To unlock or not unlock, that is the question!

To unlock or not unlock, that is the question!

How would you feel if your iPhone was unlocked? It would probably make you feel like your privacy was invaded. But would you feel differently if the protection of privacy rights were revoked due to the safety of the general public? This is currently one of the issues occurring between Apple and the United States government.  This debate has occurred on other occasions but is being brought to the service one more time. This time in response to the San Bernardino families request. The incident that occurred in California was at the Inland Regional Center on December 2nd, 2015. At this time there was an office party going on and 14 people were killed due to a terror attack involving the spraying of gunfire. Mark Sandefeur is one of the victim`s father and he is not giving in on this ongoing battle.

There are many ways to look at this issue but what it comes down to is, the decision to unlock a deceased terrorists phone or keep it locked due to privacy laws. One way of looking at this current issue is that there may be content in the phone that can lead to new information such as contacts and even other planned events.  “Recovery of information from the iPhone in question may not lead to anything new. But, what if there is evidence pointing to a third shooter? What if it leads to an unknown terrorist cell?”  This was stated by Sandefur in a letter to Apple’s chief executive. Mark Sandefeur is not the only one acting against this issue, there has been several attempts at getting the FBI to join with Apple to prevent these tragedies. Since this is such an in-depth issue, this debate is still on going.

The other way that this is being looked at is if this phone is unlocked then where does it stop? Since it is technically an invasion of privacy, once it is done once then who knows where it will stop.

Although both sides have several valid points, what side do you take? How would you feel if your phone was invaded? Or do you feel it is different since it is a safety issue?

 

The horror continues all year at Universal Studios!

The horror continues all year at Universal Studios!

The freight fest continues all year with Universal Studios newest attraction.  Now you won’t have to wait till Halloween Horror nights to get your fix of the Walking Dead. This post-apocalyptic world will be in Universal studios Hollywood location.

The Walking Dead will come back to life in this intense attraction which will include live performers with animatronic and special effects. Famous visual effects artist Greg Nicotero, who frequents as the shows director will be heavily involved on the creation of this gruesome attraction. “There are moments from the television show that we’ll get a chance to recreate much more faithfully than we would in a maze,” says Nicotero. “You’ll get some great opportunities to see things from Season 1 and some stuff from Seasons 3 and 4. It’s a little bit of a walk down memory lane for us.” This scary nightmare is about to become a reality and the zombies are more than ready.

Don’t let the zombies get you when this attraction comes back to life this upcoming summer. Joining the invasion of zombies is several other celebratory attractions. The Fast and The FuriousThe Simpsons and Harry Potter franchises are just a few new attractions hitting Universal Studios in the near future.

The flowers have sprung at the Disney Flower and Garden Festival!

The flowers have sprung at the Disney Flower and Garden Festival!

Spring has sprung and so have the flowers at Disney World`s Flower and Garden Festival.  This festival of flowers, food and fun will run from March 2nd, 2016 to May 30,2016 and is definitely something to add to your Disney bucket list.

Characters and iconic Disney scenes come to life as Epcot transforms to a garden wonderland.  These 90 days at Epcot will be filled with classic traditions of the festival along with new ones. Some exciting things you’ll find is the Garden Rocks Concert Series. This series includes Darlene Love and The Georgia Satellites, as well as returning favorites. There will also be a new kids play ground called The Harmony Gardens Musical Playground. You’ll also find new outdoor kitchens and also new menu items. The two newest kitchens include La Isla Fresca serving up Jamaican food along with the Cider House. These two new kitchens will join the 11 other booths serving up all kinds of delicious foods from the World Showcase. And you’ll also see flowers galore. From themed flower gardens to topiaries to life size figurines of Disney characters!

If you think this flower crazy event is unbelievable, here are three fun facts that will blow your mind. The first fun fact is more than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000 of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival. The second fun fact is Festival plants include 60 different species of trees, 47 types of palms, and 48 varieties of bedding plants. And the last fun fact is it takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.

What can be better than spring, flowers in the shapes of Disney characters, scrumptious food and great music? This year’s Flower and Garden Festival has that all covered for you and more. If you are heading down to Disney this Spring, this is definitely something worth seeing.

Spring Forward To Safety With C.H.Edwards

Spring Forward To Safety With C.H.Edwards

It’s that time of year where coffee becomes a little more than necessary in the morning. That is because it is time to spring forward.  Sunday, March 13th marks the first day of Daylight Savings. For some people this could be seen as just a loss of sleep but for others it is a sign that sunny and longer days are finally here.

The saying “Spring forward, fall back” is an old expression used to remind people to adjust your clocks. Although making sure you get up in time in the morning is important, there are also several necessary tasks to ensure a safe and happy spring and summer season. This could be looked at as a safety spring cleaning. Here are some necessary things to check off of your safety spring cleaning list. The first thing you should do is check to make sure there is a functioning fire detector and carbon dioxide detector in each room of your house. If you know there are any detectors that are over ten years old, then it’s time for new ones. After inserting fresh batteries check your alarm by activating the safety test button. Now that the alarms are all checked, it is time to clean your alarms. This can be done by gently using a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust and cobwebs. Because what use is a working alarm if you can’t hear it. Lastly, you should make an escape plan and review it with your entire family. It is a good idea to get everyone involved including the kids. After you have made your plan, make sure you have all functioning emergency supplies put together in several locations of your home. A good idea would be to create a backpack filled with flashlights, batteries and other items you feel are necessary. Once you have an action plan set, it’s time to test it out. Make sure everything is set and everyone is aware of the plan in case of an unfortunate tragedy.

Now that you know the importance of this safety spring cleaning list, it is time to put it into action. Whether you’re enjoying your cup of coffee with an extra shot of espresso or enjoying the outdoors, it is always best to put safety first and protect your home and family.

