Blogger Gets Tossed From Baseball Game

Brian Bennett is a sports reporter for the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky. On Sunday, he was in Omaha covering a baseball game between the University of Louisville and Oklahoma State. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Gene McArtor from the NCAA Baseball Committee revoked his reporter’s license and asked him to leave the stadium.

What did Mr. Bennett do to deserve expulsion? Brian was blogging updates on the game. He posted the first blog after the top of the first inning and had posted 15 more reports before Mr. McArtor told him to leave.

According to Mr. McArtor, blogging during an NCAA championship event is against NCAA policies. Blogs violate a policy that prohibits live Internet updates.

The newspaper has challenged the NCAA policy under the First Amendment. Executive Editor Bennie Ivory said that blogging is part of the “evolution of how we present the news to our readers.” He pointed out that the newspaper had posted blogs during the Orange Bowl and during the NCAA tournament.

A lawyer representing the newspaper said, “Once a player hits a home run, that’s a fact. It’s on TV. Everybody sees it. The NCAA can’t copyright that fact. The blog wasn’t a simulcast or a recreation of the game. It was an analysis.”

The University of Louisville hosted this game and had to play by the rules of the NCAA. Louisville officials said that they tried to handle it as politely as possible but a rule is a rule. Officials are upset that the incident became more important than the game. Louisville won the game 20 to 2.

Source: Courier-Journal.com

Questions:
1. Why was Brian Bennett told to leave the stadium?
2. Why do you think the NCAA prohibits live Internet updates?
3. Why are blogs becoming an important strategy in sports coverage?
4. Why is this issue covered by the First Amendment?

BLOG QUESTION
Should reporters be allowed to post blogs during a live baseball game or should they have to wait until the end of the game to post their stories?

New Gun Control Bill Passes House

Last April Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people at Virginia Tech and then killed himself. Cho’s story is well-known. He was supposed to be receiving treatment at a mental health center,and he should not have been able to buy a firearm. But, Virginia never sent the information about his mental state to the national system and that breakdown in communication made it possible for the tragedy to occur.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a bill by voice vote that would improve state reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The bill would stop people like Cho from purchasing a gun.

The bill could become the first major gun control law in a decade. It has the support of both parties and the National Rifle Association.

The original gun control act goes back almost 40 years. In 1968, both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were killed. The law that was passed after their deaths prohibited illegal drug users, illegal immigrants, mentally disabled, and anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison from buying a gun.

This new bill would require the states to (1) set up an automated system for managing data about gun purchases and (2) share data on those not permitted to purchase a gun with the FBI’s database. The bill provides $250 million to states to complete the work over the next three years.

Does this bill signal a change in the NRA’s position on gun control laws? The NRA does not consider this bill a gun control law. A spokesman for the NRA said that the organization has always supported the FBI’s database and has always wanted to make sure that guns do not get in the hands of mentally unstable people. The NRA, according to the spokesperson, simply wants to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to purchase guns.

Source: USA TODAY

Questions:
1. Why was it so easy for the House to pass this gun control law?
2. Why does the NRA support this bill?
3. How will this bill make it more difficult for what happened at Virginia Tech to happen again?

BLOG QUESTION
Do you think that the passage of this bill suggests that other gun control bills will be introduced and passed in Congress?

Senator Clinton Ahead With Female Support

Will Hillary Clinton win the Democratic presidential nomination? According to a recent poll from the Washington Post and ABC News, the answer is YES and the reason is women.

Senator Clinton holds a lead over Senator Barack Obama at this point in the presidential campaign because two of every three female voters favor her over her male opponents. She received support from 51 percent of the women in the survey; Senator Obama received only 24 percent and 11 percent supported former senator John Edwards.

Senator Clinton is receiving support from women who have less income and are lesser-educated while Senator Obama does better among women who are highly educated.

The female vote in the Democratic Party is very important. In 2004, more women voted in Democratic primaries than men especially in the early-voting states. So, if this pattern continues Senator Clinton could get a head start in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. These three states hold their primaries in January 2008.

