Sports Notes:
By Cody Lillich

Loux, Stilson named Baseball All-Americans Pitchers Barret Loux and John Stilson were named to Louisville Slugger NCAA DI All-American Baseball teams.  Stilson, the Big 12’s Newcomer of the year, was named to the second team for his work in closing for the Aggies. Before the NCAA Tournament, Stilson was 8-1 and had nine saves. In 31 appearances, Stilson allowed only seven earned runs, struck out 106 batters in just over 72 innings of work.
Loux was named to the All-American third-team for posting a 10-2 record entering the NCAA tournament. Loux led the Big 12 with 126 strikeouts and opposing batters have a .196 average against him.

Stilson and Loux became the 48th and 49th Aggie baseball players to earn All-American status, following Brooks Raley in 2009. Six Aggie players have now been named to the All-American list under head coach Rob Childress, who is in his fifth year with the Aggies.

May named Softball All-American, set to play this Summer on National Futures team
Softball catcher Meagan May was placed on the 2010 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American second team. May, a freshman, shattered the A&M and Big 12 record for home runs in a single season and is currently sitting at seventh on the Aggie career home run list. She also broke the single season school record for total bases and slugging percentage. The All-American honor makes May one of 19 Aggie All-Americans, following Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough who were both named All-Americans in ’05-’08.

This summer, May will be joining the 2010 USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team for play on an international scale. The team will play exhibition games against the USA National Team, as well as games against Canada, Japan and the USA in the 2010 World Cup of Softball in July in Oklahoma City. May could also be a part of the USA team selected to play at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship July 7-11 and other select games in Canada July 13-14.

Batis signs to play professional volleyball in France
Former A&M volleyball player Mary Batis from San Antonio, signed to play professional volleyball with USSPA Albi Volleyball in Albi, France.

Batis started every match while she was at Texas A&M and helped her team to a 20-11 record last year and an appearance in the sweet sixteen for the first time since 2003. She will report to France in August with her first match scheduled for mid-September.

Black, Ammerman medal at USA Volleyball Open National Championships
Kelsey Black, junior outside hitter, earned a bronze medal on the Women’s National A2 Red Team at the USA Volleyball Open National Championships in Phoenix.

Former outside hitter Sarah Ammerman played for an independent team and earned the silver medal in the championships. Ammerman’s team advanced to the championship after beating Black’s A2 Red team 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 in the consolation semi-finals.

Chris Brown Breaks Down, Alicia Keys Wins At 2010 BET Awards

Los Angeles, CA, United States  – Chris Brown got to participate in the Michael Jackson tribute at the BET Awards after all. It was, however, a year later than the other stars. After his participation was refused at least year’s awards following the highly-publicized domestic “Disturbia” with Rihanna, Brown took the stage for a tribute to King of the Pop which left him, and audiences, in tears.

Just two days after the anniversary of his death, brother Jermaine Jackson introduced Brown as he danced to MJ classics like “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Remember the Time,” “Billie Jean,” and “Smooth Criminal.” Brown made some of the biggest news of the night after falling to his knees for a reflective, tearful rendition of “Man in the Mirror.” The audience helped him finish the cover with a sing-along.

Brown also picked up the Fandemonium Award later in the show. “I just want to say, I let you all down before and I won’t do it again,” he told the audience.

Kanye West opened the show with an appropriately powerful performance of his new single, “Power.” Alicia Keys performed a medley of hits including “No One,” “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart,” and “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)” before picking up awards for Best Female R&B Artist and for Best Collaboration with Jay-Z for “Empire State of Mind.”

Nicki Minaj picked up two awards for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Best New Artist. Beyonce and Lady Gaga took home the award for Video of the Year for “Video Phone,” while Rihanna took home the Viewer’s Choice Award” for her video “Hard” with Young Jeezy.

John Legend was given this year’s Humanitarian Award, previously awarded to stars like Wyclef Jean, while Prince was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Number Of Childless Women Spikes Since 1970s

Washington, DC, United States  – Almost one in five American women never have children, a trend that has increased sharply since the 1970s, according to recent study.

