WEDNESDAYSeptember 21, 2011Volume 97, Issue 15

WWW.T H E DA I LYA Z T E C .CO M

facebook.com/dailyaztectwitter: thedailyaztec

I N D E X :

SC

AN

C

OD

EF

OR

MO

BIL

EC

ON

TE

NT

5E N T E R TA I N M E N T

4O P I N I O N

Leonardo Castanedatackles Chargers stadiumconflict with new ideas.

W E AT H E R :

PARTLY CLOUDYHIGH: 77LOW: 62SUNSET: 6:46PM

S D S U ’ SI N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R

S I N C E 1 9 1 3

Pet Trackersniffs out precious petsbefore theystray too far.

F E AT U R E S

B AC K PAG E

We looked upat the large,electronicblackboard thatwelcomed uswith bright ...letters: “NoSk8brds” ... “NoStudnt Prking.”

8

With medical technology advancingso rapidly, it is easy to get caught upin the fantastical ideas of innovationssuch as the integration of machinewith man. When looking at thisthrough the lens of popular culture,images of the “Six Million Dollar Man”and “The Matrix” come to mind. Andwhile these things are less implausi-ble than they were 10 years ago, thecurrent work of San Diego Statemechanical engineering professorand 2011 Faculty Monty award recip-ient Dr. Kee Moon has the potential torevolutionize the scientific and med-ical communities, bringing thesecloser to seemingly distant futures.

In July, the National Science

Foundation announced an $18.5 mil-lion grant, establishing anEngineering Research Center forSensorimotor Neural Engineering atthe University of Washington. Alsoincluded in this grant are two univer-sities acting as research partners: theMassachusetts Institute ofTechnology, and through the effortsof Moon here at SDSU.

The research conducted at SDSUas well as UW and MIT will be used todevelop sensorimotors that are inte-grated into the human neural systemfor various medical purposes, such asadvanced control for prosthetic limbsand a home-based system for aidingin serious injury rehabilitation. Theultimate goal for this project is to cre-ate a human brain and motion deviceinterface in order to achieve a highlevel of control for those in need.

“This will help amputees not onlywalk, but run or even dance,” Moon said.

Moon is also a full-time professorin the College of Engineering andincorporates a unique blend of boththeory and practice in his teaching.Recently, Moon developed a coursestructured as an engineering designcompetition that works in conjunc-tion with local businesses to promoteinnovation both on campus andwithin San Diego industry as a whole.

In addition to this, Moon and hisresearch team worked as an integralpart in both creating inventions andobtaining patents in the field of organ-ic light-emitting diode technology.

“This is essentially the world’s firsttrue 3-D technology,” Moon said. “Thistechnology is not only cheaper, butreally flexible, which opens up a lot ofnew potential for its application.”

Also noteworthy is Moon’s coordi-nation with the Department ofMechanical Engineering at KyungHee University in South Korea.Students from the university come toSDSU for an intensive four-week pro-gram that not only encompassesexperiencing SDSU, but experiencingthe San Diego area and its localindustries as well.

When asked about being honoredwith one of this year’s Monty Awards,Moon expressed his gratitude, andspecifically cited his honoring beingbecause of his colleagues, Dr. SamuelKassegne and Dr. Khaled Morsi, aswell as his team of researchers.

In the future, Moon plans to con-tinue his work with the EngineeringResearch Center as well as focus onteaching in the College ofEngineering.

KKeevviinn SSmmeeaaddcontributor

Associate Dean for the College ofProfessional Studies and Fine Arts Dr.Kathy LaMaster has a diverse list ofaccomplishments compared tomost educators. One of this year’sFaculty Monty winners has not onlyproven herself in the classroom andas an administrator, but in severalother career ventures and San DiegoState organizations.

LaMaster began her involvementwith higher education at TexasChristian University. However, her goalat the time wasn’t to become an edu-cator. She received her master’s andBachelor’s degrees in medical tech-nology and began working in a hos-pital running lab tests. After admit-ting the work “wasn’t as exciting as(she) thought it would be,” she leftto become a coach and teacher inFort Worth, Texas.

It was there she realized what shewanted to do for the rest of her life.She decided to return to school for herdoctorate in physical education fromOhio State University.

She found her way to SDSU, begin-ning as an assistant professor teachingphysical education and exercise.

LaMaster was then promoted to inter-im director of SDSU’s School ofExercise and Nutritional Sciences,before reaching her current position asassociate dean.

Despite her administrative position,LaMaster has remained very involvedin every level of SDSU’s educationalinfrastructure. She is actively involved

with students and faculty, even teach-ing classes when it fits her schedule,but she said she prefers the “broaderview of campus,” which is what heradministrative position offers her.

As chair for the University Academic

and Resource Planning Committee inthe University Senate, LaMaster has asignificant voice as a voting memberbecause she determines how moneyis spent in SDSU’s budget. For her it isa way to protect the interests of thestudents within her college.

Aside from overseeing the largeraspects of campus life, LaMaster stillmakes an effort to remain active inthe classroom.

