Nickelback :)

Just thought you would enjoy this! :) haha 

CNN Heroes

So Inspiring... this was one of the top ten heroes of the year! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB3UStCW1Fw

Rick Perry - Strong

"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian, but you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school. 
As President, I'll end Obama's war on religion. And I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage. 

Faith made America strong. It can maker her strong again. 

I'm Rick Perry and I approve this message." 

- Rick Perry

These are the words of Rick Perry in his campaign to become the President. I am disgusted with this commercial. I can't believe that anyone could possibly think that this would get more votes in his favor because of this. I think that the only sentence that I'm okay with, is the final one when Perry states, "I'm Rick Perry and I approve this message." I can't believe that Perry would say gay people should have to hide who they are if they are in the military if it is not allowed to say "Merry Christmas" to each other. There have been many teen suicides over the last couple years and even more in the media lately, you would think that Perry would realize that many people that have committed suicide, are gay and are bullied because of it. So, by saying that there should be no openly gay men in the military, he is saying that gay people don't deserve as much freedom as those that are straight. Another part, I don't understand is that he wants to have kids to openly celebrate Christmas at school. Does he not realize that people in every religion live in the US? Does Perry not want immigrants to come into  the US? How does he think his own family got there into the US! I hope that Rick Perry learns from this MASSIVE mistake that he has made. 

Even users on youtube hate him more than Rebecca Black! Likes: 12 472, Dislikes: 483 760. Also, no comments are allowed to be posted on the video anymore, most likely due to the many that were negative towards Rick Perry. 

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/rick_perry_more_disliked_than_rebecca_black/singleton/

#22 - Touchdown Story

The touchdown story is so inspirational and amazing! It was so nice of the other team to allow Chip Mullen to run a 75 yard touch down. Not only did they allow him to just run the field, they also went to the end field and congratulated him on the touchdown. This was an amazing act of leadership and such a kind action to do to allow this man to have a moment he will remember for the rest of his life.

#21 - Harassment Articles

In the first article I looked at, there was a teacher that showed a seventh grade class an inappropriate video about sexual assault. The teacher was suspended for a couple of weeks and the parents were invited to the school to talk about any concerns that they had about the situation. I think that this could be a regular occurrence in schools when teachers talk about sexual harassment as it has happened at a school I use to go to.  I don't think we will ever know the true intentions of these teachers showing these videos, whether or not it is to  educate students about the possibilities or if there are other motivations, but there are so many rules for teachers, no further steps could be taken.

The second article that I read regarded another sexual harassment case. This was a little more serious than the first, as it wasn't just a video, it was an actual assault of many children. A hockey coach abused many children over the years and was actually caught at one point and served 3 years in jail. However, once he got out of jail, he was able to go back to coaching young boys, giving him access to more victims. Now, many years later, after one of the victims wrote an autobiography describing the abuse that he suffered, the story was blown up, again. I think that it is shocking that a pedophile was caught and then let go and allowed to coach young boys again. This never should have happened, these boys should never had to experience that. 

The final article that I read was about the RCMP not responding to a sexual harassment claim for two years. A worker sent a complaint about a co-worker that was making sexual advances and leaving sex toys on her desk. She sent a complaint through the proper channels, and started waiting for a response and actions being taken. Once a letter was actually sent back to the women, it had been over two years and she wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry about the situation. In the letter, it said that this matter was taken very seriously and that they wanted to provide a safe workplace. I think that this was extremely disappointing to read about as if it takes two years for a response to go out to one of their own employees, how can we trust that they are doing a through job for society?

#24 - Challenge Day and Challenge Week

Challenge Day was UNBELIEVABLE! The opportunity to be able to hear everyone's story about their struggles and successes was so moving and inspiring. I was extremely nervous on the days leading up to Challenge Day wondering what it would be like and what in the world I would say when it was my turn to complete the sentence "If you really knew me...". The day of, there was such a high energy in the room for the first part of the morning, that there was no way that you couldn't feel excited and happy and yet I still felt anxious for what I knew was coming. Once we got into our families and started to say "If you really knew me..." all of the girls in my family were crying and all of the guys looked awkward unsure of what was coming next. When my turn came, I just started talking... I'm not really sure what I even said in those two minutes, though after, I have never felt so light. I think that this day has changed a lot of people for the better, even some that didn't attend the day were affected by the different decisions we made. The 125 people learned a lot that day... that we are like icebergs, you only get to see 10%, while the most important things about ourselves are on the 90% that people can't see and that you should actually talk to someone before writing them off as a 'loser' or 'geek'. Also, we learned about our emotional balloons, and how if we don't let some of the air out every once in a while, it will explode. These are two things that I will try to remember everyday as everyone has a story that is hidden in that 90% that we need to get to know before we judge. l,,l-