A Pew Research Center report found that the proportion of childless women between the ages of 40 and 44 was 18 percent in 2008. This is up 80 percent from 1976 when it was 10 percent. In 2008, there were 1.9 million childless American women, compared with almost 580,000 in 1976.

The most educated women are among those most likely never to have kids, but that trend is declining. In 2008, 24 percent of women ages 40 to 44 with a master’s, doctoral or professional degree did not have children. That is down 6 percent since 1994.

The racial gap for childless women is narrowing, but white women are still the most likely ethnic group never to have children.

Canada, India Ink Nuclear Cooperation Deal

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – Canada and India signed on Sunday a nuclear cooperation agreement. The agreement allows India to access Canada’s nuclear industry as Delhi expands its nuclear market.

The deal was inked by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The signing seals the discussion made by the two leaders in India last year.

Harper and Singh also signed three memoranda of agreement. The MOUs will:

• encourage the continued development of synergies between Canadian and Indian schools
• improve dialogue on bilateral investment in earth science and mining
• facilitate cultural exchange programs between the two countries.

The signing ceremony was held after the end of the G20 Summit in Toronto.

Harper said in a statement, “Our two countries are laying the foundation to take relations to the next level motivated by our close friendship and complementary economies. The initiatives signed today confirm that we are serious about expanding our relationship.”

Health News

By Autumn Kushner

Weed and Weight Loss?

Across the board, one of the biggest concerns for people when deciding what they think of marijuana use is the “munchies.” However, scientists have begun to harness the power of the munchies mentality and have found that in larger quantities, the cannabinoids act as an appetite inhibitor, according to High Times Magazine and the Harm Reduction Journal. These effects provide  another option among the vast array of others that may be right for you in your weight loss endeavors.  And whether or not marijuana use is good or bad in your personal beliefs, it is good to know every option that may be the key to jumpstarting your weight loss efforts. Aside from the neurological effects, many of the side effects can be used productively in weight loss efforts.

How it Works: The primary receptor in the brain that triggers the “call of the munch” is the CB1 neuron. CB1 neurons are primarily located in reach of the hypothalamus. When a Leptin (a chemical for weight regulation) shortage in the brain occurs, endocannabinoids, (created by the body) and external cannabinoids (THC) dock with the CB1 receptors to activate appetite. When adequate Leptin levels exist in the body, they slow up the neural docking process which stifles appetite. Leptin is released through a little understood process by the body when an appropriately high amount of cannabinoids or endocannabinoids is reached, binding the CB1 receptors and decreasing the neural appetite stimulant.

Sleep- In people with problems with obesity and depression issues, insomnia is often induced, which in turn releases Cortisol, triggering even more weight gain and depression. Cannabinoids can be used as powerful sleep aids so that enough sleep to keep Cortisol levels at bay can be reached. The sleep will also in turn help with the rest and motivation needed to exercise.

Depression – Cannabis use has been well known to help release serotonin into the brain, creating the powerful euphoric state that the drug is most commonly used and known for. When weight is an issue, especially in a college town, depression can hit extremely hard. The temporary euphoria may be simply enough to get you out of bed and see the people who care about you.

Whatever your personal feelings may be, the pharmaceutical companies are starting to take notice of the new development of cannabinoids. Bayer has even sponsored 25 million dollars into research and development of these new drugs, according to High Times and Harm Reduction Journal. Even if it just gets you to eat so much celery you pop, there are ways to work with your body and your receptors to increase your chances of success so that hopefully you will one day be able to sleep, smile, and be fit independent of any type of substance you put into your body.

Men’s Tennis team prepares for post-season

By Chelsea Reber | MAROON WEEKLY

As finals start to creep up on students, the Texas A&M men’s tennis team has a few finals of its own. The 10th ranked Aggies finished their regular season last Friday with a match against TCU. The Aggies swept the Horned Frogs 7-0 ending their regular season with a record of 21-5 and 5-1 in Big 12 Conference play.

