From the Newsroom

Picky about pasta? Which shape is best?

2008-05-09T22:00:00Z

Post by Rod Wood - As a long time pasta fan, I know it can be confusing when buying the right shape pasta at the supermarket. It's not easy doing the shopping when you're the only non-Italian in your household. But I've finally found an excellent guide in this month's issue of Consumer Reports ShopSmart. It tells you how to pick the best shape pasta for whatever sauce you're making

The sauce:Marinara
Best pasta:Capellini

The sauce: Classic garden vegetable
Best pasta partner:Fusilli

The sauce: Puttanesca
Best pasta partner: Spaghetti

The sauce: Bolognese
Best pasta partner: Rigatoni

The sauce: Pesto
Best pasta partner: Linguine

The sauce: Alfredo
Best past partner: Fettuccine

My favorite sauce is my wife's and she says it's a secret recipe.
Perhaps you have some advice you'd like to add? Feel free to pass it along to me.

Keeping Prom & Graduation Season Safe

2008-05-08T22:18:00Z

Post by Dan Cummings - I hope you've paid a visit to the "Safe and Sober" section on our homepage (click here to visit the page). This week, I had the opportunity to report on the annual, community-wide effort by DeWitt Police, the Jamesville-DeWitt School District, and businesses in the town...to fight underage drinking during prom and graduation season.

I took away some very encouraging signs from my meeting this week with law enforcement, moms of JD seniors, store and hotel managers. First, the moms say parents are talking to each other about "party plans." If they hear talk about the Friday or Saturday night party at this house, or that house...phone calls are made among parents, to check it out...to make sure a mom or dad will be on hand, at the very least. I also heard how hotels and motels are taking extra steps to discourage, or outright refuse to accept reservations for rooms that are likely to be used for underage drinking parties. And, I also heard how those "compliance checks" are meeting with almost 100% success in DeWitt. That's where underage undercovers are sent in by police to attempt to purchase alcohol. Almost without exception, the latest such "sting" operation found no violators, almost full compliance (one store out of 30 was referred to state authorities for illegal sale...not bad). The next round of compliance checks begins in a few days, and will run for several weeks.

And, it sounds like those "after" parties, sponsored by the school district itself, are more "cool" than ever. At least in J-D, where they've been holding such safe and sober parties since the '80's. This year, more than 200 members of the senior class of 255 are expected to attend the "after the ball" party, the first weekend in June.

If you know of any new, or unique ways that your school or community is approaching the underage drinking issue, please let us know. And, here's hoping for a safe and sober spring full of celebration, especially for graduating seniors and their friends.

Are you left handed? You have some famous company.

2008-05-02T22:30:00Z

Post by Rod Wood - From everything that I've read, right handed people make up about 90 percent of Americans. That leaves me among the ten percent who are left handers....or southpaws as we're sometimes called. I recently learned that Left-Handers Day is August 13th. Maybe that's the time for a celebration!

I was amazed recently to learn the names of hundreds of famous left handed people. Here are some of them:

Left-Handed U.S.Presidents
James A.Garfield
Herbert Hoover
Harry S.Truman
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan
George H.W.Bush
Bill Clinton

Miscellaneous Left-Handers
Joan of Arc
Alexander the Great
Julius Caesar
Napoleon Bonaparte
Prince Charles of England
Prince William of England
Fidel Castro
Edwin Aldrin, astronaut
Wally Schirra, astronaut
Edward R.Murrow
Jay Leno
Barack Obama

Any left-handed people you think should be added to the list?

Your home's assessment

2008-05-01T22:30:00Z

Post by Dan Cummings - If it's not too late (and it shouldn't be)...you should take the time to review the assessment on your home, and if you think it's too high...call your assessor and schedule an informal review. For several years now, Newschannel 9 has provided some in-depth coverage at this time of year on assessments. My reporting on this topic THIS year showed me that more than ever, the assessors seem to be listening. One example: by Wednesday afternoon, in Fulton, the assessors had done just under 200 informal reviews with homeowners. Fewer than 10 of those 200 people went on to file a grievance. That means that during the informal, almost all of them were given a break in their assessment. All of those people were able to convince the assessor that the proposed new value of their home was too high. In some cases, the reductions granted at the informals were significant. (Of course, that raises the question: why was the new assessment set so high in the first place ? And, you should ask your assessor THAT question, too...if it applies).

