Contents contributed and discussions participated by James Finn
Richard Sherman is More Than Just Talk - 5 views
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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/sports/football/seahawks-richard-sherman-is-much-more-than-just-talk.html?_r=0
This story, featured in Sunday's edition of the times, profiles Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and provides insight on his incredible ascent to football stardom; Sherman has received attention for an outburst that occurred during a postgame interview after a Seahawks/49ers playoff matchup. What does his story say about stereotypes? What lessons can we learn from this story regarding the overcoming of obstacles?
Opinion: The damaging messages of proms - 21 views
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This article relates closely to the recent Tam News feature on SR senior Tenaya Raives. When the two pieces are examined in contrast, it's easy to see that although negative aspects of the prom tradition still thrive (physical appearance and money seem to define these girl's supposed "value" as people within the confines of the prom community), stereotypes and preconceived notions have begun to weaken in recent years. Raives's story serves to illustrate this, as Raives was elected to homecoming court despite the fact that Raives conformed to none of the stereotypes outlined in the article. Although Marin is its own little "bubble" and it is unlikely that Raives's story could have taken place in, say,Texas, progress (however slight) has occurred, and this is illustrated by Raives's story as well as recent stories similar to Raives's.
Swedish cinemas take aim at gender bias with Bechdel test rating - 9 views
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I think that it's appalling that so few popular movies are able to pass the Bechdel Test. When I think back on the last three movies I've watched ("Dallas Buyers' Club", "All is Lost" and "The Hurt Locker"), I quickly realize that none of these films pass the aforementioned test; it's kind of baffling. Even with a movie such as "The Hurt Locker", which was directed by a woman, fails the test.
Baby's First iPhone App - 24 views
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Not only is it unnecessary for young children to be so reliant on technology; it is harmful. Even as a teenager, I can attest that technology has a negative affect on my mental and physical state. Watching TV for any extended period of time makes me feel tired, lazy and irritable, as does using a computer or playing games on a phone. Since I began high school, I have needed to use computers much more frequently to complete schoolwork and write essays, and I have noticed that I have become less focused, and more easily annoyed as a result. What effect would this same technology have on someone one-fourth my age? There is no way that technology can have a positive effect on the still-developing mind.
"My Son Chooses to be Alice in Wonderland" - theatlantic.com - 12 views
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http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/my-son-chooses-to-be-alice-in-wonderland/280968/
Gender equality has been featured prominently in the news in recent months; the most recent Tam News feature covered a San Rafael high school senior named Tenaya Raives who identifies as gender neutral, and a transgender girl was recently voted homecoming queen at a high school in Southern California. How is this issue approached at Tam? Is gender a source of conflict in the Tam community?
"Impartial" journalism: Are we kidding ourselves? (1st and 2nd HW, 10.29) - 81 views
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While Greenwald makes some interesting points concerning the objectivity of conventional news writing, I feel that Keller's argument is more sound overall. I found myself agreeing with much of what Keller had to say; I think that it is fully possible as a news writer to remove one's own opinions and ideals from a piece of news writing. Greenwald says that this is impossible, that every news story contains at least a shred of opinion (he argues that simply choosing to write a story shows bias on the part of the news organization.) He goes further, saying that it is the duty of every journalist to express his or her opinion, because the truth is disguised if objectivity is the goal. Personally, I believe that the only duty of any news organization is to provide readers with concise, objective fact. I think that readers should be given an opportunity to decide things for themselves. Now, it is not an easy thing to write a completely objective news piece, even if all personal agendas are removed from a story. But a news story that is written with an attempt made at being free of bias will ultimately be much more beneficial to a reader than an opinionated news piece, because it will prompt readers to think for themselves and formulate their own opinions. The following quote of Keller's made a distinct impression on me: "I don't think of it as reporters pretending they have no opinions. I think of it as reporters, as an occupational discipline, suspending their opinions and letting the evidence speak for itself." When a reporter writes an objective news piece, he or she is not writing while pretending to lack opinion. Reporters are allowed to have their own opinions, just like every other human being. But, when writing a news story, it is the duty of every journalist to make as much of an effort as possible to remove his or her opinion from the piece, so that all readers will be given the opportunity to come to their own conclusions.
"The Case Against High School Sports" - 2 views
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http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/the-case-against-high-school-sports/309447/
This article brings up the issue of the extent to which sports have become a part of high school culture. Do you think sports are too big of a deal at Tam? How do you think sports add to or detract from students' academic experience?
"My Daughter's Homework is Killing Me" - 53 views
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I feel that the author's credibility suffers as a result of the description of pot smoking at the end of the story. However, the format is successful in arguing against homework, in that it shows a grown man who struggles to complete his eighth-grade daughter's work load. Any person who reads about a middle-aged man struggling with supposedly easy homework would be persuaded that the workload dumped on adolescents is excessive.
It is definitely not a good idea to attempt to do any type of homework while high. Being high would serve as a huge distraction and would take away form the quality of the work being done.
"SF Law Proposed to Ban Immigrant Detentions" - 4 views
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I think that this proposal expresses the generally liberal politics of San Francisco's community, as well as the diversity of the area. The Bay Area's population is composed of people from many different ethnic backgrounds; these different groups accept each other and live in close proximity to people of different backgrounds.This means that everyone here has learned to accept each other, and this law would simply confirm this.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/magazine/the-chef-at-15.html?hpw&rref=dining&_r=0