Killer Shark Claims Third Victim

AMITY - The killer shark that has been terrorizing Amity claimed a thid victim this afternoon on Village Beach.

James Parks, 30, was killed by the maneating shark when he was knocked from his rowboat. This comes after Chief of Police Martin Brody announced that the shark suspected of attacking and killing Wendy Watson, 16, and Alex Ferguson, 10, had been killed yesterday.

Shark Hoax Causes Heightened Alarm at Beach

AMITY — Chaos ensued on Village beach today after two children, playing a hoax, swam through the waters with a large shark fin amid the heightened fear of Amity’s beaches.

The atmosphere on the beach had already been tense this morning following the tragic deaths of Alex Ferguson, 10, and Wendy Watson, 16. Shark attacks are the suspected cause of both fatalities.

Chief of Police Martin P. Brody had closed all beaches for 24 hours earlier this week to search the waters for any sharks. Yesterday, a 16-foot nurse shark, suspected of the attacks, was killed one mile south-southwest of Amity.

“I am delighted to report that the giant killer shark that has been blamed for two deaths this week was caught and killed,” said Brody in a press release. “We believe that the danger of further shark attacks has passed.”

Brody assured that while the waters were safe, shark spotters, the Coast Guard and local police were patrolling the ocean to ensure that there would not be another attack.

Meanwhile, sunbathers were initially deterred to go into the water today. Mayor Bob Farley looked distraught and was seen pleading with an Amity citizen to go swimming with his family.

Once the one Amity resident and his family went into the water, other citizens seemed confident to follow suit.

However, the restored confidence was shattered when a large dorsal fin was seen swimming around people in the water. After several people noticed the apparent shark fin, citizens scrambled to escape the seemingly shark infested waters.

Amity has been skeptical of swimming after Watson’s mangled body was washed ashore and Ferguson was attacked on his raft on a busy day at the beach.

Shark Presence in New England Does Not Represent Dangerous Risk

DURHAM — Amid reports of shark attacks on Martha’s Vineyard, many are asking: could it happen here?

Statistics show that in New Hampshire, there has never been a reported shark attack.

In comparison, Massachusetts and Connecticut – two of the six states in New England – have had a combined total of five attacks. Two of these attacks were fatal in Massachusetts; the last fatality occurring in 1936.

Conversely, according to the International Shark Attack File Web site, there have been eight lightning fatalities since 1959 in New Hampshire.

In an article published in Woods Hole, Mass., shark specialist Gregory Skomal said “the greatest danger is too much attention” when it comes to shark sightings.

New England is home to various species of sharks, including Blueshark, Thresher, Basking and yes, the feared Great White.

According to the New England Sharks Web site, great white sharks “have a wide temperature tolerance range and can withstand cold water temperatures in the 40s.”

However, the risk of a shark attack in New Hampshire is almost nonexistent. There have been no recent sightings in decades of Great White sharks in the granite state; but in 2004, great alarm spread when one was spotted in an estuary in Massachusetts. The shark remained there for two weeks.

Skomal had not sound worried in the article. “It’s a rare opportunity,” he said about seeing the 15-foot shark.

It eventually left the somewhat enclosed area, but people were worried of the danger that the presence caused and worse, future sightings of sharks in the vicinity.

Heightened fear can be contributed directly to the media, said Skomal. Particularly, the film “Jaws” in 1975 has provoked an array of fear about potential shark attacks.

The film, listed the second Most Heart-Pounding American Movie on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Thrills list has resonated throughout the years.

In fact, the island where “Jaws” was filmed, Martha’s Vineyard, is where the unconfirmed sightings occurred.

Meanwhile, there are some tips offered by experts to reduce the risk of a shark attack. Reducing high contrast color apparel is recommended because sharks have impressive contrast visibility.

Similarly, maintaining a swimmer’s position as quiet as possible is important. Staying calm, though difficult, is crucial because sharks are attracted to erratic movement.

Is Screening for Mental Illnesses in Adolescents Inefficient?

DURHAM — On Thursday, an expert discussed the increased occurrences of false-positives in the current implemented screening instruments for mental illness in adolescents.

Dr. Allan Horwitz, professor of sociology at Rutgers University, visited UNH to stress the mounting frequency of diagnosed depression in America’s youth and the unreliable tools to diagnosis it.

“Depression has become the signature diagnosis of psychiatry,” said Horwitz. According to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria, it is “logically impossible to be minimally sad…by definition, people have some kind of sickness.”

The DSM says to be clinically depressed one must suffer from a lack of interest in daily activities and be in a depressed state for at least two weeks. Additionally, one must experience at least five more symptoms from the DSM list, such as difficulty paying attention and suicidal thoughts.

“Five symptoms to meet the depression criteria is a pretty arbitrary number,” said Horwitz. “It’s unrealistic to assume any one is truly depressed based on the DSM criteria.”

According to the New York Times article, “Depressed? New York Screens for People at Risk,” every one in four adolescents will meet the criteria for depression in the country. Nearly twice as many women suffer than men.

This number was extracted from the current instrument used for screening adolescents: a simple questionnaire.

“Yes or no answers to diagnosis a serious illness, especially one that is inconsiderate towards temporary stressful events, is outrageous,” said Horwitz.

Graduate student Matthew Cutler of the Justice Studies program agreed that “we have identified too many false-positives by blanketing the population of adolescents with this screening initiative.”

The questionnaire in question has quickly become a routine in many primary health care facilities, “much like a blood pressure test or cholesterol reading,” said the Times article.

The screening test gained notoriety in 2003 when Congress, under President Bush, budgeted $20 million for developing screening programs. Patient-advocacy groups of screening say alleviating the psychosocial deficits that accompany depression is crucial to providing sufficient treatments, according to Horwitz.

