An Important Life Lesson We All Know But Have Forgotten

Posted on January 13, 2014 by brittany

The life expectancy of the average American is 8o years, how crazy is that? In those 80 years we go through so much yet we never take a moment to step back and appreciate the simple fact that we are alive. We all have different pasts, different presents, and will have different futures. Our stories begin each day with the first breath we take as we awaken our resting soul. We have the power to determine the kind of day we will have. Do we choose to belittle the beautiful world we live in or do we choose to appreciate and respect one another and our world, that my friends is the question.

I believe we are all interconnected, our thoughts and attitudes affect the people around us. The smallest gesture to the strangest individual could change his or her day around . Showing gratitude and acknowledgement goes a long way. I think its funny how the simple life lessons we were taught in elementary school are the most important, yet we seem to overlook them when life hits us. Look at the world through the eyes of a child, you would be surprised what it will do to your world view.

The truth is we all go through the same things, at different stages of our life maybe, as well as in different ways, but for the most part we all think and feel fairly similar. The things that motivate us and keep us going are the ones that make us happy and make us better individuals. In the end the good and the positive prospers. You have the power to determine what kind of life you will have despite the circumstances, you can either make the best of it or you can mope and frown. Don’t take the limited 80 years of your life for granted, its never to late to make a positive change.

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Australia Ablaze While North America Freezes Over

Posted on January 13, 2014 by jfishpaugh

After arriving just last week from Australia, I’m in the United States for the first time ever. I left the airport and departed on my adventure with promises and hopes of sunny Florida skies and warm weather. Well let’s just say, the weatherman must have missed my memo! During the past couple of weeks Orlando has experienced unusually cold weather including a few days when the maximum daily temperature hardly reached 10°C(50°F) and there is more on the way.

But while I’m here complaining that I didn’t pack any winter woolies, our neighbors in Canada and in the Northern parts of the USA are freezing. Literally! News reports state that Canada has experienced some days that have been colder than the North Pole and Mars. Even areas of Montana dropped as low as -52°C(-61°F) and 14 other American states have had temperatures below -40°C(-40°F). Apparently at those temperatures you can even throw a cup full on boiling water in the air and watch it turn to snow before it hits the ground. This isn’t just a novelty though, it has had serious consequences. 18,000 flights have been cancelled in the US because of recent snow storms. Schools and businesses throughout the affected regions have been forced to close. Even daily life for some has been difficult as water mains and household pipes have frozen.

Meanwhile, Australia is suffering through a record breaking and widespread heat wave. Many towns have reached the highest recorded temperatures in more than 100 years and some days have exceed the hottest days on records. Bush fires threaten and have claimed lives already and many homes have been destroyed. Adelaide has experienced it’s warmest week on record with 6 consecutive days over 40°C(104°F). One town in the same state had a record breaking temperature of 54°C(129°F). This has raised severe concerns for the welfare of the sick and elderly. Wildlife has also been extremely affected with reports of 25,000 bats dying in South-East Queensland, many simply dropping dead from trees.

This leaves me with one question for the climate change doubters. How do you do it?

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Prominent Baseball Star Looking For Less Time On His Suspension

Posted on January 13, 2014 by kbowerman

New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez, once a celebrated man in the major leagues, is now looking to turn the page on a long and grueling duel with major league baseball. Arod as most people would refer to him as has been linked to using performance enhancing drugs and as a result was given a full year (162 games) suspension. Rodriguez’s attorney has been on a mission to completely have the suspension thrown out and alleviate all wrong doing for his client. Alex Rodriguez, though, has come out and said that he has indeed took performance enhancing drugs and is suing major league baseball on the notion that his rights were violated relating to the players union. As a result Rodriguez is seeking not only a wash of his 162 game and 2014 playoff suspension but damages as he states that major league baseball has halted his “right to a living.” Alex Rodriguez is no stranger to the spotlight, and neither is his paycheck. Rodriguez, before endorsement deals, makes $25 million a year and receives $6 million for every person he passes on the all time home run list. What makes this story so interesting is the fact that Arod was once the face of a past time. Now, it is hard to see how this man can expunge his vastly growing record of lying to not only major league baseball but the nation. Rodriguez still might not be out of the clear as baseball commissioner Bud Selig is looking to connect Rodriguez to a 2009 instance where Rodriguez allegedly took PED”S from Dr. Anthony Galea who was convicted in 2011 for bringing in illegal drugs from outside the United States. As we look back at the career of Rodriguez, we won’t see the accolades, we won’t see the greatness he once brought. We will see what Selig wanted all along, punishment the people who disrespected the game and to get rid of drugs in baseball all together.

