Watch out Pandora, here comes iTunes Radio.

Posted on October 14, 2013 by johnmenard

When you hear the words “streaming music” you automatically think Pandora. Pandora is an online radio service that streams music to your computer or mobile device. It has been around for sometime now and has definitely made an impact on the music industry. Only thing is that with Apple’s new iOS 7 for their mobile devices including the iPhone and iPad, Apple has released iTunes Radio. Pandora might need to be worried for the future because iTunes Radio is coming for Pandora with guns blazing.

iTunes Radio is based off the same platform as Pandora. You enter an artist’s name or the name of a genre and then you will hear music by that artist and also songs by similar artists. With iTunes Radio it lets the user do more than Pandora does. The user can control what related music is played. You can pick if you want top hits by that artist or put it into discovery mode which will play new and upcoming music that is the same genre as that artist. Another cool thing iTunes music allows the user to do is if you like a song you can go straight to iTunes and download the song to your library on your device. The last thing is that you don’t need a separate app for iTunes Radio. iTunes Radio is an integrated part of the music player app on all Apple devices.

I have personally been using iTunes radio and I can say it is pretty amazing. I feel that Pandora is now a thing of the past and iTunes Radio is the future!

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Indie horror movie films secretly at Walt Disney World

Posted on October 14, 2013 by bhecker

Many people are shocked to learn that the Sundance Film Festival horror movie “Escape From Tomorrow” was filmed at both Disney World and Disneyland, entirely unbeknownst to the Disney Company. The movie has scenes that take place all throughout the Disney parks and hotels. Some scenes even take place on rides within the parks. Filmmaker Randy Moore had many techniques set up in order to film on the premises without Disney finding out.

Moore and his crew used cameras and video recorders that are used by tons of Disney tourists on a daily basis, so there was nothing suspicious there. Keeping with the image of appearing as normal tourists, the actors kept copies of scripts on their phones to glance at discreetly. The cast and crew rode some attractions over and over in order to get the shot that Moore wanted, but Moore says none of the park employees seemed to notice them.

With “Escape From Tomorrow” now showing in select theaters across the country, most people are expecting Disney to issue a statement about the movie any day now. So far, Disney hasn’t said a word. This is surprising, since the movie is a psychological thriller that contrasts very much with Disney’s image. The movie’s poster depicts a bloody Mickey Mouse hand, which has to be frustrating for the Disney Company. However, it is believed that Disney is choosing to ignore the movie because giving it attention might make other people want to view the movie. By pretending it doesn’t exist, Disney may be hoping people don’t realize it exists.

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Netflix May be Coming to Television

Posted on October 14, 2013 by jacquelynne bernstein

Netflix has changed the game when it comes to how we get our entertainment. Before Netflix, if one wanted to watch a specific show or movie, the easiest way to view it was to pick up a TV guide and search for the times it will be on, or buy it on DVD. Now, thousands of shows and movies are all available in one place for one easy price. Netflix’s service has been a headache for broadcast and cable providers, who are having a tough time competing. Soon, however, the two may join forces.

Netflix executives are looking to bring the service to viewers as part of one of the premium services from cable providers. It would be available right along side other premium and pay-per-view services. This would make it much easier for viewers to access Netflix on their televisions, as it is mainly used on mobile devices and computers. Both Netlfix and cable providers are excited about the opportunity to work together, especially after the bitterness between the two over the years.

If Netflix manages to secure some sort of deal with cable providers, when can one expect Neflix to roll out as part of a premium cable service? Not anytime soon, but negotiations are starting soon. In the meantime, Netflix is turning much of its focus to producing original content, both movies and television series. The company stepped out on a limb earlier this year by bringing a new season of the universally acclaimed and cult classic show Arrested Development as an exclusive feature, and it plans to expand its original content in the coming months and years.

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NFL: Undefeated Broncos’ Victory Not as Easy as Expected Against Win-less Jaguars

Posted on October 14, 2013 by shannonadams

The undefeated Denver Broncos took on the win-less Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in Denver, Colorado. The game was expected by everybody to be a huge blowout in favor of the Broncos. The point differential between these two teams throughout the beginning of the season was the largest differential in the history of the NFL. Coming into this game, the Jaguars had scored 51 points on the season, while the Broncos scored exactly 51 points in their previous game alone!

When the game started, the Broncos quickly took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Once the second quarter began, the game started to get unexpectedly close. The Jaguars’ offense drove down the field multiple times, resulting in two unanswered field goals in the quarter. With the score 14-6, the Broncos took the field with little time left in the half. Peyton Manning then threw an interception to Paul Posluszny who proceeded to take the pick back for a 51-yard touchdown, making the score 14-12 to go into halftime. The Broncos fans were so appalled by the halftime score that they began booing their home team as they went into the locker room. The Broncos opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive, but this drive was again surprisingly matched by an offensive touchdown drive by the Jaguars. No one in the entire country expected this game to be this close as the game approached the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, this would be the last points of the day for the Jaguars as the Broncos dominated the remainder of the game. They scored two more touchdowns, making the final score of the game 35-19.

