"The Legacy of Toni Morrison" is the article that I believe is important for everyone to read. Independently and with my school, I have read Toni Morrison's work, and I agree with author Roxane Gay that she was "unparalleled." She was an unapologetically black woman writing about black people. She informed everyone about the struggles of African Americans and an inside look at black culture and how they live. Morrison pushed the limits of literature and showed no remorse. Specifically for me, my favorite of her novels was "Song of Solomon." It was a heartwrenching book that interestingly showed the influence of white culture on people like Macon Dead and the neverending love of family. She was an inspiration for all, and her passing was a heartbreaking loss.
"Trumps's Interest in Buying Greenland Seemed Like a Joke. Then It Got Ugly." Upon first reading the article title, I felt as though I was on the wrong news site. As the "memo" says, it seems like a headline "straight out of The Onion." I didn't even open the article, just stared at the headline as I considered it. Buying Greenland? Absurd. Our President? Also incredibly absurd.
Trump has made comments regarding his interests in privately buying a country, but most considered them empty. However, Trump actually approached Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen about buying (or trading) Greenland. She dismissed the offer as "absurd," and Trump thanked her for being direct. However, when others attacked him for his complete and utter entitlement, Trump's true colors showed and he retaliated; calling her comment "nasty," and declaring her rejection an insult to the USA as a whole. What a guy!
This article caught my interest just as every aspect of Trump's Presidency has caught my interest. I can only compare it to a type of morbid curiosity. Like how you don't want to stare at a trainwreck, but can't really look away. It's insane that a man who has declared himself "the chosen one," been accused of sexual harassment, and made countless misinformed, ridiculous, and offensives statements is our leader. I believe Greenland must be a temporary media distraction while other plans are in the works. And, honestly, I'm looking forward to seeing what ridiculous thing Trump does next.
The New York Times article that I currently find the most interesting, is an article titled, “The Thick Gray Line: Forest Elephants Defend Against Climate Change” written by Rachel Nuwer. I chose this article because climate change is a topic that I find great interest in. I found the article quite interesting because it provides well written, detailed facts that I was previously unaware of. I learned a lot from the article including, should forest elephants disappear, Central Africa’s rain forest will lose the equivalent amount of carbon to France’s total CO2 emissions for 27 years.
People my age need to learn more about the issues being discussed in this article because we live in an age where climate change is undeniably occurring, making it super important at this time for us to expand our knowledge concerning climate change so one day we can hopefully help to fight it. This article has a massive connection to my life because as a young outdoor enthusiast, I don’t want climate change to stop myself and others from being able to do the activities I love (specifically skiing) in the future.
I strongly reacted to the article because I believe that what poachers are doing is wrong and unjust, especially due to the negative impacts they are causing on our climate. The article made me realize that although things may seem to play a minute role in our world, what we don’t realize is that their role can be far greater than we suspect, and potentially even monumental.
The article that interested me the most in the times right now was titled "Sydney to Declare a Climate Emergency in Face of National Inaction" by Isabella Kwai.
This article caught my eye because to me, climate change is a huge issue that needs to be adressed but isn't. To many people, including president Trump, climate change is fake and doesn't require action. After reading that Australia has just experienced the hottest summer on record, my opinion on the reality of climate change has only become stronger.
In my opinion, we truly are experiencing a climate emergency. Recently I and many others have seen posts on social media stating that we only have 18 months to stop climate change before it becomes irreversible. Of course this came as a shock to many of us but I still see no major changes happening. This is an issue many people my age should be focusing on because in the end it's our planet and our future that needs to be saved.
Going into this article I wasn't expecting to learn anything new or experience much emotion considering climate change is a common topic. However, there is so much happening around the topic that it's hard to decide if we are making any change. Some cities are taking action as others sit back and watch. This is what angered me because its the reality of our world. We know that climate change is an issue so why aren't we all doing something about it?
An article that interested me a lot in the times was called "Storm Area 51? It's a Joke but the Air Force is Concerned" by Jacey Fortin.
To start, the article gathered my attention easily since the main subject of the article is a raid on Area 51. Growing up I always viewed Area 51 as some sort of conspiracy or story that somebody created from their imagination, so, to say the least, I was surprised to see it mentioned by a major news corporation. This aspect wasn't what intrigued me the most though.
Upon reading the statistic that over a million people had agreed to raid the government base, I was shocked. This article begs for attention because it serves as an amazing example of the power that the internet holds at the moment. I have seen various posts mentioning the topic of the raid, and I'm sure many others have as well, and the number of people who have seen this type of post is almost unimaginable. The raid on Area 51 is only one example of an idea that has spread like wildfire as a result of the internet. In the past, an idea such as this would take years to reach the same population and the rapid spread of themes that has become available due to the internet is crazy.
An article that interested me a lot in the Times right now was "How Good Are You At Judging Your Own Talents?". It struck a chord I have been dealing with for a long time now.
As I wrote about in my comment on the article, I am very judgmental of myself, to a fault. I am both very confident and critical of myself, which can be very confusing. It made me feel comforted, knowing that others feel the same. It's made me more aware of how I perceive myself, so hopefully I will be more accurate in the future!
This article also inspired my plans for the upcoming New York Times podcast contest. I'll be creating a podcast about self-image and how it affects people, as well as the inaccuracies of how we see ourselves. I'm excited to explore this topic further in the near future!
The article that interested me the most this year was “Do You Thing the American Dream Is Real?” This really interested me because I felt like I could really relate to it, I remember growing up I would dream of the “perfect life” I wanted when I got older. Just like the article said I wanted money, the perfect job, and the white picket fence. When learning in early school that having a white picket fence was the “American Dream”, that’s what I wanted and still kind of want. As I have gotten older and learned more, while I still have this vision of the “perfect” life, it has changed.
Now that I am older and can understand what is going on in the world, I know that the idea of the “American Dream” is different for everyone. People that come to America to live the “Dream” don’t have the mindset of a white picket fence, these people are coming here for more opportunities. The “Dream” for some people is to come here for better jobs, or maybe to leave a warring country. The more modernized “American Dream” does not depict images of becoming wealthy, but more likely of having a happy, fun, and enjoyable life, which is also a healthier and more reachable goal of living than the expectation of living up to the classic “American Dream.”
The article I found this year that was the most interesting would be "What's The Most Memorable Thing You Have Ever Lost or Found?" posted in late February by Jeremy Engle. This article engulfed my attention by explaining how big of an impact you could have on someone else by dropping an item.
After reading the article I had so many questions regarding if I have ever dropped an important item and if I have even realized i've been missing it. Reading this filled post, made me realize what I see and overlook on a day to day basis. I began to notice things I would have once not seen: a child's hot pink glove, a broken pair of glasses, a note passed in class. All seem like small objects, you could maybe even call them pointless objects. But the story behind a object is what makes the difference.
The news article I found most important and connected to this most this year was "Elite Colleges Announce Record Low
Admission Rates in Wake of College Cheating Scandal".
There are a lot of reasons that I connected to this one so strongly, and I think all teenagers need to read this article. I am someone who gets very anxious about my chances of getting into a dream college, and every grade I receive makes me think about how it impacts my chances. When the news broke of this college admissions scandal across the country it made me doubt my abilities to get into a great university.
In the article I saw the impacts of the scandal to other kids in the country and how it can affect the colleges. Every teenager in the country applying for colleges could have been impacted by this. It matters so much to me because I know this scandal can impact me personally when I am applying for colleges in 18 months. By the time I am applying for colleges I hope this scandal has passed on so I have as fair of a chance as anybody to get into a great college.
On one of the student opinion pieces about the admissions scandal I wrote a comment and it was published and chosen by the editors of New York Times. I am very passionate about this subject because I know how many teenagers including me it could cause stress to. Every kid in high school should care about this scandal and the specific article I found important because of how life changing it can be.
