This week while reading the New York Times, I tried yet again to broaden my horizons and not focus too much on those stories relating to the economy. Although this was very hard to do, with trying I found that when I look further than those stories on the front page, there are many just as important and possibly more interesting stories embedded in the pages after the front page. While I always read through the entire news section, I often focus more on those stories on the front page. But after this week, I will be sure to give just as much attention to those stories behind the cover.
Monday- Today I read a pretty humorous story about the effort to "rebrand" the No Child Left Behind Act. Because the act is so closely tied to Bush's administration, and as his popularity slid, so did the popularity of the act, Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants to rename the act. The No Child Left Behind Act, which has often been critcized as being too difficult to follow (Bush wanted schools to make students of all ethnicities and income levels proficient in math and reading by 2014), was given many nicknames during Bush's presidency. Some of these names include the "No Child Left Untested" act and the "No Child's Behind Left" act. And today, with the focus on renaming the law, people are still mocking it. The "Mental Assest Recovery Plan" is just one teasing suggestion on an Eduwonk.org blog where a former member of the Clinton Administration is holding a renaming contest.
With all this talk of rebranding and renaming of the law, I really got to thinking. If people are mocking the act and criticizing it, shouldn't the law itself be changed, and not just the name? The focus should be more on bettering education, and less on making sure our laws have great names.
Tuesday- Today I read a very disturbing story about the increase in violent crimes in Arizona, specifically in places along the border with Mexico. Due to drugs and illegal immigrants being smuggled into the United States from Mexico, crimes such as kidnapping and hostages being held in their own houses are becoming much more common. In fact, the number that truly shocked me was that kidnappings and hostage situations have rose from just 48 incidents per year in 2004, to 241 in 2008. That is such a huge jump and clearly shows the problems that Mexican drug cartels are bringing into our country.
This story really struck me, however, because it reminded me of a movie I watched in my spanish class last year about Ciudad Juarez, a town in Mexico, just over the border from El Paso, TX, where hundreds of young women have been violently murdered since 1993. Many of these young women were buried in mass graves, and even more remain missing, their bodies never found. The majority of these cases have not been solved, although many people believe that drug cartels are to blaim. At the time that I saw this movie, the crimes struck me as horrible, but also distant. I never thought something like that would happen in America. However, with the increase in kidnappings in Arizona, it makes me worry that such a terrible thing could actually happen here. I think that something serious has to be done to make sure that Mexican drug cartels do not bring their crime to the United States anymore than they already have.
Wednesday- Today I read a very interesting story about how some colleges are beginning to offer three-year programs in which they can earn a Bachelor's Degree. This sounds like such an amazing plan to me, since with the economy in such bad condition it would be great for students to be able to save several thousand dollars. Plus, the program does not even involve students taking classes over the summer, so they would still be free to take a break from schoolwork, have a job, or get an internship. All of the pieces of this program sound like a really great opportunity for families with kids in college to save some money, and for students themselves to reduce the debt they must pay off in the future.
With such a great plan, I was very surprised to read that there has not been much excitement or support for these programs from students or faculty. I really can't understand why this is. Sure, it may not be as fun for a student to not graduate with their friends, or it may be more work in a shorter period of time, but with the economy in its current state, I would think that saving almost $40,000 dollars in some cases would be more important. All I know is that if UNH ever decided to do such a program you could sign me up!
Thursday-Today I read the Times online, and read about a bill that just passed through the Senate, which would give the District of Columbia representation in the House of Representatives (the same bill would give Utah one more representative due to an earlier compromise). There is much debate over this issue, as many people believe that it would take an amendment to the Consitution, not simply a bill, to give the District representation in the House. This is because the Constitution clearly states that in order to have representation in the House, an area must be a state, and it also clearly states that the District of Columbia is not a state, but a very unique city. I personally believe, as do others working to resolve this issue, that if the District of Columbia wants to have representation in the House, the land should be given back to Maryland, and the population added to increase that state's number of representatives. Seeing as the city was created with land ceded from Maryland this, to me, would make the most sense and would also be the simplest solution. As of now, however, I don't really think that is going to happen, and I am very interested to see what comes of this debate.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
High Speed Chase Ends in Suspect's Death
After a chase involving a borrowed car and an elevated train came to an end Sunday afternoon, a New York City detective shot and killed a suspected assassin.