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SUPER BOWL XLVIII: New School Vs. Old School

Posted on January 13, 2014 by College of Sciences

With an exciting wildcard weekend and divisional round in the rear view mirror, the NFL conference final match ups provide a possible glimpse at the future of the NFL. The AFC Championship game will be a familiar match up as the Peyton Manning led Broncos will host Tom Brady for the two quarterback’s 15th meeting on the gridiron.  In a rivalry that some say is the Magic vs. Bird of the NFL, only one of these prolific passers will advance their team to Super Bowl 48.  While the AFC will be an ultimate showdown of pocket passing quarterbacks, the NFC Championship game will provide a match-up of two young quarterbacks who have the legs to back up their arms.  Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will host the defending NFC Champion 49ers led by Colin Kaepernick, where both team’s hope that their read option style of football and hard-nose defense will prevail.

Peyton and Tom, 37 and 36 respectively, are coming to the end of their careers but have left legacies of greatness behind them.  These old guys (in football years) have traded NFL all-time records back and forth throughout their careers, with Peyton taking the All-time regular season records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and single game passing touchdowns this past season.  Tom Brady on the other hand has 3 Superbowl rings to Peyton’s one.  This poses the question, why even bother with these athletic mobile quarterbacks if the traditional quarterback is successful?

With the emergence of Mike Shanahan’s Pistol read option offense last year, orchestrated by Robert Griffin III.  NFL franchises took note of the rookie leading his team to wins, getting touchdowns with elusive and decisive plays.  This offense was a contributing factor to the 49ers Superbowl appearance last year.  The read option forces defenders to account for the quarterback as a runner, in addition to the running back (s) and full back (s), and the pass options.  This causes confusion, because a defender will ultimately be left with a decision to go after the running back or the quarterback.   If defenses adjust to blitz the option that leaves receivers in man to man coverage allowing for someone to get open easily for a pass.  If they cover conservatively, the quarter back reads if the defenders are covering the running back (s) or him and carries out the open option.  Look out for either Russell Wilson or Colin Kaepernick to be using this offense on Superbowl Sunday against an almost immobile Tom or Peyton.

A quarter back is the most important player on the football field because they have the most control over the game in their hands.  While it’s said that defense wins championships, balance is the key in a championship contending team.  The option provides an offense where teams don’t have to go after top paid players on offense to the point where their defense lacks talent.   It leaves them with more money to spend on defensive talent as seen in the Seahawks and 49ers.

NFL teams undoubtedly have a decision to make when choosing a quarterback.  Do they want to go with a traditional quarterback with top talent on offense or the emerging benefit of an athletic quarter back and a strong defense?  Find out who wins, New School or Old School in nineteen days at Superbowl XLVIII.

Old School – http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000239069/Week-1-Peyton-Manning-highlights

New School – http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000125557/Kaepernick-56-yard-touchdown

 

 

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China Progresses Toward Banning Indoor Smoking

Posted on January 13, 2014 by joecool12

China has decided to go through with the decision to ban all indoor smoking by this year. Even though certain places that were told not to smoke, including hotels or restaurants, rules weren’t strictly as enforced as they could have been. China serves as a top consumer of tobacco products. One in three cigarettes that are smoked in the world comes from China.

I believe that this is a good decision for China due to the harmful health reasons that are being produced by tobacco products. Smoking cigarettes will not only put users in danger, but anyone around them. Secondhand smoking is just as bad as a single user smoking a cigarette.

A good solution to stop the use of indoor smoking would be the consequence of someone getting a fine if they smoke indoors, possibly a good standard fee would be $200.

Chinese government officials being told not to smoke at schools or hospitals to set good examples to the public was a good thought on the behalf that children could be influenced to engage in smoking activities if they see adults who are at a  level of importance to society involved in tobacco use. Also, a hospital already has sick patients in the facility. The last thing they need are large amounts of carbon monoxide entering their sick bodies.

It is very sad and awful to hear that over a million of people in China have died from illnesses that come from using tobacco products. This awful tragedy can be stopped through the cut down on cigarette smoking, lowering the annual deaths of civilians, instead of increasing the number of dead bodies in China.

Hopefully, China keeps to their word and bans indoor smoking, so in the long run their will be better health overall.

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Movie Theater Shooting: Texters Beware

Posted on January 13, 2014 by lauren gould

In the past few years, public shootings have captured the attention of the American Media. Earlier today another one has taken place in Wesley Chapel, Florida when an elderly man shoot and killed a fellow moviegoer in front of his wife. The reason? He was texting during the movie.

Mr. Reeves, the elderly gentleman and shooter, became upset when the victim refused to stop texting during the screening of the movie ‘Lone Survivor’, a action shooter star Mark Wahlberg. While the irony and what some would call ‘poetic justice’ for the violent response to the lack of common courtesy demonstrated by the victim, questions concerning theater safety, gun rights, and people with violent tendencies crop up.

