The Charger Bulletintag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008-08-04:/archives//12008-12-02T14:42:00ZThe official newspaper of the University of New Haven.Movable Type Open Source 4.12We Get It, She's Backtag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2252008-12-02T14:40:49Z2008-12-02T14:42:00ZSo she has made a "comeback" again, folks. Miss Britney Spears is back flooding the entertainment media after battling baldness, court orders, and brainwashing last year.Not only is she on the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone, the...Celina Natola, Editor-in-Chief Not only is she on the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone, the pop princess also appeared in a "tell-all" documentary and released her new album, Circus. Good for her. Now she can make money again.
What bothers me is the role we as media consumers play in Britney's life. Why do you think she went off the deep end in the first place? Because we buy the magazines that put paparazzi at her door every minute of the day. We questioned her parenting skills. We pressured her to always look hot. No wonder she started being influenced by shady people and ignoring what she looked like when she left the house. Now that she's skinny and no longer bald, we have thrown her back up on the pedestal that, to be honest, she hasn't deserved in years.
I give her credit- she has maintained her status as a huge star by doing a lot of nothing. While her last CD did get her a lot of attention and respect, it was not anything extraordinary. She still doesn't write her own songs and her music is so over-mixed that you can't even hear what her voice really sounds like. I love "Womanizer," but I don't hear an inch of Britney in that song. I hear a studio technician pushing buttons.
I can't appreciate the amount of attention we as a society give someone that has hit rock bottom (because of our society itself) and then returned to the exact same outlet that lead her to hit rock bottom in the first place. Aren't there people out saving the world that deserve our attention more than her? I don't see her mental breakdown worthy of our attention and I don't see the big deal about her making a new album after it. We all need to get a better hobby.
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Men's Basketball Grabs 62-52 Victory Over St. Michael'stag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2242008-12-02T14:39:58Z2008-12-02T14:40:17ZWEST HAVEN -The University of New Haven men's basketball team defeated the visiting St. Michael's College Purple Knights 62-52 Sunday afternoon at Charger Gymnasium. The Chargers get their first victory of the season and improve to 1-4 overall and 1-3...Charger Bulletinhttp://www.chargerbulletin.com/ The Chargers used heavy pressure to open the game, and it paid off as they jumped out to a 17-4 lead halfway through the opening stanza. St. Michael's closed the gap to nine with four minutes left in the half, but New Haven got a pair of three-pointers from Antwan Hayes and Darryl Greene down the stretch to make it 28-14 at halftime.
New Haven was able to capitalize with 14 points off of nine St. Michael's turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
Greene came off the bench to lead New Haven with eight first half points, including going 2-for-2 from three-point range. Kelvin Jackson had six points, including a pair of thunderous dunks, and five rebounds to go along with a block and a steal.
The Chargers extended their lead to 41-21 on a three-pointer by D.J. Sackmann, but St. Michael's made the game interesting as they went on an 11-0 run midway through the second half to pull within six at 46-40. New Haven increased its lead to 53-44 on a jumper by Jackson, but a three-point play by St. Michael's once again cut the lead to six with just over two minutes left to play.
The Chargers put the game away at the free throw line where Greene went seven-for-seven down the stretch.
New Haven shot 43.8 percent from the field, including 54.5 percent from three-point range and held St. Michael's to 36.0 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three-point range. The Chargers bench out-scored the St. Michael's bench 21-10.
Greene led the Chargers with 16 points, including 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Junior Cassius Chaney added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jackson put in 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
The Chargers return to action on Wednesday, December 3 when they travel to take on cross-town rival Southern Connecticut State University. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
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Chargers Honored by AVCAtag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2232008-12-02T14:31:22Z2008-12-02T14:31:36ZWEST HAVEN -The post-season awards keep rolling in for the University of New Haven women's volleyball team. Head coach Robin Salters was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Region Coach of the Year, while graduate student Rhe-Ann Niles and...Charger Bulletinhttp://www.chargerbulletin.com/ The AVCA honors are the first for each of the four players.
