Great Scott Times May 2012 Issue

May 8, 2012

Below are links to every article in May’s edition of the Great Scott Times:

Opinion: Facebook buys mediocre-at-best Instagram for $1B
The new: Saying hello to tomorrow’s new advances
The Old: Saying goodbye to yesterday’s technology
Review: “Mega Man 3″ keeps the vintage but ups the ante
Review: “Shoot Many Robots” a boring, repetitive waste
QC Rollers skate into 6th year as a team and family
Review: “Dead Snow” reinvents zombie culture
Review: “Hunger Games” captures every essence of the books
Skyrim is an addictive adventure for gamers everywhere
Staff Spotlight: Dave Hadley
Student Spotlight: Charles Fosdyck
Opinion | What I’m NOT Into…Litterbugs on campus
Mini dance marathon raises $3,000 for cancer research
The Top 10: Fun places to visit this summer in Iowa
Kerouac’s “On The Road” has QCA ties
Did You Know…About the SCC recreation rentals?
Opinion: RME is an offering of rich, cultural QC nightlife
Chef Scott brings his culinary skills to the camera
Earth Day fun: Bottlecap magnets a fun way to go vintage
SimMan introduces himself to SCC nursing students
Nook Study opens new doors
Alum Spotlight: Brooke Falline
Opinion: True confessions of a beloved holiday mascot
This ‘Babe’ has huge natural talent

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Opinion: Facebook buys mediocre-at-best Instagram for $1B

May 6, 2012

by Paul Shumaker
Reporter

Facebook recently acquired Instagram for $1 billion. The photos look vintage, but usually aren’t anything to brag about. Photo from online source.

Recently, Facebook bought the popular iPhone application Instagram with a mix of cash and stock for around 1 billion dollars–wow.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, for me, since I’ve only seen my Twitter feed crowded with Instagram photos–not my Facebook feed.

Instagram is a quirky photo app that allows users to choose various filters for their photos. These filters usually enhance the pictures that gives them a cool/almost vintage feel.

However, too many pictures with a handy filter can be frustrating; especially when the picture is of someone’s shoes, in sepia (a popular filter.)

I see an array of Instagram photos for particularly dull things. Yet, I understand why people use it, because most of the time the photos are more interesting with the filters. (It doesn’t change the fact that someone took a picture of their shoe.)

Since Facebook has just bought out Instagram, which has a nine person staff, I fear a deluge of mediocre pictures on every social networking site. This might be an irrational fear, on my part, because Facebook is not “every social networking site,” but it does have a heavy impact on the internet in general.

Whenever a link says “Taken with Instagram,” I tend not to click on it, because more than likely, I will be frustrated with an overexposed snapshot of a wooden bridge. . . I hope this doesn’t become an epidemic on Facebook (as it is on Twitter) in the near future. So, this is a kind of warning for those of you who have not been exposed to Instagram photography.

Yes, some people take amazing photos with Instagram, but most of the time, the pictures are going to be fairly plain (in a weird filter) and of something random.

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The new: Saying hello to tomorrow’s new advances

May 6, 2012

by Dalton Shade
Reporter

Regardless of whether or not things like chalkboards or overhead projectors really need to be replaced, the fact of the matter is that technology is changing the way students learn. The most popular inclusion to the current change is the SmartBoards.

If you haven’t heard of SmartBoards, it operates like a projector, but with its own screen that you can actually write on with special pens. Basically it’s like a giant touch screen. But do these new technological wonders change enough to warrant the hefty price tag?

Matt Schmit, the assistant to the president of administration at Scott Community College, makes these kinds of decisions as the purchaser of multimedia material in classes. With several SmartBoards installed in different rooms, Schmit says that due to the large price of the boards, they are not very feasible for every classroom and that they are always looking for more options. Right now they are testing out an iPad app that can mirror images onto a projector.

