Happening Now
OPM Security Breach: Who’s Safe?
By Elisabeth Martin (2016), Editor-in-Chief
CYBERSPACE- Recently on the Internet, the term “Espionage,” the act of spying on someone’s activities, has been appearing to users. This illegal practice, primarily seen in lawsuits against corporations and in some cases, the government, can be incredibly dangerous for its victims.
In July, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal agency that manages all the employees of the federal government from Border Patrolmen to Agriculture agents to politicians, suffered a security breach resulting in the compromisation of 21.5 million employees’ personal data, the Washington Post reported. This is a serious and perfect example of an extreme case of espionage, and is putting the personal lives of millions of people in jeopardy.
According to OPM, “The loot includes ‘identification details such as Social Security Numbers; residency and educational history; employment history; information about immediate family and other personal and business acquaintances; health, criminal and financial history; and other details. Some records also include findings from interviews conducted by background investigators and fingerprints. Usernames and passwords that background investigation applicants used to fill out their forms were also stolen.’”
According to ABC News, President Obama and Vice President Biden are completely safe from this breach. The OPM does not handle presidential information.
Unfortunately, there is currently no way to keep personal information completely safe, so breaches of this kind are always open to occurrence.
CYBERSPACE- Recently on the Internet, the term “Espionage,” the act of spying on someone’s activities, has been appearing to users. This illegal practice, primarily seen in lawsuits against corporations and in some cases, the government, can be incredibly dangerous for its victims.
In July, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal agency that manages all the employees of the federal government from Border Patrolmen to Agriculture agents to politicians, suffered a security breach resulting in the compromisation of 21.5 million employees’ personal data, the Washington Post reported. This is a serious and perfect example of an extreme case of espionage, and is putting the personal lives of millions of people in jeopardy.
According to OPM, “The loot includes ‘identification details such as Social Security Numbers; residency and educational history; employment history; information about immediate family and other personal and business acquaintances; health, criminal and financial history; and other details. Some records also include findings from interviews conducted by background investigators and fingerprints. Usernames and passwords that background investigation applicants used to fill out their forms were also stolen.’”
According to ABC News, President Obama and Vice President Biden are completely safe from this breach. The OPM does not handle presidential information.
Unfortunately, there is currently no way to keep personal information completely safe, so breaches of this kind are always open to occurrence.
“Pure Class” Takes Charge at Spirited Rally
By Jaelyn Soto (2016), Campus & Sports Editor
TITAN TOWN - GTHS kicked off the school year with one of its most spirited rallies yet on Aug. 28. The 2016 senior class was coined the school’s first “pure class.” 2016 will be remembered for being the first to have attended all four years at GTHS, enrolling in the school’s first year as freshman on Aug. 6, 2012. Pure Class represented themselves at the rally by wearing white apparel while the underclassmen wore red and or blue.
“I wear my class colors, yell out my class year, purchase glow sticks and encourage my friends to do the same,” said Mekaylah Reed (2016).
As most students know, the purpose of the rally is not only to engage in class spirit but to recognize athletes. Fall sports such as football, volleyball, girls tennis, and cross country were all participants in this year’s fall rally. Varsity football captain Devon Dixon (2016) was asked what he was expecting to see throughout the school year from his senior classmates and he said, “to be lit 24/7 365!”
The rally consisted of performances from the band, the Legacy Regiment, Color Guard, Poly Club and a dance involving some of the staff members. The spirit that took place at the pep rally seemed to carry on throughout the rest of the school day and the football game that followed later that evening which was not a problem for most students.
TITAN TOWN - GTHS kicked off the school year with one of its most spirited rallies yet on Aug. 28. The 2016 senior class was coined the school’s first “pure class.” 2016 will be remembered for being the first to have attended all four years at GTHS, enrolling in the school’s first year as freshman on Aug. 6, 2012. Pure Class represented themselves at the rally by wearing white apparel while the underclassmen wore red and or blue.
“I wear my class colors, yell out my class year, purchase glow sticks and encourage my friends to do the same,” said Mekaylah Reed (2016).
As most students know, the purpose of the rally is not only to engage in class spirit but to recognize athletes. Fall sports such as football, volleyball, girls tennis, and cross country were all participants in this year’s fall rally. Varsity football captain Devon Dixon (2016) was asked what he was expecting to see throughout the school year from his senior classmates and he said, “to be lit 24/7 365!”
