The Peak – October 2017 by Kennesaw State University Student Media

THE

PEAK

KSU’s Organic Farmers Market Campus Life 6

THE PEAK MAGAZINE // OCTOBER 2017 // KSULIFESTYLE.COM

‘Tis the Season Health 10

Destiny 2

Entertainment 26

EDITORIAL

Griffith Knoop Editor in Chief

eic@ksulifestyle.com

Jessica Brummel Managing Editor

managing@ksulifestyle.com

Millena Silva

Creative Marketing Director marketing@ksulifestyle.com

Eliza Jones

Lead Copy Editor

copy@ksulifestyle.com

Emilie Wilhite Photo Editor

photo@ksulifestyle.com

Lauren Clark

Production Manager

layout.ksulifestyle@gmail.com

Tommy Calhoun

Entertainment Editor

entertainment@ksulifestyle.com

Camille Reaves

Science & Tech Editor tech@ksulifestyle.com

The Peak 1100 South Marietta Parkway Joe Mack Wilson Student Center Room A-246 Marietta, GA 30060 (678) 915-7310 www.ksulifestyle.com

@KSUPeak

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

Faculty Adviser

Administrative Adviser

Jeff Greene

Ed Bonza

jgreene3@kennesaw.edu

ebonza@kennesaw.edu

Table of Contents Page

Article Title

Section

Changing Your Major

Campus Life

Starbucks Secret Menu Items

Campus Life

KSU’s Organic Farmers Market

Campus Life

An RA’s Guide to Dorm Law

Campus Life

Let’s Talk About Alcohol Poisoning

Health

‘Tis the Season

Health

Pumpkin Spice Life

Health

Race to the Green Line

Tech

Amazon Headquarters 2

Tech

Who Owns an Asteroid?

Tech

Beginner’s Guide to Videography

Tech

Destiny 2

Entertainment

More than DnD

Entertainment

Gatekeeping

Entertainment

Fun Fall Festivities

Entertainment

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

Changing Your Major: Why It’s Okay to Try New Things By Eliza Jones

hen I began studying at KSU the fall semester of 2011, I was a nursing major. I had specifically taken classes in high school geared towards the medical profession, I had enjoyed chemistry when I took it as a sophomore, and I thought I had sufficiently prepared myself to study nursing. Boy, was I horribly wrong. It turns out that I really can’t handle stressful situations, and I break down under pressure – not qualities a nurse should have. So, I dropped out for the rest of the semester, took some time to reassess my skills and passions, and came back in January of 2012 ready to start fresh. And that’s okay. I learned a lot about myself from my brief stint as a nursing major – maybe the things I learned weren’t very positive, but they still informed my decision making for the rest of my college career. I learned how many classes I could take at one time without losing my mind, and I realized that study habits that once worked for me in high school would not work now. This happened each time I changed my major, and that’s why students should not be afraid to rethink their choices. Choosing a major is a critical step in moving forward in life, but accepting that the major you chose isn’t the

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

right fit for you is equally important. If you’re not happy now, then chances are you won’t be happy in your equivalent career field. As much as I would have loved to be a nurse, I just would not have been able to handle it. Talking to a career counselor can help you to figure out what you should pursue. If you have a passion for something, explore different opportunities and see how you can apply them in your life. My two greatest passions are helping people and writing, so my next step in finding a major was to pursue journalism. While this, too, didn’t pan out for me, I spent several semesters as a journalism major. I joined the student organization Society of Professional Journalist (SPJ) and made several great connections with students and professors whom I keep in contact with. I learned about ethics and unbiased reporting during this time, and I use that knowledge on at least a weekly basis now: when I research topics for academic and personal purposes, edit articles, or write articles myself. My experience as a journalism major taught me a lot about the field, and it interested me greatly, but I felt no deep desire to actually be a journalist. It was during this time that I discovered how much I enjoyed

editing. One of the members of SPJ ran a magazine, and she took me on as her copy editor. After several months of editing various articles for her, as well as editing a novel and a handful of indie video games, I decided that I had found my calling. I changed my major to English, and I’ve spent the last few years pursuing that. That change in major eventually led me to finding my job here at The Peak as their lead copy editor, and I am finally content that I am doing the right thing. Your experience at college, corny as it sounds, is all about the journey, not the destination. You will graduate eventually, but the path you take to get there is where you discover the important qualities of your character. Each academic decision you make teaches you something about yourself, be it positive or negative. Use these moments to discover what it is that you are passionate about, and don’t let yourself get trapped doing something you’re unhappy with just because you feel like you need to stick to it. Student organizations are also a useful way to discover this about yourself. You just might find yourself enjoying something you never would have considered otherwise.

Photo source: Lauren Clark

Starbucks Hidden Menu Items

Harry Potter Edition By Lauren Clark

rowing up, I was the epitome of nerdy and weird. I wore glasses and worshiped the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. After so many years, my love for Harry Potter remains with me to this day. I’m still pretty nerdy, but if you take one look at me, you might stereotype me as a basic white girl. So, to combine both my basic side and nerdy side, I provide you this article showing you some cool Harry Potter-themed Starbucks Secret Menu drinks. I’ll also tell you which Starbucks to go to on campus to get the best make of the different drinks.

Butterbeer Frappuccino

Pumpkin Juice

This was the first one I ever tried, and I fell in love! The caramel frappuccino doesn’t even compare to the sweet, goodness of this butterbeer-flavored masterpiece. Fun fact: my mother actually showed me this one first. Here’s what to tell the baristas when you want this delicious treat:

I was a bit hesitant to try this one because I don’t really care for pumpkin pie. I’ve heard many people say that the pumpkin juice they have at the Wizarding World at Universal Studios is horrible. However, this was pretty dope! Even though I’m not much of a juice person, it exceeded expectations.

Ask for a grande creme frappuccino with WHOLE milk 3 pumps of caramel syrup

Hot Butterbeer Latte This is basically the hot version of the butterbeer frappuccino:

3 pumps of toffee nut syrup

Ask for a grande whole milk steamer

Top it off with caramel drizzle

Add 3 pumps of caramel syrup

If you get a different size, just decrease (for tall) or increase (for venti) the amount of syrups you ask for by 1 pump The Starbucks on Kennesaw Campus in the Burruss Building makes this one the best! They’re pretty good with fraps in general. They make sure there isn’t too much milk and they don’t short you on the caramel drizzle!

Add 3 pumps of toffee nut syrup Add 3 pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup

Pumpkin spice sauce (1.5 for tall, 2 for grande, 3 for venti) Apple juice to the top line Just add some ice to fill up the rest The Starbucks in the J Building at the Marietta Campus makes the best one! They didn’t overfill it with ice… I hate it when places do that.

Add whipped cream and salted caramel bits (Optional: add creme brule bits if you prefer something sweeter) Optional: if you want more of a coffee taste, add 1-2 shots of espresso for any size. If you get a different size, put 2 pumps of each syrup for a tall and 4 pumps of each syrup for a venti I’m a big fan of warmer coffees, especially in the morning for my 8:00 a.m. class. The best Starbucks to get this latte from is at the Kennesaw Campus in the Social Sciences Building. Hot coffees are their specialty. Leave cold drinks to the guys in Burruss.

