March 4, 2014

CHRONICLE Richland

Vol. XXXIX, Issue 8 March 4, 2014

Richland recycles! Pg. 7 Also inside: Handy dandy DCCCD app Pg. 3 NBA playoff predictions Pg. 5 Richlandchronicle.com

Official Chronicle Outlets

#Chronicle DCCCD

eNTERTAINMENT

Warning — be leery of uninvited guests Joyce Jackson Copy Editor

What do you owe someone who saves your life?

That’s the crucial question in Richland’s spring production of Larry Shue’s two-act comedy, “The Nerd.”

The plot revolves around Willum Cubbert, a hard-working architect living in the boring town of Terre Haute, Ind. While celebrating at a party for his 34th birthday, he gets the surprise of his life — right at his front door.

There, standing at the door, is an unexpected guest by the name of Rick Steadman.

They meet face to face and that’s when the trouble begins — only Willum doesn’t know it yet.

What’s so unusual is that Rick saved Willum’s life in Vietnam, yet they had never met because Willum was unconscious when Rick dragged him off the battlefield.

Rick, who’s desperate and down on his luck, takes advantage of Willum’s generosity to move in with him and thus begins the outrageous, yet hilarious, relationship that consumes the entire play.

Andy Long, Richland drama chair and the director, said, “It’s [The Nerd] one of the funniest American plays written in the last 30 or 40 years.”

Long said Shue was an actor with the Mil-

The Nerd

by Larry Shue Staff illustration Terry Blend

waukee Repertory Company when he started writing plays. “The Nerd” made it to the Broadway stage, as well as another of Shue’s plays, “TheForeigner.” But, what was once a promising career ended when Shue was killed in a plane crash in September 1985 at the age of 39.

Long said he has directed “The Nerd” before and describes it as a “classical comedy in a contemporary style to Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis. “Long’s definition of a nerd is “a person who has no concept of social convention.”

“The man [Rick] turns out to be the nerd, the most asocial human being every born,” Long said.

Six Richland drama students are in the cast, but Long has cast his daughter, 9-year-old Ruby, as the little boy, Thor Waldgrave, who’s a complete terror to his parents.

The actor playing his father in the play, Axel, calls Thor “the poster child for Planned Parenthood.”

Ruby Long, as Thor, has been seen in four productions in the Dallas Children’s Theater

and has also been in commercials.

Long said that Ruby loves her role as Thor and told him that “There are good boys and there are bad boys,” to which Andy admits that “Ruby will have fun being bad.”

The actors in the cast are all in Long’s class and are acting majors. He said that the student actors will learn more about the style of American comedy with this play and that will help them later in their careers when they audition for films and TV. Long said what he really likes about “The Nerd” is how funny it is, but it does have a more serious theme.

“Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone you give without them knowing it,” he said. “The concept of doing someone a big favor anonymously is very important to the play. Helping a person without taking credit for it – that’s something that our culture could use a little more of.”

Long said guest designer David Lambert will participate in this production. Lambert was the sound designer for Richland’s “Woman in Black,” and Long said there is a lot of sound in “The Nerd.”

Long said people will really enjoy this particular production and “will laugh more than they’ve laughed in a long time.”

“The Nerd” is free and open to the public.

The two-hour production will have a 15-minute break. It will run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in the Fannin Performance Hall. No reservations are necessary.

Upcoming events

Richlandchronicle.com March 4, 2014

Each week, the Division of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts at Richland College presents its Recital Series. All performances are on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. in the Fannin Performance Hall unless noted otherwise and are free to the general public. For more information about this series, contact Dr. Michael Crawford, director of choral music, at 972-238-6284

2

March 4: Noon to 1 p.m.

The Fusion Band Cafeteria Stage, El Paso Hall The band will entertain lunchgoers with a “Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) Concert.”

Also March 4: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mardi Gras Celebration (by the lake) Join in the fun today and enjoy some great music, festivities and free food. The event is sponsored by the Office of Student Life.

Also March 4: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Scenes from Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd” will give the audience a preview of the Drama Department’s upcoming play.

