The Skyline View: Volume XXVIII - Issue 8

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completion of our newest mural.

OPINION: Check out our full-page of comic strips.

ENTERTAINMENT: Check out Retrospect and get a taste of Fellini.

December 2, 2010

Volume XXVIII - Issue 8

www.theskylineview.com

Skyline elects new leader Dr. Regina Stanback-Stroud is appointed President-Elect.

by Kiriakos Vilchez Dr. Regina Stanback-Stroud will be the next president of Skyline College. She will replace retiring current President Victoria Morrow after the fall semester.

Her appointment was announced on Nov. 22 by Patricia Miljanich, President of the Board of Trustees of the San Mateo County Community College District. Stanback-Stroud was chosen out of a field of over forty candidates.

Stanback-Stroud has been Vice President of Instruction at Skyline College for almost a decade. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Howard University, a master’s in human relations from Golden Gate University, and taught nursing and pharmacology for 15 years.

After Skyline College held the presidential open forum in October, where Dr. Regina Stanback-Stroud and other candidates gave presentations and answered the questions of attendees, it was up to the District Board to make a decision.

“From a strong field of candidates, the Board has selected an experienced, talented and dedicated community college educator to lead Skyline College,” Miljanich said in a press release.

The current presiI anticipate the learning dent of Skyline Colcommunities will continue lege, Victoria Morto grow and be strengthrow, was happy with ened because they make a the announcement. significant difference in the “I am very success of students.” pleased about the Stanback-Stroud’s appointment of Dr. statement emphasized her Stanback-Stroud as plans for implementing the next president college initiatives that of Skyline College,” would help both students said Morrow in an and staff. email s tatement.

“These are big, no, “She is brilliant and h-u-g-e issues but Skyline extremely knowlCollege has proven over edgeable and will and over again that it can be a terrific presiand will successfully reach dent. I know that I am its goals and overcome leaving the college hurdles,” said Stanbackin good hands. We Stroud. have already begun Donna Bestock, chair to plan the transition of the hiring committee, to ensure that it goes participated in appointing smoothly.”

Stanback-Stroud. She and When asked the other members of the about what the apcommittee wanted to make Courtesy of Dr. Regina Stanback-Stroud pointment meant Skyline College’s new President-Elect. sure the best people for the to her, Stanbackjob were up for selection. the students, the esteemed faculty Stroud shared how “It was a rigorous proexcited she was about future plans and staff and the surrounding com- cess. The committee only forwarded munity,” said Stanback-Stroud in people that we felt would be excelfor Skyline.

“I am quite honored and hum- an email to The Skyline View. “As lent for us,” said Bestock. “I think I bled to be given the opportunity the next president, I will continue speak for everybody when I say that to lead and serve Skyline College, the great work the college is doing. we are happy with the result.”

Skyline brings back its shelter from the rain Students can stop worrying about getting drenched

by Kiriakos Vilchez

After the lack of bus shelters at Skyline College, contracting company Swinerton has planned to begin assembling and constructing them starting next week.

Since large-scale construction projects had consumed the campus, bus shelter plans were delayed. Students and faculty alike had to wait for the bus during rainy days out in the open. It was not uncommon to find that students were wondering where the shelters were.

Certain Skyline personnel wondered as well. Richard Inokuchi, Facilities Operations and Maintenance Manager at Skyline College, inquired about bus shelters. He informed us that he was told that new bus shelters would be constructed

by October 2010, and was surprised when nothing was constructed.

“I saw students sitting on the curb and on the grass,” said Inokuchi. “I felt for the students, so I even put out those benches you see out there.

That was me.”

The delay, as explained by Jack Herbert, the construction project manager in the facilities planning and operations division, was logistical and not through intent by Skyline’s contractor.

“With the bus shelters, it was an approvals issue with DSA[Division of the State Architect],” said Her-

bert. “[DSA]was requiring structural details that we don’t typically provide.”

DSA requires structural calculations, and everything you see built, typically things like bus shelters, are manufactured by a factory that are pre-engineered, and pre-tested, and pre-approved, so typically you buy those things with the intention that they are structural sound, and you don’t go ahead and include the calculations in your drawings and

The process, according to Herbert, is now back on track.

“In fact, the bus shelters were shipped yesterday, so we’re expecting them to be on site next week,” said Herbert. “Whatever time it takes to get them assembled, so, by the end of next week, we’re hoping to have them in place.”

Samtrans, San Mateo County’s transit system, Alexis De Guzman/ The Skyline View would not build bus shelters in specifications.” low commercial Herbert then explained how that areas. According to Herbert, Skyline posed a problem to Swinerton.

College would have to produce “In this case, DSA came back them on their own. Due to bus and said “we’re not going to approve shelters having advertisers posting these[bus shelters]on your campus in cooperation with Samtrans, this until we see full calculations.” So, just another obstacle that Skyline that was really the logistics of go- avoided. ing back to the manufacturer and The bus shelters are arriving by having them produce engineer truck, and will be expected to be up documents, and stamped and signed by the end of next week. Herbert engineer drawings that then had to stated that Skyline would have three be reviewed. That delayed the order bus shelters. process.”

Fountain near completion

Beautification of Skyline nearly finished

by Alexis De Guzman The fountain that has been in development for over a year now has an updated deadline of Jan. 1, 2011.

Overall, work site improvements started in the year of 2009, and the intent was for the fountain to open summer 2010.

Spring 2010 was when the construction team dug in the shovel, and determined that there were problems and conflicts with the existing utilities in the form of the main boiler lines Further investigation of the problem discovered that there was a high voltage electric line and hot water lines directly beneath the fountain.

The design concept was visualized and created by David Gates. It was first designed with 4 slabs of granite that were meant to represent the 4 tenants of education. Through the course of logistics and underground utility and electrical lines, it was redesigned to three slabs to make it fit “We had the design team recheck what the problem was, and have them make a new design plan and redesign the configuration…” said Jack Herbert, construction project manager. “We do not want to have problems during the construction of the fountain, and having it destroyed when it is already right there.”

The fountain was part of the beautification projects for campus.

First was the fountain; second was the mosaic pillar in bldg. 6; third was the mural wall in the gymnasium; and lastly, the painted tile mural for the stairs.

“There were design changes... [the fountain]wasn’t the top priority over other projects like roads.”

Herbert said.

The budget for the fountain doesn’t come from the college’s operation money, but from the bond money from the chancellor’s fund.

Part of that money was designed to improve the physical beauty of the campus.

“Art is a part of education. The fountain was seen as a sort of an experiential piece of architecture that can be touched, and is supposed to be interactive,” Herbert said.

Skyline has totally changed its image since then. Beautification was the goal.

“It makes the quad an even more inviting place to gather around.

It composes the livability of the campus, making it a more attractive and comfortable place to be in,” Morrow said.

Skyline View

The

December 2, 2010

News The Staff Editor-In-Chief Marc Arguello

News Editor Katherine Ramirez

Opinions Editor Alexis De Guzman

Features Editor JJ Valdez

Entertainment Editor Daniel Beckman

Sports Editor Michael Hall

Copy Editors

Ray Marquez Kiriakos Vilchez

Online Editor Stephen Benoit

Multimedia Editor Robyn Graham

Photos Editor Larry Crystal

Graphics Editor Mario Rodriguez

Staff Writers

Alessandro Fillari Andrew Lidwell Camille Wieland Carina Moreno David Evans Helen Tran Jay Johnson Lea Naqishbendi Mason Martinez Milan Subedi Ron Romero

Faculty Adviser

Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

Want more news? www.theskylineview.com Or maybe you have news for us?

(650) 738-4377 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive San Bruno CA 94066

Great American

Students line up for free inspections

by JJ Valdez

On Nov. 18, Skyline College held the Great American Smokeout, an event organized by officials from various anti-smoking organizations.

The event began at 9:30 a.m. and lasted till about 1 p.m. Doctors and other health professionals working at the event were stationed at different booths, giving information to students as well as a variety of free tests to anyone willing to participate.

Such test included checking pulmonary function, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Brian Daniel, a clinical coordinator for the respiratory therapy program at Skyline, was one of the officials at the event. He educated students about the dangers of smoking and encouraging passersbys to get tested. Daniel has been in the respiratory field for 25 years and has been at Skyline for six years.

“What we’re trying to do is discourage those who are into cigarette smoking and to give them an evaluation--a physical assessment of their health,” Daniel said. “This will hopefully discourage a lot of people from cigarette smoking.”

According to Daniel, most, if not every student, who participated in the health tests scored in the normal range, indicating that they were in good health.

“Students here have great health right now, let’s keep it that way,” Daniel said with regards to the overall normal scores. “Don’t use cigarettes.”

Another Skyline official present at the event was Emily Risk, one of the part-time nurses at Skyline College’s Health Center.

According to Risk, the Great American Smokeout is jointly sponsored with the respiratory therapy department.

“I think it’s great, getting awareness out to students about smoking and how people can quit,” Risk said regarding the event.

When Risk heard that all the students, up until that point, had scored in the normal, she was pleased.

“I think that’s great—that is awesome,” Risk said. “Our student population is an incredible group of people. They’re really proactive with their health and,as you can see, they’re interested in being healthier.”

