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News for Youse: Students return, TransLink warns fare evaders, and Ellen gets a star
Back to school There are an estimated 534,691 B.C. students starting public school today, with 94 percent of classes having 30 or fewer students, according to the Ministry of Education. More back-to-school numbers are available here.
Hong Kong students protest A new education curriculum in Hong Kong has provoked a demonstration involving thousands of students, parents, and teachers, who see this as Beijing's attempt to brainwash the young. Video is available here.
Fare enforcement This is the first day when a new law takes effect giving TransLink more powers—including getting ICBC to refuse to issue or renew a drivers' licence—for people who refuse to pay fines for fare evasion. More information is available here.
Transit service changes TransLink has posted a notice on its website announcing various service changes, including a new trolley loop on University Boulevard at UBC and new boarding locations for buses at the New Westminster Station.
Kelowna mayor blasted Pro-choice groups and individuals from across Canada have written an open letter to Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray demanding that he rescind a city proclamation to designate September 23 to 30 as "Protect Human Life Week".
Quebec votes There's widespread speculation that Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois may replace Liberal Jean Charest as premier after today's election, though Francois Legault of the Coalition Avenir Québec is still hoping to pull off an upset victory.
Tsunami debris Nikkei.com has reported that the Japanese government is prepared to say later this month that it will help finance the cost of cleaning up tsunami debris that is showing up on Canadian and U.S. coastlines.
Michelle Obama speaks Tonight, the U.S. First Lady will speak at the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, making the case for her husband Barack's reelection as president in November.
Chrysler sales rise Chrysler Group LLC has announced that sales rose 14 percent in August, thanks in part to huge demand for Ram trucks. Other automakers are expected to reveal their sales figures later today.
Coal terminal opposed A group called RE Sources for Sustainable Communities is trying to ramp up opposition to North America's largest coal terminal being built in the nearby Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve in Washington state. More information is available here.
Hurricane aftermath Approximately 100,000 people are still without power as a result of Hurricane Isaac, which reached landfall in the Gulf states last week.
Ellen honoured Talk-show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres will receive the 2,477th star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame today. More details are available here.
I'm not a racist. In fact, several of my best acquaintances are of Asian extraction - like the guy where I buy my Chinese food, for example. I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one of those people, of course, but that's just a practical thing. How would we ever figure out what to serve at Thanksgiving - Peking Duck or Roast Turkey?
(PS - For those who might have missed it, all of the above is sarcasm.)
(PPS - Please don't quote or link to government media releases. If that's the best source available, kill the story until something more objective is available. Ta.)
If we don't attribute our sources of information (which is rule number one in journalism, by the way) or report on what the government is saying, how would you ever know if the government is lying?
Just sayin' (Martin Dunphy, Georgia Straight, September 4, 2012).
(The Number Two rule of journalism is that Media Release = Lie.)
That's why, in the olden days, we didn't print ( aka, link to) media releases.
Well, we will just have to agree to disagree. Media have been publishing information from government releases as long as governments have been releasing them. They have also been providing information (or links) so people could see for themselves, get extra information, and not have to depend wholly on the media for information. Sometimes, believe it or not, governments release information in which some people are interested.
As always, one is free to take it or leave it. But don't ask us to remove the convenient option to peruse further.
Ultimately, it is up to the readers to decide if they want to believe them or not. Often as not, they have a healthy skepticism about them, which is fair.
The better media outlets will offer editorials, analysis, and readers comments on such information, which the Straight does.
The above article is a roundup of different stories, with not much room devoted to any particular one. The link is merely a convenience and a signpost.
Cheers!