The 2015 PBS documentary The PIlgrims takes a look at some of our preconceived ideas about the United States’ earliest settlers. NPR takes a look.
Author Archives: Anita Hacker
Greenpeace faults many tech giants for environment impact
An October 2017 report by Greenpeace, an environmental group, rated the environmental impact of several tech companies. Many of them did not rate well.
How Praise Became a Consolation Prize
Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck discusses the latest version of her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, in which she futher explains the concept of growth mindset.
Patience Agbabi: Chaucer remixed
Poet Patience Agbabi re-writes Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with characters from modern-day England.
What Animals Taught Me About Being Human
Helen Macdonald, author of the best-selling memoir H is for Hawk, wonders about the desires and needs of animals. She suggests we can only imagine what they can be through our own lens of human experience.
Another Obama Decision Reversed? Now It’s About Food Safety.
This article documents the current disputes about the safety of workers in the meat processing and meat packing industry.
Did John Deere’s Best Invention Spark a Revolution or an Environmental Disaster?
This article examines the complexities of farming technology and its environmental impact since the invention of John Deere’s steel plow in 1833.
American history unfolds in ‘Assassin’s Creed 3’
Game-makers researched the events and settings of the 1700s to immerse players in the history of the American Revolution, the setting of Assassin’s Creed 3.
Mind Ablaze
Critic Jayne Anne Phillips outlines Stephen Crane’s life as she reviews Stephen Crane: A Life of Fire, a 2014 biography of the American author written by Paul Sorrentino.
Stock Market Crash of 1929
Learn about what led to the crash of the stock market in 1929 and the resulting effects.
3 Reasons Why Chinese Workers Were the MVP’s on the Transcontinental Railroad
Chinese immigrants made significant contributions to the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Completed in 1869, their work went largely unrecognized at the time.
Gandhi: Surprising Facts on His Life and How His Legacy Lives on Today
Read this article and watch the video to learn about the life of Mohandas Gandhi, whose method of peaceful resistance continues to inspire activists today.
When Girls Studied Planets and the Skies Had No Limits
In the early 1800s, astronomy was seen as a feminine hobby. As it became professionalized, women started to become sidlined. Scientists like Maria Mitchell fought for women’s place in the field.
L.A. County formally replaces Columbus Day
Acknowledging the role European settlement in the Americas had on native people, the city of Los Angeles renamed the holiday to commemorate Christopher Columbus as “Indigenous Peoples Day.”
Are we raising a generation of nature-phobic kids?
James Campbell, author of Braving It: A Father, A Daughter, and an Unforgettable Journey into the Alaskan Wild, discusses scientific research that shows children have become more afraid of being outside and argues that parents should take their kids out into nature.
Measuring Success in the Game of Life
Po Chi Wu, a professor of entrepeneurship and innovation at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, asks how to define success and whether that definition requires people to compare themselves to others.
Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness
The Mayo Clinic offers tips on forgiving those who hurt us and explains why it’s important to do so.
5 wild risks taken by top entrepreneurs
These risks taken by famous business leaders led to big rewards.
PRO AND CON: Should Confederate monuments be removed?
Read two differing arguments about whether Confederate statues should be removed from public places. Remember to analyze the authors’ reasoning and supporting evidence.
Education Innovation in the Slums
In this video, education researcher Charles Leadbeater argues that more disruptive innovation and informal settings will improve the aging education system in both developed and deveoping nations.