Winner of florida Tech’s organization of the year award, 2011-2012, 2012-2013
sPRING, issue 2
february 4, 2014
U.S. driving laws, customs confuse some international students Daniel Hereau Staff Writer
photo by Efram Goldberg The new trolleys were previously used for wine tours in California.
Florida Tech acquires two more trolleys Hershlay Raymond Editor-in-Chief Florida Tech is now the proud owner of two more trolleys. “We wanted to expand service,” said Greg Tsark, vice president for facilities operations. “Adding a new trolley to the mix, putting another trolley out there, reduces the wait time and increases ridership. We are about up to 300 riders a day which is significantly higher than last spring. It validates their use.” The original two trolleys
are older and have been becoming less reliable, needing frequent repairs. There were also mobility issues because of their large size. “They are so big that it was difficult to get around campus. We are adjusting and getting vehicles that fit our campus,” Tsark said. The new trolleys were manufactured in Healdsburg, California, an hour and a half north of San Francisco. They were previously used in a winery in Paso Robles, California. “The only thing remaining on the trolley that you can tell it was from a winery is that there are these little grapes etched into the corners of the windows,”
said Lee Martucci, transportation supervisor. The latest trolleys are similar in appearance to the original two trolleys and have many of the same elements: though, there are some differences. The new trolleys are smaller in size and there are cup holders next to the seats. “The exteriors appearances of the trolleys are very similar,” Martucci said. “The biggest differences are technical differences that only the drivers would notice.” The two new trolleys began their routes last week.
Toyota, Hyundai to launch hydrogen-fueled vehicles in near future Rebekah Duntz Campus Life Editor The timeline for hydrogen-fueled cars to be distributed through dealerships in the Washington area is set for three to four years. Hydrogen fueled cars were on display this past week in the Washington Auto Show, and the first wave of hydrogen cars will hit dealerships this spring, according to the Washington Post. Manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai will being selling hydrogenfueled cars up north, and it may only be a matter of time before they make their way down south. The carbon footprint is much lower than that of natural gas fueled cars; hydrogen cars emit only water vapor from the exhaust pipe. Electric cars have also made advances in reducing the driver’s carbon footprint, but also need several hours to recharge at electric charging stations. In contrast,
filling up at a hydrogen fuel pump takes a few minutes. The only thing standing in the way of the hydrogen fuel economy now is that the United States lacks the infrastructure needed for drivers to refuel. Currently, there are some stations surrounding the city of Boston and in parts of California, but not enough to where one could travel across the country, according to the Washington Post. “There would have to be enough stations where it’s conve-
Liz Fox, director of Catalog & Graduate Information, is embracing the change. “I think it’s the best next step, because there are problems using the hybrid electrics because of the batteries,” said Fox. “Just like with all this computer garbage we’re creating, where do these batteries go to be broken down? Are there Indonesian children on a shore walking around in all these hazardous chemicals? Hydrogen is not going to do that; hydrogen is cleaner.” Hydrogen fuel may be a possible solution to the problems of disposal in the United States. T h e question is: are we ready for it? “I think a lot of people are ready for it. I think they’re tired of high gas prices, and fluctuating gas prices,” said Zachary Eichholz, a junior majoring in sustainability and vice president of the Florida Tech Environmental Club. “I know they’ll be expensive at first. But once we have the infrastructure, it’ll be a great alternative fuel.”
“I know they’ll be expensive at first. But once we have the infrastructure, it’ll be a great alternative fuel.” —Zachary Eichholz nient for you to use it. You don’t want to have to drive 100 miles just to fill up,” said Bill Bowden, owner of a 2007 Toyota Prius. “Costs would be a factor down here, because there’s an older population. People are retired, so they have to think about their income. It’d have to be cheaper to make a major impact,” said Bowden. Others remain less skeptical.
Tara Drumm wins Joan Bibxy Award The award is named in honor of Joan Bixby, a former university administrator and alumna.
