Music Review: The Bravery:Stir The Blood

"Stir The Blood" is the Bravery's junior album following the breakout success of "The Sun And The Moon" but the album is much closer in sound to their first record "The Bravery".

As a huge fan of The Sun And The Moon, I was very surprised by Stir The Blood. The vocal mix on the album makes use of many effects that make the singers voice very drawn out and artificial compared to the very clean quality used on Sun & Moon. The lyrics to some of the songs I found to be much less soulful then previous installments and an overall dissapointment.

The variety of songs on the album is very lacking. The band seems to have fallen back on their use of alot of synth with simplistic drum beats and are much less adventurous this time around. While the songs are catchy, they lack the individual identity of the previous album.

While I was dissapointed with the album as a whole, the music is solid and catchy albeit too busy at times. This collection is worth a listen but does more wrong then right as follow up to such a great album as "The Sun And The Moon"
2/5

Zhu Zhu the Robotic Hamster Dominates Black Friday

(courtesy of CNN.com)

As Black Friday rolled around and thousands of shoppers fled their local malls for good deals, one furry little toy seemed to be on everybody's shopping list. Zhu Zhu the robotic hamster was such a hot toy this year that there were extensive lines in front of Toys-R-Us, which had its own line specifically for those who wanted one. People in the line were given a red ticket which ensured them a robotic hamster. "Its the only thing my little sister wants for Christmas, and she is going to get it," said Kaitlynn Blyth, a shopper at Toys-R-Us. There were some reports of shoppers waiting from before 7:30 pm to be the first in line for the midnight opening. Other families appeared at early times to get a hold on the many toys that Black Friday had to offer.

Holiday Movie Weekend Proves to be a Box Office Smash

(courtesy of CNN.com)

On the Thanksgiving weekend, a new surge of box office revenue hit movie theaters. Moviegoers of all ages showed up to see the new released that placed among the top money-earning films of the year. In first place for the weekend was "Twilight: New Moon", which scored a total of $42.5 million in box office revenue that added to its cume of $230.7 million. That makes it the sixth highest earning movie of the year, right below Star Trek. In second was "The Blind Side" at $40.1 million. These smash releases were accompanied by "2012" at $18 million, "Old Dogs" at $16.8 million, and "Ninja Assassin" at $13.1 million. With these films is Disney's "A Christmas Carol", which scored $16 million, which added with its previous earnings makes it hit $105.3 million.

Overall, these films scored higher numbers than many others have this year. It seems that even in tough times, the film industry continues to thrive as moviegoers of all ages are attending the newest and greatest flicks.

Marlborough Seniors Host Christmas Party

The Marlborough Senior Citizens club is going to hold a special event. Every year, the club hosts a Christmas party at the Marlborough Senior Center. This year, the party will be held on December 8th at 12:30 pm. There will be entertainment by The Belltones and a pot luck dinner. The club will provide ham, desserts, rolls with butter, and drinks. Donations to the food bank will be accepted.

For more information on contact and other activities and events, visit the Marlborough Senior Center Website at:

http://www.marlboroughct.net/content/Seniors/SeniorCenter.htm

Breakfast With Santa Visits Marlborough Once Again

As a child, I always loved Christmas and one of the main events I used to look forward to was Breakfast With Santa. You got to eat as much as you want and then talk to Santa and make sure all of your gifts would come that year. It was always a good time and a fun way for the community to bond.

Breakfast With Santa is back again this year on December 5. The cost is $5 for an all-you-can-eat breakfast. There are two time slots to go to; 8-9:30 am and 9:45-11 am. It features a variety of foods and Santa will be there all morning.

To sign up, email str64@cox.net.

Two Injured In Hartford Shooting

According to courant.com, two men were injured during an shooting outside 308 Broad Street around 3:09 a.m. this morning. The two men were taken to a nearby hospital for non life-threatening injuries. According to police, one of the men was shot in the chest and the other had 3 bullet wounds in his back. The men told police that they didn't know the man, who shot them. The victims described the man as a 20 year old Hispanic male, who is about 5 feet, 9 inches and 170 pounds. The man was wearing a black hooded jacket and dark-colored jeans. The weapon the man used was a black and chrome-colored handgun.

Plainville Police Search For Missing Teens

According to courant.com, the Plainville police are asking for the public's help in finding two teenagers that have been missing ever since Friday night. Police say that the two teenagers: 12 year old LiAnn and her 14 year old sister, Tianna Hall, were reported missing at 12:30 am. They were last seen at their home at eight, earlier that night. Police are guessing that the two sisters left home on their own. If anyone has any information concerning these two girls should contact the Plainville Police Department at 860-747-1616.

