Current Event #6

School bans girl who shaved head to support friend

Delaney Clements is young girl who is battling cancer. After reclining chemo therapy all of her hair had fallen out, leaving her bald. To support her friend, Kamryn Renfro, shaved her head. However, Kamryn's in Colorado suspended her from school because the haircut violated the school's dress code. The dress code is said to be designed to to promote uniformity and a non-distracting environment.The school said she must stay at home until her hair grows back out. Kamryn's mother posted on Facebook that it is clearly stated in the school's handbook that students may not have shave heads. She never thought her 9-year old daughter would do something as courageous as this. After being bombarded with feedback from parents across the county, school officials at Kamryn's school decided to allow her to come to school, even while flaunting a shaved head.  

The situation that young Kamryn Renfro is in, is similar to the situation Antigone finds herself in after burying Polyneices. Both believe that they have done nothing wrong, but others say otherwise. They are both punished for what they have did. What Kamryn did was brave and courageous. Antigone actions were also brave and courageous. 

I don't understand why Kamryn was suspended from her school for simply trying to support her friend with breast cancer. I'm sure her shaved head was not causing any commotion at the school or done any harm to anybody. I understand that it is against the school's rule, however, her suspension was unnecessary. The rule itself is questionable. How is a shaved head distracting to others? The little girl shaving her head was her way of being there for her friend. Instead of immediately suspending her, school officials should have examined the circumstance. 

"School bans girl who shaved head to support friend." Tweentribune. Concordia University, 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://tweentribune.com/tween56/school-bans-girl-who-shaved-head-support-friend>.

maf04. "Breast Cancer Awareness." Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo, 12 Oct. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2014 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/13323015@N00/6237594287>.

Current Event #5

Marathon Spelling Bee Finally Has A Winner

In February, a spelling bee that was held between two Kansas City area students, Kush Sharma and Sophia Hoffman,  ran out of words after the two students continuously went without misspelling any words. The marathon spelling bee finally came to an end after 29 more rounds when Sophia Hoffman misspelled the word "stifling". After Sophia Hoffman misspelled the word given to her, there was a lengthy break to listen to the audio of the round and verify that Sophia had heard the word correctly.

In the 29th round Kush was given the word "definition" to spell. After given the word, he promptly spelled it correctly and won the bee. Kush is now going to move on the the National Spelling Bee in Washington,  in May. Sophia is excited for coming so far in the spelling bee and hopes to compete again next year. Kush said he, too, would compete again.

This spelling bee event could tie in with the stem words we have. Spelling the words isn't that difficult for me, though. The definitions are hard to memorize. I think that its crazy that the first spelling bee that was held ran out of words. I think that Sophia should still win something for doing such a great job and coming so far. This is the first time anything like this has ever happened. The word "stifling" doesn't even seem like a difficult word to spell. I feel sorry for her, since she came so fare and got defeated by a word as simple as "stifling". Especially since Kush was given the word definition right afterwards.

By using quotations throughout the article, the author gives direct evidence of how the students felt about the prolonged spelling bee. It states in the article that both students became close friends through the journey. Kush stated in the article, "I was pretty sad when [Sophia] got [a] word incorrect...[however,] that's the game...it's going to come down to one person, whether you're friends or not." (Draper). By adding this quotation the author, showed directly how Kush felt about the competition coming to an end, with him being the winner. 

Draper, Bill.  "Marathon Spelling Bee Finally Has A Winner."  Tweentribune. Concordia University, 13 Mar. 2014.  Web.  16 Mar. 2014.  <http://tweentribune.com/teen/marathon-spelling-bee-finally-has-winner>. 

Somthingstartedcrazy.  "Spelling bee."  Photograph.  Flickr.  Yahoo, 20 Jan. 2008.  Web.  16 Mar. 2014 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingstartedcrazyy/2207832497/in/photostream/>.

Current Event #4

Cute Circuit Debuts Wearable Technology

CuteCircuit, a company well known for light-up designs, have came up with 'wearable technology'. Stars like Nicole Scherzinger and Katy Perry have been seen proudly showing off this new creation. CuteCircuit has received some public recognition and got the opportunity to debut its wearable technology at The New York Fashion Week. The New York Fashion Week was the first time wearable technology has been featured on a runway at a major international fashion week.

Each outfit has some type of technology that is built into it. A plain-looking skirt could be transformed into a unqie piece of clothing with a live video feed featuring a tiger. Another dress could have the illusion of it erupting in flames, similar to the dress worn by Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. In addition, there were shirts with live tweets and even the world's first interactive handbag. Some dresses had LED's embedded inside. CuteCircuit's technology allows the wearer to be in full control of when to shine. This allows the outfit to be both for a serious day at work or for a night out with some friends. 

On the runway, CuteCircuit also demonstrated their HugShirt. It allows people from two locations to send and receive hugs. The shirt has built -in sensors and actuators, which allows it to have the sensation similar to that of a real hug. In order for a hug to be sent both participants must use Bluetooth technology. The receiver could either own a HugShirt or have it sent to them using a special computer software. 

I think that this is really cool and creative. I would love to own an article of clothing from CuteCircuit's wearable technology. Technology is being incorporated into various aspects of our daily lives and it's really advancing. The only problem I see with there being built in technology inside an outfit is the risk of electrocution. What if someone gets stuck in the rain by accident and end up being electrocuted? Also, I'm not exactly sure how the HugShirt really works, but I think its kind of weird. I don't think that a shirt could ever imitate the sensations of a hug. It just wouldn't feel the same. It's a really cool concept, but it could never stand in the place of a real hug.

I can't really connect this to what we're doing in class since we're talking about the Holocaust. However, I remember that during freshmen year we discussed a lot about technology. We even created technology current events. Technology is really advancing. Lately, there has been a lot of inventions and creations involving technology. Wearable technology never crossed my mind, that's why its such a unique and creative creation. 

The author uses promotive language throughout the entire article to advance her point of view. The author states in the first sentence of the article, "CuteCircuit, a company known for its exquisite light-up designs dubbed 'wearable technology', has slowly but surely, been making its way into the mainstreammarket" (Liu). The word exquisite describes to readers how admirable this new line of fashion is, which advances her point of view. In another sentence the author describes the creation as, " haute couture" (Liu). Describing it in such a manner furthers the authors point of view that CuteCircuit  is the most fashionable design out there. 

Liu, June.  "Cute Circuit Debuts Wearable Technology At New York Fashion Week."  Dogonews.  DOGO Media, 2 Mar. 2014.  Web.  3 March 2014.  <https://www.dogonews.com/2014/3/2/cute-circuit-debuts-wearable-technology-at-new-york-fashion-week>

Art Comments.  "Miss Sixty Fall 2007 New York Show."  photograph.  Flickr.  Yahoo, 1 Feb. 2007.  Web.  3 Mar. 2014.