Attendee Ryan Mitchell, 21, of Horwitz’ lecture sided with the Congress decision and said that he is not convinced screening is so bad.

“I knew some one in high school who committed suicide and I think the tell-all signs were there,” he said. “Maybe if he had taken a screening test, it would have been prevented.”

Meanwhile, Horwitz emphasized that “it is almost unquestionably true that the implementation of required screening among adolescents is too premature [for accurate diagnosis].”

In his lecture, Horwitz said that 84 percent of adolescents that screened positively for depression actually displayed a false-positive at the diagnostic stages.

This large number is contributed to adolescents who experience the tumultuous range of emotions when growing up, or the “the yo-yo of hormonal tendencies”. In most cases, younger individuals that are screened only experience short-term symptoms of depression, while “true depressive cases have endurance,” said Horwitz.

Most of the audience appeared to side with Horwitz and continually nodded their heads in agreement. At one point, one woman said, “That’s right!” when Horwitz said “children are unempowered individuals” that shouldn’t be diagnosed through something as mundane as a survey.

Additionally, Horwitz suggested that pharmaceutical companies are largely to blame for the mass depression. Over the course of 10 years, anti-depressant use has increased 350 percent.

Pharmaceutical companies are “very sneaky” about how they provide funding for screening. They are named as large philanthropic organizations, rather than pharmaceutical companies, that donate money for screening to avoid controversy.

“If it seems like our population is suffering from mass sadness, then we might be dealing with broader social issues that couldn't possibly be solved by administering anti-depression treatment on a grand scale,” said Cutler.

Though Horwitz was unable to identify a specific plan to improve the screening test process for adolescents, he said that ideally a test needs to be developed that does not “take attention away from kids who have real, serious, persistent disorders.”

He did say that developing screening tests sensitive to the context of depression is important to diagnosing adolescents. Horwitz, who was trained in psychiatric epidemiology and in deviance and social control, has written four books and dozens of journal articles pertaining to mental illnesses. His latest book, “The Loss of Sadness,” was published in 2007.

Another Body Found: Shark Attack Suspected

SECOND DAY STORY

Amity, Mass. — A young boy died this morning on Village Beach in an apparent shark attack.

Following the death of Wendy W. Watson, 16, Alex Ferguson, 10, of Mayfair Court, was seen turned over in his water raft and dragged under water. A pool of blood flooded the vicinity moments later. A large fin was reportedly seen overturning the raft.

His body has not been recovered.

Ferguson appears to be the second victim in a string of growing shark attacks (though, it should be noted that Watson's official cause of death has not been made public). Amity Chief of Police Martin P. Brody sent out a press release at 11 a.m. and confirmed that “a big bite” was taken out of Ferguson’s raft.

Marian Ferguson, the distraught mother of the latest victim, was on the beach at the time of the attack and subsequently, taken to Amity Hospital for shock. She is reported to be in fair condition.

The atmosphere at the beach this morning was tense following the death of Watson. Few people were seen in the water, while Brody tersely watched on.

He was one of the first to notice the attack and immediately rushed to the shoreline, screaming, “Get out! Get them out!”

Meanwhile, a press conference was held after the attack. Brody announced beaches will be closed for 24 hours. Extra summer deputies, shark spotters and professionals from ocean institutes are expected to be brought in to stake out any sharks in the area.

Public reaction from fishermen and others who make their living off of vacationers expressed intense dissatisfaction with the decision. One woman yelled, “Twenty-four hours is like three weeks!”

Ben Quint, a grizzled old fisherman, offered to track and hunt the apparent man-eater shark responsible for the deaths at a cost of $10,000.

Quint said he would “catch the bird…head, tail – the whole damn thing.” Attendants seem unenthused by Quint’s suggestion, while Mayor Bob Farley said he would take his proposal “under advisement.”

Despite heavy evidence that there is a suspected shark infestation in Amity’s beaches, Brody cautioned “the press not to jump to any conclusions.”

Body of Local Girl Found on Beach

FIRST DAY BREAKING STORY

AMITY, Mass. — The mangled body of a young girl was found on South Beach today after she was reported missing earlier this morning.

Wendy W. Watson, 16, reportedly went missing last night after 11 p.m. after she went skinny dipping. She and a male companion left the close-by beach party alone and were inebriated, according to witnesses.

When Watson, a sophomore at Amity High School, did not return from the water, the unidentified male went to the police at approximately 3 a.m. He had passed out earlier.

Watson’s washed up body was later recovered by an Amity deputy officer.

According to Chief of Police Martin P. Brody, a possible cause of death was a shark attack. Watson’s body lies in the coroner’s office awaiting an autopsy.

Meanwhile, though a shark attack has not been ruled out and an intensive investigation is pending, Brody assured residents there is no danger on local beaches.

