#Alexfromtarget

#Alexfromtarget

While many teens become famous for their talents and posts  online in social media, few get famous from doing their everyday job.  Take 16-year-old Alex Lee from Frisco, for example. He’s a hard worker living his normal life and working at his part-time job as a bagger at Target.

One day while working his shift, Lee met a girl about his age who took pictures of him. This girl’s Twitter handle is @auscalum. Little did Lee know how this would end, never knowing about the picture she took of him bagging groceries. When he returned home that night Lee got on Twitter as usual to check his notifications, but this time was different.

The photo of him at work  went viral under the hashtag #Alexfromtarget. Lee suddenly had 300,000 Twitter followers within 24 hours from his new-found fame and had inspired many spin-offs, such as Kieran from T-Mobile and Steve from Starbucks.

Lee was later interviewed by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Lee and his family have been offered countless advertising deals and sponsorships. Television, movie and modeling agents want to meet him. He now has over 730,000 Twitter followers.

Fired from his part-time job at Target due to unwanted publicity, Lee now has a kickstart to a new job, being the newest Internet phenomenon to go viral.

—Jonathan Johnson

I’m thankful for: Student Media gives thanks

I’m thankful for: Student Media gives thanks

“I’m thankful that I can spend this holiday with my husband and his family and for all the freedoms that we enjoy in this country.” – Joyce Jackson

“My friends here at the newspaper and for my family that loves me.” – Isai Diaz

“I’m grateful for the paper and all the people I have been able to know and work with.” – Terry Blend

“The opportunity to spend time with old friends and family and see new lives emerging into what they will become.” – Larry Ratliff

“The experiences and hardships I’ve been through thus far in my adult life and for my family and friends who have helped me through it all.” – Melanie Brandow

“I have a happy healthy son who is my reason to open my eyes every day, good friends and school” – Blanca Reyes

“The health and well being of my wife and son.” – Jack Fletcher

“The time I spend with my brother Christopher as well as my furry friends Spunky, Fuzzy and Sadie as well as my family, friends and the never-ending tapestry of movies I get to review.” – Ricky Miller

“My family and girlfriend.” – Quan Tran

“Family and friends, without whom, nothing else much would matter.” – Tim Jones

“For lots of things; my love of words and the many exceptional books I’ve read, as well as the many I have yet to read, but most of all, I’m thankful for my friends.” – Doris Brogan

“For my sweet children and the strength of their hearts.” – Kim Sanders

“For the support from my family, friends and girlfriend.” – Charlie Vann

“For my parents.” – Antina Sneed

“A country that’s war-free, for safety and security.” –Muneer Washah

“The year’s challenges and opportunities and the people – colleagues and students alike – who have graced the path.” – Erica Edwards

“My radio show.” – Raymond T. Pronk

“The virtue of patience.” – Kisten S. Chetty

“For the job I have.” – Kimendran Chetty

“Having a job!” – Alexander Taylor

“For my family, my friends and for my accomplishments so far.” – Yolmar Gonzalez

“For my success in college so far.” – Jonathan Johnson

“The opportunities I’ve been given, with this new chapter of my life” – Audrey Morton

“For a day off.” – David Goodloe

The Reveal of Microsoft’s Windows 10

The Reveal of Microsoft’s Windows 10

Staff illustration Quan Tran

JONATHAN JOHNSON

Staff Writer

Microsoft vice president Joe Belfiore introduced an early developer’s version of the newest operating system branded as Windows 10 in late September. The operating system itself has a lot of bells and whistles that are inherited from the highly disliked Windows 8, but still adds the old fashion flavor to the mix.

One of the most anticipated features of Windows 10 is the new start menu. It consists of a combination of two elements, the first being the old fashioned start menu introduced in Windows 7. The second feature is the Windows 8 Metro styled tiles.

Tiles can be dragged around and placed accordingly in the start menu. Anyone who doesn’t like tiles can easily drag them off the start menu. Of course,  there’s  the traditional full screen metro view introduced in Windows 8 for those who still like the functionality.

