The Telescope 63.2

PALOMAR COLLEGE, SAN MARCOS, CALIF.

TUESDAY S EPT. 8, 2 008

FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

VOL. 63, NO. 2

the-telescope.com Entertainment

Final Fantasy flawed

PAGE 11

The latest entry in Square’s flagship series takes things in a new direction — but should it?

Opinion

Paying the piper Student loans take away sting of tuition, but they hurt later DAGNY LEONARD MCT CAMPUS

PAGE 7

Weed vs. booze

Getting the first loan seems a little bit like magic. For students who can’t afford the school of their choice, student loans are a viable alternative. Apply for a loan and the money seems to appear as if out of thin air. But after the second one, it begins to sink in. At some point, the money has to be paid back. All

ARIANNA RIVERA THE TELESCOPE

of it.

“Even though right now I’m set on going into a secure field, I still constantly feel the weight on my shoulders,” said Cecilia Wright, a pre-med student

source of information for students as they go through the loan application a n d repaym e n t process.

B u t FA F S A , which uses a household’s financial information to estimate your Expected Family

Drink too much beer over the weekend, you end up with a wicked hangover; a hit of pot does a lot less to your body, but it’s a bigger problem with the law

Focus

PAGE 13

Textbooks: The Next Generation Sports

Comet Wrestling

After a limp last season, Palomar’s wrestling team has high hopes for this year’s lineup

PAGE 16

at Yale University. “Knowing that I will automatically owe money when I graduate is daunting.”

Between the 2000-01 and 200607 school years, the College Board Trends in Student Aid report estimated 60 percent of recipients of bachelor’s degrees borrowed money to pay for their education, with an average debt of about $22,700.

In the current economic environment, paying for school is a more difficult issue than ever, and no one feels it more than students whose parents are unable to provide a helping financial hand in their college years.

More than a million more financial aid FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applications were filed during the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008 - a 20.8-percent increase, according to Allesandra Lanza, public relations manager for American Student Assistance (ASA), a loan guarantor that now serves as a

KEN FARREN

New Palomar committee formed to combat hate

Contribution (EFC), does not always cover all college costs.

Many students must take out loans for what FAFSA does not cover.

Lisa Westermann, a spokesperson for financial services company Wells Fargo, said they had given a total of $30.5 billion in student loans by the end of 2008, serving 2.4 million families.

According to its Web site, Wells Fargo originates more than $4 billion per year in private and federal loans.

With the current economic crisis at hand, current students face an unsteady job market, and loan repayments could be more difficult than ever “We are certainly starting to see a rise in more people having difficulties repaying their loans because of the economy,” Lanza said.

Lanza said a projection from the Department of Education preTURN TO

| THE TELESCOPE

STUDENT LOANS PAGE 3

The Comets women's soccer team played against Cochise College on Minkoff Field on Aug. 27.

The team fell short in their season-opening with a 2-1 loss, but the Comets had been dominant for most of the game.

The team is in its first year of being coached by Pamela Campbell, who brings 20 years of coaching experience.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE!

A new Palomar committee has been formed in reaction to hate mail aimed at a faculty member.

In fall 2008, a faculty member received hate mail because of his sexual orientation. In response, 20 faculty members formed PC3H — Palomar College Committee to Combat Hate — which advocates civil rights regarding sexual, religious, ethnic and racial diversity, according to a newsletter by the committee.

PC3H’s main goal is to “raise awareness, create a safe environment and to promote respect and acceptance,” said Monika Brannick, a committee member.

Associated Student Government Sen. Claudia Duran said she has seen changes since PC3H has been formed; students will come up and express their thanks about the committee. Students, “those afraid to be themselves, have seen it is acceptable. No longer taboo,” she said.

“Faculty and administration disagree on just about everything under the sun, but the PC3H is one of the few issues where both constituencies see eye-to-eye,” said Peter Bowman, the co-adviser of Palomar's GayStraight Alliance club.

This agreement was shown in President Robert Deegan’s issuing a letter stating his support for the faculty.

On April 30, the PC3H and the Gay-Straight Alliance joined in their first Anti-Hate Rally. Brannick is working together with Marisa McDowell, the GSA president, to unite the two groups and host other joint events on campus. Along with meetings, Brannick hopes to have more rallies and workshops to get the students involved and raise awareness, as well as visibility.

“It isn’t about gay/lesbian rights, but instead equal civil rights of all people,” Bowman said.

PC3H held its first meeting in February and will hold the first meeting of the semester on Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. in the Bill Bedford Faculty Center Meeting Room of the SU 30 building. Further meetings will be announced at a later date.

Many Palomar students had TURN TO PC3H PAGE 3

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2 | CAMPUS BEAT

THE TELESCOPE | TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009

CAMPUS CALENDAR

Palomar students help with charity event in O’side

Tuesday, Sept. 8

The Oceanside Supporting Urban Neighborhoods project is hosting its annual charity event at 7:30 a.m.

Sept. 26 in Oceanside.

This is the third year Palomar College will participate, with many teachers offering extra credit to students who volunteer.

Students can earn extra credit in classes like psychology, sociology and philosophy, along with volunteer hours that can be put on your college applications.

If students want to participate, the pre-registration deadline is Sept.

11, but signups are welcome up until the morning of the event.

For more information, call the Service-Learning Office at (760) 744-1150 ext. 3645.

Information is also available on its Web site, www.palomar.edu/servicelearning. The site hosts applications for download, and a listing of all participating professors.

Escondido center offers free career counseling

Dream Street by photographer,Douglas McCulloh is on exhibit in the Boehm Gallery until Sept. 22.

Gay & Straight Alliance meeting at 2 p.m. in SU 204.

Fashion Club meeting at 5 p.m. in the Fashion 1 building.

Wednesday, Sept. 9 Associated Student Government meeting at 1 p.m. in SU 204.

KELLEY FOYT| THE TELESCOPE

Career services will be given free of charge at the Escondido campus.

Students can receive services including career assessments, job and internship searches, resume development assistance and interview preparation.

There are one-on-one individual counseling appointments available.

Walk-ins are also welcome. In addition, workshops tailored specifically to classes at the Escondido campus will be given.

For more information, contact Andre Sanz at asanz@palomar.edu or call the Escondido Counseling Center at (760) 744-1150 ext. 8157

Campus Police officer Elijah S. Gomez issued warnings to cars parked without permits last week. Palomar’s two-week grace period is now over; cars parked without a permit will be ticketed.

Warning:

Cars parked on campus illegally will be issued tickets starting at $35

New interim dean named for social science dept.

Campus Police are ticketing cars starting today.

Every term, the college allows a two week grace period for parking at Palomar when they will not issue tickets (regardless of whether a student has a permit displayed or not). Next semester, students will only be given a one week grace period.

Now that those two weeks are up, students can expect to see the parking situation clear up a little as students without permits leave the lots.

The fine for parking without a permit is $35. Once per semester, students can clear this ticket if they bring a permit that they purchased prior to receiving the ticket.

Students can also be fined $60 for parking on a red curb and $340 for parking in a handicapped zone. There are also fines for parking in improper lots (such as the staff lots) and obstructing the flow of traffic. Students cannot clear any of these tickets.

Campus Police officials encourage students to go directly to their offices with any questions in order to avoid confusion.

Avoid a ticket this semester by purchasing a permit at the cashier’s office.

Permits cost $40 for cars and $20 for motorcycles.

Judy Cater was appointed as the Interim Dean for the division of Social and Behavioral Sciences on Aug. 25.

Cater has been a Palomar College faculty member since 1975. She was originally a one-year sabbatical replacement. Cater has taught courses in American Studies and Library Technology.

Police Blotter

By the numbers...

Since the end of last semester, Campus Police have reported the following:

Weapons offense

On Aug.27,a subject was found with knives on school grounds. There were two other cases over the summer involving knives in someone’s car trunk as well as a shotgun and knives in another subject’s car. Weapons are not permitted on campus under any circumstances.

•16 medical assists •10 student conduct code violations •8 vehicle burglaries •7 petty thefts •2 drug/narcotic cases •2 alcohol cases •1 sexual battery •1 grand theft •1 stolen vehicle

Car burglaries There have been cases of theft in the student parking lots on Aug. 24, 26, 27 and 29. In most of the cases, windows were smashed and items such as stereos, speakers and radios were stolen. Campus Police remind students to lock their cars and leave valuables out of sight in order to avoid possible theft.

Conduct code violations On Aug. 8, a subject who did not attend Palomar was found drunk and asleep in a restroom on the San Marcos campus.

On June 30, Campus Police officers found a student smoking marijuana under a tree by lot 15.

Mission 2 be Clean and Green kick off will be in the SU Quad at 9 a.m.

Thursday, Sept. 10 Tifaolemoana Samoan Club meeting at 11 a.m. in SU 204.

MEChA meeting at 4:30 p.m. in SU 17.

Fashion Club meeting at 5 p.m. in the Fashion 1 building.

Friday, Sept. 11 Polynesian Drum and Dance Festival will be performed at 8 p.m. in the Howard Brubeck Theatre.

What’s up?

Do you know something we should cover? Let us know. To submit story tips or events for the campus calendar, e-mail us at telescope@palomar.edu or call (760) 891-7865.

CAMPUS WEATHER Monday, Sept. 7

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

STUDENT LOANS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

dicts the cohort default rate, which tracks loan recipients in their first two years of repayment, will rise to 6.9 percent from last year’s 5.2.

“I’ll still owe around $24,000 when I graduate, even before I go to medical school,” Wright said.

Wright plans to have a career with a large earning potential, but as with anything, there are no guarantees.

“What if I decide halfway through medical school that I no longer want to be a doctor? Then I’m stuck with the debt and no way to pay it back,” Wright said.

Rachel Robins, 28, an auditor in her fifth year with Ernst & Young LLP, took out a loan to pay a portion of her tuition for her last two years of college, as well as her masters program in accountancy the following year in 2004, both at Auburn University in Alabama.

“For me, I would say the benefit of taking out the loan very much outweighed the burden of the current monthly payment that I make,” Robins said.

Even with more jobs requiring some form of advanced post-baccalaureate degree,there has not been a significant change in graduate enrollment.

“The number of students going to grad school now versus 20 years ago is very much the same,” said Jane Wellman, executive director of the Delta Project on postsecondary education.

The same students who take out loans for undergraduate education are likely going to have to take out more loans for graduate school.These students must ask themselves if it is worth the financial risk.

“I think loans are not a terrible investment for any student. If a student is going to be successful, then the loan is going to pay off.You have to ask yourself though, if you are a student in a high-risk situation is borrowing money a good idea?”Wellman said.

Obama touts new GI bill Law could offer veterans $78B in benefits MARK SILVA MCT CAMPUS

Last Monday, President Obama called a new GI Bill offering college tuition assistance to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan “an investment in our own country.” The new law is expected to offer veterans $78 billion in benefits over the coming decade. It is the most comprehensive education benefit offered to veterans since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the original GI Bill for World War II veterans in 1944.The measure is “not simply a debt that we are repaying to the remarkable men and women who have served,” Obama said at a ceremony at a suburban state university campus in Fairfax,Va.“It is an investment in our own country. ‘’ The maximum benefit available under a law that took effect on Saturday will cover the full tuition at a public college or university for four years for each eligible vet-

PC3H

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

no knowledge of the committee or events that led to the formation of PC3H and had opposing views as to whether PC3H was a good idea.

Daniel, 19 said he does not care much for the gay community so the issue does not affect him.

eran, Reservist and National Guard member. It also offers a monthly housing stipend and as much as $1,000 a year for books.

For those attending a private institution or graduate school, about 1,100 schools are offering additional scholarships matched by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the new GI Bill, support is available for tuition that exceeds the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition. The Department of Veterans Affairs already has processed over 112,000 claims for tuition under the new GI Bill.

“While our discourse often produced more heat than light, especially here in Washington, they have put their very lives on the line for America.They have borne the responsibility of war,” the president said at the ceremony at George Mason University. “And now, with this policy, we are making it clear that the United States of America must reward responsibility, and not irresponsibility,” Obama said. “Now, with this policy, we are letting those who have borne the heaviest burden lead us into the 21st century. Under the new law, service members who

agree to serve four additional years in the military also can opt to transfer the tuition benefit to their spouse or children. It is anticipated that nearly a half-million veterans or family members could participate in the first year. More than 25,000 service members have applied for the transferred benefit. While the legislation has been widely praised by veterans groups, concerns also have been raised that universities and the Veterans Affairs department could be overwhelmed because of the complexity of the benefit.There have been complaints that veterans attending private schools in states that offer low public tuition face a huge disparity in what they can collect.

The benefits range from 40 percent of the state tuition for those with at least 90 days but less than six months of service since Sept.

11, 2001, to 100 percent for those with at least 36 months of aggregate service or 30 continuous days and a discharge due to a servicerelated disability. The tuition and fees and will be paid directly to the schools involved. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a decorated Marine veteran and former secretary of the Navy.

Another student, John Jones, a booth in the front of the said,“Those against homosexuali- Student Union on Aug. 24 and ty are undereducated.” Jones said 25. For more information, visit he hopes PC3H will educate peo- the committee’s Web site at ple on the campus, and added www.Palomar.edu/pc3h. that, “You are entitled to your opinion when it comes to homosexuality, but don’t act negative- Swim Instructors Wanted ly toward it. We are all humans.”

Instructors $12-19 / hour PC3H participated in Customer service $10 /hour Discover Palomar by setting up Contact Brett at (760) 744-7946

4

| OPINION

OUR VIEWPOINT

Stop whining — we have it good

There has been a lot of murmuring among students about the recent tuition increase that took place at Palomar College and across the state. However, what students don’t realize is that even with the hike in fees, they are getting a good education at an extremely low price.

As the economic situation in California and around the world has continued to worsen, Palomar students have been feeling the effects of the economy have been greatly felt at Palomar. Even though attendance continues to climb, classes are being cut, leaving classrooms more crowded and making it harder for students to get the courses they need to graduate or transfer.

The most recent effect of the budget cut is a large concern for students as it directly affects their pocket books. However, students at Palomar have little room to complain when they compare the cost of their education to that of a university education.

Just across the freeway at California State University San Marcos, students are paying $336 more per semester, bringing their total tuition cost to $2,325 for more than six units. The students are capped out at 19 units, and have to get special permission in order to take more.

Cal State San Marcos was not the only university in the CSU system to increase their tuition fees this semester. All universities in the system had their tuition raised $336. For a student taking 12 units at Palomar — full-time — their $6 per unit increase only translates into a $72 per semester rise in fees. A full-time student taking 12 units at Palomar pays $312 per semester for tuition at the new price, which is less than just the increase in the state system.

In addition, university students also pay a ridiculous price for parking. San Diego State University charges $135 and Cal State San Marcos charges a whopping $293 per semester to park on campus, making Palomar’s $40 permit seem like a steal.

XXXXXXXX THE TELESCOPE In addition to the price increases, professors in the CSU system are taking a 10 percent pay cut. Since they will be paid 10 percent less they have agreed that they must work 10 percent less. This means that students are getting only 90 percent of the education they used to receive and paying 110 percent to get it.

Students in the CSU system are seeing this in many ways, the most noticeable is the required furlough days. Professors must take 9 days off during the semester, when they are not allowed to teach, prepare for classes, answer e-mails, correspond with students, hold office hours or set foot on campus.

This reduces the teaching time students receive, the amount of course material that is covered and the accessibility of the professor.

Not to mention the libraries and other student services on the campuses will also be closed on furlough days, making those resources unavailable when students may need them.

When compared to what students at universities are going through, Palomar students have little cause for complaint.

However, if something is not done about the current state of the higher education budget, it is likely to get even worse for all students of higher education.

So whether Palomar students are looking to take a few classes, get a degree or transfer, they should contact the state government and let them know how the state budget cuts are affecting their education.

If you live in the San Marcos area, contact state Sen. Mark Wyland at (760) 931-2455 or State Assembly Member Martin Garrick at (760) 929-7998 and let them know how important investing in education is.

TUESDAY SEPT. 8, 2009

FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

EDITORS IN CHIEF | KELLEY FOYT MELISSA LERAY OPINION EDITOR | MAGGIE AVANTS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR | CRYSTAL EVANS FOCUS EDITOR | ALEJANDRA JACKSON SPORTS EDITOR | JEREMY LEAL PHOTO EDITOR | SARA BURBIDGE ONLINE/COPY EDITOR | ERIC WALKER

THE TELESCOPE | TUESDAY SEPT. 8, 2009

Letter to the editor Dear Campus Community:

A recent article regarding Palomar College's accreditation contained references that require clarification. Let me assure you that Palomar College is accredited and is not in jeopardy of losing accreditation in 2011, as reported. Our students can be assured that all coursework for credit continues to be transferable as designated, degrees and all certificates continue to be awarded and recognized, and financial aid continues to be available for eligible students.

On July 2, 2009, Palomar College received notification from the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of action taken at its June 9-11, 2009 meeting. The Commission noted four areas for improvement which were listed in its letter as the following: 1) Integrated Planning, Evaluation, and Resources Allocation Decision Making; 2) Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment; 3) Distance Education; and 4) the Creation of a District Policy Regarding Administrative Evaluations and Due Process.

ACCJC has issued a warning to Palomar College to address these recommendations within two years.

Palomar College takes the Commission's four recommendations seriously. Within the accreditation process, the College identified two areas for

improvement that were included in the first two of the Commission's recommendations. The College will provide a Follow-Up Report in March 2010, followed by a Commission visit. Under the full accreditation evaluation cycle, the College will submit a Mid-Term Report by March 15, 2012. Our next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for spring 2015.

The ACCJC follows a six-year cycle for accrediting the 139 community and junior colleges in this region. In spring 2009, 14 colleges were evaluated; seven of these received a warning and two were placed on probation.

Again, let me reiterate that throughout this process Palomar College remains accredited by ACCJC. The teaching excellence, essential student support services, and commitment to the development of new facilities for the future of Palomar College will continue through this accreditation process. As an outstanding institution with the mission of “Learning for Success,” we appreciate the campus community's ongoing support as we move towards further improving the College.

Sincerely, Robert P. Deegan Superintendent/President Palomar Community College District

Dear Aunt Gertrude: My boyfriend had to leave town for a week to go to a wedding in Texas. He is a grad student and doesn’t live in the best neighborhood and was concerned about leaving his car on the street unattended so when I suggested that I had room in my garage at my parents house it was like I’d given him a birthday gift, he was thrilled. The day he left a friend followed him to my home in Carlsbad where he dropped off his car. He gave me the keys in case I had to move the car, thanked me, kissed me and headed off to catch his flight.

Now he never told me not to drive his car, and I had driven it several times in the past to run errands. The car is a Porsche that belonged to his late father and although it is old he keeps it in mint condition. It is one of his dearest possessions. So when my Mom asked me to go to the mall to pick up some stemware she ordered I thought to myself, “Why not take the beautiful red sports car?”

When I got to the mall there was a sale going on and the parking lot was really crowded. The only space anywhere near the store was the handicapped parking. and since as I was just going in to pick up one thing that was already paid for I thought I’d take a chance. (I didn’t know how much LEAD CRYSTAL weighed!) I was back at the car in less than ten minutes but there on the windshield was a parking ticket for $425.00. I am going to school and don’t make a lot of money. I only work part time so I don’t know where I am going to get the money. Even worse, they will send the ticket to my boyfriend and when he finds out that I borrowed his car with out his permission and then parked it illegally he will be very disappointed in me and probably furious. Aunt Gertrude what am I going to do?