The rally consisted of performances from the band, the Legacy Regiment, Color Guard, Poly Club and a dance involving some of the staff members. The spirit that took place at the pep rally seemed to carry on throughout the rest of the school day and the football game that followed later that evening which was not a problem for most students.
VOLLEYBALL GAME SEPTEMBER 9, 2105
Opinion: Televised Murders of Reporters Highlight the Importance of Journalism
By Chase Preciado (2016), Executive Editor
On the early morning of August 26, 2015, a gunman shot and killed two journalists during a live broadcast in Moneta, Virginia. The journalists were 24-year-old WDBJ7 news reporter Alison Parker and her 27-year-old cameraman Adam Ward. They were interviewing 61-year-old Vicki Gardner. The gunman was 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan II, also known as Bryce Williams. Gardner was shot in the back, but survived and successfully underwent surgery. But, Parker and Ward were pronounced dead at the scene.
After the shooting, a five-hour manhunt for Williams ensued. After a car chase between police and Williams ended, the gunman committed suicide.
Since the shooting occurred during a live television broadcast, thousands of people in Virginia witnessed the murders without any warning. The network quickly switched the cameras back to the news set, where morning anchor Kimberly McBroom was left visibly stunned and speechless at what had just occurred. However, before the camera could be switched, viewers witnessed cameraman Adam Ward’s camera lens fall to the ground and in turn, capture a glimpse of Bryce Williams, identifying him as the assailant.
Within hours of the incident, the news video was showing up on YouTube, and social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, which were criticized by users for having an “auto-play” video feature that forced them to witness the violence without any warning as they scrolled down their news feeds.
In addition, Williams began tweeting after the murders about his motives, stating that he was jealous of Alison Parker for earning a news anchor position he desired, and that she had allegedly made racist comments aimed towards him. He also claimed that Ward reported him to Human Resources during his time at the station from 2012-2013.
He also tweeted and posted to Facebook two first-person videos taken from his iPhone that showed his vantage point as he committed the killings.
When I first saw the videos of the murders and read about this story, I was horrified. As a student journalist myself, I was at a loss as to how two journalists could be murdered on live television in broad daylight. In my mind, there was an unspoken separation between the news and the reporters covering it.
In my time as a student journalist, I’ve learned many valuable lessons regarding journalism and its role in society. Perhaps one of the most important of those lessons is that journalists have a responsibility to shed light on not only the news, but the underlying issues in society. I feel that through their murders, Alison Parker and Adam Ward ultimately fulfilled that responsibility. Gun control is a highly controversial issue in America today, and many began heated discussion and debated the issue directly following the release of the murder videos, just as had been done following numerous other shootings. However, this was different.
I don’t feel that these murders are a call for gun control. Rather, I feel the underlying message from these killings is responsibility for and consequences of our choices. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, I feel that pro gun minds need to be aware of the effect that having available guns has on society. It is easy to debate something when you read about a tragedy, but it’s not so easy when you witness that tragedy play out right before your eyes. Alison and Adam were a living example to how horrific and brutal gun violence is, and that being shot and killed is more than a story that can be glossed over and ignored after reading.
I don’t know what the future holds for America in terms of guns, but I do know that we should have a better perspective on how the things we believe and defend can negatively affect others; that is the ultimate purpose of journalism. Alison and Adam tragically had their lives and careers cut short, but in their final moments, they became a permanent symbol of that purpose.
On the early morning of August 26, 2015, a gunman shot and killed two journalists during a live broadcast in Moneta, Virginia. The journalists were 24-year-old WDBJ7 news reporter Alison Parker and her 27-year-old cameraman Adam Ward. They were interviewing 61-year-old Vicki Gardner. The gunman was 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan II, also known as Bryce Williams. Gardner was shot in the back, but survived and successfully underwent surgery. But, Parker and Ward were pronounced dead at the scene.
After the shooting, a five-hour manhunt for Williams ensued. After a car chase between police and Williams ended, the gunman committed suicide.
Since the shooting occurred during a live television broadcast, thousands of people in Virginia witnessed the murders without any warning. The network quickly switched the cameras back to the news set, where morning anchor Kimberly McBroom was left visibly stunned and speechless at what had just occurred. However, before the camera could be switched, viewers witnessed cameraman Adam Ward’s camera lens fall to the ground and in turn, capture a glimpse of Bryce Williams, identifying him as the assailant.
Within hours of the incident, the news video was showing up on YouTube, and social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, which were criticized by users for having an “auto-play” video feature that forced them to witness the violence without any warning as they scrolled down their news feeds.
