Media Convergence Initiative

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights Brings Winter Wonderland to Sunny Florida

Posted on November 11, 2013 by jlyzniak

This weekend, I took my boyfriend to see the The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights for the first time and bring him into one of my favorite Christmas traditions. This event is housed in the Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios theme park, and is indeed a spectacle to behold. Originally shown from his modest home in Arkansas, Jennings Osborne and his family have shared their holiday cheer in the Disney Park since 1995. Starting November 8, 2013 through January 5, 2014, families from around the world visiting this park can embark on a Christmas holiday adventure as the millions of brilliant lights shine in perfect sync with delightful music being played throughout the park, all while enjoying warm cocoa and watching “snow” fall from the rooftops.

Until I left home for college, I helped my mother decorate the entire inside and outside of my house with lights and holiday cheer. The neighborhood children and our family and friends would come by for warm cocoa and watch our lawn and house of music. I used to go caroling throughout South Florida and participate in Bethlehem Revisited at my church. All of the music and festivities of the Christmas season mean a lot to me, and part of my family’s traditions has been to visit Hollywood Studios each year to see the dancing lights.

This wonderful and cheerful annual event is a reminder of how special the holiday season is for families as it brings them together and reminds them of the magical time that they are having at the Disney parks. I would recommend anyone with a Disney annual pass to experience this event first-hand, and encourage anyone who is debating a trip to Disney to do so, since this seasonal event comes with general park admission.

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White Republican Dave Wilson Wins Houston’s Local Election By Implying He’s African American

Posted on November 11, 2013 by loganperatla

Houston politician Dave Wilson succeeded in winning the local election in his town recently, and although this was a definite victory for him, Houston locals have begun to believe that he may not be deserving of this win. Running against “24-year incumbent Bruce Austin”, Wilson knew he had to do something a little unorthodox in order to get the people in that particular area to vote for him, and that is just what he did. Wilson knew that being a conservative white Republican running in a district made up of predominantly all African Americans put him at a disadvantage, so in order to overcome this obstacle he came up with what some are referring to as a “disgusting campaign strategy” to help him pull ahead in the polls. During the campaign Wilson posted fliers of smiling African Americans with a caption that read “please vote for our friend and neighbor Dave Wilson” throughout all the local neighborhoods with fine print that read “Endorsed by Ron Wilson”. Although the addition of who the flier was endorsed by seems innocent enough, this was yet another deceiving campaign strategy made by Wilson. He counted on the fact that Houston natives might believe that the Ron Wilson mentioned in the flier was referring to a former African American state representative, when in all actuality he was really referencing his cousin from Iowa who happens to bare the same name. Wilson knew that by adding this minor detail to the flier, it had the potential to help encourage other African Americans to stand behind him as well, and in the end it was proven to be true. There was no picture of Wilson on these fliers, and although his website page included numerous photos of random African Americans, he neglected to add a picture of himself. Despite the many demands that there be a recount from incumbent Bruce Austin because he suspected foul play, political scientist Bob Stein of Rice University says “I suspect it’s more than just race,” and others in power must feel the same way because Dave Wilson is still holding his position proudly.

Although it would be easy to point the finger at Dave Wilson for his deceiving tactics, some blame should be placed on the voters as well. As a voter you have the responsibility of thoroughly researching candidates to find out what they really stand for and if they will indeed help bring about change. It is quite ridiculous that such a large portion of people were unaware of Dave Wilson’s true race, and it is even more surprising that they saw no problem with the fact that he neglected to add photos of himself. Voters should not base their decision to vote for someone just solely on race, but instead should vote because they share the same values as the person who is running for the position.

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NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars Earn First Victory of the Season on the Road

Posted on November 11, 2013 by shannonadams

The Jacksonville Jaguars finally ended their eight game losing streak with a win on the road against the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon. This was their first win of the season, improving the Jaguars to an overall record of 1-8. The Titans’ record will fall to 4-5 on the season. The game started off with a strong statement by the Jaguars, opening the game with a 13-0 lead by the second quarter with just over ten minutes left in the half. They ended holding a 13-7 lead at halftime after the Titans scored a late second quarter touchdown. To make things worse for Tennessee, the Titans’ also lost their starting Quarterback Jake Locker at the end of the second quarter to a season-ending foot injury.