If Senator Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, she could have more trouble with the female vote in a general election. According to an ABC News poll in April, 43 percent of the independent female voters said they would not vote for her. Only 29 percent said they would not vote for Senator Obama.

So if you are Senator Obama, how do you try to change the views of the female voters? The chief operating officer of the Obama campaign is Betsy Myers. She knows a lot about how to address the issues of female voters. She was the director of women’s initiatives when Bill Clinton was president.

She thinks that women are tired of watching the Democrats and the Republicans fight all of the time. She thinks they want someone who can bring people together. She says that Senator Obama is a “uniter” and that when women realize that, they will vote for him.

Source: MSNBC

Questions:
1. Why do politicians use polls?
2. Why is the female vote so important for Democratic candidates?
3. What strategies can Senator Obama use to get more female votes?

BLOG QUESTION
Who will win the Democratic presidential nomination and why?

New Video Game Encourages Volunteerism

Are you tired of violent video games or games where you compete athletically? Are you interested at getting better at the “game” of improving the world? If you answered both questions with a YES, then there’s a new game out that is just right for you.

DoSomething.org is a not-for-profit organization that tries to inspire young people to care about improving the world and to volunteer their time to help others.

The DoSomething staff came up with the idea of creating a video game that gave young people a chance to work for a non-profit organization. The game is called Karma Tycoon.

In many cultural traditions, karma is a word that describes the total effect of what a person does during his/her life to change the world.

In Karma Tycoon, the players pick a non-profit organization, like an animal shelter or a homeless shelter. By making choices, players are able to use the experience to improve the world.

Karma Tycoon was launched on December 21 at the NASDAQ stock exchange and is available now on the Internet at www.karmatycoon.org.

The program came out of partnership between DoSomething.org and the JP Morgan Chase Foundation.

Kimberly Davis is the president of the Foundation. She likes the game because in addition to motivating young people to volunteer and do good deeds, it also helps young people become money-wise.

Source: MSNBC

Questions:
1. What is the purpose of the DoSomething organization?
2. Why did DoSomething decide to create Karma Tycoon?
3. What is karma?

BLOG QUESTION
Do you think the video game strategy is a good way to encourage young people to volunteer their time?

Can Money Improve Test Scores in NYC?

Roland Fryer is a 30 year-old professor who has been studying the achievement gap between white and minority students in schools. He has a simple but controversial strategy for improving the test scores of minority students. He wants them to be paid for high scores on standardized tests.

Professor Fryer has found a possible believer in Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. The professor was in New York last week to meet with principals who are considering the plan. According to a school district, there was some interest in the room but the idea is a long way from approval.

Under the professor’s plan, fourth and seventh would get $5 for just taking a new test considered by the city. For high scores, fourth graders would get up to $25 and seventh graders would get up to $50.

The money to support the program would not come from the school budget but would be donated by private sources.

The president of the principals’ union was not so sure of the idea. Mr. Ernest Logan said that the principals are worried that the money would add pressure on the children. He also said, “What really matters in education is continued student progress, not perfect test scores.”

Professor Fryer’s idea has the support of the Brookings Institute, an educational research group. One of the senior researchers at the institute said that it’s hard to motivate all students to do well. He added that good students get their motivation and support from their parents and their friends but kids who are not motivated by friends or family have a hard time understanding why they should work hard in school. The payoff is too far off.

Money for school performance is not a new idea. Some schools give money and prizes for perfect attendance. A school in Dallas gives $2 to students for each book they read.

For now, it looks like some New York City principals are thinking seriously about participating in Professor Fryer’s program.

Source: New York Times

Questions:
1. Why does Professor Fryer think that money will improve test scores?
2. What are some of the concerns about the program?
3. Why does the Brookings Institute support the idea?
4. Where would the money come from?

BLOG QUESTION
If you were the principal of a low-achieving school, would you use money as a reward for high test scores?

Senate Immigration Reform Bill in Trouble

The controversial immigration bill is still alive in the Senate but could be in trouble if the sponsors of the bill fail to get 60 votes to stop the debate.

