12-12-2011 by The Daily Aztec

MONDAY, DECEMEMBER 12, 2011 VOL. 97 ISSUE 56

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

A S E M E S T E R I N P H OTO S

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

KATIE FISHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

Scan for the original story!

Scan for the original story! DUSTIN MICHAELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

A S E M E S T E R I N P H OTO S

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

Scan for the original story! PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PAIGE NELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Scan for the original story! ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

KATIE FOSTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

LAUREL ATKINSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

OPINION

No input for Big East change is foul move he incredibly volatile landscape of intercollegiate athletics recently reverberated across Montezuma Mesa. Last week, reports surfaced that the San Diego State athletics department intends to become bi-coastal through two stunning conference moves. Football is leaving the Mountain West Conference in order to become a member of the Big East Conference in fall 2013. Other sports, however, will remain local and likely find a new home in the Big West Conference. As appealing as debating the effectiveness of the “big weast” move is, something plenty of pundits will likely do, the intent of this column lies elsewhere. A fundamental travesty occurred in the process of this move, a key stakeholder group was not consulted in the process of making a decision: Where was the student input? According to KPBS, SDSU President Elliot Hirshman said “people both inside and outside the university got a chance to weigh in.” From that admission, one could reason the president’s office and the athletics department and other outside parties were heavily involved in reaching the multi-move decision, but what about the university’s students? Were the students provided their own capacity to respond or their own “chance to weigh in”? Students are the essence of this university. They are also a considerable financial foundation of the athletic department. Wouldn’t a student referendum have accurately gauged the student body’s opinion on such a move? Moreover, wouldn’t involving this key stakeholder have legitimized the move overall? Consider this move from a business perspective. In a financial exchange, when a person pays for something, he or she is assuming a piece of ownership of said item. With this consideration, the collective student body at SDSU is the primary investing group in the athletics department. Regardless of one’s athletic fervor, each SDSU student who contributed $175 to the Instructionally Related Activity Fees this fall owns a piece of the athletic department. Even if this money were to be thought of as charitable giving on the student’s part (which would

Brody Burns staff columnist make for some interesting public relations questioning of the athletics department on the legitimacy of the fees), then the donation would have to be reviewed by some emissaries of the student body. Charities have boards of directors, and other mechanisms of review to ensure the finances are applied in an effective manner. If one is to assume a select group of students were secretly involved in the decisionmaking process, then how is this fair to every other fee-paying member of the student body? Contrary to other claims, the City of San Diego, the athletics’ boosters, Aztec fans, former athletes or current employees in the athletics department are all considerably less financially connected to the athletic department than the student body is. We as a student body provide more funds to athletics than any other source of revenue. According to USA Today, for the 2009 academic year, the operating revenue for the athletics department was moe than $32 million. Student fees accounted for more than $10 million, or 31 percent of this total operating revenue. The next largest source of revenue was direct institutional support, which totaled around $6 million, or almost 19 percent. Contributions, an oft cited source of funding, only totaled more than $3 million or around 9 percent. If one assumes the boosters were involved in the decision-making process, something not altogether implausible, then why would a group that only accounts for 9 percent of the total investment receive more consideration than the whole of the student body? Are we to be deemed silent in the entire process, a higher power adjudicating the student body to be an ATM, merely a source of funding incapable of input? If that is the case, I’d like to petition for a full refund of my Instructionally Related Activity Fee. To revert to the business world, an investment option that accounted for 30 percent ownership with no voting power would be deemed a terrible investment. Think of it as investing in a Chipotle restaurant

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

Consider this move from a business perspective ... When a person pays for something, he or she is assuming a piece of ownership ... Are we to be deemed silent in the ... process, a higher power adjudicating the student body to be an ATM ... with a group of friends (the students of SDSU) and hiring a manager to run the restaurant (the athletics department). Only after making a visit to your restaurant do you find the manager has implemented some hasty change and began selling pizza instead of burritos — something decidedly unChipotle-like. Pizza may be a good realignment idea, potentially bringing in more revenue and perhaps appealing to a broader clientele, but those investors should be consulted in the decisionmaking process. That business strategy also applies to the students of this university. College students are often cited as the group that benefits most from

the athletics department’s moves, but in reality isn’t it the other way around? Students contribute incredible sums of money to subsidize the department, provide a passionate fan base and, through time, remain connected as a financial resource in the form of an alumni base. An emerging trend in collegiate athletics is that public institutions are becoming increasingly reliant upon student fees as a significant source for funding of athletic departments: “More than half of athletic departments at public schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision were subsidized by at least 26 percent last year.”

This is not a critique of the intent, the move or the ambitions of the athletics department. My problem is with the decision-making process. Maybe I am operating in an ideal world and the practicality of involving the student body would be cumbersome, yet relying upon this excuse would vindicate any administrative body for continually excluding its student body in major decisions. Higher education inspires, empowers and creates viability of an ideal decision-making process, one where a variety of perspectives would be actively involved, especially from such a vital group of stakeholders that stand to benefit or suffer in terms of student fees. Here’s the bottom line, athletics department: If we’re cutting you a check, don’t leave us stranded on the bench.

BRODY BURNS IS SEEKING A MASTER’S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

Enforce extra fines for driving while texting ew things are more intriguing than the sound of your phone’s text message notification. Whether you’re sleeping, studying for finals or jotting down notes in class, that familiar tone is enough to snap most people out of their mental slumbers and send them scrambling through purses and pockets in search of their beloved digital babies. To be honest, I catch myself doing this more often than I’d like to admit. Blame it on our growing obsession with instant communication, or our compelling fear of being left out of the loop; for whatever reason we just can’t seem to put the damn things down. I actually want to take this moment to commend students who have mastered the art of texting undetected in class. I’m not encouraging this behavior, but the stealth necessary to text a two paragraph response without garnering the “I know what you’re doing and you’re not being sneaky about it” death stare from the professor deserves some recognition, don’t you think? What I’m especially curious to learn, however, is how you would react to that same text message notification if I plucked you out of a

Stacey Oparnica staff columnist classroom setting and placed you behind the wheel of a vehicle going 75 mph. Would you instinctively snatch up your phone, or would you think twice before using your mobile device while driving? Roughly 50 percent of drivers between 21 and 24 years old would go ahead and reach for it, according to a new report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In fact, there were few situations in which a significant number of those surveyed said they would “never” use a cell phone, with bad weather and bumper-to-bumper traffic leading the list. Even more alarming, however, is the shocking number of people who said they would use their phones to text even if they were merging into traffic (95 percent), driving on winding roads (98 percent) or if they had a baby or a child in the car (98 percent). Have we become so accustomed to having 24/7 access to our phones we’ve completely forgotten when certain situations call for us to put

