WARRENv

THE WARREN COLLEGE NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987. VOL 24. ISSUE 1. NOV 2010

It took me a while to put this narrative to-gether; I wasn’t quite sure what to say or how to say it. And after a series of deleted para-graphs, sentences, and documents, my poor at-tempt for eloquence was also quite easily dis-carded. In general, I think it is kind of difficult to witness a war-torn country, especially when you left it; it was not completely war-torn.

I went to Iraq during the summer, nearly for two months, and the unbearable, scorch-ing heat had me almost change my ticket to come back home. It’s a bit ironic, really, not being able to identify what is home anymore. When I went to Iraq, I thought that I was home, a place where my family and my roots are. The only problem is it didn’t look and feel

like home, and I think my five year old brain was becoming slightly fragmented and maybe even disjointed. At times, I think my five-year old memory was only trying to cope, therefore making up its own images and re-created its ideas of what was home. It was perfect, really, but reality was not.

Sixteen years later, I am in Iraq again, and what I saw and experienced was quite bitter-sweet and beautiful. I wasn’t quite prepared to see so much destruction, and it was worse and better than what the media portrays. I was in Baghdad for just one day, and I could feel it beckoning me, talking to me, almost berat-ing me for leaving. Streets were empty, it was afternoon, yes, and hot, but people are tired

Home Sweet Home

A Guide To Scholarships:101

$50enter to

win

find out more on page 3

by Nour Al-timimi Co-Editor

by Hannan Al-TimimiStaff Writer

Many scholarship opportunities become available during January, and as tuition fees skyrocket, it would be a good idea to apply for some of those scholarships. There is still some money around, and foundations want to give it away. Below are tips to apply for scholarships, and I’ve also provided a list of scholarships and their information. Here are some do’s and dont’s:

1) Make sure you have full details of application procedures.

2) Create a checklist. Follow instructions carefully. Be organized. Gather all your documents. Send in what is requested. Missing materials can cost you a scholarship.

3) If you are doing a scholarship for educational purpose, take your time to do your own research and write about the research experience you want to have and how that influences your “scientific interests”.

4) Be honest but don’t forget to add something new to the table. Don’t exaggerate your grades, they might ask for a transcript.

5) Don’t state certain memberships that you don’t attend regularly. State your skills and qualifications. Focus on the scholarships for which you might be eligible . Continued on page 7

Continued on page 7

List of Scholarships6) When including activities and honors, you need to list all relevant activities and honors, but be selective. Don’t forget that the scholarship committee has to be selective as well.

7) Carefully choose your referees. Make sure they know you well enough to give an opinion about you. Give them time, they are busy as well. Send them a written request for a recommendation weeks in advance, and a friendly reminder as the date for the deadline approaches.

8) Proofread your application; you want to put your best foot forward. You don’t want the panel to have a bad impression of your character before they have even met you. Poor spelling = last minute put together application.

9) Be motivated to work with deadlines. Yes, school can get very hectic, but try to get in the habit of writing in your planner (if you already haven’t!) to stay ahead of the game. Besides, preparation equals a great application!

10) It is a good idea to send your applications by certified mail to ensure receipt. Pay attention to your application requirements and if it has been requested to be “postmarked”.

1. For a higher education student pursuing his/her educational career in business, preferably in the field of education try: California Association of Educational Office Professionals (CAEOP); Application: http://www.caeop.org

2. For a higher education student pursuing his/her educational career in sciences--Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation. Comments: US citizen/San Diego County students attending an accredited 4-year university/college. Application/Criteria: http://www.navmar.com

3. National Association of Black Journalists. Comments: This is for students currently attending an accredited four-year college/university in the U.S. or those who are candidates for graduate school. Contact: www.nabj.org/programs/scholarships/index.html

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 2

CampusLife

Even with multiple student dining halls and all of the fast food options found in Price Center, it is still possible for students to feel as though they need something new to entertain their taste buds. However, not all students have an easy means of transportation off campus or a great deal of extra cash to spend on a gourmet meal. The solution to this is right here on the UCSD campus: International Café.

International Café is a lunch-time event that occurs at the International Center every Friday from 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm. For a mere five dollars, students receive a main dish, two side dishes, dessert, and a drink. Not only that, but the food served changes each Friday and is centered on popular dishes from countries all over the globe. There are always vegetarian options and once everyone has been served, there are sometimes opportunities to go back for seconds for free.

