Sunday, December 25, 2016

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Class on the 22nd of December

Today in class we finished a project creating a pamphlet on population trends in New England. It will be due before vacation.

You will be creating a pamphlet with the goal of condensing and summarizing the most important pieces of information about Immigration in New England. Your goal will be to give the readers of your pamphlet enough information to begin to think critically about the issue of immigration. Your pamphlet must include a minimum of 10 facts and include three visuals that help support the information you present. Your pamphlet will also include a catchy title meant to draw in readers.

10	9-8	7-6	5	4-1
All items in the pamphlet are thoroughly completed. Answers are all in complete sentences. Answers show complete understanding of the pamphlet 1. Student went above and beyond what was expected (analysis & thoroughness).	One part of the assignment may not be thorough enough. Answers are in complete sentences. Answers show substantial understanding of immigration, but more analysis could lead to greater understanding. Student met expectations of activity.	More than half the assignment is completed, but not analyzed thoroughly enough. Pamphlet shows understanding of the immigration, but they could use more detail, analysis, examples, and/or connections.	More than half the assignment is incomplete. Shows a limited understanding of immigration, and needs greater detail and analysis.	Assignment is either dreadfully incomplete or needs significantly more detail and analysis.

Class on the 22nd of December

Today in class we took our summative on Deviance.

Class on the 22nd of December

Today in class we completed a pamphlet project on Iran which will be due prior to vacation.

You will be creating a pamphlet with the goal of condensing and summarizing the most important pieces of information about the evolution and changes that changed Persia to Iran and lastly the Islamic Republic of Iran. Your goal will be to give the readers of your pamphlet enough information to begin to think critically about the issue of Iran and advocate how the US should treat this country. Your pamphlet must include a minimum of 10 facts and include three visuals that help support the information you present. Your pamphlet will also include a catchy title meant to draw in readers.

10	9-8	7-6	5	4-1
All items in the pamphlet are thoroughly completed. Answers are all in complete sentences. Answers show complete understanding of the pamphlet 1. Student went above and beyond what was expected (analysis & thoroughness).	One part of the assignment may not be thorough enough. Answers are in complete sentences. Answers show substantial understanding of immigration, but more analysis could lead to greater understanding. Student met expectations of activity.	More than half the assignment is completed, but not analyzed thoroughly enough. Pamphlet shows understanding of the immigration, but they could use more detail, analysis, examples, and/or connections.	More than half the assignment is incomplete. Shows a limited understanding of immigration, and needs greater detail and analysis.	Assignment is either dreadfully incomplete or needs significantly more detail and analysis.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Psychology Independent Study

You will be diagnosing “Buffalo Bill” and Clarice Sterling from the film Silence of the Lambs. In your diagnosis of Buffalo Bill begin with the following;Buffalo Bill is not transsexual he is highly psychopathic with anti-social personality disorder and various delusional disorders, which result in violent behavior. What treatment would you recommend for him? Include therapy and medication. For Clarice Sterling she is suffering from PTSD from both childhood trauma as well as a vicious and violent encounter in the line of duty. What therapies and medications would you recommend for her? How long after the events of the film would you expect her to return to active duty? For the Character of Hannibal Lector the film does not give enough information to support a clear diagnosis. Using only his behavior as presented in the film (ignore his appearance in other books, TV shows and movies) create a list of three possible psychological diagnosis of him. For each choice explain what additional information would be needed to confirm or refute the diagnosis.

Class on the 21st of December

Today in class we began a project creating a pamphlet on population trends in New England. It will be due before vacation.

10	9-8	7-6	5	4-1
All items in the pamphlet are thoroughly completed. Answers are all in complete sentences. Answers show complete understanding of the pamphlet 1. Student went above and beyond what was expected (analysis & thoroughness).	One part of the assignment may not be thorough enough. Answers are in complete sentences. Answers show substantial understanding of immigration, but more analysis could lead to greater understanding. Student met expectations of activity.	More than half the assignment is completed, but not analyzed thoroughly enough. Pamphlet shows understanding of the immigration, but they could use more detail, analysis, examples, and/or connections.	More than half the assignment is incomplete. Shows a limited understanding of immigration, and needs greater detail and analysis.	Assignment is either dreadfully incomplete or needs significantly more detail and analysis.

