The Daily’s Dusty Somers reviews “Milk,” a biopic starring Sean Penn as gay rights

pioneer Harvey Milk, and directed by Gus van

Sant. “Milk” opens today in Oklahoma. Page 8.

Also, The Daily’s Jonathan McKeeman wants

you to dress down for fi nals week. Read

“Fashion Friday.” Page 8.

Kevin Hahn, The Daily’s multimedia editor,

writes about his experience in the Huston Huffman’s 40-Day Fitness Challenge. Page 3.

Also, log on to OUDaily.com to read an

updated blog on weight-loss surgery from

The Daily’s night editor Amanda Turner, who

discusses the language of LAP-BAND and

celebrates dropping 25 lbs. in fi ve weeks.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

FRIDAY, DEC. 12, 2008© 2008 OU Publications Board

FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

VOL. 93, NO. 77

• New MacBook Pros, Dell e-Series available to students for rental

CAITLIN HARRISON

The Oklahoma Daily

Students do not have to go far — or pay a thing — if they want to use a new Apple or Dell laptop next semester.

UOSA will expand its current rental service with 10 new laptops for students to check out and use. The nine Dell laptops UOSA offered this semester are outdated, so five Apple MacBook Pro and five Dell e-Series laptops will replace them, said Vince Winston, UOSA vice president.

The service has been around for nearly two years, but many students still do not know about it, he said.

“The program needs to get revamped because only a small circle of students are using it,” said Winston, public affairs and administration and African American studies senior. “I think that any student who would come to college financially strapped in bad economic times definitely could utilize the laptops.”

Sidney Njenga, biomedical sciences senior, said she checks out a laptop about once a week but only heard about the service because she used to work for a student organization near the UOSA office.

Winston said he hopes more students will use the new laptops next semester, and he plans to promote the program as much as possible.

“The new MacBook is going to be a huge hit,” he said. “So I think that once people start realizing it’s available and it’s out there, students who are not wanting to go to the computer lab or bring a laptop from home will start using them for class or presentations.”

The current laptops have basic programs like

Windows XP and Microsoft Office, said Adam Pinkney, Student Organization Resource Office director. He said the new computers will have updated versions of the same types of programs.

International students and student organiza-tions use the laptops most often, especially for events such as elections and The Big Event, Pinkney said.

Njenga said the rental program’s low popularity could also be because most students already have a laptop, although the service could be helpful to students whose laptops are not working.

Students can check out the current laptops from the Student Organization Resource Office for 48 hours at a time, said Pinkney, journalism graduate student. He said that since there is not a high demand for the laptops, the office allows students to check them out as many times as necessary. “There’s probably going to be more of a demand for it [next semester],” he said. “We may have rules for the people that check it

UOSA laptop lending program gets upgrade

Photo illustration by Amy Frost/The Daily

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Emilie Blanchard, academic affairs senior, sits on the ancient

petroglyphs of the Incas during her study abroad in Arica, Chile.

• Travel, homesickness other concerns

NATASHA GOODELL

The Oklahoma Daily

Winter break might mean relaxation for some, but for other students it will mean packing, ship-ping food and clothes to a new home and deciding on which classes to take in a foreign country.

The number of Americans studying abroad has increased 150 percent in the past ten years, accord-ing to a study released last month by the Institute of International Education. During the last school year, 241,791 American students studied abroad.

The number of foreign trips may be good for international relations, but it can place a strain on stateside relationships and make winter breaks

more complicated.Lauren Miller, Spanish and education sopho-

more, said she has been doing what she can to prepare for a new semester in Madrid, Spain.

“I’m nervous about the classes,” Miller said. “If they call on me and ask for my opinion, I don’t know what I will say.”

Miller said she has been preparing for her trip by reading Spanish news Web sites to keep up with what is going on there.

Despite her preparation, Miller said she already feels a little homesick.

“Whenever I think about not seeing friends and family for six months, it weirds me out,” she said. “But I’m really excited. It seems like it will be more relaxing because you go out and do fun things there.”

Miller said she is also looking forward to Spanish

Economy worries students studying abroad

LAPTOP Continues on page 2

ABROAD Continues on page 2

• The Daily breaks down the happy holidays

NATASHA GOODELL

The Oklahoma Daily

S anta may get most of the attention during December, at least among good boys and girls and greedy retail-

ers, but people have all kinds of reasons for celebrating

in December that have nothing to do with sleighs, elves or “A Christmas Story” marathons.

Eid al-Adha: Dec. 8Although it isn’t tied to a date on the Roman calen-

dar, the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha falls during December this year.

Eid is marked on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims celebrate it to honor the sacrifice of the prophet Abraham, who was willing

to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to God, according to the Koran.

Abraham didn’t kill his son; when God saw the man’s faith and obedience even in the face of extreme sacri-fice, he relented and told Abraham not to kill Ishmael, said Masumah Amil, accounting junior.

Eid is celebrated the day after the period of time set aside for Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that draws millions of Muslims from around the world to the holy city. This year, Hajj began Dec. 6 and lasted until

Merry Christmakwanzukka-al-Adha

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Holidays

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food, public transportation, meeting new people and seeing her boyfriend, who lives there.

But food, transportation and other living expenses might add up quickly, especially considering the current recession, she said.

Miller said her parents are con-cerned about the cost of her trip, but she is taking time over the break to raise money. She also plans to get a job in Madrid, she said.

Other students, like Rachel Kay, accounting and economics junior, are facing a different set of problems.

Kay said she is more concerned with logistical problems and needs to get a visa, a passport and look into British Airlines’ baggage require-ments.

“I have to try to condense my ward-robe into one or two suitcases which is going to be hard,” Kay said.

Kay is crossing the pond Jan. 12 to spend her semester in London, and said she is trying to combat the homesickness before it starts.

“I will be spending my time hang-ing out with my family over the holi-day break,” she said. “I’m not taking classes or working over the break so I will get to hangout and spend time with people.”

Jamie Cyr, International business junior, will be spending his semester in Spain and said it is the best time for him to go economically.

The economic downturn that has hit Europe will help the U.S. dollar’s exchange rate, he said.

“It’s the most favorable time for me to go,” Cyr said. “It’s still expensive, but it’s not as expensive as it has been in the past.”

Cyr, a member of the Pride of Oklahoma, will not leave for Spain until after he returns from the BCS National Championship.

Cyr said over the break he will be packing, studying Spanish grammar and spending time with family and old friends.

He said he isn’t too concerned about missing classes that will have to be made up, but missing the upcoming basketball season is one of the biggest drawbacks to leaving the U.S.

out often, that there’s a limit on how many times they can check it out.”

Njenga said she uses the ser-vice because she has a desktop computer at home but needs a portable computer to use on campus.

“I check out a laptop because it’s easier,” she said. “I can take it to school and it’s no big deal.”

More people used the service two years ago when the current laptops were new, Njenga said.

