Researching

Today we discussed different ways to research and technology has allowed us to get information so much quicker and easier. Instead of going to a library and thumbing through books and pages, we have the privilege of searching on the computer. As an example, we googled Martin Luther King Jr. as if we were researching to write a paper. The second link that came up on Google was a white supremacy website that was vulgar and offered no beneficial information about MLK. I was pretty shocked that a website like that even exists on the internet anymore. We also looked at Google Scholar which helps to make sure the websites you look at were written by educated people. This website really shows how technology has become such an important part of researching. I realized I'm really lucky to be in school in a time where information is very easy to get.

My First Celtics Game

On Thursday I went to my first Celtics game! We sat up in the balcony in the Garden and watched the Celts battle the Nets in a tight game. The Celtics came right out of the gates taking a huge lead in the first quarter, but the Nets slowly made their comeback. By the third quarter the Celtics were losing and made an awesome come back with the help of Allen doing what he does best: hitting 3's. Wearing my foot tall, bright green styrofoam hat, I was dancing, singing, and cheering as most Boston fans do. Unfortunately, the people in front of us were just sitting there in silence and giving us dirty looks when we got loud. I don't understand why anyone would pay money to go into Boston and watch the Celtics or any other team to just sit there looking miserable. The games are supposed to be fun, and you really have to make the best of it. Despite the dirty looks we got, we had a blast, and we left knowing we had a good time. We were just glad to be the people that other fans want to be around that will make you laugh and definitely have a good time with. As for the people in front of us, I think they simply wasted their money. They could have just watched the game on TV at home in silence in stead of bringing down the people around them. Luckily, the Celtics pulled off a win for my first game and I definitely made the best of the night!

Banning Cell Phones From Schools

The Massachusetts State House should definitely reconsider their thoughts on banning cell phones from schools. Cell phones can absolutely be a distraction to students and teachers if the phones are being used during class. However, teachers can easily take control and make sure their students are not using their phones. My english teacher has a wall with about 25 pockets on it that we put our phones in at the beginning of class. This way, no one is tempted to check their phones from their purse or pocket and the phones are not a distraction. Attending a school that allows cell phones has made me realize how important they are to have with you. People tend to make the excuse that if there's an emergency, students can always be reached if someone calls the school's phone. I had a personal experience when my mom needed to talk to me so she texted me and I went to the bathroom and called her. She told me my grandfather was dying and I needed to leave school and go to the hospital to say goodbye. If I didn't have my phone with me, my mom could have called the school, but I would have rather heard something like that directly from my mom and not the secretary. To be honest, I don't even think my mom has the school's phone number anyways. I think having cell phones in school is not as big of a deal as people make it out to be. For the past couple of years, we've been allowed to have our phones and there haven't been huge problems. The Massachusetts State House should absolutely take these points into consideration before they ban cell phones from schools.

I just made a new Voki. See it here:

National Anthem Gone Wrong

Christina Aguilera has always been a highly respected and talented singer, but her performance yesterday at the Super Bowl left millions of viewers in shock. Singing the National Anthem at any sporting event is an honor to the performer, never mind being chosen to sing at the Super Bowl. Driving to school this morning I heard a radio station taking calls to discuss how Christina messed up the words to the National Anthem. Some people thought she should have been more prepared and that she definitely was not nervous because she's been performing for so many years. I agree with them because if she can remember the lyrics to all of her songs for concerts then she should have easily remembered the words to the National Anthem.. I mean, I know all the words off the top of my head, so she probably could have spent a little more time memorizing. I am a big fan of Christina, and I do feel badly for her because her mistake will always be talked about and she's already been publically embarrassed. On the other hand, if you're chosen to sing the National Anthem for an event that millions of people are watching, you should probably put the time in to make sure you don't mess up. The Super Bowl always seems to leave us with memories outside of the game itself, like the performance years ago with Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. Christina's National Anthem mess up joins the list of performances gone wrong at the Super Bowl.

Facebook Strengthens Student-Teacher Connection

This article discusses the ten ways that facebook can help students and teachers. . The point that stuck out in my reading was that students can quickly have access to ask their teachers questions. Sometimes when I'm doing an assignment and I need help, I have to email my teacher and usually do not get a responce until the next day. Being able to just Facebook IM a teacher and get a responce in seconds would be so helpful to me. Facebook can also be used to help absent students keep up and participate even though they're at home. Teachers can send students assignments so that they're not smothered with work when they return to school. Some of my teachers have made pages only for certain classes; my media production class had a BHS Media group that we could share videos and comments on. I think students lose sight of the fact that Facebook is more than just a social network between peers to talk and post pictures and videos. Facebook is a very effective website to help people stay updated or spread news very quickly. Whenever we do a fundraiser for student council, I use Facebook as my way of spreading the word because almost everyone in the school has their own page. Facebook has become an extremely helpful tool for people of all ages.