The chase began when Police Detective Jimmy Doyle, of the Narcotics Division, was fired upon by the suspected assassin, Pierre Jeantot, 36, of Nice, France. According to police records, Jeantot was allegedly working for a French drug dealer whom Doyle had been investigating.
Jeantot fired at Doyle from the roof of an apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Avenue, killing a local resident, Betty Badluck,63, who was walking her granddaughter outside of the apartment.
Jeantot fled the scene and boarded an elevated train at the 35th Street Station. Doyle took a car from a bystander and followed the train on the road beneath the tracks, the chase finally ending at the 15th Street Station, where Doyle shot Jeantot in the back.
“Certainly we don’t condone officers commandeering cars and driving dangerously,” said New York City Police Chief Morgan Freeman. “But we are certainly grateful for [Officer Doyle’s] bravery.”
On the train, Jeantot shot and killed Roland Evans, 34, of Brooklyn, a 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, and the conductor, Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, of White Plains.
According to an eye witness on the train, Betty Lou, of New York City, police onboard the train followed Jeantot towards the conductor’s cabin.
“When I saw police running through the cabins, my first instinct was to run away,” said Lou. “But I like to know what is going on…[so] the police officer ran past me and I followed him into the first cabin, and then the man with the gun shot the conductor.”
While in pursuit of the train, Officer Doyle nearly hit a woman, Margret Johnson of Manhattan, and her 2-year-old daughter while they were walking.
“I was taking my baby for a stroll when I heard a commotion and I say a big burgundy car coming right at me,” Johnson said. “I just froze, and he swerved the other way and almost hit us.”
While Doyle’s use of deadly force in shooting Jeantot was justified by the New York City Police Department, questions have been raised by the public about the way he handled the entire situation.
“I did not know it was a police officer when I was almost hit,” Johnson said. “But he could have handled it another way- he was putting a lot of innocent people in harm’s way.”
Police Chief Freeman, however, stands by his officer and his actions.
“If he attempted to stop the train by any other means, he could have lost the suspect,” Freeman said. “And while we obviously wish we could have brought [Jeantot] in alive, it’s better than not bringing him in at all.”
New York City Police Commissioner Ruth L. Ess agreed saying, “We would have preferred to see Jeantot prosecuted in the courts, [but] we commend Detective Doyle for his bravery and quick thinking under very trying circumstances.”
The chase began when Police Detective Jimmy Doyle, of the Narcotics Division, was fired upon by the suspected assassin, Pierre Jeantot, 36, of Nice, France. According to police records, Jeantot was allegedly working for a French drug dealer whom Doyle had been investigating.
Jeantot fired at Doyle from the roof of an apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Avenue, killing a local resident, Betty Badluck,63, who was walking her granddaughter outside of the apartment.
Jeantot fled the scene and boarded an elevated train at the 35th Street Station. Doyle took a car from a bystander and followed the train on the road beneath the tracks, the chase finally ending at the 15th Street Station, where Doyle shot Jeantot in the back.
“Certainly we don’t condone officers commandeering cars and driving dangerously,” said New York City Police Chief Morgan Freeman. “But we are certainly grateful for [Officer Doyle’s] bravery.”
On the train, Jeantot shot and killed Roland Evans, 34, of Brooklyn, a 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, and the conductor, Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, of White Plains.
According to an eye witness on the train, Betty Lou, of New York City, police onboard the train followed Jeantot towards the conductor’s cabin.
“When I saw police running through the cabins, my first instinct was to run away,” said Lou. “But I like to know what is going on…[so] the police officer ran past me and I followed him into the first cabin, and then the man with the gun shot the conductor.”
While in pursuit of the train, Officer Doyle nearly hit a woman, Margret Johnson of Manhattan, and her 2-year-old daughter while they were walking.
“I was taking my baby for a stroll when I heard a commotion and I say a big burgundy car coming right at me,” Johnson said. “I just froze, and he swerved the other way and almost hit us.”
