When a former Miss Argentina tied up her hospital gown on Wednesday, she had no idea that her fabulous life would come to an abrupt end.  Solange Magnano was a beautiful Argentinian woman.  She owned her own modeling agency and had been a model herself.  She won Miss Argentina in 1994 and was the mother of 7-year-old twins.  On Wednesday, Solange went to her local hospital to get surgery on her buttocks.  While she was being transferred from the clinic where she received the surgery, Solange Magnano passed away.  She was a young and vibrant 37-year-old woman who passed long before she should have.  Hundreds have mourned the loss of this Argentinian fashion icon, but there is nothing that can be done about this tragic loss.  Her family and friends are working to recover from the passing of their loved one.  But the world will never forget Solange Magnano.

Solange at a fashion show in 2009

1)    Where is the ribbon located?

The ribbon is located at the top of the screen in a Microsoft office 2007 document.

2)    What are the three main components that make up the ribbon?

The main components are tabs, groups, and commands.

3)    What are the names of all the tabs?

The tabs are Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, Mailings, Review, and View.

4)    Where are the group names located?

The group names are located at the bottom of the ribbon in a darker shade of blue.

5)    What are the commands?

Commands are the things found inside groups that can be done to a document.

6)    What is a template?

A template is an example or starting place document.  It’s an example of how to do something.

7)    Why are templates helpful?

They are helpful because they are a starting place for you to build on.

8)    What is the good thing about styles in office 2007?

The styles in office 2007 make it easy for anyone to use.  They are very visual. OR It can help you give a heading, title, subtitle, emphasis, etc.

9)    What are some of the uses for a table in word?

Tables can be used as charts or schedules.

10)  What are graphics?  How can you use them in word?

Graphics are things that can be found in the insert tab, illustrations group and they can help you insert pictures.

11)  What is mail merge?  What can you this for?

Mail Merge is an application to create a form letter that you are going to send to multiple people and send each copy to a different person.

12)  What is document security view?

Document security view restricts how people view the document.

*13)  Why do you think that office has changed so much?

Office has changed so much to keep up with the competition.  It has become more visual so that it is easier for the average person to use and understand.

*14) If you don’t know how something in technology works, what are some ways you can learn?

You can ask your teacher or a friend to help you or you could even use the help button.

It was a beautiful day in the Pacific Ocean. The wind rushed through my long brown hair as I steered my motor boat around some buoys. I smiled as the warm summer sun beat down on my face. I looked back to make sure my best friend Shannon was doing ok, because I know she can get a little seasick. “You alright back there Shannon?” I yelled over the loud humming of the boats motor. There was no reply. “Shannon?” Still no answer. I quickly put on the brakes and turned around to find that Shannon was no longer there. I frantically searched around my small boat, thinking that maybe she took a nap or something. But Shannon was nowhere to be found. I scanned the rough blue ocean around me. My heart raced every time I saw a fish or piece of seaweed. I racked my brain, trying to find an explanation for what could’ve happened to her. Last time I checked on her, I thought, she was hanging over the edge of the boat. Could she have fallen out? Suddenly, the boat began to speed forward, and I was not at the wheel. I fell to the ground as a sharp pain shot through my body. I tried to push my heavy body up but the momentum of how fast the boat was going continued to knock me down.  It took all of my energy to heave my now numb body over to the passenger’s seat and work my way up to a sitting position.  I turned to the passenger’s seat to see what had happened.  Instead of the passenger’s seat being empty, like I hoped it would be, there was a small elf-like man.  He was dressed in a little green outfit and had red tights on.  His hat was fluffy and slanted to a point at the top, and he was covered in bells of all sizes.

“WHOA!” I shouted and jumped 10 feet into the air.  The little person turned and gave me an evil glare.

“MUAHAHAHAHAA!!! I’VE GOT YOU NOW!” He shouted.

“What’s going on?” I strained to yell over the elf’s evil laughter.  He turned to me again and his face turned orange as he began to tell me his story.

“You were not a good little girl this year!  You fought with your siblings and made fun of people at school.  Santa will never forgive you for that!  He has put you on the naughty list.  PERMANENTLY.  He sent me to teach you a lesson and that’s exactly what I plan to do!”  He steered the boat towards a nearby volcano.  As he did this, his face molded into something that looked like he had just eaten a lemon whole and someone set his eyebrows on fire.  I dropped to the ground and tried to cover myself before we crashed when all of a sudden, the boat began to fly.  We floated off through the sky and I watched in amazement.  When we landed at the North Pole I hopped out of the boat a stared in awe at the huge red building that was in front of me. 