Salters has led the Chargers to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, and the eleventh time in the program's history. New Haven ran the table in its first season in the Northeast-10 Conference, including taking three matches to win the conference tournament. The Chargers have not lost since Sept. 13, compiling a winning streak of 27 consecutive matches. With a 31-3 record thus far in 2008, Salters' career mark now stands at 429-131 (.776), with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, in 15 seasons at New Haven. This marks the fifth time Salters has won an AVCA Division II Region Coach of the Year Award, the last coming in 2006.
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Chargers Headed to Elite Eighttag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2222008-12-02T14:30:00Z2008-12-02T14:30:19ZWEST HAVEN -The University of New Haven women's volleyball team is headed to the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Elite Eight after a five-set (22-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-13, 15-12) victory over the second seeded Dowling College Golden Lions. The...Charger Bulletinhttp://www.chargerbulletin.com/ New Haven opened the first set with three straight points before Dowling scored four of the next five points to tie the set at 4-4. Neither team could take much of an advantage until the Golden Lions rattled off four straight points to take a 24-19 lead. New Haven rallied for three straight points before a Dowling kill gave them the first set.
The second set was full of runs with the Chargers and Golden Lions each tallying four straight points early. With the set tied at 19-19, the teams exchanged points until 22-22. New Haven took three of the next four points, highlighted by a block assist from Elizabeth Akinbiyi and Brittani Cotton and a kill by Sara Malmlov to even the match.
Momentum shifted back to Dowling in the third set as they scored six of seven points after the set was tied 12-12 to take a 18-13 lead. New Haven closed the gap to four at 23-19 but could not get any closer as a Dowling kill sealed the third set for the Golden Lions.
Set four started with Dowling taking the early lead before New Haven rallied to tie the game at 9-9. After exchanging points, the Chargers scored 10 straight points behind the serving of Malmlov to put New Haven up 20-10. After three Dowling points, the Chargers took the next five and the set on a kill by Rhe-Ann Niles.
The deciding set was close the entire way. With the score 9-8 in favor of New Haven, Dowling scored three points to put them up 11-9. New Haven responded with five straight points behind the serving of Katrina Ali to put them up 14-11. After a Dowling timeout, the Golden Lions got a kill to close the gap to 14-12. On the point, the Chargers Yael Rosner set up Niles in the middle as they had all match, and Niles' kill sent Charger Gymnasium into a frenzy and the Chargers to the Elite Eight.
New Haven, who out-hit Dowling .275 to .132, was led by Charisse Cotton (17 kills, three digs), Brittani Cotton (15 kills, 24 digs, two total blocks) and Niles (15 kills, six total blocks). Rosner dished out 51 assists to go with seven kills, while libero Katrina Ali tallied 19 digs. The Chargers advance and take on the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul on Thursday, Dec. 4. Game time and place are still to be determined.
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Disney Makes a Comebacktag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2212008-12-02T14:25:39Z2008-12-02T14:25:53ZJohn Travolta dances onto the big screen again and this time as a white German Shepherd dog. Travolta (Saturday Night Fever) partners up with Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) for the new Disney animated feature, Bolt, and I have to admit...Stephen Acevedo Going into the theater I had my doubts and began to ask myself, "Why Bolt?" Why not the new Bond film? But sitting in the cozy padded red seats, and looking up at the screen, I couldn't help but be captured into following this small prideful dog's adventure to find his "person," Penny, who has gone missing. Within a few minutes into the start of the movie, the new Bond film had been erased from my mind.
Bolt, in general is about a Hollywood acting dog (Travolta), owned by Penny (Miley Cyrus), that finds himself lost in New York City. Bolt, believing that his show's plot and his powers are real, ventures on a journey to find Penny when she is kidnapped by the Green-Eyed Man. Along the way Bolt teams up with a black alley cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a Gerbil named Rhino (Mark Walton). Together they begin a troublesome, fun, and educational journey to California. The sly alley cat, loyal hamster, and fearless German Shepard, create a funny, unstoppable team.
