From www.mrpopculture.com

Week Of November 8, 2011 In Pop Culture, News, Tech & Entertainment 

(VIDEO) In The News  - A fired government worker with a protest sign dangled for hours from New York’s Tappan Zee Bridge on Monday, backing up traffic for miles before dropping into the Hudson River and being hauled aboard a police boat. Michael Davitt, 54, of Garnerville, N.Y., had been angry about being dismissed in 2008 from his counseling job with the Rockland County mental health department and was well known to law enforcement, county Sheriff James Kralik said.

One year before voters decide whether to re-elect President Barack Obama to a second term, a majority have little faith in his handling of the economy but he still leads his Republican rivals, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Monday.

The first national test of a US national alert system left many Americans confused and some said the system failed in its goal to reach all broadcasters in the country.Many people watching television at 1900 GMT heard the familiar scratchy noises followed by the test announcement – designed to alert Americans of national emergencies — but others apparently did not. In the western state of Oregon, KVAL television said it was among several stations in the area which missed the test. “KVAL TV did show a frame warning that there would be a test, but the test itself was never received,” the station said.

An earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Wednesday night, killing at least three people and leaving dozens trapped in the rubble of toppled buildings damaged in a previous temblor, which had killed 600 people.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s enormous memory lapse at Wednesday’s debate put his campaign in immediate damage-control mode. But not even the candidate–who was unable to recall the third federal agency he would eliminate if he were elected president–is shying away from poking fun at himself for the mistake. At the CNBC Republican presidential debate, Perry stole the show when he tried to name the three agencies he would close, but could only come up with two. It was a 53-second made-for-YouTube mistake that some say could sink his campaign.

Italy’s parliament began rushing through austerity measures demanded by the European Union to avert a euro zone meltdown, after U.S. President Barack Obama ratcheted up pressure for more dramatic action from the currency bloc. Italy’s Senate approved a new budget law, clearing the way for approval of the package in the lower house on Saturday and the formation of an emergency government to replace that of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

A massive storm that battered Alaska’s western coast with hurricane-strength winds and towering sea surges has passed out of the region in a much weaker state, but it left behind widespread damage and worries that a man may have been swept out to a churning sea. So far, 37 communities have reported some form of damage, saidJeremy Zidek, spokesman for the state’s emergency management agency. Most of those communities have opened emergency community shelters, Zidek said.

A chorus of Handel’s “Alleluia” rang out Saturday asSilvio Berlusconi resigned as Italian premier, ending a tumultuous 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing the country back from the brink of economic crisis. Berlusconi stepped down amid jeers, cheers and heckles of “Buffoon” from thousands of people who packed downtown Rome to witness his government’s downfall after a stunning week of market turmoil that upended his defiant hold on power and threatened to tear apart the eurozone.

The Nebraska and Penn State players gathered at midfield before the game, kneeling together for a long moment in a quiet stadium. Sometimes, the most powerful statements are the simplest. Saturday’s game was a combination of pep rally, cleansing and tribute for a Penn State community rocked by the child sex-abuse scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky that cost Joe Paterno his job.

Professional skier Jamie Pierre was killed Sunday afternoon by an avalanche he triggered while he and a friend were snowboarding at Utah’s Snowbird Ski Resort. The resort had not yet opened for the season and conditions throughout the area were hazardous in the aftermath of a major storm.

Riot-clad law enforcement officerscleared out Oakland’s weeks-old anti-Wall Street encampment just before dawn Monday, arresting Occupy demonstrators and removing tents from a downtown plaza after issuing several warnings over the weekend. Protesters appeared to put up little resistance and officers could be seen calmly leading some demonstrators away in plastic handcuffs. Warnings from authorities had been similar to those issued before officers used tear gas and bean bag projectiles to clear the encampment on Oct. 25.

The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear arguments next March over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul — a case that could shake the political landscape as voters are deciding if Obama deserves another term. This decision to hear arguments in the spring sets up an election-year showdown over the White House’s main domestic policy achievement. And it allows plenty of time for a decision in late June, just over four months before Election Day. The justices announced they will hear an extraordinary five-and-a-half hours of arguments from lawyers on the constitutionality of a provision at the heart of the law and three other related questions about the act. The central provision in question is the requirement that individuals buy health insurance starting in 2014 or pay a penalty.

Technology News – Week Of November 8, 2011

Apple has released iOS 5.0.1, an update to its mobile OS that fixes a series of issues that drained the iPhone’s battery. iOS 5.0.1 is the first update to Apple’s iOS 5, which brought the notifications tray, increased performance and iCloud to the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

In addition to fixing the iOS battery issue, 5.0.1. adds multitouch gestures to the original iPad, fixes iCloud bugs and improves voice recognition for Australian iPhone users. This is the first OS update available both via iTunes and over-the-air.

Sports –

Passing – Boxing great Joe Frazier dies. Muhammad Ali drew the crowds, charmed the media and stole the show. But while Ali is deservedly remembered as “The Greatest,” it was Joe Frazier who defined what being a fighter was truly about. Frazier, who died Monday in his Philadelphia home after a fight with liver cancer, is inextricably linked in boxing history with Ali. They competed in two of the most sensational bouts of all-time and defined an era with their fearsome rivalry.

Entertainment news –

Eddie Murphy quit Wednesday as host of this year’s Oscars, a day after the producer resigned over anti-gay comments, leaving organizers scrambling three months before the awards season climax. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak announced Murphy’s departure a day after producer Brett Ratner – director of current box office hit “Tower Heist,” in which Murphy stars — quit as producer of the February show. Billy Crystal will host.

Maury Povich Sleeze – A spokesperson for “Maury” tells Huffington Post that the show has invited “Baby” belter Bieber onto the show, to take a paternity test. (For those who’ve been hiding under a pop culture-repellant rock for the last week, Bieber, 17, has been plagued by accusations leveled by 20-year-old fan Mariah Yeater, who claims that he fathered a child with her when he was 16.) Bieber, who has steadfastly denied Yeater’s claim, has indicated that he’s willing to take a paternity test to clear his, um, name. Whether he wishes to do so under the glare of nationally syndicated television is another matter, but former “Maury” executive producer Amy Rosenblum — who hatched the concept of airing DNA test results on the series — thinks that it could only boost the credibility of Bieber’s denials.

Top albums –

Under the Mistletoe – Justin Bieber

Ambition – Wale

For the Record – Miranda Lambert

21 – Adele

Someone To Watch Over – Susan Boyle

Ceremonials – Florence + The Machine

Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

Christmas – Michael Buble

Open Invitation – Tyrese

Stronger –Kelly Clarkson

Th1rt3en – Megadeth

Clancy’s Tavern – Toby Keith

Clear As Day – Scotty McCreery

Own The Night – Lady Antebellum

Tha Carter IV  – Lil Wayne

Duets II –Tony Bennett

Heavenly Christmas – Jackie Evancho

The Goat Redeo Sessions – Yo-Yo Ma/Stuart Duncan/Edgar Meyer/Chris Thile

Bad As Me – Tom Waits

At the movies –

Immortals (1^st week $32 million)

Jack and Jill (1^st week $26 million)

Puss in Boots

Tower Heist

J. Edgar – (1^st week $11.5 million)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

In Time

Paranormal Activity 3

Footloose

Real Steel

Top TV –