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Spain’s anticlimactic win ends World Cup SportS »
Nevada, roman polanski, and Houston’s bike trails all in opINIoN » hi 95 Lo 75
issue 151, Volume 75 Wednesday, July 14, 2010 thedailycougar.com
WEAtHEr »
Forecast, Page 2
THE DAILY COUGAR.COM Follow editor-in-chief Matthew Keever on our Twitter account
UH tapped by Perry to aid in research
Cougar News Service
Governor Rick Perry tapped UH to be a part of a coalition of experts that will research ways to prevent future oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.
The coalition, named the Gulf Project, will be made up of energy and environmental scientists, policy experts, academic researchers, private sector research
scientists and state officials from UH, NASA and Rice University, among others.
UH President Renu Khator said research programs at UH, including the Texas Center for Superconductivity, are slated to be part of the project.
“Our faculty and students in engineering, law, business, geosciences, technology and research are working diligently to address the world’s energy challenges today and in the future,” Khator said.
“The chance to exchange ideas and work in partnership with our peers, industry and researchers will lead to important
contributions toward protecting our environment, while providing our students with hands-on experience in shaping energy policy and forging new business approaches to the way energy is created, delivered, used and shared.”
Other UH programs that will take part in the project, according to a press release, are the Mission Oriented Seismic Research Program; Well Logging Group; Global Energy Management Institute; Composites Engineering & Applications Center; Center for Applied Geosciences and Energy; Institute for Multi-dimensional Air Quality Studies; and the Center for
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources.
Perry is hoping the project will tackle all the issues currently affecting and halting progress
on the current Gulf disaster. He also thinks the project will help solidify Houston’s status as an energy capital.
“To keep our status as the
energy capital of the nation and preserve our environment, jobs and economy, Texas must become the world leader in developing
the next generation in offshore oil exploration safety and response,” Perry said in the press release.
“The Gulf Project is an unprecedented collaboration of the state’s top scientists, engineers and researchers, focused on protecting our residents, environment and economy, and solving the unique challenges presented by the next generation of domestic energy exploration and production.”
Along with UH and Rice, Perry has called upon most of the state’s top universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Southern Methodist University to take part in the project.
‘Gulf Project’ bring gg
together State experts, aims to tackle future oil spill disasters
Energy facility receives grant
State group honors student
UH’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is available for students to get a break from the heat. Air-conditioned indoor activities
offered at the center include rock wall climbing, racquetball, basketball and use of the natatorium. An outdoor leisure pool is also available for anyone wanting to enjoy the sun.
Summer RecreationTHE DAILy COUGAR FILE PHOTO
Cougar News Service
UH’s Energy Research Park will be the site of a new testing facility that University researchers will build after being awarded a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The National Wind Energy Center (NWEC), which will develop and test composite materials and components for large offshore wind turbines, is
likely to help establish the University as a national leader in offshore wind technology.
“The new testing facility will not only help propel this
region to the forefront of U.S. offshore wind development, but it will also help UH in becoming ‘The Energy University,’” UH Cullen College of Engineering Dean Joseph Tedesco said in a press release.
“Gaining a fuller understanding of the challenges associated with offshore wind energy technology is critical if we are to move into a clean energy future.”
Plans are for the facility and
By Jose AguilarThe Daily Cougar
The Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers named UH graduate student Meghan Baker the state’s Social Work Student of the year.
Baker, a J.D. and M.S.W. dual degree student in the Law Center and Graduate College of Social Work, will be honored at the organization’s annual conference in October.
“It feels amazing to be recognized by the NASW and to have been nominated by my peers, many of whom are themselves deserving of this award,” Baker said. “It is an honor I do not take lightly, and I am grateful to be recognized by this outstanding organization.”
Baker received the award in part for demonstrating a commitment to the profession of social work, her clients and to social justice.
“I think that fighting social injustice is inherent in almost all the work we do as social workers,” Baker said. “I think that being committed to the profession of social work within my experience has meant being mindful of social work values, something I strive to incorporate in everything I do.”
The profession’s commitment to fighting injustice wherever it occurs is what drew her to the field in the first place.
“As a member of the GLBT community, I have observed first hand the discrimination and oppression that we face, so that was a natural place for me to serve,” she said. “However, I like to think I am also committed to righting wrongs that affect other groups as well,
and I have worked to advocate for people with disabilities, youth in foster care, and other vulnerable populations.”
Baker’s active work in the community includes working with the Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals (HATCH), a support group for the city’s GLBT youth.
