American idol winner crowned

Lee DeWyze recently arose victorious on the television show, "American Idol." Many critiques of television had believed this season would favor the girls more. Yet, in a result which some people accuse of being favoritism, DeWyze left the winner.

DeWyze used to work as a paint salesman. Yet now that he has won a recording contract the 24-year-old might have plans to pursue a career in music like his american idol predecessors.

Circa Survive Releases New Album: Blue Sky Noise

Circa Survive is an experimental/melodic psychedlic fusion band from Doylstown, Pennsylvania consisting of members, Steven Clifford, Nicholas Beard, Colin Frangicetto, Brendan Ekstrom and well known frontman involved projects that include Saosin and The Sound of Animals Fighting, Anthony Green. These five talented individuals have released yet another album which delivers just as much authenticity and subtle power as their previous records. Blue Sky Noise was released on April 20, 2010 and has been increasing in popularity ever since its debut. Upon writing, the band decided to get together and hole up in a small cabin located in Doylestown, the band's original hometown in order to create their new album. They titled the cabin, "The Creek House" as they sat every day staring blissfully out of a large, vacant window that captured the essence of the world around them. Unfortunately, Green struggled to perpetuate any emotionally driven, substantial thoughts and was admitted into a mental institution after claiming that he had gone "mentally bankrupt."

After the treatment Green underwent, his perspective on life as well as the prospects of the future album were positive. The band did not allow for a structured formula, rather, they were compelled by their own minds to create the songs on this album. They did not let the actual songwriting prohibit them from freely writing their thoughts on paper and translating them into emotions to be felt.

The tracks on this album are incredible, in my opinion. They rival many that are on Juturna and make for close competition with On Letting Go. This is some of Circa Survive's finest work and they have really indulged in their own element with this album. From Green's haunting voice on "Get Out" to the spiritually driven tone of "I Felt Free" all the way to the despairing closer, "Dyed In The Wool", Circa has thoroughly impressed me. I'd have to say my personal favourite has got to be "Through the Desert Alone." It has such a soothing riff, with sincere vocals and piercing instrumentals. I would probably recommend "Frozen Creek" or "Imaginary Enemy" as well, seeing as those seem to be the more popular off the album. However, the underrated track on Blue Sky Noise is definitely "Glass Arrows." Though many appreciate the lyrics that Green belts out, I feel that many are neglecting the guitar work of Frangicetto on this one in particular. Clifford on percussion also delivers tremendously with his distant, reminiscent groove.

I like the fact that Green collaborated with Frangicetto on vocals for "I Felt Free" and "Imaginary Enemy". Ekstrom and Green also worked together to create a wholesome harmonic sound on "Get Out" as they weigh in on their opinions of what the album feels like to them. Anthony Green says, "I feel like it says a million things. It's all in the album...every album is a chapter and a step toward the truth...I want this record to be out in the world...I love it so much and I just want it to be alive.." Though vastly dissimilar from their previous albums, I feel that Blue Sky Noise is just another representation of Circa Survive in a whole new light. They have come through with a phenomenal album that will have listeners at the grips of its fingertips.

Rating: 5/5

Government takes action against oil spills

In the wake of the massive oil spill that took place about a month ago in the Gulf of Mexico, the United States legislators have finally taken action in the form of tax increases.

Congress is planning to quadruple a particular tax on oil, a move that would increase the tax to .32 cents, in an effort to raise an estimated $11 Billion over the next decade that would be used as money strictly to finance the clean up of potential oil spills.

As far as the recent oil spill is concerned however, President Barrack Obama is expecting BP (the oil company in charge of the oil and tanker that caused the spill) to front the bill to pick up their mess. Senate majority leader Henry Reid even went as far as openly saying "Taxpayers will not front the bill."

Congress is hoping to have a vote in the Senate this Wednesday and either make serious ground on the bill or pass the bill before they break into a legislative recess next weekend for Memorial Day.

Government is finally seeming to take action against oil spills and at least develop a plan on how to deal with these devastating events in the future. For now, the answer to who will clean up the merely 6 million gallons of crude oil dumped into the Gulf of Mexico is up in the air. But we can only hope that the government will continue to take action in the future as these events continue to occur and ravage the environment as well as economies of nations so dependent on the liquid gold.

Senior Prom

This past Saturday marked the RHAM High School Senior Prom. The prom, held at Mystic Marriot in Groton, CT, was a large success.

The venue, chosen only days after the classes Junior Prom last year, lived up to expectations. Although the trip to Groton was quite the hike, the room did not cease to impress. Compared to last years hall, a banquet facility called Menelee's, the room was so much larger. The high vaulted ceilings and chandeliers definitely lent itself to the majestic atmosphere that can only mean one thing: prom night.

This year's theme was "Arabian Nights". In order to accomplish this theme, the prom organizers set up mood lighting on the walls of the room in order to give the room an Arabian influence. According to prom committee chair Libby Fiumara, the senior class was supposed to receive genie lamps to be used as centerpieces for each table. However, apparently the centerpieces were on back order and therefore did not arrive in time for the May 22nd event. This was particularly frustrating especially since the prom committee ordered the lamps months ago.
Also adding to the "Arabian Nights" atmosphere, Senior Alon Cohen built and painted a back drop portraying the Taj Mahal that was used for pictures in a room off to the side of the main hall.

Surprisingly, the DJ played 4 or 5 slow songs compared to the ONE that was played at the class's Junior Prom last year.

Students seemed to enjoy this years prom and the night will surely go down as a night they will never forget.

Senior Outing a Success for Students

Today, RHAM High School students attended their annual Senior outing hosted by the popular recreational facility Holiday Hill, located in Cheshire, Connecticut. Many students were eager for two reasons that go hand in hand: the fact that they would missing school, and the gorgeous weather. While arriving at the park, students took to the grounds surveying the area and seeing which activities they wanted to participate in throughout the day. Activities included a whipped cream pie eating contest, a lip syncing competition, a hypnotist demonstration and a hula hooping/limbo competition. There were a lot of activities that the students had the opportunity to do, however many were just pleased to walk around on a beautiful day. The pool was crowded with people due to the high temperatures, but it was a relaxing environment nonetheless. Some students ventured off to go river boating in the nearby lake while others fancied a game of tennis or volleyball in the shade. Students lined up for rock climbing and had the chance to ride a mechanical shark that showed no mercy to its riders.



Overall, the Senior outing proved to be successful. With the beautiful weather and plenty of activities, the Seniors sure got a dose of what Summer 2010 beholds. I myself played some tennis and even tried my hand at mini golf. There were pony rides and basketball courts, soccer fields and a mess hall loaded with good things to eat. When asking students about what they felt, one replies, "It was fantastic! I loved getting out of school and enjoying the day with my friends!" However, others felt that it could it have been a little bit more entertaining. One says, "I thought this place was kind of lame." Well, in my eyes, I don't think that Holiday Hill had any downsides. Even if it was just a casual stroll down the paths, or a relaxing swim in the pool, or even an intense game of frisbee, (ok,mildly intense), the outing was really fun. I loved being out in the sun and hanging around with all of my friends on a day that could not have been more perfect.

Iron Man 2 review

Few can forget when the original Iron man film exploded into theatres in the summer of 2008. Robert Downey Jr. took the role of Tony Stark as if he was playing himself. Ultimately, people were blown away by a summer blockbuster that seemingly couldn't be topped... Until now...


This film was a spectacle of superhero greatness. The story followed Tony Stark, embracing his new superhero identity all the while as he makes the world a better place. But all is not well as Stark finds that the same battery he made to power his body and suit is the same one that's killing him. The element that the battery uses is makes his blood increasingly more toxic, and he's running out of it.To make matters worse, not only is Mr. Stark dying from the battery, he's got a new villain determined to kill him.

This movie delivers, rarely is there a dull moment in the twisting story. Nearly every scene is laced with humor as it either expresses Tony's "Don't-give-a-crap" attitude or the plans of the newly-introduced characters of S.H.I.E.L.D. even through many of the fight scenes I found myself laughing. The humor is spared wisely in more dramatic scenes that call for compassion rather than pumping adrenaline. These include the scenes where Stark tests the increasing toxicity of his blood or suffers from growing tension between him and his love, Pepper Potts, showing he is not indestructible.

Although it's hard for many people to say they can relate to a billionaire with a super suit made of iron that grants him the ability to fly among other things, I believe Tony was presented in a way where we could feel his pain. As mentioned before, the film shows how, despite being Iron Man, Tony Stark is not indestructible. This was something the first film seemed to lack, it didn't show any real personal struggles of Tony. This film however was able to present Tony more as a person rather than a superhero. This allowed the audience to feel more compassion and sorrow for Stark, he was no longer just Iron Man, he was a person just like them.

To my surprise, this film was not stuffed to its limits with fight scenes. I've found many of Marvel's recent films such as the bittersweet, "X-men Origins: Wolverine," to be driven by how beaten up the characters get rather than what things they learn or experience. This is not to say there were no fight scenes at all. The film had three major fight scenes, all of with were amazing, mastered with realistic special effects.

In short, Iron Man 2 surpasses it's predecessor. It interweaves a personal struggle with a superhero's duty. It features amzing feats of action, taking full advantage of the technology of today, and it leaves you laughing.

