It's a little past midnight, and a staff member is popping blue and orange balloons adorning the corners of Tim Walberg's victory party at Daryl's restaurant in downtown Jackson. Waiters and bartenders, in their black uniforms, scurry back and forth picking up empty cups, glasses, bottles and plates spread out in the dimly lit room. Walberg is on the phone talking to media representatives while two college journalists nervously wait their turn nearby.
A black suited waitress passes by, picking up glasses on a table.
Earlier in the night, with her maroon colored hair and black uniform, she helped to set up the hors d'oeuvres and delivered a large chicken Caesar salad to a hungry public-radio reporter sitting at a small crowded table.
I sit across from the reporter, in the quarantined press section of Walberg's victory party with my media badge (TIMWalberg emblazoned on it in large print). Victory for Walberg isn't certain at the moment, but it seems inevitable.
The large L shaped room where the party is hosted is fairly sparse in decorations and beyond a few balloons, signs and tables the room seems bare. Then the supporters, guests, reporters, staffers pour in. A projector is set up on the other side of the room (the lower part of the 'L' is where the media is corralled) and plays Fox News. A smaller TV is playing "Glee." Young teenagers and supporters crowd around the projector watching the results pop up on the large screen.
Reporters and photographers, largely ignored, mope about the room and wait for either an appearance from Walberg, or for a staffer to update the whiteboard with the latest poll results from the War Room. They're monitored by staff members, and if a member of the media becomes too invasive, the staffer will intervene and ask the reporter to return to the corner.
Suddenly, cheers and applause erupt from the projector's corner. Some reporters jump to see what has happened. Walberg has popped up on the bottom of the screen with a slight lead. The crowd is energized. Reporters snap photos and return to their corner. They wait for any hint of Walberg's emergence. No media is allowed in the War Room.
Walberg makes a brief appearance and is immediately flooded with cameras, reporters, microphones and recorders. A crescent forms around Walberg and all recording devices are on him. He talks briefly to everyone, then he talks briefly to individual TV stations, then he disappears back into the War Room. The rest of the night is spent waiting — waiting for poll updates, for results to roll in and for Walberg to emerge again.
At 9:22 p.m. with 12 percent of the precincts reporting, Walberg is up 52 percent to Schauer's 47 percent.
By 10:30, Walberg is at 53.6 percent; Schauer is at 46.4 percent with 58 percent reporting.
At 10:44 Rick Snyder declares victory. The atmosphere is high, and the reporters are getting jumpy.
A staffer gets up from a nearby greeting table and repeats to himself, "We're up by six. Okay, we're up by six."
At 11:15 I notice staffers collecting signs from the window sills.
"I think something's about to happen," I say.
The reporter with 20 years of election experience doesn't look up from her computer, but asks, "What makes you say that?"
"Staffers are collecting signs from the windows," I say.
"Yep, you're right, something's up," she says. She grabs her recorder for only the second time that night.
Young Walberg supporters are given signs and are organized underneath a large blue banner with "TIM WALBERG for Congress" printed on it. They take a picture while media crowds in front. They don't take any photos. Soon, staffers begin asking the media to step back. Ten to fifteen minutes later, Walberg emerges from the War Room.
He's greeted with applause, camera flashes, an array of microphones, recorders and immediate silence.
"Well I'm glad to see you waited around," he says to the crowd. "Because I think it's been worth waiting, it has been a tough fought battle, as you may have noticed, its been well watched, it's been well spent and financed around; but we won!"
Elation, jubilation and wild applause.
He delivers his victory speech, and the media are released. Staff refrain from being quoted, but volunteers, supporters and visiting candidates and officials are sought out.
Micki Blunt, a volunteer for Walberg, a former attorney and a "stay-at-home-homeschooling-mommy" recalled her days on the campaign trail with her children. They helped with mailings and in one day did over six hours of campaign calling. She gave a slight shiver when campaign phone-calling came up, but she didn't stop smiling.
"Some people can be very rude," she said.
Mike Shinkey, a local candidate who ran for Michigan State House Representative and won his race said he believes people need to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable.
"There's too much emphasis on labels today," He said. "I believe we can find common ground across the board."
The crowd thins out until only relatives, a few staff members, reporters and candidates are left. I met up with another reporter from another college. She has an interview with Walberg, and asks if I'd like to ask a question.
Walberg paces back and forth on a cell phone talking with the media. A staffer is nearby, leading him to pre-selected members of the media who'd like to talk to him.
We shift our feet uncomfortably while a staffer begins to pop balloons in the background.
Eventually, Walberg is led over by a staff member. The college reporter asks her questions, then nervously introduces me. I'm not supposed to be asking a question and the staffer knows it. He shifts uncomfortably. Walberg looks at me, and I sputter out a question about Tea Party rage and the future of Republicans. He answers politely, saying the Tea Party must hold to their principals and keep the feet of the elected to the flame. I thank him, and he turns back to his cell phone.