UNH Student Saves Patient's Life

DURHAM — A nursing student acted quickly when she helped saved a man’s life at Exeter Hospital earlier this month.
Katherine Boucher, a junior from Lee, noticed severe bleeding from her post-operative patient during her medical-surgical nursing clinical at the hospital. The patient most likely would have gone into shock from such heavy bleeding had there been no intervention.
According to Beth Evans, a UNH clinical instructor overseeing Boucher, such critical situations are almost unheard of in college students.
“She did exactly what a licensed R.N. would do,” said Evans to the UNH Media News Web site.
Boucher’s quick reaction was surprising and impressive under the circumstances.
“You certainly don’t see this level of critical thinking at a junior level,” said Dr. Sue Fetzer, UNH associate professor of nursing. “What Katherine did was solve the problem first.”
Boucher noticed the bleeding before the patient did and promptly applied pressure to the surgical site without much thought to prevent blood clotting.
“I turned out to be really calm,” said Boucher. “The patient could tell I was in control and that helped him not panic, which is very important.”
Boucher said that student nurses are never really alone when caring for patients, so there was no need to panic. A charge nurse was right around the corner and came to assist with the situation once Boucher alerted her of the patient’s problem.
“I don’t want to get all the credit,” said Boucher. “I had faith in the people I work with and they came through.”
The patient had undergone surgery to reattach an artery through a graft in his leg, which apparently came off a few days after-the-fact.
He is one of two patients Boucher is assigned to. Typically, Boucher’s responsibilities include washing and bathing patients.
More importantly, the purpose of the clinical is to “develop knowledge and skills essential to the present and future practice of nursing,” according to the Nursing Program mission statement.
The first-time experience for Boucher proved to be valuable. “It was a great learning opportunity because this is something that really happens,” she said.
Fetzer added that the rescue not only benefited Boucher’s education and understanding, but provided much-needed credit for nurses.
“Nurses are famously infamous for rescuing patients,” she said. “Frequently, we get bad press for a failure to rescue; this is a good example of how nurses rescue people all the time.”
Meanwhile, Boucher’s sister, Emily, a freshman at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, believes her sister will continue to prove herself in the medical field.
“She is extremely dedicated to what she does and she always goes that extra mile to make sure her patients have the best care,” she said.
According to the younger Boucher, compassion and empathy have always been in her sister’s nature.
“When we were younger she always looked out for me,” she said. “We were incredibly close – still are.”
Boucher’s family has been supportive and excited for their daughter’s accomplishments at school.
“We all knew she would be a great nurse,” said her sister. “My mom tells everyone about what Katherine has done.”
Both Fetzer and the nurse’s sister are in agreement that Boucher’s natural instinct to help people and her drive to learn directed her efforts to save the patient.
“She’s quiet, but she sits in the front row and always asks great questions that make her a better nurse,” said Fetzer.
Boucher hopes her education and training will pay off when the time comes for her clinical practicum – a clinical practice site based on the interests and strengths of the nurses. The formal clinical takes place during a nursing student’s senior year.
The practicum, which helps most nursing students get hired full-time after college, would enable Boucher to “work under a doctor or get a doctorate,” she said.
About 80 students a year enter into the nursing program, which later prepares students for their licensing exams.
Approximately 97 percent of UNH students passed their exams last year compared to the 85 percent nationwide.
“The exam helps students to appreciate how tough nursing is,” said Fetzer, “and I think Katherine got a taste of that.”
Boucher hopes to some day become a mid-wife and care for pregnant women before, during and in some cases, after birth.

“The nursing program is a good foundation for that,” said Boucher, the daughter of Phil and Penny Boucher. “I really want to continue helping people.”

Poor Weather Leads to Power Outages and Dangerous Road Conditions

DURHAM — Rainy conditions pose a dangerous threat to morning commuters and early holiday travelers as power outages run ramped in southern New Hampshire and Maine.

As of 8:25 a.m., power outages were reported in Bethlehem, Durham, Conway, Eaton, Madison, New London and Tamworth due to high winds, according to Public Service of New Hampshire. Broken tree limbs have fallen on power lines and it is uncertain when power will be up and running again.

Resident halls on-campus have experienced flickering lights, and electronics, such as laptops, are at the mercy of high winds, which are expected to reach 38 mph.

Meanwhile, flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service at 4:06 a.m. Approximately 1-3 inches of rain are expected through tonight.

UNH has issued no curtailed operations as of yet on the information line. The president of the university has the final say for all cancellations and delays. The vice president of finance and administration provides all recommendations for the president.

Commuters should demonstrate caution when driving. Roads are slick and hydroplaning is probable if drivers are not cautious, particularly by low drainage areas where rain will accumulate.

Traffic is moving slower than usual, according to the Department of Transportation, and holiday travelers are expected to be off a slow start throughout the day.

Later this evening, rain is supposed to taper off, according to WMUR, but this holiday weekend looks bleak. Stormy weather and snowy periods are to be expected on Sunday.

It's Battle of the Fire Stations at Tuesday's Planning Board Meeting

MERRIMACK — On Tuesday, the planning board approved a $2 million funding package for the south fire station in building renovations. The northwest station landed on the backburner in its request for assistance in faster arrival times.

The planning board voted 4-2 in favor of urgent spending for the south fire station, with Nelson Disco, Tom Koening, Arthur “Pete” Gagnon and Stanley Bonislawski in support. Alastair Millns and John Segedy served as the lone voices in opposition.

Millns said he voted against urgent funding because “the financial climate is deteriorating rapidly” and the station could afford renovations to be put on hold for at least another year. He proposed the project receive a desirable vote so it can be reviewed again as a priority in 2009. His motion was turned down.

Meanwhile, Disco said the town is anxious for recommendations from the board for improved structural conditions at the south station, including personal requests from Fire Chief Michael Currier.

“Who are we to say we know more than the professionals? If the fire chief says renovations are necessary, then they are necessary!” said Bonislawski.

A heated debate between Millns and Bonislawski erupted when Millns countered that “we [the planning board members] are given the authority to make these decisions, so it is perfectly fair to say we know a thing or two about what is needed.”

Koening said that “we need to preserve south Merrimack the best we can and if that means approving renovations, then I think we need to vote the project as urgent.”

The latest funding for the station increased $875,000 from the approved $115,000 last year in spending. It is unclear what the money will specifically go to as new negotiations are set to begin for the division of the funds in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The planning board then voted 5-1 in favor of necessary spending for the northwest fire station. Bonislawski was the only member opposed to the vote after intense deliberation.

