The Rattler February 10, 2010 v. 97 #7 - St. Mary's University

attlertheA St. Mary’s Student Publication since 1925 • Vol. 97 Issue 7 • 02-10-10 • STMURATTLERNEWS.COMHave the perfectValentine’s DayTake a look into the mindsof the opposite sex, find themost romantic places oncampus, give gifts on a tightbudget and find out how toreveal your crush.PG. 10Gubernatorialdebate heats upBy Clayton BilladeauStaff WriterIncumbent Gov. Rick Perry stood shoulder-to-shoulderwith U.S. Senator Kay BaileyHutchison and Debra Medina during a live debatebetween the Texas Republican gubernatorialcandidates on Jan. 29. The debate was hostedby Belo, a Texas based news company and ownerof KENS 5 San Antonio.A combination of four Texas journalists moderatedthe debate and challenged the candidatesto respond to Texan concerns: highways, taxes,immigration and other social issues.Concerning highway infrastructure, Hutchisonand Medina called for the immediate auditof Texas Department of Transportation. The tollroad debate among Texans involves the appropriationof public infrastructure funds to privateinterests. The apprehension lies in increasedpopulation, resulting in traffic jams. Hutchisoncalled for “new leadership” in cutting TxDOTcases of mishandled funds. Perry revised suchcomments, asserting that TxDOT is audited everytwo years.Medina supported a Texas gas tax, currently38.4 percent per gallon of gasoline, but asserteda need for “transportation dollars to stay in Texas.”The federal government should not overstepstate sovereignty by dictating appropriationof funds, she affirmed.Perry’s tax plan included budget cutting forstate agencies, overall balanced budget and consolidations,such as Public Utility Commissionand Railroad Commission. Hutchison agreedwith Governor Perry on consolidations, appendingGovernor Perry’s Enterprise Fund fornot producing jobs and results speculated bythe Texas executive. Perry defended the EnterpriseFund, calculating a favorable increasein Texas employment and revenue – “$380 millionspent to produce $16.4 billion of capital and54,600 jobs.”Medina, however, disagreed with her contenders,noting a 13 percent increase in executivedepartment spending. Medina stated herposition on the elimination of property tax bysubsidizing with increased sales and consumptiontax.The highlight of the debate was KHOU’s LenCannon, who inquired about the issue of allowingundocumented students, whose parentsbrought them to Texas illegally, to be allowedto attend Texas colleges with an in-state tuitionrate. Governor Perry defended his positionsupporting students who are undocumented.Cont. on PG. 3, SEE “GOVERNOR”Brother Cletus Behlmann, a Marianist brother for 54 years, is getting ready to construct an 8 by 440 feet long mural at the new Havenfor Hope facility in downtown San Antonio. Photo by Emily ScruggsMarianist artist chosen to paint muralBy Austin W. NewtonNews EditorBrother Cletus Behlmann,S.M., has been chosen as themain artist to paint a large muralfor Haven for Hope, a newthree-story, 37-acre facility forthe city’s homeless, scheduledto open in April.The mural he will bepainting measures 8 feet talland 440 feet long and is locatedat 1 Haven for HopeWay downtown.“When I was [at Haven forHope], [the mural] seemed likeit went on forever,” Behlmansaid. “Way across the yard wasanother wall. I thought anothergroup was going to do that,[but] they told me, ‘Oh no, wewant you to do that one too,”said Behlmann with a laugh.The construction of themural will begin between themiddle or end of February andwill continue through springonce Zachary ConstructionCorporation finishes workingon Haven for Hope, accordingto Behlmann.“I am going to get some St.Mary’s students to help, [and]Kathe Lehmen-Meyer is goingto help do a documentary onthe project,” said Behlman.Behlmann has done manyprojects with his artwork forthe past 54 years. After graduatingfrom McBride HighSchool in St. Louis, Mo., hedecided to become a Marianistbrother. Behlmann hadbeen teaching at elementaryschools and parishes in El Pasoand Victoria for several years,then decided to ask the Societyof Mary if he could studyart. He then attended the ArtInstitute of Chicago in the1960s and taught for 19 moreyears until the society grantedhim an art career as a fulltime occupation.“I had enough credits toteach art in Missouri. So Iturned a chicken coup into anart gallery in St. Louis – thatis where I began for sevenyears,” explained Behlmann.“Then I came to San Antonio[and] I had the art gallery onthe other end of the block onAugusta Street for 30 years;only two years ago I movedfrom Augusta Street to whereI am today.”Behlmann’s workplace andgallery is located behind theSt. Mary’s Center for Legaland Social Justice on 2507-BN.W. 36th St.Upon entering the gates forthe center, there is a sign withan arrow that says in a distinctfont “Cletus.” Behind the centerand beyond the parking lot,two mobile trailers that houseBehlmann’s niche. There heCont. on PG. 3, SEE “CLETUS ”Inside:Cyber loveWeb sites create a new realm of dating onthe internet.PG. 13A chocoholic’s paradiseCoco Chocolate Lounge and Bistro servesup exotic dishes.PG. 15“From the get-go”Softball team wins 2-1 against East CentralUniversity.PG. 20

News2 The Rattler2-10-10www.stmurattlernews.comCalendarFeb. 12 - 14Rattler Awakening RetreatFeb. 167 p.m. - 9 p.m.Lin Great Speakers SeriesDavid Brancaccio, host of NOW on PBSFeb. 1911:30 a.m.The State of Latino EducationJuan Sepulveda, Director of White House Initiativefor Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.Feb. 209 a.m. - 12.p.m.All Hall Rattler Service ChallengePolice Blotter1/25/10Incident Report at Intramural Field. Stray dogattacked another dog.1/26/10Minor Vehicle accident in Lot D. Student broke sidemirror of another parked car while trying to park.1/30/10Damaged property at Memorial Gate. Vehicle droveinto perimeter gate causing significant damage.Physical Plant called for clean-up and repairs.1/30/10Thefts at Dougherty Hall and V.J. Keefe Lockerrooms. Laptop stolen from Dougherty Hall andtwo wallets and an iPhone stolen from lockers at VJKeefe locker rooms.1/30/10Criminal mischief in Lot H. Antonian High Schooltrailer was egged.1/31/10Theft at University Center. Plaque taken from UCLobby without permission.1/31/10Student Handbook violation (alcohol) inFounders Hall. Underage student found inebriated.2/2/10Disorderly Conduct in Moody Life Science Building.Student sprayed pepper spray in classroom.IndexNewsCommentaryFeaturesEntertainmentSportsContact Us:210-436-3401 (office)210-431-3407 (fax)1-56-89-1415-1718-20Members of the St. John’s Baptist Choir sing at the Second Annual Gospel Celebration held on February 7 in Assumption Chapel.The service was hosted by the Black Student Union in honor of Black History Month. Photo by Analicia PerezNEWS IN BRIEFLast member of an Andamanese tribe, Bo, diesBoa Sr. died at the age of 85 in the Adaman islands. She was thelast living member of the Bo tribe, and the last woman that couldspeak the native Bo language. The Bo tribe was in the Andamanislands for an estimated 65,000 years.Source: CNN.comLocal Scrabble pro inducted into Hall of Fame49-year-old Matt DeWaelsche was inducted into the Texas ScrabbleHall of Fame on Feb. 7.DeWaelsche has been playing with this mother since he was 4years old. He plays at the Lions Field Adult and Senior CitizensCenter on Broadway. He works at the Central San Antonio Pubilclibrary.Sewage water dumped in Leon CreekSource: Mysanantonio.comAn estimated 100,000 gallons of wastewater was dumped intoLeon Creek, located on the west side of San Antonio.The cause of the spilling was attributed to a pipe break nearMorey Road. The pipe broke because of recent heavy rainfall. SanAntonio Water System is repairing the damage.Source: KENS5.com16-year-old bullfighter kills six bullsJairo Miguel Sanchez Alonso killed six bulls on Feb. 6 in Caceres,Spain. He has been bullfighting since the age of six. Alonso spentfour years in Latin America, where there is no age limit for bullfighting.The largest bull he slayed on Saturday was 959 pounds.FBI catches fake serviceman in HoustonSource: Foxnews.comMichael Patrick McManus was at Mayor Annise Parker’svictory party wearing an Army uniform with medals,cross, ribbons and a purple heart; all of which were fake.A spectator took pictures of McManus at the victoryparty and sent them to the media and FBI. McManuswas arrested on Friday under the Stolen Valor Act.Source: ABC13.comLin Great Speakers Series continuesFeb. 16University Center, Conference Room A7 p.m.David Brancaccio, host of PBS’s NOW television program, givesa lecture entitled: Adventures in Economic Disaster: What the FinancialCrisis Means for Justice and Jobs in the Next Generation.White House staff member speaks at StMUFeb. 19University Center, Conference Room A11:30 a.m.Juan Sepulveda, Director of White House Initiative on EducationalExcellence for Hispanic Americans, speaks on the stateof Latino Education. Tickets are $10 with current Rattler IDcard, $35 without current Rattler card.Brazil hands out 55 milion condoms for CarnivalTo prepare for the week-long holiday of Carnival, the Braziliangovernment is planning to give out up to 55 million freecondoms for AIDS prevention.The AIDS prevention campaign has also funded televisioncommercials with a talking condom cartoon. The cartoon remindsyoung people to take a condom when they celebrateCarnival.Source: Associated PressCorrection on last issue’s “Tuition Raise” articleThere was inaccurate information printed in the article “Discussionswill be held regarding tuition raise,” which was published inVol.97, Issue 6 of The Rattler (1/27/10).In the article, it stated that “Tuition at St. Mary’s increased in 2008-2009 by 3.6 percent, according to the financial aid office. Tuition for theacademic school year 2009-2010 is $10, 660 per semester if the studentchooses to purchase a laptop through the university or $10, 330 if theydo not.”However, there is only one tuition rate for 2009-2010: $10, 660.The tuition rate for 2008-2009 was $10, 660 if the student purchaseda laptop and $10, 330 if they did not purchase a laptop. Therefore, onlystudents who did not choose to purchase a laptop in 2008-2009 experienceda 3.6 percent increase. Students who did purchase a laptop in2008-2009 did not experience an increase.

