War on Christmas

Is there a 'War on Christmas?"  If so who is waging it?  Who is winning?

Join the debate.

Silent Fight

The city of Brookville, Indiana, is fighting to keep a Nativity scene up that has been displayed in the city for more than 50 years.  Residents said in the past three years, an organization has been threatening a lawsuit to have the Nativity taken down. According to residents, the reason for the controversy is because the Nativity is displayed next to the Franklin County Courthouse, and violates the separation of church and state.

Watch this Story

Read the petition. Would you sign? Why or why not?

What does the 'Establishment Clause' of the 1st Amendment say? The 'Free Exercise Clause?'

Are other groups allowed to put up their displays?

What about made up religions?

Just what is 'Festivus for the Rest of Us'?

Ferguson Thanksgiving Lesson

On the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, we prepare to express gratitude for he many blessings that have been bestowed on us as Americans.

While many of us will do so, there is a significant portion of the American people that will not be feeling particularly thankful this Thursday.

Rather than gratitude, their overwhelming sentiment will be anger that justice has been denied.

Whatever one might feel about the guilt or innocence of Officer Darren Wilson, and whether he was justified in shooting unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, a tragedy occurred.

Ferguson, a predominately African-American city with a predominately white leadership and police force, is the embodiment of the abiding grievances that lie just beneath the surface in American society.

Should we bow our heads this Thanksgiving, and along with showing our gratitude, dedicate ourselves to ensuring that the bounty we enjoy is equally attainable for all of us, regardless of race, creed, color or sexual orientation?

What would Bob Moses and the protesters from the 'Freedom Summer' of 50 years ago say about last night's riots?  Are things better than they were then? How are they different?  

What have Michael Brown's parents said?

 Post your thoughts and comments below.

Layup4Lauren

 What would you do if you only had one year to live?

Lauren Hill was diagnosed with DIPG, a form of brain cancer, on 11/20/13. She is a strong young lady and continued to play basketball all through her 6 weeks of radiation and study chemo. She is an inspiration to our community and surrounding schools. The outpouring of support has been amazing. She attends Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH where she is a member of the basketball team. Lauren captured America's heart when she insisted on playing even just one game with her college team. The story quickly spread and after the game was scheduled at a much larger venue, they sold out all 10,250 seats in less than an hour. Lauren continues to be a spokesperson, fundraiser and advocate for other kids battling brain cancer through The Cure Starts Now Foundation.

The other team's view of the Ohio miracle game

How could you help?

At the conclusion of the game, Lauren’s wish was that the movement to cure cancer would not end at that game, that people would use the game to continue to fundraise with The Cure Starts Now in her honor to fund research and help fund a cure for kids like her. Schools across the country are taking the 'Layup 4 Lauren Challenge:'

Do a personal Layup 4 Lauren challenge by spinning 5 times and shooting with your non-dominant hand. If you miss you need to donate (or make a donation anyway). 

Record and send your challenge to Mr. Kelly and at least 3 friends or family members via gmail or social media.

All Donations will be collected in the jar in Mr. Kelly's room.

Who is the Cure Starts Now? 

Started in 2007 by Cincinnati residents, The Cure Starts Now Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has revolutionized cancer research worldwide with its focus on a “homerun cure” for all cancers, starting first with  those cancers that experts believe we can learn the most from. In 2014 we reached over $2.6 million in funding which has allowed us to provide funding of new experimental treatments and research at top pediatric oncology hospitals including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Today, our fundraising initiatives have taken many forms from the bestselling Graeter’s Ice Cream Flavor of Elena’s Blueberry Pie Ice Cream that sells nationwide, to campaigns at all Gold Star Chili restaurants and community partnerships with each of our 26 chapters nationwide.

Female Freedom Fighters

How is this war report biased based on the reading we did in class?  What is the narrative?  What conclusion does the report want us to make?

What is the Vietnam Syndrome?  Is it incurable?  Is the war against Isis potentially another 'Vietnam?'  How?   Why don't we put 'boots on the ground' to help these Women?

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

They come, day and night, to see the vast ceramic poppy field at the Tower of London.

  But how did the flower gain this power?

Why do we call it Veterans Day in America?

Print and color your own Poppy to wear in remembrance.

Space Tourism

Make your reservations now. The space tourism industry is officially open for business, and tickets are going for a mere $20 million for a one-week stay in space. Despite reluctance from NASA, Russia made American businessman Dennis Tito the world's first space tourist. Tito flew into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket that arrived at the International Space Station on April 30, 2001. The second space tourist, South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth, took off aboard the Russian Soyuz on April 25, 2002, also bound for the ISS. Greg Olsen, an American businessman, became tourist number three to the ISS on October 1, 2005.

But What are the risks? 

