Final Blog

1. What project do you think taught you the most this semester? I really liked designing the webpage.

2. How do you like blogging? Do you plan to continue with your blog eventhough I'm not going to be posting topics for you to blog about? I like blogging. I think it's a great way to get to know each other. I probably won't keep THIS blog going.

3. What did you learn from the Coffee Geek Squad project? What changes do I need to make? It teaches you how a basic business is run. I think more evaluations would be better.

4. Did the snacks that I brought influence you to do your work and behave appropriately (better work ethic = higher paycheck)? Yes

5.Career/Future Visitors: Was it helpful for these individuals to visit and talk about your future goals? Would you rather just read about careers online? I liked most of the visitors.

6. Any other comments? I really enjoyed your class Ms. Gay and I hope you have a great Christmas Break! See you next semester.

Gifts v. Gift Cards

I think gift cards are ok. Sometimes I have trouble picking out good gifts for people. I don't mind getting a gift cards, I always try to use them.

Chorus Concert

I didn't go to the Chorus Concert, but I enjoy their work. Mrs. Myers does an excellent job with them. The last Chorus Concert I saw was the High School Musical Show.

Favorite Christmas Song

Probably "The 12 Days of Christmas". It's SO ripe for parody.

Favorite Christmas Song

Jet Car

NO WAY! The car of the future WILL NOT run on extremely expensive jet fuel. The ''car'' of the future, I feel, is a small motorized scooter-like vehicle with a rechargeable battery than can easily navigate urban areas.

Christmas Shopping

I plan on doing some Christmas Shopping this year. I plan to get gifts for my little brother, my little sister, my parents, and my grandmother. I usually don't get my friends anything because they know how it is to have little money. I usually save part of my allowance and get a little extra allowance money to pay for presents. I'm getting my younger siblings change jars/piggie banks (so they can learn to save change), a cutting board for my parents (sounds a little tacky, but needed), and some dish towels for my granny (also useful).

Thanksgiving

I had an okay Thanksgiving. I'm very tired, yet I didn't really accomplish anything all this last week. After last week's game, I slept till 3 PM Saturday and lounged. Sunday is always my football day. Monday we worked on my room, painting my closet and my doors. That took awhile. I didn't have a door for Monday night or Tuesday night because the paint had to dry. Tuesday I went to see Twilight with my friends. It was AWESOME! Wednesday I went to my Granny's to help her with Thanksgiving and stayed the night with her. We got up early to cook, watched the parade (thank god I get to go 362 more days till I have to see it again), and then football. After dinner we all passed out, and then went home. Friday we got up early to go shopping. Wal-Mart at 7 AM on Black Friday, NOT FUN! We went to Belk's afterwards and it was a little less crowded. After shopping, it was time to head to school to get on the bus to go to Gwinnet County for the game. The game sucked, but I'm glad for the boys, they did a good job and have kept improving as time has gone on. Saturday and Sunday were almost the same as last week.

Martin for Senate!

Shocking Sex Survey

• On average, girls are losing their virginity at 15 years of age.

This is maybe the least shocking thing here, not that that's saying much. I think those that rush into sex are doing themselves a diservice. I've already decided to wait till I feel I'm ready, and I highly doubt someone who's 15 is ready.

• 14 percent of teens who are having sex say they’re doing it at school.

Once again, doesn't surprise me. A LOT of people show up to school early or late to go "hang out" with their BF/GF in the parking lot.

• 52 percent of survey respondents say they do not use protection when having sex.

I think this is a direct result of the almost complete collapse of Sex Ed I've mentioned before in this blog. There are a lot of ignorant teenagers who don't even consider using condoms.

• One in three says she fears having a sexually transmitted disease.

Well there having unprotected sex, so they should.

• 24 percent of teens with STDs say they still have unprotected sex.

Well they are the, excuse this word, sluts that spread herpes and crabs and then have 3 kids by their 20th birthday.

• One in five girls says she wants to be a teen mom.

Read the above answer.

• About 50 percent acknowledge that they’ve hit someone.

That's sad. They should just be ashamed of themselves.

• One out of three teens has tried drugs.

I'm surprised it's not higher.

Passwords

I think all of your passwords should be confidential all the time. I've never told anyone any of my passwords, and I never intend to. I've never asked anyone for their passwords either.

Free Write

I got a short little job today. I get to drive Mr. Myers to Tifton tomorrow to pick up his new car. It's a 2 hour roundtrip and I get $30. I think it's worth it.

