THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012
PAGE 5
opinion
FREE FOR ALL
Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351
If all KU had over Mizzou was driver Dan it would still be 100 times cooler.
Q. What's the difference between a Mizzou fan and puppies? A. Puppies eventually grow up and stop whining.
Going blind for a few weeks > telling my mom I broke my glasses at the Hawk, again ...
At least now we know the REAL reason why swimming in Potter Lake was banned.
I heard Rebecca Black helped produce the "We are Mizzou" video.
RAs, please don't abuse your power.
Basketball camping should be resume-worthy: dedication, early mornings and sleeping in any condition are all life skills!
My boyfriend pauses his game to text me back. I think I found a keeper.
That awkward moment when it's 60 degrees outside and you feel like a kid again so you start climbing on the bars on the stoop at hash and everyone is looking at you like you're a stripper.
All I want is a sexy Spanish boy. Is that too much to ask for?
I think it's about time the FFA editor and the fakejeffwithe start dating. World's most sarcastic couple ... perfect.
Editor's note: I'm free for Valentine's Day
The Whale of Potter Lake must be stopped! He is the one that leads the squirrels of KU
Missing: pet whale. Last seen in Potter Lake, reward $500.
Am I the only art history major that doesn't dress like a homeless person?
A couple of police cars drive down Jayhawk Blvd. and everybody stops and stares to see if they are transformers.
Am I missing something about a whale in potter lake? If so should we be trying to stop the whale fighter or support him?
Wait, so all I have to do is run down Jayhawk Boulevard singing T-Swift?
Architecture Student by Day ...
Architecture Student By Night ..
Just had a staring contest with a squirrel two feet away. They are fearless.
My ethics prof said that light loving super elves with magical light lassos don't exist! How dare he say that!!
If the stairwell you are climbing/ descending is only wide enough for two people, and you are walking side by side with your friend so you can discuss how drunk you got last night, don't be surprised when I knock you on your ass. Use your brain people.
It's not global warming, the weather is just menopausal. Now we know what a hot flash feels like.
Embrace your inner nerd; it's cool now
Did I just see two guys chasing the statue of liberty with swords on Wescoe Beach?
It is impossible to look cool while running with a backpack.
CULTURE
If you are going to wear a nineties lipstick color, at least wear it with class rather than looking like a dirty pirate hooker. #its2012
The definition of a nerd, according to Merriam Webster online dictionary, is an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially: one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.
Now granted, what ranks as being offensive varies from person
to person, yet, I quite help but think that Merriam Webster considers "nerd" a less than complimentary identifier. I'm afraid then, that this puts Merriam Webster and me at an impasse because being a nerd is to me a title worn with pride.
Now, I maintain the highest of respect for Merriam Webster. Being an English major, I have a great affinity for words. Yet, Merriam i am
Webster's definition of a nerd is not only inaccurate, but also dated.
The word 'nerd' first originated around 1951, and throughout the decades, the images and persona associated with being a nerd haven't, until recently, changed much in the eyes of mainstream culture. Changing from the caricature of bespectacled, physically and socially awkward fan of Mystery Science Theater to that of a bespectacled, physically and socially awkward fan of the Syfy Channel, being a nerd in the 50s wasn't much different than being a nerd in the 90s.
And yet in recent years, there has been an evolution of, not nerds themselves, but in how society views nerds — a revolution if you will. Nerd culture has exploded into the mainstream. Why?
Because being a nerd is fun. And mainstream culture is catching on. You have only to look at our American pop culture itself in order to see the signs.
There's the story of "the boy who lived," which went on to win over the world and spawn everything from a multi-billion dollar movie series to a genre of music called "wizard rock."
There's the near frenzied consumption of technology, with the latest iPhone, iPad, iWhateverapplecomesoutwithnext driving
people to stand in line overnight just so they can have it the moment it's available.
There's the fashion industry, which now embraces grandpa sweaters, high-waisted pants, clashing prints, and of course, bowties, as being sartorially fabulous.
