Issue 86, Volume 74 by The Cougar

THE DAILY COUGAR Body art: “LA Ink” star makes stop in Houston /LIFE & Arts

Double play: Cougar basketball teams earn wins on the road/SPORTS

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Issue 86, Volume 74

TODAY’S WEATHER

3-day forecast, Page 2

Hi 70 Lo 52 www.thedailycougar.com

Degree meets industry demands By Heather Duran The Daily Cougar In the Fall 2009 semester the University will, for the first time, offer an undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering in addition to the master’s degree already offered. “This new undergraduate degree plan complements UH’s other energy-related programs and strengthens our commitment to produce a highly educated workforce to address the needs of the region

and the state,” UH President and Chancellor of UH System Renu Khator said in a press release. With industries cutting jobs in today’s tough economy, UH is grooming students for one job market that is on the verge of a drought. This program was approved Thursday by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and will include courses in economics, energy law and business in addition to the necessary education in petroleum engineering and

geosciences. “The way the industry has evolved, these professionals cannot operate like before,” Ramanan Krishnamoorti, chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, said. “You really are not able to work as a petroleum engineer without a background in geosciences.” Krishnamoorti’s department sponsored the University’s inception of the program. According to the Society of Petroleum Engineers, 40 percent of

their workforce will meet retirement requirements next year, leaving a need for replacements. The petroleum industry has grown and jobs are being created in addition to filling the need for replacements of the anticipated retirees. Petroleum program director Ray Flumerfelt said the numerous inquiries from companies in the city prompted the University to look into developing an undergraduate program. “There’s lots of demand in local industry and there will be for many,

Drug war affects UH Increasing violence makes it difficult for students to visit their families in Mexico By Francis Vazquez The Daily Cougar

Courtesy of Nick Pitarra and Marvel Comics

MOJOWORLD is the first issue of Marvel’s six part Astonishing Tale.

Student draws path to success By Larissa Gonzalez The Daily Cougar Over the next six months, a UH student will contribute illustrations to Astonishing Tales, a 40-page, sixissue, Marvel Comics anthology. “It’s a comic artist’s dream to get picked up by one of the big name comic companies,” art education senior, Nick Pitarra, said. Last semester, Pitarra drew the comic “Bipolar Bear” for The Daily Cougar. Marvel Comics published the first issue of his debut project Wednesday. He said his interest in comics

evolved naturally from his childhood obsession with action figures. “I got to an odd age when it just didn’t seem OK to be playing with toy characters. Now, instead of playing with Superman, I draw a complete story with Superman in it,” Pitarra said. “I learned to use drawing as an extension of the enjoyment that I used to get from playing in childhood.” In his line of work, Pitarra said it pays not to have done away with childish things. “You have to be a kid at heart. We’re all a bunch of big kids.” see COMIC, page 3

On a trip to visit her grandmother in Monterrey, Mexico, finance senior Rachel Herrera said she turned onto a street where “patrullas”, police patrols, surrounded a home. No police tried to enter, but instead they opened fire on the house as she drove by. Mexican citizens near the American border have become accustomed to hearing about drug trafficking, kidnappings and gory killings in the news. As the violent drug war in Mexico escalates, the families of UH students from the country are feeling the affect. The United States has tried to help Mexico with the Merida Initiative, but the results still have not been seen. “They really took away the desire to go back to Mexico. It is a beautiful country, but bad things are happening,” Herrera said. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Mexico dealt with drug traffickers in a reserved manner, but when President Felipe Caldéron was elected in 2006, he devoted thousands of federal troops to a war against drug cartels. Since then, Mexico has become a more dangerous place to live. Drug-related deaths numbered 5,612 in 2008, more than doubling the 2007 total, according to the Mexican newspaper El Universal. Slayings of high-ranking political figures and police officers also increased. The Mexican army and the Federal Police have successfully removed some leaders of the cartels, such as Alberto Barron of the La Familia Michoacana and Ever Martinez, a main cocaine supplier to the Sinaloa cartel. However, Jeronimo Cortina, assistant professor of political science, said this has only made the cartel fight amongst themselves, with new leaders

emerging amidst the chaos. “When the government apprehends these drug lords, some of the cartels get divided fighting for the market,” Cortina said. “New leaders arise as old leaders are removed, because there are millions of dollars for people ready to step up to the plate and take leadership.” The Merida Initiative is an alliance between the United States, Mexico and Central America to help combat drug trafficking by offering assistance in the form of money, training, equipment and intelligence. In December 2008, the United States gave $400 million to Mexico to aid the war on drugs. Critics believe the initiative does not attack drug trafficking, instead avoiding the real problem of a U.S. demand for drugs. “What the U.S. government should do is to see the drug use as a health issue in similar fashions as alcohol. The drug war is at the level it is as a result of continuous demand for the consumption of drugs in the U.S.,” said Lorenzo Cano, associate director of the Center for Mexican American Studies. Violence rates are highest in northern border cities where drugs are smuggled into the United States, but the problem is spreading to more states like Calderon’s home state, Michoacan. As the violence becomes more widespread, more UH students like Herrera and sociology junior Lisa Gonzalez will be affected when they and their families want to visit the land of their heritage. “My uncle is afraid of going across the border — he is more afraid of being kidnapped than from being shot. The drug cartel kidnaps employees and later asks for ransoms,” Gonzalez said. news@thedailycougar.com

many years,” Flumerfelt said. “It’s a very attractive degree because there is so much demand and salaries are high. “Petroleum engineers are needed to advance the development of natural gas industry. This is a good field to get into.” It’s such an attractive degree for potential employers that local companies such as Marathon Oil and Devon Energy have already donated $1.6 million to fund the program. see PETRO, page 3

Steven Oster The Daily Cougar born in panama, Professor Ordóñez brings scholarships to south america

