September 2, 2009Vol. lXXXII, No. 1

THE PAUW WOWSaINt peter’S College StudeNt NewSpaper

FBI Corruption Probe Comes to Saint Peter’s

Alumnus Officer Fatally Shot Near Campus

Health Care Reform Cooking with Tom 2009 Baseball Penant Race

Summer Festivals

By Justin RoBeRtsNews Editor, ‘10

FBI agents served a warrant to Saint Peter’s Collge on Thursday, July 23 for information about trustee, alumni and former administrator Joseph Doria, Jr. and contributions made to Saint Peter’s

College. Another warrant authorized the Bureau to search Mr. Doria’s home in Bayonne and his offices in Trenton and at the Meadowlands Commission, the planning and zoning agency for which Doria also worked. Later that day, Doria resigned from his post as Comissioner of the Department of Community Affairs at

Governor Corzine’s request. Neither he nor the college have been charged with any crime.

The warrants were a small part of the sprawling Federal sting operation that led to the arrest of 44 religious leaders and public offcials that day, including Leona Beldini, the deputy mayor of Jersey City. The FBI and the IRS used Solomon Dwek, a former Monmouth County developer and son of a prominent rabbi, to lure in both groups. Mr. Dwek, currently out on bail for trying to deposit two fake $25 million dollar checks in PNC banks, offered bribes to the public officials to expedite property development. Meanwhile, he went to various rabbis in New Jersey and New York to get money laundered and negotiate the sale of kidneys.

John Azzarello, the former assistant U.S. attorney Mr. Doria retained after being served with the warrants, confirmed that Mr. Doria met with Mr. Dwek along with Jack Shaw, a political consultant who was accused of taking $10,000 from Dwek and found dead in his Jersey City home on Tuesday, July 28. An unnamed source told Bloomberg News that the FBI had a recording of

See DoRia on page 4.

By Justin RoBeRtsNews Editor, ‘10

A man died on Tuesday, July 21st. Friends and family looking for the comfort of his presence find emptiness instead. His mother, wife, and three children – 4 year old Gwendolyn, 3 year old Marc Anthony and 1 year old Ella- attended his funeral on Friday the 24th, beginning their lives without him when they had been planning to celebrate his 38th birthday on Wednesday.

Officer Marc Dinardo was shot at approximately 6:44 a.m. on Thursday, July 16th while participating in a raid on apartment 3B in 24 Reed Street, 4 blocks from Saint Peter’s College. He died twice: once on the way to the Jersey City Medical Center and again on Tuesday, July 21st, recorded by doctors at 9:35 a.m.

Dinardo spent the time between on life support while his body struggled to heal the damage a 12 gauge pump action shotgun

had done to his face and jaw. The shotgun was fired by Hassian A. Shakur, 32, who stole it in North Carolina in 2007. Thirty shots were fired during the 15 second gunfight, meaning that Shakur probably did not recognize Dinardo as the cop who sent him to prison for 5 years in 2002 for illegal weapons possession.

Early on the morning of the 16th, Detectives Marc Lavelle and Mike Kelly sat in an unmarked car near the intersection of Monticello and Fairview Avenues. They were looking for the owner of a red Ford that had been caught on tape fleeing a Jersey City oil-change garage on June 18th. The car’s occupants, Mr. Shakur and Amanda Anderson, 22, sped away after robbing and then shooting a 43 year old man in the abdomen.

At 5:15, Mr. Shakur and Ms. Anderson left 24 Reed Street and walked to their car. Ms. Anderson caught sight of the Detectives and ran while Shakur shed the

See officeR on page 4.

By Justin RoBeRtsNews Editor, ‘10

Visiting prospective transfer students were treated to a special tour on Thursday, June 4th. Student-employees for the Department of Admission showed them the Hudson Room, Rec. Center, library and the Jersey City Bomb Squad investigating a suspicious safe under Saint Peter’s stern gaze at East Campus.

The safe was found in Millennium Hall but Residence Life confirmed that it was not school property. After an examination, the police determined that the safe’s contents were non explosive and disposed of it.

Early that morning, the Jersey City Police received an anonymous call stating that a bomb hidden somewhere on campus would explode. According to Art Youmans, Director of Campus Safety, the call came from a Jersey City pay phone that was not visible to a Closed Circuit TV Neighborhood Watch camera. No other information has been uncovered about the caller or a possible motive.

Officers were dispatched to the campus where they announced themselves to See thReat on page 4.

INSIDETHIS ISSUE

OPINIONPAGE 3

NEWSPAGE 4

CALENDARPAGE 5

VARIETYPAGE 6

ARTSPAGE 7

SPORTSPAGE 8

:

2 6 87Summer’s Hot Button Issue Examined

Roast Chicken with Potatoes, Red Wine Sauce

Free Concerts in NYC

Summer Bomb Threat

Jersey City honored Detective Marc Dinardo of the JCPD during his funeral procession along Bergen Avenue on Friday, August 24, 2009.

photo courtesy of photos.nj.com

Joseph Doria resigned during the FBI investigation.photo courtesy ofnj.com

2September 2, 2009CommeNt

edItorIal board

Frank DeMicheleedItor - IN - ChIef

Rozen PradhanmaNagINg edItor

Justin RobertsNewS edItor

Paul LazaroopINIoNS edItor

Stephanie DanisartS edItor

bIll pettIgrewSportS edItor

Shishir Khadkalayout edItor

Martin Sirakovphotography edItor

edItor at large

Maria MarinovaCopy edItor

Raymond Schroth, S.J.adVISor

the pauw wowSINCe 1933

2641 Kennedy Blvd.231 Dinneen Hall

Jersey City, NJ 07306(201) 761 - 7378

As the new news editor of the Pauw Wow, I set out to provide my readers with on thing: the facts. Soon after that resolution, I realized that facts are at odds with conventional news coverage.

