Matthew's Comm 303 Blog

Health care reform has been in the news for the past year and half and is used as a tool by politicians to win elections and gain popularity.  The Democratic Party is struggling to keep the bill popular, while the Republicans are rejected any comprises that is set before them. The Washington Post is an avid contributor to the constant debate on health care reform offering the reader both sides to the story. Anne E. Kornblut’s article shows the reader how both parties interact with each other and the positive and negative debates that fuel the lively hood of the bill. President Barack Obama stated, “It is time for us to act on health care reform,” and his willingness to compromise offers a bipartisan opportunity that benefits both parties. “Some of these disagreements we may be able to resolve. Some we may not. And no final bill will include everything everyone wants. That’s what compromise is,” said Obama about the involvement of both parties. Last Thursdays bipartisan health care summit showed the nation areas of agreements and differences but still needs the essential popularity of last years coverage to even have a chance. Democrats believe that their 10-year, $1 trillion dollar bill can be sold to the public before mid-term elections in the fall, but Republicans think otherwise. Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma stated both sides “listened to one another” at the summit, but still there is no sign of compromise. Coburn would later express his concern for the American people not being listened to and believe the bill should “start over.” He would later accuse Democrats of rushing through the bill that most Americans have already rejected. Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts election cost the Senate Democrats filibuster-proof health care bill in January, but the Democrats still continue to fight. Democrats need to popularize the health care bill to have a successful mid-term election in the fall. The bill will definitely be a major topic for campaigning politicians this fall, so its crucial from Democrats to act if they want a successful four years. It is up to the American people to interact and showcase their positive or negative outlook on health care reform.

Source: Washington Post, Sunday February 28, 2010, Section A3, Author: Anne E. Kornblut

Alcohol poising leads to the suspension of a fraternity house, which is now effecting university policies.

Three students from Alpha Beta Zeta fraternity  were admitted to a local hospital early Sunday morning due to a excessive amount of alcohol consumption.

Press Matin, Al Amalek, and Rob Smith were admitted to the local hospital at different times early Sunday morning. Martin and Smith were released Monday morning, while Amalek, a freshman, is still in critical condition.

People are becoming more concerned these days with drinking at fraternity houses due to the recent deaths at Louisiana State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alcohol related deaths are making the problem more crucial for the universities to interaction with fraternities.

Two weeks ago University President  Harvey Smithville banned alcohol from fraternity houses on campus. “Any fraternity in which the members have alcohol will be immediately suspended,” said Smithville. Jan Mize, the universities public relations department, released information about the suspension lasting for, “About a year.”

With the increased suspicion of alcohol consumption the University might increase its police patrols just to watch fraternity houses.

Interfraternity Council president Bert Addison said, “We wholeheartedly agree with president Smithville that alcohol has no place at fraternity parties.” Addison also added, “I am shocked that this incident has occurred. However I do not believe that the entire fraternity should be held responsible for the actions of a few.”

A. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022104079.html

(It got right to the point of the article, to me, it told me the who, what, when, and how.) Washington Post, Monday February 22, 2010, Metro, Front Page.

B. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/02/16/ST2010021604514.html

( It had a nice little story in the beginning, then went right into cooking in the fire place) Washington Post, Wednesday February 17, 2010, Food.

C. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022103204.html

( Although its not the first sentence of the paragraph there is a question that leads into the story.) Washington Post, Monday February 22, 2010, Local Business.

D.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022103943.html?hpid=dynamiclead

“The day before Roger Greenberg, a then-66-year-old ex-con, married Evelyn Zucker, a then-83-year-old invalid widow, he wrote a note to his bride-to-be.”

(It started out with a less interesting introduction then what the story actually is. Read onto the third paragraph, now thats an will catch someones eye). Also if that link does not work, its in the Washington Post, Monday February 22, 2010, Metro Section, Front Page.

Lawsuit:

Today a $100,000 suit was filed against Amburn’s Produce Market for causing an accident by leaving green beens on the floor.

Elli Mason broke her hip on the slippery beans April 1st of this year. Mason had to pay medical expenses while suffering from the physical and mental injuries. Amburn’s Market was charged with negligence in Circuit Court and hopes to never spill the beans again.

As an aspiring journalist, we are told daily of ethical values which we must up-hold to keep a respectable name. Most journalist do this while others tend to teeter off. When lawyers go to law school they are also given strict rules on ethical decision making, but like journalist, some tend to teeter off. The Washington Post has an article that demonstrates just that. The Justice Department made a decision to reject sanctions against lawyers who approved torture techniques. Deputy Attorney General David Margolis, who rejected the sanctions against the lawyers, John C. Yoo and Jay S. Bybee, stated that both sides of the ethical and defense teams where “facts that cuts both ways.” Jack M. Balkin, a Yale University law professor, said, “It’s not what people should do, but about how badly they have to screw up before they are subject to professional sanctions”. This article continues to agree with Balkins statement, in that the American legal department takes it time until the after affects are brought to light. Rarely do lawyers come into question on ethical decisions and ethical investigations, experts say. The article really shows the reader the ethical and non-ethical laws, and actions, that do not go into question unless discovered. This opens the door to many questions that go unanswered, and really makes the reader think about the possibilities of unethical behavior from our government. Some of Bybee and Yoo’s colleagues blame the White House for pressuring and threatening the lawyers with chargers of misconduct.  While this make for a counter argument, the laws where still passed, leaving some agents a “get out of jail free card”. Under ethics rule, lawyers are taught to be competent and independent to their clients, so when Yoo believed he was doing the right thing, then there isn’t much to discipline him on. War time is a time when naturally every one is scared and rules are bent to accomplish goals, but how far should they bend? Journalist and lawyers may seem like different jobs, but ethical decisions can play a major role in defining the characteristics and reputation of said person. Honest and ethical decisions are always the best quality, but when these rules are bent, who is really to blame?