MCT CAMPUS

them down? I’m sure many of you will pipe up defensively about how you’re an experienced driver, and how proficient you are at multitasking behind the wheel. Well, guess what? Plenty of girls can not only eat breakfast, but also apply makeup while on the road, even making U-turns using just their knees. These people make and receive phone calls and text messages, loiter on Facebook Mobile and

fumble with the radio, all while coasting down busy San Diego highways sometimes at more than 80 mph. Does the fact that people can do it, and do it well, make it any less reckless or stupid? Does it make you feel safe to know there are people like this on the road? According to the report, it seems a majority of Americans only find distracted driving dangerous when other people do it. Go figure. Fewer

than 25 percent of respondents believe texting while driving makes no difference in their ability to manage the vehicle safely. On the other hand, 96 percent of respondents said they consider other drivers who text or send emails to be unsafe. Ah, the notorious double standard. So what realistic solutions are we looking at here? Thirty-five states, including California, have already banned texting while driving. But plenty of Americans still do it. Approximately one out of four respondents said fines of up to $500 should be issued to those caught texting behind the wheel, a measure that many support. However, plenty of people will still do it. That’s because enforcing these laws is only part of the solution. We can increase the fines to $1,000 and have every state in this country implement the same ban. But until we actively change our attitudes regarding our own distracted-driving habits, people are going to continue cruising down Interstate 5 with one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on a QWERTY keyboard. — Stacey Oparnica is a journalism junior.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

NEWS

SDSU students arrested for occupying Aztec says protesters were beaten by police Kevin Smead senior staff writer Amid the continued Occupy San Diego movement, San Diego State students and other protesters said they had been beaten by police, arrested unlawfully and detained without provision of basic necessities. “We were raided by police … and 51 of us were arrested, myself included,” Matthew Blythe, an SDSU student, said. “The unlawful detention and inhumane treatment is now being investigated by the authorities.” Blythe said there are many Aztecs involved with the movement, but there are also professors and students from many other campuses involved as well. Early last Saturday, a media liaison for the Occupy movement was taken into custody for reported “illegal lodging.” The detainee, John Kenney, has been on a hunger strike for more than 30 days, citing the lack of a 24-hour safe, free-speech zone for the protesters as his motivation. Kenney’s health is reportedly very fragile, and is believed to need medical attention. It is believed Kenny may refuse bail and continue his hunger strike behind bars. In an email statement from occupier Rick Halsey, Halsey claims

Kenney’s arrest “continues a pattern of harassment the City of San Diego and the San Diego Police Department have conducted against peaceful Occupy San Diego protesters.” Halsey also reported that officers informed protesters that “all objects placed on the ground might be considered bombs and subject to confiscation.” These objects included backpacks, tents and other various personal belongings. This is not the first time OSD has clashed with the San Diego Police Department. Though tensions between the two groups continue to be stressed, the situation came to a head on Oct. 14 when arrests were initially made. Despite being told to vacate the San Diego Civic Center, the protesters remained, and police intervention ensued. In a video posted on YouTube the day following the start of the protest, officers can be seen exercising their potential force in various forms. The use of Tasers, pepper spray and brute force are clearly displayed, as officers attempt to control the crowd. Through chants of “We are the 99 percent” and “We protest in peace; we don’t need police,” the officers can be seen rapidly introducing several protesters to the concrete before subduing them. Blythe was one of the protesters present during one such clash and was taken into custody. He said the protesters were held on buses for more than nine hours and were not able to use the restroom nor were they given food or water.

COURTESY OF JOHNNY NGUYEN

“We were raided by police ... and 51 of us were arrested, myself included. Many were beaten by police and thrown into buses ...” Matthew Blythe, SDSU student

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

This incident is just one of many that inspired one of OSD’s graphic artists, Julie Kramer, to participate in her own hunger strike. Julie does not plan on eating until the San Diego Chief of Police William Lansdowne apologizes for the “continued and documented police brutality, police harassment and unlawful arrests that Occupy San Diego has been subjected to.” Despite these hurdles, the Occupy movement shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.

SPONSORED BY

FOR NATIONAL OCCUPY MOVEMENT

Advanced Test Preparation

Percent of Americans who approve of Occupy Wall Street’s goals

Percent of Americans who disapprove of Occupy Wall Street’s goals

Percent of Americans who don’t express an opinion of the movement’s goals

Percent of Americans who blame financial institutions for state of economy

Percent of Americans who blame their government for state of economy

500

How many millions of dollars in income required to be considered “rich”

Approximate national wage median in thousands

312

People living in America in millions

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

Crossword and sudoku solutions can be found at thedailyaztec.com.

FUN & GAMES

ACROSS 1 “Yipe!” (or an apt title for this puzzle?) 5 San Antonio shrine 10 “__, sesame!” 14 Skin cream ingredient 15 Popular plastic wrap 16 Without a stitch on 17 It’s roughly between a batter’s chest and knees 19 Terminates 20 Ryan who played Granny on “The Beverly Hillbillies” 21 Cornerstone abbr. 22 “Shoo!” 23 Polynesian wrap 25 Quarter half 27 Puts to work 29 Within view 32 Put in the “circular file” 35 Recent: Pref. 37 Sing soothingly 38 Actor Holbrook 39 Maynard G. Krebs of old TV, notably 42 “Ease on Down the Road” musical, with “The” 43 Self-mover’s rental 45 2,000 pounds 46 __-ran: loser 47 Visible means of __

Play with a friend and take turns connecting dots. Once you make a square you claim it with your initials and the player with the most squares wins!

