Issue 5 | Volume 151 | February 19, 2019
A B C D
theavion.com | (386) 226-6049
Campus Industry & Technology Motorsports Entertainment
Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
THE AVION
A2 Campus
Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor
Jaclyn Wiley K’Andrew France-Beckford News Editor Nick Hernandez Business Manager Alex Lee Photo Editor Vipul Telang
Page Editors Cover Editor Vipul Telang Campus Editors Nick Hernandez Madaline Eitniear Jaclyn Wiley Industry Editors Alex Lee Jorja Gwaltney Victoria Jordan Motorsports Editors Vipul Telang Rajan Khanna Entertainment Editors Jaclyn Wiley Vipul Telang Andy Bronshteyn Aakash Rathinam Comics Editor Alex Lee Copy Editor Sarah Fairchild
Contributors
Reporters Photographers
Christina Frederick David Keck Christie Miller Aakash Rathinam Allison Smalling Jaclyn Wiley Michael Weinhoffer Vipul Telang Rajan Khanna Nick Hernandez
Vipul Telang Rajan Khanna Connor Strobel Connor Adair Yunxiao Liu
Staff Advisor Ronnie Mack Asst. Director, Media & Marketing
Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Business Manager: (386) 226-7697 Editor-In-Chief: editor@theavion.com Managing Editor: managing@theavion.com News Editor: news@theavion.com Business Manager: business@theavion.com Photo Editor: photo@theavion.com
Website: theavion.com @theavionnewspaper u/theavionnewspaper @The_Avion @TheAvion
The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term, and bi-weekly during summer terms. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 800 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.75. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion. Correspondence may be addressed to: The Avion Newspaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Physical office: Student Union, Room 219.
Dear HumanE Factors, The two of us have been dating for over a year, and we are serious about our relationship. We care a great deal about each other, and things have been going really, really well. So well, in fact, that we are
starting to think about our relationship after graduation. Do we have a long-term future together? Do we start thinking about the “m” word? The answers could be yes – but there is something we are struggling with. We come from different religious
backgrounds, and we have different understandings of God and different understandings of what it means to be saved. We agree on so much about what a good life looks like, but there are some differences that seem significant. Your thoughts?
Christina’s Thoughts:
of you to deepen your understanding of your faith and one another. Start with thinking about the many shared beliefs about God, people, and practices that are in your religions, rather than focusing only on where they differ. I’m hoping the shared tenets list is much longer than the non-shared list. With the shared list, visualize these tenets as building the framework of your house that sits on that firm foundation of a belief in God. As you explore more about your two faiths, you may want to explore different perspectives and doctrines from thinkers in your religions. Within every religion there are scholars, and even they don’t always agree about interpretations of works like the Bible or the Koran. You may not be aware of thinkers who have addressed your differences about what it means to be saved. Before you decide that is a difference that neither of you can overcome, make sure you both understand what that difference might mean in both your religions. You may also find that as you learn and grow in faith, there are other principles you see that lead you both to being able to adapt to a significant difference. I also want to urge you not to become too laser-focused on the one
area of difference you hold. Relationships develop over years and lifetimes, just as people do. This is your time to continue learning about one another. Make sure this one issue doesn’t become the only thing you focus on. I’m reminded of that saying: Don’t get so wrapped up in it right now that you can’t see the forest for the trees. I am not minimizing the importance of your beliefs about being saved, but that is just one element of faith and one element of a full and deep relationship. You are both on the right track. Keep communication open and view this as an exciting challenge that allows you to know more about one another. Work on the entire relationship and see where it goes. If, in the end, you both decide that this issue will be something that keeps you apart, I hope you will be able to see that no effort you put in now will have been wasted. Whenever we work to better ourselves, understand others and grow meaningful personal relationships in our lives, it is never a waste of time. Those efforts are beautiful and should be respected, no matter the result. I have faith that as a couple you will find the right path and the house you build together will be healthy and lasting!
David’s Thoughts:
long-term marriages are based on more than romantic attraction. From what we have, we don’t know the nature of the religious differences involved. The language of being “saved” is often used in Christianity, and given the number of Riddle students whose families, at one time or another, have been Christian, I’m going to assume that at least one of the two is Christian. The differences then may be between two different religious traditions or two different ways of being Christian. Each can be challenging. Neither is necessarily a deal-breaker, and most religious traditions do have provisions for marrying “outside the tribe.” The questions I tend to ask couples are, “Do you believe that God is bringing the two of you together?” and “Do you see God in the other person?” Each person can then answer the question from his or her own beliefs, perspectives, etc. Answers to the first often include an awareness of profound gratitude. At some point in the relationship, one or both parties has given thanks to God for the other person. So yes, there is a sense that God is involved in their love. The second of these questions can be the more challenging, in part because it is not a question we often ask. And it is not clear what we might mean by seeing God in the other person. I phrase the question that way – instead of “Do you think that the other person is saved?” – Because it allows each half of the couple to work with what they see, know, and experience,
rather than what might or might not be the case (either in the present or in the future). If one person can look at the other and recognize that they are living a good, even righteous life (however these things are understood), then there is a basis for developing an everyday life involving profound religious commitments. Indeed, because respect and gratitude are present, religious differences can be the source of strength and appreciation. Many couples thus work things out through compromise. A Catholic and Baptist might “split the difference” and end up in an Episcopalian church since this denomination has elements familiar to both traditions. Couples of different religious backgrounds sometimes accompany their beloveds to their respective worship services and participate, or not, according to what’s right for them. Or, if a religious belief forbids being present in another worship space, they just don’t go. This can be a real strain, however, since part of being a couple is sharing important parts of life, such as worship and community. Finally, if salvation in a Christian sense is particularly essential, 1 Corinthians 7 provides a powerful way of thinking about how God might well work in the lives of couples: “For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. … Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.” Maybe love does conquer all.
