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(10/05/16 2:00pm)
Today's Birthday (10/05/16). Personal dreams come true this year, with a little help from your friends. Reach a community turning point next spring, leading to renewed vigor, health and professional enthusiasm. Shifting passions next autumn provide inspiration to reinvigorate the team. All for one and one for all.
(10/05/16 2:00pm)
Today's Birthday (10/05/16). Personal dreams come true this year, with a little help from your friends. Reach a community turning point next spring, leading to renewed vigor, health and professional enthusiasm. Shifting passions next autumn provide inspiration to reinvigorate the team. All for one and one for all.
(10/05/16 2:00pm)
Today's Birthday (10/05/16). Personal dreams come true this year, with a little help from your friends. Reach a community turning point next spring, leading to renewed vigor, health and professional enthusiasm. Shifting passions next autumn provide inspiration to reinvigorate the team. All for one and one for all.
(10/03/16 4:00pm)
With credits like "Die Hard," "Hannah Montana," "Will & Grace," "The Green Mile" and "Two and a Half Men," the Hollywood professionals who visited Ball State over the weekend had a lot of knowledge and experience to share.
(10/03/16 4:00pm)
Growing up with a learning disability didn’t stop Johnny "Cupcakes" Earle from his dream. Johnny Cupcakes, Earle's T-shirt brand, started as a joke within his band and turned into a multi-million dollar business.
(10/03/16 6:40pm)
Editor's note: Muncie Origins is a Ball State Daily News series profiling various businesses that originated in Muncie.
(09/30/16 8:32pm)
by Gunner Masters
Many people carry dreams and ideas they hope will change the world. Once in a while by ingenuity or destiny, someone will achieve them. In 2014, a science fair project would propel one boy into the spotlight. Shubham Banerjee saw a flier asking for donations to the blind and asked his parents, "How do they read?"
They simply told him, “Google it”, so he did and found that the blind read using Braille. This reading system uses dots arranged in a rectangular cell, three dots high and two across, to form letters that the blind can read by touching them. Shubham continued his research and learned that Braille printers cost at least $2,000 or more. He decided that this was a problem he could solve.
“I wanted to create something that was a lot less costly and that was my motivation to build this,” Banerjee said.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qivrRNRfl3k[/embed]
With his inspiration and research, and the help of his father, Niloy; who is an engineer for Intel Corp., Shubham created a Braille printer using a Lego Mindstorms EV3 kit.
“I’ve been playing with Legos since I was two or three. I thought Legos because they were pretty easy to use and they were really affordable and you can find them anywhere,” he said.
Following the success of his printer, Shubham and his family launched Braigo Labs Inc. with an initial investment of $35,000 from his father. Shubham used the money to create the Braigo 2.0, a more advanced version of his original printer that uses a desktop printer and an Intel computer chip. It can translate electronic text into Braille before actually printing off a page.
In November 2014, Intel executives were impressed by Banerjee’s product and invested an undisclosed amount in his company. Braigo used the money to hire engineers and various advisors to develop Banerjee’s printers and expand the company.
“Right now we’re looking for the final design so we can release the product, but in the future we want to reduce the number of people who are illiterate in Braille an increase the amount of people who are blind or vision impaired to have a Braille printer,” he said. The printer Braigo is developing could cost about $350.
Currently Banerjee’s mother, Malini Banerjee, is serving as President of the company with his father, Niloy, serving as a mentor and coach to his son and sits on the Board of Directors.
“They make the decisions for me, but they’re really positive and know what’s best for me and what I should do,” he said to student media at Ball State before he spoke at the Letterman event.
Currently, Shubham is a freshman at Champion School in Santa Clara, California living a relatively normal life of a high school student playing sports and spending time with friends. “I don’t really talk about it at school at all. I play football in high school… but they didn’t know until one person found out randomly and then they told my friends and they all just went crazy. We just keep it real,” he explained.
Banerjee gave his closing thoughts for anyone striving to achieve a goal or dream. “My advice is to never give up and always ask questions. You need your parents for everything, definitely ask them for advice or criticism, but don’t be afraid to ask questions,” he said.