Jonestown Anniversary

30 years ago Jim Jones was a cult leader in California and also had a place in Guyana, South America. His groupies killed several U.S. officials on an airstrip in Guyana, including a U.S. Congressman. This was the last time a Congressman was killed in the line of fire. After the cult killed the group, he convinced his folloers, more than 900 to committ mass suicide by injesting rat poison. It was an act to avoid capture. It was the largest mass suicide in history and also the largest death rate from an unnatural event leading up to the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Trojan Win

On Friday, the weather was miserable. It was wet, muggy, and turning cold. The Bus ride was uncomftorable to say the least. At least I had a seat to myself, but still every time we got off or on the bus, new dirt, mud, and wet grass found its way unfortunately close to my pillow and blanket. We went all the way from Douglas to Henry County, Georgia (4+ hours) without stopping. Besides everyone dealing with the "uncomftorable" situation, everyone on our bus had to deal with the girl who peed in a cup and spilled it on the floor. EEEEWWWW! Not kidding. The stands at the stadium were soaked. This freshman loser stepped on mine and my friend's poncho (we were sitting on them to keep our clothes dry) several times. But none of it mattered. The Trojans won and I was completely extatic. I can't wait for this week's game, and I would LOVE to go to the state championship. Go Trojans Go!

Start My Own Business

If I could start my own business, it would be to open my own Chiropractic Office. Being a chiropractor is something I've thought about doing, it would be the only medical job I would consider. Other than a Medical Office, I don't think I would be very adept at owning my own business.

Grandmother Gives Birth to Triplet

I think it's pretty cool that this woman was able to help her daughter out in such a way. It's better to do in vitro fertilization in-famliy, because it leaves less room for error. I hope it all turns out well.

Veteran's Day

Veteran's day is an important day because it honors the service of all of our Veterans. It allows us to honor them for their service, something most of us take for granted. Even though I don't think you need to serve in the military to be a hero, serving does make you a hero.

This Weekend

I wanted to go bowling Friday night, but after the HEARTBREAKING loss, I didn't feel like doing anything. When I got home, my parents told me there was a HUGE deal on laptops at Wal-Mart Saturday morning. They were Compaq Laptops, 160 Gb Hardrive, 2G Memory, CD/DVD burner, and Vista Home Premium. They were usually $600, but on sale for $300. Not the greatest computer, but a great deal. The catch was both me and my parents had to go to Wal-Mart because we were buying three (one for each of me and my siblings). We left the house at 6AM and stood in line until 8 and got them. Now we get to wait till Christmas to get them, but that's OK. I went home and was so tired I slept through most of the Georgia game.

When I'm 50...

I really don't know where I'll be when I'm 50, all I know is I hope I've set the path for the rest of my life at that. I had a recent epiphany that I'm only 17 and it's OK if I don't know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. I really don't know what career I want, but I'd like to position myself to have several option. I don't know what my family situation will be. I don't think I want kids or even if I want to get married. It's a little scary thinking about the future, but I just remind myself that if I make the right decisions now, everything will turn out all right.

Dream Car

My dream car would be a Mercedes C Class or a BMW 3 Series. Generally, American cars are nice, but somewhat unreliable. Japanese cars will never break down, but they sometimes skip on the amenities. A German car is the ultimate in luxury.

I want a small car, I think they're easier to drive and park. As long as there's enough room for 2 passengers and a small amount of luggage, I'm happy. I would want the car to be a hard-top convertible with leather seats, custom alloy rims, an automatic transmission, with heated/cooled 16-way adjustable seats. I think such car would be stylish, functional, and good on gas.

Election

I am relieved that Obama won. I don't care about race. I care about the issues. I care about the economy. I think this is absolutely the most important election in history, and yesterday was one of the most important days in U.S. History. I'm also glad Democrats have 56 seats so far (4 still undecided) in the Senate, and a bigger margin in the house.

I support the electoral college because if it was on popular vote alone, candidates would rarely leave the large cities.

I have a lot of respect for McCain and hope that one day soon he will regret the fear-mongering, racial tones of his campaign. I don't blame him, I just think he could've slowed the spread of ridiculous lies that circulated about Obama.

BTW, the Senate race is decided yet. It'll probably be a runoff (to win you need a majority of votes - Saxby has 49.9% as of now), and I expect him to win.

