Truth in the media

By Brady Burns

Two community papers provide an interesting way to illustrate the different interpretations of news and the truth.

Take some of the latest headlines between the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press.

Tigers close to trading Granderson to Yankees – Detroit News

Bloated payroll forced Granderson-Jackson Trade – Free Press

These headlines are both describing the trade that was reportedly close to complete at the time that each article was run. Officially, the trade had not occurred.

Elsewhere, two headlines about former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s latest restituation hearing depicted slightly different outlooks on his situation. The focus of each story, and the choice of court details painted two different scenes.

Kilpatrick gets emotional before hearing concludes – Detroit News

Kilpatrick’s judge eases probabtion violation threat – Free Press

Another strong influence on the mood of each article is the use of photography. The Detroit News used a large picture of Kilpatrick with a distressed expression on his face, but the Free Press used an image that showed Kilpatrick in a confident light.

These differences display the slight changes that can cause different interpretations of the truth. Further underlying this point is the close proximity of the papers and the high credibility each of them have.

Read articles wisely, investigate different publications, and know that they aren’t the absolute truth.

Black friday shopping highlights

By Brady Burns

Now that Black Friday has passed, reports have been released of a few highlights, including an item that sold in record amounts.

The electronic that stood out was the Sony PlayStation 3, which was priced $100 lower than it had originally had been. According to Sony, 440,00 consoles were sold the week of Nov. 29; a record amount.

It also appears that a number of children were on their best behavior this year. According to a Fox News article, Toys R Us CEO Gerald Storch said that the lines for the midnight opening averaged about 1,000 people. This amount was reported as larger than the previous year. Go kids!

Another notable highlight was the added safety measures taken by Walmart to prevent a repeat of last year’s Black Friday death.

Elsewhere, a CNN iReporter documented the dedication of Minnesota customers waiting hours outside in the cold.

Lansing-Eastside Medical Cannabis Center

By David Lowe

Nov. 4, 2008, was the day that over 30 years of work finally saw change for Lansing native R.D. Winthrop.

Winthrop is one of the directors of the Lansing-Eastside Medical Cannabis Center, a center focused on getting information and link caregivers to the thousands of medical marijuana users in the Lansing area. He has been on the forefront of the legalization and growth of medical marijuana, not only in Michigan, but also around the country.

“We are dedicated to getting medical marijuana to the people in the area who need it,” said Mary Lindemann, a lobbyist for the center.

Mary Lindemann has been working with the center for the past year, talking to Congress and getting testimony from people who have been convicted of drug use before medical marijuana was legalized.
Were beginning to get involved in the legislative process of the voter-initiated act [the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act], that’s my primary job here,” said Lindemann.

The center is working to become the most important force statewide in the progression and usefulness of the medical marijuana act that was passed on Election Day of 2008.

The center conducts bi-monthly meetings at the Gone Wired Café in Lansing.

Kendo Club Cost

Kendo may sound like a fun hobby.  Learning the ancient art of sword fighting and training in the techniques of the samurai seems like it could be a great workout and a great learning experience.  Until you get to the process of buying the equipment to practice kendo.

Then you find that kendo is not cheap.

First someone needs to obtain a bokken.  A bokken is a wooden sword used to practice kata forms, the basics of kendo.  You can find one online for a reasonable deal.

After working with your bokken you will need to purchase a set of armor and a shinai.  Kendo armor is designed to take the impact of strikes from the wooden swords.  Depending on the thickness and quality, the armor ranges from expensive to super expensive.  Shinai can be bought individually or in multiples in case one breaks.

After you have bought all your equipment you will need to find a group to train with.  On the Michigan State University campus, the Kendo Club and the one-credit kendo class taught by the kinesiology department.  The club charges membership fees and the class is the cost of one credit hour.

So after you have invested all of this money into beginning your hobby, you are ready to begin down the path of a samurai.

-Jack Nowakowski

Apple’s New Patent

Picture this. You are on a date, getting ready to watch a movie on your computer. Popcorn, the perfect movie, your crush and…

Singles dating sites?

According to an article in the New York Times written by Randall Stross, Apple Inc. has applied for a new patent on a piece of advertising software. But this is not your typical pop-up dismissed by a simple click.

These ads test you to see whether or not you were paying attention, and they won’t let you return to your movie date until you prove that you saw the advertisement.