See DRUMM, page 2
Many of the things that college students have to worry about have to do with driving: getting a driver’s license, finding a parking spot, buying gas, getting insurance, using public transportation, etc. With many countries having driving laws and customs that are different from the United States’, international students have even more things to worry about. Shiyu Zhao, president of the Chinese Students Association, described some of the difficulties that Chinese students faced while adjusting to U.S. laws. “Two of the more important differences between Chinese and U.S. driving laws and customs are that there are no stop signs in China, since it is all done by lights, and police sirens are only used when chasing criminals or for emergencies,” she said. Zhao said some of the students in the CSA had a joke of how a Chinese student new to the U.S. was speeding. A police car started chasing them with lights flashing and sirens blaring, and it took the student a while to realize the police officer was signaling him to pull over. Kevin Graham, director of the Department of Security at FIT, said a common difficulty international students have is recognizing U.S. traffic signals and signs that are different from the ones in their home country. He said one of difficulties for some of the international students was one of attitude, where they weren’t used to the different laws and customs of the U.S. and aren’t sure how the laws apply to them. To help international students adapt to U.S. laws, International Student and Scholar Services and FIT Security have presentations and make all the information regarding U.S. driving laws and customs available online
for the international students. Graham gives some of the presentations to help highlight some of what international students need to know regarding U.S. driving laws. Jackie Lingner, associate director of the ISSS, said that the question international students ask most frequently is why they are unable to get a U.S. driver’s license until at least 10 days after they arrive and register with the immigration system. The delay is so that the information has time to be uploaded to the other databases needed to register for a driver’s license. Lingner said that sometimes there are discrepancies between the data that was submitted to the immigration database and the information given to the DMV when registering for a U.S. driver’s license. She said the student then has to go back to the immigration services and have the information corrected before they can get a U.S. driving license. She said that one problem she had seen some international students having was that sometimes they come over as a family, and only one of them knows how to drive. If the driving family member is waiting for a U.S. license, family members have to figure out how to get to work and classes, often having to car pool with other students or use public transportation. Lingner said that the program and information the ISSS gives out has been updated over the years based on feedback from the students. She said she thinks they have improved it greatly in the time she has been with the ISSS in helping international students get the information they need. Graham said that while the ISSS and FIT Security do their best to help international students, ultimately, it is the international students’ responsibility to utilize the resources provided to them by the ISSS and FIT Security to learn the driving laws and customs of the United States.
Panther Dining Hall discourages DIY to-go boxes Carlo Mencarelli Staff Writer An apple here, a sandwich there. Some students may have taken something from Panther Dining Hall at one time or another. When is taking something from the Dining Hall crossing the line? Is it acceptable that students take bags of cereal at a time or a bunch of bananas? The staff at Panther Dining has confirmed that it just isn’t food being taken. Plates, silverware, and cups have also been disappearing from Panther Dining Hall. There have even been rumors of students taking dining
sets, which, while not entirely confirmed, has kernels of truth in it. The staff at Panther Dining Hall has recently been cracking down on people taking things from the facility, but that hasn’t discouraged people from continuing to take food. Sophomore Tyler Hackett admits he has not only taken food, but plates and silverware from the Dining Hall as well: “Yeah they’ve yelled at me, but I did it again after that anyway.” Hackett mentioned that he always returns what he takes from the dining hall.
See Dining hall, pg 3
OPINIONS....................... 2 Students react to the rain through memes campus life................. 3 sci/tech....................... 7 See rain, pg 5 sports.......................... 8
2 - february 4, 2014
OPINIONS
the Florida tech crimson
Medical Marijuana Approved for November Ballot Christopher Penta Opinions Editor I have a very simple stipulation for people in my life: Don’t waste my time. During a routine shopping trip to the dry cleaners (yes I go to a dry cleaners, thank you for asking), and Winn-Dixie, this cardinal rule of life was violated, when I was accosted with a cacophony of nonsense when a signature gatherer bombarded me with the supposed medical benefits of smoking a left-handed cigarette. D o n ’ t waste my time. Let me pause here and stipulate that I have never, ever partaken of the laughing grass in my life, besides extensive research sessions for this article...