“The ones they have now are pretty old. When they got older and didn’t work as properly, not as many people used them.”

The new computers will cost $6,000 total. UOSA is split-ting the cost with Information Technology, Winston said. He said most of UOSA’s funding will come from contingency funds and Student Congress money. UOSA is leasing the computers instead of purchas-ing them, so it can return them to the companies when newer computers are needed in a few years.

OU President David L. Boren gave UOSA $5,000 to start the laptop program two years ago, and Winston said he hopes Boren will give UOSA more money in the future.

Winston said UOSA already has the new computers but is waiting until next semester to avoid any confusion with the current ones. The laptops will be available when school starts next semester.

• Oklahoma more handicap accessible than Colombia

PAIGE LAWLER

Daily Staff Writer

Linguistics junior Laura Valderrama talks to her mom by webcam almost every day.

The two are more than 4,000 miles apart, and Valderrama has had to learn to cook, study and function in Oklahoma alone.

While these tasks may seem simple for most students, Valderrama had the extra challenge of learning it all while in a wheelchair.

Valderrama, an exchange student from Buciramanga, Colombia, has been in a wheelchair her entire life, and says Oklahoma is far more accessible than her home country. Buciramanga has stairs in many places, and for transportation she always relied on her mom or paid for a taxi.

“Here, it’s easy,” Valderrama said. “If I need to go to the university for a few minutes, I can get on a bus.”

She said it would have been more difficult for her to study in Colombia, and her new-found independence has made the transition to a new country much smoother.

“Here, I can do it on my own,” she said.Human resources junior Vanessa Najera said

Valderrama is one of the most determined people she knows.

“She’s trying to overcome physical barriers, and

she hasn’t let that stop her,” Najera said.Despite spending a great deal of her time

studying and learning to cope in a new place, Valderrama has found several friends through the OU Cousins program.

The friends she’s made have introduced her to several activities and OU traditions, like basket-ball games. Where most international students hold back, Valderrama pushes forward, photogra-phy sophomore Crystal Najera said.

“She wasn’t afraid to put herself out there, and hang out where she wasn’t comfortable,” Najera said.

Najera said that she and Valderrama have become close friends and now see each other almost every day.

Valderrama said she also has several requests from her friends to help teach them Spanish.

But, as a whole, Valderrama said Americans are not as open to new faces as Colombians are.

If an exchange student visits Colombia to study, everyone would want to talk to him and offer help whenever possible, Valderrama said. But in the U.S., few people have randomly walked up and talked to her.

“I wouldn’t say they’re unfriendly, it’s [just] not what I expected,” she said.

Exchange students are so common in the U.S. that most people rarely think twice about it, whereas students from other countries might be more shocked and intrigued by them, Vanessa Najera said.

Americans are more superficial as well, she said.

But that concept has not fazed Valderrama, and Najera said she admires that Valderrama is making

the most of her experience and meeting as many people as possible.

Also, despite the distance, she contacts all of her friends from home on a weekly basis.

Valderrama will remain in Oklahoma until May, but said she wishes she could stay longer to finish her studies.

Once she returns to Colombia, she will have two years of school left. If she can, she said she wants to come back to the U.S. for her Masters Degree, and then continue working in the U.S. because she thinks there are endless opportunities.

Vanessa Najera said Valderrama would have no problems staying in the U.S.

“I think she could teach a class here and help people with their Spanish,” Vanessa Najera said.

Crystal Najera said when she met Valderrama she had no idea she was an exchange student.

She is so passionate in teaching herself English, and nothing will stop her from achieving what she wants, Crystal Najera said.

“She’s a trooper,” said Abi Solis, health and exercise sciences sophomore.

Despite some difficulties, Valderrama has no fear when tackling whatever life throws at her.

Handicap can’t slow down exchange student

Michelle Gray/The Daily

Laura Valderrama, linguistics junior and exchange student from

Colombia, poses in front of the Bizzell Memorial Library. Valderrama

said getting around campus is so much easier here at OU than it was

at her school in Colombia.

“Here, I can do it on my own.”

Linguistics junior Laura Valderrama, exchange student

from Colombia

Dec. 9.Amil said the observance of Eid requires Muslims

to donate 2.5 percent of their post-tax wealth to char-ity. They also go to mosques to pray, often with their families.

Although Eid technically lasts for three days, most families formally celebrate on the first day. After prayers, families sacrifice a goat, cow, camel or lamb to God and then enjoy a holiday meal together, Amil said.

Amil said Muslims find it important to keep the pur-pose and message behind the celebration of Eid al-Adha in the front of their minds.

“[We] realize that no matter what happens in our lives, it isn’t as bad as what the prophets went through,” Amil said.

Hanukkah: Dec. 21-29There’s more to the eight-day Jewish holiday called

Hanukkah than Adam Sandler would lead you to believe.

Hanukkah, while popularly explained as a celebration of a miraculous provision of oil, actually commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from Greeks in 200 BC, according to OU history professor Alan Levenson.

The word “Hanukkah” means “rededication,” and it refers to the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

To celebrate Hanukkah, Jewish families light a candle in an eight-branch candelabra called a menorah every night for eight nights and recite blessings related to the event.

Although the most popular story about the origins of Hanukkah, which has it that a lamp in a Jewish temple miraculously stayed lit for eight nights, isn’t actually the source of the holiday, it still plays a part in modern Hanukkah celebrations.

Because the miracle of the lamp was related to a search for oil to fuel the lamp, traditionally families “cel-ebrate the miracle by basically frying food,” Levenson said. “Not very healthy, but very tasty.”

Christmas: Dec. 25Although the folks at the mall might beg to differ,

Christmas did not begin as a celebration of capitalism or commercialism. It began with a baby and a manger.

Many of the symbols associated with the day, includ-ing stars and angels, are related to the holiday’s history as a celebration of the birth of Jesus, who, according to the Christian Bible, is the son of God.

“I celebrate that Jesus was born because He saved me and died for my sins,” said Faith Oldenburg, film and video studies senior.

Oldenburg, whose family attends a Christmas Eve service at church every year and then goes to the movies together on Christmas Day, doesn’t have many specific Christmas traditions.

“It’s more about being together and celebrating Christ,” Oldenburg said. “Also, being appreciative of what we have.”

Although Christmas has religious roots, its celebra-tion in the United States has become closely tied to a range of secular traditions that have made it popular among Christians and non-Christians alike.

Anthropology sophomore Evan King said he cel-ebrates both sides of Christmas.

“I kind of celebrate American Christmas and Jesus Christmas separately,” King said.

King opens gifts and eats a big meal with his fam-ily every year to celebrate Christmas. Gabe Campbell, botany and Spanish sophomore, does too, even though he doesn’t share King’s religious beliefs.

“Jesus was a great person to look up to, but I don’t think of him as the Son of God,” Campbell said.

But Campbell celebrates Christmas anyway and said he sees it as a great time to count his blessings.

