Kristy Crowley
Assistant Editor

I never thought a whole lot about men and women "shipping off" to the military for boot camp and their new way of life. Many will only hear from their loved ones once in awhile.

That really makes me think about life: about how well we've got it outside of the military and how grateful we "civilians" should be to those who serve our country.

The week before Thanksgiving, my boyfriend got a call from his Air Force recruiter who told him that he was "shipping off" (to boot camp) that coming Monday.

That really made the two of us start to think about what it was going to be like not talking to each other every day or seeing each other for possibly months on end.

We were not sure what was going to happen but we knew we would be there for each other. When he left, I started thinking about how much time I spent talking to him on the phone or spending time with him when not at work.

This is when a person figures out how much that one, special person means and realizes the empty space inside that is left after he or she leaves.

I did not realize that it would take so much out of me to let the one I love go when I know I will see him in only a "short" couple of months.

I marvel at how the family members who have gone through this experience managed for boot camp and deployment.

I have had friends and classmates go into the military but it did not mean as much to me as it did when my boyfriend left for the Air Force.

I do remember how, when those people left their families, they were so torn about the whole situation and now I understand why.

I know it is going to be hard to wait until January when I will finally be able to see my boyfriend again.

We have spent every Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and both our birthdays together. It is hard to adjust to because we have been celebrating those holidays together with our families since the beginning.

I know I can do it just like any other military girlfriend and family member and it will make me a stronger person.

I also know that I am supporting the United States by supporting the men and women and their families who are in the military by sending my support through letters, packages, phone calls and emotional support.

I do not want to be sympathized by others about this but I feel that all should know what a military member's family and friends go through.

Let me tell you, it is hard to give up someone you love and care about to the military. A person not only feels lonely but also spends a good amount of time missing that person and wishing that he or she could be here now.

In addition to thanking those who serve, we should also thank those making a sacrifice when their loved ones leave for service.

I want to wish everyone good luck, including those who choose to serve our country now or in the future. Thank those who are serving and have served.

Katie schmitt
News/Feature Editor

Everyone has to go to the dentist at some point in their lives and while it may be embarrassing, painful and seem like a waste of time for some, it is very important.

But things could be changing; for the painful part at least. It all started with the tooth brush. Many have not noticed but the tooth brush is evolving right before our very eyes.

It started out as a stick with bristles. But then criss-crossing bristles to help remove plaque were introduced.

Then suddenly it was moto-rized, chargeable, easy and more convenient for everyone.

Toothpaste has been undergoing changes as well.

Whitening power, baking powder, mouthwash toothpaste and even floss comes right on the cap of some toothpastes.

It's unbelievable but the coolest change by far is at the dentist. If you haven't been there yet I suggest going.

I visited my dentist the other day and was surprised to see a flat screen in front of my face. They informed me that this new device was going to take pictures of my teeth, magnify them, digitize them on the new computer software and I would be able to see them... instantly. To say the least, I was impressed. They said that this new technology was going to require 80% less pictures taken, which includes a great deal less radiation for me.

But what really impressed me was when I was having a fluoride treatment, the screen no longer resembled a computer screen but with a push of a button, became a TV screen for my viewing plea-sure.

They handed me the remote and told me to pick a channel while I waited.

This seemed odd to me considering that as a child, fluoride was my least favorite part and always seemed to take a great deal of time to complete.

As always, I got a cool, green toothbrush and some floss and left the office with a smile on my face instead of trying to hide my sore teeth.

It is important for you to visit your dentist often to take proper care of your teeth and gums. Don't have too much fun.

To the Editor:

Electronic voting seems to be just around the corner; already certain local elections are being processed using completely electronic means. It seems as if it's only a matter of time before national elections are recorded and tabulated exclusively by computer.

As a Computer Engineer, I am generally excited to see technology used to improve processes, reduce overhead and generate efficiencies. However, while electronic voting accom-plishes these goals, I am skeptical. The right to vote is one of the ways in which the populace maintains control of its government. If that right is hindered, as is the populace's control of the government.

Currently, when voting tabulation systems do not report votes accurately, there is always a paper-trail; the actual ballots cast by voters can always be read and tabulated by hand in the event of hardware failure. With electronic voting, there is no such paper trial. Certainly paper reports can be generated at local polling places, but if those reports are corrupt, then they are worthless.

Some companies are working on closed-source electronic voting systems. The fact that their systems are closed-source allows these companies to reap exclusive profits from their code, but it does not allow for public scrutiny of the recording and tabulation mech-anisms. In the absence of public scrutiny of the workings of these systems, what assurance can the public have that these programs are as solid as their makers may claim?

Recently, an electronic voting system caused quite a scare among election officials in Boone County, Indiana, when more than 144,000 votes appeared to be cast from a pool of 19,000 registered voters. The situation was later corrected, but what would have happened, were the error not correctable?

Personally, I am greatly concerned with the speed at which our society seems to be embracing electronic voting. The security and reliability of voting via electronic means seem to take a back seat to convenience and cost-savings. Something as important as voting should not be taken so lightly.

Aaron M. Hurd
5315 Frederiksen Ct.
Ames, IA 50010
Junior, Computer Engineering
Iowa State University

Lindsay Kalvig
Editor

Although most of us don't want to admit it, we are currently in the peak years of our lives: years in which we have the power to decide what lies ahead for us in the future. We are currently walking the path that will lead to our future career, our future family and our future endeavors.

I found myself thinking about how old we are getting the other day. I have two very good friends that have asked me to be the maid of honor in their weddings next year. It seems like we should be too young to be thinking of marriage, but I know this is not true. We have entered into the stage in our lives where we begin moving away from the "casual" dating, into a more "I'm looking for someone to spend the rest of my life with" sort of dating. It's a scary thought.

With so much on my mind, I don't feel as if I have the time to be thinking of such life-altering things. But many people seem to be moving in that direction. To each their own I guess. Then I found out that a good friend's parents were getting a divorce; a couple who had been married for around 25 years had now decided to call it quits. How could this happen? Where were the warning signs? They seemed so happy.

To top off the devastating news, the blow was given only weeks before the holidays and my friend's older brother was thinking about proposing to his girlfriend. I bet he's thinking twice before he does that now. I know I would be.

I hate to see entire families devastated by a single phrase-"I want a divorce."

To me it seems almost ironic that two people get together because they think they love each other and create a family that should be filled with love, only to hurt the family later on because the love is not there any longer.

I know that most people are very happy in their relationships, but with the current divorce rate in the United States being over 50%, it's hard to live that fairy tale that everyone dreams about.

For those of you who are thinking of getting married at our age, make sure it's someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. Divorce hurts many, not just you and your spouse. Love is sacred, don't take it for granted.