01-31-2011

dailyaztec Monday, January 31, 2011

Sports pg. 2

Vol. 96, Issue 64

Opinion pg. 4

Black History Month pg. 5

Entertainment pg. 6

Classifieds pg. 7

Backpage pg. 8

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SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

Monday, January 31, 2011

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SDSU

WYOMING

96 57 Aztecs dismantle overmatched Cowboys Tapley scores a career-best 24 points as team stays unbeaten at home this year AGUSTIN GONZALEZ A S S I S TA N T S P O R T S E D I T O R

The San Diego State Aztecs had a bad week, and they needed to take it out on somebody. It just so happened the Wyoming Cowboys were the unlucky ones to be next on the schedule.

Sophomore guard Chase Tapley scored a career-high 24 points and James Rahon chipped in with 14 as SDSU (21-1, 6-1 Mountain West Conference) trampled Wyoming 96-57 in front of 12,414 screaming fans at Viejas Arena on Saturday night.

“They’re the best team that we’ve played in the four years that I have been here,” Cowboys’ head coach Heath Schroyer said. “I was an assistant in this league when Utah went to the Final Four. It all depends on their seed, but they are better than (that Utah team). They are really, really good. When they make perimeter shots, I don’t know if anyone in the country can beat them, let alone in this building.”

Following the emotional loss to then-No. 9 BYU in Provo, Utah on Wednesday, the burning question on everyone’s mind was how the Aztecs were going to respond. Were they going to come out flat and suffer a letdown loss to the Cowboys (8-13, 1-6 MWC), or were they going to come out with a vengeance and remind the nation how good they are?

“I did have a bit of a concern that there might be just enough residual from BYU that we would be a hair off, and that’s all you need to have someone come in and beat your brains out,” head coach Steve Fisher said.

Fisher said earlier in the week that he never bought into the belief that a loss could help a team. But against Wyoming, it looked like the defeat from BYU lit a fire under the players.

“It was a self-check,” senior point guard D.J. Gay said of the loss. “It let us know that we can be beat if we don’t come out and play the way we want to play. I think if we beat BYU we wouldn’t have come out with this high energy against Wyoming (Saturday) but that loss against BYU was definitely a team self-check.”

Sophomore superstar Kawhi Leonard and senior Malcolm Thomas only had four points

between them, but SDSU didn’t need the points with the way the entire team played on the offensive end.

“I made the comment at halftime when probably our two best players, Kawhi and Malcolm, had two points between them and they were happy about that — then you have a good team,” Fisher said. “That was the case (tonight).”

The first five minutes of the game were the polar opposite of the final five minutes of the match against the Cougars, when the Aztecs went ice cold from the field and BYU pulled away for the victory. On Saturday SDSU started the game with a 14-0 run, going 7-7 from the field.

The Aztecs rode a strong first half en route to a 53-22 lead, and would lead wire-to-wire for the fourth time this season.

The second half was much of the same.

SDSU outscored the Cowboys 43-35, every player on the roster scored a basket and the Aztecs were able to win big on a day when 11 ranked teams lost.

“We came out from the opening tip and came with high energy,” Fisher said. “When we shoot the ball the way we did in the first half, we are hard to beat. We shot the ball tremendously well.”

Antonio Zaragoza / Photo Editor

SPORTS

Monday, January 31, 2011

The Daily Aztec

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MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK

Loss to Cougars ignites team; Franklin soars EDWARD LEWIS SPORTS EDITOR

After losing its first game of the season last Wednesday to BYU, San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Steve Fisher said he was a “little bit concerned” with how his SDSU squad would respond against Wyoming on Saturday night.

The Aztecs not only responded well, they played perhaps their most complete game of the season. Take a look at some of the news and notes from Saturday’s 39-point victory.

BYU still motivating SDSU The first question posed to the Aztecs in the postgame press conference wasn’t about sophomore guard Chase Tapley’s career-high 24 points or SDSU’s 21st victory of the season — it was about BYU. And SDSU’s response was that even when BYU is playing a game in New Mexico, the Cougars are still on the Aztecs’ minds.

