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Issue 151, Volume 75
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UH tapped by Perry to aid in research ‘Gulf Project’ bring together State experts, aims to tackle future oil spill disasters
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Cougar News Service Governor Rick Perry tapped UH to be a part of a coalition of experts that will research ways to prevent future oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. The coalition, named the Gulf Project, will be made up of energy and environmental scientists, policy experts, academic researchers, private sector research
scientists and state officials from UH, NASA and Rice University, among others. UH President Renu Khator said research programs at UH, including the Texas Center for Superconductivity, are slated to be part of the project. “Our faculty and students in engineering, law, business, geosciences, technology and research are working diligently to address the world’s energy challenges today and in the future,” Khator said. “The chance to exchange ideas and work in partnership with our peers, industry and researchers will lead to important
contributions toward protecting our environment, while providing our students with hands-on experience in shaping energy policy and forging new business approaches to the way energy is created, delivered, used and shared.” Other UH programs that will take part in the project, according to a press release, are the Mission Oriented Seismic Research Program; Well Logging Group; Global Energy Management Institute; Composites Engineering & Applications Center; Center for Applied Geosciences and Energy; Institute for Multi-dimensional Air Quality Studies; and the Center for
By Jose Aguilar The Daily Cougar
Cougar News Service
see GRANTS, page 8
the next generation in offshore oil exploration safety and response,” Perry said in the press release. “The Gulf Project is an unprecedented collaboration of the state’s top scientists, engineers and researchers, focused on protecting our residents, environment and economy, and solving the unique challenges presented by the next generation of domestic energy exploration and production.” Along with UH and Rice, Perry has called upon most of the state’s top universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Southern Methodist University to take part in the project.
State group honors student
Energy facility receives grant UH’s Energy Research Park will be the site of a new testing facility that University researchers will build after being awarded a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The National Wind Energy Center (NWEC), which will develop and test composite materials and components for large offshore wind turbines, is likely to help establish the University as a national leader in offshore wind technology. “The new testing facility will not only g g Joseph Tedesco help propel this region to the forefront of U.S. offshore wind development, but it will also help UH in becoming ‘The Energy University,’” UH Cullen College of Engineering Dean Joseph Tedesco said in a press release. “Gaining a fuller understanding of the challenges associated with offshore wind energy technology is critical if we are to move into a clean energy future.” Plans are for the facility and
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources. Perry is hoping the project will tackle all the issues currently affecting and halting progress on the current Gulf disaster. He also thinks the project will help solidify Houston’s status as an energy capital. “To keep our g g Rick Perry status as the energy capital of the nation and preserve our environment, jobs and economy, Texas must become the world leader in developing
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Summer Recreation
U
H’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is available for students to get a break from the heat. Air-conditioned indoor activities offered at the center include rock wall climbing, racquetball, basketball and use of the natatorium. An outdoor leisure pool is also available for anyone wanting to enjoy the sun.
The Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers named UH graduate student Meghan Baker the state’s Social Work Student of the Year. Baker, a J.D. and M.S.W. dual degree student in the Law Center and Graduate College of Social Work, will be honored at the organization’s annual conference in October. “It feels amazing to be recognized by the NASW and to have been nominated by my peers, many of whom are themselves deserving of this award,” Baker said. “It is an honor I do not take lightly, and I am grateful to be recognized by this outstanding organization.” Baker received the award in part for demonstrating a commitment to the profession of social work, her clients and to social justice. “I think that fighting social injustice is inherent in almost all the work we do as social workers,” Baker said. “I think that being committed to the profession of social work within my experience has meant being mindful of social work values, something I strive to incorporate in everything I do.” The profession’s commitment to fighting injustice wherever it occurs is what drew her to the field in the first place. “As a member of the GLBT community, I have observed first hand the discrimination and oppression that we face, so that was a natural place for me to serve,” she said. “However, I like to think I am also committed to righting wrongs that affect other groups as well,
Courtesy uh.edu
Meghan Baker was named SocialWork Student of the Year by the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. and I have worked to advocate for people with disabilities, youth in foster care, and other vulnerable populations.” Baker’s active work in the community includes working with the Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals (HATCH), a support group for the city’s GLBT youth. “The work I do with youth is probably the most meaningful to me. At HATCH, my partner and I serve as volunteer facilitators, a role I moved into after finishing a one-year social work internship at HATCH,” Baker said. “Among other things, it gives us a chance to give back to the community and to provide a safe space for queer kids to hang out, something we did not see BAKER, page 8
2 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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CAMPUS Snap to win! BEAT Win a $50 Amazon.com gift card! FORECAST
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Contest ends July 30, 2010 at 11:59pm CST 1 entry per person Only (1) winner will be selected.
