Bomb Threat at CT Bank

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ct/Press2008/20081016.html

I would like to interview the bank employees at the HSBC Bank on 101 Broad St. in Stamford, who were threatened by this person. Maybe the prosecutor Henry K. Kopel and defense Nora R. Dennehy to see if they think terrorist threats by a disgruntled white collar are worth all the trouble, even though I already know what their respective answers are.

crime article analysis

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-stabbing1021,0,3250720.story

This, like most local crime articles, is short and to the point. It gives us the blood we need to cleanse our daily palettes without any frilly moral or social contextualization. It is Baltimore, remember your alive while others were viciously killed on the same streets you walk, that's what this article tells us. We don't even know who this dude is! I think this is a very good example of the regular leading bleeding news. This is what happened, it's violent, feel how you like about it. 

Video Game as Learning Devices Ariticle Analysis

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/books/06games.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=using%20video%20games%20as%20bait%20to%20hook%20readers&st=cse&oref=slogin

This article pertains to the emerging phenomenon of using video games as teaching tools. It details how college professors, librarians, and high school teachers are using, or thinking about using, video games as a tool to more effectively teach reading, math, and even history.

This article is an example of hard news because it is reacting to a burgeoning educational practice, it is very pertinent and recent, and it's objective. The author, Motoko Rich, starts off with a lede about a writer who writes science fiction novels that seem to parallel video games in terms of structure and feeling. Rich then follows up with a nut graf about how this writer then made an online game that actually does parallel the story he was writing, thus finding a way to entice many teenage gamers in to reading. The body of the lengthy article is kind of in an ABAB format, inserting retorts against video games from professors of reading and even quotes from kids themselves that denote a disregard for reading no matter how infused with videogames it is. The ending doesn't particularly fizzle, it's a happy ending, in which video games do lead a child into reading Japanese graphic novels, so I guess that's a start.

VP Debates

Kalamazoo, Mich. -- The middle class or 'main street' viewers of the vice presidential debate last night were looked into the eyes, winked at, and otherwise implored to follow the particular candidate which was more in touch with the American majority. In spite of the artificial pandering to the bulk of voters, this debate was solid and revealed a clear winner. 

"This is the most important election you've ever voted on in your lifetime," said Joe Biden in his closing statement. This statement exemplifies the directness and encouragement that both candidates used to try to win over the middle class. Biden emphasized his ticket's plan to give the middle class tax relief. Palin did not answer the question she was asked in order to outline how much Biden's plan didn't help the middle class. He then defended his plan and the roles were reversed.

This was the structure of the debate, with the candidates going back and forth with accusations and defenses, wide smiles when one believed the other slipped up, and in between the bickering, they locked eyes with the camera and attempted to out-salt-of-the-earth each other. 

The debate over civil rights for homosexual couples was a high point, with Biden stressing his belief in freedom of religion and economic and civil equality. Palin retorted with the Biblical definition of marriage while emphasizing her diverse family and stating that she is, "Nothing but tolerant." After they had made their statements Gwen Ifill noticed certain similarities in what each candidate had said and she asked Governor Palin if she agreed with Senator Biden. Palin immediately responded with a yes.

Senator Biden was the victor this year, showing more knowledge of the questions and structure of the debate overall. Whereas Governor Palin spent most of the time backtracking and highlighting her outsider status.

Radar Guns Banned

Kalamazoo, Mich.-- Connecticut State Police have issued a ban on hand-held radar guns after evidence led officials to believe that the guns may cause cancer.

Two months before the ban three state policemen, after being diagnosed with cancer, filed worker's compensation suits citing radiation from the guns as the cause of their illness. As a result, 70 hand-held guns have been taken out of commission, although officers will still use radar guns mounted on their cars to catch speeders.

While a indisputable scientific link between radar guns and cancer is yet to be established, officials are confident with their decision on the ban. 

"The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue," said state police official Adam Berluti. "The whole situation is under review."