The article I found to be of interest was "New York Rain: Vintage Sights and Sounds of a Soaked City," found at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/nyregion/new-york-rain-vintage-sights-and-sounds-of-a-soaked-city.html.
After being caught in last Friday's torrential downpour, my umbrella rendered useless in the deluge, I clambered onto the subway, sopping wet. Despite my disheveled state, I met the disapproving glances of my fellow commuters with a contented smile, in awe of the unspoken power of unanticipated weather. A no-holds-barred kind of rain brings comic relief to a no-funny-business kind of day.
Upon returning home, I came across this compilation of photographs. I saw myself in these "day shots" of New Yorkers battling like elements. The accompanying audio tracks, possessing a therapeutic quality, were a welcome addition.
As much as I value necessary discourse in politics and climate change, snapshots of everyday moments serve as reminders of all that is good in this world, in between hard-hitting exposés, and are just as essential to the news cycle.
These photographs place emphasis on what connects us. Whether we find ourselves in 1960 or 2019, rain is an element that spans generations, economic statuses and cultural backgrounds. It causes somber professionals to adopt a childlike demeanor, hopping puddles and staring at the heavens in wonderment, and brings people of all walks of life together- beneath umbrellas and awnings alike.
I remember myself wondering, as the article began, whether I had somehow stumbled onto an excerpt from a horror short story. My feelings of dread and shock only climbed higher and higher as the article went on, as it poked endlessly at my deepest insecurities, my most hidden fears.
The article "Treating a Patient With a Nightmarish Condition" struck at all of my emotional notes. As the story behind the article unfolds, you begin to feel a strange sort of connection with the author of the article, as she seems far more personal and emotionally attached than one would expect from The New York Times.
The core theme of this article must be one of personal choice in relation to the Choice to Live or Die. As mentioned in the article, many people who are under conditions that render them unable to make decisions of their own must relent to the wishes of those that hold responsibility under them. However, with the article's lighter and happier ending, this question of personal choice is perhaps resolved through the involvement of the victim in the story, who seems to show little to no regrets about the horrifying recovery process she was forced to go through.
Emotional stories such as these really do strike a particular chord with me, mostly due to the fact that they are oftentimes so unexpected, and yet also so memorable. You empathize with the people in these articles, in a way that is very difficult to do with the colder and more clinical tone that most articles reach for.
1
I read an article called “Dying No Reason to Stop Fighting” by Binyamin Appelbaum.
When I first saw it, it was the title that drew me in.
It was about a man with A.L.S. who can’t speak or move, but he fights for free healthcare for all.
I feel that everyone should know about this story. It’s beautiful and moving, but also honest and true. It’s the kind of story that should ignite a spark somewhere within you and get you think. It should make you inspired. It teaches us that it doesn’t matter who you are or what’s going on in your life. That you too can stand for something you believe in. That anyone can make a difference.
This is not a pity story about a man with A.L.S; it’s a story of hope and inspiration, and it’s one I feel that everyone needs to read.
The things that interest me the most in the Times right now are editorials or contest winners; basically anyone who has a story, an experience, an opinion they are willing to share with the rest of us. I’ve loved reading contest winners this year, especially, “Years Ago, My Sister Vanished. I See Her Whenever I Want,” written by Kyleigh Leddy about love in the modern world, a truly heart touching (or wrenching) story about technology and how it helped her cope with the absence of her missing sister.
Editorials, like "Dying Is No Reason to Stop Fighting," by Binyamin Appelbaum, can share the lives of others while still making the person's voice shine. Whenever I am looking to be inspired, shocked, or to find an opinion of value, I always find myself searching for editorials.
Overall, whenever I read people’s stories, whether they are sharing their deepest thoughts or fighting for a cause, I realize the power of words and their impact long after we’ve clicked off the article. This type of writing inspires me to use writing as an outlet for me, to explore my feelings or to voice my opinion when I don’t know how to speak it outright.
Can you imagine how our life will be without the internet? Nowadays, the internet thrives and all the people’s life cannot without internet. So the internet becomes our most interests now.
We can use many things to surf the internet such as a computer or a cellphone. On the internet. We can play video games for fun, read news for knowledge and watch videos to relax. But actually we can do all of them without the internet, why do we also rely on the internet so much? That is because the internet is convenient. We just need a portable phone and we can do nearly all the things and get all the information from one small phone. That is why the internet becomes the most popular interest now.
However, there are also many disadvantages to this interest. The internet will waste a lot of times because there is too many information in it and we cannot stop to watch it. Can you believe that one small phone can also be a drug to people? Also, some internets are not good for children to use, but we cannot stop them easily. It will strongly affect children’s growth.
“Would you like to live a life without feeling pain” was the name of the article that I like the most. I’m really interested with anything to do with science. Biology to be specific. After I learned that the women become mutant to feeling pain, I got curious. I responded by saying I would like to stay the way I am now. I wouldn’t want to be like the women. The article lead me into thinking if there will be any more cases like this in the future. Although I know this occasion is really rare but since someone was able to get it then it can happen to another person. I’m curious on what type of mutation that person might undergo. It can be something that’s really useful and it can solve some world problems.
I honestly enjoyed responding to the article titled “How do you define ‘Family’?” because it was the type of question anyone could answer. Family is important to everyone, and by putting out the question as the article title, it really got people thinking about their response as they were typing it. It wasn’t a simple one off or anything like that, and it wasn’t a super serious topic like homelessness or climate change either. I know when I commented I thought a lot about who I considered my family, and that’s probably how it was for a lot of other people who commented, or just simply read the article. I learned from the comment section on the article that a lot of people consider family as people you love, going past just the people you live under a roof with.
An article I enjoyed writing about were the ones where there was a question asked and we would have to answer it with our opinions. For example, the articles “Should All Children Be Vaccinated?” or “Do You Like School?”. I like these types of articles to comment on because I think that it’s a lot easier to share your opinion and what you're thinking about it because the article is not based on one point and then you reflect off of them as a comment type of articles. An article that I specifically liked was “Do We Need More Female Superheroes?” and another one about what are some problems in our neighborhoods. I really enjoyed doing research for those articles and I really enjoyed sharing what I thought about the articles and how it makes me feel. I like the feeling of putting my opinion out there for people. The superhero article can relate to my life because I am a woman and because this twisted society has a woman as the underdogs, the female superheroes are also the underdogs. The neighborhood article related to my life because I wrote about my neighborhood and everything wrong with it. Overall, those were my favorite articles of the year to write about and I hope other people enjoyed them the same as me.
the article about one man who became obsessed with a fire that mysteriously happened at Cornell University in 1967 is what interested me most. this article caught my eye because it talked about how one man made it his job to figure out about what really happened after 9 college students were killed in a mysterious fire. I am always interested in mystery type articles and books like this so this one was particularly interesting to me.
The article that stood out to me was "School Shooting in Colorado Leaves 1 Student Dead and 8 Injured". This article shows another tragedy that happened with a firearm on Tuesday at a STEM school in Colorado. Over the course of this year, there have been many shootings. There are many people who die due to gun violence and yet no matter how many protests and concerns are taken to the government, no one seems to bother. I think the protests and petitions need to come back. When all these people are getting access to firearms, America may become a war zone. People need to take actions to get better gun laws and keep America safe for everyone. If the younger generation kids are dying, America's future is at high risk. We must try to persuade the government to make stricter gun laws in order to protect our country from violence.
