September 27, 2010

Global News

Wage Laws Squeeze South Africa's Poor

( The New York Times )

In Newcastle, South Africa a sheriff arrived at a clothing manufacturing factory to shut it down for paying employees below minimum wage. What surprised this sheriff was the look on the women faces who were working there, they were distressed. With the little money they received, they sought it as an opportunity to raise their families. This was just one sign of the unemployment crisis in South Africa that has been going on for years on end. The president has been promising a raise in employment percentage, but no action has been seen yet. 

National News 

U.S Tries to Make it Easier to Wiretap the Internet

( The New York Times )

The Internet has become a cultural phenomena that it is consuming the Americans life. It has become such a big hole of communication that the government can no longer control and view everything that is done on the web. Therefore, President Obama has proposed a new law that permits the government to view everything that is going on and unscramble encrypted messages. However, others oppose this idea and say that it will just be taking the world back into the past of technology and dissembling the advancements. By 2011, there will be a decision if this law will even make it to the House of Representative.



Local News:
Fundraiser to Help Teen in Coma
( North Jersey News )


Over the past ten years Joey Pluchino from Cedar Grove has been in a coma due to a fatal car accident. His parents have not given up yet and are still working hard to raise enough money to keep him alive. With the support of locals, the Pluchino's may be able to afford a surgery that could awaken him from this coma. On Wednesday October 13th, there will be a fundraiser in order to raise enough money for this surgery. Donations can be sent to 195 Browertown Road, Woodland Park, 07424.

September 20, 2010

National News:

Fewer Deaths From Distracted Driving

( The New York Times)

Since 2009, the number of deaths attributed to distracted driving such as text- messaging had decreased by 6 percent across America. However, it is still more likely to find someone text- messaging while driving then not. In 2008, there were 5,838 deaths due to this fatal distraction. It is not necessarily the numbers that are the main concern, but the lives lost and hearts broken in cases that are completely avoidable. Society shouldn't need people consistently reminding them of number of lives lost and families distressed due to this. In fact, not all citizens’ text and drive as often as they brush their teeth, in some cases, more frequently.  Only thirty states have prohibited the use of phones behind the wheel, and hopefully twenty more will. Phones are like an addiction, people are hooked to these devices and it has come to a point where it jeopardizes their safety on the road.

 (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/technology/21distracted.html?ref=us)

Global News:

Haitians Cry in Letters For Help

(The New York Times)

When the deadly earthquake hit Haiti, thousands of lives were lost, hundreds of homes were demolished, and millions of hearts were broken. Sine then, letters from Haitians have been sent to non-government officials telling them their stories and how they are in dire need for help. This is the way of displaced Haitians venting, talking about their concerns, and finding hope. “I feel discouraged, I don’t sleep comfortably, I gave birth six months ago, the baby died, I have six other children, they don’t have a father, I don’t have work, my tarp is torn, the rain panics me, my house was crushed, I don’t have money to feed my family, I would really love it if you would help me,” wrote Marie Jean Jean. There are many camps that provide shelter and food, but they are all plague infested, flood prone, and feverish areas, which is not a healthy living environment. This was meant to give voice to the voiceless, not money to the poor and food to the hungry. As a misplaced citizen said, it is like they are all bobbing along on the waves of the ocean, waiting for someone to save them. But who will it be to throw the lifesaver?

(http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/world/americas/20haiti.html?_r=1&ref=world)

Local News:

Heroin Use a Growing Problem for Teens

(The Bergen Record)

A typical conversation in a suburban home goes like, “Hi honey, how was your day in school?”, “Fine,”, “Okay, I will make dinner.” However, more often then not parents have to confront their children about dangerous things like drinking, smoking weed, and even popping pills. In some cases, it is too late; the teens are already knee deep in addiction and have been avoiding detection for weeks, even months. The heroin use among teens have increased so drastically over the past years that if there is no stop to this, soon enough people will be selling them in school hallways. The consequences of being caught are severe for example jail or institution but the consequences of doing the drug can be fatal.

