[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

How did you switch your views to see how the news would appear to someone in a different country?  Is there a different search engine you can use?

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

I don't have anything to add to your remarks, but if there was a "like" option, I would click it to say, "Thanks for sharing!"

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

When the subject of North Korea and the lack of lights in the satellite image came up, I thought of a TED Talk given by a girl telling her story of growing up witnessing public executions and families starving to death, of people dying or risking their lives to escape.  It's unsettling and heartbreaking.

See https://www.ted.com/talks/hyeonseo_lee_my_escape_from_north_korea?language=en

I've never personally met anyone who lived in North Korea.  Does anyone know more about this?

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

Following yesterday's session, I was conversing with my daughter and her boyfriend, both of whom are college students.  Since she traveled to Hong Kong and China in January on a field trip for the international business program she's taking, we've had a number of conversations about her impressions of the culture of both places.  (Obviously, she only had a tiny taste during her brief visit.)  The boyfriend is more in touch with current events and global issues than she or I are, so he always has opinions to contribute.  A couple things we discussed were the U.S./N. Korea nuclear negotiations (disappointing), China's practice of expanding their territory by building islands and claiming them, and a rating system (in China, not Hong Kong yet) in which vital statistics pertaining to individuals - like a credit score but far more comprehensive - is being implemented.  She didn't have a lot of information about it, but I am now being made to watch an episode of a show called The Black Mirror on Netflix.  Here is a description: "The episode is set in a world where people can rate each other from one to five stars for every interaction they have, which can impact their socioeconomic status. Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) is a young woman overly obsessed with her ratings; she finds an opportunity to elevate her ratings greatly and move into a more luxurious residence after being chosen by her popular childhood friend (Alice Eve) as the maid of honour for her wedding. Her obsession leads to several mishaps on her journey to the wedding that culminate in a rapid reduction in her ratings."  Scary stuff!  Has anyone heard about this sort of thing happening in Asia (or anywhere else)?

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

Hi Christine, I appreciate your input on meeting the needs of special students.  Good to meet you today; I'll follow up on the referral to your colleague at Willenberg and let you know how that goes.  Have a good rest of your weekend!

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

This article makes the interesting statement that Asia, as a whole, is second to the continent of Africa in the number of "absolutely poor" people.  It doesn't qualify which countries are highest in poverty levels (I would guess India, Cambodia, and North Korea would be worse than China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, but it doesn't say).  And apparently the aging population in Asia due to reproduction rates less than 2.1 is linked to the poverty.  It is described as "getting old before getting rich."  If increasing the birth rate improves the Asian economy, that is an interesting new goal.  Hopefully the Asian countries will find a balance, because their national health affects the rest of the world in today's global economy!

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

Of the teachers who have introduced themselves so far, I think you may be the closest (geographically) to me.  I teach in Wilmington.  Meet you tomorrow, I think I could benefit from being around your youthful energy!

=)Brenda-Jean

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

Sorry to be so late to chime in, it's been a long day...

I look forward to meeting everyone, seems like people will be coming from many different directions.  I've taught for LAUSD (south area) for 16 years, mainly first grade, but most recently 6th.  I admire anyone who could teach a combo class and remain sane!  I hope your ability to multi-task might rub off on me.  Being an expert in multiple fields has always been a challenge.

Besides teaching, I enjoy bicycling, scuba diving, and ballroom dancing.  I am very proud of my daughter, who attends FIDM in DTLA.  I have never been to Asia, but have family members who lived in China, the Philippines, and New Zealand.

That's the nutshell version of who I am.  See you tomorrow!

=)Brenda-Jean

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