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Editorial: Ban unfortunate but fair

Opinion

Opinion

May 29, 2008

Aggies are often asked, “UC Davis? What do you do there for fun?”

Regrettably, students can no longer brag to their friends about their Davis activity list‘s pièce de résistance – the Epic Quad Battle.

The Epic Quad Battle, a newly founded tradition in which masses of students gather on the Quad to battle it out with foam noodles, was originally meant as a simple end-of-the-year stress reliever.

The event has turned into something much more, as its popularity has undoubtedly increased this year. Despite an incident last year in which a student received a blow to the face and sustained severe injuries, an estimated 1,000 participants would have attended.

The university‘s decision to ban the event is justified; the very nature of the Epic Quad Battle is inherently unruly and uncontrollable. This, coupled with the unsettling fact that many attendees are not students but visitors from outside the UC Davis community, increases the chances for incidents to occur.

Some have suggested the event be moved to another campus venue or even off campus. However, relocating the Epic Quad Battle to anywhere except the Quad is simply preposterous – what‘s an Epic Quad Battle without the Quad?

It‘s a shame that a student tradition with so much potential had to end so abruptly. However, this unfortunate setback should not discourage students from looking into organizing alternative events to relieve stress at the end of the year. Perhaps an Epic Super Soaker Battle is in order.

Editorial: Treasury should consider long-term changes

Opinion

Opinion

May 29, 2008

The U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that paper money is inaccessible to the visually impaired. Giving these people the opportunity to distinguish bills by size appears to be a positive, but it is important to consider both sides of the situation.

The court will rule in favor of an appeal as long as it is found to be unconstitutional. Since visually impaired people cannot differentiate between monetary denominations by touch, the court’s ruling shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Although this ruling comes with good intent, it should not be viewed as a top priority yet.

Two prominent agencies – the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind – are not even in agreement regarding this ruling. The NFB has denounced the court ruling, stating that there are more critical issues facing visually impaired people, while the ACB is in support of it.

If the NFB and ACB cannot come to a consensus on this ruling, it is not an issue fundamental to the way of life for the blind, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury should not be asked to take immediate action. The process will come at a large cost, and it is important to make sure that all issues can be addressed at once in order to make these changes correctly.

The Department of the Treasury’s claim that it cannot afford to make such a drastic change to our currency is invalid. Since the U.S. Mint can afford to redesign templates for the 50 State Quarters Program, it appears that spending its money to benefit disabled members of society should be within its means.

The visually impaired have been finding ways to deal with this issue, such as dog-earing paper bills differently based on their denominations. But these solutions are not 100 percent reliable, and the situation should be addressed.

The cost of redesigning machinery and templates to print new currency will be an expensive one. Alternative ways of modifying the system, such as introducing different borders, holes or various other forms of braille on the bills, should be explored first.XXX

City brief

City News

City Editor

May 29, 2008

Review of Budget Recommendations (Presentation)

City manager Bill Emlen and finance director Paul Navazio reviewed their presentation from May 13 outlining the budget balancing plan for the general fund, transportation funds and building permit fund.

Davis Redevelopment Agency Budget (Presentation)

Included highlights of RDA accomplishments in the past fiscal year and highlights of RDA work plan for upcoming fiscal yearPrioritized list of proposed capital projects, including Varsity Theatre second screen, bicycle museum and Third Street improvements

Capital Improvement Program Budget (Presentation)

Decrease in budgeted expenditures from last year to $19 million from $23.9 millionFunding recommendations including facilities capital projects, parks projects, transportation projects, drinking water projects, wastewater and stormwater projects

Transportation Infrastructure (Presentation)

Outline of funding sources and funding pressures

Unfunded needs and long-range financial plan (Presentation)

City transportation budget faces challenges

City News

City Editor

May 29, 2008

The streets of Davis won’t be free of potholes in the upcoming year if the budget stays as it is.

The city’s transportation capital program, which provides funding for street maintenance, is full of unmet needs in the city manager’s proposed budget for 2008-2009. At a public hearing Tuesday, councilmembers discussed potential changes to the budget that would provide more funding for transportation projects.

The most notable unmet need is the lack of funding sources for the maintenance and replacement of existing infrastructure. The city manager has proposed $800,000 from the Capital Improvement Program budget for street maintenance and rehabilitation, a need that the city staff estimates would cost $2.1 million to fully cover.

