A review of childhood disability trends has revealed  rates among children have increased by 16 percent in the last decade. Physical conditions have been on the decline, while neurodevelopmental disorders have spiked considerably based on the evaluated information from 2001 to 2010.

Lead author, Dr. Amy J. Houtrow – an associate professor of physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pediatrics at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – and her colleagues wanted to probe further into the conditions and socio-demographic factors associated with disabilities.

Data was analyzed from the National Health Interview Survey, which is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Surveys from  2001 to 2002 and 2009 to 2010 were used.

A total of 102,468 parents of children 0 to 17 years of age participated in the surveys. They were asked if the children had physical limitations, needed special education services, and or assistance with personal care.

If yes, parents were then asked whether the limitations were due to vision/hearing problems, respiratory conditions, ambulatory issues with joints, bones, or muscle control, injury, emotional/behavioral problem, ADHD, mental retardation/intellectual deficit, a learning disability, epilepsy, birth defect, or other developmental disorder.

The conditions were subcategorized into three basic groups: physical, neurodevelopmental/mental health, and other.

Neurodevelopmental/mental health-related disabilities increased 16.3 percent – most notably doubling among children under the age of 6 – while physical conditions decreased. Dr. Houtrow specifically noted, “The survey did not break out autism, but we suspect that some of the increase in neurodevelopmental disabilities is due to the rising incidence or recognition of autism spectrum disorders.”

Interestingly, the greatest rate of increase was seen among kids from higher-income households – those at or above 300 percent of the national/federal poverty level (FPL). Children living in poverty experienced the highest number of disability, but not the highest rate of growth in comparison.

Thus, researchers were able to conclude disability in childhood is on the rise, and is occurring in both advantaged and disadvantaged families.

The study findings were presented in Washington, D.C., during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting. The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) are four individual pediatric organizations that co-sponsor the PAS annual meeting. They are the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Academic Pediatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Members of these organizations are pediatricians and other health care providers who are practicing in the academic and clinical research.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Childhood Disability Rate Has Increased is a post from: The Inquisitr

Burn Notice has one season left in telling the story of Michael Westen, a spy disavowed by the US government now seeking the identity of the person(s) who “burned” him. Along the way, Westen has helped troubled souls in Miami with the aid of FBI agent Sam (Bruce Campbell) and ex-girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar).

For all 98 episodes thus far, Jeffrey Donovan has taken the lead role of Westen, and even though he’ll be wrapping up his run on the show, USA has left the door open on revisiting the series at other times and in other iterations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The network has already done a television movie directed by Donovan and starring fan fave Bruce Campbell in Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe.

(Campbell fans shouldn’t take today’s news too hard — he could soon be reprising his most famous role as Ash from the Evil Dead films in Army of Darkness 2.)

The film was in 2011, the same year the series won an AdAge Vanguard Award for its digital graphic novel A New Day. Repeats will continue to air on USA sister station Esquire.

“From day one, Burn Notice‘s characters, storylines and mythology have consistently captivated a massive audience, and this final season will raise the stakes even higher, leading up to a spectacular series finale,” USA co-presidents Jeff Wachtel and Chris McCumber said in a statement.

The show was renewed last November for a final 13-episode run.

Here’s a sneak peek at the trailer:

As for series creator Matt Nix, he will continue to work with USA Network on a medical drama currently in development.

Deadline had the scoop on Complications, which Nix will write and executive produce.

It follows the story of an ER doctor whose life changes after his involvement in a gang shooting, “when he is forced to explore how active a doctor can be in treating the cause of his patients’ medical problems,” the website noted.

How excited are you for the final season of Burn Notice?

[Image via Glenn Watson/USA Network]

‘Burn Notice’ Calling It Quits With Seventh Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Chicago Bulls will be without Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, and Luol Deng when they face off in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Head coach Tom Thibodeau announced that the three men would sit out of Game 3 during his Friday morning press conference.

Derrick Rose sitting out of Game 3 is no surprise, Rose hasn’t stepped on the court since tearing his left ACL on April 28, 2012. Rose underwent surgery on May 12 but said he would be willing to return during the postseason. Before Rose can return he must receive the go ahead from Bulls management.

