Christmas Jaywalking!

Let's watch this video together!

How would you have done if Jay Leno had asked you some of his Christmas questions on the street? What didn't you know? Which answer did you think was the funniest? Have you seen other segments of Jay Leno's Jaywalking? If so, what's the funniest one you've seen?

UGLY Christmas sweaters

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What do you think of Christmas sweaters? Do you own one? Do you like the idea of ugly Christmas sweater parties? Why or why not? What's your favorite and least favorite part of the holiday season and why?

By request...

What did you think of the HMS Ocean's video? These guys sure seem to have Christmas spirit! What do you do that makes the holiday season extra special? Are any of your family members in the military? If so, will they be or have they ever been deployed over Christmas, and how did you handle it? If not, what would you miss most about not having one of your family members home for Christmas?

Save the Ta-tas

Remember when we blogged on the man in Maryland who made a lot of money pretending to be an NFL player? Well, here we go again, except this time it's worse!

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Describe your reaction to the video. What type of punishment do you think she deserves and why? Most people are a little more generous during the holiday season. Are you more generous or are you more reluctant to give this time of year because you're afraid you might be taken advantage of?

VT

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Describe your reaction to the story. Can you think of any reasons why the shooter might have done what he did? If you were accepted to VT, would this deter you from attending the university? Why or why not?

Hangover Pill

Watch ONLY the first 1 minute and 30 seconds of the following video.

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Do you think the hangover pill is a good idea? Why or why not? Do you think there will be any repercussions to this drug being made available? If released, do you think this pill will remain on the market? If not, how long do you think it will last and why?

A Day of Infamy

READ this article, and comment on today's blog by writing at least one thought you had while reading the article on Pearl Harbor.

Trump gets Testy!

Check out this MSN video: Trump gets testy during msnbc interview

Did you find this video entertaining or annoying and why? Do you think Trump was justifiably "testy" or do you think he should have simply answered the interviewer's questions? Why? Trump is not a Republican candidate, so he is considering running as an Independent candidate. Would you vote for Trump in a presidential election? Why or why not?

Mona Lisa Smile

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Are you a fan of Leonardo da Vinci's artwork? Do you think there are animal images hiding in da Vinci's Mona Lisa or do you think the man from New York is seeing things? Why? What do you think makes great art?

Animal Hoarders

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Describe your reaction to the video. Have you ever heard of animal hoarders? Have you ever met or heard of someone that could possibly be considered an animal hoarder? If you were to become a hoarder of something, what do you think it would be?

Heaven is for real???

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Have you ever heard of or read the book, Heaven is for Real? Do you believe Colton, the little boy who claims he went to heaven while in surgery at age 4? Why or why not? Do you think this is simply a money-making scheme? Why or why not?

O Christmas tree, you're worth a cool $2 Mil

Read this article.

What do you think of that Christmas tree? My Christmas trees were up before Thanksgiving! Have you decorated for Christmas? What's your favorite part of the holiday season and why?

Black Friday!

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I shopped from 2am until 8pm this past Friday. Did you go shopping on Black Friday? Why or why not? If so, did you experience any "competitive shopping"? Why do you think the Friday after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday?

Penn St Scandal

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Have you been following the Penn State scandal? Do you think Sandusky is guilty? Why or why not? Do you agree that the coaching staff and administrators at Penn State should have been fired for failure to report the inappropriate behavior of Sandusky? Why or why not? Some news reports have compared this trial to Michael Jackson's trial when he was accused of inappropriate behavior with minors. Do you think the outcome of this trial will be any different?

You Don't Get a Second Chance on a First Impression...

Make sure you read and follow directions for today's blog. You will need a sheet of paper and something to write with!

Number 1-7 on your blank sheet of paper. For each number you will see a picture. Write down your first impression, i.e. the FIRST thing that comes to your mind when you see the picture. Be honest!

1












2












3












4













5
















6












7














Now, number your blog response from 1-8. Type what you wrote on your blank sheet of paper for numbers 1-7. Type number 8 to respond to the following. Pretend you are an employer who is interviewing the above applicants for a job. Based only on first impression, who would you hire and why?

