Keeping up with the Times: Thurs, Oct. 29, 2009

The H1N1 vaccine shortage referred to in yesterday's New York Times is further explained in Thursday's paper. Its called "a snag in U.S. planning" and "despite months of planning and preparation, a vaccine shortage is threatening to undermine public condfidence in government." But it seems like every year, the media announces a shortage in this or that vaccine and the masses scramble to pharmacies and doctor offices in a panic for a shot.

The Obama administration made their fair attempts at their first major domestic emergency from websites to weekly addresses to Sesame Street characters, all that provided up-to-date information on H1N1. Obama was advised by some of President Ford's former health officials. Yet for all of his public education, his expectations were too high and too optimistic in regard to the availability of the vaccine.

In other news, NASA's gamma-ray race legitimizes Einstein's theory, 100 were killed in a Pakistan bombing, an American Marine Staff Sergeant was killed in Afghanistan, actor Matthew Broderick employs the help of prompts to remember his play lines and the King of Pop lives on through the debut of his documentary "This Is It."

The gruesome Pakistan bombing above the Matthew Broderick story got me to thinking about the composition of articles that we talked about a few classes ago. It was a question of whether such drastic transitions from stories of tragedy and grisly imagery to stories of less substantiality could be considered condescending. Thinking about it now, I don't think it does. It seems most days that I approach the newsstand, I'm staring point blank into a bloodied, sobbing face, a limp, lifeless body or an explosion in a street far off in another continent. The headlines are not always encouraging: "Swine flu Strikes," "Another 50 Dead in Bombing," "Monsoon Ravages the Philippines." I think if the entire frontpage were done up this way, I couldn't stand reading the paper.

Keeping up with the Times: Wed, Oct. 28, 2009

"Swine flu police" now? Really? I continue to be impressed with the many different angles that reporters for The New York Times can come up with circling around the dreaded H1N1 strain. With the shortage in vaccines, people are having to be turned away. Children and those with serious medical conditions (e.g. tendency for pneumonia) are first in line for vaccination. People have been lying about their medical conditions to get the vaccine.

Hundreds of thousands of people die from the traditional strain of flu every year. I think the media has hyped the H1N1 strain to the point of driving people into a panic. While H1N1 can be lethal, people who contract the virus but take care of themselves and take it seriously once they have it, can recover fairly easily. I think what is scariest to people is the idea that medical centers are not testing for H1N1 so there is no way of knowing necessarily whether you have a common cold, the regular flu or H1N1.

All we can do is wash hands, sanitize, and use common sense. I think some of these people who are freaking out could use such advice. Do you really want to steal a vaccine from a 5-year-old. What if someone stole the vaccine meant for your own child? You might look at things differently.

Keeping up with Times: Tues, Oct. 27, 2009

Urbina continued his story on runaways in today's frontpage headline, "For Runaways on the Street, Sex Buys Survival." He connected his findings in runaway teenagers and children to sex, bartering, and prostitution. Nicole Clark, 17, for example, became a runaway at the age of 14. She was taken in by a young man. The young man eventually became a "boyfriend" who eventually threatened to kick her out if she refused to have sex with himself and his friends. Another great article by Ian Urbina.

One thing that irked me in the article was the sort of double-standard for prostitutes and their johns, something that makes runaways that survive by prostitution a muddled issue. "If a 45-year-old man had sex with a 14-year-old girl and no money changed hands, she was likely to get counseling and he was likely to get time for statutory rape... If the same man left $80 on the table after having sex with her, she would probably be locked up for prostitution and he would probably go home with a fine as a john."

I don't see these situations as so black and white as the law makes them seem. These runaways are really more victims than anything else. Prostitution is not a voluntary act as much as a survival tactic. I hope the law can reassess its persecution of these homeless teens and there are programs out there that can help reach out to them.

The Northwest Airlines pilots that were behind the controls of the dramatic off-shoot last week say they were distracted by laptops. Use of laptops are prohibited by the airline, but the pilots were capable of using them nonetheless. Its reminiscent of the ongoing texting debate with truckers and train conductors. What seems like a harmless glance down at a cellphone can lead to a disaster. How is it that people controlling these planes, semis, and trains capable of such catastrophes, still have these devices? How can officials expect these conductors to possess devices and not use them? Should legislation take some action? What is the argument for both sides?