While Doyle’s use of deadly force in shooting Jeantot was justified by the New York City Police Department, questions have been raised by the public about the way he handled the entire situation.
“I did not know it was a police officer when I was almost hit,” Johnson said. “But he could have handled it another way- he was putting a lot of innocent people in harm’s way.”
Police Chief Freeman, however, stands by his officer and his actions.
“If he attempted to stop the train by any other means, he could have lost the suspect,” Freeman said. “And while we obviously wish we could have brought [Jeantot] in alive, it’s better than not bringing him in at all.”
New York City Police Commissioner Ruth L. Ess agreed saying, “We would have preferred to see Jeantot prosecuted in the courts, [but] we commend Detective Doyle for his bravery and quick thinking under very trying circumstances.”
Friday, February 20, 2009
A Sign of the "Times"
This week in the New York Times, there were plenty of stories about the economy again, but seeing as I am getting pretty depressed while reading those, I tried to steer clear and read about some other stories that caught my eye. Still, it's hard to completely pass stories by about the economy when I know that the second I get out of college I may easily be in way over my head with debt from school and without a job.
Monday: Today I found a very interesting article that really appealed to me, since I am really into cooking and also nutrition and eating well. This article looked at the cookbook The Joy of Cooking to see if the calories of the recipes increased from its first edition in the 1930s to today. With obesity such a problem in America, I was very interested to see if calories in the cookbook recipes had increased. I usually think of huge portions in restaurants and too much fast food and fatty foods being served at restaurants as the biggest problem in the US' struggle with obesity. However, according to this article, the meals we cook at home may not be helping. This article reported that 18 recipes in the 1930s edition of The Joy of Cooking had an average calorie count of 196.6 calories, while in today's edition, in these same recipes all but one had an increased calorie count of 39 percent! The new average calorie count is 273.6 calories. This really surprised me, and also made me realize how out of control portion sizes and the consumption of fatty ingredients and foods has become in this country.
Tuesday: Today I read more about the Catholic Church, a subject that really interests me as a Catholic and a person who attended a private, Catholic school for most of my life. While last week I read about the reinstatement of giving out indulgences in some NY churches, this week I read about the continuing scandals surrounding the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. From rehabilitating a group of schismatic bishops, one of whom denied the Holocaust ever happened, to appointing a priest known for saying that it was the sins of New Orleanians that caused Hurricane Katrina as an auxiliary bishop in Austria, Pope Benedict XVI has been making choices that have angered many Catholics, including myself.
To me, all of these decisions are showing that the Church, which with the Vatican II council had liberalized itself some, is going back to some of its more traditional ways and ideas. In other words, when the rest of the world is moving forward, the Church seems to be moving backwards, or at least trying to. Many Catholics are discouraged by Benedict's decisions as pope and are leaving the church. And while church officials are trying to make these decisions seem anamolous, many people believe that Benedict has always had more traditionalist views.
I worry about decisions made by the pope such as these recent ones, as I personally believe the Church should be attempting to move forward with the rest of the world and become a bit more liberal. While I understand that there are fundamental beliefs of the Church that go against some of today's more liberal views, such as the view that gay marriage should be legalized and that women should have the right to make their own choices about abortion, there is absolutely no reason why the Church should become more traditional and conservative. To me, they should really consider their views on gay marriage and abortion, but if those cannot be changed, I hope they will at least stop moving backwards towards old ideas.
Wednesday: Today the story that really caught my eye was about student's expectations and feelings of entitlement, which are leading to grading disputes in college. This article definitely hit home with me, since I know many people who complain about grades and agree with many of the ideas put forth by students in this article. I definitely think part of the problem is that many students believe that their effort, as opposed to the quality of their work, should be the determining factor of their grade. To me, this is just not true. While it is obviously important to give a great amount of effort in school, and this should be encouraged, it should not be what makes a student's grade. This kind of grading would create a sense of entitlement among students, and I think this kind of thinking on lower levels of education and even extra-curricular activities is what it making this a problem in colleges.
I personally believe that parents and teachers today are afraid of telling children they have failed.
