Student Academic Services is there to aid students in the college careers by editing papers and determining problem areas, among other things. Photo courtesy of the university's website.

“It would be wonderful for more students to come in, call or ask for assistance,” said Pam Chambers, interim director of Student Academic Services. “We’re here to help, and our services are free.”

SAS is responsible for the Writing Room, Gen Ed Tutoring Center, Academic Advising Program, National Testing Program, Academic Improvement Program and Disability Resource Office. The program was formerly located in the Psychology Building, but is now located in the Library and Academic Resources Center, according to the program’s website.

The Writing Room is a resource available to CSU-Pueblo students that provides assistance with the writing process at any level and in any discipline. Tutoring for writing assignments is available by walk-n or appointments, but students can also use the Online Writing Lab to submit assignments and access additional resources, Chambers said.

“I would encourage students to come in at all stages of the writing process,” she said. “Even if they haven’t actually begun writing, we can help them get started.”

The Gen Ed Tutoring Center provides tutoring for all general education courses on an individual or group level, Chambers said. Both the Writing Room and Gen Ed Tutoring Center are located in LARC, Room 251.

In order to aid students who are not quite sure which direction they are heading, the Academic Advising Program works with students who remain undeclared after their first two semesters, new transfer students with more than 13 credits and continuing students who have changed their major, Chambers said.

It utilizes career exploration activities to help students find the best major for their interests and skills. The AAP uses major discussions, career assessments, major fairs and exploratory courses to do so, according to the program’s website.

Students who need to work with the AAP are typically directed to the service by the university’s First-Year Programs organization and the Office of Admissions, Chambers said.

The National Testing Program at CSU-Pueblo serves not only university students, but the outlying community as well. Through the program SAS administers standardized tests such as the ACT, SAT, LSAT and CLEP. These services are provided in LARC, Room 267.

“Our National Testing Program serves many high school students in the Pueblo area,” Chambers said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to get on campus and experience the university as well.”

In the same room is the Academic Improvement Program. This resource aids students on academic probation to develop an academic improvement plan and how to raise their cumulative GPA above a 2.0, Chambers said.

The Disability Resource Office is the final branch of SAS. It can be found LARC, Room 169, and is mentioned on every syllabus handed out at CSU-Pueblo. In accordance to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, this office offers classroom accommodation, an adaptive technology lab, testing accommodations and support for students with documented disabilities, according to the department‘s website.

Photo courtesy of moviespad.com.

The movie is yet another story about corrupt cops who betray one of their own (movies like Training Day, Serpico, The Departed, etc.). Here the accused goes to extreme measures to prove his innocence.

Full of predictable plot twist, the story, based solely on the idea of sleight of hand and miss direction, offers very few suspenseful moments and lacks the presence of a leading man.

The film takes place on the ledge of a hotel building above a crowded street in New York City. Former cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) has been accused of stealing a wealthy businessman’s diamond and decides to make his final stand.

While on the ledge, Nick has to perform a high-rise balancing act between guiding his younger brother Joey (Jamie Bell) to the evidence that will prove his innocence and convincing the pretty negotiator Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) to trust him.  Nick and Lydia form a subtle bond, though the scenes between Worthington and Banks lack chemistry.

The film proves to be as exciting as the title. It has a slow-building plot with crude flashbacks, and the lackluster finale will have you waiting in vain, for the suspense and action never come.

The casts, which consist of familiar faces, are by no means household names. An ensemble of supporting actors deliver an average performance for a predictable plot, which fulfills almost every Hollywood stereotype, from the hot Latina with an attitude to the token black police partner.

Worthington proves that without any special effects he is unable to command a scene or deliver any emotional value to a movie. He has yet to establish himself as a leading man or a box office draw. Banks confirms that she does not have the range or skill set to be a leading lady in serious roles. She should probably stick to comedies.

 The cast includes Ed Harris, who portrays the corrupt executive who sets up Cassidy, a villainous role he seems to repeatedly play an inconvincibly at that. Kyra Sedgwick from TNT’s “The Closer” is the pushy reporter. Perfect for her, except her character is Spanish and her accent is horrible.

The movie also stars Anthony Mackie, as Mike Ackerman, Cassidy’s black partner who helps set him up. Genesis Rodriguez makes her film debut as Joey’s hot Latina girlfriend with an attitude and Ed Burns has a pointless and forgettable role as a fellow police officer who helps Mercer through tough times during the negotiation. Typical characters for a Hollywood copper flick.