“The work I do with youth is probably the most meaningful to me. At HATCH, my partner and I serve as volunteer facilitators, a role I moved into after finishing a one-year social work internship at HATCH,” Baker said. “Among other things, it gives us a chance to give back to the community and to provide a safe space for queer kids to hang out, something we did not
see GRANTS, page 8 see BAKER, page 8
CouRteSy uh.edu
Meghan Baker was named Social Work Student of the Year by the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Joseph Tedescogg
Rick Perrygg
Directions: Use your QR code reader on your smartphone 1. to take a picture of the code below.Log on the website provided by the QR code 2. and submit your information to the drawing.
Snap to win!Win a $50 Amazon.com gift card!
How does this work? Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. (Source: Wikipedia)
Snap here
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Contest ends July 30, 2010 at 11:59pm CST 1 entry per person Only (1) winner will be selected.
Your personal information will NOT be shared with anyone. This is part of an ongoing research project at the UH College of Technology.
Winner will be notified via email on July 31, 2010
2 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010 The Daily Cougar
thursday
96˚ 75˚Friday
94˚ 77˚Saturday
92˚ 76˚
THURSDAY
Bat Boy: The Musical: Hamman Hall at Rice University, 7:30 p.m. Bat Boy: The Musical is based on the 1992 Weekly World News story about a half-boy, half-bat, “Bat Boy,” found living in a cave. The musical revolves around Bat Boy and his desire to assimilate into society. Regular tickets are $25, and $10 for those with a RiceU student ID. For more information, call (713) 348-7529.
The Octopus Project with Tia Carrera and Record Hop: Warehouse Live, 9 p.m. The Octopus Project is an experimental electronic band based in Austin and formed in 1999. The band blends pop and experimental elements, producing a combination of digital and electronic sounds and noises. The show will feature metal band Tia Carrera and Denton rock band Record Hop. Tickets start at $14. For tickets and more information, visit www.warehouselive.com.
FRIDAY
Michael Bublé: Toyota Center, 8 p.m. Canadian singer, actor and winner of two Grammy awards Michael Bublé returns to Houston on his Crazy Love Tour. His fourth studio album, Crazy Love, has already sold nearly four million copies since its release and consistently topped
Australian sales charts. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster. For more information, visit www.houstontoyota-center.com.
The Fleshtones with The Ugly Beats: Continental Club located at 3700 Main, 9:30 p.m. Garage rock band from Queens, New York, The Fleshtones will jam at the Continental Club with folk rock band The Ugly Beats. For more information, visit www.continentalclub.com/houston.html.
SATURDAY
The Toadies with Quiet Company and Dead Country: House of Blues, 8:30 p.m. Fort Worth grunge rock band The Toadies will make a stop at the House of Blues as they prepare to release a new album. They will be joined by piano rock band Quiet Company and punk band Dead Country. For tickets and more informa-tion, visit www.houseofblues.com/ven-ues/clubvenues/houston.
SUNDAY
Free meditation classes: University of St. Thomas Robertson Hall located at 3900 Yoakum Blvd., room #213. The class will be held from 12 to 1:30 p.m. No prior meditation experience is necessary. For more information, contact [email protected].
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By Patricia EstradaTHE DAILy COUGAR
The 2010 FIFA World Cup has given fans plenty to talk about, from the elimination of soccer greats Italy and France to the controversial calls by the referees. Either way, South Africa gave soccer aficionados an emotional roller coaster like no other.
Soccer’s biggest stage has seen its fair share of embarrassing moments throughout the years, but this year watching two soccer super powers, France and Italy, get knocked out in the first round set the tone.
“As far as the teams that were expected to do great, the French and the Italians, hands down, were the most embarrassing teams in the world cup.” Houston Dynamo’s defender Craig Waibel said. “I am not a fan of either team, but certainly no matter who you are, no matter who you cheer for, if you turn on the French and the Italians you expect to see at least a decent squad, (How they played) was absolutely horrid.”
With the early departure of Les Bleus and Squadra Azzurra, other teams were able to shine and show their talents; teams like Ghana, Uruguay and the Dutch were, by far, the biggest surprises.
Waibel also said the USA team was able to shine and overcome many obstacles. 2010 marked the first time since 1930 that the Americans won their group.
“It was really interesting to me the expectations that everyone had, including myself, on the USA team in particular,” Waibel said. “I don’t think they played as poorly as everyone maybe had the perception.”
Some of that growth and support for the national team came in part to the exposure the USA team received in news channels around the country during the Slovenia game before USA was robbed of the winning goal by Maurice Edu in the 85th minute.
“Exposure is a great educator,” Waibel said. “People don’t go out of their way to look for entertainment.”
Waibel said the poor officiating in the Slovenia and Algeria game made the USA team more resilient and showed the world the American spirit.
“A lot of people were disappointed,” he said. “(But) we have to give those guys more credit. The Algerian game showed how the American team defined the odds. We had a chip on our shoulder.”
Waibel hopes the growth in support for USA soccer doesn’t die down now that the World Cup is
over, but continues to raise money.In the quarterfinal game between
Uruguay and Ghana, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez stopped a ball from going in the goal with his hands, which would later stop the African nation from moving on the semifinals.
