Boston University Sweethearts Perform A Capella Holiday Concert

A Boston University a cappella group is reveling in great success this holiday season.

The Boston University Sweethearts, an 8-member all-female a cappella group, held their Charlie Brown themed holiday concert on Saturday, December 8. Each performer was dressed as a classic Charlie Brown character complete with nametags and memorable props (Linus did indeed have a blanket, though Lucy did not have a football.)

A sizable crowd funneled in to CAS Stone B50, a large auditorium in the basement of BU’s college of Arts and Sciences, to watch their friends, family members, and peers perform a lively holiday tinged set.

“Most of the gigs we do are typically performed with other groups… and we only get to sing two songs,” said Gabby Miller, a sophomore member who joined the Sweethearts this past semester. “It’s really special that we have a semester concert because it’s our chance to show what we’ve got.”

The crowd was surprised as the young women began belting an a cappella rendition of Nirvana’s famous classic, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The lively bobbing and clapping accented the soloist’s impressive vocals extremely well, and the audience was pulled in to the realm of the energetic and animated group right away.

The set list included contemporary pop songs like Adele’s “Someone Like You,” led by junior Chelsea Sageer, unexpected mash-ups, and of course, to help kindle the audience’s holiday spirit, a few classic Christmas songs were sifted intermittently in to the mix.

Most remarkable was the original song written by the Sweethearts’ music director, Rosie Bauder. Bauder announced it was only the second time the group had performed the song together. She shared the lead with Lee Marby.

“We were able to debut the song at BU Night of A Cappella,” Miller said. “It was an awesome experience to be able to perform an original song. It was definitely one of my favorite moments this year.”

Bauder and Marby also performed with Miller in a mash-up of Heart’s “How Do I Get You Alone?” and Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown’s “No Air.” The combination was unexpected, but certainly a crowd pleaser. The group received a rousing applause for the creative number.

“We run the show ourselves,” Sageer said. “It’s really cool to produce the show and perform and see it all come together.”

The group performed “White Christmas” and “Silent Night” to spur some Christmas cheer in the audience.  The a cappella group also performed “White Winter Hymnal,” by Fleet Foxes, the same song they performed in BU Today’s winter music video starring the Sweethearts that will be posted on Wednesday. The Sweethearts have performed in holiday videos for BU Today in the past as well, according to Sageer.

“One of [their] projects was to film a wintery musical and they picked the Sweethearts to do it,” Miller said. “It was last Sunday.  We filmed right on Bay State Road. We actually pre-recorded the song in the BU Today studio that Wednesday night in place of rehearsal.”

The Sweethearts meet for rehearsals twice a week for a total of five hours. The barbershop style group, which consists of four major parts, the lead, tenor, bass and baritone, uses its rehearsals to work on perfecting their vocal harmonies and practice new songs.

Over the last semester, the Sweethearts have been receiving attention from both the University and other local venues in search of talent. They recently sang on Emerson College’s radio station, WERS, which Sageer says was the group’s first time really gigging. Earlier that day, the Sweethearts performed for the public in the Boston Common.

The Sweethearts have also performed at the PrudentialCenter, on Newbury Street, and in the BU Night of A Cappella, where a number of the university’s a cappella groups gave a joint concert open to the entire BU community.

View Boston University Sweethearts' Performance Venues in a larger map
The above is an interactive map of the venues in Boston where the Sweethearts performed over the last semester.

Big opportunities surely lay ahead for the acclaimed group. When their video premieres on BU Today on Wednesday, it will be excellent positive exposure for the group that is looking to do more gigs similar to their stint at WERS.

Dangers of Energy Drinks Increasing with Prevelance (Group 1 FA2)

Energy drinks have been receiving intense criticism as the FDA reported last month that the death toll linked to the consumption of energy drinks is increasing.

The FDA has received 13 reports of death potentially linked to the consumption of 5-Hour Energy shots over the last four years. Five deaths have been linked to Monster Energy Drink since 2004, according to the New York Times.

Toxicologists told ABC News that it generally takes between 5 and 10 grams of caffeine to kill a person, though how much is lethal depends on several factors, including weight, medications, and underlying health conditions.

Energy drink companies, such as Red Bull, promote their products by listing health benefits on the cans. Above the nutrition facts, the packaging boasts that the drink “improves performance, especially during times of increased stress or strain, increases endurance, increases concentration and improves reaction speed and stimulates the metabolism.”

Health care officials are beginning to take a stand against what they call misleading messages.

