Republican or Democrat..Who can tell the difference anymore?

This year's election has sure been a confusing one, especially for those who are devout Democrats or Republicans. I particularly liked a story run by the New York Times Monday because it dealt with this interesting occurrence.

More and more Democrats are now becoming more moderate or conservative, which used to be a stance known of by the Republicans. Is this a strategy? What's going on?

Personally, I think the two parties are finally becoming real. Real people are showing their real colors and the lines are being blurred. The Democrats have always been known to fight for the working class while the Republicans fought for more charity funding; these party "characteristics" are now starting to blend.

I think Massachusetts and the other 49 states are ready for a well-rounded candidate…a little Democrat a little Republican...What do you think?

Controversy at Gallaudet University

This article is about a protest that has been going on at Gallaudet University, a college in Washington D.C. that is primarily for the deaf community. The article focuses on how the board at the school decided to abandon their choice of Dr. Jane Fernandes as the institution's new president. She would be the first new president in 18 years.

This article interested me because the protest is very close to the people's heart that are deaf. According to the article, the president wanted to focus more on language intense classes, and less on ASL (American Sign Language) The school is mainly for people who are deaf, and the culture and the community of the school is centered around being deaf.

They mentioned things that are threatening the deaf culture, like cochlear implants. To me, cochlear implants are stripping the deaf culture of its dignity. It is similar to the "English Only" campaign that is claiming people from other countries shouldn't speak or advocate their native language in America. The president wasn't considered culturally "deaf enough" and it caused a major stir at Gallaudet University.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/education/30gallaudet.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=us

Officials Wanted More Recovery Efforts at WTC

This article is about 9/11. This week, investigators have found more than 100 pieces of human remains belonging to those who died on 9/11. Several officials said in 2002, when they were wrapping up work, that things were moving too fast. The city was eager to to finish the job and clean up all the debris. Lt. John McArdle said, "I knew this was going to happen-they really wanted us out of there. There was not a good exit strategy for some of these places, and if there was, it was poorly done." Officials believe that more of the dead could be found, and that they city shouldn't be rushing such an important task, but they were overruled.

This news has saddened relatives of the 9/11 victims. Because of the 2749 people killed that day, remainsof some 1150 people have not been found. And so 40% of the victims families have nothing left of their loved one.

I quit the New York Times

Today I spent a good amount of time searching the internet for international newspapers. After all, how can one expect to learn about communication in the global village without actually venturing into the global village?

My search began at onlinenewspapers.com, a website with a fairly comprehensive list of newspapers from around the globe. You can search by country and then sort of weed through papers by regions of the country.

Being so globally minded, I of course started picking out the ones that said "English" in parenthesis. Most of these foreign-newspaper-in-English websites featured a number of global stories, focusing on nuclear sanctions and the Iraq war.

I decided to read something more specialized, so I went to the Moscow news, offered in both English and Russian. I read the front page in English, which featured the typical international stories.

I then went to the Russian-language only version, where I came face to face with the picture of a dead man, hanging in a city square, surrounded by a mob. The picture was dated, but how much so I couldn't tell. This picture was, however, missing from the English version of the online newspaper.

The same thing happened when I visited the Al-jazeera website. Al-jazeera, the infamous Iraqi news network, has two versions of its website. The English was comparable to the Moscow news, offering top headlines from around the world. It seemed an objective and credible news outlet. However, when switching to Arabic, it became clear from the gruesome pictures that the top stories were different.

I find myself wondering if this is a common practice. It would not be practical for me to examine each version of every newspaper from every country around the world. However, I am curious to know why a news organization is willing to subject its readers to horrifying images. Of course, the editors and staff want to present a polished image to rest of the world, so they present the “foreigners” with a clean publication. For its own people, however, the horrors of war and death are printed for all to see.

The picture on the Moscow news belonged to a story that wasn’t in the English version, so far as I could tell. Are graphic pictures of crime in Russia, or of the war printed in Arabic language papers, used to stir anger in their citizens, as a type of propaganda? Or have I stumbled onto a fundamental difference between American, Russian, and Iraqi culture--one in which conflict-ridden countries like Russia and Iraq have become accustomed to the sights of war, crime and death--so accustomed, that its just another day in news?

Ex-Enron Chief Sentenced Today

The ex-Enron Chief was sentenced to 24 years in prison today. This story was incredible how it focused not just on the sentencing of a guilty man, but the consequences that even his family will have to face because of his mistakes. The article stated how the wife "sobbed uncontrollably" and the ex-chief spent his last days with his family. It also mentioned how town supporters made him a farewell book of thoughtful words.