“I’d say Christmas is a good thing,” Campbell said. “It brings a lot of unity, especially in the family.”

Kwanzaa: Dec. 26-Jan. 1Kwanzaa, meaning the first fruits of harvest, is an

African-American celebration that focuses on the tradi-tional African values of family, community, prosperity and responsibility, said Docri Martins, petroleum engi-neering sophomore.

“We celebrate it because it’s a way of keeping the connection of the African-American community with African culture,” Martins said.

People who celebrate Kwanzaa light a candle every day of the week to remember who they are as a people, said Barbara Boyd, director of outreach for OU’s reli-gious studies department. There is no particular day set aside for the celebration of Kwanzaa because its focus — family and community — is expected to be a part of people’s daily lives, Martins said.

Kwanzaa is considered a cultural celebration, not a religious holiday.

Kwanzaa excludes no one and allows those who cel-ebrate Kwanzaa to maintain their own traditional reli-gious beliefs, Martins said.

The term “Kwanzaa” is derived from biggest river in Angola, where people find fish, vegetables, and other goods, said Martins, who is from Angola in West Africa. The river is also a means of transportation and source of electricity, so it is considered a significant source of prosperity.

Despite the fact that Kwanzaa is typically celebrated during the United States’ main holiday season, Boyd said not many students know much about the holiday.

Martins said she didn’t celebrate Kwanzaa until she came to OU.

Every year, the OU Black Student Association hosts a Kwanzaa ball that features a scholarship competition, a dinner and performances of traditional African dances.

Ellis Goodwin, managing editordailynews@ou.eduphone: 325-3666fax: 325-6051For more, go to oudaily.com. Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 3Campus NewsCampus News• Calls increase in health ‘something I can feel’

KEVIN HAHN

The Oklahoma Daily

On Thursday, I had a truffle and a handful of peanut M&Ms. Nothing tasted sweeter.

Yes, the Huston Huffman’s 40-Day Fitness Challenge was over, and I thought a little indulging was neces-sary to celebrate.

When I first agreed to do the chal-lenge, I was concerned I would not be able to complete it, but looking back, I am happy I took the plunge to get healthy.

One of the main questions I keep getting is “how much did you loose?”

The answer I have been giving is that I have actually gained ... six laps around the track.

The purpose of this challenge wasn’t to loose weight. It was to take

on healthier habits and get in shape. But I did lose about two pounds.

It isn’t a big number, but I did get in better shape. My first week I jogged on the track in Huffman and could only make about 3 laps.

On the 39th day of my challenge, I jogged nine laps, going from a half mile to a mile and a half.

This is a significant increase in my activity level and is something I can feel.

While I wasn’t a front runner in the challenge, there are several things I have taken from the experience.

I have drank more water in the last month than any other time in my life. Before the challenge, I would go through a two-liter soda every day. Now I am down to one glass with a meal. This is a habit I plan on main-taining, along with trying to finish a 26-ounce bottle of water twice a day. Drinking water has helped me when I get the bored eating urges.

Next semester I plan on taking my fitness up a notch. In the spring there is a boot camp fitness program by Recreational Services, which will be more intensive.

Daily editor sees modest weight loss in fitness challenge

• County ranked fourth highest in gang count

WILL HOLLAND

The Oklahoma Daily

According to the Norman Police Department, there are 108 different gang sets in Cleveland County, making its county gang count the fourth highest in Oklahoma.

Norman police detective Shawn Hawkins, the coordinator of the department’s gang intelligence unit, cited a 2007 study by Michael R. Wilds, a Northeastern State University professor, conclud-ing that Oklahoma, Tulsa and Comanche Counties are the only Oklahoma counties with more gang sets than Cleveland County.

The study states that 11 percent of gangs in

Oklahoma reside in Cleveland County.Hawkins said there are gang crimes in Norman,

but they mostly consist of smaller crimes like vandalism and drug possession, as opposed to larger, violent crimes.

“We don’t have the drive by shootings or the gang violence that Oklahoma City or Tulsa, or to a certain extent Lawton have,” Hawkins said.

Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said the gang problem in Norman is not as bad as it could be.

“There is not as large a gang problem in Norman, as you would expect to find in the third largest city in the state,” Judy said.

The study also states that when combined Oklahoma City and Tulsa account for about 59 percent of the gang sets in Oklahoma, but both cities have more than three times the population of Norman. Oklahoma City has 400,000 more people than Norman.

According to the study, Oklahoma City and Tulsa police departments are more sophisticated at recognizing and tracking gang-related crimi-nal activity. The study states that both agencies have specialized gang units, which are primar-ily responsible for identifying and apprehending gang-related criminals.

Oklahoma City Police Department Sgt. Paco Balderrama said gang-related crimes present a significant problem for Oklahoma City police.

“It is widespread, and we have several areas of town that are affected,” Balderrama said.

He said the Oklahoma City police have docu-mented 3,800 gang members in the city, and the department’s gang unit employs two sets of offi-cers on patrol every night.

Hawkins said the Norman Police Department’s gang intelligence unit, which was formed within the last two years, employs two patrol officers during each of the three daily patrol shifts.

These officers deal with several gang sets, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, the Bloods gang, the Crips gang and the Insane Clown Posse gang.

Hawkins said the department deals with sets from the Insane Clown Posse gang, which con-sists mostly of high-school-age members.

Joe Siano, Norman Public Schools superinten-dent, said the district has not had a significant number of gang-related problems.

“We haven’t found any specific incidences that are gang-related that are also school-relat-ed,” Siano said.

Hawkins said he thinks the Norman Police Department has the gang problem in Norman under control.

“When somebody tries to stand up and draws attention to themselves and tries to be the big bad gang member, the Norman Police Department pays attention to that,” he said.

Nonviolent gangs permeate Cleveland County

Photo illustration by Nijim Dabbour/The Daily

Kevin Hahn, The Daily’s multimedia editor, completed the Huston Huffman’s 40-Day Fitness Challenge. He noticed an improvement in his fitness, though

he lost only two pounds following the program’s workout and nutrition program.

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Life is like a dryer that has finished its cycle. People are the clean laundry on the inside, slowly wrinkling with time.

Whether you’re a Polo shirt, a pair of khaki pants or a lone sock destined never to find its mate, you will wrinkle. No matter what.

All the ironing or Downy Wrinkle Release spray (plastic surgery and Botox, respectively) in the world won’t do a damn thing. Like it or not, you’re going to become the human equiva-lent of an unidentifiable (for the most part), wad-ded up ball of cloth.

And cloth (assuming it is cotton; I’m not sure about polyester and rayon and weird blends) decays as it ages.

At the decaying point (assuming this particu-lar piece of clothing has been left neglected in the dryer to rot — as people are on earth) it will be discarded or given to Goodwill in a trashbag full of other undesirables.

But a trip to the trash can or to the dusty aisles of a secondhand thrift store — death — is not the ultimate fear.

