Gabe

Early Saturday morning the red river began to recede in Fargo and Moorhead. It rose to 40.82 feet, the highest level ever recorded there. Residents and volunteers prepared for a level as high as 43 feet. The National Weather Service said the river could start to rise again. But an article update was posted as wrote the previous sentence: The National Weather Service said the river appears to be cresting, but will likely stay within a foot of its current level for the next week.
More than 35 miles of temporary dikes have been constructed. Residents will be battling to leaks and backed up sewers for some time.
Many small towns along the river have been lost.
A pilotless drone aircraft has aided efforts to predict what the river will do.
In Grand Forks, the location from where I am writing this blog, current predictions estimate a crest at 51 feet, which is nine feet lower than new dikes built following the 1997 flood.
http://www.startribune.com/local/42048957.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/29webflood.html?_r=1&hp

Posted by knap0164 at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

China lifted its block of You Tube Saturday. The ban enacted Monday was an effort to block “fake” videos such as a one that surfaced showing Chinese police beating handcuffed Tibetinites. During the week, people in China that wanted to view the site had to use special software that gained access through a proxy server.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/world/asia/28briefs-brfTUBE.html?ref=world
http://mashable.com/2009/03/25/china-youtube/

Posted by knap0164 at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This obituary does not reveal many sources. For what reason? I am speculating, but the author may have known the subject personally. The subject also lead a public and well documented life, and may have had a biography. Other sources: public record, news articles and books, Karen Sinsheimer, curator of photography at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
The lead is in the standard format learned in class. Does it work? Yes and no. It did mentioned major life achievements that may have been most important. But, it wasn’t until later in the article where I realized I knew who the subject was and had seen many of his works.

The obit does not just list life achievements. It is a tribute. It tells life through a story, and ends with a nice quote.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/arts/23jones.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=obituary&st=cse

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A man has been accused of fathering 8 children with his own daughter in Columbia. He claims innocence of incest -- that she is his stepdaughter. The man’s wife had died when the girl was 5 years old. The girl continued to live with him after that. She had the first of 14 pregnancies at age 13. She is now 35 and has been taken to a welfare institute for shelter and counseling. The man is being held in jail. Crowds gathered at the courthouse threatening the man’s life.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-lt-colombia-incest,0,1032977.story

Posted by knap0164 at 5:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thieves in Tennessee heisted a semi-trailer full of whiskey. They first stole the tractor from a nearby lot then hooked it to the trailer and made off with more than 1,200 cases Jack Daniels plus other assorted whiskey. Police have not found the truck or its content but suspect it may have headed toward Miami and could be linked to a smuggling ring.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/dpg_Thieves_Swipe_Truckload_of_Jack_Daniels_SAB_032820092341461

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Mt. Redoubt, a volcano about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska erupted Sunday night; and then four more times early Monday morning. Scientists observing the volcano predicted its eruption was likely in the coming weeks. They had been observing numerous earth quakes each hour. The volcano has been dormant for past twenty years, but in the past, it has a history of having many eruptions over the course of many months. Falling ash from the volcano inflicts respiratory problems, eye irritation and other potentially serious health problems to nearby inhabitants. The particulate matter is jagged and abrasive, and can also cause machines to wear.
Source
Source

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China is "a little bit worried" about the safety of all the American debt it holds, Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday.
China has about US$1-trillion invested in America.
They have not seen a economic recession as bad as Europe or the United States.
But they are experiencing a decreased demand for exports, and job demand has fallen for the first time in 30 years.
source

President Obama assured China its U.S. investments were safe.
China also expressed concern that massive U.S. deficit spending and near-zero interest rates would erode the value of China's U.S. bond holdings.
source

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An annual study of media suggests that even though many news papers and local television news stations are in financial trouble, public interest is not decreasing.
The New York Times, and other large papers, have seen an increase in readership when online viewing is taken into account.
Cable news has also experienced an increase in viewership.
"This is not an industry that is dying. This is an industry that is in disorientation,” Tom Rosenstiel, project director for Excellence in Journalism said.
News papers need to find a way to make online news profitable, he said.
source 1

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Despite a significant decline in home values this year, most local homeowners will only see a minimal decrease of their home’s value on their property tax assessment.
Since September of 2007, the median price of metropolitan area homes has fallen by 33 percent.
But it may take a few years for property taxes to be adjusted.
County property assessors say taxable values are a year behind schedule. This year’s estimate is for 2010.
Local governments are expecting record numbers of grievances against taxable home values this year.
Location is the biggest influence on home value.
source

Posted by knap0164 at 2:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Rising Dollar Lifts the U.S. but Adds to the Crisis Abroad
As the value of the dollar rises more investors are abandoning foreign ventures. Investments are still lower than they were in past years, but are not as severe as in other parts of the world. The effects of this trend is causing other countries to see a much lower rate of investment severely crippling the economy of some developing nations.

source1

Posted by knap0164 at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an article in the star tribune titled "Weekend Options" the author offers a series of entertainment options for the weekend. Each is formatted like a brief, and they tend to follow a certain order of information. They each start with what will be happening and then give a description. Then the times of the event are given; then contact information last.

