Weekly Happenings: 2011

Monday, May 2, 2011

The Royal Wedding

On April 29, over 2 billion people woke up to watch the wedding of Great Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton. The viewing audience broke the record previously held by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Over 1 million people tuned in for their wedding. The streets around Westminster Abbey were jammed with wellwishers. They held signs and wore British flag paraphanalia. The wellwishers were able to watch the wedding on large TV screens.

Kate Middleton's dress has been a topic of interest for many months. When she exited the car, she was wearing an elegant lace dress. The designer was Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. McQueen is arguably one of the most famous British fashion designers, and took his life last year. Her gown choice was especially poignant due to this fact. Her maid of honor was her sister Pippa. Pippa also wore a white gown by Sarah Burton. Traditionally, it is frowned upon for anyone but the bride to wear white. However, Kate chose the dress.

Guests at the wedding included members of the royal family, as well as Elton John and the Beckhams. After exchanging vows, the couple was introduced as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They rode through the streets in the same carriage used by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. When the wedding party stood on the terrace at Buckingham Palace, the Duke and Duchess kissed twice. The crowd was overjoyed because this was an usual occurrence. Afterwards, the wedding party took their official photographs and attended two receptions. The bride and groom went away for the weekend, but are not going on a honeymoon. They plan to live in their small town rather than residing at the palace.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Zumba Fitness: Join The Party!

Zumba is the latest fitness craze to sweep across the U.S. and internationally. The original cardio dance program, Zumba, was developed in the mid 1990s by Beto Perez. The program uses different types of music, such as hip hop, in an hour long workout. There are currently over 110,000 locations teaching Zumba in 125 countries.
The class uses body resistance to tone and tighten muscles. Participants often burn upwards of 1,000 calories within the hour. The classes borrows dance moves from the tango, merengue, and the samba. Classes are taught by certified Zumba ionstructors. There are also Zumba DVDs and Wii video games using Zumba.
Besides the original class, there is also Zumba Gold, Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba, and Zumbatonic. Zumba Gold is targeted towards older people or those with injuries who cannot keep up with the pace of a typical Zumba class. Zumba Toning combines dancing and weights. There are maraca-style weights available. The maximum weight available is 3.5 pounds. It sounds very light, but after an hour you can feel the burn. The class involves lots of squatting, lunges, and bicep curls. Aqua Zumba combines the energy of Zumba with water aerobics. The natural resistance of the water helps tone and condition muscles. Zumbatonic is the children's version of Zumba.
The class is very fun and energizing. It is perfect for people who hate to work out. It is so entertaining you hardly notice you are working out. It is also great for someone looking to switch up their exercise routine. The playlists and dances change constantly. Your body will always be challenged and you will never be bored!

Friday, April 22, 2011

What is happening in Libya?

Libya is one of the countries involved in revolts earlier this spring. The country has been lead by Muammar el-Qaddafi. He has been in power since 1969, and is one of the last dictators in power. When a rebel army formed, it seemed as though Libya was going to erupt into a war. The United Nations Security Council stepped in and authorized American and European forces to perform an airstrike on March 19.

In the last week, NATO, Arab and African leaders met with Libyan rebels to discuss possibilities for the future. France and Britain called for more airstrikes with more power. It was revealed that the U.S. was continuing airstrikes despite President Obama saying they were pulling out. Yesterday, France and Britain announced they would send in troops to help improve the techniques of the rebels and help them overthrow Qaddafi. Many Americans are concerned about the implications of aiding Libya. The nation is still deeply entrenched in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and many are afraid of a full-fledged war in Libya.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

President Trump?

Donald Trump is most commonly known as a real estate tycoon, author, and host and creator of The Apprentice. His catch phrase, "You're fired," has become a household joke. Trump is known for his pompous attitude, his beautiful much-younger wives, and his awful comb-over. Recently, he has created a stir in the political realm. Trump has come out swinging against President Obama, and has toyed with the idea of running in the 2012 election.

