The issue is important to people, and there are arguments that can be made for continuing to print in paper forms despite the advantages of these new electronic devices that are taking their place.  Coming up on the holiday season, we’re seeing skyrocketing sales of Amazon’s Kindle, Apple’s iPad, and the continued steady climb of laptops, smartphones, and other portable devices that can take the place of “ink-on-paper”.

SMC student and Anthropology major Tracy Brack is one person for whom printed books are still a necessity.  “When reading and studying, I need to be able to flip through the book in a way that I can’t with an electronic version of the book.”

Other reasons why we may continue to see ink-on-paper are the limitations of battery power, for example during a crisis when there is no power for electronic devices, or even in a less extreme situation like while camping.

Some people find that reading a book is more comfortable in bed, while others have problems with sunlight glare off the screens of their devices while trying to read outside.

While these are all legitimate concerns, it is clear that technology is quickly advancing to address every one of these problems.  Within the next few decades, traditional printed material will become a smaller and smaller percentage and finally bottom out.  There will always be a certain percentage of the world’s information that remains printed on paper, but we can expect to see that be a tiny fraction of an almost completely digital information age.

E-Readers like Amazon’s Kindle are designed for the sole purpose of replacing ink-on-paper print.  Using a technology they call “E-ink”, the Kindle overcomes many of the above-mentioned problems, because it’s designed to be a dedicated E-Reader that mimics all the advantages of normal ink-on-paper, yet still gives all the advantages of being digital.  Its battery usage is so tiny that it provides over two months of reading before needing to be recharged.  And it is so light and thin that it weighs as much as a magazine yet can hold the equivalent of hundreds of books worth of material.  The advantage is clear.

Of course some people will always be nostalgic for the “feel of a good book in your hand.” But then again, when cars first came out, some people lamented that everyone would miss the “clip-clop” of horse hooves.  People will always have some sentimental feelings of nostalgia for old-fashioned things, but in the end, that doesn’t stop technology from progressing.

So we don’t have to say goodbye to printed materials, but in the not-too-distant future, they will surely become more of a relic than a normal part of everyday life.

The conference win brought a lot of emotions on the field for both freshman and returning players. The last time the SMC football team had won a conference was in 1991.

“It’s been more than just wins. Coach Gifford changed the culture and environment of football at SMC, and has put the students first,” said Athletics Director Joe Cascio.

Securing a spot in the conference championship game was no easy task. Last season they finished with a 4-6 overall record and sixth in the conference.  “We basically turned it around,” said running back Myles Johnson.  “I think it was progress this season.” Johnson was voted first team all-conference, and finished the season with 1215 all-purpose yards.

Through the first four games, the Corsairs were still searching for their identity, which was apparent after Santa Ana defeated them 53-27. In the following week against San Bernardino Valley, they made numerous mistakes, ultimately blowing an early 14-0 lead, allowing them to score 34 unanswered points on their way to a 40-35 loss.

“We became more of a team after that game,” said tight end Aaron Boesch, speaking on their turn around after the San Bernardino defeat. Boesch, who was also voted first team Pacific Conference, finished the season with 24 receptions for 360 receiving yards, adding four touchdowns. Following the loss, the team became closer, which showed in the following weeks as the Corsairs pulled off one win after another en route to their heated matchup against conference rival West L.A.

“I didn’t think that we were going to win, but we came back.  We were loosing at half time. The coaches told us to keep our head straight, don’t stress, and stay focused,” said freshman wide receiver Ralph Gordon. After some halftime inspiration, the Corsairs made a second half comeback, winning 32-21.

Head Coach Gifford Lindheim was named the 2011 American Division Pacific Conference Coach of the Year, leading the Corsair football program to an 8-3 record and a conference championship. Having taken over as interim head coach in 2009, after the late Coach Robert Taylor was relieved due to recruiting violations, in 2010 and 2011, coach Lindheim has set his own standards.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in a very short time. I am happy for the players that put their faith in what we are trying to build,” said Lindheim.