Education is so full of trying to make every student think that they are special and just as good as every other student, and building self-confidence. And while it is obviously important for students to have high self-esteem, I think it is just as important for them to fail. If you tell a young student that their work was not as good as someone else but that since they tried they will get the same grade, they will always believe that effort is the key to getting high grades. However, giving a student a lower grade for work of less quality might actually increase their level of effort, resulting in a higher (and rightfully so) grades in the future!
One of my teachers in high school, who yelled at my class for an entire period about this issue after getting too many complaints about the grades he was giving out, said that this kind of teaching style, which attempts to boost children's self-esteem as opposed to boosting the quality of their work, is simply breeding mediocracy. In some ways, I kind of agree with him. In my life, it was not a teacher telling me I put in a good effort that made me try harder in school or become a better writer or better at math, it was failing that made me try harder. It was contructive criticism, and the knowledge that a higher quality of work existed that made me become a better student. This is so important in education, and the lack of it will only increase a sense of entitlement among students.
Thursday: Today was a day when I couldn't escape the economy. With the talk of the government's plan to help pay the mortages of people whose homes are going to be foreclosed all over the news last night (which I personally think may just make people less likely to really try to pay their mortgage on their own), the economy was on my mind. So, when I saw an article in today's Times talking about the increase in people needing to go to soup kitchens, I was very intersted. This article definitely shocked me- demand at food banks increased 30 percent from 2007 to 2008? That is such a huge number, and it really made me realize just how hard the economy is for people now. The article highlighted the "new layer of people" that now have a need to go to a soup kitchen or food pantry- people who once lived well above the poverty line, such as bankers, nurse's aides, secretaries, and even people who work at software and marketing firms, are losing their jobs and in some major financial trouble. I guess this article also made me realize how lucky I am that both of my parents still have their jobs, and that it is very unlikely they would lose them.
Monday: Today I found a very interesting article that really appealed to me, since I am really into cooking and also nutrition and eating well. This article looked at the cookbook The Joy of Cooking to see if the calories of the recipes increased from its first edition in the 1930s to today. With obesity such a problem in America, I was very interested to see if calories in the cookbook recipes had increased. I usually think of huge portions in restaurants and too much fast food and fatty foods being served at restaurants as the biggest problem in the US' struggle with obesity. However, according to this article, the meals we cook at home may not be helping. This article reported that 18 recipes in the 1930s edition of The Joy of Cooking had an average calorie count of 196.6 calories, while in today's edition, in these same recipes all but one had an increased calorie count of 39 percent! The new average calorie count is 273.6 calories. This really surprised me, and also made me realize how out of control portion sizes and the consumption of fatty ingredients and foods has become in this country.
Tuesday: Today I read more about the Catholic Church, a subject that really interests me as a Catholic and a person who attended a private, Catholic school for most of my life. While last week I read about the reinstatement of giving out indulgences in some NY churches, this week I read about the continuing scandals surrounding the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. From rehabilitating a group of schismatic bishops, one of whom denied the Holocaust ever happened, to appointing a priest known for saying that it was the sins of New Orleanians that caused Hurricane Katrina as an auxiliary bishop in Austria, Pope Benedict XVI has been making choices that have angered many Catholics, including myself.
To me, all of these decisions are showing that the Church, which with the Vatican II council had liberalized itself some, is going back to some of its more traditional ways and ideas. In other words, when the rest of the world is moving forward, the Church seems to be moving backwards, or at least trying to. Many Catholics are discouraged by Benedict's decisions as pope and are leaving the church. And while church officials are trying to make these decisions seem anamolous, many people believe that Benedict has always had more traditionalist views.
I worry about decisions made by the pope such as these recent ones, as I personally believe the Church should be attempting to move forward with the rest of the world and become a bit more liberal. While I understand that there are fundamental beliefs of the Church that go against some of today's more liberal views, such as the view that gay marriage should be legalized and that women should have the right to make their own choices about abortion, there is absolutely no reason why the Church should become more traditional and conservative. To me, they should really consider their views on gay marriage and abortion, but if those cannot be changed, I hope they will at least stop moving backwards towards old ideas.
