Writing Comprehension 1

Let's compare the title of this AP article:

Hamas, Fatah groups announce truce

and the contents of the first paragraph:

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gunmen fired on the Palestinian foreign minister's convoy on Sunday and militants launched mortar shells at President Mahmoud Abbas' office in a daylong wave of factional violence that killed three people.

The article eventually gets to the truce in the second paragraph. So tell me, would an article from Iraq get as rosy a headline in the midst of political upheaval, nay, civil war?

"There's still good in him..."

Andrew upsets the liberal reader (and probably causes a couple of sarcastic head nods at NRO HQ) by reminding us of his conservative bona fides.

To me, I trust Andrew that this is more than the web equivalent of a Che poster in a dorm room. RWR was my introduction to the conservative movement, a tough thing for a kid growing up in a town with a 10-to-1 ratio favoring the left.

UPDATED: sigh. That was quick. Once again, shoving 'all', or in the best case scenario, 'most' conservatives into the homophobic box is inappropriate and inaccurate. Personally, Mary is likely to be far more fit of a mother than, say, a 14-year old, or the soon-to-be ex Mrs. Federline, to say the least. Andrew does his best to burn bridges among fellow conservatives - especially those who would agree with him - by assuming 'non-Andrew conservative = Theocrat'.

to quote James Bond Stockwell...

"Who am I? Why am I here?"

In my case, "Who am I?" is answered with the following: I'm a father, husband, systems analyst, conservative, born back east, educated in the midwest, now living and working in the high country of New Mexico.

"Why am I here?" Well, for starters, I'm a long-time reader, first-time blogger. And rather than wait for the blogfather to add comments, or for Charles to open to new commenters at some time other than o'dark thirty, I figured it was time to open my own mouth (via the keypad, and all these wonderful tubes).

Why thirtypundit? Well, for starters, thirty wasn't available. Secondly, like many bloggers-in-training, Glenn is a good starting point for good blogging ettiquette. 'Heh' is pithy.

Moreover, per the subtitle of the blog, thirty represents the end of the story in journalistic parlance. In this space, I hope to be able to put the 'end of story' in place on my opinions, from news of the day to how the weather or family is here (I promise, in advance, no views from my window, unless it's really pretty outside).