Waitress Not Tipped for Unique Hairstyle

Customer Left Note that said "Tips are For Normal Looking People" 

(Shutterstock)


http://www.newser.com/story/222251/waitress-stiffed-for-not-looking-normal.html

1)  How do we know what is true in this article?  What evidence is useful in determining the "unspoken rules" for tipping?

2)  Whose perspective is being represented in this article?  Whose perspective is not represented in this article?  Why might a teenager feel differently about this than a senior citizen?

3)  In what ways is this connected to math?  Technology?  Traveling?

4)  How might have this situation been different if the employee was a man?  If it happened in a Red Lobster?  

5)  To whom is this significant?  What are the basic assumptions about tipping in your culture?  Customer service?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the history of tipping in America and provide a list of situations that require tipping and calculate percentages for "excellent customer service".

2)  Students can research tipping culture in other countries and write a guide to tipping for a country of their choice.

AoK:  Ethics
WoK:  Language, Perception

Can Eating Spicy Food Help Me Live Longer?

Chili Peppers Linked to Longevity

 (AP Photo/Dean Fosdick)

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/spicy-food-linked-to-lower-risk-of-death/?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1

1)  How do I know what is true in science?  What evidence in the article is most useful to convince a family member to start eating more peppers?  How do we know about antioxidants?

2)  In what ways might a Mexican citizen feel differently about this than a Russian?  Why might a child feel differently than an adult?

3)  In what ways is this story connected to math?  Geography?  How might an internet company use this information?

4)  How might this be different if Texans were used instead of Chinese citizens for this study?  In what ways is this connected to religion or ethics?

5)  Is this important to you?  To whom might this story be most important?  What are the long term effects of people living 10 years longer than the average person lives now?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research average life span and develop math problems associated with its logarithmic growth over time and chart their findings in unique ways.  

2)  Students can research the ways in which people have tried to increase life span in the past both naturally and chemically and then create an ad for a past or future products.  

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Reason, Perception