Schedule Time for Fitness
Denise Selph
10/19/2011
As students begin fall classes scheduling physical activity may prove to be quite a challenge. The Colin P. Kelly Fitness Center is located in close proximity to student classrooms (Building 12) and offers extended hours of operation Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Fridays from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Kelly Center’s student friendly atmosphere offers adequate space for study, with dedicated areas in the lobby. The balcony overlooking the lake and nature trail is another feature of the fitness center. The quiet and relaxing atmosphere beckons students and faculty to unwind after a workout or study break. Many students have had success managing study and exercise time by incorporating a visit to the Kelly Center during the week.
As a student your first step is to create a plan to step up to the workout challenge, as well as boost your academic performance. NFCC student Miranda Mulkey has observed physical and academic improvements from two hours of physical activity weekly.
“I focus better in class and out," said Mulkey. "My study time is more efficient.”
“When I eat right, work out with a good amount of intensity, and get good sleep, I notice better performance academically as well as physically,” said NFCC student Tyler Allen.
Friends of NFCC's Facebook page recently participated in a fitness poll. Twenty-one friends participated. Of those polled four stated they never used the Kelly Center due to scheduling conflicts. In addition Students offered suggestions to help schedule time for exercise. Tyler Coody’s nutrition and weight lifting class has been helpful to several who participated in the poll. Another poll participant arrives on campus early and stays later to finish homework, while another opts to use the Kelly Center after class prior to going home to study.
Exercise increases circulation of blood throughout the body to help the cardiovascular system work more efficiently. The result is more energy and decreased stress levels aiding in relaxation and an overall sense of well- being.
With the Kelly Center on campus now students may work out, grab a snack and enjoy a study break all at the same location, while experiencing the benefits of just thirty minutes of increased physical activity.
Aspiring Performing Artist Club Springs To Action
Renee Livio
10/19/2011
Let’s admit it, everyone would like for their dreams to come true. A new artistic group has gone one step farther at NFCC. The A Dream Coming Alive Club, or ACDL, is a newly formed organization on campus.
“I am very excited to have new organizations forming on campus," said NFCC Campus Life Director Kim Halfhill.
ACDL‘s primary goal is to motivate individuals in the area of the performing arts including dance, playing musical instruments, singing, slam poetry and other modes of artistic expression.
Brianna Johnson, coordinator of this new group invites NFCC students on a journey to express, perform and entertain.
“ACDL will bring together intellectuals who share combinations of talent and passion for music and performing arts,” said Johnson.
“This is a big opportunity for me to demonstrate my artistic passion,” said NFCC student and club member Chris Wyche.
The ACDL will meet every Monday and Wednesday for practice. For more information contact Brianna Johnson at bjohn13@go.nfcc.edu.
Art Exhibit with artist John Ros and Betty Vera
Renee Livio
10/19/2011
The Hardee Center for the Arts will be displaying two artists the month of October. Both John Ros and Betty Vera specialize in contextual art forms.
John Ros, an artist from Brooklyn New York, emphasizes tranquility verses the loud hostile environment in his pieces of work.
Vera and Ros's art displays warm vibrant colors with weaving patterns. Her theme references nature, balance and harmony. Together these artist have collaborated a theme called, “Silent Spaces.”
The gallery will show the art collection the entire month of October. The Hardee Center for the Arts is opened to the public Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact NFCC Lisa Barden at BardenL@nfcc.edu.
More Than a Film: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Wade Holton
10/19/2011
Though many consider it one of the best films of all time or the greatest western ever produced, the speaker has no grasp on how little their words, spoken without passion, speak volumes for what is more than a movie. Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966) the prequel to A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and For A Few Dollars More (1965) is by far the most ambitious and influential western of all time. For example, Angel Eyes shot first from beneath the table in one key scene, and Han Solo did the same thing in the space opera Star Wars Episode IV (1977). Quentin Tarantino also called it, “The best directed film of all time.”