Luol Deng has been sitting out since undergoing a test for spinal meningitis. After being in and out of the hospital Deng dropped 15 pounds from the flue and complications from the spinal tap.

Talking about his illness Luol Deng said:

“It’s hard, man. We’ve had a long season. I’ve played with a lot of injuries. I’ve went through the wrist [injury] with torn ligaments. I had a fractured thumb, I played with it. I just went through all that to be able to play. I just didn’t think something besides an injury would keep me out, and that’s what makes it really hard. I don’t know what you can do.”

Kirk Hinrich is also out after undergoing a second MRI on Thursday. Hinrich bruised his left calf and according to Thibodeau it has “improved some” but still requires Hinrich to “keep working at it.”

The Bulls lost to the Miami Heat in Game 2, allowing the series to be tied at one game a piece.

Do you think the Chicago Bulls can win a championship with Rose, Hinrich, and Deng sitting out?

Chicago Bulls Injury Report: Rose, Deng and Hinrich Out For Game 3 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Disney’s Brave princess got a makeover, and the new design is debuting to less than stellar reviews online.

The Disney and Pixar film Brave was a huge critical and box office success, with many critics praising the story line and principal cast of strong female characters. The film’s star was Merida, voiced by actress Kelly Macdonald, a headstrong and tough Scottish princess who defied Hollywood’s cookie-cutter aesthetic.

Merida will soon be dubbed an official Disney princess, causing execs to have her undergo a bit of a makeover with a skinnier waist, higher cheekbones and a lot of hair conditioner. In the words of MSN Now, Merida looks “more Barbie than Artemis.”

The website EssentialKids noted that the thing that originally set her apart from other Disney princesses, her bow and arrow, is also missing. As Disney’s 11th princess, it seems her visual characterization has been softened to make her more resemble her demure counterparts.

That’s a sad prospect to many, especially since Brave’s writer and co-director Brenda Chapman said that she created Merida as a princess that parents would be proud to have their daughters look up to.

“… My goal was to offer up a different kind of princess — a stronger princess that both mothers and daughters could relate to,” she said in an interview.

Apparently, the concept worked. The Brave princess makeover has caused quite the backlash, with a change.org petition launched to have Merida changed back. Thus far, 37,563 people have supported the cause.

“The redesign of Merida … does a tremendous disservice to the millions of children for whom Merida is an empowering role model who speaks to girls’ capacity to be change agents in the world rather than just trophies to be admired,” writes the petition’s author.

“I do not want to see Brave turned into a “Babe”. Leave something for a girl to aspire to besides being arm candy,” wrote one commenter.

Another wrote: “The redesign loses everything that was great about Merida.”

What do you think of Brave‘s princess makeover? Call me obtuse, but I don’t see much difference. Or maybe I should say it could have been a lot worse. Either way, leave us your opinion in the comments below!

‘Brave’ Princess Makeover Inspires Backlash is a post from: The Inquisitr

NBC has canceled Rock Center with Brian Williams after two seasons.

The weekly newsmagazine debuted on October 31, 2011, airing on Mondays until January 30, 2012. The show switched to Wednesdays at 9 temporarily before returning to its Monday 10 pm timeslot. The program then moved back to Wednesdays until it was removed from the NBC lineup last May.

When NBC announced Rock Center‘s second season renewal, the program was moved to Thursdays at 10, but it has since been moved again to Fridays at 10. Because of the numerous scheduling changes, Rock Center was never really able to land a steady audience, although it did receive critical acclaim for its reporting. The program also pulled major exclusives for NBC, including an interview with Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, for which NBC sports anchor Bob Costas earned an Emmy. The May 10 episode will feature an exclusive interview with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie about his secret weight loss surgery.

Rock Center will air its final broadcast on June 21.

“I’m so proud of the work we did. Our people got shot at for this broadcast. They pulled countless all-nighters. They investigated, cajoled, hustled and cared deeply,” Brian Williams said in a statement. “They won awards, won the respect of their colleagues and produced great television journalism.”

Fortunately for Williams, he still has his day job as an anchor for Nightly News. Rock Center was a second outlet for him, since NBC management felt that he was being underused on that program.

