IB TOK

Summary: Two months after the Aurora shooting in Colorado, there are still dozens of people still suffering from injuires, many without life insurance. Even with the 5 million dollar donations given it still may not be enough to cover all of the hospital bills. Senators need to go deeper to try and push through gun restriction laws, rather than just looking the part. Topics Shootings, danger, donations, government influence, medical insurance, death, gun control, damage, community. Knowledge Issues: To what extent can we distinguish between rational and emotional inputs into decision-making?

Summary : It has been two months since the Aurora shooting in the movie theater. Many of the victims were severely injured and without medical insurance they will need millions of dollars to survive. Rich Audsley, the adviser of the 7/20 Recovery Committee to hopefully get politicians to change gun laws. Topics : Movie theater, civilians, guns, medical assistance, politics. Possible Knowledge issues : On what basis might we decide between the judgments of experts if they disagree?

Summary The sate of Washington is having trouble with ensuring that illegal immigrants do not vote in the election, and it is difficult because they do not acquire legal immigrant identification numbers. Other states use the numbers to provide things like driver's licences but Washington only requires a proof of residence. Topics Rights of residences. illegal immigrant Vs legal resident. racial profilin. Possible Knowledge Issues Does culture affect the validity of a person's opinion?

Summary: Article recalls VA natives perspectives on the 9-11 terror attacks. And the harsh reality that the Taliban was behind the destruction of the Pentagon as well as the twin towers. In order to not relive the attacks the author does different things. But gives thanks that Obama killed bin Laden, keeping his promise as commander and chief. Topics: Ethics, revenge, terrorist, 9-11, thanks, death, attack, president, government, destruction. Knowledge Issue : Does our interpretation of knowledge from the past allow us to reliably predict the future?

I agree with the knowledge issue that you chose to go with the article but another knowledge issue could be used too. For example, to what extent do different areas of knowledge incorporate doubt as a part of their methods?

Nice, Maleick!

This article is about researching brain injuries in football players. Topics: -injuries - head injuries (concussions) - brain problems (Alzheimer's, Dementia, etc) - NFL research - Football player suicides - Helmets don't do much for players Possible Knowledge Issues: Progress in Knowledge Could research on football players brains really prevent concussions and other brain problems for the players?

I definitely agree with the direction you're headed in. Great article choice (since this is having an impact on high school and younger players as well). What about making this more general, focusing on the topic of prevention/progress? - What are the problems associated with progress in various areas of knowledge? Or, how likely it will be that Neurologists' discoveries will be able to be transferred to prevention and/or design of more effective helmets... - To what extent is the knowledge that experts possess transferable?

Summary: The reporter writes about China's no-trust culture, and how the lack of trust between the government and the people is suppressing the abilities of the Chinese people to innovate and to progress as a society. He cites the success of Alibaba as an example of how trust can spur innovation and development. Topics: ethics, human rights, business, communism, government, abuse of power, economic freedom Possible Knowledge Issues: To what extent do the actions of the government impede or encourage progress?

Knowledge issue? -Under what circumstances should we ignore the opinions of experts in the various areas of knowledge?

Summary Mitt Romney is shown to be wrong after criticizing President Obama about not having much of a business pedigree. He states that it is essential to be a good president. However, almost all of the worst rated presidents in the 20th century were successful businessmen, but only one of the top ten was an unsuccessful businessman. Topics qualifications for office, public view. Possible Knowledge Issues Is something that seems valid, true because most of the culture believes it? Can other people's statements skew our view of past events?

Summary: The importance of college students experience and what they do with it is worth more in the long run than the tuition they pay. The Annapolis Group published a survey and found that liberal arts students great academically and work well with the community. The pay off of being a liberal arts graduate is being prepared for graduate studies and the rigors of the workplace. Topics: Liberal arts colleges, community, academics, graduate opportunities. Knowledge Issues: Which ways of knowing are most useful in measuring process?

The New York City Police Department released surveillance video Thursday from a traffic incident that led to Lindsay Lohan being charged with leaving the scene of an accident but what exactly happened remained as unclear and so is the video. Lohan was driving a Porsche Cayenne into the parking lot of the Dream Hotel off West 16th Street when she allegedly hit a pedestrian who is an employee of the restaurant next door, said Sgt. John Buthorn, a New York Police Department spokesman. The surveillance video was a police description of the incident that does not directly state the pedestrian was ever struck by Lohan's vehicle and also clearly states the pedestrian remained standing and walking during the entire incident. An alleged victim was treated at a hospital for a knee injury after the incident. Police arrested her about 2:30 a.m. on wednesday, and she was given a desk-appearance ticket, meaning she was not jailed nor did she have to post bail. Although the surveillance description never cites Lohan ever striking the pedestrian, "everything stands as is" and the actress will still be required to appear in court, according to the police department. Topics: Government, law, trial, court, Knowledge issues: Is it something that seems valid or look valid because any eyes was not seen by her hurt any pedestrian? The decision that was made, Is it fair?

