7: Read Any Banned Books Lately?

September 30 - Oct 6, 2012 is the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week. Take a look at this video link (it's only 2.5 minutes long and loads pretty fast). http://billmoyers.com/content/the-bane-of-banned-books/

After watching, check out some of the links that list the young adult books most banned and why; the classic books most often banned and even the links to the books themselves.

I like the idea of the "what books would you require Americans read." I'm intrigued. Choose a single book you think everyone should read and explain why. It can be a book aimed at any age group - if you have a burning desire to ensure that every two year old reads "Pat the Bunny," explain your reasons. After everyone has posted, go back, read all the book titles and reasons, and vote for your favorite. This means EVERYONE must post by Tuesday, 2 OCT. read each other's post, post your vote and explain your thoughts by Thursday, 4 OCT (remember, Friday is Homecoming, so post early)

This should be fun.

Hand-Up or Hand-Out?

Due: Wednesday, 26. SEP 2012

Read the article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2012/0902/Back-to-school-From-rural-Africa-to-the-Ivy-League

Then decide if you think this project worthwhile: consider cost, manpower hours, local beliefs and customs vs MEDC beliefs and customs (is it harming the local kids culturally?), or is it simply a band-aid solution to make the "givers" feel better about themselves? Is it necessary? Or are we (my country) telling the local families that their world is inferior to ours? Who's to say if being a subsistence farmer in Swaziland is more or less important or fulfilling than being an MIT trained electrical engineer?

Please ensure your comments are addressing the prompt directly and that you are saying what you have to say in between 250 - 400 words.

Do You Feel Over Connected?

Due: Wednesday, 19 September by 11:59 PM

I have told you that I am a Fred Flintstone living in a George Jetson world (BTW, that's an allusion). You all are mostly, I believe, George Jetsons living in your own world.

Read this New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/technology/cutting-the-digital-lifeline-and-finding-serenity.html?pagewanted=all  and answer the question, "Do you feel over connected?" Is it just a necessity of the 21st century? Would it possible, desirable, or stupid to envision life without this constant barrage of electronic info coming to you?

Please remember to proofread your work prior to posting it.

How Does Your Language Influence Who You Are?

DUE: Wednesday, 12 September 11:59PM

As  you know, I'm from Hawaii. In Hawaiian, we have a saying: "I ka 'ōlelo no ke ola, i ka 'ōlelo nō ka make." Translated, it means: "In language there is life, in language there is death."

I just finished reading a play about a language archivist which stated that every 14 days a language dies.  Many of you speak a myriad of languages in addition to English. My question this week is this: How do YOU  balance your heritage with where you live, the language you speak at home, and the English of your educational world? For those of you who only speak English, focus on the location part of the question (heritage is cultural, too). Do any of you feel in danger of losing your "home culture" as you live in the academic English world?

Please make an effort to read and incorporate other's posts in your responses. If you are one of the first responses, visit again again later to comment.