Still Life

With four guide ropes attached to it, the east-side clock face is raised into position. While it didn't seem that windy on the ground on Saturday, Jan. 28, winds higher up were strong, requiring extra guidance to bring the clock face safely to the Old Main bell tower.

Old Main clock faces installed

Ben White of New Vibrations Audio and Video works on a ledge of the Old Main bell tower, to remove the speakers from the old chime system. The company installed a new carillon system today (Jan. 27) that will play a digital recording made of the original Old Main bell that now sits adjacent to Old Main and other bells of comparable sizes.

New carillon, restored clocks being installed

The funeral procession for Joe Paterno made its way past Beaver Stadium and down Porter Road as crowds applauded on Jan. 25. Thousands lined the procession route through the University Park campus and downtown State College to bid a last farewell to Joe Paterno.

Joe Paterno's funeral procession

Coach Joe Paterno was on the field for the first half of the Nittany Lions' football game. Penn State beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 13-3 on Oct. 8, 2011, in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Beaver Stadium.

Joe Paterno through the years

Katie Knobloch and Andrew Adamietz, members of the a capella group Blue in the Face, shared a candle at the vigil held Sunday, Jan. 22, to mourn the death of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who passed away earlier in the day. Several thousand members of the Penn State and State College community came out to the Old Main lawn on Penn State's University Park campus for the vigil.

Thousands mourn Paterno's passing

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PSU food safety expert says nation's food supply safe from H1N1 flu

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

University Park, Pa. — As the nation braces for the impact of the H1N1 Influenza A virus or swine flu, some consumers are uncertain of how to handle their normal consumption of pork — which could be bad news for American pork producers. But a food-safety specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says, despite its name, swine flu can't be spread through pork products.

"The H1N1 influenza may have its origins with swine, but it's a flu virus — primarily a respiratory illness passed from person to person through coughing, sneezing or related contact," said Martin Bucknavage, food-safety extension associate in the Department of Food Science. "There's no way to get influenza by handling pork, since it's not transmissible through food — it really doesn't have anything to do with ham, bacon or any other pork products."

Reports indicate that the flu strain turning up around the globe is actually a hybrid of bird, human and swine influenzas, but the swine portion seems to dominate in the popular imagination. As a result, early news reports show a decline in nationwide pork consumption, even though U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have said ham, bacon and other pork products are safe for human consumption when they're thoroughly cooked. 

Bucknavage explained that good personal hygiene practices are what consumers need to focus on — not avoiding pork. Following such practices as hand washing and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze are essential in preventing the spread of viruses.

"Hand washing is key to preventing spread of influenza," he said. "And not just a perfunctory rinse, but using soap and warm water, scrubbing and rinsing very well for at least 20 seconds and then drying with a clean, single-use towelette or paper towel.

"Another important thing is to seek treatment. If you start to have heaviness in your chest, or if you have experienced vomiting or diarrhea, it's important to go see the doctor. You don't want to have these symptoms for a long time without getting medical attention."

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