Wednesday: Today the story that really caught my eye was about student's expectations and feelings of entitlement, which are leading to grading disputes in college. This article definitely hit home with me, since I know many people who complain about grades and agree with many of the ideas put forth by students in this article. I definitely think part of the problem is that many students believe that their effort, as opposed to the quality of their work, should be the determining factor of their grade. To me, this is just not true. While it is obviously important to give a great amount of effort in school, and this should be encouraged, it should not be what makes a student's grade. This kind of grading would create a sense of entitlement among students, and I think this kind of thinking on lower levels of education and even extra-curricular activities is what it making this a problem in colleges.
I personally believe that parents and teachers today are afraid of telling children they have failed.
Education is so full of trying to make every student think that they are special and just as good as every other student, and building self-confidence. And while it is obviously important for students to have high self-esteem, I think it is just as important for them to fail. If you tell a young student that their work was not as good as someone else but that since they tried they will get the same grade, they will always believe that effort is the key to getting high grades. However, giving a student a lower grade for work of less quality might actually increase their level of effort, resulting in a higher (and rightfully so) grades in the future!
One of my teachers in high school, who yelled at my class for an entire period about this issue after getting too many complaints about the grades he was giving out, said that this kind of teaching style, which attempts to boost children's self-esteem as opposed to boosting the quality of their work, is simply breeding mediocracy. In some ways, I kind of agree with him. In my life, it was not a teacher telling me I put in a good effort that made me try harder in school or become a better writer or better at math, it was failing that made me try harder. It was contructive criticism, and the knowledge that a higher quality of work existed that made me become a better student. This is so important in education, and the lack of it will only increase a sense of entitlement among students.
Thursday: Today was a day when I couldn't escape the economy. With the talk of the government's plan to help pay the mortages of people whose homes are going to be foreclosed all over the news last night (which I personally think may just make people less likely to really try to pay their mortgage on their own), the economy was on my mind. So, when I saw an article in today's Times talking about the increase in people needing to go to soup kitchens, I was very intersted. This article definitely shocked me- demand at food banks increased 30 percent from 2007 to 2008? That is such a huge number, and it really made me realize just how hard the economy is for people now. The article highlighted the "new layer of people" that now have a need to go to a soup kitchen or food pantry- people who once lived well above the poverty line, such as bankers, nurse's aides, secretaries, and even people who work at software and marketing firms, are losing their jobs and in some major financial trouble. I guess this article also made me realize how lucky I am that both of my parents still have their jobs, and that it is very unlikely they would lose them.
Friday, February 13, 2009
This week's New York Times
This week when reading the NY Times, I focused a lot on all of the stories involving the stimulus package that Obama wants passed. I was really interested to see how muchthe Democrats were going to have to change of the original plan in order to get enough votes for it to pass. There were several other stories, however, that also caught my eye.
Monday- Besides the story about the stimulus bill, I was very interested in the story about the peanut plant and the problems that were over-looked, causing the salmonella outbreak. This caught my eye mainly because it has been such a big topic lately, and because I love peanut butter! I couldn't believe some of the horrible conditions that were present at this plant. It was truly disgusting, and I was shocked at all of the mistakes that were made at the plant. Some of the most basic safety measures, like not storing raw peanuts next to finished peanut butter and having the roaster set high enough to kill deadly germs, were not met, and this really upset me. I think that businesses should have higher standards than that, especially when the product they are making is consumed by the American people.
Tuesday- Today I read a lot about the stimulus package and Obama's plan to restart the economy. While the plan that Obama is proposing seems ok (it is certainly going to be putting a lot of money into the economy!), I am still worried that it won't be enough. I am concerned mainly because I read that although this plan does involve putting huge amounts of money into the economy, economic experts are saying it is not enough money to really save the American economy from its current disastrous state.
Another story that really caught my eye in this paper was the story about how Catholic churches in New York City are offering indulgences to people once again. I was shocked by this, since when I think of indulgences, I think of the selling of indulgences that began the Reformation. Even in the Catholic schools that I attended up until high school, indulgences were always talked about in a way that made them seem looked down upon. I never would have guessed that the Church would bring them back. To me, even though the selling of them is outlawed, giving out indulgences seems to be almost making religion materialistic. It also just kind of seems like another way for the Church to scare people into sinning less. I do not believe that scare tactics should be a part of religion.