Physics prof recruits in Third World By Steven Oster The Daily Cougar Physics professor Carlos Ordóñez’s efforts to help physics students in South America have earned him the 2009 John Wheatley Award. The Wheatley Award is presented to people who have made contributions to the development of physics in Third World countries. Ordóñez sponsored students to travel to the United States and connect with physics experts and work with state-of-the-art research equipment. “It’s an ongoing process because there are a lot of problems that we run into,” Ordóñez said. “The (political) systems are different. There can be bureaucratic problems, cultural conflicts, and you’ve also got to deal with different personality types.” Ordóñez wanted to be a professor since his days as a schoolboy in Panama. Teachers and scientists became role models for him and shaped his future in high-energy physics and relativity theory. “I think it’s important for children (in Third World countries) to interact with scientists because many of them do not know what a scientist is. They can only aspire to become what they know, professions they have seen,” Ordóñez said. Ordóñez has an elaborate network of university professors, colleagues and friends in Panama, Brazil, Cuba, see AWARD, page 3

2 n Thursday, February 5, 2009

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College coming together for junior Holly Prevost: What is your major? Francisco Mosquera: Accounting. Prevost: Why accounting? Mosquera: Originally, I was going to do political science. I plan to go to law school. I did my basics and decided I didn’t want to do that because I might not get into law school. Prevost: Have you been at UH all three years of college? Mosquera: Yeah, mostly. I just took a mini semester, though, to try to get ahead. Prevost: What is your plan after graduation? Mosquera: I’m in the Professional Program for Accounting (PPA) program that lets me get my master’s in one year. My plan is to apply to law school in the fall and take the LSAT in October. Prevost: What law schools are you interested in? Mosquera: University of Texas, UH Law Center or Southern Methodist University in Dallas — my plan, though,is to stay in Houston if I can. Prevost: Why do you want to go to law school? Mosquera: I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. It just makes sense for me. Prevost: What area of law are you

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Today ngineering and Technical Career Fair: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. E at the University Hilton. Sponsored by the Cullen College of Engineering. Students may visit www.egr.uh.edu/career to access econnection to register for the fair, post a résumé and view a list of participating companies. Call (713) 743-4230 or e-mail ecareers@mail.uh.edu. Campus Produce Garden Planting and Dedication: 11 a.m. to noon at Lynn Eusan Park near Parking Lot 5B. For more information, call Maria Honey at (713) 743-8940 or visit www. uh.edu/recyclemania. International Studies’ Study Abroad Fair: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at University Center Arbor. Discover how to take advantage of integrating overseas courses toward your major or minor. Representatives from faculty-led, affiliated and exchange study abroad programs will be available for questions. Visit www.uh.edu/studyabroad.

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Campus Recruitment Workshop: Noon to 1 p.m. at Student Service Center 1, first floor. Completion of a Campus Recruitment Workshop (CRW) is required to participate in campus recruitment or on-campus interviews. Learn how to identify which employers are interviewing for full-time, career-level and internship positions. Call (713) 743-5100 or visit www.career. uh.edu.

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interested in? Mosquera: Not criminal. I want to work for a national law firm or big regional law firm, preferably in Texas. Prevost: Why Texas? Mosquera: The cost of living is cheaper and Texas is my home. This is where I feel comfortable, and all my friends are here. You have to be in a big legal market, and Houston is the fourth largest city you know? Prevost: Yeah. That makes sense. Mosquera: When you go to college, you don’t always know what is going to happen, but it’s all fitting in place for me now.

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COMIC continued from page 1

His artwork in the story MOJOWORLD will make him the first UH student to be featured in a professional Marvel production. In the story, heroes Cannonball and Sunspot battle the evil alien Mojo, the leader of Mojoworld, who is obsessed with TV ratings. Cannonball and Sunspot are forced to save themselves during a writers strike by writing movies that star Marvel superheroes. Pitarra said getting his foot in the door didn’t happen overnight. He persistently attended conferences and entered contests to gain exposure. He was a finalist in the 2006 Wildstorm contest, and though he didn’t win, he said networking at various events has been a key to getting off the ground as a freelance illustrator. “I lost. Even so, Marvel saw my work and hired me”, Pitarra said. “I think, more than anything, I’ve learned that you have to keep putting yourself out there. I’ve been really

AWARD continued from page 1

Mexico and other Latin countries. His network helps him find potential candidates for his program. Ordóñez’s funding comes from the World Laboratory in Switzerland. Funds are provided to give dedicated students opportunities that they would not normally have access to. Aside from teaching, Ordóñez is conducting personal research into the way our universe works. He is currently investigating fundamental aspects of black holes, quantum mechanics and gravity. “The discoveries are incremental, as far as how useful they are. Only time will tell,” Ordóñez said. Gravity may seem fairly straightforward, but there are different theories made by Issac Newton, Albert Einstein and Max Planck. Ordóñez is finding ways in which these theories interact, gaining a deeper understanding of how space and time behave. Another one of his undertakings is the development of a world

Covering UH’s quest for greatness since 1934. Watch UH’s story unfold at thedailycougar.com

aggressive about connecting with the comic book community, and it is what has helped me the most.” Pitarra said his “detailed, humorous pieces” are sure to get an instant reaction, but they tend to be harder to match-up with typical comic book storylines. Still, he wasn’t easily discouraged by his early pitfalls. “When you first start doing independent work, you have to keep practicing,” Pitarra said. “Even if you are not that great yet, you have to keep promoting yourself. As you get better, you make more connections.” Connections, he said, can translate into new projects and bigger opportunities. Now that MOJOWORD has hit the stands, Pitarra said he hopes other editors will notice “even just a little bit of talent” and offer him work. “There is nothing that is going to stop me from drawing. I don’t have to be commissioned by Marvel or DC Comics to feel happy about my career,” Pitarra said. “I am doing something that I enjoy.”

