Opinion

On Nov. 2, 1841, a scientist named Berger sent a sealed envelope to the Academy of Science in Paris. When those at the academy opened the envelope, they found documents describing an organism living in the earwax of a man. Berger was the first scientist to describe a parasitic mite called the follicle mite (genus Demodex).

The UC Education Abroad Program’s funding will undergo significant cuts from the UC Office of the President, decreasing from $4.1 million to $3.7 million in the 2010-2011 school year. Furthermore, the EAP expects its budget to sink as low as $1.3 million by 2014.

After 10 years of discussion, Yolo County should agree to annex the West Village housing project to the city.

Smoking is a thing of the past, right? I mean, everyone knows about the dangers of smoking now, right? Maybe yes, maybe no, but I think everyone needs to be reminded – especially college-age adults.

So last week I spoke about some of the things that make Davis great, ranging from grown men beating each other with semi-erect pool noodles to Jusco’s tasty fried calamari. There’s always a great place in Davis to relax and just hang out.

So it’s your last year – for you seniors, at least. Whether it took you three, four or five years, those of us on our way to graduation can all sigh the same sigh of relief. On three.

Editor, A pro-Palestinian solidarity event took a sharp turn to show the ugly face of intolerance and racism at an event on Feb. 3. The event was organized by those who started the petition to boycott all Israeli products from the Davis Food Co-op.

They’re coming. A new law put into effect in late January will drastically reduce prison populations; sending large numbers of felons out into the general population.

I have a box sitting at the bottom of my closet. It’s supposed to be my “keepsake/memory box,” although it doesn’t look anything like those antique, vintage trunks you see in the movies – you know, the ones you find in a shadowy corner of your attic, waiting for you to dust away its dark family secrets.

Half a tank left of gas. The speed limit is 45, but I’m driving 60. The rain can’t make up its mind if it wants to pour or sprinkle. On my right is a man wrapped in a plastic, yellow poncho like a Buddhist monk. On my left is a field where I had hotboxed with my housemates and got stuck in the mud for four hours. I’m driving 65. Then 70. 80.

Next week, students will vote on the peers that will represent them as both executives and legislators in ASUCD. Elections start Feb. 17 at 8 a.m. and last until Feb. 19, when online polls close at 8 a.m.

When I was a kid, my family made regular outings to our local Barnes & Noble to hang out all day and read whatever we wanted. It was fun, free, and my dad knew he would be called over the intercom if one of us yelled or started bleeding. (FYI, we did buy books to make up for our time spent browsing.)