Trump has made no secret of his disstaste for Obama, and often makes comments about how the Obama administration has failed. It is unclear right now whether Trump would run as a Republican or Independent. Many are worried that if he ran as an Independent, Trump would take votes away from the Republican candidate and allow Obama another term. Recent reports say Trump has decided to definitely throw his hat in the ring. He is currently behind Obama in the polls by a mere six points.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Dayglow

The Dayglow tour will be in Providence, RI next weekend. Dayglow is "the largest paint party", according to the company website. It began in 2006 in Florida, and has become a part of the biggest house music festivals, such as Ultra Music Festival. The party combines music and art. It is a big dance party, and there are also performers. At some events, there are fire throwers, stilt walkers, and acrobats. Many of the shows have sold out. This weekend, the tour is in Philadelphia. It recently made a stop at UMass Amherst. The Providence show is being held at Lupo's, and tickets sold out in under an hour. All students and house music lovers were given the opportunity to purchase tickets. The weekend should bring in lots of revenue for the city, and keep the police force busy.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Person to Watch: Cory Booker

The University of Rhode Island's commencement speaker for this year's graduation ceremony has been a very popular topic of conversation in recent months. Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, has been featured on several major news networks. Booker, a Democrat, campaigned for Obama during the 2008 Presidential Election. He is often compared to Obama, and there is talk Booker may run for President in 2012.

Cory Booker grew up in a wealthy town with parents who had high-paying jobs at IBM. He was one of the few African Americans in his town. Since his youth, Booker felt a strong desire to help others. He studied at Yale, Standford, and Oxford. After working with several organizations and coalitions, Booker became a member of the Newark Municipal Council. He gained attention by holding a 10-day hunger strike to protest drug dealing and violence. He also lived in a motor home and drove it around the city. He parked at corners where drug dealing was most prominent.

Booker is the third African American mayor of Newark. People debated if he was "black" enough when he ran. This was also a sentiment held by voters during Obama's campaign. Booker has drastically reduced crime in Newark, which was once a city with a horrible reputation. He is known to patrol the streets and reach out to citizens. Murders have dropped by 42%, rapes by 41%, and robberies by 12%. Newark had its first murder-free month in 44 years in March 2010.

Mayor Booker is also working to improve the Newark school system. He created the Newark Charter School Fund to pay for reforms and new schools. During his time as mayor, Booker has received over $100 million in private donations. He keeps Newark citizens and the general public updated with his Twitter page. Booker personally responds to each person's questions almost immediately. In one instance, a Newark citizen wrote to Booker about how her father needed someone to shovel his driveway, and Booker personally came and shoveled the driveway. It is his personal touches and proactive manner that are marking Booker a popular water cooler topic.

Monday, March 28, 2011

The "Queen of Hollywood" Dies

Many people called it the end of an era when Elizabeth Taylor passed away Wednesday at age 79. For seven decades, Taylor captivated the world with her talent, her love life, her extensive jewelry collection, and her legendary violet eyes. During her high-profile life, Taylor became a bride eight times, won two Academy Awards, and co-founded AmFar. She was also a smart business person. Her perfume, White Diamonds, earned more than $70 million last year.

Taylor began her career with the classic film "National Velvet" at age nine. She starred in movies with many classic film stars, such as Rock Hudson and James Dean. She became the highest paid actress in Hollywood when she earned $1 million for "Cleopatra". Besides her acting, Taylor also provided tabloid fodder.

At age 18, Taylor married Nicky Hilton, heir to the Hilton Hotel company. They divorced after less than a year of marriage. Her second husband was a co-star, Michael Wilding. They had two children together and were married for five years. Her third husband, movie producer Mike Todd, is one of the men Taylor considered a "true love". Their marriage ended when Todd died in a plane crash. Her fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, a famous singer, caused a controversy. They had a very public affair while he was still married to actress Debbie Reynolds. During the filming of "Cleopatra", Taylor began cheating on Fisher with her co-star Richard Burton, who she would marry two times. After their second divorce, Taylor went on to marry a Republic Senator, John Warner. Her last marriage was to a carpenter named Larry Fortensky.