The men have now won 14 of their last 15 matches of the season going into the Big 12 Championship followed by the NCAA Championship. Coach Steven Denton has high expectations for his team and keeping them aggressive in their game is a priority.

“We have seen some things that our guys are working on as individuals and as teams. Being more aggressive is generally on of those things that we are going to spend a lot of time on,” Denton said.

With only one senior on the team this year, the Aggies are a young team with a lot of growing potential.

“Our younger players have really bought into our system and it is very exciting. I think A&M tennis is certainly on the upswing,” Denton said.

Although young, the Aggies are not inexperienced. Junior All-American, Austin Krajicek, is currently ranked sixth in the nation and completely dominating his competition. He is 17-4 on the season in singles play and 5-1 in conference. He is 13-4 against nationally ranked competitors on the season.

Krajicek had to make some adjustments in his game from the fall season. It mostly relates to Coach Denton’s take on aggressiveness and the importance of it in his players’ games.

“I had a little trouble last fall, I had some tough draws and bad breaks. But this semester I’ve committed a lot more to working on my serve and trying to put pressure on the other guy when I get the chance. I think that changes the way the match goes and I don’t let a lot of guys get into a rhythm,” Krajicek said.

The Aggies are also led by a sophomore from France, Alexis Klegou. Klegou redshirted last season because he came to Texas A&M in the spring. Even though just watching for a semester was hard for him, Klegou took a lot out of his redshirt season.

When the Aggies played at Baylor last year, Klegou drove up to Waco to watch the match. A controversial call started quite the banter between Klegou and a Baylor fan, which all took place in French.

“I’ve been keeping that in my mind and could not wait to play Baylor the next year,” Klegou said.

It was definitely enough motivation for Klegou and his teammates when they hosted Baylor this year and upset the ninth-ranked Bears in a 6-1 victory on April 7.

“It was definitely my favorite moment this year and I think most of my teammates would agree,” Klegou said.

The men post a 17-1 record on the year at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center, and if you have ever been to a home tennis match, you know why. At a school, where football and basketball are the two sports on everyone’s minds, men’s tennis holds its own.

Texas A&M led the nation in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association attendance race in the month of March with 3,015 fans coming out to support. A&M boasts the second-best total attendance record (4,984) this season behind top-ranked Virginia (7,944) and the top total attendance among all Big 12 Conference schools.

“It is awesome for us,” Kraijcek said. “It’s not like 80,000 people at a football game but it is definitely a close atmosphere and you get 400 people in here and it’s great! When the 12th Man comes out, it makes it fun for us players. Other teams that come here aren’t used to that and they really struggle with it sometimes.”

Even Coach Denton realizes how big of a thing the 12th Man really is and how important the support of this school and the community means to his players.

“It means everything,” he said. “I mean obviously tennis is one of the smaller sports on the grand scheme of things. The state of Texas has also been a football, baseball, basketball state and for the fans here locally and the tennis aficionados in the community, for all of them to be excited about this team helps the guys feel better and feel special. It makes them want to work that much harder.”

The Aggies will head to Austin on Thursday, April 29 to start the Big 12 Championship Tournament, where a little revenge of their loss to Texas will be on their minds. More importantly, their support for each other will be tremendous.

“It is a great pleasure to have teammates and play with other guys who are supporting you. It is a beautiful thing about college tennis,” Klegou said.

Angel & Khriz Hardly Taking Over

By Chris Zebo

When reggaeton started making waves far from the shores of Puerto Rico, few people could have anticipated the splash it would make internationally. In the United States, especially in Latin urban centers like Miami, Los Angeles and New York, reggaeton had gotten its green card in the underground Latin club circuit by the late 90s. It was hard-edged and gritty, and it spoke to Latin urban angst in a language (Spanish) that finally differentiated Latin rap from its African American forefathers.

But few expected that the music–a fusion of Jamaican dance hall and Panamanian reggae, Latin pop and hip hop, and traditional Caribbean sounds like bomba y plena–would ever get serious play time on US Latin radio. For most, it was rehashed hardcore rap with an accent, and many thought of early reggaeton as American hardcore rap’s dirty stepsister. Certainly, no one envisioned the music making a cross-over to non-Latino audiences, since almost all tracks were sung in Spanish.

