March 2018 by USF Encounter

March 2, 2018

Campus News p. 6-7 The Cosplay Scene p. 14-15 VR: Past and Present p. 26-27

Nerdography and Geekology p. 23-32

Medical Technology Develoments p. 30 Does Vlogging Need to Stop? p. 36 Fighting Saints Baseball and Softball News p. 43

Editorial Board Clarice Swanson

Editor-in-Chief clariceswanson@stfrancis.edu

Mat Tuck

Assistant Editor mathewtuck@stfrancis.edu

Eva Lopez Benedi

Layout Director evalopezbenedi@stfrancis.edu

Kamari Jordan

Online Editor kamarijordan@stfrancis.edu

University Campus Calendar...................................4 Club Spotlight........................................5 Campus News........................................6

News World News..........................................8 Technology Trends..............................10 Snapchat Sells.....................................11

Nerds and Geeks Cryptocurrency.....................................23 Tech Timeline.......................................24 VR: Past and Present............................26 Amazon’s Shopping Advancements......28 Medical Technology ............................30 NerdStreaming the Marvel Universe....32

Commentary Side by Side: Paper V. Paperless.............34 Does Vlogging Need to End?................36 Tatoos and Piercings in the Workplace..37 Side by Side: Apple V. Spotify...............38

Abigail Blome

News Editor abigailblome@stfrancis.edu

Emily Plummer

Entertainment Editor emilyplummer@stfrancis.edu

Alex McDilda

Feature Editor alexandermcdilda@stfrancis.edu

Blake Tomac

Feature Editor blaketomac@stfrancis.edu

Ashley Hare

Commentary Editor ashleyhare@stfrancis.edu

Alex Gugielmucci

Sports Editor alessandroguglielmucci@stfrancis.edu

Delainey Smith

PR Manger delaineysmith@stfrancis.edu

Entertainment Local Entertainment...............................12 Spring Break In the Movies.....................13 The Cosplay Scene..................................14 A Review of “Black Mirror”...................16 Spring Anime.........................................18 Video Games Gone App.........................19

March 2, 2018

Sports The World of E-Sports..........................40 MLB Update.........................................42 USF Baseball and Softball.....................43 Saints Spotlight.....................................44 Golf New Faces.....................................46

Katie Wozniak

PR Specialist katherinewozniak@stfrancis.edu

Staff Writers Elijah Anderson Maria Macia-Bedollas Amber James Giovanni Alvarado Ian Bond Jalen Williams Brett Pluth

Cover Photo courtesy of wallpaper.wiki

Contents

Letter from the Editor Hello, Can you believe we have already hit the half way point of the semester? As this semester flys by, we continue our hard work each day to bring you articles that you’ll enjoy. And for this issue, we found those articles in two areas- nerd topics and technology topics. Now what do I mean by this? Under the “nerd” category, we feature articles about topics that have always been considered nerdy that have made their way into mainstream media such as cosplay, video games, anime and more. On the tech side, or “geek” side of things, we focus more on technology and its advancements, from VR to medical technology to E-Sports and more. We also have your favorite news updates, including local entertainment and sports, campus and world news, club spotlights, and feature articles on MLB and the best spring break movies. Want even more updates from Encounter? Check out our website (usfencounter. stfrancis.edu), to stay up to date on the latest news, entertainment and more. We are constantly posting new articles! Make sure to follow us on facebook (USF Encounter), Instagram (usf_encounter), and Twitter (usf_encounter)! For information on becoming a writer, contact me at clariceswanson@stfrancis. edu. Happy reading!

Clarice Swanson Editor-in-Chief

From the top: Clarice Swanson(Edior-in-Chief) From left to right: Eva Lopez (Layout Artist), Mat Tuck (Assistant Editor), Abigail Blome (News Editor), Emily Plummer (Entertainment Editor) Alex McDilda (Feature Editor), Blake Tomac (Feature Editor), Ashley Hare (Commentary Editor), Alex Gugliemucci (Sports Editor), Delainey Smith (PR Manager), Katie Wozniak (PR Specialist), Kamari Jordan (Online Editor)

As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.

Policies The Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, Illinois, 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The Encounter phone number is 815.740.3816. As a member of USF Campus Media, the Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design. By reporting on issues that may be sensitive in nature, the Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics that affect their lives on and off campus. Editorial pages provide Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics. Letters to the Editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the Encounter Staff. Publications of letters to the editor are subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters are also subject to editing. Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the Encounter office or emailed to usfencounter@gmail.com. The Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

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Campus Mar

Mar

9A.M.- Chicago Botanical Gardens Trip with CEA

Mar

2P.M.St. Clare Award Presentation, Sexton Auditorium

8P.M.- Hour of Power with SIA

Mar

Financial Literacy Week with F.R.E.E.

8P.M.- Hour of Power with SIA

Mar

Stress Relief with RHA

8P.M. SGA Meeting, San Damiano Hall

March 2, 2018

Calendar

8P.M.- SGA Meeting, San Damiano Hall

Trip to Deloitte with S.C.A.L.E.S

5P.M.- Relay for Life, Pat Sullivan Rec Center

Mar

FCA Olympics

Mar

Financial Literacy Week with F.R.E.E.

12P.M.- Human Trafficking, What You Should Know, Executive Conference Room

Mar 27 12P.M.- Women’s History Month Book Club

Mar

Financial Literacy Week with F.R.E.E.

8P.M.- “Floats and Films” with RHA, Abbey Lounge

Mar

Financial Literacy Week with F.R.E.E. 6A.M.-1P.M.Morning Star Service Trip with SNA

7:30P.M.- Swinging Saints Concert San Damiano Hall

FCA Bowling Night

Mar

Financial Literacy Week with F.R.E.E.

Mar

Trip to Shrine of Christ’s Passion with SIA

Earth Hour with F.R.E.E

9:30P.M.-SAB Free Bowling Town and Country Lanes

Mar

Tea and Presentation by Ruth Nelson

8P.M.-Hour of Power with SIA

Apr

8P.M.- RHA Easter Egg Hunt, Across Campus

The executive board of Justice League includes: President, Samantha Petkunas; Vice President, Alex Martin; Secretary, Jordan Bushno; Treasurer, Eric Kern; Publicity, Adam Petty; and Representative, Elijah Anderson. Aside from these members, the general members help with providing ideas for what events they would like to see, and provide equipment when necessary for tournaments and other aspects of the club.

BY ELIJAH ANDERSON STAFF WRITER

Justice League hosts meetings every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Mondays there are Tabletop Night where people can come to play board games, such as checkers, chess, Life and more. They can also play trading card games like Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon. Wednesday nights are the

he University of St. Francis Philosophy Club is centered around intellectual enlightenment and group discussion. Not only do members discuss topics of classical philosophy but they make connections to both modern philosophy and their everyday lives. Philosophy Club explores topics such as linguistics, medical ethics, artificial intelligence and prison ethics and more. While a lot of the meetings center around written texts, members also discuss philosophical ideas present in cinema, current events and much more.

The E-board consists of: President, Elizabeth Savant; Vice President, Brendan Miller; Secretary, Maria Macias-Bedolla; Treasurer, Cory Schneider and Advisor, Timothy Weldon. Beyond the weekly meetings in which members discuss a reading or viewing, Philosophy Club is also holding other events on campus. Last semester they finished up the club’s first ever “Food for Thought” food drive, in Images courtesy of Justice League and Philosophy Club

main meetings which can vary from presentations, to friendly competitions like Deadliest Warrior where two characters are put against one another to see who would come out on top. Finally, Thursday nights are Bad Movie Nights where people can come by to see some of the worst movies, chosen by ratings online and reviews, to watch and ultimately find the worst movie ever created. All of these meetings are at 7 p.m. and the flyers around campus will tell what room these events are held in.

University

Justice K League Spotlight

nown to be one of the biggest clubs on campus with both alumni and current students Justice League is always doing something different to appeal to all fandoms. The club has been successful in years past in keeping the campus lively, from a 30 Days of Night game similar to Assassins to the many tournaments (video game, trading card game).

Justice League also goes to C2E2 every year. C2E2 is Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo held every year at McCormick Place. It is Chicago’s biggest comic convention of the year and holds more than just comic books if you are looking for something that appeals to your type of fandom. If you would like to go or learn more about the convention, contact Samantha Petkunas at sammanthapetkunas@stfrancis.edu or the club advisor, Shannon Wenzel at swenzel@stfrancis.edu for more information.

which members collected food for the less fortunate for Thanksgiving. This event was very successful, so much that it has been decided to make this an annual event! In the future, the club has more events planned. On April 13, the Philosophy Club will be holding their green week event, in which professors McDermott and Spicer will discuss the ethics behind sustainability. The event will be catered and will count as a passport event!

Philosophy Club Spotlight BY MARIA MACIAS-BEDOLLA STAFF WRITER

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Campus News BY ABIGAIL BLOME NEWS EDITOR

University Dedicates Brown Science Hall On Feb. 8 The University of St. Francis (USF) welcomed a crowd of more than 200 people on the evening of Thursday, February 8 for the dedication of the LaVerne & Dorothy Brown Science Hall. Despite the snowy forecast, the Brown Science Hall was filled with donors, trustees, friends, faculty, students, elected officials, community members and alumni, all eager to tour the new three-story facility. University President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D. welcomed the crowd gathered in the Banks-Bellah Lecture Hall and noted the momentous occasion the evening presented.

President Arvid Johnson and Dorothy Brown among other honored guests dt the dedication.

USF to host annual Relay for Life On March 16, the University of St. Francis will hold their annual Relay for Life event in the Pat Sullivan Rec Center. This decades-themed family-fun event will include music, food, inflatables and crafts. Last year, the school raised over $5,000 from the event to donate towards the American Cancer Society and hopes to collect even more this year. Through participation of USF students, the school has already fundraised over $2,250 towards their $5,000 goal.

