Vaccinations, Grammys, and ISIS (again)… oh, dear. Most college students are too busy to download and use a news app, let alone watch the news or pick up an actual print newspaper. But no worries, here is a crash course of some of the key current events for your skimming pleasure.
Smallpox is coming back? Well, maybe not smallpox, but measles is definitely back. It all began after an initial infection of 102 people in Disneyland (California, not Florida. Your spring break is still okay). But these are people from all over the country, including Arizona, which was conveniently the place the Super Bowl was held several weekends ago. Most health workers, today, have never treated a case of measles, as it was declared eradicated in 2000 by federal health workers. However, now, they are being trained to recognize symptoms and isolate patients. So when you go to the campus health center, they will ask you if you have measles, not Ebola. On to the next plague.
For those who do not have cable, or are too busy with naps to pay attention to award shows, Snapchat was kind enough to remind us of what was going on at the Grammys. As expected, Ryan Seacrest was there, doing what he does best -- just being famous and pretty and showing up. Beyoncé rolled up like the queen she is and looked like an angel in her statement performance. Sam Smith swept away the audience and the awards, winning his first Grammy as Best New Artist. Kanye, of course, could not help but make his presence known -- 2009 style -- but this time he did not grab the mic). Some guy named Beck won album of the year, causing more than just a little stir in the media.
Bruce Jenner suddenly becomes the most interesting member of that one famous family (you know the one I’m talking about). From rumors of transgender transition plans to his involvement in a fatal accident, Jenner is all over the place these days. Yes, you read that right. Jenner reportedly wants to physically transition into a woman’s body, and also was involved in an accident that killed one person and injured seven others in Malibu, Calif. Understandably devastated, but uninjured, Jenner has passed sobriety tests and was not influenced by paparazzi. His text records, however, are being examined to determine if he was using his phone at the time of the accident. As if we needed another reason not to text and drive.
ISIS is still rearing its ugly and violent heads. After a video showing them burning alive a Jordanian pilot, Jordan fought back. Now, Jordan is promising vengeance against the terrorist group, vowing to wipe out ISIS with airstrikes. No, it is not just America that hates ISIS, but we are fighting back, too. US Secretary of State, John Kerry, promises that America is doing their part to take down ISIS, with a little help from our Middle Eastern friends, when they have troops ready. Bring it on.
Well, there you have it. Just a little taste of what has going on, lately.