First Lady Michelle Obama Taking Big Leaps for “Let Girls Learn” Initiative

Posted on October 10, 2015 by christophertart

In March, President and First Lady Obama announced the creation of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative – a campaign dedicated to bringing education to the sixty-two million girls around the world who are not in school. Mostly adolescents, these girls either do not have access to primary school or are kept from attending school due to the customs of their culture. According the campaign, research shows that “countries with more girls in secondary school tend to have lower maternal mortality rates, lower infant mortality rates, lower rates of HIV/AIDS, and better child nutrition,” making this cause of upmost importance.

It was announced this Tuesday that the First Lady will be attending the George W. Bush Institute’s Global Women’s Network Summit to discuss “the importance of empowering adolescent girls and ensuring educational opportunities” with former First Lady Laura Bush. The summit will be moderated by a recent graduate of the American University of Afghanistan.

The next step for Mrs. Obama will be a spot on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where she’ll be discussing the importance of adolescent girls’ education. She will also be introducing her “Reach Higher” campaign – an initiative designed to encourage American students to pursue a secondary education after high school.

Finally, as of now, our First Lady will speak at Global Conversation on the Power of Educating Adolescent Girls, hosted by Glamour magazine. The audience at the event will consist of adolescent girls who will be encouraged to participate in the discussion, which will be focused on the fact that more than sixty-two million girls are not in school. Conversation participants will be taking questions submitted by girls from classrooms all around the world.

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Fake TV Broadcast ‘Ghostwatch’ Terrified British Viewers Over Twenty Years Ago

Posted on October 10, 2015 by michaelsoler

The presenters of Ghostwatch (L-R): Mike Smith, Michael Parkinson, and Sarah Greene.

Looking for something spooky and different to watch this month while you get ready for Halloween? Let’s go across the proverbial pond and take a look at a TV film that supposedly influenced the wildly popular The Blair Witch Project.

On October 31st in 1992 Ghostwatch premiered on BBC1 in the United Kingdom and appeared to be a live broadcast with reputable, real-life news anchors and journalists. The show investigates the “true” haunting of the Early family home by a malevolent poltergeist. In-studio host Michael Parkinson and paranormal psychologist Dr. Lin Pascoe (Gillian Bevan) field actual phone calls from viewers, of which they reportedly got over 30,000, and speak to reporters in the field. Sarah Greene and her crew join Pamela Early (Brid Brennan) and her two daughters at their house on Halloween evening, prepared for a night of supernatural activity.

While much doesn’t happen for quite some time, an eerie atmosphere helps to maintain the slow building suspense. You learn that the girls have nicknamed the specter Pipes, because it knocks on the walls and rattles the pipes. Pipes behavior grows steadily more violent as the night progresses. Sometimes you may see something unusual out of the corner of your eye. Blink and you’ll miss spotting a phantom figure lurking within the frame. Eventually it builds to a completely chaotic ending.

Ghostwatch caused a great deal of controversy upon its airing. Although it did state at the beginning of the program that this was a scripted work of fiction, many viewers didn’t tune in until later and missed this warning. With a production value identical to an actual news broadcast, a timeslot that didn’t normally show fiction, and real reporters- it can be fairly understandable why some viewers were alarmed. People reacted much the same way in the United States when a radio broadcast of War of the Worlds aired in 1938.

The Broadcasting Standards Commission stated, “’In Ghostwatch there was a deliberate attempt to cultivate a sense of menace’” and ruled that the program was excessively distressing and graphic. To this day it has only been shown on British television the one time.

Granted, some of the acting is questionable at times and in the end it does become a bit over the top. Being over twenty years old, it may not be as scary to a new audience as it once was. Yet I for one will say that I watched it alone in the dark and found some scenes to actually be rather unsettling.

If you’re a fan of found footage films horror films, you ought to give it a try. Ghostwatch is available in its entirety on YouTube and Vimeo.

