The Telescope 62.7

PALOMAR COLLEGE, SAN MARCOS, CALIF.

MONDAY OCT. 13, 2008

FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

VOL. 62, NO. 6

the-telescope.com

Car theft Banned Books Week MiraCosta decreases Library holds event to raise awareness of censorship put on probation KELLEY FOYT THE TELESCOPE

Palomar College has seen a surge in vehicle burglaries in and around the San Marcos and Escondido campuses recently, according to Campus Police.

The current car burglary rate in 2008 is less than in 2007 but a recent increase in vehicle burglaries is cause for concern, said Karen Boguta, Dispatch and Records Coordinator for Campus Police.

She added that they had five burglaries within three days.

Even with the sudden spike in crime, Palomar has seen less car thefts this year overall.

There were 37 car burglaries in the 2007 calendar year and 22 so far this year.

At this rate, there would be a projected total of 30 vehicle burglaries in 2008.

Of the burglaries, five were stolen vehicles and the rest were cars that had been broken into.

Boguta said that common articles stolen include iPods, cameras, parking permits, speakers, radios and GPS units.

Joann Jungk, a freshman music major, didn’t know of the car burglaries. She said, “It’s really scary to think that so much crime occurs at [Palomar].”

Boguta defined vehicular burglary as a secured vehicle that is parked and is physically broken into.” According to California statute, vehicle burglary does not include instances in which the car is left unlocked and then broken into.

Donica Hart, a sophomore at Palomar who uses the school parking lot, said she didn’t know about the increasing rate of vehicle burglaries.

“Considering how many cars

MAGGIE AVANTS THE TELESCOPE

MiraCosta College is on academic probation and it has some students worried.

Kim Pinkerton, a former MiraCosta student who was registered for the fall semester, said she felt it was in her best interest to withdraw from MiraCosta and is now attending Palomar.

“It was a mess, but I got most of the classes I needed,” Pinkerton said.

MiraCosta was placed on warning status by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges in January 2008. In a letter dated Jan. 31, 2008, ACCJC explained they had acted to issue a warning to the school until they corrected deficiencies in recommended areas MiraCosta and Palomar administrators said a warning from the state’s accreditation system will not affect the value of a student’s degree.

Palomar College President Robert Deegan said the situation at MiraCosta is not something that students should worry about.

He explained that each college goes through a self-study every six years, followed by a site visit. Palomar is currently preparing for its site visit in March 2009. The last time Palomar went through the process was in 2003.

“They were placed on a warning status,” Deegan said of MiraCosta. “It’s very common.

YUKIE ZUILL | THE TELESCOPE

Above: Katy French, a Palomar College librarian, wrote about the banning of books on the stairs of the Palomar College library during the Banned Book Week events Sept. 30.

Left: Books that have been banned or challenged were locked in a makeshift jail on the second floor of the library Sept. 30 to raise students’ awareness of censorship in America. It contained many popular books such as “The Catcher in the Rye” and “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

TURN TO CAR THEFT PAGE 3

TURN TO MIRACOSTA PAGE 3

Patrons of Palomar disband after 60 years MAGGIE AVANTS THE TELESCOPE

Scholarships, campus beautification, ski trips for the disabled and Palomar’s very own clock tower – these are just a few of the accomplishments of the Patrons of Palomar.

After over 60 years of faithfully serving Palomar College, the group has disbanded.

The Patrons disbanded because they were starting to lose too many members to retirement, poor health, even death in some

OPINION

cases, and they weren’t seeing any influx of younger blood to carry it on.

The non-profit organization was founded in 1947 by wives of Palomar presidents and faculty, and was well known around campus for their philanthropic ways.

In fact, one of the first accomplishments of the early group was the installation of the clock tower on the San Marcos Campus. The group later added benches around it.

“No matter how much remodeling the college goes through,”

said student Alex Gallegos, as he sat on the grass near the tower, “They should always keep the clock tower. That’s a given.”

The more recent group was made up of former students, faculty and even Palomar parents.

Polly Pedjoe, former president of Patrons of Palomar, said she got involved when her daughters were at Palomar.

“My daughters were getting such a good education, and I just wanted to give back to Palomar,” Pedjoe said.

That was 20 years ago, and

ENTERTAINMENT

Candidates debate with inaccuracy PAGE 5

Dennis Quaid talk about the Express PAGE 8

Pedjoe was president within a short time of joining. To generate money for their projects they held bake sales, book sales, an annual holiday sale and various other fundraisers.

The money they raised from their efforts was then invested in the college’s students and the campus as a whole.

“When they needed computers, we would supply them,” Pedjoe said, in regards to the many ways they helped Palomar.

Through the years they gained a reputation for their generosity

FOCUS

in granting scholarships to area high school students. Pedjoe said she knows they gave thousands upon thousands of dollars in scholarships, almost too much to count.

The Patrons were also known for sponsoring week long Tahoe skiing trips for disabled Palomar students.

The ski trip is a yearly event that the students have to raise money for. According to Ron Haines, director of the Disability Resource Center, the group was TURN TO PATRONS PAGE 3

SPORTS How to keep fit with a college schedule PAGE 6

Comets 20year winning streak ends PAGE 12

2 | CAMPUS BEAT

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, OCT.. 13, 2008

CAMPUS CALENDAR

Arboretum holds plant fundraiser

The Friends of the Palomar College Arboretum Committee is hosting a plant sale Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

On Oct. 17, the sale will be located at the flagpole near the Student Union building on the San Marcos campus, and will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The next day, it will be held both at the cactus garden and the main entrance of the arboretum.

All profits from the sale will go toward the maintenance and expansion of the arboretum.

For more information, contact Tony Rangel at arangel@palomar.edu.

Monday, Oct. 13 VOLCANIC ERUPTION As part of Earth Science Week (Oct.12-18) there will be demonstrations of volcanic eruptions on Oct. 13 and Oct. 15 at 12:40 p.m. on the west patio of the NS Building.

FLU SHOTS Health Services is now offering flu shots through Nov. 30. Shots are $15 for students and $20 for staff. To schedule an appointment call Health Services at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2380.

Free typing test for students and staff

Tuesday, Oct. 14 FREE FILM SERIES In this silent film from the 1920s, Buster Keaton plays a young man who, while working for his father on his steamboat, falls in love with the daughter of his business rival.The screening is from 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. in P-32.

Children, food or drinks will not be permitted. For more information contact Robert Sheppard at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2444 or at rsheppard@palomar.edu.

Registered Palomar students and staff can now take keyboarding, 10-key and shorthand test for free.

Ten-key tests evaluate the ability to quickly enter sequences of numbers into the computer.

Tests are set for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. every Tuesday in B-22 now through Dec 9.

Tests are by appointment only and students must show proof of registration in order to take the test without charge.

For students without proof of enrollment, there will be a $5 fee for the typing and 10-key test and a $10 fee for the shorthand test.

There will be 10 minutes of practice time before the test followed by three 5-minute timed tests. For the best time with 5 errors or less, a certificate will be given.

Fore more information and to make an appointment, call the Business Administration Department at (760) 744-1150, ext 2497.

Palomar Choral performs spirituals

AIR FORCE BAND A Rhythm ‘n Brass band will be performing in front of the flag pole from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is being sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs.

CAREER WORKSHOP

YUKIE ZUILL | THE TELESCOPE

Health Fair

Joanne Meza, a fourth-year nursing student, demonstrates early breast cancer detection to Esmeralda Pantoja, a second-year criminology student, at the Palomar College Health Services booth during the Health Fair on Oct. 1.

Songs of Triumph will be performed by The Palomar Chorale at 8 p.m. on Oct. 18 and at 2 p.m Oct. 19.

Three movements from Alice Parker’s cantata Melodious Accord will be coupled with an inspired reading of Miriam’s Song of Triumph, Opus 136 by Franz Schubert.

Also to be performed are a collection of spirituals.

Sally Husch Dean will direct the performance with Steven Gray accompanying on piano.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.palomarperforms.com or by phone (760) 744-1150, ext. 2453.

Admission for events in the Howard Brubeck theatre are $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors (55 and over) $10 for Palomar staff and $8 for students.

The entrant’s full name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and a one to two sentence caption explaining the photo must accompany each photo.

Entries may be mailed along with a signed entry form, available at the Earth Science Web site. The parental consent line on the entry form must be signed by a parent or guardian if the entrant is under the age of 18.

Entries can also be submitted electronically via e-mail to info@earthscienceweek.org with the subject “ESW 2008 Photography Contest.”

The deadline for the contest is 2 p.m. on Oct. 17.

For more information and to download the entry form for the contest, visit www.earthscienceweek.org/contests/photography/index.html.