Keeping up with the Times: Mon, Oct. 26, 2009

On the front page of today's New York Times: more bombings in Iraq, more swine flu fears. I wonder how many different spins they can take on this never-ending swine flu pandemic story?

I was really impressed by Ian Urbina's story on runaways in America, "Recession Drives Surge in Youth Runaways." I think it had that perfectly balanced blend of narrative, description, profiling, and statistics. 50 people were interviewed for the story and featured runaways like Betty Snyder and the boys really gave the story a face. It was fascinating to learn about their lifestyles, how they roam almost in packs, protect each other, and share survival tips. It was much more interesting than if the article had been little more than a rambling off of statistics and numbers.

Next to this article and one about the ongoing marijuana debate, China has released a new edict that all children must salute passing cars. The idea behind this is that such an edict will "reduce traffic accidents and teach children courtesy." I thought that the automatic patriotic ringtone change was odd. This just seems ridiculous to me. How does this prevent traffic accidents. Its like saying that someone standing in a lane of oncoming freeway traffic will magically be saved by a raised hand. "Nearly 30 schools are located along roads without sidewalks or speed bumps." Signs indicating school crossings and even speed limit signs are "few and far between." This seems like a no-brainer to me. Instead of having 5-year-olds cross dangerous streets, pool resources into building sidewalks and crossing signs. Its obvious they need it.

Ares I-X is a sleek, white rocket ship that is splayed across page A12. It is a prototype scheduled to launch Tuesday morning after a week since the Ares I received a less-than-enthusiastic review report and brings the entire program into question. The program is aimed at landing human astronauts on the moon by 2020. NASA has not been shaken by the review and will continue with the launch as planned.

The Arts section is fairly thin. Stephen King is turning to comic books? Well, considering he's written every horror story conceivable, who could be really surprised?

Keeping up with the Times: Thurs, Oct. 22, 2009

David Rohde's "Held by the Taliban" receives the full spotlight on the front page of Thursday's New York Times. It has been a special series running from Sunday through Thursday of this week. "Held by the Taliban" is a narrative by David Rohde, reporter for the Times, in which he accounts of being held captive by the Afghan Taliban for 7 months and 10 days. Rohde's story has all the punch of a thriller novel and the professional restraint of a disciplined journalist. I think this is its strength.

The Cars section particularly struck me. The article "Is Happiness Still that New Car Smell?" discusses American reassessment of car ownership and whether its really a necessity or a luxury to American life. Whether in environmental awareness, the recession or in sheer convenience, more and more Americans are turning to other alternatives such as means of public transportation, ZipCar and so forth. ZipCar has just been established here on campus. Its helpful for students like myself who don't have the means to own a car yet. I might consider renting one.

Keeping up with the Times: Wed, Oct. 21, 2009

As continued from yesterday's paper, the political unrest in Afghanistan made frontpage headlines again. The current Afghan president, Hamid Karzai has conceded for a runoff election.

But Afghanistan is still in political unrest and uncertainty at this point. Diplomats have pressed Karzai to concede to a runoff election and at the same time, questioned whether this quickly scrambled-together election will be any securer than the first. Questions regarding the fraud factor still go unanswered. When asked about the fradulent voting, Karzai was quoted as saying, "Now is not the time to discuss this." How typical.

Senator John Kerry was one politician who negotiated with Karzai to accept the results for "20 hours over 5 days" according to the article. I have to say that I don't like the photograph on the front page. Its needless to say that Karzai has cast himself as a slightly if not "official" proven sketchy character. In the photo, the Senator is leaning into the ear of Karzai. Both politicians seemingly immersed in a covert conversation. I don't think that the situation is really as suspicious as it looks, but the image is not satisfying.

