Cutting Corners - Web

Cutting Corners
Colorado roads offer motorists unique challenges

By Kyle L. Haas

Colorado offers some of the most diverse roads to be found in America.
From the twisty scenic mountain roads to the straight tarmacs found sprawled across the open plains, Colorado is a haven for the motoring enthusiast. Here are three roads worth trying.

The Twister – State Highway 7 from Lyons to Estes Park



This 34-mile stretch of road connecting the small towns of Lyons and Estes Park provides a challenge for those willing to tempt fate. Traffic is often minimal as a more direct route exists along U.S. 36.

But don’t let its beauty deceive: this road is a devil in disguise. With an average speed limit of 40 mph and rocky terrain the road provides a challenge for sports car enthusiasts. Finesse is preferable to speed as cliffs drop off only feet away from the asphalt.

For those willing to risk their lives in the pursuit of neck-breaking g-forces, the rewards are worthwhile. Feeling the car tear in to hairpin turns gives whoever is behind the wheel the true feeling of a Le Mans driver.

The Launch Pad – U.S. Route 36 from Byers to Anton



For the laterally challenged vehicles adept at straight road domination, this 55-mile road resembles more of a ruler than an actual highway. Just east of Denver, the asphalt beckons to all muscle car owners eager for a chance at the land speed record.

"The road is straight. It's very very straight. I don't encourage racing, but the road is well, very straight."
-resident Tom Malcolm

It was once the primary interstate connecting Colorado to Kansas, but was virtually abandoned upon completion of Interstate 70. The scenery isn’t impressive, but at 125 mph does it need to be?

The Scenic Route – U.S Route 285 from Bailey to Fairplay



This relaxing drive tests the comfort of a driver’s vehicle while occasionally throwing in a sharp curve to keep the trip exciting. Southwest of Denver, the 41-mile drive combines the scenic pleasures of Colorado with a fairly simple road.
That combination makes for a pleasurable Sunday drive for those less enthusiastic about high-speed racing. At a leisurely pace of 50 mph admire the route of the original narrow gauge transcontinental railroad and majestic high-altitude mountain passes.


Word Count: 359

Notes:
For the purpose of this Web story, interactivity could be easily utilized in a creative manner. In writing this article, I made great use of Google Maps and pictures. Maps showcasing the routes along with user uploaded pictures could provide a better understanding for readers. I would also include a comment section that would allow readers to suggest their own routes and drives. If time was available, some video might also come in handy as you actually drive one of the listed roads.

Web Story

It’s not easy being green
By Kyle L. Haas

Blurb: Investigations reveal hybrids may be hazardous and not as beneficial to your wallet and the Earth as you may believe.


Going green on the road may leave a little less green in the wallet.

After some calculations it may be cheaper, safer and better for the environment to not own a hybrid vehicle.

In previous years hybrid vehicles took the United States by storm. The Toyota Prius sold over 180,000 last year in the country responsible for the Hummer.

One reason ¬– savings. Hybrids use less gas and which translates to less money spent on fuel.

At least that’s the conventional wisdom.

Two of Toyota’s top cars illustrate this difference; the Toyota Prius, and its cousin the Toyota Yaris sedan. Similar vehicles, they both have four doors, just over 100 horsepower and are similarly equipped with 1.4L four cylinder engines.

Cost of the vehicle

The cost and availability of the Prius could make it difficult to purchase It starts at a $22,000 – relatively expensive for a vehicle of its type. They’re rare as well. Boulder Toyota has, on average, about a three month waitlist said a sales representative. The Yaris on the other hand, starts at $12,965, nearly ten thousand less, and they have several in stock. For more vehicle specifications check out Toyota’s Web site at www.toyota.com

Miles per gallon

The hybrid vehicle is capable of 46 mpg according to the Environmental Protection Agency (www.fueleconomy.gov). However, drivers reporting to the EPA on their Web site claim only receiving 37.5 mpg.

