Four Links We Will Need in Class Tonight

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121003638.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042803254.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/10/AR2009111013891.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/14/AR2009071402892.html

Important News from Perfesser Green

-- The 500-700 word political endorsement editorial is due BEFORE 6:30 on Monday
-- 3 blog posts are also due. I hope you spaced them out over the week.
-- Be prepared to discuss and defend your endorsement
-- We will spend some time discussing the work of Pulitzer winner Kathleen Parker. Consider this question: Is she an award-winning conservative columnist or is she an award-winning columnist who bashes conservatives?
-- There are two more classes after Monday. At the 4/26 class we will be discussing the columnist-as-crusader. The 5/1 class is our final -- and optional -- class.
-- I urge you attend the last class to obtain extra credit if you: missed more than one class; if you missed two classes in a row; if you want to boost your grade. The last class will be a deadline column-writing exercise that I will tell you more about later.

Political Candidates that WE WILL BE WRITING ABOUT MONDAY.

HINT: It might be a good idea to take a few notes when you research these candidates.

Peter Schiff: http://schiffforsenate.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Schiff

Rob Simmons: http://www.joinrobsimmons.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Simmons

Linda McMahon: http://www.linda2010.com/frontpage/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_McMahon

Merrick Alpert: http://merrickforachange.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrick_Alpert

Richard Blumenthal: http://richardblumenthal.com/?gclid=CKK2nL2j_6ACFUFM5QodET8qxw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Blumenthal

April 12 Class -- Political Endorsement Editorials

We will be writing political editorials in class this week and as homework. In class we will be writing an "institutional" editorial where you will be endorsing a candidate as if you are the New York Times or the Hartford Courant. Those of you who were in class last week know that we are looking at the FIVE major candidates for U.S. Senate.

To be prepared for class, you must:
1. Re-read CHAPTER 4 in FINK on "institutional editorials."
2. Google the websites of the five candidates that we looked at briely in class: Richard Blumenthal; Merrick Alpert, Linda McMahon, Peter Schiff, Rob Simmons.
3. On each site, watch the videos, read the position papers, read the news articles. Make sure you are familiar WITH EACH CANDIDATE enough so that you could write about that person. Google the names of the candidates and read some recent news articles about the campaign. They had a debate this past week so you should be able to find something. Spend a couple of hours on this.
4. Make sure you have done the three blog entries for the week.
5. If you are not coming to class YOU MUST CONTACT ME.

Reading for April 5 Class: When Columnists Go Bad

We will be discussing the Mike Barnicle disaster at the Boston Globe as part of our columnists-gone-wrong discussion for our next class.

It is important that everyone reads the following in order to be prepared. There might be a quiz.

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/98/08/13/MIKE_BARNICLE.html

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/98/08/20/MIKE_BARNICLE_STEALS.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec98/columnists_8-24.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/20/us/boston-globe-columnist-resigns-over-authenticity-of-1995-story.html


Be prepared to talk about Barnicle, his career and the role of a prominent columnist at a big paper. You may be asked to defend Barnicle -- or you may have to say why he should have been fired long before he was.

A neat little video

Hey all,

Here's a video I attached to my "Is Google Making us Stoopid" article that you might not get to see. It puts some stuff in perspective, but in youtube form, so we are all more interested. Enjoy. (For some reason it won't fit into the blog, so just click on the video itself and it will take you to youtube)

-Matt

MoDo on Monday Night

Hey Gang,

Go to this site and read ALL 10 entries for Maureen Dowd's 1999 Pulitize Prize for commentary.

If you don't know about Monica Lewinsky, the black dress, Ken Starr and what happened to Bill Clinton, do a little research. If you like it, read some more recent stuff by MoDo.

Please come to class Monday ready to talk and talk and talk about Dowd, her writing style, her effectiveness and what you think after reading her winning entry. Be prepared to talk about what works, what's over the top and what you think about her insider, gossipy style. How would you compare her to Steve Lopez?

It's possible I will ask you to write something in class about her. Hint.

E-mail me if you have any questions.

See you Monday evening. Please send me an e-mail if you won't be in class.

News From Perfesser Green

• Read Is Google Making us Stupid and write a blog post about agreeing or disagreeing with it. Be prepared to discuss the article in class. That means you will have questions and ideas to bring up so we have a discussion.
• Revise your 3/15 assignment if you want.
• Look for Maureen Dowd reading assignments on the blog by Friday.
• Compare and contrast the four Connecticut-based news websites I told you about: New Haven Independent, Connecticut Mirror, Connecticut News Junkie, Ameriborn News. Write a blog post -- for example, how they reported the same story, something you liked on one of the websites, something you strongly disagree with. Write about something where you can link to at least two of the four websites. We will discuss the websites in class, so you better bring some game to class next week.
• You MUST do three blog entries this week. I've given you two of them.
• IF YOU MISS CLASS, you need to contact me, preferably BEFORE you miss class.
• Matt: call me about your makeup assignment.

Don't Miss the Big Vote on Obamacare

March Madness

Hello all,

I appreciate the blog posts. Courtney, Darrell and Ramata -- I've enjoyed your postings. Matt, Kristen and Kels remember I'm looking for around three posts a week. Please don't just post your latest assignment from class.