Public Works department director Bob Weir said current funding levels will lead to a deterioration of the conditions of street surfaces.

“We just don’t have enough money for street maintenance,” he said.

Weir said a large part of the funding problems are due to rapidly increasing costs of construction materials. The cost of hot mix asphalt, Weir said, has jumped from $36 per ton to $80 per ton.

“When we’re trying to repave streets.… You can see what that does in terms of our ability to keep up,” Weir said.

The costs show no sign of dying down soon. Contractors are now updating their prices per ton on a weekly basis, said city engineer Bob Clark. International events are causing concern as well.

“I have concerns that this earthquake in China could further increase the cost of building supplies,” said Mayor Sue Greenwald.

And it’s not just construction costs that are causing problems for the city’s Public Works department.

“Any time we add a mile of street, the corresponding increase in gas tax is not keeping pace,“ Weir said.

Councilmembers Stephen Souza and Don Saylor both proposed the idea of taking roadway impact fees and applying them to transportation maintenance. Roadway impact fees are paid by developers to mitigate the impacts of all the traffic that new homes bring.

Currently, the balance of development impact fees in the city’s coffers is $9.5 million, with an additional $300,000 coming in annually. Souza said the city should use these funds to deal with the maintenance backlog sooner, rather than later, given the rising cost of oil and construction supplies.

Despite the funding challenges, the transportation division does have money to direct toward major projects. Officials have allocated funding for improvements on East Eighth Street, additional parking in the downtown core, pedestrian improvements on Second Street and a relocation of a pedestrian and bike crossing on F Street south of Covell Boulevard. Additionally, officials have allocated funding to replace 60 traffic signals, 5,400 street lights and 9,800 signs.

Tuesday’s meeting was the last formal public hearing on the budget. The city manager has allotted time at the next City Council meeting on June 10 to make additional changes or recommendations. A final version of the budget will be presented to the council at the June 24 meeting for adoption. The fiscal year begins July 1.

JEREMY OGUL can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com. XXX

American Airlines to start charging for all checked bags

City News

City Editor

May 29, 2008

American Airlines announced last week that it would begin charging for all checked luggage beginning June 15.

American is the first to implement a $15 charge for the first checked bag. Many major airlines, such as Delta and United, have recently started charging for a second checked bag.

The new policy is not universal, according to American’s website. The fee does not apply to full-fare coach passengers, business class, overseas flights or members of the frequent flier program.

“Only a small percentage of our customers will be paying these fees,” said Tim Smith, spokesperson for American Airlines. “The majority of our customers will not have to pay it.“

American is the sole major airline currently adopting this controversial policy, although its spread is conceivable in the new future, Smith said.

“I can’t speak for all other airlines, but a number of airlines have announced that they are considering this policy,“ he said.

American’s announcement comes in light of recent economic problems for many major airlines. Since Sept. 11, rising fuel costs have caused a fiscal crunch for many airlines. Fuel prices have rocketed up 80 percent in the last year, forcing most airlines to find new ways of increasing revenue.

“In general, it is best for prices to reflect the true cost of the product,” said Christopher Knittel, a UC Davis economics professor. “In this case, as gas prices rise, checked baggage becomes a more important factor in the cost of an airline ticket.“

Many airlines have already declared bankruptcy, while most others have added new fees, cut unprofitable routes and decreased salaries.

“Airlines are in a tough situation because fuel is now their number one expense,” Knittel said. “But airlines have never [charged for the first bag], and some consumers may be put off by this decision…. The negative consequences can certainly outweigh the efficiency benefits.“

Consumers are stuck between a rock and a hard place, he said.

“On the one hand, carrying on luggage is now more difficult because of the liquid restrictions. On the other hand, they will now have to pay to check their luggage,“ he said.

American will either lose consumers of all types to other airlines or simply attract a larger fraction of business travelers who frequently carry on their luggage, he added, but the public will not be happy either way.

“AA runs the risk of alienating some consumers because they are now charging for something they never used to,” Knittel said. “This is a real concern.“

The new policy still won’t fix all of American Airlines economic woes, especially if other airlines don’t implement similar policies.

“If other airlines don’t follow, something else will likely need to be done,“ he said.

KELLY KRAG-ARNOLD can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com.