Fantastic Mr. Fox *movie review*

"Fantastic Mr. Fox", based off the book by Roald Dahl, is the newest film by director Wes Anderson, who also made Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Darjeeling Limited. His new film was unlike the rest however; this time around he took a shot at a whole new field; that is, the genre of classic stop-motion animation. Fantastic Mr. Fox features amazing work in the field, as well as a nicely developed storyline that is a lot of fun for viewers of all ages.

The celebrity voices in the film consist of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray. Together, they created a diverse set of characters that were unique in their own way. George Clooney had a great voice for the lead character, Mr. Fox, to take charge and be the sly yet outgoing individual he was.

The film had many laughs that could appeal to all ages. There were silly moments as well as discreet jokes woven into the array of creative dialogue displayed. The storyline was about a fox who stole alcoholic cider, chickens, and other small commodities from three different human farmers. Afterward, the humans gave all their effort and power into digging up the holes that the foxes shared with many other animals, including a badger and a weasel. This created an interesting and humorous set of conversations between the many different animals.

Overall, Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was a fun and humorous film for all ages. Anderson took a bold step into the world of animation and it payed off. His artsy and entertaining movie is one that fits in well to the animation genre.

Concert Review: Exit Ghost @ The Willamantic Wrench In The Works

The Wrench In The Works is a left wing anti-establishment music venue who recently changed location to a warehouse just outside of main street Willimantic. The concert itself took place in a small room within the large warehouse on a side stage adjacent to a cafe/library area filled with banned and leftist books and media.
The venue is located in a considerably shady part of town and the room within the warehouse lacked any acoustics or a sound stage of any kind. However the band's sound was quality regardless, which was surprising considering the aforementioned lack of acoustic equipment.

Around twenty to thirty people attended, after a very slow attendance rate caused the show to be pushed from 7 to 7:30. Exit Ghost started their set with a new song entitled "Leaf" followed by another new song called "Orion". They followed up with fan favorites such as "Beast From Air" and finally "Bellamaris".

The band played a very solid set and kept with their reputation of putting on wild and energetic live shows. This will be the groups last concert until this summer due to bassist Nathan Whitehouse studying abroad in England. However their album will still be coming out early next year.
4/5

Hebron Fire Department Selling Wreaths

The Hebron, CT fire department is selling wreathes for Christmas. One of the members can be seen outside dressed in a full Santa Claus outfit.

DUI Charges on Selectman

In Woodbridge, State police arrested selectman James Sabshin on charges of drinking and driving and refusing to stop after striking a guardrail with the vehicle.

"Police said Sabshin was driving erratically on the Wilbur Cross Parkway on Wednesday." He continued driving when police tried to pull him over, and hit the guardrail twice said police. Sabshin swerved between the right lane and the shoulder before pulling over.

Sabshin is due in court on December 7, and was released on $3,000 bond. If he is found guilty, action could be taken, but as for now, he will remain on the Board of Selectman.



Source: http://www.wfsb.com/news/21742177/detail.html

CD REVIEW - Allison Iraheta - "Friday I'll Be Over U"

Allison Iraheta was born April 27, 1992 in Glendale California. Five years later, the young Iraheta was singing at a supermarket in front of over 600 people, and after the first professional spark to her singing career fire, Allison took voice lessons. At the age of 16, Iraheta had come to the conclusion that she should try out for the popular show American Idol. Allison Iraheta would continue to make it into the top 36, the top 12, and finally the top 4 contestants.

After the show and touring with "American Idols Live", Allison Iraheta and Jive Records plan to release her debut cd which drops December 1st, 2009. The single "Friday I'll Be Over U" shows much talent from the new artist. She has a lot of vocal talent, and shows an almost scratchy voice that sounds much beyond her teenage years. Iraheta is similar to Kelly Clarkson in her singing style and music setup. The song starts with an intro which builds nicely, goes into a chorus and verse, and then a small interlude and back into the chorus, which is quite catchy. It has a rock/techno sound which compliments Iraheta's voice nicely.Although undoubtedly a good singer, Allison Iraheta lacks a lot of creativity in her music. The standard teenie pop sound rears its ugly head in this single, as with a lot of American Idol contestants. Hopefully this isn't a trend we will be seeing with the blooming and talented artist.

Overall Rating: 2/5. Great vocal performance, lack's creativity and emotion.