PLEASE remember to self edit. Carefully re-read and re-edit your blog posts before you hit PUBLISH.

The short Chris Dodd editorials are due before class on Monday. Those of you who missed class (and the assignment) should see me.

Happy spring and see you tomorrow.

Back in Action Tomorrow

Hello Everyone,

I hope you had a good week off.

I'm looking forward to seeing you folks in class tomorrow. Remember to get your assignment in before class. Some of you have been blogging regularly. Remember, the blog will be 20 percent of your grade.

In class tomorrow we will:

• review what we've learned so far
• discuss Mortenson assignment and read our columns
• discuss blogs
• talk about the Chris Dodd Disaster (CDD) assignment: we will read, discuss and prepare for column assignment for next class.

See you.

Rick

Saturday Morning Check-In

It looks like nearly everyone -- six out of seven -- has a blog up and running. Thanks for sending me the URL. I have posted all of them on the blog roll on our class blog. Good job.

Please remember I don't want you to do five posts on March 14 and 15.

It was my mistake that I said the next column was due March 8. I realize that is the spring break week. Columns are due March 15. If you have any questions or concerns, contact me by email.

Remember, the column has to be about the Greg Mortenson lecture or another event that you discussed with me beforehand.

Rick

The NBA: Finally a Reason to Start Caring

Whether you like sports or not, you probably know what the NBA is. I wouldn't fault you if you didn't, however, because according to ratings like the 4.6 this year's All-Star game drew (the second lowest rating ever for an All-Star game), not too many people are watching. (Compare that to things like, American Idol, which frequently draws in the 10-15 range, or the regular season Packers-Vikings Monday Night Football game that drew a 14.2).

The All-Star game is supposed to showcase the game's best players, and was drawing in the in the 13's and 14's in the mid 90's when a little player named Michael Jordan was amazing everybody with his talents. In just a little over a decade since his 2nd retirement (we won't count the third one after an atrocious comeback with the Wizards), the NBA has still yet to recover.

"Well why should we watch now, Matt?" The answer is simple, Lebron James.

I think in American sports, at least when I was growing up, I was always told about legendary figures like Babe Ruth, Willy Mays, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, but never got to see them play. I wasn't quite old enough to appreciate Jordan's greatness at the time, but now I have the opportunity to witness greatness play on a nightly basis, but like you don't do it.

This could all change over the summer when Lebron James becomes a free agent and has the opportunity to go to a different team. The team with the most money, the New York Knicks, is a natural fit for King James because he has always showed love for the city of New York. What's better is that the Knicks have enough money to sign not one superstar, but two, this summer and if the stars fall into place, we might see the biggest media market in America fielding a team that includes James and possibly Dwayne Wade  (perhaps the league's third best player), Chris Bosh (top 10 in the league), or one of the many other star free agents.

So this summer keep an eye out for what happens with these big time stars and what they decide to do, if things end up where Lebron stays in Cleveland, then the NBA can expect more low ratings, but if things work out the other way, then we would be seeing basketball history, and maybe we'd start watching.

-Matt

(btw, here's another youtube video of Kels, this time he's shooting some hoop at the gym, he's number 23)

Ananda Ashram

When my mother first suggested we take a trip to the Ananda Ashram, which offers yoga classes called “Vinyasa,” “Iyengar,” and “Ashtanga,” I said “bless you.” After a bit of research, however, I found out that the Ananda Ashram in Monroe, New York, is actually the center of the Yoga Society. I didn’t even know there was a society. This Ashram was established by Shri Brahmananda (see the “Ananda” in his name?) Sarasvati in 1964, and continues today as a spiritual retreat, offering different types of yoga (Vinyasa, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Hatha), meditation, Sanskrit, even Eastern dance and music classes. The property, at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, is preserved in a natural and tranquil environment, complete with log cabins, weeping willows, and wooded trails weaving through the acres owned by the Ashram. I noticed a few people sleeping in their Hybrid cars overnight, with their front windows facing the not-so-distant mountains.

When my mom and I made our pilgrimage, there wasn’t anything in particular going on at the Ashram. But for the vegetarian, yoga-enthusiast mom, Ananda Ashram is a fool-proof plan. We pull into the gravel driveway, following the hand painted, wooden sign pointing us onward. The branches of a large weeping willow tree, like long, gentle arms, grazed the roof of the car, beckoning us to the peaceful setting. 

We squeeze between two Priuses, each adorned with dozens of bumper stickers. “Tree Hugger,” “Green is Good,” “Nothing Dumber than a Hummer,” and my favorite, with the words “Put the Fun Between Your Legs” written over a picture of a bicycle. A young eco-couple steps out of the car on the left (the “Legs” one), takes one collective glance at our ozone-destroying auto, and seem to immediately decide what kind of people we were. They head off, yoga mats swinging in hemp-cases over their backs, down a dirt path in the direction of the “Cosmic Temple,” as designated by another wooden sign. I spot a white cottage behind the willow tree, which has the look of a “Welcome/Register Here” kind of place, so we somewhat guiltily grab our plastic water bottles from the car, and make our way down the gravel path. A kind faced woman greets us on the front steps, serenely asks us to take off our shoes before entering, and then leads us over to a sign-in table. There’s a Level Two/Three Hatha yoga class at 11am that we decide to try, leaving us about ten minutes to kill (or should I say, use resourcefully).

