read the link to the news article about the recent ban of minarets in switzerland for fear it signifies "islamisation." what do you think, right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate? does this send a wrong message? what does it do to the reputation of switzerland? let me know what you think...
minaret ban article
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
decline of empires
pretty cool graphic on the decline of the major empires of the world. wait for the 20th century, it's pretty crazy!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Did You Know 4.0
The latest installment of the interesting and unbelievably powerful video presentation on the world today. check it out.
powerful stuff...
powerful stuff...
Friday, September 4, 2009
Why do we need to know about the world?
so what's the point? why should we care about what goes on in the rest of the world? Do we need to be aware of what's going on? Should it only matter if it impacts America? What are the advantages of being up to date regarding world affairs? How does prior events (history) influence current events? Should we take the past into consideration when examining the present and contemplating the future? what do you think???
Friday, June 26, 2009
Misguided coverage?
why is it that there are widespread protests and chaos in Iran, an ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an economy in crisis and the top story on EVERY news outlet is Michael Jackson is dead. I am sorry for that, truly am. Loved him in the 80s. However, does it need to be covered to the extent it is? At the expense of other, more important, stories? What do you think?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
In what world is this okay?
Neda Agha-Soltan, a 26 year old university student in Iran was killed during protests over the recent election. She was peacefully assembling with others in an non-violent means of protesting the harsh crackdown and initial suspicions of voting irregularities. She was shot. In the chest. Her death was captured on video and has served as a rallying cry for Iranians demanding fair and equitable treatment. My questions to you are the following: how on earth is this okay? Are we to simply excuse it since it is a different culture/country that follows a different set of laws and expectations? I am just so appalled at these events and I needed to vent. Below are links to an article and a video as well. Think about this in the context of life in general, voting in the US, universal rights and expectations, and morality.
CNN article on Neda
NY Times blog video on Neda
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Torture
Is it ever appropriate to use harsh interrogation techniques in an attempt to gain information from a prisoner? In other words, is it okay to torture if the stakes are high enough? What about the information gathered, can it be considered reliable? We all see Jack Bauer on 24 doing whatever it takes to get the information, including the use of torture. Does this mean that it is okay since Bauer does it? Do shows like 24 glorify torture for the sake of the greater good and in the process do harm to the public perception of these acts? What do you think? Is it okay to torture? sometimes? never? if it's important enough? is the information reliable? are forced confessions really useful?
Think on it and let me know your thoughts.
Think on it and let me know your thoughts.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
under pressure...
so it seems as if afghanistan, under immense international condemnation and criticism, has decided to modify the controversial personal status law that targeted shia women (20% of populationis shia).
As stated in an earlier post, this proposed law essentially legalized marital rape and required women to gain permission to leave the house. The good news: after forced reflection, afghanistan reconsidered the articles in the bill that allowed this. The bad news: firstly, karzai and others in the government were unaware this provision in the bill existed. secondly, it took enormous international pressure to create this change.
ultimately something good was accomplished by changing a law that would have limited the rights of shia women. however, the fact it was done under pressure and prominent members of the government were unaware of the provisions leads many to conclude that the afghan government is, at best, inadequately connected and the multiple factions competing for control are creating an atmosphere that is far from conducive to progressive reform and change for the better.
afghanistan changes law
As stated in an earlier post, this proposed law essentially legalized marital rape and required women to gain permission to leave the house. The good news: after forced reflection, afghanistan reconsidered the articles in the bill that allowed this. The bad news: firstly, karzai and others in the government were unaware this provision in the bill existed. secondly, it took enormous international pressure to create this change.
ultimately something good was accomplished by changing a law that would have limited the rights of shia women. however, the fact it was done under pressure and prominent members of the government were unaware of the provisions leads many to conclude that the afghan government is, at best, inadequately connected and the multiple factions competing for control are creating an atmosphere that is far from conducive to progressive reform and change for the better.
afghanistan changes law
Monday, April 13, 2009
not the pirates with eyepatches and parrots...
Somali pirates. can't miss them in the news these days. if you somehow have, the long and short of it is that pirates hijack vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian ocean, take them to areas offshore Somalia, and hold the crew,cargo, and vessel hostage in exchange for a ransom. It is certainly indisputable that the actions of these individuals is illegal and wrong. However, let's think bigger picture...
