tv Teen Kids News PBS May 12, 2012 4:00pm-4:30pm PDT
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>> "teen kids news" starts right now, and we've got a lot to report. >> i'll tell you about a medical condition in teens that's common, painful, and often untreated. >> we hear about them in the news all the time, but what exactly is a diplomat? we visit the u.s. state department to find out. >> i'll tell you why there's a blindfolded woman on one of our state flags. >> i'll tell you about dinner companions we can only dream about. >> that and much more, so keep watching "teen kids news."
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>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm livia. here's our top story for this week. >> headaches can be a huge pain, but for some teens who get an extreme type of headache, it's an even bigger problem. tyler has the story. >> when daniel beecher complained about constant headaches, people thought he was making excuses. but his headaches were real and more severe than normal. >> i had it for a week straight. i was having two a day. >> that was during the summer. then school started, and daniel's headaches began to really get in the way. >> i'd have to be in a dark room, away from light, away from noise, 'cause that only makes the headaches worse. so i really had to step aside for at least an hour and just let it subside. >> the headaches were affecting daniel's schoolwork, so he and his mother went to the north shore university hospital's headache center.
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there, they met dr. noah rosen. the doctor discovered that daniel's headaches weren't just headaches. they were migraines. >> well, a migraine doesn't feel like a typical headache. it can feel like a throbbing and exploding -- a crushing pain. it can feel like nothing else that you've ever experienced. >> migraines also tend to occur on only one side of the head, and the biggest sign that you have them is if they interfere in your daily life. this all matched daniel's symptoms, but even his mother questioned them. >> i ignored it, probably, for a good year and a half. it started out when he went to camp, and i thought he was not adjusting well, so i said he was making excuses. but then, a year and a half later, i said, "eh, i think this is more than just an excuse." >> like many boys, he's been told that, first off, adolescents don't get migraines, and also that it's a problem only with girls. and both of those are untrue. >> whis true is that girls
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are more likely to get migraines. boy or girl -- the pain can be really bad. >> i couldn't stay in school, and i couldn't concentrate, i couldn't spell. i had word-finding issues. and so i had to go home and go to the doctor. >> when we treat migraines, one of the most important things to keep an eye out for are the >> that means finding out what causes your migraines. some common triggers are... even if you avoid the triggers, you might still get migraines. in that case, a doctor may prescribe medication. unfortunately, studies show that most teens don't seek the treatment they need. >> when the pain is severe, it's not the right thing to ignore it, because ignoring the problem can make it a lot worse. and it's important that people go to their doctor so they can get the diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. >> and with that treatment, life can go back to being normal. >> i don't have to worry about
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going out during the day and worrying if i'm gonna have a headache or not. >> if you think your headaches might be migraines, don't try to tough it out. get help. >> don't go away. we've got lots more still to come on "teen kids news." >> we'll be right back. >> it's been one year since the killing of osama bin laden. u.s. navy s.e.a.l. commandos successfully raided his northern pakistani compound, taking down the nation's top enemy and mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. white house counterterrorism adviser john brennan calling it a momentous day in u.s. history, saying the united states is weakening al-qaeda but warning the fight isn't over. >> we're determined to destroy that organization. we're going to destroy it, but that's going to continue to require us to maintain this pressure on al-qaeda, whether it
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be in pakistan, afghanistan, as well as in yemen. >> meanwhile, a major milestone in the rebuilding of ground zero -- 1 world trade center becoming new york city's tallest skyscraper. newly installed steel columns will make the tower just over 1,250 feet tall. that puts the unfinished skyscraper taller than the empire state building. and a spectacular sight for new yorkers. space shuttle enterprise riding atop a modified 747, soaring over the city skyline before landing at its temporary home at jfk airport. onlookers lining streets and rooftops to catch a glimpse of enterpriflying over the statue of liberty and much of manhattan's skyline. enterpriwill ultimately retire at the intrepid sea, air & space museum. >> just about every major city in the country wanted the enterprise, but new york has the right stuff, and we won. [ cheers and applause ] >> the shuttle will be moved by
