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News for you: Smart pizza, war games, extreme sports
The hunt for healthy pizza
May 24, 2002 Posted: 1:34 PM EDT (1734 GMT)
WASHINGTON -- When it comes to ordering a pizza your thighs will love, skip the meat and most of the cheese, experts say. The Center for Science for the Public Interest, a nutrition watchdog group, took aim this week at pizza, one of America's favorite foods. The group found a slice of pizza topped with pepperoni and sausage is almost equal to the fat and calories that a large burger might have. While many consumers would not order more than one Big Mac or Whopper, many pizza-lovers don't think twice about reaching for a second or even third gooey slice. The watchdog group did, however, offer some alternatives for Americans who can't part with pizza. It praised California Pizza Kitchen's Tricolore Salad Pizza for its healthy take on the fast food favorite. The group also annointed Domino's Hand Tossed Cheese pizza with half the cheese and Pizza Hut's Hand Tossed Veggie Lover's pizza as "Best Bites" for their lowfat, high-fiber content.
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What is the Center for Science for the Public Interest? Which one of America's favorite foods came under scrutiny by the Center? How does eating pizza impact people's weight and their fat and caloric intake? In terms of consumption how might eating a Big Mac or a Whopper be healthier than eating pizza? Why is California Pizza Kitchen's Tricolore Salad Pizza considered a healthy alternative to "regular" pizza? How did other pizzas fare in the Center's "Best Bites" designation?
Do you and your friends indulge in eating your fair share of unhealthy fast foods? Make a list on the board of the fast foods that members of your class consume on a regular basis. Ask: Do you think your class' eating habits are representative of students in your age group? If so, what could be said about the eating habits of young adults? Have you or would you consider switching to fast foods that cater to the health conscious? Why or why not?
Have you or any of your friends and family voluntarily opted for "alternative" diets? Why? Refer to the Web sites below and other resources to identify different kinds of diets that have sprung up such as veganism and fruitarianism. In groups, select one for investigation and share your findings with the class. Then discuss whether or not "alternative" diets are good for your health. Why or why not?
Army is looking for a few good gamers
LOS ANGELES, California -- After watching the popularity of video gaming grow into a $9 billion business last year, the U.S. military is launching a video game with an eye toward recruiting. "America's Army" debuted this week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles and will be available to the public in July. Most people are familiar with the images of U.S. Special Operations forces, being all they can be, defending the country. The new game allows players to conduct their own Special Ops missions on PCs, and the only weapons they'll need are a Pentium III processor and a modem. The idea is to give young men and women a taste of battlefield tactics. It will be an online game, so players will be able to log onto the Internet and use team strategies to achieve their objectives.
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What proves that the popularity of video gaming is increasing? How has the U.S. military decided to capitalize on the popularity of video gaming? What image do most people have of the U.S. Special Operations forces? How will gamers be able to simulate their own Special Ops mission? What does the U.S. Army hope to accomplish by launching the video game "America's Army"?
Refer to the Web sites below to find out more about the U.S. Army's new game and how the game might function as a vehicle for recruiting. Identify the qualifications of a gamer for the U.S. Army's video game. Do you think you or any of your friends would qualify and/or be interested in volunteering to play the video game for the Army? How might playing the game persuade a potential recruit to join the Army? Discuss.
Recognizing that movies like "Top Gun" and "Black Hawk Down" can help attract new recruits, the military often cooperates with entertainment producers on projects the Pentagon believes presents the organizations fairly. Do you think the U.S. Army and other government agencies should be in the business of recruiting by using different media and the entertainment field as venues? Discuss.
Video game characters drive sales
What does woman-warrior Lara Croft have in common with a certain mustached plumber named Mario? The answer: Both video game characters have a sharper, more refined look this year, and they both have much to do with what keeps gamers coming back year after year. Everything old is new again in the gaming world. Franchise characters like Lara Croft and Nintendo's Mario are the lifeblood of the industry, and new iterations of these old favorites are scheduled to reach shelves later this year. With the introduction of new consoles and video cards that can handle more advanced graphics, publishers are seeing the chance to hook tens of thousands of new players. For instance, since the scowling Croft burst onto the scene in 1996, her games have sold nearly 2.9 million copies, according to NPDTechworld. More importantly, it helped the PlayStation become the de facto console gaming system in the world.
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Who are Lara Croft and Mario? What do these two video game characters have in common? How does the popularity of Lara Croft and Mario impact the video game industry? What does the industry intend to do with these characters who have been around a long time? What advances in technology, when applied to reiterated characters, might "hook tens of thousands of new players?
Do you and your friends routinely and/or avidly play video games? What is so enticing and compelling about video games? Explain. How do you think recycling and refurbishing familiar video characters will impact present and new users? Refer to the Web sites below to investigate the features of the "new" video games and characters. Share your findings with the class.
What other media industry capitalizes on the popularity and celebrity of previous hits? List on the board, examples of people, stories, clothing, songs and other life style features that the entertainment industry has revamped for a new generation. Do you think these new-generation artifacts are effectively packaged renditions? Why or why not? Do you agree that "everything old is new again"? Explain.
