Response to Articles

The information from these articles did not really have that big of an impact on me. My mother is a librarian and she tells me all the time how she does not see as many older kids come through to read books as they used to. I personally do not like to read for fun. I believe that some people really enjoy it while others cannot sit still long enough to read the first page. I am one of those people. I believe that reading comprehension is very important and a necessity with today's society. Better jobs are being offered to those who can read and write at a more educated level; They are getting higher paid jobs with better hours and working conditions. Writing expectations have gone down over the years which really is only going to hurt our generation in the long run.

The U.S. Economy

The American Economy is a bismal. This article talks about how the American dollar has lost value over the past couple years and how our economy is headed into rough times. The American money directly effects several other countries which could prove to be a problem. How are other countries economies supposed to survive when the economy they rely on goes downhill? Why can't the United States pull together to get our economy back on track? The United States is struggling right now and what is there to do? Banks are struggling to meet peoples needs, gas is at an outragous price, things are just getting to a point where Americans are furious. As our economy continues to decline, we have to ask ourselves, Where is our country headed?

Issue of Global Warming

Before I watched Ted Talks, I thought that global warming was a recent problem which evolved in the last..say 10 years. However, I was very wrong. Global warming is a very serious problem which has been around for a very long time. Now I have learned that global warming is just becoming more evident with the passing of the years. Over all the time people have been trying to find something to make global warming better, we've acheieved close to nothing. However the way Ted sees it, we have all the ideas and technology to achieve these goals...just not the plan to get these goals achieved. Over the next few years, I really hope that we get global warming figured out because if we don't - it will be our generation and the ones after us that will have to deal with the aftermath.

Facebook

I think that facebook is a great tool for people, especially teenagers or young adults, to use. While most people use facebook to keep in touch with their friends, family, or classmates, some use facebook as a way to express who they are. Many people post pictures of themselves drinking with their friends or getting high or doing other inappropriate things. Now, most kids know that future employers are able to get on your website and check out all of the features that you have on your page - including pictures. I don't really have much to say about this topic because I am indifferent towards it. I have nothing to hide on my page so it wouldn't really affect me if someone were to look on my page to find out more about me in order to hire me. However, a lot of my friends have inappropriate things on there which wouldn't be the greatest sellers for a job. If I had to choose a side to this, I would say that future employers should stay off of facebook and other websites like that. This is because who you are on your own time is no reflection of how you are when it's time for you to work. There is a time for fun and a time for work. Oh well I guess though - not much I can do.

Reaction To NY Times Article

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Afghanistan.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

This article is about how this year (2007) has had the highest death rate in Afghanistan. After the American troops had a meeting with elders in the village, they were returning back to the camp base and got ambushed with rocket grenades and firearms; As a result, six U.S. troops were killed.

This article made me appreciate the American troops so much more. They are risking their lives for everyone in the United States; They are risking everything so Americans do not have to live in fear. It made me sad to learn that this year has had such a high death rate and I hope something can be done so we can get out of Afghanistan and get the troops back home. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a family member or friend go over to fight and never come back. Bring the troops home.

Annoying...

I have a lot of things that bug me a lot. I cannot stand when someone thinks they know everything and they think they're better than everyone else. Most of these people judge others before they even get to know them and THAT is annoying. Ater you get to know someone they are usually completely different than you first percieve them to be. When others don't take the time to find the real person and go based on first impression, I am extremely bothered. Another thing that bothers me is when people constantly pick on you and don't know when to stop. This happens with a lot of boys in our school. Lots of people pick on me and my friends and think nothing of it; little do they know it hurts your feelings sometimes. Just annoying - but oh well I guess. In life there are always gonna be things that bother you, I guess that is why you learn to put up a front and just deal with it.

Wealth

To me, wealth means several different things. One obvious definition of wealth is money. If one has money, they are often perceived to be wealthy. Wealth, money wise, has a large effect on a person's individual growth and how they percieve the perople and things around them (third and first quadrant). Money directly effects the economy and whether it is booming or on a downfall. This kind of wealth also benefits our government because of taxes and ish like that. (quadrant four). However, this could mean several different things. Wealth can also be seen as having good health (second quadrant). Health is a very valuable thing - I mean, without good health, one wouldn't have much of a life. Wealth is just an all around important thing :) k thanks bye