One of the most noticeable talents has been offensive tackle Alexandru Ceachir, the most improved and recruited player for the past two seasons. Coming from Moldova after graduating from high school with raw experience in football, his goal of playing American football has become a reality. With a multitude of scholarship offers from universities across the country, the big decision is in sight.

“Everyone wants the NFL, but I want to be safe.  During my Division I career, I want to stay healthy and be safe, so when I get to the NFL I can play however many years I can,” said Ceachir.

Ceachir credits coach Lindheim, coach David Banuelos, and defensive coach Steven Garcia for having helped him with feedback and words of encouragement. His advice for the incoming class of freshmen players is to “listen to the coach, and no matter what is going on in practice, during the game the team should be one family and united.”

Freshman quarter back Alfonso Medina, from Venice High School, played against wide receiver Ralph Gordon from Westchester. Both players have bonded to become a football family.

After this year’s success Gordon barely wanted the season to end. “My first season here and we won the Pacific Conference. It was exciting to me. We stayed focused, we worked hard through the season, and we deserved to win,” said Gordon. He finished the season with 11 receptions for 124 receiving yards.

“We had a lot of inspirational players on our team, they might not have said much but the way they played, it inspired you to play harder,” said Medina, who finished the season completing 196 of his 324 pass attempts with 2457 passing yards adding 27 touchdowns.

Next year’s SMC football team is expected to be even more talented. “We had a great season, but we still have unfinished business,” said linebacker coach Lee Lowe. Even though the Corsairs did not win the American Championship Bowl game, this season is the start of an up and coming football program.

Into the Angeleno void now enters the first-time, upstart convention, Comikaze Expo. Started by two siblings, Regina and Mario Carpinelli, Comikaze is the smaller, nicer, goddaughter of Comic-Con.

The event takes up only one hall in the expansive Los Angeles Convention Center. The floor is tread mostly by independent artists and painters attempting to sell their comic-book-themed pieces.

With approximately 50 booths of vendors and toy-makers, Comikaze breaks the industry focus with star power, which no convention can do without.

More intimate than Comic-Con, Comikaze features celebrities accessibly signing autographs at tables, with no security, no long lines, and no wristbands required.

The longest line in the entire convention was, to no surprise, the line to meet the expo’s honorary guest, Marvel Comics visionary Stan Lee.

Other celebrities present included original “All That!” cast members, Lori Beth Denberg, Kel Mitchell, Katrina Johnson, and Josh Server.

Also in attendance was the official “Spooksperson” of the expo, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. The stars mingled with fans, discussed their works, signed prints, and took pictures to please their fans.

With enthusiasts dressed as witches, wizards, Halo soldiers, Vulcans, Storm-Troopers, Batman, and Spider-Man, the costumes were worth noting at Comikaze. Devoted fans, excited about these expos, spend considerable time preparing their costumes.

“The cool thing about going to these things is the fact I get to dress like a total nerd and blend into the crowd!” said Jennifer Hernandez, an expo-goer clad in a homemade Superwoman ensemble.

In only its first year, Comikaze has shown that it has the potential to grow to be as big as Comic-Con and Wonder-Con. Willing fans will likely flock to the LA Convention Center to take part in this fast-growing comic book event.

It also appears they only know how to respond with brutal force, like using pepper spray, mace, tear gas, rubber bullets and other non-lethal devices.

Citizens have a constitutional right to voice their opinion and to protest America’s corrupt financial system.

Some protesters are breaking no laws but are still being attacked with pepper spray or finding themselves arrested as if they were criminals.

According to the United Nations Blue Book, “law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfill the duty imposed on them by law, by serving the community and protecting all persons against illegal acts.” It also states that they must “respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.”

Normally, I respect the tasks performed by officers, especially when they catch the bad guys and make our streets a little bit safer, but when it comes to the protests, I have to disagree with the actions they are taking.

