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.

news log #21

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42311615/ns/local_news-fort_myers_fl/

"Honors student allegedly pistol-whips mom to get sports car" 

Summary: In Fort Myers, Florida, a 17-year-old honors student Rachel Hachero was accused of using a stolen gun to pistol-whip and then threaten her mother to get a signature for a sports car. On March 24th, Rachel called her mom from a car dealership and requested that her mother co-sign a loan for a car. When her mom refused to do so, Rachel threatened to kill her. Around 7, Rachel arrived at her home and confronted her mother-- not just with words, but with a 9 mm. She hit her mother on the head with the gun, and then pointed it at her mom's head. Rachel told her mother they were going to go to the dealership and she was going to co-sign for the car. Her mother did just that, and isn't even going to prosecute her daughter because she's an honors student and was accepted into several Ivy League colleges. 

Response: The fact that this teenager is getting away with almost murdering her own mother in order to get a car is disgusting. She used a stolen gun (from early July 2010) and used it to get her mother to help her get a car. And the fact that the mother isn't prosecuting Rachel is kind of ridiculous. I understand that Rachel is her daughter, but Rachel threatened to kill her, all for a car. I think that today kids are becoming more and more spoiled and expect to get what they want. Rachel should've just accepted the fact that asking for a car and expecting to get it is unrealistic and rude, especially because a car is extremely expensive. And maybe the mother shouldn't spoil her daughter so badly. The both of them should get a reality check, you can't always give or get what you want. 

news log #20

"Gay storyline coming to Salem in 'Days of Our Lives'" 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/23/days.lives.gay.storyline.ew/index.html

Summary: The normally conservative soap opera "Days of Our Lives" is introducing a new relationship for one of its current cast members. However, the relationship isn't the normal relationship on a TV sitcom or soap opera; it's a homosexual relationship. A show spokeswoman didn't comment on the news, but EW.com has learned that this new relationship is in production. 

Response: I think it's fantastic that more shows today are introducing new homosexual relationships. A lot of people are still against gay couples, gay rights, and gay marriage. Hopefully, new additions to plot lines in popular TV shows like "Days of Our Lives" will change the old ways that are stuck in people's minds. Many other popular TV shows like "Glee", "Degrassi", and "All My Children" have included homosexual relationships. With luck, these well-known TV shows will help homosexuality be accepted by more and more people. 

news log #19

"11 shows that were canceled way too soon"

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42078225/ns/today-entertainment/

Summary: Many shows that start airing get canceled within a year of their debut. Whether it's due to how many views they have, or low ratings, some shows are actually very funny and great and are canceled too early. Sometimes the right actors and ratings and the money aren't enough to keep the show on air.

Response: I think that lately, TV shows have been getting canceled far too soon. Some new shows are actually funny and creative, yet they've been getting cut. They need to be given a chance to show that they're worth the wait and can be successful. For example, Freaks and Geeks, a show that ran for about a year on NBC, was canceled. I watch reruns every now and then and I think it's a funny show with good plot lines for each episode. I don't think that shows aren't allotted enough time to prove that they're worth the money and hard work to be put on air.

news log #17

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/blogs/press-here/Meet-the-iPad-2-Thinner-Faster-Camera-ier--117256248.html

Meet the iPad 2

Summary: Steve Jobs, head of Apple, announced Wednesday that there is a new iPad. It is faster, thinner, and lighter than the original iPad. It has both the front camera, and the rear camera. It also has the new A5 chip inside, which Apple promises will make it run twice as fast and multiply the graphics by a speed factor of nine. And you won't even have to wait more than a month for it, because it's being released March 11th.