In addition, Williams began tweeting after the murders about his motives, stating that he was jealous of Alison Parker for earning a news anchor position he desired, and that she had allegedly made racist comments aimed towards him. He also claimed that Ward reported him to Human Resources during his time at the station from 2012-2013.
He also tweeted and posted to Facebook two first-person videos taken from his iPhone that showed his vantage point as he committed the killings.
When I first saw the videos of the murders and read about this story, I was horrified. As a student journalist myself, I was at a loss as to how two journalists could be murdered on live television in broad daylight. In my mind, there was an unspoken separation between the news and the reporters covering it.
In my time as a student journalist, I’ve learned many valuable lessons regarding journalism and its role in society. Perhaps one of the most important of those lessons is that journalists have a responsibility to shed light on not only the news, but the underlying issues in society. I feel that through their murders, Alison Parker and Adam Ward ultimately fulfilled that responsibility. Gun control is a highly controversial issue in America today, and many began heated discussion and debated the issue directly following the release of the murder videos, just as had been done following numerous other shootings. However, this was different.
I don’t feel that these murders are a call for gun control. Rather, I feel the underlying message from these killings is responsibility for and consequences of our choices. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, I feel that pro gun minds need to be aware of the effect that having available guns has on society. It is easy to debate something when you read about a tragedy, but it’s not so easy when you witness that tragedy play out right before your eyes. Alison and Adam were a living example to how horrific and brutal gun violence is, and that being shot and killed is more than a story that can be glossed over and ignored after reading.
I don’t know what the future holds for America in terms of guns, but I do know that we should have a better perspective on how the things we believe and defend can negatively affect others; that is the ultimate purpose of journalism. Alison and Adam tragically had their lives and careers cut short, but in their final moments, they became a permanent symbol of that purpose.
Five Exciting games that Gamers are Hyped for!
By Turner Gonzalez (2016), Gaming Writer
The Year 2015 is an exciting year for gamers! There are so many new games coming out that it is sometimes hard to keep track of them all. Not to worry though, here is a list of five games that gamers are excited and hyped about.
5. Rising Storm 2: Vietnam (PC) - Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a sequel to Rising Storm. It is an ultra realistic first person shooter multiplayer game by Tripwire Interactive. It focuses on the Vietnam War rather than World War 2. A lot of Red Orchestra 2/Rising Storm players are very excited for this game. It’s release date has not been announced.
Source: Rising Storm 2 : Vietnam website.
4. Mad Max (Ps4, Xbox One, Pc) - Mad Max is a third person, open world adventure game that is based on the Mad Max “Universe.” It is published by Warner Bros. Interactive and developed by Avalanche Studios. It is set in a post-apocalyptic environment and it’s story is meant to be stand alone, meaning it doesn’t tie in with any of the famous movies. Fans of Mad Max and fans of Driving games will be excited for this game. Mad Max comes out on Sept. 1, 2015.
Source: Games Radar.com
3. Kingdom Hearts 3 ( PS4, Xbox one) - Kingdom Hearts 3 is one of the most anticipated games of the year. It is developed and published by Square Enix. Ever since it was announced at the E3 gaming conference, fans of the series have been going crazy over it. It is suppose to focus on Sora, Donald, and Goofy searching for the seven guardians of light and the “Key To Return Hearts.” This, while King Mickey and Riku search for Previous Keyblade Wielders. Ultimately, Sora and friends will try to stop Master Xehanort and his plan to balance light and darkness. Most, if not all Kingdom Hearts, fans are excited for this.
Source : prnewswire.com
2. Star Wars Battlefront (PS4, Xbox one, PC) - Star Wars Battlefront is a first or third shooter game based on the Star Wars Universe. It is developed and published by E.A. It is not considered a sequel to the previous games, but rather a reboot. You can play as one of the Rebels or the Empire as well as characters from the films. There will also be many maps and planets that a player will be able to play on like Hoth, Endor and Tatooine. The game has multiplayer and offline co-op missions, but it does not have a campaign mode. Despite that, many fans of Star Wars and many fans of FPS games will be excited for this game. It comes out in Nov. 17, 2015.
