Media Convergence Initiative

A Long Weekend In Miami With My Ex-Boyfriend

Posted on October 30, 2013 by bosimpson

This weekend I was in my home town Miami. I went down for my two close friend’s birthdays. I had heard about a recent phone call from my ex, he called my friend and told him “If any guy is trying to get with Noslen I am going to lose it” so I got nervous, really nervous. I couldn’t help think of what would happen when I saw him. I hadn’t spoken to him in 3 weeks, that is the longest I had ever gone without speaking to him and as I was approaching the door that I knew he was going to be on the other side of I couldn’t help to feel butterflies and excitement. I had missed being around him so much, that was basically the whole reason why we broke up.

He said my name and I couldn’t help but smile so big and jump in to give him a hug and everything felt just like before. Then after the night kept going I realized, this is not the same as before at all. We sat far from each other at the dinner. When we went to the club afterwards and we avoided each other, he was on one side and I would go to the other and vice versa until I realized I couldn’t deal with that anymore. I didn’t know what I liked worse, not being around him at all or being around him and having to treat each other like we weren’t the most important thing in each other’s life just one month ago. He looked so good, feeling his touch again felt nice, hearing his voice was refreshing but I couldn’t make eye contact for too long. His eyes were holding back so much pain. A part of me wanted to tell him to forget what happened and dance with me like we did before and hold me like he did before but another part of me knew it wasn’t the right thing to do.

He told me things I didn’t want to hear and really wanted to hear at the same time, things that made me feel guilty about my choice. He was heart broken and all I could think of is “What’s wrong with me?” I left this guy that loves me to pieces…but I had to. I needed my space, I need to be alone for a little and figure things out. The distance had gotten so hard to deal with and I just didn’t want us to turn into a couple that no longer liked to be around each other. I wanted to love him unconditionally until the very end, and I still do. I love him, he will always have a part of me and I can’t change that even if I tried. I feel so confused, I wish I was back home and then I wish he could just move here all at the same time. And then, I’m not even sure if that’s really what I want. The only thing I could do is hope that time gives me the wisdom I need so that the future becomes clearer to me.

Posted in Entertainment, Health | Tagged love, re-submitting, relationships | Comments Off

UCF Parking Wars 2013: Are You Prepared?

Posted on October 30, 2013 by v.king

I’ve told you before not to write a 3-word headline. Please check the instructions I gave for writing blogs.

Before I got my car, I heard terrible tales from my friends and strangers alike about the parking at UCF, also known as Parking Lot Wars *cues dramatic music*. As a long time passenger in these wars, I’ve seen road rage the likes of which a normal parking lot has never seen. Honking horns, explicit language, and actual physical confrontation…all to park closer to the library! As crazy as it sounds I was actually pretty grateful when I didnt have a car, I didnt have to worry about buying a decal or being late for class because I was trying to find parking. Life was sweet.

August 2013 I finally got my car and I to became a soldier in the Parking Lot Wars. I learned the hard way that I must leave my house at least and hour early just to leave a gap for me to find parking (I live 5 min away from campus). I had to build up my senses to gauge whether or not a person walking in the lot was leaving or just passing through and to be confident when another car challenged whether or not I saw the space first. I had to learn the times Parking Services stopped ticketing so I could park anywhere but most importantly and also ironically Parking Lot Wars taught me to be more cautious and not to sweat the small stuff. A parking spot isn’t worth your stress levels going up or possible confrontation.

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Are We All Mean Girls By Default?

Posted on October 29, 2013 by lyle evan peterson

We’ve all dealt with mean girls, the backstabbing, rumor spreading, fake girls that seem to torture others mentally and emotionally. In middle school or in the workplace, from the United States to Japan, mean girls are everywhere. Now, researchers are asking why are mean girls everywhere, the fact that it is not a regional behavior could perhaps mean that it is an inherited trait, that we acquired through evolution. Despite the title of this “syndrome”, the indirect aggression that mean girls use is not just a tactic used by women, in fact men use it also, maybe not as often as women and more so in the workplace than anything, but it happens nevertheless.

Researchers have found that girls seem to use indirect aggression the most, but why it is such a prevalent skill set for women is another question researchers dared to answer. Due to women’s role in childbearing, they are more fragile than men, meaning they couldn’t risk injury by settling disputes physically. Instead, slandering someone or excluding them socially, became the metaphorical fist with which women chose to brawl. These attacks were so impactful because during the evolutionary times women worked together and depended on each other to raise their children; if a woman is socially excluded, that poses threats to the well-being of her young, as she won’t have all the help she could have had. In addition, women who are targeted by the indirect aggression often become too sad and anxiety filled to compete in the sexual market, thus making it easier for the “mean girl” to find her mate.

So maybe we should give the mean girls a break, after all it’s not their fault, its simply embedded in them.

Posted in General, Science and Technology | Comments Off

Steaming shows from the web will now be included in Nielsen’s Ratings!