However... I maintain that it should be legal to buy, sell, grow, smoke, wear, eat or whatever you want to do with it. I don’t care. So, before you forget to beat me up, remember that I’m on your side in this, man. This scenario has played out many times before, with all sorts of marijuana fanatics trying to convince me that they’re trying to help
the United States rope industry out with the hearty fibers of the hemp plant. Or telling me that it cures pancreatic cancer. I don’t care, so stop wasting my time. This is what happens when the government tries to do something. It makes people weasels. In 1933, prohibition was repealed because a whole bunch of people were honest, and said they wanted to get drunk. Nobody has ever tried to convince me that booze cures glaucoma. The only thing booze has ever cured me of is the haunting memory of ex-girlfriends. Marijuana rights activists, take a leaf out of the gaymarriage lobby. Be loud! Be proud! Just tell everyone you want to get high. The benefits of decriminalized doobies, besides any supposed medical uses are numerous. The millions spent prosecuting 18-year-old kids could be put towards feeding young children [insert munchies joke here]. Narcotics units would be freed up to work on more important targets.
Violence in Mexico would take a hit. Episodes of COPS, which have become stagnated as of late, would suddenly become more interesting. Granted, pot smoking isn’t exactly a motivating past time for your average citizen, but that’s not the point. It isn’t for us to decide. The most dangerous part
Have a response to this or any article? email it to us at crimson@fit.edu, and you may see it on this page next issue!
CAPS PSA: Love Yourself First Stephanie L Field CAPS Valentine’s Day is around the corner. For some it may be an exciting time where you have never felt more loved, while for others it may seem absolutely miserable and make you feel lonelier than ever. CAPS hopes to make this an okay time for everyone, no matter your relationship status! And here’s how! RECOGNIZE: Join CAPS for our next event Sex and Love: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on February 6th at 7pm in 202 Evans Hall. We will be discussing the ins and outs of relationships and sexuality in a fun and engaging forum. You will also have the opportunity to anonymously ask any questions you may have about sex, love, and relationships! REMEMBER: You have to love yourself before you can shower love on someone else. Be good to yourself on a regular basis and you will exude confidence, self-respect, and self-esteem. If you make a mistake, go easy on yourself- to err is human! If you accomplish something or persevere through a tough situation, give yourself some credit for your achievement! That might mean going out to your favorite restaurant, watching your favorite movie, or letting yourself sleep in an extra few hours on the weekend... whatever it is, don’t be afraid to reward yourself. REVIEW: Make yourself a list of all the reasons you are awesome... and don’t toss it out! Keep it somewhere safe so you can add to it regularly and reread it as often as you please. You might even think about a saying or motto that you can repeat to yourself as a reminder of how fantastic you are! For example, “I am smart, strong, and sexy!” can give you
a self-esteem boost when you really need it. Whatever motto you choose, make sure it’s something you truly believe! REFLECT: Look deep down and reflect on all of the amazing things about yourself and your life. Think about all of the people in the world- family, friends, colleagues, professors, mentors- who appreciate you for who you are. If you find yourself rationalizing that these people do not genuinely care for you, STOP and take a step back. When we are feeling lonely we tend to talk down to ourselves, so it will be important to keep yourself in check. This is where the motto and list of your assets can come in handy. RECONSIDER: Whether you have been with a partner for a significant period of time or only just met, make sure you are staying safe. If you are at a party or gathering, make sure you have a safe way to get home. If you have a designated driver, be sure that person has had absolutely zero drinks and has not used any other substances that may inhibit his/her ability to operate the vehicle. If you are walking home, make sure you have a friend to go back with. Remember, if you are on campus you can always call Campus Security (321-6748111) to get you back to your dorm, and if you’re off-campus you can call a taxi. On another safety-related note, if you are considering engaging in sexual activity of any sort, use a barrier method to prevent against disease, such as condoms or dental dams. Remember that diseases are transmitted through saliva and blood- not only semen or vaginal discharge- so even oral or manual sexual activity puts you at risk! Also, remember that consent is crucial- “no” means no, and no response means no! Keep yourself safe! Hopefully this has been
