Blog #69

Your final blog entry for my class. Aren't you sad? :D The week has finally came that we've all been looking forward to for months now. I sincerely hope that all my students leave my classroom with more Microsoft Office skills than they did back in January. My goal hasn't been to drill and test you over concepts, but for you to realize that MS Office isn't just a program to use for school projects, but for all aspects of your current and future life. Also, I hope each of you will leave with a better understanding of the business world from starting your own business to having better work ethics. Thanks to you all for your dedication as Coffee Geek Squad employees. If only a real job was this easy....right?

On a more personal note, this has been a tough year with all the budget problems, new No Pass No Walk graduation policy, internet issues (especially 3rd & 4th blocks!), and each of your own personal ups and downs, but we've finally made it. I've truly enjoyed having you all (yes, even those of ya'll that loved annoying me on purpose...you know who you are). Besides the computer applications you've learned in here, I hope that I've made a positive impact on your life in some way. While I've made it clear that I'm not sure I am going to retire in education, I do enjoy my job. I love getting to know you all. You all supply me with tons of humorous stories to share outside of school. One of the main reasons I became a teacher was for the chance to impact teenagers' lives. Life is more than just a party. Make something of yourself!

If you ever need someone to help you get your goals back in perspective or just listen to you, drop by C305 (preferably on my planning and not while I have another class though!) and I'll give you some good advice. For those graduating, go for it! I have faith in you.

For the last blog, answer these questions:

1. What project do you think taught you the most this semester?


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?


3. What did you learn from the Coffee Geek Squad project? What changes do I need to make?


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


5.Business Plan: Was it helpful to watch the Peter Perfect episodes throughout the semester? Did they teach you anything? Do you think you will use your plan to start your own business one day?


6. Any other comments?





Have a safe & happy summer...don't get too sunburnt at the beach!

Blog #68

Why do students fight at school knowing the consequences? What should happen to a student that injures a teacher?

Blog #67

What's the worst & best customer service you've ever received at a business?

Blog #66

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Blog #65

Free Write

Blog #64

Do you think you would be a good salesperson? If so, what product do you think you could sell best?

Blog #63

What's the funniest or most ironic business or business owner's name you've heard of?

For example: Dr. Gumm, DDS (dentist)

Actual term is aptronym (def'n: a name aptly suited to its owner). Fictional examples of aptronyms include Mr. Talkative and Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

Blog #62

Entreprenuers are often inventors of new products. What's the craziest (most far out there) invention you've ever heard of?

Blog #61

Marketing and advertising are one of the most crucial tools when it comes to having a successful business or product. Commercials play a huge role in marketing. Millions and zillions of dollars are spent every year on them. What's the best commercial you've ever seen on TV/internet?

Blog #60

Define slogan. Use www.webster.com

...By now, you've realized that I'm not here today (or I at least I hope you've noticed!). =D

Here's your assignment.

1. Blog -- Define Slogan

2. Slogan Scavenger Hunt worksheet -- Use the internet to find the slogan for each business. Turn in worksheet when finished into tray on my desk. The person who gets the most correct will win bonus $$.

Blog #59

It's a known fact that this weekend is Junior/Senior skip day. Do you think CHS should automatically excuse absences on this day or follow normal procedures?

Blog #58

If you could open the ideal business for you tomorrow, what would it be? (Don't forget that we start our business plan next week!)

Blog #57

What are your thoughts/opinion on the Swine flu epidemic? Is the hype overrated or should you really be concerned about it here in Georgia?

Blog #56

If money and time were no object, where would you be tomorrow?

My latest cake is below. Exactly what my little niece, Mckenzie wanted...a Princess doll cake.

Blog #55

What are your 3 favorite things in the world?

Several students already know how to insert a picture as part of their blog entry, but many have never tried. Instead of just writing the name of the things, find a pic and attach it to the entry.

Blog #54

What's your current job status? If you don't have a job, do you have one for this summer? If yes, where? If not, why aren't you looking for a job?

Blog #53

What's the most spontaneous thing you have ever done?

Blog #52

Perez Hilton: 'The Way Miss California Answered Her Question Lost Her The Crown'

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton may have been crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday, but on Monday, it was Miss California Carrie Prejean's answer to a question about same-sex marriage from celebrity blogger and pageant judge Perez Hilton that was the night's biggest story.

During the show, Perez asked Carrie, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"

"Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. "No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman."
Carrie's answer to the hot button question cost her the crown - at least according to Perez.