Rating: 4.5/5

Harvard Discovers A Fake

Today, a twenty three year old man named Adam Wheeler was accused of plagiarizing and faking his way into Harvard. He is originally from Delaware and was enrolled in courses at the school for approximately two years before officials discovered his flaw. Wheeler made claims that the essays he had written were completely of his own and that his SAT scores showed perfect scores across the board. The man claimed that he had achieved these scores from prep school Phillis Academy Andover and prestigious school, MIT. However, the district officials after close investigation found that Wheeler had not attended any of the two.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone says, "This defendant's actions cheated those who competed honestly and fairly for admissions and for the scholarships that this defendant fraudently obtained." On the topic of plagiarism, Wheeler had previously submitted essays to Rhodes and Fulbright, two scholarship funds, however he soon found himself facing the authority. A professor that was in the process of reviewing applications took note of the essays and announced that he had seen similar material in the past. Further discrepancies were discovered. In the applications he filled out, he noted that he had been employed by McLean hospital which is a psychiatric facility belonging to the Harvard community. Officials quickly put two and two together and discovered that Wheeler had been fibbing about his employment as well. He had apparently plagiarized the admissions essays, written fraudulent letters of recommendation from the hospital and was reported for larceny, identity fraud and various other charges.

Wheeler's future academic career does not look too promising. After the prosecutors were notified that Wheeler had plagiarized the essays, the matter was in the hands of a Yale official who had interest in Wheeler's transfer application. Yale soon determined, as Harvard did, that Wheeler's applications were fake and that he had been convicted of identity fraud. The parents of Adam Wheeler told the Yale officials that their son's transcripts, essays, and employment information were all fake. Steven Sussman, Wheeler's lawyer for this case says, "Wheeler will have his day in court, and that day is not today."

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37212545/

Chili Peppers Hit the Studio

After months of talking to reporters about different dates, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have finally disclosed they will be heading to the studio in July to record their tenth studio album which is scheduled to release in fall of this year.

Drummer Chad Smith sat down with The Spin and had good things to say about the band's progress. "Since last October we've been working on things, and probably in a few weeks we'll be going into the studio with Rick Rubin . . . Pre-production will take a few months, but I'd say by July we'll be laying down real tracks. We have a lot of material, probably about 20 songs," Smith said.

This newest album with be their first album since their 2006 release of the double-album 28-song Stadium Arcadium. As the band grows into their late 40's, many fans wondered whether or not they'd be hearing from the popular rock/funk band again. However, even though the peppers have lost their legendary guitarist John Frusciante, they plan to bust back out onto the scene this fall.

With new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer in tow, the band will tour the country once again in early 2011 after the release of their much anticipated album. While some fans worry about Klinhoffer's role in the Peppers, don't. Klinghoffer toured with the band on their last tour as a second guitarist to John Frusciante. So Klinhoffer knows the band's style. He has the certain chemistry that has fueled the peppers since they broke out from the LA club scene in 1989 with their breakthrough album "Mother's Milk."

The Chili Peppers still have some gas left in the tank and are sure to impress with their new album. They never cease to amaze fans and critics and are sure to continue their snowball affect of popularity as they continue on into their 25 year careers.

Seniors Have Every Reason to Enjoy the Rest of the School Year

As school continues to wind down, Seniors have every reason to become more and more excited for the long awaited graduation ceremony. However, the schedule seems to be helping out the Seniors as they enter the home stretch: the last month of high school. Due to scheduled presentations and activities, Seniors have quite the month to look forward to.

This past Friday Seniors were able to skip out on their classes to partake in the school's annual Wellness day. The day took upperclassmen out of their classes form second period through fifth period and provided a much needed rest.

This upcoming week marks perhaps one of the most fun times of a Senior's high school career. This Friday marks the senior outing, an all day trip to Holiday Hill in Cheshire from 8 to 4 and should be an excellent escape from the classroom as Seniors get to enjoy a day outside with their peers and a few select teachers. The day will include scheduled games, sports, music, and guaranteed all you can eat food.

The very following day, Seniors will get ready for the big night, Senior Prom. This years Senior Prom is located at the Mystic Marriot in Groton.

As if these two days weren't enough, the following Monday is Senior Skip Day (shhhh...don't tell the teachers...). So unless any Senior is in trouble with Mr. Mueller or Mr. Wilson regarding an attendance issue, don't expect to see them walking around the halls next Monday. Rather, they'll be sunbathing at the beach or hanging out with their friends around town.

While Seniors may be complaining that the school year can't end soon enough, they have plenty to look forward to as this matured school year raps up its final month.

