Friday, January 23, 2009

"It Ain't over 'till the fat lady sings" and today she's clearing her throat for the final act of the opera this afternoon. It's been fun but today is the end of Semester 1.

Today's schedule is B-A-Lunch-D-C.

B- Earth and Space Science 11 - Today we will finish up our work on the last set of handouts: Stars and Galaxies 2, 3, and 4. While working on these activities this and will watch The Universe DVD episode "The Most Dangerous Place in the Universe". Your final exam is next Wednesday morning so please do some prep work to get ready.

A - Law 12 - Today sees us work on the multiple choice section of our final exam. Today is the last day in Law 12 and so your major civil law case study project is due. Good luck!

D - Geography 12 - Today we will finish the "Six Degrees Could Change the World" DVD from yesterday's class. Remember Cheeseburgers in the United States? The greenhouse gas emissions arising every year from the production and consumption of cheeseburgers is roughly the amount emitted by 6.5 million to 19.6 million Sport Utility Vehicles. This comes from Jamais Cascio's research on cheeseburgers here.

We'll end the class by looking at the potential impacts of climate change on British Columbia and figure out simple things you can do to reduce your carbon imprint. Think 350! Your exam is next Friday in the morning and I'll have breakfast waiting for you in room 611 before the exam.

C - Introduction to Law 9/10 - Today we will continue looking at your anonymous questions that you always wanted answered about law but were afraid to ask out loud. The class will be shortened (ends at 2:45) because we need to take the desks from the class to the gym in preparation for Exam Week.

Pau Hana!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Today's schedule is D-C-Lunch-A-B

D - Geography 12 - Today we will finish the review of Jared Diamond's book Collapse. After this we will take a quick look at global warming and climate change along with potential impacts here in BC and across the globe. We'll watch the National Geographic DVD "Six Degrees Could Change the World". In the documentary, National Geographic visualizes the devastating ecological impact each single degree increase in temperature could have on our planet over the next century.

For more information see the National Geographic Preserve Our Planet website and the Six Degrees interactive site..

C - Introduction to Law 9/10 - Since we had a surprise library block yesterday, today we'll finish watching the Law & Order episode "Family Values" (Season 5 Episode 4). This episode is based on the Amy Fisher attempted murder of her lover's wife Mary Jo Buttafuoco. Check out the following websites to find out more about the case:
TruTV: Long Island Lolita case
About.com: Amy Fisher case

Please do not forget to e-mail me the URL (web page address) of your forensic science project or write it down on paper and hand it in to me (due tomorrow). Also please get your anonymous questions in to the Question Box so that I can address them both today and tomorrow.

A - Law 12 - Today is day one of your in-class final exam. You will be working on the written answer section today and tomorrow you'll have the multiple choice section. If you studied and are prepared than I am certain you will do well. Good Luck.

B- Earth and Space Science 11 - Today you can begin working on the last set of handouts: Stars and Galaxies 2, 3, and 4. We will work on these activities today and tomorrow this and will watch the IMAX "Cosmic Voyage" DVD (today) and The Universe DVD episode "The Most Dangerous Place in the Universe" (tomorrow). Don't forget you need to hand in the three worksheets: Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, The Sun and Solar System #2, and The Sun and Solar System #3 that were due yesterday.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Today's schedule is A-B-Lunch-C-D

A - Law 12 - Today we'll take some time to review the movie "The War of the Roses" that we finished yesterday afternoon. Remember I would like you to post your thoughts and ideas about divorce based on your reaction to the movie we watched (on Monday's blog entry under comments). Consider the advice from Oliver's lawyer, Gavin D'Amato, and the actions of the two main characters, Oliver and Barbara. Remember that not all divorces end up the way that the plot follows in the book/movie, but ask yourself why did the conflict escalate to the level that it did in the story. I look forward to your thoughts and ideas. The remainder of the class can be used to review for your final exam (Tomorrow and Friday).