If you've ever dreamed of going to space and doing what only a few hundred people have done, then read on. In this article, you'll learn about the spacecraft being designed as destinations for space tourists, and how you may one day have a chance to cruise through the solar system.

How much would you pay to go into outer space?  Do you dream of being a space tourist?

Why or why not?

 Comment below.

Acceptance Speech

The Republican's made historic gains in yesterday's election. At the national level, they won enough US Senate races to take control of the chamber in 2015. The party also added to its majority in the House of Representatives, toppled Democratic governors in a few states, and flipped a few state legislative chambers.

 Watch Mich McConnell's (The new Senate Majority Leader from KY) and John Boehner's (Speaker of the House from Ohio) acceptance speeches then write one of your own.

Who will you thank?  What will you promise?  How are you affected by this decision?

Your finished speeches will be recorded using your iPhone or Thinkpads.  Watch an example.

Voter Apathy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

America's young adults, who twice helped propel President Obama to victory at the ballot box, are mostly planning to stay home in this year's elections.

A survey by Harvard University's Institute of Politics shows that young adult voters in the U.S. are less motivated than at any time in at least 14 years, with fewer than one-in- four saying they'll definitely cast ballots in November's midterm congressional races.

Worse, for Obama and Democrats seeking to maintain the party's control of the Senate, is that young Republicans are more interested in voting than are young Democrats.

Read more...

What can be done to end voter apathy in America?

​Pete Rose Way or No Way?

The former star known as "Charlie Hustle" - banned for life for gambling - says he believes his record-breaking career will trump his mistakes.  CBS NEWS

Pete Rose is a baseball legend  whose remarkable accomplishments are all overshadowed by the day 25 years ago when he was banned from baseball for betting on his own team's games. What does he think now of his astonishing fall from grace?


Should Pete be allowed back into baseball?  Why or Why not?

Keeping It Even Realer

In which John discusses his overwhelmedness, his confusion, his recent travels to Africa, and his health?!

If you are not one of John Green's hundreds of thousands of fans or blog followers,   you might not recognize him as the author of the best selling novel 'Fault In Our Stars.'

This shocking spoof stars Sarah Silverman,  who returned to host Saturday Night Live this week after being fired from the show more than 20 years ago. True to her controversial style, the sketch makes light of two sensitive topics:  a tearjerker about a teenager with cancer and ebola, a disease everyone is currently terrified of.  But is it funny?  Too soon?

Whats funny about the current ebola headlines?  Is the joke on the United States?

If Its Not Scottish....

....What is it?

The Scottish independence referendum, 2014 was a referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country that took place on 18 September 2014.[1]

The independence referendum question, which voters answered with "Yes" or "No", was "Should Scotland be an independent country?" The "No" side won, with 55.3% voting against independence. The turnout of 84.6% was unusually high for a ballot in the United Kingdom.

The Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, setting out the arrangements for this referendum, was passed by theScottish Parliament in November 2013, following an agreement between the Scottish and the United Kingdom governments. To pass, the independence proposal required a simple majority. With some exceptions, all European Union (EU) or Commonwealth citizens resident in Scotland aged 16 or over could vote, a total of almost 4.3 million people.

Yes Scotland was the main campaign group for independence, while Better Together was the main campaign group in favour of maintaining the union. Many other campaign groups, political parties, businesses, newspapers and prominent individuals were also involved. Prominent issues raised during the campaign included which currency an independent Scotland would use, public expenditure, EU membership, and North Sea oil.

Could this happen in the United States?

Should we let 'secessionists' leave?  Why/ why not?

Who wants to join the United States?  Maybe we could swap?

WGOITP?

Whats Going On In This Picture?

Who, What, Where, When, Why, How?

Travel with Frontline to the epicenter of this ongoing crisis.

Rays Rage

The sordid Ray Rice scandal has opened a much-needed dialogue about domestic violence.

In February Rice and Janay Palmer, then his fiancée and now his wife, had an altercation at an Atlantic City casino that left Palmer unconscious. A tape surfaced of Rice dragging Palmer’s limp body from the elevator, hovering over her. At no point does he appear to attend to her, appear shocked at what he has done to her or appear to have much concern for her at all.

How was Rice able to avoid trial on the original charge? Why did it take the second tape for the N.F.L. to act more forcefully in the case? Did anyone at the N.F.L. see the second tape before it was made public? Could anyone have if he’d tried harder to find it? It seems that there were multiple failures here.

Is Domestic Violence only a US problem?

Should League Commissioner Roger Goddell lose his job as well?

What does the Commish have to say in his own defense?

If you died....

In response to the killing of an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri, and the biased media coverage of the victim that followed, young people of color on social media began wondering how they might be portrayed if the same happened to them. These pictures are powerful reminders of how stories get told in America.

How do we detect bias in the news?