helpful, but we understand that more support may be needed. If you are having difficulties, CAPS can help! We are here on campus to offer assistance for many challenges college students face. To make an appointment with a counselor, you are welcome to call (321) 674-8050 or walk in to the center. CAPS is located beside the Health Center, at the corner of Country Club Rd. and University Blvd. Please join us for our next event Sex and Love: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly to learn about dating, sexuality, and conflict resolution on February 6th at 7pm in 202 Evans Hall. CAPS also offers two weekly groups that assist with interpersonal relationship needs. Get in the Game is for students who have social or communication challenges to learn and discuss how to cope with managing stress, build communication skills, and engage in perspective taking. Real Relationships is for students who may be looking to improve their interpersonal relationships. Contact the center or visit the CAPS website for details on the time and location for these groups. The CAPS website (www.fit.edu/caps) offers additional information regarding resources, services, and groups, as well as brief screenings for depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and alcohol use. We realize it can be unnerving to reach out for help for the first time, but we hope you do contact us when you need us. CAPS is just one of many resources at Florida Tech that supports maintaining a happy and healthy you! Have a safe and happy Valentine’s Day. And remember to love yourself because you are amazing!
of smoking pot in this day and age is getting caught. That’s really telling. I get annoyed when the government responsible for dronestriking Pakistani school children tries to enforce its misguided sense of 1960’s morality on me. The drug war is over. The bong-brigade is victorious.
we want you! The Florida Tech Crimson is looking for staff writers, ph o to g r a p h er s, g r a p h i c designers, cartoonists and more for our growing news staff ! T he Crimson is a g reat opportunity to build a portfolio of your work while also making a difference on campus. Interested in becoming part of our news team next semester? Email us at crimson@fit.edu or email the editor-in-chief at hraymond2011@my.fit. edu. You can also attend one of our weekly meetings every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Crimson office at the back of Grissom Hall on the basement floor. Join us! There is free food!
check us out at crimson.fit.edu
3 - february 4, 2014
CAMPUS LIFE
Tara Drumm wins Joan Bibxy Award
The Florida tech crimson
Panther Dining Hall discourages DIY to-go boxes continued from page 1 Julie Buskirk, a freshman, also has taken food from the dining hall. “I don’t see the big deal; I’m paying for it anyway.” Buskirk doesn’t have a meal plan and pays for entry into Panther Dining each time she goes. She defends herself with the following: “It’s better than
wasting the food, if I didn’t bring it with me, I’d just throw it away. Panther Dining Hall may discourage taking food from the building by students, but offers the ability to get a bag lunch for a meal credit for students on-the-go. The difference, while there, isn’t seen as clearly by the patrons. Buskirk talked about meal plans.
“If I had an unlimited meal plan I could just circle back around whenever I wanted. If I take what I want when I’m there, I don’t have to go back to PDH,” she said. While Panther Dining frowns on the matter, management hasn’t made a statement to the student body discouraging it besides mentioning that sharing food is not allowed.
image property of FIT Army ROTC (Panther Battalion) Cadet Drumm is now the new Battalion Command Sergeant Major. She is the principal Cadet enlisted assistant to the Battalion Commander.