Members were initially split 3-3 for the first two motions of urgent and then desirable spending time frames. Koening, Disco and Gagnon grouped together in support of both proposals; Bonislawski, Millns and Segedy remained in agreement with one another in opposition.

According to the request, northwest Merrimack not only lacks a sufficient number of fire hydrants, but as a result, fire stations take approximately six minutes to arrive in response to emergencies. The national ideal response time is four minutes.

Millns voted against the urgent and desirable motions, but emphasized that he believes the northwest fire station is much more important than the south station. “I feel it in my bones,” he said, “that giving the south station an urgent vote when the northwest needs more attention is just wrong.”

Segedy sided with Millns and said the “footwork is all the same” between both fire stations and urgent spending was simply unnecessary at this point in time.

However, Koening, said an urgent voting was equally important for the northwest station as the south station because it “flies in the face of the professionals we rely on if we set time periods when a request was made for immediate action.”

A “necessary” vote pushes the project back at least another year. When it is discussed again in late 2009, it will most likely be voted and passed as “desirable” – in which case, no real action will occur until after 2011.

The funding in question for both fire stations would come from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

CIP serves as a branch of the Finance Department centering around funding projects that would improve the wellness for citizens in Merrimack. The Finance Department approximated the 2008-2009 capital reserve fund transfers at $7,245,429.

In other planning board business, members unanimously voted in favor for a condominium conveyance by Corbin Detail Builders and the expansion of a driveway crossing for homeowner John Upton.

A presentation by the Lower Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee also took place where representatives encouraged the planning board to formally adopt the corridor management plan.

Planning board members enjoyed the power point, but agreed that the discussion needs to be revisited when Merrimack reworks the town’s master plan.

Democrats Gain as Stevens Loses Race

In the New York Times article, "Democrats Gain as Stevens Loses Race", the article initially focuses on Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska and the end of his reign as the longest-serving senator for his party amid his recent criminal conviction. The article then transitions into the debate over whether or not Joe Lieberman should be ostracized by the Democratic community for his affiliation and support of John McCain. I was attracted to the headline more than anything because I always find it fascinating when a public official has made an incredibly big mistake that has cost their career. I know it's a bad thing to say, but it's the truth. The lead followed a summary lead and indicated what the piece was going to be about.

This article engaged my attention and answered all my questions. I didn't finish reading it and think, "Well...so what?" Additionally, I enjoyed how the article really centered on the internal struggle of the democratic party as to whether or not Lieberman should be accepted into their circle. The article really hones in on the concept that democrats really look at Lieberman as a "traitor" and take his stance personally.

The main point of the story essentially related to the surge of democratic positions in higher political offices. The story beautifully transitioned from Stevens loss to the Lieberman loyalty question in an A to Z structure.

The main points in this story that were nicely linked through effective and seemless transitions were:

• Stevens loss and statistics to show his loss


• Mark Begich's victory and how this helps promote democratic popularity


• Democrat's anger with Lieberman


• Background information on Lieberman and his history with both parties


• Some defense for Lieberman and his ideological values


• The rise of Democrats, particularly Rahm Emmanuel

By the end of the story, I learned that Lieberman is really hated in the political world. I had no idea that because he backed John McCain, democrats have taken a real disliking to him. It is somewhat surprising to me that one man has caused such a sensational debate simply because he is an independent and decided to align himself with McCain.

Five People Die in Train Chase

NEW YORK CITY — A suspected assassin and four innocent people died during a murder attempt on a police detective in the midst of a drug cartel investigation yesterday afternoon.

Police Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle of the Narcotics Division shot and killed Pierre Jeantot, 36, of Nice, France after Jeantot fired shots at him from an apartment building rooftop at 1767 W. 57th Ave.

The shoot-out resulted in the murder of Betty B. Badluck, 63, a bystander walking her granddaughter.

Doyle followed Jeantot in hot pursuit after the Frenchman hijacked a train, killing conductor Horatio C. Hornblower and police officer Roland Evans when they attempted to stop him. Trainman Peter Howe, 27, died of a heart attack after being held hostage by Jeantot.

Doyle, who commandeered a civilian’s vehicle, never stumbled in the chase – following the train without question and fearlessly. He sustained no serious injury after colliding with other vehicles and cement walls to follow the train carrying the assailant.

The same could not be said for Jeantot. His death follows the investigation of a “crime syndicate that had been laying the groundwork for a major heroin shipment from France to New York City,” said Ruth L. Ess, the New York City police commissioner in a press release.

Jeantot left no choice for Doyle but to fire his .38 caliber service revolver when he tried to escape after the ensuing chase.

Meanwhile, two other men suspected of being involved in the drug smuggling operation are still at large and are being sought after.For some time, Doyle and his partner, Buddy “Cloudy” Russo, have been investigating a French drug kingpin and it is believed the alleged sniper, Jeantot, was send to assassinate Doyle in an attempt to alleviate police presence.

Militants Turn to Small Bombs in Iraq Attacks

The New York Times article "Militants Turn to Small Bombs in Iraq Attacks" interested me because I wasn't sure what the story would entail. The "sticky bombs", though violent and potentially fatal, are creative and becoming more and more of a threat. The lead picqued my curiosity because it was an attention-grabber. In my opinion, though some my differ, this was a startling lead because of its bluntness.

The story did live up to my "expectations". I didn't really have any going into the story because I had never heard of "sticky bombs", but it the article was informative and helpful. It discussed what these bombs are, how they are made, the increasing dependency on them and what they can do.

