PLAID 2.0 - Health and Living tag:www2.nau.edu,2009-02-11:/plaid-p/2//1 2009-06-29T15:43:31Z A student-run daily blog highlighting campus events and services at Northern Arizona University. Movable Type 4.25 The Joys of Summer tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.164 2009-06-30T22:42:10Z 2009-07-09T21:50:05Z Tuesday - [undisclosed location] Last night, around midnight, my mom’s other photographer, Robert, showed up. He just got in from Norway and drove to town to meet us. He brought his 15-year-old brother Patrick along with him this year for... Becca Priddy Tuesday - [undisclosed location]

Last night, around midnight, my mom’s other photographer, Robert, showed up. He just got in from Norway and drove to town to meet us. He brought his 15-year-old brother Patrick along with him this year for his first trip as a spy photographer. It’s his first trip to the U.S. too; I hope he doesn’t think the whole country is as hot as it is here!

We got a late start this morning, but my mom wasn’t worried: Robert and Patrick left for the desert early. I was still tired when my alarm went off so I put a pillow over my head and went back to sleep.

When we finally got going, we drove around town checking all the hot spots before leaving town in the afternoon. The gates at the BMW garage were opened again, but still no prototypes were in the lot, nor the ice truck they use to keep their computers cool in the desert heat. Feeling a little disappointed, we moved on, over the hills to the places we usually find booming with test cars. Unfortunately we didn’t see much more than the GMC trucks from Monday.

It’s been fun driving for my mom this summer, Infinity gave my mom an EX35 for three weeks while we’re out here. It has all these cool features like satellite radio, radar cruise control, and my favorite, lane departure warning system. The last is pretty neat, especially if you’re driving for long distances. For example, if you get distracted and you start to get close to the line on the side of the road, it beeps at you, slows the car just a bit, and gets you back in the middle of the lane. It’s just the type of thing that is completely unnecessary in a car, but I guess it’s just what you expect when you spend so much money on a vehicle.

honda motorcycles

Without much to see today, we started to head back to the motel. We ended up running into a small moving truck with some Honda motorcycle prototypes. I can’t exactly tell you what they were… they were all covered in black camouflage, and they didn’t even say Honda on them, we just know from all the summers we’ve spent spying in the desert. We snooped around, pretending to use the port-a-potty on the side of the road, sneaking a glance at them before dilly-dallying around waiting for them to take the covers off so we could snap some pictures. They never ended up taking off the covers to put the bikes back in the truck, as you can see. Lots of car companies do this, sometimes even loading full size cars into trailers only unzipping the window portion so they can shout commands to the driver. However when we got home we found out Robert had been snapping pictures of them all day long! SportRider.com bought the shots and they’ll use them tomorrow.

When I got home I started talking to some friends online, checked my Facebook and e-mail, and decided that in my spare time I’d find something entertaining to do online. I actually found something worthwhile of my time trying to figure out how to use. GE launched a site a little while ago with something called augmented reality to advertise for their new smart grid technology. You need a printer and a webcam to play, but it is definitely worth your time. Here’s a video that explains it…

It’s definitely worth trying, but you need to allow popups. If you’re having trouble, click on tips on the left hand side of the screen (especially mac users) and you should be able to get it to work.

It’s off to dinner for now, hoping for more cars tomorrow!

]]> True Confessions of a Student Spy tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.162 2009-06-26T13:24:31Z 2009-06-25T23:13:55Z Well, if Jon and Kate are going down, I have a great idea for the next big reality show.. Tomorrow Never Drives starring, yours truly.. and my mom of course! But, before I get too far into why we are... Becca Priddy Well, if Jon and Kate are going down, I have a great idea for the next big reality show.. Tomorrow Never Drives starring, yours truly.. and my mom of course! But, before I get too far into why we are deserving of a summer reality show, let me tell you a little bit about what I do during my summer break…

My mom owns her own company: she’s a photographer. An automotive spy photographer to be exact. This whole spy thing started when I was about six. My mom was taking me home from my babysitter’s house, and spotted a strange looking car in a grocery store parking lot. She snapped a picture, showed it to my “car buff” dad, and the picture ended up on the cover of Automobile Magazine the next week. The car ended up being a pre-production Ford Mustang, and it wasn’t going to be released on the market until almost two years later. This was the start to her new career, and she’s been doing it ever since, taking me along with her, always with a camera in my hand.

