Three Thing You should Know About Video Games this week!

                     Three Thing You should Know About
         Video Games this week!
                                                       

                                              

1.) Awesome Game Done Quick raises over
 1.5 million dollars for the prevent cancer foundation.

This years Awesome Games Quick hosted by Speed Demos Archive raised $1,575,000 for the prevent cancer foundation on January 4-10. Awesome Games Done Quick (or ADGQ for short) is a bi annual event held in the summer and the winter. The event is a marathon of many Video Game speed running. What is speed running? Speed running is when the player plays a game to beat it as fast as human possible, as oppose to going through the game "causally". 
There are many speed runners out there and they all ban together run their game of choice at this marathon and try to beat it as humanly possible. For example, a game like Super Mario RPG is a game that would take a normal player around 35 hours to complete, well the runner known as "Checkers" was able to beat the game in under 3 hours at this years ADGQ. The whole marathon lasted six days, and the whole marathon was streamed live on Twitch where viewers could donate money to the prevent cancer foundation. 
The marathon started with a Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze run by Michael Goldfish that clocked in at 1:35:36. The Marathon had over 70 different speed runs each with a different runner commentating each one. Some of the highlights of the marathon were a run of Tetris: The Grandmaster edition ran by Qlex, Kaizo Mario ran by Dram55, and a BLINDFOLDED run of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time by Runnerguy2489.

2.) Nintendo direct on 1/14/15 

          The Japanese Video Game company Nintendo, holds monthly Direct broadcasts that they call "Nintendo Directs". These directs are meant to reveal new games, release dates, and new hardware. Nintendo directs usually have lots of information of there new games and they get many fans very excited. 

          This months Nintendo direct was held on January 14 at  9 a.m. The direct kicked off with a new Fire Emblem trailer, revealing that there is a new game in the series that is currently unnamed. 

          Nintendo also showed of the New Nintendo 3DS, a new model for their handheld system that was already previously announced for japan. The new systems includes a new analog stick, better 3d, more shoulder buttons, and improved technical capabilities. 

         There was also plenty of news about Nintendo's gaming figures, Amiibos. They announced the release date for the third wave amiibos and showed off a new wave of Mario Amiibos. The direct mostly covered games that are coming out in spring of 2015, such as kirby and the rainbow curse, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, Codename steam, and Mario party 10. One of the biggest reveals of the direct, was the announcement of a brand new Fire Emblem game. 

3.) New Fire Emblem Game revealed

        One of the biggest, and most exciting announcements of the January 14th Nintendo direct was the announcement of New Fire Emblem game in the form of a new trailer. Fire Emblem is a Tactical Rpg game developed by Intelligent Systems. The game was said to be created by the same core team that brought us the previous title in the series, Fire Emblem: Awakening. A game that received high review scores and praise from fans. 

       The games title so far is simply "The latest in The Fire Emblem Series". This is mostly likely not going to be the final title. The game will offer a brand new story that is not tied to Fire Emblem: Awakening, and the story is said to expect players to "make bigger choices". 

                                                   

Three Things You Should Know About Technology This Week!

The Future Is Near

1. Project HoloLens!

It has been 5 years since Alex Kipman started working on this project. He has been trying to make a pair of goggles that can display holograms for all sorts of purposes including conference calls to virtual reality. The design could be both very productive and be very entertaining. Using the virtual reality aspect, users can play games and even create images that they can later 3D print. The product uses light to trick the brain that there is an object there. This allows great opportunity in fields of work and entertainment that were not previously available.  As of right now the project still has some work to be done but when it is finally complete it should be able to be fully controlled by voice and hand motions.

2. Project Ara!

Project Ara brings customization to a whole new level. This modular phone allows the user to attach as many sensors an other modules on to the phone to make it look and perform how they want it to.  Not only can some modules improve battery, camera, and screen, but it can also have a C02 meter  and glucometer. These modules can help improve daily life and be more helpful in emergency situations. The EKG meter can track your heart rate and the breathalyzer can tell you whether you are safe to drive or not.  This phone can give anyone who is interested in fitness or science a easier way to record data about their health and data.