Thursday, February 5, 2009 n 3

PETROL continued from page 1

Others are promising to begin donating more, Flumerfelt said, meaning the University will be able to offer a number of scholarships to a high-quality program. “Industry support is essential as the college builds this program,”

Krishnamoorti said. The program is planning to hire an additional six faculty members over the next three years. Online courses will be added in the future in order to provide for working professionals. Flumerfelt said that because of Houston’s location, UH’s program is expected to become the best funded petroleum engineering program in

the state, surpassing University of Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. “The B.S. degree is expected to do as well as the masters program,” Flumerfelt said. “About 50 students are expected to enroll for fall 2009 and we will see about 150 a year later. We’re hoping for about 300 to 400 over time.” news@thedailycougar.com

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laboratory in Houston similar to the one in Switzerland. The goal is to create a central hub where the physics community can effectively collaborate ideas and talent. “There have been some exciting developments in the last 10 years because of physics. Something like this would benefit not just the physics community, but nanotechnology, biology and quantum mechanics for computations,” Ordóñez said. “I’ve been the director of the world laboratory. I know how to do it. I know that (building) it can be done.” A common misconception of Third World graduate students is that they come from an affluent background, Ordóñez said. State schools are highly subsidized, giving lower-middle class students a chance to earn a Ph.D. Ordóñez puts the right people in the right places, allowing a researcher to work in productive research environments such as UH and the Texas Center for Superconductivity or putting them in contact with some of the best physicists in the nation. news@thedailycougar.com

7:30 p.m. Monday, february 9 edwards Grand palace 7

locate the 13 hockey masks in the daily cougar and bring in this ad for your advance screening ticket. pIck up passes after 10 a.m. today in room 321, Graduate college of social Work

OPENS IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

No purchase necessary. One pass per person. Each pass admits two. Available on a first-come, firstserved basis while supplies last. Please arrive early, as seating is limited to theater capacity and is not guaranteed. This movie is rated PG-13.

no purcHase necessarY. one pass per person. each pass admits two. available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. please arrive early, as seating is limited to theater capacity and is not guaranteed. this movie is rated r.

4 n Thursday, February 5, 2009

OPINION

The Daily Cougar

COMING FRIDAY: Investigation of child abuse and neglect program review system. ONLINE POLL: Is SGA addressing issues relevant to you?

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P O I N T / CO U N T E R P O I N T

editori a l B o a rd Zaneta Loh, editor in chief Signe Cluiss, managing editor James Rincon, News editor Matt Miller, Sports editor Sarah Tucker, Life & Arts editor Shaista Mohammed, Opinion editor

STAFF EDITORIAL

More students should voice concerns over rising tuition

Rami Schindler The Daily Cougar

Friend or foe? Are DARPA contracts an ethical way of funding flagship status? University should not focus on government defense contracts not worth the money, work required

Contract funds are appealing, but moral consequences should be considered

Plain and simple, money will lead to flagship status. The funds collected to support research and the products, both monetary and intellectual, are key in evaluation. The 2007 report from those who bestow the status said, “In The Center for Measuring University Performance, our focus on the Top American Research Universities shows that the fundamental Abdul requirement for research university Khan success is money.” The report goes on to say, “University research is a product sold below cost to its primary consumers. Successful research universities find alternative, secondary consumers of research success who will pay the difference between the cost of research and the compensation provided by direct research sponsors in exchange for a wide range of benefits.” Contracting out to a university rather than other institutes can have massive cost reductions. Not only does private industry take this opportunity, government does as well. Government funding for research has a large element in defense. Research schools have been used under contracts through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In the 1950s, Massachusetts Institute of Technology was given a contract to create an early-warning missile detection system. A network was necessary to carry the information, spawning the idea in the minds of the scientists that eventually came to be known as the Internet. Within the field, DARPA contracts are known to raise more conscientious scientists. Most research is subjected to review by institutional review boards for ethics. DARPA contracts are not included in these reviews. Also, DARPA blocks government transparency by releasing little info, as they should when dealing with defense. So the only real issue to wonder about is legacy. Albert Einstein helped built the atomic bomb. To many people worldwide, this is thought to be his crowning achievement when actually he hated the power it bestowed upon its owner. He sought to regulate the use and possession of the technology. Review boards are meant to help ensure

Most Americans like to think about military vs. education as oppositional, as we see with the Obey Giant poster, “More Militerry, Less Skools.” There is, however, a third option: the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Basically, the Department of Defense, sometimes referred to as the “military,” contracts with universities to develop new Matthew technology for itself. These contracts Keever are great sources of revenue for said universities. UH, in its quest to reach flagship status, would benefit greatly from a venture with DARPA. Created in 1958 as a response to the former Soviet Union’s surprise launch of Sputnik, DARPA’s mission “is to maintain the technological superiority of the U.S. military and prevent technological surprise from harming our national security by sponsoring revolutionary, high-payoff research bridging the gap between fundamental discoveries and their military use,” according to its Web site. Extra funding, plus getting to help our country — could there be a catch? A moral one perhaps? During the Vietnam War, DARPA contracted many universities and private companies to develop weapons such as napalm, the jelly-like gasoline used in Vietnam as a weapon. Students at many universities were outraged that private companies were recruiting new employees on campus and, of course, outraged that their universities were involved with DARPA to begin with. Riots broke out, students were restrained and the fire was fanned. But if UH doesn’t take money from DARPA, some other school will. With little to no opposition, mostly because of the student body’s lack of interest in campus matters coupled with how conservative we all are here in Houston, UH could be the perfect breeding ground for the next big weapon of defense. Yet, a couple of questions remain. How important is it that UH becomes a flagship university and how quickly do we need to get there?

One thing deregulation has taught us is that foxes make poor guards for henhouses. Since House Bill 3015 was passed in 2003 at the urging of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, tuition in Texas universities and colleges has increased by an average of 112 percent. UH raised tuition 21 percent in the first year of deregulation alone. Although Texas legislators claim there is no state tax, this hidden cost increase for higher education is tantamount to taxation on education, something Texans are very much against. The astronomical rise of tuition at UH — $1,860 in 2003 to $3,767 in 2007 for a 15-hour semester — is a compelling argument for tuition freeze. Compromising the academic health of graduates in the name of expediency and growth is not only counterproductive, but also unnecessary. Texas Tech is also seeking flagship status in this state, yet it found the room to respect the fiscal constraints of its student body by freezing tuition last May. Granted, we were hard hit by Hurricane Ike, reparations for which Chancellor Renu Khator is fighting for this week in Austin, but that is no excuse to continue adding expenses to student pockets. Between the ongoing recession and crises in the mortgage, energy and technological industries, the Houston area’s pockets have bottomed out. Governor Rick Perry’s proposition to freeze tuition at Texas schools for four years is deeply welcomed, if a little delayed. Texas Tech’s year-old freeze indicates awareness of the problem far beforehand. More than the response from the Texas legislature, we look also to a response to inflated tuition from the student body. Student commentary in the wake of Texas Tech’s freeze was muted, despite our vested interest on the issue. A two-pronged approach is required to address the problem. The administrative action of freezing tuition must come from Khator’s office, but the agitation that punctuates the problem is also the responsibility of the student body.