"The way miss California answered her question lost her the crown, without a doubt!" Perez told Access Hollywood after the pageant. "Never before that I'm aware of has a contestant been booed at Miss USA."

Keith Lewis, Co-Executive Director of the Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA said in statement to Access Hollywood that he respects Carrie's opinion, even if it differs with his.
"I am proud of Carrie Prejean's beauty and placement at the 2009 Miss USA pageant. I support Carrie's right to express her personal beliefs even if they do not coincide with my own," Keith told Access. "I believe the subject of gay marriage deserves a great deal more conversation in order to heal the divide it has created."

PerezHilton.com initially reported that Keith was "personally saddened and hurt" by Carrie's comments. Keith told Access he did not release a statement to the celebrity blogger.

A rep for Shanna Moakler , who inherited the Miss USA title in 1995 when Miss USA Chelsi Smith was crowned Miss Universe, told Perez that she "supports Keith's views 100%."

Miss California's answer cost her -- $200,000 crown, scholarship $$, apartment in NYC (Trump Tower) for a year, annual salary, fame, and many more opportunities. She became 1st Runner up with Miss North Carolina taking the Miss USA title. Regardless of your views on homosexual marriage, would you have stated your belief even if you knew it would cost you one of the judge's vote?

Blog #51

Progress Reports are tomorrow, so make sure you have 51 blogs as of today's blog.

Free write (or either describe your weekend).

Blog #50

Are you going to prom? If yes, who is your date? Are you excited? etc. If not, why aren't you going?

Blog #49

High school hazing grows ‘more brutal’
Study: 47 percent of university students were hazed while in high school

The Associated Press
updated 6:14 a.m. ET, Thurs., April 16, 2009

PORTLAND, Maine - High school hazing, pervading groups from sports teams to the yearbook staff and performing arts, is as widespread as ever but is also growing more "brutal," a new study has found.

Professors Elizabeth Allan and Mary Madden of the University of Maine's College of Education and Human Development, have discovered that 47 percent of university students reported having been hazed while still in high school.

The hazing included activities from silly stunts to drinking games, with 8 percent of the students drinking to the point of getting sick or passing out, they said.

Just like college students, high schoolers are susceptible to getting swept up in group activities and doing things they might not otherwise do, the authors said.

"That group dynamic can lead to the escalation where you have the hazing that's been reported in the news, some horrendous incidents," Madden said.

Among them: a "powder puff" event in which several seniors at a suburban Chicago high school were suspended or charged with roughing up junior girls, and junior varsity football players being sodomized by teammates at their New York high school.

The professors' findings, to be presented Thursday during the American Educational Research Association's annual meeting in San Diego, suggest that little has changed since the last major survey of hazing in American high schools in 2000.

That survey, led by Norm Pollard at Alfred University, indicated that 48 percent of high schoolers belonging to school groups were hazed.

While lack of any significant improvement is bad enough, the nature of hazing has become more dangerous and destructive, some educators say.

'They're getting more sexual'"We're still having hazing incidents in this country in high schools. They're getting more brutal. They're getting more sexual. And they're being pushed down into middle schools," said Elliot Hopkins of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Allan and Madden previously reported on college hazing using a survey of 11,480 students at 53 colleges and universities. The result was the biggest study of hazing in higher education to date, said Pollard, who served as an adviser.

This time, the professors tapped the same pool of participants to explore what happened to them prior to their arrival on college campuses.

Allan and Madden found the highest rates of hazing among members of sports teams (47 percent), ROTC (46 percent), and bands and performing arts organizations (34 percent). The average for other school organizations was 20 percent, the researchers reported.
Hazing-related activities included being required to associate only with the peer group (28 percent), singing or chanting in public (21 percent), verbal abuse (19 percent), sleep deprivation (12 percent), and getting a tattoo or piercing (12 percent), they said.

Twelve percent of the survey's respondents participated in a drinking game, and 8 percent drank until getting sick or losing consciousness, they said.

Hopkins said he is particularly worried that activities are becoming more sexually charged in cases of cheerleaders being forced to undress and shave in front of their peers, or boys and girls being forced to simulate sex acts to join a group.

At its worst, hazing can lead to sexual assault, as happened with a highly publicized incident involving a football team from Long Island, N.Y., he said.

In that case, several junior varsity players were sodomized with sticks, pine cones and golf balls at preseason training camp in Pennsylvania. Four students were charged, five football coaches fired and the team's football season canceled.

The psychological harm from hazing can follow into students' relationships, marriages, parenting and workplace, Pollard said.

