Is Your Friendship Even?

The first in a series. ..

Hello! My name is Troy Donte’. Can you and I be friends? I’m channeling the 1980’s TV commercial about a talking bear name Teddy Ruxpin. SNAP OUT OF IT! You really have to be careful what you wish for when it comes to friendship.

Do we really know who our true friends are? Can you tell if you’re being used for the pure purpose of the other’s enjoyment? Do you take care of them emotionally more they take care of you? When it’s time to be there for them through thick and then; you were there for the thick part but they weren’t there for you when yours was then? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you probably need take “The Friendship Test,” the title of the article and test by Martha Beck in April’s issue of O Magazine. I took it and “Houston, I think we have a problem.”

I read the article on a recent trip up to New York City to hang out with a couple of friends. Jonathan, a fellow Howard Bison and current medical student and Cornelius, a buddy from the school of the arts we attended in Washington, D.C. Let me say these two gentlemen are great friends. In fact I have several fantastic friendships that are supportive and loyal—traits I hope I live up to. However I’m keenly aware that I also have “so-called friends” that are draining the life out of me. The time for change has arrived.

But will it be for the better? It was from my visit with Cornelius that I began to think about the real meaning of friendship—again. He debut his autobiographical one-man show in early April that largely discussed how friends helped him regrouped and move through some heavy life-shattering setbacks. While shifting in an uncomfortable chair at his show, I begin to think where I was during his life events.

Was I available to be there for him? Could I have been more present? Could I have provided necessary emotional support for him or anyone who was in a desperate situation? Yes, I know it’s a bit melodramatic to ask these questions. Even Cornelius agreed. But I always prided myself on being there for my friends, for it was them, not my family, who were there for me when times were rough. I always said, “Friends are the family members you would’ve chosen if you had the choice.” Still, I’ve found when presented with the choice of who we take as a friend, most of us make bad ones.

I wrote an article six years ago about what friendship means to me. I even had this topic on a radio show I hosted. I know much more discussion is needed around this subject for I’ve only begun to scratch the surface. But when I came across the friendship story in O, I was delighted to see I still wasn’t alone in this struggle. Maybe we should all get together or something.

Pre-Graduation Day Jitters

I have to admit, I'm a bit anxious about my impending graduation from American U. tomorrow. While I worked very hard to arrive to this point, a few lingering questions remain. Will I live up to this new charter in my life? Will I get the dream job? Will I meet the new expectations bestowed upon me. For whom much is given, much is expected. I guess I'll have to wait and see what the answers are.

Review on Washington Post Bloggers

Reporting for Duty

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/reportingforduty/

“Reporting for Duty” by Bert Stover intrigued me a lot. This newly transplanted military man is blogging from the Iraqi desert. So far he hasn’t seen any action other than having to walk 20 minutes between posts and the wind stirring up the sand. While I think it’s good to have a solder blogging, if he’s not going to see action any time soon, The Post should get a solder from the Green Zone to finish up.



Achenblog

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/

Joel Achenbach “Achenblog” appears to be well written and put together. I especially liked his entry titled, “Conversation With Old Dude in Basement” where he talks to a guy who says he is 274 years old. I guess you can say “Achenblog” is a bit quirky. He uses at least one of the elements we discussed in class—links. He even links to graphics, although I don’t understand why the graphic couldn’t be in the blog.

I’m a bit confused about whether he or any of the bloggers is on staff at The Post or just someone writing blogs. It’s not very clear on the site the way it is on some of the other newspaper sites I’ve visited.


Your Post

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/yourpost/

Lindsay Howerton compiles comments from Washington Post.com users into this one place called “Your Post.” Here you can find comments and reviews on various subjects and stories. I think this is a great idea. It’s not quite a blog but a person could write comments on the comments of another user. Good for The Post.com for being transparent.


