Anarchy In the USA?

Ten hours before parts of the federal government shut down -- unless Congress manages to strike a budget deal -- the Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. Monday to initiate the final rounds of fiscal ping-pong between the Democrat-controlled upper chamber and the GOP-controlled House. There is little cause for optimism. Are we headed for Anarchy in the USA?

How we love to hate our government. Have you really stopped to think about what our government actually does for us?

Make a list of as many things you can think of?

But what happens if the government really shuts down?

What do you think?

Twins

Julius (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Vincent (Danny DeVito) Benedict are twin brothers, but that's where the similarities end. Julius was created to be the perfect child. Vincent is a crook about to be killed by loan sharks.

Watch Trailer

Wouldn't it be cool to have a twin?  What would be the positives?  Negatives?

Scientists have already cloned sheep, cattle, goats, mice, pigs, cats and rabbits. 
Are humans next?

Isn't this the stuff of Science Fiction?

Is human cloning wrong?

If we had the ability to clone human beings who would be first?  Imagine.

Mr. Cruz Goes To Washington

fil·i·bus·ter

ˈfiləˌbəstər/

noun

1. 1.

   an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.

   "it was defeated by a Senate filibuster in June"

   synonyms:

   stonewalling, delaying tactics, procrastination, obstruction

   Sen. Ted Cruz ended his nearly day-long filibuster at noon Wednesday, having held the chamber floor for more than 21 hours straight, etched his place in the record books with the fourth-longest filibuster in Senate history, and raised his own profile and boosted his quest to defund the health care law.
   
   Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/25/ted-cruz-filibuster-tops-mark-set-rand-paul/#ixzz2fvRzAHY5 

   
   

   
   

   1) Was Senator Ted Cruz technically ‘filibustering?’  Why/ Why not?

   
   

   
   

   2)  What did Senator Cruz hope to accomplish with his ‘very long speech?’

   
   

   
   

   3) What were his chances of  succeeding?

   
   

   
   

   4) Do you agree or disagree with the Senator’s tactics? Why?

   
   

   
   

   5) Why is that nothing ever seems to get done in Washington? 

Fires, Floods, and Hurricanes.... Oh My!

Climate Change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for public health and welfare.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why/ not?

Are the recent floods in Colorado another symptom of a much larger problem?

Did Climate Change Worsen the Colorado Floods?

Or is the 'Influencing Machine' using fear tactics to control our minds?

Syria-ous-ly

What 3 questions would you have asked President Assad of Syria?

The possibility of a military strike by the United States and its allies against the Assad regime in Syria had triggered world wide demonstrations.  

Take a look at these WWI posters and then make one of your own for Syria using the propaganda techniques we looked at in class.

Should We Stay... Or Should We Go?!

It is hard, if you've got a head and a heart, to come down against a strong U.S. response to Syria's use of chemical weapons against its civilian population. This is especially so if you believe that humanity stands at a door that leads only to darkness. (read more)

But if we don’t act in this case, after all this windup, Iran and Hezbollah will take note of how little our admonitions to not acquire or use weapons of mass destruction really mean. We can’t know exactly what would come of our self-inflicted humiliation, but it would be nothing good. (read more)

What do you think our action in Syria should be?  What would Washington do?

What do YOU see?!

What’s going on in this picture?
What do you see that makes you say that?
Can you answer the 5 Ws & H:  WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, & HOW?

Compare what you see with your classmates. How can we all look at the same image and see something completely different?

Psychologists use tests like this in an attempt to examine the personality characteristics and emotional functioning of their patients. 'The ink blot' or 'Rorschach test' is the most famous example. Take the test online.

In journalistic terms how we see the world around us is called 'BIAS.' Every news story is influenced by the attitudes and background of its interviewers, writers, photographers and editors. Not all bias is deliberate. But you can become a more aware news reader or viewer by identifying the following journalistic techniques that allow bias to "creep in" to the news.