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