The article, Power Begins to Return After Blackout in Brazil by the associated press, recounts the blackout of a sizable chunk of Brazil and all of Paraguay. The cause of the blackout was never officially confirmed, but experts suggest that a storm may have caused a short circuit in an electrical station that controls power for the Itaipu hydro plant. The power in Parahuay was only knocked out for 20 minutes, but no notice was immediately given to the people of Brazil about when the power would return. Most citizens interviewed did not seem particularly concerned about the blackout. Many drank beers and waited it out. However, serious questions are being raised about Brazil which currently stands to host the world cup in 2010 and the 2012 Olympics.
The article was decent and it was interesting. It was bit anti-climactic, even the lead seemed to down-play the severity of the situation. It should not have mentioned the 20-minute blackout in Paraguay until later in the article. It also should have grouped the possible reasons for the blackout instead of scattering them between paragraphs. The article does succeed in generating reader questions. Will Brazil pull itself together in time for the World Cup, and even more importantly, for the Olympics? The article leaves us on a suspenseful note which foster interest in the subject.
Major unfortunate events like this recent widespread blackout make me thankful for the little things, like electricity
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