3.SpaceX

         

SpaceX is a new space program with big goals such as putting a man on mars. SpaceX has a 10 billion dollar goal to start getting there satellites off the ground. As you can imagine, raising 10 billion dollars is a very hard task and requires major donations by big companies. recently Google and fidelity have donated a combined amount of 1 billion dollars towards the goal. The two companies now own 10% of spaceX.  

Three Things You Should Know About the MLB Offseason This Week

New Year, New Deals

1. Star Pitchers Mulling Offers

                         2014 saw many star players change teams, including Jon Lester, Pablo Sandoval, and Hanley Ramirez. Sadly though, aces like Max Scherzer and James Shields are still Free Agents. Both men have been pursued by many teams including the Red Sox, Yankees, Giants, and Tigers. Neither men have made up their minds though. With the 2015 season looming, both men are expected to make their decisions fairly soon.

                          Scherzer, 30, posted an ERA of 3.15 in 2014 as well as winning the Cy Young Award in 2013. Shields, 33, posted a 3.21 ERA in 2014, and is a former All-Star. Both men have great pasts and clearly a lot to offer to many teams, rebuilding or contending. Hopefully, both men retain their leadership roles on contending teams and can put together another great campaign.

2. Hamels Draws Attention

                            Cole Hamels is a stud pitcher. That's known. What is not known is where he will be playing in 2015. Staying in the City of Brotherly Love is always a possibility, but everyone knows that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro would like to trade him for some prospects for the future. Possible destinations include Boston, San Diego, Texas, and St. Louis. Philadelphia wants at least one top prospect in return for the former All-Star, as well as a few more prospects. The Red Sox can offer 2B/OF Mookie Betts. The Padres can offer C Austin Hedges. The Rangers can offer 3B Joey Gallo. The Cardinals can offer a combination of young players like OF Stephen Piscotty or P Carlos Martinez. All of these young guys are surefire prospects and who will get the coveted prize in Hamels is still unknown.

                          All 4 teams listed are contending teams and will be even better off with Hamels as their ace. Hamels is only 31 still, and is a 3-time All Star. He posted a 2.46 ERA last season, good for the 5th best in the National League. He still as a lot left in the tank and could be the missing link for many teams. Everyone will have to keep an eye on this to see where this ace goes. 

3. Evan Gattis Gets Traded to Houston

                        A silence on the Hot Stove was broken when power hitting Outfielder and Catcher got traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Houston Astros. Gattis, who is only 28 years old, was spread around the Rumor Mill frequently this offseason after the Braves recent acquisition of C AJ Piersyznski and the breaking out of prospect C Christian Bethancourt. The Braves got a fair haul in return for number 24 in prospects P Michael Foltynewicz, P Andrew Thurman, and 3B Rio Ruiz. 

                       Gattis is a slugger, hitting 21 and 22 homers in his past two seasons. His batting average rose this past season from .243 to .263 this season as well. His improvements at the plate were among the praise Gattis is able to receive with his coming along as an everyday backstop. He placed 7th in Rookie of the Year voting last year with his great play. Gattis is a great add to Houston's young roster. 

Editor's Note: Max Scherzer was recently signed by the Nationals to a 7 year, $210 million contract. 

Three Things You Should Know About Hockey...This Week.

Mumps Outbreak in the NHL

There has been a mumps outbreak in the NHL.  Multiple players were diagnosed with this disease.  Some of these players include Sidney Crosby, Beau Bennet, and Ryan Suter.  Bennet was the 15th player to be diagnosed with this disease during the outbreak, in the NHL.  Players from five teams have come down with the mumps.  The mumps has hit multiple people on the Ducks, Devils, Rangers, Wild, and the Penguins.  

This disease is transmitted through saliva.  People can have the mumps for two weeks without showing symptoms, but can be contagious the whole time.  Since hockey is a contact sport, it is very easy for players to catch this disease.  Players like sidney Crosby had to get a booster shot to help fight the symptoms.

Winter Classic 2015

The 2015 Winter Classic game will be taking place on January 1st 2015.  This game will be played at the Nationals Park in Washington D.C.  The game is going to be a hard one as the Washington Capitals take on the Chicago Blackhawks.   Captains Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals will be taking on Jonathan Towes and the Blackhawks.  