JJ Valdez/The Skyline View

A Skyline student (right) gets a blood pressure test from a Smokeout volunteer (left).

Some students, like Nicole Cruz, sat down to take every respiratory test available that day in an attempt to see how healthy she was.

“I got my heart rate done, my blood pressure, oxygen saturation test and flow rate,” Cruz said. “Did pretty well, but since I have asthma, my peak flow meter was lower than normal.”

According to Cruz, taking the tests felt good because it was reassuring to know that most of her tests were normal and she recommended that everyone should take them.

Besides Skyline’s health experts, there were off-campus representatives present at the event from both non-profit organizations as well as from other colleges.

One such organization was Breathe California, a non-profit organization that provides free classes and resources to the community.

“We’re a lung health non-profit, so today we are going to try and get people to stop smoking,” said Vince Mazzaferro, a communications intern from Breathe California. “We provide free quit smoking classes in Daly City, where people can get group therapy. We also provide people with a lot of free material like the patch and Nicorette gum.”

According to Mazzaferro, the classes will start in January. Attendees will have the choice of six classes on different days, each spanning six weeks.

“It’s important because everyone knows how bad smoking is but not a lot of people realize the amount of resources they have out there for them to get help,” Mazzaferro said.

Another organization at the event was the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a college that specializes in traditional medicine, massage, nutrition, consultations and acupuncture.

Yu-men Chiu, a representative from the college, was at the event passing out pamphlets and giving out free ear acupuncture.

“We provide traditional Chinese

acupuncture, “ said Chiu. “Today’s event is primarily to get people to stop smoking and to bring awareness to proper health. We want to help however possible and we can also help with people’s health conditions.”

Among the many students who received free acupuncture was Charity Walden, president of Beta Theta Omicron, an honor society at Skyline College.

“I’ve always thought it [acupuncture] was an interesting thing. I’ve always believed in it and I wanted to learn more,” Walden said. “By participating in it, I thought I was taking a good first step in learning more about it.”

In addition to gaining more knowledge about a technique that she found interesting, Walden also had other reasons for wanting to try it.

“I told him [Chiu] I was feeling stress in my back,” Walden said.

“I don’t know if it was just sitting there for 15 minutes relaxing, or the needles themselves, but my back did feel better.”

The Great American Smokeout has been a regular event on campus for 10 years now and is a reflection of Skyline’s commitment to being a smoke-free and healthy campus.

“It is important,” said Risk. “And it lets them know we’re supporting our smoke-free policy on campus, giving people the opportunity to quit should they want to.”

JJ Valdez/The Skyline View

Student (left) receives a respiratory test from a Smokeout volunteer (right).

State senator fights for Legislator’s video game law hits

by Stephen Benoit

The Skyline View is a First Amendment Publication. The Skyline View is published bi-weekly during the spring and fall semesters by the journalism students at Skyline College.

The Skyline View is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writers and should not be interpreted as the views of Skyline College, SMCCCD, the faculty, administrators or the newspaper adviser. Additionally, the paper does not endorse any of the products or services advertised.

The Skyline View welcomes Letters to the Editors; letters must include full name, address, and phone number for verification. The Skyline View reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity, and taste.

The Supreme Court of the United States is currently overseeing a trial about a California state law that could change video games in their current form.

AB 1179 was written by state Sen. Leland Yee, the California state senator for the local district, including Skyline College. Yee’s intent is to keep violent video games out of the hands of children in hopes of shielding them from the violent visualizations present in some games.

Yee has historically been an advocate of First Amendment rights and was a recipient of The Beacon Award from the First Amendment Coalition, which is presented to individuals who fight to keep government open.

AB 1179 has received national attention because it would essentially strip First Amendment protections

statement. “Where New York was from video games.

One of the arguments against the concerned with minors’ access to proposed law is that if First Amend- harmful sexual material outside the ment protections for video games are guidance of a parent, California is no less concerned removed, then with a minor’s another state “California is no less access to the could choose deviant level of to ban certain concerned with a minor’s games that are access to the deviant level violence that is subversive to the of violence that is present- presented in a certain category state’s agenda.

This could then ed in a certain category of of video games that can be no affect the rest video games...” less harmful to of the country -Zackery Morazzini the developbecause gamment of miing companies nors.” might be inMorazzini’s opening argument clined to not make a game that would was interrupted by Justice Antonin be banned in certain markets.

“The California law at issue Scalia, who then went on to interject today, before this court, differs several more times as Morazzini from the New York law at issue in answered questions.

“Some of the Grimm’s fairy tales Ginsberg in only one respect,” said Deputy California Attorney General are quite grim, to tell you the truth,” Zackery Morazzini in his opening said Scalia to Morazzini.

Morazzini replied “Agreed, Your Honor. But the level of violence...” before he was interrupted by Scalia again.

“Are they okay? Are you going to ban them, too?” asked Scalia.

“Not at all, Your Honor.” said Morazzini.

Other justices were also concerned with the the ramifications of censorship.

“One of the studies, the Anderson study, says that the effect of violence is the same for a Bugs Bunny episode as it is for a violent video,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor. “So can the legislature now, because it has that study, say we can outlaw Bugs Bunny?”

While the justices have not yet made a ruling, the Supreme Court traditionally favors protecting the First Amendment.

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December 2, 2010

Features

Dragon mural nears completion

David Evans/The Skyline View

Rồng gặp mây (Dragon) Mural almost finished across from the Skyline Gallery.

by Marc Arguello The new dragon mural on the right wall of the Parking Lot E entrance to building 1 is nearing completion, says art gallery director Paul Bridenbaugh.

The mural depicts a multicolored dragon. The mural has been in production since December 2009.

“The idea itself actually came from a dream,” said Bridenbaugh.

He claims that after the dream, he decided to research dragons.

Bridenbaugh began working on

the project when Skyline’s president Victoria Morrow requested him to paint a mural on an empty wall of building 1’s south side entrance.

She herself was suggested this by the district’s Construction Planning Department.

It was funded with capital construction money from the bond passed by the voters in 2005 The mural depicts an abstracted form of a Vietnamese mythical dragon, painted on a series of 20 vertical

concrete sections on the wall. Each section has its own unique designs and color pallet, but the form of the dragon is consistent between them.

Dragons are a common theme in many Asian cultures, because they are thought to bring good fortune and blessings. Dragons are commonly painted on the right side of an entrance, as it is considered to give good luck to those that pass by.

The majority of the mural is complete; with all that is left to

be done is a few finishing touches on the body and the dragon’s eyes.

According to Bridenbaugh, it’s customary in Asian cultures to paint the eyes last when painting a dragon.

A poem by Song Dynasty Master Xuedou Zhongxian is painted to the left of the mural, above the entrance of building 1.

Bridenbaugh invited students from his painting class and from the art gallery to help him paint the mural.

“It’s fun to paint with the columns,” said Lone Wang, a full time student here at Skyline who is working at the gallery as part of a workstudy arrangement. Wang said that he hadn’t really had any experience painting something on this scale, so it was a new experience for him to work on the mural.

“Overall I think it’s amazing,” said Will Ton, an art gallery student.

Ton said he thinks the designs are really exotic and cool.

Skyline’s “Giving Tree” inspires campus EOPS and Child Development Center

by Mario Rodriguez

As the winter festivities and holidays approach, it is sometimes a stressful occasion trying to figure out what presents to buy for your loved ones. It is also easy to forget about others who are less fortunate.

At a time of giving, various organizations and charities seek help and offerings from anyone capable and generous enough to contribute.

The Child Development Center and Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), are in search of toy donations for children of low income Skyline students. Students who are part of the EOPS, and about 90 percent of the children in the care center come from low income families. Not all the children of the EOPS are part of the development center, but numerous children who have parents in EOPS are participating in the drive.

Along with S.P.A.C.E., the Student Parents Association for Children’s Enrichment, organizers hope to find generosity from within Skyline in order to raise toy gifts for children from within Skyline. The programs have each held similar events in the past, but this will mark the first time the drive will be a col-

laborative effort.

Drawing inspiration from Shel Silverstein’s classic “The Giving Tree,” apple shaped ornaments are placed on a tree and anyone who wishes to participate can go to the EOPS department, located in building 2, can pick and take one from the tree. Every apple shaped ornament was hand crafted by one of the daycare kids, and each represents a child hoping to get a gift. Printed on the ornament are the child’s name, age, and gender to serve as a guide for those purchasing a gift.

Those wanting to purchase a toy should have it be within the $10-15 limit. As a thank you for contributing, donors may keep the ornament as a token of gratitude, reminding them of the selfless act they have participated in. The gift does not have to be wrapped, but anyone who wishes to participate in donating a gift should give it to Goldie Lee, an EOPS staff member, who is helping organize the drive.

150 kids from within the Skyline community have signed up to be recipients in the gift program, and will benefit from the toy drive.

What makes this toy drive unique

The gift giving tree located in the EOPS center.

is that local gifts will be distributed.

“It’s closer to heart,” said EOPS staff member Goldie Lee. “By helping and contributing, donors are helping children who are part of the Skyline family.”