“ ... I remember looking at (senior point guard D.J. Gay) and saying, ‘No more losses.’ We’ve got a new focus again, so it’s good.”

Antonio Zaragoza / Photo Editor

— Brian Carlwell, senior center “Losing (to BYU) — that definitely put us on edge,” senior guard D.J. Gay said. “Also with BYU losing (earlier Saturday to New Mexico), that just let us know that we had to come out from the start and jump on Wyoming. We wanted to come out with high energy and that’s what we did.”

“Everybody knew that we had another chance to still win conference outright (with BYU losing),” senior center Brian Carlwell added. “I remember looking at D.J. and saying, ‘No more losses.’ We’ve got a new focus again, so it’s good.”

With BYU falling to New Mexico, SDSU is tied atop the Mountain West Conference

It was all smiles for sophomore shooting guard Chase Tapley (22) and the rest of the San Diego State men’s basketball team, which beat Wyoming by 39 points.

standings with the Cougars. The rematch will take place at Viejas Arena on Feb. 26.

High-flying Franklin The game was all but finished with about four minutes left to play in the second half, and the fans knew it. So they headed for the exits early. But about a minute after most of the fans had headed toward the parking lot, freshman guard Jamaal Franklin almost rewarded the rest of the SDSU faithful with one of the most spectacular dunks they’d ever see.

Wyoming guard Joe Hudson missed a 3pointer, Carlwell grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to a wide-open Franklin on a

breakaway. Franklin, the best dunker on the team, put the ball through his legs in the air and almost threw it down with authority. But instead the ball clanked off the rim, yet everybody in the crowd remained impressed.

“We see that a lot,” Carlwell said. “He does that in practice. I was kind of upset that he missed it, because he never really misses that. We see that at least two times a week.”

Franklin played 15 minutes and scored four points, including his first career 3-pointer.

Upset Saturday Originally, it looked as if SDSU’s loss to BYU would send the squad tumbling out of the

Top 10. But on Saturday, four Top 10 teams were upset (No. 5 Connecticut, No. 7 Villanova, No. 9 BYU and No. 10 Syracuse) and 11 Top 25 teams fell.

The new polls will be announced today.

Short Shots The 96 points scored were a season high for SDSU … The 39-point victory was the Aztecs’ largest margin of victory ever in an MWC game … The Aztecs’ 17 3-pointers were a school record … SDSU extended its home winning streak to 15 dating back to last season …

The Aztecs’ 21 victories are the second most in the nation behind No. 1 Ohio State’s 22.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Without Davis, SDSU suffers tough road loss ELI BALDRIGE S TA F F W R I T E R

File Photo

Senior point guard Coco Davis, the MWC assists leader, was forced to miss Saturday’s loss to No. 19 Wyoming.

Even without the Mountain West Conference leader in assists, the San Diego State women’s basketball team hung tough on the road against one of the top teams in the conference.

SDSU (8-11, 2-5 MWC) fought hard but lost to Wyoming (16-4, WYOMING 59 6-1 MWC) 59-51, in a close game Aztec senior SDSU 51 leader and point guard, Coco Davis, did not play because of an injury.

“I think the biggest challenge for us was we had no idea (Davis) wouldn’t play until 90 minutes before the tipoff,” head coach Beth Burns said.

Davis was nursing a foot injury and made the trip to Laramie, Wyo. with the team, but after a long plane and bus ride, the injury tightened up, and the trainers recommended she sit out.

The first half featured three crucial runs.

First, the Cowgirls shot out of the gate and opened the game with a 19-7 lead. SDSU began to block shots and force turnovers mid-

way through the half and went on a 16-2 run of its own. However, the Aztecs’ lead was short-lived, and Wyoming ended the half with three 3-pointers to enter halftime with a six-point lead.

Both teams shot well from outside in the first half. Sophomore guard Courtney Clements made three 3-pointers for SDSU while Aubrey Vandiver made three from beyond the arc for the Cowgirls.

Wyoming was able to maintain its lead throughout the second half because of strong free throw shooting. The Cowgirls only made three field goals in the entire second half and shot just 15.8 percent, but got to the line 25 times where they made 15.

