Who's Packing Lunch?

     A recent shooting at a Dilworth restaurant left two people dead late last month. The incident happened at the Moe’s Southwest Grill on East Boulevard around 2:45 p.m. It is unclear if they were employees or victims but they were not customers. What is wrong with this picture? Can’t they afford a happy meal like the rest of the hungry and obese population?

     Another shooting that took place in July placed the suspects and victims at a Charlotte hotel. A fourth person was caught and charged with murder, attempted murder and various robbery charges. Murder and attempted murder I get, but, what exactly do various robbery charges mean? And, why can’t these thugs keep their turf battles confined to the streets and away from public places?

     I’m tempted to pack a rifle in my oversized gym bag if this trend continues. After all, the passengers on the 9/11 flight that stopped the plane from reaching its target made fighting back acceptable. And, you really can’t stop a grass roots movement.

     The question is how do you fight back if you’re not a certified tea toddler? For me to conceal a weapon would be like carrying around a live phone. I wouldn’t remember where I put it last. And then it would probably end up on the evening news as an accessory to the latest dollar menu caper. I’m frustrated and hungry.

-Julie Post

Motorola Sues Apple

            On October 6^th Motorola released a press statement that they were filing three complaints against apple for alleged copyright infringement. According to Motorola, Apple has infringed on 18 different patents. Most pertain to wireless antenna technology on devices like the Iphone and Ipad, but it stands to reason that this may be a very big deal for the many users of these apple products. “We had no choice but to file these complaints to halt Apple's continued infringement. Motorola will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its R&D and intellectual property, which are critical to the company's business.” Said corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility Kirk Dailey. Motorola claims that they will file with the trade commission to have Apple bared from importing, selling, marketing or warehousing the products in question. For us Apple users, this means we may not be able to get a new Iphone for a while. If Motorola gets there way of course, Apple will change there technology, but how long could that take? What would it mean for the future of the Iphone design? It’s hard to say; this is a grime situation. However, there is a, slightly comical, silver lining on Friday, Microsoft filed a lawsuit against Motorola, saying the smartphone maker had infringed on nine patents in its Android-based devices. So who really has claim over what here?

- M. Tilley

Popular Culture

      The last couple of days I have been bed ridden as a result of a go around with strep throat and as I was sitting on my bed feeling sorry for myself watching the typical garbage TV shows. As I was watching some poor women trying to figure out whom the father of her child was I couldn’t help but think what kind of effect this has on me? Now I know that im just mindlessly watching the show not taking anything to seriously and not thinking in depth into the scenarios on the screen, but is it possible that this sort of television is just fast food for the mind. Filling me up with slim to none nutritional value? I don’t know about you but this is concerning for me! Brings me to the question; is popular culture good or bad for you? Does it fill your brain with non-sense, or, does it do the opposite? Does it teach one things that books cannot? My personal belief is that popular culture is exactly what you make of it. If you take everything you hear and see with a grain of salt, add some rationality and make sure you don’t go over board with analysis you can pull some good things out of it.                      
-Ross Radcliffe

I Told You So

       “I told you so.”  How many times throughout our life do we hear this impossible phrase?  Parents constantly instill values and tools in their children for them to use later in life; however when kids opt to do things on their own, in spite of their parent’s advice, they later look to their parents with sad faces and the automatic “I told you so” replays over and over in their head.  The person, in any situation, who declares “I told you so” seemingly knows the outcome before we fully engage in the act.  Therefore, why don’t we take the easy way out and avoid negative consequences and the simple fact of having to admit that the other person was right?’

                

       However, to combat this question, do we necessarily have to take the easy way out?  Starting with grade-school, and even on through college, teachers encourage us to think analytically; to think outside of the box.  Entrepreneurs flourish in society as a result of their unique thinking processes and their novel ideas.  We’ve been taught to differentiate ourselves from others in order to make our mark on society.  So why would we necessarily follow the exact steps that others propose just to avoid the “I told you so” effect? 

