Monday, May 4
Guess I shouldn't be surprised that Universities are cutting sports teams that cost rather than make money. Fencing programs and pistol shooting makes sense, but even golf and gymnastics are going at MIT.
Obviously, I've only touched the sports section today -- but is it really meaningful to have an 8-year-old girl driving a race car with a headset on listening to instructions from her coach? Is that prodigious?
Wednesday, May 6
I think the Germans have it right. In "High Court in Germany Pops Names that Balloon," Nicholasa Kulish reports that Germany considers it cruel to give a kid a ridiculous name. I agree. Oponents say it prevents freedom of expression; but then again a lot of cruel things would be allowed if it were just a matter of someone expressing themselves.
Thursday, May 7
Enjoyed the story on platic surgeons who can fix a sagging derriere but can't fix a sagging economy. So amusing. But also seriously interesting, because what they do is study facial harmony, like Winkelman or any romantic German, just with an extra dose of crazy, Mary Shelley style. Particularly fascinating is the proposition that fat stem cells can be used to enlarge breasts with regenerating tissue. Maybe folks'll be able to convincingly pretend that thier cosmetic augmentation --chin, breast, whatever -- is all natural, with interesting results for engendering children.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Thursday, April 30
When I read about Silvio Berlusconi’s “roving eye” I was a little disappointed in Italy. The article says that Italians would rather have the appearance of cheerfulness and opulence that the prime minister “gallantly” acts out than a better country. I read a little more about Berlusconi online afterward and was a little frightened by the way he gilds his policy by exploiting the conventions of operatic Italian culture.
Another Italianate story – doping horses for the Kentucky Derby. It’s kind of sad that the official way of looking at trainers and horses in racing is that millions go into a horse and the investment is protected by taking a horse out of a race if he is likely to sustain injury. The NYTs article paints a different picture, one where pumping horses full of painkillers and performance enhancers like steroids is the norm.
Wednesday, April 29
Surprisingly reassuring stories about the swine flu and shocking stories about the NYPD and NY charity. Nice research into the first cases of the new influenza. Liked having the 5-year-old kid’s cute persona contrasted against the widespread fear. NYTs also did a nice job of showing how meat shoppers incorrectly fear eating well-cooked pork by giving them full quotes and then parenthetically noting that they are incorrect.
The case of Officers Moreno and Mata raping a drunken women that they had been called to escort home was a little shocking. I would like to hear more about the specifics of what happened – a full profile of Moreno including his reasoning behind the rape (would he have raped any drunken women that he thought he could or was there a reason he felt ok with this one? It wouldn’t change the facts of the case but it would be interesting to know how he thinks).
Monday, April 27
Though the swine flu stories were in the back of the A section, it seemed to be a nice, related touch to put the piece on a growing atheist community on the front.
The Hungarian Gypsies, or Roma seem to have the reverse treatment one would not too seriously expect from literature – instead of them stealing babies and killing in the middle of night, it is the right-wingers in their country who do that to them. Very image rich story – the picture of the murdered father and son buried in the same coffin is indelible.
When I read about Silvio Berlusconi’s “roving eye” I was a little disappointed in Italy. The article says that Italians would rather have the appearance of cheerfulness and opulence that the prime minister “gallantly” acts out than a better country. I read a little more about Berlusconi online afterward and was a little frightened by the way he gilds his policy by exploiting the conventions of operatic Italian culture.
Another Italianate story – doping horses for the Kentucky Derby. It’s kind of sad that the official way of looking at trainers and horses in racing is that millions go into a horse and the investment is protected by taking a horse out of a race if he is likely to sustain injury. The NYTs article paints a different picture, one where pumping horses full of painkillers and performance enhancers like steroids is the norm.
Wednesday, April 29
Surprisingly reassuring stories about the swine flu and shocking stories about the NYPD and NY charity. Nice research into the first cases of the new influenza. Liked having the 5-year-old kid’s cute persona contrasted against the widespread fear. NYTs also did a nice job of showing how meat shoppers incorrectly fear eating well-cooked pork by giving them full quotes and then parenthetically noting that they are incorrect.
The case of Officers Moreno and Mata raping a drunken women that they had been called to escort home was a little shocking. I would like to hear more about the specifics of what happened – a full profile of Moreno including his reasoning behind the rape (would he have raped any drunken women that he thought he could or was there a reason he felt ok with this one? It wouldn’t change the facts of the case but it would be interesting to know how he thinks).
Monday, April 27
Though the swine flu stories were in the back of the A section, it seemed to be a nice, related touch to put the piece on a growing atheist community on the front.
The Hungarian Gypsies, or Roma seem to have the reverse treatment one would not too seriously expect from literature – instead of them stealing babies and killing in the middle of night, it is the right-wingers in their country who do that to them. Very image rich story – the picture of the murdered father and son buried in the same coffin is indelible.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Ten-year-old Alex Kintner of Mayfair Court in Amity was killed in an unprovoked shark attack on Village Beach today that officials said may be linked to the death of Wendy Watson Monday.
Kintner had been floating on a raft among a large group of swimmers, when his mother Marian Ferguson and others saw a large shark pull him under. His remains have not been found.
Mayor Bob Farley expressed sympathy with the victims in a press release. “Now we know that these random acts of senseless violence, victimizing innocent, helpless citizens do not just happen in the city,” he said.
A black Labrador that had been in the waters was also found missing after the shark attack.
Officials have not identified the genus of shark responsible for the killings.
The attack may shed light on the Monday death of Wendy Watson, who was found severely mutilated after she disappeared. It is now thought that Watson was the victim of a similar attack to the one that was witnessed today.
Police investigations into Kintner and Watson’s deaths are in progress as is a search for a shark that might be responsible.
Police Chief Martin Brody, who was a witness to the attack today, has filed a request to close Amity Beaches.
Kintner had been floating on a raft among a large group of swimmers, when his mother Marian Ferguson and others saw a large shark pull him under. His remains have not been found.
Mayor Bob Farley expressed sympathy with the victims in a press release. “Now we know that these random acts of senseless violence, victimizing innocent, helpless citizens do not just happen in the city,” he said.
A black Labrador that had been in the waters was also found missing after the shark attack.
Officials have not identified the genus of shark responsible for the killings.
The attack may shed light on the Monday death of Wendy Watson, who was found severely mutilated after she disappeared. It is now thought that Watson was the victim of a similar attack to the one that was witnessed today.
Police investigations into Kintner and Watson’s deaths are in progress as is a search for a shark that might be responsible.
Police Chief Martin Brody, who was a witness to the attack today, has filed a request to close Amity Beaches.
The body of a teenage girl was found severely mangled on Amity South Beach by an unidentified attacker that some believe may have been a shark.
Wendy Watson, 16, of 23 Sharktooth St. was last seen leaving a party to swim on a remote corner of South Beach. She was accompanied by -----Harrity, a student at Trinity College that witnesses said she had been drinking with.
Harrity says that he did not actually see her enter the calm waters, but that “she must have drowned.”
The body was found buried on the coast after Watson was reported missing. Police were shocked by the advanced deterioration of the body.
The body has been transported to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. No charges have been filed and officials have not closed the beach.
Wendy Watson, 16, of 23 Sharktooth St. was last seen leaving a party to swim on a remote corner of South Beach. She was accompanied by -----Harrity, a student at Trinity College that witnesses said she had been drinking with.
Harrity says that he did not actually see her enter the calm waters, but that “she must have drowned.”
The body was found buried on the coast after Watson was reported missing. Police were shocked by the advanced deterioration of the body.
The body has been transported to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. No charges have been filed and officials have not closed the beach.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday
A very death-centered issue. Markoff prostitute murders again, Freddie Mac suicide, Towson family suicide, transgender murder, NYC tax lawyer scheme that led to murder. It’s a little alarming, though each of the stories has a salacious, bizarre, or timely quality that makes it more than a gruesome, depressing episode. Still, seems like a lot for one A section.