Free Write

I am SO excited to be an American today! Today will be historical, no matter the outcome. One day my grandchildren will ask me about today and what it was like living through it. I am so pumped to watch the election returns, they are WAY more exciting than sports. I'll probably stay up until two watching the returns. No matter your opinion, today is big. Today is history.

P.S. I'm counting down the hours until George W. Bush is no longer president. The City of San Francisco has decided to name a newly built sewage plant the George W. Bush Sewage Facility.

Best Halloween Costume

I guess that my best costume was when I was Hillary Clinton last year. I had the mask, and even the pants suit. It was unique and uniquely me.

Haunted Houses

I think the Haunted Ship would be the scariest. Blue and Green, colors associated with the water, are some of the spookiest colors, and anything nautical is always scary to me.

Superstisions

I don't believe in such crazy superstisions - mirrors, cats, or any of it. I do believe in karma. I think we should all work harder to be better people, I know I do.

Living a Long Life

I like to think I lead a very healthy life. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I exercise regularly. I get at least 7 hours of sleep most nights. My weight, blood pressure, pulse, cholesterol, etc. are all in healthy range. I don't drink, smoke, or use drugs. And it pays off. I feel good most of the time (especially since I started exercising), and I hardly ever get sick. I think that you should make an attempt to get healthy when you're younger, rather than older.

As for the signs, I drink soda. Not alot, but usually one can or so a day. I have very strong legs. Through marching band, running, and general life, I have very strong calves, and thighs. My mom was 32, so that's not great, not terrible. I love blueberries, grapes, and other purple fruits.

Free Write

Well I am really excited about the Georgia-Florida game this weekend. In the BCS, Georgia's ranked 6th and Florida is 8th. Both have a SEC loss. The winner will likely run the table and face Alabama in the SEC championship game. The worst that could happen to the winner is that they'd end up in the Sugar Bowl. If they beat Alabama, they'll probably end up in the National Championship Game. The loser will likely end up in the Citrus Bowl. Also, please keep Penn State out of the National Championship. The Big 10 is just TERRIBLE. With the strenght of the SEC and the Big 12, I feel the only way it will work is if the two teams in the Championship Game are the champions of the Big 12 and SEC, even if one or both of them have a loss and Penn State is undefeated. We all love JoePa, but save us from another lopsided National Championship.

Wiki

A wiki is a program or web site that allows all users to change its content. Wikipedia is the best example.

Favorites

Restaurant: Bennigan's

Music Artist: John Mayer

College Football Team: Georgia...Go Dawgs!

Store: Aeropostale

Radio Station: 101.9 FM "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites"

Place to Go: Fernandina Beach, Florida

Teacher: Ms. Hester (here) and Ms. Carmical (ECMS)

Animal: Cat - Dogs are too filthy and cats are more sophisticated.

Best Compliment

The best compliment I've ever received was from my friend, Alice. She's always liked me, but I've never liked her that way. When she told me in a note (I already knew), she said that I was the sweetest guy she had ever met. She said I was so funny all the time, but I knew when to be serious, and that I would always say something to brighten up her day. It was one of the sweetest things any one has ever said to me.

Odd News

What a waste of the justice system's time. Seriously, even though it may be technically illegal, the man who reported her to police should be ashamed of himself. Everybody has cranky neighbors. Maybe the kids should throw the ball in the other direction.

3 Things

3 Things to Do Before I die:

1. Get my doctorate degree (either a P.H.D., J.D., or E.D.S.).
2. Own a beach house.
3. Touch many people's life in a positive way.

3 Things I Cannot Do:

1. Walk across a tight-rope bridge.
2. Lie to myself.
3. Root for Florida to win in anything.

3 Things I Say all the Time:

1. Seriously!
2. OMG!
3. What-ever!

3 Movies/Books/Magazines/Websites I love:

1. The Breakfast Club
2. People Magazine
3. espn.com

Baby Names

If I had a baby tomorrow...

My name for a girl would be Elizabeth. It was my great-grandmother's name, and I think it's beautiful and graceful without being too old-fashioned.

My name for a boy would be James. It is my grandfather's, my father's, and my middle name. It's short and has a certain air of sophistication.

