London Olympics 2012: More Than Just Games

By Rachel Lomot

The world looks forward to the Olympic games.  It is a time when people of various countries that would otherwise never gather together, unite. With new benefits for various communities and sustainable construction, London is creating benefits that will be felt across the globe long after the games. The next Olympic Games are being held in the summer of 2012.  Preparation for the competition is an immense amount of stress and effort for the hosting country.  However, London has taken this opportunity and made the best of it. 

The London 2012 sustainability plan created the organization “Towards a One Planet 2012.” With the help of many volunteers the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is focusing on five elements: climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion, and healthy living.  Lord Coe, the chair of LOCOG states to BBC News, “London 2012 will set new standards of sustainability.”

Breaking Bad Is Just So Good

By Andrew Rich

            Breaking Bad, a serial drama that airs on AMC on Sunday nights, has garnered critical acclaim over the last couple of years for its writing, acting, and cinematography, which has helped the show garner numerous awards and nominations.

            Bryan Cranston, known most famously as Hal on Malcolm in the Middle, stars as Walter White, an struggling but brilliant high-school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who is diagnosed with incurable, advanced lung cancer. In order to provide financial stability for his pregnant wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) and disabled son Walter Jr. (RJ Mitte) after his death, as well as pay for the expensive cancer treatment, Walter contacts a former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), and devises a scheme to cook and distribute methamphetamine.

The Revolution of e-book Readers

By: Jessica Lerner

Over the last several years, there has been an astounding increase in the popularity of e-book readers. However, due to the increase of e-readers, major bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble and Borders are beginning to suffer. Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest bookstore chain, reported a net loss of $63 million for the third quarter of 2010. The world’s second largest chain, Borders, recently declared bankruptcy.

            Representatives of Borders put partial blame on e-book readers. It is not entirely the massive increase of e-book readers that is at fault, but an error that the store made ten years ago.

English Premier League - Torres is Transferred

By : Marcelo Fernandes

Fernando Torres's transfer fee of $79.5 million from soccer team Liverpool FC to rival Chelsea FC broke the British transfer record. Torres was ranked the world’s 3rd highest transfer record staying behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s  $131 million and Kaka’s $92 million, both bought from the same Spanish team Real Madrid. Torres scored 81 goals in 142 games during 3 1/5 years at Liverpool, but grew frustrated as the 18-time English Premier League champions struggled to keep pace with England’s leading clubs. Liverpool hasn’t won the EPL since 1990.

[Text Box]"Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season,” said Torres.[Soft Break]

His fans and former fans were not happy

with the transfer of their best player to their archrival team. Fans showed hate towards Torres by burning a bunch of his number 9 replica Liverpool jerseys. Also, fans were sending him death threats, insults, and rude comments on his Facebook page. Some of the insults stated: “You’ll never walk alive!!” and “Get Lost!!!!” Another member of the Red’s family wrote “STUPID TORRES.”

Mexican Violence Seeing Dramatic Increase

By : Dan Tursky

Mexico’s drug war conflicts have caused the country to see an immense uprising in violence in the past few years. The increase in violence has brought Mexico up to being the sixth leading country in murders by year, and there have been 35,437 known murders alone since 2006. These murders have topped the scales in terms of what had been previously seen in the country, and the murders since 2006 have included over 1,000 police officers, judges, and prosecutors, 200 soldiers, 58 reporters, and an endless number of innocent civilians.

Increase Of Concussions In Ice Hockey

By : Julia Woodhouse

Overall the sport of hockey has had an increase in concussions this season with a 41% escalation since last season. Most concussions are caused by fighting and “accidental and inadvertent” collisions. Many hockey teams this season have been affected greatly by the up rise in concussions for the 2010–2011 season.

NHL injury reports indicated that on January 20, 43 concussions had been sustained since the start on the season. That’s a pace that works out to about 77 for the year. 154 concussions have been reported in practice or games from the start of the preseason through the 8^th week of the 2010 regular season.