Media Convergence Initiative

NBA Team Los Angeles Clippers Cover up Lakers Banners

Posted on October 21, 2013 by ash6128ucf

The Los Angeles Clippers cover up Lakers banners during their preseason game on Friday. Clippers new head Coach Doc Rivers wants fans attending their games to forget about the arena’s other tenants the Lakers during their games. The Clippers covered up the championship banners and retired numbers of the Los Angeles Lakers, by replacing them with Clippers-Centric posters featuring Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Jared Dudley and J.J. Redick during Friday presean game.

The Lakers and Clippers have shared the Staples Center since it opened for the 1999-2000 season, and is the only team in the league to have such an arrangement. Former L.A. Clipper Nick Young said “He can do that? For real? That’s disrespectful. We got to talk to Doc Rivers. He can’t have that. We got to do something about that.” Young also said “That’s a lot of pull y’all are giving Doc. “I think he shouldn’t come in and have so much pull like that. He’s got to earn his keep.” A reporter argued that Rivers’ championship from his time with the Boston Celtics should give the coach the credence to do so. Nick Young said “But he didn’t win any title in L.A. That’s where it’s at. Look at all the banners in here, you cannot shadow those up.

Lakers point guard Steve Nash said about the Lakers banners being covered during L.A. Clippers game. Nash said “I guess if you were in the Clippers’ organization you probably want to do that and it’s their arena on their night, so I would try to make it feel like home.” Will this start a big rivalry between the Lakers and Clippers? Only time will tell.

Posted in Sports | Comments Off

The UCF Theatre Department Does it Again!

Posted on October 21, 2013 by gabriellemotto

This past weekend, the University of Central Florida theater department opened up a new show, The Drowsy Chaperone. The show is about a man in a chair who shares his love of musicals with the audience. He talks about one in particular, The Drowsy Chaperone. The show is a simple one, but through its simplicity it enraptures the audience and takes them to a world where one can forget reality and live the musical. It is funny, light hearted, and quirky. This production is an exceptional one and is a symbol of the hard work and dedication that the students in the UCF theater department had when working on the piece.

Everything in this production was truly excellent. The show itself is a show within a show. So, the set design had to accommodate this notion. The set was designed as a living room in a New York City Apartment. Throughout the play it became the playing space for the show within the show, The Drowsy Chaperone. A bed would drop out of a wall, the bookcase and refrigerator served as an entrance for the characters, and the upstage window became an entrance as well.

The talent couldn’t have been better cast. There were so many great performers up on the stage. The Drowsy Chaperone, played by Sandia Ahlers, was portrayed magnificently. She was a hilarious diva, a powerhouse character, with a voice to match. Another great talent in the show was Tyler Beauregard, who played Robert Martin. He did a very energetic tap routine that amazed. Another cast favorite was Aldolpho, played by Fredy Ruiz. The character was hilarious with his stereotypical act of a Latin lover.

The UCF production of The Drowsy Chaperone is truly spectacular. I recommend it to everyone. Support our department and in return you will get to experience a show that will surely make you laugh and smile.

Posted in Education, Entertainment | Comments Off

Miami Dolphins lose heart breaker to Buffalo Bills

Posted on October 20, 2013 by jmoore524

Of Miami’s three losses this season, fans in all likelihood took this one the hardest. In part because of how the team lost but also because of when and who they lost to. Coming into the game fresh off of their bye week and two straight losses to the Saints and Ravens, the ‘phins and their fans were banking on a win against the division rival Buffalo Bills.

The game began about as poorly as conceivable as Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a pick six to give the Bills an early seven point lead. Another gaffe by Dolphins special teamer Don Jones negated a 70+ yard punt and instead gave the Bills good field position which was quickly turned into another touchdown. Still in the first quarter, Miami drove the length the field only for Tannehill to throw another interception on a woefully underthrown pass that was picked off in the end zone.

However, the Dolphins would rally back in the second quarter riding a resuscitated run game which they’d been unable to find prior to this game. Tannehill would also recover and throw two touchdowns to send the game into halftime trailing by a score of 17-14.

For all the world, it appeared that momentum had swung in Miami’s favor and that trend would continue in the opening period of the second half as the Dolphins would would score the only touch of the quarter to take a tenuous four point lead.

Buffalo added a field goal to their tally to trim Miami’s lead to only a point, but their offense, as was the case for the most of the second half, was anemic and without the help of a turnover, it appeared the unit would have trouble scoring on their own. Luckily for them, though, the Dolphins would give them that help as Dolphins right tackle Tyson Clabo gave up his second half of the game resulting in a fumble by Tannehill, instantly putting Buffalo in position for a game winning field goal with less than three minutes left in the contest.

Buffalo would go on to make the game winning kick with only 30 seconds left on the clock and despite some last-second theatrics by return man Tyler Thigpen, Miami lost by only two points, dropping their record to 3-3 on the season.

Posted in Sports | Comments Off

Are the New Safety Features on Cars Safe?