311 Takes the Arena at Mohegan Sun

On Sunday November 22nd, alternative rock/rap group 311 made their way to the Mohegan Sun Arena to perform. State Radio, an alternative rock band from Boston, MA, began the start of the show with a 30 minute set including favorites such as the fast paced "Knights of Bostonia", the slower more rhythmic tune "Right Me Up" and the war torn ballad of "Camilo". The crowd was lively and moving as they prepared to see 311 take to the stage for an unforgettable performance. The band kicked off their 2 hour set with songs from the self titled album "311" that included "All Mixed Up" and the popular old school track "Down." The band's energy was non-stop as rapper S.A. Martinez riddled the rhymes in "From Chaos" and "Fat Chance". Lead Singer Nick Hexum used the crowd's energy to his advantage as the band began to play songs from their new album "Uplifter". "India Ink" and "Daisy Cutter" were among the multiple songs played off this album to really capture the crowds intensity. Yet it is safe to say that "Creatures (For A While" and "Beautiful Disaster" were by far the crowd pleasers of the night when the pit began to jump in unison with full enthusiasm.

During the middle of the set, drummer Chad Sexton laid down a beat for the fans to dance along to and soon enough, all 5 members including Sexton were out on stage playing percussion. The energy from within the stadium was immeasurable when the solo kicked up leaving people hungry for more. Bassist Aaron Wills also known to 311 fans as P-Nut performed a bass solo on his 10 string which was one of the highlights of the band's performance. Towards the end of the set, 311 suprised many people with "Jackpot" a lesser known song of theirs. The band even included "Omaha Stylee" to pay homage to their hometown in Omaha, Nebraska. Throughout the set, 311 never ceased to stop moving. They were able to give the crowd exactly what they wanted to hear and delivered a varied amount of songs from the old school days to newer aged material. When the crowd was begging for an encore, 311 played a compilation of their older songs which included "Don't Tread on Me", "Do You Right", and "Feels So Good" off one of the oldest albums entitled "Music". The concert was definitely a worthwhile experience and after 15 years of music, 311 continues to amaze.

Route 8 Crash Kills 1

According to courant.com, a car accident on Route 8 in Shelton killed a 29 year old Bridgeport man. The accident happened on Route 8 southbound between exits 11 and 12 around 9 am Sunday morning, where State Police were called to the scene. According to the Shelton Fire Department, a Trumbull firefighter, who was off duty, first spotted a car in the woods off the highway. Police said the 29 year old man was dead at the accident site. This was the second deadly crash on Route 8 this weekend and the accidents sites were several miles apart. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Troop I at 203-393-4200.

2 Killed, 1 Hurt In Shelton Crash

According to courant.com, three teenagers from Shelton and Stratford were in a car crash around eleven p.m. on Friday. The crash was near Constitution Boulevard South and the Route 8 northbound exit 13 ramp, according to police. Police also said that the car was found off the road and in an embankment. The driver, Lawrence J. Morra, 19, of Stratford, and the front-seat passenger, Viviana R. Cavalli, 18, of Shelton were dead when police arrived at the scene. Kassandra N. Dimas, 18, of Shelton was taken to Saint Vincent's Hospital and she is in good condition, police said. Police are investigating the cause of this crash.

RHAM Alumni Band "Exit Ghost" To Release Full Length Studio Album

Exit Ghost, a Hebron based post hardcore band is officially in the final leg of the editing process for their latest album "When The Water Comes." The aforementioned album will consist of eleven tracks, eight of them full songs and five of them brand new ones. After spending the last year and a half separated throughout the northeast due to school, the band's musical style has evolved accordingly, each member's more defined tastes mixing in the new album. I had the opportunity to observe vocalist and guitarist Ian Bates in the studio and can say first hand that even the un-mixed recordings show tremendous growth in the bands musical abilities.

"When The Water Comes" shows a strong influence from electronic music, often using MIDI instruments and effects to compliment their driving melodies. The groups Thanksgiving break from college will make up the bulk of the editing time for the album which is taking place in the Epoch Arts Center recording studio. While the group is not signed to a label, their individual technical knowledge and supervision by Epoch's resident sound engineer will surely make for an impressive final product.

The album is due to release by mid December although that date is pending.

For Mp3's pictures and more take a look at Exit Ghost's Myspace www.myspace.com/exitghost

Local Arts Center In The Running To Receive Donation

Chase Community Giving is a large scale charitable organization focusing on donating money and supporting local charities or and community centers. Recently the group began a campaign to donate a total of five million dollars to one hundred community centers across the United States. These one hundred centers will be selected through a national vote via their Facebook.com page - the top one hundred of all those suggested receiving fifty thousand dollars.

One of the aspiring community centers is the Epoch Arts Center of East Hampton, CT. Epoch Arts or simply "Epoch" has been the sponsor of countless live music events, plays and art galleries since their conception three years ago. Epoch was created based on the values of individuality and creativity, offering not only a place to exhibit artistic talent, but a constructive place of refuge for adolescents who need a place to go and safely enjoy themselves.

Representatives of Epoch Arts are very excited for the opportunity and want the word spread about the vote to as many people as possible, posting links on their Facebook page to Chase Community's corresponding voting page.