But then…“Gasolina” happened. Daddy Yankee’s reggaeton smash hit not only took over the Latin charts but it also made numerous appearances on top pop rosters. Not since “Livin’ La Vida Loca” had a Latin song made such an indelible impression on the top 40. But more importantly, unlike Ricky Martin’s pop-and-drop 15 minutes of fame, Yankee’s rise to stardom ushered a whole new underground music genre to the international mainstream.

Angel Rivera Guzmán and Christian Colón (known as the reggaeton duo Angel y Khriz) were caught in Yankee’s undertow. They had shared the same producers as Yankee (the Dominican duo Luny Tunes) and they released their first album, Los MVPs, at about the same time as Yankee’s Barrio Fino, the album that would win a Latin Billboard Award. In the shadow of Yankee’s stardom and, consequently, the growing widespread acceptance of reggaeton, Khriz y Angel had no difficulty getting onto the charts early and consistently. One of the songs from the debut album, “Ven Bailalo,” topped charts in a matter of weeks and set them up for future contracts and, most importantly, gained them an audience.

Four years later, Khriz y Angel released their second full-length album, Showtime, without Luny Tunes in tow and with a new all-star production team including Santana and Barbosa, Nely, and Noriega. The album, unfortunately, was leaked onto the internet before its release date and didn’t achieve the sales necessary to secure a billboard rating. However, without reservations, it was one of the best reggaeton productions ever released and it is still one of the most underrated albums of the past decade. Interestingly, the production team produced tracks that pushed the genre into new territories, like the club mix hit “Na De Na” and their high-octane Merengueton track “Quiere Mas.” The album’s first single release, “La Vecina,” took reggaeton, smoothed out the hard edges and infused ultra-catchy pop hooks. The new direction the duo was heading in was sure to secure them a larger audience, especially those who enjoyed the rhythm of reggaeton but without the hardcore rap baggage.

Showtime is one of those albums that is impossible to follow up. It was the equivalent of Radiohead’s Kid A. It set such a high standard for the duo that any future release would be destined to either fly or fail. It redefined the genre and explored so much new territory that any future release would practically have to reincarnate Showtime as a new album with different tracks (as Radiohead’s Amnesiac took Kid A’s B sides and repackaged them in similar clothing).

Well, Khriz y Angel’s new album Da’ Take Over was released in just the past month. Like the duo’s previous releases, the album features many collaborations, with big names this time, like Flo Rida, salsa legend Victor Manuelle, Divino, Guelo Star, and J-King. The album, like Showtime, attempts to fuse genres and push the envelope. “Mal Negocio (Ya No),” a track featuring Victor Manuelle, is standard cha cha. But no bells or whistles and no real innovation. The guitar in the song sounds like it was lifted directly from “Smooth,“ the famous Santana and Rob Thomas (of Matchbox Twenty) cha cha from 1999.

“Tu Gato Nuevo” stays within the lighter reggaeton range that the group standardized on Showtime. It’s straight-ahead reggaeton without the teeth, and that’s not exactly disparaging, considering Khriz y Angel made the reggaeton sound easier on the ears for people that needed more suburb and less ghetto. But unlike Showtime, Da’ Take Over doesn’t achieve the pop catchiness that defines almost every track from the previous album.

“Que Hay Que Hacer” takes us to the club again, and the track sounds like the closest thing to Showtime’s brilliant overproduction. “Dime” fuses reggaeton and hip hop and then adds layers of synth effects that sound like they came out of an 80s’ video game. It’s not bad, either. “Me Enamore” is one of the better songs from the album. It opens with bachata (a style they’ve pulled off with grace before) and turns into merengue shortly after. It’s a great song, and it deserves play time in a salsa club. But is it “Khriz y Angel?” Not really. It seems misplaced, belonging on another album maybe.

