MARTIN LUTHER KING

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important leader of the American civil rights movement. He helped unite a nation with his powerful speeches and use of non-violent protests. His 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the greatest in human history. King’s efforts to end racial discrimination earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. His father was a reverend and so King had a religious upbringing. He graduated from college with a degree and a Ph.D. in religious studies. King went to India to visit Gandhi’s family. He was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi's success with non-violent resistance and saw it as a “potent weapon” in America’s struggle for civil rights.

King was instrumental in achieving many successes in ending segregation laws. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ended racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery. He realized that non-violent protest would attract extensive media coverage of the struggle for racial equality. His campaigns soon elevated the Civil Rights Movement to be the most important issue in American politics.

King helped organize the famous Million Man March on Washington in 1963, where he spoke to the nation appealing for racial harmony. His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped his cause. King was assassinated on March 29, 1968. The day is now a national holiday in the USA. (Famous People Lessons)

Checking out from a hotel - Part 4

Having problems with the room - Part 3

Getting hotel information - Part 2

Checking in at a hotel - Part 1

Giant solar storm battering Earth



Our planet is feeling the effects of the strongest solar storm since 2005.
High-energy particles were released after a solar flare erupted on the Sun over the weekend - and they're now hitting our atmosphere.
It's nothing to be afraid of though: the charged particles are mostly a concern for satellites - which they can disrupt.
The solar storm meant that people across the north of the UK have been able to see the Northern Lights.

What is a solar storm?

Radiation is released during the solar storm and when these particles reach Earth they collide with our planet's magnetic field at the poles - when this happens a natural light show occurs.

The solar storm can also cause communication problems for aircraft travelling near the poles and astronauts on the International Space Station.

It can also interfere with technology back on Earth, such as your parents' sat-nav and smartphones.

In 1972, a solar storm took down long-distance telephone communication across the US state of Illinois.

The effects are likely to be felt on Earth throughout Wednesday. (CBBC Newsround)

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore is a sculpture of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, carved into granite on the southeast side of Mount Rushmore. The 60-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) heads represent the first 150 years of the United States, symbolizing the nation's independence, democratic process, leadership in world affairs, and equality. Mount Rushmore is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. The stone sculpture took six and a half years to complete and was carved with the help of hundreds of workers using dynamite, jackhammers, chisels, and drills. (National Geographic)

Chinese Horoscopes

Chinese tradition says a different animal represents each new year. Which is yours?
According to the Chinese calendar, the year you were born may determine your personality. Every year is represented by an animal, and legend has it that people born under that animal have certain personality traits. So just for fun, find your birth year and that year's animal, and see what some people believe it says about you. Do the same for your friends, parents, relatives, and teachers.