Even with it being expensive, Schmit said that the smart-boards are working very well. He went on to say that they will “continue to push forward in new technology” and that hopefully “more rooms will become multimedia capable

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The Old: Saying goodbye to yesterday’s technology

May 6, 2012

by Dalton Shade
Reporter

Overhead projectors and chalkboards are just a couple examples of technology being replaced around SCC. Photo by Dalton Shade.

As we go through our lives, we are constantly taking in new events and forgetting old unimportant events. The same thing also applies with technology and more to the point, the kind of technology used in schools.

Pay phones are a good example of this. What once was a viable method of communication now finds itself alone and ignored in the corner of the Scott Community College lunch area. It sits there lonely, waiting for the off chance that somebody forgot their cell phone that day and accumulating small bits of trash that the janitor hadn’t found yet.

That is just the beginning of old technology that’s being slowly removed. Overhead projectors surprisingly have stuck around longer than most would think. Most classrooms either have a computer-connected projector on the ceiling or have some sort of cart that can carry one to the room but overhead projectors are still around.

If you look closely in one of your classrooms, you might just spot one. They’ll most likely be in some corner of the class, not seen in the general area of the room, one could say it’s hidden in plain sight. There it waits, hoping that one day the projector over-heats and a cart could not be secured in time. However its hopes most likely will go in vain, as most teachers seem to just write on the board, almost as if they’ve forgotten that the overhead is there. Sadly, this piece of tech will find itself gathering chalk dust for some time to come.

Then we come to the oldest form of education that is way too stubborn to die, even after so many things have appeared to render it obsolete. This is of course, referring to the chalk board. Even after white boards, projectors, and the newest smart boards, somehow chalkboard still finds its ways into classrooms.

Most likely this is because of the nostalgic feeling the chalkboard gives a person: it brings back memories of elementary school when things were much simpler and easier. This nostalgic value seems to have been keeping chalk alive even when it’s passed its prime.

But then again are these options really that obsolete? The fact of the matter is the more technology advances, the more expensive it gets, perhaps too expensive to equip every class room with a SmartBoard. Projectors have been known to over-heat frequently for some people, but will a piece of chalk and a black board ever fail to boot up for you?

Perhaps this is the reason why some teachers still opt to use these “obsolete” relics. It’s hard to say, really, but as we move into the future and further integrate new technology into the classrooms, one can only wonder how long it takes before things like chalkboards become relics of time only seen in museums

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Review: “Mega Man 3″ keeps the vintage but ups the ante

May 6, 2012

by Dalton Shade
Reporter

Let’s go back in time … to 1990.

Attention all Mega fans! The Man in blue is back! After the masterpiece Mega Man 2 graced our Nintendo Entertainment Systems two years ago in 1988, we are once again introduced to the lovable super robot Mega Man in his third adventure titled Mega Man 3. The evil Dr. Wily is up to his old tricks again with eight new robot master bosses and it’s up to Mega Man to defeat Dr. Wily once more and hopefully restore peace to the year 200X.

This game takes everything from Mega Man 2 and expands upon it greatly. It keeps the same rock, paper, scissors formula from the first 2 Mega Man games. Choose a robot master’s stage, clear the stage, fight the boss, and gain its special power with lots of jumping and shooting along the way. All robot masters are weak to specific powers, making the order in which you play the stages decide how difficult the game will be.

The new robot masters all have good designs with my personal favorite being the ninja Shadow Man, but fans of the Mega Man 2 robot masters needn’t worry however, you’ll find a special treat later in the game *wink*. Mega Man doesn’t have to take on all these new threats alone however. Dr. Light, Mega Man’s creator, has given him the ability to slide and built his new robot dog Rush. Rush has several different transformations that help you during levels, some you get by beating bosses. Man’s best friend? More like Mega Man’s best friend.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “oh this is just the same thing as last time with new bosses right?” Well not to worry, this game won’t go all RoboCop 2 on you. Mega Man 3 adds an element of story that was not heavily present in the first two games. As you play the game, you will sometimes encounter a mysterious red robot that looks a lot like Mega Man. Who is this robot? Is he friend or foe? You’ll just have to play the game to find out.