(http://www.northjersey.com/news/103226739_Heroin_use_is_growing_in_West_Milford.html?page=all)

Elizabeth Cochrane

Elizabeth Cochrane, also known as Nellie Bly had a poor academic record in her early ages of schooling. Although her grades did not reflect her aspirations, she had passion to be a writer. Being a part of a poor family, Elizabeth moved to Pittsburgh to find work at the age of 16.  Still on the hunt for a descent job, she was reading an article in the Pittsburgh Dispatch called What Girls Are Good For. She was very aggravated to find out that the author (a male) had mentioned that women receive less pay then men, and he had exposed his personal opinion in the ‘use’ of women. Cochrane was furious, and wrote a letter to the editor complaining about the piece. The editor had responded, “What would you write if you were a journalist?” At the age of 18, she wrote back explaining that she would write about ordinary people. Therefore, he had hired her as a journalist and was blown away by her work.

Under the secretive name of ‘Nellie Bly’ she wrote about political corruption and poverty in Mexico, but was later kicked out of Mexico for exposing the horrid truth. After Elizabeth’s next project, which was working in the insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island, she was now on a mission to circle the world in record time, a competition for her new newspaper The New York World. she returned in record time in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds, she was greeted by many fans. After her retirement, on a holiday break in Europe, World War 1 broke out. Bly still had a passion for journalism, so she flew to the Eastern Front where she had reported the war for the New York Evening Journal.

< http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAWbly.htm> 

September 13, 2010

National News: Gulf May Have Avoided Direst Predictions After Spill
(The New York Times) 
Early this year, the Gulf Of Mexico faced an enormous Deepwater Horizon spill It was predicted to be the largest and most damaging oil spill in United States history. Although bird carcasses are still being discovered, the numbers from this spill is much less then in other oil spills much like Exxon Valdex spill in Alaska in 1989. The effect on American citizens will not be as severe as many scientists thought, but there currently is a heated debate about the threat of sea life due to the disappearance of a large amount of oil breaking down deep below surface.  Scientists must keep a careful eye on this spill because as quickly as the currents shift, so can the effect on the oil spill. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/science/earth/14spill.html?ref=us) 


Global News: Plane Crashes in Venezuela With 47 On Board
(The New York Times) 
At 2:06 am on September 13, 2010 a Conviasa flight flying domestically inbound to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela crashed on the banks of the Orinoco River. Although they are uncertain of the cause, people are still searching for survivors. As of September 13, 2010, 13 people have been confirmed dead, 21 severely injured, and the number of survivors is at least 23. Unlike the last major crash inbound to Venezuela in 2008; there are numerous survivors and hopefully more to be discovered. (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/09/13/world/international-us-venezuela-crash.html?ref=world) 


Local News: Teen Charges In Death Of Paterson Boy; Another Shooting, Stabbing Cap Weekend
(North Jersey)

Summary: ‘One, two three strikes your out!’ is frequently said at local baseball games in Patterson. But what about ‘One, two, three shots your out?’ Shootings in Patterson New Jersey are becoming a common occurrence just as much as a baseball game. Shot one, at 2: 03 pm on September 12, 2010 a local man and his girlfriend pulled up to the St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital with numerous gunshot wounds. Shot two, a 21 year old man along with two other unidentified men were involved in the plotting of a 14 year old Patterson boy’s death. Another person was shot and severely injured near Summer Street, Saturday. Shot three, your out! The police are now more aware of the severity of the situation and plan on establishing changes in the society.

(http://www.northjersey.com/news/091210_Teen_charged_in_death_of_Paterson_boy_another_shooting_stabbing_cap_weekend.html) 

EXTRA! EXTRA! The Death Of The Newspaper

On September 12, 2001 the New York Times printed an article titled 'Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon' written by  Serge Schmemann. Nine years later, in the basement of a local residents home, lies the New York Times story from that day. It is carefully placed in a box that is labeled 'Newspaper Articles for the grandchildren'. In that box is an assortment of morning coffee stained articles that will bring to life the vital historical events of the United States. But what if, in seven years another life-altering event is to take place? Will everyone- all ages, all socio-economic classes, all demographics- have access to breaking news? With the multiplying numbers of blogs, websites, and podcasts, we may be living in the extinction of print newspapers as we know it.