Category: Fun & Resources

Learn about fun and/or interesting things to do around MSU or interesting bits of MSU trivia.

Nine Ways to Recognize Your Boss

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In honor of Boss’s Day 2013, we’ve compiled a list of nine ideas that you can use to recognize your outstanding boss.

Boss' Day Graphic
There are many ways to say, “thank you” this year for Boss’s Day on Oct. 16, 2013.
  1. Post a handmade thank you note on your boss’s door.
  2. Find out your boss’s hobby and buy a related gift.
  3. Give your boss a copy of the latest management or business book that received good reviews.
  4. Nominate your boss for an official university award program.
  5. Ask your boss to attend a meeting with you and your colleagues during which you thank your boss for his or her work, guidance, and contributions.
  6. Give your boss a personalized coffee mug.Continue Reading… Nine Ways to Recognize Your Boss

Sharing the Road Safely at MSU

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Bicycling is a part of life for the MSU community. Everyone needs to share the road and sidewalks safely. Remembering the roles of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists can make this process easier.

Police officer on bicycle
The Bicycle Patrol Unit and MSU’s bicycling ordinances are meant to help bicyclists share the road safely with motorists and keep pedestrians and skateboarders safe.

All across campus you’ll find tons of bike lanes designed to help bicyclists share the road with motorists and keep bicyclists off the sidewalks in the path of pedestrians. But on MSU’s campus a number of people still choose the sidewalk as the preferred method of travel while on a bicycle.

An MSU ordinance makes riding a bicycle on non-designated sidewalks and through crosswalks illegal and can result in a ticket.

During 2012 there were 17 bicycle accidents. These accidents included those on the sidewalks, single bike accidents, bike on bike and bike vs. pedestrian. Several required medics.

Whether you’re a faculty member, staff member or student, remembering MSU’s bicycling ordinances can make bicycling safer and more enjoyable.

MSU Police Sergeant Andrea Beasinger offers the following safety tips for bicyclists:Continue Reading… Sharing the Road Safely at MSU

Get Medical Information Delivered to Your Inbox with the MSU Healthy Email Service

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Decoding medical information can be challenging, but not anymore thanks to the Healthy Email Service (HEM) offered by the University Physician’s Office at MSU.

The Healthy Email Service makes access to medical information efficient and convenient.
The Healthy Email Service makes access to medical information efficient and convenient.

The Healthy Email Service provides up-to-date, evidence-based medical information about traditional medicine and alternative practices. The emails cover multiple topics, such as calcium supplementation, sleep medications, head injury in children and more. The emails are delivered bi-weekly throughout the academic year. Each email is written in an easy-to-understand format and can be used for discussions with your health care provider.Continue Reading… Get Medical Information Delivered to Your Inbox with the MSU Healthy Email Service

Windows 7 Quick Tips: Snap, Peek & Shake

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Snap, peek and shake!  No that’s not a new breakfast cereal jingle, they are quick tips for using Windows 7.  Snap lines up boundaries of two windows on your monitor.  Peek shows you open applications in a minimized view.  Shake clears the clutter of multiple open windows by minimizing everything but the active window.

Computer with Windows 7
Photo courtesy of Aravind Sivaraj.

Ready to learn more about snap, peek and shake?

Immerse Yourself in the Sound of Blues at the 2013 Old Town Blues Festival

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Music comes in all genres and blues is one of them. Check out the rhythms of the sound at the Old Town Blues Festival on Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21 in Old Town Lansing.

The 2013 Blues Festival brings blues artists from all around the country to Lansing, Michigan.
The 2013 Blues Festival brings blues artists from all around the country to Lansing, Michigan.

The 2013 Old Town Blues Festival is a two-day free event that features national, regional and local blues artists. The festival takes place in Old Town, bordered by street vendors offering ethnic food, crafts, clothing and much more. Old Town was established in the mid-19th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The festival was started in 1994 and was previously labeled OctoberFest. Since its inception the festival has featured artists such as Kid Rock, Marcy Playground and Duncan Sheik. The number of attendees has grown from 3,000 to more than 15,000 each year. The festival is supported by numerous local businesses and staffed on the days of performances by volunteers

This year’s festival will include artists such as Jimmy G and the Capitols, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, and The Further Adventures of Fat Boy & Jive Turkey

For more information and festival hours, visit the Old Town Blues Festival website.

