Driving South through Grand Rapids on 131, motorists will notice an electronic notification sign. This ‘pillar of knowledge’ seems to serve one main purpose: tell us what we already know.

It contains little quips such as “When the snow falls, so should your speed,” “look twice for motorcycles before changing lanes” and the ever-popular “drive safe, drive sober.”

What I wonder is who’s job it is to think of these words of wisdom, and how much does he or she get paid?

Perhaps the sign is there for a more important purpose such as to warn of traffic delays or bad weather, but why is it kept running the remaining 99.9 percent of the time? I don’t know how much power it consumes so I can’t estimate how much it wastes. Whatever it might be, I think the state would be ahead to turn it off when not needed.

Another problem with leaving it running is that while trying to clue us in on things we already know is that by trying to keep us safe, it is creating a distraction. We need to stop looking at the road to see what intelligence it will bestow upon us that particular day.

Thirdly, by leaving it running drivers will get accustomed to seeing it every day and stop paying attention to it all together. If the sign only came on when it had something of use to tell motorists, then we would actually get something … while, useful.

I wonder if I could apply for this position – I could post some great things … “If flying is safer than driving, drive faster to spend less time on the road” or ‘you are the 999,999th vehicle: pull over to receive your prize.” This is the best one “move accident vehicles to the center travel lane so other drivers can see it.”

At any rate, I think that these type of signs have been used for pretty silly things and it would be nice if they put it to some real use by attaching a wind generator to it.

When in the course of human existence it becomes necessary for two people of opposite genders to develop a relationship that is simply platonic and not based on a type of romanticism to write songs or poems about, it’s all too often looked on with curiosity from those observers beyond the scope.

That friendship between a man and a woman built on a foundation of happy memories and mutual interests involves all of those things that couples do but none greater than what friends of the same gender.

I can appreciate the difficulty for the significant other in one of these situations to not overreact when the person they care about so greatly has to distribute time between the boyfriend or girlfriend and their friend who is of the opposite gender. But there is an equal level of discomfort for the two friends who must constantly reiterate to friends and family that, “She isn’t my girlfriend, she’s just a girl who is my friend.”

This can be broken down into so many micro-emotions ranging from jealousy and confusion increasing one or both of the party’s level of competiveness and stimulating the resurgent fear that this friend is really a double agent seeking to destroy any level of happiness that you and your partner may share. While in some instances that may be the case, the vast majority of friends are solely interested in being just that – friends!

My parents often assume that anyone of the female persuasion that I mention, meet, or glance at is likely the future Mrs. Kelsey Schnell. Regardless of how many times I emphasize the status of friendship as the primary point of the relationship.

Junior in the pre-dentistry program Andrew Peterson, believes that it’s easier for girls to be friends with guys and for guys to be friends with guys than for girls to be friends with girls. “Because guys can get into an argument and be cool with each other 10 minutes later, girls hold onto a grudge tighter than their clutch purse at the bar,” said Peterson.

It can be especially difficult for a friend who is a male because he fulfills all of the less than wonderful aspects of the boyfriend/ girlfriend relationship like tears, fights with the parents, siblings, boyfriend and general emotional ill-being.

Fear not, gentlemen terrified of being everything a girl’s best friend should be. A website where men and women can communicate in selective anonymity is available to suggest possible solutions to all of your needs under the sun. At girlsaskguys.com individuals can post questions for the opposite sex to review and respond to questions from others as well.

But there is still a place for girls to have ‘girlfriends’. Those special people, “…for shopping and discussing guys,” says Kaylee Kernstock, junior in Environmental Biology.

It doesn’t matter if your best friend is a guy or a girl and you are a girl or a guy. What matters is that in this world there is someone else who cares about you. And if your significant other, or parents, or your friend’s friends can’t handle it, well at least you’ll have someone, a friend, to whom you can vent.

Two hundred years ago now, the birth of one of the most revolutionary minds and scientific innovators of all time, Charles Darwin was born on Feb. 12, 1809. Most well known for his theory of evolution which was first brought to the public eye in 1859 with the publication of On the Origin of Species, Darwin has truly changed the face of almost every field of science, philosophy and even religion.