Winner will be notified via email on July 31, 2010
Snap here How does this work? Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. (Source: Wikipedia)
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Saturday
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CALENDAR
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1. Use your QR code reader on your smartphone to take a picture of the code below. 2. Log on the website provided by the QR code and submit your information to the drawing. Your personal information will NOT be shared with anyone. This is part of an ongoing research project at the UH College of Technology.
Friday
THURSDAY Bat Boy: The Musical: Hamman Hall at Rice University, 7:30 p.m. Bat Boy: The Musical is based on the 1992 Weekly World News story about a half-boy, halfbat, “Bat Boy,” found living in a cave. The musical revolves around Bat Boy and his desire to assimilate into society. Regular tickets are $25, and $10 for those with a RiceU student ID. For more information, call (713) 348-7529.
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Australian sales charts. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster. For more information, visit www.houstontoyotacenter.com. The Fleshtones with The Ugly Beats: Continental Club located at 3700 Main, 9:30 p.m. Garage rock band from Queens, New York, The Fleshtones will jam at the Continental Club with folk rock band The Ugly Beats. For more information, visit www.continentalclub.com/houston.html.
The Octopus Project with Tia Carrera and Record Hop: Warehouse Live, 9 p.m. The Octopus Project is an experimental electronic band based in Austin and formed in 1999. The band blends pop and experimental elements, producing a combination of digital and electronic sounds and noises. The show will feature metal band Tia Carrera and Denton rock band Record Hop. Tickets start at $14. For tickets and more information, visit www. warehouselive.com.
The Toadies with Quiet Company and Dead Country: House of Blues, 8:30 p.m. Fort Worth grunge rock band The Toadies will make a stop at the House of Blues as they prepare to release a new album. They will be joined by piano rock band Quiet Company and punk band Dead Country. For tickets and more information, visit www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/houston.
FRIDAY
SUNDAY
Michael Bublé: Toyota Center, 8 p.m. Canadian singer, actor and winner of two Grammy awards Michael Bublé returns to Houston on his Crazy Love Tour. His fourth studio album, Crazy Love, has already sold nearly four million copies since its release and consistently topped
Free meditation classes: University of St. Thomas Robertson Hall located at 3900 Yoakum Blvd., room #213. The class will be held from 12 to 1:30 p.m. No prior meditation experience is necessary. For more information, contact houstonsos. org@gmail.com.
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about About the Cougar The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://www.thedailycougar. com. The University seeks to provide equal educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status, or sexual orientation. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. the first copy of the Cougar is free; each additional copy is 25 cents. Subscriptions Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Daily Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015. news tips Direct news tips and story ideas to the News Desk. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@thedailycougar. com or fax (713) 743-5384. A “Submit news item” form is also available online at thedailycougar.com. Copyright No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the written consent of the director of the Student Publications Department.
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SPORTS
The Daily Cougar
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 n 3
Soccer
World Cup filled with surprises By Patricia Estrada The daily Cougar
The 2010 FIFA World Cup has given fans plenty to talk about, from the elimination of soccer greats Italy and France to the controversial calls by the referees. Either way, South Africa gave soccer aficionados an emotional roller coaster like no other. Soccer’s biggest stage has seen its fair share of embarrassing moments throughout the years, but this year watching two soccer super powers, France and Italy, get knocked out in the first round set the tone. “As far as the teams that were expected to do great, the French and the Italians, hands down, were the most embarrassing teams in the world cup.” Houston Dynamo’s defender Craig Waibel said. “I am not a fan of either team, but certainly no matter who you are, no matter who you cheer for, if you turn on the French and the Italians you expect to see at least a decent squad, (How they played) was absolutely horrid.” With the early departure of Les Bleus and Squadra Azzurra, other teams were able to shine and show their talents; teams like Ghana, Uruguay and the Dutch were, by far, the biggest surprises.
Waibel also said the USA team was able to shine and overcome many obstacles. 2010 marked the first time since 1930 that the Americans won their group. “It was really interesting to me the expectations that everyone had, including myself, on the USA team in particular,” Waibel said. “I don’t think they played as poorly as everyone maybe had the perception.” Some of that growth and support for the national team came in part to the exposure the USA team received in news channels around the country during the Slovenia game before USA was robbed of the winning goal by Maurice Edu in the 85th minute. “Exposure is a great educator,” Waibel said. “People don’t go out of their way to look for entertainment.” Waibel said the poor officiating in the Slovenia and Algeria game made the USA team more resilient and showed the world the American spirit. “A lot of people were disappointed,” he said. “(But) we have to give those guys more credit. The Algerian game showed how the American team defined the odds. We had a chip on our shoulder.” Waibel hopes the growth in support for USA soccer doesn’t die down now that the World Cup is
WikiCommons
After 70 years of waiting, Spanish fans in Toronto rejoice at Spain’s first World Cup victory. The 2014 World Cup will be in Rio de Janeiro. over, but continues to raise money. In the quarterfinal game between Uruguay and Ghana, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez stopped a ball from going in the goal with his hands, which would later stop the African nation from moving on the semifinals. Waibel, like many other soccer experts, said Suarez’s actions were instinctive and he did not cheat. “(What he did) is the best ever worst thing for soccer,” Waibel said. “He literally saved his country from elimination. He did what he had to do to win. Nobody thought (Gyan) was going to miss the penalty.”