I think the article “Do American Women Still Need an Equal Rights Amendment?” is very interesting. I say this because it shows how even though women have developed equality comparing them to men, they still do not have all the rights in some cases. I personally think that even though women have gone so far considering rights, they should still get an equal rights amendment. This article gives very good information to support both sides of the argument and does not take one side. It gives the reader a good view point from both supporters and non-supporters of this act. As well as giving good information on different ways women have gained equality, and ways they haven't. I think the article “Do American Women Still Need an Equal Rights Amendment?” is a very interesting article that shows two sides of an argument and still bringing an issue into view of the public.
Personally, I like the articles where I can give my opinion and makes me really think about the issue. I liked responding to articles about politics, one of them being "Should Congress Try to Impeach President Trump?". They asked whether or not it would be worth it to impeach president Trump at this point of the presidency. This is a very important issue and is key to discuss. This is important because it can effect what happens in the future relating the president of our country. This article got me to really think because there are pros and cons to both sides. A lot of people though differently on this article and I got to see all of the different sides and evidence people had.
Out of all the New York Times articles I’ve read, the article, “Silicon Valley Came to Kansas Schools. That Started a Rebellion” really got my attention. The article focuses on how both parents and students from small-town Kansas schools have rebelled against a web-based platform that Summit Learning had introduced. What was interesting was how everyone reacted to the new platform. Instead of embracing the change, some parents pulled their kids out of school, and others were concerned about the effect the program had on students. I think I have a connection with this article because I attend a school where technology is often used for research or turning in assignments. In my school however, technology only supplements regular learning- it doesn’t replace it. I also believe that there must be a balance in everything we do. We can’t have too much fun and not enough work. We can’t have too much work and not enough fun.
When I read the article, I thought about how much we’ve done as a society. I thought of how the platform may be the first step to a technologically-advanced society. I also wondered what will happen to our species as we continue to move towards self-driving cars, hover-chairs, and drones. What will happen to our physical selves? Will we altogether abandon what it means to live healthy and active lives? Should we accept a future where education is comprised of keystrokes and some mouse clicks? I don’t think I would want a future like that.
One article that stood out to me was the one asking us to evaluate the year 2018. I liked it because I actually had something related to it. We all somehow lived through 2018 and we all have different experiences about it. For me, it was a fantastic year and I really wanted to share my experiences during 2018 and yeah. Also, many people had mixed feelings about 2018 and it was fun reading their comments on how they felt about 2018.
The article that I picked was “Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an ‘Unprecedented’ Pace.” This article was about the effects humans have on the Earth. I chose this article because I care a lot about our planet and the living things on it. I found it riveting, in a terrible way, how the devastation to Earth has become so bad that regular conservation efforts will no longer be enough to save Earth and that all nations now need to contribute in conserving our planet if life on Earth has any chance. I find it absolutely infuriating that we have damaged the Earth so much and still many people will not admit that humans are to blame. We still refuse to clean up our own mess and other plants and animals suffer because of it. I do agree that humans suffer from climate change and pollution as well, but I find it harder to pity us when we’ve only brought it upon ourselves. Other species, though, who were innocently keeping their ecosystems carefully balanced, were the first to feel the impact of this foreboding mass extinction. I think that it is very important for people my age to know about the plight of our planet. It is crucial for the generations currently on Earth to fix the mess that previous generations have caused because otherwise soon there will be nothing to fix. Also, if people knew about the wonders and majesties of Earth, they may be more compelled to protected Earth because it holds value unto itself, not just because humans need it.
The article I found the most interesting was “Are Budget Airlines Really Worth It?”. I decided on this article because I know in my family when we look for plane tickets we look for the cheap flights and we usually find them on these budget airlines. When I read through the article I learned that two airlines I had flown in the past two years had closed. I’d flown WOW Air to Iceland and Amsterdam in the summer of 2017 and we had also used Primera Air two fly to France in the Summer of 2018. It’s crazy to think that if my family booked on these airlines again for this summer I would have caused an issue, because we would have already booked tickets. Also many people got stranded when the airlines closed and that could have been my family.
An article that I was really interested in was "Should All Children Be Vaccinated?" I chose it because it is interesting to see why people choose not to vaccinate their children. Vaccines protect children from dangerous diseases like Measles and Polio. But, people still don’t like vaccines due to some fallacies that they believe. From the article, I learned that before the measles was a virus, that affects a person’s nose and throat, and causes fever as well as phlegm. Before 1963, the measles affected 4 million people in the U.S. every year. But, then the measles vaccination was introduced. In 2000, the measles was officially eradicated. But, now the C.D.A found at least 6 measles outbreaks this year, which included more than 100 patients! Other people my age should know about this issue, because measles is a very contagious and horrible disease, that can be easily prevented by vaccines. People should stop doubting scientific evidence that backs up vaccines, and should start listening to logic, that can save them and/or their children.
If I were to choose an article that interests me at the moment it would be “How Good Are You At Judging Your Own Talents?” I think this is a very relevant question right now and the author makes a valid point on the subject. I found the whole aspect of people feeling overconfident about one thing and under confident on another very fascinating. There do seem to be certain things that people tend to think they are better at. For example, many have been prone to assume they are good at being a reliable friend or using a computer. However, there are also things that many people don’t believe they could do. These include dancing, saving the human race from destruction, painting a portrait, or driving a race car. Others, especially people my age, definitely need to know about this article. This question should be asked and discussed in a school setting as well, considering schools are one of the top places for bullying. The idea of judging yourself or others judging your talents for you should be talked about in the classroom environment. In life, especially middle school, people are always afraid that other people are judging their talents. This doesn't ever lead anywhere good. This sort of article could put some people at ease.
The article “Mushrooms May Reduce the Risk of Memory Problems” interests me because I have questions. Who thought that mushrooms of all things should be tested to see if they can do any benefit to the human mind. Apparently mushrooms contain various antioxidants that can inhibit proteins that are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Did they conduct these experiments to multiple other vegetables and fruits to debate over which could be a potential benefit towards mental illnesses? This seems like such an absurd idea to test. I think this is a great discovery for those who want to reduce their risks of Alzheimer’s with something that can be commonly found in markets.
I have read a lot of New York Time articles over the year so far. However, one that stood out to me was about living plastic free. The article, “Could You Live ‘Plastic Free’?” explained how even though it would be amazing to eliminate plastic out of our daily lives, it’s not something you can immediately do. Most of the things we use are made of plastic. This article was interesting to me because I wondered what other people thought about this topic and what people are trying to do about this issue. I actually learned a lot of new things from this article. The most important thing that I learned is that plastic purging is like a drug addiction. If you don’t have bags to carry your groceries in one day and the store only sells plastic bags, do you use the plastic bags just that one time? What if it happens again? I realize now that you can’t let yourself use plastic ‘just that one time’. Because soon enough, it won’t be the only time. Just like a drug addiction. People my age should know about this because it’s very useful in this day and age to be aware of plastic use/ how to avoid using it. I loved this article because it didn’t shield me away from the hardships of living plastic free. The article put me in someone else's shoes, which showed how hard their life is without plastic. I’ve learned how hard it is to live plastic-free, but also how rewarding it is in the end. Just by rejecting that plastic bag given to you at your supermarket, you're saving thousands of animals.
I chose “Facebook Opens a Command Post to Thwart Election Meddling in Europe” by Adam Satariano because elections have been all that my parents watch. I was also drawn in by the article because I know that fake news and false information being spread through Facebook was a massive controversy in the 2016 elections. So when I first read the article, I was happy and was hoping that Facebook would take similar precautions with the 2020 elections. I think that people my age should learn about this and the effects that social media may have because when it’s time for us to vote we should know that there is fake news out there and to not believe and let everything we see on the internet affect our decisions.
