570News Blog: Kate Stockmann

This week’s story about Prince Harry serving on the front lines in Afghanistan is bringing to light a growing challenge authorities have with the Internet.

 Media outlets were aware he was serving in the country but agreed not to publish the fact until he had returned safely home.

 It was blogger for a foreign news agency that let it slip.

There have been cases in our newsroom when we are following stories involving young offenders that we have found information posted on websites like Facebook that violate publication bans.

Anyone can find out who young offenders are, with a quick search yet if a legitimate media organization were to publish that information the people responsible for the breach could serve jail time.

Yet another case of technology being ahead of legislation.

 Kate

I’ve recently joined the Green Bin pilot program and I am loving it!

 I was surprised to discover just how many different things I could put in my bin, from food waste to kitty litter.

I was also impressed at the organization of the program. My “kit” came with everything I could want to help me make the most of my bin.

It included a mini-bin for my kitchen, stacks of two different sized liners so I could keep them clean and a handy frig magnet with a quick reference of what I can put in my bin.

I anticipate that I will be throwing out one small kitchen sized garbage bag every six weeks instead of every week.

I really hope this becomes a permanent fixture in Waterloo Region.

 Kate

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 I’m one of those people that really sees this as a greeting card holiday. I’ve never been one do the gift thing and in the past I have been content to just go out for dinner.

 Yesterday on 570 News we ran a story featuring one of the stars of Keys to the VIP who said that any girl who says she doesn’t want anything for Valentine’s Day is lying. Well I don’t, and I’m telling the truth.

I think I take after my mother in being very practical. Sometimes this whole gift giving thing can get out of hand with people giving each other a lot of expensive stuff they really don’t have a use for.

We were talking yesterday about our editor’s mother, who wanted a vacuum cleaner but wouldn’t tell her husband because she was afraid she’d get one as a gift. Call me unromantic, but I’d love a new vacuum cleaner as a gift.

For Christmas I asked for wooden spoons. I didn’t have any good ones and I needed them. Now, every time I use them, I think of my parents and what a useful gift they were.

Just because a gift is useful, doesn’t make it any less meaningful in my books.

Kate

Those two words usually drive fear into most people. They cringe at that high-pitched drilling noise. But not me.

 I’ve made it well into my adult years without ever having a cavity. Even as a child I never had one. And this should make you angry, I seldom floss.

I’m going to the dentist Monday morning for a cleaning and I’m the only person I know who looks forward to it. I love that super-clean feeling of my teeth when they are done.

 I’m not sure how my dentist feels about my visits. He seemed a little sad last time when he told me I was born with good enamel and would likely need very little work done as I age.

Kate