Are You Serious?
According to a story found on Reuters, the mayor of Bordeaux, a village southwest of France, has told residents to not die- or else. He bases these claims on the fact that the cemetery, known to the locals as Sarpourenx, is filled to the brim and is unable to accommodate any more bodies.
The title of the article is 'Cemetery full, mayor tells locals not to die'. How can you ignore that? It's truly scary to think how far ahead we are than the rest of the world. To have a town meeting and blatantly forbid anyone from dying, and threatening them with sever punishment is beyond me.
I wonder what sort of punishment he has in mind. Perhaps an exile from the church? Cremation? I certainly hope they come up with a new plan of action. I feel for the town of 260 people. I mean, not being able to die. What's the point in living then?
This story may not be as groundbreaking as my previous top news stories, but it was too bizarre not to share with you and whoever else reads my rant on the world.
Link found here: http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL0552076620080305
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Week 7 - Reporting With Numbers
1) School Funding
66% of the school's budget comes from the state.
5% of the school's budget comes from student tuition
28% of the school's budget comes from fees, grants, and gifts
The most significant funding source is obviously from the state as it accounts for 2/3 of all funding. The next most significant funding source is from fees, grants, and gifts totaling just less than 1/4 of the budget. The least significant source of funding is tuition, brazing only 5% of the budget. Make it free then!
In plain words, the biggest contributor to the school's budget is the state, accounting for more than half of the budget. Following not very close behind is the money gathered from fees, grants, and gifts. That money accounts for a quarter of the budget. Last and certainly least is the small impact tuition has on the budget, accounting for a meager 5%.
2) Prison Sentences
The average prison term is 22 months or 1 year 10 months
The average probation term is also 22 months or 1 year 10 months
The median prison term is 1 year (12 months)
With this particular set of data, the most accurate description of prison terms is the median. The fact that one person received a 7-year sentence throws the average data out of sync. You can tell at first glance that the most common sentence is 1 year, without even crunching any numbers.
3) Restaurant Food Sales
(The following information is based on the California states sales tax - 7.25%)
If the state legislature were to enact a law exempting restaurant food sales from sales tax many fast-food patrons have the potential to save a lot of money.
If one were to eat out once a week, spending only $5 per meal, at the end of the year you would have saved $18.85.
If that same person were to eat out once a week but spend $20 per meal, at the end of the year he/she would have saved $75.40. There's an extra Xbox 360 game, or another textbook.
66% of the school's budget comes from the state.
5% of the school's budget comes from student tuition
28% of the school's budget comes from fees, grants, and gifts
The most significant funding source is obviously from the state as it accounts for 2/3 of all funding. The next most significant funding source is from fees, grants, and gifts totaling just less than 1/4 of the budget. The least significant source of funding is tuition, brazing only 5% of the budget. Make it free then!
In plain words, the biggest contributor to the school's budget is the state, accounting for more than half of the budget. Following not very close behind is the money gathered from fees, grants, and gifts. That money accounts for a quarter of the budget. Last and certainly least is the small impact tuition has on the budget, accounting for a meager 5%.
2) Prison Sentences
The average prison term is 22 months or 1 year 10 months
The average probation term is also 22 months or 1 year 10 months
The median prison term is 1 year (12 months)
With this particular set of data, the most accurate description of prison terms is the median. The fact that one person received a 7-year sentence throws the average data out of sync. You can tell at first glance that the most common sentence is 1 year, without even crunching any numbers.
3) Restaurant Food Sales
(The following information is based on the California states sales tax - 7.25%)
If the state legislature were to enact a law exempting restaurant food sales from sales tax many fast-food patrons have the potential to save a lot of money.
If one were to eat out once a week, spending only $5 per meal, at the end of the year you would have saved $18.85.
If that same person were to eat out once a week but spend $20 per meal, at the end of the year he/she would have saved $75.40. There's an extra Xbox 360 game, or another textbook.
