Walking the Plank-Lorenzo Knight

Lindsey Chavers

Published: January 24, 2006

This week Lorenzo Knight walked the plank. Listen to find out his favorite Jello and other secrets.

Kenya dig it? PJC’s African adventure

Heather West

Published: January 24, 2006

Imagine having the chance to get away from everything.  See some of the most unbelievable and vibrant landscapes that most people only dream about.  Observe as zebras, elephants, and buffalo drink from the Uaso Nyiro River.  Watch the sunset and the stars blaze over an African savanna.

Imagine having the opportunity of a lifetime.

In May 2007 students will have the opportunity to go on a classical African Safari.

Dr. Carol Horigan, from the Visual Arts Department at Pensacola Junior College, has planned this exciting adventure and will be attending the journey with the students.

Horigan is no stranger to traveling the world.  “I love interacting with people from other countries.  It’s like they aren’t foreigners anymore, they’re human beings.”

Dr. Horigan has been many places around the world, including the Yucatan where she took students and they built a library and received a letter or appreciation from the Mexican government.

On this trip, students will be attending several different and incredibly beautiful areas of Kenya such as Lake Nakuru, the Samburu Reserve, and Kenya’s most famous wildlife reserve, Maasai Mara.

Joseph Kimani, professional naturalist, will be accompanying the students while in Kenya.  The cost is $3,395 per person.  This price will include air far, American breakfast in Kenya and specified meals, water bottles, entry to parks, and much more. 

There is also a class that you will take while in Kenya, that will count as college credit.

The trip will be May 5-14 with an optional extension to Tsavo & Amboseli National Parks May 13-19.  This extension will cost and extra $1,195.

The students will board their flight in Atlanta and in Nairobi.  Once in Nairobi, the students will be escorted by Joseph Kimani to their accommodations at Nairobi Safari Park Hotel, which was a British Officer’s retreat fifty years ago.

For more information on this trip contact Susan Leveille at The Northwest Florida Zoo at (850) 698-5715 or Dr. Carol Horigan at PJC at (850) 484-2556. You can also get more information at http://itech.pjc. edu/chorigan/kenya/

You could use a bit of humor in your life

Ricky Di Williams

Published: January 24, 2006

For too long have I been aimlessly rambling on about the world of video games.  And I believe I’ve suffered you all long enough.

I feel that I can only take so many more random tangents about the pitfalls of Sony, only so many more hallow praises to the glory that is Nintendo, only so many more commends to Microsoft’s ability to hold strong despite the growing competition before my sanity slips away.

It is also my belief that you, oh so few of you there are, have also grown tired of this unrelenting and confusingly caustic nonsense.

As such, today I shall turn my head to the realm of the pixel and speak about video games no more.  No, today I shall talk about webcomics that talk about video games.

Yes, webcomics that talk about video games.  Such epic gems as “8-Bit Theatre,” “VG-Cats,” and “Snafu” have entertained thousands of Internet-happy drips for years. 

But what of these web-based wonders?  Who’s responsible for them?  What exactly ARE they?

It’s only suitable to start with what could be called the mother of all game-based webcomics, Brian Clevinger’s “8-Bit Theatre.”

“8-Bit Theatre,” which launched in March of 2001, follows the ongoing story of a group of warriors who face off against a variety of challenges and dangers. The story is set in the world of the U.S. version of “Final Fantasy I.”

The cast is radically diverse, ranging from an angry homicidal, “Black Mage,” to a sarcastic kleptomaniac, “Thief.”

All of the characters are in 8-bit sprite form, the pixilated form seen on old NES cartridges, but that does little to detract from the comic’s outlandish humor.

Game-based comic success wasn’t localized to just “8-Bit Theatre.”  In late 2001 Canadian artist Scott Ramsoomair launched the soon-to-be smash hit series “VG-Cats.”

“VG-Cats” takes a different approach to the world of game comics in that the main characters, two anthropomorphic videogame addicted cats, aren’t game characters themselves, but rather fans of the genre.

The male lead, a gray cat named Leo, is a carefree dunce while his female counterpart, the pink Aeris, is bitter, angry, and sometimes violent.  The cats, and their many co-stars, are all drawn in full color.  That means no sprites.

