com

BEHIND THE NUMBERS CSU Protests of 2011

SPONSORED BY Advanced Test Preparation

$500

The amount cut from CSUs and UCs by Gov. Jerry Brown, in millions

$250

The amount cut from CSUs since Brown’s proposal, in millions

$5,970 The cost of tuition for next fall $1,047 The cost of additional fees for an average student. $7,017

The average total a student will pay in tuition and fees next semester

300

Increase from what students paid in 2002-2003, in percentage

$400

President Elliot Hirshman’s annual salary, in thousands

33

Increase from Weber’s salary to Hirshman’s, in percentage

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, January 30, 2012

OPINION

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Giants, Republicans have no chance to win

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ootball and politics. One is a unifying force, a shared experience for nearly all Americans, a common thread in the fabric of the nation that serves as a source of goodwill, community-building and even drastic improvements in the lives of some individuals. The other is politics. With the Super Bowl mere days away and the Republican primaries smack in the midst of an endless season, it’s time for my first annual, woefully titled: Brody’s Super Bowl Prediction based solely on the Republican primary candidates.

Brody Burns staff columnist every element in it becomes infected ... it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.”

Because of such open opposition to Boston, The New York Football Giants will hereby be known as the New York Football Republicans. In reality, the team closely mirrors the candidates. First, the easy compari-

This crop of Republican challengers are either too old, too angry, too robotic or too Santorumesque to stand a chance against ... Obama.

Of the two Super Bowl teams, the Republican primary candidates more closely resemble the New York Giants than the New England Patriots. For one, Patriots owner Robert Kraft has donated more than $55,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic National Committee since 2008. For the purpose of this column, giving money to the leftist DNC cannot allow for a Republican label, because it may cause Newt Gingrich’s head to explode. So the Patriots are therefore disqualified from representing the Republicans.

Furthermore, it may actually be a sin for anyone to associate Rick Santorum with Boston, as he has no secret affection for the city. In 2002, when prompted to supply his prodigious insight into the Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, he said, “Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick,

son: Mitt Romney is Eli Manning.

Both are incredibly petulant, have a deep sense of unbridled entitlement and come from an aristocratic family in their given profession. Mitt’s poppa, George R. Romney, was the governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969 and served in Richard Nixon’s cabinet.

Manning’s sire was NFL quarterback Archie Manning, a lousy quarterback, whose career QB rating of 67.1 puts him below Joey Harrington.

For those who don’t follow football, Harrington would’ve done better on “The Bachelor” than in the backfield.

Archie then served as a principal advisor in Eli’s decision to denounce San Diego in the wake of the 2004 NFL draft. Through his voluntary preclusion from playing or living in San Diego, one can reasonably conclude Eli to not be human, which also happens to be the main issue of contention with Romney’s candidacy. In fact I’d like to go on record demand-

MCT CAMPUS

ing him to produce a birth certificate proving he is a human being.

The rest of the candidates do not fall as seamlessly into place, but there are certainly parallels.

Gingrich is clearly the Giants’ Defense. He is resting on his past laurels, his “Washington insider” experience as Speaker of the House: something he must voluntarily work into every fifth sentence of a public speaking engagement.

Meanwhile, the fearsome Giants defense is also a thing of the past, as the Giants ranked 27th in the league this year in total defense, and gave up an average of 25 points a game.

Despite these past achievements, like

the Giants heading into the Super Bowl on Sunday, Gingrich is being called a difference maker, and a legitimate contender for the nomination.

The Giants’ head coach is quite unmistakably Ron Paul. Both are ancient, angry at the establishment and written-off in terms of legitimacy.

Tom Coughlin has led the Giants to the playoffs in five of nine seasons and taken them to two Super Bowls, yet credit still seems to elude him; similarly Paul has raised loads of money and has a passionate base of followers, but is viewed as a fringe candidate. Moreover, Paul has served in Congress for nearly two decades, while Coughlin has been a coach in

the NFL for nearly three. Finally, Rick Santorum is the Giants Special Teams, solely because of his recent statements encouraging victims of rape who have been impregnated to make the best of a bad situation.

The final commonality between the New York Giants and the challengers for the Republican nomination is they are all doomed to lose when it really matters. This crop of Republican challengers are either too old, too angry, too robotic or too Rick Santorumesque to stand a real chance against President Barack Obama in a general election.