02-10-10Commentarywww.stmurattlernews.comThe Rattler 7OPPOSING VIEWSOutsourcing prisonsCalifornia Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently proposed building U.S. prisons in Mexicoto move thousands of undocumented inmates that contribute to overcrowding.Proposition could relievespace and resourcesfrom U.S. prisons.The recent proposition in Californiato construct prisons in Mexico wouldhave a cost of half what it takes to buildDania Pulidonew prisons in California, and the facilitywould also cost half as much to run it.According to BBC News, California has one of the mostovercrowded and underfunded prisons in the U.S. Withthe creation of new prisons for undocumented inmates, thegovernment can simultaneously deport illegal immigrants,save money and improve the overcrowded facilities andprison system altogether.Although I am against the deportation of undocumentedimmigrants who are already in the U.S., I do believe thatthose illegal immigrants who have committed crimes inthis country should face the corresponding consequences.If these new prisons were constructed in Mexico,there would be less reason to support or even make useof the death penalty. One of the main arguments for thosewho are in favor of the death penalty is that prisons areovercrowded and prisoners get released early for the solepurpose of making space in the facility. Such was the casein a California prison when a riot broke out last year and,according to BBC News, a plan was devised to free 40,000of the 150,000 inmates being held within two years. Atthe same time, the inmates would be forced to serve theirfull sentence; the facilities and order among the prisonerswould be easier to maintain.The cost of these new prisons also proves to be veryappealing. According to BBC News, it takes billions ofdollars each year to maintain these facilities running andto provide more and more space for the increasing numberof prisoners. It also takes millions of dollars a year perperson to carry out capital punishment, which is anothersupporting argument of the those who favor the deathpenalty, as well as another method of creating more spacein overcrowded prisons.By building these prisons in Mexico, Californiacould save a billion dollars that could go toward highereducation, as Schwarzenegger stated. Because Californiarecently declared a fiscal emergency, saving money onthose citizens who have committed crimes against the stateand transferring that money to the youth population whoactually is in need of that money and education seemshighly logical.Why spend strained resources and money on the peoplewho have already made the wrong choices and instead givetheses benefits to those who are the hope of our future? Themore resources the government can provide for youth andeducation, the more opportunities and advantages thosestudents have.Although it may seem that Gov. Schwarzenegger maybe dumping illegal immigrants back in their native countryto let Mexico deal with its own citizens, that is clearly notthe case. He also wants to move a private sector into thoseprisons and run the facility as a part of the Californianprison system.Sending these undocumented inmates to newlyconstructed prisons in Mexico would not only bethe logical thing to do in terms of cutting funds andcreating space, it would also ensure that justice is beingsought by keeping prisoners out of the community untiltheir due time, providing for the safety of all citizens,inmates or not.Cartoon by Oscar MagureguiRehabilitation systemwould prove more effectivefor space issues.Schwarzenegger’s proposal aims toachieve two primary goals: to make a dentin the prisoner population in CaliforniaAlex Salinasof around 173,000, among the nation’shighest, and to decrease spending costs toease their $19.9 billion deficit.In the grand scheme of things, I absolutely admire whatSchwarzenegger is attempting to alleviate. His intentionsinclude facing California’s biggest issues head on in afittingly, larger- than-life persona that has oft inspired theterm “Governator.” However, the construction of prisonsin Mexico is an ill-thought, quick-fix to a problem in inmatepopulation that has plagued California since the 1980s.The majority of growth in the incarcerated population inCalifornia can be attributed to the time between 1987 and1998. During this time, Democrats created and enforcedstringent laws that saw an increase in the average time aninmate spent behind bars while decreasing the amount ofrehabilitation services available that allowed prisoners towork their way back into society. This trend still remainsand is chief among my concerns for what has snowballedinto an unnecessary proposition by Schwarzenegger.Ultimately, there are just too many prisoners despite the20,000 of them who are illegal immigrants. Plus, the stateof California hosts one of the most underfunded prisonsystems and poorest living conditions for inmates.California has the nation’s highest recidivism level,meaning that prisoners are more likely to return to prisonafter their release; Schwarzenegger is well aware of theimportance of rehabilitation services and the positiveresults they produced in California’s past. More emphasismust be placed in the emergence of rehabilitation centersand services. Only then can there be renewed hope forinmates to realistically adjust themselves back to civilian–life while contributing to ours and their ailing economy,truly a win-win situation.Beyond poor living conditions in the prisons, a concernthat has not been properly addressed, Schwarzeneggermust not assume that Mexico has any incentive to adhereto his proposition. In terms of financial stability, theycontain an enormous gap between their urban and ruralpopulation, and to claim that building prisons wouldincrease employment is illegitimate in lieu of the trueproblem. Expecting Mexico to “take back” their nativesis premature amidst the high rate of crime they face evenwithout the issue of illegal immigration.Decreasing California’s inmate population in the waySchwarzenegger proposes is an idea that strives for apositive outcome. Conversely, if we are to measure theresults in terms of short-term productivity, the proposalis certainly reliable. However, in a global society that isexperiencing unprecedented population growth, a quickfixto this problem or any problem that involves highvolumes of real people is not a rational way to handle thesituation. We need valid methods and solutions to handlethe crux of Schwarzenegger’s concern: how to preventcrime from happening in the first place.While details to valid methods remain unclear for thetime being, it is clear that building prisons will not stopcrime. Perhaps it is time that a portion of the $8 billion oftaxpayer’s money that is going to the state and federalprisons in California should be used to increase awarenesson this important issue that has affected millions of peoplenationwide, criminal and civilian alike.

8The Rattler 02-10-10YOU TWEET IT, WE READ IT!Tweets from our followers• Today...I shall not wear shoes.• It smells like wet dog in this classroom :\ Yuck!• Got up in time for breakfast tacos. Love San Antonio.Do not miss Houston.• Crime doesn’t pay... does thatmean my job is a crime?• @StMarysU we have all been wonderingwho the StMU tweeter was.• Only at #StMarysU will we get apersonalized birthday serenaderight outside the room!