After being served, students sit outside on the patio and the second reward of attending International Café comes into effect. Besides consuming delicious food, students have the opportunity to speak with faculty and international students who come to eat their Friday lunch at the International Center. This is a great opportunity to hear about the culture and customs of other countries and to hear the opinions and perspectives of students from around the world. It’s also an opportunity to share your own experiences with international students and make some new friends on campus.

Eating at the International Café has always been a great experience for me. I enjoy myself each and every time I attend and when I am unable to (due to being in class), I cannot help but be a little disappointed. This is definitely a fun and easy event to attend and if you’ve ever had the desire to try some French quiche or chicken cooked in the Moroccan style, International Café is the place to be!

A Taste from Abroad

by Shaina HoraStaff Writer

COGSNews (cogsnews.ucsd.edu) is a new website for Cognitive Science undergraduates, graduates, fac-ulty and other members of the community to be up-dated by the latest from their community. The creators see COGSNews as a way to inspire continued conver-sation within the community which would in turn in-spire further research and outreach. It is also intended to serve as a means of letting the families of incoming grads and undergrads understand what CogSci is and the industries/research involved with the field. Pratik Pramanik, the site’s creator, looks to reach out to other campuses with CogSci departments in order to create

a collaborative effort within the national CogSci com-munity.

COGSNews is currently comprised of an under-graduate editorial staff and group of graduate student contributors. The editors invite all graduate students and faculty from the CogSci department to post up-dates of their lab work and published papers. This way undergrads can stay informed about the work that is happening around them and are enabled to be involved. COGSNews is also looking for undergrads doing inter-esting work as well as avid readers to contribute their insights to the website.

COGSNews: Thought for Changeby Pratik Pramanik

Staff Writer

View the menu at :

http://icafe.ucsd.edu/cafe/

Photo courtesy of Irvin Fong

by Genesis GomezStaff Writer

Are you in search of feedback for a particular writ-ing assignment or need help organizing your thoughts and ideas before you write? Do you fear even the thought of starting a new writing assignment or see writing as a daunting task? Then, perhaps it is time you book an appointment with the Warren College Writing Center, which is located in the Computer Science and Engineering Building (EBU3B) in room 1109.

The Warren Writing Center is a resource available to current Warren College students who want individ-ual help or assistance “at any stage of the writing pro-cess— from brainstorming for ideas to polishing a final draft.” Madeleine Picciotto, the director, explains that the Warren Writing Center benefits students because by receiving “feedback from other people students get a sense of how their writing comes across… [and] whether somebody else can understand what they are trying to say.”

Since opening its doors in 2005, the Writing mentors at the Center have helped Warren students in classes such as Warren Writing 10A and 10B and PHIL 27/POLI 27, but they also are available to give feedback for any writing assignments. The Center pro-

vides freshman and other Warren Writing students with workshops and one-on-one attention on how to write an argumentative paper to ease the transition from high school five paragraph essays to college writing.

For individualized attention, which consists of a thirty minute one-on-one session, Warren students must email warrenwritingcenter@ucsd.edu to sched-ule an appointment with one of the eight writing men-tors. Appointments can be scheduled from Monday to Friday (times are listed on the next page) and students have the option of signing up for on-going weekly as-sistance. One can expect to receive a quick response, where you will be notified if the time slot is available or not.

As an avid visitor of the Warren Writing Center, I can say from experience that the writing mentors pro-vide useful feedback that has helped me express my thoughts in a more clear and concise manner in past papers. Receiving extra feedback from mentors who are patient and willing to understand one’s concerns with writing assignments is a valuable tool that Warren students can take advantage of whenever they need the extra help or attention.

Need Help With Writing?TWO AND A HALF HOURS IN...

Graphic courtesy of Irvin Fong

Graphic courtesy of website

Meet the tutors and see the hours on the next page.

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 3

WarrenCollege

AS Senator: Mac Zilber

Hey hypothetical readers, my name is Mac Zilber. I’m, as you’ve probably guessed from the “senator’s corner” banner, one of your two Warren AS Senators.

