This fall, Worcester Academy joined countless schools across the nation in celebration of Teen Read Week 2009 (October 18-24)! Teen Read Week is an initiative by the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) that was started in 1998 to remind teens to spend time reading for pleasure.
The WA English Department took advantage of an Interactive Reading Project spearheaded by Mr. Joseph Pye whose mission was to “inspire students to interpret literature in new and innovative ways.” This undertaking entailed creating a Scratch video inspired by a work read in an English class. Scratch software allows users to design animations, games and art to be shared on the Internet.
A total of 8 eager learners accepted the challenge and each created interactive stories inspired by: Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” and Marie de France’s “Guigemar,” “Laustic” and “Les Deux Amanz.”
Follow the link below to see the original animations of: Adrienne Anderson, Julien Angel, Cameron Borriello, Chester Caswell, Sarah Dunn, Geetha Mahendran, Elena Stamatakos, and Surya Viswanathan!
More and more things in this world are being replaced by technology. News is starting to be reported by the common person. Back in the 1960’s there was one or two news stations and everybody watched those stations and believed what the anchors told them. Then news evolved and there were many stations for news. There are still many news stations, but now there are specific shows for political news or economic news. This is the evolution of news shows. Some might expect that within the next few years even more news stations will start. I disagree. I think within the next twenty years news stations will start to decrease. Continue reading »
Have you ever really wanted that wicked cute top from JCrew, but when you went to the store that day they did not have your size? So what did you do? Chances are you either had the store order it for you and have it shipped to your house, or you went home and went online and bought it. Online shopping has become huge in the past few years. It is easy and stressless. A couple of clips and then boom, the package will be at your door step with in a matter of days and you didn’t even have to more a muscle.
In the 21st century we all seem to be glued to our cell phones, and are allowing ourselves to put not only us but the people around us in danger. As the number of fatalities increase from drivers using their cell phones, many are beginning to wonder if cell phones be banned while driving. Over the past few years many studies have been conducted about the risks of driving while using a cell phone, and the outcome has all been the same. Driving while on the cell phone is one of the most dangerous things you can do. When on a cell phone you are not only putting yourself at risk but also the cars around you. A study conducted by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society showed that accidents when on a cell phone caused 2,500 deaths and 330,000 injuries. If all states banned cell phones while driving, all of these deaths and injuries could be avoided. So far California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C. and Oregon have banned cell phone use, but this number needs to increase. If we can avoid accidents by this little act, why not take advantage of it? Continue reading »
Excellent update to the original Karl Fisch presentation “Did You Know?” and a powerful example of how media is converging online to create visual messages to convey complex ideas.
This is another official update to the original “Shift Happens” video. This completely new Fall 2009 version includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist. For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://mediaconvergence.economist.com/ and http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/.
Content by XPLANE, The Economist, Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Laura Bestler. Design and development by XPLANE, http://www.xplane.com/
It has been a while since Apple’s iTunes and music store launched in early 2001, revolutionizing the music industry. iTunes makes it easy to organize and sync you’re music library and make it portable. Up until a couple months ago, all the audio files were sold as protected files for 99 cents, making it impossible to put iTunes store bought music on anything except for an iPod. In a way, Apple was forcing iTunes users to use iPods in order to listen to their music on the go. Now however, the 7-year tradition has changed. Apple has recently removed the DRM protected file format enabling people to share and copy music to their phones as mp3 files. People in the music industry have anticipated this change for several years with endless possibilities for sharing their music with others. This change however does not come with out a price. Along with the removal of DRM protected format, iTunes has begun offering music at two different prices, $.99 and $1.29 for certain tracks. Continue reading »
I can remember a couple years ago when MySpace was the new thing to have because it was the start of social networking on the Internet. I thought it was so awesome you could have your own personal page where you can have music and a place where your friends can write comments to you. Everyone would try to compete to see who could get more friends. It was great! But then as people became more familiar with this new technology people began using it to deceive.
