October 15, 2007
Hey all. I hope you had a good
two weeks, now that the semester
is in full swing; I’m willing to bet
that they went by as quickly as
mine did. Just remember to relax,
take time for yourself and don’t
sweat the small stuff.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about
the unspoken. It all stems from my
Reading Fiction class where the
short stories that we read are not
all what they seem to be. You have
to be able to read between the lines
the author wrote to understand the
full power of the story. Sometimes,
the unspoken words are the most
powerful.
Perhaps it is because I’m a writer
and a journalist that makes the
power of words stand out over
actions to me. In most cases, it
seems that words speak louder
than actions, to play off the saying.
But other times, action in context
can be worth more than a hundred
carefully planned words.
I’m not even talking about giving
someone a special gift or going out
of your way for a friend. There are
some things that most of us do that
we don’t even consider significant
actions that make others smile.
You can say sorry all you want,
Okay people...
... if you are thinking to yourself, 'this looks like a pulled pork sandwich', you would be right. This past Friday, Stacks
Market featured Carolina Pulled Pork BBQ on the grille. I was not fortunate enough to try this obvious culinary delight,
but I was a tad confused by the price. If you look, the ALA Carte price seems to be $2,599, which is not a price seen
in every day life. The last time I checked, Stacks was not a gas station, but hey, with inflation, this price may make
sense. Then again, in some European countries, the period is used in place of a comma for monetary values. So it
may in fact be that this sandwich cost $2,599; and you thought the chicken fingers cost too much. But really, it's time
to start proofreading your work people. I'm not calling out Stacks, but this is a perfect example of how a typo can
not only be embarrassing, but confusing. So I just ask, before you post an ad on the bulletin boards, or send out an
e-mail, please, please, please, hit that little spell check button on the computer. For all of our sake.
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THE CAPITAL TIMES
but actually doing something to
prove it means more to the person.
Ditching a friend may not mean
much to you, but to them, it can
scream betrayal. Even being late
to a meeting shows others your
dedication to the organization.
But it is still my firm belief that
words are more important than
actions. You can easily tell if you
will like someone just by talking
to them for a few hours. Diction,
slang and proper grammar are all
indications of who the person is.
A simple add-on to a sentence
can change your entire meaning,
yet leaving a word out can leave
someone doubting your intentions.
Words can be harsh, loving, caring,
hurtful and powerful. A speech
made in anger can make anyone
say something that they regret, yet
a heart to heart with a friend can
make things look brighter if the
right words are chosen.
But then again, words can be
meaningless. Take trash talking
for instance. Most of the time in
a competition, words are used to
intimidate but not taken to heart.
A ‘you’re going down Sarver’
muttered by Dewalt while playing
Wii Tennis has no affect on a
friendship later in the day.
A lot of the times, we choose
to leave out what we are truly
thinking. Something as simple as
telling a friend that they look good
in a pair of pants is not damaging.
But when it comes to a touchy
subject, we tend to omit our true
feelings to protect the other person.
But can the omission of truth really
be considered a lie?
In literature; this is done
intentionally, and can usually be
decoded by the reader because of
context. But in real life, we tend
to overlook facial expressions or
a pregnant pause while the other
person looks for the best words to
use.
There are words that we just do
not want to hear. When we sense
impending doom, it seems easier
CORRECTIONS
Matthew Sarver's e
mail is MDSSOI 1, not j
MBSSOI las published. \
r | Advertising Manager
The logo published
as Univeristy of South
Carolina was actually
the Univeristy of Southern
California's logo
just to run away screaming than to
hear what has to be said.
But it just may be more damaging
to yourself if you avoid the
inevitable. The longer you wait to
tell someone bad news, or hear bad
news, the more damaging it may
be.
The unspoken is not all bad
though. Sometimes a gesture can
speak volumes rather than beating
around the bush trying to get your
point across. A kiss, a hug or just
showing up at a person’s doorstep
when they need it most can mean
more than encouraging words. A
symbol of affection or of protest
can speak louder than a thousand
voices ringing out.
Take for instance the smoking ban
on campus. I know, most of you
are probably sick of the Capital
Times talking about it but stick
with me on this example. There
are the students who are not very
happy with the new policy, to say
the least, but instead of writing
letters or voicing their opinion
to the powers that be, they rather
stand next to a ‘tobacco free zone’
sign and litter their cigarette butts.
We have written an article, and
even poked fun at the ban in our
‘Okay, People...’ spot, but no words
can speak louder than the image
of bum marks on the signs around
campus
The old phrase, ‘be careful of
what you say, it may come around
and bite you in the butt’ still holds
true. But in my opinion, being
careful of what you don’t say
is equally important. Thinking
back on conversations can be
devastating, realizing that there is a
hidden meaning to a phrase later on
can blow things out of proportion.
You may also regret something not
said later on, when the situation
becomes heated. So be careful what
you don’t say, it may come around
and bite you even harder.
Marin Alice
MABS33B@PSU.EDU
The Capital Times
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If interested, please contact us at
948-6440 or captimes@psu.edu
From the barstoo
9 0 9
This week, on a Monday at my
favorite watering hole, I joined my
best friend for a beer and company
to watch the Cowboys game. He
was already quite heated from
losing a dart match to a team that
“inconceivably” should have not
beaten them.