UCD staff and students are invited to ‘Get It Together’

Campus News

Campus Editor

May 29, 2008

UC Davis staff and students are invited to “Get It Together“ today from noon to 1 p.m. at the Cabernet Room in the Silo Union. Get It Together author Melanie Cullen will hold the workshop to help people organize important information such as birth certificates, life insurance policies and tax files.

“Get It Together is a guide and resource to organizing documents and important information in the event that something would happen to you and you’re unable to communicate to others in your life,” said Didar Khalsa, program coordinator for Staff Development & Professional Services.

Young adults and seniors alike will be able to find some value in the workshop either for themselves, a parent or friend, she said.

The event, sponsored by the UC Davis Work Life Program, is part of the Brown Bag Series that takes place throughout the year. Other Brown Bag events include Swing Dance for Beginners and Chair Yoga.

UC Davis Work Life is a collaboration of programs, resources, policies and practices to support the diverse campus community, Khalsa said.

“It enables employees and campus affiliates to meet commitments, to pursue interests both in and outside of the workplace through the integration of four key facets of their lives,” she said.

The four key facets are self, work, life’s important others and community, Khalsa said.

The workshop can help serve as an eventual roadmap for loved ones, as it can be a guide toward organizing and updating documents such as a will or trust, according to the UC Davis Work Life website.

For college students who are not yet looking into writing their wills, the workshop can help them become more organized in other areas of their lives. Cullen will also highlight topics such as credit card debts, health care directives and bank accounts.

Students are disorganized and need a lot of help, said Lena Lorenzana, junior biological sciences major.

“We’re at a time when we need to learn organizational skills to make us more competitive in the workforce,“ she said.

Cullen is a Davis resident currently working in corporate management and holds an MBA from Stanford University. Her book, Get It Together was published in February 2007 and can be purchased for $21.99 at Borders and online.

The Get It Together workshop is open to the UC Davis community and pre-enrollment is not necessary.

For more information, go to sdps.ucdavis.edu.

THUY TRAN can be reached at campus@californiaggie.com.XXX

UC Davis remembers Russian professor

Campus News

Campus Editor

May 29, 2008

Respected Russian literature professor Yuri Druzhnikov passed away May 14 after almost a year of illness. He was 75 years old and left behind a legacy unique to UC Davis through his lectures, writings, critiques and historic testimony.

“Yuri was the most gentlemanly and the most amiable colleague you could possibly imagine,” said Winder McConnell, director of the German and Russian departments. “I don’t think there’s been anyone … [who has] done more in the department.”

Before his 19 years as a professor at UC Davis, Druzhnikov was an individualist and a dissident in Soviet-era Moscow. He denied allegiance to Stalin throughout high school and as a result was not accepted into Russian universities, McConnell said.

He then studied at a school in Latvia, pursuing various careers in the arts and social sciences.

Druzhnikov, author of 11 books, was also nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature by two Polish universities in 2001.

His work, however, often got him into trouble.

Druzhnikov was repeatedly investigated by the KGB because of his writings and anti-communist sentiments. In 1985, the KGB threatened to banish him to a prison camp or take him off to a psychiatric ward, which is how they often dealt with their dissidents, McConnell said.

Fortunately, several prominent western writers, including Kurt Vonnegut, Eli Weisel and Arthur Miller, and various human rights organizations rallied to his defense, McConnell said.

Druzhnivkov was eventually banished from the USSR in 1987, after which he came to the United States.

McConnell said Druzhnikov’s most famous work is Angels on the Head of a Pin, detailing the lives of employees at a Czechoslovakian newspaper during Prague Spring in 1968, a series of liberal reforms.

Druzhnikov researched and disbanded the myth one of the USSR’s most important heroes, Pavlik Morozov, who supposedly turned his father in to the Communist government as a traitor in his work Informer 001, or the Myth of Pavlik Morozov.

“Yuri should be given every respect for writing this much needed book,” said Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a fellow Russian émigré writer commenting on Informer 001 in 1987. “It is through books such as his that many Soviet lies will eventually be revealed.”

Druzhnikov’s colleagues primarily noted the large impact he had on his students.

“He had students in his office all the time. He always went the extra mile,” said Carlee Arnett, associate professor in the Russian and German department and close friend of Druzhnikov. “I feel like our floor is worse for his passing.”

“He knew a lot. With the amount of passion he had, he was amazing,” said Julie Raynova, a student of Druzhnikov’s who graduated last year with degrees in international relations and Russian. “He made you want you want to learn more and more.”