The page can be reached by typing in Chase Community Giving into the Facebook search bar, and after finding their homepage, install the community giving application, search Epoch Arts Center East Hampton and your vote will be cast.

"It's Kind of a Funny Story" Book Review

[Warning: This review includes spoilers.]

Ned Vizzini is an American writer for young adults whose novels have included "Be More Chill", "Teen Agnst? Naaah...", and "It's Kind of a Funny Story." His latest book, "It's Kind of a Funny Story" follows a depressed young adult named Craig who admits to having clinical depression. He spends most of his childhood dreaming of being accepted to Executive Pre-Professional High School, where he then plans on searching for his perfect job. However, Craig's mental disability shields him from being able to live and function as a normal teenager. He finds himself skipping meals, having insomnia and wasting his days smoking with his pal Aaron. One night, Craig has the idea to commit suicide by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. He lies awake in his mother's bed for hours not knowing what he should do. He finally decides to call a suicide hotline and gets himself checked into a mental hospital. Here, Craig learns to accept his illness and discovers that there are what he calls "Anchors". Anchors are possessions or people that Craig can find comfort to hold onto.

While at the hospital, Craig slowly realizes that he is not the only person experiencing or coping with a mental problem. He meets some interesting characters including a transsexual sex addict who goes by the name of Jennifer who is really Charles, and a schizophrenic man named Jimmy. A psychotic man who never stops talking named Humble, two meth addicts, Johnny and Bobby, a boy who will not leave his room because he fears that gravity will shoot him upward, and a girl who has scarred her face with scissors. Craig is skeptical of his new surroundings at first. He is shy and a bit paranoid that the outside world will eventually find out that he has been admitted in a hospital for the "insane."

Craig starts to learn that even his room mate who sleeps 18 hours a day and speaks broken English has a story to tell. Everyone contributes to his healing in one way or another. He befriends Noelle, the girl who has scars on her face when he receives a note from her to meet at a specific time and place in the hospital. This sparks a very peculiar relationship. Craig soon notices that the reason why he enjoys talking to Noelle is because she is different and can teach him something about life's lessons that he never knew.

Throughout the story, the reader begins to notice a change in Craig's personality. He listens to these people and understands that maybe he had the wrong opinion coming into the hospital. Towards the end of the book, Craig has almost come full circle. He begins to draw what he calls "brain maps". When Craig was a child, he found that illustrating maps really interested him. He was able to create his very own metropolis and it could contain however many rivers and city streets he desired. At his stay in the psychiatric hospital, Craig picks up the talent once again after attending an arts and crafts activity session. Soon enough, the other patients see that this clinically depressed teenager is skilled in the artistic field.

His stay comes to a close as he prepares to be released from the hospital on his fifth day. On the last day, he draws maps of the patients' brains and depicts what someone would find if they were to look inside their head. He draws and draws and draws until everyone has finally gotten their map. Craig says goodbye to the hospital and the patients' having a few telephone numbers in his pocket so he can keep in touch with some even after he has gotten out. The real world is now Craig's and he is free to do anything he chooses. He realizes that being alive is the greatest privelege that anyone could have.

I thought that this book was excellent. It contained many themes that are important for teenagers to understand such as morals, the value of living, the difficulty growing up as a teenager and how certain people can change and effect your life. I could not put this book down. Every chapter captivated my attention with its witty phrases and uncommon, offbeat language. The characters were quirky and interesting to follow throughout the story and I was excited to see what was going to happen towards the end of each chapter leading into the next. "It's Kind of a Funny Story" is definitely on my top list of books. I recommend this novel to any reader who enjoys a good laugh but can also appreciate the struggle one endures when attempting to find out who they are. Though this book focuses on the main character's clinical depression; the way Vizzini writes is anything but. I almost forgot that Craig had clinical depression when I was reading it. I could not put it down, I guarantee you it's worth the read.

Site Announced for Girls Soccer Semifinal Game

The RHAM girls soccer team will being playing Avon on Tuesday, November 17 in the state tournament semifinal match. The game is at Middletown High School and will be played at 6 pm.

RHAM Activity Fair

On Wednesday, November 4th, RHAM High School had an activity fair for freshmen. The fair was held in the high school cafeteria during advisory. The different kinds of clubs were the Video Game Club, Archery Club, Video Production Club, Model United Nations Club, Fencing Club, Student Council, and more. Club members explained to the freshmen who attended what their club was all about and what kind of events they do as a club. Freshmen had to fill out a questionnaire about the activity fair and go over to the different clubs to answer the questions. Advisory teachers then collected the sheets the students filled out.

