Finding the Best Nooks

By: MaryKate Carter and Louie Glinzak

Spring is here. That means it’s time to come out of hibernation, leave your UGGs behind, and soak up some sun. When the temperature climbs over 50, every grassy knoll becomes a beach. Weather sun bathing, volleyball, or frisbee is your game, it’s time to head outside. With only a few weeks of school left, be sure to explore. Michigan State is proud to have the biggest geographical campus in the country. Don’t miss out on some great spots to kick back and relax a little.
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Living a Healthy Lifestyle

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By: Louie Glinzak

With beach weather not to far from us, it is time to once again think about looking good in that swimsuit you have tucked away in your dresser drawer. Once again, it is time to exercise, eat right, and get that beach body we all want to have.

However, with all of the fad diets and dieting pills around us, you must be careful with what you use and how you go about leading a healthy life while trying to look great at the beach.

Exercise and eating right are both key when trying to lose weight or getting back into shape. The best way to get that beach body is to do it the old fashioned way by watching what you eat and getting a little sweaty. Not only is exercising good for you physically but it may also becomes mentally good for you as well.
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Facebook Changing Faces

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By: Joe Shanley

It is 10:30 on a Saturday morning. You’ve been out partying all night and all you want to do is enjoy stale Raman noodles and unwind by reading the ridiculous drunken wall posts and friend requests you made the night before on your Facebook page upon your arrival home.

However, as a marketing scheme, Mark Zuckerberg has AGAIN, for the UPTEENTH TIME, decided to change the format of your profile page, bolstering it with ridiculous applications and features that are completely unnecessary and are getting in the way of the juicy stuff. As an avid Facebook user, I find these continually changing templates absolutely ridiculous and totally unnecessary.
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Editor’s Desk: Keep Summer Simple

By: MaryKate Carter

Summer is coming and coming fast. However with parents losing jobs and summer job markets tightening, many students are finding it more difficult to see the light at the end of the finals tunnel this year. Still, let’s remember what summer really means. Summer is a time for stargazing from your rooftop, ice cream on crazy hot days, and driving with the sunroof open. Even if you can’t afford that week in Cancun or a month long road trip with your buddies, summer is a time for fun in the sun.

The simple joys of the summer season do not have to break the bank.
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Alco Plays with Liveliness, Passion

By: Katherine Rohr

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being asked to go to a show at Small Planet in northern East Lansing near Chandler’s Crossing. A friend of mine knew one of the guys in the band, so I looked forward to the show for days. On my way to go get my car to go to the venue, however, I found out my car had been hit in a parking lot and that there was damage. Needless to say, my mood quickly turned south. Looking back, the opening bands were pretty lively and energetic, ranging from catchy covers to jam-band guitar solos, but at the time I was not so easily or eagerly entertained.

And then Alco took the stage. In a range of ambient piano rock and climactic builds, I quickly forgot my woes and remembered why I was there: the love of music. It was clear that that was why the members of Alco were there too. The front man, Justin Franks, was outstanding on piano that night. Drummer Jeff Twomley was serving up rhythm with a smile the entire set, but was doing far more than just keeping beat. In all honesty, I believe that lead guitarist Shaun Spivak was born with a guitar in his hands. The newest member of the band, bassist Thom Mezak, made his complex and solid bass lines part of the composition again, which is something many bands today fail to do. The guys just looked happy to be playing music, and the crowd (which was a lot larger than I expected to see on a week night in a bar) looked just as excited to hear it.

Alco formed in November of 2005 and have been finding themselves in their songs ever since. This past fall, the band recorded a short CD of songs that represented the direction the guys wanted to go in. The songs, just like the set, have a wonderful variety and honesty to them. They say that music is a universal language, but there is another language that all who are lucky to have the opportunity to hear Alco can clearly understand. This language transcends particular musical tastes, genres, and definitions; the language of pure talent. I hold nothing at higher respect than bands that are masters of their instruments, and have the love and passion for music (and the guts) to stand up and play for anyone who is willing to shell over a few bucks to listen. So if you get the chance, check Alco out. They opened for The Hard Lessons at another local venue at Mac’s Bar on Michigan just west of campus on February 22nd and have a few other local tour dates lined up. I recommend going just for the pure love of music and the raw admiration of live talent. Pick up the CD as well, so you can take these fun-loving guys home with you.
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Katherine Rohr is a Social Relations and Politics and Media Arts and Technology Sophomore.

‘09 Wrangler Offers Style, Ruggedness

By: Tim Henkel

Before I start my review, I feel I should give you a little background on me. My family owns a car dealership (go to Henkelauto.com for great cars at great prices), and I’m there during the summer. Read more