June 7, 2004 • PIONEER • 3
Comments and Reviews
New club gearing up for fall To the editor: The Biology and Ecology club of OKCCC is coming together for a new start. Although the fall semester is far away, the students of this organization are building a strong foundation to be in full force by fall. Led by sponsors Julian Hilliard and Teresa Randall, the club has many initiatives in their plans. First and foremost, club President Sara Rhodes and Biology Professor Julian Hilliard hope to begin a recycling program at OKCCC. In a conversation with an OKCCC student in regards to the paper waste, she said, “I have my own rainforest, it will never run
out.” Of course, this comment was in jest, but the mentality seems to ring true in the actions of the college. For example, on any given day, the chemistry lab throws away two boxes of paper. Imagine that occurring in literally dozens of departments and organizations all over campus. Outside of the recycling effort, the club has activities on the agenda from adopting a stretch of highway to trips to nature preserves and aquariums. All of these activities are supported by an underlying goal of ecological awareness. The Biology and Ecology
club hopes to serve as a place where the “outdoorsy” and ecologicallyminded can gather. Students need a group to promote activities like recycling and hiking with an attitude of conservation and respect for nature. If these ideas struck a chord with you, please look for more information in the fall. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail Sara at sbchinchilla@ yahoo.com. We hope to see you soon in the blossoming Biology and Ecology club of OKCCC. —Lindi McLaughlin Public Relations Officer of Biology and Ecology club
‘Shrek 2’ hilarious for older kids Dreamworks SKG scored one of the biggest hits in 2001 with the hilarious blockbuster “Shrek.” This summer they have struck gold again. “Shrek 2” is already considered a front runner for the Best Animated Feature Academy Award, an award that the original was the first ever to win. “Shrek 2” takes place directly after the original movie ends. Shrek and Fiona are on their honeymoon and have come back to the swamp only to find none other than Donkey taking care of the house. Donkey is thrown out, a la the original movie, and just like the original, there are visitors outside right as he’s thrown out. These visitors are men from Fiona’s parents’ castle who are bringing an invitation for “Princess Fiona and her Prince Charming” to come home to
the kingdom of “Far Far Away.” Thus begins the madcap adventure of Shrek meeting the in-laws, and the in-laws meeting Shrek. The cast has lost nothing from the original movie: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy are back in the same hilarious style as the first. John Cleese and Julie Andrews lend their voices as Fiona’s parents, known only as the king and queen. And the ever self-deprecating Antonio Banderas lends his vocal styling as the lovable and funny Puss in Boots. The funniest things about this movie are the plethora of pop culture references that riddle the story and leaves the audience in stitches. From the honeymoon montage of classic romantic movie moments to the hilarious spoof of everyone’s favorite coffee shop, Farbucks (oh excuse
me, Starbucks), the culture references are sharp, funny and very witty. There are only two downsides to this film. First, where the first film was obviously appealing to both the younger and older generations, most of the references and funny moments in this movie will be lost on kids younger than 15. Second, all the money you will have to spend on going back to watch it over and over and over again. The toughest part about the movie is that you will have to see it several times in order to catch the majority of pop culture jokes and movie references. There are several animated films yet to come out this Oscar year, and as far as I’m concerned, this should be right in the mix. I give it a whole-hearted A+. —Billy Adams Staff Writer
Quote of the Week: “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” —Jimi Hendrix
Bugs and sun Summer is such a great time of year. You can choose to take a class or two, or not. We associate summer with vacation time and relaxing and having a good time. There is something about a bright sunny day that draws us outside. Being outside brings us into greater contact with various animal species that might get the local entomologists and herpetologists greatly excited, but that may cause us irritation and annoyance, or worse. Mosquitoes and ticks are not just bothersome; they can spread diseases such as West Nile Virus or Lyme disease. If you’re going to be outside in places where ticks and mosquitoes are likely to live, then use a good insect repellent that contains DEET. Stinging insects aren’t necessarily deterred by the use of bug sprays, so other considerations have to be made. Perfumed and scented products may attract different kinds of stinging insects, so try to avoid these products or use those that are unscented. Hair products and soaps typically have perfumes added, so be cautious when using those products. Bugs with stingers are also attracted to bright, shiny objects and clothing with floral prints. If you’re planning to swim or have a picnic, check the area for signs of nests. If you encounter stinging insects while you’re out, remain as calm as possible. Attempting to run or swat at the insects will only agitate them more. A much more innocuous threat to your skin is the sun. If possible, avoid working or playing outside between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Even if the day appears cloudy or overcast, harmful ultraviolet rays can cause damage to the skin. Over time, this damage can progress to some form of skin cancer. Over a million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year. About 54,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed. Frequent application of a sunscreen product to exposed skin (don’t forget faces, ears, noses, etc.) can protect against these harmful rays. Sunscreen products can be used in conjunction with insect repellents to provide maximum relief from sun and bugs. Snakes may also pose a hazard. Humans tend not to be a good food source for snakes, B movies notwithstanding, so they prefer to avoid us so that we don’t harm them or cause them to waste venom that they’d rather use on dinner. Even though you may be an urban dweller, snakes can invade your territory, especially if you have a food source nearby. Backyard pools or water gardens, bird feeders, or fields or vacant lots nearby may increase your risk of crossing paths with a snake. By using some common sense and by taking some precautions, you can happily coexist with other sunloving creatures. —Student Development