The Yaris rates 14 mpg less than the Prius at 32 mpg, however drivers report receiving approximately 37.2 mpg. That would mean that the hybrid might be receive a .3 mpg advantage over its non-hybrid equivalent.

Standard gasoline went for an average of $2.48 the week of October 27 in Colorado according to the Energy Information Administration (www.fuelgaugereport.com). The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.bts.gov)uses an average of 15,000 miles per year for its estimates.

That translates to (15,000 miles x $2.48 / 46 mpg for the Prius or 32 mpg for the Yaris)or $808.70 for the Prius and $1162.50 for the Yaris, a difference of $353.80 per year.

Insurance Costs

Considering a 20-year-old male college driver with no history of accidents or tickets, Geico Auto Insurance (www.geico.com) quoted the Prius at $133.49 per month. The Yaris: $108.07 a month. That’s a difference of $305.04 per year.

After factoring in the cost of insurance, gasoline and the vehicles, it would take about 185 years to make up the difference in the cost of the two.

Eco-friendliness

It is true that the hybrids use less gasoline, which reduce their carbon emissions, but both the battery’s elaborate production technique and eventual disposal are cause for concern according to a study conducted by the University of California at Berkeley. (Found here)

According to the study, “The battery pollution is substantial because the creation of the batteries requires destructive mining to produce the batteries and the caustic substances that power the batteries must later be disposed of.”

The production techniques are similar for both vehicles’ combustion engines.

Other Considerations

The government loves hybrid cars so much it’s willing to pay owners to drive one.

But the tax credit is only available to those who are the original owners of the new vehicle according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The value of the credit is set on a decreasing time scale as well. As more of the vehicles are sold, the value of the credit is reduced until it is completely diminished, often before November of the current year.

The 2008 Prius started at a refund of $3,150 but by October the refund was completely depleted. The credit is dependent on the owner’s taxable income as well. And the owner would need a taxable income of at least $22,000 to receive the full federal credit meaning most students will only see a fraction of the rebate.

For more info on the tax credit program click here

Safety

Another consideration is the safety of the Prius. The vehicle has an entire emergency response guide with six pages of “special” safety procedures for emergency response personnel to follow in the event of a hybrid accident.

Powered by both a combustion engine and a 201-volt nickel metal hydride battery the Prius has high voltage wires running the length of the car. In the event of an accident several specific measures must be taken to avoid “…severe electrical burns, shock or electrocution,” according to the safety manual.

Battery contents are extremely hazardous to humans on contact, and the manual warns that the fire department is to redirect water away from normal water collection areas.

“There’s so much uncertainty there,” said Boulder Fire Marshall David Lowrey. “There are safety measures, but I don’t know what they are. There’s what we’re supposed to do, and then there is what we do.”

And in the event of a serious crash an uncertain hand could prove highly dangerous for those involved.
While normal crash test ratings are above average on both the hybrid and the standard car, those tests do not include these extraneous circumstances.

For the response guide click here

For more vehicle safety rating click here

Sample Broadcast story

Green
11/10
KH

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

<>
Our investigation reveals that you may want to think twice before buying a new hybrid vehicle. We took an in depth look at America’s favorite hybrid, the Toyota Prius and compared it to a similar, all gasoline vehicle, the Toyota Yaris sedan. The results were surprising.

<> Images of Toyota dealership

<>In the areas of price and cost of maintenance, the Yaris was actually cheaper to own despite the Prius’ increased fuel economy. We took average numbers from across the board to discover that month to month, the Prius is more expensive due to increased insurance rates and maintenance fees.

<> Graphic showing the calculations.

<> Hybrids may be a hazard on the road too. Our investigation revealed a 26-page document entitled the Toyota Prius Emergency Response Guide. Outlined in the document are six pages of specific guidelines for emergency responders in the event of an accident. The manual warned of

<>

<> “severe electrical burn, shock or electrocution.”
But do firefighters know the potential dangers of the electric hybrid? Boulder Fire Marshal David Lowrey insists hybrid drivers are safe, but admits to not knowing the extra safety requirements.