Dead Girl Walking Dear Dead Girl:

Well you poor dear the dollar is not what it used to be so heading to South America is not the option it once was. Sure the warm weather is nice but hiding out under an assumed name is just not a viable in this economy. No I am afraid you are going to have to face the music and tell your boyfriend what you did and what happened. As to the matter of the ticket, Auntie G knows how tempting it is to take that prime parking space when no one is around but even though it is a hassle to carry packages across a parking lot, think how much worse it would be if you are in a wheelchair or have some other medical condition. What you did was irresponsible and inconsiderate. The ticket must be paid and you must pay it. There are ways that you can pay in installments so although it will not be pleasant you will be able to pay within your budget.Your boyfriend may be angry and disappointed but will appreciate the fact that you were honest with him. With a few contrite words and maybe a pizza and I am sure it will blow over quickly.

Aunt Gertrude

VOLUME 63 NUMBER 2

CARTOONIST | JOSEPH BONNET AD MANAGER | CRYSTAL EVANS DISTRIBUTION MANAGER | KEVIN THOMPSON INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS | MATT NULL, CHARLES STEINMAN OFFICE MANAGER | SHASTA ANDERSON JOURNALISM ADVISERS | ERIN HIRO, ADRIAN VORE PHOTOJOURNALISM ADVISER | PAUL STACHELEK

The Telescope is published 11 times per semester. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty and staff members or the governing board trustees.

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The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be received one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.

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OPINION | 5

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009| THE TELESCOPE

UFO doubts might not be reasonable REBECCA LEVIN THE TELESCOPE

It’s Aug. 23 and a man in Lake Havasu, Ariz., has just looked out his back window. In the sky, he sees what appears to be a tiny black dot. Being curious, the man grabs his binoculars for a closer look. What the man sees through his binoculars he can only classify as a “UFO.” The video he subsequently captures shows a silver discshaped object twisting and turning in the sky, much like one would see in a 1950s science fiction film.

A question forms in the minds of those who hear of such stories: Is this a real sign of intelligent life on other planets or just a creative editing job?

The argument for extraterrestrials visiting Earth is compelling. Search almost any Internet database; there are hundreds of stories of so-called extraterrestrial visitations all over the globe. Pictures and videos range from barely visible lights in a black sky to clear as day

silver disks hovering hundreds of feet in the air, but how much of this is fiction?

“Within the last decade or so, one has to be very cautious with what is being promoted within this field,” said Glenn Steckling, director of the Adamski Foundation in Vista and researcher of extraterrestrial activity.

Steckling said over the last 20 years, approximately 50 percent of what are witnessed as UFOs are of crafts developed here on this planet.

So, if such things are real, many of the images and videos we see have been manipulated into a sort of low-quality and much less scary version of “War of the Worlds.” With this information in mind, some people readily accept that intelligent life forms do not exist or are not visiting us.

However, the photographic evidence of aliens much before the photo editing era clashes with this popular belief.

Pictures taken locally from a telescope some 50 years

ago also show evidence of extraterrestrial activity.

These photos were taken

by George Adamski who not only took photographic evidence of extraterrestrials, but supposedly also met them.

“What is so positive about the Adamski photographs,” Steckling said, “is exactly the fact that they were taken from the late 1940s to 1965. Telescopic photos were analyzed and found dimensional in size under conditions which could not be faked.”

Though Adamski’s recollections of his meeting with beings from another planet might be a bit outlandish, the pictures he took cannot be disputed: they were UFOs, even if it is only in the most literal of definitions.

But what about the oddly-colored other-worldly beings which we hear so much about? Could such beings exist? Many people have admitted that this is possible, people in important positions of power.

Take, for example, Lt. Col. Philip J. Corso, an army

intelligence officer who worked at the Pentagon and author of “The Day After Roswell.”

“Let there be no doubt,” Corso said. “Alien technology (was) harvested from the infamous saucer crash in Roswell.”

Another expert in the field, NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter, said he believes, “At no time, when the astronauts were in space, were they alone.”

Brian O’Leary, a physicist and former astronaut, said that even though contact with extraterrestrials seems to have been going on for decades, people still don’t want to admit it.

Who is to say that these intellectuals are wrong?

Such life is plausible, if not necessarily provable.

The scientific world has already seen that life exists on Mars, even if it was only in the simplest of forms.

All that is needed now is research and time to find intelligent life on other planets. Until then, all one can do is look to the stars and wonder.

JOSEPH BONNET | THE TELESCOPE

Polling Palomar What do you think?

Do you believe in life on other planets?

A) Of course! The galaxy would be awfully empty otherwise.

B) Nope, if we haven’t seen them by now...

C) I think I saw one once or twice.

D) It doesn’t matter.

To participate in polls, go to www.the-telescope.com.

Health care compromise condenses the nonsense DAN MCCARTHY THE TELESCOPE

By now, it’s obvious the health care debate is in a deadlock. Nothing more substantive will be added to the discussion, and the only thing that can happen from this point forward is both sides just repeating the same points over and over again.

Odd thing is, there can be a compromise — a free-market option that would score bull’seyes on all of the targets President Barack Obama seeks with a public option — principally to expand coverage and lower costs.

Through tax credits and an amalgamation of state Medicaid programs and unemployment benefits, health care can become affordable to those who want it and provided for those who have no means of getting it — all the while avoiding a massive government intrusion into the private sector. Plus, there is only one qualification: proof of legal residence.

The first part would be a tax credit for those who pay out of pocket for their health care plans. The national average cost of individually purchased health care is about $1,500 for one person and $4,500 per family, so the credit should reflect that amount with an additional $500 to give those looking for a good policy a little latitude in the coverage plan they choose.

Once someone has the final tax figure due to the federal government, the credit amount is subtracted from the taxes owed, granted you submit a proof of policy and a receipt as part of your tax documentation. If the sum is negative, you’d get cash back, just like a tax refund. Theoretically, this

GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

wouldn’t cost the government a dime — they’d just forgo that revenue.

This would be of particular interest to college students and young adults in general.

According to the United States Census, 8 million people between the ages of 19 and 24 (28.1 percent) did not have health insurance in 2007.

As the economic state declined in the succeeding months, that figure could be higher. Individuals in that age group and students in general are often times too old to be included on their parents’

plan, therefore a quick and virtually painless way to provide health care for these students is to offer the same tax credit as a voucher through whatever accredited institution for higher learning they attend, be it a trade school, university or community college. While almost 50 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. offer students some degree of health coverage, as reported in a piece published by the New York Times earlier this year, such coverage plans are, at best, skeletal.

Instead of consigning what is

so very tritely referred to as the “future of our country” to menial coverage that is rolled into the cost of tuition, allowing them to take part in this credit program would give them a cheaper overall health care/schooling opportunity reflected in lowered per-semester class costs while gaining a much more robust health package purchased privately with said voucher.

Additionally, the above option would greatly increase other tax revenues. When you have these credits going out, millions of previously unin-

sured Americans will be out shopping for a policy that fits them best, and scores of health care insurers are going to clamor over each other to get a slice of that action. They know the credit amount, so it’s going to boil down to a competition of who can offer more bang for that person’s buck. Also insurers will probably have to hire more agents to handle the boom in policy sales and keep them on board to manage increased claims and cases.

Those now employed will have an income, and thus pay taxes to the federal and state governments. Insurance firms would also owe more in corporate taxes from the revenue gained.

However, this leaves another hefty segment of Americans without insurance: the unemployed.

Here’s the second phase: As part of a state’s unemployment program, participants should be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. To finance this, similar to federal backing for education, states would receive “health care dollars” for each unemployed person enrolled in the program, just as education funding is based on a student tally.

This would take the funding burden off states that already have budget issues, namely California. To prevent chronic dependence, the participation would be limited to two or three years.

While most conservatives instinctively cringe at the idea of enlarging entitlement programs — myself included — there are some instances when it can be offered as a legitimate alternative solution — especially to the public option.

The above options would defer the power back to the individual and the states instead of a blanket federal proposal.

6 | OPINION

TUESDAY SEPT. 8, 2009| THE TELESCOPE

California prisoner release bill will hurt more than it helps JARRED POWELL THE TELESCOPE

Each year, millions and millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on prisoners in the California Department of Corrections. It’s a waste of an awful lot of money, and now the California legislators passed a bill Aug. 31 that grants early releases more than 27,000 inmates currently incarcerated in the California state prison system.

It sounds like a cure on the surface, but there may be deeper problems this way.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg assured senators the changes would protect the public from the most violent offenders.

This is where problems with the bill start.

How can the Senate assure the most violent offenders won’t benefit from this bill when they won’t be around to see the effect of the bill?

This undermines the thought of public safety when you figure that the people in prison were put there for a reason that’s more than a parole violation.

This is one of the few times that I agree with Republicans from the Senate when they say that this bill will undermine public safety.

The state Senate is under scrutiny to meet a mid-September deadline to reduce California’s prison population by 40,000 inmates. This deadline is being mandated by a panel of three federal judges.

These federal judges have issued an order that contends the crowded prison system violates prisoners’ constitutional rights.They also stated that they would make the reductions themselves if the state didn’t make them.

Monetarily, the bill will save the state approximately $525 million and the corrections package will save $1.2 billion total.

This was a huge mistake by the state government to pass this bill.

This bill helps our state legislature because it involves money. The state makes money for putting and keeping people in jail, but if this passes they would be saving money by reducing the number of criminals who are in the penal system.

My feelings are reflected best by Steinberg who said, “It is undeniable that the real failure of our criminal justice system is it that fails to distinguish between violent offenders and nonviolent offenders.”

If the criminal justice system cannot distinguish between who is a violent and nonviolent offender, how can they be sure they are releasing the right prisoner? What is recognized as a nonviolent crime? These are questions that have different meanings for different people.

This bill means that parole officers could have increased responsibilities but with the same pay.

According to Steinberg, each California parole officer is responsible for about 70 parolees. Now that the legislation has passed, the ratio could drop to 45-to-1, he said.

Nonviolent offenders could serve shorter times.

This works against the Department of Corrections because 51 percent of all parolees return to prison and 14.7 percent return with a new prison term. If there was a good reason to release a prisoner early, then I would be all for it.

