4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 23 , 1999 'aALI A - t- - A eulogy to one of the last good people around e ZJtJIUUW~U 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 daily. letters@umich.edu Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan HEXTHER KAMINS Editor in Chief JEFFREY KOSSEFF DAVID WALLACE Editorial Page Editors Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Dailys editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. I Microde11LAl Software agreement will benefit students T o be satisfied with my life, I need to have 1.000 upcoming tasks and events on my agenda. If I'm not worried about 50 things at once. I feel like I'm slacking off. That's what life is all about, right? For one man, life wasn't about the complex web of stress that I've already started to weave. To truly enjoy himself, he just need- ed to be with people he loved. For fun, he'd just kick back with a Mississippi Mud beer and watch an Eagles game. He didn't need Jeffrey e-mail, Websites or Kosseff DVD players to be S content with life. A thick submarine New style sandwich and a good book on U.S. history made him content. He was the exact opposite of petty. Occasionally. he'd go to Atlantic City casinos and try his luck gambling. He was- n't like the high rollers whose dreams were created and squashed in the casinos. He just gambled a little for the fun of it. He loved casinos, but not just for the gam- bling. He enjoyed the flashy '50s revue shows and the restaurants. He loved the glitz Atlantic City offered. And on Sunday, he died in a casino. It was too sudden for me to compre- hend. He passed out, his heart stopped and soon after the doctors pronounced him dead. They "pronounced him dead." Is that it? Is that what happens to a good person? He lived lovingly and worked hard for 49 years, only to be "pronounced" dead at the end of everything. But there's a lot more to his life - some- thing from which we all can learn. I know, and that's why I'm writing a column about him. A column in the Daily -- or any news- paper - could not even begin to pay a proper tribute to his life. It's almost an insult to even try to describe him in a given amount of space, but he must be remem- bered. Also, I'm writing about him because I can t concentrate on anything else. While we are surrounded by academics who have made an exact science of every imaginable realm of study, how many of them can teach you how to enjoy life? That's something we all can learn from him. He tried hard to befriend me, even though I didn't always make it easy. But his kindness prevailed over everything. When we spoke, whether it was about my pathetic knowledge of Michigan foot- ball or a funny episode of "Seinfeld," he made a genuine effort to be kind to me, no matter how standoffish I was. And he didn't want anything in return. That was just the type of person he was. It was impossible for him to walk by someone holding out a can for donations without stopping. That was just the type of person he was. When co-workers at his lab were sick, he worked 12-hour days - without com- plaints -- to cover for his friends. That was just the type of person he was. No matter how tense a situation was, he always knew how to lighten the mood with a joke or a side comment. That was just the type of person he was. He was a good person. That sounds like an huge understate- ment. but a "good person" is an endan- gered species in today's culture. With information whizzing by and fierce com- petition a paradigm of society, most people don't take the time out to step back and tell a few jokes. He took the small things and savored them, rather than hoarding the big plea- sures and ignoring them. If more people were like him, the world would be a much more enjoyed place. I wish I were the least bit like him. But I'm not. I don't take the time to enjoy the many little wonders life has to offer. I spend my time trying to grab and struggle for the bigger, more prestigious goals. Like so many students, I'xe gotten caught up in the trivial pettiness of every- day life. His death drives home the point that life is too short to be spent only reaching and grabbing for huge things. That could be part of life. But if stress consumes every part of your existence, you need to re-eval- uate your goals. That's what I plan to do. I want to be able to savor the small things. I want to be a "nice guy." And I want to make sure I enjoy life before it's gone. His death has consumed my thoughts. He wouldn't want me to be depressed about it. I'm sorry. I'm not perfect. But I promise I will find my own Mississippi Mud beer, my own football game and my own submarine sandwich. I'm going to learn how to enjoy every little thing life has to offer. Life is too short for pettiness. When I heard he died in a casino, I hoped he had the chance to see one last '50s revue and gamble a little in the slot machines. A lthough Bill Gates's colossal soft- ware company's policies have caused quite a stir recently, a potential deal between Microsoft Corp. and the University would benefit students and their wallets. Currently, University offi- cials are considering a contract with the multimedia giant that could cut prices of Microsoft software by as much as 75 per- cent. We support this deal, as long as it doesn't make other computer technology obsolete on campus. The software, including Windows 98 4nd Office 2000, would be reproduced by the University and sold to students, faculty and staff at significant discounts. While tiese packages would not include manuals -r hard-copy installation guides, the dis- counts could allow more students to pur- ,chase the often-needed software. While Gates has had some sketchy deal- i.gs in the past, Microsoft's monopolistic !endencies should not play a role