Without the presence of a leading man or woman this film is definitely not worth the price of admission. Not even worth purchasing On Demand or through Red Box. Watch this movie when it comes on cable, on a rainy afternoon and only if nothing else better is on.

President Lesley Di Mare began her work at CSU-Pueblo Dec. 1, 2011, and she's in it for the long haul, she said. Photo by Chelsea Reese.

“It’s like a lifetime achievement for me. My only regret is that my father is not alive to see this because he would’ve been so thrilled,” the new president said in a more somber tone than before. “I’ve never been a bucket list kind of person and I think that’s because I’ve been doing all the things I wanted all my life.”

Lesley Di Mare, 60, was born Nov. 13, in Utica, N.Y., where she resided with Philip, her younger brother of three years, Gloria, her mother whom she considers her best friend, and her father Jim.

Her childhood was as a typical one she said, however their home soon ended up being on the other side of the country in California. This is where she completed most of her higher education.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts in 1972 from California State University-Chico with a minor in English. She then went on to complete her teaching credential at CSU-Sacramento’s School of Education in 1974, according to the vitae she used to get the job at CSU-Pueblo.

Later she earned her Masters of Arts degree in speech communication at CSU-Hayward. Her doctorate degree in speech communication came after she moved and attended Indiana University in 1984.

While still attending school herself, she decided to put her teaching credential to good use and bestow the same knowledge she learned to her students for 25 years before she fell into administrative positions. Her most recent position was the interim president of Nevada State College, according to the vitae.

When she got the call from the BOG, Di Mare was delighted to be a part of the momentous occasion at CSU-Pueblo as being the first female president and she quickly accepted the invitation to move to Colorado. She not only wanted to escape Nevada’s desert climate but also wanted to be a part of the thriving institution CSU-Pueblo has become, she said.

“We love Colorado. I mean it’s just a beautiful state with what we’ve found to be very warm and welcoming people in every region,” Di Mare said. “I love the cold weather. It’s not too cold, you don’t get too much snow, it’s just enough so that you actually have seasons and because I’ve lived in the desert now for over 20 years, I really am enjoying the seasons.”

“My husband said Lesley never met a coat she didn’t like,” Di Mare joked. “I’ve got 5,000 coats and I just wear a different one every day now. I’m just so happy.”

Di Mare met her husband David Walter on the online dating site oneandonly.com while she was in Scottsdale, Ariz. They met 12 years ago and later married Dec. 27, 2007, she said.

“I believe my husband is my soul mate,” Di Mare said.

Walter and Di Mare do not have any children together, but Walter had three children in a previous relationship that Di Mare cares for like they are her own, she said.

“I feel very close to them and our grandchildren.”

So far, Di Mare is pleased with the decision to accept her new position and is very impressed with CSU-Pueblo’s facilities and programs, she said.

“This campus has some of the most sophisticated equipment in the state, in biology, in engineering, in nursing, and our students are getting a very hands-on applied education that meets the industry’s needs,” she said.

“And plus that we have music, and art, and theater. So I really feel our students, between hands-on experience and education, athletics and the arts and humanities, we really have well-rounded graduates,” she continued. “It’s got so many positives. If I were a student I would definitely choose to come here.”

Does she have any advice for the students she will, from now on, be leading? Basically, she just encourages her students to have integrity.

“Just persevere and do what you think is right and you’ll be successful,” she said. “Those two words, perseverance and right. You just got to have integrity.”

The third PechaKucha Night attracted a crowd of students, faculty and community enthusiasts Thursday, Jan. 26, in CSU-Pueblo's Fine Art Gallery. Photo by Ye Ming.

Ellen Mueller, artist-in-residence of CSU-Pueblo art department, alerted people to watch the news in order to be informed after the apocalypse. Photo by Ye Ming.

 

Gilbert Ortiz, Pueblo County clerk and recorder, talks about elections. Photo by Ye Ming.

 

'Str0ker Ace' of Harlequin Aces Burlesque and Keyhole Lingerie talks about the history of burlesque. Photo by Ye Ming.

 

Presenters answer the audience's questions at the end of the night. Photo by Manuel Winter.

 

 

Lindsay Reeves graduated from CSU-Pueblo in May 2011 and continues to use her skills in her everyday life. Photo courtesy of Reeves' Facebook profile.

Reeves’ was pretty set on getting a business degree, but after learning of the opportunities a mass communications degree could give her she was hooked. She also really liked the faculty and amount of time Mullen put in during the presentation to describe her department.

Making the decision to attend CSU-Pueblo ended up being the best decision that Reeves ever made, she said.