The American Geological Institute is offering $300 to the winner of their annual Earth Science Week photography contest.

The theme for this year’s essay contest is “Earth Science Beyond Your Front Door.”

The photograph should encompass the theme and show through the entrants personal outdoor excursions how best to get out and enjoy nature.

In addition to the $300, the winner will also receive a copy of AGI’s “Faces of the Earth” DVD and have their name and photo posted on the Earth Science Week Web site.

The contest is open residents of the United States of any age. Contestants may only submit one photograph and all entries must be original works that have not previously been submitted in any other contests.

For anyone who has gone to one of the weekly Campus Exploration seminars and wants the chance to further discuss what they learned, the library is now offering students the opportunity.

Professors can make appointments to bring their classes to the library for an instructional session that focuses on the Campus Explorations theme, “Environment and Sustainable Living: Global Crises and Solutions.”

The sessions will be 50 minutes long with the first part consisting of discussion of the recent media coverage of the environment and how it conflicts with research.

The second part will cover how to research information regarding sustainable living and how to analyze it critically.

Sessions can be scheduled at www.palomar.edu/library/infocomp/requestform.htm.

Film series shows movie in French “Persepolis” will be the next film shown in the free film series at 5:30 p.m Oct. 21.

“Persepolis” is a film adaption of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novels about her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.

The story is told through the eyes of Satrapi as a young girl. She sees people’s hopes dashed as fundamentalists take over, according to the movie’s official site.

Satrapi co-directed the animated French film with Vincent Paronnaud in 2007.

The film is in French, and subtitled in Farsi (Persian). The screening will be in P-32 and is rated PG-13.

Music department to Earth Science week Library provides host soprano singer further exploration essay contest African American spirituals will be per-

CAMPUS WEATHER

formed by Soprano Mary Jaeb at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 for Palomar’s Concert Hour.

The spirituals will be in both traditional and contemporary settings, with a piano accompaniment from fellow faculty member Ruth Lopez-Yanez.

Jaeb is a classical and contemporary singer with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Her repertoire includes; operatic roles like Abigail in “The Crucible,” concert performances such as “The Coronation Mass”

by Mozart and orchestra performances like the “Messiah“ with The La Jolla Chamber.

Also included in her credits are musical theater, according to Mary Jeab’s Web site.

Concert Hour is free and held in the Performance Lab, which is located in room D-10.

Monday, Oct. 13

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Thursday, Oct. 16

Friday, Oct. 17

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“Anybody’s Guide to Career Transition” author, Sue Arth, will be discussing how fear effects success in the workplace, how it prevents advancement, and how it can be overcome. She will be in the Governing Board Room in the SSC Building from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop is open to all students, staff and community members. For more information contact Eddie Tubbs at (760) 744-1150, ext. 3125 or at etubbs@palomar.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 COFFEE HOUSE NITE Enjoy free coffee,cookies and other treats from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Student Union. This event is free to all those with a student ID.

EARTH SCIENCE WEEK LECTURE UC San Diego Professor Dave Hilton will be lecturing on the subject of volcanoes and volcanic gasses. The presentation will begin at 9:30 a.m. in NS-136.

Thursday, Oct. 16 CONCERT HOUR Singer MaryJaeb will be performing traditional African -American spirituals. She will be joined on the piano by Palomar faculty member Ruth Lopez-Yañez. The performance will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in D-10. For more information contact Kimberly Loya at (760) 7441150, ext. 2316.

Friday, Oct. 17 PLANT SALE Help support the Palomar College Arboretum at the Friends of the Palomar College Arboretum Plant Sale. All the proceeds will go toward the maintenance and expansion of the Arboretum. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the flag pole.

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.

NEWS | 3

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008 | THE TELESCOPE

Freshman weight gain isn't par for course ASHLEY KINDERGAN MCT CAMPUS

It’s difficult to think of a way to add pounds faster than living the stereotypical college lifestyle.

Juggling coursework, jobs and a social life leaves little time for exercising or even regular meals.

The good news is that not every entering freshman puts on weight, and there are some easy things students can do to avoid packing on pounds.

Those who did gain weight put on an average of seven pounds, not 15.

But gaining seven pounds doesn’t require all that much extra food. The Rutgers study said that taking in just 112 extra calories

CAR THEFT

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each day would do it.

Jackie Ehlert-Mercer, a registered dietitian who runs nutrition programs for students at the University of British Columbia, said freshmen who gain weight their first semester and don't lose it in the second semester are more likely to keep gaining weight throughout college.

“An overweight adolescent ... is probably going to become an obese adult if they don't mediate their weight during college,” Ehlert-Mercer said.

Scott Fisher, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Health and Fitness Center, recommends that students plan their days to ensure that they eat regularly and healthfully. Skipping

meals to lose weight usually backfires, he said.

“You should really go no longer than four or five hours without eating something,” Fisher said.

“If you go for too long a period of time without eating, your blood sugar level drops. When your blood sugar level drops, your body essentially sends you signals that it wants a very quick source of energy, which are the typical sugary foods, and some concentrated calories, which are fatty foods.”

Going easy on the alcohol can also make a big difference.

Daniel Hoffman, a co-author of the Rutgers study, said that the body metabolizes alcohol before either carbohydrates or fat. That

Hart said she always locks her car and keeps valuables out of view.

After learning about the car burglaries, she said, “Before I would just place my camera in the trunk and take my laptop with me but now I may have to find another way to block it.”

“If you’re aware of your surroundings, if you’re aware that there is a problem and you take steps to make sure that you’re not allowing yourself to get into that victim category, then you may be able to prevent it from happening,” Boguta said.

She continued by saying that students should secure their cars to whatever level

are in the parking lot, I’m not very surprised,” she said.

“I am worried about it though,” Hart said. “I keep my laptop in my car, as well as a lot of valuables, like the camera I use at work. If those got stolen, I couldn’t afford to replace them and they weigh too much to carry around.”

Boguta stressed a “be safe, be aware” philosophy and put emphasis on the recommendation that students shouldn’t panic about the situation, but to do whatever they can to secure their car.

Lock doors “People are attracted to what Do not leave valuables visible, including loose change they can physically see,” Boguta said.

Roll up windows and sunroofs, leaving windows cracked if needed “So if you leave your purse or iPod or If stereos, iPods or GPS systems are removable, remove from view something like that laying around open Activate alarm system if one is installed where people can visibly see it, they’re If parking at night, park in a lighted area more likely to break into the car that way.”

To combat the problem, Boguta said Palomar has sent they can financially afford.

There is no set pattern in either targetout extra patrols and has assigned officers to specific lots, however prevention must ed cars or specific times correlating to the burglaries. Boguta said most of them begin with students.

Everyday actions like leaving windows occur during the day, from late morning open in hot weather is an invitation to to early evening.

Palomar records indicate that there burglars, Boguta said.

Keeping the Palomar campus a safe have been burglaries in just about every environment is a “collaborative effort,” parking lot.

Although no perpetrators have been and both students and teachers need to be aware of their surroundings, Boguta caught, Palomar is working in conjuncadded. Students are encouraged to report tion with outside police forces in order to suspicious activity to the Campus Police. catch the burglars. Boguta said that from On a scale on one-to-10, with 10 being her past experiences, burglars could be the most concerned that people should either Palomar students or outsiders.

Report suspicious activity or any tips be, Boguta said “if one is what normally everybody is, I’d put yourself up to three on the burglaries by calling Campus Police at (760) 744-1150 ext. 2289. or four.”

How not to get burglarized

means the body has less opportunity to burn off carbohydrates and fats from food.

The sheer number of calories in alcoholic drinks is enough to make most people gain weight. A single shot of 80-proof vodka contains 97 calories, and a typical light beer contains about 99, according to thecaloriecounter.com.

Combine hard liquor with mixers (110 calories for an 8-ounce glass of orange juice) or down a few beers during a drinking game, and the calories add up quickly.

“A lot of students don’t realize that the number of calories per gram in alcohol is closer to fat than to carbohydrates,” Hoffman said. “If you look at binge drinking ... you’re looking at a lot of

MIRACOSTA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Out of 18 schools that recently went through site visits, only four of them came out without a warning.”

He knows of only one college, Compton College, that lost its accreditation, and they were subsequently taken under the wing of the El Camino Community College District.

“None of those [Compton] students ever lost any of their credits,” Deegan said.

MiraCosta’s problems began in December 2005, according to a 2007 Special Visit Evaluation Report by a four-person visiting team from ACCJC. According to the report, the visit was prompted by 17 months of “significant tension and turmoil” at the college due to the investigation of four college employees who were placed on leave for allegedly selling palm trees from the school’s horticulture department for personal profit.