Entertainment Review: "The Prisoner" Pilot Episode

With a leading cast made up of Jim Caveisal and Ian Mckellen, the American Movie Channel has spent the last two months heavily promoting The Prisoner as a thrilling new Tv Series in the vein of LOST. The premiere of the series took the form of a two hour long introductory episode that had both very strong and very weak moments, overall showing considerable potential for the rest of the series.

The pilot's beginning is it's weakest point, the setting is introduced unrealistically quick and the main character goes from being almost feral to civilized in an equally short period of time. It seems as if the shows writers wanted to jump right into the mystery that makes up the shows premise but disregarded realistically setting the stage for the story to unfold upon. About forty minutes into the episode I became extremely interested and captivated by the cinematography and acting on the part of Sir Ian Mckellen, who gives a performance up to par with the rest of his career. Mckellen's character is extremely spooky and disconcerting making every scene in which he plays a part entrancing and nerve wracking. On that note it is important to say that Ian Mckellen(the only true star member of the cast) is frequently part of the action, despite his character being a reclusive villain, AMC makes no attempts to hide their "prize fighter" throughout the pilot.

The writing fell short of my expectations at moments, often leaving me more confused then in suspense and wishing that the characters would be less cryptic and more believable. After a while listening to members of the town in which the series take place give oblivious statements as to their location in the world stops being eerie and starts becoming annoying and played out.

Overall 'The Prisoner' shows alot of promise, and it's pilot while not quite as accomplished as some other big budget series like LOST or 24, was nothing to take lightly. Hopefully the writing will become more believable as time passes and will be up to par with the performances of the principal actors and the camera work.

3/5

Music Review: Morrissey: Swords

"Swords" is Morrisey's latest solo album technically speaking. The album itself is made up of B-sides that morriseey left off his last two albums. With this in mind the album itself is not truly a full budget release, but more of throwback back to fans.

The pace of the album is very slow, letting simplistic drum beats carry each song while Morrissey's wit and vocal melodies add musical flourish. Morrisey's almost mournful vocals work to compliment the very upbeat tone of the guitar. Listening to his very "base" style reincarnated yet again is a reminder of his influence on modern indie music and why his fan base still runs strong.

For fans this compilation album will surely be a pleasure to hear as it is only more of what they have grown to love and for everyone else, 'Swords' is a relaxing and enjoyable musical experience. Morriseys style has yet to become outdated, a statement proven with this collection of songs.
4/5

Concert Review: Nick Colione at the SCSU Lyman center

Nick Colionne is an acclaimed jazz guitarist and vocalist who is currently touring New England with a backing band. Gaining notoriety with his hit single "High Flyin'" in 2003 Colionne has become a smooth jazz sensation known for his humorous upbeat performances and extreme technical skill.

Having never been to the Lyman center I was pleasantly surprised with it's medium size, allowing the music to be heard without being painfully loud, along with creating a very personal environment.

The show began with a cover of 'The God Father' theme, a throwback to Colionnes name. The actual show began with a bang, Colionne displaying his skill and playing his hit single at the crowds request. The entire show lasted two hours which was compromised of almost non stop music with brief interjections of stories and jokes told by Colionne and the band. While the music was obviously the main attraction of the show, I have to say that Colionne was extremely entertaining, his good spirit and sense of humor was a wholesome welcome addition to the show, making the entire crowd burst out in laughter in between songs.

Colionnes energetic and humorous style kept the show fresh throughout its two hour run time, and left me thoroughly satisfied. The show ended with a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain" and an encore improvisation. Nick Colionne is a true old fashioned entertainer who brings more then just musical skill to the table at his performances.

5/5

RHAM Girls Soccer Team Will Advance to Semifinals

The RHAM girls soccer team defeated Sacred Heart Academy on Friday afternoon. The game was played at RHAM at 2pm and ended with a score of 2-1. Both RHAM goals were scored by Ashley Russo. With this win RHAM will advance to the semifinals of the state tournament. They will play the 8th seed Avon who defeated the 1st seed Berlin on Friday afternoon. The day and location are yet to be determined.

RHAM Girls Soccer Team Advances to the Quarterfinals

The RHAM girls soccer team defeated Ledyard during their second round state tournament match on Wednesday afternoon. The score was 5-o. The game was played at RHAM at 2 pm. The goals were scored by Ashley Russo, Audra Ayotte, and Julia Hersh. With this win they will now advance the the quarterfinals. They will play the number 12 seed Sacred Heart Academy on Friday at home at 2 pm.

Armed Robbery At Newington Friendly's

According to courant.com, on Sunday night, Friendly's was involved in an armed robbery. The Friendly's restaurant that was robbed was at 3490 Berlin Turnpike. According to police, a man came through the back door of the restaurant around 10:30 pm and robbed the manager by threatening him with a knife. There were many employees that were at the restaurant during the robbery. No injuries have been reported. Police checked the area around the restaurant for the suspect, but the suspect was nowhere to be found. Anyone with any information about the robbery is asked to call Newington police at 860-666-8445.

