Music Review: Alyssa Bernal

Alyssa Bernal got her start singing in internet videos, doing both covers of popular songs and creating ones of her own. After being discovered by Star Trak and Interscope Records, she got a record deal. So how are her songs? Well, they're... okay. They're not bad, as she has a nice voice and kinda catchy rhythm which work well for her. She actually sounds like a typical high school girl, probably someone you know, which is part of her appeal. Her song "Cali, Cali, Cali" describes some California love, and the video goes with the lyrics all right. The problem is it's nothing new. This sort of song about teen love has been done many times before. Also, at some points in the song she sounds bored. Maybe she needs more experience, but she does have quite a few good things going for her, so she's worth checking out.

4/5

Driver Crashes Car Onto President's Bush's Lawn

On Wednesday December 22, a motorist drove his muscle car onto former President Bush's lawn in Dallas Texas. The motorist said he drove his car onto the lawn because his gas petal was stuck. The Bush family was inside their residence during the incident. The Bush spokesman, David Sherzer, said, "President and Mrs. Bush are OK." The Secret Service said that no one was injured and the house was not damaged. The only damage was to the fence surrounding the Bush's lawn. The driver was questioned by the Secret Service and he was released.



Sources: MSNBC

19 -Year-Old Dies In Accident In Farmington

According to courant.com, on Friday night a car accident killed a 19-year-old local man. The accident happened at New Britain Avenue near the intersection of Roma Drive around 11 pm. Police, who didn't identify the man, took him to a local hospital where he died of injuries he suffered during the crash. He was driving his vehicle when he left the road and struck a tree. According to police, there were no passengers. Farmington police and North Central Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the cause of the crash. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information are asked to call Farmington police at 860-675-2427.

Pedestrians Struck by Vehicle in Willimantic

According to courant.com, on Sunday evening, two pedestrians were hit by a car on Main Street in Willimantic. The two pedestrians were a male and female and they were taken to Windham Hospital. Police haven't released any information on the severity of their injuries. The accident happened near Mansfield Avenue at 5 pm.

8 Injured In Colorado Bus Accident

According to CNN.com, a tour bus carrying a church group lost control, slid off the road, and landed on its side while traveling on a icy highway in Colorado. The accident occurred on Saturday around 8 pm on a snow-covered freeway in Gunnison County. On board the bus at the time of the crash were 46 people. 8 people were injured in the accident, according to the Colorado State Parol. The 8 people injured in the crash were taken to the hospital with severe injuries, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. The tour bus was transporting a church group from Denton, Texas to Crested Butte, Colorado. Police were still investigating the crash late Saturday.

Senate Votes to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

According to CNN:

The U.S. Senate voted on Saturday to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which prevented openly gay men and women from joining the military. Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman and eight Republicans joined the Democrats in their support for repealing the legislation. The vote finally passed in a 65-31 majority. The bill has been sent to President Barack Obama, who has stated that he will sign the bill into law next week. In an e-mail to supporters, Obama added, "Gay and lesbian service members- brave Americans who enable our freedoms- will no longer have to hide who they are. The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one."

"Larry King Live" Is Over

According to CNN:



"Welcome to the last 'Larry King Live'. It's hard to say that." Those were the first words Larry King said on his show on Thursday, when he announced that he would be ending his talk show after 25 years. King had set records as America's interviewer-in-chief and CNN's prime-time talk show host. The last show featured a song by Tony Bennett, a greeting from President Obama, and a word from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who proclaimed a "Larry King Day" in King's honor. TV host Ryan Seacrest and comedian Bill Maher also joined King on set. After those guests, the show ended its 25-year run. At the end, King choked up a little with his final words. He thanked his staff after stating "It's not very often in my life that I've been without words."

House Aproves Tax Cut Package

After a 277-148 vote, late Thursday night, the tax cut package was passed and it will now head to President Obama to be signed into law. The package includes a two year extension to the Bush-era tax cuts as well as extending the unemployment benefits for another 13 months. This vote fallows a week long debate in the house. This package is a great relief to some because many people were worried that after the midterm elections it would take a while for the house to approve anything. But since the package was approved it shows that the house can negotiate and approve bills.





Sources:
CNN

Manchester High School Fight

On Thursday December 16, at about 9:00 am, a fight broke out between two large groups of students. The fight was said to be started when an individual started to "trash talk" another student. The talk then led to punches between the two groups. Manchester High School was locked down for about an hour to secure the school. Police will be present at the high school throughout the day on Friday because they are worried about any other possible acts of violence that might fallow the fight.







Sources:
NBC Connecticut

Russia will host the World Cup and Winter Olympics

In the next 10 years Russia will become the new world hot spot for world athletics. The World Cup will come to Russia in 2018. And the 2014 Winter Olympics will take place in Sochi, which is near the Black Sea. The World Cup and the Winter Olympics will bring people from around the world to the games. These world events are expected to drastically expand the nation's culture and tourism revenue. Also the country will start the construction soon and this will give jobs for many of the unemployed. The country will also clean up the country and improve the quality of living in preparation of the games. The country will benefit from these events and Russia will be in the history books as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.







Source: USA Today

Wikileaks creates awkward situations

On a meeting with European leaders in Kazahkstan secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, had to apologize to 52 leaders for the embarassing comments seen on the Wikileaks website. She kept calm, despite the tension from comments about leaders-such as describing the Kazakh president as having a lavish lifestyle.

Some countries are now limiting the amount of United States diplomats allowed to attend their meetings. Some leaders are also worried about expressing their true feelings, fearing they will be quoted and leaked to the internet.

Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, was refered to as "weak" and "overly self-conscious" in certain documents. This makes work between him and and the United States diplomat, Karl Eikenberry, even more difficult. The same goes for German chancellor, Angela Merkel, was called, "rarely creative" by U.S. ambassador to Berlin, Philip Murphy.



Source: CNN.com

Great Joy back at RHAM

RHAM High School will be hosting the 26th annual Great Joy Christmas musical. The Christmas musical is put on by Trinity Covenant Church. This year more than 100 choir members will take the stage accompanied by members of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and the Manchester Pipe Band. The musical is offered free to the public as a gift. This year the performances will be in the RHAM High School auditorium at 7:00pm on Friday, December 17th, 2:00 & 7:00pm on Saturday, December 18th, and 2:00 & 7:00pm on Sunday, December 19th.

Photo Courtesy of Trinity Covenant Church

Wikileaks founder bailed out of jail

Julian Assange, the 39-year-old Asutaillian was released from jail on bail Thursday. This was nine days after he was arrested in Sweden for alleged sex crimes. He handed himself to police in London last week, and ended winning an appeal put forth by his supporters.

Although being bailed out, Assange is still being held on a tight leash. He must stay in one of his supporter's mansions outside of London. To keep track of him, Assange must also wear an electric tag to monitor his location. Finally, he must put up about $310,000 in bail money and two sureties.

Marianne Ny, a Swedish prosecutor, said the bail will not change or stop the investigations.

Source: CNN.com

Glastonbury Police Seek Witnesses In Fatal Hit-And-Run

According to courant.com, police are looking for witnesses to a fatal hit-and-run incident that happened December 3rd on Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury. Police have released a photo of the car that was involved in the accident that killed 43-year-old East Hartford resident Christopher Blanchard. Police are requesting anyone who recognizes the car or has any knowledge of the incident to call 860-633-8301. The car drove away from the scene, but was later found by police. According to police, Blanchard was riding his bike by the Route 2 overpass when he was hit by a car right before 8 pm. Police took Blanchard to Hartford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Enfield Woman Killed In Wrong Way Highway Crash

According to courant.com, two people were killed in a wrong-way crash Saturday morning on I-91. According to Massachusetts State Police, Bridget Morawski, 29, of Enfield was driving north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 91 in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Morawski's car crashed into a car that a 63-year-old man from Springfield, Massachusetts was driving. The man's name hasn't been released. The crash happened around 5:13 am on Saturday and it closed I-91 south for almost 4 hours. According to police, both drivers were announced dead at the scene of the accident. Massachusetts State Police are thoroughly checking into the cause for the crash, along with how Morawski entered the wrong side of the highway.