Class on the 21st of December

Today in class we reviewed for tomorrow's summative.

Deviance—Sociology

Review Sheet

Name:

Terms to Define

Deviance:

White-collar crime:

Victim discounting:

Crime:

Deterrence:

Retribution:

Rehabilitation:

Recidivism:

Concepts to Understand (aka, essays on your test)

Explain the four theories of why people deviate from the norms:

Societal costs of deviance:

Societal benefits of deviance:

Explain the three approaches to crime control:

Class on the 21st of December

Today in class we began a pamphlet project on Iran which will be due prior to vacation.

10	9-8	7-6	5	4-1
All items in the pamphlet are thoroughly completed. Answers are all in complete sentences. Answers show complete understanding of the pamphlet 1. Student went above and beyond what was expected (analysis & thoroughness).	One part of the assignment may not be thorough enough. Answers are in complete sentences. Answers show substantial understanding of immigration, but more analysis could lead to greater understanding. Student met expectations of activity.	More than half the assignment is completed, but not analyzed thoroughly enough. Pamphlet shows understanding of the immigration, but they could use more detail, analysis, examples, and/or connections.	More than half the assignment is incomplete. Shows a limited understanding of immigration, and needs greater detail and analysis.	Assignment is either dreadfully incomplete or needs significantly more detail and analysis.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Class on the 20th of December

Today in class we examined Immigration in New England. Reminder your Superhero projects are due tomorrow.

Business Leaders Say Immigration Can Stem New England's Workforce Shortage

By EMILY CORWIN • DEC 16, 2016

It’s hard to avoid the hand-wringing about aging demographics in New England these days. The region's six states have the six lowest birth rates in the country. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have the oldest populations in the country, and Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts aren't far behind.

These demographics leave the region desperate for young workers who can power businesses, pay taxes, and won't dip into social security for decades.

New England's business leaders and politicians are looking at any number of solutions, from putting classrooms in manufacturing plants, to giving tax cuts to Millennials.

Only in Maine, however, is immigration a major part of the public policy conversation.

Fewer births

Like many of the region’s elementary school principals, Becky Ruel knows more than she’d like to about New Hampshire’s declining birth rates. A decade ago, more than twice as many students attended Kensington Elementary School as do today.

“When I started three years ago, there were two third-grade teachers, two fourth-grade teachers, and two fifth-grade teachers,” Ruel says.

Today, the school is down to one teacher for each grade level.

The hallways at Kensington feel big and quiet. One whole room in the school is now dedicated to physical therapy, another to science and math projects, and yet another is designated for hands-on learning.

But while the school is making use of the extra space afforded by declining birth rates, this same problem keeps business leaders like Dana Connors up at night.

CREDIT SARA PLOURDE / NENC, NHPR

Connors is the president of the Maine Chamber of Commerce. When his team looked at the demographic trends, he said, “you found a very strong case to be made to attract the immigrant worker.”

As in other states, Maine’s business community is lobbying for programs to help Maine residents find good jobs in the state. But that won’t be enough to stem the shortage posed by declining birth rates.

One solution: Immigration

Connors and the Maine Chamber of Commerce recently released a report recommending policies to attract more immigrants to Maine. The report suggests expanding the New Mainers Resource Center that already exists in Portland, creating similar centers in Lewiston and Auburn, providing the centers with additional financial resources, and funding access to English classes and transportation.

Maine’s Gov. Paul LePage is famous for his anti-immigrant rhetoric, but that hasn’t stopped lawmakers from proposing legislation to fund more programs for new Mainers. At the local level, Portland and Bangor’s city councils are also working to establish centers for job preparation.

CREDIT SARA PLOURDE / NENC, NHPR

SIGCO, a glass and Metal fabricating company in Westbrook, Maine supports these efforts. Cindy Caplice manages Sigco’s Human Resources department. Even in December, when competition for workers is down, she says, “many people are still looking for help.”