Game Review: Deadly Premonition

Deadly Premonition is a title that has been getting a notable amount of publicity in the video game world. However this attention is for less positive and more humiliating reasons. The title features a convoluted story, atrocious dialog, and audio and gameplay problems all stacked on top of a generally lack luster graphics engine. However, none of the aforementioned flaws stopped me from playing through the game and realizing that despite it's obvious limitations the game itself is enjoyable if you appreciate how humorously broken it is.
The story of deadly premonition revolves around homicide detective Francis York Morgan and his stay in the town of Greenvale, a small Midwest american town. As the story unfolds Morgan finds that the town houses an evil entity that manifests itself as red vines and produces evil "Shadow creatures" of the towns inhabitants. The majority of the game is split between investigating the town and speaking to it's quirky( to say the least) inhabitants and their role in the story. Both of these parts of the game can be very entertaining if you can get past the shoddy, linear level design and the lack of unique character models for enemies. On a design note, Deadly Premonition oftentimes operates in real time, meaning that time is accounted for as it is in real life, time in the game passes by at the same pace. This is both bad and good. The real time aspect is an interest injection of realism into the game, be it an unneeded one and is one of many strange quirks that make Deadly Premonition what it is.
This game is strange, be aware if you make the decision to purchase it for it's very affordable $20 price (Standard full scale games cost $60) be ready for one of the oddest and campiest experiences in all of video games. Giant dogs, zombies, mistranslations, completely incorrect audio swaps and cultural crossovers that are more disorienting than anything else, these are just a few of the numerous factors that make up the experience that is Deadly Premonition, but for twenty dollars this game is worth it. I can truly say that the saying "So bad it's good" applies perfectly to Deadly Premonition. From a technical standpoint this game couldn't be more off, but I would be a liar if I said I wasn't thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.
4/5

The Doors: When You're Strange Documentary a Success

On May 12, the documentary entitled, The Doors: When You're Strange was aired on public television. The film's release date for theatres was April 9th and has been featured at several festivals including Sundance, Berlin and San Sebastian. The documentary follows the coming together of the iconic group, from the dark and curious childhood of Morrison, to the New Haven rock show that fans all around the country will never cease to remember. Award winning director and screen writer, Tom DiCillo decided to take the plunge into creating a riveting, hard truth documentary about the forming of four talented young artists. Alongside DiCillo was Johnny Depp, narrating the rise and success story of The Doors up until Morrison's final crash and burn. Upon viewing this film, I had very high expectations. Being an avid Doors fan that I was, I expected to be moved and entertained while viewing the film. The footage used was all authentic, from the concerts themselves to the wanderlust desert walks Jim takes that were digitally remastered using archive footage from a film Morrison had in the works.

I would have to say with confidence that I was blown away at the realistic elements the film contained. It delivered the life stories of all four members, Ray Manzarek (Keys), Robby Krieger (Guitar) and John Densmore (Percussion). Since I have been a Doors fan for a while, I had known a lot of the information that Depp was talking about during their rise to fame. I was pleased with the aesthetics used in the film and admired the way that DiCillo incorporated remastered scenes from the HWY film Morrison had been working on before his tragic death. I would have to say that my favourite part of this film was, besides the visuals, the coming together of the actual band as well as their actual starting point. To see Jim Morrison with his back turned sheepishly to the audience in front of him at a local venue in California, was an amusing, stark contrast to the lunatic frontman he came to be about two months later. I had known little about the organ player, Ray Manzarek, but during this film I began to understand the inner workings of the group much more and avoid the idolized view that many held for Jim Morrison. Ray was the oldest member of The Doors, hailing from the native California himself, he met Jim after he had chosen to attend UCLA as a film major. Unfortunately the film career did not exactly take off as Jim had imagined, yet after meeting Manzarek, Jim decided to direct his interests towards that of a musical endeavour. Though Jim is viewed as the icon for the Doors, it was actually Manzarek who formed the band. The two met guitar player Robby Krieger and jazz percussionist John Densmore to create a sound that really was originial in every aspect.

I admired the work of DiCillo in this particular film because not only did he use real footage, but he took each member and gave them their fifteen minutes of fame. For example, Robby Krieger, the youngest of the group and tremendously talented guitarist for The Doors, wrote most of their songs that are still famous today including "Love Me Two Times" and "Touch Me". After Morrison demanded that his bandmates write a song that night as "homework", Krieger pulled through with the hit song, "Light My Fire." From his moving, catchy riffs to his intricate, groove worthy fills and solos, Krieger is the unsung hero in a lot of what The Doors produced. John Densmore as well was recognized in this film as the quiet man on set. He was the second youngest of the four members and often times became annoyed at Jim's antics on stage as the group progressed. Densmore held the group together with the calm, mysterious jazz beats and fast paced, exciting drum lines. I believe that Densmore deserves more credit, as he was the one who suggested that Morrison get his act together. As said before, Ray Manzarek, the oldest of the group always kept his cool under pressure and seemed to be in control when everything else seemed to be crumbling to the ground. In a famous concert that The Doors performed at, Manzarek was the only one who continued to play the keys as Morrison was drunkenly escorted off the stage, with Krieger and Densmore stopping altogethe to continue the piece. Manzarek also played the bass guitar on some of the tracks the most famous being "Riders On The Storm".

