Entertainment Review: Kick A**

Examining a movie poster can sometimes give a perceptive viewer an accurate look into what a film is all about. The colors, the image, and the text that’s included all try to sum up and give an honest and enticing look at the next big thing. Some movies go out of their way to draw in customers with a veiled message or a sense of mystery, making the viewer want to spend their money simply out of curiosity. Kick A**is not one of those movies. A bloody, cuss filled film from beginning to end, KA ‘s blunt nature is balanced out by it’s incredible pacing , witty dialogue and satirical elements.

Based off of a 2008 Marvel Comic of the same name, KA revolves around “Average Joe” Dave Lizewski, a high school teenager who couldn’t lead a more boring existence until he dons a wet suit and decides to fight crime. The first thing a comic reader will notice is that Dave lives with his widower father in a small house in new York , reminiscent of Spiderman’s Peter parker. The film goes out of it’s way to include throwbacks such as this and proceed to take them in a dark and realistic, but mostly humorous direction. For example, when Dave finally has the courage to confront a criminal he is beaten mercilessly, stabbed, and hit by a car. While many grim scenarios like this appear in the film, they are done tastefully with equal parts humor and skill, work to highlight how hard real life heroics can be. Dave’s struggle between living as his alter ego and himself make for many extremely funny scenarios throughout the film that are augmented by the equally funny cast of characters that make up his group of friends and love interest.
Outside of the well crafted plot and characters the cinematography in this film is phenomenal. KA is a visual feast for the eyes from its first to final shots. Not only are the angles creative and subtle but the pacing between scenes is some of the best I’ve seen in recent memory. There was not a single scene or plot line in the film that I felt was left unexplored. No character or scenario had any of its potential wasted leaving me as a viewer feeling like I had a sense of closure when the credits rolled (Something that happens rarely for me)

Another selling point for the movie is its action sequences. Believe me when I say that this film ranks among the biggest action blockbusters of the decade in its graphics ,choreography, and stylishness. The scenes reminded of the best moments in 2008’s The Dark Knight but with a flare that only a more grindhouse style film like KA could pull off. Not only are these scenes high quality, but they are numerous. The number of action sequences in this film will surely satiate even the most needy action fans and sets a high bar for any future movies in the genre.
KA not only works within the clichés of the comic book world but subverts them for its own purposes, turning on its head what it means to us to be a “Super Hero” and giving a refreshing look at the world through the eyes of a young man who gives us hope to be ordinary.
5/5

One Person Killed In I 95 Accident in Connecticut

According to courant.com, there was a one-car crash on I-95, just north of exit 60 and a man died in this crash this morning. The man was Robert Komola, who was 49 years old and he lived on Cottage Road in Madison. The man died at the scene of the accident. According to state police, Komola's 1996 Chevy Lumina went towards the right shoulder and he then hit a tree around 9 am. This accident is still under investigation.

13-Year-Old UConn Student Wins Udall Award

According to courant.com, 13-year-old UConn student, Colin J. Carlson is one of the 80 college sophomores or juniors across the U.S. to become Udall Scholars. Carlson is the youngest student to recieve this honor, according to Mia Ibarra, of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. This program is directed at students, who pursue careers related to the environment, Native American health care, or tribal public policy. Carlson's major at UConn is ecology and evolutionary biology. Winners of the Udall Scholar award will receive a scholarship, up to five thousand dollars.

Music Review: One Republic: Waking Up

After their massive success in 2007 with hit single "Apologize" One Republic set the stage for their newest album "Waking Up" to be a booming success. However the album fell short of my expectations in some areas but redeemed itself with the catchy nature of its two singles.
Waking up begins strongly with single "All the right moves" a track that ranked among my favorites for the group as a whole not just on Waking Up. The chorus and verse are both powered by a driving drum beat and an orchestral score that fades in and out, creating a pleasing mix of both electronic and physical instruments.

After listening through Waking Up in its entirety it seemed very reminiscant of cold play's Chris Martin as far as vocal styling and to style itself closer to Timbaland's very successful remix of apologize. Even the lyrics seemed very much in the style of the British alternative rock band.
Make no mistake however, the similarities are good ones, adding more depth to the bands music both emotionally and lyrically. The second single on the album "Secrets" was only released in select European countries but in my opinion was one of the strongest tracks on the entire CD truly displaying the bands emotional range in a sweeping and powerful ballad with an extremely catchy chorus.