E R G AT S L T A M G ET S C

JEC

UB ES

I LT MU

T A S ST E CB

50 Pesky little biter 52 Mad magazine specialty 54 Play in the pool 58 Brad of “Ocean’s Thirteen” 60 Attorney’s matter 62 Expensive fur 63 Arab ruler 64 Begin traveling 66 Doily material 67 Like neon and xenon 68 Crisscross pattern 69 Toddler 70 Slalom curves 71 Europe’s highest active volcano DOWN 1 Desert refuge 2 Extreme 3 Gadget to remove apple centers 4 Abominable, as a crime 5 Enzyme suffix 6 Stretch out in the recliner, say 7 Stood up 8 “Praying” insect 9 Tense 10 Poor movie rating 11 Whence fruity drinks are ladled

12 Old Norse poetry collection 13 Bird’s home 18 Barbie counterparts 24 Kelly of song and dance 26 “What the __!” 28 Dead __ Scrolls 30 Superman’s Lane 31 Automaker Ferrari 32 Therefore 33 Pearl Harbor’s island 34 Pie-throwing comedy 36 Giant Mel of Cooperstown 39 Sponge up 40 Yuletide cupful 41 Travelers’ havens 44 Like a cornered cat 46 Not yet captured 48 “Hello” singer Lionel 49 Lionels under the tree 51 Church recess 53 __ Park, Colorado 55 Scrub the launch 56 Done in, as a dragon 57 Hopper of old gossip columns 58 Animal hide 59 “If __ make a suggestion ...” 61 To be, in Bordeaux 65 Elevs.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

FOOD & DRINK

On-campus bites complement waistlines Brittany Fasano staff writer Following a nutritious diet can be taxing for busy college students. Some may think they are eating healthily, while, in reality, the hustle and bustle of on-campus mealtimes can become a war zone for those oblivious to the difference between healthy and unhealthy meals. “Healthy means different things to different people,” director of San Diego State Dining Services, Paul Melchior, said. “(Healthy) is the least amount of processing that food goes through.” Time is an issue playing a troublesome role in students’ diets. Going to class or work without eating for several hours is not a healthy practice. “Once you start limiting your calorie intake, you start limiting your energy,” Student Nutrition Organization president Lilian Garcia said. It is important to keep the body nourished with wholesome foods on a regular basis. When looking to eat healthfully on campus, stick to grilled, broiled or steamed options and avoid anything fried. Also, adjusting orders makes menu items healthier. For example, holding the cheese or mayonnaise, adding extra veggies, or using salsa instead of dressing or sauce lowers the calories of a meal and increases its nutritional value. The American Heart Association promotes the consumption of whole grains and fiber as one of the most essential parts of a healthy diet, according to Garcia.

Food choices containing these elements are available at Aztec Market including Nature Valley granola bars, fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereal, whole grain crackers and several fresh bakery and sandwich items. There is even an organic section in the market. Options like these not only taste delicious, but also keep students feeling satisfied and focused throughout the day. Whatever the eatery, portion size is always an important aspect of mealtime decision-making. Some valuable guidelines for visualizing serving sizes can be found on choosemyplate.gov. Remembering these measurements when ordering food at any on-campus dining spot will help students stay healthier and keep waistlines slimmer. An alternative to campus eateries and markets is the farmers market. According to foods and nutrition senior Mallory Gross, the farmers market, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday, is another great way for students to grab a fresh bite to eat. “You can load up on some local fruits and veggies, or choose from a variety of healthy, ready-to-eat meals,” Gross said. Unhealthy options to stay away from include soda, energy drinks and processed foods. “Always choose wholesome and fresh food choices. For example, apples, low-fat milk and yogurt, bananas or cheese sticks … try to make it as nutrient-dense as possible,” Garcia said. “The less ingredients (on the packaging label), the better.” Many baked goods, packaged foods and fruits offered at Aztec

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

Market, and even the wrapped options at Starbucks, are freshly made and packaged on campus daily. “When we cut our own fruits, that’s not a processed product,” SDSU’s Executive Chef David J. McHugh said. All of the fruit in the markets and restaurants, such as Just Chill, are cut and served fresh daily. McHugh and Melchior endorse the food trend of cooking in front of the customer. Many new restaurants on campus will feature this aspect. “You design it, we refine it,” Melchior said. These restaurants allow students to create their own meals from healthy ingredients. The Culinary Theater at East Commons is one tasty example. Students must be proactive in order to supplement their diets with healthy options. “Any students wondering about nutrition counseling should visit the health promotion department on the third floor of the Calpulli Center,” Garcia said. “Nutrition majors trained by registered dietitian Tracy Daly, an expert in the field, offer free nutritional counseling Monday through Friday at three different locations: Calpulli Center, Aztec Recreation Center and Athletics Center.” The health promotion department offers a variety of handouts and information about healthy eating on campus as well as an opportunity to personalize a nutritional meal plan. “There are a plethora of choices on campus to satisfy five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if you choose to,” Melchior said. “You have the ability to eat healthy at SDSU.”

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

FUN & GAMES

Crossword and sudoku solutions can be found at thedailyaztec.com.

ACROSS 1 Religious ritual 5 Bell sound 9 Like freshly washed hair 13 Skip 14 Used cars 15 Jacob’s twin 16 Makes an offer more desirable 19 Entertain at one’s loft 20 Big rig 21 Lookers 22 Org. that provides handicaps 24 They appear before U 27 Hopelessly ruined 31 Digital comm. method? 34 Santa __ winds 35 Dumbbell 36 Stock trader’s goal 41 Former country on its own peninsula 42 Little piggy, so to speak 43 Govt. Rx watchdog 44 “Satisfaction guaranteed” catchphrase 49 Ranch handle 50 Votes of support 51 Editor’s ruthless overhaul, informally 55 Blog comment

57 Take to the air 58 Editor’s “Whoa!” 62 Shock with a stun gun 63 Cookie since 1912 64 Ripped 65 Multicolored 66 Geeky type 67 Foul mood DOWN 1 Mideast statesman Dayan 2 Network marketing giant 3 Strainer 4 Takes the helm 5 SAT practice 6 Long time, even in the singular 7 Paper back items? 8 “Time to leave” 9 Regard 10 Aim for 11 Statesman on a 100yuan note 12 Delay, with “off” 17 Fanny 18 Clunker 22 __ Reader: eclectic bimonthly 23 Surprise with a “Boo!” 25 Shoe mark

ACROSS 1 Pained expression 6 City in Peru or Ohio 10 Disallow 14 Standard of excellence 15 Satan’s doing 16 They can take a yoke 17 __ dish: lab item 18 Direction indicator 19 Legends and such 20 Cassandra’s gift, for short 21 Honky-tonk owner’s income? 24 Byways 26 Sampled 27 Dress (in) 29 Rumple, as hair 31 47-Across handle 32 Numbers for Noah 34 Early anesthetic 39 Pierre’s significant other 40 Cut off 42 Govern 43 Take a mulligan in golf, say 45 Workshop gadget 46 Altai Mountains’ continent 47 Fencing weapon 49 Political commentator Maddow

51 Spiral-shelled mollusks 55 Capital between Eugene and Portland 56 Actor’s income? 59 Org. that advises the president in financial planning 62 “We try harder” sloganeer 63 Praise 64 “Rubber Duckie” singer 66 Consider 67 Marseilles miss: Abbr. 68 Oscar winner Witherspoon 69 Ultimatum ender 70 Fortuneteller 71 Watch surreptitiously DOWN 1 Use a dust rag on 2 Bad day for Caesar 3 Trawler’s income? 4 Wheels, so to speak 5 Hebrew prophet mentioned during 55-Downs 6 Casual brand 7 Tennis great Lendl 8 Condition like new 9 Warns 10 Electrical units 11 Remove from text