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tugboat up the hudson river to the museum this summer. for "teen kids news," i'm julie banderas, "fox news channel in the classroom." >> if you enjoy traveling, experiencing different cultures, and would like to represent the united states abroad, then you might want to consider becoming a diplomat. lauren looks into what a diplomat does and what it takes to become one. >> let's start with a quick american history question. >> the department of state. >> correct. while usually called the state department, the official name is the united states department of state. it was established all the way back in 1789. with headquarters in washington, d.c., the state department is headed by the secretary of state, currently hillary clinton. its job is to oversee all our foreign relations. in fact, listen to how the state
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department describes its mission. that's quite a task. and to help the state department achieve those goals is the job of the u.s. foreign service. >> what we want to do is, we want to promote america's interests. we want to promote peace. we want to promote understanding. we want to make sure people around the world know what america is all about. >> assistant secretary hammer explained that foreign service officers are also called diplomats. they're assigned to work at one of the more than 250 embassies, consulates, or diplomatic missions the u.s. maintains in foreign countries. what's the difference between an embassy, consulate, and a mission? >> they all seem to do the same kinds of things, but an embassy usually is in the capital of that country. it's our main representation to a foreign country. consulates are usually in the
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smaller cities. with regards to missions, missions are more sort of delegations that we have to a particular international organization. for example, in geneva, where there are a lot of u.n. agencies represented, we have what is called a mission. >> what's the role of the ambassador? >> as u.s. ambassador, that person is the representative of the country as the highest-ranking u.s. authority in the country that they are serving. so it really is quite an important job with tremendous responsibility. >> besides working with governments around the world, foreign service officers also help americans traveling abroad. >> and if something were to happen -- if you get in trouble or something gets stolen and you lose your passport -- then you go to the american embassy, and we have consular officers there who are prepared to help you. >> itnot an easy job. diplomats need to be able to work well with people from different cultures and
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backgrounds. you need to be able to handle the pressure of being in the public spotlight and comfortable dealing with questions from the news media. and most of all, you're expected to spend much of your career living in a foreign country. while you might get lucky enough to be posted in a place like paris or london, you might just as well end up in a war zone. when we return, i'll tell you how you can join the foreign service. >> assistant secretary mike hammer has been showing us around the state department, explaining the role of the u.s. foreign service. >> you get to represent the united states and tell america's story. we have a great story. we're a great democracy. we stand for freedom. we are out there helping people. we're trying to make the world a
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better place. >> if you think you might want to consider a career in the foreign service, visit the state department's website. you can take a quick test that can help you decide if the job's right for you. here's an example of some questions. the test asks you if you would enjoy... >> yeah, that would be pretty awesome. i mean, you'd get to visit all different places and represent the u.s. i mean, i can't think of a higher honor than that. >> how about... >> i definitely would actually love to travel and see new places, and i think that it would be a great time. >> however, there are additional is not for everyone. for example, will you enjoy... >> no. honestly, it would be difficult to not live next to your home -- next to your family -- and everything else, but probably
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not. >> could you... >> it would have to be for a short period of time. i don't think i'd be able to do it for many years. >> after answering all the questions, you'll get a score that should give you a pretty good idea as to whether or not you're suited for the foreign service. >> so, if you're a smart person, if you're interested in world affairs, i would encourage you to take this test, and who knows -- maybe the next thing you become is a diplomat, which is really quite fun. >> it's been said that to be a good diplomat, you need to be able to divide a pie into different pieces and make everyone think that their piece is the biggest. in the briefing room at the u.s. state department in washington, d.c., for "teen kids news," i'm lauren. >> it's time to get your opinion in "speak of the week."
