Thursday, July 28, 2016

A weekend in St. Tropez

With more boats than I have ever seen, St. Tropez is the place for me. Last weekend I visited St. Tropez with some friends, and I love the place. With crystal clear water, more boats than you can imagine, unlimited water sports and great food, St. Tropez is endless.

Temperatures this time of year are around the mid-80s and mostly sunny. It’s perfect!
July and August are St. Tropez’s prime season for visitors. 


During our stay, we dined at L’Opera, where the atmosphere is filled with creative shows as dancers dance on the tables during dinner. 

The restaurant turns into a private club about 11 p.m., and the shows continue throughout the night.

 The food and entertainment at L’Opera is one to experience.

My favorite part about this trip was going out on the boat for the day.

 We spent the day on the water jet boarding, paddling boarding and snorkeling. 

St. Tropez is definitely one of the best places I’ve been to. If you are ever in France, St. Tropez is a place you cannot miss.

— Brittany Sowell

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

Friday, July 15, 2016

College survival guide

College is hard.

It’s harder for those who work and go to college, and even harder for those who are a parent and go to college. It’s harder still for those who don’t learn as efficiently as others, and especially difficult for those who don’t learn as efficiently as others, work and are parents.

Bottom line: It’s hard to be a college student.

Here are some helpful tips that I have learned and some that have been given to me that made life so much easier for me in college.

Learn how to manage a budget


  • Cut back on fast food purchases.
  • Only use your credit cards for emergency use.
  • Save. Save. Save.
  • Only buy the books and supplies you absolutely need.

Make use of your time wisely. 


  • Take notes in class.
  • Ask questions, even if you have to stay after class to ask them.
  • Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
  • Give yourself some down time – don’t overwhelm yourself.

Maintain a healthy diet


  • Eat breakfast. Eat lunch. Eat dinner.
  • An excessive amount of fast food and junk food will not do you any favors.
  • Get some form of exercise.
  • Drink plenty of water.

Don’t freak out when it comes to presentation day


  • Practice what you’re going to say, especially in front of the mirror.
  • Get a friend to ask a question you already know the answer to – buy this friend a pizza afterward.
  • Don’t imagine everyone in their underwear! 
  • Find a spot in the room, and stare at that spot while you’re giving your speech. Don’t just glare at the pretty girl in the front row.

Be sociable


  • You would be surprised the close friendships you can make in college.
  • It’s okay to be an introvert, but don’t run away from all social situations. 
  • Join a club on campus.
  • Being friendly to someone just might be the thing he/she needs. You never know what they’re going through.

Trust in your professors


  • When your professors give you some serious life knowledge, listen.
  • Make it a habit to talk with your academic advisor at least once a semester.
  • Don’t be too confrontational. If there’s a pressing issue that’s out of your control, take it to the proper authorities. 
  • Give them positive feedback/criticism on their semester evaluations. They will appreciate it.

Don’t get too stressed out


  • Treat yourself every once in while with a study break or a drive out of town. 
  • Some stress is good, but don’t have a nervous breakdown in the middle of a test. Just relax. It’s not the end of the world.
  • Make your professor aware if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They could give you an extended deadline for a paper or study tips.
  • Don’t be the workhorse in group projects. If you’re feeling like no else is contributing, let the professor know the situation.

Be responsible


  • Stop letting your mom wash your clothes. You need to do that yourself.
  • Set an alarm. You really can’t afford to miss too many classes.
  • Eat something better than PBJ and Ramen noodles.
  • Clean up after yourself, and bathe regularly. 

Don’t let others distract you


  • This is your life and your time to do something. Don’t get too preoccupied with romantic relationships. If it’s causing your grades to slip, then it’s time to move on.
  • Spend time with your friends, but don’t let them be an excuse to ditch writing a paper or to study for a test.
  • If your roommates are being too rowdy, then move your study session elsewhere.
  • It’s okay to tell that one annoying person in class who always has something to say to shut up. This class is for you too, not just them.

Don’t let other temptations mess up your life


  • Stay away from parties and alcohol as much as possible.  
  • Don’t get too intimate with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Can you really handle a baby right now?
  • Stay away from social media as much as possible, and limit your time on Netflix.
  • If you’re on a sports team or in a school club, don’t let them consume your time. Your studies still come first.

Don’t feel obligated in picking a major right away


  • Not everyone knows what they want to do when they start college, and it’s okay.
  • Take a variety of classes to explore several different options.
  • It’s okay to change your major, but don’t make it a habit.
  • Finish with your general studies first, and then make a decision.

Stay in contact with your family


  • Make sure you call home and let your folks know you’re alright, especially if you live away from home.
  • If you still live at home, spend some time with your family while you can.
  • Come home on some weekends and holidays.
  • If you’re married, spend time with your spouse outside of the house. If you have kids, spoil them a little.

Get a job or an internship


  • It doesn’t hurt to work a few hours during the week to earn some extra cash.
  • Getting an internship is a great way to get your foot in the door for a future job.
  • Internships provide excellent experience and could even help persuade you in a career choice.
  • Campus internships and jobs are pretty ideal.