If you enjoy non-traditional Starbucks drinks and treats, make sure to check out starbuckssecretmenu.net for more recipes. Also, keep an eye out for some other movie-themed Starbucks Secret Menu articles from us in the future! Photos by: Emilie Wilhite

Photo source: pexels.com

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

KSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Organic Farmers Market By Jessica Brummel

niversity Dining has brought the Farmers Market back! During the fall semester, you can find healthy organic foods, beautiful jewelry, and self-care products from the vendors lining the Campus Green on Kennesaw Campus. Several vendors will be present every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until November 15. Here are some great vendors to look out for:

Hometown Honey (beeyourhoney.com) Hometown Honey is a beekeeping business that started in 1992. Its father and son co-founders, Brian and Branden Higgins, began the business when they realized they were unable to grow produce in their backyard - not because of Georgia red clay, but because there were no bees! They started small, but quickly grew to have five large bee yards all across Atlanta. You can find them in Kennesaw, Acworth, Woodstock, Marietta, and Cartersville. They bring amazing goods to the Farmers Market, so look out for their honey, candles, soaps, and lotions!

Kasha27 (kasha27.com) Owner Lucretia Smith started out by creating body butters, lotions, and soap as gifts for friends. However, their popularity quickly boomed, and she created Kasha27. The items you find in her stall are guaranteed to be organic and contain natural raw ingredients.

Ripe Juicery (theripejuicery.com) Rachel Willis started her business with a vision of making fast food healthy and delicious. She was upset with what was currently in the market, so she put up her idea on Kickstarter and quickly reached her goal. At her truck, you can buy delicious acai and fruit bowls, healthy smoothies and juices, and coffee, all of which contain 100% natural ingredients and non-GMO produce. Even more impressive is her mission to source food locally in an effort to support the local farmers.

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Photos by: Emilie Wilhite

Vego Bistro (vegobistro.com)

Harvest Soul (harvestsoul.com)

Owners Lindsey and David Esterline believe that a healthy diet equals a healthy body. They started this business because they were both unhealthy, but they found that eating an all-plant diet turned their lives around and relieved many of their issues. Now, through Vego Bistro, they’re bringing this message to our campus. At their vegan food truck, you can find delicious meals such as taco stacks, portobello burgers, soups, and cold pressed juices. Vego Bistro really shines, because they know that even though healthy foods are expensive, they should be available for everyone. Once a month they serve homeless shelters for free.

Harvest Soul is a business built on creating healthy and nutrient-rich blended juices. It started out when they realized that current ‘healthy’ juices were actually packed full of sugar and didn’t provide much of the daily nutrients our bodies need. So they created their solution. Harvest Soul juices are blended, not pressed, so none of the important vitamins are excluded from their beverages. Furthermore, they use organic and nonGMO ingredients. In their drinks you can find more than three servings of fruits and veggies, and they contain no added sugar. Kennesaw has picked amazing vendors that are healthoriented. There are many more vendors that weren’t listed, but you should definitely go check them out. You can expect to find more organic foods, self-care products, and beautiful jewelry at KSU’s Farmers Market.

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

CAMPUS LIFE

An RA’s Guide to Dorm Law By Jessica Brummel

ometimes it’s hard to keep track of all the different rules that govern dorm living. Often times I find that people weren’t aware that some of the things they have been doing for a while are in fact things that could get them in trouble. So, here’s a resident assistant’s guide to what’s what when it comes to living on campus.

Tobacco Tobacco products, such as vapes, vape juices, and cigarettes are allowed on campus. However, you’re not allowed to use them and can get ticketed if you’re caught. If you use them in your room and the fire alarm is set off, you’ll get another ticket for causing a false alarm.

Heat For general safety reasons (and because fire alarms will go off for almost anything), no candles are allowed in dorms. Also, in order to prevent accidental fires, no hot plates that turn red are allowed.

Alcohol

Pets

Campus Carry

No matter your age, alcohol is prohibited in dry buildings. If you live on the Kennesaw Campus, this means that UV, UVS, and KP are completely alcohol-free. On the Marietta Campus, dry buildings are Howell, HV 200, and certain floors of HV 100. The other residence halls on either campus are moist buildings. This means that if you’re over 21 you can drink in them, but it also means that if you or your roommates are under 21, no alcohol is allowed in the common areas. Alcohol and drug paraphernalia are also banned, regardless of whether you live in a dry or a moist building. This can include any posters about alcohol or drugs, empty alcohol bottles lining the cabinets, or a beer pong table. Lastly, any games, like water pong and circle of death, that encourage binge drinking are also against the rules.

Without the correct paperwork, the only pets you’re allowed to have on campus are fish that fit into a clean, 10 gallon fish tank. No other pets are allowed unless they’re service animals. These animals have to be registered and approved by the Student’s Disability Service and Housing and Residence Life, and certain paperwork has to be carried at all times. Lastly, no pets are allowed around the residential communities. If you’re caught with an an unauthorized pet, you’ll be given daily fees until the animal is permanently off campus.

Campus carry recently passed, and there still seems to be some confusion as to where guns are allowed. Know that it is against the law to have a firearm in your dorm or around a residential area. So, if you have a concealed carry license and a gun, you need to keep it in your car if you’re going to head back to your room.

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

Quiet Hours The quiet hours for each campus are Sunday-Thursday from 10pm-10am. Friday and Saturday quiet hours start at midnight, and end at 10 in the morning. If you have a noise complaint, you can call the on-call RA for your respective campus area, and they can come and handle the situation.

Photo source: ksuhousing.kennesaw.edu

HEALTH

Let’s Talk About

Alcohol Poisoning

By Jessica Brummel

hen people think of college, they think of a few things: education, debt, and partying. With partying comes drinking, and with drinking comes the risk of alcohol poisoning. It is incredibly easy to overdose on alcohol. Many people engage in binge drinking, or consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. This is dangerous because the liver can only process a serving per hour, meaning alcohol can stay in your system long after you’ve finished drinking. According to the American Addiction Centers, a serving is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. If someone is imbibing much more than that, they can quickly be on their way to a serious medical issue. Alcohol is digested slowly, and it travels through the bloodstream and affects the brain. Because the process takes time, once symptoms of alcohol poisoning start alcohol will still be entering the bloodstream, which means that the symptoms will get worse.

Symptoms to Look Out For: Disorientation Vomiting Hypothermia Cold or sweaty skin Loss of bowel control Dehydration If someone is at a party and is unconscious or is experiencing many of these symptoms, it’s important to bring immediate aid.

Try to keep the person awake. If they are conscious, try and get the individual to take small sips of water to combat dehydration. If they are lying down, roll them onto their side with their arms over their head. This will prevent them from choking on their vomit. Alcohol causes blood vessels to expand, which releases body heat. Keep the individual warm to prevent hypothermia. You should also call the paramedics, or take the person to urgent care if you are not inebriated. DO NOT give the individual coffee, as this can lead to dehydration. DO NOT put the individual in a cold shower, because it could increase the risk for hypothermia. Remember that Georgia has a law called HB 965, also known as GA medical amnesty. If a person makes the phone call, or if a person checks themselves in due to any substance overdose at any age, they can not have legal action taken against them. There’s no reason not to call for help when someone’s life is at stake. Calling 911 can save a life. The best way to treat alcohol poisoning, however, is to prevent it. Make sure to drink in moderation and to have a glass of water after each drink. Remember, it takes the body a long time to digest alcohol, so even if you feel fine initially, there may be a quick downward spiral. Make sure to eat while drinking, as drinking on an empty stomach will cause alcohol to have a stronger effect. Lastly, NEVER mix alcohol with other medications. Check your medications to see if there is a warning about imbibing, as serious consequences may occur.

KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

HEALTH

‘Tis the Season: Dealing with S.A.D. By Jessica Brummel

here’s a lot to celebrate with the changing of seasons. Whether you’re excited about cooler days and big sweaters, or holidays and pumpkin pies, fall and winter are fantastic for spending time with family and friends. However, while they bring the changing of leaves and maybe even some snow, the last two seasons of the year bring shorter days and less sunlight. For some people, this isn’t a big deal, but for others, less time in the sun means dealing with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression.

The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) defines seasonal affective disorder as a subcategory of major depression1. You might have this if you meet the full criteria of major depression for at least 2 years during a particular season. If you do, you’re not alone - most of the risk factors indicate that college students are largely affected. According to Psychology Today, around 10 million Americans have it, and another 10-20% may be diagnosed with a milder case. You’re at high risk if you’re between the ages of 18 to 30, and women are four times as likely as men to have it. Furthermore, the further you live from the equator, the more likely you are to have SAD2.

There’s two categories of seasonal depression; however, the most common one is during the fall and winter months. Symptoms include an increased appetite, exhaustion, hypersomnia, suicidal thoughts, and a loss of interest in once previously enjoyable activities1. It is believed that there are three major conditions that cause SAD, and they all stem from the shorter days and longer nights of fall and winter1. With less sun, the body absorbs less Vitamin D, which

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in return affects serotonin activity. Serotonin is a mood hormone and is believed to regulate happiness. People who are diagnosed with SAD tend to have higher amounts of the serotonin transporter protein, which decreases the amount of the chemical available in the synapses. Lastly, melatonin is at prime production at night, and research shows that the hormone has high production in darkness. It is a sleep hormone, and this is the most likely cause of the fatigue and hypersomnia an individual may face1.

The treatment for SAD revolves around the reasoning that the causes stem from hormone imbalance and a lack of sunlight. Depending on the patient’s choices, and the doctor’s suggestions, there are three main treatments: medication, light therapy, and counseling2. Light therapy is just what it sounds like - high exposure to extreme, fluorescent light for various amounts of times depending on the doctor’s orders. Usually, this treatment is used for the entirety of the two seasons, until the longer days return2. If this treatment is not effective on its own, psychiatrists may prescribe certain antidepressants to aid in balancing hormone levels. Finally, therapy or counseling is extremely beneficial and highly recommended. It is a way to vent everything that you are going through, and have an expert listen and help you decide the best ways to take care of yourself. It is extremely cathartic to talk about everything that you’ve been going through, and to have a dedicated person who is there to help you get better. Every student on campus has several free counseling appointments available each semester. To find out more, check out KSU’s counseling site at counseling.kennesaw.edu. Resources: 1https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml 2https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder Photo source: publicdomainpictures.net

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HEALTH

Pumpkin Spice Life By Jessica Brummel

t’s finally time for giant sweaters, leggings, and, most importantly, pumpkin and cinnamon. With the release of the pumpkin spice latte, Starbucks has “officially” declared that it is fall. Other than the drink being delicious, there are several reasons why you should indulge in this treat and many of the other staple fall foods.

Spice It Up! Cinnamon comes from the dried, inner bark of the cinnamomum tree1. The spice has been used for a long time, and the History Channel showcased that cinnamon has a long, colorful past, and has been a sought after spice for ages. In fact, during the 16th century, Arab traders created fantasy tales for the spice in order to up the demand and air of mystery around it2. Cinnamon quickly became a symbol of status, and while the high demand for the spice had very little to do with its health benefits, it’s chock full of them. Cinnamon is composed of the essential oil cinnamaldehyde, which is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The properties of the compound reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, the risk of heart disease, and it has also been found to reduce insulin resistance. It’s a great and simple alternative supplement to prevent or help treat certain ailments during the flu season.

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Simple Ways to Include Cinnamon in Your Diet This Season: Cinnamon is a great addition to many hot drinks. Add a little to your coffee, your hot chocolate, or even drink some apple cider, and you’ll be able to appreciate the taste while staying healthy. If you’re looking for a great and easy way to combat viruses during the flu season, you can mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of cinnamon, a tablespoon of honey, and hot water. This drink combines the health benefits of many popular alternative supplements, but just be warned - it definitely tastes like medicine, not a treat. If you’re more into sweet treats, there are dozens of recipes online for snickerdoodles, churros, and various pies, which are all full of cinnamon.

Pumpkins Aren’t Only for Carving Jack-o-lanterns have been a popular Halloween symbol for ages, but there’s an even better - and yummier - reason to buy a few pumpkins this season. According to Healthline, this gourd is a low calorie treat that’s full of fiber. It’s also packed full of vitamins such as Vitamin A and C, making it a great addition to your diet1.

Some Great Ways to Use Every Bit of Your Pumpkin: When scooping out the insides of a pumpkin, make sure to keep the seeds. The seeds can be seasoned and roasted in an oven or a toaster oven, and they are a delicious, low calorie treat (you can even add cinnamon to them). If carving jacko-lanterns isn’t your ideal way to spend an evening, there are great alternative ways to use the pumpkin shell. The Food Network showcases a fantastic tutorial for pumpkin puree3. After scooping out the guts and the seeds, you can bake the shells to prepare them for a super easy pumpkin puree recipe to use for recipes like fresh pumpkin pie, or your very own homemade pumpkin spice latte. However, if baking isn’t for you, you can also turn the shells into a pumpkin candle using wax flakes, cotton wicks, and an essential oil.

1.http://www.healthline.com/ nutrition/10-proven-benefits-ofcinnamon 2.http://www.history.com/news/ hungry-history/cinnamons-spicyhistory 3.http://www.foodnetwork.com/ recipes/alton-brown/pumpkinpuree-recipe-1922629

Photo source: publicdomainpicture.net

TECH

Race to the Green Line: The Competition for the Endurant Electric Car By Camille Reaves

Photo source: pexels.com

s the future of transportation becomes clearer, it also becomes greener. With the exponentially growing number of car charging stations dotting the nation and electric vehicle (EV) makers looking to become more accessible for middle-class America, smart companies are looking to invest in these smart cars. However, to the present-day consumer, expectation far surpasses EV performance.

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TECH

Investing in StoreDot is just the newest innovation for Daimler's trucking line.

