NY Times reader log Friday

I read one interesting article on Jewish Sukkah being put up in parks and the controversy of it being a violation of state and religion.  It's an interesting perspective on a holiday, religion v state controversy that you usually see before christmas time with all of the christmas trees being out.  It was a very interesting article and was well written and kind of had a different spin to it than the normal article I'm used to reading in the Times.

The other article I looked over was also a pretty cool article about a new deal between dream works and Netflix and looked at the business advantages and challenges of the deal.  I liked the writing and I felt as though it got me involved and interested in what the article was about, plus it covered a topic I'm already interested in.

Delayed Lede

It was a gorgeous July day, a perfect one for the beach.

All the families bring their kids to the beach to enjoy such a fantastic day, little did they know what

Around 2 P.M. emergency crews were called to Wallis Sands State Beach from all over the seacoast area to deal with a disturbance.

Over 100 people

New York Times reader's log Tuesday

Today I read two articles that were very different from what I'm used to usually reading in the times.  Usually Times articles have short sentences, are rushed to get the information out, and have short sentences.  However, both of these articles have long drawn out paragraphs, with long sentences in them.  It shows me that plenty of articles about things that are currently going on, and not just events aren't like the traditional rushed articles.

The first article was one about a Bronx Housing Complex being built and all the benefits it is bringing to the community together.  I really liked the story, it was something different that I'm not used to seeing in the New York Times and was kind of a breath of fresh air.  Although, I did feel as though it somewhat drew on after a while and I got a little tired with the extensive paragraphs.

The other one I found even more interesting which was about Sentencing Shifts causing fewer cases to go to trial.  This one didn't have a delayed lede and got to the point quickly, but it got much deeper into the story than I would have expected.  I realized that a lot of the time articles can go much deeper into stories than just scratching the surface and getting the word out as I'd thought.

New York Times reader's log Wednesday

I looked at some of the more international parts of New York Times today, and I was interested in that it wasn't a totally pro American stance.  Nor was the story completely about how some countries are related to us, the story about the British soccer team offered great insight into a situation that I was completely unaware.  You think of Britain as having absolutely no problems with soccer, but it's an interesting perspective seeing them lacking in unity in soccer.  You remember that they have a lot of interior clashes amongst the factions in the country.

Another international article that I found interesting is the one about China and India making inroads in Biotech Drugs.  The most interesting part of this article is it gives the perspective that America receives a somewhat critical look from the article.  It's more about the achievements of the countries in spite of America attempting to hold them down.  I also like the pictures in this article I think that they were very important in this, the image of all the people laying in the beds gives me a great impression of the effects of this drugs.  A great article.

New York Times reader's log

I felt like this paper had a lot of interesting things, especially the protesters being shot in Yemen.  I thought that the retiree article went on for a while and wasn't really my kind of article, but I could see why some people would find it interesting.

The whittemore Center gets new Equipment

The Whittemore Center gets new Equipment

            Durham- If you’ve been in the gym on the bottom floor of the Whitt in the last two weeks, you’ve probably noticed that the old equipment used there for the last several years has been replaced by shiny new machines.

            All of the non-cardio machines on the left side of the gym opposite of the free weights has been replaced.  Twenty six machines including 3 abdominal machines, a bicep machine, a tricep pushdown, several chest push machines, and numerous leg machines including a leg press have been included, and several new ones have been added.

            David Leach, the assistant facilities director of the Whittemore center, whose worked there since 1990 offered further insight to the new machinery.

            “Almost all of the machines being replaced were from either 1995 or 2000” Says Leach, “The equipment has a high level of use and, after a while, it costs more to repair than to replace, especially when you factor in safety concerns.” as he passes a payment plan to me, “We’ve been saving up for a while for these machines.  This move has been for the students, an incentive to continue working out.”

            “I like the new equipment” Says Saurabh Holia, an engineer major whose freshman at UNH from Boston. “The old ones didn’t have much grip.  It felt like you weren’t getting the workout you want.”

            A fan of the abdominal and shoulder machines Holia believes that working out is essential for all students, “It gives people a reason to get out of their rooms and do something, instead of being lazy and not doing anything.”

            And he’s noticed a difference claiming to have seen many more people.  Which has become a problem according to Holia, “It’s overly crowded now, they should add a new room or at least spread the machines out throughout the gym.”

            But is new equipment a prudent investment for the University of New Hampshire? Holia believes, “It’s a good investment of money and is needed, but it could have been used on other things as well.”

            Not everyone shares this tempered thought on the new equipment, “It could have been used for something else, adding more space, or even another gym for freshmen near Williamson and Christianson.” Says Carly Keafer an exercise science senior who works at the desk in the Whitt, “The gym’s too crowded as is and it needs to be spaced out.”

