Joffrey’s Death: Good or Bad for Game of Thrones?

Posted on April 21, 2014 by l.susan

As a big fan of the show, and as a huge hater of Joffrey Baratheon, I was ecstatic to see him die. In fact I was so happy that the day after I saw the show, the first thing I did was watch him choke to death about 6 times in a row. Never have I been so happy about someone dying, in fact, never have I been happy at all about someone dying. As screwed up as that sounds, many share my happiness. The reaction to this episode was incredible, within hours there were millions of tweets of people celebrating the death of this dreadful, evil character. Now that a week has passed, however, I can’t help but feel a certain degree of melancholy for the absence of this character.

What is the reason for these strange internal contradiction I find in myself? Well, it took me ages to work out, but the fact of the matter is, people LOVED to hate Joffrey. It is a weird notion, but a huge part of watching the show was witnessing his twisted and evil ways and just imagining ways in which he could be killed. Now that that is absent from the show, there is a sort of void, as if the show is no longer complete as it was, because there is no one we love to hate like we loved to hate Joffrey.

Happily, there is still a long way to go, and hopefully that void will once again be filled, and there are many plots still to follow with a lot of attention. What will happen now that the king is dead? Who poisoned him so brilliantly? What will this mean for the rest of the characters seeking control of the throne? Most importantly, who will fill the void of hatred left by the elimination of Joffrey? Whoever that character is, it has some big shoes to fill, because again, we absolutely LOVE to have someone to HATE like we hated Joffrey in Game of Thrones. We shall see what happens.

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Kidnapping in Nigeria by Islamic Group

Posted on April 21, 2014 by samsheres

As the media mainstream have been communicating for this past week, there was a large scale kidnapping of affecting around 130 girls between the age of 15 and 18 in a school in the community of Chibok, Nigeria.

It has been discovered that the responsible of this incident were the extremist group Boko Harama, known for being very harsh with women, especially by using them as sexual slaves. The term of Boko Haram, stands for the meaning that the no Islamic education is a sin. Therefore this Islamic group has as its objective to expand the Islam through the country, considering that the South is Christian, and the North Muslim.

During the past days a total of 44 girls escaped after the kidnappers. Whom actually are already back home safe with their families. However, there are still 85 scholars who have not been located, and currently are declared as disappeared.

The media has informed that the research was expanded through the borderland regions such as Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

It is feared that the kidnappers are holding the hostage and bringing them to another country, while now it is believed that they are occulted in the forest of Sambisa. In the complex where the school was situated, the extremist Islamic destroyed some houses and even burnt a school bus.

 

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The Power of Social Media and What it Can Do For My Goals

Posted on April 21, 2014 by alyssakelly

We all know that social media connects us to people all over the globe.  It seems like nothing, but there is a lot of power connected with the our words over the internet.  Here I am, writing a blog for a university assignment, but I can possibly reach thousands of people more or less.  Sometimes we feel our voices are not heard, but on social media, your voice stands a chance.

This summer I am moving to Texas for an internship and to stay with some family.  Recently I have been searching for things to do while there and following blogs with tags of  things I would be interested in.  It’s one thing to go out and find them when I am there.  But this way, I feel like I can connect with another state before I even get there.

It can be scary moving to a new place and doing something completely different.  Being such a small fish in a big bond is nerve racking but there are easier ways to get more comfortable.  On social media people in Texas can now see what I am saying and am interested in all because of a tag, i.e. #texas #atx and so on.

My goal for this summer is to have fun and experience new things.  I do not want to be locked at home and afraid to try new things because “I don’t know what’s out there.”  I’m hoping that by using the power of social media I can be acclimated to my new surroundings and ready to dive head first.  Maybe I’ll find some news friends, or maybe ust have a better idea of where to go to meet these new friends.

Don’t underestimate your place in social media.

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A Supreme Court Justice’s Opinions on the NSA Case Along With Other NSA News

Posted on April 21, 2014 by earl m

Thursday, in an interview conducted at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg talked about their views of the First Amendment.

Moderator Marvin Kalb questioned Scalia about whether the NSA wiretapping could be be in violation of the Constitution:

Justice Antonin Scalia said,

“No because it’s not absolute. As Ruth has said there are very few freedoms that are absolute. I mean your person is protected by the Fourth Amendment, but as I pointed out when you board a plane, someone can pass his hands all over your body. That’s a terrible intrusion, but given the danger that it’s guarding against, it’s not an unreasonable intrusion. And it can be the same thing with acquiring this data that is regarded as effects. That’s why I say its foolish to have us make the decision because I don’t know how serious the danger is in this NSA stuff, I really don’t.”

Scalia was also questioned by Journalists on whether she was aware of why the Washington Post & the Guardian won the Pulitzer prize recently. She stated that she didn’t no why and that she doesn’t read the Post. She also said that the question is easily answered by Journalists and not her.

Another addition to this NSA topic is an interview where Edward Snowden asked

“Does Russia intercept, store, analyze in any way the communications of individuals?”