“Como Olvidarte,” featuring Divino, is the final track on the album and it’s so out of place that you might think the producers added the song to the album by accident, or even as a joke. It’s a cheesy ballad, something you might here in the opening credits of a Mexican soap opera. It’s new territory for the duo and it’s the wrong territory, too.

Something is missing on Da‘ Take Over, altogether. Ironic, considering it tries to take on so much. Overall, the production goes from the club to the soap opera in 13 songs. Of the four or five good tracks on the release, none of them compare to the artistry of Showtime. Khriz y Angel certainly haven’t taken anything over with this release.

Slip Of The Tongue

By Autumn Dawson

Well, it has been an interesting semester, and the next one promises to be even more so. We have financial reform (headed by a government that is how far in debt?) to look forward to, a climate-change bill that companies are already predicting will move more manufacturing plants over-seas (just what we need, more jobs vanishing), and a long list of other exciting “changes” to look forward to.

You idiots out there did vote for “Change We Can Believe In,” didn’t you? Did no one ever stop to think what that change might be? Of course not! That would have required the sheeple to think. And God knows (am I still allowed to reference God in this country?) thinking is not a preferred activity for sheeple.

But enough sheeple bashing for the moment, let’s turn to the president. I would like to leave you all with some of the more…interesting actions and comments made by our darling commander in chief. Words to keep you warm and cozy at night…

“Whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower.” -Obama (April 22, 2010; Nuclear Security Summit)

Are you freaking kidding me? WHO doesn’t like that America remains a dominant military superpower? The people that have something to lose because of that power, that’s who! What does the president of the United States of America have to lose because our military remains a superpower? Anyone?

“Over the last 15 months we’ve traveled to every corner of the Unites States. I’ve now been in…57 states.” -Obama (May 9, 2008; Campaign event in OR)

Huh? 57…when the hell did America get 57 states? But maybe he was tired. Maybe he was too hungry to think straight and recall what every child attending pre-school in the United States of America knows. Maybe he was confusing our country with his 57 states of Islam.

April 27, 2008 at a campaign event, while standing beside Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton, Obama stood with his hands clasped in front of him during our American anthem. Not once did he lift his hand. And he wasn’t alone; he could see that others were honoring our flag with a salute. He chose not to, just like he has chosen to never wear an American flag lapel pin. Just as he chose to, after not shaking hands with the firefighter caretakers of the 9/11 memorial, callously toss his flower at the memorial.

This is our president, not king. He was elected. How? Of course, I suppose the how doesn’t really matter. All I can say is that in one year Obama has managed to do more damage to our country than the Bush Administration did in eight. Where does it end? When we are no longer the superpower—which isn’t far off—that our president seems to despise?

God—and to hell with anyone that that word offends—I hope not.

Bryan Rocked Out for Parents Weekend
by Chris Zebo

For those of you entangled in the gridlock of parent’s weekend in Aggieland that managed to break away to Bryan for some Ring Day R&R, you (and your parents) must have been surprised by the lineups and festivities around town. Bryan…was ready for you. Downtown’s Big 3 live music venues (Stafford, Revolution, and Village) hosted a salmagundi entertainment roster that staged everything from Latin rock to metal to alt-country and even an all-day art fair–a little something for everybody.

The Stafford got an early start on the weekend with Fred Eaglesmith last Thursday night. Eaglesmith’s alt-country outfit is on the road again (he practically owns the road at this point, since he’s always on tour) and he made another pit stop in Bryan. Never heard of him? You’re probably not alone. But this guy’s a cult figure and he’s got a dedicated following across the globe (and even in BCS, of all places). He’s “Tom Waits meets Pink Floyd meets Hank Williams,” according to the Calgary Herald, and he’s most certainly one of the kings of the underground, with 17 albums released in the past 30 years and the only #1 bluegrass hit written by a Canadian.