The Aztecs got a strong performance from senior forward Jessika Bradley, who scored 12 to go along with 13 rebounds and five blocks. But the strong play inside was not enough for SDSU, and Wyoming was able to ice the game down the stretch from the free throw line.

“We guarded our guts out,” Burns said.

“Hats off to our kids. Wyoming is a really good team and we played hard. It’s a good game for us. We’re proud of it and we’ve just got to keep our heads up and keep battling.”

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OPINION

The Daily Aztec

Monday, January 31, 2011

Greed is Achilles’ heel of music industry

L

ook no further than the recording industry to see Charles Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest” in full swing. Record companies duke it out for control of charts and radio stations, while artists push to remain relevant in a time of abysmal record sales and dwindling ticket distribution. Profit is the name of the game; recording industries churn through artists and bands, milling the music industry for financial gain.

But why should you care? According to a study performed by Nielsen SoundScan, record sales have declined to pre-1991 levels.

The music industry has been failing for quite a while and the effect is all but invisible — labels such as EMI and Warner Media Group have been cutting thousands of jobs and losing value. Since then, they have resorted to taking creative control away from artists and instituting increasingly ravenous and profit-funneling contracts. The death toll for musical diversity is ringing.

Turn on the radio and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about: AutoTune, a millionaire rapper complaining about the harsh life on the streets, a prepubescent 16-year-old boy singing about his unconquerable love for a girl — they’re all acts perpetuated by a sinking industry.

I can’t blame the recording industry completely. Illegal music pirating has ravaged the business, causing labels to respond desperately from sinking too far into the red. But institutionalizing increasingly voracious contracts with musicians is a pathetic method to recover dwindling profits.

Major music labels are already notorious for dishing out diabolical contracts to their artists; most bands only see 12 percent of profits generated from CD sales — even less after they pay marketing fees, CD printing costs and other expenses to the label. Save for the few success stories,

CHRIS POCOCK S E N I O R S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

most artists are lucky to receive a few thousand dollars worth of profit.

And it only gets worse. New types of contracts, such as the “360 deal,” essentially treat bands as brands, exchanging more money upfront for a larger slice of the returns from merchandise, performances and other moneygenerating sources.

Of course, much of the money given to the band goes immediately toward paying back record companies for the fees associated with creating and distributing the CD in the first place. But while CDs are only generally successful during a brief period of time, revenue from performances continues to collect

record contracts before the artist is able to sign to another label. I wonder how much grinning and rubbing of hands took place after that strategy was devised.

The manipulation of artists by music industry fat cats is only the beginning. Payola, the record companies’ practice of paying off radio stations to play their singles, is also heavily practiced in the industry. To anyone who’s

... institutionalizing voracious contracts with musicians is a pathetic method to recover dwindling profits. through the lifespan of the band.

Even the lifespan of the band is controlled by record companies, which often commit artists to as many as eight

Artwork courtesy of Staff Artist Rob Piper

ever heard the same damn song played repeatedly throughout the course of an hour, now you know whom to blame.

Comically, as the government seeks to ban the practice, music labels continuously find new and innovative ways to bribe DJs to play their respective songs.

When outright bribes were banned, labels siphoned funds to DJs through a third party.

When that was banned, music labels began awarding DJs vacations and gifts — purely out of the goodness of their hearts, I’m sure.

This forged sense of hype and persistent abuse of musicians carried out by record labels has inspired artists to evolve and challenge the age-old system, with varying degrees

of success.

Radiohead had perhaps one of the most interesting approaches, offering consumers the ability to download its album “In Rainbows” for the price they thought it was worth — be it zero dollars or as much as $212 (the equivalent of £99 at the time of release).

The ballsy move paid off.

Though reportedly 62 percent of downloaders chose to pay nothing, the other 38 percent contributed an average of $6 for their copies — accumulating the band far more money than if it had gone through a major label. As an added bonus, Radiohead fans knew the money was going straight to the band, and not through a record label whoring its band out for money.

