The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The non-fiction book read by Sadie and Cyrus has been adapted into a feature film and it is now available on Netflix! The film is directed by the Nigerian-British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, who also wrote the screenplay. The film is based on the memoir of the same name, written by William Kamkwamba. As a boy, William taught himself how to build a wind turbine to provide his small village in Malawi with electricity.

Here is Michael Phillips' review of the film in The Chicago Tribune.

Here is an NPR interview with Ejiofor on the making of the film.

Here is a TED talk with William about his wind turbine project.

If you watch the film please record your thoughts in the comments. Also, if you're looking for a good non-fiction book to read, consider reading William's book!

New Fantasy Books Reviewed in New York Times

The New York Times has reviewed 4 new fantasy novels. Check them out here!

Western Hemisphere

#1: South America: Countries and Capitals (printables)
#2: Central America: Countries and Capitals (printables)
#3: Caribbean: Countries only (printables)
#4: Canada: Provinces & Territories and Capitals (printables)

Asia

Asia Quiz #1 (Country and Capital)

Asia Quiz #2 (Country and Capital)
Asia Quiz #3 (Country only)
Asia Quiz #4 (Country only)

Thank You Cards

Africa

Africa Quizzes: Countries Only
Africa Quiz #1: Southern Africa
Africa Quiz #2: Central Africa
Africa Quiz #3: West Africa
Africa Quiz #4: Northern Africa
Africa Quiz #5: African Cities

Printables can be found here.

South Africa Links

The State of Our Planet 2018

"How Extreme Weather is Shrinking the Planet: With wildfires, heat waves, and shrinking sea levels, large tracts of the earth are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. But the fossil fuel industry continues its assault on the facts," by Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, November 26, 2018.

This is essential reading from environmentalist Bill McKibben.

Blogging Links #2

Music and Random Pop Culture (Gabriel)
Ava's Book Blog (Ava B.)
The Crafted Book (Ren)
Art, Music, and Writing (Danni)
On the Asphalt (Wynter)
Rayhan's Past Trips (Rayhan)
Super Cool Games (Ben)
Logan's Movie Reviews (Logan)
The Dogs With a Blog (Ali)
Friends Fun (Ava C.)

Disney Talk (Jada)
Sophia's Ocean Life Blog (Sophia K.)
Paige's Eddsworld Blog (Paige)
Written and Read (Natasha)
Character Profiles (JuneLin)

My Opinion (Tre)
Worldwide Animals (Jasmine)
My Review Blog (Elise)
Movie Review (Cyrus)
Art, Kpop, and Music (Willa)
Flying with RC Model Aircraft (Kevin)
Eva's Blog (Eva)

Europe

Quiz #1: Western Europe Countries
Quiz #1: Western Europe Capitals

Quiz #2: Northern Europe Countries
Quiz #2: Northern Europe Capitals

Quiz #3: Southern Europe Countries (countries only--no capitals on this quiz)

Europe Printable Maps: You can print these to help with studying.

Sixth Grade 2018-2019

Politics Links

FiveThirtyEight's Senate Forecast
FiveThirtyEight's House Forecast
FiveThirtyEight's Governors Forecast

New York Times' House and Senate Live Polls

New York Times, Oct. 26: "Stacey Abrams, a Daughter of the South, Asks Georgia to Change"
Washington Post: "In Deep Red Tennessee, Republicans are anxious about the U.S. Senate race"
Washington Post: "Trump ties, Supreme Court fight, loom over North Dakota race"

Blogging Links

The Passage Redtail (Dorianne)
GeoGeek (Tre)
Film Fun Forever (Cedar)
Harper's Baking Blog (Harper)
Ava's Book Blog (Ava)
Sienna's Cooking (Sienna)
Art, Kpop, and Music (Willa)
Flight with RC (Kevin)
Sammy's Horse View (Sammy)
Br'er Blog (Ian)
Everything Sports (Felix)
The RPM Counter (Stuart)
I Survived Anxiety (Danni)
Safari Sunset (Eleanor)
Books and Me (Corrina)
Puppy Party (Aunika)
Delilah's Experience (Helen)
Which Game Should I Play? (Gabe)
Todd the Dog (Livvy)
Breathtaking Travel (Sophia)
Worldwide Animals (Jasmine)
Random Things Nick Does (Nick)
Nature: Caught on Camera (Kate)
Game Review (Tyler)

Seterra Links

Use these links to practice for Geography Quizzes!

Continents & Oceans Quiz

Cities Quiz #1: States
Cities Quiz #1: Cities (Re-take date: Oct. 5

Cities Quiz #2: States
Cities Quiz #2: Cities (Quiz date: Oct. 12)
(Note: This quiz includes Annapolis, Maryland, which does not show up on Seterra.)