Think Tank Town

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thinktanktown/

Ron Nessen “Think Tank Town” is interesting. I see that in his entries he discusses issues that a lot of people are not even conscious of. A few of them being what some think tank organizations think about the deal to let an Arab company operate a number of ports and why the poor is getting poorer. It’s a blog that for lack of a better word has some brainpower behind it. Nessen constantly quotes the Heritage Foundation and the CATO Institute on topics in his blogs.

Blog on the Blogs

President’s Day story

For the President’s Day story, I went down to the FDR memorial. Because the sun was setting I decided to take pictures of the memorial first before searching out a poor soul to interview.

I came across the Alexanders. Charles was taking pictures of the engravings in the stones and Patricia was sitting on a rock watching her husband. I approached her first then talked to Charles.

The Hicks family walked by just as I was finishing up with the Alexanders and I asked if I could talk to them about President’s Day. They agreed, although at first Marico didn’t want to give me his name. So his wife did most of the talking until I asked, “What would you do if you were president?” He jumped in, but I reminded him I couldn’t really use him since he didn’t want to give his name. He changed his mind.

Black History story

The lecture was interesting to cover. I didn’t really know who was in the audience until I heard the chair of the public history program thank the deputy superintendent of the National Capitol Parks East for attending that I realize I had to get a quote from him.

So when the lecture was over I rushed over before he left. When I told him I was with the press he was reluctant to talk officially. But after reassuring him I wasn’t trying to nail him on something, he obliged. Otherwise it was mostly listening and writing.

Cloud Dining story

Interviewing Cloud Dining Lounge manager John Andreas was awkward. He wasn’t very open or forthcoming. I would think a reporter doing a story on my business, which could possibly bring in more business, would make me more enthusiastic. He wasn’t.

We talked for about 20 minutes. At which point he said, “Are we just about done?” “Yes,” I said. During the interview, we sat at the bar. He ate. I wrote. He offered food or beverage. I said, “Just water.”

Safeway story thoughts

The Safeway story speaks for itself as far as my thoughts behind the story. I will say I didn’t decide to blog on the story until the last minute. I called Gregory TenEyck at Safeway and he gave me a few quotes.

Once I got off work, I stood outside the store in the cold temperatures and talked with shoppers as they left the premises. From past experience I knew as long as I was on the public sidewalk, security couldn’t bother me.

Presidents’ Day at the FDR Memorial

When people think of Presidents’ Day, most think of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of America’s great leaders. But according to some tourists taking in our town’s grand memorials, the day has evolved into a celebration of all presidents, both old and new.

One of them being President Franklin Roosevelt, who served from 1933-1945. His legacy includes the “New Deal” which among other things helped to jump-start the economy and created Social Security.

At his memorial near the National Mall, Patricia Alexander, who says Roosevelt was her favorite, said she celebrates Presidents’ Day every year. “It’s an honor to be a president. They sacrifice so much for us. It’s the least we can do,” said the visitor from Washington State. “Roosevelt was in a wheel chair and no one even knew it,” she said.

But her husband Charles Alexander says, “It’s a shame that they combined both holidays together.” It’s not a celebration of their contributions; it’s more of a holiday, he said.

With three children in tow, Marico and Lee Hicks of Augusta Ga. wanted their children to see history up close. “I think it’s a wonderful day to honor the presidents and reflect on what they have and haven’t done,” Lee Hicks said.

Meanwhile her husband Marico, an Army man, who recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East says, “If I “were president I would push American men and women to protect this great nation of ours,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Alexanders sat through a President’s Day parade in Alexandria Va. “I loved it. A lot of flag waving. It was very patriotic,” Patricia Alexander said adding, “If I were president I would bring everybody home from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood
Caption: A statue of FDR looks out over visitors at the memorial in his honor.

I Still Shop at Safeway

I want to share my personal thoughts on the story I did titled, "News Program Crowns Local Grocer No. 1 in Health Inspection Violations."