Carlin St. John, a sophomore in the hospitality business major, uses a Mac in her economics class. She said she would be against any implementation of the new advertising software.

“One of the reasons I bought a Mac in the first place was because there aren’t as many pop-ups as on a PC,” St. John said.

When told that the advertising software was created to reduce the cost of Apple products, she said that not having the annoyance of pop-ups outweighs the cost reduction, in her opinion.

To see what others think and show what you think as well, follow the link below to an online poll.

What do you think of Apple’s advertising patent?
(polls)

-Matt Briede

Deadmau5 at the Fillmore

By David Lowe

The Fillmore Theater in Detroit was packed for a sold out show on Nov. 21 when Canadian electronic DJ Deadmau5 came to town.

He, along with DJ Burns, a local act, rocked the old school venue by stacking speakers on stage and they accompanied their music with a lightshow.

“It was surreal,” said Miles Martin, a student at Michigan State. “My favorite part of the show was when it was dark and he was playing one of his classics, then all of a sudden all the lights turned on and you could see everybody in the crowd, dancing and enjoying the music.”

Martin also said that his favorite song was “You Need A Ladder,” by Deadmau5, a song that incorporates the theme from the popular video game Zelda.

Nathan Purchase, another student from Michigan State, was impressed by the concert.

“The show was life-changing,” Purchase said, reminiscing of the show. “I really enjoyed the venue [the Fillmore Theater in Detroit]. It was the coolest venue I’ve been to.”

“I thought Burns also did a good job. He got the show rolling by playing some classic electronic songs,” Purchase said.

Struggles in D.R.C.

By Lindsay Hedgecock

  During the 1964 Rebellion in D.R.C., Grace Boivin experienced what thousands of children have experienced or are experiencing right now in Africa.

            Boivin, an East Lansing resident went through one of many evacuations of West D.R.C. to be evacuated by rebels.

            Boivin’s parents were missionaries working in West D.R.C. during the 1960s.  When she was in fifth grade, her village was evacuated and was separated from her family.  For several months she put into a boarding school, crammed with three other students into a small room.

            “The experience was hard for me. It was a tough time living away from my family,” she said. 

            Her father worked in a small village at a 100-bed hospital where he was the only doctor and her mother was a teacher working at the local school when the village was evacuated.        

            Boivin stated that her father stayed behind while her mom was stationed at a missionary a few hours away with her two siblings.

            Boivin is a volunteer teaching English as a second language and is involved with volunteer work at her church.  She travels with her husband, Michael Boivin, a core faculty member at the African Studies Center at MSU when he goes to Africa on research grants.

            “What happened to me and thousands of other children is something you will never forget,” Boivin said. “It’s horrible what is happening and we need to stop it, these children should not be suffering.”

Spartans Head to Alamo Bowl without Suspended Players

MSU football Coach Mark Dantonio announced at a news conference Sunday Dec. 6 that the Spartan football team was selected to play the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

The Michigan State Spartans are set to play the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Jan. 2 Valero Alamo Bowl.  However, the announcement of the bowl comes a day after Dantonio gave a news conference that announced the 8 players currently suspended would not play in the bowl game.

At that press conference Dantonio said;

“To me, bowl games are a reward. They are a reward for our football team, and they are a reward for our fans, as well. The opportunity to play on this football team and the opportunity to play in a bowl game is a privilege. It’s not a right.  With that said, all those present there at the incident in question will remain on indefinite suspension and will not make the trip, or play in the bowl game and that will be for obviously violating team rules at this point. ”

The eight players were suspended from the team after they were identified as being at the scene of an assault on Nov. 2 in Rather Hall. No formal charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.

The players suspended include: sophomore wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker, junior running back Ashton Legget, junior wide receiver Mark Dell, sophomore wide receiver Fred Smith, Redshirt freshman linebacker Brynden Trawick, sophomore defensive tackle Ishmyl Johnson and redshirt freshman linebacker Jamiihr Williams.

All the players, except Williams, have seen field play for the Spartans.  Rucker, Cunningham and Dell are regular starters for the Spartans.

On campus people are reacting to the idea that the Spartans will be traveling to Texas without the suspended players.  Most students are excited about the Spartans’ Bowl game, and understand Dantonio’s decision.

