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A spirit that is not afraid

Intrigue

The cover photo winner of last year's Best Friends Calendar contest was Cam, an orange and white Persian. Photo submitted by Stacee Strength, public relations director of Lee County Humane Society

Pets Pose For Photo Contest

It's time to primp your pooch, fluff your feline and brush your bunny because the Lee County Humane Society is accepting photo entries for the 2011 Best Friends Calendar.Entries, accepted April first through May 28 for $10 each, will be voted on during the summer to see which pet can capture the most votes and become the 2011 "Cover Pet.""We have people enter pictures of their pet and take a small entry fee," said Stacee Strength, public relations director of Lee County Humane Society.


The State Press

Dangers Of The 'Dirty Dozen'

With a cheap college budget, buying organic fruits and vegetables is probably not a top priority.However, there are certain produce items for which buying organic is always advisable.The Environmental Protection Agency helped release a list in 2001 of 12 Persistent Organic Pollutants know as the "Dirty Dozen" that can be found on most produce and are linked to some diseases.Peaches are the most chemically dangerous, followed by apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, grapes, pears, lettuce and carrots.When buying these items in the grocery store, it is better to spend the little extra cash and go organic."In a perfect world, I would like to see us eating organic as I believe it results in more sustainable agriculture," said Ann Johnson, nutrition graduate teaching assistant at Auburn.POPs are toxic chemicals that can be transported product to product by wind and water, making them easily spread as most food is shipped and difficult to contain or eradicate them from the environment.The EPA advises that produce with these chemicals on them should be avoided at all costs.Some diseases linked to POPs include malaria, cancer and other mutations."I've never bought organic," said Chelsea Biele, junior in business.


Safe, Sexy Sunless Self-Tanning

While Auburn's pools are inundated with people soaking up the sunlight, student schedules, like Whitney Gibbs', don't allow for daily bronzing sessions."I'm studying to be a nurse and, because I'm a senior, I never have time to go to the pool anymore," Gibbs said.

How to Make Your Computer Faster

Screaming, crying and mourning are typical emotions students can feel after having their computers freeze and crash unexpectedly.With applications and programs requiring more memory from computers, the simple steps to making a computer run at peak performance can vary depending on the machine and operating system.Todd Chaloupka, student PC shop manager, has been running the on-campus computer repair shop since it opened in 1997.Chaloupka has seen the worst of the worst in computer malfunctions, but uses the same techniques for most all Windows-based machines brought into the shop."Something easy they can do," Chaloupka said, "if they have anti-virus programs, one that's expired, one they are paying for and one that's free, take one of them off."Having several different anti-virus programs will slow machines down as they are all fighting to scan the same files, Chaloupka said.Having sufficient free space and memory is another easy fix that can speed up your machine, Chaloupka said."If they're running a Windows XP machine, they need 512 MB of ram or better," Chaloupka said.

The Auburn Plainsman

Summer Concert Guide

Ditch the traditional water parks and state fairs this summer for more lyrical events. Alex Jenkins, junior in pre-pharmacy, said concerts are a good alternative for more expensive summer vacations.

The Auburn Plainsman

Got A light

Elegance, sophistication and debonair. These words can be used to define a cigar. Daniel Watkins, sophomore in aviation management, said he usually smokes a cigar with a group of friends since it is a social activity.

The Auburn Plainsman

Car Features Go Futuristic

Vehicles in 2010 are equipped with new safety technology, features that provide drivers with ultimate comfort and control and convenient innovations that allow drivers to integrate the technologies they are dependent on, like cell phones and iPods, with their car.Chuck Sedenquist, salesman at Lynch Chevrolet and Cadillac of Auburn, said several new features are now available on different models.

The Auburn Plainsman

Tips For Fuss-Free Filing

For the inexperienced, these last two weeks of tax season could be the right time to learn how to file taxes.Taxes are due April 15 of every year."If you're a student, it is important that you know if you are being claimed on your parents return," said Nancy Fritschner, account at Fritschner and Bremen LLCFritschner said that while online programs are helpful, a Certified Public Accountant firm is always the best way to do taxes.She said the customer brings in their information to an experienced accountant, answers questions and leaves.

The Auburn Plainsman

AT&T MicroCell

Some cell phone services, such as AT&T, are trying new ways to give better service to their customers when they enter buildings and when at home to avoid the typical dropped call "Can you hear me now?" situation.AT&T launched a new device called the 3G MicroCell signal booster March 24th.

The Auburn Plainsman

A True Auburn Family of 27

Many families have found themselves celebrating their Auburn heritage with tailgating and get-togethers, but a particular family began to come together more often to keep the tradition alive while celebrating the life they still have.

The Auburn Plainsman

Simple At-Home Workouts

Jordan Collins, a certified sports performance coach, offers tips for students that are unable to make it to the gym everyday.