Mr. Weber\’s Blog

This morning a 23-month-old Texas child was confirmed as first U.S. swine flu death, according to Richard Besser, acting director, CDC.  Please read one of the countless articles on swine flu.  What are your views on this problem?  Do you think the media has covered it fairly or do you think they are putting too much emphasis on the situation?  Here are some facts: America has nearly 350 million people and one person has died from swine flu.  Annually nearly 36,000 people die from the common flu.  Here is something else to consider: yesterday GM announced they were cutting the Pontiac division, which has been in existence since 1926.  This will mean the loss of 13 plants and 21,000 factory jobs coupled with the economic wave in countless communities.

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editorial.doc

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This past weekend was the NFL draft.  The Detroit Lions and all the other teams selected 7 rounds of college players and plan to pay them millions of dollars.  The Lions top pick, Matthew Stafford, signed a huge six year contract, worth between 41.7 to 78 million dollars. Considering these players are not much older than you (21-22 years old), what would you do if you suddenly became a millionaire?  What would be your first priorities?  Also, what do you think of professional athletes making so much money?  Please leave a well-written response below.

editorial.doc

practical-writing-journal-topics.ppt

Read the Yahoo! article about text messaging.  Then leave a well-written comment stating your reaction to the article and your views on text messaging.  Do you use text messaging?  If so, how much do you text message per day?  What are the common topics of your text messages?

practical-writing-journal-topics.ppt

editorial.doc

Please watch the videos and read the article “Columbine Students Strive 10 Years after Massacre.”  How has Columbine changed American schools?  Please leave a well-written comment stating your reaction to the article and your views on school security.

In recent times, interrogation methods have been in the news.  Read the New York Times article on Interrogation Memos and leave a well-written comment stating you opinion on interrogation methods.  Should America use interrogations methods that might be considered torture?  What is acceptable and what is not?

Read and watch the story about the woman jumping into the polar bear exhibit at the Berlin Zoo.  Then leave a well-written comment below stating your reaction to the story.  Also, do you think the polar bear exhibit is the worst zoo exhibit to fall into?  If not, what do you think is the worst zoo exhibit to fall into?

practical-writing-journal-topics.ppt

travel-essay.doc

Unfortunately spring break 2009 is over.  Some of us traveled to warm destinations.  Others stayed home and were happy a snow storm didn’t happen.  What did you do during your spring break?  Leave a well-written comment below stating your daily activities.  Was your spring break relaxing or do you still feel tired and stressed?  This is the time and place for those who did something cool to brag and for those who stayed home to let loose about how it’s not fair.

travel-essay.doc

Hopefully you’ve gotten a start on your travel essay.  Please leave a well-written comment below stating the destination/topic of your travel essay and why you picked it?  Feel free to leave any links/resources that others in the class may find helpful.

travel-essay.doc

practical-writing-journal-topics.ppt

The 2009 Final Four in Detroit is set.  For the young, college players involved it is the biggest victory of their lives.  Write a well-written comment stating the biggest “victory” of your life (so far).  Certainly, it could be sports related but it doesn’t have to be.  It could be a “victory” (or award) you achieved in school or outside school.  Also, feel free to leave your predictions for this year’s Final Four (MSU-UCONN vs Villanova-NC).

travel-essay.doc

practical-writing-journal-topics.ppt

On September 9, 2009 The Beatles Rock Band will be released.  Read the Rolling Stone article for more details.  If you could pick one band or musician to create a video game for, who would it be?  Why would you pick a particular band or musician?  What songs would you include?  What video game would you choose and why?  Please leave a well-written comment below.

travel-essay.doc

practical-writing-journal-topics.ppt