02-10-10 Features The Rattler 9www.stmurattlernews.comCulture CalendarEuropean opera and ballet in cinemaFeb. 11 - Feb. 14Santikos Embassy 14 theater will be showing thenewest and most famous opera productions in highdefinition and surround sound.Chocolate DayFeb. 13Just in time for Valentine's day, The San Antonio BotanicalGarden will celebrate the history of chocolatewith food demonstrations, chocolate samplesand informational booths.Valentine's Day dldies danceFeb. 14Take a trip to the historic Guadalupe Theater fora Valentines dance featuring a number of localrhythm and blues artists.Asian Festival - Year of the TigerFeb 20Visit the Institute of Texan Cultures for this festivalwhich showcases respective Asian cultural entertainmentas well as cuisine from more than a dozenFar Eastern countries.Compiled by: Stephen GuzmanNews of the WeirdMaximum capacity reachedIn Johannesburg, South Africa, a school bus driverwas arrested for cramming 49 students into a 16passenger minibus on their morning commute toschool. The 26-year-old school bus driver was foundto have a blood alcohol level five times above thelegal limit and was arrested by officials.Msnbc.comTwinkie bandits caughtJames M. Denoon and Anthony Stout stole $300worth of snacks from a bakery truck in Tennessee.The pilfered goods included Zingers and Twinkies.The sugar craving crooks were not hard to find asthey left a path of footprints in inch high newly fallensnow. Police apprehended the thieves and theywere charged with theft under $500 as well as fortwo previous accounts of auto burglary.Sfgate.comSloping walls cause residents to evacuateThe Hills of Rivermist in San Antonio, Texas wasa recent center of controversy as 91 homes wereevacuated due to a collapsed retaining wall. Centexhomes, the company that built the retaining wallassures home owners that the failure of the wall occurreddue to unique soil conditions and is thereforean isolated event. The city of San Antonio willbe looking into the incident further and plans toimplement stricter enforcement concerning futurewalls and permits.Mysa.com"Life is too short,and you have to be happy."University salad chef shares her story, what she enjoys about her job and her take on life.By Analicia PerezPhoto EditorAmidst the mid-day hustle and bustleof the cafeteria, there is one voice thatrings out loud and clear, “Salads! Get yourfresh salads!”With the ring of a bell and a warm, invitingsmile, Ann “Shirley” Perez whipsup delicious, nutritious and fresh saladsfor St. Mary’s students.“Shirley always makes my day happier— I love her!” says junior international relationsmajor Lauren Sanchez.A San Antonio native, Perez has been inthe restaurant business all her life. Growingup, she helped out at her parents’ restaurant,along with her two brothers.When her parents passed away, Perezwas left in the care of her best friend Joanna’smother and stepfather. They becamea second family to her and she and Joannahave been best friends for over thirtyyears now.“She's my best friend, she's my sister,”said Perez.When greed within the family tookover, Perez was left without work andwent through one of the most trying timesof her life. But with a strong faith and determinedspirit, she faced her struggleshead on.“God only gives you so much to carryon your cross,” said Perez. “I've had ithard, but I make the best of what I have inlife, because life is too short, and you haveto be happy.”“Sometimes I'm real sad,” said Perez,“but when I come to work — I'm happy,”she added.Taking great pride in her work, Perezhas left jobs where she felt managementwas degrading its workers or refusing todiscard spoiled products.“I didn’t want to be a part of that,” saidPerez.She has now been with Aramark for 11years, transferring 6 years ago from TrinityUniversity.Perez sees her job as much more thanserving hungry students and she especiallyenjoys learning about the variouscustoms and traditional foods of the internationalstudents on campus.“I love my work, I love the students.You all are like my children and I get tokeep you for four years. Ya’ll make myday,” said Perez, smiling.When she is not at work, Perez loves togo fishing with friends or spend time withher two dogs, Max and Precious.Her one message to students is, “If youever have the opportunity to do something,if it's the right thing for you andyou just hear that inner voice, you go forit! Don't ever deny yourself that right. Lifeis too short.”Stranded pup saved by ship crewStranded on an ice floe, a brave dog survived a 75mile trip and below 31 degree weather in the BalticSea. A research ship crew spotted the dog and successfullygot him safely on board after a rescue missionthat entailed taking an inflatable dinghy intodangerously cold water. The dog, now dubbed Baltic,has been adopted by the crew of the “Baltic.” Hestays close to the mechanic who rescued him fromthe ice floe and enjoys sausage breakfasts everymorning with the crew.Msnbc.comCompiled by: Katie O’DonnellPhoto and graphic illustration by Analicia Perez

10The RattlerWhat domenwant?By Dania PulidoStaff WriterSince the beginning of time, menhave been trying to answer the question“What do women want?” as if it isone of life’s greatest mysteries. But themore confusing question that seems tobe beyond all conjecture is “What domen want?”No matter how much men complainabout how puzzling we womenand our actions are, men might as wellbe a bunch of Rubik’s cubes.One thing is for sure: men do notreally know what they want, either.At least not without giving it plenty ofthought.Every man asked had to think longand hard about this question as if itwere a math equation instead of ananswer that should come naturally toa person.When something did finally cometo mind, the answers were very similar.“Boys want someone who is smart,funny, cute and [she] has to be passionateabout something,” answered JoseBrooks, freshman electrical engineeringmajor.This pretty much sums up the basicqualities men appreciate in a woman –smart, funny, and cute. However, wehave all heard this before. Is there anythingelse women should know?“She has to catch my attention mentally,and independence is a plus,” saysjunior political science major HamiltonMartin. “You can tell a lot about a personby the way they interact not onlywith you, but with other people.”In regards to the way womenshould communicate, Jonathan Perez,sophomore political science majoradds, “Guys like girls who are able tocommunicate well and are able to freelyexpress their emotions... they shouldbe loyal and reliable in times of need.”Matthew Sisneros, sophomore corporatefinance major, agreed.“I look for girls who have the samevalues as me and are not afraid tostep out of their comfort zones... andof course, she has to look like MeganFox,” Sisneros said.Of course it was not too long beforethe subject of appearances came up.Men are, after all, visual creatures.“Girls should take care of theirbody and put it first on their prioritylist. I wouldn’t approach a girl becauseof her ‘nice personality’,” adds MarcoBass, junior business major.While not all men may requirethe same rigorous physical standards,“athletic” and “attractive” didseem to top their lists of preferableappearances.Marco sums it all up by saying,“Basically if you look good, and youare not an airhead or psycho, then justabout anything can be worked out.”While these answers may not solvethe entire Rubik’s cube, women cannow somehow manage to get at leastone side to be all the same color. Wewill figure out the pattern in due time,hopefully before graduation.10 best campus spots to steal a kissFive inexpensive VaThe courtyard by Charles Francis andChaminade on a sunny afternoon.Under the Bell Tower.The path to Pecan Grove (coming from thelaw side).By the fountain in front of campus.The fourth floor of Treadaway while the sunis setting.The deep end of The Rattler Den.Chaminade’s elevator (it is reliably slow).The Outback courtyards at midnight.The bridge between the UC and the library.The lovely gazebo in front of St. Louis Hallon a breezy day.Buy a book by your significantother’s favorite poet, find apoem in the book that remindsyou of them, insert a bookmarkon that page and includea lovely little note dedicatingthe poem to them.Bake your sweetie’s favoritedessert. Make it special by bakingit in a heart-shaped pan,adding fresh fruit, drizzling itwith chocolate or adding freshflowers for decoration.Buy a collage style photoframe from Target or Wal-martand put in your favorite photostogether. Instead of puttinga photo in each spot, getcreative and insert pressedflowers, ticket stubs, or othermemorabilia.Graphic Illustration by Amanda Rodriguez

The Rattler 11What doBy Alonzo MendozaStaff WriterWhat are women looking for in arelationship? Countless shelves of romanticcomedies explore the answerto this perplexing question, yet menacross the world still do not have thefull answer. From awkward first encountersto just complete miscommunication,men are notorious for simplynot understanding the minds ofwomen.Dr. Kurt Choate, who teaches a psychologyclass about gender roles andrelationships, says, “Boys and girls aremore alike than they are different.”That statement should put maleminds at ease, but still, “men andwomen have different viewpoints onwhat is necessary in a relationship,”says Choate, who attributes this differencenot to biological makeup but todifference in upbringing.“Many men struggle more thanwomen want?women to show affection because of According to junior English major,how they were raised,” says Choate. Crystal Mares, it is not only important“Women are socially taught to show that the other person is able to understandher flaws, but it is also importantmore affection than men are.”Sometimes all it takes to better understandthe female mind is a little they are taking in their life.”that this person “knows what directionacceptance.Marquez has similar feelings.Junior psychology and philosophy “I want to be with a person whomajor, Ana Marquez, would like her is intellectually stimulating and challengesme to become a better person,”partner “to understand [her] backgroundand feelings” and simply accepther for who she is.With contrasting similarities andsaid Marquez.According to Marquez, all it takes is differences between men and women,“someone who will give me the time how does one find common ground?and effort to show that I am worth beingwith.”vidual’s needs depend on their tem-According to Choate, “Every indi-Junior psychology major, Ariana perament, but the most important partPerez agrees.is communication.”“I would like someone to be silly So for those guys struggling withwith and [someone] that I do not mind getting that special girl, a simple Facebookchat won’t do. Pick up the phone,being myself around. I am looking fora guy who makes me comfortable with say hi in the café, tell her you appreciatewho I am, what I am about, and the her and her beauty and communicate.things I like,” Perez said.lentine’s Day giftsHow to drop hints to your crushMake a mix CD with songs thatthey will love. Don’t put songsin just because they are aboutlove — doing so will only makeit a dated CD that your loveywill tire of. Decorate the caseyourself and write a romanticline or two.A coupon book with personalizedmessages can end up beingthe gift your sweetheartuses the most. Make couponslike “dinner on me” or “helpwith homework” that can beredeemed any time.Drive to a small town like Grueneor Fredericksburg andstroll through the park or visitfamily owned shops. Treat yourhoney to ice cream or a smalltrinket to remember the day.Single them out in a crowd. Whether at aparty or during a busy time in the Café,don’t hesitate to approach them and showsome interest.Make lots of eye contact.Compliment the little things. Show themthat you notice the not-so-obvious thingsand impress them with your special attentionto detail.Don’t show off. Nothing is more cheesyand unattractive than someone who thinksthey are “all that and a bag of chips.” Begenuine so the other person can find youmore relatable.“Let’s get physical!” The famous words ofOlivia Newton John could be helpful forhopeless fools in love. A subtle touch onthe shoulder or back can do the job. Don’tget too creepy though!