At its core the film is about three men traversing a land amid civil war, each with but partial pieces of information which leads to a buried cash box loaded with $200,000 dollars’ worth of gold; which translates into roughly 14.4 million in present day value, quite the fistful. The men however aren’t allies or friends in the slightest, for each has their own agenda and moral values thus the film’s name.
But what makes the film grand and every bit an epic as Dune, Lonesome Dove or The Lord of The Rings is the sense of scale. The breath taking landscape paints a beautiful picture for how far the trio has traveled. As the film begins in a rural part of the desert close to the border, it continues to a magnificent conclusion deep in the pine covered mountains.
This paired with Ennino Morricone’s haunting and memorable score helps propel the story along giving the central message as they search for the gold. In a sense the movie shows how man’s own greed can completely overshadow a nation at war and portray the west as an unforgiving uncaring place. True good does not always prove fruitful and wickedness and crime do pay in the short run. This sort of film-making cemented the end of the white hat, black hat westerns that proceeded.
The central characters do in fact have a certain level of wickedness, but to varying degrees. The Good a.k.a. Blondie, as played by Clint Eastwood, is just as violent as most any other character in the Sergio Leone’s westerns. Throughout the film Blondie’s actions constantly raise the question, why is he The Good? The audience is given an answer in the final act of the movie within the last thirty minutes.
In a truly moving scene, which sadly would’ve been cut today for time’s sake, Blondie and Tuco, the Ugly, have navigated through a Union and Confederate battle. They have a hand in ending the fight, all the while nearing their destination of the Sad Hill Cemetery where they happen upon a dying solider.
Tuco expresses his disgust and moves on, but Blondie moves in to investigate. Upon doing so he discovers the solider to be little more than a boy not even a full beard on his chin, cue amazingly beautiful score. Blondie removes his duster and covers the dying lad with it shielding him from the morning chill and shares his cigar with the boy. Here we see a man give another a dying wish, the sweet smell of tobacco, a reminder of the home he left. The boy passes peacefully, but Blondie doesn’t take his coat back he leaves it and takes the nearby green and white poncho.
This single act of random kindness is what sets Blondie apart from the other characters and explains what the Man With No Name is all about. He is able to do the right thing and has a moral code despite being a man quick on the draw. Only Eastwood could give such a performance fitting the persona like a poncho.
On the flip side of things, The Bad a.k.a. Angel Eyes as played by Lee Van Cleef, is an embodiment of evil, the iconic figure for western villains. He claims to always follow a job through even if it means shooting his former employer in the face in his own bed. He impersonates a Union Sargent during one portion of the film, in which he scams and has his followers mercilessly beat Confederate prisoners within an inch of their lives.
He even does this to Tuco, his alleged friend, inside the camp in order to obtain the piece of information that he had. It is implied later after he takes Blondie from the camp, that Angel Eyes intends to take it all once Blondie kills one of The Bad’s goons. It turns out to be six additional people. “Six, the Perfect Number,” says The Good as he reloads his revolver.
Like Blondie, Cleef’s character is surrounded with mystery. Not a lot is told of his origin. But this can be excused due to him having very little screen time, even if what we see of him is very powerful material. However, it is only the character Tuco, a.k.a. The Rat and The Ugly, as played by Eli Wallach, that has any back story what so ever. This only adds to the complex nature of easily the most complex character.
Being all impulse and rage, Tuco essentially makes things up as he goes along staying true to his word only long enough to suit his own needs. Late in the first act we learn that Tuco, who discovers his parents have died, says he chosen the life of a bandit because he had to. He came from a poor family and his elder brother left to become a priest. Tuco claims he tried to stay and do right, but could not.
Later in the film he and Blondie agree to share their portion of the information, but Tuco finds himself nearly unable to speak his part because the deceiver inside him coming out. In the end he comes clean. However, once the battle is over and he and The Good stumble upon the dying solider he takes advantage of Blondie’s kindness and saddles a nearby horse bolting away like lightning to Sad Hill. Blondie, ever the cunning individual, manages to stop the horse with a cannon.