The Senate has a procedure called cloture that allows for establishing a time limit for debate. If 60 members of the Senate vote in favor of cloture, the Senate may place a 30 hour time limit on the discussion. Without cloture Senators who oppose a bill can make sure that it does not come up for a vote by filibustering. A filibuster is a delaying tactic that the opposition can use to block a vote.

Yesterday afternoon, supporters of the immigration reform bill called for a cloture vote but could not get the 60 votes needed. The supporters were planning to try one last cloture vote late Thursday before giving up on their chance to get the bill passed.

Here are the key elements of the Senate immigration reform bill: (1) millions of illegal immigrants would get temporary legal status; (2) a new temporary worker program would let foreigners come into the country to work; (3) U.S. border security would be strengthened; (4) companies would have to verify that their workers are legal; and (5) a new merit system would be put in place to determine who gets immigrant visas.

The new merit or point system for immigrant visas has been one of the most debated elements of the bill. The bill would still allow spouses or minor children of U.S. citizens to receive green cards, but adult children and siblings would no longer be eligible.

The bill also sets aside 380,000 visas a year to be awarded based on a point system. A candidate for a green card would receive up to 50 points for employment, 25 points for education,15 points for English proficiency and 10 points for family connections.

If the Senate passes the bill, the House would still have to agree on its version before any bill goes to President Bush for his signature.

Source: MSNBC, www.senate.gov

Questions:
1. What is cloture?
2. Why do supporters of a bill call for a cloture vote?
3. What is a filibuster and how is it used by opponents?
4. What are the key elements of the Senate immigration reform bill?

BLOG QUESTION
Do you think the U.S. should use a point system for green cards or should family connections continue to be the primary factor?

Virtual-World Sites for Kids Are Growing Fast

Virtual-world sites for children are one of the fastest growing markets on the Internet. Sites like Club Penquin, Cyworld, Habbo Hotel, Webkinz, WeeWorld and Stardoll are attracting millions of children, mostly girls to the Web.

According to Hitwise, a company that measures the traffic on the Internet, these sites have grown by 68 percent this year. It is estimated that 20 million children are using virtual-world sites.

Virtual-world sites give children a new way to play make-believe. On Stardoll, young girls can create their own unique identities. The site gives them a chance to choose everything from skin color to clothing. Stardoll is an international site attracting 7 million users in dozens of countries. The site is available in four languages other than English.

Cartoon Doll Emporium is another make-believe experience. Young girls go to the site to chat with their friends and dress up virtual dolls.

Sites like Cartoon Doll Emporium and Stardoll are younger versions of Facebook and MySpace. In many cases, they are a child’s first experience with the Web.

While young girls enjoy these new virtual fantasy and make-believe worlds, the adults who run these sites are trying to maximize their business potential. Some sites require a monthly subscription fee; others are supported by advertising.

The growth of these sites raises many issues for parents. Is it healthy for a young child to use the Internet as an alternative for the old-fashioned notion of playing make-believe with friends? Should sites that cater to young children be allowed to use advertising? Should there be guidelines that control the products that are advertised on these sites?

Source: PC World, New York Times

Questions:
1. Why are virtual-world sites so popular with young girls?
2. How do the owners of these sites make money?

BLOG QUESTION
Should young children be spending a lot of their free time on virtual-world Web sites?

How Safe are Heelys?

Heeling has become a favorite activity for pre-teens and teens. Everywhere you look from the local mall to the front street, kids are zipping along on shoes with wheels in the heels.

Heelys is the brand name for the shoes and in the last five years, the shoes have become an international craze. The company, also called Heelys, has sold 10 million pairs of shoes since 2000.

There’s no question they are fun to ride; but, are they safe? Several new studies say NO.
A recent study out of a hospital in Dublin, Ireland reported that 67 children were treated for foot injuries over a 10-week period last summer. Another study published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported one death and at least 64 injuries blamed on the shoes.