Waibel, like many other soccer experts, said Suarez’s actions were instinctive and he did not cheat.
“(What he did) is the best ever worst thing for soccer,” Waibel said. “He literally saved his country from elimination. He did what he had to do to win. Nobody thought (Gyan) was going to miss the penalty.”
A lot has been made of officiating this World Cup. In the final game alone 14 cards were given, breaking the record of six set in 1986. With more than 100 yellow cards given in total for the tournament, it is safe to say the officiating left a lot to be desired.
This World Cup fans also saw several missed calls when it came to goals and offsides.
“I think the officiating has provided many reasons and different topics for discussion,” Waibel said. “For the world cup being the biggest stage in soccer it is disappointing that this World Cup
has had so many poor moments of officiating.”
Because of the poor officiating, fans are asking FIFA to reconsider its decision to keep technology from being used in the game.
Waibel said technology should only be used in soccer if it is to decide a goal, not to determine if a player should be called offside or not.
“Technology in the ball and goalpost is a good idea, but other than that I don’t think technology should ever be involved in soccer.”
The Daily Cougar SPORTS Wednesday, July 14, 2010 n 3
SOCCER
World Cup filled with surprises
WikiCommonS
After 70 years of waiting, Spanish fans in Toronto rejoice at Spain’s first World Cup victory. The 2014 World Cup will be in Rio de Janeiro.
TRACk
Cougar preps for World ChampionshipsBy John BrannenTHE DAILy COUGAR
For the majority of the UH track and field team, the season ended a month ago. But a lone Cougar has kept his season going, training deep into the weeks of summer without his teammates.
Errol Nolan qualified for the IAAF World Junior Championships after winning the 400-meter dash at the USA Track and Field Junior Championships June 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. For the first time Nolan will be running for the United States and not in his UH uniform.
Unlike most track meets with preliminary heats to determine the final, the World Championships have a three round format. Nolan said conserving his energy throughout the races would have a significant impact on whether or not he advances to the finals.
“I have to set myself up for the next race,” Nolan said. “I have to make sure I get the good lane and not burn myself out while doing it.”
Both of Nolan’s parents are Jamaican and he had a desire to run for the Jamaican team. But since he accepted the invitation to run for the U.S., Nolan will likely not get a chance to ever run for Jamaica. The IAAF rules that an athlete must sit out of international competition for three years if they want to switch the nation they compete for, which is out of the question for Nolan. Despite the rule, Nolan said he is humbled
wearing the red, white and blue.“I’m proud to wear the uniform,
but since I’m putting on this uniform I can’t go back and wear the green, black and gold,” he said.
One of Nolan’s career aspirations is to reach the Summer Olympics; being one of two representing the U.S. in his event is a solid start. Nolan is ranked second in the world in the 400, behind national champion Kirani James. James won the national championship for the University of Alabama, but will be representing Grenada at the World Junior Championships.
“I’m just doing the best I can to make my family proud,” Nolan said.
“I feel honored to be talked about around the world. Being favored to place second, I know I am getting mentioned.”
Nolan will have the support and advice of head coach Leroy Burrell on the trip. Nolan’s personal-best in the 400 is 45.59 seconds, but he hopes to break the 45-second mark. Burrell told Nolan he would have to be more aggressive earlier, but to enjoy the experience.
“The advice he’s given is to set myself up for the next race, have fun and to start my kick earlier,” Nolan said.
The meet will be in Moncton, Canada. The first preliminary round in the 400 is July 20, the semifinal will be the 21 and the final will take place the 22.
4 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010 The Daily Cougar
OPINION COMING NEXT WEEK: Obama uses NASA to promote peace with Muslims, should we be scared and outraged?
EDITOR Andrew Taylor E-MAIL [email protected] ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/opinion
Nevada is in a bad place right now. The Silver State leads the nation with its 14 percent unemployment rate, and the local economy shows no signs of bouncing back.
The view from Las Vegas, the state’s largest city (and my home) is grim. It is nearly impossible to find a
family or business that the recession has not affected in some way: lost jobs, cut hours, reduced wages.
Nevadans are placing the blame for this on the shoulders of both the state and national government. Everyone who is currently in office has become unpopular. Most specifically, local conservatives are targeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat who has represented Nevada in the Senate since 1986.
Senator Reid is running for re-election in November, and his Republican opponent, relatively unknown Sharron Angle, currently has a seven-point lead in polls. The only reason Angle has the lead she does and a chance at winning the election is Reid’s lack of popularity. Both candidates will have to
fight hard and dirty if they want to win.Politically, Sharron Angle’s extremely
conservative views and tendency to say the wrong thing make her an awful choice for the Republican Party. In a January interview, Angle all but called to assassinate her opponent. Immediately after mentioning that people were beginning to look for Second Amendment (the one which concerns the right to bear arms) remedies to the current government, Angle stated that “the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.”