We hike back up the gravel path to the artistically worn, gray wooden building which we’d been told would house our yoga class. Inside, the room was rather full, though not as much as it is during the week, according to a woman setting up her mat next to me. The instructor, a middle aged woman with a strange European-who-moved-to-New-York accent, asked the group, who had never been to a yoga class before? A bearded man in a red bandana, another mother and daughter duo, and a slightly nervous looking pregnant woman all raised their hands. The instructor advised them to only attempt poses they felt comfortable doing, and that yoga is not about holding one’s balance in a difficult position, but getting back up when one falls. I instantly thought of the bike bumper sticker. 

The sudden sound of exaggerated inhaling and exhaling brought me back: the class was beginning. Plinky-plunky music, like the sound of chimes in a soft breeze filled the room. Yoga, I’ve found, no matter what the type of class you try, has the same effect each time: a sort of ‘flow’ occurs, the instructor leads the group through poses, and participants of all levels move together, some holding their balance and others not. This class was different, though. It was probably the ridiculously peaceful setting, or the organic food (which looked delicious, and was apparently made out of flowers and sunshine). Or it could have just been the lingering scent of hemp. But somehow, I could feel the earth beneath my feet, through the wooden floor. And somehow, even the most pressing stressors seemed silly right now. Soon the instructor’s voice began to flow as well, and at the end of class, it was time to lie back on our mats and close our eyes for meditation and reflection. 

Despite the sarcastic remarks I’d been voicing to my mom about the people, the atmosphere, and pretty much everything, I could feel myself succumbing to the tranquil flow, my eyes closing as though I could drift off to sleep. Funny, I think drowsily, I’m actually being put to sleep without the help of a pill with “PM” in the name. But then its over. After only a few blissful minutes the instructor brings us back to the present with a hand-held chime, which she strikes sharply three times. I hate that chime. She wishes everyone ‘Namaste,’ and we turn to one another and do the same (like in church) before standing up with creaking knees (OK, just mine). We roll up our mats, and leave with better karma than we had when we entered. There seems to be a pleasurable, heavy sensation lingering with us, like how you feel when you finally sit down after hours on your feet. I felt like I’d been standing for a hundred years, and just now took a seat. Must be all that good karma.
Krystin Barnett

U.S. Team Loses the Cold War

Yesterday the U.S. Men's Olympic hockey team was dealt a severe blow, losing not only for themselves, but for their country; beaten by the Evil Empire in what was a surely a low point in the Cold War against Soviet oppression, leaving their dreams and hopes shattered like so much...  I'm sorry, what was that?

They played Canada?  The guys in red were from Canada?  They weren't Soviets?

Then why, oh why, did the NBC commentators keep blathering on about the "Miracle on Ice" team of the 1980 games as if they were playing this year?

Okay, so the U.S. Men's team hasn't won the gold medal in hockey since that 1980 game, but yesterday's match up had about as much in common with that Cold War battle as it did with the 1960 games when the U.S. took the gold and Canada won the silver.

Let's look at some of the differences:
- 1980 U.S. team:  college students.  2010 U.S. team: NHL professionals.
- 1980 matchup: U.S vs. Soviet Union.  2010 matchup: U.S. vs. Canada (I would think this was obvious, but maybe it's just me).
- 1980: Cold war going strong between the two global superpowers with enough nuclear weaponry to obliterate the Earth.  2010: U.S. and Canada still have the longest unprotected border in the world, and share a big beer maker (MolsonCoors).

NBC should have presented this as a rematch from the Salt Lake City games when Canada beat the U.S. 5-2, and needs to accept that in spite of their desperate need to produce a heartwarming story of victory every few minutes, they will never be able to cover the 1980 victory in Lake Placid.  It happened already.  Find another story, fellas.

And another thing, NBC, when are you going to stop making our U.S. athletes feel like total failures for winning silver?  It is not like the U.S. team rolled over and humiliated themselves in a 17-0 loss.  They took Canada into overtime for Pete's sake.  They should feel proud of themselves for their performance.

I'll wager we'll hear about that 1980 game again in 2014 when the games are held in Russia.  Whaddya bet?

--Darrell McChesney

America's Big Problem (Pun absolutely intended)

I know you all have been dying for a post from me, I was away for the weekend but don't worry, I'm ready to rock this blog.

A recent survey shows that 63.1% of adults in the U.S.A. were either overweight or obese in 2009, up from 62.2% in 2008.

There were 673,000 telephone interviews conducted, meaning 424,663 of them were overweight. If the survey is any indication about everyone in America, then that is a lot of bulge.

It's no secret America is one of the most unhealthy nations in the world, and it would appear we're not doing much about it. Sure, there are programs in place and there are initiatives to bend childhood obesity with the gym programs, but Americans themselves aren't doing much to combat it.

The health risks from obesity are obvious, but so are the health risks for smoking and there are still plenty of smokers. Our society would much rather buy a 1 dollar burger than spend the extra money at Whole Foods and eat healthy. Mostly anywhere you can go you can shell out 1.50 for a Pepsi or Coke but it would probably be harder to find OJ and milk.