Wednesday- Today the story that really caught my eye was the story about the tornados in Oklahoma. I was drawn to this because of its drama. Tornados are really scary, if you ask me, and the fact that this one happened during the winter made the story even more dramatic. Looking at the pictures of the damage, along with the words of those people that had survived the storms was very sad, and it really showed the devastation that occurred. It reminded me of the tornado that touched down in New Hampshire this summer. The pictures from that were just terrible, and I knew people who lived very close by to where that storm touched down, so I think that experience helped to bring this story closer to me.
Thursday- Today I was interested in the story about the stimulus bill again. I was mostly interested in reading about what parts of the bill were changed, with one of the major changes being less money given to schools for rebuilding and renovations. While this is unfortunate, it really made me think. When I was in high school, my school was in the middle of undergoing a 10 million dollar renovation, including an entire new wing to the school building, a fourth parking lot, and a brand new field and stadium complex. And while all of these things were really nice, and the field was great for playing my field hockey and lacrosse games on, in several of my classes we did not have enough books for all of the students. We would not be able to bring the books home and would have to share them with other students in the class. I couldn't understand then why my school was spending millions on a new football field when we didn't have books, and I wonder now if the focus should be giving money to schools to use for whatever they may need most, and not simply to rebuild or renovate. While nice school buildings are important, learning materials are even more important.
Friday- Today I read some stories online, and was drawn in by the stories about the plane crash in Buffalo. This is just so sad, and makes me a little nervous to fly, seeing as that is the second plane crash in about a month that happened in New York. However, the saddest part of the story for me, was when I saw a headline that stated that one of the people who died in the Buffalo crash was a 9/11 widow on her way to celebrate what would have been her husband's birthday. This completely shocked me and really got me thinking. It's just so strange how life works sometimes, and this story just really made me feel for the family of that woman and her late husband.
Monday- Besides the story about the stimulus bill, I was very interested in the story about the peanut plant and the problems that were over-looked, causing the salmonella outbreak. This caught my eye mainly because it has been such a big topic lately, and because I love peanut butter! I couldn't believe some of the horrible conditions that were present at this plant. It was truly disgusting, and I was shocked at all of the mistakes that were made at the plant. Some of the most basic safety measures, like not storing raw peanuts next to finished peanut butter and having the roaster set high enough to kill deadly germs, were not met, and this really upset me. I think that businesses should have higher standards than that, especially when the product they are making is consumed by the American people.
Tuesday- Today I read a lot about the stimulus package and Obama's plan to restart the economy. While the plan that Obama is proposing seems ok (it is certainly going to be putting a lot of money into the economy!), I am still worried that it won't be enough. I am concerned mainly because I read that although this plan does involve putting huge amounts of money into the economy, economic experts are saying it is not enough money to really save the American economy from its current disastrous state.
Another story that really caught my eye in this paper was the story about how Catholic churches in New York City are offering indulgences to people once again. I was shocked by this, since when I think of indulgences, I think of the selling of indulgences that began the Reformation. Even in the Catholic schools that I attended up until high school, indulgences were always talked about in a way that made them seem looked down upon. I never would have guessed that the Church would bring them back. To me, even though the selling of them is outlawed, giving out indulgences seems to be almost making religion materialistic. It also just kind of seems like another way for the Church to scare people into sinning less. I do not believe that scare tactics should be a part of religion.
Wednesday- Today the story that really caught my eye was the story about the tornados in Oklahoma. I was drawn to this because of its drama. Tornados are really scary, if you ask me, and the fact that this one happened during the winter made the story even more dramatic. Looking at the pictures of the damage, along with the words of those people that had survived the storms was very sad, and it really showed the devastation that occurred. It reminded me of the tornado that touched down in New Hampshire this summer. The pictures from that were just terrible, and I knew people who lived very close by to where that storm touched down, so I think that experience helped to bring this story closer to me.