Have fun


  • College isn’t always about studying and making perfect test scores. Sometimes you need to just relax and enjoy yourself.
  • Be sociable, be friendly, be you. This is supposed to be the best years of your life.
  • Meet new people, make new friendships, fall in love and take a vacation.
  • Get the most out of your college experience.

— Cory Morris

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major




Thursday, July 14, 2016

Working with kids and why I still want them

When most people talk about their aspirations for the future, they seem to have some pretty incredible goals, such as world travel, starting their own business, earning a Ph.D., winning the lottery or being somebody other than the average Joe. And while all of these goals are great, I myself have never really had any stellar dreams or aspirations like that for myself – besides winning the lottery of course, that would be okay. My greatest hopes and desires, for as long as I can remember, have been a little bit more personal and simple. My dreams are to be a husband and a father.

Getting married and having kids seems like the norm for most people. Some people decide they have explored the world and everything in it long enough, and their next best option is to finally settle down. To me, to be a husband and a father would mean everything in the world. I don’t need to travel the world or to earn a Ph.D. or to go above and beyond to fulfill myself and deem myself a successful person. It’s the simple things in life I crave the most.

I have claimed several titles in my life, such as son, grandson, brother, friend, cousin and nephew, but to have the title of husband would make me the happiest living soul on Earth. And to be somebody’s dad – I get pretty emotional and excited to think that someone like me can actually be a father – would be the greatest gift I could ever ask for.
   

For more than two years, I have worked for the Bay Base program at Bay District Schools. Bay Base is an after-school program for Bay County elementary students from ages 4 to 12. The program also offers childcare during the summer break and school holidays.

My position title is the Community Aide, and I have been working at Deer Point Elementary, while switching to Tommy Smith Elementary during every other summer and holiday cluster days.

Everyone seems to have their own opinion on children, whether they have children of their own or not, or whether they like children or not. I don’t have children of my own, and my viewpoint on children hasn’t really changed much since I’ve been working with them like most would think. I know a lot of people who are simply terrified of kids, scared of the nonstop bickering, fighting and screaming. I can understand that; anyone in their right mind would be apprehensive about that. You really have to learn how to handle all the chaos, and it’s not for everyone. I have people tell me — sometimes it’s the parents of the kids I watch — how they don’t know how I handle the chaos the job brings. Many parents tell me working with children is the perfect birth control; they simply see the one to five minutes of unrelenting pandemonium they can be and it’s enough for them to pity me and my coworkers. The stress gets to me sometimes, as it does to all of us, but I work with some amazing people who are professionals and have mastered the stress that comes with the job. They have been so patient with me on my bad days and have taught me how to handle my own. It’s just assumed I work with kids, therefore, I’m supposed to hate them all and to never want any of my own. This is not true.

Sometimes I am warned by parents to never have children. I really don’t like hearing such things like this, because to me it sounds like your kids drive you so insane to the point where you are wishing you hadn’t had them in the first place. Are they really that huge a burden on you? But the thing that really tears me a part are the children who grow up without a parent. For whatever reason, the parents don’t want anything to do with their children, so they leave. I can’t recall all of the children I have met who are growing up with only one parent or no parents at all. All I can say is God bless those stepmothers, stepfathers and grandparents who have stepped up and claimed ownership of these children and love them as if they are their own.  

My work days consist of nearly the same thing every day, which is to basically be a hawk and always watch the kids and make sure no one’s getting hurt, no one’s being bullied and no one’s got their finger half-way up their nose. As I see it, I’m there to keep the kids in line and to keep them entertained. I am also to be more than just a drill sergeant who has to yell and scream to communicate; and sometimes, that is the only way. I don’t like to use my “parent” voice — or how I typically call it, my “Mean Mr. Cory voice” — but when the occasion calls for it, I do what I have to do. Most of the time I am the big softy and tend to be a little more lenient than most staff, which doesn’t help when I need to be serious and stern. But that’s how I see myself as a dad, fun but firm, that’s basically how my dad was when I was growing up. There does come a time when I’ve been the nice guy for too long and they start to think they can get away with anything around me because I tend to be a little bit more easy-going than most. That’s when I lay down my foot and get ugly. It’s not to be the bad guy; it’s to make them understand I am an adult too and I need the same respect as the other staff members.