March 2, 2018

“Today’s opening of the LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Science Hall builds on the momentum of a university that is expanding and opens a new chapter on our main campus,” remarked Johnson. “Our new labs and learning environment will help the University of St. Francis further its mission of preparing students to contribute to the world through service and leadership, driven by a continuous pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, faith and justice.” For more information about the Brown Science Hall and giving opportunities, please visit stfrancis.edu/science-hall.

The newly completed building.

All USF students, staff, faculty and the whole Joliet community is invited to attend the event from 5:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. There will be games, raffles and activities as well as luminaria to honor those who suffer or suffered from cancer, a hair-cutting ceremony to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths and other ways to support those fighting cancer.

Images courtesy of Katie Wozniak and The American Cancer Society

Every March the University of St. Francis (USF) bestows the Sister Clare Award upon a deserving candidate in honor of Women’s History Month. This award recognizes women of vision who have transformed the world of their time. The university presents this award in honor of its patron saint, Clare of Assisi. The 2018 Sister Clare Award recipient is Petra Jaime, founder of the Parent Program at Metro Achievement Center for Girls, part of the Midtown Educational Foundation in Chicago. Jaime was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. in 1954. She is the mother of 11 children and grand-

New Appointments to the Student Government Association At the February 19 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA), a new Vice President of Publicity was appointed, along with three new senators. Liz Badalamenti, a former freshmen senator, was voted into the position of the Vice President of Publicity, filling the

Illinois Residence Halls Association Conference Held at USF The University of St. Francis was honored to host the Illinois Residence Hall Association (IRHA) Annual Conference “Leaders Under Construction” on February 18 and 19. The USF conference team consisted of conference chair Emily Fears, programming chair Timothy Fleenor, spirit chair Jordyn Day, entertainment chair Victoria Daugherty and advisors Andrew Finein and Mollie Rockafellow. The conference team has worked hard for the past three months to bring 12 schools, approximately 130 students, from the entire state of Illinois together to learn about leadership and new programming ideas that these student leaders can bring back to their own institutions. These students traveled for hours to share their leadership experiences on their own campuses and to learn about new leadership techniques that help them become

University

Petra Jaime to Receive 2018 Sister Clare Award

mother of 62. She created the Parent Program in 1985 and ever since has remained dedicated to teaching the parents of the girls enrolled in the Metro Program about the importance of family. Jaime’s goal is to help parents guide their children with love and good moral direction in order for them to become outstanding citizens and students. Jaime will receive USF’s Sister Clare Award on Wednesday, March 14 at 2 P.M. in San Damiano Hall, 603 Taylor St., at the Joliet campus. The ceremony is open to the public and a reception will follow. For questions about the Sister Clare Award or attending the award ceremony, please contact Joanna Kourtidis at jkourtidis@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-6444.

vacant spot left after the end of the fall semester. Filling the freshmen senator spot Badalamenti left after her new appointment was Caleb Campbell, joined by Rodolfo Perez who filled a spot left vacant after the previous freshman senator transferred from USF. Johnathan Marquardt also was voted into a senior senator position, filling the spot left vacant after the previous senior senator graduated in December.

better student leaders within their residence halls. Many students from all different schools were recognized for their hard work within their own residence halls. USFs own Victoria Daugherty was even recognized for four years of service to the residence halls with the “four year service” pin. The students left with new tools for their ever-growing leadership toolboxes, new programming ideas, and new friendships. The weekend was nothing short of amazing with so many spirited students coming together from all different schools to make this conference a success. “It all started with a dream to host the conference- ever since my freshman year. Little did I know that in just two short years later, this dream would become an idea, and eventually a reality,” said Fears. “It took an amazing conference team to pull together this conference in three short months, and it was everything I could’ve ever asked for.”

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WORLD NEWS

BY DELAINEY SMITH PR MANAGER

U.S. To Open Jerusalem Embassy In May The United States announced plans to officially move the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s declaration of independence. This change is reversing decades of U.S. policy and may trouble U.S. allies who have already objected. Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, something no other country has done. According to the New York Times, this angered both Washington’s Arab allies and Palestinians who want the eastern part of the city as their capital. According to Reuters website, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, stated, “This is an unacceptable step. Any unilateral move will not give legitimacy to anyone and will be an obstacle to any effort to create peace in the region.” In a speech concerning the issue, Trump stood by his decision stating, “I put the word out that I may do it. I was hit by more countries and more pressure and more people calling, begging me ‘Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.’” He continued, “I said we have to do it. It’s the right thing to do.”

MeasLES CASES IN EUROPE QUAdruple in one year Measles has made a dangerous comeback in Europe; the number of infections have quadrupled in the last year, as vaccination rates have dropped, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreaks have affected 21,315 people in 15 European countries — with especially large ones hammering Romania with 5,562 infections, Italy with 5,006 and Ukraine with 4,767. The WHO’s regional director for Europe, Zsuzsanna Jakab called this outbreak, “a tragedy we simply cannot accept.” According to the New York Times, Vaccination rates across Europe are lower than in the United States. Many anti-vaccine movements are prominent throughout the continent and some conservative Protestant sects in Europe believe vaccination subverts God’s will. The outbreaks have led to some European countries creating legislation to crack down on anti-vaccinators. The New York Times reported that laws were passed in France, Germany and Italy for parents to consult a doctor about vaccination and some are requiring parents to vaccinate their children. Failure to do so results in fines from $600 to $3,000.

March 2, 2018

Photos courtesy Static Times of Israel and BBC.

News Baharian activist jailed for 5 years over twitter comments Bahraini human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab, was sentenced to five Rajab has been in and out of jail since his help in leading a pro-democracy uprising in 2011. He is currently already serving a twoyears in prison over his social media posts. year sentence for “broadcasting fake news” after a news interview According to BBC News website, Rajab was convicted for criticizing in which he said Bahrain tortured political prisoners; the court Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Yemen and accusing Bahrain’s prison ruled that the has undermined the “prestige” of the kingdom. authorities of torture. Bahrain’s president denounces the torture against detainees at Jaw prison and the killing of civilians in Yemen. Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said “It is absolutely outrageous As a result, Rajab was tried on charges of disseminating false rumors that he (Rajab) be forced to spend a further five years in jail simin time of war, offending a foreign country and insulting a statutory ply for daring to voice his opinions online.” body.

Argentina Stops Diplomatic Luggage Cocaine Plot Argentina’s security ministry foiled a plot to use the Russian embassy’s diplomatic courier service to smuggle cocaine to Europe. After being told about the plot by the Russian ambassador in December 2016 Argentina’s policy mounted a sting operation, replacing the drugs with flour and adding tracking devices. According to BBC News website, police seized nearly 400kg of the drug from diplomatic luggage in an embassy annex Argentine Security Minister, Patricia Bullrich, said the cocaine found in the Buenos Aires embassy was worth 50 million euros ($62m; £45m) and was of very high purity. The foreign ministry spokeswoman in Russia, stated that the bags had belonged to a former member of the embassy’s “technical staff” whose posting had already ended. She also dismissed the false media comments that the cargo would have been shipped using diplomatic channels. The head of the smuggling operation has been determined to be in Germany and this person is expected to be arrested. So far two people have been arrested in Argentina and three in Russia.

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Technology

trends Companion Robots

Circuit Scribe Conductive Ink Pen

Companion Robots are exactly as they sound, robots that provide companionship. According to theconversation.com, a companion robot is one that is capable of providing useful assistance in a socially acceptable manner.

BY MAT TUCK ASSISTANT EDITOR

BY DELAINEY SMITH PR MANAGER

They were originally developed for the elderly and individuals with special needs however, companion robots are becoming more and more common for the average person. These robots come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from Somnox’s sleeping companion pillow to Kuri, a human-like surveillance robot. Companion robots are designed to assist humans, making their lives easier which results in a level of attachment. In an interview with Wired.com, Matthias Scheutz, director of the Human-Robot Interaction Laboratory at Tufts, said “When you’re limited in what you can do yourself and you start relying on the robot, it will lead to a sort of gratitude that then transfers into some sort of attachment relationship.”

Circuit Scribe’s conductive ink ballpoint pen allows users to turn a normal piece of paper into an interactive electrical circuit. This product was devolved by a research team at the Jennifer Luis Research Lab at the University of Illinois. The pen uses a water-based, nontoxic, conductive ink that writes on flexible sub-straights like paper. They’ve also developed a variety of components that magnetically snap right into drawn circuits such as buzzers, lights and buttons.

Circuits are the building blocks of our modern world. They light our houses and are in our cars, computers and cellphones. Currently, simple circuits are big and full of wires. However, the Circuit Scribe conductive ink pen makes building circuits is as easy as doodling on paper, with no breadboard and no wiring required. It allows users to create low-cost, high-quality electronics instantly. This product allows students to be able to build simple circuits using nothing but a pen, paper and a small battery. Schematic sketches can become instant working prototypes. According to Techagekids.com, Current Circuit Scribe kits also come with a kid-friendly work book that “covers some fairly advanced concepts” but would recommend it for anyone who is a beginner at circuits.

Bond Touch Even though long-distance relationships may challenge communication, Bond Touch can change all of that. Bond Touch is a pair of bracelets that allows you to feel touch no matter the distance. All the user has to do is put the bracelet on his or her wrist and connect the bracelet to a phone via Bluetooth using the Bond Touch application. Then, users can buzz a partner’s module. The bracelet allows couples, friends, and family who are separated by distance to have a way to feel the touch of their loved ones. According to the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and professor of psychology at the University of California in Berkeley, Daniel Keltner, a simple touch can trigger the release of oxytocin, aka the love hormone and make you feel better. Touch is an important part of BY DELAINEY SMITH COMMENTARY EDITOR

10 March 2, 2018

communicating with one another and Bond Touch allows communication to improve significantly. Bond Touch was created by Impossible and only costs $88 for a pair! The bracelets come with two leather bands, eight bracelet closure studs, two punch tools, and two chargers. Users can even design their own wristbands to add a personal touch to the bracelet. Users can swap the leather bracelet with any bracelet of similar width. It could be beaded, braided or just a simple ribbon. The rechargeable battery allows up to five days of charge, depending on the usage.