Angle’s ideology—so far to the right she is nearly falling off the grid—is not popular in Nevada outside her rural corner of the state. In fact, her views are so extreme that her campaign Web site was completely revamped after she won the Republican primary, with her views on most issues either softened or removed entirely. Things described in her original Web site, like phasing out Social Security, dissolving the Department of Education and withdrawing from the United Nations, are all conspicuously absent in her current one.
To hide Angle’s obvious ideological
issues, her campaign committee has chosen to run attack ads blaming Harry Reid for Nevada’s high unemployment rate; simply pointing out the extreme change in rates during Reid’s time as senator, then promises that “help is on the way.”
Of course, that promise is, according to Angle herself, completely bogus. On multiple occasions, Angle has said that creating jobs is not the job of a U.S. Senator. Reid, on the other hand, was able to throw a campaign rally featuring President Obama at the Aria Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas. The Aria, one of the most gorgeous casinos on the strip, would never have been built, and thousands of construction and hospitality jobs never created, if not for Reid’s direct involvement.
In order to win the senate race, all Reid has to do is remind Nevadans of the good he has done for the state, while Angle has to hope Nevada voters forget to do their research.
Casey Goodwin is a mechanical engineering sophomore and can be reached at [email protected]
Houston has an enormous amount of people who use the roads to express their need for speed, their hunger for adrenaline, a desire to sightsee and
explore, and for health benefits. These people are not the idiotic drivers that cause
wrecks and delays on the interstates; I’m talking about the Houstonians who belong to the cycling community.
Cyclists who belong to Houston love the city, admire its beauty and wish to keep it that way. They ride out to parks, they explore new neighborhoods, and they’re active in their community.
Unfortunately, Houston has yet to return the love back to the cycling community. Other than the occasional bike lane and a few bike trails, Houston’s roads and safety enforcement are relatively nonexistent.
The recession has placed all states
in tight places monetarily, but activities within communities like cycling are ways for cities to grow in a positive way. Spending state budget money on bike trails, increasing the number of law enforcement officers on bicycles and city jobs created around those cycling friendly areas would create only positive benefits.
Building cycling lanes and cycling trails gives people incentives to move to Houston, and they bring more revenue by coercing people out of their houses and into town on the weekends.
One of my first rides was through the downtown grid. That ride forever changed my perspective on downtown. As I approached Discovery Green Park I felt like I had discovered a part of Houston that was worth being part of on early Saturday mornings.
Cycling shops in Houston are increasing, contributing to small business growth. Bike Houston.org is the central
cycling Web site for Houston and has all the information a cyclist might want when thinking about riding.
Bike Houston is not alone, either; there are many other organizations and groups built around the city that are supported by the cycling community.
Cyclists like myself can only hope that City officials recognize the potential within this part of our great city. It is then crucial for those officials to relay the importance to state officials and ultimately for our state government to lobby for funding.
The University of Houston even has their own cycling organization that represents UH, among other cycling enthusiasts.
Texas needs more communities like cyclists and those others that get out and enjoy everything that is naturally wonderful about our state.
Andrew Taylor is an Economics senior and may be reached at [email protected]
Nevada faces fierce election battle
Houston needs to be bike friendly
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Casey Goodwin
JASon PoLAnd THE DAILy COUGAR
Last Friday, a 58-year-old woman was injured after she opened what she thought was just a normal package of chocolates. However, it was a pipe bomb that sent the woman to the hospital with shrapnel to the face.
After several days, it was reported by local media that the woman was the wife of the oil executive Brock Moore, president of Adams Resources Exploration.
Now that several days have passed, one man is crying media conspiracy. Glenn Beck, talking about the BP’s media blackout, used the pipe bomb
explosion to validate his fear of threats against people working in the oil industry.
Beck then went on to report on the incident, all under the guise that this was a story that should have been heard long time ago. That is, there should have been faster media reaction to this story. There are, however, parts of this story that do take
time to get. The main fact would be the motivation for the bombing, along with who sent the package in the first place.
That is the heart of this issue; Beck doesn’t seem to care about the woman in Houston. What he seems concerned with (as always) is proving a much larger conspiracy. All of this overshadows the very real possibility of a continuing threat to the families of oil executives.
By using this to try and prove his argument, his logic will implode if it turns out that there is another motivation to this bombing.
But by that time Beck will have probably moved on to the next thing that he believes we should already know about. He talks about media irresponsibility, but he seems to be short in the area of follow up.
This is something that all media should be concerned with. Oftentimes we find ourselves getting breaking news, but never learning of the information that completes the story; we get stuck with a headline and some political jargon and left with nothing else.
