Summertime, and the livin's easy. But easy living always comes with its drawbacks. Summer always poses some major disparities of mind, body and soul — but working through these can be a breeze. Without a landlocked state of being, my physical attraction toward others would be lost as I'd be holed up in the depths of my house playing career mode in a baseball video game until 2012.
Emily Tobin and her rickety, rusty 4-year-old Huffy Redrock bicycle do not get along. When the English junior's mode of transportation is coated with rust or springs a sprocket, she is ready to blow a gasket. "A few weeks ago, it broke a sprocket on the back wheel, so I could not move it.
Pack a bag, hike a trail, pitch a tent, huddle around the campfire and sleep under the stars — some students cannot resist the call of the wild. The allure of getting away from city lights and into the woods in pursuit of a relaxing utopia void of traffic is an experience some people can't live without.
School is almost out, and the snow may be gone for good. It is time to ditch the sweats for adorable summer duds seven days a week. Think beyond the typical tank top and shorts, and experiment with some of the season's most unique items.
Editor's note: This is the final installment of the column for the semester, Dr. D will continue to accept inquiries throughout the summer. E-mail him your questions at dennis.martell@ht.msu.edu There were many questions this week in regard to the horrific shootings that occurred last week at Virginia Tech. Many of these have to do with the concept of disbelief that life could end so abruptly and tragically. The sheer number of people whose lives will never go beyond that moment seems to be the defining point of the disbelief in the minds of many students. There has been an incredible amount of dialogue and coverage by the media and pundits all over the world about the shooter, his motives, gun control, mental health and the world's reaction. All of this is expected and for some it helps; for others it does not. For me, it only serves to galvanize my thoughts as to the meaning and value of this time and space existence we call life. I have been at MSU for more than 20 years and during that time I have had the opportunity and privilege to work and interact with students — people in their teens and above. These are people who have chosen for one reason or another to come to a university to spend time and occupy space to learn and experience.
Maybe it's the Jamba Juice smoothies the California kids are drinking that's making them glowing and energetic. After all, the trendy blends that everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Reese Witherspoon is slurping feature a drink called "Coldbuster," which is "designed to help shorten the duration of colds, combat free radicals and support your immune system," Jamba Juice's Web site says, and it offers six different supplement boosts, including fiber, immunity, protein and vita, which is basically a multivitamin. "They're all really popular," said Sean Bates, general manager of a Los Angeles Jamba Juice.
By Jason George McClatchy Newspapers Q: What did the grape say when someone stepped on him? A: Nothing.
The State News: What do you like to read during the summertime? I like to read magazines a lot.
To Pauline Hartford, the health of mind and body go hand in hand. Growing up, the nursing senior's family practiced forms of holistic and traditional Chinese medicine for everyday aches and long-term problems. For her sprained ankles, her mother used to rub an herb paste mixed with alcohol to prevent arthritis, while her father found relief from an herbal treatment for his carpal tunnel syndrome. "To compare it to anything in American culture, you eat what is from nature — just things like that, instead of putting more preservatives into your body," she said. Six years ago, after battling a cold for more than three months, Hartford's mother took her to see a Chinese doctor who gave her a mixture of herbs to brew into a tea and administered acupuncture. A bit skeptical, she agreed to the treatment.
Enchanted evenings are not just limited to Cinderella and Prince Charming's magical midnight strolls around the castle. Dennis Martell, resident State News sex and relationship columnist and coordinator of Olin Health Education, compiled more than 5,000 anonymous responses from his students about what their idea of an "enchanted evening" is.
Pain: Acute mental or emotional distress or suffering. Sorrow: Deep distress, sadness or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved. Mourning: To feel or express grief or sorrow. They say grieving is a process of several stages, including anger and denial on the way to acceptance.
Before the whirlwind end-of-year move-out begins, draft a plan. The process can be less intimidating when you know what you're throwing out, what you're saving and what to do with everything in between.
Dinner: The first opportunity to impress the boss with all that knowledge from four years of hard work.
When Miranda Lovato isn't hydrated, she feels groggy and her muscles become cramped. "If I'm at school in the building where my college is, I don't drink water," the landscape architecture senior said.
Ambri Pukhraj values a strong educational experience. Pukhraj moved to the United States from India when she was 17 years old.
Dr. D, Lately, all my friends have been making a lot of "gay" jokes about me.
Four days ago, journalism senior Thea Tio found out she wouldn't have to continue her job search after graduation. Though she will have to leave Michigan — like many graduating students — Tio received a reporting job in Jacksonville, Fla.
Once the graduation ceremony is over and the last set of books have been returned, it's time to face the next step of life as an official grown-up. Before stepping into their careers, students are taking part in unique activities during the transitional period from pupil to full-time employee. Lucas Fowler, a communication senior, will be thinking green as a member of the Green Corps Class of 2008, taking on environmental concerns across the nation. Fowler was chosen from 1,500 applications to be part of the class of 25 graduates from around the country for the one-year program. "To be selected was extremely exciting and it was definitely a big honor; and just to work with these leaders from all across the country is a very exciting prospect for me," he said. Fowler will travel to Boston for three weeks of training before being assigned to a specific campaign. After working on that cause for a few months, he will return to Boston to plan and run his own campaign with a group of his classmates. "I am definitely looking forward to getting to work on whatever campaign they have lined up for me and just meeting the other 24 people that are in my class next year," Fowler said. After the program, Fowler hopes to continue his work with nonprofit environmental groups — focusing on wildlife protection, water safety and protecting green space. Abby Caskey just wanted to see the African countryside before she had to step into the "real world." Since she will be starting work at Shell Chemical Company in Houston, Texas, in August, she won't necessarily have the time to travel in the future, she said. That's why the finance senior will be driving from Kenya to South Africa as a part of a 31-day tour with Intrepid Travel this summer.
It's another year, and another crop of seniors are leaving the academic world to dive headfirst into the real world.
By Kathy Manweiler McClatchy Newspapers We all know we're supposed to eat healthily.