The extensive number of debates has only allowed the wolf pack to feast upon itself before going to the general election. The fact the race is wide open may not be a good thing: It’s not wide open because of differing viewpoints or ideologies, it’s wide open because many Americans do not see a genuine candidate among the four remaining.

In no way am I comparing the dysfunctional Democratic Party to the brilliance that is the New England Patriots. The donkeys wish they had a talented strategist like Bill Belichick or a beefcake like Tom Brady.

Comparing the Democratic Party to the Patriots would certainly be an insult to the New England franchise.

As is the case in nearly all American elections, it’s merely the lesser of the two evils, and to the majority of Americans (who actually vote) Obama is the lesser evil. On Sunday it will also be a contest about the lesser of two evils, but in this case it’s two evils in the form of two marginal defenses.

So, finally, here are my predictions: This Sunday I’m taking the Patriots, 31 to 17, and in the general election, Obama over Romney.

BRODY BURNS IS SEEKING HIS MASTER’S IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

More caution needed against cyber stalking

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ttention, Facebookers: It’s not always necessary to let the world know what you’re doing. I would rather not know you’re updating your status from the toilet and you regret slathering so much hot sauce on your California burrito. I would rather not know you just had sex with your girlfriend and that this escapade was significantly more experimental than the last. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as over-sharing.

To be fair, I can relate to your compulsive infatuation with social media. I understand feeling the itch to log

Stacey Oparnica staff columnist Alliance. Persistent emails, identity theft and harassment are all prime examples of cyberstalking. For a reason I can’t quite pinpoint, a significant number of Internet users, specifically younger audiences, appear remarkably unconcerned with the existence of virtual “creepers.” It seems as though such perpetrators are perceived more as mythical monsters or cyber legends than actual human threats.

You can never be too cautious when sharing your ... life with the online community ...

Remember, this is not a popularity contest and you are not 13 years old.

THINKSTOCK

onto Facebook or Twitter whenever something even remotely interesting happens. After all, not only are we residents of the information era, but the first generation of digital natives. I get it.

But that’s no excuse, especially when our habit of incessantly updating the world about our whereabouts is making us vulnerable to online predators. No, I’m not being paranoid.

One in five Americans (19 percent) has been affected by online stalking or “aggressive outreach incidents” according to a recent study released by the National Cyber Security

I’m not going to insult your intelligence by pretending I’ve been any less careless. Granted, I’m not one to display super private details of my life online, but I do use Facebook’s “check-in” feature once in awhile and I have my date of birth, hometown and college information on my profile.

Even though my Facebook is completely private and I only add people I know personally, someone on my friend’s list could hypothetically take advantage of my openness and subsequently exploit my information with unnerving, relative ease.

Imagine if all of the information you post online was to fall into the wrong hands: where you go to school, what city you live in, who your family members are, your place of employment, your age, where you work out, etc. We are often comforted by the thought that our personal details are guarded behind our profile’s privacy settings, isolated from middle-aged perverts, psychotic exes and 20-year-old strangers who spam our inboxes with what they conceive are charming one-liners. For better or for worse, the Internet is full of eye-

boggling things and people. The pictures and videos you stumble upon on YouTube and Tumblr should be proof enough of that. So why do we continue to make ourselves so susceptible to cyberstalkers? Is it enough to make our profiles private, or are there some details about our lives it would be safer and wiser to exclude altogether?

“Cyber criminals are more resourceful than ever. This data supports an ever-increasing need for online users to be vigilant in their actions each day,” John Thode, executive vice presi-

dent of McAfee, said in the report.

Ultimately, you can never be too cautious when sharing your private life with the online community. Little profile tweaks, such as omitting your year of birth, email address and phone number, are a good start. In addition, remove everyone from your friends list who you don’t know personally and refrain from adding people you have never met. Remember, this is not a popularity contest and you are not 13 years old. Your privacy should be your primary priority.

The next step is to be vigilant about the photos you post online. Pictures of you passed out drunk on the floor do not need to be on the Internet.

Neither do half-naked photos of yourself at a rave. These are the kinds of pictures that come back to haunt you when you begin applying for jobs.

Furthermore, avoid checking into places you frequent often, such as taco shops, cafes or the gym. Don’t make it easy for online stalkers to map out your routine stops.