A very interesting article elsewhere on the front page regarded journalists assigned to witness executions. An Associated Press reporter, Michael Graczyk covers death penalty cases in Houston, Texas. Its a creepy idea. I don't know if that's something I could ever do. I'd rather hope that I would never be able to call witnessing human deaths "routine" in my day-to-day life.

Keeping up with the Times: Tues, Oct. 20, 2009

Afganistan's President Karzai is ready to concede for a re-election according to Tuesday's New York Times. After what has been a worldwide media spectacle, Karzai has given in international pressures by the Obama administration as well as European allies and a re-election is quickly being rearranged. According to the article, almost a quarter of the votes were fraudulent. We can only wonder how this political tension may or may not affect Obama's strategies for the war in Afghanistan.

In other news, further details unfold in the "Balloon Boy" media scandal, Walter Cronkite's personal papers have been left in the hands of the university he dropped out of, and recycling is on the rise at a national level.

The French Connection Narrative

A local detective shot and killed an assassin suspected to be involved with a major international drug circle after a dramatic high-speed chase. The chase ended in 4 dead including a bystander, a police officer, a train conductor and trainman.

According to a press release from the office of Ruth L. Ess, New York City Police commissioner, "at 4:08 p.m. Sunday, New York City Police Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, assigned to the Narcotics Division, shot and killed a suspected assassin, Pierre Jeantot, 36, of Nice, France." Jeantot was suspected of working within an international drug connection between France and New York City. Detective Doyle and his partner, Buddy "Cloudy" Russo, assigned to the Narcotics Division, have been investigating the heroin smuggling operation for some time.

The incident began when Jeantot fired a shot, perched from the roof of an apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Avenue. The shots aimed for Doyle hit a pedestrian, Betty B. Badluck, 63, of the Bronx while she was walking her baby granddaughter in a stroller. Mayhem broke loose. Bystanders scrambled to the ground and to Badluck's aid.

Doyle, spotting the assassin, cautiously stalked Jeantot to the rooftop, gun-in-hand. Reaching the apartment building's roof, Doyle found the Jeantot had escaped, leaving an automatic rifle and several shell castings. He spotted the assassin fleeing the scene on foot in the street below and raced after him.

Doyle tracked Jeantot to the nearby train station. The assassin hopped a train headed for 25th avenue. Doyle in a panic, hijacked a car, swerving in and out of traffic under the traintracks in a high-speed chase behind the getaway criminal.

Meanwhile aboard the train, Jeantot is closely followed by police patrolman, 34-year-old Roland Evans of Brooklyn and 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department. In a panic, Jeantot pulls out his .44 Magnum revolver and shoots down Evans. He hijacks the train, taking the trainman Peter Howe, 27, of Queens hostage and ordering him to not stop at the scheduled stop on 25th Ave. When conductor, Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, of White Plains, approached the hijacked cart, Jeantot shoots him down. Simultaneously, Howe died of a heart attack at the controls.

Popeye Doyle had been taken off the heroin smuggling detail in a dispute with his supervisor, Captain Susan Bloomberg.

Keeping up with the Times: Mon, Oct. 19, 2009

In a sadly ironic twist of fate, a woman who has made it her life's work to provide shelter for the homeless, has become homeless herself. "I had a house for homeless people," she said. "Now I'm homeless." The article, "From Foreclosure to the Car to a Shelter Bed," follows the case of Sheri West who surrendered her house to foreclosure, lived in her car, and with all options exhausted, eventually checked into a shelter herself. Its part of an on-the-rise issue in the economic recession of unexpected foreclosures and shelters playing a big part in housing the new homeless.

I couldn't help but be drawn in by the blurb on the front page to page A12 where Falcon Heene aka "Balloon Boy" and his story that transfixed millions of viewers over hours, was drawing up new headlines, saying it was all a "hoax." I remember watching the episode of Wife Swap. Watching the three rambunctious Heene boys jump over banisters and swing from ceiling fixtures with the father hollering red-faced over the noise, I wasn't all entirely surprised by the news that one of them had allegedly crawled into the homemade aircraft unbenknownst to the parents. I'd like to hear more specifically on the details that led investigators to believe it was a hoax after they had been so assured it was a true accident. But I guess we'll have to wait for those details to unfold.