12 __ Haute, Indiana 13 Without stopping 22 “Golden Boy” playwright Clifford 23 Comfort 25 Aquatic frolicker 27 Sear 28 Hobbling 29 Film 30 Functions 33 “__ Only Just Begun”: Carpenters hit 35 Smidgen 36 Librarian’s income? 37 “Night” author Wiesel 38 Tangible 41 Aired again 44 Cry from the litter 48 Biblical poems written partly by King David 50 Changes 51 Gardening tool 52 Bellybutton 53 Sign of spring? 54 “Who’s there?” reply 55 Passover meal 57 Clinton’s alma mater 58 Stubborn animal 60 Sushi bar soup 61 “How’ve you __?” 65 Salesperson, briefly

26 Lukewarm 28 Brittle cake grain 29 1-Down’s land: Abbr. 30 Words with date or record 31 Seeks, as permission 32 Loud tone 33 Moto player 37 Uncover again 38 What Tweety tawt he taw 39 “The Simpsons” bar 40 Green shade 45 Brewery oven 46 Long boa 47 Keep for later 48 Lives 52 “Friday the 13th” villain 53 Ferrell’s partner in “SNL” Spartan Cheerleaders bits 54 Harass 56 Guest columnist’s piece 57 2007 signer of the richest contract in MLB history 58 Auto additives co. that hints at this puzzle’s theme 59 Mai __ 60 Long beginning? 61 By authority of Crossword and sudoku solutions can be found at thedailyaztec.com.

Crossword and sudoku solutions can be found at thedailyaztec.com.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

FUN & GAMES

ACROSS 1 Improvise at the jazz club 5 Butt (in) 9 Oncle’s spouse 14 River to the Fulda 15 Its French name means “high wood” 16 Sun Valley locale 17 Move, briefly 18 Monument Valley sight 19 Many a Justin Bieber fan 20 When to say nightnight 23 Former Mideast org. 24 Author of the Yiddish memoir “And the World Remained Silent” 28 Ohio Stadium purchase 33 Swiss Guard charges 34 Quick 35 Chinese tea 36 Prunes 37 Georgia of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” 38 “Cinque, dieci, venti, trenta” in “The Marriage of Figaro,” e.g. 39 Yellowfin tuna 40 Estate home 41 Sounds content 42 Advance sale teaser

line 45 “I love what you do for me” automaker 46 Big-house link 47 Dubious Himalayan headline—and phenomenon in 20-, 28- and 42Across 54 Peer in a box 57 Relinquish 58 Golfer Aoki 59 Japanese art genre 60 Oregon Trail team 61 Sommelier’s prefix 62 Lose it 63 Distance swimmer Diana 64 Pont __: Paris bridge DOWN 1 3-Down, e.g. 2 “Zip-__-Doo-Dah” 3 Blend 4 Yields 5 Man of La Mancha 6 Mind 7 See 12-Down 8 Bourbon order 9 They may be tufted 10 Magazine that highlights Clio winners 11 “Sorry, laddie” 12 With 7-Down, Bette

Midler classic 13 Quite a span 21 Goes on and on 22 Volunteer’s offer 25 Like an encrypted transmission, in theory 26 Old anesthetics 27 Future J.D.s’ exams 28 Melodramatic cry 29 Haughty 30 Greek New Ager 31 Goad 32 Feature of some fancy cakes 33 Magician’s secret cohort 37 Really worry 38 Term 40 Like some mail 41 Sumptuous 43 He has a cello named Petunia 44 Remnant 48 Tiny trash can, e.g. 49 Hot 50 Thought 51 “Mm-hmm” 52 Half a sitcom sign-off 53 Flub 54 Spree 55 The loneliest numero? 56 Drum edge

Crossword and sudoku solutions can be found at thedailyaztec.com.

ACROSS 1 Drops a fly, say 5 Web code 9 Patio parties, briefly 13 Fiefdom, e.g. 15 Recitative follower 16 “For sure!” 17 Test 18 “The Case for Public Schools” author 19 Nice head 20 Thoroughbred farm slur? 23 Schubert’s “The __ King” 24 ’70s radical gp. 25 “Eternally nameless” principle 26 Fancy pond swimmer 29 Dairy farm proverb? 33 Words before “Gave proof through the night” 34 It has pedals and stops 35 Tub filler 38 Loses interest 41 European capital 42 Sweat 44 Half a “Star Wars” character 46 Cattle farm commandment? 51 Ruling party

52 “Jane Eyre” star Wasikowska 53 Business __ 54 Valuable Ming 56 Clydesdale farm boast? 60 Drop a line, in a way 62 Some tributes 63 Capital at the foot of Mount Vitosha 64 Shared currency 65 Time to give up 66 Body 67 Things to pick 68 Eating up 69 Part of many a snail’s diet DOWN 1 Rub out 2 Suck up again 3 Fight in the boonies 4 Rub out 5 Shortwave medium 6 Car for the pits? 7 Hora part 8 “Ed Wood” Oscar winner 9 Memory unit 10 Microbrewery stock 11 African evergreen whose leaves are chewed as a narcotic 12 Pirate’s pronoun

14 Muscle-contraction protein 21 They articulate with radii 22 Doofus 27 Spoken 28 Money-object connection 30 Man-to-boy address 31 Former Jerry Marcus comic strip 32 Dickens’s Edwin 35 City near Provo 36 Neural transmitter 37 Not have enough 39 Mentions 40 One may be skipped 43 Big name in household humor 45 Most curious 47 Denmark’s __ Gardens 48 SDS co-founder Tom 49 Hottie 50 Ready and eager 55 Yodo River city 57 Winged god 58 Out of shape? 59 “Cannery Row” restaurant owner __ Flood 60 Rooks, for example 61 Overseas agreement

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday,, December 12, 2011

FUN & GAMES

Help the animals find their way to the watering hole.