In relationships, sharing fundamental beliefs in areas like religion, politics and financial practices are essential, and can lead to disagreements for couples. It’s very insightful that you are both recognizing this now and considering how to address an important issue in your relationship. I see two pieces of good news here. First, you are aware of your differences and care enough about one another to work on them. It sounds to me that you are both serious about doing the work you need to do to reach a compromise that will aSllow you to accept one another’s beliefs and move forward. The second strength I see in your relationship is that you both do hold a fundamental shared faith in God. The belief in God, you both, share and find essential has likely driven some of those other qualities that led to your compatibility in the first place. Although your faiths may have some diverging paths, a shared belief in God is fundamental for your relationship and provides the foundation on which to build. If one of you were a committed atheist, I’m not sure I’d be quite as optimistic. Instead of a potential problem, let me suggest you think of this exploration of faith as a positive challenge – for both
The Roman poet Virgil wrote, “Love conquers all.” Two people who truly love each other can overcome any obstacle, no matter how great. Similarly, many weddings (including my own) celebrate the confidence we have in love by having a reading from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient; love is kind; … love rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” Romantic comedies often are premised on the power of love to bring a couple together and help them endure difficulties, trials, parents, and the cruel fates themselves. We want these statements to be true, and in many ways they are. At the same time, religion, like love, can be a powerful, all-encompassing force in our lives. What happens when love and religion collide? Riddle is an excellent university in part because students come from all over the country and across the globe. Students from different traditions falling in love are not uncommon, so more than a few couples face this dilemma, and I have had the honor of working with a number of them. I have a great deal of respect for the questions they ask because they are asking serious questions about what life means, what they want their married lives to look like, how they want to raise children, how they want to worship, serve, and make a difference in a world that has both love and hate. The couples that have come to me are mature enough to know that healthy,
The Riddle Off-Roaders went off the beaten path with their excursion to the Daytona Beach Boys and Girls Club. The Riddle Off-Roaders roared into the parking lot with eight of their vehicles at the local Boys and Girls Club. Their mission this time was not to blaze a new trail for themselves but to share their vehicles and the sport of offroading with the youth. Before introducing the children to their cars, the Embry-Riddle students presented themselves and shared a little bit about what college is like. Then they shared photos and videos of their vehicles in action. The children were engrossed in videos of the bumpy off-roading action and got to see the winch being used to haul a vehicle out from being stuck. The children even learned about the parts of the cars, the essential equipment for off-roading and what it is used for. It was fun to see the kids learning about the winch, jack, snorkel, and other gear.
After the introductions and the videos, everybody went outside to see the vehicles. The students climbed aboard, pretended to drive, talked on the CB radios, and had a blast seeing these huge vehicles up close. The Embry-Riddle students had fun sharing their passion for off-roading with the youth. It was a great day for all involved! The Riddle Off-Roaders made a difference for the disadvantaged youth of the Boys and Girls Club by introducing them to something new and just by spending time with them. The Riddle Off-Roaders are a group of off-road enthusiasts who like to have fun on and off of pavement. The club is open to anyone with or without a truck or Jeep. They go on periodic rides to different trails, help each other with mechanical issues, and participate in social and community events. All clubs and organizations are invited to share something with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club. Contact Christie Miller with the Volunteer Network at millec814@ erau.edu to set up a time to go. It’s great for college students and great for the children!
Photo Courtesy: Riddle Off-Roaders
Anxiety: Let’s Walk Through This Road Aakash Rathinam Correspondent It’s quite common for people to feel that ‘fluttering’ in the stomach, that adrenaline rush, an emotional force or it’s that is just an abstract emotion to explain. Perhaps even the gods would feel the same if they stroll on earth! What is this feeling? Is it the fear, excitement or courage? Yes, you are right, it is you! Who is pivoting in this position to determine what it is. If this abstractness victimizes you then you got to negotiate with it, so hard, so strong that it gives in and later becomes a medallion in the future. Probably you would have guessed it by now yes, it's the anxiety. The common thing that every first-year student feels and every senior would have battled through. ‘Anxiety poses as the greatest hurdle for this universe' because it makes every bright star that the world has known to flicker. It’s difficult, it’s crushing, it’s closing fast on you, but remember it offers you only two choices, either to get up or to give up. Let’s talk about the cause of
anxiety. The fundamental reason why students and teenagers feel anxious is because of the social judgement — a strong feeling of belongingness to a social hierarchy which itself is a self-evolved illusion. The simplest way of crushing this hierarchy is to stop over-thinking. It’s difficult and sounds like ‘not everybody does that’ but, trust me everybody does that.
“
The fundamental reason why students and teenagers feel anxious is because of the social judgement
“
Christie Miller Interim Assistant Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement
THE AVION
Campus A3 Riddle Off-Roaders at the Boys and Girls Club
What if the pioneers of aviation just kept overthinking? Apparently, they thought about consequences, that's how parachute came into existence. They had confidence in them, they took baby steps and here we are, awestruck at the growth of a massive industry which has made the whole world so petite. From this moment let’s take baby steps and make the world look at us with inspiration. Let’s walk through this road.