Last school year, she taught PSFA550, which is the final class studentsare required to take to receive a studyabroad minor. The objective of theclass is to construct a 50-page paperresearched abroad. While a large por-tion of her responsibilities with theclass is simply monitoring studentprogress, LaMaster enjoys the chanceto work closely with students.

“I love hearing about the experi-ences of the students, and the chal-lenges and obstacles they overcameabroad,” LaMaster said.

LaMaster has been with SDSU since1996. After 15 years of teaching, shehasn’t lost any of her enthusiasm forbeing a part of the university’s mission.

“The diversity of students andshared governance model is some-thing I respect a lot about SDSU… Ican’t think of anywhere else I’d ratherbe,” LaMaster said.

HHuuttttoonn MMaarrsshhaallllsenior staff writer

CRIME BEAT

PPoossssiibbllee nnooiissee vviioollaattiioonn rreeppoorrttssSeveral disturbing the peace callswere made to the San Diego StatePolice Department last Friday, twoof which were referencing Albert’sCollege Apartments on 55th Street.

One was a possible domestic dis-pute that occurred there between amale and female. The male was lastseen leaving the premises. Theother call involved a report of loudmusic from an upstairs apartment.

Also, with Fall Rush in full swing,the authorities were called out sev-eral times to the Sigma Chi fraterni-ty house on College Avenue with areport of a loud party in progress. Inaddition to these incidents, multipleloud parties were reported in thevicinity of Montezuma Road.

- Compiled by Kevin Smead, contributor.

Professor awarded Monty

THINKSTOCK

LaMaster hasbeen withSDSU since1996. After 15years ofteaching, shehasn’t lost any of herenthusiasm ...

SDSU is on cutting edge of tech

6

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,

September 21, 2011 O P I N I O N2

espite having the third mostfollowers in the world, atheismand nonreligious beliefs havebeen getting the short end ofthe stick for many years.

Secularist and atheist teachings have beenoutlawed, hated and mocked by virtually allother major religions. And for most ofAmerica’s history, those groups have beenignored at all levels of learning.

This unfair neglect is slowly coming to anend, thanks in no small part to classes suchas Religious Studies 380: Atheism, Humanismand Secularism, being offered for the firsttime this fall at San Diego State.

It’s hard to understate the importance ofsuch a comprehensive class on nonbelief. Ifyou’re anything like me and find yourselfconfused as to what humanism even means,and whether atheism and agnosticism meanthe same thing, you’re a living testament forhow overdue this class is.

But this new course serves an importantpurpose beyond helping students analyzealternative views on religion. It also grantsthe study of nonbelief much-neededacademic recognition.

This recognition is a long time coming fora religious ideology first proposed by theancient Greeks — you know, the guys whoinvented democracy and algebra — hundredsof years before Jesus was born. Since then,nonbelievers have reached 1.1 billion peoplestrong, including 15 percent of Americans. Yetin America, atheism has failed to receive thekind of widespread acknowledgment given tosmaller and newer religious beliefs.

The course, taught by professor RoyWhitaker, is an important first step, but it’s farfrom an isolated one. Pitzer College, thanksto the efforts of professor Phil Zuckerman, isnow offering a degree in secular studies. Butthis is hardly enough. Atheism and secular-ism should receive equal standing amongother religions throughout the academicspectrum. World religion classes, whichmany students are required to take for avariety of majors, should give equal time tothe study of atheism and secularism justlike any other religion.

SDSU and Pitzer College are pioneers in afield ripe for the kind of critical thinking andinnovative study the best universities in theworld are known for. They must continue topush forward, expanding the study of irreli-gion and nonbelief as they become globalleaders in this often neglected ideology. Theyare an example the rest of the Cal StateUniversities and University of Californiaschools must follow if they wish to be con-sidered fair and impartial toward religion.

But why start with college? After all, moststudents get their first taste of world religionsin high school social science classes. Theseclasses often discuss everything fromChristianity to Zoroastrianism, but conve-niently ignore atheism. It’s time publicschools demonstrate the impartiality towardreligions required by the Constitution andgive atheism its due attention.

This may seem like a novel and even con-troversial proposition, but it is far from

unprecedented. England, a fellow westernnation founded in similar Judeo-Christian tra-ditions, has experienced a resounding boomin atheism. So much so that a recent pollfound two-thirds -of British teens betweenthe ages of 13 and 18 don’t believe in God. Sixout of 10 even go so far as to say religion hasa negative impact on the world. Faced withthis shifting demographic, the BritishQualifications and Curriculum Authority —think Department of Education, but with afancier name — changed the school stan-dards to give atheism the same amount oftime and attention religions such asChristianity and Islam receive in religious

education classes. To some, the very idea of atheism being

taught in public schools and universities feelslike an assault on traditional religions. Afterall, hatred of atheists has often been the onlypoint of agreement between bitterly dividedreligious sects. Trying to uphold atheisticideas as equal to conventional religious onesis bound to be met with some outrage.Thankfully, this kind of exclusionary mentalityhas not found a home within the College ofArts and Letters, which has twice increasedthe enrollment cap for the Atheism,Humanism and Secularism course to accom-modate eager students. That mentality toomust not find a home within society at large.After all, Christianity has been taught fordecades alongside Judaism at all levels ofpublic education, though no person claimsone is a repudiation of the other. Countlessdifferent religious beliefs have been able to

coexist in harmony in the impartial halls ofpublic education. There should be no prob-lem adding one more, no matter how uncon-ventional it may seem.