Photos courtesy of cdn.shopify.com, abra-electronics.com, spectrum.ieee.org, Changes of Tomorrow - Hyper Island

News

SNAPCHAT SELLS BY ASHLEY HARE COMMENTARY EDITOR

fter trying out hardware in the form of Spectacle camera glasses, Snap Inc. is now experimenting with in-app merchandise. Snapchat introduced a merchandise store called the SnapStore on February 1. The SnapStore is available on the application in the Discover section. However, there is a catch. Snapchat is well-known for pictures disappearing and stories only being available for 24 hours. The SnapStore will be following the same procedure. Snapchat is encouraging users to buy what they see as soon as possible because it may be gone.

THE SNAPSTORE

The SnapStore states, “The one and only place to buy Snapchat stuff. Items may disappear, so snap what you like when you see it!” The SnapStore is following the story style format by displaying animations of the product. Users can swipe up to see the full product description and price in the storefronWhen the SnapStore first opened, it launched five items: a dancing hot dog plush toy, a hat, two sweatshirts and a t-shirt. Prices range from $10 to $50 depending on the product. On February 8, the SnapStore released a different set of items to buy. The launch included a Snapchat Ghost Plushie, Snapchat Ghost Ice Cubes, Dancing Hot Dog Keychain, and a Streak Hat. A Snapchat spokesperson stated “The company doesn’t have any plans to share about potentially open-

Image courtesy of i.amz.mshcdn.com and 1000logos.net

“The SnapStore is a way to drive brand loyalty and earn Snapchat some free marketing as people wear the gear.” ing up the store to outside brands and selling sponsored listings within the store.” The SnapStore could open up new revenue streams for Snap, Inc. and add to its primary advertising revenue. The SnapStore is a way to drive brand loyalty and earn Snapchat some free marketing as people wear the gear. Users can subscribe to the SnapStore when they first open the in-app store to see it pop up in the Discover section when new items become available. The Wall Street Journal believes that the SnapStore will have to sell large amounts of merchandise to make any major changes in the revenue expectations. Snap, Inc. is trying to move forward after a disappointing first year on the stock market. The company also just released a new update intended to be easier for new and old users.

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Local entertainment:

The Rialto &The Forge BY EMILY PLUMMER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

ne of the best parts about living in the Joliet area, is the fact that it is always bustling with activities. Downtown Joliet constantly has musical events, making it even easier for students to go to live shows with the Rialto and The Forge, just a five-minute drive from campus. The following is a list of upcoming events for the month of March and early April.

The Forge Events

The Rialto Theater Events

March 2 6P.M. – We Came As Romans

March 8 8P.M. – REO Speedwagon

March 17 6P.M. – Riff Raff

March 14 7:30 P.M. – Manhattan Transfer

March 20 6:30P.M. – Hatebreed

March 29 7:30 P.M. – Dwight Yoakam

March 23 6:30P.M. – Twiztid

March 30 8P.M. – Ricky Nelson Remembered

March 31 6P.M. Atilla

March 31 8P.M. – Buddy Guy April 3 7:30 P.M. – Pat Benetar April 8 7P.M. – Los Lobos

March 2, 2018

Photos courtesy The Rialto and The Forge Websites

Spring Break Movies

Entertainment

g e sprin inter, th spring w t s e ) and r Midw anothe t it should be of us, this h g u o r as ering th r some pily or at le fter suff finally here ( e corner. Fo istance, hap s d h t s i a o d n f m vie rom oun seaso ight ar pring break f ere are a ton o me, I r s i k t brea s. Trus son, th oying s nd enj . For that rea spring break a g n i v obser ur beds he best means od in o that depict t r own genre. o f k n i u j e are sur eating watch instead cally have the i movies pring s a n e a b s c e y h e u t th yo couch, d safe s d it and on the ave a great an r o Google h c a e spirit. H n the b ou’re o spring break rybody! y r e h t eve the Whe break, ou into to get y

A Genre of Their Own

Spring Breakers

BY AMBER JAMES STAFF WRITER

MGMT

This movie has been stuck in my head ever since it came out in 2012. It is about four girls who take a trip to St. Petersburg, Florida for spring break. Throughout the movie, instead of making their lives easier and saving up money for the trip and acting like somewhat normal teenagers, they rob a restaurant, do a large amount of drugs and alcohol while they make the acquaintance of a local rapper and gangster (because of course they do). You may not agree with what the characters do in this film but it is fun to watch the not-so-Disney actresses Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens break out of the Disney Channel mold. Selena Gomez has even said that this movie is the one that “gave her more confidence.” Oh, and you will definitely have pieces of dialogue stuck in your head for what feels like an eternity. Just saying.

Where the Boys Are This 1960 film was the one that started it all. It follows four college girls who spend their spring break seeking adventure and romance (aren’t we all, though?) and it was one of the first teen movies to deal with sexuality and the changing morals among college students. In the film, the narrator says, “They turn night into day, and a small corner of heaven into a sizeable chunk of bedlam. The boys come to soak up the sun, and a few carloads of beer. The girls come, very simply, because this is where the boys are.” Now that sounds like the perfect, cheesy and outdated (but also entertaining) spring break movie.

Girl Happy Girl Happy is about nightclub singer Rusty Wells, played by Elvis Presley, who ends up getting hired by a Chicago mobster to keep an eye on his daughter while she’s on spring break. This is a very predictable but fun, beach party movie and yes, you could criticize it for not having more “depth” but that would just be taking the fun out of it.

Photos courtesy of dvd.netflix.com, ElvisBlog, Amazon.com and Club Penguin Wiki - Fandom

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Cosplay BRINGING CHARACTERS TO LIFE

BY ABIGAIL BLOME NEWS EDITOR PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMIAH PANTINO

osplay (short for “costume play”) is defined by Merriam-Webster. com as “the activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game or television show)” and this practice has gained a lot of traction over the last 20 years. Some fans create minimal character-inspired outfits, some create elaborate costumes with lights and moving pieces, other spend hundreds of dollars on professionally-made pieces to become that perfect Chewbacca. The act of cosplaying is extremely popular at events such as the San Diego Comic-Con or the local Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2). Events such as these often include cosplay competitions where cosplayers can show off their handiwork and photoshoot opportunities where cosplayers can get their masterpieces professionally captured. While some co-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH SHOENROCK

USF alumna Sarah Shoenrock, cosplayer since 2012.

14 March 2, 2018

splayers do what they do for these photoshoots, competitions or internet attention, many of them do it purely because they love a certain character or for the fun of it. “I cosplay because it’s my favorite way to express my love for a character,” said local cosplayer and University of St. Francis alumna, Sarah Shoenrock, who has been cosplaying since 2012,.“Videogames and anime have always been such a big part of my life and to be able to pick a character and bring them to life is such an amazing feeling to me.” While some cosplayers opt for the route of pre-made costumes, many more seek to bring their favorite character to life themselves. Some dedicate months, or even years, working on costumes for a big event. “I always pick characters I am very fond of, so I love almost every costume I make. If I had to narrow it down [to a favorite], I would pick my Mercy cosplay from Overwatch,” said Shoenrock, “I spent close to eight months working on and off on this cosplay and it was extremely challenging. From making the wings to gradient dying fabric, I had to try so many new things that I had never done before.”

Entertainment

“While some cosplayers do what they do for these photoshoots, competitions or internet attention, many of them do it purely because they love a certain character or for the fun of it.” Cosplay celebrity Alodia Gosiengfiao.

This dedication to characters and costumes even has a chance to launch a cosplayer into the limelight. Some of the most popular cosplayers in the world have landed careers from the hobby. “I’ll do things like taking pictures with everybody, for around eight hours per day, while cosplaying, smiling, acting and posing,” said professional cosplayer Leon Chiro in an interview with Kotaku. “It may seem ‘easy’ from the outside but I can guarantee that sometimes it can be very stressful, especially during five-day events like Gamescom in Germany.”

“For example, I’m like a living scenario for all the people going to a Ubisoft booth to try the new Assassin’s Creed. While people are waiting for their turn, they can take pictures with me, an official Assassin, or do things like make videos.” Other cosplayers, such as Alodia Gosiengfiao, have gotten endorsement deals with health and beauty products and toy and video game companies. Gosiengfiao even has a clothing line thanks to her cosplay career. However, the professional cosplaying world is a hard one to breech, so most people will have to be content participating in the hobby for personal enjoyment. “I think everyone should try to cosplay at least once in their life, especially if they like to go to conventions,” said Shoenrock, “Cosplay is for everyone and it’s such a fun experience to bring a character to life.”

Professional cosplayer Leon Chiro.

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universe.” While never giving us characters that stick around for more than an episode, Brooker provides many clues that all episodes take place in the same universe. The most apparent of these clues include character Victoria Skillane’s reappearing mugshot from the episode “White Bear” and the consistent use of the Irma Thomas song “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” in multiple episodes including “Fifteen Million Merits,” “Men Against Fire,” “White Christmas” and “Crocodile.” Above all, the show has some incredible storylines that can scare viewers using only psychological factors instead of jump scares and violence.

