Guns Now Allowed at All Florida Colleges-Is This Safe?

Posted on January 18, 2014 by alyssakelly

Last month it was ruled that it is unlawful to prohibit students from keeping a gun in their car parked on campus in Florida.  This meaning that students are allowed to keep a gun in their vehicle as long as it is locked.  Schools all around Florida are revising their policies to abide by this Florida law.  But is this really safe?

Yes, it is the law that a person can carry a concealed weapon if secured properly.  But is allowing students, faculty and visitors come on campus with these okay?   Some people think that when more people have guns, there is less crime because you aren’t sure who has a gun and who doesn’t.  When there is a campus with thousands of people so close together does it create more of a threat than safety?

With haunting incidences happening at college campuses it is hard to dictate whether it is safer or not.  More people can react in an emergency if need be.  Also, more accidents could occur from goofing or unintentional use.  How can we better ensure the safety of our community without making discomfort for those who oppose?

I know here at UCF we are all still wary of what problems guns have caused on our campus.  Many students and parents are upset by the change of policy of letting guns be kept locked in a trunk or locked glove compartment.  As a law it is required of the university whether we like it or not.  In a situation like this we just have to start adapting and prepare ourselves in ways that are most comfortable to us.

UCF Allowing Students to Store Guns on Campus in Locked Cars After Judge’s Ruling

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-ucf-guns-college-campus-20140114,0,2195008.story

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Rajon Rondo: His return from an ACL injury and the future of the Boston Celtics

Posted on January 18, 2014 by anthony loprinzi

It was January 15th 2013, and the Boston Celtics were playing the Atlanta Hawks in an overtime basketball game. Then the absolute unthinkable happened to the Celtics’ growing superstar, Rajon Rondo tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), and would miss the remainder of the season and part of the upcoming season to heal the injury.  Rondo made his much anticipated return this past Friday, January 18th, against the Los Angeles Lakers, the biggest rivalry in the NBA. Now with their best player, and new team captain, the Boston Celtics now have to decide on how to approach the upcoming future of the program. There are 2 different approaches that ownership can make and that will be looked into shortly, 1. Build the franchise around their returning superstar or 2. Trade Rondo and hope to stockpile picks and young players.

Should the Celtics decide to build around Rajon Rondo that would mean a quicker return to basketball championship aspirations. They would look to build up their team roster through free agency, trying to bring in other superstars who would be interested in playing alongside Rondo. If the Celtics were to decide on going the other direction to try and trade him looking for draft picks and rising talent in the league. They would look to build up their team this way through the draft, trying to get the college superstars on their team.

Either way the Boston Celtics end up going, it is nice to see one of the NBA’s best players returning to the court and provide some exciting gameplay for the fans to see.

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Bortles Makes the Top 5 in Latest Mock Draft

Posted on January 18, 2014 by jessicafsmith1002

Nearly 100 underclassmen have declared for the 2014 NFL draft, which is shaping up to be a very deep crop of talent. One of those 100 underclassmen includes UCF’s star QB Blake Bortles. Bortles has made a name for himself this past football season after taking the UCF Knights on a school best, 12-1 season, with just one loss to South Carolina. Included in the 12-1 record was huge wins over Penn State and Louisville, and undoubtedly the highlight of the season, the first BCS Bowl Game appearance and win for UCF, at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. With all that said, Eric Edholm, a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports, recently compiled a NFL Draft Report/Mock Draft, and put UCF’s Blake Bortles at #5 to go to the Oakland Raiders. This is what Edholm said in his Draft Report:

“5. Oakland Raiders — Central Florida QB Blake Bortles
This seems like the type of height-weight-arm prospect they like, even post-Al Davis, and Bortles fills a need at a still-uncertain position. It’s painting lame-duck head coach Dennis Allen into a bit of a corner, with a first-round quarterback, but it’s not as if Terrelle Pryor or Matt McGloin are likely to help save his job. Personally, as much as I like Bortles (based off the four games I have watched of him), I would not be using a top-five pick on him. But then again, I am not Reggie McKenzie.”

