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To: tdt-distrib@ldc.upenn.edu
From: Charles Wayne <clwayne@snap.org>
Subject: Re: TOPIC LIST 3
Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 10:50:03 -0400 (EDT)
TDTers,
Here are some thoughts I had concerning the list the LDC sent us a couple
days ago. Please submit your own advice/questions SOON. Since algorithms
have to be judged against annotations, it is important that we all agree
on the principles and help the LDC get the definitions right.
Charles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 38. LaSalle's Boat
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Divers have found the wreckage of LaSalle's ship the "Aimable"
> WHERE: Texas
> WHEN: 3/3/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: The related article here actually contains
> the story about the seminal event. The ship sank three
> centuries ago, and was part of LaSalle's fleet. It ran aground during
> his search for the mouth of the Mississippi River. Authorities
> expect it to have more artifacts than LaSalle's personal ship did.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #7: At a minimum, any stories about the search for the ship, treasures found on the ship,
> false starts in the search should be included in this topic. The rule
> allows for the inclusion of stories related to the technology used
> in the search and the names of researchers or scientists involved.
>
> Article: CNN19980303.1130.1489
Would it be helpful to the annotators to know the geographic location
of the discovery a bit more closely? The identity of the key searchers?
> 39. India Elections
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: India's Parliamentary Elections
> WHERE: India
> WHEN: First Week in March 1998
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Again, the seminal event is identified in
> this article. India held Parliamentary elections in early
> March, but early indications were that there would continue to be a
> Hung Parliament governing the Country.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 1: According to this rule, at least
> stories about voter issues, campaigns or candidates and
> election results are all on topic. If any issues arise directly from
> the elections (i.e. a protest against winning candidates) those would
> also be related to the topic.
>
> Article: PRI19980303.2000.0432
> 40. Maryland Murder
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Alfred Tello Jr. was dismembered (murdered) in Montgomery County, MD. Samuel Sheinbein was the leading suspect.
> WHERE: Montgomery County, MD
> WHEN: ??
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Sheinbein fled to Israel and fought
> extradition. On March 2, he agreed to return to the U.S. for a
> trial under the condition that he be allowed to serve his sentence in
> an Israeli prison. This decision was supported by Israel's Justice
> Ministry.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 3: The killing, the search for
> Sheinbein, his arrest warrant & flight to Israel, all
> negotiations between lawyers and the U.S. and Israeli courts, and his
> trial and sentencing (should it happen) would be minimally
> what is topic relevant.
>
> Article: APW19980302.0134
It might be worth mentioning the name of the codefendant and what has
happened to him.
> 41. Peterson cops plea
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Peterson & Grossberg's baby found murdered, parents are prime suspects
> WHERE: Newark, Delaware
> WHEN: Fall, 1997
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: On March 9 Peterson agreed to plead guilty
> to manslaughter (and face possibly 10 years in prison)
> and to testify in court against Grossberg.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #3: The baby's murder, the decision to
> arrest Grossberg and Peterson, their interactions with
> police and lawyers, the criminal investigation, pleas in exchange for
> testimony, (in April Grossberg also cops a plea for a more lenient
> sentence) and the sentencing are all topic relevant.
>
> Article: ABC19980309.1830.0520
I would feel more comfortable if there were a bit more information about
the crime and if the title reflected the crime/case rather than one detail.
> 42. Asteroid Coming??
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: A mile-wide Asteroid discovered headed toward Earth
> WHERE: Outer Space!
> WHEN: 3/98 (early in March)
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Scientists released the news that in fact,
> the asteroid would pass us by. It is expected in about 30
> years, but it is not expected to hit us.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 7: The stories about the discovery
> AND the follow up are all topic related. Any stories about
> the technology used to track the asteroid, or the folks who did the
> tracking would be on topic.
>
> Article: CNN19980312.2130.0300
Does the asteriod have a name? Who raised the alarm?
> 43. Dr. Spock Dies
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Dr. Benjamin Spock, baby expert, died of natural causes
> WHERE: La Jolla, CA
> WHEN: 3/16/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Again, the related article discusses the
> seminal event. Dr. Spock was considered by many to be a
> child care guru.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # _ : This doesn't fall under a rule
> as yet, but the topic would include any stories about his
> illness, his legacy, the publication of the seventh edition of his
> book "Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care" (which will be
> commemorative publications this summer) and any obituary-type
> stories.
>
> Article: NY19980316.0359
Although there will be various human interest spinoffs plus stories about
Spock's whole career, his theories, and their impact, I think stories
would only be on topic if they address his death (including causes and
consequences).
> 44. Tobacco Company settlement
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Congressional Proposal for Tobacco Co. Settlement
> WHERE: n/a
> WHEN: Early Spring 1998
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: This article discusses R.J. Reynolds' denial
> that they would pull out of the settlement proceedings.
> The denial was published 4/2/98
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #3: Stories relevant to this legal proceeding include the documentation indicating that
> tobacco companies were aware of the dangers of smoking, the various
> iterations of the settlement before it went before the court,
> stories about the companies involved in the settlement and any
> ramifications of the final court decision.