This story continues to have a hold on me because it was both compelling and enlightening. Compelling enough to keep digging for more information on the store. Enlightening after uncovering patterns of health inspection violations I had no idea existed.

But like so many people who watched the “Dateline” story, I was shocked and disgusted at the violations the stores racked up. To top it off, I recognize the Capitol Hill store they took the hidden camera into immediately because I would often shop there. That footage showed wires dangling from the ceiling, dirty floors and a deli clerk serving hot food below the safe temperature threshold.

“That issue was resolved immediately,” said Gregory TenEyck, director of public affairs for Safeway eastern division. “The remodeling project is scheduled to be complete and a re-grand opening event planned for April 1,” he said.

But store shopper Autumn Craig, 40, says, “ I’m not surprise” about the violations. “I don’t frequent the salad bar. I don’t buy pre-made food,” she said.

I wish I could say the same, but I’m a busy guy and don’t always have time to cut up tomatoes and shred lettuce for a salad. I trust the food preparers to do their jobs with safety in mind. I mean after all, the store is called “Safeway.”

“I will say that the "Dateline" piece certainly prompted management at every level of the company to redouble efforts to be sure that food safety remains a top priority. There has been increased emphasis and awareness,” TenEyck said.

My hope is that the renovations at the store will address the issues that led to critical violations in the first place. Safety has to be paramount when food is involved. Otherwise Safeway and grocers like it will continue to be the target of news programs and folks like me.

File photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood
Caption: This Safeway store at 14th and Kentucky Ave., in SE Washington was the target of a hidden camera investigation by the "Dateline" news program.

Black History in the National Parks

The preservation of 19 historic sites that tell the history of the African American struggle is a key component of the national park service’s mission, said its former director and current Howard University professor.

Throughout the national parks are homes of presidents and civil war battlefields “but yes my friends in your national parks, there are areas set aside by Congress to commemorate the history of African Americans,” said Robert Stanton at a Black history open lecture Wednesday at the Northwest campus.

Stanton worked for the park service for nearly 30 years before serving as its director from 1997 to 2001. Some of the historic sites that Stanton listed in his lecture include the homes of Frederick Douglass and Mary McLeod Bethune as well as several sites along the Underground Railroad.

Surrounded by books and standing before a large fireplace in the library, Stanton told the packed room that included students and former colleagues at the Park Service that young people have to be engaged and get involved with the national parks. We need “Parks in the Classroom, youth employment programs and the Youth Conservation Association so that one day young people can say, I’m a Frederick Douglass, I’m a Mary McLeod Bethune, I’m a Martin Luther King, Jr,” he said.

He took a moment during his lecture to remind the audience about the importance of voting. “We must be diligent and not allow any attempt to erode the most precious right given to us in this land. That is the right to vote,” he said.

But he said there has been some attempts to erode the preservation of black and other minority cultures in the national parks.

“It takes a commitment from current, prior and future presidents and individual heads of agencies” to help preserve America’s history, he said. It was my hope that those programs would continue. “I need not say more,” he said referring to lack of support by the current administration.

“It was incredible,” said National Park Service deputy superintendent Alex Romero, who oversees the National Capitol Parks East. “I’ve always admired his speeches, his passion and delivery” on historical issues in our national parks, he said.

The public history program sponsored the event in Founders library. Before the lecture, a reception was held in the Howard University Museum.

Photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood Caption: Howard Prof. Robert Stanton lectures on "The African American Experience Preserved in Our National Parks System."

Cloud Dining Lounge Continues to Seek New Horizons

To step inside Cloud is to step into what the owners hope will be an oasis from the storm. The high-end dining lounge believes “going the extra mile” to entice customers will lead to a sunny future.

“Business is good but frustrating at times,” said manager John Andreas. “The hospitality industry has to deal with everyone’s request; and do it with a smile,” he said conceding if they don’t, patrons simply “will go somewhere else.”

