Berkeley Cracks Down on the Homeless

The City of Berkeley, California, a town known for its very liberal-leaning policies, has done something of an about face: It has just adopting a get-tough policy with respect to its homeless population. The Berkeley City Council passed a law that will hire dozens of "monitors" to patrol city streets and parks to root out and report any suspicious or untoward behavior (think aggressive panhandling, public defecation, etc.) by the homeless. The new policy will make it easier for police to enforce various laws, including those banning camping in public places and lying down on commercial streets during the day.

It should come as no surprise that many members of the council had a hard time with the decision. After all, Berkeley is the home to the Free Speech Movement and all manner of anti-establishment causes. Indeed, it was Berkeley's reputation for tolerance and abundant social services that drew a lot of the homeless to the city in the first place.

Theater Chain Embraces No-Children-Allowed Policy

Though ticket sales to the nation's movie theaters have declined, some in the industry believe that adults can be lured back with upscale amenities and adults-only sections. Muvico, a Florida-based chain of movie theaters, is a pioneer in this movement, and their Rosemont 18, a luxury multiplex theater in the Chicago suburb of Rosement, is putting the philosophy into practice -- that is, it caters to adults who want to watch a movie without the distractions and annoyances of antsy toddlers and raucous teens.

Five of the screens in the complex have separate, adults-only balconies which can be reached through the bar inside the theater. Customers can enjoy an array of upscale amenities, including filet-mignon mini-burgers, cocktails, and comfy love seats. In addition, one screen is strictly adults only. Muvico first test-marketed this all-adults strategy in their home state of Florida. Today, four of the chain's 14 theaters have adults-only sections. The company has plans to expand into Charlotte, NC, Los Angeles, New York and Washington.

Web Series Heading to Prime Time

The web-only dramatic series, "Quarterlife" will begin airing hour-long episodes on NBC in early 2008. The series was created by the production team of Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick (whose credits include such television shows as "thirysomething," and "My So-Called Life"), and centers on the character of Dylan Krieger (played by Bitsie Tulloch), a young woman in her 20s who blogs about her circle of friends.

Interestingly enough, the show began as a pilot for ABC, but the network rejected it. As a result, Herskovitz and Zwick retooled the show for the web, and it will retain a web presence on Quarterlife.com even after it begins airing on NBC. The producers also have plans to develop Quarterlife.com into a social networking site.

STDs on the Rise

For the second year in a row, the number of newly diagnosed cases of the three most common sexually transmitted diseases has risen. The diseases in question are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the rise is due in part to risky sexual behavior.

Particularly troubling is the rise in the cases of syphilis because, in previous years, great advances had been made in preventing the disease. In fact, officials note that it was on the verge of being eliminated. Why are STD rates going up? Officials believe that it can be attributed to insufficient pubic health funds, and an increase in risky sexual behavior among some groups.

Writers of the World Plan Protests in Support of the WGA

Writers from multiple countries -- including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico, and Britain -- will be showing their support for the ongoing Writers Guild Strike by staging what is being billed as an "international day of solidarity." About 21,000 writers will be taking part in various protests in the aforementioned cities on November 28.

The plan was hatched at a meeting of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds, which took place in Montreal last Thursday. Members realized that a contract that undermines and shortchanges their American counterparts will have a ripple effect in their own countries.

New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas Obliterated

The New Frontier Hotel/Casino was imploded on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. The hotel was the second property to ever open on the Las Vegas Strip, and, in what is perhaps its greatest claim to fame, was the scene of Elvis Presley's Las Vegas debut back in 1956.

With its cowboy/Wild West motif, it also had the distinction of being Las Vegas' first-ever themed casino. It will be replaced by an $8-billion dollar luxury hotel/casino/resort that is slated to open in 2011. The new project is being developed by IDB Group and Elad Group, owners of the Plaza hotel in New York City.