Dog climbs to Mount Everest base camp

http://www.parade.com/228971/ashleighschmitz/meet-rupee-the-first-dog-to-ever-climb-mt-everest/

Have you ever adopted a stray animal?

Thief breaks into the home of a professional axe-thrower

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/11/04/ax-wielding-woman-chases-thief-away-in-hemet/

Should people keep weapons in their home or apartment?

US Supreme court to decide if employers can refuse to provide contraceptives

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304011304579222023983439450

Should private companies be required to pay for something they object to?

Police investigate screaming and find...IKEA furniture

http://www.thelocal.se/20131108/police-called-for-swedish-familys-ikea-nightmare

Have you ever assembled furniture? Did it make you scream?

Shoplifter chased by marathon runner

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10789363.Shoplifter_swiftly_caught_by_Good_Samaritan___who_had_run_101_marathons/

Should citizens get involved when a crime is happening, or should they wait for the police?

Food and Drug Administration shuts down genetic testing kit

http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/FDA-reins-in-genetic-testing-firm-23andMe-5011311.php

Is the US Government protecting people, or getting in the way of progress?

Swedish Ice Hotel Required to Install Fire Alarms

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/15/swedish-ice-hotel-required-to-install-fire-alarms/

What's the silliest government regulation you've heard of?

Jean Claude Van Damme Volvo ad

http://www.straight.com/blogra/531441/jean-claude-van-damme-does-epic-split-volvo

How will this ad help Volvo sell trucks?

Alcohol without alcohol

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24895758

Would alcohol-free drinks solve problems or create new ones?

Movie about Noah

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-15/will-noah-get-christians-to-theaters-or-create-a-backlash

Will this movie be faithful to the biblical story of Noah? Does it matter?

Plane crash in Russia

http://www.euronews.com/2013/11/17/russian-boeing-crashes-on-landing-at-kazan-airport-with-tatarstan-president-s-/

How old was the plane? Do you think this had anything to do with the crash?

Tornadoes strike the midwestern United States

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304439804579205703053045212

Would you want to live in an area where tornadoes are common?

Venezuelan store lowers prices -- at gunpoint

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/15/venezuela-army-occupy-shops-profiteering

Will this help the people of Venezuela?

Moscow subway accepting squats instead of rubles

http://www.smh.com.au/world/moscows-unusual-request-for-passengers-wanting-a-free-ride-20131109-2x7pq.html

What else could the government do to encourage exercise?

"Black Friday" starts on Thursday now

http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2013/11/holiday_shopping_takes_seat_at_1.html

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

Britney Spears' music used to fight Somali pirates

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/10/30/britney-spears-music-used-to-fight-somali-pirates/

What music drives you crazy?

Remote-controlled cockroaches

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/11/roboroach/

Is this cruel to the cockroaches?

Gun violence in American movies is increasing

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/business/media/gun-violence-in-american-movies-is-rising-study-finds.html?_r=0

Are Hollywood movies too violent?

Lays tests chocolate-covered potato chips

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/01/lays-manages-to-make-potato-chips-even-worse-for-you-by-smothering-them-in-chocolate/

Would you try chocolate potato chips?

Red Cross sends 10,000 body bags to the Philippines

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/11/health/typhoon-medical-crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Why did this storm cause such destruction?

All LDS Missionaries in Philippines are safe

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27586473&nid=148&fm=most_popular&s_cid=popular-5

Are you worried about the LDS missionaries or other people in the Philippines?

Racing Minivans

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303936904579180183760573854

What kind of car would you like to have?

Man throws away $500,000 in gold so his wife can't have it

http://nypost.com/2013/10/29/man-throws-gold-in-dumpster-so-his-ex-wife-couldnt-have-it/

Do you think this man really threw away the money, or did he hide it?

Man drives from New York to Califonia in 28 hours

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/31/us/new-york-los-angeles-cannonball-speed-record/

Is this man a hero or a criminal?

'Great Comet' could dazzle or could fizzle on Nov. 29

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27497775&nid=148&fm=most_popular&s_cid=popular-4

Do you plan on watching the comet? Where will you be on Nov 29?

Dramatic skydiver crash caught on tape

http://nypost.com/2013/11/05/incredible-video-captured-from-miraculous-skydiver-crash/

Why did everyone survive this crash?

