Let's Talk Vacation Spots

Now that summer is almost upon us (YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'd like to take this time to talk about places to visit outside the US. From all the places we have studied in World Geography this year, I think I'd like to visit the Maldives, an archipelago off the coast of India. Pictured above, they look like the a picturesque area full of sunshine and very clear waters. The islands look perfectly wonderful to visit and I hope to go there someday!

Now for a KTUPD8 (Katie Update!)
These past two weeks have gone well so far. It seems like the year is winding down! We took the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test 2 weeks ago and LTF (Laying the Foundation) tests last week. Even though no one likes standardized testing, it meant hardly any homework! Also, last Wednesday, all of the Pre-AP Biology went on a FABULOUS field trip to McKinney Falls and Barton Springs, a very cold and natural pool here in Austin. I had a blast and got a sunburn, overall a very fun trip. Sorry to say but this is my last blog so TTFN, Ta Ta for Now!

I'm getting Claustrophobic!

Overpopulation has been a big problem in many countries for a long time. In past societies, such as China and India, the countries have encouraged family planning and China went to the extent of passing a law in 1979 known as the "One Child Policy". Also India has worked towards educating their population and improving their citizens standard of living. This task has proven difficult because of the lack of funds for education.

I think if I was in charge of this problem, I would find the most important way to fix this problem would be to help the governments of these countries to shift their focus on farming and agricultural needs to industrial and service based jobs. The main reason to have several children in countries like India is for survival. Children can become a source of income in India because they often start begging on the streets around the age of 3 and can start working on farms a few years after that. Service based industries bring in more income for less toil and children wouldn't be needed for workers. Children also provide safety for their parents when they become elderly because they act sort of as a nurse for them. With a better economy, more health care can be provided. Education will also greatly help the situation because it gives children much better opportunities in life and provides the country with a knowledgeable work force. To carry out this plan, a committee should be created by the UN or all the more well-to-do countries that will send representatives to help the governments of developing countries enforce the switch from agricultural economies to service-based industries. (If you can tell, I really enjoyed this topic. I think it is really interesting and I think it is even cooler that we just studied this in BIOLOGY! The switch from farming to industrial economies could be called a demographic transition, something that happens when a country starts out with a high birth and death rate change to a low birth and death rate! Thanks for listening!)

KTUPD8 (Katie Update)
Ok, this has been a very busy 2 weeks. To starts off, the fine arts (that's band, choir and orchestra) went on an awesome trip to Winter Park, Colorado! We got to sit on a bus for 21 hours, play in a contest (Superior ratings and Best in class!), play in the snow!!!! (actually like my first time to see real snow!), go skiing, and ride 25 more hours back (we got stuck in the snow!). Overall, it was a great experience. Then, three days after we got back we had choir UIL, where we score straight one's (the best scores) in sightreading and two 2's and a 1 from some really hard judges (meaning we got an average score of Excellent). Now today I've been watching my sister playing kickball all day in a tournament! They went undefeated until tonight with a close game. If they win three games tomorrow, they'll be the Mid-season Tournament CHAMPIONS! So root for them! Thanks! Until next time!

Dafur Genocide

In my opinion, the Sudanese government is the most at fault. The Sudanese government is the one who is declining the problem and keeping troops out of the country. They are the ones funding the Janjaweed (even though the deny it) who are killing everyone in their path. They claim the reason this genocide is taking place is because they want to stop the rebel troops when in truth the amount of force they are using to "stop the rebels" comes no where close to the minuscule amount of rebels there actually are. The truth is that the predominately Arab government is trying to rid their country of the African population. This act is extremely immoral and should be stopped immediately!

KTUD8 (Katie Update)
On a happier topic, the last few weeks have gone well! This past week our band went to UIL, a competition against yourself where you are scored on a scale of 1-5, one being the highest score, and we earned sweepstakes, the highest honor meaning we earned a score of "1" from 6 different judges in concert and sightreading. Another great thing about this week was we got Friday off of school because of Good Friday. Tomorrow is Easter and I can't wait to wake up, open an easter basket, go to church, participate in some easter egg hunts... the list goes on and on! It's gonna be great!
Until next time... Katie!

Ahhh!!! The World is Melting!

Our community and schools do a lot to protect the environment. My neighborhood now has new, large recycling cans the size of normal trash cans and each classroom has recycling bins as well. I know at my sister's school they have a green team that has a garden and promote a greener planet and we have a "Green Club" at Anderson that specifically does service projects helping the Earth. Also at our last Leadership council meeting , we brought used ink cartridges to recycle and help the environment.
KTUD8 (Katie Update)
Life has been going good... just a bit on the busy side. Spring break was great; relaxing, rejuvenating, exciting... but it ended to quickly, making me long for summer! We just finished a mask project for world geography where we had to make an African mask. That was fun but it is nice to have that over with. Band and choir UIL is coming up, a competition against yourself where your band/choir is scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Wish us luck! (Sorry this was a bit late!) Until next time.
Katie!

Sleep! Or lack of it! (In other words, free topic!)

Don't you ever wish there were more hours in the day? That has been a wish of mine for a long time. If only I wasn't required to sleep... I miss out on a lot of sleep most of the time anyways. On average getting six and a half to seven hours is good for me... but not really. I'm always seem to be tired but I'm just too busy to sleep! School lasts from pretty much the time I wake up to 5ish when you calculate in extracurricular practices and the time it takes to get home. On Mondays, I go to YoungLife(!!!!!) from 8-9 leaving little time for homework. Tuesdays are voice lessons, Wednesdays = Youth Group, piano lessons on Thursdays, and FREE Fridays... Occasionally. Life is busy but I propose the only reason for its crampedness (if that is a word) is because our bodies need to recharge at night. I think the only solution is to forget sleeping and find a way for us to convert solar energy to fuel for ourselves (Hey, they are doing it to the rest of our stuff!) And the only way to achieve this is to let us outside during the day... in other words, hold class outside or even better, NO SCHOOL! I'll work hard you guys and eventually I'll find the answer to converting sunshine into sleep and we'll never have to worry about feeling tired again! (For real... not really.)

