As American as Chinese Food?

(From AP Gov.org)

So in China, they eat more KFC than we do here, but we eat more Chinese than they do.

Typically, we say, "as American as Apple Pie." Jennifer Lee asks the question, "Do you eat Chinese food or Apple Pie more often?"

Another gem in this TED talk, Fortune Cookies, invented by the Japanese, popularized by the Chinese, perfected by the Americans. Globalization at work.

Focus at 1:45 mark to see Chinese people trying to figure out what a Fortune Cookie is.

Political Efficacy must trump Washington Politics and Special Interests

I usually try to avoid getting on my political Soap Box here. But it may be the only way to move this F-Word (filibuster) Senate to do something on common sense gun control. Critics of President Obama sometimes say he leads from behind. I might say he has the "bully pulpit" to help "We the 90% of American People," to force the Congress to pass a law that can help stop the madness. Would the Senate have voted for cloture (60 votes needed) to end the filibuster (minority side members block of debate or vote on a piece of legislation, if these citizens didn't come to Washington to personally read off 3300 names of people killed by gun violence since Sandy Hook?

There still has been no legislation passed by either the Senate or the House, but it is time for regular citizens to use political efficacy to make sure something gets done.

 

 



You can make your voice heard by joining the White House call for action on social media. Here's how it works:

1. Sign on to share a tweet or Facebook message through our action page here: wh.gov/nowisthetime/action
2. We'll gather as many voices as we can, then post all the messages and tweets simultaneously for maximum impact
3. The more people who sign up, the louder our collective voice will be, so after you sign on, encourage your friends and family to participate.

Now's the Time

Suffrage @17: Teenage citizens break through legislative gridlock!

From my friend and colleaque Andy Conneen at Stevenson High School -- one of the 2 teachers that provide excellent AP gov video reviews.

Who said anything about legislative gridlock?!?

Yesterday we filed Suffrage @ 17 language on HB226. Now we have 7 co-sponsors (5 Dems and 2 GOP) and are told that we need to testify for the House's Executive Committee by Monday (4/15) afternoon.

The great news is that you and/or your students can do this easily online by simply indicating that you support HFA1 (our Suffrage @ 17 amendment on HB226) on the IL General Assembly website.
Here's the GA site

Section I: The system requires an entry for Firm, Business or Agency. Then a title.

Your school name and reference as a teacher or student would be appropriate here.

Section II Representation: This section does not need to be completed.


Section III: You'll be asked to take a position.

Indicate "No position on Merits" for Original Bill.
Indicate "Proponent" for HFA1

IV Testimony: Select "Record of Appearance Only." This means your names will be read to the committee as proponents of the amendment that contains the Suffrage @ 17 language.

The form then just has to be completed with the passwords provided and the standards box checked. Then click "Create (Slip)"

It's that simple, but it needs to be done by Monday afternoon.

LDCs/NICs/Mexico Study Guide

The above video (2010) highlights the federal state, and judicial review in Mexico, upholding same-sex marriage in Mexico City. As in the US, in Mexico, the upper level courts are primarily appellette courts. The Supreme Court (11 justices) can declare laws and governmental actions unconstitutional by a vote of eight or more of the judges. The high court also upheld a state law (only seven rulled against) in the state of Baja California that says life begins at connception.

Mexico Upholds State Right to Life Law

Wednesday's  multiple choice test will cover Ch.11 and 16 in Hauss, packet readings and power point notes (which can be accessed on the Google Docs page)

Terms to KnowPresidente Fox/President Bush on boarder policy

LDC/NICs compare and contrast
WTO/NAFTA effects on Mexico
Mexican independence
Constitution of 1917 – similarities differences with U.S. Constitution
Presidents and Generals of Mexico till mid-20th Century
Mexican legislature – format and characteristics
Political Parties – PAN, PRI, PRD place on political spectrum
Sexenio presidency
Federal Election Commission
Political Efficacy in Mexico
Technicos
Politicos
Mestizos
Maquiladoras
Patron-client relations (camarillas)
Corruption
Para-statal sector
compressed modernityPEMEX
Mexico’s policy of structural adjustment under Fox/Calderon
Economy/Immigration as a political issue
Narco War as a political issue
Mexican trade with U.S./U.S. Trade with Mexico
Mexican civil service
Charicteristics of Mexican civil society, political culutre and beauracracy
Mexico by comparative economic sectors
Camarillas
Politcal cleavages in Mexico
Judicial Review in Mexico?
Narco War and the legitimacy of the State
Mexicans living in the U.S. and the effects on both countries
Presidente Calderon on private investment of state oil/electricity
2012 Presidential candidate positions

Who's winning in Mexico?

Media Conference Call: Jorge Castañeda and Shannon O'Neil on Nieto and U.S.-Mexico Relations - Council on Foreign Relations




Listen to the media conference call linked above from the Council on Foreign Relations and comment here on what you learned, plus who wins our debate similation and why. I will collect all written material from debate on Monday, when we will finish the simulation -- after a slow start, a solid effort on Friday.

Compare the murder rate and body count of each Mexican state against entire countries with our interactive equivalents map (from The Economist)

The Week Ahead: This week's study of Mexico

To prepare for next week (test on Mexico 4/10), you will need to use the Youdia.....But no "Mexting" as the Onion News Network satirically hightlighted above.

Wed. 4/3 -- Get assigned candidates/party for group debate. Go over Mexico 2013 notes. Power Point posted on Google Docs page.

Thur. 4/4 -- Quiz on terms from Mexico 2013 power point and "Mexico is Making It" article. Bring in notecards and prepare researched talking points promoting your candidate/party. 

Sometime between Now and Wed. 4/10 -- Flipped dual video lesson. We started  "Maquila: A Tale of Two Mexicos" in c lass on Monday, finish viewing along with BBC's 2010 Mexico's Drug War and complete film guide.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Friday, 4/5 -- Group Presidential/Party debate

Monday, 4/8 -- Mexico Group Blog/Thought Hive presentation. Your Mexico quiz (BBC country profile linked below) due.

Tuesday, 4/9 -- No School, Local School Board Elections.... Vote & Study!

Wednesday, 4/10 -- Mexico MC test (Ch. 11 @ 16, plus packet readings)

It would be helpful to check out these supplementals.

Mexican Constituion of 1917
Note Constitutional Connections of US Principles

CollegeBoard Briefing Paper: Mexico
It's long but gives you more than enough info you need to know

BBC Country Profile
Your Mexico Quiz will be due on Wednesday

Continue the book chat here

Thanks to Nadia, John and Dale for leading the book discussions today. Your 3-point blog post reflection on what you learned from the chat needs to be posted here in the comment section.

Jan Wong On Her Years in China

Who Killed Anna Politkovskaya?