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.

What In the World?!

What should the title of this map be?  Make a key.

Check your answer here.


What kind of bias is evident in this data?  Do you agree or disagree with the conclusions?  Why?

Obama Selfie

A news photographer captured the president sitting with the prime ministers of Great Britain and Denmark. He has a cellphone in his hand. The three of them are grinning.


First lady Michelle Obama sits off to the side, somber, dignified, as the world remembers Mandela. Yet next to her like some goofy adolescent who hasn't yet been taught how to behave properly at a memorial service — her husband — is snapping a memorial to himself.


President Selfie.


Is this a pattern developing for the President?


Are we lucky he wasn't making a Duck Face? Or worse?


When is a Selfie not just inappropriate; its dangerous?!

Whats Going On In This Picture?

Click here to find out.

6 Questions About the News.

Hear the President's speech.

How one British pop song helped to free Nelson Mandela.

Keep It Classy ND

Television viewers in Bismarck, N.D., were treated to some real class this weekend when none other than the great Ron Burgundy read them the news.

Actor and comedian Will Ferrell reprised his "Anchorman" role for KXMB's Saturday night news broadcast. The former "Saturday Night Live" star is promoting "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," a sequel to the 2004 film.

Read more...

How good of a job did he do?

Why Was it hard to take him seriously?

What essential skills do you need to report the TV news?

Write your own TV news report for presentation in class.

Katy Perry: Bio Hazard

Singer Katy Perry's new album has been adored in reviews, but not by the Australian Department of Agriculture who see it as a bio hazard.

Whats all the fuss about?

Invasive species here in America are diverse, from all different continents, but they have one thing in common: people put them here. Whether unintentionally on shipments from Asia or Africa, or former pets released into the wild, these animals (and one plant) have turned America into their predator-free playground.

We've gathered up only nine invasive species in this slideshow, but there are literally hundreds more pest, plant, and animal immigrants out there.

What invasive species did the Pilgrim's bring with them on the Mayflower?

What invasive species can be found right here in Ohio?

How big of a problem are they?

What can be done about them?