THE AVION
A4 Sports W-Tennis Falls in Season Opener
Athlete Spotlight
Allison Smalling ERAU Athletics
The Embry-Riddle women's tennis team suffered a loss in its first match of the season, falling to NAIA No. 2 Keiser (4-1) 7-0 on Wednesday. Keiser took the lead early by winning all three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Daniela Farfan and Emma Henriksen topped Georgina Wood and Alexis Marshall 6-3 on court two, and Sarah Schaerer and Lorene Foerste assured the Seahawks of the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Mafalda Soares and Roberta Krvajica on court three. Anais Gabriel and Alekzandra Frela secured the Keiser sweep in doubles with a 6-3 win over Jillian Hobbsand Sabrina Ehrenfort at the top spot. NAIA No. 3 Farfan made it 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Krvajica at No. 1 singles and Grela got the third point with a 6-1, 6-0 defeat of Marshall at the fourth position. The clinching point came on
Photo Courtesy: ERAU Athletics
Paige Bussard
Connor Strobel/The Avion Newspaper
court three where 19th-ranked Schaerer earned a 6-2, 6-1 win over Ehrenfort. The Eagles forced three-setters at the second and fifth singles spots, but Keiser was able to pull out wins in both as second-ranked
Gabriel held off Wood 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 and No. 27 Foerste edged Soares 4-6, 6-4, 10-5. The Eagles will be back in action at 3 p.m. on Feb. 21, hosting Valdosta State at the Crotty Tennis Complex.
The Athlete Spotlight for this week is Paige Bussard. Currently 21 years of age, she is a senior here at Embry-Riddle. She comes from Myersville, Maryland. She is currently studying Aerospace Engineering. In the Athletics department, Paige is a thrower for the Embry-Riddle track and field team. She has been doing track and field for about eight years now. Paige’s mother also did track and field, and when she realized Paige had too much energy, she placed Paige into cross country. Being in the cross country lead Paige to do track and field. Other than track and field, Paige enjoys playing volleyball and basketball. Outside of athletics, Ms. Bussard is quite active across campus. She is a part of the Student Government Association(SGA), the Orientation Team(O-Team), the Fellowship for Christian Athletes(FCA), and the Omicron Delta Kappa(ODK) honor society. To anyone who asks what she does in her spare time, Paige always gives the response, “What spare time?”. She came to Embry-Riddle for the amazing Aerospace program, although her favorite part of playing for Embry-Riddle is that it gives her a break from her academics. Her favorite part of attending school here is the love for aviation. And after she graduates, she plans to work at Gulfstream. Good luck in the rest of your semester Paige!
Image Courtesy: Moon Express
THE AVION
B2 Industry
NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stated that one of the development goals of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions would be speed, in a briefing at NASA Headquarters on Feb. 14. To that end, NASA aims to land the first CLPS mission on the Moon in late 2019, despite the delays that the program encountered from the month-long partial government shutdown. NASA has not announced any of the payloads or scientific incidents that will fly on the CLPS missions, though Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for science, stated that “If we have a ride in late 2019, we will have instruments in late 2019.” The announcement of the payloads is scheduled for the week of Feb. 18 and will include NASA-developed science and development payloads. Payloads that were developed outside of NASA are also being sought. The CLPS program is designed to
help NASA return human beings to the Moon and establish a permanent presence there. Unlike traditional NASA development programs, the CLPS program is a public-private partnership (PPP), in which NASA partners with companies to develop new spacecraft or technologies. The nine partner companies were decided in November 2018, and include traditional aerospace companies, like Lockheed Martin, and smaller start-ups, like Moon Express or Masten Space Systems. The CLPS program is a part of the NASA Moon to Mars exploration campaign. The Moon to Mars exploration campaign has four primary goals: to transition low-Earth orbit operations to the commercial sector, to enable long-term human activities in lunar orbit, to facilitate long-term exploration of Mars by robotic craft, and to explore the Moon as a means of preparation for human missions to Mars and more in-depth space missions. Under the current exploration campaign, NASA plans to land humans on the Moon again in 2028.
The acceleration in the CLPS program is partially driven by criticism from the National Space Council’s Users’ Advisory Group, which chastised NASA for lacking a sense of urgency in its lunar exploration plans. NASA created the Moon to Mars exploration campaign after President Trump released Space Policy Directive-1 (SPD-1) in Dec. of 2017, which charged NASA with returning humankind to the Moon. Other elements of the Moon to Mars exploration campaign include robotic missions to the surface of the Moon and Mars and the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway. NASA has utilized PPPs for development programs in the past. One such program, the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS), has successfully launched 14 missions to the International Space Station. The CRS program was created to help ensure consistent supply deliveries to the ISS from US soil after the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011. Though the Russian Progress and Soyuz capsules could launch materials to the ISS, NASA wanted to add
redundancy with the CRS program. Two separate spacecraft systems were developed by two independent companies, the SpaceX Dragon and the Orbital Sciences (now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems) Cygnus. Another PPP that is expected to see returns in 2019 is the Commercial Crew Program (CCP). NASA lost the ability to launch human beings to the ISS from US soil in 2011, when the Space Shuttle was removed from service and created the CCP to help regain that capability. The first of the Commercial Crew test flight missions, which will be uncrewed, are expected in the first half of 2019. SpaceX and Boeing are the two CCP partners and are developing the Crew Dragon and CST-100 Starliner systems, respectively. The CLPS program will propel forward the United States’s exploration goals, and help eventually return human beings to the Moon. The CLPS program, though not unprecedented in the aerospace development realm, is still ambitious, and a 2019 launch date even more so.