“We have had some turmoil on campus, and it has been covered by the press,” said Bonnie Hall, director of marketing and communication at MiraCosta College.

The report stated that the college’s administration was divided on the handling of the investigation, which resulted in a no-confidence vote in the college’s president and board of trustees, and that campus surveys showed that “morale was at an all time low.”

But the report also stated that the college as a whole had maintained “an admirable resiliency and dedication to its core mission.”

Three recommendations were made to MiraCosta in the report. The first involved providing evidence of student learning outcomes. The second suggested greater participation throughout the administration in the school’s mission,

PATRONS

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instrumental in contributing to the funds for these occasions.

Nicole Fisher, a DRC student who has a mild form of cerebral palsy, has been going on the ski trips since 1995.To go on the trip, she said, the students must raise $350 on their own, but the total cost is about $2,500 per student.

“Many of us are on limited income, so that is a lot of money,” Fisher said. “The Patrons used to donate a lot of the remaining funds. Now it is harder for the department to raise the money we need.”

However, there are parts of the campus that they directly contributed to that will live on.

These include the expansion of the Boehm Gallery and early planting of the Arboretum.They also raised $20,000 for the wood technology students at Palomar to create the wooden Friendship Pavilion that now sits in the Arboretum.

The Patrons of Palomar were supporters of the Arboretum since its inception.

According to Supervisor of Grounds Services Rick Kratcoski, “They’ve done a

calories.”

Eating is only one side of the weight-gain equation. Working out can help burn off the occasional late-night pizza or homesickness-induced pint of ice cream.

Fisher recommended at least half an hour of exercise most days and augmenting that with strength training a few times a week.

Relaxing a little isn’t a bad idea, either. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that college students who slept four hours a night produced more of a hormone called ghrelin, which causes feelings of hunger, than peers who had been allowed to sleep for as much as 10 hours.

vision and values. The third was that the board establish an agreement about its rules, regulations and protocols.

ACCJC sent another warning letter to MiraCosta on June 30, 2008, which placed a deadline for the school to meet the criteria by the next scheduled visit in March 2009.

Officials at MiraCosta said they are optimistic about the timeline.

“We took immediate action when we received the letter,” Hall said. “We fully anticipate that all of the three recomwill be completely mendations addressed by the March 2009 visit.”

Hall said that all of the college’s classes are accredited and they are accepted This coincides with for transfer.

ACCJC’s assurance in its letters that the college will remain accredited during this time.

For Palomar’s accreditation process, Deegan said he is familiar with the standards of accreditation as he has gone through it many times during his 20 years in administration. He added that accrediting commissions are trying to hold people more accountable.

“Accreditation is good and it assures students that the college they are attending has met certain standards,” Deegan said.

Palomar is currently on draft five of its self-study, according to officials.

“What we do is we take a snapshot of ourselves in all areas, according to the guidelines provided by ACCJC, and then provide documentation to support our findings,” Deegan said.

As for MiraCosta, Deegan said, “They are our sister college, our good friends, and they are still fully accredited.”

Hall said despite the warning, MiraCosta has seen an 11 percent increase in enrollment this semester.

“We hope they are doing well and were able to get the classes they needed,” she said, “and they are welcome to come back anytime.” lot for the college. They are irreplaceable.

It’s too bad [they are gone].”

Kratcoski, who spent time on the board of the Patrons of Palomar and is now on the board for Friends of Palomar College Arboretum, said the Patrons gave many of the plants around the new Natural Science building.

Besides funding the plants around the Natural Science building, they planted several young trees around campus, Pedjoe said.

“They are small [trees] now, but they will be big someday,” she said.

Their many years of service have not gone unnoticed.

On July 10, 2007, the group received a Resolution of Appreciation and a plaque from the Palomar College Governing Board. In the ceremony the board said, “The Patrons of Palomar…have proved themselves to be generous and committed builders of this institution.”

President Robert Deegan recommended that the plaque be placed in the Foundation Hall.

“They were a wonderful group that will be missed,” he said, adding that when they left they gave Palomar a donation of $50,000 to be used for future campus

4

| OPINION

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008

OUR VIEWPOINT

Government handling the economic crisis poorly The economy has dropped to a new low, the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Unfortunately, the government’s solution of a $700 billion bailout for some of the biggest banks on Wall Street is not what the country needs.

Everyone’s first question is how the economy got to this point, as whenever something goes wrong the immediate reaction is to blame someone.

However, unless the information gathered is used to prevent an economic disaster like this from happening in the future, it is pointless.

It seems to be the consensus that the CEOs are at fault for the current economic crisis as they have made many risky moves in order to increase their profits.

One of probably the most economically dangerous moves they made was to give home loans to people who could not afford them. The housing market was booming, and though everyone was waiting for the bubble to pop, people were buying homes with balloon payments they could not afford.

Now we are faced with an ever-growing number of foreclosures, which has sent the economy tumbling.

Basic economics is based on supply and demand, and it is generally a self-regulating system. As supply goes down cost goes up, decreasing demand and as supply goes up costs goes down increasing demand until the system finds its equilibrium.

However with the housing market, as costs went up interest rates went down and demand rose. And that led to the housing bubble and eventual downfall of the economy.

So when the market was doing well these banks gave out loans that no one could afford and now politicians decide to bail them out of the debt they created for themselves.

This just is not fair.

That $700 billion of tax money would have been much better spent if it had been given to the hard-working taxpayers who were forced into foreclosure by the loans they were sold instead of those who are buying their eighth home.

Bush’s supply side economic philosophy may make sense in theory, but in practice having more products is only beneficial if the people can afford them.

Thus, as taxpaying consumers are the ones currently taking the hit, it would have been far more beneficial to bail them out than to bail out corporations whose faulty business tactics got them into the situation in the first place.

New citizenship test will be fairer to immigrants

JOSEPH BONNET | THE TELESCOPE

MATT WADLEIGH THE TELESCOPE

What is the 45th state added to our Union? What is the role of the President’s Cabinet? Who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner”?

If you want to become a United States citizen, you must know the answers to questions like these.

The truth is that relatively few know these answers, whether they live here or not. It is not relevant to citizens today.

A new U.S. citizenship test has been needed for some time now, and finally this is being fulfilled.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services are coming out with a new U.S. citizenship test starting this month.

The new test has a strong emphasis on the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and the responsibilities of citizenship.

It is also designed to help to help encourage test-takers to learn and identify with the basic values of Americans.

The main goal of the redesigned test is to ensure that people coming into the country

Candidates’ mud-slinging not helpful PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER MCT CAMPUS

Given America's two wars and the continued economic meltdown — as evidenced by another stock-market nosedive Monday — you would think John McCain and Sarah Palin haveenough serious topics to discuss with voters.

Instead, they're offering “Lipstick On a Pig: The Sequel.”

McCain is slumping in polls, largely because of his uneven response to the financial crisis. But running mate Palin has hit on a way to change the subject: by smearing Barack Obama for his loose association with Bill Ayers, a founder of the 1960s radical group Weather Underground.

Obama is “palling around with terrorists who would target their own country,” Palin said. She didn't mention that Obama was 8 years old when the group carried out bombMONDAY OCT. 13, 2008

ings,nor that Obama has denounced Ayers’ activities.

This misdirection is reminiscent of the feigned outrage that poured from the McCain campaign over Obama's “lipstick on a pig”remark a few weeks ago. Instead of giving voters substance, they're providing diversions.

Obama’s campaign has unleashed its own attacks on McCain, accusing the Republican of “erratic”action in the economic crisis. McCain's drop in public opinion polls indicates that many Americans share that view.

Obama is also dredging up McCain’s role as one of the “Keating Five,” a group of senators who tried to intervene with banking regulators on behalf of savings-and-loan financier Charles Keating, a friend and campaign donor.

McCain and his wife had made at least nine trips aboard Keating's corporate jet; they vacationed three FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

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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have a meaningful understanding of the government and history, as well as to serve as a tool to encourage civic learning and patriotism among soon-to-be citizens.

A revision was first suggested in the late 1990s by an immigration panel, which was then led by Rep. Barbara Jordan.

However, the government didn’t start working on it until the Bush administration in 2001, and since that time the director of the test development project has been changed.

They did give out a pilot test in 2007 to 10 different US cities including Boston; Miami; San Antonio,Texas; Tucson, Ariz.; and Yakima, Wash. In that pilot program, 92 percent of immigrants passed while the other, older test only had an 84 percent pass rate.

In this new test, they will be asked to study 100 different questions for the test, but during the exam they will be asked 10 questions orally in English and they are required to answer six correctly in order to pass. Applicants then have to read a sentence in

English and write one that is given to them as well.