Inside the Dupont Circle establishment, the walls are painted white with white curtains in the windows. There are several flat screen TV’s along with mirrors that help open up the somewhat closed in feel that’s hard to avoid. Otherwise, it’s your basic restaurant set-up—tables, chairs and a bar.

There is a VIP area called “Cloud 9.” There you will find lounge chairs and beds complete with white leather seating and faux fur. At night patrons inside and outside of Cloud are treated to a colorful light show that bounces off the white curtains in the windows and bathes the sidewalk with a vibrant glow. It’s the Aurora of Dupont.

Before becoming Cloud a year ago, it was Savino’s. The café, which opened in Sept. 2002, served Italian food and just as Cloud does today, offered a list of specialty martinis and cocktails. But “it wasn’t profiting the money necessary” to stay in business, Andreas said.

Therefore the décor and food menu underwent a makeover to attract a different clientele. Instead of Italian, an international menu of Tapas, small appetizer-like dishes, which has origins in Spain, is offered up to hungry patrons.

“It has been successful in other parts of D.C. like Adams Morgan, but Dupont Circle didn’t have a restaurant serving Tapas,” Andreas said while eating two of his menu items: Caesar salad and Keftedes, a type of Greek meatball for lunch. We think it “will work here in Dupont and continue to grow our clientele,” adding that for the past year, the new concept and rebranding has proven to be successful.

The lunch crowd usually consists of business people while dinner draws mostly locals and guests at nearby hotels. On Friday and Saturdays, the place is bustling with people who come to hear the deejay spin hip-hop and Top 40.

Andreas is looking forward to warmer weather in the months ahead to expand the business. “We will have our springtime patio open and hope to “enlighten the neighborhood and venue with our food menu and specialty cocktails.” Until then it’s “one day at a time,” he said.

Check out these reviews on Cloud Dining Lounge:

DCist
Washington Post

Photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood
Caption: A passerby walks by the Cloud Dining Lounge in Dupont Circle.

Web Reviews

Houston Chronicle
www.chron.com


Out of all newspaper Web sites I've visited, Chron.com is the first to have a section for blogs located in the main navigation bar.

There's a lot of interesting blogging happening here. There is one on the latest medical developments as well as one that helps readers with their computer problems.

Perhaps as a gesture to the large Mexican population in the Houston area, there is a space titled "Soccer Y Futból." It bills itself as a bilingual soccer blog. There's even a blog on the Enron trial--a huge story in the Houston area.

Chron.com showcases blogs from its readers in what it calls "Chron.Commons." It's their version of citizen journalism that allow readers an outlet for their thoughts and opinions. But you have to first get through the gatekeeper by submitting a proposal and waiting for approval in order to start a blog on the site. I think it makes their citizen journalism a bit picky and exclusive.

The blog page has photos of the authors and a bit of information on what each blog is about. But once you click on the link, it goes all text from beginning to end. I think it's important to have photos or links to photos or audio/visuals. This appears to be common weak link among blogs on newspaper Web sites--not many visuals.

I think Houston Chronicle believes blogging is an important new enhancement to it's news coverage since a blog link is in the main navigation bar. But there is room for further refinement in terms of more pictures, graphics and by making citizen journalism more accessible to the general public.



Atlanta Journal-Constitution
www.ajc.com

It seems like Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporters and columnists really like to share. Share their thoughts on the local schools. Share their thoughts about crime and of course share thoughts about their favorite sports teams. There is a lot of hot air coming from this site.

I would say AJC.com has more blog activity than other newspaper Web sites I've visited so far because of the wide array of topics from which to choose.

There isn't a link in the navigation bar to the blogs but "AJC blogs" appears under "Editor's Pick" which is pretty high up on the page. One click takes you to an endless canvas of opinions on just about any issue you could think of, including women issues, podcasting and shopping.