“Come with me.” said Santa’s Helper as he led me through a tiny door.  He sat me down in a room with only a table and a single chair in it.

“What’s this for?” I asked as he pulled out the chair.  He held up a chubby little finger and waltzed up to a cabinet.  A few seconds later, he was dumping a huge bag of candy canes on the table. 

“Start eating.”  He said as he locked the door to the room.  And that’s how I’ve become an 800 pound woman eating stale candy canes in Santa’s basement.  What a life!

I believe that the  quote  “To be right is not always popular…To be popular is not always right.” is completely true.  This has a lot to do with what we have been learning in class lately, especially the movie Sticks and Stones.  A lot of times, people have a hard time deciding what to do because of their social status.  Being “popular” is more important that doing the right thing to some people.  So, many times in life, doing the right thing may not make you the most popular kid in school, but at least you know you are a good person.  I would much rather be a kind, caring individual than be popular but for some people, that isn’t the case.  For some, it is very hard to let go of their social status as the “popular kid” and that’s not always a bad thing.  As teens, we don’t realize that being popular isn’t the most important thing in our lives.  But, ten years from now, it won’t matter whether or not we were popular in high school, it will matter if we are good people or not.

Top Ten Things that Make Me Laugh

I am, for the most part, a pretty happy person.  I think there are a lot of things that can make me laugh.  If I had to pick the top 10 things that make me laugh, they would be:

1. My best friend Kathleen when she has too much soda. Kathleen and I have known each other since pre-K and I know that, if I’m in a bad mood and need some cheering up, all I need to do is give Kathleen some Coke.  She goes crazy and it is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever witnessed.  The only bad thing is that her mom doesn’t let her have soda anymore because of the way she gets when she has it.  But when she comes to my house, I make sure we are stocked up on soda.
2. Dane Cook. I know that Dane Cook is a comedian and it’s his job to make people laugh, but I just can’t get enough of him.  I have some of his routines on my iPod and I have them playing constantly.  My dad and I quote him all of the time and I’ve found that some of the things he says actually happen in my day-to-day life.
3. My cheerleading team. If I’m feeling upset, I know that all I need to do is talk to some of my favorite girls on the planet.  Very recently, my cheerleading team has become like a family to me.  when we are together, there is nothing that can stop us.  I became especially close to these girls at our team sleepover.  I had a little too much sugar that night and I showed my true, crazy self to my team.  I am happy to say that they accept me for who I am and now we can all be crazy together.  Whether we are having an extreme dance-off or making nicknames for each other, I know I can come home from cheerleading practice with a smile on my face.
4. My dad. My dad is a very confident person.  He is comfortable in his own skin which makes him a very fun person to be around.  He embraces all of his flaws and even jokes about them.  When I’m with my dad I know I can always get a good laugh.  Sometimes I pretend that he annoys me but I really enjoy some of the things he says and does.  For example, my dad has a pretty large stomach.  On top of that, it is also pretty hairy.  Sometimes, my dad thinks it’s appropriate to lift his shirt up and rub his stomach saying “Touch me, love me.”  It’s gross but hilarious.
5. My Mom when she dances. My mom is a wonderful person.  Everything she does is perfect.  Except for her dancing, that is.  She is “rhythmically challenged.”  She embraces it though.  Whenever my mom starts to dance, she swings her arms back and forth in front of her body very quickly and jumps up and down.  I die of laughter whenever I see it.  We like to tell her that she has other gifts though.  To this day, I still have no idea how I got my rythm.
6. My friend Sarah L. Sarah L is one of my best friends.  We are so alike.  We do crazy things together and we’re interested in the same things.  However, Sarah likes to use big words to make her sound smart.  In fact, sometimes she looks up words in the dictionary just so she can use them to make herself sound intelligent.  Whenever I hear Sarah say these crazy words that I’ve never heard of, I crack up.
7. When people tickle my sides. I think that everyone has a tickle spot and mine is definitely my sides.  When people come up behind me and squeeze my sides I freak out.  I will go into a fit of giggles.  If you ever want me to laugh, no matter what kind of mood I’m in, I will always laugh if you tickle my sides.
8. Trampolines. I know that sounds like a weird thing to make someone laugh but I just can’t help it.  I have a huge trampoline in my backyard and whenever I’m on it I have so much fun.  If I’m bored I just run out side and I can jump on that thing for hours.  My friends and I have had so many great times on my trampoline.  Just being on it, jumping up and down can make me laugh hysterically.
9. My friends and siblings. When I’m with my brothers and sister and my best friends, I’m definitely at my happiest.  Some of my favorite moments are when my brothers and sister and I are doing our chores and we break out into song.  My best friend Lauren Solski also makes me laugh so much.  We have a blast together and that’s why I love her so much!
10. Gina. Gina  is a freshman on my cheerleading team.  I just met her a few weeks ago and I already feel like I’ve known her my whole life.  I enjoy creeping on her because she gets so freaked out and I just like to watch her reaction.  I know that Gina can always find a way to make me smile

