Stuff YOU Should Know
Oscar Night!
© Ingram Publishing / Fototsearch; Every year in March the Academy Awards are given to last year’s best films. Who were the big winners this year?
Even if you didn’t watch the 86th Annual Academy Awards, you likely saw this picture by host Ellen Degeneres as it made its rounds across the Internet’s social media. Gravity, a science fiction drama about two astronauts stranded in space, won the most awards (many of them technical) with seven. The historical drama 12 Years a Slave, based on the true story of free black man who had been kidnapped and sold into enslavement, won three statues, including the night’s top Best Picture honor. Hosting for the second time, Degeneres spent a much of the broadcast roaming the Kodak Auditorium and interacting with the audience. At one point she even passed out pizza in the crowd of actors and film celebrities.
With the increase in both pre-Oscar press coverage and campaigns on behalf of nominees, there is very little surprise in recent years in who wins. All four acting awards were won by those favored. The biggest competition going into Sunday night’s telecast was the award for Best Picture, thought to be a three-way tie between 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and American Hustle. The latter, having racked up to most nominations of the year (a total of ten), went home empty-handed.
Dig Deeper Pick the year you were born and do some research on who took home Oscars at the ceremony that year. What names do you recognize? Who was the host? What were the highs and lows of that evening?
Discrimination Politics Flare in Arizona
Last month, Arizona state legislators passed Senate Bill 1062, which would allow businesses the right to refuse service to persons based on the religious beliefs of its owners. The bill was ultimately vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer, but the issue has sparked a great deal of debate across the nation.
Those who supported the legislation believe that the law was intended as a way to protect the rights of those who live and work in accordance to their religious beliefs. Those in opposition fear that such laws will open the door to discrimination . Governor Brewer said she vetoed the bill because the legislation’s broad wording might have negative consequences. It has been predicted that there are not enough votes in the Arizona legislature to override the veto.
Dig Deeper Investigate more about this current events controversy and poll your classmates to see how they feel about this topic.
Gold Rush-Era Coins Found
You may have found coins while out on a walk at some point. Maybe a dime here or a penny there. A Northern California couple came across $10 million dollars, buried under a tree on their property, while they were walking their dog. The stash of 1,427 mint-condition coins had a face-value adding up to $28,000. Experts valued many of the pieces at nearly $1 million a piece because of their rare quality. The couple intend to sell the coins to collectors. But first, they are allowing the treasure to be displayed at the upcoming National Money Show in Atlanta, Georgia.
The area where the coins were found is nicknamed Gold Country. It is located in northeastern California, where settlers flocked in the mid 1800s in search of gold. (A huge influx of gold-seekers came to California during the 1849 Gold Rush. It is from this event that the San Francisco 49ers football team gets its name.) Today, the area is a draw for tourists who wish to learn about or relive the glories of the Gold Rush. Guests can explore museums dedicated to artifacts of the era, or go hands-on in mining for gold themselves.
What Do You Think? Do you or anyone you know collect coins? If so, what is the most valuable piece? What would you do if you found something valuable on your property?
Bitcoin Exchange Loses Millions
Speaking of currency, last year, btw brought you a story on a new kind of currency, the Bitcoin. These pieces of computer code represent monetary units. This new currency has grown in popularity over the past few years. A big appeal for many regarding the Bitcoin is that it is “decentralized,” meaning it can be exchanged between two parties without regulation from a financial institution. Transactions are made online through Bitcoin exchanges–companies that specialize in the trade of digital currency.
Last month one of the world’s most popular Bitcoin exchanges, Mt. Gox (headquartered in Tokoyo, Japan) filed for bankruptcy. Nearly $460 million in digital currency went missing, reportedly stolen by computer hackers. Critics believe the event is a result of poor management by CEO Mark Karpeles. Karpeles is criticized for having considerably more technical knowledge than business experience. The company had been previously hacked back in 2011, losing roughly $8.75 million. Mt. Gox has faced a number of issues in the three years in existence. Despite this setback, the global Bitcoin market is valued at about $7 billion.