Babe Ruth Says Goodbye to Baseball

"The only real game, I think, in the world is baseball," said Babe Ruth in his poignant farewell speech at Yankee Stadium.

On April 27, 1947, the baseball giant George Herman Ruth Jr., widely-known as Babe Ruth and a legend of American baseball, spoke to an overwhelming crowd of 60,000 at Yankee Stadium.

He addressed the attending American Legion Youth baseball players, speaking to the American boys that look up to him and encouraging their dreams, "You know this baseball game of ours comes up from the youth. That means the boys."

"You've got to start from way down the bottom when your six or seven years of age. You can't wait until your fifteen or sixteen. You've got to let it grow up with you. And if your successful, and you try hard enough, you're bound to come up on top."

Keeping up with the Times: Thurs, Oct. 15, 2009

This past summer, a friend and I began weekly rendezvous at Starbucks as fellow aspiring writers and caffeine addicts. She told me about this gadget, much like an iPod or an MP3 player, but that holds hundreds upon hundreds of books. I didn't quite understand it at first, how could you read tiny font on a tiny handheld device?

In Thursday's New York Times, the article "Off the Shelf, Onto the Laptop, Libraries Turn to Digital Books" touches on the new technology. I suppose one could look at this as a revolution in the digital age from traditional printing and cumbersome library shelves toppling with books to a single computer holding all the same amount of information, in a much smaller package. I'm reminded of growing up, learning the library card catalogue system and then being annoyed at the irrelevance of it when the new digitalized catalogue system replaced it in my teenage years. Looking back, I feel old already!

With no printing, warehouse or return costs, e-books are cheaper to produce and distribute than hardbacks and paperback prices. Browsing over list prices, e-books seem to cost the same as regular paperbacks. E-books can be downloaded into Macs, PCs,Sony Readers and mobile phones. This is the modern multi-tasker's dream. You can check your emails, chat, and read the next installment of your favorite series all in one device! In reference to students, could textbooks be bought as e-books? Instead of toting a backpack bursting at the seams with 10lb books, could they all be held in one slim laptop?

I have a love of books that is borderline "book-worm." I love picking out a new book or an old book, plucking a fresh best-seller from the orderly shelves at Barnes & Noble or rummaging through piles for a dog-eared paperback at the fleamarket. I love that "new book smell," the smell that rises off the pages as you flip them over your thumb, the papery noise. Yes, I'm a proud bookworm.

I can't speak for everyone, but I know for me personally, books are a way to escape regular society. Books are a way to escape our every day realities of MP3s and emails and Facebook and less relevant things. Its a break from the tedious staring contests we have with our computer screens for hours on end writing midterm papers, studying, researching, etc.

Maybe I'm just paranoid. Maybe I've had one too many bad experiences with technology. Maybe I'm too well-acquainted with that dropping-pit-of-your-stomach feeling seeing the text "lost/corrupted file" pop up on the screen. But I can't see myself buying into this new technology anytime soon. I don't quite trust computer technology enough to hand in my printed books for digital e-books.

What if eventually all books of hard print were e-books? What if all digital systems someday crashed? All I'm saying is that it would be a sad and sorry day when Shakespeare's plays, Hemingway's books, and Whitman's poetry all became lost because of "technical difficulties."

Keeping up with the Times: Wed, Oct. 14, 2009

Wednesday's New York Times has another front-page headline on the ongoing Afghanistan war strategy debate. This article written by Peter Baker, while it did not follow the standard "inverted pyramid" form or the run-on summary lead typical of the paper, I found his writing style intriguing. The opening scene of Biden's grim assessment of Afghanistan read like a narrative which made it seem as if I were reading a novel rather than the everyday news. The following photograph on page A3 seemed to capture the essence of the article: Biden's influence over Obama. Obama's pensive facial expression expresses Obama's reconsideration of a new strategy in Afghanistan.

The "Tent City" of Homeless was rejected in Florida. In Miami, Catholic Charities had a vision to create a 90-day encampment for the homeless out of a 12-acre church lot. This vision was put to vote and denied for reasons of other failed attempts at the same vision: incidents of theft, rape and violence. "There must be a better place for the homeless" said county leaders. Yet I wonder if they have any suggestions?