For centuries, atheists have been a silentminority in America’s ongoing dialogue onreligion, belief and its place in our society. Butthe number of nonbelievers is growing andthey are demanding to be heard. Those will-ing to listen the way SDSU did will be in theforefront of the new age in American reli-gious life.

— Leonardo Castaneda is an economicsand journalism sophomore.

LLeeoonnaarrddoo CCaassttaanneeddaastaff columnist

EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT

UNAFFILIATED16.1%

6.9%HISTORICALLYBLACK

1.7% MORMON

0.7% JEHOVAH’S WITNESS

0.6% ORTHODOX

0.3% OTHER CHRISTIAN

1.7% JEWISH

0.6% MUSLIM

0.7% BUDDHIST

0.4% HINDU

<0.3% OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS

1.2% OTHER FAITHS

0.8% DON’T KNOW / REFUSED

MAINLINEPROTESTANT

26.3%

18.1%

CATHOLIC23.9%

U.S. RELIGIOUSLANDSCAPE

Atheism and secularism shouldreceive equal standing amongother religions throughout theacademic spectrum ... It’s timepublic schools demonstrate ...impartiality toward religions.

Include secularism in religious classes

D

DATA COMPILED BY THE PEW FORUM

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,September 21, 2011O P I N I O N 3

Advanced Test Preparation

BEHINDTHE NUMBERS

SPONSOREDBY

Advanced Test PreparationScore Higher, Aztecs!

4

2

5

1

19

19.7

Assists for SDSU this season.

Average shots per game for the Aztecs.

Loss for the Aztecs.

Wins for SDSU this season.

Goals scored against Houston Baptist on Sunday.

Goals made by senior defender Daniel Steres.

17 Saves made by goalkeeper Blake Hylen.

1,315 Total home field attendance this season.

FOR MEN’S SOCCER

Prevent Chargers relocation with innovationrguing in favor of a newChargers stadium is never easy,but it can feel like outrightmockery in the wake of apainful defeat at the hands of

the New England Patriots. However, theChargers’ demands for a new stadium arehardly new. After a decade of indecision, thetime has come for the city to make a choice:Is it time for a Hail Mary pass or a throwaway?

As things stand today, the Chargers have aone-year lease in San Diego, and they havefrom February to May to either renew it orfind a new home. Before that time next year,the city has two options: Do nothing and risklosing the Chargers to Los Angeles, or findsome way to build a new stadium here.

Of course, even without a new stadiumthere’s no guarantee the Chargers will leave.However, event promoter AEG is makingstrong headway toward a new, privatelyfunded stadium in LA. Without prospects of anew stadium in San Diego, it’s not hard toimagine the Chargers reaching a deal withAEG to move to a brand new home around ahundred miles north.

Option two is to replace the 44-year-old

Qualcomm Stadium with a new venue. While

there is strong support to keep the Chargers

in San Diego, it is far from unanimous. Many

doubt the economic benefits of an NFL fran-

chise and see the whole thing as a con to

line the pockets of the Chargers’ owners.

Supporters in turn point to the many benefits

of keeping the Chargers in the city. Aside

from the prestige a major sports team

bestows on its hometown, it can also mean

millions for the city in increased tourism,

especially with big-ticket events such as the

Super Bowl. In the short term, the jobs creat-

ed by such a massive project would give San

Diego’s battered construction sector a much-

needed boost.At some point, the following question aris-

es: How does one pay for a new stadiumexpected to cost $800 million in the midst ofa recession? To figure that out, let’s start withwhat we have. The Chargers and NFL are

willing to pay for 35 percent of the construc-tion costs for a new venue. That comes outto $300 million.

When the Giants and Jets built their joint$1.6 billion mammoth stadium, the NFL con-tributed $150 million per team. Proportionally,the Chargers’ plans are similar, $800 millionper team. Admittedly, New York is a muchbigger market, but a contribution from theNFL of $125 to $150 million would be a rea-sonable demand.

That leaves a $350 to $375 million gap —just less than half of the total. Here is wherethings get tricky. Other cities such asIndianapolis and Denver that have built simi-lar stadiums have relied on additional salestaxes. A small tax hike on hotels and carrentals, services often used during the foot-ball season, would be one way to finance thestadium. However, San Diego requires a two-thirdss majority vote for any new taxes, mak-ing that a politically unattainable option.

So, how do you finance a stadium withoutnew taxes? Here is one way.

First, build the stadium away from the con-vention center. Instead of building it in theheart of downtown, build it farther southwhere the land will be cheaper.

Second, finance the construction of thestadium with new municipal bonds. Rightnow, the yield on municipal bonds is at his-toric lows. That means now is the cheapesttime in recent memory for cities to raisemoney through bonds. Issue a total of $400million in municipal bonds during the next sixyears — the expected building time of a newstadium — to subsidize its construction. Reducethe Chargers’ total expected contribution to$325 or $300 million, but have them pay forthe interest on the bonds with the revenuefrom parking, food and tickets at Qualcomm.