ADVENTURERS

BEWARE

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

FUN & GAMES

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

ince 1944, Harold and Dorothy Hoersch have been serving up quality home-style dishes with unparalleled service. Hob Nob Hill, which was recently featured on The Food Network’s "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" with Guy Fieri, is truly one of San Diego’s oldest culinary gems. The San Diego Union-Tribune even hails it as “one of the last of a special breed.” This tried and true restaurant has been a consistent sensation throughout the years, pleasing patrons and critics alike with friendly staff, great service, economic prices and, most importantly, delicious food. Its extensive and highly praised

breakfast menu offers bottomless mimosas, spiced apples, coffee cakes and pastries made fresh in-house, plus decadent wild blueberry pancakes served hot off the griddle. The eatery is open for lunch and dinner as well, serving fan-favorites such as a caramelized onion tart with bleu cheese and smoked bacon and old-fashioned turkey croquettes. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the triple-decker Manhattan sandwich, stacked high with baked ham and turkey. Hob Nob Hill is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on First Avenue in Bankers Hill. Check out Hobnobhill.com to browse the menus or get directions!

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Meetup connects like-minded locals Sandra De La Torre staff writer There is a vast assortment of social media platforms available at the disposal of Internet users. However, few have been specifically designed to “use the Internet to get off the Internet.” Meetup.com does just that. Created in 2002, the idea for this website was inspired by the events of 9/11. Before that date, cofounder and CEO, Scott Heiferman, noticed there wasn’t much interaction between neighbors and community members

Meetup aims to help individuals create their own groups or join one of the many already available on the website. The purpose of creating or joining a Meetup group is to interact with others and actually meet them face-to-face. “(Meetup) is not about finding friends or joining another social media platform,” community development lead Kathryn Fink said. With more than 92,000 local groups and 90,000 topics to choose from, creating a Meetup group is easy. The website facilitates the process through the various features it provides and the simplicity of cus-

to create a Meetup account, organizers must pay organizer fees in order to keep the page running. The fees can range from $12 to $19 a month and are usually split between members of the group. According to Fink, Meetup is the “best online platform for groups,” because “organizing your group means you’re part of the Meetup ecosystem.”

Once a group is created, it’s promoted within the website to others who are also interested in meeting. In general, the most popular Meetup groups are those focused on outdoor activities and small businesses. San Diego boasts a diverse range of Meetup groups, with topics ranging from sports to photography, volleyball, wine tasting and dining out.

One group called “Adrenaline Junkies and Risk Takers Anonymous,” is available to all San Diego residents interested in adding a little adventure to their lives. Members of the group have previously met at roller derbies, skydiving spots and rock climbing locations. Now that meeting up is only a click away, finding locals with common interests has never been easier.

“(Meetup) is not about finding friends or joining another social media platform ... organizing your group means you’re part of the Meetup ecosystem.” Kathryn Fink community development lead of Meetup in New York City. However, after 9/11, he witnessed a transformation as communication and interaction between members of communities began to increase. Heiferman, along with Matt Meeker and a small team, wanted to find a way to help people build and organize inner-city relationships. From this basic idea, Meetup was born. Self-described as “the world’s largest network of local groups,”

tomization. Some features include a mailing list, message boards and a group calendar. The site also offers groups the choice to decide how much participation it requires from members, as well as who is allowed to join. Every group is run by an organizer, a leader who is in charge of the group page and keeps members informed. Though only an email address and password are required

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D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

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

A L L T H E W O R L D ’ S A S TA G E

La Jolla Playhouse hosts classic ‘Superstar’

COURTESY OF DAVID HOU

David Dixon staff writer There have been many theatrical events based on arguably the most famous man in history, Jesus Christ. Now, a rock opera about the messiah is playing at the La Jolla Playhouse. “Jesus Christ Superstar” is an artistic depiction of the final days in the life of Jesus (Paul Nolan). The play explores Jesus’ deteriorating relationship with his disciple, Judas Iscariot (Josh Young), and explains why this played a key factor in both of their deaths. The appeal of “Superstar” is not

solely religious. Music and lyrics from Broadway kings Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice make this possible. Created years before either of these men became titans of theater, the music, for the most part, lacks the elegant Broadway melodies they would later become famous for. Instead the duo created a rock’n’roll soundtrack that will satisfy young adults, yet it’s also intelligent enough to attract older people. This was evident on opening night, when the playhouse audience was comprised of mostly older patrons who really seemed to enjoy every single number. The music is so great, it is easy to take the rest of the show for granted. An aspect supposedly lacking in ear-

lier versions of “Superstar” was an emotional connection to Jesus and Judas. In this staging, personal investment in Jesus and Judas is achieved because the two main performers sing and act the music with full involvement. Nolan is excellent at portraying Jesus as an ever-knowing, yet flawed human being struggling to accept the fact his time on earth is coming to an end. Nolan expresses traits of humanity and saintliness very effectively, and his final scenes are chilling. Young is also a standout as Judas, a complicated person whose name, along with Benedict Arnold, has been used as a popular insult through the test of time. Young brilliantly shows the disturbing state

Judas is in. He never plays his character as an evil betrayer, but as a person who wrongly believed he was helping mankind by ruining his best friend’s life. Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff strips away a good amount of the extravagance that has been associated with past versions of “Superstar.” There are still a few campy moments, so the action does not get too serious, but McAnuff wanted what happened on stage to be in the style of a classic tragedy. It is refreshing to see a talented director deliberately not try to top himself and instead accomplish something riskier. While the original album that inspired the show is considered to be groundbreaking, many

say there has never been a defining production in Manhattan. It will be interesting to see how McAnuff’s “Superstar” does when it debuts in New York City next spring. Unfortunately, there is a minor flaw with some of the music. A few brief interludes from the orchestra attempt to replicate the 1970s sound from the CD. This does not happen too often, but when it does, these moments can feel dated. That being said, “Jesus Christ Superstar” is an enthralling portrayal of Jesus’ last week of life. Leave it to Webber and Rice to create a piece that after 40 years, still rocks. Tickets and information about “Jesus Christ Superstar” can be found at lajollaplayhouse.com.

