Pumpkins: Carve, Sculpt, Catapult

Old school pumpkin carving: Triangle eyes and nose, quarter moon mouth...


New School carving:

A pumpkin  is an art medium for some sculptors. Check out what they can do with these time-lapse videos:

Guy with a cigar:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Timelapse+carving+pumpkin&&view=detail&mid=38F2CF048895C9B3FCD838F2CF048895C9B3FCD8&FORM=VRDGAR

Or a clown:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Timelapse+carving+pumpkin&&view=detail&mid=38F2CF048895C9B3FCD838F2CF048895C9B3FCD8&FORM=VRDGAR

If pumpkin carving isn't your thing, you could always make a catapult and launch some (Engineering students, great for extra credit). There are people who take that very seriously. Check it out:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pumpkin+catapult&&view=detail&mid=9E3D04A98B83A7DEEFB49E3D04A98B83A7DEEFB4&FORM=VRDGAR

 

The Migration of Monarchs

Did you know that Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer climates for the winter?


Monarchs can't survive the cold winters of the northern United States, so they fly south. They take their cues from nature as to when it's time to go.

                                 Once they arrive in their southern wintering places, lots of them will cluster on trees for warmth
Stuff you might not know about Monarchs:

• They are poisonous to eat, which protects them from predators such as frogs
• Their journeys may have them flying up to 3000 miles in search of warm weather
• They can fly about 12 to 25 miles in an hour
• Monarchs fly from Minnesota to Mexico
• They fly from other western states to southern California
• As caterpillars, they can eat an entire Milkweed plant in only five minutes
• Monarchs flap their wings slower than other butterflies
• There are conservation programs that actually tag butterflies and track where they go, their lifespan, and timing of migration

• The Monarch's scientific name is Danaus Plexippus
• Monarchs can also be found in Caribbean countries
• There will be four generations of butterflies born every year, but only the last one will survive and migrate

 Here's a map of the process: From Mexico and Southern California to the northern states, and back again:

Lots of great information about the Monarchs can be found here:  http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarchs

 

http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/monarch-butterflies-facts.html


A school in Cloquet, MN, studied and grew Monarchs, and then let them go. See the story here:  http://www.inforum.com/news/4345959-applying-science-life-students-release-monarch-butterflies-wild

What is Sexual Harassment?

Most often, sexual harassment happens to females and is instigated by males. This is not always the case: Men can be affected by this problem, too. This can also be referred to as 'gender harassment.' Basically, it's bullying that involves insulting, frightening, or intimidating someone based on his or her gender and by the amount of power the harasser possesses. It isn't usually a one-time occurence: It is often repetitive. And it doesn't only happen in big businesses: it's about power.

 

What does it "look like"? Here are some examples-

 

Comments, often ending in "Sweetheart" "Honey" or other terms of endearment

• "Why don't you smile?"
• "Your (fill in body part here) looks great in that skirt"
• "I like a high heel on a woman, the higher the better"
• "If you want to make an impression, you gotta show more leg"
• 'You're too pretty to bother your head about that"
• Catcalls and wolf whistles as a woman walks down the street
• "Can I have your number? No? Why not?"
• Obscene gestures, remarks, and insults; calling women insulting names
• Sometimes those making the remarks claim they're compliments. They're not.

It can be in the form of texts, e-mails, posted notices, or pictures that are sexually explicit/offensive, especially in the workplace, or anywhere. These may even contain threats if the victim tells or doesn't cooperate.

 The audacity of men who overtly state their 'power' over women:

• "You were by far the best looking candidate, so we hired you."
• "Your ideas don't really matter, honey. Just sit there and look pretty."
• "Men have always run this company: Don't try to play with the guys."
• "You're good eye candy even if you're never going to go any further."
• "It's so cute how you think you know this business."
• "Let's be clear: I'm in charge, and you never will be. You're too pretty for that anyway."
• "You don't need to be an executive, let your husband do that."
• "If you really want the promotion, you'll let me."
• "Women can't do that."
• "Maybe if you wore a shorter skirt, you'd get a raise."