Once the stadium is built, the city and theteam share revenue on parking, food and tick-ets until the municipal bonds are completelypaid off. At that point the stadium will be builtwithout cost to the city, and the city’s sharecan be sold to private investors for a profit.

Additionally, by offering tax cuts and incen-tives for hotels and restaurants around thenew stadium the city can revitalize an oldercommunity with a second downtown. As thearea grows around this new hub, propertyvalues will increase and bring in additionaltax revenue to the city.

This plan is far from revolutionary or perfect.But it shows that through some creative plan-ning and willingness to compromise, an agree-ment can be reached to keep the Chargers inSan Diego at no real cost to the city.

— Leonardo Castaneda is an economics andjournalism sophomore.

A LLeeoonnaarrddoo CCaassttaanneeddaastaff columnist

MCT CAMPUS

(The) city has two options: Do nothing and risk losing the Chargers to Los Angeles, or findsome way to build a new stadium here. Of course, evenwith a new stadium there’s noguarantee the Chargers ... leave.

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,September 21, 2011E N T E R TA I N M E N T 5

L IVE AND DANGEROUS LIVE AND DANGEROUS

TURN IT UP

Announced at 1:45 a.m. to an audiencethat, by that time, consisted of littlemore than band members and theirimmediate families, San Diego Statestudent DJ Love took first place atAztec Nights’ Battle of the Bands lastFriday. Through the use of a textmessage voting system, DJ Love andhis live drummer bested eight otheracts with a Girl Talk-inspired mash-up set that easily received the bestcrowd reaction of the night by com-bining everything from Guns N’Roses to David Guetta.

Opening act Keevo took secondplace with a Skrillex-heavy DJ set thatcaused members of the audience tospontaneously Hula-Hoop and spinpoi with glow strings. The last electron-ic performer of the night, mix artist DJHoliday Home, was plagued by techni-cal issues and a waning crowd as hestruggled through his set before even-tually closing out with Jimi Hendrix’sversion of “All Along the Watchtower.”

Solo performer Michael Shenk pulledup a stool and played both blues andacoustic songs in his original set,

adding a coffeehouse feel the event was sorely lacking.

Pop-punk was thoroughly repre-sented at the show, thanks to theefforts of Small City Calling and Keepthe Change. Despite a broken stringand no apparent backup guitar avail-able, Keep the Change still managed tokeep the crowd pogoing through its15-minute set. Small City Calling,whose singer announced “This is thelargest stage we’ve ever played on,”upped the ante for its set by tossingout T-shirts into the crowd whilesmashing into each other during acover of Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy.”

If the Lit cover wasn’t enough late‘90s nostalgia, the two ska bandsNeveready and The Left Coasters recallthe heyday of Reel Big Fish and Buck-O-Nine, complete with onstage skank-ing and synchronized horn sections.The ‘90s influence throughout thecompetition reached its apex withthird-place finalist Straight Trippin.Straight Trippin’s set borrowed theSublime combination of punk, ska andreggae, down to the affected BradleyNowell-styled vocals.

Each of the finalists won studio timeto produce a professionally mastereddemo courtesy of Delirious Records.

AAnnddrreeww YYoouunnggeerrsenior staff writer

Artists battle forpro studio time

Spreckels Theatre, one of the oldestand most beautiful venues in SanDiego, hosted a lovely show onboth Friday and Saturday nights thispast weekend.

Just shy of its centennial, Spreckelsis a show in itself. From its storied pastto its ornate and decorated walls thevenue demands as much attention asthe acts it hosts. Inside the theater,concerts become brilliant displays ofmusical achievement, thanks toincredible ambience and acoustics.

So when Bon Iver visits San Diego,there really is no more of a perfectplace for its precious, intense andradiant music. With some lastminute tickets released, the sold outcrowd was ready to be immersedby glorious acoustic wonder. Theaudience members’ expectationswere eternally fulfilled.

Support for the night was new-comer Other Lives, which comple-mented the indie-folk genre themewell. Its melodies were reminiscent ofa Romanticism-era tragedy, causedby the subconscious sense ofurgency to the group’s tempo anddrums. The timeless modern roman-tic feel is sure to take Other Lives’rolling thunder-inspired songs intomany more albums.

After an unpleasantly crowdedintermission in the lobby, Bon Iver

front man Justin Vernon appearedon stage alongside an eight-pieceaccompaniment, rather symphony,and the song “Perth” began. Thestage was intimate yet complex, anarrangement ranging from instru-ments as small as a bicycle bell to alarge baritone saxophone. “Perth”started calm and vibrant, and thenthe distinctive alto voice of Vernonemerged from center stage, res-onating throughout every seat in the house.

The opening song, which is alsothe opening track on Bon Iver’s mostrecent album, transformed seamless-ly into the adjoining track,“Minnesota, WI,” showcasing thepoignant intensity that breathes fromeach song. This intensity is a movingfeeling of unrequited heartbreak thatBon Iver has an enchanting ability toweave through its melodies.

