Are Energy Drinks Really Worth the Buzz?

That extra boost might be giving you more than you bargained for.

By: Tracy Kracker, NCC News















Energy drinks are a fast-growing, five billion dollar industry, and a popular fist choice source of caffeine for anyone needing a boost or a buzz. Matija Popovich is one of them. When Popovich needs help staying awake delivering sandwiches until three o’clock in the morning, he reaches for an energy drink, instead of coffee.

“It’s not like an addiction, oh I need one. It just makes the job you do easier, whatever you do, focus or physical,” Popovich said.

The industry is focusing on young adults like Popovich. Research says people 18 to 24 are nearly twice as likely to use energy drinks. But they might come with more than consumers bargain for. One eight ounce serving of an energy drink can have up to as much caffeine as four cans of coke. But, cardiologist Dr. Michael Gabris said excessive caffeine can be dangerous.

“It won’t lead to heart attacks, but caffeine can cause a racing heart beat. It can lead to dizziness, light-headedness, and in high doses, it can cause you to faint,” Gabris said.

Heavy use can lead to even more caffeine consumption. Nutritionist Michelle Gallant said caffeine can be addictive.

“When you get into those higher doses, you’re not getting the stimulant effect of it anymore. You’re kind of avoiding the withdrawal from the caffeine,” Gallant said.

Despite these risks, young adults are still turning to energy drinks for that extra boost. And, they found a new use for drinks them as mixers with alcohol. But, the blend of a stimulant with a depressant comes with its own dangers. Energy drinks can mask some of the clues telling a person they are drunk, which can lead to more drinking. Dr. Kate Carey is a psychologist who studies alcohol use among college students.

“What people say is when they use it at the same time, they’re feeling alert. They keep drinking,” she said, “and, when the energy drink wears off, the alcohol hits them hard.”

Alex Bercheck is a graduate student at Syracuse University. He said his favorite drink is Red Bull and vodka, which he calls the devil’s drink.

“Alcohol gives you ideas to do all these stupid, crazy things you usually don’t have the energy to do because you’re like, ‘oh, I’m drunk.’ But,” he said, “with Red Bull vodka, you get the energy and stupid ideas.”

Wiihab

Wiihab Helps Therapy Woes in Central New York
Westbrook Shortell, N-C-C News.

Wii Would Like to Play

For the past two years Nintendo’s new gaming system has really revolutionized the gaming industry. The Wii has a unique remote. It’s wireless, enabling the player to experience a different kind of gaming. In games like Wii sports, it allows the player to actually mimic real life movements.


Wii is Making P.T. Less Like Physical Torture and More Like… Playing Video Games

It’s the free motion and mimicking that therapy is taking advantage of. At the Nottingham Senior Retirement Community, the Wii is helping its residents regain their independence. Rita Fahey, a Nottingham resident used to love to play golf. She said “… I used to play at least two or three eighteen holes a week.” When the first video game came out Rita was 57. But she said she is using the Nintendo Wii to get back out onto the links. “I think it’s given me a lot of metal therapy as well as physical therapy because it reminds me that I loved to play golf and be outside exercising and walk and when you walk on a long golf course you're getting a lot of exercise”

Kelly Van Auken-Mason, an Occupational therapist at the Nottingham, said important core excercizes can be accomplished on the wii and patients can have a good time doing it. “ The trend right now in therapy is the core, the trunk, the stability and that really is vitally important for this population. A lot of the core excersizes we do are kind of boring… You can actually do that on the Wii with the golf shot because you’re getting a lof of lateral movement and they’re actually having to balance their body more”

WiiHab Helping turn Strokes Into Strikes

At the SUNY Upstate Medical Center, the Wii is helping stroke patients get better. Bob Maybee Jr. was an avid fisherman. He took ESPN crews out on Onondaga lake and Oneida lake to shoot video for Bass Master tournaments. A few months ago, a stroke immobilized the left side of his body, chanign his life forever. A few days before playing the Wii, he couldn’t even stand. Now, with help, Maybee is able to play almost half a full game of Wii bowling. Donna Simms, a certified recreational therapist, said the Wii is helping stroke patients reestablish pathways in our brain damaged by strokes. “Every time [patients] do [Wii] movements they are challenging their brain to do something to create a new path to go in a place that they haven’t been able to go and asking their brain to Find another route. “ Simms said the button sequences and then the actual movement of the remote are what reestablishes the pathways.

