Category: general news

Stuff having to do with the news in general.

Man Tattoos Faces of Royal Couple on Two Front Teeth

Paloma Spencer1 Comment

Of course by now we most likely all now about the infamous wedding between England’s Prince William and his lovely wife Kate Middleton.

And although I was accustomed to the minute-to-minute news updates of what she is wearing or the exact words he said to her on their wedding day, I was surprised to discover articles discussing crazed fans of the couples and their somewhat odd actions to express this.

One man, a 29-year-old British plumber who goes by the name of Barmy Baz Franks, recently paid over 1,500 dollars in order to spend six hours at his dentists office.

And rather than getting his teeth pulled, or having those dreaded cavities filled in, Franks was instead watching his dentist place temporary ivory art onto his teeth, creating pictures of Kate Middleton and Prince William with dentistry brushes and stencils.

“I’ve done some unusual dental cosmetics in my time, but this was certainly one of the strangest,” said his dentist, Dr. Neil Gerrard.

Unfortunately, this man has gotten much ridicule for this tattoo as people exclaimed it looks more like something stuck on his teeth than any sort of art.

However, Franks claimed that he only got the tattoo in order to support the couple on their royal wedding.

“I love the family, and this was my way of lending my support to their big day,” said Franks.

Although he may be a little bit too obsessed in some people’s opinions, just remember that this art does wash off in a matter of three months, and hey, I bet you the Prince and Princess will most likely hear about this one!

A Man Who Never Let His Disabilities Define Himself

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

For people with disabilities, life is anything but easy. However, seeing people with such hardships pursuing the things they love, despite this fact, is truly inspirational.

This Saturday night fans will be crowding the Los Angeles stadium for the Dodgers home game. Though in addition to the exciting strikes and home runs, fans will witness a “ceremonial” first pitch.

Tom Willis, a man who was born without arms, will be conducting this first pitch. However, with a lack of arms, Willis will be using his more than capable feet.
And this man is not simply pitching for fun but rather using it as part of his “Pitch for Awareness” national campaign in which Willis will travel to all 30 major league stadiums in order to promote a better understanding that people with disabilities are still capable of numerous things.

“I want to raise people’s awareness of the abilities of a person with a disability, not to focus o what they can’t do but on what they can do,” said Willis.

Willis was diagnosed at birth with a congenital bilateral upper limb deficiency in which both of his arms did not develop properly. However, Willis has found that his condition does not have to limit him. He drives his own car with the simple aid of a foot-steering system, can do his own laundry, pump his own gas, and is currently working as an independent TV producer and motivational speaker.

His campaign started in 2008 when he threw the first pitch at his hometown stadium of the San Diego Padres. Willis is now continuing his dream of traveling to Fenway Park on July 7 as well as numerous other stadiums throughout his tour.

Willis did not allow his disabilities to define who he was, but rather used what he could do to define himself.

Nerdy Tip About College Admissions

vabenissimoLeave a comment

Here is a nerdy tip about college admissions.

Do not hope.

This advice could sound absurd. But, it helps.

There are tons of books in bookstores and advice from college counselors, websites, and people with experiences about “how to get into (your epitome college).”

The ultimate truth is, no one knows. Of course, the admissions will look into your essays, grades, recommendations, and resume. But, luck also plays a crucial role and you do not know what kind of tastes your application reviewers will hold on the tip of their tongues. In the end, your admission is unpredictable.

So, I recommend anyone who cares about colleges to work. Work as if your admission is not guaranteed to any college.

Be hopeless. Be desperate. That is the only way to survive in the bloody competitive world of college admissions.

Sincerely,
Who-wants-to-hear-good-news-from-2012-Senior-Class

Nobody Likes Nicholas Cage

yourgingerkid1 Comment

At least no one that I’ve ever met does.

Recently a video of Cage arguing with his wife has unveiled and apparently he’s been arrested.

The article states that Cage was arrested while arguing with his wife, extremely intoxicated, and pretty mush having a hissy fit.

In all honesty Nicholas Cage isn’t even a good actor and seems to ruin every movie that he’s in. He’s been around of ages and has only been nominated for a few awards and has hardly actually won any. I don’t understand why the keep asking him to be in movies! It’s ridiculous.

I mean just look at him freak out.

In all honesty that doesn’t look like good acting to me. It does look pretty embarrassing though. He kind of looks like a wet cat. Not to mention every time he comes out on the screen or starts going on one of his emotional rants, my friends and I can’t help but hold in out laughter.

I’m sorry if you do actually like Nicholas Cage, but I am definitely not a fan.

Feral Child

vabenissimoLeave a comment

A seven-year-old boy chirps on the hands of rescuers when they were trying to liberate him from an aviary cage filled with birds.

Until this rescue, he had not been taken out of the cage, never. His mother, who despised her unintentional birth to her son, hid him in the cage and treated as if he was her abandoned, heartless pet. Since the day of prison, he was fed as a bird, raised by them, and thus, behaved like a bird. When he was rescued, he violently moved his arms high up and down, making futile attempts to fly.

He is not the only victim. Many cases of feral children, who are abandoned to spend childhood with wild animals without human contact, appear each year. From 1920 in India to today, about 80 children were discovered with animal parents.

Once they are discovered, they are sent to learn about values and customs of the real world and their identities as human beings, not as untamed animals.

Despite these efforts, these feral children unusually fail to live a long lifespan. They often die within ten years of their rescue. The causes vary from high stress level to suicide attempts.

And, they always attempt to return to their previously horrendous living conditions.

On the other hand, John Ssebunya the “Monkey Boy,” who was raised by monkeys in the Ugandan jungles after running away from his father’s murdering scene with his mother at age of four, now speaks in a human language and even sings in an African choir.

Although fascinating, sadly, humans raised by wild animals is no longer a legend like the one of Romulus and Remus descended from the fourth century BC. It is now the true and bitter reality where parents desert their children with complete ignorance.

Sky High

venturatrekerLeave a comment


Ok so for those of you that don’t know, Sky High is a trampoline gym in Camarillo.  There is a giant court where the entire floor is trampolines and all the walls have trampolines on them as well.  They have a foam pit as well that you jump into and, my favorite of all, TRAMPOLINE DODGEBALL!

Now I think Sky High is one of the coolest places in the area.  For me, I go to Sky High about five times a week.  Two days to work and the other days to jump.  I think everyone should go atleast once and see whats its all about, because let me tell you, it is FUN.

Its also any age appropriate.  We have a separate room for kids under eight, with all the same things as the main room, and a parents lounge where you can watch TV or one of the courts to watch your kid jump around.

One Man v. A Row of Tanks

yrreskrapLeave a comment

As I was working on my second Decades Paper for my history class, the dusty shelves in the memory department of my brain were revisited. My eyes fell upon a small paragraph, containing information that I would have probably just skimmed over had it not sparked something in the murky abyss of my memories. Two words reminded me of the struggles of countless students and even more so of one brave civilian who decided he had enough.

Tiananmen Square, 1989.

Students, mothers, fathers. Civilians alike banded together in the name of political reform. They had just lost a leader and strong liberalization advocate, Hu Yaobang, and felt it was in their hands to fight for the changes they wanted to see. And fight they did.

Through mainly non-violent protests, more and more people joined the cause for a more liberal government. However, the communist government fought back, mercilessly.

Buildings were on fire. Rubble and debris littered the floor. Many civilian lives were lost. However, throughout this fear for the government and citizen lives, one man refused to back down. One ordinary man who did an extraordinary act.

This is a video of the man who courageously stopped a row of tanks.

It’s quite breathtaking. To have the strength to go alone in front of tanks that can crush the human body in a matter of seconds.

Silently, I scolded myself for having let the dust collect over such a power event in those shelves of mine. So I decided to blog about this single event. This event happened 21 years ago, way before I was even born. I had almost forgotten this important moment as I am sure many other who will read this blog have as well. I am writing this blog to remind people that such bravery exists in today’s society and to inspire those who have never heard of this man-whose name I don’t even know-that stood against the row of tanks.

To learn more about this event watch the following video:

The Blood Man

vabenissimoLeave a comment

In Australia, Joe Mannana plans to make a trip to donate his blood.

What is so interesting about this man?

First, he is 79-year-old.

Second, he has donated his blood over 1000 times during 36 years.

Last, he has saved over 20,000 lives of infants and mothers.

Born with RH- A blood type that can also be replaced with RH+ A blood type, he indeed is a rare man with mutant but precious blood.

He began this donation marathon after he survived a difficult surgery that demanded a special blood like his. However, the doctors later realized that the operation proceeded successfully even after wrong type of blood had been transfused into his body. Since then, he decided to save other lives and contribute to the medical experiments.

Even though he has already been marked as a significant benefactor of the medical field, he continues to incessantly donate every possible drop of his blood.

Israelis shot attempting to enter holy site

venturatrekerLeave a comment


The fighting is seemingly endless and without any reason.  Seven hours ago, in Israel, the Palestinian Authority opened fire on three civilian vehicles heading towards the tomb of Joseph near Nablus.  three men were wounded and one, Ben-Joseph Livnat, a 25-year-old father of four and nephew of Culture and Science Minister Limor Livnat, was killed.

This holy site is controlled by the PA and Israeli citizen are only allowed to visit once a month, yet there is still no justification for murder.  The vehicles were not driving suspiciously or disobeying the law.

The official statement from the PA is that the soldiers fired into the air as a warning, and then just happened to fire automatic rifles into three cars full of people.  The victims were not soldiers, they were ultra orthodox pilgrims, on a peaceful pilgrimage to pray. Ben Joseph Livnat was a simple religious man, and he was killed for following his religion.

Breaking Point

venturatrekerLeave a comment

Following the indiscriminate shooting of three vehicles full of Israeli worshippers,  Israel is in uproar:

The Culture Minister Limor Livnat, aunt of Ben Joseph Livnat claims: “My nephew was killed by a terrorist disguised as a Palestinian policeman”.

The Yesha Council of Settlements,  a council comprised of members from settlements across the west bank: “Israel cannot let this murder pass silently”.

Ehud Barak, the most highly decorated Israeli soldier, and now the defense minister, said:  “No problem of coordination can justify an incident like this and the shooting of innocent people.” Barak has also ordered the army to begin a full investigation into the incident, calling it no less then murder.

With nerves pushed so thin already by Hamas continued attacks in Gaza, an escalation like this in the West Bank will only increase tension, and require the IDF to place more units in the region aggravating the palestinian residents.  For the settlers, this was just an open invitation to attack.  Hours following the shooting a group of Israeli teenagers attacked a nearby arab village and broke windows, torched cars and injured one arab child.