L I V E A N D DA N G E R O U S

‘Wrex The Halls’ summarizes this year’s hits Courtney Rogin staff writer Saturday night at Valley View Casino Center played out like a well-oiled musical machine for 91X’s Wrex The Halls first night of two. Playing a soldout show for thousands of fans, six of today’s most popular alternative bands took to the revolving stage back-to-back. Kicking off the night, The Naked and Famous opened with “All Of This.” The band spent most of the song working out sound issues with the microphones, which seemed to be fixed by the second song, “Punching in a Dream.” The Naked and Famous experienced rising success this year, as electronic alternative music is getting its time to shine. After a quick 30-minute set, the band closed out with its hit song, “Young Blood.” The track is made for an arena; it redeemed the band for a lackluster set that struggled to get off the ground. The Airborne Toxic Event followed with a punk rock set, opening with popular song “Changing.” With such a short set, the cover song “I Fought The Law” could have been substituted for another song from the band’s songbook. “Sometime Around

Midnight,” from its self-titled debut album stole the show. The Airborne Toxic Event’s use of strings filled the arena as well as any electric guitar. Within the blink of an eye, Cage The Elephant dominated the stage with its punk-surf rock. Cage The Elephant has had a Cinderella year, including a co-headlining tour with Manchester Orchestra this summer. “In One Ear” and “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” stood out as the set’s highlights. “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” had a more Southern rock twang to it than it normally does. Cage The Elephant mixed elements of metal, surf rock and rock for a creative sound. The top-billed bands, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Death Cab For Cutie and Florence & the Machine raised the bar in the second half of the night. The high hopes for Noel Gallagher were fulfilled with his most recent musical expedition, which emphasized all good things of arena Brit-rock. Noel Gallagher took all the great things about Oasis and harnessed them for his own band, leaving out his brother Liam. “Everybody’s On The Run” sounded like a gem from a modern-day version of the classic Beatles album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

How does a band create a 50-minute set incorporating an entire career? ... Sacrifices have to be made at some point and audience favorites may be omitted. If the audience had any doubts regarding Gallagher, they were erased with the performance of the Oasis classic “Wonderwall.” The song is a tour de force to be reckoned with, even when performed by only one of the Gallagher brothers. Thousands of Oasis fans were able to cross off another moment from their bucket lists. Closing out a wonderful set, Gallagher ended with another Oasis classic, “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” Death Cab For Cutie is coming up on its 14-year anniversary as a band. In that time, it has built quite a hearty songbook, including eight albums and multiple EPs. How does a band create a 50-minute set list incorporating its entire career? The answer is that it simply can’t. Sacrifices have to be made at some point and audience

favorites may be omitted. Death Cab had no problem filling its set with a great mix of songs, almost exclusively from its past three albums. The middle of the set was full of back-to-back well-known songs. “Soul Meets Body” was a pleasant surprise, followed by “I Will Possess Your Heart,” which received an eightminute long rendition. One of the surprising moments was the end-of-set jam session, which included Gibbard playing drums and the band turning into an Explosions in The Sky-style post-rock group for a few minutes. Whatever Death Cab does, it does it well when it comes to live shows. The band flowed through its set and the performance was well planned. In less than an hour, it was done.

Closing out a speedy night was Florence & the Machine. Florence Welch has had quite a year, which included the release of her sophomore album, “Ceremonials.” She is a music powerhouse who made being a female rock star cool again. Drawing an eclectic crowd, with a large ratio of females, Florence opened her breathtaking set to “Only If For a Night.” Her vocals enveloped the arena and echoed off the walls, sounding as if she were singing five feet away. The music sounded like the soundtrack to some futuristic space-age wilderness to be best explored at night. “Seven Devils” was a deep, dark song that embodied all the magic that is her music. “Cosmic Love” was the best stage performance throughout the entire night. The lighting matched the lyrics and music perfectly, revealing the crowd every so often so the cameras and phones held up in the sea of people looked like little stars. “Dog Days Are Over” which was immediately followed by “Shake It Out,” created a cathartic overload. The night featured a quick overview of the best music of the year, almost like putting an iPod on a quick shuffle. 91X satisfied loyal listeners and music fans alike with this year’s holiday show.

D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, December 12, 2011

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

UNDER THE SCOPE

The Northstar Session succeeds sans label Allie Daugherty editor in chief Scoring a record deal used to be what bands in garages across the world dreamed of. But now, becoming recognized and being able to tour nationally is a dream many unsigned bands have already realized. The Los Angeles-based trio The Northstar Session is an example of this trend. The band has already achieved its fair share of successes despite being completely independent of any record label. “I could talk about how we’ve been able to record three albums and two EPs in just less than four years, how we’ve been touring nearly three weeks out of every month for the last two years, and all the while haven’t lost a cent,” Dave Basaraba, keyboardist and accordion player for the band, said. “But perhaps our greatest success is that we’ve been able to do all of this without the backing of a record label, and still pay our rent — yes, I said we’re touring around the country and still paying our bills with only our music in 2011. There’s a lot to be said for being independent in today’s music business.” The fans benefit from an independent band as well. San Diego resident and avid concert-goer Courtney Rogin said the best thing about independent bands is the inexpensive prices because there’s no big corporation looking to make a profit. “Usually, the CDs are much less expensive, and you know the money being spent is going directly to the band,” she said. “The shirts are also either more unique or better quality because the bands are paying to get them made themselves.” Basaraba recognizes this and knows the music industry has changed. He, along with fellow band mates Matt Szlachetka (guitar, vocals) and Kane McGee (drums, percussion, guitar, vocals), is taking

COURTESY OF THE NORTHSTAR SESSION

advantage of it. “We also differ from a lot of bands out there in the way we approach success,” Basaraba said. “We are not looking for overnight fame, or the hit single that most bands spend all their time grasping at.” “It’s our passion for music and performing for people first,” Szlachetka added. “But we also understand that our goal is really to reach as many people as possible with our music, and the harder we work at keeping this project on the road, the easier it will be to accomplish that goal.” This approach has earned The Northstar Session rave reviews for its latest album “Late Bloomer,” which the San Diego Troubadour said “shows an expanded palette of pop-

rock ideas at work. The level of polish and craft in the 10 tunes continues to impress with crisp harmonies, arrangements that enhance the songs and smooth musicianship.” The success of this album, and the talent within it, also netted the group a spot on the NBC show “Parenthood” this fall, even though the band had no corporate support or connections pushing for the extra publicity. But despite the victories the boys have had on their own, they know they can’t do it forever. Still, they continue to enjoy what they have now. “We realize there is a time and place for a band to actually need the size and relative efficiency of the ‘machine,’” Basaraba said. “We know that at some point our style of mar-

keting and advertising will no longer match what is needed … we realize that three guys cannot do everything forever. But for now, we are a fledgling company, with the decision-making authority as well as the creative authority being split between the three of us, and we like it this way.” Basaraba said the group’s success likely stems from the fact the three treat the band as a business that allows them to make art; not the other way around, something he said most other bands neglect. “If they don’t treat their work like a business, they better be the greatest band in the world, or have a truckload of luck coming their way,” Basaraba said. “That’s not to say that the latter doesn’t happen, but in the

somewhat flooded music market these days, we’re just being realistic.” Basaraba and his bandmates are also seeking a strong business foundation for the future. “We’re looking for a career that builds over time, with quality that consistently grows, and a fan base that becomes a part of us as we grow,” he said. “All I’m saying is that we work so hard in rehearsals, writing songs and recording them, that we feel it’s only right that we work just as hard on the business side building and cultivating the brand.” Fans can see Basaraba and The Northstar Session doing just that this month as they tour throughout California.

