Swine Influenza

Hopefully you've all heard about the outbreak of Swine Influenza. It is a contagious strand of flu originally passed from pigs to humans and now passed from human to human. There are currently 91 confirmed cases in the U.S. and 1 death*, Mexico has had 26 confirmed cases including 7 deaths. Canada follows behind with 6 cases. Swine Influenza has also been confirmed in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Spain.** Though no cases have been confirmed, there are over 100 suspected cases in Australia, South America and much of Europe. 

Symptoms of Swine Influenza are  much like any normal cold you would have. A fever, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, etc. However if you think you may have been exposed to a case of Swine Influenza and have these symptoms, you probably should see a doctor as soon as possible. 

To protect yourself, just to everything you would normally do to avoid getting sick. Wash your hands, avoid close contact with infected people and try not to travel into regions with confirmed cases. According to the CDC, eating pork will not infect you. 

More cases are being reported every day as Swine Influenza spreads like wild fire. So please wonderful people, do what you can to stay healthy!

*www.cdc.gov

**www.who.int/en

Reasons Why Emma Shouldn't Cook

You know why I'm jealous of my little sister? She makes the most amazing different things. One day it was Chocolate Mousse, the next was Lemon Creme Pie. (The pie was so good my cat licked the whole top of it off as it was resting on the counter, yeah my family wasn't to happy about that but what we ate of it was good). Not only do her creations taste delicious, they also look amazing. 

But, I didn't seem to get that skill. My lack at cooking and baking is actually pretty funny. 

1. I can cut myself on a fork. Yes, I was dancing around my kitchen and my hand flew down on the dish tray where an evil fork cut me. 

2. I though 2/3 meant two or three or somewhere in the middle. Yes, I realized my mistake after I read it out loud to my mom. But this is the same reason I don't like math. I don't like things that are exact. (For the record, it means two thirds.) 

3. I still can't seem to figure out the difference between baking soda and baking powder. But, hey, at least I realize that there is a difference. 

4. I don't actually like to eat what I make. Yeah, my sister is the only one that actually really likes to eat what I make. 

5. My patience is lacking.  I don't like to wait for things to be done, especially when they smell yummy. I'll stick with cookie dough. 

Do you all like cooking? What are your favorite recipes? Least favorite food? 

Take a Leap!

Alright, so I know that for me at least, this blog was sort of my secret place where I could say what ever I felt like. But for the sake of trying to get more people to come read this, I told my friends about it. They all really liked it and at least some of them have kept reading. I want to you all to please try and recruit more people to blog with us. 

Please, tell your friends, comment on posts, send submissions to gwebbies@gmail.com!

"The best things in life aren't things"

When I was thinking of something to blog about this quote just sort of popped into my head. Not really sure why, but I figure I'll go with it. 

"The best things in life aren't things." 

is a quote credited to Arthur Buchwald. Buchwald was a well known columnist for the Washington Post. His satire of American politics made him well known though sometimes under appreciated.   

My sister went off with her friend for vacation and both my parents were working, so I was home all alone. Instead of gloating about being left with nothing to do my whole vacation (okay, I admit, there was some of that too) I laid out in the sun on the porch with my dog. 

Sure, maybe I didn't jet off to the Bahamas on vacation, and I'm not singing in Notre Dame like some of my classmates, but I am happy and loved. I figure I'm not so badly off after all. What ever you did or are doing for your vacation remember to look for the truly important things in life. 

(ps. I sort of feel like a cereal box saying that :D) 

A World of Change

If you could change one thing in the world, no matter how big or small, what would it be?

Emma's Ridiculously Long Day of Silence Story

For most schools, the Day of Silence was yesterday, though for some reason it was Wednesday at my school. Almost all of my friends vowed to be silent the whole school day. And for the most part we all followed though. 

By 7th period my friend Hayley still hadn't said anything all day. Our 

teacher gives this thing randomly once a week. It's called ROT or Random Oral Testing. There are over 200 cumulative vocabulary words that he quizzes us on ORALLY. It can happen any day of the week, but it just happened to be the Day of Silence. We all go into the room and get settled, and our teacher says "Put away your notes, It's ROT time." Hayley and I and everyone else in the class, even if they were talking sort of looked at him as if to say "Really? Today of all days?"  Mr. 'Teacher' tells us "I realize it's the Day of Silence and I support it, but you have to make a choice. If you chose to continue your silence, you will receive a zero, or you can suspend your silence and not put your grades at sake." 

Hayley and I looked at each other. There wasn't even a choice. We were going to continue with our cause, no matter what. We are both relatively good students and could afford to fail once. There wasn't a second's hesitation for me. We sat in silence as he went though the different rounds. He always included us to give us a chance to speak if we wanted to, but every time, there was silence. 

Mr. 'Teacher': "Emma, Onomatopoeia"

Emma: "......" 

The whole class looking between him and I, to see if I'd give in.