Opinion: State of the Space Mining Industry
Michael Weinhoffer Senior Reporter
“Space mining” is one of the top buzzwords of the commercial space industry, and it could one day become a unique sector of the global space economy. The goal of prospective space miners is to extract resources from asteroids or the Moon and use them for in-space applications, such as fuel for rockets. Such operations could be quite lucrative, but a few events in the past months have invited a review of the current health of the space mining industry, which is the subject of the discussion below. Four U.S. companies have expressed interest in some degree of space mining: Planetary Resources, Moon Express, Deep Space Industries, and the Shackleton Energy Company. All of them were formed between 2007 and 2012, and Planetary Resources is the only company that has launched any proprietary spacecraft into low Earth orbit. Shackleton and Moon Express are focused on moon mining, while Planetary Resources is after asteroids. Deep Space Industries is taking an indirect approach by first developing satellite systems for Earth-bound satellites, before utilizing those technologies to go out exploring and potentially prospecting. Liquid water, gold, platinum, and helium-3 are just a few of the resources that could be extracted from either the Moon or near-Earth asteroids. And luckily, U.S. law is on the side of these companies. As of November 2015, it is legally permissible for a U.S. citizen to possess, sell, own, transport, and use a space resource after it has been extracted from a planetary surface. Under the U.S. interpretation, this right does not violate any international space laws and is becoming increasingly accepted among the international community. Space mining also
has enormous economic potential, and Earth-based mining could foreseeably be replaced by space mining in the future. Space mining companies have multiple cards in their favor, but no missions have been launched. The reason for this has recently become clearer: unlike other space endeavors (space tourism, reusable launch vehicles), it is the mining technology itself that is keeping these companies on the ground. Space mining involves the collection of rocks and soil from asteroids or the Moon and the transport of them back to Earth’s orbit. It sounds relatively straightforward, but the number of spacecraft that have successfully done this mission is surprisingly limited. The first triumphant robotic return of soil from another planetary body was done by the Soviet Union’s Luna 16 lunar lander in 1970. This was followed by the similar Luna 20 mission in 1972 and Luna 24 in 1976. NASA’s Stardust mission returned microscopic particles from the tail of a comet to Earth in 2006, and Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft returned the first material from an asteroid in 2010. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and Japan’s Hayabusa2 are both orbiting new asteroids with the goals of returning new and larger samples to Earth. China is also planning to conduct a lunar sample-return in the near future. The point of this list is to highlight that while there have been successful sample-return missions, the amount of material that has been collected and returned to Earth is minuscule compared to the materials intended to be gathered by space mining companies. It is a big leap from collecting a small amount of soil from an asteroid or the Moon to bringing back containers of it to Earth’s orbit for practical use. This is the primary challenge facing space mining companies today, and it will likely only be lessened by space
agencies first leading the way. The poor state of the space mining industry became clear last year when Planetary Resources announced an auction of its laboratory equipment. The sale never happened, but the company did announce on Oct. 31 that it had been acquired by “blockchain venture production studio” ConsenSys, Inc. Based on this, it seems that any space mining missions planned by Planetary Resources are on indefinite hold. Planetary Resources has made the most headway of any space mining company by developing and launching two CubeSats, so their acquisition is a bad sign for the industry. To make it even worse, on Jan. 2, Deep Space Industries announced that European-based Bradford Space, Inc acquired them. These two acquisitions should be enough for industry stakeholders to take a step back and reexamine the short-term feasibility of space mining. Any private space mining mission launching by the end of the 2020s now seems extremely unlikely, despite widespread public and government support.
However, a beacon of hope recently emerged in the U.S. Congress in the form of a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on February 6th by Representative Scott Tipton of Colorado. The bill text has not been published, but the title of the bill is the “Space Resources Institute Act.” If passed, the bill would direct NASA to conduct a study on establishing a research institute devoted to space resource extraction technology. The bill is supported by the Colorado School of Mines, which recently began offering a college degree program in space mining. Despite the lack of details, this looks like a significant step towards furthering space mining technology development without introducing burdensome regulations. The School of Mines and supporters of this bill also appear to have concluded that mining technology is holding space mining companies back, not legal issues or a lack of investors. A space resource research center could very well reinvigorate the space mining industry, which has certainly seen better days.
Jessyca and Jacob are graduate students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students.
The Battle of the Phones: iOS vs. Android
Jessyca Derby and Jacob Benedict Graduate Researchers
It is the ultimate question - which phone is right for me, Android or Apple iOS? We decided to investigate the difference in the user experience of these two systems. They’re called ‘systems’ because owning an Android or iOS is more than the phone. It includes its integration with other technology we use daily such as our laptop computer or tablet. It impacts how we may communicate with others through messaging or video chat. We analyzed two phones that were in the most recent generation of devices - the iPhone XS and the Samsung Galaxy S9. Of course, there are many Android options from a variety of manufacturers, like the Google Pixel 3, LG Q9 One, Motorola Moto G7 Play, and many more. Each of these phones has their features, exclusive 1st party apps, connectivity and options that make them stand out from the others. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the iPhone XS are arguably the most popular devices for Android and iOS and are therefore used in this review. We also gathered personal experiences with the tools from Android and iPhone users to try and determine which is better - Apple or Android? The first noticeable difference between these devices is the price. The Samsung Galaxy S9 costs $719.99 (64 GB and support for expandable memory) while the iPhone XS is $999.00 (64 GB). This price difference does not give you a better screen size (they are both 5.8 inches), screen quality (the Galaxy S9 has 570 pixels per inch (PPI) while the iPhone XS has 458 PPI) or battery size (the Galaxy’s battery is 3,000mAh while the iPhone has the capacity for 2,658mAh). The iPhone XS includes two cameras instead of one, like the Galaxy S9. However, the Galaxy S9 is lighter than the iP-
THE AVION
UX Corner
Technology B3
hone XS (5.75 oz. vs. 6.24 oz.). This is most likely because the iPhone XS is made of stainless steel while the Galaxy S9 is made of aluminum and has a glass backing. Since these phones are similar physically, we decided to take a look at the software features to see what sets these devices apart. The experience users have when interacting with each of these phones for the first time is very different. When using the Galaxy S9, you scan your fingerprint or use an iris scanner to unlock the phone and open the home page. The iPhone XS uses Face ID which is a feature that takes a scan of your whole face and looks for identifying characteristics. (Quick tip: If you go to settings and turn off “requires attention,” it’s easier to unlock with Face ID.) Once you open these phones, you are sent to your main screen. iPhone users can swipe through this screen to see all of their apps. Samsung users can do this as well as navigate through their phone using the apps menu, home button, and two virtual buttons (overview and back buttons).