As we watched the Cowboys
game continue late into the second
half, he became even more irritated
as he watched Tony Romo throw
yet another interception. Curious
as to why he cares because his
favorite team is not the Cowboys,
he explains that the quarterback is
on his fantasy team and he needed
the points.
The night continues, and the
bartender starts to tease him about
sports in general, beginning with
college football and finishing with
baseball. He grows in anger, yelling
his opinions about all his teams
in a voice that probably carried to
Uruguay.
When the Cowboys began their
final drive towards the endzone,
he stood up and pushed his chair
against the wall to give him all the
space he needed to cheer them on.
Once the Cowboys won the game,
\ i
-/pqlicis
10/01/07: Medical assist:
PSO checked on ill student,
PSO transported to health
services
10/01/07: Issing vehicle:
student reported vehicle
missing/stolen. Vehicle
located in olmsted lot row K
10/01/07: Vehicular escort:
PSS transported Chancellor
from airport to campus.
10/01/07: Health and safety:
PSS unplugged coffee maker
in kitchen area that was
overheated.
10/03/07: Suspicious incident:
M&O reported seeing people
in meade heights. PSS found
Lion Ambassadors conducting
a ghost tour in heights.
10/04/07: Disturbance:
responded for report of
underage drinking. All
By MARUJA ROSARIO
Assistant Editor
MXR3OO@PSU.EDU
Capital Times Staff
Editor in Chief: Marin Bendoritis Assistant Editor: Maruja Rosario
Business Manager: Matthew Carroll Copy Editor: Diana Le
Layout Editors: Amanda Nace, Amber Hudson, Katrina Fulk
Staff:
Kris Aumiller
Tom Brown
Craig Dewalt
Oliver Eisler
Katie Goodrich
Ivana Lee
Matthew Mahoney
Ariel O'Malley
Matthew McComas
his enthusiasm eclipsed anyone
else’s, even the Cowboys’ fans in
the house,
At that point, he finally sat back
down.
Though I shook my head at him,
I could not help but think about my
own experience on Sunday when 1
went in to watch the Packers play.
We had the lead, but as we began
to piss it away, I grew in my own
anger.
Once the game was over, I could
think of no other way to express
my anger except to walk into the
girls’ bathroom and punch the
napkin dispenser until my knuckles
were raw and a good friend
convinced me to calm down.
I have never stepped foot in
Green Bay, Wisconsin. I have never
seen a game or met a single player.
But I will wear a cheesehead to a
bar in Middletown, and I will drink
my sorrows away when we screw
up. I will refer to the team and
myself as we. And everyone will be
okay with that.
Which calls the question. What
is it about sports that compel us
the way they do? In most cases,
we do not even know a single
player personally. Some of us have
never seen a game in person, and
sometimes we don’t even live in
the same area as our favorite team,
ItFIMHM -
occupants fled before PSO
arrived. Tracked down most
subjects. Allegations/citations
pending
10/05/07: Employee injury:
faculty member struck head
against office door causing
bruising & swelling.
Employer’s report of injury
completed.
10/05/07: Isturbance: caller
reported football playing in
lot. Referred to residence life
10/06/07: Assist outside
agency: Middletown PD
requested assistance with fight
at Lamp Post Inn. Officer
presence only.
10/07/07: M&O issue: caller
reported rooms cl 2, cl 4 &
help desk area in basement
very hot. PSO contacted
M&O.
Adam Porter
Peter Roquemore
Maruja Rosario
Sepideh Safaee
Martin Santalucia
Dusty Sipes
Alison Smith
Marques Stewart
Ann Stillwater
Anna Ustilovskaya
Yet there we are, punching napkin
dispensers, pushing bar stools, and
shouting at the television or anyone
around us as though that is going to
make a difference.
We refer to them as our teams, as
if they are members of our closest
families. In most cases, the players
do not even know we exist except
for as a collaborative group called
fans. And we accept with great
pleasure the completely one-sided
love affair we have with our teams,
where we give everything we have
and get nothing back except tears
or bragging rights.
The sad part about this entire
pontification is that I have no
answer or any ideas as to why we
do this. I almost feel as I have
wasted your time, but I had to
get this out because I have been
wondering this for a long time.
So back at the bar, everyone
except two people is cheering about
the Cowboys victory. Those two
people are drinking a shot of Jager
and SoCo while saying “Fuck the
Cowboys” quietly as a toast. They
say it quietly because though that is
their opinion, they also
know about respect. That and they
just didn’t want to hear any crap
as both their teams lost the night
before.
Drive safe, be safe. See ya later.
10/08/07: Employee injury:
M&O employee strained left
knee and right foot by tripping
on soccer goal post
Frame in cub storage
room. Employer’s report
of occupational injury
completed.
10/09/07: Arson: PSS
received report of meeting
announcement flyer burned on
bulletin message board.
10/09/07: Welfare check:
PSO contacted Harrisburg
city PD to check on welfare
of student. Student found at
home.
10/10/07: Ethnic intimidation
student reported receiving
anonymous disturbing email.
, 10/10/07: M&O assist:
requested to contact m&o
to prep apartments a & b for
guests.
Photographers:
Marin Bendoritis
Diana Le
Amanda Nace
Maruja Rosario