Response: I think technology is a bit ridiculous these days. People rush to get what's new on the market, like a phone or an iPod or whatever, only to find out soon that there's a new version coming out. They pay hundreds of dollars for their new little toy, and then they discover that the new thing will do whatever their old gadget does twice as fast, without Wifi, or without losing its battery life sooner. Even though the iPad 2 is going to cost the same as the original iPad did, it was kind of dumb for Apple to release the newest generation less than a year after its predecessor was released.

news log #15

A 20-year-old girl living in New York is from varying races, including Cherokee, Shawnee, Chinese, and Cuban. However, on federal documents, she is listed as Cuban. She says herself that on papers she marks "Other" because either her races aren't listed or she can only mark one. More and more today, federal documents are listing different races or letting people mark more than one race, and personally I believe that it's both accommodating and great.

news log #16

"Australian town changes name to Speedkills"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8332432/Australian-town-changes-name-to-Speedkills.html

Summary: A town in Victoria, Australia called Speed, has only 45 residents. However, those residents decided to change the town's name to Speedkills for the month of March to promote safe driving. Each year hundreds of people die in car accidents on Australian roads, and in 2010 deaths on rural roads increased by about 25%. Even a resident of Speed, whose name is Phil Down, hopes that the town's new monthly name will encourage drivers to slow down on country roads. Down is even changing his name to Phil Slow Down for the month. 

Response: I think it is very, very creative of that town to change their name to Speedkills. Hopefully, it will get drivers to make smart choices instead of speeding. Innocent lives are lost to speeding every year, and it is extremely unfortunate. I also think it's great of Speed to take the initiative and maybe it will inspire others to do the same thing.

news log #14 upfront article

"Marriage -- or Else"

In Afghanistan, girls are often sold for marriage. They are married at a young age-- even starting as young as eight. If they attempt to flee to a safer place, they face severe punishment. Some are successful, however: they make it to shelters for women who were living in terrible conditions with their families. A story that is well known is that of Aisha's [in the picture] who appeared on the cover of Time Magazine last August. She ran away from her new family, but her father returned her because he wanted to have good relations with the family. He regrets what he did now, because his daughter's husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law did something with the approval of the local Muslim clergyman. They sliced off her nose and ears. Fortunately, Aisha's father-in-law was arrested last November for his act. 

The percentage of girls getting married before the age of eighteen is incredibly high in certain countries like Afghanistan, Niger, and Bangladesh. If anything could be done to prevent horrible acts like this, it's time to take a stand. 

news log #13

"Housing and a Chance for Veterans"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/opinion/23sun2.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=opinion&adxnnlx=1295814646-D3XCmfAZo1ZE9ZKVWLkJHg

Summary: Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has promised to end homelessness among veterans by the end of a five year period. There will be some hard cases to sort through, however: those long term homeless people who have been on and off of drugs or alcohol and have been on the street for a long time. There is a program in California using the strategy called "housing first." Using a Section 8 voucher, a homeless person can have a permanent place to stay that provides addiction services, therapy, sobriety, and a steady job. Unfortunately, there is not enough money yet to fund programs like these nationwide.

Response: I really hope that one day the government will have enough money to fund programs that use the housing first strategy. It's horrible that war veterans come home and can't find a job simply because they were away serving our country and came back to higher unemployment rates and difficulty being hired. Those who have to live on the streets and fought for our country deserve a place to live and a helping hand.

news log #12

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/06/facebook-friends-mock-womans-suicide-message/?test=latestnews

Summary: A 42-year old woman, Simone Back, posted as her Facebook status that she was about to kill herself. The status read, "Took all my pills be dead soon bye bye everyone", and her "friends" on Facebook made comments like, "liar" "she OD's all the time" and that the overdose was "her choice". Not one person came to her rescue, but close friends did request her address or phone number to help her. Her mother finally found her hours after the post on the Internet, and police came for the body at 4 PM on December 26th. Back was declared dead an hour later.

Response: The fact that human beings can be so rude about something as serious as this is terrible and horrifying. A woman made a post about killing herself, and all others did was poke fun at her and mock her. On the other hand, why did Back post it on the Internet anyway? If she was serious about this, she wouldn't have made a post, which can be viewed as a cry for attention. She also seems to do this a lot-- one of the comments says she takes pills and OD's all the time. However, what the Facebook "friends" did was wrong, and they should apologize to Back's mother and really think before they speak.