HAYLEY BURNS

WEEK OF:
7 JANARY 2007

INTERNATIONAL

Mexican Emergency Services Free Boy, 10, Who Glued Himself to Bed to Avoid School

SUMMARY: A 10-year-old boy thought he had discovered a novel way of getting off school — gluing his hand to the bed. Diego Palacios had so much fun over the Christmas holiday he was in no rush to get back to lessons. He had to be freed by emergency services in Monterrey, northern Mexico, after his master plan went wrong. His mother, Sandra, spent nearly two hours trying to free his right hand with water, oil and nail polish remover, but to no avail. "I didn't want to go to school because vacation was so much fun," the youngster explained. He told how he sneaked into the kitchen in the early hours and then covered his hand with industrial-strength adhesive. His mother woke up to find him watching TV with his hand stuck to the bed. "I don't know why he did it," she said. "He's a good boy but mischievous — like all kids." His hand was freed by paramedics — just in time for school.


OPINION: That’s funny. Many times when I was a child I tried to think of something to keep me from going to school. My imagination never went this far. Even though I no its wrong to try to skip school, I give this kid major props for thinking of such a sacrificing plan. To bad I didn’t work for him.


England Train Track Prankster Jumps Out of Way at Last Second, Faces Jail

SUMMARY: A 21-year-old man was facing jail time after standing on a railway line in front of an oncoming express train. Andrew Ogden, from Chorley, Cheshire, England, stood directly in front of the train as it approached him at 50 mph. He waved his arms in the air and only jumped out of the way at the last minute. The driver of the express service from Manchester Airport to Blackpool was left traumatized by his actions. He was convinced he had struck and killed Ogden and had to be signed off work with stress. At the time of the incident, Peter Holden of British Transport Police said it was a shocking case. "This is plain stupidity and people need to realize that it is viewed extremely seriously," he said. Andrew Ogden pleaded guilty to obstruction without intent. He said he had been drinking before the offense and had thought it would be a "bit of a laugh." He will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Jan. 29 and has been warned he could spend up to two years behind bars.

OPINION: So that guy is stupid. And I think he deserves the jail time, maybe not the full two years, but enough to keep someone else form doing the same thing. I think he is very fortunate for not being injured or causing injury to someone else, while he as having a “bit of a laugh”


NATIONAL (Presidential Primary)

Mitt Romney, John McCain Both Predicting Wins in Granite State

SUMMARY: Mitt Romney enthusiastically predicted a win in the GOP New Hampshire primary Tuesday, looking to beat expectations and polls that have shown rival John McCain edging out Romney in the Granite State. Having downplayed expectations by discussing second place the day before, on Tuesday Romney was talking about a win and promising to soldier on regardless of the outcome. “I’m planning on winning today, no guarantees, but I’m planning on winning and I can be pretty sure that by the end of today I will have received more votes for president than any other Republican,” Romney said in Salem. McCain, too, had predicted a win 24 hours earlier. He was cautious on primary day, but projected a similar message of persistence … win, lose or draw. “It’s very important we all know … how important New Hampshire is to our campaign and there’s no sugar coating that,” the Arizona senator said. “It’s absolutely important … Absolutely we are continuing on and we anticipate to win.”

OPINION: So I think its interesting how both people are so confident at winning the NH Primary. I understand that they both want to win it and that they both have the possibility of winning it, but its still comical how they both make such strong statements. Personally, of these two choices, I would rather John McCain win, but I don’t think he will. Governors typically do better in Presidential races than Senators.


Clinton to Obama: Stop Changing Positions

SUMMARY: MANCHESTER, N.H. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential front-runner no longer, accused campaign rival Barack Obama of changing his positions on health care and “a number of issues” Saturday night in a debate three days before the New Hampshire primary. I have been entirely consistent in my position,” countered Obama, adding that he and Clinton have a philosophical disagreement over her proposal to require Americans to purchase health insurance or face a penalty from the government. Obama won the kickoff Iowa caucuses last Thursday, and his remaining rivals — Clinton, former Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — can ill afford for him to gain a victory in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary as well. “You said you would vote against the Patriot Act. You came to Senate, you voted for it. You said you would vote against the Iraq war, you came to the Senate and voted for” funding, she said. “I think we should get into examining everybody’s record,” she said. Obama’s candidacy has soared on his pledge to bring change to Washington, and Clinton sought to blunt his advantage while sticking to her own campaign-long theme. “I have 35 years of experience making change,” she said.


OPINION: Okay, well I think this is so hypocritical; Hillary is constantly flip-flopping on her opinions of almost everything. I think she is just trying to point the finger at someone who is doing better then her. Typical Democrat. By saying this I am in NO WAY supporting Barack Obama, just anti- supporting Hillary Clinton.