E D I TO R I A L polic y STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Daily Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 151, Communication Building; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing. ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements published in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole. GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be kept to less than 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies to material already printed in the Cougar, but rather should present independent points of view. Rebuttals should be sent as letters. Deliver submissions to Room 151, Communication Building; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

Issue credits n n

see KHAN, page 5

see KEEVER, page 5

Copy editing Trae Browne, Wilson Chang, Ronnie Turner Production Matt Johnson

OPINION

research benefits humanity. However, our university should work on things other than defense. Despite the sums of money involved in DARPA contracts, the Center for Measuring University Performance said, “…the federal government provides large amounts of funding for research products that serve national goals, but almost never pays close to the full cost of the research it sponsors.” These contracts set our rank back rather than advancing it. As we move toward flagship status, the University should stick to private industry and to limit the role of government in higher education. Abdul Khan is a political science senior and may be reached at opinion @ thedailycougar.com

President Renu Khator, in her investiture speech last November, made it clear it was her top priority, saying that to “dream anything less is to shortchange our students, our region and our state.”

fantastic. If not, UH is still a much better institution for these achievements. In the mean time, bring the funds, DARPA. We need some new computers. Matthew Keever is a communications junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

Campus Produce Garden Dedication and Seed Planting Thursday, February 5, 2009 Lynn Eusan Park (near parking lot 5B) 11am - 12 noon

Plant a seed for a brighter UH tomorrow! ES

For more information, visit www.uh.edu/recyclemania

UH RECYCLES

continued from page 4

Anousheh G. Kehar is a architecture sophmore and may be reached at opinion @thedailycougar.com

continued from page 4

Khan

Arab States Amre Moussa. As Ignatius addressed the fragility of the peace process, Erdogan and Moussa were not shy about their convictions against Israel for slipping back in the peace process. To this, President Peres took on a defensive role, which was not the most heightened reaction of the discussion. Erdogan then stole one minute to present Running low his closing statement on time and and have patience, the last word. Ignatius tried to Running end the debate low on in an orderly time and patience, fashion, but Ignatius instead watched tried to end the Erdogan walk debate in off stage after an orderly fashion, vowing not to but instead return to the watched forum. Erdogan walk off stage after vowing not to return to the forum. While the prime minister of Turkey made an appearance, albeit short and abrupt, the lack of influence from Washington diplomats was felt as many believed the event was all talk and no action. Perhaps they just could not pull themselves away from the fiasco of the stimulus plan.

UH needs to stop attempting to stroke its own ego with this flagship business and instead focus on excellent teaching, standing out in community engagement through internships, partnerships and study abroad programs. If flagship status comes with accomplishing said goals,

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting took place in a ski resort in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland on Jan. 28. Elite businessmen and politicians from around the world attended the five-day event with the theme “Shaping the Post-Crisis World.” Anousheh G. It did indeed Kehar deliver a superb display of the crisis in the modern world. However, this was just a byproduct of a naïve belief in mutual respect, resulting in frustration over unrewarded efforts and a melting global economy. While the highest snowcaps in Europe did not change these leaders’ fiery disposition, the beauty of the resort did not prevent them from acting upon their frustration. The intention was simply to take initiative to work together constructively towards more glorious days. The dominant ground of discussion was to bring stability and growth to the global economy. In the many related discussions, the chairman of the panel wanted to gain insight into the cause of the current state of the global economy. The general consensus seemed to be a belief that the market is “selfregulating,” without unfathomable damage. Many also blatantly stated that it was a consequence of replacing common sense with a feeling of invincibility derived from mathematical models and mispriced risks. To keep it simple, some just blamed it on stupidity. Another heated discussion was predictably based on “Gaza: The Case for the Middle East,” moderated by David Ignatius, a columnist for the Washington Post. The discussion brought together Turkey Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Israel President Shimon Peres, SecretaryGeneral of the UN Ban Ki-Mon and Secretary-General of the League of

KEEVER

Economic forum accomplishes little

Thursday, February 5, 2009 n 5

RED

The Daily Cougar

weekend

6 n Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Daily Cougar

06FRIDAY

LIFE+ARTS

On Campus: The 26th Annual Piano Festival starts at 3 p.m. in the Dudley Recital Hall. Audiences will be entertained the entire weekend with recitals and master classes by three famous pianists, Stephen Kovacevich, Pascal Rogé and UH Professor and festival founder, Abbey Simon.

At the Movies: Fanboys, starring Jay Baruchel and Kristen Bell, tells the adventure of 5 friends attempting to steal Star Wars: Episode 1 from the Skywalker Ranch. Rated PG-13. Starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore, He’s Just Not That Into You is a comedy about a group of friends and how their relationships treat them. Rated PG-13. Photo Courtesey of Nuestra palabra

Kat Von D’s new book, High Voltage Tattoo, details how she became a tattoo artist and contains a selection of images of her work, along with tips for first-timers getting inked up.

In Coraline, a young girl, voiced by Dakota Fanning, opens a door and enters a parallel world where all is not what it seems. Rated PG.

Around Town: TV star and comedian D. L. Hughley performs at the Houston Improv Comedy and Showcase Restaurant. Tickets start at $30; 21 and up only. Like to watch people fight? Verizon Wireless Theater presents Amateur Cage Fighting. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $22.50 to $102.50.

7SATURDAY Around Town:

Celebrate Homestead Heritage Day at the Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., experience what life was like in 19th century Texas. Free admission. Enjoy nature and promote environmentalism by planting trees in Houston. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is sponsoring the 6th Annual Planting on the Parkway in Buffalo Bend Nature Park. $10 for non-members, free for Bayou Buddies and RedBud members.