Instead, the ultimate fear is the slow but sure process of aging that frightens people. We are the vainest creatures on the planet.In fact, we are the only creatures capable of vanity.

This is not necessarily a bad thing because it is instinctual. Vanity simply means we are trying to attract a mate, which is the first step in what people are born to do: breed.

As people age, they become less physically attractive. This, to many, is worse than death.

A 50th birthday, which often is a dreaded occasion, is not hated because it signifies the approximate halfway point in life’s slow march to the River Styx.

People don’t want to be 50 because they don’t want the extra wrinkles, the droopy jowls and the veiny calves of the elderly.

I have heard that people’s number one fear is public speaking, followed by death.

These statistics are incorrect. In reality, the number one fear of people is old age — and the changes in physicality that come with it — followed by public speaking, with death as a distant third (or fourth, depending on how you rank math).

There’s nothing we can do to change this vanity because it is inextricably entwined with our existence. Seeing as we are born to breed, the notion of being less attractive to the opposite sex is innately undesirable.

I suppose there’s always the worry that you will develop Alzheimer’s or that you will no longer be able to walk down the stairs or wipe yourself after using the bathroom, but these do not measure up to the fear that you will look repulsive when you are naked.

And this, unfortunately, is a fear that eventually becomes reality for everyone. Which also means that everyone’s skin will slacken until it is basically the consistency of microwaved Silly Putty.

When it comes down to it, a fear of aging is perfectly legitimate because no one cares what you look like when you are dead. Vanity is a privilege only given to the living.

So don’t worry about the clothes you will wear, or the way your hair will look, or whether or not your love handles will be visible when you are lying in a coffin.

Your loved ones will still cry and grieve and wish your old, wrinkled, disgusting body was not cold, stiff and lifeless; they will wish you were alive and unattractive.

Adam Kohut is The Daily’s Arts & Entertainment editor and a professional writing senior.

For the people who feel good about themselves after buy-ing (Starbucks)Red Exclusive products because they think they’re giving back to society: Get real.

And go do some community service or something.

We enjoy Starbucks products.

But we are disap-pointed that the company has used the guise of charity to encourage people to buy some of its most expensive drinks.

When customers purchase (Starbucks)Red Exclusive

beverages — the Peppermint Mocha Twist, the Espresso

Truffle and the Gingersnap Latte — Starbucks gives 5 cents to The Global Fund to purchase medicine for Africans with HIV.

We support chari-ties in Africa, and we want to see an end to the HIV/AIDS crisis

on that continent. But we do not think buying

a Starbucks drink qualifies as charity.

The exclusive beverages cost at least $3.25, and a large

drink can run close to $5.If someone wants to help

“save lives in Africa,” as the Starbucks Web site claims the initiative does, they should donate their entire $3.25 and not spend it on their own indulgence.

If a person were to donate $3.25 to The Global Fund, that donation would be 65 times more than a Starbucks dona-tion of 5 cents.

The Starbucks Web site brags, “It takes just nine (Starbucks)Red Exclusive beverages to provide one day of life-saving medicine with someone living with HIV.”

That number is based on an African person spending 43 cents for two pills a day.

But if a person were to give their $3.25 — the price of just one drink — direct-ly to The Global Fund, that money would provide seven and a half days of “live-saving medication.”

We are sure Starbucks is not losing money donating to The Global Fund.

The company does, after all, only donate when people buy its most expensive drinks — not its cheapest black coffee.

If more people buy more expensive drinks, a small char-

itable donation does not out-weigh the increased profit.

The Starbucks charity Web site states that 4,100 African people die every day of AIDS.

Underneath that statistic, the site states, “Now imag-ine if the millions of people who enjoy Starbucks every day chose (Starbucks)Red. We could save a lot of lives and do a whole world of good.”

So, Starbucks can save the world?

We think not.This corporation is exploit-

ing suffering people in Africa to make an extra buck.

Perhaps the most disturb-

ing statement on the Starbucks charity Web site is: “With your help, we hope to make a big difference in the African farm-ing communities that produce some of our finest blends.”

Starbucks has reduced a devastating disease to some-thing that is an annoyance to the producers of its overpriced products.

Well done, Starbucks.The initiative’s motto is, “We

believe it is better to give and receive.”

Starbucks is definitely receiving.

But we don’t know about the giving part.

Hailey Branson, opinion editordailyopinion@ou.edu

phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051For more, go to oudaily.com.OpinionOpinion

OUR VIEW is an editorial selected and debated by the editorial board and written after a majority opinion is formed and approved by the editor. Our View is Th e Daily’s offi cial opinion.

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ADAMKOHUT

Friday, Dec. 12, 20084

How many columns start with, “So, it’s the end of the semester and…”

Probably hundreds (I don’t care to actually count, so I’m going to just go with that.)

So I wanted to be different with my column.It’s the end of the semester. And I look like George Clooney. Boom,

a period, and I’m now unique. Deal with that, naysayers. (Ironically, a period does not make

females unique, just emotional. Look it up.)As this might be my last column in this paper (I doubt it), I thought

I’d take a moment and talk about something that I’ve mentioned before (in every one of my columns): the fact that I resemble George Clooney.

If you’re looking for hopeful, end-of-the-year anecdotes or advice on what to do with your life, then you’re probably reading the wrong column because this one is dedicated to me.

I’ve gone through my college years knowing of my uncanny resem-blance to Clooney, but some (everyone) did not agree.

People thought I was being funny, ironic or insulting to Clooney. People just couldn’t understand the discovery I made that beautiful morning back in my sophomore year.

I woke up, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and checked my e-mail.

Then it hit me: I look like George Clooney. I’m not sure how the events of my morning led up to that (I

hypothesize my toothpaste was somehow switched with hallucina-tory paste).

Since no one agreed, I had to really dedicate myself to this cause. I really believed it, and I wanted others to believe it, too. Jesus had disciples helping him out. Me? No one. I was all alone. My mother didn’t even agree. When I told her of my discovery, all she asked me was if I was ever

going to get a real major so I would not end up living with her and my dad again.

I was the only one who knew the truth, and I had to shed the light myself. This is a task that has been years in the making, and this year, it has started to pay off.

Here’s the thing: If you say something enough, people will start to believe it.

And that is a great thing. But, sometimes, saying something a lot isn’t enough. This is where visual, factual (Photoshopped) evidence is needed.If you look at the photos supplied here, it’s very obvious that I look

like George Clooney. It doesn’t take a trained eye or alcohol (that would help) to see the

striking resemblance we have. It took me about three weeks to grow out that beard (or three minutes to Photoshop.)

I made these photos, and people looked and laughed. But then it happened. A few people said, “Wow, you two actually do look alike.” I win. It worked. It only took four years of lying to myself and everyone else for

someone to actually agree.I promised to give no life advice, but I have to. I have to pull out all the stops for this to really hit home.