Features12 The Rattler02-10-10Style Stalker ••••www.stmurattlernews.comA gift for every stage of loveBy Stephen GuzmanFeatures EditorJames Avery$75It is that time of year again! The time when chocolate hearts are eaten like they are a major food groupand when the only colors on the spectrum are pink and red. It is also that time of the year when Valentine'sgifts are on the minds of young lovers around the world. But how does one decide what to get an anxiousValentine? Flowers after a two year relationship would be boring and a diamond ring after a first date issimply out of the question. If you are unsure about what kind of gift to get your valentine this year, here aresome easy gift giving guidelines for any relationship.Junior Bianca Ruiz makes her heeledboots the focus of her chic outfit.Photos by Analicia PerezBy Joe GuerraStaff WriterI have to admit, I have two obsessions:shoes and bags. It startedin high school. My first pair was anexpressive Nike SB Dunk Hi-Tops.A young girl told me “nice kicks,”and this was when I knew I waspoisoned by footwear's kiss. Fromthen on, I knew that shoes actuallymatter in an outfit. Be it a job interviewor a first date, the things youput on your feet can say a lot.So where do we go from here?What is fashionably right andwhat is wrong?For both sexes, mandatoryshoes should always be sneakers/trainersand a nice pair ofboots. I always had a heart forthe Converse All-Star. If youwant to own something a bitmore different, try looking on theFlight Club New York Web site ifurban/”hypebeast” is more yourlook. They have a wide selectionof Nike SB Dunks, Air Jordans andVans – all legit, of course. But beprepared to take a bite in the walletif you want something less runof-the-mill;exclusive SBs can cost$300 to even $1,500.Of course we should also havemuch more mature standbys. Onetrend I have been noticing is thatmen and women alike are puttingmore attention to leather shoes andboots. Oxfords are a classic entryinto a man's closet, as are loafersand boat shoes (the latter shouldbe confined to summer wear).Boots are a different story.While most make the mistake oftucking jeans into cowboy boots(a HUGE no-no), there are muchmore elegant and fashionablechoices to be made.Men have a wide selection ofchoices, but my favorites are often“Chelsea” boots. Mod fashion indeed,but they can still be pulledoff today. If you want somethingnot in-house and more designer,take a look at the inventory atshops or Web sites like SWEARLondon Shoes or Surface To Air.Junior business major BiancaRuiz shows off how good bootscan look without breaking thebank. Her JCP boots give the illusionof a high priced luxury itemand match well with her tightsand horizontal striped shirt. Herjewelry also brings attention to herhands and her sunglasses matchwell with her outfit. Who ever saidlooking good needed to be expensive?Frugalista indeed!Until next time: May your closetbe full and your mirror filledwith smiles.See you!Style StalkerJamesAvery$50JcPennney$30Still crushing on that special someone? Show your affection with something simple.- Try making a personal card from scratch. It is crafty and meaningful.- Buy them lunch. It is simple, but it goes a long way.- Something they will use everyday will remind them of you every time. What is theirfavorite hobby? Possible items: a basketball, paintbrushes, a book, or even a bonsai tree.You are still getting to know each other, so do not go too wild.- Find out their favorite candy and snacks, then make a gift basket. It is an easy twist tothe typical box of chocolates.- Instead of red roses, try black orchids or yellow tulips; roses can be so overrated.- Finding some vintage jewelry (a classic men's watch or a cameo brooch) to convey thatyou will make an effort to make them happy in the future.You are together, but it has only been a couple of months. You might have even saidthe big "L" word. It is time to bring out the big guns.- Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but so are designer perfumes and purses.- Surprise your guy with his favorite video game or movie.- A nice coffee or espresso machine will make everyone happy.You have spent months together, maybe years. All you know is that you are committedand in love. Now what?- Show your Valentine that you appreciate them with a relaxing day at the spa.- Plan a romantic getaway at a resort, it will be a gift for both of you.- Maybe it's time to get on that knee and propose. But if you're not ready to take that bigstep, a furry puppy will do.Back Row (left to right): Dr. Larry Hufford, Sean Jones, Claudia Carrete, Mario Gonzalez, Delissa Villa, Karla Bayona, Dr.Jerry Poyo. Front Row (left to right): Brenda Benavides, Alejandra Navarro, Jessica James, Marisol de la Cruz, Kelly Mullen.Not included in photo: Guillermo Alarcon. Photo courtesy of Dr. Grace KeyesWant to broaden your horizons? These students and professors are currently spending asemester abroad at the University of Alcala, just outside of Madrid, Spain.Students who are interested in applying to go to Spain in 2011 should apply in the Inernational Education Programsoffice (Chaminade Tower 105). Applications for the Spain 2011 semester are due on March 1, 2010.For more information about the Spain 2011 study abroad program contact:Minita Santizo, Director of International EducationProgramsChaminade Tower 105(210) 431-4308 or 8067Dr. Grace Keyes, Director of the Spain Study AbroadProgramCharles Frances 203(210) 431-2280

02-10-10Featureswww.stmurattlernews.comOnline dating sites prove useful but with limitationsThe Rattler 13By Joe GuerraStaff WriterE-Dating has become more and morepopular amongst tech savvy individuals onfinding their soul mate from the comfort oftheir bedroom. Meeting the opposite sex inperson seems to be taking a backseat to theease and speed of something as simple aslooking at a profile.Online dating sites can be excellent toolsto expand your social circle of friends aswell as try to make new romantic connectionswith people you would have otherwisenever met. The only problem is that they areonly as functional, clean and good as thepeople who log on. While some Web sitesspecialize in meeting your soon-to-be significantother (OkCupid, Match.com, eHarmony,Chemistry.com, and Plenty of Fish),you can also find hopeful romantics on simplesocial networking sites such as MySpace,Facebook and even Twitter.It is imperative to remember that a lot ofthese networking Web sites do not provideall of their services for free; these sites mightalso condone its own way of connectingpeople. For example, eHarmony is based onpre-screening its applicants using a varietyof personality tests. One criticism about thisparticular dating site is that it takes quite awhile to answer the 258 question test. Additionally,a potential member may be rejectedwithout reason if they provide inconsistentanswers. Those who are under 21 or thosewho have been married four times and arestill under the age of 60 will also be rejectedfrom using this social site.An article published in The WashingtonPost in 2007 stated that about one in fivepeople do not meet eHarmony’s requirementsand many people are rejected uponcompletion of the test. Despite the fact thateHarmony has about 15 million registeredusers, it stills costs a full subscription to haveaccess to all the features.To find preference matches on OkCupid,users must answer questions generated bycurrent members. This way, it can easily getanswers to questions people really want toknow. While it is free to register an accountat OkCupid, it also has paid optional services(which they call “A-List” services) suchas the ability to search, message and chaton the site. While these services may seemto be something one would expect to get forfree, this is actually not the case. Be sure toread the Web site's terms of services beforebecoming a member to see if they have anautomatic subscription renewal service.But how successful are these online servicesanyway? How often do matches comefrom these tests? And how many marriages?The Web site eHarmony advertises that“on average, 236 eHarmony members getmarried every day; that accounts for 2 percentof all U.S. marriages,” according to a2007 survey for the Web site.These numbers do not mean that all servicesare perfect. According to Neil Warren's2005 article “Online Passion,” eHarmony'smembership is about 58 percent femaleand 42 percent male where as Match.comis the opposite. Other problems includevast differences in members' ages as well asmembers not being truthful about their singlestatus and frequent infidelity mishaps.One of the most well-known problemswith online dating services is often discriminationor lack of what some would call politicalcorrectness. The site, eHarmony, hasdrawn huge criticism for this reason andwas even taken to court in 2007 due to onlycatering to heterosexual relationships. WhileOkCupid has the option to choose “bisexual”as an orientation, many others do not.Most sites also require members to choosetheir sex as “male” or “female” which oftenmakes matters complicated for transgenderedindividuals.According to The New York Times, mostoften the only choice one has to circumventthese problems is to set up an account withan online dating service which only cater toa particular group or religion such as JDatefor Jewish singles), Black Christian PeopleMeet, or Shaadi for Indian singles.One of the bigger things to rememberabout online dating sites is overall safety.Upon registration, sites like eHarmony,Match.com and Yahoo! Personals informthe individual to take precaution. Thesesites stress the point of taking guard of yourpersonal information and to be weary ofwhat some may call an “internet stalker.”Even simple information written in blogsor snapshots in photos should be checkedover to make sure you cannot be traced byanother member.If you do feel a romantic spark andwould like to set up a first date, it is best totake some simple and unhindered precautions.Make plans to go out at a public place.Never go to their place of residence or allowthem to come to yours on the first meeting.If you desire a less intimate setting, take afriend with you or try to schedule a doubledate with that person, and keep communicationthrough e-mails and private messagesbefore handing out your phone number.Most importantly of all, if you sense anythingsuspicious and weird about the person,or if they seem a bit too much for you tohandle, break it off immediately.Online dating services seem to be here tostay for the time being: helping us network,find friends and even find that special someonewhile we try to manage our daily lives.Three things not to do whenyou are online datingPost nude picturesEverything online is liable for publicviewing, you don't want your goods allover the web.Meet at somebody's houseTry meeting at a public area, where it'smore difficult for you to get kidnapped.Give out personal informationSomething as simple as a phone numbercan allow anyone access to further personalinformation regarding your identity.Assume everyone will stalk you.The College CrosswordACROSS1 – Lancelot’s lover4 – where St. Valentine was martyred8 – mole ingredient10 – dangerously seductive sea nymph11 – Barbie’s lover12 – mesh well13 - ___ Awareness Day17 – John Lennon’s lover18 – conversation heartphrase – two words19 – kiss hug kiss hug21 – endearing introduction“this is my ___ ___”22 – piercing weapon25 – dinner and a movie26 – They stealthily adore you.27 – funny feeling in your tummy28 – suction bruise32 – diamonds et al33 – brand of conversation hearts34 – one of the seven deadly sins35 – relationship between Edward,Bella, and JacobDOWN2 – those three words, in German3 – never-ending5 - ___ are red.6 – Love songs of the Bible7 – demonstrating love9 – love in Spanish14 – the star-crossed lovers15 – not apart16 – fruit often covered in chocolate20 – sixteen-line love poem23 – flirty under-the-table game24 – counterpart of Greek Eros29 – “Love Me ___”30 – beautiful in Italian31 – “I Got You ___”www.stmurattlernews.comCompiled by: Annie SwensonCheck itout!For the answers to our previous crossword puzzle, visit our web site.Also check out other exclusive content that you will only see online!Child EmpireBy: Clayton BilladeauSenior English/ history majorOn a playgroundan imperious boydemands,instructs,directsthe playtime ofall other children.Another comes,rejecting the little lord'sgame.Boy emperormonkeys across bars,little shoes swaying,legs swinging - notkicking,controlled!Kid king stands - top bowof the playground's ship.Eyes stopped to watch.The two stared.“What are you doing?! It'smy rules, or off the sand!”Neo-boy plants himself,toy shoesscrewing deepinto the grinding sand.“You're not the bossof me,” he says,staring hard, determined.All other childrengather, spectating- no more playing.In front of all,the newcomer smiles,turns, andmoons,sending the king childcrying home.Like fireflies - brightfor a moment -One empire darkenswhile another lights.