On December 10 starting at 5pm, the Child Development Center and EOPS will host an event on main level in building 6, entitled “Winter Celebration.” This is when the gift donations will be distributed to the children. Various other family activi-

ties will be held, including live holiday music and a movie viewing.

Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to bring any dish of their choice to share and enjoy with others for a potluck.

Planners see the potluck as a great opportunity for people to share food, and bring different cultures together.

Organizers encourage anyone from the Skyline community to attend the free event, and show their support while enjoying themselves and getting into the giving spirit.

David Evans /The Skyline View

This is the first year in which both organizations are collaborating on one event. Attendance is expected to be larger because of this.

“Why do two separate events if some of our families here [Child Development Center] are on EOPS? Why not try and collaborate together and see how it goes?” said Child Development Center staff member Martina Center. “Everyone during this time needs help, but why not help the community that you are a part of?”

The

Skyline View

Features

December 2, 2010

Comedian pokes fun to provoke discussion

Kamau Bell talks about race, news, and the evolution of his show

by Robyn Graham

An interview with comedian Kamau Bell after his Skyline performance of The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending racism in about an hour.

The Skyline View: What did you think of the audience today?

Kamau Bell: This was probably one of the most diverse audiences I’ve ever played, ever. The show works better when the audience is diverse because the show isn’t just talking about white people or black people, it’s talking about lots of different people and when all those people are in the room together, they can all react differently. It also works better because, for example, like the thing about not asking black people about their hair. You could clearly hear black people [in the audience] clapping their hands and going “Yeah!” and then white people were like “Is that a thing?”

And then sometimes when I ask the white people [in the audience] to say I’m white and I’m proud and all the other people go “Hey, why is he doing this?” For me this show is fun because I get to play against the audience. I want to make sure people know that [this show] is actually happening in real 3D where you can touch and smell and not fake movie 3D. TSV: In your show you mentioned news events involving race issues that didn’t get as much news coverage as they deserved. How can that be changed?

KB: I think that people have to stop going to mainstream media for their sources. News is covered well if you go the right sources. If you go to Democracy Now, which I try to, it will literally make you smarter. Stop going to cable news like NBC or FOX News; CNN is like an entertainment channel. I think that Democracy Now is great place to start your day of news, because Amy Goodman knows exactly what she’s talking about.

TSV: Do you feel you have a responsibility to share those news stories involving race with your audience?

KB: As a comedian, my only responsibility is to make people laugh.

The choice is to make it racially, socially and politically relevant. Every comedian chooses what they want to talk about and my choice is no better than any other comic’s choice.

TSV: So when did you make that choice?

KB: My mom and dad were always big race people so it’s always been a choice in the back of my head that I struggled with because I didn’t know how to get it out there.

In comedy clubs. people don’t necessarily want to hear about race for an hour.

So three years ago I started renting my own theatre spaces and running the show myself and built the show myself so I could find an audience who wanted to hear it. Then the show got around enough that I

ended up here at Skyline because I was talking about it on the radio.

TSV: Do you ever get called racist because you talk about race a lot?

KB: Sure I do. I get emails from both sides. And it doesn’t mean they don’t have a valid point sometimes.

The shows main thing is to promote dialogue and discussion. This show is not meant to be like a Martin Luther King tribute show. I certainly believe everything I say and there are times when I didn’t say that right and there are times when I need to do that better--I need to learn more about that and talk about that again.

I’m trying to be righteous and funny, but funny is the number one job.

TSV: Who are some of your favorite modern comedians?

KB: Bill Burr, Robert Hawkins... you see when your a comic you know people who no one has ever heard of...Greg Giraldo, Mitch Hedberg; I worked with Mitch a few times. Whenever people ask this question I go ‘uhhhhhhh.’ Margaret Cho is awesome and Kathy Griffin is hilarious TSV: When is your next show?

KB: Dec. 30 and 31 at the Phoenix Theatre in San Francisco.

The show was performed on Dec. 1 in the main theater with free admission thanks to sponsorship from ASSC and other campus groups.

Relationship advice from Johnny

Dear Johnny,

My close friend, who I’ve known my whole life, recently broke up with her boyfriend of two-years without much explanation. Shortly after, she sent me a Facebook message telling me to de-friend him immediately. I asked her what he did to make her suddenly so mad, and she wrote back saying “Just do it.”

I don’t want to de-friend him and I don’t want to seem disloyal to my friend, I do not have feelings for this guy and I don’t want her to take it the wrong way.

-FB etiquette Dear FB etiquette, This all depends on how strong your relationship is and how mature your friend is. Now if I were to be in this situation with one of my friends I would simply tell them that although the relationship between her and her boyfriend isn’t working at the moment, it does not mean that her significant other is any less of an interesting and fun person to be friends with.

I would also ask again why she would like you to de-friend this person on Facebook. If she is not willing to give an answer then it is more than likely a “lover’s quarrel” and she is simply having you do this as a way to hurt her significant other’s feelings. Unless you get the real story behind why she wants you to do this it’s hard to make the right decision. There are certainly situations that call for you as a friend to come to her aid and back her up; an example being if he has done something horrible to her or done something that would have you change your mind about his character.

The biggest thing that needs to be done in this situation is communication. It is unreasonable for a friend that simply is not getting along with their significant other, to whom you are also a friend of, to ask you to stop being friends. If there is a rhyme to her reason then you can begin to decide what makes the both of you comfortable moving forward.

Too many times your friends will ask you to stop being friends with someone simply because they have broken up with them, but the reality is that they became involved with that person for a set of reasons that usually points to them being interesting, nice, and overall a good person. Why else would they introduce them to you, a good loyal friend? Your friend needs to realize that sometimes relationships just don’t work and friendships sometimes have to suffice; unfortunately this calls for maturity, understanding and patience—which, let’s be honest, our world is in need of.

Bottom line, unless there is a very good reason for your friend to ask you to stop being friends with her ex than I say you have a right to maintain that friendship you have cultivated and you should also encourage your friend to do the same over time. The end of all relationships should not end with a burning bridge, but with a new path.

For all of you out there that do or do not agree with what I say, I encourage you to email me your opinions or post comments online. Once again the email address is advice.johnny@gmail.com. Send me your thoughts, questions, and critiques. I am waiting to hear from you. Also keep up with our twitter account @advicejohnny, we will have updates, advice and on the spot situation control.

Larry Crystal /The Skyline View

Comedian W. Kamau Bell points to the audience during his performance at Skyline.

December 2nd

-In 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of France at Notre Dame Cathedral, making him the first French Emperor in a thousand years.

-In 1908 Pu Yi becomes the Emperor of China at the age of two.

-In 1927 The Ford Motor Company reveals its new automobile model the Ford Model A. -In 1939 New York City opens La Guardia Airport.

-In 1954 the senate votes to censure Joseph McCarthy during the red scare.

-In 1976 Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado is replayed by Fidel Castro as President of Cuba.

-In 1993 Pablo Escobar was shot and killed.

-In 2001 Enron filed for bankruptcy.

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Skyline View

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December 2, 2010

Features

Cleaning up our act The improvement of Skyline’s cleanliness

Have you ever wondered why our bathrooms always seem to have at least one ungodly smell? Have you ever seen trash laying around, and nobody seems to care? Well, we at The Skyline View have, and we are really sick of it.

There is no doubt that Skyline College’s construction projects and renovations have improved our campus. Our budget has thankfully allowed for some much needed changes. However, it seems as though we are forgetting the number one thing a college campus should be: clean.

There are many hygiene problems that affect our campus. First, let us look at the bathrooms.

There have been many times in which we have gone into the bathroom, and something is wrong. Either there is a pool of urine in a stall, or someone has left disgusting, used wipes all over the floor, we really need to do something.

I mean, how can one use the bathroom if it is unsanitary?

And what about the dining area in the Student Center? Can students get any more lazy! Trash is left at almost every table, and the cleanup is slow by custodial staff.

Saying that, the custodial staff can of course be held accountable. This is a campus with thousands of students, so you would think that there would be more of an effort to clean areas that are heavily used.

When trash isn’t picked up at several times during the day, it accumulates on tables and the floor.

Skyline College should just evaluate what service needs to be done in order for our campus to remain clean and safe for everyone. Bathrooms and eating areas should not be places where people have to worry if they will get potentially sick.

We are not in any way attacking our custodial staff, but we as a collective student body need to realize the risk of having areas not thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Winter is around the corner, and it is only a matter of time before more people catch a cold or get the flu.

Even though we can’t say all of Skyline is unsanitary, there are several places that are pretty bad. We propose that custodial services should at least be directed towards areas with heavy student and faculty traffic, and make sure they are thoroughly cleaned before moving on. This way, we can all be in a comfortable and safe environment.

Thumbs up: “Zoidberg” Why not?

-Jay Johnson

Thumbs down: “Santa”

Thumbs down: “The passing of Leslie Nielsen” I hope one of the funniest actors in America rests in peace.

-Kiriakos Vilchez

by Larry Crystal language you may be really embarrassing yourself.

The etymology from the Old High German, the F word means to “plow in the field.” The original Indo-European root means “I have sex with,” and the Greek noun references to a belief that the west wind Zephyrus causes pregnancy. So in the heat of a argument, you might blurt out your favorite expletive not realizing you are saying let me “plow in the field”.

