The Peak - January 2017

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U S K

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l y t s

e f i l

THE

PEAK

R.A.D.: Rape Aggression Defense Classes

Kennemon Entertainment 14

Campus Life 6

Suceeding in College: There’s an App for That

The Year in Sports Sports & Health 26

Tech 24

Photo Source: SoulofAmerica.com KSU STUDENT LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE // January 2017 // KSUlifestyle.com

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KSU Lifestyle S t u d e n t

L i f e s t y l e

M a g a z i n e

FOR THE

STUDENTS.

BY THE

STUDENTS.

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What is #KSUlifestyle?

Contact Us KSU Lifestyle 1100 South Marietta Parkway Joe Mack Wilson Student Center Room A-246 Marietta, GA 30060 (678) 915-7310 www.ksulifestyle.com

s E li z a J o n e o r it d E L e a d C o p y g m a il .co m

@KSUlifestyle

KSU Lifestyle is the next step in the evolution of our organization. We will still be producing our student lifestyle magazine, but now we are also creating original podcasts and videos to help improve your college experience. All of our content and more can be found on our website at www.ksulifestyle.com Do you want to see your name in a published magazine? Do you want professional work experience? Do you want to record podcasts or videos?

Join us at www.ksusm.com and we’ll help you create the content that you want.

We’re all part of #KSUlifestyle.

Faculty Adviser

Administrative Advisor

Jeff Greene

Ed Bonza

ebonza@kennesaw.edu 2jgreene3@kennesaw.edu KSULifestyle.com KSUsting.com / august / Student 25, 2015 Survival Guide

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017

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Writing Culture

Editing

Photography

Entertainment

Video Production

Technology

Layout Design

Web Development

Sports and Health

Social Media

Over the top smiles in advertisements

Inside the Issue 3

What is #KSUlifestyle?

6

Campus Life

R.A.D.: An Intro to Rape Aggression Defense Classes

8

Campus Life

The Best Ice Skating Rinks to Optimize Your Winter Holiday

10

Campus Life

Write On! Introducing the Write Crowd

11

Entertainment

Galentine’s Day

14

Entertainment

Kennemon

18

Tech

What’s a Microcontroller, and What Can I Do with It?

20

Tech

Why Game on a PC? A Technical Standpoint

22

Tech

Kickstarter FutureTech: Keeping Your Resolutions

24

Tech

Succeeding in College: There’s an App for That

26

Sports & Health The Year in Sports: Kennesaw’s Owls are Golden

27

Sports & Health The Lady Owls: 2016 Recap

28

Sports & Health NBA’s New Villain

30

Sports & Health Beach Body

Come join us and have fun while gaining invaluable work experience

KSU Lifestyle has it all!

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017

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CAMPUS LIFE

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R.A.D.: An Introduction to Rape Aggression Defense Classes

by Kristen Roberson

R

ape is the number-one fear on college campuses. You probably know that already, either from the Not Anymore campaign, from lectures by various on-campus figures, or from the media. But rape prevention comes down to far more than words, lectures, and statistics; it centers on action, for the sake of yourself and others. When you’re prepared to deal with a threat, you’re far more likely to survive a dangerous encounter and escape unscathed.

This is where the Rape Aggression

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Defense (R.A.D.) program comes in.

What Is R.A.D.?

Every semester, the KSU Campus Police host several R.A.D. classes of varying levels, designed to be practical and informative. They’re a bare-bones tutorial toolbox that will give you the knowledge of several simple, powerful techniques that you can deploy should you ever encounter an assault situation. The number-one goal in R.A.D. is to provide an outlet for escape, and

that’s what the techniques you learn will create. It’s not a martial arts course designed for competition, but a practical and necessary course designed for survival.

As a KSU student, these classes are free for you. Absolutely take advantage of this, as it can only help you. The R.A.D. instructors are experienced and engaging. They want you to learn from the class while enjoying yourself at the same time. Their mission is to teach you self-defense in a way that inspires and empowers you in more than

just a physical manner. R.A.D. may be one of the most vital classes you’ll ever take. No matter how at-risk or not you are, or think you are, you can always benefit from learning selfdefense techniques. They could save your life.

A Breakdown of the Classes Coming Spring Semester 2017: R.A.D. for Men, and Advanced R.A.D. for Women. There are other classes as well, some focusing on the use of makeshift weapons, and others like Basic R.A.D. for Women - which I participated in during Fall Semester 2016.

Each class set has a total of four 3-hour sessions spread over a twoweek period. You must attend the first day’s class in order to attend any of the later three, because every class builds on the prior one

Source: rad.studentlife.wfu.edu

by expanding upon principles and techniques in a straightforward manner. While the first class is primarily lecture-based, explaining methods by which you can reduce your assault risk, the remaining sessions focus around repetition of techniques and how to use them to their best potential. Assault simulations are held on the final day, to give you a truly unique chance to really practice deploying your techniques and building your confidence and power.