Sara Torabi Staff Writer When Tara Drumm first received the phone call that she had won the Joan Bixby Award, she was shocked. “I had no idea that Lieutenant Colonel Glassman had even nominated me. The phone call came as a complete surprise.” Tara, who is an active member of ROTC and a senior in Interdisciplinary Sciences with military option, was one of three 2014 Joan Bixby Award recipients, and the sole undergraduate recipient. Since 2004, Florida Tech has been recognizing passionate Florida Tech students, staff, and faculty members who have enhanced the climate for women’s participation and development on campus. The award, which is presented annually, is named in honor of Joan Bixby, a former university administrator and alumna. “I went to the celebration honoring the women last year and I remember seeing General Dunwoody receiving the Award of Distinction. She’s both a general in the Army and she’s making improvements in the field of women. It was so cool that she was able to make advancements in both areas; it was really inspirational. I thought to myself, I want to be able to do that.” Tara herself hadn’t planned on joining ROTC when she first started attending Florida Tech. It wasn’t until she had a conversation with a female ROTC cadet that she decided to take a leap. “I
had no idea what I was doing and what I was getting myself into, I decided to just go for it.” Now, she proudly declares that it was the best decision she had made. Since joining ROTC, Tara has focused on advancing both herself and the female body in the Army. She has dedicated herself to the program and what it stands for. Tara’s passion for women’s participation in the Army is evident through all the effort she puts in ROTC through events, training, and commitment. Tara explains that the most challenging obstacle in her life thus far has been maturing; which she recognizes ROTC for helping her past the hurdle. “ROTC really helps you mature, it makes you think differently.” For someone who has already accomplished so much already, Tara explains that ultimately her life goal is simply to just be happy. She named her mother as the individual who has greatly influenced her, stating that she just wants to make her mom proud. After completing her ROTC Leadership Course, Tara’s future plans past graduation include moving to Washington D.C. to find a job. “I’m kind of in a limbo right now, but I think it will be exciting living in a different climate. I’m from Port Saint John, and so it will be really interesting for me to live somewhere else. I’m really excited.”
Want to see More? Check us out on: twitter.com/ ftcrimson Facebook.com/ ftcrimson crimson.fit.edu
photo by Efram Goldberg Panther Dining features an international bar, pizza buffet, grill, deli and panini bar, salad, dessert and beverage bars.
A Church Community with a Heart for the World
We are a growing, energetic, Biblical, Anglican parish with members from more than twenty countries.
Everyone is welcome here.
An interactive map is on our website: www.oursaviorpalmbay.org. Or call us at 321-723-8032 for more information. Sunday Service at 9:30 am
4 -JANUARY 22, 2014
Library Corner
The Florida tech crimson
Death of a Librarian Installment two of a three-part series, by Donald Hill, for Evans Library Follow along and read all three parts for clues to solve the mystery and claim a $20 prize – find full contest details in the last installment. To overcome fear, we must face it and conquer. If we are innately fearful of death, how could one of us be enticed to kill? The systematic flaw in our nature lies in the fact that if we give people the opportunity to do whatever they want, they will do just that. No morals will rule the free mind, and most importantly, nothing will stop them. Upon a brief overview of the body, I came to the conclusion that there was a great struggle. Books were tossed across the scene, and there were dents in some of the shelves. This is about as brutal as one person may become. Exposing the chest, I noticed the five stab wounds scattered around in no formal pattern or shape. Judging by the size of the wounds, it appears that they were made with some form of French knife. That’s our goal, that’s what we need to be on the lookout for. I begin to examine the rest of the body, and there’s a note in her hand -- small and almost unnoticed by me. I pull the note from the deceased’s hand and slowly pry it open to reveal its contents. The note reads, “I didn’t want to do this, they made me do this” in barely legible writing. I