Sources : starwars.ea.com and playstationlifestyle.net
1. Fallout 4 ( PS4, Xbox One, PC) - Fallout 4 is debatably the most hyped game of the year. It is a first and third person open world, action role-playing game. It is developed and published by Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks. The game takes place 200 years after “The Great War,” which is a war that caused a nuclear holocaust in 2077. It’s also set in Boston, Massachusetts. Unlike the other games, Fallout 4’s story starts the day the bombs dropped and nuclear holocaust began. It’s gameplay is suppose to be similar to Fallout 3 and is suppose to include the V.A.T.S. combat mechanic. Overall, Fallout fans will be excited for this and most gamers in general will be too. It is scheduled to come out in Nov. 10 2015.
Source : Fallout4.com and IGN.com
The Year 2015 is an exciting year for gamers! There are so many new games coming out that it is sometimes hard to keep track of them all. Not to worry though, here is a list of five games that gamers are excited and hyped about.
5. Rising Storm 2: Vietnam (PC) - Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a sequel to Rising Storm. It is an ultra realistic first person shooter multiplayer game by Tripwire Interactive. It focuses on the Vietnam War rather than World War 2. A lot of Red Orchestra 2/Rising Storm players are very excited for this game. It’s release date has not been announced.
Source: Rising Storm 2 : Vietnam website.
4. Mad Max (Ps4, Xbox One, Pc) - Mad Max is a third person, open world adventure game that is based on the Mad Max “Universe.” It is published by Warner Bros. Interactive and developed by Avalanche Studios. It is set in a post-apocalyptic environment and it’s story is meant to be stand alone, meaning it doesn’t tie in with any of the famous movies. Fans of Mad Max and fans of Driving games will be excited for this game. Mad Max comes out on Sept. 1, 2015.
Source: Games Radar.com
3. Kingdom Hearts 3 ( PS4, Xbox one) - Kingdom Hearts 3 is one of the most anticipated games of the year. It is developed and published by Square Enix. Ever since it was announced at the E3 gaming conference, fans of the series have been going crazy over it. It is suppose to focus on Sora, Donald, and Goofy searching for the seven guardians of light and the “Key To Return Hearts.” This, while King Mickey and Riku search for Previous Keyblade Wielders. Ultimately, Sora and friends will try to stop Master Xehanort and his plan to balance light and darkness. Most, if not all Kingdom Hearts, fans are excited for this.
Source : prnewswire.com
2. Star Wars Battlefront (PS4, Xbox one, PC) - Star Wars Battlefront is a first or third shooter game based on the Star Wars Universe. It is developed and published by E.A. It is not considered a sequel to the previous games, but rather a reboot. You can play as one of the Rebels or the Empire as well as characters from the films. There will also be many maps and planets that a player will be able to play on like Hoth, Endor and Tatooine. The game has multiplayer and offline co-op missions, but it does not have a campaign mode. Despite that, many fans of Star Wars and many fans of FPS games will be excited for this game. It comes out in Nov. 17, 2015.
Sources : starwars.ea.com and playstationlifestyle.net
1. Fallout 4 ( PS4, Xbox One, PC) - Fallout 4 is debatably the most hyped game of the year. It is a first and third person open world, action role-playing game. It is developed and published by Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks. The game takes place 200 years after “The Great War,” which is a war that caused a nuclear holocaust in 2077. It’s also set in Boston, Massachusetts. Unlike the other games, Fallout 4’s story starts the day the bombs dropped and nuclear holocaust began. It’s gameplay is suppose to be similar to Fallout 3 and is suppose to include the V.A.T.S. combat mechanic. Overall, Fallout fans will be excited for this and most gamers in general will be too. It is scheduled to come out in Nov. 10 2015.
Source : Fallout4.com and IGN.com
Fall Rally 2015 Photos
By Milana Hernandez(2016)
Review: 60 Seconds! is an Apocalyptic Game Worth a Look
By Turner Gonzalez (2016), Gaming Writer
60 Seconds! is a PC game. It’s plot focuses on a man named Ted, his wife Dolores, daughter Mary Jane, and son Timmy. After a nuclear war breaks out, Ted and his family are forced to survive in a fallout shelter for as long as they can before they are rescued by the military or die during raids, or from dehydration, starvation or other dangers of the wasteland.
60 Seconds! is a dark comedy, point-and-click game for the PC, developed by Robot Gentleman, an independent game studio in Poland.
The game offers four modes of play and three difficulties. The difficulties include “Little Boy” (Easy), “Fat Man” (Normal) and “Tsar Bomba” (Hard). Game modes include “Atomic Drill,” a tutorial walkthrough of the game, and “Apocalypse,” a survival mode in which the player scavenges around their character’s house for supplies and attempts to survive in a fallout shelter for as long as possible. Another mode, “Scavenge,” features the same format, without the survival in a fallout shelter element.