In 2009, Adrian Peel wrote an article “Swear Words as a Tool for Comedians” How Expletives Enrich Comic Language wrote “As far as comedy is concerned, no one is suggesting that every show should be riddled with swear words, but when they are used, they should be used sparingly and appropriately and timed to perfection in order to elicit maximum audience reaction.”

It is important to remember who you are with when expressing thoughts and feelings through bad language. Some people can, and will, be offended no matter how flavorful a word you choose. In either situation, it is merely a case of choosing your moment, and your audience, very carefully.

In the newsroom we are constantly picking at each other. We have a cup that says “No swearing.”

Each time you bad mouth, you put in a quarter. Maybe we should make the newly built fountain a place where we can combine our coins for every single swear word we use on campus. I think we would solve our financial crisis immediately, and feel good at the same time.

Puddi Puddi! Giga Puddi!

-Stephen Benoit

He never gives me any presents now that I’m grown up -Camille Wieland

To swear... or not to swear?

I have lived long enough to see how swearing evolved in my personal life. Although we have a choice or a right, swearing is unnecessary. Are we projecting our own doom?

In my class we are studying Hamlet. Shakespeare was one of the many literature masters that knew how to write and extol the way we should feel on paper without swearing. Other writers have something common-they are good at communicating without the flavorful words we use today.

I like to use positive words because I like to show some example of respect. I did this often when I used to counsel teenagers. A UK neurolinguistic programmer named Brian Costello said “If you can influence the way people think, then you can change the way they feel...and if you can influence the way they feel, then you can change their lives.”

A good rule of thumb is to stop, think and rephrase. Don’t say “ I am having a F…ing bad day,” but say “I am not having an amazing day.” I promise, you will totally feel better at the end of the week if you do this.

I know it takes a lot of effort to keep from swearing, but maybe you do have a real medical condition. I found two medical conditions that may be the source of this problem, and they are called Tourette’s Syndrome and Coprolalia. So unless you have a note from the doctor that gives you the right to swear, try not to.

Russell Peters, a renowned international comedian, compares words from different countries and in a humorous way explains that words may mean something entirely opposite. In other words, you may think you are swearing, but in a different

Thumbs up: “Puddi Puddi”

Anyone who has been following the news recently has probably heard of Wikileaks, or at least the controversy surrounding it.

Basically, it seems that in America it’s totally okay to lie to the entire country, and start an illegal war. It’s also peachy keen to screw over thousands of people, tank the economy, and repossess people’s homes with ridiculously dangerous loans. It’s also pretty much kosher if you accidently ruin the entire Gulf Coast with a little oil spill.

However, if you leak some documents that embarrass powerful politicians by providing the public with some actual transparency for once, you’re definitely worthy of death. To quote Mike Huckabee: “Whoever in our government leaked that information is guilty of treason, and I think anything less than execution is too kind a penalty.”

Seems reasonable, right? The public reaction to the Wikileaks articles has been mixed to say the least. For every reasonable person who accepts the leaked cables for the valuable light they shine on our elected politicians, there’s a wave of people like Sarah Palin, who seem to really hate the fact that we have our First Amendment rights.

In one of her hilarious, but also terrifying Facebook posts, Palin suggested that Wikileak’s EditorIn-Chief, Julian Assange, should be hunted down with the same intensity that Osama bin Laden was hunted down. By that, I assume she means that we should half heartedly look for him for a few years, get bored, and then start a war with someone entirely unrelated, and ultimately failing to catch him after almost a

decade of looking. I kid, I kid.

For those uninformed about the issue, non-profit media organization Wikileaks released a series of diplomatic cables, the likes of which have never been released to the public before. This data is filled to the brim with various politicians’ actual, unadulterated opinions on other countries’ politicians. For example, according to Chinese officials North Korea is acting like a “spoiled child,” and they were prepared to accept a reunified Korea ruled by South Korean leadership.

The cables featured hundreds of revelations like this. It was a very rare moment in government dialogue in which politicians actually show their real opinion on things.

For once, there was little room for posturing and B.S.ing when the truth is revealed to the public beforehand.

Our media rarely gets this kind of honesty out of our elected officials, and I think our media and our politicians are equally at fault.

Wikileaks seems to be doing more actual journalism these days than basically any other “real” journalistic organization. With just this recent release, more secret documents have been released by Wikileaks then by any newspaper, news program, or news radio program.

Real journalists need to go through a soul searching of their own now. No longer will simply accepting the press releases and asking pre-approved questions will or should suffice. This might actually encourage high paid, cushy job journalists to actually take risks and actually get real answers. Probably not, but one can dream.

Thumbs up: “Christmas”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

-JJ Valdez Thumbs down: “The Walking Dead” If I wanted to watch an Ingmar Bergman picture I would watch a Ingmar Bergman picture!

-Ray Marquez Thumbs up: “Julian Assange”

Wikileaks is giving us just what this country needs right now: transparency.

-Marc Arguello

Thumbs up: “Winter air”

Even though it’s so cold it smells so good, especially when christmas trees are around.

-Lea Naqishbendi

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December 2, 2010

Opinion

Social networking: Is it frying our brains?

by JJ Valdez

Topic: New fountain in quad

HEAL Heal: The campus “It makes our campus look pretty [and] it gives a new better look.”

-Amani Abdelhalim

Heal: The campus “It’ll make the campus look better overall. I don’t know if we could have put the money making it into something else besides giving the campus a new look, but its a pretty nice feature regardless” -Jarred Gibbs

Heal: Our style “It gives the campus more style, and then people will want to actually come here when we look better” -Maria Coronado

Heal: Me “It’s nice to have. I mean it makes the campus look nicer and I like working in a nice environment” -Jeffrey Aguirre

Heal: Enrollment “It looks nice so students coming here will want to actually stay and increase enrollment” -Cynthia Guzman

HURT Hurt: Usefulness “It’s a nuisance why would you need it; the handicap ramps used to be there and actually served a purpose--so why would you take it away? It’s worthless, it’ll attract birds, and it’s just useless” -Melissa Wheeler

Hurt: Our priorities “We are still in the middle of budget cuts but we still see money being spent to make the campus look nicer. Education is more important than looking nicer” -Jamison Chow

Hurt: The potential “The school has already been renovated, so the money used for this should instead be used for something school related that doesn’t involve landscape. Like more equipment for teachers and classrooms maybe” -Holly Hui

by Alexis de Guzman

The 21st century is proved to be a generation of advancements which include the birth of different kinds of social networking sites. The internet has become a commercialized vehicle of mass information, and an entertainment portal .

Long before it was open and in reach to the general public, and definitely before Al Gore thought of “taking the initiative” of creating it, the internet and its users were already the focal point for social interaction.

Social networking sites are great for acquainting with people, business, dating or just connecting with friends; it creates a sense of community to us and our friends. Oh, the internet.

However, we have to admit, communities around the world, especially the internet, have bad elements; most of these said elements are hidden until law enforcement officials point these out to us.

There are just as many new opportunities to connect as there are to get into potential danger, not only to ourselves but children and teenagers as well.

Although these social networks provide forms of interaction and connections between users young or old, it is clear that it attracts the attention of non-users specifically because of the privacy concerns they raise.

Social networking has opened up many new paths and doors for cyber-

crime, and with all the people on social networks who are completely new to technology, it is more important to make sure people are aware of the risks these sites may bring.

We are very much aware that adults are not the only ones using these sites but children are also actively interacting with the many strange and unknown people on these sites as well.

Teens are spending more and more time on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace unaware of the long-term personal havoc they could create with a click of a button. Sometimes we do not realize that from behind some teenagers’ bedroom door, there may lie a digital scar that could linger and persist for the rest of their lives.

Social networking sites can be great places to visit and meet new people, however children should be taught the same rules about strangers and the dangers they present in the online world.

Teen profiles can easily lead the wrong kind of people to your doorstep. This is where parental responsibility enters--let’s stop this from happening. Parents need to exercise caution with their kid’s profiles on these social networking sites. Children using these sites can be safe if parents take the time to sit with and guide them. Parents can make sure they are not entering too much personal data such as their home address or what school they

I am opposed to illegal immigration. I, however, see it for more than just an issue of people coming here unlawfully. I see this problem as a political mess created by government irresponsibility, corporate greed, and the media’s intent to hide very real problems caused by illegal immigration.

As an American, I believe everyone has a right to freedom and a better life. Therefore, I want anyone who wants to live their life free of persecution and terrible circumstance to come to America. Our doors should be open to all.

However, I would like everyone to come to the United States legally, as the majority of immigrants in history have. Individuals coming here unlawfully are ignoring our laws, and causing social and economic issues when they try to start a life here. Although, this is only part of a much larger problem.

American politicians, the media, and profit-hungry corporations are capitalizing on the circumstances of human beings, and gaining much more than the families hoping to find a better life.

Democrats and Republicans usually play to the ideals of their supporters just for votes, and we always hear the same rhetoric about enforcement, amnesty, and general reform from them about this issue.

We see the rallies, but where is the reform? Whenever some form of immigration reform legislation is introduced, we see both parties in Congress act childish and nothing gets done.

