Didja Know...Dinner Party Part 2

I heard the "did you hear about" edition was a hit, so we're doing it again this week.  I've included a follow up question so you can prolong your dinner party conversation.  Remember, use these lines at a dinner party or on a blind date or any forced conversation- maybe you'll be a hit!

So, here goes:

Did you hear about the guy who broke the world record for parachuting on Friday?  He fell at the speed of sound!  He set off a sonic boom!  So...what do you do when you are that guy next Friday???

Did you hear Banksy was caught by police?  Or just caught on camera?  Or, wait...was it all a hoax?   Is that really a picture of Banksy?  Do you think Banksy should be caught?  (Wait-Do you know who Banksy is?  If that link isn't enough- do your research!)

Just because it is especially on my mind....do you know how the US compares to countries around the world in regard to maternity leave?  Should we have more paid leave?  More leave in general?  Check out this map (source here):

And out of the comments last week-- did you know that a study showed that posting calorie counts is not working?  They confirm that posting the equivalent exercise needed is the way to go, just like the Atlantic article told us!  If exercise equivalencies were posted, would that motivate you?

No clever quip for this one-- simply, did you read the NY Times article on the ISIS hostages that were beheaded?  It is heart wrenching, but well written and well researched.  While I did not know James Foley personally, we are alums of both Northwestern and TFA and have crossed many similar paths, and this piece, for me, was both difficult and important to read.  No additional question, just share thoughts.  (Ok- maybe this one is not the best for the dinner party convo!)

(Depending on the dinner party, try either--) Have you heard the depressing study that shows that the brightest and best low income children may not even compare to richer failures?  How does that make you feel about your work?  OR Do you want to talk about how socio-economic status really DOES determine a child's future-- that there is not yet a level playing field?  How do you justify that? Check this out.

Did you hear about how a group of "foodies" were duped into thinking that McDonalds was fancy pants?  Do you think it could happen to you?  What if I told you the wine in your hand right now cost $85...does it taste better?

If you are on facebook, you've seen this in different forms-- but did you know that Friday makes 87 school shootings since Newtown?  What do you think should be happening as a result?

Did you see the newest cover of Time Magazine?  Is it yet another war on teachers? (Protests have been more about the cover than the content of the article itself)

Week of October 19th

So if you don't usually watch The Daily Show, I highly recommend watching this epsiode-- Jon and Bill O'Reilly debating the existence of white priviledge (at 21:27).  I liked it so much that for my first time ever I even watched the extended interview online.  In my opinion, Stewart schools him.  Show it to that ultra-conservative guy on your facebook feed and see what he says.

In the same vein- my cousin's husband (cousin-in-law?) spent time at "Ferguson October" as a community organizer-- the youth "justice for all" movement is continuing on the momentum started by the Mike Brown protests.  (And an interesting comparison between the mostly white student riots in New Hampshire and the riots in Ferguson). 

In Texas, there is a new voter ID law that allows a requirement of picture ID in order to vote- and Ginsberg has written a scathing dissent.

This NCAA fan map helps me understand my roots in college football- growing up in mid-Michigan, a "state divided".  And even in football, there is diversity in NYC.  

Have you been following the opinion of the Vatican on accepting gay members?  The report was heavily criticized and there are some absurdities (changing "partners" to "these people"....)-- but still, doesn't Pope Francis make you feel glass half full about societies progress?  Or at least like there is some forward movement?  Unfortunately, many bishops are not ready to be on board.

This article talks about the equivalent exercise that would be needed to burn off juice or soda, and the impact of seeing this exchange on buying habits.  I'd LOVE to see this become the new labeling system for food-- but, as a non-soda drinker, I am a little concerned...do I have to give up juice?

So.... much like Romeo and Juliet, my husband and I are clearly star-crossed lovers-- seeing as how HIS alma mater is on the least datable alumni list and mine is on the most!  Go Wildcats!

  

(datable, right?) 

Obama has appointed an "Ebola Response Coordinator," or, and Ebola Czar.  I don't want to trivialize the concerns around ebola, but really, don't you wish more titles included "Czar"?  I'd like to be the Academic Czar someday.

And, while still not downplaying the fact that the ebola epidemic is serious- the graph below (from this article earlier this month about myths regarding the outbreak) gives a little perspective to the attention, or lack of attention, paid.

Readers' Submit (Plus)

Eek!  I've been so negligent.  We finished our multiple-week-family-visit-cation with an impromptu trip to Virginia Beach (in Ohio-- do we go this way to Brooklyn?  Nah, this way to the beach!!)  Which means I never posted my submissions update that I had planned to do.  So, those are interspersed in this week's-- if you submitted commentary as well, I plagiarized it almost verbatim.  Yep- I just stole it and acted like it was mine.  Enjoy*
 

 Starting with an infographic, above- this reminded me of our earlier discussion about shootings and whether the response focus should be on guns or on mental illness. (Graphic credit comes from here).

In entertainment news, I will confess that I skipped full paragraphs of this article on The Good Wife-- because, I'm batch watching it right now and only on season 4, and there were clearly going to be spoilers, I could tell.  If you are already watching it, this article says good job you, and if you aren't -- well, watch it instead of reading this!

In sports-- The Ryder Cup was two weekends ago. For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Ryder Cup happens every two years, and it is awesome. Europe and the USA face off in a 3-day golf extravaganza. As usual, Europe smoked the USA. The US has only won twice in the last 20 years. Past wins included an amazing win at The Battle at Brookline (highlights here), culminating in this awesome photo of Justin Leonard and this video of David Duval pumping his fists like it’s going out of style. But the biggest shocker in THIS year’s event was Phil Mickelson’s awkward takedown of Captain Tom Watson during the post-match press conference. This sort of thing doesn’t usually happen in golf.

Also, Derek Jeter played his last game as a Yankee. Dude was a class act, with the possible exception of this [hilarious and hopefully true] unsubstantiated rumor about his love life. “Yeah Jeets!”

Now, what about books plus Brooklyn?  On my bucket list is now to read each book associated with a Brooklyn neighborhood.  Maybe on my next month long vacation. ;)
 

Not necessarily "news" but definitely a feature that reminds me how much different social education for our young men and women of color needs to be in order to prepare them for a society that hasn't totally caught up with reality yet.

Did you see the NY Times "You're the Boss" piece, about women who are in management over men who don't respect women?  Super interesting-- luckily, something that I've not yet faced as a manager (at least, not to my knowledge) and I feel unlikely to face in my field-- although, I've experienced in several times in talking to fathers.

Malala Yousafzi was just the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize.  She is pretty amazing.  Check out her acceptance speech or learn more about her here.

This may be my favorite story this week-- a library is being created full of one book a year for the next one hundred years.  I can't believe how much this makes me want to read the first one by Margaret Atwood-- and I will never, ever be able to.

While the media's coverage of Ebola tends to be overly sensationalized, stories of the orphan problem that Ebola is creating are critical- this one makes me want to donate to Unicef, and this one happens to have been written by Christina's middle school boyfriend (making it news Christina already knows, but still worth a read). 

What do you think about this idea of apprenticeships for first year teacherrs?  Do you just read it and wonder how they afford it? 

AND-- click here to see what country I now want Zoe to move to for college, and here to see why!

*Ryan wins the call for entries for most submissions, complete with full commentary!