Do you remember Caylee Anthony?  She was a 2-year-old girl from Florida.  It is believed by many that Caylee’s mother, Casey, killed her infant daughter about a year ago.  In December 2008, Caylee’s bones were found in the woods almost a half -mile away from her house.  The authorities have said that “the cause of Caylee’s death is homicide by undetermined means.” 

When Casey Anthony was being questioned about the death of her daughter she denied having killed Caylee.  The authorities investigated Anthony’s car they opened the trunk and were greeted by a mysterious aroma.  The woman said that this smell was just an old pizza but the cops were suspecious.  Recently, photographs of the trunk display a stain that looks somewhat like a child in the fetal position.  The article said, “If you look closely at this photo, there appears to be the outline or silhouette of a child in the fetal position. You can make out what may be the back, bottom and legs most clearly.”

In my opinion, I think that Casey Anthony is completely guilty.  I don’t really know who else would do this to a poor little 2-year-old.  It was even released that Caylee’s mother told her own mother that she didn’t want her daughter.  So, why would anyone believe a woman who said she didn’t want her daughter and has a stain in her trunk that resembles a child?

• Why is it important to stretch while you sit for long hours?

It is important to stretch because if you don’t then you will get pains quicker.

• While typing, if you would like to capitalize the “A”, which pinky finger should you use (the right or the left)?

You should use the right pinky finger.

• While typing, if you would like to capitalize the “L”, which pinky finger should you use (the right or the left)?

You should use the left pinky finger.

• What finger are you using with the backspace?

You are using the right pinky.

• Is the right ring finger responsible for the zero or the “O”?

The right ring finger is responsible for the “O”.

Mavis Beacon Posture

• Can you do these stretches sitting down or standing up?

You can do these stretches both standing up and sitting down.

• What posture should you always begin at?

You should always begin in the neutral beginning posture.

• Why is breathing helpful?

Breathing helps you relax and makes stretching easier.  Breathe in with a stretch and out with the beginning posture.

• Choose three of these stretches as your favorite.  Why did you select them?

I like the shoulder roll because it relaxes my back and shoulders.

The windmills were good because they are stretching your shoulders and your arms.

I also liked the hand fans because they loosen up my fingers.

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

• List 10 new facts that you did not know before

Carpal Tunnel is a common CTD among typists.

Carpal Tunnel is made up of four main nerves on the arm.

Overuse of tendons causes them to become irritated.

Carpal Tunnel can be treated with steroids and even surgery.

A good chair to use is an ergonomic chair because you can adjust its height and it rolls.

If your under stress at work, a cluttered work space can cause more stress.

While typing, your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle.

Thighs and hips should be well supported by your chair while you are typing.

Wrists need to be straight and level to the keyboard.

Typing while you are on the phone strains your muscles.

• What is CTD?

CTD is Cumulative Trauma Disorder.

• Why do CTD’s occur?

Lack of exercise and improper neck position can cause CTD.  People get CTD’s because of their work styles or equipment.

• What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science that deals with people and their wprk environment and how people use their work environment during the day.

When I was in sixth grade, my sister began attending St. Mary High School.  From the minute I walked through the hallway I knew that this school was for me.  I really like small schools, I think that it gives students many opportunity to make friends.  I like that when I walk down the hall, I know almost everyone I see.  It gives me a feeling of security.  I really believed that I was going to be a Gael.  Three years later, there I was in my skirt and polo walking through the doors of my new high school and I have no intention of leaving this place that has now become my second home.

I think that it is very important to have school spirit.  Spirit brings everyone together.  Even if it’s only for one day, school spirit lets us forget about that stupid high school drama and come together as a school.  When I’m cheering at football games or doing my routine at the pep rally, I can almost feel the spirit.  That’s why some of my favorite days of the year are pep rallies, everyone is excited, even if they don’t show it.