George Zimmerman Arrested and Charged With A Felony After Aiming A Shotgun At His Girlfriend

Posted on November 18, 2013 by loganperatla

George Zimmerman just can’t seem to stay out of the headlines. On Monday he was charged with felony aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a shotgun in his girlfriend’s face. A 911 call was made by Zimmerman’s girlfriend Samantha Scheibe in which she reported to the dispatchers that “He’s inside my house breaking all my (things) because I asked him to leave.” While on the phone dispatchers could hear her talking to a gentleman (presumed to Zimmerman) saying “You just broke my sunglasses and you put your gun in my freaking face and told me to get the (expletive) out.” Zimmeran then decided to take matters into his own hands and called 911 dispatchers himself to dispute everything that Samantha had just said was going on. He claimed that he never pulled out a gun and that it was locked away. He also said his girlfriend was throwing his things out and “going crazy” on him. When police arrived to their home, they found Scheibe locked outside the house because she was unable to push against the door that was blocked by several pieces of furniture on her own. Once inside, police saw Zimmerman sitting unarmed and found him “passive and cooperative.” Although police officers were pursuing a search warrant to find guns they believed were to be in the house because of the dispatch call, Zimmeran beat them to the punch by locking up the guns before they police made their way there.

Zimmeran has had a few run ins with the law since his acquittal in the Trayvon Martin case such as being fined for speeding and given a warning for driving with a concealed weapon. If I were Zimmeran I would make it a point to stay out of the limelight as much as possible since so many people were very unhappy with the verdict the jury reached in the Martin case. His behavior seems to imply that he does not care about laying low and abiding by laws that have been set in place. He is to appear before a judge on Tuesday concerning the two misdemeanors he was charged with. It will be interesting if he receives punishment for the actions he chose during the dispute between him and his girlfriend.

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Krokodil: A Drug Not to be Messed With

Posted on November 18, 2013 by johnmalala

I came across a story about a new drug that has been gaining popularity. The name of this substitute for heroin is “Krokodil”. It gives the same intense high that Heroin gives its users, but for about a third of the price and for a shorter time. The drug was created in Russia and began to trickle into the United States, with just a handful of cases across the nation. The users told doctors that they thought they were buying Heroin.

Krokodil is made from gasoline, paint thinners, lighter fluid and other incredibly harmful substances. It is said that once an individual “shoots up” Krokodil, they crave it immensely for everyday after that. Some users even have to be tranquilized because of the unbearable pain. What’s so bad about this drug besides the terrible things these people are putting into their bodies? Well, Krokodil makes a person literally rot from the inside-out, since the first use. It is a flesh eating drug, that creates the human body to smell of gang green and begin to decay.

Doctors say that they do not feel Krokodil will be a great threat to a majority of the U.S’s population. However, it will be for Heroin addicts who are looking an easy alternative. Even with the horrifying outcomes, some people are so desperate that they will inject anything into themselves to stop the withdraws. Once a person is addicted to a drug, such as this one, they spend a majority of their day making the concoction just to use it and make it again the next day. Addiction is a terrible problem, but I cannot imagine how a person could allow themselves to need a drug like Krokodil.

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Class Enrollment Becomes a Burden

Posted on November 18, 2013 by nlabosco

If someone decided to survey a group of college students and how easily they could enroll into their classes, the results would be pretty shocking.  From a personal standpoint, I have never struggled so much with finding classes that truly fit into my work schedule and what little social life I currently have.  I was beginning to think that all of this unnecessary stress (or what should be unnecessary) that was occurring semester after semester was only happening to me.  After complaining to a few close friends, I found that it was happening to them as well.  I find it completely ridiculous that we have to pay for classes that don’t essentially fit in with the rest of our lives.  Sure, our education is important, but our life shouldn’t completely revolve around it.  (Up for debate.)