"It's not just 'boys being boys.' It teaches impressionable young adults about power, control, humiliation and how you treat other individuals," he said.

'Same as bullying?'Allan and Madden, who are based at the University of Maine campus in Orono, say they were disturbed to learn that hazing is taking a back seat as high school administrators focus on bullying.

"We've had educators say, 'Isn't that the same as bullying?'" Madden said. "It just indicates the amount of education that's needed all around."

Bullies do not want the victim to be part of their group, and their goal is to humiliate, ostracize and degrade to make themselves feel bigger and better, Madden said. Hazing is different because it involves a group dynamic and coercion.

"The coercion can be subtle, but it's powerful," Allan said. "You have these really nice people who are generally reasonable kids making sound decisions for the most part. And then all of a sudden they're swept up in his group dynamic — it contributes to impairing judgment."


© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

What are your thoughts on hazing?

Blog #48

4 Weather days and a week of Spring Break...what all did you do on your time off? I've been super lazy besides Easter weekend & my trip to Louisville, KY the previous weekend to Pentecostal Fire Youth Conference (http://www.pfyconline.com/).

Blog #47

Well, it's 9:49 PM and I just spent the past 3 hours baking a caramel cake from scratch for the Relay for Life auction tomorrow (today) at school. Next time, I will definitely go the quick and easy brownies route. Do you cook/bake? What's the best thing you've ever made?

Blog #46

What one person has had the most influence on your life in a positive way?

Blog #45

If you took the GHSGT last week, how do you think you did? If you didn't take it, how was your week last week?

Here's my latest cake...a birthday cake for my cousin after church last Wednesday night.

Blog #44

My sister & her boyfriend Keith left for Hilton Head, SC yesterday with my aunt & her family to stay almost right on the beach. If I wasn't at school today, that's where I would be. I could drive up there when I get off work, but think I'm gonna stay home since I'm tired from 2 1/2 weeks of revival and have a sore throat. Where would you go this weekend if you could go anywhere in a 3-4 hour driving distance radius from Douglas?

Blog #43

This is my oldest niece, Jacey. She's almost 6 years old and lives near Louisville, KY with my brother Brandon & his wife Tiffany. I don't get to see her all that often, but will see her at a church youth conference in a few weeks.

Today is Parent Teacher Conference (4-7). Remember that the only person who can pick your report card up is a parent or guardian. What kind of grades do you expect on your report card? All A's? B's? C's? ...

Blog #42

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

On a totally different note, if you are a female and going to prom (and on a tight budget), I saw dresses in Ross (mall) in Valdosta yesterday for $16.99. You can't beat that! Also, there are several really nice second-hand/consignment shops in Valdosta that have a lot of dresses. After one night, doesn't your dress still look almost brand new? Most likely yes...that's exactly how these dresses look. No one would ever even realize it! Plus, you'll have money left over to spend on other things -- hair, nails, pictures, etc.

Blog #41

Free Write

I'm leaving 3rd Block for a doctor's appointment in Valdosta. I'll be back tomorrow.

3rd Block: Continue working on PB 10 Cartoon. You should have at least 15 slides completed.

4th Block: Open the Daily Agenda (clab/C310-305/Kristi Gay/Business Data/Daily Agenda) PowerPoint presentation. Scroll to slide 52 for your assignment.

Blog #40

What is sexting? What are the consequences?

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view/2009_03_11_Teenagers_see_serious_consequences_of__sexting_/

On a totally different note, check out these pics of my brother Justin (Gay's Plumbing if your parents ever need a plumber...he's a good one!)'s two little girls. I'm Aunt KiKi to them. =)

Blog #39

Complete the sentence.

If a student fails Ms. Gay's class, it is because ___________________.

1st Block -- My prayers & thoughts go out to Cadley during this time of loss in his life. His father passed away yesterday.

Blog #38

Complete the sentence.

If I could change one thing about my life, I ________________________________.

Blog #37

I come from a rather large family. My mom has 7 brothers and 1 sister. My dad has 3 sisters & 4 brothers. All from the same mother & father on both sides. My parents have been married around 30 years. I have 2 younger brothers & 1 younger sister. It's rather humorous to people when they find out that my mom's last name was Day before she married a Gay. What's unique about your family?

Blog #36

My church (New Corinth Calvary Holiness -- Broxton Fitzgerald Highway) is in revival this week with Bro. Tim Brimm from Illinois. We've been at church most every night until about 11 PM. It's been great! Do you go to church anywhere? If so, where? How long have you been going there? If not, what do you do on Sundays?