After the conference presentation, Reeves started looking for more ways to get involved on campus. She came across the President’s Leadership Program and was intrigued by the opportunities it too presented. Reeves’ was soon accepted into the program, which later became the perfect addition to her mass communications degree.

The Associated Students’ Government also caught her eye during her first semester because she enjoyed working on issues that were important to her fellow students and making a difference on campus, she said. However, her experiences were not without challenges.

“One of the biggest challenges was time management,” Reeves said.

“Since I was on a three year plan to graduate, I was taking anywhere between 18 and 21 credit hours a semester,” she said. “This combined with my responsibilities for PLP and ASG, I was spending twelve hours on campus most days. This left little time for homework and sleep, so I definitely had to learn how to manage the time I had.”

When all was said and done, Reeves ended up graduating after just three years in May 2011, with her Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications and an emphasis in integrated communications. She also minored in nonprofit management, leadership studies and marketing.

“I learned so much not only academically, but about myself and my passions in life,” Reeves said. “I feel like I was given a solid framework to go out and make the difference in the world that I’ve always dreamed of.”

Reeves is currently working for Pueblo City Schools with the Safe Schools, Healthy Students Initiative. This is a federal grant-funded initiative working toward making schools safer and students healthier through their programming process in areas such as mental health, substance abuse, positive behavioral systems and bully prevention.

Her current boss told her that the interview committee was very interested in her ability to work on newsletters, websites and other media as an extra part of her job in order to help progress the mission of the initiative. Reeves also found herself using the very things she learned on a daily basis to contribute to the work of the group she said.

The degree she received from CSU-Pueblo, as well as her personal interest in the nonprofit sector, are the two biggest reasons she was able to get the job that she has now.

Her degree has also allowed her the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Regis University, which she started to attend in July 2011. Reeves expects to be done by this summer. Upon applying for the program, the interview panel also commented on her writing ability as an appealing factor to admit her in the program.

Reeves believes her skills are a huge testament to the mass communications department and the work she did during her time at CSU-Pueblo, she said.

“I’m much more comfortable writing now and feel like I am able to clearly put my thoughts into words,” Reeves said.

Though Reeves is no longer officially involved with CSU-Pueblo in any way, she does still make frequent trips to the campus for events. She still enjoys going to athletic events, attending guest speaker lectures and other community events.

Photo courtesy of moviespad.com.

The film is rated R and was directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein. It was released nationwide Jan. 20.

The film stars Kate Beckinsale who returns in her role as Selene. Beckinsale has starred in all but one of the films in the series, “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” which was filmed as a prequel to the original film. The latest film picks up where “Underworld: Evolution” left off.

The saga continues as Selene is captured by a group of humans and kept in a deep freeze for many years. In the future she is awakened by an unknown being and must figure out the world she has now become a part of.

Sticking to the theme of the other films in the series, “Underworld: Awakening” is filled with gory violence, automatic weapons and visual effects that keep your eyes peeled to the screen.

The new characters in the film add twists along the way, leaving Selene to carefully choose which side she is on.

Just because the movie is exactly what you would expect it to be doesn’t mean that it disappoints. With all of the romantic vampire/werewolf movies and TV shows out there, it’s a good break to be able to view those creatures for the blood thirsty monsters they are.

That being said, this is definitely not a movie for kids. Although there is not a strong sexual aspect to the film, the detailed violence is enough to give those faint of heart nightmares. The use of foul language is also very weak but the bloodshed seems to overpower any other rating factor.

Beckinsale is as appealing a character as she was in the original movie, and commands a certain presence in her role as Selene. The character is one in which she was seemingly meant to play as she looks naturally comfortable in her performance.

The supporting cast is not to be ignored either. Though they may not have the star power behind their names as Beckinsale does, their strong performances give life to this ongoing war. A good performance from a young actress also adds drama to the story.

The special effects, as with the other films, are great in detail and realism. A new type of creature debuted in the film is a great example of this. What’s also great about the use of the effects is that they differ from those used in the previous films. The directors came up with highly original content which helped strengthen the movie.

The plot stays true to the previous films and leaves the audience hoping for more. If you enjoyed the other “Underworld” films, it is a must for you to see this one. With the human aspect added to the war between vampires and Lycans, only further chaos can ensue.

After two years of being a part of Rev 89, the time has come for me to move on in to the real world and see what the future has in store.

Photo by April Styles, courtesy of Rev 89.

The last two years have definitely been memorable with a lot of great memories that will last a lifetime.

