By Request - Chilean love triangle

For Julie and Meredith - because I swore I wasn't going to blog about the Chilean miners anymore, but you both knew I couldn't leave well enough alone. It was just too damn good. Between the story itself and the shoddy writing, I couldn't leave it out there untouched!

Miner Yonni Barrios Emerges from Shaft, Greeted by His Mistress

Chilean miner Yonni Barrios emerged this afternoon from the underground shaft where he had been trapped for months and straight into the arms of his mistress, not those of his wife of 28 years. 

His wife had said she would not attend his rescue after discovering that Barrios had been cheating on her with a lover for years.
Grammar Nazi alert! “…Barrios had been cheating on her…” The phrase “had been” implies the affair was in the past and is over. Being that we know this is not the case based on the lead (seeing as how she was there to greet him), this is incorrect. Should be “…Barrios has been cheating on her…”

Yeah, well, sweetheart, remember he may have been sleeping with her for years, but he still remained married to you, so obviously she’s not that great. Well, maybe that’s not the case, maybe he doesn’t have the money to get a divorce – if that’s the case, once he gets a big check from the mine company, look out!

When Barrios stepped out of the mineshaft, Susana Valenzuela was there to greet him emotionally, kissing him and hugging him while she sobbed. Barrios stood stoically but did not appear to be overly affectionate in return.

1. Probably because he was looking over her shoulder for his wife.
2. Because he knew he was on international television, and it would just look bad to be all lovey-dovey on the mistress instead of the wife. Just because he cheated on you doesn’t mean he’s stupid. It just means you didn't give him what he needed at home.

Barrios' wife, 56-year-old Marta Salinas, had said earlier that she would not attend his rescue after discovering that he had been seeing Valenzuela on the sly for years. 
 
"I'm happy because he was saved. It's a miracle from God. But I won't attend the rescue," Salinas told South American newspaper Clarin.
Talk about driving him into another woman’s arms. I mean, you don’t even care enough that he got out of the mine to be there? Really?

You’re selling him short here, because he doesn’t think you care enough to be there for him. There’s a healthy marriage right there. Perhaps that mentality is what made him cheat on you in the first place, you ever think of that?

And second, you’re selling yourself short here, because what better opportunity for a cat fight? Nothing says, “He’s my man,” more than a healthy dose of scratching, biting, and hair-pulling. On international TV, no less.

The only miner with any sort of medical training, Barrios had become the de facto doctor while underground, helping rescuers gauge the degree of psychological and physical maladies of the trapped men.
I’d really like some sort of expansion on this, what sort of medical training? Watching House regularly does not equal medical training.

Family members have held vigils for their loved ones since the collapse, many rushing to greet the miners as they arrive at the top of the shaft in a metal capsule known as "The Phoenix."
Is it just me, or is “The Phoenix” a very over-used and trite nickname for stuff like this?

But greeting Barrios wasn't of interest to Salinas, who discovered her husband's mistress during one of those vigils when she spotted Valenzuela crying and calling out her husband's name. Salinas says that as long as her husband is safe, she is content leaving him.
Leaving him in the hole? Leaving him as in divorce? What, exactly, does “leaving him” mean here? Dammit reporter, you’re really starting to piss me off.

It is not clear whether Barrios' mistress will be at the minehole to greet him.
Journalism Nazi alert! Umm, didn’t the lead of the story tell us the mistress was there? I understand they update the stories throughout the day, but come on, really? I love the story, think it’s freakin’ hilarious, but you do know that all credibility the reporter had was lost right there for me.

Third strike, this reporter is OUT. Seriously, why is it any moron can get a job writing news stories for a major outlet (this one in particular is ABC), but yet I struggled to find work for over a year?

Salinas had originally said she was devoted to her husband, according to early Chilean media reports, but had a change of heart when Barrios, who was permitted to choose three people to meet him at the mouth of the mineshaft, requested that his mistress be there to greet him as well.
Grammar Nazi alert – the word “had” appears in this run-on sentence from hell way too many times.

Alright, so yeah, he was able to choose three people. You do realize, sweetheart, that this is not all about you, right? He’s been trapped for 70 days and wants to see three people – and in those three, he chose you too. It’s not like he asked for her and not you. Get your panties out of the bunch they are in, get over yourself, and prove to him why he married you in the first place. I mean, Jesus, woman. Are you just using this to draw attention to yourself or what?

I get it now - she's milking her 15 minutes of fame out of his - that's low. Seriously, you don't deserve him. He belongs with that other woman, you sneaky, fame-whoring bitch.

"He asked me to come, but it turns out he also invited the other woman and I have decency," said Salinas. "This is very clear: It's her or me."
If you had decency, you’d respect your husband’s wishes. You can play the “it’s her or me” game after he’s been checked out by the doctors and given a clean bill of health.

"The state is aware of my problem and the First Lady (Cecilia Morel) told me there was nothing wrong with my decision not to go, to let her (the other woman) go without problems," said Salinas.
What the hell is the government doing in the middle of this decision? Just like America, government’s got to get their hands in everything, don’t they?

One woman who is sure to be at the site when Barrios emerges is his sister, Zulemy Barrios. 
 
Zulemy Barrios told the BBC that she has been overwhelmed with emotion as she waits, stealing a moment to herself.
Wonder if the wife objects to the fact he asked his sister to be there too?

“…stealing a moment to herself.” Well, you know what they say, “incest is best, put your sister to the test.” Sounds like there’s a fourth player involved now.

"I just needed to be alone. I needed to get away from everyone, even my daughter, who has been my rock of support," Zulemy Barrios said, lighting a candle near Barrios' flag, a makeshift memorial to each of the 33 miners.
My head is going to explode! Nevermind the stupidity of his sister’s quote … but “…lighting a candle near Barrios’ flag, a makeshift memorial to each of the 33 miners.” So, the way that’s written, his flag is a makeshift memorial to all 33 miners? Yeah, didn’t think so. Personally I’d break it into two sentences to clarify that, but that’s just me. I know you know what the reporter meant, but for the love of God, good reporting/writing does not hinge on “hoping” someone gets what you meant, but writing with such clarity that everyone gets what you meant so there is no question. (In all actuality, it’s writing such that everyone gets what whoever you are writing about meant, but that’s another issue for another day.)

Not expecting the video of miners down below when the capsule reached them Tuesday night, Zulemy Barrios told BBC that she was "lost for words" when she saw her brother.
Journalism Nazi alert! Is it just me, or is this a crappy ending to the story? Seems like it’s just hanging – it’s missing closure for me. I mean, yeah, most stories end on a quote, but it’s usually one to tie it all up. This is not one of those.