As the music was played, timebecame irrelevant and hard to definewhile the audience tried to experi-ence every sound performed. With alive band, it is a rare and intriguingaccomplishment to blend certainsounds with each other, making themseem simultaneously familiar and for-eign. It’s not simply just a guitar or avoice. Everything has a sense of pow-erful energy and every instrument,down to the wind chime, plays anintegral part on stage. It is the result-ing air of mystery that goes beyondtypical rock bands and allows for theimagination to wander into a songand lose itself for the rest of the show.

The highlight of the night was thesurprisingly energetic and loud rendi-tion of “Creature Fear.” The rollingband included a talented trombonesolo and continued the ever-presentharmonizing collection of vocals andinterlaced instruments.

Take note brass instrument play-ers, there are plenty of opportuni-ties to become a rock star. The bandfeatured trumpets, saxophones,trombones and a French horn,which is always refreshing to see onstage alongside the common guitarand drums.

Closing out the night the band fea-tured the songs, “The Wolves (Act Iand II)” and “Skinny Love.” “Wolves”captured desires deep inside everyperson and turned them into a fragilelullaby and an eternal reminder. Thesong seemed to build power inside ofitself as the lyrics continued on, leav-ing the echoes to chase each otheraround the ornate theater walls.

Crowd-favorite and widely popularsong, “Skinny Love” ended the stun-ning night. Vernon kept fairly quietthroughout the night when it cameto stage chatter with the crowd.

There were more than a few audi-ence catcalls for marriage and lovedirected his way, though he managedto brush past them. There are notmany shows that are better enjoyedquietly seated, this is a well-wel-comed exception however. This nightat Spreckels will become a cherishedmemory for both fans of Bon Iver andmusic fans in general.

CCoouurrttnneeyy RRooggiinnstaff writer

Bon Iver stuns Spreckels

COURTESY OF D.L. ANDERSON

Wilco never disappoints

Some critics have called Wilco the“American Radiohead,” not becauseof any musical similarities, butbecause both bands have a con-stantly evolving sound. Having trans-formed from its mid-’90s alternativecountry sound to jazz-inspired folk,Wilco has proven to be one of themost interesting bands around.

Similar to Radiohead, Wilco’sdebut work was rather misleadingcompared to the band’s discographyas a whole, which is partiallybecause of the frequent turnover ofband members. Since the beginningof its career, Wilco has experiencedfive major changes in the memberlineup. “Summerteeth” is “TheBends” of Wilco’s discography while“Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” parallelsRadiohead’s “OK Computer.” Boththe latter albums stand among thegreatest of the last 15 years.

However, the current lineup is thelongest lasting outfit so far, whichexplains the similarities in “TheWhole Love” to the last two records.The Radiohead comparisons arenearly justified with the opener “Artof Almost.” The seven-minute track

starts off sounding like a windstormblowing into the microphone. NelsCline’s experimental guitar riffs andMikael Jorgensen’s keyboards fadein to orchestrate the structure of thesong, supported by one of JohnStirratt’s rare bass leads. “Art ofAlmost” is a song every band wishesit could write.

Unfortunately, the rest of thealbum sounds nothing like “Art ofAlmost.” In fact, the second song, “IMight” is vastly different. It has acheerful, walk-in-the-park vibe witha choppy beat and catchy tune. Thetheme continues into other tracks“Born Alone” and “Dawned on Me,”but these three songs don’t definethe album. The other songs are fairlydarker and more low-key.

Like most Wilco records, “TheWhole Love” requires more than onelisten to experience full enjoyment ofthe album. “Black Moon” is a shy andsomber song that could easily bemissed, even though it’s one of thebest tracks on the record.

Finishing the album is “OneSunday Morning,” which is the mostbeautiful and intricate track on theentire album, leaving fans with 12minutes of satisfaction. Band leaderJeff Tweedy takes a Bob Dylanapproach to writing the lyrics, focus-ing on storytelling rather than fitting

each word into a rhyming scheme.Having a shorter version of the songwould not sustain the finesse andintimacy the album needs.

From start to finish, “The WholeLove” is a beautiful, fun and innovativerecord that will secure a distinctiveplace in Wilco’s diverse discography.Listeners will be eager to press rewindto study each song and ensure thatno sound or instrument goes unno-ticed. Perhaps someday Radioheadcan be called “England’s Wilco.”

“The Whole Love” is available onCD, vinyl and digital download nextTuesday.

CCoonnnnoorr CCooxxstaff writer

Local San Diego band Pinback hasenjoyed modest national successwith its quirky and undeniablycatchy tunes. Founding member andgenius behind the band’s distinctivebass lines, Armistead Burwell SmithIV (aka Zach Smith), is currentlytouring as his solo side project,Systems Officer, and will playing ashow tonight at The Casbah.

Fans of Pinback and Smith’s otherproject, Three Mile Pilot, need notlisten long to spot the similaritiesbetween the three acts. The distinc-tive flair Smith brings to the tablewith his bass, keyboard and vocalwork are on full display in SystemsOfficer. Though it bears heavy simi-larity to Pinback, the solo projectallows Smith to indulge his lyricalside with abandon while maintain-ing some of the identity he hasestablished in his other projects.

