1. Broadcast Lead
SAN FRANCISCO LITTER
TIME: 20 SECONDS
SAN FRANCISCO LITTER MAY BE A THING OF THE PAST IF LAWMAKERS HAVE THEIR WAY. A MEASURE WAS PROPOSED TUESDAY BY ROSS MIRKARIMI THAT WOULD MAKE UNSOLICITED NEWSPAPER DELIVERIES A FINEABLE CRIME ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
(-20-)
2. Broadcast News Story
COLLEGE STRESS
Time: 45 seconds
SINCE WHEN HAVE COLLEGE STUDENTS DREADED SPRING BREAK?
WITH SPRING BREAK RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, COLLEGE STUDENTS MAY HAVE OTHER THINGS ON THEIR MINDS BESIDES FUN. ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL STUDY CONDUCTED BY EDISON MEDIA RESEARCH, FOUR IN TEN STUDENTS SAY THEY ENDURE STRESS OFTEN, WITH MANY STUDENTS STATING THEIR STRESS LEADS TO SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND EATING DISORDERS.
(PLAY CLIP HERE OF STUDENT CHRIS CURRAN) 10 SECONDS
EVEN WORSE, IT SEEMS 9% OF THE STUDENTS SAY THEY HAD CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE HEADING OFF TO SPRING BREAK STRESSED AS SIX IN TEN STUDENTS SAY THEY ENJOY LIFE.
(-45-)
3. Broadcast Style Exercise
NORTHWEST AIRLINES CEO, FRANK DEWITT, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE AIRLINES IS CUTTING ITS DOMESTIC FARES BY UP TO 40% FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS AS A HOLIDAY GIFT TO ITS CUSTOMERS. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY FRIDAY FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN NOVEMBER 12TH AND JANUARY 14TH IN THE LOWER 48 STATES, ALASKA AND CANADA. DISCOUNTS VARY DEPENDING ON TRAVEL DATES AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON CERTAIN POPULAR DAYS, INCLUDING THE 23RD AND 26TH OF BOTH NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. WITH THE DISCOUNTED, NON-REFUNDABLE FARES, A PASSENGER COULD TRAVEL ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO FOR FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ON CERTAIN DAYS.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Week 8 - Copy Edit the World
The text reads "It that really you?" instead of "Is that really you?"- Via Super Mario 64 on both the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 64 (both are renditions of the same game)
Going through my wallet, I noticed I had an expired card. However right before I threw it away, I noticed they misspelled "thru" as trhu. The card is used to receive discounts at several retailers- Via Microsoft, Xbox Live
The text should read "several new bits of information" (or something comparable) instead of "several new info"- Via ps3fanboy.com
It should read online play has been improved, not have been- Via ps3fanboy.com
The text reads, "going forwards…” It should read going forward.- Via Joystiq.com
The word "be" is missing from "our program will supporting LCD monitors that are..."- Via official PG&E website
Week 8 - Soft Broadcast Lead
Those of you planning on taking mass transit out of Manhattan may need to reconsider this afternoon, as the North Commuter Railroad has lost power.
According to Dona Evans, a squirrel was seen scampering around on the power lines of the transit system. Somehow, the unfortunate adventurer got electrocuted and set off an incredible chain of events. At the site of the electrocution, a wire wrestled free from its bracket. The wire then hung limp above the track. As a train passed, the wire became entangled in the train's tracks, and ultimately tore down a large portion of the Railroad's power system.
According to Dona Evans, a squirrel was seen scampering around on the power lines of the transit system. Somehow, the unfortunate adventurer got electrocuted and set off an incredible chain of events. At the site of the electrocution, a wire wrestled free from its bracket. The wire then hung limp above the track. As a train passed, the wire became entangled in the train's tracks, and ultimately tore down a large portion of the Railroad's power system.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Week 7 - Profile
Today, you will find Dona Ricardez taking care of her grandchildren. Each morning she starts her day off by making breakfast for the entire family along with all the other meals of the day, cleaning the house, and whenever possible, sitting in the backyard drinking her favorite drink, Raspberry Nestea, listening to her favorite mariachi music. Compared to her younger years her life "couldn't be any more perfect."
Dona Ricardez was born on a cold July day in 1926, when as she says, “Things were quite different.” The sky was blue, the air was sweet, and above all things, she was in her motherland, Mexico. She was the fourth addition to the family, but most certainly not the last. After her birth, a whopping 10 more kids were added to her family, totaling 14 siblings all together. But according to her, having this many kids back then, was so normal, it was actually looked down on to not have at least 10 in your family. Wow. She commented on the stereotype of Mexicans having big families, and just laughed. “If you didn’t have a big family, you were way down in the social class. Having a big family meant you respected life. Having a big family meant you loved your culture. Having a big family meant you loved being Mexican.”