Challenge Week was AMAZING! The day after Challenge Day was overwhelming with getting the video for the assembly ready and blowing up all of the balloons. Researching to get the names of 300 teens that have committed suicide was mind-blowing. It is insane that there have been so many suicides, especially lately. Reading all of the articles about the days leading up to their deaths and how they died was very upsetting. I couldn't believe the amount of suffering that these teens had endured and what promising lives that they had given up in exchange for some peace. At IDCI however, there was the opposite of peace, many people were enraged that they hadn't had the chance to experience Challenge Day for themselves and were unsure of how to deal with all of the love that was being shared between people you would never expect. Facebook was changed instantly, there was love instead of hate, hope instead of dread and smiles instead of frowns. The majority of the school that hadn't gone to Challenge Day were angry that their place to vent was changed into a safe place of love. The 100 students that went to Challenge Day worked hard to change the opinions of those that had been close minded. The assembly on the Wednesday of that week helped show that this day was so much more than a day. It was an idea, a lifestyle, a choice to change for the better, to give a smile to that guy on the street instead of looking at him like he is to blame for all of his misfortunes. Now, I think our school is more united than is has ever been before and I am SO proud to be an IDCI Blue Bomber this year. Our school has so much spirit and inspiration for life. So, Thank-you :)

GENERATION BOMBER NATION

#23 - Joe Paterno, Penn State Scandal

The story of Joe Paterno's lack of leadership in the Penn State Scandal shocked me. As Paterno is seen as a 'God' of sorts in the US you would think that he would know right from wrong, especially when faced with such a serious situation. However, I don't think that Joe Paterno can be fully blamed for this as he wasn't the one that witnessed the assault. When the graduate assistant saw the assault in the showers, his first step may have been to tell the head coach, Joe Paterno, but if no further steps were taken, the assistant should have called the police himself. It is disgusting that Jerry Sandusky got away with sexually assaulting so many boys over the time period when Paterno knew about his secret. 1 in 6 boys are sexually assaulted in the US and 90% of the assaults are by someone the victim knows. These statistics are sad, but true. The foundation, Second Mile, set up by Sandusky for under privileged children gave him the perfect opportunity to groom and assault these boys.   This story never should have come out now. It should have been announced all those years ago when the first witnessed assault took place. It is extremely disappointing to be reminded that we have to be careful around people, even those that we trust so much as those are the people that can take everything away.

#26 - IDCIdols

One idea that I have for IDCIdols is to make a music video parody with songs from our childhood. Similar to what Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Cowel did at Coffee House. It was funny, it brought back memories and everyone enjoyed themselves that was at the coffee house, but I think that many more people would love to see something like it!

#25 - 10 Days of Festive Fun

One idea that I have for the 10 days of festive fun is to send Christmas grams! We could have little Christmas bags with a few Christmas candies and have them for sale for 50 cents each. I know that I would send them to my friends as I don't want to have to spend too much but I also want to show that I love them! :)

The Tilman Story

This is such a powerful and sad story that says a lot about the politicians and the army in the United States. I was shocked to see how many lies the army told, trying to make the death of Pat Tilman into a propaganda tool. When the media was told that the army was going to offer condolences to the family, they were actually pressuring them into having a military funeral, which Pat had clearly stated that he had not wanted when he entered the forces. Also, many of the other troops that worked with Pat Tilman were very angry about the amount of lies that were told trying to cover up the fact that Pat was killed by friendly fire, while in reality the Tilman family never wanted 'justice' on those that may have killed Pat, they just wanted to know the truth about what had happened to their son, brother and husband. I believe that if the army had told the family the truth as soon as they had suspected that anything had happened, the Tilman's never would have been so driven to go after the military. However, as there was a an extreme lack of leadership the story was hidden from the press and the family and so Pat's mother blew the whistle on the military hoping for the truth. In one of the final scenes of the documentary, in court when  the final statements were being told, the four top commanders, restated their story so that they would not be to blame. I found this to be one of the more disturbing lies that were said throughout the story, as this was the family's last hope at finding the truth about their son and those four men that have so much power, could not bear to tell the truth, to show some true leadership, in those moments to finally give a grieving family some peace.