There are parts in the film which could use a bit more explaining. Its lack of specific details leaves the audience feeling unattached at times, but in all the film carries itself well even with its faults. The movie has its share of laughs and action scenes and even heartfelt moments. There are parts that will make you laugh hard and long enough to last into the next scene, but there are also tear-jerking scenes that will have you wiping the water away from the edge of your eyes.
What makes Bolt so successful though are not its comedic or tragic moments, but rather the creativity of its plot. The script was very well-written and the characters were thought out thoroughly, each providing an important feel to the movie through his or her personality. One aspect of the film that I highly praise is its creative literary usage. For an animated film to have such literary elements present, makes me feel that it has gone beyond a normal commercial motion picture.
In the end, Disney has come through once again with another animated hit. Bolt will probably not receive the credit it deserves from viewers because it will most likely be seen as a kid's movie, but in truth the film is just as much for adults as it is for children, and one could learn a few morals by watching the film. Bolt is getting an "A" in my book, and I urge all to see it.
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Eastwood and Jolie Deliver in Changelingtag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2202008-12-02T14:24:40Z2008-12-02T14:24:59ZDirector Clint Eastwood and superstar actress Angelina Jolie tell a compelling true story of justice, hope, and unconditional love, in the movie Changeling.Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins, a single mother who lives in Los Angeles in the late 1920s with...Mia Becker Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins, a single mother who lives in Los Angeles in the late 1920s with her nine-year-old son, Walter Collins. On the brisk afternoon of March 9, 1928, Christine Collins returns home from work to find her son Walter missing. The 'missing persons' complaint is documented immediately on Mar. 10, and a six-month search for Walter ensues.
In August, a boy that fits the description of Walter Collins is patched through and brought to California. Upon the boy's return, Christine confidently states that the returned boy is not her son Walter. However, the Los Angeles Police Department believes she is just in a state of shock, and that they have not made a mistake of the boy's identity. Christine Collins takes the boy home, but gains concrete evidence that the found boy (later identified as Arthur Hutchins) is not Walter. Factual reports show the returned boy is three to four inches shorter than Walter Collins, had different dental records, and is circumcised (Walter Collins was not). Christine Collins continuously fights with the LAPD to continue the search for her son Walter. After months of conflict, the head of the juvenile department, Captain J. J. Jones, sentences Christine Collins to confinement in a local mental institution. She is only allowed to be released if she goes against her accusations and negative statements against the LAPD. Collins refuses, and is locked under continued confinement, but she is soon released when a young boy, Sanford Clark, tells police of a round of murders nearby in Riverside, Calif. It is discovered that Walter Collins was one of the captured boys, and Christine's claims were true all along.
The kidnapping, abuse, and brutal murders of at least 20 young boys by Gordon Northcott, is known as the Wineville Chicken Coupe Murders. The case is documented as one of the most brutal murders in the state of California's history. Northcott was captured in Canada in September 1928, and was killed by a sentenced hanging in October 1930. Further investigations in the case of Walter Collins, and "The Chicken Coupe Murders" continued after the trial, as police attempted to find more evidence. In 1935, a boy who had been captured by Northcott in 1928, returned home to his elated parents after seven years. The boy confirmed that Walter Collins had indeed been captured along side him, at the Wineville Coupe, and was shot while escaping. It was never known if Walter escaped, or died nearby. While Christine Collins remained hopeful, her son's remains were never found.
The emotional drama is a story about women's rights, civil rights, and justice. Christine Collins fought the system, and gained many supporters in her case (Christine Collins vs. State of California). One of her greatest supporters, and confidants, was Rev. Gustav Briegleb (played by John Malkovich), an outspoken Presbyterian Minster, who spoke often about corruption in the government and political system.
Clint Eastwood, with the exception of a few spotty transitions, creates an otherwise well-organized, moving, and balanced film. In between the intense drama, and emotional rollercoaster of Christine Collins' story, the script includes some dry black humor that brings some light into such a dark and scary topic.
Angelina Jolie brings a deep, and strong, award winning performance to the likes of her past films Gia and Girl, Interrupted. Jolie spoke of the film and character in You Magazine, "I was wacko, emotionally, during this one," she said, "I just couldn't get the story out of my head...Inside our scripts they included newspaper stories about the case from 1928. To know that this really happened and to see the actual evidence of it is incredible...It's too bizarre to be true."