Thursday- Today I was interested in the story about the stimulus bill again. I was mostly interested in reading about what parts of the bill were changed, with one of the major changes being less money given to schools for rebuilding and renovations. While this is unfortunate, it really made me think. When I was in high school, my school was in the middle of undergoing a 10 million dollar renovation, including an entire new wing to the school building, a fourth parking lot, and a brand new field and stadium complex. And while all of these things were really nice, and the field was great for playing my field hockey and lacrosse games on, in several of my classes we did not have enough books for all of the students. We would not be able to bring the books home and would have to share them with other students in the class. I couldn't understand then why my school was spending millions on a new football field when we didn't have books, and I wonder now if the focus should be giving money to schools to use for whatever they may need most, and not simply to rebuild or renovate. While nice school buildings are important, learning materials are even more important.
Friday- Today I read some stories online, and was drawn in by the stories about the plane crash in Buffalo. This is just so sad, and makes me a little nervous to fly, seeing as that is the second plane crash in about a month that happened in New York. However, the saddest part of the story for me, was when I saw a headline that stated that one of the people who died in the Buffalo crash was a 9/11 widow on her way to celebrate what would have been her husband's birthday. This completely shocked me and really got me thinking. It's just so strange how life works sometimes, and this story just really made me feel for the family of that woman and her late husband.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tourist Narrowly Missed by Train at Old Orchard Beach
Tourist Narrowly Missed by Train at Old Orchard Beach
Danielle Curtis
A man was narrowly missed by a train Monday morning when his car stalled on the tracks in Old Orchard Beach minutes before the arrival of an Amtrak Downeaster.
80-year-old Francois Truffaut, a Canadian tourist, was found unconscious at the wheel of his locked car around 6 am by 17-year-old James Laboke, a resident of Old Orchard Beach. Laboke ran to the nearby police station when he was unable to wake Truffaut.
An Old Orchard Beach police captain, Janet Paradiso, was a mile away from the railroad crossing when she heard the call on the radio. When she arrived at the scene minutes later, she said she heard the train approaching.
“I knew there was no time,” she said. “I had to do something.”
Paradiso pushed Truffaut’s car from the tracks with her cruiser only thirty seconds before the train passed by, said Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Brian Paul.
Truffaut is a diabetic and according to the police report may have gone into insulin shock while driving across the tracks. He was brought to Southern Maine Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition, thanks to the quick action of both Laboke and Paradiso.
“I never thought about it,” Laboke said later. “I just knew I couldn’t let that man get crushed by a train.”
Laboke’s actions were no shock to his employer, Charles Champaigne.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Champaigne said. “That young man is one of my most responsible employees. He’s just a great kid.”
Danielle Curtis
A man was narrowly missed by a train Monday morning when his car stalled on the tracks in Old Orchard Beach minutes before the arrival of an Amtrak Downeaster.
80-year-old Francois Truffaut, a Canadian tourist, was found unconscious at the wheel of his locked car around 6 am by 17-year-old James Laboke, a resident of Old Orchard Beach. Laboke ran to the nearby police station when he was unable to wake Truffaut.
An Old Orchard Beach police captain, Janet Paradiso, was a mile away from the railroad crossing when she heard the call on the radio. When she arrived at the scene minutes later, she said she heard the train approaching.
“I knew there was no time,” she said. “I had to do something.”
Paradiso pushed Truffaut’s car from the tracks with her cruiser only thirty seconds before the train passed by, said Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Brian Paul.
Truffaut is a diabetic and according to the police report may have gone into insulin shock while driving across the tracks. He was brought to Southern Maine Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition, thanks to the quick action of both Laboke and Paradiso.
“I never thought about it,” Laboke said later. “I just knew I couldn’t let that man get crushed by a train.”
Laboke’s actions were no shock to his employer, Charles Champaigne.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Champaigne said. “That young man is one of my most responsible employees. He’s just a great kid.”
Friday, February 6, 2009
This week's NY Times
Out of all the stories I have read in the Times this week, the ones that caught my eye the most are all about President Obama and the economy. These stories really interested me because as a poor college student, I am really hoping the economy picks up by the time I graduate. By the looks of these stories, I am really not sure if that will happen. Today I read about how President Obama has formed his own Economic Recovery Board in order to help with his stimulus plan and other plans for the economy.
As a person who did not actually vote for Obama (probably the only person on the entire UNH campus who didn't!), I am very interested to see what will happen with his stimulus plan and other plans for this country. While I am not sure that I agree with all of his ideas, I am really hoping that he is able to pull the economy out of its current state. Otherwise, I think I am destined to be living in my parents basement.