Quotation 1:

Martin Glodsmith, general manager of the local public radio station, stated the station will host a fun-raising effort to raise $100,000 that will go toward programing. The station spent $130,000 last year, and because cost is rising, they need to raise more money.

Quotation 2:

Marilyn Wall, president of the Wall Tire Co., said the company and employees had a good year with a 20 percent order increase. In addition, they were able to recall employees, who were laid off, and create 20 new jobs.

Quotation 5:

Anita Keller, president of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the chapter keeps trying to make the point that laws against drunk driving are to lenient. Keller has said the legislators did not get the message and are being influenced by money from alcohol companies.

Quotation 6:

Laura Stewart, president of Stewart Advertising Agency, stated the business climate is quite healthy and her company increased its gross revenues by over 20 percent. Stewart said more of their business comes from local business, but some 25 percent is from out-of-town clients.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Pisi Photography.

A dark background and bland colors really extenuated the brightly colored red heart. Red is able to catch a persons eye especially when the background is dark and gloomy.  There is an idea forgotten by the words ” I love you” that the artist might be trying to express. I love you continually spirals downward while the true meaning of love, the heart, stays up-front. The black light and boring colors could also mean the continuous re-phrasing of “I love you”, which is often over used or pre-maturly said.  The spiraling downward of the paper gives the illusion of a 3-D art piece, and the closeness in contrast to the camera makes the viewer feel up close. As you look up-close to the paper, the words are faded out thus giving the viewer a better real-life feeling of being very close. Most likely this art piece was done to represent Valentines day, but there could be more than one meaning behind the picture. As he or she uses  bright focal points to gain attention to the heart, the dim backgrounds also tell a story that each person might find to be different.

As the snow begins to melt and the work day begins to restart, there still seems to be ongoing problems cause by the blizzards of last week. One of the biggest problems that hit the D.C. metro area was the derailing of the Red Line train. Around 10:15 a.m. a six-car train headed toward Dupont Circle was derailed due to safety devices that help prevent head-on collisions. The train was re-routed to a pocket track, which is a shorter track used for broken down trains. The train operator failed to stop the train at a red light and the trains safety system popped the wheels of the six-car train. For more than an hour, 345 people where stuck underground with an unfamiliar feeling of cabin fever. The passengers where transported back to the Farragut North Station which caused traffic jams around the station due to emergence response teams. The derailment could not have come at a worse time. The National Transportation Safety Board has yet another investigation totaling four Metro accidents. Over the past eight months, the Metro has been dealing with on-going investigations of five Metro workers whom where killed on the tracks. Also further investigation has been going into the June 22 crash that killed nine people. The Metro transit system was hailed as one of the safest transit systems, but since last summer, the Metro has lost its reputation for safety. This investigation of accidents has gotten the attention of Capital Hill and the Obama Administration, causing speculation over management for the Metro systems. In January, John B. Catoe, Metros General Manager, announced his resignation in April. As a Metro rider, safety plays a major factor in the decision of transportation into D.C., but with these accidents, we can only hope new safety regulations will make everyones trip a bit easier.

Source: The Washington Post, February 13, 2010, Metro B1 Continued on B5. Written by Ann Scott Tyson, Lena H Sun, and Carol Morello.

1. The United States comprises 50 states.

2. “In the year of The Lord 33”

3. The Russian King was called “Czar”

4. QE2; Titan 1, Titan II or Queen Elizabeth 2

5. Court-maritals is spelled courts-martial- the “s” is wrong.

6. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

7. Navy ROTC

8. liberal, use Moderate.

9. Pour has to do with flowering water, pore has to do with gazing intensely. Pour is the correct answer.

10. The headquarters for Delta Airlines is in Atlanta.

One of the many things that caught my eye in the news was the Toyota recall on 2.1 million cars. Toyota has been facing a lot of damage from the press and customers of owned and recalled cars. Sticky accelerator, pedals, and troubled floor-mats, which can cause the accelerator to stay in the depressed position, is making it hard for Toyota to re-gain their once five-star-rated automobiles. The problem with the pedal involves a friction device that adds resistance trying to make the pedal more stable. Parts of this device have begun to stick. Toyotas solution is a  steel reinforcement bar that will eliminate overabundant friction. Documented cases of sudden acceleration with Toyota cars reach 2,262. Of that number 815 caused crashes, 341 people where injured, and 19 deaths where reported since 1999. Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota’s U.S. sales, was first to speak to customers in a video post on the company’s Web site. Lentz claims Toyota is not “dragging its feet” after many complaints about these accelerators. He later went on NBC’s “Today” show trying to assure worried customers. Akio Toyoda, Toyotas chief executive, has made statements addressing the issue, but Lentz statements where the first apologies aimed at U.S. audiences. Toyota tarnished reputation will hopeful pass in time and make big car companies re-think safety automotive regulation. Lentz believes when the two problems of the floor-mat and accelerator pedals are fixed, “things will be under control”.

Source: The Washington Post, Page A13: Economy & Business, February 2, 2010, Author of article: Peter Whoriskey.