A lot has been made of officiating this World Cup. In the final game alone 14 cards were given, breaking the record of six set in 1986. With more than 100 yellow cards given in total for the tournament, it is safe to say the officiating left a lot to be desired. This World Cup fans also saw several missed calls when it came to goals and offsides. “I think the officiating has provided many reasons and different topics for discussion,” Waibel said. “For the world cup being the biggest stage in soccer it is disappointing that this World Cup
has had so many poor moments of officiating.” Because of the poor officiating, fans are asking FIFA to reconsider its decision to keep technology from being used in the game. Waibel said technology should only be used in soccer if it is to decide a goal, not to determine if a player should be called offside or not. “Technology in the ball and goalpost is a good idea, but other than that I don’t think technology should ever be involved in soccer.” sports@thedailycougar.com
Track
Cougar preps for World Championships By John Brannen the Daily Cougar
For the majority of the UH track and field team, the season ended a month ago. But a lone Cougar has kept his season going, training deep into the weeks of summer without his teammates. Errol Nolan qualified for the IAAF World Junior Championships after winning the 400-meter dash at the USA Track and Field Junior Championships June 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. For the first time Nolan will be running for the United States and not in his UH uniform. Unlike most track meets with preliminary heats to determine the final, the World Championships have a three round format. Nolan said conserving his energy throughout the races would have a significant impact on whether or not he advances to the finals. “I have to set myself up for the next race,” Nolan said. “I have to make sure I get the good lane and not burn myself out while doing it.” Both of Nolan’s parents are Jamaican and he had a desire to run for the Jamaican team. But since he accepted the invitation to run for the U.S., Nolan will likely not get a chance to ever run for Jamaica. The IAAF rules that an athlete must sit out of international competition for three years if they want to switch the nation they compete for, which is out of the question for Nolan. Despite the rule, Nolan said he is humbled
wearing the red, white and blue. “I’m proud to wear the uniform, but since I’m putting on this uniform I can’t go back and wear the green, black and gold,” he said. One of Nolan’s career aspirations is to reach the Summer Olympics; being one of two representing the U.S. in his event is a solid start. Nolan is ranked second in the world in the 400, behind national champion Kirani James. James won the national championship for the University of Alabama, but will be representing Grenada at the World Junior Championships. “I’m just doing the best I can to make my family proud,” Nolan said. “I feel honored to be talked about around the world. Being favored to place second, I know I am getting mentioned.” Nolan will have the support and advice of head coach Leroy Burrell on the trip. Nolan’s personal-best in the 400 is 45.59 seconds, but he hopes to break the 45-second mark. Burrell told Nolan he would have to be more aggressive earlier, but to enjoy the experience. “The advice he’s given is to set myself up for the next race, have fun and to start my kick earlier,” Nolan said. The meet will be in Moncton, Canada. The first preliminary round in the 400 is July 20, the semifinal will be the 21 and the final will take place the 22. sports@thedailycougar.com
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OPINION
COMING NEXT WEEK: Obama uses NASA to promote peace with Muslims, should we be scared and outraged?