Legendary singer pardoned for 40-year-old crime

The rock band, The Doors, will forever be remembered for their psychedelic music that helped to define the counterculture of the 60's. But that's not all that helped them make history. On March 1st of 1969, lead singer Jim Morrison allegedly exposed himself during a concert at Miami's Dinner Key Auditorium. Then, inn 1970, Morrison was convicted of an indecent exposure conviction by the state of Folorida.

According to the Washington Post, Morrison has now been pardoned for his actions so long ago. Florida Governor, Charlie Crist asked for the pardon from the Clemency Board. The pardon was granted unanimously by the board.

Morrison passed away in 1971 at the age of 27. He was dead before he could present his appeal in court. This is the reason the case went on for so long.

Crist had the three surviving members of The Doors supporting his request for the pardon. The band's keyboard player, Ray Manzarek, said, "It never actually happened. It was mass hypnosis." He and the other members say Morrison teased the crowd but never actually exposed himself.

Australian FM Blames U.S. for the Wikileaks Scandal

According to CNN:


On Wednesday, the MasterCard website suffered a cyber-attack related to the current WikiLeaks scandal. Many news sources state that supporters of WikiLeaks were to blame for the attack, including one Twitter account which claimed responsibility. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, however, states that the U.S. is responsible for leaking the documents in the first place. He told Reuters that the leaks raised questions about the quality of U.S. security over information. Rudd stated, "I have been pretty consistent about where the core responsibility lies in this entire matter, and that lies in the release of an unauthorized nature of this material by U.S. personnel."



Source: CNN.com

UCONN Huskies Makes the Fiesta Bowl

Recently, UCONN won its final football game to secure the title of BIG EAST Championship Winner. The team was invited to play in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, January 1st. They will play against Oklahoma, a renowned team in the world of college football. In an AP poll, UCONN made the top 25 for the first time, ranking at spot 25. Oklahoma is ranked 8th. The bowl will take place at the home stadium of the Arizona Cardinals with an 8:30 p.m. kickoff.

(story courtesy of the UCONN website)

TV Series Review: AMC's "The Walking Dead"

Last Sunday, AMC aired the last episode of season one of their new hit show "The Walking Dead". Based off the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, the show follows a group of survivors in a zombie apocalypse. From entering infested cities to establishing camps, the show follows the group through all of the emotions, heartbreak, and tension of trying to survive in a ruined world. With fantastic make-up and special effects, AMC's zombie apocalypse feels real as it gets, and it lends a whole new take on the classic zombie movie.

For those who may think that "The Walking Dead" is just another gratuitous mess of brains and guts, think again; the show takes a fresh take on the apocalypse, focusing more on the hard emotions, situations, and tensions within the group of survivors than ever before. There are realistic issues occurring within the humans themselves, which is exactly what would happen with a group of people from mixed origins relying on each other to stay alive. When zombies are killed, it is sometimes rewarding but sometimes very emotional, seeing that it is still the embodiment of a person. The epitome of this is when main character Rick Grimes travels back a mile to mercy-kill a zombie with no legs. This is a side of the story never truly seen in zombie movies.


In terms of filmmaking and acting, "The Walking Dead" is far above average compared to other shows, and very close to the production quality of a motion picture. This may be attributed to show director by Frank Darabont, who directed Shawshank Redemption. The blood in the show feels very real, as well as the acting performances, which together create a gripping zombie-infested world. Every episode got better and better until the season let off, and the 8 million fans that watched the show are anxiously awaiting season two.

Elizabeth Edwards Dies at 61

According to CNN:

Elizabeth Edwards, the estranged wife of 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards, died of cancer on Tuesday. She died at her family home in North Carolina while surrounded by her family. Her family stated that "Today we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth's presence but she remains the heart of this family. We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life." President Obama also extended his condolences to the Edwards family.

Source: CNN.com

Panda costumes for a greater good

The Zoo in China's Sichuan Province has some very peculiar pandas. In fact, they're not pandas at all.

According to The Telegraph.com, scientists are working to help a panda cub to grow and be ready to take on life in the wild. How do they do it? They dress in panda suits whenever they need to enter the animal's cage.

Past attempts of releasing pandas into the wild have not been subject to profound success. For example, in 2006, a panda named Xiang Xiang was released into the wild only to be found dead 10 months later. The body seemed to be killed by other wild pandas, conversationalists blame this on the fact that the animal experienced human contact-which is why this strategy with the costumes is being used.

The number of pandas in the wild is fewer than 2,500, and their environment has decreased by 50% in the last twenty years. Breeding and re-introduction like this is essential to the specie's survival.

Wikileaks founder arrested in London

Thanks to a website called, "Wikileaks" anyone can now access documents that the United States once tried to keep secret. These documents ranged from United States procedures in afghanistan to insults directed to Kim Jong Il.

Now the man who made all this information public, Julian Assange(a 39-year-old Austrailian Journalist) has been arrested in London-but not for the reasons most people would expect.

The warrent for Assange's arrest was issued by Sweeden. He will be questioned in Sweeden for, "allegations of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion." Assange says these claims are false.

A spokesperson for wikileaks said that despite Assange's arrest, the website will continue to release documents-much to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's, dismay. Clinton says the release of these cables is dangerous to America and its allies.

source: CNN.com

Facebook gets a brand-new look

Facebook users are facing yet another change to the ever-updating website they devote so much time to. The social website has rearranged the layout of the users' profiles.

This new look is made to be more visually-driven. The top of one's profile is lined with pictures they were tagged in. Along the left side of one's profile, contrary to the top where they once resided, are tabs for accessing the person's notes, info, etc. Lower down on the left side are links to the person's family members and friends indicated with their name and profile picture.

According to MSNBC.com, the point of the new profile design was to make facebook more visually-driven.

"You can see all the things that you have in common with that person," Zuckerberg said. "And it's just like, it gives you this amazing connection with that person in a way that the current version of the profile that we have today just doesn't do."

Despite Zeckerberg's high hopes for the new profile design, most users dislike the more complicated design. Yet some people are more moderate with their opinions. RHAM Junior, Mike Slusarczyk said, "Well I can't say I'm all for it yet, but really that's how everybody always feels when Facebook changes itself. People complain about it for a few days, then just accept it. I'm sure that people won't even notice after 2 weeks of using it."

Dozens Injured In Bus Rollover On I-91 In Vermont

According to courant.com, a tour bus carrying students from the University of Massachusetts rolled over in Vermont on Friday. The students were going on a ski trip when the bus rolled over and injured 30 people, 3 of them\critically. According to Vermont State Police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro, the vehicle rolled off I-91 near Putney and slid down an embankment late Friday afternoon. Emergency responders have administered treatment to the 30 people that were injured in the accident and the 3 people, who are still in critical condition. The bus was one of three traveling from the college in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Driver Dies In Tolland Crash, Passenger Taken To Hospital

According to courant.com, an Oxford man is dead after an overnight crash in Tolland. Ryan Vernooy, 23, lost control of his vehicle while driving westbound on Tolland Bridge Road near the intersection of Doyle Road. Police said that Vernooy lost control of his vehicle because he was attempting to make a turn and he then drove off the road and crashed into two trees and a rock ledge. Vernooy was announced dead at the scene. The passenger in the vehicle, Meredith Bagley, 24, of Oxford was brought to Hartford Hospital by Lifestar with minor injuries. According to police, the accident is still under investigation.