<> “There’s so much uncertainty there. There’s what we’re supposed to do and what we do.”

<> But despite these warnings, hybrid owners say they won’t be trading in anytime soon.

<>

Story Ideas

1. Just how much gas does a hybrid vehicle save?

2. What's the future of the American automotive industry as it continues to fall apart?

3. Just how revolutionary will the Chevy Volt be?

4. Are higher insurance rates for young men justified based on accident reports?

5. You're a college student, what's the best car for you to drive?

Grammar Exercises

She felt bad about missing the school board meeting, but her editor fired her regardless of her excuse.

We will all join together in prayer for the students who died in the shooting, and we will fly the flags at half-staff.

It’s all right if you miss class for a job interview, you can make up the test tomorrow.

We’ll divide the workload among three students.

The St. Joseph Board of Commissioners is planning to submit a proposal for a bond issue to pay for road improvements; their hope is that the election committee will reach a consensus of opinion to put the issue on the ballot.

I know you are anxious to get this job, but each of the applicants will have a chance to discuss his strengths and weaknesses with the personnel director.

Based on your writing skills, it looks like you could be a good journalist.

Each of the students is going to receive a plaque with his diploma at graduation.

She was embarrassed that she had fewer than five answers correct on the quiz.

After the boss read the report, he gave it to Jim and me to rewrite, saying it was due back by Monday.

Rich Article Rewrite

Rich pg 42 Rewrite
By Kyle L. Haas


Hands down, right-handers may live longer than their left-handed friends a new study reveals.

Published Wednesday in the New England Journal of medicine, the study found that right-handers tend to live several years longer than their left-handed counterparts.

The study sought to examine the death and accident rates of right and left-handers in an attempt to explain the lacking number of lefties in the elderly population.

“The results are striking in their magnitude,” said California State University psychology professor and study author Diane Halpern.

“We knew for years that there weren’t as many old left-handers,” Halpern said. “Researchers thought that was because in the early years of the century, most people born left-handed were forced to change to their right hands.”

“So we thought we were looking at old people who used to be left-handed, but we weren’t,” she continued. “The truth was, there simply weren’t many left-handers left alive.”

Halpern, along with Stanley Coren, a researcher from University of British Columbia studied the death certificates of 987 citizens of two southern California counties. Relatives were then contacted regarding the deceased’s dominate hand.

Left-handers can thank modern engineering for contributions to their early demise, Halpern said.

“Almost all engineering is geared to the right hand and the right foot,” she said. “There are many more car and other accidents among left-handers because of their environment.”

About six times more likely the study found.

If you’re male and right-handed, you’ll see another 11 years on average. Females will see six more. But is that enough to tear the pencil out of your child’s left hand and surgically attach it to their right? In one word – no.

“It’s important that mothers of left-handed children not be alarmed and not try to chance which hand a child uses,” Halpern said. “(The study) should not, of course, be used to predict the lifespan of any one individual.”

Rich Assignment

This post is the result of an exercise in our textbook. The information is purely fictional.

Graphically, the simplest answer would be a visual representation of the data. I would illustrate the ages of right and left-handers and males and females. Perhaps a bar graph with right and left hands instead of bars for a bit of a comical factor.

Rights have upper hand in lifespan

Hands down, right-handers will live longer then their left-handed friends a new study reveals.

Published Wednesday in the New England Journal of medicine the study found that right-handers tend to live several years longer than their left-handed counterparts.

The study, conducted last year, sought to examine the death and accident rates of right and left-handers in an attempt to explain the lacking number of lefties in the elderly population.

“The results are striking in their magnitude,” said California State University psychology professor and study conductor Diane Halpern.

“We knew for years that there weren’t as many old left-handers,” Halpern said. “Researchers thought that was because in the early years of the century, most people born left-handed were forced to change to their right hands.”