While Oscar nominations are looming, many predict that Jolie and Eastwood will be considered worthy of the highest nominations. I'm sure Clint Eastwood will re-enact his 2005 Oscar sweep with wins in Best Director and Best Film (Drama).
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Restaurant Review: Frankie'stag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2192008-12-02T14:23:08Z2008-12-02T14:23:27ZUp the road from campus sits a fast food restaurant like no other. Frankies, a franchise with nine locations throughout Connecticut (and even one in Florida), is a well-known gem in this area. Located on the Boston Post Road in...Zack Rosen, Assistant Editor When millions were wondering where the economy would end up in 1933, founder Frank Caiazzo was banking - no pun intended - on becoming a successful businessperson. He put down a deposit on a location and received building materials on credit from a local lumber company, calling Frank and his brother ambitious, likeable, and persuasive. Business in the '30s was slow, however.
According to Frankie, "it was so bad that when someone came in, we'd give him an extra cup of coffee just to keep his car in our lot!" But today, Frankie's is a local favorite throughout Connecticut. Its Waterbury location even attracts customers from the Boston area and beyond.
Frankies' menu has a vast array of choices, ranging from soup, salad, appetizers, chili, fried cauliflower, cheeseburgers, fried seafood, tuna rolls, and Philly cheesesteak just to name a few. But don't forget what makes Frankies so popular: their delicious hot dogs, with options to be topped with chili, cheese, peppers and onions, mushrooms, hot cheddar cheese, bacon, and served as corn dogs.
Be sure to check out Frankies next time you venture out for a delicious dinner, a simple snack, or in the words of Tim Fasano a "liberal lunch." Tim and I both guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
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Animal Awareness: Truth Behind Puppy Millstag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2182008-12-02T14:22:20Z2008-12-02T14:22:35ZWhen you go into a pet shop, do you ever wonder where these cute little fur balls came from or what occurred in their lives before they were being sold? For one thing, there is a large possibility that these...Maideline Sanchez It is common to find puppy mills that contain dogs in cages that are stacked on top of each other. These poor puppies are not given the healthy amount of exercise or any basic grooming. Breeder dogs are placed in a worse situation in that they are constantly forced to breed and are never able to leave this torture zone.
According to the ASPCA, puppies grow up to be unhealthy and fearful due to the harsh conditions and lack of interaction with people and other animals. In addition, a dog might not be the authentic purebred puppy that you may be looking for. Instead, the puppy could be a mix of another breed that has not been mentioned.
To fight against puppy mills, try to avoid buying from local pet shops for it may contain puppies that have been abused and neglected. Look into adopting a pet from shelters or rescue organizations instead. Also, inform others such as your friends of the harsh conditions that dogs may have gone through in these facilities if they are considering purchasing a pet from a pet store.
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'Tis the Seasontag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2172008-12-02T14:21:16Z2008-12-02T14:21:41ZWell it's that time of year again; time to get together with family and have fun around the dinner table; time to head out to the mall or sit down at the computer to purchase all of the things that...Heather Brown, Staff Writer This is my fourth holiday season working as a customer service associate at JC Penney in North Attleboro, Mass. I must say that, under normal circumstances, I love my job. This being said, it's usually right about now that I begin to consider jumping from the third floor escalator to ease my suffering.
Something happens to people during the holidays. They get meaner and pickier and nastier and ruder. Lucky me.
While many students around campus are happily discussing their Thanksgiving holiday with exclamations of all of the food they ate and all of the family they saw, I get to talk about going to bed early and getting up early to go to work.
Having worked four "Black Fridays," it still amazes me the sheer number of people who come out to the stores to shop. The economy being in the shape that it is currently in, I for one was not expecting the season to start on a very high note; average maybe, but not high.
Every year, JC Penney gives away mini snow globes to the early bird shoppers. To estimate, my store alone had 500 of them. We opened at 3:30 a.m. and the globes were gone by 5:00 a.m. (just to give you an idea of the ridiculous number of people who were up that early).