So, I grew up looking for these cars everywhere I went, spending family vacations in “hot spots” and even almost not passing my driving license test after seeing a semi carrying test cars and running a stop sign.. no joke. People have even written articles about her, my favorite was named My Mother the Spy

So every summer, my mom and I travel to an undisclosed location somewhere in the desert (trust me, I’m not telling) drive hundreds of miles each day, and we spy on these concept cars while they are doing high heat testing, take the pictures, and off they go to various websites and magazines. It’s actually a pretty neat job. It doesn’t come easy, as these pre-production cars are kept top secret the whole time, as you can see, they don’t want us snapping our pics. SPY PHOTO.jpg

So next week I’m going to take you along with us, right here on PLAID. Every day I’ll update you on what has happened, what cars we snapped, and how hot it got. (it gets HOT out here!) When we end up rescuing airplanes, touring brothels, or climbing trees to get the perfect shot (all of these have happened in the past) you’ll be the first to know!

]]> Get your green thumb on tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.166 2009-06-25T22:04:55Z 2009-06-25T23:17:53Z Being a graduate student in the M.A. in Sustainable Communities, I have a special place in my heart for any student organizations that deal with projects relating to sustainability. The SSLUG Garden happens to be one of those groups. Source:... Nick Koressel Being a graduate student in the M.A. in Sustainable Communities, I have a special place in my heart for any student organizations that deal with projects relating to sustainability. The SSLUG Garden happens to be one of those groups.

SSLUG garden
Source: SSLUG garden website

SSLUG stands for “Students for Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening” and according to Garden Manager, Ian Dixon-McDonald, the goal of the SSLUG garden “is to run and maintain an edible landscape demonstration site that educates the NAU community about growing food locally.” The group is open to anyone interested in learning about local ecology, self-sufficient food production, permaculture design that works with the local ecosystem, an emphasis on native plants, and the concept of sustainability in general, just to name a few.

The SSLUG Garden is located on the South side of the SBS building on South Campus. There you can find numerous examples of small scale sustainable agriculture that anyone can employ in or around there homes.

To contact the SSLUG group, send an email to gardensslug@gmail.com. You can also get more information about the SSLUG garden by going to the website.

]]> Go, Go, H2O! tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.161 2009-06-17T20:58:34Z 2009-06-17T21:44:22Z Water is my friend. My liquidy, cool, and refreshing friend. Whether you are an incoming freshman or a returning student, the topic of hydration is very important. Despite being surrounded by large trees and miles of forest, Flagstaff is still... Nick Koressel Water is my friend. My liquidy, cool, and refreshing friend. Whether you are an incoming freshman or a returning student, the topic of hydration is very important. Despite being surrounded by large trees and miles of forest, Flagstaff is still a dry landscape that will suck the H20 from your body at a rapid pace. Staying properly hydrated is key for your safety and, also, your academic performance.

“Why is hydration so important you ask?” Well, Shereen Jegtvig, a nutritionist with About.com, says that “Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.” I don’t know about you but I am also friends with my organs. So, it’s no surprise that water is friends with them too. Next time you pull an all-nighter for a test make sure to continue to stay hydrated. Don’t be surprised if you aren’t able to perform well on that test, because your brain has checked out from lack of water.

So, now you’re asking “How much water should I drink?” Well, Shereen continues by saying that you begin by dividing your weight in half. I’m 190 lbs., which means that I should be consuming 95 ounces of water a day. That’s close to 3 Nalgenes of water a day! Oh, and if you’re living in an arid climate, add two servings (8 ounces each). So, a total of three and a half 32 ounce Nalgenes of water a day! There are more hydration tips available on the About.com website.

If you’re like most Americans, you may have an strange affinity for bottled water. Unfortunately, we are finding more and more that bottled water, compared to the stuff that comes out of the tap, is generally not better for you, tastes the same, and harms the environment. If you can stand a few expletives, check out this episode of “Bulls**t” by Penn and Teller regarding bottled water.