With the cancellation of Rock Center, NBC is now down to one newsmagazine, Dateline, which is largely devoted to crime stories. The program debuted in 1992 with Stone Phillips and Jane Pauley as co-anchors, and went through a few anchor changes in its 20+ year run. Most recently, Lester Holt replaced Ann Curry at the start of season 20, shortly after Curry became a permanent co-host on the Today Show.

Are you disappointed that NBC has canceled Rock Center?

‘Rock Center With Brian Williams’ Canceled is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Japanese yen’s collapse was feared on Friday as the currency dropped to a 4 1/2 year low against the US dollar. The collapse was felt throughout the market as Japanese investors moved toward buying more foreign assets.

The yen’s value slipped to 101.98 per dollar, the lowest for the Japanese currency since October 2008. The currency’s technical collapse helped Japanese stocks outperform all others by a wide margin.

Markets elsewhere stayed solid at the end of the week, which saw several indexes around the world into all-time highs. The Dow Jones industrial average closed over 15,000 for the first time this week.

The yen’s collapse on Friday comes after the currency was put under intense pressure by the new government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe is attempting to get the world’s number 3 economy out of a two-decade stagnation. Japan has seen about 15 years of deflation where the nation’s economy grew minimally.

However, Abe announced a “three-arrow” plan, which includes printing more yen by the Bank of Japan. His hope is to hit an inflation target of two percent per year. Some financial experts say the dollar will rise to be worth 105 yen or more by summer and at least 110 by the end of the year.

The yen’s collapse should also help Japanese exports, at least in the short term. The export help is part of Prime Minister Abe’s plan for the Japanese market. However, some US automakers have accused the Japanese prime minister of manipulating the country’s currency to give the country’s competition an unfair advantage.

Morgan Stanley announced that Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, will end up getting about $1,500 per car in benefits. The yen’s collapse will also likely encourage Japanese automakers to spend more money on better components or accessories rather than cutting prices to beat out their competitors.

It is unclear what the yen’s future will be after its technical collapse on Friday.

[Image via ShutterStock]

Yen Collapse Feared As Dollar Breaks Through 100 Yen Mark is a post from: The Inquisitr

Long-time Colorado Avalanche superstar Joe Sakic is returning to the team as the new Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. The Avalanche announced the decision on Friday in hopes of rebuilding after falling apart in the 2013 season.

Colorado fell to the bottom of the NHL’s Western Conference in 2013 and have now failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. During his time as a player for the Avalanche, Sakic led the team to the playoffs in 11 straight seasons from 1994 to 2006. The first being with the Quebec Nordiques before the team officially moved to Denver, Colorado.

Joe Sakic played his entire 20-year career for the organization before retiring after appearing in 15 games in 2008-09. In 1,378 career games, Sakic scored 625 goals and added 1,016 assists.

He was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in November of 2012. He earned the right to join the greats in the Hall as he was named an NHL All-Star 13-times and brought home two Stanley Cups.

He now returns to the game as an executive for the team he carried for all those years. Outside of naming Joe Sakic the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, the Avalanche also announced that Josh Kroenke is the new team President.

Former President Pierre Lacroix stepped down from the role and will now serve as an adviser to the team. After being appointed, Kroenke announced the addition of Joe Sakic to the front office.

“I am thrilled to announce that Joe Sakic has agreed to become Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Avalanche,” Kroenke said in a statement on Friday. “In that role, Joe will be in charge of all hockey-related decisions moving forward.”

Sakic has a difficult task ahead of him as he looks to make the Avalanche competitive again. Before bringing in the talent on the ice, he’ll first start by finding a new head coach.

The Avalanche fired coach Joe Sacco only days after the team lost 3-1 to the Minnesota Wild to end the season. Sakic and the rest of the Avalanche’s front office will now begin the process of interviewing for the new opening behind the bench in the coming weeks. As the offseason progresses, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sakic bring in more talent as he’s always been considered one of the most respected men in professional hockey.

Did the Colorado Avalanche make the right decision in giving Joe Sakic control of hockey operations?

[Image via Håkan Dahlström]

Joe Sakic Returns To Colorado Avalanche As Executive is a post from: The Inquisitr

Doswell, VA — The Tamerlan Tsarnaev burial reportedly took local officials by surprise, and they will explore the possibility of undoing it if any laws were broken.

