October 29, 2007 1 - .6(r ) J C Happy almost Halloween everyone! It's almost Nov. and if you're like me, you're counting down the days until Thanksgiving, (24 days by my count). With the semester in full swing, it's time to dig your feet in and get though the next few weeks without much agony. Always look on the bright side, there are about 4,000 other students in the same position that you are. Now is the time to appreciate your friends, because without them, this whole endeavor would be a lot more difficult. I've grown to appreciate my friends a lot more in the past few months. This summer a lot of them went home and I resorted to living in my little Middletown bubble. One the semester started. and the stress and frustration piled on, I was extremely glad that they had all returned. Yes, I did lose a few to that pesky graduation thing, but they were always a call away if I needed it. I want to talk to you all about friendship. If you are lucky enough to have friends like mine, be grateful. I ha fe an amazing group of people who allow me to be myself, no matter how many stupid things fall out of my mouth, how many mistakes I make, or how few showers I take. We all have different types of friends. We have the friends who we have known since grade school, and although you may be in different states now because of college, you keep that friendship going over the phone. They are the friends who know you the best, who have been Ok • 4e.40. ...This puzzle was found on a table in the Cyber Cafe this week. Apparently, someone REALLY didn't want to study while in there. But I guess that during the stresses of classes, it's nice to take a break and work on a puzzle. But now here's the question, how long will it take to finish this puzzle? I encourage all of you to go and put just one piece in, pitch in as a campus and let's get something accomplished! Now is the time to ban together as a campus community and make something happen! The Capital Times seeks to provide complete, cor rect information. Any neces sary corrections, comments or critiques are wanted and welcome. Please stop by The Capi tal Times office (E 126), e mail captimes©psu edu, drop a suggestion in the box outside the office or call the office at 948-6440. Any corrections should be reported no later than a week after the paper is printed. THE CAPITAL TIMES with you through the most in your life. For most of us, we feel the most connected to these friends, and for good reason. These people have helped you to grow up, have guided you though adolescence, though your bad hair cut, though your first breakup. They are those with whom you almost have a secret language with, talking in inside jokes and memories. Unfortunately, these friendships may dwindle during college. If you're like me, and you moved here from another state, it becomes hard to keep that bond strong states away. But even if you lose touch with them, always remember what they have taught you, and what you have given them in return. Friends should be a stress free part of your life, not the cause of it. In my group of friends, the biggest fight we've had this semester moving the furniture in the office to allow for more Wii space. Yes, people got hurt in the process, Dewalt left with a swollen lip thanks to Kris Aumiller, but within the next day, all was back to normal. They're always there to lift me up (literally in the case of Aumiller) even if they don't know it. I can't thank the boys enough for just being themselves and just making me laugh. Friends are there to chastise you, there to guide you and there to support you. They are not there to judge you or to shape your life. A true friend understands why you do the things you do, and does not question it. An old friend once told me, "never explain anything, your enemies don't care and your friends don't need it." I find this to be true, a true friend never needs an explination. Then there are the friends who teach you things. They're the ying to your yang, the Abott to your Costello, the Paris to your Nicole, the Milli to your Vanilli, the Ethel to your Lucy... okay, I'll stop now. My point is, be thankful the most for these friends. They bring out the best in you, understand the unspoken, and don't question your actions. Most likely, you spend every waking hour with them, and when your other half is away, most people are as confused if you walked into the room without your right foot. Most people have a large group of friends, you may not all be extremely close, but these are the CORRECTIONS The comic, The Misad ventures of Bob was printed in reverse. people that you spend the most time with, who you share interests with, and who lift you up when you're down. Usually, you bond with these people out of convenience, either you're on a sports team together, active in a club together, or you live together. No matter what the reason, appreciate these people. Without them, you would not be who you are, and who you will become. For me, these people are the office boys. They may not know it, but without them my day would be pretty dull. From the minute I step into the office to the minute I leave, they are there, usually ignoring me, but providing entertainment. I can't thank them enough for being the easiest going people that I have ever met. I get myself into some sticky social situations, but not once have the judged my actions, rather they move on quickly and make fun of me later. I cannot leave out the best friend though. That person consists of all of the above mentioned types of friends. Maybe you met your best friend at school, at work, or you have been with them since grade school. My best friend I happened to meet here, working in the office last year. We became friends out of convenience; many late nights working on the newspaper forced us to mesh business with pleasure. She became the ying to my yang, the reason I wake up in the morning (no, seriously, she calls me to wake me up a lot), and my rock. Without your best friend, you are nothing.. And even though the winds may change, you still stick together, creating a power force to be reckoned with. I guess my point here is to treasure everyone in your life, from your best friend to the person who sits next to you in class. Without all the people in your life, you would not be the person you are, or who you will become. And you may not think it, but you do the