That 38 percent gives hope to an industry currently burning to the ground. Fans have the obligation to support artists, or risk losing them to a monstrous, money-driven machine, draining bands of their profits. Otherwise, this abuse will continue like a broken record. … will continue like a broken record. … will continue like a …

—Chris Pocock is a journalism junior.

—The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

Experimental high school does away with the D

T

he San Diego Met High School is quite the crafty institution. Located in the heart of the Mesa College campus, it houses a motley crew of misfits and overachievers. The graduating class tops out at around 50 students, many of whom are from low-income homes or are even homeless.

The Met, as its students affectionately call it, offers personalized attention to those at risk of dropping out of high school, gearing them instead toward a college degree. The high school focuses primarily on what students are interested in as a pathway to learning. This, tied with relentless teacher attention and a dedication to individual success, has given the Met a jaw-dropping graduation rate. In 2008,

LEONARDO CASTENEDA S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

all 51 graduates were accepted into colleges, including San Diego State and UC Berkeley.

This is what makes the Met so unique. It doesn’t just graduate troubled students; it sends them off with higher grades than any other school in the San Diego Unified School District. It even out-grades such highly touted schools as La Jolla High and San Diego International School.

But there’s a catch. Met students rank abysmally low in standardized test scores. For example, the Met and John Muir School received identical scores on state tests.

However, 73 percent of students at Met have a B average or higher, compared to 32 percent at John Muir.

The grades failed to predict standardized test results and preparedness for college. Of the 33 Met graduates who have gone to SDSU in the past three years, only four didn’t have to take remedial classes for math or English.

These kinds of results tend to paint the Met as a case of grade inflation run amok. At the heart of that claim are accusations of rampant and even illegitimate grade changes. The Met allows students to change a grade after it is given through extra credit work. But it is also accused of changing grades given at other districts to incoming students, sometimes on the same day they are enrolled.

Understanding the Met’s high grades became even more complicated when considering what it did to the D grade. Because colleges do not accept a D grade as passing, The Met simply did away with it altogether. This may have encouraged students to work harder, bringing former D students to C students. It could also mean that a student who would have normally received a D grade, magically received a C grade.

The ambiguity in grading, not just within the Met but across the country, is what makes understanding this situation so difficult. Grade inflation certainly is an issue. Nationwide, the average high school GPA increased from 2.47 to 2.77 from 1990 to 2005 without any evidence of increasing intelligence among students. But grade inflation alone isn’t enough to boost students who may otherwise not graduate into UC Berkeley.

Even within the Met’s graduating class there seems to be no clear grading standard. Eric May-Capley graduated from the Met with a 4.0 GPA, a grade he says he didn’t deserve. “I’d have an assignment and I’d turn it in a couple of days late,” Capley said. “I didn’t feel it was my best work, and I’d get a 100.”

Bernabé Ceseña also graduated with a 4.0.

He was one of eight valedictorians, who he said all worked hard for their grades. Ceseña is headed to UC Berkeley where he does not have to take any remedial classes.

Finally, there’s Dilia Vasquez. Thanks to the personalized attention given to her by the Met, she was able to graduate with a 3.8 GPA despite a pregnancy. When enrolling at SDSU, she didn’t know what a thesis statement was and had to take a remedial English class.

It’s hard to understand what is going on behind the closed doors of this school. Grade inflation and revision are clearly giving students an unreasonably high average. Their tests results don’t match their lofty grades.

On the other hand, many of the students at the Met might not have graduated at all without its support. Many come from low income families without a history of college attendance, or even high school graduation.

While we can applaud the fact that personalized attention got them a high school diploma and even sent them toward a college degree, the simple truth remains that many of them are going off to colleges without being properly prepared.

In this sense, the Met is likely doing some of its students a great disservice. Picture this: Some of its students open their college acceptance letters, take out loans, pack up and head off, only to find two months later this new university doesn’t have a personalized education support system or lenient post-semester grade adjustment programs. Instead, it has D grades and one student advising office for thousands.

We don’t send a soldier off to war if they haven’t been through boot camp. Why send students off into a university system embedded with challenges they have not been prepared to face?

— Leonardo Castaneda is a business administration freshman.