Blog #35

Free Write

What's on your mind?

4th Block Only:

• Blog
• PB 17 Dream Ride (Directions on clab) -- Complete. Ask supervisor for help if you get confused on an aspect of the project.

Blog #34

I learned something new last night. Never store cupcakes in Tupperware containers if you want them to taste fresh. I finished baking the cupcakes Sunday night to bring on Monday as planned. Then, when I didn't have time to make the frosting, I put them all in large Tupperware bowls. Now, the icing is delicious and the cake part is kinda packy. Anyway, I'll know for next time. Hope you still like them! What's your favorite cupcake of all time?

Blog #33

What's your biggest pet peeve? I don't think I'll share mine since some of you would probably be tempted to do it every day. :)

Blog #32

Did you see the snow yesterday?!? It was quite the shock. I wore flip flops Saturday then get out of church Sunday morning to snow. Howbeit it, it didn't stick and was random throughout the afternoon, but it was still snow!

Also, due to the fact that I went home with some family & friends for Sunday lunch, I didn't get a chance to make the buttercream icing for the cupcakes. So, the cupcakes will have to wait until Wednesday since tomorrow is a hectic day with the SACS team on campus.

Blog #31

What's on your mind? Write about anything you want.

Blog #30

Okay, I really am the proudest aunt around. :) My pastor's wife took these pics of my neice Kyleigh for her 1st birthday. Here are some of the proofs my sis-n-law emailed me. What about you -- are you an aunt or uncle? Do you like little kids?

Blog #29

On Blog #1, you listed goals you have for this semester. What is your progress at this point? Have you accomplished any goals or added any new ones?

Blog #28

Complete the sentence.

If I could switch places with anybody in the world for one day, I __________________________.

Blog #27

My weekend was good. I went out to eat with some friends on Friday night and to Macon on Saturday with my mom and sister. On Sunday, I went to my church (New Corinth Calvary Holiness) that morning and night. What did you do this weekend?

Blog #26

List 5 of your favorite things.

1. 1. My lil' nieces
2. 2. Anything related to pastry stuff
3. 3. Those funny crazy memories with good friends
4. 4. Cheesecake...the real kind you bake not the "no-bake" option
5. 5. Soulful music

Blog #25

Who are your favorite musical artists?

I have way too many to choose a favorite. Right now, some of my favs are Hezekiah Walker, 33 Miles, Austins Bridge, Crossway, Gaither Vocal Band, Selah, Etta James, Michael Buble, Brooklyn Tab Choir, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, Natalie Grant, Rascal Flatts, and on and on. Oh and Danny Gokey is by far the best American Idol of Season 8. =)

Blog #24

Copy & Paste the following into your blog.

Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not.

Things you have done during your lifetime:

( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Donated Blood
() Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
() Been to Canada
() Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
() Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
() Hugged a homeless person
(X) Swam in the ocean
( ) Swam with Stingrays
() Been sailing in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
() Played cops and robbers
() Recently colored with crayons
( ) Ran a marathon
() Sang Karaoke
( ) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
() Been Para sailing
() Been on TV
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
() Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
() Fed an elephant
() Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Fired a gun
( ) Danced in the rain-naked
() Been to the Opera
() Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Serenaded someone
() Seen a U.S. President in person
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
() Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Driven a race car
(X) Been to a National Museum
(X) Been to a Wax Museum
() Eaten caviar
(X) Blown bubbles
(X ) Gone ice-skating
() Been deep sea fishing
() Driven across the United States
() Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
() Gone snowmobiling
() Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
() Seen the Grand Canyon
() Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
() Been on a cruise
() Traveled by train
() Traveled by motorcycle
() Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(X) Been to Disneyland, Disney World, or Epcot
(X) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been in a rain forest
() Seen whales in the ocean
() Been to Niagara Falls
(X) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
() Been water-skiing
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
() Been to the Louvre
() Swam in the Mediterranean
() Been to a Major League Baseball game
() Been to a National Football League game
() Swam with sharks
( ) Been White Water Rafting
(x) Written a book or play
(X) Been tubing
() Eaten escargot
() Been lost alone in a foreign country whose language you do not speak
() Been in a country that doesn't exist anymore
() Stood in the footprints of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
() Googled Archduke Franz Ferdinand
(X) Been to a Broadway show
( ) Been a part of Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
( ) Caught a foul ball
() Kissed a celebrity
( ) Eaten mountain oysters
() Sold something you created, a painting, a song, a piece of handmade furniture, etc., for real money (not a yard sale)
(X) Swam in a pond
() Went skinny dipping
() Been a part of the Rich's Christmas Tree lighting in Atlanta
() Stayed up all night to reach a new level in a video or online game.
() Delivered an animal baby or watched animal babies being born
() Seen a human baby (not your own) being born
() Had your hand in a cow's stomach
() Driven a bus

Blog #23

What did you do this past weekend?

Here's a pic of the cake I made this past weekend (click here to see more).

Blog #22

Valentine's Day is Saturday for those of you out of the loop. :) I'm out today baking a wedding cake & finishing the reception decor for my cousin's wedding on Saturday. My stress has been at a max this past week due to all this. So, I may be off work today, but I am not sitting around taking it easy! I'll post pics after the holidays for you all to see. What are your Valentine's Day plans?



Assignments:



1. Blog #22

2. Take the Career Assessment on http://www.rocketcareer.com/. Copy & Paste your results onto a Word document. Save as Rocket Career & do NOT print!

3. Write a 2 paragraph response to the assessment results on the same Word document. Analyze the results. Do they accurately reflect you? Was your highest scoring career area within a field you are interested in pursuing?

4. Create a Paint drawing about you and your future. Save it as Career.

Blog #21

What's your favorite website to browse through? www.stylemepretty.com has been my fav lately.

Blog #20

Interesting MSN Article -- Read and make some comments.


Although polite society says that looks aren't everything, you have to concede that they mean something. Your first impression of many people is based on appearance. Their clothes, posture, height and even their hair.


Siblings and sociologists John and Catherine Walter have researched how a person's image is affected by his or her hair part. Whether you part your hair on the left or right side of your head -- or not at all -- influences how others perceive you and possibly even how you perceive yourself. The idea behind their theory is that your hair part alters how others interact with you, thus altering how you interact with them, and so on.


You know a bad hairstyle can haunt you for years to come (as anyone alive in the 1980s will attest), but you probably didn't expect it to have a lasting impact on your career.


This is the hair-part breakdown, according to the Walters:


Men who part their hair on the left are often popular and successful. People perceive them as strong.


Women who part their hair on the left are considered reliable and intelligent. It's a smart move for those who work in politics or business.


Men who part their hair on the right are seen as radical and open. These men should be strong enough to overcome the stigma against men with this part.


Women who part their hair on the right are viewed as gentle and feminine. Because it is a more traditional style, it can affect how seriously they are taken.


People who don't part their hair, can't part their hair due to baldness or use a center part come across as trustworthy and wise.


With that in mind, here are some examples of famous faces and characters with a variety of hair parts. Let's see if the theory holds up to their job roles.

Who: Condoleezza Rice
Job: Secretary of state under President George W. Bush
Hair part: Right
Verdict: Although Rice had to be cordial to the heads of state she met with, she was probably not overly concerned with coming across as nice and fulfilling a traditional feminine role. Her need to be aggressive and confident when the time came probably means she makes a better candidate for a left part.


Who: Queen Elizabeth II
Job: Queen of the United Kingdom
Hair part: None
Verdict: The Walters' theory suggests that no-parters might "lack the flair" of the other parters, but they can still come across as trustworthy and wise. If you're the queen, you probably want to be perceived as someone people are willing to follow and listen to -- making Queen Elizabeth's tendency not to part her hair a good choice -- athough you rarely see her not wearing a hat or her crown, both good choices for distracting from your hair part.


Who: Oprah Winfrey
Job: Talk show host, radio host, business owner, avid reader
Hair part: Versatile
Verdict: Winfrey's hairstyles change daily, though she tends to favor no part and a right part. As a no-parter, she definitely fulfills the description of trustworthy and wise. When she declares an item one of her favorite things of the year, people storm retailers to get their hands on her recommendations.


As a right-parter, she definitely supports the theory that these women are perceived as gentle -- after all, viewers need to feel comfortable with her. Though you'd have trouble arguing that Winfrey isn't taken seriously.


If you find that your hair part does seem to correlate with how you're perceived, consider changing things up a little. Maybe you can impact how people perceive you. Or you can just have some fun, because they'll probably notice something about you has changed, but not exactly what. Just something to think about when you're standing in front of the mirror tomorrow morning.

Blog #19

Progress Reports are Monday. How do you think you did in all your classes? Also, are your parents coming to the Open House Monday night at CHS? It's the perfect opportunity for your parents to sign up for iParent. Remember if you have iParent, I'll replace your lowest grade with a 100.

