Deer Gutted in Public

Just in time for Halloween, Lawrence Massey, 37 and of Berlin, CT, was arrested for supposedly gutting a deer in a parking lot in the area of Wesleyan University. The man found the deer to the side of Route 9 Southbound and brought it to his sons at 594 Main Street A to show them " how to field strip a deer after it had been killed." When police came over, an officer reported the smell of the dead deer and found Massey covered in blood, holding his knife. Without being ordered, Massey cleaned up the entrails, which he had placed on a tarp. Massey is to appear in court on November 11 and was charged with disorderly conduct.

Source: middletownpress.com

Attack of the 8 Foot Lego!

In the early morning on Tuesday, October 25, the invasion began (okay, not really). An 8 foot lego man made of fiberglass appeared on the Siesta Key Beach in Florida. On the front, it read on its chest area "No Real Than You Are". On the back, it read "Ego Leonard" with the number "8". "Ego Leonard" is actually the name of the artist who made the sculpture. Other Lego men made by this artist have appeared on beaches in England and Holland. The police officers of the Sarasota County Sherif's Office removed it later on. The figure is under protective custody and will be held for the owner for 90 days. Even though the LEGO Group had just opened a theme park in Florida, the company denies any involvement with this event.

Source: ABC News

School Record Broken

On Saturday October 22, 2011 Mike Luby (junior) Set a new school record for most yards rushing in a single game. He broke this record with an outstanding game vs. Fermi High gaining 206 rushing yards. RHAM defeated Fermi 48-12.

Boys Cross Country CCC Conference Meet

Wednesday October 19th was the planed date for the CCC conference cross country race at Wickham Park in Manchester. Due to the rain the race was moved to Tuesday the 20th. RHAM senior captain Greg Bento ran in the varsity race and he came in 1st for RHAM boys cross country with a time of 19:45. The muddy course made it difficult for the runners. Greg was trailed by fellow RHAM senior captain Kevin Garcia in the varsity race.

Controversial Musical Performed At Hartford Public High School

The musical "Zanna, Don't!" was performed at Hartford Public High School for the Law And Government and the Nursing academies on Oct. 14th. The play, sponsored by The Knox Foundation and the Samuel Roskin Trust at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (with additional funds supplied by the non profit True Colors and Leadership Greater Hartford's Quest), deals about issues pertaining to homosexuality. The thought behind showing this musical is so that the students are tolerant of gays and lesbians. It is set in an alternate world where homosexuality is normal and heterosexuality is shunned. The most controversial moment of the play came when two male actors shared a kiss. Some students who where watching the show at that moment made noise to being offended, and some students decided to walk out of the auditorium (even though a few of them decided to resume watching the performance). David Chambers, principal of the nursing academy, said "Our kids never deal with this, they keep it inside. That's why they walked out." However, many students cheered on the gay characters. Student Dineily Vargas commented "I think it opened a lot of people's eyes." "Zanna, Don't!" will be shown twice more on Oct. 21st. There will be another performance just for students during the school day, then at 7:30 P.M. a free public showing will be held.

Source: Courant.com

Exotic Animals Set Loose in Ohio

Police in Zanesville, Ohio where sent to the farm of Terry Thompson last Tuesday because of reports of exotic animals running free. When police arrived, they found Thompson dead with a mortal wound and his cages for the animals were open. Thompson had been known to get in trouble with the law on matters related to the animals, including being accused of depriving them of food. The animals were loose throughout the town. The creatures varied from Bengal tigers to grizzly bears. On Wednesday, citizens of the town were told to keep inside their homes. Sheriff Matt Lutz of Muskingum County gave an order to kill the animals after an attempt to use tranquilizers on a tiger proved ineffective. The animals, 49 dead of the fifty six total animal population of the farm, were buried in a mass grave on the farm property. However, there is still a macaque monkey on the loose, that may or may not be carrying the virus Herpes B.

Source: Reuters

Review Apple iOS 5

With the new release of the iPhone 4s and iPod updates an new iOS operating system update is only natural. Apple has put in a lot of though and time to create a iOS that takes portable devices to a whole new level. Five features stood out to me.


1. Notifications: Apple has redesigned their notifications. In the last iOS, updates and notifications would pop-up and stop you from your work and game play. It would require you to stop what your doing and hit the ignore button to get rid of the pop-up. Now all notifications come in on a small scrolling bar at the top of your screen. If you want to view the notification simply tap the bar at the top and if you want to ignore it, it disappears in a few seconds. And this doesn't stop game play at all. Also the new notification center can be accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen to the bottom. The center will have all the updates and notifications and can also be accessed from the lock screen as well.