While the morning paper is no longer served as a breakfast staple, the industry does remain influential. Reporters mold reality by deciding what events are important and then relating them to the public. That television, radio and internet news sources use the papers as a starting point for a huge amount of their own coverage is no secret. Even the rich and powerful arrange the order of the day with the news in mind, knowing that its contents shape the world their employees and citizens think they live in.

Yes the news continues to be relevant, but is it still news? After all, the stresses of survival have not been kind. The industry has had to contort into a series of uncomfortable positions to keep hold of its shrinking consumer base. Good reporting is expensive and labor and time intensive. It can take weeks to research a story, track down leads and coax information from sources. All the while, facilities, supplies, travel, and personnel have to be paid for and the internet and t.v. news are hogging all the advertisers and cribbing the print media’s research.

The newspapers try to solve these problems by cutting corners. Reporters

rely on the press releases of trained public relations staffs. P.R. people trained to be journalists anyway. Why waste the cash on a plane ticket to Juneau for a “No comment,” when you can go to Sarah Palin’s website and get a 2,000 word statement written in journalistic form with an invitation to quote heavily? With the law less hospitable to whistle blowers and undercover journalist than ever before, the P.R. people act from a position of power and everyone knows it. Reputation might earn a meeting, but only heavy ingratiation and cordiality will assure access. The poor journalists are at the mercy of these P.R. doppelgangers, creatures who project the positive and conceal the flaws of anyone or thing who pays them.

Then there is the product itself. How does a reporter sell something as complicated as the foreign relations between neo-nuclear North Korea and the United States’ Byzantine bureaucracy to customers who want immediate, simple narratives? Keeping afloat requires dumbing down content, keeping it brief and repeating it, repeating it, repeating it.

So the news industry has lost its way. Depressed, exhausted and just a little confused. Business is not going well and, far from being an asset, the advances in technology and public relations sophistication have overturned the business model. Ad revenue keeps

going down, costs go up and the press’ best product, the long term investigative expose, is incompatible with its market.

These issues developed recently. Language, “truth” and reality are all abstract notions. Subjective men and women with limited knowledge cannot possibly objectively relate events exactly as they happened and if they could, few would care. Life unfolds more like a baseball game, crammed with uneventful minutia and spare moments of excitement, than the cold logical progression of events most articles would have you believe.

What is news? The leftovers. Reporters wring the facts they piece together through this Goldberg machine and sell the public whatever comes out.

I accept the mortality of this profession’s current incarnation. My new motto is borrowed time. There will be no tomorrow, not until the market becomes more accommodating or someone discovers a working internet business model. In the meantime, I promise to rip through as many barriers between the facts and my audience as possible. I hope to provide a clearer picture of reality by relating stories without the pretense of formal objectivity. You will know what I know and I hope that will be enough.

~ Justin Roberts, ‘10

By Paul lazaRo Opinions Editor, ‘11

It’s clear to anyone who follows politics that health care reform is this summer’s hot button issue. It is the current college student who stands to lose if government becomes more involved in our health care system. We are the ones who will likely have to pay off the debt any legislation will bring about, and many of us will likely be forced into any public option proposed.

I contend that while health care reform is necessary, it should have less to do with government acting as a catalyst towards reform and more to do with consumer choice. In order to really convey my message it is important first to dismiss the notion that health care mandated by the

government is a good idea in the first place.

The greatest fallacy presented by proponents of state run medicine is the statistic that there are 46 million Americans uninsured, because it is not affordable to them. However, a recent report published by Johns Hopkins University illuminates that of the 46 million uninsured, 38% of them, have incomes higher than $50,000 a year. In addition, 20% of all uninsured have incomes over $75,000. These are all people who could easily afford coverage. Moreover, of the 46 million uninsured 20% percent are uninsured for only a couple of months out of the year. Factoring these statistics, and recognizing that 1/3 of the Americans r Continued on the following page.

What is News?

Government: The Real “SiCKO”

photo courtesy of toddbigelowphotography.files.wordpress.com

opINIoN

September 2, 20093 opINIoN

fRom class of 2011 officeRs,

First and foremost, welcome back to what I hope will be another fantastic and productive year! I trust everyone had an amazing summer and enjoyed those beautiful summer days. My name is Samantha Duke, and I am the Vice President of the Class of 2011. The other class officials and I are anxious to get the year started right, as well as hear some of the great ideas students may have for the upcoming semester. As representatives of the Class of 2011, we are ready and determined to make your dreams for Saint Peter’s come to fruition.

