Over the Edge + October 20, 2010 Halloween Urban Legends Revisiting some ridiculous horror Stories from our childhood ECATERINA CIUGURNEAU FEATURES EDITOR The Lock Ness Monster inhabits the Loch Ness lake in Scotland. It is theorized to be a relative of Plesiosaur. It even has an affectionate nickname: “Nessie”. Observers describe this creature as a beast with a neck like a horse, 8 feet humps, a long tapering tail, and the body the size of a telegraph pole. film evidence also exists portraying this elusive creature, which has been analyzed by experts (don’t ask me to define the term experts). Apparently it was actually a boat or something. Or so they want us to think... Suicide on the set of Wizard of Oz Urban legend has it that a little person hung himself in the background of one of the scenes in the Wizard of Oz. The hanging apparently took place during the scene in which Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man head down the yellow brick road on their way to Emerald City. Allegedly, a figure is seen deep in the background with a wooden block, which he stands on and then proceeds to hang himself, kicking the block from underneath him. It is all caught on film and never reshot. There are many theories on the subject, including speculations that it is just a bird, but | suggest you check things out for yourself. That movie is super creepy anyway. Dracula The original Edward Cullen was actually justa Romanian ruler named Vlad, affectionately, Vlad the Impaler. Some of the things he did to people who crossed his path were impaling (go figure), torturing, burning, skinning, roasting, and boiling, in addition to feeding people the flesh of their friends or relatives, cutting off ‘ limbs, and drowning. Just an average afternoon for my distant ancestor (I’m half Romanian! Cool, eh?). The legend has it that the Ottoman army turned back while § approaching Romania because they were so disgusted by the 20,000 impaled rotting corpses outside of Vlad’s capital Targoviite. In 2006, he made the list of 100 z Greatest Romanians, a cut that | fail to make every year. | guess nice guys/girls do finish last. Roswell Crash July, 1947. The only thing we know for sure is that something crashed into the ground in New Mexico. But what really went down (haha, get it?) that day? Some say it was a “flying disc”, an alien spaceship. Others say it was a Nazi scientist who escaped the war (seriously, Someone actually put that out there). Photos of dissected aliens and spaceships have wandered their way onto the internet, but we are still told it was just a high altitude surveillance balloon (kind of like the balloon boy’). awesome TV show made about it - Roswell. Tell me someone else watched that cheesy show??? Either way, at least there was an § cad ae @ ONLINE SOURCE Above: The supposed remains of the Rosewell crash. Below: Nessie herself. How to Get Through Your Midterms Alive Follow these easy to do tips and you will be sure to come out smiling SHELBY PETERSEN EDITOR IN CHIEF We all know well in advance the dates of our midterms, but they still seem to sneak up on us without warning. While midterms may seem overwhelming and plentiful this semester, there are ways to come out on top. Surviving the semester is about more than just having good study skills. If you follow these simple steps, not only will you succeed in class, but you will also emerge from this semester healthy and happy. Plan Ahead They key to success is good organization. In the simplest terms this means carrying around a day planner. The use of a day planner will enable you to keep track of all your assignments and midterms. You can take it one step further by scheduling specific times to study and work on papers. Sometimes the simple act of scheduling in study time will give you that extra incentive to follow through! Eat Well There is nothing worse than coming down with the flu or a cold when you need to focus on studying. The best way to prevent illness is to ensure that you are eating a balanced diet. This means consuming lots of vitamin c and staying away from the cafeteria pizza. A little indulgence is good once in a while, but remember that eating burgers every night can do no good. Exercise Exercise is not only good for you physically, but mentally as well. Studies have shown that exercising at least 30 minutes a day can lead to improved memorization and general happiness. Even if you find exercising unpleasant, your body will love it because it will be able to function more efficiently, which will make you happier! Make Time for Friends While it is important to study as often as possible, making time for your friends is also crucial. It is never good to spend all of your time doing any one thing, and this surely applies to studying. If you spend all of your free time with your nose in the books you may come to resent your school work or burn out quickly. Maintaining a healthy balance between school, work, and fun is crucial as it will really help to cut down stress levels. Don’t Consume too Much Caffeine It's a fact that some people need that first cup of coffee when they wake up in the morning, but it is best to consume it in moderation. Drinking too much caffeine right before a midterm or final can cause more harm than good. It can increase your heart rate and make you feel anxious. It is recommended that you refrain from drinking any caffeine two hours before a test so your focus can remain solely on the midterm work rather than working yourself up over nothing. Don’t Pull All-Nighters Even though it may seem like staying up until the crack of dawn will be benefitial because there are not enough hours in the day to cram an entire text book into your brain - don’t! It is important to have a well rested mind and body when taking a test. Being well rested will not only help you concentrate, it will make you fell better overall! Don’t Get Shitfaced I’m not saying don’t party or have fun with your friends. It is always best to drink in moderation, especially when you have a full week ahead of you. There is nothing worse than trying to study when you have an earth shattering headache and cannot remove yourself from the toilet bowl. Acholol and productiveness do not go hand in hand. Take Breaks Don’t study for hours on end. Take a break after an hour or two to get some food or watch you favorite TV show. Afterall, you are not a machine! With these helpful tips in mind, this semester is sure to finish seamlessly. Studying is only half the battle — keeping yourself fit, healthy, and happy is just as important as remembering all those dates and facts when it comes to doing well on your midterms and final papers. Good luck everyone! SST DEE, ONLINE SOURCE Midterms can be exrtremely stressful, but just remeber they only last a few weeks! Beofe you know it, it will be final exam time!