Smith has enlisted Pinback drum-mer Chris Prescott, along with

Kenseth Thibideau, to flesh outSystems Officer both on the tourand on a more permanent basis.According to Smith’s recent poston the band’s website, he is nowable to invest more attention in“molding Systems Officer intosomething really special.”

Systems Officer will play to thosewho are 21 and older with PhantomWorks and The Color of Glass at 8:30p.m. tonight at The Casbah. Ticketsare $12 and can be purchased at casbahmusic.com.

JJoohhnn AAnnddeerrssoonnentertainment editor

WilcoThe Whole Love

MCT CAMPUS

BROOKE VALLS, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Winners:First Place – DJ LoveSecond Place – KeevoThird Place – Straight Trippin

Systems Officerto rock Casbah

The distinctiveflair Smithbrings to thetable with hisbass, keyboardand vocal workare on full display inSystems Officer.

SNEAK PEEK

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,

September 21, 2011 F E AT U R E S6

In the convent ional Amer icanhousehold, a family typically consistsof a mother, a father, a brother, a sis-ter and a valued pet. Many pet own-ers are guilty of pampering theirpooches and feline friends with gour-met food, plush toys and, of course,limitless love and affection. When abeloved companion decides to followits instincts out the door and onto thestreet, owners often find themselvesat a point of desperation.

Now Qualcomm has releasedTagg-Pet Tracker, ensuring an effi-cient way for GPS tracking to locaterunaway pets, which enables ownersto find their exact coordinates.

The tracker latches onto the collarand can be set to specific, desirablesettings, such as creating an alertsystem to notify the owner if the pethas wandered off from a designatedarea. The pet tracker is uniquebecause, like a trackable mobiledevice, it includes a service providedby Verizon Wireless, enabling accessto vast coverage and a reliable net-work. The Tagg Master Kit comesequipped with one year of service for$199.99 and can be expected to beshipped within the month.

“Hundreds of thousands of pets gomissing every year and, according tothe National Council on Pet Popula-tion Study and Policy, only 15 to 20percent of lost dogs and only 2 per-cent of lost cats are ever returned totheir owners,” a press release onQualcomm.com said. “Tagg — ThePet Tracker is a purpose-built solu-tion that uses a sophisticated combi-nation of GPS and wireless technolo-gy to monitor a pet’s location andquickly notify the owner via emailand / or text if the pet leaves its Tagg

zone, the area where it spends mostof its time — typically the home, yardand adjacent areas.”

Qualcomm Incorporated designedthis convenient innovation primarilyto provide pet lovers with more com-fort. This only further establishes thecompany’s status as a self-coined“world leader in mobile technolo-gies.” Other companies such asGarmin and SpotLight have launchedpet tracking devices as well. Howev-er, Qualcomm aspires to market itsproduct on a larger scale. From abusiness perspective, the companyclearly strategized and had a well-

developed idea by calculating themillions of homes that include pets.

“It’s certainly a big market,” TheSan Diego Union Tribune reporterMike Freeman said. “There are morethan 75 million dogs owned in theU.S., according to a Humane Societysurvey completed last year. Morethan 10 million pets are lost eachyear, according to the AmericanSociety for the Prevention of Crueltyto Animals. And The American PetProducts Association estimates that

consumers spent $48 billion on theirpets last year.”

By targeting the nation’s soft spot,Qualcomm may have struck goldwith the tag.

“We created Tagg because weunderstand that pets are an impor-tant part of today’s family,” SnaptracsPresident Dave Vigil said. “As pet own-ers ourselves, we were inspired todesign a purpose-built solution thatprovides owners the peace of mindthat their pet is where it is supposedto be. A lost pet is something noowner wants to experience, and weare proud to have developed a sim-

ple-to-use and affordable trackingsystem that will help reunite pet andowner quickly if the pet wanders off.”

This new tracking device is sure tolaunch Qualcomm ahead in themobile world yet again by strategi-cally tapping in to a very importantpart of the typical American home.The cost may be expensive but thenext time a beloved pet slips out theback door, its electronic track will behard to miss.

AAmmyy DDeeVViittoostaff writer

Device finds furry family friends withgreater ease

“... we are proud to have devel-oped a simple-to-use andaffordable tracking system thatwill help reunite pet and ownerquickly if the pet wanders off.”

Dave Vigil,President of Snaptracs

Makeshift signs are no longer needed. Tagg-Pet Tracker now instantly alerts owners with beloved pets that have gone astray. | MCT CAMPUS

75 milliondog owners

2% of catsare found 20% of dogs

are found

$48 millionon pets

FOUNDLO

ST

Qualcomm upgrades pet tracking tech

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday, September 21, 2011C L A S S I F I E D S 7

THE DAILY AZTEC DOES NOTENDORSE OR SUPPORT ANDHAS NO AFFILIATION WITH THEPRODUCTS OR SERVICESOFFERED IN THE CLASSIFIEDSSECTION.