Cities Quiz #3: States
Cities Quiz #3: Cities (Quiz date: Oct. 19)

Cities Quiz #4: States
Cities Quiz #4: Cities

Cities Quiz #5: States
Cities Quiz #5: Cities

Cities Quiz #6: States
Cities Quiz #6: Cities (Quiz date: January 18, 2019)

2018 Sways

 Ali
Amelie
Angelique
Anna
Annie
Ava
Cedar
Corrina
Dorianne
Eleanor
Elise
Estelle
Ethan
Felix
Helen
Ian
JuneLin
Kate
Kira
Levi
Livvy
Merak
Natasha
Orion
Preston
Sarisha
Sienna
Sophia H.
Sophia OK
Stuart
Tre
Tyler
Zachary

Gerrymandering

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court created a new Congressional map for Pennsylvania. This map erases the extreme gerrymanders from the previous map and makes several districts more competitive. You can read about the new map here.

The New York Times has a fascinating interactive map feature which compares the old Pennsylvania districts with the new ones. Check it out here.

Finally, here is some interesting analysis from The New York Times about what the new map means for Democrats and Republicans.

#NeverAgain

Christine Yared is a 14-year-old freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times, which you can read here.

Two sixteen-year-old girls organized a "lie-in" in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday. You can read about the event in The Washington Post here.

Emma Gonzalez helped galvanize the #NeverAgain movement with her heartfelt speech at a Fort Lauderdale rally. If you have not watched the speech you can watch it here.

How did the teenage survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School organize their movement so quickly? These two pieces cover the origins of the movement: the first is from Buzzfeed and the second is from The New Yorker.

Welcome to Gacekblog 2017

Gacekblog is a supplementary resource for Mr. Gacek's classes. You will find links and posts related to Geography, Politics, Literature, Soccer, Popular Culture, Kombucha, and various things Mr. Gacek finds interesting.

Gacekblog is not a homework blog. Homework due dates for Mr. Gacek's classes can be found on TeacherEase.

Welcome to NOVA!!

To learn more about the above map, click here.

Favorite Shows of All Time!!

1. The Wire, HBO, 2002-2008, 5 seasons
2. Freaks and Geeks, NBC, 1999-2000
3. The Sopranos, HBO, 1999-2007, 6 seasons
4. Twin Peaks, ABC, 1990-1991, 2 seasons
5. My So-Called Life, ABC, 1994-1995
6. Mad Men, AMC, 2007-2015, 7 seasons
7. Seinfeld, NBC, 1989-1998, 9 seasons
8. Breaking Bad, AMC, 2008-2013, 5 seasons

9. Succession, HBO, 2018-2023, 4 seasons
10. Friday Night Lights, NBC, 2006-2011, 5 seasons
11. Deadwood, HBO, 2004-2006, 3 seasons

12. Patriot, Amazon, 2017-2018, 2 seasons 

13. Veep, HBO, 2013-2019, 7 seasons
14. Cheers, NBC, 1982-1993, 11 sesons

15. Better Call Saul, AMC, 2015-2022, 6 seasons

16. The Simpsons, FOX, 1989-1998, seasons 1-9 only

17. Utopia, Channel 4, 2013-2014, 2 seasons

18. Lost, ABC, 2004-2010, 6 seasons

19. Moonlighting, ABC, 1985-1989, 5 seasons

20. Sherwood, BBC, 2022-2024, 2 seasons
21. The Americans, FX, 2013-2018, 6 seasons

22. Reservation Dogs, FX/Hulu, 2021-2023, 3 seasons

23. The Office, BBC Two, 2001-2003, 2 seasons
24. Parks and Recreation, NBC, 2009-2015, 7 seasons
25. The Great, Hulu, 2020-2023, 3 seasons

26. Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO, 2000-2021, 11 seasons

27. The Office, NBC, 2005-2013, 9 seasons

28. Shrinking, Apple, 2023-2026, 3 seasons

29. Better Things, FX, 2016-2022, 5 seasons

30. Perpetual Grace, Ltd., Epix, 2019

31. Fleabag, BBC Three, 2016-2019, 2 seasons

32. Louie, FX, 2010-2015, 5 seasons

33. Homicide: Life on the Street, 1993-1995, seasons 1-3 only 

34. Rectify, Sundance, 2013-2016, 4 seasons

35. NewsRadio, NBC, 1995-1999, 5 seasons
36. Undeclared, FOX, 2001-2002

37. Broad City, Comedy Central, 2014-2019, 5 seasons

38. Derry Girls, Channel 4 (UK), 2018-2022, 3 seasons

39. Bunheads, ABC Family, 2012-2013

40. Barry, HBO, 2018-2023, 4 seasons 

41. The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1992-1998, 6 seasons

42. The Cosby Show, NBC, 1984-1992, 8 seasons

43. Flight of the Conchords, HBO, 2007-2009, 2 seasons

44. Arrested Development, FOX, 2003-2006, 3 seasons

45. Once & Again, ABC, 1999-2002, 3 seasons
46. The Wonder Years, ABC, 1988-1993, 6 seasons
47. Skins, E4 (UK), 2007-2008, Seasons 1-2 only
48. Sex Education, Netflix, 2019-2023, 4 seasons