Problems began developing and there were many incidents, such as issues with sex offenders using MySpace to mislead people using fake pictures and fake identities. I believe this turned away many people by but because it was the only real popular social network no one had a choice of switching to a different one. As a couple of years went by Facebook came into play. Facebook was a new social network that people could use that was just as fun as MySpace, but much easier to use and safer. As Facebook was growing people began to like the fact that Facebook was very organized and more adult savvy than MySpace. It has a much more sophisticated atmosphere with its dull yet prearranged look. People began to lose interest in MySpace and joined Facebook. One of the big differences Facebook offers that MySpace does not is its live chat you can have with your friends. This was a big step because it combined instant messaging with a social network website. Facebook also has live status updates, which MySpace does not have. As all of these new things were developing, MySpace began to become threatened by Facebook and tried to compete with them by copying them in many ways including a program called Applications. Continue reading »
At some point in our lives we have all had to listen to someone talk about how we are destroying the Earth, due to the fact that we don’t think about the harmful chemicals we produce using different products. Now I don’t know about you, but my ways have not changed even after those long talks. To be honest, I actually only listen to half of the speech, usually because I get bored and dose off. Once I began researching for this article, I realized that I can make a difference and help the environment. I can make a difference not only by changing my ways, but also by trying to change yours. I researched the greenest phone and car and this is what I discovered…
Most Energy Efficient Cell Phone
Although it is not on the market yet, the most energy efficient phone around is the Samsung Blue Earth. It partially runs off of solar power. Although it doesn’t completely run off the sun, by charging the phone with the solar panels, you are capable of making one phone call at a time. Not only is it energy efficient, but also is made from a material called PCM, a recycled plastic from water bottles.
Another feature of the phone is that it contains an “eco” mode, which adjusts screen brightness, back light duration, and Bluetooth usage. Now there is one more feature that doesn’t really help the environment, but it shows how much carbon dioxide emission you save by walking rather than driving. Lastly, it comes in recycled packaging with an energy efficient charger.
Personally, I would use this phone. It’s not like the other energy efficient phones that are unattractive to be quite honest with you. It’s a phone where if you didn’t notice the solar panels at first, you would think it was just as ordinary as anything else.
Greenest Car Ever Unveiled
The most energy efficient car that is known right now is the Aptera. It looks like no other car around today, but something from the future. At first, the car promised at least a 200-MPG driving range but now the company has stepped up it’s game, and now is going for a 300-MPG range in typical driving conditions. Not only do they just have this version, but they are also coming out with a new car that is an all-electric version in addition to the plug-in hybrid model. The new model promises to last around 120 miles before needing to be recharged.
Both vehicles include some luxury features such as both, driver and passenger side airbags, interior and exterior LED lighting and a “solar assisted” climate control system. They also have “advanced drive computer” that includes GPS, a rear-view camera, and a complete vehicle diagnostic system. For a car like this you think it would be extremely expensive, however it only runs around $20,000 for the regular one, and the hybrid model runs for a little more money. You are currently able to reserve one of the vehicles for about $500, and they are coming out in about 12 months or so.
In my opinion, this car doesn’t look safe at all. It looks like if something hits you have a high risk of getting hurt. Also, since there are three wheels on the vehicle it may be a lot different to drive than the traditional four wheels, but I don’t know. If it is different it may take people some time to adjust from their old four wheel ways to the new three wheel concept. It could be an issue for some to get used to it. I personally would not by this car, but it may appeal to some.
On Saturday, March 28th, more than 1,000 cities in over 80 countries observed Earth Hour 2009. Starting at 8:30 PM, cities and towns around the world shut off the lights to promote climate change awareness and action. Started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, Earth Hour has grown tremendously in the last three years. The event was sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund.
Earth Hour 2009 in Toronto
Although there are many advocates of this event, there are also many people who criticize it. Many question how much energy is saved in only one hour of shutting the lights off, arguing that the planning and promotion of the event causes enough environmental harm that it offsets the benefits of Earth Hour. However, the sheer number of people involved in the event guarantees that much more energy is conserved because of the event than is used. Also, Earth Hour is more of a symbolic demonstration, with millions of people around the world telling world leaders that we need to do something about the climate crisis. As UN’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, Earth Hour has the potential to be “the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted.”