2. PC free & wireless sync: You used to need a computer to dock your brand new iPod or iPad to in order to register it and unlock it for use. Now you can buy a new iPod or iPad with iOS and you can register it right on your device. This makes it easy to start using for those who are new to Apple devices but you can also then dock it with a computer. Also you can sync your device without using a cable to connect to your computer. Now as long as your computer and device are in a wifi area then the wireless sync can take place.

3. Reminder: Apple put a new app that ships with the new iOS. This allows you to create lists and reminders. You can tag these lists and reminders with dates and times so you can set it to push out a reminder. This can work for either time or location. Say that you want to remember to shop as you leave work. You can set a shopping list to remind you as you leave the store.

4. Newstand: Apple released iBooks in the past and it allowed for users to buy books and read them on their devices. Now, Apple released Newstand which allows for the user to subscribe to magazines and read them on their deceives. These magazines update automatically and will be right in the Newstand ready to read the day it comes out.


5. iMessage: With the new iOS comes a new app from Apple. iMessage allows for all iOS users to communicate via photo or text message right on their iOS device. This only works if both deceives have wifi or 3G connection and it doesn't work with other devices such as a computer or phone since they aren't running iOS 5.

These are only 5 of 500+ features that Apple says has been updated with the new iOS. However not all features will work on all devices. For instance, multi-touch gestures will only work for the iPad and not the smaller iOS devices. Also in order to access the new camera feature from the lock screen you need to double tap the home button. This is only a minor inconvenience. Also when changing the music from anywhere on the device I find a bit of a lag, longer then I had before. This can be annoying sometimes but again it is nothing more then a minor inconvenience. Lastly I would have expected to see more major updates however I was impressed with this update and I would give it a 5/5.

Sources:

Apple

Footloose

Footloose the movie is a highley entertaining, high energy film that combines dancing, drama, and romance all in one. The Film takes place in the small town of Bomont. After a tragic incedent the town puts in a curfew and a law prohibiting dancing in public and loud music. This may change when Ren McCormic moves from Boston to Bomont.


This movie deserves a 4/5. Great filming, fun music and average actors. Overall though an awesome film.

Iceland Prepares for Another Eruption

The Katla Volcano, which is located in Vik, Iceland, is showing signs of a possible eruption in the near future. Seismologists testing the area for seismic activity indicate that recent earth quakes could possibly set off a volcanic eruption. This eruption is expected to be much larger than the volcanic eruption which halted air travel last year for weeks, costing airlines upwards of 2 billion dollars. Its last eruption took place in 1918, and the ash blocked out the sun, killing crops and livestock, and bringing devastating flooding. There has been an evacuation plan and alternate housing provided for the surrounding areas incase the eruption occurs. For now, it is a waiting game.

Source: time.com

UCONN Huskies Upset South Florida

On Saturday afternoon beginning at 3:30 p.m., the UCONN Huskies football team played against the South Florida Bulls. The Bulls were projected to win the game by a decent margin, however UCONN played strongly an emerged with a 16-10 victory. This was a pleasant surprise to the mass of UCONN fans attending the game, some of whom were heard chanting "game of the year" on their way out of Rentschler Field.

UCONN scored three field goals in the game and scored their last 7 points off an interception that was run in for a touchdown.

SPORT REPORT: RHAM Boys' Soccer, 10/15

On Saturday, RHAM boys' soccer played a tough game against Tolland. They played away at Cross Farms in Tolland. The result of the game was a 1-1 tie.

The RHAM boys' soccer team plays again this week on Tuesday at home against E.O. Smith.

Zucotti Park Cleaning in New York Postponed

The plan was to push the Occupy Wall Street protest out of Zucotti Park for cleaning. However, Bloomfield, the company who owns the park, decided to call off the cleaning for now. The movement, which has existed for about a month and primarily focuses on issues such as corporate greed and youth employment, decided to start cleaning up on their own so that they could stay in the park. However, if they were made to leave, they planned to form a human chain. The OWS thinks that the cleaning of the park by the company who owns the park is an attempt to get them to leave. If they had been made to leave, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said, "After it's cleaned, they'll be able to come back. But they won't be able to bring back the gear, sleeping bags, that sort of thing will not be able to be brought back to the park" This is for sanitary reasons. As well, Bloomfield reinstated park rules with no lying down and no leaving personal property.