“So we thought we were looking at old people who used to be left-handed, but we weren’t. The truth was, there simply weren’t many left-handers left alive,” Halpern said.

Halpern, along with Stanley Coren, a researcher from University of British Columbia studied the death certificates of just under 1000 citizens of two southern California counties. Relatives were then contacted regarding the deceased’s dominate hand.

Left-handers can thank modern engineering for contributions to their early demise Halpern said.

“Almost all engineering is geared to the right hand and the right foot,” Halpern said. “There are many more car and other accidents among left-handers because of their environment.”

About six times more likely the study found. This all adds up to a disparity in the length of life for senior citizens.

And we aren’t talking a few months difference.

If you’re male and right-handed, you’ll see another 11 years on average. Females will see six more. But is that enough to tear the pencil out of your child’s left hand and surgically attach it to their right? In one word - no, Halpern said.

“It’s important that mothers of left-handed children not be alarmed and not try to chance which hand a child uses,” Halpern said. “(The study) should not, of course, be used to predict the lifespan of any one individual.”

So for all the left-handers who shifted uneasily while reading this article, there is hope yet. As for the right-handed Halpern, the study hasn’t changed her mind about the left-handed population.

“Some of my best friends are left-handed,” she said.

Seven years later...

Seven years ago I was stepping out of the shower anticipating another monotonous day in my middle school life. As I dried off, a knock sounded on the bathroom door. My mother, in a worried tone, informed me that something was happening on the news. Stepping out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, I caught a glimpse of the news station on the TV.

A building was on fire.

Interesting I thought, but surely not the cause for concern that my mother had. After all the building was in New York, hundreds of miles away. It had no relevance to our lives. And buildings are seemingly on fire everyday. Right?

It was September the 11th.

As the morning progressed the situation became clear. Or at least as clear as it could be to a seventh grader. When another plane struck the second tower a silence settled over our classroom. Everyone had canceled their lesson plans. We watched history being made.

I didn't understand.

I don't think anyone really did. On that day we were all seventh graders. We were scared. Confused. Sad. But like a dry ice experiment, no one could really understand what happened. All we knew was the outcome. And it unfolded too quick to rationalize.

Here we are, seven years later.

Its hard to distinguish exactly what 9/11 changed in the United States. A better question is what did it not change? My experience with media professionals introduced me to their stories from that morning. In one second the newsroom was turned upside down. It was one of the biggest stories this century, and yet no one wanted to believe it. On that day, journalists began the arduous task of reporting the attack on America. And no one did it with a smile.

Watching the news from that morning still sends a chill up my spine. People who started their day with a shower, and ended it with terror. It changed lives. Futures. Industries. And it changed minds.

It changed our country.

Should the United States be in Iraq? Should we have a pullout time table? That's all besides the point. The point is people passed away that day. They had families and kids and a warm meal waiting on the table at home. And today put away the politics. Remember those people. Remember that their day started as normal as every one of yours. And live as if there's no tomorrow.

Those people deserve to be remembered.

Statistics and Question Answers

1) While no governmental survey directly measures this issue one can use a little math for an appropriate estimate. According to the most recent (2005) report to congress by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 283,271 students aged 18-21 are served. Of this, 0.4% report some sort of visual impairment that is legally defined as an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. (ERIC Clearing House on Disabilities) That would mean approximately 11,331 college students are legally blind.

2) Legally speaking, the University of Colorado at Boulder is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If they were found to not be, state and national funding would be revoked until the proper corrections are made. However, testimonials from students as given during the University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) paints a picture of a campus difficult to navigate and access. However, CU does make a legally sufficient effort to overcome the obstacles that the design of a century-old campus creates. CU makes an effort to make all of its classes accessible for all students. This data was gather from CU's Web site on disability services from the office of the registrar and from attendance at UCSU meetings.

3) This information is not kept by the office of planning, budget, and analysis at CU. Calls to the statistical office have not been returned.