Gas Station Worker Robbed At Gunpoint

According to courant.com, a man that worked at a gas station/convenience store was robbed this morning at gunpoint, when he was making a deposit in the Bank of America on 525 New Britain Road in Berlin, according to police. Police have also said that a female who worked at the Citgo/Foodbag store was approached by a man around ten this morning. The man showed that he had a black automatic pistol and threatened the woman to give the money in the deposit bag or he would kill her. When the man got a uncertain amount of cash, he made the woman drive him to Langdon Court, which is near the Bank of America. The man then left the car and got into another car, a black Nissan with tinted windows and a rear deck spoiler, police said. The victim said that the spoiler looked like it was added on because it was wider than the car. According to police, the man was wearing blue jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt and didn't show his face. Anyone, that has any information is asked to call Det. Sgt. McCormack at 860-828-7080.

Health Care Bill

In Washington Saturday night, the Democrat controlled House passed the health care bill that would give coverage to millions who need it and place tougher restrictions on the insurance industry. In the 220 - 215 vote, the Republican disagreement was almost undivided.

Rep. John Dingell from Michigan said, "It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it.

The bill requires Americans to carry insurance and "provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees". Companies and consumers that disregard the government order would face consequences.

Insurance practices such as rejecting coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions and charging high premiums because of gender and medical history are banned.

Also, conservatives from the two parties worked together to add tougher restrictions on abortion coverage and insurance. They won on a vote of 240 - 194.



Courtesy of: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/health/news_ap_house_passes_health_care_bill_2009110721211257654239017

2 United States paratroopers go missing in Afghanistan

(courtesy of CNN.com)

On Wednesday, two US paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division went missing in Afghanistan during a resupply mission in the Western portion of the country. The US army has been searching meticulously for the two soldiers, who went missing near the border of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. "All available resources are being used to find the two missing paratroopers," brigade operations officer, Lt. Col. Guy Jones said. There are still no details pertaining to the whereabouts of the two men or what happened, but the US military hopes to find them quickly and safely.

Music Review: Esmee Denters, cd sampler for "Outta Here"

Esmee Denters, a 20 year-old musician from Holland, achieved fame in a way that is becoming more common as time goes on; YouTube. Denters was a 17 yeard-old Dutch pancake waitress and as a hobby, she recorded web-cam videos of herself singing on YouTube. It caught on. Just six months into recording herself singing on the social networking site, she had become the site's number 1 most subscribed to musician. Shortly after, Justin Timberlake used her as his opener on his 2007 tour and eventually, he signed Esmee Denters to his new record label, Tennman Records. She was the first artist to sign with the emerging company, and since then her and Timberlake have been composing songs together. The Outta Here sampler features her first single, "Outta Here" in an album, acoustic, and remixed version.

Denters album version of "Outta Here" shows very strong vocal talent as well as a load of popularity potential. It has a very pop/R&B driven beat along with the deep bass of a techno house beat. In the song, Denters sings about how one should escape from a bad situation before harm is done, and with a great edge to a clean voice, the vocals fit the lyrics well. The singer hits a wide range of notes and holds them well, and coupled with them is an exceptionally clean voice that makes the song pleasing to listen to. The beat is also well composed, with tempo and mood changes in which Denters softens and hardens her voice to fit. There are only a few poor qualities to the song, but they will not contribute to a loss of popularity. First of all, the song is an exciting listen and it has a very grooving beat, but the message does not get across to the listener very well. "Outta Here" does not hit the listener with much emotion or thought, but will most likely get a foot tapping. Another down side is that the track is not very unique. There have been many R&B based tracks that have beats very similar to it, making it not stand out as much as it could.

The acoustic version of "Outta Here" is unfortunately not nearly as much of a success as the album version. The singing is still very good as well as the acoustic guitar, but Esmee has a voice that fits in with the R&B/Pop genre much better. The only plus side to the acoustic would be that it sent her message better, but the song is about the power of an individual to get out of a situation, which was much better shown through a more powerful beat.

The "Richard Vission Solmatic Mix" of "Outta Here" was quite good considering its genre. It took small bits of Esmee Denters' song and mixed them in with a European techno house-beat. Although it does not showcase much musical talent from Esmee, the song is extremely well done for the techno genre. The beat has a driving low bass beat along with a good amount of lyrics and a electric-guitar sounding anthem, making it an ideal song for clubs and raves. This track has the full potential to be played throughout the European club scene.