Movie Review: "Unstoppable"

In mid-November, director Tony Scott’s new film “Unstoppable” arose in almost all of the country’s mainstream movie theaters. Starring Chris Pine, Denzel Washington, and Rosario Dawson, the new movie has a very popular cast. A lot of people probably saw the trailer for this train-based action flick and thought, wait, isn’t that just like “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3”? The answer is yes; “Unstoppable” and “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3” are both directed by Tony Scott, both star Denzel Washington, and are both about a high-tension scenario taking place with a train. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see it, however. “Unstoppable” may be a bit far-fetched and clichéd, but its unusual plot and exciting pace make it a thrilling film worth watching.

“Unstoppable” begins when a train conductor named Dewey hops out of his train as it is slowly taking off from the train station. He accidently makes the mistake of setting the train on a full-throttle cruise control, and before he can get back in, it takes off without him. There are also a few other inconveniences; the independent brakes of the train are disconnected from the start and many of the cars are containing toxic, highly explosive material that could decimate an entire town. Let the fun begin. Soon enough, the train hits 70mph through heavily populated towns, and it is up to Chris Pine and Denzel Washington to try to stop it.

The great thing about “Unstoppable” is that the action heats up quickly. Within ten minutes the train is out of control, and from then on the movie is fast-paced and exciting. To complement this, Tony Scott uses quick editing and elaborate angles as the runaway train roars through fields and large towns. Nearly every shot shown has motion in it, making the sequences quicker and more interesting. The fact that the film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats helps them ignore the improbability of some of the events happening and a few clichés.

All three of the main actors in the film play their roles well. Seasoned actors Denzel Washington and Rosario Dawson played their parts with sincerity and realistic emotion. Chris Pine, a name more recently recognized among fans after “Star Trek”, also played his part well. Each of the characters cast in “Unstoppable” seemed very fitting for their parts.

Overall, “Unstoppable” has an exaggerated plot and some clichés, but it is thrilling and exciting enough to overshadow those weaknesses. It is a lot of fun to watch and the audience is glued to the film until the credits start rolling.

Japan Makes Unprecedented Bid For the World Cup: A 3D Broadcast

Recently Japan announced plans for their bid for the FIFA World Cup in the year of 2012; not only do they have multiple suitable soccer stadiums left over from their 2002 co-hosting of the cup, but the nation has announced plans to bring the cup to a new era of technological advancement. In an effort to combine Japan's desire of hosting the tournament along with their innovative new technologies, the Japanese government has announced a potential $6 billion plan to broadcast the Cup in 3D. This isn't the average adventure with 3D glasses, however; the country plans to broadcast 3D images of games up through the ground of a massive, flatbed screen. This would be a groundbreaking achievement and change the way soccer is viewed for perhaps the rest of its existence.

Japan plans to stream the ultra-realistic feed to 400 different locations worldwide to bring people into the World Cup like never before. This unprecedented move towards technology of their broadcast gives them hope that they will be the chosen venue for 2012, which with so much fan fare and attention to Japan would boost their economy and national prowess.


(story courtesy of CNN.com)

Charlie Rangel censured by colleagues

Charlie Rangel is a Representative from New York who was charged with ethics violations. There were numerous charges against the man - including failure to pay taxes on a vacation home he has in the Dominican Republic.


Rangel was censured with a 333-79 vote against him. The 80-year-old Democrat has not reacted well to the result of the vote. Though he has accepted it, stating, "I brought it onto myself." He says he respects the constitutional right for Congress to discipline its members.



Source: CNN.com

4 Arrested in Ireland Car Bomb Investigation

According to CNN:

Police in the Republic of Ireland announced on Wednesday that they had arrested 4 for a car bomb found on the border of Northern Ireland. The car was found near Dundalk on one of the nation's busiest roadways on Tuesday night. It was intercepted heading north, and police feared that the target was North Ireland. The motorway was closed as the army conducted what Captain Pat O'Connor described as "a technically difficult task that took over four hours in freezing conditions." On Wednesday morning the scene was declared safe and the device was confiscated for further examination.

Source: CNN.com

British Aid Worker Killed by U.S. Grenade

According to CNN:


British aid worker Linda Norgrove, age 36, was killed by an explosion on October 8. Norgrove worked for DAI, an agency dedicated to helping developing nations. She died during a failed rescue attempt after being kidnapped in a remote region of Afghanistan in late September. At first, reports indicated that a terrorist suicide vest had detonated, killing her, but U.S. officials ordered a full investigation to ensure what happened. British Foreign Secretary William Hague confirmed on Thursday that the real cause of death was by a grenade thrown by U.S. troops. The soldiers failed to admit that they had thrown a grenade and have been disciplined for the failure under military law. Over 1000 American and Afghan troops were dedicated to the rescue of Norgrove. Hague called her death "a terrible tragedy."





Source: CNN.com

Route 66 In Marlborough Reopened

According to courant.com, Route 66 in Marlborough by Roberts Road has been reopened after a two car collision. The Department of Transportation reported the accident on Sunday around 1 pm. Route 66 was reopened a little after 2 pm. According to state police, two people were brought to Hartford Hospital, as a precaution for non-life threatening injuries.

Action Figure of Steve Jobs Gets Apple Rotten

Recently, Apple forced the wildly popular Chinese "Steve Jobs Action Figure" to be discontinued. M.I.C. Gadget, a Chinese toy-making company, sold a batch of 300 figures at $79 a piece before they were forced to stop by Apple. When asked by CNN why they would do this, Apple replied:

"Unauthorized use of a person's name and/or likeness constitutes a violation of California Civil Code Section 3344, which prohibits the use of any person's name, photograph or likeness in a product without that person's prior consent..."

Many are disappointed that wanted to purchase the action figure, and there are no figures on eBay as of now.

(story courtesy of CNN.com)

Broadway Review: The Pee Wee Herman Show

Paul Reubens, the goofy actor behind the HBO series Pee Wee's Playhouse, has recently attempted to make a come-pack of his prized character. This time, however, he took the playhouse to Broadway. What resulted was a classic, zany, and up-to-date play as the playhouse came to life, and it should surely be seen by any Pee-Wee fan.

With Paul Reubens and other original show actors like Lynne Marie Stewart (Ms. Yvonne) and John Moody (Mailman Mike), the show feels just like the original series did. All of the original playhouse characters show up, including favorites like Cowboy Curtis, Chairry, and The King of Cartoons. The playhouse is identical to the original series as well.

The humor in the show is sharp and modern. There are original jokes and dances mixed in with modern topics (ex. making fun of Sham Wow). Also, everything is appropriate for children; although there are very obvious adult double-entendres, they will go right over the heads of anyone under the age of 11 or 12. This makes the show a fun event for everyone in attendance.
Overall, the Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway is a fun time for adults and children. It will be especially rewarding for fans of the old show, where all old characters play a key role in the production.


RATING: 4/5
REASON: It is a very funny and rewarding production for children or those who have seen the Pee-Wee Herman show. However, do not expect any serious emotions or an innovative storyline that characterize common broadway plays.

Tamar Kaprelian "Sinner or a saint" review

The sad reality of reviewing music is that 90% of what you get to review is either

a. shallow
b. un-original
c. bad

d. All of the above

I must admit, upon getting a CD of "Sinner or a Saint" I had my doubts. But when I started listening I was pleasantly surprised.

The CD opens with the song, "New Day." The song is uplifting yet sprinkled with a pseudo-depressing mood. It was written during a dark time in her musical career. This song lays out the foundation of the rest of the album, painting a picture of a girl who's been forced to ride the roller coaster we call life.

The second song on the album, Sinner or a saint, is probably my favorite. It opens with a catchy punk-esque guitar riff that is soon welcomed by the full band. Tamar's voice harmonizes beautifully with the instruments. I couldn't resist bobbing my head to the song as I wrote this review.