49. Detectorists, BBC Four, 2014-2017, 3 seasons

50. Please Like Me, ABC2/ABC (Australia), 2013-2016, 4 seasons

51. Long Story Short, Netflix, 2025

52. Square Pegs, CBS, 1982-83
53. Bored to Death, HBO, 2009-2011, 3 seasons

54. Normal People, BBC Three, 2020

55. The End of the F***ing World, Channel 4, 2017, season 1 only

56. Teenage Bounty Hunters, Netflix, 2020

57. The Rehearsal, HBO, 2022-2025, 2 seasons

58. The IT Crowd, Channel 4, 2006-2010, 4 seasons

59. True Detective, HBO, 2014, season 1 only

60. Party Down, Starz, 2009-2010/2023, 3 seasons

61. Mare of Easttown, HBO, 2021

62. The Corner, HBO, 2000

63. Dying for Sex, FX/Hulu, 2025

64. Such Brave Girls, BBC Three, 2023-2025. 2 seasons

65. The Underground Railroad, Amazon, 2021

66. Master of None, Netflix, 2015-2017, seasons 1 & 2 only

67. Bad Sisters, Apple, 2022-2024, 2 seasons

68. The Lowdown, FX, 2025

69. Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1991-93, 2 seasons

70. Severance, Apple, 2022-2025, 2 seasons

71. This Country, BBC Three, 2017-2020, 3 seasons

72. The Mindy Project, FOX/Hulu, 2012-2017, 6 seasons

73. Schitt's Creek, CBC (Canada), 2015-2020, 6 seasons
74. Somebody, Somewhere, HBO, 2022-2024, 3 seasons

75. Siblings, BBC Three, 2014-2016, 2 seasons 

76. Ludwig, BBC One, 2024

77. The White Lotus, HBO, 2021-22, seasons 1 & 2 only

78. Deadloch, Amazon, 2023

79. Trying, Apple, 2020-2024, 4 seasons

80. Horace and Pete, Hulu, 2016

81. The Good Place, NBC, 2016-2020, 4 seasons

82. Yellowjackets, Showtime, 2021-2022, season 1 only
83. Terriers, FX, 2010
84. Entourage, HBO, 2004-2011, 8 seasons
85. The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, IFC, 2006-2007, 2 seasons
86. One Mississippi, Amazon, 2015-17, 2 seasons

87. True Blood, HBO, 2008, season 1 only

88. Colin From Accounts, Binge (Australia), 2022-2024, 2 seasons

89. The Mighty Boosh, BBC Three, 2004-2007, 3 seasons
90. King of the Hill, FOX, 1997-2010, 13 seasons

91. Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Hulu, 2020-2021, 2 seasons

92. Girls, HBO, 2012-2017, 6 seasons

93. Margo's Got Money Troubles, Apple, 2026
94. Six Feet Under, HBO, 2001-2005, 5 seasons
95. Enlightened, HBO, 2011-2013, 2 seasons

96. Looking For Alaska, Hulu, 2019

97. Fleishman is in Trouble, FX/Hulu, 2022

98. Happy Endings, ABC, 2011-2013, 3 seasons
99. The Jinx, HBO, 2015
100. Love, Netflix, 2016-2018, 3 seasons

101. Nathan For You, Comedy Central, 2013-2017, 4 seasons

102. The Pursuit of Love, BBC One, 2021

103. Task, HBO, 2025

104. Ted Lasso, Apple, 2020-23, 3 seasons

105. DTF St. Louis, HBO, 2026

106. First Day, ABC Me (Australia), 2020-2022, 2 seasons

107. Never Have I Ever, Netflix, 2020-2023, 4 seasons

108. What We Do in the Shadows, FX, 2019-2023, seasons 1-5 only

109. High School, Amazon, 2023

110. Back, Channel 4, 2017-2021, 2 seasons
111. American High, PBS, 2001
112. Catastrophe, Channel 4, 2015-2019, 4 seasons