Druzhnikov’s life was commemorated Tuesday at the University Club Lounge, said Arnett, who attended the event.

“They’ll hire a replacement but you can’t replace someone with the life history that Yuri had,” Arnett said. “The gentleman has left us.”

LAUREN STEUSSEY and ANNA OPALKA can be reached at campus@californiaaggie.com.XXX

Future of Nishi property in discussion

City News

City Editor

May 29, 2008

The future of the Nishi property, located southwest of Richards Boulevardlvd. and Interstate- 80, is up in the air.

The 44 acre44-acre piece of land is currently designated agricultural land,[omit jl], yet is being examined for housing development. The area could de developed into up to 1,000 apartment units.

“The land is not within the Davis city limits,” said Catherine Hess, Ccommunity Ddevelopment director. “It is land that has been considered for development, but at this point[, jl] none of the city’s planning documents show developments on that site. It has been identified as a potential site.”

The property is next to the core downtown area, the arboretum and the freeway. There are existing bike and pedestrian connections to downtown and South Davis. The area promotes the use of alternative modes of transportation:[, including jl] walking, biking and transit. Vehicles, however, only have one connection to the city core – along Olive Dr. Drive – which connects to traffic on Richards Blvoulevardd. For this reason, the site does not even have access to Olive Dr.Drive and would have to connect to the university campus.

Davis City Council candidate Sydney Vergis said the city is looking at their its different options.

“High density housing with close proximity to the downtown and university could be attractive to a diverse mix of socio–economic demographics including students, retirees looking to downsize, and first-time buyers looking for entry level options,” she said in an e-mail interview.

According to the report by the Steering Committee on March 20, challenges include limited vehicular access to the site, noise and air quality from I-80 and railroad and safety concerns with the railroad.

“Noise and air quality impacts can be mitigated through good building design and addressing safety concerns must include foraging a proactive partnership with the railroad and Caltrans to mitigate hazards,” Vergis said.

The site is also prime agricultural land because of soil type, but its size is too small to be considered viable commercial farming opportunity.

“The site has great access for bicycles and pedestrians,” Hess said. “The issue is vehicles. Questions have been, ‘ sShould here be a connection to West Olive?.’ There might be a way to go over or under the railroad tracks and connect to UC Davis.”

Property owner Tim Ruff said there have been engineering studies done to assess the feasibility of access to campus.

The Steering Committee, a 15-member citizen committee, ranked 37 potential housing sites. The Nishi Property ranked as a top-tier infill site based on these advantages. The property also has potential to provide higher density housing without impacting existing neighborhoods.

Nishi Property is ranked 17 as a secondary site in the General Plan Housing Element report, a site recommended for housing and considered “green light” sites. It appears again as a 22ndnd rated alternate “yellow light” site, which are to be considered for housing if needed prior to 2013.

The Planning Planning Commission and City Council will take a look at the site recommendations from the Steering Committee and a development proposal before it is submitted for approval by voters. They will then make a recommendation decision if UC access will be required. The Nishi Property requires approval by public vote, according to Measure J, before it can be developed.

POOJA KUMAR can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com XXX.

UC Davis finishes 21st at stormy NCAA Championships

Sports

Sports Editor

May 28, 2008

The clock has struck midnight and the Cinderella story has come to an end.

The fairytale season for the UC Davis women’s golf team concluded this weekend with the Aggies finishing 21st at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships on May 23, 24 and 25.

“We did such a great job this season,” said head coach Kathy DeYoung. “I am just so proud of each and every one of them for how well they competed. It was such a great experience.”

The road to becoming the 21st-best women’s golf team in the country was not an easy one for the Aggies – not only because of the level of competition, but also because of the weather.

After the first day of play, the skies were partly cloudy with the temperature at a nice 82 degrees. The Aggies took full advantage of the conditions, finishing the day in 13th place with a score of 298. UC Davis was led by Big West Player of the Year Chelsea Stelzmiller, who shot a team-best par-72, followed closely by fellow freshman Alice Kim, who chipped in with a one-over 73.

“It was incredible,” DeYoung said. “To be sitting in 13th place at the national tournament, it was just unreal for all of us. But on Saturday, we got the worst luck.”