Jacksonville continued to extend the lead quickly after halftime. Justin Todman ran into the end zone for another Jaguars’ touchdown with approximately ten minutes left in the third quarter. Tennessee trimmed the lead down to seven with two unanswered field goals, making the score 20-13 with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter. Things were looking better for Tennessee until another costly Titans’ mistake resulted in a safety, extending Jacksonville’s lead by two. Backup Titans’ Quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald tried to rally his team back into the game by rushing for a touchdown with just a little over four minutes left in the game. With the score now 22-20, the Jags were in jeopardy of losing their ninth straight game. This all changed when Jacksonville Cornerback Will Blackmon returned Fitzgerald’s fumble for a touchdown, giving the Jags a 29-20 lead with just over a minute left in the game which ultimately sealed the game for the Jaguars. Although the Titans scored another touchdown with about 40 seconds left in the game, the Jaguars recovered the onside kick after the score, sealing the victory.

With this win, The Jaguars remove all doubt about them not winning a game this season, leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers behind as the only remaining winless team in the NFL.

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Craig Robinson Brings Comedy to UCF

Posted on November 11, 2013 by laurenmioduchoski

This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite comedians perform. Ever since watching The Office, I had a soft spot for Craig Robinson. Even though he was playing a character, I knew I liked him.

I’m used to seeing typical stand up comedy routines. However, when Craig Robinson came out on stage and sat down at a piano something told me that I was going to be watching a different type of performance.

Craig brought a unique act because he incorporated music in his stand up (or in this case, sit down) routine. With the relaxed atmosphere, I almost felt as if I were at a cabaret show rather than a comedy show. But I say that in the best way possible because this mix of music and comedy really just clicked.

Another great thing about Craig’s performance is the fact that he incorporated the audience in his act. Many performers keep up the imaginary wall between the audience and stage. Craig on the other hand was not afraid to let audience members come up on stage to rap or have the homecoming court have a “twerk off” on stage.

His performance was natural and didn’t seem to be rehearsed at all. My favorite part of the evening had to be the Q&A at the end of the show where Craig answered audience questions. Even though there were 6,000 people in attendance, Craig made the CFE Arena seem like an intimate venue.

I sincerely hope that Craig Robinson comes back to Orlando because I would definitely pay to see him live. A perfect mix of comedy and music, heck, I’ll take it!

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A Brief History of Veterans Day

Posted on November 11, 2013 by evannebersberger

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany was declared after four years of “The Great War.” Eight months later, on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles signed in France officially ended what we now refer to as World War I.

A year after the armistice, on November 11th of 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson referred to the day as Armistice Day to honor the end of the war and those who fought in it. He said, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

November 11th became a legal federal holiday in 1938 after World War II and the Korean War. Armistice Day became Veterans Day and converted to a dedication to all American veterans of all military branches. The exchange of titles happened on June 1, 1954 after Congress passed a bill that President Eisenhower would later approve and sign.

He explained that, “…it is well for us to pause, to acknowledge our debt to those who paid so large a share of freedom’s price. As we stand here in grateful remembrance of the veterans’ contributions we renew our conviction of individual responsibility to live in ways that support the eternal truths upon which our Nation is founded, and from which flows all its strength and all its greatness.”

Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day. Veterans day is a day of recognition for those who serve in the military. Whereas Peter Grier of the DC Decoder described Memorial Day as “a day set aside to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died in the service of their country.”

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.”

Posted in Education, General, Politics | Comments Off

Teen Mom Glamorizing Teen Pregnancy

Posted on November 11, 2013 by v.king

For the past few years MTV’s teen mom show has been on primrtine. You essentially see the trials and tribulations of teens who are pregnant and how they deal with the financial and social pressures. Granted I think the intention of the show was to highlight that this was a problem and that it is preventable but with the show being on its fourth of fifth season is it really used to prevent? Or is it just another money maker? Personally, I know a few teen moms who thought it was going to be a similar situation and had a very unpleasant surprise when they realized motherhood was not so easy.

At the end of the day it is up to the individual to be responsible but for the kids who are watching and have seen there be multiple seasons of this show they may view it very differently.

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The Right Way to do Multiple Person Projects

Posted on November 11, 2013 by natalie.izquierdo

As students in college, we are often given many different projects. In being an Art or Communications major these projects often require outside help from friends. With this necessity shouldn’t there be an easier way to find talent or crew to help with what you are trying to do?

If technical and performance classes were to pair up, it would save us all a major hassle in trying to find talent or crews to help us out. Each class all students would receive a grade or some sort of credit and if something were to happen where talent or crew did not attend, that person would be penalized. This could of course apply to other majors as well, but it would be extremely helpful in this particular situation. Sometimes it is literally impossible to get the talent you need.

I think this idea would benefit everyone, everyone would benefit and get experience, as well as meeting new people and getting your name out as someone who has certain skills. It would also be beneficial for new students who are still getting to know people when they initially move here. The pairing of classes would benefit everyone, and you would always be able to rely on this group of people rather then hoping your talent feels like showing up and causing problems between friends or classmate if they decide to bail on the assignment last minute. It’s not as though we could cancel all projects because in certain majors, a large amount of team work is required. With this idea, all would be how it would in the real world. Everyone benefits, if they do not attend, they are penalized, not you.

