2014 Winter Olympics

My favorite part of the 2014 Winter Olympics was the hockey. Even though my beloved Americans did not even medal, it was still a blast to watch. I was also a big fan of skeleton and bobsled. However, I was not impressed by the Russian Federation. They had seven years to prepare, and they still were not ready. The opening ceremony had a very significant glitch in the Olympic Ring display, and I heard that the quarters that they had the reporters stay in were in terrible condition. I must admit though that the closing ceremony was very well done. I also was not "wowed" by the location. Sochi is not even in that cold of a climate, so I don't know that the IOC was thinking when they elected to hold the games there. Overall, however, I think that the games were very good, but could have been done a lot better.

Flappy Bird Off of the App Store?

Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen decided to yank Flappy Bird off of the App Store. Though I am not sure as to why he would do something like that, I do have some thoughts. I think he just got fed up with it. Too many people came after him telling him how bad of a game it was, and he just couldn't take the heat. When you can't take the heat, you have to get out of the kitchen. So he did just that. However, I do not know Nguyen, so I cannot know for sure as to why he would just throw away the thing that made him successful. Maybe it got to his head, maybe he got scared of playing with the big dogs, there is no way of knowing for certain. But to think he just gave up raking in $50,000 a day is insane. I would never do something so nonsensical. This makes me think that he also could have done it out of satisfaction. Perhaps he just got to the point where he made enough money, and decided to withdraw.

 

The Corvette Z06

Chevrolet is coming out with a new model of their Corvette. It is the Z06. It is Chevy's first supercar, and it highly anticipated to be one of the best cars they have ever made. Under the hood is a ridiculously powerful supercharged 6.2 L V8 engine, more than 625 horsepower, and 635 pounds per feet of torque. It is available in both a 7-speed manual transmission and an 8-speed automatic. Needless to say, this thing is fast. I would definitely love to drive one. However, I could never afford it. The starting price is said to be well over $70,000, which is way too steep for my pockets. But I digress. I love the look of it, as well. It looks like a purebred race car that is built for nothing other than speed. I am also glad to see that an American company is finally willing to step up onto the international stage and make a supercar of their own for the first time in years. 

Google SketchUp

Google SketchUp is a 3D modeling program which can be put to use in applications such as architecture, video games, and interior design. Also, the program is said to be relatively easy to use. Google has released most of the program installments and updates, but another company, Trimble, came out with SketchUp Pro 2013. Personally, I think this program looks really cool. From what I have seen on the website, one can make some pretty interesting things on this program. I've see people designing things such as cars, scenes, and even houses and buildings with SketchUp. Also, I believe that this program shows great promise in today's world, since it is very versatile and adaptive to this tech-savvy age.

MakerBot

MakerBot is a 3D printing system which is capable of creating tangible, 3-dimensional objects. Catholic Memorial is planning on getting one in the next year. This device looks pretty cool to me. It can be used in engineering and physics classes during lab studies. It might also be used by something like a robotics club. However, although the MakerBot does look very cool, I do not think it is entirely needed at Catholic Memorial. We have bigger issues to put money toward. For instance, we should work on getting the Wifi fixed before anything else. Also, our computers are not up to par with other schools, so these need work as well. In conclusion, although MakerBot does have its fair share of benefits and educational value, Catholic Memorial simply does not have the time or money to invest in such a device.

Project Fiona

Project Fiona is a gaming tablet that is designed to play PC games. One of the most recent versions comes equipped with an Intel i5 chip, 4 GB of RAM, Windows 8, and a 64 GB SSD. It is capable of connecting to other devices such as a keyboard, an HDMI cable, and anything that connects via USB port. This device is capable of running even high-end games such as Dishonored at a staggering 59 frames per second. This device seems pretty awesome to me. Although I have never really gotten into PC gaming, I'm sure this device makes gameplay very enjoyable. The best part is its portability. This allows a gamer to take the joys of PC gaming on the go. The one downfall Project Fiona has is that it is very expensive. The most basic model costs close to one thousand dollars, and higher-end models can cost up to twelve hundred. This can be a major turnoff for most buyers. But, if I had that kind of money to spend on a gaming device, I would seriously consider making this purchase.

 

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ROTC

I actually plan on doing ROTC for the Navy, or NROTC. I am applying for the NROTC Scholarship to five different units, or schools. These schools include the University of Maine, Florida State University, Boston College, Villanova University, and the University of Virginia. My number one choice is Villanova University. I really hope to get the scholarship, since it is a full ride. ROTC for any branch of the military is an excellent program to be a part of. It can do many things for a person. It can teach them leadership, hard work, and discipline, qualities that are important to have in the real world. It also is a near guarantee that if you do ROTC, you will have a job coming out of college. And this job does not necessarily have to be combat-based. Your job could be something like a nurse, a doctor, a mechanic, and electrician, a firefighter, a computer programmer, the possibilities are endless. I plan on being a nurse after I graduate college. Although it may be a very big commitment, you get officer's pay while you are in whatever branch you choose to be in. In conclusion, ROTC is an excellent choice, since it can give you skills and benefits that will last a lifetime.