So, here it is. The point is: Hard work pays off. It always will. No matter what your goals are, if you work hard enough, practice

and continue honing your skills, you will be successful. You need to keep faith in yourself. That is all. I mean, look at me. I’m living proof that hard work pays off. A few people now believe that George Clooney and I somewhat

look alike. I am the dream, people. I did it. I am a success.And, maybe, just maybe, some of you out there will read this and

think, “Wow, he is right. All I need to do is keep working and believe in myself and someday, I’ll be a success. And Mark Potts does look like George Clooney.”

That’s all a man can dream for.

Mark Potts is a broadcast and electronic media graduate student and The Daily’s Umbrella editor.

Wisdom from a George Clooney look-alike

Photo illustrations by Mark Potts

Mark Potts has spent the last few years trying to convince people he looks like

George Clooney. This (Photoshopped) proof shows that he was right all along.

Starbucks’ charity more about receiving

Letter to the editor writer Donny Lowry said in response to Zac Smith’s column, “creationists do generally have a common knowl-edge of evolution” and promptly showed us that Lowry does not.

Scholars don’t believe that “life miraculously sprung forth from the common elements on our planet,” as Lowry said. I dare him to find a single biology or biochemistry professor at OU who does.

He also does not know what the word “theory” means in sci-ence. It doesn’t mean speculation or an unproven idea as it does in colloquial English. That creationists continue to use this word wrongly after being corrected countless times is telling about the competence and honesty of their movement.

No one who reads pro-science writings could have possibly missed it. The scientific definition should have been covered by freshmen science classes.

I checked three dictionaries that I have at home, and all three included both the scientific and popular definitions, and one had a note on the difference.

Could Mr. Lowry please explain why both he and a chimp can’t synthesize vitamin C due to the exact same mutation?

Or how he and a chimp could have the same retrovirus inserted in the exact same spot in their DNA?

Or why toothless whales develop teeth only to reabsorb them before they are born?

Numerous similar questions could be easily offered. Letter writ-ers should think before they rant.

Michael HopkinsNorman resident

Letter to the editor writers ‘should think before they rant’

Need some reading during the break?Check out www.oudaily.com over the winter break to post and read comments to all

online material. The Web site will be updated throughout the break, so sit back, log on and stay informed.

STAFF COLUMN

The inevitable life laundry paradox

Photo illustration by photos.com

5Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

The Daily’s 2008 Heisman breakdownEDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final part of a four-part series on the college football postseason. Today’s finale analyzes the three Heisman Trophy finalists and their chances of winning.

COREY DEMOSS

The Oklahoma Daily

The regular season is over, and the BCS bowls are still weeks away. But in the interim, the nation’s attention will be focused on one of the closest Heisman Trophy races in recent memory.

The finalists were announced Wednesday, and the competition has boiled down to three quarterbacks — OU’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow.

All three are in the nation’s top five in passing efficiency and lead top-five scoring offenses with identical records.

The Daily now breaks down the full body of work of each of the candidates, with reasons why each might win and why each might not.

ESPN will announce the official winner Saturday at 7 p.m.

SAM BRADFORD, OKLAHOMA

STATS: 302-of-442 (68.3 percent), 4,464 passing yards, 53 total touch-downs, 186.29 passing efficiency

WHY HE’LL WIN: Bradford has orchestrated a historic run recently, lead-ing the Sooners to five consecutive games of 60+ points. No other team has ever done that.

The Sooners also set an NCAA record with 702 points this season, and the offense has been discussed as one of the best ever.

Much of the team’s success comes from Bradford’s poise and lead-ership — particularly impressive for a sophomore — in running the no-huddle offense, which was not installed until this season. All season, defenses have been caught off guard by the speed with which OU can strike, and that ability comes from Bradford’s accuracy.

He has shown the consistent ability to hit receivers in stride on any throw and make defenses pay for any mistakes. His 186.29 passing efficiency is first in the nation.

It also helps that he has played his most recent games — against Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri — in prime time on a national stage. OU

dismantled those three teams, all of which were ranked.And one play may have leapfrogged him into the Heisman driver’s

seat: his flip over two defenders while trying to get into the endzone against Oklahoma State. He was previously viewed as a system quarter-back with little athletic ability, but that one play showed his athleticism and determination better than any other this season.

Every Heisman winner has a signature moment that defines his sea-son. That was Bradford’s.Why he won’t win: As part of such a dangerous offense, there is a

spreading belief that Bradford has only achieved this kind of success because of the weapons he has around him.

His corps of receivers — which includes tight end Jermaine Gresham — and tandem of running backs mark one of the most talented groups in the nation. They are all so good that they routinely beat defenses and get wide open, providing easy passing lanes for Bradford.

Bradford also sits behind perhaps the best offensive line in the nation. He tends to have ample time to throw, providing even more opportunity for his skilled receivers to get open.

While plenty of voters will be impressed by the mountain of points the Sooners have put up lately, others might think they have been run-ning up the score for style points and punish Bradford accordingly.

The Sooners’ woes in recent bowl games won’t help either. They have consistently had dangerous offenses that have been either limited or outgunned by teams with more than a couple weeks to prepare.

COLT MCCOY, TEXAS

STATS: 291-of-375 (77.6 percent), 3,445 passing yards, 576 rushing yards, 42 total touchdowns, 179.2 passing efficiency

WHY HE’LL WIN: There has been a nation-wide backlash after OU over-took Texas in the BCS and went to the Big 12 Championship. Media outlets from coast to coast have complained about the fact that Texas defeated the Sooners on a neutral field, and plenty of voters who feel that Texas got shafted will vote for McCoy as a consolation prize.

Regardless of political reasons, McCoy has likely been the most crucial player to his team all season. He is surrounded by the least talent of the three finalists, and leads the team in passing and rushing.

He has shown a rapid increase in maturity and poise from past seasons, and his 77.6 completion percentage is a Division I record. He has also shown the ability to avoid the mistakes that plagued him last season, throwing only seven interceptions after throwing 18 last year.

He may also gain some points because of process of elimination: Some voters won’t want to give the award to a sophomore (Bradford) for the second season in a row, while others won’t consider Tebow

dominant enough to make history as only the second player to be given the award twice.

Why he won’t win: Many voters carry a “What have you done for me lately” attitude, which will hurt McCoy. He has wallowed in relative obscurity for the past few weeks, playing mediocre teams while OU has played some of the nation’s best.

Much in the same way that Bradford was helped by one moment, McCoy will be hurt by one. The most lasting memory of Texas’ season was Michael Crabtree grabbing a last-second touchdown pass that ultimately doomed Texas’ national title hopes. When the one thing that sticks in people’s minds is a loss, it’s never a good thing.

McCoy’s opponents also haven’t been as strong as Bradford’s or Tebow’s, particularly outside of the conference. He played four teams before beginning Big 12 play, and none of them have been ranked at any point this season.

Also, while some may vote for McCoy as a consolation prize, others will refuse to vote for a player who could not win his own conference.

