Good News, Bad News

What a week this has been… State of the Union address, unrest in Tunisia, riots in Egypt and Yemen, lost school time due to Mother Nature, and a stock market that briefly topped 12,000 but fell sharply Friday in response to the turmoil overseas and lower than expected figures on US economic growth.

So what does this all mean to a student at MHS? First, a loss of school time means more time to study for the mid-term but it also means we may have school until July 4! (That’s hyperbole [exaggeration].) Riots in North Africa and South West Asia mean autocratic governments we have supported may fall, but what will replace them…conservative theocracies, as happened in Iran thirty years ago, or a move towards democracy? President Mubarak of Egypt, in power for over 30 years, has shut down the internet and cell phone service to block communication among protest organizers, but only time will tell if this and other measures, including heavy use of force (nonlethal so far), succeed. Let’s hope the people have a loud voice in whatever government emerges. And gas prices? Well, I only can see a significant rise in prices.

And finally, while the US economy seems to be improving with growth figures showing an annual rate of 3.2%, one rating service that advises investors on how creditworthy a country is has announced it may have to downgrade US bonds within a year or two. This means investors may be less ready to lend the US money, which would result in higher interest rates. The US budget deficit doesn’t show signs of narrowing, as tax cuts from the Bush era have been extended and reducing federal spending is difficult when so many people are out of work. As a student who may be looking for loans to help pay for college, or for employment in a sluggish job market, higher interest rates would have a direct impact on your future.

North and South Korea

This week you finished reading the UpFront article (“From one Korea to Two”) on North and South Korea. This peninsula has been divided since the end of the Korean Conflict in 1953. The North has been ruled by tyrants and has experienced great famine while the South has prospered in recent years under democratic rule. Our power point on the Koreas showed two different countries bound together by a common heritage. The North has been labeled a hot spot as an unstable ruler, Kim Jong Il, has access to nuclear weapons. We have urged China to act as a mediator in an effort to defuse the serious clashes that have recently occurred between North and South Korea, an effort that has apparently had some success.

We also viewed a power point presentation put together by Mr. Young on some of the key aspects of Japan. It is a country that has a fierce warrior history and a great respect for beauty and contemplation. I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to visit this country and to see firsthand many of its historical spots and to get to know some of its people. The New York Times had a front page story Friday about the lack of job opportunities for young Japanese professionals as many older workers stay on the job. We will talk more about Japan when we study World War II.

Study Guide

You have had the study guide for one week. The guide was originally posted on the blog on our snow day from last week. We went over the guide in class and clarified what was being asked so that you could fully prepare for the exam. You have your portfolio which contains all of your work for the first two quarters. This will be most helpful as you review the concepts we have covered. Of course, you also have the blog which has one entry for each week with live links…everything you need in one place. I will check the blog from time to time this weekend so if you have a question, please post it and I will respond ASAP.

Status of Assignment Sheets

This week you added up your points and divided by 260 or 270 (Period B) to figure out your raw score. This is an opportunity for the two of us to look over your work and come up with a corrective action plan if you have not met standard. A special congratulation to all who handed in their sheets correctly added and divided. I also want to thank the students who made that extra effort these past few days to hand in work that was being revised. As one student commented, “I really like this sheet…it has helped me stay organized.”

How creative

Did you see the story of the baby grand piano found on a sand bar off Miami? It was quite a mystery until a 16 year old student came forward and explained that he had placed the piano in the bay as the basis for a surreal video he was making as part of his college application. Now the young man is making plans to remove the piano before being charged with illegal dumping and a possible fine of $5,000. Better think twice before you start loading the family piano into your boat!