One gentleman came up to me at 11:00 a.m. and asked where the snow globes were. When I told him that we were all out of them, he threw his items down on the counter in front of me and left in a huff, saying that he wasn't going to buy anything from our store since we had none left. I thought there was a hidden camera somewhere because the entire encounter was just so silly.
There were many customers upset that we ran out of video game stands (both for the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox) and they had no problem letting me know about it.
Despite this insanity, I did have one woman absolutely ecstatic to be able to order two marshmallow blasters through our catalog.
My point through all of this: DO NOT TAKE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS OUT ON THE ASSOCIATES!!!
When an associate answers your question with something you don't like, it's not because we like to create arguments. We are telling you what our store policy is. As an associate if I violate store policy, I will be fired.
Yelling at me will do you no good. Will I call over a manager? Sure! I will be sure to let them know through the tone of my voice to be ready for you and that you have given me a hard time. Don't expect to get any preferential treatment just because you are a customer. Any national company will be able to open its doors the next day without your purchase. Still disagree? By all means continue to argue. Let me just get security on the phone and they will be more than happy to talk to you...and escort you out of the store if necessary.
Have you ever seen the inside of the loss prevention room? Well I have and let me assure you that there are more cameras than any person can watch at one time. An added bonus would have to be the pictures of the people who are no longer welcome in our store. If you don't want your face added to this collage, don't argue enough to get escorted out.
Remember: If something doesn't ring in correctly, I do not work in Texas and don't program the computers (even if I agree that they are a royal pain in the ass at times). When the store is out of something, believe me, I would love to get it for you. Sometimes after looking in all of the stores in the district, online, and in the catalog it just isn't around to get. And most importantly: even if you wait in a long line, you get to go home after you pay. I have to stay for at least nine hours dealing with more people like you. -Heather Brown, Staff Writer
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DD vs. SB: Epic Battletag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2162008-12-02T14:19:31Z2008-12-02T14:19:51ZIt's the age-old question: Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? The people have spoken and Dunkin Donuts is coming out on top.Recently, the news released that Starbucks profits have taken a dive, while those of Dunkin Donuts have remained steady. I'm sure...Celina Natola, Editor-in-Chief Recently, the news released that Starbucks profits have taken a dive, while those of Dunkin Donuts have remained steady. I'm sure that the economy and health awareness are partially to blame, but I think it might go deeper than these issues. I think it has to do more with character. A closer look at the characters of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts clearly reveals more about each franchise's customer, thus explaining why Dunkin Donuts is taking the lead.
Let's begin with Starbucks. In a word, Starbucks is elitist. Its high prices, snobby baristas, and menus in another language have the same goal: to make Starbucks customers feel better than other people. Who needs to order a venti mocha soy latte with a shot of espresso to feel cooler? Maybe drinking coffee was a "cool factor" for beatniks in the sixties, but I think we can find better ways to stand out from others. The thing that really irks me is the whole ordering in Italian thing. Nothing illustrates this idea better than the old Dunkin Donuts commercial that made fun of Starbucks sizes.
On the other hand, we have Dunkin Donuts. Whether you call it Dunkin Donuts, Dunks, Dunkins, or Double D, you know the awesomeness that is anything sold there. The establishment has always been amazing, but since it has increased its offerings of food, amazing has turned to out-of-this-world. Not only does the variety of food options trump those of Starbucks, but the beverages are much better as well, if not in taste, then at least in humility.
Dunkin Donuts is the coffee franchise for the every-man. Nothing is simpler than walking into a Dunkin Donuts (or driving through the drive-thru) and ordering a coffee (or tea, or latte, or egg sandwich, etc.). Sure, the coffee is simpler and cheaper. Doesn't that make it better, though? I can enjoy a $2 iced tea more than a coffee that I can't pronounce that was closer to $5. The attractive essence of Dunkins comes from its simplicity. Who doesn't love hash browns? Who doesn't love microwavable egg sandwiches? Who doesn't love bagels? Who can't order a small, medium, or large? My youngest brother could have walked into a Dunkin Donuts at the age of nine and easily found something he wanted, ordered, paid, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. Would a nine year old be able to do the same at a Starbucks?
