Cell phone benefits outweigh negatives

Hold on one second — let me answer this call. It's hard to separate ourselves from our cell phones.

Depp unable to save 'Pirates' from sinking

Johnny Depp's sassy pirate wit, as Captain Jack Sparrow, is still sharp as a swashbuckler sword, but the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" could have used some cutting down.

Mich. traffic projected to worsen

Future congestion of highway traffic could be a problem by the year 2026 for the state of Michigan, a research group in Washington, D.C.

Italy beats France

The crowd packed into Crossroads Food Court in MSU's International Center didn't just observe a heated match Sunday — it became part of a World Cup final experience.

SN reporters should seek out newsworthy stories

I was disappointed to see yet another article, "SN lawsuit could have additional support," (SN 7/6), about this ongoing incident report tantrum. It is not only unprofessional, but also downright annoying.

Brown settles contract with Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Saturday that the Cavaliers had reached an agreement with MSU standout Shannon Brown.

MSU Board of Trustees meeting rescheduled

The MSU Board of Trustees meeting planned for July 11 is rescheduled for July 17. The Trustee Finance Committee will meet at 2 p.m.

Lansing kicks off annual Common Ground Festival

Hello, Lansing. Are you ready for the rock? And the blues? And the country? And the mbue? The seventh Common Ground Music Festival and its diverse lineup kicks off tonight at Louis F.

Interstate 96 vehicle collision causes Okemos exit traffic jam

For one Sunoco cashier, Thursday's most notable differences were the amount of drivers coming off the Okemos Road exit and their exasperated attitudes. "It was horrible," Carrie Parks said. "Everyone was just mad because they had to get off the highway and go a totally different way." Three accidents forced police to close a portion of Interstate 96 Thursday night. One driver, who collided with an empty "cement" semitrailer tanker truck in the third accident, was critically injured and was considered alive Friday afternoon, according to Ingham County Sheriff Detective Sgt.

Former MSU prof remembered for integrity, wit

Across campus, buildings commemorate well-known figures in MSU's history, including former university presidents and alumni. But one emeritus professor of economics, who has no campus buildings named after him, is just as famous to countless MSU students. Charles Patric Larrowe, better known to MSU students from the 1960s through the 1980s as simply "Lash," died at 90 years old Friday from ailments related to Parkinson's disease. Known for his Hawaiian shirts, biting wit and opinionated gusto, the self-labeled civil libertarian was politically active on campus and a longtime contributor to The State News. Larrowe took on the nickname "Lash," after the Western and cowboy movie star Lash LaRue. Scott Westerman, a 1978 graduate, said everyone on campus knew of Larrowe and was already equipped with an opinion of him. "There was no middle ground," Westerman said.

Happenings

FRIDAY Picasso: Original Graphics and Ceramics. Saper Galleries. 433 Albert Ave.

The bartender

Summer nights got you feeling thirsty? Tired of run-of-the-mill Long Islands and bitter vodka tonics?

Despite current setbacks, transplant farms will become reality in U.S. future

Imagine a near future in which farms grow human limbs. It sounds like a bizarre, unimaginable concept taken right out of a far-out science fiction novel.

3 Spartans picked in NHL Entry Draft

For college hockey's young puck slingers, having something to fall back on is crucial. After all, hockey is a sport that emphasizes falling (along with fighting, slamming and checking) just as much as it does actual skating. This might be the reason why the NHL prefers a system of insurance for its own version of professional drafting.

Lesson from Lincoln

The maxim that those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it has a corollary: Those who study history will learn something about the present.

Police briefs 07/07/06

Voter registration for primary ends Monday

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 8 primary election. Registering to vote can be done at a Secretary of State office, including the one in East Lansing, located at the corner of Albert Avenue and Charles Street.

Spelling made not-so-easy

Ther iz mor then one wae to do most thinz. Take for exzample speling. The Simplified Spelling Board was created about 100 years ago with the help of Andrew Carnegie.

Could the flow of Internet traffic be restricted?

One of the most unique aspects of the Internet is its ability to provide the public with anything — homemade YouTube videos, snarky bloggers or even porn — and that could be in danger of changing because of telecommunication companies. This idea may seem a little far-fetched, but large service providers and broadband companies are pushing Congress to pass legislation that would alter the way Americans use the Web. Net neutrality Internet activists are pushing for Net neutrality, or, essentially, keeping the speed of each Web site — from local Web sites to CNN.com — the same.

Soccer final not to be missed

Yeah, the United States sucks at soccer, but who cares? Without the United States' gross, oily finger on the pulse of the soccer world, the most significant grassy stage is set for the most important soccer match in the last four years.