News post # 3

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/health/policy/23fda.html?_r=1&ref=us

Article : Flavors Banned From Cigarettes to Deter Youth

Summary: The sale of flavored cigarettes has been banned by federal health officials on September 22.

Officials think that when cigarettes are flavored they appeal more to teens because they seem less dangerous. Popular flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and Camel Exotic Blends are now banned from being sold in stores. Studies show that every day 3,600 kids and teens start to smoke with 1,100 of them becoming daily smokers. Many store venders are confused whether the ban includes cigars and cigarillos as well. F.D.A agents visited shops to clear up these issues and said that all tobacco products, such as Black & Mild cigars, are forbidden as well. Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said that the ban of flavored cigarettes is covering cigars and all other flavored tobacco products too. The F.D.A. hopes that this ban will help to not attract kids to cigarettes.

Opinion: This ban is almost all good news. Although it may seem beneficial, people who previously smoked flavored cigarettes are now switching over to cigars according to Brian M. Mulholland, general manager of Georgetown Tobacco in Washington. Also, now that the products are banned, teenagers may feel rebellious and want to break the law by illegally purchasing flavored tobacco products. Many studies show that it is simple human nature to want what we can't have. Ann Brampton of Annebrampton.com said,"Wanting and pining sometimes bring us some kind of perverse pleasure." While this ban may seem like terrific news for now, later on when rebellion sets in flavored cigarettes may even be a bigger problem.

News post #2

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/mtv-awards-marred-by-performers-comments/

Article: MTV Awards Marred by Performer’s Comments

Summary: When America tuned in to watch the Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 13th, they expected plenty of drama. They didn't expect for Kanye West to humiliate Taylor Swift. When Ms. Swift went on stage to make her acceptance speech after winning Best Female Video for her video "You Belong With Me", she was shocked. After facing off against such tough competitors ( Beyonce, Single Ladies) it was a huge accomplishment for a country singer like Taylor. In the middle of her speech, Kanye West jumped on stage, took Taylor's microphone, and said the following: “I’m really happy for you,” he told her. “I’m going to let you finish. But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.” He left a stunned Taylor Swift on stage while the audience booed him. The award show quickly went to a taped comedy segment. At the end of the show, Beyonce ended up winning the night's biggest prize, Video of the Year. She invited Taylor Swift on stage to finish her rudely interrupted speech and Taylor happily obliged. Kanye West took to his personal blog to apologize to Taylor, but has yet to reach out to her personally.

Opinion: In my opinion, during the VMAs you have to expect the unexpected. This is nothing new for Kanye West as during the 2007 VMAs, he had a fit when he lost all the 5 of the awards he was nominated for and he didn't get to open the show (Britney Spears did instead). Kanye stated that he "would never come back to MTV again". Perhaps, if he stuck to his words, Taylor Swift wouldn't have been publicly humiliated. The extremely rude thing Mr. West did set blogs , Facebook, and Twitter on fire. Everyone wanted to know what had happened between the two performers if they didn't see it for themselves on TV. What was a lack of good behavior, turned into a publicity stunt for Kanye West.

Journalism Road Trip

When you walk through Pascack Valley in between classes, the only thing you focus on is not tripping down the stairs. You fail to notice all the little things in the hallways or in classrooms. Yesterday, Mrs. Slockett announced that we would be going on a "road trip" throughout the high school during our journalism class. She wanted us to be observant journalists and pay careful attention to the things we usually wouldn't. Being observant in the world of journalism is very important, and this trip showed us how to be.

There are many aspects of Pascack Valley that we,as students, don't see on a regular day to day basis. When you are walking through the main stairwell doors you don't realize that the door squeaks when opened. Normally, with all the students nosily chatting in between classes you wouldn't be able to hear much of anything, let alone a door squeaking. Next, while running to your next class you don't bother to stop and look in the trophy cases and see what our school has accomplished. Did anyone even know we have three NDA trophies, all of them 1st place? Lastly on the first level, when you are busily trying to find your friends so you can sit with them in the auditorium, you don't have time to spot the sign on the door that says, "no food or drink."

When Mrs. Slockett took us upstairs to show us the huge windows overlooking the school courtyard many students said to each other, "We have a pond?" or " Since when are there such big windows in our school?" We all stared mesmerized by the sight of something as simple as a courtyard. Some of us barely have time to wander down that hallway or others don't even know it exists. Another special treat was when we traveled into the New Science wing. Although some of us have our lockers in the newest addition, we pay no attention to the cool features located there. There is a tube going around the whole wing to show how fast sound travels and a model rollercoaster.

In conclusion, a crucial part of being a journalist is paying attention to the small details and always trying to uncover more information. Being observant is so important because if you don't know specific details, then your articles are broad and don't give your readers a true sense of what is happening. During this road trip, I learned that if you aren't paying attention for even a second you could miss the thing that ties your whole article together. Applying all the things I learned during this fun class activity, I can pay closer attention and analyze the details I would normally disregard. Like the saying goes, you should always "keep your ear to the ground" especially if you are a journalist.

News post #1

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/10/health/AP-US-MED-Swine-Flu.html?_r=1&hp

Article: Studies: 1 Dose of Swine Flu Vaccine Works

Summary: This Thursday scientists found out that only one dose of the Swine flu vaccine will be necessary instead of two, which they first expected. This means that people will have to go to the doctor's office only two times this year for the flu shots. Once for the winter flu and once for the Swine flu. U.S. health authorities urge people to get their winter flu shot now to get it out of the way so when the Swine flu vaccine arrives in Mid-October, they will be all set. Lastly, the article states that these vaccines should be taken very seriously especially considering how dangerous Swine flu is.

Opinion/Response: My opinion about this article is that it is very good news for the American public. Now instead of having to go to the doctor's office for three different times, they will only need to go twice. Also, there will be plenty of supplies of Swine flu vaccine left over. The U.S. has ordered 195 million doses of the vaccine so most people will be protected. I think it's very important that the American citizens listen to the authorities and make sure they get to the doctor's office early to get the winter flu vaccine first. Waiting around is the wrong choice for your own health and others' as well.