Midterm

Things I've been involved in throughout the first half of this semester are:
- Going to Grade 9 Classes
- Helping Organize Challenge Day/Week - 300 Balloons
- Pep Rally - Pumping everyone up and doing the Flashmob
- Stair Climb - Posters, Talking to Classes, Participating, Leading Cheers on the Bus and in the Arena
- Coffee House - Poster
- Dance - Sold Drinks, Posters
- Halloween 4 Hunger - Participating, Table in Caf Lobby
- M2W Meetings - Leading them, Assembly, Vow of Silence, Halloween 4 Hunger

What I think my mark is.... 90%
Comment...
- Help with many events and have ideas to make them better
- Communicate well
- Positive

Remembrance Day

Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren,

a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School , did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor,

she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room

they discovered that there were no desks.

'Ms.. Cothren, where're our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me

how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'

'No,' she said.

'Maybe it's our behavior.'

She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period,

third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom

to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the

puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless

classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day

no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done

to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily

found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of

her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) War Veterans, all in uniforms,

walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk.

The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall...

By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in

place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives,

just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned..

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks.

These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them.

It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens.

They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

Happy 18th Birthday Sarah :)

The summer of 2010 one of my friends from camp passed away. Jesse wrote this AMAZING song in memory of Sarah and he released it on the one year anniversary of her death.
Today she would've been 18. I'll always remember her for jumping HIGH, her love of pink, beautiful smile, knee-high socks and her ability to love everyone! She taught me a lot in the short time that I knew her, and though she is gone now she is still with me where ever I go. :)

Forever missed, always loved and never forgotten. <3

Sarah's door at camp: "As we go on, we remember all the good times we had together" 1993 - 2010 & Sarah's Pavilion.. even though she is gone she will always be there for us :)

Goodbyes are not the end, Goodbyes are not forever, They simply mean I'll miss you, Until we meet again. <3

RIP Ulcher <3 :) I miss you & love you.