Of course, political irresponsibility isn’t the only thing. American companies love to benefit off the opportunity to draw immigrants

who will work for them without the hassle of giving them rights that a citizen would have. Minimum-wage and entry-level work is therefore mostly unavailable to youth and adults in need of work, because employers hire undocumented immigrants for “cheap labor”.

The chains and businesses under the control of corporations mask their unlawful hiring practices, and the result is more American unemployment and social tension. Illegal immigrants shouldn’t apply for the job, but who is more to blame? The person who is in a foreign land illegally and trying to survive and support his family, or the greedy businessmen who knowingly hires an illegal alien, while abusing human rights and breaking federal law?

The media is also a major part of the illegal immigration problem.

Chris Wallace, Keith Olbermann, Bill O’ Reilly, and Lou Dobbs are just some who work in the media that let their political views get the best of them. Don’t get me wrong, I think Bill O’ Reilly knows his stuff, and the O’Reilly Factor is great political entertainment. Even so, if Americans believe the media (and I’m not only talking about Fox News) is unbiased, think again.

I can’t blame the media too much though, because they can do a really good job. However, their little ways of portraying one side or the other in a more favorable light really bothers me. Liberal and conservative bias can really kill journalistic credibility.

Besides these three major factors of illegal immigration, who else is to blame? Mexico can certainly be blamed, as that government seems

go to. Just as it is simple for a young child to fake their age online, it is easy for a potential predator to fake a profile claiming to have the same interests and the same age.

Always be open with your kids and have continual discussions on what is appropriate and what is not as far as giving out personal information on the internet. It is vital that parents and children understand that the internet is no different than the real world. Internet service providers can provide parental controls and there is software available to block certain sites.

We should all be critically aware of the dangers brought by social networks. Also, always remember and think about what things are possible online; as with most things outside the cyber world or simply, in life, there are circumstances and there are risks--eliminate unnecessary risks.

It is important to remember that these sites can also be misused by anyone and we need to take charge of our privacy and reputation. There was never a law stating that we need to share private confidential information online.

Use social networks to share and promote creative thoughts and ideas.

Be generous, but don’t give information you wouldn’t want anyone seeing in public or by looking over your. Always think twice about your usage of social networks-- are social networks frying our brains?

It’s for you to decide.

Who I blame for the problems surrounding this issue

by Kiriakos Vilchez

to not be able to enforce immigration whatsoever, and doesn’t want reform services for its own citizens who want better lives. Even pro-illegal immigration supporters can be blamed, as well as illegal immigrants because they are fueling a misconception that Americans against unlawful immigration don’t want immigrants at all.

The last factor I think really complicates this issue is race. I understand that there are indeed people in this country that are ignorant, and are nothing but racist scum. I can also understand the anger of foreignborn people when they are called all kinds of things, and threatened because of who they are.

Even though I am an anti-illegal immigration supporter, I do have empathy for those struggling in this problem, and strongly understand this is a human issue also. I want laws enforced and borders secure, but I cannot support the cruel plan supported by some conservative leaders of systematically deporting every man, woman, and child, and destroying their lives. Yes, they have broken laws, but I would rather see illegal immigrant criminals, like drug dealers, rapists, and murders, deported before an innocent little boy who has done nothing wrong.

Considering all of this, hopefully you can understand that we won’t solve this problem until both sides of the issue accept that they will not get everything they want in American immigration reform. Yes, illegal immigration is wrong, although, as you have read, this issue is about human suffering and hope, and that is the most important thing when we finally reform immigration

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December 2, 2010

Opinion

Anti-wolf legislation The attack on wildlife conservation

by Kiriakos Vilchez

When will people learn that they do not run nature? Obviously some people can never accept that we share, and do not own, this world.

That is why I am saddened by and angry at those who propose antiwolf legislation. I can’t believe that they think destroying one of North America ‘s most beautiful, and ecologically important, animals is okay.

Once common across all of North America, the gray wolf is now only present in nine states and Canada . Almost brought to the brink of extinction in the 1930s by habitat encroachment and poachers, the wolf population in North America managed to persevere, and started to thrive again by the 1950s with help from wildlife conservationists.

Today, wolves are still endangered although they are slowly returning to former habitats.

However, there are some in the United States who wish to see the wolf “problem” taken care of and want to make sure their populations are managed due to the killing of livestock, big game, and their danger to man. Their ugly solution to controlling the wolf is implementing anti-wolf legislation in their states, which would allow people to hunt down and kill wolves with state-approved methods.

Legislation aimed at managing wolf populations is cruel and ignores scientific evidence that shows

wolves rarely pose any danger to man. Killing wolves also affects the delicate ecological balance of some habitats.

Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to saving and protecting threatened and endangered species, strongly support restoring wolf populations and reintroducing wolves to their former habitats. They provide scientifically supported reasons on their website why the wolf should be fully restored in North America .

One of their arguments for restoring and ensuring protection of wolf populations is how the wolf is an ecological necessity. A study supporting this argument was conducted by scientists in Yellowstone National Park , where they found that wolves played a major role in creating greater biodiversity in the park’s ecosystem.

Reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995 and 1996, wolves helped solve ecological problems that only a predatory animal could. Over long periods of time, elk herds in the park damaged wetlands and meadows by overgrazing. As the elks changed their grazing behaviors due to the wolves, these delicate lands were able to regenerate, allowing more suitable habitats for fish, birds, and beavers, and allowing the regrowth of vegetation and trees.

Another positive ecological effect of bringing back the wolf

Aliens, the dawn of a new era?

to Yellowstone was a 50 percent decrease in the population of coyotes in some areas of the park. This decrease allowed for an increase in the populations of the red fox and pronghorn.

Ed Bangs, a wolf recovery coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Yellowstone , was interviewed by Nova of PBS about his work to ensure wolf recovery and protection. During a talk about the issue of wolf attacks on livestock he explained how wolves do much less damage than they are accused of. He said that his research showed that wolves normally kill less than .01 percent of the livestock available to them. That is hardly the work of an out-of-control predator.

Bangs also said that is a compensation programs set up by wildlife organizations to help livestock producers who have lost their animals to wolves. He stated that his research strongly supports the fact that wolves are overall positive ecological factors in their environments and that they are an important predator that greatly influences the behavior of other animals.

Despite numerous studies, there are those who would still prefer to just kill wolves instead of learning more about the majestic animal. One of the more ugly examples is wolf management in Alaska , where hunters are given the right to ruthlessly murder these noble creatures.

never know what may be fatal to them. If life were to somehow sprout up on a dry planet, it could very well be fatal to them to have water in the atmosphere. I could picture an organism used to living on a dry hot planet that arrives on earth, has water soak into its lungs and the lungs turn to mush.

Going back to the example of the Europeans coming to America for the first time they may bring a whole host of diseases that we have no immunity to, or vice versa.

Perhaps we may kill off each other’s entire species trading viruses to one another. Stephen Hawking is one scientist who equates aliens coming here to the Europeans arriving in America.

Picturing little green men isn’t very realistic though, it’s unknown how other life forms would have evolved so we really have no concept of what they would look like. Picture an alien race coming from a planet with ten times the gravity of earth, if they came here their strength would be astronomical compared to ours, though they would likely be much smaller than us. They don’t necessarily need to be a humanoid, they could be some other kind of creature and don’t need to have hands.

With how enormous the universe is, it’s very vain for us to think we’re the only life out there. Mathematically there’s got to be at least one other life form out there, is it possible that the odds are much higher than we thought?

the wolf with understanding, rather than animosity, and there are many who are dedicated to ensuring the long-term survival of many native animals, including wolves.

Modern day defenders of wolves are, in a way, very similar to the original people of North America , who had the utmost respect towards the wolf. Native Americans considered the wolf their brother and understood that all living things had a specific role to play in life. They realized the importance of nature and believed that every living thing held a deep spirituality that affected others, unlike the ignorant and misguided view of modern wolf killers.

Currently, the wolf seems to have an optimistic future in North America thanks to the amazing work of conservationists and activists. The cruel and disgusting attitude of those who want to kill wolves for sport or profit is not what the majority of America feels about this beautiful creature. My hope is that wildlife supporters continue to stand up to human ignorance and hate towards nature, and educate those who still believe the misconceptions about the wolf.

----For more information on Defenders of Wildlife, visit them online at www.defenders.org.

School Work vs Social Life

Should you be working hard or hardly working?

by Stephen Benoit NASA is holding a press conference today to discuss some sort of discovery in astrobiology, there’s a great deal of speculation as to what it may or may not be.

Could it be that NASA has discovered evidence of life in the universe besides us? Are they benevolent or malevolent, wise or unreasonable? Are they more advanced than us or are they simply animals?

It was recently discovered that one of the moons around Saturn has an atmosphere that would be suitable for life, have we discovered more about this moon? Is this moon a prime target, is it going to be a paradise away from home?

A problem about alien life is that you never know how the alien life is going to react to us. They may very well be hostile, we may encounter something akin to when Europeans first came to America. Maybe the aliens are benevolent though, and teach us new things that advance our technology hundreds of years in a matter of months.

The other possibility is that the aliens aren’t intelligent and are still just animals without sentience.

This could be just as interesting, we may find aliens that secrete useful substances, or aliens that have adapted and evolved in interesting ways, leading us to new scientific developments. Perhaps we’ll find new medicine from new plants on alien worlds.

