Believe It Or Not!

 

At its most extreme, bias will drive people away from sources they disagree with and push them to consume only media from outlets that confirm their existing worldviews. In the age of social media, this has become especially true. Because we often surround ourselves with like-minded people as our friends and acquaintances, our social media feeds will often reflect a shared bias. At its most extreme application, we create an echo chamber, or a situation where ideas and beliefs are amplified and reinforced through communication and repetition, around ourselves.

1) Do you believe me? Why/ not?

2) How does this new information make you feel? Angry?  Sad?  Happy?  Glad? Why?

3) What is the 'backfire effect' and what can you do to counteract it?'

4) What can Helen Keller conspiracy teach us about the backfire effect?

Paradox of the Poultry Pardon

"You can tell what a nation is like by the way it treats its turkeys"

 In just a few days, we will once again endure the annual spectacle of the President of the United States pardoning a turkey that would otherwise have been fated for the Thanksgiving table.  So this is a good time to ask why a nation that bemoans the bloated prison system and proclaims that "life is all about second chances" is--on the matter of clemency--one of the stingiest Presidents in the world?

Put another way: If a turkey deserves a second chance, why not America's Prisoners?

Which States/ Countries are part of the unique club that still have the death penalty?

1) How does the United States' rate of capital punishment compare to the rest of the world?

2) Is the death penalty 'Cruel and Unusual' punishment?

3) Which modern US President has given the most pardons?

4) If you were President who would you pardon? Why?

5) What can/ should be done to fix America's bloated prison system?

6) Which Presidents have given the most pardons?  The least?

7) Can a President Pardon himself?   Should he?   Why/Not?

Beg Your Pardon?!

Each year since 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board have given a turkey to the President of the United States at a White House ceremony. Since then, presidents have been more likely to eat the turkey rather than give it a reprieve. A notable exception occurred in 1963, when President Kennedy, referring to the turkey given to him, said, "Let's just keep him." It wasn't until the first Thanksgiving of President George H.W. Bush, in 1989, that a turkey was officially pardoned for the first time.

For fifteen years through 2004, the turkeys were given to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia. The turkeys would receive a last minute pardon before arriving, and were then led to their new home at the Turkey Barn after enduring a turkey "roast" full of poultry humor and history.

In 2005 and 2006, however, Presdident George W. Bush continued his father's traditions but the turkeys were flown to Disneyland in California where they served as honorary grand marshals for Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day parade. After that, they spent the rest of their lives at a Disneyland ranch. A spot in sunny Disneyland seems immensely preferable to a place called Frying Pan Park.

Has President Biden kept this tradition ALIVE?

What is a real pardon and how is it used?

Can a President pardon himself?

Is the death penalty cruel and unusual punishment?

Want to pardon a turkey of your own? Click here.

Veterans Day

Dear US Service Member,

We don’t know each other and will probably never meet, but I want you to know that you and all of the troops are in our hearts and prayers each day. Please remember what you're doing will always be appreciated and never forgotten. I wish you all the best and pray for your safe and speedy return home to your family and friends. Thank you.

Talawanda HS Student

Oxford, OH

Some of our soldiers don't get much mail from home. They don't often hear how much we appreciate all they do for our country, even though there are many easy ways in which we can let them know. Write your letters of thanks in class and we will compile and send them to our soldiers currently serving overseas.

Electoral College

 

The final New York Times/Siena College polls, released yesterday, showed a virtually tied race. Kamala Harris is clearly favored in states that account for 226 electoral votes, while Donald Trump is favored in states that account for 219. To win, Harris will likely need at least 44 combined electoral votes from the seven battleground states, while he will likely need 51. But surprises remain possible. A highly regarded Iowa poll, for example, shocked many political analysts over the weekend by showing Harris ahead there — a potential sign of her strength with white voters. Alaska is another state where she has a small chance for a big upset. Trump could pull off his own surprises in New Mexico or New Hampshire.

You can explore all of the combinations through this map.