Finally, keep one last thing in mind: You might give your phone number to a cute girl or guy you chatted with on the trolley or at work, but you wouldn’t feel comfortable handing them a list outlining where you live, eat, study and work out, would you?

By connecting with people on social networking sites, we are essentially inviting them into our worlds, into our private lives. The anonymity aspect of the Internet demands even greater caution; so don’t make the foolish mistake of believing your imprudence and habit of over-sharing won’t come with consequences eventually.

—Stacey Oparnica is a journalism junior.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, January 30, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T Whether it be to plan a date or to distract oneself from the impending misery of Valentine’s Day, it is critically important to know what is going on in San Diego entertainment this month. February will bear witness to some great shows, interesting exhibitions and quality television.

Take a look at what the Entertainment Section is most excited about in February.

Clooney’s lead performance, it was nearly a given the comedic drama got a Best Picture nomination.

All will be revealed on Feb. 26, when the always-welcome Billy Crystal will perform the honors as master of ceremonies. Until then, there is still time to catch up with most, if not all, of the nominated movies.

Information about the 84th Annual Academy Awards can be found at oscars.org.

David Dixon staff writer

Andrew Younger senior staff writer

Once again, it’s that special time of year, where family and friends get together to watch a live event on television that is so entertaining, everyone in the living room will cheer and jeer at pivotal moments of the program. The show is not the Super Bowl, but the 84th Academy Awards.

This year, there are nine films nominated for Best Picture and all are worth checking out. Some truly memorable movies such as “Midnight in Paris,” “Tree of Life,” “Moneyball” and “The Help” are available on DVD, but the race is really between three superb pictures still out in theatres. Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” stands a chance but “The Artist” currently seems the one to beat, earning high acclaim since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

It is a remarkable achievement; a film so emotionally impactful, audience members applauded at a recent screening at Landmark Theatres, Hillcrest.

If the Academy decides to go for something more grounded in reality, “The Descendants” might have a chance at winning some Oscar gold.

With so much critical love, mostly aimed at co-writer and director Alexander Payne and George

Yes, of the “Star Wars” hexalogy, it’s the worst one by a long shot. Yes, Jar Jar makes anyone over the age of five want to pour battery acid into their ears in the hopes of never hearing his voice again. And yes, director George Lucas can’t stop picking away at his own films like a sore that’s on the verge of turning gangrenous.

Nevertheless, “Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace” will be rereleased in theaters on Feb. 10 in 3D. And, as anyone who has ridden the recently updated 3D “Star Tours” ride at Disneyland will attest, it will be awesome. Wooden dialogue and questionable child acting aside, experiencing the pod-race sequence and the climactic lightsaber battle in 3D on the big screen is well worth the price of admission.

Samantha Hirsch staff writer With many college seniors graduating this spring, the number one concern on everyone’s mind is how to

find a job, but more importantly how to keep it. “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” may be just the thing to help cure the worries.

The highly-acclaimed Broadway musical cleverly satires the American work-force in the 1950s. Abiding by the rules of the book “How to Succeed in Business,” J. Pierrepont Finch (Daniel Radcliffe), a young window washer, embarks on his journey from the mail room to the big leagues at the World Wide Wicket Company.

Along the way, chaos indubitably ensues and his unconventional methods seem to compromise everything from his job to a budding romance with the office secretary.

Everyone from Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) to Harry Potter has starred as the lead in this fantastic musical, so it is definitely one for the ages. With outstanding music and big laughs, this is the perfect musical for any Broadway fan. “How To Succeed” will play at the Welk Theater at the Welk Resort in Escondido through Feb. 26. Prices and ages vary depending on the performance time and night.

To buy tickets or for more information, visit welktheatersandiego.com/

Cody Franklin head of aztec gaming Having played the demo for “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,” a new fantasy role-playing game from Big Huge Games and the new 38 Studios, I’ll say it will surely sate those looking for another fantasy romp on Feb. 7 for PC, Xbox360 and PS3.

If you’re looking for a dark, gritty shooter, look no further than “The Darkness II” from Digital Extremes on the Feb. 7 for PC, Xbox360 and PS3.

Tearing apart foes with The Darkness

while blasting baddies with big guns has never been such fun.

Feb. 21 will see the reboot of the “Syndicate” franchise hitting the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. EA’s Starbreeze Studios has created what looks to be the next great co-op first-person shooter and fans of the original are eagerly anticipating this release.

