Keeping up with the Times: Mon, Nov. 2, 2009

As tragedy after tragedy circulates the media at the hands of texting drivers, the law has come into play. Most European countries and a minority of American states have outlawed texting behind the wheel. England is cracking down on distracted drivers with unforgiving jail sentences. Such was the case for 22-year-old Phillipa Curtis who was sentenced to 21 months in a high-security women's prison after her distracted driving resulted in the death of 24-year-old Victoria McBryde. I am definitely an advocate for cracking down on distracted drivers and I think that this is a good thing. More American states should join the fight to raise awareness about the dangers of texting behind the wheel. Maybe people will take things more seriously.

Interestingly, Abdullah Abdullah made an emotional speech, pronouncing his dropping from Afghanistan's second election round, disturbed by the political corruption and electoral fraud. What does this mean for Afghanistan? And perhaps more importantly on a national level, what does this mean for Obama's policy for the war in Afghanistan?

In Business Day, the business journalism is on a decline. It seems that way with so many journalism beats; its not surprising. Its odd that an article on the decline of business journalism would appear in The New York Times Business section. As a journalism student, these headlines are never encouraging. Thank you for the pick-me-up, New York Times.