When addiction strikes! Meet a junkie whose drug of choice was simulated combat

Get in the know with reality shows The truth behind the real-life programs Plus: controlling the TV Meet one funny lady who makes comedy her “Bitchcraft” 2 BUZZ 09.06.07 daily.titan daily.titan BUZZ 10.25.07 3

Read how one VIDEO GAME guy took his ADDICTION love of the game too far FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH READING

BITCHCRAFT The Buzz Editor: The Daily Titan 714.278.3373 Jennifer Caddick The Buzz Editorial 714.278.5426 [email protected] FIND OUT THE Executive Editor: Editorial Fax 714.278.4473 Ian Hamilton The Buzz Advertising 714.278.3373 [email protected] REALITY OF Director of Advertising Fax 714.278.2702 Advertising: The Buzz , a student publication, is a supplemental REALITY SHOWS Stephanie Birditt insert for the Cal State Fullerton Daily Titan. It is printed every Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently Assistant Director of of Associated Students, College of Communications, Advertising: CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan Sarah Oak has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial Production: activities or ventures identified in the advertisements Jennifer Caddick themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, Account Executives: endorsement or investigation of such commercial Nancy Sanchez enterprises. Juliet Roberts Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan

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Chinatown

Photos by jade lehar The Central Plaza food. employee at Woo’s Gift Shop, Another peculiar store in the Carts and tables are set up outside located in the West Plaza, said. Central Plaza is Munky King, stores selling a variety of items. “I think they see things here that which is heaven for those interested Most offer plants and exotic flowers they’ve never seen before.” in graphics and Japanimation. The By Jade Lehar all around. It’s easy to see why the appealing to people who may be The Golden Dragon Restaurant store showcases funky customized Daily Titan Staff Writer movie “Rush Hour” was shot here. interested in gardening. is a great eatery with an upper-class toys that appear to be modeled after There’s a huge sign with the Mixed within greenery, food and feel to it, where customers can get an action figures, but have an original Los Angeles is a city where you words “Chinatown” as soon as you bamboo sticks, shoppers can also authentic meal, soak in the Chinese feel to them. can be in one place, drive five miles enter, which gives the whole area find cute purses (some knock-offs), atmosphere or have a drink in the Fortune tellers and tarot card down the block and find yourself a carnival-feel effect when it’s lit tops, sunglasses and numerous other bar/lounge area. readers are also sporadically placed lost in a totally different place. up at night. You feel as if you have items. It’s almost like a cultural Wal- As you enter the huge wooden in Central Plaza. Even the most Chinatown is a great example of one made a wrong turn and ended up Mart because you can find most doors, you are greeted by a big, straight-laced person might be of those places because you feel like in China. things that you are looking for and a grinning Buddha-esque golden persuaded to take a seat and have his you’re in another land. There are rows of shops and lot of random things you didn’t even statue. While you eat your noodles, or her palm read with the old-world As soon as you enter Chinatown, restaurants people browse for cheap know existed. or udon, you can enjoy the colorful surroundings. it’s hard not to immerse yourself deals, eclectic pieces they can’t find “We get a lot of customers from designs and antiques on the walls. Underneath the colorful Chinese in the old-world tradition you feel anywhere else or authentic Chinese all over the world,” Kim Sun, an Some consider Central Plaza lanterns in Central Plaza, bazaars one of the most eclectic places in seem to sporadically loom. These Chinatown, a location where you bazaars are very reminiscent of almost feel your inner artist come the movie “Aladdin,” with exotic, out. Compared to a beautiful random pieces all placed in a room waterfall and statues in Chinatown, in a bizarre fashion for customers to some stores almost don’t seem to fit. enjoy. For example, Realm is a modern mix Another cool thing about of items for the home with a high- Chinatown is that it’s located class Urban Outfitters feel to it. conveniently near the monorail and “I decorated my whole room the subway. You can hop on either from Realm. They have the most one of those and not have to drive unique mix of things you can’t find in the horrible L.A. traffic to get anywhere else, especially their music there. book collection, which is awesome,” “I like to come to Chinatown said Tina Lee, graphic design major when I want to get away from at Cal State Fullerton. Orange County for awhile,” said Lee said as soon as she found Shanea Huth, art history major at Realm, it became her secret store to CSUF. “I appreciate the beautiful find off-the-wall things for her home culture there and you can find some that couldn’t be found anywhere great deals on really cute gift ideas. I else. think it’s easy for people in Orange “Some things may be a little County to stay stuck in the bubble pricey, but I think it’s worth it. I and not expand our horizons.” have stuff in my room that no one When you leave Chinatown, you else has ever seen before. All of the almost seem to wonder where our pieces look really classy and upscale,” sense of culture is nowadays, and if Different items for sale along the streets of Chinatown. Lee said. we have lost it completely. 4 BUZZ 10.25.07 daily.titan