1) What is the best path to the White House for each candidate?

2) Which candidate benefits most from the Electoral College? Why?

3) How does the current map compare to past Presidential elections?

4) Why don't we just go by the popular vote?

5) Do you think the Electoral College is the best system for choosing our President? Why/ not?

6) What would you do to change the Electoral College if anything?

Make America Scared Again

With Election Day right around the corner from Halloween, it is festively fitting for people around the nation to dress up as the next potential president on the scariest day of the year. Since 1996, Spirit Halloween has accurately predicted who would win the presidency based on sales of presidential candidate masks. 

A latex mask of US President Donald Trump is one of the favorites in the run-up to Halloween celebration this year; even in Mexico. What are the others?  Who will win? You decide...

'Trumpacabra'             'Mamala'

'Creepy Joe'

 'Barackula'    'Hillareficent'

 

Print and cut out your favorite.  Attach to a popsicle stick or tie string to wear. 

 Happy Halloween!

Hiroshima

Why is the book Hiroshima still so important today?

Why was it so controversial then?

Read the book for yourself...

The Charge of the Light Brigade

 

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

   Rode the six hundred.

“Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns!” he said.

Into the valley of Death

   Rode the six hundred.

-BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON 

In 1854, London Times reporter William Howard Russel reports on the charge of the British Light Cavalry Brigade in Crimea. He writes of soldiers ill-fed, ill-led, and left on the field to die. Prince Albert is furious. Russell's reporting turns the public against the government, prompting history's first order of military censorship. Henceforth any reporter who reports information that could be useful to the enemy will be expelled. Russell is hailed as the 'father of war reporting.'

Phobophobia

The fear of phobias. Phobias are actually quite common, affecting more than 10% of the U.S. population. Phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States, but far more women than men are affected by phobias. In many cases, people are able to recognize that their fear is irrational and therefore take steps to overcome their phobia. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, only about 10 percent of reported cases become life-long phobias.

Use this list to solve the 'Phobia Puzzle' before your classmates.

How are Phobias named?  Check their greek and latin roots.

Create 3 new 'phobias' of your own and define them. For example...."Ebolaphobia:" the fear of contracting Ebola.

Or do you suffer from 'Verbophobia:' the fear of words?

The Odds of Dying

Take a look at this list of ways you could die and rank them from 'greatest risk' (#1) to 'least risk (#30).

Corona, Heart Attack, Suicide, Drowning, Bicycle Accident,  Lightning Strike, Vaping, Body Piercing, Stroke, Plane Crash, Terrorist Attack, Robot Car,  Nuclear Bomb, AIDS, Skin Cancer, Dog Bite, Car Accident, Tornado, Contact Sports (football, soccer), Shooting, Asthma, 4-Wheeler, Suffocation, Drug Overdose, Earthquake, Underage Drinking, Snake Bite, Asteroid, Falling Down, Mr. Kelly Attack

1) Fear of death is a natural human emotion; but are we misjudging our risks?

2) What should we be most afraid of?  Why aren't we?

3) According to recent reports what is the #1 cause of death in Butler County and what is being done to prevent it?


Listen to the song 'People Who Died.'   Should we fear the reaper?

Fear Factor!

1) What is your favorite scary movie? Why?

2) What makes a movie scary?

3) Why do so many people enjoy being scared out of their wits while others do not? Which are you?

4) How do horror stories cope with real life?

5) What stories in the news right now scare you the most? Why?

Since the first silent films, through the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood, the horror movie genre has been one of the most popular and profitable.

Use what you've learned about fear mongering and the link below to make your own movie poster for a 'FNORD' taken from today's headlines.

1) Find an example of a 'FNORD' (fear mongering) in the news.

2) Search images for your poster.  'Control Save' them to your desktop.

3) Make your own movie poster.  Be sure to include taglines, credits, and movie rating.

Debate Debrief

 

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris touched on over a dozen topics during the debate Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The graphic above shows the time dedicated to each subject.