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

Couples and cameos define ‘New Year’s’

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Isabella Place staff writer Not since the similarly themed film “200 Cigarettes” made its debut, has there been such an immensely starstudded production depicting the New Year’s holiday.

“New Year’s Eve” centers on rekindling relationships of all sorts. With a cast as eclectic as the host city itself, this movie walks viewers through what they’ve already seen dozens of times in Times Square, but with a number of twists. “New Year’s Eve” is overwhelmed with different dilemmas. The beauty

lies in seeing how those dilemmas are solved, not with some magical fairy dust, but rather by making the most with what is at hand. Even though some viewers may hope to see certain actors paired with someone other than who they appear with on screen, the actors are promisingly coupled. By far, the most exciting

relationship in the film is the one between a very Mary Tyler Mooreesque Michelle Pfeiffer and the young man-about-town, Zac Efron. Their portrayal is an odd one, but funny and charismatically cute. They aren’t necessarily in a romantic relationship in the traditional sense, but they deftly maneuver through a quirky partnership that keeps the film rolling. “Glee’s” singing sensation Lea Michele and current “bad boy” Ashton Kutcher have a quaint platonic romance brewing in the few scenes depicting them together. Meanwhile, Hilary Swank and Ludacris make quite the tag team when it comes to getting things done at work. “Saturday Night Live” funny man Seth Meyers partners with Jessica Biel to “deliver” nothing short of a nice surprise. Spoiler alert: If your stomach can handle it, picture a love match between Josh Duhamel and Sarah Jessica Parker at the very end of the film. Apparently Hollywood couldn’t make a movie about New York without sprinkling a dash of Carrie Bradshaw into the mix. The good news about it is the scene is finished quickly, allowing more interesting matches to appear on screen once again. Katherine Heigl attempts to portray a love-scorned ice princess, but honestly, she’s too sweet to make the audience believe she’s truly that cold.

“New Year’s Eve” is overwhelmed with different dilemmas. The beauty lies in seeing how those dilemmas are solved, not with ... fairy dust, but rather by making the most with what is at hand. Foreign bombshell Sofia Vergara may overdo it at times with her voluptuous accent, but she’s fun to watch nonetheless. Added to that, a hot Halle Berry presents herself, briefly, but with just enough sass to please the crowd. And the list goes on. There are too many cameos to mention. Moviegoers feeling patient and daring should stay seated through the credits and watch the outtakes. The clips are amusing to say the least. Bottom line: if viewers enjoyed “Valentine’s Day,” they might take pleasure in watching this. Like “Valentine’s Day,” this film is great for a date night: Only replace chocolates and romance with champagne and a midnight kiss.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

S P OT L I G H T

SDSU student freshens pages of Seventeen Rebecca Romero reports on first year as a member of magazine’s Fresh 15 Stephanie Schauer staff writer San Diego State freshman, Rebecca Romero, anticipated the start of a new chapter in her life: college. However, the exciting wake-up call she received during the summer from the New York City offices of the popular teen magazine, Seventeen, gave this new chapter an even more exciting introduction. “I was waking up and then I (saw) a New York missed call number. I’m like ‘New York? Oh my gosh,’” Romero said. Calling her a second time, a Seventeen intern delivered the exciting news: After two rounds of applications, which included a questionnaire to test her writing ability and a one-minute video to showcase her video skills, she was one of the 15 soon-to-be college freshmen chosen to serve on Seventeen’s Freshman 15 panel for this year’s academic school year. “I have always been interested in journalism and Seventeen. I always secretly wanted an internship (there),” she said. The Freshman 15 is not focused on the ins and outs of freshmen who gain an additional 15 pounds of happy-weight during their first year of college. Instead, it’s focused on a panel of 15 young women, documenting their first-year college experiences. Their sole responsibility is to detail everyday college life by either video or photo blogging on Seventeen’s website. This includes an occasional article in the magazine itself as well.

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

Soon after Romero heard the good news, she took her excitement to the great outdoors; one of her many passions. While setting out on a Jet Ski to have a little fun and enjoy the salty sea air, her moment of happiness came to a staggering halt. She broke her leg. Despite what could have been a major setback, she remained strong and positive as she looked forward to a new beginning at her first-

choice university, SDSU. She bravely documented the adjustment from living at home in El Centro to being a college freshman with a broken leg and a power scooter, which she used to travel to and from classes. Now, cast and scooter free, Romero is fulfilling her role as a Freshman 15 panelist, in which she is expected to post online once a week about a topic of her choice.

However, the magazine likes to assign specific topics, primarily about college guys and relationships. Recently single, this will be a relatively fresh perspective for her, although she has a lot to look forward to working on some of the magazine’s special assignments. Romero recently went to Tempe, Ariz. for the Chegg Concert, where she interviewed MTV Video Music

Awards Best New Artist nominee, Kreayshawn. When choosing her own topic, she takes a thoughtful and heartfelt, yet spontaneous approach. “(It’s) just something you see, something you are going through and you want to help people with,” she said. Romero is working on a story for her blog about the recent campus protests regarding budget cuts and tuition hikes she noticed as she was walking on campus after class. She recorded video footage and talked to several people on the scene. No matter the topic, Romero is happy to help others any way she can, especially with more serious topics, such as dating violence. “It’s nice to know that I am helping someone too. I am saying be strong (to myself) but I am also telling it to other girls … ‘You are worth more than if someone treats you badly or does something (negative) to you,’” she said. As for herself, she said she hopes this unique experience, which has helped her relate to other college females and hone her writing skills will prove to be valuable and lead to even better opportunities in the future. As a hospitality and tourism management pre-major with an emphasis in meetings and events operations management, Romero plans to do it all. And her ambitions do not stop there. “I want to do a lot of different things in life. I don’t just want to do one thing. If I want to do something in journalism or if I want to write, I’ll write too and do something else,” she said. Through broken legs and heartache, Romero’s firm belief in the saying “everything happens for a reason” promises a fresh perspective.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, December 12, 2011

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Rhinos’ rampant rampage

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (12/12/11) What do you want to learn this year? Who do you want to play with? After checking the money angle, put the top ideas on your calendar. Balance time with family, friends and mentors. Patient action brings reward.