people are becoming addicted to a new kind of substance – video games

Photos by Damon Casarez Gamers of all ages play “Counter-Strike” and other computer games at Red Zone in Placentia.

By Robert Stroud Daily Titan Staff Writer

With a finger on the trigger and a team of allies behind his Brian Zielinski plays Halo 3 on his Xbox 360. back, a soldier storms through a war-torn city while waiting for the social lives take a back seat to Looking back on the impact these enemy to appear, allowing him the gaming. It is the mission of rehab games had on his life, Hoffman opportunity to make that long- facilities, such as Wild Horses, for understands why he saw the games awaited kill. The anticipation of the gamers to gradually be re-introduced as helpful tools for dealing with his enemy’s attack carries more than back into reality. depression. just the fear of death. It also carries According to the Wild Horses “I didn’t have to deal with humiliation as these combatants are Web site, gamers have specific needs emotions over losing friends, I looking to rob this soldier of his or that make their addiction unique didn’t have to deal with issues over her life in more ways than one. compared to the needs of other my family life and I didn’t have to The world of an addict is one of addicts. get to know anyone,” Hoffman said. pain and denial because he or she uses “In order to replace the fantasy “I had no problem with it because I his or her crutch to escape the harsh excitement with real excitement, didn’t care. I immersed myself with reality of life. As society begins to we provide various activities for that world because it was an easy mature, people are realizing addicts the gaming clients, some of which escape.” are no longer just those who use are high adrenaline [rushers] Like many gaming addicts, drugs and alcohol to cope with their and provide the thrill of real-life Hoffman’s addictions did not end existence, but anyone who chooses situations.” with countless hours spent playing to use distractions to disassociate As with most addictions, video “Counter-Strike.” Along with themselves from the real world. game addicts use their fix to escape his dependency on video games, Now that video games have problems they face in their day-to- Hoffman began using various drugs surpassed the stereotype of being day lives. to help him distance himself from just a toy for children, some people When Brian Hoffman, 24, of the problems in his life. are beginning to realize other people Placentia, was forced to deal with “I started doing a lot of [crystal] are becoming dependent on games the death of two long-time friends, meth[amphetamine],” Hoffman that allow themselves to live an he began distancing himself from said. alternate existence. many of the people in his life, While under the influence, With the recent debate held by spending the majority of his time in Hoffman found his obsession with the American Medical Association these alternate realities. video games to be a great way to over whether video game addiction After the loss of his friends, hide his drug use from his parents. should be considered a “formal Hoffman turned his fascination “I had such a close and protective diagnostic disorder,” many are to the game “Counter-Strike,” a mother because I was raised beginning to rethink the impact multiplayer first-person shooter, Mormon, that I couldn’t really get gaming has on those with an into an obsession. away with being high around my addictive personality. “It went from going a couple parents,” Hoffman said. “If you’re in The Wild Horses Center, a times a week, to five times a week, your room by yourself, and you have rehabilitation clinic in Amsterdam, to every day,” Hoffman said. “The immersed yourself in this world that has recently introduced a program place would stay open all night. video games tend to provide, you specifically aimed at curing There were a lot of times I would don’t have to deal with anybody.” individuals who have made their stay there until they closed.” Much like people suffering daily.titan BUZZ 10.25.07 5 restrain themselves when it comes to their game playing. While 20 percent of people become, in some way, addicted to video games, the bulk of gamers will never have this problem. “There are days where I will go on binges, playing online all night until 7 in the morning, but that’s when I’ve gotten all my work done; I have some free time from school,” longtime gamer Charley Bak said. “It’s all time management really. You really got to get your priorities straight.” Even though he has had multiple battles with addiction, Hoffman has come to admit his problem with gaming and is now focused on getting his life back on track. “I’m starting my life at a latter point. I realize I’m not where I should be with my life. Now I have to deal with the situation I put myself in, move on and make a decent life for myself,” Hoffman said. Nathan Gallegos playing “Time Crisis” at SUPER ARCADE in Walnut. from drug and alcohol addictions, Hoffman’s hygiene suffered as a result of his problem with gaming. “I got to the point where sometimes I wouldn’t want to move from my spot, I’d literally just pee in a bottle instead of getting up to go to the bathroom,” Hoffman said. For most addicts to admit they have a problem, they have to reach a point in their lives where they are no longer able to remain in denial about the damage their