If not, we could all just make up whatever argument we wanted regardless of the truth of the issues that we use to prove our logic.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Glen Beck takes on Houston media conspiracy
Beck seems concerned with... proving a much larger conspiracy
E D I TO R I A L P O L I C Y
STAFF eDiToRiAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.
LeTTeRS To The eDiToR The Daily Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to [email protected]; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.
ADVeRTiSeMenTS Advertisements published in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.
gueST CoMMenTARy Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be kept to less than 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies to material already printed in the Cougar, but rather should present independent points of view. Rebuttals should be sent as letters. Deliver submissions to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to [email protected]; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
THE DAILY COUGARE D I T O R I A L B O A R D
Matthew Keever, Editor in Chief
Newton Liu, Managing editor
Hiba Adi, News editor
Jose Aguilar, News editor
John Brannen, Sports editor
Christopher Losee, Sports editor
Travis Hensley, Life & Arts editor
Andrew Taylor, Opinion editor
Andrew taylor
The Daily Cougar Wednesday, July 14, 2010 n 5
EDITOR Travis hensley E-MAIL [email protected] ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/life_arts
LIFE+ARTS COMING NEXT WEEK: Ben Muths hits the Houston music scene
By Sarah NeillTHE DAILy COUGAR
Despicable Me will inevitably be compared to Toy Story 3 because A) it’s a 3D CGI movie released around the same time, and B) they are the only two movies I’ve seen in theaters this year. I won’t go much further in the comparison than to say that I’ve melted the plastic twice to see Toy Story, but I don’t think I’ll be seeing Despicable Me more than once in theaters, especially not at $14 a pop.
That’s not to say it’s a bad movie. It’s cute, funny, and exceptionally well animated — it was obviously intended to be seen in 3D — but it just wasn’t as good as Toy Story. The few plot twists were predictable, and there was no sense of real conflict. I never felt Gru’s nemesis to be very threatening, or that he would not find his soft side in the end.
The curmudgeonly Gru is a Russian-esque villain with mommy issues and a house in the ’burbs (granted, the lawn is dead and the interior furnished with taxidermied endangered animals). While waiting in line at The Bank of Evil – formerly Lehman Brothers – Gru gets himself crosswise with
Vector, a Bill Gates doppelganger with a fetish for fish-filled firearms. Vector, who calls himself such because his crimes have “both direction and magnitude,” has stolen the Great Pyramid, thereby usurping Gru as greatest supervillain in the world. It also turns out he is the bank president’s son, with the game stacked in his favor.
Gru apparently lacks the unlimited funds of most supervillains, because he is at the bank to take out a loan to steal the moon, a dream he’s had since watching Apollo 11 land.
The bank president, who bears a striking resemblance to Dilbert’s pointy-haired boss, demands Gru produce a shrink ray as down payment. Off to North Korea goes Gru to steal the shrink ray, but Vector (surprise, surprise) appears and nabs the gun for himself.
To get the gun back, Gru adopts Agnes, Edith, and Margo from Miss Hattie’s Home for Orphan Girls. Vector had bought cookies from them, and Gru plans to re-nab the gun while the girls distract him. The plan works – barely – and off goes the pseudo-family in Gru’s evilmobile to a theme park for some reluctant bonding.
Gru then returns to the bank
with the shrink ray, but is denied the loan because he is not related to the president. No matter. Gru, his aurally challenged sidekick Dr. Nefario, and their yellow minions — whose behavior bears a strong resemblance to the pill bugs in A Bug’s Life —build a rocket anyway. It’s a jalopy, but it flies, and they did it together. So sweet.
Problem is, he planned to take over the moon the same day Margo, Agnes, and Edith have a dance recital. Rather than mess with emotions and affection,
he sends the girls back to Miss Hattie’s, rockets into space in a pink space suit and proceeds to shrink the moon. Floating with the shrunken orb in his hand, he feels a strong pang of remorse.
Gru then turns around and makes it to the dance recital in time to watch Vector kidnap them. I won’t give the rest away, but you can probably guess it ends happily. Unfortunately, the ending is rather pat and cliche, but it’s hard not to feel happy for Gru and the girls when they come to realize how
much they mean to each other. Anything less would be positively villainous.
‘Despicable Me’ not so despicable
univeRSAL
In the shadows of Toy Story 3, Despicable Me knocks the Twilight Saga: Eclipse out of the number one spot in the box office.
A look at an author’s attempt to find love without sexBy Michelle ReedThe Daily Cougar
British journalist Hephzibah Anderson’s memoir “Chastened: The Unexpected Story of My year Without Sex,” follows her year-long experimentation with celibacy after she realizes that she has misunderstood the relationship between love and sex.
Following the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Anderson sees her college boyfriend buying an engagement ring for another woman. Anderson realizes that in her efforts to find love, she has only found lust.
