Stuff You Should Know
Comic Con!
Do you plan to spend some of your summer vacation reading comics or going to a blockbuster movie starring a classic superhero? How would you like to get together with 130,000 people who make and/or love all things comic-related? Each year, there is a convention of such people that takes place in California. San Diego Comic Con International lasts for four days and is made up of speakers, panels, workshops and exhibits showcasing the latest in comic books, science fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, video games and collectibles.
Established in 1970, the first Comic Con had only 300 people at its first convention. But it is now considered the most influential of all these conventions that occur around the country. Major studios and companies debut their new movies and products to awaiting fans. The buzz (or lack thereof) has enormous influence on the success and sales. This year’s featured guests include writers and artists of many comic books, TV shows, movies, and more.
What Do You Think? Would you like to attend Comic Con? Why or why not? If yes, take a look at the convention’s program schedule and pick five events you would like to attend. If you don’t think you would go, find another conference you would like to attend instead. Share your findings with your family or friends.
Fifty Years of the Equal Pay Act
June 10th marked the 50th anniversary of the day the Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy. The legislation prohibited employers from discriminating on the basis of gender for work that required equal skill, effort and responsibility, and is performed under similar conditions. Fifty years later, while there has been some improvement, activists believe we still have a long way to go. Women still only earn 77 cents to every dollar a man earns.
To mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary, President Obama made remarks at the White House. He paid tribute to Civil and Women’s Rights activist Dorothy Height, Congresswoman Edna Kelly, and Esther Peterson, who was the first lobbyist for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. He reminded the audience that his first major legislation as president was signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. He also created the first-ever White House Council on Women and Girls, working to close the gender-pay gap. Finally, he urged Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.
What Do You Think? Do some research on the Equal Pay Act and see if you can find specific accounts of opposition to the act. What reasons do these critics have for opposing such a bill? Are there people still making the same argument today? Why do you think the Equal Pay Act is so difficult to enforce?
Unrest in Turkey
What started as a protest against government plans to turn a park in Istanbul, Turkey into a tourist attraction and shopping mall escalated into a large-scale opposition to the policies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Only 1.5 percent of Istanbul has dedicated green space, so people gathered on Tuesday May 28 for a peaceful protest that included singing, dancing and speeches. However, armored police showed up and sprayed those gathered with tear gas. In response, protesters grew from an original 50 to more than 10,000 by Thursday night, May 30. At least 939 people were arrested and 79 wounded.
The Turkish government has been criticized by human rights organization Amnesty International for their history of excessive force against its citizens. Now it seems the citizens are airing many long-held grievances, including intimidation of the press, a growth of Islamism within the government, and support of Syrian rebels. They are receiving mixed responses from the government. Some members of the government promised to listen to the citizen’s concerns, while others say they will treat the situation as a plot to overthrow the government and will respond to protesters with the full extent of their powers, including military action.
Dig Deeper–The protests are spreading to other Turkish cities and are being compared to the Arab Spring. Do some research and compare. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Rethinking Adult Dental Visits?
We’ve all been told to visit the dentist twice a year. But are twice-a year visits necessary for adults?
You might notice that your dentist sends you a postcard twice a year reminding your parents to schedule your dental appointment. But a new study published by the Journal of Dental Research suggests that the regularity of dental visits should depend on the needs of each patient. This study suggests that most adults with no high-risk factors for periodontal disease should be fine with only one visit a year. Those with high-risk factors like being a smoker, having diabetes, poor oral hygiene, or carrying a gene called the interleukin-1, however, should probably see their dentist more than twice a year to avoid long-term problems.
The study, co-financed by the company Interleukin Genetics and the National Institutes of Health, investigated the insurance claims of 5117 adults from Michigan. All participants had had teeth extracted. What the researchers found was that there was not a significant difference (5%) between those who had two visits a year and those who had had one. However, the study suggested that those with high-risk factors could have benefited greatly from more than two check-ups a year.
Critics did fault the study for not considering the oral hygiene habits of the participants, but otherwise agreed with its findings. It is important to note that these findings concern adults only. Children should still go to the dentist twice a year (sorry, kids!)