Although the Jacksonville Jaguars did not win the game, they gained a lot of respect around the league for their performance. They played the best defense of any team against Peyton Manning this season, and showed that they can compete with any team no matter how big the odds are.

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Week 6 NFL Injuries Fuel Constant Debate on NFL Safety Policies

Posted on October 14, 2013 by ahittel

With advances in research over the years, especially as it relates to head injuries, the NFL has been forced to change and add many rules in order to protect the health of the players that play in it.  The solution is never simple, and never without critics, so the debate constantly rages on about just how far the NFL can take the increased safety rules before it is “ruining the purity of the game”.  One can certainly argue about the merits of that argument (and there are certainly valid concerns that you can’t limit defensive players too much without ruining the value of having a defense at all).  The idea that the rules debate is an endless one was certainly on display after the games this weekend.

During the Week 6 games, many big-name players went down with serious injuries that once again sparked debate about changing the rules.  Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb went down with a serious knee injury after a direct helmet hit to his knee after making a reception.  This is the play that certainly created the most controversy, although there were injuries to Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, Dallas running back DeMarco Murray, and others that also created conversation.  Anyway, after Cobb went down with his injury, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and other Packers players begin to express some dismay about the play that caused Cobb’s injury.  The argument is that defensive players shouldn’t be allowed to lead with their helmet at a sensitive area like the legs of a player–keep in mind, defensive players are already (rightfully so) prohibited from targeting a player from the neck up.  While the Packers certainly have a valid point that there should probably be some rule that can protect an important extremity like the legs of an offensive player, there also needs to be some consideration about if instituting such a rule would limit defenses too much from being able to make a tackle, and thus make offenses scoring on defenses a trivial matter.  The NFL does need to hold the health of its players as its primary concern, but it does also need to protect in some way the sanctity of the game.  If there’s one thing that is clear, however, it is that there really isn’t a solution that can please everyone.

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Photography is More Than Just a Hobby; It is Also a Career and More Importantly a Passion

Posted on October 14, 2013 by gloria vargas

Photography is considered a hobby for many people today; for others it is a way to make a living, but there is a third group who are very passionate about it and respect it as a profession.

I am so thankful that I am a photographer. I know different careers provide a high status quo and great amounts of income, but there is always a price to be paid. Compared to other professions, when people search for a lawyer is because there is something wrong and they need help. Most of the times when people go to the doctor is because they do not feel well about their physical health. However, the beauty of photography is that allows me to be present in the most memorable days of someone’s life. Occasions such as a wedding day, a Sweet Sixteen Birthday, Anniversary, Engagement, a Baby Shower, etc.; this is just a short list of the many events photographers witness and capture for people.

Photography is a profession, an art and a hobby. In the greatest museums of the world we can find expositions from great photographers.

I know any person can take photographs with his/her celphone, or with an inexpensive digital camera, but this is never going to replace a good photograph taken by a professional with a high resolution, professional camera, or with a film camera. Even though the digital word is so accessible, the techniques are the same: composition, lighting, pose. It is important to remember that it is not the camera the one responsible for capturing a beautiful picture; the camera is just a tool. There must be someone with experience and skill to capture a beautiful memory. I love photography and feel blessed for having such a beautiful profession.

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Road to The World Series: National League and American League Games

Posted on October 14, 2013 by jmedelman16

Both the American and National League Championship Series’ have started this past weekend. The teams playing in the ALCS are the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. The series is currently at 1 game a piece and is very competitive. The score of the first game was 1-0 Detroit won, and the second game was 6-5 Boston won. Both games had spectacular starting pitching with stars such as Annibel Sanchez, Max Scherzer, John Lester, and Clay Buckholz. The score of the first game shows how well the pitching was, with almost a combined no hitter by the Detroit pitching staff. The second game was a fantastic display of pitching by Detroit until the relief pitcher gave up a grand slam to David Ortiz, the Red Sox best power hitter. After tying up the game with the grand slam the momentum shifted towards the Red Sox and ultimately led to them winning the game with a walk-off hit. Game 3 will be played in Detroit on October 15th.

The National League Championship Series has also been exciting one to watch with great pitching. The teams playing in this series are the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals currently have 2-0 game lead over the Dodgers. The first game of the series ended in the 13th inning with a walk-off hit by Carlos Beltran, the spark plug of the Cardinals. Game 3 of this series is being played tonight, October 14th. This game is a big one for the Dodgers because the odds are severely against any team that goes down in a series 3-0.