The performances will begin at 7:30 p.m.

March 6-8 in the Fannin Performance Hall.

March 10-14: No credit classes will meet this week.

March 19: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spring Job Fair, El Paso Hall Over 50 employers will have tables for students to inquire about a variety of job openings. For more information call 972-238-6921.

March 25: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East Circle Drive (outside the library) Free STD Testing The Dallas County Health and Human Services, Sexually Transmitted Disease Mobile Medical Unit will be testing for HIV, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea.

For questions, call 214-500-2968. For more information, call the Richland Health Center at 972-238-6135 or stop by Thunderduck Hall, Room T-110.

CAMPUS/review

Piano recital draws praise

Staff photo Melanie Brandow

Kyle Orth plays a stunning Ludwig van Beethoven piece perfectly.

Staff Writer

Fannin Hall’s 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano surrendered all it had Feb. 25 to the capable coaxing of Texas Christian University’s 23-year-old, pint-sized prodigy, Kyle Orth, who could not have produced another ounce of glorious sound with twice his heft.

While his audience sat transfixed, Orth’s hands were a blur of blustery bravado as he deftly guided them first through three solo etudes by Bach, Chopin and Liszt, and then settled into 23 minutes of the lyrical Beethoven Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major.

He ended his noontime recital with the piano arrangement of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet “Petrouchka,” which in his preparatory remarks Orth modestly informed his listeners, had been dedicated by the composer to the virtuoso Arthur Rubinstein, who then declined to ever perform it on the grounds that it was basically unplayable. Orth proceeded to easily dispel that idea as a blatant falsehood, and his audience heartily concurred by giving him a standing ovation.

He also managed to confront Stravinsky’s challenges with some unique fingering that saw his left hand at times stretch lightningfast under his right to find the necessary higher keys and at others reach tentatively over to strike the correct notes. It seemed as if his hands were never quite sure of whose territory they were defending, or where the demands of the score might take them.

They were especially brilliant on the devilishly demanding glissandos which flashed by rapidly in both directions and caused gasps of jealous admiration from all the pianists present.

Throughout, Orth was in complete control, amazingly striking the keys crisply and cleanly even though they were often reached at arm’s length. His fingertips daintily kissed the notes from time to time hanging from his wrists like soft moss from a gnarly oak.

And at one point the sharp dynamic contrasts between the bass and treble clefs were so distinct that listeners could almost swear there were two different players on the platform.

On a day when everything seemed to go so well, even Richland’s sometimes restive audience showed a level of sophistication and politeness enough to make the music faculty beam. After Orth finished one booming intermediate section of his Beethoven sonata with a drawn-out and obvious finale, he quietly placed his hands in his lap. Whereas, formerly at least, one or two eager folks might have broken out at this point with a few misplaced claps, Fannin Hall instead remained eerily still. To prove that this was indeed no country-bumpkin audience easily drawn into premature accolades, not a paper rustled. No one coughed. Everyone waited.

Patiently. Until, with the magic still hanging in the air, the playing resumed.

As the artist on stage started into the next movement, everyone present congratulated himself or herself that it was not them that screwed up and clapped. I read the program, honey, and I know where we are.

Indeed, Orth rendered his stellar performance not only with rhapsodic sound but also with descriptive and mature body language. It was as if his whole being was absorbed in the creative act of fashioning the composer’s intent into its finest form.

These were not just notes floating through the air. It was artistic expression of the utmost caliber.

Staff photo illustration Kisten S. Chetty

New DCCCD app a handy tool JOYCE LIU

Contributing Writer Every website or resource that a student from the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) can think of has been combined into one simple app. The app contains features like eCampus, eConnect, maps for every campus in the district, a library catalog, services plus phone numbers, courses, financial aid and links to each of the colleges’ website.

The layout and design is very simple. Each category is separated into boxes so that it is easy to navigate and is similar to the design of how a smartphone would organize the apps.

Navigating is anything but foreign since most smartphone users are already used to it.