Blog #18

Personally (along with a lot of other teachers, admin, and students) I am sick of the smoking in the bathroom. How can any of you stand to even go in the restrooms? There is no way to "air" them out either. CHS is a smoke-free campus and that will never change due to state and federal regulations. Knowing this, what solution do you have for stopping the smoking in the restrooms?

Blog #17

Free Write Blog -- You can write about whatever you want.

I didn't get a chance to post the blog until right before 1st block because I made a birthday cake last night & delivered it early this morning.

Blog #16

Phelps admits 'bad judgment' after marijuana-pipe photo

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps admitted to "regrettable" behavior Sunday and vowed it wouldn't happen again after a British newspaper published a photograph of the swimmer smoking from a bong. " I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," the record-setting American athlete said in a statement issued Sunday.
"I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me," Phelps said. "For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public -- it will not happen again."
People often use bongs to smoke marijuana.

Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, four years after he won six gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He has received numerous corporate endorsements totaling millions of dollars. His statement was also posted on his Facebook page, followed by comments of both support and admonishment from fans.
In a separate statement, the U.S. Olympic Committee said it was "disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps."

"Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people," the committee said. "In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities."
However, it added, "Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions. We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the type of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion."

The picture, billed as an exclusive by the tabloid News of the World, showed Phelps using a water pipe during what it said was a November party at the University of South Carolina. In 2004, Phelps was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury, Maryland. Phelps pleaded guilty and received 18 months probation in that incident, issuing an apology afterward. "Getting into a car with anything to drink is wrong. It's dangerous and it's unacceptable. I'm 19, but was taught that no matter how old you are, you take responsibility for actions, which I do," Phelps told ESPN.

The Olympic swimmer is one of 12 Olympic athletes that have pledged to "My Victory," an initiative launched last year by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to keep competitive sports clean of cheating and drug use.

What are your thoughts on this article?

Blog #15

Do you watch American Idol? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Blog #14

Fall is my absolute favorite season, but I actually rather like winter as well. I would probably think differently if I moved up north, but I've said I should have been born in the North because I hate sticky hot humid days in the South. What about you? Do you like cold weather?

Blog #13

I'm sitting here eating my breakfast at 7 AM and thinking it would be great if I got up this early every morning since I'm ready to leave for work. I typically run out of the house about 7:40 eating my breakfast and get to work a bit later than I should. Are you a morning person or not? What time do you get up? Are you on time to school?

Blog #12

Besides the fact that people who eat breakfast are more productive throughout the day, this 2008 study on www.mrbreakfast.com reveals another aspect. Read the quote and then write a response on your blog.

A study from the University of Minnesota indicated that teens who skip
breakfast are more likely to become obese than those who routinely eat
breakfast. Over the five-year span of the study, those who skipped breakfast
were on average five pounds heavier than their breakfast-eating peers.

Blog #11

Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth. ~Erma Bombeck

What does this quote mean? Do you think it applies to your parents? Does it apply to any of your friends' parents?

Blog #10

Read the article below and then analyze the situation in a one paragraph response. State your opinion on the game.

Girls Basketball Team Regrets Winning 100-0, Seeks Forfeit

A Texas high school girls basketball team on the winning end of a 100-0 game has a case of blowout remorse.

Now officials from the winning school say they are trying to do the right thing by seeking a forfeit and apologizing for the margin of victory.

In a statement Thursday on The Covenant School's Web site, the head of school said, "It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened." He went on to say that Covenant has made "a formal request to forfeit the game recognizing that a victory without honor is a great loss."

Last week Covenant, a private Christian school in Dallas, defeated Dallas Academy 100-0. Covenant was up 59-0 at halftime.

A parent who attended the game told The Associated Press that Covenant continued to make 3-pointers — even in the fourth quarter. She praised the Covenant players but said spectators and an assistant coach were cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points.
"I think the bad judgment was in the full-court press and the 3-point shots," said Renee Peloza, whose daughter plays for Dallas Academy. "At some point, they should have backed off."
Dallas Academy coach Jeremy Civello told The Dallas Morning News that the game turned into a "layup drill," with the opposing team's guards waiting to steal the ball and drive to the basket. Covenant scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and "finally eased up when they got to 100 with about four minutes left," he said.

Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. It is winless over the last four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia.

There is no mercy rule in girls basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become lopsided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest, said Edd Burleson, the director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Both schools are members of this association, which oversees private school athletics in Texas.

"On a personal note, I told the coach of the losing team how much I admire their girls for continuing to compete against all odds," Burleson said. "They showed much more character than the coach that allowed that score to get out of hand. It's up to the coach to control the outcome."
Covenant coach Micah Grimes and head of school Kyle Queal did not immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press on Thursday.