But with alien life you never know how they’ve evolved, so you

Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska , enacted and supported an extensive wolf management program that allowed hunters to shoot down at wolves from airplanes and helicopters. Hunters could also land the aircrafts after chasing around the wolves and shoot them at point blank range as they lay collapsed from exhaustion. She even went as far as to offer a $150 bounty for the severed forelegs of wolves, as proof of participating in the hunting program. This is just one sickening example of the lengths a state will go to eradicate the wolf.

Alaska has continued to be criticized by scientists, animal rights activists, and research organizations for condoning such irresponsible and grotesque behavior. However, Alaska ‘s state officials aren’t the only ones. Several other leaders of states that hold significant wolf populations propose resolutions against wolf reintroduction and recovery that undermines the federal power of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which protects wolves in the states in which they live.

Thankfully, gone are the days in which settlers and ranchers killed the wolf unmercifully with full consent from the government. Today, anti-wolf legislation has to go up against an army of animal rights activists and conservationists. Since the 1950s and 1960s, most Americans have approached

by Mario Rodriguez Unless you are anti-social, or your friends exist solely in your imagination, you have encountered that difficult decision of either staying home for the evening and studying like the model honor student you are, or going out for another adventurous night of partying like a millionaire.

Though it might seem very selfish and irresponsible, I personally would advise on choosing the latter. Spending quality time with friends in an entertaining environment is better than spending time alone with books. Hanging out with friends helps you chill after a really stressful day and lends a hand in forgetting the load of school work that lies ahead.

It’s fun to go out and explore different neighborhoods of the Bay Area, and discover new places while meeting new people. Meeting new people just helps you become a more outgoing person, and proves to others that you are likable and social.

You should definitely have a fair

balance when it comes to your social life and college education. It would make perfect sense to do your work before doing anything of personal interest. Allow yourself enough time to complete your school work and get your studying done, and reward yourself by hanging out with your friends afterwards. In doing so you won’t have that constant nagging voice in your head reminding you that you have something due the next morning.

The smart thing to do is just handle that simple assignment for a little while, just get it over with so your mind is at ease, and then you can go out. Studying should be a priority as a student, since everything you do will affect your grade, thus going on your permanent transcript.

School will always be there, your youth and special events won’t.

Don’t misinterpret me, as I in no way am endorsing dropping out

“If you constantly have to back down from invites due to course related issues, chances are your friends will stop inviting you out to fun places.”

or encouraging you to become a slacker. You are only young once, and it’s better to get a feel of being eccentric as a young adult because it would seem awkward being in your early thirties and going to your first frat party.

These should be the moments you create outrageous memories and inside jokes that only you and your friends understand. If you constantly have to back down from invites due to course related issues, chances are your friends will stop inviting you out to fun places.

Of course, there are certain exceptions that require nothing more that common sense. If you have your final exam the following morning at eight o’ clock, chances are your girlfriend will take it as a valid excuse for not wanting to see that romantic comedy she has been eager to see. Or if your best friend is just bored and needs company when going tie-shopping, you probably should not lose out on study time for your Chemistry test. If you and your friends suddenly planned a last minute weekend road trip that requires you to take a personal day, I see no harm in playing hooky for a day.

It is sometimes difficult to balance both school and a personal life.

Education should always be important as your grades affect the timing and chances of transferring, but taking time for yourself and having fun should be just as important.

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December 2, 2010

Entertainment

Treyarch has a hit on their hands with Black Ops

by Marc Arguello

“Call of Duty: Black Ops” is the seventh game in the Call of Duty franchise, and by now you’d think this nearly yearly series would start to lose some of its appeal--but that’s what you get for thinking.

Developed by Treyarch, the studio behind “Call of Duty: World at War”, “Call of Duty 3”, and a variety of licensed games, “Black Ops” doesn’t necessarily have a strong lineage. World at War was a solid game to be sure, but it seemed to mostly be running on the charisma and fundamentals of “Call of Duty 4”, without the refinement that Infinity Ward puts into their games.

World at War felt like CoD4 with a new coat of paint, and while that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it felt like the majority of what made World at War good was actually due to Infinity Ward’s work. No longer just the younger brother of the “Call of Duty” franchise, with Black Ops, Treyarch has proved themselves as a real, talented developer.

The campaign takes place throughout various secret missions and battles in the 1960s. Starting in Cuba with an assassination attempt

at Castro, the game has the player eventually go to Russia, Vietnam, Laos, and back to Russia. It doesn’t focus on Vietnam too much, which is definitely a good thing. The covert operations theme allows Black Ops to experiment and get creative with its locations.

The story has enough twists and turns to make talking about in detail without spoiling anything somewhat hard. It easily has the most engrossing and character driven story in the franchise, and also has the best performances thanks to actors such as Sam Worthington, Ice Cube, and Gary Oldman.

Black Ops does something that no other CoD game has done: the

main character actually talks. For some reason, every single protagonist in the CoD franchise has been completely mute while you are controlling them. It’s a big change for the series, and Black Ops makes

great use of it. The main character, voiced by Avatar star Sam Worthington, does a great job at making the main character actually feel human for once.

Black Ops multiplayer is a love

letter to anyone who has enjoyed the “Call of Duty” franchise at any point in its lifetime. It’s the most balanced and refined that CoD has ever been. The weapons selection includes a variety of CoD favorites along with new experimental and exotic weapons like the crossbow and ballistic knife. Also, players can now customize their emblems with an editing tool and place the emblems (along with their clan tags) on their guns.

Several things from Modern Warfare 2 that Courtesy of Treyarch gave players endless grief have been removed. These things include the perks One Many Army and Commando, along with game ending nukes. Also, killstreak rewards no longer allow you to unlock other killstreaks, which forces

players to actually move around the map during a game, rather than camping in one area as hard as they can.

The new maps encourage movement over camping, which makes for face paced, tense game play.

There are very few locations in any of the maps where players can easily camp for long periods of time.

Camping was a serious issue in Modern Warfare 2, where in some maps, a team could control one point of a map indefinitely with very few ways to force them out. It made for slower, much less interesting game play. That is almost entirely removed from Black Ops, as every good sniper perch has at least two good flanking spots.

However, the core game is basically the same as it was 3 years ago with the release of CoD4. If you didn’t like the last three games, you probably won’t be thrilled by Black Ops, as it’s essentially the same game with a new can of paint and a lot of refinements. However, if you’re in the group that loves the fast paced action of the CoD franchise, you’re doing yourself a disservice

Fellini Satyricon: Rome. Before Christ. After Fellini

by Ray Marquez

Fellini Satyricon: Rome.

Before Christ. After Fellini.

I initially stumbled upon the film “Fellini Satyricon” at the behest of one of my favorite Norwegian Black M e t a l bands, aptly named, “Satyricon”. I’ve come to always push the boundaries when confronted with words and the meanings behind them and “Satyricon” was no different. Upon unsheathing its origin, Gaius Petronius Arbiter (or Titus Petronius…whoever you believe), his background of writing the “first” novel, and Fellini’s grandiose achievement at creating this epic film --all while participating in a Satyricon (the band) discography, I was instantly mesmerized by the sheer decadence and the aesthetically shrewd filmmaking

“Satyricon” so proudly exhibits.

The film loosely follows Petronius’ fragmented novel (passages were lost prior to discovery or unable to be saved through preservation) about the misadventures of narrator and former gladiator Encolpius, his 16 year old lover Giton, and his former lover and friend Ascyltus. The C U A film deviates substantially from the original source material, injecting its own morbid fantasies while recreating and eliminating original scenes. One cannot be irate at Federico Fellini for his attempts at sculpting a polished and polarized view of Rome during the rule of the eccentric and dominant Emperor Nero.

The film begins with our protagonists, Encolpius (the enigmatic Martin Potter), berating his former lover and flat-mate, Ascyltus (Hiram Keller), for taking his love slave, Giton (the ourtesy of

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very feminine Max Born) and then selling him for a profit.

The two tussle in an amusing and highly laugh-out-loud way as Ascyltus leads Encolpius to the buyer of Giton, famous actor and eccentric theater owner, Trimalchio (Mario Romagnoli in a scene stealing role). Encolpius retrieves Giton (with the help from some Roman guards) and sets off back to the massive tenement building that he lives.

They eventually meet back with Ascyltus, with Encolpius deciding that it would be best if the two went separate ways, dividing their stuff amongst e a c h other.

Ascyltus demands that Giton choose who he would like to go with, inevitably choosing to leave with him.

This leaves Encolpius heartbroken, a massive earthquake disrupting his despair to level

the entire tenement building.

From there, the film branches off into different storylines, encompassing many different themes and ideas while introducing colorful characters and impressive production designs by Luigi Scaccianoce. Amongst the many diverse characters introduced are an eccentric poet (Salvo Randone), a wealthy freeman (Mario Romagnoli), and a behemoth Minotaur (Luigi Montefiori—known C U A to the horror, cult, and exploitation cinema world as George Eastman, goremeister extraordinaire).