These classes will help you, and they are free for you to take - so take full advantage of them. Keep an eye on your email to hear from KSU faculty and the KSU Police; don’t miss the chance to empower your life!

To learn further details, including specific dates and locations of upcoming classes, contact the KSU Police through radclasses@ kennesaw.edu.

In Conclusion I’d always wanted to take a selfdefense course, but never had the chance until I encountered KSU’s R.A.D. program. I am extremely thankful that I did, because it proved to be one of the best experiences of my life. I have far more confidence in my ability to handle dangerous situations, and the experience truly inspired me to reach out to others.

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017

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The Best Ice Skating Rinks to Optimize Your Winter Holiday

Skate Atlantic Station According to Atlantic Station’s website, Skate Atlantic Station is the largest outdoor ice skating rink in Atlanta. The ice skating rink opened November 19th, 2016 and will remain open through February 19th, 2017.

Ice skating at Atlantic Station is great for adults and families. Aside from the ice rink, there are several shops and restaurants that people can also experience.

by Kenya Simmons

Location 1380 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30363

‘T

Hours

is the season, as they say. The chill Atlanta nights are approaching fast, and the holiday spirit is engulfing the city. It is safe to say that everyone loves the holiday season, especially Christmas - unless you happen to be a Scrooge.

Monday - Thursday: 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Friday - Saturday: 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Ice skating is a fun activity for friends and families to take part in during the holiday season, so let’s jump into some of the best ice skating arenas around the metroAtlanta and Kennesaw areas.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Holiday Hours

Marietta Square The Marietta Square has been turned into an extravagant Winter Wonderland that is perfect for both adults and families with small children. Some attractions featured at the Square include an open-air ice skating rink, Santa’s Workshop, and a multistory Christmas tree. The ice skating rink is located in the center of Glover Park.

The area is decorated with twinkling lights and holiday music that compliment the season. $12 is the cost of entrance and skate rental.

50 N Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060

New Year’s Eve: 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Season Pass: $75.00/person

Prices include skate rental

Holiday Hours December 19-23 and 26-30: 10:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Christmas Day: 1:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day: 1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Pricing $12 for 90 minutes (includes skates)

New Year’s Day: 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Military (with ID): $10.00

New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m. - Late

Friday: 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Hours Friday: 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Children (under 12): $10.00

Christmas Day: 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Monday - Thursday: 4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

265 Park Avenue W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Christmas Day: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

General Admission: $13.00

Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Hours During School Year

Location

Monday - Thursday: 4:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Pricing

Holiday Hours

According to their website, the Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink is presented by CocaCola© and has holiday light displays to set the tone of the season. In the heart of Downtown Atlanta, the ice skating rink is in close proximity to many city attractions such as the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola ©, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the IMAGINE IT! Children’s Museum. The ice rink also offers food like funnel cakes, fried PB&J, and corn dogs, as well as holiday drinks like hot chocolate and apple cider.

Christmas Eve: 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Seniors (65 and over): $10.00 Location

The Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink

Pricing $12 (includes skates)

Some other ice skating rinks further away from campus include:

Hours Outside of School Year Monday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Ice Days at Olde Town Conyers Pavilion

Friday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

The Astor Holiday Ice Skating Rink at the St. Regis Atlanta

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The Coca-Cola Polar Rink at Lake Lanier Islands

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Photo by: Emilie Wilhite

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017

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CAMPUS LIFE

ENTERTAINMENT

T

he most important holiday in February - a day about real love, happiness, and appreciating those who are most important to you - is Galentine’s Day. You heard me right: February 13th is the day that the beautiful Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation has dedicated to getting your pals together! It’s time for a girls day, with great food and great movies with great friends.

Write On! Introducing the Write Crowd

Movies

Food

by Kristen Roberson

I

f you love crafting characters and writing stories, then come check out the Write Crowd! Founded and run by Kelsey and Laura of the Writing Center, this studentrun organization is an unbeatable way to get peer support while improving your writing through fun and engaging workshops and critiques. Last semester we participated in NaNoWriMo and established connections with another KSU student organization, the Creative Writing Club (for more information email Professor Kerfoot at ckerfoot@kennesaw.edu), which aims to teach about the publication world and more advanced writing for all genres. If you’re just getting started, or are seeking a welcoming, engaging atmosphere to relax and have fun in, the Write Crowd is here for you!

What’s to Gain?

Each week’s meeting boasts something new, and alternates each meeting between workshops and critique meets. This gives members a chance to not only learn more about creative writing, but also to put their learning to use - and get feedback so they can improve.

Every bi-weekly workshop delves into a different aspect of creative writing, such as character development, world-building, dialogue, narrative style, and more!

