Stealth fighter gets fueled. (Photo by the Associated Press)

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According to Chicago Police, the victims were all young males in their early 20s, who were walking alone at the time. The offenders would then proceed to attack the victims from behind demanding various valuables, and seriously beat the victims in the head and face.

Five out of the seven attacks were just a few feet within each other, while the other two attacks have yet to be confirmed if they were related to the previous attacks.

As of September 1, 2010 no arrests have been made and the Chicago Police continue to investigate.

Andrew Huff, Founder of Gapers Block Photo By: Michael Reilley

Gapers Block is a Chicago based site that specializes in social and news aspects throughout the city. Gapers Block is widely popular because of its simplicity and thorough information that it offers.

According to Huff, the site receives 250,000 visitors per month, and Huff hopes that number will continue to grow as time goes on.

Gapers Block success comes from a staff of 300 writers along with the support of  various grants given by the donors throughout the Chicago community.

In addition to the donors, Gapers Block receives its funds from advertising and T-shirt sales. Most recently in 2009, the site received 35,000 dollars to report on the less glamorized communities in the Chicagoland area.

Then in 2010, the site received another 17,000 in grant money. This time, the  money was given to only report about various issues affecting West and South side low-income communities.

Although Gapers Block has seen success thus far with its original design, Huff informed the class that several changes to the site would be made in order to improve the structure of how the content is presented.

First, the addition of headlines and briefs from inside stories will now be on the middle of the home page. A feature bar with rotating stories is also being added and potentially a section for business.

As a result of the success of Gapers Block, similar blogs have approached Huff with suggestions and offers to merge and create a bigger blogosphere for the site.

Although flattered by the idea, Huff feels that he wouldn’t be able to bring  justice to other areas because he is not from there and that is one of the keys to the success of hyperlocal city blogs.

Creativity is a must and in order to be successful in this field, you have to be able to bring something different to the table.

Not only is creativity a must, but you must also be “skilled as a journalist” Huff suggested. In addition, one must find a niche for themselves to be a shining star.

Huff’s final pearls of wisdom to aspiring journalists were, “Jobs all over the country are looking for journalistic styles in applicants,” Huff stated. And that most of all that passion is needed in whatever you write or report about. Huff stated.

But in recent years, the journalism world has encountered various changes and enforced new mandatory skills that are needed for the journalist of the future.

Nowadays, with the cultural explosion of social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter,  and You Tube, journalist are required to cover all platforms of media and oftentimes as a one band show.

In Vadim Lavrusik’s online article “8 Must-Have Traits of Tomorrow’s Journalist”, he agrees that several skills of tommorow’s journalist are centered around social media in some way.  Lavrusik states that journalist need to be able to be a multimedia storyteller, a social journalist, and a blogger as well.

Sean Blanda’s article talks about another aspect of social journalism which is hyperlocal websites/blogs. The one problem within hyperlocal reporting is the “feud” between mainstream reporters, and independent bloggers.

Blanda offered suggestions to alleviate this problem that include knowing who the enemy is, use a wire service, and collaborate on large stories.

Both articles and authors offer helpful information, but a necessary skill for future journalist would have to be having a love for the work you do. Having passion is what makes the difference between a good journalist and a great journalist.

Without the passion and motivation involved the audience would be able to tell if a journalist is sincere or not. And if a journalist comes off as insincere or disinterested, they have lost their audience.

Having the skills and upholding the fundamentals are extremely important in journalism, but having the fire is what gives a journalist a certain je nais sais quoi.

Since 2002 six out of nine Best Actress winners went on to divorce from their spouse. Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Resse Witherspoon, Kate Winslet, and most recently Sandra Bullock all have experienced the alleged “Oscar curse”.

Halle Berry

“It’s the final “icing on the cake” an official you made it so to speak or the seal on the deal,” says licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Daniela E. Schreier.

“With the fame and this enormous acknowledgement, women become more daring and self-aware, and have a heightened self-perception where they may recognize that they have settled for a partner who did not fulfill their needs,” Schreier said.

“As a result of their partner not meeting their emotional, psychological, and physical needs, the “outside” reward encourages or catapults them to the next level – the divorce or separation,” Schreier said.

Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University, Dr. Alice Eagly would have to agree with Schreier’s theory. “This situation would presumably often involve a reversal of the usual arrangement in which the husband has the “big career” and the wife has the “little career” or no career at all,” Eagly says.