The maroon-haired waitress gathers her cups, glasses and bottles. It's one in the morning and the last of the attendees filter out. I say goodbye, place a coffee cup on the table and head toward the elevator.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Health center hopes for MRI
The Hillsdale Community Health Center is seeking to purchase a new million-dollar MRI machine for the hospital.
In order to replace the current machine, the health center must meet certain standards. Health center officials said they are confident they will meet all the standards except one, said Jeremiah Hodshire, the Director of Organizational Development at the hospital and a '99 alumni of Hillsdale College.
The center must average 6,000 MRI tests per year, according to the Certificate of Need Commission standards.
"There's no way right now to meet the needed 6,000 tests," Hodshire said.
Hoshire said for the past few years, the hospital has averaged 5,000 tests, and in 2009 the hospital had 5,400 MRI tests.
The commission, an 11-member organization appointed by the governor, approves the purchase of major medical equipment at hospitals throughout the state. CON Commission meets four times a year to assess the needs requested by hospitals, said Sallie Slanders, review specialist a the Michigan Department of Community Health.
The current MRI machine has been in place since 2005. Before then, the hospital would call in a mobile MRI machine. The hospital would only be able to perform MRIs three or four days a week.
In 2004, health center officials requested a fixed MRI machine be installed at the health center. He said the hospital wanted to be realistic and asked the requirement be lowered from 6,000 to 4,000 tests a year.
"Where we were concerned was the number of tests with the MRI," Hodshire said.
The CON Commission granted the exception and the current machine was installed the following year.
The current MRI is now outdated, breaking down and not meeting the demands of the hospital, Hodshire said.
He said the machine is often being repaired, prompting local physicians to look elsewhere for an MRI scan. The health center will need to replace it in order to stay competitive, Hodshire said.
The new machine has more than twice as much magnetic strength than the current one.
To replace the current MRI, the health center used the language from the 2005 exception and went before the CON Commission with a new request.
Hosdshire said he doesn't expect any problems to arise, and they should be granted the exception.
"We need to retain the exceptions to the rule to allow small hospitals to keep competitive," Hodshire said.
The Department Official said the proposed language has moved forward for the upcoming December meeting.
Amy Aemisgger, a Hillsdale College Assistant Athletic Trainer, said the College uses the hospital's MRI to diagnose soft-tissue injury.
In order to replace the current machine, the health center must meet certain standards. Health center officials said they are confident they will meet all the standards except one, said Jeremiah Hodshire, the Director of Organizational Development at the hospital and a '99 alumni of Hillsdale College.
The center must average 6,000 MRI tests per year, according to the Certificate of Need Commission standards.
"There's no way right now to meet the needed 6,000 tests," Hodshire said.
Hoshire said for the past few years, the hospital has averaged 5,000 tests, and in 2009 the hospital had 5,400 MRI tests.
The commission, an 11-member organization appointed by the governor, approves the purchase of major medical equipment at hospitals throughout the state. CON Commission meets four times a year to assess the needs requested by hospitals, said Sallie Slanders, review specialist a the Michigan Department of Community Health.
The current MRI machine has been in place since 2005. Before then, the hospital would call in a mobile MRI machine. The hospital would only be able to perform MRIs three or four days a week.
In 2004, health center officials requested a fixed MRI machine be installed at the health center. He said the hospital wanted to be realistic and asked the requirement be lowered from 6,000 to 4,000 tests a year.
"Where we were concerned was the number of tests with the MRI," Hodshire said.
The CON Commission granted the exception and the current machine was installed the following year.
The current MRI is now outdated, breaking down and not meeting the demands of the hospital, Hodshire said.
He said the machine is often being repaired, prompting local physicians to look elsewhere for an MRI scan. The health center will need to replace it in order to stay competitive, Hodshire said.
The new machine has more than twice as much magnetic strength than the current one.
To replace the current MRI, the health center used the language from the 2005 exception and went before the CON Commission with a new request.
Hosdshire said he doesn't expect any problems to arise, and they should be granted the exception.
"We need to retain the exceptions to the rule to allow small hospitals to keep competitive," Hodshire said.
The Department Official said the proposed language has moved forward for the upcoming December meeting.
Amy Aemisgger, a Hillsdale College Assistant Athletic Trainer, said the College uses the hospital's MRI to diagnose soft-tissue injury.
Time Out auctioned off
Businesses owners and deal-seekers flocked to the now foreclosed Time Out Sports & Spirits Restaurant & Bar for a liquidation auction sale Monday morning.
Wilson Auction & Reality Co. Ltd. hosted the auction with co-brokers with real-estate agency Sperry Van Ness.
Hillsdale's only pulmonologist Dr. Tariq Abdelkarim bought the Time Out real-estate for half of its valued price at $230,000.
Office Manager Dawn Gartee who spoke on behalf of Abdelkarim, said they plan on converting the building into a doctor's office. Gartee said their practice is outgrowing their current location at Three Meadows Medical Building at Hillsdale Community Health Center and said renovations to the building should start soon.