Too Many

Name	Date
Keenan Buhl	October 18 2007
Jamey Rodemeyer	September 18 2011
Tyler Clementi	September 22 2010
Seth Walsh	September 19 2010
Asher Brown	September 23 2010
Billy Lucas	September 9 2010
Justin Aaberg	July 9 2010
Megan Meier	October 17 2006
Phoebe Prince	January 14 2010
Jamey Hubley	October 15 2011
Haylee Fentress	April 16 2011
Paige Moravetz	April 16 2011
Matt Epling	July 16 2002
Wesley McKinley	April 8 2011
Brittany Palumbo	May 4 2011
Cody Baker	September 13 2010
Justin Fashanu	May 2 1998
Raymond Chase	September 29 2010
Wayne Marzilla	February 6 2011
Felix Sacco	September 29 2010
Alyisha Hassan	October 4 2010
James McKai	March 8 2010
Ben Nelson	September 28 2010
Ashley Smith	October 19 2007
Nadia Kajouji	March 9 2008
Martel Anderson	October 26 1991
Daniel Britsch	October 2 1993
Micheal Green	January 10 1986
Jon Inman	November 12 1995
Scot Jensen	June 6 2005
Brad Lauritzen	December 18 1971
Douglas Stewart	March 8 2006
Stuart Matis	February 25 2000
Marshall Myers	April 28 2008
Jacob Orosco	September 3 1997
Boyd Paul	February 9 1989
Jay Peterson	January 23 1998
Jared Pomroy	August 27 1998
Christopher Ricksecker	June 16 2003
Bryan Smith	August 18 2004
DJ Thompson	March 9 2000
Clay Whitmer	March 20 2000
Nasima Akhter	March 23 2004
Tabatha Anderson	March 14 2001
Lindsay Armstrong	July 16 2002
Kathleen Beardy	October 2 2005
Corey Bischof	May 1 2004
Jonathan Brandis	November 11 2003
Gary Celentani	September 25 2002
Kristin Cooper	December 31 1995
Spencer Costin	September 24 2002
Eric Mohat	April 1 2009
Ryan Halligan	October 7 2003
Hope Witsell	December 2 2009
Jesse Logan	July 3 2008
Alexis Pilkington	March 21 2010
Carl Walker	April 6 2009
Natasha Randall	January 17 2008
Hannah Bond	May 8 2008
Abraham Biggs	November 21 2008
Kristin Helms	July 16 2006
Stephanie Gestier	April 15 2007
Jodie Gater	April 15 2007
Thomas Kane	May 5 2009
Shaun Dykes	September 30 2008
Rupert Marson	June 8 2008
Jeremiah Lasater	October 23 2008
Daniel Mendez	May 1 2009
Suzanne Gonzales	March 22 2003
Sarah Walker	April 7 2008
Chad Tigue	May 9 2007
Alex Wildman	July 25 2008
Ashlie Bunch	January 29 2008
Chantal Thomas	July 8 2005
Fatma Korkmaz	December 21 2008
Ashkan Sultani	January 12 2010
Sean Edwards	November 15 2006
Hannah Modra	January 1 2008
Joshua Ballard	November 29 2005
Corey Craig	October 30 2006
Tempest Smith	February 30 2001
Jon Carmichael	March 30 2010
Vivian Crane	October 24 2004
Nathan Deleplane	May 4 2000
William Ganns	April 27 2004
Jared High	September 29 1998
April Himes	February 14 2000
Kasey Hone	May 15 2001
Adam Kavelman	May 17 2000
Brandon Murphy	August 1 2007
Andrew Orellana	November 8 2006
Laura Rhodes	September 6 2004
Joe Rogers	March 17 2004
Katie Sabin	April 30 2004
Fiona Barnes	August 1 2004
Jennifer Eyring	July 25 2006
Johnny Leathers	August 29 2000
Michael McComb	May 4 2004
Sladjana Vidovic	October 4 2008
Meredith Rezak	April 19 2007
Justin Rezak	March 23 2008
Debra Kawaguchi	August 28 2004
Sarah Casey	August 28 2004
Julia Woodward	July 22 2003
Bryan Woodard	August 2 2008
Dean Todd	August 30 2004
Luke Tiahrt	July 24 2004
Michael Thomason	July 30 2003
Wendy Sunderlin	November 12 1996
Daniel Stewart	June 27 2002
John Stanfield	July 29 2004
Haylee Fentress	April 16 2011
Ashley Fliger	October 26 2009
Martin Goosey	February 1 2010
John Grant	November 7 2010
Alexander Gutierrez	April 11 2003
Tyler Guyot	October 27 2010
Bryan Hairston	April 10 2007
Allem Halkic	May 2 2009
Gary Hasen	March 1 2005
Veronica Harper	September 4 2008
Kaitlin Harris	March 25 2004
Philip Heim	May 8 2001
Brittany Helton	August 4 2010
Kalley Heyman	March 3 2011
Billy Holesapple	October 30 1993
Julie Hollingshead	August 5 2009
Nathan Horn	October 30 2009
Tyler Hudson	March 29 2008
Kameron Jacobsen	January 18 2011
Brandyn James	February 19 2010
Dan Triplett	February 24 1997
Andrew Anderson	November 5 2004
Ashley Pease	February 14 2004
Barry Henderson	May 18 2006
David Brownell	September 27 1999
Denis Sulkowski	July 28 2007
Drake Davis	January 4 2006
Robbie Walters	December 14 2002
Frank Butterworth	December 24 1993
Gregory Calvin	January 31 2007
Brandon Rousseau	October 2 2000
Chad Pospeshil	June 11 1997
Chrissie Carrigan	December 6 2001
Jessica Rogers	August 16 2004
Joe Banks	July 17 2001
Kassandra Carroll	July 21 2001
Kristina Calco	December 4 2005
Lenny Newby	February 28 2003
Lorencita Taylor	May 24 2004
