A Steady Rain, a new play running right now on Broadway starring superstar actors Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, was disrupted by an audience member’s ringing cellular phone on Wednesday. Rightfully annoyed, Jackman (and later Craig) stopped the performance and acknowledged the ringing phone, instructing the owner to answer the phone call while they waited. The incident was caught on tape. We’ve all been to a performance of a play or a movie and experienced the annoyance of a ringing cell phone. I am glad these actors decided enough was enough:
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
UCF Knights look to Regroup Against Memphis
UCF suffered a major setback to their season on Saturday in their 19-14 loss to ECU. The Knights doomed themselves with failed executions, missed tackles, and missed field goals. Quarterback Brett Hodges made their work even harder handing the Pirates 4 interceptions, one of which came in the final 1:30 after the Knights scored and recovered an onside kick near the 50 yard line. Penalties were also costly for the Knights; a false start set that onside kick starting field position back 10 yards. The Knights (2-2, 0-2 CUSA) now have 2 losses in CUSA and are virtually shut-out of the chance to fight for the conference championship. UCF should now focus on winning at least 5 of their remaining games and making a post-season bowl game appearance. They’ll get their start this Saturday as they return home to take on the Memphis Tigers. Kickoff is set for 3:30pm. The CON/COHPA Tailgating Party will begin @ 10:00am in Lot E-6 right in-front of BHNS.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Faux (Fox) News Busted “Making” News
Media scientists have been researching the bias of Fox/Faux News Channel for a few years now. Look at the research conducted by Harvard University’s Communication and Media studies department, follow the watchdog group Media Matters, or watch the documentary OutFoxed if you’d like to see some of the scientific analyses. But their biased and laughable coverage hit a pinnacle last week when a producer was actually caught coaching the right wingnut protesters at a 9/12 “protest” to begin cheering loudly and acting angry during filming! Click the URL below to watch both the video of the producer instructing the crowd to escalate their “protest” and how it appeared on Fox/Faux News Channel. PATHETIC! Anyone who thinks this channel is “fair and balanced” should see a psychiatrist! Fox/Faux News Channel is about fabricating stories, skewing statistics, and providing a platform for the moronic right. The good news is that it continues to rate as the least watched 24-hour news channel in the United States. The sad news is that some people actually think it is honest and truly covers the news. http://mediamatters.org/blog/200909180037.
UCF Alum’s “Surrogates” in Theaters Friday
Robert Vendetti, an alumni from the University of Central Florida’s College of Graduate Studies, sees the release of the motion picture based on his graphic novel on comic book series Surrogates released this Friday in movie theaters nationwide. Entertainment Weekly called this tale of people who live vicarious lives through their artificial (and artificially gorgeous) “surrogates” “a resplendently grimy commentary” on our times. “The minute I heard Bruce Willis was cast was the first moment I allowed myself to hope that this might actually get turned into a movie,” Venditti says with a laugh. “A producer who had just hung out his shingle called me up [Max Handelman]. He shopped it around, ran into a studio guy who had just seen Sin City and wanted ‘something edgy, comic-booky’ like that. So Mandeville Films got involved, then Jonathan Mostow [director of U-571, Terminator 3], with screenwriters from Terminator 3. “I’ve been involved, at least in the loop,” he says. “I looked at it from the perspective that these other people were creative minds in their own right. If they’re inspired by something I did to bring their own creativity to it, I’m taking that as a compliment and letting them do what they want. They were staying true to the themes and adding their own ideas and plot lines and characters. You know they’re going to add explosions. That’s Hollywood.” Surrogates releases Friday from Touchstone Pictures. To visit the ridiculously cool official Site for Surrogates: http://chooseyoursurrogate.com/.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
UCF Knights Knock-Off Defending MAC Champs Buffalo
The UCF Knights football team showed Saturday night that they have what it takes to put forth a solid effort and win the game. The Knights took-on the reigning MAC Champions Buffalo at Bright House Networks Stadium and although gave a lackluster performance the first half, proved they have the ability to win and ferociously attacked the Bulls both defensively and offensively in the second half. UCF capitalized on several Buffalo turnovers and the Knights handed the Bulls a scoreless second half with 16 unanswered points. Brett Hodges, the Knights new quarterback showed poise and was effective in the passing game (despite some inept receivers who couldn’t always hold on to the ball). The Knights head to Greenville next week to take on C-USA foe East Carolina. UCF has never beaten ECU in their own home. Let’s hope Saturday marks the first time… GO KNIGHTS!!! BEAT THE PIRATES!!!
Friday, September 18, 2009
2 Publications In-Press from MSM WWW Study
I am happy to report that 2 articles I authored based on a study I completed several months ago looking at high-risk sexual activity among men who have sex with men (MSM) have been accepted for publication. The first, “Requests for Safer Sex Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Using the Internet to Meet Sexual Partners: Implications for Healthcare Providers” has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Research. The article focuses on safer-sex requests by MSM using a popular Internet sexual networking site to find sex partners and examines specific sex behavior requests which places them at lower risk for HIV and sexually-transmited infections (STIs). The second article, “The Relationship Between Population Size, Requests for Bareback Sex, and HIV Serostatus Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Using the Internet to Meet Sexual Partners” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. The article uses data from the same sample and focuses on differences in the rates of unsafe sex requests in-relation to the population size of specific geographic regions. Both articles can be viewed under “Research.” The publication dates, volume, and issue numbers for each are pending.