Photo Courtesey of Shaunie C. Boudreaux

Senior English major Krystal de la Garza gets her book signed by famed tattoo artist Kat Von D on Tuesday.

Von D puts ink on books By Mike Damante The Daily Cougar Kat Von D made Houston a lastminute stop on her High Voltage Tattoo book tour, signing more than 600 copies Tuesday at the Barnes and Noble on Westheimer and Voss. The popular tattoo artist has made her name as one of the most recognizable faces in her industry, helping bring the art form to the mainstream. Von D’s signing drew a diverse line of fans, including a 65-year-old woman. Age disparity aside, the rabid fan base crossed demographics from the tattoo enthusiasts to soccer moms. Von D’s reality shows, “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink,” on The Learning Channel

are successful-ratings draws. She has tattooed some of the biggest names in music — Mötley Crüe singer and boyfriend Nikki Sixx, Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, Ja Rule, Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba, Jeffrree Star, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead and many others. The wait for an appointment at Von D’s shop is said to be six months. Fans even brought Von D gifts, from a hand-drawn portrait to stuffed animals, and the “LA Ink” star was gracious and warm to every person in line. “I went to her shop in Los Angeles and didn’t get to (see her), so this is my way of meeting her,” said English senior Krystal de la Garza. “I’m really excited to read the book, too.” The event was put together by

Nuestra Palabra, an organization for local Latino writers, who have previously worked with George Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Cheech Marin and Oscar De La Hoya. The group also runs a TV program on HCC Television and a radio show on KPFT and will be bringing Sandra Cisneros to Houston to discuss her book The House on Mango Street on April 1. “Now and then, we get blockbuster events and Houston is a great market,” founder Tony Diaz said. “Houston was not on her tour list originally. This show (happened) because of Nuestra Palabra.” arts@thedailycougar.com

8SUNDAY

P.O.S. album lives up to name

Love chocolate? Come to the last day of Central Market’s Annual Festival of Chocolate. Taste chocolate from all over the world and learn about artisan chocolatiers.

By Roshan Bhatt THE DAILY COUGAR

Around Town:

Join Rice University’s Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance on a Faith Tour of Houston. The tour will visit two sacred sites, the Rothko Chapel and the Jain Society of Houston. Transportation will be provided. Free admission, but prior registration required.

Compiled by Sarah Tucker

Artist successfully fuses hip-hop and punk-rock in third full-length release

When anyone brings up the idea of a punk-rock scene or a hip-hop movement, Minneapolis isn’t necessarily the first city that comes to mind. However, in the past few years, P.O.S., along with acts like Atmosphere, Dessa, Lazerbeak and other artists affiliated with the collectives known as Doomtree and Rhymesayers have relentlessly made an effort to put Minneapolis on the map. Bridging the gap between two contrasting genres such as punk-rock and hip-hop doesn’t seem like such a great idea, nor is it an easy task. P.O.S. hasn’t necessarily broken through to the masses, but with Tuesday’s release of his third full-length album, Never Better, he may be starting to turn many more heads. P.O.S.’s approach to hip-hop is abrasive

and unfriendly. He’s known for his brash and verbose delivery, set to the tune of lively, aggressive drumming and heavy bass chops. With Never Better, he has fine-tuned the formula he’s used on past releases, such as 2006’s Audition, and has created a socially conscious and uplifting work of art. With the opener “Let it Rattle,” P.O.S. uses minimalist rhythms and his signature hard-hitting drums to express his own political and social concerns. Other songs like “Savion Glover” explore familiar hiphop territory with sampled beats and disc jockey scratches. Songs like “Graves” and “Goodbye,” the album’s lead single, are among the album’s finest gems, while “Low Light Low Life,” which features the crooning vocals of label-mate Dessa, may be the single best track on Never Better. P.O.S. and Doomtree artist Lazerbeak see Bhatt, page 7

IN REVIEW P.O.S.

Never Better

Doomtree/Rhymesayers Verdict: This is hip-hop that can’t be dumbed down.

LIFE & ARTS

The Daily Cougar

Thursday, February 5, 2009 n 7

‘Fanboys’ charms all By Mike Damante The Daily Cougar In a galaxy far, far away (Ohio), five young Jedi warriors (nerds) begin a journey across the country to battle the dark side (Star Trek fans, the police and an angry pimp) and reach Skywalker Ranch to see Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace before anyone else. In Fanboys, childhood friends Linus, Hutch and Windows reunite with Eric, who they’ve lost touch with since he grew out of the Star Wars phase, and set forth to California to break into George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch to see the coveted film. Along the way, they are joined by their friend Zoe, played by Kristen Bell. Zoe represents the ultimate nerd-girl fantasy — cute, smart, into comic books and all things science fiction. The characters of Hutch, Linus and Windows exemplify nerd clichés, from working a comic store, quoting movies and collecting Star Wars memorabilia to Hutch’s “Death Star” like van. The van only plays music from the band Rush, another stereotypical nerd staple. The film is Superbad for the comic book crowd — a teen comedy that has big laughs and a bigger heart. The supporting cast in Fanboys have all been seen before and includes memorable cameos from Seth Rogen, Billy Dee Williams, William Shatner, Kevin Smith, Jamie King, Carrie Fisher, Danny Trejo and many others. Popular movie Web site

IN REVIEW Fanboys Rated: PG-13 Starring: Jay Baruchel, Kristen Bell, Dan Fogler Verdict: An appealing film , even if you don’t own a pocket protector. personality Harry Knowles is also portrayed in the film. The scene is comic gold for anyone who has ever visited Knowles’ aintitcool.com, a home base for fanboys and movie buffs alike. Director Kyle Newman is able to use Fanboys to pull at the strings of everyone’s inner nerd. Everyone has an obsession, a guilty pleasure or an interest to be fanatical about, and if you were told otherwise, that would be a lie. What is the difference between a hot chick in your class who loves “Sex and the City” and a guy in a Nintendo t-shirt sitting behind her? Guilty pleasure. A popular jock may like Superman just as much as you do, but will never fully admit it in public. Fanboys is a film for everyone. The underdog or the overachiever can both enjoy it equally. It evokes the audience not be ashamed of whatever it is they are fascinated with. Fanboys know more about their films than 90 percent of the audience, anyway. If knowledge is power, fan boys and girls may not look very buff, but their wealth of information is strong. May the force be with you. arts@thedailcougar.com

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Fanboys details the adventures of 5 friends and their attempt to break-into the Skywalker Ranch to catch a sneak peak at the first Star Wars film.