The Boston Marathon bombing suspect was laid to rest yesterday in a small Muslim cemetary in Caroline County in central Virginia, about 15 miles from Richmond.

Officials said that the community is generally shocked and stunned about the Tsarnaev burial site in Doswell and will look into any legal avenues that may be available to them. They apparently weren’t even aware of it until their phone started ringing off the hook with media inquiries.

The burial was reportedly arranged by 48-year-old Richmond resident Martha Mullen, who contacted the private cemetery independently after she heard reports on NPR that dozens of burial grounds refused to take the body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Said Floyd Thomas, chairman of the board of supervisors of Caroline County: “As long as everything was done legally, there’s really very little we can do. What we would do is make sure that all of the laws regarding this particular burial were  adhered to. If they were not, then I believe we would have to look at undoing what happened.”

Noting that he has the obligation to enforce the rights of everyone whether he agrees or not, Sheriff Tony Lippa similarly said, however, that he would follow up to make sure all applicable laws were followed, and if not, he would seek to take measures to have the body removed. The office of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is also looking into the matter according to the sheriff.

Lippa also expressed concern about potential public safety issues, adding that the county does not budget for cemetary protection. Defacing a burial site is a felony under Virginia law.

On behalf of his constituents, Supervisor Thomas insisted that “We don’t want the county to be remembered as the resting place for the remains of someone who committed a terrible crime.” Added Thomas: “We have the same feelings as the rest of the country… the same feelings as the folks in Boston have. This is Caroline. You sing Sweet Caroline; we are Caroline.”

A statement from Caroline County Administrator Charles M. Culley Jr. indicated that officials were effectively blindsided by the Tsarnaev burial location: “Caroline County was not consulted or given any input into the decision-making process for determining a burial site for this individual. We would much prefer to be associated with positive news reports from the national media, but unfortunately had no say in the matter.”

Tamerlan Tsarnaev Burial May Be ‘Undone’ By Virginia Officials is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you were keeping up with the Kardashians, you probably saw the red flags that led to Kim Kardashian’s divorce from Kris Humphries.

If you didn’t, psychologist Melanie Tannenbaum used the couple’s short-lived marriage to illustrate exactly why people split up in an article for Scientific American.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were married for 72 days, and we were there for every uncomfortable minute of their relationship, which was documented on the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. 

According to Tannenbaum, the couple actually did us a solid by inviting us to watch their marriage fall apart, by providing us with a “play-by-play demonstration of exactly what not to do in your own romantic relationships.”

It’s a great article, which you can read in its entirety here, but the gist of it is that Kim and Kris followed a pretty concise formula that results in divorce.

That formula involves four key “tells,” called, believe it or not, the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (the apocalypse being your impending divorce).

They are: Contempt, criticism, stonewalling and defensiveness.

And yes, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries displayed every single one throughout the course of their televised marriage.

Check it out! Criticism:

Stonewalling:

Contempt:

Defensiveness:

Kim seems to be doing better now that she’s settling down with Kanye West, but the two are understandably media shy after all of the criticism that rained down on her for her short marriage to Humphries.

Tannenbaum concludes:

“Regardless of whether or not Kim ties the knot for the third time, taking a good look at her past relationship behavior might help her figure out what went so terribly wrong in the past. Hopefully, she will bring less criticism and defensiveness into her relationship with Kanye, and maybe Kanye won’t be as likely to stonewall during arguments or treat Kim with contempt.”

Do you think there are lessons to be learned from Kim Kardashian’s divorce?

[Image via: admedia, Shutterstock]

Kim Kardashian Divorce Illustrates Exactly Why People Split, Says Psychologist is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cee Lo Green will soon be starring in a new reality show on TBS called The CeeLo Life.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, TBS has ordered six episodes of The CeeLo Life. The new reality series will premiere sometime in 2014.

TBS program chief Michael Wright said in a statement: “With his distinctive voice, winning personality and remarkable ability to tap into a wide range of musical styles, CeeLo Green has risen to the top of the music industry. This new TBS series will give viewers the chance to get to know CeeLo Green, who is without a doubt one of the hardest working men in show business.”