Jeff and Marci Horton bought the class C liquor license for $12,000 and will allow the couple to sell beer, wine and mixed drinks pending approval. Marci Horton said the couple plan on installing the license in the Dawn Theatre in order to restore the theatre's concessions section.
Marci Horton said she did some research before attending the auction and noticed that some items, like glassware, were going for much higher than market price.
"I saw a case of 24 glasses sell for over a hundred dollars," she said.
Wilson sold over $269,050 worth of items including the real-estate, valued at $450,000, and a liquor license valued at $10,000.
Wilson said his company typically does over 130 liquidations a year with the warmer summer months being the busiest. But lately they've been busier than normal, auctioning about once a day.
Wilson said the final price of the building and real-estate isn't too out of line for an auction.
"In this market, nothing's common," Wilson said. "It's a great time to buy."
Wilson Auction & Reality Co. Ltd. hosted the auction with co-brokers with real-estate agency Sperry Van Ness.
Hillsdale's only pulmonologist Dr. Tariq Abdelkarim bought the Time Out real-estate for half of its valued price at $230,000.
Office Manager Dawn Gartee who spoke on behalf of Abdelkarim, said they plan on converting the building into a doctor's office. Gartee said their practice is outgrowing their current location at Three Meadows Medical Building at Hillsdale Community Health Center and said renovations to the building should start soon.
Jeff and Marci Horton bought the class C liquor license for $12,000 and will allow the couple to sell beer, wine and mixed drinks pending approval. Marci Horton said the couple plan on installing the license in the Dawn Theatre in order to restore the theatre's concessions section.
Marci Horton said she did some research before attending the auction and noticed that some items, like glassware, were going for much higher than market price.
"I saw a case of 24 glasses sell for over a hundred dollars," she said.
Wilson sold over $269,050 worth of items including the real-estate, valued at $450,000, and a liquor license valued at $10,000.
Wilson said his company typically does over 130 liquidations a year with the warmer summer months being the busiest. But lately they've been busier than normal, auctioning about once a day.
Wilson said the final price of the building and real-estate isn't too out of line for an auction.
"In this market, nothing's common," Wilson said. "It's a great time to buy."
Local ice-fishermen brave freezing weather, ice hazards
James Tasker carefully props a small fishing rod over a clean hole on Lake Bawbeese. The ice is only four inches thick. It's thick enough, but an ice shanty floating 100 yards from him serves as an eerie reminder of the dangers of ice fishing.
It's 19 degrees out; factor in the wind, and your fingers turn numb in seconds. Within minutes they're frostbitten. But still the icemen come.
"That's what usually really turns a lot of people off," Tasker said. "It's the cold. A lot of people think only crazy people do it. It's definitely not a game."
Over on the shore, two ice fishermen began pulling a metal wreck that was once a shanty out of the freezing water. But this is only a minor setback; they'll only be fishing without a shelter.
For avid fishers, the only problem with winter is waiting for the ice to freeze. Those hardy enough, however, are rewarded with a year-round supply of fresh fish. Perch, pike, blue gills and crappies are all available within Hillsdale County, and are all ready to be caught by those willing to venture outside.
Senior Joseph Stempien ice-fishes every year, and has fished on Lake Bawbeese before. He said Bawbeese was lacking in fish, and turned to Coldwater Channel Lakes, where he fishes now.
The equipment needed to ice fish is fairly basic. Stempien suggested a beginner take a pole, an auger or spud to break the ice and some bait, such as wax worms. Layered clothing is strongly suggested, especially socks. He said it's also nice to have a depth reader or fish tracker. Stempien said he used a camera to watch for fish on occasion.
"It's good to hang out with friends, get out and relax," Stempien said.
He said that bait matters too: wax worms and small bait for smaller fish, such as schools of perch which come and go, and minnows for pike and walleyes.
Beyond equipment, a fisher would need to get a license, and to keep the Department of Natural Resources from confiscating any fish you may catch. Stempien warned of a time when DNR rangers fined fishermen who caught two walleyes, one of them a prize fish, $500 for their extra fish.
Greg Morrison, who fishes with Tasker, said a little technique is needed to successfully fish.
"I usually start six inches off of the bottom and work my way up," he said.
Others use more basic methods.
Gerald Tremaine lays flat on the ice covering his hole with his face and hand. He's been fishing Bawbeese for the past week with nothing but a bucket, auger and a pole called a jig, which he constantly bobs over his head.
"Yeah, they're right there; right on the bottom," Tremaine said. "I see two of 'em. One's about 12 inches long."
A few minutes later he catches the smaller of the two. He hurries to get back down on the ice, pausing only to answer his phone.
"Hey I gotta go the fish are bitin," Tremaine said immediately. "Yeah, it's just me, I gotta go."
Tremaine plops back into prone position, and begins bobbing his jig again.
It's 19 degrees out; factor in the wind, and your fingers turn numb in seconds. Within minutes they're frostbitten. But still the icemen come.
"That's what usually really turns a lot of people off," Tasker said. "It's the cold. A lot of people think only crazy people do it. It's definitely not a game."