Keeping up with the Times: Tues, Oct. 13, 2009

In Tuesday's New York Times on page A6, the debate continues over the Obama adminstration's strategy review of the war in Afghanistan. What made the article particularly reader-friendly to me was the compare/contrast blurbs of different politicians and officials, ranging through President Obama to Stanley A. McChrystal. In the article, Obama continues to flip-flop, Vice-President Biden supports a counter-terrorism strategy that would maintain troop levels in Afghanistan, Clinton is wary and both Gates and McChrystal support an influx of troops. Should we commit to more troops in Afghanistan or draw back? There has been no deadline set for a new strategy, but there are 5 scheduled meetings over the next two weeks for Obama and top officials to discuss Afghanistan and Pakistan. I wonder how ROTC students or instructors feel about this?

Disaster Response Plan

In the event of a man-made or natural disaster at UNH, the following guidelines should be employed.

1) Send as many reporters as possible to the scene of the disaster.

2) Remaining reporters in newsroom are to go through the emergency contact list for interviewing, quotes, further outside information, etc. One reporter keeps in constant contact with a reporter on the scene.

3) Reporters return from on the scene with reporters in the newsroom. Everyone touches base with one another and shares information.

4) Newsroom reporters check again on emergency contact list, edit, cover bases and send the story to the press.

EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST

1) Deputy Chief of Police Paul Dean, UNH Police and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator: 603-862-1427

2)Durham Fire Department: 603-868-5531
3) Storm Information Line; 603-862-1427

4)McGregor Memorial Ambulance Service:

Keeping up with the Times: Thurs, Oct. 8, 2009

In Thursday's New York Times, geneologist, Megan Smolenyak traced through the roots of First Lady Michelle Obama and solidified her connection to slavery. The article was titled "First Lady's Roots Reveal Twisty Path from Slavery."

I thought "twisty" was a strange word choice. Something about it didn't strike right with me. It implies something shady or deceitful about the past of the First Lady. I would assume that "twisty" reflects the circumstances of her great-great-great-grandparents: the unidentified white male who impregnated a young black slave. However, it could be misinterpreted as something shady about the First Lady herself. Hence, I might have used a different word choice for the headline; maybe erase a word altogether to make the title "First Lady's Roots Reveal Path from Slavery." It is concise and still portrays its message without odd implications.

Another headline on the Afghan war, another on health care reform and yet another on fears of swine flu on the front page. Essentially, nothing new.

Under international news, I was caught by a photograph of a faceless young woman cradling her bulging belly. There was a corresponding article on the Korean stigma regarding unwed mothers. A new group, the Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network, is being organized to provide care and resources for unwed Korean mothers who might otherwise face devastating poverty and social ostracization. What struck me most was the idea that women who attempt to raise their children alone and refuse abortions are considered disgraceful in Korea whereas in the United States, for the most part, women who go through with abortions are judged as disgraceful by society. In Korea, abortions are "encouraged by the government." Our government has yet to be persuaded by either side, but I think the cultural comparison is interesting.

Keeping up with the Times: Wed, Oct. 7, 2009

Unlike most other public school systems that approach decreasing student violence with prevention, Chicago has taken up a different method: statistics and probability. Former police officer, Ron Huberman, with a "passion for data analysis" has proposed the preventative method as an alternative to other more expensive options. According to his study of 500 past incidents over the years, students at highest risk of violence are black males with a tendency for behavioral flare-ups and an unstable living environment. Attacks happen within a two-hour window of either very early or very late. The controversy of such a program comes from questioning parents who ask why 10,000 out of over 400,000 students are given extra resources, especially in a poor population. Supporters of the plan admit that this cannot save everyone and this all sounds alot like hearsay to me. "Maybe this person will be shot, just maybe." Students are often caught in the crossfire of gang fights and these situations can happen to anyone. Have they given consideration to better monitoring areas with high activity versus people who "might" be shot?