Outdoor extremes
MOUNTAIN REST, South Carolina -- Outdoor adventure travel is reaching new heights, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. The trade groups say it expects 164 million Americans to participate in outdoor adventures this year -- the more extreme, the better. Getting the most attention from newcomers are whitewater sports including rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. Mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running and camping are also hip. "It's all about gravity. We're all getting dictated by gravity," says Willy Cunningham, head of expedition planning for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming. Even though many are looking to escape to the wild, they still want to be connected to the modern world. Wilderness experts say taking along cell phones or radios are increasingly common. "One thing that we found was, right after the attacks, people wanted to talk to their son or daughter, wife or husband out on the courses," said the school's operations director, Michael Lindsey.
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According to the Outdoor Industry Association, how well is outdoor adventure travel faring? What do trade groups predict about the numbers and kinds of outdoor adventures in which Americans will participate? Who is Will Cunningham? How do outdoor adventurers combine the best of both worlds? Who is Michael Lindsey? What motivation does he say has prompted his school's clientele to use technology in the wild?
What does Willy Cunningham mean when he says, "It's all about gravity. We're all getting dictated by gravity"? List the sports that are getting the "most attention," i.e., mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running and camping, and add to this list other outdoor adventures driven by the forces of gravity. What do you think is the fascination with these kinds of sports? Explain. Do you and your friends participate in any of these sports? Describe the feelings you experience, when involved in these sports, before, during and after gravity has had its effect. What are some benefits and drawbacks of participating in outdoor adventures?
Refer to the Web sites below and other resources to discover the many opportunities available for those interested in outdoor adventures. Share your findings with the class, including location, costs, classes available, equipment needed, etc. Might you be interested in trying a new outdoor sport or adventure? Why or why not?
How does the film industry capitalize on people's obsession with experiencing the adrenalin rush associated with outdoor adventures? Consider movies such as "Vertical Limit" and "The River Wild," and identify the elements that make an outdoor adventure story compelling. Discuss.
Water instead of cigarettes?
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Offering an alternative to cigarettes, nicotine-spiked bottled water is about to the hit the market. Like nicotine gum, Nico Water comes with 2 or 4 milligrams of nicotine and is intended to reduce smoking for those who can't quit cold-turkey. But some are concerned the water, expected on store shelves in a few months, will be abused by kids. "It should be regulated," says Danny Goldrick of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. "It has a highly additive drug in it." But the maker, QuickTest5, says the water simply is just not for those under 18. "We expect everybody to be carded at 18...We are very cautious about this bottle and who is going to drink it," said CEO Steve Reder. Other nicotine products have come under fire recently. In April, the Food and Drug Administration asked pharmacies to stop selling nicotine-laced lollipops.
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What alternative to cigarettes is about to hit the market? What other nicotine-based alternatives to cigarettes are already available? How is Nico Water intended to reduce smoking? Who is Danny Goldrick? Why is he and others concerned that the water will be available on the market? What recommendation does he make concerning regulation of Nico Water? Who is Steve Reder? What reassurances does he offer about sales of the water to kids?
What do you think of products that purport to help people stop smoking? Have you, your friends or members of your family ever used any of these products? If so, how effective have they been in helping you quit smoking? What are the benefits and drawbacks of alternative-to-cigarette products? Do you think quitting cold turkey is a viable alternative? Why or why not?
Once used for medicinal purposes; considered "cool" for film starts; associated with women's lib, and, now, a health scourge, tobacco and its uses have been regarded very differently since it was first used by the peoples of the pre-Columbian Americas. Refer to the Web sites below and other resources to trace the history of cigarette smoking. Identify the different attitudes toward smoking and the reasons why people's attitudes toward smoking have undergone major changes. Discuss the cultural, financial, health and other factors that have contributed to the changing perspective on smoking.
Nothin' but Net: 'Star Wars' sites
(CNN) -- Much of the world is in the grip of "Star Wars" mania and, as one might expect, The Force is alive and well in cyberspace. In fact, there are more than 3 million "Star Wars" Web sites on the Internet. Among them is StarWars.com, the official Web site that gives surfers a plethora of information about "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" and all the other movies in the saga. You can also find "Star Wars" comics, books, games, news and a databank of movie trailers that you can download. Lucasarts.com is the interactive gaming side of George Lucas's empire. It is a great place to go to check out all of the video games and computer games that are available in the "Star Wars" universe. You can even download numerous demos for free and get a taste of what the game is like before you dish out the cash for the full version. Feel like a Wookie some mornings? Outofservice.com can help you find your "Star Wars" twin. Fill out a personality test to discover the traits you have in common with any of the characters and discover which one you most likely resemble. Who knows -- you just might be Anakin Skywalker's long-lost twin.
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How is much of the world in the grip of "Star Wars" mania? What kinds of "Star Wars" paraphernalia are available on the Internet and in retail stores? How might you determine which personality traits you have in common with "Star Wars" characters?
To what other science fiction retreads in various media are new generation users and dedicated fans being introduced or re-introduced? Why do you think producers and consumers are loyal and sometimes fanatic about the genre of science fiction? List the elements of science fiction and comment on the appeal of such features as other worldly characters and futuristic plots. Do you think the genre of fantasy has the same appeal as science fiction? Explain.
Do you think that using an online personality test to help you identify with a "Star Wars" character is a good or bad idea? When you are watching a movie, do you recognize yourself in any of the characters? What features of movies do you think compel members of the audience to see themselves in fictional characters? Discuss the aspects of characterization and the talents of the actors as some ways used by authors and directors to capture viewers' imaginations and personalities. Is an effective movie one with whose characters viewers associate? Explain. What benefits and drawbacks could identification with imaginary characters have on young children? Discuss.
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