Oops...

Has it really been several months since my last post? My apologies.

My lack of writing here could be attributed to my co-op at the Globe, which is going fabulously. I took a break from blogging, without actually saying that, just because spending 40+ hours/wk in front of a computer makes you not want to be in front of a computer when you're at home relaxing.

I don't want to say I'll take a break from blogging, but expect less posts (but with more content!) over the next two months. Come end of December, you should expect more blog posts, and with less/more content will be decided later.

In the meantime, please subscribe to the Globe if you aren't already, and consistently check boston.com and look for my bylines (and the rest of the articles too! everybody writes articles so well)

Co-ops are Guild members, too!

I officially got the email today saying all co-ops are affected by the 23% pay cut and it will go into effect next Monday. I started training at the Globe on Monday, the day of the vote, and I'm excited to go back and continue training until I begin for real at the end of the month, unfortunately I do wish that there was a better option instead of all Guild members losing nearly a quarter of their pay. My father is unemployed but cannot file for unemployment because he is a contractor for construction jobs, and therefore can't file without an official boss. It looks like I will once again be relying on my mother for financial support with a wage that is only a few quarters' worth more than I was getting paid at the Ledger. I mean, I'm still very happy that I still have a job, but it will definitely be interesting to see how the Globe fares the six months I will be working full-time there.

Also, a note on the now-pandemic. My friend Jared was on the Middle Eastern-based journalism dialogue, and decided to stay several more weeks in Cairo. Egypt has threatened over a month ago that if the WHO raised the pandemic to be a "Level 6" they would close the borders, however that was when Egypt had no cases - and I read in recent news that people in Cairo and other places in Egypt have been diagnosed with the swine flu - so I wonder if they will still close the borders and the airport. Either way Jared, if you read this, I hope you're safe!

Globe and H1N1

I've been hearing from many people lately inquiring about my co-op at the Globe and its financial situation... obviously it is a very tough time and has been for the past month watching my future employer go through all these negotiations and hope for the best right now. It's really stressful for me so I can imagine how people who are already working there, and have worked there for years must feel. My only hope is that things get worked out there and somehow newspapers become super prosperous again.

Besides that, I am back in Boston for summer classes, basically I will be in classes from 8-11:30am mondays-thursdays beginning tomorrow (as long as swine flu doesn't attack NU and cancel classes which I wouldn't be 100% disappointed about...) speaking of swine flu, i'm kind of annoyed on how there's SO many precautions. Bottom line is that it is just a flu strain, and the flu has already killed 30,000 people (i think) so far this year, and I had the flu, and I didn't see NU being shut down just because I was super contagious. I'm curious to know if I can even catch this H1N1 flu if I already had the flu in February, even though I had the flu shot (FYI tamiflu was resistant to the strain I had, but Relenza worked). It seems as if the only differences between regular flu and swine flu are more stomach flu symptoms and the fact that it can lead to pneumonia. I'm just annoyed that things like flights being fixed to drop off people who show flu-like symptoms and things like that are happening, like this flu strain means automatic death sentence. I am aware that flu-like symptoms show up basically immediately (I was perfectly fine on the Monday basically all day, until around 10pm that night, when I just felt awful and immediately had every flu symptom including a 101 fever) but... UGH, it just annoys me.

Co-op!

I keep neglecting to write in this blog, especially now that finals week is looming. I'm unsure how much I will be able to write in the future as well. Today, I accepted a co-op position at the Boston Globe's city desk. I'm very excited for this new challenge in my journalism career. This officially means I will be graduating in May 2010 while the majority of my friends from high school are ordering their caps and gowns, although I'd rather be where I am right now, especially in this economy.

Flu and snow, oh my.

I've taken quite the hiatus. Unfortunately, I caught the flu, although I did get the flu shot the second day in January. I'm not alone though, compared to this Globe article about the widespread flu outbreak in Boston. Since it's spring break now, I'm recovering at home in Rhode Island. I brought my camera and battery charger home, but unfortunately didn't bring the cord to connect with my camera so i'll be relying on my new blackberry to take pictures of this apparently epic snowfall we're supposed to get.

Rhode Island's getting more snow than Boston

Home for break in lovely Rhode Island. It's late, but I'm planning my day, and clearly it's going to involve a trip to the supermarket to load up on bread and milk if this storm that's coming Friday is as bad as all the weathermen are making it be. Boston news outlets are saying Rhode Island will get the brunt of the storm (12 inches!) which is a first, since usually it snows more in western mass and connecticut because ri is so close to the coast. I also plan on doing a ton of christmas shopping (and looking at deals for myself) because weathermen here have been making references to last year's december snowstorm that brought Rhode Island to a standstill. Who knows when I'll be able to leave my house - and damn myself for not bringing home my rainboots, the closest shoewear I have to wear in the snow!

Hiatus? Hiatus!??!

I know I've been neglecting this blog, but for good reason - Northeastern is kicking my you-know-what! I'll try updating much more after finals are over (think mid-December) but if I take some pictures of the tree lighting ceremony, I'll throw those up tomorrow. In the meantime, please feel free to go over to my reinventing the news blog, where I've been updating all semester, which can be found my clicking here.

Wilkinson arrested versus Boston Celtics dancers

I was watching NBC's today show when WHDH interrupted the broadcast to say that state senator Dianne Wilkerson was just arrested by the FBI on corruption charges. They then went back to the Today show. I flipped over to Fox 25 hoping to get more information on this breaking news, and instead they had 6 Celtics dancers performing, then before going to commercial said they would talk about some dog when they came back live. Let's focus on the real news at stake right now, as it really must be breaking news - as of 8:40 a.m., Boston.com still has no update, let alone mentions it at all, on their website.

Edit (Times are approximate)

8:42 am: WHDH website updates, says breaking news: Sen. Wilkinson arrested by FBI
8:45 am: Fox 25 weather forecast!
8:47 am: Guy talks about the traffic on Fox 25, with three Celtics dancers on each side; still nothing on boston.com
8:48 am: Fox 25 Halloween costumes for your dog segment.
8:49 am: I realize nothing's going to change soon with Fox 25 and I'm sure Boston.com will be updated wiithin 20 minutes, and I have a paper due in approx 1 hour and 1 minute.
9:00 am: Just took another look, still nothing on Fox 25's website, WBZ TV website, and Boston.com

Boston Police Dept riot division has set up outside my apartment

The Boston Police Department has officially set up station in front of my apartment in preparation for the rioting if Boston were to win tonight. I snapped a few pictures for proof (which I may also use for Prof. Kennedy's flickr assignment). Enjoy!

(Note: If you use these pictures, please link back to my blog. Thank you!)

No parking around Northeastern when it's Game 7 time! (side note: GO SOX)

There is a public works vehicle shouting orders through a bullhorn driving down streets in the Northeastern area forcing people to move their cars off the road in preparation for tonight's game. Or something along those lines, the bullhorn isn't very clear. Either way, looks like the two cars in front of my apartment building are going to be towed - the parking ban began at 4 p.m. and doesn't end til 1 a.m. I'm guessing the BPD is behind this, since the signs put up around the area that say "no parking" also say BPD special event. Go red sox! (Just let me get some sleep tonight).