PS3 owners will also get two great exclusives this month. The “Jak and Daxter Collection” drops on Feb. 7 and will bring stereoscopic 3D and high-definition to the criticallyacclaimed adventure series by Naughty Dog. Eat Sleep Play’s latest game, “Twisted Metal,” is sure to delight fans of the franchise. Vehicular destruction and madness on the PS3, what’s not to love? Catch it Valentine’s Day. Oh, and don’t forget the “Mass Effect 3” demo on all these platforms the same day.

Brooke Schyler staff writer There is no need to travel to New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday when San Diego hosts the largest Mardi Gras event on the West Coast.

So on Feb. 21 grab some beads and head downtown for the 18th annual Gaslamp Mardi Gras Block Party. The night will be filled entertainment ranging from a masquerade parade to world class disk jockeys including DJ Colleen Shannon and The Crystal Method. Fifth Avenue will be blocked off and the streets will be filled with go-go dancers and several out-door stages for live performances.

The party will last from 6 p.m. to midnight. General admission tickets cost $20 dollars in advance and $25 at the door. VIP tickets are available for an additional $20 and include discounts on parking, free drinks and hotel specials so everyone can party responsibly as this is a 21 and older event.

For more information or to buy tickets visit gaslamp.org/mardi-gras.

Isabella Place staff writer

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John Anderson entertainment editor For those looking for some highbrow entertainment around Valentine’s Day, the Copley Symphony Hall is featuring the Moscow Festival Ballet. The critically acclaimed ballet is performing Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb 15. at 7:30 p.m. respectively.

Tickets are $20-85.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be in town on at 8 p.m. on Feb. 15 at Copley Symphony Hal as well. CSO will be performing two works from Schubert and Anna Clyne’s “Night Ferry.” Tickets can be purchased via phone or at the Ticket Box Office.

Those uninterested in wearing a top hat and monocle should check out Grammy Award-winning Los Lonely Boys at Belly Up Tavern on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42 in advance, $44 the day of show.

Kristen Caldwell copy chief Ironically enough, in the wake of the Costa Concordia shipwreck that occurred Jan. 13, the San Diego Natural History Museum will soon host “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.”

Beginning Feb. 10, the showcase will display 200 artifacts taken from the wreckage site of the ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic that sank 100 years ago this April. Visitors will receive boarding pass reproductions to grant them access to the exhibit, where recreations of the ship’s interior meet authentic items uncovered throughout the past 25 years since the wreckage’s discovery in September of 1985.

Tickets for “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” include general admission into the museum and admittance to the giant-screen theater which features rotating film screenings. They can be purchased for $27 for adults and $21 for students with IDs. The exhibition sets sail Sept. 9, so be sure to view it before the lifeboats are gone.

Courtney Rogin staff writer

You may have seen them posted around campus…the rare and obscure flyers depicting a once-in-a-bluemoon cult favorite. Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation is for those with a good sense of humor. It’s a perfect group outing guaranteed to strike up a lot of laughs and incessant conversation afterwards.

For those of you looking for creative ideas to shock or awe your Valentine’s day date this year, definitely take them to see this show. They may even throw up on your lap from excitement and you might get bonus points for providing an unforgettable evening.

A look at Spike & Mike’s résumé reveals the duo premiered “Beavis & Butthead,” “South Park,” “Wallace & Gromit” and the first Pixar animation shorts ever produced.

Don’t let the word “festival” scare you. You can see all this for around the same price as a regular movie ticket.

The show runs midnight on Feb. 10, 11 and 17 at the Ken Theatre in Kensington. The festival is limited to those 18 and older.

San Diego’s drought of comedy clubs has finally come to an end. Mad House Comedy Club is up and running and bringing some hilarious acts to town. One of those acts is Bret Ernst. Bret has become well-known from his appearances on comedy specials such as Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show and Comedy Central Presents. He has also made the rounds on the late night show circuit, being featured on Lopez Tonight, The Late Late Show, and also on Chelsea Lately.

Bret Ernst brings the laughs to Mad House on Friday, Feb. 10th and Saturday, Feb. 11th, performing at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. both nights.

Tickets for all shows are $20, ages 21 and older. Mad House Comedy Club is located on the top level of Horton Plaza in the Gaslamp Downtown, across from Nordstrom’s. Visit madhousecomedyclub.com for tickets.