Russia’s goodie bag gifts ‘bugged’ G-20 delegates

http://nypost.com/2013/10/30/russia-used-goof-bag-gadgets-to-bug-g-20-delegates/

Make your own comment on this article, or explain these terms:

• Goodie bag
• Bugged
• Boris and Natasha
• G-20
• Trojan horse
• eavesdropping

India launches first mission to Mars

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/05/india-mars-mission/3440267/

How much money has India spent on this mission? What do people think about this?

Huge, FLESH-EATING PLATYPUS once brought TERROR to Australia

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/05/new_platypus_species/

This news site often uses British slang. Without looking it up, what does "boffins" mean?

Woman gives out "You're fat" notes instead of candy

http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2013/10/30/kids-getting-youre-fat-letters-this-halloween/

What do you think of the Halloween traditions in the United States?

Everybody spies, just not as much as the United States

http://www.itworld.com/government/380167/eu-parliament-says-other-countries-spy-not-much-uk-or-us

Would people hear anything interesting if they listened in on your phone calls?

Killing a rhino to save the rhinos?

http://www.ibtimes.com/black-rhino-auction-controversy-texas-hunters-offer-chance-kill-rare-rhino-name-conservation-1442920

Is it okay to kill one endangered animal if it saves others?

Under Obama's health care plan, some people will be losing their current health care

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57609737/obamacare-more-than-2-million-people-getting-booted-from-existing-health-insurance-plans/

Should a government provide healthcare for its citizens?

Indonesian city bans masked monkey shows

Main story:
http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/23799453/indonesian-city-trying-to-end-masked-monkey-shows

Additional pictures
http://lightbox.time.com/2013/10/29/the-monkey-and-the-mask-reflections-on-primal-fears/

How do you feel about this story?

Little girl in Roma family was not kidnapped

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/25/dna-tests-confirms-bulgarian-woman-mother-maria-greece

Did the police in Greece do the right thing by removing the girl from the family while they investigated?

Utah state prison no longer allows letters to inmates with crayon drawings

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27389858&nid=148

Did the prison make the right decision? Could they have done something else?

Woman slaps a sleeping man with a mackerel

http://www.thedailymeal.com/Woman-Suspected-In-Mackerel-Assault/101913

Make a funny comment about this story.

3D printed gun parts turn out to be parts for the printer

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/384979/3d-printed-gun-parts-are-actually-spare-parts-for-the-printer

Should police be worried about printed guns?

Two scout leaders topple an ancient rock in Goblin Valley

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27331679&nid=148&title=boy-scouts-remove-2-men-who-toppled-ancient-rock&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-3

Should these men go to jail? Why or why not?

No talking is allowed at this restaurant

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=27300496&nid=711&title=new-nyc-restaurant-demands-silence-from-patrons-staff

Would you be able to go an entire meal without talking?

Three articles about the NSA

France is upset about US spying
http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-calls-french-president-over-spying-allegations/1774170.html

Mexico is upset about US spying
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/20/world/americas/mexico-nsa-spying/

New Utah NSA data center is having electrical meltdowns:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2013/10/07/the-nsas-hugely-expensive-utah-data-center-has-major-electrical-problems-and-basically-isnt-working/

Do all countries spy on each other? Is spying necessary?

Hurricane Raymond hits Mexico

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/21/world/americas/tropical-weather-raymond/

Will this affect Mexico's economy? Why, or why not?

Pictures of smog in china

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/china-smog-photos-pollution_n_4137675.html?ir=Green

Why does China have this problem?

Was this blonde girl kidnapped by gypsies?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57608337/blond-blue-eyed-girl-in-greek-gypsy-camp-sparks-child-trafficking-worries/

Will this cause problems for the Gypsy (or Romani) people?

Airlines squeeze even more seats into airplanes.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/oct/17/us-seat-squeeze/

The airlines say that with the new seats, you won't notice the closer spacing. Do you think this is true?
--

A large piece of the Chelyabinsk meteorite is recovered from a lake

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/world/europe/meteorite-pulled-from-russian-lake-breaks-into-3-pieces.html?_r=0

This meteorite could have caused many deaths if it had hit a city. Is there a way to prevent this danger in the future?