Presented through PowerPoints, published examples, shared personal experiences, and detailed worksheets, the workshops are extremely helpful in prompting you to consider different aspects of your characters and stories. They’re also a great way to escape writer’s block. No matter your writing level, there is plenty to learn from and gain.

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You always have to start with a couple of good food options - it’s college, everyone’s hungry!

Following each workshop week, members can present what they learned by adding their new techniques to their writing and sharing their work with peers.

Critiques are completely voluntary, and are close and friendly. If you do share, you’ll partner off with a peer, exchange work, and have the chance to give and receive feedback together. The Write Crowd is a “place of love,” in Kelsey’s words, so don’t fear sharing! It’s a time to for everyone’s writing to grow, not for judgment. Feedback is kept constructive only, aiming to help and inspire you.

Feeling like brunch? You can go all out or keep it simple, but, either way, it’s gonna taste great.

Some suggestions: waffles, hashbrowns, eggs benedict, pizza, chinese takeout.

Make the day even better with a sundae bar or a couple of milkshakes!

) ty (2000 stant i l a i n e a co n t e g s a n r o e v C a d e rco Miss fa r f ro m to go un

as made d s h e’s a fe e l g e n t is - too ba a lw a y s s e t is An FBI a a t ie S v o d ip s . e m it n is U f r ie n d s h et. Th g g n n o r a fo r M iss t c s e nd te as sh m a le s a c a n d id a t ro n g fe s g in r u at g o o d fe

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he nd, so s r b o y f r ie e in t o h d y e t b ped cce p a m u g d in s e t b y ods ge o u t g ir ls r h im - b E ll e Wo ov ie a b ase afte m h a c o u r s e lf. o is t s s lov in g y o ll o w f f o d e c id e t a e c h n W a rt L a w. h e im p o H a r v a rd ls a n d t ir g g in t suppor

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as g r o w in g wo m e n l nd u a f , r t e a d h wo n r ld . T r o u o w f e t h u t wo r t h t o a ve ry abo is H e m s s they s r a h It ’s a s t o s C d y n d ie -can is a n o and fr r f u l eye r k . T h is e o d p e o p le w n e o w iv t ra ve t h e d m in is t they ha h t h e ir a it w m e h e lp t h b r a in e r.

Where should you look for this fantastic find? The Writing Center, in Room 242 of the English Building on the Kennesaw Campus! Meetings for Spring Semester 2017 will be every Monday from 6:30-7:30pm, beginning on the 23rd of January. Anyone interested is welcome to come, and each meeting has snacks and free coffee for brain-power. So step right in, because you’ve come to the Write Place!

Photo by: Kristen Roberson

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ste Ghostbu

Where Does It Meet?

For further information, contact Kelsey and Laura at ksuwcwriteplace@kennesaw.edu, or inquire at the Writing Center.

s, d m ov ie fe e l- g o o e : e m r o a s n tch me g we wo ve t o w a a n h o r t ly s e w in it ho Yo u d e f t fo c u s ome tha s e r a e her

008)

en (2 The Wom Make sure to treat yourself to a Spa-AtHome while watching the movies!

A face mask and some body scrub are super easy to make. Just take equal parts coconut oil and brown sugar. pply to skin and gently rub.

Leave it in for a few minutes and then wash away with warm water.

Food Illustrations by: Jessica Brummel

s in g le t h a ve a o n s e o d li t e r a ll y is a ll t im e . It T h is f il m e ir t n e the y in g t o omen tr g u y in it w f o p n g ro u t . Wo m e about a li ve s o u ir e h t e f ig u r it a ll . a n h a ve r e a ll y c

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017 11

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AMERICANCAMPUS.COM Amenities & utilities included are subject to change. Electricity included up to a monthly allowance. See office for details.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Kennémon

by Jessica Brummel Be an athlete?

Use merit scholarships?

Use your parents’ money?

Don’t worry too hard about which one you start out with. Most people end up having used at least two of these Kennémon by the end of their journey!

Now that you’ve gotten your Kennémon, you can now use your Plannerdex. It’s a planner - so plan everything. Seriously. Write down your homework, your tests, your obligations, and your work hours.

You’ll have so much to learn and do; it’ll be great to just open up your Plannerdex and see what awaits you next!

Hello, Trainer! Welcome to the world of Kennémon - a world of stress, opportunity, new friends, and stress. You’re embarking on a journey that may take up to five years, so make sure to choose your starter Kennémon appropriately.

I almost sent you out without your potions! Here, stash up on some coffee, energy drinks, comfort food, a Netflix subscription, books, (alcohol) - anything that will help you keep going. You’re going to get dragged down sometimes, and the battles are going to get tougher and tougher.

