M>n IRI-.NI.} Ki'AO. >N FRIDAY, MARCH 23,2001 Going down south So, how was your Spring Break? These past two weeks. I’m sure you’ve been asked this question more times than you can count. Depending on where you went, all you bronzed bodies would probably say, “it was awesome!” while the rest of us who are still pasty and pale would respond, “it sucked.” Now this is not to say that you had to go somewhere tropical or at least warm full of great, sunny weather and hot co-eds to have had a fun spring break. But, speaking from experi ence, I’m sure it helps because I’ve yet to know of anyone (myself included) whose break can even compare to the wild and fun times some students experienced in Cancun, Florida, etc. But I guess I can’t say that I never went anywhere. My freshman and sophomore year I crossed the border—okay so it was only to Niagara Falls (where I’m sure some of you have ventured), but at least I went somewhere. My friends and I felt so important because we could legally go to clubs since the drinking age is only 19 up in Good Old Canada. Sure, the weather was even colder than it was in Erie, but we were determined not to let that spoil our fun. We just had to drink more to stay warm, so by the end of some nights it had seemed like a heat wave had set in. As a naive freshman and sophomore, I had always thought that Canada was a pretty cool place to go for break, especially when you’re underage. But, whenever I came back to school after break, excited to brag about my escapades up north, I found myself listening instead to my fellow tanned classmates go on and on about their awesome spring break and how great the weather was. 1 mean I’d seen Spring Break on MTV and all, but how was I supposed to know it was really like that? Finally, 1 realized that Canada was not going to cut it again. I was determined to make it to Florida, and nothing was going to stop me. But, inevitably something stopped me. Something called lack of funds. I swear I tried to save my money during my junior year, but it seemed to be impossible. Something would always come up and as the time to start planning my big Spring Break approached, I realized unless 1 took out another loan, there was no way 1 was going anywhere. Not even Canada! It was that bad. I ended up putting in more hours at my job for my big Spring Break. How pathetic is that? So, I knew that my senior year was my last chance. My last chance for getting a week to work on a real tan with my friends in some hot location filled with booze, partying, and hotties! All I wanted to do was to go down south where the action was. Is that too much to ask? So, my friends and I researched the companies who offered reasonable Spring Break packages and we even talked with a travel agent and set up travel arrangements. Everything seemed to be falling into place. But, then a few days before we were to put our deposit down, reality set in. One of my friends who goes to another school realized that her break was at a different time than ours. Another friend said she wasn’t really sure if she would be able to afford it. I admitted that I didn’t really have enough money to go, again. I think I had kept hoping that I would somehow miraculously come into a large sum of money to pay for the trip. So much for wishful thinking and my big dreams of an MTV Spring Break. I was so mad that I wouldn’t be going anywhere. So, what’s my point in all this? Well, just to remind everyone that Spring Break is an essential part of college life, no matter where you go or what you do. It’s so nice to have a week off from school to do whatever your little heart desires, but it seems even nicer when it’s ninety degrees and sunny. For those of you who experi enced the “real deal,” I say more power to you and yes I am jealous of your tan. For the rest of us, who never made it, for whatever reason (be it lack of interest, money, time), we tried to make the best of it, right? And guess what? This Spring Break I really did make it down south. Pittsburgh counts, right? I guess that’s as far down south as I was meant to go. Zuck’s column appears every three weeks 'hat's r y Point? im Zuck iUori.-j! columni:-! Hi<sHN°otf &R OiMPA'i&J FiNANGe R€FbRM Tell us think! Send a letter to the Editor! Send all letters to: behrcoll2@aol.com Shake your booty Over the cold spring break vacation, I had the privilege of watching a special on TLC called, “The 70s: Bell-Bottoms to Boogie Shoes.” This two-hour look at the decade was like a reunion for me. Being the product of a 70s marriage and an obsessive fanatic of “The Brady Bunch,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “That 70s Show,” I have been constantly influenced and surrounded by the trends and traits of that decade. Not that I’m complaining or anything, in fact, I love that decade. The music, the clothes, and the history are all so fascinating and intriguing to me. I’ve always won- Drug use I originally had another topic prepared for this week; 1 talked about some things on campus that in my opinion need to be addressed, such as snow removal, campus construction, and overcrowded conditions, but the staff editors completely cut my article. So in attempts to be more politically correct, I will give my views on an issue, rather then bashing people on campus (even though they deserve it). If anyone wants to read the original article, feel free to email me atjam446@psu.edu. Drugs-they