This past summer, the Class of 2011 has been working hard brainstorming fun events for the entire student body to enjoy. Our diverse E-Board has combined forces to organize creative and new ways to increase student involvement here on campus. Currently, our E-Board consists of our President, Katherine Arcos, Vice President, Samantha Duke, Treasurer, Clarence Stewart ,and Secretary, Daniela Villacres. Our Senators include Andrew Arthur, Kimberly Ferraro, Marisa Ferris and Joseph Skillender. In addition, we are privileged to be guided by our wonderful advisor, Ms. Gloria Rodriguez. Ms. Rodriguez currently acts as the E.O.F. Advisor here at Saint Peter’s, and is

always guiding us to assure that we stay on track.

One of our major focuses for the upcoming year will be community service. As busy college students, we all tend to forget how important giving back to the community really is. In order to better facilitate community service, this October we have arranged a spa treatment for the residents of Good Home Counsel in Staten Island, NY. We look forward to working with any students interested in participating in what truly is a rewarding experience.

Another one of our major focuses is putting together the best Junior/Senior formal possible. We are already collaborating with senior class officials in order to assemble an extravagant AND cost efficient experience.

Lastly, we are currently looking for a class of 2011 student to step up and fill one of our vacant Senatorial positions. If you believe that you are qualified to take on this responsibility and interested, please contact me at sduke@spc.edu.

So what do you say, Class of 2011? Let’s make this junior year one to remember.

One team, one dream,Samantha Duke

2011 Class Officers

By Jean foRtune,Amateur Motivtional Speaker, ‘10

Change! Change! Remember that? Well, while we are all waiting for "change," one must remember that the the economy is faltering and "change" doesn't seem to be imminent. Simply graduating with a Bachelor's degree and a sub-par GPA will limit your job options significantly. Employers are scouting those students who can excel and are in the top percentile of their respective ares of study. So, how do you do beat the bell curve?

Well, there are several things you can do to make yourself a bit more

marketable. One way to make yourself more marketable is remaining consistent. For those of you who need it spelled out, that means starting off and ending the year well. All too often, students get off to a great start only to lose their focus and watch as their grades decline precipitously. Another good rule of thumb is to be persistent. Professors and employees alike take note of engaged and driven students/employees.

Lastly, have fun. I know, I know. It may sound counter intuitive, but those who actually have fun while in college are more likely to network, a tool necessary in today's competitive job market.

Advice for Success During College Years

Continued from the previous page. ecognized as uninsured, are not even American citizens but illegal immigrants, cuts the daunting number of 47 million uninsured nearly in half.

The next great fallacy presented by those who favor state run medicine is the perception that our health care system is worse off than industrialized nations with single payer systems. Proponents of socialized medicine stress that according to the World Health Organization, the average Americans life expectancy is less than that of citizens of nations with single payer systems. Unfortunately, correlation does not imply causation. While life expectancy is higher in some single payer systems, it does not mean that it’s a result of a superior health care system. We might be less likely to live longer in the United States because we are 10 times more likely to kill each other through violent acts, or because more of us in America look like the Michelin man from obesity. However, these facts do not address the crux of the pro-government reform argument.

The main contention by pro-government reformers is that in single payer systems people have equal access to health care. While this broad statement is true, it fails to recognize that in single payer systems health care is equally bad. According to the most recent data compiled by the Frasier Institute, the United States outscores single payer countries on many key indicators of available health care resources, including number of MRI units per million population, the number of MRI exams per million population, and the number of CT Scanners per million population. The fact lies in basic economics. In a single payer system someone is always sick, meaning demand is always infinitely high, while the supply of doctors and resources is finite. What does it mean to the average citizen? Well for the average citizen of Great Britain it means very long lines. For example, the average time it takes to see a specialist in Great Britain is 26 weeks!

The last pro-government reform argument is the idea that through a new government plan similar to a bill proposed in the House of Representatives, people will have the ability to choose to keep their current plan over whatever public option is proposed. This fallacy stands in direct contradiction to all data, including a recent study by the Congressional Budget Office. The report by the CBO states that an estimated 23 million insured people will be forced from their current private plans onto a state run plan if the legislation proposed by the House becomes law.

Overall, government run health insurance will keep people from getting the care they deserve. More importantly it means millions of Americans will be forced into receiving health care from a government that is unable to run a simple Cash for Clunkers program or effectively service the lines at the DMV. This however does not mean that our current system is without its flaws. If anything, our current system may only be a small percentage better than any current proposed legislation. Today, our current system is rampant with corruption and fails to provide people with adequate care. However, the solution to our health care problem does not lie in mere government oversight, but in government deregulation.

“What we have today is corporate run medicine, where large corporations stand between the doctor-patient relationship.” Such were the words of gynecologist Dr. Ron Paul a Libertarian leaning

Republican congressmen from Texas. According to Dr. Paul the insurance companies we have today are a product of legislation signed into law by President Richard Nixon. The legislation mandated by the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, requires that companies with 25 employees or more subscribe to Health Maintenance Organization’s AKA big insurance companies. In addition to this law, the federal government currently provides large tax breaks to HMO’s and employers, giving way to an unfair advantage to large corporations over the doctor patient relationship.