Michael Shoup	July 21 2002
Mitch Beavers	August 7 2001
Nicholas Higgins	March 15 2007
Randy Pete	July 23 1999
Scott Griffin	October 9 2004
Todd Mills	January 20 2003
Jared High	September 29 1998
Lisa Copeland	September 16 1996
Nathan Nachreiner	April 13 2004
Sean Kukoleck	December 19 2001
Jay Jacobson	March 4 2002
Josh Ginter	November 6 1996
Kenneth Edward Long	December 10 2001
Kerry Magann	May 27 2002
Ray Childree	October 22 1996
Richie Williamson	September 21 2001
Roger Rasnake	January 26 2004
Sarah Martin	November 3 2004
Shane Petree	January 29 2008
Timothy O’Clair	March 16 2001
Ty Schale	October 4 2006
William Eagle	May 9 2005
William Cox	November 10 2003
Joshua Melo	November 26 2004
Jonathan Alderidge	August 14 1998
Bach Michelle	March 23 2002
Jessica Barnett	July 15 2002
Abigail Billups	January 23 2001
Adymn Calcagni	October 7 2004
Kyle Careville	December 1 2006
Shelbie Courtland	November 15 2010
Brianna Dana	September 1 2005
Coyte Aabye	April 19 1999
Juhani Aaltonen	September 6 2006
Jade Aaron	April 12 2000
Larry Abel	25 November 1965
Daniel Abernethy	May 7 2004
Buckley Aboukoura	March 11 2002
Ronnie Abraham	June 24 1994
Ludanyi Balazs	November 14 2009
Raymond Acevedo	April 11 2001
Daniel Adams	March 17 1988
Jared Banner	April 9 2006
Jake Adams	September 23 2003
Shane Bannister	June 15 2000
Karl Banton	February 28 2002
Irene Adams	April 4 1968
Shannon Adcock	August 7 2001
Cherise Adkins	September 13 2000
Jonathan Alderidge	August 14 1998
Jonathan Aleman	January 22 2002
Dale Alexander	November 24 2003
Stephen Alexander	May 15 1998
Andrea Alfieri	May 24 2001
Michael Allard	April 22 2007
Lana Allemant	October 22 2005
Mark Baker	January 5 1998
Amelia Allen	March 7 1997
Martae Allen	September 27 2003
James Avery	September 22 1997
Jacob Avalos	May 31 2010
Jason Alvarez	July 18 1994
Jessica Amaral	February 24 2005
Kelsey Amell	March 16 2008
Brett Amidon	January 6 2004
Michael Amyx	August 25 2007
Tabatha Anderson	March 14 2001
Michael Anderson	June 22 2001
Daniel Anglero	December 11 2003
Troy Ankrom	October 15 2002
Brandon Aylward	December 26 2001
Michelle Bach	March 23 2002
Christopher Bailey	March 8 1987
Savannah Barber	July 19 2004
Joshua Barker	April 27 1999
Sheri Barkhouse	December 10 1993
Casey Barkwell	January 15 2001
Gregory Barnes	May 4 2000
Gauge Barnes	October 29 2009
Jessica Barnett	July 15 2002
Kyle Careville	December 1 2006
Thomas Carlson	December 3 2003
Andrea Carney	January 15 2000
Jenni Carr	September 27 2001
Benjamin Carreon	January 15 2005
Robert Carrillo	September 23 1998
Justin Carroll	June 14 2009
Dena Carter	October 27 2003
Casey Carter	June 20 1995
Joshua Castillo	October 21 2003
Christopher Battrick	April 6 1978
Ryan Beaumont	September 5 2004
Allie Behr	February 11 2004
Scott Bennett	September 4 1997
Chase Berg	August 30 2008
Todd Bergerson	August 31 2000
David Berry	October 26 2001
Trevor Beryd	August 16 2005
Joseph Beyer	September 14 2001
Shane Biddle	August 23 2004
Shawn Biek	May 20 1999
Timothy Bilsoly	October 13 2008
Jessica Binnick	December 14 1994
Mike Blanco	February 15 2009
Savannah Belvins	December 2 1985
James Blunt	November 10 1986
Darren Bolger	April 6 2003
Jamie Bonacci	January 29 1984
Chelsea Bonsell	August 10 2002
Ben Boughton	March 20 2005
Brianna Dana	September 1 2005
Daniel Tyler	April 1 2001
Autumn Davis	December 15 2002
Chase Dawkins	February 13 2002
Justin Degelorm	January 30 2004
Nick Dennis	November 18 2003
Jenna Diemert	May 8 2009
Zoe Dixon	June 5 2004
Johnnie Donnet	July 20 2989
Alisha Douglas	January 29 2005
Nathan Edwards	September 26 2005
Devin Emery	December 19 2005
Jess Everett	November 30 1996
Charlie Fisher	September 15 2001
Stevie Friend	August 24 2001
Joshua Ginter	November 6 1996
Kelsey Gooding	June 19 2001
Michael Green	October 30 2005
Tina Guiterrez	March 16 1999
Brandon Hand	June 13 2006
Emma Harris	April 7 2009
John Hartmann	July 3 1988
David Heffer	March 7 2005
Gary Hicks	November 20 1966
Cody Hofius	December 2 2007
Spencer Hosse	March 5 2003
Michael Hund	November 5 1998
Dustin Kanis	May 11 2003
Joe Johnston	April 17 2002
Brandon Kenney	June 3 2008
Jason Kiel	July 13 2002
Jake Kirkland	February 11 2005
Taylor Krois	March 22 2007
Andrew Langdon	October 18 2000
Adam Zuber	May 4 2011
Billy Yearnd	September 18 2005
Daniel Woods	October 4 2007
Ryan Trost	March 28 2010
Richard Stigall	May 31 1991
Eric Murphy	May 18 2001