“We have a great bowl game for being a 6-6 team,” said mechanical engineer sophomore Tim Carroll who also agrees with Dantonio’s decision.  “Dantonio had to suspend the players, because they did something stupid.  We brought him here to discipline our players and that is what he is doing.”

Zoology sophomore Sammy Pawlowski said she is just excited that the Spartans are heading to a bowl game this year.  “I think it is going to be a tough game, especially without three of our good starters.  I am sorry that they won’t be there, but they don’t really deserve to go.  Dantonio is right to not let them go,” said Pawlowski.

“My initial reaction was that it was necessary because when we hired him his big selling point was discipline,” said mechanical engineer sophomore Nick Mergener.  “If he just let them come back what would that say to the rest of the team?  For now I am trying to stay positive.”

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon released a statement on Dec. 5 that supported Dantonio’s decision. “I support Mark’s integrity-based leadership and I support the unwavering high football program standards that he will not allow to be put at risk,” said Simon.

Do you think the Spartans will be able to top Texas Tech?  Do you think Dantonio is right to suspend the players?  Are you excited for some post season action!?!!?!  (I AM!)

-K. Mudgett

Spartans celebrate after their Oct. 3 win over rival the University of Michigan Wolverines.

Nessie on the Grand

By Lindsay Hedgecock

            After centuries searching for the Loch Ness monster the creature was sighted in the Grand River beneath the pedestrian bridge in Grand Rapids, Mi.

            Nessie, a 60-foot, 3,000-pound sculpture of the Loch Ness monster made its debut in the Grand River during the ArtPrize festival from September 27 through October 10. Grand Rapids residence could hear the roar of Nessie with her lighted red eyes glowing at night from across town.

            The ArtPrize had 1,262 entries that included paintings, sculptures and other forms of art in downtown Grand Rapids.  The DeVos family made large contributions to host this event in Grand Rapids.

            Nessie was created over a six year period by Airline Aluminum Group or AAG.  AAG consists of Animation Designer Thomas Birks, Gallery Owner Richard App, Industrial Designers David Valdisseri and Joachim Jensen, along with a group of artists and designers.

            Nessie placed sixth in the top ten winners of ArtPrize 2009 winning $7,000.

            I remember sitting with my family in T.G.I. Fridays after spending hours walking around Grand Rapids on a Saturday afternoon. Our waiter talked to us about his own experiences walking home after work while listening to Nessie roar at 2 a.m.   

            Nessie was removed from the Grand River and placed at the John Ball Zoo shortly after the contest was done. She resided there until the zoo closed Monday where she will be put in storage for the winter.  Due to costs of storing Nessie, AAG put her up for auction.  The group hopes to that she remains in Grand Rapids.      

Top Ten Winners:

1st Place

Imagine That!
Tracy Van Duinen

2nd Place

 

Portraits
Eric Daigh

3rd Place

 

The Grand Dance
David Lubbers

4th Place

Moose
Bill Secunda

5th Place

Nessie on the Grand
Nessie Project

6th Place

Field of Reeds
John Douglas Powers

7th Place

The The Furniture City Sets the Table for the World of Art

Sarah Grant

8th Place

Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress

Jason Hackenwerth

9th Place

winddancer 2
Michael Westra

10th Place

Fire in East Holmes Hall compactor room

Students living in East Holmes Hall were outside during  the early hours of Dec. 5 due to a fire in the hall’s compactor room.

Microbiology sophomore Anna Mammel woke up to the fire alarm in the early morning hours. Mammel said that she and her roommate were sleeping  before they had heard the alarm.

Mammel said the smoke was not very strong. “It was noticeable but it wasn’t super strong. You could tell something was burning,” she said. Mammel said that she and her roommate went outside at approximately 3 a.m.  after they woke up to the fire alarm.

The residents of East Holmes Hall went across the street to Akers Hall to sleep in the study lounges. Later on, some residents relocated to West Holmes after they learned the study lounges in West Holmes were also available.

Megan Drangstveit, the  Holmes Hall Complex Director, said she does not know the cause of Dec. 5’s fire.

Mammel said that she and her roommate were able to return to their room at around 5 a.m. on Dec. 5.

The  East Lansing Fire Department offers a variety of services regarding fires, including prevention.  

FireSafety.gov also provides tips on fires.

- Natasha Gaiski