EDITOR Andrew Taylor E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/opinion
THE DAILY COUGAR
EDITORIAL CARTOON
editorial B oard Matthew Keever, Editor in Chief Newton Liu, Managing editor Hiba Adi, News editor Jose Aguilar, News editor John Brannen, Sports editor Christopher Losee, Sports editor Travis Hensley, Life & Arts editor Andrew Taylor, Opinion editor
STAFF EDITORIAL
Glen Beck takes on Houston media conspiracy
JASON POLAND The Daily Cougar
Nevada faces fierce election battle Nevada is in a bad place right now. The Silver State leads the nation with its 14 percent unemployment rate, and the local economy shows no signs of bouncing back. The view from Las Vegas, the state’s largest Casey city (and my home) Goodwin is grim. It is nearly impossible to find a family or business that the recession has not affected in some way: lost jobs, cut hours, reduced wages. Nevadans are placing the blame for this on the shoulders of both the state and national government. Everyone who is currently in office has become unpopular. Most specifically, local conservatives are targeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat who has represented Nevada in the Senate since 1986. Senator Reid is running for re-election in November, and his Republican opponent, relatively unknown Sharron Angle, currently has a seven-point lead in polls. The only reason Angle has the lead she does and a chance at winning the election is Reid’s lack of popularity. Both candidates will have to
fight hard and dirty if they want to win. Politically, Sharron Angle’s extremely conservative views and tendency to say the wrong thing make her an awful choice for the Republican Party. In a January interview, Angle all but called to assassinate her opponent. Immediately after mentioning that people were beginning to look for Second Amendment (the one which concerns the right to bear arms) remedies to the current government, Angle stated that “the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.” Angle’s ideology—so far to the right she is nearly falling off the grid—is not popular in Nevada outside her rural corner of the state. In fact, her views are so extreme that her campaign Web site was completely revamped after she won the Republican primary, with her views on most issues either softened or removed entirely. Things described in her original Web site, like phasing out Social Security, dissolving the Department of Education and withdrawing from the United Nations, are all conspicuously absent in her current one. To hide Angle’s obvious ideological
issues, her campaign committee has chosen to run attack ads blaming Harry Reid for Nevada’s high unemployment rate; simply pointing out the extreme change in rates during Reid’s time as senator, then promises that “help is on the way.” Of course, that promise is, according to Angle herself, completely bogus. On multiple occasions, Angle has said that creating jobs is not the job of a U.S. Senator. Reid, on the other hand, was able to throw a campaign rally featuring President Obama at the Aria Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas. The Aria, one of the most gorgeous casinos on the strip, would never have been built, and thousands of construction and hospitality jobs never created, if not for Reid’s direct involvement. In order to win the senate race, all Reid has to do is remind Nevadans of the good he has done for the state, while Angle has to hope Nevada voters forget to do their research. Casey Goodwin is a mechanical engineering sophomore and can be reached at opinon@thedailycougar.com
Houston needs to be bike friendly Houston has an enormous amount of people who use the roads to express their need for speed, their hunger for adrenaline, a desire to sightsee and explore, and for health These people Andrew Taylor benefits. are not the idiotic drivers that cause wrecks and delays on the interstates; I’m talking about the Houstonians who belong to the cycling community. Cyclists who belong to Houston love the city, admire its beauty and wish to keep it that way. They ride out to parks, they explore new neighborhoods, and they’re active in their community. Unfortunately, Houston has yet to return the love back to the cycling community. Other than the occasional bike lane and a few bike trails, Houston’s roads and safety enforcement are relatively nonexistent. The recession has placed all states
in tight places monetarily, but activities within communities like cycling are ways for cities to grow in a positive way. Spending state budget money on bike trails, increasing the number of law enforcement officers on bicycles and city jobs created around those cycling friendly areas would create only positive benefits. Building cycling lanes and cycling trails gives people incentives to move to Houston, and they bring more revenue by coercing people out of their houses and into town on the weekends. One of my first rides was through the downtown grid. That ride forever changed my perspective on downtown. As I approached Discovery Green Park I felt like I had discovered a part of Houston that was worth being part of on early Saturday mornings. Cycling shops in Houston are increasing, contributing to small business growth. Bike Houston.org is the central
cycling Web site for Houston and has all the information a cyclist might want when thinking about riding. Bike Houston is not alone, either; there are many other organizations and groups built around the city that are supported by the cycling community. Cyclists like myself can only hope that City officials recognize the potential within this part of our great city. It is then crucial for those officials to relay the importance to state officials and ultimately for our state government to lobby for funding. The University of Houston even has their own cycling organization that represents UH, among other cycling enthusiasts. Texas needs more communities like cyclists and those others that get out and enjoy everything that is naturally wonderful about our state. Andrew Taylor is an Economics senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com
Last Friday, a 58-year-old woman was injured after she opened what she thought was just a normal package of chocolates. However, it was a pipe bomb that sent the woman to the hospital with shrapnel to the face. After several days, it was reported by local media that the woman was the wife of the oil executive Brock Moore, president of Adams Resources Exploration. Now that several days have passed, one man is crying media conspiracy. Glenn Beck, talking about the BP’s media blackout, used the pipe bomb explosion to validate his fear of threats against people working Beck seems in the oil industry. Beck then went on to report concerned on the incident, all under the with... guise that this was a story that proving a should have been heard long much larger time ago. That is, there should have been faster media reaction conspiracy to this story. There are, however, parts of this story that do take time to get. The main fact would be the motivation for the bombing, along with who sent the package in the first place. That is the heart of this issue; Beck doesn’t seem to care about the woman in Houston. What he seems concerned with (as always) is proving a much larger conspiracy. All of this overshadows the very real possibility of a continuing threat to the families of oil executives. By using this to try and prove his argument, his logic will implode if it turns out that there is another motivation to this bombing. But by that time Beck will have probably moved on to the next thing that he believes we should already know about. He talks about media irresponsibility, but he seems to be short in the area of follow up. This is something that all media should be concerned with. Oftentimes we find ourselves getting breaking news, but never learning of the information that completes the story; we get stuck with a headline and some political jargon and left with nothing else. If not, we could all just make up whatever argument we wanted regardless of the truth of the issues that we use to prove our logic.