(10/07/16 4:00pm)
To prepare for the working world, one Ball State student is taking on the role of producer and manager for eight musical artists on campus.
(09/29/16 8:09pm)
10th Muncie Music Fest happening this weekend
(09/29/16 8:08pm)
International festival makes Ball State its first US venue
(09/29/16 8:06pm)
Learn how to make a homemade potato soup
(09/29/16 4:00pm)
Editor's Note: Emma Rogers and Tyson Bird are senior journalism majors who write "Dinner for 2ish" for the Daily News. Their views do not necessarily agree with those of the paper.
(09/30/16 4:00pm)
September was a big month for new technology gadgets. Apple’s annual press conference launched the iPhone 7, but there were other must-have tech products released this month too.
(09/29/16 7:00pm)
For 10 hours on Sept. 30, Muncie will be filled with the sound of local bands as the 10th Muncie MusicFest takes place.
(10/04/16 7:00pm)
The month of October means the onset of Halloween. From pumpkin picking to putting together creative costumes and even enjoying tons of yummy candy, it is no wonder that so many people love this spooky holiday.
(09/27/16 8:08pm)
by Dalton Martin
Gravity Falls is one of those rare shows that transcends the age threshold for a typical ‘kids shows.’ In a generation plagued by abominations like Johnny Test and every live Disney Channel show in existence currently, it is great to see such greatness rise to the top and garner almost universal acclaim, and with the four-year show finally coming to an end, it is the perfect time to look back on what made this show so great.
The Characters
For some reasons, creators of shows for kids just cannot seem to nail a relatable character anymore. Every show on the Disney Channel seems to have the same outlandish plotline of some teen living in Los Angeles trying to make it big as a successful dancer/singer/actor. None of these characters come off as being even remotely relatable. Gravity Falls not only nails one relatable character, but ends up making most of the ensemble of truly outlandish character more realistic than anything these live shows have been spewing out these past 10 or so years.
The main characters, Dipper and Mabel Pines, come off being the most endearing characters ever, each being embodiments of childhood adventure. Mabel’s quirkiness and carefree nature perfectly pairs up perfectly with Dipper’s intelligence and rashness. Almost anybody can watch this show and see themselves as one of these characters alone. The main cast is rounded off with Grunkle Stan, the relative Dipper and Mabel is staying with during their time in town. Stan is a wonderfully enigmatic character, both being a tough-as-nails jerk the first few times we are introduced to him, but slowly opens up to his niece and nephew the deeper into the show we go.
There is one particular episode that touches on the polarizing relationship between the two kids and their Grunkle that makes both Dipper and Mabel question if they can truly trust the shady Stan. But, these little details expand upon the message of family, as most tend to have secrets, yet they’re able to get past them. Where the Pines may be directly related, the familial bond extends to the numerous secondary characters that are about as equally fleshed out as the main protagonists. Soos, the loyal handy man, becomes a sort of older brother for Dipper, often going together to figure out the secrets of the town. The other employee of Grunkle Stan’s Mystery Shack, Wendy Corduroy, is another integral secondary character, both being the love interest for Dipper and being a strong role model for Mabel.
The World Building
Unlike most cartoon shows that like to focus on telling one-off stories with little to no narrative, Gravity Fallstends to make sure everything, and everyone, is in the show for a purpose. Whether it is a vague hint of a mystery pertaining to a single episode, or the images of Bill Cipher, the eccentric main antagonist of the second season, spread across the first few episodes before he is even properly introduced, it’s always great to see when show creators take the proper time and care to beautifully craft something amazing.
One of the best examples of this is in the very first episode where gnomes are just briefly mentioned before becoming heavily entwined in the plot seemingly out of nowhere. At the episodes end, the gnomes are dealt with and you’d imagine they’d never be relevant again, however they come back for many episodes, usually being an important ally for Mabel and Dipper. But it is not just the gnomes that fit this role, almost everything, and everyone, comes back at some point after an initial introduction, whether it’s the unimportant background character that turns out to be a time-traveler, or mysterious tomes left behind by an unknown individual.
