Articles written by Chelsea Quinlan

Air Force Cadet Ryan Griggs: a senior in criminology, runs with his dog Kodi on Auburn's campus. Guardian Angels for Soldier' Pet puts dogs whose owners have been deployed into foster homes until the soldiers comes home. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

Organization places deployed troops' animals in foster homes

Many deployed soldiers are forced to give up their beloved pets because they have no one to take care of the animals. Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet is an organization that sets up foster homes for the soldiers’ pets.

Linda Spurlin-Dominik, National President of Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, said the organization was formed after they became aware of the problems military service members were having finding homes for their pets during their deployment. Soldiers often had to give their pets to a humane society or shelter.

“An individual signs up with our organization with an interest to open their home to a pet while the pet owner is deployed,” Spurlin-Dominik said.

There are three requirements to qualify as a pet foster home. Foster pet owners must open their homes to the pet or pets, ensuring the pets remain in a caring, loving, healthy and safe environment and relinquish the pet back to its owner when he or she returns safely from deployment.

“We are not only helping our military people, but we also help the shelters so that there are less animals surrendered to them,” Spurlin-Dominik said.

Soldiers being deployed may submit information regarding their pet on the organization’s Web site. To be eligible, a pet must be up to date on shots, spayed or neutered and have a certificate of health.

“If I was single and she needed a temporary home, that would be great,” said Ryan Griggs, a senior in criminology and an AS400 in the Air Force.

Motorcycles are becoming more popular as gas prices rise. With gas near $4 per gallon, many students are considering motorcycles as a possible means of transportation.

Deon Graham, a senior in civil engineering, got his motorcycle in December because it saves on gas. He also said parking for motorcycles was a plus.

However, some students have had them for years and are now glad they have them because of the rising gas prices.

Cleaning products: are stored underneath the sink. Different chemicals mixed together can create toxic gases that can damage lung tissue or trigger asthma. An alternative to cleaning with these harsh chemicals is to use organic cleaning products, which are found to be less

Your lawn. Your bed. Your desk. What do all these places have in common? Toxins.

Most people probably never consider where the most toxic places are around their homes; however, it is something everyone should be aware of.
One place most people never suspect as a toxin-filled area is their lawn.

The insecticides and herbicides people use on their lawns contain many harmful toxins, according to an article on Health.com.

These both increase the risks of cancer and neurological diseases. Insecticides generally have the potential to be harmful a few days after they have been applied, where herbicides have the potential to last for weeks. The best way to avoid the harmful effects from these is to avoid direct contact with the treated lawn for a period of time.

Another place many people forget may have toxic chemicals is under their kitchen sinks. Most people store their general cleaners here. Ammonia and chlorine bleach, when mixed together, create a toxic gas that can trigger asthma and damage lung tissue.

Steven Dignazio, a junior in criminology, takes precaution when it comes time to clean.

“I try to wear rubber gloves when I clean,” Dignazio said.

As organic foods and products become more available, it is easier to find less harmful cleaning solutions that don’t contain the harsh chemicals that traditional cleaners often include.

“I think they are a better alternative as far as harmfulness,” said Danielle Jones, a junior in nutrition.

Brominated flame retardants, which are in many conventional mattresses, are linked to cancer and hinder immune system function. The chemicals affect almost every organ in a person’s body.

It seems like a lot of students rush into marriage. I have never quite understood why people can’t wait until after college to get married.

If two people are in love, they should be able to wait until after college to get married. If someone can’t wait around, then obviously that person isn’t worth marrying. There’s no rush to be married.

Many parents “cut off” their children if they marry during college, because they think their children are no longer their responsibilities.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama now provides a free emergency medical card to all Alabama residents and residents of other states that are insured by the organization.

The card, which can be registered for online at myepi.net, has the registered person’s name, an emergency contact and a rescue login number.

Registering takes fewer than five minutes.

If the card holder is in an accident, paramedics or hospital personnel can go to the Web site and enter the number from the patient’s card.

The Web site then brings up the medical history of the card holder including current medications, surgeries, blood type and allergies.

“I think it is a wonderful idea,” said Christine Sirna, a junior in chemistry. “If something serious happened to me I would want the emergency rescue to be able to quickly look up my medical history to treat me properly.”

There are many advantages to the card. It allows paramedics to look up vital information quickly.

“If a person got into an accident and was unconscious, you could look up their blood type and medical history quickly to be able to treat them properly without having to contact anyone,” Sirna said.

The information cannot be accessed without the number printed on the card.

Information can only be changed with a username and password created by the individual.

The Web site is security-enabled and claims to store your information confidentially and securely.

“I would be interested in getting one. I have a lot of cards in my wallet, and this one would actually be important,” said Josh Hughes, a junior in radio, television and film.

Liz Gallas: a sophomore in nutrition, talks on her cell phone. The trend of cell phone popularity is decreasing the need for landlines. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

A report released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that people are relying on cell phones more than ever before. The additional cost of a landline seems to deter most from having both a cell phone and a home phone.

Dr. Margaret Fitch-Hauser, director of Auburn University’s public relations program, cancelled her landline over five years ago because she found she never used it.

“For me, it was duplicating both cost as well as function. I also found that I was never at home when I needed to use the phone,” Fitch-Hauser said. “Also, because I travel quite a bit, being able to take my phone with me made me much more accessible than relying on a landline at home.”

One-third of all people under 30 rely only on a cell phone.

Amanda Eubanks, a junior in interior design, uses only a cell phone. “The free long distance is the biggest plus for college students calling friends who have out-of-state area codes with their cell phones,” Eubanks said.

Many find convenience in cell phones because you aren’t restricted to your home to receive calls. College students and professors are busy and find that they aren’t home to receive calls on a home phone.

Students are divided over whether new device would be worth the money or just one more thing to worry about

A new product allows consumers to replace their rear view mirror with a camera that will record out of the windshield, acting as evidence in case of an accident.

While the engine is running, the video camera on the back of the rear view mirror records and saves onto an SD memory card.

It also has a 2 1/2 inch screen built into the mirror for playing back recordings.