The documentary carefully uses the nihilistic drive of Morrison to move the film, to be the backbone of it all. Though an awfully talented writer, and self published poet, Morrison's drunken words on stage and in the studio were not enough to keep his career alive. The only complaint I would have about this film is the fact that Johnny Depp's delivery is somewhat blunt and intrusive at times, pausing at inappropriate moments and telling the audience information that was not pertinent to the film itself. The narration could have been a little bit more enthusiastic, however I do commend Depp for maintaining such a dark, alluring tone. This documentary certainly trumps that of Oliver Stone's film, The Doors released in 1991 because it reveals many unknown facts and stories about the band itself. I feel that DiCillo did a wonderful job in recreating the authenticity, giving the audience something to walk away with after viewing the film.

I greatly enjoyed this film for many reasons that I have clearly stated. I really liked the fact that it was raw, the director did not try to sugarcoat anything that actually happened. It is a clear cut look into The Doors, the psychedelic era and the music that fueled the age. I loved the soundtrack that fit accordingly with the film itself as I found myself singing along to songs off The Soft Parade, L.A. Woman and Strange Days. Overall, this film was excellent, I felt like I had taken a trip through history and really gained insight on the iconic group. They were doing something so different, so out of the ordinary that people did not know what to think. They stood in grave contrast to The Beatles with their dark, spacey words and eerie sound. I cannot get enough of Jim Morrison's profound lyrics and the group's extraordinary musicianship. I have to ask myself, why would anyone think anything less? Although this documentary may seem esoteric, I believe that everyone should see this film because it shows true talent, raw emotion and is certianly one of the most realistic accounts of one of the greatest rock bands that I can think of.

4.5/5 review.

Music Review: Oceana: Clean Head EP

“Clean Head”, Oceana’s new EP released May 11th, is the groups first release since their apparent disbanding in 2009. The new songs are more in the vein of the groups post-rock sensibilities, often being spacey, abstract and more often than not instrumentally repetitive. While being repatative may seem like a bad thing, the band skillfully works the same chord progressions into parts of each of the four songs on the EP thematically linking it into almost one cohesive song.

The EP starts off and continues strong with “Blue” which effectively sets the tone for the next fifteen minutes of music. The guitar tone is loose and jangly and the band almost immediately makes use of odd time changes. These time changes are so strange and frequent that at first it is hard to really get a feel for where the song is going, however they are done so gracefully that they are almost relaxing in their fluency. The starts and stops all feel very natural , you can truly tell how much work the band put into making the songs aesthetically pleasing as opposed to being strange for strangeness sake. The guitar tone has an almost southern twang to it and is augmented by the spacey fills of the second guitar , reminiscent of both of the now defunct Alternative group “Paper Rival” and experimental rock group “Circa Survive”. The EP’s single “Wool God” has an inherent spookiness to it, that when combined with the accompanying bright drum beat makes for a disconcerting and yet emotionally grasping experience. This theme of being off putting and yet mysteriously attractive is extremely strong throughout the entire EP. Being a new listener to Oceana, I was thoroughly impressed by the EP and look forward to hearing the bands future endeavors.

4/5

Athletes Conquer the Average? New Study Proven

The question scientists have been debating for a long while: are athletes more intelligent than the average American? The answer after copious amounts of studying and analysis leans towards yes. Not only are athletes in tune with their bodies, taking care of their lungs and nourishing themselves with the proper foods, but the brain of an athlete seems to be superior to that of a non athlete, says researchers from various Universities including Johns Hopkins and Columbia University. The neuroscientists have been assessing the differences between a person who is less inclined to physical activity, versus an individual who receives moderate to plentiful amounts of physical exercise each day. Scientists have concluded that a simple aim at a target using a small pistol takes much more mental skill and accuracy than one may think. A marksman shooting a gun must make rapid fire decisions not only with his fingers, but with his brain, estimating where the bullet will pass through, how much force is needed, the distance between the explosion of the gun and the target, and so forth. At speeds almost undetectable, the marksman is calculating all of this in a matter of seconds, with his result appearing on or off the target.