The stage design in Mega Man 3 ramps up the difficulty a bit from the last installment, keeping even the most hardcore mega fans on their toes. The graphics look as good as ever with many vibrant colors although the game still has the flickering issue when there are too many enemies on the screen. The music is insanely catchy and I find myself playing levels again just to hear its stage music.

This may be the most improved sequel to a video game I have ever seen. Everything I loved about Mega Man 2 seems to be amplified times 10. The new characters, story elements, stages, music, and little nods to the previous games make this an enriching experience to any Mega Man fan and the mysterious elements will draw in new players and make them want to learn more about this universe. I love this game, and like the Terminator, I hope Mega Man “will be back” soon.

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Review: “Shoot Many Robots” a boring, repetitive waste

May 6, 2012

by Jake Ryder
Reporter

Shoot Many Robots is not false advertising.

In the downloadonly title for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC developed by Demiurge Studios, there are a lot of homicidal robots, and you have just as many weapons at your disposal. While all the mechanical beings are present, your ability to shoot is questionable at best and eventually makes it hard to continue playing.

From the game’s opening title screen, the player is awash in a snappy-looking environment that in sound and sight is reminiscent of the post-apocalyptic twang of 2009’s Borderlands.

The distraction is temporary, though, and Shoot Many Robots immediately finds itself snagged in the controls.

The left analog stick controls your character’s left-to-right movement but is also used for the purpose of aiming your weapon at the oncoming sentient beings.

If you want to move to the right and shoot an oncoming kamikaze robot behind you, that’s too bad.

A more ideal situation would have been to map the aiming to the right analog stick—unfortunately, in a surprising decision, the firing of the player’s guns is not assigned to the controller’s triggers like nearly every shooting game of the past decade.

While you can aim by pulling the left trigger, this is not ideal as it brings your character to a stop, leaving him vulnerable to attack from one of the dozens of enemies capable of being on screen at the time.

Though this may seem like a trifle in the early game, some of the game’s later levels are infuriatingly dense with harder-to- kill antagonists that require a level of running-and- gunning that is just not possible with Shoot Many Robots’ control scheme.

All of the core gameplay problems get in the way of a humorous experience. Various items that are unlocked via boxes dropped from defeated enemies or destroyed crates have funny, clever descriptions that poke fun at the game’s redneck/southern motif. The story centers on P. Walter Tugnut, who collects nuts from dead robots. These nuts are the currency used to buy the guns in a slick, easy-to-use marketplace option available after every mission.

The marketplace also has some interesting options for players who want to pay more than the $10 price point for the full game. Individual weapons and accessories can be bought using actual money, and nuts can also be bought in bulk using the game’s “Nut Up” feature, one of many groan-worthy puns included with the game.

Tugnut’s RV is stolen by the Robot Overlord in the game’s intro, inciting Tugnut’s metal murder spree.

When you eventually face the thief in the final showdown, there is very little to distinguish this battle from the past two Tugnut has had with the Overlord. Every big baddie can be vanquished using the simple strategy of finding its attack pattern and strategically using the pattern to line up the best time for you to stop moving and properly aim a shot.

The main appeal of this game is simple: Tugnut is rated at the end of every mission out of five “stars” based on how many nuts he collected. The number of nuts that can be accumulated is based on a multiplier system that increases with every consecutive bag of bolts that drops dead. Most levels on the first playthrough will be completed with two or three stars out of five, encouraging multiple runs through the same level.

Now, repeat this process over and over and over again until you eventually put your controller down and come back some other day. Tugnut also earns experience points towards bonuses to health and damage, but it’s not going to be enough to keep most people entertained.

Shoot Many Robots provides a lot of promise and potential from its outset. What it delivers instead is a repetitive chore of a game that may elicit a chuckle or two but ends up being a joke that goes on far too long.