Features14 The Rattler02-10-10www.stmurattlernews.comThe Flip SideHere weare, friends,approachingthat specialtime of yearagain—Valentine'sDay.Cristina Pardon meGonzalez as I engagein the yearlytradition of cynical eye-rollingand questioning that wouldget me branded as a bittersingle person in certain circles.And maybe I am. Someonehas to be, to balance out allthe sappy romanticism flungabout like so many roses at aspecial production of Romeo& Juliet.Actually, to be very honest,I consider myself quite thehopeless romantic. However, Iam a realistic hopeless romantic,and I am certain that I amnot the only one.It is really very simple. I believein the beauty of love andthat it should be celebrated inall its forms. I could not writethe things I do in my off-timeif I did not. What I bear grudgewith is the way people suddenlytrip all over themselvesto be as romantic as possibleon one day out of the year!We are driven as much byadvertising as our desire tohave the best gift or the bestdate. Men are more willingto sit through the silliest andmost implausible of romanticcomedies, women more willingto buy the sexiest lingerie.I know what supporters ofthe holiday are quick to bringup: "Valentine's Day is notjust for lovers!" Sure, but hasanyone seen Zales advertisingdiamond-encrusted friendshipbracelets lately? Andjudging from the trailers forromantic comedies, I am certainthe main characters windup changing their relationshipstatus on Facebook.My idea of romance and itshonorary day is simpler thanHollywood expects and oftenparodies in movies it aims atwomen. The "bitter" femalelead is "reformed" of her notionsby falling in love with themale lead.As I've gotten older andgrown comfortable in my independence,this has troubledme. Is it really so hard to believethat someone like mewould still have similar opinionswithin a relationship? Ibelieve that if we strive to be asromantic and loving all year aswe would be on a single day,then who really needs to marka calendar? Certainly not me.By Pamela AlvaradoStaff WriterSAYwhat?What's the mostromantic thinganybody hasever done foryou?Compiled by:Felix ArroyoValentine's Day, what will you do?Choose from two alternatives of celebrating Valentine's DayGoing OutDining out on Valentine’s Day can be a hassle – long waits, expensiveprices, loud atmospheres and occasionally the food is just notthat great – but with the right attitude and keen knowledge of whereand where not to go, you can impress your Valentine’s date whereveryou go.Fortunately, San Antonio offers plenty of affordable and romanticplaces to dine out for a special night.Capparelli’s, located on Main Street near downtown, is a smallItalian restaurant with big personality. This restaurant has much moreto offer than just delicious food. You will surely woo your date withromantic dim lighting, classic Italian music and intimate candle littables. This classy restaurant has affordable prices with dinner platesranging from $8 to $15.Often times, especially on the days preceding Valentine’s Day, restaurantswill be completely booked with reservations. As with any romanticdinner date, call well in advance and set reservations for two.If you are searching for a more exotic alternative to the typical Italianrestaurant, try Valentino’s Mediterranean Restaurant, located onMcCullough Avenue near North Star Mall. But be sure to verify withyour date before venturing to any new type of cuisine. Fortunately,with beautiful paintings and large chandeliers, this homey restaurantoffers a gorgeous setting anyone will enjoy. The restaurant containsseating inside and outside; the outside seating has intimate tablessurrounding the building and candles lit on every table. Valentino’soffers a wide variety of wine at their wine bar as well. Be sure not toforget your credit card, dishes at this establishment range from $9 to$19 a plate.If these two restaurants still do not fit your style, then stick withgreat old American food at the Little Red Barn Steakhouse, locatednear Roosevelt Park. Waiters and waitresses in full cowgirl attireappropriately accompany this steakhouse’s invitingand homey setting. Dining tables are picnictables filled with a vast choice of condiments.The setting itself is fun and great for anyyoung exciting couple. The price for platesranges from $10 to $19.Graphic Illustration by Amanda RodriguezAlyssa Esteves, freshman pol. science major Tatiana Huerta, sophomore biology major Chris Vilanueva, senior finance major“My boyfriendtook me on one ofthose horse drawncarriage thingsdowntown.”By Jasmine GarciaStaff WriterWith Valentine’s Day around the corner, the pressure is on – butthere is no need to go out to eat at a fancy restaurant downtown tohave a romantic candlelight dinner. Looking at an overpriced bill isthe last thing you want on your mind on Valentine’s Day. Althoughrestaurants may be having specials available, why not make a quicktrip to the grocery store? Nothing is more personal than cooking anice, romantic dinner at home. Save yourself the money and cook upa nice dinner for two.RecipesAsk family and friends for delicious recipes to prepare for your Valentine.Get a hold of grandma’s famous chicken dinner or take a lookat Recipezaar.com, a Web site with user-generated recipes.” Browsethe site for recipes for beverages, appetizers, a main dish, side dishesand dessert. Pick a recipe that will take no more than one to two and ahalf hours to complete and are measured to serve two people.If you are really in the mood for something sweet, try making oneof these desserts together. This will not only be a fun way to spend theevening, but this can also be a more intimate experience for the bothof you.MusicRestaurants have live music available for the occasion, but why notcreate your own playlist with music you and your Valentine like. Youcan control the volume and the songs, plus, you do not have to paythe mariachi band for a song request. If no songs come to mind, visitthe iTunes store and look through their Valentine’s Day 2010 playlist.Artists vary from Colbie Caillat and Corinne Bailey Rae to MichaelBublé and Dierks Bentley.After your special dinner, head over to the nearest RedBox and renta romantic flick like “The Notebook” or “A Walk to Remember.” Orhave some fun competition playing a classic board game – the loserhas to give a back massage. Or simply end the night snuggled up in ablanket by candlelight.“My boyfriendwalked into ourhigh school cafeteriawith a big basketfull of presents.”Staying In“My girlfriendbought me a card,but I bought her,like, the world.”