Knights Look to Rebound Against Buffalo
The UCF Knights are looking to rebound this weekend as they take on 2008 MAC Champions Buffalo. The Knights suffered a loss last weekend in Hatiesburg as they confronted their first C-USA opponent Sountern Miss. The Knights made several costly mistakes that lead to 2 early turnovers. The Golden Eagles capitalized on both and scored points. Quarterback Rob Calabrese fumbled on UCF’s second drive, giving the Golden Eagles an easy touchdown. Although they drove hard in the 3rd and 4th quarters of the game, holding Southern Miss to only one touchdown, it was too little too late for UCF, which lost the game 19-26. Saturday’s matchup pins UCF against one of the best teams from a non-BCS conference.
Buffalo was crowned MAC Champions last season. The Buffalo Bulls are coming off a loss at Pittsburgh last week. After his fumble and inability to put together an effective offense front against Southern Miss, Rob Calabrese was benched and replaced by new starting quarterback Brett Hodges, who transferred to UCF last season after competing for the starting job at Wake Forest. The Knights are 4-point favorites on Saturday. Kickoff for the UCF vs. Buffalo game is set for 7:30pm at UCF’s Bright House Networks Stadium and will be televised on Bright House Networks Sports Network. The UCF Colleges of Nursing and Health & Public Affairs will hold their Tailgate Party in Lot E-6, beginning @ 1:00pm.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
UCF Takes on Southern Miss Golden Eagles Saturday
After struggling in their season opening win against I-AA squad Samford last week, the UCF Knights (1-0; 0-0 C-USA) are moving right into Conference USA action this week as they take on their Golden Eagle foes of Conference USA’s Eastern Division. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 52-0 blitz of I-AA Alcorn State last week and are under the helm of new head coach Mike Fedora. The Golden Eagles are a favorite among many sportscasters to win Conference USA and are returning some key starters from last season. After sustaining a severe compound fracture during USM’s 2008 bowl game against Troy State, wide receiver DeAndre Brown is returning to the Golden Eagle’s starting lineup this week as soon as team physicians give him clearance. The Knights shocked fans that packed Bright House Networks Stadium last week after showing ineptitude on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Starting quarterback Rob Calabrese sputtered in the first few offensive drives and was quickly replaced by backup senior and Wake Forest transfer Brett Hodges, who led the Knights on all 4 of their scoring drives. Despite Hodges’ success, offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe is sticking with Calabrese on Saturday: “If I didn’t see the potential he has on the practice field, then you might consider another direction,” Taaffe said. “But Rob can do it, he can play. He just has to take that next step, which is to transfer it to the game field. So he’s still young and early in his career, and the only way he’s going to get better is playing.” Kickoff is set for 7pm (ET) Saturday. The game will be nationally-televised on CBS College Sports Network. LET’S GO KNIGHTS!!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Dems FINALLY Call a Spade a Spade!
After laughing quite loudly the past few weeks at the ridiculous “I don’t want my child listening to President Obama” crybabies of the still pouting Republican Party, I was VERY pleased to see Democratic leaders finally calling out this “mock” controversy today for what it really is: Sour Racist Grapes! Complaints about the presidents speech are ridiculous according to School Board Member Bob Parks and the 150 Democrats who gathered Monday at Pompano Beach Community Park. Parks was blunt in his assessment of whats motivating the controversy. I believe a part of it is underlying racism, and of course the Republicans arent in power. In overwhelmingly Democratic Broward County, Parks said, there really isnt all that much public angst over the speech.
Parks, who represents a northeastern district, said hes received only about 15 critical e-mails. Echoing Parks in suggesting a racial element to the controversy was Michael Albetta, president of the Dolphin Democrats gay and lesbian political club. The racists are waking up and theyre finding out theres a black man in the White House and its not the butler, Albetta told the crowd. Broward Democratic Chairman Mitch Ceasar said he sees a different motive. I see this less as racism than an extreme power grab. This is all about trying to weaken our president to pick up more seats in the next congressional cycle by stirring the pot with fictional ingredients. With their “Tea Parties,” Townhall fiascos and other ridiculous antics, the Republicans continue to show their true ignorance and underlying motives…
UCF Knights Struggle in Win Against Samford
The UCF Knights took home their first victory of the 2009 season Saturday night against the Samford Bulldogs; but it sure wasn’t pretty. The Knights struggled both offensively and defensively, almost losing to a I-AA squad that was a 19.5 point underdog. The Bulldogs capitalized on a pile of UCF mental errors. Starter Rob Calabrese couldn’t effectively move the offense down the field, although he didn’t get much help from his offensive line and wide receivers. Calabrese was only 3-10 for 29 yards and one sack. Senior backup Brett Hodges had better luck, going 10-of-17 passing for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lead the Knights on all 4 of their scoring drives. Sophomore Brynn Harvey rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns while true freshman Quincy McDuffie fired up the Knights with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Penalties proved costly as did turnovers, a missed field goal, and a missed PAT. The Knights (1-0, 0-0 in C-USA) have to make major improvements this week to prepare for a tough Conference USA game at Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 52-0 win over Alcorn State, living up to Coach Larry Fedora’s promise to be aggressive in all facets of the game. Southern Miss’ no-huddle offense and star RB Damion Fletcher will be major obstacles for UCF. (Excerpts courtesy Orlando Sentinel).