I heard similar stories coming out of Salina and Onondaga. If you can make the case that recent sales of homes comparable to yours in your neighborhood are at prices significantly lower than the assessed value of YOUR home, you can talk the assessor down. It's an inexact science, this business of assessment...but the bottom line is this: the assessed value should be very close to what you could get for the house right now, if you put it on the market.

Even if you didn't get one of those "change notices" or "impact letters" from your town or city this spring, now is the time to review your assessment. Grievances in most municipalities must be concluded by late May or early June, and the new tax roll is set in stone by July 1-st. (That's for the towns. The city of Syracuse and some other municipalities work on different schedules).

Click here for our "Fighting Your Assessment" stories.

Feedback Wanted: 9wsyr.com Video

2008-04-27T02:19:00Z

Hello Everyone. Once again, we're looking for feeback to enhance your experience on 9wsyr.com. We're trying to make our video easier to locate. Right now you have several options, but we'd like to learn more about how you navigate 9wsyr.com.

It seems pretty easy when it's attached to a story in the top stories section.

But if not, do you click on "video" in the top horizontal menu bar which takes you to the "media center"?

Do you use the flash video player on the home page?

If so, have you accessed the individual categories at the bottom?

We'd love to get your suggestions.

Also, we are aware that some of you are having trouble with the load time of the home page player, and we are trying to track down the problem. So please let us know if it gets better or worse.

Thanks as always for your thoughts. We truly value your feedback. If you're uncomfortable responding to this blog, feel free to e-mail thewebunit@9wsyr.com.

Jim Tortora, Director of News & Content.

Helpful hint: In case you didn't know it was available, you CAN search video by keywords. Right under the 9wsyr.com header use the dropdown in the google search bar and select "search video".

Do you need a digital converter for your TV?

2008-04-25T22:30:00Z

Post by Rod Wood - When February 17, 2009 rolls around, U.S. television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and send only digital transmissions. By law, stations like NewsChannel 9 must make the switch.

Here are some questions and answers about the transition:

Why is this happening?
- DTV has better picture and sound quality. Also, stopping the analog broadcasts will free up a huge amount of airwaves. The government has auctioned off some of them for use by wireless broadband and cell-phone TV.

Do you need a digital converter box?
- If you have cable or satellite TV, only extra sets that are not hooked up will be affected.
- If you get TV over the air, your TV might not work without a converter box.
- Most new TVs sold today, including flat-panel sets, have digital tuners and won't need a converter box, but double-check when buying.

How much do the converters cost?
- The converter boxes generally cost $50-$60, so the final cost is between $10 and $20 per box after the $40 coupons given out by the government. Go to www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 to get up to two $40 coupons per household.

Click here for many more questions and answers about Digital Television (DTV).

Click here to visit our DTV blog, where you can find more answers and ask your own questions.

- information from the AP

After the PA primary

2008-04-24T22:30:00Z

Post by Dan Cummings - Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was, and pleasantly so. On Tuesday in Scranton, Pennsylvania, I was covering the get-out-the-vote effort for Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the state's pivotal Presidential primary. And right there, in the Scranton campaign offices of both candidates...were several people from...Oswego, Marcellus, and Cortland. A busload of Central New Yorkers had made its way from the Empire State to the Keystone State to work the phones and the streets...for their candidate. Later that evening, when the results were in, I met a couple from Manhattan who were celebrating the 10-point win of their candidate, Senator Clinton. I got to wondering if this many Pennsylvanians came to New York State to volunteer for our primary earlier this year. I doubt it. (of course, Senator Clinton's built-in advantage as our junior U.S. Senator gave her a bigger edge here, so our primary wasn't nearly as hotly contested).

The contest for the Democratic nomination this year is one for the ages. And it became very clear to me this week, how high the emotions can run...and how deep the passion can be...for both Clinton and Obama. Some, of course, will concede the obvious...that they are BOTH quality candidates, and that EITHER would make for a strong nominee. But the vast majority of Democrats, it seems to me...are probably like the people I met in those Scranton campaign offices this week: intense in their devotion to one candidate or the other, convinced that either he, or she...is best suited to lead the country. And they will travel to neighboring states, if they can, to work for the election of their favorite. One Oswego woman told me she'll probably head to West Virginia in advance of the primary there...to work for Senator Clinton.

