Darth Vader Running for Prime Minister of Ukraine

Summary- In the article “Darth Vader is Running for Prime Minister of Ukraine, Vowing to Take On Putin” published by Newsweek.com on 10/24/14 we learn that a person dressed up as famous Star Wars villin, Darth Vader, is running for Prime Minister of Ukraine. Darth Vader is running for Ukraines “internet party”. His campaign proposes turning Ukraine’s government into an “e- government” or online government where people could “vote, claim social services, interact with government officials, track the budget and license their business completely online.”

Analysis- At first I was shocked that Darth Vader was running for Prime Minister of Ukraine. But then I realized that the “internet party” was a real party with real goals. I soon wrapped my mind around the concept of having Darth Vader as Prime Minister of Ukraine or even President of the U.S. Overall I think that Darth Vader’s cause is justified, and that he should be allowed to run for Prime Minister even if he has never shown his true identity.

Discussion Questions-

1. Do you think Darth Vader should be allowed to run for Prime Minister of Ukraine?
2. Do you think America would allow Darth Vader to run for President?
3. Would you support Darth Vader? Why or why not?

New York Times: ISIS hostages were tortured before beheadings

Summary

In the article, New York Times: ISIS hostages were tortured before beheadings it explains how ISIS tortures their hostages using different methods. Foley, a 40-year-old freelance journalist, was reporting for GlobalPost and Agence France Presse when he was abducted in 2012. He was the first Western hostage to be beheaded by ISIS on camera.  He was subject to beatings, waterboarding and "mock executions." 

Analysis
 I feel that the ISIS are taking revenge against the US because the US tortured a lots of terrorists using the same ways just like waterboarding. For example, In the Movie Zero dark Thirty by Kathryn Bigelow they show how the US army tortured the captured terrorists. I aslo think that that they should come to an agreement which woukd lead to peace.

www.11alive.com

    Discussion Questions     
   What is the Best way to stop this?
    Should the US Start Negociating with the ISIS?
   What is the main goal of The ISIS?

Waukegan Teacher Strike

Summary:

In Waukegan, Illinois teachers strike over pay and health care coverage. This weeks marks their third week of being at strike. Negotiations are trying to made between the Waukegan Community Unit School District; which happens to be the second largest employer in Waukegan, and the Teachers Council. The district want teachers to pay more for their health care coverage in exchange for a pay in raise. Another issue that is being brought up is, that the rate of pay is very unequal between the administrator and the teachers. In the Waukegan area many residents support the teachers, and many parents/students have helped protest or have donated money. In this district the families are mainly working class families that were hit hard by the shutdown of many factories in the area. About ⅔ of the districts 17,000 public students qualify for reduction on meals or even free meals because their families don’t generate enough money. During a school board meeting on October, 14, parents were shocked to see taxpayer funded $285 per hour attorney that the board has hired to represent them. Many teachers believe they are fighting for a better education for their children.

Analysis:

I believe that the teachers are doing the right thing. “We’ve seen a pattern that the board will not negotiate contracts until the school year starts.” This quote shows that if the board would have listened to the teachers earlier on then the children would not have been affected by this. In my opinion I don’t believe it is fair that teachers have to pay $600 a year for health insurance, when administrator pay nothing and get extra funding. I also believe that the board was wrong when they provokingly canceled the teachers health care insurance, when at least two teachers in the district are currently undergoing cancer treatment, which they have to pay themselves.

1. Do you think the teachers deserve a fair raise? If not what do you think should they should do to reach an agreement?
2. How would you feel if this were to happen at Hinsdale Central?
3. If you were a parent whose kid lived in the district after three weeks of not being in school would you transfer you kid?

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/10/22/wauk-o22.html

Drought in LA leads to Mayor cutting water

President Obama speaks about the severe drought in LA
www.newsela.com

SUMMARY:

In the article, “LA's mayor tells city more water cuts needed during severe drought”, we learn about how Mayor Garcetti is issuing a goal about cutting LA’s water by 20% in the next 2.5 years. This will include severe water restrictions on residents homes and city parks included. He will gradually decrease the amount of water over a period of time, and he will enforce even more unfair rules if these goals are not achieved. One rule is how city buildings can’t water their trees, plant, even lawns for more than twice a week. Tax refunds have also been enforced, where the costs of lawns have increased to 3.75$ per square foot rather than 3$. Garcetti believes that his goals will be met because great progress has been shown throughout the years.