The main point of the story focused on how these bombs are becoming more popular and the devastation such a small device can cause. The story was organized in an A to Z structure - beginning with their use of attacks in Iraq and ending with their frighteningly effective development.

Points that were logically linked throughout the story were:

• A description of what the bombs look like and emphasis on their size ("no bigger than a man's fist")


• How these bombs are made and their point of origin (surprisingly, during World War II)


• Statistics of how many people have been wounded or killed as a direct result of these bombings since 2004


• Worries of locals who are constantly suspicious of everyone around them


• The development of the bombs and their popularity among terrorists

These points were logically linked because smooth transitions were made into each paragraph. If there was a quote from a villager who questions all customers in his store, it would be followed up with an example of how it's possible for "customers" to place bombs.

Something incredibly interesting that I learned from this story, that stuck with me throughout reading it was the use of these bombs are a sign of weakness within Iraqi militants. According to the article, "paradoxically, the bombs are also a sign that terrorists are finding it harder to move freely." My only question after reading this article was how the U.S. forces in Iraq are cooperating with the Iraqi government to try to end these bombings.

U.S. Aid Worker Slain in Pakistan

The article I decided to comment on today involves tragedy. The headline attracted me because another victim has fallen to hostile relations in the Middle East - this time an aid worker. I felt the lead, probably a scene-setter lead, was informative, but a little insensitive: "Stephen D. Vance had to balance a strategic mission with nearly daily concerns about his personal safety."

I have to say this article was not as heartfelt as I would have liked. Typically, when I read about someone's death, I want to feel emotion. This article depicted Vance as another number to add to the increasing list of casualities. Admittedly, the article did center how the death of an aid worker caught in the cross fire highlighted it as the most prominent death in Pakistan and eventually became a little more compassionate.

The main point of the story is how Vance's death raises questions about the competence of the Bush administration. I felt this tragedy just gave journalists more ammo to attack our current administration, when in actuality, a man's life has been sacrificed.

The structure of the article went full-circle. It started and ended with commentary on Vance and I think that is the only way to really organize an article like this.

There were several points made in the story that did link everything together:

• How, when and where Vance died


• The money invested into developing stability in Pakistan


• Why Vance was in Pakistan


• The efforts the Obama administration could implement


• Some background information on Vance

The points linked the article together and touched about the hostility in Pakistan and what neds to be done to secure that area.

By the end of the story, I learned a little of Vance's life. According to a source in the article, “his shouldn’t have happened, he was a good chap, he was a humanist, he could get on with anyone,” Mr. Aziz said. I learned some more about the United States involvement in Pakistan and the implications it is having in the region. As I stated earlier, I would have liked to know a little bit more about Vance and his life for the article to really invoke sentiment.

Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu's Spread

This morning, I read an article in the New York Times about how Google is the new go-to for diagnosing illnesses. Is there anything this Internet search engine can't do?

I was attracted to the article because it seemed so absurd. How can Google replace the efficiency of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? Well, it seems it can. The lead, possibly an example of the scene setter lead, really grabbed my attention because doctors are taking a back-seat to Google.

The story lived up to my expectations in the sense that it provided me with reliable and hard facts to back up the claims. I wish, however, that there was more suspense - though realistically, I don't know how that would have been possible! I had been expecting real anger and dissatisfaction that Google is taking over the dependency on the C.D.C., but instead was met with statistics, statistics and some more statistics.

The main idea in the story reflected how Internet users are providing Google with the facts, symptoms and reseacrch to accurately diagnosis problems people are facing when ill. The C.D.C., because it relies on a large revenue of sources and statistics, takes longer.

Again, it's a little unclear to me the definition of the structure of the article, but I do believe there was a definitive narrative. The story had a beginning and an end, so I was submit that it followed an A to Z outline.

The points were well-linked in the story and complied in a logical manner. The first point was the birth of Google Flu Trends and its replacement of the C.D.C.; secondly, there was an evaluation of how the C.D.C. analyzes its data and why it takes longer than Google Flu Trends to produce results; thirdly, background information helped readers understand how data is gathered and what it is based on; fourthly, the effect of using search engines and why the trend has become so popular; and lastly, the impact of the search engine and how its on-line competitors (e.g., Yahoo) are increasingly used.

This story really educated me. I had NO idea that Google is relied on more than our local physicians. It made sense, after reading the facts, that who would know better than the people who are sick to educate the public. To go back to my earlier point - I wish, however, there had been examples of opposition to Google being more used than the professionals. I would imagine some people in the medical field find this ridiculous and I would have liked to hear their side of the story.

Obama Asks Bush to Provide Help for Automakers

Today, the New York Times published a story regarding the declining the financial situation regarding the auto industry. President-elect Barack Obama met with President Bush to discuss the worsening economy and reasoned that it was necessary to save auto companies that are in grave danger of bankruptcy and collapse.

This story caught my attention because it amazes me that the economy is taking such hard hits repeatedly. I'm not necessarily fond of the Bush Administration and I try not to be biased in terms of my dissatisfaction with the regression of the last eight years, but when I read that President Bush would only agree to lend a helping hand to automakers if Obama dropped his opposition to a free-trade agreement with Columbia, I was appauled. It reaffirmed my unhappiness with President Bush when he resorted to bargaining for his own personal gain. The lead follows the summary lead technique.

The story educated me on the dealings and provided key information on the situation. Helpful sources, statistics and background details gave me a clearer understanding of forming an opinion that could be accurately backed. The story also presented the options of going forward or letting the auto industry crash and burn which offered insight to the severity of the situation.

The main point of the story was the meeting between the two politicians and highlighting the topic on-hand. The argument was efficiently summarized in the lead: "President-elect Barack Obama urged President Bush in a meeting at the White House to support immediate emergency aid."