For instance, I am a Radio/TV major.  This, being a limited access major which only accepts 10 new students a semester, should mean a variety of class choices.  However, that’s where I had been mistaken and misled.  Although there are few new additions student-wise every semester, classes rarely offer more than 1 section and at a ridiculous time too.  Now I understand that there are some classes that you just have to take no matter what professor or time it’s at, but in my major, it happens way too often.  I’m a Junior status with roughly 43 credit hours left.  Enrollment appointments are based off of status and yet I’ve realized that newer applicants who just got accepted and are newer to college are getting first dibs on the classes that I need in order to graduate on time.  I’m looking at being postponed graduating for a year now because of prerequisites filling up before my enrollment appointment date rolled around.  Not only does that affect the semester I’m planning for, but also the rest of my time at the University of Central Florida.  If UCF can’t provide enough classes for students, they need to stop accepting so many applicants and learn to provide for the current student body that have been there for several years now.

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Disney’s Epcot Offers Wine and Dining Around the World

Posted on November 18, 2013 by mattimmerman

As residents of the Orlando metropolitan area, many of us are not at all strangers to the parks of Walt Disney World.  The massive entertainment compound was originally conceived as a place where children and adults could both have fun, making it a stark contrast from the existing kid-based fun parks of the time.  I remember as a child that I loved The Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios (Now Hollywood Studios), but I found Epcot to be rather dull.  Now that I am more or less an adult, I still love Hollywood Studios, but the tables have turned with regards to The Magic Kingdom and Epcot.  This is, I believe,  because Epcot was designed to appeal to the adult portion of Disney’s customers.  And the Food and Wine festival is a very good example of a part of Epcot specifically intended for adult enjoyment.

I attended the Food and Wine festival the weekend before last with my girlfriend and her parents, and the experience was markedly similar to Epcot under normal circumstances.  While walking around a small, man-made lake, we went through the regions of the park representing different countries.   However, there were booths serving sample-sized food items from each country and alcoholic beverages to match.  The food was delicious by normal standards (absolutely amazing by theme park standards), and the beer I tried in the Norway section was quite tasty as well.  The festival is well-intentioned, encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones and try food and drink from sections of the world that they would not usually sample, like Scotland and Norway, but I don’t believe I have ever seen quite so many drunk people at Disney world.

 

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Working for Yourself as a Way to Happiness

Posted on November 18, 2013 by jlhemingway

It’s the typical American dream, to be your own boss and to be financially independent of anyone but yourself. What a thought right? No one breathing down your neck about deadlines, no time to be in the office and who can hate an impromptu vacation in the middle of the week. Though these are just the good factors typically associated with self-employment, it gives something to be sought after. Yes, you have a lot of stress knowing that you are solely responsible for your success or failure, but that in itself is the true beauty of it all. By creating something to turn a profit for you and your family, though time consuming, you are giving your life more flexibility and freedom than working in the bounds of another person or cooperation.

The fact is, work can be quite fulfilling and to this guy, working for yourself holds all the gold. I want nothing more than to be my own boss, running a boutique production house that creates the best quality production possible. Sound like a dream? Well, it is but that doesn’t mean it can’t be achieved. Reach for the stars right? Yep, that’s what we all should do. Take your dream and make it your own reality. Having that type of control over your life  can lead to many more opportunities as time progresses. With success, you eventually can take the back seat and just manage the operation while others make their living working for you. Capitalism at its finest!

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The Packers Can Still Make the Playoffs, Even After Losing 3 Straight Games

Posted on November 18, 2013 by taylorkoziol

The Green Bay Packers have had a tough season. Injuries have played a huge part for the Packers this season. They key injury is star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has been out since the first quarter of the game against the Bears three games ago. Entering the game with the Bears, the Pack were looking good to make the playoffs with a 5-2 record, despite injuries to wide receivers James Jones and Randall Cobb, tight end Jermichael Finley, and star linebacker Clay Matthews. Once Rodgers got injured though, things seem to change instantly for the Packers.