For students who visit the library frequently, searching for books has become a little bit more convenient. Instead of finding a computer and going through the process of getting to the library catalog, a student could just pull out the DCCCD app and tap on the library catalog. Although the catalog on the app will send students to the webpage to check for availability and the location of it, it still aids with figuring out if the library even holds the requested book.

Also, students will not have to memorize where the book is located because the information will be in their hands. eCampus and eConnect are probably the most used websites

compared to others regarding DCCCD. With this in mind, it makes sense that these two websites would be included in the DCCCD app.

Students who do not have Blackboard (eCampus) installed, should install the DCCCD app.

Tap on the Blackboard box will direct them to the app.

Since eConnect does not have an app, the DCCCD app will link to the website. For those who may not use eCampus and eConnect on a daily basis, it helps to have a reminder that such sites exist.

The emergency call feature was really surprising to me and made me really appreciate the app since it held to its name. Instead of taking you to a webpage like the other features will do, the emergency call will immediately take you to your keypad so you can save time and just click call.

Memorizing an overwhelming amount of information is difficult, and this app helps to take care of that load even though it is not much. Remembering stuff like your student ID and password is inevitable. If you are out of the campus site and have questions regarding school, this app serves like a assistant that has all the information that could help guide or provide you that information.

Of course some people can do away with the app but it helps to know that there is a more familiar way to be updated with the school. The DCCCD official app is available on both Google play and the Apple store and it is free to install.

Richlandchronicle.com March 4, 2014

Pete Shannon

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Movies

A much-needed comeback for Kevin Costner Ricky miller Entertainment Editor

Image courtesy movpins.com

Once upon a time, before the days of Will Smith and Tom Hanks, there was a guy named Kevin Costner who used to drag people into their cinema seats.

I’m talking about Costner, a gentleman who has his Oscars (“Dances With Wolves”), boxoffice success (“Field of Dreams,” “JFK,” “The Bodyguard,” “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”) and odd projects (“Mr. Brooks,” {2007} and “The New Daughter” {2009}).

He, like John Travolta before him, currently is having a career resurgence with roles this year in films like this one, director Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” and Ivan Reitman’s upcoming “Draft Day.” In “3 Days to Kill,” Costner’s in yet another predicament with his CIA operative Ethan Renner facing his impending death that can be prevented by a designer drug unavailable to the general public.

His fear is that he will not get the chance to reconnect with his family.

He is essentially estranged from his teenage daughter, Zoey, (Hailee Stenfeld, “True Grit”), and his wife Christine (Connie

Nielsen, “Rushmore,” “Gladiator”).

Trying to mend the torn relationships is only part of his predicament.

Even his handler Kivi (Amber Heard, “The Rum Diary,” “Drive Angry”) questions his dour, unpleasant demeanor.

Kivi would like for him to update his wardrobe by getting some new clothes.

Instead, she just has him receive a new suit from one of her own employees.

Also part of the problem is all througout the movie it’s like someone needed to get rid of his permanent 5 o’clock shadow.

Director McG handles the action scenes well, despite the ludicrous and inane predicaments that comprise said action scenes.

McG also helmed the halfway decent “Terminator: Salvation,” a sequel without the real Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was not there, but a clone of him made an appearance. It just stars Sam Worthington (“Avatar” and “Clash of the Titans”) and Christian Bale (the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, “The Prestige”).

His ludicrous action sequences, however, are from the same director who gave us a pair of inane “Charlie’s Angels” flicks.

Costner still has it, despite the absence of zip and bravado of days past.

Grade B-

Locked and loaded, Kevin Costner’s character Ethan Renner is ready to face death.

BUILDING UP COURAGE Ricky miller Richlandchronicle.com March 4, 2014

Entertainment Editor

4

Imagination.

That is the key element one should get out of watching the fun-filled adventure of “The Lego Movie.”

It actually taps into American culture wherein people are always on board for the next trend. I equate it to the millions upon millions of Americans who made John Travolta’s first big comeback in the 1980s, 1989 to be exact, with the first “Look Who’s Talking” flick with the big box-office draw of Kirstie Alley and Bruce Willis.

Mind you, it was only their voices but the people showed up in droves to turn this little film into a mega

success.