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, January 30, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

TURN IT UP

PA S S T H E P O P C O R N

‘Empires’ effort Men battle Alaska, selves revisits tropes Andrew Younger

senior staff writer

In this year’s installment of “Liam Neeson killing-spree mad libs,” writer-director Joe Carnahan pencils in Alaskan Grey Wolves as the plural noun on the receiving end of Neeson’s menacing brogue.

However, despite the trailer’s portrayal to the contrary, “The Grey” provides equal screen time to both psychological explorations of masculinity and computer-generated animal assaults, allowing the film to develop far beyond its “‘Taken’ with Wolves” concept.

Ottway (Neeson) works as a wolf slayer for a petroleum company in the Alaskan wilderness who is charged with the task of protecting the workers. The encroaching winter forces Ottway and a group of coworkers “unfit for mankind” to board a plane headed to Anchorage.

In the most terrifying crash sequence since “Cast Away,” a storm rips apart the plane, plunging it deep into the frozen tundra.

With little equipment and food salvaged from the wreckage, Ottway and six survivors attempt to walk south towards civilization while packs of wolves run them down one-by-one. Ottway, who spouts off more animal fun-facts than an issue of “Zoobooks,” informs the audience the Alaskan wolf has a kill radius of 30 miles from its den.

Whether Ottway and company are hiking to safety or into the the epicenter of the wolves’ kill zone, rest COURTESY OF CHUFF MEDIA

John Anderson entertainment editor CD REVIEW FALLEN EMPIRES Artist: SNOW PATROL Distributed by: ISLAND Release Date: FEB. 10, 2012 Grade: BWhen Snow Patrol finally broke out in the U.S. in 2004 with a re-release of its third studio album “Final Straw,” the band featured haunting instrumentals, catchy beats and the memorable lyrics and vocal work of Gary Lightbody. These elements gave the band a unique, yet accessible sound, catapulting the band to success and onto make-out playlists everywhere. In November of last year, the band released its sixth LP “Fallen Empires” in the U.K.; Island Def Jam began distributing the album in the U.S. earlier this month.

After the third listen, it becomes abundantly clear: This album grows on the listener. Everything blends together on the first spin, but with

of Love” is worth a listen. The song is reminiscent of a “Final Straw”-era hit with a Franz Ferdinand-esque beat.

The large chorus vocal accompaniment that really ices the cake in some Snow Patrol hits makes an appearance in the albums single “This Isn’t Everything You Are.” While the vocal work is good, the lyrics are a bit trite and prompt memories of The Fray’s fad years back. “The Garden Rules” features an excellent bass riff, though the rest of the song is average. “Berlin” steps away from the intricate, often overwhelming instrumentals Snow Patrol usually uses in its songs, instead opting for a more minimalist sound that comes off as rather quaint.

“Fallen Empires” is not a bad album, it’s not even disappointing, yet it is lacking something. Most noticeably missing is a “Somewhere a Clock is Ticking” or a “Set the Fire to the Third Bar.” It’s missing a song that evokes a blinding emotional response, something deeply intimate or sweepingly intense. It’s missing a song that transports listeners to another plane, puts them in another place consistently

After the third listen, it becomes abundantly clear: This album grows on the listener ... the things that made Snow Patrol popular ... stand out. each re-listen, more of the things that made Snow Patrol insanely popular begin to stand out. The band manages to utilize the musical aspects of its previously successful music without making the album sound like a rehash.

The opening track, “I’ll Never Let Go,” is lyrically simple, but it’s catchy, has some excellent vocal work from folk singer Lissie and Snow Patrol’s characteristically complex instrumental layering, giving it a deep sound. “Called Out in the Dark” is poppy and skippable, but “The Weight

and effectively; which is admittedly a bit acid-y, but was one of the greatest things about some of Snow Patrol’s previous work. It is hard to lose oneself in any of these songs; they are all easy to imagine in a run-of-the-mill romantic drama.

For die-hard Snow Patrol fans, give “Fallen Empires” some time. Everyone else should consider looking to “Final Straw” or “Eyes Open” before picking up this album.

assured Neeson will kill with his bare hands.