“In my opinion, some of the marketing messages go overboard about the health benefits of these drinks. The term ‘energy drink’ is misleading. Energy should come from calories -- this is more about stimulation,” Amelia M. Arria, an epidemiologist who serves as director of the Center of Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, told The New York Times.

The risks behind consuming energy drinks are many. One of the most prominent reasons behind the consumption of energy drinks, particularly shots, is to get a boost before exercising, according to market research firm, Mintel. Going into a work out already having high blood pressure and a fast heart rate can trigger a heart attack, stroke or an episode of extremely high blood pressure, particularly when other underlying health problems are present.

“It’s very difficult to predict one’s response to caffeine. Some people are more sensitive to it than others,” Bruce Goldberger, the director of toxicology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, told ABC News, “Therein lies the problem. If someone has an undiagnosed medical condition, they may ingest caffeine not knowing it may have a deleterious effect, such as cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension or anxiety.”

Energy drinks may also have some dangerous long term side effects. Some of the most common are palpitations, tremor, agitation, gastrointestinal upset and chest pain, according to the Australian Poisons Center. Dizziness, insomnia and headaches are also listed.

What may be even more harmful than the side effects, though, is the dependence on energy drinks that many college students have started to build.

“You do kind of become dependent on it,” said Kavya Nagarajan, a junior at Boston University. “If I don’t have caffeine, my day feels different.”

Studies have shown almost 30 percent of college students consume energy drinks regularly, Arria said. Fifty-one percent of college students consume more than one energy drink each month in an average month, according to a 2007 survey of college students and energy drink consumption by the Nutrition Journal.


View Energy Drink Retailers in a larger map
The Above Map lists popular retail locations for Boston University Students to purchase energy drinks.
Another health danger that college students seem to be particularly susceptible to is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Because alcohol is a depressant, it slows the heart rate. Contrastingly, the caffeine present in energy drinks does the opposite by rapidly increasing the heart rate. With this combination, people can drink more alcohol for longer periods of time without realizing their level of intoxication.

After a highly publicized episode in the fall of 2010, Four Loko, a caffeinated malt liquor, was taken off the market temporarily. Nine Central Washington University freshmen were hospitalized after drinking it at an off-campus party. Officers found students so highly intoxicated from the drinks that they mistakenly thought they had overdosed on drugs. The caffeine in Four Loko has since been removed as a result of the incident, proving the dangerous combination of alcohol and caffeine.

There was a tenfold increase in emergency room visits linked to energy drinks from 2005 to 2008, according to a November 2011 report by the Drug Abuse Warning Network. About half of the emergency room trips were made by patients 18 to 25 who had also consumed alcohol or used other drugs

Concerns increased as Living Essentials began the energy shot craze with 5-Hour Energy in 2004. Red Bull, Monster Energy and Coca-Cola soon followed suit by creating their own energy shots. Each of these shots contain about as much caffeine as a regular sized energy drink along with B vitamins and taurine, which is an amino acid from animal sources.

The appeal is clear. Energy shots are a quick, portable and low calorie way to get a boost of energy any time of day. The caffeine in the drinks is what provides the jolt of energy, and many nutritionists warn that when these are mixed with other caffeinated drinks (coffee, green tea, soda, etc.) problems may arise.

What is particularly nerve-wracking is that the makers of energy shots are not required to list the amount of caffeine in their product on the label because the FDA doesn’t consider caffeine as a nutrient. Also, since energy shots are sold as dietary supplements, they do not fall under the regulations of the FDA. If energy shots had to follow the agency’s guidelines, they would greatly exceed the caffeine levels deemed safe by the FDA. The agency allows soda to contain 71 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounces while energy drinks can contain anywhere from 160 to 500 milligrams.

Despite the dangers behind energy drinks, sales have not slowed. Energy drink sales in the US increased 16% last year to $8.9 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. This account for 12% of the carbonated soft-drink category. Energy shots sales grew 8.5 percent with nearly $1.1 billion, according to market research firm SymphonyIRI Group. 

If this has all put you off of energy drinks for good, here are some ways to produce energy naturally:
·      Eat several small meals throughout the day
·      Avoid large amount of fat and sugar in your diet
·      Do not skip meals, particularly breakfast
·      Take breaks to exercise quickly (a short walk will do)
·      Exercise regularly
·      Reduce stress
·      Get enough sleep




Content produced by Arden Bronstein, Zack Correia, Alayna Eberhart, Lisa Braun, Becca Hildreth, and Lauren Ciuba.

Pushed onto the Subway Tracks: Can One Survive?

A Queens man was killed after being brutally pushed onto the subway tracks in Midtown Manhattan on Monday.