What is striking to me is that America is contradicting itself. Fat people are generally looked down upon, yet it is surprisingly easy to become fat. There's a McDonald's on every corner and all you need is a 5 dollar bill to scarf down a few thousand calories, eat up.

"But Matt, they don't have to eat there, they can go to gyms," is what some would say. I agree, but then again Americans are lazy, and in our go go society there's not enough time for gyms, not enough money to buy health food, and not enough will to sit down and eat homemade dinner when you can drive down the street and get a heart attack on a sesame seed roll.

Unless the government shuts down the fast food nation and mandates gym time, America will probably continue to grow. As a bigger guy who has lost a lot of weight and is a former division 1 athlete, I can say from experience that losing weight starts with yourself, and lazy America probably won't get motivated anytime soon.

-Matt

(to lighten things up, I found a video of Kels Dayton at the gym, looks can be deceiving but I know this is him. Enjoy)

Here Comes the Cheese Truck

Have you seen the Cheese Truck? If you’re driving around the streets of New Haven, you just might pass it….or the line of people waiting for a gooey five-cheese grilled sandwich.

Caseus, an artisan cheese shop and bistro in New Haven, recently added the mobile café to its repertoire and it’s been a big hit.

Folks can follow the Cheese Truck on Twitter to find out is location and race to grab the previously mentioned grilled cheese, tomato soup, salads and other daily offerings to pleaee your pallet.

If those choices don’t strike your fancy, stop by their flagship store on the corner of Whitney Ave. and Trumbull St. Italian cookies and crackers spices, olive oils, honey and preserves abound. Those willing to venture into “the cave” can check out more than 100 choices of cheese. Enjoy a Pastrami Ruben for lunch or indulge in Pasta with Pistachio Pesto for dinner. Those who like to grab and go should stay on the lookout for a truck with a big cheese wheel painted on the side.

Fighting Back Against Prescription Drug Abuse

A growing epidemic in our country lies in the abuse of prescription drugs. Rather than buying illegal drugs such as marijuana or cocaine off the streets, users are getting their fix from the doctors office.

Recently, there was a story done about several clinics in Florida which were giving out prescription drugs without a prescription! How ridiculous! Let's think about this, what is the only reason someone would not be able to get a prescription from a doctor? Maybe because they don't really need it and aren't really in pain, but using the pharmaceuticals for another reason?

Now, it has just been announced that Florida has decided to fight back against this epidemic. They have crafted two bills that will attempt to reduce the rate of prescription drug abuse. The bill prohibits cash-paying customers to buy more than a three day supply, requires criminal background checks on doctors and owners, and allows state health department to search patient records.

This is definately a step in the right direction, taking some action to cease current prescription drug abuse and deter any new abuse from occuring. While, many will always find a way to get their fix atleast our government will not be handing abusers the tools to do it.

~Courtney Parent~

Fast Food Diet?

For years we have been hearing about Jared and his incredible weightloss, thanks in large part to Subway's low calorie subs. Well there's a new gun in town, Taco Bell is promoting their new Drive-Thru Diet. The spokesperson; a woman named Christine who claims to have lost over 50 pounds eating at Taco Bell.

Now I can understand losing weight by eating at Subway; that actually makes sense! Load up on the veggies, little meat, no oil or mayo, etc. That's pretty easy to understand, but Taco Bell, come on now. I'll be the first to admit that Taco Bell is one of my many dirty pleasures. Having said that, I am well aware that it is probably the most high-sodium, nutrient-lacking food that i consume.

I do not doubt that Christine lost weight abiding to the Drive-Thru Diet, but if she did it was simply due to calorie count. Anyone can lose weight by simply consuming less calories, the question is; is it worth it to you to lose weight when you are actually harming your body?

Of course, Taco Bell ends their commercials with a disclosure, saying that the results of this "diet" are not typical. Well if results aren't typical and this is not even a nutrient sufficient diet, then why bother promoting this at all? Isn't that basically saying you probably won't be able to lose weight through this diet and you won't gain any valuable vitamins or nutrients, but one woman did so you should try it anyways?



~Courtney Parent~

Again, another sponsor dumped Tiger

Gatorade, PepsiCo Inc’s sport drink, drops Tiger Woods this Friday. Tiger’s world is collapsing since his marital affairs were made public. Companies stopped their business with him. He does not meet their requirements, the requirement of integrity coupled with that of a model figure to society.
In addition to companies, many supposed mistress of Tiger are making shows expressing their disappointment, crying they once loved and might still love him even though they know he is married. They dumped him too. What irony of fate! Mistresses dumping a married man because he cheated on them. And what would be the stand of the official spouse?
Since the affairs have been made public, Eileen, Tiger’s wife, is still there, and no divorce has been announced. She stays quiet on the subject, indicating that she still supports her husband. One day she will talk, but she must make her final decision. Stand by or leave Tiger. Whatever her decision, her stand will deeply count. The fortune of the worldwide golf player depends on that.
A split will be more damaging to Tiger. It would reinforce stands from companies that have dropped him, and could encourage other companies to do the same.
Fortunately for Tiger, Eileen has said nothing for now. That makes her the only woman besides his mother who will take him in. Otherwise, Tiger’s personal life could totally blow up no matter the amount of money he lost.
Ramata

