News Log Number Eight

In Nevada around four o'clock in the morning two college students were awoken from their sleep. What woke them is incredible. Kristen Palmer and Trent Wood were awoken by a drunk driver who rammed his car into the house. Eric Cross was the drunk driver who drove a stolen car into the home of Kristen Palmer and Trent Wood. Cross told authorities that he thought the house he ran into was his ex girlfriends house. His intentions were to go to his ex girlfriends house and drive into her house because she is dating someone new. Kristen Palmer and Trent Wood were pinned to their bed by the car for almost an hour. Emergency workers had to use chainsaws to help get their bodies free. Eric Cross, the person who drove the car into the house is accused of drunken driving, battery with a deadly weapon, driving without a license, possession of a stolen vehicle, and careless driving.

My response:

I think not only is it wrong that someone was driving while they had been drinking, but the fact that Eric Cross was going to target his ex-girlfriend is wrong as well. He said that he was upset because she has a new boyfriend, but that isn't a reason to go and take a car into her home. Not only did he not hit his ex-girlfriends house, but he hit a completely different persons house. He could have caused the people in the house serious injury. He also destroyed their home causing them to loose many belongings.

News Log Number Seven

This article is about a Roman Catholic priest in Pennsylvania that has been charged with more than a dozen counts of child pornography. Father Robert M. Timchak was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Scranton in 1992. Not only is he being charged with child pornography but he is also being charged with seventeen counts of sexual abuse of children, one count of criminal use of communications facility, and finally with one count of tampering with of fabricating evidence. This case began in December of 2008 with an anonymous letter that was sent to the Diocese of Scranton. On Father Timchak's computer there were various images of boys displayed in sexually explicit acts and positions. As well, some of the pictures were of boys in various states of undress. The boys in the pictures are believed to be under the age of eighteen. Since April Father Timchak has been on a leave of absence.

My Response:

I think in general older men or women who have a stash of pornography that involves young children is disgusting. But in other cases it has been taking very seriously, just the way it should be. It's not only disturbing that it is an older man that has pictures of young underage boys, but the fact that it is a Priest is what disturbs me. This is a person who goes by what the Lord says to him and someone that people go to for guidance. I think that this is not only a problem for this priest but it might make the community second guess the rest of the priest and the Diocese. I do think that it's a good thing the priest is on leave because it gives some of the family a little closure that their child won't have to be around this person.

News Log Number Six

In South Florida a fifteen year old named Michael Brewer is in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Michael Brewer was set on fire by three of his classmates. Michael reportedly owned one of his classmates Matthew Bent forty dollars for a video game, and when Michael didn't pay for the game Matthew went to the house and tried to steal Michael's fathers bike. When Michael called the police Matthew fled from the Brewer residences and sought out a plan for revenge. Later on Denver Jarvis was accused of pouring rubbing alcohol on Michael while Jesus Mendez was accused of igniting and flicking the lighter. Michael Brewer's body is 65% covered in burns. His burns are everywhere from his torso, stomach, arm, and as well as his legs. After Michael was set on fire he ran into a nearby pool to stop the flames, when that failed the flames had to then be put out by a fire extinguisher. For people who would like to help Michael Brewer and his family CBS's sister channel Neighbors 4 Neighbors has a fund that will go to the Brewers.

My Response:

I think that what these kids did to Michael is horrible. They not only scarred him outside, but they have also scarred him mentally. These kids who did this should really be punished, even though they are considered minors. They conflicted pain onto a person and should be punished for it. The family is suffering, and don't know what the outcome of this incident will be. Even if this was the result of a child not paying for a game, the kids involved defiantly could have went about this situation a completely different way. I also think that people need to realize that kids are becoming more and more violent and it's affecting people way too much.

Website Response

POYNTER.ORG

While I was on pointer.org I found a few things that were helpful. On the website I found Poynter is an Institution that targets journalist. While looking at the website I saw that the website not only offers seminars to students, but it also offers online seminars. The Poynter Institution also has a facebook, twitter, and a blog sight so people could see what new things the Institution is up to. Poynter Institution is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. What I found interesting was that the website has a resource center. The resource center has different links that could help journalists start writing about a topic. The topics range from crime coverage, interviewing people to media ethics. I think that this website could be for high school students, even though it is geared toward older students. The website has a lot of good links that can help people.

News Log Number Five

Are cover girl models on magazine too thin? This article is about a new advertisement for Ralph Lauren that just came out a few days ago. The picture shows model Filippa Hamilton wearing destroyed jeans with patched on them and a plaid short sleeve shirt with ruffles down the front. The problem with this advertisement is that Hamilton's waist is a lot smaller than her head. A website called Photoshop Disasters stated that retouching models does not make them look real, and it gives them a very fake look. Ralph Lauren's spokesperson stated that Photoshop Disasters stole his image and they demanded them to take it off of their website. While Photoshop Disasters did not take off the picture, they issued a statement saying that Ralph Lauren's company can not handle criticism and they are creating a fake image to young women. They went on to say that the fake image is not showing people to embrace themselves, but showing them that they need to have work done to look beautiful.

My Response:

I think that the models shouldn't be airbrushed and touched up because it shows that it is not their real body being shown on the cover of the magazine. I also understand why photos are touched up, because there is a certain image that people " have to" look like, so magazine want to reach that standard. Photoshop Disasters stated that the images are effecting young women, and I understand how it effects young women. But women should also understand that no one really looks that way, and they should just embrace the way they are, with out the re touching.

News Log Number Four

This article is a followup article about the earthquake in Indonesia. After searching for forty hours, and finding at least 715 dead bodies, rescue workers had a reason to celebrate. Under all of the rubble rescue workers found Ratna Virgo, a nineteen year old women who was under the rubble for more forty hours. Amazingly Virgo was still conscious when she was found. What amazed people was that it didn't look as if she was trapped at all. Her clothes were clean, and the only injury she suffered was a broken leg. Finding that someone was still trapped under the rubble after forty hours gave rescue workers hope that they would find more people, and they did just that. They found at least 100 more people after the rescue of Ratna Virgo. All in all it was confirmed that 715 people were pronounced dead, and around 2,400 people were hospitalized.

I think that it is good people did not give up searching for all the people that were stuck under the rubble. It shows that people are still showing support and they are not giving up.