“Some men (the not so secure ones, I expect) may feel threatened, with consequences such as behaving badly in various ways, or maybe the woman then strays from her “good wife” role because she now has more options, both in her career and sexually,” Eagly says.

Sandra Bullock

Dr. Eagly’s theory was true in the case of Sandra Bullock’s 2010 divorce from ex-husband Jesse James, and Halle Berry’s 2002 divorce from ex-husband Eric Benet. Both Bullock and Berry’s then spouses were discovered to have been engaging in extra-marital affairs with numerous women shortly after their then wives won their Oscar.

Jesse James

Eric Benet

 

 

While in the case of Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, and Kate Winslet, their divorces were a result of Dr. Schreier’s theory. According to court documents and published reports, these relationships and marriages were ended simply because the spouses grew apart.

Hilary Swank

Twenty-seven-year old psychology grad student at the University of Houston, Courtney Head believes that it’s the male genetic code that leads to these divorces.

Head’s theory spawns from one of the most famous psychologists of our time, Dr. Sigmund Freud. According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality, there are three parts to a person’s personality.

In Freud’s model, the superego is the part of the personality that  that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society. In our society, it is traditionally the male who is the successful and one who yields the power in relationships.

“Unfortunately, men don’t want to live or be in their wife’s shadow, it’s damaging to the male ego to be a “kept man” and know that you’re wife or spouse doesn’t really need you and can replace you if they wanted to,” Head said.

Perhaps it is a coincidence, or maybe just bad timing but winning the Oscar for Best Actress has become a catch-22. Oftentimes we hear “it’s an honor just to be nominated” from Oscar nominees.

Maybe there is some truth in that statement because regardless if you win or lose that night at least you’re more likely to stay together with your spouse.       

When the Academy announced that Franco and Hathaway would be serving as hosts, a lot of people were surprised to see the Academy be so obvious with it’s plans to draw in younder audiences. Franco responded to the criticism in the following video at the Oscars luncheon:

Many actors, celebrtities, and comedians have played host and some nailed it out of the park while others were not so lucky. Here are a few hosts who received praise for their duty that Franco and Hathaway could take notes from:

Hollywood icon and funny man Bob Hope served as host a record 18 times!! Hope’s quick wit and charming personality helped the popularity of the Oscars rise during the 50′s and 60′s.

Comedian Billy Crystal served as host 8 times for the Oscars and was a favorite.

Actress Whoopi Goldberg played emcee to the Oscars four times and was the only woman to do so as well as the first woman to host without a panel. Definitely entertaining and colorful Goldberg was one of the most meomorable hosts. 

Comedy powerhouses Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin teamed up to co host the 2010 ceremony which brought in the highest viewers since the 2005 telecast. The 2010 Oscars brought in 41.3 million viewers.

Other famous hosts included David Letterman, Chris Rock, and Hugh Jackman.

The common thread all of these hosts have in common was their comedic background and while Franco and Hathaway are known more for their acting chops instead of tickiling funny bones, it is not impossible.  A lot of actors have funny personalities that people don’t necessarily get to see so maybe there is a Johnny Carson and Tina Fey alter ego wrapped within Franco and Hathaway.

One thing is for sure though regardless is Franco and Hathaway performances as host fall flat at least Natalie Portman will receive her first Oscar for “Black Swan” and isn’t that what we will all be watching to see anyway?

Roaring fans sit at the front while cheering on the Blackhawks as they sip their Carlsberg beer surrounded by the sound of five other televisions playing a soccer game from half way across the world. This is a typical scenario at The Globe Pub, a soccer bar located at 1934 W. Irving Park Road.

The Globe Pub can have people that live two blocks away and someone who lives 1,000 miles away sitting at its bar.

The Globe Pub regulars are both American and from various countries, according to Aubrey Miller, The Globe Pub manager.

“You can see the whole crowd speaking different languages,” Patrick Stanton said, a Globe Pub employee.

While the pub caters to soccer fans, it also televises American sports. The Globe Pub makes sure it plays most, if not all, soccer games from around the world.
It was the only bar to play the African Cup Nations, according to Stuart Johnston, The Globe Pub owner. The bar not only supports global soccer, but it also is the official bar of the Chicago Fire.