What I think I liked best about this album was that Kaperlian doesn't strike me as being the same as every other pop musician. Her music doesn't flat out say that she's had a "bad Romance" or that "We are who we are. " She's more artistic with her lyrics, being vague and forcing his listeners to really pay attention to understand her emotion. She sings with a passion that says she's really felt pain, this is real, this isn't some kind of pre-packaged corporate puppet-this is a real person.

In the end, this is a very enjoyable album. Tamar Kaperlian demonstrates lots of potential for the future. I look forward to seeing what else she can bring to the music world. Her voice, her lyrics, and the way the instruments compliment her and each other make this an everyone should give a chance.

Rating: 4.5/5

3 children, 1 adult found dead in Florida home

According to CNN.com four people, including one woman and her three children, were found dead in their home in Tallahassee, Florida. A Florida medical examiner is working to find out the exact cause of death of this family. Police believe that the children were two 6-year-olds and a three-year-old. Tallahassee Police have begun a homicide investigation, based on the condition of the dead. "There's obvious violence in the home," said Tallahassee police spokeman David McCranie. "How that violence transpired, we're not sure." Investigators have been talking to neighbors, relatives, and friends of the dead, who were found in a single-family home. According to McCranie, the police found the bodies in a typical, suburban Tallahassee neighborhood. Police have not named any official suspects so far in this investigation.

Tanks To Be Sent To Afghanistan

According to CNN:



For the first time in a nine-year-long war, the U.S. is sending tanks to Afghanistan. Spokesman Major Gabrielle Chapin for the U.S. Marine Corps said that M1A1 Abrams tanks will be sent overseas. The military has said that it will allow for more aggressive missions. At the same time, it will decrease the risk to infantry. The tanks are scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan by early spring. This decision comes as Afghanistan will top the agenda at the NATO summit on Friday.



Source: CNN.com

KFC Gives Out Big Bucks For a Good Tweet

Fast food chain KFC has recently announced that it will give out a $20,000 college scholorship in a contest for the best "tweet". Yes, thats right; one lucky high school student with get thousands of dollars, equivalent to 2500 hours of minimum wage work, just to go online and type in a few thoughtful words. Seniors in high school will write a "tweet" to KFC on why they feel like they deserve the college scholorhship. The tweet must include hashtag #KFCScholar and include no more than 140 words. The winner will be announced December 1st, and receive $5,000 a year for four years to the college they attend.

"This year, through one of the hottest emerging forms of media, we want to offer students a creative way to realize their dreams of obtaining a college education," KFC said. So far tweets received have been across the board, from joking, to playful, to determined and serious. Thousands of high school seniors will be tuning in online on December 1st to see if they are the lucky recipient.

Music Review: Boy Band "Mindless Behavior" Sounds Like Mediocrity

Auto-tune, electronic effects, and pulsing beats have been sweeping through modern day hip-hop music. Songs with clean, sometimes distorted vocals to a catchy beat are the hottest thing in music. So what happens when a group of four talented 12 and 13 year-old singers step into this uprising genre and try to make super-group history? Unfortunately, the answer is mediocrity.

The music group "Mindless Behavior" is a collaboration of 4 boys, ages 12-13 that all come from artistic backgrounds. They are proclaimed as "super group" by their record company, although that title gives them more credit than they deserve. Super groups like the Jackson 5 and Backstreet boys have rocked the industry before in unprecedented record sales and fanfare. The key to fame, however, with these groups is that they all possessed a key ingredient to music; originality. In a world of music, nobody had seen a group of young boys or men rise up and sing together, and this element made them unlike anything seen before, and therefore containing very high appeal.

The problem with "Mindless Behavior" is that although their music has the high, clean vocals that artists like Akon have utilized, they do not bring anything new to the table. Here is a rundown of their new single, "My Girl".

- A song about girls, love, and texting... we have seen this before in dozens of songs, is it nothing new. Especially from 12 and 13 year-old boys, anybody older than a pre-teen will think this is impossible to relate to.

- A bass-heavy, catchy, bright beat with some added vocal effects... this can be seen from various artists, and it sounds just like the rest.

- A group of 12 and 13 year-old boys trying to take a step into the industry... this has already been done by artists in this sam industry, most notably Justin Bieber. While Bieber was more of an unprecedented artist for such a young age and mature genre to take on, these boys seem to just be trying to gain success in his wake.

Overall, the music of "Mindless Behavior" is no different than any other song heard in the mainstream market. The lyrics are shallow, speaking of pre-teen love, which will be impossible for anyone over 13 to relate to. It is hard to imagine an adult getting excited and turning the volume up in their car because "My Girl" comes on the radio, with a 12-year-old saying the first line, "Dang, we text each other A LOT." This music has a chance of catching on with middle school girls, but that is its limit of an audience.

I give this artist a 3/5, because they succeed in making average music in their genre, but it will not stand out as anything unique or special. Their lack of originality, both in their music and idea of "reviving the super group", has been done before, and the country won't get taken by storm as easily anymore.

iTunes and The Beatles

The songs of The Beatles have now found their way onto iTunes. This update was announced on November 16, 2010. iTunes is offering all 13 of the original albums and they are also offering a "Box Set" that has every song from every album. And every song from every album comes with the iTunes LP so you can have the album cover on your iPod. Although the band is no longer around, their songs can be enjoyed right on your iPod anywhere you go. Apple also dedicated a website to The Beatles. http://www.apple.com/the-beatles/











Sources:



Apple Computers

New Haven Fire Sends Man To The Hospital

According to courant.com, one person was sent to the hospital on Sunday because of an overnight fire at a multi-family home in New Haven. According to Battalion Chief John King, firefighters answered to a kitchen fire at 236 Davenport Avenue, a three-family home around midnight. A man was taken to an area hospital so he could be treated for smoke inhalation. His condition wasn't immediately available. Two people who were displaced by the fire have been given temporary lodging and clothing and food needs by the Red Cross, according to Senior Director of Communications and Government Relations Paul Shipman. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Elderly Man Dies In Hampton, CT Crash

According to courant.com, on Thursday an 88-year-old man died when the car he was riding in crashed into a pole on Route 97, police said. John Grenier of Hampton was going north in a car driven by Karen Shaw, 50, of Windham, when the car went off the road near Kimball Hill Road around 11:30 am. The car struck a pole, killing Grenier and injuring Shaw. Grenier was pronounced dead at the scene and Shaw was brought to Windham Hospital for medical treatment. P0lice haven't determined if speed or the weather played a role in the crash. Between Kimball Hill Road and Lewis Road, Route 97 was closed for about three hours while police investigated the crash. Route 97 was reopened around 2:30 pm.

Two Injured In One-Car Crash In Marlborough, CT

According to courant.com, Connecticut state police are investigating a one-car crash that has left two men critically injured early Saturday. Malcolm Privott, 22, of Middletown, was driving a 2006 Jeep Wrangler west on Route 66 when the car went off the road and flipped over right before 3 am. Passenger John A. Loree Jr., 29, of Cromwell and Privott were in critical condition and air-lifted to Hartford Hospital. This accident is still under investigation and anyone with information or who saw the crash are asked to contact Trooper Tyler R. Charette at the Colchester barracks at 860-537-7500.

Sugarland "The Incredible Machine" Music Review

Jennifer Nettles and the musical group Sugarland are releasing their fourth and newest album, The Incredible Machine. Sugarland has won many Grammy, CMA and ACM awards and this album had many expectations to live up to. Not being much of a country music fan I didn't know what to expect with this group I have never heard much about. But this album was not what I would have thought of.

This eleven track album was an great collection of modern country music. This was a great album that had a mix of slower and fast-paced tunes. I even liked the modern and pop influenced track and I found the message in some of the songs to be a positive influence. Overall I liked it and I would give it a 4 out of 5. This wouldn't be an album that I would go out of my way to buy it but if it were on my iPod I would enjoy listening to it. The Incredible Machine is now in stores and for more information you can visit http://sugarlandmusic.com/ for album comments and Sugarland updates.