The new test seems more practical. It does not test cold, hard facts. It tests would-be citizens on governmental background and the history of our government along with the values that each individual American shares. The new questions are based more on understanding than memorization.

The redesigned test questions are meant to be more meaningful and are made to test the knowledge of basic concepts that should be known in order to be an American.

Who is the current Speaker of the House? Hardly any citizen knows that, and why would they?

But the new test will feature easier, more answerable questions.

What is the date of Independence Day? That question is easier and far more meaningful to the average citizen.

The government spent $6.5 million in the last seven years in order to redevelop the citizenship test. Hopefully it will prove worth every penny.

times at his retreat in the Bahamas.

McCain neglected to pay back Keating until several years later.

Keating was convicted of securities fraud; taxpayers lost about $2 billion in the bailout of his company.

The Senate Ethics Committee later found that McCain had used “poor judgment” in his attempt to intervene on Keating's behalf.

Obama's camp clearly wants the Keating scandal to remind voters of the current financial mess.

Negative campaigning has one aim: to suppress voter turnout. So while Bruce Springsteen sings on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to enlist new voters, and voter registration is soaring to record levels in many states, the presidential campaigns are signaling they will spend much of the final weeks trying to discourage voters from going to the polls. That's not what this country needs.

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

EDITOR IN CHIEF | CRYSTAL EVANS NEWS EDITOR | ALEJANDRA JACKSON OPINION EDITOR | ERIC WALKER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR | MONIQUE GARCIA FOCUS EDITOR | KRISTINA MORENO SPORTS EDITOR | ANTHONY SCHWARTZ ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | JARRED POWELL PHOTO EDITOR | YUKIE ZUILL AD MANAGER | JASON CORMIER DISTRIBUTION MANAGER | KEVIN THOMPSON INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS | CHARLES STEINMAN MATT NULL MULTIMEDIA PROJECTS | ELLIOT DE LISSER JOURNALISM ADVISER | ERIN HIRO PHOTOJOURNALISM ADVISER | PAUL STACHELEK

STAFF WRITERS |MAGGIE AVANTS, ERIN BRADLEY, ALEX BREIDENTHAL, MELISSA CASTON, PHILLIP CORBIN, SHAWNNA CLEARY, JOSE GUILLEN, NIGEL HARRIS, PETER KIM, DIEGO LECCA, ALFONSO MARTINEZ, CHRIS MEYER, EMILY MIKSAK, MARK NOTARIAN, MELISSA RAYMOND, CYRILA RICHARDSON, TYPHANIE SHARFNER, VICTORIA TROUPE, MATT WADLEIGH, GRAIANNE WARD

NATE BEELER | MCT CAMPUS The Telescope welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters must be typewritten, under 300 words and include the author’s first and last names, major and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters can be e-mailed to telescope@palomar.edu or delivered to the newsroom in Room MB-1.

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.

STAFF CARTOONISTS | JOSEPH BONNET

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS | JUAN ALVEREZ, ROBERT BACON, KATHERINE BUCHHOLZ, KRISTINE CHOY, JOSHUA GILLUM, MACKENZIE GRIMMER, ADAM HAAS, SHONA JACKSON, JEANETTE JOHNSON, CIARA KEITH, DAVID MACEDO, ANASTASIA MACGILLIVRAY, BART MAGOSKI, BRANDON MAGOSKI, THUCUC NGUYEN, CHRISTAL PASHAIAN, JACKIE PHILLIPS, LEILANI REED, KELLY RICHARDSON, JESSICA ROBERTS, HEATHER SNIDER, PETER TYLOR

ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS

CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

CFAC CALIFORNIA FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION

JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008 | THE TELESCOPE

Media may play pivotal role in upcoming presidential election ALEJANDRA JACKSON THE TELESCOPE

We’ve all seen it before: A celebrity namedrops a designer on the runway and their sales go through the roof, a singer is seen lunching at some swanky cafe and suddenly it takes a reservation months in advance just to get a table. If Oprah picks a book for her book club it will undoubtedly shoot to the top of the bestseller list.

Whether we like to admit it or not, the media plays a part in what we buy and do and this year it might even help choose the new President of the United States.

Earlier this year a friend asked me who I thought most people supported. I said Barack Obama. Then she asked me if I thought that because it was true or because the media's unrelenting focus on him had made me believe it to be true. I hate to admit it but I think she might have had a point.

There has been a lot of attention paid to Barack Obama this year. Supermarkets are full of magazine covers featuring him. From Rolling Stone to Men’s Vogue to Time, his face is on everything. Last month the band Fall Out Boy even released a web-only mix tape featuring a

song called “We Believe in Barack Obama.”

A decidedly unflattering book, “The Case Against Barack Obama,” said it all when they called him “the media’s favorite candidate.”

It’s not just Obama. Sarah Palin — and the slew of books that have popped up in the short time since she was chosen as a vice presidential candidate — has revamped the McCain campaign.

Snide McCain age jokes aside, she has a real chance of becoming the first female president and for all those people who were rooting for Hilary Clinton, Palin could be their substitute.

This all begs the question: what about McCain and Joe Biden? In this election year with a black candidate and a female running mate they just aren’t as interesting.

As the first black presidential hopeful in this country’s history, Obama deserves attention but what would truly be disturbing is if he won because of that attention — or if McCain won just because he had a woman as his running mate.When it comes to something as important as the person who is going to lead this country for the next four to eight years, the decision should be made based on the candidate’s policies, not on whether they have the seal of approval from Oprah.

SPEAK OUT!

OPINION | 5

“

How do you feel about the current economic situation?

I’m trying to find a job right now. I’m starting to find that it’s harder to get a job than it has been previously, and I feel like it’s going to get harder.

“

I give props to anyone who’s actually spending money right now. A lot of people are trying, but it’s hard with taxes rising, gas prices and everything.

People have to get the idea that they have to start spending their money.

”

— Michelle Bravo,undecided

”

—Alister Guale,architecture

“

I don’t like the

bailout. If the

stockbrokers got

themselves into that

problem, they should be

”

the ones that have to fix

“

it. I don’t think it should

I think that there’s two

be our problem.

—Andrea Painter,psychology

sides to every story ... Yes, we

VP debate skimps on issues GRAPHIC BY MCT CAMPUS

CHRIS MEYER THE TELESCOPE

The vice-presidential debate on Sept. 30 answered few questions for the American people, but showed more inaccuracy than anything else.

Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin said that John McCain’s health care plan would be budget-neutral and cost the government nothing. In actuality, McCain’s campaign team has not released any figures on the cost of his plan.

Experts estimate McCain’s plan to cover approximately 5 million uninsured Americans which would add $1.3 trillion over ten years to our current $10 trillion deficit.

On the other hand, Barack Obama’s plan would cover 34 million uninsured and cost nearly $1.6 trillion over the same time. Both plans would cost the government significant amounts of money contrary to want Palin claimed.

Palin also said that Obama’s plan to increase taxes on small businesses making $250,000 or more would affect millions of small businesses that fall into that category. Again, this is merely a fabrication when Obama’s plan for tax increase’s would affect at most several hundred thousand — not millions.

The other hot-button issue is mortgage reform. The U.S. has

spent over 700 billion, bailing out businesses such as American International Group, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Washington Mutual.

Palin said McCain sounded the alarm on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago.What really happened is McCain added his name to a bill as a cosponsor,but by then the mortgage disaster had already begun.

It was not just Palin that was making false accusations and statements. Biden said several times that McCain’s tax cut would give oil companies a $4 billion tax cut.

McCain’s plan would cut the corporate tax rate 10 percent for all corporations — not just oil companies.

Biden also said that Iraq had an $80 billion surplus, when they have never had more than $79 billion.

Iraq currently has $29 billion in the bank and is expected to have anywhere from $47 billion to $59 billion by the end of the year. Biden also embellished greatly about the number of times McCain voted against finding an alternative energy source.McCain did vote 11 times against alternative energy, but was specifically against the mandatory use of alternative energy.

What does this say to us besides the obvious fact that the vice presidential candidates were trying to bury each other in falsehoods? It

should really raise more questions.

Why can’t each campaign simply stand by its own ideals and policies?

Saying “that is just how politics work” will not cut it. If either candidate is going to win your vote for the November election it will likely happen with less truth than we might think.

If voters are naive enough to think that these candidates will feed them the truth, then the sad reality might be ending with another Bush-like problem when the new president is inaugurated next year.

What’s even worse is that to find the truth is going to require some digging.

Both of these candidates are guilty of padding or fudging the real numbers to piece together what they want Americans to see.

