Left bewildered by a second cruel turn of events (Local)
In closing state budget gap, vast sums are off limits (Local)
All stories that are factual and sourced will often come down to black or white, true or false, right or wrong, I include personal opinions about where these stories fall in that spectrum and allow humor whenever possible to lighten the topics. Goto @twiggles4u for more.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Media Spotlight I
Associated Press
Bush says Senate must vote on nominees (National)
The Washington Post
Bush Pushes Senate to OK 180 Nominees (National)
These two articles written about “Bush wanting the senate to confirm his nominees” are almost identical. Both are done in straight news form and they each use only one page for the information.
The two writers even use the same quotes to highlight their stories.
The only difference in numbers I found were when Bush talked about the particulars of the time-frames that his nominees had waited. The Washington Post said,, "Three of my nominees for the Court of Appeals have waited nearly 600 days." While the Associated Press said, "About half these nominees have been waiting for more than a hundred days. More than 30 have been waiting a year or more. And nine have been waiting for more than two years."
What was really interesting in both pieces is that Bush does not bring up one nominee in particular, Steven Bradbury for assistant attorney general, but because that particular nominee is so controversial the writers both found it noteworthy to mention that Bush had intentionally not brought him up. They even both explain the details surrounding the controversy Though one article ends with a quote from Sen. Harry Reid, and the other extends the quote a bit farther they have both found the most important part of the story to be the candidate Bush did not even talk about. Interesting.
Bush says Senate must vote on nominees (National)
The Washington Post
Bush Pushes Senate to OK 180 Nominees (National)
These two articles written about “Bush wanting the senate to confirm his nominees” are almost identical. Both are done in straight news form and they each use only one page for the information.
The two writers even use the same quotes to highlight their stories.
The only difference in numbers I found were when Bush talked about the particulars of the time-frames that his nominees had waited. The Washington Post said,, "Three of my nominees for the Court of Appeals have waited nearly 600 days." While the Associated Press said, "About half these nominees have been waiting for more than a hundred days. More than 30 have been waiting a year or more. And nine have been waiting for more than two years."
What was really interesting in both pieces is that Bush does not bring up one nominee in particular, Steven Bradbury for assistant attorney general, but because that particular nominee is so controversial the writers both found it noteworthy to mention that Bush had intentionally not brought him up. They even both explain the details surrounding the controversy Though one article ends with a quote from Sen. Harry Reid, and the other extends the quote a bit farther they have both found the most important part of the story to be the candidate Bush did not even talk about. Interesting.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Media Spotlight II
McCain a 'true conservative,' Bush says (National)
I found this article particularly newsworthy that was about an interview Chris Wallace had with President George W. Bush at the Camp David presidential retreat . The reason why is because it is one of the only interviews that a reporter asked Bush some very controversial questions and actually received a answers from Bush that were related to them.
I admit the answers were still controversial and sometimes waved off by Bush as being “psychobabble“, but they were answers.
It started off as what looked like an endorsement for GOP candidate John McCain for president, but Bush later said that was not his intention.
He answered questions later in the same interview that moved away from McCain and were on subjects like the economy, the legality of waterboarding, or how long we were going to be in Iraq. The president usually changes the subject or dismisses questions on these issues by telling the reporter that the question is “ridicules” or commenting that it is “an absurd insinuation.”
This interview, Bush at least makes some effort to answer the question being asked of him.
What is amazing is that I did not really hear too many quotes come from this interview in the stories or articles that followed unless it was about his original comments on McCain.
Ironically this article , “McCain a 'true conservative,' Bush says,” is the one quote that has been mentioned in the few articles, like this one, that I did find.
I found this article particularly newsworthy that was about an interview Chris Wallace had with President George W. Bush at the Camp David presidential retreat . The reason why is because it is one of the only interviews that a reporter asked Bush some very controversial questions and actually received a answers from Bush that were related to them.
I admit the answers were still controversial and sometimes waved off by Bush as being “psychobabble“, but they were answers.
It started off as what looked like an endorsement for GOP candidate John McCain for president, but Bush later said that was not his intention.
He answered questions later in the same interview that moved away from McCain and were on subjects like the economy, the legality of waterboarding, or how long we were going to be in Iraq. The president usually changes the subject or dismisses questions on these issues by telling the reporter that the question is “ridicules” or commenting that it is “an absurd insinuation.”
This interview, Bush at least makes some effort to answer the question being asked of him.
What is amazing is that I did not really hear too many quotes come from this interview in the stories or articles that followed unless it was about his original comments on McCain.