ANALYSIS:

I believe that Garcetti is correct in some ways. I think that it is good that they are making progress on water cutting, but it also hurts the environment. I do not agree with the increase in tax refunds because the more land your want, the more money you have to pay just because they want as little land as possible to save water. I do agree though that saving the water will help with the drought, and that they are making good progress. All in all, I believe that both sides of the argument can be issued, and neither can be right nor wrong.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Do you agree with Garcetti’s plan to cut water?

Do you believe that Garcetti will succeed?

What would you do if you lived in LA with the drought?

source: https://www.newsela.com/articles/drought-losangeles/id/5624/

Twenty years after violence tore it apart, Rwanda prospers

Twenty years after violence tore it apart, Rwanda prospers

Summary

           In the article, it shows that 20 years after the genocide, Rwanda has made stunning progress. For example, their economy has become much better. Businesses have grown, and more jobs are available. Also since 1994, the life expectancy has doubled. The amount of deaths of children under the age of 5 has dropped greatly. President Kagame believes that if they improve their education and get rid of poverty, then that will keep away violence in Rwanda. Even though Rwanda is a country that is prospering in Africa, surrounding countries are having trouble with violence outbreaks and wars, despite the fact that the International Criminal Court said that they will get involved with violence outbreaks when the government fails to protect their people. The main idea of this article is how Rwanda recovered from the genocide, and how other countries can contain violence. 

Analysis

        I feel that Rwanda has been successful and has learned from their mistakes. I also feel that International Criminal Court has learned from their mistakes when they didn't get involved to help end the genocide, and that they are now trying to get involved with violence in other African Countries. 

Discussion questions

1. Do you think that Rwanda has improved since the genocide?

2. Do you think that the president is right when he says, that ending poverty and improving education will help keep away violence?

3. How can other countries learn from Rwanda?

source: https://www.newsela.com/articles/rwanda-genocide/id/3365/

A Technical Demon

By: Nicholas Von Stein

On Sunday an interviewer talked with Elon Musk about his thoughts of technology today in the fascinating article; Elon Musk warns against unleashing artificial intelligence 'demon'. Musk talked about how artificial intelligence is a technological demon. He even claims, “potentially more dangerous than nukes.” The main idea of this article is about the dilemma of whether or not to create artificial intelligence(AI). The two sides of the debate are scientists who believe that the creation of an AI would be the greatest step in technology, and the people who fear an apocalyptic outcome. Musk believes in a technological apocalypse.  

Personally, I do not believe in an apocalypse that of which our enemy is AI. First of all, it seems more like something out of a bad syfy movie, although I would start to fear the possibility of one when AI begin to create more AI. Second, aren’t we already in one? There are people who cannot be separated from their phones or computers. We have an endless world of knowledge, and we don’t give a second thought about it. At any moment, anywhere you can find the answer to anything, or at least the ideas other people have on the topic.

Questions:

How long could you last without your cellphone?

In a single day, how long do you think you use any form of technology in a day? Think about how in the past, people had to go all the way to the library or ask a teacher to figure something out.

Asian-Americans are Changing the Face of the South

Summary: Thousands of Asian-Americans are moving from the coast to the South. Between 2000-2010 the Asian-American population increased 69% in the South by the US Census. The South includes 16 states from Maryland and Delaware to Florida to Texas and Oklahoma. In some states the Asian-American population has doubled between 2000-2010. The growth in metropolitan areas was even more dramatic. This explosive growth presents several challenges. Language barriers are the most prime examples. Communities in the South now have to educate students who don't speak English. For example, a school district in Georgia speaks 111 languages. Georgia is now encouraging Asian-American businesses to put up signs in English so the police will know. Elder care and health care are increasing which is creating a problem. Also voting has jumped by 180% from 2004-2012. One reason people are moving over is because of job opportunity and cheaper cost of living. 

Analysis: I think it is good and bad that a lot of Asian-Americans are moving to the South. I think it is good because our world will have more diversity and it will provide more jobs. It will provide more jobs because a lot of Asian-Americans are opening their own businesses. I think it is bad though because if more and more immigrants keep coming into our country we might have an over-population problem. Also some Asian-Americans don't speak English and they need to be educated which will change our schools and education systems. Elder care and health care will begin to increase so we will have to build more hospitals for more people. I think the government should take control when the population begins to get really big.

Discussion Questions: What should the government do if the population gets over crowded?

Should there be limits on how many people we let into the US?

How can we fix the language barriers?

Asian Shopping Center in Chamblee,Georgia.
https://newsela.com/

Cheating, taken to a whole new level, or not?