Part of the reason “The Lego Movie” works so well is that it was co-directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. They did the mediocre “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” in 2009. As much as I enjoyed it, “Cloudy” gets a very average C+ in my book.

What was really fun was when the narrative shifted to some of the action figures, such as referring to one of the Legos as a generic astronaut guy who has a chipped helmet.

He gets really excited when he gets to build his spaceship that has his character shifting into overdrive to get things done quickly. He finds pleasure and joy in just building something from his own imagination.

The story follows Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt of TV’s “Parks and Recreation”) and his quest to conform in a society that doesn›t even know he exists. Even an overpriced $37 cup of coffee doesn’t faze him.

He’s oblivious to the routine world that surrounds him.

Enter a blind wizard (voiced by Morgan Freeman) and a carefree girl named Wyldstyle (voiced by Elizabeth Banks of “Pitch Perfect” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”) and the real adventure begins.

They have to gather to overthrow President Business (voiced by Will Ferrell). Liam Neeson has fun with his role as a mean-spirited cop who has a dual personality that converts to him being a good guy.

Also key to the story is Superglue. It is actually Krazy Glue, and in the movie they call it the ominous Kragal.

At one point the movie shifts from animation to real actors.

Will Ferrell makes an appearance as a dad who warns his son about the delicate nature of his job and the repercussions of messing with his stuff down in the basement.

He says that “ages 4 and up” is just a sug-

gestion, nothing more. His entire basement is filled with various models that replicate an entire urban city.

The theme music will have one humming the words, even though they are too difficult to remember. I actually googled the “Everything Is Awesome” theme song and watched the various videos on YouTube.

For the soundtrack it is sung by sisters Tegan and Sara along with Lonely Island.

“The Lego Movie” is a dumb yet fun, witty and smart movie.

You will be smiling after you leave the theater because you had such a good time.

Inventive is another word I would use to describe the antics and shenanigans that go on here.

Grade: B

SPORTS

Intrepid NBA report/playoff predictions 1

1 OKC in 6

IND in 4

8

8 IND in 5

LAC in 7

4

4

LAC in 7 WAS in 6

LAC in 7

5

LAC in 7

5

IND in 7

2

2

MIA in 4

SAS in 6

7

7 MIA in 6

HOU in 6

3

3 TOR in 5

HOU in 6

6

6

ben siebel Staff Writer

Well, more than half of the NBA season is in the books and after a weekend of pointless All-Star basketball, we were all happy to get back to the real thing. There has been a lot of underachieving in the East with the exception of lead dogs Indiana and Miami. Meanwhile in the West, there were nine teams over .500 as of Feb. 25. Here are the current playoff teams in contention along with the team I will think will take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.

Western Conference 1.Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant has distinguished himself as the runaway MVP candidate (averaging 31.6 pts, 7.7 rebs, 5.5 assists) more than making up for the absence of a third scorer and his partner in crime, Russell Westbrook.

2. San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich has created a new NBA standard for efficiency with this squad. He mixes up his lineups with veterans and young up and comers and taught them hard defense and great ball movement skills. It pays off because they have nine players who average at least 8.2.

3. Houston Rockets The Rockets have made Dwight Howard’s transition seem pretty painless as they spread the floor with talented shooters which include James Harden, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin, Patrick Beverly and Francisco Garcia.

4. Los Angeles Clippers It wouldn’t surprise me if the Clippers make a serious run this year because during Chris Paul’s absence they have taken care of business. I expect to see them play their best basketball. Everybody’s job gets easier.

5. Portland Trail Blazers The Blazers are making noise in the West thanks to their second-year phenom point guard Damian Lillard with his dynamic play and Lamarcus Aldridge is the leading the team in scoring (23.9) and rebounding (11.4) establishing himself with the great power forwards in the game.

6. Golden State Warriors The Warriors have three players who can score over 18 in Stephon Curry, David Lee and Klay Thomspon, but the production falls off after that. This team has a lot of potential and Mark Jackson is the coach that can sort out the kinks before the playoffs.

7. Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki was playing some legendary basketball before the break (at press time) and the Mavs have gone 10-3 over the last 13 games. The only thing that this team is missing is consistent defense that allows them to

protect a lead and get back into games when they trail.

8. Phoenix Suns This is easily the youngest team in the West but don’t let their inexperience fool you. Nash protégé Goran Dragic has people in Phoenix thinking playoffs again with the young core that features Eric Bledsoe, Channing Frye, Gerald Green and the Morris brothers.

Eastern Conference 1. Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George has used his scoring ability and athleticism to lead the Pacers to the East’s best record with the help of big man Roy Hibbert and shooting guard Lance Stephenson who leads the team in assists.

2. Miami Heat The defending champions recently demolished the Thunder in Westbrook’s return but questions such as Dwyane Wade’s health, Greg Oden’s usefulness and overall team defense need to be answered before they enter the playoffs to attempt and establish a dynasty.

3. Toronto Raptors This team has emerged as the distant thirdplace contender thanks to All-Star DeMar DeRozan who led a well-balanced offensive attack but can’t find the consistency to keep up with the Heat and Pacers.

4. Chicago Bulls The Bulls are showing they are far from

depleted even after losing star player Derrick Rose to a season-ending injury and their leading scorer Luol Deng in a trade with Cleveland to receive depleted center Andrew Bynum, only to dump his contract and create financial flexibility for this offseason.

5. Washington Wizards The Wizards are led by their phenom John Wall who leads them in points (19.7), assists (8.6) and steals (2.0). They also have six players who average double figures in scoring, four of which who average more than 14.

6. Brooklyn Nets The Nets are the first sub-.500 team in the East partially because injuries have plagued some of their biggest contributors with Kevin Garnett only averaging 6.8 ppg and Deron Williams averaging well below his typical double-double.

7. Charlotte Bobcats If the Bobcats want to move up and make one final run before they go back to being the Hornets next season, they need to make drastic offensive improvements because Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson cannot do it by themselves.

8. Atlanta Hawks Their leading scorer and rebounder Al Horford can’t seem to stay healthy. If Paul Milsap, Jeff Teague, and Kyle Korver are your leading scorers, the burden of winning then falls on the defense which has been inconsistent at best.

Richlandchronicle.com March 4, 2014

Staff illustration by Ben Siebel

5

campus

Richland’s Recyclemania

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Layout Editor Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Radio News Director Copy Editor

Kisten S. Chetty Lora Advincula Blanca Reyes Ricky Miller Carla Davis Joyce Jackson

ON THE COVER Recyclemania promotional image.

COVER AND FONTS Image courtesy www.recyclemania.org Cover Certain fonts are provided by the following: http://www.nymfont.com - http://www.bvfonts.com

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF Melanie Brandow Jonathan Lee Doris Brogan Sayako Metoki Veronica Jacob

Raymond Thomas Pronk Pete Shannon Gabriel Flores Majid Abdel-Raziq Ben Siebel

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Terry Blend Erica Edwards Jack Fletcher David Goodloe

Tim Jones Steve Noviello Larry Ratliff Marshall Siegel

Spring 2014 ISSUES Staff photo Joyce Jackson

Glenn Dillon, right, collects Subway bags for the Recyclemania Project from Francisco Garcia, 24 and an accounting major, his sister, nursing major Silvia (center), 20, and Isabel Alonso, 22, a music major.

Doris Brogan

Richlandchronicle.com March 4, 2014

Staff Writer

6

In terms of our planet’s survival, it all adds up to both a dire prediction and a future promise. RecycleMania is both a potential solution to the dire prediction and a way to fulfill the future promise.

RecycleMania is a national organization created to encourage and promote college and university recycling programs.

What began in 2001 as a friendly competition between Ohio University and Miami University to increase awareness of the necessity for recycling, and to encourage students to recycle more, evolved into a national competition. By 2011, it had expanded to include 630 colleges and universities.

Richland College joined the RecycleMania competition in 2009 and debuted in 43rd place nationally, from a field of 510 entrants.

