Holiday Season In Texarkana

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Thursday November 9th

  • Hands-on Texarkana The Great Escape Wine event. 6:00p.m-8:00p.m. at 1915 Olive St., Texarkana Texas 75503. Outdoor event and tickets must be bought in advance because seating is limited.

Friday November 10th  

  • Jamey Johnson will be at Scottie’s grill at 8400 West 7th Street. Show starts at 7pm and tickets can be purchased at the Scottie’s Grill Website.
  • The Outsiders, a play based on the classic novel by S.E. Hinton at Texarkana College starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are 15$ per person.

Saturday November 11th

  • T-Town Showdown, a car, truck and bike show, at the Four States Fairground from 11am to 4pm. Tickets can be bought at the door, $8 per person.
  • The Outsiders, a play based on the classic novel by S.E. Hinton at Texarkana College starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are 15$ per person.

Sunday November 12th

  • Meet and Greet with Cinderella at 1:00pm-2:00pm at 120 E Broad St. Texarkana, Arkansas 71854. Southern Grace and Designs, Party and Gifts. Tickets are $25 per child and $5 per adult.
  • The Outsiders, a play based on the classic novel by S.E. Hinton at Texarkana College starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are 15$ per person.

Friday November 17th

  • Mistletoe Fair at the Four States Fairground from 12:00pm – 7:00pm. $7 per person at the door or a $12 pass per person for the weekend.

Saturday November 18th

  • Breakfast With Santa at the Central Mall from 10:00am to 11:00am
  • Mistletoe Fair at the Four States Fairground from 12:00pm – 7:00pm. $7 per person at the door or a $12 pass per person for the weekend.
  • Christmas Card Creations at the Ace of Clubs House, 420 Pine St., Texarkana, TX from 2:30pm-3:30pm. Members get in free while others pay a $5 admission fee.

Monday November 20th

  • Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer at the Perot Theater, 221 Main Street, Texarkana TX at 7:30pm-9:30pm. Tickets can be bought online and cost $36-54 per person.

Saturday November 25th

  • Charming Charlie Fundraiser for the Randy Sams Shelter at the Central Mall, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. It is a shopping event where a portion of what you spend is donated to the Randy Sams Shelter.

Friday December 1st-Saturday December 2nd

  • Holiday Open House and Art Market at The Regional Arts Center from 10:00am to 5:00pm. This event involves homemade arts and crafts that can make the perfect gift.

Monday December 4th

  • Main Street’s Annual Christmas Parade at 4:00pm.

Sunday December 10th

  • Christmas at the Perot at 4:00pm. Tickets cost $28-51 per person. Hosted by the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.

Saturday December 9th

  • 1st Annual Christmas Car Show at the Central Mall from 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Thursday December 14th

  • Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Perot Theater starting at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased online and cost $36-54 per person.

JFK In Pop Culture

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John F. Kennedy was the 35th president from January 31st, 1961 until his assassination on November 22, 1963. It is common knowledge that Kennedy was in Dallas Texas as he traveled in a motorcade when Lee Harvey Oswald killed him. He was the sole perpetrator of the assassination and Oswald was also assassinated two days later on November 24. Lyndon B Johnson the current vice president then became president just minutes after J.F.K was pronounced dead.

J.F.K has become a pop culture icon because of all the conspiracies that surround him even including the “Happy Birthday Mr. President” that was sung by the glamorous Marilyn Monroe. This song had affair rumors flying back in the day.  I enjoy conspiracies theories! I am not saying I believe in them, but it is interesting how different people can take a set of information and interpret it in their own way. So who killed J.F.K and what is up with the newly released files?

The Mafia took him out. This conspiracy implies that a Chicago mobster had the money power and influence to have J.F.K killed because of Robert Kennedy push to stop the mobster’s drug activity. What makes this theory appealing to others is because Lee Harvey Oswald is killed by Jack Ruby who had connections with the Chicago Mobster.

Lyndon Johnson was behind it.  A theory suggests that Richard Nixon and Jackie Kennedy believe this theory because Johnson had the most to gain from J.F.K’s death. Most of the evidence to back this claim up is based on rumors.