An article that really interested me was, “This Is What a Feminist Country Looks Like.”People my age know about this because we are the future and if we can’t change it now, will we ever? I feel like teenagers should be able to have more of a say in what goes on in the government, society and more.This article made me so happy because it made me think that not everywhere in the world is bad. Also that some places still have good and isn’t impacted by the negativity the world around them. That plays a big part in our society as Americans, always looking for the acceptance/ approval of of others and not doing things because it makes up happy. This article did raise question for me because it made me wonder why Sweden can be a happy country and accept everyone for them but when you compare it to America, I wonder where we went wrong.This makes me think about why Americans are the way they are and how spoiled, unhealthy, and not accepting they are of everyone and everything, like it’s never enough. Us Americans let our differences and flaws get in the way of loving each other for who we are. Us Americans being blinded by our wealth and not being able to see what we have to improve on, as a country. That is our problem.
Overall, Sweden is an amazing country and I think other countries could use it as an example of what they would want to accomplish. We have to learn not to judge people by their race, religion, color, identity but by their personality and who they are as a person.
A few weeks ago I came across an article on The Learning Network called "Would You Want to Live a Life Without Ever Feeling Pain?" I read this article a few time over and I think about the life the subject of the article, a 71 year old woman lived through. I find the symbiotic relationship that opposites have interesting like how without dark there would be no such thing as light. This woman's life to some extent, scares me if you could never feel pain then how would you know happiness. Joy and sorrow like a scale, some days there's a particularly small amount of pain so you feel a particularly large proportion of joy. But if the pain was always zero then the happiness would stay at a standard. I think it's important for people to acknowledge the negatives and positives of this situation and to some extent, every situation.
An article that stood out to me was, “For Sri Lanka’s Children, the Deepest Scars Are Not Physical”. It’s easy to get caught up in your own troubles and forget about what is going on around you. Sometimes things may feel extremely important, but it is those times when you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. This article brought that idea into light as it described children, younger than me, who have experienced incredibly tragic things. These are the things that I’m fortunate enough to not have to worry about. The article was about the impact the Easter Sunday bombings and other violent attacks have on children psychologically. It is heartbreaking to read about little kids who wake up each morning in pain, remembering the horrific attacks they experienced. I babysit a lot and really enjoy spending time with little kids. On top of that, many of my cousins are young and I would be devastated to see them suffering like these children. Not only did they lose friends and family but they lost a valuable part of their childhood. Every kid should be able to wake up with a smile on their face and got to sleep in peace, these bombings took that away. No one, not an adult, not a child, should ever have to go through such a tragic event. Not to mention, these attacks were in places of worship on a holiday in which people should feel safe and respected. Acts of violence have been occurring across the globe, even in my state. We need to make it stop, and make it stop now.
An article that stood out to me was the on imposing the question, “Are Youth Sports Too Competitive?” I thought this question was very challenging as the tradeoff seems to be between winning and a child’s emotions. On one hand, one could say that kids need to learn how to lose, however, on the other hand, one could say reality can wait until a childhood is over. I side with a view that children should learn how to lose. Dealing with defeat is in actuality a valuable tool that will help in later years of life. Teaching children this will show them that things don’t always go as planned despite them trying their best. I think childhood is the perfect time to learn the important values tied into effort and whether the result is a win or a loss. Sometimes, children’s lives are perfectly laid out up until they become an adult. Then… reality kicks in. Preparing a kid for when something goes wrong could make a massive difference for when they maybe don’t get the job they applied for or something even more major. For me, the line is drawn when children learn that losing is perfectly fine. Winning should be every kid’s goal and teaching them that losing is fine sometimes implies that you don’t have to or shouldn’t try. I picked this article because it relates to me, being an athlete myself and because it’s such a relevant topic with valid points on either side of the line. Challenging questions like these make individuals think and come together to form an agreement.
Some things that interest me now in the times are anything concerning sports. I love to read about new updates on sports. My two favorite sports to read about are football and basketball. I just love to read about these sports because they are easy to understand and very exciting. I love reading about how one team beat another or what crazy trades are going on. The article I chose was, “Joel Embiid Is Having Fun, Making the Sixers Look Unstoppable”. I chose this article because it talks about my favorite sport, basketball and it talks about Joel Embiid, one of my favorite basketball players. This article also features the Philadelphia 76ers, my home, and favorite, basketball team. What makes the article interesting id that it features my favorite team and player WINNING. Who doesn’t love to win? People can definitely gain knowledge from this article no matter how well they know basketball.
I think people should read "Learning with:'Becoming Greta "Invisible Girl" to Global Climate Activist." This article really touched me. I am not saying i did not know what was going on with global warming. When you hear it from someone not to much older then you it touches you more. It changes your perspective on things. The day we read this article there was a protest on climate change. I think that fit perfectly, it gave you the chance to make a difference. People our age should not ignore the fact that things are happening on our planet and we need to do something to fix it. Someone our age being such an activist for something so important is changing the world. Especially since Greta battled with depression, she is a role model for those thinking they can not get better. Greta was a shy girl who suffered from depression and now she found something that makes her happy and out spoken. It made me wonder if we had more activists who are children would more children try to change their ways?
I think the article that interests me most in the New York Times this year is “Teenager Say Depression and Anxiety Are Major Issues Among Their Peers”. This article stood out to me because a lot of my friends have a mental illness. Heck, my english enrichment project earlier this year was trying to find out why more teens are developing mental illnesses lately. I learned that 70% of teens said that depression and anxiety was a major issue, and only 4% of teens said it wasn’t an issue at all. I think that other people should be aware that this is a problem. It makes me disappointed that teens aren’t well informed about mental health issues when it is so prevalent. Schools usually don’t touch on that topic, but I think they really should start to.
One reason this article registers with me so much is that it is an issue that I see it so much in my daily life. One of my friends got a panic attack during lunch last year, and I didn’t know what to do. It made me feel awful. While I was in the hospital last year, sporting the very fashionable hospital gown, I always made a point to play Uno with the other kids there. One of the kids I played with overdosed. The other one tried to jump in front of a train. We got along well, and we talked a lot while we were there. I hope they’re still out there, winning against the battle with their mental illnesses.
One article in the New York Times that has really stood out to me is “At 71, She’s Never Felt Pain or Anxiety. Now Scientists Know Why”. It was really interesting to read about somebody who never feels pain, and to imagine what that would be like- and if that’s something you would want to experience. I think a lot of times people hold back from doing something they want to do, because they’re scared of the idea of pain. At first the idea of living without pain sounds amazing, but when you start to look at the little details it doesn’t seem quite as great.
The article that stood out to me was the article an opinion article on why Congress should give the President his border money. It stood out to me because it made me think "What? Why should Congress give the President money to build his wall?" well, the article makes the point that due to these border systems we have a large Central American population of immigrants and it is overcrowded, disease-ridden, and it is chaotic. This shows the humanitarian side of human beings and well, this issue is important and if we don't fix it people will be in danger. Also, there is a lesson to be learned from my reaction upon reading the article's title, it is that the statement "Don't judge a book by its cover." is true as looks can be deceiving. Remember people for who they are with love.
- I really liked the article 500 Days of Duolingo: What You Can (and Can’t) Learn From a Language App. I enjoyed this article because currently, I am trying to learn Spanish from Duolingo (a language application). I really love how this article goes into comparing all the possible languages applications to choose from. Also, later how they explain what you can learn from these apps, and what you cannot learn. I think this is pretty useful information to know, so when I get older, if these languages are needed I won’t just have the app to learn it.
- I honestly thought before this article, that I could become fluent in Spanish from Duolingo. But now, after I heard that the author did it for 500 days straight and is still not fluent, it really shocked me. I can barely do it every day, so how will I ever completely learn the language.
- I think this is an important article for other kids to know, because when we get older, knowing other languages can help with the occupation we choose. An example is that you run a oil company and China wants to buy from you. If you had learned Mandarin, you could easily negotiate. That is why, not just knowing English is important.