“Sex and its pursuit seem to have become such blood sports, their rules so confusing and their standards so exacting, that it is hard not to wonder occasionally whether it’s worth it,” Anderson said.
This revelation sparks the beginning of her experimentation as she vows to date and write about defining the difference between love and sex and what a relationship can succumb to without intimacy.
Anderson’s book is far from a lecture on feminism. She mostly writes that women can live without sex or the co-dependency of a male, but that life would be better with it.
The book offers a profound argument on the female psyche and libido, allowing women to look at their own relationships and see that maybe they didn’t work
out because they were blinded by the idea of love and that sex has become a counterpart in relationship woes.
Throughout the first couple months of Anderson’s vow of chastity, she struggles to have a non-physical relationship with men. She writes that her inability to find romance is because she is conning herself, allowing the memory of her sexual exploits to become the one thing to keep her relationships with men afloat.
She realizes that she has not been listening to what men are telling her, believing that she can make any man fall in love with her once they have gone to bed. In the end, she finds that she is the only one who has fallen in love and mocks herself.
Her struggles can seem almost exhausting at times as Anderson seems to be completely blinded by the fact that she is not having sex. She becomes disinterested in quiet, romantic types of men that she ironically says would be a great change from the over sexualized men of her past.
Her account follows the ins and outs of her thoughts as she frets and worries about her appearance.
Although her story is honest, most women might find themselves puzzled as to how Anderson’s story can even provide insight to other women.
The book ends leaving us to wonder if the vow has taught Anderson anything. It seems that
she is still trying to sort through her own confusion with love and sex.
However, in a short epilogue Anderson writes that looking back on the experience, a new sense of understanding
about dating and the freedom of a non-physical sensuality have been found inside her. She realizes that romance has been within her relationships all along, if only she hadn’t been so blind. The biggest thrill, she said, came from the touch of a hand on her arm, a gaze held across the table or a light goodnight kiss at her doorstep.
This revelation is one that any woman can take to heart. Anderson’s memoir proves to us that if we stop blaming men and ourselves for our failed romances, we would realize that romance isn’t perfect and that what we have in front of us is what we have been searching for.
“the book offers a profound argument on the female psyche and libido, allowing women to look at their own relationships...”
Tik Tok / Ke$haEverybody Have Fun Tonight / Wang Chung99 Luftballons (99 Red Balloons) / NenaParty in the USA / Miley CyrusSince You Been Gone / Kelly ClarksonOne Week / Barenaked LadiesLet’s Get Physical / Olivia Newton-JohnPhotograph / NickelbackWe Didn’t Start the Fire / Billy JoelRock Me Amadeus / Falco
SONGS YOU DON’T WANT TO BE CAUGHT SiNGiNG
mix tape:
Sometimes you can’t help it. you’re in your car and the mood to start singing hits you. Before you
know it, it’s the chorus of “Since you Been Gone.” yeah, you’re working it, but the person in the car next to you doesn’t think so. The next time these songs come on, just practice the lost art of humming and avoid the embarrassment.
embarrassing as hell
Despicable MeRated: PG for rude humor and mild actionStarring: Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, Rus-sell Brand, Julie Andrews, Kristen WiigVerdict: See the matinee in 3D to save money but get the full effect.
in ReView
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Plaza Research, a local focus group company in the Galleria area, is looking for students to participate in paid focus group discussions.
There is absolutely no sales or solicitation involved, we are only interested in your thoughts and opinions. Our groups are ongoing and
include topics such as: pets, travel, consumer products, sports, politics, magazines, books, medical conditions, food, beverages, etc. Those who
participate are compensated $35-65 per hour for their time.
Please call Plaza Research at 713-840-9500 and ask to be added to our database OR log on to www.iopinion.com and click REGISTER
WORSHIP DIRECTORYBaptist Baptist
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church3826 Wheeler Avenue
Houston, Texas 77004-2604713.748.5240
Worship Services7:15a.m., 9:00a.m., 11:00a.m. & 1:00p.m.
Wednesday, Bible Study: 12 noon & 7 p.m.Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Pastor
Rev. William A. Lawson, Pastor EmeritusSunday Services via webcast:
www.wheeleravebc.org
metHodistcHurcH of cHrist
WestburyChurch of Christ
1024 Hillcroft
713-729-7880www.westburycocc.com
Sunday Worship9:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m.
Bible Class10:30 a.m.Wednesday7:00 p.m.
Worship- 10:30amHaley Brown- Worship LeaderPeter Scafidi- Worship Leader
Dariel Newman- Pastor
CHURCHA NEW UNITED METHODIST FAITH
COMMUNITY
www.1CHURCH.NETSundays at Pearland ISD
Berry Miller Junior High School
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We are seeking a part-time Bookkeeperin the 610 Loop & Richmond area. The ideal candidate should have Accounting/Bookkeeping experience, with knowledge of QuickBooks & proficiency in Microsoft Office. Must have excellent communication skills, strong critical thinking skills, and a high degree of attention to detail. This is a good opportunity for those majoring in Accounting. Please contact 713-527-9912.