Over on the shore, two ice fishermen began pulling a metal wreck that was once a shanty out of the freezing water. But this is only a minor setback; they'll only be fishing without a shelter.
For avid fishers, the only problem with winter is waiting for the ice to freeze. Those hardy enough, however, are rewarded with a year-round supply of fresh fish. Perch, pike, blue gills and crappies are all available within Hillsdale County, and are all ready to be caught by those willing to venture outside.
Senior Joseph Stempien ice-fishes every year, and has fished on Lake Bawbeese before. He said Bawbeese was lacking in fish, and turned to Coldwater Channel Lakes, where he fishes now.
The equipment needed to ice fish is fairly basic. Stempien suggested a beginner take a pole, an auger or spud to break the ice and some bait, such as wax worms. Layered clothing is strongly suggested, especially socks. He said it's also nice to have a depth reader or fish tracker. Stempien said he used a camera to watch for fish on occasion.
"It's good to hang out with friends, get out and relax," Stempien said.
He said that bait matters too: wax worms and small bait for smaller fish, such as schools of perch which come and go, and minnows for pike and walleyes.
Beyond equipment, a fisher would need to get a license, and to keep the Department of Natural Resources from confiscating any fish you may catch. Stempien warned of a time when DNR rangers fined fishermen who caught two walleyes, one of them a prize fish, $500 for their extra fish.
Greg Morrison, who fishes with Tasker, said a little technique is needed to successfully fish.
"I usually start six inches off of the bottom and work my way up," he said.
Others use more basic methods.
Gerald Tremaine lays flat on the ice covering his hole with his face and hand. He's been fishing Bawbeese for the past week with nothing but a bucket, auger and a pole called a jig, which he constantly bobs over his head.
"Yeah, they're right there; right on the bottom," Tremaine said. "I see two of 'em. One's about 12 inches long."
A few minutes later he catches the smaller of the two. He hurries to get back down on the ice, pausing only to answer his phone.
"Hey I gotta go the fish are bitin," Tremaine said immediately. "Yeah, it's just me, I gotta go."
Tremaine plops back into prone position, and begins bobbing his jig again.
Research, smoke and nukes
It's 11:46 on a Saturday morning and the debate team has been at work for two hours. Junior Will Cooney notes the time and calls for a lunch break. He asks debate coach Jeremy Christensen if he would like any goods smuggled from Saga, Inc.
Christensen says no.
Every day for the past two weeks, save Sundays, the debate team has been preparing for their showdown at the National Parliamentary Debate Association's national debate tournament in Lubbock, Texas starting March 18.
After a six-week absence from the debate world due to budget constraints, the preparation has been intense. Practice debate rounds have been added to research time.
Research time entails finding any articles focusing on national or international policy, finding both sides of the issue, the arguments supporting it and - more often than not - discovering how the issue will end in either nuclear Armageddon or the extinction of the human race.
The eight members of the elite traveling team began their final research push Friday evening for three hours.
"The problem is most of the things we end up debating are things that happened within the last two weeks," Christensen says.
Christensen began Friday's session with an outline of what needs to be done: cases on prisoner rights, Iran, net neutrality, immigrants, the Google-China power struggle, smart grids, cap and trade policies, banking regulations, filibusters and information on the impact of Diamond Creek, Idaho on rare metals. He doles out the responsibilities and retreats into his office to build cases. Soon, the room fills with the furious clicking of keyboards as each debater scans articles, magazines, government reports and videos in order to craft their cases. Coach said don't worry about quality; worry about quantity.
"Just get the cases done," Christensen says. Cooney finds an article on the eventual prevalence of nuclear weapons thanks in part to the political instability of Pakistan and the North Korean sale of a nuclear power plant to Syria in his issue of Foreign Affairs - a good impact for a round.
In his office Christensen records a case about China's monopoly on rare metals for an absent team member. He speaks in the fast and furious tone that's unique to the debate world - pausing only for quick gasp of breath.
"No-rare-metals-means-no-wind-and-hybrid-uses-costs-rise-parts-become-unavailable-and-of-those-materials-production-stops-therefore-'D'-are-the-impacts-warming-can-be-reversed...it-must-be-reached-before-2050-'two'-is-with-out-reaching-the-target-warming-effects-will-kill-millions-on-a-path-to-extinction..."
Christensen speaks this way for seven minutes straight.
The group stops only for the occasional smoke break - joking about how they've linked their information to a nuclear catastrophe. China is always good for a case.
Cooney says he had detailed how China has boosted its production of attack submarines putting the United States Navy, Taiwan and Japan at risk and putting the world at the brink of nuclear winter.
As freshman Ian Blodger says, "Nuclear good."
Senior Alexandria Carraher says nuclear conflict is always preferable to a conventional war in debate, thanks to its impact on the global population.
"And it's really easy to trigger," Cooney says. "At least in a debate round."
The group ends Saturday's workload with a game of rummy and details of past trips. They'll start filing on Monday in preparation for their flight to Houston, a luxury for the team. The team cackles over Christensen's stingy spending.