— The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

Monday, January 31, 2011

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SELECTED QUOTES I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. [Applause] Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.

One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.SHALL This note was a promise AHEAD that all men WE MARCH would be guaranteed the inalienable rights WE TURN BACK of life, MUST liberty, andNOT the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in N N O of W E A RofEthisN OT theO great vaults opportunity nation.

So we have come to cash this check — a WILL SATISFIED check that will giveAND us uponWE demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

NOT BE come SATISFIED UNTIL We have also to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of ustice down likeinwaters now.

This isrolls no time to engage the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing A N of D gradualism.

R I G H Now TEO U Stime NE S drug is the to S rise from the dark and desolate valley of segreLIKE gation toA theMIGHTY sunlit path ofSTREAM racial justice.

Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to over-

1963 is not an end,

BUT A BEGINNING

SOUL FORCE

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look the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the legitimate discontent will not pass INegro’s HAVE A DREAM TODAY until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.

We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality.

You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that

BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

as we walk , we must make the pledge that .

,

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I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a n a t i o n w h e re they will not be judged by the color of their skin

again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with

,

The Daily Aztec

Daniela Anderson / Assistant Art Director

WITH THIS FAITH we will be able to transform the

I SAY TO YOU TODAY, MY JANGLING DISCORDS of our nation into a FRIENDS, THAT IN SPITE BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF THE DIFFICULTIES AND OF BROTHERHOOD. FRUSTRATIONS OF THE MOMENT, I STILL HAVE A

DREAM

-- COMPILED/DESIGNED BY DANIELA ANDERSON

Embrace the cultural beat at Balboa Park SYDNEE BROOKER S TA F F W R I T E R

Heading north on Park Boulevard just past Inspiration Point, visitors will come to an establishment that honorably supports Balboa Park’s reputation as a landscape of art and culture. The World Beat Culture Center is home to music and knowledge with a mantra of self-determination and an ultimate goal to raise awareness of African and indigenous world cultures.

Makeda Dread Cheatom, the founder and executive director of the WBC, claims its biggest contribution to the community is “uniting all of the races together in one place through music, art and culture.” The WBC offers classes in meditation, drumming, dancing, African studies and more to people of all walks of life. Classes including African Dance Workout, African Djembe Drumming and Tribal-Style Belly Dance are offered on a weekly basis for $12 a class for non-members.

The WBC has made vast contributions to the health and vitality of San Diego residents.

Through the Ethnobotanical Garden program, WBC has planted gardens at local schools including Ocean Beach Elementary and Morse High School to inform youth about the importance of the earth and personal health.

Project Star gives support and shelter for women on parole. Love Your Body, Heal

Yourself is a free bimonthly alternative health event offering instruction for yoga and meditation along with music and massage. WBC even opens its doors to those from out of the country through its media arts internship. International foreign exchange students are provided room, board and education in English and communication studies, while learning how to run their own radio programs.

The actual WBC building supports the health of the globe by being the first Balboa Park building to convert to solar energy. Its latest on-site project is a vertical garden. Pots are stacked on top of one another allowing water to drip down through all of the plants.

This gardening style only uses 20 percent of the water needed for a typical garden of that size, and according to Cheatom, is the gardening of the future.

This center carries its music and health much farther than Balboa Park. Recently, it has been working in Tijuana to raise awareness about the African presence in Mexico, and for the past seven years has extended the Annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends, also known as Bob Marley Day, to Ensenada and Tijuana. Cheatom called this event “a sound meeting of international stars celebrating and coming together.” This year will be the 30th annual Bob Marley Day, and it will take place on Feb. 21 at the San Diego Sports Arena.

World famous artists such as Bunny Wailer and Tribal Seeds will be performing.

Antonio Zaragoza / Photo Editor

During a Skype interview, Cheatom disclosed more about her own views and the beliefs of the organization.

“Everything in the universe is interconnected, and we’re trying to build together a rainbow of power,” she said. “It’s the uniting of all indigenous people in this world, of all people suffering, even rich people (that will) alleviate (pain). We still have to struggle for

all of our freedoms and we need to come together as a rainbow tribe. Once (people) apologize and look deeply within and gain compassion, they will find the key to opening their hearts. People will begin to see things, see suffering and see that they do not need a lot to live. A lot in the world has happened because of greed, and we as a giant can turn this thing around.”