I grew up in the Bay Area; Berkeley, if you must know; and transferred here last year, as a political science and economics major. I’m a card-carrying nerd, and, among the other hats I wear, I’m the director of the Roosevelt Institute’s Center For Economics and the undergraduate representative on the UCSD Academic Senate’s Program Review Committee.

As a Senator, my primary goal is accessibility. I hold office hours on Tuesdays at 5:30-7:00 at Canyon Vista, in tandem with my co-Senator Kevin, and I’m willing to meet with you or your org at your convenience (my email is hopefully in a neat little italicized thing at the bottom of this article). If you, the friendly reader, have legislation for AS that you’d like to co-write, to find a councilmember who can propose, etc, I’d be happy to look at it, to give suggestions, etc, because I live and breathe public policy.

And now, as a reward for reading to the end of the article (all four of you!), I’ll give you a tidbit of information that has never-before-been-published, but is now public information. The UC Office of the President, next year, will be instituting a “flat-tax” of just under 2% on all UC Campuses. UCSD will be asked to collect somewhere in the neighborhood of $45 million in revenue, through a method to-be-decided, and toss it up to UCOP. UCSD will receive some money to compensate (probably less than the amount it sends out), but this change likely means increased prices of on-campus goods, fees, or services in the long-term.

Contact Mac and let him know what you think at

macky@ucsd.edu

Donna Farag4th year

Major: Political Science

Aspiration: AttorneyLoves to write poetry; believes writing is important

because it is way of effectively expressing your opinions.

Taylor Kubota4th year

Major: Biological Anthropology and Health Care Social Issues

Aspiration: Graduate School for scientific journalism

Loves analytical writing; believes writing is important because writing well shows you have a great understanding about something.

Rachel Graham3rd year

Major: Ecology, Behavior & Evolution

Aspiration: Environmental research/policy/education

Loves to write emails; believes writing is important because communication is crucial in our lives.

Timothy Yen 4th year

Major: General Biology

Aspiration: Med School

Loves to write personal statements; believes writing is important because it is part of any career you go into.

Scott Pierson5th year

Major: Chemistry

Aspiration: High School teacher

Loves to write fiction; believes writing is important because you are judged on your writing every single day.

Ryan Chuang 4th year

Major: Bioengineering

Aspiration: Med School

Loves to write about Philos-ophy; believes writing is important because communication between people is very important and writing serves as a memorial of yourself .

Paige Cronn4th year

Major: Human Biology

Aspiration: Med School

Loves to write argumenta-tive papers; believes writing is important because writing is a wonderful way to express yourself.

MON 09:00 am to 10:30 pm 12:00 am to 04:00 pm

TUE 08:30 am to 01:30 pm 02:00 am to 03:30 pm

WED 10:00 am to 03:30 pm

THU 08:30 am to 11:30 am 01:00 am to 04:00 pm

FRI 08:30 am to 11:30 am

WRITING CENTER HOURS

WRITING CENTER MENTORS

Warren Briefs invites you to send us any printable media to enter

for a chance of winning

A Warren student MUST be the author of the submission

Limit two submissions per student

Email entry to ucsdwarrenbriefs@gmail.com

By MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011

The winning submissions will be placed in the in next issue of WARREN BRIEFS.

Questions? email ucsdwarrenbriefs@gmail.com

$50

Open-Media Contest:Show Us Your Skills!

Managing EditorsNour Al-timimi

Irvin Fong

Layout EditorKriti Gupta

Graphic ArtistsIrvin Fong

Elizabeth Li

Staff WriterHannan Al-Timimi

Connie Chow

Genesis Gomez

Shaina Hora

Pratik Pramanik

Shereen Nourollahi

Lena Sun

A.S. ColumnistMac Zilber

AdvisorJeff Hill

WebmasterIrvin Fong

WARREN BRIEFS

Staff

Interested in joining the Warren Briefs staff? Want to share your love of writing, photgraphy, art, or design? No experience necessary. Just send an email to ucsdwarrenbriefs@gmail and we will add you to the mailing list, and you will be notified when we start working on our next issue.

Photo courtesy of Mac Zilber

Photos courtesy of Genesis Gomez

Normally, I don’t talk much about reading; most of my friends only have “time to read for school”, or find it “boring”. But hey, you’re reading right now, so perhaps you’d be interested in what I have to say. Warning, I am going to start talking about myself, so skip to the box if you’d rather not read about me. So I love reading. In particular, I love reading fantasy (although science fiction has a soft spot in my heart too). I own all the “Drizzt Do’Urden” trilogies, the “Sword of Truth” series (now a tv show!), and almost every Ray Bradbury book I’ve come across.