A Critical Look at

BY CLARICE SWANSON EDITOR IN CHIEF

f you have asked the question ‘What series should I binge watch next?” in the past year, most likely you have gotten the answer “Black Mirror” somewhere along the way. The show has gained an almost cultlike fan base over its four seasons, praised for its unique storylines and thrilling execution. But is the extensive hype towards the program well deserved? According to IMDb.com the series can be described as “an anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech world where humanity’s greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.” The series originally aired on Channel 4 of the UK in 2011, with the second season airing in 2013. Netflix purchased the show in 2015 and commissioned 12 episodes that aired in its third and fourth season in 2016 and 2017 respectively. As far as the show’s plot goes, each episode is self-contained and contains anywhere between 40 and 120 minutes of thrill for the viewer. What separates “Black Mirror” from every other thriller Netflix has taken under its wing? First, the storylines are extremely innovative. Almost every story is based upon high-end technology gone terribly wrong, and gives viewers a glimpse of the scary things that could potentially happen with how fast technology continues to progress in modern society. The timeline of the show is also undefined, which makes it that much more frightening. While some of the episodes involve technology we could only dream about, others use tech as common as social media in frightening capacities. Despite an unclear timeline, Charles Brooker, the show’s creator, has commented that the show takes place in one “psychological

March 2, 2018

Just as any other good show, “Black Mirror” also has a fair number of critics. One critique is that the messages behind the episodes are fairly plain. An article by Vulture, an online pop culture commentary from New York Magazine, states “Guess what: Reality shows are dehumanizing. Social media makes people say and do horrible things. Documenting every single moment of our lives has downsides.” The show also has more than a handful of crude moments, which may disinterest certain viewers. The very first episode, for example, centers around the Prime Minister of England being blackmailed into having sexual relations with a pig. Finally, viewers must go into the show expecting to feel uncomfortable. The show offers commentary on the technological developments in society, and sometimes that commentary hits a little too close to home. “Black Mirror” is one of the most disturbing and unsettling shows out there and that’s a huge part of its appeal. If you are searching for a show that has the capacity to twist your mind and make you wonder, this show is for you.

What do USF Students Think of “Black Mirror?” “I love this show! I like how each episode has its own storyline and how the ending makes you think and contemplate about life and the downfalls of technology in the future.” -Courtney Joyce “Black Mirror is intellectually stimulating in the way that it demonstrates advancements in technology and culture that are quite possible in our own future. Not only is it an entertaining TV series, but it truly makes you think of your own morals, beliefs, and values and how they may or may not change if placed into these different scenarios. Black Mirror is so enticing because it does not stray too far from our own reality.” -Skyler Kern “No. Just No.” -Abigail Blome

Images courtesy of ibmec.org.br, Entre sábanas y almohadas

Entertainment

Photos courtesy of various webpage sites

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2018 Anime T for the Spring

BY GIOVANNI ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

ired of the heavy snowfall, slippery sidewalks and overall just can’t wait for spring? More importantly, are you an anime fan? Then don’t worry, we got you covered for three anime shows to look forward to, come time of the “Cherry Blossom” season. It is fair to agree or disagree in the anime community but everyone has a right to their own opinion after all. By no means are the listed animes in order of ranking or preference. You can use Myanimelist. net for many more animes to come in Spring of 2018.

“B: The Beginning” The first on our list is for fans who enjoy categories of action, drama, horror and psychology. “B: The Beginning” has all of those in one, jam packed anime waiting to blossom for you come March 2, 2018. The story revolves around the idea that a species of “new humans” are created to aim at making world peace but are being kidnapped for reasons entirely unknown. It is a dangerous world filled with crime and highly advanced technology in the archipelagic nation of Cremona. The main characters are Koku, the protagonist and Keith, the legendary investigator of the royal police force RIS. Which is a sneaky mysterious criminal organization. These are not the only characters however, a variety of them explore and race through the impenetrable city. The rest is up to you to explore and learn, as the reviews clearly recommend it.

“Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls” If you’re a historical romance lover but still want a little taste of action like the throwback anime “Inuyasha,” then “Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls” is for you. The theme of the anime is very Romeo and Juliet-like, with the only difference of having ninja clan rivalries between the Kouga and Iga clans that go back centuries. It’s up to two kids, Hibiki and Hachirou, to tighten the bond between the clans and end the vicious feuds. Though it had a very good hype before its debut premiere date on January 8 of this year, the expectations simply didn’t pay off according to some reviews from Myanimelist.net. Be the judge for yourself and give it a chance.

18 March 2, 2018

“Tokyo Ghoul:re.” For those who prefer an anime that fits the genre between horror, mystery and supernatural action, then get ready for major anime comeback in “Tokyo Ghoul:re.” It will be third season of “Tokyo Ghoul” and is said to make its first debut according to various sources sometime in April of this year. The synopsis of the story this season is that two years have passed when Anteiku was raided upon by the CCG, as such, Tokyo has changed drastically because of the CCG’s influence in the city. The Quinx squad may be the special team to help the CCG continue to disappear Tokyo’s many unwanted guests. The leader of this group, Haise Sasaki, is half-ghoul and half-human who has been steadily trained by Kishou Arima, a famous class investigator. There is more than meets the eye with Haise however, as he has unknown memories in his mind, slowly remembering the person he once was.

Anime “Tokyo Ghoul:re.”

Image courtesy of twitter.com

BY ELIJAH ANDERSON STAFF WRITER

Entertainment

n today’s society, no one really has time for stationary gaming. People are always on the move, whether it be to school, work, or practice. Because of this, people are constantly on their phones now reading the news, watching videos on social media or playing mobile games via apps on their phone. But just how good are those games in question? And can they replace current gaming today?

“Being known for being one of the first attempts to make the popular franchise a virtual reality game, people immediately wanted to catch Pokémon in the real world.”

Let’s first look at a game that took the world by storm upon release, Pokémon Go. Pokémon Go released on the Android app store and iOS on July 6, 2016. Being known for being one of the first attempts to make the popular franchise a virtual reality game, people immediately wanted to catch Pokémon in the real world. On the Pokémon Go website, Niantic, the developers of the game expressed that the game was meant to be played outside and did come with the risks of any outdoor activity, according to Nianticlabs.com. This was a good push for both people to exercise and to play Pokémon. However, not everything about Pokémon Go is all good.

Video Games Gone App

In order to play the game, the application used the phone’s GPS to track location and allow Pokémon to appear and be caught in relativity to their location. You can also choose to allow the camera to find the Pokémon or have a static background. The issue was not in the controls of the game however. Issues arose within the technical makeup of the game. An article from the Guardian shortly after the game released talked about this, “Pokémon go crashes with a frustrating frequency… it is slow to respond in areas with poor cell signal… the strain on the trainer’s phone battery make a portable charger an essential piece of every trainer’s kit” According to The Guardian). With these technical complications upon release, the app was not seen as a threat to those who preferred the Pokémon games that came out on handheld devices like the Nintendo 2DS and 3DS systems.

Images courtesy of Mama’s Pizza Alpharetta, PNG Mart

They also talk about the game’s impact on the Pokémon and gaming community, “It’s not just another mobile game and it’s not another Pokémon game – it’s an entirely separate beast on the cusp of something vast; a glimpse into the future of widely accessible augmented reality” According to The Guardian). And that is just it: this game is not something that is a proper mobile game, or a Pokémon game. It is more an attempt at a virtual reality build of Pokémon placed on mobile devices. This is something to defend the argument that video games and apps are not hurting each other, even when apps take aspects from certain video games.

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Nerdography and

Geekology: A Lesson In Culture and Technology BY CLARICE SWANSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This issue, we decided to take a look at the world around us from two different viewpoints: from the view of being a “nerd” and from the viewpoint of tech “geeks.” While people often use these terms interchangably, it is more common to associate being a nerd with being a passionate fan of something, while being a “geek” is more closely assoicate with loving science and math. While they are different, these two subcultures, have something in common; they are such an important part of our lives. While “nerd culture” impacts pop culture in society everyday, “geek culture” provides us the technological advancements needed to keep moving us towards the future.

March 2, 2018

Photo courtesy of Timeline

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March 2, 2018

Nerdography and Geekology

Cryptocurrency BY ALEX MCDILDA FEATURE EDITOR

B “Cryptocurrencies only hold as much power as the public allows them, they exist and fluctuate in value similar to regular currencies.”

Graphics courtesy of appspicket.com

y now many people have heard of the new way that trade and business is being done. The exchange of services via an unquantifiable electronic currency. This is referring to cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies are being developed left and right since the big boom of economy triggered by the spike in interest of the Bitcoin.

having a centrally regulated currency is security. Last December an unknown group managed to hack into the Bitcoin database and steal over $70 million USD worth of Bitcoin. CNN reported, “The cyber heist is yet another reminder about the vulnerability of some digital currency platforms.” By not having a centralized government to protect the digital dollars we hold there is no guarantee for its safety.

Cryptocurrencies have seen a lot of interest lately despite being around for over a decade. These forms of currency have been booming lately, from the Dogecoin to the Garlicoin. These currencies are not taken seriously, but should they be? According to Cointelegraph. com, “A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency designed to work as a medium of exchange. It uses cryptography to secure and verify transactions as well as to control the creation of new units of a particular cryptocurrency. Essentially, cryptocurrencies are limited entries in a database that no one can change unless specific conditions are fulfilled.” Although they are not strictly regulated by a governing body, they are regulated by the people who actually have an interest in them. There will never be a digital coin that was made without a purpose. Despite the fact one can essentially print money, it doesn’t really matter that much when only a few people are willing to accept it as payment anyways. Cryptocurrencies only hold as much power as the public allows them, they exist and fluctuate in value similar to regular currencies. However, one worry iof not

On top of all of this there is another drawback to the self-created currency. By being self-replicated it causes users to do something known as “mining.” Mining is when someone uses their computer to create a unit of the cryptocurrency in question. Some currencies, such as Bitcoin, require a computer to compute a difficult proof that may take a long time depending on the processing power of the computer that is doing the proof. This, in turn, leads to a slow yet steady output of currency. According to bitcoinmining.com, “Bitcoin mining is intentionally designed to be resource-intensive and difficult so that the number of blocks found each day by miners remains steady.” This creates a particular issue with energy as it uses up a lot of energy which in turn leads to more pollution. All things considered it is up to the users to determine whether or not these cryptocurrencies are worth pursuing.