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Microsoft Begins Big HoloLens Rollout For Developers

Posted on October 10, 2015 by jessicamonteagudo

Earlier this year Microsoft unveiled their virtual reality headset, the HoloLens to the world. Now Microsoft begins their quest to popularize the device beginning with developers. Microsoft has began what they call is a North American “tour” to demonstrate the HoloLens to developers across eleven cities. If enticed by the HoloLens, developers can pre-order the device for $3,000.

Gathering enough developers for the HoloLens will be crucial to its success. Microsoft needs developers to experiment and create various software and extensions to ultimately appeal to the end consumer. These extensions will act as “apps” similar to those on a smart phone, but far more complex. So far we’ve seen software that allows HoloLens users to explore the surface of Mars (compliments of NASA) and video game-esque style virtual wars all from the comfort of your living room. Microsoft is using these software extensions as proof to consumers the HoloLens holds entertainment as well as educational value which should make it appeal to any consumer who can afford the hefty price tag.

While there are no solid plans just yet for a consumer release or price, Microsoft says the HoloLens should be available for the developers by the first quarter of 2016. Rumors have swirled consumers may be able to get their hands on the HoloLens within the next two years, but Microsoft officials have gone on the record saying the HoloLens is on a, “5 year journey to completion”. Until Microsoft releases more information it’s safe to believe consumers have a long time to save up the $3,000 they need to explore the surface of Mars and wage virtual wars in their living rooms.

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Should Christians carry a bible and a gun?

Posted on October 9, 2015 by jehewkin

In the wake of the deadly Oregon shootings on yet another college campus, this time targeting Christians, I ask, should Christians start carrying guns? I am not an advocate of guns, however, with the senseless killings continuing to rise, and no resolution in sight, something has to give.

I may have said Christians in the title, but others can definately relate regardless of religious preference. However, my focus is specifically about Christians, it is my belief that more and more Christians will begin to carry guns for protection, fearing they may lose their lives. Should they? I cannot say, although, I would understand. One thing is for certain,we will continue to see more and more innocent victims killed. This time it was religious preference, what will it be next?

Carrying firearms and a bible seems far fetched, or does it? We live in dangerous times where taking the lives of Christians has become common place.These killings are causing widespread panic and things are sure to get worse before they get better.  These fears will possibly lead to gun carrying Christians, which will lead to to more bloodshed, forsaking the commandment, “Thou shall not kill”. College campuses and the mission field will become a war zone.

Finally, as a Christian college student, I do not advocate violence, nor do I advocate being killed either. With that said, if a Christian carried a gun for protection, could we blame them? A person is given but one chance at life, shouldn’t they protect it at all cost? What would you do, if it were you?

 

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3 different school shootings since the end of last month

Posted on October 9, 2015 by theblacklink

It seems like the amount of school shootings have increased in the recent weeks after the news reported 3 different school shootings since September 30th. The things is, since the beginning of the 2015 year, there have been  21 different school shootings, and as of right now it is only October 9th and unfortunately they will most likely continue to happen even with attempting to stop them as much as we can..

This count of 21 shootings includes the Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, South Dakota shooting where a 16 year old student confronted Principal Kevin Lein in his office on September 30th and pulled out a hand gun and fired a single shot that left the principal with a flesh wound. Assistant Principal, Ryan Rollinger, and Athletic Director, Joey Struwe, tackled the student right after the shooting while the principal put the school on lock down.  Luckily the cops arrived shortly after the principal was shot and the 16 year old shooter was taken into custody and was charged with first degree attempted murder, while the principal was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition.

Another shooting that happened earlier this month was an Oregon college  at Umpqua Community College where shooter Christopher Harper-Mercer walked into Classroom 15 in Snyder Hall on October 1st, started shooting his classmates of less than 1 week. The shooter would ask students questions before shooting them, and then he exited the classroom and fired at two officers. After firing at the two officers, the 26 year old student returned to the classroom and shot himself. As this was going on, Harper-Mercer handed a manifesto at the scene where he complained about his not having a girlfriend and said “Other people think I’m crazy, but I’m not. I’m the sane one.” The police later recovered six guns and copious ammunition from the school. In total 10 people were killed, and nine others wounded in this shooting. This was the deadliest U.S. shooting in the last two years.