Police and Thieves

On the final "Last Week Tonight" of August, John Oliver dove into what sadly has become the biggest national news story of the summer, the ongoing violence in Ferguson, Missouri.

"This whole story is depressingly familiar," Oliver began. "And there are so many unanswered questions regarding why an officer would shoot an unarmed teenager. What is absolutely clear is that the police have handled everything since then terribly."

From there, Oliver went on to criticize officials at every level in Missouri, from the city's police chief and mayor to the governor, for their tone-deafness, hostility and overt patronization of the citizens of Ferguson.

The comedian reserved his most pointed barbs, however, for the police themselves, not just in Ferguson but throughout the country. While Oliver made it clear that "not all cops are bad," he drove home the top-down problem of an increasingly militarized police force in the wake of the war on drugs and September 11 attacks.

Are the criticisms of the Police fair? Are they likely to bring about change? Why or why not?

Read the Ferguson Perspective from a Cop's Wife. Does this change your opinion?

Newsworthiness

What was NEWSWORTHY about your SummerVacation?

What makes something newsworthy?

Use the newspapers in class to complete 'Where does news come from?'

Is this story newsworthy?

Commencement

Graduation speech topics guide including the lines and rules of thumb for creating an welldone job in the open:

1. Thank teachers and your parents or other family members for their support, encouragement, help, aid or personal assistance during your years of studying.

2. Praise accomplishments and achievements of the class.

3. Reflect upon the past years, what has changed and is interesting enough to share with all?

4. Mention funny and exciting events, you can opt for funny oneliners or even small innocent jokes, poems or quotations from famous people if you like.

5. Motivate your fellow students and teachers and professors to look to the bright future.

Who spoke at Miami's Commencement this year?  What was his message?

#Bring Back Our Girls

Celebrities galore have been been spreading awareness of the heartbreaking situation in Nigeria by tweeting with the hashtag "Bring Back Our Girls" -- even Michelle Obama got in on the action, tweeting a picture of herself looking sad and holding a sign that read "#BringBackOurGirls," which of course was either incredibly inspirational or deeply insulting, depending on how you feel about the Obamas.

Is this just another example of hashtag 'Slactivism' or do you think it will bring about actual change?

Voluntary Slavery

 As Americans we pride ourselves in being the 'Land of the Free' and yet only 17% of registered voters took part in this week's election; our most basic Democratic freedom.  While our voter apathy may be a form of 'voluntary slavery,'  slavery is very real for an estimated 27 million people in the world today.  Thats more than all of the African Slave trade in the 19th century combined!

The recent story of the kidnapped school girls in Nigeria is a reminder that we should never take our education or our freedom for granted.

What can we do to bring an end to slavery?

Will it work or is it 'slacktivism?'

Do your purchases support slavery?

Would you look the other way?

Prom Rules!?

A YouTube video shows several dances that will not be allowed at this year's Freedom High School (Virginia) prom. Grinding, or bending over while dancing, straddling legs, moshing, imitating sexual actions, or pulling off clothing...none of it will be permitted. And hands must stay on waists and shoulders.

"It's a school sponsored function. And the school will set parameters as we see fit," said Assistant Principal Dr. Michelle Luttrell.

See the PowerPoint explaining the 'Do's' and 'Don'ts.'

Do you agree or disagree with these restrictions?

Should Talawanda enforce similar policies? What Policies do we have?

How has dancing changed over the years?

Learn some sweet dance moves for Prom.

What in the World?

What is this map showing us?

Which State are you the Safest?  The least? Why?

Which State made the headlines last night?

Make a Decision....

A family whose car caught fire at safari park faced simple choice - be BURNED ALIVE or EATEN by lions.  What would you do?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/longleat-lion-enclosure-fire-family-3436839#ixzz2zpYVyYDF Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

What do we call our fears when they become irrational?

What are the Odds of Dying by lion attack?  Burning alive?

Why are our brains wired incorrectly to deal with modern fear?

ObamaCare

Obamacare's first enrollment period ended Monday (except for those who got an extension), the president's signature initiative is behind schedule, increasingly unpopular in polls and coming up short of the numbers the administration originally targeted. So should it be junked, as Republicans have been trying to do ever since it was passed?

WGOITP

What is going on in this picture?  (5W's & H)

Show Me the Money!

CHICAGO — A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruled Wednesday that a group of Northwestern football players were employees of the university and have the right to form a union and bargain collectively.

For decades, the major college sports have functioned on the bedrock principle of the student-athlete, with players receiving scholarships to pay for their education in exchange for their hours of practicing and competing for their university. But Peter Ohr, the regional N.L.R.B. director, tore down that familiar construct in a 24-page decision.

Read more....

How much money are we talking about?  Who has it?

Do you Agree or disagree with the decision?  Why?  