>
> Article: PRI19980402.2000.0144
There are a number of Congressional proposals floating around. The best
solution might be to define the topic as the activity of devising a
national settlement (which began when the state attorneys general reached
their settlement).
> 45. Climbing Accident
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Czech climber falls to his death
> WHERE: Timaru, New Zealand. Mount Cook
> WHEN: 3/12/98 RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: The article identifies the
> seminal event. A Czech mountain climber fell to his death (fell 700
> meters).
> They air-lifted the body to Mount Cook Village, 17 hours after the
> fall. His climbing companion went into shock after watching his
> friend fall, and then climbing down to his body. The name of the
> victim will not be released until his family is notified.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 5: As an accident, stories about the
> victim and his companion are relevant, stories about
> any risk or negligence (either on the part of New Zealand officials
> or the climber) and stories about the conditions for climbing that
> day (contributing to his fall...) would all be on topic.
>
> Article: APW19980312.0009
> 46. Great Lake??
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Senator Leahy's legislation to make Lake Champlain a Great Lake.
> WHERE: Lake Champlain, Vermont/ Washington, D.C.
> WHEN: Mid-March, 1998
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Senator Patrick Leahy was instrumental in
> passing legislation making Lake Champlain a Great Lake,
> hoping to make Vermont eligible for state funded research
> money. Shortly after the legislation passed, it was revoked, and Champlain
> is not really a Great Lake. But Vermont will still get some research money.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #1?: Though not an election, the
> passing of legislation works similarly in that all
> campaigning or lobbying would be topic relevant, as would the vote to
> pass the legislation and the implementation (or not) of the
> new legislation would be on topic. In this case, all stories about
> how Leahy got this legislation passed, the decision to revoke the
> status, and anything in-between would be relevant.
>
> Article: NY19980324.0329
> 47. Viagra
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Arrival of a new Impotency drug
> WHERE: n/a
> WHEN: April, 1998 is date of release
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration is close to
> approving medication for men who suffer from
> impotency.
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 7: The research on and discovery of
> the drug, like other science news, expands to topic by
> including all articles about the drug development, the doctors
> working on the drug, the FDA's approval process FOR THIS
> PARTICULAR DRUG, and the impact this drug has on every day life for
> folks. Many stories in April will talk about Viagra as the Pill
> of the 90's.
>
> Article: ABC19980319.1830.0445
The seminal event probably ought to be the FDA approval of Viagra, which
happened on some specific date, or perhaps the much-earlier announcement
of its development.
> 48. Jonesboro shooting
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: A 11 year old and a 13 year old shot 3 classmates and a teacher
> WHERE: Jonesboro, AR at the school
> WHEN: 3/24/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: This is the seminal event. The two boys
> pulled a fire alarm and as students were leaving the school
> they fired guns into the crowd. The boys were heavily armed with guns
> they had stolen from the older one's grandfather. They were
> arrested.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #3: The shooting at the school, the
> arrest of the boys, the investigation, and the trial and
> sentencing will all be topic relevant. So will discussions about
> trying these boys as minors or not, the decision about whether or not
> to try for the death penalty and the struggle around the fact that
> the alleged murderers are so young.
>
> Article: ABC19980324.1830.0103
> 49. Boehner/McDermott suit
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Rep. John A. Boehner filed suit against Rep. Jim McDermott
> WHERE: Washington, D.C.
> WHEN: 3/9/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Boehner accuses McDermott of publicly
> disclosing an intercepted conference call between Boehner
> and Speaker Newt Gingrich and other Republican party leaders. The
> conversation was accidentally recorded by a Florida couple.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #3: This rule allows that at least
> stories about the taped conversation, the suit, lawyers, the
> Florida couple who made the tape, and trial outcomes are topic relevant.
>
> Article: NY19980309.0377
The TDT community has agreed that TDT2 topics should have the most
inclusive reasonable scope, rather than being sliced and diced as was done
in TDT1 with the Simpson DNA evidence.
In this case, the seminal event probably should be the disclosure of the
recorded conversation, which happened a couple years ago; and the title
should reflect that.
> 50. JJ the Whale
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: JJ is abandoned on the California Coast
> WHERE: California Coast
> WHEN: January, 1997
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Researchers are tracking JJ's path as she is
> released and re-integrated into the Pacific Ocean. Her
> release took place on 3/31.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 7: As science news the topic
> includes at least stories about J.J.s rescue, her recovery in
> captivity, the plans for her release, and the tracking of her
> progress once she was released. Also, any stories about the technology
> used to treat her, or the Marine Biologists involved in her case are
> on topic.
>
> Article: CNN19980403.0130.0753
Following the inclusivity principle, the topic-defining seminal event
would be the whale's rescue.
Stories about the marine biologists could be BRIEF or YES for the topic
depending on the degree to which they refer to this whale case.
> 51. Arrest of Thai Police Lt.
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: A fight broke out at a Bangkok disco, several people were badly beaten.