With Earth Day 2009 coming up on April 22, we are facing possibly the most serious environmental crisis ever. As the population grows, we need to use more resources, much of which are nonrenewable and result in emissions of greenhouse gases. As climate change worsens, an environmental movement is beginning around the world, and world leaders including President Obama are making it one of their top priorities. However, recent events are suggesting that we may have less time to act than we originally thought. For example, in 2007, a large portion of Arctic sea ice (about 40%) vanished. Even with climate change, scientists predicted in 2004 that this would not happen for another 50 or 100 years. Along with this, we are seeing increases in occurrence and severity of droughts, floods, and storms around the world, as well as decreases in agricultural yields due to the changing climate. On a statistics website called Worldometers.info, you can actually see the average global temperature increase. Also, the amount of Carbon dioxide emissions this year goes up about 1,000 ton every three seconds. These statistics and recent events make it evident that we are facing a serious threat to our population and that urgent action is necessary.
Arctic sea near Svalbard
Millions of people simply shutting the lights off for one hour was a powerful message that gained worldwide attention. Clearly, Earth Hour 2009 was a much needed wake-up call to politicians and citizens around the world that we need to get serious about stopping climate change. This event is one of the largest public demonstrations ever, and has the potential to become increasingly influential in coming years.
Although we do not realize it, several of our everyday actions impact the environment. We are also affected by the environment everyday as well, and all of us experience the effects of climate change. Although many people will disagree with me on this, I believe that climate change is the most important problem we face today, because whether we realize it or not, it impacts every aspect of our life. It is affecting our food supply, rain cycles, ocean currents, sea levels, biodiversity and human health, as well as other aspects of our earth . Its impacts will only increase over time, but there is hope. There is a movement happening right now as concern about climate change grows. Renewable energy technology is being developed, windmills and solar panels are being installed around the world, and people are voicing their concerns on climate change. American colleges are reporting a dramatic increase in interest in renewable energy technologies and environmental science. Individuals, corporations, schools, and organizations are moving towards sustainability. This is one of our greatest opportunities to prove what the human race can accomplish while working toward a collective good. One person at a time. One light at a time. One goal: protecting this beautiful place we call home.
(Note: if you want to see more pictures of Earth Hour, there are some outstanding pictures at Boston.com
Each day there are more and more companies that are going out of business. The unemployment rate is continuing its increase to record highs as Americans are consistently losing jobs. Even though the economy is going through a very difficult time, there are still some companies that are thriving. One for example, is Apple. The constant demand for Apple products has been the main reason why the company remains to thrive.
Besides maybe fast food chains, Apple is one of the only corporation to keep its head above water, and stay away from a decline in sales. Apple can attribute that to its products, and its product’s popularity.
Apple continues to come out with the most up to date technology. Almost every six months there is a new update to the iPod, iPhone, Macbook, or any other Apple product. We live in a society where having the new thing or device means everything, and updating from old technologies is an essential. Upgrading is a way of life for people in our society. That one factor that has led to Apple’s continued success, as even though the economy is going through a very difficult situation, Americans have put purchasing the newest technologies as a priority a major priority.
The other reason for Apple’s continued success through the bad economy is because of the growing importance of technology in our daily lives. Technology is used in almost every profession, school system and household across the country. And with that being said, Apple is one of the leading providers of new technology. Their computers and software are used in millions of businesses in America. Their iPods sell not only to young adults and children, but it also appeals to all age levels. Even Apple’s most recent development, the iPhone, has become one of the highest selling mobile phones on the market today.
This trend hasn’t hit home with all corporations producing new technology items, as numerous companies have began to falter. Other companies are trying to devise plans to help compete with Apple. Even software pioneers like Microsoft have been considering opening up stores in malls and shopping centers (like Apple) to compete with the Apple corporation. Apple is known for producing the best technologies and Americans have not forgotten that during these economic hardships.
Apple has been one of the fortunate companies in America’s sinking economy. There have been two factors that have led to Apple becoming much more recession-proof compared to many American Corporations; the continued desire of Americans to update their belongings, and more importantly their technological products, and also the popularity of Apple products. Due to these two factors, Apple has been able to keep its head above water even through difficult economic times. Only time will tell if it continues down that path.
Loading ...