The Oswald Conspiracies. One theory suggests that the KGB hired Oswald to assassinate Kennedy because he was an undercover Soviet agent. However, this theory did not hold up as later released documents suggested that Russia actively avoided recruiting Oswald as they deemed him mentally unstable.

Another theory involving Oswald linked him to the New Orleans Conspiracy where a right-wing businessman got Oswald to be the patsy since the businessman did not want peace negotiations to begin with Russia. The plan was to hire Oswald, arrange the shooting, and get back to New Orleans that night. The businessman was later arrested and went to trial over these allegations, but the jury found the case groundless and dismissed it.

The third conspiracy directly involving Oswald proposes that he couldn’t have fired the shot that killed Kennedy. The conspiracy states that Oswald was shooting from a 60-year-old rifle that was hard to aim let alone almost impossible to shoot three shots in eight seconds. It also stated that Oswald was not that great of a marksman. Later investigation proved this theory false because his wife said he always was practicing with this gun and Oswald did have a marine background. When the shooting of J.F.K occurred, he was only 90 meters away from Oswald and J.F.K. was moving slowly. In the marines, they practiced shooting at 200 meters, so J.F.K wasn’t even half the distance Oswald was used to shooting. Also, the Warren Commission and even CBS news organization duplicated the shot several years later with the same model weapon and overall conditions and proved that it was possible to take the shots within 8 seconds with most marksmen hitting the target 2 out of 3 times.

Some of the files revealed that;

  • The FBI knew there was a threat to Oswald life before he died.
  • Oswald contacted the Soviet Embassy inquiring about a visa.
  • The documents stated that the CIA looked into whether Hitler was alive in Venezuela
  • Several memos revealed plots to kill Castro from poisoning his swimsuits, to putting a bounty on his head, although the price of his head has been debated.
  • A CIA document notes they were looking into Martin Luther King’s companions thinking most of them had communist ties.

For more information visit http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/26/politics/jfk-file-release-highlights/index.html

Onsite at Tarleton Pathways

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TAMUT students attended the Tarleton Pathway Symposium based on their class success and the ELC Showcase. The ELC was Texas A&M University-Texarkana Experiential Learning Course Showcase. The showcase allowed students to take what they learned in the classroom and apply it to research projects or in my case internships. The experiential learning took place with MCOM’s editing and design classes which turned into an internship with ALT magazine.

By winning second place at the ELC showcase, it opened the door to get invited to Tarleton where the experiential learning and was applied to research. Tarleton Pathway Symposium was a casual competition among many other competitors throughout the A&M University systems. The project did not exactly fit into the theme of the symposium. However, it was still a new and experience.

Entering the conference area, we noticed the abundance of the color purple. Purple is their school color, and Thursday is their spirit day where everyone wears purple. Lucky for us, the conference was on Thursday. We continued through to check-in where the students are given a name tag and gift bag. After check-in, the presentations begin almost immediately, with Sydney Steed starting in the first round as she presented her experiential learning in teaching. Lara Jolly and Alisa Robinson presented their examination of “the reproducibility of a shell-less culture vessel for chicken embryos.” They even had a video they played alongside the poster, which created some excitement with it. I missed attending Gabby Thompson presentation, but if you were not in the room when the presentation session started then you couldn’t enter until it ended, however, I heard she done exceptionally well. Jonathan Nonmacher presented his internship with Tri-State Iron and Metal in session 2.  Esther Pippins did her poster presentation when I was doing my oral presentation.  It was fun watching TAMUT students rally behind each other as their sessions came up. There were four sessions in total with Hollis Thompson and me being in session 4 of the oral presentation which ended up being on Friday.

Since I presented in the oral sessions, I created a Powerpoint to help me navigate my 12-minute presentation. I was nervous. After seeing all the other competitors, self-doubt was prevalent. I made it through the presentation feeling relieved that it was over. Hollis Thompson followed my presentation with a discussion about the four loves as told through Ouran Highschool Host Club. Our round ended, and we were later notified that Hollis Thompson and Jonathan Nonmacher both placed second in their sessions, so congratulations to them.  After the long two-day event we began the ride home. Tarleton A&M is about four and a half hours from Texarkana A&M. Although, I had never attended anything like this in my life and I found it thrilling.