Esmee Denters is an emerging artist with a lot of new talent to bring to the table. She showcases a clean voice that she alters to create an edgy, emotional, and very pleasing sound. The album version of "Outta Here" lacks the meaning to draw emotion, but has a great potential to become popular and shows outstanding vocals mixed with a catchy beat. The acoustic version, however, does not fit the meaning of the song or Esmee's voice well, but it still showcases her clean vocal qualities. The remixed version of her song is a must-have for any club or rave, but when placed in a world of emotionally-driven or unique music, it does not succeed. Overall, Esmee Denters has an excellent voice and very strong potential, but she does not have the emotion and originality to make herself completely stand out.


__________"Outta Here"____________


Album Version: 4/5 REASON: The track has driving beats and pure vocal talent, but it needs emotional drive and originality to make it stand out in its genre.


Acoustic Version: 2/5 REASON: The song is not the right fit for Esmee's voice or message in her song, but it still shows
off her vocal skills.


Remixed Version: 5/5 REASON: When graded in a techno/european house-beat genre, the track is a must-have for clubs
and raves. An overall well-balanced mix of vocals and a club beat.

Music Review: Holopaw: Oh Glory, Oh Wilderness

I was lucky enough to stumble upon the Gainesville Florida folk band, "Holopaw" through their collaboration with Isaac Brock on a recent Modest Mouse album. The group is known for their hushed vocals combined with synth and MIDI controlled electronics creating a quiet yet controlled mix of technology and classic folk tunes.

The groups latest album "Oh Glory, Oh Wilderness" can only be described as pleasingly consistent. The group never falters in their signature sound, the eeriness and soothing nature of their music remaining at the forefront of the album without any distracting variations from their style.

Holopaw is a band truly devoted to a sound which they have made their own and as a new listener I commend them for it. My personal favorite song has to be "The Art Teacher And The Little Stallion" being driven by an upbeat drum and guitar sound accompanied by a somber violin and vocal line, making the song, like it's counterparts on the CD an easy listen with a deep meaning.

"Oh Glory, Oh Wilderness" is not only one of the best albums's I've heard in a long time, but also one of the best I've heard at all. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys music, regardless of genre. "Oh Glory, Oh Wilderness" is a pleasurable and gentle trip through the cross roads of modern indie and folk music

5/5

Nine Days To 10-Digit Dialing

According to courant.com, on November 14, all calls in Connecticut will have to include an area code. Cellphones will have to include an area code too, it will not be an exception. Outside the local calling area will require a 1 before the area code and local calls won't need the 1. The move will be part of the state's change to 2 new area codes. On December 12th, new numbers in the old 203 area code area would be changed to a 475 area code. Sometime in 2010, new numbers in the 860 area code area would become a 959 area code. No customers will have to change their current area codes in "overlay" of the new area codes. For more information about 10-digital dialing and the new area codes, click on the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control's "Get ready to change the way you dial in Connecticut" link.

Music Video Review: Justin Bieber, "One Time" "One Less Lonely Girl"

Justin Bieber is a thirteen year old Canadian singer, who after finding recognition through a series of youtube videos was picked up by a manager who helped him to produce his first studio album entitles "my world" which will be released November 17th of this year.

The two music videos I viewed by Bieber were in my opinion an extreme letdown for a kid who is being touted as the next big music sensation. As a thirteen year old boy put into the adult world of R&B there is a definate culture clash from the moment he begins singing about romancing a woman and love, that makes for a more humorous tone than a serious one at almost every "passionate" moment. Both songs, both "One Time" and "One Less Lonely Girl" cast bieber alongside 18-19 year old girls and put them in lightly sexual situations. In One Time Bieber even throws a house party which looks to be a wild night of drinking and mischief, but the video is careful to never show any alchohol.

The videos themselves are well filmed but immature in tone , feeling more reminiscent of Aaron Carter then Usher or any other soulful musician they were attempting to imitate. There is no doubt that Bieber has skill as a musician. His voice is incredible for his age and while I don't know if he writes his own songs they are all very catchy.

However, there is no energy or WOW factor in Biebers performance in either of the two videos. For a child with so much potential and funding, Biebers songs were filled with close ups and extremely simple dance moves.Bieber was discovered through his covers of chris Brown and Usher songs, and it is evident that he is heavily influenced by both artists. This in his case is not a good thing. It often seems as if Bieber is trying too hard to imitate his idols in his singing. I would go as far as saying that if you close your eyes and listen, there is little difference between Chris Brown and Bieber himself. Now, from a marketing standpoint that concept is great, however from a musical one it simply makes Bieber another one of the pack who still has a long way to go to establish his own musical identity.

The one positive I found is that both video's had extraordinary color, which is to be expected considering the amounts of money spent on the video. Justin Bieber's video's along with his music are as young as he is himself and will hopefully grow as he comes into his own in adulthood.