There is much at stake in the 2008 Presidential election. It is refreshing and encouraging to see the numbers of people paying serious attention, and in many cases, taking an active role in the outcome.

Springtime: Are Your Tires Safe For The Highway?

2008-04-18T21:49:00Z

Properly inflated tires will keep you and your loved ones driving safely.

Post by Rod Wood - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has attributed under inflated tires to crashes that result in 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year. Sadly, a survey by the
Rubber Manufacturers found that an estimated 15% of drivers properly check their tires.

NHTSA also found that 27 percent of passenger cars and 32 percent of light trucks have at least one significantly under-inflated tire.

One flat tire is bad enough---don't get stuck with two. 71% of drivers do not check the inflation pressure in their spare. Check your spare tire every month.

Drivers can improve gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure.

To properly check inflation pressure: Use the correct inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, not the pressure listed on the tire sidewall.

Check tires when they are cold or haven't been driven for at least three hours.

The Philadelphia Debate

2008-04-18T21:48:00Z

Post by Dan Cummings - I had the opportunity to cover Wednesday's debate in Philadelphia between Senators Obama and Clinton. If you follow this race closely, you don't need another long take on the debate and its potential impact...so how about a short one?

Before the debate, ABC News political correspondents Jake Tapper and Mark Halperin told me Senator Clinton may have to take the risky approach of going on the offensive, being aggressive...in questioning Senator Obama's chances against John McCain in November. She needs a big win next Tuesday in the Pennsylvania primary, and latest polls show she's only leading by single digits. In my opinion, and despite other reports you may have seen that indicated Clinton went "on the attack" in the debate...I think she laid back a bit.

When asked directly if she thinks Obama can beat McCain, she said "yes, yes, yes." But, she then spent most of the next hour, politely but repeatedly questioning whether Obama, in a general election, would wither under the likely GOP attacks against his associations with his outspoken former pastor and a former member of the radical "Weather Underground,"...and recent comments by the Illinois Senator that the "bitter" working class in PA might be clinging to their guns and religion, to cope.

Her so-called "attacks" were rather subtle. Too subtle, I think, to be labeled "attacks" at all. We'll find out Tuesday if her debate strategy worked.

The Passing of “The Play Lady”

2008-04-07T19:41:00Z

Remembering Jean Daugherty: A television pioneer.

Post by Rod Wood: I knew Jean had been in failing health in recent years, but I still wasn't ready to hear of her death over the weekend at age 84.

I first met Jean at the age of 11, when I appeared in plays put on by the Syracuse University Drama Department Children's Theater. We had a show on Thursday afternoons on what was then WHEN-TV channel 8.

Jean was the director, and one of the first female TV directors in the nation. One time I somehow didn't stand in the right spot for the camera and Jean quickly yet politely corrected me. That was 1952!

It would be 15 years later, before I began working with Jean again when I joined the news staff of WHEN radio and TV. She knew I had a knack for doing special voices, so she was quick to enlist me to do my part for “The Magic Toyshop.”

Christmas season was always a joy because she would have me emcee when the cast would entertain at the Saturday morning “Breakfast with Santa” program at the former E.W.Edwards store. I was known as "Mister Rod" at those functions.

Jean was a tireless writer, sometimes cranking out a week's worth of scripts in a single day!

She had a special way with children, their parents and grandparents. Jean almost never turned down a request for a community appearance and lent her support to countless causes for children, for the hungry and for senior citizens.

Thousands of children grew up to “The Magic Toyshop” and now they are parents, grandparents, and maybe even great-grandparents. What a shame children of today can't enjoy that wonderful program and its founder Jean Daugherty.

Jean will be missed both here in Central New York and in her native Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. She always spoke lovingly of that community.

Jean was one of a kind. She's looking down at us from heaven right now.

Jamie Lee Curtis and her "Strapless" pose

2008-04-07T16:35:00Z

In the days leading up to the show, we saw the Oprah promos; "At almost 50...why Jamie Lee Curtis posed nude for this."

A very misleading promotion after watching the show and hearing the actress set the record straight. Curtis says that she wasn't naked in the AARP magazine shot..

Here's a link to read her comments and then please share yours.