Are Medical Students Losing Their Marbles?



While patients are learning how to regain their independace, A preliminary study at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center is finding video games are actually improving med students performance in practice surgeries. Dr. Marshall Simth and Kavil Kahol had a group of students play the game Marble Mania for one hour before performing a practice laporoscopic gall bladder surgery. The students who did play the game scored almost fifty percent higher on the surgery than those who didn’t. Dr. Smith said, “There is a 92 percent correlation between the game and a surgeon… the test didn’t really measure cognitive skills decisions, it measured psycho motor skills and that was very good.”

Wii want results

The medical world is now unlocking secret levels with te healing powers of the Wii. Patients like Bob Maybee and Rita Fahey are using the Wii for their own benefit. What parents once thought of as a nuisance is now changing people's lives.

Downtown Living is a Growing Trend Among Syracuse Residents

By: Chelsea Pizzi, NCC News, Syracuse

For years, businesses and homeowners have been turning out the lights and leaving downtown Syracuse, but now, the trend is reversing with big changes in neighborhoods around Armory and Clinton Square, and in Little Italy.

They Buy a Lifestyle

"When people by downtown they pay more per square foot than if you buy in the suburbs, but you buy a lifestyle," said Ann Clifford, owner of Enlighten Realty in Armory Square.

An urban revival is currently underway downtown with new building projects, and new pioneers are discovering downtown life can be both a curse and a blessing.

"There is more activity down here," said Clifford.

Typical Downtown Resident

The typical downtown resident is either a young professional or an empty-nester.

Rick Albright said his condo in the Loews Building is where he lives during the work week because his hour-long drive from his home in Canandigua got to be tiring.

Buyers are paying up to $2,000 monthly mortgages for one and two bedroom condos, and taxes are a little over $3,000 a year.

Albright said he also purchased a second condo downtown in the new Jefferson Clinton Commons. Ground was just broken on this new development two weeks ago. It will be located across the street from the MOST near Armory Square.

Buyers are paying up to $500,000 for two bedroom condos in the JCC.

Jay Dietershagen is a bartender and part-owner of Al's Wine & Whiskey--convenience was the selling point for him. He can see his newly purchased $220,000 condo in Center Armory from his position behind the bar.

"A lot of people, they're like, 'oh, you're gonna live at work,' and the reality is, I live at work now, so the fact that I can run home and make a sandwich, or take a shower, or do whatever I have to do--the convenience is so key for someone like me," said Dietershagen.

Paying More for Quality

"Quality is selling best," said Clifford.

High ceilings, exposed brick, granite counter tops, and hardwood floors are common expectations from a downtown buyer.

David Tiberio is the owner of cheapbooks.com, and rents an apartment on East Water Street for $1,700 a month.

"If you go into a suburban home and rented some place there--they usually don't remodel it for someone like me--who wants to pay more for a quality place," said Tiberio.

"It's good for the area--clean up the whole area and every body's happy," said Cosimo Zavaglia, a downtown developer.

Zavaglia is a trail-blazing developer, he has developed several buildings in the past and more recently renovated 466 Salina Street--an old bowling alley turned luxury apartment building.

Downfalls

While the perks to living downtown are closeness to restaurants, bars and shopping, some every day necessities are limited--like parking and grocery stores.

"You have to go out in the suburbs pretty much to do your grocery shopping--there's a store down here that's small and not open a lot of hours," said Albright.

That store is C.L. Evers Grocery in the Amos Building--the only downtown grocery store.

"The experience is worth the little extra inconvenience," said Clifford.

"I couldn't ask for anything more than to be where I am right now," said Dietershagen.

Residents say the limited services do not outweigh their excitement and comfort over their downtown lifestyles, and they say they are optimistic for further downtown growth as the Downtown Committee has more than twenty development projects in the works.

Boxing in Syracuse

By Ginger Whitaker, NCC News.

Syracuse Tradition

In Syracuse, the name "Rinaldi" is synonymous with boxing and has been for decades. Three generations of the Rinaldi's work in family-owned boxing gyms. Over the years, getting young kids into the boxing gym has become a priority.
Damian Rinaldi, the North Side gym's head coach, has trained lots of its kids. According to Damian, keeping kids committed to training is often a challenge. "A lot of kids come and go. Not a lot of kids stay because it is tough...but the ones that do stay excel and they do very well," he said.