Overall the album strays from the normal path of the band and by learning from the strengths and weaknesses of their freshman album have produced a superior one in "Waking Up."

New Lightweight Fabric Allows For Impenetrable T-Shirt

Scientists are constantly amazing their audience and even outdoing themselves in the field of innovation. Just recently, researchers studying durability at the University of South Carolina experimented with a product that is right off the shelves of our favourite discount stores. Ordinary white T-shirts that are available at Walmarts nation wide could possibly save your life one of these days. Why? It's simple. A combination of the most basic scientific elements, carbon and boron. Scientists realized that by joining these two elements, the level of durability is increased, yet the lightweight fit still remains. This is called boron carbide, a material that is commonly used to protect army tanks in warfare. For those that are not scientifically educated, Boron carbide when made correctly is the third most solid element found on Earth. It is in stark contrast with cotton, a softer, more flexible material which is found in many clothes the public buys today.

However, the combination of these two polar opposites may in fact bode well for protection purposes. Boron carbide has been used in army tanks and bullet proof vests with thick amounts of the element scattered throughout the material. Xiaodong Li, a scientist at USC practically approaches this new innovation with a positive end result. "The current boron carbide armour is strong, but it is not flexible and it's very heavy...we tried to solve this problem but with a different approach. In our approach, we used cotton T-shirts." The difficulty with this experiment was discovering a functional way in which the two elements would fuse with each other to create this durable, light weight material. The hardest part was allowing the boron to dissolve into the threads of the cotton fabric, leaving the resulting, boron carbide.

After testing the white t-shirts through dipping strips into vats of boron solution, the scientists found that an hour later, the experiment had proven to be successful. Baked at a scorching 1,000 degrees, the heat extracted all elements except for carbon and boron, thus allowing for the two to amalgamate into a solid, breathable like material. The preliminary results predict the future of this experiement as Li deems the first attempt promising for bulletproof t-shirts. Though the altered fabric is largely dissimilar to the original, it still retains its light, bendable and tough properties. The boron carbide interestingly enough, also serves as a shield for ultra violet rays eliminating the chances of radioactive materials to come in contact with the skin. As far as the future, Li says that this new innovation is positive and almost inevitable. It could be used in the construction of aircraft carriers and even assist in manufacturing fuel efficient cars. Body armour is just one of the many results from boron carbide, it does not stop here.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36140852/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Earthquakes shake China

On April 14th, China's western Qinghai province was struck by a 6.9 earthquake. The quake resulted in at least 300 deaths of civilians with many more injured in rural areas.

People fled as their homes made of mud and wood collapsed from the force. An estimated 8,000 people are injured

Rescue efforts are now headed to the area. Looking for survivors and providing medical assistance.

Story provided by Yahoo News

Justin Bieber Fails to Deliver in Hit Single

A young new talent, Justin Bieber, has been storming the charts recently, attracting a large majority of the female population with hit singles like "Never Let You Go" and "One Time". A newly released single, entitled "Baby" has now caught the attention of girls all across America, particularly, in the pre-teen age group. Upon first listen of the song, I actually had mixed feelings. Though most of my thoughts on this track were mocking and negative at first, I decided it would only be fair to take a second listen so that I could base my opinion off of the actual music and not my own personal bias. I will start by acknowledging one of the positive things about this single. "Baby", as hard as this is for me to admit, has an extremely catchy refrain. I can see why Bieber, although somewhat possessing the voice of a twelve year old adolescent girl, (in my opinion) would attract a female audience. "Baby" also does have a rhythmic beat which I did not think I'd take a liking to. If anything, the background beat was the single aspect that kept me interested through the entire song.