Elizabeth Taylor was an eccentric, unique individual. Her famous friendship with Michael Jackson raised many eyebrows, especially when she supported him during his child molestation trials. Her last public appearance was at his much-delayed funeral in the fall. Taylor was loyal. When her friend Rock Hudson announced he was dying of AIDS, Taylor co-founded AmFar to find a cure after his painful death. For the rest of her life, Taylor devoted herself to that cause. She is a true Hollywood legend, but also a humanitarian. Elizabeth Taylor was as multi-faceted as her beloved Krupp diamond.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Lizzie Borden Is Coming to Your TV Screen

Actress Chloe Sevigny, known for her work on HBO's popular series "Big Love", will appear on the network's mini-series about the infamous story of Lizzie Borden. Borden was a Fall River resident during the 1800s who shot to fame after being accused of murdering her family with a hatchet. The motive of the murders was believed to be a dispute over property and inheritance. The victims were Borden's father and stepmother, Andrew and Abby. Her father had done a series of things to agitate Borden throughout her life, including an incident where he murdered her pet pigeons because he considered them nuisances. Shortly before the murders, Borden tried to purchase cyanide. No toxins were found during the victims' autopsies.

During the trial, prosecutors struggled to prove Borden's involvement. The hatchet found within the house lacked fingerprints and was not fully intact. The clothes Borden had allegedly worn during the murders were burned. Although the trial created hysteria throughout the nation, Borden was eventually acquitted of the crimes. Her house has become a tourist attraction and a bed and breakfast.

In the past few decades, Borden has been the subject of countless documentaries and made-for-TV movies. Alfred Hitchcock used Borden as the subject for an episode of his television show. There have even been ballets and plays written about Borden. Sevigny is the most famous actress to portray Borden. This alleged murderer's popularity has remained although she died long ago. There is even a popular children's poem written about her. The poem says:

Lizzie Borden took an axe

Gave her mother forty whacks

When she saw what she had done

She gave her father forty-one

Nuclear Crisis in Japan

In the aftermath of the monstrous tsunami in Japan, the Fukushima nuclear power plant has been in turmoil. There have been various fires within the plant since the tsunami's impact. The water pumps within the plant are not working, causing the pipes to overheat. The current disaster rating at the plant is a 5 out of 7. Firefighters are struggling to contain the fires. They can only be inside the plant's buildings for a certain amount of time due to the severely high radiation levels.

Planes cannot be used to fight the fires due to radiation in the air. Over 200,000 people have been evacuated to avoid excessive exposure to radiation. These residents live within 20 kilometers of the plant. For people on the outskirts of this area, it is recommended that they remain inside as much as possible.

Displaced families are greatly suffering. There is a great shortage of food, water, and adequate shelter in the country. Organizations such as the Red Cross are trying to provide aide to Japanese citizens. There are also fundraising efforts underway by companies such as Apple. The disaster in Japan is causing other countries, such as the U.S., to inspect the structure and safety of their own nuclear power plants.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Rain Rain Go Away

Heavy rain is causing issues worldwide this week. This morning, a tsunami hit Japan after a momumental 8.9 earthquake. The tsunami is expected to hit the California coastline and Hawaii this morning as well. The Japanese tsunami was over 30 feet tall. Sixty people are estimated to have died at this time. There is currently a tsunami warning for Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, as well as several South American countries. Everyone is being urged to stay as far away from the beaches as possible.
It is unclear where the tsunami will hit Hawaii. The initial wave is only expected to be three to six feet tall, but could flow miles into the shore. When striking the West Coast, the tsunami is expected to strike down the coast, starting in Seattle, WA.
There has also been substantial flooding this week in the Mid-Atlantic states. Areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania are both underwater at this time. The state of New York is currently under flood watch. Melting snow is also adding to the flood problems.

Update:
The death toll in Japan is currently estimated to be at least 7,000. There are over 10,000 people still missing.

Child Murderer's Release Causes Uproar

Michael Woodmansee, known for one of the most gruesome murders in Rhode Island history, is set to be released from prison in August. Although originally sentenced to 40 years in prison, Woodmansee will be released 12 years early due to good behavior. Woodmansee was 16 years old when he murdered his five-year-old neighbor, Jason Foreman, in 1975. The murder, which took place in Peace Dale, took over eight years to be solved.