Dear Future Self

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Dear Future Self,

The things that has happened in your past are permanent and there is nothing you can do about it. Stop dwelling on the things that can’t be changed! The only thing you can do now is too not make the same mistakes. You’ve pinned a lot of things to your bulletin board which is also your vision board, because Steve Harvey says that everyone should have one. I don’t know exactly where you’ll be in the next 10, 18, or 25 years but I hope you’re in place of peace and happiness in both your personal and career life. I mean, are you still going to Justin Bieber concerts, are you married, do you still have the same friends, did you ever go to grad school, did you ever purchase that all black jeep wrangler, and lastly did you ever find the courage to move out of Texas AKA the greatest state in America? I have so many questions, I hope someday you come back and read this and reflect on your current life. Right now, you’re a 23-year old college senior and is set to graduate in December 2017. I’m giving you some advice for the future, I know you’re stubborn but for once in your life just consider following at least one tip.

Here are the top ten things I would like to say to my future self.

1. Believe in Yourself: Remember why you got the word ‘believe’ tattooed on your wrist at 19-years old. Don’t ever forget this. Always believe in yourself and in your own abilities. During time of adversity is when you should trust yourself the most. Listen to your gut, everyone may not understand the decisions you make for yourself, that’s none of your business. You do what feels right. Because difficult roads can lead to an awesome destination.

2. You Belong: No matter what board room meeting you’re in, grad school, or television network you’re on, you belong to be there just as much as the person sitting next to you. You’re a hard worker and persevered through the tough times which is why you deserve a seat the table. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel less than. Trust me when I say there are going to be times when you feel like you’re not good enough and start doubting yourself, it is during those times that you must be your own super hero and not dwell on the things that are out of your control.

3. Don’t Compare Your Life to Other People: Okay, I want you to read this very carefully. ‘Don’t compare your life to other people.’ What you see on social media isn’t always a true reflection of a person’s life. According to Erving Goffman, a well-known sociologist that studied the self, describes social life to a performance. Goffman uses a theater type metaphor to explain how people present themselves. He pretty much says that we act different when we think we’re being watched “front stage” and is the complete opposite when we’re not being watched “back stage.” If you’ve ever been to a concert you know on stage everything is “perfect”, but backstage there it is probably a lot of chaos going on. What I’m trying to tell you is that everyone’s journey in life is different and the finish line is at a different place for us all. When the time is right for you to have something, you will have it. No matter what happens no one can stop something that was specially meant for you.

4. Try New Foods: You’ve been a picky eater your entire life. Still at 23-years old your go to food are cheeseburgers. Also, can you try to eating vegetables, I know they’re disgusting but they’re healthy for you and you want to live a long time. Also, start drinking more milk. I know you hate that too, but it’s good you. You don’t like trying new foods because you automatically think you’re not going to like it. Again, stop being a ‘know it all’ you won’t know until you try it. You won’t be young forever, so this fried food diet you have can’t last forever.

5. Accept the Word ‘NO’: Here’s another one that you might have to read a couple of times to fully process. On your way to success get used to hearing the word ‘NO.’ You’re going to be rejected from certain things a few times, that’s okay! One or a couple people’s ‘NO’ does not mean something wasn’t meant for you. At the time it might hurt, but eventually you’re going to have to get over it. You might not get accepted in grad school right away, or that television show you want to work for, guess what, it’s not the end of the world. All the ‘NO’s’ that you’re hearing only means you need more preparation for the thing you want. Keep working and when the time is right you’ll get it.

6. Travel, Travel, Travel: You’re young so travel at every chance you get. Stop waiting for other people to join you on the exciting excursion, if you have a place in mind that you want to visit to then go already. I think every good journalist should be multicultural. Go learn about all those places you’ve pinned to your visionboard, try the “weird” foods, and get used to being in unfamiliar places. Fill up an entire passport!

