Something I found interesting about this week different then the rest was the overwhelming public interest in the recent wedding of Prince William of England and his wife Kate Middleton in London’s Westminster Abbey this past week. The internet was filled with articles and pictures of the two love-birds and the television filled with documentaries and programs discussing England’s wedding history and predictions on the wedding itself. Even my sister and mother woke up at 5 A.M. just to see the wedding ceremony.

A mist the royal wedding pandemonium there was a far greater event that actually took place on our homeland which seemed to be overshadowed in the media spotlight by the royal family. The Southern region of the United States suffered yet another tornado disaster across over 8 states this past week. Death toll is over 340 people. That’s hundreds of families and communities torn apart from this very tragic natural disaster. Insurance estimates of the damage over 5$ dollars so far.

And if I turn on the television now the first headline will be that the newly married couple decided to put off their honeymoon until later notice.

As a Communications student this type of new-age INFOTAINMENT discourages my thoughts as a future journalist. The idea that a royal wedding has gotten more media attention recently instead of a horrible natural disaster makes me look at the worldwide audience as simply a group of easily distracted , impressionable , and selfish group of people who instead of focusing on the real issues and concerns of humanity worry of the newest scandal or “who’s wearing what” type media story.

At the end of the day , it’s what brings in the viewer in this media industry , not what we share with the viewer.

3 days , 14 states , ad over 240 tornado left there mark on the South/Midwest region of the United States. Last Thursday began the three-day long string of natural disasters that left many now homeless. In North Carolina alone over 800 homes were destroyed or demolished alone.  One resident describes her experiences as eeryly similar to a scene from The Wizard of Oz , with the strong winds lifting both homes and animals in the sky.

The states hit were Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The twisters demolished homes into wood pieces which serve as  evidence of the true power of the wind and devastation that is possible due to mother nature.

Tornado activity isnt strange in this region of the country but the startling fact of it all is the amount of tornados and the time span in which these hundreds of wind systems did their damage. The photos are starting to look at, with the death toll at 45 people already across the 14 states affected.

Scott Sharp, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service office , said the devastation was due to “a family of tornadoes” that were part of the same thunderstorm system, with one rotating updraft cropping up after another had dissipated according to a CNN article on the tornado disasters. The aftermath has put hundreds out of homes and now the areas start the clean up phase.

Another weather disaster after another, gets me thinking that here in Miami,Florida we really are blessed to only have one major natural disaster occur in our region from time to time. At least until August’s Hurricane Season we wont have to worry about Hurricanes but even the thought of losing my home scares me. Crossing my fingers we have a graceful Hurricane Season here in South Florida.

Related Articles

• US tornadoes force shutdown of two nuclear reactors in Virginia – The Guardian (news.google.com)
• Tornando Warning (glasgowuniversityabroad1011.wordpress.com)
• Tornado Aftermath: Midwest, South Cleans Up After Series of Twisters – ABC News (news.google.com)

The nation’s largest sexual discrimination case is underway as frustrated women employed by the super-store Wal-Mart claim they have been deprived from from fair pay and promotions since 1998.

The preliminary stage is being set as the Supreme Court of the United States decides if the women involved in this case should be allowed to proceed with the case. That would mean that over 1.5 million women would be at up against the nation’s largest private employer. A settlement would reach billions for the plaintiffs. Wow,

Betty Dukes, the main plaintiff in he case, has been working with the superstore since 1994 and “believes that she was paid less than men with less seniority and that she was passed over for managerial positions” according to MSNBC. The class-action suit wouldn’t only benefit the victims but also send a wide-spread message to employers all over the country that women deserve fair treatment in the work place.

This sounds like a tough case for the Supreme Court. First they have to decide if they can even accept the case as it does include thousands of employees .Wal-Mart wants the lawsuit to be broken down into individuals or smaller groups – but the plaintiffs aren’t budging.

I’m intrigued to see the case develop and we will see if the SC will take on the case by June. This could mean a big change in the business industry as a whole and work place benefits can only get better for us women. Often in the media we aren’t taken seriously about the discrimination women in the field bur hopefully with this huge case they can be some huge changes that will level the playing field for women all over the United States.

This is where the problems start. Along with the stadium’s bill came the news that the city ,already lacking in funding,  was in danger of  cutting several county services and even an across the board salary cut was proposed for several of the county’s workers. On top of that Alvarez pushed thought a budget that raised property taxes in the county.

With so much cost cutting going on by Alvarez’s  staff you would assume there was no money to go around in the city. Wrong , The Miami Herald reported that along with all the new changes Alvarez’s staff had a change of their own, in the form of a 15 percent raise for his direct staff.

This news did not fall on the cities ears lightly as citizens voiced their concerns but it wasnt until one man Norman Braman and his personal funding efforts against the mayor brought Alvarez back to reality. Braman, a wealthy business man who owns various car dealerships all across Florida, strongly opposed the new stadium. So using his own money and the voices of thousands he established a collaborated effort among the city to recall Carlos Alvarez for mayor.

This week served as an example of what a county of enraged citizens provided with the resources (Brahman’s funding) could do – and the polls spoke , to the ring of 88 percent vote to get Alvarez out of office. What does this mean for the City of Miami ? We have no mayor. Yup , we are mayor-less. The city has 30 days to decide if they are going to appoint someone or have a special election. Who will lead our city in the right direction? Norman Braman maybe? Or possibly Luther “Uncle Luke” Campell? Campbell , known among the younger audience as Uncle Luke is already a leading figure in the hip-hop community were he is commonly refered to as the major of Miami already. And hes running for mayor, claiming hes already filed the paperwork. Ironic isn’t it. The creator of Booty Bass in the 1990′s could have a chance to run our city – literally.

Only in Miami.

What is the most crippling for me is to see a nation I personally look up to coping with this kind of national emergency. In the Fall of 2009 I spent 3 months in Tokyo , Japan as part of a study abroad experience. Living on my own in the area of Ikebukuro , I attended school to learn Japanese. It was one of the most rewarding and solitary experiences I’ve had in my life and since then the Japanese culture has had a very special place in my heart. The people, the country , the movement and advancement of the society, they all go though my mind when I think of this beautiful country. I can only imagine the type of state the nation is now with warnings and evacuations taking place near the city of Tokyo.

Not only did the country suffer an almost unheard of 8.9 magnitude earthquake in the northern region of Japan but the shift of the Earths plate which took place off the coast of Japan sent the ocean waters waves on a crash course with surrounding countries. Tsunamis hit the surrounding regions of the country with waves even felt in California , with their highest measurement being  8.1 feet at Crescent City, California. The death toll is not exact with the country still in un-rest but its estimated by the Kyoto New Agency in Japan reporting that the death toll would surpass 1,000.

All of the worlds eyes now lay on Japan and I myself am worried about what this earthquake, which is one of the biggest earthquakes in history , could mean for the rest of the world. Should we be worried as a global community into what our Earth is telling us ? I’m scared. I’m worried. And I’m concerned to see how this real life drama plays out as the aid of billions of people pours out to our neighbors in the East.

The footage makes me absolutely speechless. Check out Gizmodo.com for extensive coverage and interesting articles on the disaster.

Source Information:  CNN

It’s that time of the year again, when thousands of tourist flock the streets of Miami and us Miami-ans are left to suffer the horrible traffic and congestion in the Downtown / South Beach area…

Wait, isn’t that all year around? Well it doesn’t help to our current over saturation of our city that March carries two of the year’s most popular events. With both the Winter Music Conference AND the Miami International Film Festival, things are going to get a bit hectic but I’m sure you can keep up.

2011 brings the 28^th annual Miami International Film Festival hosted by Miami Dade College. This festival brings filmmakers’ and movie lovers alike together for a festival celebrating the art of motion picture. Directors, actors, critics, and industry insiders host a variety of events throughout the fair including events like special documentaries, shorts, an Ibero-American film competition, red carpet galas, premieres, a 48-hour film making competition, REEL Education Seminars ,and the Florida Focus showcase.

With more than 100 films from directors from over 40 countries around the world  you’ve got to make some room in your schedule to catch this year’s festival. Its main box office is located at the Regal South Beach Cinemas, 1100 Lincoln Road right In the heart of South Beach where you can buy tickets , get more information ,  or even sign up to volunteer at the festival.

As special treat for students, if you attend Miami Dade College you are entitled to a limited amount of free tickets to see movies at the festival. Contact your student life office for information on obtaining your tickets.

If you attend the University of Miami, the university is one of the festivals’ sponsors so for any of the events taking place on the campus theater you can grab one of the 20 free tickets offered at prior to any of the screenings at the university’s Crosford Cinema.

As far as students of all kinds, tickets are just 7$ – so I guess in this case, It pays to go to school. Regular tickets are 12$.

Visit the  Miami Film Festival website for more information on the festival and to check out some of the great trailers for the movies being shown at the festival!

Opening night film titled, “Chico & Rita” , an animated love story of a jazz player and his sultry songstress which takes place in the classic Cuban age of Latin jazz music.

“Magic City Memoirs”, a realistic depiction of life as a teenager for these baseball varsity high school players in the fast paced City of Miami. Beautiful aerial views of the city and they didn’t sugar coat a bit of the realistic attitude and pace of the city.

Sources: MiamiNewTimes.Com MiamiArtScene.com

Related Articles

• Miami International Film Festival MIFF (primociak.wordpress.com)
• 50 Cent Movie Premiering In Miami Film Festival (hiphopwired.com)

Picture by Medi Belosolva

For over a month now the media has gone wild with the Egyptian protests for democracy. The voices , opinions , and beliefs of the Egyptians are spotlighted in newspapers , radio , internet coverage , and more. Now with the protests finally over we can take a deep breath from the chaos which has become worldwide. With the surrounding media attention the issue of Egypt and its call for equal rights and the fight for democracy has become a worldwide issue  - and everyone has an opinion.

This did not just stay an Egyptian problem , it became a worldwide issue and with myself living in the United States I heard how much the United States stood behind the protests as a people of democracy and freedom. As a frequent listener of National Public Radio – I was irritated by the Egypt coverage already by the 5th day. The various commentators , the repeating of the same points and possibilities.

Now that the Hosni Mubarak , the president stepped down the country rushes to set up a democratic system in less than 2 months. Drawing up a constitution with the country calling urgently for order. Even with the protests , the fighting , killings , government resistance , and then finally some peace the freedom fighters of the protest have started a revolutionary movement for other citizens in countrys where they might feel repressed.

The city of Yemen now buzzes with revolution. The country of Bahmain is also in upheaval. Iran is building a resistance.

The Egyptians have echoed across the region to send a message to their neighbors that change is to come. In a recent appearance from President Obama commented on the rapid change in the Mideast .

“The world is changing,” Obama said in a message directed at autocratic rulers across the region. “You have a young, vibrant generation within the Middle East that is looking for greater opportunity. … You’ve got to get out ahead of change; you can’t be behind the curve.”

MSNBC Story ‘World is changing’ Obama says…

I for one am glad that my frustration is over with and the annoying media coverage is over – but enlighten to see that the efforts of those overseas who value political freedom are one step closer to their goal. As Americans we take this “annoyance” of the media coverage but then overlook that the very thing we take for granted it what the “annoying” media wa covering for all the world to see .

As a college student its normal to enjoy alcoholic beverages , even when put in situations where extreme binge drinking may occur (beer pong , shots , keg parties) we may perceive these situations and atmosphere as “normal college” nights. But it only takes a stimulant ( and in this case a depressant) and the wrong place and time to turn a “normal college” night into the end of your life.

With my own tragic drinking situations finally past me , I’ve grown to learn to always stay in control. I’m 21 and still have many drinking years ahead of me but because of my experiences I’ve learned to keep conscious and keep in control at all time – and then choose not to drive.

Last night a woman I had the pleasure of knowing passed away after a “normal college” night out at a popular North Miami Beach sports bar called , Prime Bar and Grill. I’ve visited a few times and enjoyed myself with my friends. The woman was enjoying a night out with her friends at the popular bar but when they chose to head home they tragically flipped over and because they failed to use their seat-belts along with many other factors , only one girl escaped the accident with her life.

I can’t say the girl was my best friend – nor did I speak to her in years, but the type of feelings you get when I look over her Facebook (since we were Facebook friends) and see that she just posted up pictures 20 hours ago …. is depressing. Life is fickle. Life is short. We must make better choices. Possibly she wasnt drinking liquor – maybe it wasnt her fault. But this brings to attention how it can happen anytime…. any place.

I don’t mean to hurt of offend anyone by this post and my deepest condolences go out to the family of Lorena. The other passenger is in the hospital and is going to get thought this situation but let us use this experience or news perhaps to see that we can be here today …. gone tomorrow.

Check out the official News Report here.

So hey , along with chicken nuggets not being made of white meat but mashed up chicken guts , Taco Bell meat isn’t really meat ! Big surprise huh?

So here you go , pictured above is what taco bells crunchy tacos are made with . “Taco Meat Filling”. This taco meat filing contains a number of spices and fibers that resemble actual ground beef and help keep Taco Bells prices incredibly low. And yes it does still contain meat , well if you call 36% of meat , meat.

A new class action lawsuit has been raged against Taco Bell by an Alabama law firm that’s claiming the fast food restaurant is falsely advertising this “meat filling” product to their customers. The lawsuit isn’t even for money – but for a correction on behalf of the retsrannt and to not advertise it as beef because technically it is not !

According to the USDA beef  is officially defined “flesh of cattle” , and tacos main ingredient , ground beef , is defined as:

Chopped fresh and/or frozen beef with or without seasoning and without the addition of beef fat as such, shall not contain more than 30 percent fat, and shall not contain added water, phosphates, binders, or extenders.

So straight from the horses , or should I say Cows , mouth – OFFICIALLY this isn’t even meat . Hey and since when did meat become a percentage? I feel cheated already.

The issue here is not that they cannot sell this product or that it’s not ethical or contains poison of some sort – just that all customers deserve to know exactly what is going into their bodies and what they are eating. If you advertise a crunchy beefy taco – shouldnt you get a crunchy BEEFy taco? False advertising is not cool because as consumers and customers we deserve to know what we are eating and make an education choice.

Taco Bell recently barked back at the lawsuit issuing this official statement:

TACO BELL STATEMENT REGARDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

‘At Taco Bell, we buy our beef from the same trusted brands you find in the supermarket, like Tyson Foods. We start with 100 percent USDA-inspected beef. Then we simmer it in our proprietary blend of seasonings and spices to give our seasoned beef its signature Taco Bell taste and texture. We are proud of the quality of our beef and identify all the seasoning and spice ingredients on our website. Unfortunately, the lawyers in this case elected to sue first and ask questions later — and got their “facts” absolutely wrong. We plan to take legal action for the false statements being made about our food.’

Greg Creed
President and Chief Concept Officer
Taco Bell Corp

So what do you think? Will this make you still have the urge to pull into to Taco Bell for forthmeal? Or how about just option for the CinniTwists until we learn they are actually fried pig skin with cinnamon coating?

Thanks to LA Times and Gizmodo for covering the story.

Related Articles

• Taco Bell Sued over Beef Taco (neatorama.com)
• The beef with Taco Bell (boston.com)
• Taco Bell’s ‘Beef’: Just 36% Actual Beef (newser.com)

Image via Wikipedia

So im in class learning about blogging. Who would’ve known that I would be in class learning how to blog ! I blog everyday and on WordPress as it is , so this should come as second nature to me. I’m going to use this as practice for my own personal journalistic endeavors. My other blog www.2dopebi****.com is more fun and has a younger-audience appeal with fashion,events, and random jibber-jabber. But with this blog I can expand myself to more political , local , interesting , newsworthy articles.

Anyways , happy reading.