HELP WANTED APARTMENTSFOR RENT

INTERNSHIPS

The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County iscurrently hiring recreational aids workingdirectly with youth in our community. Formore information visit us at www.bgcec.org or e-mail your resume to sal@bgcec.org

Tutors wanted for algebra, geometry, calcu-lus, chemistry, physics, biology, English, andSpanish. Scripps Ranch area. 2:30-8:30pm,flexible hours, $40/3 hours. (858) 705-3342.

Xponential Growth Solutions: Marketing /Financial Services Company. Come visit usat the September 22nd Internship Fair.For early consideration please sendresume and cover letter tobwilley@xgrowthsolutions.com

College of Business

REVIEW589-9900 www.aplusreview.com

SCOREHIGHEROur entire purpose is to prepare and perform a “perfect” exam-review, whereby our students get the highest grades in the class. PERIOD.

We dumb down the material and spoon feed it to you. Together we work through every possible problem and every possible concept.

Econ101

Acctg201

Econ102

Stats119

Math120

MIS180

Acctg202

MIS301

MIS302

FIN323

FIN325

FIN329

$850 mo. 600 sq. ft. unfurnished studio with fireplace and large yard. Three blocks fromdowntown La Mesa. Utilities and cable free.No pets. (619) 988-0775.

SERVICESSERVICES

SEEYOURAD

HERE!Place your ad in The Daily Aztec Classifieds section to hire an intern, sell your bike, or rent a room! Students and faculty of SDSU receive a discount on any classified ads they run, so what are you waiting for? The Classifieds section is available to all 36,000 students on campus, plus your ad will be displayed on The Daily Aztec’s website, which receives over 3,000 hits per day! With this kind of exposure, there’s no doubt you will find what you’re looking for. Call us at 619-594-4199 for more info.

on

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,

September 21, 2011 B AC K PAG E8

Difficulty Level: 2 out of 4

Instructions: Complete the gridso each row, column and 3-by-3box (in bold borders) containsevery digit 1 to 9. For strategieson how to solve Sudoku, visitwww.sudokudragon.com

Solutions available online atwww.thedailyaztec.com

©2011, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

AACCRROOSSSS1 Its median score

is 1007 Weapon for

Tyson11 Christmas

choice14 Former drug

giant15 Sans employ-

ment16 Enjoyed hors

d’oeuvres, say17 *Title role in the

2009 Tony win-ner for BestMusical

19 Drop off briefly20 Shoe with a

swoosh logo21 Tex-Mex snack22 M-16, e.g.24 *Advantage of

some militarygoggles

26 Bottlenecks30 Not hard to

grasp31 Plaza Hotel imp32 Write quickly33 Sports car roof

option36 SkyMiles airline37 Make, as a sand-

wich38 Ethiopia’s

Selassie39 Like flannel and

fleece40 Creepy-crawly41 Tiered Asian

temple42 Butterfly’s perch44 Noble head-

piece45 *Freetown is its

capital48 Response to a

dare49 __ II razor50 Actor Morales54 Film buff’s

channel55 “That’s exactly

how I feel” ... orwhat eachstarred clue’sfirst word cando?

58 Stat for RyanHoward

59 Having theknack

60 Tough leather61 Subj. that helps

people assimi-late

62 Niggling things63 “Enough already!”

DDOOWWNN1 Publisher’s ID2 Royally named

liner, briefly3 Heart-to-heart4 Gardner of mys-

teries5 Shrewd6 When strokes

begin to count7 Rip off8 Couch potato’s

fixation9 Pavement

warning

10 Game with tum-bling blocks

11 *Unauthorizedstories writtenby devotees

12 Author Calvino13 Confine again,

as swine18 Trails23 “Did we get the

bid?”24 Orion Mars mis-

sion gp.25 Acid container26 Some arena dis-

plays, briefly27 Bar from a dairy

case28 *Pro shop free-

bie29 Pre-speech

obstacle32 St. Patrick’s Day

dance34 Ye __ Shoppe35 Bog fuel

37 Big name inonline poker

38 March __:Carroll charac-ter

40 Sound at ashearing

41 Stormy weathergear

43 USC athlete44 Cold weather

wear45 Give the creeps46 Sonnet line five-

some47 Maritime birds50 Footsteps-in-

an-empty-hall-way sound

51 Blunder52 BMW rival53 “Yeah, sure!”56 Shizuoka sash57 Phone no. addi-

tion

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (9/21/11) You've goteverything you need. Encourage creativityin others, and yours grows proportionally.Stick to a winning formula, and prosperityincreases this year. Your savings grows, bitby bit. Presumptions get challenged, soloosen your grip. Share your love.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating:10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 7 -Slow and steady does it. No need for hurry.Go over your lists again and postponetravel. Do simple work, and keep yourmoney in your pocket. Read a good book.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 -Sometimes saying "no" is an act ofcourage. Do so lovingly, when appropriate.Frugality is a virtue ... share money-savingtricks with a friend. A new opportunitydevelops.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 -Stick to the plan this morning. No need tofinance the whims of another. Hear theirrationale, and advise patient action. Savespending for home and career basics.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8- Hold off on expensive dates. Argumentsabout money dampen romance like a wettowel. Use new skills and optimism tosolve a problem. Expand your options bylearning.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 5 -Spend a bit extra for quality that lastslonger. Communicate over a long distance.A female brings great news. Express yourgratitude.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 - A