For those who watch Gravity Falls, it is the most rewarding experience to connect the dots and realize how something so innocuous in one episode, becomes an integral plot point in the next.
The Mystery
While Gravity Falls will hook you with the characters and it’s elaborately crafted world, the over-lying mystery of the titular town will keep you coming back for more. The show is notorious for keeping it’s audience in the dark, with only the faintest flicker of light being a guide to the truth behind all of the mysteries present in the show. Who is the author of the mysterious book? What is the endgame of the enigmatic antagonist Bill Cipher? What is Dipper’s real first name? All of these questions, and much more, are always present in the series, causing many fans of speculate endlessly.
It doesn’t help when at the end of every episode there is a cryptogram to figure out that ranges from being a short epilogue to it’s pertaining episode, or a subtle hint at things to come. It may take awhile to get the truth of one mystery, the payoff is incredible, especially once you suddenly figure out the answer was always right in front of your face the entire time. The constant stream of mysteries and conspiracies slowly made the show into a giant hit, with many fans corresponding online to figure out every little detail. As a result, a show that was meant to be for a younger demographic instantly sucked in parents and teens alike.
Gravity Falls isn’t just a series of one-off tales, but rather an expanded narrative with a ton of secrets and hidden details to be discovered that adds to the story. Never before has a show had so many conspiracies intertwined within its narrative outside of classics like X-Files or Twin Peaks. It’s easy to see how series creator Alex Hirsch has instilled that sense of adventure and mystery most children experience as they grow up. Having not all the mysteries answered by the end of the show mimics a sense of reality as not all questions are answered every time.
Thanks for Visiting Gravity Falls
As sad as it is to see the series finally come to an end, I completely understand why it had to, and I applaud Alex Hirsch for sticking with the endgame he envisioned, and with the show at it’s end, now is the perfect time to binge watch this 40 episode masterpiece. If you have yet to experience this wonderful show, I more than encourage you to do anything in your power to do so. I firmly believe Gravity Falls will go down as a modern day classic that will be looked back on years to come, it’s just that good.
Must Watch Episodes
Dipper vs. Manliness
In an odd coming of age tale, Dipper decides it’s time to become a “real” man after failing a manliness test game at a diner. After being taunted by Stan he seeks the help of the overly masculine Manotaurs. This episode is a beautiful take on how easy it is to conform to typical social norms and how toxic they can sometimes make us. For a kids show, this is one particularly deep episode I definitely recommend checking out.
Fight Fighters
This episode focuses on the love-triangle between Wendy, Dipper, and Wendy’s current boyfriend, Robby. With both Dipper’s and Robby’s jealousy getting out of hand, Robby challenges Dipper to a fight. Dipper, being the pipe-sized wimp that he is, naturally summons Rumble McSkirmish, a clone of Street Fighter’s Ryu to help him even the odds. With tons of nostalgic nods to past video games, the message of how to not resort to violence to solve problems perfectly resonates in this episode.
Weirdmageddon Part 2: Escape from Reality
Being the second entry in the three-part series finale, this episode is my personal favorite. Delving into a child’s psyche of never wanting to grow up and to escape change is amazingly encapsulated in this episode. The trio of Dipper, Soos, and Wendy venture into the unknown as they attempt to rescue Mabel from the clutches of Bill Cipher. What starts out as a recovery mission, turns into a personal battle against giving into a delusional reality where everything you ever want and need is there. This is truly one of the deepest stories told in Gravity Falls, and is probably my most favorite episode in the entire series.
(09/27/16 7:29pm)
Local restaurant brings Mediterranean food and culture to Muncie.
(09/27/16 7:27pm)
Students share their stories of bad roommates.
(09/27/16 7:26pm)
Adapted Sports Night brings a sense of community among students.
(09/28/16 2:00pm)
Today's Birthday (09/28/16). Embrace healthy lifestyle practices this year. You're in the spotlight, so groom your image. At a physical turning point, aim for vitality. Provide great service while still serving yourself. Doors close and open with friendships next spring. Leap bounding new heights in your health, vitality and work. Discover fun and romance.