Tricky weather threatens students last days of classes before Thanksgiving break.
At 4:06 A.M the National Weather Service posted a flood watch for Southern ME and NH. With power outages noticed on Madubury Ave in Durham and lights flickering in dorms, class today could be jeopardized due to high winds and heavy rain.
Although all residence still have power as of 9:45 AM. The president of the university has final say as the VP for final administration and recommendation. Without power, classrooms which rely on computer technology to run their lessons may have a hard time.
The Public Service of New Hampshire has reported power outages in Bethlaham, Durham, Conway, Madison, New London, Eaton and Tamworth. At 8:25 AM due to high winds. The next update will be available at 10:25 a.m. PSNH encourages citizens to report any power outages, trees or limbs on power lines, or dimming and flickering lights. PSNH can be reached toll free at 1-800-662-7764.
During a power outage, customers with emergency situations are the first to be reconnected. PSNH works around the clock to be sure hospitals, nursing homes, police and fire stations and those customs with life support systems are restored first. Major power lines are then repaired and it is during this time when progress usually slows due to a variety of reasons for power loss in residential neighborhoods
PSNH cautions citizens to stay away from downed power lines, especially if they are near a body of water.

The French Connection

A suspected assassin related to the herion drug trade between France and the United States was shot and killed today. Pierre Jeantot, 36 of Nice, France was chased by Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle ending at the 15th Street Station.
An innocent bystander lost her life as the Sniper Jeantot fired shots at Popeye from a roof top apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Ave. A cop on the train, the conductor and trainman all lost their lives during the long chase.
Popeye, assigned to the Narcotics Division in New York City, used deadly force to bring down Jeantot. After chasing Jeantot on foot from the first shooting of Betty Badluck, 63 of the Bronx, Jeantot jumped aboard the train at 35th St. Station. Popeye chased the train in a commandeered car. After shooting Horatio C. Hornblower, 30 of White Plains Jeantot hijacked the train. Trainman Peter Howe, 27 of Queens, died of a heart attack at the controls. Jeantot then shot and killed 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, Roland Evans, 34 of Brooklyn.
It is suspected that Jeantot was assigned to kill Popeye. He had entered the city after a flight from Paris, France and is suspected to have been laying the groundwork for a major heroin shipment. There are two other accomplices tied to Jeantot that are being sought out.
An automatic rifle and several small shell casings were recovered from the rooftop of the apartment building. On the train, which collided at 15th street station an A .44 Magnum revolver was also found. Popeye was a quick thinker, the City is very lucky to have a man with such intense and vigorous dedication to bringing a halt to drug smuggling.

Family First?

I enjoy reading about people, the human interest side of the matter. Of course, the story on the new president caught my eye. "For Obama and Family, a Personal Transition” this headline drew me in. I immediately started reading and could not stop. The main focus of th story is a feature on Barack Obama and the changes he will have to make on a personal level to accommodate as the president of the United States. Its a very personal and sentimental type of story, that a reader can relate well to.
The main points of the sotry focused on President to be Obama’s change in lifestyle, along with his family, to become part of the White House. Starting and ending with his long tiem barber, the article gave a sense of home and relevance to a normal lifestyle, which I feel coincides well with the way American citizens are feeling today. Following a recap of Obama’s hair history, the reader is able to focus on where and what Obama calls home, how that will change, and what he hopes to keep the same.
A theme I have found in most texts, post Obama as president, are related to security and the increase that has taken place since Barack actually became president. The Secret Service Agents are very noteworthy and also have offered code names for not only Barack himself, but his daughters as well. What I wonder, is that these names presented ust be fake, otherwise they would not be code names. What is the truth and what is a fabrication? Do we as a literal society know or understand the difference?

A Proposed Tenure Change for Teachers

Teachers salaries have also intrigued me so when I saw the title “A School Chief Takes On Tenure, Stirring a Fight” I was immediately interested. The article is a bit dense, but does a nice job of showing both sides of a tenure option proposal created by Michelle Rhee in Washington. The main focus of the story did stay on target and was definitely something worth reading.
It was a linear story, beginning with an explanation of what was being proposed and continuing from there. The first section of the story shows Michelle Rhees idea, which is not to abolish tenure completely for teachers but to create an option. The two options are explained followed up with quote from Rhee, and a compliment from Barack Obama. I felt that by incorporating Obama into the story it kept the reader interested, because they got to hear what our new president though of the proposal. Salaries were brought up in the next section and I was shocked to read that some could be increased as high as $130,000! The Teach for America program was another main point of the story, which gave a different view to what Rhee was aiming towards.
I think that the article ended well. Various quotes from teachers who have been in their field for a while, and know what they want. Their opinions are the ones that matter, as it would be their tenures that could be changed. I was left wondering what this proposal would focus on, just one part of the country or the whole nation, and what about privately funded schools, and universities?

American Consumers

I have been curious to see how American’s would react on a consumer basis as the holidays approach, with the economy crisis. The title "Buying Binge Slams to Halt" caught my eye when I was looking through the Times. Along with the title, the photograph displaying a 60% off sign for the holidays in a clothing store was surprising. I enjoyed the second part of the lead, “American households appear to have fallen into their own defensive crouch.” It makes the story more interesting because it relates closer to home, focusing on the effects for personal finance, rather than the banks finance issues.
The format followed a circle, starting out with a focus on consumer culture and ending, leaving the reader thinking about a possible change in consumer culture. The first part gives some facts about consumers spending habits and follows up with something that shocked me. Circuit City is going out of business! I was surprised by this; they are a huge corporation, and also one that is a popular spot for holiday shoppers. I think the story was a big long and drawn out for the topic.
The main points included, the prospects of our new presidents Stimulus Package, information on polls from Andrew Kohut, of Pew Research Center, the job market change and ties to income, the economists forecast and finally a few powerful quotes from Joshua Shapiro, of MFR; “Everything has changed.”
The data presented in this story is interesting and definitely something to think about. I wonder however, what a handful of actually consumers would say about their plans for spending during the holiday season, rather than what the numbers and polls say for them. The lead used in this story is the wordplay lead.