Norway Takes Gold/Bronz​e and Sweden Takes Silver in Women's Skiathlon- Sochi Winter Olympics

 

By Beemerboyz803

The women's skiathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, just finished. Norway takes gold and bronze and Sweden steals silver!! The top US skier participating in the 9.3-mile skiathlon was Jessica Diggins, who finished in eighth (less than two minutes after the first-finisher).

The Top 3 in the women's skiathlon were Norway's Marit Bjoergen, Sweden's Charlotte Kalla, and Norway's Heidi Weng. Bjoergen finished in 38:33.6 minutes, Kalla in 38:35.4 minutes, and Weng in 38:46.8. Although we would've appreciated US in the Top Three, congrats to Team Norway and Team Sweden for their wins!!!!

UPDATE: 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics - Sage Kotsenburg Wins FIRST Gold Medal in ENTIRE OLYMPICS in Slopestyle for Team USA

By Beemerboyz803

The Winter Olympics, held in Sochi, Russia this year, have only been airing on NBC for two days, but Team USA is already the leader in the medal count. This afternoon, the world-famed sporting event, held every four years, broadcasted its slope style event. American Sage Kotsenburg scored 93.50 to steal the first gold medal awarded in Sochi. To win the gold medal, Kotsenburg beat out Norway's Staale Stanbech and Canada's Mark McMorris.

 

BREAKING NEWS: Dong Nguyen is Taking Down 'Flappy Bird'

By Beemerboyz803

In May 2013, game creator Dong Nguyen released Flappy Bird in the Android and Apple app stores. It gained huge popularity in November 2013, and soared to the top of the Apple and Android charts. However, you may want to download the popular game the second you read this post, because tomorrow, the game will no longer be in the App Store.

In the game, players control a small, yellow bird. By tapping the screen continuously, the bird will fly upwards. The goal is to get through as many tubes as possible. As soon as Flappy Bird touches the ground, smashes into a tube, or touches something, the character dies. Players officially beat the game if they reach a score of 9,999 points. 

 

The game has been featured on PewDiePie's Youtube channel. The popular YouTuber plays this game, as well as Dumb Ways to Die, in one of his videos. The video reviews Flappy Bird as an "impossible game". 

 

Dong Nguyen announced the game's removal from Android and Apple stores via Twitter. There has been mixed reviews, people stating they are glad this "anger-inducing bird will be gone" and there are also people wishing that "another game should go down, but not this torturous fun". 

 

For whoever wants to download the popular game, you should do it now. After all, today will be a better day then February 9 to download.

 

 

Sources:

https://twitter.com/dongatory

www.latimes.com/flappybird

www.usatoday.com/flappybird

 

 

The 2014 Sochi Olympics Begin's

By Beemerboyz803

Tonight, on NBC, the opening ceremony aired for the 2014 Winter Olympics, held in Sochi, Russia. Team USA has over 230 participants for the Sochi Olympics. The games will air on NBC from today (February 7) until the closing ceremony on February 23.

 

To promote the Olympic Games, Google posted a new Google Doodle on the homepage. It reads: "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play." - Olympic Charter

 Some of the USA's top participants include Ted Ligety, Shaun White, Julie Chu, Hannah Kearney, etc. Lindsey Vonn, female skier, will not be competing this year, after injuring her right knee several days before Christmas. 

The Sochi Olympic opening ceremony consisted of eighteen chapters, and concluded with a grand firework show over Fisht Stadium, the stadium where this year's Winter Olympics will take place. One of the best parts of the ceremony was the arrival of the Olympic torch. The torch, which has been on a 40,000-mile relay from Moscow since October 7, has passed through over 80 Russian cities. 

As far as we know, the next two Olympics following Sochi will take place in Rio (2016 Summer Olympics) and Pyeonchang, South Korea (2018 Winter Olympics). Let's hope that these Olympics will be another fiery contest (despite the cold snow in Sochi), and, more importantly, go, Team USA!

 

Be sure to stay with us from up the date coverage of the Olympics!

 Photos: www.pcadvisor.co.uk and www.google.com 

"Happening in the World" Week 1

By Zach Cooper

It's been about a year since my last "Happening in the Parks" blog posts. I thought it would be better to start something similar up again, this time more about TV, film and other news. "Happening in the World" articles will be posted every Friday.

 

SUPER BOWL XLVII: This years Super Bowl was held in New York, featuring the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. In the end, Seattle took home the win from 43 to 8.
 

 

After the game, Disney released this small commercial of Seahawk Malcolm Smith shouting the famous line "I'm Going to Disney World."  

 

The halftime show was a 14-minute jam between Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The beginning was really awesome with a bunch of kids singing and Bruno Mars on a drumset. Later, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers joined in. I was disappointed because it seems like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers didn't really have a spotlight in the show, as they were only on for a few minutes.


 

 

Criss Angel MAGIC JAM: This week, Criss Angel premiered the winter edition of 'MAGIC JAM' at the Luxor. Usually, his stage is set to the show of Criss Angel BELIEVE, but for about a month, he is letting other magicians take the spotlight. He is also doing this because he is recovering from surgery.

