New York Times: The Far Right Gets Its Man of the House by Carl Hulse

Republicans elected Mike Johnson who is virtually unknown to most Americans, as the new speaker.

Republicans view his virtually unknown status outside his Louisiana district as a plus since it allows him to make his public debut on his own terms. Compared to the former speaker, Kevin McCarthy, who was known for his partisan attacks, Mr. Johnson is basically more conservative. McCarthy understood that in order to keep the government sustainable and running, he had to make compromises with Democrats. Twice this year, he received Democratic support to pass important legislation, which finally set off the coup that resulted in his fall.

Positively, Mr. Johnson, the new speaker, will undoubtedly experience a honeymoon phase with conservatives who deeply distrusted Mr. McCarthy and were afraid he would collaborate with Democrats, as he eventually did. In the final weeks before the government’s funds run out, they will probably give him much freedom in sorting out the spending mess.

I think it is good when articles inform viewers about what is going on in politics. Whether they are Democrats or Republicans it is good to know who is in office and where plans.

The Wall Street Journal: Russia Goes on the Offensive in Ukraine—and Suffers Heavy Losses by Ian Lovett

Moscow’s attack on Avdiivka demonstrates how difficult it is for any side to advance the front lines.

Ukraine’s monthlong southern counteroffensive is making slow progress and Russia launched a large-scale attack on Avdiivka and it didn’t go well. Moscow is trying to retake the offensive. Since the start of the invasion in February last year, Russian forces have Avdiivka closed in on three sides but they have yet to take over fully because of the fortifications Ukrainians have built up. The advance on Avdiivka is the first time Russia has sent large armored columns since February when Ukraine wiped out a Russian column going to the village of Vuhledar. Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, claimed last week that Russia was now on the offensive and that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had ended.

From reading this article I think that the war between Ukraine and Russia has made little progress in the last year. It appears that neither side appears to be able to shift the front line very much. Which has not shifted in the last year. And it is unlikely much progress will be made going forward with Russia making any significant breakthrough.

Which is better Pride and Prejudice book or movie?

Dr. Peterson’s Capstone in English: Transcendentalism/Romanticism class had her students read Pride and Prejudice and then watch the movie. The movie was open for anyone to go and watch.

Pride and Prejudice was originally a book written by Jane Austen in 1813. It is about the love story between the two main characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr.Darcy who both have to overcome their biases to end up together. Throughout the book, the characters learn to unlearn their pride and prejudice so that they can come to accept the other’s goodness of character. Later the book was turned into a movie in 2005 directed by Joe Wright.

After the movie, I asked Julianna a student in the class what she thought of the movie and this is what she said, “I didn’t really like the movie, it felt very rushed, and if you didn’t read the book you didn’t really know what was going on.” Since I only watched the movie I agreed with her because I was a little lost watching the movie. ” Then I asked her which is liked better the book or the movie, and she said, “One hundred percent the book because it actually provides contexts to the reader about what is going on.”

But then I asked Sophiaa student in the class what she thought of the movie she said “I loved it but that might only be because I am obsessed with the actor at plays Mr. Darcy he is really hot.” Then I asked her which is liked better the book or the movie, and she said “I really like both because I love Mr.Darcy in the movie and the book.”

Based on the people I have interviewed on whether the book or movie is better. I have come to the conclusion it is based on opinion because when asked I got to different answer. It is up to the reader or viewer to decide which is better.

New York Times: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Worsens as Israel Prepares a Possible Invasion by Edward Wong and Hiba Yazbek.

This article is about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza after the Hamas assault on Gaza. And how Gazan’s is lefts without power, water, and medical care after the airstrikes.

Everything that is happening in Israel right now is very sad. Israeli warplanes bombed 88 educational facilities in Gaza and 18 of those were U.N. schools and two of U.N. schools were being used a shelters for civilians. There is been so much blood shed in this war between Israeli and Palestine and so many lives lost. It does not look it this war will end soon.

The Changes of Journalism

Thomas Ritchie is from Waterloo, he went to Mount Marty College in South Dakota and graduated with a degree in Mass Communication. He now works for Great West Casualty Company it is an insurance trucking company. His role is a digital media strategist. He is also a creative project leader, website designer, and storyteller who tells people what the company brings to the table.

Before he went into marketing he worked in journalism for 25 years. He worked at Sioux Falls Argus Leader and was the editor of the Weekend when it was new.