The main reason why athletes have less difficulty in performing certain tasks is because they are accustomed to making quick decisions without having to stop and ponder over each individual step. Neuroscientists have gathered information pertaining to the sensations felt in the brain, claiming that there are several parts needed in order for the brain to carry out a task. As the brain begins to calculate which is the most favorable path, it simultaneously analyzes the resulting sensation that would occur if the anticipated goal were to be achieved. The reason why athletes' brains are more likely to dominate in this designated area, simply lies in their innate ability to sense motion more keenly than the regular.

Researchers have been undergoing numerous experiments that have assisted in proving their theory that athletes do in fact have a more efficient brain than an ordinary person. For example, Claudio Del Percio, a neuroscientist professor at Sapienza University in Rome conducted a study with his colleages testing both pistol shooters and fencers. The result was stimulating, as it showed brain activity to be quieter among those who were athletic, versus those who were not. He concluded that the more athletic an individual was, the fewer the neurons were needed to produce a desirable result. Athletes have simply built up an immunity to challenge, and when introduced to something that seems difficult, they are more readily able to accept and complete the challenge through the use of fewer brain neurons than a nonathlete.

If someone were to take on a new sport, even a new task that involved hand eye coordination such as juggling, over time, with practice, their brain would begin to develop more gray matter which is a scientific term meaning that the brain becomes more efficient. Neurons connect and weaken with one another especially in the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in focus and coordination. As scientists and professors continue to run tests including both athletic and nonathletic people alike, they are discovering that people with an inclination for athletic activity tend to catch on more quickly, and their brains sense motion far more earlier than those that do not get as much physical activity from day to day. Athletes are able to predict when and where a player will go, how they will move and why whereas ordinary people, are not as likely to pick up on the smaller details.

Whatever the case, scientists are still working hard and running tests to prove their theory that athletic brains function more efficiently than regular. They are not singling out anyone who is average, however they are theorizing that, through neuroscience and much collected data over the years, athletes may just have that extra ingredient after all.

Source: http://discovermagazine.com/2010/apr/16-the-brain-athletes-are-geniuses/article_view?b_start:int=1&-C=

LPGA Golfer Found Dead at 25.

According to Golf.com,

Erica Blasberg, a professional golfer with the LPGA was found dead in her Henderson, Nevada home on Sunday. "This is a death investigation and it is ongoing." said Keith Paul, spokesperson of the Henderson Police Department about the former Pac-10 Player of the Year. The department has not yet said if they expect foul play, but the Clark County Coroner is waiting on blood and tissue tests to make a final ruling on the cause of death, which could take up to six weeks.

Blasberg's agent made a statement Monday ," "We are devastated to learn of the passing of

Erica Blasberg. To most of the world, Erica was known as a professional golfer, but she was

more than that. She was a loving daughter to her parents and a compassionate and loyal friend

. Erica had a good heart, was extremely kind and very thankful for what she had in her life. This

is a painful loss, we feel it in our hearts and we will miss her."

Blasberg's family has scheduled a May 19th memorial service.

Lightning Kills 1 Man, Injures 3

According to courant.com, a 29-year-old man from Stamford was killed and three men were injured by a lightning strike that happened at a Bridgeport park. The men were fishing at this park when the lightning struck. The 29-year-old man from Stamford was Romeo Briscoe, who died at Bridgeport Hospital according to a nursing supervisor. Briscoe had traumatic injuries to his head and body because of the lightning. Out of the three injured men, two were in stable condition on Saturday evening at the hospital. The four men involved in the lightning strike were fishing off a pier at West Beach in Seaside Park when the thunderstorms came to the beach and struck all of the men. The firefighters who were called to the scene went into the water to get Briscoe and two of the other men. The four men were then taken to the hospital.

Victim In Fatal I91 Accident Identified

According to courant.com, the victim who died in a car accident on Saturday has been identified. The man, who died was Dariusz Dymon of South Hadley, Massachusetts. The accident happened in Connecticut at exits 13 and 14 on I-91. According to state police, Dymon was standing outside a parked vehicle when he was hit, right before 5 pm. Dymon was then brought to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he passed away. Police are still investigating this accident.

Human Emotions Decoded Through Development of New Software

Following up on the previous post about cell phones and the additional ability to create an augmented reality, there is now word of a software program called Magnify that can decode human emotions through a cellular device in a matter of minutes. eXaudios is an Israeli owned software company that has developed this new innovation in order to identify emotional wellbeing. The software is even beginning to experiment with mental and physical medical issues related to autism, schizophrenia and heart disease.

The primary purpose of this software is to regulate the tone of conversation between service and customer in order to save costs for both the company and the buyer. What makes Magnify stand out from the other decoding systems is that it has the ability to track a phone in real time. Unlike other systems which analyze the conversation after the fact, Magnify can monitor the call, and then proceed to identify the emotion behind the subject.