You can purchase tickets to this special event by going to  www.reservations.mgmmirage.com/crissangelmagicjam  

 

 

 

Tomorrowland Filming at Disneyland Park: On February 4th and 5th, Disneyland Park was in full swing, as they filmed parts of the Tomorrowland Movie at the "It's a Small World" attraction.

Later, Brad Bird came out and greeted some of the Optimists, who were out watching the shoot. Thanks @BradBirdA113 for meeting us, and getting a photo @DisneylandToday. #TheOptimists #PlusUltra #Tomorrowland pic.twitter.com/LVFNzogab3

— Hastin Zylstra (@hastin) February 4, 2014

Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food: On February 5th, Universal Orlando's City Walk opened up Antojitos,a fine and affordable restaurant.  It's opened up nightly at 5PM and closes at midnight.

 

 

Lunar New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood: From January 25th through February 9th, Universal Studios Hollywood one big celebration for Lunar New Year. This event was held at the all new Universal Plaza inside the park, featuring décor and even MEGATRON from 'Transformers: The Ride-3D'.

 

 

"As a world-class entertainment destination, we are very excited to bring one of the most celebrated holidays in Asian culture to our theme park,” said Larry Kurzweil, President of Universal Studios Hollywood. “We’re pleased to share our unique Lunar New Year tribute with visiting guests from China and around the globe.”

Tomorrowland Movie Films at "It's a Small World" at Disneyland Park

By Zach Cooper

On February 4th and 5th, Disneyland Park was in full swing, as they filmed parts of the Tomorrowland Movie at the "It's a Small World" attraction.

Photos: 'Tomorrowland' Movie to be Filmed at Disneyland next week. Closures will be in effect http://t.co/6jB321egZA pic.twitter.com/1T27ST3LyT
— DisneylandLive (@DlandNewsLive) February 2, 2014

Giant blue screens were placed all around Small World, and have been there for a couple of days. A couple of us Optimists were able to visit the shoot, when  some very popular celebrities came out.

A break in the action during filming of Tomorrowland in Disneyland. #disneyland #tomorrowland #theoptimist pic.twitter.com/BYl4axYp0S
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) February 4, 2014

 

Its been said some filming has been done in the queue when a little boy ran through with a bag.

 

Later, Tomorrowland director Brad Bird came out and greeted a few Optimists.

Thanks @BradBirdA113 for meeting us, and getting a photo @DisneylandToday. #TheOptimists #PlusUltra #Tomorrowland pic.twitter.com/LVFNzogab3

— Hastin Zylstra (@hastin) February 4, 2014

Killer Whales: Friend or Foe? - The Controvers​y Behind Blackfish

By Beemerboyz803

Please note. We post this as an opinion. We do know there are 3 sides of the story: His truth, her truth and the real truth. From what we viewed, we state our opinion in this post. We love Sea World but disagree with them. We ask for no controversy through comments, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Over the years, children and adults have grown up around SeaWorld. When the kids and adults visited, they never suspected that anything was wrong with them. They thought everything was fine, because they were such happy whales during the shows.

Meanwhile, behind that fake smile was a killer whale who was tortured, night and day. He would be punished for performing tricks incorrectly, and locked in a 20x30-foot cage at night. As the years have passed, these whales have become more aggressive, and have led to serious injuries and several fatalities at marine life parks. In 2010, an infamous accident occurred at SeaWorld Orlando. There has been a controversy ever since.

In 2013, Blackfish was released in theaters. The movie was a documentary about killer whales, their aggressiveness, their tortured lives, and the controversies behind them. One of the two controversies is between OSHA and SeaWorld Parks, OSHA stating that killer whales are not safe for humans to work with. This controversy formed as a result of the 2010 incident. Also, shortly after Blackfish was released in theaters, SeaWorld commented on the movie, stating that its two main premises are false: that life at SeaWorld is harmful and torturous for killer whales, and dangerous for the trainers that assist them, and that SeaWorld has attempted to cover up the facts that surround the incident at SeaWorld's Orlando park in February 2010.

I was able to watch Blackfish on my iPad last night. Immediately, I knew I didn't want to watch it. It was too emotional and to hard for me to handle. When you watch the documentary, it's pretty much like you can feel the pain the whales feel. 

My opinion? Killer whales should be free to do whatever they want. They can't spend their whole lives away from their families. They can't spend their life in a cold bathtub year-round. They can't spend two-thirds of their life swimming in a cold pond in the dark. They can't spend their whole lives covered in rakes, famished, and captured from their families at such a young age.

In conclusion, I believe SeaWorld is not correct. I agree with Blackfish. These whales should deserve to spend their lives in paradise, and not in an aquatic Alcatraz. 

SeaWorld should retire their whales, and not keep them as show-animals their entire lives. Every ten years or so, they remove whales from their parks to return to their families and capture new ones. That way, we can prevent accidents and controversies like this from happening ever again. What will happen to the whales, the trainers, and SeaWorld parks? Each of their fates aren't predictable just yet, but as we all know, anything can happen, at any time.