screen using the Apps Menu. Another area of customization is the use of widgets. Widgets are generally shortcuts to a specific part of an app instead of having to open and navigate through the main app. You can customize your home screen with widgets such as newsfeeds, calendar info, and weather info. The freedom to customize your phone can make the experience more personable and enjoyable. Another feature included in the iPhone is the ability to react through a “like” or “HaHa” messages and include an animation of fireworks or confetti when the recipient opens the text for the first time. Your mom might “Haha” at your text of a funny picture. For iPhone users, this will come up as an animation, but Galaxy users will receive a text saying: “Mom laughed at look at this funny picture!” This may be frustrating for Android users whose friends have iPhones, but it’s little features like this that help iMessage separate itself from others in a saturated messaging platform market.
Image by: Jessyca Derby
Image Courtesy: The Verge
iPhone XS and Android Galaxy S9 Home Screen.
One common reason Galaxy S9 users prefer their phone over the iPhone XS is the ability to customize it. Galaxy S9 users are not required to have all of their apps on their main screen. Instead, you can choose what apps to include on your main
Reacting to text on an iPhone and Android messaging app.
Another leading contributor to the decision of which phone to buy is camera quality and functions. Recently the iPhone has pulled away from the Galaxy with a dual rear camera setup compared to the single-camera found on the Galaxy S9. This gives the iPhone the ability to create camera features such as portrait mode. This mode can isolate the subject of the photo and artificially create lighting effects around them. The Galaxy offers all of the same quality in pictures and video recording, however, it does lack some of the specific camera modes that the iPhone provides. In-
creasing the number of useful camera options can make the phone more fun and helpful when taking photos. Both of these platforms automatically upload pictures to their respective cloud storage locations, Google Photos and iCloud. This helps to reduce the amount of space taken on the phone as well as becoming an easy way to backup all of the important pictures of your dog. One thing that sets Apple apart from Samsung is its inner connectivity with other Apple products. Apple provides the ability to switch devices while using an app such as iMessage. This lets you receive and send text messages through both your iPhone and Mac computer. iPhones also include Airdrop, allowing you to instantly send photos and videos to other iPhone and Mac users in your general area. The Galaxy S9 has a similar feature called Android Beam, but you can only transfer pictures and information by touching another Galaxy phone. iPhone also allows you to take photos on your iPhone and instantly upload them to your Mac, auto unlock your Mac when your Apple Watch is nearby, and even control your Apple TV with your iPhone. The iPhone connects to Apple devices very well, but Galaxy phones can connect to their TVs, laptops, and smart products as well as a wide range of 3rd party devices. These devices include a wide variety of smartwatches, smart TVs and smart home devices. It is important also to note that some other Android phones, such as the Google Pixel, also allow for this seamless connectivity within their Google services (such as google photos, google drive, google assistant, etc.). Choosing the best phone “system” for you can be a tough decision. You may want to ask yourself what features are most important to you or what other technology you use. If you use a Mac computer, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Music, then the iPhone will probably fit best into your daily routine. If you are a PC user and use many of the Google services (email, messaging), then an Android phone may work best. Which is the better user experience?... You decide.
If you would like to suggest a device or technology for us to evaluate for this column, then please use the QR code below and leave your suggestions there. Image by: Jessyca Derby
Comparisons between the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S9.
THE AVION
B4 Technology
Feature: Hack Riddle 2019
Photo Courtesy: Yunxiao Liu
ERFSEDS: Prepared to Launch Connor Adair Correspondent Have you ever wanted to fly rockets? Now is your chance to get started! ERFSEDS (Embry-Riddle Future Space Explorers and Developers Society) has many group projects within that will help you in not only learning more about rockets, but also getting hands on experience in building rockets. Each of these project groups have specific projects that they are working on while gathering data from each flight of the rockets they build and also gathering data on building the rocket. Some of these projects include: Pathfinder (introduction to high powered rocketry, its goal is to compete in the basic category of the Spaceport America Cup), Prometheus (researching and designing experimental solid rocket motors), Gryphus (ducted rockets to collect data on thrust and air augmentation of rockets that use commercial solid rocket motors), and many others. Whether you have worked on many model rockets before or even if you have never even touched a rocket, there is a group project for you in ERFSEDS. ERFESEDS went out to Palm bay to launch rockets, many of these rockets that were launched were for students to receive their Level 1 NAR (National Association of Rocketry) certification. This allows you to buy bigger motors and launch bigger rockets. All seven students that were in ERFSEDS had successful flights and will receive their NAR certifications! ERFSEDS also had one student that launched a larger
rocket to receive his Level 2 certification. His launch was also successful and awesome to watch as he had what is known as a “sparky� motor. These motors will shoot dark smoke and tons of sparks out when launching. It makes for a great show and the sounds they make are incredible. If you would like to join ERFSEDS or even just come to a meeting to see what this club is all about, there are meetings every Wednesday at 6:15p.m. in the COB 118. Also feel free to stop by the ERFSEDS/rocket lab located on the first floor of the Lehman building and ask questions if someone is in the room. This club is a great way to meet many new people and always looks great on those resumes!