The Aggies took to the greens at 1:10 p.m. Saturday, the second day of the tournament, and were nearly knocked over from steady winds of 35 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph.

“We got the later tee time, but the weather had gotten much worse,” DeYoung said. “It was horrible. We were delayed nearly two hours because of that wind.”

In only two holes played Saturday, the Aggies were 14 strokes over par after being only 10 over on the first day of play through all 18 holes. The remaining 16 holes would be played Sunday at 7 a.m., and their third round would be played right after.

It sounded like a good plan, except that the weather didn’t cooperate. The wind kept up, and the golfers had to deal with rain, hail and lightning.

“The officials said it was the worst weather they’ve ever had for a national tournament,” DeYoung said.

The Aggies finished up their second round, checking in at 319, which was 21 strokes worse than day one, dropping them to 22nd place.

Round three was played in the same weather and produced a similar score of 315. UC Davis was forced to play one down as freshman Katie Sisler was forced to withdraw due to illness.

There was a lone bright spot for the Aggies on Saturday, though, as junior Bryana Gregory carded a four-over 76 on her second round despite the unpleasant conditions.

In the fourth and final round, the weather subsided marginally and the Aggies were able to turn in a 302, allowing them to pass the University of Arizona for the 21st spot in the tournament.

Playing in her final collegiate tournament, senior Sydney Roughton put in a couple of birdies on par 5s to manage her best score of the weekend, a four-over 76.

Southern California came away with the country’s crown, with UCLA and Duke right on its heels at six and 10 strokes back, respectively.

With the final tournament in the books, all eyes will be on the retirement of coach Kathy DeYoung, who brought women’s golf to UC Davis four years ago and has been a coaching figurehead for the last 30 years at UC Davis.

“It’s bittersweet,” DeYoung said. “I love this group, and I’m going to miss seeing them on a daily basis. But there’s a lot of stuff that I’m excited to be able to go do. It’s going to be a little strange when I have to clear out my office…. After 30 years, there’s a lot of stuff in there.”

Taking over the reins for the Aggies will be Anne Walker. Walker spent her collegiate golfing days at California, and after graduating in 2002, served as an assistant coach for the program until being elevated to assistant head coach in 2007. Her tenure will begin July 1.

MATT MILLER can be reached at sports@californiaaggie.com.

Canine distemper virus affects wildlife in Shasta County

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 28, 2008

Through postmortem examinations, veterinary scientists at UC Davis believe that the deaths of various animals in Redding, including skunks, are being caused by canine distemper virus.

Eighty-three skunks, 13 foxes and 12 raccoons have died of unknown causes in Redding since February.

Examinations of some of the deceased animals led researchers to discover the virus.

“Necropsies and additional tests performed by Dr. Linda Munson confirmed that distemper was present within tissues of several of the animals that died during the epizootic,” said Mourad Gabriel, a comparative pathology graduate student.

Canine distemper is a serious viral and potentially fatal disease that affects the nervous and respiratory systems.

“[Canine distemper] is a disease of dogs and related animals caused by the canine distemper virus,” said Janet Foley, a UC Davis veterinary professor. “Typically animals can develop vomiting and diarrhea, respiratory disease, including pneumonia, or central nervous diseases like seizures.”

Canine distemper is caused by a single stranded RNA virus. The virus will latch onto the host and use the host’s cells in order to make more copies of itself.

The disease can be spread through direct contact with an infected animal.

According to Gabriel, the transmission of distemper is often through aerosol droplets or contact of oral, ocular, respiratory or other bodily fluids by a susceptible animal.

This means that the virus can be shed through an animal’s feces or respiratory secretions, that is, the bodily fluids suspended in the atmosphere.

“Despite the prefix, CDV affects many wild, terrestrial carnivores both canids and non-canids,” Gabriel said.

Animals that are most susceptible to the disease tend to be juveniles within a species, such as puppies. Distemper is not a threat to humans.

The disease is distributed worldwide, and according to a 2008 publication from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari in Italy the incidence of distemper-related disease in canine populations throughout the world seems to have increased in the past decades, and several episodes of distemper in vaccinated animals have been reported.

While there is no cure for distemper, treatment is available through supportive care which includes fluids and antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

“The best preventative measure for CDV among domestic carnivores is by vaccinations,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel, Foley, as well as veterinary pathology professor Linda Munson, who has been conducting the post-mortem exams, are working collaboratively with the California Department of Fish and Game.