Small company needs website/graphic design student for print/online brochure & website update. Portfolio or samples of work. Call Talea @ 713-869-1255.
BB’S CAFE NOW HIRING part time or full time flexible hours/ good pay serv-ers and delivery drivers email [email protected]
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1 BR TOWN HOME $480 per month. $195 move in. 843 sq ft. Call Brad at (713) 392-3248.
CONDO MINS TO UH. DOWNTOWN, Nice, quiet. Studio=$290; A/H, W/D, fenced, 1-1:$360, 1-11/2 $565; 2-11/2:$690; 3-1 1/2=$800; No pet, 713-834-4209.
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TELL ’EM YOU SAW IT in The Daily Cougar Classifieds!
QUIET, BEAUTIFUL 1-bdrm apt for rent. Hrdwds, 5-mins from UH. $625/mo ($550 deposit). Call Joan 713-661-3185.
QUIET, BEAUTIFUL, SPACIUOS 2-bdrm apt for rent. Hrdwds, 5-mins from UH. $875/mo ($750 deposit). Call Joan 713-661-3185.
ELEGANT ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH, SPACIOUS LIVING ROOM, NEWLY REMODELED KITCHEN CABINETS, COUNTERTOPS, BACK SPLASH, CROWN MOLDING THROUGHOUT, BEAUTIFUL EARTH-TONE PAINT, SPACIOUS CLOSET, BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM, MASTER HAS CARPET. A MUST SEE!!! $600 A MONTH / $ 600 DESPOSIT. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT FREDDIE AT (251) 747-4306.
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HOUSTON’S NEW GOLF CADDIE agency, MyTeeMates are looking for beautiful young ladies to join their staff! As a caddie you will be required to clean clubs, drive the cart, fix divots, tend the pin and keep your golfer and/or golfers smiling the whole time! Great compensation! Please check out our website www.myteemates.com. If you want to have a fun, relaxing day on the golf course and make some good money, this is the gig for you! This caddie agency is highly anticipated already and will be heavily promoted! Hope to see you at our casting!. If you are interested and are planning to attend this casting please email us at [email protected] to receive details about the casting on July 17th.
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TO: THE DAILY COUGARTO:
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6 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010 The Daily Cougar
TURN YOUR USED BOOKS INTO CASH.NO mAgIC REqUIRED.
Sell your stuff for FREE to the UH community with online classifieds!
To get started, sign up with your UH e-mail address at: thedailycougar.com/classifieds
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Do you know the MuffinMan?
Great Continental Cuisine •and Breakfast food
Late Night till 5am •in Montrose
Two Blocks from •SouthBeach Night Club
MuffinMan Wed-Sat 11pm to 5am 2310 Converse 77006 (713) 942-1050
20%
University of Houston Student Discount
The Daily Cougar COMICS & MORE Wednesday, July 14, 2010 n 7
today’s crosswordcoUGar coMIcs Find more daily strips at thedailycougar.com/comics
today’s sUdokU
how to playEach row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3-by-3 boxes must also contain the numbers 1 to 9.
A.D.D. Circus by Chris Jacobs
Robbie and bobby by Jason Poland
ACROSS 1 Thieve 4 Zip or area 8 Easy shot 13 Warrior
princess 14 Symphony or
tome 15 Very perceptive 16 Drub 17 Compact
(hyph.) 19 Allergy
symptom 21 Mauna — 22 Latin I verb 23 Beatles’ meter
maid 25 Distinct
periods 27 Like Teflon 31 Fracas 35 Melodrama cry 36 PC chip maker 38 Not so many 39 Tree, to Fritz 41 Spoil (2 wds.) 43 Letter starter 44 A Muppet 46 Revved the
engine 48 Forum hello 49 Dogie catchers 51 Was
appropriate 53 Sugar amts. 55 Truck stop
sight 56 “One-hoss —” 59 Goodall
subject 61 Close at hand 65 Hedged 68 Kind of model 69 Wanted-poster
word 70 Gardner of
mystery 71 Famous last
word 72 Hollow rock 73 Cougar’s pad 74 Hem up
DOWN 1 Rider’s gear 2 Not even twice 3 Cookie cooks
4 Desiring 5 Unseal 6 Twilight 7 Ms. Lauder 8 Thai neighbor 9 Got to 10 Hearty laughs 11 Versatile vehicles 12 — Fountain of
jazz 13 Really big tees 18 Bid adieu 20 Type of pasta 24 Oscar nominee 26 —
Wiedersehen 27 Dynamite
inventor 28 John or
Maureen 29 Names of
things 30 Shish — 32 Work long and
hard 33 Bug off 34 Slipped up 37 Shoestrings 40 Hit the wrong
key 42 Bodyguard 45 Dawn goddess 47 Thin coin 50 Pole on a ship 52 Diadems 54 Sales pitch 56 Bachelor party 57 Dog-owner’s
shout 58 Munitions 60 Pound or
Cornell 62 Colosseum site 63 Spouted, as a
whale 64 Craving 66 Sonnet kin 67 New Haven student
© 2010 united FeAtuRe SyndiCAte inC.
