Country Roads

How do you relax? For most people, it’s probably a combination of watching their favorite shows or spending time with friends. With school and responsibilities though, it can be difficult to find the time. One of my friends recently talked about driving as a sort of therapy on rough days. I usually avoid road trips if I can, but over the past week or so, I think I understand why this could help.

Most people have a car. Our infrastructure is built for automotive travel and little else. For this to strategy to work, you have to enter the right mindset. Some people leave late for work and try to rush a commute, other people have a lot on their plates and don’t pay attention to the road. Consider what it would be like to sit down and put all those distractions away for a while. I’m not saying don’t think when you drive, but start your travel knowing you can’t change the length of the road and the five minutes you save from speeding doesn’t compare to benefits of waking up on time.

I hope no one feels called out, but also consider the circumstances. Driving is a perfect break. When you’re on the road, you should be focused on the moment. Obviously, stress is a factor in how you drive but think of the experience more as a cruise. Have you ever gotten behind the wheel, not knowing where you’re heading, but just exploring? In towns like Ada, there is only so much you can do. Some people like to go out with friends and would rather wander than succumb to boredom. I understand people who worry about other drivers. The best part of country roads is the lack of traffic though. Roads are like life: there are twists and turns. Sometimes things get dangerous and others are calm. But the hazards, distractions, or other people should never stop you from enjoying the ride.

Music and the Impact on Interaction

Music acts as a social expression and acts like a reflection on the DJ. Reactions vary among people, but comfort level plays a major role in how someone chooses tunes. For example, some people relate to others through mutually enjoyed songs and artists. Songs are easy to pick without conflict though. Music can give an immediate reaction. Take metal: I don’t personally listen to it, but I also don’t mind if it comes on a playlist. Other people might hear the intro to a song and immediately feel uncomfortable. It depends on the audience, which varies from group to group.

Picture driving down the road with a group of friends. The gang is about to embark on an adventure when the car goes quiet. Someone notices the AUX cable isn’t attached to a phone and what follows is a cornucopia of reactions. Some people are very defensive about their music and the rights to a car stereo, other people would rather have a passenger handle the tunes.

When people ask who your favorite artist is, do you immediately have someone come to mind? One response could be “I listen to everything” but most people don’t like this answer. I think it has to do with a perception of someone being disingenuous. I don’t always have a band in mind but I think I should. People can use this question as a way to subconsciously attribute personality traits. This works both ways too: “you listen to punk music so you must be rebellious”, or “you look basic so you listen to pop.” I think it does more harm than good though.

Music is supposed to bring people together. We may not agree on every playlist but should my perception change for someone because of their tastes? I don’t think so. Common ground and bands which cross genres help to unify people under a love of tunes. One solution to this question could be to make a personal mix-tape or playlist so the range of music can manifest. At the end of the day though, I’d rather be with those friends than choosing what song we play.

Vaping Kills

Have you seen the headlines this week? As of September 6, vaping has links to multiple deaths in the US. Except not exactly. Anyone who reads one of these articles can see the same link to a recently published study. Let’s start with the facts. According to the CDC:

·         There are 450 possible cases of lung illness associated with the use of vape products reported to CDC.

·         No specific substance or e-cigarette product links to all cases.

·         Many patients admit to using products containing cannabinoids (THC).

·         Youth and young adults should not use e-cigarette products.

·         Women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette products.

·         Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette products.

·         If you do use e-cigarette products, you should not buy these products off the street.

One chemical under suspicion is Vitamin E. While safe for consumption, it is not approved for inhalation. The trouble is, it’s not common in all types of products. Flavored juices are one market, but many states already ban the use of the chemical. The introduction of THC into the picture makes more sense.

Recreational marijuana is legal in some states, but the federal government still classifies cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, the same level as heroin. The black market thrives as counterfeit vaping products circulate. May packages resemble legal dispensary products, but could be indistinguishable from harmful ones. This means dealers can sell people whatever they want and claim it went through the same hoops as other manufactures. The inconsistent stance from the federal and state governments leaves many people feeling justified for their use of THC and ignore the advice of the CDC.

I’m not saying people should smoke, but regulating the market consistently would close the opportunities for real criminals to do damage. Blaming the vaping industry when they are guilty is one thing, but those producers already have to abide by regulations. A related issue would be the PR situation with Juul. The company made advertisements targeting a youth market and had a settlement because of it. The rising number of youth vaping is concerning, but failing to acknowledge the benefits of vaping over cigarettes discounts the damage combustibles do to people. No nicotine is good, but so is no cigarettes. It would make sense then to provide a consumer with a safer alternative to the combustion of marijuana.

Instead, media headlines blame an industry while ignoring the deeper issues. President Trumps move to ban flavors will hurt the market of adults trying to make a switch. Legislation may help reduce vaping or it could increase cigarette use. Only time and more research will bring more insight.

First-Time Renter

Fall 2019 is the first season I’m living off-campus at ONU. As a first-time home renter, there were plenty of challenges I’d never faced before. There are things I don’t have to take care like any incidents with the AC or water heater, there are also issues which don’t get fixed because they’re on the landlord's list. Here’s an idea of what I’m working with: This summer, a bird found its way into the house. None of the roommates or I were present and the bird took his time fouling up the place. Eventually one of my friends made his way back to Ada. The bird died while no one was around. Even with the house free of a tyrannical reign, the smell stuck around until I scrubbed the walls and cleaned the curtains.

It turns out there was a hole in the siding. I don’t know if I would catch things like minor damage, but it makes me think about owning a home. It’s nice to have a place feel like it’s yours, but most people tolerate the little things when renting. Things like the door without a top hinge or the nails in the bottom of door transitions from carpet to hardwood. I made the decision to fix as many of these minor projects as I could while on a budget. After all, I still want the place to feel like home.

I had to get creative. There was a bunch of cardboard and foam from a desk I bought and so I got to work. We now have a cardboard barrier where the birds got in and I filled the spots in the floor with Styrofoam and cover it with cardboard to keep my feet safe. It may sound strange, but when there are bigger issues like a crack in my window, I’d rather use my landlord’s resources to fix those. All the other ONU seniors, what’s your worst apartment mishap? Hopefully it didn’t smell as bad.