Discussion, Debate and Issues

16. Sensitive Language

2008-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Using the word "Retarded" to describe someone

15. Censorship Ratings at the movies

2008-05-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Movie: This is England
The issues:
1. Should violence, sex or bad language be restricted in movies?
2. Should there be censorship?
3. What guidelines should we have if we were to permit censorship of movies?
4. Do movies influence people?

Movie Synopsis

"A coming-of-age tale set in 1983 on the streets of a small English coastal town...

After being bullied at school, 12-year-old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) comes across a small band of Skinheads lead by Woody (Joseph Gilgun), a charismatic and benevolent teenager who befriends the boy immediately. Bringing him into the fold as one of their own, Woody quickly initiates Shaun as a Skinhead to the dismay of his widowed mother. Having lost his father in the Falklands War, Shaun gleefully embraces his new found friends (and look) until the group is split with the arrival of Combo (Stephen Graham), an older, nationalist skinhead just released from prison. Once friends, now bitter rivals, Combo and Woody divide the group along political lines. Blaming England's economic woes, growing unemployment and post-war grievances on the influx of foreign minorities, Combo persuades Shaun and other members of the pack to make a stand, preserving England for the English. After attending a meeting of right-wing nationalists, Combo takes his new found gang of hooligans to threaten the local Pakistani community. In his contempt for others, Combo begins to reveal his own emotional battles with loss, loneliness and isolation. When his romantic advances are later rebuffed by Woody's girlfriend and former fling, Lol (Vicky McClure), Combo turns his hate, envy and prejudicial rage against one member of the group to disastrous effect... changing Shaun's viewpoint in an instant."
Movie synopsis taken from:IMDb (the internet movie database) at
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/synopsis

14. Airlines

2008-04-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

Cheapo Airlines: A funny look at travelling by air

Irritated Flight Attendant

13. The Onion (fake news)

2008-04-19T03:18:00.000-07:00

Serena Altschul sits down with Scott Dikkers, editor-in-chief of "The Onion" for a look at the satirical paper's history, favorite targets, and the winning recipe for fake news.

Example of 'The Onion News' -
Caution: Remember that this report is all fake, and that it is made for comedy, not the real news.

12. Atonement

2008-04-16T01:25:00.000-07:00

The Issue:
What is the difference between forgiveness and atonement?

A movie about the human condition and redemption

Movie Preview

Interview and discussion about the movie:

11. A funny look at Mobile Phone Manners

2008-04-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

How annoying are mobile phones?

10. Japanorama - Gaijin

2008-03-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

9. History of the "Gyaru"

2008-03-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

Watch this video about the how the "Gyaru" image developed in Japan
(Warning: some scenes contain some nudity)

８．Japan TV - Future Japan

2008-03-30T02:45:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

7. Google's new office

2008-03-26T00:08:00.000-07:00

The buzz about Google

Working at Google New York (NYC)

6. Paul McCartney & Heather Mills Divorce

2008-03-17T18:07:00.001-07:00

Heather Mills bags speaks after Paul McCartney Divorce

McCartney divorce battle is over

5. Your Carbon Footprint and Climate Change

2008-03-14T01:46:00.001-07:00

Climate Change - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Al Gore Interview on CBC part 1

Al Gore on stopping global warming

Global Warming SCAM! (An Inconvenient Truth)

Carbon Neutral Footprints - Daryl Hannah Love Life

4. Michael J. Fox responds to Rush Limbaugh

2008-03-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

Understanding Parkinson's Disease

Olbermann addresses Limbaugh's attack of Fox's character.

Actor Michael J. Fox discusses his foundation for Parkinson's disease research and recent allegations made by radio host Rush Limbaugh.

3. Fast Food

2008-03-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Read the following articles about 'Fast Food'...
1. Super Size Me at Wikipedia
2. Fast food 'as addictive as heroin'

Super Size Me (first 10 minutes)

Blaming Fast Food (alternative perspective)

Super Size Me

2. Smoking and Tabacco Companies

2008-03-07T01:01:00.000-08:00

Questions
1. Historically, how has smoking been portrayed?
2. How have cigarette companies tried to influence you to take up smoking?
3. What do you think about cigarette advertising?
4. Who is/was the Marlboro man?
4. What do you think about passive smoking?
5. What is the purpose of the last video (Doctor's endorsement)?

1.1 Smoking is cool

1.2 Smoking causes death?

1.3 Smoking stinks (and causes death)

1.4 Doctor's Endorsement...?

1. Missing girls show up class divide

2008-03-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

Read the following article in the Age Newspaper:
Missing girls show up class divide (click here)

Overview of Madeleine McCann story
Watch the following story to get some background on Madeleline McCann's disappearance.

Overview of Shannon Matthews' story
Watch the following story to get some background on Madeleline McCann's disappearance.