Beyond the prices, the language, and the menu, the coffee establishments differ in environments. Walk into a Dunkin Donuts and you automatically feel warm and fuzzy from the subtle pink and orange hues and bubble letters. Walk into a Starbucks and you feel suffocated by its stuffy, snobby surroundings. No thank you.
Essentially, Starbucks is just too good for everyone. Who wants to spend their money in a store that is so elitist? I sure don't. Give me Dunkin Donuts any day. I hereby give my full support to Dunks in this epic battle of coffee sales. Good luck!
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So I Caved...tag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2152008-12-02T14:18:37Z2008-12-02T14:18:56ZSo I caved. Maybe this year, I figured, with the economy in a downfall and all, the mall, the Post Road, and stores in general wouldn't be so bad on Black Friday. But as I got towards those destinations, I...Zack Rosen, Assistant Editor Dammit.
Oh, that brilliantly frustrating time of the year is upon us yet again! Can you believe how fast this semester is flying by? None of us can. But now that the holiday season is in full swing, it's quite noticeable that the semester is almost over. No, it's not the tests and papers and research work. It's the idiots.
On the way to the mall on the Boston Post Road, you'll encounter nearly twice as many idiots as you will accidents. Once you pull into the mall, it will take you anywhere from two to 15 minutes to find a parking space. Once in the doors, you'll run into about three people you know, and literally run into 30 others that you don't know. Upon entering a store, you'll be attacked by sales, by customer service representatives, by discounts, and by an overuse of the colors red and green.
But perhaps the worst part is the rushing. Do people not realize that Christmas is still a few weeks away? What is the point of rushing around so much?
Furthermore a problem, those like ourselves who go to the mall NOT in a rush end up becoming sensitive to others around us and, subsequently, rushing ourselves throughout our very own initially stress-free shopping experience!
So as you buy those gifts, as you drive down the road, and as you encounter people wherever you go, remember to still be human! Otherwise you'll end up with someone flipping you off and cursing you for being in a rush--all so ironically continuing the cycle.
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Let's Play Balltag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2142008-12-02T13:18:23Z2008-12-02T13:18:41ZIt has been a few weeks since the Charger Bulletin has been in print so there are a few things that I want to touch upon in this week's article.First, a few weeks ago the USGA sponsored Midnight Madness. I...Louis Eswood III, USGA President First, a few weeks ago the USGA sponsored Midnight Madness. I want to thank everyone who didn't fear the bad weather and came up to the Charger Gymnasium. It was great to see the university support the men's and women's basketball teams. I understand that the women's team has an extremely difficult schedule this year and that they are off to a great start. Keep it up! I also want to thank everyone who sat on the Midnight Madness Planning Committee for all of their insight and hard work. I want to especially thank Lisa Savarese for chairing the committee and putting so much effort into the event.
Prior to Thanksgiving Break, I went up to see the UNH women's volleyball team play their last home match of the season. While I didn't quite understand all of the rules of volleyball, I had a lot of fun at the match and was even more excited to see them win. It was only the third volleyball game I was able to attend all season but each one was more fun than the previous one. With the win at their last match they secured their place in the NCAA Elite Eight. Keep up the good work girls and best of luck to you!
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Get Amped for the Coca-Cola Chamionshipstag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2132008-12-02T13:17:15Z2008-12-02T13:17:36ZWEST HAVEN--Season Two playoffs are underway and champions will soon be crowned. We have an exciting lineup for this week's finals. Come stop by Thursday at 8 p.m. to see who scores the most goals in Team Handball to take...Morgan Rocheleau, Assistant Director, Intramurals and Student Development While RECSports has grown over the last year in participation, we owe a lot of credit to the RECSports staff who both officiate and participate in many of the activities. So, it's time some of our fine staff gets recognized for their hard work and enthusiasm.
