“[Expletive deleted]!” This basically sums up2008.You don’t need to read this column to realize it was besmirched with hard times.It saw the tragic deaths of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (don’t worry,they’re banks).The housing bubble popped,destroying the national money market and creating a credit crunch.

For the past few weeks,this column has spent a great deal of time criticizing government institutions and officials that,in my opinion,seek to curb the presence of self-determination in our society.I have pointed the finger at over-regulation and forced altruism,stating that such forms of collectivism rob men ofthere right to self-governance.

JAN.3 Santa came late A purse was dumped on a rooftop onValdora Street. Reforesting Davis Four male teenagers were placing Christmas trees in the middle of the road on J Street andDrexel Drive.

Have you ever been dating someone and felt that all of a sudden,you’ve gone farther than you should have? Well I don’t really know what that feels like since I was taught to always put out on the first date and it’s been working fine for me so far (note to self:start the binge eating tomorrow).But for those who do have a problem with it,I heard it is quite a sticky situation.

Gloria Steinem,the renowned feminist and political activist,has cancelled her scheduled speaking engagement at UC Davis. Steinem,who decided to bow out of her appearance to express support for UC service workers,was scheduled to speak at the Mondavi Center forthe Performing Arts on Jan.16.

If all goes according to plan,the Davis Joint Unified School District may soon sell its surplus property at the Grande School Site in North Davis. After decades of ownership,DJUSD has finally achieved a tenable design for the8.83acre property in collaboration with City Council and surrounding neighbors.

Don’t be fooled by Uncle Vito’s classic New York-style black and white exterior wall– eating here isn’t like stepping into aGodfather movie.I was personally intrigued that such an interesting looking pizza place dedicated to New York-style cuisine was opening,but was slightly disappointed by the lack of authenticity.

TODAY Open Mic Night with SickSpits 7 to 10 p.m. Griffin Lounge, MU This open mic night is open to all; poets, singers, guitarists and anyone else is welcome!

WithUC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef’s15-year tenure coming to a close in June,the search is on for someone to take over the fifth floor of Mrak Hall. A search committee made up of students,staff,faculty,alumni and UC regents iscurrentlyworking to find a new chancellor.But what exactly does the chancellor doand should students even care?

The next time you see a small white butterfly fluttering through town,it could land you a free pitcher of beer or the cash equivalent. Arthur Shapiro,professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis continues his annual “Butterfly-for-Beer” contest,now in its38thyear,this month. Shapiro will reward whoever captures the first live cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) of the year.Only adult butterflies found outdoors in Sacramento,Solano or Yolo counties are eligible.

With extremely limited on-campus housing at UC Davis,the Office of Student Housing keeps an eyeonthe local rental market.Student Housing’s33rdannual survey of the state of the rental market was released late last month. In the city of Davis,the vacancy rate increased slightly from0.7to0.8percent and the average cost of rentincreased4.36percent in2008.

Inner tube water polo was invented at UC Davis in1969by Intramural Director Gary Colberg.