It is also very important to be aware of what you are putting your water in. Recently the plastics industry has come under fire for the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics that are used in many food containers, baby bottles, and (you guessed it) water bottles. BPA has aroused some concern as a known endocrine disruptor which can be detrimental to human health. However, you can avoid BPA by looking for “BPA Free” water bottles or by avoiding #7 recyclables. If you want to go even further and use a container that is petroleum free, a good idea is to look for a stainless steel bottle.

Well, now you are prepared to tackle your personal hydration while living in Flagstaff. Just remember that if you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! So, upon conclusion, I hope you will join me in slogging down a tall, cold one (H20 of course). Cheers!

]]> SUMMER! tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.159 2009-05-13T20:00:06Z 2009-05-13T19:31:34Z Good bye! I’ll update again next semester. Until then, stay healthy and keep living :) Enjoy your summer.... Sara Catalano Good bye! I’ll update again next semester. Until then, stay healthy and keep living :)

Enjoy your summer.

]]> Closing Time tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.157 2009-04-30T22:12:02Z 2009-05-06T15:38:28Z Summer starts next week! Yay! But we’ve got a lot to do in that week. Residence halls close May 8 at noon. Not only do you have to rearrange the room back to how it was when you found it,... Sara Catalano Summer starts next week! Yay!

But we’ve got a lot to do in that week. Residence halls close May 8 at noon. Not only do you have to rearrange the room back to how it was when you found it, but you have to fill out another form to inventory every scratch and stain in the room. Then you have to pack up all of your stuff and vacuum.

Now there’s no way I can bring back all of the stuff I have here, so I have to get a storage unit and there are a lot of storage units to choose from.

Things to consider:

  • How big of a storage unit do you need?
  • Would it be easier/cheaper to share a storage unit with a friend?
  • How will I get all of my stuff to the storage unit? (Take several trips or ask a friend with a truck for help moving?)
  • What are the hours of operation for the storage unit? (If you want to get your stuff out that first weekend you get back to NAU in the fall, you better make sure the storage place is open on the weekends)

You’re Not Done Yet

Then you have to go online (hey, why not do it now before you forget?) and forward your mail for the summer. There’s no direct link, so once you’re on that page, click “Mail Forwarding” and fill in your summer address. The forwarding is good for 90 days so it automatically goes back to sending mail to your on-campus P.O. Box in the fall.

Now you’re finally ready to do other things, like study for finals. Good luck!

]]> FREE Counseling at the Newman Center! tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.155 2009-04-29T05:55:42Z 2009-04-29T22:17:20Z (Source: www.xenos.org) Free “drop-in” counseling! It’s that time a year again…FINALS! Everyone is stressed even if it just a little bit. Whether you’re stressed about moving out, worried about finals, have relationship problems, work problems…ANYTHING…professional counselers are here for... Jessalyn Carpino Plaid Counseling.jpg

(Source: www.xenos.org)

Free “drop-in” counseling!

It’s that time a year again…FINALS! Everyone is stressed even if it just a little bit. Whether you’re stressed about moving out, worried about finals, have relationship problems, work problems…ANYTHING…professional counselers are here for you. And it’s Free! At the Holy Catholic Newman Center…right behind the Cline Library.

  • Wednesday April 29, from 6-8 p.m.
  • Thursday April 30, from 1-3 p.m.

Remember…it’s free and it will help you destress during this stressful time of year.

]]> The Skinny on Commitment tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.150 2009-04-23T20:11:04Z 2009-04-23T17:24:27Z This fall semester, commit to be fit. NAU has a Physical Education Service (PES) that will whip you into shape in a fun way. They have everything you could think of! Horseback riding, fencing, martial arts—they even have a class... Sara Catalano This fall semester, commit to be fit. NAU has a Physical Education Service (PES) that will whip you into shape in a fun way. They have everything you could think of! Horseback riding, fencing, martial arts—they even have a class called fitness walking. The list of classes goes on and there’s literally something for everyone no matter what your fitness needs are.

yoga.jpg

Still not convinced? Here are more benefits:

  • You will stay committed to your health by having a scheduled time to workout each week.
  • You don’t have to fight the crowds at the Rec Center (guaranteed a spot in the class).
  • You can earn credit if you need it.
  • Unique classes offered such as the Bhangra Bollywood workout, Turkish Egyptian Dance, Kung Fu, Self Defense, etc., which you can’t take other places on campus.