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>> if you could sit down and have dinner with any living person, who would it be? >> that would be steven spielberg, because someday i do hope that i can be a great film director one day, and i love all of his movies. i've seen almost half of them. and i just think his way of directing is excellent. and i would like to ask him a lot of questions about his career. and i hope that one day, i can have the same success that he did. >> it would be shingo yamamoto because he's one of my favorite japanese competitors in "ninja warrior," a tv show on g4. >> i would sit down to dinner with rapper lil wayne, because i listen to a lot of his music, and the words that he says are just so inspirational and uplifting, because he's had a hard life, but he's turned it around, and i think that that's amazing. >> oh, that's a tough one, but emma watson. i'm really crazy about the
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"harry potter" series, and she's a really good actress. >> it would be emma watson from "harry potter," because i just loved her role in "harry potter." >> of course, with such amazing dinner companions, who'd have any appetite to eat? for "teen kids news," i'm katie. >> here's scott with this week's "flag facts." >> in 1886, france gave the u.s. a gift to symbolize friendship and independence. officially named "liberty enlightening the world," we call it "the statue of liberty," and she proudly stands at the entrance to new york harbor. >> the concept of liberty is an important symbol for new york. >> the flag of new york comes from the state seal, and it
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features both liberty and justice. >> the roman goddess liberty holds a staff with a cap on it known as a liberty cap. it symbolizes freedom from slavery. a discarded crown at liberty's feet represents another type of freedom -- america's independence from england. the goddess justice is blindfolded to show that justice is blind to race, religion, and income. scales represent equality for all, while the raised sword points out the willingness to fight for it. >> in the middle of the flag, you see the hudson river, and on the hudson river are two boats meant to represent commerce. atop the state seal is an eagle sitting on the globe. the globe shows the western hemisphere, and that was meant to represent the new world and new york's important place as a port city in the development of the new world. >> finally, the word "excelsior" encourages new yorkers to reach ever higher to achieve their goals. maybe that's why new york city
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has so many skyscrapers. just about everyone knows manhattan, new york, is called "the big apple," but did you know that manhattan, kansas, has a similar nickname? it's called "the little apple." with "flag facts," i'm scott. >> listen up. natalie has some great advice on how to "make the grade." >> as faithful viewers of "teen kids news," you know that over the past months, i've been giving tips on how to find a part-time job. after all, i have one. well, finding the job is only the first step. getting it is the next challenge. usually, the big hurdle is... the interview! okay, so, no need to panic. here's a few simple things to keep in mind. dress neatly. even if you're looking for work mucking out stables, you want to make a good first impression. make sure you're not late. leave earlier than you need to, just in case something unexpected holds you up, like
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your bike gets a flat tire. shake hands firmly, even if you're a girl. speak clearly, and look the person directly in the eyes. that's important. be ready with the name and phone number of someone who has agreed to be a reference for you -- a teacher, neighbor, or someone from your place of worship. and decide before the meeting just how many hours you can handle a week. it's better to start with a smaller commitment and build up than to take too much on. the good news is that future employers and colleges consider getting a job to be a real achievement. and it is. i'm natalie, with "make the grade." >> if you're on a sports team, you probably think you're getting all the exercise you need. that may not be true. according to a study by san diego state university, national guidelines call for 60 minutes of vigorous exercise a day. yet researchers found that most teens who play soccer, baseball, or softball, exercise heavily
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for only about 45 minutes. even with long practices, it turns out that teens stand around a lot, or they're working on skills that don't require intense physical effort. >> it's time for "word." one definition is real. the others are fake. see if you can find the real one. "hydrology." for starters, it's a noun. does it mean... [ bell rings ] hydrology is the study of the waters of the earth, as in "her courses in hydrology at college made her an expert in evaporation." here's a verb -- "evince." what does it mean? [ bell rings ] give up? evince means "to make very
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clear." i intend to evince the meaning of "evince." how about "bogus"? is it... [ bell rings ] you got it right if you picked "phony," as in "there are a lot of bogus definitions in that word game on 'kids news.'" that's "word"! >> human brains tend to be bigger among people who live closer to the north or south
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pole. scientists now say it's not about intelligence -- it's about the brainpower needed to see well in the dark. so those folks have a little easier time getting around during the long, long nights. >> animoto.com -- it makes photos into movies. you start by uploading pictures and picking a soundtrack. animoto then automatically makes a custom music video with tons of professional special effects. you can make a 30-second video for free. if you want something longer, it'll cost 3 bucks. not only is this a cool thing to make for yourself, it's also a great gift idea. you could create short videos for friends and family without even denting your allowance. i'm charlie for "teen kids news."