Source: FOX News

NOW PLAYING: Two Award-Winning Films at the Connecticut Film Festival

On October 19th, the Bethel Cinema will host the Connecticut Film Festival's annual monthly film series. The two films being shown on that day, starting at 7:00 PM, will be "The Green" and "Caught". The first film being shown: "The Green", won " Best Narrative Feature" at a Connecticut Film Festival which took place earlier this year and was written and produced by Molly Pearson and by Paul Marcarelli, who is most famous for being Verizon's "Can You Here Me Now" guy. It is about a gay teacher accused of having inappropriate relations with a student of his and faces uncertainties from practically everyone he knows. He even loses his trust in his partner when a long lost secret emerges during the investigation.

The second film, "Caught", also won an award at an earlier Connecticut Film Festival, except that this time it was for "Best Dramatic Short Film". This film was directed by Elizabeth Page and written by Lori Martini, who also plays the lead role of the film. "Caught" is about a woman named Hannah, who is a baseball fan who uses baseball as an escape from the chaos of her relationship with her mother and brother. This chaos eventually overcomes the sanctuary that Hannah found in "America's Favorite Pastime". Tickets to see both films are $7.50 for anyone who is 65 or older or 12 and under. Anyone else who would like to attend shall pay $9.50 for admission. If you would like to reserve seats, go to www.bethelcinema.com or contact their box office at 269 Greenwood Avenue. The theater's phone number is 203-778-3100.


Source: ctpost.com

Blackberry Network Failure Brings Trouble

The four day, system-wide failure of the Blackberry network left millions unable to use their email accounts, instant message, and browse the web. This may seem like a small inconvenience to some, but those whose work is coordinated through their Blackberry's, chaos was the result. The customers were the first to experience the pains of network failure, but it is expected that Blackberry will fall behind in the smartphone race. Research In Motion (RIM) was still recovering from product issues and profit warnings when the crash occurred. Blackberry's reputation may also be damaged due to the network failure, possibly detering future consumers and reducing current customers. Blackberry could also lose millions on current customers for network loss. The recovery has been said to be slow, giving the company a tough period of time ahead.

reuters.com

Kraken Theory?

Mark McMenamin, a paleontologist and professor from Mount Holyoke College, proposed a theory last week that has been raising some eyebrows. For years a set of fossils have perplexed scientist and paleontologists alike. These remains were found in Nevada and are believed to be that of an ichthyosaurs and experts are hard pressed to find an explanation to their positioning and location. The fossils are arranged in a geometric pattern, resembling art or at the very least an appealing arrangement of bones. McMenamin has proposed that these fossils were placed there by a Kraken. Not only this, but he also believes that it then took pleasure or attempted to amuse itself by arranging them how they are now. Many are skeptical as the Kraken is not only fictitious, but the idea that it was creating Monet's millions of years before Claude's time tends to draw attention. He didn't expect the sort of coverage he received but he is sticking to his bold claim saying this was no accident, the arrangement was intentional.

Source:

LA Times

Deep Sea Explorers Find 'Buried Treasure'

Odyssey Marine Exploration, a deep sea robotics team based in Tampa, Florida, discovered the lost wreckage of the Mantola. The Mantola was a British Steamship that was by German torpedos in 1917 and was lost until Monday. The OME was contracted by the British Department of Transportation to find the ship and they set out immediately with their tethered robots to explore the area where it had reportedly sunk. This type of expedition is nothing new however, as many cash-strapped governments have set out looking for lost treasure that once belonged to them. Luckily this time they struck gold, or to be more accurate, silver. The Mantola was carrying an estimated 20 tons of silver which is worth approximately $18 million dollars today. These finds are continuing to unearth not only historic treasures, but those worth their weight in gold.

Source:

nytimes.com

New Police Cameras Raise Issues

In many recent cases there has been a new type of witness, the video camera. But this is not your typical camera, these are worn by a select number of police officers who use these to record what is happening when they are out on the job. Using video evidence is nothing new as the police have used dashboard-mounted cameras for years, and bystanders are now more likely to be carrying a phone or device that can capture video. However, there are now new issues associated with these 24/7 on duty observers. Some are arguing that it may be an invasion of privacy as much of what cops deal with tend to be something that those involved don't want on tv or on youtube. Despite these protests, the departments are moving forward and have begun distributing these to on duty officers. They believe that it will help provide irrefutable evidence in court cases.

Source:

nytimes.com

A New Meaning to Road Rage

According to www.courant.com, Ansonia, CT resident Anthony Sporko was angry about people's driving habits in his neighborhood, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately instead of truly taking "matters" into his hands, he picked up a shotgun.

The enraged man was allegedly seen on Monday afternoon yelling at traffic while carrying a double-barreled shotgun. Police arrested him shortly after, finding the shotgun and shells in his home. Sporko has been charged with second-degree breach of peace and reckless endangerment.