mid public outcry about the California State University tuition increase, state budget deficit and the likely unchanging supply of a harmless Category 1 drug across colleges in the CSU system, a recent situation of rampaging rhinos may further punish students. Last Wednesday, the San Diego Zoo was expected to unveil a new and improved rhino exhibit, but the animals escaped in transit to the zoo at approximately 4:40 p.m. Tuesday evening near San Diego State at the corner of College Avenue and 54th Street. The three rhinos broke through what the ZooLogical society has since deemed “ineffective cages.” Senior Truck Captain and Large Vehicle Specialist O’ Natural SmithLight, who was driving the truck during the escape, said she pointed out a problem with the cages before leaving Kenya. “I told them I wasn’t sure about the integrity of the cages,” she said. “There were various large windows that the animals could easily escape through.” ZooLogical specialists argued tthe openings Smith-Light described had signs posted that the rhinos should have read, and that the society takes no responsibility because of the posted warnings. Although the cause for their apparent rage is still unconfirmed, the rhino handlers at the scene said there was a faint musty smell, as though a dying breed of marsupial had recently passed through, unnoticed. “I’m not sure where the musk came from, but I certainly don’t believe the

Bill Crotty is graduating source of the stench could survive very long because no species would reproduce with that,” ZooLogical animale lover Cindy McMacN’Cheese said. “Or maybe people around here are just used to the smell.” After their daring escape from the transportation cages, the rhino family — male and female adults, and one baby — went right for their favorite food: koi fish. Expecting one fish to be too hot, one to be too cold and the last to be just right, this looked to be the end of the rhino rampage. Wrong. As it turns out, koi fish are not very tasty and the rhino family decided to start an Occupy Scripps Cottage movement until more acceptably-tasting koi have been added to the pond. In addition to hiring new officers to oversee police operations in the OSC region, the university has also been faced with collateral damage, the cost of which will be put on students. During their gallop across campus, the rhinos caused an earthquake that

temporarily shut off power in the school, causing thousands to believe terrorists were bombing the city (again). Fortunately, the elusive manner in which the collective 48,000 pounds of fury sprinted across campus caused significant damage to only a small area. Preliminary damage reports say the section of campus around Love Library near Campanile Walkway will be closed for repairs, leaving students with only one place to exhibit free speech during the Spring semester: Manchester Hall. “Most students don’t even know what Manchester Hall is,” an anonymous university official said. “It should be interesting to see where people try to protest on campus now.”

—Followup reports are unlikely because of the fictional nature of this story. If you’re unsure why, please donate to the rhino foundation via PayPal to the editor’s personal email account as soon as possible. He needs it. Erm, I mean they do.

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 a 7 Go over your lists again. Postpone travel and spending, if you can. Simple tasks, done one at a time, get you farther along than you expected. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - Optimism will carry you far today. There really isn't any cheese down the moody tunnel. Take advantage of your bursts of energy to get things done. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 Physical exertion lifts your spirits. Find a way to go play today. Hold off on a radical suggestion ... it's not time yet. Lively discussion ensues. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 6 When you've got it, you've got it. But be aware of whether you actually have it. Put some effort into the betterment of others, and you may get it. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 6 - You may be under some pressure now. There's a beautiful view at the top of this climb. Keep your eyes on the ledges above. Hold firm but not too tight. Passions stir.

BY NANCY BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 7 Be careful not to let your emotions get in the way. Your friends are really there for you. Use newfound strength to carry on. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 10 The early bird does get the worm. Unexpected opportunities show up. This is a good time to take a chance. Everything should work out in the end. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 7 You're ready for growth and expansion. Consider which direction. Meditate on the course to take. Find the information that will shift things. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - Identify the major barrier. Accept constructive criticism. There's always something new to learn from the experience. Take time for meditation. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - It's not just about what's logical. Consider the emotional factors, and what other people want. Gather information without deciding. Speak later. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Face to face negotiations can be quite profitable. You have everything you need to create win-win situations. Think big, and keep it private for now. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Use creative tactics and a glue stick, if necessary. Clean up after yourself. Keep a little out for yourself, and make up packages. Enjoy a quiet night. ©2011, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

SUDOKU

Difficulty Level: 1 out of 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.sudokudragon.com

LO O K I N G T H R O U G H O U R L E N S

LIKE SDSU news? CROSSWORD

WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHT? Photo Editor Antonio Zaragoza captured this shot of last weekend’s lunar eclipse in progress..

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in the written works of this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Story ideas can be sent to tips@thedailyaztec.com.

ACROSS 1 Brewpub choices 5 Bottle tops 9 Newly hatched pigeon 14 Lower California, familiarly 15 Mother Goose baddie 16 Hearing-related 17 Downside of reading in poor light 19 Magic wand wielder 20 PC go-to type 21 Use the ballot 23 Mlles., in Spain 24 Drive-thru cleanings 29 Checkpoint “Hold it!” 31 Little-known information 32 Prefix meaning “billion” 36 Harbor landing 38 Bridge positions 39 Range for indoor comfort 42 “Tomorrow” title singer 43 High spirits 44 1974 Sutherland/Goul d spoof 45 “Burnt” crayon color 47 Egyptian cross 49 Staunch political group member 51 Montezuma subject 56 Admin. aide 57 Hawkish 58 Not so many 62 Solid baseball hit 64 African antelope 65 Muscular woe 66 Born and __ 67 Prepares, as cocktails 68 “Little” Dickens girl

/ Daily Aztec BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 69 “Besides that ...” DOWN 1 Helps illegally 2 Hen, vis-ą-vis eggs 3 Kick out 4 Olympic skater Cohen 5 Apple heart 6 Turkish title 7 Doctor’s selfemployment, and a hint to the starts of the five longest across answers 8 Hombre’s title 9 Low-crime section of town 10 Sine __ non: essential 11 Ocean State sch. 12 River to the Rhine

13 Activist Nellie 18 Addams Family nickname 22 Howard Hughes’s airline 24 Scale, as Everest 25 Improvises like Armstrong 26 Welcomes to the penthouse 27 Blog piece 28 Freelance writers’ encls. 30 Zoo swinger 32 Hold tightly 33 Ancient Greek region that was home to Heraclitus 34 One with no hope 35 Make ___: rake it in 37 Sign anew, as a contract

40 Thirty feet 41 Soldier of Seoul 46 Sighs of relief 48 Difficult 50 “The Chronicles of Narnia” lion 52 “___ the Greek” 53 Handle, as a baton 54 Rain gutters run under them 55 System of belief 57 Banana covering 58 Like “la” in Fr. or Sp. 59 Quarterback Manning 60 Like many lifelike museum displays 61 Opposite of WSW 63 Buffalo Sabres’ org.