By 2011 Richland had moved up to 15th place, from a field of 630 entrants. In 2012 and 2013, Richland placed 9th and 8th respectively.

The second week of the 2014 competition has Richland currently in first place. (Statistics courtesy of www.recyclemania.org.)

Competition this year started on Feb. 2. The last day of the competition is April 8. This year’s final results will be announced April 11.

Jerry Owens, assistant director, and Sonny McDonald, both of Facilities Services, initiated Richland’s involvement in RecycleMania.

McDonald said Richland was second in Texas for 2009, the first year of competition. Richland placed first in the state for both 2010 and 2011 and second in 2013.

Glenn Dillon, a part-time worker in the computer lab, has made recycling the lab’s pet project.

He started a movement in the school cafeteria to collect the plastic bags from Subway sandwiches and recycle them.

Dillon circulates through the cafeteria during lunch to ask students to donate their plastic bags for the good of the program, and the good of the planet.

The computer lab has adopted the slogan, “It All Adds Up” as part of their recycling mission.A large box has recently been added in the cafeteria for the convenience of students who wish to donate their bags to the cause.

Facilities Services has placed a set of 44-gallon containers on the west side of the campus between Sabine and Wichita Halls, and another set on the east side of the campus in the east breezeway between Crocket and Fannin Halls. One of each set of containers is intended for paper -- the other one for cardboard.

Students interested in Service Learning opportunities relating to various RecycleMania projects should look on eCampus or contact John Daniels, coordinator of Community Engagement and Service Learning.

For information on other ways to become involved in this worthy project, contact Lisa Eades, Facilities Services, assistant to Jerry Owens in Pecos Hall or call 972-238-6359.

Everybody likes to be part of a winning team. Richland is definitely a recycling winner so join the team. Lend a hand for the good of our planet.

The RecycleMania project reduced green-

house gases by 121,436 metric tons of CO2 in 2013 alone.

Remember, it all adds up.

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March 4 March 25 April 8 April 22 April 29 May 6 May 13

AWARDS ACP Pacemaker Winner, 2000, 2001, 2007 ACP Pacemaker Finalist, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 ACP Online Pacemaker Finalist, 2007, 2008 1st Place - TIPA Sweepstakes, 2005 3rd Place - TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006 Over 150 Texas college journalism awards since 2000

CONTACT INFORMATION El Paso Hall, Room E-020, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079 E-mail: chronicle@dcccd.edu Advertising: 972-238-6068 E-mail: advertise@dcccd.edu Fax: 972-238-6037

MEETINGS & POLICIES Staff meetings: Monday and Wednesday 3 p.m. in E-020

------Letter Policy Letters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements.

Letters must be the work of the writer and must be signed. For identification and verification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s classification (grade level), full name, address and telephone number, although address and telephone number will not be published.

Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration. © Richland Chronicle 2013

opinion/sports

Fiscal insanity or fiscal responsibility, Part 1 RAYMOND THOMAS PRONK Staff Writer

On Feb. 12, Congress once again suspended the national debt ceiling through March 15, 2015, thereby increasing it to nearly $18 trillion so the federal government can again borrow more money to pay its bills. Is federal spending out of control?

The answer to this question largely depends upon the party affiliation and political philosophy of whom you ask. If you ask a liberal or progressive Democrat, the answer is definitely no. Most of them want more government spending and taxes and do not believe government spending is out of control. If you ask a conservative or tea party Republican, the answer is definitely yes. Most of them want less government spending and taxes and believe government spending is out of control.

Yet, what is the answer if you ask an independent with no party affiliation who is a classical liberal or libertarian? When it comes to federal government spending and taxes most libertarian independents want considerably less government spending and taxes, than either progressive Democrats or conservative Republicans and believe government spending is completely out of control.

Since I am a libertarian independent voter, I contend that federal spending has been increasingly out of control for the last 12 years and is now beyond the means of the American people to support with their taxes.

The evidence supporting this argument is the federal government’s own statistics on government spending outlays, tax revenue collections, deficits and national debt published online.