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The Daily Aztec

ENTERTAINMENT

Monday, January 31, 2011

TURN IT UP

It’s hit or miss with new Cage the Elephant Kentucky-based band’s sophomore release narrowly avoids the slump ANDREW SCOGGINS E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I T O R

The sophomore album has often been the bane of many bands’ existence. Generally, once a band reaches a large enough audience that allows the members to tour the country like the rock stars they are, they put out an album that has nearly none of the same things that made the kids love them in the first place. Some examples would be MGMT’s “Congratulations,” Wolfmother’s “Cosmic Egg,” Panic! At The Disco’s “Pretty. Odd.,” the list goes on and on. Cage the Elephant’s new release “Thank You Happy Birthday” falls into this same sophomore slump, but not without a fight.

“Birthday” comes down to mostly a sloppy noise rock album with hints of pop, whereas Cage the Elephant’s previous self-titled album was a perfect blend of bluesy rock ‘n’ roll and the youthful passion that spawned hits such as “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “In One Ear,” These songs were great because they stood in stark contrast to what was being played on mainstream radio. It actually had some soul; it wasn’t the same Chris Daughtry--inspired rock that plagues mainstream music. It was a refreshing taste of what rock ‘n’ roll was always meant to be — people thrashing around wildly with guitars as a way of exercising their personal demons.

With all that said, “Birthday” is not a bad album. It shows glimpses of the same brilliance that made its first album so popular, especially with tracks such as the paranoid opener “Always Something” and the bouncy “2024.” “Aberdeen” is probably the strongest song on the album. It rumbles along displaying the taut ferocity of the first album that has

Courtesy of cagetheelephant.com

the band pulsing with energy and chafing at the simple pop arrangement. But for every “Shake Me Down” there’s an “Indy Kidz,” for every melodic punk inspired rock ‘n’ roll song there is a spiteful and juvenile middle finger to people who wrote them off as just another new-age rock band.

Throughout the album, Cage the Elephant is trying to prove something, whether to the critics, the label or to themselves. The band seems so concentrated on convincing listeners its previous level of success was no fluke, but in doing so, “Birthday” seems to be lacking the lighthearted fun that was so prevalent in the first album. The band seems more apt to dissolve into noise and screaming than to work on those golden pop hooks that worked so well in its first release, such as “Back Against the Wall,” a song that doesn’t

shy away from its catchiness but instead embraces it and uses it to build to a cathartic finish. It is instead the more basic songs on “Thank You Happy Birthday” that truly stand out, such as “Right Before My Eyes.” This song is constructed simply, without gimmicks or studio trickery, but it feels honest and gets the point across beautifully.

Overall, the release is a mixed bag, but there is still quite a bit of potential embedded in this Kentucky-based band. And although it is doubtful many of these songs will end up as radio singles, many of them should complement the wild stage shows, which is really where the band shines. Cage the Elephant is still a very young band and once the rock stars hit their stride, they could be a truly powerful force to be reckoned with.

Thank You Happy Birthday Cage the Elephant

Courtesy of cagetheelephant.com

BETWEEN THE COVERS

Lander’s new book continues White satire SARAH GRIECO S TA F F W R I T E R

Courtesy of stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

Outdoor performance gear, organic food and Ray-Ban Wayfarers are not only items that can be found in a typical San Diego State student’s apartment, they are also things Christian Lander makes fun of. The semifamous author of the popular blog “Stuff White People Like” has debuted a second book in which he jests about “the unique taste of millions.”

After the success of Lander’s first book, which had more than 100 entries, many thought there wasn’t enough material for a sequel. But they were wrong; his second book hit shelves last November and is chock-full of funny new items to add to his never-ending list.

While some have found offense to Lander’s antics, the truth is he capitalized on a stereotype, and did so with hilarity. His latest book, “Whiter Shades of Pale: The Stuff White People Like, Coast to Coast, from Seattle’s Sweaters to Maine’s Microbrews,” is a humorous read that will have people nodding their heads in vigorous agreement. The list includes, but is not limited to, ugly sweater parties, Frisbee sports and Facebook.