USA Today reports that the reality series will follow the musician as he makes his way through the music industry. The singer will be performing, recording, and producing on the new show as well as working with his friends Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo as they work to bring the hip-hop group Goodie Mob to the world stage.

Green said: “We are honored for this opportunity to entertain and extend the life of a long legacy of classic programming at TBS — which in our book stands for The Best Station.”

CeeLo Green was a mainstay on television during his time on The Voice but the singer left the show before the start of this season. CeeLo may not be on The Voice anymore but he has stopped by this season.

Are you excited for CeeLo Green’s new reality show?

[Image Via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Cee Lo Green Reality Show Picked Up By TBS is a post from: The Inquisitr

Investor Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management are offering Dell shareholders a second privatization offer than they says is a better deal than Michael Dell’s own recent recommendation.

The new deal from Icahn would give Dell shareholders the option to retain shares and take an additional $12 per share in cash or stock.  The deal opposes Michael Dell’s offering which simply provides investors with a sell off price of $13.65 per share.

Since Michael Dell announced the deal Icahn has been its biggest opponent, claiming that Michael Dell is too cheaply selling Dell shares. Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management own a combined 13 percent share of Dell. Michael Dell and his partners control   a larger 16 percent share.

Speaking about his own plan for the company Carl Icahn writes:

“You now have the opportunity to ameliorate the damage that we believe you have caused to Dell and its shareholders by following the fair and reasonable path set forth in this letter.”

When appearing on CNBC’s Fast Money Halftime Report Icahn ripped into the Dell board of directors. Icahn claims shareholders “literally get screwed’ if the Michael Dell plan moves forward.

Icahn says during the interview that he would oust Michael Dell under his own plan. Icahn says:

“He will not be running the company. It’s not that I have anything against [Michael] Dell. I’m sure he’s a very nice guy, but it’s a new world out there.”

Ironically it is the “new world out there” that has forced Michael Dell to seek privatization. Dell and his board of directors have had a hard time adapting to new technologies which often require that they answer to public shareholders. Dell wants to take the company private so he can work with groundbreaking and unproven new technologies such as the cloud based OS mobile computer system on a USB stick known as the Dell Ophelia.

Do you think Michael Dell or Carl Icahn can bring Dell into the future of mobile and cloud based computing?

Carl Icahn Says Dell Investors ‘Literally Getting Screwed’ By Privatization Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Normally Jimmy Kimmel makes the viral rounds for his “Lie Witness News” segments, but late night host Jay Leno had a spot that gives Kimmel a run for his money. Leno’s gas station prank is going viral today, but not due to concept. The show stealers are the prank’s subjects, a black man with a golden signing voice, and his wife, dying of laughter in the car.

We’ll explain.

In Leno’s gas station prank, a fake news report plays at the pump while Will Sims pumps gas. Suddenly, the faux-anchor starts talking to Sims, who is singing to himself while his gas pumps.

Sims suddenly realizes the TV is talking to him, and the anchor offers to pay for his gas if he performs a song.

Sims, an “80s kid,” chooses Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and delivers a beautiful rendition at the pump, in broad daylight, with other customers watching.

But Sims doesn’t care. He sings his heart out like no one is watching.

The viral nature of the clip comes from Sims’ wife, Monifa, who quickly realizes what is going on, and breaks down into robust laughter in the car. The faux-anchor notices she is laughing and asks if she wants to come out for a duet.

“Nah, I’ll leave her in there,” Sims says.

The faux-anchor then declares that Sims is “livin’ on a free tank of gas,” causing Sims to burst into an impromptu ad-libbed version of the Bon Jovi song, in which he sings that he’s “livin’ on a tank of gas.”

Then a random bystander walks in, wondering what the hell is going on. Later, Monifa gives “Sweet Dreams” a go, and she’s pretty damn good too!

It’s hilarious. Check out the Leno gas station prank below:

Leno Gas Station Prank Turns Couple Into Viral Sensations [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bryan Zuniga was able to outrun the police after a traffic stop but he wasn’t able to outrun the wildlife. A gator caught the suspect as he tried to flea police near a water treatment plant in St. Petersburg, Florida.

According to 10 News, officers tried to pull Zuniga over after he was reportedly seen swerving in and out of lanes through Pinellas County. When Zuniga finally stopped his car, he opened the door and ran through a fence to escape police.

