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https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinator 

In this video, Tim Urban, a blogger and the creator of waitbutwhy.com, discusses the realities of procrastination based on his own experience writing papers in college, and he uses this to build an argument about procrastination in humans in general. TED asked Mr. Urban to deliver this talk based on a successful blog post on the same subject that he had written some years prior. That post can be found here: http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Mr. Urban’s argument is that everyone is a procrastinator, and that procrastinating is a way to live your life that can work, although not well, but it does still work. It’s at least partially successful when in situations with deadlines, such as school, but it fails when confronted with situations with no deadlines, such as personal relationships or taking care of your health. He argues that people need to put their lives into perspective and acknowledge their own limited time so that they can, instead of spending their time seeking out instant gratification, they should focus on what’s going to make them happy in the long term. 

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/qatar-world-cup-doha-rejects-amnesty-report-that-says-migrant-abuse-still-rampant-1531528 

The 2022 Word Cup in Qatar has been a constant source of controversy involving human rights. Occasionally topping headlines since first granted the 2022 World Cup, the small Arab nation has struggled to meet the requirements set by FIFA so that fans can have appropriate accommodations while attending the Cup. The Qatari government has repeatedly denied allegations that they are committing human rights violations by forcing migrant workers to work in slavery-like conditions while also preventing them from leaving the country. 

Brendan Cole, the author of this piece, writes to highlight the inhospitable work environment and the human rights violations so the international community can recognize the problem, join together, and intervene in an appropriate way. So far, only humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International have tried to draw attention to the issue, and the Qatari government has denied all allegations. 

1. I would describe the culture of my hometown, Elmhurst, Illinois, as distinctly middle to upper middle class. It is a suburb in the midst of the urban sprawl of Chicago, and this has turned it into a commuter town. The average person leaves their nice suburban home and their perfectly manicured lawn early every morning to catch the train or get in their car and head into the jungle of downtown Chicago for work. Life for most adults centers around work and the daily commute downtown. The average child attends one of the 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, or the only public high school, unless their parents send them to one of the 5 private schools in the town. Life for kids centers around school, summer camps, parks, and the local movie theater. As a resident who attends university far away from the town, my perspective on the place is a little different than the average resident. Leaving Elmhurst and returning once every couple of months highlights the fact that the town never changes; everything seems to be in a state of eternal immobility, no matter how long you are gone. The local museums that are always empty remain open but always empty, the traffic is always the same in the same spots at predictable times every day, the local shops never change, and the behavior of the average person never deviates from the expected. Elmhurst is overall distinctly quiet, predictable, and unhanging. 

2. Surrounded by other similar towns that melt into the sprawl of smaller cities, towns, and villages that make up the urban sprawl, Elmhurst is almost indistinguishable from the other towns that border it. Divided roughly into four sections by major roads that pass through the town, Elmhurst seems to have developed distinct districts within itself. The entire city is arranged in a grid pattern, but major highways intersect this grid and cut the town apart. The northernmost part of town, separated by the largest highway, is distinctly smaller than the other portions, in both land area and average building size. The homes are smaller and there are fewer commercial businesses around. An industrial park lies nearby. The other three sections are all relatively similar to each other in that homes are larger, each has one or two schools where all children go, and parks dot the area. The downtown area of the city is full of small shops other pleasures where people can enjoy a cup of coffee, see a movie, buy some new clothes, or do whatever it is they want to do. On any given day, weather permitting, people are always out and about walking their dogs, taking kids to school or the park, or enjoying the amusements offered in the town’s center. Winter is merciless and cold, and few people go outside unless they have to.

3. The people of the town largely stick to their own little worlds and what they already know. They meet with the same friends, eat the same foods, and do the same activities in their free time that they have always done. They’re ever unchanging, just as the town itself never seems to change. Perhaps the town’s lack of change is a reflection of the residents’ immobility. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-35757541

One of the latest developments in healthcare is also one of the most alarming. The Zika virus, which causes babies to be born with deformed heads, is becoming more and more common in South and Central America. The virus, most commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, is a threat to expecting mothers and their children everywhere these insects can be found, especially since the virus could easily mutate to be carried by other species of mosquito. Last month, the World Health Organization of the UN made a statement that the virus constitutes a global health crisis. New research has emerged that show the virus may be more transmittable through other means, such as sexual transmission, than originally thought.