Week 7 - AP Style Quiz S-Z
1) He thought of Smokey Bear every time he got near a smoldering fire or entered a smoky room. (3)
2) The forecast is for lower temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues, there could be a traveler's advisory. (3)
3) To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags. (3)
4) His weeklong ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt. (2)
5) A 19-year-old youth was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bail, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown. (4)
6) When he heard the building plan for the new high school had been rejected, Bill pulled out his stationery to write a letter of protest. (2)
7) Ben really knows his Scriptures, but he knows little about the Talmud or the Shariah. (3)
2) The forecast is for lower temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues, there could be a traveler's advisory. (3)
3) To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags. (3)
4) His weeklong ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt. (2)
5) A 19-year-old youth was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bail, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown. (4)
6) When he heard the building plan for the new high school had been rejected, Bill pulled out his stationery to write a letter of protest. (2)
7) Ben really knows his Scriptures, but he knows little about the Talmud or the Shariah. (3)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Week 6 - AP Style Quiz M-R
1) He hopes to make $1 billion by the time he’s 40. Already he figures his net worth is between $2 million and $3 million, depending on current stock prices. (3)
2) Lt. Cmdr. John Carpenter was a Mishipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the 7th Fleet. (4)
3) Twenty-one winners were named Two days after the third annual procrastination awards ceremony. (3)
4) It was a one-sided game, and he was a poor loser. After losing the playoff when his ball went out of bounds, he made an off-color remark that could be heard in the stands. (4)
5) Hundreds of people attended the race on Sunday to watch 75 top bicyclists pedal across the finish line. (3)
6) Every winter, the Joneses and the Kinneys pore over travel brochures, planning their summer trip together. This year they’re hoping to go to Panama City, Fla. (3)
2) Lt. Cmdr. John Carpenter was a Mishipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the 7th Fleet. (4)
3) Twenty-one winners were named Two days after the third annual procrastination awards ceremony. (3)
4) It was a one-sided game, and he was a poor loser. After losing the playoff when his ball went out of bounds, he made an off-color remark that could be heard in the stands. (4)
5) Hundreds of people attended the race on Sunday to watch 75 top bicyclists pedal across the finish line. (3)
6) Every winter, the Joneses and the Kinneys pore over travel brochures, planning their summer trip together. This year they’re hoping to go to Panama City, Fla. (3)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Week 6 - News Story #5
Runaway Truck
At around 1:30 p.m. yesterday a runaway truck smashed into a home on Moeser Lane in El Cerrito after doing massive damage along its path and knocking out power not only in El Cerrito, but also Berkeley and Richmond.
El Cerrito Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples was one of the first rescuers on the scene. When he arrived he saw an overturned 10-wheeled asphalt truck protruding from a single-story home. The home was engulfed in flames. He heard screams coming from under the debris near the collision site, and after some digging erected the driver of the vehicle. The driver’s legs were all mangled making movement on his own impossible. “We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there,” Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples said.
While it was careening down Maples street, the truck sent a parked electrician’s vehicle soaring onto Richmond Street and entangled a sport utility vehicle in some shrubbery near the burning house. The vehicle had a man and a boy inside.
A Honda in the path of the truck was so severely damaged, rescuers needed the Jaws of Life to fetch the driver from the vehicle. A sport utility vehicle became entangled in some shrubbery near the burning house as well, with a boy and a man inside.
Ruben Sharma, who lives across the street from the collision site said, “First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable.” His front yard depicted the aftermath of the crash, with broken glass, car parts, bricks, and splintered wood thrown about all over the place.
The driver of the asphalt truck, a San Jose man, is listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Both of his legs were broken in the crash.
No other injuries have been reported.
At around 1:30 p.m. yesterday a runaway truck smashed into a home on Moeser Lane in El Cerrito after doing massive damage along its path and knocking out power not only in El Cerrito, but also Berkeley and Richmond.
El Cerrito Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples was one of the first rescuers on the scene. When he arrived he saw an overturned 10-wheeled asphalt truck protruding from a single-story home. The home was engulfed in flames. He heard screams coming from under the debris near the collision site, and after some digging erected the driver of the vehicle. The driver’s legs were all mangled making movement on his own impossible. “We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there,” Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples said.