The characters all weave in and out of one another, though Blondie and Tuco share the most time together. And that interaction between their characters is rewarding to witness. Blondie, the anti-hero of sorts, never agrees to join Angel Eyes gang; he merely goes along with him far enough to make a proper escape. Same thing with Tuco. Blondie never truly declares friendship with the man, but does find him the best of a bad situation.
I believe that Leone, in addition to crafting a wonderful tale, meant to display how such men as the trio interact with one another using the other person to better themselves and showing how violent and cruel the west was. Their search for wealth blanketed the Civil War. The attention to detail and crafting made The Good, The Bad and The Ugly not just a film, but something a little more epic in scope.
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Calling all actors, actresses, and stage hands |
Take a chance to show off your talent in the with NFCC Community Theater
Taylor Pridgeon
9/26/2011
For those of you who have a calling to the stage or simply a desire to assist in the production of a play, NFCC Community Theater wants you to join them in its next production, A Slice of Blarney. The NFCC Sentinel Upstage Players will be holding auditions for A Slice of the Blarney, September 28 at 7 pm in the Fine Arts Auditorium, building 10. For those wishing to audition there is no need to prepare a monologue.
The play, written by Kitty Burns, is about a dying multi-millionaire Shannon O’ Leary and his family. One by one his “faithful” and “loving” family comes to him on his death bed, all of them waiting for him to die so they can see who gets his millions. Shannon knows this, yet remains hopeful that at least one of them sees him as more valuable than his money.
“It’s not just for people that want to act,” said NFCC Coordinator of Student Activities, Community Education, and Director of Community Theater Denise Bell.
The NFCC community has shown great involvement in past Community Theater productions, and there is a need for stage crew and people to assist with wardrobe and makeup. For those who don’t make the cut in auditions, there are still ways to become involved and contribute something to the play.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to come to audition and to get involved. So come on out and show your support for the NFCC Community Theater by being part of what is sure to be a wonderful production.
For more information contact Denise Bell at (850) 973-9481 or email BellD@nfcc.edu. Visit Community Theateronline.
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NFCC student Michael Starling shows off his planking abilities. |
Planking: Anything for a laugh
Taylor Pridgeon
9/26/2011
The now wide spread use of the Internet and social media has given rise to many trends that may not have caught on in other eras. Thanks to the wonders of the world wide web videos, pictures and information on any subject are all readily available to everyone at the click of a button. One trend that is taking social networks and the rest of the Internet by storm is planking.
Planking simply consists of lying face down with the participant’s arms straight by their side in any sort of location, unusual or otherwise, then having a picture taken of it. The picture is then uploaded to Facebook or elsewhere online.
Planking as we know it was popularized in Australia at the beginning of the 21st century. Since it has spread worldwide. The first recorded incident of planking was a spot on MTV in 1994 called the laying down game. MTV video DJ Tom Greene would lie down in the middle of the side walk with the aim of seeing how many people would stop to say something or offer help if necessary. While the logic behind this is different from that of planking, they both are done for the simple purpose of being silly.
The farthest reaching aim of planking is to outdo everyone else in ridiculousness and sometimes even dangerous location. This trend continues to remain strong with entire websites devoted to nothing but pictures of people planking in locations such as stairwells and gas stations.
While the act of planking is not dangerous in itself there have been injuries and even deaths resulting from it. These accidents were the result of people attempting to plank in dangerous locations. One such accident happened when 20-year-old Aussie Acton Beale plummeted to his death when planking on a seven-story-tall balcony. Despite the accidents and the questionable common sense of those involved in planking, this fad remains strong.
“I plank because a lot of people do not have the confidence to let themselves look like an idiot,” said NFCC student Tiffany Funderburke. “When I plank it's definitely a confidence booster and it's a lot of fun having the attention. My friends and I do it in very public places such as tables, booths, cars, the floor and even on each other. I will continue to plank even after it goes out of style. It's just like people saying the same lame jokes even when everybody has heard them before.”
While some see planking as a show of confidence and sense of humor, others appear to disagree.
“I don’t know why anyone would plank,” said NFCC student Michael Starling.