One of the most effective ways to lower costs would be to change our perspective on how insurance works altogether. Today, because people with insurance don’t care what procedures cost, doctors raise prices in order to receive a higher reimbursement from the insured patients insurance company. In turn, the uninsured are hit with huge bills, while the insured get off easy, being that their insurance is covering most of the expenses regarding their treatment REGARDLESS OF THE COST. When was the last time an insured person asked his or her doctor at a routine checkup how much their visit cost? However, if people only received insurance for catastrophic incidents, and everyday treatment was paid out of pocket, through competition the health care prices we have today would fall dramatically.

Take plastic surgery and Lasik procedures as an example. Because these two procedures are not covered by insurance, prices have drastically fallen because the doctors who provide these treatments must compete and provide better services at a more affordable prices. In other words, there is no incentive for plastic surgeons to overcharge patients because they are not reimbursed by insurance companies, but receiving direct payment. If the government abolished the Health Maintenance Act it would eliminate mandated care for companies, and in turn force large insurance companies into competition with doctors, a war they would surly lose.

Another reason why health care costs are so high is due to a limited supply of caregivers. If the government made it easier for doctors to hire physician assistants, prices would be significantly lowered. As it stands today in most states, if a physician brings on an assistant he or she is responsible for any treatment the physician’s assistant recommends. This makes it risky for doctors to hire assistants because the malpractice insurance they pay increases with every physician’s assistant they take on. If physicians were able to hire assistants who themselves would be liable for any actions they committed, there would be a direct increase in the supply of care givers, in turn lowering the demand for doctors and costs for the consumer.

While a nationalized system seems to provide a quick fix to our ailing health care system, it only complicates a bureaucratic nightmare and disrupts the doctor patient relationship. While our current system is fairing better than nationalized programs across the world, it’s not by much. Therefore, in order to lower costs for the consumer it is apparent that we must void frivolous regulations and allow the health care system to benefit from the free market. While more choice in regard to your own life may seem scary, it certainly beats dying in the cue of nationalized health care.

Send comments to plazaro@spc.edu.

Clarence Stewart, Katherine Arcos, Daniela Villacres, and Samantha Duke (l-r) want to increase student involvement on campus.

photo courtesy of samantha duke

4September 2, 2009NewSDoRia from page 1.Shaw talking about Mr. Doria, illegal

payments and Saint Peter’s. Azzarello maintains that Mr. Doria has committed no crime, took no money. “...Joe Doria did not break the law,” he told a group of reporters.

Friends, former coworkers and even political enemies refused to believe that Doria was involved. Former Republican Senator Donald DiFrancesco described him as “a straight arrow” and said there was “no implication ever...ever...of any wrongdoing.”

The administration has not released any information about the contributions mentioned in the warrants. In an email, Lorraine McConnell, the executive director of public relations for SPC, wrote that she has ,”... every reason to believe that neither the College nor the president is a subject of the investigation.” She went on to say that she did not anticipate, “...that the College will be negatively affected by this investigation....Joe Doria remains a member of the Board of Trustees; to our knowledge, he has not been charged with any crime.” Ms. McConnell would not address the matter of whether or not the College supported Mr. Doria. President Cornacchia offered no comment.

Upon hearing about the searches, many students and college employees began to wonder if the investigation was related to the money being raised for the new Student Center. Others remembered the 22% increase in giving Saint Peter’s recorded in FY 2009. Members of the College community thought about President

Cornacchia’s unprecedented fundraising success and feared the worst. Thankfully, there have been no indications that Saint Peter’s administrators were involved in any wrongdoing.

Mr. Doria was a Democrat who served as a member of the New Jersey Assembly from 1979 to 2004 (he was Speaker in the 90-91 session and minority leader from 92-02), a State Senator from the 31st District from 2004-2007, and was the Mayor of Bayonne from 1998 to 2007. Doria also occupied adjunct professor positions at Rutgers and Saint Peter’s. He has contributed money to Saint Peter’s in the past and currently has a scholarship, paid for by contributing friends, named after him. In 2004, then President Fr. Loughran thanked Mr. Doria for helping get approval from Hudson County authorities to build the bridge across JFK Boulevard.

In 2005, Doria was accused of trying to stage a “political coup” at Ramapo College by having Acting Governor Richard Codey make personal calls, appoint two new members to the Board of Trustees, and rally other Board members to support Mr. Doria’s bid for the presidency of the College. The school’s search committee eventually removed him from consideration. He graduated Magna cum Laude from Saint Peter’s College in 1968 with majors in history, english and french, received a master’s degree in American Studies from Boston College and a doctorate in organizational leadership and education administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

officeR from page 1.hooded robe he had been wearing and began

firing on the police. Detective Lavelle was shot in the leg and Kelly was left unscathed.

By 6:30 officers from the JCPD, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had already evacuated most of the building when movement was seen in the apartment the suspects had fled to. At 6:44 officers broke down the door and were met by bird shot from Shakur’s gun.

Dinardo was hit as well as Officers Frank Molina, Jr., Dennis Mitchell and Michael Camacho. Both Shakur and Anderson were killed in the struggle that Hudson County prosecutor Edward DeFazio called a justified use of lethal force.

Many Jersey City residents and officials paid close attention to Dinardo’s condition for the six days he spent on life support until Chief Thomas J. Comey announced his imminent death in a

press conference on Monday, July 20th. “It is now a stark reality that the miracle we

were so badly seeking will not come to pass,” Comey told the press.

