Goats in the News

If you thought goats were only important to ancient civilizations, think again. Click here to read about how goats are being used today in the city of Baltimore.

In the meantime, here are some fun facts to know and tell about our friend, the goat.

* a herd of 30 goats can eat up to a quarter acre of vegetation a day

* they eat all kinds of poisonous and invasive species of plants including poison ivy

* they can reach vegetation up to six feet off the ground

* the droppings provide natural fertilizer

* they eat brush and not grass

* they have four-chambered stomachs and special enzymes which allow them to digest plants

a look into the future

Today, Section 03 will commence work on our PowerPoints. Class presentations will be done on Monday. The test on Guns, Germs and Steel will be on Tuesday.

Sections 01 and 05 will give their presentations in class today, and will also take the test on Guns, Germs and Steel next Tuesday.

Homework for all three sections: In your blog, write three questions that you think should appear in next Tuesday's test. Please supply the answers to your questions.

Have a great weekend!

What would you say?

Sections 01 and 05, you finished your PowerPoints in class today. If you could sum up your whole presentation in 50 words or less, what would you say?

That's your homework for tonight: briefly, succinctly, describe what you learned doing this assignment.

As for Section 03, you assignment is to continue work on your PowerPoints, as described in class today. See my PowerPoint (embedded below) for further instruction.

(PS Section 03: if you return the stolen foam finger before class tomorrow, there will be no repercussions. If not... a world of hurt awaits...)

Guns, Germs, and Steel: Assignment PowerPoint

The 03 Section just finished watching GG&S today. Their assignment is to blog about the big picture - the relationship between Papua New Guinea and globalization, how to bring a people into the 21st century, or discuss if we even SHOULD attempt to modernize an ancient people.

Sections 01 and 05 will work on the PowerPoiint as we discussed in class. The Assignment PPt is embedded for you below.

GG&S - nearing the end

Today, Sections 01 and 05 finished watching Guns, Germs and Steel (Section 03 finishes tomorrow). In tonight's blog, you should write about the connection between Jared Diamond's story and our studies of globalization.

more GG+S (Guns, Germs and Steel)

Today the 01 and 05 sections watched some more of Jared Diamond's story. Thank you to those of you who made academic contributions to our Todaysmeet.com discussion.

For today's blog, you have a number of options. You can post your class notes. You can raise questions based on what we saw in class today. You can answer some of the questions your class raised. You can share your opinions on using Todaysmeet in class. You can even do all of the above!

Have a great four-day weekend! And remember, you can always check out Guns, Germs and Steel here, or look over the GG&S website here.

Guns, Germs, and Steel - the beginning

First note: I hope everyone who has the flu feels better soon! Keep in mind that reading my blog is the best way to keep up with what you are missing in class.

Today we began viewing Guns, Germs and Steel in class. Many thanks to those of you who raised good questions and made insightful observations. Special thanks to the members of Section 01 for their participation in our TodaysMeet session. We had a rocky start, but then things really got going. Nicely done!

As always, your HW for tonight is to comment on what we did in class today -- in this case, watching the video.

FYI - the entire Guns, Germs and Steel video is available for viewing in short segments on YouTube, starting here. Also, there is a website to accompany the movie, found here. Check them out if you're interested.

PS Good luck tomorrow, Jake!

The best laid plans...

Today was test day, and needless to say, it was not everything I had hoped for. Many of you had problems connecting to the Internet through our wireless system, making it difficult to take the test. I will let you know what the next step will be ASAP, but in the meantime, here is your assignment.

Please finish the essays for homework tonight, if you did not have enough time to complete your writing in class. You may make it part of today's post, or make it a new post - your choice.

Also, I would like you to write about your experience in taking the test today. As you know, all this blogging and Web 2.0 stuff is pretty new to me, and at the beginning of the year I asked for your patience as we try new things. So, tell me how it went for you personally, and post it! Thanks so much, and I'll see all of you in class tomorrow.


(Here, from today's test, are the instructions for the essays...)

In a short, well-written essay, answer ONE of the following questions:

1) Some people feel very strongly in their pro-globalization opinions, while some anti-globalization advocates have different beliefs. It’s likely that the truth lies somewhere in between. What do you think is the “middle ground” in this argument? Be sure to provide evidence for your opinion.

