OCR Text |
Show tatesman Can I help you with that bumper sticker? There are two things every guy wishes little kid. I never figured out how to transform it into he could be. One is a smooth and debonair spy like James Bond. The other is a dark and a giant robot. Normally, this is a quiet, personal pain, the brooding vigilante like Batman. Either way, to be truly fulfilled as a man, kind that only me and my mechanic/therapist know (and now all of you), but once in a you need a car that shoots missiles. while it can really spill out into Alas, my car falls sadly short in this other areas of life. area. ___ sometimes i'll be drivI've tried to install some myself, Steve Shinney ing Like along, and I'll see someone but that didn't turn out so well. stopped on the side of the road. I hate to admit it, but I'm really not If I can tell they're not just stuck a car guy. in the snow or mud, I have to This is hard for me to say, because resist the urge to pull over and I have absolutely no problem taking offer assistance I know I'd never apart my computer and doing stuff in be able to provide. there. Still many times, despite my Recently people have been telling Geek Beat better efforts, visions fly througn me that should nelp me with cars as ;_I^_m_ my head of the stranded motornow every car has a bunch of comist getting torn apart by a pack of puters inside. wild dogs, and I find myself on I believe that, but I still can't find the side of the road, with no clear indication the mouse. There are three things that every guy wants how i got there. "You got a problem with your bumper to be: the star athlete who wins the championship game and gets the girl, the dashing sticker?" I ask hopefully. "Nah, my #^&$ j s #%$# e d up," the perhero who swings in through the window saves the girl and a car guy who can change son will generally respond. The second word his own oil and then, somehow, gets the is missing because it's not appropriate for the newspaper, the first because I have no idea girl. So I guess that makes five things every guy what it is. "That sucks," I say, assuming that it really wants to be. Well, I guess six if you count the King of does suck. I'm not really sure; for all I know, having your rfA&$ get #%$#ed could the be Candyland, but that might just be me. Personal fantasies aside, I really do wish I the best thing to happen to a car. knew more about cars. "Is there anything 1 can do to help?" I ask, All you non-car guys out there know what knowing full well the only way I could help is I'm talking about. You've seen those people if he needs a push or the whole problem was who know about cars standing around an some how caused by an extra box of donuts open car hood, pointing at things knowingly in the back seat. "1 have a wrench." and occasionally smugly tightening someThey soon realize that he or she would thing. have better luck asking the wild dogs for I've seen guys who could easily turn my help, so they do the smart thing and just lie. "Nah, I got Triple A." Stratus into Kit, the talking car from "Knight Rider" if they had enough wrenches. "Cool, they're good. I used to work for Meanwhile, the most mechanically adept them," I lie back, figuring that's what we're thing I can do to a car is install new Dumper doing. Then I get back in my car and drive away thinking ir only I had missiles in my car, stickers. I'm pretty good at that though. My ''My 1 could have helped that poor person. Geek on. Other Car is a Battle Cruiser" sticker looks great. Steve Shinney is a senior in computer This lack of prowess is not because of science who has trouble convincing anyone my lack of trying. I made a serious effort to that he did once successfully change a wiper understand automobiles when 1 was younger. blade. Comments can be sent to him at I remember sneaking into the garage to try steveshinney@cc.usu.edu. and figure out how my dad's car worked as a BRIDAL FAIRE Saturday, January 27 10:00 To 5:00 At USU Student Center 2nd Floor Shows Bv: / \ O \ L l \ A Bridal Faire Production Co-sponsored by: For more information call: 753-6736<; or www.bridalfaire.ore Jhttrwdt/OtitrlMl (tgMirtwft Mttttwt O 01-07 -CiqtourtiNiftnriuattAulttart 6204-07 -Uhorttory Attfotwrt H 0H>? -MMKWIMI lutQHtr Auiitattt ttOt-07 -SoftwwtfcvtfeprJ*3ltt**t COt S-W -Software ttttnflMfc Vision G20S-07 -Ifatrlttl talwtr Mtfet&Ht 6241-07 UTAH STMVUN Positions are part time and offer flexible schedules for students. This is your chance to get hands on engineering experience. Close and convenient to the campus Space Dynamics N O CAR r From page 4 1695 N o * RnoorcS tot Vfay • N o * logon. I f t * $*241 n ^ 435 797.4400 • Fa. 435.797.4495 ItnlwIINIA Ultimate Protection 1 Summer, 1 Job, $20,000+ Jamie (rane/jamie(rane@a.usu.edu MANY USU STUDEfffS DON'T HAVE cars, and so they have to find an alternate means of transportation. For many that means walking. Other choices include riding bikes and riding the Aggie Shuttle or the LTD which takes USU students on 11 city routes and two country routes. Both bus systems are fare-free and open for anyone to ride. I've had for three years is a bike," Thompson The LTD bus system is fare-free and has 11 said. "Besides, I like the feeling of trying to city routes and two country routes to choose push myself up the hills." from. Nathan Coats, manager of Laid Law Thompson said the hardest thing about Transit Services, said the earliest route starts not having a car is dealing with the weather. at 4:45 a.m. Coats said although there are On one occasion, Thompson said her face more students taking the bus in the morning, went numb from biking against the wind on "USUstudents are on that thing all day long." her way to school. If the sidewalks are icy, she To help make sure all students get to said she walks instead. morning classes on time, Coats said an "My back hurts more ^^^^_^^^^_ ^ , extra bus called the "USU when I walk though Tripper" is used to pick up than when I ride a bike, students. For first-time because I take all of my bus riders that seem overbooks in one load," she whelmed, Coats said they [Comments to remember... said. can call the Transit Center "Holy Moses. I was freezing. I and set up an appointment Like Farnsworth, Thompson said she relies would have purchased a hat if to go over their daily schedon friends with cars to ules with LTD personnel. they had one" help her get to the store Not only will the personnel for shopping or to prothe students which bus Megan Farnsworth tell vide rides to and from route to take at which time, work. The LTD bus route ' but Coats said they will Thompson takes to work answer any other questions takes about 45 minutes of travel time. Being or concerns. One piece of advice Coats gave on time for the bus determines being on time for students is to synchronize their watches for work. with the clock at the LTD Transit Center so "I've missed the LTD bus once on my way they won't be late for any bus routes. to work, but I called a friend who had a car Students seem to get from place to place so I made it to work on time," Thompson whether driving, biking, taking a bus or said. walking. But life sure seems easier when you Thompson, who works at Macey's, said she don't have to buy extra socks on your walk takes the LTD bus to work but has to come back home. up with another mode of transportation if For further information concerning the she ends up closing late at her job since the LTD, visit their Web site at LTDbus.org or LTD bus routes end at 9:45 p.m. Trying to call 752-BUSS to find maps or riding tips. bum rides from co-workers is something -britg@cc.tLsu.edu Thompson said she has to do. Silver Creek Marketing is proud to be the exclusive marketing company for Terminix...the only pest control company in the Fortune 500. 25 offices across the U.S. for the summer of 2007. Give us a call today at 801.361.2625 or 480.734.6507 Speak Up MARKETING V. |