Student "Athletes"

Every once in awhile you hear a groundswell of people calling for a change in the way the NCAA does business. Coaches, AD's and many others make millions while the student "athletes" down on the field/court get nada.

Check out this Frontline video for some interesting insight into both sides of the argument and then share it with your class. A great deal of discussion about labor costs (or lack of labor costs) mixed in there.

Looking for some follow up? Maybe a little outside reading to supplement the video? Look here and here for the "just pay them already" side of things. Look here and here for the "the system is just fine (kind of)" side of things.

Look at Our Debt

Teachers....looking for a great "hook" to get the kids interested right out of the gate? Of course you are. Pull up this website during the first two minutes of the new semester and enjoy the great discussion that will be sure to follow.

Don't freak out about the looming debt crisis....use it as an incredibly timely teachable moment.

The Tallest Guys in the Unemployment Line

An interesting tidbit coming out of the NBA lockout. Will the locked out NBA players be able to file for unemployment checks? If so, will they get them?

I can see the scene now....

NBA player: Uh, yeah, I'm here to sign up for unemployment.
Unemployment office worker: How long have you been out of work sir?
NBA player: Since June.
Unemployment office worker: How much were you making in your previous job?
NBA player: $18 million a year.
Unemployment office worker: Have you been actively seeking employment in the last six weeks?
NBA player: Uh, I did apply at the Burger Barn but the manager said I was overqualified.

And then there is this offer from KFC.

American Chopstick

Who says all the jobs are heading to China? Years from now will we be making China's cheap plastic toys and t-shirts?

A Korean in Americus, Georgia making chopsticks for China. If that isn't globalization I don't know what is.

The story.........here.