Now, though I am giving Bieber the benefit of the doubt with these two adequate compliments, I must say that overall, I am not a fan of this rising star's musical style. "Baby" is about a typical heartbreak, with Bieber singing about a first love loss. Throughout the song he continues to repeat the line "I thought you'd always be mine" and he seems to portray a confused young teen searching desperately for love. Here is the reality: Justin Bieber is sixteen years old. Even at this age, with Bieber's innocent face and boy-like attire, I highly doubt that this pop star is going to achieve anything serious within the next seven years of his life. I could be wrong, but after taking several listens to "Baby" I achieved the impression that Bieber does not understand the meaning behind an actual relationship. I find it rather ironic in a way that Bieber himself, gives off the appeal of a "baby", in that he is still a child in my eyes. To find him writing about a "baby" in terms of a girl, is somewhat amusing to me with its double meaning. I will give credit to the teen for choosing to write a song that displays some degree of heartache, rather than spitting awful rhymes that disregard females in a degrading manner. Although Bieber is keeping his lyrics in this song PG, they are of no comparison to the heartbreak lyrics that hundreds of other bands write. I do not think the words in "Baby" do any justice to describe a severed relationship.

Justin Bieber may be on the fast ride to fame, however I am skeptical of this young teen's motives. If he continues to write songs that are centered around lost relationships and "only girls", I doubt that his musical career will blossom. I can vaguely see the potential that Bieber possesses, being a youthful, charming lad among the ladies, but to many people, specifically, the older popluation, Bieber's style is generic and transparent. I give this single a 2.5 out of 5 rating.

Hebron American Legion Building's Fire Ruled Accidental

According to courant.com, a fire started at the American Legion Hall on Main Street in Hebron Wednesday morning. The fire has been ruled as accidental, according to firefighters. At about 10 am, firefighters and police answered a call about a fire at the American Legion building. The building was then evacuated and no injuries were reported. The fire started in a basement crawl space and a break in a wire caused heat tape that was bound around a pipe to melt and start the fire. The flames stayed in a section of the basement and the outside of the building had no damage, according to Hebron Fire Marshall, Randy Blais. The fire was under control within an hour. An electrician is going to come to the American Legion building and inspect the wiring, so the power can be turned back on.

-Picture provided by wtnh.com

The Bled Push Boundaries in Newest Release

Former post hardcore band, The Bled, from Tuscon, Arizona has released yet another EP entitled Heat Fetish. Although an obscure album to find in many cd stores across America, this new release has proven to be immensely popular with its diverse lyrics and newly adopted hardcore vibe. To give the viewers a little history, the Bled formed back in 2001 with each band member having a strong will to leave the town of Tuscon in order to further their musical endeavours. Upon arrival of their latest album, the Bled has produced four other works each with their own identity and style. Front man James Munoz has created a hard edged image for his band and believes that is is the collaborative effort put forth by all of the musicians in order to deliver a sound that is both raw and indulging.

The new cd contains tracks that convey raw energy each with a certain connection to machinery and nature. The song "Devolver" begins with a harsh opening that immediately introduces listeners to a sound that is both original and moving. It is evident that the band is moving towards a metalcore image implementing harsher vocals and far more brutal guitar riffs. During the song "Needs" however, the band decided that they would include a low, dissonant voice for the purpose of harmonizing with Munoz's distinct screams. This harmonic attempt did not transfer well as the song progressed. It is clear that although the group has become much more technical in terms of musical composition and writing, their vocal skill level still remains questionable regarding singing/screaming. However, the song, " Mouthbreather" proves to be full of spiteful lyrics that are strangely familiar to the listener. The differences between the songs on the album are what actually contributes to the pleasure of listening as each almost forms its own unique identity.

In Heat Fetish, one can find tracks labeled "Crowbait" and "Running Through Walls" which are tasteful and energetic. I woul personally recommended "Shouting Fire in A Crowded Room" for various reasons. This song not only has a catchy title, but the lyrics are empowering and haunting. The drum track is, in my opinion is phenomenal and Jeremy Ray Talley's guitar work is enticing as much as it is vengeful. The Bled has really broken through the barrier of post hardcore rock as they have masterfully implemented the abstract component to their style. I am positive that this group will continue to achieve success in their musical style as they progress in the increasing popular genre that is metalcore.

The Bled will be performing on May 23 at the Webster theatre in Hartford, Connecticut for anyone interested in attending.

For more: www.myspace.com/thebled