Serious Vehicle Accident in Andover, CT

November 6: 2 vehicle collision on Rt.6 in Andover Ct. near Route 316.

One patient transported by LifeFlight helicopter.

AllStar Weekend Music Video Review

I took a look at two of their videos. the first one is "Come Down With Love". I give it 2 stars. First the music was not entertaining at all and a song about love turned into a party scene. The video did not compliment the song at all. There were far too many rack focuses on the lead singer. it got to be very annoying. I did not get the impression it was about their music. It apeared to be more about their faces and hair. the next one was "Dance Forever". I also give this one 2 stars. The music again was not entertaining but the video did kind of go along with the lyrics. It was another party video. Their whole marketing scheme is about the members faces and hair and not the music. There was also a large man who kept apearing and did not make sense at all. In short these videos lacked purpose and quality. When they want to go somewhere they should get the camera off their faces and focus on something more important.

Red Dead Redemption DLC Review: Undead Nighmare

Rockstar Games has recently released their highly anticipated downloadable content story : Undead Nightmare. The new "alternate-ending" type story follows former outlaw John Marston as he tries to cleanse the Wild West of a recent outbreak of zombies.

I didn't know what to expect coming into the game, after playing the original story of Red Dead, I had my theories to what the game was actually going to be. I paid the $9.99 , the rate for 800 Microsoft points and waited , meanwhile watching trailers for the game. I was immediately launched into the story, watching John Marston kill his uncle and hogtie his wife and son, who I had learned to love in the last game, was a genius start to the story, and believe it or not, the writers at Rockstar Games somehow incorporated some humor into the biting and graphic scene. I now rode my noble steed into the unknown, encountering hoardes of zombies, and cleansing graveyards. I couln't help but think, this game is awesome.

Overall, the way you play the game is the same as the original story in Red Dea , fans will enjoy recalling familiar scenery, and talking to familiar faces like Nigel West Dickens and the grave digging maniac Seth Briars. The graphics are improved, there's more blood and more gore. The story is delightfully cliche, cheesy and full of Marstons wit and profanity. Ten dollars is a low price if you enjoy slaughtering crowds of zombies salivating for human flesh or you just want to enjoy and interact with a decently written horror story. I give this DLC a 5/5.

Video Game Review- Fable III

Fable III is the latest title the popular series of fantastical games. After the second game came out, gamers have been clamoring for the next title. Does it live up to the hype? Quite frankly, yes. It lives up to the hype in spades.


The story revolves around you, a prince (or princess, depending on gender) whose brother is the king of Albion. As the citizens continue to complain about his tyrannical rule, you go out to lead a rebellion and take the crown. It's a good story. It feels traditional and yet new to the series. The story isn't stuck to just the main storyline, but also extends to the sidequests that citizens of Albion give you. The sidequests allow you to build up your character as good or evil, which will in turn define the kind of ruler you will be.


This game looks really good. It has a strange look that looks like a mix between realistic and cartoony, but fans will like it, as that's been the design of the last few games. The environments are fun to look at and character models look different from one another. Sound is also a good factor. Music is familiar to the rest of the series and is very nice to listen to. The character voices are probably the best part. Along with celebrity voices, the voices all fit the characters.


The gameplay is where this game really shines. As I said, sidequests allow you to build up your character as good or evil, but it goes much deeper than that. Like in the previous games, you can interact with villagers through a series of scripted interactions that affect your standing with people. You can also make moral decisions that can be something like freeing people being sold into slavery or taking some money to look away. The only real complaint with this game is that the interaction system has been oversimplified and you don't have as many options for it as before. However, besides that, this game is incredible. It's one of the best games of 2010 for sure.



5/5

Connecticut Courts Offer New Online Payment For Tickets

According to courant.com, drivers who get Connecticut traffic tickets or criminal violation tickets can now pay their fines on their computers. Connecticut's Judicial Branch has recently brought their website up to date, so it could process payments online from credit cards. People can still continue to mail their payments in. Paying a ticket by mail or online is considered a plea of no contest, which the defendant doesn't fight the accusations being made against them. According to Judge Barbara Quinn, the chief court administrator, people can still petition the court over the charges being made and that the judicial branch's new online payment system doesn't take away any one's rights to challenge tickets.

UConn Student Killed In Crash

According to courant.com, a freshman at the University of Connecticut died in a one-car crash early Saturday morning. Jason Proteau, 18, of New Fairfield was driving along the Wilbur Cross Highway, when he lost control of his Honda Civic. According to state police, he was driving near exit 63 when he lost control of the car and hit a tree. Proteau died at the scene. The investigation of the crash by state police is still ongoing. To Proteau's father, Jacques Proteau, the time and location of the crash was confusing. Jacques said his son was supposed to meet family members at his grandmother's nursing home in Plymouth later on Saturday and that he usually drove a different route.

World Series Matchup Set

Opposite of what most baseball analysts thought, it will not be the New York Yankees facing off against the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Instead it will be the Texas Rangers representing the American League, and the San Francisco Giants coming from the National League. This will be Texas' first trip to the fall classic, and the fourth for San Francisco; they lost in their previous three trips.

Game one will be held in San Francisco on Wednesday at 7:57 pm. Both teams will have their aces on the mound. Cliff Lee will start for Texas, and the young Tim Lincecum for the Giants. Both will look to take an important 1-0 lead in the series.

My prediction is Rangers in 5 games.

Video Game Review- Fallout: New Vegas

When I played Fallout: New Vegas, I was skeptical. Fallout 3 was okay; it was good but I never really caught on to it. This new game looked like more of the same. When I played the game, I found I was right... partially. It's more of the same, but not in the way I expected.

The story has you playing as a courier taking a package to New Vegas when you are double crossed, shot, and buried alive. You are dug up and nursed back to health so you can learn why you were betrayed as well as the secrets behind what's really happening in New Vegas. The main story is good, but another draw to this game is the seemingly endless number of sidequests to keep you busy. It's easy to get off track, but that's a good thing.

The controls are the same as Fallout 3, so if you've played that game, it's easy to get back into the game. If you haven't, don't worry, the controls are relatively simple to learn. Sound is probably the best part of this game. The music is full of songs played over the in-game radio from the early 50's. It sets the atmosphere of the game and is nice to listen to. Graphics are okay; again, they're the same as the previous game, but this is also where the flaws start...

Although the graphics look good, the color palette is bland. I know it's supposed to look that way in the Wasteland since it's the aftermath of a nuclear war, but even in the city of New Vegas, in the areas where you'd expect to have a lot of vibrant colors (like Current Vegas), colors are dull and grayish. The game is also full of technical difficulties. Bugs and glitches plague the game just about everywhere, and gamefreezes are commonplace.

It's hard to review this game. Much of it feels great, like a step ahead of Fallout 3. The story, the gameplay, they all seem familiar, but at the same time upgraded. However, the technical problems with this game plus some other minor issues actually make it feel like a step back. However, you can still have a lot of fun with the game.

4/5

Runner Runner Music Review

Runner Runner is a group filled with talented musicians that haven't reached their full potential. I give this 3 track release a 2 star rating. This was just plain average and boring. I found the lyrics really unrelatable and they weren't catchy. They talked about love like a paper cut. It might have worked, but they couldn't get a point out. Their music was a pretty simple pop rock beat that most begining drummers can play and the other riffs were dull and not very musically interesting. I see alot of potential but its not there yet. The music was so predictable it was borring. It would get kind of soft and then build into a strummed chorus. There wasnt much excitement to it at all. If they want a hit they need to do something no one has thought of before.