Summary~
   In the article, "New PhotoMath app that solves math problem by taking a picture could lead to new era of student cheating, change instruction methods, teachers say", it talks about the new app, called "PhotoMath". PhotoMath is an app that can solve any math problem(excluding handwritten ones) on your smartphone right after you take a picture of it. The app even shows you step by steps on how to do the problems. Obviously, this app got 2 million downloads during the first 24 hours, and most of the reviews were good, but what about the reviews from the teachers' perspectives? The creators insist that the app is just designed to be an educational tool and hope that it can be successful, but with too much sophistication, will teachers have to change the questions to real word problems? Someone also states that if you're not keeping up with the world of math technology, then it is reaching a tipping point of changing what we do.Yet to some teachers' surprise, they found out that there are some questions that the app can't solve, since it has only a range of 9th to 10th grade math for now. Izet Zdralovic, co-founder of a company that developed the product says,"A lot of people are saying 'oh my God, kids will cheat. When calculators were first introduced people were afraid of that, but now you can't go to school without a calculator". He also says that if you were a cheater, you would definitely try to find a way to cheat on everything, which means that not everyone will use this app to cheat. The company later on explains how it will make the app able to solve high levels of math in the future.
Analysis~
   I personally just downloaded this app a few days ago, and it worked perfectly on this really complicated math problem that I needed help with. But I still think that most students from this generation will cheat with this app, since most of them have smartphones nowadays(you can quickly hide it in your pockets), and the app is very different from the calculator. This app even shows you steps on how to do the question, which I find really amazing, and students can also learn more from it than just by using a calculator. I hope that the creators of the app can not only realize how some teenagers are about to get into serious trouble because of this app, but at the same time convince more people about how they want this to be for educational purposes only.

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you agree or disagree with teachers changing math questions to math "word" problems(like arguments and world problems) just because they're scared of students cheating with this app?
2. How do you feel about technology becoming "one with" our life now in the 21st century?
3. Would you want to download this app and why?

http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/

Attack On Canada's Parliament 

SUMMARY: According to the article “Guard kills gunman who attacked government building in Canada,” on Saturday just before 10 AM a man dressed all is black and carrying a rifle tried to break into Canada’s Parliament. Before this the gunman, 32 year old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, shot and killed a soldier guarding a Canadian war memorial. Tony Zobi saw the incident from the fourth floor of a nearby building. Zehaf-Bibeau broke into parliament, while a meeting between Canada’s Prime Minister and other officials was going on. He didn’t get very far before 58 year old ceremonial guard, Kevin Vickers, shot and killed the gunman. It is believed that the gunner was working for ISIL, and was trying to get revenge on Canada for join the fight against ISIL. The Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, raised the terror threat on Canada from Low to Medium Threat. Partly because of this incident and a hit and run attack on Canadian soldier a few days before.     

ANALYSIS: I didn’t realize that Canada was at such a high risk of terror attacks. I don’t think Kevin Vickers should have shot the gunman. It would have allowed them to confirm whether or not he was working with ISIL I think it makes sense that the Prime Minister raised the terror threat, so that Canada can protect its citizens to the best of its abilities. I think that problems like this will continue to happen, until ISIL is dealt with once and for all. I hope that Canada will not be affected badly by these recent events.   

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Should Vickers have killed the gunman?
2. Did the Prime Minister make the right choice in raiseing the terror threat?
3. Do you think there will be more problems like this in the near future?

   

   http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Centre_Block_-_Parliament_Hill.jpg

Spaniard With Ebola Beats the Disease, Test Shows

Spaniard With Ebola Beats the Disease, Test Shows

Summary

Teresa Romero, a Spanish nursing assistant, was diagnosed with Ebola in Madrid, Spain. She has managed to undergo treatment and get rid of the disease in nearly three weeks. The 44-year-old was infected after treating West African priests with Ebola in August. She had touched an infected glove to her face which ignited her illness, first diagnosed on October 6. Romero tested negative with no traces of the disease in her bloodstream as of Sunday, October 19. She must complete one final test for Ebola before she can be released from the hospital. Her husband and the 15 other people she had come into contact with after nursing the infected missionaries have tested negative for the disease. Each person is constantly being tested until officials are certain that the disease hasn’t spread. Teresa Romero is very happy about the return of her good health and eager to be released from the hospital.

