EXPRESSIONS
- Low-carbon lifestyle Kay Bissett Guerrero
- 'It' items in fall fashion Laurel Wright
- Sweet smells stem from noxious chemicals The Environmental Magazine
- Latest crime flick more reheat than fresh treat Matt Coleman
- Ospreys study abroad on land, sea Laurel Wright
- 11 things you never knew about Dr. Samuel Kimball Laurel Wright
- New games move beyond world of television, into the realm of multi-media Robert Orndoff
- Old flames, new dames Jessican Medina
- Oddball Antics Mike Pinree
Low-carbon lifestyle
An easy way to make yourself, Mother Earth feel better
Most people have heard about global warming, but few are actively doing anything to stop the problem or reverse the consequences.
Global warming happens when gases emitted by cars and power plants catch heat inside the atmosphere.
It's not necessary to be a rocket scientist to help solve the problem - a low-carbon lifestyle can help the environment.
Any serious dieter knows that a good diet calls for calorie reduction.
Fighting global warming is no different.
Here are some recommendations from the Spinnaker to help you start a low-carbon lifestyle, with the help of www.globalgreen.com and Steven Adams, director of the Office of Strategic Projects and Planning of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Compiled by Kay Bissett Guerrero.
If you are going to school and need to stop in several places such as the library or Starbucks, just walk. Don't move the car around. Or even better, ride your bike instead.
A hot shower can be relaxing, but taking shorter showers can reduce about 850 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Installing a low-flow showerhead and washing clothes in cold water also help.
Save electricity by turning off lights when you leave a room. Turn off the TV, DVD player, stereo and computer when you are not using them. Also, turn off the water while brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing the car. Only use the water you need.
If you are not charging your cell phone, unplug the charger from the outlet. You can reduce carbon dioxide by 300 pounds a year by disconnecting your charger when it's not in use.
Support local farmers by buying local products. Local farmers don't need to travel far to provide supermarkets with their products, so it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that trucks generate by traveling long distances.
Need a plan for the weekend? Take all your friends and go plant trees. Greenscape of Jacksonville, a nonprofit
organization, offers the opportunity to become a tree ranger. Just remember, getting your hands dirty is fun!
Switch to energy-saving light bulbs. These bulbs are a little more expensive than regular bulbs, but the investment is worth it. You will be surprised by how much you can save on your next electricity bill by switching to the compact bulbs.
Microwave ovens reduce energy enormously compared with conventional ovens because they are faster. Pressure cookers are also good. Try to avoid full-size ovens.
Buy organic food. The
chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply and require energy to produce.
Tips to help you lead a LOW-CARBON LIFESTYLE
1. Get your tires checked. An estimated 32 million U.S. cars ride on at least two under-inflated tires, wasting 500 million gallons of gas annually.
2. Consider a hybrid. The average driver could save 16,000 pounds of CO2 and $3,750 per year driving a hybrid.
3. Recycle this newspaper. Every Sunday, 500,000 trees could be saved if everyone recycled their newspapers.
Contact Kay Bissett Guerrero at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
'It' items in fall fashion
To help keep you fashion-informed, the Spinnaker spoke with Matt Myers, manager and buyer for Sutra clothing boutique in Jacksonville Beach. As the seasons change, so will the definition of what is in and what is out in the fashion world.
Compiled by Laurel Wright.
1 Pointed-toed shoes are in for fall, Myers said. The pointed or elongated toe gives men something different from the traditional round-toed shoes. The style can be enhanced with unique types of stitching or colors
combinations.
2 Designers tend to be moving away from Gothic and tattoo-type prints on shirts, Myers said. Instead, they are opting for smaller embroidering options near the upper part
of the chest.
3 While designers may be toning down the shirts, they are embellishing jeans with things like black leather pockets and colored
stitching. Many of the new jean styles are very reminiscent of the 1960s Levis, Myers said.
4 The new style in women's jeans is either wide-leg or super-skinny, Myers said. Jeans with plain pockets and without glitter or rhinestones are also in.
5 Myers said babydoll dresses are also in. These types of dresses are usually sleeveless and have a choker-type neckline.
6 Purple is a big color for fall. Plaid and animal print are also in, but not in excess. And, as usual, denim is always good because it goes with everything, Myers said.
7 Ankle boots with dresses also tend to be popular, and velvet is a good staple for the holidays.
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Sweet smells stem from noxious chemicals
According to a September 2007 report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council, most common household air fresheners contain potentially noxious chemicals that degrade the quality of indoor air and may even affect hormones and reproductive development, particularly in
babies.
As part of its "Clearing the Air" study, NRDC researchers tested 14 brands of common household air fresheners and found that 12 contained chemicals known as phthalates.