Personally, I don’t totally agree with Edholm, but I also don’t totally disagree. I like that Edholm put Bortles at #5 to go to Oakland, as opposed to other reports, saying that Bortles will go to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Oakland isn’t the best in the game, but they aren’t as bad as Jacksonville. What I don’t like about Edholm’s report is him saying that he wouldn’t use a Top 5 pick on Bortles. A lot of people are underestimating Bortles, and from Oakland’s point of view, they need a QB and Bortles is the best they can get!

-Brandon Lau

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Can contact lenses be used to read blood glucose levels?

Posted on January 17, 2014 by chelsiesloan

On Thursday afternoon Google announced that members from their secret Google X-division have been testing a set of “smart contact lenses”. These smart contact lenses are being designed to measure blood glucose levels by using our tears. They are hoping that these new contact lenses can eliminate the painful needle finger-pricks diabetics have to endure.

The objective of these smart lenses is to be able to give accurate blood glucose levels by the use of a person’s very own tears. The lenses contain a small wireless chip and a mini glucose senor that is located in between two layers of soft contact lens material. Instead of setting aside the time to prick your finger, these lenses will automatically read your eyes once every second.

Not only will these lenses read your glucose levels but they can also warn the person when extremely high or low levels have been reached. They will include a small LED light that glows when the person isn’t meeting their levels. These enhancements it will save a diabetic time and money by not having to buy needles every so often. It will also help a diabetic know exactly how their levels are for them in short amount of time.

“It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple
clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype,” said Otis and Parviz the two main creators. “We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.”

As of now Google is in the process of talking this over with the FDA, and is looking for potential business partners who will invest in the smart contact lenses. More news of Google’s smart contact lenses will be on the way after they continue to test it out.

 

 

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5 Tips To Rebuild A Relationship After Being Cheated On.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by rboniniv

How do I rebuild this relationship? I know this might be a reoccurring question for girls that have been cheated on by their boyfriends. How do you actually rebuild the foundation of the relationship back to the way it was? To start with it is normal to feel sad, hurt, confused and depressed… But the main question is should you stay or leave? This topic is also being raised in the current media with basketball player Dwayne Wade and actress Gabrielle Union. According to the Hollywood Gossip, Earlier this week, just days after Wade and Union got engaged, the NBA player confirmed he fathered a love child while the two were on a break. It’s definitely obvious Gabrielle is not affected by it because the two are still engaged. I provided a few tips to rebuild a broken relationship.This article was rejected because you did not follow the guidelines for writing headlines. Must be descriptive.

How do I rebuild this relationship? I know this might be a reoccurring question for girls that have been cheated on by their boyfriends. How do you actually rebuild the foundation of the relationship back to the way it was? To start with it is normal to feel sad, hurt, confused and depressed… But the main question is should you stay or leave? This topic is also being raised in the current media with basketball player Dwayne Wade and actress Gabrielle Union. According to the Hollywood Gossip, Earlier this week, just days after Wade and Union got engaged, the NBA player confirmed he fathered a love child while the two were on a break. It’s definitely obvious Gabrielle is not affected by it because the two are still engaged. I provided a few tips to rebuild a broken relationship.

1. Do not allow this relationship to take away your confidence and who you are. The first thing a female thinks about is that they are the problem or they are not good enough. However, if he cheated on you, he is the one with the problem not you.

2. Do not take him back unless you have completely forgiven him. So often we can say that we forgive him for cheating but we are consistently bringing up the situation time and time again. If it takes you a week, 2 weeks, a month or even a year. Use that time to get back in the groove of things.

3. Do not seek revenge. Two wrongs do not make a right. If you are also cheating on him you cannot be mad because you are doing the same thing he did to you.

4. Do not stalk him or the girl. Do not get on his Facebook, twitter or email looking for trouble. If you are willing to take him back you have to believe that the relationship is starting fresh and new. Do not go through his phone reading his messages. His messages are meant for him to read not you.