In fact, in 2003, Illinois Gov. George Ryan granted clemency to every death row inmate because evidence resulted in reversing decisions on inmates.

Ultimately, Ryan overturned everyone on death row, giving them a life sentence instead.This is something I can go along with.To just let prisoners go because it would decrease the budget and to save money is giving them a free pass to commit a crime again.

Especially when you consider that the criminal is in prison, not county jail. It’s called having priorities, common sense and ethics.

Somewhere down the line, someone lost this and they need to get it back.

If they don’t get a handle on this issue then they should not be able to blame a citizen who has never broken the law for using a gun to defend himself and his family against a prisoner that they release for no reason.

center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.

When Argentina expressed its outrage at the nomination, the Iran foreign ministry told the Argentina's ambassador to keep his nose out of Iran's internal affairs. On Tuesday, Iran's parliament voiced support for Vahidi.

Doesn’t that tell you that Tehran holds nothing but utter contempt for the Western world?

North Korea, Burma, Syria — those nations are unattractive dictatorships that are hostile to the United States and mistreat it own citizens. But none of them generates the kind of antipathy that most Americans direct at Iran. Perhaps this results from the Iranian hostage crisis 30 years ago. But then, more than onethird of Americans today were not even born in 1979.

Over the last 30 years, virulent anti-Americanism has been the most prominent tenet of Iran's foreign policy, and its leaders have not been shy about broadcasting that.

GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

Buying American cars, the new patriotism?

From the turn of the last century to 1980, the American auto industry dominated the U.S. automotive market. It was a center for well-paid jobs and a staple for middle class America.

In 1980, we were the No. 1 lender nation, the No. 1 importer of raw materials and the No.1 exporter of finished goods in the world. Today we are the No. 1 debtor nation in the world, the No. 1 exporter of raw materials, and the only thing we as Americans seem to produce are lawyers and debt.

On Aug. 23, the multibillion dollar “Cash for Clunkers” program ended. Its goal was to kick start the ailing automotive industry. By all measures it was a success. The original program targeted automobiles made in this country, but was expanded to include imports.

The reason for this change was in equal parts pressure from lobbyists and a desire not to anger the foreign countries that own this country’s debt — and in turn our legislators.

If you are one of the few students who can afford a new car, there are three very good reasons why should you buy an American car.

First, the money you spend

stays here in America. It pays the salaries of those who build them, the iron workers who make the steel, the engineers who design them and myriad contractors and subcontractors whose jobs are interconnected with the U.S. auto industry. They in turn contribute U.S. dollars back into the U.S. economy by paying rent and mortgages, as well as buying food and clothing.

Second, American cars not only stack up well against their Japanese and European competitors — for the first time in years, they are actually better! Ford’s Focus and Fusion get more than 30 miles per gallon.

Chevrolet’s Cobalt and HHR also are high mileage, quality vehicles.The HHR Mini-crossover configuration is versatile, stylish and economical.

The Cobalt has all of the same driving qualities of the HHR offered in a sporty sedan and coupe. They are both fun to drive with surprising acceleration and handling.

Both the Ford and Chevrolet fit and finishes are very good and their road feel is exceptional, quick, tight and precise. Their long trip ride quality is superior when compared to vehicles made

by Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan and Honda.

Third, we are witnessing the

return of American innovation.

Ford’s SYNC system is combination AM/FM radio, CD and an MP3 Player with a 40 GB hard drive that also incorporates Bluetooth and a satellite navigation system, all voice-activated.

General Motors has ONSTAR, which in the case of an accident notifies authorities with your location and crash data automatically. GM has also come up with its next generation NORTHSTAR engine. This supercharged 32valve V8 puts out 556-brake horsepower and has a top speed of 200 mph.

The Cadillac CTS V and the Corvette share this engine. The 2009 Corvette holds the “Bonneville Salt Flat” record for the fastest production car at 196.58 mph. The CTS V has a better time around Germany’s famous Nurburgring lap than the 10- cylinder M-series BMW and is the fastest production sedan in the world.

The past few years have seen the transformation of the American car into a technological wonder that can stand toe-to-toe with the best cars Europe, Japan and Korea have to offer.

Americans can consider our domestic automobiles with pride and confidence. Now is a good time to buy American.

Has that been true of any other nation over the same period?

Now Iran is roiling with daily, politicians and clerics are standing up and making bold declarations on one side or another of the democracy debate that are quite unusual there. And Khamenei doesn't seem to know what to do.

Late last week he appeared to be backing away from the show trials, saying: I don't accuse the leaders of the recent incidents of being affiliated with foreign countries, including the U.S. and Britain, since the issue has not been proven for me.

That undercut the prosecutors central charge. But in the same speech he stressed he has full faith in the bogus elections in June.

One step forward, toward the reformists; two steps back, toward the reactionaries, said Abbas Milani, director of Iranian studies at Stanford University. Khamenei has irretrievably lost his bearings.

The next day, Ahmadinejad urged the judiciary to prosecute

his rivals mercilessly and decisively — implicitly mocking Khamenei's call for restraint.

Now even the hard-line government is divided. Still convinced that the American devil is the puppet-master behind the Khamenei regime's self-destruction, Iranian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in late August to spend $20 million on a new program intended to expose human rights violations by the United States.

President Obama had set next month as the deadline for Iran to unclench your fist and extend a hand for improved relations.

That's impossible now.

The question is whether the summer's protests are the beginning of a reform movement that still has legs. Or, were the street demonstrations simply the Iranian version of Chinas Tiananmen Square revolt of 1989, or Burma's monk uprising in 2007 — protest movements that were quashed.

But even as the show-trials pro-

ceed, prominent government critics are refusing to fade into the shadows. The Iranian academic community in the United States hopes and believes the landscape has forever changed. One reason is that the top reform leaders, like former president Mohammad Khatami, would themselves have been considered hardliners just a few years ago. But the nation has moved so far right in recent times that they now seem like moderates.

This is a point Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has made repeatedly in recent weeks. It's also one reason these men now have such broad popular support.

Unlike Tiananmen Square and Burma, Abbas noted, the Iranian protests were cross-class and cross-regional.These events are of a different magnitude. And now the regime is being so clumsy. I don't know what the actual evolution of events will be... I feel the status quo is not returnable.

MARK NOTARIAN THE TELESCOPE

Demonstrations over trials fuel the fire in Iran JOEL BRINKLEY MCT CAMPUS

Lets face it: Iran is the nation Americans love to despise, and these days the mullahs are making it so easy, even satisfying, to indulge in profound disapproval.

Right now, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his partner in crime, Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are staging show trials for scores of men accused of supporting, promoting and standing up for the political opposition after the supposed democratic election for president last June.

The regime is denying allegations that its jailers tortured and raped citizens imprisoned for participating in democracy demonstrations. And Ahmadinejad has actually nominated an accused international terrorist to be the nation's defense minister.

Interpol has an active arrest warrant for Ahmad Vahidi on charges he was involved in an attack 15 years ago on a Jewish community

OPINION | 7

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

Between alcohol, marijuana, booze is not lesser of 2 evils TYPHANIE SHARFNER THE TELESCOPE

There has been a long-standing debate over the legalization of marijuana, and with California’s deficit, the issue has been raised anew. Both sides wait with bated breath, some with pipes in hand, to see the outcome.

Profits from taxation could be used to help lessen the state deficit.The tax revenue from cigarettes goes to education. Why can’t tax revenue from legalized marijuana be used in the same manner?

Taxation, regulation, freedom of choice and danger to your life as well as other’s have always been topics for both sides, but the debate should be non-existent while drugs such as tobacco and especially alcohol are legal.

Yes, there are other drugs, legal or not, such as OxyContin or cocaine, that can be far more dangerous. A person’s choice of drug they abuse is not the issue. Nor will legalizing marijuana start the bandwagon to legalize other harder drugs like heroin or LSD. People will abuse whatever drug they like — legal or not, safe or not. Some will drive while under the influence of alcohol, will make drugs a priority over necessities, and at times resort to drastic and dangerous measures to get that next high. People do stupid things, high or not.

Law enforcement checkpoints geared toward catching drunken drivers seem to help, but the fact that it has come to these measures is ridiculous. Furthermore, these checkpoints and other measures such as campaign ads, and severe legal penalties deter some, but not all.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports more than half a million people were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present — an average of one person injured almost every minute. Essentially, that is everyone in your English class before the class is even over!

What’s worse is that a drunken driver will drive an average of 87 times before ever getting caught.

MADD also reports that more than 159 million alcohol-impaired driving trips were taken in 2002, with more than 10 percent (18 million trips) made by 18-20 year-

olds.

Canorml.org reveals a 2002 review of seven separate studies involving 7,934 people.

According to the report, “Crash culpability studies have failed to demonstrate that drivers with cannabis in the blood are significantly more likely than drug-free drivers to be culpable in road crashes.”

The report goes on to say, “This result is likely because subjects under the influence of marijuana are aware of their impairment and compensate for it accordingly, such as by slowing down and by focusing their attention when they know a response will be required. This reaction is just the opposite of that exhibited by drivers under the influence of alcohol, who tend to drive in a more risky manner proportional to their intoxication.”

In any given one-month period an estimated 1.85 million Californians use marijuana, according to Usenodrugs.com.

These findings were based on a study between 2002-2003 and 631,000 were between the ages of 18-25 years old.

This all equates to a big problem. No one is denying the harmful effects to one’s body or to those around them, but marijuana is clearly not as dangerous.

Studies and statistics agree. With so many marijuana users legalization would be beneficial.

Better statistics could be kept and funding for the long-term effects of marijuana use could be made available. If we made it legal, punishment for disobeying set laws could be more severe and police and other officials would have an easier time regulating usage and safety.

As long as there are drugs in the world, they will be used and abused, no matter the law, danger or other penalties. It is sad and unacceptable, but still an uncontrollable reality.

Outlawing alcohol now is highly unlikely. It didn’t work before, alcohol consumption is argued to have actually increased during Prohibition, but to criminalize marijuana while alcohol is legal is hypocrisy at its finest. It penalizes a group of people who choose to spend their time and money on other forms of relaxation and fun than alcohol.