TIM TEBOW, FLORIDA

STATS: 174-of-268 (64.9 percent), 2,515 passing yards, 564 rushing yards, 40 total touchdowns, 176.74 passing efficiency

WHY HE’LL WIN: After a disappointing loss to Mississippi in September, Tebow promised that he would put the team on his back and push them to victory. He said no player would play as hard as he would for the rest of the season. He was right.

That was Tebow’s most defining moment, and is perhaps the most powerful of all three candidates. It showed courage, determination, leadership and a will to win.

Despite the success of the Big 12 this season, plenty of voters will still consider the SEC the nation’s strongest conference, and Tebow’s team won it. Against superior defenses, he has thrown only two interceptions all season.

People have raved about Tebow’s toughness because of his bruising running style and willingness to take on tacklers on a regular basis. He also has shown the willingness to sacrifice personal statistics for the good of the team, allowing other players like Percy Harvin to pick some of the slack.

Other than OU, Florida has been the hottest team in the nation for the past two months. Since the loss to

Mississippi on Sep. 27, the Gators’ closest game was a 28-point victory over Vanderbilt.

On the whole, he has played better defenses than both Bradford and McCoy, which will help voters overlook his relatively low statistics.

Why he won’t win: Tebow came into this season surrounded by impossible expectations after racking up more than 4,000 yards and 55 touchdowns last season as a sophomore. He hasn’t come close to those numbers this season.

His bruising style was a nuance last year, a quality rarely seen in a quarterback. But this year, people have grown used to it and don’t con-sider it extraordinary.

He will likely be hurt by history too. He won the Heisman last year, and only one other player has ever won the award twice. Giving a player such elite status would require voters to consider him one of the best players in college football history, which he likely isn’t.

Regardless of the run his team has been on for the past two months, he also had the worst loss of the three finalists. McCoy and Bradford each lost to top-10 teams either on the road or on a neutral field, while Tebow lost to an unranked team at home.

SAMBRADFORD

COLTMCCOY

TIMTEBOW

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8 6 33 9 42 5 8

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2 5 9Instructions:Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

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Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- You would be putting your friendships in jeopardy if you press your pals too hard just to make a point that you are right. Calm down, and back off.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Wanting to help others is admirable, but don’t impose yourself on someone who is adamant about doing things for himself or herself, even if the person is doing it all wrong.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Be careful not to impose yourself on a group that did not invite you to participate. If they resent your presence, they won’t be gracious about it and could make you feel unwanted.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- There are always people in this world who are both arrogant and condescending, so if you run into such a person, don’t let this individual’s attitude make you feel inferior.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Because your audience is apt to be close-minded, you can expect restrictions on your ability to get your points across to others. Don’t even try.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- There is a strong possibility you could purchase something that won’t live up to your expecta-tions, so be careful to save all your receipts and make sure that what you buy can be returned.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Should the individual with whom you have to negotiate a matter of importance be totally close-minded and in a stronger bargaining position, you might have to make some unwanted concessions.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Your performance could suffer considerably when another is in a position to dictate what you must do. If possible, try to get off on your own and do things your way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Be careful not to give others anything to discuss with regard to your social graces. To be on the safe side, hang out strictly with those you consider to be true friends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- There is a good chance that, no matter how hard you try, there will be no pleasing those who are issuing the orders. Don’t take it personally; they’ll be reacting to their own miserable disposition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Take plenty of time to make a major decision, or hold off until you can give the matter serious attention. Haste could mean an erroneous judgment call that you’ll have to live with for a long time.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Don’t make the mistake of partnering in a joint endeavor with an individual who can’t match your fi nancial investment or creative talent. It could turn out to be a bad involvement.

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

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Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 7

TULSA — Oklahoma doesn’t have enough medical specialists and a third of its popu-lation lives more than an hour from a high-level trauma center, according to a national report ranking the state lowest in the nation for its support of emergency patients.

The American College of Emergency Physicians 2009 Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine gave Oklahoma an F for access to emergency care, a D- for quality and patient safety environment, a D for public health and injury prevention and a D- for disaster preparedness.

Oklahoma got a B- for medical liability, it’s only passing grade. Authors wrote that the state deserves to be credited as being one of only six that provide some addi-tional liability protections for federally mandated emergency care.

Oklahoma ranked among the bottom 10 for low rates of emergency physicians; orthopedists and hand surgeons; plastic surgeons; ear, nose and throat specialists; and registered nurses.

Also, 21 percent of the state’s adults don’t have health insurance, above the 17.2 percent national average, the report said.

Some of Oklahoma’s poor grades are related to being a rural state, said Dr. John C. Sacra, who is medical director of the Emergency Medical Services Authority, which serves Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

The 2006 report spurred a number of improvements, he said.

“I was never so happy to get a failing grade, because it allowed me to make a case for the Oklahoma Institute of Disaster and Emergency Medicine and OU-Tulsa’s ER residency program,” Sacra said.

He is interim chairman of both the OU-based institute and its emergency medicine department.

The three-year emergency-medicine program will soon begin turning out six to eight ER physicians each year, he said.

“We primarily recruit Oklahomans,” he said. “We train ‘em here and were going to keep ‘em here.”

The institute has developed EMS and trauma education modules as a statewide resource, and has trained about 1,000 doctors, nurses and paramedics in the principles of disaster response.

— AP

Oklahoma gets low grade for ER care

CHARLES BABINGTON

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Illinois corruption scandal is an unwelcome opportunity for President-elect Barack Obama to prove he can manage a crisis that threatens to detract from his new administration’s bid to confront the economy and other chal-lenges.

If inquiries and accusations touch Obama aides, even tangentially, his politi-cal foes will try to paint him with the broad brush of dirty Chicago politics. At a minimum, that would annoy and distract a new president.

If his associates get dragged in as wit-nesses, or if FBI wiretaps turn up embar-rassing conversations — related to the current scandal or not — it could be worse.

But if Obama can further his image as a political helmsman who navigates pol-luted waters without getting wet — as he generally did during the presidential campaign — he can endear himself all the more to those who see him as an agent of change and high-minded government.

In short, Obama must show that while he’s from Chicago’s political world, he’s not a part of it.

He made every effort to do just that at a news conference Thursday.

Obama acknowledged an unsavory history of Illinois politics that involves “wheeling and dealing and ‘What’s in it for me?’”

But he said he is living proof that “you can get elected by doing the right thing. That’s what I hope we have modeled in this campaign. And that’s what I intend to model in my administration.”

For now, Obama’s chances of skat-ing unscathed past the Blagojevich scan-dal seem reasonable. He could not have asked the federal wiretaps to pick up a more helpful line than one on page 66 in the criminal complaint, which alleges the governor schemed to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Obama’s associates, a foul-mouthed Blagojevich was caught saying, are “not willing to give me anything except appre-ciation.” He dismissed them with a vulgar-ity.