"We go to a conservative college; I'm fiscally conservative," Christensen said.
"I guess you can call it that," says Cooney. "What would you call it?" Christensen asks.
"Cheap," Blodger says.
Christensen says no.
Every day for the past two weeks, save Sundays, the debate team has been preparing for their showdown at the National Parliamentary Debate Association's national debate tournament in Lubbock, Texas starting March 18.
After a six-week absence from the debate world due to budget constraints, the preparation has been intense. Practice debate rounds have been added to research time.
Research time entails finding any articles focusing on national or international policy, finding both sides of the issue, the arguments supporting it and - more often than not - discovering how the issue will end in either nuclear Armageddon or the extinction of the human race.
The eight members of the elite traveling team began their final research push Friday evening for three hours.
"The problem is most of the things we end up debating are things that happened within the last two weeks," Christensen says.
Christensen began Friday's session with an outline of what needs to be done: cases on prisoner rights, Iran, net neutrality, immigrants, the Google-China power struggle, smart grids, cap and trade policies, banking regulations, filibusters and information on the impact of Diamond Creek, Idaho on rare metals. He doles out the responsibilities and retreats into his office to build cases. Soon, the room fills with the furious clicking of keyboards as each debater scans articles, magazines, government reports and videos in order to craft their cases. Coach said don't worry about quality; worry about quantity.
"Just get the cases done," Christensen says. Cooney finds an article on the eventual prevalence of nuclear weapons thanks in part to the political instability of Pakistan and the North Korean sale of a nuclear power plant to Syria in his issue of Foreign Affairs - a good impact for a round.
In his office Christensen records a case about China's monopoly on rare metals for an absent team member. He speaks in the fast and furious tone that's unique to the debate world - pausing only for quick gasp of breath.
"No-rare-metals-means-no-wind-and-hybrid-uses-costs-rise-parts-become-unavailable-and-of-those-materials-production-stops-therefore-'D'-are-the-impacts-warming-can-be-reversed...it-must-be-reached-before-2050-'two'-is-with-out-reaching-the-target-warming-effects-will-kill-millions-on-a-path-to-extinction..."
Christensen speaks this way for seven minutes straight.
The group stops only for the occasional smoke break - joking about how they've linked their information to a nuclear catastrophe. China is always good for a case.
Cooney says he had detailed how China has boosted its production of attack submarines putting the United States Navy, Taiwan and Japan at risk and putting the world at the brink of nuclear winter.
As freshman Ian Blodger says, "Nuclear good."
Senior Alexandria Carraher says nuclear conflict is always preferable to a conventional war in debate, thanks to its impact on the global population.
"And it's really easy to trigger," Cooney says. "At least in a debate round."
The group ends Saturday's workload with a game of rummy and details of past trips. They'll start filing on Monday in preparation for their flight to Houston, a luxury for the team. The team cackles over Christensen's stingy spending.
"We go to a conservative college; I'm fiscally conservative," Christensen said.
"I guess you can call it that," says Cooney. "What would you call it?" Christensen asks.
"Cheap," Blodger says.
Freshman brothers create iPod game
For the past semester Cory and Toby Flint have been programming a new game for the iPod Touch from their dorm on the bottom level of Simpson Hall, and they're almost ready to release it.
The game, entitled "Satellite Defense," is modeled after the tower defense genre, where the goal for the player is to place stationary weapons across a field in order to prevent an enemy from crossing the screen. Cory Flint said the game has 12 unlockable maps with progressive difficulty and will cost 99 cents.
Sophomore Brett Ramsay played the game in its early stages and said he was impressed the brothers were able to do while in school.
Freshman Brad Francis agreed.
"That's what blows me away," Francis said, "how much time and effort they put into it." The Flint brothers' latest project has drawn on all of their skills which Cory Flint considers to go hand in hand with a liberal arts education. Between the two, the brothers have taught themselves advanced programming methods, composed their own music and have developed their own art all within one semester.
In preparation for the game's release, the brothers just launched www.brothersflint.com. Another project they've undertaken for their game.
The brothers said they can't remember when they first decided to make a game for their new iPod Touch, but they decided to give it a go simply because they could, and it was there.
"I think it began as a form of relaxation," Cory said.
Toby agreed, saying they started to work on it to unwind from the day.
Cory said large-scale projects aren't uncommon for the two. He said they started with lemonade stands when they were kids. Their Eagle Scout projects, an amphitheater and campfire, melded into one with their addition of trails. The brothers also documented their backpacking adventures in New Mexico their book, "The Philmont Chronicles." Hillsdale's library has a copy. "It was a joint project," Cory said.
"That's just how we roll," Toby said.
Cory was responsible for crafting the game's three-dimensional models and art. Toby was responsible for the programming.
"If you see it, he did it, if they move, my program did it," Toby said.
Toby said he began programming his own games on his Nintendo DS when the brothers were in high school in Omaha, Neb. His first game was pong. On his DS, the game looked rudimentary at best. Red, yellow, blue and green colored lines formed the boundaries and the black background had the white words "back-" and under it "ground" scribbled onto the screen.