Zuniga, 20, managed to elude the police but he was stopped by a law-abiding gator. The alligator attacked the suspect, inflicting wounds to the man’s face and arms. Zuniga managed to escape the alligator but had to check himself into the hospital to be treated for his wounds.

The officers were waiting for him when he was released.

Zuniga was charged with breaking a fence, fleeing police, and driving with a suspended license. He was also charged with resisting arrest.

According to WLTX, the bizarre incident could have fatal consequences for the alligator. The Florida Fish And Wildlife service is supposed to put down any alligator that attacks a human. People in the community are protesting, however, saying that the alligator was just protecting its eggs when Zuniga ran by.

Carey Brodnick, who lives in the area, said: “He got in her way … She was protecting her eggs.”

Gator Catches Suspect On Run From Police is a post from: The Inquisitr

Do you want to try some lion tacos? Well, don’t go to Taco Fusion. The Florida restaurant has pulled the interesting item from its menu after several customers complained about using the exotic animal in a taco.

Ryan Gougeon, the owner of the Florida restaurant, said that he received several complaints and even threats about his lion tacos.

Gougeon said: We’re getting all kinds of threats over it … Now we’re getting bomb threats, and everything else. Some guy just called and said he’d kidnap me and grind me up for a taco. There are so many coming in we aren’t counting.”

Gougeon eventually decided that the lion tacos weren’t worth all of the hassle. The tacos, which were available for $35, were pulled from the menu this week.

Taco Fusion wrote in a statement: “Some of you were supportive, some of you were angry. We listened to everyone and decided to no longer carry lion.”

You may not be able to get lion tacos anymore at Taco Fusion but there are still plenty of other unique options available. The restaurant currently has beaver, otter, shark, rattlesnake and kangaroo tacos on the menu.

What do you think of the lion tacos? Are you surprised that the restaurant caved into the threats and pulled the item from the menu?

Lion Tacos Pulled From Menu At Florida Restaurant is a post from: The Inquisitr

From the very beginning Baz Luhrmann’s production of The Great Gatsby promises an epic visual spectacle, and because of his unique vision he delivers on a level like no other. That said, if you’re hoping The Great Gatsby lives up to what some deem to be the greatest American novel in history, then don’t bother with Luhrmann’s latest flick. Once you look past the visual spectacle of bombastic sounds and vibrant colors, one is bound to be dissatisfied with the empty structure Luhrmann’s production has left for the viewer to piece together.

The plot to The Great Gatsby is simple and its set up doesn’t deviate from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel.  The roaring twenties is in full bloom, and our narrator Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) has just moved to New York City during the summer of 1922. Across the way is the elusive war vet known simply as Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), a would-be millionaire that throws lavish parties for all. He has the clothes, the best entertainers, and the most decadent in home design. Setting him apart from the world of excess in wealth, once Carraway receives an invite to said party and indulges in Gatsby’s lifestyle; he brings forth an observant role to his surroundings.  Carraway’s cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) is in a constricting marriage to old money man Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) but has a past with the mysterious Gatsby that ultimately reveals the millionaire to all parties involved as nothing more than a facade.

The same could be said about Luhrmann’s ultimate vision of The Great Gatsby. By not twisting any concrete plot details to the film, Luhrmann gives off the illusion that he’s done a solid job with directing a true to story adaptation, but it’s misleading. The hyper-glossed visuals oftentimes so excessive, the film looks like it was put through a Gaussian filter for Instagram lovers. While that could impress the millennial generation, all it really does is mask the fact that there’s no bones outside of the basic skeleton Luhrmann has to work with. The moral of the story about how prominent the strife was to capture the American dream is to people of this era completely escapes Luhrmann’s film. Instead his film acts as mental masturbation, by swallowing the story up in an artificial world universally celebrated by the characters. Sure it all looks spectacular but it does nothing to flesh the story out.