Vladimir Putin stated

“We do not allow ourselves to do this. And, we will never allow this. We do not have the money or the means to do that,” answered Putin. “The most important thing is we have a special service that’s thankfully under strict state control.”

In March of last year, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, asked a similar question of the director of national intelligence.

“Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?” he asked James R. Clapper.
Clapper responded,

“No, sir … not wittingly.” He later clarified his remarks.

That answer, compared to Putin’s, is not at all comforting.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/apr/14/guardian-washington-post-pulitzer-nsa-revelations

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/21/health/irpt-weight-loss-teena-henson/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

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Finals Taking Tips for Students

Posted on April 21, 2014 by rhurley

It’s finals time! These time-tested tips for studying for, and taking, your final exams can make a huge difference in your results, and send you off happy to your holiday break

1. Count your way forward.
Many students, when starting to think about preparing for finals, look at the dates of their finals, then count their way back. “Biology final on Wednesday? That’s two or three studying days needed. I guess I’ll start hitting the books on Sunday.”A far better idea is to count up from the day the study questions are handed out to the day the exam will take place. “Seven days? Then I’ll divide the course into sevenths and study two weeks’ worth of lectures each day.”

2. Shed some commitments.
You’ll find you have a lot easier time studying if you make extra time for it. Put off any unnecessary social obligations or family commitments. And, if you’re working, try if at all possible to take 10 days off for final exam period (or at least trim your work schedule). Even a few strategically placed extra hours can make the difference between doing just OK on finals and doing a really great job.

Best-Kept Secret.
If you can finish your term papers the week before the last week of classes, it’ll free loads of extra time to study for finals.

3. “Triage” your study time.
Some students think they should spend equal amounts of time preparing for each of their finals. Instead, proportion your study time to how hard the final is likely to be and how well you already know the material.

4. Figure out what’s covered.
One of the most important things you need to be clear about is what materials are going to be tested on the final. Are readings and discussion sections included, or is the final going to focus almost exclusively on material from the lectures? Is the final going to concentrate on materials since the midterm or is it going to be a comprehensive or cumulative final? Knowing the extent—and the limits—of the exam will make it much easier to organize and structure your studying.

5. Is it one or two or two-hundred questions?
Professors have two strategies in making up finals. Some profs design a single, big question or two; other professors give a series of more focused questions, each covering some single issue in the course. Before you start studying, make sure you’ve figured out your professor’s test-construction strategy.

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Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings: First 2 games and how the series is playing out

Posted on April 21, 2014 by anthony loprinzi

The first two games of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings have been completed. The best of 7 series is tied up at 1 game a-piece and it can be viewed as one of the more physical series of the playoffs so far. Going into the series, it was going to be viewed as a challenge for the top seeded Bruins because even though they were able to get the best record in the league, the Red Wings had taken the season series between the two, 3 to 1. Let’s look back at the past two games of the playoffs.

The first game, which is usually viewed as a statement game, was a defensive battle from the beginning. With fantastic saves being made by the goalies Tuukka Rask and Jimmy Howard, it became a matter of whoever was going to strike first would ultimately win that game. That point game in the 3rd period when one of the Bruin’s, Milan Lucic, deflections came inches from going in and ended up turning into a Red Wing’s possession and was able to score. The Red Wings were able to hang on and beat the Bruins 1-0.

The second game, which happened this past Sunday, was viewed as a game that the Bruins would have to retaliate and avoid falling behind 2 games in the series. The Bruins were very physical and controlled the puck for most of the game. This ended up being the difference and the Bruins took game 2 and evened the series at 1. It has been an exciting series to watch and I look forward to seeing the conclusion of it.

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Powdered Alcohol “Palcohol” Coming to the US Soon

Posted on April 21, 2014 by kelly.karsch

A completely unexpected yet very interesting adult product is headed to the United States and will be available for consumption as soon as Autumn this year. “Palcohol” the trademarked name for Powdered Alcohol will allow American drinkers to begin sprinkling their favorite beverages into their drinks or even their food rather than straight out drinking them. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau this week approved of seven different versions of Palcohol ranging from Cosmopolitan to Margarita flavors.

Palcohol’s website promotes their product as an alternative to purchasing ever-increasing prices of liquid alcohol at promotional events such as concerts or sporting events. The creator, Mark Phillips is a self proclaimed active man, who hikes, bikes, and camps. After straining activities such as that Mark apparently likes to relax by drinking, however having to carry around those drinks would be a burden, so he decided to create a product that he can just mix with water.

Palcohol can also be added to food. When adding the Palcohol to your food its not bringing any flavoring to it, it will however add alcohol to your meal with the standard side effects. Cosmopolitan powder on a salad? Count me in. Apparently the company has done a great way to prevent people from wanting to snort it as well. They state that they have added a volume to the powder that would make snorting it very painful before actually feeling drunk.

How this powder will affect alcohol use and sales is very up in the air for now. Hopefully it is something that will not easily get into the wrong hands such as minors, and will not be easily abused. Alcohol may be something fun, but it can come with very hefty consequences. Just as one should be with alcohol, when the future of Palcohol comes out, make sure to be as responsible and legal as possible!