More testing and autopsies will take place as animals continue to die off due to this epidemic.

A number of vaccinations exist against distemper and the type used should be approved for the type of animal that is being immunized.

“Vaccinate and keep dogs away from infected wildlife,” said Foley, on how pet owner’s can keep their pets from being infected by the disease.

YASSMIN ATEFI can be reached at science@californiaaggie.com.

Upcoming Seminars

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 28, 2008

Today

“Predation, Competition and Vector Potential of Invasive Mosquitoes”

Phil Lounibos

122 Briggs, 12:10 to 1 p.m.

Science Scene

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 28, 2008

Climate fears may have long term effects

A new federal report says that the rise of carbon dioxide from humans is affecting the climate and vegetation across the United States and will disturb water supplies, agriculture, forestry and ecosystems for decades.

According to the report, Western states in particular will face significant obstacles as a result of a growing demand for water and a lessening supply.

The authors of the report and other experts said the report’s projections and its attention to detail could prove to be especially valuable.

The report also reflects a shift on the part of the Bush Administration. During President Bush’s first term, climate worries raised by President Clinton were largely downplayed. However, the latest report has the signatures of three of Bush’s cabinet secretaries.

The complete report can be found online at climatescience.gov. (nytimes.com)

Childhood obesity may be slowing

Childhood obesity, which has been increasing the past two decades, appears to have finally reached a flattening point. This is a potentially huge landmark suggesting that the epidemic of childhood weight gain may finally be under control.

However, the finding, which is based on survey data from 1999 to 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in Wednesday’s issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, has been met with some reservations by experts.

It is uncertain whether the stall in childhood weight gain is a real trend. Numerous doctors are quick to point out that even if the statistics do hold up, 32 percent of American school children are still overweight or obese.

Still, the good news is that obesity rates have not been going up since 1999, and doctors find reason to be optimistic. (nytimes.com)

Spacecraft lands successfully on Mars

NASA’s spacecraft Phoenix landed safely on Mars on Sunday, landing with all of its systems intact and ready for its mission: searching for signs of life.

It was the first successful landing using parachutes and thrusters since 1976. Of the past 11 attempts by the United States, Russia and England, six of the landings were unsuccessful.

The Phoenix’s search for life on Mars will be largely focused on finding organic material and other potential signs of life. Unlike past Mars rovers that move about the planet, Phoenix will be staying in one place and digging into the soil and ice directly around itself. The vehicle is capable of directly analyzing whatever materials it digs up. (washingtonpost.com)

Science Scene is compiled by EDDIE LEE who can be reached at science@californiaaggie.com.

Alternative-alternative energy may help alleviate fossil fuel dependency

Science & Technology

Science Editor

May 28, 2008

In a world obsessed with finding alternative energies to replace fossil fuels, researchers are convinced the future lies with solar, wind and nuclear technologies.

However, other sources, including the moon, the oceans and even leftovers from restaurants could provide the alternative energy we need to power the Earth for centuries to come.

A possible renewable energy source can be found all over the world in restaurants, homes, and garbage. At a new UC Davis facility, researchers have created technology that enables the production of energy by processing leftover food.

Called the Biomass Energy Project, the facility, run by UC Davis professor of agricultural and biological engineering Ruihong Zhang, will take as much as eight tons of leftovers daily from Bay Area restaurants. This will be enough to power 10 California homes for a day, according to the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences website.

Unlike other digesting technology, Zhang’s “anaerobic phased solids digester” can digest a wider variety of wastes. It works twice as fast as other digesters to convert the food into energy. It also produces two clean gases, hydrogen and methane, that can be burned to produce electricity.

“This technology will make a substantial dent in both our landfill needs and our use of petroleum and coal for fuels and electricity,” Zhang said on the A&ES website. “It also will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.“

It is also possible to generate electricity from the moon by capitalizing on the tides created by the gravitational pull the moon has on Earth’s oceans, according to howstuffworks.com.

Although the sun exerts more gravitational force than the moon, the moon exerts almost twice as much gravitational force on Earth than the sun. This is because the moon is only 239,000 miles away, compared to the 93 million miles that separate the Sun and the Earth. Proximity is more important than size in regard to gravity, according to the Office of Naval Research’s website.

The moon’s gravitational pull on the oceans creates predictable tides on Earth. Scientists can use this to their advantage by placing underwater turbines into the oceans.