Iranian Scientist Claims to Have Built a Time Machine

Do you believe that time travel into the past or future will ever be possible?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130412-iranian-time-machine-time-travel-grandfather-paradox/

Biker Road Rage

Should the two policemen who were under cover and witnessed this incident have reported it sooner?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/us/bikers-attack-video/

9-year Old Hops Flight to Vegas

How could something like this happen?  Is airport security overdone or can it be improved?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/travel/vegas-flight-child/

Controversy Over Football Team Name

Do you think the name or the mascot of the team should be changed?  Should it be considered offensive?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/12/us/redskins-controversy/

Election Results Released Before Election

How do elections work in your country? What do you think about election "rituals"?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/09/oops-azerbaijan-released-election-results-before-voting-had-even-started/

EBT Card Glitch Causes Shopping Frenzy

What should WalMart do about the situation?  What can be done to prevent such an event from happening in the future?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-foodstamps-hoarding-20131014,0,5377514.story

California Man Survives by Eating Lizards

What do you think you'd do in such a situation? Do you think you'd have the will to survive that long?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/us/california-missing-man/

Apes Comfort Each Other 'Like Humans'

How closely related are humans and apes to each other?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24494230

Like a Broken Vessel

This article is the talk on depression given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that I told you about in class on Monday. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Have you or someone close to you had experiences with depression?

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng

Higgs Boson Wins Physics Nobel for European Scientists

This article is about two scientists winning the Nobel prize in physics for describing the Higgs boson. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Why is the Higgs boson important?

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-10-08/higgs-boson-wins-physics-nobel-for-european-scientists

Innards of chicken nuggets revealed by scientists

This article is about chicken nuggets and what they are made from. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.


 Have you eaten chicken nuggets? What is in them? Will you eat chicken nuggets after reading this article?

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27165067&nid=968&title=innards-of-chicken-nuggets-revealed-by-scientists&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-3

Justin Bieber gets carried up the Great Wall of China

This article is about is about singer Justin Bieber visiting the Great Wall of China and being carried up by his bodyguards. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Some people are calling Justing Bieber a "diva". Do they mean this as a compliment or an insult?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57605492/justin-bieber-gets-carried-up-the-great-wall-of-china/

Romania legalizes medical marijuana

This article is about Romania legalizing medical marijuana. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Does your country allow medical marijuana? What are the good or bad effects of legalizing marijuana?

http://www.romania-insider.com/romania-becomes-10th-country-in-the-eu-to-allow-medical-use-of-marijuana/107500/

South Korea Says North Restarted Nuclear Reactor

This article is about North Korea restarting a nuclear reactor that was shut down six years ago. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Should other countries care about what North Korea is doing? Why?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/09/world/asia/south-korea-says-north-restarted-nuclear-reactor.html

New $100 bill

This article is about the new US $100 bill design. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Compare the appearance of your country's money and U.S. money.  Is counterfeiting a problem in your country?

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/10/08/new-100-bills-hit-the-streets/?google_editors_picks=true

US shutdown: a guide for non-Americans

This article explains why the US government is shut down. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Will the government shutdown affect you? Why or why not?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/30/us-shutdown-explainer-non-americans

A fix for the minimum wage

This article is one editor's opinion about why the national minimum wage should be increased. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Does your country have a minimum wage? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a national minimum wage?

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/56929334-82/minimum-wage-federal-level.html.csp

Knowing when to let kids quit

This article gives advice to parents to help them understand when parents should let children opt out of activities they may have started (such as piano playing, soccer teams, etc.). Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Do you agree with the authors suggestions? Why or why not? Have you had any experiences with this?

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865587348/Its-complicated-Knowing-when-to-let-kids-quit-an-activity.html

British Police issue alert for Terror Widow

This article describes what is being done in a search to find a woman believed to be connected with Kenyan bombings in 2011. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

What do you think of this woman's actions? Do you think her perspective has changed over the years? Why or why not?

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765638571/Interpol-issues-alert-for-British-terror-widow.html

Number of Uninsured Utahns

This article describes how many people in Utah are without health insurance and what will happen that may change this number. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Do you think the Affordable Care Act, including the insurance marketplace, will decrease the number of uninsured residents? Why or why not? 

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56940576-78/uninsured-health-state-utah.html.csp

NBA drafts BYU's moneyballers

This article describes how BYU statistics students are being hired by the NBA (National Basketball Association) to do calculations for teams and players. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Why do sports teams need statistics experts?

http://news.byu.edu/archive13-sep-moneyball.aspx

U.S. sues North Carolina over voter laws

This article describes how the federal government is sueing the state of North Carolina because it believes that NC's voter laws discriminate against minority populations. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Do you think that North Carolina's laws are discriminatory? Why or why not?