Instead of focusing on one game in particular, “VG-Cats” parodies the gaming industry as a whole.  With each new title comes a new bit of fuel for the proverbial fire.

Another example of a gaming comic that parodies gaming itself is the series “Snafu.”   Created in 2002 by gaming enthusiast David Stanworth, “Snafu” is centered around two friends, Dave and Travis, who take a jab at the video gaming industry almost as much as each other.

“Snafu’s” edgy and sometimes racy humor is nothing short of brilliant, and the following the comic has acquired in recent years shows it.

Sure, you could just sit back and take my word for the sheer ‘fantasticality’ of these comics, by what’s the fun in that?  It’d be much more fun to try them out for yourselves.

Check out “8-Bit Theatre” at nuklearpower.com, “VG-Cats” at vgcats.com, and “Snafu” at snafu-comics.com.

Nintendo, MIcrosoft make a killing over the holidays…with guns!

Ricky Di Williams

Published: January 8, 2006

To those of you who’ve spent the past few weeks “pwning n00bs,” welcome back.  I, for one, managed to rack up a good few hundred points on my gamerscore.and I hope the same goes for all you out there as well.

With that said, was anyone shocked that the Xbox took top slot this Christmas?  Sony sure was.

Yep, PS3 fans worldwide got a shocking taste of console envy last month when Sony raked in a disappointing 700,000 units sold to Microsoft’s and Nintendo’s one million+ units each.

The Xbox 360 met its estimated holiday sales quota, and the Wii well exceeded its expectations.

As for the fabled “Nintendo Killer,” that is, the PS3, well…let’s just say there’s been a recent “unexpected” opening in the Sony Computer Entertainmnent PR and advertising departments.

Not to worry, my fellow gamers, what Sony’s lacked these past months has been more than made up for by the industry top-dogs, Microsoft and Nintendo.

The Nintendo Wii, a.k.a. “best thing to happen to the video gaming industry since ‘Goldeneye,’” came in a close second.  Yet, any look at the various Interweb gaming forums will show you that the Wii is most definitely at the top of every gamer’s mind.

Now that the holidays are over, however, gamers everywhere are sure to line the sidewalks outside of Targets and Wal-Marts everywhere trading in their ghastly holiday sweaters and unsightly holiday gift cards for a copy of “Raving Rabbids” or “Call of Duty 2″.

Ah.”Rayman: Raving Rabbids” is quite possibly the coolest game I’ve played all year.  I know what you’re thinking, “all year? It’s only the eighth!” but I do get around.

Rayman’s newest adventure pits him against a horde of angry bunnies bent on nothing short of total destruction.  Rayman is armed with, as expected from a game whose main character has ghost limbs, a plunger launching gun.

The plunger gun works great, that is, if you can hold your laughter at the random monosyllabic squeals emitted from your furry foes.

I do believe the “Raving Rabbids” bunnies are my favorite villains ever.  For those who haven’t had the privilege of playing this most miraculous of games, imagine your ADD infected 3-year-old cousin on about half-a-gallon of coffee.now shoot a few plungers at ‘em.fun, right?

While the single-player mode on the latest “Rayman” title is nothing more than a race to secure all the mini games you can, the multiplayer function makes this the Wii’s first great party game.  Besides, who wants to flail his arms around wildly in his living room by himself?

Ubisoft worked hard to revive the, until now, not-so-spectacular “Rayman” franchise.  I must say, they had their work cut out for them, but they most certainly succeeded.

As for “Call of Duty 2?”  What can I say?  You get to shoot things.with guns!  And what more could you possibly ask for?

Stallone revisits the ring in ‘Balboa’

Ricky Di Williams

Published: January 8, 2006

Good ‘ol Sly strapped on the gloves once again to reprise  the role of the “Itallian Stallion” in “Rocky Balboa.”

To say that I was not looking forward to this movie would be an understatement.

After the gradual decline this particular series took after “Rocky II,” I was more than a little surprised to see Sylvester Stallone revive the role.