Dinardo’s funeral service was held at St. Aedan’s Church on Bergen Avenue. Crowds of people filled the pews and later lined the street as his body was saluted by lines of officers in dress uniforms.

Dinardo was a 10 year veteran of the force and a son of retired JCPD lieutenant Paul Dinardo. He was in the news a month before his death for jumping into the Hackensack River in an attempt to save a Bellville woman who was struggling to stay afloat. She was saved by officers on a boat who got to her before Dinardo could.

Dinardo graduated from Saint Peter’s College with a degree in Social Science in 1996. He will be missed.

thReat from page 1.Campus Security and searched

all of college’s premises. It is believed that the safe was abandoned by a freshman last May. No evidence of an explosive was found anywhere on campus.

For most of the morning, few of the college’s employees knew why the police bomb squad was on campus. Student employees giving tours gave prospective students and their families a thrill by taking them right past the officers investigating the threat. When the prospectives and their parents asked about police presence, Admission employees were unable to answer their questions. Neither police nor security staff stopped them from moving freely around east campus.

“I wasn’t sure whether we were in danger or not,” said Ed Hennessy, a student who was visiting the library that day. “I saw the cars and all the cops when i got on campus at 9 this morning and had absolutely no idea what was going on. Nobody did.”

At least one employee was angered by the Administration’s silence. “I think it was ridiculous. You’d think they’d tell us why the cops were searching the campus,” he said. “Its just one more example of the disregard the administrators have for students and staff.” The employee asked to remain anonymous.

Most employees and students took it in stride, though. “If we had been in danger, they would have told us. Its too big a liability and Saint Peter’s is a community,” said senior Jonathan Carrillo.

Most of the campus was inspected before 9, leaving only the East campus to inspect. The police determined that there was no danger on the West side of Kennedy but were unable to say if the anonymous caller had serious intentions or was merely playing a dangerous prank.

This was the second bomb threat of 2009.

Junior Brandon Blum with his luggage as he leaves to spend a year abroad in Hong Kong studying economics.

photo by martin sirakov

Around Campus

Bomb Search Conducted without

Notification

Trustee Resigns from Comissioner Post

Local Shootout Ends with Fallen Officer

The funeral mass was held in St. Aedan’s Catholic Church on Bergen Ave.photo courtesy of ny times.com

September 2, 20095calendar

Freshmen Service Day McIntyre LoungeSaturday, Sept 12.

9am to 5 pm

Roy Irving TheatreThursday, September 4.

9 p.m.

XBOX...PS3 & Wii Tournament (McIntyre Lounge)

Wednesday, September 2,3pm to 8 pm.

The Performing Arts Showcase, Sept. 10th-12th, 7pm

Featuring:The Argus Eyes Drama Society,

The Voices of Praise Gospel Choir, The SPC Dance Team, and

The Aidan C. McMullen Chorale

Loyola Volunteers Interest Meeting1st: Wed. Sept. 2nd,12pm, Bridge Conference

Room

2nd: Tues. Sept. 8th, 3p.m.Bridge Conference

Room

Night of Service at the MagnificatThursday, Sept 3,House Meet in Dinneen 135 @ 3:45

Hudson Symphony Concerto Competition

Roy Irving TheatreSaturday, September 12

9am to 10 pm

Student Senate Meeting Degnan Room

September 9, Wednesday.6pm to 9 pm.

Mass of the Holy Spirit Roy Irving Theatre

Wed, Sept 9.12:00 to 12:50pm

6September 2, 2009VarIetyFinanceScopes

AriesMarch 21 - April 19

TaurusApril 20-May 20

GeminiMay 21-June 21

CancerJune 22-July 22

LeoJuly 23-August 22

VirgoAugust 23-September 22

LibraSeptember 23-October 22

ScorpioOctober 23-November 21

SagittariusNovermber 22-December 21

CapricornDecember 22-January 19

AquariusJanuary 20-February 18

PiscesFebruary 19-March 20

It’s easy for you to jump on new opportunities and make the most of your talents today -- though you may feel completely exhausted tonight! That’s a small price to pay for success, though!

Emotional connections are easier to deal with today -- things are going in the right direction, and your good energy can help ensure that you reach out to the right people in the right way.

Someone is kind of bossy today, but you can deal with it -- though if you feel like starting something, you can get away with that, too. You may want to make sure that the two of you are clear.

Things are out at the extremes today -- which might be good or bad, considering all your circumstances. In either case, you should remember that everything returns to normal pretty soon.

You know you’re right, but that doesn’t mean you can easily convince anyone else. See if you can get just one person to see things your way, but don’t get all bent out of shape if they’re the only one.

Spend some quality time with your mate -- or do something serious about your love life, if you’re not partnered right now. It’s a really good time for you to attract the right kind of attention.

Your past is catching up with you -- for better or for worse. See if you can integrate people or memories in a way that makes sense to you, but don’t be afraid to shut them out if need be!

Today is more about getting things done than dreaming up nutty schemes or figuring out what’s really going on in the world. You can plow through a giant to-do list if you feel like it!

Something major happens pretty early today that changes your thinking -- possibly in a deep, primal way! It’s a good time to really reconsider your thinking about the big issues in your life.