Woodmansee attempted to invite a 14-year-old paper boy into his home. The boy escaped and his father called the police, leading detectives to Woodmansee's home. Police allegedly discovered diaries describing how Woodmansee killed Foreman. It is also alleged that Woodmansee performed cannibalistic acts on Foreman's body. All evidence was sealed to avoid hurting Foreman's family anymore than what had already been done.

Residents of Peace Dale and the southern Rhode Island community are horrified about the possibility of Woodmansee returning to his former home. South Kingstown police officers are concerned about the potential harm cause by Woodmansee, and what the residents may do to him. In an interview with the WPRO radio station, Foreman's father announced his intentions to kill Woodmansee.

South Kingstown residents are planning a protest for Saturday morning. They are hoping to get Woodmansee transferred to a mental health facility, rather than being released into the general population. The protest is expected to be well-organized and non-violent.

Update:
Over 400 people attended the protest in Wakefield. Governor Chaffee is currently considering different options for Woodmansee after his release.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Charlie Sheen: Twitter Phenomenon

This week, Charlie Sheen has been mentioned on every television network and radio station. His photo is splashed across front pages of newspapers and covers of magazines. Currently in a war of words with his bosses as CBS, Sheen has been drumming up publicity with exclusive interviews. The most popular was his 20/20 interview, which aired on Tuesday night. In the interview, Sheen had some memorable quotes and introduced the world to his "goddesses", the two girlfriends he currently shares his home with. After the interview aired, police promptly arrived at Sheen's home and ordered him to surrender his two-year-old twin sons.

During the interview, Sheen used the word "winning" several times. Twitter uses promptly began tweeting the word as a trending phrase. After discovering his popularity on the social networking site, Sheen created his own Twitter account. Within one day, his following grew to over one million. He set a Guiness World Record for the fastest time to reach one million followers. With his trending topic, #winning, Sheen is garnering even more attention on the website. A trending topic is a way to quickly link posts to breaking news or popular topics. By trending a word or phrase, your post is automatically linked to a new feed with other posts featuring the same trending topic.

Elementary, My Dear Watson

In early 2011, IBM debuted its new robot, Watson. Named for the first president of the company, Thomas J. Watson. The robot, which has a lightning quick response time, was tested during a round of Jeopardy (see above video). Competing against the likes of Ken Jennings, the longest running champion of Jeopardy in history, Watson quickly left its competitors in the dust. The robot also competed against Brad Rutlet, who holds the record for the largest amount of money won on the game show.

Watson has more than 200 million pages of information stored on its internal disk. After the game show aired, there were over 134 million comments on the official IBM YouTube video. During the program, Watson did not have access to the internet. The robot received texts of the questions as the host was reading them to the other contestants. Watson has also competed against members of the House of Representatives in Jeopardy!, and had a higher score than its five competitors combined.

IBM plans to use Watson for healthcare purposes. Columbia University and the University of Maryland are currently working on discovering areas of patient diagnosis where Watson could be of use. Watson's software currently sells for $1 million. The price is expected to go down as technological advances continue.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Toyota's Second Recall

Toyota is in trouble for vehicle malfunctions yet again. The company, once considered one of the highest qualiity automobile makers, had a large recall in 2009. The 2009 recall came in three installments. The first recall began on November 2, 2009, due to the misplacement of floor mats under the gas pedal. Gas pedals were becoming stuck, causing vehicles to accelerate uncontrollably. The second recall took place January 21, 2010, after it was discovered that the floor mats were not the definite cause for the gas pedal's malfunction. In February of 2010, Toyota recalled anti-lock brake systems in their hybrid vehicles. These recalls totaled approximately nine million vehicles.

The latest recall will repair 2.17 million vehicles. Toyota agreed to partake in the recall to close the investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA). Toyota also paid $48.8 million for fines due to its three previous recalls. The latest recall includes 4Runners made between 2003 and 2007, RAV4's from 2006 to 2010, and a variety of Lexus models. Although Ford also recently recalled certain automobile models, it is widely speculated that Toyota only issued this recall to end the NHTSA's investigation of the company.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Conflict in Egypt

For about a month, Egypt has been plagued with protests, violence, and death. A country known for its rich history; Egypt is now topping the news as a place of unrest. Protesters have been calling for an end to the longtime term of President Hosni Mubarak. His regime is known for solving issues with violence rather than sitting down and discussing a logical solution. As the riots began, the police force in Cairo collapsed. The military has stepped in, but has had little success in taming the crowds.