CMAs

Read this article.

Did you watch the CMAs last night? If so, what did you think? If not, why not? Are you a Taylor Swift fan? Did she deserve Entertainer of the Year? What is your opinion of award shows in general (CMAs, AMAs, Oscars, etc.)? Are they necessary or unnecessary, awesome or excessive?

The Duggar Family

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What do you think of the Duggar family? Would you enjoy being a part of such a large family? Why or why not?

Election Day

Today is Election Day! All across the country responsible citizens will be casting their vote for Senate members, House of Delegate members, and local officials, such as Treasurer, Sheriff, Commissioner of the Revenue, etc. The portion of today's ballot that most directly affects you is the election or re-election of the Windsor District School Board Member. Read this article. How would you vote? Vote in the poll below.




Why did you vote the way you did? What is the responsibility of a school board member, and how do the decisions they make affect you? Why is it important to vote? Which is more important, national/presidential elections or local elections, and why?

Playoff Bound

Read this article, and this one!

The WHS football team is playoff bound for the first time since 1999! WHS beat FHS Friday night 52-6, and they will host Central Woodstock this Friday night at home for their first playoff game! All of WHS's fall sports made it to at least regionals this year... golf, volleyball, cheerleading, and football... aren't you proud to be a Duke?!?

Were you at Friday night's football game? If so, what did you think? If not, what did you do instead? Will you be at the playoff game this Friday? What could WHS do to show our school spirit and support our Dukes?

Read this article.




Explain your reasoning for your answer to the above poll. Will higher taxes affect the obesity problem in our country? Why or why not? Would higher taxes cause you to buy less candy? Do you agree that certain goods should have higher taxes than others? If so, what are the items you think should have higher taxes and why?

Chemistry of Fear and Fright

Chemistry of Fear and Fright

Did you realize there was such science to being afraid? What scares you and why? It's Halloween!!! Are you doing anything special tonight for Halloween?

Brunch?

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Is 9:30am too early to eat lunch? If so, what concerns do you have? Do you think most schools' lunch times are reasonable? Why or why not? What about WHS?

Is money the root of all evil?

Read this news article.

Describe your thoughts upon reading the article. After reading the last two sentences of the article, do you think Susan Hendricks should have already been in jail, unable to kill her sons? Why or why not? Is money the root of all evil? Why or why not?

Will you get the job???

kickin' it OLD school

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Describe your reaction to this video. If you were in his shoes, would you go back to college to fulfill your dream? Why or why not? I know you are young, but is there something you've missed out on already that you regret?

For one of the meanest, most insulting classes I've ever had...

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What did you think of the video? Who do you agree with, the waitress or the customers, and why? Have you ever had horrible service at a restaurant? If so, tell us about it. Have you ever worked as a waiter or waitress and not received a tip? If so, do you know why your table didn’t tip you?

Spectacular Spiderman!

Today's blog is a little different... rather than writing 5 sentences, I want you to help decorate our hallway by doing the following:

1. Go to www.faceinhole.com
2. Search "spiderman"... there are 5 pages worth of spiderman images to choose from!
3. Do NOT choose "fat spiderman" or "spiderman fan"... use common sense and choose your faceinhole appropriately!!!
4. Upload a photo of yourself (NOT Jaran!)
5. Copy and paste the picture into a Word document where you may crop, add an effect, or edit your picture as you like.
6. When finished, print your faceinhole to Room321CLR
7. We will be putting these in the hallway!

Happy Superhero Day!

I'm supposed to be Black Cat today... Who is your favorite superhero of all time and why? If you're not a fan of any superhero, why not? Is there anything you find disturbing about superheroes? If so, what?

Where is Baby Lisa?

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Have you been following this story in the news? What do you think happened to baby Lisa and why?

Toe to Thumb

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What was your initial reaction to the groundbreaking toe-to-thumb transplant? Would you undergo similar surgery if you were in Cary's shoes? Why or why not? If you lost your thumb, what is the first thing you would do after receiving a transplant?

Bachelor Pad

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What did you like most about Esquire's Bachelor Pad? Was there anything it didn't have that you think would make the apartment even better? Describe your dream house.