When I, ever so stubornly, walked into the theatre, I was expecting nothing short of a blatant reminder as to why I dislike everything about “Rocky II” through “V.”  What I got, however, was a much appreciated surprise.

“Rocky Balboa” is everything I loved about the original and more.

“Balboa” follows Rocky after having lost his wife, and his youth.  The focus isn’t simply on whether or not he can take down another steroid pumping bohemoth (he doesn’t, by the way), but whether he can stick with it, despite his troubles. It’s a definite must-see, “Rocky” fan or not.

Tips for healthy holiday feasting

Cynthia Munoz

Published: December 6, 2006

Many of us worry over crazy superstitious diets.like the “if it tastes good or is made of real food I can’t eat it” diets.  Some of PJC’s nutrition experts want to help ensure your health this winter season and they say feel free to indulge in the holiday feasts that come ahead. 

Nuts are a big holiday snack that can help you avoid overeating, according to Gloria Gonzalez, RD, MS, PJC nutrition associate professor.   If you snack on nuts such as Brazil nuts, walnuts, or almonds - no more than half a cup - 30 minutes before your meal, your stomach will feel full, preventing you from eating a ton at dinner.

“Nuts are made of good fats,” Gonzalez said.  “They are great for the [winter] dryness of your hands and the vitamins and minerals in nuts can help fight cancer.”

Turkey is a great choice of lean meat, so don’t mess it up by frying it, said Gonzalez.  The taste might be great but frying it only adds the nasty fats and greases that most have been trying to avoid all year. 

And do not forget to add green veggies to the plate - the darker, the better. 

“Green veggies such as broccoli, asparagus, collard greens and all dark veggies are full of vitamins that we just don’t get enough of,” Gonzalez said.

And who knew that sweet potatoes and pumpkin pies were good for you. Wait. What?

“That’s right,” Gonzalez said. “Eat lots of sweet potatoes and some pumpkin pie. They help your eyesight and are a great source of beta-carotene for better skin.”

In fact, according to The World’s Healthiest Foods, whfoods.org, sweet potatoes are a “strong performer in terms of traditional nutrients,” providing an excellent source of vitamins A and C, manganese, copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron.

Winter season is also germ season, and water is an essential staple during the holidays to keep you healthy.

“Drink plenty of fluids,” Gonzalez said. “It fights coughs and cold by keeping you hydrated.”

Also paramount to maintaining holiday health is hand washing. By washing your hands routinely, you may be able to fight off some of the bad germs that are spreading around this flu season.

A key to the season is to think antioxidants, Gonzalez said.

“Drink orange juice, eat lots of oranges,” Gonzalez said. “They’re big on vitamin C and antioxidants. They also keep your body clean and help fight off all the bad stuff that comes from being inside - and [helps fight off] coughs as well.”

Blueberries are also big on vitamins, minerals and the word of the month: antioxidants. Also good are grapes and cranberries - or even better for your system is cranberry juice.

A concern among many health-conscious holiday eaters is managing dinner hopping.  When traveling from one relative’s feast to the next, how do we keep from offending our hosts and still eat healthy?

“It’s simple,” said Gonzalez. “Eat, but just off of a smaller plate. You won’t even realize you’re eating less.”

According to Vicki Carson, PJC human performance and recreation coordinator, you have to address the holidays like any other day of the year.

“Diet and exercise is a lifestyle to being healthy,” Carson said.

Gonzalez, Carson and Fitness Director of Escambia County Public Safety Billy Kimbrell, PJC’s fitness lab tech, all agree that it is okay to splurge during the holidays.  But it is also important to get right back on track.

“Everything is good in moderation,” Gonzales said. “We normally go to sleep or watch the game [after dinner], but what’s important is to get up and do something afterward.”

“In order to lose calories you have to get your heart rate up,” Kimbrell said.  “Running is a good factor in burning calories. But for some who may not be capable of doing so because of personal disabilities, start out by brisk walking or going slow uphill to bring your heart rate up.”

According to Kimbrell, who has been a personal trainer for more than 10 years, Americans gain an average of 4.5 pounds during the holidays every year. 