Wednesday
The front photo does a nice job of creating the illusion that the indigenous Columbian women are half naked – or rather some of them actually are but the photo doesn’t actually show the private parts. A strategic blur that looks like it’s been added in the foreground covers up the only breast not hidden by the poses. It’s am intriguing front page picture that sent me to the story immediately. “Wider drug war threatens Columbian Indians” was the first story that brought what should have been obvious to my attention: there are still natives where drug cartels operate, they are in the way, and drug lords are not going to deal with them as we try to treat Native Americans in the US now. It is nice context to the frequent stories of drug violence.
The Philip Markoff story is a great reminder to anyone with smug ideas about American achievement – that so-and-so is a good person because they are well behaved when it counts, because they are a good student, because they seem to follow a pathway that is wholesome, or if not entirely wholesome, congenial and unobtrusive in departures from the ideal. Markoff, if he’s guilty, is a minor Dostoevsky character, the one that commits the crimes but without ideological crisis.
The obituary reminded me that Bertolt Brecht had a talented son, Stefan. I may look into his writings now thanks to the NYTs
Tuesday
I had to laugh when I read “Russia Serves as Musical Muse.” Russia is hosting a cheesy competition called Eurovision which it won last year, prompting Putin to proclaim “yet another triumph for all of Russia.”
A very death-centered issue. Markoff prostitute murders again, Freddie Mac suicide, Towson family suicide, transgender murder, NYC tax lawyer scheme that led to murder. It’s a little alarming, though each of the stories has a salacious, bizarre, or timely quality that makes it more than a gruesome, depressing episode. Still, seems like a lot for one A section.
Wednesday
The front photo does a nice job of creating the illusion that the indigenous Columbian women are half naked – or rather some of them actually are but the photo doesn’t actually show the private parts. A strategic blur that looks like it’s been added in the foreground covers up the only breast not hidden by the poses. It’s am intriguing front page picture that sent me to the story immediately. “Wider drug war threatens Columbian Indians” was the first story that brought what should have been obvious to my attention: there are still natives where drug cartels operate, they are in the way, and drug lords are not going to deal with them as we try to treat Native Americans in the US now. It is nice context to the frequent stories of drug violence.
The Philip Markoff story is a great reminder to anyone with smug ideas about American achievement – that so-and-so is a good person because they are well behaved when it counts, because they are a good student, because they seem to follow a pathway that is wholesome, or if not entirely wholesome, congenial and unobtrusive in departures from the ideal. Markoff, if he’s guilty, is a minor Dostoevsky character, the one that commits the crimes but without ideological crisis.
The obituary reminded me that Bertolt Brecht had a talented son, Stefan. I may look into his writings now thanks to the NYTs
Tuesday
I had to laugh when I read “Russia Serves as Musical Muse.” Russia is hosting a cheesy competition called Eurovision which it won last year, prompting Putin to proclaim “yet another triumph for all of Russia.”
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16
Nice set of front page stories today. The Afghan women protesting newly passed Shiite laws against a crowd of violent, vulgar men had a lively scene, with pictures that made the story very engaging.
The update on Sarah Palin was a curiosity as well. It fit nicely over the Afghan story. She is so often a Fox News martyr, apparently on her way to future glory, or the butt of jokes that seem less like jokes and more like factual storytelling, that it’s nice to read about her in depth elsewhere, where she gets agenda-less coverage. What’s amazing is she still comes off as a woman out of some latter day Voltaire’s satire. Even the NYTs has to get information from her people to try to do a fair story with both sides on her, and everything they got is spun to death. It worries me. When I hear so much bs and no admittance of failure or insufficiency, I think she must be hiding some truth that’s even worse than what has been revealed.
The third-world country soot story probably shouldn’t have surprised me. Sure, black carbon…seems intuitive that it would contribute to global warming, but nevertheless thinking of some villager without a car, cooking, as a cause, is novel, at least for me.
And Gay Talese’s “Honor Thy Father and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” are back in print!
Tuesday, April 14
The comical GM car show story and the Disney “kid whisperer” were the best reads today. This research that Disney uses, I guess like all media companies that want to minimize risks and make money as safely as possible rather than create avenues of genuine expression or ideas, sounded kind of like dedication until I thought of what comes on Disney, what their popular shows are, and what comes out of those after they’re gone. I almost threw up in my mouth a little bit, figuratively, when I recalled Hannah Montana, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, The Jonas Brothers, and realized that all those little kids who idolize these people have been so severely and intentionally manipulated. Every move their Disney heroes make is calculated from what a “kid whisperer” dug up in some other kid’s underwear drawer rather than genuine sympathy between them and Miley Ray Cyrus or Joe Jonas.
Monday, April 13
I had no idea that toilets were such a problem at baseball games. Guess it’s obvious that the same amount of toilets in the ladies and men’s bathrooms wouldn’t equal the same potty line wait time. Cool story that brings the seemingly unimportant to light and gives it the space it probably deserves. I’m sure if it’s a problem in ballparks it’s a problem everywhere that folks need to relieve themselves in mass.
On A16, there’s a nice story about immigrants from troubled countries learning to express those troubles through theater. It made me wonder whether go into a theater and acting problems out is better than keeping them to oneself. I’m still not sure after reading the story.
Nice set of front page stories today. The Afghan women protesting newly passed Shiite laws against a crowd of violent, vulgar men had a lively scene, with pictures that made the story very engaging.
The update on Sarah Palin was a curiosity as well. It fit nicely over the Afghan story. She is so often a Fox News martyr, apparently on her way to future glory, or the butt of jokes that seem less like jokes and more like factual storytelling, that it’s nice to read about her in depth elsewhere, where she gets agenda-less coverage. What’s amazing is she still comes off as a woman out of some latter day Voltaire’s satire. Even the NYTs has to get information from her people to try to do a fair story with both sides on her, and everything they got is spun to death. It worries me. When I hear so much bs and no admittance of failure or insufficiency, I think she must be hiding some truth that’s even worse than what has been revealed.
The third-world country soot story probably shouldn’t have surprised me. Sure, black carbon…seems intuitive that it would contribute to global warming, but nevertheless thinking of some villager without a car, cooking, as a cause, is novel, at least for me.
And Gay Talese’s “Honor Thy Father and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” are back in print!
Tuesday, April 14
The comical GM car show story and the Disney “kid whisperer” were the best reads today. This research that Disney uses, I guess like all media companies that want to minimize risks and make money as safely as possible rather than create avenues of genuine expression or ideas, sounded kind of like dedication until I thought of what comes on Disney, what their popular shows are, and what comes out of those after they’re gone. I almost threw up in my mouth a little bit, figuratively, when I recalled Hannah Montana, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, The Jonas Brothers, and realized that all those little kids who idolize these people have been so severely and intentionally manipulated. Every move their Disney heroes make is calculated from what a “kid whisperer” dug up in some other kid’s underwear drawer rather than genuine sympathy between them and Miley Ray Cyrus or Joe Jonas.
Monday, April 13
I had no idea that toilets were such a problem at baseball games. Guess it’s obvious that the same amount of toilets in the ladies and men’s bathrooms wouldn’t equal the same potty line wait time. Cool story that brings the seemingly unimportant to light and gives it the space it probably deserves. I’m sure if it’s a problem in ballparks it’s a problem everywhere that folks need to relieve themselves in mass.
On A16, there’s a nice story about immigrants from troubled countries learning to express those troubles through theater. It made me wonder whether go into a theater and acting problems out is better than keeping them to oneself. I’m still not sure after reading the story.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 9
In addition to the specific news about the economy, the times had a great feature on the aspect of recession that is arguably what everyone really cares about—not loss of jobs, cut wages, difficulty finding work, home foreclosure, etc, but rather the misery that these concrete difficulties create. “Recession Anxiety…” discusses the real issue, interestingly using people who aren’t economically hit by the recession.
Tuesday, April 7
When I read the international article on the L’Aquila earthquake, I was expecting to see a quote from Prime Minister Berlusconi featured by Time as quote of the day: ~“families made homeless by the earthquake ought to regard it as a weekend camping trip.” I didn’t see it in the NYTs. Assuming they were aware of that public quotation, the exclusion of it in the story says something about focusing on the angle of a story even if that means leaving out more sensational information.