As the tides move, they create kinetic energy and the underwater turbines act like windmills in water. The underwater current spins the turbine’s blades, which are attached to a gear box and connected to an electrical generator. The electricity generated transfers via cables onto the shore, and is then transferred to wherever electricity is needed.

Underwater turbines have a few advantages over land windmills. At this time, the use of land windmills has become a problem because of the scarcity of available land.

In addition, since water is denser than air, it requires less energy to spin an underwater turbine than a windmill, making it more efficient. Tides are also predictable, whereas the kinetic energy of wind is not.

Tidal energy has its drawbacks, as well. The environmental impacts that these turbines may have on the surrounding ecosystems is not known. In shallower waters, the turbines may be exposed, causing a potential impact on commercial shipping, according to the OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic EIS website.

The moon itself could be used as an energy source. Helium 3, an isotope of helium, is deposited on the moon’s surface by solar wind, charged particles given off by the sun, according to an article on ezinearticles.com.

Helium 3, if used in a fusion reactor with deuterium, releases a gas that is very efficient and releases few radioactive byproducts. There is very little on the Earth because of the ozone layer, which prevents the solar wind from depositing radioactive byproducts in the soil.

However, since the moon does not have an ozone layer to protect it, experts estimate there are 1 million tons of radioactive byproducts on the moon. If a spacecraft brought back 25 tons of Helium 3, it would be enough to power the United States for a year, according to ezinearticles.com.

Although it has huge potential, the possibility of harvesting and creating fusion reactors is fiscally impossible. It would require a large donation of money to set up a base on the moon and conduct scientific research. It would also take nearly 10 to 15 years before any sign of progress would be made.

“This approach is scientifically interesting, but economically irresponsible,” said UC Davis professor Patricia Boeshaar. “The cost to go to the moon, build a station, harvest the Helium 3 and transport it back would be extremely expensive, not to mention the fact that most of the technology doesn’t exist.“

NICK MARKWITH can be reached at science@californiaaggie.com.

Omg wtf?!

Opinion

Opinion

May 28, 2008

The little cousins are over, spending the night. They are middle schoolers, giggly and rambunctious, lying on their stomachs in the living room as they check their MySpace accounts on their laptop.

My cousin Jane and I do not remember being like this when we were their age. We didn’t pore over “hot” profile pictures that our friends posted, nor did we spend hours of our days in front of a glowing screen.

“Check out our YouTube videos!” the kids crow out proudly.

We walk over and sit down cross-legged in front of the computer screen. They’re clicking onto their account, the one that they all use together, the one for the films that they make in their spare time. This could be cute, Jane and I think. This could be the newer version of the things that we used to do as kids, like putting on ridiculous skits or karaoke-ing to Disney songs.

The screen pops up, and I immediately feel ill.

The title of their video – and I’m approximating here – is literally something like, “Little kid jerking off in pool.” My little cousin who is 12, but looks eight, is the star of the video. I can make out his pixilated image, and though the video is by no means explicit, I am horribly disturbed.

“Oh my god,” says Jane. There is horror in her tone. “I don’t want to see this. Close it.”

I glance over at my little brother. To my relief, he is not laughing along with the other cousins. Instead, he has an uncomfortable smile on his face. When he catches my eye, we send each other a look. The look says: “What the fuck?”

The laughter dies off, and the kids reluctantly close the screen, clearly miffed by our lack of enthusiasm. “It has over 2,000 views,” the youngest cousin explains.

“I directed and filmed it!” another pipes in.

“And I produced it!”

“There are other ones too…”

“Like the one with the dog!”

By this time, I just want to crawl into a corner and try to forget that this ever happened. Later on, Jane and I sit in her room, ritualistically applying make-up and doing our hair like we did at slumber parties when we were younger. We get onto the subject of the kids.

“Is this some kind of generational gap?” I cry, dismayed.

“I’m so disturbed,” she responds. “What the hell? We were never like that; we never even thought like that! I mean, what are we supposed to do?”

We don’t get what this is, and we can’t come up with answers. We don’t know what to do when our little cousins show us these videos, when one of the girls points us to a pornographic manga series that she reads. Are we supposed to tell on them? Is this supposed to be a normal part of growing up?

“I don’t know what to do,” Jane whispers to me, her tone worried and conflicted.