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March 2, 2018

1976 The first hosts of ARPANET, Internet’s forerunner, are connected.

First email is sent at with MIT’s Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) “MAIL”.

1975

1969

1963 John Logie Baird transmits the first television signal. He is the inventor of both the first publicly demonstrated color television system, and the first purely electronic color television picture tube.

New company Apple Computers, now know as Apple releases Apple I, its first personal computer.

NASA launches the first geosynchronous communications satellite from Cape Canaveral, Syncom 2.

1965

Alexander Graham Bell is granted the patent of the electric telephone and exhibits it in Boston.

1902

Almon Strowger patents the direct dial telephone.

Guglielmo Marconi transmits radio signals from Cornwall to Newfoundland.

1926

1876

Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press with movable type, which allowed the mass spread of information, replacing the manuscript and block printing as method of publishing literature.

Claude Chappe establishes the first long-distance semaphore telegraph line, the first practical telecommunications system of the industrial age.

1889

1792 Chinese politician and inventor Tsai Lun invents paper and papermaking process.

1450

105

technology

MITS introduces de Altair 8800 kit, the first personal computer.

Images courtesy of inventricity, logok, timetoast, QRZ Now, National Museum of American History, www.altairkit.com, TechnoBuffalo, TechCrunch

The largest social networking site in the world, Facebook is launched, created by Mark Zuckerberg.

2011

Snapchat, the image messaging and multimedia mobile application created by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown, former students at Stanford University, is introduced.

2010

NCSA launches Mosaic, the graphical web browser that popularized the World Wide Web and the Internet.

2005

2003

YouTube, the video sharing site, is launched, created by three former PayPal employees— Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim.

Apple launches the first-generation iPhone.

2006

Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau build the prototype system which became the World Wide Web.

eUniverse launches the social networking site Myspace; Skype video calling software is founded and launched by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis.

2004

1981

Nordic Mobile Telephone, the world´s first automatic mobile phone is put into operation.

1993

1992 Microsoft Corporation launches Microsoft Word software.

1989

1983

Neil Papworth sends the first SMS, or text message.

2007

BY EVA LOPEZ LAYOUT ARTIST

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger create the photo-sharing application Instagram.

Twitter, the online news and social networking service is launched, developed by Jack Dorsey.

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Nerdography and Geekology

y timeline

reality BY IAN BOND STAFF WRITER

lthough Virtual Reality (VR) may seem to be new phenomena, at least in the context of gaming, the ideas behind it date back to the 1800s with the stereoscope. According to the Virtual Reality Society, Charles Wheatstone demonstrated that the human brain can be tricked into viewing a three-dimensional image when viewing two images taken from a slightly different angle and viewed by each eye separately. This formed the backbone to Wheatstone’s stereoscope, patented in 1838, as well as more recognizable objects like the View-Master, patented in 1939.

VR from Heilig to Matrix In 1956, Morton Heilig created the Sensorama to allow people to “feel like they were ‘in’ the movie,” according to the Franklin Institute. Heilig’s Sensorama in addition to using stereoscopy to produce three-dimensional images, it also featured stereo sound and a vibrating chair making the experience more lifelike. At the time, Heilig’s Teleshere Mask functioned only as a way to view a stereoscopic film but the idea of a head display permeates to this day. VR eventually entered the realm of gaming in the 1990s with a series of advancements including Virtuality Group’s arcade machines, SEGA’s VR glasses and Nintendo’s Virtual Boy. Virtuality Group was among

26 March 2, 2018

the leading companies in VR in the 1990s eventually putting most of its effort into video game development. Virtuality Group’s Virtuality brand arcade machines featured VR goggles and could offer a multiplayer experience. The company did eventually have to sell off its machines due to a lack of demand in the late 1990s. Next came SEGA’s VR headset, which featured LCD screens, stereo sound and head tracking capabilities according to the Virtual Reality Society. SEGA intended the headset to work with their Genesis gaming console and even developed four games for the headset. Unfortunately, due to “technical development difficulties,” the glasses were never released. In 1995, Nintendo released the Virtual Boy as its own console, which was just a headset attached to a stand plus a controller. The Virtual Boy did boast three-dimensional graphics but its lack of colors beyond black and red caused to the product to be discontinued after roughly five months. Although these early attempts at bringing VR to the gaming world failed, the idea of virtual reality was making its way into the mainstream, largely because of the cultural impact of “The Matrix” released in 1999, which suggested the idea of living in a simulation.

As our technological capabilities continue to evolve, VR is becoming more and more a reality as large technology companies begin to jump on the VR bandwagon.

As we can see, the technology behind VR is constantly becoming better able to create realistic lifelike experiences and the potential for VR in everyday life difficult to gauge.

Oculus VR

VR 360 Playground

Oculus VR began selling the Oculus Rift head-mounted display in 2012. Although the Oculus Rift did not ship immediately, Facebook still found interest in Oculus VR and acquired the company as a subsidiary. Around the same time as the acquisition, Samsung partnered with Oculus VR to develop the Samsung Gear VR, which was released in 2015.

For example, according to The Naperville Sun, Marcus Beam is trying to replicate the success of Dave & Buster’s by opening VR 360 Playground in downtown Naperville for customers to “experience of riding the world’s fastest roller coaster or taking a stroll through Paris.” While the entertainment business in the planning process, it is sheds light on where VR could take us in terms of entertainment.

PlayStation VR & DayDream In 2016, Sony released the PlayStation VR and Google released Google Daydream for mobile devices with Android Nougat operating system (7.1 or later). Both of these devices also feature controllers allowing for a more immersive environment. In fact, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” originally released in 2011 and one of the bestselling video games of all time, was released for PlayStation VR in late 2017 alongside a version for the Nintendo Switch.

Photos courtesy of The Business of Fashion and VR/AR Association

Oculus Rift

Microsoft HoloLens VR could also go down the mixed reality path as Microsoft continues to develop Windows Mixed Reality as a way to blend the physical and virtual realms through the use of a headset or Microsoft HoloLens, a smart-glasses device similar to Google Glass. While these two examples take different approaches to VR, they show just how diverse the applications of VR can be.

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Nerdography and Geekology

Morton Heilig’s Sensorama

Amazon’s Shopping Advancements 28

BY ALEX GUGLIELMUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

or many years, people actually had to go to the store and purchase what they wanted. Today, those same people can do all of their shopping in the comfort of their living rooms or the desk in their office thanks to companies like Amazon. According to the Cnn. com,”In 1994, Jeff Bezos left his job as a vice president of a Wall Street firm and moved to Seattle to work on a business plan.” Fast forward one year and one of the most used websites today was born. Amazon was created to be an online bookstore and to be an easier way to access books worldwide. According to the urlwire.com, “After a year of success, Amazon.com Inc. became available to the public to invest stock in.” When the company had a slow first few years, stockholders became upset that the busi-

“The newest advancement that is still in the works is Amazon Air. That is an option that the customers can choose when checking out. Amazon Air will be a service used to deliver packages within 30 minutes of the order. The way the packages are delivered are by drones.” ness they were investing into was showing minimal growth. While the beginning of the 21st century closed down many of the e-companies, Amazon was able to survive and become one of the largest retail businesses. With their survival, Amazon expanded their business from being just an online bookstore to selling music, movies, apparel, electronics and much more. According to the wsj.com, “In 2011, Amazon created a self-service parcel delivery service called the Amazon Locker.” Amazon customers can use any Locker location as their delivery address rather than their home address. The customer will be given a unique access code when they pick up their order. When they arrive at their chosen Locker, the touch screen will ask for that code and then the customer will be able to receive the package. While the locker is high tech it is not one of Amazon’s newest advancements. A couple years ago, they created the Amazon Echo, a smart speaker that is controlled by your voice and has a personal assistant

March 2, 2018

named Alexa. This device can play music, set alarms, and even shop for you. With one command, Alexa can add any item on the Amazon website to your cart and can check you out from there. According to the cbsnews.com “Amazon is also working on a system called Amazon Air which will be an option that customers will be able to choose when checking out.” The idea behind Amazon Air is to provide a service that can deliver packages within 30 minutes of the order. Essentially, the products you order will be delivered by drones directly to your doorstep. Amazon is currently still working on developing the right drone for their service and has no time table of when the service will be launched. One of the best features that Amazon gives their customers the option to use is Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime is a paid subscription that allows you to use their video website, music website and also probably the favorite for every Prime customer, free shipping on all orders. To become a prime member, visit www. amazon.com/amazonprime.

Photo courtesy of DepositPhotos

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M BY AMBER JAMES STAFF WRITER

Not Just for “Grey’s Anatomy” Anymore:

Newest Innovations in

edical Technology

The Cleveland Clinic announced the Top 10 Medical Innovations of 2018 a few months back. The innovations range from gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases to pacemakers for sleep apnea. While they may not have been developed with the help of the“Grey’s Anatomy” character, Meredith Grey, this list contained only some of the brilliant and creative

March 2, 2018

innovations that may change healthcare in 2018. Chief Wellness Officer Michael Roizen, MD states that the group of physicians and scientists has only “missed one prediction” from these lists. As for the rest, well, they came true. Now that’s a great track record. Here are

of our favorite anticipated innovations:

The FDA has finally approved gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases. Gene therapy, which is the process of inserting a gene into a patient’s cells, has suffered setbacks in the past, but it is now better than ever. According to Roizen, patients that have a defective gene called RPE65 (which is responsible for producing a protein that makes light receptors in the eye) now have hope. The treatment is called Luxturna, and it is injected into the eye to deliver healthy copies of the gene to the retina. While Luxturna is not a 100 percent cure for blindness, it can improve eyesight substantially, according to researchers. The downside is that it comes with a price tag of $850,000 for one treatment.