Now for a KTUD8 (Katie Update)
Life has been okay over past few weeks... just fast and confusing... I guess the biggest event last week was Solo and Ensemble for Choir which didn't go too bad. Our ensemble got a surprising 1 for the lack of full group practices we had. I started singing the wrong verse in the middle of my solo so the results weren't as impressive... a 2, which is actually okay for a freshmen. We had a TAKS test today which wasn't exciting. I was the 2nd to last to finish in my room which got me a lot of stares from everyone else but I think I did good myself. Spring break is coming (I can't wait for a break!) but next week the big Science Research Project is due (yikes!) I'm almost finished... in fact, I might just finish it right now. Until next week!
Katie!

Awkward topic... LOVE!!!

In case you haven't heard, we've been reading Romeo and Juliet. In Act III, Juliet's Dad promises Paris, another man in Verona, Juliet's hand in marriage. (Big mistake!) I'd have to definitely say it is better to love than it is to learn to love. As you can see in the book, when Juliet is asked to learn to love, she ends up killing herself. It just wasn't the way it was supposed to happen! Love is an extremely strong feeling and I don't think we have much control over it. You can learn to like someone or appreciate them but it takes a lot of effort and doesn't always work to trick your heart and mind into wanting to spend your whole life with someone you didn't choose. That's another thing. Part of growing up is making your own decisions, falling in love and marriage. When parents arrange marriages, they skip the whole rite of ritual for kids changing into adults by not trusting their child to make the correct choice for a spouse. A parent should be there to guide a their children away from bad relationships and broken hearts but they aren't able to change someone's innermost feelings for someone. If you want any more proof that arranged marriage isn't the way love should be can be found in the Bible. God CHOSE to love us unconditionally, He wasn't forced by anyone. We shouldn't have to be forced into loving; the consequences may be grave. (No pun intended!)

KTUPD8 (Katie Update!)
Speaking of love, we had a four day weekend on Valentine's day! That Friday we drove down to Houston (actually it was Katy) for an engagement party! It was a blast! Actually I didn't go to the party, but just hanging around a friend's house was exciting! The wedding is in April and by dad is going to be the best man! (Sorry for my overuse of exclamation points, I just had a lot of fun! Ugh! There I go again...) When we got home, I started on my science project... ugh. But it is due in March, so it isn't that bad! Alright, until next time! Katie.

MUSIC IS MY LIFE!

This is a really hard blog for me because I love so many different artists! So I'll just make a list! Hooray!

Zoegirl

I have liked this group ever since I was like 10 and I got one of their CD's for my birthday. They all have very lovely voices and are very godly women that sing the type of music I like to hear!

Newsboys



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJVrkRxIJQ
I've gotten to see these guys live and it was a lot of fun! AND they speak with Australian accents! What could be better than that!!!

Chris Rice



I've been listening to Chris Rice since I was little and he sings a lot of really fun songs like "Leomonade" and "The Cartoon Song". Check them out!

Broadway Kids

The Broadway Kids sing songs from musicals and they were my favorite group when I was little (KidzBob can't compare!) This is where I first learned to love to sing and appreciate musicals. Speaking of Musicals...

Broadways Casts


I'd have to say musicals are the best invention humans have made! They combine the best of singing, acting, band, orchestra, art, dancing... everything!!! Shown above are some of my favorites! I'd love to go to actual Broadway to see them but for now I'll just sing along with my CD's!

Now for a KTUPD8 (Katie update!)
The past few weeks have all been leading up to today... Solo and Ensemble. It is a band contest competing against yourself to get a good score. You are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, one being superior and five being poor. AND... Drumroll please. I got one's on my solo and my ensemble!!! Not only did my ensemble get the superior rating but we are also going to STATE! We're hoping to get a new piece but the fact we made it is pretty amazing! Well, more to come... Katie!

Tech Saavy!

I do admit, I am probably not the epitome of a technology nerd, but I do use an awful lot electronics in my everyday life. To list a few...

Computer
Electronic Piano
CD Player
Ipod
Alarm Clock
Electronic Bank
Television
Calculators
Projectors and Overheads
(At school of course!)
Microwaves
Nintendo Wii
Cellphone
Electronic Toothbrush...

The list goes on and on! Without these technological advantages, I would definitely still be able to survive, life would just move a lot slower! I don't think there is an item on the list above that hasn't made life more convenient but if all of these things just happened to disappear, the world would not come to an end!If there is one technology in this world right now that would equate to the greatness of the inventions of fire and electricity, it would have to be the personal computer. Just like fire and electricity, many other inventions have sprung forth from the computer such as the Internet and the Iphone.

Now for a KTUPD8 (Katie Update!)
December and January have come and gone and with them a fabulous Christmas and the start of school. I think I had my best Christmas yet! Some highlights were getting a yo-yo (yes!) and the complete Chronicles of Narnia on CD (31 Cd's, 31 hours!). This year we went up to Oklahoma to see my mom's side of the family, which is always a lot of fun! There are now currently more college kids in the family than high school/middle schoolers. YIKES! This also was the first Christmas that one of the cousin's was married! Christy and Bill are a cute couple and a lot of fun! But the fun had to end sometime and now we are back at school. We had are first band concert of the semester and now we are totally devoted to Solo and Ensemble contest! We also just had our first Geometry test... Inequalites and Similarites... Whoohoo... We've even already turned in our first English project, Romeo and Juliet! It's been busy but pretty fun all the way!