Throughout my time at the Rev, I have done almost everything. I have worked live remotes, Drivetime, Friday night football and was the sports director in charge of the sport show, “Rev 89 Sportslive.”

I have also been a part of many remotes where the community was heavily involved. One of these that will always stick out is when we had our Easter egg hunt in April.

Before then, I had never seen so many people gathered around for something like that in Pueblo. It was also cool to be the Easter bunny and put huge smiles on everyone’s faces.           

Our paintball tournament was another fun experience. It was the first time I had ever taken part in an organized tournament. Although my team did not do so well, it was fun to go out and compete against other teams that play paintball on a regular basis.

The thing I am going to miss the most is the interaction I had with all the listeners and all the people I got to meet working there. I had such a blast entertaining people on the radio, and I have grown to become really close with a lot of different people who have worked for the station.          

But all good things must come to an end, and with my time at the Rev about to be up, my goals are to find a job and be successful in life.

Jenna leaves huge mark

Photo by April Styles, courtesy of Rev 89.

Jenna Smith may be one of the most positive and upbeat individuals to have ever worked at Rev 89.

During her time at Rev, Smith, a 23 year old mass communications major, has done many things for the station, including news, Drivetime, live remotes and sideline reporting for high school football games.

However, when it came to what she enjoyed the most about being at Rev, one thing stood out more than the others to her, which was just being on air and making friends, Smith said.

While being part of the Rev 89 crew, Smith made many great memories, but one memory will always stick out to here more than any other.

“The time I went to the Canon Game and had the incident with the sideline reporting,” she said.

This was in reference to the first time Smith had done sideline reporting and was not used to listening herself right after she had said it on the microphone, which student manager John Dalton and station manager Mike Atencio got a good laugh out of.

Smith started working at Rev 89 in January 2010, however, all good things must come to an end and after two years with the station, Smith will be graduating college and effectively ending her college career.

Even though Smith will be graduating, she will always remember her time at Rev 89.

“I will definitely miss all of my friends and being a part of the radio,” Smith said.

Smith has a promising future and will be receiving her bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in public relations.

“I am looking forward to graduation in May and hope to find a job soon,” Smith said.

The mother of Rev 89

Nicole Grams may be older than most of the people working at Rev 89, but age has nothing to do with it when it comes to her passion for the radio station.

Photo by April Styles, courtesy of Rev 89.

Grams, 36, is a mass communications major who also worked for Rev back in 1994 and 95 when it was known as KTSC Radio. After taking a hiatus from the university, she returned to radio in the spring of 2010.

The experience she gained from working in radio helped Grams along the way. It also helped her work with some of the younger staff.

“It was good working here in the past,” Grams said. “I had knowledge of the way things worked before and also had to learn the automatic systems.”

While working at Rev, Grams took part in a lot of things including the morning show, the talk show and several live remotes. She has made many great memories, but one will always stick out in her mind, she said, but one memory will always stand out to her.

“I can have my senior shift everyday with my mp3 player, but sharing music with Pueblo is my favorite part,” Grams said.

When she leaves the university’s radio station, she will leave her mark on the radio station and its staff.

“I liked the Easter egg hunt,” Grams said. “It was good to see the community come out and support each other and enjoy meeting the Rev DJ’s.”

Even though Grams has had many great memories being a part of Rev 89, she has a bright future ahead of her with two options on what she can do once she graduates in May.

“I hope to get a job in radio or go back and get my master,” she said.

The leader of university radio

Photo by April Styles, courtesy of Rev 89.

Throughout the history of Rev 89 it is debatable if anyone has done more for the station than John Dalton.

Dalton, 33, mass communications major, may be older than most of the staff but to fully understand his commitment to Rev, one must look at the situation he has balancing his time for the radio and his kids.

For Dalton, who has five kids, being a part of Rev and taking care of his children was not an easy task and it brought many challenges to him over the years.

“It was very hard,” Dalton said. “Everyone knew my kids and I would have to take my kids to the radio station sometimes.”

Despite this, Dalton did a lot for the radio station. From the time he started in the fall of 2008, he has worked on live remotes, drivetime, the retro hour, Friday night football, the talk show and was the student manager starting in the summer of 2010.

While Dalton was doing all of these things he was having a lot of fun doing it, he said, but if you were to ask him what his favorite memory was he doesn’t necessarily have one.

“It was a culmination of things,” Dalton said. “The live broadcasts were fun, interacting with the crowd and having wet t-shirt contests on Pueblo Boulevard were a blast.”