There's the gaming culture, which started out with "Tennis for Two", comprised of a dot and two sticks controlled by a few scientists in a lab, now having matured into everyone from your grandmother to KU basketball players crashing into each other in Mario Kart.
'nerdiness' to the whole world, as obvious as Peeta Mellark's perfection. Really, there wouldn't be any use in my trying to hide it, either. I count myself as being interdisciplinary in my interests: Harry Potter, style, Broadway Musicals, Adventure Time, 19th century British literature, heck ANY literature, Disney, Medieval history, Glee, Marvel Comics, 80s movies. The list goes on. And on. And on ...
All this is just the tip of the Death Star. The truth of the matter is, even though we used to have a particular image ingrained as to what a nerd looks like and is interested in, nerds come in all shapes, sizes, interests, and social skill level. Being a nerd is to admit that you are passionate about something — anything — and that you devote a large portion of your energy into that passion.
I'm a nerd. I'm out, I'm proud,
and I have no shame. I flaunt my
Before I go onto automatic with geeking out, because then I'd have to stage a coup and take over the entirety of the Kansan's Opinion Page: Nerd culture has exploded into the mainstream. Chances are, if you're an interesting human being, you're a bit of a nerd about something. So Merriam Webster, I'm sorry; I swear that when I'm trying to find a synonym when I'm writing my fanfiction, I'll come crawling back to you. It's just, when it comes to being a nerd, you don't know a bogart from a dementor.
Katherine Gwynn is a freshman in English from Oatle.
SCIENCE
Using technology to reach the stars Project Icarus's design may be the answer to the future of space travel
My first encounter with the name Alpha Centauri occurred after playing many hours of the video game "Civilization." This game spurred my fascination with technology and dreams of helping humanity voyage to distant stars. Years went by without thinking of this name until I was taking Dr. Hawley's Astronomy 391 last year. In this fantastic class we learned how to use parallax measurements to determine the distance to a star.
While studying this process, I learned of the significance of the Alpha Centauri star system. It consists of three stars, of all different sizes, that orbit around a common point.
Project Icarus is an international volunteer engineering study group dedicated to researching the requirements to
theoretical design challenge called Project Icarus.
The lcarus design mandates reaching a star within 100 years using a fusion based propulsion system. Research into long distance propulsion methods has determined that the energy released by fusion ignition is required to get the probe to the required speed, a theoretical cruise speed upper limit of roughly 101 million miles per hour.
may seem like science fiction to many, but in reality it is quite science fact. Propulsion based on this technology may very well be available within our lifetimes.
The original Daedalus mission chose a Deuterium and Helium-3 fuel for inertial confinement fusion. Helium-3 is extremely rare on Earth; however, it could be mined on the moon's surface, or collected from the atmosphere of a gas giant such as Jupiter.
build a probe that can reach a distant star and planetary system within a century. The project builds on the knowledge of the 1970's Daedalus Project by members the British Interplanetary Society. These projects continue to further research into fusion base propulsion systems, long distance communication methods, and remote scientific data collection based on credible science and current technology.
Using fusion propulsion is considered a near future technology because the technology doesn't exist yet. Nuclear fusion
"A project such as this enables continual development and an evolving design until the world governments are in a state to support such an endeavor."
Helium-3 is sought after for
right after fusion ignition because it produces significant energy and only has one neutron. This reduces the amount of neutron radiation after fusion
occurs. In the case of He-3 fusing with another He-3 atom, it is possible that no neutrons would be produced. Neutrons cause surrounding materials to become brittle reducing their ductility as well as causing materials to become radioactive.
Project Icarus serves several important purposes. Above all, it helps to inspire a new generation of physicists and engineers to perform essential scholarly research into the subject of interstellar travel. A project such as this enables continual development and an evolving design until the world governments are in a state to support such an endeavor. Lastly, this project brings together the knowledge and experience of many great minds into one place to serve as a resource for future generations that could directly contribute to future missions within our solar system.
Daniel Kennedy is a sophomore in aerospace engineering and astronomy
SOCIETY
Words provide window into different cultures
New languages reveal how diverse the world can be
"Le sere imbarumide" is a very specific word in the Friulian dialect which is spoken in the tiny Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy. It is not easily translatable into Italian and even harder into English, but it roughly means "muddy twilight."