A study conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that consumers’ expectations were generally unattainable for range, recharge, purchase price, and price premium. When it comes to EVs, the expectations of these consumers surpassed reality by factors as high as two or three. While customers are attracted to electric vehicles when fuel prices are high, consumers will lose interest in EVs when the fleet fuel economy rises to 50 mpg. The majority of consumers are not willing to pay a premium to get an electric vehicle, and most electric vehicles currently have a premium of 50%. In addition to avoiding price premiums, consumers also expect to get their EV for less than $30,000. Most importantly, consumers expect an average recharge time of less than two hours (Japan, on average, expected a recharge time of as low as 30 minutes). The current average of 8 hours was viewed

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as acceptable by only a small percentage of consumers. The ICCT found that, when comparing consumer expectations to currentlyproduced electric vehicles, only 2 to 4% of the population in countries surveyed are found inside the market for green cars.1 Knowing all of this, it is not easy to see why Daimler AG announced earlier this month that they are investing $10 billion in next generation electric vehicles and an additional $1 billion in batteries.6 Multinational German automotive corporation Daimler AG owns or has shares in a large number of prominent brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mitsubishi Fuso, and others. Take a closer look at what they are investing in, and you’ll begin to see why. The most immediately notable among these investments is StoreDot.5 Israeli startup StoreDot specializes in producing a new kind of battery,

the FlashBattery, which is powered by carbon-based organic compounds and nanomaterials. These batteries are not aimed at increasing battery life, but are instead aimed at decreasing charge times. StoreDot made waves last year when it revealed a phone battery installed in a Samsung Galaxy S4 that could charge in just 30 seconds - that’s right, StoreDot’s phone battery charges in the same time it takes to send a tweet or (partially) microwave a burrito. This year, they are upending a different industry: electric vehicles. StoreDot announced their intentions to make a fast-charging EV battery in 2015, but this year they demonstrated this technology at the CUBE Tech Fair in Berlin. The battery wasn’t just quick-charging: at just five minutes to a full charge, it was revolutionizing. StoreDot’s demonstration is just the start of their plans for electric vehicle batteries. The company recently raised $60 million in funding, with Daimler’s trucking

Photo source: ft.com

arm offering a very generous portion thereof. In payment for this, Daimler’s trucks are at the front of the line for the batteries, with a prospective roll-out date placed in 2020.2 These batteries are eco-friendly, and electric vehicles equipped with the flash battery are spec’d at being able to drive in surplus of 300 miles on a full charge.3 It’s more than just trucks in line for the FlashBattery, though. Doron Myersdorf, CEO and founder of StoreDot, told TechCrunch this month: “We are working on the whole fleet, including luxury cars, passenger cars and buses.” To achieve this monumental task, StoreDot is reconsidering every aspect of lithium-ion batteries. Myersdorf wants to be clear that, “In order for fast charging to work, all [of the parts] have to be totally redesigned because the tradition structure was focused on fast discharge, but there was no symmetry,” in how charge was conducted to the battery in the first place.2 They have created an entirely new combination of nanomaterials that takes in the charge and stores it without the battery heating up, shorting out, or any of the other issues that have been seen with lithium-ion batteries.2 StoreDot claims that the FlashBattery is also safer than lithium-ion batteries due to its inflammability and higher combustion point.3

Photo source: electrek.com / Daimler is investing millions in new battery technology, leading a recent surge in green technology investment.

approval process, and into the average electric vehicle, they will solve a good portion of the problems that consumers have with green cars. Its five-minute charge time is almost incomparable to the 8-hour average of current electric vehicles, solving the top consumer complaint about EVs. It will also solve the issue of range: current electric car companies are looking to meet the 200-mile mark on their batteries, the 300-mile range of the FlashBattery will increase the available range of electric vehicles, solving yet another consumer complaint. The FlashBattery heralds an explosion for the consumer market for electric vehicles.4 Why is Daimler investing in StoreDot and a range of other next-generation electric vehicle technology? Daimler sees the future, and the future is green.

Photo source: storedot.com / StoreDot can fully charge an electric car battery in less than 5 minutes

If you think these charging times are mind blowing, Myersdorf disagrees: “We could charge the full battery for a phone or car in a minute or less. The tech allows for it, but it’s a question of practicality because one minute requires a very large charger.” To charge a car to run 300 miles at this rate, consumers would need a one-megawatt station. For an additional four minutes, the chargers were exponentially smaller, and thus more commercially practical.2 If StoreDot successfully gets their FlashBattery to the consumer market, making it through R&D, the regulatory

Resources 1 https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-09/documents/ kodjak121312.pdf 2 https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/14/quick-charging-battery-startup-storedot-gets-60m-on-500m-valuation-led-by-daimler/ 3 https://www.engadget.com/2017/05/12/storedot-ev-battery-demo/ 4 http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a19331/ how-far-literally-can-the-electric-car-go/ 5 https://www.daimler.com/company/ 6 https://twitter.com/Daimler/status/912349809662496768?ref_ src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffuturism.com%2Felon-musk-jokingly-takes-credit-for-daimlers-10-billion-ev-investment%2F

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TECH

Amazon Headquarters 2:

Why Amazon Should Make Atlanta It’s New Home By Brenae Johnson

mazon has recently announced their decision to open up another headquarters, named HQ2. This announcement has many cities in a frenzy vying for their business, as Amazon brings the promise of a large boost to the local economy with it. The cities that are being considered include Dallas, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Austin, Boston, San Jose, Washington D.C, and, most importantly, Atlanta. Amazon is planning to bring 5 billion in construction and approximately 50,000 jobs to the lucky city chosen. These jobs have an annual wage of over $100,000; clearly, Amazon will be to boon more than just the local economy, boosting local job markets with well-paying jobs. Amazon’s prerequisites for the city hosting HQ2 include a metropolitan city with more than 1 million people, urban or suburban locations with the ability to attract strong technical talent (especially software developers), and a diverse community with many creative locations for the future sprawling campus of HQ2. Other preferences include a campus close to downtown or a campus to mirror the one in Seattle. HQ2 will need a campus with at least 500,000 sq.

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ft., with the potential for 8 million sq. ft. in the future. Amazon also wants to offer the best workspace possible to its employees by making sure that they have a plethora of transportation options to and from work. As such, they prefer that HQ2 be near a highway, be in close proximity to bus or train stops, sidewalks, bike lanes, and any other methods of transportation that would make it easy to commute to work. Another top item on Amazon’s list is sustainability and, just like their first headquarters in Seattle, they prefer that HQ2 be energy efficient and completely sustainable. They are also looking for a location with fiber connectivity and optimal coverage. Amazon has additional key legal requirements that must be met by all potential cities. Firstly, they want incentives offered by the state, which will help cover initial costs. These incentives can include tax credits or exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility grants, or fee reductions. Secondly, Amazon requires a highly intelligent labor force as previously mentioned, so they want to be close to exceptional universities to recruit top talent.

