Update on Jackson Homicide Ruling

Since we held our class debate on Michael Jackson's homicide, there have been no new announcements in the case.

However, it's rumored that the official investigation results about his death will be presented in early to mid October, report several entertainment-news sources.

The results will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney in "three to four weeks," reported the Hollywood Gossip on September 16. And Dr. Murray's professional conduct appears to be drawing scrutiny, the Gossip adds:

The bulk of the investigation is completed, and Michael Jackson's personal doctor at the time of his death June 25 remains the singular target, sources say.

LAPD detectives have requested opinions from several medical experts who will analyze the evidence and offer their opinions on Dr. Conrad Murray's conduct.

Several glaring inconsistencies and suspect findings regarding Murray's actions on the above date have police pondering what to believe and how to respond.

Read the complete article here.

Likewise, we found Dr. Murray's behaviors puzzling.

As Group 3's research showed, the first things to do when someone stops breathing are (1) check breathing; (2) call 911; (3) administer CPR. However, Dr. Murray first gave CPR and only called 911 one hour and 21 minutes after he says he observed that Jackson had stopped breathing.

A Film about Climate Change and Food Scarcity: Soylent Green

Soylent Green (1973) is a classic science-fiction film starring Charleton Heston and Edward G. Robinson. It's set in New York City in 2022, after the world's climate has collapsed due to global warming and most of the world's plant life has died. People survive by eating a processed food product called Soylent Green. But just what is it made of, some curious people begin to wonder? And why do the people who know the secret want to die or end up being murdered?

We will be watching scenes from Soylent Green in class, and students will be required to view the entire film over the coming weekend. It's available at Polvos Azules (under the title Cuando El Destino Nos Alcance), as well as online at Google Video.

Click here to see the film online, without English or Spanish subtitles.

I'll be handing out a Student Viewing Guide tomorrow.

Will Peruvian Potatoes Help Save the World?

After last Thursday's discussion about Super Size Me and the connection between obesity and nonfresh foods, our class came to an important agreement: Peruvians don't eat that often at fast food places like McDonald's because they prefer fresh foods prepared from scratch.

It was a refreshing change of pace for me, a U.S. citizen, to stand in front of a roomful of college students and hear many give the thumbs up to choclo and boiled potatoes, and a thumbs down to greasy french fries. Thank god young Peruvians have healthy eating habits.

It turns out that Peruvians' love of good food isn't just beneficial for them; it may be the key to safeguarding our planet's future food supplies.

The amazing variety of non-GMO (non genetically modified) potatoes that farmers have cultivated in the Andes for thousands of years are being applauded by scientists, reports CNN.

Andean potatoes can grow at different altitudes and in different temperatures, depending on the type. This diversity makes Peruvian potatotes ideal for coping with the shifts of climate change, which are intensifying throughout the world.

Read here about how Peru's farmers are being paid to nuture their special potatoes and how they may someday feed the world.

It's part of an effort by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, whose website explains how the group is helping to preserve and promote agricultural diversity around the word. A video on the group's homepage shows farmers in the Andes working with different potato crops and talking about climate change.

Vocabulary & Grammar to Describe an Image

Your mid-term project for the Conversation Class is to present on one of your favorite English-language films, using a PowerPoint or other visual aids (Sept. 29 and Oct. 1).

One of the required elements in the presentation is that you discuss a film still from one of your favorite scenes in the movie.

Here's a link to a PowerPoint that I made on "Vocabulary & Grammar to Describe an Image."

Bring to class on Tuesday a favorite image (a family photo, an image from a movie, something funny) to discuss with a partner. We will review the PowerPoint on Tuesday and practice using these terms to talk about your image.

Click here for last Thursday's handout on the mid-term oral presentation.

Thinking about "Super Size Me"

Here are some of the questions we'll be discussing on Thursday about the documentary Super Size Me:

1. In America, some people are suing fast food restaurants. Where does personal responsibility start and corporate responsibility stop? Is it fair to point the finger at McDonalds?

2. What are some of the ways that corporations lure in customers to fast-food restaurants? What do consumers value? Why do they super-size? Are they really adding value for their money?

3. Is healthy eating just a matter of good education? What are the factors that influence your food choices? Taste? Money? Having a restaurant nearby? Having someone cook for you at home?

4. Is it fair to confront fat people for how they eat? What about thin people like Don Gorske who are “super heavy users” of fast food? Is it the shape you are that makes you healthy or unhealthy? Or is it what you do (how you eat and how much activity you get) that matters?

5. How much influence do you think the media has on the way you think you should look? How much influence does the media have on the food choices you make?

6. Are Peruvians heavier than they used to be? Why or why not?

7. What influence does McDonald’s have in Peru? Is it very popular? Does it influence our diet?

Super Size Me

This week, the Conversation Class is discussing fast food, nutrition and Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary Super Size Me (Engordame in Spanish).

Here's a plot summary from the Internet Movie Database:

Why are Americans so fat? Two words: fast food. What would happen if you ate nothing but fast food for an entire month? Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock does just that and embarks on the most perilous journey of his life. The rules? For 30 days he can't eat or drink anything that isn't on McDonald's menu; he must wolf three squares a day; he must consume everything on the menu at least once and supersize his meal if asked.

Spurlock treks across the country interviewing a host of experts on fast food and an equal number of regular folk while chowing down at the Golden Arches. Spurlock's grueling drive-through diet spirals him into a physical and emotional metamorphosis that will make you think twice about picking up another Big Mac.

We will watch part of the film in class. Click here to view Super Size Me online through Google Videos.

Last Thursday's Class

We had an interesting class debate last Thursday (9/3) about the Michael Jackson homicide ruling and whether Dr. Conrad Murray should be charged with manslaughter, murder or no crime at all.

Those who felt he should be convicted of commiting a crime argued the "pro" position; those against were "con." Students faced off, two at a time, at the front of the class and argued their position for two minutes each while a monitor kept track of the time.

At the beginning of class, 10 out of 12 students were firmly in the "pro" camp. Giselle, Tricia, Fiorella, Denisse, Edu and Magali were among those who felt that Dr. Murray deserves to go to jail for involuntary manslaughter.

Dr. Murray's culpable errors include not calling 911 immediately when he found Jackson dead; administering Propofol outside of a hospital; and mixing Propofol with bennies and other sedatives. Those acts directly caused Jackson's death even if the doctor did not intend to murder the singer, the "pro" side argued.

Claudia was the first to argue for the defense. Michael Jackson is the only person to blame for his death, she argued. Claudio mentioned Jackson's long history of drug abuse and his ties with multiple doctors who supplied him with prescription drugs. Even if Dr. Murray had refused to give Jackson Propofol that night, said the defense, Jackson would have found some way or another to get it. And Dr. Murray did not administer Propofol in amounts over the legal limit, she added. Jackson's death is not attributable to anything that Murray directly did.

The debate turned a corner when Francisco decided to argue that Jackson's death was murder -- planned by someone other than Murray. Murray was used as the "fall guy" for the plot, Francisco said, a sure-fire way to divert attention from the behind-the-scenes murderers since it is very hard to convict a doctor of "grossly criminal negligence." At the most, Murray would be sentenced to a few years in prison -- and then be released to enjoy some of the spoils snagged by beneficiaries of the estate.

Various members of the class shot down Francisco's argument, noting that it was all speculation. But the doubts had been raised, and we all began to wonder if there wasn't something to the idea that greed had engineered Jackson's homicide.

Was it so far-fetched to imagine a murder plot being carried out?