Modern day romance breaks barriers

It's been said that love has no boundaries. There is no distance it cannot span, no hurdle it cannot overcome.

Innovations: Economical engines

Name: Professor Harold Schock Department: Mechanical Engineering Location: MSU Automotive Research Experiment Station, 3361 Hulett Road in Okemos Type of research: Research to improve engines, making them more fuel-efficient and economical Date of research: The research, which is done for the U.S.

Linguistics group assembles at MSU

The nationwide summer meeting of the Linguistic Society of America is being held on campus beginning today and runs through June 25. About 70 graduate students and professional linguists are expected to attend the event, which kicks off at the Kellogg Center, society president Sally McConnell-Ginet said. The event will include more than 30 graduate students presenting their papers and attending panels on finding jobs, receiving grant money and getting published. "It's a chance to present your work to some people who are going to be your colleagues throughout your career," she said. McConnell-Ginet said the event is more intimate and less intimidating than two other events the society holds — its annual meeting in January and an institute held every two years.

Police briefs 06/22/06

MSU hosts 4-H exploration

MSU's campus began flooding with people Wednesday as more than 2,500 4-H members and chaperones lined up to sign in for the 36th annual 4-H Exploration Days youth development conference.

University to offer research Web site

Virtual networking could lead undergraduate students to real-world experiences within their majors. A Web site focussed on linking faculty to undergraduate students for research opportunities was discussed at the Board of Trustees' June 16 meeting. The Web site is a hub for research opportunities spanning from the College of Natural Science to the College of Arts & Letters.

War comparison doesn't work; numbers not equal

Caitlin Scuderi, who wrote "War cycle repeats itself; shouldn't we have learned from previous mistakes?" (SN 6/19), must work on her comparisons. To compare Vietnam to Iraq, when there were about 20 times as many American casualties in Vietnam, is irresponsible.

Heartfelt harmonies

Walled Lake, Mich. — Alex Bbosa wants to be an architect when he grows up. He also sings, dances and says his "pleases" and "thank yous" so politely it's hard not to smile at the 10-year-old's charm. Alex is from Uganda and is part of the African Children's Choir — now on tour across the United States — which will appear at 7 p.m.

Hubbard defendants to appear in court

Two men arrested in connection with the alleged Feb. 23 Hubbard Hall assault are scheduled to appear for their preliminary examinations Friday, according to one lawyer's assistant. A preliminary examination determines if there is enough evidence to go to trial. MSU student Albert Reginald Robinson and non-student Joel Ross Hamlar were arrested Feb.

Police briefs 06/21/06

Fruitful festivals

Last weekend's Summer Solstice Jazz Festival didn't bring just good music to East Lansing, but better business and more people as well, city officials said. Even though the event was free of charge and it's difficult to establish how many people attended, Ami Van Antwerp, one of the coordinators of the event, said she estimated about 3,000 people showed up on Friday and Saturday. People at local businesses and restaurants said the event helped them.

Campy mockumentary genuine, witty

The band that was so bad turned out to be great. Half Japanese, a pseudo-band with unrivaled purity, comes alive like a zombie in the mock documentary, "Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King." Think Spinal Tap, but instead of a fake and over-the-hill metal band, Half Japanese is the essence of punk rock — out-of-tune guitars, lousy musical skill and all passion. The film clearly outlines what is good about music from the early '90s, or for any time period, really: absolute freedom of expression and everything that is wrong with music: MTV.

Fuel of the future

It serves as a beacon for better times as gas prices shift between $2.50 and $3 a gallon. But ethanol gas is not a buzzword for far-off changes in the U.S.

East Lansing says slow down

The majority of vehicles on the market right now have speedometers going well past 100 mph. Other than the Autobahn, a freeway in Germany largely unmarked by speed limit signs, there are few places where vehicles are permitted to travel faster than 80 mph. In February 2005, the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, raised speed limits on portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway.

Intelligent design not real science, columinist lacks proof

Kerby Rials' use of satire in his intelligent design column, "Intelligent design makes sense, complexity of life not accidental," (SN 6/20), was blindingly brilliant.

Mutations can be good too; columnist makes mistake

In the highly inaccurate column by Kerby Rials', "Intelligent design makes sense, complexity of life not accidental," (SN 6/20), one fundamental mistake the author makes is that genetic mutations are never fortunate, suggesting only things like cancer and birth defects are mutations.

Center to be held up by council decision

Plans to build a spine center on Saginaw Highway were stalled Tuesday at the East Lansing City Council meeting. The council sent the plans back to the planning and transportation committee to find a way to better construct the center, the development of which some said was too big for the building's location. The center, which would be built between Hagadorn and Abbott roads, has elicited complaints from some people who live near the potential building site and are concerned about excessive traffic. But City Manager Ted Staton said the site will cause less congestion than previous businesses, which include a Fifth Third Bank branch, an office for Anderson Economic Group and a regional office for State Sen.

Spartans face off in series

MSU athletic director Ron Mason struggled with the outcome of Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup finals, which came to a close Monday night. With two former Spartans on the winning Carolina Hurricanes team and three on the losing Edmonton Oilers team, MSU has more ties to the Stanley Cup finals than Canadian beer companies have to the National Hockey League. "We knew a Spartan was gonna win the cup," Mason said.

Scientists rock Temple Club

To make a gross generalization, scientists are supposed to be objective, urbane creatures, filling their days and nights with researching life's mysteries and acting as the voice of reason and rationality in the face of cinematic hysteria.

United States must take head out of sand, research other fuel sources

The United States is in dire need of increasing its funding for alternative fuel sources. Energy is our future, and the future begins with the present.