Now that we’ve discussed all the requirements, here’s my pitch for why Atlanta is the perfect city to be the second home for Amazon. To begin, Atlanta is home to the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. This major travel hub could be vital to Amazon, as they require close proximity to an airport to travel around the US. Another advantage to being in Atlanta is the proximity to major universities such as Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech is ranked #1 among all colleges in Georgia, and #7 among all schools in the country. Georgia Tech would be perfect for Amazon’s need to be near a top caliber university to recruit talent to help fill those 50,000 jobs. Being in the heart of Atlanta would yield great diversity, as Atlanta and the surrounding metro area are full of many different cultures and races. There is also a cutting-edge tech scene in Atlanta: we are home to many of the major companies’ headquarters, like NCR, SunTrust, UPS, Home Depot, and more. Amazon also stressed the need for reliable public transportation for employees, and Atlanta has that in MARTA. MARTA is one of the top

Photo source: publicdomainpictures.com

10 transportation services in the US, complete with a fleet of buses, railcars, and trains. Marta provides transportation to upwards of 500,00 people every day, and to even more after the I-75 bridge collapse. While the bridge has since been rebuilt, MARTA has handled the influx of travelers with grace, and shown that they can handle large increases in commuter populations with relative ease. Lastly, we have a vibrant entertainment industry, with many saying that Atlanta rivals Hollywood. In fact, Georgia is #1 in feature film productions in the entire world, and a combination of a large filmrelated job industry and Georgia’s unchallenged tax breaks for film promise even greater growth of this industry in the future. This would be beneficial for Amazon Prime, as they could film most of their movies in local studios. We talked about the pros of Amazon choosing Atlanta, so now let’s talk about the cons. If Amazon were to choose Atlanta for HQ2, the traffic would be horrible. Atlanta already has pretty constant traffic, making commutes of 30 minutes sometimes last more than two hours. Now, imagine 50,000 jobs magically landing in Atlanta. It would be equivalent to the California Gold Rush as people from all around the world flock to Atlanta, making the

congestion on the roads unbearable. This pilgrimage to Atlanta would also make rent prices skyrocket. The average rent in Atlanta is $1,350 per month and with a powerhouse like Amazon coming here, rent would undoubtedly rise. The rental market would be cutthroat when forced to cater to Atlanta’s university students, workers, and flockers. Even if you weren’t looking to rent, the average price of buying a home would rise from $250,000 to some unforeseen number. Recruitment at other colleges would also suffer, I fear, as Amazon would probably focus on Georgia Tech. This could possibly lead other companies to hone in on Georgia Tech students in an effort to keep up, leaving out many other universities with students of equal talent. This trend has already started with NCR, which is currently headquartered in Kennesaw, GA, but looking to move to Atlanta to attract more talent. Now let’s talk about Atlanta’s competition. Pittsburgh, PA is a top contender, as they have great recruitment potential from nearby Carnegie Melon University. However, their airport lacks the size and efficiency needed for the travel Amazon requires, and includes no direct flights to Seattle. Another top prospect is Boston, MA, home to schools like MIT and Harvard, which promises to yield exceptional talent

for a recruiting pool. However, the cost of living in Boston is extremely high compared to others on the list which could make it a less attractive prospect. Just because you’re making $100,000 doesn’t mean you want to spend it all on rent. Austin, TX is also in the running due to the presence of tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, to name a few. They also have a diverse culture in terms of things to do like SXSW (South by Southwest), which is a high profile annual film and music festival. Austin culture encourages people to “stay weird,” and this non-conformist attitude can certainly appeal to many people. However, Atlanta can still compete as we have things like DragonCon, AWA, the Georgia Aquarium, Music Midtown, and The High Art Museum as just a few of our major attractions. Every city in contention is a viable option, but Atlanta hits everything on the list. So, Amazon: your best bet is to come to Atlanta (and give me a job). References http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/11/technology/ amazon-cities/index.html http://www.myajc.com/business/kempner-amazon-here-billion-now-bring-atlanta-000-jobs/ LgQgzIYwPe0YoFO9wJ3H9N/ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/Anything/test/images/usa/RFP_3._ V516043504_.pdf https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/?node=17044620011 http://www.atl.com/about-atl/ http://www.gatech.edu/about/rankings http://www.itsmarta.com/MARTA-at-a-Glance. aspx

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TECH

Who Owns an Asteroid? By John Thornton

hen will the apocalypse come, and how will it happen? The arrival of the end of the world is something that has been thoroughly debated by scientists, religions, and cults alike. The first prediction of the end of days was recorded in 66 AD: the Jewish Revolt against the Romans in Judea began, an event that the Jewish Essene sect predicted would be the final battle before the arrival of the Messiah. While the world obviously didn’t end, it doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. A report published in 2015 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), recognizable by its adorable panda logo, predicted that the Earth’s resources will run out by the year 2050 due to our exploitation of the planet. The Huffington Post reported last year that we have been going into further “ecological debt” since the 1970s. In other words, we are using considerably more natural resources each year than what should be allowed if we want to assure future generations

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will have enough to maintain our current standard of living. However, the situation could be even more dire. Instead of worrying about how comfortable our children’s children will be living, maybe we need to be concerned about them living at all. The date of Armageddon differs, but the consensus is usually the same: the Earth is running out of resources. But don’t panic and start building your 10 Cloverfield Lane-inspired bunker yet, dear reader, for there is hope! In recent years, private companies have started looking to the stars for future resources. That’s right: I’m talking about asteroid mining. While the concept is still in its infancy, the race for asteroid mining has already begun. One such competitor is Planetary Resources, a company whose sole goal is to extract material from near-Earth asteroids. Planetary Resources has chosen eight asteroids for their initial attempts. These do

not represent all of the near-Earth asteroids available to humanity though; there are over 11,000 (and counting) asteroids that could potentially be harvested. Each asteroid could be exceedingly rich in resources such as platinum and water. A single 500-meter asteroid could hold more platinum than has been mined on Earth in the entirety of human history. Clearly, the incentive is there. With how lucrative space mining could be, it seems like a no-brainer. You may be saying to yourself, “Hot diggity, why aren’t we already out there exploiting these valuable space boulders!?” There is a budding market, certainly, but there are still things that need to accounted for before humanity can start drinking space water. The two that instantly come to mind are technology and money. While both of these are big factors, there’s another problem that most people don’t think of: space law. The reach of the law is very, very far.

Photo source: nasa.gov

So far, in fact, that there are treaties and agreements that apply to all of known existence, i.e., all known planets, moons, and so on (sorry to all of you who hoped to live on Mars to evade taxes). As stated by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs: “Space law can be described as the body of law governing spacerelated activities. Space law, much like general international law,

comprises a variety of international agreements, treaties, conventions, and United Nations General Assembly resolutions as well as rules and regulations of international organizations.” (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs) As shocking as it may seem for some, space law has been around for over half a century. In 1967, the “Outer Space Treaty” was enacted by the United Nations, which laid out the basics for international space law. Under this treaty, several rules were made for conduct in space. The overall theme centered around the basic tenet that space is for the benefit of all mankind, and thus should only be used for peaceful purposes. However, the part that is most important for our conversation is that, under this treaty, space is considered a “province of all mankind.” This treaty was a major

success, with 102 countries ratifying it. For those who don’t know, to ratify a treaty essentially means to make a legally binding agreement to adhere to the rules of said agreement. This means that the concept that space belongs to all mankind is, mostly, agreed upon by the international community. Now let’s get back to the real question - who owns an asteroid? The answer is the same as before humanity went into space: no one. This doesn’t mean that asteroid mining is in trouble, however. In 2015, the United States Congress passed the “U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act” (or simply, the “Space Act of 2015”). What this act lacks in sexy naming, it makes up for in usefulness. The bill enacts not just guidelines for resource gathering, but many policies to promote a private industry revolving around space. However, the part that we are most interested in is Title IV - Space Resource Exploration and Utilization - which states that the bill is to:

supervision by the federal government.” (Library of Congress) In short, it allows U.S. citizens to acquire resources in space, bring them back to Earth, and then sell them for profit. It does not, however, allow anyone to own any celestial bodies. So, while you can’t own Mars, you can own any resources that you harvest from it. There you have it, folks. While no one can own asteroids, you can still have all the perks of asteroid-ownership. The industry behind asteroid mining is only just beginning, but it is predicted to become a very powerful economy. From water to rare metals, space “junk” contains plenty of useful materials. Will it save us from a manmade apocalypse? That’s a deeper question that only time will tell. Resources Library of Congress. “H.R.2262 - U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act.”Congress, 2015, www.congress.gov/ bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262. United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. “Space Law Treaties and Principles.” UNOOSA, 2017, www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ ourwork/spacelaw/treaties.html