Why are people in Somalia resorting to these acts?
Why Somalia?
How come there has been little international reaction or intervention?
How come the United States had been silent on the issue until one of its own vessels with American crew was captured?
What should be done now?
What does it say about our media that we shifted from a mere mention of piracy in the past to 24 hour coverage when it involves Americans?
What do we do about all this?
Is it our problem or someone else's?
Wikipedia entry about Somali Piracy for background knowledge
Map of Somalia Pirate Attacks since December 2007
Think about all sides involved in the issue, not this the victims. Comment respectfully...
Why are people in Somalia resorting to these acts?
Why Somalia?
How come there has been little international reaction or intervention?
How come the United States had been silent on the issue until one of its own vessels with American crew was captured?
What should be done now?
What does it say about our media that we shifted from a mere mention of piracy in the past to 24 hour coverage when it involves Americans?
What do we do about all this?
Is it our problem or someone else's?
Wikipedia entry about Somali Piracy for background knowledge
Map of Somalia Pirate Attacks since December 2007
Think about all sides involved in the issue, not this the victims. Comment respectfully...
Reaping what you sow
In 2001 the United States entered Afghanistan under the pretense of removing the Taliban from power to prevent the continued use of the country as a safe haven for terrorists, most notably, al-qaeda. Since then, a number of attempts have been made to improve life in the country, especially for women.
Undoubtedly, life has improved since the Taliban rule. However, some of the below information calls into question whether or not life has improved enough. With all of the criticism being aimed at Afghanistan from the international community, the questions becomes :
This is Democracy in action so are we hypocritical in condemning the actions of democratically elected legislators? Did Afghanistan receive what it asked for? Did the United States get what it asked for in liberating Afghanistan? Is it our business? If not, who's business is it? Is this acceptable? If not, what do we do? This is serious, think on it...
Education for Women in Afghanistan
In 2007, 236 schools teaching girls were burned down. In 2008, there were attacks on 256 schools that left 58 dead. Teachers have been killed in front of students and schoolgirls attacked with acid. Honor killings are up, burqas are back in many places. A 75-year-old woman was nailed to a tree and killed, and an Afghan member of parliament had her daughter legally taken away by a husband after he married a second wife.
Please read the following article from The Guardian about the new Personal Status Law enacted by the legislature of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Legal Status Law Article
Here is another news article about the law carried by Reuters.
Legal Status Law Article 2
When posting comments, please be respectful but feel free to voice your opinion.
Undoubtedly, life has improved since the Taliban rule. However, some of the below information calls into question whether or not life has improved enough. With all of the criticism being aimed at Afghanistan from the international community, the questions becomes :
This is Democracy in action so are we hypocritical in condemning the actions of democratically elected legislators? Did Afghanistan receive what it asked for? Did the United States get what it asked for in liberating Afghanistan? Is it our business? If not, who's business is it? Is this acceptable? If not, what do we do? This is serious, think on it...
Education for Women in Afghanistan
In 2007, 236 schools teaching girls were burned down. In 2008, there were attacks on 256 schools that left 58 dead. Teachers have been killed in front of students and schoolgirls attacked with acid. Honor killings are up, burqas are back in many places. A 75-year-old woman was nailed to a tree and killed, and an Afghan member of parliament had her daughter legally taken away by a husband after he married a second wife.
Please read the following article from The Guardian about the new Personal Status Law enacted by the legislature of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Legal Status Law Article
Here is another news article about the law carried by Reuters.
Legal Status Law Article 2
When posting comments, please be respectful but feel free to voice your opinion.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
build vocabulary and donate rice!
check out this website, it is awesome! I completely forgot about it until I saw Rayne playing it in class. For each correct answer to a question about vocabulary, 10 grains of rice will be donated to the UN World Food Program. 10 grains might not seem like much, but it all adds up in the end. check it out. not only is it fun and addicting, but it is helping a worthwhile cause. and... drumroll please... you can also change the subject so that it can test you on geography, math, famous paintings and more! pretty cool if you ask me...
enjoy
free rice game
enjoy
free rice game
Monday, March 30, 2009
power to wake the dead
okay, here is another scenario for you, always interesting to see the choices made. you could bring back ANYONE from death for an afternoon. It could be to share time, talk, sit quietly, debate, berate, break bread, anything. You can only choose three individuals though. Who would you choose, and more importantly why?