The Austin sound returned to Revolution on Friday night, complete with the token boots, bell-bottoms, vintage amps/guitars, planned tousling, etc. (you could almost smell the moth balls from the retro Western shirts). The night opener, a three-piece called The Sideshow Tragedy, just recently released a new album, Itinerant Youth, and is only a week or two away from embarking on a US tour. Their sound is deep south blues rock and early Stones with a tinge of gritty noise guitar soloing that harkens back to the indie-noise 90s. The group’s singer and bandleader, Nathan Singleton, has a voice like Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson after gargling shards of glass and whiskey. He plays the dobro (he brought two gems), and his tinny, nickle slide playing–paired with lyrics from another era (“My baby don’t love me no moh”)–almost took you back to the delta.

The Happen-Ins took the stage next and wasted no time keeping the theme. They asked the audience if they were up for two Chuck Berry covers, and everyone sounded a resounding “yes!” Some older folks in the audience, presumably parents of Ring Day Aggies, got onto the floor and boogied down in the embarrassing way that parents do. At one point, you might have confused the band for a hired act for tourists in a Bourbon Street saloon. At other times, they strayed deeper into rock territory and sounded more like a Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival. They were feeling it and so was the audience, grannies included.

Across town (footsteps away, in other words), the Village stole the night, though, with a popular local group called Roca Azul. The “grupo” calls themselves “The Professors of Latin Sound,” and rightly so, considering more than half of the members are professors at the university. Their following is quite impressive; for a group that only plays a show once a month or even more infrequently during the semester (when papers need grading), the Village was at capacity with loyal followers. The joint was shaking with grad students, Latinos, professors and internationals–apparently, the only people that respect “la musica” nowadays. Everyone danced to the sounds of Roca Azul’s Latin standards infused with rock and blues (imagine Santana but if Santana had the guts to play a merengue). No congas or bongos; just a drum set, which gave the group (by default) its rock edge.

On Saturday, the MSC Forsyth Center Galleries hosted its annual Downtown Street and Art Fair, this year with an art benefit that raised money for Haitian earthquake victims. Local artisans and business owners were equally nervous that the event would be rained out. But the rain stuck to the clouds, and the streets and venues were instead flooded with locals, students and–you guessed it–parents.

Those who stayed in town after the fair, again, had their pick of entertainment. As usual, the Village’s Salsa Saturdays was packed to the walls with sweaty dancers and Dos Equis-fisted wallflowers. Across the street, the Stafford once again challenged its status as Bryan’s heavy metal fortress by softening the stage with a popular group out of Austin called The Lonesome Heroes. They just recently returned from a West Coast tour and traveled to Bryan to play for their local BCS following.

The group’s sound has been described as psychedelic country; but that distinction is tenuous under certain definitions of psychedelic music. They’re not the trippy-hippy, West Coast, flanger-pedal, granola drop-out psychedelic you’d expect from the deep 60s (“Dude, are you gonna pass that?”). But they do toe the line of the Texas psychedelic movement that evolved out of the cosmic cowboy sound, those hippie-Texan hybrids that defined 1970s’ Austin rock. Their sound can go back and forth between alt-Americana and even indie-edged honky tonk at times, too. Just imagine lap steel honky tonk from the dry dust range–the lonesome, brooding type–but switch out the blue collars for white ones.

Overall, Bryan’s entertainment venues made a big impression on parents, Aggies and even locals last weekend, proving once again that Downtown B is the arts heart of the Brazos Valley.

Anarchists, Gypsies and Gays, They are Texans, too

by Ryan Stone

A cowboy is a rustling, roping rider that scours the plains in search of adventure and justice. Or she’s a nine-to-fiver that kicks back at a local bar at the end of a long, hard week and isn’t surprised when a fight breaks out because there are gays in her bar.

Gays are flamboyant, sexual gypsies and butch women that hate all men. Or they’re shy teenagers afraid of the judgment of their family and friends, frightened of the very real threat of physical violence and hatred that conservative and religious groups have ready to hurl on them by the bucketful.

A gypsy is a seductive dancer and fortune-teller that reads palms and rides around in a caravan. Or she’s also a nine-to-fiver with a big, sedentary family that is targeted by nationwide law enforcement programs built on the assumption that all Romani (the actual, non-pejorative version of “gypsy”) are anarchists and thieves.