It’s no surprise the blog has more than 77 million hits and counting; as many people find the posts to be painfully accurate.

Lander recently spoke at Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla, where he told the story of his

escalation to fame. It took less than a year from posting his first blog (“Coffee”) to the time Lander became a New York Times Best Seller. His blog went viral once he sent it to a group of friends and has since induced the laughter of millions.

Don’t be mistaken, Lander’s insight to the world of white people is meant to be one thing and one thing only: satirical. Although he has received countless comments on his site that deem him to be a racist, once meeting Lander it is clear he is making fun of himself. He drives a Prius while wearing bulky sweaters and buys heirloom tomatoes. He joked to the crowd at Warwick’s, “My books are a scientific approach to highlight and explain stuff white people like ... and they are pretty predictable.”

Pick up Lander’s latest for a light read that serves perfectly as a conversation starter.

Lander, however, dreams that one day his books will become textbooks to those visiting America from foreign countries.

“I really hope one day, Chinese businessmen are using my book to converse with their American clients saying, ‘Oh, do you enjoy Fleet Foxes?’” Lander said. “That’s when I’ll know I’ve arrived.”

Book: Whiter Shades of Pale: The Stuff White People Like, Coast to Coast, from Seattle’s Sweaters to Maine’s Microbrews Author: Christian Lander Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks Grade: A

Monday, January 31, 2011

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Monday, January 31, 2011

DAILY HOROSCOPE

HUMOR

My daily Indiana Jones ride

T

he Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland is filled with sharp turns, sudden stops, quick acceleration and enough jumps and bumps to have anyone desperately clinging to the safety bar.

Riding in my car is quite similar.

My jerky, automotive travels are caused by two things: First, my car was built with a racing suspension and my low-profile tires are less than two inches thick. Thus, every grain of sand I run over is felt throughout the entire car with a vicious vibration.

Second, San Diego has the eighth worst roads in the nation, and I’m not just saying this because I’m bitter. In 2009, a national transportation research group called TRIP reported 84 percent of San Diego roads were in poor or mediocre condition. In layman’s terms, the potholes are plenty, the cracks are consistent and my alliteration is abundant.

And awesome.

The torrential rain last month only made things worse. Every time I had to drive somewhere, I

ALLIE DAUGHERTY MANAGING EDITOR

would break out in a cold sweat because the potholes were so threatening. Some were so big and deep, my car would have gotten stuck if I hit one. The asphalt would have swallowed me completely. I’d rather drive in the midst of a meteor shower than try to avoid potholes in San Diego.

Plus, in my car, hitting a pothole doesn’t feel like running over the neighbor’s cat like it does for most people. My CD player stops playing, my head gets slammed into the ceiling and I have a sudden panic attack that the hole has caused my tire to rocket off my car and go flying into oncoming traffic, making me spin out of control and crash and die in an explosive inferno.

Oh, wait. That did happen.

I didn’t lose control and die, but my tire launched off my car — whole — while I was driving on the freeway. The mechanics were

baffled as to the cause, but I’ll always have my suspicions. Damn you, little holes of mischief.

Last week, I hit a pothole and cut a gash in the sidewall of one of my tires. I can only wonder why I don’t see more motorcyclists flying off their bikes after their own collisions into a pit of doom.

Of course, if Indiana Jones were the one driving my car, things would be different. I would accept the abuse to my automobile if it were for a good reason, such as protecting a precious idol from the grimy hands of relic thieves or saving The Holy Grail from treasure hunters.

But the odds of that happening are as slim as my car purging one of its tires while I’m on the freeway.

Oh wait.

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (01/31/11) As you complete a project that's been with you for a while, you may feel sad.Take strength in new ideas.You don't need to look back.

Surround yourself by those who truly love and appreciate you.Together, you'll create an even more wonderful new future.

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 With a little help from your friends, you resolve any financial challenges.They know they can count on you, and your positive attitude keeps it moving.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 9 - Keep your schedule well organized, so that you can provide accurate info to others as well as improving workflow.