Third Debate

The main point I got from last night was the fall of John McCain. In two years, he has fallen from one of this country's most respected Senators to just plain pandering for votes. I respect him greatly as a person. He has been one of the most dedicated public servants in this nation's history. He would've been an amazing president if he had been elected over Bush in 2000. We just need a new direction. I (and many other Americans) just can't believe a Republican can fix our nation's enormous problems: a $500 billion dollar deficit (when Bush inherited office, it was a surplus), struggles abroad (a worsening situation in Afghanistan and thousands of deaths in Iraq), a major financial/credit crisis, and countless other problems. I hope McCain will work with Obama in the Senate, because its going to take more than one person to solve this nation's problems.

Random Acts of Kindness

That is a very sweet story! As for myself, I've never paid for a total stranger's meal, but I like to consider myself polite to others. I hold doors open for everyone. I help people pick up things they've dropped. I say hello to perfect strangers around and about town. I even wave as I drive past people. And I do other simple acts to maybe brighten someone's day. The world would be a better place if everyone was just a little more polite.

Free Write

I love football. It's far and beyond my favorite sport. Usually which level (high school, college, pro) is most exciting varies from weekend to weekend. This weekend it was pro. The Arizona Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys in Overtime on a blocked punt return TD, the first time in NFL history. The 0-4 St. Louis Rams beat the 4-1 Washington Redskins with a 49-yard field goal as time expired to get their first win. The 0-4 Houston Texans got their first win on a last second quarterback sneak as time expired against the Miami Dolphins. The Atlanta Falcons fell behind with 11 seconds left only to rally with a quick pass from rookie QB Matt Ryan and a 48-yard field goal as time expired to steal a victory from the Chicago Bears. And when everybody thought it was over, the Cleveland Browns, with only one win this season, upset the unbeaten defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in an absolute blowout. Whew, I don't think there'll ever be as good of football weekend.

Presidential Debate

I tried watching the "debate", last night, but it was too boring. After about 45 minutes, I just couldn't take it anymore. Neither Obama nor McCain have a grasp of the facts, or the style, quite like Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton. And neither offer the opportunity for a humorous meltdown, as Sarah Palin and George W. Bush do. At this point, the Debates aren't going to change anything any way, Obama has a solid lead in the Electoral College, and an 8-10 point national lead, larger than Bill Clinton's comftorable wins in the 90's.

Goals Update

• Get a 95 or above in Calculus. If I keep it that high, it won't be my lowest math grade.
  

Got a 97 on the Report Card for the first 9 weeks.

• Improve my SAT scores. I had 650 Verbal, 640 Math, and 520 Writing. My goal is 680 Writing, 670 Math, and 620 Writing.

Took it on Saturday, and I feel really good about the scores.

• Enjoy as many STUCO/football dress up days as possible. In the past I have only participated in a few. This year I would like to do more.

I've done everyone of the so far, and Sock Day this Thursday might be the most fun.

• Get a new car. My dad has promised me that we will start looking for a good deal on a nice car for my college use and I would like to get it sooner rather than later.

Not quite yet.

• Start college successfully. I already have two college credits by getting 5's on two AP tests. With those and my college English Class I hope to start college with a headstart.

My plans are coming together and I am ready to start applying for as many scholarships as time allows.

Kandy Korn Kisses

Wow, those look interesting! I've never thought about mixing chocolate with candy corn, but it sounds like a great idea. If I can get my hands on some, I want to try them.

Lottery

If I won a million dollars in the lottery...

• I would buy a new car. (Maybe a Lexus RX Hybrid)
• I would buy a new top-of-the-line laptop.
• I would buy a condo in either Fernandina Beach, or Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
• I would buy a completely new wardrobe.
• I would go to any college/law school, regardless of cost.

Economic Crisis

I think this "bailout" plan is the ONLY option at this point. Just yesterday, investors lost over a trillion dollars in Retirement Investments. We have had over five major investment firms fail this year. The lines of credit have completely dried up and everyone's suffering. To most uneducated Americans, it sounds like $700,000,000,000 is being used to fix the mistakes of Wall Street CEO's. What they don't understand is that this is vital to keep America from becoming a third-world power. Obviously Congress doesn't either.