in their deal with the University. Presently, the oftware magnate is mired in a suit brought by the federal government for using its 'operating system, Windows 98, to force Microsoft's other programs on the market. Complaints against Microsoft range from attacks on the quality of their products to allegations that Microsoft purposely tried to eliminate competitors, like Netscape. But the University is hardly a large enough market to affect whether Microsoft continues its monopoly. Because programs like Microsoft Word and Excel have Microsoft is already the dominant soft- ware on campus. How often have you seen a document typed in a program other than Word? Opponents of a University deal with Microsoft allege that such a contract would imply University support of Microsoft's business tactics. While the University shouldn't support Gates's policies, this deal allows students to purchase Microsoft software at reduced prices without affiliat- ing the University with Microsoft. But we caution the University adminis- tration. We don't want this deal to trans- form our great institution into a "Microsoft" school. The software dis- counts are great, but it must stop there. Many students depend on Macintosh com- puters. Officials should be wary of how such an influx of one company's products might affect the present computer situation on campus. For example, there may be a com- patibility issue between the discounted programs and the University's iMacs, pur- chased only last year, which don't neces- sarily require Microsoft software. Problems may also arise out of the pro- posed plan for preventing pirating, or ille- gal copying, of these programs. The dis- counted disks will only install their pro- gram twice, limiting their convenience for customers who plan to upgrade their hard- ware after installation and, more signifi- cantly, for students with computers that crash often. Despite these potential problems, it would be in the students best interest for the University to enter into this contract with Microsoft. This deal stands to allevi- ate financial pressure on students and staff without affiliating the University with Microsoft. Such an opportunity should not be passed up. __ Jefevy Kosse(lcan he reached over e-mail at /kosse/f[t uzmich.ecd. GRINDING THE NIB - / PS~ ~A.7~~~ e CHIP CULLEN become industry interests of PC installed on their not Microsoft is Because owning enough already, would make these more attainable. standards, it is in the users to have a copy computers - whether or their preferred product. a computer is expensive such a monetary relief essential programs much Seeing green Bottle Bill should be expanded he jingle of money in your pocket after a trip to the store for bottle returns is always a comforting sound. Despite the lines and hassles of getting back the 10 cent deposits, most people - especially students - are more than happy to redeem them. But what about those annoying bottles that never seem to work? You put them into the bottle return and although they appear to be made of the same simple plastic, this machine, a most clever device, rejects them. Most of these "new age"' beverage bottles are thrown in the garbage after rejection from a bottle deposit. Those extra bottles have home with the bottle return. But a recently intro- duced amendment to Michigan's Bottle Bill would require a dime deposit on wine cooler bottles, in addition to soda and beer containers. This is a good start, but it should be expanded to include water bottles, juice bottles and others such as sports drinks and iced tea. This addition to the Bottle Bill would increase the amount of recycled glass and plastic, thus using resources more effi- ciently. The bottle bill has become one of the most effective clean-up acts for Michigan's roadsides. With a financial incentive, many more people will make .rp. rt -oI1cnhI ecntainers male it to the tainer. Empty bottles that are left on the street could become dangerous, especial- ly glass. According to a report by Jeffery Morris of Social Resource Economics, a Seattle-based consulting firm, the cost for emergency room victims cut by bro- ken glass would be reduced greatly by increasing the recycling fee. All bottles should be considered recy- clables. What is the difference between carbonated water bottles and pure water bottles? Nothing, as far as environmen- talists are concerned. Since 1991, millions of these contain- ers are sent to landfills and incinerators and cost cities disposal fees as well as environmental problems. These "new age" bottles - like sports drinks and teas - account for an increasing percentage of beverages as their popularity soars. Unfortunately, they also account for an increasing percentage of the bottles that are stuck in a purgatory between being recycled for a new life and lost in a land- fill. The Bottle Bill, which was passed in 1976, is in dire need of revision - beyond the inclusion of wine coolers. The benefits that can be reaped by including juice, water and other non-car- bonated beverage bottles in the bottle bill are tremendous in keeping our state clean and protecting the environment. And recvclino machines must be undated to Lack of minorities on television isn't a big problem TO THE DAILY: Don't we all have better things to do than sit around watching TV with racial eth- nic scorecards in hand? Your Sept. 21 edito- rial "Color TV" would answer "no." What a ridiculously stupid issue for anyone to get upset about. What's next, instituting a quota system for the Sunday comics? Or perhaps we should decry the lack of racially diverse professional sports mascots. Get real. And to suggest that the entertain- ment industry has banded together in some sort of grand racist conspiracy in disguise is simply ludicrous. These are not rational