Some of the most fun I have with the kids are times where I get to interact with them, not the times when I have to make them sit down and be quiet, but when I get to play games with them or just be silly with them. I have always loved to go outside and play, especially sports, and it’s so fulfilling to see children drop the iPads and the Gameboys and be excited about playing outside like children did before modern technology took over. The most time I ever spend with my boys is when we go outside to play football or kickball. While we’re out playing, they don’t see me as an adult; they just see me as another kid having fun like they are. Some of the games we play get pretty intense and tempers flare, but I blame that on that most boys can be hotheads and arrogance, then I have to be an adult again and break up the commotion, but most of the time we just have fun. Even when they start “trash talking” me it’s still fun. I get called all sorts of names: Booger Brain, Poop Head, Grandpa, Tooth Fairy, Captain Poo Face; but it’s all fun and games, because I know how to dish the “insults” right back at them. Other good times I spend with my boys, is when we’re playing video games. Yes, I do prefer if we’re outside playing, but sometimes playing a non-violent video game is just as fun. I always have a blast watching them play on the Wii or the Xbox 360 and it’s such a blessing to me for them to want me to play with them. Of course I don’t go easy on them as I should; why let them win on purpose? so they think they’ll be handed things in life? I teach them how to play fair and how to share and I can see how it’s starting to come into effect in other aspects of their lives. They are learning to share and respect others while playing with toys or if they’re outside playing; I am so proud to see the lessons I try to teach them actually applied in these other areas.

In the time that I’ve been with Bay Base and Bay District Schools I have met a lot of really interesting and unique children that have really left their mark on me – some actually leaving physical marks, like bruises, the little punks. I have had the pleasure of working with some simply amazing children, that when I think of what I want my future kids to be like I look to them as examples. And while I try not to pick any favorites, I tend to allow the girls to get away with more than the boys. I’m a sucker for a pretty face, sue me!

While I have always wanted children, I have never really wanted any girls though, for several valid reasons:

  1. Girls tend to be a little bit more work, in my opinion. There’s the mood swings, the girly clothes, toys, and makeup, the fact that they’ll never win me a Heisman trophy, but the worst thing about having a girl, is the boys that she’ll attract. I already know how boys are, I am one, and none of them are any good, including me. I already have to deal with my little sister and boys, that’s stressful enough, but to see my daughter(s) go through the boy drama; I don’t think I am strong enough for that. For starters, no boy will ever be good enough for a daughter of mine, as no boy will ever be good enough for my sister; it’s just the simple facts. And when one of these hairy legged boys hurts one of my girls in any form or fashion I’m going to want to hurt him back. I have always wanted to use the line a great man once said (my father), “whatever you do to her, I’ll do to you, and don’t worry I don’t mind going back to prison.” 
  2. I’ll be way too protective of a girl than I would a boy, and that’s not fair to her. I would never want my daughter to ever leave the house. I’d want her to be homeschooled and only leave the house for church and I can always persuade the pastor to come to the house. The world that I grew up in was a dark and evil place for me, I can’t even begin to comprehend the mess my little girl could get into in the world now; there’s danger around every corner. I would be a worried wreck if she ever went out, even if it was to hang out with friends; it would be the longest night of my life. 
  3. I would give in to a daughter more than I would a son. I would spoil her rotten. “Daddy, I need $100,” DONE! “Daddy, I want to drive your new Corvette,” DONE! “Daddy, since you love me more, I deserve more presents for Christmas,” DONE! Seriously, I wouldn’t know self-control if it fell out of the sky, landed on my face, and started to do the Macarena. 


I don’t know how fathers do it. I also don’t know how they let their daughters go out and do the things they do. They all need a GPS tracker implanted into them once they’re born. But you know working with some of the girls, most of these girls, its making me want a daughter of my own, especially when I see or hear that they have to grow up without a father. That just breaks my heart to see any child grow up with a father, especially when the scumbag doesn’t want anything to do with them in the first place. These little girls have been such a blessing to me that they have truly changed this stubborn heart of mine and may have convinced me that having a daughter wouldn’t be so bad. I will always treasure them and love them like they’re my own. My girls are simply the best. I’ll play Barbie’s, Littlest Pet Shop, or a variety of games with my little ones. I’ll sit and color with my first and second graders, and I’ll actually have heart-to-heart conversations with my older girls. It simply amazes me how smart they all are. I try to make a special bond with each girl under my care, especially the timid ones – there are always shy ones.

The worst days are the last week of school. This is when my fifth graders are leaving elementary school behind and looking to start their new life in middle school. I’ve been through this three times, and each time it gets harder and harder to say good bye. I’m not even gonna lie, I get a little too emotional saying good bye, even with my boys. If they’re not too ashamed to hug me one last time, I usually hug them, tell them to be good and have fun in middle school. It’s just so mind-blowing to see these kids every day during the school year, and then they’re just gone. Now sometimes I see them out in public and all these crazy emotions come back, especially when they rush up to me to tell me all about what’s happening in their lives. I love to hear about what they’ve been up to and all the fun they’ve had beyond elementary school. They’ll never know how much they’ve impacted my life.

Quite honestly, I don’t care what people may say about kids, good or bad. I know not all kids are terrible and there are actually good ones. In my opinion, if your kid acts like a beast it’s because you aren’t being the parent, you’re the problem, not them. And if you are skeptical about having children, then maybe that’s something you need to pray about and meditate on. It’s so easy for me to say, I know, but I’ve been around kids long enough to know the ones who are raised right and the ones who have no respect for others, adults, or themselves. I know what kind of father I want to be and I’m sure I’ll learn better once I actually become one, but I welcome the challenges that lie ahead. If God blesses me with one child – boy or girl, I will be satisfied, if I am to have five girls – I will consider it a blessing, or if I have two boys and one girl like I dream of having – I will be blessed. Being a father isn’t something that I’ll take lightly. I will be 100 percent committed to raising my kids the right way, and I will always be there for them and to love them unconditionally above all else.