Analysis

I think that Romero’s diagnosis and treatment was handled professionally and efficiently. I feel that all patients that currently have Ebola should be treated with the same approach and motivation. I think that doctors in Madrid should have been more aware of the infection sooner. The nurse had dealt with Ebola patients in August and it wasn’t until October 6th that she began receiving medical attention. I also believe that Romero should have been more aware of the disease and acted sooner once she began experiencing high fevers.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some ways that Teresa Romero and Madrid doctors could identify the disease sooner within patients?
2. Do you think that Romero should be released once her second negative Ebola test is completed, or should she spend more time in medical care?
3. What do you think the people Romero contacted should do after being in contact with someone infected with Ebola?
   
   

   
   Teresa Romero after first Ebola treatment

   http://www.people.com/article/spanish-nurse-cleared-ebola

   
   

ISIS forces push into Kobani

                                                            

In the article "Coalition deals ISIS a heavy blow" by CNN on October 13, Ashley Fantz tells about how Airstrikes from an international coalition led by the United States have pushed ISIS back out of Kobani, a city near the border of Turkey and Syria. Kobani is valuable because it is land that leads ISIS into Turkey. Kurdish and Iraqi forces are on the ground fighting ISIS, but they are sorrounded by ISIS, and help is not coming. The 60 bombs dropped by the coalition have halted ISIS for now, but not for long. Kobani is the first step in stopping the ISIS advance. civilians in Kobani don't want to leave because they will not be let back in to the city.

I think that it would be scary being trapped in a city that is being invaded by ISIS. Having to watch as your town is bombed and having to see the people you know die. I am glad to hear that the Coalition's airstrikes are having impacts on the war. I agree with what they are doing with the airstrikes, without them ISIS may have already of taken Kobani. We have to be willing to take risks so that we can be rewarded. The coalition has only struck twice Friday and Saturday versus fourteen times on Thursday and early Friday. I feel that they need to keep up the Airstrikes in order to stop ISIS.

How would you feel if you were a civilian in Kobani?

Do you think the US should continue airstrikes against ISIS?

What else, if anything, should the US do to stop ISIS from taking Kobani.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-15/besieged-kurds-cheer-mounting-u-dot-s-dot-attacks-near-kobani

Tensions Increase Between South and North Korea

Article Summary

The second exchange of gunfire between South and North Korea happened on Sunday.  This was after leaflets of freedom propaganda where dropped across the border into North Korea.  A meeting was held to discuss disagreements between the two countries in a town on the border.  North Korea has warned the South Korean government to stop these leaflets, which encourage north citizens to overthrow Kim Jong Un. South Korea says the activists are using their freedom of speech, which cannot be stopped.  South Korean activists are keeping their vows to keep sending the leaflets.  North Korea has warned to use stronger measures if the activists don't stop.  

Analysis

I think this isn't a smart choice for South Korea because it threatens their safety and the safety of American troops.  With about 28,500 U.S. troops along the border, it is extremely unsafe for both citizens and troops, with the incoming threats.   

Discussion Questions

Do you think the South Korean Government's choice is right? Why or why not?

What do you think about the U.S. troops being stationed there?

What do you think will happen next?

KIM, HYUNG-JIN. "S. Korea: 2 Koreas Exchange Gunfire along Border." Yahoo! News. October 19, 2014. Accessed October 19, 2014.

This is the border between North and South Korea.
http://www.nytimes.com/

Racial Injustices of the Past: Effects Today

To what extent do racial injustices in South Africa & United States’ past create an  unjust society today  and how similar or different is the United States from South Africa? 

Write your response to as a comment to this blog post keeping in mind the following instructions: 

In 1-2 sentences write your position on this question.

OPTIONAL SENTENCE STARTER:

·       Racial segregation/injustices of the past significantly/somewhat/minimally affect society today because ________. The effects on the United States and South Africa’s today are very similar/somewhat similar because  both countries have ______ but are different because _____

Then support your argument by identifying passages from BOTH the Long Shadow of Apartheid article and "The Whites Don't Get It" articles. Analyze the passages to support your position.  

OPTIONAL ANALYSIS SENTENCE STARTER:

·       For example/Similarly/In addition/In contrast, _____ states/said “ ________.” This shows/proves/demonstrates/means that _________ .

Feel free to disagree with the controversial articles we read! 

Nurse in Dallas Gets Ebola

Article Summary

The main idea of this article is that a nurse from a hospital got sick Friday night and drove herself to the emergency room of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. She was then placed in isolation 90 minutes later once a blood sample was sent to the state health lab confirming she had Ebola. She got it from not doing the protocols to new patients to make sure they do not have Ebola, and she did not do those protocols. How she got the disease is unknown, but she did have “extensive contact” with Duncan (The first person with Ebola).