When the actors are given something to do most of them succeed. Leonardo DiCaprio is the perfect Jay Gatsby, and has one of the best climatic introductions of any film. The build up to his character is certainly climatic, with Carraway narrating the wonder of who Gatsby really is in juxtaposition to the outside perspective of various illusive stereotypes that plague his image. Gatsby is a man who is said to have a smile that has “a quality of eternal reassurance” and as DiCaprio turns around with fireworks exploding behind his frame, you believe it. For DiCaprio, one could easily deduce that there’s something pulling him towards the character. Growing up in the industry and often being portrayed as different versions of himself proves to be a perfect fit for the pedestal Gatsby is perched on.  Seeing DiCaprio in the role of the deceiver isn’t something new for him, but in a few select scenes he emotes in ways we haven’t seen from him in a few years. One highlight of the film happens in a hotel room that sees all of the hidden relationships collide in an explosive way that is served by fantastic performances by both Edgerton and DiCaprio.

As far as performers that are essentially wasted, Isla Fisher’s character is completely thrown away and is just used as a plot device. It’s a shame as the actress has proved to be a dynamic personality on screen, and definitely one that could have suited Luhrmann’s world. The lowest of the low goes to Carey Mulligan who takes the role of the superficial, unhappy wife, and drapes herself lifelessly against the lavish sets. She’s all the glitz of Marilyn Monroe without the spark. In most scenes it’s a head scratcher to why Gatsby would go through all the trouble to create such an image for Mulligan’s Daisy.

The cartoonish world created for The Great Gatsby is a perfect fit for Tobey Maguire, who is surprisingly engaging as the narrator. On the flip side, the hip soundtrack used to modernize and offset the film completely distracts one from being truly taken with the world created from the twenties. For instance, when an antique car bumps to Jay-Z’s “H to The Izzo” it gets a huge laugh, but for all the wrong reasons. Its this kind of noncommittal by Luhrmann that makes The Great Gatsby dim in its overall luster.

THE GREAT GATSBY IS OUT IN THEATERS NOW.

‘The Great Gatsby’ Paints A Glitzy Facade [Review] is a post from: The Inquisitr

By now, you’ve probably seen the “student lectures teacher” viral video, in which a student named Jeff Bliss is excused from a class, but not before he criticizes his teacher’s pedagogy and tells her she needs to inspire her students for the sake of our country’s future.

Since the viral video, Jeff Bliss has given his first TV interview and, surprise, he’s not backing down.

In the original clip, a frustrated Bliss was kicked out of his class, and despite his teacher’s repeated “byes” and “get outs,” he argued for the value of good education and called his teacher out for not caring about the academic success of her class.

“When you come in here like you did last time and make a statement about ‘oh this is my paycheck,’ indeed it is. But this is my country’s future and my education,” Bliss said.

Since the video went viral, Bliss was interviewed by a local TV station about his passionate speech, and said that he doesn’t regret what he said.

“I want to see a teacher stand up and interact with the students, get involved, discuss, talk, question,” the 18-year-old explained.

For Bliss, whose own mother is a teacher, education has always been a tough road. He dropped out of school for a year, but says that he returned when he realized the true value of his education.

Due to the video, he is set to meet with a school principal this week. We’re not sure what to expect, but if you’re an official at Jeff Bliss’ school, do us a solid, whip out your iPhone, and record it.

Jeff Bliss, Student Who Lectured Teacher, Gives An Interview [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

     This is by far the most annoying word processing problem.

          Have you ever noticed how this mistake always seems to happen five minutes before a project is due at school or work?

               What is your least favorite part about Microsoft Word?

Thanks A Lot For The Indent Feature Microsoft Word is a post from: The Inquisitr

The MLB will be using pink-stitched baseballs this Mother’s Day.

The league typically uses baseballs with 108 red stitches but this Mother’s Day they’ll be switching it up a little bit in support of breast cancer research and mom’s everywhere.

The league decided to use pink baseballs on Mother’s Day this year in order to increase their efforts in support of breast cancer research. The league has frequently shown their support for the cause over the years and Mother’s Day has become one of the pinkest days in major league sports.

Yahoo Sports reports that the league has been using pink gear on Mother’s Day since 2006. Several players use pink baseball bats when they step up to the plate while others also use pink batting gloves. This will be the first time that the league uses pink-stitched baseballs.

The MLB revealed the new balls on Twitter, writing: “New baseballs w/ pink stitching/graphics for Mother’s Day from Rawlins Sports.”