When asked why he left journalism for marketing he said “Journalism had died.” He didn’t mean it actually dies but more the old way, he said “writing with pens” to the get story for the newspaper. Journalism has changed to magazines, a day paper, and media consumption and is different now that opinion-based story has taken over and is opinion driven now. Social media changed everything from a reporting perspective.

When he was still in journalism the most interesting story he wrote was about a guy who was 100 years old “The secret to longevity was cigars and sex.” He was also able to meet every single presidential candidate besides the 16th. And it was exciting to work for a big media company and cover many stories that were fun.

When he left journalism for marketing, journalism was slowly declining, and building websites on the side. So he decided to start a company building websites and got into social media. Because he could be his own boss and make more money.

When asked if he misses journalism he said “I miss journalism every day.”

The New York Times: With the Writers’ Strike Over, ‘Saturday Night Live’ Will Soon Return by

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/04/arts/television/snl-return-pete-davidson.html?searchResultPosition=1

Pete Davidson returns to Saturday Night Live to host the season premiere.

The writer’s strike that has been going on for the last five weeks finally came to an end last week. With the strike ending TV shows are coming back first with late-night shows on Monday and now Saturday Night Live will return with the 49th season on October 14th.

Pete Davidson who left the show in May 2022 with other cast members such as Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant will return to host the season premiere. While Pete Davidson is an actor the union does not consider host a violation of the strike. A letter from SAG-AFTRA was posted on Wednesday making it clear that members of the union who are on S.N.L as hosts, guests, or cast members are not violating anything because they work under the Network Code Agreement, not the contract the union is striking. From the letter “The majority of our members who are regular cast on ‘Saturday Night Live’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike”.The letter also states that “Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producers exercise their option, which the producers have done.”

I am glad that the writer’s strike is finally over because many shows are coming to be coming back including late-night talk shows. With the return of late-night talk, the host can finally back new episodes and stop showing reruns. That will make many viewers happy to watch new episodes.

New York Time: After Intense Floods, New York City Lurches Back to Life by  Erin Nolan and Hurubie Meko

This article is about the flood that happened in New York. The governor has warned that climate change was making severe storms more common. Because of the storm’s intensity, subways were shut down because of a flood watch, planes were grounded, and the streets were flooded. But once the flood watch was called off and the rain stopped people resumed their regular routines the following day.

The governor emphasized how serious that event was and that because of climate change such storms are becoming normal. Ms. Hochul and Janno Lieber, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority chief, stressed the need to improve the city infrastructure to handle severe storms like the one that just happened. Mr. Lieber said, “We keep talking about the fact that the system was designed long ago for a rainfall at the rate of 1.75 inches per hour, and we are consistently getting more than that, so we need additional outflow.”

So with climate change making the storms more intense. It is a good idea for not only New York but also other states to improve the systems they have in place for rainfall to have more outflow in case they need it. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Carissa

Life changing movement

A life-changing movement in Carissa’s life is moving to Sioux City and, getting to be independent, being on her own, and being known as her own person, not as the twins. Carissa said about being on her own and “having my independence and not being known as the twins is nice.”

There was an armed robbery at 450 Stanley Street at 8:30 pm last night. Two men entered the store wearing ski masks, one man held a gun on Barney Joseph the owner while the other stole $382.65 from the register. Then they left the store.

Joseph told desk sergeants that he kept a pistol under the counter, but he chose not to use it. Joseph told the police the robbery was over in less than a minute and he thought it was unwise to use his pistol.

 When looking through clips under Joseph’s name and noticed that his father was killed during a holdup at the same store. Then called Joseph if he remembered the events he said “Yes, Dad resisted, I guess. Anyway, they found him shot to death, his own gun in his hand, and a bullet in the store’s ceiling. I’d rather part with my money than my life.”

The Wall Street Journal: Tampa Bay Rays Will Build Another Dome-This Time, With Windows by Lindsay Alder

https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/tampa-bay-rays-new-stadium-15f47429?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos1

The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Tuesday a new ballpark plan that a private-public partnership will fund to keep the team in St. Petersburg. The deal makes it easier for Major League Baseball to think about expanding.

The Rays have been trying to leave the old stadium because it is dark and dingy and they would have relocated to Las Vegas to build their new ballpark. Now they do not have to relocate. Their new deal will be in a new, fixed-roof dome with windows, an artificially turfed facility. It will seat 30,000.

Brain Auld the co-owner of the team told Lindsay Alder, “When Stuart Sternberg purchased the Rays, our focus was on winning games and providing a great fan experience. ” Building a new ballpark with help with their goal of providing a great fan experience.