From where I sit in the Pioneer office, I can see one of the main entries to the school. I watch people walk by as they are coming and going to and from class. I see people run through the rain. I see a student dressed as a cowboy every now and then.

I love where I sit and it sort of feeds my undiagnosed ADD when I need a little break from a computer screen.

About eight feet from my desk and through a window is a blue button for handicapped people to press to have the doors open for them. In the first month of the semester, I’ve seen one or two people in wheelchairs use it, and a few with crutches or canes. But I’ve seen about 100 people use it that don’t need to.

Naps at work seem like something everyone would enjoy, and Japanese scientists have found that having a short nap during the day boosts brain power by about 10 percent.

This may seem like be being lazy, which may be partially true, but naps help people.

Naps help parents keep up with cranky, developing babies and help babies build up their brainpower while they learn every bad word you ever say by accident and discover what that shiny object is.

Ever since I turned 18 in April of last year, the utmost exciting thing to me was not the fact that I could, if I wanted to, get into certain clubs, buy cigarettes, get piercings and tattoos, or any of the other average cliches.

Rather, it was the realization that I would soon be voting in my first presidential election. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for what seems to be so long and now that the opportunity has arrived, I must say that it is not what I was expecting. Why? Well, my answer is simply this: I’m not impressed by the candidates, to put it nicely.

I’m not usually one to bring up politics and let me make one thing clear: I do not judge or discriminate against anyone based on political opinions. I just feel so passionate about this subject because, well, shouldn’t we all be passionate and involved in what’s going on in our country? The answer is yes. However, that is sadly not the case.

Oklahoma’s West Nile virus case total has jumped to 118, the highest number of cases ever recorded in a single year in Oklahoma. Two additional deaths have also been reported, for a total of seven.

State health officials warn that favorable conditions continue for the spread of WNV. Using insect repellent when outdoors, draining standing water from items in the yard that mosquitoes can use to breed, and assuring doors and window screens are in good repair are essential to “fighting the bite” to help prevent West Nile virus.

It’s no secret that Oklahomans tip the scales when it comes to being obese or overweight. In fact, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported recently that nearly one-third of adults in Oklahoma are obese.

Not surprisingly, Oklahoma ranks last among all states in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are critical in the fight against obesity.

“Your mom was right when she said to eat your fruits and veggies,” said Keith Reed, director of the Center for the Advancement of Wellness at the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

One of the most annoying things for me is when I go out to eat with someone and cannot keep a conversation going, not because there is nothing to talk about, but because they are having a conversation with someone else via text. You try telling this person about something you find important going on in your life while they sit there, phone in lap, with fingers flying across the keypad, only looking up at you occasionally and sneaking in a few “uh-huhs.” Eventually you give up on your story, not wanting to waste your breath on someone who clearly isn’t listening.

I am not opposed to texting at all. In fact, I love it. Not only is it a convenient way to carry a conversation while you do other things, but you also avoid long and unwanted phone conversations. So why then does a situation like this bother me so much? Because it’s rude. If the person you are texting were sitting in the same booth with you and your friend at a restaurant, you would not try to have two different conversions at the same time with each of them because it would be virtually impossible.

Seven new cases of West Nile virus have been reported as of Aug. 23, bringing the state total of cases this year to 72. Milder temperatures and rain in many parts of the state provide conditions that may cause increased risk of mosquito bites and the potential for WNV transmission.

“Now that our state’s extreme heat has lifted, more Oklahomans are likely to seek outdoor opportunities to enjoy the milder temperatures — attending school athletic events, working out in the yard, taking evening walks, or enjoying camping trips or excursions to the lake,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline.

“But with the … rain in many areas of the state, there are now more opportunities for standing water for mosquitoes to breed. I urge everyone to continue to use insect repellent when outdoors and keep a can in your car or travel bag for reapplication as necessary.”

Over the past 40 years, many things have changed about OCCC: the buildings, the programs, the carpeting — even the college’s name.

As the school continues to grow and evolve, it ushers in one change after another. Even now, the skeleton of a behemoth theater looms behind the VPAC building. Baby trees encircle campus in what will one day become a circle of greenery.

OCCC is always changing, and for the most part, it’s a great thing. But one not-so great thing is the college’s recent decision to ditch the slogan “In it for me at OCCC” for “Now is Power.”

To the Editor:

As the numbers of West Nile Virus cases in Oklahoma continue to climb, the Oklahoma City-County Health Department advises residents to take extra precautions against the mosquito-borne illness by avoiding mosquito bites and reducing habitat where mosquitoes live and breed.

To reduce mosquito habitat:

· Prevent items such as buckets, cans, pool covers, flower pots and tires from holding standing water

· Empty and refill birdbaths and your pet’s outdoor water bowl daily.

With the growing use of social media, it’s easy to say we are becoming a more socialized society. However, are we really being social? Yes, sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube allow you to connect with people from all over the world but sometimes I think the virtual worlds we create for ourselves become more important than the one we actually live in.

Some advantages of social media are we can interact, share photos, videos, and opinions with both people we know in real life and people we meet online. Businesses use social media to promote their work and get users talking about certain products but how does social media affect our personal lives?

A person posting videos on YouTube may have hundreds or even thousands of subscribers and not know a single one of them. Yes, their videos are reaching thousands of people but when you think about it, how is that being social? They are simply posting an opinion for the world to see. Yes, viewers have the option to comment on the video but if all the person ever does is post the video and does not react to comments, is that really being social?