That's not the case at SIGCO, where about a third of the company's workers are immigrants, many of them refugees. Thanks to them, Caplice says, her company has no openings.

Fewer births

“When I started three years ago, there were two third-grade teachers, two fourth-grade teachers, and two fifth-grade teachers,” Ruel says.

Today, the school is down to one teacher for each grade level.

But while the school is making use of the extra space afforded by declining birth rates, this same problem keeps business leaders like Dana Connors up at night.

CREDIT SARA PLOURDE / NENC, NHPR

Connors is the president of the Maine Chamber of Commerce. When his team looked at the demographic trends, he said, “you found a very strong case to be made to attract the immigrant worker.”

One solution: Immigration

CREDIT SARA PLOURDE / NENC, NHPR

That's not the case at SIGCO, where about a third of the company's workers are immigrants, many of them refugees. Thanks to them, Caplice says, her company has no openings.

The Numbers

Research shows immigrants are economic drivers not just for businesses, but also for state and local budgets.

According to a report published by the National Academies Press, first-generation immigrants tend to cost states and towns more than they contribute in tax revenue. That’s mostly because of the cost of educating immigrants’ families. But, as economist Kim Reuben explains, “The second-generation individuals are both paying more taxes and using less services than both the first and the third” generations.

In fact, the children of immigrants contribute more to state and local revenues than the general population does.

Back at the Maine Chamber of Commerce, Dana Connors said he knows there’s a lot of confusion and concern around immigration policy.

But, he says, immigrants offer a lot of value, both economically and socially, so it’s worth it to keep a clear head.

This report comes from the New England News Collaborative. Eight public media companies coming together to tell the story of a changing region, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

CREDIT SARA PLOURDE | NENC, NHPR

Using the information in the article above you will create a pamphlet with at least 10 facts. The goal of this pamphlet is to educate citizens of New England about the realities of immigration and the economy. Your pamphlet must be visually appealing as well as clear and concise.

Class on the 20th of December

Today in class we finished the Documentary A Death In Tehran. Click image to watch the film online.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Class on the 19th of December

Today in class I collected two current event summatives from you and we worked on the Holocaust Denial packet.

Name ________________________

How to bump Holocaust deniers off Google’s top spot? Pay Google

4 Sentence Summary:

3 Sentences of Personal Opinion:

2 Quotes and Why They Stand Out:

1 Question or Connection:

How to bump Holocaust deniers off Google’s top spot? Pay Google

Google ‘is unhappy’ with Holocaust denial beating the truth in its search results – but it probably makes more money that way

The Holocaust did not happen. At least not in the world of Google, it seems. One week ago, I typed “did the hol” into a Google search box and clicked on its autocomplete suggestion, “Did the Holocaust happen?” And there, at the top of the list, was a link to Stormfront, a neo-Nazi white supremacist website and an article entitled “Top 10 reasons why the Holocaust didn’t happen”.

On Monday, Google confirmed it would not remove the result: “We are saddened to see that hate organisations still exist. The fact that hate sites appear in search results does not mean that Google endorses these views.”

The Independent ran the story. As did Fortune. And the Daily Mail. And the Jerusalem Post. And the Drudge Report. But Google held firm. David Duke, former imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, tweeted his support for the decision. And over on Stormfront – the website where Anders Breivik nurtured his ideas – members celebrated.

And still, anyone searching for information about the Holocaust – if it was real, if it happened, if it was a hoax, if it was fake – was being served up neo-Nazi propaganda as the top result.

Until Friday. When I gamed Google’s algorithm. I succeeded in doing what Google said was impossible. I, a journalist with almost zero computer knowhow, succeeded in changing the search order of Google’s results for “did the Holocaust happen” and “was the Holocaust a hoax”. I knocked Stormfront off the top of the list. I inserted Wikipedia’s entry on the Holocaust as the number one result. I displaced a lie with a fact.

