Golden Arches not so Golden Anymore

THE NEWS
     The golden arches are now offering apples in replacement of America's best fries (according to a Zagat survey) in their happy meals.  Throughout the month of September, McDonald's restaurants across the nation have begun to provide healthier meals for children in their happy meals.

THE IMPACT
     With Oklahoma being the sixth-fattest state in America (Tulsa World), health is a major issue.  Jeremy Gray, a swing manager at a McDonald's restaurant in Edmond, says that health improvements need to, "start with the kids, they're the next generation."  

THE CONTEXT
     Apples have been available at McDonald's for over five years now, along with other minor health improvements.  Oatmeal topped with fruit is also available for a breakfast alternative to the McGriddle or other breakfast sandwiches.  Customers who order salads have the option of ordering low-fat dressing; and nutrition facts for everything on the menu are easily available to the public.

HUMAN DIMENSION
     Is what's inside that little red box still going to make children happy?  Robert White says customers, "should be given a choice: apples or fries?" and when he asked his daughter, she exclaimed, "apples!".  Customers still have the option of ordering fries for their children, but they will receive a smaller portion.  

WHAT'S NEXT
     Gray says, "There will be more health improvements in the future with McDonald's; we just don't know what they are yet.  We are always trying to improve and help out with the situation, even if it's just switching our oil."  America can expect healthier options to be available as this quest for health progresses.
   

What to do to Stay Away From the Flu

THE NEWS You woke up this morning with a runny nose. Your roommate can’t stop sneezing, and the girl next to you in class is coughing while you’re trying to take notes on your professor’s lecture. There’s no avoiding it; flu season is here. In the midst of adjusting to a new semester, is there a way to stay on top without getting sick? The answer is yes, and thanks to The University of Oklahoma, students don’t have to go far in order to defend their health.
 THE IMPACT With the high cost of textbooks and rent, students are always looking for ways to save. Students can take advantage of getting the flu shot for free this fall. This is a proactive way to put your health first without burning a hole in your wallet.
 THE CONTEXT This year you have no excuse to come down with the flu. While you’re on campus, you can walk to Goddard Health Center and get your flu shot for free. All you need is your student ID, and you’re on your way to a healthier semester. Flu shots are combined seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines. Getting the flu shot at OU has been free for students for over a decade.
THE HUMAN DIMENSION Maggie Pool, a program specialist at Goddard, says, “I have been working here for 12 years and we have never run out of flu vaccine. Several hundred students come to get their free shot every fall.”
WHAT’S NEXT You only need the flu shot once a year, and it saves you all the troubles that come along with being sick. Call (405) 325-4441 to schedule your flu shot as soon as possible.

Goddard Health Center

Keep your health a priority! 

Gaylord Slideshow

     This is a slideshow of the convergence lab at Gaylord Hall at the University of Oklahoma.  It showcases the general experience of checking in with the lab attendent and working at one of the computers.  I do most of my studying here while I'm on campus in between classes.

Speaker Sept 9, 2011

 “Some students thought I was coming to speak on gays in Oklahoma and I thought, ‘That wouldn’t be too bad; your state song is a show tune!’” John Corvino said as he began his lecture on Friday.  Students, professors, and citizens of Norman gathered in Dale Hall at 4:00 p.m. on September 9, 2011 to listen to Corvino’s perspective on the definition of marriage.

            Gay marriage is an ongoing hot topic in our society, and Corvino has been educating people on his views for nearly a decade.  “People tend to generate more heat on the matter; I want to generate more light on the matter.”  During the lecture, Corvino elaborated on the definition of marriage by giving analogies and examples he believed to be relevant.   

            There are currently six states (plus the District of Columbia) that allow same sex marriage in America.  After Massachusetts passed the law, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Iowa followed.  Most recently, New York passed the law (June 24, 2011).  Other states allow civil unions, but the majority of the country only permits marriage between a man and a woman. 

              Because there is such a controversy between people as to what is right and what the law should be, Corvino does face obstacles when he gives his lectures across the country.  He says that in the early 1990s he had “more pushback” in the south.  “However in the last few years, there has been less opposition,” says Corvino. 

Corvino is currently working on a book, “Debating Same Sex Marriage”, and another book that has not yet been named.  There is also a DVD available called, “What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?”  He travels to various audiences all over the country to promote his perspective on gay marriage.