7. Do Things That Make You Happy: Through this journey called life don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Surround yourself with good people. No matter what your friends say you are really funny, even if you do tend to laugh at your own jokes. Although you’re not much of an outdoors person try to become one. Getting fresh air on the regular is an energy booster and will ultimately keep you in a good mood. Maybe you can go camping someday…maybe!

8. Relax: Right now, you don’t know what the future holds so you’re a little… well actually a lot anxious. Just Relax! Focus on the present moment, you’ll eventually get to your destination in due time. Everything will work out.

9. Outwork Everybody: This is a very important piece of advice. In anything you do be the first one there and the last to leave. Yes, they’re might be people smarter than you or even more experienced than you are. However, the thing that will set you apart from everyone else is your work ethic. This world is competitive, if you want a seat at the table you have to fight for it. The thing that is going to get you to the top is perseverance. I remember hearing former first lady Michelle Obama say, “You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is your biggest advantage.

10. Go to Every Justin Bieber Concert: I know I was wondering whether or not you’re still obsessing over JB, but let’s be real here you’re still seeing him in concert every chance you get! He’s a talented guy, I just don’t understand why so many people find him annoying. Now the real question is, how you are going to meet him?

So, there you go future self. You’re probably reading this with the biggest smile on your face because in deed everything worked out! I know it’s easier said than done, but current you can stop being so anxious about the future.

Now I would like to hear from you, what advice would you give your future self? Don’t forget to post your advice in the comment section below.

2nd Annual Texarkana Fall Festival

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The second annual downtown Fall Festival, organized by local women’s organization Diva Maintenance, was held Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This year’s festival consisted of a costume contest, live bands, vendors, a bounce house, and the infamous Texarkana Flash Mob.  With over 30 contestants, the costume contest was a big hit. The winner was baby girl, Ximena Ortiz, dressed as an owl.

Due to the cold front and the forecast for rain, this year’s festival only saw about half the attendance of last year’s event.  Last year, the attendance reached over 4,000.  The weather caused vendors to back out at the last minute and the vendors who braved the cold didn’t hang in until the 8 p.m. closing time.  As the crowd dwindled, the vendors began shutting down around 5:30 p.m.

The event organizer, Diva Maintenance, also organizes various food festivals downtown such as the Catfish Festival and the Back Alley Food Court.

Tameka Grady, a spokeswoman for Diva Maintenance, said, “We are already working to make the 2018 Fall Festival bigger and better.”

Photos provided by:  Tameka Grady

  

 

Delicious Dishes – Thanksgiving

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Since 1621, Thanksgiving dinner has been a popular tradition amongst Americans. We use this day to spend time with family, kick back and watch football, and most importantly, prepare amazing feasts. Students around campus have been generous enough to share their Thanksgiving family recipe traditions. From appetizers to dessert, these have been combined so you have the opportunity to create a delicious meal, and maybe start some yummy traditions yourself.

Grandma’s Cranberry Sauce – Anonymous Grandma

  • 1 Pound Fresh Cranberries
  • 2 Cups Water
  • 2 Cups Sugar
  • Dash of Cinnamon

Rinse berries and remove stems.

Heat water and sugar to boiling mixture for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Stir in berries and add a sprinkle of cinnamon. Heat until boiling. Continue to stir until berries start popping.

Pour into mason jars and chill for 2-3 hours in fridge.

Enjoy with toast or pastries!

Green Bean Casserole – Misty Jones

  • 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 1 tsp. Soy Sauce
  • Dash Pepper
  • 2 Cans (4 cups) Cooked Green Beans
  • 1&1/3 Cups French’s Fried Onions

Mix soup, milk, soy, pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until hot.

Stir and sprinkle with remaining onions.

Put back in oven for 5 more minutes.

Holiday Dressing – Anonymous Mother

  • 4 Sticks Butter
  • 2 Pounds Tyson Chicken Breasts
  • 2 Boxes Chicken Broth
  • 3 Packages Cornkits Prepared
  • 2 White Onions Chopped
  • 6 Stalks Celery Chopped
  • 1.5 Tsp Poultry Seasoning
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 6 eggs
  • 1/2 Loaf Toasted White Bread
  • 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

Crumble toasted bread and set aside.