Only two, Febreze Air Effects and Renuzit Subtle Effects, contained no detectable levels of phthalates.
Products testing positive included ones marketed as "all-natural" and "unscented." None of the brands tested listed phthalates on their labels.
Despite these issues, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the use of phthalates or require the labeling of phthalate content on products.
In conjunction with the study, NRDC - along with the Sierra Club, the Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing - is petitioning federal agencies to start assessing the risk air fresheners pose to consumers by testing all products now on the market.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Latest crime flick more reheat than fresh treat
|
|
Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix play brothers on opposite sides of the law in this run-of-the-mill crime film. |
|
|
Good: Joaquin Phoenix steals the show as the conflicted protagonist. |
Guns, bad guys, cops and car chases are all on the menu in "We Own the Night," a police drama set in the gritty 1980s New York underworld.
It has all the basic elements of the typical crime caper, but the film does little to break from the established mold.
A slightly paunchier Joaquin Phoenix plays Bobby Green, the manager of a bar that serves a shady clientele. What the less law-inclined patrons of Green's joint, El Caribe, don't know is that his real last name is Grusinsky, and his family is entrenched in the New York Police Department.
The interactions between him, his police chief father (Robert Duvall), and his up-and-coming captain brother (Mark Wahlberg) take center stage early in the film, and they remain the most animated parts of the script.
Later parts of the film become too bogged down in police procedure and disregard the main draw of the film - the tenuous relationship between Bobby and his family.
When more time is devoted to the strained inner-workings of the Grusinsky family, the film differentiates itself from other similar cop capers. Unfortunately, more time is spent on bland caricatures of Russian gangsters and teeth-gnashingly serious detectives.
The saving grace of the film is an expertly shot rain-drenched car chase scene. Director James Gray shows off some considerable skill with this visceral scene, and despite its relatively short length, it will be worth the price of admission for many autophiles.
However, an abrupt sex scene between Bobby and girlfriend Amada (Eva Mendes) that leads off the film is the only other of example of compelling or unexpected filmmaking.
Phoenix delivers a solid performance as the conflicted club manager torn between his family and the criminal element.
His banter with Wahlberg and Duvall is razor-sharp, and his relationship with Amada breathes life into some bland dialogue. Bobby is surrounded by a perpetually nervous energy, and Phoenix manages to embody the on-edge character without going too far overboard. This is Phoenix's film to own, and he reaffirms why he is a bankable, upper-echelon star.
Conversely, Wahlberg flounders by phoning in a carbon copy of previous roles.
He gained quite a bit of clout with critics, including an Oscar nomination, as a hard-nosed detective in Martin Scorsese's "The Departed."
The stacked cast included Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen, but the former Funky Bunch member managed to set himself apart from the pack with his foul-mouthed portrayal of a Boston lawman. Instead of expanding his repertoire, Wahlberg goes back to the hole once too often by playing a no-nonsense cop.
The problem is Wahlberg's character in "We Own the Night" lacks his "Departed" intensity, and the relative proximity between the two roles is hard to ignore. All that good will is squandered by a lackluster homage to a far-superior performance.
"CSI" clones rule the television, and the gangster flick has been a mainstay since before 'The Godfather" retooled the genre. "We Own the Night" could have separated itself from its contemporaries with a more internal storyline and emotionally dense characters.
As it stands, the film is a solid but generic entry into an already-oversaturated market.
Contact Matt Coleman at editor@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Ospreys study abroad on land, sea
|
|
The International Center helps students pick a destination for study abroad. |
University of North Florida senior advertising and psychology major Elizabeth Fritch is enjoying this fall semester more than any other before. She has only had six class meetings during the last month, has met lots of new people, is eating tons of exotic food, has visited six different countries and the semester is only halfway complete.
Fritch, like about 50 other UNF students, is taking the semester to study abroad. These students are using their time in college to take advantage of non-traditional learning options that may not be available after graduation.
Fritch's study abroad experience is different form the "typical" study abroad journey; she is participating in a semester at sea, where she lives on a boat and travels around the world.
So far she has visited Mexico, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand, she will also travel to India, Egypt, Turkey, Croatia and Spain before the semester is complete."It's the ultimate study abroad experience for those who are high energy, flexible and seeking an amazing adventure on the road less traveled," Fritch said.
International Center Director Dr. Timothy Robinson agrees with Fritch about the flexibility aspect.
Students who study abroad usually show characteristics like flexibility, adaptability and cultural awareness, which are important among international business, he said.
Participating in study abroad not only helps enhance a students' major and resume, but also allows students to learn other perspectives of the world than their own.
Fritch has enjoyed cultural experiences like sporting events, food and local transportation, but said her favorite experience so far has been staying in a shack on the side of the Great Wall of China, where the owner made a feast of food.