 Unwanted touching-This can be called assault

• Someone slaps your behind with a laugh and a wink
• Someone puts a hand on your back to guide you into a room
• Someone puts a hand on the back of your neck as he speaks to you
• Someone gives you a hug you didn't ask for
• Someone kisses you-anywhere
• Someone surrounds you such as up against a wall, or in the pretense of showing you something on your computer
• Someone pats your knee
• Someone 'adjusts' your clothes: Buttons a button, unzips or zips a zipper
• Someone fusses with your hair
• Someone plots to get you alone somewhere so that you have no way out

There are people who carry it much further and have raped women because they know they can 'get away with it,' the women feel powerless when left alone with a powerful man, believing all he wants is to have a drink with her and then finding he is forcing himself on her: no matter how fit a woman is, she will almost always be less physically powerful and unable to fight him off, plus he has placed her in a frightened and vulnerable position. He may give her a drug without her knowledge that makes her unable to refuse, or to be unaware what is happening.

Fear of having the public know about the assault, fear of the rapist and all the money he has, will often lead to the silence of women and the ability for the rapist to continue to do it to others. She may be afraid no one will believe her, as well. Sadly, there's still a tendency to blame the victim:

• She must have been asking for it.
• Why did she dress like that? What did she expect?
• She brought it on herself
• She's a tease

How pervasive is sexual harassment?

The EEOC (Equal Opportunity Commission) says that in 2012 there were about 15,000 sexual harassment complaints filed. Of these....

• 79% of people with sexual harassment complaints were women, 21% men
• 51% of these people experienced the harassment from a supervisor
• 38% of these people were harassed by someone of a higher rank on the job
• 12% of these people were threatened with being fired if they spoke out
• There were 26,000 cases of sexual harassment reported in the armed forces in 2012 (a traditionally male-dominant field)

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act lays out the law against sexual harassment, a form of discrimination. This bill was passed in 1964.

How can we stop it?

• If you're considering a rude remark, stop and think first: Would it be OK if someone said that to your mother/wife/daughter/sister? No? Then don't say it.
• Respect: it's called for in everyday living, everywhere, with everyone
• Don't join a "good ole boys" group. It's stupid.
• Just because someone else said it or did it, doesn't mean it's OK
• Put some thought into your remarks, your actions, how you conduct yourself. Be the honorable one.
• Be a role model: Let others see how you conduct yourself, including younger boys and men
• Better to have never done it, but an apology is the next best thing

                               Not just applicable to street harassment

For those who are victims of sexual harassment, remember:

• Your personal space is just that. You have every right to say, don't do that or don't talk to me that way.
• Your body is not for anyone to touch unless you want them to. You can very firmly and loudly say, stop that right now. It's probably a good idea to leave the area immediately as well.
• You don't have to listen to or read anything that bullies you.
• Report the person and the situation. It doesn't matter if you have no witnesses.
• Don't ever let yourself believe that a person in a position of power has the right to assault you.

There are resources available to help you fight the harrassment:
Here are some:
http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/legal-resources/know-your-rights-at-work/workplace-sexual-harassment/
http://www.feminist.org/911/harass.html
https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm

 

 

 

It's Indigenous People Day

What do you know about Native Americans? They could also be called 'indigenous people' meaning, those who originate in a particular place. Theirs is a rich culture that has, through their creativity, endured for thousands of years.


Here are the tribes of the United States:


http://www.native-languages.org/states.htm

Fast facts:

• It is thought that people living in Siberia migrated to what is now North America using a land bridge, over 11,000 years ago. However, more research suggests otherwise: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0903_030903_bajaskull.html
• Native Americans are not only from Northern Europe, however: DNA testing has shown that they also came from the Middle East and Asia over a period of thousands of years. Read more about this:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131120-science-native-american-people-migration-siberia-genetics/

Here are migration patterns for the world as we know it today. Keep in mind that the continents were not always separated as they are now:

• The population of Native Americans was once a large and thriving number. Currently, only 1.4% of people living in the U.S. (4.5 Million) are Native Americans.
• When settlers came to North America and brought horses, they also brought diseases such as chicken pox and measles, which the Native Americans had never been exposed to and had no immunity for. This caused the death of a great number of people.
• Originally the two tribes that lived in what is now Minnesota, were the Sioux (Soo) and Ojibwe (Oh Jib Way) 'Chippewa' is another term for Ojibwe (a mispronunciation, perhaps?)
• Currently, there are 567 tribes of Native Americans in the United States.

Tools used by Native Americans: What do you think these might have been used for?

For an extensive education about Native Americans, visit the History Channel's article: There are videos and explanation of the migration, and many Native American cultures:  http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/native-american-cultures


Anton Treuer's life work is to preserve culture and especially language for his tribe: most languages of Native Americans were never written down, so the words need to be passed down from generation to generation. His website: http://antontreuer.com/about/ He is a professor at Bemidji State. Here's a video: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=anton+treuer&&view=detail&mid=9A6557E999E8DA705B299A6557E999E8DA705B29&&FORM=VDRVRV


Artistry is a rich part of Native American culture: Making items that are not only functional but beautiful and symbolic. Here are some baskets carefully woven with designs on them:

And a bowl with a complex design:

The amount of work it took to create this beautiful costume (and shoes!!!) is really amazing:

Native Americans have made music for centuries. Did you know they played not only drums and flutes, but also made guitars, harps, fiddles, bells, and rattles?