— Cory Morris

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Preparation for a successful semester

With the fall semester quickly approaching, it’s a good idea to be fully equipped with the right tools to complete tasks head on. Whether you’re a returning student, transfer student or freshman, we all have the desire to be fully prepared. Here are a few helpful tips to get you on the right track for a successful semester:

Purchase books

A key aspect of succeeding in the classroom is having the right tools. With many options available for students, buying books are easier now than ever before. There are several sites that provide rentals and eBooks, or swing by the bookstore to purchase one in person.

Read the syllabus

Before the semester begins, review of your syllabus. This will allow you to schedule appointments and vacations around your school schedule. This is also a great idea to prepare you for any events that may happen throughout the semester. Noting these due dates will provide you with ample time to study or prepare for homework, quizzes, papers and exams.

Handle your finances

Before you begin a class, be sure to make decisions regarding your finances. Putting this important task off to the last minute could cost you a hefty late fee or even worse removal from a course. The cashier’s office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Attend orientation

If for some reason you’ve slipped under the radar for attending orientation, you’re definitely missing out. This informative meeting will provide you with the knowledge base in various areas throughout the campus. From reviewing the handbook to walking students through the enrollment process, it would be a good idea to take full advantage of this time with staff members.

Meet with your advisor

This step is not only required but crucial to your development as a student. Maintaining this relationship will provide you with first-hand advice and the assurance of being on the right track to graduate.

The order in which you choose to complete this checklist doesn’t really matter, but the timeline does. The earlier you tackle the list, the better the outcome. Remembering to apply these tips before beginning each semester will leave you feeling less stressed and more organized.

— Candice Snodgrass

contributing writer
professional communication major

My favorite holiday 2016

This was the first Fourth of July in five years we were able to celebrate at home. We decided to do it right!

First thing’s first, I set the table for the occasion!



We walked down to Fifth Street in Lynn Haven the morning of the parade – this was our first trip so we weren’t too prepared. We might’ve been the only group without chairs to sit in, so we sat on the curb on 77. What a great small town parade! It was nice and I loved it!






I went to Pinterest for some inspiration for an easy festive dessert and found this: Strawberries with blueberries, confectioners sugar, cream cheese and almond extract!


We decided to do hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and I also made THIS!


We hosted a party for about 15 people, and two of them were visiting from the U.K. It was their first Fourth of July, and we all had a wonderful time.

After a couple of games of corn hole and lots of drinks, it was time to head down to the park for some fireworks! We had great seats and it was the perfect conclusion to our day!



 Did I mention I bought this at Lids in Pier Park? Go Noles!!!


— Sandra de Arrigunaga

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major



Friday, July 8, 2016

Alumna proves dreams do come true

Jamie Lynch proves no dream is too big if you work hard.

The FSU Panama City alumna earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in summer 2015 and went on to her dream job. She is the youngest person working for Redken5th Ave, a professional hair care brand owned by L’Oreal.

Transferring from a private, Catholic university in New York, Jamie had a completely different experience at FSU Panama City. The thing that she loved most was the fact that most of her classes were hands-on. She had never experienced this style of teaching before because at her previous school, every class was taught straight out of the book.

During her first day of class at FSUPC, she was forced out of her comfort zone to make a presentation about herself during Dr. Leslie Lipton’s GEB Communications course.

“This is something that absolutely terrified me because I’m naturally an extremely shy person and my face gets beet red if I have to be in front of people for any reason,” Jamie recalled.

Later on in the class, Jamie learned this would become a weekly occurrence. She stuck with the class, becoming more comfortable giving presentations and being in front of people with each assignments. As much as she dreaded it at the time, the requirement drastically helped her in her career today.

“At my current job, I always have to be in front of people and make multiple presentations a week, and if it wasn’t for all of my hands-on classes I would’ve never been able to do this,” she said.

While most of us dread that one required internship in college, Jamie took on three. She knew that in order to succeed in that kind of competitive market, she had to build her experience and her resume. Her first internship was as an Editorial Intern at Daily Makeover in New York City. She then went on to become a beauty intern at Seventeen Magazine, where she managed the beauty closet, assisted with editorial photo shoots and obtained credit information for each issue. Her third internship was with College Fashionista, where she was responsible for producing weekly beauty online news articles and produced weekly street-style fashion blog posts. Her internship experiences gave her the insight to know this was the path she wanted to take. She also applied her passion in creating her own YouTube channel Allthingzglam.



Now working in the Redken5th Ave retail division — a position is usually only offered to recent MBA graduates — she is on the U.S. Marketing responsible for all new and existing product launches and promotions. Her team curates and executes all advertising materials that we see related to the brand. She works closely with the creative department, digital team and demand planning to ensure their objectives are met.

