What do you think was the most influential event on the world or national stage during the year of your birth? Why did you choose it?

In China, transportation is all about ingenuity and determination!

This map highlights Fujian Province, bordering the Pacific in southeast China, where one can find Yellow Stone, Putien and the Dongjing River.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian

Jeffrey McDaniel’s poem “A Quiet World” posits an existence where speech is measured one precious word at a time.  

How would you spend your 167 words on a typical day?  

Who would you save for and what would you say?

What Chinese words can you make out?  (Don’t worry about spelling.)  What do they mean?  (This clip is 5:28.)

Author Da Chen visited Schenectady High School 10th graders last week.  Read the article here.

 http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/Schenectady_High_School/dachen.apr08.htm.

If you haven’t already responded to the question at Great Leap Backward, scroll down there now.

Review your colleagues’ ideas and express your own.  You may post more than once, but everyone must post at least once for credit.

For discussion here:  What do you think of being able to see each other’s responses? How does it affect the response you choose to make?  

Ben was first to successfully log in 7 correct answers on the “Sponge Bob in China” video. 祝贺, Ben!

Also posting 7 correct: Omar, Valerie, Kayla, Mike, Brooke and Brandon.

Common error: On Sunday the calendar says “Back to Work” but the question asks for Saturday’s task–”Don’t Have Baby,” a reference to China’s one-child per family policy for population control.

Chinese Google is not the open web version we’re used to, but one that is censored by the Chinese government.  Blacklisted (remember that word from The Crucible and McCarthyism?) words and non-Chinese site searches are blocked with this message: In accordance with local laws, regulations and policies, part of the search result is not shown.  哥哥觀看你  (Big Brother is watching you!)

Grab some headphones, watch the video and be the first to answer all 7 questions correctly–

1. Who is the attractive man wearing the patch?

2. What does Comrade Sponge Bob love to wash?

3. Episode 4 is called:

4. What does SB’s calendar note for Saturday?

5. Where does SB look for information?

6. Retailer mentioned by Sponge Bob:

7. What does Patrick think he has—until the Thought Police arrive?

Read the book review of Hungry Ghosts: Mao’s Secret Famine by Jasper Becker on the library pathfinder for Colors of the Mountain or on hard copy.  Complete the pink fact review sheet.

Then–Respond in Comment Section below: Why do you think the Chinese government kept the famine a secret, refused foreign aid and continued to export grain while millions died?