Fellini had already established himself as a primo film director ourtesy of

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with such titles as “La Strada”, “La Dolce Vita” and “8½” already under his belt. His version of “Satyricon” has stood the test of time and garnered many high U A praises from film enthusiast and lax theatergoers alike. There is something for everyone in this film. The meaning of life, the choices sculpted by destiny, and the political and economical struggles prevalent within every society ever formed on Earth scream for acceptance and appreciation amongst the film dirt and cigarette burns of this celluloid masterpiece. “Fellini Satyricon” is a permanent benchmark in mainstream arthouse cinema. No film will ever encompass the quintessence embedded within this film of decadence and morality. Long Live Fellini! courtesy of

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December 2, 2010

Entertainment

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

by Katherine Ramirez

I remember being in high school and reading the last book cover to cover on a grassy hill in the University of California-- Berkeley.

I remember skipping my summer classes that day so that I could finish it all in one sitting. And, even though it is one of the longest books in the series, I did.

Anyway, point being, I love the series, and I loved the last book.

The first time I saw the Deathly Hallows trailer I freaked out. I think I might have squealed a little, and, honestly? The squealing started up again everytime I watched it after that. I have grown up with both the actors and the characters they portrayed, so the excitement for my friends and I was monumental.

My best friends waited in line for six hours to see this movie. I met up with them as soon as I got out of work-- not even adulthood would stop me from reliving this book.

I don’t tell you this to brag. I tell you this so that you understand how high my hopes were for this movie.

I wanted it to be good, to be great, to be amazing. I wanted it to bring me back into the world I had for years missed. I wanted it to remind me of everything I loved about the characters.

And it did. It gave me every-

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

thing I was expecting to see and then some.

Essentially the story is about Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and his friends’ fight to end what has become Voldemort’s evil reign.

Voldemort, of course, is the main antagonist in our story-- he’s the darkness to Harry’s light.

In order to defeat Lord Voldemort Harry and the gang have to destroy the horcruxes Voldemort created. Horcruxes being random objects infused with the creator’s soul. As long as the horcruxes exist Voldemort cannot die. He is pretty much immortal.

Visually, Deathly Hallows was different from the previous films in that it was darker. The lens they used was a bit grittier and, even throughout the parts of the movie where things were calmer you never lost that sense of danger and foreboding.

David Yates, the director, definitely took an interesting visual turn in many parts of the movie. In one scene, for instance, we get treated to a short but crucial side-story. The scene sets up the rest of the film by telling us what the Deathly Hallows are. The gang go to the Lovegood’s home (the Lovegoods having been supporters of Harry throughout) and

are treated to a story about the items that make up the Deathly Hallows.

Rather than simply having actors play out the story, or giving us reaction shots while the gang listens to the story, the audience is treated to a cartoon. Not only is the cartoon beautifully drawn, but it also manages to lighten the seriousness of the moment. The story itself is filled with darkness, but because of the whimsical nature of the drawings we don’t feel as bogged down.

The actors in this film are amazing. Alan Rickman, who plays Severus Snape, sets up the tone of the movie flawlessly from t h e get-go.

We see him literally walki n g through an iron gate and immediately know that this movie will have great special effects. We then follow him into a dinner where all of Voldemort’s followers, or Death Eaters, are sitting. Above them, however, a woman hovers. This woman was introduced to us in a previous film as a teacher at Hogwarts (England’s premier school for the magically inclined). She is being tortured by Voldemort while everyone watches.

We can feel the tension immediately. At one point during the dinner she pleads with Snape to save her. She reminds him that they’re

friends. Rickman’s face during this scene is perfection. Without ever saying one word to her we see his regret. We sense that he is sorry for what she is going through, but that he will not help her. The camera pans around the table and we see frightened faces. This lets us know that Voldemort’s followers are only there because they fear him. This tells us all we need to know about the dynamic, and no one has even said anything yet.

This method was employed throught the movie. Yates often has the actors portray what they are feeling without using their words.

There is one scene where t h e Courtesy of Warner Bros. dream team is broken up with Ronald Weasley’s (Harry’s best friend) jealousy. He leaves them in a burst of emotion and Harry and Hermione (Harry’s other best friend and Ron’s love interest) are left to cope.

During this scene we see Hermione breaking down slowly. Harry realizes this and, during a night when it was especially hard for her, he offers her his hand. He pulls her into an embrace and they begin to dance. Her face goes from intense sadness to delight. We can see her being pulled out of the bleakness she has felt.

I looked around during this

scene and many audience members had small smiles on their faces. We all knew that this wasn’t a romantic scene between the two. This was a scene where we could see two broken people coming together to try and be whole. Two young teenagers with a monumental weight on their shoulders struggling to keep their heads above water. Once again, no words are spoken throughout the scene, but we still get the message.

The biggest critique of the movie was that it didn’t serve as a standalone. To this I say: well duh. I don’t know if these critics missed it, but it does say “Part 1” in the title.

This of course means that there will be another part to it. That this is not in fact a whole movie.

Another big critique is that there is a lot of “filler” in the movie. But there isn’t. As someone who has read the books I can tell you that there is so much that they could have added.

Everything in this movie is something that will be necessary in the next. Even if you think it something inconsequential-- it isn’t. It will come back later and it will matter.

States.

Josh Groban’s fifth studio album, produced by Rick Rubin called “Illuminations,” totally illuminated the list at number four for this week’s review. The album contains songs including Groban’s first take on a Portuguese song, “Você Existe Em Mim,” written by Josh himself.

Aside from Boyle, the tough album in the top 10 was Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now,” which dropped seven places to number nine in its fourth week.

With his sixth studio album produced in November this year, Nelly cuts the final top 10 debut of the week. The American hip hop artist took 10th place with his “5.0”.

I personally love listening to music, and I can say to you music lovers that you should also check out Billboard.biz (for more music goodies). Oh, and before I forget, Billboard also has a YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ BillboardMagazine.

So, give yourself a break from all the hard work and pressure in school. Sit back, chillax and feel

by Daniel Beckman

movie, story, action, and a good director is all you need, when it comes to Tron Legacy the soundtrack adds to the whole experience and takes it to the next level. Of course watching groundbreaking special effects and enjoying a great story is on top of anyones list, but when Daft Punk does the score to a movie you are sure to be blown away!

We leave you this semester with this suggestion and hope to hear your comments on the movie online during the Christmas break. From everyone here at the Skyline View have a great winter vacation!

Tron Legacy Comes out Dec. 17, 2010 at a theatre near you!

A helpful tool for choosing our music

by Alexis De Guzman

Finals week is here, we’re all doomed! Naah, I’m just kidding.

Well, let’s talk some entertainment for a sec. Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do!! Do you hear that? Music! Uhh, maybe not...

But here is something better Skyline buddies! If you are planning to buy a music album which has good songs and reviews, Billboard. com updates their website weekly to inform us of their top selling albums across all genres, which are ranked by their sales data, and compiled by Neilsen SoundScan.

Billboard has served the entertainment business since 1894. They have branches in New York, and bureaus in London, Los Angeles, and Miami. They have editorial correspondents in major cities around the globe that help each other get the sites updated for all of you music lovers.

So, to the students of Skyline College out there who are music lovers like me, dig in to the top ten albums on Billboard.com’s “Billboard’s 200 album charts”. Here you go, Bon appetite.

1) The Gift- Susan Boyle 2) O Holy Night-Jackie Evancho 3) Loud-Rihanna 4) Illuminations-Josh Groban 5) Born Free-Kid Rock 6) Nothing Like This-Rascal Flatts 7) Get Closer-Keith Urban 8) Glee: The Music, The Christ...Soundtrack 9) Speak Now-Taylor Swift 10) 5.0-Nelly On the Billboard’s 200 album charts, “Britain’s Got Talent” Scottish singer Susan Boyle’s 2nd album “The Gift,” owns at number one again for its second week. Boyle claimed that the album contains a 1960 breeze because of “it was her era.”

Rihanna got the third spot of the top 10 set with “Loud,” which is said to be her best sales week while her single “Only Girl,” bounced back to number one on the Hot 100 chart. This is her fifth studio album released in November this year with Def Jam Recordings selling 207,000 copies in its first week in the United

Basically? I loved this movie. I did. I was extremely excited to see it and was not dissapointed.

I was more than happy with the upped rating (from PG to PG-13).

I laughed, I cried (boy, did I cry), and I hoped. I hope that people see how amazing the series is. I hope people who have only watched the movies discover the world of the books. I hope that, even though these characters will soon be gone, I wont have to say goodbye to this magical world for very long.

J.K. Rowling, I’m looking at you.

Winter break movie ticket

Entertainment’ going to leave you this semester with a suggestion for your winter break box office ticket.

Tron Legacy, the sequel to the first movie Tron which originally rocked our worlds in 1982. Tron’ stunning landscapes, characters, and groundbreaking cinematography spear headed what would later become the video game revolution.

Tron Legacy takes place 20 years after the original movie, with Flynn’ son Sam Flynn as the main character and takes after its predecessor with visually stunning movie magic.