walk back to the first floor in an attempt to clear my head. Taking a swig from my flask filled to the top, I calm my nerves. I pace the floor, trying to piece together the whole scenario. Our suspect must have pre-meditated this murder, or he is just in fact insane and unfit to ever join society again. Serving in the military certainly can foul one’s mind way beyond repair. Being forced to kill changes one’s personality; it changes everything. People come out different, with a different perspective on the world. As they reenter society, their value and views of life are not accepted, and they are outcast. Life in solitude can drive a mind mad, and make people want to do terrible things. Ideas slowly fester into works of evil, and reality slips. Once they’ve reached that point, there is no going back, as alternate reality of the world has become permanent reality. Slowly making my way back up the stairs, my mind is set straight and my nauseous stomach is beginning to cure itself. Work can now finally take place even with such a heinous crime like this one. I remember when I was first hired on the police force all those years ago. Some things will always feel like they were yesterday. Walking into the station with the Brevard County Police Academy’s 2009 graduating class, I felt on top of the world. I believed that nobody could touch me, and I felt invincible. I was assigned a less-than-favorable position as traffic cop, but I believed that hard work and perseverance would allow me to work my way up to the top. We called ourselves the Men in Blue and were routinely assigned a partner and a squad car. I knew public perception of the police force was not a golden light, but I had to make the best of a bad situation. Every night I parked my car out by the church parking lot on Country Club road, right next to Florida Institute of Technology. I called this my sweet spot because without fail, it was easy to ticket unsuspecting college students that didn’t come to a full stop at the stop sign. It was a summer night in 2011 when I had my first encounter with being held at gunpoint. Figuring it was a routine stop, I started to run a license plate in our database, and the computer was telling me that the plates were phony and that I was looking at a possibly stolen vehicle. I stepped out of the car with a little more caution than usual, my hand hovering close to my weapon and ready to draw if necessary. I yelled at the driver to turn off the vehicle and step out of the car with his hands in full sight. The car screeched to a halt, but there was no further response. Against everything I was trained to do, I approached the vehicle cautiously. I knocked on the darkly tinted windows and told the driver to put down the window, now. As the window began its descent, I saw the barrel of a .44 Remington Magnum pistol pointed right at my face. I froze up. In my couple years of being an officer of the force, I had never been held at gunpoint, and this part of Florida did not strike me as such a place to be held at gunpoint. I tried to calm the man down some, and make him think logically. Gunning down a police officer in the streets is a huge crime, and a man would never want that weight on his shoulders no matter what he did. When I noticed the man inside started to calm down a little, I moved quickly to disarm him. My hand flew in like an angel on a mission to push the gun to the side of the car and subsequently drop it to the ground. I reached for my weapon and began to draw it out. At that very moment, the driver reached to the other side of the car and slipped his hand underneath the seat on the passenger side. Without hesitation I commanded him to stop and then unloaded three bullets into him. I took the life out of another human being. Am I as cruel as all the other murderers, or does what I wear justify all action? …To Be Continued. Need something to read while you wait for the finale? Find these in Evans Library: Canada, G. (1995). Fist, stick, knife, gun : A personal history of violence in America. Boston: Beacon Press. (online) May, L. S. (1936). Crime’s nemesis. New York: MacMillan. (online) Oatman, E. F. (1979). Crime and society. New York: H. W. Wilson Co. (in the library) Woolridge, C. R. (1906). Hands up! In the world of crime: Or 12 years a detective. Chicago: Thompson & Thomas. (online)
check us out at crimson.fit.edu
Campus life
5 - february 4, 2014
Students react to the rain through memes Last week it rained, and rained and rained. And students reacted on FIT Memes.
