If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

The first reaction to this question is often: "How cliche." It is a question that was made popular by young children for whom the answer would be vital for their games of make-believe and it is a question that I have been asked repeatedly over the years. Because of its constant presence, however, I have had a lot of time to think about how I would answer this. Each year I seem to have a new answer depending on what has happened recently in my life.

As a third grader, I most likely would have said that I would like to fly. Just about all the super heroes could do it and having dreamed about it and thought about how cool it would make me, it was a clear decision. I could travel faster, have a spectacular view, and quickly escape from anyone or anything that might be chasing me (not that I was frequently attacked, or in fact, ever needed to escape from anything but in my dreams).

When I got a little older I got a little more creative. I might have contemplated the idea of being able to hold my breath underwater for great periods of time, or simply having the ability to swim like a fish and fly like a bird. The options seemed to grow quite a bit over the years. Especially after seeing the movie "The Incredibles" it became a lot harder to choose just one superpower. Becoming invisible would be handy for surprises and when I need some time to myself and being able to freeze anything would give me my own ice skating pond whenever I wanted one! But the power that I would probably appreciate most would be Dash's power of speed.

Today, although it would still take some serious consideration, I think that I would like to be able to accomplish everything with phenomenal speed. Either that or to have the power to apparate, but I may be mixing magic with superpower with that one.If traveling any distance within moments was an option, I would certainly choose that; I could go home any weekend I choose and it wouldn't cost me a penny! But assuming that that lies purely in the realm of Harry Potter, I will stick with the power of speed. Unlimited speed like Dash, where I can run for miles and miles without getting too tired.

I am not sure how others would be impacted by my power of unlimited speed but I would find it to be useful skill when it comes to getting my work done on time, getting to class, or even getting home. If I were able to turn my speed on and off, in a sense, I could create so much free time for myself! I'm not sure if this speed would be just in the sense of exercise (running, walking, swimming...) or if I could accomplish anything with great speed. Say I have an essay to write... I'll write it up in a few minutes and not have to worry about it for the rest of the week. Or maybe I left my favorite shirt at home... I'll just run home and get it in an hour or so. Such incredible speed would allow for a sort of control over time. I'm sure I would be able to have those extra hours of the day that always seem to be needed.

I don't think I would object to any superpower really, but this is one that would be on my list of favorites.

Should fast food franchises be on college campuses?

Fast food is often a hit or miss for people. Some people are regular customers at the local Burger King because they like the speed of the meal offered by drive-thru's (a sign that makes things even faster by omitting three letters), the cheaper costs, or the greasy tastes. On the other side of the spectrum are the people who are somewhat disgusted by the idea of fast food and avoid the seemingly unhealthy lifestyle all together. And of course there are those in the middle who use the advantages of fast food in a pinch when there is very little time or when preparing your own meal is out of the question. If this overview has not been too biased, I will state that I am a twice-a-year kind of person; rarely ever buying from fast food restaurants.

Although I will admit that they have their benefits, and I certainly can't deny that they are successful, fast food franchises should not be offered on college campuses. Even though they may have salads on the menu, it is pretty well understood that fast food is typically far from a healthy meal...just watch the movie Super-Size Me. Having fast food franchises on campus would in no way aid students in the struggle against the "freshman 15." For although one could argue that students have the choice to eat healthier, the option for fast, satisfying (due largely to fat content) could be extremely tempting and as we know, fast and easy.

Fast food was also designed, in part, to provide fast, on-the-go services. This is useful for people traveling to work or taking a day trip to visit another state but for students living on a college campus, the amount of distance they need to travel is limited and for the most part, can be accomplished on foot. Besides, on a college campus what food isn't fast? The dining halls are usually located in central parts of the campus and there are cafes and snack shops in various other buildings all of which are easily accessible and conveniently located. It is almost guaranteed that there is be somewhere on campus to get food at all hours of the day and for a great portion of the night. Therefore, fast food franchises would not be any more beneficial in the aspects of saving time or availability.

Eliminating the "fast" feature, McDonald's wouldn't have much left besides the popularity of their food which often has a fat content over 60% daily value in each burger! (The Fast Food Explorer website) I do not have enough information to compare the health factor of fast food to the food provided by the campus dining services, but I would imagine that not having fast food franchises on campus would be a healthier decision. So Ithaca College does alright; I do not think that they are in any need of a acquiring a fast food franchise on campus.