While it was careening down Maples street, the truck sent a parked electrician’s vehicle soaring onto Richmond Street and entangled a sport utility vehicle in some shrubbery near the burning house. The vehicle had a man and a boy inside.
A Honda in the path of the truck was so severely damaged, rescuers needed the Jaws of Life to fetch the driver from the vehicle. A sport utility vehicle became entangled in some shrubbery near the burning house as well, with a boy and a man inside.
Ruben Sharma, who lives across the street from the collision site said, “First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable.” His front yard depicted the aftermath of the crash, with broken glass, car parts, bricks, and splintered wood thrown about all over the place.
The driver of the asphalt truck, a San Jose man, is listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Both of his legs were broken in the crash.
No other injuries have been reported.
Week 6 - Top News
Natural Born Citizen
It has been brought to the attention of America that Senator John McCain may in fact not be a natural born citizen. As stated in the Constitution of the United States, only a natural born citizen can be elected president. Well, where do we say the "United States" starts and ends, with so many of our territories and bases overseas? What about those children?
It appears there used to be a law, passed in 1790, that stated, "children born outside the U.S. 'shall be considered as natural born citizens'." According to MSNBC this give us an idea as to what the founders were thinking at the time of the conception of the both the Constitution and the law.
Ted Olson most certainly says it best. "The plain meaning of 'natural born citizen' includes persons who become citizens of this nation 'naturally,' that is, by virtue of their birth to parents who are citizens, particularly when the birth takes place on territory occupied and controlled by the United States, in Senator McCain's case, a U.S. military base in the Panama Canal Zone."
Honestly though, who cares? I'm so tired of this nation always advocating the nation of the free, when there are so many old, old, OLD customs that we still adhere to. The two party system is useless by today's standards. Why don't we just vote for whomever we think has the best solutions for our nations problems? Why do we still need an Electoral College? How can a president win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote? Garbage. Blasphemy.
Look. Its time we actually lived up to what we claim to be. If this is the land of the free, then why not let us decide who we want to be president. Who cares if a candidate wasn't born of this country? If that person seems fit to run, then by all means let them run. The people will decide. And seriously, there are so many checks and balances in place, they swear like the president, even if he were to abuse his power (speaking in the sense that congress used to be afraid of having a non-natural born citizen as president because they were afraid of an outside tyrant coming in and taking over) he wouldn't get very far.
And another thing. Black, white, Asian, Mexican, male or female - all should be able to run. All of this mumbo jumbo, about all men are created equal is out of date. All people are created equal, and if they have a life ambition to become president, let them try. I for one don't vote on the premise that the president needs to be an old white man with useless ideals in the Democratic Party. I vote (with what little choices the government allows me) for the best candidate. Period.
This story, although it got a rouse out of me, has every news value associated with it minus proximity.
It has impact because all the people of this nation will be affected in one way or another if and when the decision on this issue comes to pass.
It most certainly has timeliness and currency because elections are quickly approaching.
It has prominence because it is regarding a presidential candidate.
It has bizarreness in the sense that how can you say a baby born from someone protecting this country is not a natural born citizen? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Everything about this story screams conflict.
Link found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23415028/
It has been brought to the attention of America that Senator John McCain may in fact not be a natural born citizen. As stated in the Constitution of the United States, only a natural born citizen can be elected president. Well, where do we say the "United States" starts and ends, with so many of our territories and bases overseas? What about those children?
It appears there used to be a law, passed in 1790, that stated, "children born outside the U.S. 'shall be considered as natural born citizens'." According to MSNBC this give us an idea as to what the founders were thinking at the time of the conception of the both the Constitution and the law.
Ted Olson most certainly says it best. "The plain meaning of 'natural born citizen' includes persons who become citizens of this nation 'naturally,' that is, by virtue of their birth to parents who are citizens, particularly when the birth takes place on territory occupied and controlled by the United States, in Senator McCain's case, a U.S. military base in the Panama Canal Zone."
Honestly though, who cares? I'm so tired of this nation always advocating the nation of the free, when there are so many old, old, OLD customs that we still adhere to. The two party system is useless by today's standards. Why don't we just vote for whomever we think has the best solutions for our nations problems? Why do we still need an Electoral College? How can a president win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote? Garbage. Blasphemy.
