Kanye West Death Hoax
Someone erroneously reported that Kanye West had been killed in a car crash yesterday on Twitter. “RIP Kanye West” is still trending on micro blogging social media site today. We can report that the rapper is ok, and has been online on his blog posting al day (does Kanye do his own blogging?). This latest ‘hoax story’ led to millions searching for Kanye death on Google in the USA last night and will probably carry on for a while as the rest of the world catches up.
This latest caper in a week were Twitter and other social media outlets such as Facebook have been instrumental in driving the news agenda, provoking a furious backlash against Daily Mail Columnist, Jan Moir, who’s column last Friday on the death of Boyzone star Stephen Gately, and the way in which it brought to light the Carter-Ruck injunction shows that information now moves at the speed of quick around the globe in a matter of hours.
Many news commentators this week have speculated that the ability of social media to distribute information has led to a culture of online bullying, however like most media, it depends on who’s driving the agenda. We would argue that these social media sites have led to the ability of the masses to respond and make their voices heard in a quicker more coherent fashion.
The furor over the Carter-Ruck injunction led to British citizens being made aware of so called ’super injunctions’ whereby lawyers who have obtained injunctions against the reporting of court proceedings, can also obtain another injunction that prevents the injunction from being reported, thus court proceedings on affairs such as the one concerning the dumping of toxic waste by large corporations go un-reported and un-noticed by the world at large and it’s citizens.
One thing the twitters and searchers in the Kanye West death hoax have taught us though, is that people aren’t just willing to be spoonfed their information. They seek confirmation of the news, so don’t think, those of you would believe the internet is inhabited by mindless sheep, that this is so. Traditional media, government and corporations need to understand the power of social media, however what must be said is that the ‘flash’ moral outcry that occurs in the 24-48 hours after a major story breaks, needs, at least in the case of global concerns or campaigns, to be converted into long term commitments for change.
Michael Jackson Death Ruled Homicide
Micheal Jackson’s death has been ruled a homicide by the authorities in Los Angeles. The source of the news comes from an unnamed source thought to be from within the Coroners office. The reports at this stage are unconfirmed by the Coroner, who have made no official statement. The LA county coroner reported that there were lethal levels of the anaesthetic propofol were found in his body.
Michael Jackson’s doctor, Dr Conrad Murray could potentially charged with manslaughter if this claim turns out to be try
Swine Flu Alert
Around 80 people have died in an outbreak of Swine Flu that has hit Mexico over the past few days. Over 1000 people are thought to have been infected with swine flu, with the infections spreading to the US, Britain and other parts of the world. There is worrying news that experts fear the flu could reach pandemic proportions as the infection rate of the disease is thought to be high.
The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak, and many public buildings have been closed in an attempt to contain the swine flu outbreak. In the United States around 20 people have been infected in areas of New York, Ohio, Kansas, Texas and Califonia. Officials fear of the spead of the infection have declared a public emergency so that they can prepare their reponse should their worst fears be recognised.
In Britain, health minister Alan Johnson, says Britain has stockpiles of flu treatment and that the UK is well placed to respond should the infection spread there. Two people, thought to have recently returned from Mexico, have been admitted to hospital in Scotland with symptoms of Swine Flu.
People are most at risk from catching this H1N1 virus, from coughing or sneezing. It is not thought that you can catch it from infected meat. Precautions such as flu masks will help decrease the risk of infection. In Mexico, police officers wearing flu masks were on patrol, in the region where the infections have been high. Symptoms are similar to regular flu, with sore throats, fever and fatigue.
Safety measures include wearing flu masks and monitoring body temperature in order to first detect signs that a person may be infected.
WHO Update on Swine Flu Outbreak
The World Health Organization has posted an update on the outbreak of the flu virus A(H1N1) on their epidemic and pandemic alert website stating that as of today there had been 40 confirmed cases of swine flu infection in the USA, and 26 confirmed cases in Mexico. In the US there has been no reported deaths, whilst the time of the report there have been seven reported deaths in Mexico. Other confirmed cases have been reported in Canada and Spain.
According to the WHO Website, the outbreak of swine flu is ‘evolving rapidly’, and whilst they have not recommended any border closure or international travel restrictions, they have advised people who are unwell to delay international travel. In addition those who have just returned from international travel who are feeling ill are advised to seek out medical attention as soon as possible.
If you require more information and guidance on what precautions you may take to avoid contracting the swine flu, then WHO have guidance notes on their Swine Influenza website.
World Watches As Obama Takes Office
Today, the world watched as the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in to office on the steps of Capitol Hill. On a freezing cold day, millions of people gethered to see the new president take office and billions more around the globe watched as President Barack Obama took his oath at a few minutes to noon on January 20th 2009. Read more
Winehouse Divorce Shock
Shock horror, Blake has allegedly filed for a divorce from Amy. Could this be true? According to latest news reports and his representative Henri Brandman who said in a brief statement,
“I can confirm that I have been instructed to commence divorce proceedings on the grounds of Amy’s adultery,”
Apparently Amy has allegedly been frolicking with some rugby player in the Caribbean somewhere. No doubt enjoying some wonderful sun, sea, sand and even sampling some caribbean food (she can stand to put on some weight).
To be honest, if it gets her away from the drugs and back to the music, divorce may not be a bad thing.
Obama Person of the Year 2008
President Elect Barack Obama has been named Person of the Year by Time magazine. TIME’s Person of the Year is recognition of the
person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year.
Congratulations president elect Obama, we think Time has chosen well, after conquering in the Primaries against formidable opposition, and all conquering in the election on November 4th 2008, and for the challenges you will face ahead in your first term, we salute your efforts and wish you good luck
Barack Obama Wins It
Barack Obama has won the US Presidential race with a resounding majority of the electorate voting for him and has achieve a landslide victory over his opponent John McCain in the electoral college votes. The turnout for the election (when all is counted) will probably be the highest turnout ever. Read more
Dixville Notch Backs Obama
Barack Obama has been declared the winner in the first poll to close in the 2008 US Presidential Election results coming from Dixville Notch in northern New Hampshire. The town’s 21 registered voters are the first to vote with their polling station opening at midnight. They have been the first place to vote on poling day since 1960.
The presidential election results were: Obama 15 votes, McCain 6 votes. There was a resounding cheer as the results of the votes were announced, from those gathered.
Dixville Notch is said to be a traditionally republican town, perhaps another sign that Barack Obama’s message has crossed political boundaries, or perhaps it’s because everyone is feeliing the effects of the Bush years and feel they need to change.
As polling opens across the USA, record turnouts are expected with as much as 85% turnout predicted in some states.
Track Hurricane Ike
If you have friends or family in one of the hurricane zones, then chances are they’re not able to track the path of the storms themselves, being to busy boarding up, or moving out to a place of shelter. Most people will have radio and perhaps TV, however satellite services are affected by heavy weather and so can digital television signals as well. If you know of people in those situations, there is a way you can track storms online using various websites. It is possible then for you to update relatives or friends who may not have access to information on that level.
Although we would expect that in those areas, the local authorities will keep their citizens informed of what is happening and whether there may be a need to evacuate. Certainly in places like Louisiana and especially in New Orleans last week, we saw that the lessons of Katrina have been learned and the Mayor ordered the city to evacuate with a good amount of time to spare.
Today we found this site from a former television meteorologist which show’s pictures of the path of the current threat Hurricane Ike. In light of what we’ve written above, maybe this type of information is more for our own comfort, rather than those who may be in the path of the storms.