 “Don’t ever let anyone one tell you that your dreams are too big,” she said. “Whatever it is that you want in your life, you can achieve it as long as you put in the work.”

— Sandra de Arrigunaga

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

Seven songs for seven ages



"We Are Going To Be Friends" by Jack Johnson (ages 0-5)

This song reminds me of the innocence of childhood. I play it for my daughter because of the happy, folksy feel. I made some friends during the first five years of my life that I still keep up with to this day. I clearly remember meeting the first friend I made…I think it felt so great to make friends I decided to just keep on doing it till I found friends I didn’t want anymore.





"Bust A Move" by Young MC (ages 5-10)

Now you might think this is a weird song choice for my 5-10 age category, but it’s not the song but how I got acquainted with it. You see, I have two older brothers and I was the only girl for most of my childhood. They were my enemies, but I admired them more than anything. I would sneak into my brothers’ room and listen to their tapes and CDs – music was my first love, there’s no doubt about that. Young MC’s “Stone Cold Rhymin’” album contained beats and lyrics I had never ever heard. I grew up listening to 107.9 KVLY, an oldies channel my parents listened to in the car, and that was the extent of music to my knowledge. This stuff was just plain cool.





"'Round Here" by Counting Crows (ages 10-15)

During my musical explorations that continued to this point, I found a new album my brother, Jamie, got on his birthday in 1993. On that Sept. 14, I thought “August and Everything After” was almost the greatest thing I’d ever heard since Elton John and the Beatles. I was beginning to feel the emotions of someone who could only become a hopeless romantic. I should’ve better prepared myself by narrowing my genres to rap and heavy metal. :/





"That's How Your Love Makes Me Feel" by Diamond Rio (ages 15-20)

So here it is, 15. I still hadn’t had my first kiss, and I had decided to live in Dallas to babysit my cousin’s children for the summer. I became obsessed with country music that summer. Everything they sang about seemed so real, and song-by-song I dissected the lyrics to see if they would help me determine my destiny. This song made the summer feel like the best season of the year, and I was building what my definition of love was way before I ever experienced it. Little did I know, I’d get my very first kiss two months after I got back home.





"Nobody's Home" by Avril Lavigne (ages 20-25)

I moved out of town two weeks after high school. I had never been to Austin, but had decided I wanted to make it my home. I overcame an abusive relationship in high school, moved to Austin and fell in love with practically the first brown-haired, brown-eyed boy I had met. I decided he was “the one” and built a future with him before the words “I love you” had left my mouth. He left me for his ex-girlfriend, and I felt like my life was ending. (You wouldn’t know it now. That’s just the girl I used to be, and I was for about five more years.) I was so worried about what other people thought that I lost my own identity and kept hiding behind empty relationships. Every “I love you” slowly became a lie. I slowly became broken.





"Stop This Train" by John Mayer (ages 25-30)

Being out of relationships for the first time in 10 years allowed me to slowly find out who I truly was. I went through a pretty dramatic life change when I moved away for work and realized that sometimes the best things in life are in your own backyard. I had lost touch with the girl that was determined to be who she always wanted to be, the girl who took risks and smiled at strangers every once and a while. If you molded my parents together, you’d get the person I will strive to be for the rest of my life. I only recently realized how precious life really is. I can only look forward to living it from now on.





"The Luckiest" by Ben Folds (ages 30-Present)

I found the love of my life and got married. I have a daughter now. Life is anything but easy, but now I know what it’s like to have everything you ever truly hoped for. This song has always been one of my favorites. It’s mostly about a man telling someone how much he loves someone – I listen to this song and think about my husband, my daughter and both our parents’ undying love for each other – a combined 92 years of true love that will never be matched. I am the luckiest.

What songs tell your life story?

— Sandra de Arrigunaga

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Instant coffee is a thing?

After spending time in Europe, I have discovered instant coffee and I’m horrified! 

Why haven’t I ever heard such a thing before? I know about instant hot chocolate (I always made mine with a cup of warm milk instead of water), but why instant coffee? One who hasn’t experienced the love for freshly brewed craft coffee may not know what their missing, or maybe it’s the convenience of opening a package and adding hot water. I don’t get it. 


I was flying on a plane from Spain to England when I experienced a bit of trauma. My laptop is open as I plan to knock out some school work on this two-hour plane ride when I began to doze off. The flight attendant passed by with the beverage cart, and I was desperate for caffeine. I ordered a coffee looking for a nice pick me up. But then I felt like I was being tricked. The pot was filled with hot water, and the flight attendant dumped a dark powder into the cup. She stirred it as she handed it to me and asked if I liked cream and sugar. I thought for a second I might have had a bad English accent and she thought I ordered a hot chocolate. I was wrong. My friend sitting next to me assured me its coffee — instant coffee. 

I tried to doctor up my instant coffee with the cream and sugar as I really needed a caffeine fix. I went in for the first sip, and I was not impressed. My thoughts were running wil. Why didn’t she warn me they only had instant coffee? Maybe this is the norm here. Or maybe I am high maintenance with my love for a fresh brewed coffee. Whatever it is, I am not a fan of this thing known as instant coffee.