Slowly boil chicken in 1 box of broth and 5 cups of water.

Meanwhile, sauté 2 white onions, 6 celery stalks, 1.5 tsp. poultry seasoning, and 3 sticks of butter. Can add dash of salt and pepper. Cool a few minutes and mix in chopped chicken. Do NOT add broth.

In separate bowl mix 1 stick of butter, 1 can cream of chicken soup, and broth until warm and soupy. Cool for a few minutes then add sautéed mixture. Add toasted white bread and cornbread.

Beat 6 eggs and add to mixture. Mix. Add broth from pan you boiled chicken in as needed.

Spray pan with Pam, pour, and cook 1-2 hours on 350 degrees.

Jan’s Coconut Pie – Misty Jones’ Grandmother

  • 3/4 Cup Sugar
  • 4 tbsp Cornstarch
  • Dash of Salt
  • 2 Cups Milk
  • 4 Eggs, Separated
  • 1 tbsp. Butter
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 Cup flaked coconut
  • 1 Baked 9-inch Pie Shell

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy medium sauce pan; stir in milk. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, but constantly until mixture thickens and boils for 3 minutes.

Beat egg yolks well in a small bowl, slowly stir in 1/2 cup of the hot mixture. Then stir back into the saucepan. Stir constantly for 1 minute, remove from heat.

Stir in butter, vanilla, and 1/4 cut of coconut. Pour into pastry shell.

Beat egg whites until foamy white in a medium size bowl. Beat in remains 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 tbsp. at a time, until meringue stands in firm peaks. Pile onto filling, sealing to the edge and swirling into peaks. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup flaked coconut.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until coconut is toasted and topping is golden tipped. Watch carefully so coconut doesn’t burn.

Cool pie at least 5 hours on a rack before cutting.

How to Keep Your Cash

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I have had a love/hate relationship with my bank account for a very long time. I used to wonder where my money was going and why I could not save as much as I needed. There were times when I did not work as often and would receive smaller paychecks, but I still spent money the way I did when I was paid two or three times as much. After finally admitting to myself that I had a problem, I found some methods that helped keep my bank account from hitting $0. 

1.       Track your spending habits

Use apps like Clarity and Mint to track your spending.

I began keeping receipts at the beginning of the year. I put the receipts in a small file folder and organized them by month. I keep receipts for all purchases no matter how small because too many little purchases can add up to a large amount. When I went back and looked at the receipts, I paid attention to where I was going and how much I was spending. I also looked at what I was buying and realized that I was buying multiples of items I already had and spending too much money on meals and snacks. I was also buying small and unnecessary items that I would only use a few times just because I had the money.

A great way to also track you spending if you don’t want to keep receipts is to write them down. I bought a small book at Michael’s for $4-$5 with monthly budget sheets and sheets to document the date, item, and amount spent per purchase. I put these sheets in my planner and write down what I spend for the week. This gives me a visual reminder of how much I am spending because it is easy to forget when you are constantly swiping a card.

2.       Look at your income and expenditures

Next, I looked at my monthly income and calculated how much of that income was going into certain categories. I looked at how much of my money was automatically being taken out for bills each month and how much was spent on gas and food. When I went through my bank statements, I saw that I was paying almost $40 a month for services I did not even use. There were multiple video streaming subscriptions, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and Apple Music. I was not even aware that I was paying for some of these services because I did not get any emails about the monthly payments. I made a list of my monthly payments and subtracted them from my expected income each month to decide on a budget. 

3.       Prioritize

It is never wise to overspend to the point where you are unsure of how you are going to pay for the things you really need. I had to prioritize my spending to make sure I had money to save and spend on the things I could not go without. This meant that I needed to cut back on the areas that were taking too much of my money like snacks and cosmetics.