My love affair began in the 5th grade when I casually walked into a B. Dalton’s out of boredom while waiting for my mom to finish fishing through the sales racks and trying on whatever was decent and fit. I picked up “Wizard’s First Rule”. Even though I probably had to hold the 848-page volume with both hands, I knew I just had to read it, and read it I did! From then on, my forays into bookstores were no longer accidental. So I came to UCSD, and like most students, found myself in Geisel either trying to study or taking a nap on those comfortable tables and even more comfortable chairs. As I looked around, I noticed all these books. But they weren’t not the books I wanted. These were great books, but not the ones that would satiate my thirst for enchanted swashbuckling adventures. Trips to the computer proved to be in vain.

I know, I know. I’ve heard CLICS has “more popular reading material” (and perhaps a more careful search when my head wasn’t begging me for sleep or food would have convinced me earlier), but being a Warren Student, CLICS is just so far. The only time I went inside was when I thought I had

to go there to use MATLAB, and other times indirectly when riding the Campus Loop shuttle or during an undie run. Now it’s my 4th year, and I finally know about the books. Moreover, I also discovered “Darkstar” while staring at the ticker on the Arriba shuttle. The Darkstar club (since 1978) at UCSD has a collection of more than 5,000 fantasy and science fiction books! Wow, I have been living under a rock! It turns out that their office is located at Ché Cafe though, right next to CLICS, and so I still have to make a trek. So the next time I ride Campus Loop, maybe I’ll finally pull the gray cord to get off in Revelle.

* Some of you may have noticed I did not mention BookMooch until listing it above. The reason is that it’s not a campus resource, though it can be used from campus and is a great way to get books. If you’ve got any books you don’t want anymore, consider giving them to your fellow readers. Then you get a point (or more) to get other books! The collection, with users all around the world, is vast and the turnaround is pretty fast. Go check it out!

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 4

Health& Life

For most UCSD students, it’s usually within the first week of our freshman year when we realize that we have free reign to do whatever we want, when we want – and the best part is, there’s really no one there to tell us otherwise. Unfortunately, unwarranted abuse of this form of newly found independence can also wreak havoc on our general wellness. Case in point: cup o’noodle for breakfast(lunch and dinner), irregular sleep schedules, freshman fifteen, and other cliché(but usually true) side effects of being a college student. Luckily, there are plenty of resources right here on campus to help you detox, de-stress, and regroup when you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Below are just a few resources that are definitely worth taking advantage of:

Campus Resources for the Mind, Body, and Soulby Lena SunStaff Writer

1Unveiled just this fall, The Zone is the newest addition to UCSD’s

Wellness family. Located next to Jamba Juice, The Zone offers hour long wellness programs that are designed to provide students with the opportunity to relax and de-stress between, or after a long day of classes. Programs offered at The Zone include, but are not limited to: yoga, cooking demonstrations, fitness workshops, therapy dogs, and even nap times. Sign up for The Zone’s mailing list to receive updates on weekly schedules!

http://zone.ucsd.edu/The Zone

3Having difficulty adjusting to college? Feeling depressed or anxious?

Having relationship problems? You may want to make an appointment with CAPS. With counseling offices onsite at all six colleges, CAPS offers free counseling and psychological services to all registered UCSD stu-dents. The professional staff at CAPS is focused on assisting students with any emotional or psychological problems they may be experiencing. And most importantly, all services provided by CAPS are kept confidential.

http://psychservices.ucsd.edu/#students

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

2Are you a gym rat? Couch potato? Somewhere in between? Regardless

of where you fall on that spectrum, FITstop can help you pinpoint just how in or out of shape you are. FITstop is a service designed to give students a clear assessment of their level of fitness as compared to others in their age group. Located in the Wellness Room at RIMAC, FITstop uses equipment and exercises to measure blood pressure, heart rate, percent of body fat, flexibility, cardiovascular health, endurance, abdominal strength and upper body strength. Next time you’re at RIMAC, make sure to stop by – you might learn something surprising about yourself.