I have to mention the article on the front page "City of 8 Million Was a Ghost Town at the Polls" for its photograph. The article on a very basic level discussed the overwhelming absence of voters in highly populated areas. The news itself didn't keep my interest as long as the photograph of the unoccupied clerk: slumped over, mouth slightly open in a frown, and drooping eyes: the perfect picture of boredom. It made me laugh.

In another development in the Iranian election controversy, judicial officials have shut down 3 pro-reform newspapers. I remember watching the newsfeeding over the summer on GMA, seeing people take to the streets, protests, and violence. Some of the only information media broadcasters could get as outsiders were in the Twitter updates from Iranian students. Even that began to be monitored by the government. It is yet another attempt to quell dissent in an illegitimate election.

Keeping up with the Times: Tues, Oct. 6, 2009

There is alot of negative news on the front pages of the New York Times today.

Catastrophy hit Asia again yesterday. A 4-day surge of floods from the ending monsoon season in southern India has left 240 dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. A photograph on the front page shows the rooftop of a mosque poking up from the mud-brown current.

The headlines for H1N1 never cease. The latest fear surrounding the imminent swine flu pandemic is that there may not be enough vaccine to go around. It seems every year that doctors warn us of inefficient vaccination supplies. There is also concern stirring between doctors over how to vaccinate the estimated thousands of patients who come in for shots while dealing with other illnesses. People are pressing for the vaccine while doctors wait for deliveries. Here on campus, a clinic for traditional seasonal flu vaccinations will be held on Oct. 14. Health Services has yet to disclose when or if they will receive vaccinations for swine flu. I hope that at least for the sake of out-of-state students who don't have the option of getting vaccinated at home, Health Services will eventually receive the vaccine here.

Gourmet, a high-name print magazine for food and travel is shutting down. Seeing the downfall of magazine giants is not so reassuring to an English/Journalism major such as myself.

In other news, Guinean women are the victims of rapes and beatings by soldiers, Obama snubs the Dalai Lama, and calorie postings don't seem to affect how many Happy Meals we buy.

Keeping up with the Times: Mon, Oct. 5, 2009

I'm beginning to realize my preferences as a reader of the daily news. In the New York Times, I'm drawn to human interest stories and interesting features. Political headlines and matters of business do not catch my interest although one might argue that such topics are above most all, important and relevant.

In today's New York Times, the notorious ecosystems of Galapagos Islands that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution are in danger from "mounds of reeking garbage." The human population on the islands has doubled to 30,000 in the last decade due to a surge of migrant Ecuadoreans. The government has expelled some migrants from the country to level off the population. A quote by an Ecuadorean, though clearly biased, I think encapsulates the essence of the argument well, "We are being told that a tortoise for a rich foreigner to photograph is worth more than an Ecuadorean citizen." It brings up a good moral question: what is worth more? Quality of human lives or the preservation of an ecosystem in the environment? As a reader, I enjoyed the writer's stylistic approach to this article. I think the descriptive lead of the "mounds of reeking garbage" and the "tiny gray finches" that "flutter around the dump" were effective.

In other news, Iran will allow inspectors into the country Oct. 25. That it is on their terms is not exactly relieving. Vermonters are making a stand for Pete the moose, a mascot of sorts who may be exiled from the state due to concerns about chronic waste disease. Sounds familiar to Manhattan's Pale Male protesters. In the world of fashion, Parisian models strut the runway in laughable outfits. The little kid in me is also secretly thrilled to see Winnie the Pooh make a comeback, regardless of "Pooh purists" who scoff at the sequel.

Keeping up with the Times: Thurs, Oct. 1, 2009

A photograph depicting ruin and catastrophe in Indonesia is sprawled on the front page of Thursday's New York Times. The headline on page A6 reads, "More Than 175 Die as Quakes Ravage Sumatra and Samoas." An included map helped me to understand the exact location and wave pattern of the 2 earthquakes (one recorded as 7.6 and the following recorded as 8.0 on the richter scale). The heaviest damage was reported on the east side of Upolu Island. While neither were directly related, both earthquakes erupted over active fault lines. This puts the city of Padang and its 900,000 residents at high risk. Sounds familiar to the tsunami that tore through South Asia, killing thousands. Have there been any national preparational methods or plans for emergency response formulated since that time? Have the countries taken steps to help lessen damage in future natural disasters? What can be done? If anything?