It is true that he originally went to school for theology and planned on becoming a clergyman, but it wasn’t until after the invitation to join the journey on the HMS Beagle that things changed in his world view. He had a life long struggle with debating whether or not to publish his findings, whether or not they could be compatible with religious belief and whether or not he believed in the supernatural anymore. After many recommendations from his friends and colleagues, he knew that his work must be published.

Darwin’s life work on evolution was on the right track, but was incomplete. As stated in the original publishing title, The Origin of Species by Natural Selection, natural selection was the idea Darwin came up with as the guiding tool for changes within species. As Britannica encyclopedia explains it, “Natural selection occurs because individuals having more-useful traits, such as more-acute vision or swifter legs, survive better and produce more progeny than individuals with less-favorable traits.” While this generally is still the model that is used by scientists today, some things have changed within the theory.

Fast forwarding a century or two, let’s now look at the implications his theory has had, and the advancements that have been made. Unless you have been under a rock for the past few decades, you’ve seen evolution in the news and being hotly debated for various reasons. These include whether or not it is “just a theory,” which is a claim by many creationists who don’t understand the scientific meaning of the word theory, if it should be taught individually or with intelligent design alongside it in science classrooms, and most recently as a documentary by Ben Stein claims, if evolution and the implications of it caused Hitler to do the atrocious things that occurred during the holocaust.

From any viewpoint, this is a section of science that has plenty of baggage. Although many religious people do accept it, it is debated whether or not it is compatible, and that has been a tough question even since Darwin was thinking about it. As far as the evolution of evolution, or in other words, the advancements made since Darwin, there have been plenty. While he had laid the groundwork for it, he was far from having a completed theory. Not even to mention the massive amount of fossils that have been added to fill in some of the gaps in the fossil record, the theories about how the process occurs are more prevalent than ever.

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and the late paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould had many back and forth debates about this very subject. Dawkins, the proponent of the selfish gene theory, and Gould, the proponent of the theory that selection occurs at the level of the individual, had sparred many times.

To put these into a bit clearer terms, the selfish gene theory holds that evolution is best understood as acting upon genes. It is the gene’s interest that is at stake in the selection of evolution, not the organism as a whole. This was also the primary focus of his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene.

On the other hand, Gould opposes this theory, and says that the individual or the organism as a whole is what drives evolution. Gould was also on the other end of the spectrum from many on the topic of evolutionary psychology.

Evolutionary psychology is a more recent development and holds that evolution is not just restricted to biological aspects, but extends to psychological ones as well. This type of study may be different from the original work of Darwin, but it does stem from the same base idea and is rooted in the ever important findings that were made almost two centuries ago.

Ever since the theory was introduced, it has no doubt had its opponents. From creationists to intelligent design theorists and others, many have doubted or denied evolution. For some, it is threatening to think that we came from a more primitive species, but to biologists and other evolutionists, it is more beautiful to explain things in a natural way and to embrace scientific empiricism.

The evidence for evolution has mounted up over the years, offshoot theories have arose, and more and more embrace it everyday. The events surrounding Darwin Day are numerous and internationally celebrated. Many local gatherings within Michigan are celebrating this birthday that marks a cornerstone in modern science. Go to darwinday.org for more information on Darwin, his life, his ideas and the events that are being held to celebrate his birthday.

Looking at the course of history, Charles Darwin was one of the greatest naturalists of all time and made it possible to have a much deeper understanding of our world. We can now be aware of our origins through scientific evidence and empirical data.

Science writer Michael Shermer put it very well at the closing of his book Why Darwin Matters, “Darwin matters because evolution matters. Evolution matters because science matters. Science matters because it is the preeminent story of our age, an epic saga about who we are, where we came from and where we are going.”

How will the governments of our planet prepare six billion people for the end of the world? Any takers?

Well, I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade, but they won’t. I was faced with this question last week when an advertisement for the Institute of Human Continuity caught my eye.