I first came across the blogging nature of AJC when I stopped by to get superb coverage of the death of Coretta Scott King. I found a page called "Breaking News." It was dedicated to live coverage of the funeral.

There were reporters stationed at the church, a local parking lot, along the highways and at the King Center. The format had a blog feel to it. The reporters' entries were conversational, relayed what they saw and heard at the scene and even gave advice for people who were trying to get to the funeral.

The blogs are very text heavy though. It could use a bit more pictures and graphics. Even a photo of the person blogging would help break the monotony that easily sets in. Another helpful tip would be to have a link in the opinion section to the blogs since blogging is mainly known for opinion writing.



NBC4 (WRC-TV Channel 4)
www.nbc4.com



After reviewing blogging on two newspaper Web sites, I thought I'd check out a local television station efforts.

I visit NBC4.com often enough to know the site just started blogging about a month ago, just around the same time it reengineered its homepage. Yes, there were instances when a reporter's thoughts about a big story would end up on the site, but it didn't remotely resemble what we call blogging.

But there is still much to be desired if one expects to come to this site and get compelling blogs from the NBC affiliate. Although the station appears to be the only one in the D.C. area blogging, there really isn't much to brag about.

Unlike most newspapers that showcase blogging on their sites, it appears that NBC4.com wants visitors to search for it. There is no link in the main navigation bar or the one a bit lower on the page. Unless you know what you are looking for, you will not find it here.

One glimmer of hope came under a bar that read "NBC4 Specialists." There I found the blog of their sports reporter/anchor who is blogging from the Olympics in Torino, Italy. In her most recent entry, she reveals she might have a thing for their Italian driver who wore a sweatshirt with the words "Fairfax" on it. "I don't know what Italy's Fairfax is like, but if Nick Bello lives there, it might be a good place to visit," she wrote. Her blog is full of pictures with text, something the newspaper sites can learn to do.

Since NBC4 just starting blogging on its new Web site, it should get better with time. As with most TV news Web sites, video/images continues to be its main focus. But it would be great to see reporters like D.C. political reporter Tom Sherwood and crime reporter Pat Collins blog about what viewers don't get to see in 1:20.



MSNBC
www.msnbc.com

Where the local NBC station is lacking in blogging, it's much larger, big sister Web site MSNBC.com more than makes up the for the shortfall.

The site is the main domain for everything NBC News, including "Dateline," "Nightly News," "The Today Show" and the cable news outlet by the same name.

It's no wonder blogging is big on this site since blogging has fueled the rise of opinion shows on cable news networks like this one.

With video a big part of TV news sites, it's no surprise that there is a video blog from the Olympics that is prominently placed near the top of the site.

MSNBC.com has a section called "Blog, Etc." It is listed in the navigation bar as well as at the bottom of the page with sub-headlines from featured bloggers. Most of the blogging on MSNBC is done by show hosts like Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Dan Abrams. They have cute blog names like "Bloggerman," "Hardblogger" and "Sidebar." Their blogs give them an outlet to respond to bloggers in the blogosphere who have written something about them or their shows as well as to vent on show guests or news events.

But not all the blogging here is an outlet for their talent. Some of the offerings include the most popular bloggers on the Internet as well as a really cool citizen journalism section that lets anyone write and post pictures about events in their lives.

Highlighted in the citizen journalism section is Hurricane Katrina evacuee Mindy Nunez. She recently went back to see her devastated home in Aribi Louisiana. "I am a 25-year old single female and I am now staying with my parents, whose home was also destroyed, in a trailer on the Westbank of New Orleans," she wrote.

What gets a lot of attention here is the blog of "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams. It's linked on the Web site and is often promoted on the news program by the Williams.

The Web sites of MSNBC has definitely embraced blogging as another way to communicate with viewers. Hopefully some of that tenacity will rub off on its smaller affiliates as well.

CPAC Conference Complete

Today our team of reporters--Susan Beach, Glenn Luther and producer Troy Donte' Prestwood blogged the CPAC conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Please take a look at our work and feel free to comment on anything you've read.
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Newt Gingrich Closes Conference With Stirring Address


By: Susan Beach

Young Republicans crowd around former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich, snapping photos and posing for pictures with him long after finishing his address to the attendees at CPAC.


A fast moving snowstorm and a late 5 p.m. start for Gingrich didn't appear to deter his well-dressed fans. They cheered and gave him standing ovations many times when he discussed saving for retirement rather than depending on social security and parents being able to chose the schools their children attend.


On terrorism, Gingrich said every decision made by President George Bush has been "profoundly correct." The two security problems facing the country are the dictatorship in Iran and the militant group Hamas, he said.

Gingrich said too much power is concentrated in Washington and not enough is given to citizens. Congress should replace the failed government with an efficient, intelligent system, which he explains in his new book "Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America."

Earlier in the afternoon Gingrich autographed copies of his book for hundreds of twenty-somethings who waited in a line that stretched down a long hallway in the hotel.


Photos: Glenn Luther
Photo 1 Caption: Newt Gingrich speaks to a huge crowd of mostly young conservatives at the CPAC conference. Gingrich said every decision made by President George Bush has been "profoundly correct."

Photo 2 Caption: A photo composite of the young well-dressed crowd as they listen attentively to Gingrich discuss the conservative agenda at CPAC.

Photo 3 Caption: Matthew FarrFloridalordia State University, smiles as Newt Gingrich signs his book, titled "Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America."


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Go From Gay to Straight at CPAC


By: Glenn Luther

For 14 years Gregory Quinian of the Pro-Family Network said he has lived a straight life. He has a message for gay Americans--quit! "I am ex-gay," said the married father." There is no future in homosexuality. The lifestyle as a whole is shallow, lust-filled and emotionally immature," he said.

Quinian is part of a growing number of people and organizations that say gays can change their orientation.

Pamphlets decorate a table at the conference. One reads "Ex-gays prove that homosexuals CAN and DO change to a heterosexual orientation." The display is part of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, a non-profit organization that claims to support the rights of homosexuals who choose to change.

"This organization is like a support group for people who have struggling family members," said Jackie Rice, a volunteer with the group, who says she has a brother who is gay.
Rice said the key to helping them is to get gays to understand her point of view. "We let them know they are really not born that way...they can change. It's been very successful. I've been at a few weddings," Rice said smiling as she recalled her dealings with homosexuals. "They say to me, 'you mean to tell me I can do this, I can have kids?'" she said.

Photos: Glenn Luther

Photo 1 Caption: "We let them know they are really not born that way," said Jackie Rice, exhibitor for Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays. "We've seen people come back out," she said.

Photo 2 Caption: "There is no future in homosexuality," said Gregory Quinian, who claims to be "ex-gay." The lifestyle as a whole is shallow, lust-filled and emotionally immature," he said.

Photo 3 Caption: T-shirts hang nearby at the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays booth. Store owner Stacie Stire said he is able to communicate hard messages effectively through humor. "We get lots of hate mail from tolerant liberals," she said.


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Very Few Black Conservatives Attend Conference


By: Glenn Luther

A magazine highlighting famous African American conservatives were handed out to the overwhelmingly white attendees at CPAC.

Mark Zak, executive director of the Freedom Foundation along with volunteers from the National Black Republican Association hand out copies of the Black Republican magazine with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice starring from the cover.

Inside the magazine the key story is Rice for president in 2008. "Republicans would benefit tremendously if they knew more about the history of their party," Zak said. "The Republican Party has always been the party of civil rights and individual freedom," he said.

The magazine, they said was picked up mostly by black college students. Yet it appears that few, if any actually showed up to the conference. When asked why no black Republicans were handing it out they said, "they all left 10 minutes ago."