Here is a group of ornately carved Native American flutes: Notice the bird heads and animals carved on each:

Some drums made by Native Americans:

Interesting facts about powwow drums:
Among Native Americans, ceremonial drums are treated with great care and respect. North American powwow drums are placed on a blanket or stand during performance and are covered when not in use. They are smudged with tobacco in a special sunrise ceremony before the public powwow events, and neither drugs nor alcohol may be used near the drums. In addition, paraphernalia such as drumsticks, stands, or medicine bags may belong to a particular drum. The Ojibwa dance drum is regarded as a living being, and great care is taken with its construction and decoration. For the Mapuche, the life of a kultrún comes to an end with the death of its owner, and it is either buried with her or destroyed. The sound of the drum conveys symbolic meaning for many Native Americans. A rapid drumbeat in certain songs from the Northwest Coast signifies the transformation of a Thunderbird into a human state.      -from Britannica.com

Listen to some Native American Music:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=native+american++music&&view=detail&mid=DFD34616F385260362E3DFD34616F385260362E3&FORM=VRDGAR


Take a little time to learn about the people who were here first. After all...

School: What's It Like in Other Countries?

In the United States

• Children typically attend a pre-school at ages 4 and 5, sometimes age 3.
• At about age 5, children attend a kindergarten, whether as part of their daycare program or in a school.
• The next year, children begin their elementary school years: Grades 1-5
• Middle School is grades 6, 7, 8
• Then High School for grades 9, 10, 11, 12
• Or, Elementary School covers grades up to 6th
• Then, Junior High, grades 7, 8, 9, then
• High School (or Senior High) for grades 10-12.
• After graduation from Grade 12, students can go on to Technical School or College
• Education beyond a 4 year degree (Baccalaureate) is called Grad School (Masters or Doctorate)

What's it like in other countries? Here are three examples:




In Sweden,


Children can be enrolled in a nursery school/preschool from age 1 to age 5. (this is after the maternity leave granted of 480 days, and 420 of those days are paid at 80% of the mother's salary. This is about 1 year and four months of maternity leave).

• For these small children up to age 5, it's about preschool activities.
• Age Age 6 begins a preschool that's more about academics
• Compulsory School is for ages 7 to 16.
• Upper Secondary School is for age 16 to 19.
• University is for 2 to 5 years depending on your area of study
• To do University on a specific topic, or research, takes 4 years.

 There is very limited home-schooling in Sweden, and it's closely regulated.

In Russia, there is

• Nursery School/Preschool for ages 1 to 3
• First year of school is age 6 or 7. The ideal situation is for the child to have the same teacher for his or her first 4 years of school.
• Grades on report cards are levels of 1 to 5 rather than letters (A, B, C, D, F) as we have in the U.S.:  1 is a complete failure, and 5 is a student who's doing excellent work
• After 9 years of school, students can finish at a vocational school or, if they're not choosing to learn a craft at that point, the 'Normal' school.
• Between the ages of 18 and 27, all males must serve in the military for 12 months (count that as lucky, in the 1700s, men were expected to serve for life!)
• Schooling beyond age 18 can be at a University or an 'Institute' depending on the subject

In England, schooling is similar to the United States, with different names:

 

School is determined by the student's age::

• Early Years, ages 3 to 5
• Primary, ages 5-22
• Secondary, ages 11-16
• At Age 16, students take exams to qualify for Level 1 or 2
• Sixth Form is also called College, but it is similar to High School in the U.S.
• After 'A' Level (high school), a student can earn a 3 year Bachelors' degree. The cost will be about $18,000
• Students can go on to earn a Masters or Doctorate, typically a 3 year time period
• "College" in England usually means the same as a Technical College in the U.S. "University" means the same as College in the U.S. (4 year degree). Students say, "I'm going to University now," not 'the university.'

Interesting facts about school lunch in various countries:  

http://feingold.org/school-lunch-how-other-countries-feed-their-children/


A study by UNICEF reports that 40% of children living in the Middle East are not attending school due to the conflict in their area.  http://time.com/4021101/middle-east-children-education-unicef-report/