For companies, Magnify serves as an extremely beneficial software. If a customer is on a call with a representative from a company and is interested in learning about a particular product the company is manufacturing, Magnify can suggest several ways that the service agent can effectively sell it. Magnify can also predict if a customer is not interested in buying, and even detect if a customer is likely to become angry thus causing tension between both the agent and the buyer. Though Magnify is not 100% accurate, a creator of the software validates the statement: "We tried to find physical rules that explained why we were wrong...what we found was that there was a medical reason we were wrong." Magnify operates through separating voice frequencies and identifying the different measurment ratios between the frequency wavelengths including intonation and intensity.

Magnify is also linked with certain diseases such as autism which impact a person's ability to communicate correctly. Parkinson's disease typically prohibits a person's speech from being clear and enunciated. An Autism researcher at the Weizman Institute of Science in Israel began working with autistic children using Magnify as a means to identify speech impediments. Out of eighty five year old children he tested, forty previously diagnosed with the disease and 40 without autism, Magnify was able to detect eighty five percent of the children that had the disease.

This new software is not only largely beneficial, but a breakthrough in voice comprehension capability. Magnify has a wide range of abilities which include the identification of autism, schizophrenia, and dyslexia. Adding to this, the software can even decode the missing tones of someone who is suffering from cancer, claiming that there is a "catastrophic element" seeded deep within the voice. The software is spreading to the United States making it easier for doctors and researches to effectively identify problems with customers, companies, patients and sufferers. The benefits and significance to medical research it will provide will stand superior to the innovation idea itself.

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36968115/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

Lions Lions Releases New Single

Hailing from the heavily musical scene located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, Indie/Hardcore band Lions Lions has released a new single entitled "The Atlas" under their upcoming album in the making, From What We Believe. Lions Lions has been recognized as a more alternative hardcore band in the past couple of years, hitting their peak with fans through the release of the popular track, Waves. The members have worked on other projects and have belonged to other bands like Vanna and Therefore I am. Brandon Davis, (Vanna and TIA), Van Truong and Phil Bjorkman have come together in order to produce a new sound that is significantly less hardcore than Vanna but more high spirited than Therefore I am. The band has pulled influence from various different genres including indie, softer rock, metal and hardcore giving them an advantage to gaining listeners and maintaining a steady, pleasing sound.

However, despite the band's talents, I do not believe that they delivered in this new single. Since the parting of vocalist, the band has almost become sort of lighter, with more pop punk influence than indie. I'm not sure if I enjoy the lighter sounding vocals and the adequate guitar work. I am pleased with the drum track as it delivers the harsh sound that Lions Lions is well known for, but I feel as though the band is straying from their roots. Before this single, Lions Lions was known for the creative raw edge, adding only a small amount of lighter riffs and fills in order to compliment the underlying "darkness". Now, it seems as though the band is slowly turning towards a more pop punk sound, which may not be the best route for them.

I can enjoy and appreciate the chorus and the chants, and I feel that the song has potential to grow on me, but after giving it a couple of listens, I am not convinced as of yet. I feel as if it is lacking the extra power and energy and the guitar work was not at its strongest. Lions Lions is a very progressive band, not necessarily in terms of musical genres, but in terms of moving up in popularity throughout the past two years. Their music has flourished in the city of Boston and they have made their way to underground and main stage venues, appealing to an audience of many different types. I feel as though this band could have put a little bit more effort into the lyircs of this song as they are in my opinion weak and monotonous. The tone of Joshua's voice does not range much and seeing as he is the new vocalist, I'm not sure how much their sound will alter in the next few years.

I hope that Lions Lions can make it far, but this single has not given me the impression that they are going to maintain that raw indie/hardcore edge. I would like to hear more intricacy and guitar work in their tracks. Hopefully Brandon is able to work his magic in this upcoming album. I give this song rating a 3/5. For anyone interested in attending a Lions Lions concert, the next local show they will be playing is May 13 at the Franco American Club in Waterbury, Connecticut. For tunes, show information, and more log onto www.myspace.com/lionslions

Augmented Reality Becomes Virtual Phenomenon

Imagine being able to visualize your favourite movie characters right before your eyes all by the easy access of a cell phone? Well, the thought has become possible for users who wish to create what scientists call an "augmented reality." This seems far fetched to some skeptics, however the numbers of users that are discovering this new innovation are ecstatically pleased and feel that this new wave of visual art should be something worth retaining.

The users that have installed the augmented reality program on their cellular device are easily able to create a visual statue that is computer generated. Once the person has chosen the design for their character, they then have the ability to place their statues in any location they wish, with a recent reporting showing characters like Darth Vader, Superman and Spiderman congregating in Dam Square, Amsterdam. The simulated reality is odd to some, but enticing to others. The idea for this new phenomenon was first mentioned after the mass hype of Avatar morphing software became well known. Technology experts designed this program through the process of installing black and white mosaic tiles on the ground which were actually electrical markers that once activated, sent a signal to the cell phone that would enable the user to create his or her own virtual statue.