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QC Rollers skate into 6th year as a team and family

May 6, 2012

by Jake Ryder
Reporter

The Quad City Rollers are entering their sixth season in women’s flat track roller derby as the sport continues to grow.

For team captain Connie Hart, better known by her derby name “Diamond Dust,” it’s about the sense of community the squad has.

Hannah “Nahtorious” Packer (819, center) and her Quad City Rollers teammates battle for position with members of the Des Moines Crash Test Dolls at the “DropKick Derby” at the Davenport RiverCenter Sat. March 24. Photo provided by Dead Derby Meat photography.

“We’ve become a huge family,” Hart said. “We’d do just about anything for any one of us.”

The Rollers are a local entry into a sport that has shed its roots from the entertainment-before-sport version of roller derby popular in the 1970s.

The banked tracks have been discarded in favor of more affordable flat tracks that, more often than not, are just floors with tape marking the lines of play.

“When I talk about roller derby (with others),” Hart said, “they don’t know roller derby’s even existing anymore.”

Hart, 46, lives in Davenport and has worked as a waitress at the Iowa Machine Shed for 26 years. After coming back to the area from California in the summer of 2008, she noticed advertising campaigns from the Rollers on MySpace.

One of Hart’s cousins was already participating in roller derby out in California.

“I’m like, hey, if my cousin can do it, she’s a year younger than I am,” Hart said. “I stopped in at one of the practices and got hooked – my Christmas present that year was derby gear.”

Hart is a “blocker,” a position she said was inherited by her body type.

A “jammer” is usually someone who is “smaller and quicker” on their feet, Hart said. A blocker’s main task is to prevent the opposing team’s jammer from getting around the blocker, which is the main method in which points are scored in roller derby.

“It’s harder to get around the bigger girls,” Hart said with a grin.

Hannah Nickelsen, 25, of Burlington, also known as Rollers blocker “Hannibal Nixon,” sees such requirements as being beneficial.

“Sometimes in societies you’re smiled upon if you have a smaller, fit figure,” Nickelsen said. “In derby it’s the opposite; the bigger the booty, the wider the hips, the more girls are like, ‘Ugh, I wish I was like her!’”

One of the defining features of this new age of roller derby are the clever derby names that are unique to every member of the teams in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, of which the Quad City Rollers are under apprentice status.

Often, the names can edge into PG-rated territory, with monikers like Roller “Betty Bustabuns” and “Kitty Cleavage” from Stockholm.

Usually though, they’re pun-filled and/or alliteration—“Diamond Dust” or “Nahtorious,” for example.

Hannah Packer, who is often nicknamed “Nah” by friends and family, is in her second semester at Black Hawk College.

The vocal performance major reached into music’s history for inspiration with a derby name.

“(Rapper) Notorious B.I.G. had a big influence in music,” Hannah Packer, 18, of Milan, said. “That’s my passion, so I wanted to incorporate that.”

Among any of the Rollers, it’s rare to hear “Connie” or “Hannah” in normal conversation. At a Rollers practice, Hart may need to give direction to Green-Eyed Wench, but her coaching will be addressed to “Wench,” not “Lisa.” That mentality of derby-before-real name also blends into the world beyond the flat track. “I have regulars at work … now that they’ve seen me skate, they’re like ‘Hey, Diamond,’” Hart said. “I was at Farm & Fleet and I hear “Diamond!” and I’m looking around going, ‘Who knows me?’”

*** ***

On March 24, the Rollers held their “Drop- Kick Derby” event in a match with Des Moines’ Crash Test Dolls.

A few hundred spectators filed into the Davenport RiverCenter, either seated in chairs or on the floor at one end of the track.

Among the pregame festivities was the Orphan Brigade, an area roller derby team for kids that had a scrimmage around the track.

“Pink Nightmare” may have been one of the tiniest little girls on the track, but she received the biggest support from the crowd.