Look. Its time we actually lived up to what we claim to be. If this is the land of the free, then why not let us decide who we want to be president. Who cares if a candidate wasn't born of this country? If that person seems fit to run, then by all means let them run. The people will decide. And seriously, there are so many checks and balances in place, they swear like the president, even if he were to abuse his power (speaking in the sense that congress used to be afraid of having a non-natural born citizen as president because they were afraid of an outside tyrant coming in and taking over) he wouldn't get very far.
And another thing. Black, white, Asian, Mexican, male or female - all should be able to run. All of this mumbo jumbo, about all men are created equal is out of date. All people are created equal, and if they have a life ambition to become president, let them try. I for one don't vote on the premise that the president needs to be an old white man with useless ideals in the Democratic Party. I vote (with what little choices the government allows me) for the best candidate. Period.
This story, although it got a rouse out of me, has every news value associated with it minus proximity.
It has impact because all the people of this nation will be affected in one way or another if and when the decision on this issue comes to pass.
It most certainly has timeliness and currency because elections are quickly approaching.
It has prominence because it is regarding a presidential candidate.
It has bizarreness in the sense that how can you say a baby born from someone protecting this country is not a natural born citizen? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Everything about this story screams conflict.
Link found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23415028/
Week 6 - Redefining News
First and foremost I most certainly agree that news is being redefined on a daily basis. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say its context or existing mediums are being replaced. If anything, news is being more acutely focused, with the ability to search, re-search, perform an advanced search etc. Instead of having to dig through a newspaper or a magazine, with no guarantee that you’ll find what you seek, journalism is slowly adopting better ways to communicate information quickly.
The search button without a doubt is the greatest addition to the information age this century. Sure that’s bold to say when we have done so much in regards to information and streamlining it, but just take a second and stop and think about it. Never before in the history of humanity has it been so easy to find the information we seek. I will go so far as to say that without the search button (function), the computer ends up being just another means of saving paper, but not of saving time – an energy waster.
The best link on Ryan Sholin’s page is Everyblock by the Knight News Challenge project. It takes searching and focusing to an entirely new level. Being able to narrow the news down to that which happens on your very street is incredible. The amount of work it would take to do that on your own, digging through newspapers one by one, is beyond belief. Now that all the information is in front of you, you can do something with it rather than wasting all of your time just gathering it. If there were a lot of robberies on the street you were planning on moving to, perhaps you should reconsider. Likewise, if there were a lot of successful events for the community on a different street, perhaps that street gets bumped up to the new choice.
News is just news until you reach the level where it becomes personal. A story about a man dying in a car accident in New York to a resident of California doesn’t have nearly the same impact as say a little boy getting run over on your street. Hey, wait a minute. Suddenly I care. Whether its good or not, that’s the way we operate. We don’t give a damn, until it happens to us.
Link found here: http://www.everyblock.com/
The search button without a doubt is the greatest addition to the information age this century. Sure that’s bold to say when we have done so much in regards to information and streamlining it, but just take a second and stop and think about it. Never before in the history of humanity has it been so easy to find the information we seek. I will go so far as to say that without the search button (function), the computer ends up being just another means of saving paper, but not of saving time – an energy waster.
The best link on Ryan Sholin’s page is Everyblock by the Knight News Challenge project. It takes searching and focusing to an entirely new level. Being able to narrow the news down to that which happens on your very street is incredible. The amount of work it would take to do that on your own, digging through newspapers one by one, is beyond belief. Now that all the information is in front of you, you can do something with it rather than wasting all of your time just gathering it. If there were a lot of robberies on the street you were planning on moving to, perhaps you should reconsider. Likewise, if there were a lot of successful events for the community on a different street, perhaps that street gets bumped up to the new choice.
News is just news until you reach the level where it becomes personal. A story about a man dying in a car accident in New York to a resident of California doesn’t have nearly the same impact as say a little boy getting run over on your street. Hey, wait a minute. Suddenly I care. Whether its good or not, that’s the way we operate. We don’t give a damn, until it happens to us.
Link found here: http://www.everyblock.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)