TEACHERS STRIKE! Acapulco teachers strike over drugs

Not over fair employment conditions but over salaries. Well, sort of.   Drug cartels in Acapulco are "requesting" that teachers fork over half of their salaries to them.  IF they do not there will be violence.  Last night, five severed heads were found at the doorstep of an elementary school as a  response to the protest.   If you were living in Acapulco what would you do?   Would you continue to go to school?  What would you want your teachers to do?   Would you protest?   Would you hide?http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/22/world/americas/mexico-acapulco-teachers/index.html

Call of Duty in the English Classroom?

Here is an interesting news clip from NPR discussing a new game that puts you in the battlefield as a journalist and not as a soldier.  It looks like another example of how technology could potentially play out in the classroom if you as a player are writing the story.   The question: Does this glamorize violence in a new way?  Should video games that provide morality be played in the classroom if they allow students to be engaged in what they are doing?   Just think of how much students would write and use real world applications of reporting and photojournalism....Here is a link that looks at the game with a trailer too.

Hi Everyone! Thanks for joining in on our discussions!

I thought this would be a good opportunity to look at this video from Frontline:Battle for Haiti since we have been discussing the problems of Haiti recently.   This particular movie is incredible in the portrayal of the struggle and problems that Haiti is facing.   It really brings the issues to light and put faces to the problems.   Very powerful.  It's 2 hours long so if you want to watch the whole thing feel free.   If not, when you post something and you are discussing a certain part, please post the time on the time meter so that we can all take a look at the particular scene you're discussing.   Can Haiti be rebuilt?

Birther Blather lives on---------Media Bias that is Biased

L.A. Times- This article discusses the role of media in American society and how it sculpts our own ideas and ideologies.   Primarily, the role of media has changed news into biased opinion outlets.   Do you think that this is a positive or negative for our country and what impact does it have on our understanding of the global community that we live and work in?

Osama and Obama Uncovering the Mythos

Aljazeera-Larbi Saddiki's editorial discusses the legacy of these two iconic figures in global politics. He uses what is called the Pygmalion Syndrome.  This syndrome refers to the ancient story of the sculpture Pygmalion who falls in love with a female statue that he has created.   Aphrodite then turns the statue into an actual woman.  The moral of the story is that what we want to be true usually becomes true but at what cost?   Please pay close attention to the middle of the article where Saddiki mentions that a reflection of America needs to take place.  What does he mean by this and how should we "celebrate" this critical victory in the war against terror.  

  

Video: Monsters in the Making

Video: Monsters in the Making

THis is not a place for comments but an addendum to the article below. Check out Del Toro's journals!

Guillermo del Toro’s Amazing Creatures: newyorker.com

The New Yorker Pan's Labyrinth begins here in Guilermo Del Toro's journals and imagination. This is a great example of how the creation of monsters are essentialy a form of magical realism. Pay specific attention to the section regarding his work on Frankenstein and how he is able to describe the creative process of designing such incredible monsters.

Guillermo del Toro’s Amazing Creatures: newyorker.com