Teen Killed In Warren, CT Pick-up Truck Collision

According to courant.com, one teenager was killed and another critically injured when their pick-up truck was hit by another car on Route 341 Wednesday morning. Bryan Mcbreairty, 18, of Warren and Julia Grosclaude, 17, of Goshen were traveling eastbound on Route 341 around 8:05 am when Mcbreairty attempted to make a left turn into the entrance of 25 Kent Road. At the same time, the truck in the back of them allegedly tried to pass on the left struck the pick-up, causing it to roll. Both Mcbreairty and Grosclaude were thrown out of the vehicle. Mcbreairty was declared dead at the scene and Grosclaude was flown to Saint Francis Hospital, where she was treated for back and head injuries. George Hetson, 59, of Kent, the driver of the other truck, was taken to New Milford Hospital and was later discharged. Police are still investigating this accident.

Google Stock Comes Back up to $600

On Friday, October 15th, Google stock rose back up to $600 for the first time in nine months. Google has reported a 32% increase in profits now that is it using stronger search ad fees from advertisers.

Many investors thought that Google would not make money outside of advertisements, but they have been proved wrong. Google's Android smart phone has risen to the second most popular smart phone on the market. The phone will be responsible for 17.7% of the cellular phone market by the end of the year.

Google says it does about $1 billion in sales of advertisements per year, and it may go up due to new features like Google's new "instant search". Its stock looks like it will stay on the upswing, although it is still not close to its all-time high in stock of $747.24.


(story courtesy of CNN.com)

Concert Review: Roger Waters plays Pink Floyd's "The Wall"

On Friday night, October 15, Roger Waters, the original bassist, lyricist, and co-vocalist of the famous psychedelic band "Pink Floyd", visited Connecticut's Hartford XL Center. He sat down and played on of the greatest albums of all time, "The Wall". The album is known as one of the most complete, meaningful albums in music history. Each of its songs intertwine into the creation of a symbolic "wall" to separate Waters from the society that he can't seem to fit in to.

Roger Waters played with a full band throughout the show which had its ups and downs. On the bright side, when thumping hit came on like "Another Brick in the Wall" the entire stadium was enthralled with the sound quality and fullness of the music. Unfortunately, there were times where the presence of the other living Pink Floyd members would have been much more of a true Floyd experience. Once in awhile, Waters would not even be singing or playing; his band an another vocalist would carry on other parts of the song.

What overshadowed that downside, however, was the mind-blowing visual creation of the show. There were explosions of sparks and fireworks, giant puppets of pigs and teachers flying over crowd, and throughout the entire show, various stagehands were on cranes placing brick by brick of a giant wall 150 feet wide and 50 feet tall across the stage. On the wall there were projections of graphics, cartoons, and original video footage and loads of anti-war sentiment. It was an extraordinary sight; a concert experience that is truly amazing. There seemed to be a lot of effort put into every corner of the show; for example in "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2", there was an entire chorus of local schoolchildren brought out to sing the chorus.

Overall, Roger Waters put on a phenomenal show that any Pink Floyd fan should go to. It feels a little empty without the original members of Pink Floyd, but that doesn't mean it is not a fantastic show.

Two Shot In Hamden While Foiling Robbery

According to courant.com, the Hamden police discovered two men who had been shot trying to foil a robbery. After answering to a report of shots being shot on Saturday night, Hamden police went to 61 First Street at 8:30 pm and they found two wounded men. One was shot in the chin and the other grazed in the head with a bullet, according to Hamden police. The two men told police they had encountered by two men; one was a Hispanic male, who had a weapon and demanded the victims' belongings. Police said that when the two men tried to defend themselves, they were shot. The victims were both taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital. According to police on Sunday, they were not giving out the victims names, while they were conducting an investigation on the attackers.

Guidance to Host Colleges During October and November

The RHAM Guidance department will play host to many colleges during October and November. Salve Regina University already visited on the 7th. College of Saint Rose, High Point and St. Michael's also visited the following day.

CCSU will come to RHAM on Monday the 18th. Followed by Post University, who will visit RHAM the following Monday. Lyndon State College, University of Bridgeport, BayPath College and the University of Scranton will also be coming to RHAM in October.

In November Franklin Pierce University, St. Anslem College, University of New Haven, Southern Vermont and Western New England will pay visits as well. For the dates and time of each college's visit and more information go to the high school's website and click on the College Visit Calendar link.

Alex Sanclamente

Alex Sanclamente, a computer technician at Smart Computer Repair in Marlborough, at first seemed to shy away from the idea of having an on camera interview with myself and my partner Brendan Donahue, however, was more than pleased to have an off the camera discussion as to how he started his business.

Sanclamente was born in Columbia, where he is known as a proffesional chess player. Sanclamente described the condition of Columbia to be very impoverished, and he could see no way out of those conditions himself and for his family. Sanclemente, seeking better fortunes, eventually decided that the Untied Sates held better opportunities for his newly started family and chose to move, leaving his reputation as a chess player behind. Once in the United States sanclamente began working as a janitor at an office building, where hard work and pure luck lead him to be noticed by the vice president of the company. Speaking little english, Sanclamente showed the VP his intelligence in the only way he could, by playing chess. The VP, seeing sanclamente's intellectual potential, sent him Central Connecticut State University where he received outstanding marks in every class that he took. Sanclamente's GPA upon graduating was so high that he was interviewed in-front of over 10,000 people on how he received such amazing marks. Sanclamente attributed his high marks to extremely hard work, and a strong desire to learn more. Sanclamente would wake up at four thirty a.m. to do school work, go to class, and the go to work, not coming home until after midnight on many occasions.

After getting his bachelors degree at CCSU Sanclamente worked as a mailman, where he slowly began to build a relationship with the people in the town of Marlborough. During his time as a mail man sanclamente worked towards his goal of opening a computer repair shop. After saving enough money and gaining the trust of the people in the town, he started his business with his wife. Sanclamente said "If I had started my business before I had worked as a mailman, then noone would trust me. I have an accent, I am foreign, but now the people will recognize me and trust me to fix their computers." Sanclamente's truly inspiring story is testament to how hard work and a little ingenuity can pay off.

Plane With Throttle Problem Lands Safely At Bradley

According to courant.com, a small aircraft that was scheduled to land at Hartford's Brainard Airport had to make an emergency landing at Bradley International airport late Sunday morning. The small aircraft, carrying three people, changed its destination from Brainard Airport in Hartford to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks around 11:30 am on Sunday, according to Bradley Airport communications. State Police said it was a Piper-type plane that stated they were having a problem with the aircraft's throttle. The plane landed safely at Bradley Airport and no one aboard the aircraft was injured.

Farmington Police Respond to Fatal Crash on Route 4 in Farmington

According to courant.com on Sunday morning, a woman was driving her sedan and then she slammed into a dump truck head-on on Route 4 in Farmington. The woman driving the sedan was killed in the accident. The driver of the dump truck was reported to have minor injuries. The woman driving the sedan was taken to John Dempsey Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The road was closed until around 3 pm between High Street and Interstate 84 exit, ramp 39, so the police could investigate.

-photo provided by courant.com

Film Editor of Tarantino Dies at 56

The film editor of famed director Quentin Tarantino, Sally Menke, was found dead on Tuesday morning, October 12th. After going out hiking with her dog on Monday in Bronson Canyon, there was no sign of her return. Friends alerted the police and hours of searching began. Her body was later found at the bottom of a ravine, her dog still alive. It is not known whether the extreme heat of the day was a factor of her death or not, and there did not appear to be a jump in deaths on Monday. Expert opinions say that Menke most likely became disoriented and collapsed, the heat contributing to her death. Menke worked on films such as "Pulp Fiction", "Kill Bill", and "Jackie Brown".

(story courtesy of the LA Times)

"It's Kind of a Funny Story" Movie Preview

On October 8th, the film "It's Kind of a Funny Story" was released into theaters nation-wide. RHAM News was sent an exclusive electronic press kit to the film that includes trailers, film clips, soundbites, and b-roll.