Surely I can understand the concept of instant coffee if you’re out camping in the woods. (Personally, I’d pack Starbucks bottled ice coffee instead.) On a daily basis, I am perplexed why anyone would drink instant coffee instead of the velvety smooth fresh-brewed coffee.

“Americans’ taste in coffee might be getting more high-end—with a growing fixation on perfectly roasted beans, pricier caffeinated concoctions, and artisan coffee brewers—but it turns out a surprisingly big part of the world is going in the opposite direction: towards instant coffee,” a Washington Post article said. The U.S. is keeping a distant to the craze of instant coffee. 

“The U.S. is entirely unique in its aversion to instant coffee," Dana LaMendola, an industry analyst at Euromonitor, said in the article. “Even in Europe, where fresh coffee is preferred, instant coffee is still seen as acceptable for at home and on the go consumption. In the U.S. the view is just much more negative.”

— Brittany Sowell

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major


Face to face with danger (sort of)

Last Friday, those students who didn’t travel to other parts of Europe participated in one of FSU’s weekly cultural activities: a trip to Valencia’s BioParc, a 25-acre zoo owned by the City Council of Valencia. The park is dedicated to the conservation of nature and is part of the World Conservation Programs of Nature, according to the BioParc website.

The concept of the zoo, called Zooimmersion in Spanish, attempts to immerse visitors into the animals’ habitats. This is achieved, in part, by using rivers, ponds, streams and rocks rather than traditional railings and cages, the El Pais newspaper said.

Entering the gates of the zoo, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the movie “Jurassic Park.” Unlike Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster, though, all of the park’s human visitors survived.

You get incredibly close to the wildlife. 

These giraffes were only 5 or so feet away when I took this picture.

The two female lions were a little farther away but didn’t seem to mind they were being watched.



Just another day at the BioParc…

— Mike Wallace

Four Crossed Logs advisor

Super psyched for 'Suicide Squad'

This summer is loaded with must-see movies, such as “The Conjuring 2,” “Independence Day: Resurgence,” “The Legend of Tarzan,” “Star Trek Beyond” and “The Shallows.” It has me so excited to be alive as a movie-lover, but there is one movie that I anticipate the most and has me the most excited I think I have ever been for a movie. On Aug. 5, Warner Brother and DC Comic’s “Suicide Squad” will premiere in theaters and most likely will blow my mind with its awesomeness. (Is that a word? I don’t care I’m using it.)


For those unaware of “Suicide Squad,” it is a comic book movie (yes we’re getting another one) from DC Comics that many believe will follow the events of what transpired in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Now, with no prior knowledge of the film (obviously I haven’t seen it yet) other than meticulously watching trailer breakdowns from bigger nerds than me and from reading endless news on the movie from fans and from the actual guys making the movie, I am pretty confident this story has nothing to do with the Batman v Superman story. It is in the same universe and will possibly have some of the same characters, writers, producers, etc., but “Suicide Squad” will be its own story and will share only minor details of Batman v Superman to show their correlation in the same universe and timeframe. The film will be produced by WB, just as Batman v Superman, and is in the same DC cinematic universe as I said before. It’s already been confirmed that Ben Affleck will be making a small cameo in this movie. As some of us know, at least those that have seen Batman v Superman, Affleck portrayed Bruce Wayne/Batman, and he will be in “Suicide Squad” as the same character, just in a smaller role, one would think.

As for the movie’s plot, it seems to follow along the comic book guidelines while mixing in new sequences and twists to make this story an original, which will make many comic book readers pretty happy. The film centers on several super villains in the DC universe, which is a nice twist since most, if not all, comic book movies focus on the heroes. These villains are all locked up in their respective prisons and asylums, serving mostly life sentences, when the leader of the secret government agency known as A.R.G.U.S. (Armed Revolutionaries Governing Under Secrecy) somehow pulls enough strings with the U.S. government and military to release these prisoners to their supervision. Amanda Waller (played by Viola Davis), the leader of A.R.G.U.S., wants to use these “bad people” for good. She bribes the villains to perform highly dangerous military black op missions and places them with forces from her own private military under the leadership of Rick Flag (played by Joel Kinnaman).  They are an expendable military force, called, the Suicide Squad.

The Suicide Squad

The variety of villains which are a part of the Suicide Squad is pretty vast. Some are complex characters with some pretty astonishing powers, some are just highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and others are masters of their own craft. The members of the Squad for this particular movie are Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, El Diablo, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and Slipknot.

  • Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie), formerly known as Dr. Harleen F. Quinzel, was an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist for the criminally insane before she was brainwashed and tortured by one inmate whom she fell in love with. Many know him to be Batman’s arch enemy, The Joker. Harley is a gymnast who is skilled in the art of manipulation, and she is a master of utilizing weaponized props and gadgets. She is, above all, a highly trained psychiatrist and her mind is still her most valuable weapon. 
  • Killer Croc (played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), formally known as Waylon Jones, is a man who suffers from a very rare skin condition that turns his skin reptile-like and transfigures his teeth razor sharp, which gives him a crocodilian appearance. He has super-human strength, heightened senses, a near unstoppable rage and, above all else, the innate abilities of a crocodile (yes, he eats people).  
  • El Diablo (played by Jay Hernandez), formerly known as Chato Santana, is a pyrokinetic and is rumored to be demon-possessed or to have been raised from the dead. His abilities are being able to conjure, control and manipulate fire. 
  • Captain Boomerang (played by Jai Courtney), formerly known as George "Digger" Harkness has the ability to create boomerangs out of pure energy and has an arsenal of gimmicked boomerangs. His abilities seem kind of lame, but he is expected to be a comedic relief for the film, so we’ll see how he works out.  
  • Deadshot (played by Will Smith), formerly known as Floyd Lawton, is an expert marksman and tactician, particularly known never to miss a target, skilled in hand-to-hand combat and bilingual. He is commonly known as a hired assassin who uses a cybernetic eye – which helps increase his already near-perfect accuracy – wrist-mounted guns that fire magnum bullets and his notorious sniper rifle. 
  • Slipknot (played by Adam Beach), formerly known as Christopher Weiss, is a former chemist who constructed some uncanny ropes that are unbreakable, which he uses to maim, hang, hold or attack his adversaries.    

The villians

Since most of the film is filled with super villains, it is only assumable that whatever forces the Suicide Squad are hired to get rid of has to be at a higher level of evil. There still is no clear indication to who that evil entity is. Many rumors that are surfacing are pointing toward three characters as the main villain: The Joker, Enchantress or The Tattooed-Man. My theory (my wish) is that all three are connected or together in some form or fashion. If only two of the three are connected, it would still be very exciting.

Me in my two new Suicide Squad T-shirts:
Joker’s body tattoos and Joker himself
  • The Joker (played by Jared Leto) is the main adversary to Batman and will be portrayed very differently than other cinematic or comic book Jokers have been in the past. He still looks to be the psychotic, murdering, evil clown that gets pleasure in terrorizing and tormenting the innocent, but his outward appearance has gone astray from the classic Joker-look. This Joker is portrayed as a mob boss dressed like a Mexican cartel drug lord, which includes his expressive tattoos covering nearly his whole body and gaudy jewelry consisting of rings, gold watches, necklaces, and a grill (pretty much jewelry for your teeth). However he may look, this new Joker still looks to be as crazy and dangerous as any of the others. His role in the film is still unknown to be either all flashbacks for Harley Quinn or if it’s a combination of flashbacks and present appearances. Either way, I am most excited about his presence in the movie.
  • Enchantress (played by Cara Delevingne), formerly known as June Moon, is possessed by an evil spirit who is known to be the actual Enchantress. She has no limits to her magical abilities, which include any known or unknown magical powers in and above this world. She is never seen with any of the other members of the Suicide Squad, other than Rick Flag, which I am assuming is a love interest. Though none of her powers have been seen in any of the footage, there are strong indications that most of the damage done to the abandoned cities the Squad visits is done by her. There are other rumors and theories that she is a last-minute resort for the U.S. government if the Suicide Squad should fail. Many of her scenes in the trailers show her in the White House with military and government officials. She’s also being rumored of resurrecting her brother Incubus, who is just as powerful, in order for them to destroy/rule the planet together. Since I don’t known squat about him, I am not going into further detail with this theory. In my opinion, if she is the main villain that the Squad is expected to bring down, I would say they are heavily outmatched and don’t stand a chance of bringing her down without some serious juice. 
  • Lastly, The Tattooed-Man/Monster T (played by Common) is a former marine who was captured by a wild tribe of savages who eventually kills off all of his comrades and trains him for evil doings. He has the insane ability of projecting real-life images off of his tattoos, which he manipulates for anything he can think of doing. It has been said that his role in the movie is that he is strictly in business with The Joker and has no other affiliations. Many weird possible sightings of him in the trailers may say otherwise, but it is very unclear if that is truly him or not. My prediction for his role is that he is in business with The Joker — that part is obvious from the trailers and from what Common has said — and he is going to teach The Joker how to manipulate his own tattoos for his evil purposes in exchange for something, just like he was taught. This is a theory that has never been surfaced, not that I’ve seen anyway, so if it’s true I said it first right here. But seriously, if any of these three characters are the main villain of the film, I’ll be excited. If there’s someone else I don’t even know about who just comes out of nowhere as the main antagonist, I will be ecstatic.     