It’s important to always take care of yourself so that you’ll be in tip-top shape to beat any gym!

If you really need a pick-me-up, visit a Kennécenter - Counseling

14 KSULifestyle.com / January 2017

Official Pokémon Sprites Source: Spriters-Resource.com

Custom Sprites by: Joseph Lorren

Work?

Take out loans?

and Psychological Services have their walk in hours on their website at http://studentsuccess.kennesaw. edu/cps/. The Kennécenter is a great place to get different types of potions to suit your different needs, because everyone needs something different to help them on their journey.

Now that you’re fully aware of how to get all patched up, it’s time to talk about training. Training is super important and the only way you’ll be able to defeat gyms. Create a study group for your classes. Figure out your professors’ office hours. Visit the free tutoring centers. Visit the writing center. Stick to a study plan and/or a workout plan and you’ll be sure to achieve results!

you meet other trainers, build your resume, and add new aspects to your Kennémon adventure.

The second place to get results are gyms. No matter what Kennémon you chose earlier, you’ll have to get through gyms to advance in your journey. Gyms are your classes, and each trainer in there is a test or assignment that gets harder as the year goes by. Get past these and you’ll reach the end - the dreaded Final. If you trained hard all semester, and you’re stocked up on your potions, I promise you that you’ll make it through.

There are two places to get results: contests and gyms. There are such a wide range of contests here to choose from: sports, job/internship fairs, and various competitions our clubs train for are just a few of the ways to show off and hone your skills. Make sure to enter a few contests, as they really help

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017 15

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ENTERTAINMENT

The battle for control of the magazine...

Carson

Griffith ...will finally be ended...

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TECH

TC

What’s a Microcontroller, and What Can I Do with It?

by Tommy Calhoun

L

ight shows, automated Twitter bots, robots that write messages corresponding to eye movements: all of these projects, and more, are both possible and relatively simple to create. Now, some of you might be saying, “Well, I have no electrical/mechanical/ robotic skills at all! How on earth would these projects be easy?” That is where the beauty of Arduinos and other microcontrollers like the

Raspberry Pi come in. In recent years, DIY and makerspace groups have been developing projects using Arduinos, and then sharing the details of their projects amongst each other so that anyone can replicate their creation. Think of it as a grassroots engineering revolution.

A microcontroller is basically a tiny computer; they don’t function

at nearly the same capacity as a laptop or desktop, but what they lack in processing power, they make up for in adaptability.

Microcontrollers have a variety of ports and connectors that allow them to send and receive electrical impulses from various inputs. These include, but are not limited to: A/V connectors, USB ports, audio jacks, and many more. In this way, the microcontroller serves as a sort

of crossroads. When programming the device, you could have certain signals transmitted whenever the controller receives a certain amount of data or a signal from a certain I/O pin. This transformative property allows makers to develop unique products that they may not have had the opportunity to create on their own.

One of the best things about microcontrollers is their open source nature. So long as you have someone else’s code and the required materials, then you can replicate their design almost exactly. Then, if you want to tinker with it and tweak some of the parts, you could branch off and make your own version. This has garnered a cult following of doit-yourselfers, amateur engineers, and hobbyists on websites like Instructables, where creators freely share their creations. There are also a ton of guides online on how to get started using microcontrollers, and

18 KSULifestyle.com / January 2017

Source: TopTechBoy.com

Source: PCWorld.com

resources for snippets of code that people have uploaded online for others to use.

learning tool, and can be a powerful little generalist for most simple projects.

If you are thinking about purchasing a microcontroller, first note that it might be a good idea to brush up on simple high school physics. Since this is a computer, you’re going to want to know a few things about electricity, but you can look up most of the more difficult concepts. There are a few options to choose from, and they can be a tad overwhelming.

Depending on what you want to use the microcontroller for, you might be able to get by with something simple - or you might need a board with multiple ports. The two most common microcontrollers on the market today are the Arduino products and the Raspberry Pi products, and each has multiple styles. If you were planning on learning to use them, I would recommend trying out the Raspberry Pi first. It is designed to be used as a

Learning how to use a microcontroller can also help you develop many useful skills that are applicable outside of working on projects. Simple wiring and coding knowledge are excellent skills to put on a resume, as well as being able to replicate product designs from a series of instructions. Seriously, you’d be surprised at how many people can’t follow directions. If you get to be good enough, then you could even start writing your own tutorials. Whether you are a hands-on learner looking for a new challenge, or just a bored college student who wants to automate their coffee maker, the microcontroller has something to offer everybody.