This Weekend

My weekend started Friday after school. I went with my friends Meghan and Alice to El Potro's for lunch. I NEVER eat lunch at school on early release day. We (the band) left at 4:30 to go to Moultrie for the game. The ride was pretty good, I got to sit with my friend Mary Esther, and we played Mario Party on our DS's. Unfortunately we were on the bus with a bunch of freshman and sophomores, and a lot of the really annoying ones. We won the game 46-20, go Trojans! Their concession stands sucked. Luckily, I was still pretty full from lunch. After the game, we had to get on the bus and get quiet, because Colquitt County is not the most hospitable place in the world. On Saturday, we had a band competition in Hawkinsville. We also marched the Nicholls Founder's Day Parade. I got to bed at 1:45 on Friday and had to get up at 7:30 the next morning. Not fun. We did good at Competition, we got all Superior's. Unfortunately their concession stands also sucked. Sunday I slept in and watched Football all day. Grrr at the Crimson Tide and the stupid coaches for putting USC above Georgia!

Sleeping Patterns

Usually I go to sleep between 11:30 and 12:00 on weeknights. I get up at 7:00, so I usually get plenty of sleep. I don't go to bed if I'm not tired, if I'm not I'll usually either watch TV, listen to music, or do some housework until I am. A lot of the time, I'll be doing my homework and I'll get really sleepy so I'll compromise by going to sleep but waking up early the next morning to finish it. I usually take a few naps a week. A couple of weekdays and almost every Saturday, usually.

Army Representatives

I know the military is great for some people, but it's just not for me. I know how I'm going to pay for college, so that doesn't help me. I consider myself capable of surviving in the real world without help. If it's for you, great. It's just not for me.

Legal Drinking Age

To start, I kinda feel that 21 is an odd age for a legal drinking age. Most rights are earned at the age of 18. Rights earned beyond are in business matters (such as you must be 25 to rent a car). We can vote, gamble, buy "dangerous" products (cigarettes, spray paint, white out, etc.), and do various other "adult" things when we're 18, so why not make it legal to purchase alcohol? Drinking rates among 18-21 year olds would not raise significantly, but rates of binge drinking likely would fall. But then again, don't we have more important issues? (the $700,000,000,000 federal financial bailout plan, perhaps?)

Track Quote

The quote is so true. I think it best means everyone needs to try their hardest (by not sitting down), no matter where they are in life (at whatever track they're on). I've always told anybody who'll listen that just laying back and accepting fate makes you much more of a loser than someone who tries something and fails miserably. And its the truth.

Albany State University Speaker

I somewhat enjoyed the presentation. She was an OK speaker, not all that great. It didn't do anything for me as far as making me review my college plans. I'm not going to Albany State. 4,400 students is WAY too small, they only have 32 degree programs, and their academic standards are way too low. Still, a little bit of knowledge never hurt anybody.

Secret Service Protection

I would NOT like to have Secret Service Protection follow me around all day. It would be like having really smart, devious parents you can't outsmart that know everywhere you go. There would be absolutely no privacy and I couldn't handle it. That is one of the reasons I want to avoid life in the public sector. I'm my own person and I can take care of myself.

Dog Saves Owner

I don't want to sound negative, but, this article is only mildly interesting at best. How does this, or can this affect any person in this room? I just don't see training dogs to do this as either profitable or practical. I don't feel it would pay off in many instances and more than a few unlucky owners would fall through the cracks. But as for the guy, great for him. He's lucky he has a dog with those capabilities.

Homecoming

I had an AMAZING time for Homecoming this year. The Pep Rally was awesome, especially since I got to dance to Peanut Butter Jelly Time. It does suck that I was forced to sit with the lifeless, spiritless zombies known as Band, and unable to stand up and cheer with all of my senior friends. The parade was rough. Our song sucked, it was over 90 degrees, and there were barely any floats or anything in the parade. The game rocked, though. The Trojans beat "Class AAA Powerhouse" Shaw in a blowout. Go Trojans! It looks like we might have a shot at the playoffs after all. The Dance was a little mixed. I had to drive out to Ambrose to pick up my date and then she left the dance two hours early. Whatever, that was my last date with her. Otherwise, I had a great time after she left. I danced with at least ten different girls and my legs are still killing me today. After the dance, I went and partied with a few friends for a little while and was home before one.

Love Quote

I agree completely. You'll never find happiness, acceptance, fulfillment, or any other positive emotion without trying something, and that applies especially to love. And that is different for everyone.

Abandoned Baby in China

While it may be easy to pass judgement on this woman, I don't feel that I'm qualified to judge her. That being said, I find it really hard to believe that anyone could do that. It's unfortunate that anyone would do physical harm to a child that way. Another point to consider is that because China has such strict, totalitarian laws regarding child bearing and adoption, her situation was likely not an easy one to bear. We can only hope that in a free, democratic society, she would've made a different decision.