I'm not sure how I would classify the organizational structure of the story. I believe it went from A to Z - traditionally setting the story up following the inverted pyramid. The narrative discussed the most important facts of the story first and then talked about the less pertinent facts as the story ended.

The main points of the story included: discussing the urgency to help the auto industry; facts behind the free-trade Columbian agreement; the Republican Party's stance on saving the auto industry (whom remain surprisingly aloof); the Big Three's (Chrysler, Ford and G.M.) current economic standing (increasingly dire); the fate of the companies if left untreated; and some useful information on organized labor.

By the end of the story, I learned that the auto industry represents a huge part of the United States economy. I was not aware that President Bush was not as willing as President-elect Obama to rescue failing automakers. I did have some unanswered questions, but they can only be answered in due course. I would be curious to see how the situation will ultimately pan out and what the final terms of the stimulus package will be.

UNH Raises Multicultural Awareness

DURHAM— The increased efforts at UNH to raise awareness for multicultural students are starting to pay off.
According to the Diversity Progress Report in 2007, 7.7 percent of undergraduates and graduates consisted of international students and students of color in the fall of 2006 – an increase of 2.4 percent from 2004.
In comparison, minorities represent 30 percent of natural increase growth in New Hampshire since 2000; in the United States that number inflates to 50 percent, said Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the Carsey Institute.
The increase in multicultural students attending UNH can be contributed to “doing more as an institution to enroll these [multicultural] students; collaborating with faculty and students to make them understand UNH is a place to go,” said Robert McGann, Director of Admissions.
The Diversity Support Coalition (DSC) serves as an umbrella group for five student-run organizations that include the Black Student Union, United Asian Coalition, Mosaico, the Latino/a student society, The Alliance (which is the LGBTQ student association) and Hillel (the Jewish student association).
In addition, there is also the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). Their mission is to create “opportunities for people to participate in an inclusive community and to explore and understand diversity, injustice and equity.”
Caitlin Vaughan, coordinator of the Race, Power and Culture minor, said “it’s a responsibility to have multicultural exposure” for students.
Vaughan said minors such as Africana and African American Studies, Asian Studies and Latin American Studies are implemented to incorporate social and educational programming for all students.
The programs are wildly popular. Classes, like Anthropology 401, consistently cater to a packed house – typically filling up within days of open registration.
“Issues like race are controversial and what we have found are students who are attracted to something talkative,” said Vaughan. “The dynamics between race and culture are so important to understand the different philosophies within academic studies.”
The courses provided within the interdisciplinary minors program are one aspect of enabling students to develop a critical understanding of cultural differentiation.
Learning about foreign cultures not only exposes students to a newfound understanding, but it helps them with their own academic and personal growth.
“For students to be prepared for studying outside of the United States, they need to be exposed to different ethnic groups,” said Johnson. It is crucial students are fully equipped to acclimate to their environments in foreign cultures.
In addition, on-campus events are regularly held to integrate all students and in many cases, the families of those students.
Academic speakers, film series are helpful, said McGann. “There is no one avenue to reach everybody.”
In October, numerous speakers came to UNH and lectured on a range of issues. Xuehui “Kate” Li discussed Chinese Painting; Dr. Robyn Sladyk explored occupational justice, as examples.
Gender Film and Discussion: “Black is Black Ain’t” – an “up-front examination of racism, sexism, and homophobia within the black community” premiered October 29th. The screening aimed to make students reflect on these issues in society, according to the Diversity Initiatives Web site.
The faculty at UNH carry a lot of the weight to educate all students, but more importantly, it’s a privilege for them as well.
“Mentoring opportunities for staff to educate people with different backgrounds really broadens their horizons,” said McGann.
However, students have the greatest opportunity to raise awareness in regard to diversity. According to Sean McGhee, Director of OMSA, “the most powerful connections are peer-to-peer.”
“Multicultural students and allied students here at UNH do a great job of that,” he said.
Even more profound, McGhee said exploring diverse cultures and racial identities allows students to learn not only from each other but also about who they are in this world and their impact. “It’s an educational 360,” he said.
Student David Velazquez said “the days they have for multicultural students and their families” are particularly beneficial for raising awareness because it brings everyone together.
Through all the accomplishments UNH has made thus far, there are still hopes for improvement.
Vaughan said it is imperative to “strengthen the relationship between students and faculty to be where we ideally want to be.”

McGann said more resources and educational forums are dependent on more funding. “Once that happens,” he said, “the opportunities will be vast.”

Young Voters Make A Change

DURHAM— Americans want change for their country and they made sure they were heard at the polls.
At Oyster River High School, voting booths were steadily occupied as unprecedented numbers of voters streamed in to elect either Senators Barack Obama or John McCain for president.
According to town clerk, Lorrie Pitt, UNH students lined up to cast their ballots as early as 4:30 a.m. “That was a first,” she said.
What all voters made crystal clear, no matter what time they showed up, was the desperate need for change in this country. Their excitement during the chilly November morning was conveyed through their bright smiles and rosy cheeks.
“I am so grateful that I can finally be a part of this decision-making process which will shape the next four years of this country,” said Michael P. Lambert, 19.
Steven D. Smith, a Concord resident, said this election has evoked more passion from young voters because of the historic landmark shadowing the election.
“A colored president would be so great for this country,” he said. “The lines of diversity would touch new grounds and I think that’s awesome.”
While many new voters have sided with Barack Obama, citing liberalism and humanism as their fundamental reasoning, some believe experience is the only thing that will save America’s current questionable policies.
“We need someone with military experience; who knows about global relationships; who has fought for his country – we need John McCain,” said Melanie B. Gray, 21, a resident of Pittsburg.