KSULifestyle.com / January 2017 19

TECH

TC

A Technical Standpoint

Why Game on a PC?

by Tommy Calhoun

A

sk anyone who plays video games what their favorite platform is, and they will usually give you a very quick answer and reason. For the lucky or devoted few that can afford any console or system, then the choice is negligible - but for many people, it is much more cost-efficient to stick with what you like and what you know. For this reason, gamers tend to focus on what aspects of their games appeal to them the most and focus on a console or system that makes those traits easily accessible. For example: if someone were to tell me they enjoy laid-back puzzles/platformers and couch co-op games, then I would recommend a Nintendo console; if someone were looking for an all-in-one entertainment experience, then I might suggest an Xbox One or a PS4.

However, if someone came to me looking for the best quality they could find, and they wanted the most realistic environment possible, I would point them directly toward a PC. Let me preface this by saying that I am not arguing for some “PC Master Race.” There are definitely merits to consoles as well, but let us focus on the technical capabilities of PCs. If you’re looking for an immersive gaming experience, however, then a PC just might be a proper fit for you.

Graphical Prowess

Modularity

Modding Capabilities

While you can debate other subjective points for hours, you cannot argue the sheer processing power that PCs have to offer. By increasing the RAM or purchasing a better graphics card, it’s easy to push your gaming experience into the promised land of tripledigit framerates and all-settingsset-to-max quality. This has also become a much more affordable option with the release of Nvidia’s new GTX series, which promises massively increased performance (as compared to the previous models) without breaking the bank. If Nvidia is too pricey for you, then you can also look to AMD for entry-level prices that still provide competitive speeds. With a few adjustments, you could turn your old desktop into a high-end gaming experience - which brings me to my next point.

Another draw that PC gaming has, is its capability to be upgraded pieceby-piece. If your graphics card is running a bit on the older side, you can snoop around on Newegg and Micro Center until you find a deal, add it to your cart, and, in 7-14 business days (1-2 if you’re bougie), you can toss out the old and pop in the new. Being able to have the freedom to upgrade when and how they want gives PC gamers agency over their gaming experience. Just try not to think about the nostalgia factor of “I’ve had my gaming PC for 16 years,” because then you’ll get into some weird philosophy shenanigans about a dude named Theseus and his boat, and it just gets confusing.

Hacking, modding, and breaking a game to the point of no return.

For some people, getting to see the inner workings of Skyrim is way more important than being the Dragonborn, and PCs are really the only way to reliably do that. The only way to have access to the programs, and sometimes the processing power required to complete the tasks they require, is to use a PC. Creating mods is hard work on both a developer and the computer. You have to run 3D modeling software, write code, and organize it all in a way that doesn’t totally destroy the game every time you log in. I know that some games for consoles are now opening up to hosting mods on their own, but the modding community has by-andlarge stayed firmly in the PC camp.

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Source: SgtDeathAdder (Imgur.com)

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TECH

TC

Kickstarter FutureTech: Keeping Your Resolutions Stealth

by Henry North

Looking for a fitness experience that can be also be fun? How about taking Stealth for a spin?

Brandenton, Florida’s Stealth Fitness company, created what they claim is the “very first video game integrated core trainer.” They combine the plank position with a mobile gaming experience to create a workout that doesn’t even feel like you’re actually working out. Just place your

W

elcome to the new year! A fresh start is just beginning, as everyone attempts to start taking action on their various New Year’s resolutions. As is common practice, however, a lot of these resolutions barely ever go beyond the idea phase and just continue to be pipe dreams. Keep in mind, I am not trying to bash anyone’s hopes and dreams, and I am not making fun of people who do make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I’m here to present you with another slew of Kickstarter-funded technologies, ones which can maybe help all of us get that first push we need into making sure our resolutions become reality.

As a wearable neckband, Vi has many features to ensure comfort and ease of use while you’re equipped with it. It has a textured, non-slip surface; a foldable design; touch-aware, biosensing earbuds with sound by harman/kardon; and magnetic storage clips for the earbuds. It has also been manufactured to be sweatproof, so you never have to worry about it getting disgusting from constant use. By sensing your

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The Stealth app uses your phone’s motion detector to analyze your movements and translates them into gameplay actions. This style of fitness was designed to work 29 different muscles, and while it focuses on your abs, it will also tone other areas such as your obliques

and lower back. The platform is sweat resistant, ergonomic, and fluid, as it works on a ball and joint structure. It’s also versatile, so you can use it at home, at work or even at the gym. It’s a fitness experience for anyone, not just health nuts and fitness experts, so try it out when it releases to the public in June 2017 and get that summer physique you’ve always wanted.

Sence This next piece of wearable technology is targeted at those who care more about keeping their psychological health in check. Sence, created by Eugene Nayshtetik and the Sence team in Los Angeles, California, tracks your emotional states by listening to and analyzing your heart beat using electrocardiogram technology.

It analyzes many different facets of your being: stress, vitality, emotions, physical activity, steps, and heart rate. This information can be used to constantly keep you aware of your emotional state throughout the day as it tracks up to 64 different emotions and bodily states.