Brittney Spears

I didn't watch the VMA's, and I don't care for Brittney Spears. I don't like her music and I haven't listened to anything of hers since the 90's. I think her questionable actions are due to her being another example of a child star gone awry. Whenever we hear about another scandal, I just roll my eyes. You know its bad when Kevin Federline is viewed as a better role model for kids.

Substitutes

I think cutting subs is a fair way to save money - for the high school, where there is always a teacher on planning. At the middle and elementary schools, it isn't. It'll work out more than fine for us - Mr. Evans and others can watch a class instead of smoking behind the ag building during their planning.

Opinion of Blogging

So far, I enjoy blogging. It's a different outlet to express your opinions. You can say pretty much whatever you want, and if you don't want anyone to read them, you can set it to private. I may start blogging on the side.

Pet Peeves

While I could write about this topic for days...

• Whenever anybody uses up a roll of toilet paper and doesn't throw the empty roll away. Also when they put the new roll on the counter or the top of the toilet.
• When people slurp, burp, or make any unpleasant noises while eating or drinking.
• Any hair found in anything involved in the processes of preparing or eating food.

Sarah Palin

I am best described as an independent, a moderate, and well informed. As far as this election goes, I'm sorta divided. Economic conditions and the utter failures of the Bush Administration make Obama look more attractive. On the other hand, John McCain is an experienced hero and has shown great qualities such as leadership, good judgement, and compromise. He's also closer to the middle than Obama. This all adds up to me leaning McCain. When Obama picked Senator Biden to be his V.P., I thought it was safe, yet good choice. McCain's selection of Palin definitely adds spice to the race, but it also raises doubts. A vice president who less than 2 years ago was the mayor of a town smaller than Douglas? Especially given McCain's age. As far as her politics goes, she seems to be a common sense Conservative with the gall to go against the establishment. That's definitely a positive. The worst part of the story though is the recent disclosures made about her dealings and her family. Between the family fued involving her firing the official for not firing her ex-brother-in-law and her knocked up daughter, I wonder if McCain should've announced his pick on Jerry Springer. More troublesome, it was disclosed that her Alaska town received a lot of federal pork barrel money for various purposes. As the historical aspect goes, I think it's a true landmark we will either have the first black president, or the first female VP.

Teen Pregnancy

I feel the rise in teen pregnancy is due to the erosion of proper Sex Education in schools. I realize that the reason Sex Ed. has eroded is the policy of pushing abstinence first, but I really think at this point it's proven itself unsuccessful. Teens are going to mess around, and the day we start regulating it through figures other than parents is the day we will all wear a khaki one-piece and march in lines to vote for the one candidate on the ballot. A proper Sex. Ed. would teach the consequences of unprotected sex (such as teen pregnancy), and, yes, birth control methods to appropriate aged students. Many teens don't know they can get a prescription for birth control pills, that condoms are more than 90% effective in preventing STD's and pregnancy, and that babies born to teenage mothers are at much higher risks of birth defects. They also don't realize the detrimental effects of being saddled down with a baby at such a young age. The proper message from authority figures shouldn't be, "We don't think you should do it all so we're not even going to mention it." It should be, "We'd prefer you didn't, but we'd rather you be safe about it."

One skill that I have learned was the use of the print screen key to capture the screenshot. I've used it a few times for personal use in the time since then.

2 Day Week!

This long weekend was, in a sense, my last vestiges of freedom. Even though I love football season, it can be very tiring. I had absolutely no homework, and no major chores. I spent the day with Grandmother on Saturday. I washed my truck and gave our dogs a bath on Monday. I played some video games, caught up with my stuff on my DVR, and watched 4 movies. I enjoyed sleeping in and overall enjoyed what were probably my last rain days of High School.

T.S. Fay

At this point, about 1:30 on Friday, I am tired of Fay. When I lived in Florida, we had to deal with hurricanes on a fairly regular basis. Even though it may only be a tropical storm, it's one of the worst the state of Florida's had to deal with in a few years. The flooding rains are caused by the storm being almost stationary for the past few days. As for us up here, we do need the rain, and the winds aren't as bad as they could be. We just have to ride out the unpleasant weather and thank God it isn't any worse.