113. Hung, HBO, 2009-2011, 3 seasons

114. Starstruck, BBC, 2021-2022, seasons 1-2 only

115. Legit, FX, 2013-2014, 2 seasons

116. Station Eleven, HBO Max, 2021-2022

117. A Man on the Inside, Netflix, 2024

118. Only Murders in the Building, Hulu, 2021-2022, seasons 1-2 only

119. Bupkis, Peacock, 2023

120. Killing It, Peacock, 2022-2023, 2 seasons

121. St. Denis Medical, NBC, 2024-2026, 2 seasons 

122. The Sex Lives of College Girls, Max, 2021-2025, 3 seasons

123. Family Tree, HBO, 2013

124. Summer Heights High, ABC (Australia), 2007

125. Don't Forget the Driver, BBC Two, 2019

126. The Family, Netflix, 2019

127. Better Off Ted, ABC, 2009-2010, 2 seasons

128. Almost Fly, Warner TV Serie (Germany), 2022

129. Platonic, Apple, 2023-2025, 2 seasons

130. Rooster, HBO, 2026

131. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, NBC, 2026

132 English Teacher, FX/Hulu, 2024, season 1 only

133. Spaced, Channel 4, 1999-2001, 2 seasons

134. Happily Never After, RUV (Iceland), 2019
135. Friends, NBC, 1994-2004, 10 seasons

136. Vladimir, Netflix, 2026

137. Who is America?, Showtime, 2018

138. Bad Education, BBC Three, 2012-2014, 3 seasons

139. The Dropout, Hulu, 2022

140. The Serpent, BBC, 2021

141. Welcome to Flatch, FOX, 2022-2023, 2 seasons

142. Stath Lets Flats, Channel 4 (UK), 2018-2022, 3 seasons

143. Married, FX, 2014-2015, 2 seasons

144. Bent, NBC, 2012

145. The Story of Late Night, CNN, 2021

146. The History of the Sitcom, CNN, 2021

148. The History of Comedy, CNN, 2017-2018, 2 seasons

149. The Paper, Peacock, 2025

150. Forever, Amazon, 2018

151. Mulaney, FOX, 2014-2015

Currently Watching:

30 Rock, season 1

Cougar Town, season 1

M*A*S*H, season 2

Abbott Elementary, season 2

Cheers, season 3

Mary Tyler Moore, season 6

Partially Completed But Would Like to Finish Some Day:
Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix, 1 of 4 seasons
Fargo, FX, 2 of 4 seasons
Baskets, FX, 1 of 4 seasons
Casual, Hulu, 2 of 4 seasons
Silicon Valley, HBO, 2 of 5 seasons
Lodge 49, AMC, 1 of 2 seasons

Happy Valley, BBC One, 1 of 3 seasons

Extras, BBC Two, 1 of 2 seasons

Letterkenny, Crave, 1 of 9 seasons

Oz, HBO, 1 of 6 seasons

PEN15, Hulu, 2 of 3 seasons

Hacks, HBO Max, 1 of 3 seasons

Rutherford Falls, Peacock, 1 of 2 seasons

Starstruck, HBO, 2 of 3 seasons

Only Murders in the Building, Hulu, 2 of 4 seasons

Yellowjackets, Showtime, 1 of 3 seasons

Episodes Watched Non-Sequentially/Sporadically and Would Need to Re-Watch to Properly Rank: The Twilight Zone, The A-Team, Magnum P.I., C.H.I.P.s, The Dukes of Hazard, Miami Vice, Family Ties, Night Court, Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, Community, 30 Rock, Modern Family, Roseanne, Taxi, South Park, New Girl, Ed, Frasier, My Name is Earl.

Abandoned: You, Weeds, Transparent, Big Love, How to Make it in America, The Affair, Stranger Things, A.P Bio, Teachers (TV Land), Orange is the New Black, Veronica Mars, Togetherness, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, You're The Worst, Eastbound & Down.

Watchlist: The Leftovers, Hannibal, Sports Night,  Halt & Catch Fire, The Deuce, Atlanta, Treme, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The West Wing, Russian Doll, The Queen's Gambit, The Bear, Toast of London (BritBox), Teachers (Channel 4/Amazon), Beef, Remember WENN, Bob's Burgers, BoJack Horseman, The Shield, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Frank's Place, Shogun (FX), Review with Myles Barlow (Australia), Black Sands (Iceland).

Variety/Talk/Music Favorites: Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Austin City Limits, Soundstage, Jeopardy! (Alex Trebek), 120 Minutes, At the Movies (Siskel & Ebert).

World Religions Map

Follow this Link. Zoom in with '+' and '-' icons. Toggle between religions by clicking on 'MENU' in upper right corner.

Source: PBS