If you’re staying here over the summer, PES offers summer classes too. And if you’re already taking the maximum amount of credits, you can take PES classes for non credit. You really have nothing to lose… except for inches and pounds if you stay commited.

]]> NAU exploring a "green fee" for students? tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.148 2009-04-22T16:55:14Z 2009-04-22T20:01:56Z Hey Happy Earth Day everyone! Do you have any exciting plans to go plant a new tree, trade your gas guzzling SUV in for a “smart car,” or start a new hobby of gardening? Sometimes even the littlest contributions... Kayla Westfall GoGreen.gif

Hey Happy Earth Day everyone! Do you have any exciting plans to go plant a new tree, trade your gas guzzling SUV in for a “smart car,” or start a new hobby of gardening? Sometimes even the littlest contributions can make a big difference. So if you don’t have money for a new car and your apartment doesn’t have space for a garden, there are still ways you can make a big difference. A group of students is exploring the possibility of a student “green fee” on campus to support sustainability efforts, such as purchase of green power through APS, increasing energy efficiency on campus, funding sustainability education, etc. A survey has been sent to all students through ASNAU update emails and will run through April. The survey will only take a few minutes and you could win free stuff too just for taking the survey!! Click here to complete the survey!

]]> Happy Earth Day tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.149 2009-04-22T16:33:34Z 2009-04-22T16:51:40Z Upcoming Events during Earth Week: NAU’s journalism program will be hosting two guest speakers on the evening of Earth Day, April 22. Jennifer McKnight, a graduate of NAU’s journalism program with the environment communication emphasis, will receive an award and... Derek Hansen Upcoming Events during Earth Week:

earth-day.jpg

NAU’s journalism program will be hosting two guest speakers on the evening of Earth Day, April 22. Jennifer McKnight, a graduate of NAU’s journalism program with the environment communication emphasis, will receive an award and speak about her experiences. Bettina Boxall, environmental reporter for the L.A. Times will be the keynote speaker. The event is at 7 p.m. in Room 119 of the Communication Building.

Also on Earth Day, the Society of Environmental Communicators will be holding a “Respect Your Mama” EarthFest from noon to 6 p.m. at the Wilson,Tinsley, Allen, Aspen Quad. They’d love to see students stop by.

On April 23 at 7 p.m. in Ardrey Auditorium, Dr. Rom Coles will be giving the Keynote Address at the NAU Undergraduate Symposium. Entitled Northern Arizona University: Responding in a Time of Global Crisis, the talk concerns the future of the university in the face of severe challenges of many kinds: ecological, economic, political, and social.

]]> Oh Yeah! You're Living Now! tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.136 2009-04-16T17:00:00Z 2009-04-16T15:42:12Z I’ve talked about health enough, now let’s get on to the living. As in your living situation. More specifically, where you are living next semester. Living on campus is a great option. Reapplication ends today at 2 p.m. so hopefully... Sara Catalano I’ve talked about health enough, now let’s get on to the living. As in your living situation. More specifically, where you are living next semester. Living on campus is a great option. Reapplication ends today at 2 p.m. so hopefully you have already figured out where you are going to live or, if you forgot like I did, you can contact ResLife and try to find a room at the last minute.

aspen crossing.jpg Source: NAU ResLife

There are a lot of benefits to living on campus:

  • You’re close to your classes
  • Which means you can sleep in longer because you don’t have the commute time
  • Which means you’ll be happier and healthier
  • And you’re closer to fun campus activities
  • Not to mention laundry facilities and work out equipment in the building

So I hope you consider living on campus next semester and I hope this was an unnecessary reminder because you’ve already signed up :)

]]> You're Safe Here tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.119 2009-04-09T17:31:09Z 2009-04-09T17:21:53Z NAU has a Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy that should make you feel a lot safer while on our campus. Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, you may have raised your guard against possible threats. But don’t worry... Sara Catalano NAU has a Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy that should make you feel a lot safer while on our campus. Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, you may have raised your guard against possible threats. But don’t worry too much because NAU is on your side.