5. Make sure he is showing that he has changed. He needs to make improvements to be a better man for you. Make sure he is worth it.

Getting cheated on is heart-wrenching. Once you have accepted the reality and decide to take him back these tips can come in handy. Just make sure from now on he is faithful towards you.

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Too Much Information Causes Fatigue!

Posted on January 17, 2014 by amanda decarlo

In an article by Sharon Begley titled “I can’t think,” she discusses the impact that the internet is having on our minds. She states that earlier generations could make an informed decision by going to the library and referencing a book or newspaper. Nowadays however, we are distracted constantly by social media, and other informative websites. Personally, this has happened to me. I had been studying for hours and continuously checked Facebook statuses. I instantly felt a headache and had to take a break.

There might even be more negative consequences than just fatigue. Begley states that in a study in 2004 that in a study about 401(k) options that people’s participation preferred to opt out when the choices went from 2 to 11. She also concluded that people made bad decisions when there were more options available. Time is everything and people understand the importance of making quick decisions in this economy.

Humans are merely a product of their environment. The western hemisphere establishment of capitalism instills a great concern for time and money. In fact, time is considered money because the input of time and effort often times equates compensation in the form of money. Time is a non renewable resource. People, especially in a capitalist society, understand that notion subconsciously.  A more desired characteristic for future employers may not be just computer skill and competency but rather the ability to discern information quickly and execute decisions.

This isn’t even a new problem. Begley even mentions that in the 17th century, Leibniz complained about the increase in books; there is too much knowledge. As the generations and society continue to progress information increases exponentially and the problem may become worse.

 

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Dressed to impress celebrities at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards

Posted on January 17, 2014 by ljthom

The beginning of award show season began with a bang at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday Jan. 12. As I was sitting in my comfortable Victoria’s Secret designed, polka dot flannel pajamas watching the E! Red Carpet at University of Central Florida in Orlando, actors and celebrities in Beverly Hills, California, were strutting their Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Tom Ford, and many other wonderfully designed tuxes and gowns, down the red carpet.
One of my ultimate favorites of the night was Amy Adams in a Valentino design. It was a red, plunged front, bare back, tailored and form figured, seventies vibe dress that flowed down to the ground. She had neutral make up and minimal jewelry to show off her dazzling blue eyes. It was a beautiful ensemble to admire while she accepted her award for Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture for “American Hustle”.
“The Wolf of Wallstreet” actress, Margot Robbie, wore another spectacular dress. Her ivory Gucci dress had green and white beading around the cut-off sleeves and under the bust. She had minimal jewelry and a sleek bun to show off her thigh-high slit, which also gave us a nice peek at her green Louboutin stilettos. This was a perfect dress for the award show.
For men, the bow tie was the popular choice. Actors, Rob Lowe from “Parks & Recreation”, Bradley Cooper for “American Hustle”, Tom Hanks in “Captain Phillips”, Jonah Hill from “The Wolf of Wallstreet”, Chris Hemsworth in “Thor” and many more, all wore black bow ties for the Golden Globes. “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” actor and 2014 Golden Globe nominee, Idris Elba wore a Gucci tux and opted without a tie.
After admiring at all the dresses and tuxes, it made me wonder multiple things. First, what is the average length of time for an actress to get ready? Second, I wonder how the process goes for actors to choose an appropriate tie for the occasion? Last, how comfortable are the chairs inside the event? Especially for the women that wear extravagant dresses.

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NBA: Houston, We Have a Problem.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by arlen spitalnik

On January 17, 2014, two of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) hottest teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, met in Space City to face one another in a heated battle.  Oklahoma City lost its All-Star Point Guard, Russell Westbrook, a few weeks ago to his third knee surgery in nine months.  According to SportingNews.com, Westbrook was averaging 21.3 points, seven assists, and six rebounds per game before he was ruled out.  This meant that the rest of the Thunder roster needed to step up in place of their injured teammate, especially Kevin Durant.

