T E M P L E TIPSHEET
A LOOK AT THE WEEK AHEAD JANUARY 7 - JANUARY 14, 2000
UNIVERSITY NEWS BUREAU (215) 204-7476 Fax: (215) 204-4403 [email protected]
SPRINGTIME? NOT YET
The balmy weather this winter has confused many landscape plants, with forsythia flowering and other signs of activity on early spring flowering plants. No need to worry, according to David Hensley, chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University Ambler.
"Plants in our area that go dormant require a certain number of hours of cold temperatures before they will begin growth again when milder conditions return. Many of the very early blooming species, such as forsythia, require only a few cold hours before they can start again."
According to Hensley, forsythia requires only about 250 hours of temperatures below 40 degrees to make it flower. Usually, the weather remains cold and conditions for re-growth do not occur until "spring." This year however, the cold treatment has been met and the stretch of mild weather has some plants are starting a little early.
What happens when the cold weather returns? "The flowers that have opened or are very near opening will be lost, but the plant will be fine," says Hensley. As for spring bulbs such as tulips, hyacinths, and crocus that have started to peek out, he advises covering them with a couple of inches of mulch to slow them down a bit until spring really arrives.
Reach Dr. Hensley at his office, 215-283-1296, or by e-mail: [email protected].
YOU WANT ONIONS ON THAT WHEAT-GLUTEN STEAK?
Newly elected Mayor John Street has said that he plans to slim down Philadelphia. But it might not be that easy to turn residents of the city recently named by Men's Health the fattest in the country into tofu-eating exercise fanatics, says Nikki Franke of Temple's Health Studies department.
"Eating habits and diet aren't really something you can legislate," says Franke. "But what the mayor can do and what people in public health try to do is just make people aware of the choices they can make to live a healthier lifestyle. Obesity can lead to so many other problems, and there's so much bad information out there, that just making information available will really help."
Franke points out that for most people even small changes in their everyday activity can make an impact on their health. "Take the steps instead of the elevator, park farther away when you go to the mall so you do a little bit more walking- any increase in activity helps."
Contact Dr. Franke through the News Bureau, 215-204-7476.
SHOW US THE (TV) MONEY
The popularity of the current gaggle of new game shows isn't all that surprising, given the cyclical nature of television, says Temple psychologist Frank Farley, immediate past president of the American Psychological Association's division of media psychology.
"Game shows have been around for quite a while, but we haven't had a heavy spate of them for some time," says Farley, noting that game shows like "21" and "The $64,000 Question" were particularly popular in the 1950s, but waned in the '60s and '70s, when cowboy and detective shows gained popularity.
"In the early game shows, the questions were very difficult and quite arcane. There's definitely been a dumbing down of the shows. Anyone can answer the current questions." Audiences enjoy shows like Regis Philbin's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" in part because, in playing along at home, they feel that they, too, can become millionaires, he says.
"My biggest concern is that these shows promote the idea of wealth without work," says Farley. "Money has settled so deeply in the American psyche. You can't talk about human motivation without talking about money."
Reach Dr. Farley at his office, 215-204-6024, at home, 215-881-7776, or through the News Bureau.
This Week at Temple...
Monday--Tuesday, Jan. 10-11, 5:30-7 p.m.: OPEN HOUSE -- Adults who want to explore their academic and/or career options may attend an Open House at Temple University Ambler, find out about day and evening classes and talk to faculty advisors and admissions representatives. (West Hall, 580 Meetinghouse Rd.)
Wednesday, Jan. 12: OPEN HOUSES II & III -- With classes ranging from dance to information technology, Temple's Center City Campus has something for everyone. Prospective students can listen to Temple musicians perform or sample one of several workshops while mulling over what class to take. (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m., 1616 Walnut St.) At Temple's Fort Washington Graduate and Professional Education Center, guests can discuss career plans and educational needs and tour TU CAT, Temple's new Center for Advanced Technology, a state-of-the-art IT training center. (5:30-7 p.m., Fort Washington Office Park, 401 Commerce Dr.)
nb-384 *** January 7, 2000
VISIT THE NEWS BUREAU's WEB SITE: http://www.temple.edu/news_bureau/
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