Posted in Education, General | Comments Off

Vaping Our Way Into the Future: E-Cigarettes and Big Tobacco

Posted on November 11, 2013 by jlhemingway

We’ve all seen them around, those little pen-shaped devices that allow people the chance at an alternative to traditional tobacco. Enter, the e-cigarette. Catchy name right? Well, it works in our technology obsessed world. This devices, ranging from a disposable cigarette purchased at the gas station to an all out hobbyist’s dream, have taken the world of smoking by storm. But why?

It’s simple. Market to the masses a product that allows for nicotine consumption sans the smoke, mix in one part high-tech feel, add a dash of exotic flavors and boom, you have a trend. These things are selling like hotcakes and are beginning to give big tobacco a run for their money. Here’s how they work. By using a battery to produce an electrical current you are able to literally vaporize the flavored and sometimes nicotine filled “e-juice” into a harmless and less-offensive water vapor. This allows a smoker to get their nicotine fix minus all the residual heath effects of actually combusting tobacco.

The big guys are getting worried now as this trend looks more and more like it’s here to stay. Now, they are smoking cessation devices nor are they void of any health issues but, as current research is saying, it is definitely the lesser of two evils. How long the e-cigarette will last is unsure but one thing is very clear, big tobacco seems to have missed their mark on exploiting the market of the e-cigarette. Too bad for them but good for us, the public, adding one more incentive to dropping the stogie and moving into the future with an electronic cigarette.

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3 Things We Learned from this Weekend in the Barclay’s Premier League

Posted on November 11, 2013 by taylorkoziol

Southampton is the surprise team of the season. A statement 4-1 win against Hull City let the league know the Saints are no joke. After 11 games, the Saints are in third in the table with 22 points. So far this season, Southampton has only given up 5 goals. This team has experienced players like Rickie Lambert and Pablo Osvaldo, but most of the squad is very young. The Saints may not contend for the title, but they do have the quality to make a run for a Europa League or even a Champions League spot.

Manchester United are not out of the title race yet. United beat Arsenal 1-0 on Sunday to climb back to within five points of the leaders. At the beginning of the season, United looked plain bad. It was difficult for them to find their form under new manager David Moyes. At first, Moyes had to find out which players fit his system. The team has so much talent that each team United losses more pressure is put on Moyes for his decisions. He has found most of his players now, and it is starting to pay off. Now that the season is in full swing, United are starting to come around. They have a different style of play then last seasons title team. The Red Devils don’t mind being out possessed, as long as the counter attacks are effective. United have climbed out of the early season hole to jump back into the top five in the table. Even with the slow start, United will be contending for the title.

Manchester City has issues away from the Etihad. At home City is a perfect 5-0-0, but once they leave home it’s a different story. City only has 4 points out of a possible 18 away from home. The team plays with a different tempo away. At home, City’s attack is scary good scoring 20 goals in 5 games. Once they hit the road, City has lost four games to teams in the bottom half of the table. The away blues need to end soon for City or their title hopes will be gone.

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Product Reliability: Economic Security or Cheap Manufacturing?

Posted on November 11, 2013 by iweezy

It comes as no surprise that Sony plans to release a new console as well this holiday season alongside Microsoft’s release of their Xbox One. Sony’s has decided their console shall be called the PlayStation 4 due to the past models of the systems going by a similar name with a different number. The obvious question some holiday consumer would ask might be how much does it cost in comparison to the Xbox One. Well between Sony and Microsoft we’re probably talking about a rough hundred dollar difference give or taxes considering one system-the Xbox-comes with the Kinect Camera, while the PS4 does not come with a camera.

Now depending on what kind of shopper you are an additional camera feature could mean the difference between a happy purchase or an unnecessary expense. Right now the PlayStation 4 will sell for about a three hundred and ninety-nine dollar price range-call it four hundred if we round up-that sounds like an ideal purchase for any person of any age. However, I had some small concerns due to the fact that when the Sony Corporation first launched their PS3 back in two thousand and six it cost a whapping six dollars a unit. Realistically, that’s far too big an asking price on the something that was just released since anyone could walk into a Wal-Mart and purchases an Xbox 360 for roughly two or three hundred dollars. Nevertheless, Sony seems to have learned from their past mistakes so that this year’s console launch is a successful one. However, the one underline problem with a cheap product is how it’s made or how durable it is. What’s the lifespan of this new console and what problems might we experience with it on day one when it’s release? I guess only time will tell if the PlayStation 4 will be a great product or a big economic crisis for Sony this coming holiday season.

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