During Dalton’s tenure as student manager he helped get Rev involved with the community in many ways, including having an Easter egg hunt and a paintball tournament.

When Dalton looks back at his time at Rev 89, there will be a few things that will stand out to him, he said.

“The friends that I’ve made and being on-air were a blast,” Dalton said. “I have a big ego on-air and I need to fuel my ego on-air.”

Now that Dalton is a college graduate, there are two goals that he has in mind.

“To get a good job is one possibility,” Dalton said. “There’s also a possibility of me going back to school and get my masters and teach.”

Photo courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com.

The director’s last film, “Shutter Island.” was a psychological thriller also based off of a novel. “Hugo” on the other hand is a film that families can enjoy together. Enjoyable is the perfect word to describe the experience of this film.

The story follows an orphaned boy living in Paris during the 1930s, but contains a more artistic subplot which outlines a love for the cinema industry.

Speaking from a purely aesthetic standpoint, “Hugo” is absolutely wonderful. The cinematography takes the audience through breath taking views of the cities featured in the film, and the set actually conveys a feeling that the film is in old Paris despite the refined quality. The movie actually looks like a Tim Burton film that was taken over by Scorsese’s unique style.

As far as casting, the film impresses with a nice list of names. Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen and Jude Law are among the better known cast members, but the stars of the film are two relatively unknown child actors. Chloe Grace Moretz plays the female lead and Asa Butterfield plays the movie’s male lead.

Moretz and Butterfield, despite not being as experienced as the actors that Scorsese typically works with, did a very good job for the role they were cast in. The two acted in a more believable way for children to react rather than the ways many films try to depict younger children. 

What truly sets “Hugo” apart from other movies in its genre is how it utilizes 3D technology.

The film incorporates the 3D technology into the actual story. Like James Cameron’s “Avatar,” the 3D isn’t gimmicky, but shows the depth and intensity of the film and gives the audience a sense that they’re being pulled into Paris.

Overall “Hugo” is a pleasant film that families can enjoy together. It’s a fantasy adventure for kids that have an understanding of the magic that transforms a movie into a classic tale for the ages.

Obrin originally grew up in Pueblo as one of four siblings, she said. Her father was a gym teacher and Obrin recalled the times when he brought home dodge balls and other sports equipment for his children to enjoy over the weekend. He also needed the help from his children to develop certain programs, she said.

“He came up with a program in District 60 for handicapped kids,” Obrin said. “He would have us pretend that we were paralyzed from the waist down and we had to sit on skateboards and go through obstacle courses.”

The relationship between Obrin and both of her parents was a great one. She remembered the times that her mother would try to make homework more bearable by having fruit for her kids to eat, and how she always had snacks waiting for them when they got home.

“We called her the domestic goddess,” Obrin said. “She was the traditional mom at home waiting for the kids to come home. She’d have oatmeal cookies and milk.”

Though the relationship she had with each parent was different, they accomplished their collective goal of preparing her and all of their children properly for life, she said.

“They did a wonderful job,” Obrin said.

After graduating from South High School in 1974, Obrin decided to attend what was then the University of Southern Colorado, where she would meet her husband after being grouped with him in psychology class. Obrin knew she had a great guy because their first date was a Neil Diamond concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater, she said.

He was also able to take the intimidation from her father.

“He was kind of afraid of my dad when he first met him,” she said. “You know how kids say their mom or dad has the look, well he had these ice blue eyes and he just had the look.”

Though Obrin enjoyed her time in college, she felt that it was not what she wanted to do at the time, she said. Obrin decided to take a break from school and instead take a job as a staff accountant for a Certified Public Accounting firm.

During that time, Obrin gave birth to what was supposed to be a 10 pound boy, but instead ended up being twin girls.

“We didn’t know we were going to have twins until they were born,” she said. “They said you’re just going to have one big boy because they could only hear one heartbeat. Low and behold there were two girls in there, one was up and one was down and their hearts were on top of each other with the same beat the whole time.”

While she enjoyed her time with the firm, Obrin worked 60 hours a week for 15 years and decided it was time to finish her bachelor’s degree, she said. Despite not being great at math, Obrin decided to pursue a degree in accounting.

“The funny thing is I’m not good at math but I can do accounting,” she said. “I love auditing and doing the numbers.”

Obrin graduated from USC in 1991 with a degree in accounting. She gave credit to her parents for their continued encouragement.

“My parents always did push for the higher education. They paid for everything like books, tuition, paper and pencils,” she said. “They made sure we succeeded and now we’re all doing the same with our children.”