When “The Grey” wasn’t caving to action film convention, complete with an unnecessary scene after the credits, it successfully conveyed the immense mental toll it takes to sustain one’s survival instinct while facing insurmountable odds. “The Grey” delves into each of the character’s motivations to stay alive via flashbacks, photos, and in a surprisingly philosophical turn, the nature of faith against an unforgiving environment.

Screenwriters Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, the latter of whom wrote the short story that served as the film’s source material, draw clever parallels between the pack of wolves fighting for alpha

status and the pack of men struggling for control over the group’s direction. Unfortunately, the challenges to Ottway’s alpha male status come in the form of clichéd “I ain’t scared, man” chest-beating that feel laughably out of place in a film as realistic as “The Grey.” Beyond the repetitive structure of running from wolves, fighting wolves, and sitting around the campfire, it felt as though the writers were grasping for conflict when the landscape was already compelling enough.

Movie: THE GREY Distributed by: OPEN ROAD FILMS Directed by: JOE CARNAHAN Release Date: JAN. 27, 2012 Grade: B

COURTESY OF KIMBERLY FRENCH AND OPEN ROAD FILMS

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, January 30, 2012

B AC K PAG E

HUMOR

HOROSCOPE

Hicks croon boozy tunes

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (1/30/12) You and a partner have more than you realize. Home is where your heart is, and your focus this year will be to grow and expand the networks that keep those home fires thriving. Talk about what you love.

T

he dulcet tones of a country guitar pluck their way through my ears. A waitress wearing a tube top she bought from Marshalls delicately balances three pitchers of Coors Light on her alcohol-soaked tray. A man in a blatantly tight pair of Wranglers picks up the microphone, and I reach for my pair of earplugs. Alas, karaoke night at The Pour House has begun.

Recently, my cousin got married in our hometown of Bakersfield. For those who are not familiar with Bakersfield, think of Larry the Cable Guy’s armpit, if it had a Walmart. I moved from there to San Diego almost four years ago and the differences between these two cities are vast. For example, people with good jobs in San Diego have their name printed on business cards. People with good jobs in Bakersfield have their names embroidered on their shirts. Needless to say, the average Bakersfield man’s collar is bluer than an episode of “The Smurfs.”

Chris Blakemore graphics specialist another cousin of mine decided to treat me to something special.

Seeing as how I had grown up there and already gone cow tipping, I thought I had experienced everything this place had to offer. Oh, was I wrong. As I sat down in her car, two thoughts entered my mind: 1) Why are there so many empty beer cans piled up in her son’s car seat? and 2) Where is her son? My curiosity soon faded as we hit the road in search of some hometown country fun.

As we drove through the streets of Bakersfield, with houses to my left and oil fields to my right, I was wondering anxiously where we were headed. Then, right there across from the liquor store / muffler shop, I saw the bright yellow sign shining brighter than life itself. We were about to enter a country bar called

The first cowboy who saddled up ... chose “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash. As his vocal chords caused my eardrums to burn burn burn, this seemed to be an appropriate choice.

This brings me to my next point.

As I mentioned previously, I recently attended my cousin’s wedding in Bakersfield, but the best part is what happened after the wedding. The reception ended earlier than some of my family would have liked, so

The Pour House. Think of the Double Deuce from “Roadhouse,” only instead of Patrick Swayze cracking skulls, there’s a guy the size of an M1 Abrams tank showing his crack. And the best part of all this?

It was karaoke night.

We sat down and ordered some drinks. My cousin seemed to know everyone there by name. She was like Norm from “Cheers,” minus the obesity. I was still mesmerized by the fact that a liquor store could also double as a muffler shop, so the atmosphere of the bar had not sunk in quite yet. I looked around and just tried to take it all in. I felt like I was in the middle of a Brooks & Dunn video. Unfortunately, the singing I heard that night was nowhere near what Kix and Ronnie could produce.

The first cowboy who saddled up to the stage chose “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash. As his vocal chords caused my eardrums to burn burn burn, this seemed to be an appropriate choice. It was about this time my cousin proceeded to order another round by looking at the bartender and giving him only the slightest of head nods. I guess when your picture is on the wall underneath a sign that reads “Customer of the Month,” you don’t have to get up to place your order.

The drinks arrived and, as we clinked our bottles together, we sat back and enjoyed the best of what Bakersfield karaoke had to offer.