"The Art of Flight" Is Bringing Action Sports to a Mainstream Audience

In the past, action sports films have been accesible only to those acquainted with the action sports world. For example, only a skateboarder would be able to find, watch, and truly understand the latest skate film.

Fortunately, this old trend has ended with arrival of a new, state-of-the-art snowboard film, "The Art of Flight". This fully HD film led by director Curt Morgan was created and is now being distributed with an intent to reach a mainstream audience. Available on iTunes in both standard and high definition versions, it is cheap (under $10) and very easily accesible.

The film depicts some of the most beautifully shot, epic action sports scenes ever filmed. Following some of the world's premier snowboarders through places including Alaska, Colorado, Patagonia, Chile, and British Columbia, it also showcases the best of today's tricks and rides. Even for those who are not snowboarding enthusiasts, the film is bound to blow them away. It does not take a snowboarder to know that double backflip combinations over 60+ foot gaps are impressive. Also interspersed within the riding are sprawling helicopter shots of the mountains and their surrounding locations that look like something straight out of "Planet Earth".

Only time will tell of Morgan's film will truly reach a more mainstream crowd, however it certainly has the potential to.

Prescription Fraud in New London County

There were three people from New London County suspected of perscription fraud. Two of them are residents of North Stonington and one is a resident of Niantic. These arrests were a part of a crackdown by various police agencies against illegal use of prescription drugs, which has accused almost 50 people, even law enforcement officials, of bringing thousands of oxycodone illegally into the state from Florida.

Two of the three people, Linda McDougal and Susan Turitto, allegedly obtained the pills by using the licensing information of a New London surgeon, albeit during different periods of time. The alleged recipients of the pills were Turitto and her husband Craig Levine. Law enforcement was tipped off by a Waterford pharmacist who received a fake prescription for 60 vicodin pills. They were arraigned in the U.S. District Court in Hartford last Thursday.





Source: Courant.com

"Occupy Wall Street" Protests Will Come to Hartford

"Occupy Wall Street", a movement that is against corprate greed. This protest against excess started in New York City and has spread from Atlantic to Pacific, through mediums such as Facebook. It has had people protesting in front of the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, in the streets of Los Angeles and now is coming to Hartford. The movement will have meetings discussing its plans for protest in Hartford on Wednesday at 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. in Bushnell Park. The reason why the group is having this discussion at this venue is, according to Peter Goselin, a laywer from Hartford supporting "Occupy Wall Street", "The idea of conducting a democratic meeting in the open where people can see is in sharp contrast to the way buissness and politics is done now, where everything is behind closed doors." On a meeting that was held on Sunday, members of this movement, which is popular with colledge graduates who can't find work, were interested in doing either a march or a "sleep in". The date for the actual protests hasn't been determined.





Source: courant.com

New York to Los Angeles: Anti-Corporation Protests

This past weekend several hundred "anti-corporate" protesters set up shop in the City Hall of Los Angeles. This was a movement inspired by the some 700 protesters who were arrested on the Brooklyn bridge for anti-corporate demonstrations. These protesters are fighting against the economic policies which they claim only aid the top 1% of Americans.

-Los Angeles Times

Large Amount of Arctic Ozone Loss

Over the past the past year there has been a record amount of ozone loss over the Arctic circle. The amount of damage has created a large enough break to be labeled a 'hole' similar to the one over the Antarctic. Approximately 80% of the ozone in this area was lost during the recorded time. It is difficult for scientists to tell if this trend will continue as this is a large drop; uncommon in the past few years. This loss is attributed to the colder weather of the last year. This cold weather causes the chlorine chemicals that destroy ozone to become more active. This trend in cold winters has been documented over the last decade, and has shown that it has gotten progressively colder. For now Michelle Santee from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says that "Given that trend and the high variability, we'd anticipate that we'll have other cold ones, and if that happens while chlorine levels are high, we'd anticipate that we'd have severe ozone loss."

Information from bbc.co.uk

Marlborough Fire Department Chicken BBQ Draws Crowds

Those driving through Marlborough on Sunday, October 2nd may have noticed a large group of cars and police in the center of town. While this sounds like it could be a bad traffic accident or a store break-in, think again; it was simply the day of the Marlborough Fire Department's annual chicken BBQ.

Fire fighters had been travelling the roads of Marlborough for weeks prior to the BBQ, going door to door to sell meal tickets. Each of the meals served included a half-chicken, a baked potato, cole slaw, and a small dessert.

Based on the traffic clogging up the center of Marlborough, the event must have been a success. To visit the Marlborough Fire Department's website, go to
"http://marlboroughfire.com/public/".