Super Bowl 50 Worst Production in the Last 15 years!

Posted on February 7, 2016 by ashley riordan

Shawn Presley, Author

Before I begin to vent, I must admit that my perspectives are coming from a biased vantage point based on the fact that I am and will always be a Cam Newton supporter. With that said I must admit that I was highly disappointed at the entertainment, commercials, and overall production of Super Bowl 50 (SB50). Being that the Super Bowl falls on a milestone (50 years) I thought the NFL would certainly vamp and fund the production of the game.

First I think the NFL failed at having the Super Bowl played in San Diego, California, not that I have anything against the city but the fact that San Diego is nearly 3 hours behind the rest of the Country made the SB50 extremely weird that the first half was played during the day. Although the sentiment may seem a little weird, the Bowl party that I attended had sympathizers displaying the same feelings. The fact that most people spend Bowl Sunday in preparations for the game, preparing food, inviting/visiting friends, pregaming, etc. makes the event just “off” when the sun is up and the game is in full motion.

Furthermore, I must say, this has to be the most disappointing commercial display in the last 10 years (not as if Super Bowls 40 commercials were any better or worse, just trying to make a strong statement). In other words they were really really bad. Bowl commercials are notorious for being edgy, over the top, and downright borderline offensive, I mean its the Super Bowl; but the commercials were lame, bland, and just not that funny. Most of the commercials already aired on YouTube advertisements, I mean c’mon, $5 million dollar ad spots and nothing new or original from some of the worlds major corporations. But that’s not all.

The Half Time show was above average at best, I mean don’t get me wrong, the all star lineup was stellar, Beyonce, Cold Play, Bruno Mars, but the production was just not that good (I think a lot of it has to due with my earlier grievance of the game being played during the day, but it just didn’t do it for me). Overall the NFL really let down a lot of fans today in its sub par display of the Nations biggest sporting events, not to mention the team I was rooting for lost, that just made it worse.

 

 

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New Game Modes in “Hearthstone” Presents Problems for Players New And Old

Posted on February 7, 2016 by kayleighladerman

Hearthstone is an online collectible card game produced by Blizzard Entertainment and released on March 11, 2014. The games focus is on collecting cards through card packs or expansions, which can be purchased via real money filtered through a Blizzard account, or with in-game currency known as coins. The business model met with massive success, and as of November 2015, the game has over 40 million registered users and constantly dominates video-game streaming sites such as Twitch and now even Youtube.

In January 2015, Blizzard announced that they would be introducing a new format for playing the game in the “Standard” way, and divide the game into 2 separate modes – Wild and Standard. Wild is for playing with all cards, as is the current only style of game. Standard is a format that is copied directly from Magic: The Gathering Collectible Card Game, which means that the only cards that can see tournament play are cards contained in expansions that have been released only in the past two years. As such, as the announcement came that the game would be divided, there was also an announcement that 2 of the games expansions – “Curse of Naxxramas” and “Goblins Vs. Gnomes” – will immediately be placed out of the running for Standard tournaments and modes.

This has split the player-base, in more ways than one. On one front, players arguing whether it is fair that cards they have purchased become obsolete in game modes that they want to play. On the other hand, new players will miss out on many old cards that will no longer be available for purchase on the Hearthstone in-game shop. This issue can not be easily remedied, and Blizzard will have to listen to player feedback to decide whether they should move forward or alter their current plans. To some, this seems like a blatant cash-grab, to others, a new way of keeping a 2-year old game fresh. Whichever one it ends up being is yet to be decided.

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Fowler blows it, Matsuyama wins the WM Phoenix Open

Posted on February 7, 2016 by College of Sciences

Fowler went into the 17th hole today in the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a 2 stroke lead over the field.  The unthinkable happened on the 17th hole when Fowler sunk a 360 yard drive into the water hazard.  Followed up by a 3 wood in the water again.  This provided Matsuyama to force a play off for the chance to win the tournament as well as the 6,500,000 dollar purse.

The first playoff hole was 18 followed by another go at hole 18.  Fowler sunk a 15 foot birdie on the second play off hole to put the pressure on Matsuyama.  Matsuyama answer with his own birdie and the battle continued onto the next hole.

On the last hole, Fowler missed a 10 foot par put, while Matsuyama two-putted for par to win the tournament.

“This one hurt,” Fowler said after the rough loss.  This would’ve been his 5th win in nine months from international golf.

Matsuyama while appearing calm, was nervous. “Rickie opened the door for me… I was nervous inside… I’d say probably 99 percent were cheering hard for Rickie , but that gave me the motivation to go out and do it and win.”

Friday the event drew in a record breaking 160,000 fans, only to be trumped by its Saturday attendance of 201, 000 fans.  The week total amounted to 618,000 attendees blowing records out of the water for a golf tournament.

The Phoenix Open boasts the famous 16th hole Par 3 Stadium at TPC Scottsdale.  Where stands are erected every year before the tournament to pack in the fans for a one of a kind experience.  The easy hole can easily seat thousands of onlookers to put the pressure on the pros to hit the short green.

Notable performers :   Lee -11 English -12 Mickelson(Arizona State Alumni) -8

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A New Study Explains the Importance of Resting After a Concussion

Posted on February 7, 2016 by brookeadams91

Concussions can become serious if they are not treated properly. They can lead to serious brain damage and brain inflammation that can last for years after the initial concussion. Doctors often order concussion patients to rest for several days after the concussion. A recent study has shown that this order is the best advice since it promotes recovery. Researchers discovered this new information using animal models.

Neuroscientists from Georgetown University Medical Center found that rest for several days following a concussion is crucial for allowing the brain to “reset neutral networks and repair any short-term injury.” The study, which was conducted using mice, shows that repeated mild concussions with a rest period of a day or less between injuries, results in increased damage and can lead to brain inflammation.

The study, which is the first study on the effects of rest after a concussion, will be published next month in the March 2016 issue of the American Journal of Pathology. The study was created as a means to study and evaluate brain damage that occurs in injuries related to sports, the military, and even domestic abuse.

While the brain is shown to recover from a concussion after being given a few days to recover, it was also shown that the brain does not recover well when concussions are too frequent. The researchers created a mouse model of repetitive and extremely mild concussions. They then compared the brain’s response to one concussion to concussions received daily and weekly.

The model revealed that the mice that suffered from a single concussion temporarily lost 10-15 percent of the neuronal connections in their brains. They did not suffer any inflammation or cell death though. Within three days of resting, these neuronal connections were restored.

The mice that suffered daily concussions had a much longer recovery time: a week of rest between each concussion. The mice who suffered from mild concussions everyday for a month experienced inflammation and damage that remained apparent for a year after the last concussion.

Researchers hope that these findings will help to better protect the brain health of all people who suffer from concussions, especially athletes who play contact sports such as football.

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Coach Frost With His First Victory As UCF Football Coach

Posted on February 7, 2016 by shane sackett

2016 national signing day under the new Coach Frost era is a success. The Knights signed 20 players on Wednesday, the majority of the commits hailing from in state with 12 signees from Florida. Coach Frost and his staff were limited in time for recruiting because of his hiring in December, but that did not stop them from getting the 58th over all recruiting class in the nation. Key players like Aaron Dowdell the NO. 13th offensive guard in the country and Dredrick Snelson the 20th ranked wide receiver in the nation committing to the Knights will add a lot of talent to this team coming off its worst season to date.

The Knights only signing one quarterback this year land McKenzie Milton all the way from Hawaii. Milton had camped at Oregon with Frost and the two developed a good relationship. Frost really believes in Milton and said that if Milton had been 6’4″ instead of six feet tall he would have been the top one or two Quarterback in this year’s class.

Another great addition is Jawon Hamilton. The 5’9’ 185 pound running back will be a great fit into Coach Frost offense. Hamilton chose UCF over 8 other schools he had offers to. Many believe he will be UCF’s next great running back behind the greats such as Marquette Smith, Kevin Smith, Storm Johnson, and Latavius Murray.

As the 2016 season approaches it remains to be seen if Coach Frost will get this hindered program competitive again but with a great recruiting class full of talent and excitement like this one it looks like there is finally light at the end of tunnel for UCF Football. This is the first of many victories Knights fans hope to have under the Coach Frost tenure.

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North Korea Fires Long-Ranged Rocket

Posted on February 7, 2016 by john_paul_soto

At 9 PM local time on Sunday, a bright, comet-like trail could be seen arcing across the sky in Japan and South Korea – a sight that sparked anxiety from many in the conflict-plagued region. The trail belonged to the long-ranged rocket Kwangmyongsong, launched from North Korea’s Sohae Space Center and purportedly intended for scientific purposes, contained a 400-pound satellite, a much lower weight than most satellite launches from more well-developed countries. In addition, the rocket’s path was reported to have entered Japanese airspace before reaching orbit, according to the country’s aerospace radar.

These facts, along with the Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea’s long history of political incitement and blatant violation of international treaties, have led many U.N. partners to condemn the launches as a poorly-disguised test of their long-range ballistic missile capabilities. This would not be the first time North Korea has tested their offensive capabilities; just last month, several intelligence agencies and scientific institutions reported that the rogue state had tested a hydrogen bomb within their borders, a clear violation of multiple United Nations treaties. The United States has already convened with Japan and South Korea in an emergency meeting, and has reportedly discussed installation of advanced missile-defense measures in both countries, as well as increased defensive troop presence along the demilitarized zone surrounding the isolated country. UN secretary Ban Ki Moon described the test as “deeply deplorable”, vocally opposing the act as a violation of Security Council resolutions. China, one of North Korea’s few friendly neighbors on the peninsula, urged moderation when deciding on a course of action, citing peace on the peninsula as a more important goal than any further economic or military sanctions.

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Stress Can Be Beneficial and Improve Productivity.

Posted on February 7, 2016 by jsantana0410

In a fast-paced world like the one we live in today, it is not rare for one to feel stressed. Stress is experienced in different levels, which is not always a negative thing. Eustress is a term which describes beneficial stress. It explains that a healthy level of stress can actually help us feel motivated. For instance, having a big presentation for the big bosses in the workplace can make anyone feel stressed. However, this stress at a healthy level (meaning not too stressed but also not lacking any stress at all) can actually motivate the person to deliver an amazing presentation.

Eustress can also improve our focus and reflexes. Having that healthy level of stress where we can still think clearly, but still feel the pressure from our desire to excel makes us tune in more to our work.

The big mystery is how to keep stress at a healthy level. There are many things we can do to make ourselves more productive and less susceptible to the detrimental effects of high levels of stress.

One of the best ways to lower stress is by exercising. Exercising improves our mood and gets our blood flowing. Eating healthy is also a way to keep stress under control. Antioxidants help our bodies stay protected from the harmful effects of stress. Pets are also very helpful. Pets are therapeutic to their owners, but if having a pet is not an option just keep around people whose company is appreciated.

These are just a few tips to keep stress from reaching an all-time high and enjoy the benefits of eustress. Stress can be a good thing as long as we do what we can to keep it to a minimum.

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Is Stacey Dash the start from “Cluess” really Cluess for saying that we should get rid of BET and other media outlets?

Posted on February 7, 2016 by maxlolbutzlol

Many of you might have heard what Stacy Dash said about the outlast and lack of black actors getting nominations for the Oscars. Which led to the comment about getting rid of channels like BET and no longer having a Black History Month. Spike Lee and Jada Pinkette Smith have made videos about the lack of black actors getting nominated for movies. To be quite frank  the Oscars BARELY and RARELY have any black actors to win anything The Oscars have been around for decades, 87 years to be exact and this year compared to the other has been the worst because not one black actor or actress have been nominated for awards.

When Stacey Dash was interviewed on “Fox and Friends” about this she said “People (black people) have to know what they want, either segregation or integration.” Also saying if we do not want segregation we need to get rid of channels like BET, Image Awards and the BET awards which she quotes that you only get awards for being black; which is utterly untrue. Many people from all races and backgrounds have won BET Awards and Image Awards simply because of their work and contributions.

My main issue with Ms. Dash is that she said we need to get rid of Black History Month, is Black History not American History? Is Black History not that important? In grade school we learned about Black History for only one week then we moved on to other topics. Once again our school system fails to teach children properly. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks are not the only 2 people that make up Black History, it is deeper then that! Also Ms. Dash needs to know that we have other months dedicated to other topics such as Woman History Month, Hispanic History Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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82 Year Old Woman Finally Meets 96 Year Old Birthmother

Posted on February 7, 2016 by dgantea

Eighty two year old Betty Morrell finally met her birthmother after searching for her for twenty years.  Ninety six year old Lena Pierce gave birth to Betty when she was thirteen years old and social welfare officials took her away because Lena was a ward of the state.  Betty was adopted by a family from Long Island and grew up thinking her birthmother had passed away, only to learn that she was still alive when she turned thirty.

Twenty years later her granddaughter had helped her locate one of Pierce’s daughters through Ancestry.com and Betty called her and clicked instantly with the baby sister she never knew she had.  Morrell learned she had four sisters and two brothers, and that her mother was alive and living in an assisted living apartment complex in Hallstead, Pennsylvania.  Betty flew there to finally meet her mother and the family members said it was an amazing and emotional event.  Pierce said “There were a few tears, and shaking, it sure was a joy to finally meet up with her. It’s kind of hard when you have a child that you get separated from. I never wanted to give her up.”

Betty still talks to her birthmother and sister often, but she has to remind Pierce who she is sometimes since she is getting older.  It is hard for her to remember who Betty is at times, but Betty says that she is just happy that she got to finally meet her.  This story was so touching to me because I volunteer with the elderly often and they hold a special place in my heart.  I regularly visit nursing homes to bring gifts, talk with them and brighten their day.  It is so heartwarming to see how they react because a lot of them don’t have family to visit them and they get lonely often.  This story reminded me of a woman I met in a nursing home whose daughter had also tracked her down and still visits her to this day.

Morrell encourages other adoptees to never give up if they are looking for their birthparents.  She says that there is always something that will link it, and she hopes her story will inspire others to look as well.

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North Korean rocket launch causes emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council

Posted on February 7, 2016 by steven_bardsley

North Korea launched a long range missile rocket into space early Sunday morning, resulting in an international response of condemnation. After South Korea reported of the launch, The United States, South Korea, and Japan decided to call for the emergency meeting.

After North Korea’s reported hydrogen bomb test, countries are skeptical about the true reasons behind the North Korea long range missile that was launched early Sunday morning. North Korea released a statement, saying it was for peaceful purposes.

Other countries collectively agree they believe it could be a test for a ballistic missile.

The North Korean rocket, names the Kwangmyongsong, launched at 9 a.m. Sunday (7:30 p.m. Saturday ET), according to the North Korea state news agency, KCNA. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, personally oversaw the launch.

A U.S. defense official noted that the launch “did not pose a threat to the U.S. or our allies.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the launch is an act against the international community that plead against their actions, which were “deeply deplorable.”

South Korean President Park Guen-hye states that the launch was a “challenge to world peace.” There talks between the U.S. and South Korea to work on a defense system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, which would intercept missiles that have been launched.

Hua Chunying responses by saying China “regrets[s] that DPRK, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch.”

The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling to take measures and act in cooperation with the international community.

The Security Council planned on meeting Sunday at 11:am in New York. While an official response has not been said, they plan to discuss an international response.

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