I also found some articles on the new movie—watchmen—that is set to debut Friday. One article focused on explaining the major characters in the film; allowing each a one paragraph description. Another article profiled an actor in the movie. They started the article by describing the interview site. They gave a quote from the actor and then gave some background information on his career. The article then assumed a format that was similar to a Q & A, but only told the responses given by the actor. The article then went into some depth on the plot and characters; a quote from the move producer was given during this section. Then it went back to the Q & A to end with a quote.

Posted by knap0164 at 6:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

High speed rail from Chicago to St. Paul could become reality with help from federal dollars. Planners are scrambling to put together a proposal. The idea was being considered for a future project many years out, but the possibility of securing a portion of the $8 million allocated for transportation from the economic stimulus package has prompted design. The project would cost about $1.2 billion, and could be entirely funded if the project is accepted by congress. Minneapolis wants the line extended to reach them, as does Rochester. Planners are skeptical of the cost benefit relationship of this idea. They want evidence. The train would travel at 110 miles-per-hour. The trip would take 5 1/2 hours
source

Posted by knap0164 at 5:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Radio news commentator Paul Harvey died Saturday at age 90. His familiar voice has been heard across the nation since 1951 when he began working for ABC news. He is known for his staccato style of telling news, and has been a major influence and pioneer in broadcast news and commentary. Listen to an excerpt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYEFkYtANVg

source1 source2

Posted by knap0164 at 5:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The StarTribune reported that President Obama lifted a ban on government funding of embryonic stem cell research on Monday. Scientists are now allowed to apply for federal grants that were outlawed in 2001.
"We've got eight years of science to make up for," Dr. Curt Civin said.
The process of harvesting these types of stem cells kills the embryo.
Many will be gathered from fertility clinics that destroy left over embryos.
Embryos can be duplicated, apparently. Researchers were limited to use of a few stem cell lines previously.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/40929702.html?elr=KArksUUUU

the portion of this entry dedicated to an article in the times has vanished.

Posted by knap0164 at 5:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On November 10, 2008 Governor Tim Pawlenty held a press conference to unveil the state’s “green job investment initiative.” I listened to the press conference, read the press release and found an article that was released the same day. The article basically reiterated what was said. It was similar to what we did in the speeches lab Friday, but it did not follow the point and support method. It was set up like a powerpoint presentation in article form that summarized key points of the release.
The star tribune put out an article the next day. It started by explaining that JOBZ, pronounced job-zee by Gov. Pawlenty, stood for Job Opportunity Building Zones. I have seen this acronym many times and never had any idea what it was or that it even was an acronym. The article then goes into the inverted pyramid format. It will cost $3.65 million next year and $6.6 million the following year and so on, for up to twelve years. It never mentioned that past incentive plans have created jobs or that some business that manufacture green products would be exempt from paying income and other taxes.

Posted by knap0164 at 5:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The associated press reported that survivors from the crash reported that the sound of the engines diminished as the jet literally fell out of the sky at an “odd angle” and crashed in a muddy field just short of the runway Thursday. There were 135 passengers and crew onboard. The plane broke into three pieces, but did not burn.

The star tribune reported that nine people were killed, and at least 100 were injured in the crash with dozens remaining hospitalized and one in critical condition. Investigators are looking into wake turbulence as possible cause of the crash. Wake turbulence is made behind a jet as it flies. Another jet had landed two minutes earlier.

Posted by knap0164 at 4:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The star tribune reported that M-DOT snow plow drivers have a name for the act of blocking the end of your recently shoveled driveway with a pile of hardened snow. In fact, they do it to each other all the time too. But they have the right equipment and don’t mind getting “stuffed.”

Posted by knap0164 at 4:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Winston-Salem Journal reported Sunday that homeowners could be eligible for a 30 percent tax credit up to $1,500 when they install energy efficient windows, insulation or heating systems under the new stimulus package. And if you’re looking to install solar panels or a geothermal heat pump, incentives can be as high as 65 percent with no clear cap reported. The offer will be available through 2016.
The Sacramento Bee gives much the same information but uses the story of a person who is fixing up their house to tell the story

Posted by knap0164 at 3:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)