02-10-10Entertainmentwww.stmurattlernews.comThe Rattler 15Coming SoonALBUMSAngelsandAirwaves“Love”2/14Story ofthe Year“Constant”2/16The Game“The R.E.D.Album”2/16Usher“RaymondVs.Raymond”2/16COCOLounge:C’estMagnifique!SHOWSMOVIESWu Tang“Returnof theFriends”2/16Sources: rapswag.com, thecsperspective.com, regaltenant.com, amazon.com, blogspot.comConcierto deAranjuézat the MajesticTheatre2/12 - 2/13Source: photobucket.comLove and HappinessComedyShowat the MunicipalAuditorium2/13Source: fiftyfiftyentertainment.comAmor de misAmoresat Instituto Culturalde México2/20Source: tecnoculto.comJamesOtto“JamesO tto”2/16By Luis Miguel MacíasEntertainment EditorChocolate can be described as lusciousloads of love, so why not celebratethis coming Valentine’s Day inone of the most romantic restaurants inSan Antonio?Coco Chocolate Lounge and Bistro offersa very charming and classy environmentwith its strongly accented Frenchinfluence. The restaurant is unique and isvaguely reminiscent to Kylie Minogue’smusic video, “Chocolate” because ofthe red velvet curtains, the sparklingcrystal chandeliers and the dimmedlights. Coco is the ideal place to gowith that special someone to fallin love with over a palatabledish prepared by a line ofexperienced chefs thatknow the two keyingredients toany goodplate: love and chocolate!Born and raised in Paris, PhillipePlací arrived in San Antonio in 2001and has been bringing the coquetryand romance of the “City of Lights”to San Antonio since 2008. Since then,Choco Chocolate Lounge and Bistro hasreached a prominent status among itscompetitors thanks to its outstandingmenu and word of mouth.Plací, formerly the maître d’ at “LasCanarias,” along with his partners Frederickand Emanuelle Le Bourg, soughtout to create a unique environmentwhere people could enjoy dinner andgood music.“We wanted to do something new inSan Antonio, something very simple yettruly entertaining,” Plací said. “We wantto be the best.”I must say that after some clever colormatching and a dash of designer furniture,it is no wonder that Choco’s popularityhas soared up to the point wherePlací and the Le Bourg’s are planningon expanding the venue to the spacenext door to better accommodatevisitors and provide moredance room as wellas a stage.Coco Chocolate Lounge and Bistro’smost notable characteristic is how it managesto use chocolate in the preparationof almost every dish on its exotic menuwhich includes several delicious platessuch as the braid of salmon and sole (createdfor princess Grace of Monaco) andthe “Coco” Cassoulet, which is Plací’sversion of the famous southwesternFrench dish.Coco serves a full menu from 4 p.m.to midnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,but Thursday through Saturday,the restaurant remains open until 1:30a.m.Recently, Coco Chocolate Lounge hasalso begun serving brunch on Sundaystarting at 10:30 a.m. On Fridays, one canenjoy the company of a live salsa bandwhile indulging in a delicious chocolatedesert and Saturdays a live DJ providesa slick and smooth environment.One can expect to find people of allages at Coco.“We want a place where everyonecan join in and enjoy the night;it is a very European concept,” Placípointed out.For a dinner that will be truly unforgettable,full of romance and deliciousfood, Coco Lounge is the best place togo in San Antonio.The Coco Chocolate Lounge and Bistrois located off U.S. Highway 281.Valentines Day 2/12The Wolfman 2/12Shutter Island 2/19The Ghostwriter 2/19My Name isKhan 2/12Percy Jackson andthe Olympians 2/12Sources: rottentomatoes.com, filmfilie.com, travelindia.comPhotos by Félix Arroyo

Entertainment16 The Rattler02-10-10“Crazy Heart” capturesthe country soul on filmwww.stmurattlernews.comBy Luis Miguel MacíasEntertainment EditorSome people live to flee fromthe truth of their mortality. Theyaspire immortality and hope toreach it through actions bothgood and evil, through the artsand through that story that willengrave their names on the pedestalof their glorious and powerfulstatue.Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), anaging alcoholic country musician,is certainly not this kindof person. Blake captures thepure essence of a man whosewrinkles have been the result oftime, an indomitable rebelliousspirit and the one element thatis a component of all human nature:imperfection. Though immortalitymay not be his maingoal, this touching movie portraysthe life of a man who livesfrom one day to another seekingthat one piece of his soulthat seems to be missing“While growing up, I alwaysresponded to guys like MartyRobbins and Johnny Cash,” saidactor and director Scoot Cooper.“They would write about theirflaws. We all have flaws so Isaid to myself ‘I should make amovie about it.’ So I did.”Though Cooper has beenwell known for his great actingskills, it has always been hisdream to direct a movie, whichhe also happened to cast himself.The film is a perfect snapshotfor generations to comeabout how classic country musicencounters life in post-modernAmerica.Shot in three different locations,“Crazy Heart” was filmedin Texas, Arizona, New Mexicoand California. The film alsohas original music written bycountry singer and songwriter,T-Bone Burnett, the same manwho convinced Bridges to acceptthe role of Bad Blake afterhaving initially rejected the offer.The movie also stars MaggieGyllenhaal, Ryan Bingham andRobert Duvall.Cooper is currently touringthe U.S. promoting “CrazyHeart,” hoping to reach out toboth the “country” and “noncountry”audience which capturesthe vices and virtuesof a very unique character towhich everyone can relate to.“Crazy Heart” is now playingat Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistroand Regal Alamo QuarryStadium 16.Cooper will also be playing asupporting role in an upcomingmovie called “Get Low” whichwill be released in theatres onJuly 30.Shisha’s Café offers Middle Eastern cuisine and an amiable atmosphere. Photo by Félix ArroyoShisha’s Café: taste of Mid EastBy Caitlin SkeltonStaff WriterWhen you walk into Shisha’sCafé, you will notice several thingsat once. First of all you will noticethe warm and cozy atmosphereof the restaurant coupled by thesounds of talking and laughter.Another thing that hits you is thewondrous smell of delicious food,making Shisha’s Café a very popularplace.Shisha’s Café specializes inMiddle Eastern cuisine, withplates such as lamb tikka andchicken shawerma. Their maincourse menu ranges from $6 to $8and there are also plenty of snacksto choose from under $5.The food, although very freshand exquisitely prepared, does nottake long to be delivered to yourtable, and it always leaves you satisfied.Plus, the service at Shisha’sis always friendly, as well as quick,even when the restaurant is busy.The television playing in thebackground at Shisha’s plays authenticMiddle Eastern programsand is always on an Arabian musicchannel that is entertaining andeffectively immerses diners in theexperience. Recently, Shisha’s hasremodeled and built an outdoordeck that will make a good additionfor the summer, as well asa covered porch and heaters forcold nights.Shisha’s is a great place to hangout with friends, go on a date orjust chill. I recommend this restaurantto anyone looking for a fantasticdining experience that is quitedifferent than any other.This fun and affordable eateryis located at 5500 Babcock Road.lovefriendshipfamilydinnerdancingdessertThere are lots ofreasons to visit usthis Valentine’s Day.815 Bandera Road(corner of Bandera & Woodlawn)(210) 433-2531sopapillaswww.lisasmexican.comSoundtrack is like ‘a bad dream’By Sean O’KelleyStaff WriterMy Dinosaur Life“Motion City Soundtrack”I do not expect all my music to be groundbreaking. I do not expect a new revolutioncoming out of my stereo with every newalbum. However, my question is this: if themusicians have nothing new to say, what isthe point? Motion City Soundtrack’s newestalbum, “My Dinosaur Life,” fails to answerthe question.With the exception of the first two tracks,there is nothing here that is even remotelyfresh. It is a constant barrage of straight eigthnote patterns punched out on power chordswith catchy arena vocals set to an ignorablebass line and beat and a synth thrownin occasionally to give the illusion of flavor.There are other rhythms out there, betterchords than the power chords, settings onyour amp besides distortion set to 11. All ofthis has been done before, and better.But the main problem here is not the genericsong structures and execution (Weezerused a lot of the same tactics and producedat least one masterpiece), the main problemis that this album is shallow. Take track four:“Disappear.” The song tries, oh so tries, tobe a deep, passionate song about being allsad and what not. Instead, it comes acrossas a ticked off middle-schooler having atantrum and telling his friends that he “candisappear any time [he] want[s] to,” and heis “severing each artery to free the self andfix the in-betweens.” I bet he can hold hisbreath until he turns blue, as well.The music here is fun, though. It packs allthe same elements of a cheap musical thrill,and as party music, it is probably not halfbad. But that is it is just party music. Therewould be no real reason to put on headphonesand give this album a good study;there is not a lot to really fall in love with.The second track, “A Lifeless Ordinary,” ispretty good, with a decently syncopatedpiano hook and a good build off of it.If you are looking for background musicto a party, this is the perfect album. Also, itmight not be bad to listen to during car rideswith friends. Anything more than that andthis album is worth avoiding. The lead in“Pulp Fiction” pretty much sums it up; “it islike a bad dream, something from the backof a magazine, black and white and cheaplyput together.”