Connor Adair/The Avion Newspaper
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
THE AVION
C2 Motorsports
Looking Forward with Ross Chastain Vipul Telang Photo Editor 28-year-old Ross Chastain is fresh off his heels from a stellar 2018 NASCAR Xfinity season that saw him earn his first career victory at Las Vegas. Despite a rocky offseason, Ross is back to prove to sponsors and fellow drivers that he is a force to be reckoned with. We caught up with the Alva, Florida native before his first ever start in the Daytona 500. Ross drove in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 with Niece Motorsports on Friday as well as the Xfinity Series NASCAR Racing Experience 300 with Kaulig Racing on Saturday. The Avion Newspaper: What are your expectations for this upcoming season both in the Cup Series and in the Xfinity Series? Ross Chastain: In the Cup series, we are keeping our expectations similar to last season. We had a sponsor come on yesterday for the Daytona 500, so we hope that things get rolling on the business side of things. That’s where the money comes from. We need to keep the [Number] 15 program stabilized financially. Last year, we had Danica [Patrick] race here, which was a huge sponsorship opportunity. That really helped me the rest of the year, but now that I am in the
car, I need all the help I can get. We really struggled to get a sponsor for the 500, so I want to work on balancing the competition side with the business side of racing. The Xfinity side is just a free-for-all, honestly. The [Number] 4 car is behind on their budget, and I really hate to bring up budgets so much but that is what drives the team, and in turn makes me successful. I’m working with Spire to help promote me to get sponsors, which will push the business side of things. We joke that I am “watermelon heaven!” I’m working with the 10 car [of Kaulig Racing] and the 45 truck [of Niece Motorsports] to make sure that I can perform well in all three series. AN: How did you feel about winning the second stage of the Xfinity race? RC: Yeah! I was able to push my teammate Justin [Haley] to the [first stage] win. It was cool because we have some behind-the-scenes ties with people who are really helping both of us push our careers further. He really made the perfect move on Jeffery [Earnhardt] at the end of the first stage and I was able to follow him, which was a big deal. I slid through my pit box during the stop, but I was able to draft back up to the front, take the lead, and hold it though the end of the stage. The first lap I led was so hectic that
I tensed up, but after I led that second lap, I had goosebumps. Everyone was single file behind me and no one was challenging me for the lead. Even though I was stuck in traffic at the end of the race, I learned so much. I had never really been in the position to be challenging for the lead at a superspeedway, so when I got up to the front, I was like, “Man, I don’t know what I’m doing!” (Laughs) I’m going to be honest, I felt a little overwhelmed but I tried to adapt and I learned as I went. I made a small wheel error at the end, and I lost a lot of momentum which cost me a chance at the win, but I don’t regret it. I was going for the win – I wasn’t going to settle for 5th or 2nd. If I could go back, I would make that small steering correction. AN: Do you think we’ll see single-file for most of the Daytona 500 like what we’ve been seeing during the Xfinity race or during the Duels? RC: The cars seem to be going the fastest in a single file, so we’ll have to see. The way that the cars are handling, the Xfinity cars have never really struggled for handling but the last few years it seems to have gotten worse. You saw that at the beginning of the race, we were all running around the top. But later in the runs towards the end, we would be running around the middle of
the track and sliding up towards the top. The downforce is so low that we’re actually handling badly. I don’t know! I’m not the guy who makes the rules, I’m just the guy who tries to beat the rules! (Laughs) AN: Which race did you have more fun in? The Truck race or the Xfinity race? RC: The Xfinity race for sure! The truck race I was just hanging back. They were stuck double-file and so it was hard to gain any places or make some headway. Leading at Daytona for the first time was….I will remember that moment for the rest of my life. I know I say that about a lot of things, but Caleb has been documenting this weekend. In 50 years, if for some reason I cannot remember that moment, I will be able to watch myself winning that second stage at Daytona. Ross had an amazing weekend at Daytona, finishing 3rd in the NextEra Energy 250, 13th in the NASCAR Racing Experience 300, and 10th in his first career Daytona 500. With that kind of momentum, Ross is poised to finish the season as strong as he started it. The Avion Newspaper wishes the best for Ross and his teams as they begin the 2019 NASCAR season.
XFINITY RACE Ross Chastain leads the field in his No. 10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet Camaro. This is Chastain’s first race in the No. 10 for Kaulig Racing. Chastain will also pilot the car at Chicagoland Speedway as well as Texas Motor Speedway later in the season. Running as high as first and picking up the second stage win, he finished in the top 15, ultimately bringing the car home in 13th place. Ross will also drive the No. 4 Flex Seal Chevrolet for JD Motorsports.
DAYTONA 500 In the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Ross Chastain drives the No. 15 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1 Camaro. Chastain drove the No. 15 last year for 33 of the 36 races. Although he started 36th of 40 cars, Ross avoided all of the big crashes to finish 10th, an impressive result from the lower-budgeted team and for Chastain in his first-ever Daytona 500.
All photos by Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
THE AVION
Motorsports C3
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
THE AVION
C4 Motorsports
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper
Austin Hill survives the crash filled NextEra Energy Resources 250 to win at Daytona. This win marks his first career victory in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. The 2019 NextEra Energy Resources 250 set the record as the longest NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Race at Daytona. As the checkered flag flew, only a handful of trucks crossed the start/finish line. Out of the 32 cars that started the race, 9 cars finished the race. The race, scheduled for 100 laps, ran for 111 laps after a record 11 caution flags flew. 55 of those laps were run under caution, also setting a NASCAR record. Angela Rush, one of the series’ three female drivers, placed eighth, which is her best finish in a national series event.