                

       Understandably, parents advise children to make their lives easier.  At a young age, we were not necessarily equipped to conquer the world.  However, as we mature and reach adulthood, we have the ability to make wiser decisions.   Actually experiencing some avoidable situations may teach us valuable lessons that we learn from.  We don’t always have to listen to friends and handle things as they would.  Try simply recognizing the advice of others, instead of always taking it to heart.  We each have our own mind.  Utilize this precious tool that we were born with.  Free yourself from the constraints of the world’s advice and experience what it’s like to fly solo and think freely on your own terms.

-Brittani Hunter

XBox Cheaters

Do you ever play Xbox Live? If so, you have encountered cheaters. In late August, Microsoft permanently banned a number of individuals who got illegitimate copies of Halo: Reach and then played them on Xbox Live. Now, the Washington developer has slammed 15,000 players for exploiting the game's credit system. According to a Bungie employee, they have reset 15,000 player’s online stats. I am sure that these people knew it was going to happen. Bungie did not specify any further details, but the cheat resembles a credit hack that surfaced following the game’s release last month. This cheat allowed players to rack up huge credit bonuses by manipulating the game via the means listed above. You would think people had homework to do or jobs to work at instead of sitting around trying to figure out how to cheat on Halo.

In addition to having their credit total erased, players found to be cheating must sit through a one-day ban from amassing any additional credits. The resets and bans were detected by Bungie's automated banning mechanism, which, Bungie admits, didn't grab every cheater. The 15,000 number is likely to rise soon, because Bungie will conduct a "more comprehensive pass" in the coming weeks to seek out and deal with additional cheaters.

I think this is good that people are getting banned for cheating. It doesn’t do you any good to cheat because you will be a high level rank and still be terrible at the game. Also, it takes all the fun out of the game. This has gone on in a lot of games in the past such as Modern Warfare 2. I really don’t think a one-day ban is long enough and it should be a week or more. Have you ever run into people cheating online? What do you think?

 -Clay Chapman

All Hail Design!

What is graphic design? Well everything you see, pretty much, is graphic design. Take a second to look around. You probably see a coke can on the table, or a school logo on a banner. All graphic art. Driving down 77 you look up at the green exit signs to identify your location, graphic design. If your shopping, you look at the store you wish to enter by reading their bright neon sign. A graphic artist made the design for that logo. My point here is simple, graphic design is underappreciated. The time and effort you have to put in, to each project is nothing of simplicity. As a designer myself I once too ignored the beauty of good design, but try to take notice. Art is great and its everywhere, you just need to look in front of you. 

-Scott Marsicano

Our Health

Last week many of the new health care provisions created under the Obama administration took effect as republicans continue to pledge a reversal of the health care bill. What is it about the new law that has conservatives so furious? Apparently tax breaks for the wealthy is significantly more important than basic medical care for all U.S. citizens. How is it that we are the only democracy in the world that will allow its citizens to go bankrupt over medical bills. As if draining hard earned retirement savings wasn’t enough.

      The negative connotation of a pre-existing condition implies an intruder on our health care system intent on raising costs for everyone. Who are these low income minorities who have the gall to walk into Johns Hopkins and ask for medical treatment? Many are actually small business owners, or anyone seeking out insurance for a number of reasons. They are elderly and the children of parents.

   

     What does a pre-existing medical condition mean to you? Probably nothing if you are a typical healthy college student. What it means to people with a pre-existing condition or illness is not getting adequate health care coverage. Grace periods of 6 to eighteen months are imposed before insurance will kick in. In the mean time you are paying for insurance along with your medical bills. In some cases the insurance premiums are too high to be affordable, about the same cost as paying for a mortgage on a second home. And, some of these conditions are easily treatable like high blood pressure or diabetes.

     One of the new provisions that are now in effect makes it unlawful for insurance companies to deny coverage to children 19 and under for pre-existing conditions and premiums cannot escalate. This is an improved condition. For the rest of the adult population we will have to wait until 2014 for this change.

     Another good change allows college students to stay on their parent’s health plan until they can obtain their own coverage or are 26. This is just the beginning of reasonable health care. The cost for health care has been escalating for decades and will continue no matter what. We might as well put in place policies that benefit the majority.

What I’m curious to see is how the opposition will try and take this reform away from America citizens while conning the voters into approving tax relief for the wealthy.


-Julie Post