It’s the code we’ve grown up with – we never snitch on each other. Jane and I grew up as sisters, practically, and we would never think of telling on each other. We’ve shared all our secrets since childhood, bitten our lips to keep things from our parents. On long car rides, my cousins and I whisper into each other’s ears, share gossip about love lives and other things the parents will never be privy to.

But this – we don’t know what to do with this. “When they start prostituting themselves on the Internet,” I say, in a poor attempt at a joke, “then we’ll tell their parents.”

You grow up thinking that all situations are morally right or wrong, that you’ll know exactly what to do when the time comes to make a decision. But sometimes, it’s not so easy. Jane and I, we know that what the kids are doing is wrong. We know that there’s something sick about it, something dangerous.

But maybe we’re mistaken. Maybe it’s a normal part of growing up; maybe we don’t understand because we grew up in a different time. It’s confusing, and it’s disturbing, but mostly, it’s sad.

I don’t know what to do anymore, and so I think I’ll wait it out and hope for this best. But all I know is this – we’re all losing our innocence, and it’s not a good thing.

TERESA PHAM is neither light nor funny this week, and she apologizes for that. E-mail complaints to terpham@ucdavis.edu. XXX

Where’s the good stuff?

Opinion

Opinion

May 28, 2008

In a past column, I wrote about the importance of questions. One such question that was highlighted was a quote taken from a story that I once heard. The question was “You don’t like any music? Have you no soul?!” Admittedly, it is an intriguing pair of questions. The importance of music is not in question to us as human beings. However, something I do wish to question is the quality of the music we listen to on a regular basis.

This past weekend, I borrowed my dad’s car to drive up to San Francisco. Having forgotten my CDs in my car, I was forced to either listen to the radio or the sound of the wind blowing through the leaky deformed window siding. I have to say that I’m disappointed that just listening to the high-pitched airy whistle would have been the better choice.

As an eclectic music lover, the most disappointing aspect of radio is the fact that I know music infinitely more meaningful, artistic and just plain better-sounding are tossed away never to be heard. I wonder why the radio world is so backward. If a song is playing on the radio multiple times, it has to mean not only that someone liked it enough to endorse it, but that listeners like it too. At times I am just utterly bewildered as to why.

Rap was once noble and one of the best ways to tell a story – even comedic stories. But sadly, classic songs like “Rapper’s Delight” will be left to sink into the classic rap genre never to manifest itself in contemporary mainstream. My only consolation is that periodically, comedians like Jon Lajoie create Internet rap videos like “Everyday Normal Guy,” but even then, that joy is slightly tarnished since he uses the F-word as much as I ask questions. Is he maybe just being satirical of the rap genre by doing so?

Even Flight of the Conchords can come up with a good rap song, and they’re a couple of hairy white guys. What does that mean for rappers flooding the radio with monotonous hooks and lyrics about what their sex experience was like? If a pair of talented general musicians can rap, then rappers should rap better. Am I alone in thinking this?

Rock has been a similar disappointment. I believe that just as in any kind of music, in rock, you have the ability to express your point of view, whatever that may be. However, only bitter words ever make it to radio. In my humble opinion, Thrice is the best rock band out right now, yet it has no air time whatsoever, while bands that I don’t even care to learn the names of tell me about how much life sucks for them a countless number of times on rock/alternative stations.

In the past, perhaps I have been a bit hard on all the people I see with ear buds lodged in their heads (though I still advocate moderation). Since an iPod offers the ability of most directly selecting the music you listen to, it is a form of escape from some of the dismal music offered by the radio. However, if you allow the radio to be the sole guide of what you choose to put on it, you may be putting your soul in danger.

My sentiment is this: Life is finite. Not only that, but life is short, as the saying goes. Thus, the amount of words or sounds that we hear or make is also finite. Given this, doesn’t it only make sense that each moment devoted to listening is precious? Why spend such moments listening to – or perhaps the worse crime – making any meaningless music, words and sounds? It’s a waste of life and detrimental to the soul that music indicates of existing. Bring music back to radio!

To end this column, I’ll just make mention of a few artists that I believe deserve some additional recognition: Atmosphere, Thrice, UnderOath and Nujabes.

JEREMY MALLETT was just really pissed about what he was hearing on the radio that was passed off as music. Send him your musical recommendations and remedies to jjmallett@ucdavis.edu. XXX

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