Your secret today is that you can outlast the competition. See if you can get your friends or coworkers to screen you as you take care of all the most important details -- you can keep it up all day long!

Limit yourself more than usual today -- you’ll be glad you did! It’s a good time for you to rest, take it easy or stop when you feel you’ve done enough, because it’s far too easy to overdo it now.

Kick back and run on autopilot today -- you can get away with a mental vacation, if you feel like it. Try not to let anyone notice how easy you’ve got it, or they may try to give you extra tasks.

Courtesy of astrology.com

By tom cleaRyFood Columnist, ‘11

Welcome back everyone to a new year of Cooking with Tom! As a welcome back recipe, I’ve got a roast chicken potato dish with a red wine sauce. This may sound like a fancy thing that is difficult to make, but it is actually very simple. All it takes is one deep pan and about two hours for prep and cooking time. Don’t let the two hours scare you either, most of that is just sitting back, relaxing and letting the smells of your cooking skills caress your nostrils.

Ingredients:1 whole chicken5 medium sized potatoes2 onions1 bunch of garlicSalt, pepper and other herbs and spices.½ cup of red wine The Chicken- Preheat oven to 350 degree.- Peel and cut the potatoes lengthwise about

½ inch thick and lay them on the bottom of a deep pan.

- Then chop up one of the onions into large pieces and mix them with the potatoes.

- Season the potatoes and onions liberally with whatever suits your tastes.

- Next clean the chicken and season the inside cavity and then add in the other onion (having been cut in half) and with the peeled garlic into the chicken too.

- Place the stuffed chicken on top of the potato layer and wrap the bird loosely with tin foil and put it in the oven.

-After an hour, remove the tinfoil and let the dish cook for another half hour to get the skin golden and crispy.

For the Sauce- Put the chicken and potatoes on two

different plates and let the chicken rest for 10 min. After resting grain all the extra juices back into the pan and add the half cup of red wine

-Now put the pan over a hot burner and reduce the sauce until it turns to a gravy color, while making sure to scrap up all of the bits stuck to the bottom of the dish. Not only does this give you a good sauce, but it makes it easier to clean the pan afterwards.

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Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Red Wine Sauce

September 2, 20097 artS

By eRica toleDoContributing Writer, ‘12

It was sunny, and the air was cool and tasted mildly of salt as I passed through the Asser Levy Park gates flanked by idly chatting police officers in Coney Island, Brooklyn. There were throngs of people lined up for the makeshift VIP aisles and five-dollar chair rentals, but it was the seasoned Brooklyn residents with healthy tans, eager smiles, and packed lunches that I chose to sit amongst. They laid out their blankets and beach towels and unfolded their outdoor chairs as I smoothed out my skirt and sat on the cool grass. Their excited chatter and the gentle pop of Tupperware swelled my anticipation for I was here to see Hall & Oates perform live — a first occurrence that I would share with Brooklyn’s 31st Seaside Summer Concert Series.

A few minutes after eight while I was waiting outside of the ladies’ restroom I heard an explosion of percussion, acoustic-electric guitar, and Daryl Hall’s smooth vocals rise over the excited cries and cat calls. I wasn’t even upset that I couldn’t see the Philly soul pair. A grin grew on my lips and I danced and sashayed all the way into the bathroom stall — and then I hurried as fast as I could through the enamored crowd to get a closer look.

My elation mounted as I pushed through small empty spaces between people and climbed over beach chairs, and I felt like I had completed an obstacle course as soon as I reached my spot. The two middle-aged women seated to the left of me had put down their knitting needles, taking part in the excited commotion that the masses were swept up in. Behind me, two girls who appeared to be my age

alternated between belting out the words to Hall & Oates’ top hits and swooning. A quiet, dark-skinned woman seated

in front of me had put down her weathered book and was gazing, smiling at the stage. All around us, people shot up from their perches to flit, shimmy, and sway to Daryl and John’s extended jazzy instrumentals. And, of course, I joined them. I danced all the way out of Brooklyn.

Just a week later the summer rains let up and the skies cleared up again for Pat Benatar and Blondie’s performances at the Seaside Summer Concert Series. Pat Benatar took the stage, looking and sounding as beautiful as ever. She and her husband, Spyder, played one of their most noted songs, You Better Run, which premiered as the second music video ever aired on MTV. Benatar played at least one song from almost every one of her albums, happily interacting with her audience. I was delighted to see that everyone waved their cell

phones and lighters as the singer crooned We Belong to the Night. Then Blondie took the stage and their fun, poppy sound got everyone up and dancing in a fervor

and frenzy only practiced bands can elicit from their audiences.

These two memorable experiences are just snapshots of the festivities that occurred at this end of Brooklyn this summer, and all for free! The 31st Brooklyn Summer Seaside Concert Series also included performances by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, and Donna Summers. The summer has passed, and the concert series is on hiatus until next year, but I can’t wait to find out whom they plan on scheduling for the 32nd year!

By chRis KenneRStaff Writer, ‘11

For those of you living under a rock, blink-182 is back! One of the most influential pop punk bands of our generation is touring again, and you too can get the chance to see them. But before you do, I’d like to provide you with a little bit of history of the band.