Tweets from the Dalai Lama

Social media seduces not only young people but also mature people and even the religious. After the Pope having his own blog, now it is Dalai Lama’s turn to get a page on Twitter. And he has been very successful: mere days after creating his own page, he has more than 60,000 people following him.
According to AP, after meeting Twitter founder Evan Williams, the Dalai Lama created his page.
How did Mr. Williams convince the Dalai Lama? Only the Dalai Lama and the founder of Twitter know. All we do know is what Mr. Williams reported, which was what, according to him, the Dalai Lama laughed when he suggested that he get a page.
A laugh is a response and a nice one even it is a nonverbal expression, and the Dalai Lama used it to express his willingness to tweet, becoming one of the key characters using Twitter. A pretty good deal for Twitter to have such a prestigious member. Obviously, that makes social networking more attractive chiefly to other religious figures and leading dignitaries around the world.
Mr. Williams and other founders of social networks only stand to gain if those figures post personal messages and keep updating their page.
What do those who are already well-known gain from using social media sites? They are closer to their people, and these technologies amplify their message. By being on social media, those dignitaries show the public they are open-minded, and that they are aware of the world’s evolution.
Ramata

My Lazy Americans

This is not from me. Maybe, another debate after the one concerning American students. A study by The Daily Beast revealed the laziest countries in the world. The USA is the first of the top 5. The other countries are Canada, Belgium, Turkey and UK.

The criteria were: daily calories intake; time spends watching TV, percentage of people doing sport and surfing on the internet.

The Daily Beast awarded the USA with the gold metal. According to the Daily Beast, America is the laziest country in the world with regards to time spent watching TV and calories per day.

The Daily Beast used recent data provided by credible organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Food and the Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, etc.

Some Americans would say they are not lazy. Of course they aren’t: the study does not say all Americans are lazy. It says that most of Americans are lazy compared to people from France or Switzerland.

Americans are the laziest in the world. They are fast food addicts. That makes most of them fat. Although they multitask, they are not athletes. The majority of them have a distaste for sports. However, the nation’s athletes have been among the best during the Olympics Games in Vancouver this year.

This just shows that the minority that plays sports gives America its good athletic reputation. Does that cover the shame of the majority being lazy? Of course, no.

Ramata

Social Networking Comes to the Art World

Video art, wood sculpture, found-item sculpture, photography, oil on canvas…. No, you're not in the Museum of Modern Art, but you're close: the Arthur M. Bergman Gallery in New York has opened its latest exhibit: "Found on Facebook."

Curator and creator of "Found on Facebook" Charles McGill has spent the past three months scouting for and collecting pieces for the exhibition.

"This idea came to me while I was surfing Facebook," McGill said. "I've always enjoyed looking through the art pages of friends, and friends of friends, who post their work. No one has done a show with this theme before, where the pieces reflect our connection through social networking."

McGill is an artist himself, is the director of the Arthur M. Bergman Gallery. He says  that our culture is interpersonal and isolated, and becoming more so everyday. Maybe so, but is devoting a gallery exhibition to our cold, harsh computer-screen culture the best way to illustrate it?

McGill explained, "I selected these pieces for their subtle representation of the human figure, in terms of isolation, or presence, or lack thereof, of personal contact and interaction."

The "Found on Facebook" works are as different as the Facebook users who admire them on the "fan page," (a bit of Facebook lingo). The artists come from all over the world; some sent their work to McGill, based in New York, from as far as Greece.

"I basically had these pieces sent to me sight unseen: all I had to go on was the jpeg pictures on the web," explained McGill. "As the work came in, I formatted the layout of the gallery, and luckily, it seemed to work out."

The "Found on Facebook" exhibition is currently open at the Arthur M. Berger Art Gallery in New York.

Krystin Barnett

When Journalists Attack?

There was a wake in Port Chester, New York Thursday night for Marissa Pagli, the Manhattanville College student who was found slain on the Purchase campus.  Marissa's memory was honored at the Craft Memorial Funeral Home on Leicester Street. While the wake, supposedly offering public admittance, saw a sizable turnout of mourning community members, Manhattanville students paying condolences, and quiet well-wishers,  the mood was less than welcoming to all sympathizers. 

I'm describing this from personal experience. As a journalist, I'm used to people involved in the darker stories prickling to those holding notebooks. Obviously, anyone displaying signs of disrespect at a service should be turned away; however, the security presence at Craft Memorial Home was… over the top. My new editor, whom I've yet to meet in person but who I picture as a naive and out-of-touch... anyway, he sent me to cover what he believed to be a public wake ceremony honoring Marissa Pagli, at which I would be able to speak with the Port Chester public about the 18-year old victim.

I reached the front steps of Craft Memorial Home, putting my camera away and holding a small black notebook. As I looked around, I realized my editor was either dumber than I thought, or he hadn't told me everything. This was not necessarily a press-friendly event. Just as I decided to leave, a harsh looking woman who I assume was a coordinator of some kind, caught one glimpse of me, and lunged. 