JOSEPH BONNET | THE TELESCOPE

GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

Terrorism taking different forms within the United States BERT HANSEN THE TELESCOPE

Nine years ago, terrorism within the United States was primarily a domestic concern.

Though foreign militants driven by theocratic agendas had struck within the borders of the United States before then, the largest and most devastating attack to precede 9/11 was committed by a born and raised American, Timothy McVeigh.

Today, however, the risks of attacks from home-grown eco-terrorists, political extremists and prolife groups targeting abortion clinics seems to be outweighed by the threat of religiously motivated terrorism exercised by fanatics trained in dedicated facilities, formerly located only in the Middle East.

To combat terrorism one must first understand a terrorist’s goals, motivations and methods.

Terrorism is meant to strike systematically at a civilian populace to influence and coerce public opinion by instilling a pervasive sense of fear.

While we might believe that groups like al-Qaeda pose the greatest threat to innocent American civilians, the truth is that most of their resources are currently devoted to U.S. interests outside of the United States, particularly since it has been determined that their network is primarily controlled by militants moving between the Pakistan and Afghanistan border.

They do, however, still pose a volatile threat to the continental U.S. through their abuse of

our guarantees of freedom of religion and speech through the domestic propagation of their uncompromising and frequently violent ideology.

According to the documentary, “Home Grown Jihad,” sponsored by the Christian Action Network, the greatest threat posed by al-Qaeda’s

government, they simultaneously support policies that would incorporate the use of the Bible for the basis of law and rule.

It would appear that fundamentalists from all sides of the spectrum can at times overlook inherent hypocrisy to maintain their beliefs.

Many terrorists exist, however, outside of the religious archetype that has become the standard terrorist stereotype.

Acting upon their beliefs in the green movement and animal rights groups like the Earth Liberation Front have, in the past, committed terrorist acts in order to try and shape public opinion through intimidation and use of violence.

An international organization, ELF is active in Europe and the U.S. and according to the FBI, was the No. 1 ranked terrorist threat in the U.S. in March 2001.

Before the threats posed by religious extremists, ideological extremists were the main proponents of terrorism.

While we may feel safer today thanks to enhanced security in government and transportation facilities, terrorism is still a very real threat.

It may be much more difficult for terrorism’s dedicated practitioners to conduct attacks as large as 9/11, but that does not mean their ambitions are not up to the task.

As a country we must maintain our vigilance against all forms of terrorism.

The idea that people can justify trying to mold public opinion through fear is counterproductive to whatever justice their cause might possess.

As a country, we must maintain our vigilance against against all forms of terrorism. brand of religious zealotry is in fact thriving right here in our own backyard.

In the film, Dr. Peter Leitner of the Higgins CounterTerrorism Research Center and Frank Gaffney at the Center for Security Policy believe that groups inspired by al-Qaeda have emerged inside the U.S. and have opened training camps in states like New York and Georgia.

Their goal is to train would be terrorists in insurgent tactics most likely to be used within the borders of the U.S. Many other terrorists groups exist, though it can be debated that they are relatively much less active than the jihadist factions.

An example of one group that is also rooted partially in religious fundamentalism, but also a libertarian political philosophy is the Christian American Patriots, who were linked to the Oklahoma City bombing.

Though they themselves claim to be against oppressive

8

| ENTERTAINMENT

THE TELESCOPE | TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009

‘Ellipse’ lacks diversity

One of the immediate standouts on the album is “Bad Body Double,” a breathy tirade against an intrusive doppelganger, which The follow-up to electronic music maven gives a glimpse of what “Ellipse” could have Imogen Heap’s successful 2005 Grammy nom- been. The song blends many of the familiar inated album doesn’t stray far from the electronic elements with the sounds of guitars singer’s familiar bag of tricks, so much so that and running showers with Heap’s ethereal it’s hard to believe it’s actually a new record. voice giving a feeling of being followed.

Still, “Ellipse” is an enjoyable new outing One of the album’s biggest problems is the from a seasoned artist. lack of creativity. While enjoyable MUSIC REVIEW Upon first listen of “Ellipse” individually, the songs blend together one thing is incredibly evident, the with little variation. It often feels like tone of the album is more subdued Heap is trying to recreate the success than Heap’s usual music. Gone are of her hit single “Hide and Seek” but the dance-floor ready tracks that without success.Very few of the songs fans have come to expect from on this album even come close to the Heap and in their place is a stable hauntingly beautiful “Seek.”

Imogen Heap of mature and mellow songs.

Despite some major stumbling ‘Ellipse’ “Ellipse” gives the best of all blocks, Heap has managed to put HH worlds with soft lilting melody, creforth a solid effort. Newer fans and OUT OF FOUR STARS ative lyrics and dramatic jazz overloyal followers who approach this tones. Many of the songs possess a soft dreamy album with an open mind will be hugely quality. Unfortunately songs like “Canvas” rewarded. “Ellipse” may not be the most origand “The Fire,” a two minute piano interlude, inal album of 2009 but it is certainly worth a provides nice mood music but little else. listen.

Palomar celebrates cultures

ALEJANDRA JACKSON THE TELESCOPE

TONY CAGALA THE TELESCOPE

COURTESY PHOTO

Heap recently released her third album “Ellipse.”

A celebration of Hawaiian and Tahitian music and dance will be heard at the Howard Brubeck Theatre when production of the Polynesian Drum and Dance Festival begins Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. and continues on Sept. 12.

“Expect the vibrancy of live traditional music,” said Patriceanne Mead, artistic director of the festival.

Being an indoor and outdoor festival, people who come to the show will experience a “myriad of sights and sounds that represents a part of those two cultures,” Mead said before rehearsals.

The festival marks the first performance of Palomar’s World Dance program this semester.

The performances continue to showcase the growth of the program and the talents of its faculty and students.

The Drum and Dance Festival will also highlight the choreography and musical scholarship of mother-and-son team Dawn and Don Cheek. Dawn Cheek, a dance instructor who specializes in Polynesian dance at Palomar, choreographed the program. Her son, an accomplished musician, arranged the music and will perform on the drums during both shows.

The student performers will be joined on stage by several professional musicians, most of whom will be from the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian music, most widely characterized by slack key guitar twangs, ukulele string strumming and pulsating drums, accompanies and propels popular dances as the traditional hula, a familiar sight at many luaus.

Differing slightly in tempo and style is traditional Tahitian music and dance.

Once banned in the 1820s for being too exotic and sensual, it was later restored to the isles after the French removed the British colonies.

As part of the festival atmosphere, vendors will line the theater’s grassy courtyard, offering traditional Polynesian food and wares at varying costs.

Tickets for the festival are available for purchase online now at the Palomar performs Web site.

Admittance fees are $12 for general public, $10 for seniors, faculty and staff and $8 for students.

ENTERTAINMENT |9

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

WHAT’S HAPPENING Through Sept. 22 Who: Douglas McCulloh What: Photography exhibit Where: Sycuan Casino Cost: Free More info: (619) 445-7776

Sept. 11-12

COURTESY PHOTO

Sandra Bullock (right) decides that she is in love with Steve (second to right) after going on a blind date with him and follows him around the country, convinced that he wants her with him.

‘Steve’ leaves theatergoers disappointed MELINA FICKAS THE TELESCOPE

“All About Steve” is a date night movie rental.

Mary Horowitz (Sandra Bullock) is a crossword puzzle creator, who religiously wears red boots.

On a blind date set up by her parents (Howard Hessman and Beth Grant), she meets Steve Gunders (Bradley Cooper), who is a cameraman for one of the local news station.

Mary is instantly attracted to Steve, who is instantly turn turned off by her constant talking. Gunders quickly ducks out of the date, but not before he in-

advertently telling Horowitz that believable chemistry with he wished she could be with him Cooper. while he worked.

Cooper completely fulfills his The rest of the movie follows role as “Steven with a ‘v,’”a handHorowitz through the some young man, trials of learning who who doesn’t quite MOVIE REVIEW see Horowitz for she is while trying to ‘All About Steve’ be at every job assignwho she really is. His paranoia is well ment that Gunders HH OUT OF FOUR STARS receives. Gunders tries played-out and is to avoid Horowitz as STARRING: Sandra Bullock, quite convincing, while delivering a best he can, believing Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong she is stalking him. few good laughs that keep him from being Bullock does a wonRATED: PG-13 derful job of playing a a jerk. nerdy young woman The movie takes that just wants to spread joy viewers to several different through words and pieces of infor- places in the United States for mation. She delivers a beautiful Gunders’ various jobs, which on screen performance and has makes you wonder how they can

be so far away in so little time.

The outdoor filming gave a real feel to the characters.

The plot was well thought out and easy to follow, but there were details that were unexplained and unnecessary. These may be explained in deleted scenes, which are not accessible until to the movie is released on DVD and may possibly be better than the movie itself.

Overall, ‘All About Steve’ was a positive movie and appropriate for most ages, but don’t waste your money on seeing it in theaters.

Wait until you can rent it to watch on a date night in or on a lazy afternoon with friends.

‘Woodstock’ fails to capture festival’s impact CRYSTAL EVANS THE TELESCOPE

ents who would love nothing more than for their son to live at home forever.

Everyone has heard of the legEugene Levy’s portrayal of Max endary music festival Woodstock, Yasgur, who owned the dairy farm yet few know the story of Elliot where Woodstock took place, will Teichberg, who played a key role have movie-goers laughing-outin making the festival happen. loud. The scene when he haggles His story is detailed in “Taking for more than 15 times the Woodstock,” that despite its title amount he originally asked for is never actually shows scenes of one of the best in the film, and the festival. the only bad part about Levy’s Teichberg, played by Demetri performance is that he doesn’t Martin, decides to contact the have a large enough role. producers of a music festival who The cheesiest part of the film is have just had their permit the theater troupe that lives in revoked from their original loca- the Teichberg barn. Their scenes tion, hoping to generate some are awkward and seem to have no business for his parents’ dilapi- purpose other than to provide dated motel. Little nudity at random, and MOVIE REVIEW does he know he is mostly inappropriate, about to be part of times.