Vi The first step in attempting to achieve fitness goals is either signing up for and going to a gym, or taking the more costly route of hiring a personal trainer. What if I told you that you could have a personal trainer at a lower cost and an unlimited availability for you and your needs? Let me introduce you to Vi, the artificial intelligence personal trainer, created by LifeBEAM. Developed in New York City, New York, Vi is an evolving trainer who lives within a set of bio-sensing earphones.

It tracks you as you go on any running or cycling trip, helping you meet weight goals, improve your running, cycling and training skills, and still be able to listen to music and talk on the phone without having to take your mobile device out of your pocket.

smartphone in the platform, turn on the game app and experience a 3 minute gaming session that also works your core muscles.

physiology and environment, and monitoring your activity history, Vi analyzes this data to study and adapt to your fitness habits, and translates this data into a vocal report for you. Vi can also send you a text to give you updates, and it comes with a mobile app that works to provide you quick feedback while training, planning future training sessions, reviewing progress, and customizing Vi when you’re not training. Vi actually began shipping this past December, so be on the lookout for it.

Photo Source: Kickstarter.com

The SenceBand comes with many features, including USB charging, LED notifications, a modern overlap design, over two days’ worth of battery life, adjustable clasp, and IP 64 waterproof protection. The mobile app that accompanies it presents you with the visual data taken from the wearable in the forms of bodily state mapping, workout performance, and recovery analytics.

It also offers the ability to connect with friends and family who are using the SenceBand, and you can check their well-being analyses. The first shipments of the SenceBand are expected to go out around August and September of 2017; check out this technology when you can, and be prepared to take better control over your emotions so that they don’t control you.

Editor’s Note: Like what you see here? If you’re interested in being a part of making more awesome projects become reality, check out Kickstarter.com for more information on how to back these and other projects.

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LAYOUT TECH

My Study Life Sometimes you need to be able to plan out your life so you can be prepared for the road ahead, and your pre-installed calendar may not be doing the job. You probably also don’t want to carry around a physical planner, so what do you do? My Study Life is a day planner and school calendar app that also sends reminders to your phone whenever your deadlines are on the horizon. It’s a very useful tool for the scatterbrained, or even the ones who are too busy to keep track of everything on their own.

Mendeley Mendeley provides you with a quick and easy way to read and annotate PDFs. No more having to search the text over and over again for that one sentence you need for your research notes and citations. This also connects to a desktop application, so you can sync your mobile notes with your computer to keep yourself organized.

Succeeding in College: There’s an App for That

OneNote

by Henry North

A

college education has become almost a standard for being able to get ahead in the world we live in now. Many students, however, struggle with classes and eventually drop out or fail out of college, settling for a life that they may not really want to have.

Luckily, the technology is out there for people to be able to take control of their college careers, so that they no longer have to worry about the stacks of stress and brain-ache that school tends to deliver. What’s even better is that the technology can be found on your smartphone, a mobile device that nearly everyone has. Here’s a list of free apps you can download to help yourself through college at your own pace, all of which are available in the Google Play Store and the iTunes Store.

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Source: DigitalTrends.com

Need to take notes in class but forgot your pen and paper at home? No worries; just pull out your phone and open OneNote. Take all the notes you need, either by recording the lecture or writing them in using a stylus.

Your notes can be backed up to Microsoft’s OneDrive and Office 365 servers for extra security. This app is a must-have for the student who has to take down every letter the professor spouts and every diagram they draw during a class session.

Periodic Table Leave that boring, paper copy of the periodic table at home. With this app, you get an interactive, multimodal experience to help you really get an understanding of the elements. It incorporates podcasts and videos into the lessons and comes with different levels of learning, so that people at any level of chemistry knowledge can make sense of the information they’re being fed.

StudyBlue A network of flashcards, study guides, and preparatory quizzes are at your fingertips with this app. Use this to make studying on-the-go a lot easier than ruffling through a packet of notes or flipping through every textbook.

Dropbox & Google Drive Two apps that allow you to have a cloud storage space, which is important in order for you to be able to take that research paper or digital art project from your home computer to your classroom without much trouble. Both are accessible from either a mobile device or desktop and laptop computers. Dropbox offers 2GB of storage when you sign up, while Google Drive starts you with 15GB.

Duolingo ¿Quieres aprender un nuevo idioma?

Dies ist eine einfache Möglichkeit, dies zu tun. Duolingo allows you to translate real-world texts, including Web pages and other documents, into whatever language you would like to. You can also take language courses using the app at any level of learning, so you can figure out what the first two sentences of this paragraph say.

EasyBib Take the difficulty out of creating citations and bibliography pages for your research papers. EasyBib is a simple citation-generating app that can give you a citation in MLA, APA, Chicago, or any other style that you might require. Just plug in the information it asks of you, and you’re well on your way to preventing yourself from being accused of plagiarism.

