Monday, June 4, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

No kidding? Broccoli a la mode?

Are restaurants revamping children's menus as they add leaner, healthier items to their offerings for the grownups? Or are the kids still being offered mostly chicken fingers with French fries, pizza, and burgers? Dr. Janet Colson, human sciences, says, as a mother, she notices the kids’ menus. She says many restaurants are realizing that parents want better choices for their children. “Most restaurants have always allowed parents to substitute milk or juice for the soft drinks … which is an improvement,” she says, adding that water has always been an option for any beverage. “Now, more and more are giving choices for the fries. McDonald’s allows apple slices, and Wendy’s has the mandarin orange slice(s) option. KFC provides baked chip products and a low-fat granola bar in all kids’ meals.”

Contact Colson at 615-898-2091.
jcolson@mtsu.edu

They shoot! We score!

The Nashville Predators are on the block, and Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie intends to buy them. However, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the Preds will stay in Nashville. “The challenge for the new ownership of the team will be the same faced by the previous owners: converting liking of the team into ticket sales, especially in the business community,” Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says. Roy conducts the Middle Tennessee Sports Affinity Survey, which suggests that nearly 10 years as an NHL market has led to greater interest in hockey in Nashville. “Among teams, the Predators had the second highest Affinity Score of any professional or collegiate team, second only to the Tennessee Titans,” Roy says of the latest survey results.

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Don’t bug me!

What causes the decomposition of a dead body? One factor is the number of insects that work their way into the corpse. Insects are “nature’s little clean-up crew,” says Dr. Hugh Berryman, forensic anthropologist and MTSU faculty member. “You tend to think clothing protects,” Berryman says. “But if there are flies there, and the insects get underneath that clothing, it keeps them out of direct sunlight. They don’t like direct sunlight. It (clothing) keeps them shaded. It keeps them in a moist area, and it really speeds things up. … There’s one thing out there that can remove the tissue from the skull better than a maggot, and that’s an anthropologist!” And what does Berryman use to remove the tissue from the bone? Warm water and Biz laundry detergent!

Contact Berryman at 615-494-7896.
berryman@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

THAT’S A TAKE!--Don’t wait to give your child an exciting, fulfilling way to spend part of his or her summer! Registration runs through June 15 for another recording workshop for children ages 12-17 at MTSU. The workshop will be conducted from June 21-July 15 in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building under the tutelage of Ryan York, who also teaches guitar, bass and drums at Chambers Guitars and Musical Instruments in Murfreesboro. For a fee of $125 per student, York will introduce the youngsters to cassette four-track recording, digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. The workshop is sponsored by the Youth Culture and Arts Center, a project of Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities, a nonprofit organization. For more information, or to enroll, contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.

THE GRIDIRON GIRLS, WHOSE THEME SONG IS “THANK YOU FOR BEING AN END”--MTSU Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill and the MTSU football staff invite you to join them for the 2007 Ladies Football Clinic on Saturday, July 14 in Murphy Center. The clinic, which will feature seminars on strategy, equipment, training and rules, will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with registration slated to start at 8 a.m. Ladies will be encouraged to take part in coaches’ drills and demonstrations. The goal is to provide a fun learning experience. Participants will receive commemorative T-shirts and lunch will be provided. The cost of the clinic is $25 dollars. For the children, the Rick Stockstill Youth Camp for rising 1st through 8th graders will be held June 4-7. For more information, contact Danny Lewis at 615-898-2311.