Present like Steve!

Yes, you have the watch the WHOLE video...



Answer all of the following questions:
1. What element of Steve Jobs' presentations do you like most?
2. What have you seen more of, bad presentations or good, effective presentations?
3. Describe the worst presentation you've seen, and describe the best.
4. What is the one thing you struggle with most when presenting to a class?

Girl Project

Read this article on what teenagers are really thinking.

Do you think television shows accurately depict today's teenager, male and female? Why or why not? Do you think television shows such as 90210, Gossip Girl, and 16 and Pregnant bring out negative behavior in teenagers that wouldn't exist otherwise? Why or why not? Many people say that your high-school years are the best years of your life. What is your response or reaction to that statement?

DRIVE

Read the article and watch the trailer for the movie, Drive, by clicking here.

What did you think of this article? Do you think the woman stands a chance at winning the lawsuit? Why or why not? Should trailers be required to accurately reflect a movie's synopsis? Did the trailer make you want to see the movie? What movie(s) have you been surprised by, after relying on a trailer?

Pirates?!?

Answer the following questions after watching Pirates of Silicon Valley, the true story of how Bill Gates and Steve Jobs changed the world.

1. Why do you think this movie was titled, Pirates of Silicon Valley?

2. The film portrayed the two "pirates" as half hero, half villain. In one or two paragraphs, give your thoughts as to how they should be categorized.

3. Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple and Pixar, passed away October 5, 2011 of pancreatic cancer. What do you think was his greatest contribution? Why?

Hearing for the First Time

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What did you think of the video? How would your reaction to hearing for the FIRST time compare to that of the woman in the video? Why do you think this video is such a YouTube sensation? If you had to go without one of the 5 major senses, which would it be and why?

Amanda Knox

Watch the following video on Amanda Knox:

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Amanda Knox's final plea for an innocent verdict took place early this morning. The court's deliberatations are still in progress, but a verdict is expected later today. Follow the link below to read what Amanda Knox said during her final appearance before the court.

'I have not killed,' tearful Amanda Knox tells jury

Have you followed the Amanda Knox case? Do you think the court will find Amanda Knox guilty once again of killing her British roommate or do you think she will be found innocent? Do you personally think she is guilty or innocent? Why?

Reality TV

Watch only the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the following video:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Are you a fan of reality television? If so, what is your favorite reality television show and why? If not, what do you watch instead? Why do you think reality television has been so successful in recent years? Do you think its success will continue or do you think that viewers will tire of reality television?

Inspiring or Inappropriate?

Read the article at the following link:

"Coach forces bus into bizarre cemetery stop after loss"

What did you think of the coach's decision? Do you agree with his method of encouraging his players to bring their season back to life? Would the coach's "speech" have inspired you or freaked you out? Should the coach be punished? Why or why not, and if so, how? If you are an athlete, has a coach ever used a certain method or given a specific speech that you will always remember? If so, tell us about it.

Bad Medicine?

The case against Dr. Conrad Murray began yesterday with the photo to the left and a chilling audio.













Watch the first 5 minutes of the following video.

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Describe your reaction to the video. Do you think the doctor is guilty of involuntary manslaughter and Michael Jackson's death? Why or why not?

Top 10 College Admission Myths

Read the article at the following link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/top-10-myths-of-college-admissions/2011/09/22/gIQAEn8XoK_blog.html

What did you think of the article? What myth surprised you most, if any? Do you plan on going to college? If so, where? What is the main piece of advice you will take away from this article?

NFL Impostor!

Describe your reaction to this video. What should Stephen Pittman's punishment be? Have you ever been scammed? If so, tell us about it. Monday Night Football is tonight on ESPN, and it's Cowboys vs Redskins! Will you watch? If so, who are you pulling for???

Life is Risk

Which person's story surprised you most? Explain what you think the statement, "if you've never failed, you've never lived" means. Has there been a time when a failure in one area of your life paved the way for success? Why do you think we must fail in order to succeed?