First off, the actions by the UC Davis campus police were completely shocking and out of line. One officer pepper-sprayed a group of students in the face for simply sitting on the pavement and interlocking arms, and another officer arrested 10 students. The amount of security that was placed on the protesters also seemed excessive.

The incident at UC Davis is a great example of how cops are failing to uphold human rights.

There was another instance in which Dorli Rainey, an 84-year-old woman, was hit with pepper spray by a Seattle police officer. But what did she do wrong? Well, she just wanted to show some support for the 99 percent and instead got sprayed in the face with the chemical irritant.

The officers did say it was an accident that never would have happened if they weren’t so anxious to break up the protests. It appears as though they will attack anyone that gets in their way, just like Rainey did.

The Seattle Police followed this up with an unsettling statement that pepper spray “is not age-specific. [It’s] no more dangerous to someone who is 10 than someone who is 80.” Even so, this doesn’t give them the right to use it on an 80-year-old or a 10-year-old for that matter, especially when they pose no threat and commit no crime.

The worst police attack however would definitely have to be at Occupy Oakland. Officers, in an attempt to break up the street parties, used tear gas a total of three times and began firing rubber bullets at anyone who refused their orders.

Many were brought to the hospital for treatment and about 60 people where arrested. This incident occurred when protesters were celebrating the success of their strike that temporarily shut down the port city.

Police had every right to end the party, especially since protesters were destroying property, but the situation could have been handled less violently.

If you’ve seen the footage, the police response turned the situation into something of a warzone, where civilians were carrying the injured away from this violent police encounter.

The incident brought back memories of a similar attack on anti-war protesters back in 2003 when cops fired wooden bullets and beanbags creating the same violent affect.

At a critical time like this, citizens can’t seek help from trusted officials as they have proven that their loyalties do not lie with the people.

It seems that every time the people voice their opinion, the cops feel as though they have to retaliate against them. It’s also ridiculous and a bit unnecessary that so many cops are being assigned to police these protesters.

A survey by the Associated Press estimated that a total of $13 million was spent on police overtime and municipal services for the Occupy protests. Taxpayers are basically paying to get maced for exercising the rights given to them by the first amendment.

But what the politicians do not understand is that these increases in law enforcement only make them look weak and afraid of what the people might accomplish by resisting. After all, the cops have resorted to attacking innocent, nonviolent protesters, so they must be afraid of something.

All I have to say is that there is definitely something wrong with America if unarmed, non-violent citizens are being brutalized for simply practicing their First Amendment right to a peaceful protest.

Home of the brave we are, but land of the free, we are not.

We benefit from the work of feminists throughout history, and despite still existing inequalities between the sexes; most of us live a pretty cushioned life compared to women all around the globe.

In a year, where three women won the Noble Prize, it is easy to assume that gender equality has been achieved and there is nothing left to fight for; but when walking around the exhibit and learning about women’s suffering in detail, it is a harsh wake up call.

Inspired by the bestselling book “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicolas D. Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times, and his wife Sheryl WuDann, the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, opens its doors to the exhibition “Women Hold Up Half The Sky.” The exhibit uses images to tell the stories of injustice and gender oppression around the world, combined with a glimpse of hope.

One of the Skirball’s docents, Myrna Gordon, who taught a group counseling class for women at UCLA Extension, tells the story of Nyabenda Goretti. Goretti is a mother of six, frequently beaten by her husband, never allowed to leave her hut, making her completely dependent on the good will of her spouse.

When Goretti hears of so-called “women’s solidarity groups,” supported by the humanitarian organization CARE, she joins and receives a $2 microloan, to extend her garden. While her husband is out at the local pub, drinking traditional banana beer with his friends, Goretti is working overtime.

Making $7.50 with her potato crop, Goretti is able to pay her loan back, including interest, providing the opportunity for another woman to take out a microloan, and starts her own banana beer business. Now that she is making her own money, her husband respects her and even seeks her advice, when it comes to business.