Previous puzzle solved
Previous puzzle solved
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15
16 17 18
19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
35 36 37 38
39 40 41 42 43
44 45 46 47 48
49 50 51 52
53 54 55
56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64
65 66 67 68
69 70 71
72 73 74
P E A K S L O E M I F FH A L O M A L T A I D O LE C O N A D I E U L E G OW H E T L E O R E D E Y E
I L L S A I D EG E C K O S L O C O W E E DU N H I P B U R L S A L EA S I C A R T E G M TR U E D B R E A B A L E RD E F E R R E D A M P E R E
R O A D M E W LP E R I O D P E N E T C HA V I V I M I D E N E R ON I C E O M N I A T R A PS L E D L E A S Y A M S
Polling Sites:
General Services Building – Training /Conference Room
Ezekiel W. Cullen Building – First Floor Lobby
Questions?Contact Maria Saldana at 3 -9206 or [email protected] University of HoustonStaff Council273 Cullen Performance HallPhone: 713-743-1578
Staff Council ElectionsJuly 20 and July 21, 2010
How to Vote:• Vote Online at www.uh.edu/sc/voting from 6:00am on Tuesday, July 20 to 5:00pm on Wednesday, July 21• Vote at the polling sites on July 20 from 9:00am to 3:30pm• Must know your employee ID• Must be benefits-eligible staff member (50% FTE or greater)
Summer Book Club
Open to all UH students, staff, faculty, & affiliates.
Meet in the Women’s Resource Center (UC-2nd floor) to discuss our summer reads:
Just Kids
by Patti Smith
July 23
Noon
Email [email protected] request copies of the books
Sponsored by
8 n Wednesday, July 14, 2010 NEWS The Daily Cougar
have when we were in high school (or) in College Station.”
Baker also serves as a Guardian ad Litem for Child Advocates, a volunteer position that enables her to utilize both the social work and legal skills she is currently learning. She has been working with a 17-year-old girl who has been in the permanent custody of the state for the last year.
“My work at Child Advocates is both extremely challenging and rewarding at the same time. My job involves visiting her at least once a month and going to court to advocate for her best interest,” she said. “Serving as her Guardian ad Litem is a role I take very seriously, and I truly value the relationship we have.”
In August of 2007, Baker and her partner Lindsey were legally married in California, during the brief period of time same-sex weddings were allowed. After the passage of Proposition 8, three months after their first anniversary in November of 2008, she was part of a team that organized a rally in Houston.
Baker spoke at the rally, which made her realize that Houston needed an organization that would advocate on behalf of the GLBT community, and founded Impact
Houston right after.“Advocacy is a huge part of what
social work encompasses, and this experience laid the foundation for me to build my skills in this area,” she said.
Assistant professor at the Graduate College of Social Work Suzanne Pritzker thinks Baker’s work is building on the profession’s history of strengthening communities for all people.
“Meghan exemplifies what it means to be a social worker, committed to her clients on both an individual and macro-level,” Pritzker said in a press release.
“I feel Meghan is very deserving of this award,” Pritzker added in an e-mail. “I am glad that her strong and impactful work in the community and in the classroom has been recognized in this way.”
Baker is a 2003 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Plan II Honors Program. Her dual degree program is scheduled to end in May 2011. She is still planning the next stage of her life after graduation.
“Ideally, I would like to work with and for youth, either in the foster care or juvenile justice setting, and I would love for this to include advocating for GLBT youth who are particularly vulnerable within these systems,” she said.
BakErcontinued from page 1
its researchers to partner with colleagues from the college as well as industry officials and tackle the challenges facing the developing alternative energy.
One of the facility’s primary goals will be to develop materials that
will double the life expectancy of current offshore wind equipment.
Su Su Wang, a professor of mechanical engineering, will serve as the center’s director. Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Ray Flumerfelt will serve as associate director. Both, along with senior research scientist Daniel Davis, are founding members of NWEC.
GraNtscontinued from page 1
Because Chris can be a woman’s name, too.Though The Daily Cougar strives for accuracy and fairness in its reporting, mistakes happen. Please report any errors you see in the paper to the editorial staff. Corrections will run on Page 2 as needed to amend the record. To report a correction, e-mail [email protected] or call (713) 743-5362.