are a dirty little secret in professional sports. There was a special on competitive bodybuilding that aired on the Discovery Channel a week ago. It dis- cussed the relevant drug use that is going on in professional bodybuilding. Anytime I point out the physique of a bodybuilder to a friend or relative, I get the same reply: “that Fighting over something with gour friends? Want to see it debated in the newspaper? Send us gour idea 9 and we wiU debate it in our EDITORIAL dered, though, if I was the only t Chat person my age that felt this way. I can honestly say that I’m probably one 0 f t h e f ew members of my 1 11P generation that owns the complete ISUIIC NBC TV mini-series, “The ‘7os” on ck both home video and soundtrack form. I’m also probably the only person my age that video tapes “That 70s Show” every week, because my school and work schedule keeps me from enjoying the show at its regular time. Re-runs of re-runs of the early 1990 s show about an adolescent’s journey through the late ‘6os and early ‘7os, other wise know as “The Wonder Years,” some how also makes it into my busy schedule. I guess it’s just something about people my own age pretending to live in the ‘7os time era that intrigues me so much. Shows like “The ‘7os” miniseries, “That ‘7os Show,” and “The Wonder Years” are the media’s way of giving us glimpses into how “my generation” would fit into the “me generation.” To answer my question about whether or not I’m the only ‘7os fanatic from my generation, all I really have to do is look around. If you think about the trends and n professional sports guy’s on steroids.” What Prtfntnp c people don’t realize is that steroid, human growth CCIYI Graw ormone > anc l insulin use is _ _ ' rampant in EVERY profes- JVlatOla sional sport. Baseball, * j j basketball, professional wrestling, and yes, even tennis. Don’t think that golf players are not cashing in either, and if you think that NASCAR drivers are not taking something to psych themselves up to drive at 200 mph, then your living in a fantasy world. People can see a 350 pound football player and drug use doesn’t even come to mind, but when they see the shredded look of a pro bodybuilder, they automatically make the claim. The bottom line is that in professional sports, athletes will do ANYTHING to be the best they can be. I always chuckle when I hear of the whole Mark McGwire Androstenedione (Andro) issue. People saying that the popular supplement gave him an unfair advantage. This is a total joke. I believe that Mark McGwire takes performance enhancing drugs, and the only thing that Andro and all other relevant pro-hormones accomplish is a false positive, on a drug test. This is why they are banned from profes sional sports, not because they work, but because steroid using athletes are using them as an excuse for a failed drug test. *Hot Debate" of the tveeh discussion! hehreoll2@aol.eom ‘The Hot Debate of The Bushwhacking taxes? Should Congress pass President Bush S tax cut proposal Let’s make sure we understand what a tax cut is. It means that you cut taxes for people that pay taxes. Having said that, the tax cut proposal that President Bush has proposed would cut taxes for working Americans. The problem people see with this is that wealthy Ameri cans woukLuui money back thsHnjHdHuflMKemnd poor Why jguld wea ' t hy Americans are paying more in taxes per year than anyone else. You get taxed based on the money you earn. So shouldn’t you get a tax cut based on the money you earn? Most Democrats argue that the tax cut doesn’t give as much to low income Americans. The idea of a tax cut isn’t to give huge tax relief to people that aren’t paying taxes. It’s to give relief to people that are being taxed more than they should. Anyone that works a full time job will receive a substantial cut in their taxes. As well they should. It’s their money that the government is taking and using on what ever they please. A government that controls where citizens’ dollars go is closer to socialism than a democracy. The Democrats are arguing for a tax cut for people that hardly pay any taxes in the first place. Bush is proposing an across the board tax cut that will give tax relief to everyone that pays. Working Americans are the ones that pay this country’s bills. If we are paying too much, then why don’t we just cut back? Every week, two editors from the staff will debate a topic that is hot. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to email suggestions for the hot topic. Send ideas to behrcoll2@aol. com situations of today, there really isn’t one that doesn’t derive from or isn’t somehow connected to the lifestyles, fads and history of the 19705. The ever-popular “bellbottom” has made in and out appearances numerous times since its birth in the 19705. Platform shoes were modernized with the invention of the chunky-heeled shoe that can still be seen on the feet of people of all ages even today. Smiley face clothing, accessories, and everything in-between can be seen decorat ing even the grandchildren of the 70s generation that made it famous. The “Pet Rock”... well...let’s just say that idea has come a long way since someone realized that “pet rocks” can be found for free on the sidewalk and in your garden. The idea of the novelty moneymaker (although not the “Pet Rock”) is still present in society in many shapes sizes and colors, even today. A lot of