Posted on October 20, 2013 by stephaniemmuniz

With technology advancing and expanding rapidly, many can say these technological improvements make ones life easier. Smartphones can play movies, surf the world wide web and even pay bills. Washers and dryers now offer LED screens that can wash and dry your clothes according to weight and text you when the load is finished. Newer cars today come equip with improved features such as parking assistance and Bluetooth technology that can benefit the driver as well as hurt them. The constant update of these electronic advancements car potentially harm a driver if one becomes too accustom to their “assistance.”

Vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Mercedes Sedan and the Acura MDX provide their driver with new features such as Forward Collision Avoidance; which scans cars for potential hazards. Also, Lane Keeping is a new feature that warns the driver when they have wandered out of the lane and the Adaptive Cruise Control as well as Adaptive Headlights. Not only do these features enhance the owners driving experience, features such as Parking Assist allow for a driver to sit back while the car calculates if the car will be able to fit in a parallel parking spot. At this point, it seem as though the new technological advancements in the car allow the car itself to drive without anyone in the drivers seat.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, The Volvo XC60 system has slashed more than thirty-three percent of injury claims and the Mercedes models also had an astonishing fifteen percent decrease in bodily injury claims just this year alone. Although all these advancements aid a driver, one should never rely solely on these electronics to take the wheel. A driver should always be cautious on the road, no matter what kind of assistance they have.

Posted in Science and Technology | Comments Off

Ancient Knowledge: Deadly Oath or Solemn Duty

Posted on October 20, 2013 by iweezy

I’d say one of the most fascinating video game franchises in the industry has to be the Assassin’s Creed series. One good reason for this is the amazing amount of detail and actual history that goes into each and every one of these video games. This month video game developer Ubisoft Montreal will be releasing their latest iteration of the series dubbed, “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” which will take place-according to them-in the Golden Age of Piracy around the early 1700’s. During the time of infamous pirates who plagued the Caribbean such as Edward Teach (a.k.a. Blackbeard) or Benjamin Hornigold, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, and Charles Vane. The main protagonist Captain Edward Kenway a brash rebel pirate who gets drawn into the age old conflict of the lethal Assassin’s versus the aristocratic Templars, as the engage in an endless battle for the fate of humanity.

I personal think the idea of merging modern science with history could be a great idea, especially if we could revisit interesting time periods such as the Renaissance or the America Revolution and actually see these events unfold through our ancestor eyes. Although I’m sure some less than friendly people would no doubt find a nefarious use for such technology such as altering the course of history to suit their own needs. Nevertheless, the technology in the video game doesn’t allow the characters to alter history in any way, just simply observe it. Bottom line, it would probably present a great opportunity to really better understand our great ancestors and see how they really lived without all the technology that is accessible to us. As the game story progresses, Edward constantly struggles with his inner desires as a pirate and his moral duty to the Assassin brotherhood. Now I know a game with a title like Assassin Creed doesn’t really inspire much confidence for young children to play. But for an older generation-such as myself-it provides in interesting break from reality, not to mention the historically aspect of the game.

Posted in Entertainment, Science and Technology | Comments Off

Studies Suggest that Sleep might Cleanse the Brain

Posted on October 20, 2013 by evannebersberger

If anyone understands the value of sleep, it’s college students. But, aside from feeling well-rested, does sleep have another purpose?

New research done by a team of US scientists shows that sleep may act as a “waste removal system” for our brains. Their study “showed [that] brain cells shrink during sleep to open up the gaps between neurons and allow fluid to wash the brain clean.” Essentially, this means that during sleep, our brains clear out any toxins that may have built up after a standard day of using our brains.

Last year scientists discovered that the brain has a network of “plumbing pipes.” These pipes, known as the glymphatic system, carry waste material out of the brain. According to BBC News, “Cells in the brain…shrink during sleep. This increases the size of the interstitial space, the gaps between brain tissue, allowing more fluid to be pumped in and wash the toxins away.”

Though our bodies are at a resting state when we sleep, studies have shown that the brain is still extremely active. Scientists who have imaged the brains of mice found out that their glymphatic system became 10-times more active during sleep. This cleanse that happens during sleep is said to be “vital” for staying alive, but it can’t be done while we are awake.

One researcher, Dr Maiken Nedergaard, explains, “The brain only has limited energy at its disposal and it appears that it must choose between two different functional states – awake and aware, or asleep and cleaning up.”

This new research showcases the importance of a good night’s sleep. Dr Neil Stanley, an independent sleep expert, says that the study shows that sleep acts as essential downtime to do some “housekeeping” to flush out neurotoxins. He further expressed, “There is good data on memory and learning, the psychological reason for sleep. But this is the actual physical and chemical reason for sleep, something is happening which is important.”

Researchers are speculating that disorders within the brain’s cleaning mechanisms might be contributing factors to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. However, more research is needed to back these theories.

Posted in General, Health | Comments Off

Bruce and Kris Jenner Split Up After 22 Years

Posted on October 20, 2013 by xchellz

22 years of marriage and Bruce and Kris Jenner finally split. Many rumors have been going on for months about their split or for a divorce, but now, it is finally confirmed. When and if you were watching the latest seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, you noticed the distance between the two. In one episode, Bruce even bought a new home in Malibu where has has been since spending his time.

A lot of people believe that Kris was just “too much” for him, even though 22 years is a long time and might have been too late to decide that someone is “too much.” People speculate that it could be because of Kris’ personality and the way she raises their children. Bruce likes his peace and quiet and he believes in strong and firm discipline. Kris, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She has a very large and flashy lifestyle that she juggles on a daily basis. Her personality can also be labeled as “flirty” which can be off putting for a husband. She also likes to be more of the friendly parent to their two teenaged daughters which Bruce doesn’t always agree with when you see him on the show.

They have both confirmed their split and state that they are “happier this way.” Bruce and Kris also say that their relationship has improved with Bruce living at his personal home in Malibu. Kris Jenner says that they will still love each other and take care of their daughters together but as for now, the separation is the “best of both worlds.”

Posted in Entertainment | Comments Off

Things I Have to be Grateful For

Posted on October 19, 2013 by bosimpson

I woke up today on the right side of the wrong bed. I woke up feeling heavy hearted and discouraged. I believe though, that although feeling present emotions is inevitable, it’s up to you to decided whether or not you let those emotions make or break you. So, instead of sitting here feeling down on a beautiful Saturday morning, I’ve decided that I am going to make this blog about things that I’m thankful for.

I am thankful to have family members that call me while I’m away to check up on how I am doing and let me know how much they care about me. I am thankful for the fact that I go to such an amazing school which is kicking ass in football this season. Last night we beat Louisville 38-35, they are ranked #8 in the nation and we beat them. UCF was trending all over twitter and everyone in Orlando was going out, buying drinks and celebrating the win. It made me feel so proud of being a student at The University of Central Florida and made me realize that not everyone has this opportunity.

I am thankful for the good friends that I have. I don’t speak regularly to a huge group of people from my high school but I am thankful that I’m am still just as close to my two bestfriends from high school. I want them to be a part of my life forever, I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. I am thankful to be healthy and have a healthy family. I am so lucky to have a brand new car sitting in my parking lot. I am thankful to be able to have the opportunity to study away from home and learn how to be on my own. I am thankful to have a warm, welcoming home to go back to whenever I feel overwhelmed in Orlando. There’s a lot of things that I have to be grateful for, “This too shall pass”. The best teacher in life is time and with God’s guidance, I will feel wonderful again.

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged cheer up, Life, thankful | Comments Off

Halloween Horror Nights 2013: Scary or Repetitive?

Posted on October 18, 2013 by elizabeth hannigan

America’s premier Halloween event is back again this year. Halloween Horror Nights celebrates its twenty-third year of creating monsters and scaring guests. For twenty-three years Universal Studios Orlando has opened its doors during the Halloween season (late September through early November) allowing guests to experience terror first-hand.

People from all over the world come to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida during this season to see what thrills and scares the makers of Halloween Horror Nights have put together. Every year there is a centralized theme; which is reflected in the many haunted houses and scare zones located throughout the park. This year’s theme was “What Evil has taken root?” The story behind this theme chronicles the events of a lone blogger who is investigating horrible and unexplained happenings in the woods that have taken root. The haunted houses relatively mirrored this years’ theme. Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead, The Walking Dead, Havoc Derailed, An American Werewolf in London, Resident Evil, La Llorona, and After Life were this years houses, most of which were set in wooded areas. However, the scare zones were very out of place.

At last year’s Halloween Horror Nights, The Walking Dead made its premiere as both a haunted house and scare zone. As the AMC series is very popular, the hype surrounding last year’s event was elevated. The novelty, in my opinion, wore off this year. The event coordinators relied too heavily on the popularity of the zombies and over did it. The houses were frightening and at the beginning of the night the scare zones matched that intensity. After walking through one scare zone and going through two haunted houses, the zombies were predictable and more comical than scary.

Posted in Entertainment, General | Tagged Halloween Horror Nights, Orlando, Universal Studios, Zombies | Comments Off

Dumped Bride Donates Money Spent on Wedding

Posted on October 17, 2013 by xchellz

A wedding is supposed to be one of the best days of the couple’s life. It is supposed to be the start of a wonderful, life long marriage for the two. However, for one woman, it did not turn out that way.

Michelle Marxen and her fiancé had been planning their wedding for about a year. It was what every girl wants to do and is only a dream until it finally comes true. She planned for it to be what her dreams were. A big, beautiful wedding, complete with the big, beautiful ballroom. This would make any girl feel like a princess. Just as things were getting finalized and almost finished, her fiancé called and told her that he did not want to marry her and did not love her anymore. No one could possibly imagine how that feels unless it was done to them. A lot of people would also be angry in addition to being sad and would seek revenge and/or name calling. Not Michelle, she did something amazing with her money spent on the wedding.

She took that big ballroom and decided to donate it to Creative Care for Reaching Independence, an organization that helps empower people with disabilities. Of course they were shocked just as anyone else would be, but they were also very grateful. They plan to have a Halloween Party for their clients in the ballroom and this could not have been possible without her. Knowing that people can take their bad endings and turn them into great beginnings for someone else is what gives people hope.

Posted in Entertainment, General | Comments Off