The SuccessOn June 1, 1999, Enema of the State

was released. The album was very

successful and has sold somewhere around 15 million copies worldwide. It is blink-182’s third and overall best selling album. This album placed the band among the time’s biggest recording artists on the musical front line of America. It contains the hits, “What’s my age again?” and “All the Small things.” The album peaked at #9 on the Billboard Top 200.

Released on June 12, 2001, Take off Your Pants and Jacket was also hugely successful, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, a first for the band. The album sits as blink-182’s second best selling album, and contained the hits, “The Rock Show” and “Stay Together for the Kids.” With this album, they stuck to the formula that drove them into superstardom, and flew on top of the world in a genre that has been labeled as pop punk.

The SplitOn November 18, 2003, with the

release of their self-titled album, Travis Barker, the drummer of blink-182 stated that this album was supposed to represent a “new” and seemingly more mature blink-182. The album debuted at #3 on the

Billboard Top 200, sold 313,000 copies in the first week and spawned the hit singles, “Feeling This,” “I Miss You,” “Down,” and “Always.” The album enjoyed a positive reception from both fans and critics, most notably Rolling Stone, where it received four out of five Stars.

Tension arose in the band as vocalist and guitarist, Mark Hoppus, grew betrayed by the formation of Box Car Racer, a side project involving Barker and Tom DeLonge, the guitarist and second vocalist for blink, was formed in 2002 to experiment with ideas that were not thought to be “blink friendly.” The

bands’ breakup was foreshadowed by them canceling their appearance on Linkin Park’s Music for Relief concert in South Asia. On February 22, 2005, their manager called Hoppus and Barker to inform them that DeLonge quit the band. The sent blink-182 into an indefinite hiatus.

The ReunionBlink-182 was

then split into two bands that were pretty successful with Tom DeLonge fronting Angels and Airwaves, whose debut album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top 200, and Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker forming a new band +44, whose debut album peaked at #10. On February

8, 2009, to the surprise of the fans, Hoppus, DeLonge, and Barker appeared onstage together for the first time since December 2004 at the 51st Grammy Awards. Barker then said, “We used to play music together, and we’ve decided that we are going to play music together again.” Hoppus went on to add “blink-182 is back!”

A message appeared on the blink-182 website later that night confirming the group’s reformation, and adding that the band was in the studio writing and recording a new album and preparing for a world tour. Official tour dates were announced to start in Las Vegas, NV on July 23, and end on October 3, 2009, in Atlantic City, NJ. Almost all reviews of the new shows state that “it feels like they never left,” and “blink-182 is picking up where they left off.” In my opinion, fans are as excited as they were when the band was at the height of its success. I think we can expect something far better, and as a fan of both pop punk and alternative rock, I’m hoping that they use what they learned from their non-blink projects and blend the two genres to give us something amazing.

Pat Benatarphoto courtesy of brooklyn.com

photo courtesy of americasfavoritecounty.com

A New York Summer Experience

The Success, Split, and Reunion of

blink-182

photo courtesy of popartuk.com

8September 2, 2009SportS

American LeagueBy Bill PettigRewSports Editor, ‘11

The 2009 American League pennant race should make for an entertaining ending to the regular baseball season. Those who deserve to play in October are the teams who persevere through an entire 162-game schedule. Those who succeed in October are the teams who get hot at the right time.

September is the month when the magic numbers decide the standings. Teams are either already looking forward to next year, enjoying a comfortable lead and resting their starters, or in the hunt for a playoff berth. The latter is what any baseball fan hopes for, where late regular season games become the make or break contests.

In the AL East, the New York Yankees seem to be sitting pretty atop the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. As of August 24, 2009, they were enjoying a seven game lead after taking two of three in Fenway Park. The Yankees’ big spending in the off-season not only put them back in first with the best record in baseball, but also seems to have the type of shutdown pitchers that teams need in the short series of October baseball. The Yankees will

have to end with the best record in order to have home-field advantage throughout the post-season.

Detroit leads the White Sox and Twins in the Central, but both teams have the type of clutch performers to make a late season run at first place. Chicago improved with a waiver wire deal that brought them Jake Peavy, who is coming back from an injury as the ace of the Padres staff before he was dealt. If healthy, Peavy can be the type of

player that will anchor the White Sox through October with a deep rotation that already includes John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and Mark Buehrle. Minnesota has MVP-candidate Joe Mauer leading the way, and that team is not out of it at only 4.5 games back. However, Detroit still has Justin Verlander pitching lights out, and the acquisition of Aubrey Huff from Baltimore gives their bench the depth it needed.

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim enjoy the top spot over the Texas Rangers, but have a tough schedule to finish regulation. The Angels play 26 of their remaining 40 games against teams that are over 500, including three series in a row on

the road against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rangers. What the Angels do could really affect the rest of the league. If they dominate these teams, they head into the playoffs with a chip on their shoulder. If they falter late in September, all of the standings could be shuffled.

The Wild Card race is what should be most exciting, where the Red Sox, Rangers, and Rays will battle to the last game to determine who will have a chance in the post-season and who will be packing their bags home. The Red Sox have the pitching, the Rangers have the high-powered offense, and the Rays have the youth that clinched the pennant for them last year and could be the sleeper in ’09.

With eight teams vying for four open spots, September should bring us some fun to watch baseball, and fans will be in for a treat as every game becomes more meaningful than the last.