With the crowd warmed up, the Rollers and Crash Test Dolls went onto the track. Packer joined the Rollers at the persistent request of her older sister, Melani McMullen, a.k.a. alternate captain “LoonaChick Cringe.”

“I thought my sister was the coolest person ever,” Packer said. “I’m scared, I’m kind of a pansy. I ended up getting skates, tried it out and absolutely fell in love with it.”

Packer was among those in the pack trying to block the Crash Test Dolls’ jammers.

“A lot of it is just getting in front of them and slowing them down,” Packer admitted, “a lot of hip-checks so they’ll get out of the way.”

Both teams trade the lead as they skate around to various rock tunes, with the Crash Test Dolls entering halftime with a 64-58 lead.

As the fans disperse for refreshments or to visit the various merchandise tables on the outside of the cavernous hall, a bagpipe player provides some themed halftime entertainment.

The second half is a bit more intense, with several injuries stopping play for extended periods. One Crash Test Doll has her shoulder popped out of her socket. Then another, “BreZ,” is accidentally hit in the head with a skate, resulting in a concussion. The blow is so severe that local paramedics take her out of the building on a stretcher.

An official at the event said it was one of the more injury-filled events he had witnessed. The Rollers agree that the injuries sustained in roller derby, while real, are often not as serious.

“It’s usually just bumps and bruises,” Hart said. “I have seen two broken arms, broken ankles and a broken leg.”

“Obviously, there’s risk of serious injury,” Packer added, “especially when you get really into the game and you get really frustrated.”

In the end, the Crash Test Dolls hold off a late surge from the Rollers and take the victory, 148- 141.

It’s not all serious business, though.

The proceeds from ticket sales went to Gigi’s Playhouse, a charity that promotes awareness for those with Down syndrome. Every event is done to benefit a different charity chosen by each skater on the Rollers.

“We try to get out there and do as much volunteer work as possible,” Packer said.

When the bout is done, most teams meet for an after party at a local bar where the mood is much more friendly.

“If you go out there and make that big hit,” Nickelsen said, “girls from other teams will say you did a great job.”

“Whatever happens on the track, stays on the track,” Hart added.

Nickelsen encourages anyone thinking about joining the team to not hesitate.

“I was one of those girls that didn’t know if I wanted to do it, but … every woman out here has a different personality,” Nickelsen said. “The heart of derby is having a good time – the more people, the better time you have.”

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Review: “Dead Snow” reinvents zombie culture

May 6, 2012

by John Black
Reporter

Horror movies. Who doesn’t love a good horror movie? You know what people like more than a good horror movie? A ZOMBIE horror movie.

Most people will agree that zombie related things are making a major impact in American culture. Looking at games like: Left 4 Dead, Resident Evil, and Dead Island. Not to mention such movies like; “Dawn of the Dead”, “Night of the Living Dead”, and “Zombieland”, are also embedded in American culture, as the idea of the zombie has changed and mixed in a lot of different ways. But overall, they are always bloodthirsty beasts that want nothing more than the end of the human race.

Well, I can honestly say that Dead Snow was a welcomed release from the norm.

The movie starts out with a woman getting chased through the forest by zombies in World War II. Fast forward to seven students who are on Easter Break, going to a cabin in in Oksfjord in Norway. As the night progresses, they get attacked by zombies and there number become rapidly thinner.

They later figure out that they are Nazi zombies that are guarding a treasure that dates back from World War II and the zombies attack all who touch their treasure.

OK, THIS is a movie you can get into. The movie is pretty inventive, as the zombies aren’t the usual trademark zombies, but instead, they are something new and unique and for that I will give them credit.

The movie was also REALLY straight forward with its plot. It was creative but simple. It took something so low key and turned it into a masterpiece of film. The action was good, the story was excellent, and the special effects where phenomenal.

This movie, while it was another foreign film, deserves A LOT of praise and should be seen by anyone who loves zombie movies.