I have always heard that Switzerland is a prime model for health care. It was very interesting to learn the more specific details as to how this came to be. Swiss people are generally happy with the system. The government does not ration health care, but people do have to pay more for unnecessary testing. Unnecessary and overexcessive testing, prescriptions have been noted as a problem in American medical care. The Swiss government also provides direct cash subsidies for people if health insurance equals more than 8 percent of personal income. Sounds as if the same system here in America would make doctors grumble. As a side note, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus, has proposed legislature that would require all Americans to buy health insurance but stops short at government-run insurance. A possible solution?

Keeping up with the Times: Wed, Sept. 30, 2009

In Wednesday's New York Times, a familiar headline returns to the frontpage, stirring up old sentiments and regrets, "In New Confrontation with Iran, Path to Iraq is Again in Spotlight." Staff writer, Scott Shane, refers to Powell's powerful speech delivered in Feb. 2003 to the United Nations on Iraq's alleged nuclear activity as a "dazzling performance." "Then a long and costly war began and the country discovered that the assertions that Iraq possessed illict weapons had been completely unfounded," writes Shane.

Shane draws a connection between the past allegations against Iraq and the current allegations against Iran. He calls those who view this news with "fool-me-once skepticism" as "anti-war activists." As a citizen who been witness to the tragedy of 9/11 and the subsequent governmental actions that led to the Iraq war, I find myself questioning the certainty of this new information gathered on Iranian nuclear programs. Shane himself asks, "is the United States repeating the mistakes of 2002?" I wouldn't necessarily call myself an "anti-war activist" though I am skeptical and this is where I think Shane goes wrong. I come from a military family and have lost a family member to the Iraq war. I do not readily think myself biased towards either side, but I believe it is a responsibility of every citizen to question the actions of government. I also think its a responsibility of readers to approach new ambiguous information with skepticism. If anything, this is what I've learned from the headlines of the past 8 years or so.

Otherwise further in the A section, on page A5 "China Adds a New Feature to Phones: Patriotism." How funny and eerie would it be to pick up your phone, dial your number and hear a patriotic ringback tone? How about if an American dailed his phone and heard "Star-Spangled Banner" ringing back? Users have the option to change the ringback tone at no added cost if they choose to, but is it a daily dose of China pride or a patriotic invasion of personal space? People's Republic of China, anyone?

Mile Hill Road Car Accident

Monday evening, a white car swerved off a curve in Mile Hill Road, hit an embankment and flipped over onto its roof, trapping its 3 passengers inside. The driver managed to crawl out of the car on his own while rescuers spent 45 minuts freeing the 2 passengers trapped inside. All victims were taken to Memorial Hospital in Belmont. One was reported in stable condition; the other was airlifted to Mass. General Hospital in Boston.

At approximately 9p.m. Monday evening, Jamie Peterson, 17, was driving his white Mustang north along Mile Hill Road accompanied by 2 unidentified young female passengers, when he swerved off the road, hitting an embankment and flipping his car onto its roof.

Tom Carroll, Jr., 17, was driving his pick-up truck behind the alleged vehicle on Mile Hill Road at the time of the accident. He reported to police seeing the car speed ahead around a curve and the next time he saw the car it was on its roof, "I thought the worst. They were flying. Its hard to see kids your age in something like this. You realize when you see it what could happen, especially on this road." Caroll was the first on the scene and reported to police seeing at least 3 empty Budweiser beer cans on the ground.

Another witness to the accident, Josie M. Crandall, resident at 27 Mile Hill Road across from the fairgrounds, told police that she looked out her window at the time of the accident and saw the crash happen. She called the police.

When rescuers arrived on the scene, Peterson had managed to crawl out from under the overturned vehicle. In an operation that took 45 minutes, they used the jaws of life to free the 2 passengers remaining in the crushed car.