Toby said he decided to continue to write programs when he and Cory purchased a Macbook Pro that came with a free iPod Touch and printer. He said he learned how to program on a MacIntosh computer by using various tutorials and Apple documents on the Internet. When the brothers began to take the project seriously, he decided to quickly learn code by looking at tutorials he came across and applying them immediately.
"We came in second semester with no specific experience," Cory said. "It was like going from zero to 60 in a few seconds," Toby said.
Toby said to imagine the program files as a type of hierarchy where one file calls on another set and that set of files call on another. He said all the files constantly message between one another to create an object onscreen, like an enemy capital ship.
If (currentCapitalShip==1) { fl: PushMatrix();
What follows are seven out of 3,102 lines of code. Each line contains black and brown acronyms, purple and green letters and the ever-present blue numbers. They tell where the enemy capital ship will be placed, how big it'll be and how it's oriented. At first glance, nothing seems to have any order, but after a few moments of adjustment, patterns and symbols begin to emerge and a language is formed. Brackets are paragraphs markers and semicolons are periods.
"There's a reason why they call programming languages 'languages,'" Toby said.
Junior Elliot Gaiser tested the game as well, and said he was impressed with the brothers' talents.
"They go all out on everything," Elliot said.
That may be true: both of the brothers composed the music for the game in a single weekend, but there's a problem. Cory said the sound effects were a bit loud, Toby agreed, and the decision to fix it was finial.
The game, entitled "Satellite Defense," is modeled after the tower defense genre, where the goal for the player is to place stationary weapons across a field in order to prevent an enemy from crossing the screen. Cory Flint said the game has 12 unlockable maps with progressive difficulty and will cost 99 cents.
Sophomore Brett Ramsay played the game in its early stages and said he was impressed the brothers were able to do while in school.
Freshman Brad Francis agreed.
"That's what blows me away," Francis said, "how much time and effort they put into it." The Flint brothers' latest project has drawn on all of their skills which Cory Flint considers to go hand in hand with a liberal arts education. Between the two, the brothers have taught themselves advanced programming methods, composed their own music and have developed their own art all within one semester.
In preparation for the game's release, the brothers just launched www.brothersflint.com. Another project they've undertaken for their game.
The brothers said they can't remember when they first decided to make a game for their new iPod Touch, but they decided to give it a go simply because they could, and it was there.
"I think it began as a form of relaxation," Cory said.
Toby agreed, saying they started to work on it to unwind from the day.
Cory said large-scale projects aren't uncommon for the two. He said they started with lemonade stands when they were kids. Their Eagle Scout projects, an amphitheater and campfire, melded into one with their addition of trails. The brothers also documented their backpacking adventures in New Mexico their book, "The Philmont Chronicles." Hillsdale's library has a copy. "It was a joint project," Cory said.
"That's just how we roll," Toby said.
Cory was responsible for crafting the game's three-dimensional models and art. Toby was responsible for the programming.
"If you see it, he did it, if they move, my program did it," Toby said.
Toby said he began programming his own games on his Nintendo DS when the brothers were in high school in Omaha, Neb. His first game was pong. On his DS, the game looked rudimentary at best. Red, yellow, blue and green colored lines formed the boundaries and the black background had the white words "back-" and under it "ground" scribbled onto the screen.
Toby said he decided to continue to write programs when he and Cory purchased a Macbook Pro that came with a free iPod Touch and printer. He said he learned how to program on a MacIntosh computer by using various tutorials and Apple documents on the Internet. When the brothers began to take the project seriously, he decided to quickly learn code by looking at tutorials he came across and applying them immediately.
"We came in second semester with no specific experience," Cory said. "It was like going from zero to 60 in a few seconds," Toby said.
Toby said to imagine the program files as a type of hierarchy where one file calls on another set and that set of files call on another. He said all the files constantly message between one another to create an object onscreen, like an enemy capital ship.
If (currentCapitalShip==1) { fl: PushMatrix();
What follows are seven out of 3,102 lines of code. Each line contains black and brown acronyms, purple and green letters and the ever-present blue numbers. They tell where the enemy capital ship will be placed, how big it'll be and how it's oriented. At first glance, nothing seems to have any order, but after a few moments of adjustment, patterns and symbols begin to emerge and a language is formed. Brackets are paragraphs markers and semicolons are periods.
"There's a reason why they call programming languages 'languages,'" Toby said.
Junior Elliot Gaiser tested the game as well, and said he was impressed with the brothers' talents.
"They go all out on everything," Elliot said.
That may be true: both of the brothers composed the music for the game in a single weekend, but there's a problem. Cory said the sound effects were a bit loud, Toby agreed, and the decision to fix it was finial.
National Review editor speaks on life, work with predecessor Buckley
Journalist and historian Richard Brookhiser gave a lecture promoting his new book entitled "Right Time, Right Place: Coming of Age with William F. Buckley Jr. and the Conservative Movement" Tuesday night in Phillips Auditorium.