It's interesting how a crime worth 24 years can be bestowed upon anyone who breaks the rules, even to a man with so much to lose-his time with family.
The article also mentioned how the sentencing seemed to be excessive and is a result of poor sentencing from times before.

For a man who conspired in taking millions from the company, do you think 24 years is the right sentence?

This article provided a few chuckles. The article is supposedly about a school in England banning junk food from their menu and having kids eat healthier. What I got out of it was a battle of power. The kids sound rebellious, and one student says to get back at the school's actions he is going to "gather as much bread as he can and put half an inch of butter on each slice."

Parents started selling hamburger's to the kids on the way to school, trying to almost give the addicts of junk food their drug before they enter the school building.

I think it caused controversy because the school did not consulte anyone, they did not send letters home, they just cut the student's off of their junk food. The power they have to act like that angered the parent and student population.

The article is interesting. It's good to know American's aren't the only people who obsess over food this way. Other countries are trying to "ween their students off" of unhealthy food as well because obesity is in their future.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/world/europe/18lunch.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5094&en=7d98ab796e87fbd7&hp&ex=1161230400&partner=homepage

To Be Married Means to Be Outnumbered

In this article from the New York Times , it tells us that married couples are no longer the majority of the 111.1 million households in the U.S. The site lets you vote on what kind of household you live in and if the stats surprise you, so go ahead and vote and see the results. It also shows you the bottom 10 states that have the lowest percentage of married couples and the top 10 states of married couples. Can you guess who is number 5 on the bottom 10 list????

Stephanie Coontz, director of public education for the Council on Contemporary Familes, stated, "It just changes the social weight of marriage in the economy, in the work force, in sales of homes and rentals, and who manufacturers advertise to."

To me, this doesn't sound good....so hurry up and get married everybody!!!! Just kidding, but let me know what you think.

Who will win the game?

As Election Day nears the Republicans and Democrats are desperately chasing after new strike tactics. While money is strategically flown everywhere, it makes me wonder if this is really a game...and it'll all be over soon.

While reading this article by the New York Times, I had to take a second look. At times I felt as if I was reading a war book.

Statements like: "...you’ve got to play defense," "...all we have to do is hold our own,"and "...leaders developed a strategy [...] to create a firewall against a [...] takeover."

Well, I guess it is a war...only in a different way. Sometimes I wonder how much our country is run by the citizens or by the politician's advertising dollars. I know this opens up a "can of worms" that has been tackled time and time again. But I couldn't help but bring it up just one more time, especially considering the outlook on recent advertising campaigns!

What do you think?

North Korea aren't the only one's posing a threat

This article discusses how a reported 40 other countries are working on nuclear bombs and substances to make bombs. The title of the article is "Restraints Fray as Nuclear Age Grows Globally," which I think is a vivid interpretation of this time frame and the new technology we are construing for war and destruction. It's a little frightening that countries in South America, Africa, and Australia are all taking part in this and learning the methods for nuclear arms creations.

Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary general, said this year that “the international community seems almost to be sleepwalking” down a path where states, after long living without nuclear arms, now feel compelled to revisit their logic.

It's very curious as to why this phenomenon has come back and countries are interested in possessing nuclear arms.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/world/asia/15nuke.html?hp&ex=1160884800&en=f8f228bbaa1cf974&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Journalistic culture clash: Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald

The Latin American model of journalism emphasizes political involvement and social justice. The US model aspires to objectivity. A recent chain of events at the Miami Herald has revealed some tensions between these models. Reporters for El Nuevo Herald (published by the Miami Herald) were fired for moon-lighting at Radio Marti, a US propaganda service aimed at Cuba. Then they were re-hired and the publisher was fired. Hear a report on this week's On the Media or read an account in the Miami Herald.

How about North Korea!

So North Korea is making the news again. What do you make of it? Do you think journalism has ddone a good job reporting this story over the past few years? Here's a recent take on it from a Japanese point of view. (From a German press service)

At What Price

"People sometimes pay with their lives for saying aloud what they think. In fact, one can even get killed for giving me information. I am not the only one in danger. I have examples that prove it"
Anna Politkovskaya

Earlier today, the funeral for Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was held. According to ABC News, Politkovskaya "was fatally shot in her apartment building Saturday in an apparent contract killing. Her death threw a new spotlight on the risks faced by journalists who criticize the Russian authorities and dig deep to expose abuses."

Here is an overview from ABC News.