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Review: “Hunger Games” captures every essence of the books

May 6, 2012

by Carmarita Brooks-Modler
Reporter

Heroine Katniss Everdeen is one of the primary characters in the
new ‘Hunger Games’ movie and book series.

My interest in The Hunger Games didn’t come from the trailers, but rather all the people on my Facebook gushing over it. Most of the trailers, to be fair, were sadly lacking. I only found one good one and it took some locating. I chose to read the book first which was probably not wise. I will say I enjoyed the movie. It was not the best book-to-film adaptation, but in no way horrifically bad either.

The title has led to some misunderstanding as to the premise. It is not about children fighting for food. It is about a ceremony held to remind the citizens of Panem, a fictional futuristic version of the United States divided into thirteen districts, that their government was benevolent in letting them live after the rebellion started by District 13 almost a century before.

District 13 was eradicated after the uprising and the Hunger Games were reinstated to keep the citizens under the governments thumb. Each of the remaining twelve districts are required to provide two tributes, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12- 18, to fight to the death in the arena created for that year. The movie centers on District 12 located in what is the financially desolate Appalachian region.

One of the tributes chosen is fragile looking 12-year-old Primrose Everdeen. In a moment of desperation, her tough as nails older sister, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Katniss is better suited for the task at hand as she is the many provider for the family’s table. The male chosen is sixteen year old Peeta Mellark, a baker’s son.

Both tributes travel to the Capitol and spend their time before opening ceremonies in training. Katniss’ skills lie in plant recognition and using a bow. Camouflage and heavy lifting are Peeta’s though both are at a disadvantage to some of the other tributes who have been training all their lives for this chance.

With the help of their stylists, the pair make a bold statement at the opening. Following the reveal of a startling secret, the games commence. You are kept on the edge of your seat right until the end.

The movie changed some things, of course. Some I wasn’t bothered by, some I appreciated, and one item in general that I was truly upset by. I don’t want to go into too much detail as I really think people should go see this as well as read it. Some of the content is hard to understand if you haven’t read the books. Some things were changed to make viewing easier as well as not cause a R rating.

There is violence, child on child violence to be frank. In the first few minutes of being in the arena, eleven of the twenty four tributes are killed. I am stating this so people don’t go see it and end up appalled by this. The violence on the nation’s children is the control the Capitol needs to keep the adults in line. This needs to be kept in mine while those who are sensitive in regards to that view the movie.

All in all, I believe it was well worth my time and lack of sleep in class due to hitting the midnight premiere and hope others enjoy it as well.

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Skyrim is an addictive adventure for gamers everywhere

May 3, 2012

by John Black
Reporter

Hi, I am John Black and I am into Skyrim. It is a very recently popular video game that has many people enticed and loving it. It might be one of the single greatest video games off all time.

You start out in the land of Skyrim as a prisoner of sorts, as your being taken to a city for your trial. When you get there is when the REAL story takes place as soon as you get there. Then you get to customize your character from one of eleven different races, each with their own special abilities and looks.

As soon as you’re done there, the story takes hold. You are sentenced to death on the chopping block as and you step up to meet your fate. But apparently fate has other plans, as a giant dragon flie in and torches the town you are in.

You escape with one of the military people who was there to witness your execution and you go off to the next town where you are told to inform the Jarl (Mayor of sorts) about the return of dragons in Skyrim. After meeting with the Jarl and killing the dragon, you figure out you are a Dragonborn, a mortal born with the blood and the soul of a dragon, who can also learn and speak the ancient Dragon language.

From there you get to play out many adventures as you explore the massive and giant land of Skyrim. Overall, there is not really anything you can actually find to complain about in this game, well, other than the fact the game is LONG! I mean there is so much to keep you interested and active in this game. You can easily clock 100 hours in this game and STILL not scratch the surface of this game. The environment looks awesome, the combat very cool, and the story…well stories in the game are very well thought out and clearly have the signs of the good story telling.

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