According to NESN, some of the gear used on Sunday will be auctioned off to support cancer research. The league will also be selling pink memorabilia (everything from clothes to bracelets to bats to baseballs) to raise money for charity.

New baseballs w/ pink stitching/graphics for Mother’s Day from @rawlingssports twitter.com/MLB_PR/status/…

— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) May 9, 2013

Pink-Stitched Baseballs To Make Debut On Mother’s Day is a post from: The Inquisitr

West, TX — A criminal probe was launched on Friday in the Texas fertilizer plant blast investigation. The massive explosion happened on April 17 and killed 14 people.

The criminal probe announcement came after almost a month of investigators treating the blast as an industrial accident. It also came the same day as a paramedic who helped residents evacuate was arrested on a charge of possessing a destructive device.

It is unclear if the charge is related to the explosion at West Fertilizer Co. In a statement on Friday, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that it instructed the Texas Rangers and the McLennan County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a criminal probe into the Texas blast.

DPS Director Stephen McCraw explained, “This disaster has severely impacted the community of West, and we want to ensure that no stone goes unturned and that all the facts related to this incident are uncovered.

The statement did not detail any further reasons for launching a criminal investigation, though McLennan County Sheriff Parnell MacNamara added that residents “must have confidence that this incident has been looked at from every angle and professionally handled — they deserve nothing less.”

Meanwhile, the paramedic’s arrest was transferred to federal court, where he appeared on Friday. The man, Bryce Reed, 31, had a high profile in the days after the Texas fertilizer plant explosion. He was arrested after a friend discovered he had explosives and notified the local sheriff.

According to court documents, Reed amassed components for a pipe bomb. The materials were not yet assembled into a working bomb. The US attorney’s office added of Reed’s arrest, “At this time, authorities will not speculate whether the possession of the unregistered destructive device has any connection to the West fertilizer plant explosion.”

Reed gave interviews in the days after the Texas blast and also eulogized victim Cyrus Reed at a public memorial. The cause of the explosion, which killed 14, injured more than 200, and damaged or destroyed more than 75 homes and businesses, has not yet been discovered.

Are you surprised to hear the Texas fertilizer plant blast is the subject of a criminal probe?

Criminal Probe Launched In Texas Fertilizer Plant Blast is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lena Horne, legendary American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer, has died at the age of 92. At least, that’s what the New York Times and the Sacramento Bee would have you believe. So is it true?

Yes and no.

Horne died in 2010, but Twitter users are still apparently mourning her death today after a report hit the web telling of her death at the age of 92. Lena Horne did die on May 9, 2010, in New York City of heart failure.

Citing a New York Times article, the Sacramento Bee reported today, May 10, 2013 that Horne has just died. We have no idea who wrote the article or how long it was up, but it appeared to have made an impression before it was taken down.

The Root first noticed that the Twitter conversation regarding Lena Horne’s death had ramped up today, theorizing that the social media chatter was owed to the anniversary of her death, which was yesterday.

Social media has accidentally started celebrity death hoaxes in the past (sometimes based on errant or false reports), “killing off” Cher, Tony Yayo, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and many more. But as Tracy Clayton notes, this might be the first time a celebrity has been killed off on social media after death.

The true cause of Lena Horne’s death-after-death seems to be the Sacramento Bee story. It’s possible the author made a careless mistake and didn’t know that Horne passed away years ago. We’ll probably never know, but we’ll let you know if they release a retraction.

For now, this is the only evidence the article that likely started the Twitter memorial ever existed. Clicking the link leads to a 404 error:

Here are a couple of tweets from people who think Lena Horne died today:

Lena Horne, Sultry Singer and Actress, Dies at 92: nyti.ms/zxy2UM

— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) May 10, 2013

RIP to legendary actress/singer & Atlanta’s own #LenaHorne What a beautiful person & soul. She will be surely missed

— Carlos Scott (@NVisionMarketin) May 10, 2013

Just learned that Lena Horne passed away. Saddened. A legend. A true star.

— Sandi Fitch Hutton (@SandiFitchHutt) May 10, 2013

Did you fall for Lena Horne’s Twitter death hoax?

Lena Horne, Legendary Entertainer, Dies At 92 … Again is a post from: The Inquisitr