I don’t think many other people would also like my topic but i think it is interesting to know the truth behind video game designers and the life they live. It's interesting how so many kids, including myself, want to be video game designers and how cool it would be to have your own thoughts influence a game, but it is much worse than I thought. Many game designers have to work in harsh conditions like no AC and working long hours without being paid much with costs being cut a lot.
I am most interested in articles in the times that relate to climate change, the planet’s pollution and what we should do could do to fix this. Articles such as “Would You Change Your Eating Habits to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?” “Falling Bottles” and “Student Climate Strikes.” I was especially interested in the article “Student Climate Strikes” because it shows how students and young children are worried about the future of planet earth and that they have a voice too. There are many more types of these articles in the times and I think they all are worth reading because they all explain a very important issue that is affecting us today and what steps we should take to fix it to save our planet before it's too late. The powerful statements inspire me and make me believe that there is still hope for us to fix our mistakes that are causing our planet to die.
I chose the article ¨What Happens When Abortion is Banned?” by Michelle Obama. This article clearly addresses what will happen after abortion which is something that isn’t commonly talked about but is definitely important and something we definitely need to think about. After reading this article I learned that abortion pills were a thing, a thing that is commonly used by women wanting to create their own miscarriages. At first i thought it was a good thing until I learned all the legal problems abortion pills could cause. Kids my age need to know about his because I it something we could potentially change and help. I know I didn’t know any of this existed and I bet other kids don't know either, plus everyone is talking about how our generation is going to change the world but how are we going to do that if we don’t know all the facts on one of the most controversial subjects? The article definitely made me think of abortions in a new light. I already knew how important they are for different reasons to different people, but why would people have to go to jail for it? Is banning abortions worth all the trouble it could cause, all the deaths and arrests. These are all many factors we need to think about before stating our opinions.
At this moment right now what people wore to the Met Gala 2019 interests me the most. People need to see the photos in "2019 Met Gala, Photos and Updates With Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian West. This year at the Met Gala the theme was camp. This means to many celebrities being able to have fun, be extravagant and express yourself. With this information, many celebrities went over the top with their outfits some being good and bad. In particular, Cardi B with a huge quilted and feathered gown by Thom Browne that required its own team of handlers to make its way down the red carpet takes the award with the biggest train. Seeing celebrities wear these outfits they don’t normally wear and branching out of their comfort zone makes me love fashion. The different ways people express themselves with their fashions tell a lot about their personality. There's no limit to how crazy people will dress when it comes to fashion. As ridiculous as the outfits may be, you have to give points for massive creativity. It's not everyday people where a chandelier as an outfit or people adorned in gold, carried on a palanquin with gilded wings outstretched.
*What drags me most to articles are titles. So, I had to choose “What Inspired a New Musical? Conspiracy Theories. And Yodeling.” It made me question, how can conspiracy theories possibly relate to a musical, not to mention inspire one. The article also mentions the use of a cappella and different cultural types of singing, such as Tuvan throat singing and Balkan choruses. Everyone should read this article, because it is about a support group for internet addicts, and it shows that you can incorporate what you care about into almost anything. This one quote made me wonder a lot: ‘ “There’s just so much more variety in terms of what a human voice can do,.” ‘ This made me want to try out different things with my voice. All in all, this article interests me The Times right now.
When I read the headline "School Shooting in Colorado Leaves 8 Students Wounded" I had to click on it. Recently I have been interested in reading up on current events. Even though this article was incredibly sad I found it very informative. I like reading topics that inform me what is going on either good or bad in the country.
I am very interested in climate change and plastic use. There are two articles that are the most interesting to me, and they are both very interesting. The first article is Learning With: ‘Becoming Greta: “Invisible Girl” to Global Climate Activist, With Bumps Along the Way’. I am very concerned about our planet and its environment because, to be honest, we are not taking very good care of it. There are problems like climate change and global warming, as well as pollution. Today is May 7, and it's a day to not use plastic, or buy any, to try to improve the health of our world. I think that people need to think about these topics because they are extremely important, since they basically decide the “fate” of our world. The second article that I am interested in is Learning With: ‘Becoming Greta: “Invisible Girl” to Global Climate Activist, With Bumps Along the Way’. This article talks about a girl who is inspired to convince the leaders of her country to do something about the climate change issue. I think that this issue is so important and this article talks about the troubles Greta had when trying to protest for this issue. It also talks about how she does her protests, as well as explains her life and journey to get where she is today. Both of these articles are something that I’m interested in because they are major issues on our whole planet, so we can all work together to solve them. Also, I just feel like we can easily fix both of the problems if people really tried.
Right now I am very interested in basketball, especially the New York Knicks, my favorite basketball team. The article, “ ‘Hello, Kevin Knox.’ A Knicks Rookie Breaks Out.” talks about how Kevin Knox, a forward for the Knicks had a breakout. The star from Kentucky had a very good year in college but was struggling to adjust to the N.B.A. The article itself was interesting because it gives good information about a basketball player a lot of people don't know about. Also, talks about other people on the New York Knicks. One especially interesting part is when the article talks about Coach David Fizdale, a former coach of Lebron James, insisting that Knox meet him after the game. One thing I learned from the article was, how nice of a person David Fizdale is. He helped him a lot through his struggles. One way other people my age could benefit from this is it gives light to hard it is to be a rookie in the N.B.A. And since I root for a New York team, even though I live in Philadelphia, most people do not know a lot about the Knicks.
One article that caught my eye was, "Giannis Antetokounmpo Is the Pride of a Greece That Shunned Him."As a kid, Giannis was discriminated against and subject to racism because of his origin. He was born the son of illegal immigrants from Nigeria. Many people including the people who discriminated against him now praise him. I really think something like this really makes you notice how people follow common ideas. When a Nigerian was uncommon to see in Greece, Giannis was discriminated. However, he is now a worldwide and NBA star, because of this people hold him on a pedestal. I think everybody my age should now about Giannis Antetokounmpo's story because it's really inspiring and sad at the same time. It makes you notice you could whatever you put work into but still shows how cruel the world can be.
The article that interested me most in the New York Times was, “ Are Youth Sports too Competitive?”. This interested me most because I am someone who loves sports. Some of the questions from that article was, “Do you feel youth sports in the United States are accessible to all children? Or do you feel they are available only to a talented few?”, I think that personally, it doesn’t matter if you are bad at sports or not, everyone should have a chance at trying them though. I never think that sports are only available to a few, I think that it’s for anyone who wants to take a chance and try something new.Yes, not everybody’s perfect, but it doesn’t matter about that, it matters about what you want to do. Just because some people are better at sports than others, doesn’t mean they should just give up, they should keep trying until they succeed. Even if you try once, and you are bad at it, doesn’t mean you should stop. In the end, I think that anyone can play any type of sport they want, no matter how bad they are.
The article that stood out to me was not serious like other articles but comedic. The article was named, “Yeti Footprint Found in Nepal Are Maybe (Definitely) From a Bear”. I liked this article because it was fun to read. It talked about how mountaineers from the Indian army posted a picture of yeti footprints found in Nepal. People think it is a yeti because the footprints are 32 inches long but others just think it is from a bear and its cub. I thought the opening line was funny, “Someone found the footprints of a yeti, yet again”. Than the article goes on to saying “It is unclear if the expedition team was serious about its findings or conducting a trolling experiment on its followers.” I guess this must be a recurring thing that people try and trick others to thinking they found a yeti. Or is it a trick? Even though I don’t believe the tracks are from a yeti, it would be cool to follow them.