Rajan Khanna Senior Photographer Toyota has finally brought back the legendary brand to their lineup. Car enthusiasts all around the world have coveted the classic Supra and have been waiting for Toyota to bring it back. The 2019 Supra, however, has been met with heavy controversy. The engine is not a naturally aspirated 2JZ, instead it is a turbocharged straight six putting out 335 horsepower. The car is also only available with an automatic
gearbox, a feature which may off-put some purists. It can accelerate from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. It also weights around 3300 lbs. Toyota has brought the brand new Supra to the NASCAR Xfinity Series to replace the 2015 Toyota Camry. NASCAR stock cars have almost no similarities to the Supra. Stock cars have pushrod
-Hero
V8 engines and four-speed manual transmissions. While it is an interesting choice to replace the Camry, it does fit in with the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang. They all come from the same class of sports/muscle cars and create a more cohesive brand identity for the series. Going into the race, the new body was a huge unknown, but t h e y
showed speed throughout practice and qualifying. Jeffery Earnhardt put his No. 18 Toyota Supra into the second position for the start of the race and led numerous laps. Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Flex Tape Chevrolet Camaro was excited to see a new car in the series: “I think it’s great for manufacturers to invest and grow the sport. Overall the new Supra is a step in the right direction for NASCAR as a whole as it appeals to the changing enviroment that it exists in.
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
Image Courtesy: Apex Legends
THE AVION
D2 Entertainment
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Review Bandai-Namco’s Top-Gun-style thriller is back to wow fans.
Vipul Telang Photo Editor After nearly 12 years since Ace Combat 6 came out in 2007, Project Aces and Bandai Namco finally released Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown on 18 Jan. 2019. The game is playable on Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, and the PC version came out a few weeks later on 1 February. The PlayStation 4 has three missions that are VR exclusive, and although I reviewed this game on the Xbox One, the VR is said to be absolutely breathtaking. Players on the Xbox One and PC are not missing out, as the missions do not affect the storyline and are simply to show off dogfighting in VR. Ace Combat 7 delves into a new war between the fictitious countries of Osea and Erusea. Ace Combat 7 introduces drones as the new enemy, which are harder to shoot down due to their ability to pull high-g turns to break a lock-on from players’ missiles. Tanks, Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launchers, and other enemy combatants largely remain the same from Ace Combat 6 and other previous games. Players fly as Trigger, an Osean ace fighter pilot who is considered one of the best by friends and foes alike. As the main protagonist, players’ actions influence some of the in-game commentary, but the storyline is largely scripted. Ace Combat is based in the fictional world of Strangereal, where fictional countries exist in a parallel universe but with nearly the same aircraft as our world. Designer Kazutoki Kono described the world as “a very accommodating world.” “It allows us to do it [with] a sort of sense of reality; it’s not completely out there to the point Top Image Courtesy: Eurogamer
that it doesn’t seem at all realistic. It’s a balance with fiction with experimental weapons and massive airship carriers.” I think that Kono designed the game excellently. The fictional Arsenal Bird, which is the massive propeller-driven airship used by the enemies, is so much fun to fly around and try to destroy. The cities that you fly around look realistic not only during the day but also at night – the lighting is just superb. Rain and thunderstorms shake and rattle the cockpit and really highlight the new weather elements that were introduced. Explosions look a little better, and aircraft textures are stunning. Players can use clouds to their advantage by hiding in them to break a missile lock-on, but enemies can dart into the clouds to hide and to mount a counterattack.
to keep the action quick and players on their toes. All the planes and weapons unlocked in story mode carries over to the online lobbies, which helps when players are used to a certain aircraft or weapon type. Ace Combat 7 is not perfect, however. The storyline, while enthralling, is also a little confusing, with Osean and Erusean sounding somewhat similar during cutscenes. The introduction of many characters can make it difficult to figure out where the event or cutscene is taking place. The difficulty curve is much steeper than previous games, and as a result, normal difficulty feels harder than it should. I had to replay certain missions several times due to either exceeding time limits or failing to meet the mission objectives. Checkpoints are rare, and
same time. Players are expected to finish the missions nearly unassisted. In previous games, players could call in for an allied support or attack to help alleviate some of the pressures, but in Ace Combat 7 players have little to no help from wingmen despite them constantly bombarding the radio with words of encouragement and small talk. As a fan who has been waiting for this game to come out for over 2 years, I can confidently say that I am glad that Project Aces and Bandai Namco waited as long as they did to release the game in order to fine tune and really improve on the game and story. Ace Combat 7 is not just a fighting simulator. The game delicately weaves the grim reality of war around the thrill of dogfighting by using a captivating storyline with incredible graphics. This is one of, if not the best air combat game to come out on the next-generation console.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Developer: Project Aces and Bandai Namco Entertainment Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Released: January 18, 2019 (XB1/PS4) February 1, 2019 (PC) Photo Courtesy: VG247
The online mode in my opinion is not nearly as good as the career mode, but it still is quite exciting. Dogfights can be Battle Royale style (free-for-all deathmatch) or team deathmatch, and the time limit of only five minutes does a lot
often times failing a mission 15 to 20 minutes in means restarting the entire level. The AI is improved, and new players might find that they will be shot down multiple times before getting the hang of shooting, evading, and flying all at the
Platforms: Xbox One (version reviewed), Sony PS4, PC Pros: Weather, Storyline, VR (PS4) Cons: Checkpoints, Stale Missions Price: $59.99
THE AVION
Entertainment D3 Listen, Learn and Laugh with More Great Podcasts
Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
Ars Paridoxica "Ars Paridoxica" is an audio drama podcast that follows the adventures of theoretical physicist after a lab accident sends her back in time to the 1940s. The protagonist, Dr. Sally Grissom, is sent back to the middle of World War II and must grapple with the culture shock of being sent back 70 years in time and interacting with a past that she recognizes less and less. “Ars Paridoxica spans three seasons and even more decades as it explores the troubles of time travel. Featuring a stellar production value, great humor and a compelling story, "Ars Paridoxica" is a mainstay in the science fiction genre of audio dramas and is a must-listen.
