Bear Misconceptions

When people go on hikes, they typically become paranoid about running into a Mama bear. But a recent study shows that American black bears have only killed 63 people in the past hundred year. However, 88 percent of those attacks happen when bears are on the prowl, or on the hunt. Rarely do hikers get attacked because they they seem to be a threat to a mother bear. Bear attacks always seem to make the news and has become universal fear among Canadians and Americans alike because the news like to report and stress bear attacks. The article is interesting and can help to ease paranoia of being attacked by a bear in the woods.

Baby Penguin for the Bride and Groom

The royal couple has been all over the news lately, but this article is not about the wedding or honeymoon at all. In fact, it tells how Prince William and his wife Catherine are sponsoring a baby penguin at the English zoo.  The penguin’s name is Acorn and will be living with 49 other Humbolt penguins. The royal couple did not choose the penguin as their animal of choice, the the article states, “The zoo had asked followers on social networking sites to choose which of its 400 different species the couple should sponsor,” (Yahoo). Social networking polls are becoming a popular medium to gather information. A similar poll was taken to suggest what breed of dog Americans would want to see the Obama family adopt.

Junk Food is Good for You

I came across an interesting article that advises the public to give their children junk food in moderation. In a country where obesity has been a hot topic among politics and adults my entire life, I found it out of place to read an article like this. The article states that healthy diets are physically important for children, however, it becomes socially healthy to give children junk food once in awhile. The article brings up several main points to encourage this behavior, including how children socialize with schoolmates on field trips and around the lunch table by swapping foods. The article also mentions how a varied diet is healthy for their college experience. If they become deprived of snack foods they will gorge themselves once given the opportunity and become that student who cannot control his alcohol and food intake limit. Take a look!

Backlash after the death of Bin Laden?

While the nation rejoices the death of Osama Bin Laden, some fear that there may be some form of retaliation from Bin Laden’s followers. There have been many incidents such as the evacuation of a Bronx apartment building over alleged pipe bombs(turned out to be regular pipes) as well as arrests of middle easterners who were thought to be involved in terrorist activities. I believe that perhaps there is some paranoia in America after Bin Laden’s death and that events like these happen even more frequently in the future.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/05/10/2011-05-10_fear_of_osama_bin_laden_revenge.html

Photoshop around the World

Situation Room- without Hillary This article caught my eye this morning, so I figured I’d share it! One of the headlines on my Yahoo homepage read “Hillary Clinton edited out of iconic photo”. The picture they are talking about is the one of President Obama and his team in the situation room at the time they were awaiting word on the raid that lead to the death of Osama Bin Laden. A Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic broadsheet Der Tzitung felt that the presence of Hillary Clinton in the photo was not appropriate for their headlines. Of course, as an American I find this ridiculous. But at the same time, it makes you realize that in other parts of the worlds things are much different.

Healing Hearts at Marist

On February 25, 2011 Seventeen /magazine highlight an organization that was founded by one of our very own Marist students. In “Take a stand against teen dating abuse!” reporter Leanna Brittis explains that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. In honor of that, Seventeen Magazine discussed h<3rt1 which is the non profit organization that Danielle DeZao founded only one year ago. Her goal is “to heal a heart, remove the 1” since about 1/3 of teenagers are involved in physically or emotionally abusive relationships.

I find this article particularly important to college students because we need to be more aware that this abuse is happening around us. We can continue to ignore it, or we can look for the signs and try to help our peers. It is also important to note that one of our fellow students has had the courage to step forward and change her own life. But she didn’t stop there. It is inspiring enough that she was able to end her abusive relationship (which happened here on campus, by the way), but then she started this organization to offer people in similar situations help and support. 

This is not just a club where people get together and cry about their feelings. This organization has earned nation-wide attention in the short year that it has been existence for. At a benefit concert two weekends ago, DeZao’s mother emotionally expressed her thanks, saying that whether or not we realized it- the concert could have literally saved someone’s life. 

This article proves to me two things. 

1. Everyone should familiarize themselves with the symptoms and warning signs of abusive relationships. People need to speak up when they see something.

