Text: Extract from “Young Japan priests try to breathe life into fading Buddhism.” Religious News Service. “TOKYO (AP) — Buddhism suffers from a gloomy image in Japan. It is so closely linked to death — funerals, graves and memorial rituals in which priests chant sutras based on Chinese rendering of Sanskrit Read more…
Ishigaki Rin’s poem “Gake (Cliff)” in translation: The focus of May 2021 TOK Essay Prescribed Title #3 RLE is labels and this poem is a good match. Consider all of the ways that labels are applied to types of art, types of artistic technique, to events in history, and see Read more…
Text: “Mycorrhizal Networks.” UBC Botanical Garden. “[Fungal networks] have recently been discovered by Professor Suzanne Simard and her graduate students to connect the roots of trees and facilitate the sharing of resources in Douglas-fir forests of interior British Columbia, thereby bolstering their resilience against disturbance or stress and facilitating the Read more…
The “poets” in this RLE are actually computer programmers. They created software programs that contained language-based rules based on what they had seen in poetry. The computer programs created new poems based on these language rules. Robert Gaskin’s poem “HAIKU ARE LIKE TROLLIES”: Wandering in mist Reaching out to soft Read more…
Article: “Homosexual Activity Among Animals Stirs Debate.” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2004/07/homosexual-animals-debate/ There is a large body of scientific research discussed in this National Geographic article about homosexuality behavior among animals. While this animal behavior is well-documented in the scientific community, some people interpret it in different ways. Supporters of LGBT rights may use the Read more…
Text extract from: “Trump Covid President downplays virus on leaving hospital.” BBC. “US President Donald Trump has made a dramatic return to the White House to continue his treatment for coronavirus after a three-night hospital stay. The president removed his mask on the balcony of the White House, where several Read more…
Article : “The nacho Dorito” https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/10/01/dining/nacho-graphic.html The New York Times article explains how consumers are manipulated by the design of Doritos. Specifically, multiple elements of the chips are created to be physically and psychologically appealing which increases consumption. Naturally, consumption of junk food is not good for one’s health. May Read more…
Text extract: Japan Today “Gov’t sued over disclosure of Abenomask unit price, order numbers.” Note: The “Abenomask” program was created by former Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe. “A law professor sued the government Monday demanding it reveal the unit price of washable cloth masks, dubbed Abenomasks, that were distributed for free to Read more…
Text: Breen, Steve. “Katherine Johnson, Nasa Legend. ” The San Diego Union-tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/steve-breen/story/2020-02-24/katherine-johnson-nasa-mathematician-dies-at-101. Steve Breen, The San Diego Union-tribune https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/steve-breen/story/2020-02-24/katherine-johnson-nasa-mathematician-dies-at-101 There are a. number of different aspect of labels in this RLE and the wider area of space missions and gender in mathematics and the sciences: The editorial cartoon labelled Read more…
Article : “Masked artist makes sticky issue out of radiation in Japan” “Known as 281 Antinuke, Japan’s answer to Banksy has covered Tokyo streets in images depicting politicians as vampires and children being shielded from radioactive rain to highlight the consequences of a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant after Read more…