Police arrested a man Tuesday afternoon who is suspected of pushing Ki Suk Han onto the tracks shortly before a Q line train approached. Onlookers tried desperately to get the attention of the operator to stop the train before tragedy struck. But to no avail.

The Queens dad tried to lift himself out of the tracks to safety, but ended up caught between the subway and the tracks as commuters watched in horror. The attacker had reportedly been "menacing" others at the station, and it is still unknown what provoked him to commit such an assault.

Mayor Bloomberg lamented over the tragedy, but maintained that these kinds of occurrences are incredibly rare. According to Slate, only about 3% of subway track fatalities are a result of someone being pushed.

The article further goes on to advise someone who might unluckily find themselves in such a precarious position. One tip is to look for a space underneath the edge of the platform. They note that there is often enough space to fit one person between the platform and the subway. Another suggestion is to lie flat on the tracks and hope there is enough clearance between you and the train to only cause minor injuries (this actually worked in 2007 when a man fell onto the tracks after a seizure and was pinned down by a Vietnam vet).

Foreign transit systems have created ways to prevent these kinds of deaths with separations between the platforms and tracks and by creating deeper trenches beneath the tracks.

Seems your best bet would be to try to escape from the tracks as quickly as possible and return to the platform. I suppose the most positive take away is that this is a very rare occurrence.

Police are investigating the tragedy and more information will surely be released as it becomes available.

Boston University Students Prepare for Holiday Travels

Is the World Ending?

We've all heard the rumors by now that according to the Mayan calendar, the world is set to end on December 21st of this year. But before you break out "4 Minutes" by Justin Timberlake and Madonna at 11:56PM on the 20th, it is important that all of you who are superstitious understand the facts behind the stories.

Slate writer Phil Plait is eager to debunk the doomsday theories. According to the writer, while on a shopping trip to Walgreen's, he came across a magazine ominously titled "Apocalyptic Prophecies." While thumbing through it, Plait found accounts of people defending the end-of-the-world theories and stirring up more fear.

The cherry on top of his investigation of the publication, however, was his discovery on the front cover under the bar code.

Image Courtesy of Phil Plait

Plait aptly ends his article saying, "It kinds make you wonder how seriously the publisher takes all this, doesn't it? I never knew expiration dates themselves had expiration dates past their own expiration date."

But if a publisher's silly mistake isn't enough to convince you that doomsday is merely a sensationalist theory without an ounce of truth behind it, Plait would like to direct your attention to 2012hoax.org.

The website complies factual evidence and devastating stories of what has already happened as a result of the over-the-top hype and what will continue to happen until people understand there is no truth behind the theory.

First of all, the Mayans used two different calendars. One had 365 days and another had 280 days. The information gets particularly complicated here, but it is important to understand that the Mayans never factored leap years into the equation, so technically their version of December 21, 2012 has come and gone without anyone taking notice. According to 2012 hoax's website, the Mayan calendar had an error of about 1 day every 4 years.

If you need more proof that we will all live to see December 22nd - or if you're looking for ways to put your superstitious friends at ease, I encourage you to check their website

Project Delta Glam Raises Funds and Awareness

On November 5, the sisters of the Zeta Zeta chapter of Delta Gamma presented their annual Project Delta Glam, a benefit fashion show and concert that raises money for their philanthropy, Service for Sight.

The audience was in for a night of high fashion, beautiful models, and excellent performers in Boston University’s Metcalf Ballroom. When the doors opened at 7 p.m., dozens of DGs dressed head to toe in black with the exception of a gold masquerade style mask greeted the immense crowd.

In order to incorporate their philanthropy into their event, Vice President of Foundation, Jenna Hamburger and Director of Foundation Events, Zahra Karimi decided on a masquerade theme, using the tagline “mask yourself for a night.”

“The main way that we wanted to make this PDG stand out was by letting everyone know what Service for Sight is and why it is so important to us,” Hamburger said. “We chose the theme in order to center the focus of the night around eyes and make the audience aware of how hard it would be if you were unable to see or had limited sight. We also tried to inform the audience by showing videos with information about the cause and how we contribute.”

Incorporated in 1951, Service for Sight was founded to raise money and awareness for the blind and visually impaired. The creation of Service for Sight made Delta Gamma the first sorority to begin its own foundation. Since the foundation’s incorporation, Delta Gamma has founded four schools for blind children and has raised more than $3.15 million for the cause. Last year, the Zeta Zeta chapter raised over $1500 for Service for Sight at Project Delta Glam 2011.

Various Greek organizations showed their support for Delta Gamma by purchasing tables and rows for their members. Project Delta Glam commanded a full house the night of the event, leaving no open seats in sight.

Delta Gamma invited members from BU’s student organizations to model in the show. Each model was assigned a particular brand or clothing store and modeled a casual and dressy look from each. Twenty-eight models from 15 different organizations participated.

A number of local Boston retailers including LF, Crush Boutique, Johnny Cupcakes, Habit, and a Delta Gamma sister’s own, Caster Collection showed their support for the cause by donating and lending clothes and accessories to the show.

Delta Gamma sisters Jane Merrifield and Selin Thomas represented their chapter on the runway in clothes from Newbury Street’s Crush Boutique. The models said they enjoyed their experience and were proud to support the cause.

“Project Delta Glam is an amazing fundraising event,” Thomas said. “All of the funds go directly to Service for Sight. Obviously it’s a great cause, but it’s also tons of fun.”

In 2007, Chelsea Alexander, a sister in the Zeta Zeta chapter started Project Delta Glam, leaving a legacy unique to Boston University's DGs that has since spread to chapters nationwide.

Delta Gamma seniors Dana Moore and Julie Jackson opened the show with a video by TOMS explaining the new eyewear one for one program, which with every eyewear purchase “gives sight to one in need.” Last year, Delta Gamma Executive Offices partnered with TOMS to raise awareness for Service for Sight and stimulate eyewear sales. Chapters across the country held trunk shows to encourage sales and further support their philanthropy.

In addition to the fashion show, Hamburger and Karimi arranged intermittent musical and dance performances.

DJ Luke Da Duke created the pace for the show, using popular music to liven the crowd throughout the event. Luke Da Duke performed at the Middle East in Cambridge a few nights prior to PDG.

BU a cappella group Terpsichore opened the show with a three-song set, featuring Delta Gamma sister Andrea Vijay as a soloist. BU Dheem, a classical Indian dance troupe, also featuring a Delta Gamma sister, Aisha Rawji performed next, bringing a unique cultural essence to the show. Finally, Cambridge rapper and BU student J. Lye excited the crowd with a short set. He was joined on stage by up and comer Ashley Sophia for a duet at the end of his performance.

The members of Delta Gamma were pleased with the turnout and procedures of the event. They stood on the edges of the ballroom cheering and dancing throughout the night.

“We were so happy with how it turned out and glad to say that this was yet another successful PDG,” Hamburger said.

Video Diary - MFA Boston

On Sunday, I visited the Museum of Fine Arts to visit the new Mario Testino "In Your Face" exhibit. I was particularly impressed by the photos. It was interesting to see so many familiar faces in provocative shoots. It truly showed how influential and professional Testino is that all of these famous faces would be willing to do whatever he requested to get the best possible picture. The exhibit has been met with both heavy criticism and fandom. You can include me in the fan column. Take a look at my day at the MFA!

A Californian Vote

As a native Californian, I couldn't resist voting absentee in my home state for my very first election. While the ballot question in MA this year are extremely gripping and interesting, I still felt it was in my best interest to cast my vote in the Golden State.

One of the most buzzed about prop questions on the Californian ballot this year is Prop 35, a vote for new anti-sex-trafficking laws. Amanda Hess, a staff writer for Slate is voting for the first time in California this year. She discusses the consequences of prop voting in California, and admits that most people are likely unaware of them.

The official summary of the prop is as follows:

"Increases criminal penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentences up to 15-years-to-life and fines up to $1,500,000. Fines collected to be used for victim services and law enforcement. Requires person convicted of trafficking to register as sex offender. Requires sex offenders to provide information regarding Internet access and identities they use in online activities. Prohibits evidence that victim engaged in sexual conduct from being used against victim in court proceedings. Requires human trafficking training for police officers."

The Los Angeles Times, which endorses a NO vote on Prop 35, notes, that ending sex-trafficking, while important, is not necessarily possible with the proposed prop. It says that the prop fails to create the correct approach in all of this.

"Voters must ask more than whether they would like to see those cruelties come to an end. They must be satisfied that the particular, far-reaching and inflexible penalties and procedures that would be enacted by this measure would help; that they are the best approach to solving an actual problem; and that actual progress would dwarf any unintended consequences."


Hess worries that most voters are not equipped to "focus on the intricacies of the law."

She notes that critics' concerns lie in "bloating" of the sex-offender industry and that more prominent types of forced labor in California would be overlooked as a result of the passing of Prop 35.

The SAGE project, a San Francisco based advocacy group for victims of sex-trafficking, initially stood behind the prop, but have since "rescinded" their support, and are no longer in favor of the passing.

What does this tell you about the flawed prop?

To all of you California voters, don't discount the information available for you on each prop. Do your research to make the most informed decision. Surely we know human-trafficking isn't a good thing, and of course many would like to see an end to it, but it is important to understand what Prop 35 would actually impose - racial and gender profiling especially. Also, the bankrupt state would see an increase in costs of at least a couple million dollars annually to enforce this law.

I'll be keeping up with my home state as the polls close on the West Coast. Happy Election Day to you all! Hope you've all done your civil duty by voting!

Favorite Boston Eateries

Here is an interactive map of my favorite places to eat in Boston.

View Favorite Boston Eateries in a larger map

NBA Opening Night

Port Richmond Residents Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

Residents of Port Richmond, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, rushed to gather essential groceries on Sunday before Hurricane Sandy was expected to make landfall on Monday. The local ShopRite was extremely crowded with nervous customers, all in a rush to insure they were fully stocked and ready when the storm hit.

I had a chance to interview a number of employees and patrons about what the most in demand items were and why. Bread, water, batteries, and milk were among the most coveted groceries, and by the time I arrived around noon, their shelves were nearly empty.

The check out lines were extremely congested as annoyed customers rushed to get out of the store and back home to continue preparations for the "frankenstorm."

As stressful as the situation may have been for everyone involved, I'm sure the owners of ShopRite weren't disappointed with the pre-hurricane turn out.

Did We Cause Hurricane Sandy?

Last week, I discussed in my blog post the fact that the presidential candidates have stayed relatively mum on the issues of climate change and its potentially catastrophic effects on the environment and the future of our planet. Less than a week after this revelation made headlines, the east coast was hit with what the media is referring to as a "frankenstorm"or "superstorm" - an S-shaped storm that collided with a cold front to create what President Obama has officially declared a disaster in New York and New Jersey.

Kerry Emanuel, a climate scientist at MIT, is referring to the storm as a "hybrid storm," a type that scientists know very little about. He explained, "It is correct to say that in no individual [weather] event can you really make an attribution to anything, whether it is climate change or El Nino or your grandmother had her tooth pulled this morning."

Sandy, Emanuel explains, is a hybrid between a hurricane and a winter storm, and that it has many qualities from the two. The two different kinds of storms are powered by different types of energy sources - hurricanes from the evaporation of sea water and winter storms from a horizontal temperature contrast in the atmosphere. These storms are so powerful because they are powered by both types of energy.

Photo Courtesy of NASA/NOAA GOES Project Team

Emmanuel does not think that climate change caused by humans will increase the length of hurricane seasons going forward. He does, however, note that as water temperatures get warmer, for whatever reason - whether it be human caused or not, there will be an increase of rain and likelihood of such powerful storms. 

However, climate change may not be completely off the hook in this case. 

Another one of the factors that has made Sandy so catastrophic is the rising sea level. It is said by many climate specialists that the rising sea level is a result of warmer temperatures melting the ice caps. Because Sandy hit so many coastal areas, the rise in sea level has had catastrophic results as massive waves crashed far beyond the beach. 

Hurricane waves crash over Winthrop, Mass. on Monday
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is a little more willing to place blame on climate change. He explains that the storm occurred in an area where water and air temperatures have been higher than usual, and this, he says is no coincidence. 

The added moisture from the higher temperatures along the east coast (approximately 5 degrees Farenheit higher than normal, one degree of which Trenberth says can be blamed on climate change) have greatly contributed to the power of this hybrid storm. 

Sandy is being called the worst storm to ever hit NYC by Mayor Bloomberg. It has left millions, including all of lower Manhattan without power. 

For more information of the events of Sandy as they unfolded, you can check Slate's live feed of the storm as it progressed on Monday night.

A Not-So-Green Election

President Obama and Mitt Romney met for their last debate Monday night and noticeably made no mention of environmental change.

Despite the fact that the debate was supposed to cover foreign policy, the two candidates managed to cover a variety of topics including the war in Afghanistan, the performance in Massachusetts elementary schools, and bayonets being obsolete (fun fact, they're actually still used!) There was, however, no mention of the environment or how either candidate would go about any future green initiatives. This marked the first time in 24 years that the environment was not brought up in any of the presidential or vice presidential debates.

Both Candy Crowley, the second debate's moderator, and Bob Schieffer claimed they had intended to ask the nominees about the environment and climate change, but that in both debates the questions were left on the "cutting room floor."

This seemed unsurprising in what has been an altogether non-green election. Neither candidate has spent a significant amount of time discussing green initiatives or ways in which Americans can combat climate change and work towards a cleaner environment.

According to Climate Silence, which uses the hashtag #climatesilence to describe the 2012 debates, climate change was largely a topic discussed by the VP candidates until the Bush/Gore debates of 2000.

In the last presidential election of 2008, climate change was discussed extensively in all three presidential debates as well as the vice presidential debate. Obama said in the second debate of 2008 that climate change was "one of the biggest challenges of our time." He also went on to say on the subject of creating alternative energy that, "it's important for us to understand that it requires a sustained effort from the next president."

Because this was such a debated and heated topic in the last election, for it to be completely eliminated from discussion this time around was noticeable to many. There were a number of mentions of energy, but it was not enough to keep environmentalists satisfied. 

Image courtesy of climatesilence.org

As we move into the election, many voters are still unsure which candidate would do more to encourage green living and better combat global warming.

Do you think this is an important issue that should have been discussed? Or are you glad the focus was kept primarily on war, foreign policy, the economy, and the job market? 

First Attempt at a Video News Story

I've got a ways to go....

Photo Project

On Sunday, Boston University's newest sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, celebrated their first Bid Day, extending invitations to join their sisterhood to 123 women. This event was attended by the new members, staff members from Theta's national headquarters, chapter presidents and delegates from other sororities, and the Panhellenic Council's executive board. As the Vice President of Chapter Development, I was able to work closely with the colonization process for the new sorority. Here are some photos from the exciting event that boasts a new beginning for BU Greek life.



Maddie Gordon-Lavaee leads a busy life. As a student at Boston University's College of Communication, she spends a good deal of her time working on short films and photography projects for her classes. She is passionate about the film industry and looks forward to moving back to the LA area after college to pursue her passions. She's also an active member of Delta Gamma and has a position on the chapter management team. She loves to cook and spends an ample amount of her time in the kitchen coming up with new recipes. Most of all, Maddie appreciates the beauty in life. She enjoys being outdoors and observing the world around her.

Jumping from the Edge of Space

The world watched on Sunday as Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian professional daredevil, became the first person in history to break the sound barrier outside a craft by skydiving from over 24 miles up. Baumgartner accelerated down to the earth at speeds of up to 833.9 mph.

Baumgartner's jump from 128,097 feet was also the highest skydive in history. Within nine minutes, the daredevil was back on the ground in Roswell, New Mexico after over four minutes of free falling.

Over 7 million people watched "live" on YouTube as Baumgartner completed his 40 step check-list and jumped from his pod attached to a helium balloon. He donned a high-tech space suit designed to keep him warm (at his highest altitude, the temperature was -70 degrees F) and provide him with enough oxygen and stability to overcome the shock waves he would incur in breaking the sound barrier.

The Mission Control at the Red Bull Stratos center directed Baumgartner in his daring mission. Joe Kittinger, the former record holder for highest skydive, advised Baumgartner in his mission and can be seen in the video below giving direction and checking in.

Baumgartner did not break the record for longest free fall. That record still belongs to Kittinger for falling for four minutes and 36 seconds in 1960. Baumgartner free fell for four minutes and 17 seconds.

Not only was this mission an attempt to break a number of records, but the scientists and engineers involved with the project say the data collected can help future astronauts and pilots in the event they would have to exit their air crafts. The Associated Press said his spacesuit may also lead to NASA "certifying a new generation of space suits."

Baumgartner plans to retire now. He said he is looking forward to settling down with his girlfriend.


Watch the jump below:

 

Congratulations, Felix Baumgartner! 

Photography Lessons in Aperture and Shutter Speed

Jerry Sandusky Sentenced to 30 Years

Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach accused of molesting 45 young boys in a 15 year period, was sentenced on Tuesday to at least 30, but not more than 60, years in prison.

I had to stray from Slate.com a bit this week to cover this important story, as not much attention was given to the matter on their site. I turned to CBS News and Sports, as well as the Associated Press to get more coverage of this high-profile sentencing.

Judge John Cleland said that Sandusky was being sentenced for "abusing the trust of those who trusted you" and "for the betrayal of those who looked up to you," according to Armen Keteyian, chief investigative correspondent for CBS News.

The judge said this will likely be a life sentence for the 68-year-old assistant to the late Joe Paterno. While Sandusky maintains that he is innocent, it is unlikely that his defense team's upcoming appeal will reduce his sentence.

Sandusky gave a statement at his sentencing, according to the Associated Press, in which he lamented on the hardships of going to prison and how hard it would be for him to be away from his wife and four children.

He said,"I've forgiven, I've been forgiven. I've comforted others, I've been comforted. I've been kissed by dogs, I've been bit by dogs. I've conformed, I've also been different. I've been me. I've been loved, I've been hated."

According to Slate, under state law in Pennsylvania, Sandusky cannot be released on parole before he has served the minimum sentence ordered by the judge. Because of his age, it is likely Sandusky will never be released.

Not everyone is satisfied with the sentencing, though. CBS Sports Columnist, Gregg Doyel tweeted his disgust from his personal twitter on Tuesday morning, while Sandusky was trending.

Sandusky has continued to play the victim throughout the ordeal that began a year ago. Anderson Cooper tweeted about Sandusky's statements the night before his sentencing.

See the video below for more details on Sandusky's sentencing.

Repetition Patterns in COM

Today in JO 304, we began learning the art of photography. After a number of technical difficulties, I eventually managed to get a couple pictures (with the help of Lisa Braun, as per usual) and create this slide show using soundslide and filezilla. Very cool process! Enjoy! (for a limited time)

Cambridge Mayor Proposes Ban on Soda

In June, Cambridge Mayor Henrietta Davis proposed a ban on the sale of sugary drinks, including soda, in containers of 16 ounces or more in Cambridge restaurants. Davis credits New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg's recent similar soda ban in delis, restaurants, shops, and movie theaters. 

The proposal has been met with mixed reactions, and the mayor decided to seek recommendations from Cambridge's Public Health department before moving forward. She has suggested that perhaps instead of a legal restriction, there could be a voluntary system of participation, and perhaps the city council could create an incentive program to get Cambridge eateries on board.

I interviewed members of the Boston University community to get an idea of how they feel about the potential ban.

What do you think? Should the government be taking all steps necessary to keep the public healthy, or is the responsibility of the individual to avoid putting his or herself at risk by consuming unhealthy products?

P.S. This is an example of convergence! (see my first post for definition!)

Reposting a Live Suicide: Exploring Journalistic Ethics

On Friday, Fox News aired a live car chase in Phoenix that eventually turned into a horrifying spectacle when the driver ran from his car, seemingly incoherent, pulled out a gun and shot himself in the head on live television. Fox News anchor, Shepard Smith, narrated the chase. By the time the driver exited the car, it was clear Smith was getting nervous. Shortly after the suicide was aired, Smith yelled, "Get off it!" multiple times, but to no avail. And since the suicide, the video has gone viral.

While the airing was an honest mistake, according to Fox News, the subsequent distribution of the footage has created a divide in the journalism community. The issue: is it ethical to post a video of a live suicide because it is a legitimate news story, or is it a "sensationalization" of a sensitive subject? Slate staff writer Will Oremus explores both sides of the issue.

He cites Buzzfeed's decision to post an uncensored video of the suicide. The site then tweeted the link out to over 140,000 followers.

Buzzfeed was met with both backlash and praise for their decision. On the one end, it was insensitive, but on the other hand, Buzzfeed's role is to bring what people are talking about most to the forefront.

Where do you stand on the subject? Assuming Fox News truly made an error, and releasing them of blame, is it right for the footage to be circulating the web and for journalists to give the public access to a replay of a terrible moment of live television? Or is it their job as journalists to ensure their audience receives uncensored, untampered with news?

Oremus found Buzzfeed's decision insensitive, but other staff writers for Slate disagree. This issue truly comes down to personal ethics.

Personally, after viewing the disturbing footage, I certainly wish I hadn't been exposed to it. Suicide is so overly sensationalized in popular culture today, and I fear that perhaps the live airing of it only added to the issue. I do stand behind Smith's assurance that it was an accident. Surely I don't think any network would intentionally let such a thing happen. I do understand the question of journalistic ethics here, and that the founders of the United States fought to have uncensored news. I think Buzzfeed could have still presented the story without showing the full video clip.

See Shepard Smith's apology right after the suicide aired. Here he explains the delay Fox News created in order to keep something like this from airing, but they were unable to cut away in time. This raises more questions of ethics. Was Fox News right to try to censor the material in the first place? Smith clearly thinks so.

DoubleX Gabfest: Audio Reporting for Today's Young Woman

Slate.com has a number of regularly updated podcasts on the site. Among the most popular of these podcasts is DoubleX Gabfest, which has a link on the homepage. This week, Hanna Rosin, Noreen Malone, and Allison Benedikt reviewed pop-culture events relevant to today's culturally savvy woman. In their latest podcast, posted on Thursday, September 20th, the women discuss the recent finding of a scrap of papyrus dated from the 4th century that refers to Jesus' wife and suggests that a woman was one of his disciples.

The women explain why this matters today. They cite that in the Catholic church, a priest must be a celibate, unmarried man in order to conform to the model of Jesus. This has recently become a source of controversy in the church, and if this finding was ever found true, it is interesting to consider if this could bring change to the definition of the Catholic priest.

Kaling as Kelly Kapoor on The Office
Image courtesy of Hulu.com

The audio quality of the podcast varies. It is clear that one of the interviews is being conducted over the phone, and there is a huge difference in quality of the audio that is somewhat distracting. The rest of the quality, however, is high and appealing.

The women go on to discuss Mindy Kaling, of The Office fame, and her latest endeavours in entertainment since choosing not to return in a starring role in the "mockumentary's"final season, instead choosing to focus on her new Fox show, The Mindy Project.  Kaling starred in the first eight seasons of The Office and wrote many episodes.

DoubleX praises Kaling for her bravado and willingness to poke fun at herself. They commend her former blog, Things I've Bought That I Love, for its wit, charm, and one-liners that earned Kaling a cult following. Kaling ceased posting in 2008.

DoubleX Podcasts are posted on Thursdays. The DoubleX section of Slate appeals to women's interests.

News Values

When choosing stories to report and publish, it is important to consider the fundamental news values. These are: timeliness, proximity, impact, magnitude, prominence, conflict, novelty and emotional value. Whether the audience is aware of these values or not, most news stories implement at least one.

Timeliness refers to when a story happened. An audience tends to have a short attention span, so the most recent news articles often get the most attention. On Saturday, September 15, 2012, at least two U.S. Marines were killed in an attack on a NATO base in Afghanistan. The Taliban reportedly told BBC that the film Innocence of Muslims was to blame. The film, in which the prophet Muhammad is depicted as a "pedophile-appeasing, bumbling spreader of false doctrine" (Slate) had also been regarded as the motivation behind the murder of US Ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens. Because the latest killing in what is becoming a string of assassinations happened today, the timeliness of the article is very relevant. 


Proximity in a story refers to its location. People tend to take more interest in stories that happened nearby. For now, Boston has been out of national news, but as the NFL season begins, the Patriots will likely be making headlines soon as they seek redemption after last year's super bowl. 


The impact of a story measures the general effect it will have on the public. The teacher's strike in Chicago has had an impact on all of the students of Chicago public schools that cannot attend school during the strike. According to CNN, 400 hours of negotiations could not bring an end to this conflict, and over 400,000 students are unable to go to school Slate. The parents are also affected because they must find alternatives for their children, whether they be different schools or other child care. The impact of this strike so far has been large. 

A story's magnitude measures how many people are affected. It often applies to stories about natural disasters or outbreaks of diseases. In the recent months, West Nile Virus has been increasingly prominent in the southern United States and moving up the east coast into New England. By the end of August, over 1,000 cases had been reported and 42 had died from the disease. Those numbers have been increasing in September. 

A story's prominence is based on who is involved. The more high-profile the subject, the wider an audience the story will likely reach. As we approach election season, stories about President Obama and Republican Candidate Mitt Romney are widely read. Now as Christian conservatives begin questioning the GOP's choice in candidate, Romney continues to make headlines. 

Conflict in a story explains who hates who. The idea of Anti-Americanism is not new or exclusive to Arabic countries. With the mass release of Innocence of Muslims in Egypt, though, a response to Anti-Americanism has come back into the news. This article explains the rising tensions between the U.S. and some members of the Muslim Brotherhood after the attack on the American Embassy in Libya.

The emotional appeal of a story is what tugs on the heart strings. On the 11th anniversary of 9/11, the story of Dave Karnes and his heroism was published on Slate. The former marine along with another  marine rescued two of the last survivors found at the site of the World Trade Center after it collapsed. Karnes drove to Manhattan from Stamford, Connecticut after he heard the news of the attack. He said he had a sense there were people trapped in the debris and was able to rescue two port authority police officers who had been trapped for over nine hours. The emotional appeal in this story is very evident, and it is a great read. 



































































































































































































































































































The novelty of a story reflects how unusual it is. In a story on Slate about gender selection, a woman's journey to finally have a daughter after birthing four sons is chronicled. The story explains some of the process behind preimplantation genetic diagnosis and Simpson's ultimately successful and very expensive journey to becoming the mother of a girl.