“3,500 calories equal one pound,” Kimbrell said. “So if you overindulge, you will have some weight gained.”

If you splurge on the holiday, you will need to offset set that by burning more calories no later than the following week, Kimbrell said.

“It is a matter of decreasing food intake and increasing exercise,” Carson said.

“Food provides energy, and energy not used will be stored as fat,” Kimbrell said.  “When you exercise remember this: sweets are known as simple sugars and will be burned first. Use the sugar as energy.”

Be a ham, have a good time and save lives

Brent Scott

Published: december 6, 2006

The PJC Amateur Radio Club, a new club to PJC, is now inviting students interested in “ham radio” to join.

Some of you may be wondering, “What is ham radio?”

According to the <a href=”http://www.arrl.org//index.php3″>American Radio Relay League</a>, a “ham” is an amateur radio operator.

Ham radio is basically two way conversation, but what is unique is that hams can communicate with each other from distances as far as the moon or as near as next door.

But ham radio is not just a hobby you can start up on your own. You have to have a license to do it.

“Ham radio is unique in this way because although it is a hobby, it is also a service regulated by the federal government,” said Dr. Jeff Cantor, proudly displaying PJC’s newly acquired license from the FCC.

Countless lives have been saved where skilled hobbyists act as emergency communicators to render aid. A great example of this in action is the recent hurricanes in our area.

“After Ivan, all of the communications except for ham radio were out, so ham radio was the only way of emergency communication,” Cantor said.

The major advantage of ham radio is that it is portable and a wire can be thrown over a tree limb, Cantor said. From there, hams can signal for help.

Along with being a service to the public, hams can compete in DX contests, in which they compete to see how many other hams in distant locations they can contact. Also, ham radio interests people who like to build and experiment with electronics.

PJC is now one of the 2,000 plus Amateur Radio clubs throughout the country.

<i>To find out how to join, contact Dr. Cantor, the club sponsor, at 484-1158 or jcantor@pjc.edu.</i>

Mystery revealed: Downtown Center focuses on legal programs

Gina Nespoli

Published: December 6, 2006

Surrounded by law offices and corporate businesses, the PJC Downtown Center has many opportunities available for students.  But many students wonder what exactly is offered in this block-shaped building on Garden Street. 

The building has been open for 13 years and offers associate in science degrees in paralegal, legal secretary and many others.

“Classes at Downtown Center are directed to the student’s profession.  We look towards the work force,” said Helga Howard, office assistant.  “Leadership classes are available.  We [even] have a class about how to become a good boss.” 

Howard has been working at the Downtown Center since 1999 and has seen the center expand and grow. 

The aftermath of Hurricane Ivan left the Downtown Center in rough condition.  There was talk between departments of moving the legal assistant program to the main campus, which was done for a short period of time after Ivan.  However, professors in the legal program have expressed disagreement with the relocation.

“The facilities on the main campus are inadequate,” said Dr. James Hightower, business department professor at the Downtown Center.

“[Here] we are close to the law community,” Hightower said.  “We make an ideal location for the legal assistant program.  Here we have classrooms, libraries and everything we need under one roof,” Hightower said.  “That doesn’t exist on the main campus.”

But legal courses are not the only ones available through the Downtown Center.

“We offer classes at businesses as well,” Howard said. “Spanish for Professionals is a class taught at other locations, such as businesses and banks.  [The class] gives professionals a better understanding of Spanish-speaking people.  And with the ever-growing Spanish population in America, this class is beneficial to students.”

PJC Surf Club not just for surfers

Cynthia Munoz

Published: December 6, 2006

The winter is approaching and the ice cold water is not going to get in the way of a wetsuit and a surfer’s passion. In fact, PJC’s Surf Club is still recruiting members.

The group has high hopes to exploit their passion and start getting involved with conservational service.

The problem is that no one is going to the meetings.

“It’s been a hard time getting [the club] going,” said Charlie Schuler, club advisor. “With the poor attendance, it’s hard getting the word out to go to the beach.”

Surf Club President Ashley Pollard has also noticed the downshift in attendance. She hopes that encouraging younger students and non-surfers to come to the meetings may help the club survive.