4) According to a report filed by Cornell University in association with the National Disabilities Statistics Center, the percentage of non-institutionalized disabled persons with a high school degree is 35%. Of the same group, 12.5% have attained a B.A. or higher.

5) CU directly lists services provided for those with vision impairments here.
Essentially it includes a variety of academic accommodations for students including speaking computers and braille translators in addition to other services.

Assignment #2 Story Ideas

Topic: Eight incoming CU students are blind

1) Feature story. Run the standard feature piece on one of the eight students highlighting their struggles and pasts. Were they born blind? Why did they choose CU? Etc...

2) Students with disabilities studying away from home. It must be very difficult for students with disabilities to move away from home and often the constant care that they find there. How does their transition affect their day-to-day lives on a campus as big as CU?

3) Is the campus up to par? My involvement with the CU student government illustrates the difficulties people with disabilities face on campus. Boulder is not necessarily the most accessible campus in the world. How do students cope with that?

4) To branch off of number 3, what is the administration doing to help alleviate these concerns for disabled students? Does CU even meet common standards for accessibility on campus?

5) How do blind students study? Its the question everybody wonders, but no one wants to ask. How do these students succeed in their classes? How do they study? Take notes? Read powerpoints? Do these difficulties affect their graduation dates?

Assignment #1 Journalism and Democracy

The balance between corporate capitalism and the maintenance of a modern democracy in the news is a difficult challenge felt even by today’s smallest newspapers. In a time before advertising revenue existed as the blood flowing through the vein of news, papers were free of monetary tyranny. The news was capable of freely enacting its role as a fourth branch of government. But with modern times comes modern challenges, including the funding to keep the news above water.

In 1920 Walter Lippmann wrote that, “The news of the day as it reaches the newspaper office is an incredible medley of fact, propaganda, rumor, suspicion, clues, hopes, and fears, and the task of selecting and ordering that news is one of the truly sacred and priestly offices in a democracy.”

A well known journalist of the early 20^th century, Lippmann was very outspoken about the balance between journalism and democracy, and the delicate intertwining of their roles. And while this remains a topic of debate one hundred years later, the battleground has shifted. In a time of media convergence and an elusive revenue stream, the modern newspaper is no longer capable of fulfilling its role as a check on democracy. However, that’s not to say that the news is solely a puppet to the rich and powerful. Instead the game of balanced reporting and an unbiased stance becomes steadily more difficult. It’s a game newspapers are losing.

In an article by the Associated Press published in late July entitled ‘New York Times 2Q profit drops 82%’ the Times announced an 11% drop in advertising revenue concurrent with a missed profit estimate given by analysts at Thomson Financial. This trend follows the experiences of other newspapers across the industry with an overall 7% drop in advertising revenue according to Journalism.org and their ‘State of the News Media’ report. The same report details the failure of the once strong business model for news. It says:

“With the print-only business model broken, newspapers have no choice but to develop the multimedia content of their web sites, harvest online advertising wherever they can find it and invent profitable side businesses. Does that add up to enough money to support a volume of quality work in the public interest?”

In one word, no.

Today newspapers must function as businesses. The sole function of any business is to generate revenue for the services or products they provide. It is via this function that they are able to continue to provide those services. If one link of this perpetual chain is broken the process becomes an ever-sinking demise. At present the closed loop of business success is not inclusive of the newspaper industry. They are therefore faced with two options: either sacrifice the quality of created work in search for sustainable profits or accept the loss of business, and eventually their newspaper, as an honorable defeat. Metaphorically, the captain always goes down with the ship.

Therefore we find the paradigm of the newspaper industry. In its search for survival, it cannot serve its purpose in maintaining a modern democracy. However this does not exist as any fault of the industry itself. Instead a finger can be pointed at technology, or the economy, or several other legitimate reasons. Regardless of the circumstance newspapers must find a way to adapt themselves and they must do it quickly. A desire for information ensures the existence of news forever; it is only a matter of discovering the best way in which to provide that service. And as with any business, the company that finds the solution stands to make millions.