The most recent shooting was early October 9th when a confrontation between students at a parking lot of Northern Arizona University caused an 18 year old freshman to pull out a gun and shoot four male students where one has been declared dead, and the 3 other being treated at the hospital. This happened the same day President Obama is set to visit Oregon and the families of those murdered at the Umpqua Community college shooting.

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Matt Damon gives an incredible performane in his new movie “The Martian” but what was the biggest challenge to create this great film? – Click to find out!

Posted on October 7, 2015 by jesusalberto2120

Matt Damon plays a NASA researcher who gets stranded by himself when a sand storm hits him and his other mates on the mission at Mars. His mates left him by himself because they all thought he was dead since he wouldn’t respond when they kept calling for him. 

One of the movies biggest highlights is that the image quality and those amazing shots they have in the film, make it look so real, it was really astonishing to watch. The director of photography did an amazing job, making the audience feel all the emotions their characters were.

The director of movie said that they had to simulate space storms, rockets launching and desolate, as hard as one might think it is to achieve all that, the director tells that that was not the biggest challenge. In fact he assures that one of the most difficult things for this film was having the audience understand what Mark Watney (Matt Damon) was feeling every time, since he was alone he couldn’t communicate with anyone, that leaves a lot of silence times, but somehow they made it work, with different actions and shots of him showing his personality. 

Wow. Talk about hard work, but it definitily paid off, because it was the number one movie at the office this past weekend. We definitely recommend you all to go watch, you wont regret it.

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Ship Vanishes Due to Hurricane Joaquin. 33 Crew Members Lost at Sea

Posted on October 6, 2015 by khathaway

Desperate search for missing cargo ship. A ship named El Faro vanished by the Bahamas on Thursday October 1, 2015. Thirty-three people were on board, twenty eight of them American. The vessel got caught in Hurricane Joaquin, a category four storm with winds topping 115 miles an hour. The ship is 790 ft. long and was carrying around 300 trailers and multiple cars. The cargo vessel was going from Jacksonville, Florida to the island of Puerto Rico.

The vessel’s crew sent a distress signal around 7:20 AM Thursday morning. At the time it was near Crooked Island (Bahamian territory); moreover, that area is part of the Bermuda Triangle and those waters are considered to be shark infested. The Coast Guard has been working on the search of the missing vessel and its thirty-three passengers. They have found many artifacts that have been confirmed to belong to the ship including a life ring that says El Faro on it.

Tote Maritime, the company that owns the missing cargo vessel says the Capitan of the ship was very experienced and wouldn’t have put his crew at risk. Family members of the ship’s crew are clinging on to hope and have faith the Coast Guard crew will find them alive. Luckily for the ship’s crew members, waters around that zone are 80 degrees, which increases chance of survival. Also these thirty-three crew members were trained to survive in drastic situations; therefore, the hope from family members is extremely spirited; families and friends of the El Faro crew gathered in Jacksonville for a prayer vigil to comfort one another in such a rare devastating situation.

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Federal investigation after Jacksonville cargo ship disappears

Posted on October 6, 2015 by vtindall1

As of this posting, the El Faro container ship has been missing for six days; it vanished from radar near the Bahamas.

Federal safety investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are in Florida to investigate the effects of Hurricane Joaquin. The Coast Guard believes the storm’s conditions were too much to bear, causing the ship to sink.

After rescue crews found a body, 32 crew members are believed to be missing and one confirmed dead.

Capt. Mark Fedor explained the body was “unidentifiable” after its retrieval from the ocean.

The ship’s owner, Tote Inc., explained maintenance was being done on the engine room before it went down.