I'll go first.
1. My mom. she died way too young (only 50) and I really didn't get the chance to say many of the things I wish I could have to her, especially since I was living out of state at the time.
2. Theodore Roosevelt. I would definitely pick his brain on various topics and get his opinion on everything from hunting to land preservation to imperialism to life in general.
3. Winston Churchill. I would love to know his perspective on World War II outside of published comments. Additionally, he was such a witty, sarcastic fellow I would enjoy sitting and being captivated by some of his stories.
Those are my three, what are yours?
I'll go first.
1. My mom. she died way too young (only 50) and I really didn't get the chance to say many of the things I wish I could have to her, especially since I was living out of state at the time.
2. Theodore Roosevelt. I would definitely pick his brain on various topics and get his opinion on everything from hunting to land preservation to imperialism to life in general.
3. Winston Churchill. I would love to know his perspective on World War II outside of published comments. Additionally, he was such a witty, sarcastic fellow I would enjoy sitting and being captivated by some of his stories.
Those are my three, what are yours?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Best of the worst...
So thanks to Greer, I am going to post a link to a website that grades different fast food restaurants in regards to healthiness of menu items and another link to a whole host of different items that are really, really bad for you. Might open your eyes to what you put in your body.
In addition to looking at restaurants and food items, think about whether or not the restaurants have a responsibility to provide healthier foods. Sometimes what people want isn't what's best for them. Should we be allowed to eat a 3000 calorie appetizer? Don't we at some point pay for it whether it is personally in regards to health issues or in general in regards to the demand it places on the health care industry? Think about these things and let me know your thoughts, good and bad. Reference the table below to see what is recommended for your intake and then compare to some of the food items.
Based on a 2000 Calorie Intake; for Adults and Children 4 or More Years of Age)
restaurant report cards
worst foods out there
In addition to looking at restaurants and food items, think about whether or not the restaurants have a responsibility to provide healthier foods. Sometimes what people want isn't what's best for them. Should we be allowed to eat a 3000 calorie appetizer? Don't we at some point pay for it whether it is personally in regards to health issues or in general in regards to the demand it places on the health care industry? Think about these things and let me know your thoughts, good and bad. Reference the table below to see what is recommended for your intake and then compare to some of the food items.
Based on a 2000 Calorie Intake; for Adults and Children 4 or More Years of Age)
| Nutrient | Unit of Measure | Daily Values |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | grams (g) | 65 |
| Saturated fatty acids | grams (g) | 20 |
| Cholesterol | milligrams (mg) | 300 |
| Sodium | milligrams (mg) | 2400 |
| Potassium | milligrams (mg) | 3500 |
| Total carbohydrate | grams (g) | 300 |
| Fiber | grams (g) | 25 |
| Protein | grams (g) | 50 |
restaurant report cards
worst foods out there
3 wishes
okay, here we go. you get three wishes, anything you want. However, there is a catch (isn't there always?). one must be personal with a description why. one must be on the local or state level with a description why. and the last must be on the national or international level with a description why. I guess since I am posting I will start.
#1: That I could stay teaching in Shelburne because I love the school, the students, the staff, the community and I really feel like it is just a dynamic place I want to be a part of.
#2: In the state, I would love to see actual work done to reform how education is organized and funded. Get away from property taxes which can unfairly punish homeowners and not include renters who also send children to school. Some sort of alternative tax or other formula method that does not rely so heavily on property taxes would be great. Along these same lines, I would love to see some of the school districts consolidated, do you know Vermont has like six times as many districts as Florida?
#3: I would love to see Muslims take back their faith from extremists and spread the true message of their belief system which is quite similar to judeo-christian beliefs in regards to love for humanity. If we could see the Muslim world rise up against extremists and modernize their perspective we would see a very different world.
These are my wishes, what are yours?
#1: That I could stay teaching in Shelburne because I love the school, the students, the staff, the community and I really feel like it is just a dynamic place I want to be a part of.
#2: In the state, I would love to see actual work done to reform how education is organized and funded. Get away from property taxes which can unfairly punish homeowners and not include renters who also send children to school. Some sort of alternative tax or other formula method that does not rely so heavily on property taxes would be great. Along these same lines, I would love to see some of the school districts consolidated, do you know Vermont has like six times as many districts as Florida?
