Hakitzu: the app teaching kids to code

This video is about an app that was created by London games studio Kuato. This app called Hakitzu enables children to learn the basics of programming language Java script, in a fun and playful way so that the children would not get bored. The people behind this creation are developers, animators and most importantly teachers. The game is that 11 to 14 year olds have to defeat their opponents by typing the correct words. If they defeat their opponents that means they learned to decode. The creators carefully used a lot of graphics that gets the attention of the children and made the game challenging and ambitious.

What I thought was really cool was that they used teachers to help create thus app. The best people to know what children likes and how to learn are teachers. Honestly, I am not that fond with technology gadgets. However,  I have researched this app and it was surely really fun to play with. Even I learned a lot from it. The game teaches you a lot of things and even though it is for children from 11 to 14 I think that adults can really learn from it as well. Nevertheless, you learn to analyze and use strategies to accomplish your goal.

Bibliography:

Cawley, S and Boyd, P(2 may 2013) the guardian, Hakitzu: the app teaching kids to code. Retrieved from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/video/2013/may/02/hakitzu-app-teaching-kids-code-video

Only half of thugs convicted of knife offence are jailed

The article is about how ministers promised that if anyone over 16 committed an offence with a knife would get custody. But the reality is, that only half of the people who committed these crimes, are being convicted. Many agree that even though there is a law that prohibits and incarcerates people for misusing a knife or a blade, there is a lot of people walking the streets  who actually should be locked up. Moreover, the author is of opinion that anyone who possesses a knife or a blade, should be taking in immediately. The Ministry of Justice is doing all in his power to assure the safety of the citizens.

I think that the age of 16 and over is way too old to convict people who misuse a knife. My question is what happens if a child 16 and under vomit a crime with a knife or blade? Children nowadays grow up faster than back then, therefore are more mature and may engage in illegal activities younger than the age of 16. The government should introduce a law that punishes children of 16 and under and their parents. Parents should at least try to educate their children in a proper way so they would not end up on the streets and engage in illegal activities which may harm people’s lives.

Bibliography:

Wilson, G( 7 June 2013) the sun, Only half of thugs convicted of knife offence are jailed. Retrieved from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4958977/knife-attackers-escape-jail.html

A criminal in Poland but let in by the EU to kill our Catherine

A polish factory worker who was a convict, was convicted of murdering his wife Catherine Wells-Burr by torching her in her own car. The victim’s family is trying to wake up the country to make back-up checks on all foreigners before entering the UK. He had a serious criminal record but was still allowed to enter the UK. The man had a family with Catharine and had put a €123,000 life insurance policy. He, a former lover and the former lover’s uncle are going to be on trial Monday. The family wants to wake up the government of the dangers of letting people with criminal records in their country.

I must admit that this is a heartless and cruel crime but to check every immigrant to say they are not allow to enter a country. It does not matter whether or not you foreign. To make a country change their law because of an act is just ridiculous. What about the people who live in the country who are murderers? do we have the right to take their rights of living in any country. The EU was built to make people live all over Europe with ease and have a chance in life. If we hold everyone on account of their past actions then people have no right to better their future.

bibliography:

Royston, J(8 June 2013) the sun, A criminal in Poland but let in by the EU to kill our Catherine. Retrieved from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4960476/Catherine-Wells-Burr-family-hit-out-at-immigration-rules.html

 

 

 

How to cut the cost of your holiday

In this video Guardian money editor Mr. Patrick Collinson gives different tips on how to save money during your vacation. One of the main tips is not to cash out money at the airport nor at a hotel because you lose a lot of money by doing so. In addition, he recommends not getting a travel insurance if you are visiting a country within the European Union, only if you are visiting the U.S. And he gives advices on which sites to visit to obtain affordable and trustworthy deals on travel destinations. Furthermore, he suggests to turn off the roaming of your mobile phone to prevent expensive bills.

This video was very informational for me because I like to travel a lot. I have been to different places in the world and it cost me a lot of money especially my mobile phone. Mr. Collinson suggested different sites that can be used to obtain affordable prices that I have never heard of before. The main tip that he gave that I thought was very useful was the site where you can register for around 70 pounds and you can exchange houses around the world for free. I really liked his tips and I am certainly going to make use of them.

 

Bibliography:

Collison, P(23 April 2013) the guardian. How to cut the cost of your holiday. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-22365898

 

 

Thomson holidays refuses blind friends flights

Two blind friends were denied traveling to Majorca because they did not meet the safety requirements of the aircraft. Before buying the airplane tickets they have checked with a Thomson assistant if they can fly without assistance. The response that they received was that they do not have to be concerned about anything because from the moment they board the plane till landing, there will be a team ready to guide them during the flight. The only way they could fly was if they are assisted by a sighted person. Without this requirement they have to cancel their holiday.