But not all of the stories have such a positive message; when author Kristof was traveling through the eastern Congo, he was trying to interview one of the many victims of routine rape. To ensure the victim’s privacy, they walked over to a tree to talk about the crime committed. Within 10 minutes a long line of women formed nearby.

When asked what the women were doing, the woman in front answered, ”We’re all rape victims. We want to tell our story, too.”

As tragic as the line-up of grey colored shadows displayed on one the walls of the exhibit is, it is encouraging to hear that women start to speak up and by telling their stories, defending themselves, seeking justice and a better future for generations to come.

Divided into three main sections, “Women Hold Up Half The Sky”, teaches the visitor about human trafficking, maternal health and gender-based oppression. To intensify the exhibit’s title, the ceiling is covered by sky-imitating sheets, full of white, cloud-like pockets, that are filled with wishes, visitors can write on blue and purple colored papers, at the end of the exhibit. Every week, the wishes are collected and put into the “sky.”

When “Women Hold Up Half The Sky” ends its run on March 11, 2012, the wishes will be collected and send to women in the Congo, to strengthen their spirit, to give hope and a feeling of shared identity.

The men were captured before their “Gunpowder Plot” was completed, but the first of them captured, a man with a distinctly curly mustache by the name of Guy Fawkes, was to become celebrated as a symbol of protest, and influenced the violent main character “V” in the renowned 1989 graphic novel “V for Vendetta.”

Now, Fawkes is influencing a new generation of anti-government sympathizers: the Occupy Wall Street protesters. From LA to New York, occupiers are donning the caricatured mask worn by “Vendetta’s” main character and taking to the streets. But the question is, how did the mask move from radical political figure to mainstream symbol?

It’s reported that the first use of the mask in a protest was during a series of 2008 rallies against the Church of Scientology by the “hacktivist” group Anonymous.

Since then, the masks have been utilized globally in protests of all sorts.

“The Guy Fawkes mask has now become a common brand and a convenient placard to use in protest against tyranny,” said V for Vendetta Artist David Lloyd in an interview with BBC News. “I’m happy with people using it, it seems quite unique, an icon of popular culture being used this way.”

In “V for Vendetta,” the graphic novel that popularized the mask, Lloyd and “Vendetta’s” author Alan Moore created a dystopian future UK, in which an anarchist character named “V”–who wears a Guy Fawkes mask—begins a showy and violent revolutionary campaign to overthrow his government.

Therein lies one of the key differences between Guy Fawkes, “V,” and the Occupy protestors inspired by these two symbols: the former two utilized violence as a form of protest, whereas the Occupy protesters have attempted a more peaceful form of demonstration.

What makes them the ideal anti-establishment symbol is the principle of the matter; the fight against a powerful governing body.

“My feeling is the Anonymous group needed an all-purpose image to hide their identity and also symbolize that they stand for individualism,” Lloyd told the BBC. “V for Vendetta is a story about one person against the system.”

During my time as a Nike employee in London, I had the opportunity to meet a wide range of athletes such as, Michael Jordan, Carlos Tevez, Adriano, and Luol Deng.

Living in a city where soccer is like a religion, everybody goes to at least one Arsenal match.

Four years ago, I had the opportunity to attend one of these matches. My party and I had good seats and were enjoying the game until a white man stood up and shouted, “Come on, you black bastard, how you going to miss the goal.” To my not so great surprise, his party encouraged his sentiment and the racial remarks worsened.

Even though this incident happened years back, I remember it like it was yesterday, especially with the recent slew of racial incidents within the world of soccer.

According to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) website, the Bulgarian Football Union was fined €40,000 by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body, after home supporters chanted racial slurs during the Euro 2012 qualifier against England back in September.

When a sport matters to so many people, it is very important that people conduct themselves in a positive and respectful manner – whether fan, player, or coach. Of course racism exists outside of sports, but sport itself unites people from all over the world, it is even more imperative to lead by example.

