Lasers are a growing flight safety problem (Current Event)

link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/09/lasers.flight.safety/index.html

3 Facts:

1) People have been pointing lasers into the cockpits of planes.

2) This year, 2,200 instances have been reported nationwide

3) The maximum penalty for each charge he faces is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

2 Questions:

1) Why do people do this, do they care about their safety?

2) Doesn't the 250 thousand dollar fine seem a bit steep?

1 Opinion)

I personally like using laser pointers in school. They can be very entertaining in class, but the users of them usually seem to get caught. I would never flash the laser pointer directly into someones eye.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090212185951AADCe70 -- This kid became blind when his friend flashed a laser pointer in his eye...scary :/

Bold Crossings of the Gender Line

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/fashion/09TRANS.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

3 Facts:

1) Marc Jacobs has sported the female line of his clothing with a beard.

2) A five year old boy dressed like Daphne on “Scooby-Doo” for Halloween.

3) In November, a trans-gender student pledged a sorority at Trinity University in Texas.

2 Questions)

1) What message are transsexual trying to send to the public?

2) Are all transsexuals actually born with two sex organs?

1 Opinion)

I think that transsexuals are very creepy people. I would much rather hang out with a gay person for a day than with a transsexual. I don't really understand the whole culture of transsexuals by any means.

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/stupid-weird-transexual/ -- this blogger has a similar view on transsexuals.

Nuggets Ready To Move Melo

source: http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articles/nuggets-ready-to-move-melo-442237.html

3 Facts)

1) The Nuggets offered Anthony a three-year, $65 million extension before the season started.

2) The NBA trade deadline is February 24th.

3) Anthony has stated that his top destination is the Knicks.

2 Questions)

1) Why is this trade lingering for so long?

2) Why won't Carmelo say which teams he will sign an extension with?

1 Opinion)

I think that the Nuggets should trade Carmelo Anthony to get some trade value back for him. It would be ashame if he signed somewhere else at the end of the season and the Nuggets ended up with nothing.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/441359-carmelo-anthony-denver-nuggets-should-trade-him-before-hes-a-freeagent-- This piece shares the same opinion.

Are you a nerd or a geek? (Current Event)

link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/12/02/nerd.or.geek/index.html

3 Facts:

1) A Venn Diagram was popping up on blogs all over the internet that contained a mathematical approach telling weather you were a nerd, a geek, a dork, or a dweeb.

2) The words nerd and geek have very different etymologies.

3) The word geek actually started out meaning almost the exact opposite of the word nerd. The word nerd used to have a negative connotation.

2 Questions:

1) Would Bill Gates be considered a nerd or a geek?

2) Are their various types of geeks/nerd (subsets)?

1 opinion:

I personally think that being called a nerd or geek is not exactly a compliment. However, modern day style has become more "nerdy" with the revival of the big nerd glasses. I like them, but personally, I don't think that I would pull them off well. People who don't even have a prescription often times rock them.

related: http://www.stylegoesstrong.com/too-old-wear-nerd-glasses

It talks about the celebrities that are wearing "nerd" glasses, the hottest new trend.

Art’s Survivors of Hitler’s War

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/arts/design/01abroad.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

3 Facts:

1) In January workers digging for a new subway station near City Hall found a bronze bust of a woman so filthy it was almost unrecognizable.

2) Researchers learned the bust was a portrait by Edwin Scharff.

3) The 11 sculptures proved to be survivors of Hitler's campaign against what the Nazis notoriously called “degenerate art.”

2 Questions:

1) How did the sculptures end up underground near City Hall?

2) What techniques were used to restore/clean the artwork?

1 Opinion:

1) I really respect how people used art as a way to resist and almost fight the Nazi campaign. This is very dangerous and could have had a really big impact on other innocent people of the time.

blog:http://furtherglory.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/degenerate-art-making-a-comeback-in-germany/

This blog talks about degenerate art, its impact, and also its comeback.

League extracts $25,000 more from James Harrison's wallet

link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_711593.html

3 Facts:

1) Steelers linebacker, Jerome Harrison, was charged $25,000 on Tuesday for a hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

2) He has been fined four times this season for a total of $125,000.

3) Andre Johnson, who threw punches at Titans Wide Receiver Cortland Finnegan, was charged the same amount of money.

2 Questions:

1) Why doesn't Harrison change his playing style since he has been getting fined over and over again?

2) Why are quarterbacks "defended" by the league more than any other position in the NFL?

1 opinion:

I think that the NFL has recently become somewhat of a soft league. I understand that the league wants to protect its players, but football is a gruesome contact sport after all, and that is why many people like it. Also, it seems that a player is much more likely to get fined if the opposing player (the one being tackled) is injured. That seems a bit unfair to me...

blog: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/3299/double-coverage-is-the-nfl-getting-too-soft

Many people agree that the NFL has gone "too far" in protecting it's players.