            When asked about the crowding in the gym Leach agrees, “That’s up to the students to have their student senate to talk to the administration.” He then showed me Student Senate Resolution 32 from last year which states, “Whereas, overcrowding hinders students’ abilities to lead a healthy lifestyle…this has been an ongoing issue and has not been addressed yet, therefore be it resolved to strongly urge the administration to provide adequate recreational facilities to meet the demands of the student body.”

            If you think that the over-crowding you should know that the first week of this semester saw 19,225 students attend the gym according to the Hamel Student Recreation Center Usage list, the largest amount of students to ever attend the Hamel center.

            Clayton Ryer a geography senior from Newmarket who also works at desk in the gym offered some information about why the machines were upgraded, “The guy that runs this place likes to consistently upgrade the gym, and recently the machines have started to show some wear and tear so I think they felt like it was time.”

            “The machines receive more overall use, plus the free weights don’t need as much maintenance.” Ryer went on to explain.  He also showed me three new machines that have been considered favorites amongst students this year.  The leg extender, which works out glutes.  Standing calf, used for legs.  And a Bravo adjustable machine capable of a plethora of workouts.

            As for whether refitting the gym, Ryer seemed skeptical of the move nonchalantly stating “I guess when you get the chance to upgrade you take it.”  The situation may be just as Saurabh Holia states, “Take care of one thing at a time, you might as well fix the gym now.”

           

Hurricane Irene causes trouble for student’s homes near and far from Durham

Hurricane Irene causes trouble for student’s homes near and far from Durham

Plenty of students were forced to handle Hurricane Irene’s effects on their homes

By Drew Obston

                Durham- As citizens of Durham and students moved into their dorm’s many of their homes near and far dealt with the damage that Hurricane Irene inflicted.

                In areas as close as Lee and as far as northern Vermont the effects of Hurricane Irene caused students to take a step back from preparing for the start of the year and deal with their homes.  UNH’s campus experienced minimal damage consisting of slight flooding in select locations.

                However, in neighboring Lee, while little damage was sustained, large areas of houses experienced loss of power.

                “There wasn’t really any property damage, we just lost power right off the bat,” said Mike Quinlan, a Sophomore at UNH from Massachusetts whose lived in Lee since the beginning of the summer.

                “For three days we didn’t have running water or electricity,” Quinlan said.  He wasn’t alone “Some had generators and were living better than we were, but for many they were out of power as long as we were,” Referring to his neighbors “They were not too happy with the electric company”

                Despite losing power Quinlan does maintain the belief shared by many students that the storm was overhyped. “We packed so much stuff away that would have been fine,”

                But, when looking at the storm’s effect on other students’ homes the story was much different.

                “My town had never seen anything like this,” said Justin Veysey a Sophomore from Chester, Vermont. Veysey describes the scene shown above, “We had lots of paved roads destroyed, basements flooded, even a historical bridge collapsed,”

                Veysey was at UNH when the storm hit, but had to return home to help his family and friends deal with the damage. “My friends and I thought it was kind of cool, but a lot of older freaked out,”

                While Veysey corroborated Quinlan’s statement that the thought the storm was over hyped in Durham, the story was different in his home town. “Some people were prepared collecting food and gas and clearing tree, and others evacuated.  But for the most part we were unprepared.”  In contrast to Lee most homes were out of power for a week and a half in Veysey’s home town.

Jellyfish story

RYE, N.H. – A 100 swimmers were stung by an enormous jellyfish today, causing Wallis Sands State beach to be temporarily closed and reopened today.  The large jellyfish estimated to weigh almost 50 pounds was already dead and floating in the ocean.

Five children were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital while others were treated in the bathhouse however there were no reported serious injuries.

Park manager Ken Loughlin who’s worked there for 30 years described the jellyfish, “It was as big as a turkey platter.” Loughlin continues, “I’ve never seen such a thing.”

 Robert Royer, an aquarist at Seacost Science Center, believes it was probably a lion’s mane jellyfish, “That’s the largest we have around here.  I’ve never heard of them getting 50 pounds, though.” Lion’s man jellyfish are common in New England and have barbed tentacles that can stretch up to 100 feet long and continue to sting after it dies.

“They were terrified.” Said Alysia Bennett of Hampstead, New Hampshire of her three children who came bolting out of the water crying.  They were not the only ones as lifeguards reported 50 children running for shore, screaming at the top of their lungs.

After which, Lifeguards removed the jellyfish using a pitchfork.  Emergency crews from Stratham, Portsmouth, Greenland, New Hampton, Newington, and Rye also reported to the scene at approximately 2 pm.  The temperature was a light 72 degrees with a water temperature of 63.