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Show Page 3 Monday, October 16,2006 Editorial Editor in chief Maria Villasefior 626-7121 Managing editor Cynthia Loveland 626-7614 The Signpost Signpost Viewpoint American society or decaying civilization insane; some buy them by the pallet. America is a hotbed for indulgence Some people enjoy a few beers and addiction. on Saturday, and some don't wait There are biological explanations for for the weekend. If the behavior is addiction. Dopamine and serotonin questionable, you will see the effects in are naturally occurring chemicals your life when you feel less control or called neurotransrnitters that can have the illusion of control, but truly influence behavior responses in the lack it. The problem is that we all want brain. Sometimes they cause euphoria, what we want sometimes mild and usually have pleasure. Some a means to get drugs make it. We are like lab you feel calm; rats in that way. some induce A test was hyperactivity. Do performed on two you know why? rats: both were These drugs trained to depress either cause a lever for a food you to release pellet. One rat more dopamine was the control, or serotonin meaning it wasn't or another tampered with in neuro transmitter any way (unless or inhibit the 5OURCE: WWW.CSUS.EDU you would think release of these neurotransmitters. that keeping a rat locked up in a lab This euphoria, however, does not is tampering, but that's for another have to be the result of a bout with a . story at another time). The other rat'sshaky, rusted needle or the shivering hypothalamus was damaged so the drag on a molded, rolled up receipt - signal for "I'm full" never reached when you get an A on a test or finally the brain. Eventually, rat number kill that level 25 ore for the first time, two was three times the size of rat the happy feeling you get may be the number one. Consider the food as, for cause of these chemicals influencing example, alcohol, and the lesioned your brain. hypothalamus as an increasing Everyone can find something that tolerance for alcohol. Which rat are makes him or her feel good, but if they you? constantly seek that out at the expense So what's the answer? Self-control. of normal daily functioning, then it is If you want to damage your health an addiction. in exchange for pleasure, then that's The result of the over-stimulation your prerogative, but don't use of your neurons lessens the effects ignorance and apathy as an excuse to neurotransmitters have. So the more ignore what's happening to you. someone continues to smoke, the Your problems are your own. more smoking that person has to Your anger, your helplessness and do to feel the same pleasure, and your inadequacy to conquer or even likewise with other drugs - coffee, recognize an addiction can only be beer, chocolate ice cream, the World helped by your own action. You may of Warcraft, constantly updating your draw in your faith and family for aid, Myspace page, texting, texting while and doing so is your choice - your eating, texting while driving, etc. choice is your action. Maybe you - Where is the line between addiction should watch "Bill Cosby, Himself" and non-addiction? Some people and laugh as you learn about smoke a few cigarettes to get through dysfunction. the humdrum day without going Do us all a favor: Get a shot McClatchy-Tn'bune News Service Fall is upon us, so flu can't be far behind. Each winter, seasonal influenza kills 36,000 to 40,000 Americans, hospitalizes more than 200,000, and costs the economy more than $10 billion in lost productivity and direct medical expenses. The best way to avoid its debilitating symptoms - high fever, headache, sore throat, muscle ache, exhaustion, runny nose - is an annual flu shot. Now's the time to make those appointments. Public health officials predict an abundant vaccine supply for the first time in four years - about 100 million doses. That's good news. Anyone who needs a vaccination should be able to find one. In October 2004, the United States was caught by surprise when British health officials discovered contamination in flu vaccine supplies and cut off delivery from a Liverpool plant run by Chiron Corp. Since then, the Food and Drug Administration has stepped up inspections of U.S. suppliers. People with high risk of flu complications should be sure to be vaccinated. They include children ages 6 months to 5 years; pregnant women; people over 50; nursing home residents; people with chronic illnesses; and health-care workers. But healthy adults should line up this year, too. Beyond the protection shots afford individuals, widespread participation would shore up the U.S. public health system. The Bush administration has encouraged drug manufacturers to increase their capacity to produce vaccine to prepare for a possible flu pandemic - a far more lethal virus that could kill 500,000 Americans, hospitalize more than 2 million, and cost the economy billions. The world is warily watching the virulent Asian avian flu, H5N1, for signs that it's mutating into a virus that passes easily from human to human. If it does, the world will need vaccine quickly. The plentiful supply of flu vaccine this year, ironically, could actually discourage future production if people don't take advantage. Drug companies that do not sell the bulk of their seasonal flu supply - it does not keep from year to year - may be reluctant to keep producing it. Seasonal immunization also may help public health officials devise distribution strategies in the event of large-scale immunizations. Take a break from raking leaves during October or November. Flu shots will be available in shot and nasal mist forms in multiple locations. They're smart medicine. A dose of prevention now could stave off misery later this winter. submit letters to the editor to: TheO! • • WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY "E-Otn J> I / \ I C U PHVLK3I I T M Signpost SCHOOL BUS Ten things my mother told me My college education vanished last week. My home computer's hard drive crashed, taking with it papers from every Weber State University class so far and all of my carefully typed notes, as well as unpublished columns, the first chapter of a novel and half a screenplay. I think my bad poetry metastasized like some fast-growing cancer and ate everything else. Then the little jump drive 1 carry in my backpack disappeared. I think it fell out of my backpack pocket and the cat triumphantly carried it off, like a little purple plastic rat I'd brought in for his pleasure. "You're a wicked, wicked animal," I said to the blackand-white cat. "Tell