An anarchist is a hooded kid that smashes windows and wants revolution and wants it now. Or she’s a middle-age, middle-class mother that also works 9 to 5 and that sees the government as stifling and unnecessary but also sees revolution as a cultural movement and not one that necessarily includes hurling bombs and smashing windows.

Texas is home to all of these. It is a state of unnoticed diversity, containing gays, Romani, anarchists, feminists, left and right libertarians, as well as soldiers that are opposed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. While the privileged of Texas may treat them all with indifference and annoyance, the truth is that your neighbors and families are all made of people that don’t fit into the conservative Christian stereotype that the rest of the nation uses to judge this “many-starred” state.

These stereotypes are built on a lack of recognition, both personally and on a governmental level.

A recent movement called Queer the Census sought to have gays included in the national census, acknowledging that they are a growing and active demographic with many tough issues pending in courts and public forums nationwide. Even though many people, both state and nationwide, still harbor strong feelings and advocate violence against gays, there can be no peace and acceptance for them until their own neighbors and fellow Texans treat them as brothers, sisters, and equals.

Anarchists, still thought to be wild, black bloc, bank-smashing machines, are Twittering at protests, starting free grocery stores and community gardens, constructing free housing–and not just in Texas, but throughout the world. Yet they are often met with ridicule and anger by Republicans and Democrats, violence by police, and general distrust by the very people they seek to serve. While the general media applauds Iranians Twittering about police brutality in their cities, law enforcement in the United States actively seeks out and prosecutes anarchists that Twitter about experiences in their own country. There will be no real freedom in Texas or anywhere else until they, too, are accepted, acknowledged, and understood as the beautiful and fearless people they are.

The Romani, of whom there are upwards of 20,000 in Texas alone, are a deeply familial and generally religious people, targeted by law enforcement no less than anarchists, and are more marginalized than even gays. Thought of in the same fairy tale vein as trolls and elves, many well-meaning people do not realize that Romani are people that live among them, people that are afraid to reveal their own race for fear of ridicule and retaliation. They are a people with a rich, cultural history that predates Texas by thousands of years, and until Texans accept and celebrate them as equals, this will continue to be a very large state with an embarrassingly small heart.

The Love Consultant: Dating and Relationship Advice from Aggieland’s Love Doctor

Dear LC,

I caught my girlfriend picking her nose yesterday.  She didn’t eat it, though (thank God).  But I’m still grossed out and now I’m thinking about dumping her.

I was in the living room waiting for her to get her makeup on and, like usual, she was taking forever.  So right when I walked into her room to prod her to hurry up, I turned the corner and saw her digging for gold.  I didn’t want to say anything because I knew she’d be embarrassed if I did.  When she was finished her mining expedition, I went into the room and finally got her moving.  But when we did (finally) go out last night, all I could think about was her with her finger in her nose.  In just one day, I’ve lost all attraction to her, a girl I’ve been with for 6 months.  I don’t think I can go on any longer with her.

The real problem is that this is probably not a big deal for most people.  I know that.  But this isn’t the first time I’ve been grossed out of a relationship before.  I once had a girlfriend that I had to dump because she had mild body odor sometimes, like from her armpits and sometimes from her mouth.  There were two girls I had to dump because of this, actually.  I don’t know if most guys would just deal with it and move on, but it’s impossible for me to look past it.  And I can’t say anything to the girls about this stuff because it’ll embarrass them and because it really doesn’t matter by that point.  Even if they were to do something about it, I’m still too disgusted to look at them the same way anyway.  Is there something wrong with me?  A friend told me I’m neurotic.  Am I?  

Neurotic Ned

Dear Ned,

I’ve got some really bad news for you.  Please hold onto your chair: that girl, the one you caught digging for gold in front of her vanity mirror?  In that same day, she took a big brown poop.  I’m not kidding.  It was brown and smelly.  Like yours.  You do know your poop is brown and smelly, too?