UEFA also announced that Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) and their network partner in Poland, Never Again, will have specially trained stewards at the UEFA Euro 2012 games in co-host country Poland. It’s good to see that UEFA is taking responsibility and are acknowledging the racial problems that exist in the soccer world, rather than hushing it and pretending the problem doesn’t exist.

Recently, the FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in an interview with CNN’s Pedro Pinto that, “there is no racism” on the pitch, and suggested that if such an incident occurred, players should shake hands after the game.

When it comes to coaches, managers, owners, and even FIFA executives, the majority of sports are white man dominated.

For Blatter to make such remarks, it feels as if the treatment of racism in sports, especially soccer, is taking two steps forward and five back.

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but to deny that racial issues exist in the world’s most popular sport is almost like a slap in the face for any soccer fan. Especially after the FA charged Luis Suarez, after allegedly racially abusing Patrice Evra, and John Terry.

Anton Ferdinand also had a racial incident in November.

These types of race-related stories usually blow up in press and media outlets. Consider that time Rush Limbaugh, who was then an ESPN sports commentator, made inflammatory remarks concerning media coverage of quarterback Donovan McNabb back in 2003.

The incident gave rise to racial debates, as the media viewed the incident differently.

I don’t think there is any one way to eliminate racism in sports, as it will probably be around for many more years to come. The fact that it’s not being disguised or ignored is a great start. Campaigns, fines, and suspensions shouldn’t be the final answer, but they will help guide the issue in the right direction.

At the end of the day, fans want to watch sports for the excitement, not for the unnecessary drama.

It turns out that Griffith Park is home to a row of abandoned cages that played a role in the dark tale of an oft forgotten struggle for animal rights in Los Angeles. The tale of the old LA Zoo.

The story begins in 1913, which is when, according to a historical account by Glendale College professor Mike Eberts, the city of LA moved its small collection of animals from Eastlake (now Lincoln) to Griffith Park, hoping to promote, as the Los Angeles Examiner wrote, “healthier and more attractive” zoo animals. And it was all downhill from there.

Only three years later, the zoo had its first health crisis, and was almost shut down for its sewage leaking into the river.

Things only got grosser when, during World War I, the city council decided to stop letting the zoo’s meat-eating animals eat beef.

The staff couldn’t find any buyers for the animals, and obviously couldn’t turn them loose, so they had to resort to feeding them horse meat. This resulted in massive animal casualties, killing many of the carnivores, including most of the cats.

The condition only worsened, until finally, in the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration put unemployed men to work renovating the zoo and building the cages and grottos that can still be seen today.

However, these cages are grossly inhumane by modern standards, and even back then, it became a popular political ploy to bash the zoo.

Belle Benchley of the San Diego Zoological Society is said to have surmised,”Frankly, there is so much wrong with the Los Angeles Zoo—fundamentally
wrong, I mean—that it could not become a real zoo, or even a (much) better zoo.”

Finally, in 1958, voters decided to pass an $8 million bond issue to build a new zoo. And in 1964, the old zoo was completely abandoned for the new (and thankfully more humane) Greater Los Angeles Zoo.

Today, you can still walk around (and inside of, if you’re crafty) the old cages of the zoo. They’re pretty cool to see, but the real thing to note is the graffiti. There are some great pieces.

Don’t forget to take a look at the hilarious historical plaque, which offers a much lighter version of the zoo’s history, ripe with euphemisms.

Reads the sign: “Although these historic enclosures are no longer appropriate for housing animals, they can be home to memories of family visits to the Griffith Park Zoo, as well as an opportunity to better understand advances in the zoological sciences.”

Exploring supplies:

-Decent shoes
-A picnic

Directions:

Go past the carousel until you find the old LA zoo picnic area. The area is located just after the park ranger headquarters and Shane’s inspiration, below Harding golf course.

NaNoWriMo is mostly a mad rush of words. Writers being encouraged to “just write”’ and not think too much about what they are writing, lest they slow down and fall behind; editing can come later, the time right now is for writing. But while reflecting on your own writing is a bad idea, reflecting on writing in general is not.

