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President's Letter
From the Alumni Director
On Campus
Applause
A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
Get "Serious" About Summer
Homecoming Roundup
The Ultimate Measure of Success
Because of the Paws
Museum of Hateful Things
Bulldog Bites
Bulldogs on the Rampage
An American in Pontlevoy
Black Sea Resorts, Dracula and 2,500 Years of History
Class Notes
Timothy James Bazzett: Reed City Boy
Alumnus Wins
"Ultimate Tailgate Party"
In Memoriam
Alumni Events
The Dog Days of Summer Approacheth
From the music of the Beach Boys to memories of a favorite vacation cottage, the summer months hold an almost mythic place in the American psyche. Traditionally, the hottest days of the season coincided with the appearance of Sirius, the "Dog Star," so named by ancient Egyptians after the dog-headed god Osiris. Hence, the term "Dog Days of Summer."
Here are a few tips by members of our own Bulldog community to help make this summer's memories some of your best.
For Summer Reading, You Could Do Verse
Phillip Sterling, Languages and Literature Professor
You'd think with all the daylight we're saving, we'd have enough leisure time in the summer to catch up on the fat classic or best-selling novels we neglect the rest of the year. But somehow even in summer, time seems to be as slippery as a wet deck which is why I turn to poetry anthologies.
There are anthologies to suit any taste - from collections
about (or by!) dogs, to cowboy poems, to poems about food - and the selections
are short enough to read completely between dips in the pool.
Three anthologies I've found particularly portable (and suitable for all) are
. Good Poems, edited by Garrison Keillor (lazier 'readers' can get this on CD or audio cassette)
[Editor's Note: Sterling is author of the poetry collection Mutual Shores and Significant Others and editor of
Imported Breads: Literature of Cultural Exchange, an anthology of writing by Fulbright scholars books which fit right in at the beach.]
. Committed to Memory: 100 Best Poems to Memorize, (which is also a fun thing to do in the summer)
. A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry, compiled by the late Nobel Laureate Czeslaw Milosz
"That faint semblance of Eden, the picnic in the greenwood" - Herman
Melville
Brenda Walton, Vicky Rockey and Stan Vallier, Dining Services
Whether packing a picnic, grilling out or cooking some good old-fashioned "comfort food," enjoy your summertime eating by focusing on healthful
and easily prepared menus.
. Keep your picnic simple - and classic. Trying to put together
the perfect picnic can take all the fun out of it. Concentrate on staples
such as bread, cheese and fruit.
. Get acquainted with your local farmers market. Summer is the perfect time to improve your favorite recipes by replacing canned
ingredients with fresh.
. Keep it light. Sure, ribs and burgers are great on the grill -but so
is fish brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh dill. Cook filets
on aluminum foil pricked with a fork to allow juices to drain. Asparagus
stalks or slices of eggplant brushed with olive oil are also wonderful,
and very summery, when grilled.
. Handle food safely. Don't ruin your summer vacation by getting sick. Carry hand wipes if you won't be near soap and water.
Freezing juice cartons and putting them in the cooler helps keep food cold. If you really want mayonnaise or salad dressing on
your food, stock up on individual packets and add just before eating.
Don't Just Take a Picture -
Make a Photograph
Bill Bitzinger, University photographer
Summers are filled with clear sunrises, long daylight hours and spectacular sunsets. Whether you're using a digital or
film camera, make your 2005 vacation photos great by
. Shooting towards the light. In addition to using flash indoors or at night, pose your subjects with the sun at their back
and use the flash to "fill in" the faces. You'll have fewer squinting smiles and more relaxed expressions.
. Getting close. If you're uncomfortable encroaching on your subjects' "personal space," use a zoom lens and frame the shot
as tight as possible. For a still life, such as a close-up of a flower, a piece of black construction paper placed behind a
bloom can really show off its colors.
. Being ready 24/7. Take advantage of cool, moody morning light or the warm glow of sunset on a loved one's face.
Overcast and rainy weather makes bright colors stand against a gray sky or wet pavement.
For great photos, get in close...
...and be ready 24/7!!
(photos by Bill Bitzinger)
Protect Your Eyes From the Sun.
Robert S. Buckingham, director of clinics, Michigan College of Optometry
Just as your skin can get sunburned, so can your eyes. Typically, mild sunburn of the eye occurs after a full day outdoors. The eye
looks a little red and feels a bit dry and scratchy. The lens and retina inside the eye are also susceptible to sun damage. Research
has shown that people frequently exposed to the sun during their life have a greater risk of developing cataracts. The best sun
protection is a good pair of sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) rays.
. Check the label. When buying sunglasses, make sure they block at least 99% of UV A and B radiation.
. Penny-wise, eye foolish. Poor quality sunglasses that don't provide adequate UV protection may actually allow more UV damage than no sunglasses at all.
. They look good on the beach, too. Sand, sea foam and water can reflect UV rays, increasing your overall exposure.
. Rally caps forward. A hat with a big brim over the eyes also helps.
.And Don't Forget to Protect Your Skin
Jim Hoerter, Biological Sciences department head
The good news for sun worshippers is that recent data suggests your skin needs at least 10 minutes of solar exposure to make vitamin D,
which can be important protection against all types of cancer. The bad news is that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in
the United States, with more than one million new cases diagnosed each year. To help prevent that
. Build up your skin cells' natural defenses. In the beginning of the summer, gradually expose your skin for no more than 20-minutes of sunshine each day.
. Always use sunscreen lotion. A sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher is generally recommended.
. Moderation is the key. Avoid excessive exposure, particularly during mid-day.