Long story short, the Web site is one of those publicity stunts for an upcoming movie, go figure. But after a few minutes of searching I realized this is actually a pretty serious issue for some people.

Apparently the coveted Mayan calendar stops on Dec. 21, 2012 and people are taking it as a sign of an end to our age.

Are you thinking Y2K to the extreme? Yeah, me too. But, who cares what I think. Some people have even quit their jobs to prepare for an apocalypse.

Let’s take Belgian man Patrick Geryl for example. Three years ago he quit his job and has devoted his time since then to building a survival group of about 20 people. According to the New York Post, Geryl even plans to purchase land in Africa so that he can start the foundation for a new society.

Despite the fact that the Mayan calendar ends on said date, claimers are also using some scientific reasoning to defend our so-called Doomsday.

In 2012, during our winter solstice, the sun will align with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in almost 26,000 years. Perhaps the Mayans saw something in the stars thousands of years ago that we cannot. I doubt it.

Geryl even supports his actions with what the scientists say about an increase in sunspots and solar flares for 2012. He believes a polar reversal will cause the north to become the south and the sun will rise in the west. Then shattering earthquakes, colossal tidal waves and simultaneous volcanic eruptions will follow. Nuclear reactors will melt, buildings will crumble, and a cloud of volcanic dust will block out the sun for 40 years.

Haven’t we heard this before or at least seen it in a movie? If anything will end this world it will be the hysteria media creates and the fear that Hollywood feeds us with their scientifically incorrect movies.

The closer we get to 2012, the more we will hear about Earth’s potential day of reckoning. And in extreme cases I can even see the formation of suicidal cults, think Kool-aid or Nike shoes.

These people and these claims are ridiculous. The only thing that will come of Dec. 21, 2012 is a good conversation starter and maybe a blockbuster hit.

I want some tangible proof that Earth has an expiration date. Show me a video of a monstrous asteroid on the path to Earth, not some ancient calendar that possibly used the menstrual cycle in its calculations.

Jessica Simpson is famous for her music, movie roles, reality T.V. show with former husband singer Nick Lachey of 98 degrees, and keeping her virginity until marriage. She’s also famous for coming from a Christian family and still shaking her perfect booty in daisy duke shorts.

Recently Simpson has gained a significant amount of weight. Pictures of Simpson performing at a Rascal Flatts concert, wearing “mom pants” and chucky belt hit the Internet faster than Flavor Flav’s brothel incident. Reports saying she is fat, unattractive, and looking terrible, caused celebrities Jennifer Anniston, Paula Abdul, and sister Ashlee Simpson to lash out at the media for their remarks. It has been reported that the 28-year old singer has been crying at her concerts because of the harsh criticismmost recently at Grand Rapids’ Van Andell arena Feb. 5 during another concert with Rascal Flatts.

No one deserves to be called names, especially when they’ve had a rough couple of years. Not only is Simpson still in her twenties and divorced from Lachey, she has also broken up with boyfriend Dallas Cowboy’s football player Tony Romo.

However, the truth is that Simpson is not fat she is just average size now. The average weight for women is between 140-170 pounds. Before this weight fiasco, Simpson weighed 120 pounds, which is statistically the size she should be for her 5 foot 2 inch frame.

Since the creation of super models, there has been a debate on whether a woman needs to be a certain size to be considered beautiful. Thirty-six, 24, 36 are the measurements of the "ideal" woman. Although their body types are dramatically different, Marilyn Monroe and Kate Moss both donned this ideal. Hollywood backlash over weight gain can be devastating. Weight gain almost ruined the careers of Britney Spears, Kristy Alley, and Kelly Labrock, of 1980s flick "Weird Science".

When celebrities gain weight, the media and their fans become monsters and turn on them at a moment’s notice. However bad the comments are, I cannot say that I feel sorry for celebrities when they gain weight. The truth is if someone chooses to make a living off the good looks and perfect body, it is probably in their best interest to keep these things up to par. Now, I know it is not nice to say anyone is fat, but these celebrities are aware of the cost of being normal. Nobody likes celebrities because they seem so down to earth and like us, people like celebrities because they are Godlike and super human. So when a celebrity becomes human, the shine is removed from the apple.