We need participants! (And we’ll give you $40 for your time, too)

BHATT

HHP researcher is recruiting male and females (18-35 y) to participate in a study examining mechanisms linking obesity, inflammation, and disease risk. Participation in the study requires that you allow us to collect a small blood sample. Your involvement will be spread over two days (4 h total) and you will be paid $40 for your time.

continued from page 6

worked together to produce Never Better. P.O.S also plays the guitar and keyboard, showcasing talents in all aspects. The album does have a few slipups. The repetitious nature of “Out Of Category” and the way-too-metal “Terrorish” are definite blips, halting the flow of the album. At times, the music tends to feel a bit cluttered, as heard on “Purexed.” It wouldn’t hurt to clear out a bit of the noise, which can get overwhelming for the casual listener. The overload of subject matter, not to mention wordiness, may turn listeners away. Songs like “Graves” and “Get Smokes” aren’t easy to listen to. It is definitely more moody than you’d imagine or want, which may be its biggest setback, but at the same time could be its biggest attraction. In short, P.O.S. has released his finest album to date. It’s haunting and prolific and an antithesis of what many people know as hip-hop. Never Better is a testament of what one can do without the boundaries and restrictions of genres.

If you are interested in enrolling in the study, please contact: Kelley Strohacker (kstrohacker@mail.coe.uh.edu) or Dr. McFarlin (bmcfarlin@uh.edu) The project has been reviewed by the University of Houston Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (713) 743-9204

Let our nationally renowned vision experts provide comprehensive eye care for you and your family.

arts@thedailycougar.com

To schedule an appointment, please call 713.743.2020. For general information, call 713.743.EYES (3937) or visit www.uei.uh.edu

8 n Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Daily Cougar

SPORTS

COMING FRIDAY: The men’s basketball team prepares for Saturday’s showdown with Rice. ONLINE: Zaneta Loh takes a trip down memory lane on her blog, “The Loh Down.”

EDITOR Matt Miller E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports

Men’s Basketball

Houston annihilates Knights Chris Elliott The Daily Cougar Houston’s 97-69 win over Central Florida on Wednesday night didn’t exactly establish its dominance in Conference USA. However, it did give a young, talented team its confidence back and has set the Cougars up to make a February run in C-USA play that it desperately needs if it wants to reach the NCAA Tournament. “We’ve been in this situation in past years. You want to be playing your best ball in February and March,” Houston head coach Tom Penders said. “If we can do that, we’ll have a chance to finish real strong. We’ve got to take care of business. Next up is Rice, and they’ve been resting all week waiting for us.” With the win, the Cougars improved to 13-7 and 4-3 in C-USA, gaining ground on the Golden Knights (15-7, 5-3 C-USA), who are tied for third place with Alabama-Birmingham. Junior guard Aubrey Coleman proved once again that he is one of the most versatile players in the country. He spurred two huge runs for the Cougars, finishing with a

game-high 30 points and teamhigh 10 rebounds. He also closed possessions on the defensive end and extended plays on the offensive side of the ball. “The only person who can stop Aubrey is Aubrey,” Penders said. “He’s got such strength and deception to his game offensively.” The first run was a four-minute, 18-6 outburst, capped off by junior forward Qa’rraan Calhoun’s layup — off an assist from Coleman — and free throw, which gave the Cougars a 29-13 lead with 8:05 remaining in the first half. The Cougars led by as many as 20 in the first half thanks to contributions from Coleman, freshman point guard Desmond Wade and junior guard Kelvin Lewis, who bounced back from a 10-point performance against Memphis to finish with 17 Wednesday. The Cougars went into the locker room at halftime with a 43-28 lead and pounded UCF into submission in the second half. Calhoun snapped out of his three-game offensive slump by consistently finishing at the basket and knocking down jumpers to finish with 18 points. “His effort was great tonight.

I’m happy for him,” Penders said. “He’s been struggling the last couple of games. I was scared he would lose his confidence, but he did a good defensively and he also knocked down some nice shots to close that door on UCF.” For the second consecutive game, sophomore point guard Zamal Nixon got the start over Wade. For Penders, however, it was a strategy that worked. Wade came off the bench with 13 minutes left in the first half and immediately changed the flow of the game. Wade went to work within one minute, stealing the ball from Golden Knights freshman guard Isaac Sosa and turning it into an easy layup. That was the beginning of a highly productive night for Wade. He continued to create mayhem on the defensive end for UCF’s guards, finishing with eight points, six assists and three steals. “Desmond’s pressure on the ball was huge,” Penders said, “and he also had a great floor game. He looks like he’s where he was before he got hurt, and that was in the UMass game (in December).” sports@thedailycougar.com

Football

Local products to play for UH By KEITH CORDERO JR. The Daily Cougar The Cougars reloaded for the 2009 season by signing 25 recruits, 23 of whom have Texas ties, on Wednesday’s National Signing Day. Head coach Kevin Sumlin began his second season at UH by bolstering his offensive and defensive lines. He was able to grab a lot of this talent from the Houston area, which yielded 15 recruits. “We’re going to win with local guys and Texas guys,” Sumlin said. “We feel like all of these guys are going to come in and have an impact in their careers and some of them will have an impact next year.” Among the Cougars’ biggest signings are junior offensive lineman Roy Watts (Navarro Junior College) and wide receiver A.J. Dugat (Dayton High School). Watts, who was rated a fourstar recruit by Rivals.com, is expected to make an immediate impact for an offensive line that lost three of its starters. The 6-6, 300-pound tackle was named a junior college All-American after helping lead Navarro to a 10-1 record in 2008. Dugat, who is listed as a