Everyone appreciates the ease that this allows.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 9 A little give and take goes a long way toward establishing and maintaining balance and unexpected creativity on the team. Give them what they need.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - You're in the leadership flow, directing and lighting the way. Give in to it, and allow others to contribute. Appreciate them.This empowers you both.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 Travel inspires your creativity. Let yourself fantasize about how great it could be, and imagine incredible results.Then write down any intentions for greater clarity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 Prepare yourself early for something special.Your hard work has paid off, and it all comes together today. Allow extra time to support others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 6 Step back and take an overall view of the visible options to discover more you haven't seen. Consider how best to allocate resources. Something exciting develops.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 - You've been taking care of business, and have the results to show it. Keep up the momentum, and give in to some celebration.You deserve it!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - Your friends or siblings have keen insight and ideas for your work.

Brainstorming opens up new possibilities.

Invent and play together for practical results.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - Old habits seem set in glue for someone who wants to maintain control.

This works out fine for you. Just let it all be, and focus on your priorities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Move the puzzle pieces around to see something that was invisibly staring you in the face. It all makes sense! This opens up entirely new play options.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 6 Imagine new possibilities for practical business matters and other interests. Let yourself play with these ideas, noting details.

Set the stage for action. © 2010,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

— Allie Daugherty is a journalism junior who despises potholes.

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

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

1 2

3 4

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

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com © 2011 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

CROSSWORD

TAKING A LONG WALK ON THE BEACH Staff Photographer Audrey Rynberg captured this photo at the beach, presumably getting in touch with her romantic side. Afterward, she was spotted swirling a glass of Pinot Grigio pinkie out, and listening to Frank Sinatra. Watch out, boys.

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ACROSS 1 Dissolves into a puddle 6 Firing range rounds 10 Dog bugger 14 Audibly astonished 15 Pastry served au rhum 16 Bee, to Andy 17 Exec’s perk 19 Adriatic resort 20 Sixth sense letters 21 Tableland 22 Conestoga, e.g.

23 Tempts fate, in a way 27 God of manly beauty 29 Actor Diggs 30 “Saturday Night Fever” dance genre 31 Bogus plan 33 Actress Cheryl 37 Acolyte’s suffix 38 One in an extralarge baby carriage, perhaps 41 Angus’s greeting 42 Space Shuttle gp.

44 Feb. 14 45 Colorado resort 47 “Of __ I Sing” 49 Mideast fleet 50 Second in a Sue Grafton series 55 One more time 56 “Trick” or “treat” 57 Horn for a Muppet named Zoot 60 Defame 61 Fairly spicy, as chili (and like this puzzle, literally, based on the ends of 17-, 23and 50-Across) 64 Charged particles 65 Feathery wraps 66 Dance in a line 67 Layer of paint

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 68 Eyelid woe 69 Praise DOWN 1 Nutmeg spice 2 Boardroom clashers 3 Streetlight supports 4 1/6 fl. oz.

5 Musical with the song “The Holy Grail” 6 Bottomless pit 7 Avian chatterbox 8 Wharton deg.

9 Galley mover 10 Pita filling 11 “Super Mario” brother 12 Biblical witch’s home

13 Do penance 18 R&B artist with the 2006 #1 hit “So Sick” 22 “For what reason?”

24 Partnership letters 25 Country with a da Vinci drawing on its one-euro coin 26 Docile 27 Score after deuce 28 Galileo’s birthplace 31 Flip of a hit single 32 IRS audit rep 34 Barnes & Noble link?

35 Perpetrator 36 Crime bosses 39 Winnebago owner, briefly

40 NFL ball carrier, often 43 In the beginning 46 Gp. that abducted Patty Hearst 48 Sweetie 49 Meanie 50 Rudimentary 51 Inuit home 52 Sweat box?

53 Sun danger 54 Witherspoon of “Walk the Line” 58 Jason’s vessel 59 Dec. holiday 61 “Very funny”TV station 62 In vogue 63 ’70s TV boss of Mary,Ted and Murray