02-10-10Indie ReviewA LOOKAT ARTSY FILMS“A Single Man”Dir. by Tom FordStarring: Colin Firth, NicholasHoult and Julianne MooreA seriousaccidentcauses a highlyeducatedand culturedman to concludethat lifeRobin without loveJohnson is not worthliving in “ASingle Man.”George (Colin Firth) is anEnglish professor in the ‘50swho secretly hides his homosexualityfrom his everyday acquaintances,as well as his deepset pain over the death of hispartner Jim (Matthew Goode).On the day he decides willbe his last, George finds an unexpectedconnection with oneof his young students, Kenny(Nicholas Hoult).Through the vivacity ofKenny, a day of retrospectivethoughts in the eyes of a childand a night of drinking withan old friend (Julianne Moore),George’s foggy perception ofdepression begins to clear.Despite the presence of bigtimeactors, “A Single Man”makes a somewhat basic storyline.This is a film of depth andgenuineness through the art ofTom Ford’s direction.Throughout the film, Forduses effectively crafted lightingtechniques to convey thereflecting thoughts of George.Since most of the film takesplace inside George’s mind,without the use of these lightingtechniques, the audiencewould become lost in the silenceof the thoughts andthe film would have quicklyturned bland.While the color aroundGeorge always seems drained,the light around Kenny asGeorge looks at him becomessoft and glowing, representingGeorge’s admiration of Kenny’swistful youth and perhapseven his angelic nature as themovie progresses.Powerful performancesfrom seasoned and fresh actorscombined with the visionof writer/director Tom Fordmake the quiet appearance ofthe film fill with the most intenseemotions and experiencesa person can have in life in“A Single Man.”Entertainment The Rattler 17www.stmurattlernews.comThe Human Performing Arts Troupe filled the municipal auditorium withmusic and dance to celebrate the new year. Photo Courtesy of SACA.By Luis Miguel MacíasEntertainment EditorChinese Alliance brings inthe new year of the tigerBy Cynthia PompaContributing WriterThe public was invited to “EmbraceChina,” as the title of theprogram held by the San AntonioChinese Alliance described, with20 different acts from traditionaldances, operas, sopranos andchoruses at the San Antonio MunicipalAuditorium. The alliancehosted the magnificent event towelcome the New Year on Feb. 4.Among the many performerswas a well-recognized group directlyfrom China: The Hunan PerformingArts Troupe. This groupcomes from a Chinese southeastprovince and its known both inChina and overseas for its excellentperformances. Before presentingin San Antonio, the Troupe hadperformed in New York, Washington,D.C., Los Angeles andHouston.The event was well-presentedby the San Antonio Chinese PerformanceAssociation. This groupperformed several acts including aChinese waist Drum Dance, a Children’sDance, a Jasmine Dance,Chinese Folk music and a chorus.The audience was delighted withnumerous colorful Chinese customsin each performance whichresembled the vibrant and livelyChinese culture.Additionally, the program includeda fashion show in order topresent the different types of clothingduring the Cultural Revolutionin a number entitled, “Memoriesfrom Urban Educated Youth inCountryside.” The Cultural Revolutionwas a time in China wherethere was mass mobilization ofurban Chinese youth initiated byMao Zedong. He attempted toprevent the development of Communism,yet caused thousands ofdeaths and great economic and socialchaos.Some students and staff fromSt. Mary’s University attended theChinese New Year’s Gala.Senior business major TommyBassler described the event as being,“a great night to experiencethe Chinese culture.”.The event began with the SanAntonio Chinese Alliance AwardCeremony, previously known asSan Antonio Chinese Scholars andStudent Association and the inaugurationof the new president ofthe alliance.‘39 Steps’ to a night of mystery and laughsToday’s youth might find classictheatre a bore and many do notunderstand the concept of whattheatre is really about.Alfred Hitchock’s adaptationof John Buchan’s 1915 novel “The39 Steps” was presented last weekfrom Feb. 2 to Feb. 7 at the MajesticTheatre with a unique and highlytalented cast of four actors thatwould have made Hitchock himselfproud of the production.The exciting and comic “whodunnit” was the story about ayoung Canadian named RichardHannay who is at the London theatreenjoying a show put on by Mr.Memory, the man with the greatestmemory in the world. During theshow, a fight breaks out and shotsare heard. Before Hannay knowsit, he finds Anabella Schmidt in hisarms convincing him of taking herback to her flat. Schmidt revealsher identity as a spy and tells Hannaythat she has unveiled a plotto steal British military secrets.She also confesses that the headof an organization called “The 39Steps,” and a man with one fingeris trying to assassinate her to preventher from exposing his plan tothe military.The next morning, Hannayfinds Schmidt murdered withhis bread knife. It is clear to himthat he has been framed. BesideSchmidt’s corpse lays a map ofScotland with a mansion markedon it- a clue as to where the head of“The 39 Steps” is. Hannay escapesthe scene of the crime and embarkson a journey throughout Scotlandto unveil the head of “The 39Steps” and to prove his innocence.During this journey he meetsthe attractive and witty Pamelawith whom he falls in love with. Atone point they are literally chainedtogether though their “tug-ofwar”relationship which adds romantictension to the production.In the end, Hannay goes back toLondon to consult Mr. Memoryon who the head of “The 39 Steps”is but before answering, a handappears behind the curtain anddispatches Mr. Memory in a verycomic fashion.Though the plot is very similarto one of Hitchcock’s other filmscalled “Young and Innocent,”the production contains certainelements that characterize the“Monty Pythonesque” style, suchas the perfectly coordinated movementsof the characters in severalscenes, the delightfully obnoxiousvillain and the typical man playinga woman’s part. “The 39 Steps”also managed to incorporate certainelements of pop-culture suchas President Barack Obama’s campaignslogan “Hope for change”and “Yes, we can.”The play was rich in detailslike Hitchcock’s silhouette in achase scene, represented by shadowpuppets, the Nazi eagle at the“respectable” Professor Jordan’shouse, the group of crows perchedmenacingly on a traffic sign thatbrought back memories of “thecrows.” In some scenes, one couldhear excerpts of music from otherHitchcock productions such as thethematic dissonant strings in “Psycho”and the themes from “Dial Mfor Murder” and “The Man WhoKnew Too Much.”It was quite remarkable tosee a cast of four people representover 100 characters. The castwas made up by Claire Brownwell,Ted Deasy, Eric Hissom andScott Parkinson. With differentbackgrounds in theatre, these fourpeople brought a great productionto San Antonio. Written by a greatnovelist and adapted by a masterof cinema, “The 39 Steps” was trulya play to remember.Also coming to theMajestic and theEmpire theatresTuna Does Vegasat the Empire theatre,Feb. 16 to 26 at 8 p.m.Willie Nelsonat the Majestic theatre,Feb. 28 at 7:00 p.m.South PacificAt the Majestic theatreMarch 2 to 7 at 8 p.m.CoppeliaAt the Majestic theatre,March 20 and 21at 2 p.m.ChicagoAt the Majestic theatre,April 19 at 8 p.m.

18The RattlerSportswww.stmurattlernews.com02-10-10CalendarMen’s basketball:2/11 St. Edward’s 8 p.m.2/13 Texas A&M International 4:30 p.m.2/20 Incarnate Word 4:30 p.m.Women’s basketball:2/11 St. Edward’s 5:30 p.m.2/13 Texas A&M Internatiional 2 p.m.2/20 Incarnate Word 2 p.m.2/27 at Arkansas Fort-Smith 2 p.m.Men’s baseball:2/12 St. Edward’s (DH) 2 p.m.2/13 St. Edward’s (DH) 1 p.m.2/19 at Newman University (DH) 3 p.m.2/20 at Newman University (DH) 12 p.m.Women’s softball:2/12 at Fort Lewis University 2 p.m.2/13 at Western New Mexico 12 p.m.2/13 at New Mexico Highlands 2 p.m.2/14 at UC Colorado Springs 12 p.m.Tennis:2/12 Incarnate Word 1 p.m.2/13 Abiliene Christian Univ 3:30 p.m.2/18 Texas Lutheran 1 p.m.2/19 Tarleton State 4 p.m.Home games in boldSports Around the WorldCollege football:In Bear, Del., according to the Wilmington NewsJournal, seventh-grade quarterback David Sillscommitted Thursday night to accept a footballscholarship from the University of SouthernCalifornia. The 13-year-old, who attends Red LionChristian Academy, told delawareonline.com“my heart was beating so fast” when he talked tothe interviewer. If he were to eventually join theTrojans, he would enter as a member of the class of2015, five full seasons from now. In the meantime,he hopes to pass the seventh and eighth gradesand begin studying for his driver’s license, amongmore lurid pursuits.National Football League:Source: sports.yahoo.comOne win and one never-ending argument — thatis where Indianapolis Colts quarterback PeytonManning found himself heading into on Feb. 7.A victory over the New Orleans Saints in SuperBowl XLIV would thrust him into rarefied air at hisposition — amongst such names as Joe Montana,John Elway, Terry Bradshaw and a precious fewquarterbacks who have won multiple Super Bowls.In turn, it would secure Manning’s elevation ontoanother plane of debate, into the dog-eared pagesof quarterback autopsies. It is the kind of debatethat had former Miami Dolphins quarterback BobGriese almost incredulous when he was asked lastweek if Manning would rank as the best of all timeat his position.Ultimate Fighting Championship:Source: sports.yahoo.comIn what is billed as the first-ever meeting of twoHall of Fame fighters, the 45-year-old MarkColeman (16-9) faces 46-year-old Randy Couture(17-10) at light heavyweight in what will likely bethe final pay-per-view main event for the loser. Theevent will cap a remarkable year for the last UFCtournament winner from the early days of maineventing major shows.Source: sports.yahoo.comHighlight ReelThe baseball teamstarted off their springseason this weekwith two wins andone loss to OklahomaPanhandle State.Both Rattler tennis teams started offthe spring season with a strong serve afterthey defeated Texas Lutheran Universityat a home tournament on Feb. 4.In preparation for the tournament theteam met at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdaysand Saturdays for team conditioning.Two hour practices were also held onMondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.The practices were focused onmaintaining the team’s consistency andreducing unforced errors.Assistant men’s tennis coach RyanRasco said he did not have any doubts orconcerns about the teams’ performancebefore the tournament.“I was not terribly worried because webeat them last year,” Rasco said.Sophomore Kelly Cooper helped startthe Rattler’s winning streak this season byonly allowing her opponent a few pointsand won straight sets 6-0, 6-0.Senior Vanessa Sholles, who wasnamed All-Heartland Conference lastseason, also won straight sets with herquick serve and fast forehand.Game ResultsMen’s Baseball Women’s Basketball Men’s BasketballFeb 1: Okla. PanhandleState (Game 2)WIN score 22-4Feb 2: Okla. Panhandle StateWIN score 4-2On the men’s team, sophomore MarcinMarczewski, who earned All-HeartlandHonors for the 2008-2009 season, had anamazing jump on his serves allowing himto gain more power in his shot. He kepthis opponent moving across the courtwith his excellent down the line and crosscourt forehands and backhands.“[The team] used Friday’s tournamentas practice to warm up and get back in thegroove of things,” Rasco said.The only competition the Rattlersare worried about are University of theIncarnate Word, which ranked secondplace at the end of last season’s HeartlandConference, and St. Edwards University,which ranked third at the end oflast season.Coach Rasco remains confidentand said, “I think we have a chanceof beating them this year. [Thisteam has] all the talent in the world,they just have to practice keepingit consistant.”The Rattlers ended last season witha 7-9 record and made it all the way tothe Heartland Conference semi-finalswith the men losing to Dallas BaptistUniversity and the women losing to St.Feb 4: UT Permian BasinWIN score 62-46Feb 6: Okla. Panhandle StateWIN score: 56-38Feb 4: UT Permian BasinWIN score 56-37Feb 6: Okla. Panhandle StateWIN score 93-79Tennis teams start off with confidenceBy Veronica MartinezSports EditorEdward’s University.The Rattlers play The University ofthe Incarnate Word on Feb. 12 in a hometournament at 1 p.m.Men’s team has eye on top two Conference seedsBy Danielle TorresStaff WriterThe men’s basketballteam had another home winagainst conference opponentUniversity of Texas at PermianBasin, placing them third in theHeartland Conference.During the game, whichwas held on Feb. 4 in the BillGreehey Arena, the Rattlersmaintained a high energy andworked together as a wellrounded team.The Rattlers took fulladvantage and mastered theirtime management well goinginto half time with a 27-16lead. Helping the Rattlersjump out ahead of the Falconswere senior guard Darren Leeand freshman forward/centerKevin Kotzur.Lee shot 5-9 from the fieldand brought in a total of 12points. Kotzur contributed6-11 down low in the pointand 12 points as well asnine assists.The Rattlers led in allthe key stats includingsecond chance points alongwith bench points. In totalSophomore guard John Roberts attempts a three-pointer. Photoby Nick Alfarothe Rattlers had 24 pointsdue to offense glassworkcompared to just six points forPermian Basin.As for bench points,the Rattlers out numberedthe Falcons 12-4. When thebench players help out andput in numbers like this, theRattlers have a better chanceof preventing their opponentsfrom coming up from behind.This win put the Rattlersconference record at sevenand four with an overallrecord of 12-9. The team stillseems to have a fightingchance for the HeartlandConference title.The last time these twoSophomore Marcin Marczewski reacheshigh for his serve. Photo by Analicia Perezteams faced each other, theRattlers also took the win inOdessa, which means theteam swept the Falcons on theseason. It was an impressivewin for the men’s team asthey try to gain ground on theNo. 2 and No. 1 seeds in theconference, the University ofNewman and the Universityof Incarnate Word.The Rattler’s defenseresponded well to the Falcon’soffense which only put upa shooting percentage of 33percent on the night, alsocausing twelve turn over’s.“Defense kept us in and tooka strong lead on the Falcons,”said sophomore guardJohn Roberts.Team effort played thebiggest part in the win alongwith overall out scoring. TheRattlers outscored the Falconswith a final score of 29-21.“Gaining this win wasimportant,” said Roberts. “Ithelps boost our confidencefor next games to come. It alsohelps us keep our focus on theupcoming playoffs.”