By Bill PettigRewSports Editor, ‘11

Adrian Peterson, RB MIN: Combination of size and speed makes him an all-around great back. Pounds the line for a few yards and seems to bust at least one huge gain every week.

Michael Turner, RB ATL: Once LT’s backup in San Diego, proved he was worth his weight in gold last year breaking out with the Falcons, rushing for 1699 yards and 17 scores.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB JAX: With Fred Taylor gone, MJD is ready to take on the full workload for the Jaguars and should top 1,000 for the first time in his career.

Matt Forte, RB CHI: A stellar rookie season last year puts him in the top five, and with the addition of Jay Cutler,

defenses can’t focus on him alone this year.

Steven Jackson, RB STL: Injuries always seem to ruin his chances at being the best back in the league, but when he’s healthy, he’s the bruiser that is worth a first round pick.

Chris Johnson, RB TEN: Fleet of foot and able to make quick cuts, reminds me of a younger LT.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD: Speaking of LT, he’s a little bit older but can still catch out of the backfield and still had over 1100 yards with 12 touchdowns in an “off year.”

DeAngelo Williams, RB CAR: A lot of people like his potential this year. He is the key to Carolina’s success and should be able to continue putting up great numbers for your fantasy team.

Larry Fitzgerald, RB ARI: The best

red-zone threat of all the wide-outs. He is the next best fantasy scorer after the top eight halfbacks.

Frank Gore, RB SF: This is where the running backs become interchangeable in the pack, but the Niners need to run the ball in order to win and Gore is their guy.

Andre Johnson, WR HOU: Probably the most underrated receiver for the past few years now. Matt Schaub’s success rests in Johnson’s arms, and that tandem can be lethal.

Drew Brees, QB NO: There’s no doubt that he will continue to put up the garish numbers of years past with all the weapons around him. The question is whether to use your first round pick on him or one of the second-tier running backs.

Brandon Jacobs, RB NYG: The bruising back truly is a giant. He is a

linebacker with the ball. While splitting carries with Ahmad Bradshaw in New York, he should get the majority of the goal line touches.

Calvin Johnson, WR DET: Reminds whoever still watches the Lions on Sunday as a young T.O. Young, tall, fast and with great hands, he’s the ideal wide receiver, but who’s throwing to him?

Steve Slaton, RB HOU: Defenses would strategize around Andre Johnson last year, while the Texans handed the ball off to Slaton. Has good moves which make him an exceptional open-field runner.

Tom Brady, QB NE: Coming back from a season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 1 last year, he has something to prove and should return from ’07 with the league’s best WR corps in New England.

Sources: Player ranking order courtesy of ESPN 2009 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

2009 Fantasy Football Mock Draft and Analysis

National League2009 Baseball Penant Race

By chRis fRaKes,Contributing writer , ‘11

As the calendar turns to September, many teams with playoff aspirations begin their stretch run for the ultimate goal: a shot to win the pennant. This year, the National League pennant race is shaping up to be as exciting as ever.

Although the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals appear to have a good handle on their respected divisions, anything can happen during the final month of the season. Each team made big splashes near the trade deadline to help solidify its lineups and rotation, hoping the new acquisitions will help make the road to the playoffs smoother.

The Cardinals’ acquisition of Matt Holliday provides protection to one of the best hitters in all of baseball, Albert Pujols. Opposing teams will now have a tougher time pitching around the dangerous Pujols, who leads the Major League in walks due to the lack of protection behind him.

As of August 26, the Cardinals have a comfortable nine game lead over the second place Chicago Cubs, with the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros a distant eleven games behind. The Cardinals lead in this division seems to be insurmountable, making them an almost lock for the playoffs.

In the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies have a comfortable lead in their division as well. The defending world champions came into the year as a favorite to repeat as division winner. At the trade deadline, the Phillies made a deal to get Cliff Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young winner to bolster their already strong pitching rotation. The addition of Pedro Martinez to the rotation moves Jamie Moyer to the bullpen, giving the Phillies two former Cy Young award winners along with the World Series MVP, Cole Hamels.

The Phillies will determine how far they will go this year. The Phillies will most likely end up with four players

having 30 homeruns or more. With the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins’ distant seven games back on August 26, it appears that the Phillies will hit their way into the playoffs.

The Wild Card and NL West races are

the tight ones which appear to be going down to the wire. In the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants all appear to be within striking distance to take control of the close race. The Wild Card race appears to be a nail biter as well, with the Rockies, Giants, Braves and Marlins all within six games of each other.

The NL West appeared all but won for the Dodgers earlier in the season, taking a large lead in the division to the All-Star break. The Dodgers, however, have been playing below .500 ball since the mid-summer classic, allowing the Giants and Rockies to get back into the race. Neither the Dodgers nor Rockies made a big splash at the trade deadline, and the Giants acquired Freddy Sanchez from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The teams in the NL West competing in this tight division appear to be going into the Stretch run with what they started with, shaping up to being a great finish.

The National League appears to be concluding with close races in the West and the Wild Card. The East and Central leaders appear to be pulling away with their divisions, but in baseball anything can happen.

Catcher Joe Mauer of the Twinsblog at wordpress.com

Pitcher Cliff Lee of the Phillieswaitingfornextyear.com