Land of Lines

Hurry up and wait.

One thing you can be sure about UMass, if nothing else it will teach you how to stand in a line.

A line for breakfast at the Campus Center coffee shop.



The line at the library's Procrastination Station.



A line to use the library's computers.



A line at the packed to the wall Blue Wall.



Lines are a normal part of college life - just don't do any coke lines!

It's hardly a laughing matter, but here's some bailout humor.





Everybody knows that sugary sodas are bad for your teeth, but now it's been discovered that if you drink soda through a straw the damage will be minimized.



ScienceDaily — Americans drink roughly 576 soft drinks every year - about one and a half cans a day for everyone in the United States. Drinking these beverages places the people who may not follow proper oral hygiene techniques at a higher risk for cavities and other oral health problems.

However, according to a report in the May/June issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, drinking soft drinks and other beverages through a properly positioned straw can help to minimize the risk of cavities.

"Your best option is to sip soft drinks and other beverages through a straw positioned towards the back of the mouth," advises Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, MSc, PhD, and lead reporter. "Doing so will limit the amount of time the beverage is in contact with the teeth."

However, even when drinking through a straw, the teeth located in the back of the mouth are still bathed with sugary and acidic liquids. "Try rinsing your mouth with water after drinking and use toothpaste that contains fluoride," advises AGD spokesperson Paula Jones, DDS, FAGD. "Your teeth aren't thirsty, your throat is."

Here are some tips for minimizing the damage done to your teeth by soft drinks.

Reduce your soda consumption
Don't leave fluids in your mouth when sipping
Don't drink soda before going to bed
Don't brush immediately after drinking soda (the brush will harm the weakened enamel)
When brushing, brush in a circular motion (horizontal brushing can wear away at the weakened enamel)
If you have dry mouth, try to avoid carbonated beverages.

Myself I'm trying to quit drinking soda entirely. That's the real answer to the dental (and weight) problems soda causes.

Dig this cool car parked in Northampton.



Turning to trite celebrity news, has Madonna lost her taste as well as her husband?



Ozzy Osbourne's daughter Kelly is engaged to male model Luke Worrell. However pictures have surfaced of Kelly seemingly being pushed into the background by her future husband's mysterious male friend.



It's a shame about Kelly's Dad Ozzy, who was a true heavy metal icon before he and his whole family became a reality TV freak show. Here a crazed fan celebrates the music Ozzy made before brain damage made the first stanza of this song autobiographical.



Has he lost his mind?
Can he see or is he blind?
Can he walk at all,
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
Well just pass him there
Why should we even care?



He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
Where he traveled time
For the future of mankind

Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfold

Now the time is here
For iron man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved

Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge

Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron man lives again!