The article on Bloomberg’s push-polling tactics and the responses the NYTs got from his team really shows how gross hypocrisy becomes once spin tactics are put into play. First Bloomberg’s team denies push-polling, then when confronted with the specific push-polling instance says that it is not in fact push-polling since the negative information about an opponent is accurate, without however admitting that they were responsible for the push-poll.
Monday April 6
Times had the kind of article that immediately dominates full attention – a front page story on a neuroscience breakthrough that’s every bit as much of an ethical and practical question as cloning was about nine years ago. SUNY scientists, including an apostate from Columbia, have found a way to delete memory in rats. In humans, they say applications could include kicking addiction and forgetting traumatizing memories. They also foresee discovering a method for improving memory comparable to using steroids or gene-doping, with the same moral issues attached.
In addition to the specific news about the economy, the times had a great feature on the aspect of recession that is arguably what everyone really cares about—not loss of jobs, cut wages, difficulty finding work, home foreclosure, etc, but rather the misery that these concrete difficulties create. “Recession Anxiety…” discusses the real issue, interestingly using people who aren’t economically hit by the recession.
Tuesday, April 7
When I read the international article on the L’Aquila earthquake, I was expecting to see a quote from Prime Minister Berlusconi featured by Time as quote of the day: ~“families made homeless by the earthquake ought to regard it as a weekend camping trip.” I didn’t see it in the NYTs. Assuming they were aware of that public quotation, the exclusion of it in the story says something about focusing on the angle of a story even if that means leaving out more sensational information.
The article on Bloomberg’s push-polling tactics and the responses the NYTs got from his team really shows how gross hypocrisy becomes once spin tactics are put into play. First Bloomberg’s team denies push-polling, then when confronted with the specific push-polling instance says that it is not in fact push-polling since the negative information about an opponent is accurate, without however admitting that they were responsible for the push-poll.
Monday April 6
Times had the kind of article that immediately dominates full attention – a front page story on a neuroscience breakthrough that’s every bit as much of an ethical and practical question as cloning was about nine years ago. SUNY scientists, including an apostate from Columbia, have found a way to delete memory in rats. In humans, they say applications could include kicking addiction and forgetting traumatizing memories. They also foresee discovering a method for improving memory comparable to using steroids or gene-doping, with the same moral issues attached.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Financially failing Biddefort Airport, from open danger to the community that used its grounds for dangerous pleasures to over controlled, closed off nuisance, may now find itself losing more than the FAA license that was preserved to the provocation of the Biddeford residents now considering voting to close it.
Airport supporters and opponents are divided about what the issue is: an airport that can’t pay its bills and can no longer be bailed out by tax payers; a corporate owned business that finally had to get tough when irresponsible citizens and their children risked airport safety; or just a plain eyesore on the landscape.
FAA spokesperson Peter Lucievanni, says that whatever the community decides to focus on, Biddefort Airport made the only decision that would allow them to remain licensed.
“There were all kinds of complaints coming in from private pilots and angry neighbors: trees so high that take-off was dangerous, an open runway that made a potentially lethal hockey court,” Said Lucievanni. “They had to fix it or shut down immediately.”
Now their receiving complaints on the other end of the spectrum. People who are angry about the tree trimming and no-trespassing.
“NTSB has a report of a pilot, who was also an instructor pilot, hit the trees at the end of the runway because he did not do a correct pre-flight check and at take off speed could not pull back on his controls because he forgot to take off his control lock. Some residents no longer have trees to protect them. I still have a good tree barrio to stop a plane and reduce noise,” said Biddefort resident Roland Pelletier.
The only consistency between accusations is that they are coming from the same people in the community.
Paul Archembault, Chairman of Close our Little Airport said, “this started out about trees and public access. But it’s not just about that anymore. Now it’s about money too.”
But some people in the community would lose their recreation and possibly their livelihood without the runway and airport.
“Maybe it’s expensive to run the airport. But it’s a great resource,” Private pilot Phyllis Landry said, adding that “if I couldn’t fly out of here I’d have o go to Sanford or Portland
Airport supporters and opponents are divided about what the issue is: an airport that can’t pay its bills and can no longer be bailed out by tax payers; a corporate owned business that finally had to get tough when irresponsible citizens and their children risked airport safety; or just a plain eyesore on the landscape.
FAA spokesperson Peter Lucievanni, says that whatever the community decides to focus on, Biddefort Airport made the only decision that would allow them to remain licensed.
“There were all kinds of complaints coming in from private pilots and angry neighbors: trees so high that take-off was dangerous, an open runway that made a potentially lethal hockey court,” Said Lucievanni. “They had to fix it or shut down immediately.”
Now their receiving complaints on the other end of the spectrum. People who are angry about the tree trimming and no-trespassing.
“NTSB has a report of a pilot, who was also an instructor pilot, hit the trees at the end of the runway because he did not do a correct pre-flight check and at take off speed could not pull back on his controls because he forgot to take off his control lock. Some residents no longer have trees to protect them. I still have a good tree barrio to stop a plane and reduce noise,” said Biddefort resident Roland Pelletier.
The only consistency between accusations is that they are coming from the same people in the community.
Paul Archembault, Chairman of Close our Little Airport said, “this started out about trees and public access. But it’s not just about that anymore. Now it’s about money too.”
But some people in the community would lose their recreation and possibly their livelihood without the runway and airport.
“Maybe it’s expensive to run the airport. But it’s a great resource,” Private pilot Phyllis Landry said, adding that “if I couldn’t fly out of here I’d have o go to Sanford or Portland
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2
I was looking forward to reading the Times’ reporting on the Group of 20 meeting after incidentally seeing some presentations of it on Fox News Wednesday night. Not surprisingly, the Times differed from Fox in the amount of background it gave, and the level of objectivity. If the NYT is subjective and political it is usually most evident in where information is placed in the story. Sometimes the positive perspective, as on Rick Scott today, is buried—but it is there. But on Fox, even on “news” shows rather than the highly popular commentary, every event is somehow spun into a political attack, every phrase is twisted to squeeze something incendiary out, negligible stories are pumped into revivalist histrionics, concessions wind up being another way to club an opponent or avoid more in depth argument. And it blows my mind that while papers are going bankrupt such coverage is at #1 with viewers.
So at least according to the Times account, Obama hasn’t destroyed Anglo-American relations to pander to Russians or Chinese, protesting in London isn’t directed at Obama’s socialist leadership, and Sarkozy isn’t exactly Sean Hannity’s soul mate. However, some of the NYT G20 coverage seemed lacking to me. An article on Medvedev’s meeting with Obama was unbalanced, without a single quote from the Russian leader to match line after line from the American. An article on China’s rise as a superpower contained cultural blinds—conceding China’s promising economy and role in world recovery financing, the article applies American cultural perspective to diminish the potential ascendancy of China.
Wednesday, April 1
The second “A World of Hurt” almost read like a satire of Aristophanes or Voltaire. And though I loved the article, I’m still not sure I understand how the independent medical examiner system works, only that there are so many points in it that anyone involved can say “I don’t know what happened” if discrepancies, errors, or more concrete signs of fraud turn up.
“Pleasure Boats Are Becoming Castaways” presented a scenario I wouldn’t have imagined. With so many boats being abandoned because of high maintenance and a bad second hand market, aren’t there other people who would like to snatch them up on the sly?
Tuesday, March 31
Lot of finance stories in tangible form – colleges taking more students who can pay tuition in full, workers receiving or faking injuries and the monetary consequences, and more on the national auto problem with GM and Chrysler.
What I would really like to see is a story on the choices of which car brands and models may make survive, why some have already been eliminated and not others. How are the decisions made? If they are based solely on popularity/ profitability, then it might be interesting to read a story on the causes of vehicles high sales. The most popular is rarely the best in arts or thought, so government dictation of inferior car survival over superior based solely on previous sales would be a curious scenario.
I was looking forward to reading the Times’ reporting on the Group of 20 meeting after incidentally seeing some presentations of it on Fox News Wednesday night. Not surprisingly, the Times differed from Fox in the amount of background it gave, and the level of objectivity. If the NYT is subjective and political it is usually most evident in where information is placed in the story. Sometimes the positive perspective, as on Rick Scott today, is buried—but it is there. But on Fox, even on “news” shows rather than the highly popular commentary, every event is somehow spun into a political attack, every phrase is twisted to squeeze something incendiary out, negligible stories are pumped into revivalist histrionics, concessions wind up being another way to club an opponent or avoid more in depth argument. And it blows my mind that while papers are going bankrupt such coverage is at #1 with viewers.
