iPods in Schools

Over the past few years, schools have started to ban iPods at schools. This is only the next electronic device to be debated over being banned after cell phones and other media devices. I disagree with this rule for several reasons. Like the girl said in the article, if a student is going to cheat, they will find a way regardless of how they are cheating. A teacher can argue that there is evidence that students have saved answers to tests by typing them in the lyrics section of a song, but students can also write answers to a scrap sheet of paper and hide it in their pocket. Are teachers going to want to ban paper next? I think not. I do not think students should be allowed to use iPods during tests however. Because listening to music is a distraction, they should not be used for tests because tests are important grades, and the students should have their full attention on the test. When I am simply working on a project or finished with my assignments, I think I should be allowed to listen to my music. As long as a student is not disrupting others by having the volume too loud or singing along to the lyrics, they are okay, and I believe they can even make a room quieter when students are working because they are listening to music and not talking to other students. Teachers have even stared to use iPods in some elementary classes throughout the nation.An article I found that supports my claim can be found here. http://http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1014

Disasters Around the World

After reading these three articles about recent tragedies that have struck our world, I began to stop and think. From the earthquake and tsunami in Chile, to the recent issues regarding Global Warming, to the storms in Europe, it seems as though the world is falling apart. I could not imagine living through any one of these horrible events, and I could not begin to comprehend the fear they must have experienced. I feel really sorry for the people who lost family and friends, and how they are now surviving off very little. The 8.8 level earthquake must have been very scary! This brings another question to mind. Will the world go to the rescue of Chile as they did for Haiti? Or would these countries ever help the United States if we were ever hit with a disaster like this? I find it funny how all of these countries love to hate us, but always look to us for help in a time of need. On the Global Warming article I read about, I am on the side that thinks the whole thing is fake. Yes, we are over polluting the Earth, but I think the whole thing is blown way out of proportion, and I do not think we will not drown. I think our nation's first priority should be to help our European allies because they are currently helping us in our war against terror, and they deserve our help more than other countries that would love to see us fall. Regardless of the governments of these countries, I still hope that everyone gets out alive and okay.

3 Similarities Between These Three Articles:
*They all had to do with natural disasters.
*They were all posted on Yahoo.
*They were all depressing.

Books I've Read

Over the last semester, I have read several books from many genres ranging from futuristic, classical, and fantasy. Reading these books have given me insight into the past, as well as some of the crazy things our future may hold.

• The Awakening by Kate Chopin: A book that was a classroom requirement, I found this book a bit dull at the beginning. As the story progressed and the plot deepened, I began to enjoy Edna's story more. One of the reasons why I had trouble liking this book was because the story moved too slow for my taste. On the other hand, I became interested with Edna as she began to spread her wings and become independent. I would not recommend this novel to anyone for enjoyment, but would if they needed to do a deep analysis on a book because this book was very complex.
• feed by M.T. Anderson (2 books): After I read this futuristic tale, I began to think of the downsides of technology. In this book, the majority of the population are wired to the Internet via their brains. With all of the upgraded technology, humans began to lose the ability to think for themselves, and they lost their personalities. Not only were there mental downsides of the feed, there were physical problems that came with them as well, the worst being death. The plot in this book was fairly slow, and the book had a very sad ending, not the type that I like to read.
• New Moon by Stephanie Meyer (3 books): I chose to read this book mainly because the movie came out last month, but I really enjoyed this book, although I found it was not as good as Twilight. Being a fan of Edward, I began to get sick of Jacob because all he does is complain and follow Bella around like a lost puppy, no pun intended. I found the end of the book very exhilarating, even though I knew Edward would not die. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy novels.

The Father's Opinion Should Matter

According to guttmacher.org, approximately one third of all teen pregnancies end in abortion. But how many of these abortions were agreed upon by both parents in the relationship? I find this data very alarming seeing as how the child of a non-married teen couple is just as much the father's as the baby is the mother's.

Regardless of Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion and gave women the right to choose whether or not she keeps the baby, I believe the father's opinion should matter. If the mother did not wish to take care of her child and the father did not want her to have an abortion, she could give up full custody to the father.

Since a woman bears the child she has the right whether or not to keep the child, but it takes a male to get her pregnant. Although I do not think the male should have a say if the girl was raped, he should if the relationship was consensual. Aside form my own personal opinion on abortion, the mother should consider the father's opinion, and it should be a law that both parents agree before making such a life changing decision.

Where is the "Merry" in Christmas?

Remember when Christmas was a time of happiness and giving? In the past decade, anti-Christian sentiment has tried to move away from the "Christ" in Christmas by saying "Happy Holidays" instead. Major companies like Best Buy and Barnes & Noble are not allowed to say "Merry Christmas" because they have to be so-called "politically correct" and not be "disrespectful." I have to disagree. According to a 2000 Gallup poll, 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas.

Regardless of religion, saying "Merry Christmas" has become an American past time. For example, the Harry Potter series, a saga about witches and wizards, celebrates Christmas. If Harry and his friends say "Happy Christmas," the equivalent of "Merry Christmas" in England, and no religion is ever mentioned throughout the seven book series, why can't everyone else?

I understand that America has the right to freedom of religion due to the first amendment in the Constitution, and that America practices separation of Church and State, but our public schools promote Christmas. Congress also proclaimed Christmas a national holiday in June of 1870. With this said, although Christmas and saying "Merry Christmas" may have a religious background, it doesn't for all, yet they say it without a second thought. As a Christian, I do not find it offensive to see another religion's decorations being celebrate, so why are Christians being ostracized for saying "Merry Christmas?"

Some may argue that the stores should not be bias and that saying "Happy Holidays" would cater to all people, and I agree that would be acceptable for their advertisements in commercials or flyers, but not putting up Christmas trees and not allowing employees to wish a customer "Merry Christmas" is taking it too far.

If companies want to be "politically correct," then employees should be able to say what they prefer in order to exercise their rights. So this year when people are buying Christmas trees, putting up lights, stringing up tensile, and shopping for Christmas gifts, I hope they say "Merry Christmas" to help spread the good news.

Sentence 12

His Sentence:
His parents, on the other hand, gulped their food like starved wolves, eager to be on their way to Reno.
from Zach's Lie by Roland Smith.

Smith uses the simile in this sentence to compare how hungry the boy's parents were and to show how much they were in a hurry to leave.

My Sentence:
My friends, unlike me, sprinted the race like a herd of hunted gazelle, trying to aim their way to victory.

Sentence 11

His Sentence:
They continued down Idaho Street, passing through downtown Elko, which had more pickup trucks parked along the curb than cars and more cowboy boots on people's feet than shoes.
from Zach's Lie by Roland Smith.

The author uses comparisons to better describe the setting of the story.

My Sentence:
We drove down Manhattan Street, through uptown New York City, which had more cats walking on the streets than dogs and more trash in the park than grass.