E D I TO R I A L policy 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 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax them to (713) 7435384. 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 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 n 5
The Daily Cougar
LIFE+ARTS EDITOR
COMING NEXT WEEK: Ben Muths hits the Houston music scene
Travis Hensley E-MAIL arts@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/life_arts
‘Despicable Me’ not so despicable By Sarah Neill The Daily Cougar
Despicable Me will inevitably be compared to Toy Story 3 because A) it’s a 3D CGI movie released around the same time, and B) they are the only two movies I’ve seen in theaters this year. I won’t go much further in the comparison than to say that I’ve melted the plastic twice to see Toy Story, but I don’t think I’ll be seeing Despicable Me more than once in theaters, especially not at $14 a pop. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie. It’s cute, funny, and exceptionally well animated — it was obviously intended to be seen in 3D — but it just wasn’t as good as Toy Story. The few plot twists were predictable, and there was no sense of real conflict. I never felt Gru’s nemesis to be very threatening, or that he would not find his soft side in the end. The curmudgeonly Gru is a Russian-esque villain with mommy issues and a house in the ’burbs (granted, the lawn is dead and the interior furnished with taxidermied endangered animals). While waiting in line at The Bank of Evil – formerly Lehman Brothers – Gru gets himself crosswise with
Songs you
Vector, a Bill Gates doppelganger with a fetish for fish-filled firearms. Vector, who calls himself such because his crimes have “both direction and magnitude,” has stolen the Great Pyramid, thereby usurping Gru as greatest supervillain in the world. It also turns out he is the bank president’s son, with the game stacked in his favor. Gru apparently lacks the unlimited funds of most supervillains, because he is at the bank to take out a loan to steal the moon, a dream he’s had since watching Apollo 11 land. The bank president, who bears a striking resemblance to Dilbert’s pointy-haired boss, demands Gru produce a shrink ray as down payment. Off to North Korea goes Gru to steal the shrink ray, but Vector (surprise, surprise) appears and nabs the gun for himself. To get the gun back, Gru adopts Agnes, Edith, and Margo from Miss Hattie’s Home for Orphan Girls. Vector had bought cookies from them, and Gru plans to re-nab the gun while the girls distract him. The plan works – barely – and off goes the pseudo-family in Gru’s evilmobile to a theme park for some reluctant bonding. Gru then returns to the bank
don’t want
to be caught Tik To k / K e$ sing ing ha Eve r y b o d y H ave Fu n To n igh t / Wa n 99 L u f t b a ll g Ch ung o n s (99 Re d Ba ll o o n s ) / Pa rt y in t h Ne n a e USA / M il e y C y r us S in c e Yo u B e e n G o ne / K e ll y C la r k O ne We e k / son Ba re n a k e d L a d ie s L e t ’s G e t P h ys ic a l / Oli v ia N e w t o n-Jo h n P h o t o graph / N ic k e lb ac k We D idn’t St a rt t h e Fire / Bil ly Jo e l R o c k Me Am ade us / Fa lc o
mix tape: Embarrassing as hell
S
ometimes you can’t help it. You’re in your car and the mood to start singing hits you. Before you know it, it’s the chorus of “Since You Been Gone.” Yeah, you’re working it, but the person in the car next to you doesn’t think so. The next time these songs come on, just practice the lost art of humming and avoid the embarrassment.
Universal
In the shadows of Toy Story 3, Despicable Me knocks the Twilight Saga: Eclipse out of the number one spot in the box office. with the shrink ray, but is denied the loan because he is not related to the president. No matter. Gru, his aurally challenged sidekick Dr. Nefario, and their yellow minions — whose behavior bears a strong resemblance to the pill bugs in A Bug’s Life —build a rocket anyway. It’s a jalopy, but it flies, and they did it together. So sweet. Problem is, he planned to take over the moon the same day Margo, Agnes, and Edith have a dance recital. Rather than mess with emotions and affection,
he sends the girls back to Miss Hattie’s, rockets into space in a pink space suit and proceeds to shrink the moon. Floating with the shrunken orb in his hand, he feels a strong pang of remorse. Gru then turns around and makes it to the dance recital in time to watch Vector kidnap them. I won’t give the rest away, but you can probably guess it ends happily. Unfortunately, the ending is rather pat and cliche, but it’s hard not to feel happy for Gru and the girls when they come to realize how
much they mean to each other. Anything less would be positively villainous. arts@thedaily.com
IN REVIEW Despicable Me Rated: PG for rude humor and mild action Starring: Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Kristen Wiig Verdict: See the matinee in 3D to save money but get the full effect.