Making Bonds

Despite the challenging nature of training for boxing, many teenagers find it to be life-changing. Ken Layton, a junior at Liverpool High School, has been boxing for six months. "It requires a lot of discipline on everyone's part, even people coaching you," said Layton. According to him, the bonds made in the gym are strong. Damian agrees and said win or lose, they're a team. "To work for months and training and training and to lose is a horrible feeling and it's tough on everybody as a team. We train as a team, we go to fights as a team," he said. There are many kids on this team. There's barely room enough at Rinaldi's other gym on the West Side for kids to move around the ring.

Academic Training

Training at the Rinaldi gyms is not limited to the physical, but also includes the academic. Currently, three classrooms are being built at the West Side Gym so kids can get in more study time before and after boxing classes. Trainer Frank Alagna said he'll sometimes check report cards to ensure kids stay on track. He understands. As a young teen Alagna was sent away to reform school but later on, it was Rinaldi's boxing gym that saved him, he said.

"Ray's Kids"

Alagna calls himself one of "Ray's kids" and says Ray encouraged him to go to college - something he's also encouraging his young boxers to do. "I know where they're coming from...when they look at me, they see a reflection of themselves. Where I go, they can go. Where I am, they can be," said Alagna.

Having young kids learning to box is something that brings a smile to Ray Rinaldi's face. "We don't make boxers out of these kids, we make good, normal citizens," he said. Ray said the more kids come in, the more they improve. He also said their success does nothing but make him proud.

Cornell Big Red Clinch Title

Third title of all time, 1st in 20 years
By: Josh Pick, NCC News

ITHACA, NY - Cornell is the Ivy League champ for the first time in twenty years. The Big Red stopped the domination by Penn and Princeton by running through the conference slate undefeated, finishing the season with only their second twenty win season of all time (22-6).

IVY LEAGUE CHAMPS

Cornell clinched the title at Newman Arena with a win against Harvard. When the final buzzer sounded, the "Red Sea" of almost 4,500--Cornell's only sellout this season--stormed the floor to celebrate. The atmosphere was electric as the team, followed by Coach Donahue (with his 4 year old son in his arms) cut the nets.

TEAM TALKS ABOUT WINNING

The players talked afterward about winning the championship. "We made it, so I'm happy," said Louis Dale, the Ivy League Player of the year. Ryan Whitman, the son of Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, Randy Whitman, joined Dale on the league's first team. Jason Hartford is a senior. His reaction was one of total glee: "It's a dream come true. Growing up, you watch it, and you want to get there, and we're there now," said Hartford. Coach Donahue thought the night couldn't have ended any better way: "Cutting down the net with my son in my arms, in front of 4,000 fans...it can't get any better," said Donahue.

OLDER FANS BASK IN CHAMPIONSHIP

Some life-long fans were able to take in the game, as well. Sandy Kuntz has been coming to games for over fifty years. She said this team has brought about a different level of excitement to the community: "Everyday goes by...we hear people talking Cornell basketball, and we haven't heard that in a really long time, so it's really special to us," said Kuntz. John Perko has volunteered for Cornell Athletics for sixty-one years. He said this win means more than just a basketball game: "Winning the championship is euphoric...very proud to the community, proud to the university, and proud for the alumni," said Perko.

NOT SO FAST, CINDERELLA

For fans in Ithica, getting out of the cold and following their team to Anaheim was special. But when they got there, they found out the slipper doesn't always fit for Cinderella--Stanford got ahead early and cruised to a 77-53 victory.

FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

However, the future looks bright for Cornell. They only lose one player, Jason Hartford, while returning two all-league players. Expect the Big Red to do big things next year.

Alternative stress therapies gaining popularity in CNY

By: Ashley Kalena, NCC News

The American Psychological Association says one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress, a number that is up by 48% in the past five years. The demands of work are changing. Northwestern National Life reports one-fourth of employees view their jobs as the number one stress factor in their lives.

Imbalanced Body

In the past some people turned to prescription drugs to control their stress but our culture of over medication has driven more and more people to alternative and more natural therapies that soothe the nerves and relax the mind without side effects. Virginia Waldron, a hypnotist at Gatekeeper Alternative Therapries in Fayetteville says too much stress makes the body imbalanced. "“Our current lifestyles are very much constantly on guard, constantly ready for the next fight or flight or whatever and that sends all sorts of chemical responses to the body."