It was a little intimidating, but it felt really good to stand up so fully for something I believe in. Then at the end of class, Mr. 'Teacher' always gives us a chance to hear how we did out of 25 points, in front of the whole class. He'd be like "Connor, would you like to know your grade?" Connor would of course say yes. Everyone always says yes because they don't really mind people hearing their grade. When he called my name, there was silence. I couldn't talk for myself and everyone knew I'd failed. However one kid I know, who's sort of a clown called out "Tell her!"  He meant it in a totally joking way, and Hayley and I understood that but Mr. 'Teacher' didn't take it that way. He flipped out at the kid telling him, that he was doing what Hayley and I were protesting. When the kid tried to say something in his defense, Mr. 'Teacher' just told him he had nothing to say. 

We all sat there in silence watching this, and when class ended, the Day of Silence ended too. Hayley and I walked out together proud of what we'd done, but not thinking of giving it a second thought. 

They next day, the heads of the Rainbow Alliance at my school, walked up to me at the beginning of a class. They pulled my into 

the hall and asked for my opinion of what had happened. I told them. They said that our principal had already heard what had happened and would be talking to the teacher, but they wanted me to talk to her and fill her in on my side of the story. I did, but I also told her that I was completely aware of the fact that I was going to fail when I acted. 

People have told me that they have been talking about it in their other classes. Teachers have come up to Hayley and I telling us that what happened was wrong and that we should fight for a grade. The Rainbow Alliance is taking the teacher to JCOMM (the judicial committee in our school) about what happened. They say that even if we don't care about the points, no one should have to choose between grades and a cause they believe in. 

I guess it all goes to show, you never know what you're getting into when you stand up for what you believe in. I wouldn't have done anything differently though. 

Did you participate in the Day of Silence? What were your experiences? 

If you didn't, was it because you have different opinions on the cause? If so, I'd love to hear them. 

Maybe you didn't participate because your school made it difficult, how did your administration support or not support the Day of Silence, was this expected or unexpected? 

TV Time

 I think if I had to make a list of inventions from the last century that made a significant impact on my life, near the top of the list would be television. Good old TV has been my faithful friend and stalwart ally for years, always quenching my boredom and giving me something fun to do (much to my mother's dismay). I really don't watch that much of it, but I definitely enjoy television :) In all honesty, TV is extremely useful and practical -take the news, for example, or the Weather Channel. But the practicality of television isn't really what peaks my interest today. What I'm wondering is what you enjoy watching on TV. I'd say what I watch is a mix of regular teen stuff and some more obscure interests -this week, via TV, I learned about modeling, deadly tornadoes, savantism, Simon Cowell's annoying albeit funny frankness, and the expected North Korean missile launch. I watch a lot of educational and random TV shows on Discovery Channel, family-oriented (not viewer families, but shows that profile families) shows on TLC, and too much news for my own good. But I have my guilty pleasures -last night I spent almost an hour watching the girls on America's Next Top Model verbally attack each other (and somewhat enjoyed it.) TV is also an interesting social tool -when The Secret Life of the American Teenager was on, it was an instant conversation-starter for me and my friends, as are other shows like American Idol, Desperate Housewives, and NCIS (at least in my school). But my all-time favorite show is My So-Called Life, from the 1990s, so no one's ever heard of that :) What do YOU like to watch on TV? How often do you watch? Are you a major fan or a casual follower?

-Snowflake

Holidays on the Lawn

I know that Easter was mainly celebrated yesterday. However, this varies from place to place, branch to branch. For my friends who are Greek Orthodox, it will be next Sunday. (I believe it is the 19th) This monday, though not hugely observed in the USA is Easter Monday. It is a day for celebration and lighter festivities. 

Carrying on the tradition from 1878, there was an egg roll on the White House lawn for children. I think it's great that people are carrying on traditions for so long, but I have to wonder, do other religions which are supposedly equal get the same representation in the White House? I'm pretty sure they don't. Perhaps it's time to start traditions on the lawn for them too!

Do you have holiday traditions? My coverage was pretty limited to the USA, what do the various countries you live in do to celebrate big holidays?

Whether you were rolling eggs at the White House, attending church or completely oblivious to the fact that it was Easter, I hope that your yesterday was fabulous!

History Being Made

Just recently the first Passover to be attended by a president at the White House was held.* Obama and a small gathering of his friends, family and staff joined together to celebrate this Jewish holiday. Though we haven't yet had a Jewish president, it's nice to know how much is changing. 

Passover celebrates how, when Moses sent plagues to try to free the Israelites from Pharaoh, the Israelites marked their door frames with blood from a  sacrificed lamb to recognize not to kill their sons. By doing this, they were 'passed over'. 

Though Passover was actually Wednesday at sundown and on, my family had our Seder today. (Because we were all at different things at the actual time the past few days and we aren't all that religious, (my mom's christian and my dad's jewish)). We prayed, and sang, and ate. It's nice to have traditions some of which are typical and some of which aren't to look forward to every year. 