Gray, a proud Republican, said it is wrong of young voters to assume McCain will follow in the tainted footsteps of President Bush simply because they are from the same party.

Lambert countered that “there is a good chance Sarah Palin could become president [if McCain died] and that’s the scariest thought of all.”
Indeed it appears that McCain’s choice of Palin as his vice presidential candidate dampened his good standing with voters.
Meredith L. Lee, 20, said the attacks on Obama as inexperienced are comical when Palin herself got her first passport in 2006.
“Obama has incredible charisma that will motivate people to change,” said Lee. “That’s what we need.”
Jessica A. Bean got straight to the point when asked why she voted for Obama: “He symbolized a real change – his policies would be better for Americans.”
The biggest trend in newly registered voters is the recognition that our country is going down a dangerous path.
The downward spiral of the economy is the latest focus for voters and their newfound interest in politics.
Some voters said it was the fear of military drafting or watching their parents struggle to make end’s meat, but regardless, they knew they had to go out and vote for any change to be made.

“One vote makes a difference, right?” said Lambert.

Saturday School for Misbehaved Students?

PORTSMOUTH — Delinquent students might have to start attending Saturday School. The suggested disciplinary measure was debated Monday night between parents, officials and students alike.
Tim Steele, a school board member, proposed the new policy in an effort to force students to learn about respect and responsibility at Portsmouth High School.
“I hope the threat of Saturday classes will make the students think twice before breaking school rules,” he said.
The sessions would begin at 8 a.m. and end at noon during the year. The program would cost taxpayers $3,000 per year in staffing.
Opposition arose during the discussion when Peggy Bacon, a parent, thought it was outrageous to inconvenience working parents.
“It’s bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday,” she said. “Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well?”
The program would not make a difference for the students and ruin weekends for families, said Bacon.
Lisa Gallagher, a high school student, echoed Bacon’s resistance. She said if the program was implemented only faculty would benefit and students could rebel against the system – possibly skipping the Saturday sessions altogether.
If that was the case, Gallagher asked, “what are they going to go, make them stay all weekend?”
Steele replied to both Bacon and Gallagher’s concerns. He said that proposal would act as an instigator to reduce the number of in-house suspensions and students would not be allowed back into school if a Saturday session was missed.
He did, however, acknowledge the policy would not be ideal for parents, but emphasized the need to reform inappropriate behavior on school grounds.
Bob Farley, a resident, agreed with Steele’s suggestion. He said that news rules were necessary for children to regain a sense of responsibility.
“Maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they’ll start wising up,” he said.
One of the major discipline problems present at the school is unlawful smoking.
In 1995, 154 students were placed under in-house suspensions for smoking. They were unable to make up class work and had to remain under the supervision of a staff member for a full day in an empty classroom.
Steele said the new program would allow disobedient students to stay up-to-date with their work while hopefully embracing the importance of following school rules.
“I just want to keep students from smoking in the high school bathrooms,” he said.
The board voted 5-3 and will hold another meeting on March 7. Steele is required to return with figures on the number of in-house school detentions this year.
In other business, Nathan Greenberg, Superintendent of Schools, delivered an administrative report focusing on the School Department’s efforts to go forward with a $21 million budget for the next school year. It would be a 5.5 percent increase from this year’s spending.
The School Board approved several school department service bills amounting to $13,568 and discussed four requests from teachers for leaves of absences while considering a retreat for administrators in June.
A financial report was presented to the School Board detailing the implications of federal budget cuts on the school lunch program.

UNH Institute on Disability Receives $600,000 for Autism Training

DURHAM — Too many children are going undiagnosed for autism and the UNH Institute on Disability (IOD) has stepped in to lend a helping hand.
In collaboration with the graduate program of Dartmouth Medical School, IOD recently received a $600,000 grant to screen and assess children suspected of having autism.
Autism, the fastest-growing developmental disability, affects one in every 150 American children. Due to the increasing rate of occurrence, children are not being properly tested for the condition, said Ann Dillon, a project director at IOD.
“There are just not enough people to test all the children suspected of having autism,” she said. “The children are the ones that suffer and the parents are put under significant stress.”
The huge boom in autism diagnoses have made it difficult for doctors to keep up. According to Michelle Jarvis, president of the Autism Society of New Hampshire, “it’s like being hit with a tidal wave – we need to play catch-up.”
The lack of in-state clinics that assist in screening autism has forced some families to go on waiting lists for as long as a year.
They wait for “diagnostic evaluations, and referral for and implementation of intense early services,” according to the 2008 Findings and Recommendations report of the New Hampshire Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Even six months is precious time lost for a child suspected of being afflicted with autism, said Jarvis. Her own son demonstrated red flags of the condition when he was younger than 18 months.
“He didn’t play with his toys, didn’t look at me,” she said. “There is no parenting handbook to get you through this.”
By the time he was 2-years-old, he could no longer repeat the few words he had learned in six months.
Early intervention (diagnosing children before the age of two) provides for greater future opportunities. The average child is not diagnosed until the age of four.
The IOD plans to use the grant to educate and hire more people to assist in screening and testing children. The aim is to alleviate the mounting cases of waiting families.
“It’s so important for the money to help children finally get the diagnosis they need to get proper treatment and to help out their parents,” said Dillon. “The challenges they face can be difficult.”
According to the Autism Society of America (ASA) Web site, some of those challenges include shifting “much of their [parents] resources of time and money towards providing treatment and interventions for their child, to the exclusion of other priorities.”
The affect on familial relationships can also be strained, especially with siblings trying to cope and understand the struggles.
“It is incredibly overwhelming when you put those challenges on top of just getting through the day,” said Jarvis.
Elizabeth Macdonald, mother to a 7-year-old boy with autism, stressed that it is important to integrate children with the condition into society and more importantly, within their home.
“Our daughter has princessism,” she said. “At the end of the day, we all have isms and my son’s is autism.”
IOD benefited her son with their determination and efforts in autism training, said Macdonald.
“Our son waited six months to see a specialist, but we were not the norm,” she said. “A lot of families have had to wait longer; we were very lucky.”
The federal grant, received from the Health Resources and Services Administration, is part of $5.6 million in funds distributed among universities and research organizations.
It’s goal to train people for screening autism would prove to be life-changing for some families.
The grant acts as a three-year expansion project with a total of 132 interdisciplinary professionals. They will strive towards enhancing their skills, knowledge and leadership, said Dillon.
The chance for the IOD to work closely with state agencies to develop a qualified work force for the community will hopefully produce maximal outcomes.
Autism screening should become mandatory routine, said Jarvis. The condition is prevalent in enough of America’s children that local doctors should meet qualifications for testing.
There is no known cause of autism, but there is intervention treatment.
According to the ASA site, “intervention may help to lessen disruptive behaviors, and education can teach self-help skills that allow for greater independence.”
Therapy, dietary changes, vitamins and minerals and occasionally medication are all possible remedies to ease the lives of children with autism.