She then got to climb the wall before sunrise and spent the entire day admiring the man-made creation.
"This experience has been, hands down, the best decision and best experience of my life," she said.
"I have met so many remarkable people in my program, as well as in port, and learned so much about myself and the world in general."
Ryan Bader, senior international business major, also recently studied abroad.
He traveled to a university in Spain to take classes for his major. The experience allowed him to become familiar with the European way of living. "I liked the atmosphere and way of life, they are laidback and liberal; easy going and relaxed," he said.
UNF offers lots of study abroad opportunities for interested students, Robinson said.
The university has exchange agreements with 30 international universities including ones in Argentina, France and Poland. The newest agreement is with a university in Germany and UNF is working on establishing one with Japan, he said.
There are also UNF faculty-led courses abroad, where a professor takes a group of students abroad for a certain amount of time.
The most important aspect of study abroad, no matter which approach you decide to take, is planning ahead, said Robinson.
"You need to plan ahead for money and classes," said Robinson.
While the cost of living in some countries may not be the same as it is in Jacksonville, there is still the plane ticket.
It's also important that students make sure that the university they want to attend offers classes they can take, in a language they can understand, he said.
There are some scholarships available for students studying abroad, but as Fritch said, "I can't put a price on this experience."
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
11 things you never knew about Dr. Samuel Kimball
|
|
A professor at UNF for 29 years, Dr. A. Samuel Kimball recently published his latest work, "The Infanticidal Logic of Evolution and Culture." |
Dr. Samuel Kimball is midway through his first semester as chair
of the English Department.
He also wrote the book "The Infanticidal Logic of Evolution and Culture," which was published this summer, and is working on a
second book.
The Spinnaker sat down with Kimball to ascertain 11 quick hints about the man and his work.
1. "I have a very specific set of design or aesthetic criteria for choosing which ties to buy."
2. "Back somewhere in the mid-1970s, my brother, Anton, was paid $150 to redesign the Nike logo. He more recently designed the cover of my book based on two Renaissance formulas for book designs and one contemporary formula. The contemporary formula: What will get attention on Amazon.com?"
3. "My wife was a chef for 24 years. I eat like royalty."
4. "Since 1989, I have distributed all handouts on pink and blue paper. One of the reasons why can be inferred from what Louis Althusser says in his famous analysis of "Ideology and Ideological Apparatuses," when he discusses how an individual is already a subject before he is born."
5. "In the fall of 1990, I took boxing lessons from the former welterweight champion of Canada. He had been ranked No. 5 in the world. The experience, which lasted nine months, was repeatedly terrifying. I became a much better teacher as a result."
6. "When I walk into my classes, I feel like I am entering a
sacred space."
7. "The sacred has nothing to do with first-person consciousness."
8. "Next year I will teach a new course on literature and
cognitive science."
9. "I have a pair of red high-top Air Jordan tennis shoes that I was given more than 20 years ago."
10. "My work is indebted to the French Philosopher Jacques Derrida and his many "deconstructions" of key concepts in Western culture.
My book is a deconstruction of the concept of infanticide."
11. "My two favorite songs are 'If it be your will,' by Leonard Cohen, sung by Antony Hegarty, and 'Hallelujah' also by Cohen."
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
New games move beyond world of television, into the realm of multi-media
Looking for a new gaming experience but can't afford to plop down $60 for Halo 3?
Why not try an alternate reality game? Total cost: The time you spend playing it.
If the name alternate reality game, or ARG for short, draws a blank, it might be because it is one of the newest gaming genres and is played in a manner completely different from
games past.
Perhaps the biggest difference between other games and ARGs is the fact that they are played through means other than game consoles and other traditional gaming mediums.
Instead of using hand-held controllers to slay dragons and hijack cars, gamers playing ARGs use a variety of
multi-media elements to beat their games.
Alternate reality games are "An interactive fusion of creative writing, puzzle-solving and
team-building, with a dose of role playing thrown in," according to www.unfiction.com, a Web site that acts as a center for fans of the genre.
"Clues can be passed through web pages, email, voicemail, snail mail, television advertisements, movie posters, campus billboards, newspaper
classifieds ... really, in any way that information can be passed."
Elan Lee, co-creator of one of the first ARGs, recently spoke about this emerging philosophy in a video on YouTube from an event called Ignite Seattle.
"We should be able to find entertainment everywhere. It should be all around us,"
Lee said.
"All we have to do is figure out how to find it, where to look for it, and where to best use it."
ARGs are often created in conjunction with the release of a television show, game or movie though some are completely independent.
The events in the game take place in the world of the product it is promoting, but clues are delivered via real media and discovered by players who use those clues to peace the puzzle
together.
Often the game reveals what happened before, after or during the events in the show, game or movie being promoted.