“[F]acilitate the commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by U.S. citizens, discourage government barriers to the development of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with U.S. international obligations, and promote the right of U.S. citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with such obligations and subject to authorization and continuing

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Please enjoy these pictures of our Editor-in-Chief with a pumpkin on his head. 21

TECH

A Beginnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to Videography

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Photo source: peakpx.com

The Equipment You Need to Succeed By Sabrina Finnegan

e’ve all been there: laying in bed, procrastinating going to sleep with YouTube pulled up on your phone, falling deeper and deeper down the rabbit-hole of increasingly bad content. It’s getting to a point where you know that you could make something better than this Cheeto-encrusted man in all his 480p glory, ranting about why there are too many women in modern Star Wars movies; you just don’t know where to start. Luckily for you, there are simple ways to get started - beginning with finding the right equipment for what you plan on doing.

Common Misconceptions “Anyone can make good content.” There’s this widespread idea that anyone can pick up a camera and make something worth watching. However, this simply isn’t the case. Don’t be discouraged: anyone can make great content as long as they have the drive and patience to learn. It’s also worth mentioning at this point that all the fancy equipment in the world won’t make a bad idea good. Before you go and invest your life-savings into film equipment, you might want to make sure the product that you’re marketing is a good one. A great idea and a reliable crew are going to be the most valuable resource you can have when it comes to to ensuring that you’re putting out the best product you can. Unless you’re working on blockbuster films, you genuinely do not need equipment as nice as you think you do; there are very few things qualitywise that will make or break your film. The number one enemy of a good product is bad sound quality, followed almost immediately by its horrible side-kick, unnecessary

Photo source: reddit.com

shaky-cam. Sorry, but no one is going to want to watch something that looks like it was filmed by an overcaffeinated monkey with a tape recorder. Feel free to experiment with just about anything else, but these two factors will ensure that no one will keep watching. “You need top of the line equipment to make anything worthwhile.” With the right amount of creativity and workarounds, lower-tier equipment can produce great things. One of the most important things to remember while creating content is that equipment is the vehicle, not the end-all be-all. There have been plenty of successful productions that were made on low budgets with low-end equipment. Just look at “Unedited Footage of a Bear” or “This House Has People In It,” two YouTube short films created by Alan Resnick that were featured on the Adult Swim TV channel. With the right idea, lowbudget production equipment can create projects that will far surpass expectations.

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TECH

What You Need vs. What to Skip There are a lot of things that probably come to mind when you think of film equipment. Cameras, microphones, audio recorders, tripods; the list could go on and on. It can seem like a daunting task to compile what is actually needed to start a channel without undercutting or overestimating your needs.

What You Definitely Need: Audio Equipment: Bad audio will absolutely ruin a production. If you’re going to drop money on anything in the early stages of your content creation endeavor, do it on a decent shotgun microphone. You can pass a not-superb picture off as artistic, but bad audio just feels lazy and unprofessional. A Camera: Realistically, if you’re going to be making content in a largely stable, single-set fashion, you can probably go ahead and just use your smartphone. Set it up on a pile of books on your desk, make sure it’s secure, and you’re good to go. If you own a DSLR you can go ahead and use that too, but be warned: cameras that are optimized for capturing still images have a harder time focusing on moving targets. Have a friend with you to check the focus before you start rolling. Editing Software: If you have a Mac, you already have built-in software: iMovie is a perfectly viable and simple-to-learn editing program for your basic videos. If you do not have a Mac, Adobe Suite is the next best way to go. Their student price of $20 a month gives you Adobe Premiere (their film editing software) along with the added perk of getting the rest of the suite as well; this includes Photoshop, Illustrator, 3D modeling software, and all the things you could ever need to launch your film career. In addition, Adobe Premiere has a much broader scope than iMovie in terms of what it is capable of and, unlike iMovie, can be run on any OS. A Crew: There are definitely things that you can do on your own, but having at least one or two dedicated individuals to help you out is ideal. Whether they’re watching your camera to make sure everything is in focus, holding lights or microphones where they need to be, or simply providing a second opinion, a good crew is an indispensable resource. If you can buy people a meal or work for trades - where they work on your project, and in exchange you work on one of their projects - the student film community is very welcoming, and you can get most of the help you need without breaking the bank.

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Photo sources: vimeo.com / acc.af.mil.com

What You Can Probably Skip: A Tripod:I guarantee that most of your favorite YouTube personalities are using makeshift tripods, so why shouldn’t you? As long as you and your location are stationary, there’s no reason why you can’t just set your camera of choice up on some textbooks or a shelf and start filming. Lighting Kits: There are some cheap options out there, but for the early stages of your channel there really isn’t a need for specific lighting. That’s not to say that lighting isn’t important, because it is; however, getting a special set-up for lower budget productions simply isn’t necessary for those who have a little bit of lighting knowledge and a fair amount of creativity. Camera Lenses: You do not need additional lenses. Period. This isn’t photography, and there’s an extremely good chance that whatever camera you have won’t be a high enough tier to use lenses properly anyway. Paying for Music: There are so many sites where you can get royalty-free music to use as backtracks - Incompetech is a great one. There is absolutely zero reason you should have to pay for any music, unless you’re commissioning a friend to write you an intro or something similar.

Resources As a KSU student, you have amazing resources already at your fingertips that you may not even know exist. UITS: Located on both campuses, UITS offers students free equipment rentals ranging from computers to basic audiovisual equipment. Any student can rent these resources, and while the amount of equipment is lacking, students should be able to get their hands on everything they need for a simple production. Cameras are usually great, but beware: sound equipment tends to infrequently work and lighting options are non-existent for everyone but Communications students. Computer Labs: There are numerous computer labs around campus with Adobe Suite installed on them. If you don’t want to pay for the Suite yourself, you can always use one of these. The libraries on both campuses have Adobe on the computers in their main lab areas, so this would be a good place to start. The Music and Entertainment Business Program: If you really want to learn more about production and everything that it entails, check out the MEBUS program. The director, Keith Perissi, is one of the most helpful professors you will ever meet, and the classes themselves will give you real-world experience that you simply can’t beat. The Creative Adaptability class, MEBU 4490, is based entirely around production and has extremely successful alumni currently working in film. It is absolutely worth checking out if you are serious about videography and have some space for credits. If everyone started with $80,000 worth of equipment from day one, no one would know how to film; don’t let your lack of equipment, crew, or whatever your excuse is stop you. All experience is good experience, even if you’re filming with your phone’s camera and nothing else. If you don’t try your hand at it or if you don’t put yourself out there, with or without the equipment, you’ll never end up learning anything. At the end of the day, the most important thing to do is this: get out there and film it.