Politkovskaya was a named in TimeEurope's list of Heroes in 2003.

Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist who opposed the Putin administration in her country (often reffered to as the Putin "regime"). She wrote numerous articles about the Chechan conflict and the atrocities that befell the people of Chechnya.

Her fearlessness and empathy towards Chechnya made her a candidate to negotiate hostage situations. In 2002, Chechan rebels took a Moscow theatre hostage. Politkovskaya was brought in to help negotiate. She was also summoned to negotiate during the Beslan School hostage situation (When terrorists took hostages at a Beslan shool for three days, leaving over three hundred people dead, nearly 200 of them were children), however she never made it to the school becuase she fell very ill.

For those of us entering the journalism field, especially investigative journalism, this kind of event can be jarring. What price are we willing to pay for the truth? Would we risk our lives for a cause that we believed in?

Because we live in the U.S., our fears are (somewhat) put to rest. As Americans, we are free to write and investigate until the cows come home (sort of).

After reading about Politovaskaya, I began to think about the number of journalists whoe have faced danger or death for the truth, people like Daniel Pearl and Veronica Guerin.

Please check out The Comittee to Protect Journalists.

I was shocked at the number of journalists who have died, been wounded, or gone missing, even in just the years since after September 11th.

Strict wedding guidelines

The New York times...we all know how prestigious a newspaper this is...the paper of record. Well, it was interesting to learn that their standards do not budge even when it comes to submitting a wedding announcement.

I was browsing through the Times online and found my way to the celebrations page, as if I knew anyone out in New York. I checked out the guidelines for submission and found them to be pretty lengthy.

Check this requirement out: "Couples posing for pictures should arrange themselves with their eyebrows on exactly the same level and with their heads fairly close together."

Now that's on point. I guess I get their drift and I don't blame them. A picture's worth a thousand words.

They have a reputation to uphold and it's interesting to see that this standard is upheld through every detail of the publishing...literally!

Check out the complete guidelines.

Just as prices were going down

Just as prices were going down, OPEC has to rain on our parade. They are announcing an output cut that will increase gas prices $1.50.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest exporter, will curb their supplies just over 3 %. Oh well, might as well accept the inevidable expensive rate of gas.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/10/05/opec_to_cut_1_mln_bpd_oil_supply_opec_delegate/

The smartest city in the world

This week I decided to give a shout-out to "old journalism". The kind that comes on real paper.

Check out Boston Magazine

This issue is about the intelligence in our great city. Kind Of.

Our blog focues alot on current events and the bad stuff happening, so I thought we could check out some good, allbeit humorous, journalism about the better things in life.

Boston Magazine offers lifestyle articles. Check out the homepage, do a little digging, and then read this short interview with Mensa's Boston chapter president.


Enjoy!

Toxic Mess Leads to Tragedy on Ivory Coast

Imagine if toxic waste was dumped on your front lawn, only to leave you helplessly gasping for fresh air to survive? This is the experience that hundreds of people lived, or died, through on the Ivory Coast in Africa.
The article explains how toxic waste was dumped on the Ivory Coast, suspected to be illegally, and harmed many people. It has been reported that eight people have died because of the fumes, although they are still investigating. The hospitals are overflowing with people with complaints of stomache aches, naseau, bloody noses, and welts on the skin and faces.
This is one of the most horrible things I have seen. These people were described in the report to live in the poorest sections, which makes you really think.
How could anyone do such a thing? How could anyone rid of such waste at the expense of a person's life? Whether the person who ordered this to be done or those who did the job are guilty, no one knows at this point. I am just beyond words at the inhumane act of this tragedy.

You will need to sign up to view the NYTimes for free to read this article, but it's worth it and takes 30 sec.: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/world/africa/02ivory.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=login

Supreme Court rejects Nazi Guard appeal

This story is about an elderly man who lost his appeal against having his U.S. citizenship revoked. The court system argues that his involvement in the war and the Holocaust makes him unworthy of U.S. citizenship.
It's been some 50 odd years since he's lived in Des Moines, Iowa, which makes me question how worthwhile this is. I mean, I feel strongly about matters dealing with the Holocaust for personal reasons, which is why this article caught my attention. I know this man's plea that he wasn't directly involved is ridiculous and wrong because he was a guard who watched millions of people being killed and was numb to it. He even chased someone and later helped to kill that person. He's made some disgusting mistakes in his past, but what type of justice is the court system seeking to send an old man back to Croatia? Just something to think about.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/02/supreme_court_rejects_nazi_guard_appeal/