image property of FIT Memes
image property of FIT Memes
image property of FIT Memes/ Mark Dushane
image property of FIT Memes
See all the rain memes and more on facebook.com/FitMemes
The Florida tech crimson
6 - february 4, 2014
SCI/TECH SAFC Funding Report 2/4
The Florida tech crimson
7 - february 4, 2014
SCI/TECH
The Florida tech crimson
All support for Windows XP ending in April Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer After 12 years of being one of the most popular operating systems, Windows XP will no longer be supported by Microsoft on April 8th of this year. XP users will find that they no longer receive updates and will be unable to get technical support from Microsoft. Users will also be unable to download the XP version of Microsoft Security Essentials. While mainstream support already ended for Windows XP, it’s currently in the extended support period. Microsoft guarantees mainstream support for a minimum of 5 years after the release of an OS, while extended support can last over 10 years. Extended support lacks design changes, free incident support and warranty claims but still features the more
important security updates and product support. Microsoft points out that users who continue to use XP will be at very high risk to viruses and information theft. In addition, they will find an increasing number of devices and software that are incompatible with their operating system. At the end of last year nearly one-third of users were still running Windows XP, many of which are businesses who have no need for the features of a new OS. Microsoft’s website states that users who wish to remain protected have “two” options, upgrading to Windows 8.1 (if their system is compatible), or buying a brand new PC (with Windows 8.1). Of course users sticking with Windows also have the option to switch to the more popular Windows 7 or the aging Windows Vista which is already
in the extended support phase. While this transition may be an annoyance to individuals still using XP with no reason to waste money on a flashier OS, it’s businesses that are being hit the hardest. Rather than just spending money to upgrade a single computer, many businesses will have to upgrade numerous computers and possibly buy new ones if their hardware is outdated. In addition businesses face the tasks of transferring information securely, reinstalling software, installing any unusual hardware, and setting up a new network. These tasks will usually be performed by paid professionals and will result in downtime, in addition many busi-
nesses use custom software which may have to be rewritten to run on newer versions of Windows. One sector facing difficulty is ATM owners, according to NCR, the leading ATM manufacturer, 95% of ATMs worldwide are still running Windows XP. These ATMs will get little functional benefit from upgrading and many lack the hardware requirements for Windows 7 or 8. A small por-
tion are running the Embedded version of Windows XP which will still be supported until 2016, but many others will have to be rebuilt or replaced completely to remain secure. Users who wish to run XP specific software may choose to make use of a Windows XP Virtual PC, but they’ll still have to pay the price to upgrade their main OS if they want keep their system protected from new threats.
image property of Netmarketshare.com
Gadget Corner Joseph Stoltz Staff Writer
curved Ultra HD TV
Due to the sheer number of people afflicted with inverted cross-eye syndrome and eyes growing on the sides their head in our day and age, television manufacturers have come to realize how much of a hardship it is for these poor afflicted people to watch TV, and that is why several major electronics companies have just released their new televisions with concave warped displays; the perfect TV for those poor people who have eyes growing out of the sides of their head. Samsung has produced a disgustingly huge colossal TV that sizes in at a robust 105 inches of a gloriously obscene display. The main feature of this television, other than its size and ultra high definition screen, is its concaving screen that helps people with those non-existent eye conditions to view imagery more easily. On a more literal note, from viewing pictures taken at the last Consumer Electronics Show that were posted on the internet of this product and other similar ones, the TV’s do appear to create a more immersive and “natural” feel that seems to embrace or hug your field of view, of which this may all be purposely done to produce a new immersive experience for viewers. However, this effect does appear to be destroyed as soon as the viewer moves to either side of the centerline, and so far the majority of the articles on this new breed of TV tend to focus on the physical aspect of being curved rather than the reason as to why it is curved. So in lames terms, this may just be another worthless gimmick to get us to buy a new TV.
flying hovercraft bike
The next gadget I have in store for you is something right out of a Sci-Fi movie, something that most people would never dream of owning in any lifetime, and that gadget would the illustrious hoverbike. While this hover-bike isn’t able to move as fast or fly as high as those seen racing in the forests of Endor in the fifth Star Wars movie, it’s definitely able to do its job and start us heading in that direction with its ability to hover about 10ft off of the ground while still moving at a moderately fast pace. What makes this hover-bike even better is the statement on the developer’s website that it only uses 16 moving parts to create reliable lift, of which all of these parts are “all derived from autos and motorcycles, readily serviceable just about anywhere in the world. That includes the fans and engine (exc. bearings).” While you may think the hover-bike is just going to be another plaything for the wealthy, the actual intent for its creation is for it to be sold to people living in remote areas of the world that do not have access to roads or other forms of infrastructure to travel on, while also for people trying to do relief work in unforgiving environments, but this does not mean the hover-bike will not come at a steep price. At the moment, there has been no statement as to what the official or relative price will be for the machine, but the type of people this vehicle is intended for are not usually known for being wealthy, so one would think it would have a fair price.