A look at an author’s attempt to find love without sex By Michelle Reed The Daily Cougar British journalist Hephzibah Anderson’s memoir “Chastened: The Unexpected Story of My Year Without Sex,” follows her year-long experimentation with celibacy after she realizes that she has misunderstood the relationship between love and sex. Following the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Anderson sees her college boyfriend buying an engagement ring for another woman. Anderson realizes that in her efforts to find love, she has only found lust. “Sex and its pursuit seem to have become such blood sports, their rules so confusing and their standards so exacting, that it is hard not to wonder occasionally whether it’s worth it,” Anderson said. This revelation sparks the beginning of her experimentation as she vows to date and write about defining the difference between love and sex and what a relationship can succumb to without intimacy. Anderson’s book is far from a lecture on feminism. She mostly writes that women can live without sex or the co-dependency of a male, but that life would be better with it. The book offers a profound argument on the female psyche and libido, allowing women to look at their own relationships and see that maybe they didn’t work
out because they were blinded Although her story is honest, most by the idea of love and that sex women might find themselves has become a counterpart in puzzled as to how Anderson’s story relationship woes. can even provide insight to other Throughout the first couple women. months of Anderson’s vow of The book ends leaving us to chastity, she struggles to have a wonder if the vow has taught non-physical relationship with Anderson anything. It seems that men. She writes she is still trying that her inability to sort through “The book offers a to find romance her own confusion profound argument on with love and sex. is because she is conning herself, However, in the female psyche and allowing the a short epilogue libido, allowing women Anderson writes memory of her sexual exploits to that looking back to look at their own become the one on the experience, relationships...” thing to keep her a new sense of relationships with understanding men afloat. about dating and the freedom of She realizes that she has not a non-physical sensuality have been listening to what men are been found inside her. She realizes telling her, believing that she can that romance has been within her make any man fall in love with her relationships all along, if only she once they have gone to bed. In the hadn’t been so blind. The biggest end, she finds that she is the only thrill, she said, came from the one who has fallen in love and touch of a hand on her arm, a gaze mocks herself. held across the table or a light Her struggles can seem almost goodnight kiss at her doorstep. exhausting at times as Anderson This revelation is one that seems to be completely blinded any woman can take to heart. by the fact that she is not having Anderson’s memoir proves to us sex. She becomes disinterested in that if we stop blaming men and quiet, romantic types of men that ourselves for our failed romances, she ironically says would be a great we would realize that romance isn’t change from the over sexualized perfect and that what we have in men of her past. front of us is what we have been Her account follows the ins and searching for. outs of her thoughts as she frets and worries about her appearance. arts@thedailycougar.com
6 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church 3826 Wheeler Avenue Houston, Texas 77004-2604 713.748.5240
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Worship Services 7:15a.m., 9:00a.m., 11:00a.m. & 1:00p.m. Wednesday, Bible Study: 12 noon & 7 p.m. Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Pastor Rev. William A. Lawson, Pastor Emeritus Sunday Services via webcast: www.wheeleravebc.org
EGG DONORS NEEDED $5000 COMPENSATION. Are you ready for an incredible journey of generosity and compassion while at the same time generating additional income? Must be between 21-29, healthy, nonsmoker/drug user, w/no criminal background, height-weight proportionate, & willing to undergo medical and legal screening. We have one of the most respected global programs in the field of egg donation. www.openarmsconsultants.com
cHurcH of cHrist
Tutors Needed For Fall
941-741-4994
Egg Donors Needed! Compensation $5,000-$7,000. Must be: non-smoker, healthy, BMI within normal ranges, and between 19-30 years old. Visit www.fertilityresourceshouston.com or call 713 783 7044 for more information and to fill out a preliminary application.
HOUSTON’S NEW GOLF CADDIE agency, MyTeeMates are looking for beautiful young ladies to join their staff! As a caddie you will be required to clean clubs, drive the cart, fix divots, tend the pin and keep your golfer and/or golfers smiling the whole time! Great compensation! Please check out our website www.myteemates.com. If you want to have a fun, relaxing day on the golf course and make some good money, this is the gig for you! This caddie agency is highly anticipated already and will be heavily promoted! Hope to see you at our casting!. If you are interested and are planning to attend this casting please email us at info@myteemates. com to receive details about the casting on July 17th. EARN $1000 - $3200 a month to drive new cars with ads. www.youdriveads.com
for sale ESTABLISHED EYE CARE PRACTICE for sale. West Houston Area. $65K Call 713-816-1443. SELL YOUR STUFF. Buy a Classified ad and reach thousands of potential buyers in the UH community.