http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/fitstop.shtmlFITstop

Have a love confession for fantasy and/or science fiction? I do.by Irvin FongCo-Editor

Hidden TreasuresFEATURE“

”

CLICSclics.ucsd.edu

DarkStardarkstar.ucsd.edu

BookMooch*www.bookmooch.com

1 2

3

Illustration courtesy of Elizabeth Li

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 5

Mickey’s Fun Wheel, a ferris wheel (with “free-mounted” gondolas) during the day and an aurora of color and light during the night

Cinderella Castle during the holidays

Game: Find the Warren Bear!World of Color, California Adventure Paradise Pier, California Adventure

A (Disney) Magical Night

Feet aching, eyes drooping, and trapped in clothes in a permanent state of dry and wet, I was ready to call it a night as I sat down on the (dry enough) pavement to wait for Disney’s World of Color to begin. After all, I have seen water shows and fireworks my whole life- how much different could this one be? Then the show started.

The next thing I knew, half an hour had gone by, and I found myself applauding with the rest of the audience spanning the entire waterfront. As my friend said, neither pictures or videos can capture the magic and wonder Disney has once again managed to conjure up. From hundreds of jets of water all awash in an aurora of color sprinkling the air, to jets of flame that warmed my cheeks, Disney’s World of Color is a feast for all the senses.

So here I offer some photos, not as a recap of my trip as they cannot do so, but hopefully to persuade and entice (or remind) you to re-experience the joy and wonder we all felt when we were younger. Go take a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, you won’t be disappointed.

by Irvin Fong Co-Editor

Image courtesy of Hannan Al-timimi

Photo courtesy of Irvin FongPhoto courtesy of Irvin FongPhoto courtesy of Irvin Fong

Photo courtesy of Irvin Fong

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 6

matching black ear buds. You had a dusky, green crew neck t-shirt on and dark grey jeans. Very fitted. Everything about you was clean-cut and collected. Composed and intelligent. You were twirling a blue pen in your left hand, and you kept checking your silver watch. That was the only indication that you weren’t perfectly at ease. But hopefully that had something to do with me and how I kept sneaking looks at you.

But most importantly, you had a sweet face. Masculine, chiseled with slightly-slanted eyes, you seemed more shy than cocky, not like a Mujeriego. Your eyes and your voice (which I heard later) still held a ring of youthfulness to it, which I find endearing. Your

physique on the other hand, was built especially on top, but not too much so. I think that you must work out and play an intense sport like Football. Your shaved hair was just like my brother’s when he’s in wrestling season, more out of necessity than a style-choice.

And I really wanted to find an excuse to chat you up, I really did. But I didn’t want to make such an overture out of nothing but assumptions and first impressions. And so I behaved myself and I only waited for you to leave first so that I could watch a little longer. I was very pleased when you said thank you to the bus driver. It is a courtesy that I feel is under-practiced.

But there I had to let you go.

You headed off towards Muir college and I headed for PC. But I promised myself this much. If I ever you see you again, hopefully when I’ve almost forgotten you, I will make an effort to actually meet you. Because as ridiculous as this whole monologue is, as is the huge impression you made on me after 7 minutes, at least when I meet you again it won’t be completely superficial to talk to you. We will have at least fate and one coincidental bus ride in common. Until then…

Un beso,

C.

Boy on the 202

Music at Prebys

continued from page 8

continued from page 8

such that someone in the very last row is able to hear the performance as though they are sit-ting up in the front.

One of my favorite performances I attended at the Prebys Hall was that of the Myriad Trio. This trio is made up of Demarre McGill on flute, Che-Yen Chen on viola, and Julie Smith on harp. The performance was part of the Camera Lucida Series, which has live shows regularly throughout the year, each of which is a treat to attend. If I had to recom-mend one performance to attend, I would rec-ommend this trio. These three musicians are able to play perfectly in sync, reacting to each other and blending the sounds of their instru-ments in a way that pleases the ear as much as the unusual stage delights the eye. Yet, even though they play so well together, demonstrat-ing how much time and effort they have put into perfecting their performance, at the same time, each of these musicians is able to stand out as an individual; each has moments where they are able to let their individual talent and abilities shine through. I could not help but ad-mire their ability and talent, as well as marvel at the sumptuous quality of sound they were able to produce. The Myriad Trio will be per-forming at the Conrad Prebys Hall in Febru-ary and again in June. These are two dates that Warren students should definitely make note of on their calendars; these performances will not be something they want to miss.