B- Earth and Space Science 11 - Due to a cancellation by another class I've been able to get us back in to the library today. If you have finished your major project then you can begin working on the last set of handouts: Stars and Galaxies 2, 3, and 4. We will work on these activities on Thursday and Friday this week and will watch the IMAX "Cosmic Voyage" DVD and The Universe DVD episode "The Most Dangerous Place in the Universe". Today, you'll need to hand in the three worksheets: Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, The Sun and Solar System #2, and The Sun and Solar System #3

C - Introduction to Law 9/10 - Today we will watch the remainder of the "Family Values" Law & Order episode from last Friday (remember it's based on the Amy Fisher attempted murder of Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the 1990's). After discussing the episode you will have the opportunity to place your "Everything I wanted to know or ask about the law but was afraid to ask" anonymous questions into the Law Question Box for me to answer.

D - Geography 12 - Today we will review yesterday's look at resource management ethics. After we will discuss Jared Diamond's book Collapse, trying to make sense of how civilizations in the past collapsed (Maya & Rapa Nui) and extrapolating his findings to our modern society today. We'll look at the twelve major modern environmental problems that Diamond identifies and examine his conclusions about our potential future. Remember to ask me about bunnies and Australia, specifically the 24 bunnies that the British brought with them in 1859 and how much the Australian government spends annually to control them.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Today's schedule is C-D-Lunch-B-A.

C - Introduction to Law 9/10 - Today we will be in the library for our last day to work on our forensic science web page project. Again, it's due Friday. No pressure.

D - Geography 12 - Today we look at the ethics of resource management using water as an example. In the time left over in the class we will finish up the National Geographic DVD "Human Footprint" that we started on Friday. Here are some websites to look at when considering our ecological footprint:

World Wildlife Fund - Living Planet Report
A Graphic Look at the State of the World
David Suzuki Foundation
Global Footprint Network
Zero Footprint Calculator
Earth Day
Check out the Podcast about ecological system change at Earth Sky

B- Earth and Space Science 11 - Today we will continue our work on the Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, The Sun and Solar System #2, and The Sun and Solar System #3 worksheets. While doing this we will watch the "Universe" DVD episode on the Sun.

Here are some cool sun links:

NASA Sun - Earth viewer

Windows to the Universe: The Sun

Nine Planets: The Sun

SOLAR Center

Solar Views

NASA SOHO

A - Law 12 - Today we'll continue looking at the black comedy of The War of the Roses, based on the book by Warren Adler. Yesterday we saw how a relationship can stagnate and break down over time due to a lack of communication and respect. We ended the movie yesterday at the point where Barbara asks Oliver for a divorce. Today we finish the movie and try to understand how two seemingly intelligent and mature people can devolve into the malaise that ensues.

Tomorrow is a review day for Thursday and Friday's in-class exam days.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Today's schedule is B-A-Lunch-D-C.

B- Earth and Space Science 11 - Today we will go to the library for an extra bonus work day on our major project for the year. This project is due Friday so please ensure you hand it in complete or not! Tomorrow we will work on the Kepler activity from last week along with the solar system worksheets.

A - Law 12 - Today we'll continue looking at family law but we'll do it through the black comedy of The War of the Roses, based on a book by Warren Adler. From the All Movie Guide by Hal Erickson:

The War of the Roses can best be described as a slapstick tragedy concerning the decline and literal fall of a marriage. After 17 years, Oliver and Barbara Rose want a divorce. Not for this couple is there anything resembling a "civilized understanding": Barbara wants their opulent house, and Oliver isn't about to part with the domicile. Barbara nails the basement door shut while Oliver is downstairs, Oliver disrupts Barbara's fancy party by taking aim at the catered dinner, Barbara lays waste to Oliver's sports car....and so it goes, culminating in a disastrous showdown around, about and under the living room's fancy chandelier.

We will watch this movie today and tomorrow in class. Wednesday is a review day for Thursday and Friday's in class exam days.

D - Geography 12 - Today we look at the ethics associated with resource use. We'll watch a 20 minute on line video called the Story of Stuff. Tomorrow we'll look at water as a resource and we'll continue the Human Footprint DVD from Friday's class.

We'll end the class with a seemingly simple question...."How Much do You Consume?"

C - Introduction to Law 9/10 - Today we are in the library for the penultimate (second to last) class to work on our forensic science web page project. No pressure. Really. It's only worth 20% of your final mark. That's 1/5th of your grade. Let's put it this way, please finish it.