This article informs readers about the dangers of the Zika virus and the increased chances of infection based on the new information. It argues that this virus is dangerous, threatening to everybody, and that we need to act to stop the spread or to find a vaccine as soon as possible. It is an important venture to prevent many children from growing up with birth defects, if they even survive at all.

Darkness: how ultrarunning can strip away our emotional barriers

This video is a reflection on ultra marathons, examining the reasons why these races are so attractive to so many people, what is gained from suffering through such tremendously difficult endurance events. It was created by wildplans, a trail running and endurance sport equipment/supplement company. It makes references to the growing culture of running in our society, and the small but oddly dedicated and strong subset of ultra marathon runners. The video sends the message that running is exercise, yes, but also that it is so much more than what it appears on the surface. It argues that running is almost an art form, a form of self-expression, and a form of self exploration for all those people who take it seriously, spending hours and hours pounding up and down trails.

2. One thing I’ve been a serious fan of is the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. That obsession manifested from my dad, uncles, and cousins all being huge hockey fans while I was growing up. To this day, my house is full of Blackhawks memorabilia, new and old. I would say that I’m not really a diehard fan, but I still love the team, watching games, and I go to two or three games per year.

3. I think it’s difficult to argue with millennials being called “soft” or “weak”. I look around and I think that many people of my generation have an entitled mentality and expect very specific things from the world. Referencing our discussion about political correctness, I think that is ridiculous and completely out of hand. The world does not owe you the right to not be offended or upset by anything. You owe that to yourself. However, far too many people expect to be handed everything in life, including their own happiness. Every generation faces challenges, but it’s how they respond to them that truly defines them. So far, I haven’t seen much of a solution-oriented response from the most of my fellow millennials, only a complaining attitude that doesn’t really solve anything. Previous generations have all turned to different methods to solve the problems they face, whether they were war, politics, philosophy, religion, etc., all of which have their own pros and cons, but they still solved or at the very least changed the issues at hand. Millennials haven’t stepped up yet, and whether that’s because we haven’t really had the chance or because we’re just soft, I don’t know, but the answer to that question will define the millennial generation.

4. My bedroom at Purdue is pretty basic, with only the essentials and a few decorations. My bed is lofted and has a futon under it. There’s a small refrigerator. I have my desk mostly organized, with a few trinkets on it as well as a picture of my family. I have a County Donegal flag from Ireland and a Purdue Rowing poster hanging on the wall. My bedroom at home is similar, just with more personal items and less functional furniture. I have picture of family and friends on shelves/a bulletin board, items from high school (diploma, awards, team pictures, etc.). I also have a smaller version of the same flag from Ireland at home. I think the similarity of my two rooms says a lot about me. I value my family, friends, and culture. They also show I value being part of a team, as well as the friendships and sense of community gained from those experiences (high school sports, Purdue Rowing).

Dismaland, opened in August of 2015 in Weston-super-Mare, Uk, was a large scale satirical work of art presented by artist Banksy, as well as 58 other artists who were invited to participate in the project. Despite closing only 36 days after it first opened, the exhibit received a lot of attention from media, and several well-known celebrities even took the opportunity to visit the park.

The New Yorker author Rebecca Mead writes that she will not be attending Dismaland for a variety of reasons, including weather, little chance of getting a ticket, and, most surprisingly, claiming that she already “gets it” since much of the surrounding area of Britain is quite similar; even though it was not meant to be ironic, the carnival in her own home town had a disappointing atmosphere akin to Dismaland. The people here have dealt with socioeconomic hardship for years, and there is nothing new about Banksy’s Dismaland when compared to the defunct tourist industry of the area. She argues that Banksy’s message is unoriginal, and that the irony of his park is unnecessary because the people of Britain’s coasts have lived this way for years.