OR 2) Explain the academic discipline of Human Geography using the five themes. How is this discipline different from the study of physical geography? In your opinion, what is the benefit of studying Human Geography?

OR 3) The demographic transition graph describes the changes in birthrates and death rates that a country experiences over time. Describe the changes that the United States has gone through by using the demographic transition diagram.



For your second essay, go to the following website and read the news story you will find there:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/world/americas/24mexico.html

Then, in a short yet brilliant essay, summarize that story by relating it to our studies of immigration in class. Try to use terms from the text and from our class discussions.

When you have finished your test, publish your post.

Tips for tomorrow's test

Tomorrow's test will cover globalization, population pyramids, migration, total fertility rates, demographic transition, life expectancy, the CIA World Factbook - in other words, everything we have discussed since the beginning of the year.

There will be a fill-in-the-blank section and two short essays. You are expected to write clearly, knowledgeably, and with as few grammatical and spelling errors as possible. You should look at the essays as opportunities to tell me what you know.

The test will be given on your laptop. You will submit the test on your blog. Make sure you are on Eastern Standard Time in your settings.

You are permitted to use your text, your notes, your blog, and my blog while taking the test.

You are not permitted to communicate about this test with anyone - in person or electronically - before, during, or after the test. You will take the test during your class period only. Any infractions will be treated as serious violations of John Carroll's Honor Code, and disciplinary action will result.

In other words, do the right thing.

Review the text, your blogs, and your notes tonight, and good things will happen tomorrow!

Working with the CIA

Reminder: The test on this unit will be next TUESDAY, September 29. Don't forget to study this weekend!




The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) is best known for their top secret activities providing national security intelligence to the US government. But they also provide an enormous amount of information to the public about every nation on earth.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (and I know you will), is to gather vital intelligence about six nations and their population. Copy and paste the following paragraphs into your blog, and fill in the blanks by referring to the CIA World Factbook . This blog will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, students.


The United States is the fourth largest nation on earth, with a population of 307, 212,123. The total fertility rate is 2.05, and the net migration rate is 4.31, resulting in a population growth rate of 0.975%, which means their population is rising slightly. The infant mortality rate is 6.26 deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is 78.11 years (75.65 for men, 80.69 for women), which means they probably have a good health care system. The literacy rate is 99%, which means they have an excellent educational system. The main language is English, spoken by 82.1% of its people, and the secondary language is Spanish, spoken by 10.7% of its people. 82% of the population lives in cities.

France is the __________ largest nation on earth, with a population of __________. The total fertility rate is __________, and the net migration rate is __________, resulting in a population growth rate of __________, which means their population is __________. The infant mortality rate is __________deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is __________ years (_________ for men, __________ for women), which means they probably have a __________ health care system. The literacy rate is __________, which means they have an __________ educational system. The main language is __________, spoken by __________ of its people, and the secondary language is __________, spoken by __________of its people. __________of the population lives in cities.

Japan is the __________ largest nation on earth, with a population of __________. The total fertility rate is __________, and the net migration rate is __________, resulting in a population growth rate of __________, which means their population is __________. The infant mortality rate is __________deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is __________ years (_________ for men, __________ for women), which means they probably have a __________ health care system. The literacy rate is __________, which means they have an __________ educational system. The main language is __________, spoken by __________ of its people, and the secondary language is __________, spoken by __________of its people. __________of the population lives in cities.

Niger is the __________ largest nation on earth, with a population of __________. The total fertility rate is __________, and the net migration rate is __________, resulting in a population growth rate of __________, which means their population is __________. The infant mortality rate is __________deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is __________ years (_________ for men, __________ for women), which means they probably have a __________ health care system. The literacy rate is __________, which means they have an __________ educational system. The main language is __________, spoken by __________ of its people, and the secondary language is __________, spoken by __________of its people. __________of the population lives in cities.

Iran is the __________ largest nation on earth, with a population of __________. The total fertility rate is __________, and the net migration rate is __________, resulting in a population growth rate of __________, which means their population is __________. The infant mortality rate is __________deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is __________ years (_________ for men, __________ for women), which means they probably have a __________ health care system. The literacy rate is __________, which means they have an __________ educational system. The main language is __________, spoken by __________ of its people, and the secondary language is __________, spoken by __________of its people. __________of the population lives in cities.