In the statement on the Covenant Web site, Queal said the game "does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition. We humbly apologize for our actions and seek the forgiveness of Dallas Academy, TAPPS and our community."

Queal said school officials met with Dallas Academy officials to apologize and praised "each member of the Dallas Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team for their strength, composure and fortitude in a game in which they clearly emerged the winner." Civello said he appreciated the gesture and has accepted the apology "with no ill feelings."

At a shootaround Thursday, several Dallas Academy players said they were frustrated during the game but felt it was a learning opportunity. They also said they are excited about some of the attention they are receiving from the loss, including an invitation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.

"Even if you are losing, you might as well keep playing," said Shelby Hyatt, a freshman on the team. "Keep trying, and it's going to be OK."

Peloza said the coach and other parents praised the Dallas Academy girls afterward for limiting Covenant to 12 points in the fourth quarter. She added that neither her daughter nor her teammates seemed to dwell on the loss.

"Somewhere during that game they got caught up in the moment," Peloza said of the Covenant players, fans and coaches. "Our girls just moved on. That's the happy part of the story."

Blog #9

What is a social network? Do you have a profile on a social networking site? I have a profile on 2 sites, but you'll have to find me if you want to know...

Blog #8

Read the article below. Then, write a paragraph explaining your thoughts on the article. Do you know of teens here in Coffee County that participate in this type activity?

'Sexting’ surprise: Teens face child porn charges 6 Pa. high school students busted after sharing nude photos via cell phones
ByMike Brunker
Projects Team editor msnbc.com updated 8:03 p.m. ET, Thurs., Jan. 15, 2009

In an unusual legal case arising from the increasingly popular practice known as “sexting,” six Pennsylvania high school students are facing child pornography charges after three teenage girls allegedly took nude or semi-nude photos of themselves and shared them with male classmates via their cell phones. The female students at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg, Pa., all 14- or 15-years-old, face charges of manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child pornography while the boys, who are 16 and 17, face charges of possession, according to WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, which published the story on its Web site on Tuesday. Police told the station that the photos were discovered in October, after school officials seized a cell phone from a male student who was using it in violation of school rules and found a nude photo of a classmate on it. Police were called in and their investigation led them to other phones containing more photos, it said. Police Capt. George Seranko was quoted as saying that the first photograph was “a self portrait taken of a juvenile female taking pictures of her body, nude." The school district issued a statement Tuesday saying that the investigation turned up “no evidence of inappropriate activity on school grounds … other than the violation of the electronic devices policy.” The statement also said that school officials didn’t learn of the charges against the students until Monday. In the WPXI story, which included contributions from the Associated Press, Saranko indicated that authorities decided to file the child pornography charges to send a strong message to other minors who might consider sending such photos to friends. "It's very dangerous," he said. "Once it's on a cell phone, that cell phone can be put on the Internet where everyone in the world can get access to that juvenile picture. You don't realize what you are doing until it's already done." (Seranko could not be reached for comment on Thursday, and a woman who answered the phone at the Greensburg Police Department said, “Our department is not doing any more interviews on the case.”) But Patrick Artur, a Philadelphia defense attorney who by his reckoning has handled at least 80 child pornography cases, said the prosecution of minors for photos they took themselves runs counter to the purpose of both state and federal child pornography laws: Preventing the sexual abuse of children by “dirty old men in raincoats.” “It’s clearly overkill,” he said. “… The letter of the law seems to have been violated, but this is not the type of defendant that the legislature envisioned” in passing the statute. Artur said that because there is no mandatory minimum sentence under Pennsylvania’s child pornography law, unlike the federal statute, the students would not necessarily be incarcerated if they are found guilty. But he noted that convictions would have "serious, serious implications," including forcing them having to register as sexual offenders for at least 10 years. While Artur said the prosecution of a juvenile for allegedly creating and distributing child porn was new to him, a quick review of federal and state statistics showed there have been a handful of similar cases, and several convictions. While few minors have found themselves in court for e-mailing or posting sexy photos of themselves, there is little doubt that ubiquitous cell phones and easy access to computers have tempted many to push the erotic envelope. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reported last month that a survey of 1,280 teens and young adults found that 20 percent of the teens said they had sent or posted nude or semi nude photos or videos of themselves. That number was slightly higher for teenage girls — 22 percent — vs. boys — 18 percent. © 2009 msnbc.com

Blog #7

I'm not at school today as you can see by now. :)

Here are your assignments:

1st & 4th Blocks -- Business Data:
1. Blog # 7 -- Free Write (Write a paragraph about anything you want.)
2. Complete PB 2 Clean Sweep & PB 3 Phone Bill. Supervisors check with your team members to make sure everyone is caught up.
3. CTAE Future Portfolio: Create a 3 slide PowerPoint presentation about a college or technical school you may possibly attend. The slide should include: Name of School, Location, School Mascot, at least 3 pictures of campus, & student enrollment. Save it as College Choice 1 in your CTAE Folder.