addiction is having on their lives. “Everybody hits the rock bottom,” said Christy Ake, a psychology professor from Cal State Fullerton and drug addiction counselor. “I think that you have to feel some pain … you have to have some consequence for us to change on anything,” Ake said. “As soon as things start breaking down, we all have a level that is rock bottom. Then you have to get to the guilt and the shame, and then you have to climb out.” Just like other recovering addicts, Hoffman was forced to reflect upon his life once he hit his “rock bottom.” “I hit the point where I wanted to commit suicide,” Hoffman said. “I still had all these messed up emotions over losing my friends that I hadn’t dealt with [yet].” After seriously contemplating suicide, Hoffman found the desire to reorganize his priorities in hopes of getting his life back on track. “I stopped doing meth after that point,” Hoffman said. According to the Wild Horses Web site, the majority of people who play video games are able to 6 BUZZ 10.25.07 daily.titan birthday presents for acquaintances. Comics Unlimited in Westminster. You can find all sorts of oddities Back issues of Marvel and DC Get ready to book it here, but the L.A. storefront is a comics, novel-long graphic novels, Off-the-wall bookstores offer cheaper, great resource for contemporary art role-playing-game sourcebooks and hipper selections that will get almost anyone books and graphic novels. While Magic: the Gathering cards – it’s all you’re at it, take a look at the toys here. The owner, Nancy McCann, to rediscover the reading habit Soap Plant offers. It’s the ultimate even sells her own jewelry. Nowhere this week’s concerts gift store and it’s worth the trip else can you find pendant wizards By Sylvia Masuda big,” said 29-year-old Long Beach from the O.C. and dragons on necklace chains 10.25 Daily Titan Staff Writer resident Oliver Jirad. Skylight Books in Los Feliz is It takes a lot of effort to ignore Troubadour- The Good Life This is literary hog paradise, and always abuzz with bespectacled those condescending looks you get 10.26 Some may think there isn’t a you can easily spend under $20 and hipsters. The store is complete when you’re browsing the erotica HOB Anaheim- Blonde reason to drive to a bookstore walk out with three or four books. with scores of reading events and at Borders. That’s when you head Redhead when they can just surf the ‘net for “It’s a good alternative to the usual a temperamental live-in cat that’s to L.A.’s Babeland. This isn’t any 10.27 reading material. In fact, there’s no kind of bookstore in the business,” popular with regulars. If you want sketchy sex joint. Babeland is clean, Glass House- The Good Life reason to read when there are stacks Jirad said. “It’s a very practical way to learn about some esoteric subject, classy and friendly. Thumb through Avalon- Strung Out of textbooks waiting to be cracked to find books.” this is the place. the latest lesbian erotica anthology 10.28 open. But today’s bookstores are If you’re looking for a used and “There’s really not too many or bondage how-to guide without The Wiltern- Pinback more offbeat than your average out-of-print bookstore closer to Eastside bookstores,” Manager worrying about prying eyes. 10.29 Borders or Barnes & Noble. These home, head to the Bookman in Steven Salardino said. “The key is to “The mission of Babeland has reader retreats may not offer music Orange and the Bookman Too in Troubadour- Saves the Day have stuff that’s new and interesting always been to promote sexual listening stations, Wi-Fi or chai Huntington Beach. They aren’t Wiltern- Avenged Sevenfold you don’t see anywhere else. vitality,” said Assistant Manager lattes, but after visiting these stores, as charming as Acres, but still as Orpheum Theatre- Tegan & Skylight’s reputation is built on its Sarah Tomchesson. “In order to you’ll realize there’s more out there extensive, with out-of-print gems Sara unique and interesting selection.” have a sex-positive culture you need than supermarket paperbacks. and ladders for reaching shelftops. HOB Anaheim- Hot Hot Heat Skylight focuses on carrying to have an educated population. Acres of Books in Long Beach Despite the intoxicating scent of 10.30 contemporary literary fiction, the The goal is to create a space where has long been hailed as one musty yellow pages and crumbling Glass House- Glassjaw kind that, Salardino said, is written people feel comfortable.” of the best used bookstores in binding, Bookman’s high rotation Grove Anaheim- Rooney & by younger authors. The bookstore Books are no longer dry or Southern California. The place is of books guarantees the selection Psychedelic Spree also has an extensive political overly-academic. Instead of logging overwhelming and dizzying. Just stays fresh. science section. There’s a bonus: on to TMZ.com or reading “Us 10.31 looking up at the ceiling-high Soap Plant stocks books that the surrounding neighborhood is a Weekly,” pick up a novel the next Grove Anaheim- Regina shelves of books induce vertigo. are more browse-worthy than buy- goldmine of shops and restaurants time you’re at a bookstore. It may be Spektor “I’ve been to many second-hand worthy. These coffee-table books worth checking out. just the thing you need to expand HOB Sunset- Cypress Hill bookstores and this one is really come in handy as last-minute Comic buffs can get their fix at your horizons.