coming change is for the better. Advise ananxious person to relax. It may take morethan one try to get through. Don't worryabout money or romance now ... just act.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 6 -There's so much to learn today, in all areas.Don't be afraid to make mistakes, even asyou take care (especially with equipment).Keep to your highest standards.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 6 -Stay close to home and finish somethingthat's due. It may seem like you're movingslowly; use that slow motion incontemplation. It will be useful later.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today isa 5 - A mess could arise. Acceptconstructive criticism that reveals thebarrier, and clean it up. Ignore your innercritic. Get a mentor, and chooseleadership.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a7 - As the leaves turn a passionate red, letromance rustle through your hair. Yourrelationships feed you like the rain. Apartner helps you to the next level.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an8 - No time for procrastination or upsetsnow. Batten down the hatches, and getthrough a work-related storm. Stay home,if possible. Quiet chugging away leads tomaximum productivity.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 -An old upset could resurface today. Makesure you understand what other peoplewant from you. Don't take your health forgranted. Sometimes a rest break keeps avirus away.

©2011, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

BY NANCY BLACK,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESHOROSCOPE

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESSUDOKU

BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESCROSSWORD

/ DailyAztecvideo/ DailyAztecvideo

So long State skateboards

PLEASE NOTE:The views expressed in the written works of this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Story ideas can be sent to tips@thedailyaztec.com.

C O N TAC T :GENERAL INFORMATION

619.594.4199FOR ALL OTHER CONTACTS, PLEASE VISITthedailyaztec.com

Staff Photographer Katie Fisher captured a photo of this glorious fireworks display at Qualcomm Stadium,

bright enough to bring light to the most accomplished pyromaniac’s eyes.

Aztec Explosions in the Sky

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS

guess it all started whenthey took away our skate-boards.

At first, we all thought itwas a joke. This is San

Diego, land of the sun and funwheels. Skate parks litter ourneighborhoods like sand traps on agolf course. Tony Hawk, legend ofthe decks, lives right up the streetin Carlsbad. My 80-year-old neigh-bor can pull an ollie with a 360degree spin. Blindfolded.

They couldn’t take skateboardingaway from us. No way.

But there were signs as soon aswe arrived on campus. We lookedup at the large, electronic black-board that welcomed us with brightorange letters: “No Sk8brds” (flash)“No Studnt Prking.”

Well, that’s stupid, we thought. Ifthere’s no parking, why would theyban economical transit on campusthat could alleviate some of theparking gridlock?

And why is that sign so big? Howmuch does that cost to run a day?

We could practically see it fromInterstate 8.

Still, very funny, we thought. Noway they will enforce the ban. It justwouldn’t make sense.

See, last year the campus initiateda bike and skate lane. We werefinally moving to a greener future.Students could skateboard oncampus in a more controlled envi-

ronment. One where green tapelined the pathways. And even ifthat tape was cheap. And even ifthat cheap tape barely stayedattached in many places. It stillpromised a future of hope.

Then, out of nowhere, when wewere permanently stripped of thatgreen tape and the red cement oncampus became a permanent partof our lives, the word “skate” myste-riously dropped out of the transitlane equation.

According to current universitypolicies, section 16 of theRegulations for Use of San DiegoState University Buildings andGrounds, article 16.2 states: “Ridingskateboards, coasters, roller skates,toy vehicles and other devices of asimilar nature is prohibited on allUniversity property at all times.”

What? We screamed when weread the new rule. Skateboarders,Razor scooter-riders, Big Wheelsenthusiasts and roller derby girlsall knocked out in a singlesentence. What a blow.

And here I had been imaginingthe day when a Sonic restaurantwould open a location on campusso I could have a roller girl bringme my burger and an OceanWater. Maybe some tater tots, too.

And a sundae.But no more. Hopes and dreams

have crashed. Our wheels havebeen pulled from beneath our feet.

To make it worse, police invadedcampus to cite illicit skateboarders.

Last Thursday, they brought thepain. An estimated 40 to 80 policeofficers were on campus, accordingto a NBC San Diego news report.They even named the day like aholiday: “Cite Day,” the police chant-ed in the streets, dancing in theirpolished black shoes.

There was at least one officerfrom every jurisdiction in thecounty on campus, the samereport claimed.

As if our books weren’t expensiveenough. As if you don’t give usenough ridiculous parking ticketsalready. Come on, parking is terriblehere. Don’t make us pay for ridingour skateboards.

What will you take away next?Will it be the bikes? Will we have towalk in single-file lines? Will wehave to pay a fine if we walk onthe grass?

Our skateboards seem gone for-ever.

I thought we paid enoughalready.

Guess not.

-Ty Thompson is a creative writinggraduate student. Reach him atcosythews@yahoo.com.

TTyy TThhoommppssoonnstaff columnistI