Honorable Mention: edX This is more than an app for college students; anyone with a smartphone can use this app to take lessons from prestigious universities anywhere, at any time, and at a pace you’re comfortable with. You can join online lectures, take quizzes, and complete assignments for a variety of different courses. The app also has the added bonus of allowing you to earn certificates in the courses you take.

There is a payment aspect in order to take some of the courses, but there is still plenty of content that you can learn for free.

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SPORTS & HEALTH

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The Lady Owls: 2016 Recap

Did you know?

In Benji Walton’s first year as the women’s head soccer coach, he took them to 10 wins, the most since 2012 and the first winning season since 2012.

by Jordan Alexander

Here’s a recap of some of the Owl teams that have done great work this year:

The Year in Sports:

Kennesaw’s Owls Are Golden

by Mike Jones

Y

ou always hear people bragging about their college teams: Georgia Bulldogs this, or Auburn Tigers that - but have you been paying attention to what the Kennesaw State Owls are up to? You don’t normally hear about a college having an athletic program that is successful on multiple fronts, not just football, but Kennesaw State has been putting in some hard work. This dedication has definitely reflected upon their athletic program as a whole.

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The football team finished with an impressive 8-3, an improvement from last year’s 6-5 season.

The Owls did not just beat their opponents - they completely took over the game.

The volleyball team finished second in the ASUN conference rankings. They dominated in conference play, which landed them close to the championship.One-line bullet point The women’s soccer team had a very strong season, leading them to the ASUN conference semifinals. They have the all-time playoff record, and had their eyes on another championship.

These are just a few of the teams that did well this year.

We had a very successful year, and we only seem to be improving. All of our athletes love both the sport they play and the school they attend. To show them love back, we, as students, need to make some noise at our home games. Stand up and represent your school by showing some school pride. Making friends at these athletic events is easy, because you all have something in common right away: school spirit. Now, as we change seasons and bring in a new wave of students for the spring semester, let’s show them how we represent!

HOOTY-HOO!

Photo Source: Kennesaw State Owls (Facebook)

T

he 2016 KSU Lady Owls soccer team had a promising and outstanding showing this campaign, pulling out a 10-8-1 (WLD) record. Benji Walton, upcoming second-year coach, was able to come in and pass on his soccer knowledge to the team, as his tactics and 4-3-3 formation boasted creative attacking and stingy pressure on defense.

August (3-0-1) August is the period of time during which the players settle into their roles and get fit for the upcoming season. The Lady Owls got off to a great start, displaying a form and a continuity that looked almost midseason. The Lady Owls scored 13 goals and only conceded 2 goals in the four games they played in August; the two goals conceded were against Mercer in a 4-2 victory for the Lady Owls.

every three or four days. On top of that, a five-game road trip took and them away from Fifth Third Bank Stadium for two weeks and halted the Owls’ momentum: they were only 1-4 during the road trip. September also saw its first conference soccer as the Lady Owls lost the opener against Lipscomb, but rebounded and beat North Florida to draw even in conference record.

October (3-2) The conference schedule was in full swing during the month of October.

Ironically, the Lady Owls went 3-0 this month in the conference, while going 0-2 at home. These games were grueling, as expected for the ASUN conference, but it prepared the team for the task at hand: the ASUN Conference Championship.

September (3-5)

ASUN Conference Championship (1-1)

September saw a gauntlet of opponents, eight teams to be exact - if you do the math, that means that the Lady Owls were playing a game

Kennesaw State had a wonderful showing in the tournament. In the quarterfinals, Kennesaw State faced Jacksonville, a team they had beaten

The Lady Owls won six road games, which is the most they’ve reached since 2007, when the team won seven road games.

The Lady Owls went 19 games with only 13 yellow cards, no red cards.

in overtime earlier in the season. A game that was predicted and assumed to be close was far from the truth. The Lady Owls scored in bunches, gaining a 4-1 victory over conference rivals Jacksonville. The Owls faced Florida Gulf Coast in the semifinal round, a team that the Owls played earlier in the season at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The Lady Owls were narrowly defeated by them then with a score of 2-1. It seemed to be a repeat performance as Florida Gulf Coast beat Kennesaw State with the same score line of 2-1 during the semifinal round.

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SPORTS & HEALTH

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NBA’s New Villain

by Mike Jones

D

o you remember having recess and getting to pick your own team to play dodgeball? In your mind, you were going to make a team that would dominate all of the competition. In reality, the teams were evenly spread and that made for a good competition on the playground. It was always the team that worked well together that would come out on top, which was a very important lesson in teamwork that everyone learned at recess.

sports should all generally have the same makeup when it comes to teamwork, but lately there has been a trend. Instead of the basic lesson of building and improving a team, it seems as though some people would rather just bypass that step and go straight to winning games.