 

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Electronic Cigarettes: Nicotine by the Bottle

Posted on October 14, 2013 by mattimmerman

In the modern world, it is fairly well agreed upon that smoking cigarettes is bad for you.  It’s absolutely certain that inhaling tobacco smoke can and often does cause cancer, as well as other ailments after prolonged use.  But what about the new sweeping sensation of the electronic cigarette?  More and more smokers are going electronic every week.  In fact, there is a new store in the Waterford shopping center that exclusively sells e-cigarettes and accessories.  It’s advertised as being more cost effective and cleaner, as well as being free of tar, ash, and smell.  I’ve never seen them advertised as outright healthier but I believe that is for legal purposes.  One of the biggest selling points is the fact that a smoker would be able to smoke their electronic cigarette virtually anywhere.  After all, stores, restaurants, and movie theaters have no rules in place against vapor.

So are electronic cigarettes a better alternative?  Well I believe that on the surface they definitely are.  All of the cancer and emphysema and the diseases which result directly from inhaling smoke are not a factor with electronic cigarettes.  However the blood pressure ailments and heart disease which results from nicotine are still a factor.  And there is one way that electronic cigarettes could do some harm.  The fact that it’s cheaper, cleaner, and able to be taken anywhere makes smoking more often easier.  I’ve seen plenty of older e-cig users with their e-cigs just hanging around their necks, presumably smoked 24 hours a day.  The fact that smoke smell is obtrusive gives the heaviest tobacco users forced breaks from their destructive habit.  Without this deterrent, constant smoking is inevitable.  So is it worth the switch?  While quitting would be better, as long as the person has a degree of self-control, I would say yes.

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Hershey’s Launches Its First New Candy Brand In 30 Years

Posted on October 14, 2013 by brookeadams91

The Hershey Company is launching its first new candy brand in 30 years. The new candy brand is  called Lancaster. Lancaster is a soft caramel crème line. The Lancaster soft caramels will come in three flavors: caramel, vanilla/caramel, and vanilla/raspberry.

The name Lancaster is a part of Hershey’s history. The Hershey Company founder, Milton Hershey, named his first candy company The Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886.

The Lancaster soft caramels have been in the works for the past two-and-a-half years. Researchers have spent these past couple of years doing research on consumer tastes as well as the confectionary market across the world.

For the first time, Hershey’s is taking a double approach with the launch of Lancaster by debuting the candy in the United States and China at the same time. China has become a focus for U.S.-based consumer goods and brings in a good profit for Hershey’s, who already sells some of its candy overseas.

According to Steven Schiller, senior vice president of sweets and refreshment, “China and the U.S. are major focus markets for the company.” Schiller also mentioned that China is the second largest  sweets market following behind the United States.

Schiller also added that caramel is a fast-growing category globally, and that it is growing much faster than the chocolate and non-chocolate industries. According to Schiller, “It is one of the fastest growing segments in the food industry.” Soft caramels are also very popular in China.

The Lancaster soft caramels’ target consumers are men and women in their twenties and early thirties. The candy brand will launch in January 2014 in the United States. It has already launched in three of China’s cities. The price range for the caramels will based on package size; one for $2.50 and the other for $4.00.

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Craft Beers: How a Passion Can Create a Career

Posted on October 14, 2013 by jlhemingway

Recently, there has been quite a buzz surrounding craft beers and their influence on the current beer market. These new creations are growing the palates of many people around the United States from liking the malty, pilsner style lager we are used to, into taste buds that want something a little more than the factory ale. In order to be considered a craft brew, breweries must fall within a certain distribution range and be separate from any conglomerate, such as Miller. With knowledge so readily available these days, all it takes is a few bucks, some determination and a creative mind in order to create a beer business that mixes passion with profit.

Take 7eventh Sun Brewery out of Dunedin, Florida. Two partners joined heads and, with their own hard work, created a line of beers that are creating a stir in the beer community. They started out brewing their creations in a narrow hallway with only the smallest amount of equipment. Now, they have multiple, one-of-a-kind offerings that are being brewed in a low-key yet professional setup. Taking their passion for beer to the next level, Devon Kreps and Justin Strange created their own micro brewery in a tiny storefront location that now houses some of Florida’s most unique and creative concoctions.

Craft beers have been called a fad; however, I’m not so sure about that. By getting people used to the complex flavors that craft beers have to offer, brewers have created an entire generation of beer aficionados. Much like a fine wine, craft brews are the centerpiece for many social gatherings and that trend is just now taking off into a multi-million dollar industry nation wide. Giving proof to the idea that drinking can sometimes pay off.

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