2012: The Year of the Dragon
The Real Thing: The mythical dragon is a symbol of power and good fortune in Chinese culture. One of the most popular figures in Chinese art, the dragon is believed to be a combination of nine animals, including a frog, a tiger, an eagle, and a fish.
Born a Dragon?
You go out of your way to help your friends, who often seek you out for advice. Your outgoing personality helps you get along with many types of people.
Other Dragon Years:
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake
The Real Thing: Snakes have great instincts. Some "play dead" to fool predators, and most sense prey by detecting ground vibrations. They can take more than an hour to swallow a meal, and they become inactive for up to two weeks before they shed their skin.
Born a Snake?
You rely on your instincts before asking others their opinions. At times you want to take a break from the action. It's not that you're lazy—sometimes you just like to think.
Other Snake Years:
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Horse
The Real Thing: A horse sleeps only about three hours a day. Intelligent, most can sense nervousness in people.
Born a Horse?
You have loads of energy and love adventure. You take charge and understand people, so you know how to work a crowd.
Other Horse Years:
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Sheep
The Real Thing: Timid sheep graze in flocks to guard against predators. Most are raised for their wool.
Born a Sheep?
At your best when people who admire you flock to your side, you stick by your friends. You are artistic, creative, and like to look good.
Other Sheep Years:
1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Monkey
The Real Thing: Social and playful, monkeys show affection and friendship by picking bugs and dirt out of each other's fur. These animals use their hands and feet to grip objects and climb trees. Some even have tails that can grab items as small as peanuts.
Born a Monkey?
Swinging from one group of friends to another, you love to have a good time. You like to entertain your friends by showing off your talents, and they appreciate your cleverness and sense of humor.
Other Monkey Years:
1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Rooster
The Real Thing: The rooster's loud cock-a-doodle-doo attracts females and warns other males to stay away. The red comb on his head may help other roosters identify him, and it also sets him apart from other bird species.
Born a Rooster?
You are practical and resourceful, and you use what you have to succeed without taking a lot of risks. A hard worker, you say what's on your mind and have a sense of style that sets you apart.
Other Rooster Years:
1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Dog
The Real Thing: A dog's supersensitive ears can hear a noise about 100 yards (91.44 meters) away that a person couldn't hear more than 25 yards (22.86 meters) away. Its strong sense of smell helps it do things like find lost people or sniff out bad guys.
Born a Dog?
You're a great listener who can keep a secret. Loyal to your friends, you have a keen sense of right and wrong and stick to what you believe in.
Other Dog Years:
1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Pig
The Real Thing: Domesticated pigs have been helping humans for about 9,000 years. Incredibly intelligent, a pig shows its smarts by rolling in mud and sticking its snout in dirt. Why? The mud keeps it cool, and rooting in the dirt provides important vitamins.
Born a Pig?
Smart and caring, you live to help other people. You have great taste and love to wallow in the nicer things in life.
Other Pig Years:
1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Rat
The Real Thing: Most rats are highly adaptable. They can live just about anywhere and eat just about anything. Before brown rats leave their underground burrows, these clever creatures send one rat ahead to make sure danger isn't lurking outside.
Born a Rat?
You welcome challenges and enjoy learning about new things. Funny and smart, you are generous and will protect your pack of friends.
Other Rat Years:
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Ox
The Real Thing: Oxen have been known to pull loads of 11,284 pounds (5,118 kilograms). People value their strength as well as their work ethic. An ox's horns can grow to be more than 20 inches (51 centimeters) long.
Born an Ox?
You approach projects in a step-by-step manner, wanting to do things right the first time. Shy but dependable, you are caring and trustworthy and never lose sight of your goal.
Other Ox Years:
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Tiger
The Real Thing: The largest of the big cats, tigers hunt alone. They secretly stalk prey, then leap and attack when the time seems right. Dinner still escapes most of the time.
Born a Tiger?
You're a natural leader but often like to do things by yourself. (That's how you stay in charge!) You believe in fighting for what's right, even if you'll lose in the end.
Other Tiger Years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Rabbit
The Real Thing: Rabbits normally give birth to about six babies at once and often live in groups. Their long ears help them cool off by lowering the temperature of the blood that circulates through them.
Born a Rabbit?
Well-liked and popular, you have a large circle of family and friends. You are very protective of them, and they protect you back. You tend to keep your cool and avoid conflicts.
Other Rabbit Years:
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
(Text by Meghan Howard - National Geographic)

Kindness Boomerang

How To Talk About Your Friends

The Emperor's New Clothes

The Artist, War Horse, Tintin all up for Bafta awards

He stole the show at the Golden Globes, and it looks like Uggie the dog might be putting on his bow tie to go to the Baftas!
The silent black and white movie The Artist which stars Uggie leads this year's nominations with 12 including Best Film and Best Director.
The 3D action adventure Hugo, set in 1930s Paris gets nine nominations including Best Director.
Best Animation nominees includes Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin.
Spielberg's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse has five nominations, mainly for its special effects, but John Williams - the man behind the music of Star Wars has been recognised for War Horse's score.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Royal Opera House in London on 12 February. (CBBC Newsround)

Sunken cruise ship 'may still hold survivors'

Emergency crews have been working through the night around the wreck of the Costa Concordia, but fears are growing for the people still missing.
Eleven people are known to have died after the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks off Italy's west coast on Friday night.
But local coastguard Marco Brusco said there was still a "glimmer of hope" that survivors could be found.
The ship's owners blame the captain, saying he changed the ship's course.

Because the ship was right at the start of its voyage, its fuel tanks are almost full - and people are worried about the fuel leaking out into the sea, causing environmental damage.

But the company that's in charge of dealing with the fuel says the tanks are intact and there's no risk of a leak at the moment.

The missing are thought to include four crew members, as well as passengers from America, Germany, France and Italy.

The ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, has been arrested and a judge is due to decide if he should still be held.

Captain Schettino said he'd done nothing wrong, saying the rocks the ship hit were not marked on his nautical charts.

The ship, carrying 4,300 passengers and crew, was on the first night of a cruise when it ran aground in calm conditions. (CBBC Newsround)