“We have around 15 members, which is a good size, but the thing is we haven’t had much participation,” Pollard said.  “We’ve been trying to change the meetings to later times to make it possible for more students, like dual enrolled, to attend and changing meets to Saturdays when everyone is out of school.”

According to Pollard and Schuler, there is no limit to the number of students that can join. 

“Even if you don’t know how to surf, but if you have an inner passion for it and want to get out there and learn, there are enough of us that are more than capable of teaching,” Pollard said. “When I was 13, I picked it up in two weeks and have been surfing ever since.”

Pollard also encourages the plan of trips to nearby beaches, such as Cocoa Beach, in hopes that travel may persuade more students to join.

“But it’s not just trips; [The club] is a combination of service and doing good for the community and the environment,” Pollard said. 

Cleaning a section of the beach is on the club’s to-do list. 

“The main thing we wanted to do is get involved with <a href=”http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/extended/home.htm”>Gulf Islands National Seashore</a> to do clean up,” Schuler said.

“We’ve got a full load planned,” Pollard said.  “Even though we’re all pretty laid back, it’s a misconception of surfers being slackers.”

In fact, Pollard plans to do a fundraiser for <a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism “>autism</a>.

“According to studies, surfing can actually alleviate some of the symptoms of autism,” Pollard said.  “We would really like to get [autism sufferers] out there.”

If the merit of working with the environment and surfing on the weekend is alluring, contact Pollard or Schuler to “take an interest on a Saturday and learn.”

<i>For more information, contact Charlie Schuler at 484-2543, or email cschuler@pjc.edu</i>

Winter-proof your home and car with tips from the pros

Cynthia Munoz

Published: November 22, 2006

With the winter season rapidly approaching, now is the time to start preparing for cold weather.

Jeff Wooters, PJC biological sciences professor, has come up with some simple and inexpensive tips that can help save energy costs during this winter season.

“Most of us spend a lot of money heating the great outdoors in the winter because our homes leak air to the outside through cracks and crevices,” Wooters said.

One simple winter-proofing solution is to replace old weather stripping with new stripping.

“Buy a can of spray foam (at any hardware store) and fill cracks around windows, doors, foundation or brickwork,” Wooters said.

A lot of hot air can also seep through electrical outlets. Wooters suggests getting thin foam inserts that go directly under the outlet cover.

“They are very effective and cost only a few cents per outlet,” Wooters said.

For those who have electric heating, steep power bills can be damaging to your wallet.

“Try installing a few compact fluorescent bulbs,” Wooters said, “to save money on lighting and offset the increases in energy consumption.”

After securely winter-proofing your home, turn your attention to what gets you there: your vehicle.

According to Don Gulley, automotive adjunct instructor, checking the anti-freeze (use manufacturer specified), and maintaining oil changes can help prevent winter automotive woes.

“Every 3,000 miles should be fine,” Gulley said.

You might also consider getting a minor tune-up, Gulley said.

“Another tip is to pressurize your tires,” Gulley said. “You may also want to check your charging system, including your battery.”

National Public Radio’s automotive experts and <b><a href=”http://www.cartalk.com/”>”Car Talk”</a></b> radio show hosts Tom and Ray Tappett strongly recommend a battery check since cold weather alters the battery’s performance.  The brothers’ Web site offers several tips to winterize your vehicle.

“You need MORE power to start the engine in winter, and you also get LESS power from the same battery. If you find that you need a new battery, get the biggest, meanest, ugliest battery that will fit in your car.”

And as for stubborn ice refusing to melt with the car’s defrosting button, do not put hot water on your windshield, Gulley said.  It can crack the glass.

“Pour cool water over your windshield,” said Gulley, “or Rain-Ex to eliminate the ice.”

To avoid ruining the windshield or wipers, make sure the window is wet before turning on the wipers.

Also, on those chilly mornings when you have to run to your car to get out of the cold, most new cars are a little more environmentally friendly and do not require to be warmed up; if it is an older model, start your car and let the engine gradually warm up - that way the windows can defrost too.

Look for more tips in winter weather proofing in the next issue of The Corsair and links online at www.ecorsair.com.

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