Man Sets Record for Binge Watching

Watches 94 Hours of TV in One Sitting

http://www.vulture.com/2016/04/brooklyn-man-sets-tv-binge-watching-world-record.html

1) What evidence is used to prove records? How might the the Guinness Book of Records have become the authority on world records? Would yo have chosen these rules to enforce? Anything you would add or clarify?

2) Why might an executive at Netflix be interested in this story? Why might the record holder's mother have a different opinion on this record than his girlfriend's mother?

3) In what ways is this connected to psychology? Biology? In what ways is this story connected to other famous world records?

4) To what degree would this story be different if the content the group watched had been decided by popular vote? How would the story be different if the participants were from another demographic category?

5) What are some basic assumptions about binge-watching? About "screen-time"? In what ways does this story affect you?

Extension Activities:

1) Students can research world records and make a plan to break a record of their choice?

2) Student can research the current APA guidelines for children and "screen-time" and create a plan for children of different generations.

AoK: Human Sciences

Wok: Imagination

Coke Wins Lawsuit over Pomegranate Juice Content

Jury Says .3% is Enough

Minute Maid stopped making its Pomegranate Blueberry juice in 2014.   (AP)

http://www.newser.com/story/222453/jury-cokes-3-pomegranate-juice-was-a-ok.html

1)  In what ways does this affect POM?  How does a jury know what is true in a case like this?      

2)  In what ways might a father feel differently about this than an executive at Coca Cola?  Why might an Indian feel differently about this than an American?

3)  To what degree could this be thought of as a math problem?  Health?

4)  How might this have been different if it was advertised as apple-pomegranate juice?  In what ways would this article have been different if it was about pears?

5)  What are the basic assumptions about health in this article?  To what degree does this affect you?  Your community?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the marketing behind "super foods" over the past decade and use the same tactics to promote a new food of their choice to be in included in the list.

2)  Students can write a law for rules and ethics in advertising associated with the amount of the marketed or primary ingredient.

AoK:  Math, Human Science
WoK:  Reason, Language

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

The Making of a 104K-Square-Foot 'Giga-Mansion'

This May Be the Priciest Home Ever

(Skyline Development)

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mcclean-704015-homes-laguna.html

1) Which numbers in this article are most important for your understanding? How can we trust that this is being reported fairly?

2) Whose perspective is the represented in this article? Whose is left out? In what ways would the architect's goals differ from the neighbors'?

3) In what way is this connected to science? In what ways is this connected to the development "The Earth" in Dubai?

4) To what degree would this story be different if it was in Missouri? In Costa Rica? Yellowstone National Park?

5) What are the long-term effects of this story? To what degree does this story affect you? What are the basic assumptions about homes represented in this article?

Extension Activities:

1) Students can research the most expensive structures in the world and visually represent them in proportion on an infographic.

2) Students can research the wealthiest individuals of all time and rank the various impacts of their money in different realms (charity, education, politics, business, etc.)

AoK: Human Sciences

Wok: Ethihcs

That Moment When You Think You Won Powerball

NJ Workers Celebrate After Thinking They Won the Lottery


 (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)


http://abc7ny.com/news/video-nj-workers-ecstatic-after-thinking-they-won-the-powerball-(hint-they-didnt)/1156511/

1)  What evidence did the employees use to confirm their numbers?  In what ways might this experience strengthen their decision-making abilities for the future?  Weaken?

2)  Why might the manager's reaction be different than that of the dishwasher's or valet's?

3)  In what ways is this connected to the concept of celebrity?  To what degree is this connected to religion?

4)  How might this story be different if it was school employees?  Google employees?  In China?

5)  What are the underlying assumptions about money and work expressed in this article?  How important is money to you?  In what ways might a large lottery jackpot improve your life?  In what ways might it be a detriment?

Extension Activities:

1)  Student's can write a series of apology texts form the perspective of a person mentioned (or not) in the article (i.e. the sender of the wrong numbers, the valet)

2)  Students can calculate the odds of winning the Powerball Jackpot and compare it to other unlikely scenarios (i.e. Shark Attack, Vending machine serious injury, hole-in-one in golf)

AoK:  Math

WoK:  Reason

A Theory of Funny-Sounding Words

Why is Snunkoople funny?


Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images

http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2015/12/14/why_is_the_nonsense_word_snunkoople_funnier_than_the_equally_made_up_word.html

1)  What numbers are used as evidence in this piece?  Which numbers would be most helpful to dispute the findings?

2)  Why might a Chinese student feel differently about this than a Canadian?  In what ways would the publisher of Dr. Seuss' books think about this study?

3)  How is this connected to social media?  The news?  Harry Potter?  

4)  What if you found out your favorite pop star changed their name according to this principle?

5)  How might this be significant to a political campaign?  What is a long-term consequence in this topic?  What are some basic assumptions about humor?  To what degree does this story change the way you view your name?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can poll their peers and acquaintances about common "hated" words and chart their results.  They can then think of replacements for the most egregious words to suggest for future use.

2)  Students can chart the history of the word cool and its synonyms then predict future synonyms 1,5, 20 years out.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Language

Nicki Minaj to Perform in Angola

Should Celebrities Appear for Leaders Known for Oppression and Brutality?

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/nicki-minaj-concert-in-angola-draws-human-rights-complaint.html?pagewanted=all

1)  What evidence would sway your opinion one way or the other?  Does the amount of money make a difference?

2)  In what capacities might Beyonce think about this differently than Nicki?  Your sibling and the daughter of Dos Santos?

3)  In what ways is this connected to sports?  To Martin Skrelli and Bernie Sanders?  Schindler's List?

4)  Would you change your mind if you found out people in the country with your religious beliefs were being persecuted?  Hair color?  About North Korea?  Germany in 1942?  Mongolia in 1210?  

5)  To what degree does this affect you?  What is the short term consequence?  What are the underlying assumptions about pop stars that affect this story?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can chart the responses of their classmates and teachers on the amount of money they would take to perform in a similar situation and analyze their results.

2)  Students can write a series of 5 tweets to Nicki Minaj supporting or protesting her decision and predict the outcome of a fictitious back-and-forth with an online opponent.      

AoK:  Ethics

WoK:  Reason