Google search screengrab. Photograph: Google

How did I achieve this impossible feat? Not through writing articles. Or shaming the company into action. I did it with the only language that Google understands: money. Google has shown that it will not respond to outrage or public sentiment or any sense of morality or ethics. It does not accept that leading people with a genuine inquiry about whether the Holocaust happened to a neo-Nazi website is grossly irresponsible or that it demeans the memory of the six million Jews who died. But it was prepared to take my cold, hard cash. A Google spokesman said: “We never want to make money from searches for Holocaust denial, and we don’t allow regular advertising on those terms.”

And yet, it has already made £24.01 out of me. (This was the initial cost – it has since risen to £289.) Because this is what I did: I paid to place a Google advert at the top of its search results. “The Holocaust really happened,” I wrote as the headline to my advert. And below it: “6 million Jews really did die. These search results are propagating lies. Please take action.”

I did this via Google’s AdSense programme. This is the bedrock of everything that Google does, its core business: selling ads against search results. It’s this that contributes the bulk of the $21.5bn (£17.2bn) profit that Google makes per quarter.

AdSense helpfully suggested possible “Ad group ideas” and search terms that included: “holocaust hoax”, “was the holocaust fake” and “did the holocaust happen”. And it told me how many searches a month are made for these terms: all in, 9,480. Or 113,760 a year. Or the population of Cambridge.

All of whom are being informed by Google that the Holocaust didn’t happen. And are being directed to Stormfront, the website where Anders Breivik used to hang out online and whose members celebrated the death of Jo Cox.

Jewish children, survivors of Auschwitz, Poland, February 1945. Photograph: Getty Images

Lilian Black, chair of The Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association, and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, called it appalling. “I’m so shocked. Google has a responsibility for its actions. It’s almost like saying we know that the trains are running into Birkenau, but we’re not responsible for what’s happening at the end of it. They shape people’s thinking and are disparaging the memory of people like my grandparents who were gassed.

“More than that, it’s where this leads. It’s about its relevance today as much as the past. Our learning centre is in Kirklees, where Jo Cox was murdered. What is the matter with people? Can’t they see where this leads? And to have a huge worldwide organisation refusing to acknowledge this. That’s what they think their role is? To be a bystander? To just stand by? They’re committing a hate crime, in my view.”

A Google spokesman said: “The goal of search is to provide the most relevant and useful results for our users. Clearly, we don’t always get it right, but we continually work to improve our algorithms.

“This is a challenging problem, and something we’re thinking deeply about in terms of how we can do a better job. Search is a reflection of the content that exists on the web. The fact that hate sites appear in search results in no way means that Google endorses these views.”

Frank Pasquale, professor of law at Maryland University, a leading expert on “algorithmic accountability”, called it “gross hypocrisy”. “They frequently say that Google search is not just about giving you a list of sources, but rather to answer your question. And empirically speaking, people tend to treat Google like an authority. So this is an appalling shirking of responsibility. It’s about money. It always is. The commercial imperative trumps all other aims at the company, including moral ones.”

The issue is not that Google is refusing to “edit” the results about the Holocaust, the deeper question is about why Stormfront is number one. Google said: “We handle billions of queries every day and our goal is to give you the most relevant answer to your query as quickly as possible. The issue you have raised is one where we are very unhappy with the quality of the results.

“While it might seem tempting to fix the results of an individual query by hand, that approach does not scale to the many different variants of that query and the queries that we have not yet seen. So we prefer to take a scaleable algorithmic approach to fix problems, rather than removing these one by one.”

But Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Land, and a leading expert on search, in an article that was largely sympathetic to the challenge facing Google, still noted: “It’s bizarre that something like that Holocaust denial post is showing tops in Google. It has no great number of links pointing at it, according to a Moz tool I used [a method of examining where a website links to]. The Wikipedia page below it should carry far more authority.”

And he suggests a reason why it doesn’t: that Google has changed its algorithm to reward popular results over authoritative ones. For the reason that it makes Google more money.

• If Stormfront is back at number one when you read this, it’s because I’ve run out of funds. Each click through costs £1.12 and I have a £200 per day limit. @carolecadwalla on Twitter for more information.