The gene therapy focuses on a rare inherited retinal disease called Leber congenital amaurosis

“Pacemakers” for Sleep Apnea Neuromodulation is a new way to treat apnea. It is similar to pacemakers in that it is an implant controlled by a wearable patch that is worn during sleep. The implant and wearable patch stimulate the patient and ensures key airwaves are kept open during sleep. Positive results have given hope to those who suffer from sleep apnea, and this innovation is clearly more comfortable than the bulky, loud machines patients are used to using. “It’s really in its infancy, but this will replace CPAP in 50 to 70 percent of patients eventually,” predicts Roizen. “It will bring partners together again, as opposed to them sleeping in other rooms.” Missing only one prediction over the past 10 years, it’s pretty safe to say that these developments in medical technology are not so farfetched after all. It looks like 2018 is going to be a great year for those living in the world of scalpels, syringes and scrubs.

Upper-Airway Stimulation through the implant.

Reductions in LDL Cholesterol Bad cholesterol, otherwise known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is a major factor in heart disease. However, thanks to new drug combinations and the right technology, doctors now have the tools and research to help reduce the possibilities of cardiovascular death. The drug combinations (PCSK9 inhibitors, along with statins) have proven to be effective at reducing LDL levels by at least 75 percent. Roizen believes this innovation will allow people to truly think and reflect on their lifestyles and ultimately live a healthier life. Images courtesy of Web Strategies for Health, The New England Journal of Medicine, paulistano/Depositphotos, American Heart Association News

Clogged artery due to LSL cholesterol.

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Nerdography and Geekology

Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Diseases

From NerdStream to Main Stream:

Marvelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Impact on BY MAT TUCK ASSISTANT EDITOR

he Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a multi-storied, shared-universe, action adventure tale told over 17 feature films and 12 television/ streaming service series. According to IMDb, The MCU has grossed over $13 billion at the box office as of the writing of this articles and will add three new movies to the cinematic universe before the end of 2018. But what makes the MCU so popular, and how has it affected all of Hollywood? Unlike many film studios, Marvel tells its stories in a shared-universe which it has called the MCU. The movies take classic comic book superheroes and put them in self-contained adventure blockbusters. Shared-universe films are individual movies and televisions series that stand up on their

March 2, 2018

the Film Industry own, yet connect with each other and exist in the same universe. Characters from one movie can be referenced or even appear in movies that they are not staring in. Once in a while we get a big team battle where all of the heroes we loved from their solo films come together to fight one big bad-guy as a team in the Avengers movies. Ten years ago, this type of story telling was unheard of in Hollywood. There was no shortage of superhero movies. Batman and Superman were established box office successes decades before Marvel was making superhero theatrical releases, and Hulk, Spiderman and the X-Men were already household names by the mid 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thanks to their self-contained single-universe movies. Yes, fans had been seeing superheroes team up in comics and cartoon shows for decades

Ten years, 17 movies and $13 billion later and every movie studio wants a successful shared-universe series like the MCU. One of the most obvious attempts at a shared-universe comes from Marvel’s direct competitor, DC. In 2013 DC started its own cinematic universe with the release of the Superman film: “Man of Steel.” Next came “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Wonder Woman.” Unfortunately, with DC’s” Justice League” movie underperforming at the box-office and low ratings from both reviews and fans on Rotten Tomatoes makes it apparent that DC has been unable to catch the same magic as Marvel with its shared-universe.

The Avengers, in which several of Marvel’s superheros team up.

However, DC isn’t the only company attempting to cash-in on the shared-universe trend Marvel started. Universal Studio is also attempting a shared-universe with its ownership of classic horror characters. Dracula Untold and “The Mummy” (2017) are both movies in the studios new share-universe. According to Denofgeek.com, the movie studio is also potentially planning Van Helsing and Wolfman movies to exist in their shared-universe. However, since “The Mummy” did poorly at the box-office, only grossing $80 million domestically and $400 million world-wide according to IMDb, its future shared-universe films may be in jeopardy. Other movie franchises attempting shared-universes recently include: The Star Wars films with their spinoff films like “Solo” and “Rogue One,” the X-Men and Daredevil films, the Lego films with “Lego Batman” and “The Lego Movie” and finally the Transformers movies with a spin-off with John Cena and Bumblebee in the works. Truly MCU has made a big impact on Hollywood and making shared-universe movies. Only time will tell if the new shared-universes will end up being one of the best things or one of the most annoying things when it comes to movie releases going forward.

Photos courtesy of IMBD.com

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Nerdography and Geekology

but had yet to see anything like it on the big screen. That is until 2008 with the release of the first Ironman film. The after-credits scene of the first Ironman movie teased for the first time a superhero team-up on the silver screen.

PAPER MEDIA BY AMBER JAMES STAFF WRTIER

grew up loving books. Not in a “Matilda” sort of way, but close. My copies of “Charlotte’s Web” and, as I got a little older, “Harry Potter,” were loveworn with broken bindings and chicken-scratch handwriting scribbled in the margins. I would lift up my hands to see nothing but purple-ish blue smears on the side of my hand from the ballpoint pen that was probably too big for my tiny hands. Books made growing up a little easier and, over time, I realized that my imagination and creativity stemmed from paper, not technology or digital media. Who knew? Unfortunately, as technology began to advance and develop, newspapers and magazines began to slowly disappear from the shelves of grocery store checkout lanes. Teachers even began to say things like, “We’re going to the computer lab today!” and I was convinced that my paper-loving days were over. Some people may think that paper media is dead, but I disagree. The truth is, nothing will ever replace paper media. It’s not just my personal opinion that paper media is better than digital. According to the National Public Radio (NPR), the physical act of writing by hand gives us

a greater focus on the meaning behind our words, making handwriting a more effective tool for learning rather than typing. Not only that, but according to EDUCASE, a nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research, 92 percent of students find it easier to concentrate while reading from paper compared to electronic texts. Maybe it’s just me, but remember the punishment of writing things like, “I will not talk back, I will not talk back...” over and over again? If you want something etched deep into your memory…grab a piece of paper. I haven’t talked back since. Also, have you ever smelled a book, newspaper, or even a magazine? It’s not as weird as it sounds, I promise. That combination of paper, the air of countless page-turnings and possible dog-ear folds. Oh, and the deep, rich smell of time itself...now that’s an amazing smell. That kind of passion is lost when you open your e-reader case and swipe to unlock a book you’ll probably only read once. Ever wondered where all that emotion and passion has gone in the age of digital media? Well, let me tell you: out the window. Digital media has only allowed society to become passionless. I know some may say that all of this paper would be terrible for the environment and it would be easier to carry around a phone or a tablet rather than a backpack full of books. Digital media may be faster or more convenient, but there is a warmth, softness and crafty quality found in printed media that you’ll never get from a cold electronic screen. (Or a hot, thigh-burning laptop). I can only hope that my love for paper media is like someone else’s love for the rotary phone or vinyl albums and, last time I checked, those things were making a comeback.

“According to EDUCASE, a nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research, 92 percent of students find it easier to concentrate while reading from paper compared to electronic texts.”

March 2, 2018

Photos courtesy of livetiles.nyc

ou often hear many book lovers comment “there is nothing like that new book smell” or “e-books just aren’t the same as real books.” But the truth is, paperless media is taking over, and with good reason.

When using the term “paperless media,” I am describing e-books and magazines, news websites, online textbooks and other digital versions of traditional media.

“According to Website Magazine, the average 21 year old ‘has spent 5,000 hours playing video games, sent 250,000 emails, instant messages and text messages, and has spent 10,000 hours on a mobile phone alone.” The first reason behind my support of paperless, is the fact we are living in the digital age. According to Website Magazine, the average 21 year old “has spent 5,000 hours playing video games, sent 250,000 emails, instant messages and text messages and has spent 10,000 hours on a mobile phone alone.” We are in a world of technology, where we have access to information across the globe in a matter of seconds. You can’t even begin to reach that level of information with print media. By the time a print material gets circulated, even within a span of a few weeks, something will be outdated.

One of paperless media’s biggest perks is the fact that it is sustainable, and wastes no paper. USF Student Government VP of Sustainability Meghan Price made her statment on the usefulness of paperless media, saying “paperless media is more convenient and efficient. While there is still energy needed to power phones, laptops and tablets, paperless media leaves less of a carbon footprint.” With the world’s focus turning more and more towards ways to preserve our planet, its hard to deny the benefit of digital media. Finally, one of the top reasons to prefer paperless media is its sheer convinence. Paperless media makes it easier to take notes, multitask, and organize your materials. Paperless media also allows for convergence, providing additional materials to text such and videos or activities, so a reader can better comprehend the material. Paperless media also allows you to more easily share materials, whether it be by emails, by messages, by document sharing applications or simply by social media. This utility is particullarly helpful for students, but overall is simply extremely useful to get more out of the media you are reading. Currency, sustainability and efficency are all reasons to prefer paperless media to print media. As we move forward in the world of technology, using paperless media is going to become more and more crucial to one’s existence, and I know that I for one do not plan on getting left behind.

PAPERLESS MEDIA Photos courtesy of aux.com

Read more stories daily at usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 35

Commentary

BY CLARICE SWANSON EDITOR IN CHIEF

logging Should

BY KATIE WOZNIAK PR SPECIALIST

hen you Google the word “vlogging” and select the news tab, all you see are stories about Logan Paul. This famous vlogger has been in the news since the beginning of 2018 for his controversial YouTube video where he filmed the corpse of a suicide victim in a forest in Japan. Since then, vlogging and careers on YouTube have been a hot topic. First, what is vlogging? Vlogging is a video blog documenting something, typically one’s day to day living, through a video camera, instead of a traditional online website where you write blog posts. YouTube has been home to vloggers of all types: those who record immaturely to even some who receive an income from it. However, YouTube has been running into issues regarding those who vlog and use their website as a platform. In response to Logan Paul’s’ controversial video, YouTube has released new rules and regulations more specifically laying out the punishments that would be implemented in the event of a YouTube creator publishing content that is considered inappropriate. When discussing any harm to the “community,” YouTube describes its community as including “advertisers, the media industry, and most importantly, the general public.” The more difficult question is exactly what kind of content is considered “harmful” and what warrants such punishments? Adam Westlake, a writer for the website SlashGear, explains, “YouTube VP Ariel Bardin attempts to provide clear examples, such as a ‘heinous prank where people are traumatized,’ or content that ‘promotes violence or hate toward a group, demonstrates cruelty or sensationalizes the pain of others in an attempt to gain views or subscribers.”