Northern Arizona University facilitates the enforcement of state and federal laws prohibiting sexual assault. Sexual assault takes many forms, including:

  • intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with another person without that person’s consent,
  • non-consensual penetration of any part of another person’s body by any part of the perpetrator’s body or with other objects, and,
  • in some cases, non-consensual touching.

The lack of a person’s consent can take many forms, including occasions when that person is coerced by immediate or threatened use of force against his/her person or property, or when that person is incapable of consent because of mental disorder, drugs, alcohol, sleep, age, or other similar impairment.

In addition to criminal penalties, members of the university community who engage in sexual assault against a university employee, student, or other individual are subject to disciplinary action by the university up to and including termination or expulsion from the university. Source: NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy, Article III Section B

It is important to note that a person cannot consent if they have consumed any amount of alcohol. So for your own safety, do not have sex with a person who has been drinking because it is considered a crime. Also, there is no gender-bias in the definition of sexual assault so females can assault males and males can assault females and any other combination is still considered sexual assault.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, read Article VII and X and take appropriate action.

]]> No longer living lavishly through tough times tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.116 2009-04-07T23:44:25Z 2009-04-07T22:58:11Z This recession has hit us hard. Budget cuts at school and impending layoffs at work are scaring us into saving every penny we have. We can no longer afford to go out for no reason or buy a new outfit... Sara Catalano This recession has hit us hard. Budget cuts at school and impending layoffs at work are scaring us into saving every penny we have. We can no longer afford to go out for no reason or buy a new outfit just for a theme party. We are suffering from “recessionitis.”

If you don’t want your only form of entertainment to be YouTube, but you’re afraid to spend your money, check Plaid’s Arts and Entertainment for free tickets to concerts and such!

]]> Life Skills tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.118 2009-04-07T22:37:22Z 2009-04-22T22:53:14Z College can be overwhelming at times and sometimes all you need is a bit of guidance and support to help you survive. Well now there’s an interactive class designed to strengthen skills that are necessary for success. The class deals... Sara Catalano College can be overwhelming at times and sometimes all you need is a bit of guidance and support to help you survive. Well now there’s an interactive class designed to strengthen skills that are necessary for success.

The class deals with:

  • Dealing with conflict
  • Coping with life at college and home
  • Goals
  • The power of accountability
  • Helping students who are using or experimenting with alcohol and drugs

Details:

  • Meets every Tuesday for 5 weeks
  • Meets for 1.5 hours (3:00 to 4:30 PM)
  • Costs $15 per meeting or $50 for five
  • Students can start at any time

Contact:

]]> The epitome of laziness tag:www2.nau.edu,2009:/plaid-p/2//1.121 2009-04-07T00:20:17Z 2009-04-07T22:48:58Z Lately I’ve been environmentally un-friendly by driving to school every day, because the cold and wind really stirs up my uncontrollable cough. During this time I have managed to avoid parking tickets at the metered spots by a very... Becca Priddy quarters.jpg

Lately I’ve been environmentally un-friendly by driving to school every day, because the cold and wind really stirs up my uncontrollable cough. During this time I have managed to avoid parking tickets at the metered spots by a very creative way.

First, let me tell you I do have a meter key, offered by parking services, but it’s out of money and I have been so lazy that I haven’t refilled it yet. Instead of waiting in line, I’ve come up with a much more creative way of finding change for the meters. I discovered that in the biology building, right near the main lecture halls, there are three vending machines. The very last one has all the good stuff like milk, Gatorade and apple juice. It also has has a secret trick. If you insert a dollar, or a five dollar bill, wait for it to accept your bill, and then press the black refund button, it will give you your change all in quarters! This is perfect for making change for the parking meters. or for washers or dryers that take quarters. I suppose some of the other vending machines on campus will do this too, and I’ll keep you on top of all of the “change giving” machines around as I find them.

Now I think this should only be used in case of emergencies, because if everyone goes and does this, I won’t have money for quarters anymore!

]]>