There has been a lot of discussion about the opinion that even though we as a country are at war, it sometimes feels like we are not. Older people who lived through Vietnam are amazed that young people are not as involved with the war as they were during the 60s and 70s.

Another year, another loss in the first round for the Los Angeles Lakers, and yet nothing has really been done to help the franchise. Ever since Shaquille O'Neal was traded, the Lakers are basically a .500 team with no playoff series wins, and wasting one of the best talents in Kobe Bryant that some have ever seen.

CSUN is lucky enough to have one of the most diverse campuses in the country. We have people from not only many different areas of Los Angeles, but of the country and the world. Because of the many different cultures that call CSUN their school, we are offered to learn about many different cultures, such as the role of women in Islam.

I am sorry to beat a tired drum here, but college is expensive. There are not only the rising fees, but also the cost of parking, food and the rising amount of interest rates that are being put on college loans. Many college students can't work full-time and some cannot work at all.

Let's be honest, anyone who commutes to campus hates the nightmare of parking at CSUN. You pay your $126 to buy a parking pass, and then feel fortunate to actually find a space anywhere on campus. Some people must resort to parking at the lot across the street from the dorms on Lassen and Lindley.

With the 2006 Midterm Elections at a distant, and for some painful, memory, the political attention now turns to the next big contents, the 2008 Presidential Election. For the Republicans, it means candidates that have a different stance then President George W.

Smoking cigarettes in public places has basically been outlawed in the United States today and especially in California, which is one of the toughest states when it comes to smoking in public. Smokers can no longer smoke in restaurants, bars or any where else that is considered a public environment.

It is very simple. When the Cal State Northridge men's basketball team's offense is connecting on all cylinders, the team wins. When it is not, like it was in the 91-70 loss at Tulsa on Nov. 25 and the 66-44 loss to Illinois St. on Nov. 20, the team loses.

It was a record-setting game for the Cal State Northridge men's basketball team as the Matadors shattered their record for most points in one game with a 159-97 win over the Redlands Bulldogs in front of 1,016 at the Matadome on Nov. 15. The 159 points shatter the old mark of 123 points scored against Westmont on Feb.

The Cal State Northridge men's basketball team started its regular season beating Portland State 90-65 and Lehigh 74-68 but fell to Oregon 84-73 at the Portland State Basketball Travelers Classic in Eugene, Ore. Nov. 10-12. Against Lehigh, sophomore Jason Hill scored a team-high 13 points on 4-9 shooting and Rob Haynes added 12 points as CSUN held on 74-68.

Democrats took the House and at least have half of the Senate, so this should be one of the most joyous times to be a Democrat. For me, however, it is also a bit worrisome. Don't get me wrong, I am a proud Democrat and am happy that they did retake the House and at least half of the Senate.

The Cal State Northridge men's basketball team shot 51 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three point line and had five players score in double figures en route to a 97-82 win over the Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles in the first preseason game in front of 1,197 at the Matadome Nov.