The company claims that their product is safe. Officials at Heelys announced their own study from January 2001 to September 2006. Their study found that the shoes with wheels were safer than bikes, skateboards and even sports like tennis, basketball, and soccer.

The company says that if used with the right safety equipment (helmets and elbow and knee pads), Heelys are a safe and effective way to exercise.

But, the protective equipment issue presents a problem. The product is designed so that a person makes a quick transition from walking to skating. Most kids do not wear helmets and pads to walk so there’s little chance that they will wear the protective gear for Heelys.

The debate over the safety of Heelys has just begun. Several medical groups are planning to issue their own safety warnings.

Source: ABC News

Questions:
1. What are Heelys?
2. Why are they so popular?
3. Why are safety groups and medical groups issuing safety warnings about them?

BLOG QUESTION
Should kids be required to wear helmets and pads when using Heelys?

Millennials are Different and Influential

The term, millennial generation, refers to the group of Americans ranging in age from 13 to 20 years of age. The group is the second-largest generation in U.S. history -- almost as large as the baby boomer generation of the 1950’s. And, it is one of the most influential.

In 2006, the millennials spent $179 billion or approximately $102 a week per teenager. That number does not include money spent picking up stuff for parents and does not include the influence that millennials have on family purchases.

So what makes the millennial generation tick? Gary Rudman, an expert on the millennials, tried to learn more about the group by “picking the brains” of 100 U.S. teens who were identified as trend-leaders. Here’s what he learned.

Technology plays a huge role in the lives of millennials and because technology changes so rapidly, teenagers also have to change on the fly. For example, instant messaging was the favorite communication tool for teens until MySpace came on board. Teenagers want immediate connectivity.

Teens also want to be able to choose. According to Mr. Rudman, they are very independent. They shop lots of brands and they like to personalize their stuff.

Mr. Rudman says, “The trend is that there isn’t a trend. This generation is all about choice – being able to find something and make it your own.”

Richard Sweeney is another millennial expert. He is one of the librarians at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Mr. Sweeney has found that millennials have different personalities than those found in other generations. He points out that on a personality test conducted by the Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine, millennials scored higher on warmth, abstract reasoning, emotional stability, rule-consciousness, social boldness, sensitivity, apprehension and openness to change.

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Questions:
1. What is a millennial?
2. Why is it important for companies to understand how millennials think?
3. What are two predominant characteristics of millennials?

BLOG QUESTION
Should schools change the way they teach just because the present generation of students has different characteristics than past generations?

President Announces Global Warming Plan

President Bush seems to be shifting his view of global warming. On Thursday, he announced a “long-term global goal” to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and he asked other high-polluting nations to join the United States.

The President has consistently rejected the goals of the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol is an international treaty on climate change that assigns goals to each of the 169 nations that signed the agreement. The United States is not one of those nations. The President rejected the treaty because India and China, two of the major polluters were not bound by the treaty.

The President also commented on the science behind global warming. He said, “In recent years, science has deepened our understanding of climate change and opened new possibilities for confronting it. The United States takes this issue seriously.

A couple of months ago the federal government argued in front of the Supreme Court that carbon dioxide was not a pollutant and should not be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Supreme Court ruled against the federal government in a case brought to court by several states.

So, it is no surprise that some governmental officials in Europe are having a hard time believing that the President really cares about global warming.

Some critics think that he is trying to sabotage the Kyoto treaty. Others are critical that he did not announce what the U.S. would do over the next 10 to 20 years.

The President plans to hold a meeting next fall with the 10 to 15 countries that produce the most greenhouse gases. Each country would come up with its own goal and would work together on a long-range goal. The President’s plan does not call for any binding agreement with any plan for enforcement.

Source: New York Times, Wikipedia

Questions:
1. Why was the President’s announcement on global warming a surprise to many nations?
2. Why did the U.S. decide not to sign the Kyoto Protocol?
3. What is the difference between the President’s plan and the Kyoto Protocol?

BLOG QUESTION
Why do you think President Bush is now interested in a plan to limit greenhouse gases?