Attending a concert at the Conrad Pre-bys Hall is an experience that Warren students should take advantage of. Tickets for the con-certs typically cost anywhere from twenty to twenty five dollars and up, but if they arrive in the last hour before the concert, UCSD stu-dents are able to purchase tickets for a dollar, which is an amazing deal. The concerts also occur around eight o’clock at night, so they typically do not conflict with classes. Attend-ing a live performance at Prebys Hall is a great idea for a date, an event to attend with friends, an outing for an organization, or even if you just want an excuse to dress up. Regardless of your reason or motive, if you attend a concert here, you will not leave disappointed.

More information on UCSD concerts: http://musicweb.ucsd.edu/

Details about live performances from the Camera Lucida series can be found at

http://musicweb.ucsd.edu/cameralucida/pages.php?id=4001)

Check out the Warren Brief’s recently upgraded site! From there you can view the hi-res photos, browse articles from

issues back yonder, and share your comments on our content! Go to: warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu

Illustration courtesy of Elizabeth Li

Image courtesy of Irvin Fong

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 7

continued from page 1

Look out for these great books to read during break!!Synopsis: A man whose daughter was abducted is invited to an isolated shack, apparently by God.

Excerpt: Mack stood on the shore, doubled over and still trying to catch his breath. It took a few minutes before he even thought about Missy. Remembering that she had been coloring in her book at the table, he walked up the bank to where he could see

the campsite, but there was no sign of her. His pace quickened as he hurried to the tent trailer, calling her name as calmly as he could manage. No response. She was not there. Even though his heart skipped a beat, he rationalized that in the confusion someone had seen to her, probably Sarah Madison or Vicki Ducette, or one of the older kids.

Input: This novel is emotionally powerful and the suspense keeps you on edge. The readers feel and hear Mack’s thought as he struggles to learn his daughter’s whereabouts and the inevitable truth. In many scenes, I found myself holding my breath, anticipating what happens next, and hoping for good news.

The Shackby William P. Young

by Nour Al-Timimi Co-Editor

Synopsis: A man who committed a despicable crime but allowed another to be sent to death row in his place now wants to admit his guilt, but must convince the authorities he’s telling the truth.

Excerpt: The custodian at St. Mark’s had just scraped three inches of snow off the sidewalks when the man with the cane appeared. The sun was up, but the winds were howling; the tem-perature was stuck at the freezing mark. The man wore only a pair of thin dungarees, a summer shirt, well-worn hiking boots, and a light Wind-breaker that stood little chance against the chill. But he did not appear to be uncomfortable, nor was he in a hurry. He was on foot, walking with a limp and a slight tilt to his left, the side aided by the cane. He shuffled along the sidewalk near the chapel and stopped at a side door with the word “Office” painted in dark red.

The Confessionby John Grisham

Synopsis: The private detective Patrick Kenzie searches for a runaway teenager who has never forgiven him for returning her to her neglectful mother years earlier.

Excerpt: On a bright, unseasonably warm af-ternoon in early December, Brandon Trescott walked out of the spa at the Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod and got into a taxi. A pesky series of DUIs had cost him the right to operate a mo-tor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Massachu-setts for the next thirty-three months, so Bran-don always took cabs. The twenty-five-year-old trust-fund baby of a superior court judge mother and a local media mogul father, Brandon wasn’t your run-of-the-mill rich kid a--hole. He worked double shifts at it. By the time the state finally suspended his license, he was on his fourth DUI.

Moonlight Mileby Dennis Lehane

Synopsis: A hacker and a journalist investigate the disappearance of a Swedish heiress.

Excerpt: It happened every year, was almost a ritual. And this was his eighty-second birthday. When, as usual, the flower was delivered, he took off the wrapping paper and then picked up the telephone to call Detective Superintendent Morell who, when he retired, had moved to Lake Siljan in Dalarna. They were not only the same age; they had been born on the same day–which was something of an irony under the circum-stances. The old policeman was sitting with his coffee, waiting, expecting the call.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattooby Steig Larsson

Synopsis: Bullied at school, an autistic 18-year-old is befriended by a classmate with problems of her own.

