Stuff YOU Should Know

Zimbabwe Demonetizes Currency

When the African country Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980 from British rule, its currency had the approximate value of $1.25 US dollars. The economy was strong. In the early 1990s, however, President Robert Mugabe implemented government-sponsored economic programs that ultimately had a devastating effect on the country’s economy. Designed to “correct the injustices of colonialism,” Mugabe’s land reforms distributed land from white landowners to black farmers. But the new owners’ lack of experience (and other factors) led to a drop in food production, falling exports, and an eventual collapse of the economy. By 2008, inflation was out of control.

Prices sometimes doubled every 24 hours over the course of several days. In response, the government printed notes with higher and higher values, including one for 1,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s one hundred trillion dollars) the largest bank note in the history of the world. Today, it’s only worth a few American dollars. (To give you an idea, three eggs cost approximately $100 billion Zimbabwe dollars.)

In 2009, the government stopped printing money altogether, reverting to the South American rand or the US dollar. In an effort to further stabilize the economy, the government has begun the process of “demonetizing” its currency. Zimbabwe’s central bank will offer $5 for every 175 quadrillion. The plan is to make a complete switch by October 1, 2015.

What Do You Think? Some say that the discontinuation of the Zimbabwe currency will make them a collector’s item. How likely do you think this is? Do some research and back up your opinion.

Summer Reading Just For You

There are all kinds of books lists out there. Here is one we compiled just for you:

• Epic Friendships: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Two loners find one another and form a bond.) and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (Four volumes in this series follow the summer lives of four friends who share a “magical” pair of jeans. Yeah . . . that’s right–magic jeans!)
• Epic Love Stories: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Teenage love, punk rock style.) or The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Just a reminder, in case you’ve been living under a rock. But you might also check out Paper Towns, another Green book. Read it before the movie comes out in July.)
• Graphic Novels: Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang (A Chinese boy at the end of the 19^th century organizes a group of fighters to take on bullying soldiers.) or Dogs of War by Shelia Keenan (Featuring four-legged heroes from World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.)
• Nonfiction for the Curious: Why Do We Fight: Conflict, War, and Peace by Niki Walker or Guinness Book of World Records (Issued annually, any year is packed full of interesting tidbits to occupy your attention on a rainy day.)
• Modern Classics: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (A foster girl living in Nazi-era Germany learns to read and then cope with the war by stealing books and sharing them with her community.) or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (An aspiring cartoonist deals with several physical ailments and rebels against the expectations of his heritage).

What Do You Think? What are you reading this summer? Have you read any of the books listed above? If so, which ones? If not, pick one from that appeals to you the most and explain why.

 George Pataki Suspends Candidacy

Over at Election Central, we are bringing you updates of all of the persons who have officially announced their bid for their party’s presidential nomination. Last week, former New York governor George Pataki dropped out of the race due to a family emergency. His son-in-law (30) suffered a life-threatening stroke and is still in intensive care. Pataki’s daughter, Allison, is pregnant and due later this year. The three-term Republican governor was considered a long-shot in the increasingly crowded race for the GOP candidacy. Pataki may be back, but there is no way of knowing when that might be.

All candidates but the one who becomes the nominee ultimately suspend their campaigns. Most are an act of conceding to another candidate in order to strengthen and unite their party. Others drop out of the race due to personal circumstances. In 2012, Rick Santorum suspended his campaign when his daughter Bella (who has Trisomy 18, a serious genetic condition that requires constant care) became ill with pneumonia. While news has surfaced that she has fallen sick again, Santorum continues his quest for the 2016 Republican nomination.

Dig Deeper If you haven’t done so already, make a chart of all of the candidates for the 2016 presidential campaign. Make sure it has a column for when and why each drops out of the race. Do some continued research on how each drop out affects the race going forward.

You Really Need to Drink More Water (Really!)

The fact that water is good for you is not surprising news. The fact that most people (and especially teens) don’t get nearly enough of it in their bodies is also not hot news. But because it’s an important issue, researchers continue to determine who’s drinking what and how much they are actually drinking. Researchers at Harvard University recently studied data from a National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey and published their results in a recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

As you probably know, our bodies are made up of about 60-75 percent water. When the amount expelled (through urination and sweat) is greater that taken in, it can lead to dehydration. This can make you feel lethargic, have dry skin, and can affect both your physical and mental performance. The good news is that treating and preventing dehydration is simple (especially in this country). The recommended amount of water for teens is around 3 quarts a day (about 32 ounces). Boys need more than girls. This can come from fruits and watery foods like soup as well as plain water. Replacing sugary drinks with at least some water can help.

What Do You Think? Do you drink enough water? If yes, how do you make sure you are properly hydrated? If not, what is a reasonable (and realistic) way for you to increase your consumption?