‘Taking Woodstock’ the biggest music fesThe filming of the HH tival in history. movie was impeccaOUT OF FOUR STARS The story overall is ble. Many of the disjointed with little STARRING: Demetri Martin, scenes are filmed Goodman and Imelda character develop- Henry slightly out of focus to Staunton ment. Yet many of give the feeling of RATED: R the actors provide footage that was actuperformances that ally taken during the help carry the movie. event. Real footage is laced Martin plays an excellent through the movie, and it is hard Teichberg. It is easy to buy into to differentiate the switch his simple way of looking at the between their film and footage. world and the overwhelmed feelThe filmmakers cleverly use ing the small-town boy experi- split screens to add to the feeling ences when he is faced with of chaos and to show more drugs, sex and half a million peo- footage without lengthening the ple, all in his own backyard. nearly two-hour movie.

Martin’s parents in the film are The costuming was also excelplayed by Henry Goodman and lent with the characters dressed Imelda Staunton.They both deliv- in period garb that was believable er as over-protective Jewish par- and not over exaggerated.

Who: Palomar Students What: Polynesian Drum and Dance Festival Where: Howard Brubeck Theatre Cost: $12 general, $10 seniors and staff, $8 students More info: www.palomarperforms.com

Sept. 8-13 What: Spamalot Where: San Diego Civic Theatre Cost: Free More info: (619) 231-8995

Sept. 11-13 Who: Kumeyaay Nation What: Traditional Powwow Where: Sycuan Casino Cost: Free More info: (619) 445-7776

Sept. 15- Oct. 31 What: Fall Apple Harvest Where: Julian More info: www.julian.com

Wednesday, Sept. 16 Who: Blink-182 and Weez er What: Alternative Where: Cricket Amphitheatre Cost: $13.75 - $69 More info: www.livena tion.com

Saturday, Sept. 19

COURTESY PHOTO

Demetri Martin (center) stars as Elliot, a young adult from a small town in New York, who played a huge role in making Woodstock happen. Despite his role, Elliot never actually makes it to the concert thanks to two new friends who introduce him to acid.

One of the film’s greatest weaknesses is its removal from the music and the way it downplays the importance the event had on American culture. Elliott, too consumed with trying to help his family, does not seem overly excited to attend the concert. When his dad tells him to go and enjoy himself, he heads that way but gets sidetracked by a hippie couple in a stereotypical 1970s minivan who give him acid. His next attempt to make it to the concert is sidelined by a mudslide.

In the entire movie, not once is a band shown on stage. The audience get some sense of how huge the event was by the amount of cars Elliott passes on his way to the venue and the masses of hippies who are everywhere. Yet it is never conveyed how important Woodstock was and how it changed the face of music forever.

Though entertaining, “Taking Woodstock” fails to get even close to representing what the famed music festival is to its half a million attendees and to the world.

What: Snorkel with sharks Where: La Jolla Shores with the Birch Aquarium Cost: $30 More info: (858) 534-7336

Sept. 23-27 What: San Diego Film Festival Where: Gaslamp Theater Cost: From $12 for an individual screening to $99 for all access pass More info: www.sdff.com

10 | ENTERTAINMENT

Spoof’s amusing

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

if you’re not an Austen diehard

whittler.”

The flighty Marianne is described as “her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.” She “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters” is spoke sighingly of the cruel creatures of the water even the one who had so savaged her a hoot, but Jane Austen purists will shudder.

Ben H. Masters, playwright and author, has father, lending them such flowery appellations created an amusing mash-up of Jane Austen’s as “Our Begilled Tormentors” or “the classic novel using Jules Verne’s fantasy, Robert Unfathomable Ones.”

Elegant Regency London has become SubLouis Stevenson’s adventures, the eldritch horror of H.P. Lovecraft, and extensive use of a the- Marine Station Beta, an undersea glass-domed metropolis constantly under attack saurus. by the aquatic world.

Austen’s original “Sense and “Outside the Dome, enough blood Sensibility” covers two years in the BOOK REVIEW was left in the (filtration assistant’s) life of the three Dashwood daughters upper portion for him to remain con— mostly the elder two, Elinor and ‘SENSE AND scious, and he watched in horror as Marianne — as they fall in and out of SENSIBILITY AND his lower portion was chewed to love, according to the rigid social death by the great beast. Marianne SEA MONSTERS’ strictures of the 19th century paused — and no one spoke. The English Regency period. Survival HHH anglerfish finished the legs and dominates “Sea Monsters” where OUT OF FOUR STARS began its assault on the remaining every fish lusts for human blood. portion of the filtration assistant.

“As the party watched in horror, The ocean fogged with blood.”

Miss Bellwether was wrapped inside “Sea Monsters” actually gives a large part to the quavering blanket-shape of the beast and consumed, the stomach acids of the enormous the third daughter, Margaret, who now has jellyfish dissolved her flesh, emanating a sick- sharpened teeth, a bald head and mutters ening sizzling noise, followed by a sort of unholy Lovecraftian-style chants, “K’yaloh D’argesh belch. And then as quickly as it came, the crea- F’ah! K’yaloh D’argesh F’ah!”

The heroic Colonel Brandon, afflicted by a ture dragged itself back into the sea, the tide withdrew; and all that was left of Miss sea-witch curse, has tentacles on his face (think Bellwether was a pile of corroded bones, a Davy Jones in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies) while the duplicitous Willoughby, who clump of hair and a whalebone corset.”

In Austen’s version, Elinor is known for attracts Marianne, is a treasure hunter — not “strength of understanding, and coolness of too far from Austen’s original portrayal.

If you don’t take any of it too seriously — and judgment.” Winters changes this to “an excellent heart, a broad back and sturdy calf mus- how could you? — “Sense and Sensibility and cles, and she was admired by her sisters and all Sea Monsters” is an entertaining addition to the who knew her as a masterful driftwood overwhelming tide of Austen-related books.

TISH WELLS MCT CAMPUS

COURTESY PHOTO

CW and Fox launch series early The smaller networks are releasing their shows earlier this year to help compete with the larger networks ANDY EDELSTEIN MCT CAMPUS

The bulk of the fall's new series, especially those on the old "big 3" networks (ABC, CBS and NBC), premiere the third week of September. But Fox and the CW are jumping the gun and next week will premiere several new and returning series. Here's a look: COURTESY PHOTO

Bateman (left) and Kunis carry the office-themed movie “Extract” from Mike Judge, the man behind “Office Space.”

NEW SERIES:

Bateman shines in mediocre film ROBERT W. BUTLER MCT CAMPUS

testicle (don’t ask) — could put the kibosh on the whole deal.

Meanwhile a con artist (an underutilized Mike Judge’s “Extract” is an amiable Mila Kunis) has taken a job on the assemmess of a movie held together mostly by bly line and begun an affair with the leading man Jason Bateman. injured employee, manipulating the poor Judge, of course, was the brain behind dumb cluck to sue for big-league damages.

“Office Space,” considered by many to be And if all this weren’t bad enough, Joel a great movie comedy about workplace dis- and his wife, Suzie (Kristen Wiig), haven’t content. had sex for months.

But while that 1999 film took the side of Joel’s best friend, bartender Dean (a hirlong-suffering employees, sute Ben Affleck), suggests that “Extract” sympathizes with a putperhaps Suzie is having an MOVIE REVIEW upon boss. affair. He devises a test, hiring a ‘EXTRACT’ Bateman plays Joel, owner and priapic gigolo (Dustin Milligan) operator of a factory that proto pose as a sexy new pool boy to HHH OUT OF FOUR STARS duces extracts — vanilla, root gauge Suzie’s fidelity. beer and other flavorings. Joel STARRING: Jason What could go wrong with Mila Kunis, Ben has built his business from scratch Bateman, that plan?

Affleck and Kristen Wiig over 20 years. He treats his “Extract” is filled with funny RATED: R employees well and is reluctant to individual moments, including fire even the most incompetent what may be the most hilarious and lazy. pot-smoking scene ever, but narratively it’s But now Joel wonders if it has been a botched job — little plot, no compelling worth the effort. conflict, paper-thin characterizations.

An offer from a big multinational to buy And while it positions itself as satire, the the company has generated a rebellion film has no teeth. among the ungrateful employees, who Still, there’s considerable pleasure in think they should get a stake in the busi- watching Bateman take a fairly bland charness. Plus, the possibility of a lawsuit by an acter and imbue him with personality, employee injured on the job — he lost a humor and even a dash of pathos.

"Melrose Place" When/where: Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CW The deal: Update of the '90s Fox prime-time soap with several originals returning.

"The Vampire Diaries"

"Glee"

When/where: Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. on CW

When/where: Sept. 9 at 9 p.m. on Fox

The deal: Teen-friendly fantasy based on the L.J. Smith novels.

The deal: A high-school glee club struggles to survive.

ENTERTAINMENT | 11

TUESDAY SEPT. 8, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

ERIC WALKER THE TELESCOPE

After the mixed reception and mediocre sales of “Ehrgeiz,” the decision for Square-Enix to try its hand at another 3-D fighting game was a risky one. But apparently, 11 years of experience in turn-based story-heavy titles allowed the company to succeed at an action-packed game in “Dissidia Final Fantasy.” Sort of.

Two characters from each game in the series (from I to X) appear, with a single special character from XI and XII. The chance to beat up the likes of Kefka and Cloud by using Golbez, for instance, will certainly appeal to fans of the RPG series, much like Nintendo’s similar Super Smash Bros. series.

However, there are certainly issues - mainly in balancing the characters and items.

The heavy customization of the Final Fantasy series is retained, but allows players to create ridiculously powerful combinations, making multiplayer duels a bit of a bore at times as battles tend to be over after just one or two attacks.

The “Brave Point” system, while novel, adds originality at the expense of fun.