When will it get too old and annoying to be the one doing the grunt work of deciphering lies? The reality is that each candidate could be truthful, but it is just too hard.

They are worried too much about impressing voters with flashy figures and how they have voted on tough issues. It is easier to manipulate the truth than to simply be honest in their own policies and visions on how they want to better America.

That does not mean we have to stand for it.

will be in debt up to $750

billion, and you and I will be

paying for that for the rest of

our lives, but it was a necessary bad, and I don’t believe there was a better decision. I can’t

”

help but feel that we forced ourselves there.

— Shane Allison,engineering

JOSEPH BONNET | THE TELESCOPE

6

| FOCUS

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008

How to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise • Don’t consume caffeine four to six hours before bed and minimize daytime use.

• Don’t smoke, especially near bedtime or if you wake up in the night.

• Avoid alcohol and heavy meals before sleep.

EMILY MIKSAK THE TELESCOPE

With the demanding schedules students have these days it can be particularly hard to find a balance between school, work and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Having a healthy lifestyle leads to the prevention of diseases as well as keeping students in top physical and mental shape.

Keep a balanced diet According to www.americanheart.org, having good eating habits can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and exercising on a regular basis is not only good for keeping off those unwanted pounds, but is also good for your heart and brain.

There are many good ways to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The three hardest and most important ways are through a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting the recommended eight hours of sleep.

According to

www.webmd.com, a healthy diet consists of foods high in lean protein, such as fish, chicken, eggs, beans and dairy products. Fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium are also important to keep your diet balanced.

Avoid diets that say to steer clear of consuming fats and carbohydrates in fear they may make the pounds pile on. There are certain types of fats and carbohydrates that are actually healthy for you.

For example, according to www.medecinenet.com, avocados, which pack in a good deal of fat, provide phytochemicals as well as over 25 essential nutrients, such as fiber, potassium, vitamin B and E, and folic acid.

It has also been said that avocados are good for the skin and hair. Other healthy fats to make note of are extra virgin olive oil and omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish such as salmon). Just make sure to limit the amount of fat eaten, because eating too much of anything is never beneficial for a healthy diet.

In regards to carbohydrates, avoiding them completely is unhealthy even though weight-loss may occur briefly, the weight will be re-gained almost immediately. According to www.wideworldoffood.com, “Carbohydrates are one of the three essential macronutrients, and are vital to maintaining your body’s health and nutrition. Carbohydrates fuel our brains and central nervous system, and are of paramount importance for neonatal development.”

It is important to choose complex carbohydrates when choosing bread, cereal, or pasta. Look for foods that advertise whole grains instead of white bread or even whole wheat.

Get the exercise you need Another important part of living a healthy lifestyle

is getting exercise and staying active. www.clevelandclinic.org suggests 30 to 60 minutes of exercise at least three times a week in order to see results. Here are a few easy tips to leading an active lifestyle.

Set aside specific days and times for exercise. The purpose of this is to make exercise an important part of your schedule.

Change it up. Exercise doesn’t have to get boring.

Try jogging one day, speed walking the next, or hit up your local gym and see what fun classes are offered.

Maybe a relaxing yoga class or an intense cycle class will be just what you’re looking for.

If a busy schedule is getting in the way of the active lifestyle you are trying to achieve, try to take the stairs and walk whenever possible. up adds Exercise throughout the day and every little bit counts.

Student Lauren Fitzpatrick has been trying to fit daily exercise into her busy routine.

“Even though I am really busy with school a n d work, finding a n

extra 30 minutes or an hour a day to exercise gives me more energy and makes me feel so much better about myself. The more I do it the easier it gets,” Fitzpatrick said.

According to www.mayoclinic.com, exercise not only helps manage your weight, it helps combat chronic diseases, strengthens your heart and lungs, promotes better sleep, and help your sex life. “Regular exercise can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life.

There’s more to it than that. Exercise improves your circulation, which can lead to more satisfying sex. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don’t exercise” According to www.mayoclinic.com.

Get your eight hours Sleep is a crucial aspect to leading a healthy lifestyle.

“When I don’t get enough sleep I feel like I can’t function the next day. I can’t concentrate on anything and I feel like a zombie. I also almost always get sick when I don’t get enough sleep,” said Palomar student Elizabeth Hansen.

According to www.sleepfoundation.org, sleep is essential for a person’s health and well being, and there is no “magic” number for hours of sleep everyone needs per night. However, eight hours per night is the recommended amount for adults. Here are some tips from www.apa.org to help with sleep problems many people face.

• Get regular exercise.

• Minimize noise, light and excessive hot and cold temperatures where you sleep.

• Develop a regular bedtime routine and go to sleep at the same time each night.

• Try and wake up without an alarm clock.

• Attempt to go to bed earlier every night for a certain period; this will ensure that you’re getting enough sleep.

Good habits lead to good health • Eat a variety of different foods.

Your body needs more than 40 different nutrients. No one food can provide all of them.

• Find out your body’s need for calorie intake. No two bodies are the same, which means not everyone needs the same amount of calories. People who are more active need more calories to support their body’s performance.

• Eat regularly throughout the day. Skipping meals makes your body feel hungry. Hunger leads to craving which makes it easy to forget about good nutrition.

• Record everything you eat for five days. After the fifth day review everything you eat and see where your weak points are.

Do not completely eliminate them but start by cutting your portions in half. For example if you eat french fries four times a week, cut back to two a week and make sure you always order a smaller size.

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008 | THE TELESCOPE

Drink of the week CRYSTAL EVANS THE TELESCOPE

Layered drinks, such as a Lethal Weapon, are a fun and creative drink idea for parties. However, learning to do them right can take a little bit of practice.

To start, find a good recipe, get the ingredients and begin practicing your pours.

Alcohol is easily layered as long as the alcohol with the greatest density is at the bottom of the glass and the lowest density at the top. An easy way to be able to determine the density of an alcohol is by the proof. The higher the proof of an alcohol, the less sugar it contains and therefore the lower the density.

When pouring a Lethal Weapon, or any layered drink, the first alcohol can be poured directly into the glass.

Each subsequent alcohol needs to be poured into the glass over the back of a spoon so the momentum of the liquid does not cause the alcohols to mix.

If unable to get the technique down, the drink can always be placed in the refrigerator and left to stand until the layers separate themselves.

A perfectly poured Lethal Weapon is not only swanky, it packs a good punch and is not made for the faint of heart.

The Midori and J채germeister give the drink a sweet taste and when mixed with the mint flavors of Peppermint Schnapps and Rumple Minze it creates the taste of sweet cough syrup with an after burn of the 151.

The drink will give you an all over warmth and an almost instantaneous buzz. Be careful, one too many Lethal Weapons and you will be regretting it the morning after.

FOCUS | Lethal Weapon Grocery List:

1/2 oz. Midori 1/2 oz. Cinnamon Schnapps 1/2 oz. Rumple Minze 1/2 oz. J채germeister 1/2 oz. Stoli 1/2 oz. Bacardi 151

7

8

| ENTERTAINMENT

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008

Palomar’s ‘How I Learned to Drive’ full of surprises These supporting scenes give you a deeper look into the environment.

Her story is told through a “Sometimes to tell a secret, chronological scramble, flashyou first have to teach a les- ing back and forward to different points in her life and to son.”

The play, “How I Learned to the relationship with her Drive” written by Paula Vogel, uncle from age 11 to her 40s.

It is an interesting take to begins and immediately lulls look into the relationship that the view into a beautifully descriptive, nostalgic scene of was, and how it ended, before a man and a woman in a car, on seeing how it began. The flashbacks also help to keep audia warm summer evening.

The conversation turns sexu- ences from forming judgment, al, and this is nothing shocking as they are exposed to new or uncomfortable, until howev- developments in the story er they reveal the true nature before all is revealed.

That story is brought of this relationship.

PLAY REVIEW life in a small intito The woman turns mate setting with a ‘How I learned to out to be a 17 year cast of only five. Katie Drive’ old girl, nicknamed Jones is very believ“Lil’ Bit,” about to HHH able in her portrayal of graduate, the man, a confused girl who is much older, turns OUT OF FOUR STARS in love, but consumed out to be her uncle, STARRING: James by guilt. and this affair has Brust, Katie Jones, Jones is longing for been going for quite Aleandra Rosa, Joe Onweller, Sarah affection and looking some time.

Blackmon for a sensitive father From here, narratfigure who will teach ed through the perspective of “Lil’ Bit,” whose her about life.

Jones delivers her lines perreal name is never revealed, you are introduced to a young fectly, matching the emotion girl raised in the South, who and mood created by the desperately wishes to escape scene. It was difficult however and “rise above my cracker to distinguish the difference in age and attitude as well as background.”