#3: I would love to see Muslims take back their faith from extremists and spread the true message of their belief system which is quite similar to judeo-christian beliefs in regards to love for humanity. If we could see the Muslim world rise up against extremists and modernize their perspective we would see a very different world.
These are my wishes, what are yours?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
4.1, 8.3, 12.6
How many times have you said to yourself that school is a waste of time. Ever seen or heard this scenario go down?
student: school is dumb, it's a waste of time.
teacher: you might think that but you are making a difference for your future, trust me.
student: whatever. it's not like we get paid for this.
teacher: you are getting paid in a way though, the longer you go to school the more likely you are to be successful in life.
student: yeah, whatever.
Well here is something for you to ponder. associated press released unemployment statistics in a newspaper article saturday. Check this out and tell me what this tell you:
4.1 unemployment rate for college graduates
8.3 unemployment rate for high school graduates
12.6 unemployment rate for those without a high school diploma
I think those numbers speak for themselves. What do you think?
student: school is dumb, it's a waste of time.
teacher: you might think that but you are making a difference for your future, trust me.
student: whatever. it's not like we get paid for this.
teacher: you are getting paid in a way though, the longer you go to school the more likely you are to be successful in life.
student: yeah, whatever.
Well here is something for you to ponder. associated press released unemployment statistics in a newspaper article saturday. Check this out and tell me what this tell you:
4.1 unemployment rate for college graduates
8.3 unemployment rate for high school graduates
12.6 unemployment rate for those without a high school diploma
I think those numbers speak for themselves. What do you think?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
It's made where???
Just another random thought that emerges in my gray matter. Next time you think of it, take a look at various products in your house and see where they are made or manufactured. I think you will find that a large portion come from China.
Why do you think that is?
How many items did you find manufactured in China in your home?
Why not buy American?
What if the government were to try to encourage, through policies, buying American?
How might that influence our international relationships with other nations?
How might it impact trade?
What about recent recalls of defective or dangerous products from China?
Just food for thought, let me know what you think...
Why do you think that is?
How many items did you find manufactured in China in your home?
Why not buy American?
What if the government were to try to encourage, through policies, buying American?
How might that influence our international relationships with other nations?
How might it impact trade?
What about recent recalls of defective or dangerous products from China?
Just food for thought, let me know what you think...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
To "wind farm" or not "wind farm", that is the question...
Here's one for you. What is more important, increased usage of renewable energy like wind turbines, or preserving the pristine nature of Vermont's ridge lines and mountain tops? In other words, should Vermont consider allowing so-called "wind farms" on state owned ridge lines and mountain tops? If so, what are the drawbacks to it? If not, why not?
What about offshore like the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm or other similar offshore project proposals? Is it okay as long as it is not in Vermont, or in your view, or in your area? Just something to think about...
just to visualize for you...
or like this...
What about offshore like the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm or other similar offshore project proposals? Is it okay as long as it is not in Vermont, or in your view, or in your area? Just something to think about...
just to visualize for you...
or like this...
or like this...
Monday, February 16, 2009
purpose and feedback
Sometimes I will post random questions or ideas for our classes. Other times it might be random thoughts for you to ponder. Feel free to comment or ask questions of your own as well. At the bottom of the page, you can find assignments (hopefully, still working out the kinks). On the sidebar to the right, you will find information about me, useful links for resources, a calendar for knowing the day, I guess, current event news, and this day in history. I will continue to add and edit different things on this but check in for updates!
have ideas about posts or ways to make this better? Want to just tell me what you think in general? Here is the place to post your comments and ideas! Thanks again to Greer!
have ideas about posts or ways to make this better? Want to just tell me what you think in general? Here is the place to post your comments and ideas! Thanks again to Greer!
Friday, February 13, 2009
And it begins...
So the blog begins and between the wiki and this, there is nowhere left to hide! :)
Use the wiki for research and storage, don't forget to share it with the 'rents!
Use the blog to find useful links, updates, pictures/videos from class, assignments and due dates, and a whole host of other things. Feel free to comment, ask questions, explore for more, or simply waste some time.
Use the wiki for research and storage, don't forget to share it with the 'rents!
Use the blog to find useful links, updates, pictures/videos from class, assignments and due dates, and a whole host of other things. Feel free to comment, ask questions, explore for more, or simply waste some time.
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