three-star recruit by Rivals. com, was named a Parade AllAmerican after propelling Dayton to the Class 4A Division II state championship game, where it lost to Sulphur Springs. He recorded 1,755 receiving yards, 642 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior, winning his second District 19-4A Most Valuable Player award and third all-district first-team honor. The 6-0, 188-pound Dugat runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. “A.J. is a very, very exciting player with the ball in his hands,” Sumlin said. “He is a guy I would call a ‘wire-to-wire’ player, a threat to score anytime he can get the ball into his hands.” Junior quarterback Case Keenum is safely entrenched as the Cougars’ starter, but Sumlin scooped up two more Texas quarterbacks Wednesday. Drew Hollingshead (Rockwall-Heath HS) and Broderick Thomas Jr. (Houston Madison HS) will enter UH in the fall, though it’s likely that Thomas will move to wide receiver, where he’ll be joined by Madison teammate Jeffery Lewis and James Cleveland (Trinity Valley Community College). The Cougars’ other threestar recruits include linebacker George Bamfo (Rockwall Heath HS), defensive backs Jacky

gregory bohuslav THE DAILY COUGAR

Junior guard Aubrey Coleman, pictured against East Carolina, scored a game-high 30 points in UH’s win over Central Florida on Wednesday.

Women’s Basketball

Welcome aboard The following players are just a few out of several high school seniors who will wear Scarlet and Albino White next fall Radermon Scypion – defensive end – Port Arthur Memorial HS Zeke Riser – defensive end – LaVernia High School Tyrone Campbell – defensive tackle – Channelview HS DeAnthony Sims – defensive tackle – Houston Westbury HS Kelvin King III – linebacker – Aleif Taylor HS Phillip Steward – linebacker – Fort Bend Hightower HS George Bamfo – linebacker – Rockwall Heath HS Steven Robertson – linebacker – Cleveland HS Thomas Bates – defensive back – Baytown Lee HS Ty Cloud – offensive lineman – Flower Mound Marcus HS Keenan Flax – offensive lineman – Cypress Ridge HS Kevin Forsch – offensive lineman – Klein Oak HS Ralph Oragwu – offensive lineman – Fort Bend Marshall HS Chrles Sims – running back – Houston Westbury HS Tyler Chambers – tight end – San Antonio MacArthur HS A.J. Dugat – wide receiver – Dayton HS Drew Hollingshead – quarterback – Rockwall Heath HS Broderick Thomas, Jr. – quarterback – Houston Madison HS

Cougars ruffle up Owls’ feathers By Matt Miller THE DAILY COUGAR The Cougars used a 15-3 run, capped by a runner by sophomore forward Brittany Mason with 35.9 seconds remaining, to hold off Rice, 66-51, Wednesday at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Cougars held a 51-48 lead with 7:29 left, but tightened up their defense to force Rice into four turnovers during the run. “Our runs have started on the defensive end,” UH head coach Joe Curl said. “We’re giving the other team (only) one shot.” Like most rivalry matchups, the game was tight for most of the way. UH held a 32-26 advantage at halftime, but found itself in a 42-42 tie with 13:44 to go. “When we were in the huddle, we said, ‘All we have to do is win (the next) four minutes,’” Curl said. The Cougars (14-7, 6-3 Conference USA) went to their hot hand, sophomore center Cobilyn Hill. Hill, who had a game-high 18 points, scored six consecutive points after the timeout to give the Cougars a 48-42 cushion.. “I go out there and say, ‘I have a disposition to dominate,’” Hill said. “The last three games, I’ve had the mind frame that it’s my time to shine.” Rice (5-17, 0-9 C-USA) eventually closed the gap to three, but the

Cougars kept their cool and continued to rely on their pressure defense. “The calm comes in the huddle,” Curl said. “It was a good game to watch, but I don’t think anyone lost their poise.” Hill added eight rebounds and six blocked shots. She and junior forward Ashlee’ Joseph played excellent defense against Rice’s forwards for most of the night. “For 33 minutes or so, we did a great job in the post,” Curl said. “We play great post defense at times, but at other times we get relaxed.” The Cougars continued their hot shooting streak, hitting 46.6 percent of their shots. “This time of year, a lot of people grind away in practice,” Curl said. “A lot of the grinding we do is shooting. Our offense has opened up to give us open shots.” The Cougars’ defense also showed continued improvement, see WBBALL, page 9

SPORTS

The Daily Cougar

Swimming

Houston goes 1-2 at LSU Cougar Sports Services The UH swimming and diving team dropped two of three matches at the LSU Invitational last weekend in Baton Rouge, La., beating New Orleans (253-90) while losing to LSU (211-140) and Rice (178-169). Junior Anastasia Pozdniakova won her eighth consecutive 3-meter diving event this season, finishing with 364.8 points. The Cougars also grabbed secondand third-place finishes from sophomore Courtney Forcucci (289.5) and freshman Jessalyn Almond (286.5). On Tuesday, Pozdniakova was named Conference USA Diver of the Week for the 11th time in her career. The 11 weekly honors are the most for any diver in C-USA history. Senior Sasha Schwendenwein delivered the Cougars’ only swimming event victory Saturday, completing the 200-yard butterfly in 2 minutes, 1.57 seconds. Sophomore Andrea Kells finished seventh (2:10.24), while freshman Danica Lubbers finished 11th (2:13.78). Schwendenwein also won both the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly Friday, finishing in 1:49.35 and 55.96, respectively. Schwendenwein continued her success by finishing third in Saturday’s 100-yard freestyle with a time of 51.33. Freshman Kimberley Eeson placed sixth after completing the event in 52.91. Eeson was the top performing Cougar in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing fourth with a time of 5:04.09. Coming in ninth for Houston was freshman Rachel Holcomb (5:34.59).

