The Current Online

by Sean Kim

Designing and creating a mechanical device takes determination, skill and know-how. That is what the students of the Engineering Club at MCC-Longview have.

At the beginning of each semester, the Engineering Club meets to decide what kind of device they want to create. The club meets every Wednesday in the Science and Tech Building to plan, draw-out and create the device before the end of the semester. This semester, the Engineering Club put together the “Angry Birds Project”, which was shown at the Longview’s Kite Festival.

“Our goal in the Engineering Club is to allow engineering students to use their skills and practical use in a school project,” said Chris Matthews, club president.

Matthews has been the president of the club for a year. He has finished his Associate of Arts degree and plans to have a career in engineering.

“I want to make sure the club doesn’t fall apart and keep the steamroller effect going,” Matthews said. “I plan to have social events to obtain new members. The club fluctuates at about eight to nine members this year.”

“This year has been tough for the club,” said Bloss. “We weeded through many cool designs for the ‘Angry Birds Project’.”

“Several issues began to surface with the design we chose and… to make a long story short we had to scrap the idea (the cannon) instead for a basic sling shot,” said Bloss.

The original cannon was to be made out of four inch by six inch PVC. Surgical tubing was to be used to as “power” to throw the balls explained Bloss.

Bloss said he spent about 25-30 hours a week on campus working and helping out in the Engineering Club.

“The club planned the ‘Angry Bird’ cannon since the fall semester,” said Bloss. “We wanted the show case our club by displaying the cannon at the Kite Festival for the kids.”

Hung Nguyen, a first-year student at MCC-Longview, joined the Engineering Club to fuel his career in Computer Engineering.

“Last year we built a catapult as the club’s project. However we didn’t have enough time to finish it,” Nguyen said. “The Club is fun and interesting. You get to meet new people that have the same career focus.”

by Emily Ellsworth

Manta ray kite (Emily Ellsworth/The Current)

Enormous rainbow manta rays, parachutes, spinning circles, ground bouncing colorful caterpillars, huge green alligators, one giant ghostly white squid with angry red eyes, a teddy bear, and small sharks and angel fish zipped through the sky. The wind whipped in from the east, over the buildings and through the sprawling front lawn, bouncing the colorful nylon kites along the breeze as if playing tag. Children with red cheeks ran forward, their heads turned back to watch their kites fly. This was the scene at MCC-Longview for the seventh annual kite festival on Saturday, April 20.

Visitors had the option to watch the kite shows or try flying their own kites as well as participating in activities such as face painting, kite-making, and even registering to be a bone marrow donor. Professional kite flyers from the Kansas City Kite Club performed for the event with phenomenal displays of kites anywhere from 20 to 150 feet long. [...]

MCC-Longview will host the 2013 Mega Kite Festival on Saturday, April 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the main lawn of the college. The event has drawn as many as 10,000 visitors in previous years

Bring your own kites, lawn chairs, and blankets and enjoy the beautiful display of mega kites floating in the air. There will be face-painting, kite-making, food and beverages available for purchase and so much more. Alcohol, glass containers and pets are prohibited.

~Lindsey Moore

Adam Baldwin of “Firefly” (MCT Campus)

George Takei, Wil Wheaton, Adam Baldwin, and Peter Mayhew are some of the biggest names in the sci-fi genre, but what else do they have in common? They are all coming to Kansas City’s Bartle Hall Convention Center for Planet Comicon. From April 6 to 7, dozens of comic book creators, artists, writers, and actors will gather for one of the greatest nerd and geekdom event in Kansas City. For more information and a list of guests go to planetcomicon.com.

~Sean Kim

by Sean Kim

Sean Kim/The Current (Click on the photo to see the slide show.)

It knows that you’re watching. The large, yellow, mouse-like creature quickly darts away from your gaze as you start to chase after it. It’s quick  and cunning as it weaves in and out of the maze of people gathered to watch the odd spectacle. Your years of training have made you tough. As you make your way through the crowd, you retain your gaze upon the yellow creature. It stops, looks up, its black eyes and red cheeks staring right back at you. It opens its mouth, and yells: “PIKACHUUU!!!”

Fans of anime, or Japanese animation, rejoiced and celebrated at Naka-kon anime convention in Overland Park March 15-17. Every year Naka-Kon hosts variety of different panels and has invited many different voice actors, including Kyle Herbert, aka Teen Gohan and announcer from Dragon ball Z; Richard Epcar, aka Gladiator from X-Men; and Raiden from Mortal Combat. This year some of the panels included Religion in Anime, Japanese ghost stories, and much more. and much more. [...]