Despite my adamant - albeit stuttering - assurances that I was told something else about the service, and that I was leaving this moment, the woman threatened me in a few different ways. First, even as I was backing away, she offered to call the police to assist me in leaving. Not two seconds later, still unprovoked, she directed three mafia-hit-men-looking bodyguards to escort me down the sidewalk outside the building. Really?

I'm not a Manhattanville student, or associated with the community in any way, but despite being a journalist, I am in fact a human being, and would have done nothing more than pay quiet respect to the deceased before leaving, unescorted.

Is it just me, or do some people seem to hate journalists, until they need to get word out about something, and then suddenly we become shining beacons of integrity?

A Facebook page has been created for Pagli's mourners to contribute condolences: most likely, without security breathing down their backs.

Krystin Barnett

Everybody Walk the Dinosaur

Lewis Black jokes that some people in this country who think that humans and dinosaurs inhabited the Earth at the same time, about 10,000 years ago, are watching The Flintstones as if it was a documentary.

Well the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune have determined that 3 out of 10 Texans are apparently thinking The Flintstones is non-fiction.

Faith in the Bible plants some powerful ideas in people's heads; much more powerful ideas than Charles Darwin could ever hoped to have spread with his "On the Origin of Species".

Now I'm not one to begrudge anyone their faith in God, Jesus, the Holy Sprit, Allah, Mohammed, Yahweh, the Great Green Arkleseizure, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.  Religion brings people peace of mind, it comforts the troubled, and inspires many to do valued, charitable work.

But it is time for religion to get out of the way of scientific truth.  The fossil record indicates that the dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, not thousands, and evidence indicates very strongly that Darwin's theories on natural selection are as correct an idea as to how humans got here as anyone has ever come up with.

The Texas Tribune also points out that 30% of those responding to the question of human-dinosaur superposition "didn't know".

They really don't know whether or not humans and dinosaurs coexisted?  They really have no idea?  Really?

Two things to say:
1. Just because the Bible says something doesn't make it true.
2. Texans need to pay more attention in science class.

--Darrell McChesney

Apple Proves the Big Guys Wrong

Apple announced today that it had sold its 10 billionth song through its iTunes store.

Let me put this in bold letters:  Ten Billion Songs Sold on iTunes.  That's 10,000,000,000.

If each song took up one mile, these songs laid end-to-end would traverse the distance from Earth to the Sun over 107 times.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a lot of songs.

And since each of these songs costs about $0.99, then in the six or so years that iTunes has been open for business, Apple has collected $9.9 billion; over $1.6 billion per year.

Granted, a large portion of that money has gone to the record companies that own the copyrights to those tracks, and some of it has even gone to the artists.  But that is exactly the point I am trying to make here.

Digital downloading of music has made the record companies a lot of money.  It's a winning business model.  Supposing the record companies take half of that money, they have still collected more than most African nations' annual Gross Domestic Product.  And remember that these numbers do not include money made from AmazonMP3, eMusic, Rhapsody, Walmart, and CD sales.

Yet the record companies continue to complain how illegal pirating of music has severely wounded the music industry.  If Apple has managed to sell 10 billion (that's Billion) songs legally, the amount of illegal downloading must be incomprehensible if record companies are to be believed.

It is time for the old-school record executives to stop whining about the loss of traditional CD sales, and embrace the future of music distribution.  If digital tracks are priced fairly, people will buy them legally.

And judging by the tracks that have been downloaded the most on iTunes, the legal digital downloaders are the exact demographic the record companies admonish for pirating music.  It's time for the record companies to stop biting at the hands that feed them.

-- Darrell McChesney

Attention Shoppers! If You Can't Cover Greg Mortenson ....

Here are a few other events. You must talk to me about this if you can't go to Mortenson. (Rick)

• March 2, afternoon: Patrick Kuhse, a former prominent stockbroker whose involvement in financial fraud led him to become an international fugitive and later an incarcerated prisoner, will visit campus on Wednesday, March 3, to deliver the address "From Prominence to Prison: Why Smart People Do Such Dumb Things." The lecture, part of the School of Business Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series, will take place from 1-2 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Q.U. 
• March 2, morning: Robert Glennon, author of "Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What to Do About it," will deliver a free community lecture from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, in Alumni Hall.Glennon will discuss America's impending water crisis and present potential solutions. The acclaimed author says the United States must develop a market-based system that values water as a commodity and a fundamental human right to avert a water crisis. Q.U.
• March 2, late afternoon:  Andrew Mwenda, Founding Managing Editor of The Independent (Uganda) 4:00 p.m. "Paved with Good Intentions: Africa and the Curse of Foreign Aid" Luce Auditorium 34 Hillhouse Ave. YALE UNIVERSITY
• March 3: Lecture: Bittersweet Harvest: The United Farmworkers' Grape Boycott, Agricultural Labor, and the Shift Towards Consumer-based Politics. 4:30pm - 6pm. Matthew García: Associate Professor of American Civilization, Ethnic Studies, and History, Brown University; Resident Program Fellow, Yale Program in Agrarian Studies. Colloquium on Food, Agriculture, and the Environment. Kroon Hall (195 Prospect St.), Burke Aud. YALE UNIVERSITY

Important Message from the Perfesser

Looks good, my fellow opinion-makers. Keep the posts coming. Please put your name at the end of your posting.

