Music Review "Owl City"

Everyone has heard of Owl City's biggest hit, "fireflies". They have just released an new set of songs. Their greatest hit won the hearts of many music lovers because of its upbeat and positive vibe. Now they have created an new set of great upbeat songs. The first song makes you feel like you are watching the stars shoot above your head in a time lapse. Its techno-inspired beat has the potential to be on the top 10 music listings. Its lyrics remind me of many other popular songs, like B.O.B's airplanes. The next song "Gold" is yet again another cookie cutter form of the rest of their songs. Upbeat, techno-inspired and positive, this song will make anyone want to tap their foot or get up and dance. The next song includes a featured artist Mark Hoppus. All of the songs are quite similar and provide a upbeat and uplifting tempo. These song have not surprised me at all and are what I expected from them. I was glad to see they are still going strong and releasing new songs. I would give these songs a 4/5 because I think that they have yet to wow me as a music listener.

New Found Earth?

NASA has lead the Kepler space mission through which they have located thousands of "earth-like" planets. This particular planet has been given the name Kepler-22b, which, among other newly discovered planets, sits in the "habitable zone" of the star it revolves around. The distinction of being "habitable" is based on the temperature of the planet, which is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature such as 70 degrees is a possible indicator that liquid water is present on the planet, something essential to all life. While they are not sure of the composition of the planet itself, nor its atmosphere, this is a large step in locating other planets like ours.

cbc.ca

"Jingle Jam" Brings Big Names to CT

(story courtesy of www.courant.com)

On Friday night, December 2nd, Hot 93.7's "Jingle Jam" concert brought some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B to the Hartford XL center. Acts included Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Mindless Behavior, Mavado, and Hartford native Talon Haynes.

The concert was said to be fantastic, with very supportive interaction between fellow acts as well as with the audience.

For more details on the individual concert acts, visit:

http://www.courant.com/entertainment/music/sound-check/hc-concert-review-drake-wiz-khalifa-jingle-jam-xl-center-hartford-20111202,0,4516705.column

Mr. RHAM Contestants and Hosting List Finalized

After a one year hiatus, Mr. RHAM is back this year to the satisfaction of RHAM students. It will take place on December 16th from 6:30pm-9:30pm. After a long string of confusion over who is taking part in Mr. RHAM this year, senior class president Jacob Grover has recently announced that the list has been finalized.

There will be six contestants for the event, who are:

- Tim Fitzgerald (Junior)

- Ben Pitler (Junior)

- Mike Slusarczyk (Senior)

- Cody DePersia (Senior)

- Peter O'Connell (Senior)

- Jacob Grover (Senior)

The event will be hosted by Brandon Henley and Brendan Hall.

Jacob Grover is hoping that the revival of this age-old tradition will be successful, saying on the event's facebook group: "Mr. RHAM used to be wicked sick, so we need to make sure it happens, because it's a lot of fun".

Biden presides over ceremonial handover in Iraq

On Thursday December 1, 2011 vice President Joe Biden flew in to Iraq to join the handover ceremony of Camp Victory to the Iraqi forces. In the ceremony the Vice President paid respects to all the troops that have lost theirlives defending the camp and and celebrated the leaving of the United States. Citizens of Iraq have mixed feelings about this departure and the hands the country was in. Some say that the Iraqi forces are not ready to handle all the violance that happens but some have hope in the goverment and say that their country has grown and learned how to defend its self over the past nine years. Iraq's president Jalal Talabani said during the ceremony " History will record that the liberation of our country was not only an important turning point in iraq itself, but it was an important beginning for the region". No-one called it a handover ceremony because the war will not be over until the last troops leave in a few weeks. Now the camp that was once a symbol of American presence is now in Iraqi hands to keep the people safe.-stltoday

Drug Mushrooms in Vernon

Police found in Vernon, among other things, 3 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 7 ounces of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The two residents of the home on 20 Neil Road are Seth and Amanda Jennings, 18 and 20 respectively. A. Jennings was only given an infraction for drug paraphernalia whereas S. Jennings was charged with multiple offences, including possession of hallucinogens, possession of more than 4 oz. of marijuana and operating a drug factory. S. Jennings had a bail set for her at $10,000.

Source: Courant.com

UConn Goes Patriotic

Back on Spetember 16th, 2011, during the football game versus Ohio State, UConn started saying the Pledge of Allegiance before playing the Star Spangled Banner. This was at first done as a remembrance of 9/11, but school officials want it being said at football and basketball games because they want traditions associated with the sports. As well, Paul Pendergast, the UConn interim athletic director, thinks it would "enrich the university" by saying the Pledge. According to UConn message boards, some people like it and others not so much. One poster said that they feel honored to say the Pledge and sing the Anthem whereas another believes that people that would not want to say the Pledge may be pressured into doing so, even though they are not being forced. In terms of the athletes, UConn Women's Basketball player Bria Hartley thinks that "It's a good tradition. It represents our nation well."

Pledge of Allegiance Facts:

• Written in 1892 by a socialist minister named Francis Bellamy
• "the Flag of the United States of America" added in 1923
• Fmr. President Eisenhower lobbied Congress for the adding of the words "under God" as a responce to communism

Source: Courant.com