Lunchtime Activities at MSU

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When lunchtime comes around a good meal or a fun activity can make that break worthwhile. At MSU there are tons of activities to engage in when you have some free time. Here are a few lunch break ideas that can be used throughout the work week.

1. Attend a Recipe for Health Class at the Brody Demonstration Kitchen

Don’t just eat during lunch: take a walk, meet a friend, read a book or partake in other different fun activities at MSU.
Don’t just eat during lunch: take a walk, meet a friend, read a book or partake in other different fun activities at MSU.

Recipe for Health offers information and recipes to help you prepare healthy meals every day. A seasonal food item is featured each month (e.g., cucumbers, peaches, lamb, etc). Health4U also offers other classes at different times and days throughout the week, including Kitchen Skill Drill, Culinary Cooking and Concepts, Raising Good Eaters and more.

2. Take a walk on campus

MSU has many walking trails available for MSU faculty, staff and students. To locate a trail you’d like to explore, check out the interactive Campus Walking Loops Map developed by GIS in partnership with MSU’s Health4U program. During inclement weather, indoor walking routes are also available at IM East (Intramural Sports Facility) and Jenison Field House.Continue Reading… Lunchtime Activities at MSU

Congratulations to the Walking Route Photo Contest Winners!

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Walking can provide the opportunity to take great pictures of wonderful scenery. The winners of our walking contest did just that. Three MSU staff members received pedometers for pictures they submitted that were taken while traveling along some of their favorite walking routes on MSU’s campus.

MSU’s campus has many walking routes to enjoy and walking has many benefits. Find out the benefits of walking and how to locate walking routes on campus with our past article.

From left to right: Tim Skutt, Eli Broad College of Business, Lisa Roy, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures and the Writing Center, Elizabeth (Ann) Bushon, Olin Pharmacy at the Olin Health Center.
From left to right: Tim Skutt, Eli Broad College of Business, Lisa Roy, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures and the Writing Center, Elizabeth (Ann) Bushon, Olin Pharmacy at the Olin Health Center.

Find Healthy Foods and Baked Treats at Farmers Markets This Summer

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Yummy baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and live music are just some of the great things you’ll find at farmers markets this summer.

Farmers markets are open in various cities across the state of Michigan and offer a variety of products to love. The East Lansing Farmers Market in Valley Court Park in East Lansing features live musical performances at their market every Sunday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Allen Street Farmers Market, located at the corner of Kalamazoo and Allen St. in Lansing, includes vendors with handmade soaps and fresh baked breads at their market every Wednesday from 2:30 – 7 p.m. The MSU Student Organic Farm Stand sells organically grown fruits and vegetables on Farm Lane in front of the Auditorium every Thursday from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  These are just some examples of the wonderful farmers markets to visit this summer. Others include:Continue Reading… Find Healthy Foods and Baked Treats at Farmers Markets This Summer

Celebrate Culture, Art and Food at the 2013 Great Lakes Folk Festival

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An event that celebrates art, ethnic cuisine and diverse music, could be no other than the Great Lakes Folk Festival (GLFF), happening Aug. 9 -11 in downtown East Lansing.

Arts and Jewelry at a festival
Arts and crafts are a staple of the Great Lakes Folk Festival.

GLFF is expected to draw 90,000 visitors over the three-day weekend. The festival will include opportunities to explore various cultural items, such as Celtic and Hmong music offerings, Middle Eastern and Thai foods, and Native American baskets. Continue Reading… Celebrate Culture, Art and Food at the 2013 Great Lakes Folk Festival

Take a Walk …. At MSU! (with a contest!)

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Do you want to flex your legs, see amazing scenery and increase your energy? Then the Campus Walking Loops interactive map is just for you.

Campus Walking Loops  is an interactive map that displays walking routes across campus. The map lists the distance of each route to help you coordinate your walking schedule, along with emergency phones and campus art features. There is also a downloadable PDF version available on the website.

Women walking on campus
Walking on MSU’s campus provides an opportunity to improve your health and enjoy the scenery. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

Walking is good for you. According to the MSU Health e-Guide, walking can strengthen the heart, increase blood circulation throughout the body, lower blood pressure, reduce body fat and improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.Continue Reading… Take a Walk …. At MSU! (with a contest!)