Another incident regarding vloggers on YouTube revolves around the Butler family who can be found under the username, “Shaytards.” Shay Carl Butler and his wife Colette Butler married in 2003 and started their YouTube channel in 2008. They have been deemed as the “first family of YouTube” according to kuvt.com. The couple has five children together, which was the focal point of their YouTube vlogs. They have accumulated over 25 million views of their personal vlogs over the course of 9 years. In February of 2017, the Shaytards posted their final video entitled, “Let’s Disappear For A Year” and have not posted another vlog since. It was also in this month that it was revealed that Shay Butler was having an affair with cam girl Aria Nina. The news shook the YouTube community, especially since this family and relationship was one they looked up to. Now, a year later, there have been no other repercussions to the family other than disappearing from their faily based YouTube channel. PHOTO COURTESY OF LOGAN PAUL VLOGS

Vlogger Logan Paul celebrating his first anniversary since starting vlogging.

“The lack of privacy, constantly being in the public eye and open to their criticism is just one of the downfalls to this online craze.” 36

March 2, 2018

Vlogging can serve as a window into the lives of others and seeing the behind the scenes of bloggers who have a large audience. However, it is apparent that vlogging has long-term repercussions. The lack of privacy, constantly being in the public eye and open to their criticism are just some of the downfalls to this online craze. Does vlogging need to come to an end? Or do creators have to be more conscientious and held accountable for their actions? While this answer remains unclear, we know that people will never stop wanting to communicate and share their stories.

Graphic courtesy of OnlineLaberls

BY JALEN WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

n the working world, one thing to always remember is to dress for the job you want. However, your appearance goes much beyond just the clothes you are wearing. Body art and jewelry have become a popular way for people to customize themselves in ways that clothes and shoes can’t. Tattoos and piercings have become a hot topic in the workplace regarding hiring applicants and certain company policies, and have been the reasons for many people to have not been hired for a position, or for employees losing their jobs. The social stigma around body modifications in recent years has changed in American culture, and employers need to catch up with the trend. Workplaces aren’t always comfortable with tattoos and piercings, and in certain careers, I completely understand why. In professions where you should appear as professional as possible, (e.g. government official, doctor, police officers) most people may feel uneasy if you have a couple nose piercings, two industrials, and gauges in both ears. I do know of businesses where piercings like those are perfectly acceptable, like Spencer’s and Hot Topic. Tattoos seem to be a different story because depending on the profession, you may not be allowed to have your tattoos showing. I feel as though people should be allowed to show their tattoos and piercings in the workplace as long it isn’t distracting or inappropriate. Tattoos and piercings don’t always reflect the character of the person either, as we are often quick to assume things about people who have lots of piercings and/or tattoos. A strong, tall man with tattoos

“Many employers are still hesistant in hiring applicants with either tattoos or piercings.“ Graphic courtesy of OnlineLaberls, Pinterest, Frisco Kids

in the Workplace might appear to be scary to most people, but he could be one of the nicest people you will ever meet. The woman at the tattoo parlor with five piercings in each ear might be the best person to pierce your baby’s ears. Tattoos and piercings create misconceptions throughout society by causing people to usually assume negative things about a person with body art or jewelry. Tattoos and piercings are ways that humans customize their bodies to make themselves more comfortable and expressive. I know more people who have tattoos than don’t, and almost every person I know has some sort of a piercing. As common as these two are, many employers are still hesistant in hiring applicants with either tattoos or piercings. In some professions where appearance is everything, these exceptions may be acceptable. Doctors with face piercings may not appear to be the most credible, and hiring a lawyer with a neck tattoo might not sound like the best idea to most people. However, in most modern-day jobs, I feel as though people should be allowed to display their tattoos and/or piercings, within reason of course. The way a person expresses themselves has no impact on their character or what abilities that person may possess. Just because someone has a couple tattoos and their ears pierced shouldn’t mean they can’t make a great career for themselves.

Read more stories daily at usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 37

Commentary

Tattoos and Piercings

Apple Music BY BRETT PLUTH STAFF WRITER

y experience with both Apple Music and Spotify has resulted in my conclusion that Apple Music is a better music streaming service than Spotify. For instance, Spotify says that their music library has a total of more than 30 million songs, which sounds like a lot of songs but is actually surpassed by the amount of songs Apple Music has. Apple Music offers 40 million more songs on top of music you personally add. This includes burning CDs to a computer, buying songs from the iTunes Store, or downloading music from YouTube and turning it into mp4 files. As someone who loves cheerleading and dance routine mixes, I like how Apple Music allows me to add the songs and take them with me wherever I go, something I would not be able to do with Spotify. Apple Music also allows access to local music by broad searches. Apple Music also does not make you wait for new releases of music. If a song is released on February 13, for example, Apple Music will have it accessible that day, a feature that is not common with other music streaming services. Apple Music also features exclusive artists offers with singers such as Lady Gaga, Drake and Adele. This means that all music released by Lady Gaga, Drake and the other Apple Music-exclusive artists will be released first on Apple Music. Another characteristic that demonstrates that Apple Music is better than Spotify is the radio feature. Both services have a radio feature but Apple Music’s radio feature has more to offer. It does not focus too much on one artist’s own music; rather it offers radio-style programming at the touch of the hand as well as other generic stations for those who

March 2, 2018

do not necessarily care about listening to music of a certain genre or music by a certain artist. It gives people more options when it comes to radio and that’s what makes Apple Music stand out as well. As a control freak, I like being able to control what plays next and feel like the experience is catered to my interests.

“Apple Music offers 40 million more songs on top of music you personally add. This includes burning CDs to a computer, buying songs from the iTunes Store, or downloading music from YouTube and turning it into mp4 files.” Although Apple Music is a music streaming service, it offers exclusive video content that other competitors do not have. This includes Harry Styles: Behind the Album, Carpool Karaoke: The Series and Planet of the Apps. Trust is another reason why I prefer Apple Music. I trust Apple Music more than I do Spotify because of Apple Inc.’s well-respected and well-known brand as well as years of personal experience with Apple products. In fact, 64 percent of Americans as of 2017 own an Apple product, including Apple Music. Spotify is a reputable competitor, but the fact that the company has only been around for ten years while Apple Inc. has been around since 1976, Apple Music has more reliability than Spotify. When deciding what music streaming service to use, remember the service that allows one more choices, control and access to only the best music has to offer. Think different and choose Apple Music.

Commentary

BY EMILY PLUMMER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

s a day-one Spotify user, I definitely find their service to be superior to Apple Music for many reasons. Let me start by stating that I am a proud Apple user, having used their devices for years and even switched to Apple Music for a brief period but ultimately found my way back to Spotify. One of the most obvious reasons is because Spotify is FREE. You can opt to their premium service without

the bands they are listening to and hand select their favorite tracks to create a killer mix. Additionally, Spotify’s layout looks like organized chaos, but it’s actually really helpful for a music streaming sight. Apple Music’s layout combines your iTunes library along with music you can stream, making everything much more confusing. Spotify organizes their music how you would expect to find it. When most people open their music, they instinctively want to go to the album they recently listened to, a favorite playlist, or a specific artist. Spotify condenses all this information into one tab on their app, whereas in Apple Music it is spread out amongst multiple tabs.

“Other Spotify members can make public playlists for everyone to listen to, not only adding variety to the playlists but making it more personalized to the listener.” ads and the automatic shuffle mode, otherwise it costs you no cash. If you’ve used Spotify free for long enough, you know that there are ways around this (e.g., creating single song playlists, listening on a laptop rather than a phone, and closing the app to avoid ads). Next, Spotify has user created playlists, unlike Apple Music. Other Spotify members can make public playlists for everyone to listen to, not only adding variety to the playlists but making it more personalized to the listener. Let’s face it, when Spotify and Apple create their own playlists, it’s not personal. They grab bands that are placed in the same genre and are popularly listened to together by users. When users create playlists, they know

Lastly, Spotify customizes playlists for you. Spotify gives users a “Discover Weekly” playlist full of recommended new tracks that listeners might be interested to. The playlist holds 30 songs and is updated weekly by Spotify. At the end of each year Spotify also puts out playlists called “Your Top Songs” and “The Ones Who Got Away,” showcasing your most listened music and some of the songs that you might have liked but didn’t get a chance to listen to. They also gave users the option to view stats about the music they listened to in 2017, featured on a separate website. Spotify truly is superior on multiple counts and should be everyone’s main service for music streaming. Apple should stick with what they know- iTunes.