The first half was dominated by the Rockets, who shot 57% from the field while nailing 12 of 20 behind-the-arc attempts.  The momentum was completely in the young Houston team’s favor, who held a convincing 73-59 lead at half time.  Though the Thunder had failed to drain any three-point shots, they were not intimidated by the opposing team’s performance.  They came out of the locker room with a whole new approach to start the second half.

As the game resumed, Oklahoma City’s defense began to pick up; Serge Ibaka had 5 blocks to lead the efforts as the Rockets were held to only 10 points in the third quarter.  In addition, the three-pointers began to commence when Derek Fisher sunk one from deep behind the arc.  Durant made another one to tie the game at 83.

The fourth quarter was another scoring disaster for the Rockets, only putting up nine points.  Oklahoma City came up with 21 in the quarter to finish Houston 104-92.  From scoring 73 points to only 19 between halves, the Rockets set a new NBA record for the biggest point differential in a game.  If Houston wants to become a legit NBA-Title contender, they will have to step up their efforts in order to play through an extremely competitive Western Conference.

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Wildlife Services’ Animal Control Program Comes Under Fire.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by jsjones

The Wildlife Services branch of the United States Department of Agriculture has come under scrutiny as of late due to their increased spending on curbing animal populations.

With an astonishing amount of nearly $100 million spent each year on eliminating what they deemed unnecessary and potentially dangerous animal predators, many are left wondering if the present animal control program is the best plan of action to take. Critics are calling the eradication of unwanted predators as not only counterproductive to the environment but also an utter waste of valuable tax dollars.

In addition to the negative financial aspects, there are also multiple ethical issues being raised with the current procedures. Wildlife Services is basically in charge of protecting livestock as well as other animals from predators. Therefore, they are brought in by agencies to eliminate them. The problem with this is that the ranchers and other agencies are not required to show that they have tried to use non-lethal means of getting the animal predators off of their property. This is causing some to speculate on just how efficient the Wildlife Services branch actually is due to the fact that their records are contained and confidential to the general public.

Clearly, more needs to be done to mandate exactly how the Wildlife Services branch operates. If the public is unable to gain documents on just how their procedures are run, it makes it incredibly hard to understand just how their processes work. Perhaps, petitions are in order so that their branch can be better checked.

Posted in Environment, General, Politics | Comments Off on Wildlife Services’ Animal Control Program Comes Under Fire.

The Oscars 2014: 86th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 2.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by kelly casas

The Oscars 2014: 86th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 2, starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

It is time to review my favorite Award, The Oscars. Movies are a part of my life, and especially the nominees for best picture of Oscars would be on my must-see list. There are hundreds of movies released every single year, but only a few of them have chance to be nominated. Let’s check out the nominees for best picture of 2013.

“12 Years a Slave”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Captain Phillips”
“Her”
“American Hustle”
“Gravity”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Nebraska”
“Philomena”

I did not watch them all yet. In fact, I only watch “Gravity” for now, and I must say “Gravity” is one of my favorite movies already. I believe “Gravity” is the shortest movie on the list of nominees, which is only less than 90 minutes, but I enjoy it very much in the movie theater.  I am more likely to watch Blu-ray at home instead of go to a movie theater because I can watch them as many times as I want.

The other best pictures I am dying to see are “The Wolf of Wall Street”, “Captain Phillips”, and “American Hustle” because the actors and actresses are very famous in these pictures. I am going to watch all of the nominees anyway.  Let’s see the nominees for best director, actor, and actresses.

Best director
Steve McQueen — “12 Years a Slave”
David O. Russell — “American Hustle”
Alfonso Cuaron — “Gravity”
Alexander Payne — “Nebraska”
Martin Scorsese — “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Best actor
Bruce Dern — “Nebraska”
Chiwetel Ejiofor — “12 Years a Slave”
Matthew McConaughey — “Dallas Buyers Club”
Leonardo DiCaprio — “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Christian Bale — “American Hustle”

Best actress
Amy Adams — “American Hustle”
Cate Blanchett — “Blue Jasmine”
Judi Dench — “Philomena”
Sandra Bullock — “Gravity”
Meryl Streep — “August: Osage County”

 

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