Summary: An Indian cartoonist charged with sedition over images critical of the government has been released on bail. In comments after his release the satirist vowed to continue his campaign against the country's colonial-era law on sedition, which is a law prohibiting "words either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representation" that attempts to cause "hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection," toward the government. Trivedi's cartoons attacked perceived corruption in India's political system. Although the cartoonist was released on bail, he if facing nmore charges and jail time. Topics: Government, law, disturbance, sedition, trial. Knowledge Issues: How can we know when we have sufficient evidence?

This article is about the decision making process of Krista Monson, a choreographer who find performers for Cirque du Soleil. She chooses performers based on their level of experience, expertise, and talent. Topics circus performances profit logistics art uncertainty in making decisions talent Possible knowledge issue To what extent can we distinguish between rational and emotional inputs into decision-making?

Summary: There is currently a proposal in LA to turn library cards into ID cards for illegal immigrants that would enable them to do things such as open a bank account and access city services. There is currently controversy over this proposal; opponents argue that such measures would encourage illegal immigration and that such a system could be exploited by terrorists and criminals and that such a measure might encourage current illegal immigrants to stay in hopes that they will become naturalized. Proonents are advocating for benefits for illegal immigrants since they are disadvantaged in every which way. Topics: Immigration, naturalization, rights and responsibilities, public benefits and facilities, illegal immigration. Possible knowledge issues:To what extent do our perceptions hinder our understanding of the world?

Knowledge Issue? Under what circumstances should we ignore the opinions of experts in the various areas of knowledge?

Summary: City council men are proposing that Los Angeles should turn library cards into id cards for illegal immigrants so that the illegal immigrants could open bank accounts and access to other services. Critics believe that it encourages illegal immigration and could be exploited by terrorists/criminals. Both sides are discussing what should be done and which claim should be followed. Topics: illegal immigration rights of illegal immigrants the use of ID's debate over ID's for illegal immigrants Possible Knowledge Issues: How can we know when we have sufficient evidence to back up a claim?

Summary: The swine flu showed up in Minnesota this past summer, and it brought up concerns about whether or not the vaccines will be able to kept up with the evolving strains of the Flu. Topics: Influenza, vaccines, Swine Flu, Vaccine production, public health Possible Knowledge Issues: In what ways and areas would the absence of experts most severely limit our knowledge? What counts as evidence in various areas of knowledge?

Summary: 289 people at the least were killed in a factory fire in Pakistan on Wednesday. The impact of the fire is expected to continue rising. One child was announced dead, amoung the other 289 people and at least 25 more people were injured during the fire. All of the victims were employees of the factory. It is said that 400-500 people were in the building while it caught fire. Many workers, jumped out of the building. However, the cause of the fire has not been identified yet.

Topics: Employee's, danger, health insurance, homeowners insurance, unemployment, death, fire.

Knowledge Issues: What are the boundaries of the subject?

Could be more specific, like are there general laws that describe human behavior? for example- why did the victims jump out of the building?

OK, I'm not sure exactly where you're going with this, could you specify the subject? This seems like a very large number of people to die in a factory fire. It kind of reminds me of the early days of industry in America, where factory owners locked factories to keep workers inside and in America as a result of similar incidents in textile mills, laws were passed so that this sort of thing was less likely to happen. I might look at cultural differences, something like "Are there areas where it is not necessary to rely on one's experience and culture to understand something? " In the case of this fire, perhaps this is simply an occupational hazard, where in America, because of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) laws, this would be a travesty and the factory would be shut down and/or required to compensate employees and demonstrate compliance with existing safety regulations to prevent something like this.

Summary: Chicago teachers are on strike because their union cannot come to an agreement with the district over items such as "wages and benefits, whether laid-off teachers should be considered for new openings, extra pay for those with more experience and higher degrees, and evaluations" (p. 2). Topics: teachers, students, and education; employers, employees and unions; strike ethics; service jobs, public need, rights and responsibilities Possible Knowledge Issues: How can our expectations affect how we perceive the world? Are there ethical claims that are true regardless of what anyone thinks of them?