The Packers then went on to lose 3 straight games. Rodgers broken collar bone on his non throwing shoulder could heal within the next few weeks. The Packers are only one game out of first in the NFC North. Even with the last few weeks being tough for the Pack, they still have a good chance to make the playoffs. The first thing that the Pack need to do is not to panic. With the new running attack, the Packers can pound the ball if things get cold in the frozen tundra.

If Aaron Rodgers were to come back for the Thanksgiving day game verse the Lions or the week after that would help. Seneca Wallace and Scott Tolzien haven’t played very well in Rodgers absence. The former MVP is the center of the team. Without Rodgers, it will be an uphill battle to make the playoffs. The defense needs to step up. They have given up 27 points in each of the last three games. The offense needs to finish in the red zone. Rodgers knows how to finish drives with touchdowns, but the Packers without him haven’t. They have turned the ball over too many times to win close games in the red zone. The Pack will need to get back on track against the Vikings next Sunday if they want to have a chance at the playoffs.

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Researchers Across the World Have Discovered New Health Benefits in Different Types of Food

Posted on November 18, 2013 by brookeadams91

Foods that are known to boost and support your health are typically referred to as super foods. Recently, researchers have found new foods to add to the list. Among this group of inductees are the Japanese pickle, tart cherries, chocolate, chia seeds, tree nuts, and wild blueberries. These foods help to build defense mechanisms to keep our bodies strong and in control of illness threats.

The Japanese pickle, also known as tsukemono, is basically any vegetable pickled by a special technique. According to Yahoo Health, it isn’t the vegetable that has the health benefits, it’s the bacteria that grows on the pickles that are beneficial. The probiotic bacteria, which is called Lactobacillus brevis, has flu-fighting antibodies. These antibodies also get rid of other infections, including the H7N9 flu, which can be fatal.

Tart cherries have been known as an antioxidant for some time and a 2012 study has revealed that it is a natural painkiller. According to the study, tart cherries have “the highest anti-inflammatory content of any food.” Dr. Kerry Kuehl of Oregon Health & Science University said that tart cherries naturally manage pain without the side effects which just about all medications contain.

Chia seeds were proven in a 2012 clinical study to be very heart protective due to its significant amounts of omega fatty acids. Chia seeds also help to balance and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

As I have mentioned before in a previous post, chocolate has its health benefits as well. A new study that was published in Nutrition magazine has stated that the more chocolate teens eat, the less belly fat they are likely to have. It is also good for the heart.

Other new super foods include wild blueberries that have proven to prevent and fight heart disease and diabetes, tree nuts (including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts, and hazelnuts) that can prevent pancreatic cancer if eaten at least twice a week, and jicama (known as water chestnut or Mexican yam), which Japanese researchers have found reduces cancer risks.

I am definitely happy to hear that researchers and doctors across the world are stressing the vitality of foods that we often take for granted. All those prescriptions have serious side effects whereas these foods are completely safe and they also taste good. They also make people feel good as well.

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Going a Semester Without Knowing Anybody’s Name

Posted on November 18, 2013 by laurenmioduchoski

Through most of my years of schooling, I was taught to know everybody in all of my classes. I remember having to play classroom games where I would have to name every single student. Heck, I even had “name quizzes” where I was given a piece of paper and I would have to name everybody in the class and their relative seating location (yes, it was horrible).

Once you get to a certain level of education, the importance of knowing classmates, names and all,  just goes away. In some aspects, it’s a relief. There is nobody to force a friendship or partnership out of you and at the end of the semester, you part ways with the class and everything inside the classroom.

In other aspects, the idea of being in the same room with people for three months and then not knowing anything about them is just upsetting.

In high school, I dual enrolled which meant that I left early and took classes at a nearby college. Back then, I didn’t want anybody to know me (or know that I was actually only in high school). I simply went to class, did what I was told to do and then left. I wouldn’t be able to recognize anybody from those classes if I saw them and I certainly didn’t care to recognize them anyway.