Photo sources: pxhere.com / pexels.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

Destiny 2:

A Look Back By Tommy Calhoun

he year is 2014 and Destiny has just launched. Players around the world are discovering that this is not the game they were promised before launch. Server issues, poor story pacing (apparently due to a massive, hasty rewrite of the existing story a year before launch), and poor basic design elements overshadowed the good aspects of Bungie’s latest AAA release. Of course, once the bugs were smoothed out and new content was released, the game became much more popular and playable. We’ve just seen the release of Destiny 2, a successor that promised to build upon the lessons Bungie learned after making Destiny. How does Destiny 2’s release stack up against it’s predecessor? Let’s find out. For the purposes of this comparison I will be judging Destiny 2 on three categories: story/world building, endgame PvE (player vs. environment) content, and endgame PvP (player vs. player) content. BEWARE: light spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn’t picked the game up yet.

Story/World Building This aspect of Destiny 2 has greatly succeeded its predecessor in many ways, but I think that it was inevitable for Destiny to have a poor initial story in the first place. Destiny had to introduce players to the whole world, while also creating a consistent narrative for players to make their way through. Players had to learn what the four enemy factions were, how they worked, and what their goals were. By the time that was finished, there weren’t very many story missions left to create any kind of meaningful characters for the players to connect with; the campaign ended with the players thwarting an evil they knew little about. This introduction was ultimately necessary, but hurt the game with the way it was implemented. In Destiny 2, many of the questions involving who, what, why, how, etc. had already been answered. Players already know who the Vanguard are and why the Cabal are bad people. They made their way through Destiny, and know what they’re dealing with now. With

these understandings already in place, Bungie had a lot more room in the missions to flesh out the characters that guide the players through the missions. I think the best example of this is the characterization of Ikora Rey, the Warlock Vanguard leader. In Destiny, Ikora’s character had little characterization beyond the fact that she was a Vanguard leader. In Destiny 2, we get moments where she interacts with the other leaders, and has moments of raw emotion with the character that show us what a driven and wise character she is. We also see new characters such as Failsafe, the rogue AI from the Exodus Black, become important and loveable members of the story that we never saw in Destiny.

Endgame PvE Content Endgame PvE content in Destiny has traditionally fallen into two categories: the Nightfall/Strikes, and Raiding. The strikes are missions you can run multiple times for loot, with the weekly Nightfall being an advanced version of those strikes that gave better rewards. Raids are the peak of challenging content that combines movement and puzzle

Note: The information in this article is based on the information available at the time of writing. Any information within is considered accurate as of 9/21/17. 26 KSULIFESTYLE.COM / OCTOBER 2017

Photo source: imgur.com

solving skills with traditional gameplay mechanics. The Nightfall in Destiny was very methodical. If your fireteam all died, then you were reset to an earlier state of the Nightfall. In Destiny 2, the Nightfall has a timer, which gives a sense of urgency to the gameplay. If the timer reaches zero, then your fireteam fails the challenge. Luckily, there are methods in the Nightfall to increase the timer such as killing certain enemies or shooting anomalies that are hidden throughout the map. The Raids have seen the least amount of change between Destiny and Destiny 2. The largest change between the current raid (The Leviathan) and the previous raids is the emphasis on mechanics over gunplay. In previous raids, the players would make their way through a route until they hit a boss room. They would complete mechanics that allowed them to damage and kill certain enemies, and then they would move to the next room. The Leviathan is designed with a central location which serves as the area between major rooms, and major encounters are more like mechanicbased mini games. The only major “boss” that you fight in the raid is the Cabal Emperor, Calus. This has been a pretty big shift, but most players have expressed excitement in the way this raid is shaking up the old formula.

Endgame PvP Content If there’s one thing Destiny was known for, it was its PvP. From Crucible to Trials of Osiris, players could test the might of their weaponry and skills that they had picked up on their journeys throughout the solar system. In Destiny, as with most FPS games, a major component of gameplay is your time-to-kill or TTK. If you can kill other players faster than they can kill you, then you spend less time worrying about killing them, plain and simple. Originally, Destiny had many abilities and items that made it very easy to one-shot players; grenades, super abilities, shotguns, snipers, and some melee abilities were all able to dispatch other guardians in one or two shots. These powerful options, combined with the open design of crucible maps

Photo source: forbes.com

of the time, led to a very high-paced PvP environment that relied on speed and personal skill to survive. Primary weapons, on the whole, would be overshadowed as soon as a player had access to special or power ammo, and at any given moment a roaming super could pop around the corner and just dunk on you. Destiny 2, on the other hand, is designed around a more tactical PvP experience. Many guns and abilities have had their damage and TTKs lowered so engaging in firefights may not always mean instant death. Guns that haven’t had their damage lowered, like snipers and shotguns, have been relegated to the power weapon slot which is a timed drop. The range stat has seen more prominence as well. If you try to engage at a range that isn’t strong for your guns now, then you will have a distinct damage disadvantage. The maps have also become much more claustrophobic in Destiny 2. Many corridors have sharp turns or curves that prevent long ranged sniping, which encourages close- to midranged weaponry like swords, shotguns, pulse rifles, and auto rifles. All of these changes I’ve mentioned have lead to more team-based strategies that focus on distracting your opponents and flanking them. If you want to see success in today’s crucible, try to go in with a few friends and a plan of attack. If you focus on your strengths and communicate with your team, you’ll be well on your way to victory. Overall, I would say that Destiny 2 has done much to improve on the initial launch of Destiny. While there are still a few bugs in the Nightfall and the Raid, I think the creative team has developed a good foundation for future content. I, for one, will be looking forward to Destiny 2’s first expansion, Curse of Osiris, which will probably be dropping during the 2017 Holiday Season. If you were burned by Destiny at the beginning, I would say that Bungie has learned a lot in their three years of producing content for Destiny. Give them another shot before dismissing the whole thing.

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ENTERTAINMENT

There’s More Than DnD:

A Beginner’s Guide to Alternative Tabletop RPGs By Tommy Calhoun

t starts out simple enough. First, you buy some dice and meet up with your friends. They’ve all told you stories of their fantastic adventures in Dungeons & Dragons, and you’re super excited to join in. You roll up something simple to start with: maybe a bard with a tragic past, or a fighter with a chip on her shoulder. You and your friends jump into the world, and you’re sucked in before you know it. By the end of the night, you’ve slain a cartful of goblins, saved the town, and discovered that your character has very strong opinions on how much rope is a healthy amount to carry through a dungeon. You’re hooked on tabletop RPGs and you can’t turn back. Of course, all good things come to an end. Before you know it, you and your friends are standing over the corpse of an all-powerful lich and the campaign is done. Where do you go from there? I mean, sure, you could just play more DnD, but what if you want to travel amongst the stars, or run elaborate heists through the seedy underbelly of a cyberpunk dystopia? Well, have no fear. There are plenty of games to choose from, but they can be slightly overwhelming at first. Luckily for you, I have compiled a list of some pretty fun games that you can play, so you don’t have to look them all up yourself!

