Page 6 “Red Roses and Cheese By: Brittany Neimeth ban5018@psu.edu If you really loved someone, would you wait once a year to show it, Or would you make sure they knew it all year round? Maybe it's just me, but Valentine's Day is commercialism at its worst. It's bad enough that Christmas and Hannukkah have morphed into a holiday of buying crap, but our capitalistic country has managed + to desecrate all three of the Saint Valentine's by attaching a holiday to their name that serves no purpose at all but to waste paper with greeting cards that will be thrown out within the week. This holiday started off because half way through February, i.e. the 14th, the birds would start to pair off, so the day seemed like it was made for lovers. But, in those days, couples sent meaningful love notes to each other and small tokens of appreciation, while today every fifth person has an identical store bought card that reads something as cheesy as Gouda. The only good Valentine's Day rhyme | ever Roses are red. Violets aren't gray | gave you this letter. Now give me anA. The rhyme is obviously directed towards a professor and is the only reason it's mildly entertaining. In addition, Valentine's Day goes on to make the Valentine-less feel bad, or at least some of them. Well, | say fight the urge to buy a card from Hallmark, pass by those red heart-shaped necklaces, and throw out that chocolate in fancy boxes! : And if you really have to do something, make something at home, something that actually has some heart in it. ~ Generalized thyming poetry does not say love. read was: Answer: Absolutely The Lion’s Eye Name: Darlene Campoli Major: HDFS Answer: | think Valentine's day's a waste of time. Name: Brad Carpenter Major: History Answer: Yes, it is a ploy. | mean, it comes once a year. Name: Anthony Smith Major: Business Answer: It has become February 7, 2007 Name:RichZangari Major:Psychology Answer:Yeah its way too commercialized, it has broken away from romantic and is now more economic. Name: Reverend Tray Herman Major: IST Answer: No, | don't. Name: Erika Acuna Major: Food Science s0 commercial. Back Pocket Biography The new Identity of a once trusted and beloved friend: the drivers license By: Michael Bruder Mab522@PSU.edu The electronic "machine readable technology" to be used is a Radio Frequency Identification chip. The RFID chip is ~ already required in passports issued as of Jan. 2007. Critics In May of 2005, a Republican lead congress passed the "Real ID Act". The law sets new standards for the issuance of state driver's licenses and identification cards. This new law also waives laws that interfere with the construction of phys- ical borders between states, tightens laws for asylum claims, and sets new visa limits. Critics of the law claim the new ID standards equate to the first ever national ID card. The cited purpose of the act is to deter terrorism. Many civil libertie groups however feel it does nothing more tha deter freedom. Other critics feel the new ID card will open the door for a wave of identity thefts. By May of 2008, Americans will have t turn in their old driver's licenses and state issue ID cards in exchange for a new standard ID. Th new technologically advanced identification card will contain a plethora of personal information Federal standards require ID cards to electronical ly contain "a common machine readable technolo gy" and must also bear "minimum data elements. The data requirements are not spelled out in the act; instead the Secretary of Homeland Security is granted the right to determine what data is necessary. The new ID will have the standard signature, address, photo, and physical description in print. Identification cards that are not in compliance with federal standards are required to have markings that clearly allow federal officials to recog- nize that the card is not in compliance. The new IDs will also have either a digital thumb print or retinal scan. They are also expected to electronically store information such as social security numbers, driving history, alien status, even medical records, and voter registration. of the Real ID Act claim the RFID chip is easily readable and will make every person in, the U.S. vulnerable to identity theft. Others worry that a coded RFID is another step the U.S. government is taking towards the Orwellian "Big Brother." Identity theft aside, the idea of a chip that can be tracked via satellite by any branch of the federal government is an attempt to undermine personal privacy with no credible evi- dence that such actions would increase security. States not compliant with the new standard set by he "Real ID Act" will forfeit federal grants for the maintenance of roads and highways. Citizens who efuse compliance with the act will not only lose driving privileges, but will no longer have the abili- y to enter Federal buildings. Valid government ssued identification is also required to board air- planes, purchase firearms, cigarettes, and liquor. The ederal government has essentially given the people and the States of America a choice in the matter, omply or comply. On Jan 25, Maine became the first State to reject participation in the Real ID Act. The resolution passed in the State House of Representatives with a vote of 137 to 4, it went on to the State Senate where the resolution was passed unanimously. Similar to the bill passed in Maine, resolutions have been proposed in Washington, Montana, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. No such resolutions have been proposed in Pennsylvania's House or Senate. Maine's rejection is a glimmer of hope that other states will follow in rejecting the Real ID act. Charlie Mitchell, Director of the ACLU's State Legislative Department said "As Maine goes, so goes the nation." MY The Lion’s Eye Contributing Staff: Charles Harrison, Crystal Paulino, Joey DiCamillo, Victor Abu Boahene, Pat Scanlon, Bryan Drissel, Peter Spizirri TEMPORARY STAFF ADVISOR: Joseph Biscontini Contact the Lion’s Eye: e-mail: jmm833 @psu.edu, late Edltor- Christina Felizzi res Editor- Kat Specht telephone: 610-952-2602, office: 202 Commons : Editorial Board: Itor- In- Chief: Dr. Andrew Walter D.D. Managing Editor: John Miller Photo Editor- Brittany Neimeth Copy Editor- David M. Pondelick News EdIitor-Michael Bruder
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers