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    ‘Jennifer Lawrence’


    By: Liza Dee

    News Round-Up: Friday, March 1, 2013

    Friday, March 1st, 2013

    Cuts from the sequester could be implemented in a matter of hours; the Vatican is currently without a pope; and a Florida man is swallowed up by a massive sinkhole. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama defends her controversial Oscars appearance, Justin Bieber celebrates his birthday by partying until 6 A.M., and Daniel Radcliffe might star in the next “Frankenstein” movie.

    Caitlin + Liza

    CRUCIAL: 

    Countdown to spending cuts: a matter of hours, http://bit.ly/ZOiDcB
    Expectations are low that Washington will reach a deal that will prevent $85 million in spending cuts, known as the sequester, from going into effect later Friday. With just hours left, many Congressmen left the House for the weekend, signaling they have given up on negotiations. Though the president is set to meet with congressional leaders throughout the day, experts say the two sides are not likely to come to an agreement. If the sequester goes into effect, spending cuts will slash funding for government agencies across the board.

    Vatican takes first steps running Pope-less Church, http://apne.ws/Y3WMqV
    The Vatican began its “sede vacante” with Pope Benedict’s official resignation on Thursday night, taking the first steps of its transition period without a pope. Several key Vatican officials who will temporarily take charge of running the church will meet on Monday to set a date for the conclave, the election of the next pope. The College of Cardinals will likely elect Benedict’s successor within the next 20 days, and will also discuss challenges currently facing the Catholic church.

    Florida Sinkhole: Rescue Crews Try to Reach Man Swallowed by Massive Chasm, http://huff.to/XH628f
    A Florida man was swallowed up by a sinkhole that opened up beneath his bedroom on Friday, requiring rescue crews to help extract him from the huge chasm. Officials estimate the sinkhole was 30 feet wide at the surface and reached 100 feet across below the surface. Though the outside of the house was left completely intact, the entire bedroom was swallowed up. The man’s brother was also in the house at the time of the collapse, and was unsuccessful in his rescue attempt. “He was screaming my name. I could swear I heard him hollering my name to help him,” the brother said. The man is still missing and may be dead.

    Death Toll From Bangladesh Unrest Reaches 44, http://nyti.ms/XL7Fys
    At least 44 were killed in a clash between protesters and security forces in Bangladesh on Thursday, when violence erupted after a special war crimes tribunal sentenced an Islamic leader to death. Protestors took to the streets to celebrate the sentencing of Delawar Hossain Sayedee, who committed crimes against humanity during the country’s 1971 war for independence from Pakistan, and demanded further justice for leaders of Sayedee’s Islamic party, Jamaat. Furious Jamaat members have called for a nationwide strike, with bloodshed erupting and party members fighting police officers. Jamaat holds that the government is manipulating the war crimes justice system to attack political rivals.

    Chinese TV Special on Executions Stirs Debate, http://nyti.ms/Z6C6Aw
    The Chinese government aired a two-hour television broadcast on Friday during which four foreign drug traffickers were sent to their deaths by lethal injection. The program ended just before the execution of the men, who were accused of killing 13 Chinese sailors two years ago, and included graphic images of triumphant police officers and of the accused men in shackles. Heated debate ensued over whether the broadcast was a long-awaited show of justice or a tasteless display of violence. “Rather than showcasing rule of law, the program displayed state control over human life in a manner designed to attract gawkers,” criminal law professor Han Youyi said.

    President Obama calls for U.S. Supreme Court to strike down California’s gay marriage ban, http://bit.ly/YLsflR
    President Obama urged the Supreme Court to strike down California’s Proposition 8 on Thursday, saying the voter-approved gay marriage ban violates equal rights for same-sex couples. Though President Obama has expressed his support for gay marriage, his comments on Thursday mark the first time the administration has targeted a state’s right to outlaw same-sex marriage. The federal government had previously refrained from taking a stance in the last three major gay rights cases. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments challenging Proposition 8 on March 26.

    CULTURAL: 

    Michelle Obama Defends Controversial Oscars Appearance, http://bit.ly/XL1wT2

    Justin Bieber Celebrates His Birthday Shirtless, Parties Until 6 A.M., http://usm.ag/Z2ls3D

    Daniel Radcliffe in Final Talks to Star in Fox’s “Frankenstein”, http://bit.ly/Z2INlW

    Jennifer Lawrence Says She Sets Up Bradley Cooper, http://bit.ly/13tenjv

     

    Liza Dee
    Bio:

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: Liza Dee

    News Round-Up: Monday, January 28, 2013

    Monday, January 28th, 2013

    Senators reach a bipartisan agreement on immigration reform; a nightclub fire in Brazil takes the lives of over 230 people; and Obama praises Hillary Clinton in a “60 Minutes” interview marking her departure as Secretary of State. Meanwhile, SAG Awards winners celebrate; Jennifer Lawrence gets over a major wardrobe malfunction; and Barbara Walters comes down with chicken pox.

    Caitlin + Liza

    CRUCIAL: 

    Senators reach agreement on immigration reform, http://bit.ly/UwahSS
    A bipartisan group of senators has reached an agreement on the structure for an overhaul of America’s immigration system. The deal includes a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants in the nation and also addresses border security, non-citizen “guest” workers, and employee verification. The plan may have trouble receiving backing from the Republican-controlled House, but nonetheless marks the start of the the largest effort in years to seriously reform America’s immigration system. President Obama will offer his own vision for immigration reform in a speech on Tuesday, which officials expect to overlap significantly with the Senate plan. “What’s changed, honestly, is that there is a new appreciation on both sides of the aisle- including maybe more importantly on the Republican side of the aisle- that we have to enact a comprehensive immigration reform bill,” said Senator John McCain, who played a central role in shaping the agreement.

    Missteps hiked Brazil night club blaze death toll, http://cbsn.ws/VhQF21
    Over 230 Brazilians were killed on Sunday in a Santa Maria nightclub fire that officials believe started when a band’s pyrotechnic show ignited soundproofing in the ceiling. Many young victims were among the dead, including 101 students of the Federal University of Santa Maria. Bouncers initially assumed partygoers were skipping on paying their bar tabs and tried to prevent them from leaving. There was also only one exit through which people could leave. Police have arrested the nightclub owner, a band member, and a person in charge of stage safety in connection with the fire so far.

    Egypt’s leader declares emergency after clashes, http://reut.rs/X1hrgg
    Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi issued a 30-day state of emergency and curfew for three Suez Canal provinces where violent protests have killed 49 since Thursday. Hundreds more were injured in Port Said on Sunday during the funerals for 33 Egyptian protesters killed when locals lashed out in response to an unpopular court decision. Anti-government protestors claim that Morsi has failed to defend the revolution that toppled Mubarek and is not representing all Egyptians. Morsi warned of further punishment if protests continue.

    Obama praises Hillary Clinton in joint interview on ’60 minutes’, http://lat.ms/X5qpZQ
    In a ’60 Minutes’ interview to mark Hillary Clinton’s departure as Secretary of State, Clinton and the president recounted their joint foreign policy accomplishments and expressed gratitude for being able to transform their 2008 political rivalry into friendship. “You know, if the roles had been reversed, I would have desperately have wanted him to be in my cabinet,” said Clinton, who was initially reluctant to accept the high-ranking post offered to her by the president. “By the time Hillary joined the administration, I felt very confident in our working relationship. What did evolve was a friendship,” Obama added. In the interview, the two cited winding down the war in Afghanistan, ousting Qaddafi in Libya, and getting rid of core Al Qaeda leaders as a few of their greatest successes.

    Gun control advocates march as nation reels from school shootings, http://bit.ly/TMIpMh
    Thousands demonstrated in Washington on Saturday as part of a “March on Washington for Gun Control,” calling for tougher gun laws. The marchers rallied for a reinstatement of the federal ban on the sale of military-style semi-automatic rifles, like that used in the Newtown shooting, as well as universal background checks and a ban on sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines. Many demonstrators held up the names of victims killed at Newtown and in other school shootings as they took part in the first major demonstration since the Newtown shooting in December. “Only an outraged public can end the gun violence that has enveloped our country,” said U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-District of Columbia). “We the people who did not act before, we the people this time will step forward.”

    Iranian state TV says country has successfully sent monkey into space, http://bit.ly/X3oWSk
    Iran announced today that it successfully launched a monkey into space, bringing the nation one step closer toward its ultimate goal of sending an astronaut into space. According to Iran state TV, the monkey was sent on a rocket 72 miles into space and returned safely. Iran has long hoped to send a man into space as part of its ambitious aerospace program, which also includes plans for a new space center. The U.S. remains skeptical of Iran’s intentions, worrying that space program technology could also be used to develop long-range missiles armed with nuclear warheads.

    CULTURAL: 

    SAG Awards 2013: Complete List of Winners, http://bit.ly/WjmIlg

    Jennifer Lawrence dress rips at SAG Awards 2013, http://bit.ly/110frpq

    Best Dressed at the SAG Awards, http://bit.ly/111ySUH

    Barbara Walters- I’ve Got CHICKEN POX!, http://tmz.me/WsGRWc

    Hugh Hefner’s Long-time Secretary Mary O’Connor Dies, http://bit.ly/T0stV1

     

    Liza Dee
    Bio:

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: Liza Dee

    News Round-Up: Friday, January 18, 2013

    Friday, January 18th, 2013

    Algerian special forces have freed 650 of the hostages seized by Islamists; Lance Armstrong admits to doping in an interview with Oprah; and speculation surrounds Notre Dame football star Manti Te’O and his fake girlfriend. Meanwhile, the Onion will release an “autobiography” on Vice President Biden, and Michelle Obama debuts a new haircut.

    Caitlin + Liza

    CRUCIAL: 

    650 hostages freed by Algerian special forces, http://bit.ly/Xhf5In
    Algerian special forces have freed 650 hostages taken by Islamists after attacking a gas field in eastern Algeria on Wednesday. Over half of the 132 foreign workers taken hostage have been freed. 10 to 20 Americans are being evacuated, while some remain unaccounted for. U.S. officials have not specified the exact number of Americans involved in the attack. “This incident will be resolved–we hope–with a minimum loss of life. But when you deal with these relentless terrorists, life is not in any way precious to them,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

    Lance Armstrong Confession: Cyclist Admits Doping During Oprah Interview, http://huff.to/13Kj8CW
    Lance Armstrong opened up about doping Thursday night in the first installment of a two-part interview with Oprah Winfrey. Armstrong openly admitted to using banned substances in all seven of his Tour de France victories. Earlier on Thursday, he was stripped of his bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics. Armstrong noted that he was committed to restoring his reputation. “I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to earn back trust and trying to apologize to people…for the rest of my life,” he said.

    Behind Manti Te’O hoax about girlfriend lies a deep desire to believe, http://wapo.st/XinJqA
    Following a Deadspin.com report published Wednesday, questions are circulating about the dead girlfriend of Manti Te’O, the star linebacker and Heisman Trophy runner-up who helped lead Notre Dame to the BCS Champion Bowl. Te’O's supposed girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, who was said to have died of leukemia, was a media fixation central to his personal story. Te’O claims the pair carried out their relationship online, and now says he was the victim of an online prank. However, controversy remains over whether the fake girlfriend may have been a publicity stunt created by Te’O himself.

    ‘Obama for America’ to morph into ‘Organizing for Action’, http://bit.ly/13LRSFd
    President Obama’s “Obama for America” re-election campaign will be relaunched as “Organizing for Action”, a non-profit organization with a mission to advocate for his second-term agenda. Organizing for Action will push for agreements on the president’s priority issues by using powerful tools from the re-election campaign including grassroots organization, social media outreach, and a large voter database. Jim Messina, who directed the 2012 campaign, will chair Organizing for Action.

    One to beam up: NASA uses a laser to send Mona Lisa to the moon, http://nbcnews.to/XimYxX
    NASA will use a laser-tracking system to make the Mona Lisa the first digital image to be transmitted via laser to the moon. NASA has previously sent laser pulses and strings of numbers to its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the laser-tracking system that has been circling the moon for the past three and a half years, but this is the first time they will transmit a far more visual painting. NASA said this type of laser communication could serve in the future as a backup for the radio communication currently used by satellites, potentially allowing higher data rates of communication.

    CULTURAL 

    Biden Getting an Autobiography From the Onion (Whether He Wants It or Not), http://nyti.ms/WL5Tfh

    New ‘Do Alert: Michelle Obama Debuts Bangs, http://bit.ly/XeucCi

    Selena Gomez Talks Justin Bieber Pre-Split and Taylor Swift Friendship, http://eonli.ne/XjhJ0j

    “Django Unchained” Slave Toys Discontinued, http://tmz.me/VOHz0m

    Jennifer Lawrence: I Should Have Been in “Zero Dark Thirty”!, http://eonli.ne/SJmBAC 

     

     

    Liza Dee
    Bio:

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: Caitlin Maguire

    News Round-Up: Wednesday, January 16, 2013

    Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

    The house approves $50.7 billion in Sandy aid; a London helicopter crash kills two; Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will leave the Obama administration in March; bombers attack an Afghan spy agency; and President Obama will announce sweeping measures on gun reform. Meanwhile, Jessica Simpson gets her own sitcom, and Frank Ocean is nominated for a GLAAD award.

    Caitlin

    CRUCIAL:

    London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident, http://rtvote.com/WdtTcg
    Two people are dead and another nine injured after a helicopter crashed into a crane Wednesday morning in a busy part of London. The helicopter hit the crane and then several vehicles on the ground before catching fire. “When I heard the explosion—it was like a little earthquake,” eyewitness Sarah-Beth Casey told The Telegraph.Interior Secretary Salazar to leave in March, http://rtvote.com/Wduf2M
    Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that he will leave President Obama’s cabinet at the end of March. Salazar, a former Colorado Senator, tried to focus his time on energy issues, but they ended up taking a backseat after the BP oil spill. A replacement has not yet been announced.

    HOUSE APPROVES $50.7B FOR SANDY AID, http://rtvote.com/Wdv4bH
    The House has approved $50.7 billion in aid for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Political leaders in New York and New Jersey pressured Congress to pass the legislation after House Speaker John Boehner pulled a bill that would provide relief to victims. The Senate will vote on the measure next Tuesday.

    Six bombers attack Afghan spy agency, kill two, http://rtvote.com/13DEUIB
    At least two people were killed and another 22 injured in attacks aimed at the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s main spy agency. A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near the entrance of the agency’s building. Shortly after, Afghan officials strapped to explosives fired shots while trying to enter the building. The Taliban sent a text message to the media about the attacks but did not outwardly claim responsibility for them.

    EMERGENCY LANDING GROUNDS BOEING 787 JETS IN JAPAN, http://rtvote.com/13DDhKV
    All Nippon Airways has grounded all Boeing 787 Dreamliners after experiencing a multitude of problems with the aircrafts. On Wednesday in Japan, one of the flights made an emergency landing after a battery alarm alert went off. Last week, the FAA said it would investigate the 787s.Feds round up 27 in massive metro-area mob sweep, http://rtvote.com/13DqgSv
    The FBI arrested 27 people in a Mafia raid in New York Wednesday morning. The arrests reportedly stemmed from an investigation into the Mafia’s control of the private garbage industry. The suspects are from three out of five mob families in the area.

    President Obama to demand new sweeping restrictions on firearms, http://rtvote.com/13Dn0qg
    In a press conference Wednesday, President Obama will announce gun-reform measures that he hopes to implement. The measures include a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines as well as universal background checks. On Tuesday, New York passed its own gun reform laws, which the gun lobby has called “schemes.”
    (via Reuters) Facebook search to generate revenue, no rival to Google – analysts, http://rtvote.com/13DIF0M
    Facebook Inc’s new search tool has strong potential to generate revenue for the social networking company, though it is unlikely to challenge Google Inc as the world’s dominant search engine, Wall Street analysts said on Wednesday. Facebook’s “graph search” tool, rolled out on Tuesday, lets its more than 1 billion users trawl their network of friends to find everything from restaurants to movie recommendations and is the company’s biggest foray into online search.
    CULTURAL:
    Jessica Simpson Sitcom in the Works at NBC, http://rtvote.com/13DEKRz

    Frank Ocean, Chely Wright Up for GLAAD Awards, http://rtvote.com/13DJ0k7

    Honey Boo Boo’s Uncle Poodle Reveals He’s HIV Positive, http://rtvote.com/13DutFO

    Jennifer Lawrence Explains Her ‘I Beat Meryl’ Golden Globes Comment, http://rtvote.com/13DJ82U

    Justin Timberlake’s ‘Suit & Tie’ headed for huge debut, http://rtvote.com/13DuGcf

    Caitlin Maguire
    Bio: Caitlin is the Marketing & Operations Manager for Rock the Vote
    @caitlinmagu
    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »


    By: Caitlin Maguire

    News Round-Up: Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

    Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

    Lance Armstrong admits to doping; Pakistan’s Supreme Court orders the arrest of the prime minister; a woman crashes a stolen train into a Swedish apartment building; New York passes a deal for stricter gun laws; and Wal-Mart announces a veteran hiring program. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga’s bus tour starts today, and Kim Kardashian talks struggling with infertility.

    Caitlin

    CRUCIAL:

    Armstrong Admits Doping, and Says He Will Testify, http://rtvote.com/13zjGwu
    In an interview with Oprah Winfrey Monday, Lance Armstrong admitted to doping. “We were mesmerized and riveted” said Winfrey about Armstrong’s answers. “He did not come clean in the manner I was expecting.” The former champion cyclist will testify against cycling officials who were aware of his doping. Armstrong also told Winfrey that he admitted his drug use to staff of his charity, Livestrong, and personally called other cyclists to apologize. The interview will air in two parts this Thursday and Friday.

    Pakistan top court orders PM arrest, http://rtvote.com/13zlMMF
    Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the country’s Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, on Tuesday. The court alleges that Ashraf “violated the principle of transparency” when working on contracts for the purchase of power plants for the government as a federal minister. Authorities have 24 hours to arrest Ashraf and 16 others in connection with the case. In Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, populist cleric Muhammad Tahirul Qadri organized protests calling for reforms.

    France steps up Mali operation, Africans try to catch up, http://rtvote.com/13zowd1
    French forces bombed the Mali town of Diabaly, which is believed to be under Islamic militant control, on Monday night. French President Francois Hollande said the bomb attacks “hit their targets” and the “deployment of forces on the ground and in the air” will continue. West African defense chiefs will meet in Bamako on Tuesday to quickly deploy 3,300 African troops to Mali. Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Guinea have offered to send troops to defend the Mali government, although Nigeria has cautioned about deploying troops too quickly. The U.S. has also pledged to support the Mali government.

    STOLEN TRAIN CRASHES INTO BUILDING IN SWEDEN, http://rtvote.com/13zqQAH
    A Swedish woman stole a four-car commuter train in Stockholm Tuesday morning, driving and crashing it into an apartment building in the suburbs. Police say the woman has been seriously injured, while no one in the apartment building was hurt. Police spokesman Lars Bystrom said the woman is being held for endangering the public and that her motives are unknown. The suspect was born in 1990 and worked for a company contracted to clean for the train operator.

    Wal-Mart Plans to Hire Any Veteran Who Wants a Job, http://rtvote.com/13zrQov
    Wal-Mart will announce Tuesday that it will hire any veteran who needs a job as long as they left the military the year before and were not dishonorably discharged. The program will launch on Memorial Day and will be one of the nation’s biggest hiring commitments for veterans in history. First Lady Michelle Obama has called the superstore’s new program “historic” and that she will work to persuade other corporations to implement something similar. Wal-mart says the commitment will create 100,000 new jobs for veterans in the next five years.

    Gun bill: Ball takes shot at Cuomo, Assembly goes home, http://rtvote.com/W8q6wV
    New York state legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have reached a deal regarding gun control, including expanding the state’s assault weapons ban and further restrictions that keep guns away from the mentally ill. New York’s Senate, which has a Republican majority, passed the deal Monday night. The support came from legislators from New York City and Long Island. No Republicans from upstate New York voted for the deal, which will go to the Assembly Tuesday. Nationally, President Obama will most likely support an executive order to expand background checks on gun purchasers.

    Alex Williams explores the difficulty of Millennials transitioning from a technology-fuled “hook-up-culture” in “The End of Courtship,” http://rtvote.com/13zvWNp

    CULTURAL:

    Anna Kendrick’s Ryan Gosling Tweet Should Flatter The Actor, We Think, http://rtvote.com/W8A1m5

    Lady Gaga Pulls Born This Way Ball Into Tacoma For First U.S. Tour Stop, http://rtvote.com/W8GrSd

    Pregnant Kim Kardashian Struggled With Infertility, Talks Kris Humphries Divorce and Marrying Kanye West,http://rtvote.com/W8GzBf

    Bradley Cooper denies dating J. Law: I could be her father, http://rtvote.com/13zxzuA

    Caitlin Maguire
    Bio: Caitlin is the Marketing & Operations Manager for Rock the Vote
    @caitlinmagu
    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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