Hackers: Heroes or Villains?

Watch the video and answer the questions.

What examples of good hackers does Keren Elazari give us? And bad hackers? 

Why does she compare hacking with our inmune system?

What does she tell us about her years at school?

 What was her first experience as a hacker?

 What did Khahl, the young man from Palestine do?

 How did Anonymous become famous?

 What happened in Egypt?

 What is DEF CON and why is it mentioned?

 So are hackers heroes or villains?

Teen Entrepreneurs.

Here are the stories of two teenagers who set up their own business when they were still at school.

What difficulties did they encounter? How did they achieve success? What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur?

DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE

Steve Frayne, better known as DYNAMO, is one of the world's best known magicians.Listen to him talking about his life  and career.

• Get as much information as you can and then write an article about DYNAMO.
• Look for videos of some of his tricks. Which do you find most fascinating?

A Trip to Antarctica

Thinking about your summer holiday? How would you like to travel to Antarctica? 
Watch the following video and discover some of the wonders of this amazing continent.

 


Imagine you have decided to travel there.

• Would you find much rain?
• When would it be a good time to travel?
• Where would you start your trip from?
• Would you be able to get near the gigantic icebergs? How?
• What animals would you expect to see?
• What other things can you do there?

Galileo, the Father of Modern Astronomy

Brian Malow, from Time Magazine, talks about Galileo and astronomy.

1. Why does Malow compare Galileo to Elvis or Oprah?
2. Why was 2009 declared International Year of Astronomy?
3. What does Malow say would have happened if he had been an astronomer?
4. When and were was the telescope invented?
5. What, according to the astronomer interviewed, is the hottest thing in science right now?
6. What are exoplanets?
7. What will Kepler do that no other telescope has managed to do before?
8. What happens every Friday and Saturday at the Chabot Space & Science Centre?
9. What experience does astronomer Dr Marcy from Berkeley  think you will never forget?
10. What does Brian Malow suggests you should do? (and why not listen to them,too?)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Every third Monday in January, people in the United States celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Here is a brief biography of one of America's most admired leaders.

Lance Armstrong Admits to Doping

A few months ago we talked about Lance Armstrong. Now he has made the headlines again. In an interview with the famous television presenter Oprah Winfrey, he finally admits to doping.

1. 'I didn't invent the culture, but...' Can you finish Armstrong's sentence?
2. What substances does Armstrong admit to taking?
3. As a leader of the team, a) was he pressured  by directives into taking drugs?  b) did he bully others?
4. What does he promise to do for the rest of his life?
5. What is, according to him, a major flaw?
6. Would he be willing to go to a truth and reconciliation commission? 

James Bond

Probably the most popular secret agent of all times, James Bond has appeared in countless films. But did he really exist? What do you know about him? Watch the video and try to answer as many questions as you can.

1. James Bond was created by Ian Flemming. In how many novels and short stories does he appear? 
2. What real person did the author have in mind when he created Bond? 
3. Where did Flemming get the name James Bond from? 
4. What is Bond's motto? 
5. What does the double 0 number after his name mean? 
6. What is the title of the book in which he first appears? 
7. When did Ian Flemming die? 
8. When was the first Bond film made? What was it called? 
9. Who was the first actor to play James Bond? 
10. What three things are always present in James Bond films?

British Deputy Prime Minister apologises for breaking a promise.

Nick Clegg,  British Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrat Party apologises for breaking an election promise not to increase university tuition fees, which now cost students up to 9,000 pounds a year. Now a spoof video of his apology has been released.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest rock bands of all times, have been going since the 1960s. How much do you know about them? When did they start? What are their best known albums and songs? Who are the most popular members of the band?
Watch and see how many of the questions below you can answer.

1. When was the band formed?
2. What two singles were first released?
3. When was their second album, 12X5, released?
4. What was their first international hit?
5. A tabloid newspaper published an article about the band causing the authorities to investigate them. What was the article about?
6. What bands and singer appeared in the Circus themed concerts?
7. Why did Brian Jones leave the band?
8. There was tension between which two members of the band?
9. How many members have the Rolling Stones had?
   

Natural Disasters

2011 was the worst year on record for natural disasters.Watch the video and then write a list of the different disasters mentioned and the place where they occurred.

Hunting Children in Sudan

One of the world's most brutal rebel groups, Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), is on the move from the Congo, terrorizing civilians.

This is Moses's terrible experience at the hands of the rebels.

1. Who are the LRA? What do they do? Where do they operate?
2. How old is Moses?
3. What happened to Moses?
4. How was he treated by the LRA?
5. How long was he kept prisoner?
6. Did his brother manage to escape?
7. What happened to the little girl?
8. How did Moses manage to escape?
9. What does his father worry about?

Others were not so lucky and stayed with the LRA for years. Read the interview with former LRA soldier Moses Rubangangeyo, abducted in 1996, when he was also 15 years old.

Read more about the LRA

Wear Sunscreen

The following video was suggested to me by Estefanía in 1º C. You will hear some interesting advice on how to live your life.

Listen to it and feel free to comment.

President Obama's State of the Union Address

Would you like to listen to the full speech?

Read President Obama's speech text here.

Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty

Listen to Jeremy Irons talking about the death penalty and fill in the gaps.

For more for and against arguments go to Balanced Politics

London 2012 Olympics

In 2012 London will host the XXX Olympic Games.
Watch the following video and answer the questions below.

1. How many times has London hosted the Olympic Games? When?
2. What was Dutch athlete Fanny Blankers-Koen's claim to fame?
   
3. Name at least seven sports mentioned on the video.
4. What country won the most medals at Beijing Olympics?
5. Name two well known athletes mentioned on the video.

UNICEF

We have all heard of UNICEF. We have probably sent or received Unicef cards at Christmas. But what do you really know about UNICEF? Watch this video and answer the questions.



1. What does UNICEF stand for?
2. When was it started?
3. What are UNICEF's four priorities?
4. How many countries are they present in?
5. Where do they get funding from?
6. How many Aids orphan children are there?
7. What is the first cause of death for children under five in Africa?