So at least according to the Times account, Obama hasn’t destroyed Anglo-American relations to pander to Russians or Chinese, protesting in London isn’t directed at Obama’s socialist leadership, and Sarkozy isn’t exactly Sean Hannity’s soul mate. However, some of the NYT G20 coverage seemed lacking to me. An article on Medvedev’s meeting with Obama was unbalanced, without a single quote from the Russian leader to match line after line from the American. An article on China’s rise as a superpower contained cultural blinds—conceding China’s promising economy and role in world recovery financing, the article applies American cultural perspective to diminish the potential ascendancy of China.
Wednesday, April 1
The second “A World of Hurt” almost read like a satire of Aristophanes or Voltaire. And though I loved the article, I’m still not sure I understand how the independent medical examiner system works, only that there are so many points in it that anyone involved can say “I don’t know what happened” if discrepancies, errors, or more concrete signs of fraud turn up.
“Pleasure Boats Are Becoming Castaways” presented a scenario I wouldn’t have imagined. With so many boats being abandoned because of high maintenance and a bad second hand market, aren’t there other people who would like to snatch them up on the sly?
Tuesday, March 31
Lot of finance stories in tangible form – colleges taking more students who can pay tuition in full, workers receiving or faking injuries and the monetary consequences, and more on the national auto problem with GM and Chrysler.
What I would really like to see is a story on the choices of which car brands and models may make survive, why some have already been eliminated and not others. How are the decisions made? If they are based solely on popularity/ profitability, then it might be interesting to read a story on the causes of vehicles high sales. The most popular is rarely the best in arts or thought, so government dictation of inferior car survival over superior based solely on previous sales would be a curious scenario.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Fake Profile
Mary Oneida has an atavistic streak. She descends from a New York family headed by a graduate of the Yale Divinity School, himself a nephew of Daniel Webster. She goes to a prim New England protestant church on the edge of a 350 acre lake every day, before she carries her doughty figure over to the livestock, work the gardens, and make sure all accommodations are set for the customers she expects roll into her property to lodge in one of several cottages. If there is any other colonial American innkeeper characteristic that could come to mind, it probably fits her.
Keeping all that in mind one might almost convince oneself that the woman’s nudity is some kind of illusion. Perhaps it’s too sunny out. These things happen.
It might seem surreal, but your eyes are not deceiving you. For $90 a day you can skinny dip in her lake, pray buck naked in her chapel, or for a larger fee set your RV up in a lot she’ll rent to you. But whatever naked stuff you do, don’t make it funny stuff. Seriously, the wholesome New England Christian thing is for real. And she can tell you how it works, remember, she is descended from a well educated if heretical minister.
The family nude campground that she runs has strict rules, though they’re more pragmatic than Christian.
--You must come with a member of the opposite sex (to root out groups of gawkers)
--No animals (they may be nude, but that’s not what it’s all about)
--
If you can spend some time with Mrs. Oneida, she might explain how she got into the business. It wasn’t inherited, thought perhaps the calling is in the blood. The lot cost her a life savings, that she earned in a sort of larval existence, when she was a city dwelling mother in New York.
“When I was 35 I went to a distant relatives funeral and started to discover a family history that I would have wished was apocryphal. I was too curious, and found out it wasn’t. Then I went native.”
It didn’t feel quite right at first.
“I was a little too Emily Dickenson New England Protestant, then I finally reached the naked Emily Dickinson phase, and here I am.
Keeping all that in mind one might almost convince oneself that the woman’s nudity is some kind of illusion. Perhaps it’s too sunny out. These things happen.
It might seem surreal, but your eyes are not deceiving you. For $90 a day you can skinny dip in her lake, pray buck naked in her chapel, or for a larger fee set your RV up in a lot she’ll rent to you. But whatever naked stuff you do, don’t make it funny stuff. Seriously, the wholesome New England Christian thing is for real. And she can tell you how it works, remember, she is descended from a well educated if heretical minister.
The family nude campground that she runs has strict rules, though they’re more pragmatic than Christian.
--You must come with a member of the opposite sex (to root out groups of gawkers)
--No animals (they may be nude, but that’s not what it’s all about)
--
If you can spend some time with Mrs. Oneida, she might explain how she got into the business. It wasn’t inherited, thought perhaps the calling is in the blood. The lot cost her a life savings, that she earned in a sort of larval existence, when she was a city dwelling mother in New York.
“When I was 35 I went to a distant relatives funeral and started to discover a family history that I would have wished was apocryphal. I was too curious, and found out it wasn’t. Then I went native.”
It didn’t feel quite right at first.
“I was a little too Emily Dickenson New England Protestant, then I finally reached the naked Emily Dickinson phase, and here I am.
Journalistic Code
During his visit last week, Mr Damish said, contrary to most, that journalism is as vibrant as ever, with a promising future. He didn't mean print, or it seems any historical form. His focus is on creating useful, potentially life-changing journalism in whatever format people want. In his case that happens to be in print and online multimedia that also borrows from broadcast news. But the fundamental commitment is to providing a service to a community that he regards as essential in a form that is in demand.
In so much as there is a clear distinction between journalism and entertainment, the only universally reasonable commitment is ethical. Today the most popular medium, television, is blurring the line between opinion, news, and pure entertainment in programing ostensibly presented as journalism. If I were to work in a newswriting position, duty one would be to follow a sort of Hypocratic oath of integrity, and trustworthy practice; the second, maybe equal duty would be to try to experiment with technology and technique to create the most cutting edge product.
I
In so much as there is a clear distinction between journalism and entertainment, the only universally reasonable commitment is ethical. Today the most popular medium, television, is blurring the line between opinion, news, and pure entertainment in programing ostensibly presented as journalism. If I were to work in a newswriting position, duty one would be to follow a sort of Hypocratic oath of integrity, and trustworthy practice; the second, maybe equal duty would be to try to experiment with technology and technique to create the most cutting edge product.
I
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26
There is a nice pair of stories on Tent Cities in Sacramento, CA: the front page Wall Street Journal style in depth article and brief, both by the same reporter. It was interesting to see the two takes. The fresh information in each indicated how much reporting was done. I wonder if Jesse McKinley originally planned on doing both or if there was an attachment to the information and desire to get more of it printed?
Interesting how University of California and Columbia economists found that proximity of fast food restaurants to schools is a fair indicator of the rate of area youth obesity. The article didn’t say whether their might be other factors that complicate the findings. Makes the story pretty flimsy, even if the claim is true.
Wednesday, March 25
I appreciate the academic deadpan put down of Michael Jacob’s play “Impressionism,” and the eloquence of good obituaries. Ben Brantley’s review has all the critical sharpness and humor I have been used to from Rolling Stone, EW, and Time, but none of the pedomorphic pandering. To extend the theme of the play he considers, it’s as if he’s at an art exhibition, knows the painter is next to him, and proceeds to make barbed comments about both artist and work, without turning. It may be snobbish, but unlike many art reviews, the writer’s me-factor is not gratuitous.
The two types of obituary style are intriguing—the mini-bio and the lugubrious RIP modes. The RIP is more familiar, and I never appreciated it, but the artful mini-bio style has made it possible to look at the formulaic, epithet laden, Lincoln-log RIP style of the “with deep sorrow,” “beloved,” “devoted” death notice with fresh eyes. It is amazing how little is needed to individualize, and how timeless and universal the phrasing is. Today, besides comparing obit modes, I enjoyed the notice for Mexican boxer Raul Macias. A great example of how suggestion paints a fuller picture than a more concrete statement of the same length.
Tuesday, March 24
“They strip search first and ask questions later.” The central story on the strip search of an 8th grade girl by school officials based on “evidence” (goofy behavior at a school dance and an unsubstantial accusation of having served alcohol prior to the dance), and the legal discussion going on 6 years later is one of the best stories I’ve read this semester, not because the writing stood out, but because of the material. It’s probably a good lesson for newswriters too—appearances can be colored falsely by biased or careless information.
There is a nice pair of stories on Tent Cities in Sacramento, CA: the front page Wall Street Journal style in depth article and brief, both by the same reporter. It was interesting to see the two takes. The fresh information in each indicated how much reporting was done. I wonder if Jesse McKinley originally planned on doing both or if there was an attachment to the information and desire to get more of it printed?
Interesting how University of California and Columbia economists found that proximity of fast food restaurants to schools is a fair indicator of the rate of area youth obesity. The article didn’t say whether their might be other factors that complicate the findings. Makes the story pretty flimsy, even if the claim is true.
Wednesday, March 25
I appreciate the academic deadpan put down of Michael Jacob’s play “Impressionism,” and the eloquence of good obituaries. Ben Brantley’s review has all the critical sharpness and humor I have been used to from Rolling Stone, EW, and Time, but none of the pedomorphic pandering. To extend the theme of the play he considers, it’s as if he’s at an art exhibition, knows the painter is next to him, and proceeds to make barbed comments about both artist and work, without turning. It may be snobbish, but unlike many art reviews, the writer’s me-factor is not gratuitous.
The two types of obituary style are intriguing—the mini-bio and the lugubrious RIP modes. The RIP is more familiar, and I never appreciated it, but the artful mini-bio style has made it possible to look at the formulaic, epithet laden, Lincoln-log RIP style of the “with deep sorrow,” “beloved,” “devoted” death notice with fresh eyes. It is amazing how little is needed to individualize, and how timeless and universal the phrasing is. Today, besides comparing obit modes, I enjoyed the notice for Mexican boxer Raul Macias. A great example of how suggestion paints a fuller picture than a more concrete statement of the same length.
Tuesday, March 24
“They strip search first and ask questions later.” The central story on the strip search of an 8th grade girl by school officials based on “evidence” (goofy behavior at a school dance and an unsubstantial accusation of having served alcohol prior to the dance), and the legal discussion going on 6 years later is one of the best stories I’ve read this semester, not because the writing stood out, but because of the material. It’s probably a good lesson for newswriters too—appearances can be colored falsely by biased or careless information.
Friday, March 13, 2009
NYT March 9-12
Monday, March 9
I gave the paper a desultory view, but did zero in on an article on “drink responsibly” liquor ads. They’re one kind of advertisment that isn’t declining, and may be increasing, now. They are a clever way of promoting a product without giving much fuel to anti alcohol activists. I think it may be a good topic to research in the hopes of finding a good story locally.
Also spent more time on “CNBC Thrives Blurring the Line.” It seems that too many people haven’t gotten past the childhood precautionary “don’t believe everything you see on tv.” Even on news programs.
Tuesday, March 10
The newly discovered and debated ur-portrait of Shakespeare had too much unconvincingly argued material from the pro side. But there is enough information embedded in the story to question the claims—for example, why would this likeness, which would have had to have been done near the end of Shakespeare’s life have hair, when the others don’t.
Wednesday, March 11
“California Pinot Noirs with a Manifesto” is a great story about vineyard owners with strong opinions about what a wine should be and how it should be consumed. I thought the snarky attitudes (“I wish somebody could explain to me how picking grapes when they’re precisely in balance and making a wine in balance became unfashionable”) were hilarious at first, but by the end of the article, I had been convinced, at least momentarily
I gave the paper a desultory view, but did zero in on an article on “drink responsibly” liquor ads. They’re one kind of advertisment that isn’t declining, and may be increasing, now. They are a clever way of promoting a product without giving much fuel to anti alcohol activists. I think it may be a good topic to research in the hopes of finding a good story locally.
Also spent more time on “CNBC Thrives Blurring the Line.” It seems that too many people haven’t gotten past the childhood precautionary “don’t believe everything you see on tv.” Even on news programs.
Tuesday, March 10
The newly discovered and debated ur-portrait of Shakespeare had too much unconvincingly argued material from the pro side. But there is enough information embedded in the story to question the claims—for example, why would this likeness, which would have had to have been done near the end of Shakespeare’s life have hair, when the others don’t.
Wednesday, March 11
“California Pinot Noirs with a Manifesto” is a great story about vineyard owners with strong opinions about what a wine should be and how it should be consumed. I thought the snarky attitudes (“I wish somebody could explain to me how picking grapes when they’re precisely in balance and making a wine in balance became unfashionable”) were hilarious at first, but by the end of the article, I had been convinced, at least momentarily
Monday, March 9, 2009
Misbehaving students unsatisfied with school behavioral restrictions may find themselves getting an extra helping of what they don’t want –school. On Saturday.
Monday, The Portsmouth School Board tabled a motion that would require students with in-school suspension to serve their time several Saturday mornings during the school year. School board member Tim Steele said his motion would prevent students from missing regular class, causing trouble with make-up work and school supervisory personnel.
Parents were divided on the issue.
“I work six day a week – including Saturday morning,” said Peggy Bacon, mother of a student she suspects might be affected by the policy. “I just don’t think it’s going to make any difference, and the parents are going to pay for it –in higher taxes as well as ruined Saturdays.”
But resident Bob Farley liked the idea: “Parents can whine all they want … [they] aren’t teaching their kids any discipline, so the kids have no respect for rules. Maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they’ll start wising up.”
Steele said bathroom smoking is the disciplinary problem his proposal would be primarily combating: “there are other problems, but smoking is by far the biggest one.”
The issue will be further discussed during the next school board meeting, March 7.
In other news, the Middle school, which along with other city school buildings has seen a 25 percent drop in rental value, has been vandalized with graffiti. The rental committee suggested marketing the buildings more aggressively in newspapers.
Monday, The Portsmouth School Board tabled a motion that would require students with in-school suspension to serve their time several Saturday mornings during the school year. School board member Tim Steele said his motion would prevent students from missing regular class, causing trouble with make-up work and school supervisory personnel.
Parents were divided on the issue.
“I work six day a week – including Saturday morning,” said Peggy Bacon, mother of a student she suspects might be affected by the policy. “I just don’t think it’s going to make any difference, and the parents are going to pay for it –in higher taxes as well as ruined Saturdays.”
But resident Bob Farley liked the idea: “Parents can whine all they want … [they] aren’t teaching their kids any discipline, so the kids have no respect for rules. Maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they’ll start wising up.”
Steele said bathroom smoking is the disciplinary problem his proposal would be primarily combating: “there are other problems, but smoking is by far the biggest one.”
The issue will be further discussed during the next school board meeting, March 7.
In other news, the Middle school, which along with other city school buildings has seen a 25 percent drop in rental value, has been vandalized with graffiti. The rental committee suggested marketing the buildings more aggressively in newspapers.
Friday, March 6, 2009
NYT March 4-5
Wednesday, March 4
A modern brief of Gogol’s “Dead Souls” highlights this one. “So You’re Dead? …” describes debt collectors that sound like teenage girls rather than Sly Stallone, and their cautious, manipulative touches on heavy social cues—like being responsible for the peaceful rest of a deceased relative whose debts need to be payed off—to get you to pay. And they won’t break your fingers if you don’t. Often there is no requirement anyway, though that may be on an “if you don’t ask, we won’t tell” basis. “If you plant a seed and leave on a good note, they’ll call back and pay it,” says a top collector, Brenda Edwards. I guess it’s a good, legitimate idea, but it still makes me think of Tchitchikov riding around the Russian countryside on his dead peasant buyout.
Thursday, March 5
Despite the looser, more narrative structure of the Home, Arts, Technology sections, the stories still try to incorporate the economic angle, even though today’s “Tenants of a Vanishing World” seems like it would have been written almost the same way if there were no recession. It’s basically just a story about the curious apartment world of NYC. The O’Neals have been renting a house-size apartment in a Florentine style building on Broadway since the 70s and renting laws have kept their rate at about 2,500 a month when it would cost 28,000 a month to start a new rent in the building. The recession angle is slipped in here because now the owners, long considering selling to someone who would convert the place to condos, may be even more pressed to do so now. But the O’Neals have faith in NYC rent laws, and so the rest of the story is mostly a colorful depiction of their mildly bohemian lifestyle.
