3/7/12 Smartphones

I think the research is accurate, because if you pay attention most people are using smartphones now. Even though most people are wasting their money because they don't even use their phone to the full extent. So in reality people are wasting money that they can use for something of more use to them. Even the elderly have smartphones now, and some of them can barely text on them, let alone surf the internet or take videos. Some people just get smartphones because they think they are popular when they can't even operate them.

3/6/12 Movie Maker Notes

Teen Pregnancy- 1. 1 in 3 teens will be pregnant by age 19.
                            2. Teen pregnancy cost US tax payers 9 billion dollars a year.
                            3. More than 750,000 will become pregnant this year.

Homelessness- 1.50% of homeless people live in cars.
                         2.30% have been homeless for 2 years
                         3. One in four homeless men are veterans.

Anti-Racism- 1.There are more black men in prison then in college.
                       2. Blacks are less likely to get a callback with a criminal record.
                       3. Whites make more money then blacks.

Poverty- 1. 30 million people die a year of hunger.
               2. 21% of children are living in poverty.
               3. Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of huger.

Underage drinking and tobacco use- 1. Teen drinkers are more than likely going to adult drinkers.
                                                           2. 20% of males are addicted to smoking.
                                                           3. 1 out of 6 teens are regular smokers.


Bully- 1. 1 out of 20 student have been in a school with a gun.
           2. 61% of shooting happen because home abuse.
           3. 100,000 kids carry a gun to school.


Terrorism- 1. 2,918 were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attack.
                  2. 168 people were killed in an Oklahoma bombing.
                  3. Osama Bin laden was killed on May 2nd.


Poverty- 1. 30,000 children die each day of hunger.
               2. 1.7 billion people lack access to clean water.
               3. WV is ranked 4th in poverty.

3/6/12 Twitter

It's a good idea for twitter to sell their users old tweets. I think the users should get credited for them though. If theyre going to hold all the old tweets, they should at least make a little cash off of them.

3/5/12 Zombie App

I think the zombie app that is supposed to help you exercise is pretty stupid. Most people will just use it for playing, not exercising. I don't see how this story relates to civics at all.

read across america Lorax questions March 2, 2012

What was the land of the Lorax like before the Once-ler arrived? Did it seem like someplace you'd like to live? What parts of your own environment would you be sad to see go?

It was colorful and full of life, yes it would be a place I would want to live, It would be sad to see the beautiful trees get cut down.

What kind of person is the Once-ler? Why won't he listen to the Lorax? The Lorax says to the Once-ler, "You are crazy with greed." Why does the Lorax say that? Do you agree or disagree?\

They are selfish and greedy, because he can stop the cutting down of all the trees but he doesn't.

Why does the Lorax speak for the trees? Why is it important to speak up for others? Have you ever spoken up for someone else? Has someone else ever spoken up for you?

\Because they can not speak for themselves.

How does the Once-ler's Thneed business hurt the land of the Lorax? What happens to the Swomee-swans, the Brown Bar-ba-loots, and the Humming-fish? How could things have been different if the Once-ler listened to the Lorax?

 It takes away homes, and food for some of them.

What do you think the boy hearing the story will do with the Truffula seed that the Once-ler tosses to him? What would you do if you were the boy?

I think he is going to plant them, because thats what I would do.

Do you think the Lorax and his friends will come back if new Truffula Trees grow? Where do you think they have been?

Yes, I think they will come back to try and make a difference, and keep them from cutting these ones down, I think they went somewhere else to try and stop the same thing.

The Once-ler says, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." What does the Once-ler mean? Can one person make a difference? Can you? What are some things you can do to better your own environment?

He meant that if he stops cutting down all the trees, then maybe other people will to. Yes, one person can make a difference, yes I can, you can make protest and things like that.

How does the Once-ler feel about what his Thneed business did to the Lorax and friends?

He feels bad, but he isn't going to stop, because his business is getting bigger.

Dr. Seuss used bright colors on some pages of the book and dull colors on others. Did you notice this? Why do you think he did that?
Yes, I noticed the colors, and I think he did that to get peoples attention, and show them that the Once-lers were draining the life out of the town.

Why is The Lorax called a cautionary tale?

It cautions at what may happen.

3/2/12 Braille Touch App

I think the Braille Touch App is a good thing, it can let people who can not see or have eye problems text. Also it can help in so many ways if you do not want to let somebody see you texting, such as if you are kidnapped and someone is constantly watching you. It can also be a bad thing for school systems, because kids can get away with texting easier and are not paying attention in class. But in the long run, I believe it can be a good thing for the texting community.

3/1/12 Pope Tweets

I think the Pope tweeting is very interesting. If we can get the Pope to tweet, then you never know what the world can do. Internet and technology is going far in world. I believe that before long, almost everything you do wil involove technology.