Republicans, including presidential nominee John McCain, have tried before to besmirch Obama by linking him to shady Chicago politics, with little success.

Antoin Rezko, a former Obama friend, fundraiser and adviser, was convicted in June on charges of using influence with Blagojevich’s administration to seek kick-

back payments. Trial testimony raised new questions about Blagojevich, but Obama was accused of no wrongdoing, to the dismay of GOP operatives.

Obama seems to have a knack, or the good luck, of knowing how far to push friendships and influence. Blagojevich apparently took for granted that the pres-ident-elect would offer favors to steer his former Senate seat to an associate.

Some powerful politicians indeed aspire to play kingmaker in their states. But evidence so far suggests that Obama had little if anything to say about who would succeed him as he looked ahead to his presidency.

That’s not to say Obama is home free. The criminal complaint says Blagojevich wanted an unnamed Obama adviser to help raise millions of dollars for a planned nonprofit group. It does not suggest any-thing came of the plan, but does not say so explicitly.

Obama said Thursday he was “abso-

lutely certain” that “our office had no involvement in any dealmaking around my Senate seat.” But he raised questions about how he could be so certain when he said he plans “to gather all the facts about any staff contacts that I might — may have — that may have taken place between the transition office and the governor’s office.”

Moreover, unintended consequences sometimes stem from government wire-taps and subpoenas that lift the curtain on supposedly private conversations and actions. Former President Bill Clinton was never charged in the Whitewater Arkansas property affair, but the federal inquiry led to the unrelated Monica Lewinsky scandal and Clinton’s impeachment.

The Blagojevich criminal complaint appears hastily drawn in some respects, and it’s possible that more wiretapped communications will surface. If they involve Obama associates, even in seem-ingly innocent roles, it could fuel drama

and headlines for months as the new administration tries to settle in.

Washington lawyer Solomon Wisenberg, a former deputy indepen-dent counsel in the Whitewater investi-gation, said, “the president-elect poten-tially is a witness if he or any of his emissaries had pertinent conversations with the governor.”

Obama indicated Thursday that no such conversations took place. Still, GOP leaders have signaled plans to use Blagojevich as a cudgel against as many Democrats as possible.

“Every Democratic and labor union official, whether in Illinois or in their national organizations, who has spo-ken with the governor or his aides about this U.S. Senate seat should step forward and immediately make public the full details of those conversations,” said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who is heading the GOP’s Senate campaign efforts in 2010.

Ill. scandal presents risk, opportunity for Obama

RON JENKINS

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — A propos-al for a “no-gifts list” has drawn support at the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, but a plan for an extensive ban on lobbyist gift-giv-ing appears to be losing traction.

Chairman John Raley of Ponca City said Thursday he will be the sponsor of a proposed rule to maintain a list at the Ethics Commission and on the panel’s Web site of lawmakers who say they do not want to receive gifts from lobbyists.

His sponsorship came despite sharp criticism of the idea from lobbyists attending a commission meeting.

Lobbyist Pat Hall described such a list as “the silliest proposal to ever come” before the commis-sion.

“If this is a silly rule, I will take responsibility for it,” Raley responded. “I personally think it is a good rule or I wouldn’t put my name on it.”

The rule will be on the agenda for a vote at the commission’s next meeting in January.

Don Bingham, commission member from Tulsa, said he is inclined to oppose another pro-posal that would ban all but nomi-nal gifts to legislators.

Bingham said commissioners should first see how a new rule works that reduced the amount of money lobbyists can spend on

individual lawmakers from $300 to $100 a year.

The proposal for a no-gifts list was offered by John Wood, Rose State College political professor and a member of the board of Common Cause, the citizen lobby.

Wood said it was patterned after legislation by Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, that failed during the 2008 legisaltive session.

Wood also supported the pro-posal that would ban all but minor gift-giving. He said seven states have similar rules, which create “a level playing field” for citizens to gain access to lawmakers.

Susan Harris, a Tulsa Chamber of Commerce representative, opposed such a rule, saying “full disclosure seems to me to be the

way to achieve what you want to achieve.”

Wood said despite statements of lobbyists, the public is angry at the amount of gifts given to law-makers and “have the perception that our government is broken.”

“The people who are for gift-giving seem to be the lobbyists who buy the gifts,” he said.

Bingham said the commission took a historic step when it low-ered the amount of money lobby-ists can spend on lawmakers and he is reluctant to change the new limit when it has been in effect for less than a year.

He said the lower threshold will prevent “the $250-bottle-of-wine meals” that troubled commission-ers in the past.

Watered down reform gains momentum in commission

AP Photo

In this Dec. 2, file photo, President-elect Barack Obama, right, greets Illinois Gov. Rob Blagojevich, left, at the Bipartisan meeting of the

National Governor’s Association in Philadelphia. Federal authorities in Chicago have arrested Blagojevich, and they’ve accused him of

attempting to benefit financially from his position to appoint a Barack Obama’s Senate replacement.

CAMPUS NOTESThe Daily draws all entries for Campus Notes from OUDaily.com’s compre-hensive, campus-wide calendar. To get your event noticed, visit OUDaily.com and fill out our user-friendly form under the calendar link.

TODAY

SCHOOL OF MUSICThere will be a concert at 8 p.m. in Gothic Hall in Catlett Music Center.

SATURDAY

OU MEN’S BASKETBALLThe team will play the University of Utah at 3 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center.

POLICE REPORTSNames are compiled from the Norman Police Department or the OU Department of Public Safety. The report serves as a public record of arrests or citations, not convictions. The people here are pre-sumed innocent unless proven guilty.

MUNICIPAL WARRANTGayla Denise Camp, 44, 1900 block Fillmore Avenue, Wednesday, also county warrant

COUNTY WARRANTJennifer Nicole Camp, 23, 1900 block Fillmore Avenue, Wednesday

DISTURBING THE PEACEDaniel Graham Martin, 20, McKinley

Avenue, Wednesday

PUBLIC INTOXICATIONPatrick Wayne Stewart, 35, 600 block W. Comanche Street, Wednesday

INTERFERENCE WITH OFFICIAL PROCESSLauren Raylynn Wilson, 20, 1800 block Barkley Street, Wednesday, also munici-pal warrant

AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEBrian Craig Woodell, 30, W. Main Street, Wednesday

News & Details

Hazing?Not on our campus.

Report incidents at:

325-5000All calls are anonymous.