FutureNow

The most important thing that came from the performance yesterday is that, I hope, some of the people on the brink of not graduating may realize what happens when you don't earn a high school diploma. Even though you really need a degree to succeed in today's job market, a high school graduate will fare a lot better than a dropout. Not to mention that a high school diploma is the starting point of a college or technical degree. I think the best way to scare people into graduating (because that's what's needed with a lot of them) is to show, in a video, the average lifestyle of a dropout, high school graduate, college graduate, etc. Most importantly, it shows that the school is truly dedicated to getting our students to graduate. If it encourages one student to not drop out and work towards graduation, than it will've been worth it.

Day of Assembly

Went to assembly - unable to do blog.

Cheating

In all cases, cheating is bad for all parties involved. For the teacher, it demeans, undermines and misrepresents them. For the student, it takes away knowledge, which is key to success. To cheat on a standardized test is perhaps worst of all. Not only does it put the scores of other test takers at jeopardy, it is basically lying to the hundreds of colleges who see the scores, teachers, your parents, and most importantly yourself. Nothing is to be gained by cheating. It's worse than a last resort.

Parts of the Word Opening Screen

• Title Bar
• Menu Bar
• Standard Toolbar
• Formatting Toolbar
• Insertion Point
• View Buttons
• Status Buttons
• Task Pane

Get To Know Me Survey

1. What time do you wake up in the morning? 6:45
2. What famous person would you want to be friends with?
3. Do you prefer gold or silver? Gold
4. What type of movies do you like? Comedies
5. What was the last movie you saw in theaters? Did you like it? Juno (Yeah, it's been awhile); it rocked!
6. What is your favorite T.V. Show? Big Brother
7. Do you eat breakfast? Sometimes
8. Who would you hate to spend a day alone with? Why? There are a few people I could name here.
9. What do you like most about yourself? My personality
10. What do you like least about yourself? My height
11. Do you like your given name? If no, what name would you like to have been named? Yeah, it's very unique.
12. What is your favorite city? Why? Fernadina Beach, FL; I love the beach.
13. What is your favorite season? Fall
14. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Key Lime Pie
15. Favorite kind of popcorn? Butter, Salted, Plain, Caramel, Cheese, Other Kettle Corn
16. What is your favorite color? Olive Green
17. What is your favorite car? BMW 3-Series
18. What is your favorite food? Watermelon
19. Describe the perfect friend. Someone who likes you as much as you like yourself.
20. Describe the worst kind of enemy. Somebody who's invading your niche.
21. What is your favorite animal? Dachshund
22. Where do you most want to visit? Where do you want to go when you retire? I would like to visit as many Carribean Islands as possible.
23. What is your biggest goal? Law School
24. What is your 'catch phrase'? What 'catch phrase' annoys you most? I have too many.; I really can't think of any I just hate.
25. Are you smiling right now? Yes

Beijing 2008

I usually enjoy watching the olympics. This year with the games being held in China there are some political tensions that have surfaced. China's human rights violations come to mind. Turmoil and religous oppression in Tibet is unfortunate. The rush of manufacturing jobs to China has left much of the country bitter over the souring economy. However, with tensions rising and America's power abroad falling, now is not the time to start a diplomatic fight with the world's most populous country. As for the games themselves, team U.S.A. is doing very well. To this point I've watched events in Swimming (Men's and Women's), Women's Cycling (a 70+ mile race through the smog filled streets of Beijing to the Great Wall), Rowing, Basketball, and Gymnastics. The comeback of the Americans to beat the French in the 400m relay was awesome. I hope to enjoy more events in the weeks to come.

08-09 School Year Goals

My main goal for this year is to improve every aspect of myself as much as possible. Not to sound conceited, but I consider myself a pretty awesome person. I'm very satisfied with myself, but self-improvement is a key aspect of life. To list some goals:

• Get a 95 or above in Calculus. If I keep it that high, it won't be my lowest math grade.
• Improve my SAT scores. I had 650 Verbal, 640 Math, and 520 Writing. My goal is 680 Writing, 670 Math, and 620 Writing.
• Enjoy as many STUCO/football dress up days as possible. In the past I have only participated in a few. This year I would like to do more.
• Get a new car. My dad has promised me that we will start looking for a good deal on a nice car for my college use and I would like to get it sooner rather than later.
• Start college successfully. I already have two college credits by getting 5's on two AP tests. With those and my college English Class I hope to start college with a headstart.