4.       Find alternatives where needed

To cut back on snacks, I decided to drink more water because I was spending almost $20 a week on drinks alone. I would buy sodas or juice every day when it really wasn’t necessary. Now, I take a refillable water bottle to school and work to cut back on buying drinks. I also stopped buying fast food as often and began cooking more of my own meals and setting budgets for food each week. When I give myself a food budget, it forces me to be less impulsive. 

I have a habit of buying multiple bottles of soap and lotion. I run out of a bottle and purchase another without realizing I have 3 bottles at home that were barely used. This might be okay if you like to have different scents, but I always gravitate toward lightly scented or unscented soaps and end up with multiple bottle of the same brand and scent. This also happens with my hair products. I buy replacements without finishing a container and have two or three jars of conditioner that can be combined o make a full jar.

Sometimes, the alternative to spending too much money is to get organized and use what you have before buying something else. I have wasted money on replacing items because I was not organized enough to keep track of what I already had. 

5.       Coupons and discounts

When I was younger, I used to look at the PennySaver and try to find coupons for products I saw in the house. I was much younger and did not actually need to use these coupons because I was only an elementary school student. However, I did not realize how helpful coupons could be. Each coupon may only save you a dollar off on an item, but they can save you even more on a basket full. Students also get discounts at multiple restaurants and can get them online. A UniDays subscription is free and has coupons for apparel, technology, and more. You can also get a $5 per month Apple Music subscription by verifying that you are a student. An Amazon Prime subscription is $49.99 a year for students and can be helpful when you are buying textbooks or other items you might need for school because you get free 2-day shipping. There are also student discount cards at the front desk. 

6.       Set a Goal

Set a goal for how much you are trying to save for a certain amount of time. Goals work better when they start off small or have multiple steps. If you are trying to save an extra $200 a month, divide it into a certain amount per week. Figure out what your budget can be for that week and try to stick with it. It can be difficult at first, but it will become easier with time.

One of the most common financial mistakes people make is not having a budget. I learned the hard way that there is a difference between having the money to buy something and being able to afford it. It may be tedious to track your spending and give yourself only a portion of your money to spend, but being disciplined now can save you financial trouble in the future. 

Mad Science on Demand

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On Friday October 28, students performed stage plays and showed a short film for Mad Science on Demand. The shows were all written directed, and performed within 24 hours. Theatre on Demand had been an activity at the college for a few years and is open to all students who are interested. They got the topic at 8pm on Friday night and had to put together their shows by 8pm on Saturday. The theme for the productions was mad science, which falls under the PLACE theme for the year of science and technology.

The first production was a short film, Menopause in a Bottle, directed by Hollis Thompson. In the film, two students, Adam and Evelyn, meet with their professor to work on a project for extra credit. The professor traps Evelyn in a glass box and gives her hormones, causing her to have rapid and unpredictable mood swings. After the film, we all took seats in front of the stage in Eagle Hall to watch the stage productions.

The first stage play of the evening was The God Complex, written by Samantha Gallegos. In the play, Dr. Vir is responsible for ending humanity and her apprentice, Wanda, is seeking excitement. While running errands for Dr. Vir, she meets Victor, a young scientist who is afraid of science.

Rachel Mudd, director of The God Complex said her main responsibilities as a director were lighting, sound, and stage direction.

“I had to keep the actors focused and help them memorize their lines,” she said. She enjoyed the experience and sees herself participating next year as a director.

The second stage play was Promises Are for The Weak, written by Edwin Hinojos and directed by Allyson Couture. Professor Chase Morrison wants to get his hands on the youth serum created by his student, Patty Grambles. She insists it is not ready, but he does not listen to her.

The final stage play was Persistence of a Loveworst Mind. The great-granddaughter of Dr. Frankenstein kidnaps a student and replaces his brain with her deceased husband’s. Alex Eyespy goes to her lab to find out what happens to the student and discovers her experiment. Maggie Bunch directed the play and said putting together an entire production in 24 hours was challenging, but writer, Caleb D. Gammons did an amazing job with the script. With such a short time period, there was a question of what to do about props.