The final mode, “Survival,” puts the player in the fallout shelter with random supplies. When playing in the fallout shelter, players must force their characters to perform a number of tasks, including rationing food, water, and medicine. Players are also able to use their tools and supplies for encounters with survivors, raiders, and deformed mutants. The game has multiple endings, since characters can die if they are not properly cared for.
Overall, 60 Seconds! is an enjoyable game. The game boasts a creative, dark, and comedic art style, and the game modes are enjoyable, engaging and manage to keep the player on the edge of their seat.
While some may consider 60 Seconds! to be short, the creators at Robot Gentleman are planning to release a free DLC with more content in the future. The game is available for $9.99 on Steam, which makes it an affordable title that is worth looking into.
60 Seconds! is a PC game. It’s plot focuses on a man named Ted, his wife Dolores, daughter Mary Jane, and son Timmy. After a nuclear war breaks out, Ted and his family are forced to survive in a fallout shelter for as long as they can before they are rescued by the military or die during raids, or from dehydration, starvation or other dangers of the wasteland.
60 Seconds! is a dark comedy, point-and-click game for the PC, developed by Robot Gentleman, an independent game studio in Poland.
The game offers four modes of play and three difficulties. The difficulties include “Little Boy” (Easy), “Fat Man” (Normal) and “Tsar Bomba” (Hard). Game modes include “Atomic Drill,” a tutorial walkthrough of the game, and “Apocalypse,” a survival mode in which the player scavenges around their character’s house for supplies and attempts to survive in a fallout shelter for as long as possible. Another mode, “Scavenge,” features the same format, without the survival in a fallout shelter element.
The final mode, “Survival,” puts the player in the fallout shelter with random supplies. When playing in the fallout shelter, players must force their characters to perform a number of tasks, including rationing food, water, and medicine. Players are also able to use their tools and supplies for encounters with survivors, raiders, and deformed mutants. The game has multiple endings, since characters can die if they are not properly cared for.
Overall, 60 Seconds! is an enjoyable game. The game boasts a creative, dark, and comedic art style, and the game modes are enjoyable, engaging and manage to keep the player on the edge of their seat.
While some may consider 60 Seconds! to be short, the creators at Robot Gentleman are planning to release a free DLC with more content in the future. The game is available for $9.99 on Steam, which makes it an affordable title that is worth looking into.
WARDROBE Malfunctions and Political Speeches Highlights of Video Music Awards
By Dominique Balcombe (2016), A&E Writer
Social media has to be the root of many problems everywhere, and the Twitter controversy between Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj sparked up a live confrontation on stage in front of millions of people at the Video Music Awards on Aug. 30.
Either way, the audience that night was left at an awe with such sudden events. Held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with Miley Cyrus as the host, her quirky personal style came out. The audience was enthralled by her jokes and wardrobe malfunctions. In addition to Miley, there were many other amazing performances.
One that seemed to stand out the most is an artist that hasn’t been seen on the VMA stage since 2010, Justin Bieber. Bieber performed his brand new single, “What Do You Mean?”, and ended his performance emotionally, publicly bawling on stage. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by being on stage again? Whatever the case, his performance proved to be popular with the crowd.
VMA winner, Taylor Swift presented the Vanguard award to Kanye West. West took the opportunity to speak on his ideas and his successful career. However, what got heads turning was the confusing end to his speech. “And yes, as you probably could’ve guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president,” he said. Only time will tell if that statement comes true.
Social media has to be the root of many problems everywhere, and the Twitter controversy between Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj sparked up a live confrontation on stage in front of millions of people at the Video Music Awards on Aug. 30.
Either way, the audience that night was left at an awe with such sudden events. Held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with Miley Cyrus as the host, her quirky personal style came out. The audience was enthralled by her jokes and wardrobe malfunctions. In addition to Miley, there were many other amazing performances.
One that seemed to stand out the most is an artist that hasn’t been seen on the VMA stage since 2010, Justin Bieber. Bieber performed his brand new single, “What Do You Mean?”, and ended his performance emotionally, publicly bawling on stage. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by being on stage again? Whatever the case, his performance proved to be popular with the crowd.
VMA winner, Taylor Swift presented the Vanguard award to Kanye West. West took the opportunity to speak on his ideas and his successful career. However, what got heads turning was the confusing end to his speech. “And yes, as you probably could’ve guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president,” he said. Only time will tell if that statement comes true.
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