Analysis

            I feel that if she did take the precautionary protocols she would still have gotten Ebola because of the extra long time she has been seeing Duncan. Also because, apparently you can get Ebola just being there with him. The only way we know of, right now is that you can get Ebola from direct contact with bodily fluids of a sick person.

Discussion Questions 

·         How do you think she got Ebola, could that change how we “see” Ebola now? (As a bigger threat or still just a minor problem) Why?

      What do you think police and other people who work at the hospital should do so they don’t get Ebola, or let other civilians get it too? Why?

The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Atlanta Georgia.
They are prepared for what happens next.
https://newsela-test-files-f331e.s3.amazonaws.com

·      

Abdullah Hussain NFL penalty

NFL says Chiefs’ Husain Abdullah shouldn’t have been penalized for slide, prayer in end zone

Summary: 

Husain Abdullah a Kansas City Chiefs NFL player was penalized for celebrating and intercepted touch down by praying to god in his own Islamic way. His celebration drew a 15 yard  unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. NFL officials said that you cannot be penalized for celebrating in a religious way. However, Tim Tebow was famously known for his pose. Some people now call Husains pose "Abdulling"

Analysis: 

I think that this isn't fair because if other players are allowed to pray while scoring a touchdown then why should Islam be denied as a celebration after a touchdown. Even in the NFL rule book players are not allowed to celebrate on the ground unless it is for a religious reason and Husian was still penalized

Discussion questions:

1) Do you agree with the refs decision

2) Should Husain have been penalized

3) do you think the refs will call the same penalty again

unsportsman like conduct penalty
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article2324330.html#storylink=cpy

Shooting in Ferguson

Background

In the article, Ferguson Sets Broad Change for City Courts, the reporters explain how the event of a white police officer shooting a black man affects the city of Ferguson. Reporters have discovered that there are a lot more arrest warrants in Ferguson than any other city in St.Louis. Also that Ferguson is about 75% black and their mayor and people on the council are all white. This is because only a small part of the population in the city is voting for mayor and positions on the council. A large percentage of young black men are unemployed and are battling a cycle of unpaid tickets and arrest warrants. For every 1,000 people in Ferguson 1,500 arrest warrants are being given out. This is an overwhelming number. There are many issues that have set off civil unrest after Michael Brown, 18, was killed by a white officer.

The shooting in Ferguson brought out many old issues between black and white people. Black people feel as though they had been discriminated against and this contributed to the rage that drove the protests over Michael Brown. There continue to be various events for blacks to protest against the way they are treated. They protest for possible change in discrimination of Blacks. I feel that the white officer was wrong to shoot Michael Brown. Though I cannot make very many conclusions because investigators are still gathering information about that shooting and determining whether the case in going to be taken to court. I do think discrimination against blacks is still occurring today. There are many cases that people think if that was a white man would results have been different.

1. Do you think the police officer should have shot Michael Brown?
2. Are circumstances in Ferguson going to change?
3. Is discrimination of Black people something the U.S needs to address more carefully?

www.bbc.com 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/us/ferguson-council-looks-to-improve-community-relations-with-police.html 

Russian Fisherman Catches Fish With Human Teeth

OCTOBER

“ Russian Fisherman Catches Fish With Human Teeth”

 

www.nationalgeographic.com

SUMMARY:   

A Russian fisherman who was on a fishing trip on the Northern Dvina River is making headlines across the world, thanks to his unusual catch - a fish with a full set of teeth that resemble ours. 50 year old Aleks Korbov thought what he had caught was a common freshwater fish. It was when he had unhooked the dead animal, that he had noticed the human teeth. Never had seen anything like it he consulted some friends. None of them had ever seen anything like it. Still curious to know what type of fish it was Korbov contacted the Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography to seek their opinion.

They concluded that it was a Pacu which is a member of the Piranha family. The reason the Russians had never seen an exotic fish like this is because Pacus are tropical freshwater fish that usually come from the Amazon River in South America.

ANALYSIS:

When I first saw the title for this article I was really confused this when I started to read the article I thought it was discussing and weird. But after i read it i thought it was really cool and interesting. I really wish they knew how the fish got to Russia when its originally from South America. I'm still confused on how the fish was dead when when he caught it. I wonder if there is more of this type of fish in the area where it was caught. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What did you think after you first read this Article?
How do you think this fish got from South America to Russia?
What would you have done if you caught this fish?

LINK TO ARTICLE:

https://www.dogonews.com/2014/10/8/russian-fisherman-catches-fish-with-human-teeth