Please let me know ASAP if any more of you CANNOT cover the Greg Mortenson lecture. Tell me whether you are available to go to something during the day.

We will be doing more with blogging and opinion in Monday's class. Remember, if you aren't going to show, EMAIL ME!

Rick

Trainer Tragically Dies at SeaWorld

Yesterday, Tilikum, a killer whale who lives at SeaWorld in Orlando grabbed hold of 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau and pulled her underwater. Brancheau, an experienced trainer of killer whales, died in the accident.


Reports on the nightly news surfaced that this was not the first time Tilikum had displayed such aggressive behavior.

Reports from a SeaWorld spokesman on msnbc.com said the whale was one of three orcas blamed for killing a trainer in 1991when the woman lost her balance and fell in the pool. In 1999, a second death resulted when a man snuck into the park and ended up in the tank with the 12,000 pound killer whale.

Brancheau’s death is an unfortunate accident however it is one that could have easily been prevented. Killer whales, or Orcas, do not belong in tanks and more than elephants and tiger belong in the circus. These are wild animals that need and deserve to live in their natural habitat where they can, well, live like animals. Disaster inevitably happens when we try to make these creatures something they are not.

Brancheau’s passing is regrettable. I feel sympathy for her co-workers and her loved ones. No doubt they are grieving the tragic loss of a woman who, by all accounts, loved her job and treated the mammals like her children. Co-workers and family have explicitly stated she would not want the whale put to sleep because of this incident.

It’s ridiculous we would even consider it.

Kristen Archibald

From Grief to Glory

On Tuesday night, 24 year-old Canadian figure skater, Joannie Rochette skated took the ice at the Vancouver Olympics just two days after the sudden passing of her mother, who died of a massive heart attack Sunday morning. Rochette’s parents had just flown in the day before in order to see their daughter compete.
No one knew how well Rochette would skate or if she would skate at all given her grief. But when the moment came for Rochette to take the ice, many did exactly what her mother would have wanted – for her to do her best.

What happened was nothing short of amazing. Rochette delivered a career best routine in the short-program Tuesday night. She dazzled the crowd with a performance almost as remarkable as her courage, somehow mustering the strength to do what her mother would have wanted.

The free skate is still to come and Rochette still has a long way to take a spot on the medal podium. But she has already accomplished more thatn anyone expected under the circumstances.

“Mama this is for you - I did my best,” said Rochette in French after her dramatic performance Tuesday night.
No one can argue with that.

Kristen Archibald

VT Police Officer Under Investigation for Pornography

What do you do when those pledging to uphold the law are the ones breaking it? This question has been on the minds of many in Rutland County as of recently.

A police officer in Rutland, Vermont was suspended with pay, on February 5th, while being under investigation for child pornography. There are so many things wrong with this case I don’t even know where to begin.

First off, the pornography was found on the officers work computer SIX months prior to the suspension. The police department found pornography clearly not related to the officers case work and it took them six months to take action. I understand that a person is innocent until proven guilty, but I’d say that is pretty good proof. Even if the police department had yet to discover enough evidence to prosecute, wouldn't numerous pornographic images give at least give enough reason for immediate suspension?

Second, the question of intentionality has been brought up numerous times in this investigation. State police investigators have said that there is not enough proof that the officer "intentionally" downloaded these images. It seems odd to me that this could be a defense of any sort. It wasn't "an" image, singular, but many images and videos downloaded on his computer. I have yet to hear of any other officers in this precinct having problems with pornographic images downloading themselves. Also, the officer was in possession of multiple pornographic DVD’s which were found during a desk search. I suppose just like those images were mysteriously downloaded to his computer, these DVD’s just magically appeared in his desk.

It is truly appalling that someone who is supposed to be a model for our community and said to protect our men, women, and children would be a part of something so heinous. However, I find it more appalling that our police department would hide the investigation and delay punishment for 6 months, despite irrefutable evidence against said police officer.

Below is a video of Rutland City Police Chief Tony Bossi speaking of the officers recent suspension.
 

For one family, texting is the most essential form of communication

Jenna and Brianna Dayton are sitting five feet from each other. They’re both laughing, in unison, probably at someone else in the room’s expense. They don’t even have to look at each other.

“Sometimes you just can’t say things out loud,” Brianna says. “You have to text it.”

Jenna agrees, adding, “Everyone doesn’t have to know what you’re saying.”

They both giggle.

Their cousin Alex deadpans, “I hate you.”

“I don’t even know what I would do,” she said. “I’d be lost beyond belief.” Brianna uses her phone, a Motorola Env3, to stay connected with friends and to pass the time when she is bored. She especially likes texting her friends throughout the day to see what they are up to. Like many young people, Brianna prefers texting as her main form of phone communication.

“It’s just easier,” she said. “You can talk to people without having to call them. If you’re at work or somewhere you can’t talk, you can still communicate.”

Jenna Dayton, 21, of Thomaston, agrees with this sentiment. She says she would be out of the loop with her friends and begin to lose contact with people she’s not as close with if she couldn’t text.

“Sometimes you just need to text someone,” she said. “You don’t want to take 10 minutes and call them and go through a whole conversation. You just need an answer, so you just text them and move on.”