One of the latest ARGs doesn't even have an official name. Its players are alternately calling it "Cloverfield" and
"1-18-08."
The first is the code name for a new movie created by the producer of hit television shows "Alias" and "Lost", both of which have used similar
marketing techniques before. The second name is the date the movie is to be released.
The game started in July when a trailer for the new movie was played before "Transformers."
The trailer featured several friends at a party in New York City witnessing a monster coming out of the ocean and attacking downtown Manhattan.
At the end of the trailer flashed the Web address
www. 1-18-08.com.
People who went to this site were given a single Web page with several photographs of people in the trailer.
From the pictures and details written on the back of them, players discovered character profiles on MySpace.com and photobucket.com for most of the people in the trailer. It also revealed a Web site for a Japanese slushy drink company, slusho.jp.
This Web site led to the discovery of its parent company's Web site, tagruato.jp, the homepage of a fictionalized Japanese underwater drilling company.
What is interesting about this Japanese site is that only the English version works.
However, it does have contact info.
The phone number listed was Japanese, and a call made by the Spinnaker during business hours was sent directly to a Japanese and English message recorder held by the fictitious company urging people to leave a message.
Also interesting is that according to the Web site they just opened up a new ocean drilling station - off the coast of New York.
There is no proper way to start any of these games. They are all different and have
different starting points.
The best thing to do is to find an ARG community Web site like unfiction.com and see what games they know about and where to find clues.
Contact Robert Orndoff at features_staff@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Old flames, new dames
Just Ask Jess
Dear Jess,
I've got a huge dilemma! I have a girlfriend but I also like another girl. I have been with my girlfriend for a while now, and I love her, but I feel like I'm not in love with her in a romantic way. This new girl is awesome and I feel really good when she is around. I feel like I might want to be with her, but I don't want to hurt my girlfriend. What should I do?
Confused
Dear Confused,
First, you need to ask yourself, if you breakup with your current girlfriend for the new girl, will you be happy?
Second, if you can't be passionate about the girl you are with now, you are not only taking away a chance for her to have someone be passionate about her, but you are taking away a chance for you to be passionate about someone else.
There's no doubt you have a tough decision to make, but it's time to step up.
Jess
Dear Jess,
A past boyfriend cheated on me and now that I am in a new relationship I am finding it hard to forget about the past. It's not that I think my boyfriend is cheating on me, it's just that I am afraid of being hurt again, especially by someone who I care about so much.
My fears are putting a strain on my relationship. How do I move on?
Trying to forget
Dear Trying to forget,
I understand that it is hard to move on from something that has had such a toll on your ability to trust someone.
Learning how to trust again is a hard lesson to learn and it's going to take some work.
If your current boyfriend is worthy of your trust, if you feel like he's worth the effort, then the best thing to do is to talk to him.
Tell him about the hurtful events that happened in the past, but make it clear you don't
suspect him of cheating.
Nobody can guarantee that you won't be hurt again, but if you continue to put strain on the relationship he may not be able to forgive so easily.
Whenever you feel like you are doing something that may sabotage the relationship try writing down all the good things that have come from the relationship to remind you why he is worthy of your trust.
Jess
If you have a question for Jess, please send an e-mail to features_staff@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Oddball Antics
That old black magic
A witch doctor was arrested in Nigeria when he was caught performing rituals at a tribunal examining rampant voter fraud and trying to determine winners in rigged elections.
He said that he had been hired by a senior politician to ensure the failure of a challenger's bid to unseat him.
Does the lady wish a 15-minute recess?
Fourth time's the charm
A man tried to convince an employer to hire him by arguing that he had been rejected three different times when he had applied previously, so he felt it was now his turn.
This ought to stop 'em
Officials put up a life-like cardboard image of a policeman in a supermarket in Derbyshire, England, to deter shoplifters. Someone stole it.
They were for show-and-tell, I swear
A first-grade teacher in Valparaiso, Ind., showed up at school drunk. She also had two cans of beer in her purse.
Heh-hen, they'll never catch me now ... ka-thunk
A burglar stole so much copper and nickel from an industrial warehouse in Ilkeston, England, that the suspension system in his van collapsed when he tried to drive away.
No, sir, it's eat, then run
A car collided with a bus in Houston at 7 a.m. The driver was eating oatmeal at the time.
Yeesss! Oh, God, yeeessss!
A woman was evicted from her apartment in Nuremberg, Germany, because her neighbors, even those in adjacent homes, complained that her frequent, loud lovemaking kept them up at night.
Her landlady said the neighbors objected to the woman's "regularly, clearly sexually motivated, loud disturbances of the peace."
Boys, please, that's enough
During her birthday party at her home in Chicago, a woman's two sons, in their late 30s, got into an argument and stabbed each other repeatedly.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE