Thursday, April 3, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Gunk control

Have you ever wondered how the chemicals in Drano work? Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “Sodium hydroxide is the main ingredient in Drano. People who make their own soap know it as lye or caustic soda. The next time you have a clogged drain add a tablespoon of sodium hydroxide pellets to a long-necked bottle almost filled with water. (If you are using Drano, first remove all the shavings of aluminum metal using tweezers since lye is a strong skin irritant.) If you marked the initial water level, after several minutes the lye will have all dissolved and the water level will be slightly lower. Where did it go? How could the water shrink? If you don’t find this mysterious, it’s time to unclog your drain.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

Dead man earning

In October 2007, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law the so-called “Dead Celebrities Bill.” The measure extends California’s protections for the legal rights of celebrities who names and images still have commercial value even after they pass away. The law lets the estates of the deceased control the images instead of the photographers who took the photos. Chris Harris, electronic media communication, says he doesn’t think this will have much impact on the paparazzi. “My feeling is that almost any image that might be used for advertising has a very slim chance in having come from a paparazzo,” Harris says. “Paparazzi are driven by instant coverage of daily movements of stars, and they do not shoot the ‘quality’ photos that would yield a good quality ad.”

Contact Harris at 615-898-2841.
crharris@mtsu.edu

You’re taxing my health!

With the April 15 tax deadline fast approaching, it’s too late to reap the benefits of a health savings account (HSA) on the 2007 return if you made other arrangements. However, Dr. Kenneth Hollman, holder of the Martin Chair of Insurance, says there are significant tax advantages to an HSA if you’re planning for the 2008 return. “First, unlike many other tax-advantaged savings options, there is no income limit for those who purchase HSAs,” Hollman says. Anyone under 65 who otherwise qualified can purchase one. Second, contributions to the HAS are taken as a deduction in arriving at adjusted gross income if made by the employee excluded from gross income if made by the employer. Third, funds in the account, including those made by an employer, can accumulate indefinitely and grow tax-deferred. Unused balances at the end of the year can be rolled over tax-free to subsequent years.”

Contact Hollman at 615-898-5596.
khollman@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

COUNTRIES’ COOKIN’--An array of delectable foods and fascinating entertainment from many nations will make for a festive evening at MTSU’s annual International Banquet on Saturday, April 5, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for the viewing of cultural exhibits in the lobby. The buffet-style meal will begin promptly at 5 p.m. Among the tasty treats available will be classic choucroute, spicy Thai curry chicken with wide noodles and basil, coq qu vin, blanquette de veau, and a variety of international desserts. The evening’s entertainment will be provided by Steal de Boro, the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville and MTSU alumna Amber Turner from Canada. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for children age 12 and under and $10 for MTSU students. For more information, contact the MTSU Office of International Programs and Services at 615-898-2238.

RAD-ICAL!--A series of six Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes will be offered at no charge every Thursday through May 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the MTSU police training room located at 1412 East Main Street. The class will be open to all female MTSU students, faculty and staff as well as to the general public. A workbook/training manual will be provided to each student. Enrollment is limited. For more information or to enroll, call MTSU RAD Instructor David Smith at 615-692-2424.

AROUND THE WORLD--In order to enhance MTSU’s burgeoning integration of international education into its academic life, Dr. Ron Messier, senior lecturer in history at Vanderbilt University and former history professor at MTSU, will return to the Murfreesboro campus in his new role as Director of International Outreach starting July 1. Messier will report to Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “Ron’s expertise and contacts in the Middle East and North Africa are wide-ranging and extensive,” says Dr. Allen Hibbard, director of MTSU’s Middle East Center. “I saw this firsthand when he visited me while I was teaching in Damascus and when the two of us recently traveled together in Morocco. He was a key moving force behind plans to create a Middle East Center on campus and has remained a strong, steadfast supporter of our work and activities.” For interviews with Messier or other MTSU officials concerned with promoting international education, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

ALL THE POET’S MEN (AND WOMEN)--Ernest Suarez, chairman of the Catholic University of America’s Department of English, will lecture on the poetry of Robert Penn Warren at 4:30 p.m. today, April 3, in Dining Room C of the James Union Building. The title of Suarez’s presentation is “Robert Penn Warren’s Conversion Narrative.” Sponsored by the Dr. Virginia Peck Trust, this event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Dr. Kevin Donovan at 615-898-5898 or kdonovan@mtsu.edu.

VARIATIONS ARE THE SPICE OF LIFE--MTSU faculty pianist Leopoldo Erice will perform a free and open concert at 8 p.m. tonight, April 3, in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. Erice will perform Bach’s 1741 publication of the Goldberg Variations for piano, a work that is considered by many to be one of the most important examples of variation form. A new member of the MTSU School of Music faculty, having joined its ranks in fall 2007, Erice’s upcoming concert will be his first solo recital at the university. For more information, visit http://www.mtsumusic.com or call 615-898-2493.

PEANUTS ON PARADE—The Wesley Foundation at MTSU will present “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” April 3-6 at the foundation house at 216 College Heights Ave. The Thursday and Friday performances start at 8 p.m. There will be a dinner theater performance on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and a special matinee performance for children and youth groups on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $3 for children and students and $6 for adults. Dinner theater tickets are $15. For more information, contact the Wesley Foundation at 615-893-0469 or wesleyfoundation@comcast.net.

THE SEAT OF LEARNING--MTSU Scholars Week 2008 continues through tomorrow, April 4, with faculty and student poster presentations in Murphy Center. Other performance and presentations throughout the week, sponsored by MTSU’s colleges and academic centers, will showcase work being done in these units. Each event will recognize the range and variety of scholarly research and creative activity taking place on the MTSU campus. “Scholars Week is a great celebration and demonstration of the various roles that research and creative activities play at MTSU,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, executive vice president and provost and Scholars Week committee chair. Contact Dr. Andrienne Friedli at 615-898-2071. The schedule of events for Scholars Week 2008 is available on the Web at http://www.mtsu.edu/~research/scholarsweek.html.