Used Car Buyer's Guide for Spring

2008-04-04T21:38:00Z

Post from Rod Wood: Planning to shop for a used car this spring? According to Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine, here are seven questions you should ask the seller before you buy:

(1) How's it equipped? For example, does it have a working air conditioner?
Think about what would be deal-breakers for you.

(2) How many miles on the odometer? Lower is better but you'll pay more.
Also, for every year it's been on the road, it shouldn't have more than 20,000 miles.

(3) Are you the only one who owned it? The fewer owners, the better.

(4) Was it ever in an accident or flood? Carfax.com and autocheck.com can ID some
(but not all) problem cars.

(5) Has it had any recalls? Major ones could be a red flag. Dealerships have records.

(6) May I see the service records and any receipts for repairs? Regular oil changes and
maintenance appointments are a good sign.

(7) Why are you selling it? Asking may reveal some surprises. Be wary of evasive answers.

Chief's opening day, a sign of the season

2008-04-03T22:24:00Z

Post by Dan Cummings - Let's keep it light this week. I'll join my voice to others you may hear, and read....and say "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!" And I'm not even a huge baseball fan. But, just like the St. Patrick's Parade in mid-March, opening day for the Chiefs at Alliance Bank Stadium is a sign of the season. I think they call it spring, even if it takes forever to arrive in Central New York. Our Triple-A team has launched another season, and they deserve our support. The grass is real now. There's plenty of parking. And whether it's an evening or a weekend afternoon...the ballpark can be a fantastic place to take the family and get some fresh air. And cheer the Chiefs on to victory.

Before long, spring softball leagues and Little League games will be in full swing, too. Winter has finally melted into spring, we hope. And the sights, sounds and smells of the great American pastime are taking center field again.

So, when it comes to the Chiefs, a full ballpark could go a long ways towards community spirit, and a few more wins. Wins have been hard to come by for this team in recent years. Win or lose, the could use our support. No better time to show it than right now, at the start of a brand new season.

Let's Go Crunch!

2008-04-03T13:03:00Z

Hey hockey fans, how excited are we? There's no team hotter than the Syracuse Crunch right now. No team has been hotter all year! What a game last night. ( I especially love the music Tony) Now that the Crunch have won 9 games in a row, the team has set a franchise record for consecutive wins and is streaking into the playoffs. I think the team is only going to improve with the return of players like McKenzie, Smith, and of course the captain... Zenon Konopka! Who have you loved to watch this season ? How long do you think this streak will continue? Let's hope they maintain the hunger!

Tired of E-Mail Spam?

2008-03-29T04:11:00Z

Post by Rod Wood - Tired of SPAM? No not the meat in a can but that other garbage that turns up in your computer.

Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine offers these five tips to protect yourself from spam:

(1) Never respond to spam. That just lets spammers know that your e-mail address is active.

(2) Avoid shopping from a spammed offer. At the very least, you're encouraging spammers to send out more junk mail. At worst, you're compromising your system. If possible, don't open the messages at all.

(3) Never provide your password in e-mail, and do not verify your account or provide other information by clicking on an e-mail link. No reputable company would ever ask you to do so.

(4) Set up two e-mail accounts, one for friends and the other for subscribing to online services like newsletters and for posting on forums.

(5) Make sure your antivirus and antispyware programs are activated. If you've just bought a computer, make sure you're running full versions of the software and not just short-term trials. If your e-mail provider offers an antispam program, activate it.

Have you had any bad experiences with spam? Feel free to write me.

Donte' Greene's Future at Syracuse

2008-03-28T21:06:00Z

With the end of the SU basketball season comes the inevitable question: Will Donte’ Greene go pro?

He told us Tuesday night after the loss to UMass that he really hadn’t made a decision yet. He essentially said that he wanted to take some time and get as much information as possible. Let’s look at some of that information.

When Greene arrived on campus in the fall, he was considered a top five pick. Now that his freshman season is complete, most draft experts have him listed as a mid-first round selection. That’s a big difference in terms of money. Consider that last year’s #15 pick, Rodney Stuckey, is making about $1.5 million this season. Last year’s #5 pick meanwhile, Jeff Green (out of Georgetown), is making twice that. Green’s 2008 salary is more than $3 million. That certainly adds up over the course of a three-year contract.