Have a response to this or any article? email it to us at crimson@fit. edu, and you may see it on this page next issue!
the Florida tech crimson
SPORTS february 4, 2014
Men’s basketball continues to struggle in SSC SSC Standings David Barkholz Sports Editor Chris Carter sits in the front row of his economics class, hunched forward in front of the faint glow of a beat up laptop. The familiar logos of conference rivals line the top of the blue screen in a mismatch of Sharks, Knights and Lions. Just below that is another familiar image, the smiling face of his teammate, Jermaine Jackson. Jackson is being featured as the Sunshine State Conference’s basketball player of the week, and rightfully so after averaging a league-best 33 points during that span. After skimming the article, Carter moves his cursor over the “Statistics” link and right-clicks. As the page loads, the he quickly jots down a few notes before the projector in the front of the classroom switches to the next slide. Numbers and names begin to pour over the point guard’s screen. He scrolls down slowly, first over individual scoring leaders. Jackson leads the SSC with 21.5 points-per-game. Carter himself is fourth with 18.7. Just under that is a list of the conference’s individual rebounding leaders with another familiar name holding the top spot. Corbin Jackson, another teammate of Carter’s, stands above all others in the category with 10.9 next to his name. Carter scrolls down the page a little further until he sees his own name topping a statistical category. The junior is leading the SSC in assists, arguably the most important stat for any point guard. He sees he’s dished out 151 on the season – 30 more than his closest competitor. Carter’s facial expression remains unchanged,
Jan. 31
1. Florida Southern 7-1, 18-1 overall 2. Barry 5-3, 14-3 overall 3. Nova Southeastern 5-3, 8-11 overall Photo BY Efram Goldberg however, and – keeping the same tightlipped, composed look about him that he has on the floor – switches over to the Florida Tech sports homepage. It’s the first story on the screen. “Panthers Avoid Shark Bite, Shoot Lights Out in Win.” Carter clicks on the headline and begins dissecting each line of the recap from the game he and the Panthers played in the night before. “The size advantage was all Florida Tech’s…” “Jermaine Jackson’s 38 points…” “Chris Carter (12 points, nine assists)…” “‘We needed to win this one...’” “Needed” might not have been a strong enough word. The Panthers had found themselves on the losing end of three of their last four conference matchups, a two-point loss to No. 3 Florida Southern being the most recent. A respectable 12-4
4. Saint Leo overall record only masked a disappointing 2-3 SSC record, so when the team did avoid a shark bite and beat Nova Southeastern, it certainly appeared as if Florida Tech, the team picked to finished second in the conference, had finally found its groove. We played as a unit tonight and found the open man,” Jackson said in the release on Carter’s laptop that Thursday morning. “We shot the ball well and hopefully we can continue to do that on Saturday versus Eckerd.” But the Panthers didn’t continue to do that when they faced Tritons. They, instead, shot only 56 percent from the free throw line and turned the ball over 16 times in a 79-75 loss to tip their conference record back towards the right column. Things didn’t get any better just four days later when the team suffered another defeat, this time a 96-92 overtime loss to Barry that lowered the Panthers conference record to 3-5. We cannot let our games
come down to free throw shooting and officiating,” said head coach Billy Mims after the game in a release. ”We let this game get away from us in the final 90 seconds. We should be 6-1 in conference play heading into the second half of action and instead, we are tied for eighth place.” Of the nine games remaining on the Panthers regular season schedule, eight are against SSC opponents. Only three of those conference matchups will be at home, meaning – at least by the standards of which they have been playing – Florida Tech men’s basketball has a very steep uphill climb. But it’s not an impossible one, and this is still a season that can be salvaged. After all, their starting five is still made up of the league leading scorer, the league-leading rebounder and the league-leading setup man.
4-4, 16-5 5. Tampa 4-4, 11-6 6. Eckerd 4-4, 11-8 7. Florida Tech 3-5, 13-6 8. Rollins 3-5, 9-9 9. Lynn 1-7, 7-11