The fiery and contentious debate may be the only face-off of the campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris And former President Donald Trump. Harris tried to walk a fine line between being both an incumbent and a change candidate and Trump was called out repeatedly for misinformation.

Donald Trump doubled down on unsupported claims that Haitian immigrants are abducting and eating people's pets in the city of Springfield, Ohio.  

Which of these topics talked about in the debate were most important to you?

Which of these topics do you think they should have talked more about?

Who do you think won the debate?  Why?

Campaign Songs: Harmony vs. Discord

 

Music has helped set the stage for politicians for generations, and some songs have become intertwined with campaigns, from Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A.," to Beyoncé's "Freedom." But sometimes artists don't want their songs to be used by a particular candidate – and sometimes they sue! Correspondent Tracy Smith looks at when the playing of political anthems segues into copyright infringement.

1) What messages or values do campaign songs convey?

2) Why do you think some artists don't want their songs to be used by a particular candidate?

3) Are Republican and Democrat's tastes in music different?  Which artists associate with each party?

4) Listen to the playlist from the roll call of the DNC.  Which song represented Ohio?   Do you agree?  Why or why not?

5) If you were a candidate, which song would you pick as your anthem? Why?

What Is Current Events?

This course looks at the role of the media on international, national, state, local, and school-wide levels. Although the content is constantly changing there are recurrent themes including domestic and foreign policy, the economy, war, crime, and the environment.  Let's look back at the stories that made the headlines the past year and, make some predictions about what we may study this year.

What do you think was the biggest story of the Summer?  What predictions do you make about this Fall?

Ready Player One

When will the 'real' and 'virtual' merge?  in 2045 says visionary inventor Ray Kurzweil.  He calls that transition the 'Singularity.'  What used to fit in a building now fits in your pocket, and what fits in your pocket today will fit inside a blood cell in 25 years.  By 2045 we'll have multiplied the human-machine civilization a billionfold.  We will gain power over our fates.  Our mortality will be in our own hands.  Many focus on what they perceive as a loss of some vital aspect of our humanity.  The essence of being human is not our limitations, it is our ability to reach beyond our limitations.  The 'Singularity' offers the hope of an artificial afterlife, but it could also lead to our own extinction.  War, global warming,  or disease could all do us in, but what if it's our own technology?  

Author Ernest Cline discusses his book "Ready Player Two," anticipating virtual reality and exploring both the perils and potentials of internet technology.

Read the Book or Watch the Movie.   What's the Difference?

Discussion Questions for Ready Player One

Four Dead In Ohio

54 years ago today, May 4 [1970] -- Four students at Kent State University in Ohio, two of them women, were shot to death by a volley of National Guard gunfire. At least 8 other students were wounded.  But why?

1) Who might Neil Young be referring to in the line “found her dead on the ground”?

2) What did students at Kent State think about the Vietnam war then?  What do they think now?

3) Do you think everyone agreed with Neil Young’s view of what occurred at Kent State? Why do you think “Ohio” might have also been a “touchstone of opposition” for people that supported the Vietnam War?

4) In what ways do you think the song “Ohio” might have been a more effective method of expressing shock and opposition than any journalism could have been? 

5) What comparisons can we make from the events of 50 years ago to what is happening on college campuses right now?  What have we learned from the past?

Success

Congratulations to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs: back-to-back Superbowl Champions! Today's lesson focuses on success and what it takes to get to the top; whether it's in football, entertainment, or high school.

  

People measure success in many different ways and on many different levels. When setting goals in life, we must identify what success means to us personally, so that when we succeed we will know it. For example, most people measure success in business according to their income; however, this may not be an accurate assessment. 

1) What makes someone successful?

2) How do we measure success?

2) Who is more successful Travis Kelce or Taylor Swift?  Why?

4) Performing at the Superbowl Halftime Show is a pinnacle of success; but how did Usher get there? Was it just talent. Or looks? Or was it hard work and practice?

5) What can you learn from these stories about your own paths to success?