Monday, January 22, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The smoking gun of cyberspace

From uberdomestic Martha Stewart to wayward Enron executives Ken Lay and Andy Fastow, more and more people are finding themselves on the wrong side of the law due to their e-mail trails. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “Every time you send an e-mail, there are at least four copies floating around—one on your computer, one on your company’s server, one on the recipient company’s server, and one on the receiver’s computer. Don’t think for a minute you will be able to get rid of all of them.” What’s the answer? Burriss recommends that you ask yourself how your spouse, children or friends would react upon reading one of your e-mails on the front page of The New York Times.

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

All you need is love—and a college degree

Helen Caddes, who graduated in December 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, comes by her combustible combination of music and politics honestly. Her parents were southern California English teachers and novelists who paid frequent visits to their neighbor down the street, David Lindley, a guitarist and electric violinist with Jackson Browne’s band. But since the need to pay the bills remains a reality, Caddes runs a Web design business. Even so, her worldview remains a fundamental part of her work. “To be able to give people a place to showcase themselves and their work is always exciting,” Caddes says. “I would say the most thrilling thing is being able to work with independent businesses—not on a corporate scale, but on a person-to-person level.”

Contact Caddes at reactorcharge@gmail.com or hcaddes@hotmail.com

Having too much to drink

The Sacramento County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department has launched an investigation into the death of a woman who competed in a radio station contest. The contestant who could drink the most water without going to the toilet would win a Nintendo Wii gaming console. A preliminary autopsy indicates the 28-year-old woman died of water intoxication. Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, says, “Too much water depletes sodium in the body, a chemical responsible for neural transmissions. It's not a matter of ‘drowning’ in too much water intake (water taken by mouth does not get into the lungs), but a matter of affecting the nervous system.” Anshel says much of the population does not drink enough water. “It is virtually impossible to die from drinking too much because we have a thirst mechanism that kicks in when we are adequately hydrated,” he says.

Contact Anshel at 615-898-2812.
manshel@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BRASS WITH CLASS--The spring 2007 Presidential Concert series will begin with the dynamic sound of Boston Brass at 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. Boston Brass has dazzled audiences at concerts and jazz festivals around the world and has been featured on the “CBS Morning Show” and NPR’s “Performance Today.” The five-man ensemble performs more than 100 concerts each year, transcending genres to present everything from classical to jazz with precision and enthusiasm. This concert is free and open to the public. Contact Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493 or tmusselm@mtsu.edu

HAPPY AND HEALTHY--The popular Health & Wellness Program exclusively for MTSU faculty and staff will begin its spring session with an orientation meeting at 11 a.m. TODAY in Room 121 of Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. The 10-week program has reached its limit for the spring session, but enrollment for the summer session (June 4-August 17) is open. Members of the MTSU community who have enrolled in the program will receive extensive coaching in exercise, nutrition, mental health and high performance training in the workplace. The program officially will begin January 29th and will end April 13th. Due to subsidization by MTSU, the cost is a mere $20 per person. Contact Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, at 615-898-2812 or manshel@mtsu.edu