This comes after the Aurora Shooting in 2012 during the screening of The Dark Knight, and will certainly have the public screaming for tighter gun control. This will surely bring up what qualifies as a stable person when applying or receiving gun licenses. Mostly this could just be a general warning to people about how a little common courtesy can go a long way.

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Actor Paul Walker’s untimely death leaves the World in Mourning

Posted on January 13, 2014 by jumarshall17

Upon hearing the news of the “Fast and Furious” actor Paul Walker being dead as a result of a fatal car accident I was deeply saddened. I learned of the news from the Social Media giant Instagram and I quickly researched its validity on Google and I learned that it was indeed true. Heartfelt condolences and comments poured in on Instagram and Twitter from fans who felt as if they had lost someone close and special to them. The most heartbreaking post that I had seen came from Paul Walker’s Co-Star, Tyrese Gibson, as he posted a picture at the scene of the accident in tears, expressing the pain he felt from losing his long-time friend and co-star.

Growing up as a child I was always fascinated with fast cars and I had a need for speed. When the movie series first arrived onto the big screen I was glued to my seat. Immediately following the end of the first movie I always longed for a sequel. Upon the end of the second movie of the series that same feeling returned and I wanted more. Paul Walker had a presence in the movie that demanded my attention and I simply could not keep my eyes off of the clever Brian O’Connor. In a sense I felt as if I grew up with the series as I followed it from elementary school to college. I am curious to see how the directors of the movie will somehow continue on with the movie. Being that Paul Walker was the main character of the movie I feel as they need to be sensitive and respectful in reference to what they decide to do with his character.

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Who will play at the Super bowl this year 2014?

Posted on January 13, 2014 by the one and only

I am becoming extremely excited for the next upcoming NFL football games. I am saddened to say that my team The Indianapolis Colts lost this past Saturday on 01/11/14 to The New England Patriots. It was an interesting game to watch because Andrew Luck our quarterback was doing great but he wasn’t as good as I expected him to be. He should’ve been under Peyton Manning (Our former quarterback which now plays for the Denver Broncos) taking notes from him to become a better quarterback just like Peyton Manning is. Tom Brady showed us who the boss was for that game. Now people want to see Peyton Manning go against Tom Brady for the Super Bowl. We are still missing one more game left to determine who what teams will play at the Super Bowl but the quarter of the people want Peyton Manning to play and the quarter of the people want Tom Brady to play since there are four teams left to play so its only a quarter of the people that want to see them play. I am going to be rooting for Peyton Manning although I am not a Denver Broncos fan however, I am a Peyton Manning fan for everything that he did for the Colts in all the years that he was there for and I hope that Peyton Manning wins because he is a great quarterback and he knows what he is doing. he may be aging but he is still one awesome quarterback that not many people can be like him. Is anyone else looking forward to the Super Bowl? Zy dream is to try to attend a super bowl one day and hopefully watch my team The Colts play and win there. Let’s see what happens after this weekend’s game. May the best team win!

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CES – The Birth of Future Technologies

Posted on January 13, 2014 by samsheres

Since 1967, a congregation of betters and creators of new technologies has been celebrated each year in the city of Las Vegas. And I say better because in this congregation is where producers come up with their new technological inventions betting hard for their product in order to achieve a world widely success. This congregation takes the name of CES (Consumer Electronics Show)

In this exhibition is where many of our today’s friend were born, and eventually got big in the universe. From the mythical VHS tape system that abled us to watch movies in our home screens until the digital formats that have been improving during the past years such as the CD Rom, DVD and Blu-Ray.

The 2014 exhibition celebrated the past week from January 6-9, attracted around 3000 companies that decided to show their future products, and around 20 thousand novelties were shown, according to the media. A total number of 150 thousand people who appreciated the yearly exhibition, and surely are already excited for what is coming next year. There were also more than 200 talks about the tendencies in the market starred by 500 international speakers.

What were the highlights of CES 2014? As we know the TV is still the leader in technological products, since we can consider it as the protagonist of all homes. The manufacturers know the importance that we give to this product, as well that If our TV breaks down today, we will be looking to buy a new one tomorrow. So in other words, the new generation of the TV was the big highlight of the 2014 exhibition, bringing the 4K TV generations.

Meanwhile new products are getting born in the CES congregation of Las Vegas, we as extrem consumers are just trying to understand how fast technologies grows, and how the situation can be in the future…

 

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The Stars Shine Bright At This Years Golden Globes

Posted on January 13, 2014 by davynr

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are back for a second consecutive year hosting the Golden Globe awards. After a successful stint hosting last year, the duo was contracted back for another two award shows in 2014 and 2015. Hollywood tends to stick with what goes well as Fey herself pointed out in the opening monologue “We are very happy to be back. We are hosting the Golden Globes for our second time. Because this is Hollywood, and if something kind of works, they’ll just keep doing it until everybody hates it!”  Continue reading →

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