Spring quarter has finally come,bringing with it warmer temperatures,sunny skies and a fresh round of school-related anxiety.Students looking to beat the stress factor this season can check out the Wellness Wednesday series presented at the ARC.The Wellness Wednesday program is a series of workshops presented by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) together with the Fitness and Wellness center on campus.Workshops take place Wednesday evenings throughout the quarter and are free to all UC Davis students.

Today Opsin Expression in Fishes:Photoreceptor Plasticity and its Ecological Relevance Inigo Novales Flamarique(Simon Fraser University,British Columbia) 1:10to2p.m.,1022Life Sciences Sponsored byneurobiology,physiology and behavior,College of Biological Sciences Topic to be announced (land,air and water resources) Pasquale Steduto (Food and Agriculture Organization) 4:10to5:30p.m.,3001Plant and Environmental Sciences Sponsored byland,air and water resources,Environmental Science and Policy

The recession sucks.Being in college,most of us will probably feel the wrath of the recession if we haven‘t already.Some of our families are being hit by this really hard,and I wish you all the best of luck during these times.While AIG punks are getting their million dollar bonuses,some of us are losing homes and giving up on dreams because of financial difficulties.

Maybe the old adage“don‘t worry,be happy“ has some truth in it after all. According to a study conducted by researchers at UC Davis and the University of Washington,although children between the ages of five and seven all understand the connection that negative emotions can cause poorer schoolperformance,only the7-year-olds realized the link between positive emotions and better school performance.

Insomnia may affect “hunger hormones“ UCLA researchers have uncovered that one of the two hormones that is primarily responsible for telling the body when it is hungry or when it is full is disrupted by chronic insomnia. This is the first study looking into the elevated nocturnal levels of the two hormones– ghrelin and leptin– in patients diagnosed with primary insomnia.

As scientists continue to uncover major breakthroughs in their research,the need for explanation and communicating these ideas to “the average person” becomes increasingly important.As part of the Conversations with Writers series,the University Writing Program and the UC Davis Bookstore will present a talk from4:30to6p.m.in MU II on Thursday with Professor Daniel Sperling,an internationally renowned researcher and expert in transportation technology.

Call it generational,blame it on technology or the media,but in any case,satirical news sources are making their mark,especially on younger generations. According to the media public opinion polling company Rasmussen Reports,30percent of young American adults aged18to29think satirical news-oriented television programs like “The Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” are taking the place of traditional news outlets.

In anticipation of federal stimulus funds,the Sacramento Area Council of Governments board of directors has authorized$76million for transportation projects in Sacramento,Sutter,Yolo and Yuba counties. The board’s decision adds to the$32million they authorized in February for road rehabilitation.SACOG will also work closely with Placer and El Dorado counties to distribute the estimated$120million they will receive as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama last month.

Lake Tahoe’s clarity is currently not declining and its outlook is positive,suggests data from a collaborative effort of UC Davis researchers,theTahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Tahoe Environmental Research Center. “In terms of clarity,the outlook is hopeful,” said Dennis Oliver,public affairs director of the TRPA. “There’s been quite a lot of progress made to undo the damage that was seen here in the1950s.“

TODAY East Quad Farmers Market 10a.m.to2:30p.m. East Quad Gosupport local farmers and get fresh produce,nuts,flowers and more! Market held every Wednesday through June3.

If spring has you yearning for some fun in the sun or too much time has passed since your last corndog,Emerson Junior High School offers a solution. Theschool’s PTA will be sponsoringits second annual Emerson Junior High Carnival from4p.m.Thursday through10p.m.Sundayat Cannery Park inDavis,located on Covell Avenue and J Street.

Once a quiet farm town,Woodland is becoming the next retail hot spot in Yolo County. Last year the Woodland Gateway shopping center opened with Target and Costco Warehouse,right off of Interstate5and County Road102,in Woodland.OnApr.18,a number of new stores will help bring the development closer to completion.