Posted on October 29, 2013 by johnmenard

One of the biggest things in TV are ratings. Ratings in TV are what make or break a show. Higher the rating the more people are watching meaning more money and more advertising will come from the show. Ratings are figured by a company called Nielsen which has been around for a long time. One of the biggest issues with ratings though is that as more and more advances come to the internet, more people are getting their favorite TV programming on the web compared to watching it on TV. Now this problem effects the ratings systems because when a show is watched on a site like Hulu, Nielsen is unable to measure how many people are actually watching the show.

With the sign that the digital age isn’t going to stop growing Nielsen announced that they will now add people who stream shows from the internet to be part of their ratings system. Not every show will be part of the ratings though said Nielsen. Shows that are streamed and have different commercials compared to when the show was shown on TV will be put into a different data pull. So shows that are streamed that have the same commercials will be included in the regular TV ratings. Another thing that Nielsen said they would start doing would be tracking tweets about shows and also how many people read those tweets. This info will be put into a new rating system that is based off of social media. These improvements will allow people to know true TV ratings now.

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Walt Disney World Presents Perfect Nighttime Entertainment For Couples

Posted on October 28, 2013 by jlyzniak

Over the last few weekends, my boyfriend and I have gone to Walt Disney World. Each time, we have watched a different nighttime show in the parks. These shows are the perfect romantic ending to a day of fun, whether you are wrapped in each other’s arms standing in a crowd or sitting snuggled up.

The first performance is Fantasmic!, a show that brings together favorite Disney heroes, princesses and villains, at Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic! takes you into the colorful imagination of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, where the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs gathers all of the Disney villains to turn Mickey’s dreams into a nightmare. Mickey brings the best love stories together to defeat evil, all over water and live floats.

The romantic moments continue at Magic Kingdom with Wishes Nighttime Spectacular. Jiminy Cricket and the Blue Fairy celebrate the power of believing to a medley of famous Disney songs in the biggest fireworks extravaganza in park history. Couples can wish upon a star and show that wishes really do come true. As starbursts paint the sky, couples can sing along and see their dream come true in each other. This is the perfect chance to kiss as the finale lights the night sky.

The most recent magical addition, Celebrate the Magic is a new show just before the Wishes fireworks display. When Tinker Bell sprinkles pixie dust atop Cinderella Castle, the regal castle is magically refashioned into an enchanted canvas, as an animated painting projection just after sunset. Couples can find a comfortable spot on the grass by the castle, or grab peppermint cocoa around Christmas at Starbucks on Main Street to complete the cozy “date” feeling. The memories of childhood movies are a great bonding point for couples young and old.

Posted in Audio/Video, Entertainment, World News | Comments Off

The Congolese army take another step forward in the fight against the M23 rebels.

Posted on October 28, 2013 by holypointejoey

One year ago, the Congolese army abandoned their posts and fled from the fight of an advancing rebel army. This past Monday, they succeeded in taking back the fifth, rebel-held town, in what appears to be a turning point in the conflict.Thousands of civilians fled their homes on Saturday towards Uganda to escape the preemptive danger. Those that remained, the same people whom reportedly suffered grave abuses under the rebels, gathered throughout the streets to welcome the Congolese soldiers. The UN’s aid in the conflict helped secure the turning point for Congo. Fighting between the two sides has flared up throughout the past year, with each time ending in stalled peace negotiations, hosted in the capital of neighboring Uganda. In March of 2013, the UN deployed an intervention brigade to carry out specific offensive operations, alongside the Congolese national army, against armed groups that threaten peace in eastern Congo.. The brigade is made up of a total of 3,069 peacekeepers and is based in North Kivu, which is just north of Rwanda. It is tasked with neutralizing armed groups and reducing the threats posed to State authority or civilian security. Following one UN report that stated the rebels were getting some support from Rwanda, the US formally cut its military aid to Rwanda. The country’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo replied that the measure was intended to mark Rwanda as a scapegoat for the DRC’s problems and that the controversy”is based on allegations of faulty reports which we have said for the last six months are wrong.” Everything that remains of the current conflict all should be decided as the year goes on, but the results might be gained at the cost of dissolving relationships among neighboring countries.

Posted in World News | Comments Off

Mother and two children from Deltona are missing and presumed dead

Posted on October 28, 2013 by alexalima

Yesenia Suarez and her two children have been missing from their home in Deltona since Wednesday, October 23, 2013. On October 22, the day before the family went missing, Yesenia’s husband appeared at her workplace and hit her after they had a disagreement. She tells her family she is scared of her husband. The following day, a family member decides to check up on her to make sure they are okay. The family finds out she and her two kids are missing.

On October 24, another spokesman, Brandon Haught, claims Yesenia and her children are dead, however, they have not found their bodies nor have they told the press how they have come to those conclusions. Haught says the investigation is ongoing.

Today, Yesenia’s family expresses disappointment with the “progress” of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. According to Wesh 2 News, Gary Davidson, the spokesman of the Volusia Sherriff’s Office, says detectives are ceasing the search for Yesenia and her kids while they collect notes and information about the case to try and find new evidence and new leads. Her stepfather, Ruben Perez, says, “The sheriff’s office is having a brain-storming session. Well our daughter is missing our grandkids are missing. You are sitting at a table doing brain storming.” Clearly, the family is frustrated about the lack of progress and they are pleading with the Sherriff’s Office to continue their search.

http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/volusia-county/yessenia-suarezs-family-frustrated-with-investigation/-/12983450/22674560/-/11koels/-/index.html

http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/volusia-county/Raw-video-Sheriff-s-spokesman-confirms-mother-kids-are-dead/-/12983450/22620410/-/10cd98qz/-/index.html

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Five People, 2 Dogs Found Dead at Arizona condominium complex

Posted on October 28, 2013 by akilah.fields

This Saturday morning, Arizona police received a phone call from Libni DeLeon, who reported someone shooting at his home in a Phoenix neighborhood. When police arrived, the caller informed them that the shooter ran off after firing several rounds at the house. Shortly after, another resident told police that they heard gunshots in another part of the neighborhood. Police then branched out throughout the area, evacuating residents and speaking with witnesses, until they arrived at one apartment, where four people and two dogs were found dead due to gunshot wounds. All of the bodies were believed to be members of the same family. The Swat team arrived shortly after and proceeded to rip off the security door of the apartment next door, where they found the dead body of the suspected shooter.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson of the Phoenix Police Department said it was difficult to narrow down their search because there was conflicting information among residents. DeLeon reported that there was a knock on his door in the morning right before shots were fired through the door. He stated that one of the bullets went through his bathroom and into his kitchen. He then recalled the next series of events that took place: “When I went upstairs, I kind of got a glance at him. When I glanced at him, I yelled at him, and then he turned around and shot two more rounds upstairs.” Sgt. Thompson stated that investigators are still seeking a motive for the shooter’s actions, and as of now, there are no leads.

Posted in General | Tagged Arizona, homicide, Phoenix, shooting, suicide | Comments Off

Still “Gotta Catch ’em All”: Pokemon Celebrates Seventeen Years of Success

Posted on October 28, 2013 by alice_moskola

When pinpointing pop culture of the 90’s, Pokémon are usually on the tip of everyone’s tongues. The Pokémon empire began in 1998 when Japanese gamers developed a video game that quickly escalated into an empire. The iconic brand grew so heavily within the past 17 years that it remains strong today. The children who discovered it in their youth are now adults. Whether these individuals have remained loyal gamers or passed the Pokémon empire down to their children, the trend to become a successful Pokémon master remains solid. What about this animated game prompted its long lasting success?

Originally based off its creator’s love for collecting insects, Pokémon allows players to “catch” and collect virtual creatures that have the ability to perform in battles. Players must spend time and effort collecting these creatures like pets and enhancing their set of skills. With their interactive nature, the Nintendo games were a huge smash. Games were great but players wanted more. Trading cards were created and the brand exploded. Fans of all ages bought and traded Pokémon card like they were made of pure gold. Being able to actually touch the components of your game gave players an overwhelming sense of realism and control. Other games may have compared to Pokémon however, the expansion into trading cards, toys, stuffed animals, books, movies and most importantly a television show allowed fans to completely immerse themselves in a fictional universe. It seemed that the more effort they put into their game, the stronger the Pokémon empire became. There is and was always something new to explore and a new Pokémon to catch. Due to this, fans held onto their loyal nature and grew along with the steady creation of new products through the years.

Yesterday’s young Pokémon masters have grown into Nintendo sporting adults who still feel that they’ve “gotta catch em all”. This is a seemingly impossible task while the hugely successful brand continues to manufacture new games. Recently, two new games have been released, “Pokémon X” and “Pokémon Y”. These games promote the old trend of “trading” as the cards did except virtual in nature. Pokémon promotes interpersonal interaction and projects that every individual should strive to be the best that they can be. Though it may seem odd when a grown man carries around a Gameboy, strong values such as these will always be appropriate for individuals in all walks of life. Although it may not be at the top of everyone’s Christmas list, loyal supporters still stand on the stable foundation that Pokémon was built on. As long as the 17 year strong cycle of innovation continues to benefit eager players, there will be Pokémon.

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Exploring The Question if There Will be Dogs in Heaven, And Why People Love Their Pets so Much

Posted on October 28, 2013 by gloria vargas

I have heard too many times the question: Are there going to be dogs in heaven? People, who love their pets very much, ask themselves if there is going to be a reencounter with their beloved puppies.

Personally I have never had a dog, or cat, or a bird; however I see close relatives who love their pets very much and enjoy the company of their little animals. Sometimes, I see how dogs speak their own language with their owners. I like the way a dog greets the people they love: jumping, walking around the person, running from one side to another from the house to express the happiness of seeing the person who takes care of them. As humans, we see a great amount of expression of love in children when they see their parent after being left alone for a while; unfortunately such demonstration of love decreases with time. That is why sometimes it is understandable the affection people have for their dogs. I mention dogs because I do not see the same manifestation of happiness in cats. The cats act more independent than dogs.

Regarding the question if there are going to be dogs in heaven. I imagine there will be. If God created animals at the beginning is because He had some delight in them. And according to the Bible in Revelation 19-11 Jesus is coming back on “a white horse”. If there are horses in heaven, maybe there are dogs too. Still if we get there, we will not care about the pets; we will be delighting in God’s presence.

Posted in Entertainment, General | Comments Off