I understand that everybody needs to meet the requirements for flying, not only for their own safety but for others as well. Still, I think that the airline had no rights of banning these two blind people to fly. Firstly, because they had agreed that they could fly even though they were blind and secondly because these people were embarrassed in front of the other passengers because they had to leave the airplane. The most absurd of all was the two options the airline gave to these people. Either they cancel their holiday or fly with a sighted person.  

Bibliography:

( 1 May 2013), BBC news, Thomson Holiday refuses blind friend flights. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-22365898

 

 

 

You’re filming for fun? I don’t believe you

The video is about an Italian student who was filming buildings in the city of London. While she was filming the UK police stopped her to inquire what she was filming. The police stopped her because they thought she was linked to terrorism. The police interrogated her many times but after a while she responded that she was an art student. The police got vexed and came with four police officers and arrested her. The student’s declared that she was thrown on the ground and was brutally treated and got a fine of 80 pounds because she caused public distress.

I do not think the police should of acted the way they acted but at the beginning of the video the police asked politely why she was filming and she responded in my opinion very rude. The police has a job and that is to ensure public safety and that is why they enquired about her filming. I do understand because nowadays there is a lot of terrorism attack and it is better to be safe than to be sorry.  However, the way that the police handcuffed her and mistreated her was absolutely out of place and she should of issue a complaint against the police.

 

Bibliography:

Lewis, Paul(15 december 2012), the guardian, you’re filming for fun? I don’t believe you. Retrieved from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/dec/15/police-terrorism

 

 

sex education must be more than plastic penises and condoms

Providing sex education for 15 year old students is far too late. This is the expression of a 20 year old student. She says that students at the age of 15 already know how to use condoms and get bored when they get sex education at schools. She argues that the government should start to introduce programs which helps teenagers with practical guidance such as where to buy tampons and what to do if a condom breaks. Nevertheless, sex education should start at an earlier age because teenagers already know far more than how to put a condom.

I totally agree with this student. From where I come from we do not even get sexual education and it is a necessity if I look at the high percentage rate of teenage pregnancy. Young people need to not only know how to use a condom but need social and psychological guidance as well. Teenagers go through different physical changes during their teen years and can be very confusing to them, therefore need all the guidance and help through this critical period of their lives. Schools should provide sexual education at an earlier age. It is better to prevent then to regret.

Bibliography:

Sholl,A (26 April 2013), the telegraph, sex education should be more than plastic penises and condoms. Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/10015945/Sex-education-must-be-more-than-plastic-penises-and-condoms.html

   

 

 

Government forces stay-at-home mums to abandon children, says campaigners

 

Mothers at Home organization is against of introducing the Budget legislation which forces stay-at-home mothers to find a job and to depart of their children. This organization expresses their  towards this policy because children need the love and tender care of at least one parent. And this policy is strongly creating an obstacle between mothers and their children. Mothers feel that they are being discriminated because they are not taken seriously. The concerning ministers expressed that stay-at-home mothers are not hard working people. After a stay-at-home mother spoke out against this policy, the organization got a lot more supporters.

Children especially infants needs all the love, attention and tender care of at least one of their parents. In their infant years, children learn a lot more then when they grow up. Children learn how to speak, crawl and walk. This process is a very difficult one and therefore needs their parents to guide and help them with this. I am against this policy because being a mother is a lot harder than working a full time job. A mother works 24 hours a day and does not have time for herself. I think the government has to introduce another solution.

Bibliography:

Hall, M( 15 April 2013) the telegraph, government forcing stay at home mums to abandon children. Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9994002/Government-forcing-stay-at-home-mums-to-abandon-children-say-campaigners.html

 

 

Schools should be fined for illegally excluding pupils, inquiry finds

The video is about a 15 year old boy that was illegally excluded from going to school. When he was sick he missed a lot of school which made his grades go down. Because of this his school recommended that he start at a new school. This program is called manage move and it offers students who missed out on a lot of classes a second chance at learning without having a permanent exclusion on their records. But his mother did not gave up and finally after a rigorous battle she found a school to register her son.

This video actually caught me of guard because I never thought that in England students are illegally excluded from school without valuable reasons. I think it is unacceptable to exclude students from school because then they are going to develop a gap in their education and will more likely end up on streets. These students will have a lot of free time and will look ways to entertain themselves by doing either wrong and hopefully good things. Idle hands are the devil’s playground. Moreover, criminals will take advantage of these children by misusing them by forcing them to engage in illegal activities.

Bibliography:

Shepherd, J(24 April 2013). The guardian. Schools should be fined for illegally exploiting students. Retrieved from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/apr/24/schools-illegally-excluding-pupils-inquiry

   

 

 

 

 

Pornography is everywhere, and I think it’s changing how we feel about sex

This article is about companies that advertises its products by using names of women’s private parts so that it can attract more customers. The author argues that these kinds of advertisements are offensive towards women and harmful to children. Furthermore, porn is easily available on the internet, therefore without a doubt accessed for children, especially boys. This can lead up to boys not having any the respect for their mothers, sisters nor their girlfriends. Moreover, sex is something you can get anywhere, it does not have no value any more. As a result, love does not have any meaning anymore.