Each character can equip up to twelve attacks, but only six of those can actually deal damage. The others just raise or lower the players’ Brave, which determines the end damage of a hit.

Players can spend ten minutes stabbing their opponents without actually depleting their life at all. It’s a unique concept, but it makes things feel rather unsatisfying.

There’s a surprising amount of depth hidden within the game, though. Players can fight through a colosseum to earn points, which can then be exchanged for items.

These items can be combined original concept art rather than together to forge extremely pow- their in-game appearances, so erful equipment — though again, some of them are slightly unrecthis can be fun, but also unbal- ognizable (FFI’s Warrior is particanced. ularly bad about this), but the There are also models and effects are dozens of secondary VIDEO GAME REVIEW excellently done. abilities characters The music consists can be given, such as mostly of remixed tunes adding double- or from previous games, triple-jumps, or causwhich are well-done for ing their Brave to the most part, but the increase more quickly. main themes are awkUnlike other fightwardly sung pieces by Dissidia Final ing games, every playYour Favorite Fantasy er’s Squall will play Enemies, a Canadian HHH differently, so even band no one has OUT OF FOUR STARS fighting the same heard of — and character will be a for good reason. unique experience.

Fans of the series will The story leaves much to be eat it up regardless of desired. Much of it is never prop- its flaws. Filled to the erly explained, and it all brim with references to serves little purpose the varybeyond letting the characi n g ters spout their catchgames phrases and stand around a n d making dramatic speeches movies of about “finding one’s inner the series, it heart’s desire” and other serves as a such balderdash. It’s ridicugreat nostallously cheesy and not very gic trip. compelling, but who plays a But I fighting game for the story? can’t It’s a beautire c ful game, at l e a s t .

Characters are drawn from the

ommend it to those looking for a standard fighter — its quirks and lack of in-battle depth will turn off fans of “Street Fighter” and the like. For hardcore FF fans, it’s a mustbuy, but for eve ryo n e else, a 2.5star title at best.

12

| FOCUS

THE TELESCOPE | TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009

Making the most out of social networking JAVIER TOVAR THE TELESCOPE

Do’s of Social Networking 1. Participate and update regularly.

2. Create a professional e-mail.

3. Avoid inappropriate comments.

4. Do use privacy settings on Facebook to keep private information private.

5. Search for groups that show your professional aspirations or social involvement, such as an organization for advertising professionals or the charity you volunteer at.

Dont’s of Social Networking 1. Don’t send blatantly commercial messages. Business networking is OK. Shameless promotion is not.

2. Maintain confidentiality. Don’t post confidential or protected health information about students, employees, patients or other members of the community.

3. Don’t wait until you’re interviewing to go back and clean up your profile; your potential employer may have already looked it up.

4. Don’t badmouth your current or previous employer.

5. While you don’t need to be a power user, you do need to be able to engage.

In the worst economic times since the Great Depression, students who are in search for a job can utilize the internet to promote themselves to employers.

In today’s technological era, anyone can promote themselves through social networking — Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and MySpace are among the latest tools the Internet offers.

“The ability of individuals to have their voices heard has never been greater. It is the second phase of the great proliferation of information on the Internet,” said Anita Watts, on filmjournal.com, an online journal that covers the motion picture industry.

Anybody who has registered themselves on any social networking site should be aware of the benefits and consequences, which may result. Online networking has a number of positives, however, there are professional recommendations for college students to stay away from.

“Your kids are probably enjoying it, and its success is undeniable, but MySpace isn’t a grown-up environment. There are all sorts of tools for creative self-expression, but they mainly appeal to 16-year-olds.

The time you spend here may be fun, but it won’t benefit your career,” said Don Willmott, a New York City-based journalist who focuses on Internet and technology trends, on Dice.com.

Palomar College Career Center coordinator Eddie Tubbs suggested LinkedIn as the best website for students who are looking for a job,

Facebook for family and friends, while MySpace is mostly for high school kids.

LinkedIn is a professional formal site where individuals are able to record their work history, link up with current or past co-workers, managers and recommendations are compiled. The user’s home page is similar to their resume.

A professional e-mail is important, since it is the initial step to sign up for social networking.

“Inappropriate email address automatically turns you off and excludes you from being considered,” said Joe Vasquez, who hires mentors for the Palomar College GEAR-UP Partnership Program.

An example of a professional e-mail consists of the first letter of your name and your entire last name. For example, Richard Left would use rleft@palomar.edu for a professional purpose, not beer_n420@palomar.edu.

Logic is an excellent tool to use when deciding what should or should not be posted on the internet — obviously inappropriate pictures, comments and videos are not recommended. Music alone says a lot of an individual’s personality.

On productive social networking, again use common sense, to decide what should be posted in order to impress others. If someone signs up for social networking, then they should set up a profile, log on consistently and actively participate; the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

“How do students land a job on social networking? The answer is obvious, you network — use your social network,” said Jason Gasdick, vice president of talent for Sermo Inc. Saree Bravo, a student at Palomar, when asked if she recommended social networking, said, “I would as long as you take it serious. I’m sure you would find an ideal job, you just have to take the time.” Bravo found her current job on craigslist.com Success or failure depends on what and how the individual decides to make use of the Internet. As a result of the Internet, today any single individual has more access to information or power, than any other human in all of time.

“But the Internet is just a tool, an easy way to enable some tactics. The real power of tribes has nothing to do with the Internet and everything to do with people. You don’t need a keyboard to lead...you only need the desire to make something happen,” wrote Seth Godin, author of Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. “Nobody will land a job by sitting in their room.” Well it may have been true a decade ago, but today the statement may no longer apply.

MARK NOTARIAN THE TELESCOPE

This 1975 right-hand drive Austin Mini Cooper is owned

by Palomar student Ashton Lynum-Young. The original Mini Coopers were produced from 1961 to 1980. During the 1960s they were the darling of London’s Mod “Carnaby Street” crowd. A little over 10 feet long and just 55 inches wide, this was the perfect car for modern London — quick, maneuverable, economical and easy to park.

If you would like your car to be considered for the Car of the Week, send an e-mail to telescope@palomar.edu with the subject line “CAR OF THE WEEK.”

MARK NOTARIAN | THE TELESCOPE

The Austin Mini went through many changes during its heyday, but remains a reliable, versatile car even among its modern contenders.

FOCUS | 13

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

Are digital textbooks the money-saving wave of the future?

DERBY COX MCT CAMPUS

An old adage states, “As California goes, so goes the nation.”

If that’s true, then the advocates of textbook reform and college students, who bear the brunt of spiraling textbook prices, have to be excited by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s push to use digital textbooks in high schools.

So-called e-textbooks present a slew of advantages over their print brethren: they’re cheaper, easily searchable, and in some cases, can be modified to better fit the teacher’s vision for the course.

But while digital textbooks may have entered the public consciousness only recently, the idea has been around far longer. A growing number of publishers both individuals and major textbook companies are offering their content digitally, in some cases for little or no charge.

“One big positive of free books is that it gets you out of the horribly exploitative textbook market,” wrote Fullerton College professor Ben Crowell in an email. “It’s just a scandal that they’re charging students as much as $250 for an organic chemistry book, and bringing out a new edition every three years in order to kill off the used book market.”

The Yale-educated physics professor began his digital textbook 12 years ago, when his lecture notes “gradually morphed” into a book. His interest in the open-source operating system Linux convinced him that free was the way to go, and his textbook is available for anyone to use at www.lightandmatter.com. More than 40 colleges and high schools have adopted the book, according to the Web site.

Crowell isn’t alone. He runs a site (www.theassayer.org), which catalogues free books on everything from philosophy to military science. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology makes much of its course materials, including textbooks and videos of lectures, available on its open courseware site (ocw.mit.edu). Professors at other prestigious institutions, such as the California Institute of Technology, have also written and released textbooks free of charge.

But the free digital textbook movement isn’t restricted to a small band of altruistic authors — some people want to make money.

Enter Flat World Knowledge, a 2-yearold startup that lets users read its textbooks for free at www.flatworldknowledge.com.

Eric Frank and Jeff Shelstad, who have a combined 31 years of experience in the traditional publishing industry, started the company after becoming disillusioned with the business.

The trouble began in the 1980s, Frank said, when 60-or-so textbook publishers competed to create the largest sales force.

After the companies consolidated into a few mega publishers in the 1990s, the industry entered what Frank called a “nuclear arms race of supplements,” when companies competed to distinguish their products with extra materials like CDROMs. The textbook companies passed on the costs of all that competition to consumers, Frank said. Between 1986 and 2004, textbook prices rose at double the rate of inflation, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Around the turn of the millennium, students were fed up, and with the growth of the Internet, able to find alternatives, Frank said. A student in Florida could buy a used book from someone in Alaska.

Desperate to kill the used book market, publishers rushed out new edition after new edition, succeeding in the short term but driving textbook prices skyward, he said.

Amid the turmoil, Frank and Shelstad, both executives for Prentice Hall Business Publishing, found themselves on a train together.

“We looked at each other and said, ‘Is anybody happy in this industry? ... Who are the constituents? Students, they hate us,’” Frank recalled.

Their solution, to release digital textbooks online for free and sell the extras, such as print copies and study guides, found a polarized response. Some looked at Frank and Shelstad “like we had two heads,” Frank said. Others asked, “Can I invest?”

So far, the results have been promising, Frank said. About 70 percent of the students who have used the site for class buy products, spending a little more than $30 each, he said. About 40 percent paid around $40 for a printed black-and-white textbook with study aides, he said.

“There’s always a lot of student complaints about the cost of textbooks, especially in intro courses,” explained Robert Meeds, the chair of the communications department at Texas Tech University, which started using a Flat World Knowledge textbook in an introductory course this spring. “That’s always something you’re aware of. That doesn’t necessarily guide the decision.”

Clemson University psychology professor Fred Switzer said he appreciated the flexibility of the company’s e-books, which allow professors to rearrange or remove content as they see fit.