However, keeping silent and not knowing anybody gave me a slight chilling feeling inside. When we stay silent, we potentially miss out on many different opportunities. For all I know, the future president could have sat next to me and I didn’t say one word to him (or her).

I guess my point is, say ‘hi’ to the person next to you. Who knows, that person could be the next success story.

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The Crazy Boss and How to Handle It

Posted on November 18, 2013 by natalie.izquierdo

In many high stress jobs, employers tend to act harshly towards their employees when in reality they are great employees dealing with a matter they have little control over. Many  employees get frustrated and angry when reprimanded over these matters. Other times your boss will say you’re the best employee they have ever had. How do you handle a boss with these mood swings? Should you stay and keep your job or quit and find one where this isn’t a regular occurrence?

Currently at my internship, the people who work there are constantly frustrated by the woman in charge and how she communicates with them. She is very disorganized and has ridiculous expectations of all of us. She has had very few longterm employees and the ones currently there are all considering leaving.

What is causing them to make the decision of leaving? Not a high enough pay as well as the stress level at the job. At other jobs, the pay is good and is even with the stress level. I guess the phrase “they couldn’t pay me enough” truly does apply in some cases.  Unfortunately for the employers that can not pay a high enough rate, they tend to cycle through employees but many will never change their ways in how they treat their employees. Maybe in the future the next generation will learn to treat their employees fairly and be more understanding about certain situations but until then we can only learn how to deal with our employers and weigh the options to decide the best situation for us.

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A Look into the Global Helium Shortage

Posted on November 18, 2013 by evannebersberger

Though helium is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, second only to hydrogen, on Earth it is extremely rare. Some scientists are concerned that one day soon helium will be gone for good. Andrea Sella, a chemist from University College London explains, “All of the other elements we’ve scattered around the globe, maybe we can go digging in garbage dumps to get them back. But helium is unique. When it’s gone it is lost to us forever.”

Helium’s uses are versatile and can be used for things like cryogenics and airport security scanners. It’s lighter than air which makes it perfect for filling party balloons. Helium has the lowest boiling point of any element, just above absolute zero. Because of this unique property, helium can be used as a cooling agent for sensitive electronic equipment and superconductors, such as MRI scanners. Helium is also chemically inert which means that it doesn’t react with other chemicals to form new compounds. This neutrality allows it to be used to improve safety and stability in welding and rocket fuel systems where the risk of explosions is high.

Helium is formed by the decay of radioactive rocks in the earth’s crust. The gas accumulates in natural gas deposits and is collected. However, most of the helium in the Earth’s atmosphere leaks out into space. To collect the helium, one must tap into these air pockets that have been trapped underground. The process is a complex and expensive one and until the 1960s, the The US government was the only major helium producer on the planet. In 1996, the government decided to share their helium stocks with the rest of the world.

Still, 35% of the world’s restricted helium supply remains in a reserve in Amarillo, Texas. Its distribution of helium has been more selective since the shortage began in 2012. Party Connection & Costume co-owner Peter Delo said, “Even in the last month, we’ve had to turn away business because we won’t have enough helium.”

According to the BBC, the price of helium has doubled over the past 10 years. Since 2012, the price of the average helium tank has increased more than 60%. Delo isn’t the only party supply distributor who has taken a hit. Linda DeBord, 60, runs a business from her home called Balloons by Design. The Yakima Herald, of Washington State, reports that “DeBord usually gets tanks that hold 240 cubic feet of helium capable of filling 400 to 500 11-inch or 12-inch latex balloons. Two years ago, such a tank would have cost her $69. Now she pays upwards of $160.”

Though the world’s dwindling helium supply is far from front page news, it is still something to be mindful of. Peter Wothers of Cambridge University urges us to be more aware. “We’re going to be looking back and thinking, I can’t believe people just used to fill up their balloons with it, when it’s so precious and unique. It is something we need to think about.”

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