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>> this book report is brought to you by zonderkidz. >> for this week's book report, we're talking with bryan davis. he's the award-winning author of "diviner," the third book of his "dragons of starlight" series. hello, bryan. >> hello. >> so, tell us about the series. >> well "dragons of starlight" takes place in two worlds. one is a world populated by dragons who are having trouble. they have to have this gas called pheterone to survive, and it's running out in their atmosphere. the other world is a world populated by humans. so one of the dragons goes to this human world through a portal, kidnaps some of the humans, brings them back to his world, and enslaves them to mine for this pheterone gas. in the meantime, one of the slave girls is called a starlighter. she tells tales that come to life around her. and as they come to life in these ghostly images, the slaves are starting to learn how they actually got there and some of the history behind it. so the dragons don't want that to happen, so if she tells those tales, she can be in big
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trouble. we have two humans from the human world who come to the dragon world to try to rescue the slaves, and that's how the whole series starts. >> without giving too much away, what happens in "diviner"? >> in "diviner," our starlighter, who's named koren, has to resurrect this fallen dwarf star called exodus. and she's told that if she resurrects this star, it will spread this pheterone gas around the atmosphere so that the slaves can be released by the dragon king. >> you're called "an american christian fantasy writer." what does that mean? >> well, what that means to me is that i'm a christian author who loves to write fantasy stories. now, my stories aren't overtly christian so that people feel like they're being preached at. i kind of take the legacy of c.s. lewis and how he wrote the "chronicles of narnia" and how he put themes in there like heroism and sacrifice and love and courage in order to help
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people progress in their spiritual thinking and not feel like they're being nagged or preached at. >> what do you hope readers will take away from the series? >> my hope is that a reader will feel encouraged that they, too, can do heroic things and make the sacrifices that they need to make in order to help in their little corners of the world. >> what advice do you have for teens who want to become writers? >> the first one is to work on the craft. one thing i see with a lot of teenagers is they have really great imaginations. they have wonderful story ideas. they just don't know how to get it down on paper. so, there's so much to learn, books to read on writing. i really recommend writers conferences where they can bounce their ideas off published authors and editors and maybe even other teen writers to encourage one another. they really have to work on their craft to know how to put these great, imaginative ideas into their papers. so, work on the craft and never give up.
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we'll start up there at the historic, cultural, and literal high point of any trip to athens -- the acropolis. like other hilltop sites in the ancient greek world, athens' acropolis, or "high city," was both a place of worship and of refuge when under attack. crowned by the mighty parthenon temple, the acropolis rises above modern athens, a lasting testament to greece's glorious golden age in the 5th century b.c. grand processions followed the panathenaic way, which was a ceremonial path connecting the town below
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and the acropolis. they'd pass through this imposing entryway and up to the religious heart of the city in the parthenon. the parthenon was perhaps the finest temple in the ancient world. valiantly battling the acidic air of our modern world, it still stands, with the help of ongoing restoration work. it was constructed in the 5th century b.c. and dedicated to the virgin goddess athena. seeing it today is awe-inspiring, but imagine how striking it must have looked when it was completed, nearly 2,500 years ago, in all its carved and brilliantly painted splendor. the adjacent erechtheion is famous for its porch of the caryatids -- six beautiful maidens functioning as columns. dedicated to athena and poseidon, this was one of the most important religious buildings on the acropolis.
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this, rather than the parthenon, was the culmination of the panathenaic procession. at the foot of the acropolis, the ancient agora, or marketplace, sprawls out from its surviving temple. this is where, for 3,000 years, athenians gathered. while the acropolis was the center of ritual and ceremony, the agora was the beating heart of ancient athens. for some 800 years, starting in the 6th century b.c., this was the hub of commercial, political, and social life. visitors wander the remains of what was the city's principal shopping mall and administrative center. exploring the agora, it's fascinating to ponder the world of plato and aristotle and the age which laid the foundations for western thinking about economics, democracy, logic, and more. the stoa of attalos, from the 2nd century b.c., was rebuilt in modern times to house the agora's museum. with so little of the agora still standing,
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this reconstruction makes it easier to imagine the site in its original glory. crowds would gather in shady porticos like this to shop, socialize, or listen to the great philosophers of the age. in fact, socrates spent much of his life right here, preaching the virtues of nothing in excess and urging those around him to "know thyself." the temple of hephaestus, one of the best-preserved and most typical of all greek temples, dates from about 400 b.c. like the parthenon, it's constructed in the simple doric style. it housed big, bronze statues of hephaestus -- the blacksmith god -- and athena, patroness of the city. greek architecture evolved in stages. the capitals, or tops of the columns, were both functional and decorative. while just the tip of the architectural iceberg, these are handy indicators, helping us identify the three main architectural orders, or styles.
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the earliest style, doric, has flat, practical plates as capitals. in the next order, ionic, the capitals are decorated with understated scrolls. the final order, corinthian, popular later on with the romans, features leafy capitals -- boldly decorative, with no apologies necessary. how to remember all these? as the orders evolve, they gain syllables -- doric, ionic, corinthian. but for most travelers, the agora is more than an architectural review. strolling in the footsteps of socrates is your best opportunity to commune with the epic greek past.
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