news log #28

"Hormone blocker cuts breast cancer risk"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43284564/ns/health-cancer/

Summary: Doctors have found another pill that will help prevent recurrences in breast cancer patients past menopause. The pill is called an aromatase inhibitor, and is sold as Arimidix, Femara, and Aromasin, along with a generic form. This new pill is better than the other two prevention pills because they have side effects, like possibly causing uterine cancer, blood clots, and other problems. While they were testing the pill, there was about a 65% reduction in risk. 

Response: I think it's great how doctors have found a new way to prevent breast cancer from reoccurring in women. Although it's only for certain people, the pill will definitely cut back on the number of people being affected. Hopefully this find in medicine will help prevent other diseases from hurting more people. 

news log #27

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/popcornbiz/module-placement-list/Review-The-Hangover-Part-II-122467859.html

Summary: Director Todd Phillips has announced that The Hangover Part II will be much better than the first film. Although the setting to the movie is different, the story line is pretty much the same. The main character, Doug, says there should be no mishaps or weird occurrences at his wedding in Thailand, but it's enough for us to surmise that Doug's wish won't come true. The movie is in theaters now. 

Response: The Hangover was an extremely funny movie with an original plot line. The Hangover Part II will probably be the same way. However, lately production companies and film writers are having a tough time coming up with new ideas for movies. They either start to use the story lines of books or make sequels to movies that they just shouldn't stretch out. For example, a lot of critics thought that the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie was a mistake and that the series should've ended with the third installment. The argument that some movie series shouldn't drag on is debatable, but the only way to tell if the movie will be good is by seeing it.

news log #26

 

Man steals $700 of Crest White Strips

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42996671/ns/us_news-weird_news/ 

Summary: A man was caught on surveillance camera shoplifting. However, it wasn't expensive clothing or any fancy jewelry; he was in a Kroger, in Greenwood, IN., and he was stealing fifteen packages of Crest White Strips. He hasn't been found yet, but when he does, he'll probably have a lot of explaining to do. 

Response: I think it's really weird for someone to steal fifteen packages of white strips. I know that they aren't too cheap but to steal so many packs of them seems kind of stupid. He must have a good reason for doing so, otherwise he'll be facing some time in jail.

news log #25

Police nab armed "Batman" in small Michigan town

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42998822/ns/us_news/

Summary: In Petoskey, Michigan, there was a Batman sighting on a roof of a building. However, this wasn't the real buff Batman that we all know from the comics and the feature films. It was 31-year-old Mark Williams. Williams had concealed weapons, including a baton and a can of chemical irritant spray. Police were called to come handle the situation, and Williams was charged on account of carrying concealed weapons. He didn't explain why he was dressed in costume, but this wasn't the first time: a few years ago, Williams dressed as the Crow, another figure from a graphic novel. 

Response: Sometimes, people get a too over the top with obsessions. It's no problem to dress up this way for a fair, or when you're in your own home, etc. But when a person goes out into public and hangs around on top of a building in the center of a town with a population of about 6000 people, there's a bit of a problem. He was endangering himself and possibly others and maybe should learn a lesson from this situation.

news log #24 - Earth Day

"World's Greenest Boat Also Aims To Be The Fastest"

http://www.dogonews.com/2007/12/10/world-s-greenest-boat-also-aims-to-be-the-fastest

Summary: The boat Earthrace planned to beat the world record for fasted journey around the world for a boat, which was held at 75 days. It wanted to complete the journey in 65. Earthrace is made out of completely environmentally products and runs on biodiesel fuel. The owners, who hail from New Zealand, are Pete Bethune and his wife. The boat was not cheap to build; the owners had to mortgage their house and sold almost everything else they owned so that they could spend the first $650,000 (in US dollars) on the boat. They also raised money so they could make enough to build the boat. 

Response: I think that this project was a good way to motivate people to go green for their boats. Although it's expensive, it will get cheaper as soon as more people start doing it. The boat also runs on eco-friendly fuel. Hopefully, more people will start making greener choices for both their land lifestyle and possible water lifestyle.

news log #23

"Lady Gaga: I'll never get plastic surgery" 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42568158/ns/today-entertainment/

Summary: Lady Gaga said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar that she will never get plastic surgery to make herself look better. "I think that promoting insecurity in the form of plastic surgery is infinitely more harmful than an artistic expression related to body modification." she told the magazine. Furthermore, after winning multiple Grammys and selling album after album, the singer tried to move to Hollywood to embrace the celebrity lifestyle. She packed up her things from her old New York apartment and moved to Hollywood. However, she didn't like it at all and ran back to her home state and returned to her original lifestyle.

Response: While I think it's good that Lady Gaga isn't promoting plastic surgery for the positive image of oneself, I find that she's trying too hard to stand out. She wears all of these incredible yet wacky outfits, does her hair in odd fashions, and twists her lyrics to make them the most unique. It was creative and nice at first, but now it's what we expect from her. What she stands for, like gay rights and improving self esteem, and being "born this way" is good and will hopefully help people to change their ideas. However, becoming so predictable in her image and sound is starting to get old, and she's becoming what she didn't want to be-- sort of like a washed up foreseen popstar. 

news log #22

'Gladyator' aged 92 breaks marathon record

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8431206/Gladyator-aged-92-breaks-marathon-record.html

Summary: 92-year-old Gladys Burrill, a.k.a. the 'Gladyator', broke the record for the oldest person to complete a marathon. She power-walked and jogged the 26.2 mile route in nine hours and 53 minutes, and beat the previous record-holder, Jenny Wood-Allen of Scotland, who ran the London Marathon of 2002. Burrill ran her first mile at 86 years, and walks 45 miles a week. Her advice is to just "get out there and walk or run."

Response: It's great that someone of Gladys Burrill's age could take on this marathon and even beat the world record for oldest person to run a marathon. There are many elderly people who have the potential to do these kinds of feats, but use the excuse that they're old or too frail for it. Most of them are merely too lazy to get up and walk every day like they should. Burrill seems like someone every person should look up to and hope to be like when they grow older.