New York Times Charged: Pro-Republican?

Recently, The New York Times has been charged with favoring the Republican Party.

During heavy political times, most readers will draw some favoritism from the publishings. Is it safe to say the criticism is justified? Most certainly - for most articles addressing the Republican Party. The same can be said for articles pertaining to the Democratic Party and those taking a neutral stance (yes; believe it or not, there are some!).

In "McCain's Uphill Battle, Winning Is an Option," Adam Nagourney warned Obama's supporters and talked admiringly of McCain's supporters. He said the Republicans "argue that he [McCain] still has a visible path to victory" despite Obama's higher poll ratings.

Here a clear attack is made against Obama and visible bias is exercised by Nagourney. His warnings hinted that people should not lose faith in McCain quite yet.

On the other hand, the Times has also written numerous articles favoring the Democratic campaign.

"Polls Show Obama Gaining Among Bush Voters" emphasized Obama's increasing popularity - even among Republicans. Jim Rutenberg and Marjorie Connelly wrote that "Mr. Obama led Mr. McCain among groups that voted for President Bush four years ago".

Similarly in a "Father’s Tough Life an Inspiration for Biden," Biden's emotional relationship with his father is showcased - aiming to tug at the heart strings of readers.

The paper manages to remain neutral at times, as well. Rather than taking sides and arousing anger in readers, many articles are published that are impartial. In "Candidates Look to the West for Undecided Voters," the article explores the paths both candidates are taking to secure votes.

The article neither favors one candidate nor belittles another.

Panic Spreads as Search for Wild Cat Continues

DURHAM — Chaos ensues as the adored rare spotted leopard allegedly escaped at Durham Zoo last night after 9 p.m.
Fluffy, the 10-year-old Romanian spotted leopard, was missing from her cage this morning. There were no clues indicating how she escaped.
“Everything about her cage seemed normal,” said Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo at a press conference. “The door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with, and the fencing was unbroken”.
The search for Fluffy has intensified. Close to the zoo are residential neighborhoods and an elementary school. Police Chief William Blair said it is imperative Fluffy be found before kids get out at 3 p.m.
“It could be a very messy night,” he said. “These cats are nearly impossible to find in the dark – they can see everything, and we are blind”.
The search for Fluffy began at 7:30 a.m. on zoo grounds when she was noticed missing during feeding. So far, there have been no signs relating to her disappearance.
At the conference, Durrell appeared distraught as he choked back tears. “We are doing everything we can to find her and bring her back,” he said. “We love that cat, and we don’t want to lose her”. Blair said that if found and Fluffy cannot be tamed with a tranquilizer gun, the police force have authorization to shoot to kill.
Local police have enlisted the help of New Hampshire State Police and the state wildlife department in the search.
In addition, five helicopters with infrared sensors will be supplied by the National Guard, said Blair.
“We’re gonna find this cat if it kills us,” said Blair.
Fluffy is an incredibly rare animal – one of only five left in existence. She was a gift from Durham’s sister city in Romania, Durhamvoska. She was scheduled to be flown to China next month to mate with a male spotted leopard.

Newswriting

I don't like blogging. I'm a fairly private person, at least when it comes to cyber space, but unfortunately, I have to do it.

I have a lot of problems when it comes to successfully writing news stories.

First, constructing leads has given me a hard time. When I interview people, I typically find that I have a lot of information to sift through. While going through every thing, I also realize that I have lots of stories within my interviews. This leads me to question what would be an enticing article for readers.

Similarly, if writing leads is stressful, constructing the body text can be disastrous. Reading the textbook points me in the right direction, but it doesn't provide me with help on my own stories. I feel that after reading "Inside Reporting" I should know how to write a good story, but I only get frustrated when I find it incredibly difficult. Sometimes, the writing will flow naturally (the kind I love best), but more often than not, I'll sometimes stare at a blank Word document for 20 minutes.

And don't even get me started on interviewing. Most of my sources are very gracious and helpful. A few, however, have been disrespectful and bland. I spend my weekends chasing after people. I feel like a pathetic ex-girlfriend waiting for them to call me when they say they will and I'd say seven times out of 10, they don't.

One thing that has improved these last few weeks has been finding stories to write about. The UNH Media Web site has been especially helpful. There are always news stories about what is going on around campus.