While stories about the economy caught my eye because it is something that worries me a lot, another story caught my eye this week that I found extremely interesting. In Thursday's NY Times, on the front page, there was a story about a Nazi war criminal who had been a fugitive for years, and how is it now known where he had been hiding since the war. I found this story very intriguing, as the people that he lived with in Egypt (the place where he had been hiding out) had described him as the kind of person anyone would love to be friends with. He was nice to their children and gave to the community and seemed extremely friendly and loving. This amazed me- that a man who could perform such terrible atrocities to Jews during the Holocaust could then be such a nice person. I suppose he was trying to make up for his mistakes, or maybe this story is the perfect example of how even good people can be caught up in terrible things. Mob mentality to the extreme. Whatever the case, this story definitely made me want to read more.
As a person who did not actually vote for Obama (probably the only person on the entire UNH campus who didn't!), I am very interested to see what will happen with his stimulus plan and other plans for this country. While I am not sure that I agree with all of his ideas, I am really hoping that he is able to pull the economy out of its current state. Otherwise, I think I am destined to be living in my parents basement.
While stories about the economy caught my eye because it is something that worries me a lot, another story caught my eye this week that I found extremely interesting. In Thursday's NY Times, on the front page, there was a story about a Nazi war criminal who had been a fugitive for years, and how is it now known where he had been hiding since the war. I found this story very intriguing, as the people that he lived with in Egypt (the place where he had been hiding out) had described him as the kind of person anyone would love to be friends with. He was nice to their children and gave to the community and seemed extremely friendly and loving. This amazed me- that a man who could perform such terrible atrocities to Jews during the Holocaust could then be such a nice person. I suppose he was trying to make up for his mistakes, or maybe this story is the perfect example of how even good people can be caught up in terrible things. Mob mentality to the extreme. Whatever the case, this story definitely made me want to read more.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Accident Injures Two Young Victims
Who: Jamie Peterson, driver, and 2 passengers
What: car swerved off road and flipped over
When: Monday night at about 9pm
Where: Mile Hill Rd., Belmont, Mass.
Why: car was speeding, alcohol a factor? Gravel, no street lights
How: car flipped when going around turn
Two people were injured Monday night when the car they were riding in hit an embankment and flipped over on Mile Hill Road in Belmont. The driver of the car was unhurt.
The driver, Jamie Peterson, 17, of Belmont, was able to crawl out of the car on his own.
The injured passengers, two young females, were pulled from the wreckage after 45 minutes of using the Jaws of Life. They were sent to Memorial Hospital in Belmont, where one is currently in stable condition. The second victim was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Peterson was driving on Mile Hill Road at about 9 p.m. when his white Mustang swerved off the road, hit an embankment, and flipped over. The accident was called in by Josie M. Crandall of 27 Mile Hill Road after witnessing the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road,” Crandall said. “It’s a dirt road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Two people were killed on Christmas Eve of 1998 in an accident that occurred at this same spot.
What: car swerved off road and flipped over
When: Monday night at about 9pm
Where: Mile Hill Rd., Belmont, Mass.
Why: car was speeding, alcohol a factor? Gravel, no street lights
How: car flipped when going around turn
Two people were injured Monday night when the car they were riding in hit an embankment and flipped over on Mile Hill Road in Belmont. The driver of the car was unhurt.
The driver, Jamie Peterson, 17, of Belmont, was able to crawl out of the car on his own.
The injured passengers, two young females, were pulled from the wreckage after 45 minutes of using the Jaws of Life. They were sent to Memorial Hospital in Belmont, where one is currently in stable condition. The second victim was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Peterson was driving on Mile Hill Road at about 9 p.m. when his white Mustang swerved off the road, hit an embankment, and flipped over. The accident was called in by Josie M. Crandall of 27 Mile Hill Road after witnessing the accident.
“I’ve never seen a car going so fast on this road,” Crandall said. “It’s a dirt road, and it’s really easy to lose control.”
Two people were killed on Christmas Eve of 1998 in an accident that occurred at this same spot.
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