The term "Fake News" has gone rampant, from social media to television news casts; however, while the term has hit the spotlight, fake news is not a new concept. In fact fake news has been around for centuries, if not since we developed the written word. Over the years it may just have become harder to spot, especially on the internet. Today, there is so much information at the tips of our fingers, literally, that we easily trust what we see on the internet and the things our friends post, and that may be part of the problem. We take these posts and blogs at face value and often do not look any further than what is written. Luckily there is help! Learning How to Spot When News is Fake, is an article that gives you some easy tips to help you determine if you are reading "Fake News" or the real deal. Check it out!
Entertainment
This category encompasses student interests outside of school. Articles may include topics discussing movies, music and concerts, professional sporting events, radio, books, magazines, and activities happening around Arizona. Write an article about your favorite forms of entertainment in the state of Arizona!
Spring breaks is here, or is rapidly approaching depending on your school district, and the sun is out and shining bright. Spring breakers are off; headed outside to hang out in the sun and are staying out later as the daylight hours get longer. If you are under 18 you may want to remember to head back in doors when the night hours reach the double digits. Many of Arizona's cities and town have curfew laws, and while they are not always displayed teenagers who are caught after hours may still face the dismal consequences of the law. Don't miss out on your spring fun; instead stay informed and check out our Curfew section and ensure a happy spring break.
With Halloween just around the corner it is time to start thinking about an action plan on how you are going to handle the spookiest night of the year and what you can do to keep you and your friends safe. LFK has put together some ideas for you to do just that:
- Practice responding safely to risky situations that could arise while trick or treating such as if a car approaches you and someone you don't know tries to get your attention, practice moving away from the car and telling a trusted adult;
- Continuum of safe and unsafe actions such as approaching a house with no porch light on; walking down dark alleys; going inside a house; running across streets; Trick or Treating in groups; crossing the streets at corners or crosswalks after looking both ways; wearing reflective clothing or carrying a light; etc.
- Explore some tips for staying safe on Halloween night here!
By now everyone has heard about the crazy fidget spinner trend; a three pronged device on ball bearings that spins on or between your fingertips. This device is marketed as a tool to help kids concentrate in class by allowing their body to move something physically with little or no thought process which helps them to focus their attention on other things, such as a teacher's lecture. However, a quick search on YouTube also shows that these tools can be used to perform all sorts of tricks that have become a fun new school yard competition between friends. This new competition has been causing some controversy on campus. While marketed as a tool teachers are now seeing this device as a disruptive toy. Instead of allowing kids to concentrate on the lessons teachers say that these devices are more distracting with their sound, lights and tricks and are now being banned from many classrooms. What do you think? Let us know here?
Unicorn hair and all the colors in-between have become a fun trend over the years so it is only natural that we want to share our expressive style with "man's best friend." However, this fun fad may come with some deadly risks. Hair dye seems so common that we forget that it is a chemical and if left on too long can cause injury and it can be even worse for an animal. One dog owner in Florida realized this when attempting to dye a Maltese mix purple and nearly caused the dogs death. The dog, now called Violet, suffered sever burns and injuries and had to be anesthetized from her painful wounds to allow her to heal. Luckily, she was able to pull through and is doing well with her new owner. Animal Services is using Violet's story to let others know that what seems like an awesome idea can quickly turn into a tragic situation. See Violet's full story here, beware some images are graphic in nature. Further, in Arizona you could also be committing a crime under Arizona's animal cruelty statue A.R.S. 13-2910, for recklessly inflicting unnecessary physical injury to an animal. So, keep the dye for your do, and ask your vet before deciding to doing any style improvements to your pet.