The term “team stacking” has been around as long as teams have been formed, and the organization that has taken this to a whole new level is the NBA.

It seems like all teams should follow the rule of building a team and working well together. Recreational, team, school, and professional

Everyone remembers Lebron’s game-changing decision to move to the Miami Heat and partner with superstars Dwayne Wade

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and Chris Bosh. This decision not only changed the association as a whole, but also had other players thinking about team stacking.

Some things that came along with Lebron’s iconic decision to pair up with superstars were bandwagon fans, upset hometown fans, and upset teammates. All three of these factors add up to the player being an NBA villain. There has been a recent move in the NBA that has really shaken up the league, and this time the decision did not lie with Lebron. This time it was Kevin Durant.

high-scoring duo of the Oklahoma City Thunder with his partner Russell Westbrook. The duo played very well together and put together some of the most successful seasons in the NBA. They played together for years, building the team and recruiting dynamic people such as James Harde and Serge Ibaka to add to the team. Oklahoma City was a dynamic team and the fanbase added to the atmosphere, but this all changed when Kevin Durant made his decision last summer.

Kevin Durant made the decision to

leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and go to the Golden State Warriors.

This decision shook up the NBA, not only because no one was expecting for him to leave his partner Westbrook, but also to leave for the team that just beat Oklahoma City out of the playoffs. There was very little room for improvement on the Golden State Warriors team, as they won 73 out of 82 games the previous season. Acquiring Kevin Durant made the Golden State Warriors the most stacked team in League history.

Westbrook still has faith in the team,

and, instead of signing to another team, extended his contract. The Golden State Warriors would have expected to have a better season with Kevin Durant, but started the season off by getting blown out by 29 points to the San Antonio Spurs.

While Westbrook was sipping his tea and watching the Spurs and Golden State game, he is focused on team building and winning games. Golden State is on the path to having a worse season than they did before acquiring the NBA’s new supervillain, Kevin Durant.

Bandwagon fans, upset hometown fans, and upset teammates...these factors add up to the player being an NBA villain.

Kevin Durant was once part of the

Photo by: Geoff Burke

Photo by: Andy Lyons

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SPORTS & HEALTH

SH

Beach Body

by Mike Jones

Y

ou might be loving this wonderful weather we’re having, but summer is right around the corner. As you probably know, there are only a few months of winter weather here in the wonderful state of Georgia.

The majority of our months are hot and humid - and do you know what comes along with warm weather?

Swimsuits!

week takes too long, and you are a busy student with no time. To refrain from eating all those greasy cookout trays, you could just prepare your meals for the entire week on Sunday. So if you don’t have time throughout the week and find yourself eating out and spending money you don’t have, this option would work great for you.

I want you to look deep into your soul and ask yourself, “Am I happy with my body?” Some might actually say yes to this question, but if you are a part of the majority of people who would say they would like to work on something about their body, now is the perfect time to get your body right for the warm weather. Doing little things now could make a major difference in your body when it warms up.

If you are more advanced in terms of working out, you could take up using workout supplements. These are used to take the pain away from working out so that you will be able to workout longer and harder. Crazy, right?

Some of these supplements will help you do things like build extra muscle or drop water weight. If you want to get bigger or smaller, there are supplements that you can take before and after you workout that will help you get where you need to be.

If you look at yourself and you see that you are more on the fluffy side than you would prefer, try doing some cardio. Go for a small run in the morning a few times a week. Running will definitely slim you down and give you some relaxation while doing it. Another way you can get some cardio is to go to the gym and play basketball or use some of the cardio machines. Who doesn’t love a good game of basketball in the gym? You don’t have to workout religiously to make a difference in how your body looks.

The majority of people only worry about their stomachs when it comes to looking swimsuit-approved. To prevent your belly from making you self-conscious, just do some simple core workouts. If you do things like sit-ups and plank daily, you will have a six-pack by the summer. You probably won’t see the results right away, but you’ll definitely be very comfortable with your shirt off.

One thing that our university offers that I found really interesting was butt classes. Yes, you heard me right butt classes that work on your booty. These classes use specialized workouts that focus on that one part of your body and nothing else. They meet a couple of times a week and work on their booties together. If you are interested in specialized training, there are some classes that you might want to look up on the university’s website.

These are just a few ideas for what you can be doing to improve yourself. At the end of the day, you have to find what motivates you as a person. If you actually want to improve how you look, you are the only person who can stop you. Find your motivation, remember your goals, and you should have no problem. When you’re running on that treadmill, just remember why you are there and how many heads you’ll turn this summer.

One thing that I realized saved me both time and calories is meal plan Sundays. Cooking throughout the

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