The Department of the Treasury publishes the Monthly Treasury Statement (MTS) that provides statistics as to what the federal government has spent and collected in tax revenues in total and by department and agency by month and by fiscal year. Table 1 summarizes the failed 12-year record of Congresses and presidents from both political parties in controlling government spending that have produced massive budgetary deficits.

When federal spending outlays exceed tax receipts in a fiscal year, the government’s budget is in deficit. The problem is not insufficient tax revenues, for they ranged from $1.7 trillion to $2.7 trillion per fiscal year despite the fact there were two recessions during the 12-year period.

The problem is out-of-control spending to pay for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, the expansion of Medicare and Affordable Care Act entitlement programs, Medicaid and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) welfare programs and several stimulus packages in the form of targeted temporary tax decreases and government spending for infrastructure and energy projects.

Stop the fiscal insanity.

Part 2 will appear in the next issue of the Chronicle.

Table 1, Summary of Tax Receipts, Spending Outlays and Deficits of the United States Government for Fiscal Years 2002-2013

[in millions of dollars] Fiscal Year

President

Tax Receipts Spending Outlays

Deficits (+) or Surplus (-)

2002

George W. Bush

1,853,225

2,011,016

+157,791

2003

George W. Bush

1,782,108

2,159,246

+377,139

2004

George W. Bush

1,879,783

2,292,628

+412,845

2005

George W. Bush

2,153,350

2,472,095

+318,746

2006

George W. Bush

2,406,675

2,654,873

+248,197

2007

George W. Bush

2,567,672

2,729,199

+161,527

2008

George W. Bush

2,523,642

2,978,440

+454,798

2009

George W. Bush

2,104,358

3,520,082

+1,415,724

2010

Barack Obama

2,161,728

3,455,931

+1,294,204

2011

Barack Obama

2,302,495

3,599,285

+1,296,791

2012

Barack Obama

2,449,093

3,538,285

+1,089,193

2013

Barack Obama

2,774,011

3,454,241

+680,229

Source: Financial Management Service, Department of the Treasury, Final Monthly Treasury Statements of Receipts and Outlays of the United States Government for September, Fiscal Years 2002-2013, table 1.

Image courtesy fmx.treas.gov

blanca reyes Sports Editor

In a game exciting to the very end, the Thunderducks lost to Eastfield College, 8878, on Feb. 24.

It was a crucial game because the second loss in a week to Eastfield extinguished Richland’s chances for an invitation to the national tournament in New York.

“It was a long game. We missed shots, missed block-outs. Eastfield was a better team.

That’s it,” Michael Gross, interim coach, said.

Although the first half of the pivotal game was in a tie, the T-Ducks never gave up. The Harvesters took control in the second half.

“It was a tough game,” assistant coach Allen Morill said. “This game was completely different than other games. The past times we played were pretty tight, but this game they [Eastfield team] didn’t let them play and the guys couldn’t adjust to that,” he added.

This defeat was a shocker because the TDucks won 30 games this season, losing only six.

Richland had previously defeated the Harvesters twice, but in the last two games, the Eastfield Team improved and changed its technique.

“They had played the same way the whole season and then everything changed,” Morill said.

“They were a better team the last two games,” he added.

At the end of the game, some players broke into tears because their dream of an invitiation to the national tournament had slipped away.

The coaches reminded them however, that it was just a bad night and they had beaten many teams throughout the regular season.

“I have been in their shoes. I do know how it does feel. It is not the end of the world.

You can either take the negative things out of it or the positive things,” Morill said.

“I couldn’t have my head down. I have to keep my head up,” Gross said.

The coaches have a positive attitude about the team and their chances next season.

“We are hungrier than ever. As a coach, I’m hungrier than ever and we care looking to be in the same place next year, and we do believe that it will be a different outcome,” Morill said.

“Next year, the sky will be the limit,” Gross said.

For more information about the basketball and others Richland teams visit www.richlandcollege.edu/sports or stop by Guadalupe Hall.

Staff photo Blanca Reyes

Richland’s Chris Runnels steals the rebound from a Harvester player during the Feb. 21 game.

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