Ironically this article , “McCain a 'true conservative,' Bush says,” is the one quote that has been mentioned in the few articles, like this one, that I did find.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
On the Bypass
Sniper unit leader tells of ordering shooting (International)
At a trial for one of his soldiers, the U.S. Army team leader says he ordered an Iraqi civilian killed 'to shut him up.'
U.S. soldier gets 10-year term in Iraqi's death (International)
The sniper, who was directed to kill the man by a superior, had faced a life sentence for the May 11 shooting.
At a trial for one of his soldiers, the U.S. Army team leader says he ordered an Iraqi civilian killed 'to shut him up.'
U.S. soldier gets 10-year term in Iraqi's death (International)
The sniper, who was directed to kill the man by a superior, had faced a life sentence for the May 11 shooting.
Pacific Post
LAPD deeply shaken by nightlong siege in Winnetka (Local)
A smoldering controversy at UCLA (Local)
The school accepts money from tobacco giant Philip Morris in its three-year study of nicotine addiction. Teenagers and monkeys are part of the research.
A smoldering controversy at UCLA (Local)
The school accepts money from tobacco giant Philip Morris in its three-year study of nicotine addiction. Teenagers and monkeys are part of the research.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Media Spotlight I
San Francisco Chronicle
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)
The Washington Post
After Months of Relative Calm, 2 Deadly Blasts Rock Baghdad (International)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports this article as straight news. The first paragraph includes the “what” and “where” immediately. They tell us that bombs tore through two popular pet markets on Friday, and killed at least 64 people.
In comparison, The Washington Post decided to report this story as a feature, so we learn most details about the story from an eye witness. The first paragraph here tells us the “when”, and the “what” is delayed until paragraph four when it was explained that, “the two bombings killed 58 people, according to Iraqi police, and wounded more than 170 others.”
The number of people killed and wounded is only one of many discrepancies found within the two stories. The Chronicle article tells us, “Since November, at least five women have been used to carry explosives that killed themselves and others.” However, the Post tells us, “there have been at least six female suicide bombers in different parts of Iraq.”
Although the sources were different, both newspapers agree that some witnesses and police said the two woman were mentally disabled, but neither had any proof that this was true.
The Chronicle was the only one that listed facts regarding the increased use of suicide vests according to the latest U.S. military statistics. They said, “In October, six were recorded. The number increased to eight in November, 10 in December and 15 in January.”
Other information seems to have been scaled down a bit. This occurs when the Chronicle mentions the Ghazel pet market is a favorite target of insurgents. They tell us, “This was the second bombing there since late November and the fifth since June 2006.” However, the Post tells us that the Ghazel market, “has been attacked at least four times in the past two years.”
The Post even makes things more confusing when it mentions that, “U.S. military officials said seven people were killed and 23 others wounded in the Ghazil market attack, while Iraqi police put the toll much higher: 45 killed and 105 wounded.”
Additionally, the Post said, “Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said he believed the bombings were a coordinated effort by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq.” The Chronicle does not make any statement about who may have been behind the attacks.
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)
The Washington Post
After Months of Relative Calm, 2 Deadly Blasts Rock Baghdad (International)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports this article as straight news. The first paragraph includes the “what” and “where” immediately. They tell us that bombs tore through two popular pet markets on Friday, and killed at least 64 people.
In comparison, The Washington Post decided to report this story as a feature, so we learn most details about the story from an eye witness. The first paragraph here tells us the “when”, and the “what” is delayed until paragraph four when it was explained that, “the two bombings killed 58 people, according to Iraqi police, and wounded more than 170 others.”
The number of people killed and wounded is only one of many discrepancies found within the two stories. The Chronicle article tells us, “Since November, at least five women have been used to carry explosives that killed themselves and others.” However, the Post tells us, “there have been at least six female suicide bombers in different parts of Iraq.”
Although the sources were different, both newspapers agree that some witnesses and police said the two woman were mentally disabled, but neither had any proof that this was true.
The Chronicle was the only one that listed facts regarding the increased use of suicide vests according to the latest U.S. military statistics. They said, “In October, six were recorded. The number increased to eight in November, 10 in December and 15 in January.”
Other information seems to have been scaled down a bit. This occurs when the Chronicle mentions the Ghazel pet market is a favorite target of insurgents. They tell us, “This was the second bombing there since late November and the fifth since June 2006.” However, the Post tells us that the Ghazel market, “has been attacked at least four times in the past two years.”
The Post even makes things more confusing when it mentions that, “U.S. military officials said seven people were killed and 23 others wounded in the Ghazil market attack, while Iraqi police put the toll much higher: 45 killed and 105 wounded.”
Additionally, the Post said, “Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said he believed the bombings were a coordinated effort by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq.” The Chronicle does not make any statement about who may have been behind the attacks.
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