the music of the 1970 s (yes.. .even disco) has been remade by several of today’s hottest bands and artists Classic hits, like “YMCA” and “The Hustle” are still bringing crowds to their feet at weddings, sporting events, formal dances, and even clubs. A lot of radio With a few exceptions, you cannot determine an athlete’s drug status by looking at them. There are plenty of natural athletes that are dubbed as drug users simply because they have made significant progress with their bodies. I have experienced this labeling for the last three years. Steroids do not have to cause muscle gain, and can increase strength without a gain in muscle mass, and this is attributed mostly to the type of drug used, in conjunction with the diet followed. For example with drugs you can get stronger on a low calorie diet, but not noticeably bigger. Basically the point I’m trying to get across is that YES, my favorite athletes do it, but so do yours. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids are the most effective and most commonly used performance enhancing drugs, but two others are making their notch in upper level competition. These are Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and insulin (yes the same insulin that a diabetic uses). To date there is no test capable of detecting the latter two substances. HGH increases muscle mass, reduces body fat, and is the current fountain of youth in medical science. Insulin has also been found to have muscle building properties. What is my opinion of all this? I feel it is very unfortunate. Contrary to the piles of rubbish written on the subject, steroids, 1.6 trillion dollars over ten years is a lot of money, but it takes ten years to have an extra 62 cents a day or $226.30 in the tenth year. This gradual tax cut isn’t noticeable, and even if it’s assumed that government spending stays the same for ten years, with an unstable economy how can the interest rates, lower inflationary risks, and less government spending on debt servicing. He doesn’t feel a tax cut is the best solution to a recession, and if needed he can adjust interest rates. Interest rate adjustments are more efficient; the adjustments can be made while the tax cut is still being negotiated in congress. The surplus money is being spent on a tax cut because “if the budget gets tight in a few years hence, a tax cut is a lot easier to ditch than an entitlement,” Greenspan has said. Bush is cutting taxes because when there isn’t a surplus, Bush feels it’s easier to reinstate taxes rather than deal with lobbyists who want increase spending on education, military, or public service programs. If we can’t predict the weather for seven days, how can the economy be predicted for ten years? Use my $226.30 at the end of ten years to buy schoolbooks? I would just use it at the mall. What’s really better for the United States, my having a new pair of jeans or a child learning? stations specialize in songs of the 70s either entirely or for special “work-out” and “dance till you drop” hours. Commercials and advertisers are using music from the 19705, now more than ever, to attract customers, due to its familiar and “catchy” rhythms and beats. Who could fbrget the VW Beetle? In the 19705, you couldn’t be a college student without one. Today, people from all walks of life find themselves the proud owner of the new “Bug,” which comes in an array of interior and exterior colors and designs, to fit everyone’s taste and style. I can honestly say that my generation can benefit a lot from the 19705. For starters, if it weren’t for the 70s, most of us wouldn’t be here. Finally, the 70s has taught us all that history certainly does repeat itself. The clothes, music, fads, and even some of the attitudes of the 70s are still alive in society even today. And look at the bright side of all of this: if history does repeat itself, it will be SO FUN to see the day that the trends and clothes of the 80s makes its way back! (1 think one decade of big hair is one decade too many!) Kleck’s column appears every three weeks. HGH, and insulin can be very beneficial when used in moderate amounts under a doctor’s supervision. People then think that if a little is good, then a lot is much better. Not True. The problems come from heavy use over long periods of time. Remember, steroids are not bad drugs; they were designed to help people, and were used to allow people to regain their muscle mass after surgery. Of course there is no arguing with the legal ramifications of drug use, it’s against the law, period. I am not debating that their use is justified when to do so you have to break the law. I am debating the ethical issue that surrounds performance-enhancing supplementation. What are breast implants, and liposuction? Are these natural? Are they ethical? If you can achieve similar results from a drug is this acceptable? I can’t answer this; everybody has his or her own views. It’s the same reason I am not saying what is right and wrong here, I am giving you the FACTS on the subject to let you ponder this issue. So the next time you see the popular wrestler “The Rock” on TV, can you picture him loading up a syringe and jabbing a needle into his leg? Questions like this are what gets swept under the carpet and put out of sight, out of mind Matola’s column appears every three weeks. •<. .1 ri A Week’
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers