'Shutter Island' wins weekend box office with $40.2 million

Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" dominated the box office with a $40.2 million take because there were no other wide releases to challenge it. It's a career best for the director and Leonardo DiCaprio. The victory is sweet for studio Paramount. The studio blamed the slated October 2009 release date on marketing expenses along with suspicion about the movie's quality. The switch generated curiosity among the fans of DiCaprio, Scorses, and horror pics. All fans packed the theaters. Coming in second was "Valentine's Day" which managed another $17.2 million despite the lose of love from the audiences. The movie droped a 69.5% from its holiday debut. This won't effect Warner Bro's plans to make more holiday-themed movies in the future. "Percy Jackson" (number 4) dipped 51%. "The Wolfman" (number 5) lost 68.7%. "Avatar" managed another record-breaking performance in the 10th weekend, dropping only 31.8% for a 3rd place finish. In 4th place "The Ghost Writer" banked a decent %179K thanks to media attention about the director's continuing legal troubles.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/21/boxoffice.ew/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

As I have said in another blog, you cannot out beat the box office, but I do think that a movie can win the weekend box office because the movie was just released and it was appealing to the movie goers who have already seen the other movies out in theaters. I am glad that, although there was a confusing about the release date and the quality of the movie, "Shutter Island" appealed to its viewers the same way the movie would have if it have been released earlier. I still find it odd that a lot of people put the movies into a sort of peeking order of which one is selling the most. Some people may see that a movie is selling out at the box office and is gaining a lot of money, so they go to see the movie and may not like it at all. I think that when they tell how much a movie is making they also need to put in a description of the movie, so people will know if they will like the movie or not and if the movie is selling out because it is a new movie or because so many other people have gone to see it.

Teens shot during California church service

In Richmond, California a church service erupted into chaos. Three gunmen opened fire on comgregants. They injured two teens. At about 12:30 p.m. after three hooded men shot at the churchgoers, police headed to New Gethsemane Church of God in Christ. Bisa Frech, police spokeswoman, says that they are unsure if the two victims were targeted, but someone in the area of the victims was. Filled with more than 100 people, police don't know why the church was attacked. The victims were both male ages 14 and 19. Both are expected to make a full recoveries. The assailants were described as being in their late teens to early 20s.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/14/california.church.shooting/index.html?hpt=Sbin

I think that this is a very sad story. The people in the church were just there to worship and grow in their faith and religion. It is sad that the gunmen would target a person while they are in church. I think that for the gunmen to even want to kill someone is very horrible and unhuman. I think that anyone who wants to kill someone and will go to great lengths to kill someone is not in the right state of mind. I am glad that the two people will be okay and be able to go about their lives, but they must be wondering, was I the person he was targeting? I hope that the three gunmen are found, so that no one else will die and so that the two victims know that they will be safe and that the targeted person has nothing to worry about.

'Dear John' beats out 'Avatar' at the box office

"Avatar" has dominated the box office for the last seven weekends. The romantic drama "Dear John" won the weekend with an estimated $32.4 million. "Avatar" out-grossed every movie in cinema history with am astounding $630 million. "Dear John's" success can be attributed to a marketing campaign that targeted women, who were 84% of the audience. Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel, the movie was entirely financed by Relativity Media, and Sony's Screen Gems distributed it.

The top ten are

1. Dear John - $32.4 million
2. Avatar - $23.6 million
3. From Paris With Love - $8.1 million
4. Edge of Darkness - $7 million
5. Tooth Fairy - $6.5 million
6. When in Rome - $5.5 million
7. The Book Of Eli - $4.8 million
8. Crazy Heart - $3.6 million
9. Legion - $3.4 million
10. Sherlock Holmes - $2.6 million

The records were broken for the top film, but the weekend performed beneath last year at this time when "Gran Torino," "Paul Blart Mall Cop," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Taken" dominated the frame.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/07/boxoffice.dear.john.ew/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

I know that each movie wants to be the best movie out in the theatres when it plays and it wants to sell the most when it comes out on blu-ray and dvd, but I think that say that "Dear John" beat out "Avatar" is a strong statement. The movies are for our entertainment and some to get a message across, not to try and 'beat out' another movie. When "Avatar" first came out a lot of people wanted to see it, so that is why it was the movie that got a lot of money. Now that "Dear John" is out, many people want to see that to, so those people are going to see it. Sure a movie can make more money on ticket sales, but a newer movie will get more viewers then a movie that has been out for seven weeks. That is because most of the people who want to see the older movie have probably already seen it and want to see a different movie.

Michael Jackson's Kids to Honor Father at Grammys

During the Grammy tribute to Michael Jackson, his two eldest children, Prince Michael (age 12) and Paris (age 11), will appear on stage. It will be the first public appearance for them since their appearance at the memorial service 12 days after their father's death.

The kids were going to accept their father's Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at a smaller event Saturday night but Katherine Jackson (their grandmother and guardian) agreed to the change. At the Saturday night event, Frank Dileo, former Jackson manager, appeared and told CNN the kids would be at the Sunday night tribute.Until last week, no members of the family had been invited to participate in either of the Grammy tributes.

Joe Jackson says that he is proud of his grandchildren and that he and Katherine are the ones who initiated their participation. Blanket (age 7) in not expected to attend the show, but that could change.On behalf of the family, Prince Michael is to read a statement during the Grammy tribute.

Instead of entering the Los Angeles Convention Center on the red carpet, the kids will be escorted backstage by Katherine Jackson.

The kids were often hidden by veils/blankets when seen with Michael. The first time the public had heard the children was when Paris spoke at the massive memorial in July. "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much."

Neil Portnow, Recording Academy President, says Sunday night's Jackson tribute will be "an extraordinarily emotional, moving and fitting tribute." Carrie Underwood and Smokey Robinson are two of the stars to take part in the tribute.

Based on Michael's pro-environment "Earth Song" for his "This Is It" tour, a segment of a 3-D video produced by Jackson will be shown.

Just before he was to begin the series of comeback shows in London, Michael died at 50 years old on June 25, 2009. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael's death a homicide from a combination of drugs. Primarily Propofol and Lorazepam.

Although no charges have been filed, a criminal investigation on Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael's personal physician, who was with him when he died.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/31/grammys.michael.jackson/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

I think that having Paris and Prince Michael show up at the Sunday night Grammy tribute to their father is very sweet. I think that having them accept their father's Grammy will be very touching and moving. As many people have said, Michael will be missed and if you create a playlist of your life there is at least one Michael Jackson song on it. Although the kids first public appearance was at their father's memorial, this will be a new experience for them because they will be there representing their father. I think that it is a better option for the kids to enter the Grammy's through the back because there won't be as many people and paparazzi trying to talk to them and get their picture. I, personal, can't wait to see the tribute. I hope that it is as emotional, moving and fitting as they describe it to be. Michael Jackson has been and will be missed forever. May he rest in peace. I also hope that many people don't try to follow the kids around and constantly ask them questions because they deserve to be left alone and live a happy life.

Afghanistan postpones parliamentary election until fall

On Sunday Afghanistan said they are posponing election until September. Reasons for their decision include: security concerns, logistical challenges and a budget shortfall. Dauod Sultanzoy, a member of parliament, said, "The purpose of the election is for the people to manifest their will through their votes." He also said that they cannot manifest their will due to issues of security, technology or fraudulent practices. He finds it better to postpone the election so time can solve these issues. The delays allow more time to put election reforms in place, which will please Western donors. The reforms have been asked for from the Western nations to prevent the widespread fraud. Postponing the election gives electoral institutions additional time to carry out preparations for the election. The postponement provides time for improvements. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul respects Sunday's decision.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/24/afghanistan.elections/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29


I think that if the postponement will provide more time to better prepare the elections, then the postponement was a good decision. I also think that it gives the people more time to decide who they want to elect. Who they elect determines what life in the future could be like. The people in Afghanistan need the time, so they can elect the person who will benefit them the most. I agree that the postponement of the election from May to September with provide time for improvements that will make everything better for the people. I think that security concerns, logistical challenges and a budget shortfall are some very good reasons to postpone the elections.

I think that Afghanistan made a great decision to postpone the election until September. I wish them all the best to picking a leader that will listen to the people.

Start of New Semester

Early U.S. History Online

Traditional Security is Best

Hayley Thull wrote a blog about airport security. She wrote that Homeland Secruity has funded a new project called Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST). It is a technology that measures bodily functions. Examples are breathing, eye-movement, heart-rate, facial temperature, and blinking. She states that Robert Burns, project manager, believes that this will be the future of airport security. He thinks that a terrorist will naturally show signs of high-stress.

Article:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/06/security.screening/index.html#cnnSTCText

Hayley hopes that this isn't the direction we are headed. She says that anyone can show signs of stress because of a delayed flight, the thought of flying, or a mother scared of lossing a family member in the hustle and bustle of the airport. Hayley also says that she finds airport security intimidating and that would stress her out. She believes that a person under stress doesn't necessarily have something to hide.

She then states that terrorists aren't normal people who get stressed out in normal situations. They could be calm nad collected right before they high-jack a plane. She thinks that they might be able to pass right through FAST detectors.

Hayley thinks that the FAST system could be used as a back-up plan and she isn't comfortable with getting rid of the rest of the security and relying on a machine that measures bodily functions.

Hayley's Blog: http://currenteventsbyhayley.blogspot.com/2010/01/traditional-security-is-best.html

I agree with Hayley on everything. I have never flown in a plane before so of course I will be nervous of my first time flying and probably stressed out. FAST would most likely detect this and probably think that I have something to hide when really I am just nervous. I think that measuring bodily functions for our security is not the only thing we should rely on. As Hayley stated people can be stressed out for many different reasons. Yes, getting rid of the intimidating airport security would be nice but I think that there needs to be some more research done on FAST to show that it is 100% effective. Also terrorists aren't really normal people so they probably won't be wigged out about kill people. So they might not be showing any signs of being stressed out. I think that we should do more research and still use our airport security that is being used now before we make a major switch to the FAST system.