2. If you are passionate about something, you can do anything. Age and lack of experience are not good excuses. Danielle DeZao has proved that anything is possible, and frankly, it is inspiring.

Gay Activism Reaches Professional Sports

Sean Avery’s Endorsement of Gay Marriage  Today when I opened my Yahoo homepage, this title stood out to me. Gay marriage has been a hot topic of discussion for as long as I can remember. It has always something I have been aware of, but I don’t think it really hit me about how serious this issue is till I came to college. Some of my closest friends here at Marist are gay and after listening to their relationship up and downs and their life long goals, I can’t imagine that they don’t have the same rights as me in the eyes of the law. Seeing activism really spread to the forefront of the media with the help of big name starts in the industry, is great. But it is even better when athletes bring light to this issue. Sean Avery of the New York Rangers recently stared in an advertisement calling for the support of gay rights. Having the support of a male athlete really breaks ground for the issue and helps loose the “taboo” topic that is associate with gay and lesbian athletes. Check out the link for the advertisement and article on Sean Avery

Osama’s Wife Killed: Reality or Rumor?

Head Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was recently assassinated and killed at his compound located in Islamabad near Pakistan. Upon Bin Laden’s death, it was  rumored that he used his own wife as a human shield and she was also killed the day of the attack. Contrary to popular belief, these rumors are completely false. There was a woman who was injured due to the attack on Bin Laden’s compound but the woman was not killed, was not Bin Laden’s wife, and was not used as a human shield. The rumor was started by Mr. John Brennan, one of the head anti terrorism advisers of the United States. It was later corrected by another US official that the Bin Laden’s wife was injured by the attack, but is still alive and was not used as a human shield. It was also said by officials that Bin Laden was killed by “a small strike team dropped off by a helicopter” that shot him in the head and chest.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/03/osama-bin-laden-wife-killed_n_856780.html?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl1|sec3_lnk2|60220

The All Black’s War Dance

In New Zealand, rugby is a huge sport. For any of you that have not watched a rugby game, the relatively new movie Invictus shows part of the New Zealand ritual around rugby. Rugby is a physical sport played closely similar to football. Although it differs greatly from football, the contact sport with its field resembles an American football game. But unlike most of the American sports, rugby is played internationally, and sport fanatics from the entire nation come together to watch a home game. I found it interesting that New Zealand’s much feared rugby team has a ritual of a dance to introduce their games. The war dance is called the New Zealand Haka, and in their native language they perform a very aggressive dance to intimidate their opponent. I found this interesting because these rituals aren’t carried into other teams, let alone other sports.

Surely, the New York Jets have the J-E-T-S chant, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have the Terrible Towels, but these are fan rituals. Actions that shake the stadium to incite adrenaline into their team. I cannot recall any specific team rituals that are done for their crowd, or to instill fear into their opponents. In fact, most sports have regulations against such actions of “unsportsmanlike conduct.” I know I would get jacked up if the Jets had a significant entrance to a sporting event, but still, that doesn’t prevent me from screaming and doing my best to shake the stadium and rowel my team up.

Jay & B Boo’ed

Last night at the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Gala, rapper Jay-Z and singer wife, Beyonce were boo’ed. The disapproval was coming from the paparazzi who was angered that the couple was not posing long enough for pictures. Besides their seeming lack of concern for the paparazzi was Beyonce’s dress. She was wearing a skin-tight black and gold Pucci fishtail dress. She could barely walk up the stairs and even needed assistance from her husband and other personnel to help her get around. Hearing boos directed toward Jay-Z and Beyonce is shocking. They are two of the most successful and talented entertainers in todays generation and a boo is a sound that they do not hear often.

People who are constantly in the spotlight are under excruciating pressure to do everything right. Wear the perfect dress, take the perfect picture, and say the perfect things. I believe that the paparazzi and the general public put too much pressure on these stars. If Beyonce makes a bad fashion choice, it is her decision and she should not be ridiculed for it. But what’s worse, if Jay & B want to move along the red carpet to their seats quickly, they should be able to. They are people and should not be forced to need to be essentially mannequins, posing for starving paparazzi.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/amplifier/89007/who-would-boo-beyonce-and-jay-z/