Usually when going out for a

Courtesy of Disney

11

Skyline View

The

December 2, 2010

Trojan chat

SPORTS

This has been an up and down season for the Trojans thus far, but sophomore Art Fodor is showing signs of a breakout season so far with 17 points per game.

by Michael Hall

Player Profile:

Height: 6’6” High School: Hillsdale Major: Undecided Hometown: Paris, France Average: 17.3 ppg (3rd in division)

Michael Hall: You have a

Sophomore Power Forward Art Fodor

David Evans/TheSkylineView

MH: Coach Piergrossi told me about

how he needs to see more consistency out of this team, and he thinks the team needs to have the necessary focus on a daily basis to win games. What is the team’s role in changing that?

AF: We have the pieces we need to win unique background as a foreign a lot of games this year. We just need to put athlete and you’ve been outstanding them together. We have a lot of returning thus far. You seem very natural for sophomores who provide a lot of skills. the power forward position. When did you start playing basketball?

MH: According to the coaching system, Art Fodor: I started playing in a player has to be fast and in good shape in this fast paced offense. He believes you 8th grade. need to set a high standard for yourself and MH: Collectively, the team everything about you is unique. But what seems disciplined with not making a personal goals have you set for yourself lot of turnovers. But would you say this season?

Justin Piergrossi is the strictest coach AF: My personal goal this season is to you have played for? fulfill my job in doing whatever it takes AF: Coach P. is a great coach, to help my team win. Rebounding comes [he] shows us what it takes to become first. great players, and teaches us how to work hard. Not only on the court, but MH: Coach Piergrossi could not comin life. pare you to an NBA or NCAA player MH: You guys have had a lot of because he says he doesn’t have enough high scoring games so far. Who have time to watch basketball during the season. Hopefully we will see you at the you seen step up the most?

AF: I’ve seen Alli Austria step up next level soon, but you’re certainly on the right path to play at the next level. the most this year because he really Thanks for your time, Art! passes the ball well and has been getting tons of assists. We’ve been having high scoring games because AF: Thanks. we try to get as many possessions as we can. We push the ball a lot.

Stock Market Which Skyline team’s value is rising or falling?

Women’s Basketball: Rising As an even Despite 12 better sign, of 15 players they have being freshwon three man, head of their last coach Trisha four games Hosley has the on the road.

Trojans playIf the ing good basTrojans can ketball. Comstay hot pared to the throughout only six wins December, all last season, they have a t h e Tr o j a n s leginimate are off to a 4chance to 3 start this avid Evans/TheSkylineView lead the year. In three Freshman Guard Kelly Huey making theDshort distance score. division of their wins heading into this season, they have allowed under 60 points. January. They are tied in their conFreshman Kelly Huey leads the ference with Foothill College. team in scoring with 11.7 points per game. (9th overall in Coast-North division). In fact, they have their first three game wining streak since 2008.

Men’s Basketball: Rising

T h i s season, the Trojans have really got something going with this offense.

They are averaging over 75 points per game, ranking 4th in the Coast-North division.

Wi t h a David Evans/ The Skyline View favorable Trojans attack the basket in a game against West Valley College. match up with 1-6 Siskyous College, Trojan fans have division lead. Last season, the Troa lot to look forward to in the early jans went on a 13 game losing streak oart of their schedule. They do0 not starting in late December, which the play any division games until Janu- Trojans look promised to improve. ary, so getting off to a quick start is The Trojans have a long way to go, important to stay in contention in the but this year they may at least be in Coast-North come time of needing a the playoff hunt by January!

Skyline Sports

Upcoming Games

Women’s Basketball 12/1 Cabrillo College 12/10-12/12 @East Bay Classic

Men’s Basketball

5:30 p.m 5:30 p.m

Women’s Soccer 11/20 @Reigonal Playoffs 11:00 am Vs. #6 seed Foothill College (@ Canada)

12/3 College of the Siskyous 12/4 Lassen College

7 p.m 3 p.m

12/10-12/12 Skyline Classic

6 p.m

Men’s Wrestling

12/4 @Regional Tournament

Badminton enrollment on the rise Racquet sport has become increasingly popuby Robyn Graham Shuttlecock. Bird. Long racquet.

Badminton is gaining popularity at Skyline College as well as in the Bay Area overall.

The flimsy looking racket can rocket a bird up to 100 mph across a court. Despite the high speed of play, bandminton is fun to play and students know it.

Jan Fosberg has been teaching the sport at Skyline for 12 years. Compared to her other classes of golf, archery, spinning, cross-training, and hiking, badminton is the most popular this semester.

Fosberg said that students think of the class as fun social experience.

“What I like about badminton is that it’s fast paced,” Fosberg said.

“It’s all about footwork and how you move around the court.”

Eddy Harris, another badminton teacher at Skyline, has also noticed a rise in the sport’s popularity.

Harris estimated his class had 10 more students compared to last semester. He attributes the rise in enrollment is due to multiple factors, with half the students needing college physical education credits and the other half taking it simply for fun and exercise.

“Students thought it would be the

Many students play badminton outside of class and attributed their interest in easiest thing to the sport to high school take but it’s acclasses. Others simply tually not,” said grew up playing it in their Harris. “You’re backyards with friends moving back and and family. forth breaking a Some students make sweat.” use of the Bay Badminton While both Center in South San Franinstructors cisco while others such said they were as Leah De la Cruz play happy with the at the Veteran Memorial increase in badCenter. minton popularSkyline also has a ity, a drawback women’s varsity badof having more minton team coached by students in class Fosberg that competes in was the lack of the spring. gym space and There is no mens team available courts. but informal tournaments Less singles are occasionally held. game tourna“It’s like dancing; ments can there are steps,” exbe played and plained Fosberg after she students spend showed her students foot more time playtechnique and swing being doubles fore their in-class singles games. tournament.

Some stuFollowing her instrucdents don’t seem tion, multiple swishing to mind though.

Lea Naqishbendi/The Skyline sounds were heard as stuJeffery Ng enjoys sit- Mae Azucena in a singles tournament during Badminton class. dents started swinging their ting and chatting with games seem more interesting, but rackets to practice the drill. friends while waiting with singles you move around the It is a good indoor sport to play for his turn to play a singles game.

“We don’t have enough courts so courts more and there are no com- during the winter months as well as being competitive and fun! we take a break,” Ng said. “Doubles munication errors.”

Dancing with the students

9 a.m

Headlines Standings Men’s Basketball

Coast-North Standings 1. Canada 6-0 2. CCSF 7-1 3. Chabot 4. Las Positas 5. Skyline 6. Ohlone 7. Foothill

5-1 5-2 3-2 5-4 3-4

Women’s Soccer Are eliminated in playoffs, the Trojans have not lost in the first round since 2008.

1-0 loss #6 seed Foothill College.

Men’s Basketball Trojans win 78-62 over Gavilan College.

3 straight road wins.

Skyline’s dancers showcase a variety of styles

by Stephen Benoit

Heavy rain didn’t stop students “It was really nice to see a variety and parents from attending an infor- of dances and showpieces from all mal dance show on Nov. 19 in The the fine arts people,” said Courtney Skyline College Theatre.

Chin, cheerleader captain of the SkyStudents line Trodisplayed a janettes. wide array of “ I ’ v e dancing talent b e e n a s d i ff e r e n t cheering dancers from and dancvarious walks ing since of life took the I was 12, stage. so it just A dance is in my class showed nature off their new to want moves, there to dance w e r e c h e e rand want leading to be Larry Crystal/The Skyline View routines and Students exhibiting a variety of dance styles. around tap dancpeople ing perforw h o mances to enjoy. There were also love dancing as much as I do.” hip hop, belly dancing and a tradiThere was even a “surprise” tional Chinese dance acts to enter- performance as the aerobic dance tain the crowd. class was asked to perform on the The show was run very profes- spot without any preparation. sionally and efficiently. As soon as Janelle Isbell was asked what one group finished, the lights went made her join a dance class. out and things were quickly set up “Well I wanted to do a yoga class the next dancers. but it got dropped, then I joined There was no judging of any the cardio dance class and I ended sort, nor should there have been, for up loving it,” said Isbell. “It was these were all dancers who simply a surprise that we were doing this enjoyed performing and that was performance, but I’m really happy reward enough. we did it.”

When the event was over, the room was abuzz with energy. It was difficult to hear over the excitement of students talking to friends and family.

Some students decided they weren’t done and took to the stage to do a bit more dancing after the event was officially over.

Larry Crystal/The Skyline View When asked why she Dancers on stage perform. taught dance, instructor Amber Steele had a ready response. cackle, as if she were trapping her “I love it, that’s the simple an- students. swer,” said Amber Steele, teacher Next semester there will be a for the cardio dance class as well dance production class on Tuesdays as advisor to the cheerleaders and and Thursdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. student dance club.

The class will cater to any and all “I really love teaching, and in my forms of dance. cardio dance class, since there are so many of them, it’s exciting for me to teach a large group and to get people who never expected they would be dancers, because usually they’re signing up for aerobics. said Steele.

She paused moLarry Crystal/The Skyline View mentarily and made a Student dancers show off their moves. stereotypical villainous

Women’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Coast-North standings 1. Foothill 2. CCSF 3. Chabot 4. Skyline

5. Las Positas 6. San Mateo

4-1 3-1 3-2 4-3

3-4 1-4

Wrestling Will make second appearance in Modesto this season in a regional tournament on 12/4.