First on the list is one of senior staff members, Colby Proctor who is graduating in May with a degree in Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement Administration. He has been with the program for one and a half years and is both a RECSports supervisor and official. Colby expressed, "My favorite thing about my job is my two bosses and I also really like working with the rest of the professional staff, simply because they are good people and they are normal people. I mean Mike is the Director of Campus Recreation and he will get right down in the trenches with you, without any questions asked." Despite having a busy senior schedule, Colby also participates in almost every sport and especially likes flag football and fiddle stx. He loves sports and thinks his job is the most fun on campus.
Another great employee is also one of our first. Krista DiVincenzo is a sophomore double majoring in Forensic Science and Biotechnology. Krista is both a RECSports official and a scorekeeper for the program. She likes working for the program because she gets to work with great people and has been given the opportunity to participate in RECSports. Thank you to all of our officials who have worked hard this year and look for future editions spotlighting other employees!
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Space Shuttle Glides to Safe Landing in Californiatag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2122008-12-02T13:16:26Z2008-12-02T13:16:51ZEDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.--Space shuttle Endeavour slipped out of a brilliant desert sky and touched down safely in California after a nearly 16-day mission to repair and upgrade the international space station.Stormy weather at the shuttle's main Florida landing...Associated Presshttp://www.ap.org/ Stormy weather at the shuttle's main Florida landing site forced controllers to divert Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts across the country to Edwards Air Force Base, where it glided to Earth at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday.
"It's great to be back on the ground, and it's great to be in California," shuttle commander Christopher Ferguson said, standing with three of his crew members on the tarmac near the shuttle.
The shuttle program's 124th mission remodeled the space station, doubled its crew capacity to six and repaired a rotating joint on a solar wing.
Endeavour delivered a new bathroom, kitchenette, exercise machine, two sleeping quarters, and a recycling system that converts astronauts' urine and sweat into drinking water.
The mission wasn't without setbacks, however. The urine converter required extra tinkering to get it to work, and astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost a $100,000 tool bag during a spacewalk to repair the solar-wing joint.
Nonetheless, Ferguson called it ambitious and extremely successful.
"We improved the space station inside and out, of course, with the new water recycling system and then the solar rotary joint, which Heide and her team so adeptly managed to repair," he said. "From what I've heard it's performing very well."
Endeavour also delivered astronaut Sandra Magnus to the space station and brought home astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, who had spent six months aboard the station.
Chamitoff, Stefanyshyn-Piper and astronaut Donald Pettit did not accompany Ferguson when he spoke at day's end, but Ferguson said they were "just fine."
"Greg Chamitoff of course is a six-month space flier, and it takes just a little bit longer for them to reacclimate to the gravity and re-adapt to being on Earth again," he said, adding that the other two were "keeping a good eye on Greg."
Endeavour had to use a temporary runway at Edwards because the permanent runway is being revamped. The temporary strip is 12,000 feet long and 200 feet wide, about 3,000 feet shorter and 100 feet narrower than the other.
The commander said using the temporary runway was "kind of a unique opportunity ... but I think it all worked out in the end very well."
The astronauts also inspected the thermal-tile-coated underside of Endeavour after landing, and Ferguson said the orbiter "seems to have fared entry pretty well."
The shuttle's California landing delayed reunions between astronauts and their families, who were waiting in Florida.
The diversion also means a delay in returning Endeavour to its home base. It takes about a week and costs $1.8 million to transport the shuttle from California to Florida atop a modified jumbo jet.
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Publishers to Release Thousands of Digitized Bookstag:www.chargerbulletin.com,2008:/archives//1.2112008-12-02T13:14:50Z2008-12-02T13:15:02ZRandom House, Inc., the lucrative publishing company, will be producing thousands of additional books in digital form.The company announced their news Monday, Nov. 24 saying that the new releases will include novels by popular authors such as John Updike, as...Melanie Rovinsky The company announced their news Monday, Nov. 24 saying that the new releases will include novels by popular authors such as John Updike, as well as multiple volumes of the children's series, The Magic Treehouse.
Random House already has 8,000 digitized books, and their additions are planned to augment their collection to 15,000 books in digital format. The new books are expected to take just a few months to complete.
Although e-book sales have nearly tripled in 2008, digital books continue to make up only one percent or less of the total industry.