 This game was supposed to take place 2 years before that, but there was a 2012-2013 lockout.  This will be the second appearance at a winter classic game for both the Blackhawks and Capitals.  In 2009 the Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red wings.  In 2011 the Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nathan Horton Back Injury

Nathan Horton of the Columbus Blue Jackets has suffered a tremendous back injury.  Nathan Horton is one of many players injured on the Blue Jacket's roster.  Nathan has played with the Boston Bruins, the Florida Panthers, and the Blue Jackets and has won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins.  Nathan was signed to a 7-year $37.1 contract with the Blue Jackets.  Now he is faced with a possible career ending back injury at age 29 in only his second season with the Blue Jackets.

Horton will have to get surgery but it will end his career.  Horton is dealing with constant pain.  No one should have to live like that.  Horton definitely doesn't want to have surgery.  Having the surgery would bring relief right away, but once has does it there is no going back.  That will be his career if this surgery takes place.  According to Horton the injury came out of nowhere while rehabbing his shoulder.  His injury is a mystery to everyone.

Three Things You Should Know About Hockey...This Week

Coach Fired

Toronto Maple Leafs Fire Head Coach Randy Carlyle

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs have been inconsistent in their playing throughout the first three months of the season. They currently stand with a record of 22-19-3. Although this record isn't terrible the Leafs lack the ability to play consistently. In a recent ten game stretch played, the Leafs have came away with three wins, seven loses and zero ties. This is a huge change from the 29 games played in the beginning of the season where they had a winning record of 18-9-3. 

This is unacceptable for the such a successful team in previous years to do terribly. Carlyle being released from the tea was in result of this. The head coach plays a big role in the success of the team and what he will do to create success. Obviously what Carlyle was doing wasn't enough. Without another head coach to fill the role of Carlyle immediately, interim coaches Peter Horachek and Steve Spott will be running the bench and practices until a head coach role is filled.  The firing of the head coach also serves as a wake up call to all the players on the team; if the players don't step up their game to where it should be they could be released as well.  The player's on the Leafs all know their role and what they have to do to help their team succeed, there just hasn't been any improvement in the game play. 

The management of the Toronto Maple Leafs all believe that the team has the talent to be a major role in the for coming playoffs but know that if there isn't change on how the team is doing now they could be without a spot in the playoffs.  Randy Carlyle is the fourth head coach to be fired this year in the NHL. 

This photo shows former head coach, Randy Carlyle.

NHL All-StarWeekend

Players From All Teams Have Been Selected To Participate in All-Star Game and Skills 

The NHL All-Star weekend is when the best players in the NHL are selected to be apart of a skills competition and an All-Star game. It is being hosted by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena. The skills competition is scheduled for January 24th, 2015 and the all-star game is the following day on the 25th. This event only happens once a year. While watching, you see the most talented hockey players in the NHL display their individual skill along with their teamwork skill making this a very entertaining and anticipated event. 

The two teams participating in the game are named after their captains; Team Toews and Team Foligno. In addition to captain Jonathan Toews of Team Toews, there will be the assistant captains Ryan Getzlaf and Rick Nash. In addition to captain Nick Folingo of Team Folingo, there will be the assistant captains Patrick Kane and Drew Doughty. The rest of each team will be designated on January 23rd, in the 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft.  This event is one of the biggest events other than the playoffs in the NHL. It is only once a year when there is so much talent in one area, playing together.

The Blue Jackets want to make this event even more appealing to the fans, so in order to do this they have built an outdoor NHL sized rink across the street from the Nationwide Arena. This rink is open to the public and there will be many activities for the public to participate in on and off the ice. The All-Star game in Columbus has been in the making for 15 years and will be without a doubt a very memorable one.

This picture is the logo for the 2015 NHL All-Star game.

