Other News

Breaking News News

Massive Earthquake, Tsunami Hit Japan

Last Friday there was a massive earthquake in Japan. It measured 9 on the Richter Scale, which is the scale that is used to measure how bad an earthquake is. This is the worst earthquake Japan had in 140 years, and they’ve had a lot of them. It was the fifth most powerful earthquake ever in in the world.

The earthquake caused buildings to “shake like palm trees,” according to one witness. Fortunately, because Japan does have a lot of earthquakes most of their buildings are built to be able to withstand them.

Kids

Great Things To Do In Quebec

In grade four, students in Ontario, PEI and Nova Scotia start to learn French in school. To show our son Anton just how wonderful French culture is, I suggested our family visit Quebec City over March Break.

Then I put Anton in charge of planning the trip.

Anton started his research sites like www.TripAdvisor.com and www.bonjourquebec.com, Quebec’s tourism site. He also talked with Micheline Lachance from Tourisme Quebec.

Anton: I’m dying to see the Ice Hotel. It seems impossible. What’s it like?

Micheline: The tour shows you what each type of room is like and how you can sleep on an ice bed and drink in ice glasses. Each room has ice sculptures with different scenes of nature.

Anton: I read Quebec produces about 80 per cent of the world’s maple syrup. Is March a good time to visit a sugar shack?

News

Spiderman: The Musical (Crash! Ka-Boom!)

There is a new musical playing in New York called Spider Man: Turn On the Dark, based on the popular comic book character Spiderman.

A musical is a type of play performed live onstage, but instead of telling the story by speaking, the actors sing. The music for Spiderman was written by Bono and The Edge from the band U2.

This musical hasn’t actually officially opened yet, but it has already received a lot of attention and not because it’s a really good musical. Spiderman has received so much attention because many actors have been hurt during the performances. There have been broken limbs, cracked bones and internal bleeding whenever an actor falls from the rafters.

Health Sports

Much Talk About Concussions In Sports

There have been a lot of articles in the newspapers about concussions recently. A concussion happens when you hit your head, hard. For instance, if you run into a tree on the playground, or if someone hits you in the head when you’re playing a sport, or if you fall down and hit your head hard on the ground you can get a concussion.

That’s why in many sports, you must wear a helmet. Helmets can often help prevent a concussion.

Sometimes people go unconscious (black out) when they get a concussion but sometimes they don’t. Research shows that people who have just been hit in the head usually don’t know when they have a concussion.

Technology

Apple Unveils The iPad 2

Last year Apple invented an amazing new piece of technology, called the iPad. It was different from anything anyone had seen before. It is a slim, flat screen but it acts like a computer. And because it’s a “touch-screen,” you use your fingers to move and open files.

Last week, Apple announced the iPad 2, a new and improved version of the iPad.

The company was very excited about the iPad 2. In fact, the head of the company, Steve Jobs, has been away sick for a long time but he came back to make the announcement himself.

Breaking News Politics

Protests In Libya Turn Violent

The people of Libya want rid of their leader, Moammar Gadhafi. He has been a brutal dictator for many years and they want him to step down.

They have been taking to the streets in protest.

However, Gadhafi (pronounced Ga-daf-fee)* refuses to leave. He said that he is “loved” by the Libyan people and he will never go.

Health

McDonald’s Manages To Make Oatmeal Unhealthy

Here’s a trick question: How many ingredients are there in oatmeal?

One, right? OK, even if you count the oats and the water, that’s two. So… two at most, right?

Not when you get oatmeal at McDonald’s.

The fast-food chain, noted for making food that is very bad for you, has recently added oatmeal to its menu as a healthy option for customers in the United States.

Breaking News Politics

Mayor Ford Looking Into Fishy Spending

In Toronto, as in many large cities, there are lots of people who cannot afford to live in a house or an apartment.

To make it easier for people to afford housing, the city offers low-priced apartments.There are more than 100,000 people in Toronto who live in low-cost housing.

Those apartments are managed by a department of the city called the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC). The people at TCHC are supposed to use our tax money to buy houses and apartments that are then rented at a low cost by people who haven’t got a lot of money. It’s big responsibility.

Arts

Textile Museum Showing Intricate Works In Thread

Toronto has many wonderful museums. Most people are familiar with the Royal Ontario Museum (the one with the dinosaurs!). But did you know there is a shoe museum with shoes from all through the ages? And a ceramic museum that displays beautiful pottery from many countries?

One of our most interesting museums is the Textile Museum of Canada. The word “textile” means “cloth,” or “fabric.”

There are many beautiful works of art that have been made out of, or painted on, or sewn into fabric. The Textile Museum displays the work of talented artists who happen to work in fabric.

Entertainment

Justin Bieber Has A New ‘Do – And He’s Dating!

Justin Bieber got a haircut.
Yes, there – we’ve said it. Justin Bieber has cut his hair.

The famous teen idol was shorn on celebrity gossip TV show TMZ, changing his famous hairdo from lanky locks to more of a tousled bed-hair look.
Whether you love him or you hate him, you’ve got to admit that the Stratford, Ont. native has a lot of power. After all, who else’s locks could sell for $7,000 (and counting) on eBay?