Thursday, February 5, 2009 n 9

WBBALL

FOOTBALL

continued from page 8

forcing Rice to take several quick, lowpercentage shots while under pressure. The Owls shot 31.8 percent and were outscored 36-20 in the paint. Taylor led UH in rebounds with 10 and added eight points. She is still battling an illness, which makes Hill’s recent surge even more meaningful. “I’ve been more focused, and I’ve been playing harder,” Hill said. “Courtney’s been carrying us on her back this whole time. She’s been sick, so it’s time for us to carry her.” The Cougars will open a five-game homestand with a rematch against Rice at 5 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Candy (Coffeyville CC) and Devin Mays (San Francisco CC), offensivelinemen Ty Cloud (Flower Mound Marcus HS) and Jarve Dean (Coffeyville CC), running back Charles Sims (Houston Westbury HS), tight end Tyler Chambers (San Antonio Mac Arthur HS), defensive lineman Radermon Scypion (Port Arthur Memorial HS) and DeAnthony Sims (Houston Westbury HS). “For coaches, this is like Christmas,” Sumlin said. “I think this group of young men that we have are extremely athletic and a good group of players, and we’re excited about them.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

DAILY COUGAR FILE PHOTO

The UH swimming and diving team sits at 14-5 this season after going 1-2 at the LSU Invitational. On Friday, senior Andrea Pa’lmai won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:12.79. She also took third in the 400-yard individual medley (4:25.28), while freshman Beccy Hills finished fourth (4:33.30). Pa’lmai grabbed a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.91). Meanwhile, junior Jessica Shamburger finished seventh (2:06.63) and freshman Paige Bissett came in ninth (2:10.63). In the 100-yard breaststroke,

Hillis finished fourth in 1:05.48, but no other Cougar could grab a top 10 finish. UH will now focus on the fight against breast cancer when it hosts the Sprint for the Cure Meet against Texas at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the CRWC Natatorium. Admission to the meet is free, but those in attendance may make donations at the door. All proceeds donated will go towards breast cancer research.

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I C M C S D A V

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10 n Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Daily Cougar

More than just a paper.

THE DAILY COUGAR

Sound like you? These symptoms could be more than just PMS — they can also describe PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Baylor College of Medicine is conducting a clinical study of FDA-approved drugs ,YAZ and YASMIN, to determine if they are effective in relieving PMDD stress in women ages 13 to 20. Participants will complete a diary in addition to receiving medication in this study. Females between 13 and 20 experiencing these symptoms and comfortable with tampon use may be able to participate. Parental consent is required under age 18.

Call 713-798-5295 volunteer@bcm.edu

www.thedailycougar.com Stay in touch.

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HELP WANTED

Plaza Research, a local focus group company in the Galleria, is looking for Hispanics to participate in paid focus group discussions. There is absolutely no sales or solicitation involved, we are only interested in your thoughts and opinions. Our groups are ongoing and include topics such as pets, travel, consumer products, sports, politics, magazines, books, medical conditions, food, beverages, etc.

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Please call Plaza Research at 713-840-9500 and ask to speak to someone regarding ‘Hispanic’ studies.

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Those who participate are compensated $35-65 per hour for their time.

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The Daily Cougar will be responsible only for the first incorrect insertion.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday, February 11th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM University Career Services 106 Student Service Center 1

BULLETIN BOARD ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION WITH AMERICAN ACCENT CLASSES

WE ARE SEEKING:

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The Daily Cougar

COUGAR COMICS The Waves by Bissan Rafe

Dim Sum by Ho Yi Lau

Man Law by Chris Jacobs

At the Hot Dog Stand by Mishele Lamshing

COMICS & MORE Online at thedailycougar.com/comics

Thursday, February 5, 2009 n 11

today’s crossword ACROSS 1 Crack pilots 5 More competent 10 Get well 14 Like cheesecake 15 Pipe unclogger 16 Fat cat’s friend 17 Ticket price 18 Tackle 19 Can opener targets 20 Dixie specialty 2 wds.) 22 Kilt feature 23 Friar of legend 24 Sturdy lock 26 Where Valencia is 29 Oppositeness 33 Doctrine 34 Compare 35 Box-office sign 36 Televises 37 Distributes 38 Very willing 39 2001 to Livy 40 Garage contents 41 Soft leather 42 Diver’s weapon 44 Pentium producer 45 Bit of straw 46 Lie in the weeds 48 Gourmet coffee 51 Dwindles 55 Eurasian range 56 Slacks material 58 Therefore 59 Honeycomb unit 60 Latin American dance 61 Uppity one 62 Filleted fish 63 Fragrant 64 Play horseshoes DOWN 1 Barking noises 2 Hi or bye 3 Pantyhose color 4 Dogs resembling collies 5 Kind of committee (2 wds.) 6 Trout’s home 7 Fixed the table

Answers online at thedailycougar.com/puzzles 3

today’s sudoku (Difficulty: 4/5)

Naval off. Decompose Yell Peter Gunn’s girl Verdi princess Perchance Back financially Blueprint Joins together Yeasty brews Crooked schemes Doll up Craggy abode Rock climber’s gear Cay Barter Matterhorn echo Pause Steins Greasiest Soprano’s

8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 37 38 40

45 48

30 35

23 26

41 43 46 47 4 8 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 57

rendition Letter starter For some time Charge ahead Kapitan’s command (hyph.) Slickers Diet spread Phone Trig function First 007 movie (2 wds.) “I” problems Weeps loudly Vaccine amts. “— bad was it?”

2009 United Feature Syndicate INC.

Previous puzzle solved C A L F

R E E L

I G O R

R A V E

A S E A

N O R M A

E P S I L O N

S L I D MO T GO M I DWE A D I O S L I MO T O L D AMY S

N O S E

C U D G E L E D

E O S T R K A E N A S

A F R O

R O A S T

S S T

T OR WO S T

O D OW R E P S A L R U E DG RO OW S N

S E N I O R S

P O L A R O I D T A C I T

S H A K E

S I R E N

T O A S T

GM U A A Y MO

A L E C

N E A R

S N A P

T A T A

Answers online at thedailycougar.com/puzzles

How to play

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3-by-3 boxes must also contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Previous puzzle solved

Limbo by Paulo Aninag

In the time it takes you to update your

Facebook you could get in the yearbook.

Here’s how:

HOUSTONIAN YEARBOOK PHOTO WEEK • 9 a.m.–7 p.m. February 16–19 • 9 a.m.–3 p.m. February 20 Claudette Room, UC Satellite Shoots available by appointment. Walk-ins welcome. No sitting fees!

Visit uh.edu/sp/houstonian or call (713) 743-5350 for registration info.

12 n Thursday, February 5, 2009

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