arguments. All editorials like "Color TV" do is fuel the ever-growing plague of ignorant, self- righteous buffoons who erode the meaning of any legitimate racial issues by crying witch at such inappropriate targets as the evening sitcoms. TIM MAUN SCHOOL OF MUSIC STUDENT T-shirt letter was overly sensitive TO THE DAILY: The feminists screamed bloody murder when Co-Ed Naked shirts came out, they screamed high crime and treason when their little brothers sported Big Johnson t-shirts, and womyn like Christina Koury and Simi Dhawan are now crying around about the t- shirts that Greeks wore to the game last Saturday ("T-shirt degraded women," 9;'2 199). Are women's studies courses not enough? Must rabid feminist wolves now seek a Panhellenic ban on "inappropriate" clothing by members of the Greek system? As an educated, open-minded woman myself, I feel so utterly disappointed with my gender and its constant and ceaseless refer- ence to the "male chauvinist pig" who deval- ues womyn by turning his head when he sees a thin girl who takes care of herself and values herself enough to keep in shape. Why are Koury and Dhawan so "enraged" that men should want thin women? If they are upset with their own physical appearances,. they should take to the CCRB. I am hardly a proponent of the official Greek view of women, but these girls need to realize that the t-shirts do not induce bulimia. One in four Ann Arbor girls will not get raped, and seven percent will not suffer anorexia because of a humorous line on a t-shirt. This mentality is typical of the feminist ideology that preaches that the external world has crushed the poor, innocent victim of male torment and torture. How women are single-handedly pushed to eating disorders by the male vision of the per- fect woman. The advocates of this absurd ide- ology should honestly grow up and realize that the world is tired of hearing about the vic- tims of male abuse. -- - .1 school here. If the males of the world wrote an article entitled "Women Want Men for Nothing But Money" they would be laughed out of the arena - even though it is truth that many women swear by. Herein lies the double standard to the male-bashers of the world. They moan and complain at any sight of a man wanting them for anything but "their per- sonality," but will not settle for a mate that can't guarantee them wining and dining. To the authors of the t-shirt degradation story: t-shirts don't make you fat and unat- tractive. Beer and those greasy chips do. Bottom line, don't attack college boys for a harmless joke just because of your unhappi- ness with yourself. r P.I a that the job is his, then he won't have to have the fear of messing up, or not play- ing to your expectations for a quarter, and being benched for the rest of the game (Syracuse). Suck it up, Lloyd. We want a championship this year, and the Captain of the team is the one who can lead this team to the promised land. JORDY OSTROFF UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS Syracuse fans couldn't behave 1 "AJUISOR" themselves w Brady should be the only quarterback TO THE DAILY: This is a wake-up call to Lloyd Carr. You are not going to win using a two quarterback system. You are also not going to win a nation- al title with Drew Henson as your quarter- back. I have no doubt that Henson will be a great quarterback. But the key words in that sentence are will be. This is Tom Brady's team, the players know it, the fans know it and the coaches know it too. You need to stop playing to the media hype by playing Henson just because you are getting outside pressure to do so. It was proven last Saturday that Henson still needs to watch and learn. He hasn't shown anything on the field. The only time he is a "great quarterback" as you call him. Lloyd, is when the receiver is wide open. Hardly great if you ask me. Sure he is a great baseball player, but just because he has a Yankee contract doesn't mean he deserves to be in a close game. Tom Brady is a proven leader. Who was the one that you called on in the fourth quarter of the Notre Dame game to march your team down the field and seal the victory? It sure wasn't Henson. It is time you show Brady the respect he deserves. He has put in his time at Michigan, and even sat quietly in 1997, even though he was the best quarter- ha~t n .- aa e.tu-rn ri TO THE DAILY: My field hockey team and I were able to go to the the Syracuse football game. We wanted to cheer on our fellow student-ath- letes before competing in our own game against Syracuse the next day. Walking into the Dome, I expect a little booing and "go back home" chants. Honestly, what's: an exciting athletic game without a little heck- ling? However, there is a line between heck- ling and obnoxious rudeness. Unfortunately, Syracuse fans cannot com- prehend this difference. While one of my teammates and I were buying water, a Syracuse Orangewoman punched us both in the arm. During the game, a Michigan alumnus was holding a flag after a touchdown only to have it snatched away by the upper level and0 returned later in ripped pieces. After the game, a Syracuse dad began.fighting ver- bally with a Michigan fan despite his two young sons pleading and crying for their dad to stop yelling. As my teammates and I walked back to our vans, a group of young ladies screamed, "F--ing whores!" at us. And, I don't have to explain the Syracuse section chanting "F--k you Michigan!" which could be heard through the TV at the conclusion of the game. I'm glad Michigan beat Syracuse in foot- ball and I'm proud my own team beat Syracuse 3-2 in field hockey. After going to Syracuse, the visit gives me one more reason to say, "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine." It's truly sad when an academic institution c.-kn C rn.- a _ -:n.oc a ,to' I^ I