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-justice-sues-north-carolina-voter-rights-20130930,0,7052136.story

Erin Brockovich Leads Anti-Pollution Protest

This article describes a protest held in North Salt Lake on Saturday, Sept. 28th against the company Stericycle. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the questions below.

What is Stericycle and what problems does Brockovich have with their business? 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865587315/Erin-Brockovitch-to-Stericycle-protesters-Stay-strong.html

Results of Government Shutdown

Go to New York Times (www.nytimes.com) on Tuesday and find out the results of the discussion of a U.S. Government Shutdown. Read an article that explains what the government decided. In your comments write the title of the article you read and summarize the article.

10 Ways a Government Shutdown Could Affect Your Life

This article explains the consequences of the federal government not reaching a decision of how to handle U.S. debt. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the questions below.

This article contains several idiomatic expressions. Were there new expressions that you learned from reading this article? What were they?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/23/politics/government-shutdown-daily-life/

Boom Time Over for Illegal Immigration

This article explains how the numbers of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. declined during the years of recession, and these numbers have not since increased. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the questions below.

Do you think the author of the article sees illegal immigration as a positive movement or not? Give examples to support your opinion.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303983904579092190903995668.html

Kenya mall attack

This article tells of current events in Kenya where al Shabab terrorists are holding civilians hostage in a shopping center. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Do you think it likely that this same terrorist group (al Shabab) would target the United States or Europe? Why or why not? 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-kenya-mall-attack-20130923,0,4701268.story

Carrying a little extra weight may not be a problem

This article tells about a recent study that shows that those who are mildly overweight may live longer than those who are at an ideal weight or thinner. Read the article by clicking on the link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Do you agree or disagree with the results of this study? Why? How should a society address problems of obesity?

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865586892/Carrying-a-little-extra-weight-That-may-not-be-a--bad-thing-study-says.html?pg=1

UpFront Magazine Week 3

UpFront Magazine Week 3

Read and summarize one or two of the articles in the Upfront publication given to you by Mrs. Recinos. Write your summary as your comment below. Remember, the summary must be in your own words.

How to catch a texting liar

This article describes a study conducted at BYU that showed how people who are lying via text messages respond differently. Read the article by clicking on the link above (or follow the url). Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Do you think that the results of this study are accurate? What complications could make these results invalid?

http://healthland.time.com/2013/09/05/how-to-catch-a-texting-liar/

Bilingual Speakers Develop Mental Flexibility

This article talks about some of the advantages of speaking more than one language. Read the article by clicking on the above link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

How have views of bilingualism changed over the years? Will you encourage your children to be bilingual? Why?

5 College Admissions Mistakes International Students Can Avoid

This article contains informal information about the important steps that international students should take as the apply to college in the U.S. Read the article by clicking on the above link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Which piece of advice from this article was most helpful for you? Have you already taken these steps?

Bullying leads to suicide

This article tells how a 12 year old girl was driven to suicide after being bullied online for over a year. Read the article by clicking on the above link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

How can people (especially teenagers) be deterred from cyber-bullying? What can be done to prevent such suicides?

U.N. Report confirms rockets loaded with Sarin.

This article explains that the United Nations Report finally confirms that Syria used chemical weapons against its people. Read the article by clicking on the above link. Then, summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Whose responsibility is it to enact consequences to breaking international law? What should the consequences be for Syria for using chemical weapons?

UpFront Magazine Week 2

UpFront Magazine Week 2

Read and summarize one or two of the articles in the Upfront publication given to you by Mrs. Recinos. Write your summary as your comment below. Remember, the summary must be in your own words.

News Blog Intro

Hello Academic B!

This blog gives our class the focus we need in our news reading. One of the objectives of AB Reading is to read one hour of news each week. In the past, it was difficult to discuss this reading as a class because students were all reading different articles, perhaps at inappropriate levels. With this blog as a reading resource, we will have a platform for discussion of a bank of appropriate news articles.

Each week, you will be required to read four articles from the eight that are posted. After reading each article, you will post on the blog. This post can either be a general summary of the article in your own words or it can be an answer to the question posed on the blog. You have until Sunday at midnight to make your comments. Then, we will discuss the articles you read in class each Monday.

If you wish to request topics for the news articles that will be chosen, please comment on this post. Leave your suggestions for topics here.