“Maybe as a joke it’s pretty funny, but planking as a sport is stupid. We’re making a competition out of who can lay down the coolest.”
Planking too shall fad into obscurity, and the only reminder of this bizarre trend will be the hundreds of pictures and videos left behind and archived online. As everyone knows once it’s online there’s no getting rid of it.
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NFCC's QEP wants all students and employees to get involved with the Campus-Wide Read Project |
Check out NFCC's QEP must read book Fast Food Nation
Wade Holton
9/26/2011
If you’ve listened to the buzz around campus you may be asking what exactly is the QEP program? The Quality Enhancement Plan, which is headed by Librarian Lynn Wyche, is a required function of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, also known as SACS.
“Efforts toward the QEP help enhance the mission of North Florida Community College which is to provide a quality teaching and learning opportunities for individual and community development in an ever changing society,” said Wyche. “The long term goal of the QEP is to create learning communities at NFCC that will focus on further development of reading skills as well as encourage students to enroll in these unique classroom experiences.”
The library has several events planned throughout the year in conjunction with the QEP which are focused around the Campus-Wide Read Project. Many on campus are wandering about the campus-wide read project. NFCC students and staff voted last year and selected this years read book Fast Food Nation. And in simple terms, Fast Food Nation is E. Schlosser’s outlook on the fast food industry, and all the aspects wherein. This includes current status and practices, and how they were carried out many years prior. With a daily look on today’s people and the food that makes up the majority of our diet, this book truly begs a reading; even a skim would be beneficial to the reader.
Members of the QEP staff have planned a year packed full of Fast Food Nationevents. Kicking off the events are cooking demos held the last Monday of every month by Green Industries Green Gourmet Claire Mitchell. Mitchell will introduce students to healthy eating straight from their own back yard gardens. Phi Theta Kappa is also set to host guest speaker Dr. Maria Spicer, a registered dietitian, to speak with student's about factors that cause obesity. Events are planned year round. Stay tuned and get involved in the NFCC Campus-Wide Read Project.
For your copy of Fast Food Nation drop by the NFCC library to check it out.
Student couponing can add up to savvy savings
Jennifer Linton
9/26/2011
In these times of national recession, everyone is being affected financially. Whether a parent or college student, the goal is to save money. One way some people are filling in the financial gap is with the use of coupons.
According to FrugallyMinded.com couponing began in France in the1820's in as a proof of purchase for bonds. They arrived in the United States during the depression between the years of 1929-1939. These coupons were issued by Coca Cola and Post, and look similar to what we use today.
During the recent economic downfall economy coupons are regaining popularity and are becoming a great way to save money. Companies are taking advantage of the resurgence in interest and are making more savings available.
There are many tips and tricks used by couponers that can be applied by even the busiest students. One of the most important tips is organization. There are many way to organize your coupons. If you don't know what coupons you have you may miss out on a great deal. Much like homework, an avid couponer will need to set aside some time for clipping, planning and organizing.
“I’ve been couponing for several months and saved money, but I could not do it effectively if I did not have my coupons organized,“ said NFCC student and mom Patricia Wilson. " It may seem like one more thing to in the scheme of couponing to do but in this case, time is money."
Many stores have loyalty cards that are also very helpful in saving money. Carry it with you and present it at checkout and you will see savings on every purchase. NFCC recently participated in Winn Dixie’s Fuel Perks kickoff. Fuel Perks are savings that are applied to your gas purchase at select gas stations and based on what you spend on groceries at Winn Dixie.
Most regional Sunday newspapers contain an insert section of coupons. Start small and buy one regional paper for the first month until you understand the couponing concept. Also, look on the web. There is always help out there from tutorials, to printable coupons, planning services, match-ups, organizing tips and store ads. The Internet can be your best friend and it does much of the work for you. Remember that if you won't use it, don't buy it.
From school supplies to snacks and toiletries there are coupons available. Is it worth your time and effort? Well if so there are savings to be had and the satisfaction to be felt, and when you realize your savings it is priceless.
To give you a head start listed below are some of the most popular sites used to find deals and match ups.
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