Cedars, November 2018

’T is the season of gratitude, and I decided that instead of listing out my friends, family, job, or health — the four round-the-table Thanksgiving meal buzzwords — I’d try to think of some things I’m actually thankful for this year... 1. My 1998 Nissan Altima My car and I are the same age. His name is Beau, and although he takes 20 minutes to fill up with gas because of his leaky hose, but he has really good heat and AC, even though I have to keep switching the buttons or it’ll shut off. He shakes when he starts going above 60 mph, so that keeps me safe on the highway. I bought him for $500 in 2015 and he’s still kickin.’ Thanks, dude, for taking me to Dunkin’ 230,429,374 times. 2. Google’s auto-correct feature In the past week I’ve Googled “sentate rcae polls,” “hwo do they claen sdewlaks,” “flaimgno crochet prokecy,” and “cimmentty jeremsiaj.” If you can figure out what all of those are, email me for a prize. Sure, Google knows and catalogs my every move, but that feature sure is useful. OK, Google — thanks. 3. Mobile-order coffee apps I really love and need coffee, so it’s a blessing to plan ahead so I don’t run late. You can also pick some custom options that you’re too afraid to ask your barista about in person because you don’t want to seem too excessive. Hooray, cinnamon extra foam swirly whipped cream chai lattes. (This column is not sponsored by Rinnova to Go, but would like to be.) 4. Perfect coffee temperatures When you take your first sip of coffee and it doesn’t burn your tongue. So rare, but so sweet. 5. The culling of iced coffee drinkers The fact that in this time of year, we separate the season- al iced coffee drinkers from the hardcore iced coffee believers. Until you order an iced coffee and determinedly drink it while walking to class in the snow, you’re not a true believer. 6. Winter mishaps When you watch some poor soul around the lake wipe out on a longboard, or slide down the BTS steps in the snow. Always brings a smile to my face. 7. The Great British Baking Show Watching several people calmly and excellently make fancy pastries in some tent in the English countryside is the most re- laxing thing I’ve ever experienced. I think heaven will be like the Great British Baking Tent. 8. Offline binging Netflix has downloadable content now. I can binge Great Brit- ish Baking Show in peace, finally. 9. Dr. Mark Caleb Smith’s twitter account It never fails to be insightful and funny. If you’re reading this, thanks, Dr. Smith, you’re the gift we need but don’t deserve. 10. Nonsensical friends And finally, the fact that the Cedars team somehow still per- mits me to publish my opinion every week, despite all of the crazy things I’ve said in this column. Thanks, guys. Alexandria Hentschel is a junior International Studies and Span- ish double major and the Off-Campus news editor for Cedars. She enjoys old books, strong coffee, and honest debate. November 2018 3 How should Christians consume the news media? Prof. Jeff Gilbert Assistant Professor of Journalism Restaurants don’t just serve hamburgers anymore. They have a classic, one with barbecue, one with bacon, another with an egg, etc. I ordered one with an egg a couple weeks ago. Then they asked me how I wanted the burger and the egg cooked. So many choices and too many decisions. Choosing where to get your news used to be as simple as ordering a hamburger. We got morning and afternoon newspapers, the 6 o’clock news and the 11 o’clock news. CNN came along in 1980 with 24-hour news. The digital age has set before us a buffet of on-demand news choices. You can catch up on the news any time, any place and on any device. Any outlet can label its content as news. Opinion journalism is a legitimate enterprise if it is labeled as such. But if it’s old-fashioned news you want, follow news sources that have earned credibility. Does it have integrity? Do you trust it to give it to you straight? If you have difficulty discerning the difference between news, fake news, blogs, opinions and partisan agendas, scrutinize the sourcing in the story regardless of how it’s delivered. Does the story contain named sources and multiple sources? Do the sources have credibility? Does it present both sides of the issue? Is the story trying to tell you what to think or is it allowing you to consume the information and make up your own mind? Journalism is meant to be about truth- telling. You just have to figure out where to look. Just Sayin’ ... Alex Hentschel The Strange Things I’m Thankful For This Thanksgiving BEOC (Big Event On Campus) A rt S ale 8 a.m. - 11 p.m., Dec 4, SSC Front Lobby CU art students will be holding a ceramics sale of student- and faculty-made pieces to raise funds for the art department.