Global Topics Discussion - level 4 - Session 1
Optional Homework and Study Resources
Topic 1: Out of This World
The Case for Mars (Video referred to on page 5)
Elon Musk: “What are the important steps in the evolution of life? Obviously there was the advent of single-celled life. There was differentiation to plants and animals. There was life going from oceans to land. There was mammals, uh, consciousness, and I would argue also on that scale should fit life becoming multi-planetary. I think if one could make a reasonable that something is important enough to fit on the scale of evolution, then it... its... its important. And maybe worth a little bit of our resources.”
Topic 2: Cowboy Culture
Adrenaline Junkies - KGUN9 (Video referred to on page 7)
Script: Are the unsung heroes of the Tucson rodeos the rodeo clowns? Bull riding is a dangerous sport and without those rodeo clowns it would be deadly. But they also have a ton of fun performing for fans. Valerie Cabasos joins us now with a behind the scenes look at these extreme professional athletes. All the entertainment elements are there: Comedy, high drama, danger. And we are fortunate in Tucson to see the best-of-the-best, because the Tucson Rodeo committee hires the top clowns in the country. There is no question, they are as tough as nails. A bit crazy perhaps to go head to horns with a one-ton angry bull. This is Wacey Munsell, the 2006 Rodeo Clown of the Year. He’s a bull fighter who literally runs circles around the bull.
“They have a hard time turning really tight. If you just step into that pocket and just keep circling, they’re never going to touch you.”
A skill needed when he is messing with a Mexican fighting bull.
“You’ve got to be in fairly close. I mean, in order to get a bulls attention the best, is to go in there and get a hold of their heads and bring them with you on the direction you’re going.”
And inside that barrel is 32 year old Justin Rumsfeld, the 2013 Rodeo Clown of the Year. He shows us how he slips in.
“Which is harder than you think. There.
It’s a pretty snug fit. And how he moves around. In the arena he is often horizontal, rolling around.
“They like to lay the barrel down and set the bull fighter up for a jump.”
Justin is the newest breed of rodeo clowns. He interacts with the audience, bringing pop culture like Chris Farley antics into his performance.
“You know the old... ‘Man down by the river’. You know it’s like that. People like the fat guy, so I get along pretty good.”
“You kind of look like him!”
“I feel like him.”
All kidding aside, their primary job is to protect the cowboys, risking their own lives to save theirs. So really, why would they choose to do this? Well, both say that it’s the ultimate adrenaline rush. And it’s pretty good pay: Top rodeo clowns make over one-thousand dollars a performance. And they work almost full-time, ten months out of the year.
“They have a hard time turning really tight. If you just step into that pocket and just keep circling, they’re never going to touch you.”
A skill needed when he is messing with a Mexican fighting bull.
“You’ve got to be in fairly close. I mean, in order to get a bulls attention the best, is to go in there and get a hold of their heads and bring them with you on the direction you’re going.”
And inside that barrel is 32 year old Justin Rumsfeld, the 2013 Rodeo Clown of the Year. He shows us how he slips in.
“Which is harder than you think. There.
It’s a pretty snug fit. And how he moves around. In the arena he is often horizontal, rolling around.
“They like to lay the barrel down and set the bull fighter up for a jump.”
Justin is the newest breed of rodeo clowns. He interacts with the audience, bringing pop culture like Chris Farley antics into his performance.
“You know the old... ‘Man down by the river’. You know it’s like that. People like the fat guy, so I get along pretty good.”
“You kind of look like him!”
“I feel like him.”
All kidding aside, their primary job is to protect the cowboys, risking their own lives to save theirs. So really, why would they choose to do this? Well, both say that it’s the ultimate adrenaline rush. And it’s pretty good pay: Top rodeo clowns make over one-thousand dollars a performance. And they work almost full-time, ten months out of the year.
Topic 3: China at a Crossroads
Supplementary Video Resource: CNN Interview with the founders of Vitality Air (Referred to on page 10)
Topic 4: Battle of the Sexes
Supplementary Video Resource: National Geographic video about brain research on boys and girls (Referred to on page 12)
Topic 5: An Odd Protein Source
BBC Human Planet - Hunting in Venezuela (Video referred to on page 17)
*Dictation exercise starts from 1:30 of this clip
*Dictation exercise starts from 1:30 of this clip
Topic 6: Future of Transportation
Supplementary Video Resource: UBER Air Taxi Advertisement (Referred to on page 18)
Topic 7: Going Down in History
Asia in Brief: Namdaemun in Flames (Video referred to on page 22)
Script: South Korea police have taken a 69 year old man into custody after he confessed to burning down the historic Namdaemun gate in a fit of rage. Koreans mourn the loss of the 600 year old national treasure. Here’s more:
South Korean police have arrested the man thought responsible for burning down an historic gate in a fit of anger. The South Gate, or Namdaemun in Korean, was reduced to char. Korean police have identified the suspect as a 69 year old man with a family name of Chae. Chae confessed to burning down this 600 year old national treasure in a fit of anger over inadequate compensation connected to a government land development project. News paper editorials on Tuesday said the loss of Namdaemun was an embarrassment that could easily have been prevented through better security and fire fighting measures. The gate has withstood invasions, colonial occupation, and was one of the few historic structures in Seoul to remain standing after the 1950 to ’53 Korean War. The gate was constructed in 1398 and served as the main southern entrance of Seoul when it became Korea’s capital more than 600 years ago and was a walled city. An official with the cultural heritage administration said it would spend 3 years and 20 billion won, or 21.2 million US Dollars to rebuild the structure.
South Korean police have arrested the man thought responsible for burning down an historic gate in a fit of anger. The South Gate, or Namdaemun in Korean, was reduced to char. Korean police have identified the suspect as a 69 year old man with a family name of Chae. Chae confessed to burning down this 600 year old national treasure in a fit of anger over inadequate compensation connected to a government land development project. News paper editorials on Tuesday said the loss of Namdaemun was an embarrassment that could easily have been prevented through better security and fire fighting measures. The gate has withstood invasions, colonial occupation, and was one of the few historic structures in Seoul to remain standing after the 1950 to ’53 Korean War. The gate was constructed in 1398 and served as the main southern entrance of Seoul when it became Korea’s capital more than 600 years ago and was a walled city. An official with the cultural heritage administration said it would spend 3 years and 20 billion won, or 21.2 million US Dollars to rebuild the structure.
Topic 8: Human Evolution
Supplementary Video Resource: Tech Insider - What Humans Will Look Like in 1000 Years
It is suggested to watch this video to get additional ideas for in class discussion.
It is suggested to watch this video to get additional ideas for in class discussion.
Topic 9: Money, Passion, Talent
Supplementary Video Resource: TED Talk by Jason Shen
It is suggested to watch this video to get additional ideas for in class discussion.
It is suggested to watch this video to get additional ideas for in class discussion.
Topic 10: Urban Livability
Supplementary Video Resource: TED Talk about designing cities to be more walkable (referred to on page 31)