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If You Want Something SciFi: Traveller is an excellent foray into deep space travel. Work as part of a crew to explore the far reaches of the galaxy, or transmit dangerous cargo through uncharted territory. If you want something more familiar, there are plenty of Star Wars and Star Trek recreations that use a variety of different systems. These are good, because players can have a basis in another entertainment medium (TV shows and movies in these cases) to help them understand the world of the characters. These games also have d20 variants, so the switch will be simple if you’re coming straight from DnD. If you’re looking for something more nitty gritty than the typical space opera, then the cyberpunk genre might be more your style. Shadowrun, while a little more rules-heavy than DnD, is one of the most wellknown cyberpunk games out there. Plus, it still retains a few fantasy races and magic, so you don’t completely depart from your fantasy roots. The Sprawl is also a phenomenal cyberpunk game. It’s pretty story-driven and involves a lot of exploring exactly who your character is. It’s also based around the Apocalypse World dice system, which is very easy to learn. All you need are a set of monopoly dice, and you’re off!

Photo source: pexels.com

If You Want Something Fantasy:

If You Want Something Else:

The main benefit of picking another system for fantasystyle games is exploring different styles of fantasy. DnD covers Western-European high fantasy pretty well, but there are plenty of others beyond that. One of my personal favorites is Exalted, a game where you take on a role as a paragon of a god, and you play in a world that sources inspiration from all mythologies. There is also Dungeon World, which is similar to DnD, except it uses the Apocalypse World dice system and focuses more on the story of your character.

SciFi and fantasy are two general terms, but there are so many other games out there! Want to be a superhero? Play Mutants and Masterminds, Masks, or HERO! Want to play a spooky eldritch horror game? Play Call of Cthulhu! If there’s a genre or setting out there, someone has probably already made a game for it. Even if they haven’t, there are several “universal roleplaying systems” that just provide rules without a setting. My personal favorites in this category are GURPS (which is pretty rules heavy) and FATE Core (which is narratively driven).

If you’re wanting something grittier, than urban fantasy might be for you. Vampire: the Masquerade, Mage: the Awakening, and Werewolf: the Apocalypse are just some of the games involved in the World of Darkness setting, and involve living as fictional creatures in modern society. I’m currently involved in a Vampire: the Masquerade game, and it’s a fresh break from typical fantasy storylines. I would highly recommend any of the World of Darkness games if you’re looking for some gothic urban fantasy.

I would also like to take a moment to say that if you like playing DnD, there’s nothing wrong with that! There are certainly many benefits that DnD affords to both players and GMs. This article is merely intended as a resource for those of you that are looking for a new game to play. You can find many of these rulebooks for cheap as PDFs online, or at many secondhand shops like 2nd & Charles. There’s a whole world of games out there, so give them a try!

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ENTERTAINMENT

Gatekeeping:

The Destruction of Enjoyment By Tommy Calhoun

Gatekeeping: the activity of controlling, and usually limiting, general access to something. - The Oxford English Dictionary

hroughout history, gatekeeping has been a method of controlling what information was seen by the public. In the past, media outlets were much fewer and could change people’s perception of the world by broadcasting only what they wanted the people to hear. These days, anyone with a phone, good lighting, and a good message can spread their news far and wide. It’s almost impossible for any one company to block out news they don’t want spread, so we as a people have, in a sense, gained the freedom from major gatekeepers. However, gatekeeping is still prevalent at a social level, and it’s not always as easy to spot as “Oh, you like this band? Name their top ten albums.” Gatekeeping is everywhere, and everyone has encountered it at some point. Someone else that displays more knowledge in a

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specific area skews their prowess in such a way that prevents other, more “casual” viewers from participating in conversation. Furthermore, it’s not always someone just trying to get you to name band titles. It can be continuous nitpicking corrections with the intent of forcing people out of conversations, or blatant exclamations of knowledge that are delivered to make others look like lesser “fans.” Overall, the culture of gatekeeping stems from patronizing and pretentious attitudes towards how people enjoy things. The driving force behind gatekeeping actions is to prove some sort of dominance of knowledge over another person. So, how do we fix gatekeeping? Can it even be fixed? Well, the answer is twofold, and rather simple. First, analyse the way you treat others. We live in a world that is dominated by the knowledge of culture and

refinement of “taste.” If someone starts talking about something you love, don’t try to overshadow their knowledge with your own. Consumption of entertainment is not a competition. It’s 2017 - let’s support each other instead of tearing each other down. The other way you can break down gatekeeping is to enjoy what you do unabashedly. You don’t have to be the best at something to love it. If you like three songs from a band, why can’t you be a fan of that band? There’s nothing stopping you from loving what you do in whatever capacity you see fit. There is no bar to reach or meter to fill before you can call yourself a fan. Love what you do, and don’t let anyone else take that happiness away from you.

Photo source: understadningrelationships.com

Fun Fall Festivities By Tommy Calhoun

he days are cooling down, the trees will soon be changing color, and whispers of Halloween mingle with the smell of pumpkin spice lattes. Yes, fall is upon us, and with fall comes a whole slew of fun little activities to do during the season. While there are plenty of ways to celebrate the changing of the season with your friends on campus, here are a few fun things you can go do that don’t cost all that much.

Corn Maze Corn mazes are iconic fall activities. Everyone bundles up in their warmest layered clothing, and you go out into a maze to try and make your way out to the other end. If you’re a little more of a daredevil then you can try out a haunted corn maze. It’s exactly like a regular corn maze, except full of spooky scary ghouls and ghosts. The best part is that it’s entertainment for a whole group of friends, and it doesn’t even cost that much money!

Festivals

Haunted Houses Ever been through a topnotch spooky experience like Netherworld? Well, my heart can’t take them, but if you’re up to the challenge then I say go for it! If you go, make sure you bring some friends that you know will get scared. Even after Halloween, it can be fun to go through the houses right before they close down. Photo source: publicdomainpicture.com

Photo source: flickr.com

One of my favorite things about North Georgia is the festival culture they have up there. There’s the Apple Festival, the Marble Festival, and Gold Rush Day in Dahlonega, just to name a few. At each of these events you get to see works of craftsmanship, participate in fun games, and partake in some indulgent fair food.Fried Oreos? Yes, please! Take a weekend trip up and participate in a festival or two to see what the hype is about. If you go to the Apple Festival, definitely check out the root beer booth - it’s fantastic.

Hiking/Camping There’s no better time to camp all year than in the fall. It usually doesn’t get too hot or too cold, the scenery in the mountains is absolutely gorgeous, and if you go with friends then it just doubles the fun! If you don’t know the first thing about camping, worry not! There are plenty of websites that catalouge good car-camping places; finding a good spot is the hardest part. You can pick up most of the necessities for a night’s stay for pretty cheap, and then you’ve got camping gear for the rest of your life! Just don’t forget the bug spray - the bugs aren’t all gone yet.

Photo source: nps.gov

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