Spotify Image courtesy of GoldWallpapers.com, Wikimedia Commons, dribbble.com

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The World of eSports

Gaming or Sports? 40

BY ALEX MCDILDA FEATURE EDITOR

March 2, 2018

ver the past decade video gaming has been taken to a competitive scene known as eSports. Despite some controversy regarding whether or not the competitions count as actual sports, the tournaments and events that follow these games are trending upward exponentially. Originally Sports were small events with minimal prizes. According to Esportsearnings.com, in 2008 the prize pool for the multiplayer online battle arena, Dota 2, at the “Dreamhack Winter 2008” tournament had a prize pool of a mega $5,303. The top placed team, “MeetYourMakers,” took home $3,330. This may seem like a lot of money for a game but when compared to later years, it is a laughably small amount. Compare that to last year’s “International 2017: Dota 2 Championships” which had an extraordinary prize pool of $24,687,919 where the top placed team, Team Liquid, took home a staggering $10,862,683. ESports have become a huge event with many colleges drafting their own eSport teams such as: Robert Morris University, Schreiner University, University of Pikeville and many others. These

colleges are even offering scholarships just to perform on their eSport teams. ESports may just change how parents view video gaming with a possible chance for their kid to go pro and get a full ride at the college of his or her choice. According to Esportsearnings.com, in 2017 the top eSport games were: DOTA 2, which has been at the top for as long as eSports have been around, followed by Counter Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm and at number five is Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. At this point you may be wondering, “Why do people care about eSporting events, they are just games?” Have you ever been excited about the Super Bowl, the World Series or even the FIFA World Cup? Those are all “games.” Yes, the controversy surrounding eSports is that ‘they’re not really a sports’ however, just like Poker (which is currently being considered to be in the 2020 Summer Olympics) it is a game of skill that requires not only complete control over one’s body both physically and emotionally but also reading one’s opponents moves much like in Photos courtesy of medium.com, LCSHighlights, CC Connected - Columbia College

other games such as Football or Baseball.

Sports

ESports can be particularly exciting as the games are constantly changing, unlike sports like Soccer which have been played for over three thousand years and which hasn’t seen much change since its inception, ESports change monthly. Players need to stay on top of the game with each patch of the game.

“ESports have become a huge event with many colleges drafting their own ESport teams such as: Robert Morris University, Schreiner University, University of Pikeville and many others.”

Missouri emerges as home of college eSports.

Robert Morris University vs Michigan State at the ULOL CAMPUS SERIES 2016.

One patch may make certain character better than the rest or “broken,” while another update may downgrade that same character making it unplayable competitively. These changes make or break the meta. The “meta” is a term used to describe the current status of characters in rotation in competitive play, or what’s “in” right now. ESports are becoming ever more popular among both players and fans with more and more people turning up at events and more players joining the competitive scene. ESports require significant hand eye coordination as well as the ability to communicate and cooperate with others and even more importantly, an immense amount of practice. ESports, much like physical sports, can be mentally and physically draining as they require complete dedication to be the best of the best. It is not simply just “playing games” it is hard work and countless hours spent learning every mechanic in the game to rise up to the competitive level.

Read more stories daily at usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

he countdown to the Major League Baseball season started as soon as the Astros won Game 7 of the World Series in Dodger Stadium, gaining their first title in franchise history.

However, it officially became reality to look forward to 2018 when Opening Day was announced. Opening Day is on Thursday, March 29. This is the earliest start date in Major League history, and it will be the first time since 1968 that every team will play its first regular-season game on the same day. But what is the season looking like? According to SB Nation and the Major League Baseball Association, this is what each division is looking like for the 2018season.

American League central The Cleveland Indians are returning a complete team that looks to take their third division consecutive title. On the other hand, the Chicago White Sox are still rebuilding. The White Sox have an another good year before they are dominant. The Kansas City Royals have some unfinished business and are looking to be better.

American League east The New York Yankees are still on top but will the Boston Red Sox be taking over? The Red Sox added right fielder, J.D. Martinez, who may be the difference. The Toronto Blue Jays have a pretty consistent lineup.

American League West The Houston Astros will be back looking for their second straight MLB National Championship. The Los Angeles Angels are looking for a comeback. The Seattle Mariners are looking like another .500 season. The Texas Rangers could hit 90 wins if new pitchers Doug Fister, Mike Minor, and Matt Moore do well. The Oakland Athletics are very young.

March 2, 2018

national League central The Chicago Cubs are looking to prevail again. The Chicago Cubs signed pitcher Yu Darvish. The Milwaukee Brewers should see playoff play. The St. Louis Cardinals have potential with Dexter Fowler and Lance Lynn. The Pittsburgh Pirates missed the playoffs last season but there is talent and promise for a potentially good season. The Cincinnati Reds are not looking so good this season but they will try their best.

national League east The Washington Nationals are probably going to be good regardless of what happens this season. The Nationals did not make many moves this offseason, but they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to: they won 95 games and made the postseason. The New York Mets are looking pretty good. The pitching staff pushes the team ahead of the Nationals and to the top of the National League East. The Philadelphia Phillies are looking at a .500 season if the pitching and hitting is there.

Major League

Baseball

update BY ASHLEY HARE COMMENTARY EDITOR

national League west The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking at a World Series Championship. The Dodgers have won the West the last four seasons, and have two NLCS losses. The Arizona Diamond backs are looking pretty good. The San Diego Padres have a long season ahead of them with new and young players. The San Francisco Giants need to work on chemistry before they think about playoffs. With all that said, baseball fans have another thrilling season ahead of them..

Graphics courtesy of Wikipedia and Creative Sports Enterprises, Inc

The USF Baseball Team Spring is getting closer and closer w h i c h means spring sports are on the way. The U S F baseball team has already started their season. The team’s year began with trips to Pulaski, Tennessee; Lebanon, Tennessee; and Marion, Illinois.

Softba Basebal l ll Seas on

The Saints are currently preparing for their annual Flor- i d a set to take place during spring break. The trip will consist of around 10 games. Every year the USF baseball team travels to Florida in order to avoid the cold weather and prep for the upcoming season.

The USF Softball Team The USF softball team has a lot to be excited about. Last year the Saints posted the best winning percentage in the program’s 38-year history (.860) accumulating a 43-7 record. USF went 21-3 in CCAC play which led them to conference regular season and tournament crowns. The Saints then advanced to the championship game of the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.

Unfortunately, the Saints may be without a playing field as the conference season begins. USF’s home field, Route 66 Stadium, is still undergoing reconstruction. Due to weather and other circumstances turf installation on the field will not begin until early March. The Saint’s first home game is scheduled for March 17, so an alternative playing site may be needed. Wherever USF is playing this year, they plan to win. The Saints are anchored around a veteran pitching staff that includes seniors Kevin Mampe and Tom Jeffries, along with juniors John Riordan and Michael Quiram. A solid pitching staff along with consistence small ball on the offensive side could lead to a successful season for the USF baseball team. Coach Brian Michalak often tells his players to “do simple better.” That is something the team focuses on day in and day out. The flashy play may be exciting but execution wins ballgames.

This year they are ranked 11 in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll and have high expectations for the season ahead. USF is returning 15 of its 16 players and all six allCCAC performers from a year ago, including NAIA First-Team All-American and CCAC Pitcher of the Year Morghan Dieringer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West). The Saints will play games in Kentucky, Arizona, Michigan and Ohio before their conference schedule begins.

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Sports

Hey Ba tter B atter! A Loo k and at USF

BY BLAKE TOMAC FEATURE EDITOR

Iain

sports spotlight

Morrison #42

BY KAMARI JORDAN SPORTS EDITOR

2017-2018 Accomplishments: • • • • • •

On Saturday February 10, 2018 he broke into the Top 10 on USF all time scoring list with 1,242 points. As a senior he has started 26 of 28 games. He was named 2nd-team All CCAC selection. Led the team with 16.7 points and 1.4 blocks per game. Scored in double figures 25 times and had three double doubles. Matched his career-high with 27 points against Purdue Northwest.

Height: 6’ 9” Weight: 235lbs Class: Senior Position: Center Hometown: Canberra, Australia

INTERVIEW Kamari Jordan: “When did you start playing basketball?” Iain Morrison: “I started playing basketball in Year 6, or 6th Grade.” KJ: “What was the first basketball team you played with?” IM: “In Australia, my secondary school went from Grade 4-Grade 12 and so we didn’t have a varsity or JV, we had age groups like U16’s and U14’s. The first Basketball team I ever played for was the school’s basketball team at the U14’s level.” KJ: “What is your greatest accomplishment as a basketball player?” IM: “Receiving a College Scholarship to play Basketball in America.” KJ: “What is your favorite basketball memory?” IM: “Going to the National Tournament two years in a row, it was an amazing experience with a great group of guys.” KJ: “ Are there any minor/major differences between basketball in the U.S. and in Australia?” IM: “The biggest difference in the style of play is American Basketball is more isolation orientated while Australian Basketball is more pass and system orientated.” KJ: “What role would you say you play on your team?” IM: “I would say I have a large role on the team as the starting Center but also as a leader because I’m a senior and have plenty of experience in Coach Mark’s System.”

March 2, 2018

KJ: “What athlete (college, professional, former teammate, or current teammate) do you look up to most?” IM: “Roger Federer would have to be the athlete I look up to the most because of his professionalism and class.” KJ: “What will you miss the most about being a student-athlete at USF?” IM: “The close bond I made with all my teammates that you don’t really experience with any other team.” KJ: “Who are your biggest supporters/influencers?” IM: “My family are my biggest supporters and influencers in everything I do.” KJ: “What are your plans after graduation?” IM: “I plan on going home to Australia to start saving money, so I can travel around the world.” KJ: “What advice do you want to give returning and incoming USF students?” IM: “The best advice I could give is to appreciate every moment, because even if you win or lose, it is important to be able to appreciate the opportunity you have been given and the relationships you will be able to make.”

Photos courtesy of gofightingsaints.com

Sports

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March 2, 2018

Sports

NEW FACES

of the Fighting Saints Family

2017 St. Francis Men’s Golf:

Cam Pyle Class: Freshman Hometown: Mokena, IL. Previous Lincoln Way Central

Brandon Brodzinski

Clayton Cash

Jake Hulbert

Class: Freshman Hometown: Minooka, IL. Previous School: Minooka

Class: Freshman Hometown: Morris, IL Previous School: Coal City

Class: Freshman Hometown: Morris, IL Previous School: Morris

2017 St. Francis Women’s Golf

Erica Long Class: Freshman Hometown: Lockport, IL. Previous School: Lockport

Photos courtesy of gofightingsaints.com

Hannah Mastandrea Class: Freshman Hometown: New Lennox, IL. Previous School: Lincoln Way Central

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