On Saturday, April 24, hundreds of people were found wandering around the area of Dam Square, Amsterdam in order to get a taste of what the visual reality was like. The person in charge of the "flash mob" as it was named, was Sander Veenof, a media artist located in Amsterdam working on finishing some of the latest virtual arts software. The popular forms of software that allow cell phone users to access the augmented reality are Layar and AndAR. (iPhones & Android devices).

Veenof has been working on introducing a more digitized atmosphere to the public while concentrating on interface systems which will enable any person around the globe to communicate and create these characters. With the advancements in technology today, it is no wonder that a virtual reality has become tangible!

Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash on I-91

According to courant.com, on Saturday, May 1st, a 22-year-old man from Newington was killed in a motorcycle crash on I-91. The man, Kyle Centini lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into the Jersey barriers on Interstate 91. He was heading northbound on I-91 around 1:45 pm, when he lost control of his Yahama motorcycle and hit a Jersey barrier and then a highway sign hit on his left shoulder, according to police. State police closed down I-91 for part of the afternoon so they can investigate the crash. The accident happened near the 32-B exit ramp. According to police, Centini was not wearing a helmet.

Bostonians Forced to Boil Water

This past week, a main pipe involved in transporting fresh water to the Boston are burst, leaving close to 2,000,000 people without fresh drinking water.

The pipe burst in the town of Weston, MA, about 15 miles away from Boston. Subsequently, Boston and a dozen other surrounding communities are being affected. While officials claimed that the water main could be fixed by as early as Sunday night, there is no truly set and defined time table, therefore the effects of this disaster will continue on into this upcoming workweek.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick claimed at a media conference that "The extent of the damage is not as great as we feared. It does look like we're going to be able to get through this sooner than we thought. In days, not weeks."

Although backup water has been attained by the "Massachusetts Water Resources Authority," hundreds of thousands of citizens have been forced to boil all their water in order to drink it since the rupture of the crucial pipe.

As grocery stores in the areas continue to fail to meet the demand for bottled water, one can only hope that the pipe gets fixed effectively and efficiently and citizens are allowed to drink water from the nozzle once more, a luxury we all seem to take for granted.

RHAM Benefit Concert Has Stocked Bill

This Friday May 7'th, RHAM will host its annual benefit show in the auditorium at 7PM. The show, the second of two benefit concerts held each year, has been in existence for more than five years. Early roots of the events trace back to Dave Depriest and his band "The Cutlass Three."

Attendees of the concert are sure to be satisfied as the show contains RHAM's most well known bands. Every genre will be represented whether it be the hardcore style of "Taking What's Ours" to the happy-go-lucky funk of "Hiatus", to the alternative rock of popular headlining band "The Tension."

The concert totes a long list of popular local bands. As of this point in time, the established order of the bands is as follows: Flying Blind, Taking What's Ours, Naked Sunday, Hiatus, and The Tension. The new experimental group entitled "Us Minus Earth" will serve as a jam band for in-between the sets.

Flying Blind, the newest of all the groups playing, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Any of those planning to arrive late to the show to catch some of the later bands will surely be missing out on a band that will without a doubt be growing in popularity over the next few years of their high school career.

Taking What's Ours, by far RHAM's most hardcore band, has recently released some recordings that have been getting stellar reviews around the board. Even if you may not be into their style, its hard to deny they know what they're doing.

Naked Sunday has been around for a few years now, and they always seem to have a steady fan base. With new drummer Chris Yeterian sitting on the throne, the local Alternative Rock/Funk band will no doubt lay down some fat grooves for lead guitarist Cam D'Auria to paint his magical music skills over.

Hiatus, the group that doesn't necessarily fit in with the rest of the Artists on the bill has also recently released a mini-album entitled "Our Demons And Angels" (recorded here in the school as a matter of fact). The 8-song EP has helped them gain popularity, and this will be one of the bands last shows due to members graduating and heading off in different directions.

The final band, The Tension, is by far the most popular band here at RHAM. After being signed to indie label "Sling Slang Records" the band released a truly remarkable album "The Rest Can Wait." For those of you who have not yet gotten their hands on the amazing 13-track debut, I strongly recommend getting a copy. The Tension never cease to amaze, and will be coming to this show with a few new songs up their sleeves.

The benefit shows are an event that our local music scene looks forward to twice a year. This Friday, make sure to check out your local bands in the Auditorium at 7PM. Tickets for the event will be sold at lunch as well as at the door and all proceeds will go to charity.