Season 22 of DWTS cast list is officially here!

Season 22 of DWTS cast list is officially here!

Get out your dancing shoes and get ready for a new season of ‘Dancing With the Stars’. This past Tuesday on “Good Morning America, the cast was revealed for season 22. This season will defiantly not lack comical moments, struggling times and achievements, which for one winning couple includes the Mirroball trophy.

The season 22 cast is filled with professional dancers, athletes, TV personalities, journalists and actors, which when mixed together leads to a very entertaining outcome. The list of the twelve star couples starts with Mischa Barton. Mischa was previously on the wildly popular drama The O.C., now it is her time to put those days behind her as she takes the DWTS stage. She will be dancing with Artem Chigvintsev as her partner. Next up on this celebrity line up is Antonio Brown.  This football star is not only a four-time Pro-Bowl selectee but he was also the Steelers MVP in 2011, 2013 and 2015. This pro athlete is ready to trade in his cleats for dancing shoes as he dances with Sharna Burgess. Next dancer up is Nyle Dimarco. Nyle is not only an actor, model but also a spokesman with a recurring role on ‘Switched at Birth’. He is trading his days of competing on the runway of America`s Next Top Model`s Cycle 22 in for sharing the dance floor with his partner Peta Murgatroyd. Next up on the list is Kim Fields who is an actress best known for her roles in two iconic shows which include Living Single and Facts Of Life. Along with being in front of the camera, she is also familiar with directing, as she is now an award-winning film director. This multi-talented star is ready to be in front of the camera again as she takes the stage with partner Sasha Farber. Doug Flutie is next on the list. This football champion is the winner of  the 1984 Heisman Trophy for his iconic “Hail Mary” pass against the university of Miami, which led to the win of the Orange Bowl. He later on went to play in the USFL and the NFL, but now it`s his time to leave the field and take the dance floor. He will be accompanied by his partner Karina Smirnoff. The next contestant is used to singing and dancing on stage but in her case the Broadway stage. Along with her Broadway performances in The Will Rogers Follies and Love, Loss and What I Wore, she is also no stranger to the television and film world. She is ready to expand her talent on the DWTS stage with partner Tony Dovolani. And that’s only half the list!

The second half of the list starts off with another football star, Von Miller. He might be known now as the Denver Broncos linebacker and MVP of Super Bowl 50 but this season he`ll be known on the dance floor with his partner Witney Carson. The next celebrity on the list is Wayna Morris whose rise to fame came from being an original member of the R&B group Boys II Men. Wanya will be taking the dance floor with partner Lindsay Arnold. This next celebrity is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist. Geraldo Rivera is a Fox News senior correspondent and host of breaking news specials the Geraldo Rivera Reports. He is anxious for his shot at the Mirrorball trophy with partner Edyta Sliwinska. For the next contestant the house is about to get more full with Jodie Sweetin. She is formerly known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on Full House and now the Netflix spin-off of Fuller House. She is joined on the dance floor with her partner Keo Motsepe. The next contestant Paige VanZant has a stunning record of 6-2-0 in her UFC career. This top ranked champion is about take it back to the dance floor as she did in her younger days with partner Mark Ballas. The last contestant of this star filled list is Ginger Zee. Ginger is an Emmy Award-winner and also the chief meteorologist of Good Morning America. Now it is time to see what her dancing forecast will be as she takes the floor with partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

This season will be hosted by the Emmy-winning Tom Bergeron of America`s Funniest Home Videos. Season 10 finalist, Erin Andrews will also be coming back but this time as a host.  From talented professional dancers to celebrities and two fantastic hosts, the competition would not be complete without judges. The Season 22 judges include Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. This highly anticipated season will air on Monday, March 21st at 8|7c. Who are you rooting for this season?

88th Annual Academy Awards

88th Annual Academy Awards

Hollywood`s finest in film came together Sunday night to celebrate another wonderful year of film. This glamorous event took place at the beautiful Dolby Theatre in sunny Los Angeles. This is the most highly anticipated night in film especially for the cast and crew of The Big Short, Bridge Of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight who were all nominated for Best Picture, which was won by Spotlight. Although these are just a few films from the night, there was so much more to the 88th Academy Awards ceremony including fashion, celebrities and unforgettable performances.

Along with the prestigious award of Best Picture, there were many awards given out that night. Best actress in a Lead Role was won by Brie Larson for her performance in Room. Actor in a Supporting Role went to Mark Rylance for his performance in A Bridge of spies. Actress in a Supporting Role went to Alicia Vikander for her performance in The Danish Girl. The Best Animated Feature Film went to Pixar for the third year in a row. And the most anticipated win of the night went to Leonardo DiCaprio for his performance in The Revenant. His much awaited win began with a standing ovation followed by his brilliant speech which touched on the issues of climate change and other natural issues. These were just a few of the honorable awards given out that night.

The night was also filled with inspiring performances from Sam Smith, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga to name a few. Sam Smith gave a beautiful performance of “Writings On The wall”, which later won for Best Original Song. The Weeknd performed his nominated hit “Earned It” from the film Fifty Shades of Gray. His performance was accompanied by dancers, gymnasts and trapeze artists which closely mimicked his music video for the song. Lady Gaga was one of the last performers to take the stage. She lit up the stage with her performance of “Till It Happens to You”. This performance was introduced by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., he then addressed the crowd and asked viewers to take a pledge: “I will intervene in situations when consent has not or cannot be given. This star filled event not only acknowledged the hard work and dedication put into the current film season but also current events that not only impact the world but also the world of film. The countdown is already set for the 89th Annual Academy Awards and the much anticipated year of film that has just begun.

Written by Sandra Costanzo