Two of Obrin’s siblings have children of their own who have also provided the same support to them that they received from their parents, she said. To further continue the legacy of their parents, Obrin and her siblings sponsored a $750 scholarship through the Sons of Italy since 2003, and Obrin’s younger brother, a professor at Kenyon College in Ohio, started a scholarship foundation in their memory as well.

“If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be where we are and have what we have,” Obrin said. “My sister is a retired teacher for gifted kids, my older brother is retired from the Air Force and my younger brother has a PhD and is a professor.”

Obrin’s father passed away in February 2002, and her mother passed away six years and five days later in February 2008. She believes that it wasn’t coincidental that she died so close to the date that her father had, as her parents had a very strong relationship that started when her father was 15 and her mother was 13, she said.

Since her siblings live in different parts of the country, it isn’t always easy for the families to get together, she said. One of the last times they all saw each other was in 2008 when they gathered together at the Five Points area of the Arkansas River to grant their parents’ final wishes of spreading their ashes there together. It was a spot frequented by her parents for many years.

“They were soul mates,” she said. “When they passed away they had 52 years of marriage.”

Married life has been great for Obrin and her husband as well. They have been married for 31 years and are both looking forward to doing a lot of traveling after Obrin retires March 2014. In the meantime, Obrin will continue to enjoy her time at CSU-Pueblo, she said.

Obrin decided to come back to the university in 1995 as a sales associate for the bookstore, she said. She received her start in administration when she was hired as admin II for the Hasan School of Business. In 2000, Obrin was selected for her current position as admin III for the CSM, and has taken pleasure in seeing students succeed.

“I love the first day of fall semester when you see the new kids come in and it’s like watching them grow,” she said. “You hope for success for everyone that comes through here.”

She joked how she will never forget how a biology student asked her on the first day of class if she thinks he’ll need a pencil.

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say yes,” Obrin said.

If you were to ask Obrin for advice on making it through college, she would share words of guidance that she would undoubtedly give her parents credit for.

“Don’t let little things be your downfall,” she said. “You’ve got to want to learn and if you have that ambition nothing should stand in your way.”

Photo courtesy of amazon.com.

“Good Science” was published by Lexington Books, a subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group Inc. McGettigan has written four books and has also authored numerous scholarly and newspaper articles.

His latest title takes readers on a journey through scientific discovery, from Charles Darwin to Albert Einstein, as he analyzes a series of the most monumental scientific breakthroughs in history. The book seeks to define the relationship between truth and science and how it has continually redefined mankind’s social realities.

In the book’s foreword, the author begins by asking the question: If science is merely an endeavor based on truth, and that truth by definition is nothing more than a list of verifiable facts, then would fantastical innovations such as flight, space travel and robotic assembly lines ever have existed? With the birth of these new technologies, what was previously known to be true has now been redefined.

Beginning with Italian scientist Galileo Galilei’s discovery of moons orbiting Jupiter, McGettigan explains how scientific discoveries have challenged the prevalent thinking of the day and changed the world’s perception of reality. The people of the day no longer saw the Earth as the center of the universe.

As McGettigan walks through each monumental achievement, he gives a short narrative of each of remarkable scientists with a type of commentary that reveals his admiration of their discoveries.

McGettigan is obviously well versed in this field and his vocabulary makes his book equivalent to the experience of reading a scholarly journal. In other words, this book is not for fun. Anyone looking for a quick, light read should be fore-warned.

 Through his perspective, McGettigan offers an alternative way of viewing each new scientific accomplishment the world achieves and the consequences that come with each new conquest.

While the book’s premise is undeniably interesting, the author seeks to take on a great number of social issues in one short book, and therefore tends to lose focus of the main idea.

In addition to the occasional loss of focus, his writing style is full of rewrites that explain the previous sentences rather than giving a clear concise statement the first time around, at times making the book feel as if it is going in circles.

 The book’s cover claims McGettigan’s ideas are “groundbreaking,” and yet there is nothing found in this book that has not been previously suggested. Numerous studies have shown the effects technology has had on society, the consequences that have arose from many of our most noted scientific accomplishments and many “Star Trek” fans will tell you how the communicator used in the show inspired the flip phone.

While McGettigan does offer an interesting approach by taking the reader through time, the writer’s argument falls short of groundbreaking. However, McGettigan’s book could be a good starting point for a discussion of the impact scientific breakthroughs have had on social and biological environments and what that means for the future of mankind.