How connected were you to this girl after 6 months (a fair amount of time) that just one nose picking episode would send you packing?  I mean, really?  Did you really like this girl in the first place?  Did you let her into your heart?  A person that was really connected with another person would have a speck (bigger than a booger) of unconditional feelings for their significant other. 

You might have commitment issues and your unfair standards of hygiene might be your way of pulling the plug on relationships when they grow stale.  It’s very common for a couple in a relationship to have one or two things they don’t like about their lover; but not something that would send them packing in 24 hours.  If you’ve left two or more girls in the past for hygiene reasons, I can’t honestly believe they all had halitosis.  And neither can you, can you?  What’s keeping you from forging connections?

Dear LC,

I just introduced my boyfriend to my parents last weekend and it didn’t go so well.  I’ve been with Gary for only 3 months and I really like him.  He’s different than most guys I would date, and I’m not sure if that’s why I liked him originally or what.  But some of those differences I liked were not liked by my parents.

When Gary and I got home from our visit, I got a call from my mother.  She said she was concerned about me.  She wanted to know how the girl she raised took such a liking to someone (Gary) that was against the “family grain.”  She said she was in shock when Gary got up to go smoke a cigarette on the porch.  She also said she didn’t think his tattoos (he’s only got four) were cute, either. 

I was extremely saddened.  I really wanted my parents to be accepting of him, as they taught me to be of others when I was growing up.  Gary’s been great to me, and I want my parents to know that.  But they couldn’t see past the tattoos.  How can I get them to see Gary as I do?

Black Sheep

Dear Black Sheep ,

You’re right.  So what if he smokes and he’s inked up.  Character matters most.  And you’re also right to see the hypocrisy in your mother being judgmental when she was the one who taught you to be accepting.  I hope you told her that.  If you didn’t, call her back and hold the mirror up for her.  And what about your father?  You didn’t say anything about him in your letter (and that’s a good thing).  If he’s quiet or in the background about this Gary has a better chance of acceptance.

Here’s the good news.  Gary’s a great guy.  And if your parents are as good as you think they are, in time, they will accept Gary on his own merits.  Keep bringing him around.  When you talk to your mom on the phone, keep expressing all of the good things he’s doing for you.  Parents cannot resist people that do good to their children.  Eventually, they will cave in and welcome him into the “family grain.”

But if your mother is truly obstinate, then you might have to battle her.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.  Once she sees that you won’t back down, she’ll either have to become accepting or learn to keep her mouth shut.

Have a question for the Love Consultant?  Email LC at aggielovesconsultant@gmail.com.  Your question may be edited for length and content and all names will be changed to protect all real identities.

]]> http://maroonweekly.com/2010/04/the-love-consultant-3/feed/ 0 http://maroonweekly.com/2010/04/football-hosts-pigskin-palooza-for-students/ http://maroonweekly.com/2010/04/football-hosts-pigskin-palooza-for-students/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:43:15 +0000 Cody Lillich http://maroonweekly.com/?p=1885

Football hosts Pigskin Palooza for students

By Cody Lillich | MAROON WEEKLY

Texas A&M Students will get the chance to be up close with their the football team Thursday as a part of the team’s first-ever Pigskin Palooza at Kyle Field.

Students can watch team practice beginning at 4p.m. and also enjoy other fun activities, food and chances to enter prize drawings. During the practice, students are encouraged to line up along the track surrounding the field.

Coach Mike Sherman said after practice the team will hold drawings for various prizes such as bench passes for home games, a white throwback helmet, and a personalized 12th Man jersey.

Also after the practice, players will break off into groups and allow current A&M students to practice their skills in what the team is calling the College Football Experience.

“This is similar to the Youth Experience we had earlier in the spring with the youngsters in the community,” Sherman said. “The students can do various drills with our position groups, maybe catch passes from Jerrod Johnson, throw TD passes to E.Z. (Uzoma Nwachukwu) or Jeff Fuller or do some drills with Von Miller coming off of the edge as a blitzing linebacker.”

Gates will open at 3:30p.m. on Thursday, with the first 250 to show their Student ID getting a free food coupon. Food and drinks will be discounted on sale for all other attendees to the event.

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