The family which she mannerisms for certain flashbelongs to, their mannerisms back scenes.

James Burst does very well and philosophies, does much to explain the reasons of the as Uncle Peck. He is charmrelationship formed by “Lil’ ing, likable and sensitive yet at the same time unceasingly Bit” and her uncle.

During a scene in which “Lil’ creepy and manipulative.

It must have been difficult Bit,” her mother and grandmother are talking about to play such a disturbing role, orgasms, her mother points but he is completely commitout that her grandmother was ted and that comes through in only 14 when she was married. his performance.

PETER KIM THE TELESCOPE

RANDY HOFFMAN | COURTESY PHOTO

James Brust stars as the misguided Uncle Peck, along with Katie Jones, as pre-pubescent L’il Bit, in Palomar’s “How I learned to Drive.”

The remaining three members of the cast play multiple roles, as the female, male, and teenage chorus.

Alexandra Rosa is fantastic as the mother and perfectly performs a monologue titled “A Mother’s Guide to Social Drinking,” which along with comedic effect, reinforces the feeling of these strange, unconventional relationships in this family.

Joe Onweller and Sarah Blackmon, are both hysterical in their roles as grandparents.

Blackmon is exceptional as the grandmother, with perfect

timing, emotion and commitment to the character. She singlehandedly changes the mood and brings lightheartedness to the scenes.

And Onweller’s versatility as an actor is impressive, playing multiple small roles very well.

All three choruses were great and wholly added to the experience, creating many laughs and adding comedy to a very uncomfortable subject matter.

In an interview with the New York Times, Vogel said she intended the play “to get the audience to go along for a ride

they wouldn't ordinarily take, or don't even know they're taking.”

She accomplishes this through an excellently written script, which disarms through comedy, then cleverly guides you along to the true purpose of the scene.

Well organized, the play seems jumpy at first, but in the end it is realized to be a perfect order of events to gain an understanding of the relationship between Lil’ Bit, her uncle, as well as her family and the effect it has on their lives.

Dennis Quaid shares his thoughts on his latest film,‘The Express’ CRYSTAL EVANS THE TELESCOPE

“The Express” is a movie about Ernie Davis (Rob Brown,) the first AfricanAmerican to win the Heisman.

Born with a speech impediment, Davis struggled in his early life. He admired Jackie Robinson who did his talking on the baseball field. Robinson’s playing inspired Davis to get into sports.

Davis was extremely good at most sports but was an exceptional running back. He was recruited by Syracuse to play collegiate ball under the legendary coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid.)

Q: What attracted you to the movie?

A: My motive to do the movie was the story. Before I didn’t know about Ernie’s story, it really hit me in the heart, the gut.

Q: What did you do to prepare to play the role of Ben Schwartzwalder?

A: I talked a lot to Jim Brown. He’s a good friend of mine. We did “Any Given Sunday” together and we play golf together.

Q: What are your thoughts on portraying a real person in movies?

A: I feel a responsibility to characterize the person in a real way, not an idealistic way.

Q: What impressed you the most about Ernie’s character?

A: How gracefully he lived in his short life. He transcended football and color and touched a lot of people he met in a

COURTESY PHOTO | MCT CAMPUS

Dennis Quaid stars in the new film “The Express.” The movie is a drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. very profound way.

Q: Do you think Rob Brown did Ernie justice?

A: I think he was channeling him. I think it is great that he isn’t really well known, he is Ernie.

Q: Your character Ben Schwartzwalder is a racist and the movie dealt a lot with the issue of racism. How did you handle

portraying that side of the story?

A: We tried to approach it honestly instead of trying to be politically correct.

I grew up in Houston in the 50s and 60s and I have a very vivid memory of the time in terms of segregation and racism. I remember different restrooms and different drinking fountains and

black people sat in the balcony at movies.

Looking back it’s shocking. But it is still going on. Part of the problem is that we are all so politically correct that we’re afraid to talk about it.

Q: Do you discuss the issues that are raised in your movies with your children?

A: I do with my son but my twins are too young to talk about ethics. We’ll work on sharing first. They’re basically just little primal animals right now.

Q: You had a lot of intense scenes in the movie. How do you prepare for the yelling scenes?

A: I don’t know. I’m just really good yeller. It’s all the rock n’ roll I’ve done.

Q: Speaking of rock n’ roll how is your band, the Sharks, doing?

A: We haven’t played much recently because I’ve been working a lot and the twins really slow you down.

Q: What inspired you to become an actor?

A: My acting teacher in college. I was just fooling around before that and within the second week of his class I knew what I wanted to do.

It’s a great gift to be 19 and know what you want to do with your life. And I just really enjoy acting. I’m fascinated to find what it’s really like to live in someone else’s skin, to walk in their shoes.

Q: What new projects do you have coming up?

A: I have a movie that I wrote and am directing and I’m also working on “G. I. Joe.” We all signed for the three movies.

ENTERTAINMENT | 9

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008 | THE TELESCOPE

‘Sex and the City’author releases new novel JOY TIPPING MCT CAMPUS

Fans of Candace Bushnell may be surprised to learn that her latest book focuses more on high-rises than high heels.

The “Sex and the City” author turns her trenchant wit and eye for social folly to real estate with “One Fifth Avenue” (Voice, $25.95), which focuses on characters inhabiting a landmark art deco building in New York City's Greenwich Village.

In addition to “One Fifth Avenue” and “Sex and the City,” which began as a series of columns for the New York Observer, Bushnell has written three novels, including other “Lipstick Jungle,” the basis of the NBC series. She hosts a New York-based Sirius radio show called “Sex, Success, and Sensibility” and is working on two young-adult books for HarperCollins about “SATC's” Carrie Bradshaw during high school and college.

The idea for “One Fifth” sprang from her own youth.

Bushnell grew up in Glastonbury, Conn., where she learned firsthand how crazy people can get over their property. Her mother, Camille, was a real-estate agent.

“She taught me how real estate is so deeply ingrained in people's psyches, very deep-rooted and complicated,” Bushnell says. “It really goes back to the caveman days— who had a bigger cave than someone else? And whose cave had a parking space?"

In “One Fifth,” one of the most hilariously disturbing episodes is when nouveau-

riche tech guru Paul Rice is thwarted in his efforts to buy, at any cost, the building's sole parking space, which is distributed via lottery each year. Despite his gazillions, Paul discovers that, as Bushnell puts it, “Money not only can't buy you happiness, it can't even buy a parking space. And there is still some fairness in life, but it may not be fairness as Paul sees it."

The real-life One Fifth Avenue skirts Washington Square Park and is home to Blythe Danner, Sam Shepard, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, among others, according to the New York Post.

In her novel, Bushnell populates it with Paul and his nicer-than-hedeserves wife, Annalisa; Philip Oakland, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who's now slumming with screenplays (“Bridesmaids Revisited”); a forty-something movie star who's slumming with television and who is the author’s ex-lover; Lola Fabrikant, a wannabe Carrie Bradshaw who is the author’s current lover; Enid, a Liz Smith-esque columnist; and the hideously pretentious Mindy Gooch, president of the owners' board.

Hovering over them all is the figurative ghost of Louise Houghton, a Brooke Astor-like society doyenne whose death sets off a frenzy over the disposition of her fabulous three-story apartment.

Bushnell pays tongue-in-cheek homage to both “Sex and the City” and her own heritage in the book. Lola, a character so reprehensible that she somehow becomes lovable, is described as someone who has seen every episode of “Sex and the City” at least 100 times, and has come to New York with one goal: snagging her own Mr. Big.

Sunday, Oct. 19 Who: Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band What: Rock Where: SOMA Cost: $20 More info: www.somasandiego.com

Monday, Oct. 20 Who: Tech N9NE What: Hip-hop Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $20-$22.50 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Wednesday, Oct. 22 COURTESY PHOTO | MCT CAMPUS

Candace Bushnell’s novel,“One Fifth Avenue,” is her latest release that explores Greenwich Village life.

In addition to the horrors of real estate, Bushnell notes, the book also touches on how the new always eventually replaces the old people, buildings, this week's mostwanted bling, despite one character's lament that “all the best people are dead.”

And of course, if they can't get that parking space, they might as well be.

Cast of ‘An American Carol’ can’t bring laughs ROGER MOORE MCT CAMPUS

One hundred and sixty-five years after Charles Dickens called for civic reform, compassion, humanity and charity to be watchwords in human life with “A Christmas Carol,” Hollywood's most rabid conservatives have rallied to make “An American Carol,” a comedy that equates dissent with “treason,” that presents Bill O'Reilly as a model of political restraint and offers us Kelsey Grammer as the ghost of General George S. Patton.