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Artist: Britney Spears Album: Blackout daily.titan BUZZ 10.25.07 7 Watch Photos by richard tinoco Daily Titan Staff Writer the craft of bitch A one-woman show that’s pure comedy

By Joy alicia Daily Titan Staff Writer

What better way to trick-out the spooky month of October than with a wicked treat? What kind of wicked treat? Bitchcraft. October is “Arts Month” in California and to help commemorate Rosie Gonzalez Business/economics major it, there’s Actoberfest. The “fest” is “I was actually gonna go put on by Fire Rose Productions at running. I pretty much just the Secret Rose Garden. throw anything on in the Fire Rose is a nonprofit morning.” corporation, housed in the NoHo Photos courtesy of marion douglas Arts District of North Hollywood. this [taking suggestions from the Their mission is to “promote audience].” multicultural awareness and Typically, the audience has fun education in the performing arts by with her shows. implementing projects devoted, but “We’re trying to have people write not limited to, youth programs.” suggestions down on a paper that I One month ago, stand-up can pull from so that I also have an comedian Marion Douglas emergency standby in there and go purchased the Rose Theatre for a in a different direction. You can get night. into that dangerous area of a lull,” Her show titled “Bitchcraft” is Douglas said. an interactive experience. Her one- Douglas has performed at the woman act is different every time Improv, the Comedy Store, the because she takes suggestions from Cabaret and more. And when she’s the audience. not on stage, she’s producing films. Sunday, Douglas hit the stage This year, she’s been a part of four with humor and confidence, giving films. She took a break from comedy an unforgettable show for the for a while but is back to impress her audiences. She’s been busy buying Frank Aaron Borunda audience nestled in Rose Theatre’s Counseling major intimate setting. She prepared by nights at different theaters where “I like to dress up a little more staying informed. she can perform. formally. I do American Apparel “I try to stay up on all the current “I’m still toying with the idea ... I do thrift shops ... I don’t events and sometimes it’ll be topical of doing another show around the really like to show off logos.” or political and I try to have my bases holidays, like a bitch Christmas kind covered on everything,” Douglas of thing,” Douglas said. “Maybe said. “I was having a little trouble I’ll think of doing a comedy show, having the time to write and prepare which should be pretty funny. I take for a show, and I really wanted to songs and I replace them with the do it for my birthday earlier this word ‘bitch.’ Every song that you year. I’ve been in production back- can think of; there’s hundreds of to-back ... I don’t know of any songs about the title.” other comic out there who’s doing