My believe is that pornography should be available for people that have needs and cannot find a suitable partner. This may reduce the amount of sexual abusers and molesters. Nevertheless, pornography may have a great influence on boys but on girls as well. During the process of puberty, a child’s body goes through different physical changes which can cause a lot of confusion to a child. Children grow up learning that sex does not have any value. Girls may develop a low self-esteem because they want to become like the porn girls and boys will not have respect for woman.

Bibliography:

Frostrup, M(28 April 2013),the guardian, pornography is everywhere. Retrieved from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/28/pornography-everywhere-changing-feelings-sex

   

 

 

 

 

 

Children and apps: Should we fear the INanny?

In this article the author explains about her children’s behavior towards modern gimmicks such as tablets and smartphones. She is worried and blames herself of buying these gadgets for her children because she is also fascinated with these gadgets. However, this mother of three also expresses that these gadgets has its benefits also. One of the benefits is, is that they are very educational. But she states that because of these gadgets her children became strangers to her and her husband. Her children cannot live without these gadgets and she does not know how to gain control over her children’s behavior towards these gadgets.

First of all, I am not a fan of these gadgets because I think these gadgets control peoples’ lives, especially children’s. If it was for me I would do all my assignments the old school way, by hand. I agree that it takes much more time and effort but to me it feels much more original by doing everything by hand and conducting research by books rather than on the Internet. In addition, children will not have the pleasure of playing outside and have social interaction with their parents nor their friends because they are engaged to these gadgets.


Bibliography:

Cook, E(27 April 2013),the guardian. Should we fear the INanny? Retrieved from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/27/children-apps-fear-inanny

  

Latin America 'threatened by rising cancer cases'

Latin America ‘threatened by rising cancer cases’

In Latin America it is feared that the amount of cancer cases will rise. In comparison with America and Europe, the cancer cases in Latin America are far less but the death rate is higher. Researchers states that possible causes of the rising cancer deaths in Latin America may be the poor treatment patients gets and late diagnosis. Latin America’s people want to adapt their living as people of growing countries. They want to  intake more unhealthy foods and smoke. Latin America countries have inadequate equipment and treatments to successfully help their cancer patients. Therefore the rising deaths.

People in general are living unhealthy lives without  being fully aware of what the consequences may be for their near future. Cancer is a worldwide problem and the only way to fight this disease is starting to lead more healthy lives by doing more exercise and eating more healthy foods. These simple steps not only will fight cancer but it will also help fight other diseases and viruses. In Latin America countries it is known that people undergo a lot of plastic surgeries as well and this could develop cancer also.

Bibliography:

(26 April 2013),Latin America threatened by rising cancer cases. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22291576

David and Victoria Beckham 'getting posher', study finds

There is a study conducted on the famous couple, Victoria and David Beckham, on how certain circumstances may have affected their pronunciation of words. Researches have compared the couple’s pronunciation back then and now which concluded that their pronunciation has become more elegant. The hypothesis is that once someone passed puberty, his pronunciation is fixed. However, research shows that even during adulthood a person may improve his speech. Furthermore, there is lot of factors such as social mobility, that can play a big role on how someone pronounce words.

I strongly believe that someone’s pronunciation can change due to circumstances because I have experienced it myself. When I first started attending classes of English I could not pronounce the TH, but after a while of hearing it and practicing with it I can finally say I can dominate it. The strongest motivations why I wanted to be able to dominate the TH are both instrumental and integrative. The Beckham’s motivation is instrumental because they have to adapt their speech to where they live and for the careers they are pursuing. By adapting their pronunciation they sound more upper-class.

Bibliography:

Smith,S.(17april 2013),Newsnight. David and Victoria getting posher, studies say. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22179969

Atkins and the never-ending battle over carbs

The article that I have read is about the never ending battle over carbs.  Dr. Atkins has started the idea that carbs makes you fat and contributes to obesity. Dr. Atkins created the Atkins diet and it was a big hit around the world. More than three million people in the UK had tried this diet.  After years of experiments conducted on this area, medical professionals argues,  that this diet does not help the weight –conscious on a long term. But the fact is, people will do whatever it takes to look thin so that they can feel good.

My opinion is that there are a lot of programs that claim to help in the process of losing weight. However, I believe in order to lose weight, you have to balance your food intake and exercise. Regardless, you should bear in mind that every individual has a different body type and  metabolism. What a lot of people do not know is the fact that fruits and vegetables are carbs as well. Every individual should prior to plan to lose weight, conduct a rigorous research about losing weight. Lastly, losing weight should be taken seriously and not taken for granted.

 

 Bibliography:

Barford,V(17april 2013),BBC news magazine.Atkins and the never –ending battle.Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22145709