Excerpt: Tracy Harris adjusted her blue Walmart apron and checked her watch. Five minutes until her shift was up. She stood a little straighter, ig-noring the dull ache in her back. A smiling young mom steered her cart into Tracy’s checkout lane. The customer’s attention was completely taken by her toddler-age son swinging his legs from his seat in the top of the cart. Tracy let gaze linger on the little boy, the familiar we he had about him. Then she glanced at the cart. Not too many items. This would be her last customer of the day.

Unlockedby Karen Kingsbury

Sources: New York TimesAmazon

and beaten, lack of security has made them extra weary. I’ve heard stories in which men every morning bid their families farewell before leaving off to work, just in case they did not make it back home.

Yet, even with all the destruction that has made its way to Baghdad, the beauty and the civilization of the cap-ital nonetheless remains. Although I did not get a chance to visit any of the historical sites, being so close to those areas filled me with pride, and it was the first emotion that really placed ‘home’ in context for me. After get-ting into the cab to leave the capital, I felt myself looking back to the city, imagining people going to work, families getting together, and the ca-fes encompassed by youth. I know

these ordinary accomplishments do happen; I just wasn’t there at the right time to witness it.

Being with my family—talking to them about my life here and listening to theirs—was one of the most amaz-ing aspects of my trip. Yes, every-body has gotten older, their country’s circumstances have made them more weary, but their pure love is still the same. That is one memory embed-ded in my five-year old brain that was not fragmented. I tried to soak in our conversations, our laughs, and hop-ing that I did not forget. Of course I took numerous pictures of them; and I ponder for a little bit, thinking I prob-ably want to go again, and it wouldn’t be so bad.

Home Again

Images courtesy of Irvin Fong

4. For a higher education, student pursuing his/her educational career abroad Ambassadorial Scholarships. Comments: This is a scholarship for students who can speak another language and want to study abroad in the country of that language. You should have completed at least 2 years of college work. Application: Go to: www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/EducationalPrograms/.

5. For a higher education student pursuing his/her educational in Engineering NACME Scholarships (National Action Council For Minorities in Engineering). Application: Go to: www.nacme.org/sch_index.html.

6. MANA de San Diego Sylvia Chavez Memorial Scholarship Program. Deadline: February 13, 2009. Comments: Applicants must: be a Latina with a permanent residence in San Diego County; currently enrolled in a, four-year university or graduate level program. Website for application: http://sdmana.org/documents/application.pdf.

If none of the scholarships above meet your particular requirements, try perusing through fastweb.com, scholarship.com, or even our own UCSD scholarships. Sure, filling out those applications and writing multiple prompts might not exactly sound cheerful, but the extra bucks that can be gained definitely make the difference.

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Scholarships 101

UCSD Extension: Enhancing your college experience* A great way to learn matieral in a small class setting and intaract with your peers* Shuttle service is available to and from campus* If you don’t have time to accomodate an actual class--online classes are available* Vouchers are given to UCSD students and the price for a particular class is reduced

* If you plan on enrolling, classes for winter quarter are currently open--so hurry and sign up for those classes before it’s too late!* You’re given the option of taking the class letter grade, P/NP...it’s up to you to decide based on your workload, however, when your course trans-fers to USCD, you will only receive unit credit toward graduation, but it will not average into your GPA * For more information go to: http://extension.ucsd.edu/

Arts & Media

warrenbriefs.ucsd.edu WARREN BRIEFS, NOVEMBER 2010 page 8

My life is filled.With the highest of highs,The lowest of lows,And the dullest of doldrums. In all honestyI face you, I tell you.My mask is on.My mask is off.

I noticed you right after I flashed the bus driver my ID card. You were the reason I decided to sit in the seat right across from you. I don’t usually sit in the elderly/handicap section if there are other seats available, but you were so attractive I had to make an exception in hopes that I would get to see you a little longer.

This is one of the reasons I love public transportation. You get to meet the whole city, indeed the whole world if you count tourists, when you take the bus. It is the limbo of modern society, where everyone from every part of the community enters and leaves from the everyday world. Inside the bus there is no clock, and no time. It is the place between places; the time between strict schedules. The bus is where I do some of my best profound thinking. It is where you can be intimate and show simple kindness to strangers without asking or expecting anything more. In the bus, time stops and you can people-watch or just listen to music and get lost in your thoughts. And most importantly today, the bus is where I (almost) met you.