Her parents did not have very much money in Mexico. Her father was a farm worker, and they had their own garden in the front yard. “It was our pride and joy,” she began to say. “My father was out there so much, that it seemed as though he loved the garden more than us at times. But we all knew without the garden there would be no food to eat. And with no food, there would be no family.” Each and every day, her father would go out and pick what she called, “the single most beautiful vegetable that the garden had to offer – the one that glistened in the Mexican sun – the one that caught my father’s eye.”
Then one day, the garden died, and the father could not bring it back to life (so to speak). “There was a new scent in the air. It was a lonely harmful scent that was ruining not only the air we breathed, but also the family bonds we had so closely adhered to.” Her parents knew bad times were coming and realized that there was only one hope for her.
Their neighbor’s son was soon to go to America to get a job as a machine worker to replace the American boys who were off fighting the fight of their lives in WWII. It just so happened that the families were very close and they had discussed the possible marriage of their children for some time. In addition, they thought with the current situation that this was the best thing that they could possibly do. The funny thing is though, Dona Ricardez already was in love with this boy. They had been secretly seeing each other for some time. “I was the most beautiful girl in my town. My hair was long and brown. My skin was soft and smooth. Every boy wanted me, but my heart was set on that one special man.”
The way she describes herself may seem a little “cocky”, but when she showed me a picture of her younger days, I definitely agreed with her. She was gorgeous. Well, when their parents set them up to be married, they left to America to make it on their own. She claims she does not remember much about the process from America, except for the fact that it was easy, until she got here. When they got here, work was easy to find for her husband, because as I said earlier, all the “little white boys” as she refers to them, had left for the war overseas.
Well, as soon as she got to America and was all settled in, not in a barrio, but in a middle class white neighborhood, she found out that she was pregnant. She said finding out that she was pregnant was the single most important moment in her life. She remembers that she was wearing a white dress, and had her hair all done up and was on her way to the local store. She said when she felt the kick; she nearly fell to the floor and drowned in a sea of tears. She knew then, that everything was going to be perfect, at least until the war ended. Then everything changed.
When the war ended, everyone wanted the Mexicans to leave. “They wanted us out of there. Apparently, we were stinking up the place and painting the town brown. The white people didn’t want anything to do with that.” Fearing for their lives, they had no choice but to move over her husband’s brother's house about 6 hours away by car. They were so rashly pushed out of their home; they did not have time to take many of their belongings and were unable to pack many family heirlooms. She started crying as she told me that the people of the city blamed all their problems on the Mexicans, and refused to tell me the name of the town, because she vowed never to say it again. She says that she wishes only one thing; that she could have at least taken the dress her mother had made for her before she left Mexico. She wishes more than anything that she could have held onto that dear memory.
She was crying so much when we got to this point of her life, that I felt it best to not try to get any more information out of her. I could see the pain and despair in her eyes, and I could truly feel her anger. I even found myself beginning to tear up uncontrollably as she spoke. So, without verbally saying so, we decided to move on to where her story was a little happier.
After they were forced to live in an isolated community only for Mexicans, Dona Ricardez came to realize that if there was any future for her family, she had to learn English. So she went to school right away to learn English. Her Spanish speaking community looked down on her and saw this as a means of turning away from her heritage. But she did not care, because she knew that she had to do it for her family. When she speaks of going to school for the first time, she tells of all the good memories and says there were hardly any bad memories. "Learning is learning. You get out of it, what you put into it."
Her husband did not have time to go to school, because he was working ridiculous hours trying to make ends meet. So when he came home from work, him and his wife would sit down and do her homework together. She then would reiterate what she learned at school to her children, teaching them the best possible English she could. In fact, for a little while she says, “I lost sense of being a Mexican. I started making hamburgers and hotdogs, instead of beans and tortillas, and I wouldn’t allow the kids to speak Spanish at home.” She continued this until she felt that her English was well enough to get by, to at least get some people to stop looking down at her.
She says the rest of her life “was nothing more than a struggle against the white man that I just recently won august 24 2005: the day my mijo, my pride and joy started college at San Jose State University. Him being the first to go to college really makes me proud. And kids like you doing papers on controversial things like this, really brings joy to my heart. America truly has changed, and I am so proud to live here."
In regards to the memories she could not speak of, she apologizes because they are still so powerful, and she can hardly even speak of them to herself. She asked me to make sure I included this in the paper, and I have no problem including it.
“Coming to America was both a rewarding experience, and a hard journey. Throughout my life, I have experienced racism, prejudices, and some things I do not care to mention, but I would not change any of them for the world. America is truly the land of opportunity, and I would relive every moment again, if it meant that my life would turn out the same. I love this place, my family, and my life.”
Dona Ricardez was born on a cold July day in 1926, when as she says, “Things were quite different.” The sky was blue, the air was sweet, and above all things, she was in her motherland, Mexico. She was the fourth addition to the family, but most certainly not the last. After her birth, a whopping 10 more kids were added to her family, totaling 14 siblings all together. But according to her, having this many kids back then, was so normal, it was actually looked down on to not have at least 10 in your family. Wow. She commented on the stereotype of Mexicans having big families, and just laughed. “If you didn’t have a big family, you were way down in the social class. Having a big family meant you respected life. Having a big family meant you loved your culture. Having a big family meant you loved being Mexican.”