Another feature included in the introduction of Windows 10 was the capability to make multiple desktops for home, work and play. The Windows search was also improved, performing keyword searches in your search bar will now pull up searches from the Web and from local computer storage making search a fresh, polished accurate tool to searched items.

The operating systems window snapping feature has also been improved. Multitasking has been overhauled for faster performance. Windows now suggests open programs or files for multitasking so users don’t have to scroll through windows or files to find files to open. Also, a total of four windows can be snapped at once on a single screen.

Windows 10 developer’s version is available for free on the Microsoft website. Users must be signed up as an insider and also allow the tolerance of un finished software on your computer when installing and using Windows 10.

Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows. It promises to unlock new experiences for customers to work, play and connect. Let’s hope it will live up to its potential and satisfy consumers as we all say goodbye to Windows 7.

Internet prankster accused of sexual harassment

Internet prankster accused of sexual harassment

JONATHAN JOHNSON

Staff Writer

Image courtesy abouttimemagazine.com

Screen capture from video of Sam Pepper prank that caused criticism.

Multiple accusations of sexual harassment have been leveled at YouTube sensation Sam Pepper after he posted an alleged prank video on YouTube. He supposedly used a fake hand in his hoodie pouch, while using his real hand behind his back to grab girls’ rear ends.

The video was removed from YouTube
after enraged fans expressed concern.

Pepper released another video two days later that showed girls grabbing guys’ rear ends. This video was also disliked by fans and was removed by Pepper.

A third video was released by Pepper in an attempt to calm down the situation and
explain that the previous videos were intended to be a social experiment.

“This is how it should be, nice to see how society is finally catching up on how this
affects women,” Pepper said.

Pepper failed to account for any of the other prankster content on YouTube dealing with young women.

The controversy has united the website’s young female fans and led to the emergence of darker, more serious allegations.

A video blogger has come forth to tell of meeting Pepper at a fan meet when she was 16 and Pepper was 23. Shortly thereafter

she went to a movie with Pepper, where she claimed he repeatedly tried to touch her
inappropriately, according to press reports. Another female fan also has come forward anonymously to claim she was raped by Pepper.

At press time no charges have been filed against Pepper.

‘Destiny’ $325 million and still counting

Image courtesy http://www.ps4.com

“Destiny” combines the fast nature of first-person shooters with open world exploration.

‘Destiny’ $325 million and still counting

JONATHAN JOHNSON

Staff Writer

Video game developer Bungie and producer Activision announced their new game, “Destiny,” which sold more than $325 million worldwide in the first five days after its release on Sept. 9.

It had a worldwide average game play count of 100 million hours by the end of the  first week. With 137 million activities, it became the best selling new video game franchise of all time.

After the release of “Halo 4” in 2012, Bungie and “Call of Duty” video game creators partnered with Activision to create the innovative game, “Destiny.”

Image courtesy http://www.edge.com

The game allows multiple players to form groups and complete missions.

The two companies hoped to invent a game that would become an icon in the industry with an eye-catching, mythical science fiction open-world setting.

The game’s announcement in February 2013 pleased “Destiny” fans who have been anticipating a new franchise from Bungie since the company’s release of “Halo 4” in 2012.

According to Bungie’s Joe Dougie, “The game’s style has been described as a first-person shooter that will incorporate massively multiplayer online game (MMO) elements.”

Bungie has avoided defining “Destiny” as a traditional MMO. Instead, the company calls it a shared-world shooter in which players can call upon each other for help while questing through the world.

The game’s setting is a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world known as the Golden Age, a prosperous era of exploration, peace and technological advancement in a universe where humans have spread out and colonized planets in the solar system in an event called The Collapse.

Upon entering the game, players take on the persona of Guardians, the last defenders of humanity sent to protect Earth’s last city.

With an amazing storyline and outstanding graphical capabilities, the game has the potential to jumpstart Bungie and Activation’s
partnered future and forever change the
gaming industry.

Image courtesy http://www.galleryhip.com

Players can customize in-game characters.