Gamers Solve Aids Puzzle

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Describe your reaction to the video. Were you surprised that gamers were able to solve a molecular puzzle that baffled scientists? Why or why not? Would you consider yourself a gamer? Do you consider video games a waste of time?

World's End

How will the Earth come to an end? According to Mayan legend, doomsday is December 21, 2012. On the Discovery's Channel's 'Curiosity,' scientists explore five events that most likely will wipe us out. Follow the link below to watch today's blog video.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/worlds-end/p5cbkql

Describe your reaction to this video. Do you think doomsday is close? Why or why not? Out of the 5 possible catastrophic events presented in the video, which do you think would be the most likely to wipe out the Earth? Why?

Chaz Bono

Chaz Bono underwent gender reassignment surgery and legally changed his gender from female to male in 2010. He was born a female named Chastity to Cher and Sonny Bono. Chaz Bono is a contestant on this season's "Dancing with the Stars." OneMillionMoms.com has called for a boycott of the show calling his casting, "completely unacceptable and Christians should not watch the show, no excuses!" Watch Chaz's mother, Cher's, response to all the negative publicity.



The first episode of this season's "Dancing With the Stars" aired last night on ABC. Did you watch it? Do you think the show should be boycotted because Chaz Bono is a contestant? Explain your opinion on Chaz's gender reassignment surgery.

Got Service?

What did you think of the video. Did you learn anything from the video? Do you think the students at WHS treat people with "service" in mind, or do you think the students are more self-centered? If you were being truly honest with yourself, do you treat others with "service" in mind?

Facing our GIANTS

What makes this clip from the movie "Facing the Giants" motivational for you? Describe a time when someone pushed you to achieve more than you thought possible. What goals have you set for yourself this year? In your opinion, what factors determine whether or not people achieve the goals they set for themselves?

I'm Glad You're Here!

'Taco' Beauty Queen Dethroned

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Describe your reaction to the video. Who do you think should represent San Antonio in the Miss Texas pageant, the original winner or the first runner up? Many people think that beauty pageants are degrading to women. What's your opinion of beauty pageants? Support your opinion.

Are you ethical?

What are some ethical decisions teenagers must make every day? Give an example of an ethical dilemma you’ve had to face. Looking back, do you wish you would have handled the ethical dilemma differently? Why or why not?

How Far is Too Far???

Describe your reaction to this video. Do you think this mom should seek other disciplinary actions for her children? Should Child Protective Services be contacted? Why or why not? Should the mother suffer any repercussions for her actions? If so, what? Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap?

This is... American Idol!

Are you a fan of American Idol? Have you watched the auditions for the new season of the show? What did you think of this video? Do you think you can sing well enough to be the next American Idol? Should Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell return to the show? Why or why not?

Jeopardy! Man vs Robot

Did you know that previous Jeopardy champions were taking on an IBM supercomputer this week on Jeopardy? Have you watched any of the episodes? If so, what did you think? "Watson" kicked butt on Jeopardy! Does that impress you or worry you and why? What's the most you think a computer should do?

Got Service?

What did you think of the video? Did you learn anything? Do you think the students at WHS treat people with "service" in mind, or do you think the students are more self-centered? If you were being truly honest with yourself, do you treat others with "service" in mind? Why or why not?

Facing the Giants

Did you find this clip from the movie "Facing the Giants" motivational? Describe a time when someone pushed you to achieve more than you thought possible. What goals have you set for yourself this semester?

Welcome!

I know it's stupid, but it's funny!

I can't believe that after GloZell had such a horrible experience with Nad's, she still posted the video on YouTube! What did you think of GloZell?

Babies' Babies

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Has teenage pregnancy become more or less of an issue in WHS? Do you think there is still a social stigma on teenage moms? Why or why not? Why do you think teenage pregnancy is on the rise in our nation?

Mega Millions

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Should Holly have to share her winnings? Why or why not? What would you do if you were to win $190 million?

Favre Files Retirement Papers

Are you or have you ever been a Favre fan? Do you think Favre will really retire this time? Why or why not? Make your prediction... Who will win the AFC title, the Jets or the Steelers? Who will win the NFC title, the Packers or the Bears? Did you watch football this weekend? If so, were you happy or disappointed with the results?