For the people of Friuli, the phrase is meant to describe a specific type of sunset when the colors of the sky mix with a reflection on the wet ground of recently irrigated fields. It represents a tired body after a day's work and the beauty of a productive landscape. Hidden in those few words are the essence of a population which can't be translated into any other language.
In Italy, there is a different dialect in every single region. Some are completely incomprehensible even to other Italians. And then there's the rest of Europe.
Only a short train ride away and you could be trying to ask directions to someone who just shakes their head and responds in Hungarian. At home, I can drive for a full day and still be in good old English speaking Kansas.
Six months ago, I wouldn't have given that concept a second thought. Now, I can't stop thinking about how limiting that homogeneity can be.
My Italian roommates have been surrounded their entire lives by all different sorts of languages.
And with that immersion comes a degree of understanding
By Bernadette Myers bmyers@kansan.com
In the US, learning a new language seems daunting. Why bother when getting some speaking practice with a native speaker might cost you a $2000 plane ticket?
But, that doesn't mean we should just take those Spanish courses to get them "out of the way." How can we shrug off the way the 350 million native Spanish speakers interpret the world? And do the 60 million native Italian speakers simply have less to say than someone who speaks English?
that doesn't always translate easily.
Speaking this richly nuanced language has changed my perspective on both how I communicate with and how I view the world around me. In Italian, like other Romance languages, there is a subjunctive verb tense. This means that any time you express an opinion, a feeling, or a desire, you have to conjugate the verb in an entirely different way. We don't have this in English. But when I'm speaking Italian, I have to consciously signal when I'm expressing an opinion. It is syntactically impossible to confuse an opinion with a fact.
When I run my errands, I go to a "supermercato" for my groceries, a "profumeria" for bath products, a "macelleria" for meats,
and a "ferramenta" for hardward store items. There is no word for Walmart Supercenter because there is no such store where you can go and buy everything from a plasma flat screen television to a goldfish.
Even the way I structure my sentences affects how I view the scenario I'm describing. In Italian, the subject is incorporated into the verb conjugation, so instead of focuses of the subject of my sentence, I'm constantly thinking of how I can describe the actions with the correct verb. I no longer think "I went to the store", instead my emphasis is on the place and time that the action happened.
Don't get me wrong, I love speaking English. Every once in a while I get tired of miscommunicating my thoughts in a language that is still foreign to me.
But, it's exciting to have more than one way to express myself, that there's more than one way to be understand in a world where there are a million different translations.
The English language is still a great security blanket, but it can also be a smothering. Language has the power to reveal a new world and even a new side of yourself. So why limit yourself to just one?
Bernadette Myers is a junior in English, Italian and European studies from Prairie Village.
CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK
Ralph_Farley
@UCK_Opinion
is this the start of
Ultimate
paintball???
Jahera91
HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Length: 300 words
The submission should include the author's name, grade and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor online at kansan.com/letters.
Do you think people should be allowed to have concealed guns on campus?
Fpell us on Twitter @UDK_Opinion.
Tweet us your opinions, and we just might publish them.
Send letters to kansanopdesk@gmail.com.
Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the e-mail subject line.
laurenballinger
@UDK_Opinion No, I think
the danger of allowing guns
outweighs the protection.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Ian Cummings, editor
864-8410 or kansas@kansas.com
Lisa Curran, managing editor
864-8410 or furcahn@kansas.com
Alexis Knutsen, opinion editor
864-8242 or kansas@kansas.com
@UOK Optimian People who want to harm others would bring one no matter what; I see no point in banning them for law-abiding citizens.
CONTACT US
Garrett Lentt, business manager
6433-4588 or dkain@tessan.com
Korban Eland, sales manager
6447-4777 or dkain@tessan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news adviser
864-7657 or mgibson@kansan.com
Jon Schittt, sales and marketing adviser
864-7656 or jschittt@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Ian Cummings Lisa Curran, Alinus Knutsen, Angela Hawkins and Ryan Schlesinger.
9