People do not have to look a certain way to be beautiful. Regardless of what someone looks like, there will always be someone that either loves or hates the way they look. All anyone can ever do is be happy with his or her self and the rest will fall into the place. Unless that person is a celebrity, then they must be perfect. Sorry.

I’ve read that the first step to curbing an addiction is admitting that you have one. I am, without a doubt, a caffeine addict.

I placate to this vice daily in a variety of forms. Tea (both hot and cold), coffee, energy drinks, and the king of caffeinated beverages, espresso, are all part of my arsenal.

The first step to beating an addiction is realizing that you have one. And I have done that. I’ve decided though, to progress no further. I have come to terms with my dependency and have learned to embrace and accept it as a permanent aspect of my identity. You’d be hard pressed to find me walking around campus without my trusty insulated tumbler filled with some sort of tar-colored concoction.

Officially, the status of caffeine as an addictive substance is highly disputed. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the existence of withdrawal symptoms prove the drug’s addictive nature (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition). A study included in the manual found that symptoms of withdrawal can begin just 12 hours after abstinence and last for up to nine days.

I can attest to these claims. I quit caffeine over winter break, just to be sure I could, and the headaches were unbearable for the first two days. After surmounting this, along with some shakiness and mood swings, I had “beaten” the beast- I had beaten my caffeine addiction. After all that, I still made the decision to crack open the box of gourmet coffees my parents got me for my birthday and enjoy each of them down to the last sip.

I found that being “clean” was not all it was cracked up to be. Espresso makes me feel like I can take over the world. Scratch that, espresso makes me know I can take over the world. It gives me a mental and physical edge that I find extremely helpful as a busy college student who has to make it a point to write “sleep, 2a.m.-6 a.m,” in her planner.

What’s more, I thoroughly enjoy the taste of most caffeinated beverages. I love the bitter taste of coffee, bask in the lemony aroma of a quality Earl Grey tea, and positively adore the oily dark chocolate undertones of espresso. The thing that I missed most about caffeine though, was not the substance itself.

The coffee house atmosphere is warm, inviting, and communal. I first noticed the family feel of a decent coffee joint while working at a local coffee place over the summer. Regulars would come in at around the same day, shoot the breeze with the baristas and with the other regulars, and order their favorite drink. The baristas would eventually learn the person’s drink of choice and have it ready for them before the customer even approached the counter.

The community aspect of coffee drinking is not limited to the coffee house, however. Considerable amounts of people take it upon themselves to be very knowledgeable about their drink of choice. There is a myriad of websites dedicated to the appreciation of coffee, espresso and tea that cater to the general “coffee culture” at large.

People who consider themselves part of this culture range from novice to expert but one thing is for certain, they are commonly quite informed. Tea people know their tea. They can tell you that the difference between white, black, and green tea is the age of the tea leaf at the time of harvest. An espresso junkie can tell you that the difference between a latte and a cappuccino is that a traditional “cap” is made with just espresso and the foam from steamed milk. A latte on the other hand is the creamy drink that is comprised of a couple shots of espresso and mostly steamed milk with just a hint of foam on top-the drink most people think of when they say cappuccino.

There is encouraging support though, that my addiction may not actually be to the chemical substance caffeine itself. At an American Chemical Society meeting in 1999, French medical researcher Astrid Nehlig, Ph.D. said moderate amounts of caffeine have no affect on the area of the brain involved with addiction or dependence. Nehlig says that one would have to drink about seven cups of coffee (about 750 milligrams), in rapid succession to activate the same parts of the brain that are triggered upon the use of more serious drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, morphine or nicotine.

I feel more myself with java in hand than at any other time. Like my plastic-framed glasses and my unreasonably large earrings, coffee drinking is part of my identity. A professor of mine once commented, “I almost didn’t recognize recognize you without your nose in a book and some sort of coffee drink in your hand.”

They say the first step in conquering any addiction to admit that there is a problem. Do I have a problem? Not unless I am out of coffee.