Boston Bruins Turn-Around 

The Bruins Picked Up a New Player and Once Again Playing With Full Intensity 

The Boston Bruins are currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with the record of 24-16-6. In previous games in the season, the Bruins were not playing with as much intensity and heart as they could be. They were losing more games than they were winning in multiple game stretches. The Bruins had a rare event where the players were talked to by the general manager, who stated that their needs to be change in performance. After this talk, the Bruins immediately took effect and have been playing better since. Not only was the meeting with Peter Chiarelli hehelpfulo the Bruins success but also the addition of David Pastrnak. 

David Pastrnak is currently the youngest player in the NHL at only 18 years old. Pastrnak is currently on a line with Milan Lucic and David Krejci. Pastrnak is a great addition to the line with his scoring ability and overall presence. In two games Pastrnak has scored four goals, two each game, helping lead the Bruins to victory. He hopes to continue his success from the Providence Bruins to the NHL Bruins lineup. In the AHL, Pastrnak scored ten goals with a total of twenty seven points in twenty four games. If the current performance of David Pastrnak continues throughout the season, he will be a impacting factor on the Bruins success.    

This photo is of David Pastrnak.

Three Thing you should know about College Football this week

Ohio State wins college football's national championship

In   the   College National  Championship game Ohio State   beat Oregon 42-20. Ohio State's star running back Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns. Ohio State's quarterback Cardale Jones, started out the year as the teams third string quarterback but due to injuries to Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett played well and lead his team to victory. Oregon Quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariotia threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns but it wasn't enough for his team to win. This was Ohio State's first national championship as Urban Meyer became only the second coach in college football to win National Championships with two different schools.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-state-wins-college-footballs-national-championship/

Oregon Ducks QB Marcus Mariota Declares for NFL Draft    

Oregon QB and Heisman trophy finalist Marcus Mariota decided to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft. This is important news because Mariota is projected by many draft analysts to be the first pick in the NFL draft.The Heisman trophy is not the only award mariota won as he also won the AP player of the year,the Maxwell and Walter Camps award  and the Pac-12 Offensive  Player of the year


http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/oregon-ducks-marcus-mariota-nfl-draft-heisman-trophy-qb-011415


Oregon WR Darren Carrington ruled ineligible for Championship game 

Oregon WR Darren Carrington has been suspended by the NCAA for failing a drug test. Carrington was developing as Mariota's favorite target with 14 catches, 291 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Rose bowl and Pac-12 Championship game. This comes as an even bigger blow to Oregon because WR devon Allen has also been ruled for the National Championship game.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/09/report-oregon-suspends-darren-carrington-for-national-championship-game/

Three Things You Should Know About Hockey... This Week

World Junior Hockey Championship 2015

The final game of the 2015 Championship gold medal game included the two teams, Russia and Canada.  Canada won in regulation time with a final score of 5 to 4.  This game was in Canada at the Air Canada Centre.  Team Canada's Junior team hadn't won thee tournament since 2009.  

Slovakia won the bronze medal over Sweden 4 to 2.  The Slovaks won their only other medal, a bronze, in 1998-1999, in Winnipeg.    

New Bruins Pickups

The Bruins announce that rookie, David Pastrnak will be staying with the Bruins for the rest of the season.  Pastrnak has 4 goals in three games after joining the Bruins after the World Junior Hockey Championship.  

Pastrnak will be playing his 10th game on Saturday night against the Colombus Blue Jackets.  By playing his 10th game it will activate his high level contract with the Bruins.  Entering thursday night's game David has 5 points.  David Pastrnak had 27 points  and 10 goals with the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins after joining the Czech Republic for the under 20-tournament. 

2015 NHL All Star Game

The 2015 NHL All Star Game will take place in Columbus.  The All Star Competition will be taking place on January 24th and the All Star game will be taking place on January 25th.  The two captains are Nick Foligno and Johnathan Towes.  Doughty, Kane, Getzlaf, and Nash are named the assistant captains.  The All Star game will include NHL superstars such as Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Towes, Patrick Kane, Patrice Bergeron, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Steven Stamkos. 

The goalies that were supposed to be playing at the all star games are being replaced, both due to injuries.  These injured goalies are Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings and Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators.  They are being replaced by Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jaroslav Halak of the New York Islanders.  Halak will be making his first ever NHL All Star appearance.  Fleury will be making his second appearance.