Manager's Special

Once Upon A Time there was a boy who went by the name of Justin Bobbi. Justin Bobbi was always in a fowl mood and was rude to everyone around him; He was the meanest to a girl named Tristin. Tristin never did anything to make Justin mad so when he would be rude to her, she never understood why. However, one day, Tristin learned of Justin Bobbi's weakness, a Manager's Special Doughnut from Dunkin Donuts. When Tristin learned of this weakness she was still confused because she had no idea what this donut was. Upon arriving at Dunkin Donuts to find out exactly what this delicious, mouth watering snack was, Justin Bobbi was just leaving with a huge grin on his face. Tristin knew that she had found what she liked to refer to as her, "secret weapon."
After Justin Bobbi left and Tristin was sure the coast was clear, she entered Dunkin Donuts and found herself in a line with four other customers in it. After about 3 minutes, 2 chocolate chip muffins, 2 coffees, and 4 Manager Special donuts later, it was finally Tristin's turn to order. As she stepped up to the counter, the employee asked if he could get her something to eat. Curious about the Manager's Special, Tristin ordered the donut and ninety six cents later, she made her way to a seat in the corner of the rectangular room.
Looking at the donut, Tristin could see a chocolatey frosting on the top with a dab of vanilla cream in the middle shaped as a flower. As she took the first bite, she could not believe how fluffy the dough was. The donut melted in her mouth. Every taste bud felt as though it was watering, just waiting for the next bite. As Tristin took the next bite, she realized that there was also a vanilla frosting creme on the inside of the donut. The cream was soft and delicious and seemed as though it was made to perfection. Tristin could see why Justin Bobbi was in love with these treats from heaven; She was falling in love herself.
After eating two more Manager Special donuts, Tristin decided that she had eaten enough carbs for one meal, bought 2 more donuts on the way out, and continued on her way home.
The next day at school, Tristin slipped the two donuts and the note into Justin Bobbis locker saying, "Lets Be Friends." Later on in the day, Justin Bobbi came face to face with Tristin and told her how amazing she is and how thankful he is that she helped him realize how great of a friend she truely is. The two spent the rest of the day at the local Dunkin Donuts eating the fresh, fluffy, mouth watering, Manager Special Donuts. :)

Favorite Band

I don't really have one favorite band because I like different music for different reasons and moods. Cartel and New Found Glory were the first concert that I ever went to and they were amazing! The energy of the band and the crowd was incredible and everyone just fed off of each other. Cartel and New Found Glory songs are very high energy and rock out music. It's the kind of music that people would sing and dance to in the shower when no one else knows about it. Alicia Keys, Colbie Caillat, and Taylor Swift songs are all great songs when you're having trouble or dealing with one or more emotions. Lots of times my friends and I can find certain quotes in songs that we can relate to at any given point. I like all kinds of music but my all time favorite band would have to be Carrie Underwood. She's an amazing singer who sings about events that people can relate to. It's calm and relaxing and nice to know that youre not the only one feeling a certain emotion. Music helps people relax and keep their minds off of things that may be bothering them; It's also a good way to let loose and experience emotions you had previously been hiding from.

Me, Myself, & I

My name is Kristen Elizabeth Guenther. My birthday is August 6, 1990; Therefore, I am currently 17 years old. My mom is my school's librarian which makes life a little bit easier and more difficult at the same time. It's nice to have her here when I need to get a paper signed or when I need money for something that I forgot about the night before. However, it's not so great when I fail a test and the teacher runs to my mom to tell her how horrible I did before I even find out my grade. My mom and dad got divorced when I was 8 years old. After the divorce, my mom, my two sisters, and I, moved from Freemont to Arkport. Moving down to Arkport was really great; I lived closer to all my friends and I lived in between the school and the soccer fields. I began playing soccer when I was in Kindergarten and continue to do so today. Last year in the 2006 fall soccer season, our girl's soccer team won the Section V Class D State Championship!
I've always played a lot of sports. Right around the time I began playing soccer, I started doing gymnastics and dance at local studios. I took gymnastics lessons in Dansville at a place called A.C.E Gymnastics. I stopped taking the classes in 8th grade, but I continue to work on my tumbling skills as I am a varsity cheerleader now. I began dance classes at a young age with my friends and my older sister, Elsa. I loved dancing but I didn't like the class part, so I quit those classes in 4th grade. In 3rd grade I played 3-6 basketball at my school and was one of our lead scorers. During these early years of basketball, I also became involved in the Elks Hoop Shoot. Every year I was eligable, except for the last year, I competed in free throw competitions around the state and finished in 3rd place for New York State Championships when I was 12 years old. However, in 9th grade I gave up basketball to do cheerleading. One of the main reasons I wanted to do cheerleading was because I missed tumbling from gymnastics. So as stated earlier, I am a varsity cheerleader and have been since 9th grade. During the spring season, I run varsity track and have had a pretty good career in it. I am a sprinter and I run the 100m, 200m, and I triple jump and long jump. This past spring, I became the first person to ever go to States for track from Arkport Central School. I went to states competing in the Long Jump and ended up taking 5th place overall, not too bad. It was a big accomplishment and I hope to repeat it this year but with a better finish.
Currently, I am just trying to keep up with everything going on and taking one day at a time. I don't know where I am going to college yet, nor am I sure as to what I would like to major in. I guess I have some time to figure it out, but it needs to be soon. Oh well, that's life as a high school senior.

YO!

WHAT THE FRENCH TOAST?!