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

Eagle Eye PG1312:30 2:45 5:00 7:30 9:55

Max Payne PG13 12:35 3:00 4:55 7:15 9:30

Quarantine R12:50 3:05 5:05 7:25 9:45

Changeling R1:00 4:00 7:00 9:50The Dark Knight PG1312:45 3:45 7:05 10:00The Secret Life of Bees PG-1312:55 4:30 7:10 9:40

Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- You would be putting your friendships in jeopardy if you press your pals too hard just to make a point that you are right. Calm down, and back off.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Wanting to help others is admirable, but don’t impose yourself on someone who is adamant about doing things for himself or herself, even if the person is doing it all wrong.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Be careful not to impose yourself on a group that did not invite you to participate. If they resent your presence, they won’t be gracious about it and could make you feel unwanted.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- There are always people in this world who are both arrogant and condescending, so if you run into such a person, don’t let this individual’s attitude make you feel inferior.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Because your audience is apt to be close-minded, you can expect restrictions on your ability to get your points across to others. Don’t even try.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- There is a strong possibility you could purchase something that won’t live up to your expecta-tions, so be careful to save all your receipts and make sure that what you buy can be returned.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Should the individual with whom you have to negotiate a matter of importance be totally close-minded and in a stronger bargaining position, you might have to make some unwanted concessions.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Your performance could suffer considerably when another is in a position to dictate what you must do. If possible, try to get off on your own and do things your way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Be careful not to give others anything to discuss with regard to your social graces. To be on the safe side, hang out strictly with those you consider to be true friends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- There is a good chance that, no matter how hard you try, there will be no pleasing those who are issuing the orders. Don’t take it personally; they’ll be reacting to their own miserable disposition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Take plenty of time to make a major decision, or hold off until you can give the matter serious attention. Haste could mean an erroneous judgment call that you’ll have to live with for a long time.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Don’t make the mistake of partnering in a joint endeavor with an individual who can’t match your fi nancial investment or creative talent. It could turn out to be a bad involvement.

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Those of you who have followed my column this semester may have realized I am infatuated with all things fashion. You could almost say that it has become a reli-

gion or a way of life.So, when I stepped out of the house at 3

a.m. to study for finals, I was shocked to see what I had allowed myself to wear.

Maybe it was the result of not sleeping for three days or maybe the questionably legal amounts of caffeine I had consumed, but looking stylish was the last thing on my mind. Forgive me fashion for I have sinned.

From head to toe, I was a mismatched mess, including some of the cardinal sins I have preached about this semester — Ugg boots, mixing brown and black and oversized sweats, to name a few faux pas.

I came to the realization that the last two weeks of school could be the most appropri-ate time for such blasphemous attire.

No, I have not converted, rather I’m taking a week’s sabbatical — I encourage you to do the same.

However, dressing for finals isn’t a com-pletely mindless task. You will want to think about function more than form.

I suggest comfortable T-shirts, sweats and sneakers during the week from Hell. When getting dressed, keep in mind items that are comfortable and won’t distract you during your studies. Clothing that is to tight or too loose is something to stay away from.

The materials you wear will also affect how you feel. Stray away from fabrics that do not breath and try cotton blends — you’ll already be sweating through your finals, don’t make it worse.

With the ever-changing weather you may also consider dressing in layers. This way you can face either the chilly weather or an over-heated classroom.

Whatever you do, wear clothing you are comfortable in, even if it’s not the cutest thing in the world.

And, as always, be fierce, flawless and fabu-lous — after finals are over.

— JONATHAN MCKEEMAN IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

Dir. Gus Van SantStarring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James FrancoRating: R128 minutes

In a year where concentration on actors has been dominated by attention-grabbing per-formances by Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”) and Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”), it’s a quiet, humble, happy perfor-mance from Sean Penn in “Milk” that stands a head and shoul-ders above any other — lead or supporting.

Penn stars as Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elect-ed official who was assassinated shortly after taking office. It’s a rather traditional biopic that is director Gus Van Sant’s (“Good Will Hunting,” “Elephant”) most conventional film in years, but Penn is so involving and charis-matic that the inner workings of the film itself tend to fade to the background.

Penn, who has already picked

up best actor awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the New York Film Critics Circle, as well as a Golden Globe nomination, will almost certainly snag the Oscar in a turn far more deserving than his overblown and overrated performance in 2003’s “Mystic River.”

Penn has managed to some-what shake off the brash per-sona that he embodied in the ‘80s, when he served time in jail for

decking an extra (and l a m p o o n -ing it later by knock-ing around “ S a t u r d a y Night Live’s” C h u r c h Lady), but with “Milk,” he’s man-aged to swing as far away from that person-ality as pos-sible. This is an unknown Sean Penn,

and it’s likely that he’s never smiled this much in the rest of his performances combined.

“Milk” is structured as a series of vignettes that track Milk’s career from his initial move to San Francisco to his election to city supervisor in 1977. Along the way, we’re introduced to Milk’s longtime partner Scott Smith (James Franco, “Pineapple Express”), political activist Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch, “Into the

Wild”) and Milk’s later lover Jack Lira (Diego Luna, “The Terminal”).

Van Sant allows the film’s nar-rative to unwind at a leisurely pace, which works for the mate-rial most of the time. There’s plenty of thematic repetition, and at times, the film threatens to devolve into a series of political speeches that mirror one anoth-er, but every scene is lifted from that danger by Penn. This is a film that clearly draws its lifeblood from its actors, and probably would not have the legs to stand without them, but it’s hard to be concerned with that during the course of the movie.

The supporting cast fills out the film nicely, with Franco and Hirsch giving especially strong performances. Josh Brolin (“No Country for Old Men”) is a little bland as disturbed fellow city supervisor Dan White, but he doesn’t make his character an easy target in a balanced perfor-mance.

It’s clear from the beginning of the film how “Milk” is going to end, but it doesn’t make the cli-max — a sequence that is directed perfectly by Van Sant — any less affecting. The emotional impact is a direct result of the time spent with Penn — he makes the audi-ence feel in a genuine way for a man with whom they’ve spent just a little over two hours.

As a biopic, “Milk” is not remarkable, but as a visit with Harvey Milk via Sean Penn, it’s moving.

— DUSTY SOMERS IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

Adam Kohut, A&E editordailyent@ou.edu

phone: 325-5189, fax: 325-6051For more, go to oudaily.com.8 Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

Arts Entertainment&

Film review: ‘Milk’ Photo provided

Sean Penn (center) plays Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected government official in Gus Van Sant’s “Milk.”

The film hit theaters today.

fashionby jonathan mckeeman

FRIDAY

Dead week fashionAmy Frost/The Daily

Students will find that wearing comfortable clothing is the best way to go as finals week creeps closer.

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A&E BRIEFLY

BEVERLY HILLS — Batman was all alone in the cold at the

end of “The Dark Knight,” and surprisingly, that’s where the

blockbuster itself ended up once Golden Globe nominations

were announced.

The year’s highest-grossing picture with over $530 million,

which also has an astounding 94 percent positive reviews on

the online aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, has been generating

serious Academy Awards buzz, and not just in the technical

categories. It is a viable contender for best picture.

But never fear, fans — despite receiving just one nomina-

tion, for Heath Ledger’s powerful supporting performance as

the Joker, “The Dark Knight” should be back in full force come

Oscar time.—AP

‘The Dark Knight’ gets cold shoulder at Golden Globes

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