3rd Block -- Multimedia:
1. Blog #7 -- Free Write (Write a paragraph about anything you want.)
2. Complete PB 2 PPT Plan & PB 3 What Not to Do. Supervisors, please make sure your team members are on task with the assignments.

Secretaries: Please take attendance as normal. Check to see who is dressed professional (Sperry's are okay for this week). Make a list & I will hand out checks when I return.

Haley, Qua B, & Quay J -- Check your email for your blogger password.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Blog #6

What is the actual Inauguration? What other events surround the Inauguration?

Have you ever been to an Inauguration or know someone that has?

I've never been, but Ms. Quenzer typically takes a group of students. My cousin, John Spivey, went to the Bush's Inauguration with her a few years ago. I have been to Washington D.C. before though. If you ever get the chance, you definitely need to visit all the historical sites in DC at least once in your life!

Blog #5

Think about your eyes -- now! Did you know that smoking constricts blood vessels that supply oxygen to the eyes? What other habits or activities do you & others actively participate in that cause damage to your eyes?

Blog #4

What's your favorite TV show? What's so great about it?

Blog #3 -- Updated at Zach's request

Copy & paste the statements and then complete the statements. (After copying & pasting Hint: To fill in the blank, select the entire blank and start keying your response.)

I am a Christian.
I want a Louis Vuitton.
I have too little spare time.
I wish I was a student at the French Culinary Institute in NYC.
I hate hypocrisy.
I fear being alone.
I hear Amanda talking on her cell.
I search for my keys at least once or twice a week.
I wonder if my brother & his family will move back from Kentucky this summer.
I regret some things in my past.
I love cheesecake.
I ache on Sunday nights after wearing heels all day.
I always stay up late.
I usually get to school a few minutes late.
I am not a pet lover.
I dance inside when I'm excited.
I sing in a trio at my church.
I never chew gum.
I rarely miss a service at my church.
I cry when I get upset or angry.
I am not always as confident as I may appear.
I lose my patience quick with immaturity.
I'm confused about a friend's actions.
I need to save more money.
I should spend more time as a volunteer for charities & non-profit organizations.
I dream about owning my own pastry shop.

Blog #2

Using the internet, define the term blog & blogging. Write the definitions in complete sentences.

Blog #1

Welcome to Coffee Geek Squad's blog for the 2008-09 school year!

Daily Procedures: (first 15 minutes of class)
1. Logon to computer.
2. Access Ms. Gay's website http://coffeegeeksquad09.blogspot.com/
3. Find the current blog.
4. Read the post.
5. Click on the orange Blogger icon in the top left corner of the page.
6. Sign into your blogger using your username and password.
7. Go to your dashboard.
8. Create a new post answering the daily Bell Ringer assignment.
9. Publish the post. (HINT: Nothing will appear if you do not PUBLISH the post! If changes were made, you will need to REPUBLISH the entire blog to see changes. There is a Help feature on the Dashboard page. Dashboard is the place where all posts are created, edited, posted, etc.)
10. Log off http://www.blogger.com/.
11. If 15 minutes is up, sit quietly and wait for instruction. If 15 minutes is NOT up, access http://www.powertyping.com/ or other Yes List sites.

Assessment of Blogger entries: This blog will be a daily grade. For every Bell Ringer post on Ms. Gay's blog, there must be one on your blog! If you are absent, you are responsible for catching up your blog entries. Remember, you can access Blogger from your home computer.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
No profanity or crude language will be tolerated!
Express your thoughts, but refrain from talking about other students, cracking, bashing, bullying, etc. A
ll posts that are of a negative nature will be deleted.
All CHS and Coffee County Board of Education policies and procedures apply to this blog.
Do NOT disclose personal information about yourself or others.

Blog #1 Entry:

List 5 goals for the 2008-09 school year. The goals can be: academic, athletic, social, personal, emotional, physical, etc.

Have fun and let's get to blogging!!!
Ms. Gay