In a press conference Tuesday, the NTSB admits the investigation will be difficult. The ship sank in an unknown location after reporting activity in Crooked Island off the Bahamas.

“It’s a big challenge when there’s such a large area of water and at such depth,” NTSB member Dinh-Zarr told reporters, “We hope for the best and that the ship will be recovered.”

Her agency will dig back through a variety of maintenance records and related paperwork to figure out what may have gone wrong.

The primary search efforts are occurring at two large debris fields, where Coast Guard crews previously found several items from El Faro.

The mother of one crew member told the Associated Press that the ship had sent out a distress call before reporting its final location.

“The last communication I had with her was in an email from the ship,” Laurie Bobilleot told the AP, “it said, ‘Not sure if you have been following the weather at all, but there is a hurricane out here and we are heading straight into it; category three, winds are super bad and seas are not great. Love to everyone.'”

It’s still unclear why the vessel was travelling through the then category 4 hurricane.

 

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Selma Blair Plays Kris Jenner in American Crime Story

Posted on October 5, 2015 by msimon

Selma Blair is apparently a member of the Kris Jenner fan club. The actress, who plays the momager in FX’s upcoming series American Crime Story: The People vs O.J. Simpson, tells US Weekly that, “I happen to love Kris Jenner.”

“I found her to be endearing and extremely intelligent and warm and generous. I don’t have enough good things to say about her,” the Cruel Intentions actress, 43, told US Weekly at the Operation Smile Gala in Beverly Hills last week.  “I thought she was wonderful. I don’t think I knew just how amazingly likeable she is and how giving.”

American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson is a new series that has been causing a lot of buzz. American Crime Story tells the story of the 1995 murder trial of the former NFL star. The story says that it was culminated in a not guilty verdict that was handed down 20 years ago in October.

A lot of people say that Selma Blair resembles Kris Jenner and Blair has even admitted herself that, “my attitude in my life right now is very similar to Jenner’s 20 years ago after this verdict.”

Kris Jenner was married to Robert Kardashian. Robert Kardashian represented Simpson in the trial as his defense attorney.

“I remember really following the O.J. Simpson case and really feeling tremendously for Ron Goldman’s family and Nicole Brown Simpson,” Blair tells US Weekly. “I think it’s important to keep remembering.” American Crime Story is set to air February 2016, featuring a knockout cast with actors ranging from Cuba Gooding Jr. to John Travolta.

Some may say that it’s just another show capitalizing on Kardashian fame but we will see for ourselves when the series comes out.

 

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Disclosure is The Future of Music, Now.

Posted on October 4, 2015 by andrewray

British Electronic band, Disclosure dropped their second studio LP, Caracal, and the Internet has praised it as much as it has unappreciated it. The Electronic duo received a Platinum Certification for their debut LP, Settle, back in 2013, and even though they did released a few singles on Spotify and other streaming sites, for example Holding On, their official first single which released in May, and Bang That, it was a long 2-years hiatus for the waiting fans until the band put out their full sophomore album.

On September 24th the wait was over with the release of Caracal, the album features the collab of artists such as Lorde, Sam Smith, The Weeknd, and Miguel.

Some critics argue that in 2013, Disclosure somewhat redefined pop music and created a landscape for artists to try to imitate, leaving the band with a new challenge, two years later, by reconstructing their essence in order to stand from the crowd. Pitchfork reporters added that “Those dance classicists will likely be less territorial with Caracal: the brothers have dialed down the BPMs significantly and turned toward slow-burning, R&B-inspired grooves. But as they’ve edged away from giddy neo-nostalgia toward a sound with less identifiable anchor points, they’ve begun to blend into the background.”  In my opinion, it is very often that bands and artists have to carry the weight of audiences constantly comparing every piece of work they put out to their debut material. According to Thump, “It sounds just like what Disclosure would sound like if Disclosure were the biggest breakout band of their generation and could work with whomever in the world they admired.” and that pretty much sums it up. Caracal is currently at the top of the iTunes chart for Electronic albums.

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