Jenna, who owns a Blackberry curve, says her phone is her most useful possession.

“I need my phone to survive,” says Jenna. “How could you go a day [without it]? I can’t imagine it.”

Rhode Island Fires Entire Teaching Staff

They still have pencils, still have books, there are no more teachers, but plenty of dirty looks. The dramatic decision to fire every teacher at Central Falls High in Rhode Island came after the failed debate with the teacher's union. Superintendent Frances Gallo said no agreement could be reached in terms of payment for the proposed extra hours of teacher-student face time, including adding one hour to the school day, and to incorporate a weekly tutoring session into the students' schedules. This proposal was made in an attempt to remedy the school's much-ailing report card, which showed devastating numbers in student proficiency. 

The firing will be effective at the start of the next school year.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan told the press he is in favor of the decision, stating: “When schools continue to struggle we have a collective obligation to take action.”

And action they took: not only were teachers let go, but as were the guidance counselors, gym teachers, the principal, the three assistant principals, and the school’s psychologist.

Many came out in protest, between 600 and 700 people, but their cries went unheard by the board. George Nee, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, “America’s Union Movement,” said: “This is immoral, illegal, unjust, irresponsible, disgraceful and disrespectful. What is happening here tonight is the wrong thing… and we’re not going to put up with it.”
Krystin Barnett

VIDEO

NCAA Considering Expansion To 96 Teams

You can file this one under "Dumbest Ideas Ever Considered By Human Beings." According to reports, the NCAA is considering expanding its men's basketball tournament field to 96 teams - 34 more than the current 65-team field.

ESPN's Andy Katz reported that NCAA officials were in "the process of evaluating" the tournament field and "throwing the idea of expansion out there" to network television executives.

What network television executives have to do with how many teams belong in the NCAA Tournament, I'll never know. But with college presidents today seemingly operating under the credo: "Shamelessly grab as many dead presidents as you possibly can before you become one," it's no surprise.

Remember, this is the same organization that supports the BCS. So apparently it's okay for 96 teams to compete for a championship in basketball but there's only time for 2 in football. I think Hypocrisy 101 is a prerequisite for becoming a college president.

                                        Mess with the euphoria of this moment? The NCAA might.

by: Kels dayton

Controversial abortion billboards

Please, watch this clip before ready my comment : http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/controversial-abortion-billboards-9915113&tab=9482930§ion=1206853&playlist=1363340&page=1


Black women accounted for the majority of abortions in Georgia and nationally, they were more than three times as likely to get an abortion compared to white women. That is chocking so does the billboard about abortion in black community. If people are screaming, that means the message is powerful and the anti abortionist activists pinpoint their target. People need to think twice before getting abortion.
Yes, abortion has been for a longtime a hot issue and it will be. In the footage it is said that in the past, black women where forced to get aborted. In this century, black women chose voluntarily to get aborted. This is the change, this is the point that chocks.

Whatever the race, people need to be responsible and accept the result of their actions. If they chose to have sex without practicing contraceptions that means they are ready to take care of the baby they are going to have. Therefore, no need to get abortion, no need to be afraid of being single mother, perhaps single father as usually it is the woman that carries and takes care of the baby. No need to assume that getting abortion allows avoiding poverty. On the other hand, it is a great responsibility.
I really appreciate the series of advertisement that run on TV about being a good parent with Obama asking parents and mostly men to be good fathers. I think the government needs to produce more those kinds of advertisement to educate people about sex and the impact that can have on life.
This is not a race matter, people need to be aware and responsible.

Ramata

ABC News Joins the Corporate Short-Sighted

ABC News must be getting out of the news business.

According to numerous sources, ABC News is going to cut 300 to 400 positions from its news staff, about 20% of the total. Citing the downturn in advertising revenue, executives plan to "restructure the labor-heavy newsroom", turning their news-gathering teams into "one-man band" reporters with digital cameras.

Following on the heels of recent cuts announced by CBS News, this announcement adds to the pressures broadcast journalists face in trying to stay employed.

But in addition to the jobs, the long-term viability of ABC as a news outlet is being threatened.

The executives at ABC are applying a short-term solution to their financial dire straits instead of having a long-term plan that leads to stability. Throwing around tired terms like "repositioning", "paring down", and favoring a "more nimble operation" does not establish how ABC News will survive in the long run.

Instead of turning its hatchet toward the staff that produce their product, ABC News should take a long hard look at what their executives and talking heads get paid. They need to decide whether their survival is bought by sinking millions into a pretty face for the camera, or by paying for the kind of reporting and quality journalism that its viewers expect to see from a news program.

If they move their expenditures away from the top levels and put it back into the newsroom, the viewers, and by extension, the revenue, will come back.

--Darrell McChesney

Greg Mortenson is Coming to Q.U.

Here's a preview of the guy you will be writing about next week:

Student Housing Shortage at Quinnipiac

The housing situation at Quinnipiac is ridiculous because there's not enough dorms and there are too many students. Students are forced to live miles off campus and far from other students.

There are not enough parking spaces for students. Students are forced to stalk other students in search of parking spots.

Quinnipiac higher-ups should stop accepting so many students without a place to put them.