The front page has an interesting bit on Obama’s hair—is it going gray or is there some underhanded, theatrical dying tainting the president’s claim to transparency? I noticed as far back as a year ago that his hair was partially gray, but not noticeably so when the cut was fresh. This story has to be some kind of way of respectfully laughing at Obama. The president’s barber says “we do not tease about the gray hair at all,” but the NYT does as a way of saying something else.
A modern brief of Gogol’s “Dead Souls” highlights this one. “So You’re Dead? …” describes debt collectors that sound like teenage girls rather than Sly Stallone, and their cautious, manipulative touches on heavy social cues—like being responsible for the peaceful rest of a deceased relative whose debts need to be payed off—to get you to pay. And they won’t break your fingers if you don’t. Often there is no requirement anyway, though that may be on an “if you don’t ask, we won’t tell” basis. “If you plant a seed and leave on a good note, they’ll call back and pay it,” says a top collector, Brenda Edwards. I guess it’s a good, legitimate idea, but it still makes me think of Tchitchikov riding around the Russian countryside on his dead peasant buyout.
Thursday, March 5
Despite the looser, more narrative structure of the Home, Arts, Technology sections, the stories still try to incorporate the economic angle, even though today’s “Tenants of a Vanishing World” seems like it would have been written almost the same way if there were no recession. It’s basically just a story about the curious apartment world of NYC. The O’Neals have been renting a house-size apartment in a Florentine style building on Broadway since the 70s and renting laws have kept their rate at about 2,500 a month when it would cost 28,000 a month to start a new rent in the building. The recession angle is slipped in here because now the owners, long considering selling to someone who would convert the place to condos, may be even more pressed to do so now. But the O’Neals have faith in NYC rent laws, and so the rest of the story is mostly a colorful depiction of their mildly bohemian lifestyle.
The front page has an interesting bit on Obama’s hair—is it going gray or is there some underhanded, theatrical dying tainting the president’s claim to transparency? I noticed as far back as a year ago that his hair was partially gray, but not noticeably so when the cut was fresh. This story has to be some kind of way of respectfully laughing at Obama. The president’s barber says “we do not tease about the gray hair at all,” but the NYT does as a way of saying something else.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
NYT, March 2&3
[I am going to start posting these more regularly through the week, hopefully daily soon. Here is this weeks Monday and Tuesday]
Monday, March 2
I’ve been skimming the sports and arts sections, enjoying those before going through the A section. So the lasting impression from my read today was of the “first family” of Rhode Island basketball—the tough-as-nails father/ coach; the sensitive, balancing mother/ artist; and the privileged son who lives like he wasn’t/ b-ball team standout. But maybe it wasn’t so much the family that left an impression, but the perspective that the author invented to get his angle. The information was very clearly spun to get the desired result, or rather forced into a dramtic mold. Almost like there was a 3 way standard paradigm that the family members needed to fit into, but didn’t. It almost involved doublespeak when the author tried to imbed the angle with the facts, or the facts with the angle. I feel bad picking apart the story because it would sound like criticism of the newsmakers.
Other thing that stood out was the first page ad for “a late night stimulus package.” I think the term “stimulus” is taking on a new meaning and significance that will last longer than news coverage of the specific Obama package. I am only starting to realize how far the current events term is being appropriated culturally.
Tuesday, March 3
The centerpiece for section B, on allegedly corrupt pharmaceutical practices, did what news reports do rarely—it shocked me. Not because of the shady bonds between industry, some doctors and some med schools that have been in the news (Rolling Stone published a story on Eli Lilly and docs last issue, for instance), but because Harvard, often ranked first among med schools, received a failing grade for oversight over faculty/ private interest relationships, while most of the immediate competition got A’s/B’s. Not quite enough to make one adopt a Tolstoy stance to medicine, but enough to raise serious concern. If it came out that the pope was using papal priviledges to have secret liaisons in the open, hidden by the perceived dignity of his position, it would be an offense of similar quality… though perhaps different magnitiude.
A nice story to bridge to—the Art’s section review of Philip Herrewegh’s conducting of Bach’s B Minor Mass. Finding extreme clarity in the performance, the reviewer wondered if Herrewegh’s medical training led him to prepare the performance by sitting down with the score the way a psychiatrist sits down with a patient.
Monday, March 2
I’ve been skimming the sports and arts sections, enjoying those before going through the A section. So the lasting impression from my read today was of the “first family” of Rhode Island basketball—the tough-as-nails father/ coach; the sensitive, balancing mother/ artist; and the privileged son who lives like he wasn’t/ b-ball team standout. But maybe it wasn’t so much the family that left an impression, but the perspective that the author invented to get his angle. The information was very clearly spun to get the desired result, or rather forced into a dramtic mold. Almost like there was a 3 way standard paradigm that the family members needed to fit into, but didn’t. It almost involved doublespeak when the author tried to imbed the angle with the facts, or the facts with the angle. I feel bad picking apart the story because it would sound like criticism of the newsmakers.
Other thing that stood out was the first page ad for “a late night stimulus package.” I think the term “stimulus” is taking on a new meaning and significance that will last longer than news coverage of the specific Obama package. I am only starting to realize how far the current events term is being appropriated culturally.
Tuesday, March 3
The centerpiece for section B, on allegedly corrupt pharmaceutical practices, did what news reports do rarely—it shocked me. Not because of the shady bonds between industry, some doctors and some med schools that have been in the news (Rolling Stone published a story on Eli Lilly and docs last issue, for instance), but because Harvard, often ranked first among med schools, received a failing grade for oversight over faculty/ private interest relationships, while most of the immediate competition got A’s/B’s. Not quite enough to make one adopt a Tolstoy stance to medicine, but enough to raise serious concern. If it came out that the pope was using papal priviledges to have secret liaisons in the open, hidden by the perceived dignity of his position, it would be an offense of similar quality… though perhaps different magnitiude.
A nice story to bridge to—the Art’s section review of Philip Herrewegh’s conducting of Bach’s B Minor Mass. Finding extreme clarity in the performance, the reviewer wondered if Herrewegh’s medical training led him to prepare the performance by sitting down with the score the way a psychiatrist sits down with a patient.
Friday, February 27, 2009
NYT, Feb. 23-26
Monday, February 23
A new antibody that the flu would not be able to adapt to, and that could be used yearly without change was the most intriguing story of the day. The discovery of a “viral Achilles’ heel” that attacks a non-mutating part of multiple forms of flu virus would also signal possible improvements in treatment for other mutating viruses. The rest of the A section was update of current events.
Tuesday, February 24
I have been a fan of Valery Gergiev, so the nicely headlined “A Russian City’s Wounds are Dressed in Opera Garb” appealed to me as a unique story on a subject I have a previous interest in. The optimism that the seamstresses from Chechen terrorized Vladikavkaz maintained through their work on a premiere of Turandot was moving, with one exclaiming “if someone needs a dress like this all is not lost” in the middle of suicide bombings.
Wednesday, February 25
The dramatic turn in the most highly endowed college’s immediate financial future mirrors a story last week about Harvard and Historically Black Colleges in Georgia, but today’s “Gifts to Colleges Fall” presented a larger cross section with more sweeping claims about the contrast between now and a year ago. NYT argues that 2008 was a record breaking year in endowment for colleges, but now Yale is considering layoffs and Harvard is dropping partially finished expansion plans. Even previous donations are being renegotiated by donors were stretching out the time for payment.
Thursday, February 26
I had recently read an essay which claimed U.S. gun supply to south american drug cartels had very little effect on drug related violence. The front page story, with dramatic emphasis on the negative effects of U.S. weapons making their way into cartels through loose laws in military gun sales, interested me because it filled in the weak spots in a possibly special interest argument.
A new antibody that the flu would not be able to adapt to, and that could be used yearly without change was the most intriguing story of the day. The discovery of a “viral Achilles’ heel” that attacks a non-mutating part of multiple forms of flu virus would also signal possible improvements in treatment for other mutating viruses. The rest of the A section was update of current events.