Writing is the sharing of information. For thousands of years it was the only way to record thoughts. Even in the modern age of music, movies, and media, it usually starts with someone writing down the lyrics, script, or ideas first; before branching out into a whole new medium.

Many novelists participating in NaNoWriMo are writing novels that are strictly fun or entertainment; a passionate romance or comedic memoir, which are certainly thoughts but do not depend on deep ideas or seek to change people’s minds. I, however, am not one of them.

I am among the small group of writers who hopes to get published, and hopes to put their words in other people’s heads, and their ideas in other people’s minds.

Right now the world is standing on an edge, and the potential for drastic change has never been greater. There are many paths we can take and many mistakes we can make, but one thing is for sure – we have to move forward. Even if it won’t stop some people from trying, digging in our heels and staying put is no longer an option.

Albert Einstein once defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” There are many people around us who refuse to move forward and refuse to see that the old ideas no longer work in the modern times. Set in a dystopian future of 2084, I explore the idea of an entire society “going insane” – what happens when the people who refuse progress are the ones in power?

It isn’t pretty. World War Three and the Second Civil War ruin the Los Angeles of 2084. It takes all the very worst parts of our culture and amplifies them, while mourning how our best traits have all vanished into the mayhem of our fictional future. I question the structure of society, the nature of faith, and the very identity of humanity itself.

I am sure if I ever get published, I will get hate mail, or even threats for some of the ideas I represent. When I rip apart respected institutions of our day and age and imply that our salvation lies in the dregs of society, I don’t expect otherwise. People will be furious at me for pointing out the flaws in their faith, their culture, and their very world view; and in such a sardonic matter.

But it does mean that they are thinking about my ideas. And as a writer, that means one thing: mission accomplished.

Incidents of kids and teens suffering from bullying are nothing new, yet the issue stands at large, as bullying isn’t always prevented.

Tragedies are shown on news reports when bullying results in suicide. Unfortunately, bullying is often brushed off with the phrase, “it’s just kids being kids,” due to a lack of public awareness.

Recently, bullying has become a common occurrence, according to Stomp Out Bullying, a national anti-bullying organization for kids and teens. Statistics show that a child is bullied every seven minutes, and that 85 percent of the time there is no intervention.

Why is this so? Wouldn’t it make sense to help someone in need? If more people were aware of the issue, then more people could help those being bullied.

Michelle Danner, an acting coach at Edgemar and the director of next year’s movie “Hello Herman,” a film about a bullied student who embarks on a shooting rampage at his high school, says, “Everybody needs to step up, and take responsibility for either witnessing it, or not doing anything due to fear. The topic is being talked about in all kinds of different media. The bystanders are just as guilty as the bullies. It’s a responsibility that everybody has, to live in this world, and to help, and to reach out to other people.”

At some point in life, everyone goes through the phase of trying to establish an identity.

There are also the awkward stages of desperately trying to fit in while worrying about being different from others. In middle school, kids just want to be accepted and find themselves, but those are the years when bullying is at its worst. In fact, according to Stomp Out Bullying, 97 percent of middle school students are now bullied online, or cyber-bullied.

Young people often end up at the mercy of bullies. Think of the tragic case when Larry King, a junior high student who was not afraid to be different, was shot in the middle of class by classmate Brandon McInerney just days before Valentine’s Day.

Those who fear bullies remain silent, and dread the thought of having to go to school. Usually, the silence is due to a lack of trust in people, and an inability to feel able to talk about their problems.

It is not only up to students and parents to seek help against bullying, but it is also up to the community. CNN reports that, “more than 55 [percent] of bullying behaviors stop in less than 10 seconds when a peer steps in.” People are stronger in numbers, since one person alone cannot always initiate change.

However, if communities would come together and bring awareness to bullying, there might be less instances of suicide, and bullied students wouldn’t have to switch schools out of fear. It is everyone’s responsibility to educate the youth about the damaging effects of bullying, so that no more lives will be lost.