Other characters 

  • Katana (played by Karen Fukuhara) known also as Tatsu Yamashiro, is a superb martial artist who is fully trained as a samurai warrior in every sense of the word. Her sword she wields is known as The Soultaker and it literally consumes the souls of the ones it has killed. It is said that she has the soul of her dead husband and she has the bizarre ability to communicate with any soul residing in her sword. She is not initially a part of the Suicide Squad and is considered to be a hero in the comics; she is hired to keep Rick Flag safe from the other members. 
  • Johnny Frost (played by Jim Parrack), is, as far as I know, just the bodyguard and evil henchman to The Joker. I am unaware of any abilities he may have, I just know he is a low-level thug who is The Joker’s right-hand man. Like he needs one. 
  • As for Ike Barinholtz's characer, his name hasn’t been released, but he is seen in several of the trailers as the captain of the prison guard Belle Reve Prison where most of the Suicide Squad is being detained. He may also be in one scene that looks like he has just been captured or is being held captive by The Joker and his men (I wouldn’t want to be him if that is him). 
  • Scott Eastwood’s character is still the biggest mystery to me and to most fans waiting for the movie. His character’s name has not been released, and he hasn’t had much screen time in any of the trailers. He is only seen with the special military force hired by Amanda Waller surrounding the Suicide Squad. All he does is stare at them and is shown eventually fist-bumping another officer. Many rumors have been said of who he might be, but nothing has been confirmed. He is said to be either Nightwing/Dick Grayson, who is the first Robin sidekick of Batman’s; Deathstroke/Slade Wilson, who is pretty much a masked assassin similar to Deadshot; or just a random military officer who has no significance whatsoever. I don’t think he’s a large enough actor to handle the Nightwing role, although he does fit the character description fairly well. If so, he would eventually be paired up Ben Affleck for some Batman and Nightwing fight scenes. He is too young to be Deadshot, who is supposed to be an older man in his late 50s, but they may have the character be portrayed younger. It doesn’t really matter who he is; I’m excited to see him regardless in the film. 

I feel like this movie is going to be epic beyond all reason and will rock the box office numbers, which will eventually help Warner Brothers’ transition into more “Suicide Squad” movies and eventual spin-offs.

Suicide Squad is rated PG-13, and will hit theaters Aug, 5.


— Cory Morris

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Pollos bravas, aka angry chicken

While I am struggling to understand Spanish, it is clear that many Spanish people are struggling just as much to understand English.

For instance, the menu for Matilda Mandiles, a small restaurant adjacent to our apartments, includes English translations of their Spanish dishes.  As explained to me by Keith Howard, who teaches Spanish literature, while the “bravas” in “patatas bravas” on the menu could be literally translated as “brave,” it is more like “angry potatoes” as in spicy.

So, for those of you back in Panama City eating hot wings, in Spanish terms, you are having “angry chicken” (“pollos bravas”).

We haven’t tried the “war” strudel yet or the tumaca bread “with pajamas,” and I will probably skip the “gag” of Burgos – I am sure it means something else, but “gag” is not a word I would use on a menu.

— Mike Wallace

Four Crossed Logs advisor

The full-time wife, mom, student

I’ve been in school on and off since 2001. I managed to have a great career for 13 years with a fantastic company. It took up all of my time. I worked 60-hour work weeks from my office, my house and my car. I never had a vacation, and if I did, I was tethered to some sort of communication device. There was no escape. The money was great, but my life wasn’t fulfilling. I wanted to get my degree before I turned 40, which was and still is the goal.

If I didn’t think I had time then, I was insane to think having a family would be any easier. I used to think stay-at-home moms sat the baby in a bouncy seat, watched TV and ate Bonbons all day. Shame on me. I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in a year — it’s true when they say you can never catch up on your sleep, so take that nap now!

Here is a quick look at a typical morning:


4 a.m. 

Quick feed and back to bed. She’s getting better at sleeping though the night, but because we are trying an earlier bedtime, she’s waking up a little earlier than we would like.

4:30 a.m. 

It’s hard to get back to sleep. I have homework, housework, family, my future, my daughter’s future and house projects going through my head. I’m missing Texas … it’s now 5:45 a.m.

6 a.m. 

Husband’s up! He’s making Cuban coffee and breakfast, so this may be my only chance to eat for a while!

7:30 a.m. 

Hubby is off to work, and I have at least 30 minutes to take a shower, make the bed, start a load of laundry, put the dishes away from the night before, write a grocery list, let our dogs out to play  and feed the cat.

8 a.m. 

If the child is still sleeping, I take this time to pay bills, catch up on studying or read one of the five books I had to have last Christmas. 

If you’re a mom attending college, you have my deepest respect and I have a hug here for you if you need one. I’ve been on both sides of the glass, the young student who used the phrase “as long as I don’t fail, I’m good,” to the “I might want to go to grad school” adult. As grateful as I am to have had both experiences, I’d have to say my current status is more gratifying. Taking my education for granted isn’t an option and time is of the essence. And if you’re a young college student and most of this article was foreign to you, call your mom and say thank you for everything she’s done.

Got to go, I’m out of coffee!

— Sandra de Arrigunaga

Four Crossed Logs intern
professional communication major

Four Crossed Logs is produced by students at Florida State University Panama City. All opinions represent those of the individual writer and not the university or its administrators. The blog is intended to showcase the talent, communication and insight of FSU Panama City students.