me where you took my college education. The Bush administration still approves torture lite, you know." William the Conquerer, however, knew that I would never violate what Mark Twain called "the divine rights of cats" and continued to lounge. To get even with King Cat for stealing my education, I left the bedroom light on all the time and played Utah Rep. Orrin Hatch's Christmas Carol CD while 1 was gone, just so the cat would know I meant business. data redundancy was like sometimes necessary. Keep some horrible Dr. Laura cards in the freezer in a big A lthough Hebestreet Schlessinger scenario: "Ten block of ice. William never • Ways that Students Screw confessed, 1 • Choose friends carefully: "Wholly later found part Up Their Lives." My mother, Friends who party too Hebestreet" of my college Sandra Vanderplas, who was much will not understand e d u c a t i o n sitting in the kitchen drinking that many students don't tea, was immediately have time for that. Learn hiding under the bed, inspired. We'd been exposed to manage time. Start on where his dainty white paws had whacked it aside. to Schlessinger on AM radio projects before they're due. recently and discovered the Coincidence? I think not. • Any student who feels But that still leaves my pseudo-psychologist was like he or she is going crazy old hard drive, which is now more toxic than listening should get therapy. My a mute paperweight sitting to Hatch sing Christmas mother is a on my desk. A friend agreed carols or Fabio more credible to do a brain transplant on offer romantic I think my source than the my system, so there's a new, advice. Scientologists, nearly naked hard drive My mother's bad poetry so when she giggling away inside of the advice is much, metastasized like r e c o m m e n d s computer tower. better than thethe some fast-growing ad e pnr e sts ain t s "So, you didn't make any column back ups?" said Kurt Ryder, cat coughed c a n c e r a n ( J a t e for those who our computer guru. up, so I oner need them, I'd "I had what was in my her wisdom everything else. listen to her jump drive, but that was it," to all Signpost and not Tom I said. readers: Cruise. Anyone who needs Kurt gave me a cat• Students should never professional help should get like look. I reached for buy "too much car." Working it, she said. my Fabio After Dark CD, extra hours to make the car • Many people want to which features the lisping payments, buying insurance ignore family when they're male romance cover model and purchasing gas interferes in their early 20s. If you're discussing his fantasies with class. Ride the bus or not ready to have adult while Weather Channeldrive ugly. relationships with family, like porn music plays in • Don't take too many don't start another nuclear the background. I couldn't classes. family. But then again, blame our intelligence corp. • Get eight hours of sleep there are toxic families. In just because I had no exit every night instead of every that case, refer to the above strategy in case everything other night. piece of advice and see a went wrong, but what really • Eat vegetables. Pizza therapist. saved Kurt was that most toppings are not enough, straight men who listen to • Nuclear war leads to even if the pizza comes from the Fabio CD for more than fallout. "The Pie." 45 seconds will try to rip it • If you keep making the • Credit cards are sneaky, out of the player and stomp cat listen to Orrin Hatch sing evil tempters that will lead the album into oblivion. Christmas Carols, it will eat even right-thinking people My failure to create astray. However, they are your face while you sleep. Kristen Letter to the editor Vie Sigiipxyst welcomes your comments Chalk not a great way to speak your mind On Wednesday I turned message, and I surmise from was most likely intended to sent out that further graffiti into Weber State and started messages left in response that not only inform, but to also will not be tolerated. In an walking to class. As I walked they may have accomplished offend some other students. age where gang graffiti is up the sidewalk I noticed that goal. As I arrived for my The fact that students everywhere, do we want messages drawn on theFriday classes, many of the crossed out or altered the our campus to become pavement with chalk. messages had either been original messages was a littered with messages on The messages were altered or had additional predictable response to the pavement or buildings? I everywhere on sidewalks, in comments added to them. don't think that is the type of graffiti. the entrances to buildings This situation should have Where will this graffiti campus we want. and on the bell tower been anticipated. I make incident end? Will the next - Scott Mann commons pavement. I no judgments about the group use paint rather than senior, criminal justice major thought for a moment that messages or their responses. chalk? Will the paint then I had taken a wrong turn That is not the reason for be painted out with paint? somewhere and ended up this letter. My concern is Will the buildings be next? in some elementary school the vehicle used to send the Where does it stop? playground or gang area. message. This was nothing If the administration As I read the messages, it more than graffiti. A method permitted or allowed the became apparent that one of of communication more in campus club to use a graffiti the campus clubs was trying tune with gang areas, railroad method for communication, to get a message out to other yards and elementary school the policy needs to be students. playgrounds than something reviewed and revised. If I am sure that the campus that should be associated the club used this method club was trying to generate with an institution of higher without approval, it should discussion about their learning. The original graffiti be disciplined and a message The Signpost is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during Fall and Spring semester and Tuesdays during the Summer Semester. To subscribe contact Georgia Edwards at 626-7974 or gedwards@weber.edu. The first copy of The Signpost is free, each additional copy is $.50. The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include name, address, telephone number and the writer's signature. Anonymous letters will not be printed The Signpost reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Letters should not exceed 350 words. Bring letters to the editorial office in The Stewart Library room 69, mail to: The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogden,Utah,&4408-2l10. Attn: Editor in Chief email: thesignpc*t@weberedu |