Write an 'Amicus Curiae'   brief in response to the court.  

Lost

Read More

Whats your theory to the mystery?

Join the 'virtual' search.

Save the Tigers!

Police aren’t quite sure yet how Greenpeace activists made it past security at the Procter & Gamble towers Tuesday afternoon, rappelled down the building and strung out 60-foot banners in protest, but they are sure of one thing: The protest drew some attention.

“It was quite an extensive operation they had; all the rappelling gear, banners, these jack braces to prevent anyone inside from opening the windows,” said Cincinnati police Capt. Paul Broxterman.

The environmental activist group is accusing P&G of enabling destruction of rainforests in Indonesia by working with an irresponsible palm oil supplier.

Palm oil is a common ingredient in detergents, shampoos and cosmetics. Greenpeace is specifically objecting to P&G buying supplies from BW Plantation Group and unnamed traders it claims have contributed to the deaths of orangutans and threaten tigers that live in the rainforest.


What do you think?  Is P&G mass murdering orangutans and wiping out the race of sumatran tigers?!

Are these protesters exercising their constitutional freedoms or are they eco-terrorists?

What can/ should you do if anything?

Blonde Bias?

Gracie Gold could feel herself crooked in the air and knew she was about a second from splatting on the ice.

"No way," she thought. "Not here."

Showing instincts that would impress a cat, Gold managed to save the landings on not one, but two of her jumps in the short program. They may not have been the prettiest landings she's ever had, but they did the trick, keeping alive her chances for a medal at the Sochi Olympics.

Following the short program, Yuna Kim, Adelina Sotnikova and Carolina Kostner make up the top-three with Gold a hefty 5.49 points behind Kostner for third.

So how come so much of the coverage has focused on Gracie?

Is NBC's coverage suffering from 'Blonde Bias?'

Which TV Network do you trust the most?

Are other news networks any less Biased?

How does our media differ from Cold War Russia?

How can you detect 'bias' in the news?

Whats going on in this picture?

Can you answer the 5 Ws and H about this picture?

What is the history of this symbol?

Why didn't the  Russians see this picture?

Is the American Media biased?

Remember the good old days of the Cold War?

Black Widow

Of particular concern to Russian authorities at the Sochi Olympics are the "black widows," frequently young women whose husbands have been killed by Russian forces. Last month, Russian security forces published photographs of three such women allegedly planning to bomb the Olympic torch relay, and another of a 22-year-old woman called Ruzanna Ibragimova, who they said might be in the Sochi area.

How common are female suicide bombers?  What motivates them?

Are suicide bombers Crazy?

Sochi's Terrorism Problem

A Man suspected of trying to hijack plane to Sochi was detained in Turkey as passengers were evacuated.

A Ukrainian man tried to hijack a Turkey-bound flight to Sochi, Russia, as the Winter Olympics were kicking off Friday, but the pilot tricked him and landed in Istanbul instead, where he was stealthily detained after a four-hour stand-off on a plane full of passengers, an official said. The hijacking drama came as the Winter Olympics opened in the Russian resort city, with thousands of athletes from around the world pouring into the tightly secured stadium amid warnings the games could be a terrorism target.

Just how big is Sochi's Terrorism Problem?

What is the connection between Sochi and the Boston Marathon Bomber?

Have terrorist attacks been carried out on the Olympics before?

Same Love

Call her Queen Commish.

Queen Latifah said she was sworn in as a temporary commissioner by the state of California on Sunday, so the 33 marriages she performed from the Grammy stage during a performance by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Madonna were legal.

The landmark nuptuals took place during a medley of the rap duo's breakout hit "Same Love" — an anthem for same sex marriage advocates — as Latifah stage to officiate the simultaneous wedding of 34 couples of varying ages and sexual orientations. The ceremony continued as Madonna took the stage and performed her own classic "Open Your Heart."

What is the difference between a Civil and Religious marriage?

Would these weddings be legal in Ohio?

Which States besides California recognize Gay or Same Sex Marriage?

What about the rest of the World?

Who wasn't at this year's Grammys?  Why?

Exponential Times

We live in an 'information age' and yet the more informed we are the less we seem to know. Watch this video and then answer the questions below.

1.) Do you believe that the last statement about the New York Times is a good or a bad thing? Why or why not?

2.) Is there such a thing as ‘news overload’? (Getting exposed to too much news). How might this affect how people view their news sources?

3.) Twenty years ago, the primary form of the news was the newspaper. Today, the primary sources are websites. How might this change in your lifetime? (Example – getting the news from social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

4.) How has technology changed in your lifetime? In what ways have these changes been good or bad?

5.) How have these changes affected the way you communicate (both through oral and written language)?

6.) Predict three technological advances  that you believe may happen in the next twenty years that will affect how we communicate with one another.