 

 

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Our Brains, An Expanding Void of Thoughts

Posted on April 21, 2014 by jessica_houts

Over the years people have wondered about reading other peoples minds and exploring the place that we call “The Brain”. Scientists are still puzzled with how our brain works and if it is possible to read minds by looking at brain wave statistics. Jack Gallant, a neuroscientist at the University of California predicts that in 50 years people will be wearing devices called “Google Hats” which will be able to read thoughts. These devices will continuously decode our thoughts and may be able to transmit our thoughts to a foreign language which will help societies all over the world communicate with each other.

What you need to read thoughts include good mathematical models to measure the brain and high speed computing. Gallant said that there is a possibility that you can measure brain waves using an EEG which measures electrical activity. Also an fMRI can measure brain activity and the changes in blood oxygen levels. An EEG is a two-dimensional model which would give an accurate model of the measured electric waves in the brain. For instance, a recent study showed that scientists were able to reconstruct a face that a person was viewing using the fMRI. The scientists then continued to show the patient 300 different faces which their brain had different combinations of waves for. Brain activity patterns are able to give the researchers enough information to develop a specific image that the person is viewing. This concept marks the age of reading minds and ultimately foreshadows new technology in the coming ages.

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The 2014 NBA Playoffs Began Over The Weekend & Wasn’t Too Kind To Home Teams

Posted on April 21, 2014 by jordan hicks

Easter Weekend marked the start of the NBA Playoffs, the moment was finally here. The moment where we get to cut the fat and get straight to the good part of the NBA. 16 teams, 2 conferences, 1 championship.

The first game tipped off on Saturday around noon between the 5.) Brooklyn Nets and the 4.) Toronto Raptors. Toronto was in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, coming off a franchise-best record, hosting a playoff game needless they were feeling themselves something fierce. Meanwhile in the Toronto tabloids there was no shortage of trash talk and even rapper Drake and the Raptors GM threw their shots. The Nets were called old by the Raptors and even “dinosaurs”. Although when the game started those old geezers got the best of the new kids on the block. Paul Pierce closed the game in classic Truth fashion taking a 1-0 lead in that series

The rest of the playoff games came with their own headlines as well. The 3.) Los Angeles Clippers got clipped at home by the 6.) Golden State Warriors 105-109. The 1st seeded Indiana Pacers got handled at home by the 8th seeded Atlanta Hawks 93-101. The 2.) Oklahoma City Thunder kept off the 7.) Memphis Grizzlies 100-86.

The headlines for the Easter Sunday games gave us the expected and the unexpected. The reigning champions 2.) Miami Heat got back into form against the 7.) Charlotte Bobcats 99-88. The 1.) San Antonio Spurs outlasted the 8.) Dallas Mavericks 90-85. The 3.) Chicago Bulls got out-paced by the 6.) Washington Wizards 93-102. And finally, the 4.) Houston Rockets came up short in Overtime to the 5.) Portland Trailblazers 120-122.

A lot of home losses and series swings in that first weekend of playoff basketball, but the beauty of a series is there will always be a game 2.

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Hamilton Continues March of Dominance in Shanghai

Posted on April 21, 2014 by dougcampbell06

Lewis Hamilton is a man on a mission in 2014. With undoubtedly the quickest car to start off the 2014 Formula One season and the will to take his second championship, Hamilton stormed into the Chinese Grand Prix looking to make it three wins in a row after a dismal start at the Australian Grand Prix allowed teammate Nico Rosberg to walk to victory. The two had a close encounter during the previous Grand Prix in Bahrain, after a late safety car period setup a frantic dash to the finish between the two Mercedes drivers.

The weekend didn’t start off smoothly for Hamilton, however. Friday’s free practices had the Mercedes team throwing everything but a kitchen sink at the car’s setup in order to help fix an ill-handling car. Whatever handling issues existed were resolved by the time qualifying rolled around on Saturday afternoon as Hamilton took pole by nearly half a second over Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo and a full second over Ricciardo’s teammate and four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel. The wet qualifying session saw Lotus make the final round of qualifying for the first time along with Williams again placing both their cars in the top ten to start.

Once the lights went out and the flags were dropped, Hamilton immediately darted away from the field on the start. Both the Williams’ of Valterri Bottas and Felipe Massa had contact before making it through turn one, with Bottas bouncing around before regaining control of his car and finishing in the seventh position. Fernando Alonso played a strong run off the line to eventually make his way past both Red Bull Racing drivers and into second position, behind Hamilton. However he was run down by Rosberg, who started back in sixth, and left in the dust. Ricciardo was held up in his pursuit of Alonso by his teammate Vettel, who initially refused to yield to his Australian teammate. However the German champion’s efforts to keep Ricciardo at bay eventually proved to be worthless and Ricciardo finished in fourth. There was a snafu at the finish, with the race being flagged a lap early causing a pass by Kamui Kobayashi on Jules Bianchi on the final lap to be invalidated. None of the race’s other positions were affected.

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