Reporters visiting the region have been targeted. Egyptian citizens blame them for exciting the youths and causing more riots. CNN talk show host Anderson Cooper was repeatedly punched in the head. On Tuesday morning, it was reported that "60 Minutes" reporter Lara Logan was sexually assaulted during a riot before being rescued.While President Mubarak, who stepped down last week, blames the Muslims for the outbursts in Cairo, it is largely believed that economic struggles are behind the riots.

As is the case with the rest of the world, Egypt is struggling during this lengthy recession. The country has begun importing oil. They were once a large exporter. College students are struggling to find jobs, and Mubarak's regime failed to reach out to the working and middle classes.Yemen is currently staging protests in the hope that their longtime leader will also step down. Time will tell how Egypt will be affected by the violence. Currently, former Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi is leading Egypt.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

South County Hospital Looks Forward

The MAKO Robot

South County Hospital, recently voted No. 1 for patient satisfaction in the state, unveiled its latest addition Thursday night. It wasn't a new surgeon. It was a robotic arm. The machine is part of an innovative new procedure recently introduced to the United States. The surgery is much less invasive than a total knee replacement, and helps patients recover more quickly.

The procedure, called MAKOplasty, is garnering lots of attention. South County is currently the only hospital in New England to offer this surgical technique. On Thursday evening, the robot was introduced to residents in the South County region. A surgeon was on hand to demonstrate the robot's capabilities. The hospital hopes to bring in new clients with the cutting edge surgery. Another introduction with the robot will be held for hospital stakeholders on February 16.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

URI Fights Bar Shuttle

A student home marked by an orange sticker.

The University of Rhode Island will be going to court to fight Rogue Island Jitney's plan to shuttle students from campus to Narragansett bars. The jitney was approved by the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. The University is concerned about underage drinking and other criminal issues that could arise if students are being transported.

U.R.I. is notorious for its dry campus after being known for decades as one of the country's top party schools. Recently, the school has been battling negative press surrounding the Eastward Look and Bonnet Shores residences occupied by students. Year-round residents have been very vocal about their disdain for the partying happening in their neighborhoods. Students, however, have been voicing their hatred of the orange sticker, a creation of the Narragansett police force and the University. The sticker, often likened to the "scarlet letter", marks houses that have loud parties.

With this issue always causing issues in the community, the University is very concerned about the repercussions of the jitney that will transport students around campus. Political figures are also concerned (http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/news/pr1.asp?prid=6918). Rogue Island Jitney promises to check the identification of all students who use their transportation. The University says the company cut corners when securing its agreement with the Department of Utilities and Carriers. The case is ongoing.

Monday, January 31, 2011

The Skinny on "Skins"

The cast of "Skins"

MTV's latest original television show is causing quite an uproar. "Skins" is a racy program about a group of teenagers. During the course of the episodes, the characters have sex with multiple partners, take illicit drugs, and use language not commonly found on television. The Parents Television Council is loudly voicing its concern about the content of the program. One of the major issues with the show is that a majority of the actors are under the age of 18, which raises questions about child pornography.

Viacom, MTV's parent company, has asked that the show edit out more of its scandalous scenes. The third episode, which airs tonight, reportedly shows a naked back view of a 17-year-old actor. This is where the question of child pornography becomes very real. In the United States, child pornography is defined as any sexually explicit act involving a minor, or an activity that is sexually aggressive. Although MTV is defending the show's content, claiming they are following all legal guidelines. The company's website now requires viewers to enter a birth date before watching the episodes online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PI4ZLN8vQk

Although other shows for teenagers have caused controvery before, "Skins" is in a league of its own. Many professionals fear that the show will encourage teenagers to experiment with sex and drugs. As more companies continue to pull their commercials from the network during the "Skins" time slot, only time will tell what happens to this hot button show.