Food Pyramid

Look at the food pyramid. Do you think the foods you eat every day are healthy?

Imagine you are a congressional committee responsible for recommending what the government should do to fight the obesity epidemid and regulate the fast food industry. Here are some ideas:

1. Limit restaurant hours
2. Sales tax on fast food
3. require that warning labels are posted on food packaging / restaurant (like the one we find on tobacco)
4. require that alternative healthy choices be offered...

Do you think thease are good ideas, can you think of any other ideas?

Fast facts about Fast food

You've watched the documentary Supersize Me! Now, please have a look at the  following infographics about fast food and discuss the questions below.

• Do you ever eat in fast food restaurants? Why / Why not?
• Do you think fast food restaurants are responsible for making people fat?
• If fast food is unhealthy, should it be banned or restricted? Is eating it a matter of personal choice?

Closed for business!

Some resources to help you understand Government Shutdown in the USA. Before the end of each fiscal year (September 30th), Congress is tasked with passing a set of bills that allot funds to many Federal Agencies. No funds, means no business, and all those agencies have to turn everything off (including the Departments of Education,  Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Interior... Environmental Protection Agency, US Courts, NASA, National Parks...)
.
Multimedia overview of the meltdown.
From USAToday.A clear list of explanations about the situation.

Embarrassed by Government Shutdown

Meet the TomTato!

A tomato-potato plant, now available in the U.K.

GMO OMG!

How much do you know about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)? Here is some interesting information. What do you think? Do we know what we are eating?

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

GMOs - Truth and Myths

Organic vs. Genetically Engineered Food:

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Texting While Walking

Should texting while walking be banned?
The filmmaker Casey Neistat explores the hazazards of text messaging while walking in NYC.

50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

New York Times frontpage, August 28, 1963

Today, August 28th, we commemorate the historic March on Washington which occurred 50 years ago. Here are some links with interesting information about the Great March.

Witnesses to History, 50 years later, from The New York Times. People who attended the March share their memories and thoughts.

From NPR.org, "For King's Adviser, Fulfilling The Dream "Cannot Wait"








Watch some parts of the famous speech Dr Martin Luther King Jr delivered at the National Mall, in Washington DC.

29 Ways to Stay Creative

From dailyinfographic.com

TV Pranks

Watch these videos and the discuss with your partner how you feel about each of them.

1. Did you find the ghost prank funn y or over the top?
2. How do you think you would have reacted if you'd been in that elevator? What about your parents?
3. If you were the girl's mother, would you have allowed her to take part in the prank?
4. Do you think AmericanSpanish television could have created something like this?
5. Why do you think this prank went viral (became very popular) so quickly?

Watch this talk show and discuss this particular prank. In general, how did they feel about it?
--They found it boring.
--They loved it.
--They thought it crossed the line.




Watch it again and decide who made the points below (Man, Woman, Neither)
--"This kind of prank would never appear on American TV"
--"I'd have had a heart attack in that kind of situation"
--"In the USA, the little girl's parents would be in trouble"
--"Hidden camera shows in America are much more innocent"
--"Brazil is one of the world's most violent countries"





Choose 2 statements from the previous exercise and, in small groups, say if you agree or disagree. What's the most controversial statement?

Choose the correct words to complete sentences 1-6 from the video. Then watch the following video and check your answers.
1. You know, this thing (got / took) 14 million (hits / assess). People love it!
2. You're laughing (of / at) other people's (misfortunes / misdemeanors.
3. That's why everybody (perceives / considers) us (like / as) weak.
4. Look! The kitten (snuck / scared) up on the baby! Boo!
5. Brazil is probably in the top when it (comes to / regards about) murders throughout the world.
6. It's (scary enough / enough scared) to get )to / though) the streets without getting shot, now you've got to deal wuth the ghost on the elevator?

Thanks to http://www.luizotaviobarros.com

Fast Fashion

In trendy world of fast fashion, styles aren't made to last. Listen to this podcast from NPR.

The Benefits of Learning a Language

From Kaplan International

Social Networks

An American study suggests that social media can affect our thinking about other people. VOA Learning English talked to some young people to find out how many friends they have on Facebook.

Watch the video and answer the questions:
Researchers at Utah Valley university wanted to explore if the amount of time spent on Facebook affected how users saw others.

-What questions did they ask college students?

-What did they find?

-Do you agree?

-What does Tod Kashdan say is important to do?

Opinion:
Do you think parents should follow their children's activities on social networks (such as MySpace, Facebook or tuenty)?

Discussion:
Parents use Facebook to keep tabs on their children. Look at the infographic below and find out the statistics on parents and Facebook.


Courtesy of: Online Schools

Women's Day

Women vs. Men... a thought provoking video