Hollow Public Radio "Hollow Public Radio" is an anthology audio drama series that ranges across the multiverses… and their publicly funded radio programs. Content varies from episode to episode and features all sorts of characters, including Richard Nixon, two men stitched together to share their vitality, an undead film director, and the Beer King (all hail). Humorous, dramatic and poignant, "Hollow Public Radio" is a very well-produced and -voice acted podcast that spans the world, universe, and all the permutations thereupon. Since the episodes are not sequential, the episode called "Nickel Beer Night" would be a great place to start for a new fan.
Limetown "Limetown" is a journalistic mystery podcast that combines science fiction, horror and suspense for a can't-miss thriller. "Limetown" follows investigative journalist Lea Haddock on her journey to discover more about the unexplained disappearance of 300 people a decade before the start of the podcast. It recently finished its second season, which came after a two-year hiatus. Beyond the podcast, there is also a connected novel and a new Facebook video series starring "The Sinner" star Jessica Biel. "Limetown" is an excellent podcast, and new listeners get the benefit of not having to wait two years for a new season as older fans did.
Our Fake History History and mythology fans will like "Our Fake History," created by Sebastian Major. Episodes of "Our Fake History" tackle topics like the Siege of Vienna, the myth of Atlantis and the Lemurian people, the true life of Pocahontas, and occult guru Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the mother of Nazi ideology. Major, a history teacher, is an engaging and genuine host that is very passionate about the topics he covers and very well researched. While not as well known as Dan Carlin's "Hardcore History" or "Stuff You Missed in History Class," "Our Fake History is an entertaining and educational listen that deserves all the awards it has won.
APEX Legends: Leagues Above the Competition Nick Hernandez News Editor Recently, Respawn Entertainment released a free to play Battle Royale styled game, Apex Legends. Many game companies have been following suit into the Battle Royale area. The games that jumpstarted this fad is Blizzard with Fortnite, and PUBG’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds back in 2017. Other game companies that hopped on the bandwagon a bit late are Treyarch with Black Ops 4, Sledgehammer Games with Call of Duty WWII, and Electronic Arts (EA) Dice with Battlefield V. The main difference between all these games is that PUBG and Fortnite are solely Battle Royale games; whereas Black Ops 4, COD WWII, and Battlefield V are single-player campaign games with an online multiplayer base that added a battle royale mode after the initial release. This is where Apex Legends really shines. The developer of Apex Legends, Respawn Entertainment, developed Titanfall, which was solely an online multiplayer game with the option of a campaign follow-through. Respawn proved themselves with Titanfall and Titanfall 2 that they know
how to make a good multiplayer game. Apex Legends is Respawns shot at making a solely focused battle royale game. The exciting part about Apex Legends is its class system. You can choose from an assortment of characters that range from medic, sniper to tank and rouge. Each character has a unique set of tactical, idle, and ultimate abilities that you can base your gameplay around. Some of the best Ultimate’s you can experience are Caustic’s Nox Gas Grenade that can deplete the health of an enemy faster than that of any weapon, Mirage’s Vanishing Act, allowing him to hide from and conflict, and Pathfinder’s Zipline Gun, allowing you to traverse large areas around the map in a single ride. At the start of each match, you are assigned into teams of three. Once assigned you and your teammates choose your classes' one at a time in a random order. The last player to select their character is designated as the drop master. This player now gets to choose where the team lands on the map from the drop ship. The other players can suggest areas to land but cannot jump on their own. The player can choose to break from
Image Courtesy: Apex Legends
the group once they leave the ship if they so want. Each area of the map has different levels of loot, but it also means it is more likely to populate with players. There are 20 groups of 3 that you must face off against once you land. From there it is like your standard battle royale game, kill all other teams until yours is the last one standing, with a very encouraging circle that forces teams closer together in the map. One great thing about Apex Legends is the integrated ping system. Most online players do not use a microphone and headset, which is
a disadvantage to the team. Apex Legends has found a way to mitigate verbal communication by adding the ping system. If a player wants to point something out to the team, they can ping it, making it visible to the rest of the team. It is one of the most innovative parts of Apex Legends that brings the whole experience together. Overall, the game is one of the better battle royale games on the market. Respawn utilized the best parts of their previous games and made sure to put them together into Apex, making it a fantastic game altogether.
Comics and Games
Error Bars We Want Your Feedback!
How to Play:
Fill in each row and column with the word that matches the clue. The letters in each word solution must fit both vertically and horizontally.
Each row and column of the puzzle must contain the numbers 1-5, with no repetitions. Additionally, the numbers within each outlined section must equal the target number displayed, using the mathmatical operation shown.
2/17/2019
KenKen Puzzle Official Site - Free Math Puzzles That Make You Smarter!
Puzzle No. 8481, 5X5, hard
6+
4―
9+
9+
9+
13+
12+
6+
1―
Finished the crossword or all of the Sudoku Puzzles? The first person to bring the completed puzzles to SU219 wins a prize!
www.kenkenpuzzle.com KenKen® is a registered trademark of KenKen Puzzle, LLC. Puzzle content ©2019 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved.
https://www.kenkenpuzzle.com/game
Easy 1/5
1/1
Medium 3/5
Hard
5/5