Rating: 1/5

Michael Jackson's This Is It review

Michael Jackson's This Is It(often shortened to "This is it") recently made its way into theaters everywhere. The film is a documentary that captures rehearsals for Jackson's "This is it" tour, which was canceled due to Jackson's death in June of 2009. The foootage was originally going to go into Jackson's personal library until it was decided to make it into a documentary and it was released into theaters after his death.

The film does an excellent job at showing Michael's dedication to the concert that could've been. Jackson mentioned in the begining of the film that the concert was, "for the fans." His enthusiasm for his fans shows through Michael rehearsing with his large crew, making sure exeryone is doing their best. Filmmakers did well to present both the stress and joys of rehearsing the concert. For example, one scene has Michael ripping out his ear buds, explaining that the noise from everything sounds like a "fist" in his ear. Yet, the film expresses Michael's love for what he did; in multiple scenes he jokes with his crew.

The film also deisplays how much work must be put into a concert. During the beginning of the film the audience sees auditions for the back-up dancers to the concert. This sequence does a good job of displaying just how many people all try to get in the show. Countless people auditioned. The film displays this well and does it in a relatively short amount of time, moving the film into the rehearsals for the concert. This is good because this is where the film truly becomes magical.

The dance rehersals are without a doubt the best part of the film. Mr. Jackson displays a wide variety of different dance moves choreographed perfectly with his music and back-up dancers. One really has to see Michael Jackson perform to appreciate him. Listening to his music alone only offers half the flair. The sequences are unique as they will display multiple rehearsals simutaneously. It's an interesting technique of filmmaking that I don't think I've ever seen used in this way before. It's amazing to see Michael dance, at the age of 50, he can still move like a 20-year-old.

These rehearsals also show the extensive work put into videos that were planned to be shown during the concert. Each song has it's own theme, for example, "Thriller" has a horror theme. The video that was made and featured in the film features a humorous sequence of the back-up dancers dressed as mummies, zombies, and other horror characters. The video that was done for, "Smooth Criminal" is very film-noir inspired. It's nice to be able to see this aspect of the concert in addition to Michael's dancing.

I enjoyed this film. I was never a big fan of Michael Jackson but after watching this I really grew to respect him as a performer. I'm very grateful for this film, although the "This is it" tour will never be a possibility, Michael's fans will be able to get a good idea of the concert that never was. The Film serves as a nice tribute to Michael Jackson's inspirational and legendary career. I believe everyone should see it, whether they are a Michael Jackson fan or not.





Rating: 5 out of 5

RHAM Girls Soccer Team Ties Last Regular Season Game

The RHAM girls soccer team played their last regular season game at home on Monday afternoon. They played Rocky Hill and the game ended with a score of 0-0 after two periods of overtime. The RHAM girls soccer team completed their regular season undefeated with a record of 14-0-2 (w-l-t).

The truth about domestic violence

According to the Hartford Courant, domestic violence has become a serious issue in Connecticut. 16,748 cases are estimated to occur each year based on data from 2007. Domestic violence is defined as physical, sexual, verbal or psychological abuse in intimate relationships in order for one partner to dominate the other. The victim in the situation is left feeling insecure, confused, dependent and scared.

Five women were killed Connecticut between February and the end of August. Each of these cases were connected to boyfriends and husbands. 20-25 women are killed in Connecticut every year by their spouses. Perhaps even more shocking is that those 20-25 deaths are a fraction of roughly 50,000 victims of domestic violence in Connecticut every year.

There are multiple hotlines to contact for help with domestic violence-
Connecticut: 1-888-774-2900
National: 1-800-799-7233(SAFE);
for the hearing impared: 1-800-787-3224
National teen dating abuse: 1-866-331-9474(TTTY);
for the hearing impared: 1-866-331-8453(TTTY)

There are also multiple emergency shelters offering 24-hour hotlines-
Enfield: 860-763-4542
Hartford: 860-527-0550
Manchester: 860-645-4033
Meriden: 203-238-1501
Middletown: 860-347-3044
New Britain: 860-225-6357
Simsbury: 860-658-7227

Source:
http://www.courant.com/news/domestic-violence/hc-dv-story.artnov01,0,5729639.story

Student Dead At Yale

Today, November 1, Yale student 19 year old sophomore Andre Narcisse was found "unresponsive at around 11 a.m." in his room at Branford College. He was not able to be resuscitated and pronounced dead at the scene. Tom Conroy, Yale spokesman, says "police have not found any evidence of foul play" and his body has been sent to the state medical examiners office to find the cause of death. Students were sent an e-mail notifying them and there are going to be opportunities for remembrance.



Source: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/news_wtnh_newhaven_yale_student_found_dead_200911011548_rev1

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