Some were good, most were bad and all were drunk. After hours of hearing multiple renditions of “Chattahoochee” that would make a deaf guy’s ears bleed, we paid our tab, sobered up and headed home. Maybe it was the beer, maybe it was the karaoke, maybe it was the toxic fumes coming from the oil field next door, but I had a smile on my face the entire night.

Sometimes, a taste of homegrown fun is what we all need.

That, and a pair of earplugs.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 Money comes in. It could be easy to spend it all on food, comfort or other sensual treats. Have some of that. Pay down a debt, and save some, too. Have it all.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 6 Hermit-crabbing sounds appealing. Taking care of business close to home recharges your social batteries. Get in the spotlight later.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 It's getting easier to step forward. It seems so comfortable to hide out, but there are costs. Your creativity wants to escape.

Cook something up.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 The conversation is rich: The revelation you'd been looking for gets discovered by the group. You begin to understand. Defer gratification.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 - Tap into abundance without spending more.

Get the word out, and it goes farther than expected. Remember, love's the most important part. Be patient with someone.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 -

BY NANCY BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES Plan a fabulous adventure. A new assignment baffles. Slow down and puzzle it out. Organize for efficiency. There's fun ahead. Make a change for the better.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 Home vies with career for your attention.

Consider your options carefully, including an unreasonable request. Don't worry about status. Set priorities.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 You're on top of your business game.

Create new partnerships and complete negotiations. You have many reasons to be happy. Your friends are there for you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 9 - Entering a very busy two-day phase.

Focus on the difference you can make.

Expect changes in your career, and glitches in communication. Relax.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - You'd rather play for the next few days.

Balance finances and romance. With some creativity, you can make it all work. Hold that carrot out on a stick.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - Build abundance with a foundation of love. Avoid going out on spending sprees.

Things go smoother at home. Keep your promises, and be respectful.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 You're even smarter than usual for the next few days. You can find the solution to that old problem. The assignment changes.

Stand up for what's right. ©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

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THEIR LOVE SPEAKS VOLUMES Entertainment editor John Anderson captured this scene of a couple in their natural environment at the Love Library. File this under ‘L’ for Love.

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ACROSS 1 Fashionable 5 __ Blanc, the Alps’ highest peak 9 Wintry mess 14 Prolonged unconsciousness 15 Confess openly 16 Like horror film music 17 Practice boxing 18 Luke Skywalker, e.g.

19 Postal service symbol 20 DUCK 23 The NFL’s Cowboys 25 Energy 26 Snake’s warning 27 “Can __ honest with you?”

28 2011 World Series champs, on scoreboards 30 Rogue 32 Ring loudly 34 “Othello” villain 37 Fits of anger 41 CRANE 44 Actor Davis 45 __-poly 46 Yours, to Yves 47 Presidents’ Day mo.

49 “__-haw!”

51 Any nonzero number divided by itself 52 Arafat’s org. until 2004 55 Remove, with “off” 58 “Key Largo” 54Down winner Claire 60 QUAIL 63 Not shortened, as a film 64 Suit to __ 65 “Joy of Cooking” writer Rombauer 68 Stiller’s comedy partner

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Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 69 iPhone message 70 Cowardly film beast played by 29-Down 71 Swashbuckler Flynn 72 Brother of Cain and Abel 73 “Ignore that editing change” DOWN 1 IV amounts 2 “__ on Pop”: Dr. Seuss 3 “Lay it on me!”

4 Christmas song 5 Like the Grand Canyon 6 Higher than 7 All-nighter pill 8 Bale binder 9 Reel from a blow to the head

10 Wife of Jacob 11 Involuntary impulses 12 Eliot’s “__ Marner” 13 Obeys 21 Used to be 22 Upper-left PC key 23 Tippler, for short 24 Helps with a heist 29 Actor Bert (see 70-Across) 31 Carvey or Delany 33 Explorer Ericson 35 Moo __ gai pan 36 The “O” in SRO 38 “Time to move on” 39 Money-saving, in product names 40 Downhill racer

42 Abstain from alcohol 43 Canines metaphorically exchanged for something desired 48 Prohibit 50 Goof 52 Nom de __: pen name 53 Solitary man 54 Hollywood award 56 Grecian urn poet 57 Cosmetics giant Lauder 59 Lesser of two __ 61 French franc successor 62 Deli counter call 66 One of the Stooges 67 Picnic undesirable