Tuesday, February 24
I have been a fan of Valery Gergiev, so the nicely headlined “A Russian City’s Wounds are Dressed in Opera Garb” appealed to me as a unique story on a subject I have a previous interest in. The optimism that the seamstresses from Chechen terrorized Vladikavkaz maintained through their work on a premiere of Turandot was moving, with one exclaiming “if someone needs a dress like this all is not lost” in the middle of suicide bombings.
Wednesday, February 25
The dramatic turn in the most highly endowed college’s immediate financial future mirrors a story last week about Harvard and Historically Black Colleges in Georgia, but today’s “Gifts to Colleges Fall” presented a larger cross section with more sweeping claims about the contrast between now and a year ago. NYT argues that 2008 was a record breaking year in endowment for colleges, but now Yale is considering layoffs and Harvard is dropping partially finished expansion plans. Even previous donations are being renegotiated by donors were stretching out the time for payment.
Thursday, February 26
I had recently read an essay which claimed U.S. gun supply to south american drug cartels had very little effect on drug related violence. The front page story, with dramatic emphasis on the negative effects of U.S. weapons making their way into cartels through loose laws in military gun sales, interested me because it filled in the weak spots in a possibly special interest argument.
Friday, February 20, 2009
February 16-19 NYT Blog
Monday, February 16
International or national stories about foreigners have disproportionally interested me so far in my NY Times readings—today, the same thing: I enjoyed the story on Russian car tariffs and New Orleans Hispanic laborers. The reporting is visual, a little exotic, but still newsy, not just human interest. The descriptory passages, especially in the New Orleans laborer story combine with sometimes colloquial and dialectic quotations, that it is less of task to read and more a pleasure, like entertaining fiction.
Sometimes I read the Italian news source Corriera della Sera and find stories about the U.S. that come out much earlier there than here and I wonder if it’s also true that American papers are less inhibited when writing about foreigners. It would be traditional; I’ve always read that historical figures like Dostoevsky and Pasolini had to go to foreign papers to read about Russia or Italy, respectively. That may be another explanation for my bias toward international stories in the Times, though certainly a willingness to write more freely doesn’t necessarily mean the stories are superior in form or content.
Tuesday, February 17
The story on platelet-rich plasma therapy, theoretically used with success recently on a player who might otherwise not have been able to participate in the Super Bowl, grabbed my attention because it seems like such a simple, almost intuitive medical idea.
Wednesday, February 18
The front page story on G.M. and Chrysler cuts in employees, car models, and brand lineups struck me with the detail about which cars will be discontinued, and by the implications of so many jobs cuts, which make me think of historical automotive job cuts that left entire cities that developed around car plants completely ruined.
The story on uninsured young adults sticks in my mind as well, because of the colorful personal stories that illustrate the problem. Apparently, there are a lot of creative ways to try not to get sick/ recover. I would have liked a section explaining whether or not the tactics of young people without health insurance are in any way effective (exercising off a cold?).
Thursday, February 19
I didn’t realize how badly some schools have been hit by the economic crisis. The National page had a great story on historically black colleges in Atlanta that can barely pay the water bills. The picture shows an elegant classical adaptation campus building that makes a sad contrast to the funds behind it now. I liked that there was also a brief on Harvard’s projected 30% loss of endowment and a possible halt to a large construction project in Alston. Even Harvard has to reconsider its priorities, and gets neighborhood complaints over construction ruining the area.
International or national stories about foreigners have disproportionally interested me so far in my NY Times readings—today, the same thing: I enjoyed the story on Russian car tariffs and New Orleans Hispanic laborers. The reporting is visual, a little exotic, but still newsy, not just human interest. The descriptory passages, especially in the New Orleans laborer story combine with sometimes colloquial and dialectic quotations, that it is less of task to read and more a pleasure, like entertaining fiction.
Sometimes I read the Italian news source Corriera della Sera and find stories about the U.S. that come out much earlier there than here and I wonder if it’s also true that American papers are less inhibited when writing about foreigners. It would be traditional; I’ve always read that historical figures like Dostoevsky and Pasolini had to go to foreign papers to read about Russia or Italy, respectively. That may be another explanation for my bias toward international stories in the Times, though certainly a willingness to write more freely doesn’t necessarily mean the stories are superior in form or content.
Tuesday, February 17
The story on platelet-rich plasma therapy, theoretically used with success recently on a player who might otherwise not have been able to participate in the Super Bowl, grabbed my attention because it seems like such a simple, almost intuitive medical idea.
Wednesday, February 18
The front page story on G.M. and Chrysler cuts in employees, car models, and brand lineups struck me with the detail about which cars will be discontinued, and by the implications of so many jobs cuts, which make me think of historical automotive job cuts that left entire cities that developed around car plants completely ruined.
The story on uninsured young adults sticks in my mind as well, because of the colorful personal stories that illustrate the problem. Apparently, there are a lot of creative ways to try not to get sick/ recover. I would have liked a section explaining whether or not the tactics of young people without health insurance are in any way effective (exercising off a cold?).
Thursday, February 19
I didn’t realize how badly some schools have been hit by the economic crisis. The National page had a great story on historically black colleges in Atlanta that can barely pay the water bills. The picture shows an elegant classical adaptation campus building that makes a sad contrast to the funds behind it now. I liked that there was also a brief on Harvard’s projected 30% loss of endowment and a possible halt to a large construction project in Alston. Even Harvard has to reconsider its priorities, and gets neighborhood complaints over construction ruining the area.
Friday, February 13, 2009
New York Times blog, week 2
Monday, February 9
My delivery of The New York Times did not come. Called service number. It has arrived since
Tuesday, February 10
The front page story on reintroduction of indulgences in the Catholic Church struck me as being a great international story that might make a good local story if the right material comes up. According to the story, plenary indulgences have not been used since The Second Vatican Council. As indulgences, charitable actions, pilgrimages and other works cut back or eliminate time spent in Purgatory. I guess I’d be hoping a good human interest story might come up, maybe a little eccentric, if this were to develop into a good local story.
Wednesday, February 11
I’m not unappreciative of the daily update stories on the economy, but they don’t stand out no matter how many are on the front page. Today’s “On the Trial of War Criminals…” stood out for me because of its focus on ethics in journalism. Not only is the core material, NBC’s faux pas in capturing an accused war criminal, gripping but the coincidences of the story as well. It seems almost too amazing that the president of Goucher College, where the man accused of genocide was a professor, was a journalist at NPR and one of the first to disagree with NBC’s sensationalist, unusual tactics.
Thursday, February 12
Besides being notable for unfortunate, slightly bizarre stories (man dragged 20 miles under van, suspected Nazi attack, suicide bombing deaths) and over advertising for Valentine’s Day, today’s NY Times had a steadying parallel to all the usual stories about the US economy: a graphics account of Dubai’s economic downturn—foreign workers abandoning cars and maxed out, unpaid credit cards while fleeing the country, house prices down 30%, luxury cars losing 40% value in 2 months, and wages for still existent jobs down by 50% or more. Compared to the daily stories about our economic problems, this had a more severe, more sensational edge. Maybe it was meant to be more of a stand alone, whereas the US stories are updates that will be updated tomorrow (which makes them boring and obvious, without negating their usefulness).
My delivery of The New York Times did not come. Called service number. It has arrived since
Tuesday, February 10
The front page story on reintroduction of indulgences in the Catholic Church struck me as being a great international story that might make a good local story if the right material comes up. According to the story, plenary indulgences have not been used since The Second Vatican Council. As indulgences, charitable actions, pilgrimages and other works cut back or eliminate time spent in Purgatory. I guess I’d be hoping a good human interest story might come up, maybe a little eccentric, if this were to develop into a good local story.
Wednesday, February 11
I’m not unappreciative of the daily update stories on the economy, but they don’t stand out no matter how many are on the front page. Today’s “On the Trial of War Criminals…” stood out for me because of its focus on ethics in journalism. Not only is the core material, NBC’s faux pas in capturing an accused war criminal, gripping but the coincidences of the story as well. It seems almost too amazing that the president of Goucher College, where the man accused of genocide was a professor, was a journalist at NPR and one of the first to disagree with NBC’s sensationalist, unusual tactics.