From the materials sent, "It's Kind of a Funny Story" seems like a decent film. It is not Oscar material, yet it has its strengths. Starring Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, and Emma Roberts, it is a story about a clinically depressed teenager (Gilchrist) checking himself into an adult psychiatric ward to get a new start. Along the way there are many laughs, life lessons, and romance. After watching many film clips, the acting in the film seems to be on-and-off. Galifianakis and Roberts seem strong as usual, however the less known Gilchrist comes off a little weak and unbelievable. He does a fine job acting his part, however the performance does not drag the viewer in. Besides the acting, all of the scenes feel a little drawn-out and slow on tempo; it seems like what is trying to be a witty psychiatric comedy is too sluggish in moving along.

As for the technical aspects, "It's Kind of a Funny Story" is shot very much like an independent film. The cinematography has the indie look to it, using very shallow depth of field and more artistic angles. Like many independents out today, there is a low-budget, raw feel to the film. This can be further seen when watching the b-roll, where there is a very minimal crew (2 film camera operators, two sound recordists, 2 camera assistants) along side directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson, Sugar). Overall, the technical side of the movie seems solid.
As a whole, It's Kind of a Funny Story seems like it will be an enjoyable watch with a unique storyline and fun moments. The acting and pacing may keep it from having Oscar potential, but it will most likely still hold up in the box office with interest from adult viewers.




PREVIEW RATING: 3/5

Neon Trees "Habits" Album review

Neon Trees is a rock band hailing from Provo Utah. They consist of Chris Allen on guitar, Branden Campbell on bass, Elaine Bradley on drums and vocals, and Tyler Glenn(who has been writing music since he was six) on lead vocals and keyboards.


Their style is unique, it brings multiple genres together in an energetic blend of noise. They describe their music "wouldn't sound out of place at any point from '60s garage-rock to 2010 dance rock." It's an accurate description, their music has a type of psychedelic atmosphere that bears resemblance to acid rock bands of the '60s and '70s. It is reminiscent in itsreferences to late '70s disco with easy beats to dance to. The lyrics cry with angst I know so well from early '90s grunge, and the electric sound seems to mark them as one of the bands fueling the increasing popularity of modern dance.


I personally was very impressed with the band's bassist, Branden Campbell. He used the instrument to a degree more than most other players do. For example, the song, "Girls and Boys in School" is strengthened by a heavey-treble bassline that makes a good song a great song


One minor weakness I find in their music is the consistency in their songs. Though they vary in their meanings and themes, they all seem to be presented with the same sound. That's not to say all their songs sound the same, but rather, they all have a consistent feel to them. They're all energetic, some more than others. Yet, they use energy well, they're good at what they do. It definitely won't make you dislike the band, but don't expect a emotional roller coaster.


All in all, the album is a success, an energetic venting of teenage woes with an ultimately pleasant outcome.



4 out of 5

Man Falls From Roof in Vernon

According to courant.com, a man who was doing maintenance on his roof fell about 15 to 20 feet around 11:30 am on Saturday. When police arrived at the house, the man was awake and responsive, but his condition appeared to decline as he was taken to Hartford Hospital by Lifestar helicopter. The house is a single family home on the Hartford Turnpike along Route 30. Police haven't yet released the man's name or age.

Bridgeport Resident Killed in Motor Vehicle Accident

According to courant.com, a man from Bridgeport was killed in a car accident in Shelton on Sunday. 32-year-old Kelvin Sanchez of 552 Atlantic Avenue in Bridgeport was operating his 1998 Volvo on Route 8 northbound in Shelton when state police say his vehicle traveled into the right lane and up a hill around 4:30 am on Sunday. Police say that the car Sanchez was driving at a high speed and then became airborne. After it became airborne, the car crashed into a light pole and several trees. The Volvo landed on Route 8 and stopped in the right lane and turned in the eastern direction. Sanchez was brought to Bridgeport Hospital where he died from the injuries. This car crash is still under investigation by State Police Troop I. Anyone who has information about the car accident are requested to call Trooper Eileen Perchinski at 203-393-4200.

Music Review: Teenage Dream Album, Katy Perry

This is Katty Perrys second album and I was blown away by it. I give this album 4.5 out of 5 stars. From the time I hit play to the time it was over I was tapping my foot and bobbing my head. At some points I wanted to get up and dance. She has outdone herself. She is a gifted singer and lyricist. I was very impressed with her lyrics in "Pearl". She alludes to the Illiad when she refers to the face that launched a thousand ships. Her lyrics are also very catchy and by the last chorus I was singing along. The music itself is mostly made up of a decending 4 chord progression. It may be very simple but its very catchy. The rythems switch between a club beat and a rock beat. Her album includes a multitude of up tempo songs but when she switches to a ballad, it is just as good. The tracks on this album include:

1. Teenage Dream

2. Last Friday Night[T.G.I.F]

3. California Gurls feat. Snoop Dogg

4. Fireworks

5. Peacock

6. Circle The Drain

7. The One That Got Away

8. E.T.

9. Who Am I Living For?

10. Pearl

11. Hummingbird Heartbeat

12. Not Like The Movies

This album also comes with two surprise tracks at the end. This album is out and available in stores. I recomend you find a way to listen to Perry's musical genius.

Video Game Reviews- Dead Rising 2

Taking place five years after the events of the first game, Dead Rising 2 follows Chuck Greene, a former motocross champ who is now surviving in Fortune City. The story is nicely put together, and is surprisingly deep for a zombie game. Once you get past the fun of killing endless amounts of zombies, you'll find a surprisingly interesting story that combines horror and comedy...

...If you can get past the fun of killing endless amounts of zombies. As the first game was, this is a sandbox game, which means you can just go through the entire thing mindlessly finding new ways to kill the walking dead. It's incredibly addicting. The setting of this game, Fortune City is huge. There is a lot of ground to cover, and many things that can be turned into weapons. In fact, that's one of the biggest draws of this game; Using the godly power of duct tape, you can combine objects found all over the place and turn them into destructive weapons. This new creativity brings multiple hours of variety as you discover new weapons with which to kill zombies. It will be a very long time before you get bored.

Unfortunately, there may not be a long time before you start to get annoyed. There are some problems that just keep this game from being perfect. The main one is with save points. You have a time limit to complete the story, and if that limit runs out, you will fail the campaign and be booted back to your last save point. If you save too close the deadline and still have a lot to do, you may have to start the whole game over again.

The graphics are good, with animations smooth and environments ripe with lots of color. The music during cutscenes matches the events happening in them, and the music in gameplay all comes from sources throughout Fortune City. Controls are tight and easy to figure out. Multiplayer is also added in this time around, but it seems more like an afterthought. It's nice to kill zombies with a friend, but it feels like the multiplayer was added in at the last minute.

Overall, Dead Rising 2 is a very good entry in the series. As with the first, endless fun is all right in this game, only with even more. The large environment, the creativity, and the surprisingly good story all work in this game's favor. Its flaws do hold it back a bit, however, but it's still a good addition to a gamer's library.

4/5

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.com

Sally Menke, dead at 57

Most people don't know her name, but on the set of Quentin Tarantino's many films, she was a celebrity. During her life, Sally Menke worked with director Quentin Tarantino as an editor. Her work earned her nominations in 2009 for "Inglorious Basterds" and in 1995 for "Pulp fiction."


Menke's body was found during a search on September 28th after she had not returned from a hike with her friend-who was separated from her during the hike-in Los Angeles the previous day. It is believed that the heat may have played a role in her death. It was 113 degrees, the hottest temperatures the city has endured in 133 years.


Menke will be remembered for her contributions in the film industry.