Photos: Glenn Luther

Photo 1 Caption: A volunteer talks with a passerby about the "real" history of the civil rights movement that involved more Republican support than history books report.

Photo 2 Caption: A free issue of the Black Republican lays next to political buttons on a display table that highlights contributions of the Republican party to the civil rights movement. Condolezza Rice's photo appears to have been altered to the point she appears white.


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Young Conservatives Urged to Stop Liberal Judges


By: Susan Beach

A southern judge and an Arizona Congressman tell young conservatives to protect the Constitution and stop liberal judges from changing it.

"The American people don't want judges making law. They want to reserve that right for themselves," said Judge Charles Pickering, a U.S. district judge from Mississippi. Any changes should be made through the amendment process, he said.

The young audience hollered and applauded when Pickering closed his short talk urging them to "restore the rule of law" and preserve the Constitution.

Pickering joined his fellow panelists Rep . Trent Franks, R-Ariz.; Sandy Froman, president of the National Rifle Association; and Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch; in condemning judicial activism. Don't let liberal judges change or add to the Constitution, they said.

"Judicial activism is akin to thievery," said Fitton, who monitors the judiciary. It robs citizens of their liberty and takes away the respect of the courts system, he said. Froman agreed saying "it shakes the very foundation of our Federal liberty."

Photo 1: Glenn Luther
Photo Caption: Judge Charles Pickering wags his finger at the audience while talking about the bad decisions being made in America by polititions.
Photo 2: Susan Beach

Photo Caption: Tom Fitton condemns judicial activism by judges saying conservatives must be vigilant.


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Conservatives Call for Killing Murderers on Death Row Quicker



By: Glenn Luther

More than 200 CPAC attendees clapped in step with passionate rhetoric in support of the death penalty late this morning in the Regency Ballroom at the Omni Hotel.

"This to me is not a tough call, If you kill in this country, we want you to die before you die of natural causes," said Ben Ferguson, one of the conservatives chosen to debate the conservative view of the death penalty.

The debate between conservative speakers focused on the need to change current laws, as a way to invest in curbing crime. It is a good investment to "kill" murderers quickly rather than letting them live for years going through the legal red tape, Ferguson said. A streamlined system would help to reduce crime.

"It takes 30 years to kill them," he said pausing for a moment to let his speech build momentum. "We give them cable, feed them, and extend their lives," he said.

Photo: Glenn Luther

Photo Caption: Hundreds of people gathered at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. to see key political and social figures define the agenda and talking points for upcoming elections.


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Conservatives Say There is Not an Oil Shortage

By: Susan Beach

The oil supply isn't going to run out for decades, energy experts told conservatives gathered at CPAC.

There's a lot of exaggerated talk about energy shortages, said Rob Bradley from the Institute for Energy Research. He said there is no need for energy taxes and that consumers have to come first. Bradley wants to promote capitalism in countries with oil so that private businesses can start producing it to make sure the supply is plentiful.

Max Schulz of the Manhattan Institute said the U.S. has to open up areas in the country that are currently off limits to oil mining. The country also should seek oil from Mexico and Russia. ?Conservatives tend to shudder at the word diversity? but they need to diversify when it comes to oil supply, Schulz said

Another possible oil source could come from developing countries, said Roy Spencer, a research scientist at the University of Alabama and a leader at the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance. He said be believes poor countries need to build wealth by jumping into oil production.

On the topic of global warming Spencer questioned the cause. He said he doubted that global warning can be blamed entirely on CO2 emissions. How much of it is natural, he said.

Photos: Susan Beach

Photo 1: Rob Bradley

Photo 1 Caption: Rob Bradley is president of the Institute for Energy Research, a non-profit organization that evaluates energy policies. He told the crowd at CPAC that energy taxes are unnecessary.

Photo 2: Max Schulz

Photo 2 Caption: Max Schulz, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, talked about drilling for oil in areas of the country that are currently off limits.