Wordle!

Today's blog is a little different from the rest.

1. Open the blog comment window and write your first name 5 times.
2. Then write at least 5 sentences about yourself in the comment window. Begin each sentence with, "(your name) is..." Ex. Kristy is blessed to have such a wonderful family. (Finish all of the following steps before publishing your comment.)
3. Open a new Firefox window (NOT internet explorer).
4. Go to www.wordle.net
5. Click on Create.
6. Copy and paste the text you typed in the comment window into the "Paste in a bunch of text" box.
7. Click Go.
8. You may change the font, layout, and color of your wordle.
9. When finished, save to public gallery.
10. Copy the URL of the wordle window and paste it at the bottom of your blog comment. Do not delete your sentences.
11. Publish your comment.

Here's mine...
title="Wordle: Untitled"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1288351/Untitled"
alt="Wordle: Untitled"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

Australian Floodwaters

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Were you aware of the flood in Australia? Describe your reaction to this video. Have you ever suffered from a natural disaster? What do you think would be the worst part of being a flood victim?

Fashion's New Gender Bender

The new face of Marc Jacobs has Cindy Crawford's bone structure and Kate Moss' body, but Andrej Pejic is a 19-year-old Serbian boy. Damon Baker, a 19-year-old British photographer, went into a dark karaoke bar in Covent Garden last summer. In the back of the smoky club, he saw a woman with high cheekbones, long platinum blond hair, and wide-set blue eyes. She was, as he puts it, “the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen in your life.” They started flirting. Only a few minutes into their conversation did Baker realize: She was a he. And that he wasn’t just anybody. He was Andrej Pejic, a 19-year-old male model who has taken the fashion industry by storm. He has Cindy Crawford’s face and Kate Moss’ body — give or take a few parts.

Pejic is part of fashion’s new “femiman” trend, the latest in a new crop of gender-bending models. Pejic is the leader of a new gender fluidity in fashion, in which traditional male and female attitudes are starting to matter less. It’s a message that is being slowly adapted industry-wide, and it is resonating with consumers.

Pejic and his family fled Bosnia for Serbia when he was 2 months old. He remembers the NATO bombings of Yugoslavia as a child. At age 8, his family left for Australia, where they settled in Broadmeadows, a rough neighborhood in the suburbs of Melbourne. Pejic says he knew he looked like a girl from the minute he “came out of the womb and looked in a mirror.” His transition to Australia was a difficult one, as he was forced to learn English and integrate with students who weren’t like him. But Pejic insists that for all his physical differences, he was never bullied by his peers, and instead felt only that he was the subject of “curiosity and attention.” “A lot of macho guys did think of me as a girl,” he says of his high school years. “I can’t really say that it was ever a bad thing. All I’ll say is… a lot of free drinks!”

Check out Andrej Pejic's picture gallery!

Do you enjoy fashion? What do you think about the new "femiman" models? What do you think of Andrej Pejic?

Wipeout!

These are abc's top 10 Wipeout moments...


But THIS is my favorite Wipeout moment of all time! "Where's the pole?!?"


Have you seen Wipeout? Would you ever go on the show? Why or why not? What was your favorite Wipeout moment?

Who is Jared Loughner?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What are your thoughts regarding Jared Loughner and the information we now know about him and his past?

Good Times

What do you think of our country's education "system"? How often do you think students are passed along without earning their promotion? What's the danger in passing students who haven't earned the necessary grade or completed the necessary work? Are there any benefits to passing students who don't deserve to be passed? Would you have made the same decision as J.J.?

Golden Voice

THEN...


NOW...


What do you think of Ted Williams' voice and his story? Were you surprised when you saw Ted Williams after his big break?

Boy's Best Friend

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Should Fairfax County allow the service dog in school? Why or why not?

An Officer and A Controversy

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What do you think? Should the officer be fired? Why or why not? In regards to gays in the military, do you agree with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy or the open gay policy? Why?

Happy New Year!

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What was your most memorable moment of 2010? Did you make a new year's resolution? If not, why? If so, what is it?