CourseSmart (www.coursesmart.com) is a digital publisher with a more traditional business model. Started as a collaboration among five major textbook publishers, the company says it offers e-textbooks for about half the cost of the print version.

After purchase, the digital textbooks are available for 180 days.

“While the industry is moving in (the

COURTESY PHOTO

A growing number of publishers, both individuals and major textbook companies, are offering their content digitally. Products like the Kindle DX, shown here, were designed with a larger display specifically for digital newspapers and textbooks. Six schools will test the new device this fall for its possible use in the classroom.

digital) direction, the transition to digital textbooks will not happen overnight, and textbooks will continue to be offered in print format,” wrote Frank Lyman, executive vice president of CourseSmart, in an e-mail.

CourseSmart’s main advantage is volume. The company offers more than 7,000 titles, compared to the 11 currently available on Flat World Knowledge’s Web site.

Lyman said sales were up 600 percent this year compared to last.

“I suspect that (the free textbook model) will increase and will be a good solution for a small segment of the market,” Lyman wrote. “The primary problem with this model, however, is that it is hampered by the limited availability of content.”

The digital textbook movement may get a boost from new, more portable technology, such as the tiny laptops called netbooks and Amazon’s lightweight ebook reader known as the Kindle, which is as thin as a magazine but can hold thousands of volumes.

This spring, Amazon unveiled the Kindle DX, a new version of the reader with a larger display designed specifically for digital newspapers and textbooks. Six schools will test the new device this fall for its possible use in the classroom.

“There’s a broad interest in whether (digital textbook) technology is about to get launched,” said Martin Ringle, chief technology officer at Reed College, one of the schools that will test the Kindle DX. “A lot of the pieces have been around for several years, but there’s been pretty negative reaction from both teachers and students about content delivery and the tools for reading and utilizing the content. We’re not sure that this is the breakthrough product, but Amazon has been pretty successful in the consumer market in terms of its content delivery.”

“We’re reaching that point where the cost of conventional textbooks has become so astronomical that anybody that provides any relief ... is going to be favorably received by the students,” he said.

Whether the nearly $500 Kindle DX will provide long-term savings remains to be seen. A Kindle edition of an applied chemistry textbook costs $119, compared to $134 for the hardcover print edition. A Kindle toxicology textbook costs $92, compared to $115 for the print edition.

Other obstacles to widespread adoption of e-textbooks remain. A study conducted by a group of student public interest research groups found that 75 percent of students preferred printed textbooks, which could hinder the use of e-textbooks that limit printing, such as those offered

by CourseSmart. And the availability of Internet and computer access could complicate the introduction of e-textbooks in high schools.

In other cases, a lack of information could prevent students and teachers from using the digital textbooks that are already out there.

“Most people have absolutely no idea that there are hundreds and hundreds of high-quality, free textbooks on the Web,” Crowell wrote.

14 | DIVERSIONS

THE TELESCOPE | TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2009

Horoscope

By Linda C. Black

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Sept. 7 - Sept 13

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You've been waiting for the time Let others argue until they know to be right, and it almost is. what they want you to do. You don't Continue with your plans and want to have to start the project preparations. over again.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

You're very practical now, so you may put the brakes on a crazy scheme. Make sure they're playing by the rules.

You'd like to hide out all day, playing. Luckily you can, without going over budget. Enjoy.

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

There's not enough time to do Listen carefully and help the com- everything, so focus on the most batants understand each other. You important item on your list. can calm them and keep them from melting down.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

After much nagging, you finally listen to what your mate has been A chatterbox at home would drive trying to tell you. It wasn't what you you crazy if he or she didn't think of thought. so many good ideas.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

A conversation with a distant Put off a shopping trip.You'll find friend brings you the answer you the same item at a better price if seek. Don't tell anyone what you're up to. you keep looking around.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Let your partner carry the load for Give your team support. That's a little while. He or she has talents what they need from you now. You you don't even know about yet. have a good way of lighting a fire under them.

COMET SPORTS |

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8 2009 | THE TELESCOPE

SPORTS ON DECK

Wednesday, Sept. 9 MEN’S SOCCER Palomar at Riverside , 3 p.m.

MEN’S WATER POLO Palomar at Southwestern, 3:15 p.m.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO Palomar at Southwestern, 2 p.m.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Palomar at Fullerton, 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 11 CROSS COUNTRY Palomar Invitational, 3 p.m. at Guajome Park

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Palomar at Irvine Valley, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12 FOOTBALL Victor Valley vs. Palomar, 6 p.m. at Escondido High

Wednesday, Sept. 16 WOMEN’S SOCCER San Diego Mesa at Palomar, 1 p.m. at Minkoff Field

WOMEN’S SOCCER College of the Desert at Palomar, 4 p.m.

MEN’S WATER POLO Grossmont at Palomar, 3:15 p.m.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO Grossmont at Palomar, 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18 WOMEN’S SOCCER

15

Palomar falls in season opener

“

We worked good as a team.

We’ve never played together, so we did very well.

Comets come up short in coach’s debut JEREMY LEAL THE TELESCOPE

The Comets women’s soccer team took a slight blow in their season-opening 2-1 loss to Cochise College, but were still able to make positive gains in the process.

In the first five minutes of the game, the Apaches were on the attack. As the game APACHES 2 went on PALOMAR 1 Palomar UP NEXT started to come togeth- San Diego Mesa at er. The final Palomar score of the game was Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. misleading, as the AT STAKE Comets were The Comets open up dominant for most of Pacific Coast the game, Conference play after but had troua nine-day layoff. ble capitalizing.

“We dominated in the game, but we just weren’t finishing,” KEN FARREN | THE TELESCOPE said head coach Pamela A member of the girl’s soccer team throws the ball in from the sideline during Palomar’s Campbell.

This is Campbell’s first year season-opener. as the coach of the Comets.

Campbell brings 20 years of coaching experience to the team.

Campbell said the Comets were using this game to get an outlook on what their upcoming season would be like. She added that they wanted to create good chemistry.

This was hard to do for the Comets because several of their starters were dropped from classes, due to complications in the enrollment system, making them ineligible to play in the season-opener.

“Coming into the game, we just wanted to try to get some good communication out on the field and get used to each other.

The computers dumped some of KEN FARREN | THE TELESCOPE our starters out of classes, so we Another player kicks the ball downfield in a 2-1 loss against the Cochise College Apaches. were shuffling,” Campbell said.

The Comets (0-1) were able to

”

— JERICA SNYDER

Women’s soccer team captain

come together, despite the confusion, said Comets captain Jerica Snyder.

“We have a good group,” Campbell said. “They are all working really hard to get to know each other, so we can work well on the field.”

Snyder said it was very important that the team work well as a unit.

“We worked good as a team,” Snyder said. “That’s what we were focusing on this week. We put forth lots of effort. We’ve never played together, so we did very well.”

Snyder scored the only goal for Palomar in the eighteenth minute of the second half. This goal seemed to turn the tides of the game, giving the Comets a surge of momentum.

Opportunities for Palomar were certainly presented to them, but they were not able to take advantage.

Snyder did say the team needed to work on some things. She agreed with her coach, saying they need to work on finishing and capitalizing on opportunities where there are open shots.

“We have things to work on, but we came out hard,” Snyder said.

Cochise College’s Tatiana Garay scored both of the Apache’s goals. Her first goal was a header in the first half while the second goal came in the second half.

After the game Campbell told the team she was very proud of them. Despite the loss there was a very positive feeling around the team huddle.

“They put out a great effort and were real solid. They are just really ‘coachable,’” Campbell said about her players.

Cross country teams looking forward to first meet

Palomar at Cerritos, 4 p.m. at Cerritos

Saturday, Sept. 19 FOOTBALL San Diego Mesa at Palomar, 6 p.m. at Escondido High

CROSS COUNTRY Orange Coast Invitational, 8 a.m. at Costa Mesa

For updated Comet scores, go to www.the-telescope.com.

MELINA FICKAS THE TELESCOPE

With the first meet of the season approaching, the men and women’s cross country teams are about to see how their training during the off-season has gone.

“Let’s see where they start out,” said Jennifer Williams, coach of the women’s team.

The Palomar Invitational, the first meet of the season, will take place at Guajome Park on Sept. 11. With only six to ten teams in attendance, this will be a low-key event, said Hugh Gerhardt, coach of the men’s team.

The teams have been training all summer, which Williams says is a key factor to the start of a good season. She said that during pre-season the teams solely work on strength and that

“speed comes later.”

Marcos campus. And to The key runners for keep things interesting, the men’s team are on Saturdays Williams UP NEXT Alex Avilez and Brian said they train at “the Burke, who were both Palomar Invitational beach, park, all sorts of running under six places.”

Sept. 11 minute miles last sea“Most people aren’t son. Williams said even awake and you’re 3 p.m. there are “a bunch of seven miles out,” said new faces” on the Rob Putnam, who is a women’s team and member of the men’s AT STAKE that she is excited for team and also helps the invitational to see The Comets will race with some of the coachagainst 10 other who the leader of the ing. “It’s relaxing, I teams in the first pack will be. guess.”

Saieed Rihan, who Putnam said that his meet of the season has been running on for men and women favorite part of cross cross country teams country is that “it’s since his freshman year in high rewarding.” school, said he believes they are “The races,” Rihan said with a ready for the invitational. smile about his favorite part.

The men’s and women’s teams At last years Palomar train together early in the morn- Invitational both of the Palomar ing for two hours Monday teams finished in fourth place. through Thursday at the San The men’s team finished with a

score of 104 and the women’s team with 94. The scoring in cross country is done by adding up the places in which the runners ranked, and the lowest amount of points wins the meet.

While the men’s team is significantly bigger than last year, both of the cross country teams are open to anyone who wants to run, no matter how good you are.

“You don’t even have to race,” said Gerhardt.

Both teams have high hopes for this season. While the conference title is still in the picture, Williams said to compete at the state meet is the “ultimate goal” for men’s and women’s teams this season.

“Never say die,” said Gerhardt as inspiration to some of the runners from the men’s team.