Her parents did not have very much money in Mexico. Her father was a farm worker, and they had their own garden in the front yard. “It was our pride and joy,” she began to say. “My father was out there so much, that it seemed as though he loved the garden more than us at times. But we all knew without the garden there would be no food to eat. And with no food, there would be no family.” Each and every day, her father would go out and pick what she called, “the single most beautiful vegetable that the garden had to offer – the one that glistened in the Mexican sun – the one that caught my father’s eye.”
Then one day, the garden died, and the father could not bring it back to life (so to speak). “There was a new scent in the air. It was a lonely harmful scent that was ruining not only the air we breathed, but also the family bonds we had so closely adhered to.” Her parents knew bad times were coming and realized that there was only one hope for her.
Their neighbor’s son was soon to go to America to get a job as a machine worker to replace the American boys who were off fighting the fight of their lives in WWII. It just so happened that the families were very close and they had discussed the possible marriage of their children for some time. In addition, they thought with the current situation that this was the best thing that they could possibly do. The funny thing is though, Dona Ricardez already was in love with this boy. They had been secretly seeing each other for some time. “I was the most beautiful girl in my town. My hair was long and brown. My skin was soft and smooth. Every boy wanted me, but my heart was set on that one special man.”
The way she describes herself may seem a little “cocky”, but when she showed me a picture of her younger days, I definitely agreed with her. She was gorgeous. Well, when their parents set them up to be married, they left to America to make it on their own. She claims she does not remember much about the process from America, except for the fact that it was easy, until she got here. When they got here, work was easy to find for her husband, because as I said earlier, all the “little white boys” as she refers to them, had left for the war overseas.
Well, as soon as she got to America and was all settled in, not in a barrio, but in a middle class white neighborhood, she found out that she was pregnant. She said finding out that she was pregnant was the single most important moment in her life. She remembers that she was wearing a white dress, and had her hair all done up and was on her way to the local store. She said when she felt the kick; she nearly fell to the floor and drowned in a sea of tears. She knew then, that everything was going to be perfect, at least until the war ended. Then everything changed.
When the war ended, everyone wanted the Mexicans to leave. “They wanted us out of there. Apparently, we were stinking up the place and painting the town brown. The white people didn’t want anything to do with that.” Fearing for their lives, they had no choice but to move over her husband’s brother's house about 6 hours away by car. They were so rashly pushed out of their home; they did not have time to take many of their belongings and were unable to pack many family heirlooms. She started crying as she told me that the people of the city blamed all their problems on the Mexicans, and refused to tell me the name of the town, because she vowed never to say it again. She says that she wishes only one thing; that she could have at least taken the dress her mother had made for her before she left Mexico. She wishes more than anything that she could have held onto that dear memory.
She was crying so much when we got to this point of her life, that I felt it best to not try to get any more information out of her. I could see the pain and despair in her eyes, and I could truly feel her anger. I even found myself beginning to tear up uncontrollably as she spoke. So, without verbally saying so, we decided to move on to where her story was a little happier.
After they were forced to live in an isolated community only for Mexicans, Dona Ricardez came to realize that if there was any future for her family, she had to learn English. So she went to school right away to learn English. Her Spanish speaking community looked down on her and saw this as a means of turning away from her heritage. But she did not care, because she knew that she had to do it for her family. When she speaks of going to school for the first time, she tells of all the good memories and says there were hardly any bad memories. "Learning is learning. You get out of it, what you put into it."
Her husband did not have time to go to school, because he was working ridiculous hours trying to make ends meet. So when he came home from work, him and his wife would sit down and do her homework together. She then would reiterate what she learned at school to her children, teaching them the best possible English she could. In fact, for a little while she says, “I lost sense of being a Mexican. I started making hamburgers and hotdogs, instead of beans and tortillas, and I wouldn’t allow the kids to speak Spanish at home.” She continued this until she felt that her English was well enough to get by, to at least get some people to stop looking down at her.
She says the rest of her life “was nothing more than a struggle against the white man that I just recently won august 24 2005: the day my mijo, my pride and joy started college at San Jose State University. Him being the first to go to college really makes me proud. And kids like you doing papers on controversial things like this, really brings joy to my heart. America truly has changed, and I am so proud to live here."
In regards to the memories she could not speak of, she apologizes because they are still so powerful, and she can hardly even speak of them to herself. She asked me to make sure I included this in the paper, and I have no problem including it.
“Coming to America was both a rewarding experience, and a hard journey. Throughout my life, I have experienced racism, prejudices, and some things I do not care to mention, but I would not change any of them for the world. America is truly the land of opportunity, and I would relive every moment again, if it meant that my life would turn out the same. I love this place, my family, and my life.”
Week 7 - Top News # 6
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
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
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/
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