Prep for the week ahead

Here is a definition you need to be aware of for the upcoming week. Note the sources from which our debt is derived.

What is the Gross National Debt?
It is the debt owed by the general fund of the U.S. government. It is money borrowed from and owed to: (1) various government trust funds, including Social Security, and (2) the public, including individuals, corporations, state, local and foreign governments, and the Federal Reserve, typically in the form of treasury bonds or other types of securities.

There are all kinds of websites that will show you our nation's debt and other depressing data regarding this topic. I will show you some of these sites later on in the week.

Also the topic for the symposium towards the end of the week is:

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT CONGRESS IT WOULD BE.

You will want to do some skimming and scouting for some support for your point. You should be able to verbally cite your source in the context of your argument on Thursday.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Mr. Thompson

America's Place in the World 2005

A poll conducted recently by a polling organization and a Washington think tank provides some interesting insights into Americans feeling about foreign relations.

The poll, titled America’s Place in the World, is taken every four years as a collaborative effort between the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, a respected polling organization. This year’s results were released November 17th, 2005.

America's Place in the World 2005

An intersting read-have a great and safe Thanksgiving.
Mr. Thompson

Pork Blog

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find an example of pork spending by Congress. You need to provide a brief description of who and where (member of Congress and state), what (the project) , and how much (your tax dollars).

If you can link us to the site great. Otherwise just copy the website address in your response. If the info comes from a periodical, then cite it for us.

Check the calendar for due date and happy hunting for "pork".
Mr. Thompson

Review Sources

Please bring one review to class; feel free to find one on your own. Professional criticism please, not a hobbyist.

Literary
The Atlantic
NY Times Book Review -- may need a FREE subscription (you'll want one at some point in your life!)
Harper's -- this link isn't right to the reviews, you'll need to find them yourself
New Yorker -- film, fashion, art, books, theatre, lots and lots
London Review of Books

Music
Rolling Stone
Latin American Music Review

Art
Guardian Unlimited
San Francisco Chronicle
New Art Examiner -- uploaded privately by artist
Sculpture Review

Theatre
NY Times (note subscription comment above)
Barter Theatre

Biblical
My father reviews Bible translations and editions professionally. Although the journal he works for (Bible Editions and Translations) isn't published online, someone uploaded one of his reviews here. It's down a little ways. . .Notice how clearly he defines that standard against which he is evaluating the work (it's in bold).

Kitsch lyrics

What lines from contemporary songs can you quote as an example of kitsch?

Patriot Act Renewal: Love it or Leave It!

Here's a hot topic that Congress has been faced with...to renew parts of the Patriot Act or not. This should get the blood pumping for many of you with an opinion about this controversial piece of legislation. The results will soon be in and you can read all about it.

Here is the link to the article- Congress Arrives at at deal on the Patriot Act

Mr. Thompson

Congress vs the President

Check this article out. Congress is trying to get a bill through that has support from both sides of the aisle (ie. Republicans and Democrats like it). The White House isn't warm to the idea of Sen. McCain's amendment to the bill.


Click on the following headline to access the article. A Dangerous Veto Threat

Lots to talk about with this article and our study of Congress. Could be some good ammunition for the symposium on the horizon.

Mr. Thompson

Tempest

Monday's test: 20 multiple choice, 10 line identification, 20 essay on Cantor. (what? No pre-reading essays?)
Tuesday's test: Strands through the dates 10.1 to 11.11

Symposium discussion (bit tardy): If the theme of the play is power, what does Shakespeare have to say about it?

Band Concert

Bandies, as always you were splendifidous!!!!!!
Awesome concert! JM BANDIES ROCK!

Mr. Thompson

Databases

Rochester Public Library -- use your card for access. They no longer have Elibrary>Elibrary2>NetLibrary, but today the reference librarian suggested using
MEGAFILE, located under Magazine and Newspapers. Please let me know your success rates.

And, so you're aware, here's the ultimate online database: http://www.highbeam.com/library/index.asp


JM/ISD 535 Subscription Databases

Sirs Researcher
MN175H
55902

ELM databases (minitex)
password = rochester

EBSCO databases
s9698038
password = password

ProQuest
07VXP2DJ7
WELCOME

CQ Researcher
rochester
researcher

CultureGrams
jmhome
jmhome

Midterm Elections/The New Court:History in the Making?

Wow!!! Talk about making history. Our new court, assuming Judge Alito's confirmation, will be the first of its kind. Pretty amazing when you look at the history of government and religion in the US.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/06/AR2005110601134.html?nav=hcmodule

Take this article for what it is worth. The stats can be deceiving but nonetheless the public and the polls are speaking. Who says public opinion can't influence government? I'd say Republicans and Democrats alike had better take notice based on this news flash. Go Third Parties??!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/05/AR2005110501514.html?nav=hcmodule

Get ready for the test on Wednesday and Good Luck!
Mr. Thompson

Pork Anyone?

I know I'm getting ahead of myself but this article presented itself and I had to forward it.

We will be diving into Congress the week after next and we spend time looking at our nation's budget, the deficit and our debt. We will introduce pork barrel spending and try and justify why it occurs.

For those of you that love money and taxes, here's an article that should get your blood pumping.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/04/AR2005110401840.html?nav=hcmodule

Go Congress!
Mr. Thompson

Think Tank Town

Here is a blog site from the Washington Post. It mentions several Think Tanks and offers up insights on several topics including Judge Alito. For those of you that want to step out of your "paradigm" and are brave enough.....you could try responding to one of these blogs.

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thinktanktown/

That will give you something to do over the weekend. Mr. Thompson

For your info from today's class.

Here are the links to the websites I accessed in class. For you lonely people who have an interest and you are looking for a group to join, you can access info about interest groups, 527's, PACs etc. http://www.opensecrets.org/

For the intellectuals in the group or you just want some stimulating reading, you can access the think tanks at http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/thnktank.htm

Don't forget to look for a news item for your political cartoon. I wonder which contemporary political figure will be the most drawn caricature. I hope we don't get 47 of George Bush. (hint, hint-pick someone unique but that we'll recognize)

Have a great weekend! Mr. Thompson

"Something you probably wish you didn't know"

Here is the website that can help you access incredible information about campaign finance and groups that contribute money to candidates. The amounts of money are mind boggling.

Wednesday's class I will reference this site and now you can go there and scout around. Check out your favorite candidates, favorite PACS, etc.

http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/

You should see how much Hillary Clinton has bankrolled already going into the 2006 election!!!!

Later,
Mr. Thompson