When The Globe Pub opened its doors in September 2004, it was a one-room bar with four televisions that had only one window that measured 3 ft. by 6 ft. Stuart Johnston, The Globe Pub’s owner, recalled the night before opening the bar before a major a soccer game, the kick-off of the English league.

“We were up all night wiring the TVs and finished a half-hour before kick-off,” Johnston said. “People were coming in and there were still ladders up.”
Johnston, a former accountant born in the west coast of Scotland, always knew he wanted to open a bar or a dive shop. “So the retirement plan is a bar or a dive shop in the Caribbean somewhere,” Johnston said.

Johnston wanted a neighborhood bar feel and wanted his employees to make people feel at home. He looked for happy bartenders and waitresses to fill his pub. Johnston also knew the bar’s niche was going to be a soccer bar.

The Globe Pub on Irving Park Rd. By Cassandra Bowman

“Although soccer is niche, you can’t survive on one thing alone,” Johnston said.

It was tough the first year for Johnston to create new ideas for the pub, Johnston explained, but he learned and experimented with new ideas.

Johnston experimented with different theme nights for the week. The first experiment was doing a quiz night that was run by one of its regulars. It was voted best pub quiz in the city in 2007 and 2008 by Chicago Magazine.

Today, The Globe Pub has theme nights every week that include Comedy Night, open-mic acoustic night, live bands on Fridays, and a DJ on Saturday.

“Stinky Fingers”, Rolling Stones cover band plays there most often.
Chris Costello, a Globe regular, hosts Wednesday’s acoustic night. Costello lives just two blocks away from The Globe Pub and hosted his 40th birthday there.

The pub is separated into two sections. The front part of the bar has windows that open up to a patio. The Globe Pub added a back bar, new booths, and 25 new televisions. It added a new martini list as well that is all Globe Pub themed.

The pub also offers 20 beers on draft and at least 200 bottled beers from around the world. The Globe Pub was the #1 seller of Carlsberg beer in the world.

The Globe Pub has generated fans from across the world including, David Beckham and Rod Stewart. It was voted best Soccer bar in 2008 by USSoccer.com according to Johnston.

Fans donated the scarves that cover the wall from front to back over the years Johnston recalled. Before the scarves there were mirrors and beer signs.
Since The Globe Pub is the official bar to the Chicago Fire, it makes sure its fans can get to the game.

For every home game, the Globe has at least one bus that takes Fire fans to the games there and back for $20 a ride that includes free beer. The Globe had the owner in last month for a live Q&A session.

Patrick Stanton, a recent DePaul graduate, hasn’t missed a Chicago Fire game in five years. After Stanton lost his job, Stuart offered him a job at The Globe in October 2009 and he still works there today.

Stanton believes The Globe Pub has been instrumental in helping fill the Chicago Fire’s Toyota Park stadium. When Toyota Park opened, there was that big question on how they were going to get there he recalled.

The Globe Pub started off using school buses to the games, and now it has upgraded to coach buses. At least half the fans that started going on the bus four years ago still go to every game recalled Stanton.

The rides are boisterous, loud, and passionate he recalled. The Chicago Fire fans who can’t make it to the game often go to The Globe.

“Gets just as passionate as if you were there,” Stanton said.

The main event at The Globe Pub this summer is the World Cup. The Globe staff was very excited about the World cup that goes on for one month starting June 11. This year will be RSVP only because The Globe Pub wants to be able to have all their regulars there.

Aubrey Miller, The Globe Pub for four years, expects the bar to be over capacity at 11 a.m., the first game starts at 1:45 p.m. the first day.

The Globe Pub staff created a special food menu so it will be easy for people to eat standing up because of the large crowd. The pub will be airing every single game on its 25 screens throughout the bar.

“The World Cup is going to be a zoo,” Johnston said.

The Globe Pub has a book launch that will kickoff the night before the World Cup on June 10. It is a coffee table book of photographs of different soccer fans from The Globe Pub.

Stuart Johnston (middle) with The Globe Pub regulars By Cassandra Bowman

Most of The Globe Pub’s patrons are its regular customers, or “the regulars”. There are a lot of very loyal customers according to Miller.

“It’s the regulars that make this place,” Johnston said. There are people that come to The Globe three to five times a week.

“They are like The Globe family, like our extended family,” Miller said, “They are the heart of the bar.”