You looked Latino, though I can’t be sure from one encounter. You were sitting there all debonair, with slick brown Vans with black laces, your unpretentious black case iphone with

Music has always been a large part of my life. From a young age I received piano lessons and to this day, nothing re-lieves my stress like taking an hour out of my day and playing away all of my troubles. As much as I enjoy playing musical instruments on my own, watching other musicians perform is an activity that always bring a great deal of enjoyment. Here on the UCSD campus, there are performance events going on throughout the year. However, one of the best ways to watch musicians play their instruments live is to attend a performance at the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall.

The Conrad Prebys Concert Hall is a fairly new music hall located across from the Pepper Canyon building and Sixth College. The building is large and impressive and upon enter-ing, this does not change. The halls are immaculate and seem to go on forever, making footsteps echo unnervingly against the polished floors. The performance area is a beautiful work of art in and of itself. It is filled with rows upon rows of lush, red velvet seats that feel as luxurious as they look. The stage is made up of wood paneling that reaches up towards the ceil-ing, cut into asymmetrical shapes that tease the eyes. The sound quality of the concert hall is impressive; the design of the hall is

De cielo al suelo se caye,Como un beso se toca. Sea profundo y persistente,O sea breve.Suave y ternura, como llovizna.O como tormenta; una fiera descargada. La lluvia es un milagro. Cada gotitaTiene sentimiento y ritmo,CayendoSe hace una canción.

From the sky to the floor it falls,Its touch is like a kiss. Be it long and lasting,Or be it brief.Soft and tender, like drizzle.Or like a storm; a fury unleashed. The rain is a miracle. Every dropCarries meaning and rhythm,FallingTogether they make a song.

Lover, Lover on the Walk

To the Boy riding the 202 at Noon today,

Music to my Ears

Porque encanto la lluvia

Why I love the Rain

by Connie ChowStaff Writer

by Connie ChowStaff Writer

by Shaina HoraStaff Writer

by Connie ChowStaff Writer

Original poem:

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Full illustration on page 6

Continued on page 6

Revisitingby Shereen Nourollahi

Staff Writer

it’s been awhile. since i came back to the words and the little room in my mind where i shelved my thoughts. i didn’t know how long it would take until i visited this place but here i am. words didn’t bring me back..images did.

i saw fire. fire that wasn’t there the moment before, fire that broke through innocence and something i thought so powerful and unbreakable. but the enemies broke through and their failed wisdom tore through the very essence of goodness.

running, pounding down a dirt road where the dirt hadn’t seen water in so long it was dust, dust that hurt your throat and made your eyes sting even more as you ran, terrified and filled with the fear only agony in innocence can bring and you don’t even stop to ask why..you don’t have time.

a bomb blew up under a car, but the car was holding a family and there were children in the back

bombs that blow up are for removing the evil

how are children evil, is that even possible?

if you’re asking about the time where my friend in the fourth grade made fun of me for the way i made a cartwheel. it’s ok. i forgave her.

i still smell the mixture of odors that make you freeze in your step. i hear the sounds...the sounds are haunting. they hurt me inside and i wish i could remove the part of my brain that stored them. the bright red fury and the desperate screams of parents, parents whose life was torn apart in a blaze that was pointless in the first place. i wanted to have superpowers that gave me a heat shield so i could bravely walk in the middle of that hell field and pull their bodies out of the eggshell of a car. but i stood behind and shielded my own eyes from the burning firebomb in the middle of the day. villages here don’t have fire trucks to put out the blaze. the way the fire goes out is on its own time.

three years later and i saw an image of a girl in a village and her eyes brought it all back. eyes can say a lot, and that’s why i’m so drawn to them. they can tell a story about an entire lifetime without a single syllable being uttered. and her eyes told a story that mirrored the ones those children in the back of the car would have told if they were here today.

i’ve put their story at peace, although i will never forget nor accept their fate. they were the victims of a war most unjust. and i am a warrior, a present day warrior who cannot stop until justice is found. justice is my blood, my breath, my soul. the reason i am a person of faith. my people are people of the human cause. and i will not stop until my people..the children of Adam...can live in peace and the stories their eyes tell are bedtime stories as a precursor to sweet dreams.

Photo courtesy of Irvin Fong