I have noticed that many people have chosen articles or other things posted on The New York Times that were about politics or related to politics. However, I personally am not that interested in politics because it is constantly about something that Trump did or something that happened in the government, and after a while of listening to all of this government talk, I need a break. I prefer the more “fun” ones. One of my favorite was the picture prompt called “Your Food Obsession.” I loved it because it was a topic that you don’t really have to think that much in order to write about, and for me, I wrote so much that my original comment was too long and had to be shortened. It was also one of my favorites because reading everyone else’s comments afterwards was really interesting. I could learn more about what parts of what foods that people like (or don’t like) and relate to their opinions or feel the opposite way about them. A lot of people might think that commenting on that article was pointless, but for me it was an extremely enjoyable topic to write about.
The article about Sandra Bland really stood out to me because it shows the racism, and brutality black people face everyday, and it talks about how corrupt the justice system is for black people. The police officer arrested Sandra over, her forgetting to put a signal light on, and it lead her to hanging herself three days later in a jail cell. This article really needs to be shown to people because it's very overlooked, and people never want to discuss it because it is a very delicate topic, and nobody wants to ever deal with the harsh reality, and thought that people are getting treated badly because of their skin color. This article also shows how bad stereotypes really are because if the police officer didn't think that she was a stereotypical black person who was up to no good. I just think that we need to own up to that the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and there still are people who are judged, on variables so small, and there's nothing they can do about it.
I believe the article, ¨On being an outsider” by Christina Thompson really made me think about our society and what the society accepts in a person. Almost everyone has been excluded at some point, definitely some people more than others. It sucks when you feel like the odd one out, and like you’re just tagging along in the back with the group. My school always has things going on, whether it’s a new movie everyone is raving about or it’s some drama being slowly passed to others. If one isn’t informed about these new trends, tough luck, but it’s going to be hard to be accepted in the conversation. All my friends keep on talking about Endgame, and I have yet to see it. I’ve found it pretty hard to join conversations that include this topic because of spoilers! I kinda just sit off to the side. Usually, I’m a pretty sociable person, but anyone could be excluded no matter what. This article really brings these thoughts into open space to really show how deep being an outsider can hurt someone. It focuses on how Christina and her family feel about feeling like they don’t belong because there is no bridge between their complicated ancestry and the main race the place they are living at is represented by.
One article that really stood out to me was an article where an African-American women named Sandra Bland filmed a traffic stop confrontation with a police officer. The officer was yelling at her to get out of the car, and it led to the point where the officer pointed a gun at her. She hung herself in her jail cell three days later. This article stood out to me because there have been encounters where white police officers have pulled over and arrested a black person for no apparent reason. It shows that racism hasn’t ended in America. I feel really bad that Sandra Bland had to hang herself, and I really hope racism comes to a halt in America and every other country. Racism is unacceptable, and should not exist. I don’t understand why people can’t accept other people for who they are, or what their skin color is.
Of everything in the New York Times, the article “The Right Way to Follow Your Passion” spoke to me. As a student, I feel that I am forced to find my passion. My brother is in a successful college, so I feel that I need to live up to him and find something I’m good at. I do art as a hobby, although it is not something I would like to pursue in the future. Last year, I felt like I had to draw for other people. I made an art account online to post my art, and I promised myself that I would draw everyday to get better. However, that became too much for me to juggle in my life, and I would only receive the joy from art from getting attention online. Art had become by obsessive passion. The only way to solve my problem was to take a break and that helped me significantly. It was even harder to begin drawing again. However, I started to draw for myself and not for others and that made a lot happier.
An article which I enjoyed writing about was the “$430 Million Deal” which was about baseball superstar, Mike Trout. I enjoyed it because I love reading anything which may include baseball, hockey, football, or basketball. This article I especially enjoyed because it was an opinionated question about Trouts recent huge contract. I liked putting in my thoughts on a topic that I feel very educated on and I know what I am talking about. I think there should be more sports articles for people like me because I only think there was two others which were about the Superbowl and the March Madness tournaments. I know for sure that I can write more about something when it is involving a sport or in this case a large contract which was highly debatable. I think that these articles connect to my life because I play sports myself for teams and then I play sports for fun with friends. This article had actually made me think and raised questions like if he, or anybody in the world, actually deserved that much money.
1
People need to see the photos in "2019 Met Gala, Photos and Updates With Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian West." It's like nobody knows what the word tacky means, and I love it. There's not really a limit to how crazily people can dress when it comes to art, I guess. As ridiculous as it the outfits may be, you have to give points for massive creativity. It's not everyday someone walks around dressed as a chandelier with no questions asked.
1
I enjoyed many of the articles offered to me this past year on the learning network. There were many that were in my personal interest range and others that created a lot of controversy, but overall I think that there were many articles that sparked the ideas of people around us. One of my personal favorite articles was “Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing”. I really enjoyed commenting on this article because it caused a lot of controversy and opened a place for people to talk about the common question. I read other peoples responses and responded myself and it was cool to read the opinions of others on this topic. Certain people believed that grades can define you, while others believed that grades are merely a representation of your interests. I responded saying that grades really don’t define you at all and whatever you want to achieve, is achievable. This is a corny way to respond but true nonetheless. Truthfully the world is yours and to be defined by grades is really itself a way to define you. If you think that getting bad grades is the end of the world than it shows a lot about your personality and beliefs, but on the other hand if you take school seriously and aren’t judged by your grades, it shows that you believe that you interests are what you will thrive in. That is why reading and responding to the article “Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing” was one of my favorite things to respond to on the times
What interests me most in the Times’ are articles in which we are able to give our own antidotes, personal experiences, opinions, and facts that can still support it, regardless if our opinion or beliefs contradicts another person’s belief. I think I like articles like this because it allows students or people beyond the student level to discuss or debate about a topic without going through boredom through the discussion because of the lack of freedom someone has when talking about an uninteresting topic. An article I liked that, more or less, had to with this concept was “Fuller Picture Emerges of Viral Video of Native American Man and Catholic Students” and the learning network activity, “What Is Your Response to the Incident at the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 18?”. From reading the article, I was able to learn about one perspective of the incident between the native american and the catholic student. However, from looking at the comments and the opinions, I was able to learn even more about the incident or was even able to look at a different point of view easily. I was able to look more into the incident by my own research and I think reading an article should be about this; it should be about being intrigued and looking more into it for your own pleasure or interest, not just to simply read it and catch up on news.
1
@Rachel Widjaja I agree with you point about peoples stories and anecdotes. Its important to not become a statistic and instead represent a unique story.
I think that everyone should watch the video, “I will not stay silent. Our leaders are failing human rights” by former U.N. High Commissioner, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. The video opened my eyes to what was going on in the rest of the world- children being tortured, and human rights being snatched away. I’ve always focused on the local issues but this video showed me an eye opening, horrifying future. Things need to change, the kids in Yemen didn’t deserve a life like that. With every new problem our nation seems to move in the wrong direction. There is only a small attempt at change, not big enough to change the lives of so many victims. Reading the comments to the video was hard as some were very harsh. Some people recall not knowing what to do, seeming as if there is nothing that could be done. After watching the video, I realized just how much I didn’t know. How much cruelty is going on in the world. It needs to end.
1
As the argumentative and opinionated person I am, I really enjoy reading and responding to articles with controversial, biased topics, or with two different sides to pick between. I enjoy these articles because I get to voice my opinion, read about what is relevant, and actually debate what I care about. In addition, I get to argue with others and prove why my point is right and why their point is wrong, which is something I am, fortunately, very good at.
In particular, my favorite articles were, for instance, the one about Mr. Trump and his possible impeachment, and the one about murals and whether they should be removed from schools just because of their ugly history.