He focused on Buckley's two tasks: to show that liberals weren't as cool or as smart as they said they were and to prove that conservatives were.
Brookhiser's intimate knowledge of Buckley's influence on journalism and conservatism stems from 39 years of working under Buckley at the National Review. He said he considered the book part biography, part history and part memoir of his time with Buckley.
Brookhiser had an early start to his career at the National Review after having his first article, which ran as the cover story, published a few days after turning 15. His article, "The Story of the Posting of the Thesis," was published in 1970 and reflected on a pamphlet he posted at his high school protesting anti-war leaflets handed out before school his freshman year. He signed his pamphlet Martin Luther II.
Buckley once named Brookhiser as his successor to lead the National Review, but later changed his mind, saying Brookhiser, "didn't have enough executive flair."
Despite his criticisms, Buckley liked to encourage young authors to continue writing, inviting them to dinners with Henry Kissinger and letters of encouragement.
"I think he started off young himself and it was a way for him to relive his own experience and success," Brookhiser said.
Visitor Charles Blood read Brookhiser's first article when it printed in the National Review and was impressed that a 14-year-old could write so well. Blood was also an avid fan of Buckley's television show "Firing Line."
"It was just fun to watch Mr. Buckley's brand of conservatism because it was smart and funny," Blood said.
Blood recalled when Buckley ran for mayor of New York City, saying he laughed when Buckley answered the question: "What would you do if you won the election?" Buckley said, "Demand a recount."
Freshman Joseph Baertschi has read many of Brookhiser's works, including "Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington" and "George Washington on Leadership." He said he found them entertaining and informative reads. He stood in line to get Brookhiser's latest book on Buckley signed.
"I always viewed Buckley as the greatest conservative mind," Baertschi said.
Brookhiser has also been giving a seminar on colonial history and journalism for the past two weeks as the Eugene C. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Journalism.
Brookhiser said his sessions covered his career as a journalist and historian covering the founding fathers and reflecting on them through different media, such as articles, books and documentaries.
"You're trying to describe people, recount events and explain processes," Brookhiser said.
Sophomore Kate Olson bought "Right Time Right Place" for her father after listening to Brookhiser speak. She said she loved it. "I really liked to learn about Buckley from such a close perspective," Olson said. "I thought Mr. Brookhiser did a really good job."
He focused on Buckley's two tasks: to show that liberals weren't as cool or as smart as they said they were and to prove that conservatives were.
Brookhiser's intimate knowledge of Buckley's influence on journalism and conservatism stems from 39 years of working under Buckley at the National Review. He said he considered the book part biography, part history and part memoir of his time with Buckley.
Brookhiser had an early start to his career at the National Review after having his first article, which ran as the cover story, published a few days after turning 15. His article, "The Story of the Posting of the Thesis," was published in 1970 and reflected on a pamphlet he posted at his high school protesting anti-war leaflets handed out before school his freshman year. He signed his pamphlet Martin Luther II.
Buckley once named Brookhiser as his successor to lead the National Review, but later changed his mind, saying Brookhiser, "didn't have enough executive flair."
Despite his criticisms, Buckley liked to encourage young authors to continue writing, inviting them to dinners with Henry Kissinger and letters of encouragement.
"I think he started off young himself and it was a way for him to relive his own experience and success," Brookhiser said.
Visitor Charles Blood read Brookhiser's first article when it printed in the National Review and was impressed that a 14-year-old could write so well. Blood was also an avid fan of Buckley's television show "Firing Line."
"It was just fun to watch Mr. Buckley's brand of conservatism because it was smart and funny," Blood said.
Blood recalled when Buckley ran for mayor of New York City, saying he laughed when Buckley answered the question: "What would you do if you won the election?" Buckley said, "Demand a recount."
Freshman Joseph Baertschi has read many of Brookhiser's works, including "Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington" and "George Washington on Leadership." He said he found them entertaining and informative reads. He stood in line to get Brookhiser's latest book on Buckley signed.
"I always viewed Buckley as the greatest conservative mind," Baertschi said.
Brookhiser has also been giving a seminar on colonial history and journalism for the past two weeks as the Eugene C. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Journalism.
Brookhiser said his sessions covered his career as a journalist and historian covering the founding fathers and reflecting on them through different media, such as articles, books and documentaries.
"You're trying to describe people, recount events and explain processes," Brookhiser said.
Sophomore Kate Olson bought "Right Time Right Place" for her father after listening to Brookhiser speak. She said she loved it. "I really liked to learn about Buckley from such a close perspective," Olson said. "I thought Mr. Brookhiser did a really good job."
Should it B illegal 2 text while you drive?
The year is 1975: Microsoft is founded by Bill Gates, Robert E. Lee is pardoned and has his status as an American citizen reinstated (105 years after his death, thank you very much) and Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa is reported missing. Also, roughly 44,525 deaths took place on the roadways of America.
Fast forward 33 years and you'll find that roadway mortalities maintain a disturbing trend. In 2008 alone, 43,313 people died in motor vehicle related accidents, despite the introduction of legislation requiring all passengers and drivers wear seat belts. Lives, it appears, were not saved by special laws targeting distracted drivers.