Reyna Banks Dance major “[My style] changes often and goes off my mood. I would define it as on edge, but content.” 8 BUZZ 10.25.07 daily.titan front of the camera and some is just fascination by others’ troubles.” innate,” he said. Reality shows, however, don’t just The reality of reality shows People not interested in reality add unique layers to the average fame can choose to live vicariously television programming. They take By Amy Robertson through the television tubes, layers away as well. Daily Titan Columnist Cynthia King, a communications “Make-believe isn’t as satisfying professor at Cal State Fullerton, to people. The reality aspect removes The happy days of television said. one layer of fantasy. People get more sitcoms being watched by full houses There are many motives for invested then,” King said. of families are a thing of the past. tuning into reality programming, Despite reality shows drawing in Instead, reality shows dominate the King said. Besides self-comparison, more fans, the debate over how long airwaves, giving birth to a new kind people also watch because of the they will hold control over sitcoms of quasi-celebrity and transforming simplistic nature of reality shows. in ratings continues. viewers into reality junkies, network However, in large part, viewers “People have been saying every executives said. watch reality television because of year that reality shows are dying,” Although the stars and fans of compulsion and added suspense, Perebinossoff said. “I don’t think reality shows are ordinary people, King said. they are. They’ll have to either get they all hold different, personal Because the shows are unscripted, more dangerous, more edgy or a reasons for their participation and there’s a greater chance for new gimmick.” fascination with the television spontaneity, Philippe Perebinossoff, Kroncke said he does think the genre. a CSUF radio-TV-film professor shows will die out soon. Lauren Conrad used to be an and former ABC network executive, “TV goes through cycles of average high school student. Three said. programming. [Networks will] milk years ago, however, she became a Reality television emphasizes the each genre for all it’s worth because star on MTV’s “Laguna Beach,” tragic and unusual, Kroncke said. TV is about one thing – making which followed the lives of a group “Everyone loves a train wreck,” money. But tastes will eventually of teenagers. Photo courtesy of blog.who.com Kroncke said. “There’s a morbid change,” he said. Conrad, 21, now stars in her own reality show on MTV Networks – “The Hills” – which chronicles her life in Los Angeles while she attends school and interns at Teen Vogue WHERE’S THE SCENE magazine. Her father, Jim, encouraged her to do “Laguna Beach.” IN FULLERTON??? “I knew she wanted to be in the The Daily Titan wants to know fashion business, and to get a good start, you have to be visible,” her dad said. Breaking into show business isn’t the only reason people participate in reality shows, John Kroncke, an educational and school psychologist, said. Some are “exhibitionists” who will do anything to be on television, Kroncke said. “They have a chronic, overwhelming need for attention and love,” he said. “They need fulfillment from others to feel OK. They are not content with their own life.” For exhibitionists, the invasion of their privacy is worth it. “[Celebrity] is almost like a drug,” Kroncke said. Part of the allure comes from the media. Celebrities are put on a pedestal and heavily promoted as holding the ultimate lifestyle, Kroncke said. Visit www.dailytitan.com “People want that same level. As long as they’re in the limelight, it’s Fill out our Best of Fullerton survey seen as a positive thing,” Kroncke said. Enter for a chance to win 2 FREE park Although it might seem like anyone can have a piece of the stardom drug, Conrad’s dad said it hopper passes to Disneyland!* takes a certain type of person to be a reality star.

“Some of it is being photogenic, *Visit www.dailytitan.com for details. All entries must be received no later than 9-20-07. some is being able to be relaxed in