> WHERE: Bangkok, Thailand
> WHEN: 3/27/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: The article is about the seminal event, the
> crime, and the follow up arrest of a Thai police
> Lieutenant. Witnesses identified Wanchalerm Yubamrung as the
> instigator of the brawl. He surrendered to police on 4/7/98.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #3: At a minimum, articles about the
> victims, the fight, the investigation, Wanchalerm's
> arrest, trial and punishment are all topic relevant. There are
> articles linking Wanchalerm to his father, a police captain and leader of
> the Muanchon Party. These are also topic relevant as his arrest has
> an impact on his father's political status (consequences of the
> crime...)
>
> Article: APW19980407.0003
> 52. Strike in Germany
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Tens of thousands of public employees go on strike
> WHERE: All over Germany
> WHEN: Started 3/2/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Germany's public employees are striking as a
> warning designed to put pressure on the government
> for higher wages and job security. The strike coincides with public
> employee contract negotiations.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #6: Although not quite ongoing
> violence, this disruption to Germany's infrastructure is
> comparable. The topic would expand to include at least stories about
> the strikers, negotiations to get them back to work, the impact
> on German citizens, any retaliatory actions.
>
> Article: VOA19980303.2100.1124
It might be helpful to annotators to know both the start and the end
date of the strike.
> 53. California Vote
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Voters are choosing a replacement for Congressman Walter Capps
> who died while in office.
> WHERE: Central Coastal California
> WHEN: 3/10/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: The wife of Congressman Capps, Lois Capps
> (D) is running against Tom Bordanareau (R). The race is
> being watched for two reasons. First, it is an indication of how
> mid-term elections might go. Second, this election has attracted a lot
> of money for independent campaigns and special interest groups.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #1: The topic includes (but isn't
> limited to) stories about the campaigns, the candidates, the
> special interest groups funding independent candidates, the voter
> turnout, and the election results.
>
> Article: PRI19980310.2000.0144
Since there have been a lot of California elections in the news recently,
it might be helpful to make the title a bit more specific.
> 54. Albright to Canada
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Madeleine Albright will make an official visit to Canada.
> WHERE: Canada
> WHEN: 3/10/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Albright went to meet with Prime Minister
> Jean Chretienne and Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy. It
> is the first official visit by an American Secretary of State in 10
> years.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #_: No rule exists yet, but as
> political activity the topic would include stories about her
> meetings with Chretienne or Axworthy, her negotiations with them, her
> plans for the trip and her feedback after.
>
> Article: VOA19980310.2300.0251
> 55. Boeing suit
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: 41 Boeing employees filed a racial discrimination suit.
> WHERE: n/a
> WHEN: 3/17/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: The employees filed a suit alleging that
> Boeing practiced discriminatory hiring.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # 3: The topic expands to include
> stories about the instances of harassment that motivated
> the suit, the employees filing, Boeing's response, the settlement or
> trial and results and any immediate ramifications (if Boeing goes
> under because of the financial stress those stories would also be on
> topic).
>
> Article: PRI19980317.2000.0140
> 56. James Earl Ray Case
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Martin Luther King's murder, Ray's arrest
> WHERE: Nashville, TN
> WHEN: MLK was killed April 4, 1968.
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: On Marcy 18, 1998 Ray's lawyer announced
> that he will not pursue a new trial in the case. Ray is
> suffering from liver disease and could not take part in a new
> trial. He is in critical condition in a Nashville prison.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #3: Stories about MLK's family
> requesting a new trial, stories about Ray's input from prison,
> stories about Ray's death (which happens in April) are all on topic
> according to this rule.
>
> Article: VOA0318.2300.1376
> 57. World Figure Skating Champs
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: The World Figure Skating Championships
> WHERE:
> WHEN: April, 1998
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Nicole Bobek has a hip injury and decided
> she could not compete. Tara Lupinski also pulled out of
> competition due to a viral infection, leaving Michelle Kwan as the
> only U.S. contender.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION # __: No rule exists yet, but this
> topic would include all stories about the championship;
> stories about competitors, about the event itself, medal winners, and
> any consequences of the contest (injuries DURING the event,
> offers to winners for endorsements etc.)
>
> Article:VOA19980325.2300.2972
As noted before, I think it would be helpful to include specific locations
and date ranges.
> 59. April's Fools
>
> Seminal Event:
> WHAT: Britain's Financial Times believed a gag press release from Guiness beer
> WHERE: London
> WHEN: 3/31/98/ 4/1/98
>
> RELATED ARTICLE SUMMARY: Guiness ran a spoof press release announcing
> that the Greenwich group has named them the official
> beer of the Millennium, and that they would adopt the name Guiness
> for the duration of the lead up to the Millennium celebrations.
> The Financial Times ran the story as if it were true.
>
> RELATED RULE OF INTERPRETATION #8: It's really a story about
> finances, since Guinness DID agree to sponsor Greenwich Mean
> Time. Topic includes stories about the sponsorship deal (the REAL
> one) and ramifications for the Times for running a spoof. Also,
> Stock Market consequences because of the joke would be topic
> relevant.
>
> Article:NYT19980401.0393
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Last updated Wed Sep 9 09:40:49 1998