Now, it appears there is an initiative to ban cell phone use while driving. The reasoning behind this push suggests drivers are distracted while texting or talking on the phone, and not giving their full attention to driving. This is true. It's hard to concentrate on that yellow line when a classmate just informed you of a ten-page paper due tomorrow that's worth 50 percent of your grade. It's also fairly difficult to focus on the road when you're trying to tune in that one radio station that actually plays music. Friends, too, prove distracting, especially when cracking jokes at your expense in the back seat. Oh, and fast food? There perhaps is no greater danger than a quarter-pounder with cheese hovering right in front of your face while going 75 down I-94 in an effort to make it to that concert in Detroit on time. All while driving a manual. None of this is however, is illegal. It isn't regulated, and some cases, it isn't even frowned upon.
But, if you have your cell phone out and you text the local police department of an accident on the highway you may soon be receiving a fine for breaking the law. That is, if cell phone use, including texting and talking, becomes illegal while driving.
Realistically, the reason for promoting such a law wouldn't be to look out for the well being of citizens. If that were the case, the state police would commonly pull people over, suggest they put their seat belts on or they put down their cell phones and leave it at that. But I have yet to hear of an instance where a police officer pulled someone over just to give helpful suggestions. The only reason such a law would pass would be for a new revenue stream.
In Michigan, driving without a seat belt is a primary offense. That means if you're seen without a seat belt on you can be pulled over and fined. Indeed, in 2007 Warren officer David Kanapsky gained notoriety in a Detroit News article highlighting him for writing 5,000 traffic tickets in 2007. Those 5,000 tickets contributed only about 10 percent to the total tickets by Warren police officers that year according to the Detroit News article.
Throw in the possibility of texting while driving as a primary offense and you'll have cops jumping to pull over any teenager foolish enough to get behind the wheel. All the while, police officers are distracted from doing their jobs. Instead of looking for murderers, they're looking for Meghan, who's asking her husband if he needs anything from the grocery store. Instead of chasing down thieves, they're chasing down teenagers who don't know any better.
Texting while driving is foolish, yes, but no more foolish than eating while driving, or having loud kids in the back seat while driving. It's a bad decision, but not always a fatal one. For all the sophistry declaring texting while driving kills we forget everything carries that potential. But writing a law fining people for living is just that: evidence of government's inability to stay between the lines.
Fast forward 33 years and you'll find that roadway mortalities maintain a disturbing trend. In 2008 alone, 43,313 people died in motor vehicle related accidents, despite the introduction of legislation requiring all passengers and drivers wear seat belts. Lives, it appears, were not saved by special laws targeting distracted drivers.
Now, it appears there is an initiative to ban cell phone use while driving. The reasoning behind this push suggests drivers are distracted while texting or talking on the phone, and not giving their full attention to driving. This is true. It's hard to concentrate on that yellow line when a classmate just informed you of a ten-page paper due tomorrow that's worth 50 percent of your grade. It's also fairly difficult to focus on the road when you're trying to tune in that one radio station that actually plays music. Friends, too, prove distracting, especially when cracking jokes at your expense in the back seat. Oh, and fast food? There perhaps is no greater danger than a quarter-pounder with cheese hovering right in front of your face while going 75 down I-94 in an effort to make it to that concert in Detroit on time. All while driving a manual. None of this is however, is illegal. It isn't regulated, and some cases, it isn't even frowned upon.
But, if you have your cell phone out and you text the local police department of an accident on the highway you may soon be receiving a fine for breaking the law. That is, if cell phone use, including texting and talking, becomes illegal while driving.
Realistically, the reason for promoting such a law wouldn't be to look out for the well being of citizens. If that were the case, the state police would commonly pull people over, suggest they put their seat belts on or they put down their cell phones and leave it at that. But I have yet to hear of an instance where a police officer pulled someone over just to give helpful suggestions. The only reason such a law would pass would be for a new revenue stream.
In Michigan, driving without a seat belt is a primary offense. That means if you're seen without a seat belt on you can be pulled over and fined. Indeed, in 2007 Warren officer David Kanapsky gained notoriety in a Detroit News article highlighting him for writing 5,000 traffic tickets in 2007. Those 5,000 tickets contributed only about 10 percent to the total tickets by Warren police officers that year according to the Detroit News article.
Throw in the possibility of texting while driving as a primary offense and you'll have cops jumping to pull over any teenager foolish enough to get behind the wheel. All the while, police officers are distracted from doing their jobs. Instead of looking for murderers, they're looking for Meghan, who's asking her husband if he needs anything from the grocery store. Instead of chasing down thieves, they're chasing down teenagers who don't know any better.
Texting while driving is foolish, yes, but no more foolish than eating while driving, or having loud kids in the back seat while driving. It's a bad decision, but not always a fatal one. For all the sophistry declaring texting while driving kills we forget everything carries that potential. But writing a law fining people for living is just that: evidence of government's inability to stay between the lines.
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