homework - Man cuts off own arm to survive

Click HERE to watch the video. Read the story. Answer the questions.

Story:

West Hartford (6/15/2010) - Jonathan Metz had his left arm stuck in his furnace boiler for about 12 hours when he asked himself “what would MacGyver do?” and concluded that cutting off the limb was his only chance for survival.

The 31-year-old West Hartford man, who was released from the hospital Monday, met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since getting his arm stuck in his furnace for two days and nearly cutting it off.


Metz said he spent six hours psyching himself up for the self-amputation. He tried to yank the arm out, he used dirty oil from a catch basin to try to grease it and finally he looked to his tool box, which he had within reach.


His fantasy, he said, was that he could cut off the arm, run upstairs and put it in his freezer, call 911, then go to the hospital and get it reattached.

Metz said he first used a hacksaw blade, then used a larger saw, which he hoped would make the operation go smoother. He nearly succeeded but couldn’t make it through a bundle of nerves.

When Metz did not answer the doorbell at his home Wednesday, June 9, a friend called police, who found Metz in the basement.

Firefighters ripped apart the furnace with heavy tools, including a spreader normally used to take the door off a car. Once they did, the arm just gave way.

Questions:

1) Where did the story take place?

2) When did the story take place?

3) What was the name of the guy who cut his arm off?

4) How long was he stuck in the boiler?

5) What did he use to cut it off?

6) Who ended up finding Metz?

7) How did the firefighters get him out?

Info from MSNBC

homework - Free wi-fi in Starbucks

Click here to watch the video. Read the story. Answer the questions.

Story:

USA (6/14/2010) - You might end up using less 3G than ever - especially if you spend a lot of time at Starbucks.

Stabucks announced Monday that its Wi-Fi is going free and unlimited starting July 1 at its company-owned U.S. stores.

Here's how it all works. It's pretty simple, actually.

Currently, you get two free hours if you're a registered user - and it's tied to a Starbucks loyalty card. Now, like McDonald's, you'll be able to walk in and use the Wi-Fi for as long as you want.

And in other Starbucks news of interest to iPhone and iPad users, the company said it's launching something new this fall called the Starbucks Digital Network. According to the Associated Press, the program will give Starbucks Web surfers free access to paid sites like the Wall Street Journal, along with exclusive content and free downloads from other sites such as iTunes, The New York Times and Yahoo!.

Questions:

1) Where did this story take place?

2) When did this story take place?

3) When will Starbucks start offering wi-fi for free?

4) What other company has free wi-fi?

5) How many free hours do you get in Starbucks now?

6) Why is Starbucks changing o the unlimited wi-fi?

info from chicagonow.com. Video from msnbc

Homework - mexican shot at border...

Click HERE to watch the video. Read the story. Answer the questions.

EL PASO, Texas (6/8/2010) - The 15-year-old boy shot dead by a Border Patrol agent near the Paso del Norte bridge was part of a group that entered the United States illegally.

Border patrol agents on bikes were assaulted Monday night by rock-throwing members of the group. Members of the group entered the United States through a gap in the border fence.

They threw rocks at agents. Then one of the agents fired at the group.

The boy shot dead was Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, a Mexican national. The Mexican government has asked for a full investigation of the shooting.

The agent who shot Huereca had a .40-caliber pistol on him.

The Border Patrol did not identify the agent who fired. He has been placed on paid leave.

The Mexican Secretary of State today condemned the death.
The Mexican government said that using gunfire to respond to a person throwing a rock is just too much.
The number of Mexican nationals who have been killed or injured by border agents has increased in the last few years from five in 2008 to 12 in 2009.

There have been 17 Mexican nationals killed or injured during the first six months of 2010.

Questions:

1) Where did this story take place?

2) When did this story take place?

3) How old was the boy who was shot at the border?

4) Why did the border patrol shoot him?

5) What was the boy's name?

6) How many Mexicans were shot in 2008?

7) How many Mexicans were shot in 2010?

Info from elpasotimes.com. Video from msnbc.

Homework - Student protest today!

Read the story. Answer the questions.

New York City (06/11/2010) - More than 2,400 students plan to walk out of school at noon today to protest the cutting of free MetroCards -- and leaders from the city's transit and teachers unions will be there to cheer them on.

The walkout will affect 23 high schools in Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens, and will end with a rally outside City Hall.