02-10-10Sportswww.stmurattlernews.comThe Rattler 19Women’s team edges near rival UIW’s conference seatBy Danielle TorresStaff WriterStarting off strong and neverlooking back, the women’sbasketball team defeated theUniversity of Texas at PermianBasin on Feb. 4 at the BillGreehey Arena.The women jumped out in frontwith a 32 to 16 lead at halftime.Strong guard performances fromfreshmen guard Liz Boyd andjunior guard Nicole James helpedthe Rattler offense settle downand run through their plays.Controlling the inside was juniorforward Mareta Bailey shooting5-9 from the court and 1-2 fromthe free throw line. Helping out tobalance the scoring was sophomoreguard DeAnna Patterson who putin 10 points for the Rattlers.The Rattlers took advantageof every scoring opportunityavailable, and shot an impressive80 percent from the line. Benchscoring was also a big factor inthis game.Coach Jason Martenssubstituted very well and madesure all his players in the gamehad fresh legs. The Rattlers benchFreshman guard Felicia Jacobs goes for a layup against the University of Texas Permian Basin on Feb. 4 in theBill Greehey Arena. This win takes the Rattlers to 8-2 in conference play. Photo by Paulina Fernandezoutscored the Falcon’s bench by atotal of 11-6.“We just stayed focusedon playing solid defense andcontinued to execute on offense,”said senior guard Chastity Noble.Showing true leadership out onthe court, Noble played throughan injury which helped show theteam members her true heart andlove not only for the game, but forher team as well.“I prayed a lot before the game,I made sure my legs were warmand stayed warm. I just pushedthrough the pain,” Noble said.The win could not have beensweeter, since the team hadpreviously lost to the Falconson Dec. 17 with a 77-78 overtimeheartbreaker.“It was a payback game becausewe slipped up and lost to them attheir place,” said Noble.This time it was as thoughthe team was out to prove tothe Falcons that they were not ateam to be looked over with ease.Although University of TexasPermian Basin’s Tammy Acostahelped make a run towards the lastminutes of the game the Rattlerdefense stepped up and got a fewstops causing turn over’s and badselection shots for the Falcons,forcing the game to end in a 16point victory.With this win, the team is 8-2 inconference play and 16-6 overall.This puts the Rattlers just one gamebehind the University of IncarnateWord, which are currently rankedfirst in the Heartland Conference.The Rattlers will get to take onthe Cardinals for the second timethis season on Feb. 20 in the BillGreehey Arena.Interested in working forThe Rattler?To write for us, come to ourstory assignment meetings!February 9February 23March 30All meetings are at 5 p.m. inTreadaway Seminar B.If you’d like to shoot for us, come toour photo assignment meetings!February 10February 24March 31All meetings are at 6 p.m. in UCGoelz Conference Room.

02-10-10THEHOTSEATSports The Rattler 20www.stmurattlernews.comSOFTBALL TEAM SHOWSPROMISE AT INVITATIONALPhoto by Miriam CruzFeaturing:Jonathan “JP” PerezClassification: SophomoreMajor: Political SciencePosition: PitcherHow long have you been playingbaseball?I have been playing baseball since Iwas 3 years old.What is your favorite thing aboutplaying baseball for St. Mary’sUniversity?What I like most about playingbaseball for St. Mary’s University isdefinitely the relationship that isshared amongst the teammates.I could not ask for a better groupof guys to be surrounded with.Who is your favorite baseballplayer and/or athlete and why?My favorite baseball player isTim Lincecum because he is oneof the most talented pitchers inthe Major League and he lets hisabilities do the talking for him.What plans do you havefor after you graduate?My dream is to play professionalbaseball, but I also plan to attendlaw school.What is your greatest baseball momenthere at St. Mary’s University?My greatest baseball moment atSt.MU would have to be when I wasawarded First Team All Conferencefrom the Heartland Conference asa freshman.What other activities or groupsare you involved with on campus?I am a member of the fraternitySigma Phi Epsilon.By Robin JohnsonSenior Staff Writer“From the get-go” wasthe women’s softball team’sopening chant during the NCAADivision II College Classic kickoff game – and they did exactlythat.The Rattlers brought hometheir first win of the season ina 2-1 victory over East CentralUniversity at the San AntonioIndependent School DistrictSpring Sports Complex on Feb.5.Senior pitcher Taryn Munozrounded out the seven inningswith five strike outs, one walkand one unearned run.East Central scored their onlyrun in the first after a double andhoped to score a second whenan East Central Tiger roundedthird, but the Rattler defensivetrapped her in a pickle betweenthird base and home plate,limiting the Tigers to a one rungame.The Rattler’s strong defensivegame shut down East Central infour innings of 3-up, 3-downwith shortstop junior RichelleMorales catching two pop-upsin the fourth inning.St. Mary’s offensive gameinto play at the bottom of thethird with a lead-off single fromjunior outfielder Lia Provenceand two stolen bases advancingher to third base after two wildpitches.Outfielder junior LaurenMiller got a free base afterfour balls but earned a steal tosecond. First basemen seniorArlynda Flores stepped upto the plate with two Rattlerson base and with a 3-1 count,plummeted a double to centerfield racking up two RBIs asProvence and Miller crossedthe plate giving the Rattlers a2-1 lead.Both teams played skilleddefensive games the last threeinnings with only two earnedbases for both sides, the Rattler’sbeing a single from catcherjunior Kelly Baker in the bottomof the sixth inning.From the get-go, the St.Mary’s softball team shows theteam unity and chemistry thatpredicts a winning season, withtheir first victory already undertheir cleats.The Rattlers face their firstopponents of the regular seasonin a five game stretch in LasVegas starting Feb. 12.Compiled by Veronica MartinezThe Rattler softball team huddles together on the field beforethe game against East Central University on Feb. 5. Photos byRobin Johnson