Yeah, when I think “Blood and Guts,” I think Frasier.

David Zucker, late of the “Airplane” and “The Naked Gun movies,” a fellow who hasn't been funny in roughly 165 years, trots out that Canadian fossil Leslie Nielsen as a grandpa telling a tale about a Michael Moore-like “Scrooge” who wanted to ban the Fourth of July holiday. A liberal who “hates America,” and is, by the way, “fat,” is visited by the ghosts of John F. Kennedy, Patton, George Washington (Jon Voight) and the Angel of Death (Trace Adkins, who's no Toby Keith), sees the error of his ways and promises to always keep the Fourth, forever more.

Well, God bless us, every one, Mr. Zucker! Pity those crippled kids in the movie can't get good health care or stem cell research because those aren't conservative values, but I digress.

It's a polemic, a screed, a combination comic rant and sentimental flag-waver that doesn't

WHAT’S HAPPENING

COURTESY PHOTO | MCT CAMPUS

Kevin Farley (left) and Robert Davi (right) both star in the comedy ''An American Carol.'' work as either. Start with the some folks don't think there's casting of Chris Farley's singu- any such thing as a “just war,” is larly unfunny brother Kevin as as absurd as it gets. Except that Michael Malone. Yeah, he looks isn't as absurd as it gets. The like Michael Moore. But you'll movie's history is as distorted as be making your own “The wrong its classic straw-man propaganFarley ....” jokes, and you can da. (What's a straw man? That's finish that thought. when you set up an Too mean? How argument that you MOVIE REVIEW about shooting ACLU claim the other side is ‘An American lawyers, "zombies" making, one made of waiving their writs trystraw that's easy for Carol’ ing to protect “privayou to knock down.)

H cy” in the face of the Like a blind monkey, OUT OF FOUR STARS ongoing terrorist the joke-o-matic Kevin P. threat? Or labeling STARRING: Zucker uses here lands Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Hitler a liberal? Uh, Jon Voight the odd giggle about Dave, seriously, check country music, RATED: PG-13 the tailpipe on your Scientology, documenMercedes. Fumes must taries (not “real” be getting into the pasmovies) and those silly, senger compartment. Hitler was silly Islamic terrorists. Here, a racist, anti-Semite, uniform- they're led by Robert Davi and a loving, flag-waving fascist, a k a very bad hairpiece, conspiring an ultra-ultra-conservative. to wreak some fresh havoc on an The movie's basic thesis, that America too busy protecting its

civil liberties to remember we're at war.

Malone, maker of such documentary hits as “Die You American Pigs,” who so wants to direct a fiction feature (“Fascist America”), visits a South where no Civil War freed the slaves (from their conservative masters, BTW), a pandering Neville Chamberlain listening to Hitler sing “Kumbaya” and speaks to rallies of college kids and movealong.org protesters who chant “Peace now, we don't care how” and such.

Most cringe-worthy, he hears the Yankee-accented Washington lecture him about “freedom of speech, which you abuse.” And he endures lots of fat jokes and small children calling him obscene names.

Funny.

It's a mean little red-meat mess of a movie, pandering of the most cynical kind. Zucker, who converted his own politics in 2004, is playing to the suckers in a grand faux redneck tradition. He gets most everything wrong, but no matter. The rubes who eat this garbage up won’t know.

But here's a tip. George Washington may have owned slaves and been overly fond of his uniform, but he was nobody's idea of a conservative or a chest-thumper for war. We had conservatives in America in 1776. We called them then what they still call conservatives in Britain: Tories. Only after being on the wrong side of change and history in 1782, most of our Tories packed up and moved to Canada.

Give it some thought, Mr. Zucker. And take that pansy Grammer with you.

Who: Wayne Brady What: R&B Where: House of Blues Anaheim Cost: $32.50-$35 More info: (714) 778-BLUE

Thursday, Oct. 23 Who: Sound Tribe Sector 9 w/Pnuma Trio What: Electronic/Dance/Rock Where: House of Blues Anaheim Cost: $17.50-$20 More info: (714) 778-BLUE

Friday, Oct. 24 Who: Doug Benson What: Comedy Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $12.50 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Sunday, Oct. 26 Who: Chris Cornell & Timbaland What: Rock Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $32.50-$35 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Tuesday, Oct. 28 Who: Matt Nathanson w/Jesse Baylin What: Folk Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $12.50-$15.50 More info: (619) 299-BLUE

Friday, Oct. 31 Who: Jason Mraz What: Pop Where: SDSU Open Air Theatre Cost: $20-$45 More info: www.livenation.com

10 | DIVERSIONS Brewster Rocket: Space Guy!

THE TELESCOPE | MONDAY, OCT.. 13, 2008

by Tim Rickard

Horoscopes

By Lasha Seniuk

ARIES (March 21-April 20) Close friends and relatives may this week openly compete for your continuing loyalty. Family events or social gatherings will now require active diplomacy. Ignore all small or annoying comments: light-hearted and cheerful group relations will bring the desire results. Late Thursday a trusted friend or close relative may announce an unexpected financial decision or career move. Take time to evaluate all new information: a steady, optimistic and curious response is best.

TAURUS (April 21-May20) Business skills now need to improve.

Late Monday key officials may assign new duties or outline unique learning programs. If so, expect new schedules and expectations in the coming months. At present authority figures will privately rely on the expertise of older colleagues, established methods and reliable employees: watch for new projects or unusual contracts to soon be a top priority. Late this weekend rest and pamper the body. Minor aches and pains may be bothersome.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) Over the next few days subtle comments from friends or lovers may be misleading. Loved ones are now sensitive to social pressures and may expect quick actions or decisions. Wait for clear statements of fact, opinion or family need before taking emotional risks. After Wednesday property decisions and long-term housing contracts may require added attention.

Diplomacy and careful study are necessary: watch key documents for miscalculations or time sensitive errors.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Co-workers may be moody and unpredictable before mid-week: watch for minor disputes and quick social disruptions. At the moment personality differences and small disagreements are best left unnoticed. Private tensions or workplace gossip may be an underlying theme. If possible, avoid bold public promises. After Thursday may Cancerians will experience a powerful insight into the family obligations of a trusted friend or romantic partner. Stay focused: there's much to learn.

LEO (July 23-Aug.22) Loved ones may this week demand more of your attention than usual. If so, expect complex social triangles or rare family invitations to be on the agenda. Provide reliable advice and calm acceptance: long-term friends and relatives may now need to witness unwavering loyalty and predictable responses. Late Saturday watch for an unusually passionate romantic overture. A new friend or lover may now expect a bold response to emotional proposals. Trust your instincts.

VIRGO (Aug.23-Sept.22) Before mid-week avoid asking for detailed explanations or new instructions. For many Virgos minor business tensions may now trigger moody responses from co-workers and authority figures. Workplace strain will soon pass: finalize previously defined projects or assignments and find positive ways to stay active. Wednesday through Saturday family members may require more social attention than usual. New daily routines or hobbies will prove invaluable: remain open.

Oct. 13-19

LIBRA(Sept.23-Oct.23) Late Monday a close friend may ask probing questions or offer subtle romantic observations. Friends and colleagues will this week express new curiosity concerning private events, invitations or opinions. Be discrete.

Enjoy social discussions but avoid divulging personal information. After Thursday business negotiations and financial discussions will prove mildly frustrating. Key officials may actively provide misinformation: remain silent and wait for clarity.

SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22) Romantic proposals and family obligations may be unusually complex this week: after Monday expect a new friend or potential lover to create minor tensions in the home. Pace yourself and watch for deeper feelings or obvious intentions to emerge. For many Scorpios controversial social and family decisions may be an ongoing theme. If so, remain diplomatic and watch for minor breakthroughs: family and friends will need time to finalize yesterday's decisions or contracts.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21) Thoroughly check legal documents or official paperwork this week. At present financial errors or sensitive time sequences, if left unattended, will quickly become costly. Tuesday through Friday powerful romantic flirtations will be difficult to resist. Go slow and make cautious decisions: this is not the right time to risk long-term commitments or challenge the needs of loved ones. After Saturday study property documents for mistakes. A demanding week: if possible, get extra rest.

CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan.20) Self-image and public reputation are now a strong influence in all business relationships. Late Monday watch for key official to assign new leadership roles or request special appearances.

Career opportunities will continue for several weeks. Respond quickly to all proposals. After Wednesday some Capricorns may be asked to take on home responsibilities. added Parenting skills or group planning will demand extra attention: respond honestly to all family discussions.