Thursday, February 12
Besides being notable for unfortunate, slightly bizarre stories (man dragged 20 miles under van, suspected Nazi attack, suicide bombing deaths) and over advertising for Valentine’s Day, today’s NY Times had a steadying parallel to all the usual stories about the US economy: a graphics account of Dubai’s economic downturn—foreign workers abandoning cars and maxed out, unpaid credit cards while fleeing the country, house prices down 30%, luxury cars losing 40% value in 2 months, and wages for still existent jobs down by 50% or more. Compared to the daily stories about our economic problems, this had a more severe, more sensational edge. Maybe it was meant to be more of a stand alone, whereas the US stories are updates that will be updated tomorrow (which makes them boring and obvious, without negating their usefulness).
Monday, February 9, 2009
In Class Info Reduction/ Story
A compassionate teenager and…a car crash saved a tourist’s life Monday morning after his car stalled on a train track.
According to police, 80-year-old Francois Truffaut may have gone into insulin shock and passed out as his car reached the crossing in Old Orchard Beach.
When Police Captain Janet Paradiso was notified she “knew there was no time. I had to do something.”
She arrived just as she heard the whistle of an approaching train, and rammed into Truffaut’s vehicle with her police cruiser.
“It was that close,” said Police Chief Brian Paul.
Police were only able to save Truffaut because a teenager rushing to work spotted the stalled vehicle and decided to run to the station to report it.
“I never thought about it. I just I couldn’t let that man get crushed by a train,” said 17-year-old James Laboke.
According to police, 80-year-old Francois Truffaut may have gone into insulin shock and passed out as his car reached the crossing in Old Orchard Beach.
When Police Captain Janet Paradiso was notified she “knew there was no time. I had to do something.”
She arrived just as she heard the whistle of an approaching train, and rammed into Truffaut’s vehicle with her police cruiser.
“It was that close,” said Police Chief Brian Paul.
Police were only able to save Truffaut because a teenager rushing to work spotted the stalled vehicle and decided to run to the station to report it.
“I never thought about it. I just I couldn’t let that man get crushed by a train,” said 17-year-old James Laboke.
Friday, February 6, 2009
NYT, Feb.2-6
[Note: Ordered home delivery subscription to Manchester which must begin next Monday, so this 1st NYT reading blog is on the Monday, Feb.2 edition picked up in class, and the Friday, Feb. 6 online facsimile which I just discovered]
Monday, Feb. 2
This edition, as it would be viewed by a potential buyer from a news vending machine, only the title fold showing, is notably negative for everyone except Steelers' fans. For the first day of a work week, 3 stories of 4 focused on the economic crisis is a let down.
As noted in the class observation of a switch to an arguably more compelling picture in editions due at later times, the decision of which superbowl photograph to use was heavily considered, and probably not solely for the sake of getting the most gripping picture, but to balance out front flap stories that one might rather not read. Even the most important information may be hard to swallow without some sugar coating, whether it be in the images or entertaining, stylistic touches of lower front page stories like the image evoking piece on daring Mexican drug cartels. I assume that giving the front page 1st glance appeal makes it hard on NYTs editors when the most important, relevent stories are not appealing, and that this edition is a good example it.
Friday, Feb. 6
The contrast between the Monday edition and the Friday is drastic. While the front flap, the selling flap, deals largely with the same crisis issues, the headings omit killer terms like failure, risk and the at best ambiguous terms of Monday. Instead things are positive, moving forward, or at least pose interesting changes in status quo--men losing 82% of cut positions, the US opening back up to foreign paradeigms--and included are several fascinating scientific, effectively escapist stories about color and mood, and later in the A section wolf-dog genetics. I wonder if Monday and Friday editions of NYTs regularly adopt similar opposing tones?- And if so whether or not the rest of the week follows a gradation.
Monday, Feb. 2
This edition, as it would be viewed by a potential buyer from a news vending machine, only the title fold showing, is notably negative for everyone except Steelers' fans. For the first day of a work week, 3 stories of 4 focused on the economic crisis is a let down.
As noted in the class observation of a switch to an arguably more compelling picture in editions due at later times, the decision of which superbowl photograph to use was heavily considered, and probably not solely for the sake of getting the most gripping picture, but to balance out front flap stories that one might rather not read. Even the most important information may be hard to swallow without some sugar coating, whether it be in the images or entertaining, stylistic touches of lower front page stories like the image evoking piece on daring Mexican drug cartels. I assume that giving the front page 1st glance appeal makes it hard on NYTs editors when the most important, relevent stories are not appealing, and that this edition is a good example it.
Friday, Feb. 6
The contrast between the Monday edition and the Friday is drastic. While the front flap, the selling flap, deals largely with the same crisis issues, the headings omit killer terms like failure, risk and the at best ambiguous terms of Monday. Instead things are positive, moving forward, or at least pose interesting changes in status quo--men losing 82% of cut positions, the US opening back up to foreign paradeigms--and included are several fascinating scientific, effectively escapist stories about color and mood, and later in the A section wolf-dog genetics. I wonder if Monday and Friday editions of NYTs regularly adopt similar opposing tones?- And if so whether or not the rest of the week follows a gradation.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Class exercise 1
Two female teenagers are hospitalized after an automobile swerved off road near the fairground in Belmont, overturning on its roof. One is in stable condition. The other was airlifted to Mass general hospital in Boston.
According to Thomas Carroll, who witnessed the accident, Jamie Peterson was driving his white Mustang on the unlit, gravely road when he lost control.
Local resident Josie Crandall also witnessed the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Lieutenant Judith Barkus of Belmont police department said Peterson’s two teenage female passengers were removed from the wreck in a 45 minute Jaws of Life operation.
Carroll said three beer cans were found under the car.
There was a fatal accident on the same spot in 1998.
According to Thomas Carroll, who witnessed the accident, Jamie Peterson was driving his white Mustang on the unlit, gravely road when he lost control.
Local resident Josie Crandall also witnessed the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Lieutenant Judith Barkus of Belmont police department said Peterson’s two teenage female passengers were removed from the wreck in a 45 minute Jaws of Life operation.
Carroll said three beer cans were found under the car.
There was a fatal accident on the same spot in 1998.
Class exercise 1
Two female teenagers are hospitalized after an automobile swerved off road near the fairground in Belmont, overturning on its roof. One is in stable condition. The other was airlifted to Mass general hospital in Boston.
According to Thomas Carroll, who witnessed the accident, Jamie Peterson was driving his white Mustang on the unlit, gravely road when he lost control.
Local resident Josie Crandall also witnessed the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Lieutenant Judith Barkus of Belmont police department said Peterson’s two teenage female passengers were removed from the wreck in a 45 minute Jaws of Life operation.
Carroll said three beer cans were found under the car.
There was a fatal accident on the same spot in 1998.
According to Thomas Carroll, who witnessed the accident, Jamie Peterson was driving his white Mustang on the unlit, gravely road when he lost control.
Local resident Josie Crandall also witnessed the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Lieutenant Judith Barkus of Belmont police department said Peterson’s two teenage female passengers were removed from the wreck in a 45 minute Jaws of Life operation.
Carroll said three beer cans were found under the car.
There was a fatal accident on the same spot in 1998.
Class exercise 1
Two female teenagers are hospitalized after an automobile swerved off road near the fairground in Belmont, overturning on its roof. One is in stable condition. The other was airlifted to Mass general hospital in Boston.
According to Thomas Carroll, who witnessed the accident, Jamie Peterson was driving his white Mustang on the unlit, gravely road when he lost control.
Local resident Josie Crandall also witnessed the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Lieutenant Judith Barkus of Belmont police department said Peterson’s two teenage female passengers were removed from the wreck in a 45 minute Jaws of Life operation.
Carroll said three beer cans were found under the car.
There was a fatal accident on the same spot in 1998.
According to Thomas Carroll, who witnessed the accident, Jamie Peterson was driving his white Mustang on the unlit, gravely road when he lost control.
Local resident Josie Crandall also witnessed the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Lieutenant Judith Barkus of Belmont police department said Peterson’s two teenage female passengers were removed from the wreck in a 45 minute Jaws of Life operation.
Carroll said three beer cans were found under the car.
There was a fatal accident on the same spot in 1998.
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