Photo 3: Roy Spencer

Photo 3 Caption: Roy Spencer, a research scientist at the University of Alabama and a leader in the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance, said climate systems are complex and questioned whether global warming is man made or a natural occurrence.

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Bloggers At CPAC Make The News In Japan


By: Susan Beach

As I type my first story into my laptop to report on the morning speeches Saturday at CPAC, a Japanese television photographer zooms in on me. He is kneeling on the carpet two feet from me in the bustling exhibit room of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

In broken English he says I will be on NHK, a Japanese television network two days from now on Monday. The three-member news crew from Japan then moved down the long table turning the big camera light on other journalists.

Five writers tap away on laptops on the Bloggers' Corner table sponsored by TCSDaily.com. The row of four long tables in front of red, white and blue curtains is in the heart of the many booths in the exhibit hall.

The booth facing bloggers' row has a huge jar of chocolate kisses on the table and rubber pigs with the slogan "Stop the Pork." Reporters occasionally grab a handful of chocolates.

Photo: Susan Beach

Photo Caption: A Japanese camera crew records bloggers at the CPAC conference. A crew member said the footage will air in Japan on Monday.

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Indiana Congressman tells Republicans to quit acting like Democrats at CPAC


By: Susan Beach

Rep . Mike Pence, R-Ind., called on Republicans in Congress to stop acting like Democrats and get back to conservative ideals in time for the congressional elections in November.

"Many of the things we have done look more like the work of a Democrat majority," he said this morning to a room full of conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

Pence described himself as a Christian, conservative and a Republican "in that order." He urged for fiscal and ethical reform in his party and said Republican leaders have to get back on course in order to be re-elected.

Scandals have eroded public confidence in politicians and have hurt the nation, he said from a podium backed by 18 American flags. The real scandal in Washington, D.C. is runaway Federal spending, he said.


Photo: Susan Beach

Photo Caption: Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana speaks to a packed ballroom of conservative activists. He said its time for Congress to return to conservative ideals in order to be victorious in the November elections


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Welcome To Our CPAC Blog

Welcome to GST Online. GST stands for Glenn, Susan and Troy. We are blogging live from the CPAC Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. CPAC is part of American Conservative Union, a political organization dedicated to advancing the conservative agenda for the country.

Washington Post Dot Com Tour

The Washington Post.com tour took us on a journey into vast open spaces and corridors complete with empty desks and chairs in its Arlington County, Va office.

The website’s news desk is the center of news operations here. Produces monitor and update news around the clock. At their desks are monitors that automatically stroll through competitor’s Web sites to ensure they aren’t missing breaking news somewhere. A designer is always on duty to troubleshoot problems as well as make changes to the homepage if needed.

Ed O’Keefe, who is a breaking news producer for the Web site, walked the class through his typical day at the office. The 2005 American alum says he arrives at the office around six in the morning to read through the paper. At 7 A.M. he heads to morning meetings and then work at the news desk until about noon. “After that point I’m usually working on special projects” before calling it a day around 3:00 or 3:30, O’Keefe said.

The Web site actually has two homepages. One for the local audience and another with a national focus. The main newsroom is divided into two parts: local, which focuses on the stories in the D.C. metro area such and crime, traffic and sports and non-local, which handles such areas as business, world, technology and national politics. The newsroom is subdivided further into sections like multimedia, entertainment and production.

Conference rooms are named after familiar places in the area like Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, Great Falls and Annapolis.

Overall, the tour helped us to see how newsrooms tend to be operated and organized around a single goal—to get the news out.

Media Credit: Troy Donte' Prestwood

Photo Caption 1: Washington Post.com editor and class professor Chet Rhodes discusses different operations of the newsroom with the digital storytelling class.

Photo Caption 2: A TV bank tuned to broadcast news outlets such as MSNBC, FOX NEWS and CNN hang from the ceiling in the main newsroom.They allow staff to monitor news events around the clock.