AQUARIUS (Jan.21-Feb.19) Rare permissions from authority figures may now arrive. Early this week expect previously denied projects to begin moving rapidly forward. If so, clarify all rules or instructions before taking action: before November 3rd minor errors and annoying miscommunications may be bothersome. Check facts thoroughly for mistaken calculations. Late Friday some Aquarians will be asked to speak on behalf of a family member or friend. Revised social or travel plans are accented: stay focused.

PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) Before mid-week expect close friends or romantic partners to issue unusual questions, comments or observations. Social criticism, recent group events or strained home relationships may soon require special attention.

Stay balanced and gently ask for added details. Tuesday through Friday watch for an older colleague or work partner to demand bold statements of public loyalty. Key issues may involve yesterday's mistakes or rare financial miscalculations. Remain vigilant.

COMET SPORTS |

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008 | THE TELESCOPE

SPORTS ON DECK Monday, Oct. 13

Comets prove dominance to Griffins

WOMEN’S GOLF Conference Practice Round at San Luis Rey Country Club at 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 WOMEN’S GOLF Conference Match at San Luis Rey Country Club at 1 p.m.

MEN’S SOCCER Palomar at Imperial Valley at 3:15 p.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCER San Diego City at Palomar at 3:15 p.m. at Minkoff Field.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Palomar at San Diego City at 6 p.m.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO Grossmont at Palomar at 2 p.m. at Wallace Memorial Pool.

KRISTINE CHOY | THE TELESCOPE

Palomar’s Audrey Green spiked the ball against Grossmont in the Comet’s win over the Griffins Oct. 8. Green had 15 kills in the game.

Friday, Oct. 17 WOMEN’S WATER POLO Palomar competes in the first day of the Long Beach tournament at Long Beach all day.

CROSS COUNTRY The Comets compete in the Mt. San Antonio Invitational at Mt. San Antonio at 9 a.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCER San Diego Mesa at Palomar at 3:15 p.m. at Minkoff Field

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL San Diego Mesa at Palomar at 6 p.m. at the Dome.

Saturday, Oct. 18 WOMEN’S WATER POLO Day two of the Long Beach tournament all day.

WRESTLING Palomar competes in the Southern Duals at Moorpark all day.

FOOTBALL Palomar at Santa Ana at 1 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The Comets compete in the Ventura Scrimmage all day at Ventura.

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

11

season record to 10-3 and 1-0 to open conference play.

The Griffins kept pace with The Palomar women’s volley- the Comets for most of the first ball team set the standard for set. With Palomar up 20-15, the Pacific Coast Grossmont called a 3 Conference, defeat- COMETS timeout. Out of the 0 ing Grossmont (25- GRIFFINS timeout, the 22, 25-10, 25-13) Oct. Griffins scored UP NEXT 8 at the Dome in its straight three Palomar at San Diego City points. With the first game of the conference season. score 20-18, Seiler Oct. 15 “They gave us a called a timeout.

6 p.m. lot of breaks,” “I told them lets Palomar coach Karl keep our focus on AT STAKE Seiler said. “The what we want to main thing is we have happen, be took charge in this The Comets face their local positive and work game. The last few rival the Knights as Palomar for what we want to looks to get a conference weeks we’ve been get,” Seiler said. battling with teams, win on the road.

“We came out with but today we a good play and got jumped on their mistakes.” back on pace.”

The Comets improved their Palomar went on to win the ANTHONY SCHWARTZ THE TELESCOPE

game 25-22 That first game we had jitters, with conference starting,” freshman setter Aimee Bird said. “After that, we told ourselves we know we’re better than that team.”

Bird contributed 41 sets and 16 digs on the night.

The Comets let the Griffins hurt their own case the second game. Palomar scored multiple points on Grossmont’s inability to keep the ball in-bounds. The Comets went on a 15-3 scoring drive as the Comets went on to win the set 25-10.

“We have the mentality where we want to keep the ball in play,” Bird said. “If we’re going to keep the ball in play, and they’re going to keep hitting the ball out, everyone knows we’re going to let them make their mistakes. It’s our job to play our game and not make those mistakes.”

The Comets didn’t let up the last set, starting it with six straight points. The Comet went on to win the one-sided game 25-13.

“A lot of times, our coach tells us to just relax and not let them get in the game,” Bird said. “He always says in practice if you have a jump on a team don’t wait to win. Even our assistant coach Bjorn (Dahl) tells us if you have a chance to win, go and take it.”

Sophomore Audrey Green led the offense with 15 kills.

Freshman Cashel White complemented Green’s performance with 11 kills of her own.

“The passing went really well and the setting went really well,” Green said. “It made my job a lot easier.”

Seiler said this win is a indicator for how well this team can play.

“We feel pretty good,” Seiler said. “We’ve felt pretty good all year. The only teams we have lost to have been in the top ten in state.”

12 | COMET SPORTS

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2008 | THE TELESCOPE

CIARA KEITH | THE TELESCOPE

Palomar’s Noel Phillips ran with the ball in the first quarter in the Comet’s 49-3 loss to Grossmont College Oct. 4. Phillips rushed for 11 yards on five carries as the Griffins held the Palomar rushing offense to 155 yards on the day.

Comets’ San Diego supremacy no more Palomar football team’s 20year, 29-game winning streak ended with loss to Grossmont

Palomar.”

Three minutes into the second quarter, Palomar’s offense The Palomar football team’s appeared to show some light usual dominance against San when Orenzo Davis had a 71-yard Diego foes was non-existent in kickoff return. The gain helped the Comet’s 49-3 loss to put Palomar in position to score Grossmont Oct. 3 at Mashin-Roth its only points of the day on a 37yard field goal by Briton Forester.

Field.

“We got beat today every which The loss snapped a 29-game, 20year winning streak held by way”, Early said. “We never got Palomar over San Diego oppo- anything going and you could feel [the game] slipping in every way nents..

The loss was Palomar's first on offense, defense and special teams,” against a county 3 The Comets were opponent since they COMETS GRIFFINS 49 looking to get off to were defeated 32-25 a better start in the Southwestern by UP NEXT second half.

Nov. 29, 1988 at Palomar at Santa Ana “We had a lot of Devore Stadium. fire coming into the It was the first loss Oct. 18 second half,” on the season as the 1 p.m.

Boudreaux said. “We Comets’ record fell had never been to 4-1 on the season AT STAKE down before, and we and 0-1 in Pacific planned to capitalCoast Conference The Comets face division ize on everything.” play.

The fire was for “Fortunately it foe Santa Ana looking to get the taste of losing in San nothing as the only counts as one, said Palomar Head Diego out of their mouths. Griffins tacked on 13 more points in the Coach Joe Early. “I’d be surprised if anyone goes unde- third quarter.

“We didn’t execute, as a unit” feated in Southern California”.

The game quickly turned with Palomar running back Tyler Grossmont’s Jamar Reid scoring a Lavea said. We were not ready, we touchdown six minutes into the didn’t practice as we should game. In the first quarter, the have.”

Comet quarterback Steven Griffins continued their dominance by scoring two more touch- Carroll was in and out all game downs, which set the tone for the because of his performance.

Carroll finished the game going 8rest of the game.

Palomar turned the ball over for-16 passing for 63 yards and seven times, losing two fumbles two interceptions.

Palomar went through three and throwing five interceptions.

“We were prepared and noth- quarterbacks in the game. In ing changed on game day, we total, Palomar completed 12-ofknew all of the aspects they were 30 passes for a total of 103 bringing us,” Free Safety Chris yards. The running game was at Boudreaux said. “We just didn’t about the same level, rushing show up today. Palomar beat for a total of 155 yards. Deswin NIGEL HARRIS THE TELESCOPE

Dennis led the mediocre running attack with 55 yards on seven carries.

Grossmont’s run offense contradicted Palomar’s as the Griffins rushed for 317 yards and six rushing touchdowns. The Grossmont offense had 458 total offensive

yards in the game.

“We need to obviously address some things, but I’m always looking for a positive,” Early said. “I’ll have to watch the film, but we didn’t finger point today. That shows that we as a team have really matured”

The loss left Coach Early disappointed, but he seemed to found the lesson in it.

“With a game like this you learn from it,” Early said. “Today I learned that its not who you play, so much as when you play them.”

SINCE THE LAST TIME THE COMETS LOST IN SAN DIEGO The fall of the Berlin Wall. (1989) The creation of the World Wide Web. (1989) Two George Bushes held office. (1989-1993, 2001-Present) San Diego Chargers make it to Super Bowl.

(1995) Dolly the sheep was cloned. (1996) San Diego Padres make it to World Series.

(1995) Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa broke Roger Maris’ single season MLB home run record.

(1998) Barry Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s single season home run record. (2001) Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record. (2007) Barry Bonds named in the Mitchell Report with links to BALCO. (2007)