Small company needs website/graphic design student for print/online brochure & website update. Portfolio or samples of work. Call Talea @ 713-869-1255.
legal Help
Brown, Cahill & Macerola PLLC Criminal Defense lawyers
(832) 303-1573
www.thebcmfirm.com
We are seeking a part-time Bookkeeper
in the 610 Loop & Richmond area. The ideal candidate should have Accounting/Bookkeeping experience, with knowledge of QuickBooks & proficiency in Microsoft Office. Must have excellent communication skills, strong critical thinking skills, and a high degree of attention to detail. This is a good opportunity for those majoring in Accounting.
Please contact 713-527-9912. IT’S HARD TO FIND GOOD HELP these days, but not with The Daily Cougar Classifieds. One ad can reach thousands! Call 713-743-5356.
CHURCH 713-729-7880
UScholars@ UH College Success Program
Plaza Research, a local focus group company in the Galleria area, is looking for students 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. Those who participate are compensated $35-65 per hour for their time.
Please call Plaza Research at 713-840-9500 and ask to be added to our database OR log on to www.iopinion.com and click REGISTER
Church of Christ 1024 Hillcroft
832-842-2122
$$$$$$$$ GET PAID FOR $$$$$$$$ $$$$$ YOUR EXTRA TIME! $$$$$
www.westburycocc.com
Mentors Needed for Fall Great Experience! Great Pay!
Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Bible Class 10:30 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
832-842-2122 College Success Program BB’S CAFE NOW HIRING part time or full time flexible hours/ good pay servers and delivery drivers email samantha@BBsCafe.com
rentals 1 BR TOWN HOME $480 per month. $195 move in. 843 sq ft. Call Brad at (713) 392-3248.
FT RECEPTIONIST NEEDED for Medical office. In Medical center. M-F 8 am - 5 pm. Call 713-533-1577
CONDO MINS TO UH. DOWNTOWN, Nice, quiet. Studio=$290; A/H, W/D, fenced, 1-1:$360, 1-11/2 $565; 2-11/2:$690; 3-1 1/2=$800; No pet, 713-834-4209.
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travel
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Cruise Group Rates and Perks for EVERYONE! Book Now! Date:May 1522,2011- Cruise From Galveston to Freeport,Nassau, Bahamas,and Key West. Contact Audrey Crosby-318-868-7322
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metHodist
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Baptist
A NEW UNITED METHODIST FAITH COMMUNITY
www.1CHURCH.NET Sundays at Pearland ISD Berry Miller Junior High School Worship- 10:30am Haley Brown- Worship Leader Peter Scafidi- Worship Leader Dariel Newman- Pastor
rentals Looking for a NEW Apartment? Free Apt Locating Service! $500 REBATE! FREE MOVE! Classifieds for Roommates & Sublets!
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ApartmentGURUS.Com QUIET, BEAUTIFUL 1-bdrm apt for rent. Hrdwds, 5-mins from UH. $625/mo ($550 deposit). Call Joan 713-6613185. QUIET, BEAUTIFUL, SPACIUOS 2-bdrm apt for rent. Hrdwds, 5-mins from UH. $875/mo ($750 deposit). Call Joan 713-661-3185. ELEGANT ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH, SPACIOUS LIVING ROOM, NEWLY REMODELED KITCHEN CABINETS, COUNTERTOPS, BACK SPLASH, CROWN MOLDING THROUGHOUT, BEAUTIFUL EARTH-TONE PAINT, SPACIOUS CLOSET, BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM, MASTER HAS CARPET. A MUST SEE!!! $600 A MONTH / $ 600 DESPOSIT. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT FREDDIE AT (251) 7474306.
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A.D.D. Circus by Chris Jacobs
Robbie and Bobby by Jason Poland
today’s sudoku 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
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 n 7
today’s crossword ACROSS 1 Thieve 4 Zip or area 8 Easy shot 13 Warrior princess 14 Symphony or tome 15 Very perceptive 16 Drub 17 Compact (hyph.) 19 Allergy symptom 21 Mauna — 22 Latin I verb 23 Beatles’ meter maid 25 Distinct periods 27 Like Teflon 31 Fracas 35 Melodrama cry 36 PC chip maker 38 Not so many 39 Tree, to Fritz 41 Spoil (2 wds.) 43 Letter starter 44 A Muppet 46 Revved the engine 48 Forum hello 49 Dogie catchers 51 Was appropriate 53 Sugar amts. 55 Truck stop sight 56 “One-hoss —” 59 Goodall subject 61 Close at hand 65 Hedged 68 Kind of model 69 Wanted-poster word 70 Gardner of mystery 71 Famous last word 72 Hollow rock 73 Cougar’s pad 74 Hem up DOWN 1 Rider’s gear 2 Not even twice 3 Cookie cooks
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4 Desiring 5 Unseal 6 Twilight 7 Ms. Lauder 8 Thai neighbor 9 Got to 10 Hearty laughs 11 Versatile vehicles 12 — Fountain of jazz 13 Really big tees 18 Bid adieu 20 Type of pasta 24 Oscar nominee 26 — Wiedersehen 27 Dynamite inventor 28 John or Maureen 29 Names of things 30 Shish — 32 Work long and
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2010 United Feature Syndicate INC.