same for others, you guide friends, support them and shape them. So thank your friends, but also give yourself a little pat on the back this week. Marin Alice e• • • THE CAPITAL TIMES We are currently looking to fill the following positions: Advertising Manager Photographers Reporters If interested, please contact us at 948-6440 or captimes@psu.edu From the barstoo • I I This week's pontification comes on the heels of the Holiday Inn Express commercials on television. The ads display people in various specialized professions, such as rodeo clowns or athletic trainers, giving advice to bull riders and athletes. They come off as complete experts in their field, but the viewer and the athlete quickly find out that they are only experts because they stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. In other words, a self-proclaimed know-it-all. Though we all know people that are like that, experts in anything and everything that crosses their path, these "facts" are intensified among the presence of alcohol. And you can hear it in all forums of knowledge. A person who knows jack squat about football all of a sudden is discussing the defense of the Cleveland Browns with the authority of John Madden. They now magically know players' names and seem to rattle off Tony Romo's stats like the sports page in The New York Times. But ask him when he is sober what he thinks about the Philadelphia Eagles' offense and he simply \ , 10/23/07: Vehicular escort: provided escort for faculty member to airport 10/23/07: Parking complaint: report of illegally parked vehicle on wrong sides of blue lines. Message left for owner to move vehicle. 10/23/07: Motorist assist: PSO assisted with changing flat tire for employee 10/22/07: Employee injury: M&O employee strained upper right leg from lifting television over head to place on ceiling mount. Employer's occupational injury report completed. 10/22/07: Animal complaint: report of raccoon in bed of truck. M&O contacted to dispose of animal. 10/22/07: Smoking policy: Capital Times inquired if any citations were issued for smoking policy. Verified no citations issued. 10/22/07: Student assist: message delivered to student from family member. 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 Sharnice Barnett Craig Dewalt Oliver Eisler Andrea Heiserman Robert Kabata Diana Le Ivana Lee Matthew Mahoney stares blankly at you, as if you have spoken a foreign language. It goes beyond sports. People are now experts on life. Say you break up with your boyfriend and you are asking your friend's advice. She begins to speak, and then all of a sudden, someone else interjects into the conversation. This so-called expert proceeds to tell you all about her love life and how she handled with sleeping with his brother. She then imparts this advice to you, urging you to sleep with your ex's brother in order to even the The advice is delivered almost as if decreed from a higher power. And all you really wanted to know was if you should still give him a birthday present or not. A one Diane Kenney even had a theory about how drunk people all of a sudden seem to think they are geniuses. She equates the human brain cells to that of the wild buffalo on the plains. The buffalo can only most as quickly as their weakest member, so the weakest member always gets killed first. This allows only the strongest to survive. Ms. Kenney's theory is that alcohol kills off the weaker brain cells, thus allowing only the smartest to remain, making , L .. REPonLr ---_-_ 10/19/07: Police information: PSO 10/21/07: Found property: PSO talked with group of students doing turned in coffee mug to lost and project on west side of College found. Avenue. 10/21/07: Suspicious persons: M&O reported 3 males in sculpture gardens with knifes. All okay/ students filming class projects/ knives were plastic. 'lO/21/07: Suspicious incident: observed person taking photos of Science-Technology building Person advised being requested by Chancellor to take pictures. 10/20/07: Vehicular escort: 10/15/07: Security check: M&O provided transport for employee to employee requested PSO check building for trespassers. Building secure no unauthorized people airport 10/20/07: Disturbance: report of roommate dispute with roommate Parties interviewed. 10/20/07: M&O issue: caller reported handicapped door shuts too quickly making it difficult to enter. • 10/12/07: Noise complaint: verbal warning issued to 5 students for making noise. 10/19/07: Suspicious noise: M&O employee reported hearing suspicious noise on third floor. Checked library with negative results. Ariel O'Malley Matthew McComas Adam Porter Maruja Rosario Sepideh Safaee Martin Santalucia Dusty Sipes Sahar Safaee Ann Stillwater Anna Ustilovskaya everyone think that they are a genius When drunk people become brilliant, all kinds of theories will fly out of their mouths as if God told them to speak these words from their lips. A story idea about how waitresses are not paid minimum wage and need to be supplemented by tips seemed like the best idea I ever came up with in my entire life. And a one Andrew "Dickie" Scott, on a drunken walk home, had his most brilliant epiphany; "I don't want to be drunk everyday, but I do want to drink everyday." The people he was walking with regarded him a genius and smacked him on his back with pride. The moral of the story is this. People, when you get drunk, you are not a genius. You will more than likely forget your brilliant ideas and if you don't, somehow they will not seem so amazing the next day. But don't be quick to write off all your drunken ideas. Some of them have actual merit, so use caution and weed the garbage from the gems. Make like buffalo and kill the bad ones. Because one such drunken idea could be to tell your secrets to a best friend, and that is actually a great idea. Drive safe, be safe. See ya later. 10/17/07: Medical assist: PSO responded for cardiac arrest at racquetball court. CPR was in progress. Victim transported to Hershey Medical Center by EMS • - 10/ 1 7/07 : Suspicious persons: M&O employee reported several suspicious persons on university drive. All okay/students out walking. 10/14/07: Vehicular escort: PSO provided escort from airport to campus for Chancellor. 10/12/07: University policy: caller reported students smoking outside building. Smokers gone on arrival. Photographers: Marin Bendoritis Diana Le