So, that’s the dilemma facing Donte’. He has said before that “the NBA will always be there.” And he’s right. If Greene comes back to school one more year, he could improve his game, improve his NBA value, and take a shot at winning a national championship. If he leaves now, he’ll still be a first-round pick, but he’ll require more on-the-job training and have to work that much harder for a big contract down the road.

Donte’ Greene isn’t ready to become a star in the NBA next season. We all know he has things he needs to work on. But keep in mind that he has size, athleticism, and a very good outside shot – all things that are hard to find and all things that NBA scouts are looking for.

So should Donte’ Greene enter the 2008 NBA Draft? Will he enter the NBA Draft? The answer to those two questions may not be the same. One thing we do know, is that Donte’ has exactly one month to decide. The clock is ticking…

Clay Police and Sheriff's Department Proposed Merger

2008-03-28T20:57:00Z

A tip of the hat this week to an apparent win-win idea in the town of Clay. Some time ago, town leaders approached county government with a suggestion to eliminate the Clay police force, in favor of covering the entire town with added patrols by the county sheriff's department. Sheriff's patrols for years have already been covering large portions of Clay. Town fathers thought it made sense to go all the way. It will reportedly save money for Clay town taxpayers and produce a more efficient law enforcement coverage for Onondaga County's largest township (60 thousand people living on almost 60 square miles).

There are at least 3 reasons why this particular approach to government consolidation is likely to work, where others have failed (notably, the brief shotgun mergers many years ago between Syracuse, Liverpool and Solvay police departments):

One: this was a bottom-up proposal. The town government went to the county and asked for this.

Two: Clay, unlike Solvay and Liverpool, doesn't have a town or village center. While heavily populated, Clay is also spread out, lessening the need for the kind of local police presence you normally associate with a town or village.

Three (and perhaps most important): People who live in Clay will have the final say, in a scheduled June referendum. County executive Joanie Mahoney told me this week she's confident Clay residents will see the wisdom of the plan and vote to approve it. But if not, she says that will be the end of it. There will be no attempt to force this idea down anyone's throat.

I'd be happy to hear what you think, and if you've got other suggestions about government consolidation where you live...pass them along.

DNA Tracking through Family Going too Far?

2008-03-25T18:23:00Z

Posted by Christie Casciano - We've all seen crime shows and we've seen how DNA has become an important part in solving crimes.

When found at a crime scene, DNA is run through a database looking for a perfect match. Sometimes the search yields a partial match. The DNA is so similar that it could be a brother, sister, mother or father.

Technology exists to yield those near matches, but Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick says the law won't allow it to be used as an investigative tool.

Fitzpatrick would like the law changed. What do you think?

More U.S. Oil Production

2008-03-21T20:11:00Z

Posted by Rod Wood - With gas for our cars and trucks now around $3.30 a gallon and oil prices at more than $100 a barrel, news came from Associated Press this week that producers are suddenly taking a second look at idle, decades-old wells.

When oil sold for one-fifth the price or less, the old wells were considered tapped out and unprofitable.

California's oil production increased by 2.5 million barrels last year for the first time in years.

The story is the same across the nation. In Texas, one of the largest oil-producing states, producers filed more than 5,000 applications to unplug or upgrade old wells or drill new ones last year.

Does any of this mean pump prices will go down? I think not.

How do you folks feel about more U.S. oil exploration?

Two Important Recent Speeches

2008-03-21T03:52:00Z

I'm going to give you a break from my take this week, and instead make a suggestion: find an hour or so sometime in the next few days, and watch two speeches that made news this past week. You'll find both on our website.

First, Governor David Paterson's speech in Albany...delivered immediately after taking the oath of office on Monday, March 17. (click here to watch)

Second, Senator Barack Obama's address in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 19. (Click here to watch)

Sometimes, you simply must watch and listen to ALL of what someone has to say on a given day...in order to take a measure of a man or woman's position...and where they're coming from. News coverage, no matter how in-depth, often doesn't even come close to reflecting a full dose of reality. Besides, by taking the time to watch and listen yourself...you become your own editor, your own journalist...at least on that subject for that day.

Governor Paterson's speech came at a critical moment of transition of power in state government...in the wake of a sudden scandal. Senator Obama's speech came at a critical moment in his campaign for President...his topic was race relations in America.

Both speeches, in my opinion, are worth your time. I'd also love to hear what you think, after watching and listening to them.