Previous puzzle solved
hard 3 Bug off 3 34 Slipped up 37 Shoestrings 40 Hit the wrong key 42 Bodyguard 45 Dawn goddess 47 Thin coin 50 Pole on a ship 52 Diadems 54 Sales pitch 56 Bachelor party 57 Dog-owner’s shout 58 Munitions 60 Pound or Cornell 62 Colosseum site 63 Spouted, as a whale 64 Craving 66 Sonnet kin 67 New Haven student
P E H A E C WH G U A R D P A N S
A L O E
K S L O MA N A D T L E I L L S E C K O S N H I P B S I C A U E D B R E F E R R E RO A D E R I OD V I V I M I C E OM L E D L
O E M I L T A I D I E U L E O R E D E A I D E L O C OWE U R L S A R T E G E A B A L D AMP E MEWL P E N E T I D E N E N I A T R E A S Y A
F O G Y
F L O E
E L M E R
D E T R E
C R A M
H O P S
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20%
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NEWS
8 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Staff Council Elections July 20 and July 21, 2010
How to Vote: Vote Online at www.uh.edu/sc/voting from 6:00am on Tuesday, July 20 to 5:00pm on Wednesday, July 21 • Vote at the polling sites on July 20 from 9:00am to 3:30pm • Must know your employee ID • Must be benefits-eligible staff member (50% FTE or greater) •
Polling Sites: General Services Building – Training /Conference Room Ezekiel W. Cullen Building – First Floor Lobby
Questions? Contact Maria Saldana at 3 -9206 or mjsaldana@ uh.edu
The Daily Cougar
BAKER continued from page 1
have when we were in high school (or) in College Station.” Baker also serves as a Guardian ad Litem for Child Advocates, a volunteer position that enables her to utilize both the social work and legal skills she is currently learning. She has been working with a 17-year-old girl who has been in the permanent custody of the state for the last year. “My work at Child Advocates is both extremely challenging and rewarding at the same time. My job involves visiting her at least once a month and going to court to advocate for her best interest,” she said. “Serving as her Guardian ad Litem is a role I take very seriously, and I truly value the relationship we have.” In August of 2007, Baker and her partner Lindsey were legally married in California, during the brief period of time same-sex weddings were allowed. After the passage of Proposition 8, three months after their first anniversary in November of 2008, she was part of a team that organized a rally in Houston. Baker spoke at the rally, which made her realize that Houston needed an organization that would advocate on behalf of the GLBT community, and founded Impact
GRANTS
University of Houston Staff Council 273 Cullen Performance Hall Phone: 713-743-1578
continued from page 1
Summer Book Club Open to all UH students, staff, faculty, & affiliates. Meet in the Women’s Resource Center (UC-2nd floor) to discuss our summer reads:
Just Kids by Patti Smith July 23 Noon
Email archlib@uh.edu to request copies of the books Sponsored by
its researchers to partner with colleagues from the college as well as industry officials and tackle the challenges facing the developing alternative energy. One of the facility’s primary goals will be to develop materials that
Houston right after. “Advocacy is a huge part of what social work encompasses, and this experience laid the foundation for me to build my skills in this area,” she said. Assistant professor at the Graduate College of Social Work Suzanne Pritzker thinks Baker’s work is building on the profession’s history of strengthening communities for all people. “Meghan exemplifies what it means to be a social worker, committed to her clients on both an individual and macro-level,” Pritzker said in a press release. “I feel Meghan is very deserving of this award,” Pritzker added in an e-mail. “I am glad that her strong and impactful work in the community and in the classroom has been recognized in this way.” Baker is a 2003 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Plan II Honors Program. Her dual degree program is scheduled to end in May 2011. She is still planning the next stage of her life after graduation. “Ideally, I would like to work with and for youth, either in the foster care or juvenile justice setting, and I would love for this to include advocating for GLBT youth who are particularly vulnerable within these systems,” she said. news@thedailycougar.com
will double the life expectancy of current offshore wind equipment. Su Su Wang, a professor of mechanical engineering, will serve as the center’s director. Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Ray Flumerfelt will serve as associate director. Both, along with senior research scientist Daniel Davis, are founding members of NWEC.
Because Chris can be a woman’s name, too. Though The Daily Cougar strives for accuracy and fairness in its reporting, mistakes happen. Please report any errors you see in the paper to the editorial staff. Corrections will run on Page 2 as needed to amend the record. To report a correction, e-mail editor@thedailycougar.com or call (713) 743-5362.