Alternative Stress Therapies

66% of Americans say they’re likely to seek help for their stress. So its no wonder the stress reduction industry is booming. Tai Chi, meditation, Pilates and hypnosis are just some of the ways people are relaxing these days in a growing trend.

Karen Loeffler, Manlius, has been teaching Pilates for eight years. Loeffler said that with everyone being on the go these days, you need an exercise that can be done anywhere and Pilates fits that requirement. "You go on vacation, you go away for work, you can do it wherever you go because all you need is your body.”

Donna Klein, Skaneatles, has been practicing transcendental meditation for 37 years. Klein said the key to relaxing is establishing a way to calm your body down. “When your body is doing TM, your body is resting so deeply, that it’s throwing off stress.”

Do it yourself

Tai Chi and Pilates are something that can be done on your own once you’ve taken some classes and the same goes for meditation. The breathing exercises in hypnosis can always be practiced without being hypnotized.

Wrestling has a hold on CNY

Area training facility grooms wrestles, keeps them safe

By: Doug Plagens-NCC News

LIVERPOOL- Today's world of professional wrestling involves the same cartoonish bodies and off-screen controversey it did decades ago. However, today's performers are challenged by higher-risk maneuvers, which are often accompanied by objects like tables, ladders, and folding chairs. Because of this, wrestlers are laying their bodies on the line more than ever, and predetermined outcomes are not nearly enough to ease the pain.



"Wrestling is the most demanding sport I've ever been in," said "Main Event" Jason Axe, a wrestler for the Central New York-based Squared Circle Wrestling, or 2CW as it's affectionately known.

Another 2CW star, "Redneck Gordy Wallace" agreed with Axe, saying that "I don't know what people think, but you fall on concrete, it's concrete. You fall on boards, it's boards," Wallace said.

But where do these performers learn their crafts? Central New York has one training center, which is affiliated with 2CW and located in Liverpool. The head trainer is Derek Martel, a college professor and aeronautical enginner by day, and a wrestler named Zaquary Springate III by night. The training center has been in place for nearly a decade, and despite all the physical risks in wrestling today, Martel says his school has avoided any serious injuries.

"It's technique and it's being safe and we've never really had anyone seriously injured up here because I run a safe school. I teach them how to protect themselves; protect their opponent, and it's really all in technique," Martel said.

But other everyday people participate in the wrestling business as well. Wallace is a retail manager, and Axe is a college student. 2CW star Isys Ephex is a disc jockey. But while normal people can be professional wrestlers, the wrestlers themselves note that it takes a special kind of person to enter the squared circle.

"People might do it because, hey, there's a big paycheck in it. There's not," Wallace said.

Wrestler J.D. Love was a bit more blunt.

"You've got to be pretty messed up [to be a wrestler]," he claimed.

Because wrestlers are no strangers to injury risk. Martel, as if he were shrugging off the injury risk, says it's usually just "bumps, bruises, cuts, slices, gashes...", but Wallace has another story.

"One of my partners in the ring; something happened where he accidently slipped on my leg and snapped the bone right in half," Wallace said.

Ephex once pinched his sciatic nerve in a match, and lost movement in his left leg. However, he was forced to wrestle again the next day.

And the injury risk runs longer than a single match, or a weekend of matches. The pain caused by wrestling can last a lifetime.

"All the nagging injuries start piling up and it just hurts all the time. Your back hurts all the time and your leg hurts a lot," said J.D. Love.

Because, as Isys Ephex notes, "A wrestler goes into a match knowing he's going to get hurt, and it's going to suck the next day, but he's okay with it."

It's all about a dedication to the business and the art. J.D. Love says there is nothing better than wrestling. "It's a rush," Love said. "It's the best play you can have...getting the crowd in your hands."

But because such an injury risk exists, perfection is important in the ring.

"You pretty much have to be perfect to a 'T', because one slip up, and you could really hurt someone," said wrestler Joel Gertner.

But to this day, many people seem to not understand that falling through a table or bleeding from the face cannot be "faked". Wrestlers prefer matches being called "choreographed", not "faked", anyway.

"I'll throw you off the top rope, and you'll land in the ring, and you tell me if it's fake," said Love.

But wrestlers continue to endure the pain, and train to perfect their art. As Isys Ephex said, "The most beautiful things in wrestling hurt, but it's all pain you're taught to deal with."