Source: CNN.com



http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-28/entertainment/tarantino.editor.death_1_sally-menke-trail-death-proof?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ

Facebook Up After Second Outage in Two Days

According to CNN.com, For several hours Thursday, Facebook was down for many of its users, which was the second day in a row that the site was not able to accessed. The problem started early Thursday afternoon and was fixed around 5:30 pm Eastern Time (ET). "Today we experienced technical difficulties causing the site to be unavailable for a number of users," a spokeswoman said in an e-mail. "The issue has been resolved and everyone should now have access to Facebook. We apologize for any inconvenience." According to the spokeswoman, the problem was not related to the one on Wednesday. The problem on Wednesday was with a third-party network provider that shut the site down, or made it slow down significantly for several hours. She didn't go into detail on the nature of Thursday's problem. Facebook is the world's largest social-networking site and has more than 500 million users. On Facebook's blog for developers, a post went out saying the site was "experiencing latency issues" or a time delay. Some technological observers have guessed that the delay on the developers' platform was unlikely to have been a complete part of the problem. The outage on Facebook led thousands of social networkers to talk about Facebook on Twitter. "Somebody needs to fix Facebook ASAP," Gizmodo blogger Rosa Golijan wrote on her Twitter feed. " I don't like to tweet to show I 'like' all the stories about it being down." Several Twitter users, expressed sorrow about the fate of the starving virtual plants and animals of FarmVille, while others noticed the consequences of the outage.

-picture provided by CNN.com

Police Investigate New Haven Shooting

According to courant.com: After being shot in the chest on Friday afternoon, a 17-year-old is in grave condition. Police said the shooting happened in the Newhallville neighborhood at 163 Starr Street around 3:30 pm. The 17-year-old was shot once and is now dealing with life-threatening injuries. He was brought to the Hospital of Saint Raphael for treatment. Police are still investigating the shooting.

Broncos Wide Receiver Found Dead

According to CNN.com, Denver Broncos' wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead Monday afternoon. The 23 year old is reported to have died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. In a statement on the team's website Pat Bowlen, the team's President and CEO, had this to say. "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."

Facebook Plans to Change Friend Requests

On Facebook, when users receive a friend request, they can either choose to "accept request" or hit "ignore", which erases the request forever. In the next few days, Facebook plans to eliminate the "ignore" button and replace it with a "not now" button, which will put the request in a "hidden requests" folder. This makes it so that one can look back at all requests denied, and accept them at any point in the future if they wish. You can also mark the request to show that you do not know the person requesting, which helps facebook prevent abuse.

“This helps our systems get better at detecting unwanted behavior on the site and we can use that information to prevent abuse from that person in the future,” said a Facebook representative.

(story courtesy of mashable.com, found through CNN.com)

Memorial Golf Tournament Returning to Marlborough

It has been announced that the 3rd Annual Jon Lovett Memorial Golf Tournament will return to Blackledge Country Club on October 8th, 2010. John passed in 2008, and every year since the tournament has been held in his honor. There will be raffles, contests, and a buffet dinner. Registration is $125 for golfers, and $25 for the buffet only. Sponsorships are also available from Blackledge Country Club including tee, prize hole, and enhanced sponsorships.

Email jonlovettgolf@aol.com for more information.

Pedestrian Struck, Killed In Meriden

According to courant.com, the man from Meriden that was hit by a car and had fatal injuries has been recognized as Mark Albee, 48, as reported by police on Saturday. Albee was walking near 1147 Hanover Avenue, when he was hit by a car at 9:31 pm. The driver of the car was John Guirard, 43, of New Britain. Albee endured severe internal and head injuries and was then brought to the Midstate Medical Center. Albee was pronounced dead at the medical center, according to police. Police are saying that the accident still remains under investigation. No charges have yet been filed.


-Photo provided by courant.com

Man on Scooter Hit by Tractor Trailer Cab in Willimantic

According to courant.com, 18 year old William Carilli, also known as William Adams, was hit by a tractor trailer cab while riding his scooter Thursday afternoon. The police were notified of the accident at 1:16 pm and the cause of the accident is still under investigation. Carilli was riding a foot-propelled scooter near Thread City Crossing when he was hit. Carilli was checked into Hartford Hospital and is in stable condition. Anyone that may have seen this accident are asked to assist in this investigation by calling Willimantic police at 860-465-3135.

American animal sanctuary burned down by mob

Cherie and Vince Rose, an american couple, had an animal sanctuary in Belize. This sanctuary housed 17 crocodiles of two types different species. It was run by the couple up until local Maya tribesmen burnt it down.

The Native Maya believed that the Roses were responsible for the disappearance of 9-year-old Benjamin Rash and his 11-year-old sister Onelia. They believed the couple had kidnapped the children and fed them to the crocodiles. Such a suspicion was was aroused among the people of the Maya village by a "psychic." "They have their own superstitions... Because of their beliefs, they decided to take the law into their own hands," explained deputy police commissioner James Magdaleno.


As of yet, no arrests have been made.



Source: CNN.com

Violence in Iraq Leaves Several Dead and Wounded

According to CNN.com, a day after an attack on the capital by various insurgents, a widespread series of violence has struck the nation of Iraq. The bombings and shootings have left 6 people dead, consisting of five construction workers in Samarra, and one Iraqi brigadier general in western Baghdad. 21 other people were wounded in roadside bombings and public violence. The amount of attacks like this has risen in the past few months and have been targeting government officials.

U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad Lt. Col. Eric Bloom told CNN that attacks also reached U.S. forces at a Iraqi military compound. The soldiers "provided suppressive fire" as a small number of suicide bombers infiltrated the base and carried out an attack. The attack was believed to have been carried out by al-Quaeda insurgents. Iraqi government officials announced recently that al-Quaeda and other terrorist groups were planning various attacks nationwide and told citizens and security forces to stay alert.

General Petraeus Warns that Quran Burning Could Endanger US Troops

According to CNN.com, an American commanding general of the Afghanistan war, David Petraeus, spoke out against The Dove Outreach Center's planned demonstration of burning multiple copies of the Quran on September 11. "It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," said General Petraeus. The church, located in Gainesville, Florida, defended itself, saying that their demonstration will be "neither an act of love nor of hate." Instead they claim it will be a warning against Islam. The church's planned event has already drawn criticism, from both inside as well as outside the Untied States. Muhammad Ismail, the spokesman for the Indonesian Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir, had this to say, "the burning in not only an insult to the holy Quran, but an insult to Islam and Muslims around the world." His opinion was further voiced by thousands of Muslims at a protest outside the American Embassy in Indonesia. There are about 120,000 American troops still battling al Qaeda and its allies in the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban movement, and according to Petraeus the Quran burning "is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems."

Movie Review: Robert Rodriguez's "Machete"

On Friday, Robert Rodriguez released his newest film, "Machete". The idea for the film came from Rodriguez's "Grindhouse", in which "Machete" was a fake movie trailer

"It was great to make the trailer," said Rodriguez, "Usually fans would come up and ay ...'When are you going to make Machete?' because they had seen the trailer and just felt like it had already been made... And they would ask so consistently I finally had to

make it".

Make it he did. The film features Danny Trejo as Machete, a previously un-corruptible federal agent until his family was killed by the drug cartel. As he gets wound up in more

and more conflict, he becomes a soldier for a Mexican Revolution. Other stars in the film include Robert De Nero, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, and Michelle Rodriguez.

Although it sounds like a serious plot, "Machete" is just as over the top as films like "Grindhouse" or "Kill Bill". Through the use of excessive, mindless violence, fun acting, and Rodriguez's personal cinematic touch, a fantastic film is created. Trejo becomes a mobile slaughter-house throughout "Machete", slicing and shooting his way through dozens of enemies. It is a full serving of violence that is well-done and very enjoyable.

SEE IT: If you love a good hack and slash movie with very clean, professional cinematic

mastery. Also if you enjoy Robert Rodriguez's or Quentin Tarantino's work.

DON'T SEE IT: If you can't stomach watching Trejo swinging by a man's intestines from a fifth story window, or if you are

expecting oscar-worthy material.

(interview and additional sources provided by imdb.com and video.about.com)