An article that really sparked an interest in me was “Will You Stay With Me Until I Die.” This article was touching and it showed a deep connection between a patient and a doctor. On the devastating side, it also showed how your worst fears can come back and kill you. Julie was dealing with cancer and she asked her doctor to say with her until she died. Things were getting better and her cancer was cured, but unfortunately it came back taking her life. The doctor says that even though Julie is gone, she still thinks about her during her times of troubles. The relationship between a doctor and a patient doesn’t just have to mean that that the doctor helps the patient to get better. It can mean that both the doctors and the patient help each other in the ways that you don’t think are possible. I think that it is honorable that they had an inner love or cared for each other because they supported one another, and this is an experience that can be remembered by the doctor for times to come.
Though many of this years articles were rather interesting, I thought that the most interesting article was about children superstars. Personally, I already knew that when a unborn fetus is thrown into the acting world, they become real mean adults. I see my baby sister watching those family run youtube channels, and the kids are just used as cute props to get views, brainwashing the minds of other kids. People should no for the future that they shouldn't just throw their kids in the ring. It's their own choice. The parents are clearly just getting money off their kid, however, no matter how many millions you can earn from making an instagram for your 1 week old Zygote, it's still wrong, as your child will become a spoiled brat when they grow up rolling in the dough. Though making your child famous is bad, making your child a part of those, terrible, horrible, cringry, family youtube channels is another crime. I see my sister watch these videos on youtube, and I wonder, “How does she watch this? How is this enjoyable?” I see her talking to herself, showing off her toys to an invisible camera, pretending to be these people. I think this child stardom needs to be looked at more closely. Good content on youtube such as the filthy frank show and many many others have been monetized and the good creators like them aren't getting the revenue, and in turn, that revenue is instead going to the weirdest most odd videos run by parents pawning their children.
1
I read the article on the Aeroflot Plane Makes Fiery Emergency Landing in Russia. Unfortunately, the plane crash killed 41 people out of 78. The reason I chose to read about the horrible tragedy was that I heard nothing about it here in the United States. I strongly believe that teenagers at my age should be learning about what is going on across the world not just what is happening in the U.S. My reaction to this tragedy ruined my day because so many innocent people were lost. Honestly, it makes me worry about personal plane trips because you never know when this could happen.
Shane O'Leary Byfield, MA
The images showing the Airplane crash in Russia in the New York Times article, “In Russian Plane Crash, investigators look at pilot error, equipment, failure and weather” is something that stood out to me. When I first saw a video of the plane bursting into flames, I was shocked. It was even more devastating to find out that 41 people were killed in this terrible incident. There have also been many other plane crashes during these past years, and people keep losing their lives. More needs to be done to prevent these catastrophic disasters. Planes need to be properly checked for these same problems in the plane’s system before taking off, and even if the slightest thing is wrong, the plane shouldn’t take off until it is has been properly repaired. It is best to be safe rather than the plane malfunction and kill many people.
What types of articles interest me the most? I think that articles that have to do with the popular events that are going on are been done are the types that interest me the most. If it's not present day, then it is kind of useless. I usually don’t keep up to date with the news and what's new so I have to read these articles to find out what is going on. I liked the article on whether the school is useful or not and it was a fun article to comment on. Same with the article where they asked what people do in there free time. I think I enjoy articles like these a lot.
My personal interest in today´s New York Times is ¨Gas That Makes a Mountain Breathe Fire Is Turning Up Around the World.” I chose this article at first because I was intrigued by the title, specifically, “a Mountain Breathe Fire.” The most interesting thing that I discovered is that the Flames of Chimera are a natural occurrence. Everything in this article taught me something new. The fires start with the expulsion of methane gas. My peers and others should know about this amazing natural phenomenon because it’s to put it simply, cool. I mean think about, fire is literally coming out of the ground. Do I have questions about this? Of course! First of all, what happens to people who live near these? What happens to the environment in the surrounding areas. All in all, though, these methane fires may be hazardous, but they sure are exciting.
The thing that has caught my attention the most right now on the New Your Times is very recent, and titled, “Met Gala 2019: Photographs From the Red Carpet.” I think the most interesting thing from these pictures of everyone is how creative everybody got, especially Elle Fanning with her chic outfit that she pulled off amazingly, and Zendaya, with her modern spin on Disney’s Cinderella. Billy Porter dressed in what looked like a complete interpretation of a pharaoh adorned in gold. When talking about his outfit, he said, “They showed me this and I said, ‘Yes. I want wings so I can fly.’”
1
The article "Celine Dion, at the Met Gala, Is No One’s Paper Doll" really surprised me because of the insane clothing that these people are wearing. An example being Katy Perry wearing a dress that looked like a chandelier. Celine Dion was also wearing something extraordinary, a dress that looked like drapes.
The article, “Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing?”, perfectly depicts what interests me most in the New York Times currently. I have been really stressed out about my grades this year, and I still would like to have straight A’s, but sometimes, school is not worth every single moment of your life. In order to have a good childhood, you need to explore who you are, and to be able to have fun. I procrastinate a lot, because when I do things, I like to perfect them, but it really screws my grades up in the end, which is a personal issue for me. However, so many children need to know that spending their whole night on homework, projects, or studying, is not worth it, while they could be using that time creating bonds, and overall, just having a good time.
Of all the New York Times articles written, the ones that stand out to me are usually ones about animals, environment, or nature. For example, after reading the article "Birds Beware: The Praying Mantis Wants Your Brain," I was shocked, disturbed, and interested all at the same time. I thought Praying Mantises only ate small insects like bees and stuff, but birds? Really? It's kind of scary, to be honest. I love learning about really any organism thinkable, from a praying mantis to a giraffe, and I think it's a good change from all the politics, and controversial issues we hear so much about. I think if other people my age read more environmental-type articles like the one I mentioned, they would be more open-minded towards a large variety of animals. These articles are very educational, and to me, quite fun to read about!
What interests me the most current in the Times is the article "Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an ‘Unprecedented’ Pace." This article stood out to me not because it's a new topic or a unique one at that, but because it's being revisited even though everyone presumably already knows about it. I really enjoy the "We Want to Hear From You" section which asks how climate change affects readers' areas. I enjoy this section as I feel it helps readers connect to how it affects there daily life and not brush off the problem because they live on the other side of the world. The photos used in the article are also very disturbing as while they only show some of the devastating effects of humans, to know there are more problems is heartbreaking. I feel other people, not only my age, should know about this because I feel their knowledge on this problem has probably not even scratch the surface of the full picture.
I believe that the article “Snowplow Parents” hit home because it was the most relatable to me. I felt as if I was able to open up about my own experiences and sharing how it may be different from others, making sure that I had a voice to portion out what I had to say. I knew my response wasn’t going to be totally generic because it was based on my personal experiences, not others. From others’ comments, I didn’t necessarily learn anything, but I did take away that my parents can be similar to the parents of others in multiple ways. With this, it showed to me that my parents may not be as different as I may think, and that I can be more accepting of them in general. I know it sounds mean, but it’s better to know that you have something in common with someone because it brings that feeling of knowing you aren’t the only one. All in all, this article was definitely my favorite, and I hope the New York Times plans to do articles more this one!
The article that interested me most was “Putting Down Your Phone May Help You Live Longer.” When I first read the title, I laughed out loud, because it really reminded me of my dad and one of his favorite phrase, “2019 generations.” My dad constantly says it whenever he sees a group of youth or kids staring down at their phones as a joke or a way to tease me. Additionally, I really agreed with the article when it described taking time off social media. Social media has become pretty toxic lately, because there are many people harassing others whether it be consciously or subconsciously. I feel like the article has a great message for readers, and I believe that more people should be aware of how taking time off their phone can actually help you.