Mexico is the __________ largest nation on earth, with a population of __________. The total fertility rate is __________, and the net migration rate is __________, resulting in a population growth rate of __________, which means their population is __________. The infant mortality rate is __________deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is __________ years (_________ for men, __________ for women), which means they probably have a __________ health care system. The literacy rate is __________, which means they have an __________ educational system. The main language is __________, spoken by __________ of its people, and the secondary language is __________, spoken by __________of its people. __________of the population lives in cities.

(Nation of your choice) is the __________ largest nation on earth, with a population of __________. The total fertility rate is __________, and the net migration rate is __________, resulting in a population growth rate of __________, which means their population is __________. The infant mortality rate is __________deaths per 1000 live births, and the life expectancy is __________ years (_________ for men, __________ for women), which means they probably have a __________ health care system. The literacy rate is __________, which means they have an __________ educational system. The main language is __________, spoken by __________ of its people, and the secondary language is __________, spoken by __________of its people. __________of the population lives in cities.

Real World: Human Geography

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: The test on this unit will be next TUESDAY, September 29.

It’s easy to relate what we are learning in this class to the real world. News stories about globalization, over-population, even total fertility rates -- are everywhere.

Today we will search for news stories on the Web that pertain to the topics we have been covering in class.

Here are some excellent, reliable sources for news stories:

* Google news
* Yahoo! News
* New York Times
* BBC News
* Guardian
* The Independent (UK)

Here are some possible topics for you to research:

* Globalization
* Net migration rate
* Total fertility rate
* Immigration
* Population pyramid
* Population growth (or Over-population)
* Population decline
* Migration patterns
* World population

The assignment: (worth 15 points, due before the next class): Choose three of the above topics, and find a relevant news story for each one. Use any of the above news sources, or another legitimate source of your choosing. Include the story’s headline, the site it came from, the link to the story, and a short summary of the article. If the story has a photo (or even better, a video!), you may include that. Here is an example of what your posting should look like.

"Bringing Solar Power to Africa’s Poor” (nytimes.com)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/bringing-solar-power-to-africas-poor/?scp=1&sq=globalization&st=cse

Solar power is being promoted as an alternative to kerosene, oil, and other traditional energy sources. It would be smart to be able to take advantage of Africa’s abundant sunlight without the need to invest in expensive grid networks. This might work well in other places around the world, since 1.6 billion people in developing countries still have no access to electricity.



“Population Growth Driving Climate Change, Poverty: Experts” (Brietbart.com)

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.506b7104e85d35fc4f8355e566ab5fad.261&show_article=1

Population growth will have a number of terrible consequences for our world. These include widespread famine, ecological overload, and even the failure of governments in countries that are overwhelmed by too many people. The population of the earth may increase from 6.8 billion today to over 11 billion in around 40 years. These findings came from a group of 42 respected specialists in environmental science, economics, and demography.



“Russians Get Day Off to Procreate, Then Win Prizes” (denverpost.com)

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6624865

A Russian region of Ulyanovsk has declared September 12 the Day of Conception and for the third year running is giving couples time off from work to procreate. Government officials are concerned because Russia has a low birth rate and a high death rate, and the population has been shrinking since the early 1990s. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12 festivities will win money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes.

Migration

Migration Patterns

In class we will cover the info on migration found on p. 22-24 in the text.

Consider:
Where are people migrating from?
Where are they migrating to?
Why do people migrate? (push forces, pull forces)
What is a refugee?
Define net migration rate.
What is the net migration rate of the United States? Canada? Mexico?
Where are your ancestors from?

more Demographic Transition

HW is to read the section on Demographic Transitions on p. 22 in the text. Your blog post for today will include a short paragraph summarizing this section, as well as a review of what we did in class.

In the "Links" section on the right hand side of this blog you will see "Demographic Transition (detailed)". This is just like the graph on p. 22, but with more detail. Very helpful.

for Section 03 only...

Section 03 is my only section to meet on Mondays, so this post is just for you!

Catch-up day: students who hadn't taken the in-class map/regions drill yet took theirs in class today.

If you have a zero for any assignments, you need to make up the work ASAP. Next week MQRs (mid-quarter reports) go out, potentially affecting your eligibility for sports, the play, etc.

We reviewed your population pyramids in class today.

Finally, your HW is to read the section on Demographic Transitions on p. 22 in the text. Your blog post for today will include a short paragraph summarizing this section, as well as a review of what we did in class.