“We had to improvise with the props and used the university’s stools,” said Bunch.
David Zwirn has been acting since high school, but this is his first A&M production and Theatre on Demand. He played the comical role of Alex Eyespy. Prior to being in the production, he only knew a couple of people who were participating. The event allowed him to make new friends and meet other people who also shared his interests.

“It’s like Iron Chef, where you only get certain ingredients to work with,” said Zwirn. “We only had a certain amount of time to memorize lines and que. We rehearsed all day from 9am to showtime.”

Zwirn wants to be more involved in the theater program at A&M.

“Dr. Billings wants the program to grow and expand. The more talent we get, the better it will be.”

Don’t Let the Flu Catch You

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You are coughing, you can’t breathe, every part of your body hurts.  You roll over and look at the clock, it’s 3 a.m.  You have to get up in a couple of hours to go to class and you realize you have the flu.  What do you do?  What could you have done to avoid this conundrum?

Unfortunately, not everyone knows what to do when they are sick.  They feel they must go to school or work, despite running fever and feeling ill.  This is how the flu spreads.  Here are a few tips to avoid spreading or catching the flu.

  1. If you feel ill, and especially if you are running fever, stay home.
  2. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  3. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
  4. Wash your hands often.  If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  5. Don’t touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.  Germs are often spread by touching something contaminated and then touching your face.
  6. Keep your home and workspace clean and disinfected.
  7. Get plenty of sleep.  Your immune system has to work overtime when you are tired.
  8. Exercise.  A healthy exercise routine keeps your body healthy.
  9. Avoid stress as much as possible.  Oftentimes, stress can weaken your immune system and cause physical symptoms.
  10. Drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.  Keeping yourself hydrated and eating a healthy diet is a good way to support immune system function.
  11. Take a quality multivitamin.  Keeping your macro nutrient levels up can help support a healthy immune system.
  12. Above all, get your flu shot.  Pharmacies give the flu shot and it is covered by most insurances.  This preventative measure can save you tons of money on cold and flu medications and loss of work.

If you begin to feel ill, there are other things you can do to shorten the virus.  The over the counter, non-drowsy remedy Oscillococcinum is a great way to feel better fast.  You could also try taking Zinc, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin C to boost your immune response.

With the cold and flu season in full swing, it’s important to be vigilant.  Stay healthy!

 

Fright Night: Games for Halloween

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Looking for a way to celebrate Halloween from the comfort of your own home? Here are two games (neither for the faint of heart) you might consider picking up to play – The Evil Within and Friday the 13th the Game!

The Evil Within (Released in 2014)

Rated Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language

The Evil Within is a 2014 Third Person Survival Horror game developed by Tango Gameworks and Published by Bethesda Softworks.

You play as Detective Sebastian Castellanos, who has been separated from his team and transported to a nightmarish mindscape after arriving on the scene of an apparent mass murder at Beacon Mental Hospital. The game takes place over several Chapters, wherein you’ll attempt to sneak and survive as you progress through various areas populated by all manner of hostile monster. The Evil Within takes this a step further by introducing you to various special monsters who act as a sort of flavor-of-the-week for a time, impeding your progress until you eventually face it in a straight on fight and defeat it.

If you’re in the mood for something you can play on your own, consider giving The Evil Within a try! If you’re not able to pick it up, there’s a wealth of footage of it on YouTube and surely no shortage of streamers on Twitch that will be playing it for the evening. However, if you have already played it, they just released the games sequel, The Evil Within 2!

Friday the 13th the Game

Rated Mature (17+) for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes and Strong Language

Friday the 13th the Game is an Asymmetrical Multiplayer Survival Horror game developed by IllFonic and published by Gun Media. Seven survivors must work together to secure various means of escape from a player controlling the iconic Jason Voorhees, who must systematically hunt down and kill  the seven survivors. The game uses a unique audio system wherein survivors may communicate over long distances using radios but they must be mindful of what they say, as the player controlling Jason can hear both ends of the conversation if he is near one of the two.

The games tense and often frantic atmosphere makes it a great game to play with friends and perfect for the Halloween festivities. It is not, however, a game you may enjoy for long periods simply watching.