I suppose that while I'm on the subject of holidays, I should mention that today is Good Friday and this sunday is Easter. Good Friday is when Christians believe that Jesus Christ was crucified. Easter is believed to be the day he was resurrected. I'll try and talk more about my Christian side on Easter. 

Also, like usual if you would like to write about Passover, Easter, or any other holidays that your family celebrates, I'd love to hear about them at gwebbies@gmail.com

*corrected on April 11, 2009

Day of Silence

Speaking of movements and laws raising awareness of the harassment of LGBTQ students and people in general, the Day of Silence is rapidly approaching on the 17th. I will do a post about it but it would be even more awesome if someone else wanted to write about it. Perhaps someone who participated last year? Or someone who plans to participate this year. 

Email me your piece about the Day of Silence to gwebbies@gmail.com

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa followed closely by Vermont

It's been an exciting little bit for Vermonters and Gay Rights Activists everywhere. Last week the bill for same sex marriages passed the Vermont Senate and the Vermont House. Governor Jim Douglas vetoed the bill like he had forewarned he would. This left us in suspense. Though it had originally passed the senate by quite a large majority, it hadn't quite made it to two thirds in the house. This morning the senate revoted and once again passed it by a large margin. Passing the house was going to be a close call but it made it by 100 to 49, which is as close a call as can be to still be made a law. 

Congratulations!!  And I hope that more states will be close to follow. Keep me informed with what is happening in the states/ countries around you by emailing gwebbies@gmail.com

Drivers Permit

I know that the laws vary from state to state, but where I am,  you can get your permit at age 15. A permit basically means that you can drive in your state with a sober adult over the age of 25. Because I live in a rural place where driving is very helpful, my mom and I wasted no time getting my permit. (You have to have your permit for a year before you can get your license and I want my permit as soon as possible.) 

We went down to the Department of Motor Vehicles so that I could take the test which I must pass before I can get my permit. The first part was an eye test and the second part was a 20 question multiple choice exam on the computer. The test it self was relatively easy (if you'd read the book they give you before hand) but it was a little nerve racking. I could get 4 questions wrong. Most of them were common sense, but there were a few things regarding specific laws that I was just like "WHAT?" to. 

Good news is I passed! And at this point I really don't have any bad news. I drove around a parking lot for a while, made it home with out hitting anything, I have a shiny permit with an ok picture and am one step closer to my permit. I do have some words of advice for those who still have to take this (or something like it where you live) 

1. READ THE BOOKLET. This may not seem important, but it has all the answers in it. And all the people I know who didn't pass the written test never read it. 

2. Bring everything necessary. Actually bring more than necessary. The only things that they told me I needed were 2 ID's. Well it turns out that beside that, I also needed my social security number and proof of residence. 

3. You can either take it on the computer or you can take it pen and paper. I say take it computer because they have these lovely pictures that can sometime help. For example, my friend got one that was "Do bicycles go with or against the flow of traffic?" She wasn't sure, but she clicked to enlarge the picture and it showed her. However, if you're one of those people who really likes having pen and paper in your hand, you could ask for it that was too. 

4. Take online practice tests at home. They have questions that, if not exactly the same, are very similar. And if you get the answers wrong, they will correct you with the right answer. 

5. Read the booklet. It will help. I promise. It was made by the same people who made the test. It has most everything that will be in the test. If you do well without having read it, you are either very informed on the subject, or a lucky guesser. 

6. Breath, relax. I read somewhere that 50% of kids don't pass my states on the first attempt. If you don't pass, you can always take it again!

I know that many of you who read this have already had your permit and now have your license. Words of advice? Things learned from experience? How about the driving test? Was it hard? What about Drivers Ed. Is it as painful as everyone says? 

Contacts vs. Glasses

I have these awesome glasses that I love and need for seeing things far away. However recently I've been contemplating getting contacts. Why should I get them if I love my glasses? I think that they would be very helpful onstage. Directors say there will be no glasses onstage. I understand that, but I would still like to be able to see. I have explained this to my parents but they seem to think that I can see "good enough". 

Pros of Contacts:

*They don't get in the way of your view.

*They don't blur or fog. 

*They don't change how you look.

Pros of Glasses:

* They require little work.

*They are pretty affordable

*They come in many styles to fit personality.

I love my glasses but I would like to try out contacts for a change. Anyone out there who has contacts and would like to give me an opinion? My parents say that contacts take a long time to adjust to, and that they aren't worth the amount of money we'd spend on them if I mainly planned on wearing them onstage. Still, I'd like to find a good argument for them. 

Ps. This morning at 4:24 I turned 15! 

April Fools

Yes, I realize this is a day late, but how else could I hear about all the pranks you played? 

Unfortunately, I didn't get to play any pranks worth talking about but some people I know did. In the french class before mine, a kid took the teacher yellow and red warning cards and stick them in jello. One of my friends broke up with her boy friend via face book, to see people's responses and went a whole day, before telling people that it was a joke. 

This year was not a particularly eventful year for april fools, but some years have been! What pranks did you pull this year? What is the best prank that has ever been pulled on you?