NY Times Reading for the Week of 3/09

Monday...

It's good to hear about Obama supporting stem cell research...in this time of need for radical change its time for the nation to actually start thinking radically. Stem cell research could bring about so much in the scientific community and if supported it will only be the beginning. Props to Obama to pushing forward on these grounds.

More news about auctions for foreclosed homes. Alright let's take a look at this...the government is feeding billions of tax payer dollars to the banks that have put the nation in debt, and not to the countless families losing their homes. Why not let the banks go bankrupt, pay for their debts to society, and give a chance to the people who are being put on the streets. All this is going to do is allow billionaires from China to rush over here and buy up all they can. Not only do we import something like 70% or more from China...now they're buying up all the homes that are being stripped from our neighbors. I'm still not sold on the bailout, and I don't think these people are either.

A-rod out until May. Don't worry New York fans. Mr. July will be back in time to poke one into the bleachers while you're already up by 4 anyway. While the Yanks are busy signing his checks, we'll be cueing the duckboats.

Tuesday...

Suicide bombings in Sri Lanka are going down but don't worry, Jay Leno is doing a free show in Michigan. And chill out U.S.-stop messing with China. Most of the stuff we own comes from over there, and they're starting to buy up all the real estate over here. Let's pass the peace pipe for once.

Wednesday...

Madoff pleaded guilty for all the money he stole from his clients. This is the prime example of why our economy is going to hell in a hand basket. I say throw this guy to the dogs, and use all his stolen loot to buy back homes for all the people who are losing them. I'm sure you can find something good to do with 65 billion.

Thursday...

Some kid in Germany went Columbine and shot killed 15 people, and then himself. He also stole a car in the process. I wonder if they're gonna blame this on movies or music.



Let's hear some good news that stands out like all this, shall we?

Missing leopard proves to be the "needle in the haystack"

Durham has been locked indoors all day as search for the missing leopard has been going on. Patrons were rushed out of the zoo in fear as the cat was reportedly on the loose, and its appetite for young children left many unsettled.
The missing leopard caused the local police department to bring in the State Police, State Wildlife Department, and the National Guard to aid in the search. The zoo director was brought to tears over the disappearance of this priceless animal.
Searching for Fluffy, the 10-year-old Romanian spotted leopard seemed to be like looking for a need in a haystack.
Well, that exactly what she was.
Fluffy was found later on today buried under a pile of hay, sound asleep, with no frightened children in sight.

Leopard missing from Durham Zoo

The Durham Zoo is in a state of emergency as its Romanian spotted leopard has gone missing. The State Police, Wildlife Department, and National Guard have been dispatched to locate the leopard.
Patrons at the zoo were rushed out as Fluffy, the 10-yeat-old Romanian spotted leopard was discovered to be missing from its cage earlier today. Mixed emotions were stirring due to the sudden evacuation of the zoo.
“I want my money back, and then I’m never coming back here again,” shouts an angry patron. “This place is out of control.”
A press conference was held in the zoo’s auditorium after the evacuation. Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo, spoke on the issue at hand.
“We have no idea what time Fluffy escaped or where she went,” Durrell said. “We are searching the grounds of the zoo but so far we haven’t a clue.”
According to Durrell, Fluffy was last seen in her cage when the zoo closed last night. At the time, everything seemed normal. The animal’s cage is equipped with an alarm, which did not sound during the night.
Kitty Smith, the zoo’s chief biologist, spoke during the press conference as well. According to Smith, Fluffy is a 10-year-old Romanian spotted leopard, a species driven to the brink of extinction in Romania because of their appetite for young children.
The leopard is one of only five in existence, and the only female left. Fluffy was to be flown to China next month to mate with a male spotted leopard owned by the Chinese government.
According to smith, the animal is gentle until it is provoked or threatened.
“Fluffy is a wonderful, warm, gentle cat who has never hurt anyone,” she said. “But if cornered, or encountered on a dark night, their defense is to kill, and to kill quickly.”
Police are quickly dispatching all resources possible to find the leopard. Police Chief William Blair commented on the outline of the search.
“We will first search every inch of this zoo,” Blair said. “If possible, Fluffy will be shot with a tranquilizer gun. But if necessary, we will shoot to kill.”
If the animal is not found on zoo grounds the search will extend to the neighborhood, an area where the leopard could pose a tremendous threat to residents. The State Police and State Wildlife Department were called in to aid in the search. The National Guard will also be supplying five helicopters with infrared sensors.
“We have got to find her before 3 p.m.,” Blair said. “If we don’t, it could be a very messy night.”

School on Saturday? Students and parents are not happy.

Students in Portsmouth may be facing a longer school week due to disciplinary problems. Both students and parents alike are not supportive of the issue.

During a meeting of the Portsmouth School Board on Monday evening, board member Tim Steele made a motion to approve a new policy which would require students who have disciplinary problems during the week to attend a 4 hour school session on Saturdays.

Peggy Bacon, a parent, is no happy about the proposal.

“I work six days a week, including Saturday morning,” she said. “It’s bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday. Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well.”

The new disciplinary measure is being proposed in an effort to reduce the number of in-house suspensions. The new policy, however, would require an allocation of $3,000 per year for staffing.

“I don’t think it’s going to make any difference,” Bacon said. “Parents are going to pay for it in higher taxes as well as in ruined Saturdays.”

In-house suspensions are given automatically for issues such as students caught smoking inside or outside Portsmouth High School, and students are not allowed to make up class work for the missed day. This proposal, according to Steele, would make up for that missed class time.

“I know this isn’t good news for parents,” Steele said, “but I hope the threat of Saturday classes will make the students think twice before breaking the school rules.”

According to Steele, smoking is not the only disciplinary issue at the school, but it is the worst.

“I just want to keep students from smoking in the high school bathrooms,” Steele said. “There are other problems, but smoking is by far the biggest one.”

Students aren’t totally convinced this policy is justified in order to reduce the number of students smoking at school. Five high school students attended the meeting, and spoke against the issue. Lisa Gallagher, a senior, was one of the students who disagreed with the policy.

“I don’t like this idea,” Gallagher said. “I think it’s just being done to make life easier for the faculty, so they don’t have to deal with detentions during the week.”

The board voted 5-3, with one member abstaining, on the issue. The discussion was tabled until its next meeting on March 7. Steele was instructed to return with figures on in-school suspensions so far this year.