While I’m generally not the kind of person who would write a comment obsessing over food, but I found the article "Your Questions About Food and Climate Change, Answered" interesting because it questioned the way look at food. I think it is important to be suspicious and it is better to be cynical than gullible. I also believe that questioning is the one that has made sure that humans have stayed alive this long. I feel that if we want to not drive ourselves extinct we should question the things that are killing the planet such as fossil fuels, deforestation, and (as the article made clear) some foods. I personally stopped eating beef and pork about a year ago for health reasons, but not for a moment did I think about how my decision affected the environment. I believe that it is small things like watching the kinds of foods you eat and how frequently you eat them. It is important to look at what is in the foods you eat because beef and other foods that can be bad for our environment. While I may seem like a bit of a conspiracy theorist trying to sabotage businesses, I think that my underlying message and the underlying message of the article are thought worthy ideas. All in all, it is important to be suspicious and watch what you eat.
I choose the article “In Sanfransico, Making a Living From Your Billionaire Neighbor's Trash” since the title caught my eye. Firstly, I recognized that trash is a major problem in our world and I am very invested in the topic. I clicked the article thinking I was going to see something about using metal straws and saving the turtles, but instead, I found an article explaining resourcefulness and comparing two completely different lifestyles. It tells the life of Jake Orta, a homeless veteran, digs through his neighbor’s trash. However, his neighbor lives in a 10 million dollar house and is Mark Zuckerburg. Orta found things such as a hairdryer, coffee, and vacuum cleaner- all of which were functioning. He sold those things to make a living. From hearing his story, I learned a lot. It really emphasized, “one man’s trash is another’s treasure”. On top of that, it shows the difference in individuals lives and how we can be wasteful. While we may not think one thing has value, it can mean the whole world to another person. Going trash picking also helps the environment. Instead of objects being sent to the landfill, it is instead being reused/ recycled. So maybe the article didn’t cover the issue of metal straws and using less plastic, but it did something better. It told the story of a guy’s life, showing the divide between people who have a lot of money such as celebrities and poorer folks. It showed a new perspective on helping the environment as well.
My article is about Joel Embiid and I liked it because I like basketball and the 76ers.I didn’t really learn anything to much that I didn’t already know about Joel embiid.Other people my age should know about it because maybe they are basketball fans so they wanna know more about the face of our organization.
The article that immediately spoke to was "Why Giving Up is Sometimes the Best Way to Solve a Problem" I chose to write about it because it really resonates with me and a lot of other students. Sometimes I get so overloaded with work and I get so stressed, that I have to take a break and come back to it later, or truthfully, never. If I ever get a lot of homework, I make myself a plan that is fairly similar to what the article suggested. For example, if I get homework assigned from most of my classes, I tell myself, "If I am still doing my homework at 10:30, I will stop." And if I didn't get all of my homework done I will either finish it in advisory, at lunch, or I will tell my teacher about the homework situation that night and explain why I couldn't get to it. Other kids my age should definitely know about this article because
1
@Molly Flaxman
I think it's cool that you pointed that out because I absolutely agree with you. At a certain point, some battles just stop being worth fighting, which I agree is something that we and many of our fellow students have to keep in mind daily. If we are being overloaded with homework, we need to budget our time, and that does sometimes come with just not doing some. All in all I just found it pretty cool that you found something that really is relevant to our lives as students
1
My favorite articles from the New York Times are usually the sports articles. These are the articles that feature anything around sports. I like these articles because I can relate to them and understand what is going on. I have not seen many of these articles, however, I remember responding to the “$430 Million Deal” based off of Mike Trout’s deal with the Angels. I was happy to find a sports article in the Learning Network. I remember this article because it was the first sports article I would respond to in the Learning Network. I hoped that the Learning Network would post more sports articles, and they did. I didn’t respond to all of them, but I read them because they interested me. I am happy about the opportunity to ask the New York Times to add more sports articles to the Learning Network, because many people would be interested.
I choose an article on Joel Embiid’s outstanding performance in Game 3 of a seven game second round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors. I mainly chose this article because I am from the city of Philadelphia, and seeing Embiid dominate in the way that he did brought a smile to my face. In said game, Embiid put up stellar statistics, with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks, in a 76ers victory. Unfortunately, this stupendous performance did not carry over to Game 4, where the Sixers unfortunately lost, tying the series at two to two. Among his performance in Game 3, he head faked a charging Marc Gasol, and dove to the net, finishing with a windmill dunk amid chants of “MVP, MVP!” In conclusion, this is what is interesting me in the New York Times right now, and why it is interesting to me.
I chose the article because it relates to me and I feel as if the problems between different races need to be gone. There is corruption and N.Y. democrats are stepping up to help the problem. Some of the democrats are not helping and need to focus on the problem at hand.
My eyes were drawn to an article detailing the United States Army’s decision to bring back a uniform that looks quite similar to the one worn by soldiers in World War II. I have always had a particular interest in WWII, which is probably what caused this to stand out to me. It may have something to do with my Jewish family members, some of which came to America from WWII-era Europe to escape the Nazis. However, I know that they were very lucky to have made it here, as so many did not, and for most, that did not end well. 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust, and so many others were severely hurt, both mentally and physically, because of it. It was an absolutely horrible time in the history of the world, and whenever I think about it, it brings back bad memories (not my own, of course, but horrific nonetheless). So the first thing I asked myself when I saw the article was: “Why?” Why would anyone deliberately bring back something that makes people think of such a tragic time? It may be a symbol of American victory, but for so many others it is a symbol of years of torture and killing, all because people had different religious beliefs. I realize that the Americans were the ones fighting against all of this, but it still happened, and it is impossible to ignore that and only focus on American heroism. Of course, I respect the Army’s decision, but I think this will strike the wrong chord with many people, American or not, and that should be taken into consideration.
1
My favorite article was “Is Conference Room Air Making You Dumber?”. I do not know if it is just me, but my mind tends to be sharper outside. When I am indoors, the air not circulating and the sound of people’s voices trapped inside the room tends to make my mind duller. Also, think about it. When humans are outside, they have to constantly be thinking about where they are going, not getting hit by a car, not bumping into people, and probably talking with others at the same time. The article talks about how, through molecules like CO2, the brain does not work as well as it would with air circulation. The main difference between outside air and inside air is that outside wind pushes air around. Therefore, if air were circulated indoors, the brain would work more intelligently and efficiently than in a stifling conference room.
After going through the Times I like the steps their taking on Earth problems. Even though the New York Times isn’t my go to news network, I appreciate that someone is bringing awareness to Earth problems, especially a huge news network like The New York TImes. One article in particular is, “Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an ‘Unprecedented’ Pace.” This brings awareness that humans will bring themselves to extinction, with factors like littering, pollution, and climate change, contributing to it.
Personally, I always love reading reviews by the Wirecutter, a subdivision of the New York Times that picks their favorite of a certain type of item and reviews why it is the best. As a major tech geek, I always am looking to save money but also get the best deal. Wirecutter helps me a lot, as I am trying to somewhat renovate our old house to be new and SMART. I love smart home devices, and Wirecutter basically gives me a list of the best smart home devices, why they picked it, how they picked it, the competition, and lots of other helpful things. One of my favorite articles is “The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories”, and as a hardcore Switch player, it is very beneficial to me. Wirecutter helps me save money and still get the best for my money. I have used Wirecutter several times, for a mesh WiFi system, best wireless charger, printer, smart home devices, smart locks, and cameras. In conclusion, I love Wirecutter and I think it is very helpful. Wirecutter is helpful for people of ALL ages because anyone wanting to save money and get good stuff can use it.
1
I read the article about the school fire. I thought it was interesting how a man dedicated his career to finding justice, and creating an occupation of one's own the freedom and justice and that is why it represents the american dream.
I read the article on the nudist tour in a museum. The article talks about how cold temperatures makes a person more uncomfortable when naked. Also, the article says that they had expected less people to want to do the tour but thousands of people wanted to do the tour.