There, students will meet up with members of the Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the United Federation of Teachers and demand that local and state officials fork over more money for the transit passes.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio will also rally with the students.

The kids are organized under a student-run group called the Urban Youth Collaborative, which says it wants to give elected officials a glimpse of future empty classrooms unless they rescue the free rides.

By far the hardest-hit institution will be the Roosevelt Campus Schools, mostly located at Fordham Road in The Bronx, which expects 400 students to walk out at noon.

Also hard hit will be Newcomers HS, in Long Island City, Queens, where about 100 students plan to walk out.

City Department of Education officials said any punishment for going AWOL will be doled out by principals at each affected school.
"It's a regular school day and we expect students to be in school," said spokeswoman Marge Feinberg.
"It's a very important time because there's Regents test prep going on and we have a lot of final projects for middle-school students."

The MTA board will vote in July on cuts to the 600,000 free cards as a cost-saving measure.
If the plan is approved, the students would be forced to buy their own MetroCards by the beginning of the school year in September.

The MTA plans to save $46.5 million by charging half-price for currently free student MetroCards in 2010.
In 2011, the kids would be charged full price.

Questions:

1) Where did this story take place?

2) When did this story take place?

3) How many high schools are invloved in the walkout?

4) How many students are going to walkout?

5) Why are they protesting?

6) When would students have to start paying for metros if the cuts go through?

7) What time are all the students walking out of class today?

Info from NY1

Homework - New E-Waste Laws

Click HERE to watch the video. Read the story. Answer the questions.

New York State (06/05/2010) - New Yorkers looking to get rid of their dusty old computer monitors will soon be able to recycle them for free.

Under a new law signed by Governor David Paterson, companies that sell electronics are required to accept old and used products for recycling.

They also have to pay a fine if they fail to meet recycle.

The so-called "e-waste" law also increases some fees for generating hazardous waste.

New York is the 22nd state to enact an electronic waste recycling law.

There is currently no uniform federal law.

It takes effect next April.

Questions:

1) Where did this story take place?

2) When did this story take place?

3) How much will it cost for us to recycle our computers under this new law?

4) Who made this new law?

5) What will happen to companies if they don't recycle?

6) How many states have this law so far?

Info from NY1.

Homework - Fire in Bangladesh

Click HERE to watch the video. Read the story. Answer the questions.

Story:

Bangladesh (6/4/2010) - At least 114 people were killed in a fire that raged through a crowded, centuries-old Dhaka neighborhood into early Friday morning.

The blaze, which broke out about 10.30 p.m. local time Thursday, was the worst to sweep through the Bangladeshi capital in almost four decades.

Witnesses said flames rose as high as six stories with burning chemicals oozing from buildings "like lava."

Rescue workers scrambled Friday to pull bodies, many charred beyond recognition, from smoldering debris.

"The confirmed death toll from the fire is now 114 and may rise," Muhibul Haque, district commissioner of Dhaka, told Reuters. He said more than 40 people were being treated for burns in hospital, with 12 in critical condition.

Questions:

1) Where did this story take place?

2) When did this story take place?

3) How many people were killed in the fire?

4) What time did the fire start?

5) How many people are in the hospital?

6) How many people are in critiacal condition?

Info from Reuters (writer = Anis Ahmed), Video from BBC

homework - No raises for teachers but no layoffs either

Click HERE to watch the video. Read the story. Answer the questions.

Story -

New York City (6/2/2010) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Wednesday morning that a deal has been reached to avoid teacher layoffs.

The mayor says the deal will avoid the 4,400 teacher layoffs by freezing the 2% raises that the teachers were supposed to get over the next two years.

However, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says Bloomberg does not have the power to rescind the raises and that no agreement has been reached to freeze salaries.


Schools Chancellor Joel Klein says the mayor does have the power, because both the teachers' and principal union's contracts have expired.

Klein said that this is the best choice the mayor could make because it is better for all the teachers not to get a raise for a couple of yaers rather than have to fire some teachers.

Klein added the department is still losing at least 2,000 teachers becuase the city will not be able to replace the teachers who retire next years.

Questions:

1. Where did this story take place?

2. When did this story take place?

3. How is the mayor avoiding laying off 4400 teachers?

4. What percent (%) raise were the teachers supposed to get?

5. What does the union president say about freezing the raises?

6. How many teachers is the city going to lose next year?

7. Which is better? All teachers not getting a raise for 2 years or laying off 4400 teachers? Why?